It was mostly silent except for the crunch of snow underneath our shoes. Neither one of us had said a word since we left the Chicken Feed. I glanced at Conner. He was quiet, which was extremely unusual for him. Usually he would fill any empty silence with a shit ton of useless questions. Well, I thought they were useless anyway. I'm sure he was logging my answers away in his fancy computer brain somewhere, only to be dug up later when he needed to use them against me.

"I'm no fucking genius, but one look at your blinking yellow light there tells me there's something going on in that plastic head of yours."

Connor finally looked at me, his face mostly neutral, save for his eyebrows being slightly lifted in curiosity as they normally were. He was the walking definition of ironic. The best, most up to date android of our time, mounds of information instantaneously sent directly to his computer brain in a blink of an eye, yet, he was so naive. Everything that wasn't pre uploaded into his programming was a mystery to him. He took everything so literally and didn't get sarcasm very well, but he was learning. He had come a long way since I first met him that night in jimmy's bar. Hell, so have I. Sure, the dark thoughts were still there. I still thought about my son every second of every day, wishing I could have done something different. Something to save him. But I felt like I finally had something to live for. I had someone who needed me and who I needed in return. I had Connor.

If you would have told me a month ago i'd be worried sick over some fucking android's well being I would have told you that you were bat shit fucking crazy then socked you one in the face for good measure. But here I am, walking side by side with the very boy that changed my mind, wondering what he's got tumbling around in his head.

"What's wrong Connor?"

He stared at me for a moment as if deciding what he wanted to say.

"I am just... concerned about my future."

I knit my eyebrows together.

"What about it?"

Connor dropped his eyes to the ground, his face turning troubled.

"This is the first time I do not have someone telling me what I need to do. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go from here…"

"Well, I'll tell you what's gonna happen." I stated, shoving my hands in my coat pockets. "We are gonna go home, I am gonna have a few beers, and you will calm the fuck down."

He smirked, and it was damn beautiful.

"Home, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, home! You got a problem with that?"

"No, It's a very kind offer. But I have to inform you that I'm no longer linked to CyberLife's account. I wouldn't be able to pay-"

"-Shut the fuck up Connor, alright?" He turned his gaze towards me. "You're not going to pay me for anything."

"I would feel better if-"

"-Connor, you don't even eat. What, do you have to plug into the wall to recharge your batteries or something?"

"No, I have a projected battery life of approximately one hundred and seventy-three years."

I stared at him for a long moment. Damn him for taking everything I say so literally.

"Uh huh. Well my point is you're not adding to my expenses anyway. You're staying with me so shut the fuck up about it."

After a long pause I watched as one side of his perfectly crafted mouth turned upward.

"Okay, lieutenant. Besides, I'm sure I can find some other way to repay you for your hospitality."

Connor winked.

What the fuck was that? Did He just hit on me? Coming from anyone else there would be no doubt. But no, He is way too innocent for that. He must have meant something else by it. Still, it didn't stop my stomach from knotting when he said it. Fucking Connor, damn him for making me feel like some love struck teenager. It didn't bother me that I was attracted to him. Hell, I don't know how I couldn't be. He was fucking beautiful. Too perfect to be real. I don't even want to know what the goddamn pervert who made him was thinking at the time. But I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable and I didn't want to ruin what we already have. He was lovely and I just don't know what to fucking do with lovely. This was one relationship I never wanted to fuck up.

"Lieutenant, I have a feeling that if you had an LED indicating your mental processing state, it would be yellow right now as well."

I snorted.

"If that's your weird android way of asking me if something is wrong, don't worry about it. I'm fine.

Connor smiled and turned his gaze forward.

"Whatever you say, lieutenant."

"Please, you don't have to do this lieutenant!"

I rolled my eyes as I stacked another box in the corner of the spare bedroom.

"I already told you Connor, I'm not using this room for anything."

"It… just seems like a lot of trouble."

I gave an aggravated grunt as I straightened up.

"Look," I said as I turned to face him. "You need some space that you can make your own and this room is doing nothing but holding my junk and collecting dust."

His eyes scanned the room briefly and I wondered how exactly his brain was picking it apart.

"I am more than content with sitting on the couch and going into my dormant state."

"No Connor. That's fucking weird."

His big brown eyes locked onto mine and I could almost see the internal struggle he was having. I guess androids wouldn't be used to humans doing nice things for them. They were our tools after all. They did what they were told and got no appreciation for it. I'm sure this wasn't an easy thing for him to adjust to. I gave a heavy sigh, dragging my hand down my face.

"Look, if you would feel more comfortable on the couch then that's fine. But I want to have this room available for you to use if you start feeling up to it. Okay?"

Connors lips twitched upward.

"Thank you lieutenant, I really appreciate this."

"And for Christ sakes Connor, stop calling me that. We aren't at work."

"You would like for me to address you as Hank?"

"Yes, thank you."

He gave me a quick nod and placed his hand on my shoulder as he walked by me. He stood in the middle of his new room and glanced around curiously, taking his time as he looked it over. I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips. Something in my heart swelled as I watched him for a moment. I was surprised at the way my body reacted to his happiness.

I took a step back and gripped the door knob, stealing one last glance at the plastic boy before I pulled the door closed, leaving him to enjoy his new room in peace

"Jeffrey! We need to talk."

I pulled open the glass door to Jeffrey's office, Connor silently following behind me. Jeffrey looked up from his stack of files, his eyes going back and forth between me and Connor.

"What's this about?"

"Don't you think it's about time you actually pay Connor for the work he does around this shit hole?"

Jeffrey snorted and my fists clenched in anger.

"Pay an android? Are you out of your goddamn mind? Why on earth would I pay an android when I can just as easily replace him with one that works for free?"

"Because, Jeffrey." I seethed as I leaned towards him, jabbing a finger in his direction. "He isn't just some fucking android. He is the android who worked his ass off on that deviant case for you. He is the android that has taken multiple bullets for YOUR fucking people! And almost everyone in this building feels better and works more efficiently with him at their side!"

"Almost… everyone." Jeffery stated coldly as he shifted his gaze to Connor.

My eyes flicked over to Connor to gage his expression. It should come as no surprise that his face remained completely neutral and his LED blinked a cool blue. He had such a good soul. He deserved so much better than this. I gave a cold laugh as I straightened up.

"Is that so?"

Connors eyes landed on me as his eyebrows pulled together.

"Alright, If that's how you want it to be."

I slipped my hand inside my coat pocket and grabbed my wallet. Flipping it open, I pulled out my Detroit police badge and slammed it down on the table.

"The fuck are you doing Anderson?"

"You don't wanna pay him? Then consider this my resignation!"

"You can't do that!"

"Lieutenant Anderson?" Connor called from behind, taking a step towards me.

"The fuck I can't! You don't want him? Then you don't get me!" I turned on my heel and gripped Connors shoulder, turning him as well and pushing him towards the office door. "Come on Connor, We got a desk to clean."

I heard Jeffrey's muffled curses as the door closed shut behind us.

"Lieutenant Anderson wait."

"What is it Connor?"

"You can't just quit your job."

"I just did."

Connor blinked a few times as his brows knit together.

"How are you going to be able to afford all your living expenses now?"

"I'll figure it out."

Connors LED now blinked a bright yellow as he stared at me silently.

"What is it?"

He swallowed hard and his voice was soft.

"I am merely concerned about you lieutenant."

His words shouldn't have made my chest tighten, but by hell if they didn't anyway.

"Don't be. I just…" I sighed. "I need some coffee…"

"Wait." Connor grabbed my arm as I turned. "Let me get you some."

"Connor you don't have to-"

"Please Lieutenant."

I stared at him for a long moment, trying to pick apart what was going on inside his plastic head. Giving up rather quickly I shrugged, turning towards my soon to be former desk.

"Knock yourself out."

Connor nodded and turned.

"Hey!" I called to him. "That's just a figure of speech, you got it?"

His mouth twitched up at one side.

"Got it."

I sighed, looking over my desk as I begin to gather up my belongings. I put all the stacks of papers and files I had strung about into one neat pile, then I pulled out the garbage can from underneath my desk and tossed all the garbage I had accumulated from all the takeout and the occasional donut run. I had taken down my anti android slogan board a week or so ago. It's hard to believe I used to feel such hate towards them. I felt my heart tug when I glanced at the paper clippings of me during my years of service, briefly scanning over the printed words as they celebrated my accomplishments. Was I making the right decision here? I wanted to do the right thing for Connor. It was just that, throwing away all my years here was a huge step.

I was pulled from my thoughts by a loud crash coming from the break room.

"Aw shit."

I turned, dodging desks as I ran towards the noise. Faintly I could hear Gavin's voice.

"Don't you know how to follow simple fucking orders? Something get all messed up in your programming metal head?"

I turned the corner to see Gavin gripping Connors collar, holding him against the wall while Connor was his calm and collected self.

Well, that makes one of us.

"Hey! Get your fucking hands off of him!"

Gavin's eyes snapped to me and he smirked. This fucking bastard knew just how to make my blood boil.

"I'm sorry." He mocked as he released his grip, "Was I too rough with your play thing?"

Connor rolled his shoulders and adjusted his tie. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"The fuck you getting at Gavin?"

I balled my hands into fists, trying my very best to not knock the mother fucker out right then and there.

"Oh don't play dumb Anderson. We all know you're living with this android now. You went from one extreme to another real quick didn't you?"

I took a heavy step towards him.

"I don't think it's any of your goddamn business."

"Hey I don't blame you." Gavin said, raising his hands. "This thing looks like fucking sex god." My stomach turned as Gavin's eyes roamed all over Connors body. "I'd probably make him my sex toy too." Connors head tilted as Gavin took a step towards him, never breaking eye contact. "You'd obey me like a good little android should and every night you'd be sucking my-"

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what he was going to say next, but I didn't give him the chance. I sent my fist flying into that pricks face. I felt the crunch beneath my fist as the bone popped out of place and Gavin stumbled backwards, holding his now bleeding nose.

"Hey!" Tina Chen yelled as she made her way into the break room, looping her arms around Gavin's when he tried to lunge at me.

"You fucking ass hole!" Gavin seethed.

"You cant do this now Gavin," Tina grunted into his ear. "They will get your ass this time if you do!"

I felt a thin arm wrap around my waist and tug me back.

"Lieutenant!" Connor yelled as he pulled me out of the room.

"Touch him again and I'll fucking kill you Reed!"

"Get out of here Anderson!" Chen yelled.

Connor pulled me quickly through the building and out the front door where the falling snow helped calm my temper, sort of.

"Goddamn it Connor. Why didn't you stick up for yourself?"

"What was the point? Everything he said was untrue."

"That's not the point Connor."

He paused and looked at me curiously.

"Lieutenant, detective Reed always says things like this to me. Why does it upset you so much?"

"Because!" I said throwing my hands in the air. "You didn't deserve any of that! You're so nice and innocent and I'll be damned if I let someone talk about you like your some goddamn sex bot!"

I could feel my heart pounding as I paced back in forth in the snow, Connors big brown eyes on me the whole time.

"I can see this has had a negative effect on you."

I gave a heavy sigh and turned towards him.

"Yeah, it has."

Suddenly two arms wrapped around my body as Connor pressed himself against me. I could feel his fingertips pressing into my back. Do androids wear cologne? He smelled fucking amazing. And he felt so life like. It almost made my head spin. His soft hair brushed against my cheek and his body felt warm. My breath caught in my throat. Goddamn you Connor for being so perfect.

"Thank you, Hank." His voice was smooth and sincere in my ear.

I lifted one hand and pressed it against his lower back, returning the hug in my own awkward way.

"Yeah." My breath blew his hair around as I spoke. "You're welcome."

Connor released me just before the door behind us popped open.

"Anderson!"

I turned to see Jeffrey standing in the doorway.

"Jesus, what is it now?"

"Get your asses in here so we can negotiate his pay!"

I smirked as Connors wide eyes bore into mine.

"Who said violence is never the answer?"

"I believe that phrase was said by-"

"It was a rhetorical question Connor."

"…Oh"

I shook my head and placed an arm around his shoulder, guiding him into the building.

"Come on, lets go get you an official job."