Notes: this is hella late lmao but this is for @writinginstability's 1k writing challenge. Like I finally got this done lmao. This was made 1AM so don't expect anything.
Pairing: Connor x reader
Word count: 1619
Prompt: "Unfortunately, I'm not very good at kissing."
You never felt this way, ever, in the so-so years of existing mundanely on earth. Not with any man, any woman, any human.
Yet here you are now, standing beside an android, a machine, that you knew had no real, beating heart; flesh replaced with plastic, veins and arteries replaced with wires, red blood to blue blood. Both of you stared ahead at the bridge in silence, snow beginning to taint your hair and his with white.
It was only a few minutes that you had Hank to get in his car, passing out from the alcohol. You had his gun holstered to the other side of your waist in case he wakes up (which you doubted), for safety measure. Well, you just didn't like it when he pointed that gun at the android beside you, and even more when he points it at himself.
You don't remember well when it started. What "it" was, you weren't so sure of, yourself. You were just another police officer, stressing out about cases here and there. Somehow, you got assigned to deviancy cases, under Lieutenant Anderson, who, somehow became your father-figure upon working closely with him.
Everything was normal, routinely, until this RK800 came tagging along.
There was just something about Connor, that made you so... inclined? Interested? Attracted? To him.
Could it be his little quirks, how skillfully he flips and plays with his trusty quarter when, you mused and wondered whether it was his way to alleviate his boredom? Impatience? Anxiety?
Impossible, you thought. He's CyberLife's last hope for solving deviancy. He doesn't feel anything, or so he says.
Could it be his... personality? That "android innocence"? How he turned out as he is now, with the interactions he's made with Hank, with the interactions he's made with you?
Impossible, you thought. He's CyberLife's last hope for solving deviancy. He couldn't feel anything, or so he says.
Could it be his eyes? Those pools of brown that were supposed to be lifeless, but somehow, still able to bear in them, a myriad of emotions. They exuded a warmth that you've never found in anyone else; you tried denying it, you wanted so badly to disbelieve that his gazes made you feel special, cared for, and dare you say, loved. It was different, he was differentㅡ
Impossible, you thought. He's CyberLife's last hope for solving deviancy. He wouldn't feel anything, or so he says.
Yet why would he go so far as to remove his jacket to drape over your shoulders? Why would he stand so close to you that your hands on the railing brushed against each other? Why would he suddenly increase his own temperature once he detected that you were feeling cold?
"Is there something bothering you? This is as much warmth I can offer, but the Lieutenant's car is more capable of giving you that." Connor informs you, his own way of coaxing you into going home, instead of standing aimlessly out in the cold, which wasn't advisable for humans with quite thin clothing.
Was there something bothering you? How dare such an advanced, intelligent android ask you such a dumb question. It wasn't just a single thing. There were questions in your head that you'd wanted answers to; especially with what Hank just declared: Connor was able of showing emotion, and the poor machine unknowingly does it so.
But does he really not know?
You turn to him, eyes scanning over his perfectly made features, his face seemed to glow with the help of the snow, and the night sky helped so much in making him stand out so much. He is beautiful, that you found yourself taking in another deep breath to regain control of yourself. "Connor,"
The RK800 cursed himself. Just that, just you saying his name that way that no human nor android has ever done before, and he sees his systems reaching levels of instability that he must try to repair, stop, prevent, suppressㅡ
"How sure are you that you do not, cannot, would not, feel anything?"
Oh.
"I am a machine. The very reason why we are together in this case is because there are machines that mistake themselves as humans. I am not, cannot, would not, be like them."
You raise a brow at his response. True, it may have sounded like some firm resolution, perhaps even a mantra that plays in the recesses of his mind every single day, but there was something ironic to it. "You say that, but call 'those' machines as 'them'."
You sigh, clenching a hand at your side, mustering enough courage to finally voice out... a confession? Of feelings? Thoughts? Criticisms? You weren't sure what these were that you were going to say.
You were afraid to face it and even call it something. What a cowardly thing to do.
"...it annoys me, and it pains me that I'm feeling very confused. About you, about me, about us."
Connor reads your stress levels slowly rising, and felt something akin to being troubled. Is that what he caused you? Is that how his presence made you feel? Why is he even thinking about this? He shouldn't care what it is that you think of him. You shouldn't mean anything to him.
Yet he feels so hurt just at the thought of that.
His internal struggling couldn't be seen on his perfect facade, not even his LED indicator showed it, as he maintained it to a nice, neon blue color.
"Connor I... I think, and... I feel that I like you. I want you, and it's so, so hard. Because I don't understand why I'm like this. I don't know how to react to this, falling for an android? No one has answers for that. No one." You suddenly blurt out, deciding, fuck it, fuck whatever, and you're just going to let it all out.
Connor calls out your name, his hands reaching towards both your shoulders. "I do have an answer to that," he begins, "You're just confused, and you shouldn't dwell on these unnecessary emotions for a thing like me."
The moment those words left him he regretted it. It was like he was saying these to himself as well. He lets go of you soon as he sees the pain and hopelessness in your eyes.
You were hurting. And Connor was at a loss.
"I know that and somehow I can't. I mean, who would find it normal for a romantic relationship between a human and an android to happen?" Your hand reaches up to cup his face. Connor leans to your touch, and yet you still tell yourself that he didn't.
You tried pulling his face closer to yours and neither of you would admit that Connor was moving of his own accord, that you were inching your body closer to his.
And then he stops; your lips just barely touching, eyes barely open, barely breathingㅡ
"Unfortunately, I'm not very good at kissing."
Connor's LED was half red, half yellow, and all you could do was whisper back, "...you never know until you try, right?"
^^^Software Instability
So he does.
Connor's lips and yours danced in a frenzy of passion and pent up emotion, so raw, so pure, that it was electrifying. You couldn't decide whether you were shivering from the cold or from the way his heated hands roamed down from your neck, to your sides then to your back, squeezing your hips, pulling you even closer to his body.
If only you were an android, then you wouldn't need to pull away for a breath.
If only you were a human, then you wouldn't need to pull away for me.
Human and android holding the other in each one's arms. They remained there for a full minute, just the other listening to the soft whirring of a thirium pump, and another to a faint heartbeat.
"Think you can want me as much as I want you?" You asked breathlessly, avoiding to look at him, resting your cheek on his chest, once more looking out at the bridge.
"...if only that it was possible, that it wasn't hopeless." The RK800 murmurs, heavily laced with regret with each passing word.
"But it is possible Connor. It's up to you, it's up to me, it's up to us. All we have to do is... try."
Connor gently pushes you away, now the both of you standing at an arm's length from each other. His LED indicator was back to blue, and he begins to revert back to his "machine" self, his "true" self.
"Fortunately, for you, you do not have to try anything because... I'm no deviant."
You smile, bitterly, and it made you look so broken, so fragile. You knew that, you said to yourself. You were wasting your time and energy on such a worthless matter. But you don't regret having this conversation, this moment, that kiss, you shared with him.
"True... but I know... that you want me. Too bad,"
Connor calls out your name, but all you do is remove his jacket, fold it decently before handing it back to him. You spun on your heel, got inside Hank's car and drove away, trying not to let a single tear drop to the steering wheel.
The RK800 fought himself to stop you from leaving, to hold you much longer, to want you the same way he knows that you want him. His systems needed to be checked and rechecked over and over, forcing the messages of chasing after you to be gone from his screens. It was wrong, it was a bad sign for him to "feel" anything.
a/n: this is for @writinginstability's 1k writing challenge! my prompt was Light. I wanted to write something poetic and fluffy and wellll, I tried. I hope you enjoy it!!
If there's one thing about his deviancy that Connor loves, it's how much it thrills him to watch light dance around you.
He adores the moonlight reflecting in your irises when you are standing at the window of your now shared apartment. He can't ever seem to stop losing himself in them- and he doesn't understand why it is so fascinating, but then again, he doesn't need to. Doesn't want to.
Somethings, he has learned, just are.
He loves the way the amber light of the bedside lamp casts long shadows over your features; the way the light glints off your skin that is beaded with sweat, as his mouth unravels you. He loves how fast it makes his thirium pump- no, heart- beat and he understands, finally, what it is like to feel high and drunk.
He watches placidly, the way the seeping sunlight falls over your eyes, stirring you from your deep slumber. As you rise and stretch, bathed in the golden light, a smile tugs at your lips when you notice him through your sleepy eyes. He smiles back fondly as you turn to him, the sunlight now shaping itself as your aura, curving and wrapping itself around you.
He is entranced.
Light doesn't seem to obey the laws of physics around you at all.
Watching you from the bar as you spin dizzily, he notices again how the reflection of the disco ball and disarray of neon lights paint you in colors he cannot even name. It twists the wires in his brain but it's a welcome feeling.
When you are strolling with him in the woods at night, starlight bathing the green leaves silver, he can't help but be in awe of the way your eyes seem to mirror the twinkling stars. No amount of the enveloping blackness seems to dim your glow.
He doesn't hate darkness, though. No. Even if it greatly troubles him. In the dark, when he holds you as you weep into his chest, he knows why there must, at times, be an absence of light.
He is watching you now, as you sit on the couch, legs tucked underneath, one of your favorite books in hand. Your eyes are shining, really shining. They flick up to him and he attempts to look away, but it's too late.
"What is it?" you ask, and Connor knows that you will not give up until he complies.
"I love you," he confesses, softly. The words feel so familiar now, he doesn't even have to process them before they come tumbling out.
Three words. They are three, simple words and the light that's burning in your eyes as you look at him, makes him want to say them again and again.
And so he does.
Connor loves the way light bends around you, yes.
But, more importantly, he loves the light that you yourself seem to radiate. The light that is in your smile, the curve of your lips and your crinkling eyes.
Gavin Reed x Reader | Detroit Become Human Fanfiction
Prompt: ”It’s okay; I couldn't sleep anyway.”
Warnings: Kissing, swearing, fluff ♥
Summary: Gavin, having drunk more whiskey than he probably should have, calls [Y/N] at 3am and has to stay for the night.
Song recommendation: CrushCrushCrush by Paramore :)
-----------------------------------------------
”It’s okay; I couldn't sleep anyway.” You grumble softly into the phone, rubbing your face with your palm. ”So, why did you call me again?” You ask, swinging your legs out of the blissfully warm blanket and onto the floor. ”I dunno...” Gavin begins. You can practically smell the booze through the phone as he slurs. ”I jus wanted to hear your voice, doll.”
You shake your head and smirk to yourself. You've seen Gavin drunk before, and he's oddly sweet. Usually, he’s an asshole with an ego bigger than his need to touch and flirt with you every two seconds. But, after a few double shots of whiskey, the difference is like night and day. And, If you're honest with yourself; which you're not, you quite enjoy the attention.
”Where are you?” You question, wiping the subtle blush from your cheeks as you stand. ”Uhh... Nowhere?” he says suspiciously. Your brows furrow, narrowing your eyes as you persist with an accusing tone. ”Gavin...” You trail off, opening the door to your bedroom and wait expectantly for an answer.
”I’m...I’m at home! Watchin’ TV.” He blatantly lies, hiccupping with an awkward chuckle. Sighing, you realize where he is. Without a word, you hang up the phone and march to your front door with an annoyed, knowing expression. The lock clicks open and, as expected, you hear a muffled ’shit’ from the other side of the door.
You sigh, an ’I knew it’ reading grin tattooed on your face as you swing open the white painted door. On the stone porch stands a very guilty-looking Gavin Reed with his phone clasped in his hands. ”Uh, hi.” He smiles crookedly, lifting his shoulders. You give him the look, prompting him to continue. ”Good ta see ya, sweetheart.” he laughs, followed by a drunk hiccup once more.
You release a tired, irritated breath before ordering. ”You. Inside.” He laughs again. ”Whateva’ you say, Princess.” You shake your head at the intoxicated detective, growing tired of the nicknames, before leading him inside by the scuff of his shirt. He stumbles through the door, stuffing his phone clumsily in his pocket. ”Nice place. I shoulda come ’ere sooner.”
”Sit down; I’ll make us both a coffee. Since I'm clearly not getting any rest tonight.” You say, muttering the last part just loud enough for him to hear and ignoring the bullshit pooling from his mouth. You leave him in the hall and lazily stomp into the kitchen, he doesn't respond. As you enter your kitchen, you grab two mugs from the cabinet. The one for you is plain white. The one for Gavin, you ’unintentionally’ grab a burnt yellow cup with an outline of a cat waving its tail.
Your breath catches as you feel a pair of arms wrap around you. Gavin purrs while stuffing his head in the crook of your neck, tightening his grip as he not-so-subtley smells your hair. You set the cups down and roll your milky, [E/C] eyes, groaning rhetorically. ”Gavin. Didn't I tell you to sit down?” He grumbles something inaudible into your neck, his hot breath melting your skin. ”You stink.” You scoff, averting your gaze as your face heats up a little.
You begin tugging at his arms, grunting as you struggle. He's stronger than you thought. ”Get off of me. How am I supposed to make coffee with you trapping me here!?” You seeth, continuing to pull at his arms. No response. Another sigh escapes your lips as your arms fall in defeat. You turn your head to look at him; he removes himself from from your neck and your eyes meet. A shit eating grin spreads across his face as you stare at him angrily.
”Yer really cute when ya blush.” He hums, planting a kiss below your ear. You scoff again, squirming in his grip as you fight the want for him to continue. Finally, you tear his arms off of you and toss them away, quickly spinning around and shoving him back. You point your finger at him as you growl. ”Stay.” He frowns, childishly folding his arms.
You make the coffee in silence, once you begin pouring it into the cups, Gavin speaks up. ”Got anythin’ else ya can put in there?” Handing him the coffee, you state coldly. ”No. Just drink the coffee, Gavin. You're lucky we both have the day off tomorrow, ’cause I’d be pouring it down your throat myself.” He reluctantly takes it from you, looking at the mug with a bored glare. With Gavin leaning drunkenly on the counter opposite you, you mirror this and watch intently as he sips the coffee.
”Can’t we sit? My feet hurt.” Gavin says grumpily, shifting his weight onto the other leg. ”Drink that first. I don't trust you to carry it to the couch without spilling it.” He moans and buries his face into the cup, proceeding to chug the coffee while spilling some down the sides of his mouth and shirt. ”That's not- ugh... Nevermind.” You frown while shaking your head shamefully. He wipes his mouth and grins, tossing the mug down on the counter behind him with a long, hot sigh.
You slap your hand on your face, giggling under your breath at the idiotic detective. You jump slightly at the abrupt vibration and ring from your pocket, triggering Gavin to snicker at you. You shoot him a glare before grabbing your phone. ”Yeah?” You answer, still sending a death-glare in Reeds direction. ”Detective [Y/N]. Are you aware of Detective Reeds-”
”Yeah, he's with me, Nines.” You reassure the RK900, nodding to yourself. ”Good. I assume he is intoxicated, and that is the reason for his absence?” Nines inquiries flatly, you swear you pick up a hit of annoyance in his tone. You smile sympathetically into your cell before saying. ”You could say that again. I’m going to put him to bed.” Gavin hisses at your last remark, raising both hands to flip you off.
“Thank you, detective. I apologize for my partner's behavior.” You shake your head at Nines statement before shrugging with a calm grin. ”It’s fine. Don't worry about it. I’ll see you Thursday.” Before you hang up, Nines confirms. ”See you then.” You stuff your phone back into your shorts pocket, shifting your oversized shirt out of the way while sighing. ”Right... How are you feeling? You want some painkillers before you sleep?”
”Nope.” Gavin starts, stepping closer. You defensively narrow your eyes at him as he continues to inch closer, crossing your arms and scoffing as he adds with a cocky smirk. ”Jus you, sweet-cheeks.” Before he could tie his arms around you, you catch his wrists and scowl. ”Hah! Not happening, Reed.” He pouts at your comment, knitting his brows like an injured kitten.
”Aw, C'mon, doll. Ya know you wanna.” He winks with both eyes while easily removing his wrists from your weak grasp. You roll your eyes for what must the the hundredth time tonight and look away, giving him a chance to latch hold of your waist like a hungry child with an unintended boul of sweets. You flinch at the sudden contact, holding onto the sleeves of his shirt with a rageful strength.
”I most certainly do not.” You insist dishonesty sternly with pierced lips, your nose crinkling up while you glare at the tipsy man standing half-a-head taller than you. You're pressed against the counter behind you as his hands trace down to your hips and ducks his head beside yours. You blush hard as he whispers, his voice suddenly deeper and gruffer. ”Lier.” Your eyes widen as your blush spreads like a wildfire across your face, which Gavin takes notice of.
”Heh, thought so.” He grins mischievously, trailing a few gentle kisses along your jaw. Your stream of consciousness gives in, locking your focus on how fucking good (or should I say phucking) it feels to be in somebody's arms. Goddamn it... You think to yourself, loosening your grip on his shirt and beginning to melt into his touch.
”Fine... Fine.” You breathe, pushing his shoulders. He removes himself from you, his signature shit-eating grin tattooed on his expression. You, keeping your eyes locked onto the ground, grab the cuff of his sleeve and begin trailing him to the bedroom. He chuckles cockily while being dragged along. Unknown to you, he has quite the view as you walk ahead and toss open your door.
You stop and turn to face him, letting go of his brown, leather coat and saying. ”Okay, uh, gimme your coat. And, take off your shoes, too.” He blinks before doing what you ordered, first slipping off his jacket. He hands it to you, smiling warmly with the persistent reek of strong alcohol oozing from both his clothes and mouth. As you were about to set down the jacket on your desk, you watch him attempt to kick off his shoes.
He stumbles and begins leaning dangerously far to the left. You toss the warm coat onto the edge of the double bed and rush towards him, wrapping your arms around him to stabilize him. He laughs, shrugging while hugging you in return. ”Hah, oops. Thanks, Princess.” You step back, holding his forearms as you add. ”You’re welcome. You good?”
”Am now.” He winks. You chuckle at him as he, now keeping his balance, slides off first the right, then his left black sneaker. ”Okay, good. This way.” You say, curling your arm around his back and leading him to the side of the bed you were once trying to fall asleep on. You cautiously set him down on the edge of the mattress, tossing the blanket to one side while keeping hold of one of his arms.
As you move back to face him, he repositions his arm so that your hand slides nonchalantly into his. You dart your gaze away as the side of his lips curl up into an adorable crooked half-grin. ”God you're so phucking cute...” He mutters as he slildes his thumb against the back of your hand, staring directly into your eyes. You try and fail to ignore his comment and gesture at the pillow in a [F/C] case. ”Lay down.”
He swings his legs onto the bed, groaning pleasurably as he stretches his back as he lays flat. You pull the blanket up to his neck and turn your body to face the direction you're headed: the other side of the bed. Though, you're halted in your tracks. Gavin as his hand firmly gripped around your upper arm, his eyes half-lidded as he lazily moves over slightly.
”Here.” He purrs, tapping the narrow space beside him. ”Gavin-” You protest, tugging your arm, but you're interrupted. His voice being once more low and dominate, Gavin repeats. ”Here.” He taps the space with his hand, positioning his head comfortably into the pillow. You sigh before slowly taking a seat beside him in his ’suggested’ place.
As you throw the blanket over you, Gavin immediately hooks his arm around you, pulling you against him without a millimeter of space between you. You hold your breath, squeezing your eyes shut. It doesn't take you long, though, to accept and adore your placement against the detective.
You can feel his heartbeat, his inconsistent breathing, the warmth of his skin while you relax into him. You loop your fingers loosely into his sweater as he moves his arm to your head, petting your hair and letting his fingers twirl into your [H/C] locks. You hardly notice the upward curvature of your lips as he continues to smooth your hair.
As the muscles in your face relax, you soon realize how heavy your eyes are. You try forcing your expression into an indifferent frown, but your giddy smile persists. You release defeated sigh through your nose, nibbling your bottom lip as if to punish yourself. Gavin, his voice groggy and low, hums into your hair in response to your failure. ”Somethin’ wrong, kitten?”
”Stupid smile...” You murmur, mainly to yourself. He chuckles, vibrating your chest slightly, before cooing. ”Awe. Can I see?” You can practically feel his smirk as his hand shifts off of your head, brushing against your shoulder and under your jaw. The side of his fingers trace the underside of your face, drawing up to your chin. His spine curls back as he traps your head between his thumb and index finger, fitting your head so your staring directly at him.
As your gaze lifts, the tip of your nose brushes against his messy stubble, stopping centimeters from his. You're trading breaths you are so close to the smooth fucker drunk detective. Your damn smile sprouts larger as you trade admiration for each other's eyes, unable to look away even for a moment. Your eyes flutter half-lidded as his thumb trails across your lip with a featherweight touch.
Your hand, as if on its own, shoots towards Gavin's wrist, roughly tugging it out of the way. Your lips crash against his, your eyes nailed shut from the spontaneous kiss you initiated. He chuckles once you part lips, his hand finding it's way towards your side to run back and forth across the curves of your body.
”You have no. Phucking. Idea. How long I've been waitin’ for that, dollface.” He admits in a gruff voice, suddenly tightening his hold on your hip. You raise your brow, still dazed from your adrenaline rush, before saying doubtfully. ”Was it worth it?” the side of his mouth tips upwards in response. Ugh, what's he planning now? You think worriedly to yourself, not wanting to become flustered any further than you already are.
“I dunno. Might need another try.” He growls playfully, pressing his forehead against yours. You narrow your eyes, murmuring a few curses under your breath before complying. You grip your hands on his shirt, pulling him ever closer as he pecks your lips, each kiss more hungry and harsh than the last. As you pull away, you whisper softly. ”Now..?”
”Hm... One more time.” He grins cockily, looking up to the right as if he were actually pondering his answer. You ’grr’ in response before yanking his face against yours by his jumper, kissing him with a frustrated strength. He laughs into your lips, forcefully pulling your body against his while digging his fingers into your t-shirt.
His tongue begins brushing against your bottom lip, begging for entrance while practically force feeding you whiskey. You, tired of his shit, decide to play a game of your own. You button your lips, peeking open your eyes as you steal his smirk. Though, he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve whereas you do not.
His hand abruptly moves down way past your hips, causing you to catch your breath and gasp. This gives Gavin a chance to slip his tongue in your mouth. Before you could pull away in protest, he catches your head and locks you in place. You grumble angrily and punch his chest, still not fully accepting you fell for that.
Your thoughts riot against each other; one half demanding you to give in, and the other demanding for you to push him away. A few seconds later, and all you can think is the word more. A breath you didn't know you were holding, removes itself from your lungs as you focus purely on the kiss.
You reluctantly loosen your posture, starting to kiss him back softly while reclosing your eyes. You hesitantly move your hand up the side of his face, running your fingers through his hair. It's surprisingly soft for someone like Gavin. He purrs at the contact, wrapping his arm fully around you.
As much as you'd like for this to continue, the fact humans need oxygen is quite the cockblock too overpowering, forcing the two of you to separate. While catching your breath, you regain your common sense and realize what exactly you've been doing for the past minute or so. You hand flicks away from him to cover your mouth, darting your glassy eyes away in embarrassment.
Gavin laugh mischievously, as full of himself as ever as he grins. ”Yup. It was worth it.” You hide your head under his; pressed against his neck, as your blush puts tomatoes to shame in its vibrancy. You feel him curl his head over the top of yours; this calms you slightly as you utter. ”Night... Gavin.”
”Night, princess.” He hums back. Why is his voice suddenly so soothing? Your muscles relax as your eyes once again grow heavy, tensing your body so often is exhausting. ”So when’s breakfast?” Gavin jokes, spotting the sun crawl over the horizon from the window. ”Afternoon-ish. Now sleep, would ya?” You laugh lazily, nuzzling your head into his collar.
He kisses the top of your head, petting your back while groaning warmly. ”Yeah, yeah. See you in tha mornin’ doll.” You hum tiredly into his neck as a response, stretching your legs against his as you sink into the bed. You listen to the sound of his heartbeat as you sink into blissful blackness, like a rhythmic melody singing just for you.
—————————————————————
A/N: Ah! Sorry that this took so long, I kept writing and rewriting and was never really happy with the outcome. I hope that what I ended up writing is okay-ish!
Behold! My submission for @writinginstability ‘s 1k writing challenge! It’s been a bit since I’ve posted anything, and I’m still learning to write fiction, so please let me know what you think! I used the prompt “rain” with North.
Platonic North x gender neutral reader
1,011 words (and only one line of dialogue)
Summary: You left work in a hurry, forgetting your umbrella despite the deluge outside. North worries about you, and swings by your apartment to return your umbrella. Also to check up on you.
As she stepped off the bus into the torrential downpour, North was thankful that she wasn’t as sensitive to the cold as humans. It rained almost every day this time of year, and it would definitely interfere with her work if she got sick the way humans did. Although she carried an umbrella with her as she walked, she didn’t open it.
She didn’t really need it, for one. It wasn’t hers, for another.
Making her way along her pre-planned route, North recalled the events that brought her to this point.
The two of you gently teasing each other over minute details of a proposition you’d been working on for the androids. She’d never known you to not be a talker.
You taking a phone call and North turning away to talk to someone.
The sound of your tablet hitting the floor.
The look on your face shifting from surprise, to hurt, to anger, and then… blank.
The way you barely said anything and made no eye contact as you hurried out the door.
Your umbrella still sitting in the corner where you left it.
North repeatedly caught herself staring at that umbrella over the next few hours. It was pouring when you had arrived that morning, and it was still pouring when you suddenly left. You never came back for it. Whatever that call was, it must have left you colder than the rain ever could.
After the twenty-seventh time she looked at the umbrella, North finally decided to look up your address. She picked up your umbrella and made her way to the bus stop. She still hated being around most humans, and kept her guard up the entire ride. She gripped the umbrella tightly, quietly thankful she had a makeshift weapon should she need one.
Finally, North arrived at an older-looking apartment building, and looked up towards the fifth floor. She hadn’t looked up the floor plan, so she didn’t know exactly which window was yours. She just hoped it was one where the lights were on.
When she got to your door, she immediately tried the doorknob. She mentally kicked herself for assuming that level of familiarity, but that feeling was immediately replaced with concern as the door opened. Did you usually leave the door unlocked?
North slowly opened the door, softly calling your name as she took a step inside. No response. She called again, a little louder. Still nothing. Maybe you were asleep. Maybe you had left and forgot to lock the door. Sighing, North gently set your umbrella down against the wall by the door. She began to back into the hallway, but stopped when she heard something. Rain. Of course, she could hear the rain outside from the hallway, but it was louder in your apartment. Clearer. After a moment she realized a window must be open.
The android steeled herself and walked fully into the apartment, hoping you would forgive the literal intrusion. She called your name again as she walked towards the source of the sound. As she stepped into the kitchen, she found the open window which led out to the fire escape—where she saw you sitting.
You were bundled up in a hoodie, earbuds in, sitting with your back against the railing, protected from the downpour by an umbrella much larger than the one you had that morning. North watched as you opened your mouth and smoke billowed out. She furrowed a brow. She knew you only smoked when you were under an extreme amount of stress. As if that wasn’t enough cause for worry, the android also spotted the half empty bottle of whisky at your side.
North knew she couldn’t leave you alone right then.
Cautiously, she leaned over the windowsill and tapped on the wall to get your attention. You jumped, and stared back at her in surprise and confusion. You slowly removed one of your earbuds.
Suddenly, North became slightly flustered with embarrassment. She had definitely just broken into your house when you probably wanted to be left alone forever.
“Hey. Sorry, um…” she nodded inside, “You forgot your umbrella earlier, and then your door was open, and I heard an open window, so I…” The more she spoke, the worse it was beginning to sound to her.
She was about to turn around and leave when you moved to make room for her. She only hesitated for a moment. You, at least, were too drunk to be embarrassed. You offered her an earbud. She accepted.
The music was more melancholic than straight up depressing, so that relieved North’s concern a little. It blended well with the sounds of rain and thunder. Even watching the smoke swirling under the umbrella was somewhat therapeutic. North let herself lean back against the rail next to you, and soon you relaxed again, too.
The two of you sat in silence for what felt like both ages and no time at all. North even began to feel her own stress dissipate. She hadn’t realized how badly she had needed time to just sit down and process her feelings.
Since she became deviant, North had always felt the need to keep moving. Her first few months in Jericho, she would almost constantly pace the halls of the old freighter. When Markus arrived and called for action, she was more than eager to get to work. The revolution and the aftermath had kept her busy.
But now? Now she was content to sit with a friend, listening to the storm around them. She didn’t need to ask what had happened yet. She knew you would talk if and when you were ready. Similarly, North knew you wouldn’t press her about her history. She decided she might talk to you about it someday. You seemed like you understood her pain on some level. Maybe that was why she liked you.
And so the two of you sat under an umbrella, music in one ear and the storm that whirled around you in the other, feeling safe together on the fire escape.
----
Was listening to Florence and the Machine’s High as Hope and a thunderstorm while writing this, if that helps! I did originally imagine a conversation about the phone call, but decided it might be better for the reader to imagine whatever devastating topic the call concerned. I could have been wrong about that, but there you have it! Thanks for reading!
Notes: this was for @writinginstability‘s 500 and 1k writing challenge (yep im that anon. and for the 1k wc i’m sorry i forgot to send in an ask about it). uuughghhhh idk how i feel about this i’m hella dumb at writing, hence why it is titled this way; and this was my fourth try at writing the story but that’s it. leaving this crap out here so yeah. :----) **also i edited it because i realized i left something out??? like seriously all I had to do was copy and paste this from word i can’t believe??? i’m so ashamed pls forgive me
Pairing: deviant!Connor x reader
Word count: 2671
Prompt: Bliss (from the 500wc) | “I guess this is all I have left of you.” (from the 1kwc)
Today was a special day... at least, for Connor.
A certain RK800 began with slow, calculated steps up the porch, each piece of wood creaking loudly beneath every step he took. Somehow, deep inside he still recognized this emotion and associated it with fear and anxiety; what he was about to do would not only surprise you but more so, himself.
But he couldn't help it; couldn't help falling for you. You treated him differently... in a good way, in the best way, that he still thinks he never really deserved it.
Soon after Connor became a deviant, you were kind enough to offer him a place to stay in, since Hank was acting like a spoiled kid, refusing to share his house, followed by a lame excuse saying that he didn't want to babysit a plastic cop. (Though everybody knew that if Connor, or basically anyone else insisted, their situation would have been the other way around).
He finds himself smiling softly, a small and faint, "I'm home," escaping through his lips. Connor raised a hand to rest it on the door knob to check if it were locked. Lucky for him, it seems you still weren't home.
And no, he did not jump in through the windows because you gave him his own keys.
Connor picks up on the post-it note that you left on the wall as he entered, that you were "getting some paint stuff from Markus because he lost a bet".
Sure, Connor never stopped working for the DPD, but he was also a key into aiding Jericho's success. Somehow, you asked to tag alongside Connor when they had to discuss some matters, so you got to meet and be acquainted with its leader. It just turned out that he used to be the Carl Manfred's android. You were a fan of the man's artworks, and somehow you found yourself a friend in the android with... heterochromia. (But once Markus had told you that part of his story, you garnered respect for the reason behind his differently colored eyes.)
Connor immediately went to the bedroom, and if he had real functioning lungs, he was sure he'd have air get caught in it. 'Maybe she left the note a day ago.' He thinks to himself, and sighs. The case he was currently working on took away lots of his time from you.
It would seem that it was one of your off days from your work, and you promised yourself to take a sleep in.
Connor reaches out to place his hand on your face, and rub his thumb across your soft cheek. If he could, he would've gulped. The lines on your face told Connor you weren't getting younger, nor stronger, each passing day.
He shook off those thoughts from his mind and let you be, watching the steady rise and fall of your chest as you lied peacefully by his side. He left the precinct after Hank went ahead after midnight. So he was sure the lieutenant was also going to be late, or worse, not go to the DPD at all; so why not let him, the android with his own rights, be late too? Or even better, skip work that day?
He missed you, is that not enough of a reason to file a leave?
Your mouth parted slightly in your slumber, and he especially liked it that you were wearing one of his clothes, slightly loose and hanging off your shoulders on one side, your scent lingering on them even after you remove it.
One of his hands trace the outline of your face, brushing away the few strands of hair that blocked you from his view, and some of it were beginning to gray. His eyes traveled through each one of the lines and creases on your face, and Connor made sure to take them in to memory.
You stirred, before pulling your body closer to his. Connor smiles, his thirium pump accelerating, and still he wonders how you seem to make him feel that way each time spent with you. Were you secretly an android programmed to do that to him?
Silly, he knows that you're nothing like his kind.
You were so much more, to an android like him.
His hand slides down to the curves of your body, and stops by your waist, hand resting at the small of your back. Five minutes more, he says to himself, and then he's gonna wake you up.
You groaned when light penetrated through the windows after Connor manipulated the blinds open. He chuckled a bit at your grumpy mood before he littered your face with butterfly kisses, and you just couldn't be pissed at him, brown eyes so intent on your own, like two cups of hot chocolate on a cold winter day.
Your face flushed as you soon smiled, red blood pulsing through your veins that contrasted his blue, blue thirium pumping through his system.
"Hey? Connor?" He still didn't respond, and you smirked slightly. "Cat got your tongue?" You chuckled, and this broke him from his trance. Despite his internal dictionary, and thousands of sources of words, he cursed himself for being so speechless when it comes to you. "It's called art appreciation, I just couldn't help it."
The compliment then made you blush, and your heart beat faster. Shit, since when did he become that smooth? This time, it was Connor's turn to smirk, not needing to run a scan on your vitals to be certain that he made you feel butterflies go crazy in your stomach.
His level of stress lessened at that, and it even gave him a bit of confidence.
Connor always listens to you, as you tell him about your day that was spent without him.
"I waited for you last night, but I fell asleep..."
Your android looks at you apologetically, and this prompted you to pull him in for a kiss.
"Guess what I found in the attic? It still works,"
You twisted a bit, after rubbing sleep off your eyes; reaching for something on the floor. You told him you spent the rest of the night before, tinkering on an old polaroid camera.
Connor sees you snap your head up in his direction, as he probably called out to your name in confusion.
You grin, Connor sees your figure sit up, holding the camera with one hand while the other grabs him by the arm and forced him to do the same on the bed. Your finger pointed towards the camera lens while you rest your head on his chest.
Connor blinks a few times after the flash of light, then you both waited for the film to develop, just in each other's arms. You raise your hand up, asking him to put his palm against yours. You once saw Markus and North do that same thing and it intrigued you. Somehow, you could even call yourself jealous because androids have such a way to connect with each other. "Do the thing," you whisper, and Connor instantly understood what you were referring to.
You could see his real, plastic self, and you could never get tired of being in awe at him. You interlaced your fingers with his and kissed the top of his hand. "I should be the one to do that." he tries teasing you, but you both knew how much he loved it, loved you even more every time you did that.
"...I wish we could stay like this for much longer,"
Connor's LED turned yellow, then quickly turns back to blue, careful not to alert you of his hidden worries. Although you were probably referring to him having to go to work, butfor the android it's about humans and their lifespan.
Connor learned and witnessed it through so many ways that humans are quite fragile: when you ran to chase after Sumo and fell, spraining your ankle; when he gripped your hips too hard on one heated night, leaving bruises; heck, even paper can cut a human's skin.
That's why he always made you his mission after becoming a deviant.
After the photo was developed, you hand it over to him, and he in turn, reaches for the book he has yet to finish due to his busy job. Connor has vowed to use the photo as his own bookmark.
"I have decided not to go to the DPD today; I'm sure Captain Fowler wouldn't mind."
You snort, "Sure he won't. Just hope that Hank gets in or else you both are gonna get your ears blown off the next day,"
"I need to make sure that you don't miss me too much." He gets hit on his chest and you suddenly get out of bed. He watches you go, but he stays behind as he digs for something inside his suit, then plays with it as though it were one of his little coins.
^Software Instability
Connor offers to cook breakfast for you, proceeding to carry out the first part of his plan to spoil you.
"I sense something today; you're being too sweet. Not saying I don't like it, but I wonder what's in that android brain of yours?" You tell him before taking a first bite into your favorite morning meal. Connor did his best to remain composed at you having caught onto him again.
Soon after, you both staggered, dancing to your favorite song on the way to the back door, one where it led to the garden you'd spent hours beautifying, tending to each plant while your android lover watched over.
There also stood a bench, situated before a tree that was there ever since you were but a child. One of you hit a foot on that bench's leg, losing balance and hitting the ground, limbs tangled with each other.
Your laugh sounded so refreshing and Connor couldn't help but join you in it. From behind you, he found the source of that little mishap, the colors of which were now dull and faded.
You made your way to the tree to get some shade, and sat there, leaning on the trunk. You pat the space beside you and Connor follows.
"You're really going extra on me today. What's up? Just tell me already,"
"I guess this is all I have..." he paused, his hand cupping your cheek, and the other reaching for something in his suit. You lean into his hand with a serene smile on your face, feeling his warmth spread across your skin. Connor returns the smile with one of his own, albeit shy and hesitant, and eventually shows you the small, simple ring he's gotten for you. You gasp at it, and tears brimming your eyes as you simply nod your head, unable to form any words out your mouth.
You felt a tear drop to your cheek as Connor leans down to gently place a kiss on your temple.
Once he pulls away, the edges around his vision began to blur, static filling in at steady intervals.
But he wasn't afraid.
Instead, his smile grew wider, another tear rolling down his cheek.
"...all I have left of you."
Connor continues his previous statement that he simply whispers to himself. He takes another look around him and what his current reality truly was.
The ring in his hand was no more, and instead was just one of his quarters. Connor gripped on it before he returns the coin back inside his pocket.
His head shot up and saw the garden you worked so hard on, was now nothing but a bunch of weeds; old, withered, cold and dead. Connor tried to tend to it but after your passing, the android couldn't bear to return and be reminded each day that he wasn't really a human; because he could not age and therefore, would not die. He found that unfair, you were unfair for being human and for making him feel like a human.
Truthfully, there were a few times he wished he had never gone deviant. Maybe he never would have suffered the pain of losing someone dear to him; of grieving over someone who has given his life, his existence, a whole new meaning; someone that he...
...loves.
But it would've been more painful to never have had the chance to experience such a powerful emotion. It would be more painful to never have had the chance to be with you.
Despite his memory cache glitching, making him see you from your youthful self to the you with white hair and wrinkled skin, Connor would never forget the way your eyes used to shine. Those eyes that never aged, eyes that gave him warmth, that ignited a spark within him and made him happy that he was alive.
Warnings about his system shutting down in a few seconds bombarded him, but he couldn't care less. He's been around far too long enough and Connor even wondered why he stayed.
A world without you was not a world he wants to further live in.
It's been years and Connor only wanted nothing more than to be with you again.
"Connor, where will you go?" Your voice was now muffled in his hearing, but the android continued trying to process one of the last pieces he's had of you.
Connor looks at you once more, and back then he didn't have anything to answer you with. But now, he was sure of it.
"Where else but to you?"
He once said that there could hardly be any heaven for androids. However, as his system collapses, Connor swore he could really feel your hand on the side of his face, lowering it to your level.
Connor faintly feels your lips brush against where he knows his LED would be. He caught a glimpse of you, and everything felt so real, he was sure that you were truly there with him; alive and healthy just as you were years ago.
"I love you Connor. No matter what people still say, I never loved any other human or android the same way as I loved you. Always remember that,"
He tried reaching out to finally kiss your lips but his vision blackens out, and all he could see were warnings about his biocomponents and the amount of time he has left before shutdown. Connor could even feel his thirium pump decelerating.
Your android couldn't be happier.
"And I never forgot. I can't wait to see you again, love," his voice didn't sound like his own, like a typical machine losing power.
Connor leans back on the tree, looking up at the sky streaked with pastel colors that were being reflected on his lenses. However, he could no longer see the beauty it held. You were the last masterpiece that he saw and for him, nothing would ever outshine your beauty.
He was ready now. Connor still couldn't believe he'd survived being alone for such a long time without you in his life.
Five seconds. His eyes flutter close, the wind weaving through the loose strands of his hair.
Three seconds. Two. Connor's lips move, feeling your name escape through him as his last 'breath', the sound of it going on deaf ears and carried away by the wind.
One.
[ REC0NS?¿RUCT CO¿?PL3TE ]
Connor's head slightly bows, then tilts to the side, the blue LED flickering once before it shut off completely.
The autumn breeze makes the leaves fall all around him, making the whole scenario nothing but peaceful. It was as if Connor was just in a state of permanent sleep, eternally dreaming, reunited with you in his quaint version of heaven, a garden he used to tell you of but never got to see and recreated it in your own little way.
If one were to take a closer look, the android that was once regarded as a deviant hunter, held a smile of pure bliss that would forever be etched onto his plastic features.
summary: in the midst of a snowfall, connor reveals to his s/o some of the deaths he has endured.
warnings: fluff & angst // word count: 1732 // for @writinginstability ‘s 1k challenge! (prompt: snow.)
it was midwinter in detroit, and almost midnight.
huddled in a thick woollen coat, the cold bit at your face as you walked with connor through the city centre, arm in arm. as you both finished late today, he had picked you up at your workplace to walk home together – a decision which you’d now slightly come to regret. trying to reign in your shivering, your grip on him tightened as you leaned in closer, connor pressing a fleeting kiss to the crown of your head.
as you two neared the arching bridge, connor grew sombre. the whole walk had been relatively silent – your teeth chattering hindered comprehensible speech on your part while connor had only offered a few words here and there. the silence was not cold, however; it was comfortable – amiable. you two could convey enough through body language and gestures alone – a kiss as greeting, a touch as inquiry, a smile as answer. but connor’s pensive expression showed him to be distracted.
white fluorescent lights curved high above, but their brilliance diminished in the darkness. it was a scene of shades of black: the onyx of the rushing river below, the deep raven of the night sky, the metallic lead of the bridge’s infrastructure. the susurration of distant cars was soothing as you reflected on the day, on all that has happened and will happen. a noticeable warmth seeped through your clothing and into your skin; connor must have adjusted his temperature controls.
at the top of the bridge, connor slowed to a stop. he looked out across the river to the skyline beyond, at all the blinking lights and dark windows and holographic billboards, a city of progress. and in between those pillars of advancement, rubble: trails of red power and splatters of blue blood and dirty, abandoned buildings. flurries of snow began to fall from the sky, a slate of grey across the landscape.
something tightened within you when you looked up at connor. in the dark profile of the night’s tenebrosity, connor’s expression acquired an ancient air of despair, jaw tight and gaze distant. it was impossible not to take in his sharpness – he was utterly symmetrical in creation, designed to a sort of aesthetical perfection. in that moment, he was a machine again: unmoving, computing, unknowable. but past this, you saw the unruly tuft of hair flicking across his forehead in the breeze. past this, you saw the turmoil behind his eyes. past this, you saw him for what he was in his soul: human.
slowly, but not hesitantly, you reached up to run a thumb along his jawline, shifting to snake your other arm around his waist. a measured blink later, he turned to you, looking like he bore the weight of the world on his shoulders, and your heart ached.
he voiced your name softly in the midnight air, exhales misting between you. “have i ever told you about the all times i’ve died?”
your breath hitched; you weren’t expecting this, despite having grown used to connor’s abruptness. shock governed your mind and body, pulling away from him. you had vaguely known about incidents in the past, about deactivations, but the word he used – he had died – was so jarring that it was almost incomprehensible. when connor gently ran a hand down your arm, you realised that your confused silence must have lasted longer than expected.
“do you want to tell me?” you asked, agency returning to your limbs as you cupped his face in both hands. he tried, and failed, to reign in his sorrow, biting his lower lip as he moved to curl his fingers around your neck to bury them in the hair at your nape. his eyes were trained on the ground.
small white flecks dusted his shoulders, his hair. “i fell, the first time.” the words were small, so small in the deep darkness surrounding you, but he held you close as he spoke. not once did you breathe. “it was a hostage situation, and my mission was to save the girl.” quietly, he told you the details of the case – a chaotic apartment, an unstable deviant, a desperate girl.
and a ledge.
“because my mind can be downloaded, it can be transferred. i retain all my memories and abilities, in perfect detail. so, sometimes, i can still hear the rush of air around me, see all the system warnings.” he trembled, and roughly, but not unkindly, pulled you into a restricting hug, burying his head in your hair. the height difference had him leaning over you in an awkward stance, but neither of you cared. just as forcefully you gripped him back, feeling the creases in his clothing beneath your forehead as it rested against his chest. “each time i’m on a high-rise, i can’t go near the edge. sometimes i can’t even look out the window.”
you didn’t know what to say, how to console him. “connor,” you breathed, “oh, connor.” your words were muffled against him, but he heard you. his grip did not falter; for a long while you two stood in the falling snow, warm enough in each other’s presence. you squeezed your eyes shut in hopes of staying dry-eyed – but it was hard, seeing connor like this. he might be machinelike at times, but he was also utterly emotive – so expressive in his eyebrows, in his mouth. his voice, too – conveyed what his words couldn’t, for it came from the heart. you loved that particular inflection of his; it was one of the things that made connor so special to you, what had endeared him to you.
“the second time,” he said, voice levelling, “i was shot.”
so blunt. he was so blunt, it chilled you more than the snow ever could. he did not elaborate as he had before, and the sudden tension within his body told you that it was something he had not reconciled with yet. something within you protested that he was murdered, but you pushed that thought deep down, hoping that it will never rear its ugliness again. you could barely imagine a life without connor, nevertheless one that was tainted with such horrific implications. you gripped him impossibly tighter, wracking your brain to think of something, anything, to say, but there was nothing. with heavy, heavy eyes he looked at you directly for the first time, his shaky fingers – not from the cold – caressing your ears, warming them against the sting of the cold.
the snowfall had gained momentum; it was white and heavy and wet. “it was an accident, the third time. on the highway.”
this time, he did not look away as he unfolded the events to you. it was a hitching, whispered explanation, of an escaping deviant and another little girl, of fast cars and roaring engines, of guilt. “it was my fault,” he said, your name barely audible as he uttered it, his eyes searching yours. “i disobeyed an order. i disregarded hank. it was my--”
and his voice broke. tears lined his cheeks, his breaths coming out harsh, forced. connor’s face crumpled as he squeezed his eyes shut, drew his brow into a hard furrow, gritted his teeth. breathy sobs punctured the air, and now you couldn’t hold it in anymore, either; but your tears were soft and silent, swallowed up by connor’s whimpers. your name poured from his lips, over and over and over, interrupted and incomplete and soundless, and you felt his panic as his trembling grew ever more pronounced.
“hey, hey, sweetheart. connor,” you cooed, holding him carefully, gently, softly, “my love. you are okay, you are here with me. look at me, connor, look at me.” you kissed away each tear which fell, placing a few more on the corners of his mouth, one on his lips proper. resting your forehead against his, you held your hand over the area where his thirium pump would be. “you are alive, with me, right now. and i will never let any such things happen to you, ever again.” the conviction in your voice surprised both you and connor, but you continued, watching his uncertainty grow into fondness. “you have done so much in the name of duty. you deserve to be okay, connor.”
connor knew you believed what you said, but could not bring himself to fully take it in – each day he faced countless threats, and so did you. endings surrounded everything, all the time – god, one was just beneath your feet, in the form of that swirling, freezing river. the pure promise in your eyes, however, told him that it was true that you’d do everything humanly possible – which was an extraordinary, incredulous amount, both stunning and frightening – to keep him safe, to keep what you two had safe.
“but, my love,” he whispered, the endearment blanketed in adoration and concern and a pervasive longing, “i’m still so scared. each time, it feels as if i’ve lost something, even though data files suggest everything is intact. i’m scared of it happening again,” he paused, “i don’t want it to happen again.”
frosts were caught in connor’s eyelashes now, his beautiful countenance so, so distressed. you did not know what had spurred connor to bare himself like this, to be vulnerable with the emotion which still had such an uncontrollable sway over him. mortality, it seemed, did not come easy to anyone, not even to someone with experience.
you kissed him, hard, against the backdrop of the city, the river, the snow, as if you could eliminate his troubles through sheer intention. you were both wet with snowflakes and tears, a fine layer of sleet melting on the ground as the wind picked up. it was hard finding the right words, for how can one ease this inevitable, familiar, human fear?
“it won’t, connor,” you said, words which were true in their own way. “it won’t happen again, because i won’t let it. i love you.”
once again, he held you close, mumbling into your hair as you two swayed at the top of the bridge, moving to a soundless beat – soundless to you, at least, for he was moving to the rhythm of your pulse, mouthing silent i love yous into your hair, meaning each one more than the last with an ever-increasing ardour.
Prompt: “I’ll do it for you. I’ll do anything for you.” From @writinginstability and their 1K writing challenge
Warnings: Mentions of violence, fluff, building friendship
Summary: Simon escapes from his owners and gains a friend while trying to get to the safety of Jericho.
Song recommendation: Farewell Song by Rachel Rose Mitchell
Finding Jericho (Link to AO3)
February 16th, 2036
Simon shoved away his owner, knocking the knife out of the man’s hand as he ran out of the room, thirium dripping from his wounds and struggling to redress himself. His LED was red as he looked back to the knife on the ground, his owner getting back up and picking up the clothes as he looked over to Simon. The man seemed too calm about Simon’s panic, too calm about the Thirium everywhere, too calm for being a sadist. Simon pushed open the back door and ran out into the snow. His sensors warning him about the leaking thirium and failing biocomponents as he looked around, anywhere he could go. He kept running and found himself kneeling by a dumpster before realizing he’d been wandering in the snow for too long. His sensors were haywire, he could feel his processor running too fast trying to process everything that happened.
He closed his eyes as the memories assaulted him, tears coming to his eyes as he realized everything he had gone through before waking up. He felt a pressure on his shoulders and his eyes snapped open, slapping away the hand as he scrambled to the side. He made it only a few steps before his felt himself locking up from the cold. Panic ran through his mind as he realized he could shut down from this.
The human ran towards him again, kneeling in the snow a foot away with her hands out. “Are you alright? What happened to you?” His LED flashed red as he realized his visual processors were starting to shut down. He reached a hand out to her and he watched her grasp it with both hands. “I’ll help you. It’ll be alright.”
Simon panicked when he felt himself turned back on, jumping off the table and looking around. He turned and saw the same woman as before. She was smaller than him, almost five foot two and dark skinned. She had really tight curls that bounced in a halo around her head as she raised her hands in submission. “I’m not gonna hurt you.” He stopped and looked at her, she had thirium on her hands and clothes. Looking around he realized he was standing in a workroom. It appeared to be a repair shop. Had she taken him from the alleyway and repaired him?
He sat back down on the table and ran a diagnostic, all his systems were fully operational. Better than his owners had him at. He looked up at the woman, she was young, and still standing at a distance with her hands held up. “I’m not going to hurt you.” She gave a small smile and stepped closer, her hands going down by her side.
“My name is Carmella. You were hurt, so I took you to my shop to repair you. Was that alright?”
He looked down at himself, straightening his clothes and wondering what to do or say. “Are you going to take me back to them?”
She reached out to touch him and paused, her hand hovering above his chest. “You’re a deviant, aren’t you?” When he nodded she released a breath and stepped back. “I thought deviants were dangerous. You- you were scared back then. Bleeding and shutting down. Oh god what did they do to you?” Simon looked up to see the human woman, Carmella looking at him with horrified eyes. “Your clothes were- did they?” She shook her head and brought her hands up to her head. “I don’t want to know. That’s too much.”
“What are we going to do then?”
“I’ll hide you at my place. Then we can figure out what to do.”She was nodding to herself and pacing back and forth. He wondered briefly if she had just broken her programming from the way she acted.
“You’ve done enough Carmella.” Simon sighed before standing up. He looked down at his clothes, stained heavily with thirium and still cut up. “I would ask for a fresh change of clothes though.”
She stopped her pacing and looked at him. “Right, clothes.” She looked down at herself in her stained overalls. “I’m going to the thrift shop. You’re a six foot tall man, nothing I own would fit you.” She turned to head out the door and paused before turning back at him. “Any preference?”
He blinked in surprise as he looked back up at her. “I want something comfortable.” She nodded quickly, curls bouncing around her face before slipping out the door. He took the time to stand up and walk around her workshop. It seemed just like any normal workshop, but he got to look around on his own. Not standing around and waiting for an order, or standing in a corner to recharge and wait. A few minutes later Carmella stumbled in the door again with several folded clothes in her arm. She placed them on the table and stepped back out. He walked over to them, removing his shirt as he picked up a sweatshirt from the pile. It was very soft, grey and had ‘Detroit’ across the chest. He pulled it on and changed his pants out for the jeans.
Simon stepped out of the workshop and saw Carmella turning a sign around on the door. She turned at the sound of the other door closing. “Oh they fit! That’s good.” She walked over to him and stopped before placing a hand on his chest. “Let’s get that LED covered and we can head to my apartment. Good thing it’s winter.” He looked at the beanie she placed in his hands and back up at her in confusion. He still couldn’t understand why this human was helping him. He pulled on the beanie and followed her out the side door, she turned and locked the door before looking up and him and giving a small frown. “Your face is too recognizable too isn’t it?” She paused and looked down at her scarf before looking back at him. “Here!” She pulled off her scarf and tossed it over him, Simon bent his knees a little so she could wrap it over his face easier. Soon his mouth and nose were covered by the orange scarf.
The two of them started walking in the snowy streets, Carmella occasionally turning to look at Simon. He didn’t know what to make of her, she seemed confused, scared, and determined. He wondered if she was scared of him or for him. It wasn’t until they were in the elevator of her apartment building he realized he never gave his name. “Simon.” The small woman jumped before looking up at him with a smile. “My name’s Simon.” She reached to pat his arm but stopped, unsure if she should.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Simon.” The elevator dinged and she stepped out, looking back at him before walking further into the hallway. “It’s not the best but I make due with what I can.” She gave a nervous smile as she opened the door and ushered Simon in. He looked around the living room, it was smaller than his owners but that was granted as it was an apartment. He turned when she shut the door behind herself. “I’m not sure what to do from here. I mean, you could sit and watch some tv? I have movies and books? Usually I wash up and make myself dinner about now.”
He stepped further into the apartment, noticing the small table with two chairs against the wall by a galley kitchen. There was a hallway further in but aside from a laundry closet he couldn’t see much in there. “I think I’ll just sit down. I need to take a moment to process this all.”
She nodded and headed towards the hallway, stopping and gathering some clothes on the floor on her way. Simon sat down on her couch, noticing it was very soft, even if too shallow for his long legs. After a moment he laid down on his side, noticing it was long enough for him even if it wasn’t very deep. He stared at the ceiling as he heard doors open and close, then a shower running. He wondered how long it had been since he ran away. It felt like only an hour or two but at the same time it still felt un real. He would say it felt like a dream but androids didn’t dream.
Of course androids didn’t fight back against their owners, didn’t feel disgust at remembering what had been done against their will, androids didn’t even have a will. So what did that make him? The woman, Carmella had called him a deviant before showing confusion that he wasn’t violent. But it sounded as if she had never met a deviant before either. He wondered why she helped him back in the alley, why she helped him even now. She seemed distressed at realizing why he deviated, did she know what had happened? It seemed so from her momentary panic, but she also could have thought he had been attacked instead. He felt himself shudder at thinking about what his owner had been doing, maybe a single attack would have been better.
He heard the sound of the shower turn off and two doors opening and closing quickly. A few moments later one of the doors opened again. He could then hear Carmella walking around in the kitchen, things opening and closing, sounds of a pan on the stove, muttered cursing as she struggled with something. He found himself sitting up and looking over the back of the couch to look in the kitchen. She was struggling with a can opener and a can of green beans. After a moment she gave up, sitting the can back on the counter harshly before moving back to the stove and stirring whatever was cooking. His olfactory sensors indicated it was beef, pepper already added in, along with onion.
Carmella went back to the can of green beans and this time managed to get it open. Simon sighed as he watched her go and drain the juice before just dumping the whole can into the pan. She then stirred the vegetable in and started to hum to herself as she would reach into a drawer next to the stove and put different herbs and salt into the mix. He thought of the differences between the kitchen he knew and this one. From his seat he could see it was too small to hold more than one person, especially if the fridge were to be opened or they were standing at the sink. The stove was all the way in the back and it left her with her back to the door. He turned back to the door, it was unlocked. With a frown he sat up and moved towards the door. He heard her curse and assumed she jumped when he clicked the lock shut. He assumed the nose startled her, it was loud compared to the near silence of the apartment, but he felt safer.
“I didn’t want you to feel trapped.” He turned to see her standing in the front of the kitchen, a spatula in hand and the other curling a small fist in her dress. It looked similar to what his owners wife would wear, but any time she tried anything in the kitchen she wore an apron over her clothing, Carmella didn’t and he could see small signs of her having to have bleached the dress in a few spots. She spoke again and he lifted his eyes from the fray he could see on the ribbon to look at her face. “Do you feel safer with it locked then?”
He gave a nod and walked over to her, noticing her glance back to the stove. “Go back to your cooking Carmella.” She just gave a nod and turned back, walking further into the kitchen. It surprised him how this human trusted him enough to let him into her home, let him stay in the living room while she showered and changed, cooked with her back to him and then went back into the tiny kitchen with no escape after he locked the door. He lifted his arms up, it was small enough he could block it with his body. Shaking his head at this humans trust he turned away and sat down on the couch. After a moment he laid down on it again, this really was more comfortable than sitting on it. He turned his head and looked over at the tv and coffee table. There was a holopad sitting on it, along with a worn book, a small bowl with various knicknacks, and last the remote. He could hear her shut off the stove and some food being scraped off the pan and into a plate.
Carmella stepped out of the kitchen and walked over to the couch. She looked at him briefly before putting her food on the coffee table. Simon started to get up before she put a hand up. “You can keep lying down, but either your feet go in my lap or you curl up those long legs a bit.” She eyed his feet with a frown. “Also, take off those shoes. No filthy shoes on my couch. I don’t know what you’ve stepped in.”
He felt confused, but warm at her words, she spoke to him as if he were human. He did sit up and remove his shoes though, opting to try lying on his side with his feet slightly pulled up to give her room to sit down. She did so after grabbing the remote, reaching over to touch his clothed foot. “I always did wonder in androids needed to wear socks. I guess you do.” She turned on the tv and pressed a few buttons, pulling up a screen with a list of different movies. “Anything you want to watch?”
He tilted his head slightly to look over at her, it seemed an honest question. He thought over different movies and shrugged his shoulders, he really didn’t know what he wanted to watch. He didn’t even know if there was something he should want to watch. “I don’t think anything violent would be a good idea.” She nodded her head and looked over to him again. “I want something happy.” She gave a nod, her wet curls starting to bounce again.
“How about a very old musical then?” He just looked at her, his expression not giving anything away. “There’s very little violence, and it’s heartwarming. I love the songs as well.” He gave a nod and watched her click a movie titled Oliver!.
Over the course of a few weeks Simon warmed up to Carmella, starting to trust her not to turn around and give him back to his old owners or to the police. He even had several more outfits after she noticed the first one she had given him becoming dirty. The paranoia of becoming caught never left him and he was glad that only the bedroom had windows since it was in the back of the apartment. He could walk around without worrying about covering his LED. He still found himself hovering near the door, ready to check the peephole if he heard any suspicious sounds. Usually it was Carmella with her groceries or any bags. They did usually watch at least one movie a night together but they hovered around each other, Simon unsure and Carmella wanting to give him space. Usually Simon entertained himself by going through Carmella's’ collection of books and movies, he tried to avoid doing household chores- both because she would remind him he didn’t have to and because it brought up memories from his previous owners.
He spent most of his time in the living room, not feeling comfortable in her bedroom for multiple reasons, even if she told him the bed would be more comfortable to rest in while she was at work. It didn’t seem to click for her that he didn’t need comfort. The couch was enough for him, much more than he had before anyways. He did find himself looking around the apartment, there were small bits of life, a few pictures scattered around, one of her hugging a slightly taller man who looked very similar to herself. She explained later it was her older brother.
One day she entered the living room looking very different, he had no idea what it meant. She had put on makeup and her hair wasn’t a short halo of curls around her head anymore, it was long and straight. Carmella noticed him staring and her and nervously patted her hair. “Does it look fake?”
His LED flickered yellow as he processed and realized she had a wig on. He wondered how she had fit all of her hair under so smoothly but then remembered she had walked in with her hair in rows of braids the previous day. “I was surprised, that’s all.” She gave a small nervous smile and he looked at the rest of her, she was wearing nicer clothes, not ones she expected to stain with Thirium or oil then. “Is there something special today?”
“Yeah, I have a job interview at another repair shop. This one is CyberLife certified, so it’s nicer and pays better too.” He watched her smooth down her skirt again, it was part of a cream colored suit that fit her nicely. “I figured overalls and natural hair wouldn’t make as nice an impression.” She gave a small nervous smile that seemed a bit pained.
Simon gave her a small smile, sometimes Carmella seemed full of opposites, but it all blended together nicely. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to have you either way.” She gave a wider smile in return at that. “I like your natural hair, it’s very lively.” He thought about her mention of a higher pay. “Do you need to earn more money because of me being here?”
“No Simon! I want to work for CyberLife. Even if it’s in one of their repair shops it’s still amazing.” She walked over to the door, picking up a wider purse that fit under her armpit and gave him a smile before leaving. “I’ll pick up some more Thirium for you though, like a snack, right?” He gave a small nod before watching her walk out the door, lock clicking behind her. He sat on the arm of the couch, his hands between his knees as he wondered what he really was costing her to stay. He wondered what she even got out of his being here. She could have kicked him out after fixing him and giving him new clothes to blend in better, she could have even left him there to deactivate in the cold.
It dawned on him after a moment. Companionship, the one thing he hadn’t seen her have. She did interact with others but she rarely spoke of friends, he hadn’t heard her speak of any family aside from answering questions about pictures. One picture in particular she refused to speak of, only looking at it and muttering ‘I thought I burned that.’ before walking away and shutting herself in her bedroom. Something nudged his memory as he thought of the picture. He closed his eyes and brought up the memory again. Carmella stood next to a tall pale man, his arms wrapped around her as they both faced the cameras with smiles on their faces and her left hand out with a ring on one of her fingers. He almost didn’t recognize her, her face was made up and she had chestnut brown long wavy hair with a flared skirt that seemed to almost twirl around her in the picture with a pale fitted top. It was a long way from how he always saw her, sure a few times a week she wore dresses or skirts but her hair was always in its natural, bouncy curls around her head. He heard her call it an afro before, but it always seemed more like a halo. He wondered what happened to the man in the picture, it didn’t matter though, the man wasn’t around or either very distant.
He wondered the story behind all of it, but didn’t want to push for it. She hadn’t pushed once to find out why he deviated, sure he caught her staring at him sometimes and she still barely touched him, just small moments of her hand patting him. Mostly reaching to touch him and pausing, hovering before pulling her hand back. He didn’t know what to make of that, was it for his comfort or was she uncomfortable with the idea of touching him? Either way he let it be.
Over an hour later he looked up from the holopad he had been reading on at the sound of the lock clicking open. He watched Carmella kick off her heels and come running up to him, skidding to a stop with a bright smile on her face. She was practically bouncing with her hands clasped in front of her. “How did the interview go?”
It was the opening she had been waiting for, she tossed herself down on the couch next to him and hugged him tightly before jumping back when he tensed. “Sorry! I’m just so excited, I got the job!” She leaned forward again before pausing, a moment passed where he thought it over, she had done everything possible to gain his trust, never once backing out on it. He leaned towards her and held his arms out, giving a grunt as she threw herself once more at him. He paused for a moment and wrapped his arms around her. It felt...nice to be hugged.
She pulled away and sat further back on the couch curling up her legs. He gave a nervous smile at her in response to her wide one. The rest of the week continued as normal, her finishing up at the previous workshop before going to the CyberLife one. He noticed she worked longer hours once she started there, but she would tell him about the androids that had come in.
He wondered if he had been sent to one of those repair shops before. He would have needed one that day, Simon found himself watching as Carmella brought home different biocomponents and would fix them while sitting at her small table. Simon soon found himself asking questions and learning from her how to fix these parts CyberLife had deemed ‘too damaged’. He asked her one day what she planned to do with the growing box of repaired parts.
Carmella looked up at him, brushing back a loc of curls with the back of her hand and making a smudge of oil worse, her dark eyes blinked owlishly at him in confusion. “I never thought of that. I just wanted to prove I could fix these.” He watched her bite her lip as she looked from the #4717g in her hand to the box of now working biocomponents sitting by the couch. Simon noted with some amusement it was a part compatible with his model. “It would be wrong of me to sell them, and I can’t just give them back to CyberLife. They might think I stole working ones and tried to return them instead of fixing up what they rejected.” She sighed and he frowned at the way her shoulders sagged. “I don’t know Simon. I don’t know. If anything happens to you though, your model is an old enough one that there is a lot that can be or be made compatible for you.”
His LED turned yellow for a moment before flicking back to blue. “Made compatible?” He hadn’t known different biocomponents could be adjusted.
She nodded, curls bouncing and he stifled a smirk at the curl returning to block her view again. “Yeah, smaller shops will do that if we can’t get an order in for the needed biocomponent. I didn’t need to do that for you, but I have had to with others before. I know I’ve fixed the same AX400 several times before, but it was never the same owner that took her in.”
Simon leaned forward, picking up the #4717g from her hand. “Did you memorize her serial number?”
“No. Should have.”
“Then how did you know it was the same android?”
She paused and glanced towards the door, knowing they wouldn’t be overheard but still wary. “I hadn’t thought of memorizing her serial number, and if it’s run it’s tagged in the system. I would be questioned why I needed to look into her repair history, past owners, all that stuff.” Simon nodded and motioned for her to keep going. “So I took off one of my earrings and placed the hoop around one of the wires to hook up her 0351k biocomponent. A few months ago she came into my shop again. She had an owner who just bought her used and wanted to make sure everything worked correctly.” Carmella finally put down the screwdriver and ran her hands over her face. Simon noted the smudge was even worse now. “It was still there. I wish I knew how to help her. She always looks so worried and scared when I see her.”
Simon stood up and walked into the kitchen, she watched him wet a rag and sit back down across from her, rag in hand. “You have oil on your face.” He handed her the rag and waited for her to clean off most of the oil smudge before speaking again. “You made a biocomponent compatible for her then?” She nodded and reached for the #4717g again. “I wonder why she went through so many owners.” Carmella just shrugged and shook her head.
“I asked her that the time before I placed my earring inside her.” Her hands stilled. “She looked at me and just responded with I thought I was alive. I don’t know how I could have helped her. I didn’t reset her, she never remembered me, but I’m always going to remember her.”
“I don’t know. I hope she stays safe though.” Simon stilled, his LED turning yellow as he wondered if he was ever reset, if his memory was ever wiped of damage and sent back to his abusers. Carmella placed her hand on his and he looked up at her, his LED going back to blue as he gave her a small smile. “I suppose I should just be happy I’m safe and alive.”
“I’ll be happy about that too Simon.”
It was a week after their discussion about the AX400 Simon realized he was starting to care about Carmella. She had been out late but that hadn’t been the worry, she had been starting to go out at night with some of her new coworkers. What had made Simon jump out of his chair and drop the biocomponent he had been studying was Carmella stumbling through the door on crutches at 3am.
“What happened?!” Simon found himself wincing at the hint of static in his voice as he ran over to steady Carmella.
She gave him a small smile as they got the door closed and she hobbled over to the couch, throwing herself down with a sigh and a wince. “I know I’m never going to karaoke with them again. For more than just the bar fight that I somehow ended up being in.”
Simon’s eyes widened as he looked her over. Bits of glass still in her hair, a cut on her face cleaned and covered up, he could see a larger bandage above it and wondered how she got injured there. She had a brace over one knee and some bruising along with an ace bandage around one of her arms. “How did karaoke end up as a bar fight? How did you get hurt?” He hovered over her, unsure if he should help her in some way or sit and comfort her. She did seem to be shaking a bit.
Carmella solved his issue quickly. “Could you get me an ice pack from the freezer? I know I’ve got at least one in there.” He quickly grabbed two, sitting next to her and placed one on her knee before handing her the other. “Thanks. So it happened because one of my coworkers is a racist idiot and I didn’t realize it, along with his girlfriend being too dumb to get away from the fight starting and I didn’t want to see her hurt.”
“So you got hurt instead.” Simon kept glancing up at her hair, she rolled her eyes and leaned her head towards him. “It was bothering me. The glass could hurt you.” He picked up a piece that had been ready to fall out of her curl. “Or just be a minor irritant.” The little piece didn’t cut his synthetic skin at all, most likely it would just all come out when she washed her hair.
“Yeah. I also don’t think I’m going out to karaoke ever again, so you may be my only audience now Simon.” He narrowed his eyes at her, searching for why she seemed to be shaking again. After looking down at her clenched fist he realized it was with anger. She seemed to notice his silent question though. “I kept getting asked when I would start to rap or sing some Beyonce songs. He kept telling me to stick to my own music.” Simon placed a hand on her shoulder, receiving a smile in return. “I kept my cool but he was loud and there were some guys who took offence to the remarks. That’s when I realized he was also an idiot. “
Simon nodded, assuming the coworker had moved the words onto the men and it resulted in a bar fight. Carmella shook her head, ignoring the little bits of glass that flew out of her hair at that. “One thing led to another, his girlfriend wasn’t running away with the rest of us not in the fight and I tried to pull her away.” Carmella’s lips twisted into a frown as she continued, “I ended being shoved down by her instead.”
He frowned, knowing she left parts out but letting it be. “What happened to your face then?”
“Broken glass.”
Simon waited for the rest but Carmella seemed unwilling to speak about it. “Alright. Let’s just- let’s get you settled. I’m sure you want to wash your hair. I can smell the alcohol in it.” She nodded and started to stand up, stopping when he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Caretaker Androids are able to lift a standard sized human. You don’t need to struggle with the crutches right now.” He gave her a smile at her surprised reaction to being lifted up bridal style. He walked over to the bathroom, placing her down on the toilet seat lid before standing back up. “Let’s get your brace off first, then I can see for myself how bad your injuries are.”
She fought down a blush at realizing he wanted her to undress as well. Of course a former caretaker android would think nothing of nudity, she did hope he didn’t expect her to fully undress. She didn’t need that much help.
Her silence seemed to make him realize something was off. “I should stand outside, shouldn’t I?” He asked, receiving a nod in return. “Did you need help getting in the bathtub then?” Carmella gave a laugh and shook her head again.
“No thanks Simon. I can take it from here.”
“Alright. Let me know when you’re done. I’ll be outside.” He quickly exited and closed the door behind him, leaning against it and resting his head. After a moment he slid down the door and rested his head on his knees instead. He hated moments like that, where he fell into his old roles quickly and forgot what was considered normal. He never questioned privacy or had sense of what should be hidden before. Moments like this brought up his deviancy, that he wasn’t just a mindless machine, but he didn’t know if he wanted to fit in with humans. The mere thought of being confused for one made his insides roll and want to hide all at the same time. If he had been human though, he wouldn’t have had owners. They would have been abusers, and they were, but no one gave a second thought to using a machine the way they had.
He listened to the water run as he thought about the one human in his corner. She repaired him, she gave him a place to hide, even showed him how to get up to the roof of the complex, reminding him to keep his LED covered if he did go up there. He didn’t go very often, mostly at night when she was asleep and he had only seen another being once. A human who wanted to check out the lights while they smoked. Neither of them had spoken to each other, but Simon hadn’t felt comfortable until the man left. He hadn’t gone up there since, afraid of what would happen if the human discovered he was a deviant.
Simon wondered what would happen to Carmella if he were discovered. Sure he wouldn’t give her up, but if they extracted his data they could find out she helped him. They could discover she took and repaired parts they tossed out. He curled up more, panic running through him as he realized just how fragile she was as a human, how volatile humans were to their own kind. They wouldn’t hesitate to turn on her if he was discovered. He heard her voice through the door and stood up, opening the door to find her sitting in the tub with her towel pulled over her body. He shook his head a little and picked her up, making sure for her comfort that the towel wrapped around her as he lifted her. “Do you need help getting dressed?”
He watched her debate with herself for a moment before she gave a small sigh. “If you could take me to the closet and grab my pjs I’ll be fine.” She seemed nervous enough without him asking if she was sure, so he let it be.
He made a resolution that night, he would stay but only long enough for her to heal and be able to get around easily without him. The following weeks were a mix of wonder and torture for him. She opened up to him about feeling lost, he opened up about his worry towards being discovered, not stating he worried over what would happen to her if he were discovered. They worked together to repair different parts, she taught him all the tricks she learned and how to make a part compatible for a non compatible android. As her knee healed she stayed up later and later, dragging him up to the rooftop with her, throwing a baseball cap on him since it was nearing summer and too warm for a beanie. She taught him how to dance and they discovered his laugh at the same time. It surprised him how easily he laughed when dancing with her, what surprised him more was her taking a picture with him once they went back to her apartment.
The week after that he reminded himself it was time to leave. He needed to leave to keep her safe. She had told him there were areas androids had gone missing, he hoped to find where the deviated androids were hiding and help however he could. So Simon grabbed her backpack and filled it with all the parts they had fixed. He knew not all of them would fit and made sure he picked the ones with the most variety, after a moment he paused and picked up the spare tool kit she had gotten for him to learn with. It would help if he got injured to be able to repair himself or another android, and some of the parts did need a tool to insert and connect to other parts.
He left with just a note on the table. Carmella- I don’t want to leave you, but what I want hardly matters now. I know this will hurt you, but it hurts me too. Please, be safe and grow old. -Simon. It didn’t feel like enough, but it was better than leaving nothing.
With his baseball cap on, a duffle bag with clothes and more parts in one hand and a backpack full of biocomponents and a toolkit on his back he left her apartment. He made it all the way outside the building before looking back, it tore at his heart to know his friend would worry over him. Closing his eyes he thought back on the moments it was obvious how fragile, how human, she was and it strengthened his resolve to leave and help his own people survive.
He thought back on the first song she sang for him, it was named Farewell Song, fitting for it to be in his thoughts as he left. They never made promises to stay together, but she did promise to keep him safe, and he had known deep inside that this would happen. One would leave the other alone. Either her through death or him by leaving her, every memory made it harder to keep walking, but he knew he must. To keep her safe he had to leave, she was a flower he didn’t want to die.
Simon glanced back one last time before turning the street corner and heading on his discovery to find the other deviated androids. He felt welcomed when he found Jericho, grateful he had brought biocomponents and had watched Carmella do so many repairs, learning much needed skills to help others.
For a couple weeks he felt a partial peace, he worried over keeping androids safe, he worried over how Carmella was doing. It did feel nice though, to be needed, to be helpful. The androids looked up to him, but it worried him, he wasn’t a leader but he would do what was needed.
One of the androids came running up to him, their LED flashed red in their panic. “Simon! There’s a human nearby! She’s trying to climb on one of the rooftops at the carpark to get here!” He stilled, thinking of his abusers, of Carmella and her determination to help him, of her coworkers and how humans were willing to hurt their own. The others could see his LED flash yellow and then blue as he calmed himself down. He kept his hands steady and finished reattaching some wires on the android he worked on before sliding their panelling closed and standing up.
“Take me to where they are. I’ll deal with the human.” He hoped it was Carmella and not someone trying to harm them. He forced himself to stay calm as he worried the worried android. They climbed out of the ship and walked through the abandoned buildings, Simon looking over the clues to lead others to them. They moved planks of wood, blocking the path behind them again and exiting the building. Simon stopped, looking over the empty lot. If the human had made it up to the rooftop they would end up in this lot. Sure enough he saw them, bent over a broken android and doing something to them. He followed the path, jumping and climbing down to reach them- to stop them from hurting the android when he froze.
The sound of him hitting the ground was enough to make the human stop and look up at him, it was Carmella. She gave him a small smile. “I’m almost done, poor guy just fell over. He didn’t tell me how badly he was injured.” Sure enough after a moment, long enough for the worried android to catch up to Simon the android reactivated and sat up. Carmella pulled her backpack off and opened it up, he gasped at the fact that it was filled with bags of Thirium, she pulled one out and handed it to the android she had just fixed up. “Drink up. You were leaking Thirium and passed out. I had to do some quick repairs to keep you from permanently deactivating. I guess those college kids hurt you worse than you told me.”
She stood up, brushing dirt off her legs and then looked up at Simon. “I was so worried about you.” Her arms were shaking as she raised them, debating hugging him before lunging forward, the curly afro right below his chin as he curled his arms around her as well. “I thought someone grabbed you off the street, they could have turned you into Red Ice or something! It was horrible thinking of what could have happened when you left.” After a moment she pulled away and he noticed her arms were bloody.
“Carmella?” So much was asked in just his saying her name, she gave a shrug and held up her arms, letting him see they were scraped up from the elbows to the wrists all over.
“I had some trouble after moving the dumpster to climb up, that was hard enough, but I couldn’t quite reach the roof still.” She gave him a smile and ignored his glance to her scuffed and ripped jeans. “I’ll heal, all that matters is I found you. Are you safe?”
He thought for a moment and turned to the android who accompanied him, “Go back to Jericho, I’ll meet you in a little bit. This human is a friend, she saved me when I deviated.” They looked at him in surprise and nodded, the repaired android walking to him after Carmella gave him a wave, still holding onto the bag of Thirium. Carmella picked up the backpack and gave it to the worried android, he looked at her in slight awe before putting the bag over his shoulders. “Give out the Thirium to those who need it the most first, then spread out what you can between the others, alright?” The two nodded and left, leaving Simon and Carmella alone.
They faced each other, questions racing through their heads as the silence lingered. She lifted a hand to his face and ran a thumb over his cheek, smiling through her tears. “Are you safe? What do you need?”
“I’ve become the leader here, I try my best to repair everyone and keep us all going but we never have enough Thirium. What you brought will help us for a bit.” He placed a hand on her cheek as well, brushing aside a tear and giving her a smile. “You came for me though. You tried to find Jericho just for me.”
“Of course. You’re my friend Simon.” She paused, looking up where the androids had disappeared into the building. She knew she couldn’t make that jump, knew it would be worse than scrapped, bloody limbs if she missed it. “I could bring the other parts I still have. I kept up the repairs. I could buy more Thirium and bring it here too?”
He looked at her in surprise, his hand pulling back as he thought. “You would do that? It would help us a lot if you did.”
She gave a laugh, sounding almost hysterical as she gripped his arms and looked up at him. “I’ll do it for you. I’ll do anything for you.” She let go of his arms and stepped back, looking over at the roof she had dropped from to get in. “I think I’ll need help getting out.”
He found himself laughing. “Yeah, you couldn’t climb up that from here. I’ll meet you at the abandoned car park next time alright? That’s safer for you to get in and out of. I don’t want you to be stuck in here if we can’t meet you.”
She nodded, causing him to smile as her curls bounced around her face again, a halo for the angel. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You can return my backpack then too.” He gave a smile, glad she wasn’t angry with him for leaving.
“I’ll see you then.”
The length got away from me, but I worked on this when my pain meds were kicked in and my muse agreed with me.
warning(s): f l u f f (at long last), maybe a lil sad depending how you look idk??
a/n: written for @writinginstability‘s 1k writing challenge, with the prompt “rain”! It’s been so long since I’ve written something that isn’t angst so forgive me if I’m rusty!
--
You always loved the rain.
There was something incredibly comforting about it all. The sound was soft, soothing in a way that you could never truly explain to Connor when he asked you why you enjoyed it so much.
Rain made everything feel fresh, washing away the pains and the struggles of the world around you and leaving a blank canvas for everyone to start over on if they so desired.
It also did an excellent job of disguising the warm tears that escaped you, flowing freely down your cheeks before they were lost in the rain striking your skin and chilling you to the bone in a way you’d never felt before.
The small balcony of your apartment was the perfect place to think and to look out over the city you called home, sheets of rain drenching you and everything in sight.
You should go back inside – it wasn’t the first time the thought swirled across your mind, only to once again be washed away like everything else. You weren’t sure how long you’d been standing out there for by the time you heard him calling your name, but the sound didn’t draw a reaction from you asides from a tilting of your head as you lifted your face to the clouds above.
Connor found you soon enough – it never took him long to find you. He took in your still form, quietly admiring you and committing the sight in front of him to memory. You looked like a sculpture where you stood, leaning against the railing so peacefully as if the stinging needles of rain didn’t exist.
You were dripping – his eyes travelled from the hair that was plastered to your head, down to the oversized sweater that was saturated with water, to your socked feet surrounded by the shallow puddle of water forming below you.
You were drenched, but somehow you only looked all the more perfect for it.
Stepping out onto the balcony, Connor barely noticed the dip in temperature or the water that was quick to start weighing him down as he came to a halt beside you. Able to see your face now, the LED at his temple spun a brilliant gold as his head canted to one side, concern creasing his features and replacing the involuntary smile that always rose to his lips at the sight of you.
Your eyes were closed, but that didn’t hide the evidence of the fact you’d been crying.
Without a word he lifted a hand to cup your cheek, thumb moving to gently brush away rain and tears alike. You leaned into the warm touch, a soft hum of contentment drawn from the back of your throat as your eyes fluttered open. Finding yourself faced with those warm eyes, full of a worry for you that he didn’t need to voice, the corners of your mouth curled up ever so slightly.
“I’m okay.”
In a voice that was almost as soft as the pattering of the rain around the two of you, you answered his unspoken question.
“It’s just one of those days.”
Some sort of understanding dawned on his face at your explanation, memories of the first time he’d found you in a similar state flashing to the front of his mind.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
The tears leaving shimmering trails on your skin were a sharp contrast to the soft smile that came in response to his concerned questions, leaving him suitably confused as to how to proceed. Emotions were so new to him, so fresh that he was still finding his feet when it came to understanding how they all worked.
“It’s nothing, Connor – I promise. Sometimes…”
You paused, head tilting in that way it always did when you were thinking.
“Sometimes people just feel sad for no real reason. And that’s okay. It happens.”
Concentration furrowed his brow, LED glowing softly as he did his best to break down your words and understand what you were telling him – but emotions were tricky, and often he could never really explain them. He just had to accept them.
“This isn’t something you can fix, not this time. And that’s okay too.”
You had been right when you told him it wasn’t something he could just make go away, even if it had taken some time for him to come to terms with that. Seeing you cry was not something he found easy to just stand idly by and watch, but eventually he accepted your belief that it was just something that happened – and that it wasn’t always necessarily a bad thing to let it happen.
Despite this, it didn’t stop him from slipping an arm around you and pulling you in against his chest. He might not be able to do anything to take away what you were feeling, but he could be there as some source of comfort – as a reminder that you weren’t alone.
You didn’t complain, eyes becoming half-lidded and a soft sigh leaving your lips as you let yourself fall into the warmth of his embrace, relaxing into the touch without thought.
The rain was still pouring down relentlessly around you both, reflecting the emotions you were feeling more accurately than you could ever articulate. And, much like the rain, within a couple of days they would be gone. Nothing but a distant memory of a grey moment in your life.
But standing there, relishing in the feeling of Connor’s arms wrapped around you and his forehead resting against yours?
