Here to Stay

Thirium.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

Chapter 1

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

| Software Instability. |

—

Connor glared at his reflection in the mirror, his doe eyes wandering around. The android brought his hand up to his forehead. Tenderly, Connor grabbed a rag and dabbed at the thirium leaking down his synthetic skin. He kept a stoic expression, hoping that the lieutenant wouldn't return home anytime soon. If he did, the brunette had begun to process how to explain this to the poor man.

"CONNOR!?"

Speak of the devil.

"In the bathroom, lieutenant," Connor called out calmly. He heard the lieutenant rushing down the hall. Was he worried? Connor shook his head. Of course not. He can be replaced easily, Hank wouldn't know the difference, right? Right.

"Are you gonna explain why there's blue blood all over the kitchen floor?" The elder man panted slightly. Despite only being in his 30's and a police officer, he was admittedly quite out of shape. Connor pursed his lips watching Hank straighten himself out as he caught his breath. "My apologies, lieutenant. I seem to have had an accident while I was cooking dinner. I'll clean it as soon as I'm finished." Connor glanced at the lieutenant in the mirror watching the man pull his hair out of his face; the android repressing a smile.

"Accident?" Hank questioned, walking closer to the android silently and quickly flipping him around. The man's eyes widened at the gash above Connor's eyebrow, grimacing slightly at the thirium oozing from the wound. "Jesus, I can't ever leave you at home alone, can I?" Hank grumbled, pushing down the young android to make him sit. "Lieutenant, I assure you that I can handle the situation myself, if you would just-" Connor reached his arm out to take the rag back, his LED flashing yellow. "Shut the hell up, Connor," Anderson grumbled, wiping off the thirium and examining Connor's wound. It wasn't horrific, but his skin wasn't regenerating. Hank sighed, picking up his phone and dialing a number, which Connor was unaware of.

"Lieutenant, really. I'm fine." He furrowed his brows in annoyance, simply wanting to get back to cooking. A reasonable request for an injured android, is it not?"I said shut the hell up, Connor!" Hank glared at the android, feeling guilty as the androids LED flashed red, although it faded quickly. The man sighed. "Look Con, why don't you just go put on some comfortable clothes, and I'll order Chinese food. Ok?"

Connor wanted to protest, but he obliged reluctantly. With his LED still yellow, he trudged down to his room. He sat down on his memory foam bed, gently rubbing his LED in an attempt to soothe himself. He found himself... disappointed? No, of course not. The android removed his clothes, neatly hanging up his suit in his closet and placing on something simple. One of Hanks old shirts—which was obviously a bit large for the short, thin boy— and a pair of shorts. The grey cloth draped over his pale shoulders, too large to stay put. Connor smiled fondly at himself, spinning around and admiring his simple outfit in his full-body mirror.

He walked out of the room, perambulating to the living room. The android smiled in surprise as Markus and his lover Simon appeared in his field of vision. "Hello Markus, Simon." He noticed how Simon tended to cling onto Markus. It was quite cute.

Simon waved, though Markus gave Connor an odd look, glancing up and down at the android protectively. "Connor, where are your clothes?" He mumbled. Connor looked down at his attire, confused at Markus' statement. "Um, on my body?" Connor questioned, tugging at the fabric. Markus glared at Hank, "After this, we're taking Connor shopping. For his OWN clothes." He furrowed his eyebrows, watching the lieutenant choke on his sip of coffee and cough quietly. He nervously looked to Connor. "In that case, we should get this done with then, right?" Hank mumbled. Connor took note that the man was feeling embarrassed— his body temperature high and small shifts every now and then. The source? Unknown. For now.

"Done with what?" Connor cocked his head to the side curiously. A few glances were directed his way, Simon coughing awkwardly as he gave the younger boy an unintentional sideways look. The android pursed his lips together, discomfort evident on his face. He gave a questioning look to his Lieutenant.

"They're here to fix your head Con," Hank stated. He took a sip from his warm beverage, trying to ignore Connor's expression. The brunette's LED flashed a crimson red as he reached a shaky head to his wounded forehead. "What?" He looked at the thirium oozing from his synthetic digits. "I'm fine." He protested. Regardless of the liquid emanating from his temple, it's not like he had many options. He could either run now and lock himself in the bathroom, or allow them to assist him— as they have more experience anyway. After calculating his options, Connor decided on the latter.

His body tensed as he inched forward towards the couple. Hank set a mental reminder to do something to atone himself to Connor later.

—

As the couple completed their task, Connor was still very much annoyed. Excluding the pain in his head, he had very little to think about— therefore allowing his annoyance to blossom into something toxic. He didn't know why his mind had been plagued with such tawdry thoughts.

He shook his head, hoping to shake away his thoughts. "Alright Con,"   Markus groaned slightly as he stood up. "you're good to go." Simon finished for him, standing up as well.

"I bid you all farewell, " Markus said with a bow, causing Simon to stifle a laugh at his amusing boyfriend. The two say goodbye, leaving the two alone. Connor sighed in exasperation, trotting off to his room as the silence was too much for him.

Hank sighed. He pushed himself off of the couch and walked to the kitchen to go fill Sumo's bowl. He could tell something was on the android's mind but wasn't quite sure how to approach the matter.

Meanwhile, Connor drowned in his thoughts. He didn't know why, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was weak.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

1035
-
May 2nd, 2019
-
This took me way too long to write but I'm finally finished. Welcome to the angst everyone.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀