Connor|RK800 x Reader: Ocularity

November 2nd 05:13 PM

A certain sense of tranquility has always been the cornerstone of the place you call home. It's where you're allowed to relax and let the worries of the world to be shed off your shoulders. Over the past year, Liara has become an irreplaceable part of that feeling.

She took care of you when there was no one else. She kept you company when you were lonely. When you forgot to eat or sleep, she was there to remind you to do so. While you were working, she would memorize the notes you were speaking out loud and compile them into a file for later reviewing.

Androids are machines, often blamed to have their compassion come only from ones and zeroes. Were it not a part of their programming, they wouldn't even lift a finger for the wellbeing of humans – or so the popular opinion dictates.

But if a human would've been treated with no sympathy for their whole life, would they act for the benefit of another?

Humans are by default very selfish beings and could stand to learn something from the unending kindness of androids. No matter that it stems from a few pieces of computer code.

You watch the two androids in your living room to take a break from writing the report on Connor's progress. Markus and Liara are like night and day; two parts of the same cycle, serving similar purposes but in different aspects. They don't discuss much, but you're guessing they exchange messages in a way you can't see or hear.

After losing Carl and going deviant, Markus was as shocked as was expected. It took lengthy talks about everything ranging from the circle of life and death to the deviation of androids to calm him down. But he stayed and you read that as progress in your agenda of saving abandoned androids.

Liara's silent presence seems to calm Markus. It grounds him in a way your humanity can't. She's still a machine, but compassionate and able to sympathize with his situation. Deviant or not, Markus is visibly in mourning and craves for closure. You haven't yet realized Carl's passing either. It will take time, and you need to wait for the news to go viral before acting on the sorrow welling deep inside you.

It's peaceful and you turn back to the portable terminal you've set up on the kitchen table. A cup of lukewarm coffee is getting cold while you think. There isn't much to write about Connor. You never got to run the checkup on him after he bailed at the station.

The events of the break room creep back into your mind. The bright brown eyes looking so lost, longing for something you can't see. How he leaned towards you and your mind went blank in that instant. Maybe it all just comes down to what his opinion was on Detective Reed. It's easy to admit you want Connor to approve because you trust his judgment, but after the brief moment, you can't say for sure you should trust him anymore.

You shake your head and blow out the air in your lungs. Liara looks up, ever so sharp in her observation skills. She always knows when something is not right with you.

"I think I need to eat something. My brain feels fried," you chuckle to ease the worry in her features.

Just as you get up, your phone chimes on the table.

Are you home?
Connor, 05:26 PM

"Doctor? Is everything okay? Doctor?"

Liara has sprung up from the couch and places a gentle hand on your shoulder.

You clutch the phone, counting seconds in your mind. You need to reply as soon as possible to not appear suspicious.

"Markus, you need to leave. Now."

"What? Why?" Markus jumps up too, confused and upset at your sudden statement.

"I think the RK800 wants to come here," you explain as you're already heading upstairs to find a coat and shoes for Markus.