#alexis writes

Andrew reached out and placed the keys to the Columbia house on his hand.

Did Andrew know what it means? How it feels on Neil’s behalf? 

Why? Andrew said it himself, he’s a rabbit. Bound to run off any time now. Will run, should run any time now. Why give him this key?

---

Neil kept awake. It’s a foreign feeling. 

Even if he disappeared the very next day, he had already left his self there. The cousins will remember of a boy with brown hair, blue eyes.

That thought should terrify him. He has been remembered. Neil Josten is now a real person to the Foxes. His team. He will never be able to slip away without someone knowing him. Not his lies, but him.

But oddly enough, Neil wasn’t so bothered by that idea. He didn’t...dislike knowing that he was cared about. That people would notice him gone in a few months.

As he traced a pattern that is quickly growing familiar onto his hand, he smiled. Not one of his sharp smiles. Not his empty smiles. But one which showed that, yes, for the longest time,

Neil felt content.

---

Tracing the key’s pattern on his hand is keeping him there.

He had to have a way to keep himself true after 2...3 weeks at the Nest.

So he knows he’s still Neil.

He’s still Neil. Not Nathaniel. Neil Josten. 

---

With his death right over the horizon, he was oddly content. A family that wants him. People who would be concerned about his being. Friends that will fight for him. Contentment was a fine emotion. And when he says fine, he means it now.

The feeling of normalcy they give him. Partying. Friendship. Love. It was as if he were normal. His impending death hanging over his head has all been forgotten.

You know? I wanna be free

I want to be free

.

“Detective...Detective Anderson.”

You shook your head the LED on your temple shifting from blue to yellow as you processed a different approach. Slamming your hand on the desk next to his head caused your coworker to jolt up, hand quickly reaching to his sidearm. The paperwork on his desk scattering haphazardly on the ground.    

“Wha-What? What the fuck Y/N!” Connor sat straight in his seat a hand covering his heart. He could already hear Gavin giving him shit for it.

“Detective-”

“Please call me Connor.”

“Connor, you’ve been assigned to work with me on this case. It involves an android and three humans. Captain Fowler wants this solved as soon as possible.”

Connor signed running a hand through his hair before grabbing the fallen papers. “Fine. Just let me get some coffee.” Shuffling the papers in to a neat stack Connor stood while tightening his tie. You followed closely behind already relaying a detailed report as he slowly sludge to the break room practically dragging his feet on the tiled floor.

“Connor did you sleep well last night?” You ask as the coffee machine whirled to life bright screen illuminating the dimly lit breakroom making a horrible sound in the process. Adjusting his jacket and tightening his tie once again he huffed a laugh mindlessly watching the machine sputter out coffee. There was a moment of silence the break room thankfully bare before Connor shook his head.

“Mhm not really, Hank can home from the bar pretty late last night, completely wasted, loudly telling Sumo about how the bar was too loud and he just wanted a drink in peace and...ha I guess it amusing now.” Lifting the cup Connor hissed quietly, swiftly sliding the sleeve on. Shrugging, Connor grabbed three creamers from the coffee stained tray next to him turning his drink milky white.

“Why were you waiting for him? You could have called me for assistance if you were concerned for his well being. I do not require sleep.”

“Careful I might just take you up on your offer. I’m just concerned, I really did think he was getting better but-old habits die hard.” Tightly gripping the cup Connor placed the lid on top before spinning around, a fake smile on his lips. “Come on, hopefully we can finish this quickly.”

The street was covered curious neighbors, EMT’s, police, and news crews. As the self-driving car slowed to a stop next to the noisy crowd. Stepping out of the car you scanned the house deciding on the best course of action. The house was updated with the latest security provided by Cyberlife, there was a small balcony jutting out from on of the rooms. The exterior was painted a light blue with the windows and door white. The owners were Shelbey McCain, died December 5th at 2:30 am, and her husband Peter McCain, died December 5th at 1:00 am. The third resident was their daughter, Hope McCain missing.

“Y/N, are you coming?” Connor glanced over his shoulder at you before looking back towards the house trying to determine what you were so fixated on.   

“I was getting the necessary information about who the victims where, point of entry, and what security system they owned.”

“Wait, just looking at the house gave you all that information?”

“Yes”

Connor chuckled then started approaching the house, you beside him. The inside was clean and orderly. The living room was a soft brown with a recently used fireplace at the center. Scanning the room you discovered nothing happened in the living room. Heading upstairs provided a completely difference scene. The hallway walls were sprinkled with blood leading into the master bedroom. Taking a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching you dipped your fingers into the blood and took a sample.

“I’ll never get use to that.” Connor grimised examining the blood trail next to you.

Ignoring his comment you started the analyses. “This is Peter McCains blood, it appears the struggle started on the starway and moved to his bedroom. I do not believe Mr.McCain was armed due to the lack of thirium.” Following the trail you opened the bedroom and located Peter and Shelby McCain. Peter was on the floor near the closet with a paper weight covered in thirium. Shelby McCain was on the bed almost appearing to be asleep the only giveaway was the small traces of blood on the backboard.

“I bet you already know what happened, huh?” Connor asked taking notes of the crime scene.

“Yes, the android was specifically after Mr.McCain, he used a large kitchen knife and stabbed him thirty-two times. Ms.McCain was stabbed once in the heart, she died quickly.”

“Okay, what about the daughter what happened to her?” Stepping out of the room you moved to the daughter bedroom. The bedroom was dark even with the lights on. The walls were painted a dark purple and the all the decor was dark blues and black. The most noticeable thing was the closet door flung open with clothes spread across the black carpeted floor.

“She wasn’t kidnapped.”

“How can you tell?” Connor glanced around the room trying to piece together what you already saw.

“If she was kidnapped she would not have time to pack a bag” You stepped further into room looking at the balcony attached to the far wall.

“They escaped out the balcony, the android is still armed and it is unclear if the daughter is aware her parents are dead.” You turned around to face Connor who was already sending out an alert. You took in the his brows were knit together in concentration and how his hair fell in front of his fac-

“Y/N is their something on my face?” Connor asked wiping at his cheek.

“No Connor I was simple filling out the report.” You responded grateful for the ability to smooth your features to a neutral expression. Connor smiled, straighten out his coat.