Requested by karaokewally: would you be down to write something where the reader is a robin hood-style criminal that connor is tasked with catching? idk that's vague i'm just like thinking something where the two have an almost friendly cop/criminal relationship ya know (or a flirty one ;) if you want)

Lemme just preface this by saying APOLOGIES IF THERE'S ANY SPELLING/GRAMMAR ERRORS. I wrote this all very fast and may have missed making any corrections when I read it over :')

In this chapter we have CRIMINAL!READER. So just to clarify, the reader isn't a detective in this one x'D I think that's only the second chapter I've written in which the reader is not a detective at the precinct? Hmm. Well, I hope you all enjoy ;)

Misappropriate

January 30th, 4:56pm

"Connor, Hank, in my office!"

Connor blinked a few times fast as he looked up from his final case report of the evening, sharing a look with the weary lieutenant who didn't seem thrilled at the prospect of whatever it was Captain Fowler had waiting for them. He dutifully stood up and urged Hank to follow with an inclination of his head, pursuing the grating noise of the captain's impatient voice until he was stood before Fowler's desk, the lieutenant shuffling in and closing the glass door behind him.

"What can we do for you, Captain Fowler?" Connor asked as politely as always despite the fact that the captain looked disgruntled and irate. Connor had seen him speaking animatedly on the phone just a few minutes prior to being called in, deducing that he was having some sort of argument - but with who, he did not know.

"I've got a new case for you two", he predictably stated, and Hank let out an audible groan that the captain chose to ignore. "It's not on the same level of urgency as your current cases, but I'd be glad if you solved it quickly nonetheless." He handed the case file to the android who quickly skimmed the first face, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Captain, this case is for a burglary, not a homicide", Connor hesitantly pointed out.

"A burglary? That's not even our division!" Hank grumbled.

"I know", Fowler matched the lieutenant's grouse with a gruff snap of his own, "the robbery division sent this over - said they've been on this case for months and haven't come up with a single lead. They've asked me to hand the case to our sharpest detective in the hopes that this damn thing can be solved."

Connor preened subtly under the praise, chest puffing out slightly with pride at being acknowledged by the captain, and he was sure he heard Hank murmur 'oh, jeez' mockingly under his breath.

"In that case, I'll start investigating immediately!" The android declared, always eager to please.

"Tch! You can investigate all you want, but I'm heading home", the lieutenant announced with a wave of his hand, "I've clocked in my hours today, I ain't gonna spend the rest of my day doin' somebody else's work!"

"Well here's the catch", Fowler mumbled, pinning Hank with a disapproving glare before turning his attention back to Connor, "There's very little to investigate. All the robbery division managed to collect is right there in that file. No identifying evidence, no nothing. If you can find a pattern amongst that mess then maybe you can rustle up a lead, but otherwise you're just gonna have to wait until the thief again."

Connor looked moderately baffled, "No fingerprints? Nothing?"

"Nothing", the captain confirmed, "Take the file home if you want, there's nothing more here that could help you."

The android blinked, glancing back to Hank, who merely shrugged his shoulders. This was going to be a test of Connor's competence; the thought of solving a case that left the entire robbery division baffled felt like it would be quite satisfying indeed. With an upwards quirk of his lips, Connor nodded to Fowler, "You can count on me, captain."

Connor's patience was wearing thin.

You'd been a pain in neck for almost four weeks now, which was impressive given that androids didn't feel pain, and Connor was sure that he'd precalculated the perfect ambush that would contain you for good this time.

You had been something of an enigma from the very beginning; Connor had spent hours studying over your case file, searching for anything that could help to form a potential lead, but the only thing your thieving transgressions had in common - and the only reason the robbery division had been able to identify your work - was that you left no evidence.

February 2nd, 2:48pm

It had been a soft blow to Connor's pride that he'd had to wait until you struck again in order to form any sort of mental construction around you - three days into the android's investigation, the robbery division had sent over the files and the location of the most recent burglary once they'd come to the conclusion that no DNA evidence had been left on the scene, thus being sure it was the work of you, and Connor had made his way to the scene of the crime in record time.

Hank had joined him, though the lieutenant had seen fit not to put too much of his time into aiding Connor's theft investigation as there was still a heap of homicide cases piling up on his own desk, and had watched with surprise as Connor combed the burgled house for any trace of DNA evidence, only for his scanners to come up short.

"Maybe they're an android?" Hank had suggested, observing the knit of irritation in Connor's eyebrows as the latter proceeded to scan the environment another two times, to no avail.

"They're not an android", Connor had assured the lieutenant, "The lockpicking job on the back door wasn't one-hundred percent clean. If our perpetrator was an android, they wouldn't have left any scratches on the inner mechanism of the pin-tumbler lock at all, but they did."

"So you're saying they're sloppy with their work?"

"No", Connor had shaken his head, "It's too sloppy a job for an android, but almost perfect for a human. Almost being the key word."

It hadn't been anything to go on, but it was at least a start. Still, it put Connor in a stationary situation - there wasn't much he could look into given there was no other sign that there had been a disturbance in the house, apart from the wad of cash missing from the pried open safe, that is.

That was another thing Connor had noticed - you went straight for the money and bypassed other valuable items such as jewellery and expensive electronics, which told that android that you didn't want to go to the bother of having to sell stolen items.

February 5th, 3:14pm

The second instance of a robbery that was tied to your expertise took place three days later in a small but luxurious apartment building; you'd burgled a seemingly unassuming flat on the third floor, but it was truly a mystery as to how you had entered. The entrance to the apartment was sealed with an electronic door - there'd been no sign of tampering or hacking, and the only keycard that could've granted admission had been with the owner - who had been working into the early hours of the morning.

Hank had found it all terribly amusing, and had even come up with a nickname for you - the Ghost - because on top of your knack for leaving no DNA behind, you appeared to be able to walk through walls as well.

It wasn't until the android had turned his attention to the glass doors that led to the balcony that he had been struck with a thought. Connor had inspected the small outer area of the apartment and found that while the side of the building would have been exceedingly difficult for a human to scale, it wasn't quite impossible.

"You're kidding, right? No human could climb all the way up here!" Hank had argued, tremendously skeptical of the android's belief.

"It's implausible but it is not beyond the bounds of possibility for somebody to pull off - especially if that individual is extremely agile and spry. We're looking for someone active and flexible, probably younger than thirty years old", Connor had cocked his head, hands resting on his hips as he gave the balcony another once over, "...they're good."

Hank had given Connor a look - one that the android had trouble comprehending.

February 8th, 10:32am

The third robbery you pulled off, you made a mistake.

"Have you had anybody else in the house recently - a friend or relative?" Connor had questioned the homeowner - an old, bald man with a rather snobby attitude.

"No, just me. I don't see what that has to do with anything. Are you gonna figure out who robbed me or what?"

Connor had ignored the man's discourteous grumbling and instead turned to Hank, a self-satisfied smile on his face as he held up his findings - a single hair pinched between his thumb and forefinger which certainly didn't belong to the victim of the burglary.

"Got 'em." He'd found it lying innocently on the floor, blending in well with the otherwise pristine carpet - a sign that you weren't always perfect, perhaps you'd scratched your head, maybe it had gotten caught on something without your knowledge, or maybe it had just fallen off your clothes - either way, Connor was able to identify you - it had just been a matter of catching you.

The android almost had caught you, a couple weeks after finding your DNA. Now that the police were in possession of your information, such as your name, date of birth, and previous criminal records - several counts of theft and robbery - it was easier for Connor to find patterns in your misdemeanours than it had been before.

The police knew what you looked like from the mugshots on record, and with this knowledge they were able to vaguely pinpoint your whereabouts via CCTV cameras dotted around public areas. With the data provided from the sighting reports, Connor predicted the neighbourhood you were most likely to strike in next, and he already knew from the statistics in your file that you tended to go for the more luxurious and expensive houses first, which wittled the possibilities down to a single road.

February 22nd, 1:25am

Thus, Connor found himself on a stake-out, keeping his eyes peeled for hours in the dark of the night, waiting to spot some unusual activity - a figure in dark clothing slinking around in the shadows, a sounds that didn't belong in an obnoxiously quiet neighbourhood - anything that could be identified as suspicious. The android had been far too frustrated that it had taken so long to get this close, and looking back on that now, Connor knew that his impatience had been the ultimate reason that you had slipped between his fingers.

The moment he'd spotted you creeping around the side alley of a house, the chase had begun, and in his desperation to capture you, he'd slammed the car door shut as he jumped out, alerting you to his presence and giving you a head start - stupid, really. The hunt was ridiculous, like something out of the old movies that Hank was fond of, but Connor had to admit it was exhilarating - it wasn't often he had to really try when it came to keeping up with fleeing criminals, and as he vaulted over the garden fences after you, he found that there was something akin to enjoyment building up inside him.

You hadn't let up at all, quickly taking your escape to an elevated position - you climbed the garage of one of the fancy houses, and from there you ascended to the roof. Connor followed without any difficulty, wondering how determined you had to be in order to push yourself so far to escape him, and pretty soon you were jumping from roof to roof.

Connor had picked up on the slight tremble in your legs whenever you landed your leaps - it was clear you had been getting tired, no human had the stamina to outrun an android - and he'd pushed himself into a sprint, certain that he could end the chase then and there.

Except, in his resolution to capture you, he had forgotten to take into account that he was quite a bit heavier than you were - thanks to all his inner metal workings - and had failed to correctly preconstruct his jump, landing rather heavily on a roof tile that immediately gave under his weight.

He'd slipped down the edge of the roof, clinging tightly to the gutter to ensure he didn't end up hurtling to the ground - while the height of the fall wouldn't have done any severe damage, it may have been enough to impair some of his biocomponents, at which point it would've been impossible to keep up with you - but when looked back up, he'd been astonished to see you frozen in place, looking back over your shoulder at him.

Connor had dangled in place for a few seconds, reading the concern on your face as you stared at him. Your eyes were wide, raised eyebrows concealed by the hood hanging over your head, and your lips were parted in stuttering apprehension. There was a quiet few moments where the android just gazed back at you, not entirely sure what to make of your sudden stop.

And then you'd spoken to him for the first time.

"Hey, you good?"

He was sure his LED had flickered yellow - it was very much a scene he hadn't predicted. Instead of responding, the android had begun to shimmy across the ledge towards a more stable area of which he could climb back up - when he'd started pulling himself back up onto the roof, you'd sprung back into action.

"Oh shit, yeah, you're good!" You'd laughed, taking off again, and the time it had taken Connor to right himself and resume the chase was just enough time for you to shake him and disappear into the night.

The android had been angry and perplexed. Angry that he'd let you get away again, and perplexed that you had stopped to check on him when he'd almost suffered a nasty fall.

What kind of criminal were you?

Four days later, Connor was sure to find out, because his patience was about to snap. His last mistake had been his spontaneous, premature spring at the chance to arrest you; he needed to restrain himself just a short while longer so that he could catch you in the act - lure you into a false sense of security and burst into the house when you least expected it.

February 26th, 12:11am

Tonight was the night the android was going to catch you.

Connor crept up to the house you were currently attempting to burgle, acute determination in his eyes, with sly movements and soundless footsteps as he kept to the darkness; he reached the backdoor, spotting that you'd left it slightly ajar for an easy escape, and his mouth quirked up in a smug smile. You wouldn't be granted an easy escape, not this time. He'd corner you and leave you no choice but to surrender, and then finally he would be able to close the case of the Ghost Thief and return to his regularly scheduled homicide cases.

He entered the house with the silent grace of a cat stalking its prey, gaze turning immediately to the stairway that led to the upper floor, which Connor knew for a fact was the location of the homeowner's safe. The android took cautious steps, letting his feet fall softly against the carpeted stairs so as not to make a noise - his advanced, sensitive hearing could detect movement occurring in the room at the end of the hall, and his keen eyes spotted through the darkness that the door was open just an inch.

Connor edged down the hall - handgun at the ready, though he did not intend to use it - and peered through the small gap into the main bedroom; his scanners picked up no signs of movement, but it would've been impossible for you to escape out the window without his auditory sensors alerting him, which meant you were still inside somewhere.

He pressed his palm against the door, pushing it open slowly.

"Detroit police", he declared firmly, "I know you're in here. Turn yourself in. Things will go easier for you if you cooperate." As predicted, you did not answer, so Connor proceeded into the room, glancing behind the door to check you weren't poised to spring out unexpectedly.

There were limited places to hide; Connor turned his attention to the bed first, pacing deliberately to it's side before dropping to one knee, giving the underside of the bed a quick glimpse - nothing - which left just one other place. The android looked at the closet opposite the bed on the other side of the room, waiting to see if you would shamefully reveal yourself once it became clear to you that you'd been discovered.

No such moment came, so Connor approached slowly.

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way…"

The moment he brushed his fingertips against the knob on the closet door, it burst open in his face and he was knocked back a few steps from the force of your foot landing square against his chest. Connor grunted, blinking a few times quickly as his systems recovered from the blow to his pump regulator, but by the time he'd managed to reattain his balance, it was too late to avoid the impact of your perfectly executed roundhouse kick.

It wasn't enough to knock him off his feet - his superior height and android strength made him a difficult opponent to beat - but in the time it took him to process what exactly had just happened, you managed to masterfully twist his gun out of his hand and point it menacingly between his eyes.

Connor's gaze widened minutely as he scanned your face - your brow drawn tight into a very serious expression, lips pulled into an angry frown - and slowly raised his hands either side of his head.

"Back the fuck up - to the wall", you advised, no room for argument in your admonishing tone, and Connor let out a frustrated sigh, obediently backing away until his back hit the wall.

"Threatening an officer with his own gun is a severe felony and will be added to your already long list of char-"

"Shut up." Connor's lips snapped shut at your command and he immediately set his processor to work, searching for a viable way to reverse his situation. Your reflexes were notably speedy, and to his dismay, he found that each preconstruction led to him receiving a bullet through his artificial brain before he could even attempt to get the jump on you.

Very slowly, your mouth curled into a smile and you arched an eyebrow, looking the detective up and down, before coolly demanding, "Take off your jacket."

"What?"

"Did I stutter? Take off your damn jacket."

Connor could see his LED cycling yellow in the reflection of the mirror to his peripheral right as he pondered why you could possibly be asking such a thing of him, but he didn't really have the spare time to deliberate, so he prudently shrugged his blazer from his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor before returning his hands to his head.

Your smile grew, the corners of your eyes wrinkling in what appeared to be delight as your gaze dragged over his chest and lingered primarily on the holster at his side, and you let out an amused huff, "Heh. Not bad, Connor."

The android's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "How do you know my name?"

"I have my sources. Turn around, hands on the wall", you ordered, voice level and confident.

Connor reluctantly did as he was told, dwelling for just a moment on your cryptic words, but the click of his gun being unloaded and dropped to the floor made him spin round again, your wavering giggles drifting down the hallway as you fled immediately. Fuck, Connor inwardly cursed, bounding instantaneously from the room, leaving his gun behind under the basis that the extra 0.5 seconds it would take to pick it up would be enough for you to disappear, and he sprinted down the landing, tackling you to the ground before you could make the turning to rush down the stairs.

You grunted as the android's weight pinned you down, and let out a sigh as Connor roughly grabbed your wrists and restrained them above your head in one hand.

"I won't let you get away this time", he proclaimed, glowering down at you as he reached back to retrieve the handcuffs hooked to his belt. He was being extra attentive, immobilising you with his entire body pressed flush against your own to ensure that you couldn't wriggle free, and he could feel every subtle movement and harsh breath you drew into your lungs as a result.

"Is that so?" you countered, biting your lower lip as the corners of your mouth pulled up in a rather coquettish manner. The sudden provocative tone of your voice made Connor pause for a fleeting two seconds, just long enough for you to angle your head up and brush your lips meaningfully against his own.

Connor stilled, eyes wide as your mouth persisted a moment too long against his, and his guard dropped rapidly out of shock. In the next moment, he was on his back, temporarily stunned from another unforeseen blow to his pump regulator - you'd twisted your lower body and pulled your legs up, striking him in the chest for the second time during his moment of vulnerability - and he scrambled back to his feet as you bolted down the stairs and made a break for the back door.

Connor released a gruff noise of annoyance, pushing himself to catch up - he would not let you get away again - he darted down the stairway and out the back door after you, catching a momentary glimpse of your leg as you disappeared around the side alley, and he practically threw his body into a charge, almost slamming into the fence as he made to turn.

And then he stopped, staring at the scene ahead.

"-and don't you even think about moving", Lieutenant Hank snapped brusquely, aiming his pistol at you domineeringly as you knelt on the concrete, hands on your head in surrender.

Connor gave a sigh of relief, grabbing his handcuffs as he approached you from behind, his harsh footfalls evident of his irritation. Your name left his mouth in a vexed tone, "I am placing you under arrest for multiple counts of burglary and for threatening to shoot an officer-"

"-I wasn't gonna shoot you-"

"-you do not have to say anything-" Connor continued, almost like a plea, "but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court." With your wrists bound tightly behind your back, Hank lowered his weapon, placing it back into his holster, and regarded the android with a look of scrutiny.

"Connor, why are you- why do you look so… dishevelled?" the lieutenant enquired, and Connor bristled with indignation as his eyes flickered down to his vague state of undress, his wrinkled, half-untucked shirt and his bare holster.

"That's not important", the android answered rigidly, growing further chagrined when you let out a snort of amusement, "Get them in the car. I need to get my things."

Hank's brow furrowed with suspicion and he spared you an inquisitive look before grabbing you by the arm to hoist you to your feet, "Right. C'mon kid, get a move on."

By the time Connor and Hank had reached the station and placed you into a holding cell, it was nearing two o'clock in the morning, and Connor had had more than enough time to compose himself after the exhilarating events that lead up to your capture.

Hank was eager to head home, grumbling something about being kept up by thieving delinquents; Connor thanked the lieutenant for his help and told him that he would join him in the car soon enough - he wanted to speak to you first.

The android stood before your cell, watching as you reclined on the surely uncomfortable mattress and tapped your foot against the wall to an unheard, improvised beat; he cleared his throat to demand your attention and spied the way your lips formed a beguiling smile. You sat up, swinging your legs over the edge of the bed to plant them on the floor and then pushed yourself up, strolling leisurely up to the transparent partition, hips swaying purposely as you did so - the motion caught Connor's eye and he forced himself to remain focus, affixing his narrow gaze to your face instead.

He had your attention. You continued to tap your foot, this time in a show of impatience as you waited for him to speak, shoving your hands into the front pocket of your black hoodie.

A multitude of questions fluttered through Connor's head - there were many things he wanted to ask you, but he had a limited amount of time before Hank began bombarding him with texts from the car, urging him to get a move on, so he had to prioritise.

"How did you know my name?" The android enquired curiously, tilting his head as he surveyed your face. You mimicked his subtle movement, your eyes taking in the fine details of his face in a way that was entirely distinct.

"I already told you, I have my sources", you batted your eyelashes and promptly expanded without much clarity, "I've got little eyes everywhere."

A soft sigh passed Connor's lips, "I'm not going to get a straight answer out of you, am I?"

You didn't respond, but the android was well aware of the way your smile widened.

"Alright, but I am curious about something. You have talent, that much is obvious", Connor spoke, and you grew slightly smug in your manner at the admission, "You're fast, nimble, with quick wits and quick reflexes. You sneak around with outstanding grace and I was admittedly impressed that you pulled off your heists without leaving even a hint of evidence. Your close-combat skills are astounding - it takes excessive competence to stun an android-"

"My, my, detective, you flatter me. It almost sounds like you have a crush", you teased, and Connor trailed off, his mouth hanging open for a moment too long, and he realised with displeasure that his cheeks grew a shade pinker in the reflection of the glass.

"That's… not what I was getting at", he stammered, combating his agitated countenance and pushing a more aloof expression onto his face, "My question is: where did you learn your craft?"

You cocked an eyebrow, a sarcastic smile forming on your face, "I taught myself."

Connor had hoped for a more circumstantial response, but he grasped the opportunity to wipe the complacent smirk from your face, "Ah, that explains why you weren't completely perfect."

A beat of silence. "Excuse me?"

The android's mouth twitched into a small smile, "Your lockpicking skills could use some work, and you slipped up a few weeks back. I found your DNA - a hair on the carpet."

Instead of shattering your self-congratulatory look, his words only made you shrug knowingly.

"Maybe I wanted you to find me", you suggested, winking coyly at the detective.

Connor stared you down for several moments, lips parted inquisitively, though the slight squint of his eyes betrayed the fact that he was both intrigued and perplexed by your behaviour; he crossed his arms, his hard gaze softening in the hopes that you would become more susceptible to answering his questions without the snark.

"You're gifted in many areas, why resort to stealing?"

"Tch", you rolled your eyes, "I do what I have to do to survive."

Connor shook his head, feeling very much like there was more to you than you were letting on, "Criminal activity is not the way to go-"

"Easy for you to say", you interrupted with a hint of bite behind your words, "You're an android. You don't need food, or clean water, or medicine, or warmth to sustain yourself."

The android blinked, "Still, there are places you can go for help. Stealing is immoral-"

"I'll tell you what's immoral, Connor", you began, face blank and voice calm despite the snideness of your words, "Young children dying of starvation and exposure while the rich hoard their money and turn a blind eye. I only steal from people who can afford to be stolen from, I guarantee those affluent fuckers won't miss the two-hundred-or-so dollars I took from 'em. It's practically loose change in their hands."

The android fell silent, observing the fiery passion behind your eyes as you spoke; you were very defensive in your stance, convinced that what you were doing was harmless.

After a few moments, you gave a sigh, "I wouldn't expect you to understand, you've never been in my position."

Connor's eyes twitched as to turned and began to walk back to the bed, "Wait. I have one more question."

You stopped, glancing back at the android over your shoulder, an expectant look on your face.

"Why did you kiss me?" Connor enquired softly, scanning you and inspecting your face for a reaction which you were quick to mask as your eyes twinkled with something incomprehensible.

You let out a chuckle, smiling with genuine mirth, and Connor found that the sound of merriment trickling past your lips was surprisingly pleasing to his auditory components.

"It was just a ruse, sweetheart", you told him with another wink, "Just a ruse to distract you so that I could get away." You simply hadn't accounted for the lieutenant's presence outside the house.

Connor blinked a few times fast, his LED flickering yellow in the reflection of the glass as he processed the nickname you referred to him with - but that wasn't the only thing that made him flustered. His scanners showed your pulse increase in pace, just slightly, suggesting that your response was, in fact, a lie.

The android did not press further. Instead, he simply nodded in acknowledgement, "Goodbye. I will see you in the morning for an official interrogation." As he turned to leave, another pleasant flow of laughter escaped your throat.

"No, you won't."

Connor stared at the monitor that displayed footage from the precinct's CCTV cameras of the night before, exhibiting your distasteful but clever ploy of faking a seizure in order to get poor Officer Miller to open up your cell room in a panic to apply the necessary first-aid steps; in retrospect, the android probably should have stayed put and guarded your cell for the whole night - his scanners would have given him a clear show of your vitals and he would have known immediately that you were pretending - that way, you wouldn't have gotten the chance to catch Chris off-guard and knock him out with a swift, expertly aimed strike.

It was astounding that you had just… walked out. You strode right through the room without alerting any of the few people present, acting as though you were supposed to be there - Connor supposed that with enough confidence, you could certainly walk anywhere and get away with it.

The android was disappointed, but not surprised.

It had taken him so much time and effort to catch you, it was really no shock that you had slipped away from him yet again. After nearly a month, he had come so close, you'd been right there in his grasp - a very small part of him was beginning to question whether he had been so careless on purpose in the hopes that you would escape.

There was something about chasing you that just brought Connor excitement - an excitement that he was wholly unfamiliar with. Pursuing criminals had never made his thirium pump throb with anticipation before, but somehow you triggered it like a glitch in his systems.

"You seem unexpectedly composed given the circumstances", came Hank's voice from over his shoulder, and Connor spared him a nonplussed glance and breathed a sigh.

"I have some concerns that I'm not quite sure how to interpret or approach", the android revealed, and the lieutenant raised an eyebrow, nodding his head for Connor to continue.

"Speak up, then. I'm all ears."

Connor frowned, pulling out his calibration coin to fiddle and flip in one hand as he searched his mind for the words he wanted to use; it was difficult to put into words how he felt - if he couldn't identify his own feelings, how was he supposed to describe them? - but he tried his best to narrate exactly what had occurred within his mind when he faced you.

"When I spoke to them last night", Connor began, motioning the looped footage on his terminal with his free hand, "I experienced something I never had before. I can't quite explain it… but looking into their eyes, I felt… an intense sensation - starling, even. But also kind of- kind of compelling? Perhaps even a little… addictive?" The android's face scrunched up in embarrassment as Hank's eyebrows shot up.

"Addictive and intense, huh?"

Connor frowned, "Yeah…"

"Just from looking in their eyes?"

"Uh-huh", the android confirmed.

"I know exactly what that is", Hank said, a knowing smile becoming apparent on his face, and Connor tilted his head expectantly.

"What is it, Hank?"

"It's called sexual tension, Connor."

This time, Connor's eyes grew wide, and his cheeks blossomed pink simultaneously, "Hank!"

The lieutenant laughed aloud at the android's appalled and mortified expression, "I'm not joking, kid. You've got the hots for them, it's written all over your face", he continued his throaty guffaws much to Connor's dismay while the android took a moment to consider Hank's diagnosis. The old man seemed pretty confident in his verdict over Connor's feelings, but it sounded ridiculous - it couldn't have been right - you were a criminal, why would he develop these kinds of feelings for you?

Then again, the thrill behind the prospect of hunting you down again was impossible to deny.

Perhaps Connor was less disappointed at your escape than he originally thought.

March 9th, 7:58pm

An anonymous tip-off brought Connor to a covert, abandoned three-floor building. Somebody had claimed to have caught sight of you prowling around the area and Connor took no chances - he borrowed Hank's car and drove to the apparent location of your 'head-quarters' as speedily as the old vehicle allowed him.

The bottom floor space was mostly a large, empty garage - nothing but boxes full of junk, old and broken pieces of furniture, empty bottles and canisters, faded magazines and other miscellaneous papers littering the floor. It didn't look like a particularly safe environment, the android almost hoped he'd gotten the wrong place - this was not a good place to live.

As he moved through the ominously desolate area, Connor heard what was unmistakably the faint sound of giggles; the android grew still, turning his auditory sensitivity up to maximum in order to pinpoint where the noises were coming from - the resonating echo seemed to be coming from above him, the next floor up, so Connor turned his attention to the ajar door that led to the stairwell and proceeded with caution.

Connor managed to ascend three whole steps before he promptly became aware of a presence behind him - the soft and distinct noise of your footsteps, something he may not have heard if he hadn't turned up his audio sensitivity - and he quickly swung round, narrowly avoiding the promising blow from your fist.

"Stop right there-" you called his bluff with ease when he made the move to point his gun at you and you swiftly disarmed him, knowing he would refrain from actually pulling the trigger - his gun fell down the concrete steps and out of reach - before you gave him a solid shove. You tried to push him back against the steps, but Connor levered himself up with a hand on the banister, jumping up to the top of the stair to put some distance between himself and you.

You charged at him, rearing back to connect your fist with his face, but the android caught it, and then caught your follow-up punch, but he didn't expect the knee to the crotch - it didn't hurt, obviously, but the surprise and the force of impact pushed him back a couple of paces.

"Will you stop-"

Yet again, you stormed the android, trying your hardest to land a strike somewhere on the detective's body, but each attempt was obstructed by Connor's prepared counter - he was primed for this encounter, having realised what to expect now that he'd had the chance to mull over your combative methods.

With a startled cry, you were shoved against the wall; the android held your wrists either side of your head to prevent anymore of your nasty hits. "Are you done?" Connor enquired with exasperation, his breathing steady and unhampered while you inhaled and exhaled deeply, your breaths tickling against the android's collar.

"Heh", you huffed out a laugh, "I see you've wisened up." You made no move to escape his hold, inclining your head to stare into his brown eyes, "I didn't really notice before, but you have the loveliest eyes, sweetheart."

Connor gave no outward reaction to the soft compliment, but his processor seemed to inadvertently give a flutter at the praise and his LED gave a few stuttering flashes at your words. He took a moment to compose himself, "You're a formidable opponent, for a human."

Your tongue rolled over your front teeth as your lips pulled into a grin, "Oh, I do love when you flirt back, Connor."

The android's eyebrow quirked up, "I wasn't flir-"

"Shut up and kiss me", you demanded at once, and Connor blinked, his LED flickering yellow as his mouth fell open with incredulity.

His gaze burned into yours for several moments, and then the little light on his head turned blue; his lips were against your own within a fraction of a second, his tongue sliding into your mouth with invasive curiosity - you hadn't been expecting it, and breathed in sharply through your nose, but delighted nonetheless as he explored the inside of your mouth with vehement spirit.

Connor's grip on your wrists loosened as he devoted all his attention to the kiss and you slipped your hands free, slinging your arms around the detective's neck to deepen it; the steady vibrations of your moans reverberated through his mouth and urged a few muffled noises from the android in the process.

His hands explored with keen interest, one hand giving your hip a soft caress before beginning to climb higher, stroking up your side in an attempt to evoke more sweet noises from your throat, while the other hand came to the back of your head, fingers tangling through your locks unapologetically.

It was Connor who broke the kiss suddenly when your hands brushed down his back, pulling away as a sigh rushed past his lips and a wide-eyed look reached his face as if he'd only just realised what he was doing. You watched his tongue dart out and lick the glistening wetness from his lips - the kiss may have been sloppy and lacking experience, but damn if it hadn't been good.

The android pursed his lips, cheeks glowing with bashfulness, and it brought a huge smile to your face to see him looking so reserved all of a sudden. His eyes really were alluring - like melted chocolate hiding a hint of cinnamon spice - and he stared back at you, seemingly just as transfixed.

He broke the silence abruptly.

"Your pupils have dilated."

"Yeah?"

"You're attracted to me."

"Wh- oh, really? Wow, did you figure that out before or after I asked you to kiss me?"

Connor's gaze fluttered down, another endearing action that pulled a laugh from your throat, "Connor, come with me. There's something I want to show you."

The android tilted his head inquisitively, slowly releasing you from his arms to allow you freedom to move; you climbed the rest of the stairs to the next floor up and came to a stop by the door that led to the second-floor area, peering in through the small viewing window. Connor followed you lead, peeking through the glass, and a few things clicked into place.

The room was only vaguely more homely than the ground floor, a few old mattresses and couches organised in rows, along with a few drawer units and a small television on a stand in the corner, but what caught his eye the most were the presence of several children. They were blissfully unaware of him, too busy with their gaze on the tv or buried in some tattered books - Connor counted eight kids altogether, ages ranging between six and thirteen.

"This is why I do what I do, okay? I gotta take care of them." You admitted quietly, not wanting to draw the attention of any of the children.

Connor frowned, scanning your face with scrutiny, "This isn't a suitable lifestyle, you know", he paused to say your name, the syllables rolling off his tongue in an incredibly pleasing way, "There are people who can take care of them and ensure they grow up healthy, with a good education-"

You shook your head stubbornly, "They'd be split apart. You can't do that to these kids- we're family, okay? I'm doing just fine on my own."

The android's stare was skeptical and you rolled your eyes, giving him a quiet huff of laughter before taking his hand, "Let me show you something else."

Connor tilted his head, his eyes landing heavily on the hand clutching his own, and allowed himself to be led further up the stairs to the third floor where you guided him into a darkened room, the windows having been boarded up and blotted out, "What is it you wanted to show me?"

He saw you grin through the darkness and you stepped closer to him, pressing your hands against his chest in a way that made his breath catch, "I actually didn't wanna show you anything, I just wanted to make sure the kids wouldn't find us."

"Wha-"

"Shh", you hushed him, pushing him back gently till he was trapped between your body and the cold wall; you were flush against his torso, your lips ghosting over his teasingly but refusing to meet, and he let you take his hands, interlocking your fingers through his as your gently blew air against his neck.

"Mm, hey… what are you do-" Connor was swiftly cut off by the sound of a loud click, the noise resonating deafeningly in the vast, dark room. It preceded your mischievous chuckle and the android's gaze dropped quickly to his hands to find that you'd handcuffed him to a thick steel pipe with his own handcuffs.

"Sorry, sweetheart. Can't have you taking my kids away", you declared, a smug smirk on your face, and Connor slumped with discontent, "We're all gonna be gone by the time your cop pals show up, but don't worry… I'm sure we'll meet again soon, detective." You winked as you licked your lips.

"Uncuff me right now", Connor ordered, the shame of having been caught unaware quite apparent on his face.

"Nope. Actually, hang on-" your shoved your hand into Connor's hair, ruffling it up as he tried to recoil, and then tugged his jacket down his arms a little, revealing more of his magnificent torso. You popped the top three buttons of his shirt open, much to the android's alarm, and loosened his tie dramatically before stepping back to admire your work.

"Hmm, I could be really wicked and undo your belt but… nah, I'm sure your lieutenant will get the idea", you seemed outright gleeful and it caused Connor's processor to inexplicably heat up, "You see, this is what happens when you let your dick guide you instead of your head."

"You are…" Connor began, trailing into silence until you prompted him eagerly.

"What am I? Hm?"

"You are good."

You beamed, eyes wrinkling in the corners from the strength of your smile, "And you're not bad, sweetheart." Leaning forward, you stole one last thing - a soft peck on the lips that Connor eagerly responded to for the short duration in which it lasted.

"I really must be going now", were your last words, before you exited out the door, rushing to rally up your kids and move bases.

Connor waited in the darkness until he heard the noise of your minivan's engine starting up and smirked, "I'm sure we will meet again soon", he murmured aloud to no one in particular as he activated the nano-tracker he had stuck to the underside of your vehicle before entering the building.

Now he just had to deal with the humiliation of being found moderately debauched with his hands fastened behind his back.

Notes: Please leave me a review! I worked so hard on this chapter! Longest chapter yet I think!? I always appreciate your comments and support - I read every single one even if I don't reply to every single one, and I love them all so please do offer feedback!