Chapter 180: "You’re Not Completely Useless After All."

The words hung in the air between them, spoken with such natural ease that it took Neville a moment to process them. When he did, his head snapped up to find Liam watching him with an expression that was—

Oh.

Oh.

[I TOLD YOU,] Shelly’s voice exploded in his mind. [I LITERALLY TOLD YOU. FLAGS. FLAGS EVERYWHERE. YAH! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?]

Neville’s brain short-circuited. His default response kicked in. He smiled as usual and assumed that he had misheard it. Liam must’ve been joking around, a friendly teasing if you may, the kind of offhanded comment that didn’t mean anything.

"You’re too kind," he said, widening his smile deliberately. "But I think the scenery is doing most of the work."

Something flickered in Liam’s expression before it smoothed over into his usual friendly demeanor. "Right. Yeah. The scenery is pretty great."

An awkward silence stretched between them.

Then Liam cleared his throat. "Do you, um. Is there a way to get a copy of that photo? I felt like having one. Just, you know, as a memento of today."

Neville grabbed onto the change of subject gratefully. He didn’t even think about why Liam would need his photo and just went along with it.

"I only have the one print from this camera. But—" He pulled out his light brain, activating the image capture function. "I could take a picture for you with this. Digital, not quite as good, but—"

"That’ll do."

They swapped positions, Neville carefully framing Liam against the same backdrop. Liam smiled for the camera. Something about his expression was more warm, genuine than Neville had seen all day. Then the light brain captured the image with a soft chime.

"Here." Neville transferred it to Liam’s light brain. "Now we’re even."

"Actually..." Liam hesitated. "Would you mind if we exchanged? I’ll give you my photo if you give me a digital copy of yours."

The request was unexpected but not unreasonable. Neville considered it for a moment, then shrugged.

"Sure. I can take another one of myself later. But for now—" He held up the printed photo, the one Liam had taken of him against the moons. "You want this?"

"If you’re willing to part with it."

"It’s yours." Neville handed it over, watching as Liam accepted it with almost reverent care. "Now I have blackmail material if you ever embarrass me at work. Tsk, tsk, this smile is very convincing."

Liam laughed, the awkward tension from earlier dissolving. "Same goes for you. If someone asks me whether I know the mysterious Hope from the Secretarial Department, I’ll just whip out this photo as proof."

"I’m not that mysterious."

"You’re extremely mysterious. Half the company thinks you’re some kind of corporate spy sent by the CEO to keep tabs on his employees."

"You’re kidding me."

"Of course, I am. But it makes a good headline for a good gossip."

They walked back toward the main transit hub in comfortable silence. When they reached the dormitory buildings, it was time to part ways.

Liam paused and looked at Neville.

"Today was really fun," he said. "We should do this again sometime."

"We should." Neville meant it. Despite the awkward moment at the river, despite Shelly’s incessant commentary—he genuinely enjoyed himself. "Thanks for being my tour guide. And for not judging me too harshly for my ignorance."

"Haha, just go out and explore around more." Liam’s smile was warm. "Get home safe, Hope."

"You too, Rivera."

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

The anti-grav lift ascended smoothly, carrying Neville up. He leaned against the railing, watching the city shrink below him, and allowed himself a moment of peace.

[That was interesting, host,]

Shelly said, her voice thoughtful rather than teasing for once. She materialized at the corner of his vision, her emoticon face displaying a skeptical expression.

[Judging from his reactions, that alpha must have been after you since you first met.]

"I’m not trying to appeal to him," Neville muttered under his breath, too tired to care if the lift’s surveillance would pick up on his monologue. "We’re just friends."

[Obviously. You couldn’t be less interested in romance if you tried. Which brings me to my point—]

"Shelly."

[—since you clearly said that you don’t want to be in a romantic relationship with your target, how about trying to be with someone else?]

Neville closed his eyes. He knew where this was going.

Shelly had been nudging him toward some kind of romantic subplot for a while now. She seemed to be convinced that his complete lack of will to pursue Grayson romantically, even with the guise of raising his favorability, was somehow stunting his emotional growth.

[You once told me you wanted to experience having a relationship,] she continued, undeterred. [Back on Earth, you never dated—oh, just Hana, though. Now you have a second chance at life, and you’re spending it...by working. Now, you have to focus on survival, too. Don’t you see a pattern there?]

"The pattern is that some of us don’t have the luxury of romance," Neville said flatly. "I have a mission to complete. A world to save from collapsing. A percentage bar to fill. Romance isn’t exactly a priority."

[It could be.] Shelly’s voice softened. [Based on the several tropes I have in mind, an office romance would be perfect for someone in your situation. You and Liam are in different departments. You wouldn’t have to see each other constantly. You could have something real, something that’s just for you, separate from the mission.]

"I need time if I want romance. Are you willing to bend the rules for me?"

The question hung in the air. Shelly was quiet for a long moment, which was quite unusual for her.

[I’m willing to bend rules for you,] she said finally. [But I can’t. Even if I want to. (◕‿◕)✨]

"Tsk." Neville pushed off the railing as the lift reached his floor. "Useless."

[Rude! I’m very useful! I provide emotional support and excellent romantic advice!]

"Neither of which I asked for."

Neville pulled out his light brain, re-reading Bryan’s message one more time.

YourHope: Count me in. Looking forward to it.

[Host?]

"Mm?"

[For what it’s worth... I’m glad you had fun today. You deserve to be happy sometimes.]

Neville smiled, tired but genuine.

"Thanks, Shelly. You’re not completely useless after all."

[I will remember this betrayal forever. (╥﹏╥)]

His laughter followed him into sleep.