Though the office was made of glass, Gavin still managed to be surprised to find both Hank and Connor standing nearby as he emerged. Neither of them looked pleased, which was the understatement of the year. But he kept his mouth shut and eyes pointed at the floor, head spinning as his mind reeled with having seen you run to his side.

I don't care what she asks me. I don't care how much I'm exposed.

Just let me say I'm sorry.

"Room Two. Now," Jeff's curt tone interrupted his internal pleas, leading the group down the hallway. Turning to you, who walked behind, the Captain's expression softened some. "I hope you know what you're doing."

With a nod and a gentle smile, you tucked Reed's badge into your jacket. "Yes, Captain, I do."

Door to the interrogation room open, you ended up leading the others inside; Fowler stayed out but ventured into the viewing room next door.

Gavin made it a point to be on the opposite side of the room as the lieutenant and his partner. "Sit down, asshole," came Hank's abrasive voice. Both he and Connor approached the shorter human; while he was visibly terrified as he sat down, the RK800 ended up doing nothing, hands behind his back. It was Hank who cuffed Reed to the table. "You better fucking hope that you don't say something we don't like," the lieutenant warned. "Cause if it were up to me I'd toss you off the roof of the Stratford Tower. But she's the one running this shitshow." Standing up straight, he glared down at the other human, upper lip curled back.

Unable to meet Hank's gaze, Gavin just nodded. Luckily, the older human left to join Fowler on the other side of the glass.

... unfortunately that meant that while you busied yourself with a wireless printer, Connor was still beside the bastard. The RK800 was silent, glaring down at him with an icy stare. Even as you came over to attach the sensors to the backs of Reed's hands, the male android didn't move.

Only when you'd connected to the printer did you eye the other prototype. "Thank you, Connor," you spoke softly, getting him to finally tear his attention away from your directive. "If I need your presence, I will notify you."

With one final seething glance, Connor started to turn towards the door. "Nove."

"Yes?"

There was a knowing look this time as he gazed at the human. "... if it turns out to be uncooperative..." The warmth in those dark eyes vanished. "You could always try roughing it up a little."

Gavin's stomach plummeted to the floor as the RK800 left the room. He knew exactly why it had been said, and the blood drained from his face.

Ignorant to the obvious discomfort, you fell quiet for a couple of seconds, eyeing the printer before fully turning your attention to your directive. Hands behind your back, you watched him watch you. Reed looked like a disaster: bloodshot eyes, pale as death, a clear lack of sleep, and an edginess to his posture that betrayed his anxiety. His heart rate was unnaturally fast, and the fear was genuinely making him sweat a bit.

Taking a small step forward, you were only a couple short feet from him. "As this is my first use with the internal polygraph installed into my system, I'd like to begin with several easy questions, to test both it and the printer. Do you comply, Detective?" Mouth seemingly glued shut, he just nodded. "I would like to remind you of why you are in this position, sir. You consented to this, as opposed to simply getting yourself dismissed entirely. And I requested this for the sake of pursuing the truth." Another step was taken, and Gavin had to tip his head back to look you in the eye. "...... how unfortunate that I have been developed to clap back." The smile on your face was not the rare and gentle one he'd seen before, no; this was twisted. "Detective Reed, you are vegetarian, are you not?"

This was your first question? Even the audience was visibly confused- not that Gavin could see. "I am, yeah." -Truth-

The printer immediately showed the result once the polygraph procured it. One hand went to your temple, yellow flashing there as you connected to a secondary printer in the adjacent room. "Good," you replied. "Now everyone present will receive the results in real time." You glanced at the window, throwing a wink before eyeing Reed again. "Detective Reed, during one of my first- and only- nights in your home, you retreated to the shower. You were singing, weren't you?"

Finally showing an emotion other than the dread and remorse, his eyebrows slowly came together. "... yeah, I was." -Truth-

"What were you singing?"

Fuck. Hazel eyes closed, gathering himself first. "... Disney song. Oliver & Company, Why Should I Worry. One of my f-favorites," he mumbled, finding the color rising in his face again. -Truth-

"And you have quite a collection of movies, as well. It's impressive. Moving on." You turned from him, pacing around the table at a snail's speed. "Now that the test questions are completed, I will initiate the polygraph. Please answer truthfully every question I give, and know that I will not accept silence as an answer." You stopped walking, now on his other side but much closer, leaning down into his face. "Compliance isn't an option, Detective Reed."

Mouth working over hard, the male could only stare right back and try to pretend that he didn't feel like vomiting. "...... I have a question, actually," he mumbled, cheeks going darker at his audacity.

Expression passive, your eyebrows lifted. "Do you?" He nodded. "That's nice. How many people are present for this polygraph, sir? Excluding yourself."

"... four." -Truth-

"Exactly. What do we all have in common?"

Knowing he shouldn't be silent after being told you wouldn't accept it, he managed a shrug. "I... shit, I don't know." -Truth-

"You have a question. The four of us share the common thought that we don't care, nor do we want to hear it." Gavin's heart sank into his stomach, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Do you hate me, Detective?"

His cuffed hands clenched as he shook his head. "No. I don't hate you." -Truth- "I know I acted--"

"Shut up," you spat, standing up straight again. "You are fearful of the men in the other room, but you have failed to realize that the recipient of your brutality was made to retaliate." Now you made your way to the other side again, going behind him... but staying there. "I want the truth, and I do not care if you are humiliated in the process. My primary directive remains, sir, but you'll forgive me if I am less than satisfied with how I have been handled." In the silence that followed, you crept up unheard, until your voice was in his ear. "Are you pleased with yourself?"

Too scared of turning his head, Reed just shook it instead, pulse in his throat, even as it closed on him. "N-no. No, I'm not." -Truth-

"Then I will pick what brain might be floating in your skull." Now you stood by his side, hands on your hips; the viewing window was behind you, and Gavin knew the others were glaring just as hard as you were. "Tell me why you were cruel. Tell me why you spewed your venom and went out of your way to call me worthless. Tell me why you messaged the lieutenant the day I was introduced, begging him to send his partner over to take me instead."

Reed looked up at you, but his eyes had an awful liquid-like shine to them.

Truth. Fuck, I..... I can't--

NO. I have to. I....

"... I'm an asshole because it's easier to push people away before they fuckin' hurt me," he muttered, voice dull and head lowered. -Truth- "I'm an asshole cause I didn't think you could cry, and I was fuckin' way off." -Truth- "I'm an asshole cause no one gives me a fuckin' chance... so I just don't let 'em." -Truth-

There wasn't much in the way of a reaction on your part. "... so you berated me and abandoned me in an effort to get me to want to leave?"

"Yeah." -Truth-

"Even when you knew that you were my only directive? That I had been created for your sake?"

"Y-yeah." -Truth-

"Then despite knowing that I am functioning for you and you alone, you were repeatedly trying to drive me away, not understanding that I could not willingly stay away without your command?"

".... yes...." -Truth- "I... I d-didn't fuckin' know, okay?! I don't know android shit! I didn't pay any attention during the Revolution! I bullied the hell outta Connor; that kid barely tolerates me as it is! You think I know shit about fuck with your people?! I don't want someone "made" for me that's only staying with me because they're PROGRAMMED TO!!! I KNOW I'M FUCKING PATHETIC, I KNOW I'M AN AWFUL HUMAN BEING! I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO STICK AROUND CAUSE THEY WANT TO!!!" -Truth- "... wh... why is it so... g-goddamn hard..." Gavin was sobbing, trying to speak clearly enough without shouting. "Why... is it so hard... to believe that you can f-fuckin' feel shit...?" -Truth- "I'm sorry..... that's all I wanted to say, I'm... I'm s-so sorry... It got too far, I... I didn't w-want you to cry. I just... y-you can't just... download complex emotions. There's easier ones to understand. But... I wanted you to leave. B-before I got attached. Cause.... fuck, I don't know what the f-fuck kinda notes he had on me, but.........." Wincing, the detective fell a little quieter, ignoring the tears pouring. ".... Connor made you fuckin' perfect." -Truth-