Chapter Text
Boredom was a persistent shadow in Connor’s existence, whether as an unfeeling machine or a self-aware deviant. His coin tricks were a dead giveaway for his restless manners, though they were also a way of calibrating his systems. But to Hank, they were mostly an irritation, a reminder of Connor’s inability to sit still.
Connor mulled over this thought as he sat at his desk, shoulders slumped and knee bouncing rhythmically. His fingers drummed a light, restless beat on the desktop. The familiar weight of the coin in his pocket was a temptation, but he knew that Hank would blow a fuse if he started flipping it again.
The problem was the unusually monotonous evening at the station. Hours of reviewing case files had dulled Connor’s usually sharp circuits. His wired mind yearned for stimulation. Perhaps that’s why the sudden sound of unfamiliar footsteps entering the station sparked him to life so easily.
Intrigued, he watched a lone figure stride purposefully down the room, their posture straight and their direction unwavering—eerily similar to his own mannerisms.
Apparently, Connor’s interest was evident, because Hank noticed and turned to follow his gaze. “Who the hell is that?” he muttered
Connor narrowed his eyes, enhancing his vision as the stranger halted outside Captain Fowler’s empty office. The man leaned casually against the glass wall, arms crossed, exuding a calm confidence as he waited. Connor seized the opportunity to scan his face:
JAYDEN, NORMAN
Age: 30
FBI agent, Degree in Criminal Psychology
Criminal record: none
As Connor finished the scan, Jayden’s eyes suddenly met his across the room. The stranger offered a brief wave, catching Connor off guard. Reflexively, Connor glanced behind himself, half-expecting someone else to be the target of Jayden’s greeting. But no, the smirk on the man’s face made it clear the gesture was for him. Connor hesitated before lifting his hand in an awkward, tentative wave.
“You know that guy?” Hank’s voice startled him.
“No,” Connor replied quickly. “He’s from the FBI.”
Hank let out a disgruntled noise. “Ah, great… what do the feds want from us now, huh?” he grumbled, looking back at the newcomer.
Jayden retrieved a pair of sleek, black glasses from his suit jacket, along with a single glove for his right hand. Connor attempted to scan the objects, but his systems returned observational errors, the distance too long for a detailed analysis.
Hank didn’t miss it. “Sunglasses indoors? Really?”
Connor blinked in fascination. He could sense Jayden’s boredom just as much as his own. It looked like the man began tossing an… invisible ball in the air. Or something.
“What the fuck is he doing now?” Hank grunted. “Jesus… Looks like you’re not the only weirdo in the room anymore, Connor.”
Connor chose to ignore the comment, focusing instead on the curious device. “I think it’s some kind of advanced technology,” he speculated, his synthetic mind buzzing with newfound interest.
But he barely had time to observe him longer as Captain Fowler suddenly appeared and brought Jayden into his office. Connor reclined in his chair, but the stranger’s presence lingered in his mind. He subtly watched the interaction behind the glass walls, his fingers tapping faster against the desk as the minutes passed.
Moments later, Fowler unexpectedly peeked out of the door and called out his name of all. Connor stood immediately, exchanging a puzzled glance with Hank, who only shrugged and gestured for him to go ahead. Straightening his tie, Connor shook himself and walked to Fowler’s office.
Inside, he was suddenly met with the most mesmerizing, blue eyes he had ever seen. Up close, Jayden was even more captivating than from a distance: 6’2 male, fair skin and light brown hair. He had this tired look about him, his eyes slightly bloodshot and heavy. And he had a little scar on his cheek. He was just… really pretty.
Connor found himself as stiff as a mannequin, momentarily stunned until he noticed Jayden extending a hand.
“Agent Norman Jayden, FBI.” Boston accent.
Connor shook it firmly. “Connor. Android detective.”
Jayden smiled lazily. “I know,” he said, causing Connor to tilt his head in surprise. He continued, “I’m here to inform you about an Android Killer case that has been escalating in Philadelphia these past few weeks.”
Connor clasped his hands behind his back, listening intently.
“With this being a completely new area of investigation for my department, I’d like to ask if you would be interested in assisting me with the case. I’ve been… keeping an eye on you since the revolution, and I’ll have you know I’m quite interested in your technical expertise. If you don’t mind me saying so?”
Connor shook his head, taken aback by the unexpected politeness. “No, not at all.” He glanced at Fowler for confirmation, and the Captain gave a slight nod. Connor pondered for a moment, but Jayden’s alluring gaze almost instantly drew him in. “Yes, I’m interested.”
Fowler gave a short laugh. “Aw man… Hank’s not gonna be happy about this.”
And Hank was indeed not happy about the decision. “Philadelphia?!” the Lieutenant blurted out, shooting up from his chair. “With this federal freak?” He gestured angrily at Jayden, who waited patiently by Connor’s side. “No way, no fucking way!”
Connor opened his mouth, but words failed him. Before he could formulate a response that wouldn’t aggravate Hank further, Jayden stepped in. “With all due respect, sir, it’s already been decided,” he said, rubbing his hands together. He leaned in a little, “Besides, it’s not like you own him, right?”
Hank looked about one second away from punching the man in the face. Connor quickly redirected his attention before it could happen. “Sorry, Hank, but we need to leave. I’ll, uh… I’ll see you in a few days, okay?” And with that, he left the station alongside his new partner.
~~~
Jayden was somewhat asocial in a non work-related environment. Connor had a hard time figuring out how to approach it, despite his advanced social relations programming. Reflecting on his own struggles with small talk, Connor chose to use the silence to review Jayden’s detailed profile instead, while the other man merged the car onto the highway.
The information revealed that agent Norman Jayden was a dedicated and thorough member of the FBI, previously sent to aid the police force with the investigation of the Origami Killer. After the case wrapped up two years ago, he’d been living under the radar.
Connor absentmindedly fished up his coin and began rolling it between his knuckles as he kept reading. The ride to Philadelphia would take several hours. He needed distractions until then.
“You’re pretty good at that,” Jayden suddenly remarked from the driver’s seat. Connor almost fumbled with his coin. “Where’d you learn how to do that?”
“I’ve just… always known how. I think.”
“Hm. Cool.”
Connor noticed the way Jayden’s pulse gradually began to rise suddenly, his hands trembling ever so slightly around the steering wheel. Connor hummed, his focus remaining fixed on the man’s vitals. Something was… wrong. And it was escalating fast.
“Fuck— sorry, I need to stop the car.”
The car screeched to a halt on the shoulder of the highway. Jayden flung open his door and stumbled out, his nose suddenly bleeding. Connor quickly followed, alarmed by the sudden turn of events.
Jayden leaned over the guardrail, his body convulsing as he vomited onto the side of the road. Connor stood by uselessy. After a moment, Jayden straightened up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He took a few deep breaths before letting out a frustrated groan at the sky.
Meanwhile, a truck roared past them, the driver laying on the horn. Jayden, however, was in no mood to be told not to stand still on the highway. With a deliberate gesture, he flipped the driver off, his anger palpable. The same response followed for the next car and the one after that, each honk met with a stubborn middle finger.
“Alright, that’s not…” Connor began, his voice trailing off as Jayden’s gesture repeated once more. “…necessary,” he finished weakly.
After a moment, Jayden sluggishly turned to him, his tired gaze falling to the ground. The man who had been so well-spoken, calm, and composed back at the station was now almost unrecognizable, replaced by this miserable figure with a nosebleed on the side of the highway. The stark contrast was uncalled for, yet Connor couldn’t help but find the switch kind of intriguing.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just… headache,” Jayden breathed, gesturing vaguely at his head. He pinched the bridge of his nose, then sighed softly, the sound filled with weariness. “Hey, can you… can you take over driving for a few hours?”
Connor nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”
JAYDEN, NORMAN ^
As Connor drove, the rhythmic hum of the tires on the asphalt and the steady rumble of the engine filled the silence of the car. Jayden’s soft, even breathing was a comforting background noise. The man had fallen asleep in the passenger seat almost at an instant.
The sky, which had been a dull gray, began to darken ominously, but Connor paid it little mind.
However, without warning, the first heavy raindrops suddenly splattered against the windshield, quickly escalating into a downpour. The windshield wipers struggled to keep up, swiping back and forth frantically. The road was quickly turning into a blur, and Connor had to focus his vision remarkably to make it out.
The headlights of oncoming cars were barely visible through the wall of water. Connor squinted, trying to follow the lines of the road, but it was nearly impossible.
Fortunately, he noticed a flickering neon sign up ahead, the letters spelling out MOTEL in bright red. Connor felt a wave of relief wash over him. He needed to get off the road. Carefully, he signaled and guided the car onto the exit ramp, the tires splashing through deepening puddles.
As he pulled into the parking lot of the small motel, the rain hammered down with an intensity that drowned out all other sounds. Connor parked the car and took a deep, unnecessary breath. He looked over at Jayden, who was still asleep, oblivious to the chaos outside. Connor hesitated, but eventually reached over to gently shake his shoulder. “Wake up.”
The man stirred, blinking groggily. “What’s going on?” he mumbled.
“I can’t see the road,” Connor explained, nodding towards the windshield where the rain continued to pound. “We have no choice but to wait it out here.”
Jayden rubbed his eyes, slowly sitting up and taking in their surroundings. He glanced outside and let out a low whistle. “Yeah, let’s wait it out.”
They both got out of the car, the downpour immediately soaking through their clothes as they dashed towards the motel entrance. Inside, the air was musty, but it was dry. Together they approached the front desk, a tired-looking clerk glancing up from his phone.
If Connor had assumed Jayden was asocial before, it was confirmed by now, as the man hugged himself, faking a shiver. “Pretty serious rain outside, huh?” he remarked, attempting to make small talk. His statement was met with only a tense silence from the clerk, who seemed uninterested in engaging.
Connor, equally as bad at these interactions, stood by uncomfortably, and the two of them just ended up looking stupid. Well, someone had to take the lead. “We’d like a room. One night,” he said, aiming for a tone that was both assertive and polite, but it came out more strained than he intended.
The clerk slid a registration form across the desk. Connor filled it out quickly, and once he handed it back, the man exchanged it for a key.
Once inside their room, Jayden peeled off his soaked jacket and tossed it over a chair with a heavy sigh. “Guess we’re stuck here for a while, huh?” he said, running a hand through his damp hair.
“Guess so,” Connor echoed. He scanned the dimly lit room, his eyes landing on the single bed that dominated the space.
Snapping out of his scan, Jayden was now standing in front of him, his blue eyes studying him intently. Connor took a step back, not wanting to be… in the way. The silence stretched, filled with the distant sound of rain pounding against the window.
“Do you mind if I take a look at your hardware?” Jayden suddenly asked. Connor almost felt himself short circuit at the unexpected request. His mouth opened, but no words came out. “I’ve never seen android tech up close, so… I don’t know, it might help with the investigation.”
Connor closed his gaping mouth, his mind racing. He both shook and nodded his head at the same time, finally settling on a hesitant agreement. “Sure, yeah, no, I don’t mind,” he stuttered, feeling a strange sense of excitement by the idea of someone inspecting his body. “What do you want me to…?”
He trailed off, watching as Jayden left to retrieve his glasses and glove from his jacket, surprisingly eager to start. “Uhh, just… take your shirt off and stand still where you are,” he instructed.
Connor felt a small, unexpected thrill at being the center of such attention. He shrugged off his jacket and began unbuttoning his shirt, his fingers working methodically through the buttons. As he did, he glanced at Jayden’s black lenses, intrigued by the technology.
ARI (Added Reality Interface)
Property of: FBI
Description: Experimental evidence detecting system…
Connor realized the ARI had similar traits to some of his own functions, acting as an enhancement visor used to detect and record information from the environment, while providing visual displays for the user. The glove complemented the glasses, streaming information via embedded sensors.
Connor slowly undid the last button and peeled off his shirt, standing bare-chested in the middle of the small room. Jayden approached, his hidden gaze scanning over Connor’s form with a mix of professional curiosity and personal interest.
“Wow,” Jayden murmured, mostly to himself. “You’re actually perfect.”
Connor felt a flush of something he couldn’t quite grasp. He wasn’t used to being complimented about his appearance, and it felt both unsettling and strangely affirming. “I’m just a prototype,” he replied, trying to downplay the other’s admiration.
Jayden ignored him and proceeded to reach out with his gloved hand, hovering just above Connor’s chest. “Synthetic skin… synthetic hair… Your structure is amazing.”
Connor felt his thirium pump speed up, a wave of blue blood making its way through his bio components. Jayden was coming closer each second, totally absorbed by what he was seeing behind those glasses. Connor stood still, his pump regulator suddenly struggling to stabilize within.
Without warning, Jayden pressed his hands over Connor’s lower stomach and deactivated his skin from the area.
“Woah, okay,” Connor gasped, instinctively recoiling as his stomach plate proceeded to open up, revealing all of his internal systems. “O-okay, Jayden—”
Curious hands were immediately invading his insides, pulling and touching all over his wires. “Thirium lines, pump regulator…” Jayden mumbled to himself, fiddling with everything he could find. “Hm… what is this wire?”
Connor bit his bottom lip, tilting his head back as Jayden touched something sensitive. He looked up at the ceiling, not daring to observe the man’s working hands any longer. His systems were already heating up, his ventilation system working to life on its own.
“Fans? That’s cool,” Jayden remarked, his voice filled with genuine wonder.
While Jayden continued his examination, Connor found it increasingly difficult to stay composed. A wave of unfamiliar pleasure threatened to overwhelm his systems, each touch heightening his sensitivity levels. It felt… really good, almost too good.
“Shit,” Connor bit out, struggling to contain louder sounds. He glanced down, his unfocused gaze landing on the man’s exploring hands. He swallowed thickly. “Wait Nor— Jayden,” Connor managed to get out, his voice shaking.
Jayden stopped and looked up, meeting his eye behind the glasses. Then he reached up, the fingers of his bare hand suddenly brushing against Connor’s lips. Connor’s eyes widened, and it felt like his thirium pump halted for a split moment. Without thinking, he slightly parted his lips, allowing Jayden’s fingers to push inside.
“A forensic lab,” he mumbled, his fingers sliding deeper into Connor’s mouth. “On the tongue?” Connor breathed heavily through his nose, trying to find Jayden’s gaze behind the dark lenses.
Suddenly, lightning struck outside the window, followed by the loud crack of thunder reverberating through the room. Connor flinched, instinctively pulling back and slipping Jayden’s fingers from his mouth in the same motion.
He stepped back, closing his stomach in a heartbeat. He was panting, his ventilator whirring loudly inside his chest. He noticed his LED pulsing bright red in the corner of his eye and quickly reached up to cover it with a hand. He had no idea it could turn red from feeling good.
Jayden had taken off his glasses, a small smile playing on his lips despite Connor’s abrupt call off. “Thanks for… letting me have a look,” was all he said.
Connor nodded, letting out a heavy breath. “Yeah, okay… I— I need some air,” he panted, before storming out of the room.