Comfort Zone (Connor x Reader)

Burn Me (End)

"--CONNOR!!!"

Jericho. Jericho, of all fucking places. Or rather, what was left of it. The entire area around that abandoned boat had been deserted ever since there was an attack against the deviants hiding within, no thanks to the FBI.

Hank's booming shout for his partner had fallen on dysfunctional auditory devices as the RK800 bolted out of the room. When he'd vaulted over his desk to return to the apartment, that had been fast. Now, it was like a bullet train: nothing was going to stop him. The snow had begun to fall in earnest, so if he didn't hurry, the roads would grow into dangerous terrain.

Going on foot would be a good option, but even he wasn't fast enough for his liking. So Connor snagged a set of keys before peeling out in one of the patrol cars, lights flashing so his way would be clear. He was already gone by the time Hank had reached the front doors of the precinct, groaning and rubbing his face.

Gently making the good lieutenant sit down, the RK900 took charge, contacting the wayward Roomba himself. [Connor.]

[Not now. Do not stall me.] The android behind the wheel had a singular goal: get to Ferndale, find the shipping containers, and free you. The wiring inside his shell was sending sparks, agitating his motions and fueling his impatience.

[Connor, you don't even know which container--]

[I have a location; that is all I need.] His grip on the steering wheel tightened, LED flashing between yellow and red so rapidly it may as well have stayed orange.

[You're acting ridiculously and you and I both know it. We understand you are worried, but don't let those emotions get in the way of being rational.]

[Are you telling me to think like a machine, RK900?] There were a fair few nasty comments that could have been said, but the RK800 kept them buried. They were only bitebacks from his anxiety, after all. [Let me handle this. Keep out of it.]

The pause was worrisome, and Cloud's reply was worse: [...... the woman you are trying to locate is my best friend. Do not tell me to keep out of it, Connor. Do not tell me to stay out of situations that threaten her. I would never demand you keep to yourself if something were to happen to Lieutenant Anderson. If you so dare demand I "stay out of this" once more, you and I are going to have a very serious problem.]

Admittedly, your Roomba's head swam in guilt. But he was focused solely on getting to Jericho, so it took a long moment for him to come up with an appropriate manner to express that guilt. [... Cloud, I am sorry. I... am not thinking rationally as you said. I didn't mean to offend you, I am simply... terrified.]

[You think we aren't?] The taller prototype had needed to sit down, leaning forward and staring at the floor of the precinct. [Running towards Ferndale on your own will not end well. If it's a trap, no one can assist you. You are being a reckless fool, Connor. Do not say you are doing it for the sake of "love," either.]

[... do you not believe in love?]

[I believe in it. What I don't believe is what you are doing for the sake of it. Sacrifice is honorable in some ways. Right now you are a fucking dumbass. Charging headfirst into what may be a trap, you may end up destroyed before you ever see her again. Why do you want that?] When no reply on the RK800's part came, the successor steadily grew concerned. [Connor. Say something. Please.] Still nothing. [CONNOR.]

[I'm here...] Even internally, the words felt far away and unsteady. The android had to pull the vehicle over until the tears stopped flowing and blurring his vision. [............ I am so scared. I'm desperate. Irrational. I cannot do this alone.]