detroit 2038

I’m a werewolf, not a Golden Retriever.

Aidan Turner photographed by David Goldman for Article Magazine (2017)

“I d̞͎̤͔͖͚͍͡o̮͚͟n͇͍'̥̤̕t͔̪̰ think I could be h͙͔͜u҉r̮͚̮̙t͚̣̤ more, Hank.” His voice is distorted as he points this out, determined as ever to ensure the facts were straight despite the somewhat dire situation he was in. The corner of his lip quirked into a slight smile. “I’ll be fine- I just need a moment.” He needed several, as well as likely some new parts. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Like hell I won’t worry.” He knows shit about androids, but the amount of thirium - blood - pouring out of his partner is enough to worry him. They don’t have a protocol for this; hell, he doesn’t even know if they have a budget to fix Connor without Cyberlife’s direct help. Doesn’t matter. He’ll do what he has to. “Tell me what we need to help you and I’ll get it.”

Josh’s words brought a small smile to the android’s lips. Ever since the revolution he had been anxious about visiting Jericho. Knowing many there still despised him for his part in trying to take them down. As a result, he’d kept his distance from most of them except for perhaps Markus. He wasn’t entirely sure if he’d even had a chance to talk to Josh in such a casual setting, and the other’s welcoming tone and offer was perhaps the kindest that Jericho had been to him. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

Josh waved away the thanks. “It’s literally the thing I tell everyone, Connor. But I do mean it. I was a teacher before I ended up in Jericho, I’m pretty good with pesky emotions.” He couldn’t guess what Connor was feeling and he couldn’t deny his own apprehension having the other android around. He knew that they were beyond a point of Cyberlife or the humans using him against them but... No. They were better than baseless suspicion.

“I can assure you I have done plenty of research about you, Elijah.” The response is firm but not unkind, his eyes following each of the other’s movements. “Do you relish in that title, Sir?”

“Do you mean ‘sir’ or ‘sociopath’?” He knows what Connor means, of course, but obfuscation is a far more satisfying approach for the man than straightforwardness. Pushing. Drawing out the true nature of this particular android.

The harsh tone to her voice had Connor wincing slightly, a protest on the tip of his tongue. He was fine, he had simply wanted a moment break before they continued. He was the most advanced android out there, sans his younger sibling, so he certainly didn’t need to be carried around like a helpless doll. “A bullet isn’t going to stop me.” He replies instead, lips curling into a frown. “I’m stronger than that.” He had to be stronger than that. 

She snorts in response, ducking under his arm to support him as they walked. “You’re one of us, Connor. That means you have to deal with us taking care of you when you’re hurt.” RKs and their stupid self-sacrificing tendencies. “But I’ll give you the logic if that makes you cooperate. No point straining yourself and making the injury worse and harder to treat when you can just have a little assistance.”

“Be fortunate it’s only a tiny bit.”  He replies softly, lip quirking for a moment before it fades again. “Its merely a lie detector test, I’m sure you have nothing to worry about, Elliot.”

“You know those aren’t admissible in court.” There’s no nonsuspicious way of trying to get out of it though. All he can hope if that his successor doesn’t see through his camouflage protocols.