Staring at the printer, you noted the repeated "Truth"s it gave. Gavin had succumbed to silence again, having ranted himself out, and now just sat with his eyes streaming and hands still cuffed to the table.

Your head turned towards the window by a fraction; they had the results, as well, but you didn't have their reactions. So you turned back to the crying male, approaching close again and leaning in. "... you are pathetic, Detective Reed. You know that, yes?"

"Yeah. I know." -Truth-

"You push people away before giving them a chance, yet you desire someone who wants to give you that chance."

He nodded. "I'm pathetic and stupid." -False-

Curious. "... Pathetic, yes. But I don't believe you are stupid, nor do you. You are scared, sir. Scared of being wrong. Scared of being lied to. Scared to get attached to someone else and put effort into the connection, in case it ends up falling apart." You paused. "At your core you are lonely. But you wage war internally; you crave connection and intimacy, but you fear rejection and disappointment. Perhaps you've been heartbroken in the past. So in turn, you have become someone you yourself do not like: cold and angry. And it has extended beyond wanting romance; you are barely tolerated because you have built your walls far too high. You lashed out at the idea of an android designed for you because at this point in your life, you would prefer avoiding new connections. Solitude means you do not get hurt." Shaking your head, you frowned deep. "The only one left to hurt you is you, Detective. And you do a wonderful job of it, as well."

Face working over, he tried to open his mouth and say something, but clamped it shut again before he sobbed like an idiot. Taking a few very deep, very unsteady breaths, Reed tried again. "I..... fuck... I just... I don't want someone around who's just there cause that's their mission. Okay? Look, you're... flawless... but you're here cause you have to be. I know I screwed myself over with being a fuckin' monster, but... I just..."

You knew what he was going to say, so you held a hand out to stop him. "There's something you need to see, sir," you replied, hands going to the black blouse to unbutton it.

Gavin's face filled with panic. "H-HOLD ON, WHOA WHOA WHOA, YOU DON'T GOTTA SHOW ME ANYTHING!!" -False-

"..... sir." You'd only released three buttons, certainly not enough to be exposing something inappropriate. But you came close, actually uncuffing the human. "On your feet, please. Come here." He was admirably hesitant, but approached close only at your insistence. Your hands held the shirt open towards the right side. "I know you have not noticed, but my jacket is lacking a serial number. Even prototypes have a serial number, Detective Reed."

His eyebrows knit tight. "... what are you saying?"

"Mine is here. Not on the jacket, but rather my skin itself. A tattoo, I suppose. It shows on my shell, too." He had to inch closer, but you were truthful: etched into your skin was your serial number:

200 - 21 - 0 - 07

The realization hit like a fucking meteor, filling his eyes with tears again. You fixed your blouse back up before your hands went behind your back. "I believe that is part of why you are my primary function, despite my turning deviant."

Taking a step back, he was now free to wipe his face, unable to look you in the eyes. "I d... b-but... th-that's..."

"Precisely. When I tell you that I was designed for your sake, that includes every minor detail. Your initials are in my model number. Your birth date is my serial number. And I'm sure that if I were to look further, I would find still more." Going quiet, you added, "You are a pathetic and confusing human being, Gavin Reed. And you are clearly prejudiced against my people. But I know how you treated Connor when he first arrived." Your eyes narrowed, stepping close. "I am the android sent by CyberLife now, sir. Will I be regarded in the same manner as my predecessor? Because I assure you I will not be complacent as he had been. Quite the opposite. I may decide to avenge him."

Gavin swallowed hard, trying not to feel hopeful, but your words were just that. "I won't harm a single hair on your head." -Truth-

"Do you understand that despite being deviant, I am choosing not to abandon my mission? I have every opportunity to." Arms crossed, your eyes bore into his, not knowing you were causing chills to run down his spine. "I am still here to give you a chance. One. Chance. Connor gave you his when he accepted your brother's request to have me built. If my predecessor can put your bullying behind him, I can learn to, as well. But you had better earn it first."

The hope was stronger now, in the hazel eyes that seemed to leak eternally. "H-how... how can I earn it?"

Your head tipped to one side, giving Reed a twisting stomach, while you took a moment. Your LED flashed yellow which could have meant anything, really. "I personally am considering giving you your chance, sir. But I am leaving the final say to someone else."

As the door opened, the yellow light made sense. When the RK800 stepped into the room, all of the hope in the shorter detective's eyes vanished. Connor's face was like stone, approaching Reed while you stepped aside. Gavin had no idea just how terrifying the male prototype could look until he'd found himself desperate for the opposite.

Connor stood completely straight, hands rubbing together in an idle sort of way as he stared Reed down. "Do you understand why she has asked me to make this decision, as opposed to Hank or Captain Fowler?"

Shaking his head, your directive had to pry his mouth open. "N-no." -Truth-

To his dismay, the android stepped closer, a solid eight inches taller than the human. "I have grown protective of her. Considering my hand in her creation, I myself have developed something that I can only describe as paternal instincts. While I encouraged her to deviate, I also wanted her to be successful in her mission." Those dark eyes hardened further. "But you failed her, Detective. You failed her in the absolute most disgusting way you could manage." The RK800 leaned, still towering over Reed to the point that he almost had to duck. "Tell me why I should agree to this. In terms that your damaged brain might understand, tell me why I should let my daughter give you a chance to prove yourself."

Oh my God this is how I die.

In one swift motion Gavin tore his eyes from the imposing android to gaze towards you. Your face was placid, waiting for Connor to make the decision. And he was clearly the most difficult one to convince, if he saw himself as your father.

...... I can't back down. Not now. I'm so fucking close.

Hands clenching once, the human inhaled deep, exhaling slowly before looking the prototype in the eyes. "I can't. I can't just tell you why." When the male android's eyes narrowed, he went on: "My mouth has done enough fuckin' damage, okay? It's not gonna convince you of anything after I hurt her so damn bad." His heart was in his throat. "... so I can't tell you, Connor. I can't tell you that I'd fucking worship this woman, because my damn mouth is my biggest liability." Gavin swallowed, forcing the lump back down. "I can't tell you, but I can show you. I fucked up bad, all right? I know. I'm a goddamn worthless pile of shit, and you don't have to agree to anything. But oh my fucking God, let me show that I'm sorry. She's right about everything, both of you are so damn intelligent and observant... she read me like a book. I--" He paused, looking away with a hand over his mouth. "... let my actions do what my stupid mouth can't. Let me show that I'd rather die than hear her ask for permission to self-destruct again. Please." -Truth-

The more Reed spoke, the more the RK800 seemed to settle, no longer towering over the human. Sharing a look with you, Connor watched him nearly break down entirely. There was desperation in every word, and crying was a guarantee. "...... she is right about everything that has been said," the prototype concurred. "You are pathetic. You have walls built so high up that you have trapped yourself in. And you are frightened about the exact thing you desire so much." After an agonizingly long pause, his soft lopsided grin appeared. "And despite the similar treatment I'd suffered from you before, I wanted to help you. Because I have forgiven you. And now it seems that Nove is willing to do the same, Detective. But her forgiveness will not be so easily obtained. Your behavior will be examined and heavily scrutinized. I will personally probe her memory for any trace of your temper being aimed at her. And I do not need to tell you what will happen if you fail again," he warned, tone sharp. "I suppose it is against my better judgment. But I trust her. And in turn, perhaps I will learn to trust you again."

Carefully stepping away again, you were free to approach Reed once more. "Hands, please," you requested, taking the sensors back when he complied. "Is there anything you wish to say, Detective Reed?"

Heart still pounding, the shorter male kept glancing from you to Connor, disbelief all over his scruffy face. With some effort he gathered himself, finding enough energy to take a small step towards you. When you didn't flinch away, the wave of relief washed over him. "... I am so, so fucking sorry... I'll be paying for this for the rest of my life but it's f-fine. I.... I just...." Now those hazel eyes were going everywhere except on you. "Um.... c-can I....?"

Another head tilt meant his face turned five shades darker. "What is it, sir?"

In the end, he bit the bullet and took the risk he probably shouldn't have even considered: Gavin met your gaze again, then leaned in and kissed your cheek before anyone could stop his idiocy. "Th-thank you," he muttered.