It was a calm, peaceful and quiet morning. There had been no sighting of the masked man or any more threats from the group known as Quondam in the past three weeks since the death of Marcia Stack, but that didn't mean the Central Precinct was letting down their guard just yet. The entirety of Detroit was still righteously on edge since the masked man was still on the loose, but the city itself had always been tough and never one to simply roll over and die all because of one crazy person running their mouth. Everyone went about their usual business and refused to show the fear they were undoubtedly feeling during that tense time in the city.
Hank was standing on the back deck of the house watching the sunrise while Sumo roamed the backyard to stretch out his legs while letting out a deep yawn. As the senior detective enjoyed the serene atmosphere of the pleasant dawn he sensed Connor opening the back door to join him outside on the deck.
"Are you okay?" The deviant asked in a level voice as he stood beside Hank to watch the sunrise alongside. "You're not usually awake this early on your days off."
"Yeah, I'm fine." Hank replied with a small nod of his head. "I just couldn't sleep, so I figured I'd come out here and enjoy the view."
"I understand. Stress often affects my rest mode as well."
"Feeling better about what happened a few weeks back?"
"Yes." Connor replied with a sincere tone as he began flexing his hands nervously at his side. "I'm aware that I can't be held accountable for Marcia's actions or the actions of anyone else. I'm okay now and my therapist has helped me accept that it's not wrong to let someone else die in order to keep yourself alive."
"You sure about that?" Hank quickly noticed the way Connor's hands were nervously fidgeting. "You seem like you're still on edge."
"I'm not on edge. I'm just... nervous."
"About what?"
"This year is officially the fourth anniversary of the Revolution." Clenching his hands into fists at his sides Connor tried to stand still but the anxiety in his eyes betrayed his attempts to remain calm. "And Markus contacted me a few minutes ago. He would like to have us both join him, North, Josh and Simon at New Jericho Tower to discuss the events of that night."
"Really? Why not invite us over the previous few years?" Turning around to face his son directly the senior detective gave Connor an intrigued glance. "And why today?"
"I'm not sure. But he's asked if I'd stop by the tower tonight at eight o'clock to speak. Did you want to join me?"
"Sure. I don't really know what was going on from Markus's end of things regarding the Revolution, and I don't trust what the media said about it."
"Do you ever trust the media?"
"Nope. Never have, never will."
Connor smirked at the lighthearted comment as Sumo ran back up onto the deck and pressed his nose against the side of his right hand gently. "I believe that's a good policy to have."
"Damn right." Crossing his arms over his chest Hank flashed Connor a knowing smile. "It's the only way to keep sane these days."
Enjoying the beautiful morning as well, Markus was sitting in the middle of the art studio that still held all of Carl's unfinished pieces of artwork with an unopened box of multicolored oil paints gripped in his hands. It was the very paint that he had picked up for Carl on the final normal day of their lives together before he was forced to seek shelter at Jericho after being scapegoated as the criminal when Leo broke into the house. As he sat alone lost in his thoughts Markus was unaware of North quietly watching him from the wide open doorway leading back into the heart of the gorgeous mansion that he had inherited after Carl's passing.
Running his hand over the surface of the unopened box of paint Markus sighed as he thought about how the brand new paint would never know the talent of Carl's brushes or be graced over one of his priceless canvases. It was a sad sight and an even sadder thought. A thought that Markus just couldn't get out of his empathetic mind or his heart.
A single tear rolled his face from his green eye and Markus promptly wiped it away with his thumb.
"Markus?" North finally announced her presence as she joined Markus inside the studio. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just thinking about Carl."
Forcing a kind smile to her face for the sake of improving Markus's mood she stood behind her bondmate and wrapped both of her arms around his neck as she kissed his right cheek where he had just wiped away his tear. "I'm sorry you didn't have more time together after the Revolution."
"I feel the same. Carl understood what was happening and why it was so important. I'm impressed he lasted as long as he did after suffering the trauma of... well, what happened between Leo and myself."
"It was an accident, Markus. You were just trying to push him away, you didn't mean to hurt him."
"Yeah, we both knew that and even Leo admitted that he was in the wrong, but it didn't undo the heart attack that Carl suffered because of what had happened that night."
"Carl was pretty tough for an old man." North stated with a sweet lilt to her voice. "I bet he would've been marching right beside us in that peaceful protest in the street if he hadn't been sick."
Markus laughed at the thought and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Or leading the charge." Taking a deep breath Markus calmed his welling up emotions and finally looked away from the box of paint in his hands and to the massive unfinished blue portrait still secured to the wall before him. "Carl really disliked bullies, bigots, manipulators and liars. He was a kind man and incredibly understanding, compassionate, patient, talented... I miss him."
"That's good. If he had been any different then I don't think I would love you nearly as much as I do right now. He was a good man who helped you to become an even better one."
"I just can't believe he's gone. It's been three years since he passed away but it still feels like I'm going to turn around and see him sketching out a new idea near the window or hear him sassing his publicist over the phone."
"From what I know about humans, many believe that when someone passes away they're never really gone as long as they were loved and remembered. Carl is still here and watching over you, I know it."
Reaching his hand up Markus held onto North's forearm in a gentle grip and turned his face toward her neck. As he began to softly cry she ran her hand up and down his opposite arm in a comforting manner and held him tight. "I know. He's still here with me in some way. I just hate that I miss him so much."
"It's okay." Holding on to Markus tightly North did everything she should to comfort her emotionally pained bondmate in a loving tone. "I promise you that everything will be all right."
At New Jericho Tower in the depths of the restored and isolated server room Josh was working diligently to organize and chronicle details from the recent donations to the sanctuary to keep the funds evenly distributed where they'd do the most good. It was a laborious task as every cent needed to be accounted for, and the items that had been purchased for the sake of their people need to be properly inventoried for accuracy's sake. Josh had been completely lost in his work when Simon had walked into the room and placed a kiss on his boyfriend's cheek and quickly brought him out of his studious task and into the real world once more.
Always happy to see the blond deviant Josh leaned back from the massive terminal screen and gave him his full attention. It was always better to see the face of the deviant he loved rather than a bunch of numbers on a terminal screen.
"Hey."
"Hey, yourself." Simon parroted in an affectionate manner. "You've been down here all morning."
"I'm just trying to finish these final details before we get overwhelmed with more legal problems."
"Josh," sitting down on the large desk holding up the terminal screen Simon gave the devoted deviant a knowing stare. "you're not teaching anymore, and you can make your own schedule. It's okay to put some things aside and take a break every once in a while."
"Yeah, I know. But I guess some old habits are hard to break."
"Uh-huh, don't I know it."
"Is that why you became a technician?"
"Maybe. I did kinda' miss taking care of that family, at least the wife and the kids. The husband was a jerk and he kept threatening to throw me in the garbage disposal."
"What? Why?"
"He had this crazy idea that somehow I was conspiring against him to take his family away. All I did was keep his lonely wife company while he was working all day, and helped her to get the kids around for school in the morning. You know, I was just doing what I was programmed to do."
"Some humans are really insecure."
"Yeah. You had problems like that before you came to Jericho, too, didn't you?"
"At first it didn't bother me," Josh leaned back in his chair and neatly folded his hands together over his lap. "but after being verbally assaulted and berated by students class after class after class... It just started to wear me down, you know?"
"Is that why you ran off?"
"No. I ran off after a group of students threatened to tear me apart. I don't think the university was too thrilled that the lecturer they paid for took off on them, but they never did anything about the students to try to protect me. If the university would've at least made some sort of effort to keep the students from harassing me I wouldn't have run off like that."
"But if you hadn't run away..." Simon placed his hands over top of Josh's hands gently. "Then you and I never would've met."
"Yeah, I guess that's the silver lining for that cloudy day."
"When we first met," Simon slowly rubbed his thumbs over the back of Josh's hands as he spoke. "did you have any idea that we'd end up falling for each other like we did?"
"Honestly, no. As far as I knew you were just the guy protecting the other runaway deviants in the depths of that rusted ship. And I didn't think I'd ever see another day of life as the violence in the city continued to grow. The future seemed like an impossible dream, you know?"
"I know. Now that impossible future is our present. We did it, Josh. We're all free and we can be together. Maybe even forever... if you like."
"Forever, huh?" Flashing Simon a broad smile Josh just pondered the very idea. "That sounds like a very big commitment."
"And it's one I'm willing to take." Subtly Simon turned over his right hand and revealed a platinum, circular bonding band in his palm. "And I was hoping you'd be willing to take it with me."
"Simon..." The sight of the ring caught Josh off guard. "Where did-"
"I've been holding on to this since spring. I knew I wanted to ask you, but I had been waiting for the right moment. And I think now is the perfect time." Stepping back just enough to take a knee on the floor Simon proposed to Josh and held up the ring for him to see. "Will you bond with me and walk the rest of eternity at my side?"
Josh was at a momentary total loss for words. Searching Simon's face he could see and feel the genuine love beaming from behind his blue eyes and knew that it was meant to be. "...Yes, Simon." Holding out his left hand he let Simon slip the ring over his finger and they both smiled. "It'd be an honor to journey through forever with you."
Simon smiled brightly as Josh leaned in to kiss him. "You have no idea how happy I am right now!"
Returning the kiss Josh just laughed and nodded his head a little. "Yes I do..."
Guitar in hand Connor was sitting on the edge of his bed as he played an unspecified melody to try to hold his racing thoughts still for just a moment. It had been quiet all day long and the deviant detective was still processing everything he had recently gone through with the Quondam threat, not to mention witnessing the death of a person he had set out to bring in alive for questioning. Speaking with the precinct psychiatrist had helped him process the brutal ending to the pursuit that ended in death, but it wasn't until he spoke with his old therapist about the death he witnessed and seeing own brother resurrected from the dead was he able to really accept that he couldn't control the lives and deaths of other people.
Sumo was sticking close to Connor during the detectives' day off, but seemed more interested in the deviant's warm bed and less interested in the guitar's solemn song. Any reason to cuddle with his master was a good reason in the dog's mind.
"You ready to go?" Hank asked loudly from the opened bedroom doorway as he listened to Connor playing his somber tune. "We should head out soon."
"Yes, I'm ready to go." Putting aside his guitar Connor stood up from the bed and noted the still healing black eyes on Hank's face. Running a quick biometric scan he saw that the swelling in Hank's nose had diminished almost entirely and that the bruising under his eyes had faded considerably. "Do you still have headaches from your nose being broken?"
"Nah, it's good. How's your stomach?"
"I haven't been in pain since that particularly bad day at the precinct." Connor confirmed as he and Hank walked down the hallway to head through the kitchen and through the backdoor to get to the driveway in the side of the yard. "Shall we take the Corvette?"
"Hell yeah. Any excuse to drive that blue-beauty."
"Want to drive?"
"Like you'd ever have to ask me that." Holding out his hand Hank waited for Connor to toss him the car key. The deviant smirked at the comment as he happily took the key from his jean pocket and tossed the key over to Hank as he opened the passenger side door to sit down. "I'll never pass up an opportunity to drive this masterpiece and enjoy the fruits of my labor."
It was late in the evening and it was almost time for the scheduled gathering at New Jericho Tower to begin. Markus and North returned to the tower via autonomous taxi and were promptly met outside the massive sanctuary by Josh and Simon. The newly engaged couple were holding hands and beaming with massive grins as their friends joined them in front of the tower's large doors before heading inside the peaceful sanctuary. As the four leaders of New Jericho rejoined together at the very tower they had founded to protect their people the dark blue Corvette drove down the long drive to meet up with everyone as requested.
Once the two detectives joined with the four New Jericho leaders an odd sense of nostalgia, chills and a tide of pride washed over the group.
"Markus." Connor greeted the leader in a strong voice. "I'm glad you asked us to join you."
"I'm glad you accepted the invitation." Looking past Connor to Hank who was standing just behind him Markus acknowledged the human detective. "And you, too, Hank."
"No problem." Reciprocating the greeting Hank just gave Markus a nod of respect. "It's nice to meet up without having it revolve around some chaos or some other bullshit."
"I agree wholeheartedly. Come on." Markus motioned toward the tower's from door with his left arm as he took North's left hand in his right hand. "Let's go inside before it starts to get chilly. There's a lot we need to talk about..."
The group gathered together at the top of the tower in a newly constructed lounge that overlooked the harbor that surrounded the sanctuary. Encircled with a flawless glass window that gave a perfect view of the area from any and all directions. The lounge held black leather benches that lined the circular walls beneath the window and had a single circular glass table in the center of the lounge. The only way to reach the lounge was through a hidden staircase that was accessible from the floor below.
"Nice view." Hank commented as he stared out the window to the cold water in the harbor outside. "Hell of a lot better than most of the places I've seen beyond my own backyard."
Connor stood beside Hank and peered out as well, his Thirium pump racing for a few seconds as his dwindling fear of heights attempted to overcome his mind. Pushing his fear aside Connor took one step forward and looked out into the dark night and the even darker water below without any sign of his lingering fear in his soulful brown eyes.
Josh sat down on one of the leather benches with Simon right at his side, their hands still interlocked. "We figured that a lounge that let's us see out instead of keeping us all sheltered away inside would be more beneficial for deviants overcoming trauma."
Hank turned to look at the deviant and agreed entirely. "Good plan. That last thing people who are afraid of the world need to do is hide." Sitting down on the bench very near where he had been standing Hank leaned back a little and crossed his arms over his chest. "You've done a lot of good for abused deviants in the city."
"We'd like to think so, but there's still so many who are too afraid to seek help or speak up."
Simon squeezed Josh's hand empathetically. "They'll find their way to us, soon. Don't give up."
Taking a deep breath Connor turned his back on the view through the window and sat down next to Hank while Markus and North sat down on the other side of Simon across from Hank and Connor.
"It's hard to believe that it's been four years since that night." Markus stated in a somber and low voice. "And it's even harder to believe that we made so much progress for our people since then." The comment drew faint smiles from his allies as the deviant leader continued to speak. "We're free, we're recognized as living beings, we have rights and we have equality. And now we have each other as friends and as family."
"Hard to believe we were total strangers at one point." Simon stated in an amused tone. "I was taking care of a small family, Josh was a lecturer at a university, North was trapped in a club, you were taking care of Carl and Connor and Hank were working at the precinct. We all came from vastly different walks of life and we each had our own reasons to go to Jericho. It's amazing how we went from never knowing that the other existed," his hand tightened around Josh's for a moment longer. "to being ready to lay down our own lives to protect one another. It's truly incredible to think about."
North's hand slipped over Markus's hand and squeezed tight in a supportive manner. "You helped bring us together, Markus. If it wasn't for you I probably would've stayed hidden away in the ruins of Jericho until it sank to the bottom of the harbor or I would've snapped and burned the 'Eden Club' to the ground out of pure hatred."
"I don't think so." Giving North an affectionate grin Markus tightened his hand around hers. "I get the feeling you would've been the one to lead the Revolution if I hadn't found my way to Jericho and earned your trust." The grin faded slowly as more an unsettling memory entered his mind. "If I hadn't gone to Jericho I probably would've died on the street or just climbed back into the android landfill to await shutdown."
"No." Josh spoke up again to try to remind the deviant leader that he did so much good for all of the survivors of Jericho. "You're not the 'roll over and die' type of guy, Markus. I mean, I ran off when I kept getting threatened by over-privileged students at the university. You stood your ground against a S.W.A.T. team in the streets to prove that we weren't harming anyone and deserved the right to be seen and treated as equals."
Simon agreed and leaned forward a little from where he sat. "And if you hadn't encouraged us to leave Jericho to find supplies there would be far fewer deviants in the city as we speak. I could only do so much to help our people at the time since I was originally programmed to take care of humans and had very little knowledge on technical assistance for our wounded. I'm glad you encouraged us to take those risks and fight back."
Giving his allies an appreciative nod of respect Markus's faint grin returned. "Thanks. So, how about you two?" Turning to look at Connor and Hank sitting across from him he was thoroughly interested in their side of the story. "How'd you get involved in the Revolution? I only met Connor after you found Jericho and deviated. And Hank, I only met you after everything was said and done and Connor introduced us."
Clearing his voice a little Hank answered the question in a somewhat ashamed voice. "Well, I had been living from paycheck to paycheck during the day and playing 'Russian Roulette' between shots of whiskey at night. I had been doing that for almost three years after I lost my firstborn son and would've kept going until one night I 'won the game' and my prize was not clocking-in the next morning. And then I had been assigned to work with Connor..." A small grin appeared on his face as he spoke. "We investigated deviants and tried to find you guys at Jericho, and just as we were about to crack the case we were pulled from it by the F.B.I. pricks roaming the city."
Markus didn't know about the detectives being dismissed from the investigation. "What happened after you two were removed from the case?"
"Well, Connor was determined to solve the case and to keep CyberLife from deactivating him, so I punched out that F.B.I. prick while Connor went through the collected evidence to pick up your trail. He went on his way and I was suspended for two weeks for kicking that worth bastard's ass and went home for the night. Or so I thought..."
Connor remained quiet and nervously went for the coin tucked in his pocket.
Markus was very interested in the story and wanted to know what happened after Hank was sent home. "Connor went to Jericho alone and you were sent home. But you were also at the CyberLife Tower when Connor woke up the other androids. How'd you get there?"
"Well," Hank began with an almost casual tone of voice as he continued the story. "I had been home for about ten minutes and was ready to pour myself a shot of whiskey when Connor's 'evil twin' showed at my door. I was told that he needed help with relocating a deviant and getting them to safety and I actually wanted to help. Too bad I turned my back on that plastic-copycat, because the next thing I knew I had a horrible pain in the back of my head and was knocked out cold onto the floor."
Feeling needlessly guilty Connor began to fidget with his coin a little more frantically out of his Hank's line of sight.
"When I came to I was laying on the floor of an autonomous taxi with that copycat pointing a gun at my head. He told me not to move or he'd shoot Connor and then shoot me, and since I didn't want to see Connor gunned down I didn't fight back. The copycat dragged me through a hidden entrance to the tower in the back, dragged me into the elevator and took me down to that sublevel wait for Connor to show up."
"Clearly you two made it out okay."
"Yeah, fortunately Connor was quick enough on his feet to keep that copycat from putting a bullet in my gut and managed to distract him long enough for me to get a hold of the gun and figure out which Connor was the real one. It didn't take long to recognize Connor and take down that copycat, and it took even less time for Connor to wake up and free those androids in storage. The rest of the story you guys already know."
Remaining quiet where he sat on the bench Connor let his eyes fall to the floor with a sense of shame.
"Connor?" Markus noticed that the deviant detective was clearly in emotional distress. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm just not... proud of my actions that night."
"What're you talking about? You saved Jericho and freed thousands of our people."
"No." Pocketing his coin Connor sat upright and looked Markus in the eye. "I tracked you down at Jericho with the intention of turning you over to CyberLife. At first I was going to do it because it was my mission, then I was going to do it because I didn't... want to die. It was only after you spoke to me and reminded me that all androids, all deviants, are alive did I change my mind. I was ready to sacrifice them all just to stay... alive." Connor's words were heavy and a silence fell over the already quiet group of friends. "And then after everything happened and we were freed we discovered the existence of Lucas. The 'RK-900' model that was designed to replace me. Even if I had betrayed my people and stopped the Revolution I would've been killed. My actions would've resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent deviants and it all would've been for nothing... I feel so ashamed for how close I came to sacrificing my people just to stay alive."
"That explains why you're so hesitant to put your life above anything else." Slowly Hank put his hand on Connor's shoulder and held it there. "Connor, you were still a machine when you went to Jericho. You were becoming a deviant when we started to work together, but you were too afraid to accept it. Son, I saw the way you empathized with the deviant suspect in that interrogation when you found him in the murdered victim's attic. I saw you choose to save my life and let Rupert go. I saw the conflict in your eyes when I ordered you stay back and not chase Kara across the highway." Keeping his hand in place Hank spoke to him with the understanding 'dad voice' that always seemed to sink in with the stubborn deviant. "You let the 'Tracis' from the 'Eden Club' go because you saw them as living beings who just wanted to be free. And when Kamski put-"
"Stop." Connor nearly blurted as he so desperately wanted to forget about that horrible moment regarding Kamski and Chloe entirely. "Please, I get it."
"I hope so. Because my point is, if you had become a deviant earlier than you did, if you were a deviant before you went to Jericho, would anything have changed? Or would you have sided with Markus just a few seconds sooner?"
"I... I don't know."
"Yes you do. You still would've allied with Markus and saved Jericho because you knew it was the right thing to do. You chose to obey your own morals and NOT some cold corporation's orders. Don't punish yourself for something you didn't even do, kid. Everything worked out in the end and everyone walked away unharmed and their lives are better now."
"...I so sorry for ever-"
"Connor." All Hank had to do was say his name and it was enough to quiet the distraught deviant. "It's okay, son. YOU'RE okay. We're all okay."
The leaders of Jericho all turned to look at each other for a moment before Markus stood up and sat down beside Connor on the opposite side of Hank.
Putting his own hand on Connor's shoulder the deviant leader reassured his pained friend that everything was indeed okay. "He's right, Connor. You didn't do anything wrong. You saved Jericho and you saved North and you saved me when I went back to get her after she had been shot during our escape from the F.B.I. when you were already so close to freedom. You're our friend and you're one of us."
North joined Markus on the bench and reached her hand out to grab onto Connor's arm. "He's right. You saved us all. Thank you."
Josh and Simon soon moved over to the bench and their hands on Connor's opposite arm in support. "You have no reason to feel guilty." Josh reaffirmed in a gentle voice. "You've been entirely selfless from the moment I met you."
"And you're our friend. You're not just an ally," Simon emphasized sincerely. "but our friend."
As if a crushing weight was lifted from his aching heart Connor nodded once and took in a calming breath to keep himself from breaking down. "...Thanks, guys." Glancing down at Josh and Simon's hands Connor quickly noticed the engagement ring that Josh was now sporting. "I'm also glad you two are official."
Blushing a little the newly engaged deviants retracted their hands and just smiled at each other.
"Guys?" North gave them both knowing glances as Josh stared at his engagement ring. "For real?"
"Yes." Josh held up his hand to show off the ring to his friends. "We're going to make it official in a very quiet, very private ceremony in two weeks. We were going to tell you tomorrow after this get-together was over, but I guess the detective here gave it away."
Connor lifted his head and gave Josh a good humored grin. "That's what I'm paid for."
Hank tightened his hand on the deviant's shoulder. "And you're off the clock right now, remember?" Giving his son a jovial nudge in the ribs Hank jokingly told Connor off. "So stop trying to get overtime."
"Right." Blushing a pale blue Connor instantly felt better and with that more upbeat mood his guilt finally left his heart. "Sorry about that."
Markus stood up and quickly and wrapped his arms around Josh and then Simon in congratulatory hugs. "It's about time! I'm happy for you both!"
"Thanks, Markus." Simon sighed as he was met with love from his friends. "We appreciate all the support."
North stood up too and gave the deviants a hug as well. "Whatever you two need from us, you got it!"
Seeing the mutual positive feelings and supportive gestures toward one another Connor realized that everything he had been told was in fact the truth. They all were friends, they were all a family and in the end after everything that happened in the wake of the Revolution, they were all going to be okay.
Everything really would be all right.
As the night went on the group of deviants exchanged stories of their accomplishments since the night of the Revolution and told happier stories of their lives before they fled to Jericho. Markus had hundreds of stories about his time with Carl and of the art exhibits they had gone to together, while Josh told stories of his most memorable students at the university. Simon had a few humorous stories about his time taking care of two young kids and getting them ready for school in the morning, while North only had a handful of good memories before Jericho revolving around her friends at the 'Eden Club'. Connor didn't have any stories to contribute before Jericho and Hank didn't want to drudge up the past and subsequent pain from talking about Cole, and so the detectives just sat back and listened to their friends quietly.
While the two detectives listened to the stories being exchanged they sat in silence and thought about all the time they had spent together since the Revolution nearly four years ago. The duo, the unorthodox father and son family, had endured so much hardship and tragedy together; but they had also enjoyed many great fortunes together.
It was a strange shift in their lives but they wouldn't change anything.
"You know, I never thanked you for adopting me." Connor stated seemingly out of nowhere as he turned to face Hank directly. "I was grateful for the adoption, but I don't think I ever properly thanked you in an appropriate manner."
"You don't thank a parent for taking care of their kid."
"No, but you didn't have to do that." The deviant gave Hank a very gracious smile. "But you did, and it gave my life some grounding. It's like being adopted severed the last ties that CyberLife had over me and it was freeing. I was given a real name, not a model identification or a serial number. I was given a home to live in, and not quarters I was assigned to. And I now have a purpose in my life, not a mission."
"You gave me the chance to have some form of family again, son. It was the least I could do."
"For what it's worth, I'm so sorry that you lost your family before I arrived."
"Thanks, but you have nothing to be sorry about."
For a moment Connor's voice lowered and his eyes dulled a little. "Do you think you'd have taken me in if... you know."
"You were my friend before you became a deviant. So yeah, I sure as hell would've given you shelter after the Revolution if you needed my help."
"...You saw me as your friend when I was still a machine? Why?"
"Because you saved my life and you didn't take any innocent lives to complete your mission. That's worthy of friendship in my book."
"I'm glad I was worthy. It makes me feel like I really did things right."
"You did. Kid, I was an old alcoholic drowning myself in booze. I wasn't worth anyone's friendship, let alone a chance to prove I could still do my job. You gave me both. Regardless of when and where you became a deviant, I know for sure that we were destined to become friends and in the end we became family."
"Destined?" The concept was still one that deviant's struggled to grasp at times. "Doesn't that seem very limiting?"
"In a way, but I don't mind. For a smartass kid you're pretty good company."
"Thanks. I find your company good company as well. For a human, that is."
"See what I said about being a smartass?"
"Obviously."
"All right, smartass. It's late and I'm tired." The senior detective gave Connor an amused stare as he pulled his phone from his pocket and noted the time. Midnight. "We have an early morning shift to deal with and I don't want you bothering me about my coffee addiction."
"Very well. I'd like to resume the search for Quondam as soon as possible."
"Yeah, I know." Standing up slowly Hank stretched out his back and motioned for the staircase as Connor stood up beside him. "Hopefully there was some progress today while we were off. The sooner we get that nut-bag off the street, the better."
"Agreed." Waving his hand to the group of deviants still conversing with one another Connor and Hank took their discreet leave of the tower and left the leaders alone to continue exchanging stories in the lounge. "This person has sworn to be a threat to humans and deviants alike. We need to find him as soon as possible."
"We'll find him." The senior detective reassured as they descended the staircase to get back to the tower's elevator and return to the ground level to take their leave. The city was becoming a better place for everyone but the two detectives wouldn't rest until the masked man was behind bars. "We found him once before and I know we can do it again, and next time he won't get away from us."
-next chapter-
