As Kamski started to leave, Hank followed and got him to stop outside the room. "Uh, listen... sorry for bothering you, but... I have a question."

"Not a problem, Lieutenant. Ask away," the other human replied, hands behind his back.

"... are you seriously giving him a week to decide?" Shifting his weight, the older male frowned. "Reed's pulled some shitty moves already, and I'm surprised she isn't asking to be relieved of her duties."

Eli smiled vaguely, as he always did. "Hence her extensive retaliation catalogue. If he doesn't understand that she intends to assist him through her counters, then there is also a failsafe, so to speak."

"... what kind of failsafe? She gonna self-destruct?"

"No, no, her self-destruct function is locked. It can be unlocked in one manner, but that's not the failsafe." The vague grin widened by a hair. "Everyone has a weakness, Lieutenant. My brother has several, one of them being tears."

Hank snorted. "She's gonna make him cry?"

"On the contrary. Gavin cannot stand to see a woman crying. That's actually part of the reason he pursued law enforcement; hearing others cry seems to be a strangely motivating factor for him. If he realizes that she is capable of tears, I imagine he'll stop in his tracks." With a wry smile replacing the vague one, Eli added, "He's a bully, I hate to admit it, and I hope it doesn't get to the point that she cries. But he is the type to want to "rescue the princess". His princess just so happens to be made of thirium and biocomponents."

◇___#$&!___◇

So I've got a week to let this bitch stick around? Whatever. If Eli takes her after that, even better.

Then I'll make sure she wants to leave.

At the end of it all, even with Eli wanting so badly to repay his brother for saving his life, Gavin was stubborn and too proud to willingly accept a gift like a prototype android. Whether he believed that you could make your own decisions or not didn't matter; he'd been handed a being and was expected to take care of it.

By the time you and Reed had gone home, you could see his stress levels increasing steadily. Driven to assist, you made a beeline for the kitchen once the front door was unlocked.

"What the hell set your ass on fire...?" The male asked, more curious than anything. Your back was turned but he could hear the sounds of glass being set on the counter, and the familiar clinking of ice.

Almost as soon as he sat down on the sofa you were at his side, holding something for him to take. "As a stress relief, sir. While I am aware of the irony of this afternoon's revelation, a little bit will do no harm," you explained as he took the glass from your grasp.

"Alcohol, huh?" Gavin eyed the contents, making the ice rattle a bit.

"Kentucky bourbon, on the rocks. I believe that is your typical preference," you added, hands sliding behind your back.

His eyes slowly trailed upwards to meet your own. "So what makes you think I'm stressed?"

"Because you are stuck with me for a week. May as well make the week as easy as possible, sir," was your explanation. "Please let me know if you have something in mind for dinner. In the meantime, I will do a thorough cleaning of the house, beginning with your room."

Seeing you take charge was refreshing, in a strange sense. You weren't looking to him for direction; you'd grown accustomed to his home in a short amount of time, and had already begun your own routine.

The bourbon was a surprise, though.

Guess I'm stressed. Shit, she can scan me. And she had a point, I'm stuck with her for a week. Not sure I like how she said it, though... like my not wanting her is just fine with her.

Leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs, the human stared into the depths of the alcohol, trying to come to terms with how fast you'd adapted. He had a week before he could get rid of you, but seeing Elijah strut his haughty ass in had cooled his anger off a good bit.

It's not just that he basically gave me an android to repay me... it's the fucking primary directive bullshit. I can't just accept that; I gotta get rid of her before...

"Detective?" Your voice cut through his thought process. "Is there anything specific that you'd prefer I stray from as I clean? I wish to be thorough but would rather not invade your privacy."

As you spoke, you removed the white jacket with the high collar, a strip of blue glowing along the top of the hem. You were halfway through rolling your sleeves up before Gavin managed to snap out of it. "-- I don't fuckin' care what you find, okay? Just get outta my sight, jeez..."

Glancing at the alcohol he didn't touch, you stepped a bit closer instead of leaving the room. "If the bourbon is not going to help, sir, I can offer other methods."

His eyebrow went high. "Methods of stress relief. Right. Nice to know all your methods seem to make me look like some stereotypical asshole, with the alcohol and the smoking and all that. Real nice, bitch, thanks."

"Are Disney films stereotypical?"

"I beg your fucking pardon?" That had thrown him way off course.

There was a hint of a smile slowly forming in your expression. "Your film collection is impressive, and I noted that you seem to be particularly fond of Disney animation. All of those that you own on the shelf are of the highest resolution available."

Eyes narrowing, Reed tried not to fidget. "There's a difference between collecting and watching movies, all right? Get that through your plastic skull. Do I look like the kind of guy that watches cartoons?"

Your head tipped to the side a good few degrees, and you noticed the detective's heart suddenly speed up briefly. Curious. "I'm unsure as to the connection between your appearance and animation, sir. But I've drawn the conclusion that you enjoy watching them, regardless."

Gavin slowly got to his feet and consequently a mere two inches from your face. "And how did you come to that conclusion, then?" he murmured, barely heard.

"You were singing in the shower. That song in particular is from the 1988 Disney animated film Oliver & Company. More specifically, the song Why Should I Worry, which was written and performed by Billy Joel."

--!!!!!

"... Fuck you and fuck your fucking artificial intelligence bullshit," the male spat. He tried to get even closer, glaring and almost snatching you by your shirt collar. "If you tell anyone about that, I will fucking destroy you. I'll send you back to Elijah in pieces; see him try to put that puzzle back together."

Reed's words were furious, but his face had turned a brilliantly dark shade of red. As he ranted and threatened, you remained still, waiting for him to pause. "Sir, you've no reason to be ashamed. Based on the data I've collected, age has nothing to do with enjoying things."

"That's not the fucking point! Do you have any goddamn idea what'll happen if the precinct thinks I watch that shit?!"

With a slight pause, you answered, "I imagine they might find you more personable. Your efforts to be seen as tough come off as arrogant and standoffish, Detective Reed. Letting others see what you are truly like shouldn't concern you, not if they already see you as a companion." Another slight pause. "... you sing well. I'd like to hear more, myself. But I will say nothing, since you are uncomfortable with the idea of others getting close to you." You nodded and walked away, headed for his room to start cleaning up like you'd promised.

Gavin ended up watching you leave, all of his aggravation disappearing with you, and ending with a far worse emotion in its wake: loneliness. "Yeah, cause... I....." he started, to himself of course, but sighed and gave up.

Really didn't have to call me out like that.