From Your Wires to Your Core

A Place to Call Home

Fanart by Marn (marndraws on Tumblr, @Marndraws on Twitter and marndraws on Instagram)

Reed's head jerked up as he saw a hand wave in front of his face. He'd almost jumped out of his skin, and he would have snapped at the zero model standing beside him if not for the worried look on his face. He wasn't sure whether it was to compensate for his lack of voice or just a quirk of his half-deviant programming, but he was extremely expressive. He didn't think even Connor was this expressive. Curiosity and concern blinked in his blue eyes as he waited. It was even more impressive considering the zero model seemed to have more limited facial movement than Connor. Everything showed with barely a twitch of his muscles.

I have been trying to get your attention...Are you alright? He watched Reed sigh as he rubbed his face. Shit, I was only sitting with him for a few minutes. This is why you should never fuck people at work! He couldn't help thinking back to those early days when he'd been in uniform and Anton had worn a much cheaper suit. They'd both started at the bottom, unsure who was using who as they'd worked their way up. It hadn't been love. It hadn't even been a relationship, but it had been something. A something he sometimes missed a little. Phck, I need to get laid. He always started making bad decisions when he was strung out.

"I'm fine...Unfortunately, I didn't find much," he replied as he sat back in his chair, putting Anton back in the metaphorical box for now. The zero model remained at his side, hands clasped loosely behind his back as he waited for him to continue. "The first guy is too far down the ranks to know much about it and the second guy was aware, but unhelpful. They'll both keep their eyes open." Reed sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, feeling like he was back to square one.

The coroner has given me permission to inspect the bodies tomorrow morning. Will you accompany me? The zero model looked hopeful. Not that Reed had any intention of sending him off on his own. For one thing, he'd never been to the coroner's office before, and for another, it seemed cruel to send him in alone with only sign language as a means of communication. He'd already caught more than one human officer looking at them funny as they talked. He knew it wouldn't be easy for him to communicate alone.

"Sure, let's meet here at about...eight?" Reed suggested thoughtfully, watching the zero model nod his agreement as he returned to his chair and sat. Looking at the clock, Reed sighed as he began packing away. "Shift is over, Toaster. You can clock out and go home," Reed instructed as he stretched and turned off his terminal. The zero model paused a moment, blue eyes shifting to his lap evasively. Reed shrugged as he headed across the room and punched their cards out. The zero model still seemed a little lost as Reed returned to his desk. His silvery eyes were darting around the office thoughtfully.

Is there anything you would like me to do while I await your return? He looked up from his terminal, which was still turned on. Reed frowned as he tugged on his white hoodie, which had replaced his leather jacket for now. He still hadn't asked the zero model to return it. Somehow, it just didn't feel right. Not that he'd seen it since. It was just that every time he thought about it, he remembered the way the zero model had looked the last time he'd attempted to return it. He'd seemed oddly vulnerable without it.

"Shift's over. You can leave and go home." Reed watched the zero model's gaze drop vulnerably. "Where are you staying? I'll give you a ride," Reed added as he tried to tease an answer out. He would have guessed Hank's house, but the zero model had only met Hank that day. He was likely still staying at Cyberlife Tower with Markus and the others. It didn't seem like much of a home. It seemed more like a form of torment, returning to the place you'd been locked up and tortured for months on end.

I have nowhere to go. I shall remain here and await your return. The zero model avoided the searching green eyes that widened slightly at the news. Reed looked around the almost empty bullpen. It was change over, so the night staff were just appearing now. Really? He's just going to sit here and work all night, then all day tomorrow? What if he needs something? Will any of the night crew even talk to him? Do any of them even know sign language? He should be getting some sleep or whatever! Can he do that sitting in a chair? That'll leave him completely unaware, right? What if someone plays some sort of prank on him...He wouldn't put it past them. There were some jokers in the ranks, and more than one would get a kick out of teasing an android. Reed would have been one of them not so long ago, too.