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Connor had to admit, even with all of his unrequited feelings towards Markus, spending time with him filled him with a happiness that he wasn't sure he deserved. Markus was so accepting of Connor, guiding him through all of his emotions with patience and understanding; it was pretty much inevitable that Connor would develop feelings for Markus but he had accepted long ago that his feelings would remain unrequited. It was fine, really. Connor was just happy to be a part of Markus' life.
Markus genuinely seemed to enjoy spending time with Connor too, and they got along very well. Markus often sought him out for company, which surprised and pleased Connor, given Markus' large friend circle. They even went to the aquarium last week, which was one of the best experiences of Connor's, admittedly short, life.
But sometimes, Markus would smile at Connor and he would be filled with a longing so strong it would take his breath away. Granted, he didn't actually need to breathe for survival's sake but the feeling was still not a pleasant one.
They were spending time together right now, actually. Markus had come over to Connor's place in New Jericho as soon as he was free, and then they had spent the last few hours playing board games that Connor had borrowed from Hank. Both Markus and Connor were pretty evenly matched, though Markus' experience in having played some of these types of games before meant that Markus won a little more frequently than Connor did. He was surprisingly ruthless about it too, a contradiction to his usually benevolent nature that made Connor love him even more if that was possible.
Connor was placing the board games back on the shelf but froze as strong arms wrapped around his waist, and he felt the unmistakable feeling of Markus' lips on his neck. His thirium pump pounded as Markus' stubble slightly pricked at his sensitive synthskin and he couldn't help his sharp intake of breath as Markus kissed him there gently.
"M-Markus?" Androids didn't dream but that didn't stop Connor from feeling like he was suddenly in one.
"Hmmmm?" Markus hummed in question, obviously not feeling the need to stop pressing those soft lips in kisses up and down Connor's neck.
"What are you doing?"
A low chuckle escaped Markus and Connor had to grip the shelf in front of him to stop his leg components from giving out on him at the sound. "I'm kissing your neck, Connor," the smile in his voice was obvious. "Do you want me to stop?"
That was actually the last thing Connor wanted, but it was also so sudden and Connor felt like he'd missed something major, while Markus was acting like this was the most natural thing in the world for them. "No, rA9 no, but I just-" Connor didn't know what to say exactly, but it didn't matter because at the hesitance in Connor's voice, Markus stopped immediately. Instead his arms unwound from Connor's waist and Connor twisted around to face him. Those blue-green eyes immediately took in Connor's conflicted expression and his own expression fell into a frown.
"I'm moving too fast for you, aren't I?" Markus stepped back but Connor couldn't help following him, stepping back into Markus space. The other android quirked an eyebrow at Connor.
"No, I'm just confused, I didn't realise we were- that is, that you felt this way about me. Romantically, that is."
Markus' eyes did that thing where they crinkled in the corners as he smiled in fond exasperation. "Connor, we're on our fifth date."
Connor's processors all stopped. "We're dating!?" Connor didn't even realise his voice module could go that high.
Now Markus looked like the confused one. "Yes…? I thought… Connor, I bought you flowers on our last date."
"I thought you were being thoughtful, since I told you I'd never gotten any before."
"I painted you the time before that!"
"You paint all your friends, Markus!"
"I don't usually paint them in my bedroom- on my bed! Connor, I told you the first time it was a date."
"You said, 'it's a date'! People say that without romantic context all the time!"
Markus' eyes flickered between Connor's searchingly and his expression fell at whatever he saw there. "You really didn't know that we were dating. I just- I thought you felt the same way. I'm so sorry, Connor."
Markus took another step back, and again Connor followed him. This time he fully closed the space between them and placed his hand on Markus' chest, right over where his thirium pump was. Connor felt the way it was hammering much too fast. "Of course I feel the same way, Markus. I just never believed you would ever feel that way about me."
Markus placed his hand over Connor's. "Connor, I adore you. rA9, North and everyone else tease me constantly about you and how damn sappy I am every time I'm with you."
"Yes, Hank does the same." Hank even sarcastically called Markus "Connor's boyfriend", thought he was under threat of violence not to repeat it in front of Markus himself. Connor felt a wave of awe sweep over him. He was dating Markus! He and Markus were together! Connor never really understood what surreal meant until right this moment. He needed to do something to make this real.
Connor wrapped his free arm around Markus's waist and pulled them flush together, taking note of the flustered yet appreciative expression on Markus' face. "So if we're dating, that means I get to kiss you, right?" Connor had preconstructed the scenario before many times, thinking he'd never get the chance but not being able to help himself from doing what was the closest thing to daydreaming for him.
Markus smiled, "it's one of the perks of dating, yes."
"Well, considering this is our fifth date, I'd say we have a lot of catching up to do." And with that, Connor eagerly closed the distance between them.