Despite everything that Connor had gone through over the past several months with the android revolution, his own succumbrance to deviancy, and several near death experiences, he had never felt as alive as he did once he became a real detective. Entering the DPD station as not just an android sent from Cyber Life but a full fledged member of the Detroit Police Department. Captain Fowler, with Franks persuasion of course, had offered him a position on the force. Seeing as androids now had rights and the freedom to have a job of their choice he said it would only make sense for an android originally made to assist in police investigations to continue to do so. It had filled Connor with so much pride to hear Hank call him "Detective Anderson" and present him with his own Badge and ID as soon as he'd exited Fowler's office. Hank had laughed and patted him on the back explaining that it would have been embarrassing if he had turned down the offer, and that he had planned on guilt tripping him into accepting it either way.

Which wouldn't have been hard considering Connor felt like he owed everything to Hank. The man had gone from a obstacle in a case to a father figure in such a short time, even taking him into his home and giving him his own identity once he was officially a citizen and no longer property of cyber life. At first Hank had joked to him that giving him his last name was solely to pass along any orders sent "Detective Anderson's" way but after seeing that Connor hadn't full gotten the joke just admitted that since he was like a son to him it only made sense that family shared a last name. Connor always knew the lieutenant had to have a soft side deep down somewhere, the probability of it skyrocketing when he had met Sumo the detectives well loved pet.

Still just being able to walk side by side into the office and reclaim his desk as "Detective Connor" and not just "Lieutenant Andersons Android" filled him with too many emotions for him to properly sort through. They were new and exciting as well for him. Ever since he had fully released himself to his deviancy and accessed his programming to activate more "human" software he found himself experiencing his everyday life in all new ways. He could now feel the actual temperature around him, not just know the exact degree. He would never have to worry about hypothermia or heat exhaustion but he could appreciate the warmth of the sun on his face or the chill of the wind against his back. He just felt so alive.

There are of course some negatives he had found to unlocking these systems. He no longer had much control over his composure. Human emotions could be so sudden and confusing to him, just the other day he experienced a phenomenon that Hank described as "road rage". While it had been quite hilarious to the detective Connor had been left with a knot like feeling in his stomach, a head ache, and itchy hands. His stress levels had significantly shot up during the incident and left him angry and confused once it was over. Logically he knew he had fed off of the other angry drivers emotions and briefly let himself be swayed by their emotions but deep down he felt disappointed with himself. He was very used to and happy with being his usual calm and collected self, diverging from that norm was uncomfortable to say the least.

When he voiced this to Hank afterwards the detective had only shrugged and told him that that was life, and not to get so bothered most humans have little control of their emotions and they've had them their whole life. He was still new to the concept, and just needed to experience them more to understand where they come from and how to manage them.

He was encouraged to seek out the cause of feelings he didn't yet understand and expose himself to that same feeling until he better understood it. So that's what he was doing, taking walks in the rain, offering to drive during rush hour, and subjecting himself to "heart wrenching oldies" at home. By far watching the films had provided him the most insight into human emotion. One about a pair of lost pets journeying to find their master actually brought tears to his eyes. Perhaps it had to do with Sumo's cuddly presence in his lap at the time but nevertheless he thoroughly enjoyed them.

He was drawn out of his introspection by a ball of paper hitting the back of his head. Without having to turn around he knew from the trajectory and speed that it had come from the area surrounding detective Reed's desk. Despite his promotion to citizen and detective the mans view of him as a mindless machine hadn't changed in the slightest. If anything the promotion caused more contempt to be aimed his way. Reed was very vocal about his displeasure at Connors continued employment with the department, using it to further his argument that androids would have them all out of jobs in no time.

Ironically despite his own desire to avoid and ignore the detective as much as possible Connor found that Reed greatly affected him. The man was able to stir up emotion in Connor much easier than even the films did. A lot of them were still unknown to him as well, just the sight of the moody detective gave him a strange fluttering feeling where his stomach should be. In the few times the detective had gotten in his face since his deviancy he had found his hands itching the same way they did when he was sitting in traffic with that angry driver. Of course Hank's advice to expose himself to these feelings over and over hung heavy on his mind. On one hand he wanted to figure out what exactly they were, on the other hand he was not eager to expose himself to the other detectives moods.

After a few more weeks of easing himself into his new permanent position in the department and the freedom that came with being given his first and sole case to solve he felt more confident in facing his problem with detective Reed headon. It seemed that the time he had allowed to pass had helped the detective to settle down and accept his role on the force. While he was still rude and dismissive of Connor he had at least lightened up on the harassment and opted to mostly ignore his presence to focus on his own cases.

Connor was reading an article in the break room when Detective Reed came in with a sour expression. Connor glanced up at him and noted immediately that the detective looked visibly uncomfortable and remained in the doorway.

"Alright Plastic, listen up. Apparently your closure rates have convinced fuckwad Fowler that I'm doing a shit job, I mean forget that I actually worked my ass off to get this job and have been working it for years and wasn't just assembled on a fucking assembly line barely a YEAR ago-"

"Actually Detective my model of android isn't mass produced on-"

"I don't give a fuck where or how your nuts and bolts were put together!" Reed pushed into the room now and slammed his hands onto the table Connor was sat at. "The bottom line is you're making me look BAD, you stupid fucking machine! All of you goddamn machines just seem to want to ruin my life. Every day it's another stupid call to a scene over you pricks getting your feelings hurt. Boohoo, I don't care how many laws they pass you metal fuckers aren't anything like us."

There it was again the knot like feeling in his chest, Connor tried his best to keep his expression neutral like every other time the detective chose to come vent his frustrations. From this distance he could easily see the flush on Reed's face, could see the tiny veins starting to appear from how much he was straining himself to retain such a agitated expression. Mentally he noted that there was a 85% chance of physical altercation were he to provoke the detective at all.

Of course since his awakening Connor had found some enjoyment in standing his own ground.

"As you are well aware detective the Equality Act along with several other laws, that I'm more than happy to list of for you were altered last year to include androids such as myself. While yes freedom of speech is still protected under the first amendment and you are free to voice your displeasure with my kind, as a police officer you are required to put aside any bias you have to ensure that any crime committed against another citizen is appropriately-" His monotonous dialogue was cut short by the detective grabbing him by his jacket and forcing him into the counter behind them. His commitment to remaining blank faced had admittedly been broken by the action.

"FUCK YOU, YOU USELESS PIECE OF PLASTIC!"Now he could really see the veins in detective Reeds forehead, at this position he could even faintly hear the mans heart pounding hard in his chest. He knew that the detective was just looking for a reaction, any excuse to take another swing at him. He could feel his own thirium pump beating fast, simulating adrenaline and making his hands itch once more.

"Is there any particular reason you sought out my presence detective? Perhaps the Captain requires my assistance on one of those Android related cases of yours?"He did his best to try and sound just as calm and collected as earlier, it came of more breathless than he would have liked. They met eyes for a moment, Connor finding some interest in their grayish blue color, this close he could see the flecks of more green and blue hues. Human eyes always intrigued him, they were so much more unique in comparison to android eyes. Open to the variables of genes and not just human design, some were as unique as a fingerprint. Hands tightening in his jacket drew him from his previous thought. He watched Reed chew his lip and contemplate his next move.

78% chance of physical violence, 20% chance of a verbal outburst, chance of compromise 2%.

Reed shoved him into the counter once more before releasing him and turning to leave. "Plastic prick" being muttered under his breath.

Connor took a moment to straighten out his jacket before leaving the room and heading straight to the Captain's office.

Fowler glanced up from the files on his desk and waved him inside. "I presume you spoke with detective Reed?"

"In a way, sir. I was hoping you could give me a more detailed explanation on what is going on?"

Fowler sat back and gestured to the folders on his desk. "It's nothing huge, just a series of android assaults in the city, going off of the descriptions given of the suspect and similarity in crime we believe it's primarily the work of one man. Now surely I don't need to explain to you why allowing this asshole to continue his spree would be bad for the department."

Connor nodded. "Due to the overwhelmingly supportive public opinion towards androids we wouldn't want the department to come off as indifferent or biased still. That could potentially lead to public outrage and concern for your position of running the DPD."

This made the captain smile. "Exactly, you get it. Reed however couldn't care less about putting in an actual effort to catch this guy. We have so many new cases coming in everyday that all my other guys have full caseloads, I've been trying to work with the prick and give him as few android related cases as I can but it's becoming too much of a hassle." Connor nodded in agreement as his eyes scanned over the reports in front of him.

Suspect is a human male with a light complexion , height between 5"8 and 5"10, dark hair, brown eyes, and no identifiable marks except a small tattoo on his left bicep.

The detective clapped his hands together. "So I've come up with a solution that not only will solve this case but hopefully...enlighten detective Reed to the positive side of working alongside our fellow android citizens. As of today you and detective Reed will be partners, I've already sent word to Hank on the situation and Miller is going to assist him on his current case. I'm confident you'll be able to reign in the detective and solve the case in a timely fashion."

Connor wasn't excited about this development, nevertheless he smiled at the captain and agreed. "I'll do my best."

Stepping out of the captains office he immediately found Hank looking over at him and couldn't help but walk over and ask for advice.

"By the look on your face I'm guessing Fowler gave you your new assignment."Hank chuckled and Connor raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Is my displeasure really that obvious?"

The older man shrugged. "I don't think anyone takes any pleasure in working with Reed, he's an arrogant asshole. Especially to you" Smiling he slapped Connor on the shoulder. "Cheer up son, at least he's a good detective, the two of you should have this case solved in no time. Heck if you're really lucky maybe you'll even be able to convince him to pull that stick out of his ass."

"I highly doubt working together will have any effect on detective Reeds opinion on androids, if anything it's statistically more likely to further his dislike of us. He's already voiced that he feels that I'm making him 'look bad' and… and he's just a.."

"Prick."

Connor sighed and took his seat at his desk, his LED was spinning and flashing yellow. If he could get a headache this is probably what it would feel like.

Across from him Hank just reassured him. "Cmon Connor don't let the asshole know he's getting to ya, think of it as a right of passage here in the department. Eventually we all had to work a case or two with him. Hell use it as a chance to finally shut the asshole up, he wants to constantly complain about how androids are useless and inferior or whatever, so catch the fucking bad guy. Then rub it in the pricks face how a 'machine' just waltzed in and solved his case in a 1/4th of the time he wasted on it."

Nodding in agreement Connor abruptly stood up and started to straighten out his clothes once more, even adjusted his tie. Hank cheered him on from his chair. "Now go over there and knock him dead kid."

Losing his composure Connor gave Hank a slightly panicked look. "I-I'm not hoping to murder him Lieutenant, that would be an offense punishable by deactivation! I merely want….want him to.."

"Shut the fuck up?"

"Not the wording I would prefer to use, but yes. And to treat me as a fellow officer."

The lieutenant smiled at him and shooed at him with his hand. "You'll do fine son, just promise me one thing, if you get the chance, please give that fucker a good sucker punch."

"Alright! I can't promise things will resort to physical violence but I'll be sure to keep your advice in mind!" One more nervous tie straighten and Connor was on his way over to Detective Reeds desk. Once he was close enough he noticed headphones in the other man's ears and was unsure how to proceed. Tapping him on the shoulder would most likely set the man off, so would plucking them from his ears, but waiting around silently until noticed could potentially come off 'creepy' as Miller had once told him, he could possibly email the detective since he WAS currently browsing his computer. In the current situation emailing seemed like the most reasonable option.

"...what..the fuck?"the detective mumbled to himself before slowly turning around and slightly jumping when he finally saw Connor. Just standing a few feet behind him.

"Jesus Fucking Christ plastic!"

"Ah! Detective! I'm glad you've finished listening to your playlist, Captain Fowler has informed me that until the current case of assaults against androids are solved we are to be partners, I'm looking forward to our working together and hope that-"

Reed cut him off. "How long were you just standing there? And HOW the hell do you know what I was doing?"

Slightly annoyed Connor sighed. "I very clearly emailed you as soon as I had realized you were busy, that seemed like the most appropriate way to get your attention."

It was the detectives turn to sigh and put his face in his hands. "Fowler isn't paying me enough to have to deal with a stupid machine all day."

Opting to ignore the detectives melodrama Connor continued on. "As I was saying, I hope that this experience can be a good stepping stone in building a mutual respect for one another. I would also like to suggest allowing me to reinterview one or two of the victims and see if I could possibly link with them to get a better glance at our suspect and how the crime was committed."

Reed peered up at him through his hands and Connor felt a unfamiliar flip flopping in his stomach. There was a moment of silence before the detective finally spoke. "Fine. As much as I highly doubt you'll be able to scrounge up any more evidence than I already have, I could use a bite to eat anyway."

With that he got up from his chair and pulled on his jacket. Connor made a confused face but followed after him anyway. "I really would like to interview them as soon as possible, could we stop for food afterwards?"

"If you had bothered to read any of the files you'd know one of the androids attacked works at a burger joint, I'll grab my lunch while you sync up with your metal buddy or whatever the hell you fucks do." Reed sighed and hit the button for the elevator. "Just don't embarrass me plastic. And don't get the wrong idea, we're not gonna become best butt buddies like you and Anderson. No hair braiding, late night chats, or whatever gay shit you too probably get up to. This is solely so fucking Fowler doesn't write me up for insubordination..again"

Notes:

So this is my first fic for Detroit, obviously, but also my first proper published fanfiction in over 5+ years so I'm gonna be a bit rusty here but I am very excited to get back into the community and hear your feedback! I've got a baby so I can't guarantee a update schedule but I'm already starting chapter 2 so if you like it so far please let me know!
Also I'm going off of let's plays I've seen and haven't gotten to play the game yet so I apologize if I get anything incorrect.
Also this is completely written on an iPad and not beta'd so sorry for mistakes!
Thank you!