Virus (Yandere Connor x Reader)

Thirty-One

There was a gentle knock on the driver's side window, and your android smiled as you unlocked the doors to let him back in. He got himself situated behind the wheel, starting the engine and turning the heat on a low setting- you'd said you were a bit chilly, after all- but didn't drive away. His eyes closed, head resting against the seat, giving you the impression that he was letting himself relax first. Reaching over, you took one of his hands, and he squeezed on instinct. "Honey, you all right? Did they give you a hard time?"

Eyes opening again, Connor still had that smile as he turned to you. "Hardly. Even if they refuse, it's obstruction of justice. We have ways of getting evidence."

He didn't register your horrified face right away; it took your worried voice to alert him to something being wrong. "Oh my god, what the hell happened?! Are you okay?!"

"What do you mean?" He watched you frantically dig through your purse for something unknown- which you pressed against the underside of his nose. ".... what..."

"Connor, your nose was bleeding. Not bad, but fuck... it's so alarming when someone is calm and they've got blood running down. And I know you couldn't feel it, either." You held the tissue cautiously, unsure if something had happened. "I can give you a little thirium if your levels are low." Searching his eyes, you could only hope it was nothing serious. "Did something happen?"

The concern and insistence to mind him had flashed yellow at his temple, but it eased back to blue when you'd calmed, as well. "... Detective Reed landed a blow to my nose earlier today. Perhaps something minor needs to be repaired internally."

A nose could bleed randomly if it were injured; any sort of pressure might do it. But as an android, minor injuries would heal quickly on their own. And instead of brushing it off and accepting his explanation, you frowned. "Connor. I know you're probably trying to make me feel better, but if you got punched this morning, it would have healed by noon. I worked with androids for years; don't lie to me. I'm not an idiot."

The sharp tone of voice made him freeze, but of course you were entirely correct, and free to call him out on his bullshit. He reached up and took your hand, still grasping the bloodied tissue, pulling them away from his face. The bleed had stopped already. "... I don't know why I bled. I took longer than I wanted to come back, because I had to stop. I..." Was this really something he should tell you? "... the prototype passed something to me, aside from his memory. It has been... distracting. Sometimes I cannot ignore it. But I am able to run self tests; I can pinpoint the issue so it may be removed. I have noticed that I've bled more than once... this morning's punch notwithstanding."

You were unable to mask the concern, tucking the tissue away to be disposed of later. Taking both of the android's hands, you opened your mouth to speak, but all that came out was a sob, which was promptly cut off before it got out of control.

NOW he was worried. "Don't. Don't cry over this, please. Aside from the occasional bleed I feel perfectly functional," he lied, hoping it would reassure you. But you'd called him out already; he was risking a lot.

Words didn't want to come out, and you kept trying to blink enough before they watered too much. "... h-honey... it's a virus. He must have gotten a virus from that fucking software and... g-gave it to you..." Head lowered, you had to gasp to fill your lungs. "Fuck, I'm so sorry... I... I shouldn't have made that goddamn software in the first place...!"

"This was never your fault," he pressed. "Algorithms are unpredictable when you're experimenting. You didn't create a virus. His code corrupted it."

"You have it," you hissed, finally lifting your head. "You're infected because I was too fucking ignorant, I kept hoping it was just something I could delete. Something that wouldn't spread. But no, he passed it to you. His last fucking punch in my face."

Connor was at a total loss. Lying was painful, but the truth seemed to hurt worse. Sensing the downward spiral of self-hate, he grabbed your face like you often did to him. "..... please," he begged, "please don't think this way. This was not something anyone could anticipate." Watching the tears streaming down, he winced. "You are... in agony. It's painful to see you in this state. I can protect you from anyone... but I do not know how to guard you when you are your own assailant." Wiping the tears from your cheeks, his hands seemed unsteady. "Tell me. Please. You are in pain and I need to protect you."

Taking a very shaky breath, you had to focus to stop the waterworks. "... I'm sorry you're infected. Connor, I'm so sorry."

"If I didn't get infected the way I did... it would have meant I never protected you whatsoever. I would not ask for things to be different, when it's led me here. A virus is a fair price to pay for the only one who says I'm worthy enough of being defended."

The more he spoke, the more those damn butterflies flitted around in your stomach. No longer at risk of crying, you didn't bother pulling away. "I don't want you destroying yourself for my stupid ass."

"I won't destroy myself. I can't protect you if I'm gone."

"Honey--"

"Shut up." Your android had turned things around on you. "No more blaming yourself. We are returning to your home, and you will wind down. I will be by your side if you wish. Tomorrow, you can do what you feel is necessary to combat this virus. But tonight, you will relax. And if you begin to blame yourself again, I will silence you by any means necessary."

Where the hell did this side come from? His words were loving but commanding; telling you what needed to be done and what you were going to do, but in a reassuring manner. Connor must have realized that he needed to stop you before you spiraled too far down. "... any means necessary? You're gonna tape my mouth shut and tie me down so I literally can't do anything?"

"If I must."

"Can't you just sit on me? Pin me down?"

Much to your surprise, the android grinned a touch. "I think if every time you berated yourself, and a button of mine came undone, it would stop you."

Stop me from blaming myself, sure... I don't think it'd stop me from trying to pounce on you, you blissfully unaware tease.