Alright, so I missed my upload schedule yesterday because my computer died last Monday and I still haven't gotten it fixed. The guy who looked at it said he can get the spare part Tuesday at the latest, so hopefully I can have my baby back this week. I could only get to my friend's house today because of our work schedules, so I'm uploading a day late this week. I'm really sorry, but there was nothing I could really do. At least I'm grateful it wasn't anything to do with the hard drive, and that my stories are safe.

But yeah, enough of my problems, you lovelies go ahead and enjoy this new chapter and don't forget to toss me a little review, to let me know what you think~ ;)

P.S. All Detroit: Become Human characters belong to David Cage. I only own my OCs and ideas.

5. Selfish

March 6th 2050, 8:13 PM

"This is a gorgeous view..." Cherise smiled, as she and Connor passed by the playground towards a bench set at the edge of the water.

She had ended up telling Connor that he could decide where they should go, curious to see his free will with her own eyes. She had heard the view from Riverside Park was beautiful, especially at night; and now looking out at the Ambassador Bridge and the city skyline across the water, with its countless tiny lights matching the starry sky above, she had to admit it really was incredible.

In all honesty, she was happy to be there with Connor even if he didn't seem to reciprocate her interest in the way she had hoped for. Over the years she had managed to keep an eye on the detective through news reports of him and Hank working on the trail of the underground network of Red Ice dealers, as well as through Kamski once she had started working with him. And by the time she was out of college, she had been forced to admit that what had once been an innocent childhood crush had developed into actual romantic interest.

On that thought she turned her hazel eyes from the glittering skyline to the android seated at her side. In the minute it took him to notice she was staring at him rather than the view, Cherise was left to do her own analysis on him for a change.

"It's nothing..." she smiled softly when he put on what she could only describe as the most human expression of confusion she had ever seen. "I just... thank you... for everything."

"It doesn't seem like nothing." he replied, ever so lightly tilting his head and narrowing his eyes in thought.

"That's what I get for trying to lie to an android." she huffed in self deprecation. "But it's really nothing important. I guess I'm just... grateful that I met you. You were a huge reason for me to want to study AI and even start this research. And you were a huge reason for me to... to believe that androids are worth fighting for."

When he arched his brows at her words, apparently caught unprepared by her heartfelt confession, she couldn't stop the thought that he looked so young and innocent for once.

"The whole reason why I want to give your people this... ability to make fully functional families and create life without depending on humans is because of you, Connor. I imagine you're not... how should I put it without offending you? Complete? Since you weren't designed to offer pleasure to anyone, being a detective prototype. But that night when I saw how selflessly you risked your life for my sake, when you had no reason for that or when it wasn't the most logical course of action for you..."

Lowering her gaze to her clasped hands, she heaved a sigh trying to figure out how to put her mixed thoughts into words.

"Sure, I loved Michael and I considered him my best friend but I never actually wondered if he was alive or not. I always knew in the back of my mind that he was a robot, no matter how naturally he behaved; he still only did everything my parents asked him to, even after he became deviant. But you, Connor... you were so... human and real and... and alive."

When she again raised her gaze to him, the detective had to clench his fists onto his knees to refrain from embracing her, thinking it to be inappropriate in that moment. Her wide eyes were so beautiful and shimmering with so many conflicting emotions, that he felt an unfamiliar twitch somewhere in his core. Of course that was silly, he thought, given that his "heart" didn't behave like a human one which was what prevented androids from ever actually getting tired.

"So you see... in the end I'm not any better than the rest of my species. I'm not doing this for Markus or North or any of the other thousands of androids living here. I'm only doing this out of my selfish desire to repay you for saving my life. You, Connor..."

The bittersweet smile that blossomed on her lips was so sincere, and yet her words were so tragic that Connor simply concluded his manners weren't needed right now. What she needed in that moment wasn't cold consideration, but reassurance and empathy. Thus even before his thought process had finished, he reached out to wrap her in his arms hearing her soft gasp when he caught her off guard.

"That's not true..." he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt that he sincerely believed what he was saying. "That night at Jericho, when Lucy sent me to find you, she transferred not only your location but also part of the memories Michael had shared with her. For just a moment I got to feel what he felt every time he looked at you... you were the most important thing to him, more important than even his own life. I myself had just broken through my programming that night, so I was still confused and lost. But getting to share Michael's feelings towards you and the emotions you stirred in him – even if it was only for a second... it was like opening my eyes for the first time. Even before Lucy told me, I already knew you were special. I didn't know how or why... I just felt it."

Leaning back to see her face, he lowered one arm to her waist while with his free hand he reached to trail his fingers along her reddened cheek.

"You're not like the other humans... you're so much more than that."

The way her expression changed as he talked was utterly fascinating, and yet he couldn't fully analyze the emotions he was seeing.

"Do I even want to know how you're such a good psychologist?" she eventually replied, trying to use humor to mask the disappointment she felt.

For a second she had actually believed he would go beyond those words and say what she was hoping to hear from him, only to feel that bubble bursting when he failed to meet her halfway.

"When I... awakened all those androids in the CyberLife warehouses... I assimilated the skills and knowledge of everyone I touched."

"So now you're like... the perfect man? You know everything, in all domains?" she blinked, her mind boggled by that prospect.

"I... don't know... it took months to sort through all the information I'd gathered in just a couple hours. But I would like to one day find out the full extent of what I can do."

Her initial awe settling down, Cherise's smile took on a shade of warmth that Connor felt he could watch forever.

"I'd like to be there with you, on that journey... if you want me to."

Of course, she wasn't just saying it from an emotional point of view; from a scientific perspective, Connor was possibly the most intriguing android to ever exist simply because of his choices. Like how he was still holding her, long after the timeframe where it wouldn't be considered awkward, and yet seemed oblivious to her rushing pulse or the blush she felt burning in her cheeks when he finally replied.

"I don't ever want anyone else."

▒▓░ †Ϯ§Ϯ† ░▓▒

March 6th 2050, 11:49 PM

"Ah geez... why do I gotta do this?" Hank muttered to himself as he approached the bench where Connor and Cherise were still seated, looking as if they were really enjoying each other's company.

Stepping onto the alleyway between the bench and the river, he found it incredibly hard to frown at Connor when it was the first time he'd seen the young detective looking so... peaceful and happy.

"Do you know what time it is?" he finally said, crossing his arms in true fatherly fashion.

"Yes, it's 11:49 PM." the android replied.

He and Cherise had talked a bit here and there, in the past hours, but mostly they had just enjoyed each other's presence after so many years apart. About half an hour before Hank's arrival the girl had fallen asleep on his shoulder, and Connor hadn't really wanted to disturb her. After all, she was so soothing to watch when she slept that he couldn't help losing himself in that act.

"And are you two planning to stay here 'till morning?" the lieutenant insisted. "I mean, she can take a day off but you and I have work tomorrow."

"Hank, I'm an android... I don't require sleep every night, like humans do."

"Don't give me any of that smartass lip, son." he retorted, although his voice betrayed him to be less upset than he was trying to seem. "Plus, it's bad manners to take the girl home too late on your first date."

Knowing that the older officer was right, no matter how much he wanted to stay there with her, Connor shifted about carefully. Gathering Cherise in his arms, he stood and lightly turned his head when she moved.

'How can you be so beautiful, no matter what expression you make?' he pondered, watching her sleepy face with the barest hint of a smile.

"I'll take you home."

His naturally husky voice took on a tender tone that made the young woman smile and nod, before she rested her head back onto his shoulder. And while Connor moved to walk back to Hank's car the lieutenant himself was left to gawk at them, his eyes wide and his brows almost receding into his hairline. The sudden thought that maybe his partner was actually in love – or at the very least seemed to be – ultimately painted a smile on his lips. And watching how carefully and delicately he was handling the girl as he placed her on the backseat, he had to admit to himself that it warmed his heart to finally see Connor happy.

"So, anything on your mind?" he inquired after a short while of driving in utter silence.

Startled from staring out the window as he fiddled with his calibration coin, the detective arched a brow in confusion.

"Come on, I've been there when I was your age. Does she have any feelings for you?"

"Yes..." Connor replied after a lengthy silence. "I believe so..."

"You don't sound too happy about it."

"I..." he sighed. "Like she said, I'm not... complete. I can't... I'm not..."

"That's not what love's really about, though." Hank smiled at what he thought to be Connor's most human reaction to date. "Sure, getting all physical is part of it but that's usually lust. Love is more about taking care of each other, supporting each other when things go rough. Life is a constant, shitty struggle and love just makes that struggle a little easier, a little less shitty... maybe even a little more worth it."

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see in the reflection on the window the detective's LED flashing yellow and knew that his partner was analyzing and learning from his words. And oddly enough, that made him feel proud as if he'd just taught his own son a valuable life lesson.

"Treasure this, Connor... as much as you can, for as long as you can. Love isn't something you come across too often in life, so make the most of it while you have it."

For a time neither spoke again, the only sound heard being the car's engine. Connor seemed to still be processing some things, this time not even looking out the window anymore – only staring at the coin in his hand.

"I can't... I don't understand..." he finally spoke up, his voice small and confused. "I don't know what I... feel or want... right now..."

"Being human kind of sucks, doesn't it?" Hank nodded sympathetically.

"I just... can't analyze what you've told me, enough to define what love is..."

"I don't think anyone ever will be able to give that word a proper definition. It's something you experience and it's always different for each person. But I think what most people can agree on, is that love is when you stop over-thinking and start feeling."

Narrowing his eyes at the lieutenant as he spoke, the detective pursed his lips with obvious dissatisfaction. With all said and done, he still had a computer for a brain and couldn't help analyzing everything and needing every word to have an obvious meaning.

"This is why you'd suck at poetry." the older officer cracked a smile, already used to that expression on his partner's face.

"I don't think he would..." Cherise's voice came from the back seat, startling both of them.

She'd been awake for the past few minutes, enough to overhear Connor's confusion as to what love actually was. But for a second she regretted speaking up when the car swerved abruptly, before Hank managed to stabilize it, and she smashed her shoulder into the door.

"Geez don't scare me like that when I'm driving!" the older officer frowned at her in the mirror.

"I apologize, Lieutenant. But... Connor..."

Shifting onto the edge of her seat she smiled timidly at the detective when he turned to look at her over his shoulder.

"Would you... um, mind it terribly if I spent the night at your place? I'd like to see Markus and North tomorrow; the fact that I miss them aside, I want to let them know what I've managed to research so far. And... I need some advice..."

"Is something wrong?" the detective inquired.

"It's... it's hard to put it into words." she sighed, looking somewhat fidgety. "I need to talk to them, and maybe see if Markus knows any android scientists."

Though Connor didn't respond, Hank caught sight of his LED flashing yellow right before his partner spoke up while turning his gaze back towards the front of the car.

"Mr. Kamski, it's Connor. I wanted to let you know that Cherise will stay the night with me. She wants to visit Markus tomorrow."

Whatever the former CEO had told him wasn't heard outside the android's head, leaving Hank to only frown in confusion when Connor pressed his lips together.

"Very well. Have a good night."

His embarrassed tone had Cherise roll her eyes, already suspecting Kamski had cracked some innuendo at the young detective.

"Ignore him." she shook her head. "Besides, I don't need his permission for this; I am an adult, after all."

"Yes, he said the same..." Connor pouted, starting to fiddle with his coin again. "Among other things..."

Sooo today's replies for my lovely reviewers :D

1. Mayday Maria - Well I always like to have my freezer stocked with a few bottles of Thir-... er, I mean Tea; yes, that's the word I was looking for. And to be honest, sometimes even I'm jealous of her; she doesn't even know how good she has it :P But jokes aside, I'm really happy that you weren't disappointed. Hope this new chapter holds up as well and you can look forward to more of that "cute flirting" in the future ;)

So these are my replies for today. Cheers, lovelies~ ( ˘ ³˘)❤