Work Text:
“ Can’t believe I signed up for this…”
With your PHD in mechanical engineering, you stumbled upon a corporation named the Black Mesa Research Facility. A notorious name among the list of shady companies, it is infamous for its suspicious practices and questionable reputation. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Without questioning the legality further, you applied for the job.
Oh boy , how much you regret it.
Groaning, you took apart a broken machine for the third time today. Why are these scientists so careless with everything that they own that are also FUNDED by the government?! Sometimes, you wish that you could strangle them with your bare hands and choke them with electrical cords– GAH! This whole overtime is making you insane. How long has it been since you left work on time? This laboratory is basically your second home by now!
“Hurry up. We have a scheduled experiment to work on.”
Your eye twitched. Beside you, a jeering scientist tapped his foot impatiently. Typical Dr. Kleiner. He's the coincidental idiot that fried the equipment you are now fixing for him. Sighing, you turned to your side with a strained yet professional smile. “ Oh, my bad, I could finish this faster if it weren’t for YOU burning the cords.”
Dr. Kleiner narrowed his eyes at you, ready to run his mouth until the both of you noticed a new figure entering the room. Upon noticing the presence, his demeanour did a 180-degree turn. “Oh, Gordon! Thank goodness you’re here. I’ve been messing with the calculations and I can't seem to get it right as you can see from what happened here.”
The man in question, Gordon Freeman, looked at the destroyed machine that you were so desperately trying to fix with one glance. You waved at him awkwardly. Even though you’ve been in this goddamn job for a while now, His presence was new for you. Except for the few gossips that were spreaded across the facility . Taking his glasses off, Gordon inspected closely on the broken machine as he shifted nearer to where you were standing– a bit too close to your comfort. The heat from his silent breath radiates off on you to the point it flustered you. Despite this, you were more curious about his next move.
“... Any problem here?” You peeked behind his shoulder.
“...”
“Hey– HEY! Do NOT touch that!”
“...”
“FREEMAN.”
Gordon ignored your profuse warning, already tugging the cords of the machine and taking off the compartment one by one without a second thought. You gawked at him. How dare he… with his sweaty, grubby hands – RUINING YOUR HARD WORK? Clenching your fists in frustration, you heard a snicker from Dr. Kleiner. Clearly, someone is enjoying your suffering and is taking the piss out of it. You turned to him, silently threatening with a low whisper. “I’ll make sure that microwave you’ve been using to eat pre-cooked meals blows up in your face the next time you’re using it.”
Dr. Kleiner rolled his eyes at your dramatic threat but still held on to it if you ever decide to do it for real. A soft electric beep suddenly stirred your focus from Dr. Kleiner to the broken machine. It’s… Working? You blinked with disbelief. How the fuck did that Freeman fix it? Dr. Kleiner took notice of your bewildered expression and laughed in glee. “Oh, how much I appreciate your work, Gordon!”
Grinning, Dr. Kleiner playfully slapped Gordon’s back despite the lack of response from the other. “Well, drinks on me!” Dr. Kleiner happily chirped before leaving the room with a skip in his steps.
You being you, is still dumbfounded with the miracle you’ve just witnessed with your own eyes. There had been difficulties repairing the contraption throughout the day but Gordon makes it look easy restoring it to its original state. “I'm quitting…” you muttered to yourself before facing Gordon with a scowl.
“You think you’re soooo smart taking up this thing even though it’s MY JOB.” you jabbed your finger onto Gordon’s chest repeatedly. “Where were you when it got broken down a few times earlier today? Yea you’re right, Freeman – It was ME who took all the beating and shit from those fucking imbeciles who are stupid enough to break something so simple as this.”
“The fact that people would praise you for repairing one damaged thing instead of me shows a lot, huh Freeman?” You sneered, once silence from him greets you again.
“It’s Gordon.”
“I – What?”
“Call me Gordon.”
Gordon’s sudden responsiveness stunned you like a deer in headlights. You weren’t expecting him to talk, much as far as him replying to you verbally. Heck, you didn’t even know he could speak. He shifted his stance awkwardly as his hand scratched the back of his neck while you were still slack-jawed. He coughed, breaking the silence.
Pulling a business card out from his lab coat, Gordon took your hand and placed it on your palm when you didn’t take it. His phone number is printed on it. You blinked slowly, suddenly felt shy with the touch. “Pardon?”
“When you need help on fixing stuff,” He shrugged, then gave a reassuring and awkward pat on your shoulder. "Don't be... too hard on yourself."
Oh no– No no no. Something is fluttering inside you. You gritted your teeth in defiance against the feeling that was starting to bloom inside you. Unbeknownst to what you're going through internally, Gordon gave a last wave to you before walking off in a stride. “Take care.”
“I DON’T NEED YOUR HELP!”
Maybe you'll take up the offer, who knows?