((so i've fallen into this trashcan of a life and have thus decided to combine my trash lives together! so i hope you enjoy!))

Recommended Song(s) For This Imagine:
Team the Best Team - Doom Tree
(aka the song played during weather on Episode 27 - First Date)

You adjusted your messenger bag on your shoulder as you pushed your way into the radio station. Today was your second month of interning at Night Vale Community Radio, and you had been assigned to Cecil Palmer's broadcast. Cecil. Gershwin. Palmer. You'd wanted to get into radio for as long as you could remember, and this was it, your big shot.

"Morning!" You called out, unsure if you were early or not, mainly because none of the clocks in Night Vale work. "Hello?"

You heard a deep voice answer your call. "Morning! Intern Y/N, right?"

"Yes, Cecil. I have an extra coffee, they messed up my order this morning. Do you want some coffee?" You let yourself into the panel room beside the actual recording area. What you saw was a bit of a surprise, Cecil on his boyfriend Carlos' lap, the two of them making out. You had to hold back a snort as you knocked on the doorframe.

Cecil jumped up, more startled than anything, but Carlos was clearly flustered. "In the recording studio?" You fake gasped. "I expected this out of Cecil but really, Carlos?"

"Oh shush." He blushed as Cecil sat in a chair across from him.

"So, coffee...?" You trailed off, seeing the two cups on the table. "Ah, never mind." You set the tray down, taking out one cup to take a sip out of.

Leaning against the table, you closed your eyes to relish the warm liquid sliding down your throat. Carlos' oaky voice broke your silence as you opened your eyes. "I've actually got uh, an intern of my own here who'd probably like that extra coffee. I kept him up all night at the house that doesn't exist, you'll be able to find him wandering around here somewhere. Eager young man, wanted to come in and watch my segment on the radio."

"Yeah, I'll definitely do that."

Cecil interrupted your preparations to leave to find this sceince intern. "Intern Y/N, can you first feed Khoshekh? I meant to do it when I got in but, I got a bit distracted. And I'm going on in seven minutes."

"Khoshekh is hovering by a sink in the men's bathroom."

"Yes? Your point?"

You sighed, feeding a cat in the men's room was not the weirdest thing you'd done during your internship at Night Vale Community Radio. "Nothing, I'll go do that now."

First you went into the hallway closet to grab a can of cat food then made sure nobody saw you as you slipped into the men's room. In the bathroom, you went to work wrestling with the pull tab on the canned food. You won, but the victory was short-lived, because soon after, you cut your finger on the sharp metal too. "Aw, oh my god!" You hissed, running the tap to wash out the cut.

Khoshekh mimicked your hiss, earning him a glare from you. "You're lucky you're cute, Mr. Darkness."

You looked up at the mirror from your wound to see a tall man with glasses, dark brown hair, casual jeans, a button-up shirt, and a lab coat standing behind you, an eyebrow arched. "Are you okay, miss?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" You turned off the water to grab a few paper towels. "I was just trying to refill Khoshekh's food when the can fought back."

"So that's why you're in the men's room." The man's voice was like Cecil's in the sense that it was pleasing to your ears, but this man's was much more melodic and soothing to you. He stepped up to the sink to wash his hands as you meekly wrapped your finger in the paper towels. "I'm Mark, by the way, an intern down at the lab."

"Oh, you work with Carlos, right?" You fiddled with the cat food.

Mark took the can from you and began spooning it out with the plastic spoon you had also brought. "Yeah, I do, I'm guessing you're one of Cecil's interns?"

"I'm Y/N, I'd really like to shake your hand but I don't think you want blood all over it."

"Not particularly." He smiled at you, and gestured to the water bowl. "You need help refilling that, too?"

"Would you? Also, you have a wonderful smile. It's absolutely perfect."

After he had finished that, you pet Khoshekh with your good hand before leaving the bathroom. "Hey uh, I've got an extra cup of coffee in the recording studio if you want it. Carlos should be going on air soon, you can watch him."

Mark's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah, follow me!" You grabbed his hand, leading him down the hallway and quietly into the panel room. Dana was already in there, and you motioned for Mark to be quiet.

Carlos was sitting in the broadcasting room with Cecil, and you both waved a greeting to your bosses. Handing Mark the coffee, you picked up and your own and began listening to the boyfriends.

Carlos was going on and on about something scientific, nearly oblivious to Cecil's affectionate gushing over him. "They're ridiculous sometimes." Dana scoffed, amused.

"Ridiculously cute." You corrected her, looking over to Mark to see how he was reacting, but he was engrossed in Carlos' scientific explanation.

After Carlos' segment, the weather was put on. Dana excused herself to grab something to eat, and Cecil and Carlos amiably chatted away in the broadcasting room, leaving you alone with Mark.

"So when did you arrive in Night Vale?" You asked Mark, leaning back in your seat. "I know you're new because I'd remember such good hair like yours."

"Oh just about a month ago, I am pretty new here, but I'm really happy to be Carlos' team. It's an honor to learn from him."

"That's why I haven't seen you before! One, because you just came, and two, you've been doing science stuff the whole time!"

Mark frowned. "Why wouldn't I? This town is the most scientifically interesting town I've ever been in!"

"Oh Mark, perfect in voice and hair. You've honestly only thought of scientifically interesting things?"

He was oblivious to your flirtations. "Well, science is my job, it's my life!"

"Don't you ever think of or do things that aren't scientifically interesting? Personal stuff?"

Mark seemed confused and flustered at what you were hinting at. "Why would I do personal stuff?"

"For personal reasons." You shrugged, sipping your coffee and not taking your eyes off him. "Tell me, have you ever been on a date?"

"Does studying antimatter in high school Physics class count?"

"Not really, Mark." You stood up, walking over to him. "For such a smart guy you are so dumb."

"What do you mean?" The man was blushing fervently now, and you gently removed his glasses, setting them down on the counter.

"You wouldn't be able to know that someone liked you if they got down on one knee and proposed to you, your only love is your science!"

"Not true. As of now, it is, but I think I could love something else. Someone else." He rested a hand on yours. "Eventually. You know, as long as they don't drop down on one knee and propose to me this very second."

"Okay, I won't." You smirked, leaning down until your lips were just about to touch. "Your call, physics-boy."

"Very well." His warm breath washed over your mouth as he spoke, right before he pressed his lips to yours.

The stubble around his face probably from forgetting to shave due to experiments tickled a little bit, but you still deepened the kiss. His hands guided you onto his lap as yours went up into his luscious hair.

You didn't even know the door between the broadcasting room and the panel room has been opened until someone cleared their throat. Two someones, clearing their throats. Breaking the kiss, you squeezed your eyes shut and grimaced, knowing you had been caught.

"In the recording studio?" Cecil fake-gasped, mocking what you had said before.

"I expected this out of Y/N, but Mark?" Carlos joined in, and you almost hear the shit-eating grins on their faces.

"Oh shut it, you two." You got off Mark, rolling your eyes at the men who most definitely did have shit-eating grins on their faces.

"C-Carlos, I'm-" Mark stammered, putting his glasses back on, but his boss' laughter stopped him mid-sentence.

"Don't apologize, you crazy kids have fun, alright?" The scientist wrapped an arm around his boyfriend. "As long as it doesn't interfere with work, you here me?"

"I agree." Cecil added, leaning into Carlos' shoulder.

You glanced at the panel, seeing that the weather was almost over. "Cecil, you better run back in there, you're getting back on air in fifteen seconds."

"Oh shoot! Thanks, Intern Y/N!" He dashed back into the broadcasting studio as Dana entered the panel room again.

She sat down at the panel, bringing Cecil on just in time, as if nothing had happened while she was gone.