"You were a Chosen?" Nines stared hard at the human, monitoring his body language, his heart rate, and his blood pressure for signs of lying.

"What does that even mean?" Fowler said.

"It means I had an aptitude for magic, and she wanted to add me to her ranks. But then I fucked up." He looked away, his body clenching against some emotion. "I was removed from her ranks and was banned to ever become a Chosen again."

"What happened?" Nines felt his pump stutter at seeing his partner in pain, even if it was emotional.

"An android was being beaten in front of me by my father. I refused to step in because I was scared of the man, and because I thought he wasn't worth it. He wasn't really alive." Gavin's voice became thick, strained. "At least, not that I believed. But Hekate? She knew the android had deviated and was silently begging me for help and I did nothing." Gavin's voice broke with unshed emotion with the last word.

"That's why you hated androids," Nines stated. "You blamed us."

"Not you, Nines!" Gavin's eyes were wild and shining, his face pale. "Never you," he whispered, his ears going pink.

"So, you're telling me what? You were almost a wizard?" Again Fowler growled. "This has to be some kind of joke."

"Well, its not. Either way, there is more going on here than you or anyone else wants to realize. If Hekate brought Nines to Connor, that means he and Hank won't be back for a while. We need to find someone to foster Anderson's St. Bernard."

"I'll get him," Nines said, patting Gavin's shoulder. "I know his routine and he's comfortable with me already."

"Fine. Whatever. Get out of my fucking office."


"You saw Nines?" Hank sighed. "You know what? That's not the craziest thing we've seen or heard." The older human rubbed his temples, sighing. "Is he taking care of Sumo for us?"

"Yes. He says that he misses us. Both him and Sumo." Connor grinned. "He and Gavin are getting along much better as well. He even said that he thinks he's falling in love with him."

"That's… not something I really wanted to know. But good for him?" He rolled his eyes. "What about you and Katrina? You two seem to be getting really close."

"She's… Amazing and beautiful, but I don't think she sees me that way." Connor became withdrawn, sitting back and playing with his fingers in his lap. "She's a universe-jumping, possibly immortal witch who has befriended and taught literal gods. I am just a created machine with no real purpose. I was created to hunt deviants and became one myself."

"You are not without purpose, kid." Hank looked at the android sharply. "You are a natural detective with amazing instincts. You are also the closest thing I have to a son. Well, you and Nines." Hank shook his head with a grin. "You are my family. If you need more of a purpose, then that is your purpose. Find it."

"That literally makes no sense."

"That is what being human is; never truly understanding anything." Hank patted Connor's knee as he heaved himself out of the couch.


A/N: I'm so sorry that I have not been updating much; my health has been crap recently, constantly sick and still suffering from my seizures. I am trying to update with something, so I do have a 500 word chapter. I know it's short, but its something. Sorry, guys. 3