playlist ? dbh connor

path unlocked  ꗃ  your apartment

[ 4:16 AM. FRI ]

The room is dimly lit, the only light coming from the faint glow of your phone screen. It buzzes in your hand, Connor's name flashing across the screen, and suddenly you're wide awake. You swipe to answer.

"Detective," his voice comes through, smooth and calm, the sound of it making your heart skip. There's always something about how steady he is, how he grounds you even with a simple greeting.

There's a pause, but it's not uncomfortable. Then he speaks again, "I'm really sorry, Detective. I should've at least texted you ━"

You quickly cut him off, "I told you to stop apologizing." You sit up. The balloons, the cake ━ it feels silly now. Your eyes dart towards a plastic bag full of the decorations you'd taken down back at the station earlier.

"I know it still hurt you," His voice lowers, genuine regret heavy in each syllable. "I did not mean to leave you waiting for nothing."

You shift in bed, pulling your knees to your chest as you fumble for the right words. "No it's . . . it's fine. I mean, it's not like it's your fault. You had important stuff to handle. I get it."

"But ━"

"It's really okay, Connor," You remember the way your tears starting falling while waiting for him, how some of your colleagues saw but you pretended you got something in your eye. You swallow the lump in your throat, trying to brush it off. "I didn't want to ruin things by making it a big deal."

But even as you say it, you know he can hear the slight catch in your voice. He's an android after all ━ perceptive beyond belief.

"You're not ruining anything," he reassures you, his voice taking on that familiar soothing tone that always makes your chest ache. "You'll never have to worry about that."

A beat passes, then he adds, "I meant it when I said you looked beautiful."

"Thank you," Your stomach flips. "But I was in my regular work clothes? There's nothing special about the way I looked."

"Maybe you look beautiful every day then."

"Really?"