"I wanted your opinion on something."
Markus doesn't call Connor often. Connor stops washing dishes in Hank's kitchen once he receives a call through the component on the side of his head. He half expects another invitation to another android gathering because that was what Markus typically called him for.
"What is it?" Connor asks.
"Could you come over? It's a personal matter."
Connor takes off the rubber gloves on his hands and inspects the unfinished dishes in the sink. Everything in his program was against leaving such an imperfect display of gross filth but Markus was his friend. The dishes could wait.
"Yeah. I think I can do that. Let me just put it through Hank first."
"I know how attached you are to him. I wouldn't tell you to do otherwise."
"I am certainly not attached," Connor puts himself on the defensive.
Markus laughs and says nothing else. He hangs up without a goodbye but Connor understands that it's because it isn't a goodbye. Why would Markus need to bid farewell when Connor was going to see him?
"Hank?" Connor calls out, searching around for the lieutenant with the hopes that he hadn't walked out while Connor was on a phone call. Connor takes one look at Sumo who lays lazily in the corner of the living room and then he moves his gaze to the hallway where Hank's room hid. Connor approaches Hank's room, almost feeling as if he were an intruder, and notices how Hank had left his door slightly open. One peek through the crack gave Connor the knowledge that Hank was knocked out cold. The way he was sprawled across the bed-sheets was the outcome of a long day of work.
Connor, after seeing this, wisely decides to leave him alone.
He grabs his coat from the coat hanger near the door and slides his arms in the sleeves.
It takes hardly any time to catch a bus and reach Markus' house.
Markus welcomes him with open arms.
"Connor! Didn't think you'd be back at my house so soon, huh?"
"Am I that predictable?"
Markus laughs, "No, actually, but that's what I like about you."
Connor gives Markus a small smile and allows the android to escort him into the dining room. He had grown familiar with the room after the last time he had visited. This time, he didn't feel too out of place, and he wasn't surrounded by other people.
Connor settles himself in a chair and Markus does the same across from him.
His smile falls and his face takes a serious turn.
"What I'm about to ask you is fairly personal and extremely important."
Connor feels his emotions take a twist. What could be so important to make Markus turn as serious as he was now? He looked just like he did during his deviant leader days and that look alone took Connor back in time to when he held a gun up to his face. He remembers how calm Markus was even when he was facing danger. This was the same look he had then.
"North and I have been together for a while…"
Connor tilts his head.
Markus had sounded as if a huge crisis was happening. What did this have to do with anything?
"If she says yes… well…" Markus rubs at his nose, cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"What?" Connor doesn't understand what Markus is hinting at.
"I'm thinking of proposing to North," Markus finally musters up the courage to say it outright, "and… if she says yes… well… would you be my best man? I know it's kind of early but-... yeah."
Connor blinks.
"But aren't weddings human traditions?"
"Weddings are the demonstration of a close bond," Markus explains, "so it's not limited to humans."
"Can androids even have lawful weddings?"
"They can now," Markus looks smug when he says it, "ever since the android liberation, a lot of laws have been passed for the rights of androids. But enough about that - just tell me your answer - I'm a bit impatient."
Connor, in any other circumstances, would have said no. However, Markus was his friend, and Connor felt he owed him a display of his adoration for him. That's why he regards his friend fondly and says, "If you insist, I suppose I must."
Markus' grin is infectious.
"Great. This is, great," Markus can't contain his excitement, "Carl! Carl! Excuse me for one second, Connor."
Markus stands from his chair and rushes out of the dining room and up the stairs. Connor can hear his stomps on the stairs from where he sits and Connor just laughs.