"Why did you sabotage your future, Gabriel? I find it hard to understand. At this point, you are already ahead of some scientists I know. You have an intuitive understanding of these matters at a rare level."
I take a step back, even though I would rather stay close to him, endlessly catching the scent of his silky strands and the subtle fragrance of his body.
"I didn’t exactly plan on… you know," I gesture vaguely, "sabotaging myself and ending up like this."
Silence.
The only sounds in the room are the quiet scraping of the metal fingers of Anzo Ferro’s former arm moving across the surface of the lab table and Blue’s slightly elevated heartbeat.
I don’t say anything for a while. I can feel it creeping in, that familiar weight, the awareness of how far off track everything went.
"I had something lined up," I admit after a moment, my voice gloomy. "An internship, maybe a junior position later. Nothing huge, but it was a start."
"Where?"
"D-Project. A division that tests the security of client systems and designs new solutions in that area."
There is a pause. I don't look at him. My eyes are fixed on the floor, and for a few seconds I stay like that, letting the silence stretch.
Then, after a moment, he speaks, the tone of his voice a bit softer than before.
"My company maintains an internal IT division."
I glance up, slightly surprised.
"They are responsible for infrastructure, data security, and systems architecture across all facilities," he continues. "The scale is… nontrivial. Director Flanegin would surely welcome you with open arms."
I straighten up a little.
"But that is not the only department where you could be useful. We have bioengineering, nanotechnology. You could choose something for yourself. If you decided on a direction, I could arrange something like an internship for you after you graduate from your majors. That will be in… eight months, correct?"
Slowly, uncertainly, I nod. "Yes. In May."
Then he immediately adds, his tone firm again, "You will, of course, remain in your current bodyguard role as your primary responsibility. That is not negotiable."
I still stare at him, stunned.
"But," Blue continues, "there is no inherent reason you couldn't spend some time with them when your duties allow it, learning, acquiring experience."
"You’re serious?"
"Yes."
I search his face, trying to find some hidden catch.
"Why?" I ask finally. "I mean… you don’t have to do that. You obviously hate me."
Something flickers in Blue’s eyes, and he quickly turns his head to the side. "No, Gabriel," he says calmly. "I don’t hate you."
I keep staring at him.
"But you’re pissed at me," I mutter. "Majorly."
"It doesn’t matter what I, personally, feel. With a mind like yours," he emphasizes his words, "it would be a terrible waste to let it go underutilized."
I blink again in utter shock. I don't think I will ever get used to compliments, and the ones from him feel… genuine, almost overwhelming. Maybe one day I'll learn to just accept them and say thank you?
He continues before I can respond.
