Spread out on your desk were the victim reports, notes about what had been done to each android, the locations of where they'd been found, how long they'd been missing... everything. At the desk beside your own, Reed had his earbuds in, listening to the interview you'd just had with the AP700.

"What connections have you found, Nove?" Connor's voice came gently, standing beside you with his hands behind his back. "This is a worrisome situation. It seems exceptionally... anti-android."

"The connections are few," came your response, eyes closed. "All the victims are android, and all were kidnapped and later found in what seems like a random location." You took the minutes you'd written from the interview and handed them over. "A group of what we assume are humans, all wearing masks made of android shell faceplates."

Unsurprisingly, the RK800 had a negative reaction to that one, unable to stop his recoil, however minor. "Anti-android, indeed," he murmured. Looking over your notes, the male prototype's mouth pressed thin. "What is being done between the initial kidnapping and their escape?"

"The first android was Isaiah, and he was not harmed aside from whatever minor injury he sustained while running from them. The other three may have had significant physical alterations. The most recent female certainly did, and there were signs of her trying to remove the parts that were forced on her."

"So these humans changed their victim's appearance. For what purpose? And why travel so far?" Setting the minutes down, Connor frowned deeply. "Perhaps I am more inclined to assist because we are prototypes, but please send me all the details you have thus far."

[... Leave clues, Ralph sees them. Don't follow, bad for Miss Nove...]

In the middle of sending the case details digitally, your body jolted, making Gavin flinch a hell of a lot more than Connor. "Gavin, we need to go," you hurriedly explained, gathering up the papers from your desk. Your burst of speed was concerning, and he tucked the earbuds back into their case as he got to his feet. He didn't even get to speak before you were practically carrying him to his car.

"Fucking Christ, calm down! Dolcezza, what set a fire under your ass?!" Still, he slid behind the wheel and the two of you were on the road in seconds. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't scared.

"Ralph mentioned clues when Isaiah was hiding with him. He warned me not to follow those clues, that they were bad for me." Your partner was eyed, his stomach sinking to the ground. "We need to know those clues."

If Ralph even talks...

◇___#$&!___◇

After so many visits, the blond was still a little anxious when you visited. Reed felt sort of guilty this time, however, since it was a business visit. Knocking at the open door, the human called out, "Hey, Ralph, where you at, big guy?"

Shuffling for a few short seconds before the battered android appeared from upstairs. "You've come to v-visit Ralph again," he stuttered. At least his smile came easier.

"Hello, Ralph, we're sorry for visiting so late," you replied, returning the smile. The both of you were more comfortable with approaching by now, though it was still done with caution. "Does Ralph remember the day we met?"

"Remember? Y-yes, yes. Ralph remembers when Miss Nove and her Detective Gavin c-came to look for a friend. Ralph's house, Ralph's friend. Isaiah. Yes."

You nodded slowly. "Ralph also mentioned something that we need to know more about." He tilted his head. "Clues, Ralph. You said you knew of clues that these terrible humans left, the ones that hunted androids."

Based on body language alone, he was not keen on saying anything about them. The blond looked away, frowning deep. "No. No, no, please. Please don't ask Ralph. Bad things happen, Ralph doesn't want b-bad things to happen."

It was a shot in the dark, but your partner spoke up instead, taking your hand in his. "That's why we're detectives, big guy. Bad things happen, but we wanna stop them. We need those clues. I know you don't want us getting hurt, and that's super sweet, but....." Gavin paused, catching Ralph's eye. "... she's an android. And I want this shit to stop before they target her next."

Eyes casting down, towards your hand laced with your human's, the blond android shook his head once, paused, shook it again, then finally made a strained humming sound. "Reboot. Reuse. Recycle."

What kind of fucking clue is that?

"Ralph. What do you mean?" Your voice was calm, but the LED said otherwise, flashing red every few seconds. The pressure of having your hand held was a comfort, but only a little.

But Ralph was stuck in a loop, like he sometimes was, repeating the three words over and over. Even trying to get him to say anything else was futile.

[Reboot. Reuse. Recycle.]

◇___#$&!___◇

Only after the blond could function relatively normal again did the two of you leave. It was well into the evening, so Reed opted to just go home.

But even as you busied yourself in the kitchen his mind turned over whatever Ralph had considered to be a clue.

Some kind of recycling motto. Except he said Reboot instead of Reduce.

... what the fuck would a recycling company have to do with androids?

It was something new, at least. Laying on the sofa beside him, Biscuit let out a soft woofing noise, head laid in his new Daddy's lap while the human was pulling his phone out. He did a quick search of recycling companies in the city, as well as anything similar, like electronic repair or even disposal. But nothing seemed remotely problematic, and he was at a loss.

Gotta be something we're--

"Gavin?" Your voice interrupted his thought, hands on his shoulders from behind. "Dinner is ready."

With a grin the case flew out of his mind, standing to follow you and the amazing smell coming from the kitchen. "...... osso buco?" His eyebrows raised.

"Yes, and that's why I asked if veal was acceptable yesterday." A hand cupped his cheek. "I know your dietary restrictions, but I also know you are drawn to the scent of certain meats cooking. If you cannot eat this, I am--"

Your face was cupped in return, cut off mid-sentence with a kiss. "My vegetarian diet is a choice, cara mia. I do miss eating some stuff. But holy shit everything you cook is fucking incredible," he added with a soft laugh. Pulling away, Gavin was more than happy to take the huge bowl, pressing another kiss to your cheek with a whispered, "Thank you," before sitting down.

It didn't matter what you made. He knew it would taste like home. Though, perhaps, you were what he could consider home.