Work Text:
When you pass by Angela’s lab around 2am, you see the lights still on.
Peering in, she’s engrossed in reading something, head in a hand, hunched over a tablet, frowning at whatever she’s engaged with. She’s wearing her glasses and her lab coat is loose on her shoulders. From the angle, there are dark circles under her eyes. An empty coffee mug sits next to her.
Perhaps you should try to get her to sleep or bring her coffee.
“Doctor.”
Angela picks up her head and looks at you. A smile brightens her face. “Ah, Y/N! What are you doing here so late?”
“Can’t sleep,” you reply. “Do you need another mug of coffee?”
“That would be great, thank you.”
You nod and leave for the nearest coffee machine. It takes a couple of minutes to heat up the water and brew it the way she likes with her… burnt coffee beans. Sacrilegious, but that’s how she likes it.
When you return to her lab, she’s in the same position you left her. You swap the empty mug for the full one.
“Thank you, Y/N,” Angela says.
“You should sleep after this one,” you reply.
She sips the coffee. “Tell me why you can’t sleep.”
You lean against the lab counter with an amused smile. “Don’t deflect.”
Angela chuckles. “Alright, I’ll sleep once I’m done with this if you tell me why you can’t sleep.”
You hum, crossing your arms. “I don’t know. Just thinking about regrets again. I can’t stop thinking about what I should have done or what I could have done instead of what I did, you know?”
She nods, lowering her gaze to the warm liquid in the cup. “Yes, I do.”
You run a hand through your hair. “That’s about it, really. Everything got me all worked up and anxious, so I thought taking a walk would help, but it’s really cold outside, so…” You motion to the surroundings.
Angela sets the mug down. “Are you feeling better after walking?”
“A little.”
“I know you know this, but…” Angela sets a hand on your arm. “All you can do is learn from what happened and try better next time. I know you can do it. It’s not going to be perfect or easy. Nothing is going to change the past, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change for the future.”
You smile at her. “Thank you, Angela.”
“Anytime.”
“So does that mean you’re going to sleep earlier now?” You grin, poking at her.
She playfully slaps your hand away. “I promised, yes? For tonight.”
“Alright, alright…” You lean off the counter. “Good night, Angela.”
“Good night, Y/N.”
You give her a nod and leave the lab into the silence of the halls.