November 9th, 2038

AM 09:27:33


A/N: Hey guys! Still reading everything and your comments make my day. Please keep in mind I'm still in the middle of hell week. I still love and appreciate all of you; I'm very sorry I dropped the ball on responding.

Me n' the betas are workin' hard for ya, though!


Normal people wanted beaches and sunny skies to beckon them home, as if that somehow promised easier days and shorter shifts. As you pulled into your parking spot, you looked up and down the salted streets of Detroit with grey slush piled against the curbs. The sky's furious flurries that hid the top of buildings in a swarm of white. The bleak stares of the on-goers along the sidewalk.

You drummed your thumbs on your steering wheel, the engine shaking as you cut the ignition. The air was cold – stinging, made your nose run. The flashes from the digital billboards blinded you as they linked neon colors through rapid images.

Home is what you make of it, and that'd been a lesson that took a while to sink in. But this place…with its beaches of sleet, street-light palm trees and rock salt sand; was home.

And home is where the heart is.

You flipped open your phone after feeling it rumble in your pocket.

[1 UNREAD TEXT MESSAGE]

Connor

Today 09:30

Are you alright?

You smirked, unable to shake the feeling spreading through your chest like a shot of straight vodka without a chaser. The two of you had left at different times, you later than he – and he'd taken a taxi to avoid suspicion.

To: Connor

Just parked. Coming in now.

Message Sent

Connor

Today 09:31

Okay :)

Connor

Today 09:31

I should warn you, I have informed Lieutenant Anderson of my "change in perspective."

You almost choked, your breath stalling.

To: Connor

WHAT?!

Message Sent

Connor

Today 09:32

He was concerned that I was "taken advantage of." I assured him what had occurred was mutual, and then had to explain why.

You started typing a response.

Connor

Today 09:32

Please come inside. It's very cold. You could get sick.

You scowled, and kept tapping away at the screen.

Connor

Today 09:33

I know you're still constructing a message, Officer.

You rolled your eyes, clicked your phone shut, and jammed it in your pocket.

You opened your door, and the ground shook. There were sounds of treads cutting into pavement and vibrating glass from your window as a 7-slot grill filled your side-mirror. You pulled on the handle, ducking in your seat as a bright-red Jeep Wrangler; 18-inches off the ground with 35-inch tires almost ripped your fucking door off.

And…of course, it was too close for it to open.

His brakes screeched as he parked, cranking a stripped brake in place. The cabin rocked as a pair of boots hit the ground on the other side, and his door slammed shut. Gavin walked out from behind his Jeep, slamming both of his hands on the trunk of your car and startling you.

"Well LOOK what the ANDROID dragged in!" He chewed on a piece of gum as he laughed, walking backwards before turning towards the officer's entrance, "Welcome back to work, Hotshot!"

He lifted his keys over his shoulder, and his alarm chirped.

You sighed, staring at your passenger's side door. Couldn't wait for the emergency brake to dig into your side as you climbed over it, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it. Could already feel the center console scrape at your knees…

Just another day at the precinct.

You opened the cards standing on your desk like dominoes, wishing you would've gone through them on your way out. They must have tripled in number, because when you were done with one, it seemed like three more popped up in its place.

"Shot again, eh? That's what you get for rushing in without backup. Feel better though, I guess."
-Officer Finka

"Let's proceed slowly next time and NOT BE DUMB."
-Officer Frank

"You really had him in the pipe, kiddo."
-Officer Smol

"You can't die, yet. You haven't donated to my ."
-Officer Nienz

"You can't even blame it on being inverted."
-Chris

"Stop getting fucking shot."
-Hank & Sumo

"Your paperwork is almost as much a pain in the ass as Hank's."
-Captain Fowler

"You take more bullets than my worst squaddie."
-Captain Allen

"Save it for the homicides, will you?"
-Detective Collins

A folded piece of printer paper with an intricate, way-too-in-depth sketch of a dog.

-Your appointed welfare Officer

You smirked, finding Connor behind you. He and Hank traded notes on the CyberLife warehouse case.

An e-mail notification popped up on your terminal. You squinted to read the fine text.

From: Reed, Gavin

[Click link to open e-card]

Attached Message: Feel better lolololol

You scoffed, rolling your eyes and looking at the desk directly across from yours. He had his feet kicked up and leaned back in his chair with his phone in his hand. He popped a bubble and waved.

"You just sent that, didn't you?" You scoffed.

"Yup."

"You see Miller anywhere?"

"Nope." He continued scrolling, ignoring you.

"You're worthless."

"What, I can't jump on top of trains and slide down rooftops so I'm not your type?" He clicked his phone shut, stowing it away, "Gimme a break."

"Huh?"

" Your boy toy over there," He nodded at Connor, who turned to face him, "Fuckin' ramboed all over one of those rooftop farms hunting that crazy bird fuck."

"I am not a toy." He glared.

You yawned, growling as you let it out.

Fowler paced around in his glass cage, and you looked over at Hank.

"Did anyone tell Fowler about…"

"No." Gavin answered for him, and your attention returned to the man who never took his jacket off, "And it'll stay that way…but it'll cost ya."

"Careful, Detective." Connor leaned back, "The last time you raised the stakes, it didn't end so well for you."

"You fuckin' talking about that pool match again, prick?!"

"Maybe."

"Okay, ALRIGHT." Hank snapped his fingers in front of Connor, and waved Gavin off, "We've got work to do."

"Speaking of which…" Gavin dropped his feet to the floor, and rolled his chair forward, "C'mere a sec."

You looked around you monitor, "Me?"

"Yeah, you." He nodded to his screen, "I wanna show you something."

You sighed, getting up to lean over his shoulder; one hand on the back of his chair, the other on his desk. There wasn't a whole lot of personalized decorations, save for a picture of him and his cat.

"How's little Ollie doing?"

"Still the most adorable fuck out there." He huffed, "You know, aside from me."

"Yeah, no – Oliver is definitely cuter than you."

"But you think I'm cute?"

"No."

"Hah." He grinned, enlarging a picture on the terminal, "Check this out."

He flicked through a data pad, and pulled up evidence results that had something to do with the case file.

"Remember when I worked a few months undercover?"

Your throat tightened, but if you showed even an ounce of sympathy while he was staring at you, you'd never hear the end of it. Truth was, those months hadn't ended well for him.

"Sure do."

"Okay, so, the Bandits are big into moving cocaine, obviously, but coke's been falling to the wayside for the last couple months. This new strand of Red Ice shows up though, and it reaches epidemic levels." He yawned, covering his mouth with the back of his hand, "Guess what they're mixing this shit with?"

"You're the expert, you tell me."

"Fuckin' LSD. Same shit they used to cut their coke."

"Holy shit…" Ortiz's house came to mind, and you shivered, "That's actually pretty terrifying."

"Right?" He turned his head to look at you, his neck snaking back when his face got too close, "Hey, you uh…" His eyes narrowed, and he grinned, "You got somethin' on your neck there, robot fucker-"

Gavin jammed a thumb a few paces under your ear, and a stinging pain had you flinch.

"Ow, goddamn it what the fuck-"

He gave you one of his annoying fucking winks with his scrunching, scarred nose and his clicky-mouth-sound and-ugh.

"Connor." Hank snapped his fingers behind you, "FOCUS."

You turned to find Connor leering at the smug ass Detective who never knew when to lay off.

He was rough around the edges, but he was your friend that you loved to hate…and over his shoulder, fiddling with a coffee machine through a few glass-pane windows was your partner. Your friend who you loved to death.

"Ah, shit…" Gavin stood up, looking over his divider, "Did that idiot break the coffee machine again?"

"What is wrong with this thing?!" Chris yelled.

Gavin ran a hand over his mouth, turning to Connor, "Yo, RoboDick."

Connor froze, closing his eyes and biting the inside of his cheek before collecting himself. He didn't say anything.

"You like making breakfast, right?" Gavin laughed, pointing at the coffee machine, "Go fix that."

"I got it," You waved his hand away with the back of your wrist, "And for the record…"

You stopped, lowering your voice, "His RoboDick is bigger."

He really shouldn't have sent you that picture when he was drunk all those months ago.

"Well-yeah-no-shit! IT'S FAKE-" He called as you went to help Chris.

"Hey," You knocked on the glass before walking in the lounge, "No red carpets? No trumpets?"

He looked at you from the corner of his eye.

"Still mad at me?"

"Mad? At you?" He sounded stuffy, and sneezed in his arm, "No, why would I be mad?"

"Chris…"

"You know what I'm mad at?" He banged the side of the appliance, "This thing."

"You don't even drink coffee."

"Yeah, well…neither will anyone else today, I guess."

Your eyes widened, and you walked over to the coffee maker, "How did you even mess this up this bad-"

He opened the refrigerator's door and pulled two travel cups from the top shelf, and kicked it close with his foot.

"Lucky for you, my wife packed two of these for…" He tripped over another sneeze, giving you the most dazed look, "Breakfast."

"You…" You looked at the drink, then back to the counter, "You sabotaged the coffee to get back at me for being a dick, didn't you?"

"No, not at all-"

"You get this fuckin' thing workin' yet?" Gavin picked it up, shaking it and sending water splashing from the tank, "I need-"

"Detective, that's only going to make it worse." Connor took it from him, placing it gently on the counter.

"Don't you get smart with me you plastic-" He swung, and Connor caught his hand.

He held Gavin's fist, turning his head slowly.

"Fucking let go-" He pulled his arm, but Connor refused.

He tilted his head, blinking, "Are you done?"

"Yeah, fuck whatever-"

Connor let him go, and he stumbled backwards. He shook his hand before holding it, growling under his breath.

"Someone deliberately clogged the water line." Connor cocked his chin, "It needs to be replaced. I can have it fixed within the hour."

Chris extended one hand out, offering you a green concoction, "You heard him. This is your only choice."

"I'll pass." You crossed your arms, giving him a sly grin, "I already ate."

"Ah, right, yeah…Heard Connor was packing heat, nowadays."

Your eyes shot open, and you went rigid.

"SO…did curiosity kill the cat?"

"Chris-"

"Was plastic truly beat?"

Gavin cringed, "MILLER-"

"I feel as though I'm missing something." Connor crossed his arms behind his back, "Context, so to speak."

"Can con-firm," Chris shoved the drink at you while speaking to him, "You're missing some con-text."

"Alright, you know what?" You held your hands out to the side, "Fine, we had sex- okay?"

Gavin crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, "And there's the confession, boys…"

Connor's entire posture went firm, and his cheeks flushed a light blue.

"Yeah, and guess what? It was great." You shot Gavin the shittiest grin you could, "Transcendent, even. BEYOND-"

"Okay, this is backfiring." Chris backed away, "Please stop."

"The way he-"

Gavin held a hand up, "NO."

"With his mouth and hands-"

"STOP!"

"And-"

"Officer." Connor fidgeted uncomfortably, "Might I suggest-"

"So outrageously not possible with a human male-"

"Oh my god, no…my ego…" Chris sobbed, "It's…shattered."

"Pft," Gavin rolled his eyes, "Probably has some lady killer program and you just fell for it like an idiot."

"Lady killer?" Connor turned his head, mortified, "But I didn't kill her-"

"HEY!" Hank knocked on the wall, "Need you clowns in booking."

The lot of you exchanged glances, and you looked up at him, "All of us?"

"Yeah. All of you…" He huffed, walking away, "Fucking kill me."

Chris's arm jabbed you in the neck.

"Ow, god-"

Gavin's elbow dug into your side.

"Jesus-"

Hank's sleeve brushed against your mouth as he straightened out his jacket.

"Pfft-"

And Connor just stood still, his hands behind his back, looking down at you and watching while you bumped into him over and over-

"Would you guys quit your fucking squirming?" Fowler clicked the button from the other side of the glass, "Hank, I only agreed to this because you said it'd be quick."

Everyone fell into attention, tensing up at his frustrated orders. You sighed at the booking board in your hands, the letters spelling "TARGET PRACTICE" on the front.

"Alright," Chris straightened his uniform, "On the count of three, everyone say, 'SQUAD GOALS!'"

You hung your head, holding up your prop. Connor nudged you with his elbow, and you found a lopsided grin above you.

"This isn't funny."

His grin widened.

"I'm serious."

He choked down a laugh, and you scoffed.

"1…" Chris started.

"Why the fuck did I come down here…" Gavin groaned.

"2…"

"Shut up, Reed." Hank gave him the finger over his shoulder.

"You old piece of-"

An arm almost knocked you off balance.

"SQUAD GOALS!"

There was a flash, and snap of a camera, and a chorus of "I WASN'T READY," from everyone except Connor and Chris.

"I don't care. Now, you two-" Fowler pointed at you and your partner, "Need a unit walking C block. Get your asses out there."

Fowler rolled his shoulders and took the picture out of the printer, leaving it on the desk before he left.

Chris sniffed, rubbing his nose, "BUT I'M DY-INGGG-"

"You are not dying, Officer Miller." Connor gave him a warm smile, "I promise."

"You're not helping my case, Detective Swoon-Bot…"

Connor's LED flashed as he cocked his head.

"Lieutenant," He perked up, "Why do I have so many nicknames?"

Your small group walked out to the other side of the room, and you shut the door. You tossed the board on the desk.

"I don't know, Connor." Hank pursed his lips, giving the rest of them a condescending look.

"Because he's fuckin' RoboCop." Gavin chuckled.

"Uh, no?" Chris squinted, "He's Swoon-Bot?"

"RoboCOCK, sorry."

"CON-MAN."

"Will both of you just shut the fuck up?!" Hank yelled, rubbing the sides of his head, "JESUS."

The three of them continued to argue while Connor stared at the photo with a wholesome smile. He glanced over, back at the picture, and did a double-take as he realized you were watching him.

"Well?" You walked over, leaning in to see, "How'd it turn out-"

Hank, with his mouth open and a middle finger over his shoulder. Gavin, mid-yell with a fist swinging up. Chris, smiling so hard his eyes were closed with an arm around you and Connor. And then you, holding the board in one hand, sliding over Chris's back with the other…finding Connor's fingers when no one was looking.

A perfect image of DPD's finest…and you knew exactly where you were going to put it.

"Okay, so it might not have been exactly the right size…"

You frowned at the folded corners, and the back of the frame was stuffed from excess photo.

"But I can still see everybody." Connor offered, pleased with his newest decoration, "Now I get to look at you and my…your…our, friends every day."

You laughed, chest fluttering from his innocence, "Connor, you get to see all of us every day, anyway."

"Yes, but…" He picked up the picture, scanning it for what seemed like the 50th time, "This means an incredible amount to me. I feel like I finally…belong."

He looked up, stare following a PC200 android patrolling mindlessly down the aisle. He frowned, his features creasing.

"Hey," You leaned forward, "Don't let anything ruin this moment for you, okay? You deserve to be happy. Don't feel bad."

"I just wish…" He put the picture down, "I wish all androids could have the chance to…"

He shook his head, his LED flickering to yellow before leveling out blue, "Never mind."

"Ugh-" Hank plopped in his seat, waving his hand, "Didn't Fowler say you guys had a job to do?!"

"Jeez, I didn't realize you wanted to get rid of me so bad."

"You're distracting my partner." Hank scoffed, "C'mon, Connor. Playtime's over."

"Yeah," Gavin flicked a goldfish in the air before catching it in his mouth, "And don't forget your sweater vests, kids."

He gave you a wink, finger guns at full force.

"Ayy," And you did it right back, "Wouldn't be much target practice without one."

Connor narrowed his eyes, biting the inside of his cheek.

"I think I'm beginning to understand your love-hate relationship with Detective Reed."

You perked up a brow, "Oh yeah?"

"Yes." He fixed his tie, and took a seat, "I do love to hate him."

"Fuck you too, buddy." He caught another goldfish as it came plummeting down.

"Phew," Chris came around the corner with a handful of tissues, "Ready to roll?"

"Yeah, you could say…I've got the need…"

You walked up to him, the two of you continuing towards the exit as you gave each other a high-five, shouting the finisher at the same time.

"THE NEED FOR SPEED!"

You and your partner shared a loud laugh that echoed off the concrete walls. You looked behind you, feeling Connor watching. You shared timid smiles as he raised two fingers with his wrist still pinned beside his keyboard, giving you a hidden wave goodbye.

You patted your bulletproof "sweater" vest, before stepping outside in the cold; into the city that wasn't necessarily your birthplace, but had been the city that raised you.

You took a whiff of the icy air and smells of city toxins like motor oil and exhaust mixing with smoked food. Absorbed the honking horns and idle chatter; the cell phone conversations that blended together like a choreographed ambience.

Underneath all the neon lights and glass buildings, there was a heart that beat to the rhythm of 672,795 footsteps.

Detroit, Michigan…

Home, sweet home.


***IMPORTANT***

I will be out of town on a business conference from August 25th-30th. I am unsure if I'll be updating before then, but can guarantee that I will not be updating during that period in time.

That being said...I felt this was a nice stopping point. Why?

MAJOR STORY ARC STARTS IN NEXT CHAPTER!