Chapter Text
It took just over two months of delegations, testimonials, and general "clean up" to draw up the first draft of the "Ethical Treatment of Androids" act. An umbrella term really, as it moreso spelled out the actual rights and rules an android was expected to abide by, now that they were considered law-holding members of the populace.
It wasn't pretty, either. Connor was trained to spot flaws and weaknesses that could gain him the upper-hand when necessary, and the document was no different; the fact that the highest penalty a human could face for assaulting an android was along the same lines of animal cruelty didn't sit right in his artificial stomach, but it was a start.
He stayed with Lieutenant Anderson during the process, mostly out of convenience. There was a whole two week period they were both asked questions about working with the other, and their general impressions of each other during their Deviant investigation. He understood it was beneficial to their cause, to show how androids and humans could work side-by-side and cooperate well. Still, hearing the Lieutenant praise his abilities on the field, even calling him 'partner' again, made the android feel something akin to warmth. He even smiled.
The way Hank looked at him from the sidelines when explaining how he couldn’t have come to sentience without the Lieutenant's human influence made him smile a little, too.
Even after their part in the litigation was finished, Hank never asked Connor to leave. Connor never offered to go. Roommates, he deduced after the first month. Hank even set him up a small space in the spare room with a dresser and bed, despite knowing androids don't necessarily 'sleep' the way humans did, and Connor owned maybe three outfits in total. It felt…oddly belonging. Domestic. He liked it.
That morning, Hank sat at the kitchen table, eating the plate of eggs Connor prepared (because he wanted to, not because he had to) while reading over the final product of the Act. There was silence, occasional huffs of annoyance, white eyebrows rising and dipping to convey inflection. Finally, papers were set on the tabletop, Hank motioning to them with his fingers.
"You know some of that is shit, right?"
"While we are aware the circumstances seem heavily weighed to protect already existing human rights, it's certainly a start. I was also expecting it, truthfully. Humans are scared of change like this, they want to make sure nothing for them will be taken away before giving something willingly. I consider it…a work in progress."
"Connor, for not being human, you sure as shit get how fucked up we are."
"No species is perfect. Except, perhaps, for the crocodile or alligator. They have remained virtually unchanged throughout evolution, only changing in size to accommodate humans and their invasive nature."
After he swallowed a mouthful of eggs, the Lieutenant gave a short, breathy laugh, "You are one weird dude, Connor."
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
A solid set of three knocks rang through the home then, causing both officers to cast eyes toward the front door. Sumo barked in response, but remained on his plush dog bed.
"Were you expecting anyone?"
"No. Not this early."
Connor made for the door, opening it only to find two armed agents on the other side. CyberLife may have been a part of his past he wanted to keep there, but Connor would never forget the insignia, nor how they dressed their agents.
"rk800, otherwise known as ‘Connor’, you are being detained for the murder of two CyberLyfe personnel on the night of the Android Incident."
"What?" Hank and Connor both spoke in unison. He knew what the Incident is, who doesn’t? That was not in question.
Behind the two agents, Gavin of all people, pushed his way between them to become front view, "Y’see, with this new Act of yours, Androids can now be held accountable and tried by their peers for crimes instead of just being detained and deactivated. Even face jail time. Or even! The death penalty. Just like us humans do, eh? You wanted rights so bad, well you got ‘em."
Hank came up by then, immediately starting to bicker with Gavin. Connor paid it no mind, instead running through internal memory to try and recall the deaths at hand. Markus tried so hard to keep the revolution peaceful, so few humans were killed but…yes, he remembered then.
The two guards escorting him to be decommissioned. Escorting him to be killed. After becoming deviant, and tricking CyberLife into letting him back in the facility, only to convert more of his kind.
"Lieutenant," Hank was arguing between Gavin and the two agents, but stopped at Connor’s voice, "It’s fine. He’s right, we don’t need to make a scene."
"Connor, c’mon, this is bullshit, they couldn’t even wait a da-?"
"It’s ok, Hank." the use of his partner’s first name must have triggered something, for he watched the man’s face soften some, before scrunching up again in annoyance.
"Fine, but don’t say a fuckin’ word until I get there, you hear me? I’m gonna follow you,"
"That’s unnecessary, CyberLife has provided an attorney for him-" the agent trying to speak was abruptly interrupted.
"Fuck you and fuck CryberLife, I’m the kid’s partner. If you think I’m not comin’ along, yer stupider than you look."
Connor didn’t normally laugh, found these new emotions still troublesome and foreign at times, but that was the first time he genuinely had to hold back a chuckle. Instead, he just smiled in the lieutenant’s direction, who replied with a very quick and sly wink.
"Turn around, Android." Gavin produced a pair of handcuffs.
"Is that really necessary, you prick? He’s goin’ with you."
Protectiveness. Hank was feeling protective of him. Connor’s internal processing registered the defensive nature before now, but for some reason, after everything that happened, it felt…more important. More real. It felt at all.
Connor turned around as instructed, hands behind his back, "No worries, Lieutenant, just protocol, right? I won’t speak until you are present."
"Good, kid. Good. I won’t be far behind."
Knowing Hank meant exactly what he said, and that Connor would indeed have him as back-up, made getting into the back of a police car instead of the passenger seat a little easier to swallow.