Virus (Yandere Connor x Reader)

Twenty

Time passed at an immeasurable rate. Hours ago you'd told him that things needed to come to a stop, or at least slow down. Mere minutes after that, you'd turned yourself into a hypocrite. But now?

So much for trying to do things the right way. Or... maybe this is right instead?

A particularly loud creak from the wooden basement stairs made the both of you pull away to look; Hank was frozen in an exaggerated tiptoe walk. The three of you were still for a moment, completely silent, before the lieutenant sighed, letting his arms flop back down. "You kids don't mind me. I wanted to sneak out. Privacy and shit. But... lady, your fuckin' stairs are more creaky than my joints in the morning."

"Hank, you can't be that old," you reasoned, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe not, but years of chasing after criminals and my s--... My body is tellin' me to retire, or at least take it easy. Okay? Okay." With a dismissive wave he went upstairs... ironically not causing the steps to creak again.

What Hank said- or almost said- turned over in your head before you finally decided to question Connor. There was a pleading, nervous look in his gaze, so you dropped your question. "What's wrong, hon?"

Again his mouth opened and closed like a fish, reminiscent of your first meeting. And almost on cue, the LED turned yellow. It would probably go red in seconds, so you took the android's hands. "... this is the part where I would have blood rushing to my face, but... that isn't possible. Looks like I have to resort to anxious squirming and extreme discomfort."

"... why? Connor, honey, you don't seem like the type to have trouble speaking his mind. I'm sure it's landed you in hot water plenty of times. So what gives?"

His eyes trailed off to the side, avoiding your own. Yet again his tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth, and it was starting to frustrate him.

[She's too astute to tells. Me, an android built to read people, can't hide his own body language.]

If you didn't yank him back to reality, he'd get lost in his own system. So you forced his head back to face you, and his eyes seemed to clear after a bit. "Welcome back, RK800. Now please answer my question." Your eyes narrowed. "And don't you dare tell me everything is fine. I've never seen an android more anxious than you. Which is really unfortunate because you seemed to calm down at the café."

Now he had no choice, so his thoughts were shoved violently forward, not unlike word vomit. "I am experiencing a high degree of anxiety only around you. The unease has not gone away and I'm at my wit's end. Those around me understand faster than I'm able to, and it aggravates me further that they have knowledge about me that I cannot solve! Nor do they give me a straight fucking answer!"

Connor's last exclamation was loud, making you flinch. But... for once, there was also genuine emotion. It may have been shown under duress, but the emotion was there. Your hands had pulled away before his rant, but they returned to holding his head. "It's unusual to hear you drop an f-bomb, but... that was very emotional. And it's nice to hear." A soft smile formed slowly on your face, which calmed him rather quickly.

"I... was expecting some sort of retaliation. Or... rejection." He had to be more open; clamming up so easily would get him nowhere. Connor's hands covered your own, his eyes closing. "As level-headed as I've been programmed to be, there has been no one else that's destroyed that resolve, and replaced it with only static. I have only ever questioned myself several other times, when I'd been sent to track deviants. Even then it was easier to act; now I'm questioning everything."

Your stomach began to sink. Questioning everything? "Do you mean you're questioning why you let yourself be reassigned?"

Now his eyes shot open again. "No. Not about being here. About myself. Up until this began, I've never questioned my decisions." The android frowned a little. "You asked me once if there was anything I'd wanted, purely for the sake of wanting it. I didn't expect to have answers, but I do now. One was..." There was a sheepish, crooked smile. "The... kiss. And the other is the reason I pressed so hard about the software. I'm so sorry."

For what felt like an eternity, there was no reaction on your part. You just stood still, holding Connor's head, with the smile still faintly on your face. But it spread quickly. "So at your core, you want love, is that it? Some kind of connection that goes deeper than just a good friendship?" When he nodded, you just laughed a little. "Oh my god you're adorable."

"I... don't know if that's good."

"It's good, hon. It's honest and it's sweet. Though I still sort of feel like we should take it easy for now, since you're still my bodyguard and all." You pulled your hands away, catching a glimpse of his disappointment until you went closer, head resting against his chest. "I'm the biggest hypocrite I know. Fuck."

The android held you as closely as he wanted to, one last question on his lips. "... Does this mean you aren't rejecting me? If you don't feel the same--"

"Connor."

"Yes?"

"Shush. If you were being rejected I would have stopped you the moment things felt too intimate. But... I have one request. An order, if you will, since you're an android. Will you follow it?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation.

"Don't be so terrified of honesty. Speaking your mind about this sort of thing might help you feel more human. Dropping that f-bomb? Connor, I'm actually proud you did that. And you can bet your ass I'm telling Hank, too." There was a quiet chuckle, almost unheard. "In all seriousness, please don't hold back just because you feel it's irrational, or that I'll reject you. You know boundaries, and your manners are impeccable. I can't see you as anything but sweet." Slowly, your eyes fluttered shut. "I told you... the remake never holds up against the original."

(Don't worry, things will get more interesting. I don't know why this is such a long build-up, but the yandere IS coming.)