After It All
"So, you and Markus have sorted your problems?" Simon looked up to see North standing in front of him. He was sitting on the grass in the garden outside their 'New Jericho'.
He smiled lightly. "We have… been talking." He said carefully.
North snorted and sat beside him. She ran her fingers through the grass before she flopped back onto the grass. She let out a content sigh and closed her eyes to block out the sunlight. Simon went back to what he had been doing, watching. He watched as other androids toiled in the garden, some of the children played and other androids who were simply enjoying each other's company.
"I'm glad…" North began slowly, gaining Simon's attention. "I'm glad that you worked it out. He was so worried about you." She rolled onto his side and locked eyes with him. "We were so sick of his moping while you were gone."
Simon laughed, and were he capable, he would have blushed. "I was jealous." He said simply. "I saw you and him together, and I just hated it." He shook his head. "I hated it, I even hate you for a time." He shook his head. "I'm sorry North, I let anger nearly destroy me. Destroy any chances of happiness with Markus.."
A ball hit his head and he blinked in shock. His eyes shot to North who was grinning at him. "Get over it!" she picked the ball up and bounced it in her hands. "You make Markus happy, that's all I care about." She pulled herself up to stand, her eyes pinned him with a cold look. "You hurt him though, it'll be more than a ball!" she winked at him and walked away.
Simon watched her retreating back with a small smile. "She means it, you know." Simon looked back to see Markus watching him.
"I'm sure that she does." Simon replied as Markus moved to sit beside him.
Markus took a hold of Simon's chin and leaned forward to place a kiss on his lips. Simon leaned into the kiss, a low whine escaped his mouth as Markus pulled away. He sent Markus a pout, which the other laughed in response to. Frowning, Simon flopped back onto the grass. Markus leaned on his side beside him and ran his fingers through the others hair. He then leaned down to place another kiss on Simon's lips. Simon smiled in contentment and tugged Markus down to deepen the embrace.
XXX
Three days. Connor sent a quick look to Adrian who was typing at his computer. It had been three days since Adrian had last talked to him. Three days since the detective had confessed his feelings for Connor. Three days.. and Connor had never felt more confused. He wished that he could talk to the Detective, but it seemed that Adrian had been doing everything in his power to avoid Connor. He had even stopped bringing him little gifts when he went out to get coffee. He eyed the detective again. He was going to talk to him today, somehow, he would watch Adrian and wait for his opportunity. It would happen. It had to.
"Okay Connor." Hank's voice snapped him from his thoughts. He turned to see Hank watching him with a raised brow and crossed arms.
"Yes, Hank?" he asked with a tilt of his head.
"What the fuck is going on?" he asked, he nodded his head to Adrian. "The fuck happened with your boyfriend?"
Connor looked down at his desk.
Adrian let out a laugh. "Trust you to be exact." He mumbled, he sighed. "I was in love with this person for three years, three months, five hours and three minutes." He did not move his eyes from Connor's. "My relationship, or any that I have from now, won't work because I am completely, utterly, unstoppably in love. With you, Connor."
Connor froze at the words. He had never been told anything like that in his existence. To hear such words, directed at him… he had no idea how to process what was happening. What did he say back? Did he 'thank' Adrian. No, he frowned, that did not feel right, tanking Adrian felt wrong. It felt like the wrong answer. Then what? Did he love Adrian? He honestly did not know, he had never felt or experienced that kind of love.
"I'm sorry that I…" Adrian said softly, he tugged at his sleeve. "I'm sorry Connor." Thinking that Connor's silence was rejection, the detective climbed into his car and drove off. It was only as his car took off, that Connor realised what was happening. He watched the car pull away with a small frown.
"I made a mistake, Hank." He looked up at Hank with sad eyes.
"Connor.." Hank frowned.
XXX
Claire snuggled her face into her pillow as she woke. She let out a groan and pulled the covers closer around her. She reached over to feel for Ralph. When her hand was met with just her blankets, her eyes snapped open. She groaned and her body protested as she pushed herself up. It had been days since the event in the police station and the wounds on her body had been aching since her adrenaline had worn off.
She looked around the room. Her eyes softened as she saw her clothes folded and placed at the end of her bed. Ralph's clothes were gone. Perhaps he was tending to his garden? She pulled herself out of her bed and went about dressing in what Ralph had picked out for her. A pink long sleeved top and some jeans. She smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, Ralph seemed to like pinks on her. She pulled her hair up into a bun and left the bedroom.
She looked around the house with confusion on her face. There was no sign of Ralph. Where had he gone? She walked into the living room, the kitchen, no Ralph. She then looked out onto her balcony, where his garden was, no Ralph. She frowned. Where was he? It was then that she noticed something written on her refrigerators whiteboard. Ralph is getting milk. She laughed at her own silliness for worrying and went about making herself some toast.
While she was spreading some jam on her toast she heard the sound of her doorbell ringing. She sighed, she just wanted to eat her toast. She put the toast down and walked to the door. Opening it she was met with the sight of;
"Mother?" she said stunned.
A short, portly woman in a red sweatsuit pushed into the apartment. "Where is it?" the woman snapped, her long blonde curls bouncing as she strutted through the living room.
Claire closed the door behind her. she was completely confused by her mother's antics. "Where is what?" she asked, following after her mother.
Her mother turned to her, her green eyes sharp and volatile. "I raise a beautiful, smart little girl," she began and Claire instantly recognised the 'guilt' voice. "A little girl who I love with all my heart, who I thought was a nice, honest girl. Instead I find that I've raised a little hussy who enjoys relations with Androids!"
Well shit. Claire frowned. Apparently, the photos from the news had made their way to her mother in San Diego. "Mother." She began.
"Don't you mother me." Her mother snapped. "You had a nice, wonderful boyfriend, and now I hear that you're shaking up with a piece of plastic!" her arms flailed in her excitement.
"His name is Ralph!" Claire snapped back. Of all of the days possibilities, fighting with her mother was not something that she had wanted to do. She would though, Ralph deserved her sticking up for him. "Adam was an ass who doesn't deserve a lick of love!"
Her mother staggered back, as though she had been struck. Claire resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the antics. She was over it. She had had too much bullshit in her life. She just wanted a few days, months… possibly years, of living in peace. Preferably naked, in bed, with Ralph. She watched as her mother sat at the table.
"Mother, is this necessary?" she asked, crossing her arms in annoyance.
XXX
Connor watched as Adrian walked past and headed to the break room. Now was his chance! Perhaps they could have a conversation, or at least share a few words. He rose from his chair and followed after the detective. Upon entering the break room, he spotted Adrian talking to… Detective Reed. He frowned, he did not want a confrontation with Gavin today, but he wanted, no needed, to talk to Adrian. He stepped forwards.
"Excuse me, Detective Archer."
Adrian turned from Gavin and eyed Connor with distant eyes. It sent chills through Connor, never had Adrian pinned him with eyes like those. Adrian's eyes had always been full of live, happiness and… now that he knew what it was, love… he had to try to fix the problem between them.
"Fuck off Plastic Prick." Gavin snapped, turning to look at him.
Connor tilted his head. "I'm sorry that my presence offends you, I merely want to speak to Detective Archer." He tried to placate Gavin. The pair had been nothing but tense with each other since Connor had beaten Gavin in the evidence room.
Gavin let out a 'tsk', he raised a fist and shoved Connor's shoulder. "Learn to obey humans you fucking-" he was cut off, quite literally by a fist connecting with his nose. Connor, and several of the other officers, watched with wide eyes as Adrian held his fist.
"Leave him alone." Adrian's voice was low, dangerous.
Gavin staggered back and held his bloodied nose. "What the fuck!?" he shouted. "Fucking prick!" he then lunged at Adrian. Fists flew as the pair began a tangle of limbs, blood and shouting.
Connor looked around for ways to stop the violence. In his search he noticed that Hank had gotten up from his desk and was watching the scene with, an amused smile? He frowned, how was this funny? His quest for a way to stop the fight, was solved by Captain Fowler walking out of his office with a shout.
"That's enough!"
Gavin and Adrian instantly pulled apart, they held their injuries and panted.
"Get your asses in my office!" when Gavin looked like he was going to protest, Fowler raised a finger. "Did I fucking stutter!? Now!"
XXX
"It's disgusting Claire." Her mother said from her spot at the table. Claire was standing, leaning against the wall of the kitchen. "How do you even have sex with it? Androids weren't designed for that. It's unnatural."
"Kamski was a perv mum!" she snapped. "You'd know that if you ever met the man. All androids. All androids. Were built with sex capabilities. It just… doesn't come out until it's…needed." She felt her cheeks redden. She had been an engineer when she worked at cyberlife, she knew mechanically how they worked, but there was something about talking about this with her mother that was just too much for her.
Her mother pulled a face. "Comes out when it's needed!? This is disgusting! An affront of god!"
The door to the apartment opened and Ralph walked in carrying a bag of groceries he started to walk towards her. "Claire! Ralph brought milk, and bread and-" he paused at the sight of her mother. "Who is this?"
Claire pointed. "Ralph, this is my mother, mother, this is Ralph." She closed her eyes and awaited the impending confrontation.
Ralph moved and placed the bags on the counter. He then turned to face Claire's mother. He held out a hand to her. "Ralph is happy to meet Claire's mother." His eyes widened as she slapped his hand away.
"Don't you touch me, you filthy piece of plastic!" she glared at him. The hate in her eyes evident.
"You need to leave." Claire took one look at the hurt in Ralph's eyes and the words let her mouth. She moved to stand beside Ralph. She held his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Her smile widened when he squeezed it back.
"You're going to throw me out! Your own mother? For this machine?" her mother rose from the chair and glared at the two of them.
"I love you mother." Claire said firmly. "But I love Ralph too and his feelings, at the moment are much more important that yours."
"What is this?" her mother flailed her hand. "Childish rebellion? You're twenty-six for gods sake!"
Claire held Ralph's hand tighter. "This is nor a rebellion. I love Ralph, I'd marry him, not just to spite you, but because I love him. You need to get out!" Claire watched her mother storm from the apartment. Her body shook with anger. How dare she. How Dare she. How dare she.
"Claire, Marry Ralph?"
Claire felt her heart stop. She slowly looked beside her. Her green eyes locking with his warm brown. "I'm sorry if that made you umcomf-" she was cut off by his mouth. She let out a moan and responded happily.
XXX
"Poor kid got suspended for a week," Hank said from his spot on the sofa. He let out a chuckle. "Gavin, the cock head, got three." Hank scratched Sumo's head and continued to watch the news.
Connor, who was sitting beside Hank, remained silent. His eyes were staring at the television but he was not paying attention to anything that was on the screen. No, his mind was on the events of earlier today. Just what had happened? He had seen it, Adrian had socked Gavin. Which, while it had been amazing to watch, confused Connor. Why had he done it? Adrian had said; 'leave him alone', had Adrian been defending Connor? He rubbed Sumo's back while he continued to ponder what had happened.
"Welp, Connor," Hank pulled himself from the chair. "I'm going to go get a burger, I'll be back later."
Connor looked up at Hank. "Hank, you shouldn't drive after consuming the amount of alcohol you've had. I can drive you."
Hank waved him off. "It's fine Connor, I'll walk." Had Connor not been so distracted, he would have immediately suspected something. "It's around the corner, I'll be quick." He waved at the android and left.
Connor remained on the chair and continued to pat Sumo for fifteen minutes, before the sound of the doorbell caused him to pull himself up from the chair. Sumo let out a bark but did not move from his warm spot on the sofa. He walked to the door and opened it, he froze when he saw who was standing there.
"Hey Connor," Adrian scratched at his sleeve. "Lieutenant Anderson told me to come, something to do with my suspension. Is he here?" he looked around as if waiting for Hank to appear.
Connor frowned, his eyebrows creased. "I'm sorry, Hank has gone to get a burger, he'll be back soon though." He gestured inside. "Would you like to come in?"
Adrian smiled lightly. Connor watched with keep eyes as he flinched at the movement, most likely from the pain in his black eye. Adrian walked into the house and Connor offered for him to sit on the sofa. Adrian nodded and Connor sat beside him. The two of them watched the television in silence for five minutes.
"I am sorry about the suspension." Connor said.
Adrian let out a breath of laugh. "I'm not, Gavin's a prick."
Ten more minutes…
"He should be back soon." Connor reassured.
Thirty minutes later…
"I don't think he's coming back." Adrian commented and leaned his jaw in his palm.
Five more minutes…
"Adrian…" Connor looked over at Adrian, almost hesitantly. Adrian looked at him with a raised brow. "Can I ask you a question?"
Adrian sighed. "Well I think that the Lieutenant's either played your wingman and set this whole thing up, or he's drunk and forgotten. Knowing the Lieutenant, it could be either. So, why not? Ask away." He gestured with his hands for Connor to proceed.
"You said that you loved me, did you mean it?" Connor had been planning these words for days, but he still felt surprised when they left his mouth.
Adrian closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. When he opened them again, he looked into Connor's eyes. "I do, I don't think I could ever stop."
"Adrian.." Connor began. "May I kiss you?"
Adrian's eyes widened and he gave a shaky nod. Connor reached forward and placed his palms on each of Adrian's cheeks. He slowly inched forwards, he could feel himself and Adrian trembling. Before he could second guess himself, he pressed his lips against the detectives.
He was completely unprepared for the flurry of emotions that took him. It was pure, innocent, yet full of a passion that he did not even know that he possessed. He felt Adrian open his mouth and he slid his tongue in to explore the feeling. He switched off the analysis program that flashed and simply focused on the feeling of Adrian. Then Adrian let out a moan. It was the most beautiful sound that Connor had ever heard. His hand slid up to clutch at the back of Adrian's head. He clenched his fingers in the other's hair and the sound that slipped from the human's lips only encouraged him further. He wanted, no, needed, more. He moved to push forward only to jump as Sumo let out a whine. Their eyes shot open. They had apparently forgotten the dog.
They looked down at Sumo who looked as though he had no intention of moving away. Adrian let out a laugh. "Silly boy." He ruffled Sumo's ears. He then looked at Connor. His eyes darkened. "Is there somewhere that we could go to continue this?"
Connor held his hand out to Adrian who gladly accepted it. He smiled at the detective, he did not know if what he felt for Adrian was love, but he was excited to explore, and find out. "There is." He led Adrian to his room.
A/N: I hope that you liked the chapter, let me know! :)