interlinked (connorxreader)

6. White Lie?

"Two days."

"Was the damage extensive?"

"Eh... the asshole who hit her was lucky he wasn't speeding."

"Did she display any abnormal functions or behaviors leading up to the attack?"

"Yeah, she'd just stand and stare sometimes. She even ignored my commands right before she attacked me."

"And you said the attack was completely unwarranted, no sudden shock or trauma?"

"Yes."

"I need you to think, Mr. Williams. Are you sure?"

"..."

Your eyes narrow to slits, and you prop your elbows against the guardrail of his bed.

"Mr. Williams."

Your tone commands the whole of the room, and as if he knows better than to ignore you, Todd angles his head to look at you. His eyes scour any part of you but your eyes. If you were more naive, you might've mistaken it as nervous reflex or the weight of heavy medications. But you're not.

"Are you sure?"

"Y-yeah. I'm sure."

"And as far as you're aware, the deviant is still in possession of your firearm?"

"Yes."

"And the firearm is legally registered, correct?"

"...Yes."

Good enough.

While your suspicions aren't satiated, you aren't pressed knowing that Todd will not be discharged from the hospital any time soon. Once you've hunted down this deviant, you'll know where to find him when the time comes to pick apart his white lie. When you're not pressed on time and his condition is stable enough to keep the nurse constantly vulturing him at bay.

With the flip of a switch, you retreat from his muddled bubble, polluted by crystalline powder you could still ever-so-faintly taste on your tongue, and soften your features to your endearing, customer-service smile. Snapping your notepad shut, you rise from the chair pulled to Todd's bedside and sweeten your mannerisms. "Alrighty then, that should be all for now. Have a speedy recovery Mr. Williams, we'll be in touch."

As you turn to face the two men lurking behind you, hovering over your shoulder like hawks, Hank clears his throat and straightens his brown coat concealing his bright orange floral button-up.

"I'll uh, need to have a word with Mr. Williams about some protocol while we're undergoing investigation." He jabs his thumb over his shoulder to the sulking android stood firmly against the wall. "Take this knucklehead and get a headstart on the search downtown."

At the register of being referred to, Connor points a finger in the air as he steps forward to protest Hank's orders. "Actually Lieutenant, I'd like to speak with Mr. Williams a little more on the deviant's function—"

You don't allow Connor to plead his case as you grab his arm and usher him out of the sterile room. Shutting the door, you drag him up to match your pace as you march down the hall.

"Detective, it is highly unprofessional to–"

"He lied to me."

"Excuse me?"

You abruptly halt in the empty corridor, sharply turning to look at your android partner. His eyes are settled into their soft doey brown today.

"Williams;" you clarify. "He lied to me. I asked him if he was sure there was no sudden trauma to trigger the AX400's deviancy and he said 'yes.' He lied."