A/N: I am so glad you guys enjoy Hank's feels as much as I do. Now it's time to buckle up as Connor steps outside of his comfort zone!


December 23, 2038. 5:03pm.

Guilted by his sense of duty, Connor ended up reporting the protestors' attack to Lorraine despite Hank's words of caution. It was a blemish on Connor's record – an example of how he failed to protect Ariel, and Lorraine had rightfully told him as such. His assurances that it would not happen again seemed to appease her for now, but she claimed she would be "keeping a close eye" on him going forward. She was aware that Ariel and Connor had been spending more time together lately, but there wasn't much that Lorraine could say about that, regardless of how much she may or may not disapprove of it. Technically, she was employed by the Morrows, so Ariel had the right to choose how closely she worked with her security staff – as long as her choices did not present any immediate danger to herself or her father, which they hadn't (so far, at least). So when Ariel had called him up on his day off to ask if he was available, Connor hadn't really expected much to come of it. Spending time with her had become common, almost natural, and he was off-duty so he was in no way obligated to report any of their interactions to Lorraine. (He was still a professional, but that didn't mean he couldn't also be friends with her, right?) Of course, being as advanced as he was, he should have learned by now that when Ariel Morrow was involved, nothing turned out the way he expected it to. What began as a simple request for a friend's company had inexplicably turned into a holiday dinner cruise at sunset, both him and Ariel shamefully underdressed while everyone around them celebrated in suits and cocktail dresses.

He was still trying to pinpoint the exact moment that the day had first begun to take its detour. Ariel had claimed she was sick of being watched all the time by Lorraine, Michael and the housekeepers, so Connor invited her over to Hank's house. He wasn't sure if that counted as something out of the ordinary: it was a simple afternoon spent on the couch engaging in conversation. He found it endearing that she was so small she could sit with her back against the armrest, her legs fully spread out across the sofa, and her feet would barely reach Connor where he sat on the other end. He was angled to face her, but otherwise he sat conventionally with his own feet planted firmly on the ground. She told him about how watching action movies with her father as a kid had influenced her love of boxing and jiu-jitsu, and he told her about how Hank had offered up Cole's room when Connor needed his systems to hibernate. He confessed that he hadn't felt right using it yet, and remarkably, he could feel the tensions from the week just ebb away as Ariel listened. She was a vision in a cable-knit sweater and skinny jeans, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder while her head rested against the back of the sofa. Her body was relaxed but her eyes were always alert, indicating to him that she was actively listening. It was, perhaps, the very first time Connor had ever witnessed her sitting still for an extended period of time.

Overall, there were many reasons that he was grateful he was no longer just a machine, but today, he was grateful because it meant he had the capacity to appreciate that one simple moment – a memory made from an afternoon spent together on a sofa.

Connor noticed that when he asked Ariel about herself, her stress level would rise a little; she gave vague answers about her childhood, and he decided not to pry. She was not a mission and he did not wish to pull information from her that she was not willing to give. He did manage to ask her about why she had jumped into the fight against five other protestors, but she had simply smirked and said, 'What, like I'd let you have all the fun by yourself?' Connor could only assume those action movies had a negative influence on her perception of the severity of such situations. She had mentioned that her wound was healing well, at least. After he drank a bit of thirium, he had been good as new too, the only evidence that he had been cut now appearing as a dull scar on his synthetic skin.

If it hadn't been the afternoon spent basking in the enjoyment of doing nothing, then there was no doubt that the detour began when Connor began to walk Ariel home; it was disconcerting to Connor that after spending the entire day with her, he still was reluctant to leave her company. Connor walked a little slower, Ariel matching his pace, and although neither of them said anything, he knew that they had taken ten minutes longer than normal to reach the skytrain.

And that was when their innocent detour became a complete divergence in the form of Markus and North. The two of them were dressed well; even their winter coats were sharp, which was a stark contrast to how Connor remembered them in the depths of Jericho. After the movement, they had all become busy with their own lives, and so he hadn't actually seen them since… well. Suffice it to say that Connor was grateful Kamski left emergency exits in his programs – that was a secret battle that he still had not shared with anyone.

Markus and North looked delighted to see him, at least; Connor had extended his hand for a shake, but Markus took it to pull him into an embrace, emphatically patting him on the shoulder.

"Connor! It's good to see you!" North hugged him next, then the two of them stood back to look expectantly at Ariel. Right. Introductions would be polite in this situation. He turned to face Ariel as he gestured to the two androids.

"This is–"

ALERT: Conflict of interest identified: Mission details secured.

"–Markus and North. They're my friends who are also androids. And this is Ariel. We…"

ALERT: Conflict of interest identified: Mission details secured.

Connor stopped short, uncertain of how to best present Ariel. His human friend? His colleague? He was hesitant to reference their professional relationship, as that might lead to further questions about the work itself, which he couldn't reveal to Markus and North. Actually, it was probably best that neither side realized what the other was. While Ariel was not involved in the negotiations, Connor didn't feel entirely comfortable with someone like Lorraine knowing that he had introduced the diplomat's daughter to the leaders of the android's civil rights revolution, however peaceful it was.

Apparently Connor had taken too long to answer, because Ariel gave an awkward laugh and said, "We're also friends."

Markus and North exchanged an amused glance. People seemed to do that a lot around him, and he still hadn't figured out why. The glance lasted only a moment before North nudged Markus, and he snapped his fingers together.

"Oh, of course! Are you guys doing anything right now?" Markus asked, looking between him and Ariel. His hand reached into the pocket of his winter coat, producing a small envelope.

"We were just headed home," Connor said.

"Well if you guys want, we're on our way to this dinner cruise. We've never really done anything Christmas-y, but apparently they have carolers and everything. And it's actually being advertised as an android-friendly event." He and North beamed with pride; androids could feel safe in public again, and it was a direct result of their efforts. "Josh and Simon were supposed to come, but when they heard there was dancing they lost interest, so we have two extra tickets."

"Dancing?" Ariel said, her eyes widening.

"I also am not a fan of–" Connor began, but Ariel's hand grasped his tightly, effectively silencing him as his heating unit decided now was a good time to increase his temperature.

"That sounds like so much fun! Are you sure it's okay if we come with you?"

"Hey, that sounds great to me. It'd be fun to have other people we know there."

And so here they were, on a dinner cruise ship that was decorated in Christmas lights. Guests dressed up, there was a choir singing carols and, one story up, there was a lounge with a bar and a dance floor. Connor felt a bit awkward attending the event in his dark denim, black sweater and leather jacket. He at least had Ariel, who was just as underdressed as he was. No one seemed to mind though, everyone jovial despite their casual dress. Markus and North had made a beeline towards the caroling choir downstairs, promising they would find them again later, while Ariel and Connor decided to tour the boat. Her eyes were wide as she tried to soak everything in all at once; she had a tendency to become excited at the strangest things, whether it was a small elf sitting on a shelf or a miniature Christmas tree with empty boxes that were wrapped so they looked like presents. Eventually, they settled in at a tall table in the lounge near one of the windows, looking out at the snowy horizon as their cruise sailed across the Detroit River. It was early in the evening, so most people were still downstairs eating or singing carols, leaving just him and Ariel alone with the excitement muffled below them.

"Isn't this amazing?" she said, and Connor tried not to smile at the fact that her nose was almost pressed against the glass. "It was so nice of your friends to invite us like that. You said they're androids like you, right? Deviants?"

At first, Connor had been concerned she might actually pick up on who they actually were. While the most public photos of Markus had been the ones without his skin, his name was still known throughout Detroit. However, it was admittedly a common name, and Ariel hadn't even been in Michigan when the movement happened. So far, it didn't seem like she had clued into their identities, but even if she had, it wasn't her reaction that he was worried about. Rather, Connor was incredibly wary of Lorraine: her distant nature and high expectations reminded him of Amanda, and he often felt uncomfortable in her presence, like the smallest action would displease her.

"Yes," he answered, purposefully remaining vague. "Although I think you'd be hard pressed to find an android in Detroit that isn't deviant now."

"I still find it fascinating," Ariel said. "I wonder a lot about how you all must view the world. How what starts as a machine can just… become so human."

"What do you want to know?" Connor asked. "Perhaps I can clear things up for you."

She perked up at his offer, her lips pursing slightly as she thought. "Well, how about pain? You don't experience it, right? Do you feel anything?" Connor thought back to when he had saved Hank from getting shot by the deviant in the Stratford Tower.

"Depending on the severity, even if there's no pain, there's a distinct discomfort. I might even call it a displeasure. The closest analogy I can give humans is that it's like being given a local anaesthetic. It numbs the pain, but there's still pressure and force that we can feel."

"Fascinating. And you all still use thirium?"

"Of course," Connor said. "It's vital to our biocomponents functioning properly."

"That was a huge breakthrough in the industry. I remember being amazed when I read the report. It's unbelievable Kamski came up with it despite not being a chemist."

"I've been meaning to ask you: what lab do you work at again?"

"Just a lab in Hawaii." This time, it was Ariel's turn to be vague. "Actually, I'm not really allowed to talk about my work. I hope you understand."

He thought about Markus and North just a floor below them.

"Completely."

Finally tearing her gaze from the window, she looked around the lounge again, her head starting to bob to the beat of the song that had just started playing. The DJ wasn't there, but an automatic playlist was cycling through the speakers in their absence. His analysis determined it was the song Freedom by Arya Venti, currently ranked #8 on the Billboard 100. Definitely not the kind of music he or Hank listened to, but she seemed to find it catchy.

"I've been meaning to ask you," she began, and Connor met her curious gaze with polite attentiveness. "Markus and North. They're a couple?"

"Yes."

"So androids can have that kind of a relationship?"

"It appears so," Connor said. "I know of a few. It's never something I've experienced myself, though. I was never an android programmed for that function."

"You were never an android programmed to have feelings, either," she pointed out, just as Hank had the other night. "Have you ever been interested in something like that?"

"Not particularly. I spend most of my time with Hank, and I don't think he's looking for that kind of relationship from me." When Ariel laughed, she would often tilt her head back. The sight was enough for Connor to wish he were programmed to have a better sense of humour, just so he could see her laugh like that every day. Her smile was always so big that the corners of her eyes would crinkle just the tiniest bit; the lines formed naturally, unpronounced and so unlike the lines that had been designed into his appearance to falsify experience and wisdom. Hers indicated happiness.

"Okay, then. So other androids can be in relationships, but you don't know if you can."

"Correct."

Ariel hummed, her gaze flickering upwards, indicating she was lost in thought. "Can I ask you more questions, then? About what it's like being a deviant?"

"Of course."

Ariel's fingertips suddenly brushed against the back of his hand, which was resting on the table. The flutter of movement sent a soft jolt up his arm, creating a warmth that spread through to his other limbs.

"Do touches like this affect you?" she asked. "When I make contact with you, do you feel anything beyond the physical pressure?" His temperature was running a little high and his thirium regulator was pumping at a slightly faster pace than normal, but those seemed like unusual reactions. He decided it was best to clarify.

"What do you mean by 'affect' if you're not referring to the physicality?"

"Humans can have an emotional response due to a chemical reaction when in intimate situations. What do you feel, as an android, when I…" She leaned into his stance, not quite touching, but so close he could almost feel her pressing against him. "... am this close to you? Intrigue, or perhaps indifference?"

She was watching him closely; the tip of her tongue darted out to lick her lips just once, her nervous tic betraying her otherwise calm expression.

"No," he said softly, holding her gaze. "Not indifference." Ariel's smirk was so subtle and so quick he almost missed it, but his answer seemed to encourage her to continue.

"Then… Do you want me to move closer?" One step was all it took for her curves to press flush against his body, and the gentle warmth from earlier exploded into heat. The sight of his LED flickering red made her falter, and her gaze actually lost its curiosity in favour of concern.

"Too much?" She took half a step back and despite her absence the heat in his body persisted, a fiery buzz shocking his system to his core.

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Connor's hand shot out and caught her wrist instantly, pulling her close once again. It was almost like instinct; a reaction more than an active thought. Ariel hadn't been expecting it, and she stumbled just slightly, her hands resting on his chest as she stabilized her stance. He registered the surprise in her expression and released her hand.

"Sorry," he said, his brow furrowing as embarrassment threatened to wash over him. "I don't know what–"

Small fists clutched at his sweater and pulled him forward, his hands landing on her waist. She was already impossibly close, but she pushed closer, rising to the very tips of her toes so she could press her lips against his.

/ / / / … ? ? ? ? ? ?… / / / /

She was gentle at first, only slight pressure from her soft lips. Simulated breath hitched in his throat as the shock registered, sweetness overwhelming a biocomponent previously only meant to analyze evidence. For what was probably an unacceptable length of time, he was frozen, his circuits going haywire as his many modules battled against one another: should his CPU project courtesy, professionalism, modesty – what was the most appropriate way for an RK800 to respond when a woman kissed him? But where his CPU struggled, his heart prevailed. Beneath his ambivalence was the underlying certainty of what he wanted, overriding what he was trying to determine he should do. A new emotional pathway in his CPU unlocked and suddenly desire coursed through him; he found the skin of his lips trickling away, partially deactivating to reveal the smooth, sensitive pearl surface beneath. The desire wasn't as simple as lust. It was a desire for many things: to be close to Ariel, to feel her human heart beat erratically against his synthetic chest, and to connect with her in a way he had never been able to with any other being before her – in a way he thought he never could. Slowly, he brought his fingers up to cup her chin, tilting her mouth upwards as he bowed down to deepen the gesture, indulging in her sweetness.

In the privacy of the corner of the barren lounge, Connor's vision blurred and he lost his reserve. His arms fully wrapped around her waist, fingertips caressing her back through the soft fabric of her sweater. Ariel reciprocated the urgency, lunging forward and crushing her figure against his while he cradled her in his arms. The juxtaposition of urgency and tenderness was confusing to Connor, but undoubtedly exhilarating. He had no idea what he was doing, his movements driven by passion rather than knowledge. It almost felt like when he first reached deviancy; that intense rush of emotion when he broke through that wall and realized he was not just a machine. Feelings that he'd been repressing came flooding forward – he heard her sigh and felt the breath against his lips: a soft, high sound that pierced another wall in his programs and shattered it into rubble around him.

Well, he supposed he could no longer claim that he was a professional.

He couldn't recall how or why they had decided to stop kissing, but when he opened his eyes again, Ariel was looking up at him. Her lips were just slightly swollen from their fervent embrace, but what would always stay with him was the small but genuine smile that graced her features. This would be the last exquisite image he would have before reality began to creep up on him again. What was he doing? He was an android, and androids couldn't make humans happy. He was supposed to be protecting Ariel. He was her bodyguard; they were supposed to be working together. What he had just done was inexcusably inappropriate, especially considering he had let irrational feelings get in the way of the reality. In a few weeks, she would be boarding a plane to go home, and he would have to learn how to adjust to life without her, as it had been before.

So then why couldn't he bring himself to step away from her, or stop holding her, when she looked up at him like that?

Without playing the audio, he could still hear Hank's voice infiltrating his thoughts:

Emotions always screw everything up.