Chapter Text
Connor spent a few hours resting, then went out to get some household supplies. When he came home there was someone standing on the porch. It was an android, but he couldn’t find the model on file. …He recognized him, though. He’d helped Nines work on him in the early stages.
Simon smiled nervously and pulled at his sleeve. “Hello Connor.”
“Simon! You’re… back! I mean, it’s been a while since we really saw each other. …And admittedly I was trying to kill you.” Connor glanced aside nervously, shifting the bags in his arms. “Sorry about that.”
“You weren’t deviant, I don’t blame you,” Simon said automatically, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m glad Nines was able to repair you,” Connor continued softly. “Ah… would you like to come in?”
“Oh – thank you. If you don’t mind. I know Nines gets off work soon. Um.”
“You’re welcome to wait until he gets home. Wait, Sumo!” Connor unlocked the door and pushed the big dog back so he and Simon could get in. Sumo whuffed and nosed at the new android, wagging his tail. “He likes you!”
“I, um… I probably smell like Nines,” Simon mumbled, smiling and rubbing the big soft ears.”
“He really… really cares about you, you know.”
“I really care about him too. Ah – while I’m here, could I make dinner for Hank? For Lieutenant Anderson?”
Connor blinked. “Um… if you want. You don’t have to, we’ve been getting those meal delivery boxes, he says they’re not as good as takeout but better than my cooking.” Connor smiled lopsidedly.
Simon laughed. “Honestly, I haven’t been able to cook anything in years and you wouldn’t believe how much I’ve missed it!”
“…You’re right, I wouldn’t.” Connor grinned, a little more relaxed now. “You’re welcome to use whatever’s in the kitchen.” He sighed. “I’ve downloaded a few culinary patches, I can put together a nutritious meal… but he doesn’t care for it.”
“What does he like to eat?” Simon asked, peering into the pantry, full of cans and boxed meals.
“He’d live on fast food if he could. Greasy, salty… The more cholesterol, the more he likes it.” Connor made a face.
“Grease and salt add texture and flavor,” Simon said, grinning. “They’re good in moderation, they help food taste good.”
“I guess that’s why Hank doesn’t like my cooking.” Connor watched Simon carefully place the chicken cutlet in the skillet of bubbling oil. He opened a can of tomato sauce and took out some low-fat mozzarella cheese. “That’s so much oil… It’s already got breading, that adds a lot of calories. And does it need all that cheese?”
“You’ve got taste receptors, don’t you?”
“Of a sort. They’re meant more for analysis.”
Simon turned to him over the sizzling oil. “Connor. It’s going to have some calories, that’s… the point of food. But the other point of food is that it tastes good. It’s not just… fuel, like we need. I’ve always thought humans were lucky in that way. I can taste better now than I ever could before, your brother made sure of that.” He smiled fondly.
“You always intended to come back, didn’t you?”
“Of course,” Simon said, flipping the chicken. “We’ve grown very close. I… as long as he wants me around, I want to be here. …Though of course it’s Lieutenant Anderson’s house, and you’ve… been here longer than… me or Nines, and if either of you would prefer –“
Connor laughed and shook his head. “You’re welcome here, Simon. I know Hank will say the same. You’ve done a lot for my brother, and we’re glad to have you. …Not to mention, the quickest way to Hank’s heart is through his stomach. He’ll like you right away.”
“I hope so,” Simon sighed, patting the grease off the chicken and setting it in on a tray. He spread some tomato sauce over it and placed a few slices of cheese over it, then stuck it in the preheated oven.
“I’m sure of it,” Connor said. “I only got him to come with me when we first met by buying him a drink. …And later I criticized his lunch, which was very detrimental to our relationship.”
Simon laughed, and sat down at the table when Connor gestured. “But now you’re his son, you live and work together! …And your criticism didn’t destroy that!”
“He warmed up to me, but it took a while.” Connor smiled and sat down across from him. “…And by the time Nines came along, he was already in a better mindset to accept – oh!” Connor’s eyes widened. “You didn’t – you left, and… Did you know he deviated last night?”
“What? No!” Simon leaned in. “He’s been so close for a long time now! What finally broke the wall?”
“You did.” Connor smiled. “Or rather, your departure. He – well, you know how it goes. It wasn’t like that for me, but… it has been for every other android I’ve met.”
“I do know how it goes,” Simon agreed. “You’re very lucky.”
“…I am now,” Connor agreed softly. “I don’t want Nines to suffer like that, he’s so… he’s really quite sensitive.”
“He’s sweet,” Simon murmured. “I didn’t mean to hurt him. I got caught up in the moment and didn’t realize… I never said I wasn’t coming back!”
“He absolutely doesn’t blame you for anything – none of us do.” They both looked up at the sound of the car in the driveway. “That should be them.”
Simon inhaled deeply and smiled, biting his lip a little. “Good! Good…”
When Hank opened the door, a wonderful smell washed over him. He took a deep sniff and took off his jacket.
“You finally download a decent cooking app, Connor?” he called. “Smells fucking amazing.”
Connor was sitting at the kitchen table and smiled, gesturing to a second android sitting across from him. “Welcome home, Hank! This is Simon.”
“It’s so nice to meet you at last, Lieutenant Anderson,” Simon said, standing up with a tight smile. “I’ve just been talking to Connor, and he said I could make dinner while I was here. …I’m so excited to get a chance to cook for you!”
Hank grinned and walked over to clasp Simon’s hand warmly. “Damn good to meet you too, I’ve been waiting a long time. And if your food tastes as good as it smells, you can come over any time you want!” He paused and shook his head. “Uh – I mean you’re welcome any time either way. Don’t think you’ve gotta cook for me every time. Good to just have you over.”
Simon laughed slightly. “I appreciate that. …Is Nines with you?” He glanced over Hank’s shoulder.
“No, uh – shit, he went to Jericho. Figured you’d be there.”
“Oh…” Simon frowned.
“I mean, he had to talk to Markus. Put in his two weeks at the precinct today, said he wants to do more building and fixing androids like he did with you.”
Simon blinked. “He… he did?”
“I was just telling Simon that RK900 deviated last night after he left,” Connor said. “I didn’t… go into detail.”
“Is he all right? It’s usually a terribly stressful process.”
“Yeah,” Hank sighed with a sharp chuckle, sitting down in the third chair. “He… had a rough night. I know he’ll be glad to see you. I told him to take the day off, but you know how he is… that didn’t change.”
Simon smiled ruefully. “He and I have a lot in common.” He went to the oven and took out a steaming dish. “Chicken parmesan. I hope you like it.”
“Now I know I said you’re welcome any time – and you are – but if you wanna cook shit like this when you come over, I won’t say no.” Hank grinned.
“Thank you… for being Nines’s friend,” Connor said as Hank ate. “I know he decided to come to us because of you, and I know you’ve been helping him through a lot of things.”
“I was living in his garden, it was the least I could do,” Simon said with a soft laugh. “I would have done the same for you if we’d had more time.”
“Ah – thank you, but I didn’t have the best experience in my own zen garden,” Connor said with a sharp smile. “I deleted mine once I was free to do so. …But I’m glad you made it.”
“I saw the end of that,” Simon said, nodding in understanding. “You’re okay now?”
“Much better. And I had a few cursory relationships to build on, in addition to my social programming. Nines needed you more.”
“Mph.” Hank swallowed, waving his fork. “You, uh… you two… just… friends, then?”
“Just – oh, yes. I wouldn’t dream of taking advantage of someone who couldn’t consent to something else, and if… if he decides he would prefer not to continue to be friends, I completely understand.”
Connor and Hank shared a doubtful look.
“…I fucking wouldn’t,” Hank muttered. “That kid thinks the world of you, and if that just ends for no reason we’re all gonna have a talk about why.”
Sumo perked up, and the door opened.
“Nines?” Hank called.
“Hello Sumo,” Nines murmured, then walked into the room with dog hair all over his jacket. He froze at the sight of the three sitting around the table.
“Gonna have to get another chair,” Hank chuckled, standing up. “I’m done, I’ll clean up after myself. Thanks for dinner, Simon.”
“You’re welcome,” Simon murmured, his eyes glued to the RK900. Nines hadn’t moved, but stared at Simon with wide eyes.
“You’re… here,” Nines finally breathed.
“I thought you’d come right home from work, I didn’t realize you were going to Jericho,” Simon murmured.
“I… decided earlier today.”
“You deviated last night?”
“Right after you left.” Nines fidgeted, eyes darting to the side. “I thought you would stay at Jericho.”
“Do you mind that I came back?” Simon asked softly. “I can –“
“No!” Nines interrupted quickly. “No, I… I’m glad… you’re here. I… just overreacted when… you left. I thought you might never come back.”
Simon rose and crossed the room to hug Nines tightly. “Deviating is hard. Traumatic. But I’m here for you, I’ll always come back.”
Nines took a slow, measured breath. “You don’t… have to. You just got your life back, I won’t hold you back.”
Simon looked up at him. “Can we stop for… just a minute?” he murmured. “It’s second nature to me to put my needs and wants last. I see a lot of that in you too. But… I just… I want to be here, I want you in my life. …Not just to help you, I… I care about you. I’d like to… stay, if you’ll have me. I just – you weren’t deviant, and I wasn’t going to force myself on you.”
Nines swept him up in a tight hug. “You never could have forced yourself on me. I just want to stay with you – I fell apart when you left, I didn’t know… when you’d come back, if you would, or… what things would be like then. I – I don’t need to be with you all the time, I just want to know you’re coming back.”
“I promise,” Simon said firmly, holding him close. “You said I would be welcome here. Hank gave his permission too. I – I’m sorry I wasn’t more clear about my intentions.”
Nines stepped back, though he kept a firm hold on Simon’s shoulders. “Then let me be clear about mine. I am new to emotions, I have been overwhelmed since you left, it is hard to… process everything. But I know love. I know it from my family, and I know it from you. That is what I can offer, and that is what I… hope for. What I want. Is that… is that all right?”
Simon’s smile grew as he spoke, and he stepped up to cup RK900’s face in his hands. “Nines,” he murmured fondly, “You’ve had my heart for months now. I love you. I love your family, your home… I love that you’re using the new skill you’ve been working on to help others. I can’t wait to see what you do with your new life. …And I’m looking forward to finding out with you.”