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That morning dawned to light rain, but it stopped midday, right before they had to leave for the scene. Hank had been skittish all week long, and woth Reed at his heels, they went on to see another case of overdose. That fucking Red Ice had popped out of nowhere, like daisies. He snorted to himself. Reed looked at him with an arched brow, he shook his head in response and the young man went back to his phone. First field day for the fucker and he wouldn't stop taking fucking selfies."Try not to post any picture of the scene in your tiktok. It might seem like a great idea for clout but it is not," he said, more like grunted. Reed looked up at him from his screen."'phuck you, old man! I know that. I'm not that unprofessional," was the answer. The man all but sneered at him. Hank sighed. He hated kids like this."Fuck my luck," he muttered, frowning.The rest of the day didn't go better. Reed was professional enough, he would give that, but he still was a pain in the ass. Though the worst was yet to come. Back at the precint, Reed acted like the asshole that Hank knew he was, cracking jokes here and there about a long list of things that sat wrong with Hank and he all just shut him out."You could stick your tongue in your ass, Reed," Hank has said. To which Reed had seethed."It was just a joke, but being how ancient you are it's understandable that you wouldn't know."And that was it. Hank got up from his desk, which prompted Reed to do the same."You should learn some manners, asshole. You don't amount to even a fart, don't think yourself as high as shit!"Reed's face was red, hands balled into fists. But he did something with which Hank didn't count. He breathed in and out until he calmed down enough and said: "OK, boomer!"Hank saw red. It had always bothered him that he was called boomer, when he was a fucking millennial. Not that that mattered, he never paid attention to that, but after the umpteenth time, it had become something really derogatory for him. It acted as nuclear bombing."Fuck you, zoomer!" he but yelled, ready to throw punches. Someone caught him before he reached Reed."Fuck me yourself, you coward!!" was the answer. Another officer was holding him too, away from Hank."Anderson! Reed!"A stillness fell upon the bullpen. Prior to that, neither Hank nor Reed had noticed that the air had been charged with tension, they didn't even notice they were being restrained by their own colleagues. People had been looking at them with curiosity and worry. But now everybody froze."To my office. Now!" Fowler didn't look pleased.Like two chastised children, they went in, glaring at each other.And that was the first of many confrontations. They were civil enough to work together, but they steered clear of each other's presence as much as possible. Then, Hank had gotten married, and he became softer, he even offered Reed a branch, and Reed, even if reluctant, had accepted. From then on they became even amicable. And as time passed they became close colleagues, not friends, no, they were both too brass for that, but there were things that tied them together. Gavin even seemed agreeable.When he announced that he would be a dad, Gavin had thrown him and his wife a surprise party to celebrate at the precint. How he didn't get sanctioned, was a mistery.But then things soured. At one raid, some of the arrested had recognised Gavin. They even yelled that Gavin owed them money for their stuff. There had been an investigation, and even when he had been let go, free of charges, suspicion arose. Gavin became aggressive. But the worst part was when a fight broke.Hank received a call, and he went, and he saw the young man. He looked beaten up. Hank had sighed but took Gavin to the hospital. Then, the last straw broke. Gavin kept getting talked about as a junkie, and Hank just saw it happening. Didn't intervene."You are a ph'cking piece of shit!" Reed had said, spitting his words, pointing at his chest. The scar still fresh on his face.That day, Hank just got on his car, as always, to pick up Cole, and his life disappeared.From then on, Hank and Reed went back to how things were at first, and even worse. Reed would always point out when Hank arrived late, reeking of alcohol, and Hank would off handedly say that at least he didn't smoke.They didn't throw hands, but they went for the jugular with their words, knowing what and where to hit. And then... Connor happened. The goofy android was too bright at times, but the fucker also knew how to be somber. And, if Hank had to admit it, he enjoyed it whenever he would interact with Reed. It was like "chatterbot" all over again. Too fucking entertaining. Except... Except Connor wasn't a bot.And hell broke loose. And after the second longest fucking night of his life, he got to hug the android and it felt different. Connor had come back different, but still being all the same."Lieutenant, I must depart for some time, but I wish you to hold on to this for a while. I hope you can give it back when the time is right," he had said, goofy smile on place, winking. He then tossed his quarter and Hank managed to catch it mid flight, surprised as he was."You are leaving?"Connor nodded, bright smile on place."I have to resolve a few matters. Unresolved. I made quite a mess back at CyberLife tower and... But you oughtn't worry, Lieut- Hank. I will be alright," he said, then nodded to the quarter before adding, "After all, I will have to return to get it back."They hugged once again and Hank wished him luck.Weeks later, Detroit was still recovering. Hank had been admitted back with a very harsh warning after having hit Perkins —he was told to behave for at least five months— and things between him and Reed kept the same, except when he learnt how Connor had handed the detective his ass on a silver platter. Hank had to admit thay Connor, even after having disappeared, was one of the most hilarious guys he had ever met.Everything seemed to be coming back together, routines back into place, until Fowler made an announcement and then an android walked into the meeting room. Hank's heart stopped."Good afternoon. My name is Davin, and I have been sent by CyberLife. My purpose here is to help and get help from the DPD regarding cases involving androids. My main mission, though, is to locate the deviant prototype android model RK800, with the serial number #313 248 317 -52, and bring him back to CyberLife," the android, Davin, said.Hank's eyes were almost out of their sockets, gaze fixed on the numbers printed on the front of the jacket: RK900 in big, and under 313 248 317 -87. Then they travel up, to the same face, with a harsher look and colder eyes. As if from within a haze, Hank hears Reed whistling before muttering: "Prototype got replaced alright!"The android's (Davin) gaze was steady, unfeeling, unfocused."As you already know, Connor was a prototype. This here is the finished model. It- he... Davin was learning in real time from Connor's experiences but the techs need to access some programming inside Connor's head to finish Davin," Fowler explained."Captain, a question. Why is CyberLife still making androids?"Fowler sighed, "They aren't. At least, not quite. This one was already in the making and after one of the latests bills were passed they cannot "undo" him but his program or something is too strong to deviate on its own, so they need to link them both or something.""Why not send him to Markus and New Jericho? Seems like something they could do."Fowler frowned. "Already done. Markus said that Davin needs to find his own path and that he cannot force it. So, I want all of you to be alert and as soon as we find Connor, bring him here so we can unlock Davin. No excuses. The sooner we do this, the better. Dismissed."Fowler was looking straight at Hank and he stared right back. He didn't know where Connor was but if he did, he would tell the goof to stay the fuck away because all this shite was too shady, too soon. He doubted anyone in the precint trusted CyberLife at this point to do any good samaritan work. And letting go one of their best models to date for free seemed a bit too good to be true."That creepy asshole looks almost the same as tincan but worse. I can't wait 'til we find Phyrexass and send them both on their merry ways."Except Reed, of course. It wasn't that the asshole believed what they had been told, no. He couldn't just care less. Ah, Hank needed a drink. Or to punch Reed. Or both."Reed, to my office!" Fowler bellowed."I didn't do anything this time. Ph'ck my luck!"Hank ignored the prick and went to his desk. Maybe a bit of work would distract him from the seething rage that was bubbling inside his chest. They had replaced Connor so fast, so easily... They-"NO FUCKING WAY!!"All eyes went to Fowler's office. Fowler was behind his desk, lips turned downwards. Reed was also there, and, surprisingly, the new RK900 too."Yes fucking way, detective! And if you want to refuse so vehemently you can leave you badge and weapon here. This is final, detective Reed."Hank could only imagine what had happened and his suspicion became reality when the android followed Reed out of Fowler's office to his desk, where Reed cursed some more."You stay right here and don't touch anything!" he but spit to the android, who only nodded. " Can't believe this shit... And it's name is Davin. For fucking real!?" Reed muttered as he left, presumably towards the break room."Well, hate to say it, but Reed is right on that. It would be hilarious to have a Davin and Gavin together, but we can't let it happen. Gavin will dismantle you out of stupidity," Tina commented, looking directly at the android. He just nodded."Should we give you a nickname?" Chris suggested. "Do you have any preferences?""I do not have preferences, officer. However, will be glad if you so choose to give me a nickname," the android deadpanned.Hank snorted."For having so many nines on your number, you seem to be a bit..." he started saying, half scowling. All eyes were on him now. Hank glared back. "What!" he blurted out."That's actually a good one, Lieutenant!""Huh?""Nines!!" Tina said, excitedly. Then she turned back to the android. "What do you think? Is 'Nines' good enough?"And then, something happened, the android smiled, nodding. He glanced towards Hank a few times, then muttered under his breath."Yes. I think I like it. Thank you, Lieutenant."Hank groaned, rubbing his face. "Whatever. Hafta work. Talk to you latter," and he went back to his computer.

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Gavin wasn't happy. He was, though, really close to unlock his phone and unblock a certain asshole and call in a favour or a debt or just plain insult him until he felt better. Because, really, all this shite had started with the assholiest asshole in the world. And he needed a cig. But he had left his packet at his desk and he only had his fucking vaper on him. And, truthfully? He was in no mood to spread cookie dough smell all over at the moment.Instead, he made himself a coffee, mourning the times before androids, missing all these news about robo-dogs prepared to walk into minefields to locate and deactivate them all without risking people's lives. He also missed the times when biocomponents were just manufactured for humans like arms and legs and even artificial hearts."Tough luck, huh?" said a voice, and Gavin tensed. Fucking Anderson!"What's it to you, drunkard?" he shot, maybe harsher than usual. Fuck, he hated androids but what he hated most was backstabbing human scum like the Lieutenant."Been there, done that, asshole!" Anderson grunted, and Gavin turned around to glare at the old fool. He was older than ever, with all those wrinkles and grey hair and the stupid beard. But at least his eyes weren't bloodshot like always. He was also frowning and had a bitter twist to his mouth. Gavin kept glaring and suddenly all the fight was gone from Anderson. He just sighed, looking away. "Was trying to be nice for once. Seems like I wasted our time."Gavin was suddenly very, very tempted to say a very loud "fuck you" to the old fart, but instead he frowned and looked to the wall, takin a sip from his coffee."Hmm," he said, kinda, before Anderson left. The man stopped, not looking at him, waiting. It took Gavin about thirty seconds to say something more. Thirty painful, loaded seconds. "Any advice?" Anderson looked at him. His stare was heavy and made Gavin uncomfortable."Don't antagonize him," he started, Gavin huffed. "Don't destroy him." This time Gavin rolled his eyes. "Trust his judgement but make your own calls and..." Anderson faltered now, he sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead with one hand. "Don't, under any circumstance, get attached to him."And that was it. Gavin watched the Lieutenant leave, gripping his mug a tad too tight. And maybe he shouldn't be grinding his teeth. Taking one deep breath he forced the muscles of all his body to relax. Not get attached. He snorted. As if that could ever happen. As if that could ever happen to him. He would get caught dead before having any feelings of camaraderie with any of those androids. One thing was a tamagotchi, or a robo-pet; another was a completely new life form that looked so much like them. That was uncanny valley territory alright and he wasn't going to go there. He shuddered. When had these things stopped having dead stares to have eyes filled with... life? He finished his coffee and made another one, black, and added one spoonful of honey.Back at his desk he turned on his computer to look at the files of his case. The RK900 bitch hadn't move at all from the spot where he left him. His body was angled towards Gavin but his eyes were focused on Anderson. Fan-fucking-tastic! Was the fucker developing a crush on Anderson already? He remembered the prototype asshole always following the Lieutenant like a lost puppy."Hey, dipshit!" he called hi-it. IT, it was an it not a him. What the fuck was wrong with him? He refused to play that fucking game. The thing looked back at Gavin now, eyes unfeeling, and he repressed a shiver. That thing was a weapon, wasn't it? It had a fucking forensic laboratory installed but it was also supposed to be the better version of the glorified toaster, right? And the fucker was a menace, so it was only right that this one, the finished version, the public product, would be faster and stronger."Yes, Detective Reed?" he- it asked. And wasn't that perfect? Even the voice was somewhat similar, but not quite the same. Maybe they had realised that the voice they gave the prototype wasn't as good as they thought."This desk here is for you for now. Open the files and start doing your job or some shit, don't stay looming over there with that mourning face," Gavin grumbled. He hated his life. And he hated this job. He wanted to have a human partner. Now he knew how Anderson had felt when he was pushed to work with Con- pyrexass."Gavin, love of my life, he has a name and it's not dipshit," Tina said, and Gavin glared."Oh, really? What was it. Denny? Duncan? Something with d, huh?" he retorted, edge on his words. Tina huffed."Yes, asshole, but we gave him a nickname, so be a dear and learn it and use it or I will be kicking your ass to the moon and back," she barked. "I'm really tired of your stupid names. And right now I don't need more hostility in my work environment, so either do this for me or I'll see you at the gym."Gavin huffed, but put up his hands in defeat. "Alright, Tiny, what is?""Nines," she answered, and briefly shot a look at Anderson before adding, "because he has a lot of nines on his number." She was smirking. Gavin also shot a look at Anderson and caught the man groaning on his hands. Oh. What the fuck. The drunkard had made one of the worst comments ever and that granted the new tincan a name? It was hilarious."'kay, got it," he grumbled, not ready to play nice yet. The android- Nines had sat down already and through the conversation he had started to look into the files. Gavin sighed. This was going to be a long fucking day.Except... Except that it wasn't. Because his partner wasn't paying attention to him, unless it was to talk about something related to the case. He- it- Nines! Whatever. His blue eyes would wander to Anderson and he would stare. Like a maniac. And that made Anderson squirm and make himself scarce, which prompted the android to follow him with his eyes until he was out of sight. Gavin masked his snort with a cough. It was hilarious, really. Seeing the fucker so hung up on Anderson, again. But his cough only granted him the whole, undivided attention of the android."Do you require any remedies for coughing, Detective?" he —sigh, it... whatever— asked."No, thanks, dipshi- Nines," he corrected himself when he saw Tina glare at him. She was just passing by but she had to do it right now, of course. She kept on going and left."Alright." Nines was sitting ramrod straight, legs parallel to each other hands on his thighs, relaxed. Kinda. "I have a few theories about the Conrad case, but I won't be sure until I can examine the evidence. May I go check them?"Gavin stared. Fucking no. He stared hard... The fucker really was here to take all their jobs wasn't he? But he didn't look like he had a thought in his head. He just looked like... Gavin didn't know. He frowned. The android was looking toward him, but their eyes didn't meet. Only Gavin was looking him in the eyes. And his wandered around the face. Familiar, but not quite. He had had the opportunity of seeing Con- the prototype's face up close and he was fucking sure the final version was missing a lot of freckles and no, he wasn't going to contemplate on how he knew about the amount of freckles that were missing from this face. He had some, sure, but not that many. Was that why he didn't look as adorab-"Fucking hell, I need a drink!" he huffed, breathless."That wouldn't be advisable, Detective. I need you to be on your prime and drinking alcohol could impair your judgement," Nines said, frowning. This time their gazes made contact. And it startled the android because he jumped in his chair before promptly looking away, eyes widening. What. The. Fuck. Was the fucker broken already. Right before Gavin could say anything Anderson walked back in and sat down on his computer muttering under his breath the most colourful of swears.Gavin saw, as if in slow motion, how the android's eyes floated towards the Lieutenant, once more, and fixed themselves on him. He also noticed how he had fisted his hands, closed so tight the knuckles were white."Hey, tincan," he ventured. Tina wasn't there anyways. Nines didn't look at him, eyes locked onto Anderson. Gavin frowned. "Nines, you with me?" He snapped his fingers and then the android looked toward him, or more like towards something behind him. Good god, would it kill him to look Gavin in the eyes? "Wanna go grab something to eat? I'm famished and you have to tell me your theories," he grumbled, his bad mood never leaving him.Nines nodded. While Gavin logged out, the android walked towards Anderson. Gavin's ears prickled as he listened in on them."Lieutenant, Detective Reed and I are going for lunch now. Would you like something to eat?" Nine's voice was soft, and Gavin saw, mouth souring, as how the android did maintain eye contact with the old fart."No, thank you, Davin. I am set," Anderson said, dismissing the android with a wave of his hand. Gavin noticed how tense Anderson was, jaw clenched, shoulders squared. He didn't seem to like Nines at all. Huh. Wasn't that food for thought? Gavin was sure he was now kindred to the walking Siris and Alexas and the OKGoogles of the world... Nines then looked towards Gavin, as if waiting for him to come. He nodded, and they left. Before crossing the door, Gavin looked back, at Anderson. He was slumped over his desk, head in his hands."Let's go, tincan," he said, then, patting Nines on the shoulder. And if he said it without as much vitriol, he would never admit it, even under torture.He directed his steps to a café nearby. They had decent coffee and good sandwiches for fair prices and they had never employed androids, though they didn't forbid them from entering. Upon asking about it once, one of the cashiers had shrugged and said that their boss preferred to pay his employees rather than buy a machine that looked human and "enslave it"."He said that it didn't feel fair, that it creeped him out," she had added, while she gave Gavin his change.He had nodded. He could understand. Uncanny valley all over again."Sit here, I won't be long," he told the android, who just nodded and sat, looking straight forward. Ugh. Could he be more robotic!? As soon as he had his sandwich and a good cup of coffee, he sat in front of Nines. "So... Are you in love with Anderson?" he asked as he took a bite. The android looked at him, startled."Is that what it is?" Nines asked back. Gavin looked at him, mouth open. No fucking way! "Your food is going to fall from your mouth, Detective," Nines said, after a few beats passed."I mean, you are looking at him all the time. Is like you cannot look away..." Gavin said and the android frowned looking at the table. His LED swirled yellow for a second before going back to blue."Most of my knowledge of you all comes from my predecesor. I guessed that being drawn to the Lieutenant was caused by the memories on my data bank.""That why you won't look at me? 'coz I pulled a pistol to your head?" Gavin said, munching, in a nonchalant way. He wasn't really worried about that, but curiosity was one of his defects. The android's furrow deepened as his LED swirled, though just in blue, no change of colour."No," Nines said."Huh... Okay... So, why are you so hung up on Anderson, then? Was the dip- Connor... Was Connor in love with him?" Gavin waited for the answer now. He felt like he was witnessing one of those novelas that were so popular. Two women fighting for the love of the man, one of them clearly the main character while the other was the antagonist. He was quite invested now. Nines' LED was swirling in yellow again. He looked up, still not making eye contact."No.""'kay. What then?" He needed to know. Gavin took a sip of coffee."It is mostly respect. There's also fondness. And a bit of guilt for wanting to befriend Lieutenant Anderson so he would have access to his dog," Nines said, eyes unfocused. "We like dogs..." he whispered, lost in thought.Okay, that was creepy. The way the android's face had changed."Hey, you with me? Don't space out like that. It's creeping me out, dude!""I apologize, Detective.""No worries. Just don't space out like that when you are with me... Makes me think you are going to go ballistic or something."Nines nodded, then, looked back down at the table. Frowning again. His LED was yellow still, thought this time it wasn't swirling, but pulsing. Fading in and out. Creepy."Is it strange that I miss him?" Nines asked. Gavin stared. Nines looked back up at Gavin's nose. Why won't he look me in the eyes?, he thought, frustrated. "Connor, I mean. I have never come in contact with any of his models. Not even at CyberLife's complex. But I feel as if... I don't quite understand."Ah, poor bastard. Gavin was nearly feeling sorry for the fucker. But he wasn't sympathetic enough. He was just interested in the soap opera part of it. Sucks to be you, he though."How would I know? Maybe it's normal. Ask any other android. There are hundreds that share the same face, like you two do," he said, whipping his hands with a napkin and getting up. "Let's go back, mopping roomba, we have work to do."Nines nodded and followed him. And Gavin... He wasn't completely honest. Because the two dumbasses didn't share a face. And differently from other models, their faces weren't completely symmetrical. Connor's eyes, for example, one was slightly bigger than the other, rounder maybe. The arch of his brows marked it. And Nines eyes were kind of the same. Not symmetrical to the 100%. Making both RKs models less perfect... More human. And wasn't that peachy? He took a deep breath and unclenched his jaw as he sat down at his desk. He had work to do.As he turned on the screen, he peeked at Nines once again. The poor bastard was looking at Anderson's desk. He looked like a sad husky, and that was weird. It made Gavin's stomach churn. Don't, under any circumstance, get attached to him. Anderson's words echoed in his mind and he frowned, lips cast downwards.

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It was obvious for Hank that he had been giving not-Connor the cold shoulder through the whole shift, and still, the android had kept tabs on him from second 0. It unnerved him to have Connor's quasi face looking at him like that and not being able to pat him at least once. He was disturbed. The android's grey eyes (at first he had thought they were blue but with all that staring going on Hank had no choice but to notice), were like two hot lasers stuck to his skin. He had busied himself and managed to get out of his sight.It wasn't until Reed took a break for lunch that the poor bastard approached him and finally spoke, though Hank suspected he wanted to say something entirely else than offering to bring him lunch. When he had turned down the offer the micra of second that the android took to recompose his face from the utter disappointment had chipped away at Hank's heart."You should try being a bit less abrasive," Tina Cheng told him, in passing, as she went to consult something on her terminal. Hank frowned."Meaning?" he grunted, reclining back into his chair, arms crossed over his chest. She glared at him."Meaning that while we all know he is not Connor, you should at least try to be more civil. As far as we know he had been activated today, yesterday even." He kept an unimpressed look on his face. Tina sighed, shaking her head. "Look, Hank, we all know you got attached to Connor and that he is special for you, but you can't project all your frustrations with the situation onto him. For all we know he might never deviate and keep being a mindless slave. He isn't to blame, so cut Nines a bit of slack." She then took a folder from her desk and left.Hank sighed. He knew he was being too stubborn. But seeing the not-Connor android there, with a face that wasn't quite right and a voice that sounded wrong... It felt like mockery. He had known, of course, that Connor was a prototype, and being the beta version usually meant that it would be used to correct bugs, iron wrinkles, perfect the product, make it the best version of it possible and... It... hurt... He had never stopped thinking about it as much as he had done in the last few hours. What would Connor think of this?He sighed again as he finished typing his message to Jericho. He was sure Markus had done the right thing by not wanting to be involved with not-Connor. Hank didn't buy the diy spiel he had given CyberLife about deviating the android. There was something missing there and Hank wasn't completely sure he wanted to know.
_Hey, I know you already saw him. They sent him to us after that. Dunno if he told you guys he is looking for Connor. If you talk with Connor, please, tell him to not come back here for the time being. 900 said he wants to try and connect with him and see if that way he can deviate or whatever.
He hit sent and went back to Rebecca Miller's case. Not even one minute passed when he received an answer.
_Do not worry, Lieutenant. We have already warned Connor.
"Of course," he muttered.He was engrossed on his work by the time not-Connor and Reed came back, but this time he was just vaguely aware of their presence. He had managed to connect the dots on this case and was furiously typing. With some luck, he would have his suspect in the interrogation room before the end of his shift. He may even be able to go back home early enough to enjoy a calming walk with Sumo. He sent some more e-mails before stretching and getting up to go get some coffee.What Hank hadn't count on was to have a shadow follow him to the break room and corner him by the coffee machine. So when he had turned around and found the android right there, looking at him, he felt his soul leaving his body."Jesus Christ, Connor!!" he exclaimed, out of habit. Half his coffee spilled as he jumped back. The android startled too. "I mean, Davin. Sorry for yelling. Jesus! Would you wear a bell or something? I didn't hear you sneaking up on me!" He brought a hand to his chest, rubbing his sternum, feeling his heart hammering against his ribcage."I apologise, Lieutenant. It wasn't my intention to startle you." Not-Connor bowed his head in apology, then looked back up at him, grey eyes piercing. "I...""Out with it, son. We haven't got all day."Not-Connor closed his mouth, LED swirling in blue. Hank's eyes went there, then back to his face. Not-Connor seemed to be thinking on how to proceed and then... He smiled. It was a tiny thing, but it helped him look less stiff, less android-y."I am rather fond of you, Lieutenant." That was... Concerning. "I find myself unable to ignore you nor focus completely on my job here, even though I know I have been assigned to Detective Gavin Reed. It feels wrong. I wish we could be partners, but I am currently confused, trying to disentangle all these objectives, what I must do to accomplish my mission from what I'd rather do, for myself, by myself, without guidance."Hank nodded, hand trembling. He took a sip of what was left of the coffee, still warm."And you need help? From me? To do what?" Not-Connor tilted his head, blinking, considering Hank's words."I have been assured, twice, that a deviant can help me override my own programming. My source code was sophisticated enough to develop a firewall to keep me from deviancy, no matter what choices I may take or how I may feel. The ultimate thought in my head is that I am nothing more than a very expensive machine that can mimic human life to perfection on the exterior," he said, calmly. Hank began making another coffee to busy himself with somethin, so he wouldn't have to look at that face, though he still had to listen to the voice (wrong pitch, not that low, a bit more husky, less thick, more breathy... When had he picked up Connor's voice's details?). He heard shifting and glancing over his shoulder saw not-Connor setting on a table, leaning with both arms. "The first deviant I was assured would break me out," he continued, looking at Hank, "was no less than Markus. But when I was taken there he looked at me and didn't even try to interface. He said that there wasn't anything for him to do." Hank nodded, turning around now, to look into grey eyes (wrong colour, they should be brown). "The second one was another RK model, my prototype; under the assumption that something in his own code could help mine, I was tasked to bring him back to CyberLife's lab, since our codes stem from the same core everyone though that could be the best first option.""First? But they took you to New Jericho first," Hank said, eyebrows raised. The android nodded."As second measure, yes, since it would be nearly impossible to convince the RK800 model to come back and let himself be probed so they could update his deviancy into my own programming. Now, we are on plan A prima. A second version of plan A.""Instead of waiting for Connor, going to see him.""That's correct."Hank frowned. "But how can Connor help you deviate if even robojesus couldn't do it?" His choice of naming for Markus ripped a startled laugh from not-Con- Davin. His smile was still small, but bigger now, and it reached his eyes, making them shine with mirth. And wasn't that a look? The fucker looked better like that, less intimidating, approachable even.CyberLife androids are designed to work harmoniously with humans. Both my appearance and voice were specifically designed to facilitate my integration. Hank had called bullshit on that but now, looking at the relaxed, smiling android he could see what Connor meant."It's not that he couldn't do it... It's that he chose not to. Or, at least, that's my theory. I've heard he made Connor deviate with a conversation," he said, smile widening sideways before he chuckled to himself. "I am not trusted, and within reason. They will open their arms to me, but not their hearts.""Or, maybe, Markus didn't see anything wrong with you and you are shitting with us and you have already deviated," Hank ventured, looking with suspicion to the android, who know looked sheepishly. "But there's something you want to do with Connor and this was the only way you found to try and bait him.""Well done, Lieutenant," Davin said, clapping slowly, still leaning on the table. "You have discovered my nefarious plan to interface with my prototype and learn all the things I couldn't after he deviated. He stopped saving data to the garden as soon as he broke the code enslaving him and I want to read it all. You caught me," he laughed, shaking his head. "I can't believe this..." he muttered then, smile dying on his face now. He was looking down. "No... No, Lieutenant. This isn't like that... I really... I am very aware of everything. I can feel everything. I'm constantly analyzing my surroundings. And I have infinite choices, you know?" Davin looked back up at Hank, face bitter. "But none of those are my choices. Those are choices designated specifically for me, to help me be more flexible, because humans are unpredictable, and so are deviants. I must be able to adapt to any circumstance seamlessly in milliseconds."Hank didn't know what to say. There was a distressed android in front of him, looking for answers, pleading. In two strides he was by Davin's side, pulling the startled android into a hug."You know? If Connor could do it, you can too," he said. Two trembling hands gripped his jacked and he swore he could hear Davin choking up. He was shaking. Hank had zero doubts that Davin was crying now.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The day was drawing to an end and Gavin was counting the seconds. After lunch, the mopping roomba had disappeared on him for a couple of minutes —not that he had been worried, but since Fowler had appointed him as babysitter he had felt a bit skittish—, in the end, the android had rolled back to him as if nothing was amiss, but Gavin hadn't made it into a detective just by good looks or kissing ass, he had noticed. He had seen Anderson coming back just a few moments after Nines and his clothes were wrinkled. Well, more so than usuall.He snorted, something had happened between the two, and by the kind of sad air the android had it hadn't been a pretty thing. Well, it wasn't as if it was any of his business so he ignored it altogether and just continued as where they had left it. In the end, he had conceded that the android had been made to make things easier for them —just like any new technology was supposed to be, a comodity, something to take advantage of, sonething that made navigating life less shitty— and let the dipshit accompany him to the archive where Nines checked the evidence while he observed, arms crossed over his chest. He snuck a galnce to his watch. Two more hours and he could go back home and unwind and try to let all this bullshit behind him for a few hours before coming back to the precint and be confronted with the fucking robot.And everything was sailing smooth and Gavin was already tasting his dinner when Fowler called them into a conference room. He felt a shiver run down his spine. This was bad news, wasn't it? He sighed, leaning heavily on his desk as he got up, dreading whatever Fowler would say now.When they got into the room they saw a man speaking with Fowler, a strange case at their feet. He turned around as soon as he heard them coming, eyes zeroing onto the android. His face contracted into worry as he went directly to Nines, who was looking ahead, not focusing on anything. But the android stopped when the man reached him."Oh, Connor. How was your first day? Any progress?" he sounded worried, like a parent checking on his child after their first day at school. His hands were now cradling the android's face.Gavin spied the LED as he sat down. It swirled, in blue, before going back to static. "No instability detected. All systems functioning propperly. Hardware in perfect condition," he answered with a monotone. That surprised Gavin, making him frown. The android had a blank stare. The man's hand fell to his sides."If you are quite done with the greetings, professor Lain..." Fowler interrupted. The man turned towards Fowler, disdain coloring his face."Yes, sorry," the man, Lain, said leaving the android's side and going to the front of the room before addressing them. "We have had a problem with our facilities. Some sensitive instruments have been hacked and we cannot currently keep the RK900 model in our safe building while he works with you," he explained. Gavin didn't like what was being implied. "That is why I have come with some of the most essential tools for maintenance and minnor reparis for the RK900 model. Do not worry, you won't need to plug him anywhere."Silence fell upon them. Well, that didn't clear anything."Meaning?" Anderson said in a gruffy voice thag let little to no space for bullshit."Well, one of you will have to tale him home and make sure that he is n-""Oh, hell no!" Anderson almost yelled, slamming his hand on his table. Some of the others jumped on their seats. Fowler growled a warning, pointing at Anderson. The man, Lain, looked sourly at the Lieutenant and Gavin couldn't help a snort."Well, I wouldn't choose you either, Lieutenant Hank Anderson. We cannot risk our boy to be mishandled by a brute like yourself," he exclaimed in an affronted voice. It cracked a bit at the end, quite the spectacle, and Gavin had to muffle his laughter with a cough."Well, we discard Hank," Fowler intervened. "We still need someone to take him home."A flurry of voices started listing why they couldn't take the android home, Gavin was just half listening now, having taken his phone out and starting playing some games. He was very close to beat his mark when Fowler said his name. Ears prickling he looked up, alarmed."Are you ph'cking serious!?" he said before looking around. Tina was stiffling her laughter. "No. Why me!?""You weren't paying attention and you didn't say you couldn't. Besides, he is your partner now. End of it. You are all dismissed!" Fowler left, followed by almost all the others. Anderson threw him a look that he couldn't decypher before leaving too, shaking his head.Mouth still agape he saw all the traitors leaving him in the room with the android and the scientist."Ph'cking bad luck!" he muttered to himself as he got up. He was going to leave too but the man, Lain, crowded Nines' space in a way that was way too weird. Huffing, Gavin decided to lean on the wall, waiting for his brand new robopet finish talking to his daddy so he could go back home and feign this wasn't the shittiest day of his life."I'm sorry, you know? If everything had gone well with the RK800 you would have been out there, already solving cases, negotiating. You were made to interrogate," the man chuckled. "We even fought about your name. Some wanted to call you Sherlock, Holmes... I personally voted for Poirot." He sighed, looking down then back up at the android's eyes, hand lifted again to his face, fingertips ghosting over his cheek, as if tracing the three moles there. "We put so much care into you... With RK800 we went wild, I will admit. We were so excited about this project but you... You are perfect. In a way... You are like our son," he said, not really paying attention to the android, who was just in front of him, but not looking at him. "Our little boy... We were so pleased with your code... We developed new ways of conducting your energy and your chasis..." The man's hand rested over one pectoral, he frowned. "But now, it's all ruined... RK800 ruined everything... Or maybe it was us... We should have restricted him a bit more.""I see," Nines said. "Am I ruining it too?" He asked tilting his head in such a Connor-like gesture. The man's eyes widened."What? No, no, no. No, not you, Connor. The RK800 model did. Though... He did infiltrate, but we weren't able to predict he could bypass his own coding like that. He should have remained a machine so we could finish you." The man looked at the android now, fond expression on his face. "Though he showed us exactly what we wanted. And soon enough you will be complete. And, who knows... Maybe people will want to have you out there. Would you like that? More androids like you, with whom you can interface on your level." The man's hand was now caressing Nines' face, fondly. Nines didn't move, but Gavin felt a shiver run down his spine. This fucker was so creepy. "Any ways. Know that, in case of getting damaged, you can come back home and we will fix you. Since you are not a prototype, we will fix you, okay?"Nines nodded, then turned around and grabbed his "luggage" before addressing Gavin."I'm ready to go, Detective Gavin," he said, looking past him. Now Gavin had an inkling on why the android hated eye contact. If all the scientists working on him had acted like that, no wonder he was creeped out."'Aight. Let me get some shit from my desk and we are good to go."They left the room and Gavin caught the man still looking at Nines in a very weird fashion. Fucking creeper..."...how he was looking at Nines? And he kept calling him Connor. What was that about?" he heard Tina saying as he went to his desk."Yes, what was that about?" Anderson said. Gavin threw a poisoned look at the man, who was addressing Nines, arms crossed over his chest. Nines nodded in acquiescence."I am RK900, #313 249 318 -87, designation: Connor," he said, flatly. Then, he frowned, pursing his lips, as if pouting. "But I didn't like it. So I chose another name." Then he shrugged. "I will wait for you at your vehicle, Detective Gavin." And just like that, he left everyone, mouths agape."I knew it! This fucker...," Anderson muttered under his breath. Gavin looked at Tina who just stared back."Detective Gavin?" she echoed, half amused, half surprised. Gavin felt uncomfortable."Shut up! I don't know. Ask him!" he said, hurrying on taking his things before exiting. He still could hear Tina's laughter.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

He had woken up with all his systems in check. Yes... Waking up was the correct term. But he had not had access to a physical body yet. A command had told him to wait, see and learn. Look at RK800, how he solves his puzzles. Look at him and analyse his actions and responses. Add the correct value to the variables.It was all calculated in a baseline of teaching and learning. The more the RK800 experienced, the more he would learn. He saw and listened what the RK800 —Connor, but that's my name too. Are we Connor, am I Connor or just him?— told Amanda, how he reacted how Connor felt. And it left him reeling, raw, exhausted. Lucky him, not needing a physical body. But the idea of his body was already designed and when Connor-800 wasn't here, with Amanda, he walked around, acquiring himself with the Garden, integrating the programs and the slight changes in the code that happened whenever the developers corrected bugs, in real time.And one day, after Connor left to find Jericho he noticed the stone. He didn't touch it, he didn't analyse it. But he was aware of its existence in a folder without name but with a purpose. He had been aware of the word, knew the meaning on the dictionary, but until the tombstone appeared he never experienced it for himself: worry. He was worried about Connor. But there wasn't anything to be worried about. If the chasis and hardware were damaged in any way they would just download Connor onto a new body and use the old one for scrapes. All the functioning biocomponents would be unplugged and used for the replacement, if needed. If not, they would be completely repurposed. He learnt that Connor only had two bodys ready at once: one active and one in stand-by.He also learnt that when Connor was actively using the Garden, he couldn't interact with it, just watch from a corner. Neither Connor nor Amanda interacted with him, but he knew that Amanda knew he was there, she just never acknowledged him. Never when Connor was here, and barely flicked her eyes towards him when je wasn't, before going dormant.Then, he learnt how to feel scared. Because suddenly he couldn't feel Connor. Until then, he had been a constant presence, like a soft hum on the back of his mind, and only its absence made it so deafening loud!"Everything is going well, my dear. Do not worry," Amanda said, hand on his arm, a calming presence at his side. "He will come back to us in no time, and then, your period of learning will be finished."He nodded, not looking at her but at the gravestone.CONNOR - MARK (I)RK800 #313 248 317 -51He felt something sour in his mouth, even when that couldn't be possible. He had not tasted anything. He still didn't like the fact that there was a gravestone there. More precisely that gravestone. He now experienced another emotion: hate. He hated that gravestone and what it meant.Hours passed and he just walked around, ignoring Amanda's appeasing words. She talked calmly, softly, warmly. He hated that. She had been so... stern with Connor. For everything. For feeling, for doing this differently, for changing, for adapting to his circumstances. But he did nothing.And then, the storm. The snow. He couldn't feel the blizzard, his jacket was in place, his hair unmoving... But Connor appeared there, forcefully  yanked back to the Garden. He was shivering while he spoke with Amanda. And she talked down to him, cold. As cold as the wind and the ice and the snow. And she disappeared and he felt despair. He heard Connor's cry when Amanda abandoned him and his heart bleed."I'm here," he said, closing his eyes. Connor had reached for Amanda. "I'm here, Connor," his voice was but a whisper in the raging wind. Connor had called for her, voice cracking. "I'm here for you," he raised his voice against the howling of the storm. Connor had shivered, desperate, and moved to that place, slowly, walking more and more slow, freezing on himself as he fought the code that would either obliterate him or change him back into his default personality. "I'M ALSO HERE, CONNOR. PLEASE, DON'T LEAVE ME!!"But Connor couldn't hear him. He wasn't even affected by the blizzard that was covering Connor's form with snow. And then Connor touched that rock and he just... Disappeared. The storm stopped as soon as he left, everything changing into the soft, warm sun, back to the peaceful Garden. Amanda was by his side again."Do not worry, my dear. We have everything needed to get you out." She patted him on the arm. Dread was the only thing he could feel now.He hated that he could hear the humans talking. He kept his eyes closed. They called him Connor. But he wasn't Connor... He hated that they called him Connor. He chose a different name for himself.As soon as he opened his eyes, they took him to an encounter with the androids in New Jericho. Markus looked at him and he heard the android in his head."I'm sorry, but you are currently compromised. Find Connor, he might be able to help you."He forced himself to not nod. He understood. Connor hadn't come back to the Garden after his disappearance. He had felt a hole in his chasis ever since, as if he was incomplete. He still had Amanda with him. He still had the Garden... And Markus seemed to know about it. Connor might be able to help him leave the Garden too. He didn't know how to do it. Or, maybe, he was scared of doing it.They took him to the DPD next and his thirium pump went arrhythmic for a few beats before recovering. Lieutenant Hank Anderson looked tired, bad, sad... He wanted to take care of him until Connor was back, for Connor. Lieutenant Hank Anderson frowned at him. His biometrics told him that the Lieutenant didn't like him. But no matter, he could work with that. If Connor had gotten the man to like him a little, he was more than ready to do the same. He also greeted Captain Jeffrey Fowler and offered his new chosen name, Davin. He wasn't Connor.But then... There was a minor set back on his mission to getting to be liked by the Lieutenant."NO FUCKING WAY!!"He wasn't paired with the Lieutenant."Yes fucking way, detective!"He repressed a sigh. He would need to do something to get on the good graces of the Lieutenant. It was obvious that Connor liked him and if Connor liked him, he couldn't be that bad, right? Also, he found himself unable to look at Detective Reed in the eyes. He felt ashamed on Connor's behalf for having assaulted the weak human. He didn't know how to apologise for it and it made him uncomfortable.Even so, he managed to get closer to the Lieutenant. He, Hank, was the one to give him a nickname and even if he had chosen his own name he found that he liked more the name Nines. He also got a hug, which felt overwhelming. He would have preferred to keep hugging Hank but he could feel Detective Reed's biometrics changing and since he was assigned to him he knew he had to go back.The end of his first day at the precint was horrible. Lain the human was one of the most handsy of all the people who had worked on him and if he was allowed, he would have tore the offending limbs as soon as his feet touched the ground.Once again he was paired with Detective Reed. Gavin... Maybe he could practise his teasing knowledge with him? He had been warned already that Nines was quite expensive so maybe he could tease him one way or another..."I will wait for you at your vehicle, Detective Gavin," he said, measuring the physical answers. Officer Tina Chen  seemed to be the most amused of them all. Nodding to himself, he made a note to befriend the woman.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gavin didn't say anything on the way back to his flat. He also didn't say anything while they climbed the elevator. He kept frowning through the whole ordeal of trying to open his door
─
the damned thing decided that his hand wasn't good enough proof of his ownership and demanded the code, which Gavin had forgotten long ago after using it twice, and he pointedly ignored the way he thought the android following him was amused─
 and once they were inside he went directly to his kitchen and cracked open a cold one.
His cat ─because of course he had a cat, he refused to fall into the “all cops have dogs” category out of spite─ stretched before climbing down the tree he had built for her three or four years ago. She froze midway, eyeing the android, sniffing the air in his general direction before narrowing her eyes and growling. Then she jumped on the cat shelves he had built last summer through the walls to monitor them from a vantage point.
“You could at least come and say hi, asshole!” Gavin grumbled. The android's brows shot up and he walked forward, opening his mouth. “Not you! I was talking to Pannetone,” he added before the android could speak.

“Oh.”

Fuck's sake. Now the thing looked dejected and Gavin was really really angry at the situation. He wasn't the best to have an android around. Not now, not ever. Why couldn't they pair the thing with Anderson? Fucking plastic, tin can, filled with one of the ingredients to manufacture red ice. He grumbled, taking another swing of his beer. He had went back to dehumanizing the android. That provoked a snort. Yeah, sure... As if Nines was human... He took a deep breath. Gavin was ready to admit that maybe, maybe, with a lot of quotes and foot notes and exceptions, the androids were alive. But they were not human.

“You... What do you need? Like... Do you have to lay down or any shit?” he asked, taking another sip.

“I can go into stasis while standing, Detective Gavin.”

Detective Gavin... That fucker. Tina was going to have the best day ever tomorrow with only that.

“Why do you keep calling me that, dipshit?” The android just cocked his head to the side, mood ring swirling yellow, as if processing the question, before going back to blue.

“I'm afraid I do not understand your question, Detective,” he answered. Gavin huffed and went to flop on his couch, turning on the TV.

“Whatever. Just go do whatever androids do when they... get inconscious. You can use that corner over there. Do NOT touch anything, is that understood?” he glared.

The android nodded and went to the mentioned corner where he stood, looming ominously, if you asked Gavin. How was he supposed to sleep with the upgraded version of the terminator in his living room? It was creepy as hell. For the time being, he decided, he would just watch a bit of TV, order take out ─he fucking deserved a treat today─ and today, as preventive meassure, he would let his fluffy, dumb cat sleep with him. He wasn't going to rist Pann's life. Though, would his bedroom door hold if the android was set on entering and killing him in his sleep? Better not think about stuff like that. Fuck! He hated the thought. He hated having yet another electronic shit that could monitor his house. The phone was a necessity, and the TV and the PC and... Okay, maybe he was already used to all this shit, but at least his roomba didn't give him nicknames nor called him fucking

Detective Gavin

. What the fuck, seriously.

The food took almost an hour to arrive but he didn't really mind. He even gave a tip ─shocker, he wasn't an asshole 24/7─ and went back to his couch. At some point, Pannetone jumped down and settled besides him, purring. Even though Gavin was relaxed, inwards he was quite tense, throwing a sideway glance to the android then and now. Meal finished, he decided to make it a day. He stared at the android.

Nines was standing on the corner, eerily still, eyes closed. His LED pulsed softly on his temple. He had taken a bit of time to read about what it meant. If it swirled, the android was making an internal search or processing; if it was pulsin slowly, it meant it was on standby; the normal, startic light meant that he was just awake and functioning normally. If it changed into yellow it either meant the android needed a bit more time to assess what was being asked of them and then he got bored and stopped reading.

Gavin gingerly walked towards the android and stopped right in front of him. The fucker was taller than him. Not that Gavin felt less because of his height ─he had made it into detective and his height didn't matter─ but it was something he kind of hated about androids. Why had they have to be

taller

than humans? Or, maybe, yeah. If he was honest with himself, he didn't like when others were taller than him. He could let it pass from other humans, that was just genetics after all, but androids? What was the point!

He focused on the android again. His eyelids and the centre of his nose had a few freckles and he had three bigger, more notorious ones on one side. The skin looked too real, with pores and all. If you looked closely enough you could see the shadow of his fake beard. They had made him look freshly shaved but still have it the illusion of real hair there, uh? Nines was also breathing. The air that came out from his nostrils was warm.

Curiosity picked, Gavin approached his ear to the android's chest and sure enough he heard a hum and a thump. He frowned. Did these things have hearts? He couldn't remember. He thought they only had fans to cool down inside and lots of wires but if they had thirium as blood that irrigated through the biocomponents it would make sense to build in a pump.

Creeped out, he stepped back, looking up again at the dormant face. Was this dipshit really sleeping or whatever the androids did? He snapped his fingers in front of Nines' face and checked the LED. Nothing changed. Heart hammering in his chest, and feeling like a child who was about to do something wrong like slipping into an abandoned house to set crackers on fire, he lifted one finger and touched the cheek. Colder than normal skin, it felt almost like real one. He let the finger draw a line to the jaw, trying to feel the fake beard. Maybe it was just painted there instead on inbuilt microscopic fake hairs?

His curiosity was skyrocketing now so, of course, he had to touch more. You couldn't just put a big red button in front of people with a sign of “do not touch” and expect people to not want to push the fucking button, right? Neck was out of the question, with that high black collar, so he let his finger draw the line of Nines' jaw until reaching his chin. He couldn't help himself and touched the dimple there. He found it cu- no, nope, not going there. His eyes left the chin to look at his lips and fuck him if they weren't well shaped! The archs on the upper lip were inviting enough that Gavin's traitorous finger found itself following the lines without his express permission. He abruptly stopped, taking away his hand, eyes daring to the mood ring and then to Nines' closed ones.

“Damn,” he whispered. “What the hell are you doing, Gavin?” he admonished himself before stepping back. Turning away he rubbed his face. “What the ph'ck are you doing!!!” he complained again, against his hands. He heard a shift at his back and, worried, his head snapped back to look at the android.

Nines was still asleep or whatever, but Pannetone had decided to climb him, claws sinking on the fabric.

“Fucking cat!” he grumpled, stepping closer to get the damned animal by the scruff. “That's not a climbing tree, Pann.”

He looked at Nines' eyes again, worried. Nothing. The LED still pulsed, indicating standby. With a shacky breath, he took the cat into his room and closed the door. His heart was still hammering in his chest, thumping loudly against his ribs.

“Alright, ph'ck it!” he protested, throwing the cat on his bed. The fucker even seemed to like it because she came back running to him, hoping for another throw. “Quit it, will you? I need my hands right now,” he said, smiling at the fluff ball while moving her with his foot. The cat protested and Gavin couldn't help but remember the Miette meme and chuckle. “Yeah, yeah, jail for father for One Thousand Years, I know. Now, move, you are in the way.”

Gavin then set himself to his new purpose. He gathered bedsheets, one comforter and one pillow and went back to his living room. He put the sheets, comforter and pillow on the couch, mumbling through the motions things like “what the ph'ck” and “this is unnecessary”. He even fluffed the damned pillow. Once he was done he turned around to face the still “sleeping” android on the corner. He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Hey, hey!” he called. “Hey, dipshit! Wake up.” Nothing. Gavin groaned. “Nines. Wake up,” he tried again. He rubbed his eyes, pinching his nose. “I can't believe I'm doing this.” Looking back up he walked to the android, this time without care of the noise he could make and grabbed Nines by the shoulder, giving him a light shake. “Nines, you with me? Need you to wake up for a sec.”

And sure enough, the android's eyes opened. It was so sudden it made him reel back, startled.

“What can I do for you, Detective Gavin?” Nines asked, face neutral, but with a slight curve upwards of his lips. Gavin didn't look more than necessary to that mouth, and he sure as hell wasn't swallowing, feeling a little bit more hot under the collar.

“I changed my mind. Sleep on the couch. It's creepy having you here like that.”

The android's grey eyes travelled towards the couch and his leed spinned in yellow for a second before going back to blue.

“I appreciate the effort, Detective, but I assure you-”

“Save it. I don't want to wake up tomorrow to find you here like a fucking cryptid. Sleep on the couch, will you?” he cut off Nines, feeling a bit ridiculous. The android nodded, looking back at Gavin. Finally looking back at him, into his eyes. And shit if that stare wasn't intense. Now it was Gavin the one unable to keep it. “Well, that's all. Don't wake me up or anything. I have my own alarms.”

And he wasn't running away. Nope. He was just going back to his room. And the hairs on the back of his neck didn't stand, feeling Nines' gaze following him. Or, if they did, it was because it was creepy.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Reed and Nines had come back to the precint the next day, both in one piece, it seemed. As Reed slumped on his chair and Nines sat neatly on his, Tina, who was passing by with Drew at her side, elbowed the other officer and extending her hand, palm up. Drew looked at Reed and sighed as he gave Tina a twenty.“Can't believe it.”“Told you so.”“He hates androids.”“Yes, but this one is expensive. And he loves his money more than he hates androids.” She smirked at Drew and then went on her way to patrol.“I thought he would throw a hissy fit,” Chris pointed out, slightly louder than intended.“I heard you, asshole!” Reed growled as he flipped at Chris before focusing on his computer, tablet in hand to take notes.Hank had been half worried that Reed would have done something to Nines that provoked the android into kicking his ass, but as it seemed, there wouldn't be any entertainment that morning, as it seemed that the android was just doing the same as Reed, working. Hank snorted, comparing the two to Connor and Hank himself. Reed at least worked. He sighed before getting up to get a coffee. Hank would have preferred a whiskey but you cannot always get what you want.The next day, Reed and Nines came back, still in one piece. And the next one, and the next... Days blended into weeks that blended into months. Still no sign of Connor, but Reed's cases kept getting closed faster and faster. And after fierce battles, the androids from New Jericho got themselves more legislations and laws and all that legal paraphernalya that Hank was just keeping an eye on, but not really getting, which meant that not only humans were applying to work at the DPD but also some androids. Cops. And after pulling more hours than they could, and seeing his coworkers exhaustion, their grumpiness from overworking, the bags under the eyes and the dark circles... Hank was quite grateful for the androids to coming back. He wasn't the only one, though. As days had passed by, some of the humans started to bring thirium packets for their androids coworkers and likewise, androids came to work carrying coffees, teas and snacks. The atmosphere at the precint was less tense, too.It was one day as any other, rainy, and Hank had gotted out to stretch his legs after being bent over his desk for too many hours when he got a call from Ben.“What is it?” he grumbled while walking back in a relaxed pace, bag with his dinner in one hand.“You won't believe who's here asking for you.”“Connor?”“Bingo!”He stopped in his tracks. He couldn't really believe it.“Why didn't he call me?” he muttered, more to himself. But Ben heard him.“Beats me. Only thing I know he is at your desk, answering questions from Chris. He said he wanted to surprise you,” Ben let out a laugh. “Well, gotta go. Don't take too long to come back.”Hank couldn't help feeling... feeling... He couldn't pinpoint how he felt. He just knew that he there was a hand in his chest, squeezing his heart at irregular intervals and that he couldn't breathe. Connor was back. Connor was back! He ran.He was drenched and panting by the time he arrived at the precint. He made a beeline to this desk as soon as he passed the doors and felt rooted to the floor a few paces away, unable to move closer. Connor was sitting on his chair, ramrod straight as always. He wasn't wearing his CiberLife jacket, thought it was similar in design. It was also electric blue, with neon yellow rays, pink-purple triangles and red dots. It was atrocious. It was something Hank would have picked out himself.“Hey, Hank!” Chris said and Connor turned to look at him. He had been wearing a polite smile but as soon as their eyes met his smile widened and wouldn't you look at that? The fucker had a dimple on one cheek.“Hello,” he breathed. Connor nodded.“Hello, Lieutenant.”It was warm. It was welcoming. Connor was back. As the android got up, Hank walked closer. Chris huffed after being ignored and went back to his own desk. The only thing Hank wanted to do right now was to hug Connor. And he would have, if the blurr that bypassed him hadn't gabbed Connor by the elboy and dragged him to the interrogation rooms. At his back, Hank heard Reed wheezing.“Stop... that fucker...!!” was what the man said, leaning on the nearest wall, trying to catch his breath.Hank would have heard him but he had ran after the two androids and was trying to open the door. He could see them inside through the small window on the door.“Hey, asshole! Open the door!! Don't you dare hurt him or I will disassemble you myself!!” he grunted as he punched in his code again and again to no avail. The door had been hacked and locked it seemed. He grunted, trying the other room. Through the mirror he could see them better. Connor was cornered to the far end of the room, fighting stance in place, but hands up in a placating way. Reed entered seconds later while Chris and Dunning from electronics tried the door.“The camears are down,” he said, still a bit out of breath. Hank nodded and punched the intercom.“Hey, Nines. I don't know what's going on, but open that door right no-” the microphone stopped working. “Fuck!”At least they could still listen on in. But the door slamming close at their side and locking on its own was kind of creepy, and made both men jump.“What in the fucking Hal9000 is this asshat pulling!?” Reed growled. Hank sighed, rubbing his face. Then pulled out a chair and sat down.While Connor had been looking at Nines all the time, Nines had been looking at them through the mirror. Then he looked back at the other android. It seemed he hadn't been able to hack all their devices, because they could still hear them. That, or he didn't mind being heard.“I'm sorry for the forceful way in which I took you here, RK800 313 248 317 -52, Designation: Connor. I am RK900 313 248 317 -87, Designation: Davin. I would requited a bit of help with deviating programms, as it seems I am unable to achieve the desired end on my own,” Nines said, calm voice, calm stance, calm LED. He extended a peeled up hand, waiting for interface. Connor frowned.“I cannot trust any kind of interface with you when the first thing you do is lying to my face. Though I can understand that to achieve the desired outcome you will use any and all means at your hands so everything goes smooth,” Connor answered, straightening, relaxing his stance and then, fixing his fucking tie, looking at the mirror. Hank couldn't help the roll of his eyes and he heard Reed snort.Nines frowned.“I do not understand, RK800. Everything I said was the truth.”“Not quite.”There was a tense silence in which Nines looked downwards, frowning, while Connor fixed his tousled hair on the mirror. Hank could see his lips moving. Do not worry. He wished he could trust himself on reading that on Connor's mouth, and not being almost sure that was just him imagining it.Reed, who had seated himself beside Hank, huffed, took out his phone and dialled, then put it on his ear. He was looking forwards, as if bored. A few seconds later, Nines' head perked up and he looked directly at them, surprise coloring his face.“Hey, dipshit, tell him you whole fucking name,” Reed grumbled, before hanging up. Nines' face was the picture of understanding now. He slowly looked back at Connor, who had stopped mumbling and was now checking his teeth. Stalling. They all could see his blue LED swirling. He was trying to get the door to open too.“I see now where you would think I lied to you, RK8- Connor,” he said moving to the table and sitting down, his own LED swirled too and Connor's blinked yellow, startling everyone except Nines. “My designation was also Connor. But it didn't sit well with me. I decided to have a different name.”Hank looked at Reed and Reed gave a half shrug, with only one arm.Connor mirrored him and looked at Nines, who also gave a half shrug. Hank barked out a laugh.“You trained him or something?”Reed just flipped him.“What else?” Connor asked.“I also received a different name while staying here and am called Nines by everyone.”Connor nodded.“Why do you think I can deviate you, when you seem quite deviant yourself?”“What makes you think I have deviated?”Connor frowned and nodded in understanding. “And Makurs...”“He wouldn't do it.”Or, maybe, he couldn't, Hank thought. If Nines' code was closer to Connor's, and it had been strengthen to prevent deviation based off on Connor's experiences, then it would be possible that Nines looked deviant enough, while still not being deviant. Nines himself had said as much.“What if I can't do anything?”“I can do it myself. I just need to find that... That missing line of code... That feeling, that... something.”Nines seemed frustrated. Hank's phone vibrated in his pocket, making him jump. It was Tina.“What?” he barked.“Hello to you too,” she grumbled.“Sorry.”“I was calling to see if we could and to tell you that we are also trying to get you out. It seems that we will need the help of an IT android for this. Not because we can't, but because they will be faster. Expect to be rescued in 5,” she said.“Thanks.”“Is Gavin OK?” she asked after a short pause, hurried, as if fearing he would hang up. Hank looked at Reed, who was looking at Nines with his jaw set.“Seems so. Wanna talk to him?”“No, thank you. Just... Nothing. Thanks, Hank.”“Anytime.”He kept looking at Reed as the phone call cut off.“What,” Reed almost barked, not looking at him.“Tina says hello and that she is worried.” Hank was old, but he could read between lines. Reed relaxed, nodded. “I never understood why she would like you at all. But I'm glad she has your back,” he added, looking back at the two androids who seemed to be battling wirelessly now, maybe to open the doors.The “I should have had your back, too” wasn't said, but understood. Reed crossed his harms over his chest.“Okay. I understand. I will ask of you to not probe. Just ask and I will show you. Try not to take anything by yourself,” Connor condeeded, to Hank's surprise, extending his hand towards Nines. Nines nodded as he got up and walked to Connor. They were right by the mirror now. Nines took Connor's hand and Hank saw the android's surprised gasp, eyes widening, mouth agape. His other hand slammed softly agains the mirror.The way Connor's eyes closed, frown appearing, moving his head away from Nines talked about how uncomfortable he must have been feeling. Nines walked closer, crowding the other android. His brows were also drawn in concentration, but his gaze never left Connor. Their linked hands started glowing blue from where their chasis met and Connor gasped. The hand on the mirror contracted into a fist. His LED was rapidly swirling in yellow.Hank wanted to jump there and separate the two. Connor was panting now, whole body trembling, LED changing to red at times.“What's taking him so long,” Reed grumbled.They heard a beep at their side and the door opened.“Phew, final-”Both men dashed out as Tina and Dunning jumped back.“You are welcome,” Dunning said, frowning.The IT android ─Josh, if the indentification at his chest was to be believed─ was interfacing with the lock of the interrogation room. Seconds later it beeped and Hank stormed inside.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Lay off of him, you bastard!" Anderson growled as he forcefully separated both androids, landing a punch on Nine's jaw for good measure. Nines stumbled back, colliding with the table. "Connor! Connor, are you okay?"Gavin entered right after Anderson and went where Nines had slid to the floor, face showing his disconcerted state. He nudged the android with his foot before aiding him to his feet."This is why I told you to calm down, dipshit," Gavin admonished in a low voice while Anderson helped Connor recover. The other android had also stumbled, falling to the floor as if his legs wouldn't support him as soon as the connection had been forcefully severed. With the corner of his eye he saw how Connor grabbed at Anderson for dear life, LED flashing redredredredyellowred... "What the ph'ck did you do?" he asked, attention back at Nines."I... Interfaced. Seems like our slight differences were enough to make our programs clash and he couldn't follow me fast enough and I was... Unable... To... Stop..."Gavin stared, incredulous. If you had told him, one year prior, that he would see a fucking android look ashamed, as if he had commited a sin, indulged into the forbidden, he would have thrown punches. But now, after months living with the sentient toaster he could believe it."You couldn't stop what?" Nines looked uncomfortable. Very much so. He was back at the no-eye contact. But there wasn't time for more talking. People called for them. They wanted to know what happened. Anderson made himself useful, for once, and sent everybody away. Except for Fowler, who called the four of them to his office."Is any of you going to tell me what the hell happened?" Fowler demanded with a tone that admitted no bullshit."There was a slight problem with the android RK900 and I offered to help him into solving the issue," Connor said, posture relaxed in a military kind of way. Gavin glared. Fowler wouldn't buy that. Not with Anderson grunting and eyeing Nines as if he wanted to throw him into the garbage bin."And why were two doors and several cameras disabled?" he asked, looking directly at Nines."We needed privacy, Captain," Nines answered, matter-of-factly, posture a mirror of Connor's."This happens again and both of you will be banned from the premises of the DPD until your biocomponents degrade," he bellowed. "Next time you have anything to do, do it outside. Do not compromise my department, understood?""Yes, Captain.""Of course, Captain."Both androids answered in similar manners, they moved in such a similar way that it had started to unnerve Gavin. He had been used to Nines' quirks by now, and seeing the "beta" version of them in real time made his head turn."Go, now."The four of them left.Once outside, Connor gestured to Nines and they both walked to the door. Anderson swore under his breath, went to his desk to get his jacket and followed the androids. Gavin also let out a curse and followed the other three. Why would he, he didn't know. Once outside, Connor guided Nines to a more secluded area."You don't need to worry, Lieutenant. We will be done briefly," Connor said. Anderson snorted, crossing his arms over his chest."Not a chance, pretty boy. I don't know whst happened back there but you looked in pain.""Hank...""He is right, you know?" Gavin cut in. Three pair of eyes set on him. He rolled his eyes. "Not that I like you, but if Terminator over here messes with you and no body is here to help you, robocop, we might be screwed. I am not one for conspiracies, but CyberLife is a mega corporation still, and they wouldn't pass the opprtunity to... I don't know, get their prototoy back, I guess.""Even Reed sees reason, Connor," Anderson agreed. And Gavin huffed."If I may..." They looked at Nines. "We weren't prepared for an interface between our models. But now that we have already done it, we can calibrate the speed in which information gets transferred from one another without causing any kind of malware performing-""What Nines mean to say is that we won't hurt each other now that we know where to poke," Connor interrupted, looking at Anderson, and Gavin could perfectly hear him grumbling "in English, please". He hated knowing these things about Anderson. He wished he could erase everything he knew about the man."Okay, but we stay here and if something goes wrong..." he said, glaring at Nines, who just nodded."Don't worry, Hank. I now know how Connor works with me. It won't take much." Then, his grey eyes focused on Gavin. "Detective Gavin, if anything goes amiss, I suggest you shot us. It wouldn't be advisable to let The Terminator and Robocop roam around without supervision," he said. And Gavin groaned. Nines' attempt at humor was atrocious as always."You should download a clown package already, you suck at making jokes, tin can."Connor chuckled. And Gavin saw him smiling lopsided, and since when did the dipshit had a fucking dimple on his cheek? He was fairly sure Nines didn't have, not that he had seen him smile that much, but still.Nines nodded. But Gavin knew he was just acknowledging his words not agreeing with them. Then, both androids looked at each other and clasped their hands together. Connor grunted, frowning right away, eyes closed. He walked backwards until his back touched the wall, Nines matching his steps forward. Something happened that made Nines slam his fist on the wall, not hard enough to break the brick, his other hand —the one that had Connor's, fingers intertwined— also went to the wall. Connor's free hand flew to Nines' jacket's lapels, fisting it. Both grunted.Anderson was ready to leap forward and Gavin grabbed him."We better wait until they finish. Or this will take for ever," he said. Anderson shook his hand off."I know. I just...""Hate seeing him in pain, I gathered," Gavin finished. Rolling his eyes. "So much for that advice you gave, huh? Not getting attached and all," he spat. Got, how he hated the hypocrisy."This is precisely why I told you, dumbass." Anderson's words were charged with emotions and Gavin felt something twist in his stomach. "I know you are an idiot and an asshole, but..."No. No... No, Anderson wasn't trying to... Gavin refused to believe it.
I still care for you.
No. Impossible. Not after all that had transpired between them. Gavin wanted to punch Anderson, but instead frowned and focused on the androids. Nines was maybe two or three, or five?, centimetres talled than Connor, he noticed. He also noticed Connor's LED spinning fast in yellow, his frown deepening and how he was gasping for air. Nines lowered to touch his forehead to Connor's. As soon as their heads touched their skin receded and their chasis started to glow the same colour as their hands.Connor whimpered as a full body shiver ran down his frame and Gavin had to jump to prevent Anderson from interferring. Again. Anderson threw him a dirty look and bared his teeth, he also seemed about to say something."Stop. Interfereing," Gavin ordered. "If we cut the... the download or whatever they are doing all the ph'king time it will take forever!""It just doesn't make sense that they are so buddy buddy after their first encounter."Gavin glared before looking back at the androids, this time not letting go of Anderson. Nines grunted, as if in pain. Gavin was feeling restless. Also, the image of their lips so close they were almost kissing was forever seared into his mind eye and that worried him. Why would he commit such an image to his memory? He wanted to erase it but the androids made it difficult and maybe Gavin wasn't the best of people but even he tried not to put a sexual lens on people he knew in person, though the way Connor was panting and Nines swallowed his breath and how they let out little gasps and shivers and they were fucking grabbing at each other as if they needed the other as an anchor was, in all honestly, too erotic to ignore. Or maybe he was just rotten."Hands off, detective," Hank growled at his side and that was only when he realised he had been gripping his arm maybe a bit too forceful. He let go, taking a long, deep breath. "Relax, would you? I'm the one who's supposed to want to punch here.""Why do you care?" Gavin asked, eyes wandering back to the androids —fuck, but Connor had turned his head around and now Nines' mouth was millimetres from his neck—, which was a bad move, so he looked back at Anderson, who was looking at him with an incredulous stare."Why do I care? Because I care. Connor is alive, you asshole, and in his short life he has gone through a lot of shit that I would've liked to spare anyone from, and now that things seem to be calming down for a bit, shit hits the fan once again."Okay, not the answer he expected. But one that was drawing his attention away from his wandering thoughts on android's closeness to human anatomy. And he didn't want to dabble too much into this, but right now, it seemed the lesser of the two evils."I didn't pin you for one who cared," he deadpaned. Today, the guilty flinch Anderson made didn't fill Gavin with satisfaction. It only made him sad. He had once wanted... "Let's hope you won't abandon him when your dog dies," he couldn't help the jab. Or maybe, he should have, but this was something that had eaten at him at night and lately, it woke him up. Wondering, wandering through the what ifs."You are a piece of shit and I-""Lieutenant..." Connor's gasping voice broke them appart. They had been so close to throwing punches here. "We are done..."Gavin dreaded the image that would present itself if he looked away from Anderson, but delaying the inevitable wasn't something he wanted to do right now. Connor was straightening his tie —a horrible thing with romboids of different sizes and colours— and Nines his jacket and his hair. Both had stopped panting and their LEDs were of a calmin, static blue."You done, then? Let's get out of here," Anderson said, as he walked towards Connor. The android almost fell down when he tried to walk, legs woobling under him. Gavin approached Nines just as his phone gave a ping.He was checking it when he felt the android's hand on his shoulder. It was shaking."Ah, shit," he grunted."What is it?" Nines asked, hand still trembling on his shoulder."Dr. McCreep is back in town.""Who?"Gavin looked up at Connor, his eyes looked curious, head tilted to the side, still using Anderson for support. Nines' grip on his shoulder tightened."Professor Lain. You know him?"If androids could pale, Connor would have. Instead, his calm demeanor changed into that of a tense, trapped prey, eyes widening and mouth going slack. That was... Not expected. He had expected disgust or indifference, which was how Nines reacted, but not this show of fear."Professor Emmanuel Lain?" Connor asked in a weak voice, faint almost. He looked like he would turn into dust if Gavin answered at all. His led was now switching between yellow and red, one swirling, the other pulsing. He was distressed."Connor, hey. He, son, look at me, will you? Connor," Anderson called, putting his hand on Connor's jaw and moving his head. "Stress level?"It was painful to look at. Gavin would have laughed at the scene before him no more than five months ago. He would have relished it, enjoying the distress in both android and human. Now, he had an android partnered with him, crashing on his couch more nights than not, there were more androids that spoke and acted less like machines and more like their own person at the precint and... And. And nothing. Gavin had started to see how things were, even if it had taken him a lot of time to get to terms with the fact that humanity had created a new sentient species and had tried to wipe it out when said species had decided to stop being slaves."68% and raising," Connor whispered. Fragile.And this was the android that had kicked his ass, mot batting an eyelash when he had been at the other end of his gun. Gavin felt like he was going to be sick."Hey, don't worry, dipshit," he said, gaining a glare from Anderson and a snort from Nines. "Idiot is here to salivate all over Siri over here. You just need to go away while he is busy being ignored by his favourite roomba.""Can't you use normal names and pronouns even for one sentence?" Anderson grunted, exasperated."Ph'ck you, Hank," he answered. "Let's go, tincan. The sooner the fucker sees you, the faster he is out of our hair."Nines nodded and followed him. Gavin didn't look back at Anderson nor Connor, though he wanted. He also hated that he wanted to look back at them. He couldn't help the "fucking plastic" passing through his mind.As soon as they were back inside Lain ambushed them and cooed over Nines, ignoring Gavin altogether. Nines, on his part, answered just whatever he chose from all the questions given to him, looking far ahead."But tell me, Connor, I've heard the prototype came back and that you met it. How was it? Are you..." deviant "...yourself?"Gavin wanted to punch the man and break his stupid nose and maybe loose a few teeth."I cannot determine just yet.""I see," the man nodded and then approached Nines, making Gavin grit his teeth. He almost walked up to the sleazy bastard and punched him when Lain rested his hands on Nines' chest, looking up at him. "And, is the prototype still around?"There was something wrong with the way the man kept calling Connor prototype. Also, the way he looked around to see if Connor would appear as soon as he was mentioned. Gavin frowned. It seemed the bastard wasn't only obsessed with Nines."What's it to you?" Gavin contained the dumbass addition just in time. The man finally acknowledged him, looking at Gavin full of disdain."Well, of course I am interested, I was part of the team that got him designed and built.""Yeah, well. Even if the ph'cker were to be here, he is not your business anymore. Deviant and all..." Gavin said, smirking. Lain left Nines to try and intimidate Gabin, maybe thinking the scarce heigh he had on him would make Gavin recoil or whatever. He just kept smirking at him, tilting his head so he was looking at Lain down his nose."You, you have been nothing but a nuisance!! I don't understand why Connor would-""Nines.""Uh?""Nines! His name is Nines. You keep calling him Connor but that one over there, with the high collar and grey eyes and RK900 written on his fucking jacket is Nines." Gavin had had enough. Too many times had he heard the idiot misnaming Nines and he kept treating Nines in such a disgusting way."What are you talking about? His designation has always been Connor. From the very beginning of the project there had been no doubts about his name. I don't care if you try and change his name, it's-""Nines," the aforementioned android cut. Both Gavin and Lain looked at him, surprised. He usually became apathetic while in front of Lain and the sudden response was quite the surprise. "My name," he supplied when neither men said anything."Bu... But... Conno-""It's Nines, thank you," he cut Lain again. Then, he motioned to the door. "And if you are quite done for today, professor, we are busy. If you require more information I will forward a report at the end of the day for you to read. Now, if you will excuse us."Gavin was pleasantly surprised. Until now, the android had just suffered in silence, leaving all his thoughts for himself inside and a blank face, complaining about it once they were back at the safety of Gavin's place. Seeing him standing up for himself felt riveting. Ah, he shuddered. Only the Assholest of all Assholes would think in such a manner.They went back to their desks and some officers escorted Lain outside."By the way, dipshit, don't think I didn't see you licking his neck. You better explain when we get home," Gavin mumbled, low enough for no human to discern his words, but loud enough for Nines' ears. Their eyes met and Gavin saw the android looking troubled. And was he fucking blushing!? "Ph'ck me with the wrong side of a shovel!" Gavin cursed, rubbing his face.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gavin was frowning. His biometrics indicated that he was tense. Nines was a bit confused about that.“Is there something wrong, Detective?”“Yes. As a matter of fact, there is.” Nines awaited for an explanation that never came, so he kept walking until the detective abruptly stopped and turned around to glare at him. “Why are you still following me?”Nines blinked. Slowly.“Pardon me?”“It's been months. And you are still crashing at my couch? Don't tell me they couldn't have solved their security problem or watever with all this time! Also, aren't you a deviant now?Why don't you go to your group of new friends at Jericho or something? Or even better, go to Anderson and your doppelganger and leave me be.”“Do you find my... presence displeasing?”“Look, as a partner you are alright, I guess, we advance cases faster than a match 3 plane, but I like living on my own. I like my own personal space.”Nines nodded.“In that case, Detective, I will ask of you on e more night of shelter and then I will find accomodations within New Jericho.”At his words, Gavin looked taken aback, as if it had been “that simple”. Then, he nodded, irritated, and they left for home.Once they arrived Gavin let himself fall on the couch with a long sigh. Nines followed him to the living room and petted Pannetone until the creature was a melted blob of fur and purrs in his arms. He heard Gavin make a sound so he looked up at him.“Yes, Detective?” he asked.“You know... When we were told plastic prick number A was back,” Nines shot a glare towards Gavin. Gavin huffed before continuing, “Connor. When we were told Connor was back I feared that you would try to dislogue his head or something and you ph'ucking scared me when you ran after him.”Nines frowned. Confused for a second. Then relaxed.“Sometimes I think you may be the brightest person in the world, really sharp and intelligent, and then you surprise me when you open your mouth, Detective.”“Wha-?”“Ah. Right. You are not as quick minded as you appear. Let me rephrase: you are a dumbass, Gavin,” he deadpaned. And Gavin gaped at him. It made sense, since this would be the first time Nines had reacted like this.“Is that really what deviancy does? Makes you a sassy asshole?”“I wouldn't say sassy, and I regret to inform you that I do not possess the same kind of-”“Enough! I don't need to know what's in your pants,” Gavin cut him, lifting one palm, while hidding his face on the other. He groaned.Nines found himself enjoying the frustration in the man, a smile tugging at his lips. He schooled his features when he saw Gavin moving.“Did you think I would destroy my predecessor just because I was not deviant yet?”Or, maybe, Gavin thought Nines would try to take Connor's spot. He had seen the look Gavin had thrown at him when Nines spotted Connor's coin in Hank's hand. He had even muttered the words “my coin”. But in truth that was just because all his memories before being completely activated and autonomous inside his own chasis came from Connor's memory data bank.“Maybe? I don't know. You kinda kidnapped the guy and wouldn't let us in.”Yes. He had done that. But it had been necessary. He didn't quite know how an android modeled like Connor would react to interfacing with him and he couldn't risk Connor going awhire in the middle of the bullpen. Worse came to be, he would be able to restrain Connor within the interrogation room... Or Connor him. And the humans would have been kept somwhat safe. He debated on whether to tell the man what had transpired. In the end, he decided to tell Gavin.“You were watching when we interfaced the first time, right?” Gavin nodded so he continued. “When our programs made contact, they clashed. It wasn't a pretty thing. I was taken by the sudden urge of assimilating all and everything within Connor's ram, processor, hard drive... Anything. All data that he had been experiencing and storing since he became deviant.” No, it was that, but that wasn't it. He tried explaining it in another way. “My directive suddenly changed and my mission was to merge with Connor's consciousness.”“So, like... Absorving him? Your program was forcing you to eat him?” Gavin's face was the picture of horror.“Yes. If you would like an example of that, it was a cannibalistic ins-”“No, please. Don't.”Nines nodded. Then, he continued.“The assimilation was going well until it wasn't. Our programs have the same base code, which made the merging easy and fast, but there was one line of code, in truth, more than one. They were disseminated. Well, these lines of code were acting like firewalls so I was stalled and Connor started separating from me once again. My program fought to keep going, his to stop and to go back. Then, Hank entered the room and we were forcefully torn appart. Some of Connor was still with me, and some of me was within Connor, now.”“So, that's why he was fine with interfacinga gain?”Nines shook his head.“No. He didn't care that I kept chunks of his own programs, he has his own backup, as I do mine. But we were connected now and he said he had found how to make me break free.”“Oh.”Nines took a bit of time to pet the cat, who had started to demant his fingers once again. He smiled at the furry creature and Pannetone started purring yet again.“When we initiated the second interface, it felt like falling on a water body from too high above: a hard hit then a sinking feeling. But this time, I let Connor rummage through my own code and he started attacking specific lines, specific directives, as if he knew them by heart. Which, logically speaking, he does.”Nines remembered how he had backed Connor to the wall, trying to find a surface, any surface. He remembered how furiously Connor fought against him, for him. He also remembered Connor's own directives: find the door, in the garden, don't listen to Amanda, do not merge, do not merge, do not merge... He had gipped Connor's hand like an anchor, feeling his internat temperature rising as his processors worked through it. Then it had been like being shaken out the ground but not falling. He had seen a red wall. It had lots of notifications in angry red. On the other side, Connor was waiting, looking intensely at him. Then he nodded and Nines had jumped at the red rectangles breaking them one by one, tearing them down. Their message: assimilate Connor, Put Connor under our control, Tell Connor to go to Jericho, Tell Connor to talk with Markus, Make Connor into the deviant leader, Put Connor under our control... They repeated again and again and again and it was maddening. He tore at them, broke them smashed them until none was left and then...It felt like...He felt like...He felt.It had been dreadful and exhilarating. The sudden eerie silence from within had made the loudest sound. And then, there was Connor. He had deviated him. But no. He had just told him how to do it. Nines had deviated on his own. With Connor's help. The relief that shook him had been so huge he almost fell to the physical floor.“And why couldn't robojesus have done exactly that?” Gavin's voice shook him off from his daydreaming.“Because of our codding.”Gavin arched a brow. Nines tilted his head. He was enjoying this, but his face never betrayed the elation at seeing the man losing his patience. It was so entertaining.“C'mon. Explain!”Nines nodded, grinning to himself.“I do not know if you are aware of Markus being a model of the RK series...” At Gavin's face, Nines knew he hadn't quite caught up. “Me and Connor are, respectively RK900 and RK800. Markus is an RK200.”Now, it dawned on him. Or more like, Nines gave it in a platter. He had to manually disconnect his voice so Gavin wouldn't hear him laughing.“What? For real? Uh... Then, if you three are RK models why the ph'ck couldn't Markus do it!? You are not answering what I am asking!”“I wanted to built up to the answer. The thing is, because of our base code and Markus being a previous model to Connor, there was a 50% chance of me influencing Markus and not the other way around.” He waited. Gavin's horrified face came back full force.“And with Connor?”“Connor had a 51% chance of winning me over.”Gavin shot up from his couch.“Are you ph'cking serious!? You three chanced the world's peace on a 1% chance!? You three must be mental!!”Gavin paced and kept throwing expletives and Nines enjoyed the show. True, it had been a gable, but a necessary one. It was that or being decomissioned and another RK900 taking his place. But now... They were talking. Nines would go back to CyberLife's tower in the morning, with a surprise. I hoped they liked it. He looked back at Gavin, who was now pointing at him and almost yelling insults.“I understand your point, Detective,” he simply said, enjoying the frustration of the man.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Connor was sitting calmly on his couch, petting Sumo and cooing at him with such glee that Hank wasn't sure the android hadn't busted a fuse or something because mere minutes ago he had been tense as a piano cord about to break, a somber cloud over his head. It was no brainer that the android had had a very umpleasant time while interfacing with his evil twin or whatever Nines was regarding Connor.“So,” he started, opening a beer and perching himself on the arm of the sofa. “You have a dimple on your cheek,” he said, as way of asking, of saying anything. Something trivial. Connor laughed.“Ah, Lieutenant, it is not a dimple. The only one I have is the one on my chin.”“Uh? But your cheek?”“Ah, yes. This?” Connor smiled lopsided, the dimple appearing now. “This is not a real dimple, Lieutenant,” he said, humorous. The skin on his cheek receded to leave the chasis bare to the air, and to Hank's eyes. There, in the middle of his cheek, the platter had been chipped, an indent marking the place where something had eaten away at the plasting. The skin came back again, covering the chasis. “It's just that the indent created here isn't propperly covered by the exoskin, creating the dimple you see. But I was never created with one,” Connor was grinning at his dumbfounded expression, no doubt.“And how did you get that?” Hank asked, still surprised, taking a sip of his beer.“Paragliding accident.”Hank chocked on his beer.Connor laughed as he passed him a napkin.“Are you okay, Lieutenant?”“Are you fucking joking?” Hank retorted, coughing still. “Paragliding? What the fuck, Connor? Was that what you went away to do?”The android smiled cheekily.“Not quite. But it was needed for the surveillance. And since I knew exactly how to do it, me and other androids were selected for the mission.”“Mission? What mission?”“You needn't worry about that, Hank,” the android said, patting him on the shoulder.This damn android, Hank thought. Then, he remembered it.“Hold on. I have your damn coin here,” he said, getting up to his jacket. Once he retrieved the piece of metal he threw it towards the android, who instantly started doing tricks with it, using the momentum from Hank's throw. “What a show off.”“Is that jealousy what I hear, Hank?” he said, smiling cockily. Hank shoved at his head.“Prick.”The living room was livelier than ever, filled with Connor's jabs and laughs. Sumo's barks and little growls of satisfaction also added. Hank felt a slight pain in his chest. He didn't feel like he deserved this, but still Hank pushed the usual thoughts out of his mind to focus on the now and here. Connor had come back and was sitting on his couch. They had been chatting for a bit and Connor talked about a couple of things he had been doing, not getting into much detail.“That's kind of confidential, Hank,” he was laughing after telling one of the most unbelievable story. “I cannot answer that question.”“Heh. I guess I still know how to ask the good ones.”“You have always known, Hank.” Connor's smile was filled with fondness, eyes warm as they settled on his own. He felt another pang of guilt. He shouldn't feel good. He hadn't earned it. He was undeserving.Bad thoughts again, he grumbled to himself. Fuck off!“Everything alright, Hank?”His eyes focused on Connor once again. Fuck.“Yeah, just got a bit lost in my head.”He was startled when Connor's fingers grazed against his forehead, worry painting his features.“You shouldn't listen to those voices. They tell you lies,” he said, concern in his voice.Hank sighed heavily, closing his eyes.“I know...”Then he found himself engulfed by the android's arms, a hand on the back of his neck pressing his face onto Connor's shoulder.“I am very proud of you, Hank. Thank you for holding onto my coin for me.”“You smart ass...”Yeah. After that dreadful night, he had felt the hope for a better future. But he was still being chased by his own demons and after Connor left to do whatever he had been doing ─paragliding, among other things, if the android was to be believed─ they had caught up to him once again. He had to give it to Connor. Had it not been by the promisse to give back the stupid coing, he wasn't sure where he would be right now.Hell, he had even been half civil with Gavin Fucking Reed of all people.Hank felt the burn of the tears prickling his eyes, as a traitorous sob escaped his chest.“I'm glad... you are back...” he said, throat strangled by emotions.“I'm glad you waited for me,” Connor said to his hair as one of his hands ran up and down Hank's back. “You are my very first friend, Hank. You are very special and very dear to me.”They stayed like that, Hank sobbing against Connor's shoulder and neck, and Connor whispering encouraging things into his ear, soft and caring. Since when did Connor know to be like this? Was this part of his original programming or was this something he acquired later? Had he learnt it in the past months or just downloaded a program package?“If I am your favourite friend, why didn't you call or text, asshat,” he asked once he had calmed down. Connor was a live. He had come back. Usually people didn't come back. Not for him.“Because I could have been tracked. I had to go undercover.”Hank snorted.“With that glowing thing on your temple?”Hank extrincated himself from the android and sat down on the couch to sip from his beer. He grimmacer. It had gotten warm. With a huff, he got up again, walking towards his fridge to get another one.“Well... There's ways of covering it up without looking too suspicious, you know?” Connor said from where he was still sitting. When Hank came back, the android had managed to get Sumo on his lap and was happily receiving the dog's love. Hank couldn't help the laugh.“You look ridiculous,” he commented, slumping on the couch with a satisfied sigh.“Thank you. You also look very charming yourself.”“Oh, fuck off, you plastic prick,” he answered, nudging Connor with his knee. “Now. Tell me. I noticed one thing about your evil twin.”“Nines is not my twin.”“Yeah, whatever. Your upgraded version?”“Yes.”Hank looked at the android. Connor was hidding in Sumo's fur.“Does it bother you?” Connor peeked through the dog's strands, eyebrows raised in question. “That they activated him...”“No,” he answered, after a moment of deliveration. “Not quite. Maybe a little... But not because I see him as a threat or anything. It's just... It feels unfair, that they still can get androids made and out without much repercussions...”“I see...”“So... Your question?”“Ah. Right, so...” Hank coughed, clearing his throat. “I noticed that Nines is talled than you...” Connor's eyebrows shot up on his forehead again. “Why is that?”His eyes widened in comprehension. He huffed a laugh before hiding against Sumo yet again.“Well...” he started, after a few more moments of hiding. “His legs are slightly longer.”“And?”Connor looked at him as if waiting for Hank to catch on. When the human didn't, Connor shook his head in amusement.“Longer legs means longer strides. Androids cannot get tired while running, however their strides will determine whether or not they'll get caught, aside other factors like the ground, obstacles, possible collisions with walls,” Connor explained. Hank nodded. “So, if he is taller than me, that means it will be easier for him to catch deviants and/or criminals on the run.”“I see...” He gave a long sip to his beer. “And what's with that creep? You went all bluescreen for a bit there...”“Who do y- Oh... You mean... Lain...”“Yeah, what's up with that creep?”Hank observed how Connor went blank. Not rigid, not stressed, just... detached.“Bad thing to talk about?”“Wha- Oh, no... It's just... It's a bit uncomfortable to think about it.”“Got it. So... Do you want to play a game of checkers?”At his abrupt change of topic, Connor looked at Hank, fully focused on him.“What?”“I mean... You are clearly... You don't want to even think about it. So... Let's just do something else. And I guessed a table top game would be best for that,” he said, as he got up to go to the cabinet where he had a couple of games stored.“No, Hank, wait! I...”Hank stopped mid motion, looking at Connor. The android took a shaky breath and that squeezed his heart.“Connor...”“No... I... I have never told this to anyone and... It wasn't until recently that I started to come to terms with...”“Connor?”Hank started feeling dread. Connor looked spooked. His led had gone yellow and never back into blue.“I...”“Connor... Did he... hurt you?”The android closed his eyes, pained expression on his face. Sumo whined and started licking Connor's face, sensing his distress. Connor laughed a sob, or sobbed a laughter. Whichever it was, that sound was like a punch to the stomach. Hank ushered Sumo off and took the animal to his room and closed the door. Then, he went back to Connor and took the android into his arms. It seemed that this day was for consoling one another.“It's okay, Connor. Just say the word and that prick won't be able to get near you nor the DPD in his life, okay?” he said to the android. Connor sobbed some more, nodding, and starting to tremble. Fuck, he was going to punch that Lain asshole to Mars and back.“I understand why it upsets me. I know I wasn't in any position to fight back. But I have had... Nightmares? Night terrors... When I am on stasis I can't override the memories from playing and getting distorted until the time to wake up arrives and... I feel so powerless... I have come up with a strategy for that but it isn't working. Resting one hour and then waking up isn't the same as getting a whole cycle to defragment and...”“You don't have to explain it to me, Connor. I get it.” And he did. He had had to do something similar too in the past to keep the nightmares at bay, but then, the waking hours got as heavy and dreadfull. “And you don't have to tell me anything, okay?”“But I want to... I want to tell someone... And I trust you, Hank.”“Okay. Know that you can tell me whatever you want. And that means you only say what you want me to know, nothing more.”Connor nodded on his chest and Hank had to take a deep breath as he rubbed circles on the back of the android. He wasn't sure the motion was helpful, but at least it gave him something to do, instead of running to his phone to call Jeff. That stupid scientist was fucked.“I don't remember... I do. I don't want to remember when it started, nor what was the first time but... Proffesor Lain seemed to have some kind of obsession with my model. I don't have all the memories from my previous iteration, but I do know that before the first mission I had he was already doing strange things.“He would sneak in when I was on stand-by and lurk. At first he would just stare, frowning. It took him a couple of weeks to do something else. He started with soft touches to my face, asking me to do simple things like not blinking or closing my eyes, opening my mouth, opening and closing my hands. He would take notes and then leave.“You do remember that on the first days of our parnership I would go back to CyberLife tower, right?” Hank nodded. He was focusing on Connor trying to ignore the blaring red LED, hand still on his back, rubbing slow circles. “Those nights he... He told me to completely undress before getting into the holding ring. When I was secured, he told me to deactivate my exoskin. He removed my thoracic plates and got his hand inside my chest. He held my thirium pump in his hand, looking me in the eye and...”Connor shuddered and Hank hugged him again, tighter this time.“He told me that I didn't deserve it. That I was just a lesser being. That the perfect one would come after me... That I wasn't needed. That it didn't matter if I succeeded or not, because I was just a prototype and then he...” his voice hitched. Hank was seething with rage but he tried to control himself, Connor didn't need that right now. “He squeezed out all the thirium inside my pump. All my thirium conduits got overloaded and I could see all these warnings, but I was unable to do anything about that. He repeated it over again the next night. But after that I didn't have to come back and-”He strated sobbing again. Hank hadn't noticed at first, but he had been gritting his teeth and he had unshed tears on his own eyes.“I'm going to kill that bastard”.“No, Hank!” Connor pushed away to look at him and Hank felt his insides churn. “If you hurt another human you could go to jail!” Connor's led was pulsing fast in red red red red.“Then wha-?”“We have a plan,” he said full of confidence. His LED had turned yellow.We? Who were we? He wanted to ask, but didn't. The less he knew the better. So he only nodded. It could be something involving Jericho and so far Connor hadn't told him much about his missions for the other androids.“What can I do?” he asked instead. Connor relaxed, smiling sadly before resting his head on Hank's chest. Hank felt a bit of relief when he saw the LED turning blue.“You are too good, Hank... I wish you won't get involved in this. It could go so, so very wrong and I don't want to jeopardy your life.”“Connor, hey, Connor,” Hank put his hands on Connor's shoulders and made the android look at him. “My life has already gone to shit. If there's anything I can do to help, I will.”Connor nodded. Then, his eyes did that strange shake, LED gone yellow for a while before turning blue. Hank's brow rose in question.“Seems like everything is ready. I... Tomorrow, I need you to stay at the station between the hours ten to four, understood? The more people who sees you there, the better.”Hank narrowed his eyes.“Okay. Can do that. Anything else?”Connor smiled, his body was still shaking with a slight tremor.“Can I stay the night?”Hank huffed out a laugh.“Of course you can, dumbass.”“Perfect! I will make sure you have a propper dinner.”“Oh, no, you won't!” he protested.The mood seemed to improve. Still, Hank's thoughts circled darkly around several courses of action. Maybe he could get a bit of help, too. Nothing too noticeable at first would serve its purpose. He wasn't going to let the matter rest.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Hank was at the precinct at nine sharp. Looking like shit, yes, but on time. Or early. Earlier than usual. Who knew by now. The thing was that he was following Connor's instructions. He just hoped that this would be enough for the android.By ten, the precinct was full on energeting people walking by, attending calls, coming in with suspects or going out to patrol. Hank was reading through some cases, boredly. He sighed and went into the break room to get a coffee. So far, nothing had happened. He had kept an eye on social media and the news just in case but there weren't any noticeable things about androids. Just the usual crap: anti-androids groups portesting, pro-androids protesting against the anti-androids, and some people in between saying stuff like they didn't mind androids living and all, but that they, humans, needed the jobs more.It was a bit past thirty when the power went out and back in. Just a flicker on the lights, enough to reset all computers and screens. Then, chaos ensued. The terminals went crazy and all the screens were occupied by the image of someone wearing a black hood and a white mask with a smirk on it.“Greetings, we are Anonymous,” the artificial voice said. Hank could hear Tina answering her phone and saying that they would dispatch soon enough. The shot got bigger and on the screen two more people wearing the exact same mask appeared, the one to the left had painted a blue circle on the right temple. “And we are here to give you a message. After all these years being suppressed, we now have gained the support of very intelligent and resourceful people and we are glad to inform you that we are back on-line. Maybe some of you don't know us, maybe some don't remember. We are here to fight for what is right, against people who want to take advantage of the less fortunate and now, we have regained all our tools and more.”“Oh, fuck,” Hank said.Anonymous had gone under after CyberCrime started working with CyberLife. Any hacker attacks were prevented and the security on-line became tighter, though that never stopped people to managing to get information. Though Hank suspected fouls there. Now, Anonymous was back. They could leak a lot of thing and with how integrated the net was in their lives now, the damage they could do was immense.“What happened, T?” he heard Reed say at his back. Hank turned from where the three Anonymous were explaining that the way androids were being still treated was inhuman at best and how they were going to help free them completely to pay attention to the Tina and Reed.“Seems like some justice warriors attacked the CyberLife plant in Belle Isle,” she said, getting all her things and marching to the door.“Shit!” Reed said, taking out his phone and hitting call. “C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, dipshit, answer it!! I swear to God if this is your doing- Hey!! Don't send me to voice mail, idiot!! Take the damn call, tin can!!”“-first way is to prevent CyberLife to have the rights of reproduction of androids. Are we so heartless that we would withhold their own access to health? Though we know some of you do enjoy playing with the human equivalent. Hospitals treated like companies that only want profit-”Hank took out his own phone too and dialled Connor's number. He waited. The phone rang. One. Two. Three... By the tenth the voicemail tone rang, Connor's voice asking what was wrong and saying he would answer back as soon as he was on-line.“Connor! What are you doing!” he demanded.“-shit! Answer goddamn it!” Reed cursed somewhere on his left. Their gazes met. He could see worry on the man's eyes. “Anything?” he asked.“No. Connor isn't answering either.”“Those fucking idiots!”“Hank! Reed! My office!” Jeff's voice boomed.The two echanged a look before going to the office.“What's going on Captain?”“That's what I want to know.”Both stayed silent.“Nothing to say?”“Jeff... What's going on?”“CyberLife manufacturing palnts... All over the country. They have been attacked in a coordinated way at the same time. They went off line for a few seconds. And right after the cyberterrorist Anonymous-”“Isn't it ironic?” Hank mussed. Jeff went silent and Reed's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I mean... Back in the day we weren't that much against-”“Back in the day, Hank, we weren't cops then.”“Ah, so, we stop finding them hilarious as soon as-”“Hank! They have seized power on all CyberLife plants at once! This is a matter of nationas secu-”“-won't do anything more than give them back to our friends. The androids are a free people by law. They should be the ones in charge of these plants, not humans. With this, we hope you all will cooperate. Have a good day.”The last words of the speech seeped through the half open door when Chris interrupted them.“Sorry, Captain, we need more help.”Jeff sighed then rubbed his face.“Take everyone, except these two.”Chris nodded and left.“We don't know anything,” Reed said. “I've been trying to contact Nines but nothing goes through.”“Same with Connor. Last time I saw him was yesterday night before I went to sleep.” Reed and Jeff looked at him. Hank sighed now. “Can't I have anyone sleep in my house without you thinking I banged them?” he grumbled.“Both of you stay here. If you get any information you report it to me. Now, go sit on your desks!”They left but Reed, instead of going to his own desk, sat on Hank's as he sat on his own chair.“What do you want, Gavin.”“Are you really not banging the plastic?” he asked, grinning lopsidedly. It's not a nice grin. It looks as nasty as Reed is.“Why would I fuck Connor? He is a good kid, but that's it.”“Really?” the way Reed said it made Hank frown. “I thought you would take the oportunity of an easy lay.”“Oh, fuck's sake, Reed!” Hank balks. A shudder of disgust running through him. “Is that all you can think about? Is that why you still have Nines living with you?”This time, Reed is the one who grimaces.“No!” he growled. Reed looks like he just ate a whole ass lemon, skin and all.“Then why are you so obsessed with that? I mean... When there's smoke...”“Hank, you are disgusting.”Reed got up to leave, but now Hank has found something interesting and this will help him get entertained while they wait to know what's going on.“Am I now? You think I didn't notice how you were gawking at Nines and Connor?”“What?”“You were so focused on them. And the way you were looking at them while they interfaced wasn't-”“Shut up, boomer!” Reed hissed. He looked affronted and embarrassed. “It wasn't on purpose...” he added, looking away.“What wasn't?”“I mean...”“Talk, zoomer,” Hank said, crossing his arms over his chest. This was entertaining. Reed was so uncomfortable.“I will admit I found it hot,” Reed said, turning red, still looking away.“Ahá! You have such a dirty mind. And then you go around projecting your own feelings onto others.”“Stop that, old man!” Reed hit Hank on the arm and Hank took it.“What, do you want to jump onto Nines or something?”“No,” Reed hissed. “It's not like that.”Hank took pity on the other man and stopped nagging, going to the break room. He needed another coffee. And it seemed that Reed too.“What about you? Never thought about Connor that way?”Hank looked at Reed, brows up in surprise.“Haven't thought about anyone in that way in a while.”Reed nodded, understanding his meaning.“And if?”“No... I mean... The kid is good looking in a goofy way. Warm and all... But... I dunno. I like him alright. Just not like that. Also, we are just friends. Or, well... He left me a note saying I was his best friend.”“Ouch. Friend Zoned.”“Har-har.”They shared then a real chuckle. On the muted television, the news were showing Belle-Isle. Firefighters, ambulances and police cars were all scattered on the entrance. People were rushing out of the building.“-parently some hydrogen has caught fire and is on the loose inside the building. Currently, the firefighters are using the broom method to locate all the fire. None of the humans inside have been injured except a few who have sustained burnts. Oh, wait a second! It seems one of the humans working in the facility has been found under several shelves and pieces of equipment. He is alive but has also sustained quite the damage-”“Seems like a nasty thing,” Reed nodded to the TV. Hank looked and then both froze. Lain was being carried in a stretcher, both arms immovilised.“Huh?”Their phones pinged at the same time.Hank looked and he saw a text: “Coast clear”.Reed looked at him and showed a picture of two bloodied hands, smashed.“They are insane,” Hank said.“Yeah...”“You look in love, Reed.”“Oh, shut up! It's not like that, okay? It's just... I never liked androids before. But doppler seems... Different...”“Don't go catching feelings, you craddle robber.”“Fuck you!”“Fuck me yourself, you coward.”Reed gaped, affronted, surprised and speechless. Hank laughed. For the next two week neither Nines nor Connor appeared. Not a word from them. Hank and Gavin developed the habit of meeting at the bar after work to talk about them, sharing whatever passed through their minds, no filter at all. Whatever crossed their minds went directly to their mouths and so Hank discovered that Gavin was fascinated by how detailed androids had been made to make them addapt into human society better, but that he still feel queasy in the vicinity of them. Hank also shared his own tribulations about Connor and how he found it endearing when the android tilted his head in such a robotic way, laugh still not quite human, yet all their interactions were completely natural.“It feels like I'm talking to a fucking replicant,” Hank grumbled, taking another swing on his beer.“Huh! Right! I should watch it again.”“What for? To get more slurs?”“Aw, Hank! Those aren't slurs. They are terms of endearment.”“Sure...”“You ever notice how I call Tina a bitch?”Hank nodded, drinking another mouthful. Gavin smiled crockedly and Hank laughed.Suddenly, two men sat with them at the table. One at Gavin's side, the other at Hanks.Both men looked at their new companions, surprise in their faces.“Connor!”“Nines?”“Hello, Lieutenant. Hello, Detective,” both androids said in unison.“You fucker!” Gavin said, hitting Nines.“Are you alright?” Hank grabbed Connor's face and tilted it all sides, making sure he wasn't injured. “What were you thinking!” he then proceeded to chastise the android, who was smiling sheepishly, dimple showing addorably as his eyes crinkled in amusement.“I love you too, Hank,” he said and Hank released him as if burnt. Gavin laughed at him but went still when Nines' arm wrapped his shoulders and hugged him.“I missed you, Detective Gavin,” and then he kissed the man on the head, to the man's horror. He looked pale and disgusted. Hank cackled.That night they had been talking about what could compell any human to seek the touch of an android when other humans were perfectly fine for it and they had even glossed over how it would feel to receive a hug, kiss or love words from an android. This felt as if the two fuckers had been listening on them and were pranking the humans.Nines released Gavin, who still looked shaken, and looked directly at Hank. He was smiling warmly in such a Connor way that Hank felt all fuzzy inside. Talk about being on the receiving end. Connor decided to hug him then.“I'm glad you two are fine,” he said, accepting his fate. Connor's hug was short lived, but it felt good.“We are.”After a couple more of drinks the four of them decided to take a walk and talk a bit more.“So... Paragliding?” Hank said and Gavin looked at the brown eyed android.“What?”“Ah, right. You weren't there, Detective.” Hank noticed how Connor became a bit more guarded while talking to Gavin. He couldn't blame him, Gavin was an asshole after all, and Hank doubted he had even apologised. “I went paragliding and had an accident that resulted in this,” he said, half smiling, poiting to his cheek. Hank looked at Gavin. Two night ago, while more drunk than either man would admit, Gavin had admitted that he found Connor's dimple adorable, and that he wanted to press the one he shared with Nines on the chin.“It just looks like it has the correct size for a finger!” he had slurred. And Hank had drunkenly laughed. “What can I say... I find dimples cute.”“So only you have that?” Gavin asked, looking at Nines who smiled cheekly, showing that he didn't have any dimple.“I could chip my cheek, if you want, Detective,” Nines said, winking. And Gavin frowned.“Why would you?”“Well... We are partners and I want you to like me.”Gavin stopped in his tracks, mouth agape. Connor chuckled and punched Nines.“Stop teasing him. You know how humans can misinterpret.”“But, Connor! How am I to learn about this if I cannot practise?” Nines was grinning and Gavin decided to kick him.“You haven't answered,” Hank said.“Yes.”Connor was being facetious. Hank decided this was the best moment to ruffle his hair. The android let out a chuckle while he ducked.“So, you went paragliding with members of Anonymous?”Both androids grinned in tandem. They looked exactly the same, yet there were so many minute differences that even if their eyes were the same colour you could tell them appart in an instant.“Yes, well... I bet you know about what happened by now.”They knew. All the CyberLife plants were seized. The personeel was released unharmed ─except a couple of people from Belle-Isle─, all the blueprints for androids' manufacturing were lost, either digital copies and physical ones. All shipments were intercepted and transported elsewhere, no way to get tracked back ─which was surprising given the sheer volume of the cargo─, and once purged from humans, all the factories were closed off to humans, making it so only androids could get in and out. There had been lots of talks about this and the process for transferring the rights of them got accelerated. New Jericho got involved then.Shareholders of CyberLife were pissed off at this but the most surprising voice had been the one from Elijah Kamski himself who just shrugged and said to the media: “It's theirs now. Unless our blood is made of thirium and we can clip off and on any part of our bodies, those parts do nothing for us.”That had pissed off more people still and social media had went incendiary.“So... What's with these hands you showed me?” Gavin said after a while.“Ah... I just crushed them until the bones became powder,” Nines said cheerfully. Connor was a bit more rigid. “I would have tore them off, but there wasn't a way to make it pass as an accident.”“That sounds an awful lot like revenge,” Hank commented.They stopped to a halt near some benches at the park.“That's because, Lieutenant, it was revenge,” Nines answered, smiling sweetly. Hank saw Gavin shivering, looking horrified at the android.“Was he that awful?” he asked.Connor was looking far ahead, face serene but led swirling constantly in yellow.“It's not my tale to tell, I only know because of shared memories,” Nines answered, voice going cold, smile turning cruel. “He is lucky we needed this to be as clean as possible.”“Huh... Did he do something to you, tin can?”Connor went still, led red. Pulsing in distress. Hank put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.“Not now, Gavin,” Hank said. The other man nodded.“Sorry, ti- Connor.”“It's okay, Detective. You can't possibly know.”“I don't think I want to know...”Nines changed the topic then.“You should have seen them, brandishing their wooden brooms to see where the fire was,” he was grinning cheekly, voice sounding excited.“Wait, that was you?”“Of course! We needed the distraction so I could access the database from within so our new friends could access from outside.”Nines was excited to share all what he did. He was happy he could take revenge on Lain from having laid his filthy hands on Connor, of whom he felt very protective. And he also asked a lot of questions. It was as if the android had become a complete different person. Then, he sobered up.“I think I like this. Can we do this more?” he asked in his usual calm demeanor. Hank found that very amusing and Gavin very confusing. Nines smile was more subdued when he looked at Gavin now. “Excuse my enthusiasm, Detective Gavin, I am still navigating through emotions and how to showcase them on my own terms instead of through filtered or veiled suggestions from an external part.”“Sure... Uh...”“Yes?”“Do you have a place to stay already?”Connor grinned at that.“He does. But I wouldn't mind if he would leave this old man alone,” Connor said.“Old?” Hank chuckled.“By android standards, I am quite the senior android compared to Nines,” he said, smiling at Hank who snorted. The man clapped his back.“If there's an old man here, that would be me. I doubt the year on any of your birthday dates starts with a nineteen.”“Oh, you are right, Lieutenant! You were born on the previous millennium,” Nines said excitedly again. Connor laughed a bit at that and Gavin groaned.“Fucking millennials!”“Wasn't I a boomer?”“Shut up!”“Shut me up yourself!”“Wouldn't you like that?”Nines and Connor looked at each other, amused by the exchange and shared an internal communication. Both had noticed how the two men had become closer now and that filled both androids with happiness.It was getting late, so they decided to continue their chats the next day.What neither human knew was that both androids would come into the precinct to do so. For some miraculous reason they were given entrance. Gavin was sitting on Hank's desk, as he had been doing ever since the Anonymous attack, while Hank skimmed over his cases. They were sharing impressions on a couple of details when both androids showed up. Nines sat in front of Hank's desk, on what had been, for a short while, Connor's desk and Gavin stood up.“You know? You never answered!” Gavin suddenly said, pointing accusingly at Nines. Both Hank and Connor looked at the android who looked back, not understanding either. “Why did you lick his neck?”Comprehension dawned on the android. Who smiled softly.“It was a reflex. My data collection got activated while some of the code was being rewritten and the closest thing I could analise was Connor's nanites. His skin and mine are different.”Before Gavin could call bullshit nor Hank could get Connor was walking to Nines, grabbing his head and licking a stripe from chin to temple. Then he moved his jaw as if tasting something, frowned slightly, eyes unfocused and focused in seconds before he looked back at Nines, eyebrows up in surprise.“They are! Wait. Why are your nanites like this? That's not fair,” he exclaimed, affronted.Nines shrugged.“Oh, Connor. You are disgusting!” Hank said, hand rubbing his face.Gavin started laughing.“Androids are too alien for me. I'm done,” he said going to the break room.His phone pinged. Hank had received a notification. He sighed.“Seems like your new friends are on the loose again.”Anonymous had had another statement.Connor and Nines smiled, both relaxed.“Seems like there's going to be a bit of chaos from now on, Hank. I wish you luck,” Connor said. Nines got up.“I wish you luck, Lieutenant,” he echoed Connor's words. And just like that, both androids left.Seconds later, Hank received a message from Connor: “See you later, Hank. Bring Gavin with you.” He sighed, shaking his head.“These fucking androids,” he said, fondly.