"Uhhhh..?" A confused man, seemingly in his mid 60s or late 50s, looked back at the two androids at his door step with tired and slightly annoyed eyes. He recognized one of them, of course he did. It took him a second, but when he did, a faint smile formed on his face.

"Markus. What's with that one?" He said, pointing at Conan with a lazy motion.

"That's Conan, Connor said he's welcome to stay here for the night while I get him registered and stuff, I thought you'd be-"

"Connor, you lil shit, come here!" Hank yelled out.

"COMING!"

In seconds, Connor was right behind his old man, not in his uniform, nor in his "normie" clothes. Just some worn out house clothes.

"You decided we're a shelter now for dudes with your face?"

"Oh come on! He's my younger brother!"

"Younger brother- goddamnit Connor, I didn't sign up fo-

"Come oooooooon!"

"Whatever. Come in Markus, Conan. Is that made on purpose? Connor? Conan?"

Markus smiled awkward, walking into the house.

"Conan," Markus said, causing the android to stop and look at him, "I'll leave now. I'm not sure if I'll come back any time soon, I'll visit you some day, not now though. But if you ever need anything, you have my number, okay?"

"Okay Markus." He replied, somewhat coldly.

"I'll register you at the local police station as an assistant in investigations for now."

"Oki doki, goodnight Markus!" Connor said smiling at the android in front of him, reaching out an arm to meet his in a hold. The handshake lasted just a few seconds, and Conan knew that no solid information would be exchanged in the time, so what was the point? Some sort of.. sentimental value? A gesture?

"Goodnight Connor, night Hank. Thank you for taking him in. It's one night, after that he can stay in the office."

"Ah, whatever, don't want the kid to sit there all alone, he can stay with us as long as he pleases." Hank spoke from the kitchen as Markus waved and walked away awkwardly, not knowing exactly what to say. Connor shut the door and was about to turn around, when,

"Do you think they'll like me?" Conan spoke from behind him, slightly startling him, but he turned around with a warm smile anyway.

"Most will, other's are a bit put of buy even me for now, so I can't guarantee much. What matters is, I've got your back kid."

"Kid.." Conan shrugged, looking down in hesitation, "thing is - I really want this job. But I have no idea how to communicate with humans and .. what if they're mean? What if they just wanna shoot me in the head first thing in the morning for fun? I don't know, Markus kinda scared the living shit out of me with his warnings in the car so now I'm just-"

"Yeah, I get what you mean, but for example Hank - he highly disliked me when he first met. Hiiiighly. But he was willing to be open minded and stuff, but there are people in the office who're just filled with hatred... so you still have to be as safe as possible, Conan. "

Conan, who was now sitting in the armchair, sank deeper and deeper into it, anxiety starting to run cold in him. Anxiety. New emotion registered. Software- software what? Stability? Instability? Huh?

"So you're my little brother now?" Connor spoke again, trying his best to break the awkward silence.

"I guess I am, technically."

"I'm gonna be honest with you. One part of me really wants to jam your head into the wall and give you sum 28 stab wounds," Conan's eyes widened, his thicker eyebrows forming into a fearful expression, "and another part of me wants to hug you and protect you from everyone and everything."

Conan let out a sigh of relief and Hank chuckled, opening the fridge and grumpily scoffing,

"In my days, we called that bipolar disorder, Connor."

"In my days, we call that brotherly rivalry, Hank."

"Sure. I'm gonna go sleep now, don't make too much noise trying to kill each other please." Hank said, a slice of old pizza in one hand and closing the fridge door with the other.

"Goodnight sir, have a nice one with that pizza." Connor chuckled, his teasing tone showing emotional connection to Conan. He really was bonded with him.

"I get more action than you!" Could he heard down the hallway.

Connor walked over and sat next to Conan.

The silence made it ever so awkward, hearing Sumo's heavy snoring and clock ticking added pressure onto it all.

"So uh... I'm going into sleep mode at night, you can do that too."

"I mean I was born literally today, but that doesn't mean I don't know my basic functions." Conan said, smiling for what seemed like the first time.

The drive here with Markus was filled with deep philosophical ideas, a rundown of recent events and at least 30 minutes of 'Simon this', 'Simon that'. He didn't talk much, but Markus seemed to be doing what his program told him is "ranting". He didn't really know why he relied on his program so much. He was supposed to be a deviant now, right? He wasn't supposed to be a .. robot, anymore. He had feelings, sure, but everything seemed perfectly programmed in him. He knew he was deviant, yet some part of him felt locked back into his mission. Which is weird, because his mission was freedom. And how is he ever going to reach that, if he has to reach it. All those thoughts ran wild in him, just because he smiled. He smiled.

"Sure thing. Imma go now, okay?"

"Alright."

"Night, my kid brother."

"Night, oldie."

'Where did that come from?' was Conan's last thoughts, we he zoned out on the couch.