The first of March had passed by, and the new rights and laws designated to protect all deviants within the city had been officially enacted. Such a shift in dynamic and law enforcement had required a rather lengthy meeting for all active officers and detectives to ensure everyone understood these news laws and understood how to enforce such laws to protect all of their people within Detroit's city limits. Due to the extensive coverage required to bring every active law enforcement officer up to speed on the changes, dozens of meetings had to be scheduled throughout the day within each police precinct throughout Detroit. As expected, such mandatory and lengthy meetings were met with notable disdain and an abrupt dip in overall morale.

The tension building in the air had been undeniable after the meetings. It seemed as if the lingering bigots in each precinct had felt personally called out and attacked in the meetings and those who had been offended had been giving nasty glares to the deviant employees all day long. It didn't take long for the misplaced resentment to affect the deviants' moral either, and in turn many of the deviants working within the precincts had been taking extended breaks or clocking-out early to avoid potential future problems.

Unwilling to be bullied by bigots and egotism, Connor was the only deviant in the entire Central Precinct who refused to clock-out early that day. Through sheer stubbornness and a strong will, the deviant detective managed to survive the morning and afternoon without a single run-in with a bigoted colleague or blink at any of the posted threats against deviants on the precinct's internal chat forum.

A forum that was actively being monitored as a means of locating the troublesome officers before they had the chance to do anything monumentally stupid.

"Fuckin' idiots seem to forget that just because they're cops using online aliases, that it doesn't mean they can get away with life or death threats." Hank grumbled as he read over the confirmed threats on the forum posts. It was only a matter of time before tech tracked down the I.P. addresses and identified the cowards hiding behind their keyboards and talking a big game. "Gotta' appreciate the creativity behind their online names though."

"Creativity?" Connor was still adapting to sarcasm and gave Hank a perplexed look as his blue L.E.D. cycled to yellow. The deviant had been quietly sitting behind his desk with his coin dancing along his knuckles as he waited for the historic day to come to an end. "What's creative about being bigoted?"

"Absolutely nothing. But check out these online handles..." Clearing his throat as if he was about to deliver a speech, Hank straightened his posture and began reading off the flagged online handles for the amusement of his partner and anyone else in eavesdropping range. "We have 'The-Plastic-Killer', 'Iluvbuttz', 'androids-must-die', 'dragonslayer900'," pausing for a moment Hank shook his head and gave his partner a knowing look. "and I guarantee that 'dragonslayer900' is that overweight jackass from the Southern Precinct who has the lame-ass pink and orange dragons tattooed all over his back. That guy always smells like old nachos and loneliness."

Connor had never met such a man but was certain that if he did, he'd never mistake him for another person.

"Where was I... Ah, here we go: 'bluebloods_against_blue_blood', 'Fearless_Avenger' and 'Fearless_Avenger01', 'Tom_the-Destoyer'... Seriously, Tom?" Using a real name while trying to issue anonymous threats defeated the entire purpose of using anonymity. "How fuckin' dumb can one person get?"

Tina had in fact overheard the names being listed off and gave Hank a coy look. "If we're talking about the same Tom who managed to blacken his own eye because he was twirling his baton around and walked into a wall, I'd say that level of dumbness deserves its own scale."

"It's either 'Baton-Tom' or the Tom who spilled his cherry slushie all over his squad car because he forgot to put the lid on his cup before a highspeed pursuit."

"What else you got on that list?" The young officer asked as she leaned over Hank's shoulder to see his terminal screen. Tina was always down for a good gossip session or a joke. "Have you figured out my handle?"

"Well, you're either 'Chen_From_Central' or 'PixieDust4444'. Gonna' go with the former of those two names."

"Yeah, I couldn't think of anything that sounded professional and fun at the same time." Tina admitted in a light tone to try and lift up morale in her own way. "I think 'PixieDust4444' is Raquelle at the Eastern Precinct. She's a hardcore Disney fanatic."

"Makes sense to me."

"What about you? What's your online handle, Lieutenant?"

"You know me, all original and creative..."

Leaning a little closer Tina looked at the log-in information and gave Hank a slightly disappointed glance. "So you're just 'H_Anderson'?"

"Actually, it's 'H_Anderson-F_U'."

"Oh, nice. How'd you get away with that?"

"I told administration that they couldn't prove what the last two letters did or did not stand for, and that inference is not the mark of quality detectives."

"Good one..." Tina peered around Hank's terminal and gave Connor a curious glance as she asked him the same question. She wanted to get to know Connor a little better but wasn't sure how to break the ice. "What about you, Connor? What's your online name in the precinct forum?"

"I do not have one." The deviant detective admitted as he stopped fussing with his coin and slipped the quarter back into his pocket for safekeeping. "I've chosen to not participate in such forum discussions regarding precinct protocol."

"I think you're officially the smartest detective in all of Detroit."

Connor sank back into his chair as he refrained to either accept or decline the compliment. It seemed as if Connor was very wary of saying or doing anything that might bring additional ire his way from anyone in the precinct. "I suppose that is one way to view a complex situation."

"Just one of many." It didn't take long for Tina to notice Connor's discomfort and decided to give her colleague some space. "Try not to worry too much. Everyone making those stupid comments is ignorant and just blowing smoke."

Unwilling to participate in such a debate had left Connor momentarily mute where he sat. There was nothing that he could say or do to lessen the tension in the air or remove the proverbial target on his back any time soon.

"She's right, kid." Hank waited until Tina went back to her own desk before he tried to cheer up his deviant partner with just his words. "Ever hear of 'Keyboard Warriors'? They're the people who love to talk a big game while cowering behind anonymity and a screen since no one is actively in the room to punch them in the throat or just give a good old-fashioned kick in the ass for all the bullshit they spew."

"Many people have made good on their threats in the past, Lieutenant." Connor finally stated as he tried to not assume the worst while preparing for some form of retaliation just for existing. "I'd rather not say or do anything that'd result in me becoming another statistic of an anti-android hate crime."

"Hey, you're gonna' be fine. I'm here with you and I'm gonna' keep watching your back until the day one of us has to retire from the force."

"I suspect that at the rate in which we're aging, and the way the world is changing, you'll be the one retiring and I'll be the one being mentioned in passing as the deviant detective gunned down in the streets."

Hank heard the blatant cry for 'help' in the quip and for the first time that day genuinely felt frightened for Connor's wellbeing. "Connor, did someone threaten you? I mean, directly threaten you personally with physical harm or death?"

"No more than usual."

"What does that mean?"

"Lieutenant, I get threatened every day." The way Connor sounded so nonchalant about the entire ordeal only emphasized how frequently deviants put up with harassment and bigotry without anyone even noticing. "I'm used to ignoring such comments, but that doesn't mean it gets any easier to handle or any less aggravating to deal with."

"How come you didn't say anything about being threatened before?"

"As I previously stated, I'm used to ignoring the comments."

"Have you told Fowler about this?"

"Captain Fowler is actively aware of the threats, yes." There wasn't any way for the police Captain to not be aware of the discrimination being shown toward deviants within his own precinct. "Without any direct proof beyond a passing comment, there isn't much that can be done about the threats. It's my word against theirs."

"Names?"

"Please don't try to get involved with this."

"You're my partner and my friend, I'm already involved." Eager for a fight Hank brought up a new, clean word document on his terminal to begin taking notes on his new issue. "Names. I want to know whose asses I need to kick."

"Lieutenant, please." The very idea of stirring the pot and riling up the people who already loathed his existence made Connor feel agitated. "Let this go."

"No way, not this time." Stubbornly Hank refused to just let something as severe as threats against his friend go unanswered. The man finally had someone to fight for and protect again, and he wasn't about to let him down. "I'm not going to sit back and do nothing while those jackasses are threatening my partner and friend's life."

"You don't have to do anything." Rising to his feet Connor backed away from the situation before it escalated any further. "You just need to respect my request to not get involved in this matter and let it go. Please, that's all I ask."

"Hey? Where are you going?"

"Away." The snippy retort was surprisingly effective as Connor turned his back on his friend and walked across the bullpen. He just needed to get some distance from the rest of the bullpen for a few minutes. "I need some space."

There wasn't anything that Hank could say or do to stop Connor once the deviant had made up his mind and walked away from the uncomfortable discussion. Even though Hank only had Connor's best interests at heart, the man knew that he couldn't force the deviant to do anything that he didn't want to do or make him talk about something that he didn't want to discuss.

That was the blade of the double-edged sword regarding Connor's rights as a person sticking directly into Hank's gut.

The tension in the city had extended far beyond the numerous police precincts and had managed to reach out all the way to Belle Isle in the harbor. The deviants residing within the secured walls of the sanctuary known as New Jericho Tower were cowering despite the laws now being altered to protect them with the same rights as the humans who shared the city along with them. It seemed that the idle threats being made weren't going to be ignored or brushed off by any living being with blue blood coursing through their lines and were doing so with a righteous cause. The four deviant leaders could only do so much to ease their peoples' fears and reassure them that they were still safe out on the secured isle.

Markus himself had spoken with the mayor that same morning and signed his name alongside Mayor Walter Nero to bring the new laws into effect. It was a surreal experience and one that Markus couldn't quite put into words. The compassionate leader had sensed the tension and fear in the city while he was downtown, and that horrible feeling hadn't left him even after he traveled all the way back to Belle Isle where he knew it was safe.

Wandering about the shoreline of the harbor Markus cybernetically spoke with Connor and discussed what was happening in relative privacy. There was every reason to be guarded and cautious while navigating the new city and changing world in which they were now living. No deviant could be too careful at the moment.

"I take it you're well aware of the way the humans are resisting what's already been made official." Markus stated bluntly as he walked along the shoreline and watched the waves of the harbor lapping against the sand along his shoes. "Several very unnecessary insults were hurled my way while I was at City Hall today. They weren't anything that I haven't heard a thousand times before already."

'I'm receiving the same types of insults despite being on the clock at a precinct. Then again,' Connor was trying to put his feelings into words without sounding too embittered or disenchanted with his role in the world. 'bigots roam everywhere in Detroit, and unfortunately several of them wear also badges.'

"I can't imagine being expected to work alongside bigots while also being expected to uphold the laws that they personally refuse to acknowledge."

'I can't imagine that your attempts to keep our people from panicking and fearing the worst is any easier.'

"Easy? No. But that doesn't mean your efforts are any less important or strenuous." As he stood along the shoreline Markus looked out at the harbor and the bright blue sky causing a contrast of colors atop the dark water. It was a beautiful sight of nature that Markus had grown to appreciate after spending the first years of life living alongside a brilliant, artistic mind like Carl Manfred. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

'All you need to do is keep our people calm and confident. Between your leadership and my connections with the police, we should be able to keep everything under control even when the world seems like it's going to collapse all around us.'

"Is that what that feeling is?" A knowing smirk graced Markus's lips as he heard the genuine wisdom in Connor's words. "Imminent collapse?"

'Only in the metaphorical sense.'

"I'll remember the 'metaphorical' aspect and try not to worry about the sky falling on our heads." The waves of the shoreline began to caress the toes of Markus's shoes and reminded the deviant leader to always watch his footing if he wanted to avoid any problems. Taking a step back Markus avoided the water soaking through his shoes as he continued to admire the natural view all around him. "Are you going to be all right at the precinct?"

'Yes, I still have Hank watching my back.'

"I suspect that Hank is being particularly protective over you these days."

'No more than usual. However, I don't need his protection.' The deviant detective confirmed as he continued with his cybernetic conversation with Markus as he roamed the weapon's lock-up of the precinct in search of solace. There was a camera within the lock-up that'd protect him against any further threats and harassment through audio and visual surveillance if anyone approached him. 'I just need him to respect my rights as a deviant.'

"He does respect you. I think he's just afraid of losing you to something as stupid as bigots attacking someone just for being alive."

'I'm aware of that. Even so, I wish he'd back off a little and trust me to handle this situation without needing him to interfere.'

"Hard to do when you're worried about your friend and your family."

'...Yes, you're right.' There was no denying that Markus was correct in his assessment. Connor knew that he needed to just be patient with Hank and himself as they waited for the rest of the city to catch up to their more progressive mindset when it came to coexistence. 'Thank you for talking with me. I'm feeling better now.'

"No problem, my friend. Take care of yourself and be sure to reach out again if you need anything."

'I will, and please do the same. I want to help our people even if I don't feel entirely comfortable or welcome out at the tower.'

"We'll speak again soon. There's still a lot of work that needs to be done here in New Jericho Tower."

Staying outside the tower for a moment longer, Markus decided to relish in the peace and quiet away from the fears of his people. It wasn't often that he had the chance to just be alone and be himself as opposed to being the leader of his people, Carl's son, and a political figurehead all at once. Whenever Markus could just be his true self and enjoy the beauty of the world around him, he took advantage of it for as long as he could.

"Hang in there, Connor. You're going to be all right."

Glancing back at the tower behind him, Markus admired the security of the building and felt the same about himself and his other allies.

"We're all going to be all right."

The isolation and emptiness of the precinct weapon lock-up was a nice change compared to the activity taking place on the ground floor above. There hadn't been any substantial calls or reports filed that required his immediate attention, and as a result Connor was essentially free to do as he pleased during the remainder of his shift. At the moment, all Connor wanted to do was be alone with his thoughts as he carefully weighed the pros and cons of filing an official complaint regarding the threats from his own colleagues. If he said anything about the threats, he knew that Captain Fowler would take the complaint seriously and file it accordingly, but if it got out that he was willing to get his colleagues in trouble then threats and harassment would only escalate.

It wasn't possible that Connor was the only deviant dealing with such harassment and threats within the police force. If he said something first, then perhaps the other deviants dealing with such negative treatment would say something as well. The more complaints that were filed against the offenders, then the odds of the offending officers being properly disciplined would increase to a notable degree.

The only question holding Connor back was whether or not he wanted to be the first one to file such a complaint to get the ball rolling.

Connor stood against the far wall of the room with his coin dancing along his knuckles and his L.E.D. glowing in a steady blue. The deviant was staring off into space and chronicling the various weapons that law enforcement officers were able to use while in the field. Batons, tasers, stun guns, tear gas, shields, pepper spray, Kevlar vests and other forms of riot gear, handguns, shotguns and even police K-9 units were all deemed acceptable tools while out on patrol.

Strangely enough, it was arguably deemed unacceptable to just verbally discuss any issues or file any reports to avoid physical conflict. It seemed as if violence was the only language that humans universally understood.

Closing his eyes Connor caught his coin between his knuckles and slipped the quarter back into his pocket to keep it safe. He wasn't ready to go back upstairs and deal with the whispers and stares from everyone roaming the precinct. The deviant detective just wanted to stay in the isolation of the quiet room forever or until the rest of the world caught up with the new rights, laws and regulations. Unfortunately, such solace wasn't meant to last.

The door to the weapon's lock-up slid open as the last detective that Connor wanted to interact with strolled into the room with two shot guns that needed to be properly locked up and documented as per protocol. The moment that Gavin saw Connor standing in the room he sneered at the deviant and proceeded to open up the gun cabinet to secure the cleaned and emptied shotgun to their rightful spots for appropriate storage.

"What the fuck you doin' down here, 'Tinman'?" The detective's credentials allowed him unfettered access to the weapons with almost frightening ease. "Are you gonna' go postal on us humans as payback for us treating you like the plastic that you are?"

It was difficult to remain silent despite Connor's desire to avoid any confrontations. "I'm merely seeking isolation."

"There's a nice quiet spot at the bottom of the Detroit River with your name all over it." Slamming the cabinet door shut Gavin looked at the deviant detective and noticed that he was no longer wearing a cast on his leg or using any crutches to get around. "In fact, you should dive right on in and make sure you can still swim."

"I can swim just fine, Detective Reed." In spite of the rude behavior Connor remained professional and polite at all times. "It seems you've made a full recovery with your broken nose from approximately five weeks prior."

"You tryin' to mock me, you piece of shit?" Looking for a fight Gavin stood before Connor and tried to challenge the deviant's professional resolve. "All it takes is one bullet, one knife, to fuck you up."

"Are you threatening me again, Detective Reed?" Using his eyes Connor motioned upward toward the camera overhead that was recording the entire altercation and confirming that Gavin was being rude and disrespectful toward Connor without any provocation. "Captain Fowler is already attempting to track down all officers who are threatening deviants. I can easily inform him of this incident and request that he review the footage himself and deliver his own assessment on the situation."

Gavin was quiet for a minute as he realized what Connor was saying and the severe implications of what could happen if his behavior was reported yet again. One more complaint filed against him would result in immediate suspension and a total review of his behavior since the beginning of his career. Any such review would undoubtedly result in a premature ending for Gavin's career as a whole.

"Fuckin'... Whatever."

Backing off from the deviant Gavin ran his hand over the back of his tense neck and put his other hand to his hip indignantly. Focusing his energy elsewhere Gavin decided to doublecheck the weapon lock-up cabinets to make sure everything was still chronicled properly. It seemed the only thing that he could do in that moment to even try to salvage the situation was to pretend that he was down in the lock-up to work rather than be a pain in the ass.

"Get outta' here." Gavin snarled as he opened up another cabinet to check on the far less lethal arsenal and make sure everything was being properly handled. There had never been any issues in the past, but that didn't mean that an issue couldn't arise. "I got work I need to do."

"Very well. I'll leave to your work."

Holding his head high Connor began walking toward the door of the lock-up while Gavin opened the second cabinet. As Connor made a move to unlock the door with his exposed palm, he heard Gavin swearing as two metallic canisters hit the floor with an audible 'clank' right at the abrasive detective's feet.

"Ah, shit... They better not be busted."

Swearing to himself Gavin bent down to pick up the two canisters to check them for damage, only to discover that one of the two little canisters had in fact been structurally compromised in the most painful way possible. A loud spray sounded off from the top of the release nozzle of the canister as the contents were unleashed directly all over Gavin's face and eyes.

"AGH, FUCK!" Dropping the canisters again Gavin fell back loudly against the cabinets causing a second spray and put his hands to his burning face and eyes to try and ease the pain quickly debilitating him and stealing his vision. "SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!"

Within milliseconds of the accident Connor's sensors alerted him to the dangerous substances now wafting in the air and promptly began taking effective methods to shield Connor himself from suffering from any nasty damage or ill effects from those same substances. The reaction was immediate and instinctive as a means of keeping the deviant safe.

WARNING:

-UNKNOWN AIRBORNE SUBSTANCE DETECTED-

...Analyzing Unknown Substance]

-ANALYSIS COMPLETE-

...Substance Identified - POLICE GRADE PEPPER SPRAY]

...Oleoresin Capsaicin - 1.7% Concentration

...Ethanol Solvent - 0.02% Traces

...Propylene Glycol - 0.3% Emulsifier

WARNING:

[...Do Not Inhale]

[...Ventilate Immediate Area]

[...Evacuate Immediate Area]

Turning around quickly Connor watched Gavin fall back against the metal cabinets with both of his palms pressed protectively over his eyes as he dropped to the floor in utter pain. As he groaned and screamed in frustration, tears began rapidly rolling down his reddened face and quickly spreading the pepper spray along his eyes.

"FUCK ME! DAMN IT!"

Reacting quickly Connor removed his gray blazer and pressed the garment against Gavin's face and pulled his hands back. Any pressure to his eyes would only make the pain worse, and the direct dermal contact would cause the burning substance to become absorbed in his skin.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Gavin shouted even as the simple assistance proved to be beneficial at easing his pain. The cotton fabric of the blazer was absorbing the pepper spray but reducing the pain only marginally. "FUCK OFF!"

"Gavin, stop." Connor ordered in a surprisingly authoritative tone. Grabbing on to Gavin's upper arms allowed Connor to pull the dazed man up to his feet. "I'm going to take you to the infirmary for proper treatment."

"N-No! Don't!" Planting his feet like a temperamental toddler, Gavin refused to cooperate with Connor and refused to leave the room. Gavin started coughing harshly as he tried to push through his pain out of his egotism and pride. "Don't do that!"

"You need your eyes treated immediately." Refusing to argue, Connor just dragged Gavin out of the compromised lock-up and into the hallway. The clear air felt better in Gavin's lungs and across his hands and face that weren't being covered by the blazer. "You cannot act as if this is something you can push through sheer force of will."

"I know! J-Just..." Jerking away from Connor's grip and back away from the deviant, Gavin pressed his back up against the wall and stood as still as he could. His entire body was trembling from the burning pain as he tried to muscle through his unfortunate accident. "Don't take me upstairs! E-Everyone will see me."

Connor had learned quickly that there was nothing more fragile in the world than the pride of a human male.

Glancing about the corridor Connor decided to find an alternative solution to Gavin's plight. At the far side of the corridor was the precinct's personal gym and well as a locker room complete with fully functional showers and spare clothing for the detectives to change into. The shower could provide the privacy that Gavin wanted and the ability to wash out his eyes as he needed, which was far more important.

"We won't go upstairs." Connor stated firmly as he grabbed Gavin's wrist and began leading him toward the locker room. The way Connor was leading Gavin around made him feel more like a babysitter and less like a detective. "We're going to the locker room."

"The locker room? For what?!"

"For your own sake."

The deviant detective led Gavin into the locker room, making sure no one else was around in the process, then directed him toward the showers. Connor sat Gavin down on the plastimetal benches that ran down the center of the aisle between the two rows of enclosed showers. After Gavin was seated Connor took away the blazer and performed a direct scan over Gavin's face, eyes and his palms.

"You've suffered from only dermal inflammation and irritation to your eyes." The deviant noted with a keen eye and honest assessment. "There is no sign of any damage within either of your corneas."

"Wh-What does that mean?"

"It means," Connor left the detective on the bench as he set foot inside the nearest shower and turned on the water to a cool but not cold degree. "I can rinse out your eyes and you won't need to see a doctor if you cooperate with me."

"You expect me to trust you to-"

"I don't expect you to do anything for me." The patience of dealing with Gavin's nasty attitude had worn-out entirely. Connor pulled the showerhead from its mount near the top of the shower and carried it over to where Gavin was sitting to begin flushing out the detective's burning eyes. "I do expect you to realize the severity of your situation and your severe lack of options. Do you want to me to report this to the infirmary or not?"

Gavin scoffed bitterly as he accepted his fate and stopped arguing with Connor since he was the only one who could help him without the rest of the precinct learning of the accident in the locker room lock-up. "...Not."

"All right. Lay down across the bench on your back." Connor ordered as he pulled the shower out to its nearly full length to begin rinsing out Gavin's eyes. The water would dilute and remove the pepper spray from his eyes and let it run down his face. "Tilt your head downward so that your forehead is angled toward the floor."

"Fuckin'..." Doing as he was told Gavin laid back and awkwardly let his head partially hang off the edge of the bench. It was an uncomfortable angle but not anything he couldn't withstand for a few minutes. "Don't waterboard me!"

"That won't be a problem, I'm not a sadist."

True to his word Connor used the clean, cool water from the showerhead to rinse the pepper spray from Gavin's eyes. It was a challenge to keep Gavin's eyes fully opened to ensure all of the irritating spray was removed from the detective's eyes, but Connor managed to perservere even with Gavin resisting help throughout the entire process. Through his scanner Connor was able to actively monitor the spray on Gavin's face and ensure that every drop was cleared out appropriately to prevent permanent damage or vision impairment.

"Your eyes will continue to sting for any time between fifteen and forty-five minutes." Connor warned as he focused on Gavin's eyes and made sure that the detective's corneas weren't going to be affected by his exposure to the pepper spray. The surrounding skin was already beginning to look less red and return to its normal complexion tone. "You may also have a mild cough due to any potential inhalation of the spray itself."

"Yeah, yeah..." Lifting up his head for a moment Gavin wiped at his eyes then immediately had his palm taken by Connor to be rinsed off as well. It was a slow but effective process considering the circumstances. "What're you going to tell Anderson about this?"

"Nothing." Being as thorough as possible Connor rinsed off Gavin's eyes, face and his hands to prevent further irritation or spread of the spray over his person. With the pepper spray removed Connor then focused on just applying the cool water to Gavin's sore, mildly burned skin. "It's not my place to say or do anything about your own incident."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I don't find this incident to be appropriate to discuss for any reason." Connor promised as he finished rinsing off Gavin's face and put the showerhead back on its mount inside the shower. The contaminated water would go down the drains in the floor beneath the length of benches. "If you have any eyedrops I recommend using them to soothe the lingering irritation to your eyes and to ensure there are no foreign contaminants that could permanently alter your vision still inside your eyes or within your tear ducts."

Sitting upright slowly Gavin ran his hand through his soaked hair and slicked it back out of his face. While he looked miserable the pepper spray was no longer burning his eyes or his skin.

"I'll leave you here to change your clothes or do anything else you see fit."

After reclaiming his pepper spray soaked blazer, Connor had no reason to stick around the locker room or continue to help the obnoxious detective. He had done the right thing and helped Gavin even when he didn't deserve such kindness. All he had left to do was file his incident report regarding the two compromised canisters of pepper spray and request that Captain Fowler check the surveillance footage from the lock-up for himself to verify his claims.

The clever deviant detective knew that the best revenge was a life well lived, and he knew that by taking the highroad and not telling the bullpen about Gavin's accident with the pepper spray, he'd drive the abrasive detective up the wall with paranoia. It never took much to bruise an ego or knock someone with a big head down a few pegs with just a subtle push.

"Hey, there you are." Hank immediately took notice of Connor's return to the bullpen and waved the deviant over to their desks to sit down and chat. The man gave Connor's dirty blazer an odd look but didn't say anything about it as Connor draped the garment over the back of his chair. "Feelin' better?"

"Yes. I had the time I needed to sit and think in private."

"Good. What did ya' think about?"

"The potential benefits and deficits of reporting the repeated harassment and threats to Captain Fowler."

"And what was your conclusion?"

"That ultimately it's not worth the emotional burden or risking my own professional reputation by being viewed as a narc."

"Narc, huh?" The senior detective had to chuckle a little at the way Connor used a more human and less technical term for whistle blower. It was interesting to see Connor slowly evolving in behavior and tone as his deviancy began to take hold and really shape his own personality and interests. "Where'd you pick that up from?"

"You. As well as Officers Chen and Miller."

"Ah, that explains it." Leaning back in his chair casually Hank tilted his head and gave Connor a curiously glance. "So, did you happen to run into Gavin while you were down in the basement area?"

"I saw him down in that area, yes." Not wanting to mention the incident in the weapons lock-up, Connor purposely answered in very vague responses. "I believe he was heading toward the locker room."

"Yeah, figures as much." With an amused sneer on his face Hank sent Connor a recording from the weapon lock-up surveillance footage to his terminal screen to view for himself. "Looks like you missed out on something good by just a few seconds."

The footage played out showing Gavin dropping the pepper spray cans and then getting himself sprayed in the face shortly afterward. Connor was just out of the camera's view since he was hovering in the doorway of the room during the incident. The footage that followed had been visually obstructed thanks to the second cloud of pepper spray rising up and clinging to the lens of the camera blurring everything out.

"Dumb fucker deserved that." Hank laughed wickedly as he made sure to save the footage to his personal hard drive while also putting in a request for another precinct-wide meeting. A meeting that'd revolve around proper safety measures and handling techniques for any and all weapons in the lock-up. "He let you fall and break your leg without remorse, now he's dealing with some pepper spray to his eyes without anyone here feelin' sorry for him."

"How did you learn of this so quickly?"

"Tina heard Gavin swearing loudly from the weapons lock-up and asked me to bring up the footage since only me and Fowler have the credential clearance for that particular privilege. The emergency vents kicked on and are clearing out the room as we speak, we don't need to evacuate."

"And where is Officer Chen at this moment?" Looking around curiously Connor noticed Tina's absence and hoped that she wasn't going to go and mock Gavin or do anything that'd make Gavin's already poor attitude worse. "I suspect Gavin will want to be left alone due to this incident."

"She went out to get Gavin some lunch so he won't be so pissy for the rest of the day."

"Smart move."

"Yup." In a better mood himself, Hank reached out and gave Connor's forearm a reassuring pat. "Hey, this is the first day with the new laws and rights in effect. Things seem tense and shitty right now, but they will get better. You'll see."

"You seem incredibly certain of such a future."

"I am certain, son. I've been doing this job for a long time, and I've seen a lot of changes in the world. Some good, some bad, but what's important is that we learn how to change with the world to ensure we can keep spinning along with it."

Something about Hank's words and his tone was enough to give Connor hope for the future. While he couldn't be nearly as certain of his future as Hank seemed to be, Connor was certain that he'd find a way to adapt and change with the world just as Hank had been able to do throughout his own interesting and impactful life.

Glancing toward the corridor leading to the basement Connor saw Gavin reappear wearing new, dry clothes and a bottle of eyedrops as he tried to rid the lingering redness and irritation from his eyes before anyone started asking embarrassing questions. The abrasive detective didn't say a word to anyone or even look Connor's way as he dropped into his chair behind his own desk to go back to his business as if nothing had even happened. It seemed that being pepper-sprayed had been enough to mellow out Gavin's attitude problem.

"Let's finish our shift and then find a way to celebrate your new rights." Hank insisted as he tried to remain upbeat for Connor's sake. It had been a while since Hank was seen as the optimist in any friendship, but it was oddly befitting of his demeanor as a protector. "Anything you want, my treat."

"I'll pass on the celebration. However, I could be persuaded to watch a movie and not protest if you wish to order yourself a pizza."

"Yeah? All right, that works." Glancing at Gavin for a second Hank put his hand over his mouth to hide his smirk and silence his chuckle as he replayed the footage from lock-up one more time on his screen. "I think we should watch an action movie tonight. There's no comedy that could even compare to what I've already watched today."

-next chapter-