It's Not in My Programming

Four: Swag.

gavin paled, shaking his head quickly before storming off to the bathroom. connor could have laughed if it weren't for the fact that he was so distressed by it all. "hank, i don't wish to be replaced.

"i promise you're not being replaced, i wouldn't let fowler do that to you. he owes me a favor, anyway."

connor slowly nods, turning to his computer so he can try and work on the case that they were assigned over a week ago. that doesn't last long though, because the RK900 model walks up to their desks.

"i am sorry if my presence bothers you, connor. i know i was made to be your superior, but that was never a part of my own personal intentions and i wouldn't want you to think that i would be here to replace you. i look forward to working alongside you as your equal." he rushes it all out, trying to keep his composure. "also, i go by the name nines now."

connor nods and offers a thin-lipped smile, trying to sound as genuine as possible. "i hope to enjoy working with you, nines."

with that, nines spins on his heel and has a seat at the desk directly across from gavin's. he and hank share a snicker, then connor tries to go back to work. however, he is interrupted yet again by a message.

what are you up to after work today? we should hang out!

connor smiles shyly, ducking his head down to hide his blue tinted cheeks.

this worked up over a damn text.

i'm not doing anything, markus. i was actually already planning on stopping by today.

great! can't wait.

-

connor lets himself into markus' apartment again, feeling comfortable with it after doing it once before. he steps through the door and expects to be met with markus on the couch, but is instead met with an empty living room. suddenly feeling like an intruder, connor lets himself walk throughout the home to find no sign of his friend anywhere. with a huff, he lets himself sit on the couch and only waits a few minutes. he takes notice in the framed picture he and markus took last week, resting on the coffee table. he lets his cheeks become dusted with blue before markus is rushing in.

"i'm so sorry," he smiles tiredly. "there was a situation with north that i had to take care of. i didn't think about letting you know because i figured i'd be back before you got here, i hope you haven't been waiting long."

right, north.

"no, i haven't been waiting long at all, i only got here a few minutes ago."

markus nods and smiles again, having a seat next to connor on the couch. his LED spins yellow for a moment, trying to figure out the right way to ask the question that's been killing him.

"markus?" he asks nervously.

"yes, connor?" markus asks back, matching his tone.

"would you consider north to be your bae?"

markus blinks. "my what?"

"your bae? boo?"

it's only a couple moments of silence before markus bursts into laughter, making connor's cheeks darken. he decides those words are unacceptable and destroys them from his memory bank. "what i meant to ask is, is north your romantic partner?"

"no-" markus rushes while trying not to bark into another laughing fit. "not at all, she's just one of my best friends. we dated during and shortly after the revolution, but ultimately we decided that our views on the world were too different. ironically enough, she ended up dating josh of all people."