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Connor had a slight disagreement with his detective partner. He fended her from the approach of an intoxicated citizen. When she questioned why he did such a thing, he saw a shimmer of hope in her eyes. It disappeared just as quickly when he voiced his worry about her being taken advantage of. His mission would have been compromised if such threats were not destroyed.
"You think I can't defend myself," She laughed bitterly. "Everything is for the mission, right?" She may have misinterpreted his actions to be fueled by human emotions. She was wrong.
The Detective took a deep breath, perhaps to calm herself. "Why the hell am I getting worked up over this," she mumbled. But he still heard.
"I'm going to the bar, it's freezing out here." And then she turned her back.
Before Connor could follow, he immediately stopped when he sensed the pause in footsteps. "And don't follow me." Connor saw anger but caught a glimpse of uncertainness taking over her expression.
"Those people don't like androids," she said. "And stay in the car, I'll be back in half an hour."
Connor understood her tone and nodded as if he was really listening. He could only stand still and linger as the stubborn woman paced into the bar. But his thoughts brought him back. There was no need for her to...reassure him. She didn't have to explain the reasoning behind her orders. After all, he was simply an android designed to follow such orders. Yet, the act made him feel strange. I made her angry again. Whenever it's about the mission, she seems to lose her rationale. His LED quickly dipped to a yellow hue, before returning to its regular colour. There was something about her that he was unable to comprehend. He couldn't understand her stubbornness and hostility; her empathy and care. Humans were complex and self-contradicting.
That order goes against my mission, I cannot risk failure. I must keep watch on Detective. His indifferent look quickly replaced his puzzlement. She must be treating me as a human unintentionally, but I am merely a machine.
Then, he decided it was time to enter the establishment.
As soon as he joined the crowd, they stared at him as if he was a trespasser. Their filthy glares. It was just too easy to read their thoughts. "What is an android doing here?!" Their whispers and mutters. He knew he was a machine to be feared.
But he looked past them, only searching for one individual. None of the humans' stares mattered, they were inferior—absolutely nothing to him. He could kill them without any effort. He could kill them without effort. They could die so easily, and that would be their last chance at life. Yet, there was one exception—someone that flashed in his mind for a split second. He wouldn't want her to die. After all, it would be unfortunate to lose such a great worker in the DPD. There was nothing else that would be regretful. But something in the unfeeling android disagreed with that notion.
It certainly wasn't a sign of deviancy. He was too advanced. No matter what it took, he would accomplish his mission. That's why he will protect the Detective from danger, so he can accomplish his mission. Just his mission, and nothing else.
SOFTWARE INSTABILITY ^^
He ignored the message, his eyes darting towards a familiar back. The Detective.
Analyzing her condition further, he identified symptoms of inebriation. She was sitting on one of the bar stools, holding a glass of alcohol. Figured.
And next to her, was a man with his arm slung over her shoulder. He appeared to be less drunken but excessively touchy with her. Why was the Detective allowing this to happen? The man leaned in closer, skin almost touching. She had already voiced her distaste for these unpleasant advances. His left hand caressed the smooth skin of her back. Would it be wrong to wish those hands were of mine? His hand slowly crawled down to her waist. She needs to confront his insolence. Now. His fingers smoothly creeping beneath her pants—
"What the hell man?! The fuck is wrong with you—" The vulgar man hollered loudly but halted when he recognized the RK800's LED and attire.
The filthy human was on the ground. Before Connor could even process the situation, he had already forced the male away from his partner. However, he realized he may have applied unreasonable strength to his action.
"What's a dirty android doing in our bar," the man quickly got up, embarrassed and aggravated. He would have to get medical care for the new back injury. Connor hoped that he wouldn't get into trouble for that. The people in the bar were gradually quieting down and watching the commotion. I did not think about the fuss that would cause, how irrational of me.
"Connor?" The Detective looked at him, her eyes wide. He almost felt amused after seeing her so distraught.
The RK800 stepped in front of her, shielding her from harm. "I suggest you remove your hand off my partner before you face greater consequences."
"P—partner?" The man sputtered, "is that why you were ignoring me? Couldn't find a man that wanted you enough so you decided to fuck this piece of junk?!"
Connor paused in his steps. He instantly realized the implications voiced by the drunken man. His cool eyes shifted to her with no emotion, but there was a curiosity lurking upon those irises. How would the Detective respond? There was no question about it, she would be furious; who would want to be seen in a sexual relationship with an android? She would create a larger disruption. Still, he was interested. He would watch anyway. It wouldn't affect his mission either way.
"Actually, I couldn't find a man that satisfied me enough," she grabbed Connor's arm and tucked it dangerously close, in between her chest and arm. "Thanks for caring enough to ask, my man here doesn't last thirty seconds unlike desperate men trying to convince me to have a one-night stand with them even when I'm clearly uninterested!" By the end of her oration, she was out of breath.
If Connor declared that he was a machine, then how could a machine look as stunned as him? As human as he had ever looked.
Then, he was suddenly pulled in closer by his tie. A long and loud smooch on his now frozen face. His movement was stiff as he lifted his hand to feel his cheek. The kiss left a remnant of liquor and fervour. He allowed it to happen, even though it served no purpose toward the mission. "Let's go, Connor," she whispered to him, still half-tipsy and holding him by the arm.
He put his hand over her shoulder while they strode out of the bar. He felt odd when she leaned closer to his chest. "So warm," she uttered. Was he overheating? He felt hotter than usual. He would have to self-check once again. It was happening more often, these anomalies in his system...
What exactly was he doing? Connor let go of her as soon as they were outside. Surprise took over both of their faces. He fixed his wrinkled tie before noticing the woman's oddness.
"Detective, are you alright? You seem to be cold, from the symptoms I have examined." He observed the shivering female with slight interest. She must have sobered up at this point.
"No shit, it's like -20 degrees Celsius out here and I'm practically naked."
"...But you are wearing a tanktop—"
"Don't get smart with me," the Detective squinted her eyes at the indifferent android.
"Why did you come to the bar when I specifically told you not to." Confusion and bitterness were evident on her face.
"Detective, I was only doubting your safety—"
"Oh, you think I'm incapable of handling a drunk perv?"
She will misunderstand my motive again. "No, that's not what I—"
"No, that's exactly what you meant," she exclaimed in bitterness. "You were worried about your mission again! I don't know what I—I should have known better!"
Of course, you should have known better. But I hesitated to say that. The words were stuck. Why? It was true. She wasn't wrong.
SOFTWARE INSTABILITY ^^
She was already on her way to the car. But I needed to say something.
"That wasn't the only reason!" Connor's breath fell short, "I just felt—worried about you! It had nothing to do with the mission. And when I stood there, I didn't like the way he treated you, it was upsetting me! And you didn't stop his advances!"
She kept walking.
"Detective..." There was desperation Connor could recognize from his own voicebox. Stop. Stop walking. Look at me! He wasn't made to be vulnerable, but why did he sound and feel like that?
SOFTWARE INSTABILITY ^^
As if his thoughts had been heard, she stopped in her steps and turned around. What would she say?
"Connor, are you sure you're not a deviant?"
She didn't seem angry anymore. In fact, she looked pleased. And entertained.
"What? Of course no—"
"Ugh, just get in the car. I don't wanna hear any more machine nonsense," she held a straight face before shutting the car door, only taking the RK800 aback even more.
The car window went down. "What are you waiting for! Did you freeze to death?"
"Detective, I don't—" He didn't feel brave enough to finish that sentence when he caught her unnerving face. "Where to?" He started up the car.
"Where else? My place." She crossed her arms.
Humans were confusing, but Connor was willing to accommodate this one. Even if it was against the mission, he would keep her safe, no matter what. This was his partner after all.
SOFTWARE INSTABILITY ^^
The car filled with comfortable silence, as the Detective dozed off peacefully.
When she awoke from her nap, a particular android's jacket was placed over her. He's totally an android in denial.
She peeked to her left, seeing Connor steer with complete focus. "I didn't know you could drive."
"I didn't know either."