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***
-Ah, shit.
I jerked my hand away, waving it from side to side in a naive attempt to escape the burn.
All around me were tools of varying degrees of usefulness, though many of them were just for show, since I'd never used them. But here were some of the personalities that made me keep them with me.
-The stupid intelligence services...
-I can hear everything.
Dr Otto's assistant put her foot down and looked at me with a piercing gaze. Her blonde hair was bunched up, and her stern glasses only added to the image of a pedantic and prim worker who would give her soul for rules and regulations.
-"Stupid pretty women supervisors.-Mr Sullivan, we've been through this before," Clara took off her glasses, massaging her eyelids with her fingers, "you can't just destroy a laboratory worth millions of dollars, steal a project worth billions of dollars, and put a lot of New Yorkers at risk, and then get away with simple words.
-"Stupid laws.
-I hear you, Mr Sullivan," and though I mumbled more in jest, knowing full well that I had earned my present position, and that I had been treated fairly godly and lightly, I was a little offended, "and though Otto has forgiven you, I have not. Neither have my colleagues who are counting on these developments.
-I was the perfect volunteer!
-You've set all our work back years, Mr Sullivan," her eyes shot with lingering rage and resentment. A terrible mixture of the image of a strict teacher and the gaze of a maniac, -If it were up to me....
-Yes, yes, yes, yes... I'd have been banging on the bunk and rattling fancy bracelets by now.
-Yes.
The dry tone has returned. That's not how she talks to Octavius. Two-faced bitch.
Exhaling heavily, I went back to work, checking samples of the old manipulators Otto had discarded months ago. I had to go through all the samples again and find most of the flaws, then move on to the next series and compare the results, calculating the recurring errors.
It was a tedious job, thank God I could do it almost on automatic. My fingers easily ran over the small microcircuits, wires, and steel plates, getting deeper inside.
-So, a little brute force wouldn't hurt....
Obeying my words, one of my own tentacles came out from behind me, effortlessly pulling apart the segments of its lab counterpart.
-Good girl.
Having stroked the manipulator, as if caressed a cat, I was about to return to work, but behind my back the fuss began again. Rolling around in my chair, pushing my manipulators off the floor, I turned to face Clara, who was tensely scrutinising the tentacles.
-I don't understand why you were left with them, -we've talked about this more than once and more than twice, too. Almost every time the girl is alone with me, she brings it up, and I think she's already pissed off her superiors with it, - it's stupid, irrational and dangerous...
-You do remember that on top of these cuties, I've got half a kilo of explosives strapped to my spine.
-That's the only thing that makes me feel better, otherwise you think I'd stay in the same room with you? -Yeah.
-How rude.
-You're a criminal, Sullivan.
-That's not what the committee you assembled thought.
-Everybody can make mistakes.
-Especially you.
-You're being snippy?!
-Well, I'm not a brilliant scientist for you to flatter me," her cheeks flared and a vein swelled in her neck. Clara's eyes twitched dangerously, showing me how much she'd like to put a bullet in me right now," Relax. My probation is almost over and soon I'll be able to walk the streets without you having to watch my every move.
-If it weren't for Otto's intercession-
-The old song about the main thing. What does he see in you? You're a broken record.
-Snob.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, lady. Hold your horses," my tentacles rose belligerently, though I turned away from her, deciding to get back to work rather than continue this pointless dialogue, "self-defense has never been abolished.
-It works if you don't provoke anyone, Shawn.
-Yo!
Spinning round, I raised all my limbs in a cheer, not even faking joy. My second escort entered the lab with the coveted bomb remote on his back.
-Hello, Legolas. What does your elven eye see?
-Jester.
Without fear or even the slightest apprehension, Clint calmly approached me, shaking my hand and dropping into a nearby chair. Whereas in the early days he had lurked and hid in shadows, under ceilings or other suspicious places.... Almost not in the baskets with dirty laundry climbed into, but when I had to figure him out a couple of times, the man stopped lurking and now quietly walks around, playing video games with me or chatting about various topics. I wasn't fooled, though. Unlike Clara's direct aggression, Falcon Eye was many times more duplicitous and dangerous. He wouldn't read morals, make speeches, and do other nonsense if I suddenly behaved inappropriately. Unlike a girl, he'd push the button at the first sign of suspicion.
-Come on, finish up and let's go eat, but don't forget to unplug your toys. -Yeah, you'll forget.
-Yeah, you'll forget.
And then began an extremely unpleasant and painful process, when I had to climb into a kind of vertical bath, in which my new manipulators were disconnected. Snaps, flashes of pain, constant rustling as if from Styrofoam .... Not much positive.
It's been so many times over the past few months that I've had this procedure, but I still can't get used to it. To stop feeling half your limbs in an instant is not something you can adjust to.
-Well, are you okay?
Clint helped me from the floor to the couch, where I was already dressed in normal, casual clothes, without the huge cutouts on my back."Although, my tentacles are a lot smaller now, so the holes aren't so huge."
His eyes darted against his will to the manipulators hovering above the ground. Armoured plates were slowly rising around them, securing and locking the dangerous weapons under lock and key.
They were shorter, thinner, and far less dangerous than the ones Otto had originally created. Yes, they were easier to conceal, easier to use, and the load was many times less... But it was one of the old, successful designs, so they didn't have half the power and capabilities.
-Let's go, lad. Don't let it get to your head.
-I know, it's just that no matter how many times I go through this, it's hard every time. -I know.
-I don't think I can even imagine what you're going through," I shrugged calmly at Clint's words and took his hand, rising from the couch, "just be patient. There's only two months left, and you'll be free as a bird...
-Ph, do you believe that?
Clint didn't answer my provocative question, only smiled miserably. There was no need to talk about it, because we both knew that my life wouldn't be the same. I had done too much wrong, and now I would be under the hood forever, without the right to refuse the "requests" of the famous S.H.I.E.L.T.
But it made sense. Although I was now almost like a dog on a chain, obliged to bark at the behest, but not sitting in jail. My parents had money and security, confident that I was living safely in a dorm at Columbia University. And my skills, knowledge and abilities are improving every day.
I guess you could say it's perfect.... But the realisation that my life is almost entirely in the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D. is exhausting.
-See you later, Clara.
-Bye, Clint. Criminal.
Nodding her head at us in turn, the woman who was always unhappy with my company left the lab first, turning down numerous corridors, probably in a hurry to meet Octavius.
In what was a small but distinct advantage, after every time I was supervised, the operative snapped at Otto in bed, forcing the old skoof to break away from his games and pay attention to the disgruntled lady.
"Eh, I wish my disgruntled lady would pay attention to me too."
-Why are you sighing?
-I'm just thinking about Gwen. -Yeah.
-No, not at all. I'm not taking you to her again. You could ask Clara, but I'll pass.
-Oh, she'll do it, she'd love to see me get out of my web cocoon again.
-That's it. And I didn't like pulling you out of that suspicious substance, even if it was a girl who let it out.
-Fu, Clint.
A new shrug of the shoulders was my answer. But Falcon Eyes wouldn't be himself if he didn't broach the subject again, offering admonishing advice.
-But as soon as you're cleared of the suspicion of possession, visit her right away. The girl is obviously worried about you.
-Yeah, I know.
Rubbing the place where the woman's precise fist broke my fucking rib, I wince painfully.
-It's your own fault. If you hadn't broken the law, everything would have been fine," Clint pointed his finger and led us through the intricacies of the corridors of the rebuilt building. You're young and free to do what you want. There's no need to get hung up on...
-Oh, stop it. You're acting like an old dad. Even my old man doesn't do that sort of thing.
-I'm not an old dad.
"Now you're offended."
We walked in silence for a couple of minutes, but nothing is ever easy, especially for my minder.
-Hey, Sean! Hi.
-Hello, Felicia. -Hello, Felicia.
My eyes involuntarily ran over the girl's image, causing her to rumble contentedly. Glittering her eyes from the successful "shot," she nestled next to me, completely ignoring Clint, to which he habitually... Shrugged, yes. The old man wasn't exactly rich in emotion.
I, on the other hand, had my full attention on the girl. A picture worthy of artists was pleasing to the eyes. Her loose, lush hair fell from her shoulders, swaying slightly in the wind.
Light, modest clothes that only emphasised her figure. A couple of simple, unpretentious pieces of jewellery and almost no make-up.
She was touchingly clutching her textbooks to her chest, playing the role of a sweet, in-love student....
But I knew what the devil was in that quiet pool.
-I see you've changed your image again today.
-Felicia came close to me, twisting round her axis, lifting her skirt a little, showing me her firm, juicy thighs, I didn't know you were such a fan of modest wrapping.
-Fel, I-
-I know, I know," she pretended to pout, but the hormones, four months of abstinence and fatigue didn't let me push her away, "but I didn't do anything wrong. And Gwen has long been more interested in her costume than in you.....
It's just another one of those conversations I've been having over and over again. And, I'll be honest, it was getting harder and harder to deny, as Hardy noticed.
She could see my gaze, feel me reacting to her, and she liked it. Her breathing was getting heavier, her eyes glistening in anticipation. She bit down on her full, plump lips, teasing me with her tongue and shooting hot glances at me from under her half-closed eyelids.My heart was pounding faster, and my trousers were on fire. I struggled to control my face, but judging by the satisfied smile spreading across that sly face... I'd lost. I lost.
The image of a defeated boxer appeared in my mind, his head hung down tiredly, raising his fist in surrender and admitting defeat.
The gong struck three times, the crowd stood silent in anticipation, and without realising it, I reached forward.
But the girl drew back, leaving behind her only a flurry of familiar perfume scents.
Scratching my tongue at my mistake, I received only an air kiss in return, and then satisfied with herself Felicia left our sausage pair and went about her business, almost in a sprint.
-You're screwed, kid," Clint clapped me on the shoulder with an old man's grunt, "but you did good, you held on long enough.
-I feel like shit.
-Well, you didn't stand a chance from the start. -Yeah. I've known such women, they won't give up what they want," Falcon Eyes shivered and pushed me towards the exit, forcing me to take my eyes off Felicia's lower nineties, "why do you think she wouldn't let me kiss her now?
-Fuck, old man, stop it.
-I'm just asking, if you don't know, you should have said so.
-I gave myself a few seconds to meditate and then I spoke, "She wants to win. She wants to trample on my old feelings, get Gwen to make a mistake and reject me completely, and then claw at me and never let me go again.
-I'm glad you realise that, or it would be worse. I'm probably too biased, though. She's a good girl, she's smart, she can handle herself. That's a very good option.
-Mum, Grandpa forgot to take his pills again and now he's being clever...
-Oh, that's it.
-Clint, come on, Clint. I was kidding! HEY!
I chased after Clint, because in addition to the fun of the joke and trying to apologise, I'm not allowed to go further than twenty-five metres away from him, otherwise the sensor on my back will beep and give the first warning, after which there may be problems.
We travelled the rest of the way in silence. Once in a while we exchanged opinions about one thing or another. Everything had been discussed long ago that could be said out loud, so now we were more silent, letting our interlocutor immerse himself in his own thoughts.
But now we reached a fork in the road, figuratively speaking.
-Will you go to see him tonight?
-I should," I shrugged, remembering what my dear teacher had done to me there, "but I don't feel like it.
-Sometimes men have to make hard choices.....
-All right, I'm out of here. I can't make fun of you anymore, it's not even sporting.
-You little arsehole.
-Dedan.
We exchanged pleasantries and walked towards the freshly built building that had been set up especially for me. It was a stereotypical army hangar, with a huge number of simulators, training weapons and other trappings of a cultivator's gym.
Baths, candles, Asian interiors, incense and much, much more.
-I sent him a text, he'll be here soon.
-Oh, I'll be sore again tomorrow. -Oh.
-Is that worse than switching off your extra claws? -Worse than switching off your extra claws?
-It's hard to compare. If it makes me feel helpless and weak, it's a mixture of pain and self-deprecation.
-М?
-It's hard to explain without giving you secrets and other arcane shit," I started to change my clothes without embarrassing anyone, glinting in the light of my steel implants, around which scars had only recently grown over, "he's letting someone else's chi flow through me, hot and full of emotion.... One might say, of one's own will, or even consciousness. Fuck, it's like it's alive and always trying to put me down and hurt me, burning away the remnants of that black stuff. It's very unpleasant, but extremely effective. After each session, I can feel myself getting stronger, and the last drops of the cursed mask are gone from my veins.
-How long do you have to do this?
-Why do you think they gave me six months? -Why? Five for cleansing and another month for additional flushing.
-Hmm, I see.
I don't know why he asked that, cos he probably knows more than I do. Probably checking my level of awareness or the fact that I'm going to tell him and how much I trust him? That special agent, always playing his spy games.
-I see you're ready. -Great, then let's get on with it. We'll do the classic, full contact first, then meditation.
Before I could get a word in edgewise, Danny Rand launched himself into the fray, knocking me to the ground and sending me flying. I was used to his attitude and even understood it, but it still hurt that my friend and mentor had broken off our relationship and never gave me a chance to repair it.
In my heart, however, I had a hope that once all the procedures were completed, I would be able to communicate normally with Danny again, and not just receive in a dry, business-like manner.
***
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