Chapter 2

                                    

                                          
TW: Gunshot
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Nick is annoying. 
He's always pestering Charlie with questions. Always talks to Charlie. Always has to be happy and share every single thought that pops into his head. In other words, he never shuts up. 
Nick on the other hand finds Charlie intriguing. He's only worked with a few humans before but none like Charlie. 
Charlie likes to be by himself.  
Charlie doesn't talk much.
Charlie is quiet and angry a lot of the time.
Nick thinks that Charlie is nice.
"Put your seatbelt on." Charlie says while strapping himself in.
"I know. We're programmed to always put safety first and-"
"Yeah, yeah." He waves his hand and starts the car.
"You never told me where we're going."
"There's a shooting happening, we're going there."
"Yes, that far I know but you never disclosed the location with me. I will try and search the area's-"
"Just- can you just... Just sit and be quiet."
"Is that what you'd like me to do?"
"Yes." Charlie sighs.
"The meaning of the word 'yes' means that you want me to be quiet, however your tone and body language gives me conflicted signs. You're very hard to read, detective. All of the answers I get in my system don't match up with what you're saying."
"How about you stop analysing me?"
"These are direct orders from D. C. I. Jones. I must obey."
"Well, I work for D. C. I. Jones, and you work for me. So you have to obey whatever I say and I'm saying, stop analysing me."
"As you wish, detective." Nick turns his gaze onto the road and stays quiet for a long time. Much longer than Charlie had anticipated. 
So much longer that the silence that usually brings Charlie joy, filled him with nervousness once again. What is it with Nick that makes him nervous?
Was it his eyes? His hair that always stays perfect? The fact that he wears the same damn clothes all the time but manages to pull it off? Or the fact that he smelled so good for an android? Sometimes Charlie forgot he was an android and not a human like himself. It's times when he opens his mouth that he is reminded.
Nick can't stay still for much longer. He has grown used to the conversations with Charlie. They may be one sided most of the time but they're conversations nonetheless. 
When they stop at a red light Charlie's eyes stay on Nick for a bit more than what he'd like to admit. Something that Nick notices.
"Is there something wrong, detective?"
"Why do they make you so attractive?" He doesn't look at Nick anymore. His back is hunched and his voice is low but Nick heard every word.
"My design is intended to be friendly and non-threatening-"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Charlie's cheeks were red. 
"Do you have a fever?" Nick asked.
"What? No."
"Your cheeks have grown a shade darker. My system tells me that that usually happens when humans are sick."
"I'm not sick."