Chapter Text
October 10th, 2039 07:26 AM
Connor adjusts his tie.
Androids' rights have just been recognized and 183 run-away androids have emerged and joined them since.
They've decided to use this occasion as a celebration.
"Dude, you look even more handsome today, how?"
Jack stands behind him, a tie hanging loose on his neck and his jacket open.
Connor smiles, feeling something similar to when he sees Sumo.
"Do you know how to tie a tie?"
"Of course I know how to tie a tie!"
Jack yelps and takes the tie at both sides.
Connor turns to him and waits.
"I forgot how to tie a tie."
Jack mutters, looking at his hands on the tie.
Connor steps forward and takes it from him.
"That's so sweet."
Connor recognizes red Traci's voice.
Her voice is softer than the blue Traci's.
Jack blushes.
Connor really likes that.
It makes him want to pat Jack's head.
The tie is tied.
Connor pats his shoulder instead.
"Thank you."
Temperature increase in Jack's face.
Connor tilts his head, this new change seems very similar to human's blushing.
Possible code alterations?
"I was playing around with my programming. You know, not really helpful on all those political stuff you guys were working on."
Jack smiles sheepishly.
Another expression that Connor finds himself liking.
Incoming message from WR400 #641 790 831.
'Connor's human is here. Thought you might wanna know.'
'Thank you, North.'
Red Traci is smiling at him. She got the message, too.
Connor smiles back.
"Your human? Anderson? Can I go with you please, I want to meet him!"
Jack is bouncing on his feet, leaning over the window to look outside.
"Please, Connor! I've been hearing about this man for almost two months now! Oh, is that him in the suit?"
Thirium pump power surge.
Connor walks over to the window.
Hank looks very nice in the black suit.
"Mr.Anderson! It's nice to meet you!"
October 10th, 2039 11:26 AM
Halfway through Josh's best man speech, Hank's eyes drift towards where Connor is sitting in the center of the front row. The android is sitting perfectly straight with his LED a calm blue. Hank can't see past Connor's shoulders but he bet his hands are in his lap.
It's been over a month since androids were recognized as a new form of intelligent life and Connor volunteered to help his friends and joined Markus. Connor doesn't look all that different from before, but Hank knows now that he's aware and sentient, not just a mission-oriented machine.
Well, if he's being honest, maybe he has been seeing Connor as more than a machine long before this. There were so many times that Connor just behaved differently than what's expected from a machine. Maybe he just needed the right incentive or motivation to get him past that point.
He remembers this morning, that young man (android, he has a LED, too, damn, he's really lively for an android) was leaning over the window rail and waving frantically at him with a big smile. And there was Connor, standing straight with his head tilted a little and a small smile on his face.
He thinks about how different that expression is now from that programmed fake smile plastered to Connor's face when Hank first brought him home.
Something definitely has changed within Connor.
He can't help but think about Connor saying 'I think I like you, Hank', feeling a little self-conscious. It is hard to imagine he could be the trigger to make Connor go deviant, or awake, that's the PC term for it. What influence can Hank possibly hold over him that can sway him more than killing Markus? Well, now he knows that Connor avoided that, too, but still, he did make the shot.
Hank narrows his eyes at Connor's (perfect) side portfolio. This past month or so has definitely felt longer than the last time Connor disappeared from his life. He still saw Connor on the news with all the negotiations going on but that's different. Connor didn't even contact him once after he left. And yet Hank thinks of Connor keeling in front of him, so sincere when he said those words with those wide, warm, brown eyes looking into his.
Connor's LED turns yellow for a second, too short for Hank to do anything. The android turns around, and those brown eyes he just thought about born into Hank's blue.
Hank's heart skips a beat, feeling like he can't move. Connor smiles and winks at him. Hank very tactfully does nothing but stares at him.
He doesn't move until his phone buzzes in his pocket and he realizes Connor is looking back at the stage now.
Hank unlocks his phone and sees a picture of him in the crowd, gaping like a stupid fish with a suspicious flush on his cheeks. The camera angle looks like it's from the stage. Or the center of the first row.
Hank blinks.
Did Connor really take this?
He locks the phone and puts it back, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Fucking machines.
On stage, Markus kisses North, this time not a hopeless goodbye, but the start of a new time.