Connor feels out of place.

That much could be seen from his stiff posture.

North could see it too from where she stood across from Connor's chair.

He is seated at a round glass table that was accompanied by three other chairs. All of them, except for the one Connor sat in, were empty. The fourth may have been that way had North not invited him to take a seat while Markus was finishing doing whatever it was he was doing. Connor didn't know the specifics but all he knew was that Markus had been preoccupied before Connor even knocked on the front door.

The area around Connor was strange for one reason; It was a newlywed's home. It was a house that Markus had bought with his own money after both he and his wife returned from their honeymoon. That meant that Markus no longer lived with Carl or his personal android assistant. Instead, he now lived in a comfy home which seemed to have gathered inspiration from Carl's place. There was a large amount of artwork hanging around the house, some still on the floor waiting to be hooked onto the wall, and Connor wondered if Markus knew how much his father seemed to have rubbed off on his taste of art.

"Do you know why Markus invited you over?" North interrupts Connor's thoughts with a question.

"He didn't tell you?" Connor returns curiously.

North huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. She leans against the wall behind her as she says, "No, he didn't. Figured it was something between both of you."

Connor's mind wanders over to the last memory of Markus. The last time he had seen him, Connor was in Hank's car, and Markus was on the sidewalk watching them leave. From Connor's understanding, Markus had called up Hank the day afterward while Connor had left to visit Kamski, and that was what had provoked Hank to jet out of the house to follow Connor's trail. If Markus had not told Hank that Connor had been lying to the both of them, for reasons unbeknownst to them, his father might not have intervened in his meeting with Kamski.

And honestly? That outcome seemed to be much more preferable than having to be tugged out of Kamski's house like a disobedient child. He understood where Hank was coming from, he did, but he wasn't a child.

"Perhaps," Connor inclines his head, "or maybe it is something unrelated. He could require assistance."

"I don't know why he'd go to you instead of his own wife, then," North's brow twitches as she frowns. "I'm pretty sure that's not the reason."

Before the two can continue conversing, North's interest flies away from Connor and float across his shoulder. That's all Connor needs to know that Markus was in the room. Soon enough, the man himself sits in the chair across from Connor's. The deviant leader sends his wife a glance and the woman huffs once more. She picks herself up from the wall she was leaning against and gave her husband a hard stare. From this interaction, Connor could only guess that North and Markus were communicating with each other mentally. He can't imagine them staring at each other so intently for any other reason unless it was just… as they say… 'getting lost in one's eyes.' That was something that wasn't particularly appropriate for the situation though.

North sighs suddenly and her shoulders drop in defeat.

"Fine, but you'll tell me what this is all about after this. Okay?"

Markus nods.

North, seeming satisfied with Markus' answer, leaves the room not soon after.

All that is left is Connor and Markus.

Markus starts first.

"I know that you might be angry with me-..."

Connor wasn't angry with him.

"But you must understand that you were lying after recently having been sent to a repair shop…"

So it was about giving him away to Hank.

"That's why I contacted Hank," Markus tells him, "And I'm sorry that I did it behind your back… it's just… my concerns were heavy. You don't usually lie."

Markus falls silent after saying his piece. He looks at Connor expectantly, waiting for him to say his part, and Connor does exactly that.

"While the outcome of telling Hank that I had been lying is not something I wanted... I could see where you were coming from for telling him… and I appreciate your concern for me. You did what you thought was right." Connor says this knowing full well that Markus was the type of guy that would always do what he felt was right, no matter the cost or consequences. That's why he was the leader of all androids.

After Connor finishes, it looked as if Markus had a large burden taken off his shoulders. He visibly lightens and his face no longer looks as grave as it was mere seconds ago.

"Does that mean we're good?" He asks.

Connor considers him for a long moment but relents with a nod of his head.

"Yeah, we're good."

A genuine smile replaces Markus' hesitant one. Connor finds Markus' smile to be infectious because he finds himself smiling back.

It stays that way until a slender hand lands on his shoulder.

"So are you boys finally done?" North asks from behind Connor. Markus looks up at her affectionately and rubs a sheepish hand across the back of his neck.

"Sorry about that, sweetheart."

She laughs gently, "Why are you apologizing to me? This was obviously something you both needed."

Connor makes a move to stand up and North takes her hand from his shoulder. He turns to look at her straight in the eye and says, "I'm afraid I've stayed longer than welcome."

North raises a brow and waves her hand in dismissal.

"No way! In fact, stay a little longer! We'd love to have you!"

Connor begins, "But I fear my visit may have…" he doesn't get to finish as North clamps her hand on his shoulder once more.

"You will always be welcome here," she assures him, "and that's something I don't want you to forget. If you're ever in any trouble, you have my permission to run straight here."

Markus speaks up teasingly, "My wife's word is the law around here, Connor."

Connor regards his two friends with a hint of humor in his eyes. It might have escaped their notice if they did not know him so well but they seemed to catch his humorous glint.

"I shall not forget," he promises.