Processing Emotion (Connor x Reader) 18+

It

Connor went inside the convenience store before you, probably due to the awkward tension. You weren't sure if It would be upset by you changing their pronouns like that. You couldn't address Connor as a "him" though; that wasn't who It was. Connor was a machine, built to provide unbiased information and assistance for investigations. Calling It a "he" would be the same thing as calling It a human. You couldn't show any bias in your investigations, regardless of how uncomfortable it made you feel.

You felt like an idiot calling the Android a "he" in front of Ben. You could feel your cheeks rise in reds, wondering if he'd report you to Captain Fowler about your possible bias. Connor came out only a few minutes after, pointing at several different directions. "The CCTV footage also shows the deviant stealing a pair of wire cutters. The deviant was with a small child, so I assume they were trying to find shelter. We need to work fast, they might still be here."

You nodded, and went to the first direction Connor had pointed to, an old abandoned house. It seemed like a probable option, considering the young girl would most likely prefer a house rather than the streets for a night. That also brought the possibility of the nearby motel, but it was strictly for humans only. It was worth a shot anyway.

A wire fence blocked your ability to get inside, but luckily a large opening was at the front. You got through with ease, and stepped into the property. The grass was all yellowed and stale, barely resembling what grass actually looks like. The structure of the house was breaking at the seams, showing the bare makings of it's original foundation. The brick siding was clearly damaged by all the rain; in no way was this house the least bit welcoming.

You didn't bother knocking on the door, and jiggled the knob. "Shit," you groaned as you pulled and tugged, "it's stuck." You then heard rummaging in the house, almost as if someone was in a hurry. "Connor," you called over your walkie talkie, "I think I have a lead. Come to the house." "Understood, I'm on my way." You continued to fuss over the door knob, until finally it gave in and opened.

The walls were dusted with yellow, and covered in graffiti. Furniture was scattered all over; it looked as if a person had literally flipped the house upside down. As you looked around, you realized an Android stood properly infront of a set dinner table for three. In comparison to the rest of the house, the table looked as if the Android had just set the plates and dead animal down. One plate would make sense, but two extra plates raised your suspicions.

The Android was clearly a deviant, with a giant burn mark across the left side of it's face. It was twitching nervously, and focused on looking down. You knew if you wanted to get out any information, you had to make It comfortable first. "What's your name?"

"...Ralph," It croaked out in a high pitch, "Ralph."

You looked at It, with no intention of peeling your eyes away. You knew that even with the slightest movement, It could try to hurt you. The large knife on the dinner table wasn't exactly comforting you either. "Have you seen any other Androids here, Ralph?"

"...Androids?" It twitched once more, in the direction of the staircase. "...no. Ralph is alone." You nodded cautiously, and paced away slowly. "Okay, well Ralph would you mind if I take a look around?" It was a rhetorical question of course, you were going to investigate regardless of It's answer. Slowly, as if delicately picking out a response, Ralph responded, "... No need. Ralph did nothing wrong."

You nodded and walked around the house, looking for any hiding spots. "I know you didn't, but I need to just make sure. It's my job." You looked up the stairs, "did you have a job?" From the corner of your eye you watched the Android nod quickly, "Ralph gardens."

"Huh," you said calmly, no peering below the stairs, hoping to gain more of his trust, "I never could get into gardening--" when suddenly Ralph wrapped It's arms around you, pulling you away from the steps.

"Run, quick Kara!" It yelled, as you watched the deviant and the young girl escape the room. Violently, the Android threw you onto the hard wood stairs and dashed into the opposite corner of the room with both hands raised. Your vision got slightly fuzzy until you saw the front door peer open, and a tall man race over to you. He wrapped his one arm around your back and his hand around your head, carefully escorting you up. "That way, It went that way!" You continued to yell, trying to regain your vision and your balance.

Once you were up right, you watched the tall figure leave the room, yelling, "call it in!" You scrunched your eyes and realized who's voice that was... It was Connor's. He didn't focus on the deviant at all, he was more focused on you. You were shocked to think that possibly he did have emotions, and really wasn't a machine after all.

You rushed through the front door, yelling to your team about the deviant. Like a parade, they all flooded over to possible locations It could have gone next. Then, racing across the street was Connor, running towards the bus stop. You were no match for his speed, but you did your best to catch up to him.

You both ended up meeting at another gated fence, watching the deviant and the child stand to the side of the highway. "That's," you swallowed a large gulp of air, "that's insane. They're gonna die." Connor however, seemed to have a different plan. He was eagerly gripping onto the fence, bouncing slightly as if he was planning on climbing it. "I can't let them get away," he said impatiently. You then took him by the shoulder, trying to push him back down. "No. No way that's happening, it's too risky, they'll never make it--"

"I can't take that chance!" He argued, and climbed up the fence. "Hey, hey!" You yelled, punching the fence in anger. "You're going to get killed!" Connor however had no intention on listening to your nagging, and followed them through the traffic while you eagerly held onto the wire. You watched as the cars sped by him, one nearly taking off his leg. "Connor, please just-- just turn back!" You yelled out, not sure if he'd be able to even hear you. With one quick leap, Connor tackled the deviant between two lanes of traffic. They both were pushing each other closer to the edge of the cars, until the deviant did one final push and threw him directly in front of a car. You gripped onto the fence with all your might, hoping he wouldn't die.

"God, Connor!" You yelled out, and watched him scurry away into the next lane of traffic before safely getting to the median. The deviant and the girl we're both gone from sight, vanishing like a magic trick. You were too focused on Connor to even get a glimpse of where they went. You turned around, and went back to the street, not being able to watch him nearly kill himself trying to get over to the other side again.