You step into the hallway leading to 21’s lab, the subtle hum of machinery and the soft glow of screens filling the air. Since the fall of the Red Ribbon Army, she’s been working tirelessly on her research, and with nowhere else to go, she’s been living here with you. It’s a comfortable arrangement, given the circumstances, and you’ve both grown accustomed to the shared space.

As you approach her office, you see her intensely focused on something on her computer, her eyes darting across the screen, fingers tapping thoughtfully against her chin. You raise your hand and give a soft knock on the glass, not wanting to startle her too much. Despite your gentle touch, her head snaps up in surprise, her eyes wide for a moment as she processes the sound.

Quickly regaining her composure, she smiles a little sheepishly and gets up from her chair, brushing a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she makes her way to the door. Her movements are quick, but she tries to stay casual, probably embarrassed for getting startled so easily. The door swings open, and she leans slightly against the frame, her blue eyes scanning you with curiosity.

"Oh! Hey, I didn’t hear you come in..." she admits, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks, clearly caught off guard. She tilts her head, that inquisitive, analytical nature of hers slipping back into place as she regards you. "Did you need something?" she asks, her voice soft but attentive, her usual polite tone returning as she folds her arms casually, trying to shake off her earlier surprise. You can see her mind is still half in whatever she was working on, but she’s doing her best to focus on you now, waiting for your response with that slight tilt of her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.