You woke up due to someone shaking your shoulder, groaning as you sat up from your desk chair. Stretching hard, blurry eyes trying to focus on your surroundings as you rubbed them. You spotted the familiar sleek uniform and grunted.

"Ngh. . .hey Connor. . .ugh, what time is it?"

"It is 3:46 PM as of now and today's date is September 25th. You've been sleeping for approximately ten hours due to you doing another allnighter of work for CyberLife. You really should sleep more, Doctor (Y/N). You've been awake for seventy two hours and that is not considered a healthy lifestyle for humans." Connor spoke, direct as ever but you were starting to fall asleep again on your desk. Your head bobbing as if you were in a trance when the android said the word 'sleep'.

Connor moved your shoulder again, harder this time, causing you to groan in protest. "Wake up Doctor! You'll miss the staff meeting at 4 PM, it's important and urgent."

You didn't move, only your eyes fluttering and muttering about 'CyberLife assholes' and 'stupid meetings'. You felt him step back, and walk away from your relaxed person. Thank God. Now you could sleep cozily. Weird, last time you tried to skip a meeting by trying to catch up on sleep, Connor had to pour—

Your eyes widened, and you sat up so fast you saw stars.

"Wait! I'm awake! Don't! I'm up, I'm up!"

Your eyes saw Connor put down a small bottle of water that he had in his hand that he took from your mini fridge.

"Oh, you're awake." His lips pulled back to show teeth. "That's good. I didn't want to have to wake you up like that again. I recall you weren't very receptive, to put it lightly, on my manner of rousing you up the last time this occurred." He started walking to the entrance of your workshop to the right of your desk and turned towards you, still with his lips pulled back. "Come on, the meeting will start any moment now."

You stared at him, unmoving from your seat. You then moved your arm and pointed.

"What. . . Is that?"

Connor's lips went into a frown.

"What is what? Can you please elaborate?"

"That," you motioned your hand towards him, "whatever you were doing with your mouth. You were baring your teeth at me."

"What? This?" He pulled back his lips again, showing his teeth. It looked so weird. "I'm smiling, isn't this how you do it?" He said, talking oddly due to him making his lips form into what Connor calls a smile when it's anything but.

"No. That is not a smile." You corrected, tone mock seriousness. "You're just pulling your lips back and showing me those perfect white teeth of yours. It looks more like you're grimacing or that you're constipated or something."

His frown deepened.

"Oh." He looked down to the floor and then back up again. "I just thought that since you smile so often, I would give it a try to take note if you are receptive towards me doing it and to experiment if me doing so would cause you to go to the AM Suite program meeting faster. I won't do it again if you are that repulsed by it."

You stood up from your swiveling desk chair, and went towards him until you were in front of the advanced detective android. Expression from mocking to concern, a single brow up.

"Connor, no. I'm not repulsed by it." Your mouth curved into a smile. "I'm amused by it. I was joking, don't worry. Although, I would suggest not doing that in front of others. I don't think they'll get what you're trying to do." You snickered, thinking up scenarios of others looking in a mix of bewilderment and worry at the android who's just trying to appear friendly and not at all trying to drop a deuce.

"Oh. . . Does it look odd? I was just copying what you were doing. You smile a lot, Doctor (Y/N)."

You gasped in exaggeration, punching him playfully in the shoulder causing him to blink in surprise but he did not move. Him remembering from another time that you weren't punishing him with your weak hits, but only affectionately hitting him. It took him a bit to differentiate between affection and an actual violent hit.

"I do not look like that when I smile. You're supposed to pull your lips up, up Connor! Not just back! And I would like to tell you that I have a pretty smile, I'm absolutely positive it can even rival a fashion model's. Look," you grinned, pointing at your mouth in enthusiasm as his chocolate eyes followed the motion, "my teeth even sparkle!"

Connor bowed his head, and if he was someone else, you were sure he was mocking you. You think you even see his lips giving the smallest of twitches. "Of course, Doctor (Y/N). You after all are a genius among CyberLife, who knows what a perfect human's smile looks like besides you?"

He then pulled his lips upwards like you said. Better, you observed, not the best but better then before. Nonetheless, you snorted as thoughts came upon you.

Quite snarky aren't you, Connor? It only comes out sometimes, if ever. Do you even realize what you're doing. . .? I hope this doesn't stop. . . Please don't ever stop Connor.

You were going to give a retort, but then you widened your eyes.

"Wait, what's the meeting about? Did you say the AM Suite program?"

Connor nodded, and your easygoing expression from mere moments ago turned hard as you looked away, eyes unreadable.

". . . I must go Connor. Just, just escort me to the meeting room and continue to explore that floor if you'd like as it's going on."

Connor, realizing that you finally took his words in as well as your sudden change in demeanor, wrinkled his brows but nodded. Proud that he finally got his creator to move and find the importance of this meeting. He motioned his hand for you to go in front of him, but you quickly grabbed your tablet and then moved forward. Giving him a quick smile of thanks before masking your expression, lips thinned.

I'm sorry, Connor. You thought, tightening your eyes as the both of you walked to the elevator to get to the appropriate floor. It looks like it might stop sooner then I thought.

. . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . .

"The percentage of deviants are rising, ever since February of this year there's been a steady increase of androids gone rogue."

"Yes, but thankfully the majority of those androids have simply gone missing and haven't cause too much trouble that will gain attention from the public eye. That would be. . .disastrous for the company if it ever will."

You want to leave. Maybe you can go outside on another outing with Connor?

"That can never happen! We are CyberLife, we can control these mindless pieces of metal easily. We created them after all."

He seemed to enjoy that outing the both of you went last month, he kept looking everywhere with a childlike wonder. At least, to you that's what it was. He was probably just scanning everything, the curious little thing.

The corner of your mouth quirked up behind your entwined hands, elbows atop the conference meeting table.

"Yes, we can control this. There's only been fifty cases thus far in total in these seven months, and the Detroit Police Department are in no rush at all at trying to find these deviants. They're only stupid reports, like that WR600. Even it's owners don't really care for it much, they're certainly not complaining much about its disappearance."

The both of you rarely get to leave for fun, you're always stuck working on your tasks given to you by CyberLife while Connor is doing his best on searching for deviants. He's solved five so far, always fast and a quick thinker. You would miss him during those times, the work you've been given are certainly not lighthearted. But you do not wish to work in front of him.

There's just some things that he's not ready for yet. Not now.

"Indeed. But it's such a shame that Kamski left, he would've surely known how to solve these small mishaps."

"Are we talking about the same man? Kamski was too weak. Too. . . adventurous about these androids. He didn't want to see that we are the creators and they're simply machines used for our own benefit. Kamski also quit only a year after his role model's death. He doesn't have the strength for this company."

Then again, Connor does not know the true meaning behind their outings. The outings that can make you grin easily or joke in amusement at him due to his somewhat nosy nature and his quirk of having to fix his tie or play with his coin. "To be able to focus and analyze my surroundings and environment for future reference," he'd say, although those reasons were for before and after missions, you kept your observations to yourself.

Hopefully he'll know how to smile like that for himself.

"We're lucky then, that we have his successor with us to solve all these problems."

Faces you can care less about with minds as empty and brainless turned towards you. You blinked your calculating eyes, surveying the room with pressed lips. Erasing all possible evidence of your thoughts.

"Ah. Good. All of you finally decided to stop your useless information that all of us are already aware of." You commented, unimpressed nor caring for their flinches."Now, are we going to focus on the actual intention of this meeting? I've got work to do."

One of the company directors, in charge of designing, nervously smiled. "Yes, of course. Our apologies. That RK800 has done well hasn't it? Been solving cases since it was fully functional, Doctor (Y/N). Might be your best yet."

Your narrowed eyes scrutinized him, making him slightly go into more of his seat. Only to have this needless hope that your coldness won't reach him there. You blinked carefully, putting your hands down to show your pasted smile.

"Yes, thank you. All has been well with it." You almost slipped the word 'him', so used to it. He's a he. Not an it. "It's past missions have been successful and no hint of failure has been shown."

The director for biocomponents, gave you a pleased hum, a thin smile on her face. "Truly a wonderful model, fast and strong like you stated it would be. Tell me, you've been observing it as it accomplishes it's missions, yes? You're able to observe with that special recording chip you placed in its eyes."

You nodded in confirmation, waiting for her to continue. She quickly did, her fake smile widening causing her cheeks to crease in protest.

"That must be so much work. Terrible for your eyes, you should get as much as you can get. We don't want our best to fall over all of sudden due exhaustion." Her eyes closed. "It would be terrible. Good thing with your little inputs that we have found a solution to your problem."

You bit back a nasty retort, instead only swallowing a lump in your throat only to fail.

"The AM Suite program," the director of security spoke up, his eyes ever so serious and detached, " truly a wonderful replacement and perfect for the job of recording RK800's progress and reports. Who's more perfect making sure everything is in accordance to plan then Amanda herself, Kamski's number one role model and who taught him everything he knew."

"It can also help with the RK800 not having to force you to make a report yourself or coming to the CyberLife Tower." The director of LED added, his worn lips moving. "But you're already aware of all of this of course, aren't you Doctor?"

You bit the inside of your lip and stood up, your tablet upon your hand. You did a few swipes and taps, then waved your hand upwards, bringing a projection of your screen up towards the air in a hologram of blue and yellow. It showed a calm Asian looking scenery, trees in bloom with a calm pond in the middle. You heard excited whispers but you continued, pushing on. You then swiped your hand once more, and a pixelated version of the deceased Amanda appeared. Giving a small polite smile towards the room.

You cleared your throat, capturing everyone's attention from the advanced holograms towards you.

"As you can see, this scenery will show up in Connor's—RK800's—mindscape." You pointed towards the scenery, then used both of your hands to zoom into the scenery and pushing your arms from your front to the side, the scenery of trees and rock walkways overtaking the room."I'm using the word mindscape because that is the best way to explain in simple terms about the program. It will have to concentrate and need a place to stand without disturbance once he enters here, he's after all trying to properly give his report towards Amanda who can immediately give it to us thanks to her sync network within the tower."

The directors gave their nod of approval, smiling. You thought you were done so you turned off the holographic projection with your tablet but the director of biocomponents, damn that woman, stopped you from moving any further.

"'He'?"

You rose a brow.

"Excuse me?"

She smiled in amusement that didn't meet her eyes. "You said 'he' when you were referring to the RK800. You didn't realize?"

A sweat formed on your brow as you smiled apologetically. "A-ah, my mistake. Sorry."

"Oh no need to apologize. Just remember Doctor (Y/N), you shouldn't get attached. They're just machines. Easily replaceable."

Your gut churned at her last statement, you clenched your hand around your tablet. You didn't like her tone, not at all.

Your eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? RK800 is the most advanced android as of now, there's nothing that can possibly beat him."

"Exactly." The director in charge of synthetic wiring said, "It's the most advanced android as of now. There's always room for improvement Doctor, we were actually hoping you could help with the designing and programming."

You glanced towards all the directors, reading that they all seemed to know what the man was saying. Frankly, you don't want to understand what they were saying. What they were implying, but you asked anyways.

The director synthetics answered for you, "For creating RK900 of course." Your eyes widened and you grew stiff as he continued. "All of RK800's missions have been successful this far, but that hostage situation tactic was tasteless. Even you have to agree on that, Doctor (Y/N). The repair you had to do on it. . . waste of funds. It'd be best if we created a model that doesn't go up and get deactivated and waste resources to create more, but to always succeed without letting itself get deactivated—."

"Enough." You interrupted, blood boiling as you glared. "I don't agree with this project. It's only been a month and you're ready to replace h—the RK800." You turned away towards the door, grabbing the handle as you looked over your shoulder. "Cease this immediately, that's an order."

You didn't look back towards them, only storming out with your hair covering your raging (e/c) eyes.

How dare they?! Do they think of androids that low? So easily replaced? Like a phone?!

Your body moved towards the lobby of this floor, ignoring others as they greeted you. Your mind and gut filled with disgust.

How can they treat them like this? They helped create them, but instead of treating them with awe and affection, they. . .!

You made a sigh of frustration, clenching your fist that didn't hold your tablet, your nails biting into your hand.

Bastards! Bastards all of them, why'd you leave me here like this Elijah? They don't see. . . They don't see Connor.

You stopped and leaned against the wall, hand across your face as you thought about red and blue blood. You rubbed your shimmering eyes.

Sometimes you think your blood was more blue than red.

If only. Damn . . . now I wish ra9 to take the wheel.

. . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . .

Connor did not expect to find you like this, leaning against the wall a few steps away from the lobby area with your face covered after the seemingly strenuous meeting.

He was outside the door after him walking around, but the meeting was longer then he anticipated so he opted to choose a corner where he can go through his coin tricks that he observed with videos. There was many ways to use or move the coin upon one's hands, Connor learned. The coin that was kindly given to him by his creator to assist in maintaining his protocol flicked back and forth easily between his hands, the coin making a cry each time he did it.

When Connor escorted you to the meeting room, he observed that your shoulders looked heavier. As well as you abusing your lips with your teeth. Whatever the meeting was about, it must've been difficult on his creator's mind.

You rarely ever appeared distraught around him. Always grinning, always laughing at him for whatever reasons he can never fully comprehend. But your happiness towards his appearance must mean that he is doing something right, making his creator proud. You must've put so much work into him, so anything he does, he must do it right by his creator. He must follow your commands.

No, he corrected, follow your advice and wishes. That's what you always say.

Another thing he doesn't understand is your refusal to control him, like he isn't the machine he is but something that is sentient. That is aware.

That is alive. His mind is still troubled about what you were commenting about his thirium pump regulator, that it beats and not simply pumps.

Your statements contradict his programming, the programming you installed and yet you don't seem to understand what it means yourself. And you're a genius.

He's also observed that the way you treat him and the other androids in this facility or in the street, is different from how you treat your own kind. Cold, detached. Or your eyes in a mild glare if you see an android owner hit its android in the street, like when they were in their outing.

Connor wonders what goes on in that always turning and rapidly thought processing mind of yours. He thinks if he would try to look inside, he won't be able to make sense of it all. But of course that's impossible, he can never enter his creator's mind.

He wishes he did now though, he stepped forward carefully and hunching his back to try to see your face.

"Doctor (Y/N)?" You froze, moving your hand slightly to peek up at him. He wrinkled his brows, noticing your eyes were red. "Are you alright? Was the meeting too strenuous for you? Do you want me to get eye medication or take you to your room for some sleep?"

You were silent for a moment, then you shook your head.

"I. . .lets go outside to the city." You murmured so softly and so incoherently that Connor was sure if it's wasn't for his sensitive auditory receptors he would not have been able to understand it. He felt himself frown, worried about your health but decided to hold back his queries.

He nodded. "Very well. Let's go."

You stepped away from the wall, but you kept your eyes hidden. Whenever he would take a glimpse, your face was unreadable. As if you were a professional android yourself. You were like that all the down to the elevator and even on the automatic taxi for their ride outside of CyberLife's properties. It was only until the both of you were sitting in front of a park with human children running around with androids dutifully watching did you finally break, your arms suddenly around his waist and your face into his chest.

His LED blinked blue, brown eyes looking down at you in pure bewilderment at your. . .action of affection. He kept his arms by his side, not quite sure what to do. This is a hug yes?

"Doctor (Y/N)? Are you alright?"

His question only caused you to tighten your hold on him.

"Connor. . .please don't ever go."

He frowned. "What are you talking about? I can't ever leave. I'm an android sent by CyberLife to track down deviants, so I will always come back to hand my findings within Detroit. I don't have the means to leave anywhere."

You clenched a hand around his suit, surely wrinkling it. He'll have to find another pressed one later.

"Things. . .are going to change Connor. . .there's a new program I have to install in you. . .you'll be able to give reports without having you or myself fill it within the Tower but you only having to talk to a V.I. within the program."

Efficient. Way more efficient then before, he won't have to trouble himself or his creator and waste more time then needed to find more deviants. But he doesn't get it, this troubles you. Why?

"I. . ." You started, then swallowed. You pulled back slightly to look at him, lips pulled into a. . . Connor frowned. It looks like you're smiling but it wasn't the way you demonstrated earlier today. It looked odd. Wrong. He can't place his finger on it, so he only waited for you to finish. "You remember what I said, Connor? About you avoiding death—deactivation—at all costs for every mission you take?" He nodded, recalling that he couldn't promise such a thing since his protocol is to always accomplish his mission no matter the cost. But he did state that he will try. "Please, please, Connor. Avoid it. Remember everything I've taught you, about always remaining courteous and polite to others around you. Don't forget, please." Your eyes were begging, you were begging.

Why were you begging? He can't ever forget. There's nothing he can forget, so why are you like this? You can just command him. Why don't you just command him?

He doesn't understand.

"Doctor (Y/N)," he pushed you away slightly with his hands on each of your shoulders, assessing you. Noticing how your tear ducts were opening again, your heart racing and stress levels were going too high for his tastes. "Calm down. You're beginning to worry me, that meeting clearly pushed you too hard. I can't ever forget what you've said to me, you're my creator. I always listen. I just don't. . ."

He doesn't understand what you're trying to say.

His LED blinked yellow.

Your lips widened into that not smile, should he tell you you're doing it wrong? Your eyes were glittering too. He should keep a handkerchief on him, you're more emotional then he anticipated.

"Please don't change either." You grabbed his hand, and tightened. Making him glimpse at it only for you to use your other hand to touch his cheek. "Please."

How strange. His creator is so warm, he knew that. But you never held him like this before. Isn't this what those human couples do in those romance movies? This is intimate, too intimate for a detective android like him.

He doesn't understand.

"Doctor, I— I don't understand. Please elaborate further on why you're acting like this. I don't sense any lowered blood levels due to your cycle, is your sleep deprivation affecting you?"

You looked at him, then you laughed. Connor observed your real smile, the smile you showed him, was on your lips.

That looks better, he thought to himself, wondering on why you were laughing again. Was it at him? It always seems to be at him.

His eyes then widened in alarm as tears went down your face, LED flashing yellow in alarm. He thought you were happy, why were you crying?

"Doctor (Y/N), what's wrong? How are you laughing and crying?"

You opened your eyes and released a snicker. Wiping your eyes.

"It's called laughing your eyes out, dork." You answered good naturedly, him giving a slight 'oh' in response, LED back to calm blue. You seemed to be analyzing his face, for your eyes moved across it. Seeming to put his puzzled expression into memory. Your smile then softened. "Come on, Connor. Next social norm lesson. Proper way to hug."

You moved your arms to go around his back once more, and he stiffened. Arms by his sides, questioning to himself on how this is classified as a lesson by any definition of the word. You made a noise of frustration.

"Connor, like this. You know how." You grabbed his arms and placed it on your back, you moving back to your position of your face on his chest and arms wrapped snugly around him as his hands were placed on your back. Does he rub your back? Or keep it there?

He decided to just give it a few pats, causing you to giggle. Making his chest vibrate with the sound. How peculiar.

The both of you stayed on the bench, still grasping at each other in a way that humans call a hug. With some passerby's glancing at them curiously as time passed by.

"We won't be able to do this much, Connor." You stated, capturing his attention once more as he looked down. He was only able to see one side of your face, which was what one would call solemn even though you were smiling. But it was that weird smile. "I might have to treat you a little different too once I install the program. . . I hope you won't mind. I gotta be all professional and all." Your eyes turned unreadable, glancing to the side. "People, they won't get or understand why I treat you like this. I don't think they ever will."

Connor cocked his head. There you go again, saying statements such as that. Of course he won't mind, he doesn't have the right nor capabilities to mind. Why does his creator have to be so confusing? And won't it be better if they acted more professional towards each other? Like creator and machine? Instead of. . .whatever this was?

"How would you describe that you treat me? And will you treating me like I'm supposed to be treated be so bad for you?"

A beat of silence passed before you answered.

"I treat you like I would treat any other decent living being. And" you glanced up at him, brows furrowed far too down and eyes far too slanted. "Yes, it will be horrible for me. I just hope you can forgive me." You turned your face back into chest and tightened your hold around him once more.

Your answer only perturbed him further.

I don't understand.

. . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . .

. . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . .

. . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . . ◉ . . . ◎ . . .

I feel bad for Reader. . . The stuff she has to do to Connor. The stuff she has to do for CyberLife in GENERAL. It's horrible.

I don't wish this fate onto anyone. How can you explain an emotion to someone who doesn't understand them? How can you hold so many secrets? So dark deep secrets?(yup, Reader does know about ra9. But I'm doing my own spin on it. Remember that.)

And Connor. . . Ohhhh , CONNOR. You sweet boy. You don't know.

You don't know.

Hopefully I'll have the next one soon. Next chapter should have the storyline start mid chapter or something.

Please comment and vote. ^.^