Work Text:
“The victim was stabbed 31 times through the chest by her android, and there is more of the rA9 writing in the main bedroom. The victim wanted to get rid of her android due to the increase in deviants, so that’s most likely why the murder was committed. But where did the deviant go? It is possible-” Connor was cut from his thoughts by a quiet thump coming from down the hall. Looking around, he saw that no one else seemed to notice it.
Checking quickly, he noticed Hank was still talking to the police officers who got to the house first. Connor cautiously went down the hall, stopping at a laundry room and slowly pulling his gun out. He gradually turned the knob and pushed the door open, tense and ready to fight. Another thud, this time louder, came from the corner of the room, but he saw nothing when he turned to look.
Flicking on the light and doing a quick scan through his HUD, his eyes eventually settled on a small, furry mass. Looking closer, he saw it was a medium sized black cat, a Bombay cat to be specific. For a few moments all he could do was stare, but then he gently and slowly knelt down. He brought his hand in front of it-her- and allowed her a moment to sniff his hand. Just looking at her made him feel... happy. He shook his head, he doesn’t have emotions, he’s an android. He wrote it up to a normal reaction to want to help small things and make them happy, like he had felt with Sumo.
Connor started as the cat bumped her head against him, large amber eyes peering up at him, before tentatively running his hand along her back. A purr erupted out of her, and he quickly forgot about the case they were working at the moment. Gently picking her up and allowing her to settle down, he left to find the Lieutenant. He needed to show him his new friend.
---
“Connor, there you are! Get over- what are you holding?” Hank Anderson was used to Connor being weird, even for an android. He’s seen him lick blood and find/break into his house, but for some reason, this surprised him more. The android looked at him with that blank look of his, a tiny smile playing on his lips as he rushed over to the man.
“Lieutenant! Look!” Suddenly, something was thrust into Hank’s face, causing him to sputter and take a step back. Blinking a few times, his eyes focused on the cat being held up in front of him by Connor. He was still caught on the small smile the other had on his face though, he doesn’t do that often.
“That’s... nice? It-”
“She.”
“She? Ok, whatever, she must have belonged to the victim. We can send someone to bring her to an animal shelter.”
As he spoke, Connor pulled the cat back to his chest and started to slightly glare at him, to his surprise. Hank sighed, all he wanted to do was go home and maybe watch a movie with Sumo, but no. He has to deal with this freaky and stubborn android. He pinches the bridge of his nose, “what is it?” he asks, already done with this conversation.
A moment of quiet passes before Connor finally blurted out, “the shelters in the area are not good, they’re very shady and seem to be kill shelters. We can’t let that happen to her-” he continues to talk, but Hank tones him out for a small amount of time. “How did I end up in this situation," he asks himself this, and he’s yet an answer. He's became fond of an android, who is helping him hunt down other androids and has died to protect him. What a life.
Hank zones back in just as Connor finishes with “-so it’s only logical that we should keep her.”
“Excuse me?” He’s hoping he heard him wrong. “We? Keep a cat? Connor, first of all, what do you mean we?” He gives no time for the other to answer before adding, “no. I have Sumo, that’s enough responsibility, there’s no way I’m going to take care of a cat. Absolutely not.”
“But Lieutenant, do you want to be responsible for her getting hurt or not being taken care of properly? And yes ‘we’, we’re a team. I know where you live, and I can come by and help you take care of her.” When Connor sees the unbelieving look on the human’s face, he adds, “she can keep Sumo company when you’re out. Living creatures need others around them, especially pack animals like dogs. She can help make sure he’s not lonely.”
Hank rolls his eyes, “and this has nothing to do with you just wanting a cat.”
“I am a machine; I do not want things.” That’s the biggest lie he’s ever heard, anyone who interacts with Connor can tell he feels everything and wants as much as anyone else. No matter how good he is at keeping his voice the exact same tone and face stoic, it’s impossible to ignore all his actions that prove the opposite.
“Ah yes, how could I forget.” His voice is steeped in sarcasm, but the other doesn’t seem to notice, or ignores if he does. “How about this, I’ll keep her for... a week. Until we can find a good shelter to give her to. Is that ok?” He perks up a small amount and nods, looking content and happy. “Back to the case then. Did you find anything useful?”
---
As Hank wrote the report of the case, Connor was playing with the cat, whose name they found to be Daisy. She was very energetic, constantly running around and jumping at the cat wand taken from the house. Every now and then, Hank would glance down at them, seeing the android with that small smile still. As soon as he finished writing and saved it, he stood up and cracked his back, stretching his arms out. “Come on,” he said to Connor, already making his way out. The other quickly scooped up Daisy and hurried after him, ignoring the excitement he felt at introducing her to Sumo.
---
Later, a bag of cat food richer, the pair pulled into Hank’s driveway and got out of the car, Connor still practically fawning at the black cat and holding her close. The older man unlocked the door, holding it open for the other before entering himself. From his bed, Sumo lazily lifted his head and locked eyes with Daisy. He stood up slowly and began lumbering towards the pair, making Connor slowly crouch down.
“Hello Sumo! This is Daisy! She's going to be living here.” he stated while allowing the two animals to sniff each other. Hank ignored the comment of her living here, it definitely wasn’t going to be permanent. After a little bit, he got up again, grabbed the cat food from Hank, and went to the kitchen to get a small plate.
“Yeah, just make yourself at home, why don’t you” he grumbled sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
“Thank you, Lieutenant! I will,” Connor replied, more sincerely than was necessary, telling Hank he was being annoying on purpose. The robot in question paused in the doorway of the kitchen, staring off blankly for a moment before seeming to decide something and starting off down the hallway. Hank sighed and hung his coat up, patting Sumo on the head and then following Connor. He watched as he gently set Daisy down and poured the food out, standing up after. “Watch her for a minute,” Connor told him and walked off.
“What- ok, sure,” as the other walked off, Hank stood staring at the cat. She finished eating and started sitting while gazing up at him, tail flicking across her feet. A minute passed of the two just staring and eventually, Hank sighed, kneeled down where he was, and held his hand out to her. She stood up and started creeping towards him, stopping right in front of him and sniffing his hand. Very soon after, Daisy shoved her head directly into his hand, purring, causing him to freeze. He started petting her softly and scratching under her chin, smiling slightly. “Maybe you’re not so bad cat.”
“So, you do like her!”
Hank shouted as Connor’s very unexpected voice came from behind him. He whipped around and saw the android with another small grin, this one almost smug, and a small bowl full of water. His shoulders sagged and his face fell into his usual scowl as he smacked Connor’s leg. He quickly yanked his hand away after and let out a small hiss of pain. He forgot he was made of hard plastic.
“Oh, shut up! We’re getting rid of her within the week, so there’s no point in getting attached.” He just let out a small laugh and put the water down next to the food.
“Whatever you say, Lieutenant.”
---
A week passed very quickly, and there was no sign of them getting rid of Daisy. Toys and treats were bought for her, and Sumo warmed up to her as well when they were introduced properly. Connor spent a lot of time at Hank’s house playing with her, and Hank himself stood his ground about not wanting her. Despite this, it was a common occurrence for her to be lounging on him, or at least very close to him.
No matter how much Hank threatened or promised to get rid of the cat, he couldn’t force himself to. He liked that Sumo had a friend and, although he didn’t want to admit it, he liked seeing Connor happy. He rarely showed it, so moments when the android let himself enjoy things meant a lot to the older man, he wouldn’t admit it even at gunpoint though. And the cat was very nice to have around, in his opinion. All this to say, he just didn’t want to get rid of Daisy.
And so he didn't, and his small family became one member bigger.