After working with Edward for so long as his assistant, you've figured out a few tricks of the trade.

Such as stroking his ego and getting him gifts when you've messed up and he's pissed off at you.

This specific gift, you've kept hidden for a rainy day, when Edward is pissed off enough to threaten your life.

It takes a few moments for Edward to open the door to his workshop, his hair stuck to his head from his sweat and his hands still encased in metalworking gloves.

"Didn't I tell you to pack your things?" He asks slowly, pulling his gloves off with his teeth. That cannot be sanitary. "Didn't I say that the next time I saw your face, I'd put a bullet through your neanderthal skull?"

Despite being used to Edward's constant insults to your intelligence, his words still sting a little. Not as much as a bullet would hurt, but still.

However, Edward's expression changes when you sheepishly present him with a little display case, with four compartments and four samples of elements on the periodic table.

"A gift," Edward states, raising an eyebrow. "You can't buy back my favour, you know." he makes no move to take the box, until you offhandedly mention that the box is a riddle.

That certainly gets Edward's attention as he snatches the box from your hands, examining the box for a moment before pausing.

"Germanium, Nickel, Uranium and Sulphur..." Even with his stupidly high IQ, you didn't expect him to name all of the elements at a glance. "Ge, Ni, U, S. GeNiUS. Genius." Edward mutters, glancing up from the box up at you and clearing his throat.

"Gifts will get you nowhere, but flattery will get you everywhere. Seems you have learned something from working with me."

You don't miss how Edward's fingers tighten almost unnoticeably on the box, or how he stands a little straighter.

"I suppose you can continue being my assistant." His eyes darken, "but the next time you mess up like that again, I'm going to dress you up in a blue dress and a wig and tell Jervis you're his Alice."