Genji Is Always Showing Up To Your House When He Can, Like A Stray Cat After Food He's A Simple Man After

Genji Shimada

So I asked my friend which Overwatch character I should do my next alphabet headcanons about and they said Genji! So I'll be doing Genji next, probably later today.

However while I was thinking about him the thought of his cybernetics came to mind and I went off on a full blown tangent about it so I figured I'd post my thoughts on how much of Genji is a cyborg before I do his relationship stuff.

This is blackwatch, Genji, I don't know if this is canon or not but for the sake of this I'm saying it is. So as far as body parts go he's definitely missing his legs knee and under. I think he's wearing armor over his thighs though, he has intact femurs. He's missing his right arm and there's some kind of internal damage in his upper chest.

His eye piece comes off seperate to his mouth piece but that doesn't mean his mouth is robotic, I just think he takes the mask part off less often. His head and heart are all intact according to voice lines and evidence from skins.

Now might I direct your attention to his canon skins. We know from the short "Dragons" that those green circles on his upper body have a release mechanism meaning they manage pressure of some kind within his body.

(We can also see there's less of them in his OW2 design so it's a possibility they got upgraded to be more efficient.)

Now I'm about to lay down my biggest actual headcanon without much evidence besides speculation and "it'd be cool" to back it up.

I think Genji has robotic lungs.

WILD TAKE I KNOW BUT HEAR ME OUT.

He can eat, heard in the voice line about him being able to handle mercy's coffee, so we know his mouth is intact, along with the rest of his digestive system. I think the mouth part of his mask is to help him breathe. I think there was major damage to his respiratory system to the point where they had to make the choice to give him mechanical replacements, hence the need to release pressure when he exerts a LOT of energy (like after his fight with hanzo in the cinematic).

He breathes in game, so we know he needs lungs. Which makes sense if most of his main organs are intact. If the main damage was to his lungs, they could give him robotic ones. And my claim of them not giving him a lung transplant is supported by the fact that Mauga was given a second CYBERNETIC heart instead of a replacement when he was critically injured.

Also in the Doomfist origin cinematic when he threw Genji into a car he started sparking and held his chest, which I know may just be "oh he's a robot of course" written off, but it'd make sense if it was his lungs!! It would put him out of a fight if he can't supply oxygen to the rest of his body. Plus it would hurt him in his chest!

Going off of this, he can definitely breathe without the mask and obviously would need to take it off to eat (he has a lot of scarring on his throat I think, and maybe his jaw) but the mask hides the scar tissue and helps regulate his breathing more naturally. Now I'm not a doctor so this next part may make no sense, and let me know if it does but maybe the mask is connected to his lungs in like a nervous system kind of way? Since they wouldn't be connected to his nervous system entirely? So when he takes the mask off he has to manually breathe. Like the mask regulates it for him so he can do it subconsciously but without the mask it's a conscious manual breathing situation.

And my only real arguments for him not having a robotic heart instead of lungs is his voice line that says "The heart of a man still beats inside of me." Which of course could be metaphorical, "I'm still the same man, just with a different body." Kind of thing, but also he just never takes off that freaking mouth piece so I was thinking it had to serve a purpose!

Lol I'll get to work on my headcanons now but let me know what y'all think of this 🙏

"He shot me. With my own gun! And he's STILL. HERE."

"Crow is not Uldren."

"Just like I'm not Cayde."

“I see you still have Ace.” A voice coos, floating to the left of the guardian,

The guardian haulted at the familiar voice, a shadow that claimed their friends voice to turn them into twisted malice to torment.

The guardian took a deep breath trying to steady themselves. Continuing on through the depths of the Leviathan. To hunt down and put an end to the floating faces.

The nightmare of Cayde 6 hovered beside the Guardian, watching them move through the Leviathan. It made a point to make as much noise as possible, so that it could get under the guardians skin.

It watched them silently before speaking. “So you’re not going to address me at all?” it asked, its voice tinged with a hint of annoyance.

The guardian kept walking. Trying to push through the shadows taunts. "It's not Cayde-" They mutter softly. Mostly to remind themselves,

It chuckled at the Guardian's muttering. "And how do you know that?" The shadow asked, floating right in front of the guardian cutting them off.

It leaned in close to the Guardian's face. "What makes you so sure that I'm not him?" It asks with a familiar smirk,

The guardian glanced up meeting its red optics. "Caydes dead." Moving passed the nightmare uneasily. Just trying to focus on the task at hand, praying the shadow would go away.

The nightmare chuckled at the Guardians attempt to ignore him, moving back behind them, continuing to taunt.

"Such conviction. So sure of yourself that you know the truth." It mused. "But is it really the truth?" It said, suddenly appearing in front of them again, stopping them from moving.

It leaned in close enough, almost enough to touch. "Or is it a lie to ease your conscience..." It whispered softly. "Because there's one problem you failed to address.."

The guardian looks up silently. Their fists clenching and unclenching uneasily. Remaining silently for a few moments too long. They turn their head away trying to remain composed despite their heart beating loud enough in their ears.

The nightmare could see the anxiety that was beginning to build on the Guardians face. It knew it was getting to them, which was exactly what it intended.

It chuckled darkly at their silence, “Can’t bring yourself to speak, can you?” It said, moving closer. “Come now, you used to be so talkative.” The shadow muttered sarcastically, "Here I'll give you a hint....his first name is Uldren and his last name is Sov." the shadows voice bleeds with anger.

"Crow is not Uldren." The guardian mutters quietly. Their composure failing as they hesitantly step back,

The nightmare laughs at their words, "Oh, so you do speak." The shadow says in a condescending tone.

It steps closer, its body practically touching the Guardian's now. "You really think that by giving him a new name changes who he is?" It sneers, "he's still the same person that killed me, that took my life!" It says, itss voice becoming more sinister. It shifted away before turning back,

"That's what you tell yourself isn't it?" The nightmare replied, following them. "You say he's not Uldren anymore, that he's a different person. But the question is, do you really believe that?" The shadow questioned, towering over the guardian menacingly.

The guardian stumbled backwards staring up at the nightmare their eyes widened. "Hes-"

The shadow was quick, and grabbed the Guardian by the collar of their armor and yanked them closer. It gripped their armor with a tight grasp and held them up in front of its face, "He's what?" The nightmare said, its eyes flashed red. “Finish the sentence."

The guardian stiffened at The Shadows hold. "Hes not Uldren- he-" They stammered out.

The Guardians answer caused the nightmare to grip tighter on their collar, "He’s not Uldren you say? Then who is he?” The shadow demanded in harsh tone. It leaned in closer to the Guardians face. “Answer me! He used my own gun to kill me and he's STILL. HERE." It seethed angrily.

The shadow threw the guardian down and scoffed. Vanishing into the darkness leaving them to stew in their thoughts.

Hi! So I'd like to request (if you want too) headcanons of Hazard and reader having a hard-core flirting thing going on. But neither is making a move and everyone's like bro KISS ALREADY-

You can decide who makes the first move!

(Also I love ur writing I need more of this man)

What it would be like to hardcore flirt with Hazard (JUST MAKE OUT ALREADY)

General Dynamic

- Hazard and you are constantly locking eyes in conversations, but instead of looking away, they hold the gaze with a subtle smirk or eyebrow raise. It leaves everyone in the room feeling like a third wheel.

- Their banter is razor-sharp but never truly mean—it's like a game of verbal chicken where both are testing how far they can push before it gets real.

- Leaning too close while explaining something, brushing fingers when handing over items, or Hazard casually putting your hair behind your ear because “it bothered him”.

- Hazard calls Reader things like “sweetheart” and “hotshot” while Reader shoots back with “tough guy” and “Spiked for brains”. The nicknames become progressively flirtier over time.

Group Reactions

- Mutual friends and even the Phreaks are so done with it. Constant comments like, *“Will you two just kiss already?”* or blatant matchmaking attempts at group events.

- Hazard will throw a “don't wait up" as Reader leaves the room just to rile everyone up. Reader, unfazed, winks and says, "You wish."

- The group starts theorizing that the prolonged flirting is some kind of elaborate prank or game they're playing with each other.

Hazard’s Style

- Hazard loves to lean in close when talking, with that trademark smirk, and then back away *just* as it seems like he might actually say something meaningful.

- Occasionally, Hazard lets the guard down—just for a second—saying something like, *“You’re not as bad as I thought you were,”* before immediately covering it up with a laugh.

- Hazard steps in when needed, whether it’s someone hitting on Reader or a dangerous situation, but plays it cool after, with a casual, *“Can’t let anything happen to my favorite rival, can I?”*

Your Moves

- You play the game just as well, but occasionally stumbles over a quip when Hazard’s intensity catches them off guard.

- After you found out that Hazard likes to be praise, you tend to sneak in small praises like “You’re annoyingly good at this, y’know?” which Hazard always catches and turns into a smug grin or if you catch him guard…you’ll just see a freshly made tomato :].

- You LOVE to outdo Hazard just to see that spark of competitive fire in his eyes—whether it’s in training, arguments, casual bets or just to see how much flustered can you get him before he breaks.

- Speaking of breaking first, one night, when the teasing’s gone too far, Hazard corners you, smirks, and plants one hand against the wall beside your head. "Ye’ve been dancin’ ‘round this for long enough” he says, his voice low, laced with that distinct Scottish lilt. You raise an eyebrow, trying to hold your ground despite the way his words send a shiver down your spine. “Oh, do you? Go on, Hazard, enlighten me." His smirk deepens, and he leans in, his breath warm against your ear. "Ye want me tae make the first move. Admit it, lass." You let out a scoff, though your voice wavers slightly. "Big words for someone who’s been as scared to do it as me." Hazard pulls back just enough to meet your eyes, his teasing smirk softening into something sharper, more determined. "If ye think I’m scared, ye dinnae ken me at all." Before you can fire back, he closes the gap, catching your lips in a kiss that's rough and unrestrained, like he’s been holding back for far too long. When he finally pulls away, his breath mingling with yours, he grins, his accent thick and dripping with smugness, "Told ye I’d be the one tae break first." You grab the front of his jacket, pulling him closer, a smirk of their own spreading across their face, "Don’t get cocky, Hazard. This isn’t over yet." And just like that, the tension snaps, the teasing taking on a fiery, new intensity.

Smol Destiny squad part 1.

Cayde-6 fanfic request incoming beep beep

Y/N (female) comes back to Cayde-6 after running like 4 raids in a day, absolutely tired, and Cayde just scoops her up, gives her something to eat and takes her somewhere to sleep (possibly dragging Cayde along. He is not escaping the cuddles)

Thank you in advance :)

Thank you so much for the request, anon!!!

Hopefully this is what you had in mind, I had a lot of fun with this one. <3

I Know Places

Cayde-6 x fem!Reader

One Shot.

Description: Okay so this is set in post Red War era before everything goes to shit. Just fluffy stuff. Also you’re a hunter, so, sorry titans/warlocks.

Today wasn’t even supposed to be that bad.

A raid, maybe a round of Gambit if you felt like it.

And of course, after all the shit you’ve been through in the last few months, it was anything but.

One raid turned into four, which were chock full of all kinds of fallen, hive, and cabal that were particularly hell-bent on putting you in the dirt.

Every inch of your body is sore as you exit your ship, grunting as each step you take sends painful shocks running up your legs.

You pull the hood of your cloak off, tugging your helmet off and running your hands through your messy hair.

Your plans for the night consist of eating something as fast as you can and then crashing into bed. That’s before you hear a familiar, very chipper voice behind you.

It’s not that you don’t like him. Quite the opposite. Cayde’s your vanguard, your boss, in simpler terms. Which is exactly why being around him is so hard when you like him as much as you do.

Too much.

You turn around, too tired to force the small off your face that appears when you see him.

“Hey, darlin’!” He calls out to you, jogging to catch up with you. That’s the other issue you have with Cayde-6.

It’s getting difficult to pretend you don’t like it when he flirts with you. Which he does.

A lot.

“Hey, six.” You try to sound at least half awake when you respond, clearly failing when a small laugh bubbles up from his chest.

“Long day?” He asks, toning his voice down a bit. If he was being honest, he was excited to see you.

He always is.

What might seem like some playful flirting to you is so much more to him. He’s just too damn scared to take it further.

Plus, you’re the best guardian this tower’s got. Not the type to date your vanguard.

Cayde curses that fact everyday.

You snap him out of his self-pitying thoughts with an exhausted response.

“You’ve got no idea.” You groan, rubbing the back of your neck.

What he’s thinking right now is how much he misses feeling like you do right now. Exhausted yet satisfied after a long day out there, defending the city, doing what feels like a real job.

Although, he doesn’t say that. He figures it’d probably just piss you off at this point.

Besides, you’ve helped sneak him out of the tower enough times to exempt you from listening to his whining about being cooped up all day.

He still remembers what he always used to do after days like this, it was nice. Relaxing.

Something he thinks you’d like.

He’s taking your hand in his before you can protest, dragging you off to God knows where.

You sigh, trying your best to ignore the shock that runs up your arm when his hand grasps yours.

It feels right.

And yet, you know you can’t let yourself think like this. Think about him like this.

You can’t be more than what you already are. Zavala still scolds the two of you with a less than subtle reminder of your difference in ranking every time he catches the Cayde flirting with you in the hangar.

And you doing it right back.

You used to try to maintain some professionalism at first.

That ended pretty quick.

Since the second you walked into the tower after being revived, you and Cayde have been playing a long lasting game of cat and mouse.

At first it was simple attraction. You’re gorgeous, he noticed, and in his usual fashion, he pursued.

That also ended pretty quick.

It morphed into something different. A sort of comfort you found in eachother. For him, you were everything he missed about being a guardian in a person.

Spontaneous, witty, brave, wild, quick on your feet and quicker with your words.

And for you?

Cayde was a break. A break from feeling like the entirety of the Last City rests on your shoulders.

Since your first day as a guardian, everybody acted like you were supposed to know what you were doing.

Everybody but Cayde.

It was even worse because you’re as good as you are. Once the Vanguard realized they could rely on you, you’ve been their personal work-horse. Any job, any threat, anything at all. You’re the one to call.

But when you’re with Cayde, in the moments like these, you feel like a normal person. At least for a little while.

Whether it’s sneaking out of the tower in the middle of the night or just spending time with him in the hangar, he’s a solace.

He looks at you like more than just a means to an end. The quickest way to get a job done.

He likes you for who you are, not just what you’re capable of.

More than likes you, although, you don’t know that yet.

He quickly leads you through the tower, through some hallways, and onto a high ledge overlooking the courtyard.

And God, it’s beautiful.

The sky is painted a million different shades of orange as the sun sets, casting shadows over the thousands of pine trees that lay under the tower.

You’ve never seen it from this high up, and you follow readily when Cayde beckons you to sit next to him, feet dangling over the edge of the concrete.

You slowly sit down, wincing as your body burns with the movement.

It’s quiet for a little while, a rarity when it comes to Cayde.

He lifts his arm a bit hesitantly, laying it over your shoulders. He rubs your arm slowly, dissipating any chill from the crisp fall air.

“Hell of a view, huh?” His voice is lower than normal as he interrupts the silence.

It might just be your favorite sound.

You slowly loosen up, leaning your head against his shoulder.

“Yeah, it is…thank you.” You whisper back, trying to soak up the moment as much as you can.

Nobody around to watch and point. Gossip about the Vanguard and his favorite hunter.

It’s one of the few times you don’t have to pretend this is nothing.

That all the flirting, the midnight escapades, the dirty jokes he whispers to you during meetings just to see you blush.

It’s all more than what it seems.

And you…

You mean more to him than you could ever really know.

“Course, sweetheart” The petname slips from his mouth so casually, like it’s the most normal thing on the planet.

And really, it is.

The two of you know you love each other. You don’t need to say a word.

“Y’know, you should give yourself a break every once in a while.” He suggests lightly, already knowing what you’ll say in response.

You laugh a bit, shaking your weary head. “I can’t.”

Bingo.

He knows you a little too well.

“What if I order you to?” Cayde nudges you lightly, forcing himself not to close the gap between the two of you when you look up at him.

Your head still rests on his shoulder, and your eyes are illuminated by the moonlight casting down on the two of you.

“I’ll ignore you.” You quip back, a small smirk on your lips.

The sight of you knocks the wind out of him.

You’re beautiful in a way he’s not nearly artful enough to describe.

“I’ll fire you.” He threatens with sarcasm lacing his words.

You really laugh at that one, leaning into his body further. He’s warm, and comfortable, and you’re exhausted.

Plus, you’ll take the excuse to be close to him.

“I’m you’re favorite and we both know it. You could never fire me.” You answer cockily.

You’re right. He already hates being stuck in the tower enough. If you weren’t there to keep him company he’d probably have gone awol by now.

“Yeah…yeah, you are.” He laughs as he speaks, and he means for it to sound like a joke. But, there’s a sincerity there.

One you both know the meaning of.

One you catch even as you drift off to sleep, practically laying on his chest at this point.

And yet, you don’t need to say anything about it. Not now.

Not quite yet.

For now, you can stay like this.

Together, with your wordless agreement that neither of you have to acknowledge that this is more than friendship.

More than a mutual crush, too.

And instead of the entire universe and all it’s problems, you can be his for the night.

A/N: Okay so, I got a little carried away (obviously), but I still hope y’all enjoyed. And thank you once again for the request, anon! After my last series, writing some super fluffy fluffiness is a nice break.

If you guys have any more requests for any characters I write for (you can find the list in my ask box) please drop them in! I really love doing these <3

- di

shadow and rouge comix (i am not a comic artist)

Special Delivery (Cayde-6 x Reader)

“Here are the items you missed on your last mission. Hope to see you again!” You said to a fellow Guardian. He thanked you and walked off.

Today, you were helping your friend Kadi55-30 at the postmaster office. The other day you saw how much items she had to deliver and asked if she wanted help. Kadi nodded eagerly and thanked you in advance.

Another Guardian walked up to you.

“Name please.” You said sweetly.

“Nina!” The Guardian stated, smiling brightly.

You walked to the back of the small vendor and looked in the ‘N’ section. You found a small box with a hand canon and a warlock arm band. You walked back and placed the box in front of the girl.

“Here you go Nina! All the stuff you missed on your last mission. Enjoy!” You said. Nina nodded and giggled before skipping away.

“(Y/N), do you mind making a few delivers for me?” Kadi asked, as she walked up next to you.

“Sure! Just tell me where to take them.” You reply. Kadi waddles to the back and returns with a stack of colorful boxes. She hums while she unstacks them. You knew a few of the names on the boxes and blinked in surprise when you see a box for a certain Exo. You gently picked it up and attempted to see what was inside. Before you could get a peak, Kadi made a squealing noise. You looked up and saw her rush towards you.

“You okay Kadi?” You asked, voice full of worry. Kadi gently took the box from you and taped the top shut. You gave her a questioning look.

“It’s a s-special order for Cayde.” Kadi tried to explain, her voice cracking a little. You nodded slowly and picked up all the other boxes.

“Please don’t open it again.” Kadi said quietly.

“I won’t. I promise.” You reassured her, walking off to deliver the packages.

You headed towards the Bazaar and climb some stairs that lead to Guardian apartments.

You quickly arrived on to the first stop and placed the box at the door. You rang the door bell and skipped away.

Next, you took the elevator and went up to floor 4. You walked down the hall and found the correct room. You rang the doorbell and a Guardian answered. You happily handed them their deliver and they thanked you before running inside excitedly to open it.

Now, all you had to do was deliver Cayde’s package. You knew he wasn’t at his apartment. He was probably at his Vanguard station in the Hangar. You hummed as you made your way to Cayde’s area.

There were a few Hunters talking with the Exo. They needed a quest to do together and Cayde was deciding which one to give them. You patiently waited until he was free.

“(Y/N)! How’s my favorite Guardian?” Cayde said, eyes twinkling.

“Hey Cayde. I’m helping Kadi today and she needed me to deliver this to you.” You replied, placing the box on the table. Cayde quickly grabbed it and looked at you.

“You… didn’t happen to open it, did you?” He asked. You shook your head. Cayde let out a sigh of relief.

“What did you get?” You asked, still curious.

Cayde looked over to you, eyes searching your face. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before he gently grabbed your arm and pulled you behind his workspace. You blushed as he turned to you. You could feel him heating up.

“I umm.. I actually g-got something for you…” Cayde said, resting the box in your arms. Your face lit up and you quickly open the package.

Inside, was a custom made cloak. It was black, blue, and white. There were a few stripes on it but what caught your attention were the symbols at the bottom. There was a white Ace of Spaces and blue Heart.

“I hope you l-like it.. the Ace is to remind you of me and the Heart is for umm…” Cayde trailed off, looking at the floor. “It means… that.. you are my Queen of Hearts… so… it’s us…”

You squealed and jumped onto Cayde, wrapping your arms and legs around him. He let out a yelp before chuckling and wrapping his arms around you tightly.

“Thank you Cayde. I love it so much!!!” You said before peppering his face with kisses.

Cayde heated up even more and started to stuttered while you stopped and realized what you had done.

You pulled away and hid your face in the new cloak. Cayde shook his head before walked over to you and pulling you tightly against him. He gently tilted your head to look up and he pressed his lips against yours. The kiss was gentle and sweet. Cayde hummed happily and you wrapped your arms around his neck.

You two separated and blushed madly at one another. Cayde stepped around you and took off your cloak before putting on the one he got you. You twirled around and giggled as Cayde whistled is amusement.

“Looks good on you, (Y/N).” He said, voice full of admiration. You bowed gracefully before hugging him.

“Thank you Cayde. This is the best gift I have ever received.” You said, kissing his horn. Cayde’s face heated up and snuggled into you hug.

“Do you have to help Kadi more or can you stay here with me?” Cayde asked while you two walked back to his station.

“I’m sure Kadi can hold down the fort.” You said, taking his hand in yours. Cayde kissed the top of your hand. A few Guardians giggled and cheered. You blushed while Cayde chuckled.

The rest of the day consisted of kisses, helping Cayde assign jobs, and tickle fights. And later that day, you and Cayde cuddled the night away.

“ Uldren Sov ... is mine . ”

30 Days Posts of Mass Effect └ Paragon or Renegade

Nerd Out

Hazard x Reader

A/N: I made this as a thank you to @hackeraxe for drawing my silly lil Hazard piercing headcannons, I hope y’all enjoyed it as much as I did 👹✨

Summary: You got too excited over a project you’re working on

Your room was a controlled mess—keyboards, cables, and half-finished projects littered every available surface. Your desk was no exception, a graveyard of empty energy drink cans and open coding notebooks. You were hunched over your laptop, headphones slung around your neck, mumbling to yourself about predictive algorithms while the hum of your tower PC filled the room.

Hazard’s unmistakable Scottish brogue cut through your concentration like a knife. "Yer wee lair’s somethin’ else, ye ken?"

You jumped, spinning around in your chair to find him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirking like he owned the place.

"What are you doing here?" you asked, half-exasperated and half-mortified. You swore you’d told him not to come over unannounced.

"I knocked" he said with a shrug, pushing off the doorframe and stepping inside. "Ye just didn’t hear me o’er all that techno wizardry o’ yers." He gestured to the chaos surrounding you. "So… what’s got ye so absorbed ye forgot tae eat lunch, eh?"

You bristled but couldn’t help the sheepish grin tugging at your lips. "I was busy."

"Aye, I can see that, So…" Hazard reached for the nearest circuit board, turning it over in his hands like he had the faintest idea what he was looking at. "Whit’s all this then? Some kinda computer surgery?"

"Hardly" you said, snatching the board from him before he could accidentally fry it with static. “I’m upgrading this bad boy. Needed more RAM, and the GPU was about as outdated as your jokes."

His hand flew to his chest in mock offense. "Oof, right tae the heart! My jokes are timeless, I’ll hae ye know."

"Sure, tough guy" you teased, sliding the panel off the PC case.

Hazard sat by a nearby chair beside you, his sharp amber eyes scanning the array of components like he was trying to make sense of a foreign language. "Alright then, clever clogs, tell me this: whit’s RAM, and why d’ye need more of it? Sounds like somethin’ tae dae wi’ sheep."

You groaned but couldn’t help the grin tugging at your lips. "RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It’s like your computer’s short-term memory. When you’re gaming, it temporarily stores all the data the system needs to access quickly, like loading textures or keeping the game running smoothly. More RAM means it can handle more tasks without slowing down."

Hazard tilted his head, considering. "So it’s like when I try tae remember where I put ma keys. Short-term stuff, aye?"

"Exactly!" you said, a little impressed. "And then there’s the CPU—central processing unit. That’s the brain-brain. It processes everything, from running the game to your random web searches. A faster CPU means better performance overall."

He squinted at the open case. "Alright, so RAM’s short-term memory, CPU’s the brain. Whit’s this GPU thing ye mentioned earlier?"

"The GPU—graphics processing unit—is like an artist. It handles all the visuals, rendering textures, lighting, shadows, and everything else you see on the screen. A good GPU is crucial for gaming, especially if you want high frame rates and sharp graphics."

Hazard gave a low whistle. "So the GPU makes it bonnie, the RAM keeps it runnin’, and the CPU keeps it all from fallin’ apart. Bloody hell, I didnae ken gaming was this complicated."

You laughed, setting the upgraded GPU into place. "It’s not that complicated once you get the hang of it. And when you know what each part does, you can pick the right specs for what you need. Like, if you want to play on ultra settings at 120 frames per second, you’ll need a strong GPU and a good CPU."

"Ye’ve got a sparkle in yer eye when ye talk aboot this stuff, ye know that?" Hazard’s voice had softened, and when you glanced at him, he was leaning on your desk, watching you with an expression you couldn’t quite read.

"I—what?" you stammered, suddenly hyper-aware of how animated you’d gotten.

He tilted his head, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. "I mean it. Ye light up like a Christmas tree. It’s... adorable."

Your face went hot, and you immediately turned back to your pc, pretending to be busy. "It’s not adorable. It’s just... something I’m passionate about."

"Aye, and it’s grand tae see." He crouched beside your chair, resting his chin on one hand as he peered at your work. "But ye’re bloody brilliant, ye know that?" he said, his brogue thick and warm.

You opened your mouth to protest, but he cut you off with a crooked grin. "Nae use denyin’ it. I’ve never seen someone so chuffed aboot pcs before, an’ it’s kinda... charmmin’, if I’m honest."

"I, uh..." You felt your face heat up as you fiddled with a stray wire. "I guess I am."

"Dinnae stop now" he said, his voice teasing but gentle. "I’m learnin’ loads here. Plus, I like seein’ ye all excited. It’s... kinda adorable, tae be honest."

Your face went nuclear. "Hazard!" You groaned, hiding your face in your hands.

You peeked at him through your fingers, his teasing grin making it impossible not to smile back.

"Fine" you muttered, turning back to your work. "But if you’re going to stay, you’re not allowed to touch anything."

Hazard laughed, settling himself on the floor next to you. "Deal. Now, keep goin’. Tell me more about this sheep thingy."

Still hiding your face in your hands, you couldn’t stop the smile creeping onto your lips. With a deep breath, you picked up where you left off, explaining the intricacies of the motherboard while Hazard listened intently, his eyes never leaving you.

And maybe—just maybe—you let yourself believe that he wasn’t just fascinated by the gaming specs. Maybe he was fascinated by you.