"Mercury," Connor says affectionately, stroking the kitten on the floor in front of him with two fingers. The kitten, a bright orange and white, paid little attention to Connor. Its attention was focused on the cat toy that Hank had brought home. (Connor had asked him why he had brought him home but Hank refused to answer truthfully. Said something about keeping them occupied instead of bothering him.)

He had named all of the kittens after planets. Planets which have been named after Roman gods. Mercury was the runt of the litter, being entertained with its new mouse toy with a bundle of feathers instead of a tail. The others, colors varying from orange to white, were wrestling with one another. (Except for the fourth which was testing Sumo's patience) Connor, from simply observing them, could tell that they were getting bigger. Their growth was a reminder that he needed to find them a home.

His thoughts on finding the kittens a new home is interrupted when he hears a knock on the door. Hank wasn't home so Connor debated on whether it would be wise to answer or not. The person knocking could be knocking with the intent of speaking to Hank. However, if that was the case, it would be rude to not answer and tell them that Hank wasn't home. Then again, it should be obvious Hank isn't home because his car isn't in the driveway.

Connor answers the door.

He is greeted with a face of relief.

"Connor! You're okay!"

Connor didn't remember ever telling Markus where he lived. Somehow, the deviant leader had found him and was now standing on Hank's front porch.

He doesn't anticipate to be pulled into Markus' arms for a few seconds. The android gives Connor a few friendly pats on the back before releasing him.

"Markus," Connor says, "I did not anticipate your visit."

"Right, didn't call ahead, but I was a bit too worried to think straight."

"You were worried?"

Markus nods, "Of course! I thought you were dead! If not dead, then critically injured. Joshua told me that he had forgotten you were bleeding out. We raced to see if you were still there in the alleyway and once we discovered you weren't there… we trailed your blood to the bus stop. I figured it wouldn't hurt to see if you were okay in person."

Connor doesn't want to leave Markus standing outside. Not when Markus had so easily allowed Connor into his own home multiple times. That's why Connor opens the door and gestures inside before saying, "Why don't you come inside?"

"Thanks," Markus says, stepping into the house. His eyes scan his surroundings and take in everything he sees.

"Cozy place," he notes.

"Not nearly as spacious as yours, I'm afraid," Connor points out, settling himself in a chair next to the dining table. He positions the chair so that he can have a clear view of Markus because the android was wandering around the room to observe any objects that caught his interest.

"It's different," Markus agrees, "but there's nothing wrong with that."

Markus moves to walk around the couch and Connor stretches out his hand in a sudden panic. "Stop!"

Markus quirks a brow but does as commanded.

Connor gestures toward the floor.

Markus looks at the kittens grouped together on the floor and laughs nervously, "Oh, that was rather stupid of me…" Markus crouches down and eyes the kittens, "where these little critters pop up from?"

Connor explains, "They were strays. I took them in."

Markus lifts his chin to smile at Connor, who now stands across from him. "You have a bleeding heart, Connor," Markus teases, "always going at of your way to take care of things that aren't your responsibility." Markus's face turns solemn and his gaze on Connor sharpens, "And it might just do more than get you shot in the shoulder. Those two androids that you followed? They were misguided. They thought they were doing something on my behalf, something I didn't ask for, and I have no doubts that there are others like them out there. I need you to be careful." Markus pauses and then adds," For me."

Connor returns Markus' sharp gaze and nods once, "Okay. I can do that."

Markus' stiff expression falls and his smile returns.

"Now who are these little fellows?"

Connor and Markus converse a little while longer before Markus' father calls him home. Markus stands up, Mars cuddled into one of his arms, and Connor gets the faintest idea that maybe Markus wanted a kitten. So, with a lot of pushing and convincing, Markus leaves the house with a kitten in his arm. Markus had told Connor he wasn't so sure what Carl would think but Connor had urged him to take Mars anyway. Markus had finally shrugged, said something along the lines of 'why the hell not?' and left with Mars in tow.

He had a feeling that Markus would take good care of Mars. He just hoped his feeling wasn't… misguided.

Like those androids.

…

Connor had a lot to think about.