You cant be a pro with just one trick

He doesn’t avert his eyes like any normal person would do when being caught. He only simply …tilts his head to the side and continues staring. Surely he is not still up in arms about orientation day? She did what she thought a rational person would do and stared back. The soldering gun she had been using was placed onto the table where the synthetic body casing laid that she had been adamant to finish by the end of the week, hand under her chin, elbow to the table and she held his fixed stare. 

He is attractive, she would have to admit. Despite the obvious staring problem. Older, but not a problem for her, she crushed on a few of her high school teachers before and had a quick fling with one of her college professors before cutting it off. He’s tall and lean, though not like the Prodigy uniform shows much off anyways, and under the lights of the lab it makes his already pale hair a halo atop his head. She feels her fingers itch to want to run her hands through it and figure out if it is soft or not. 

The silent battle was interrupted as his head tilted back the other direction and he turned to leave, though not before casting another look towards her which she returned with a wink, his only response to that was a slight raise of his light colored brows and the doors hissed as it signaled his departure of the Synthetic Lab. 

✦✦✦

Ramona checked the time on her watch, almost seven am as she passed the island's main hub building and headed back to the dormitories to shower. Another morning, another successful jog before work. As the dormitories came into view, so did her not so secret stalker sitting on a concrete bench. Something told her she should just continue jogging past him and continue her slowly building routine …That something was not listened to as she slowed to a stop, paused her music playing from the one ear bud she had in, playing some classic rock song she used to listen with her dad all the time, the device was tucked into the pocket of her jogging shorts, and offered the friendliest of smiles she could muster being sweat drenched. 

“It's a beautiful morning, huh!?” She started, panting as she tried to catch her breath.

“Suppose so.” Was all Kirsh offered the conversation as he stood. 

Ramona clicked her tongue, looking to the dormitories, wondering who was starting to stir awake, “Look…” She might as well get to the issue at hand, “This week you've been staring pretty hard core and I know you are the Chief Scientist around here so looking over people seems in your job description, but you don't watch the others as much as you do me,or well at least I can't tell if you watch anyone else because I always feel your eyes on me. So, is there an issue?”

“Ramona Sinclair. Synthetic Tech.” 

“Yeaah?” She doesn’t like the way he announced her job title, “What is–” 

“Your file says you started in robotics. A prodigy in your own right in what you could accomplish so you took your knowledge in robots and moved to Synthetics. Graduating early and getting offers–” 

Ramona placed her hands on her hips, “Where is this going, sir?” 

“Prodigy Corporation is fairly new in her own right and competing against big names such as Weyland-Yutani. And coincidentally before your employment here, you were working at a college of theirs, teaching and researching about Synthetics.” 

“What are you getting at?” Ramona questioned before there is a dawning realization in her mind, “You think I am some kind of WeyYu spy?!” The staring made sense now, “Oh my fucking God.” She cursed under her breath taking a few steps back from him, “You think I would jeopardize my entire career to spy on Boy and his growing little empire?!” Her hands ball at her sides, painted nails digging into her palms to try and pull herself out of the spiraling pit of anger in her chest and before she thinks about punching Kirsh, a superior staff member, in his stupidly handsome face. 

Kirsh’s eyes glance down to her shaking hands at her side before back to her face, “Should there be any concern about you being here, Miss Sinclair?” 

The curse she wants to spit at him is on the tip of her tongue, but she remembered an old therapist’s breathing techniques and inhales and exhales a deep breath before answering, “I am not nor will I ever be a spy for WeyYu. I am here because I like doing what I do. I applied to start her and I got hired, that’s it.” She eyes the watch face she had turned to the inside of her wrist, “If you are done interrogating me over something so stupid as my previous employment then I am behind schedule for the day..” She turned to walk away. The now cool sweat on her skin made her feel grimey and in desperate need of a shower.

“Does anyone know?” 

Ramona should have kept walking, her brain told her to keep walking, but she stopped to turn back to Kirsh, “Does anyone know what?” 

“About your relation to our leader?” 

She took a step back, “What are you talking about?” 

“Theodore Sinclair, Professor of Microbiology at a New Siam Community College. Seems like a reputable man in his own right. Your mother Elora Sinclair, no job on file I assume she must have ended up some stay at home wife.” Kirsh rattled off as if her parents' jobs were common knowledge, “But before she was married her name used to be the same as our leader, and as his father. Elora Kavalier.” 

Ramona took a step back again then forward, nearly lunging as she got in Kirsh’s face, “Why do you know that?” She seethed, “How do you know any of that!?” 

“I was merely curious about the way you hid yourself from Atom, did a background check to wonder why exactly.” 

“That feels like an invasion of privacy or ..or something! I mean you snooped that hard because of some random act I did?!” She’s near chest to chest with Kirsh, “I mean what …why..” The anger slowly built itself again in her chest tripping her up.

“You avoid my earlier question, Miss Sinclair. Does anyone know of your relation to our leader?” 

“Fuck you!” The curse spilled from Ramona’s mouth and her fist was up before she realized, though even quicker than her action is that of Kirsh’s own, grabbing her arm with a tight enough grip to bruise. His grip is impossibly strong, and he barely moved as she tried to break free from him. 

She stopped her apparent useless attempt at freeing herself, she bites back the thought of biting at him like a wild dog, she hadn’t stooped that low to anger yet, and looked at him. It's now, standing so close to him that she can see it. While her chest and breathing both shudder in ragged anger, his doesn’t so much as move the tiniest bit. She can’t even feel his breath from how close she is to him. Combined with that and his immoveable grip on her arm. 

“You’re…a Synth.” The statement comes out like a question she knows, but she’s too focused now on his face trying to find traces of seams in his flesh but sees only the fine lines and moles on his face. 

Kirsh let her go and though now free she doesn’t want to move, she wanted to study him and the work that was put into his body to make him look so human, but her watch beeps at her and breaks the “want to” in her and she’s backed away from him and took the opportunity to escape, not choosing to look back at she feels Kirsh’s eyes on her back.

✦✦✦

Boy Kavalier stared at the tablet screen in front of him, feet propped up on his desk. Kirsh stood in front of him, “How long before our Hybrid body is completed?” 

“Two months at best, sir. The Sylvia’s are, as they put it, “fine tuning” their end and the body is still being made.” 

All Kavalier can do is roll his eyes. He is impatient, and he wanted it done, now. 

“Sir, this is a new technological advancement that you have put your life's work into.” Kirsh reminded, “In order for things to go as smoothly as possible for this we need to make sure there is nothing that can go wrong. Be smart.”

“Fine.” Kavalier can only huff as he sits the tablet on the desk, “We are still looking for a buyer anyways to be a subject.” 

“Sir, if I may make a suggestion.” Kirsh offered, “There is someone in the newest group of hires who has been making excellent strides in the Synthetic department. I would like to petition that they join the Hybrid job.” 

“Oh yeah, who? It’s rare for you to give a recommendation.” 

“Ramona Sinclair, your cousin.” 

Kavalier frowned, then eyebrows rose, “Oh! …She’s working here?” He reached for the tablet again, tapping and sending something to someone before he himself stood, “Continue the work, I’ll decide if she gets a promotion or not.”

✦✦✦

Though Ramona’s morning started out the way it did, the rest of the day went a lot smoother, and though she didn’t feel the eyes of her shadow on her anymore, as Kirsh was no where to be found since this morning, she still felt the need to keep looking over her shoulder, wondering what else was going to happen. 

She didn’t stick around the lab as late as she usually did, she had wanted nothing more than to go to her little dorm room and curl into a ball and pretend the morning events were just a bad dream. As she walked to the dormitories, she rubbed at her arm as she passed where she and Kirsh had been standing. His grip had in fact left a bruise. 

“Hey Mo!” Freida caught her outside the doors. She was thankful that Freida had been the first one to come up and talk to her, otherwise she didn’t think she would try to make any friend in this place. 

“Hey Frieda.” She answered back, she stopped as she noticed the other people around her, she tried to remember their names from breakfast the first day around the dorm’s cafeteria table. The tall guy with the military buzz cut is ..Elias, call him Eli, the other guy he’s become friends with, Ethan? And two other girls. Becca and Raven, “What’s up?” 

“We were planning on having a movie night in the common area. Wondering if you wanted to join us?” 

“Oh uh …Not tonight, sorry. I’m just..” Ramona found herself rubbing at her arm again, “Tired. I think I want to call it a night and go to sleep. Next time though, I’ll definitely join.” She waits for the slew of angry protests from Frieda and the others for ditching the plan. Ramona had tried to make friends in high school and college but they all eventually fell out as she sank her time into her future career to make and keep friends. 

“That’s no big deal, we’ll keep a spot open for you in case you change your mind though.” 

With a small wave, Ramona left and headed inside and up to her room. Tapping the badge to the lock, listening to the satisfying little “click” it gave and stepped inside. 

Her bag dropped to her feet as she noticed the figure sitting criss cross on her bed, her childhood teddy bear in their hands. Kavalier looked up at her and held up the bear, “Hello big cousin.” He sing songs through it. 

The woman stands tall, back straight and firm, hands in pockets and eyes staring ahead and unfocused, as if the chattering around her was not worth her time. If it wasn't for the way her chest and shoulders moved with each breath she evenly took, that he could clearly see as she had taken her arms out of her gray Prodigy jumpsuit and had wrapped the sleeves around her waist, leaving her in a plain black tank top. He would have made the assumption that she was a Synthetic like him. Her hair is a dark brown shade thrown into a low loose bun, and the brightest blue has claimed a dyed streak in her hair. Kirsh can see the row of studded earrings that go up both her left and right ear, while the right supports to hoop at the top in the cartilage. 

She becomes animated, eyes blinking to life like an automated robot as another woman comes up to her and starts talking. The other woman, tan skinned and curves, points out something on her that makes her turn her body to the side, from this new angle Kirsh can see a tattoo of an assortment of flowers and vines on the back of her right shoulder. 

“Are we ready to start sir?” The tour instructor, a balding man in his late fifties, asked him in which he only gave a short nod, “Ladies, Gentleman!” They start, “My name is Abrams and I’ll be your tour guide today.” He joked, “And this is our Chief Scientist of Neverland, Kirsh.” He gestured to the Synthetic beside him who only offered another short nod, “I am sure most of you all know what departments you all will be studying in so I don’t need to go over that so when I do call your name, please come up and get your access badge from Kirsh. You all will only have level one clearance but that should be enough to get you through level one doors and in and out of your dormitories. Work well and make scientific breakthroughs and you will be rewarded with higher access badges and moved to the main building. So.” Abrams looked at his own tablet in his hands and began to rattle off names. 

None of them piqued Kirsh’s interest to remember them as they came up one by one to collect their badges, he is only interested in one name at the moment. 

“Ramirez, Freida.” The woman who first started speaking to the rule breaker comes up, and then finally, “Sinclair, Ramona.” Rule breaker is next as she weaves through the small crowd for her badge, hands kept in her pockets until she takes them out to collect it from him. Kirsh again tallies two more points up against her as he spots the woven bracelets she wears and her nails are painted varying shades of blue that match the bright streak in her hair. 

“Thank you.” She mumbled as she reached for the badge that he held back just shy of her hands. 

“Miss Sinclair.” He finally spoke, and her eyebrows raised a fraction, “It would be wise to look over and follow the handbook I am sure you were given when you first came here. The rules are in place for a reason, do adhere to them.” 

Ramona only gave him a smile, dimples forming on both sides of her cheeks, blue eyes, now that she is standing in front of him he can see the color, twinkle, “Come on sir, isn’t it fun to break the rules a little bit every now and then?” 

Kirsh’s only response is to stare as he hands the badge back, her fingers brush against his in her retrieval, sending a tingling sensation throughout his own, “Do make sure to be fully in uniform next time, Miss Sinclair.” He spoke to her retreating back as he rubbed his hands together to try and get rid of the odd feeling in his hands. 

Abrams cleared his throat, “Now that everyone has been counted for and has their badge, shall we get this show on the road?” Varying voices agree to the start and soon being led throughout the buildings. Kirsh takes his spot beside the line, like a teacher watching their students walk down the hall, subsequently putting him near Ramona and Freida as they had become fast friends it seemed and stuck together near the middle of the line. 

✦✦✦

It is the same prepared speech that Kirsh has heard many times from Abrams as he followed along so he mostly tunes out what he says, only giving his input when asked or smile and nod along with something said. He doesn’t have to stay here, he knows, he has important stuff to do back in the lab. Things that Kavalier would rather him be doing than this. He has seen everyone’s faces and therefore his research has been concluded but he stayed, maybe it is because Ramona, now fully in her Prodigy jumpsuit choosing to at least roll the sleeves up, holds some kind of fascination, the reason why still remains unclear to him. She had become an impromptu observation project for him. 

They run through the labs, Biology, Botany, Microbiology, until they stop at the very last one, “Here we have our Synthetic Lab!” Abrams announced. 

Kirsh watched as Ramona shuffled around to get a better look, blue eyes again twinkling. “Synthetics must be her field.” Kirsh makes a mental note. 

“Abrams, showing the recruits around I see?” An older woman with a man following behind her asked. 

“Ah, everyone is this Dame Sylvia and Arthur Sylvia. They are the heads of our new Synthetic Hybrid Program.”

Dame and Arthur greeted the crowd then Kirsh, again his only response is to nod, “We look forward to working with you.” Dame again waves and the two walk away, mumbling over something on a tablet. Kirsh looks from the corner of his eye as he sees Ramona shuffling closer and trying to stand taller on her tiptoes as if she could try and see exactly what they were working on. 

They are led out through the lab, Ramona still trying to catch peeks of whatever she could before they are stopped again.

“Abrams.” 

“Mr. Eins!” Abrams greeted, “Ladies and Gentlemen, This is Atom Eins, Prodigy Corps Second in Command around here.” He shook his hand, “You and Mr. Kavalier come to see our new fresh faces?” 

Kirsh observed as Atom appeared how Ramona was trying to hide herself as close to Freida as she could, head and eyes down, back and shoulders once straight, slouched in, trying to appear smaller, trying to disappear. A total difference than how she was in the Synthetic Lab nearly looking like she was going to bounce off its walls. 

“Kavalier is preoccupied at the moment.” Atom responded. 

“Will we ever get to meet Kavalier?” Someone from within the group asked. Eagerness laced in their voice.

“Perhaps. He is a very busy man.” Was Atom’s only answer, his eyes scanned the group. And Kirsh kept watching Ramona, having quickly ducked down to tie the shoestring of her boots that were already tied and double knotted and had not come out of place.  

“Kirsh, Kavalier has requested your assistance.” 

“Sir.” Kirsh offered a nod and with hands behind his back he left to group with Abrams. He again made himself another mental note to find out why Ramona Sinclair had acted the way she did. 

✦✦✦

The sun was low in the sky and bathed Neverland in an orange glow as Kirsh was heading back to his lab from leaving Kavalier’s office. He supposed the new recruits should be done with the tour and settling into their dormitories. Ramona Sinclair still sticks to his mind as do the two notes he made about her. 

The door to the lab opened with a soft hiss as he stepped inside, his tablet already out and scrolling through the list of files on everyone he has access to, “Sinclair, Ramona.” He taps her name and her chart pops up. He wondered briefly on how old her picture was as in her file she does not have the bright blue streak or the multitude of earrings she now has. He digs through the files, his first mental note is completed as he sees “Synthetic Research” and “Synthetic Builder” in her job class but there is a glaring issue that someone had not caught. She was coming from a Weyland-Yutani owned college. 

The second note, pertaining to her still, is her reaction to seeing Atom Eins. Kirsh decided to move his research to a bigger monitor so he could upload his findings to himself. As he pulls Ramona’s files to the computer, he is rolling his sleeve up to plug the cable into the port in his arm. The information floods in. Nothing of hers screams danger besides attending a Weyland-Yutani college, she is more achievements than anything. Only child, Mother and Father. Born and raised in New Siam–