System_task_priority01_protect_hank
System_task_priority01_take_care_of_hank
System_task_priority02_do_not_jeopardize_relationship
The following days, Connor first experienced what it was like to feel 'stressed out'. The mix of worry about being found out, fear of rejection and the irrational need to touch Hank whenever his visual sensors caught sight of him, had Connor on an edge he hadn't known existed before.
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Connor heard a groan emanating from the bedroom. Getting up from his seat on the couch, he went into the kitchen to brew Hank a cup of coffee.
Hank had insisted that Connor just switch on the old coffee machine instead of being "a fucking fancy-ass barista", the first time Connor had hand brewed a cup. Connor had found information online that most humans prefer the taste of hand brewed coffee as opposed to that of a coffee machine. After Hank had tasted the first cup over six weeks ago, he had stopped complaining and days later the coffee machine stood forgotten in some cupboard.
The water began to boil just as Connor heard the shower start in the bathroom. Opening the backdoor, he let Sumo out into the yard, before returning and starting to pour the hot water over the ground coffee. By the time Hank was finished in the bathroom the coffee should have reached a drinkable temperature.
Ten minutes later the shower switched off and Connor stuck two fingers into the black coffee to check the temperature. It had 58, 3°C, which was between the optimum temperature for hot beverages according to research. He licked his digit, the levels of Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, Riboflavin and Niacin the coffee contained briefly appearing in his mind.
Eggs sizzled in a pan when Hank emerged, clad in a pair of chequered boxers and an old shirt that had lost its colours about thirty washings ago.
Software_instability_detected
Thirium_pump_error_detected
"Good morning, Hank", Connor said with a smile he hoped looked less robotic than it felt. Either way, Hank didn't seem to notice as he grunted out a "morn'" and reached for the coffee mug, making a satisfied noise as he sipped at it. When the eggs were almost ready, Hank stepped closer, placing his large palm on top of Connor's head and ruffling his hair in way of thanks.
Connor could feel the warmth of the palm stimulating his temperature and sensory sensors and his fingers twitched as most of his RAM focused on latching onto the feeling.
Processor_speed_decrease
Processing….
Shutting_down_tertiary _and_quaternary_background_tasks
The tiny lapse in motoric control went by unnoticed by Hank who had already gone back to drinking his coffee.
Motoric_reflexes_error_detected
Processing…
Recalibration_advised
Connor placed the eggs and toast on a plate and placed it on the table before strategically retreating out the backdoor to where Sumo was and play with him.
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The door to the archives closed behind Connor as he exited the room, only to come face to face with Reed.
"Watch where you're going, plastic boy!", he snarled, not trying to hide his ever-present hatred.
Connor briefly considered giving a sarcastic answer but decided against it, he didn't need Reed exploding with anger. He was about to walk past the man when a hand grabbed his arm and pushed him up against the nearest wall, his system helpfully providing him with the message that Reed was hostile.
"I hope the next android they find butchered into tiny bits will have your face, piece of shit", Connor remained pliant in the man's grip, not wanting to push the man over the edge, although he felt the urge to drive his fist with full strength into Reed's face.
Suddenly Hank was there, probably coming to check up on Connor after seeing Reed head in the same direction.
Reed let go of Connor, not seeming ashamed of his actions in the least and turned towards the evidence room when Hank's voice stopped him.
"Hey, met Satan in the bar last night, had a good talk. Asked when you'd finally fucking come to him," Hank goaded loudly while gripping Connor's wrist and tugging him along with him.
Software_instability_detected
Thirium_pump_error_detected
Processor_speed_decrease
Processing….
Shutting_down_tertiary _and_quaternary_background_tasks
"They need to cut back personnel and your presence alone would be fucking torture, so it'd make life a lot easier for him!" By the time Reed opened his mouth to make an angry retort they were already back in the office area.
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They were walking on the street, when a passer-by bumped into Connor, sending him stumbling left and into Hank. Age and alcohol had done little to hamper Hank's reflexes when sober and his arm quickly found its way to Connor's right flank, settling just above his hipbone and stabilizing Connor.
Warmth bled all the way through the layers of Connor's work cloth, which was scientifically unlikely given the mild temperature outside and the little time that had passed between Hank grabbing him and the warmth spreading.
Software_instability_detected
Thirium_pump_error_detected
"You alright there?" Hank shot the passer-by that had jostled Connor a dark glare.
"Yes, Hank."
The too quick contractions of his thirium pump told him he wasn't. But there was nothing he could or would do about it. It would be easy to disable or minimize the input of his temperature or sensory sensors, but Connor didn't want to. It would be just as easy to delete parts of his memory drive but the idea alone made something in Connor almost delete the code that could enable this. It scared him how much he felt, being a machine had been so much easier in many ways, but Connor wouldn't trade the fact that he could experience so many and such strong emotions because of a single person for anything.
I saw some of the bad endings and various Connor death scenes and darn this game for toying with my emotios like this, I need to finsih this fic to console myself with a happy ending or find something sappy to read before my heart malfunctions like Connor's thirium pump
