Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Case: Save the World nor its characters. Other than my own original characters, all rights belong to Pretty Simple.
Amidst the crowd of lab coats, research ideas, and scientific discoveries, Lars Douglas was there, watching his wife roam around the conference room, mingling with known and unknown associates while he was simply standing in a corner, munching on hors d'oeuvres.
Lars truly loves Angela and he’s proud of everything she has achieved in her career, really. But sometimes, he can’t help but feel left behind.
During her tenure as a scientist, Angela has accomplished many things, including four PhDs (and counting as she is still currently working on another one), multiple acclaimed scientific journals and theses, and has recently won the Nobel Prize in Biology at the young age of 32. On top of that, she is also the Chief Medical Examiner of the world’s top crime fighting organization, the Bureau.
Of course, Lars works alongside her as the Forensics Lab Chief of the Bureau and he has certainly completed different researches and theses in relation to chemistry, but even if they used to share one lab and work together, they still pale in comparison to Angela’s accomplishments.
Whenever their coworkers and associates talk about them, Angela’s achievements are constantly tied to her name, while Lars is simply known for his explosions. Sometimes Lars isn’t even known at all.
He’s just… there.
Despite his insecurities in terms of their careers though, Lars never brought them up, and he never wants to. Although he wishes that he had done more, he is perfectly content on seeing his wife shine.
But today, seeing how much she had flourished in the field whilst interacting with their fellow scientists at today’s science conference while he’s eating crab cakes at one side made him realize how he’s always by her side yet she would constantly feel unreachable.
“The crab cakes are really delicious, right?” A rugged Asian man with slightly messy hair and thick glasses wearing a lab coat, a dark red polo shirt and black slacks approached Lars, a plate with a crab cake in hand.
“Who are you?” Lars gave a once-over to the man who approached him. He didn’t look significantly known enough to be feared, yet his intimidating appearance tells him to be cautious around this man.
The man extended a hand to Lars. “Professor Kai Chang. I teach Biology at a Korean University. You must be Lars Douglas, right?”
Lars took the professor’s hand and shook hands with him. Although he had a clear idea as to why he knew him, he still asked anyway. “How did you know my name?”
“Oh, your wife is quite well known in our circle. I even discuss some of her dissertations in my classes!” Kai explains.
“Then you must be looking for her then.”
“No, not really… I’ve also heard of you quite recently, as we’re looking for a chemist in our lab…”
“Sorry, but I’ve already got a job.” As undermined as he felt, Lars didn’t want to leave the Bureau. It was one thing that made him proud of himself, and he got to be together with his wife. Besides, he and Angela are trying for a baby, it wouldn’t be best for him to suddenly abandon his job now.
“Well, you may be a chemist here, but at our lab, you can definitely be more…” Kai takes something out of his pocket and places his hand on the tall side table. “...maybe be more than your wife could ever possibly be. Maybe you could even juggle your work at the Bureau and this all at once. Or maybe, you can even get to be closer to your wife… especially with everything that she has right now.”
Kai pointedly looks at his hand and Lars takes the object in his hand. It certainly even became more tempting now.
“That’s my business card. If you ever consider my offer, let me know.”
As Kai leaves the table, Lars checks the business card. Besides the professor’s name, written on it are some weather pattern coordinates, and embossed on the lower left corner is a silver encircled fancy S.