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The nightshifts are terrible.
It has been almost a year and 3 months since Naomi started working at Gigaloaf Labs. Throughout her spend at her workplace she has learned a lot of things.
One such thing was to keep your voice down. Lay low. Don’t spend much time socializing, ‘cause it will never end well for you. Or at least these were her thoughts, as she walked down the corridor, touching the wall with her fingertips. She hated the nightshifts for the most part. Well, the only good thing was, that the tasks were significantly lighter than during the day. You just had to check on the working machines. Maybe, if you were unlucky, someone tasked you with more paperwork.
She hated how quiet it was, however. It was eery. Even though she didn’t talk much to her colleagues, she did enjoy them chatting around her office – with the only exception being when they chatted about her. But on this evening, there was none of that. AndNaomi had nothing else to do.
She opened the door to a balcony on the fifth floor. This was the place she went to the most during her shifts. It was quiet, and had a beautiful view of Starlight City, her hometown. She loved looking at the lights sparkling, the busy, city atmosphere.
Most of her colleagues would think otherwise. They’d deduce that Naomi is not a big city girl. That she’d probably like something small, like the Calypso Island with the staggering population of 12 people. They’d deduce that Naomi was not a people person.
The truth is, that no one knew anything about her in Gigaloaf Labs. She was an enigma of some sort – She always tried to be helpful, but she always came off as standoffish, aloof.
She was never one of them.
Naomi lit on a cigarette. It was a habit that she picked up from the time working at the labs. A habit, that she despised with all her heart, because she couldn’t handle the guilt from it. Like – What would her mother think? She was always so uneasy whenever she saw her friends -not Naomi- smoking, she’d probably be really down if she knew her daughter has followed their footsteps. Even if she told her she’d never do it.
As she exhaled the smoke, she started searching for her apartment in the lights of Starlight City. She didn’t live far from the Laboratory, but her apartment was not visible from the balcony. She could only estimate her little, homey, albeit a little dingy apartment. She pictured herself home for a moment, with her 3 cats, two being rescues she just picked up recently. She could just hope that Smokey (her *first* cat) didn’t somehow trash the apartment with her new kitten friends.
-Taking a break? – A low voice with a gentle hum called. A voice Naomi knew oh too well.
She turned back to greet her boss, Professor Fitz, but all she could muster for the moment was an ill-placed smile. The Professor smiled back, somehow more genuine. They were alike in a lot of ways, and Naomi knew that. They were both unreadable to others. They were also unreadable to each other.
Fitz moved next to her, looking down at the city as well. Naomi put her cigarette out the moment his hands touched the balcony fence.
-I-I’m getting back to work, just a moment…-She murmured.
-There’s no rush. – the Professor smiled back. He gestured to the scenery, as if he wanted to show Naomi something. It was enough to stop her from rushing back into the office. The two stood in silence for a few moments before the Professor broke the silence.
-I like going out here as well. Sometimes the breeze hits my face just right to get me the energy to work.
Naomi didn’t quite know how to reply to that.
-Do you go out for that breeze too?
-Not quite, Professor… O-or I dunno. Maybe it helps…-She said, scratching her head. She was still trying to answer something meaningful. To try to seem smart, maybe.
Fitz just shrugged, looking out to the bustling streets again. He didn’t seem like he registered her answer at all. Naomi grew increasingly more nervous, as the silence between them got longer.
-A-am I in trouble Professor?... – She asked sheepishly.
-For what exactly? – he asked back, looking back at her. Naomi hated when he did that, because he was the type who demands eye contact when he’s talking to you. Which wouldn’t be hard, but he had the greenest eyes she’s ever seen in her lifetime. They weren’t *normal* green she thought. They were comically bright, neon green. Which, frankly, scared her a little.
-I’m behind with my paperwork. – She said, as she touched the back of her neck with her fingers in a feeble attempt to comfort herself. – I’m also way behind my progress report on the warp key. I’m behind with everything, really. I’m sorry.
-Oh, don’t fret. – he said, putting his hands in his pockets. - You’ve still got time. If you need help you could maybe, ask your team leader for some assistance though.
Naomi looked down at the balcony floor. On one hand she was kinda proud, because she broke her record in, what she called, the “Professor Fitz eye contact” game. On the other hand, she exactly knew what was coming from her boss. And she wasn’t too ready to hear it.
-Or is there some kind of discrepancy between you and your team? – he asked.
-I’m... I don’t know. I still need to learn a lot. -Naomi answered, trying to revert her gaze back to him. – I understand if it’s hard with me. I sometimes mess things up.
Fitz looked at the cars going on their way into the city, somehow deep in thought.
-Please, if you have any disagreements, I need to know. I would like for everyone to get along. Or at least to tolerate one another.
-There’s nothing, I swear…- There was definitely something, but at that moment, Naomi would only think about the many different ways that something could backfire on her if she told the Professor. -I’m just not the most extroverted type, so I don’t hang around with the others as much.
-Can relate to that. -The Professor replied along with a faint, somehow relieved smile.
It took Naomi a few moments to come up with a reply again.
-It’s probably not easy. Being the boss as an introvert.
-It really isn’t. – Fitz chuckled. – But for all it’s worth, I like it. Liked it so much, now I’m the definite boss until Iggy grows up.
-Iggy? Is he your…
-Grandson, yes. – the Professor said, pulling out a picture from the back of his phone.
-He’s lovely. – For the first time in a while, Naomi smiled. -How old is he?
-14. Soon, 15. Time flies so fast. – He sighed putting the picture back into his phone case. – It was like yesterday when I held him in my arms first. Now soon, he’s going to be taking care of me! How crazy is that?
-There’s still a lot of time for that. -Naomi said.
-It’ll go by in a blink. – Fitz smiled, looking at her. – You’ll know that once you’ll have a family.
-I already know that. I own cats. -she replied. She wanted to make a joke but somehow her words came out dead serious.
Fitz said nothing, just grinned. Somehow, he got the joke, despite how badly Naomi worded it. In turn, she smiled back at him.
For a brief moment, Naomi thought he truly understood her.
-It’s getting cold. -he said slowly turning back to the balcony door- Maybe you should get back to warm up.
-I will, Professor. – she nodded, stepping back to the warmth of the laboratory. She also needed to catch up on that goddamn paperwork. On this evening she felt like she could do that.
Maybe the night shifts weren’t so bad.