With burning eyes you lay in bed, still awake after many, many attempts to fall asleep.

Memories were haunting you, the feeling as if that day started to replay, just in another, totally bizarre way. But it felt like no matter how it started now, it would end just the same.

You'd loose him.

And it would crush you.

"No...", you mumbled to yourself and quickly shook that thought off that made your heart beat like nothing else.

This was a machine, a project.

You weren't allowed to think you'd loose him because in the end he wasn't even yours. He was the property of CyberLife and an experiment to add to that.

You couldn't loose him because he wasn't who he looked like.

Connor, the real Connor, was long gone and he'd never return.

This life of metal was nothing but a cheap, empty replica, a shadow of the original.

Squeezing your eyes shut in agony, you rolled to the side to fight off the heat of the night.

This wasn't real.

The only reason why you weren't able to sleep was this uncomfortable heat.

While lying there, eyes jumping through the darkness, you noticed your own reflection in the mirror.

The last yours had taken a toll on your appearance, but you've never looked this way, so empty and at the end. The expression in your eyes was enough to realise that this was a bigger issue and avoiding it wouldn't fix anything.

"Shit...", you sighed and rolled back to face the ceiling. "RK- no... Connor!"

Your voice echoed through the hallway.

You had left the door open, but sure why, but it made you feel like you needed to keep it open in case he'd feel the urge to join you for something important.

Maybe this was the moment.

Far back in the living room someone moved.

A shadow spread over the floor.

Steps approached.

With a soft yet serious expression he appeared in the doorway, but remained standing outside the room.

For a moment you examined him from afar.

"Your hair's messy.", you noted in a tired voice. "Come here."

Without complain, he obeyed and entered your room to stop at the side of your bed.

"You're sweating heavily.", he noted. "Please make sure to stay hydrated."

Only listening with one ear, you nodded and reached out to tug a strand of his chocolate brown hair behind his ear.

He did feel exactly like a human. Even the grain of his synthetic skin was so similar to yours it caused you to pull back with a soft gasp.

With trembling eyes you lowered your head so that he wouldn't be able to comment on the fear that was lighting up inside your eyes.

"I upset you.", he suddenly said.

You huffed and wiped the corners of your eyes with the back of your hand.

"How do you know?", you asked. "You can't see my face."

"I also analyse your breathing and body language. You're upset. Every time I'm in the room."

Defeated, you closed your eyes and let out a sigh.

"Yes, I am upset."

"Why don't you like me?", it was strange to hear a machine ask such a question.

But what was even stranger was that he sounded hurt. As if he really, desperately wanted you to be his friend, but all his effort were brushed off.

"I made a mistake.", you mumbled. "I should- I should work on your appearance tomorrow."

"I don't want to look different."

"You don't get to decide that."

He stiffened.

It was amazing how much he acted like a human. A little childish, maybe, but in general he acted human enough mimic feelings instead of feeling them.

Now he was the one upset.

"Please tell me why you don't like me.", he tilted his head in an attempt to establish eye contact.

That was another thing you had programmed.

You had established a strong responsibility to look people in the eyes since it was most seen as respectful and a form of confidence.

But right now it just felt like he was pressuring you.

"Don't look at me.", you pushed his face away. "I can't..."

He frowned.

"So it is my face.", he noted in a calm yet disappointed manner. "Or his?"

Your head snapped up.

"Never say that again!", you hissed, all of a sudden so angry you wished to strangle the android. "He was a good man."

Slowly, he leaned down to take a seat at the edge of the bed. One of his hands reached out, but kept floating in the air.

He was waiting for your consent.

"He hurt you."

"No... I...", tears started to burn in the corners of your eyes again. "He left me..."

Swallowing a whimper, you leaned forward to let your head fall against his shoulder. But you refused to cry.

The last tear you had left for him had been cried many years ago.

"I'm sorry.", he whispered. "Should I leave?"

"No.", you said almost immediately. "I want you to never leave me."

His hand found your hair to gently run through the strands of (H/C).

The feeling was so familiar that you couldn't help but close your eyes and let out a deep breath.

"Connor.", you breathed into the night. "He was a good man. He really was."

"Do you miss him?"

"I do. Every day."

"I suppose I'm not a good replacement for him."

Chuckling, you shook your head.

"No. No, you're not."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I didn't make you to take his place. But... it still hurts."

"They say time heals all wounds.", he said and gifted you an encouraging smile.

You nodded.

"It does.", you sighed and let a hand run through his hair. "The past is nothing but a scar. But sometimes it just... hurts. Especially now."

His eyes lowered as he gently leaned into the touch. The real version of him had always done it the same way.

"May I ask a question?", he asked.

"You don't have to ask. Just do it."

"If it hurts... why did you create me in his image?"

All of a sudden your heart pulled together.

"Because I'm not ready yet.", you admitted in a weak voice. "I'm not ready... to live without him..."