"Can't fulfill all of my greasy Los Angeles fast food dreams by sitting here!" He got to his feet and started gathering up the trash and bowls. The curry udon he handled gingerly, as if afraid the lukewarm liquid might somehow burn his skin if it sloshed over the side of the bowl. (Not an unreasonable concern, he thought, when he could still feel the sting of it on his tongue.)

As his gaze drifted over to the noodle stand and its sour-faced owner, his movements slowed. "Do you, uh...want to grab some lids for these while I finish up?" he asked, doing his best to hide his wariness behind a slightly forced smile.