It's Not in My Programming

One: Different.

he doesn't like the receptionist.

"connor, hello!" markus said, smiling and straightening some papers on his desk. if connor didn't know any better, he'd say that markus was actually eager for him to come up and see him.

"hello," connor replies with a small nod. he walks towards the desk and has a seat on the front of it, turning his body to face markus better. "thank you for seeing me, i know how busy your schedule can get."

"nonsense, i always have enough time for my friends. what brings you over here so last minute? you usually send a message if you plan on visiting."

"yes, i know. hank and i got into an argument and i suppose that distracted me too much to remember to let you know of my arrival. i apologize."

"no need to, it's perfectly fine. is everything okay with hank?"

no, he wants to say. no, everything is not okay with hank. he's got control issues.

"yes, everything is well. i think he's just having trouble adjusting to my new... freedom. he doesn't like it when i don't tell him where i'm going."

markus nods thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his chin a bit. while he seemingly thinks of a response, connor looks around uneasingly. markus' office looks just the same as it always has, pictures and awards line the walls and there's a bookshelf, filled to the brim with old civil rights books as well as newly written books about the android revolution. on one of the shelves, there's a picture of markus and his friends from jericho, sans connor. which is. okay.

"well you know hank lost a son previously. i'm sure that those feelings of protectiveness have transferred to you. he's probably just worried, that's all." markus observed. "besides, where are you going off to that you don't want hank to know about?"

ah, shit.

"no where in particular, i just like having some privacy." he grumbles, fans working overtime to cool him off and prevent the blue thirium from reaching his cheeks. "i hardly get any alone time at the house, and it doesn't help that i don't have my own bedroom." not a complete lie, but also withholding the truth.

"well, i can see where problems would arise then. have you thought about having an apartment here in jericho?"

"my own apartment? i couldn't do that, hank takes care of me even though he drives me crazy sometimes." connor furrows his eyebrows. that was a ridiculous suggestion.

"okay, well maybe not your own apartment then. however, if you ever need alone time, there's a spare bedroom in mine that you can use. there isn't much in there, just a couch and a television, but i'm sure you'll still find it useful. i can program you into my security tonight."

connor's eyebrows shoot up. it can't be that easy, right? one minute he's thinking of how to see markus more and then the next minute, markus is giving him access to his personal apartment. if connor could dream, this is what it would feel like.

"you don't have to do that for me, markus. realistically, i'm not sure what i would ever need alone time for, anyway."

"well you know, sometimes there's personal business that needs to be attended to..." markus grins knowingly at connor, in which he just blinks back.

his LED spins yellow while he searches the internet for insight on what that comment might have meant.

"ah," connor says. "if you mean masturbation, that function is not in my program and i am incapable of doing it."

markus laughs, deep and loud with his head thrown back. connor had never felt embarrassment while talking about sex before, but he's wondering if he should start.