Virus (Yandere Connor x Reader)

Fifteen

The tension had gotten so thick, it could have been sliced open with a knife. Your attention turned to your coffee, mind laden with urgent warnings that you should keep your distance. Even the poor attempt at flirting was pushing it- not that the daft android sitting across from you got the hint.

Well, maybe that's my sign. He's on bodyguard duty. Being friendly is fine, and I shouldn't try to change that.

The RK800 model may have been an older version, technically, but it was better than the relatively cold upgrade. The Connor sitting in front of you might have been a little... well, he was far from stupid. Just inexperienced, it seemed. Like he hadn't really gone out to learn from the world firsthand; he stuck to what he knew.

Having finished your coffee, your hands laid on the table so you could get back onto your feet- but another hand covering one of yours made you pause. "... what?"

"Please. Let me apologize." Desperate was too strong a word for his expression. Connor seemed... worried, almost. "Social cues and cryptic hints aren't my forte. I've upset you, I'm unsure why, but I'm still sorry."

Fuck. This was why he was like a magnet; cute and oblivious to the fact. Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath. "Thank you for the apology, but I'm the one who's sorry." You knew what you should have been doing, but explaining it was more difficult when his grip tightened slightly. Eyes opening, his expression hadn't changed. "... I'm sorry, Connor. I forget that you're not used to a lot of things, and I shouldn't be teasing you in the first place."

The soft, crooked smile appeared and replaced his worried look. "Teasing isn't new. Ask anyone in the precinct. It's easier when I rarely get offended."

"No, no, that's..." Wincing, you steeled yourself again. "I doubt they tease you in the same way I just tried to. And before you say it, I know you don't understand. Connor..."

I have to bite the bullet.

"... you're my bodyguard. As much as I appreciate the fact that you're genuinely kind and want to protect me... Maybe this," you glanced down at the hand grasping yours, "isn't the best idea."

The android withdrew his hand, and the pang of regret stung badly. His eyes closed slowly, face passive. "Being assigned here was not my idea. Hank said that I was the most obvious choice, considering the situation, but partially because he said he was "playing wingman" so I might "get a life". And up until this moment, I did not know what wingman meant." Now his eyes opened. "I regret having looked it up at all."

Talk about mixed signals. "... so you didn't want to do this?"

"He formed the idea. It was his plan, but..." Now he hesitated, showing no sign that his mind was reeling. "Making decisions for myself usually results in the most practical solution. And up until recently, it's served me well."

Sitting back, you let him speak, his point unclear. "... up until recently?"

"When emotion comes to the surface, it is always set aside. Most emotions have no place in my life. But they do not disappear, and I end up uneasy and confused when they can't be ignored." Under the table, his hands clenched. "This may not have been my idea but I will not deny that I am enjoying this. I am confused, and uneasy, and apprehensive... but... happy."

The side of his temple was flashing red, so it was obvious how much he was struggling, coming to terms with letting his guard down enough to enjoy something. But if he didn't settle down, it might harm him in the long run. Despite your earlier words you held your hands out. "Give me your hands. Come on, hon." Connor hesitated, but slid his hands into your grasp. Immediately the flashing red turned to yellow. "There we go. Can't have you self-destructing in the middle of the café. Then I'd be losing two of my favorite things."

Comments like those were more than rare, but it calmed him further, his light going back to blue once more. "You barely know me."

"I think if I ask Hank, he'll spill all your secrets." It got the android to chuckle, at least. "Whatever secrets you might have, I mean."

"I am... an open book," he replied. "But the secrets I'm curious about are yours." He glanced down at your hands. "So... what do we do about... this?"

"Mm, good question. Took five minutes to turn me into a hypocrite. Impressive."

"Actually, it was two minutes and fifty-three seconds."

"Okay, smartass, keep it up and I won't tell you anything about me."

"If you promise not to let go, that's fine."

That one sentence made your heart leap into your throat. "When the hell did you learn to be that smooth?"

Connor looked at you blankly. "Smooth...?"

"Oh jeez. Okay, I really need to give you a crash course on... a lot of things." Good thing you had tools to help out. "... listen. I know that... with the case still ongoing, and you doing your duty as bodyguard... and that... cocksucker lurking anywhere..." You frowned a touch, but it faded quickly. "I don't know why I'm so comfortable with you around. Things like this probably shouldn't be happening in the first place. Maybe I'm just a lonely, pathetic woman who has a weakness for guys with dark hair, I don't know. Just... we shouldn't..."

It was his turn to squeeze your hands. "I know nothing about this. But... this is the first time in my life that I've... wanted something. Purely for the sake of wanting it. I have no logical explanation, and can't seem to reason my way through it. Even turning deviant... wasn't as strong as this. This time I have nothing in my way except myself. And... I am a very persuasive adversary."

A grin spread across your face. "Well, lucky for you, I know my way around a keyboard. I've got years of work behind me to back me up. I'm pretty sure I can hack in and break that firewall."

"I don't have a firewall--"

"Connor, I was trying to use language you'd understand to tell you I'd help. So shut up."