Chapter Text
There’s no way you were going to be bested by Gavin Reed. To say you were childhood rivals was putting it nicely. You despised him from the start, and no one could do anything about it. Every interaction, every competition you had with him always ended with you winning, but also crying and desperately clutching your heart, trying to calm down. You had moved around Detroit, hoping your contact with him would be minimal, but as you started an internship at the Detroit Police Station, things didn’t seem to go too well after that.
You were a brilliant forensic scientist and an equally well trained detective, but Captain Fowler seemed to push you harder. Perhaps you were held to a higher standard. Either way, you placed with a pair, made of an android named Connor and a human named Hank. Connor seemed to be more welcoming towards you, but you figured that you’d just have to get Hank to warm up to you.
“Hello,” you smiled softly, nervously shying away from Gavin’s desk. You could feel his stare burning into your back. “My name is Y/N, and I’ll be accompanying you to any assigned cases.”
“A pleasure,” Connor replied, scanning you, taking note of your stress level. “I’m sure the Captain already told you our names.”
“Yes.” You replied automatically, no stranger to professional behaviour. To Connor’s surprise, you seemed more nervous at something that was behind you, rather than meeting him and his father figure. After a quick scan behind the girl, he found that Gavin Reed was, as Hank would say, “glaring fucking daggers” at (Y/N).
“Well I did hear you were coming,” Hank grumbled, an oddly excited shine in his eyes. “It’s good to see you’re not some kinda self absorbed asshole from...that prestigious university you went to.”
You blinked, strangely reminding the old man of an LED processing information. “I see. It’s good to know that…” You trailed off as you felt a tight, hostile grip in your shoulder. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, every sound reduced to a muffled blur. You could hear your heartbeat rising to unsafe levels, and you could feel yourself slowing suffocating.
“Long time, no see,” the all too familiar voice hissed into your ear. The hand lingered for a few moments too long before tracing a finger down your back and retreating.
Connor was concerned whenever Gavin was around, but the expression of subtle but sheer fear on your face gave him a queer emotion deep within his plastic chest.
[ W A R N I N G: TARGET’S STRESS LEVELS 95% ]
[ W A R N I N G: 96% AND RISING ]
[ TARGET IS UNSTABLE, PROCEED WITH CAUTION ]
[ R E M O V E S O U R C E O F S T R E S S ]
[ Target has activated primal instinct regarding danger. If not calmed, target may compromise itself via self destruction/self harm. ]
He had to do something.
Before he could, Gavin walked away.
[ TARGET’S STRESS LEVELS: 76% and stabilizing ]
You didn’t realize you had been holding your breath. You unconsciously gripped at the fabric of your shirt, right above your heart. You could still hear the beating of your heart as Hank teased you for being startled so easily. You gave a false but realistic laugh and played along. The pointless banter you held with the detective was all from your mental auto pilot. Your consciousness was running through different probabilities, all trying to figure out how you would escape. Quit? No, you wouldn’t have a job. You’d just have to stick it out. You finally pulled yourself together and noticed the strange way Connor looked at you. His face held an expression of concern and, unnervingly, fear. You continued chatting with Hank, looking over his shoulder at how to fill out paperwork and access case files. The whole time, Connor said very little, keeping his eyes trained on you. His expression kept changing every time you looked over, but each contained a few main, basic emotions.
Sadness, anger, fear, concern.
Was he mad at you? Was he scared of you? Did he know how you felt about Gavin? It made you anxious.
You couldn’t stand it.
“Are you alright, Connor?” You interrupted Hank, turning around to look at him.
“Why did you fear him?” His voice barely raised above a whisper.
“I don’t. I don’t understand what you’re saying,” you lied, nearly convincing him. You turned back and apologized to Hank. He waved you off gruffly, but the man couldn’t help but have the same question as Connor. What the hell was up with you? Who were you, anyways?
The rest of the day went without any further disturbances. It was pleasantly boring, and you had to share a desk with Connor as you both completed your share of paperwork, chatting the whole time. You really liked the android. You thought he was sweet in his own awkward way, and couldn’t help but become increasingly fond of the robot vaguely reminiscent of your childhood Roomba. From what you understood, he was still having a hard time controlling and identifying his feelings. It was kind of funny to watch Connor unintentionally sass Gavin, even though your stress levels spiked whenever he passed by. Surprisingly, Hank thought you were actually quite lovely, and he was glad that you were getting along well and loosened up. He had a soft spot for you, especially since you enjoyed playfully bickering with him, throwing empty, joking threats.
After you finished everything, you were invited to the Andersons’ house for dinner. You gladly accepted, internally shuddering at your mess of apartment.
“Well,” Hank said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I’m not big on eating healthy or anything, but Connor is damn dedicated to cooking and it’s actually...good. Anything you’d like him to cook?”
You hummed, thinking. You picked up a stack of papers and tapped them on the desk, straightening them into a neat pile. “No, not really. Make whatever, I’ll eat it.”
“Sounds good, want us to walk you to your car? It’s pretty fucking dark out there.”
“I don’t have a car. I’ll just take a taxi, could I have your address?”
“Taxi? Hell no, that shit is expensive if you keep taking it. We can drive you over to our place.”
“Ah,” you were a little confused by his unexpected show of kindness, but you weren’t one to turn down a good ride. “I’d appreciate that, thank you.”
“Sound like a fucking android,” Hank mumbled, hoping you didn’t hear. You furrowed one eyebrow in confusion, but disregarded his statement. You followed him out of the station and into the parking lot. Connor walked a little ways behind you two, but when he got the the car, he surprised you with an equally surprising gesture.
“Would you like it if I sat in the back with you, Y/N?” He held open the door to the backseat to let you in. You flushed, a little flustered by the genuineness behind his smile.
“I’d love to Connor. Thank you.” You ducked your head and adjusted yourself in the comfy backseat.
“My social abilities are limited, but I’ve been told that these actions are considered chivalrous and generally widely appreciated.” Connor scooted into the seat next to you as Hank watched via mirror. He gave a small smirk, unseen by the two kids in the back.
“No dirty play back there,” Hank called out, keeping his eyes determinedly on the road. “Don’t wanna clean up after you guys. It’s gonna stink of...love.” For added effect, he pretended to take a whiff of the air and inhale deeply.
“H-Hey!” Your face flared red, and you leaned forward to glare at the man and avoid Connor’s gaze.
“Clean up what?” The oblivious android looked so lost.
“Nothing,” you answered, drawing out the last syllable. “Well it’s something but you don’t want to know.”
“Oh.” Connor said simply, resuming a rather stiff posture. You could tell he was probably conducting an all too thorough research on whatever Hank had said. After a moment of silence, Connor reached his answer.
“Were making an innuendo and implying that Y/N and I would be having consensual sex in your backseat?”
You put your head in your hands as both you and Hank groaned simultaneously. They weren’t even a quarter of the way home yet.