Work Text:
The smell of smoke growing up was something that never ceased to make Mary just a little bit nauseous. Catching a waft on the transit or just the residue that clung to furniture and clothing was enough to make her head swim. How people saw the appeal of it was beyond her profound knowledge.
That is until the energy crisis hit and several years passed with no break or breakthrough for that matter. The stress eating away at her slowly like cancer, an ironic thought given how she’s promoting cancer in her lungs as she sucked in a lungful of smoke. A habit started when she was at her lowest and needed something that wasn’t alcohol to curb the anxiety welling in her chest but like a double edged sword her hands would tremble once she went too long without one.
That’s how this timely ritual began, where she’d swap out her lab coat and whatever shirt she was wearing for an old college t-shirt at the dead of night, sneaking away to the observation deck of the lab for a quick drag or two. Though on nights like these where the sky was clear and the stars shined bright, well, Mary couldn’t help but gaze in between drags.
Zoned out completely that she didn’t hear the door slide open nor the soft footsteps approaching. So when a hand plucked the cigarette right from her hand as she went to press the stub to her lips it gave her a startle of a lifetime. Gripping the railing and whipping around to face a stern expression of her assistant, right hand gripping her shirt above her heart.
“Jesus wept, Reid! ‘Bout gave me a bloody heart attack!” Mary shrilled, coming down from her spiked heart rate and realizing the situation at hand. The look Reid gave her was neutral but Mary worked with her long enough to know the disappointment in those eyes. Her own clenching shut, “Please—”
“Please?” Ashleigh mimicked cooly, rolling the evidence between her fingertips.
“Don’t tell Newton, please Ash.” Mary pleaded, counting her blessings that it was just Ashleigh and not anyone else. Sure she’s downright mortified getting caught but a part of her was sure Ash understood, prayed she did.
Thankfully those prayers were answered.
“Relax. I won’t.” Reid assured, leaning against the railing while taking a shared drag of smoke, much to Mary’s shock. Something that seemed to amuse her assistant as she spied the subtle upward turn of the corner of her lip. “You’re hilarious. I could go through a pack alone just from having a conversation with Paquette, you’re not the only one with vices.”
“I… Thank you, Reid… Uhm.” She motioned for the dwindling flame between Ash’s fingers before her assistant cruelly snuffed it out on the railing.
“These things will kill you, Somers. I can’t exactly call myself your protégé if I go and let yourself die of lung cancer.”
“Okay now that’s a wee bit of a stretch—”
“It’s not.” Ash interrupted, “I’ll admit I should have been more watchful but starting today you’re quitting.”
Mary had to swallow the irritation crawling up her throat, mostly in part that Reid was absolutely right that she couldn’t continue on with this habit. If she was careless enough to allow one person to walk in on her it was bound to happen again.
As if sensing that distress Ash spoke up again, “Don’t worry, I’ll put some medicine on your desk tomorrow to help with the cravings. I know this goes without saying but don’t try to hide this again from me, I will find out.”
That harsh tone nearly made Mary break out in a cold sweat. Thankfully the all mighty Ash decided to take mercy on her and leave without any further scolding. Not before casting a glance down at her T-Shirt and rolling her eyes.
Once alone, Mary tugged on her shirt to glance down at the graphic printed on the shirt.
‘Never Trust An Atom, They Make Up Everything.’