[11] Safe

Safe

DATE

FEBRUARY 4, 2039

TIME         

PM 09:59:11

Haley stood behind the café counter wrapping up her end-of-the night tasks. The last customer had left half an hour ago, so she had just finished balancing the cashier drawer. The red head moved around the back corner, straightening things as she went. She stopped at the coffee grinder and pulled the top off. She grabbed a fresh sanitation rag and began to carefully clean the grinder blades.

She turned at the sound of the door chime. “Connor.”

The android smiled as the door closed behind him. “Good evening, Haley. I’ve come to escort you to your car.”

Haley returned his smile. “Just give me a few. I just have a couple more things to take care of before closing up for the night.”

Her gaze dropped to the android’s right arm. He was wearing a brown leather hooded jacket instead of his usual gray CyberLife jacket. “How’s your arm?”

“Thankfully the repairs were very quick and simple.”

Haley let out a sigh.

“How are you doing?”

“A little shaken. But alright.” She refocused on the grinder. Grabbing a clean, dry cloth she carefully dried one of the blades.

“Is there something I can do to help?” Connor had come up to the other side of the counter.

Haley looked back over her shoulder, her hands still on the machine. “You…want to help?”

Connor gave her a gentle nod, his eyes melting her core. He always looked at her so deliberately…

Ignoring the flutter in her chest, she nodded her head toward the back dish room. “There should be a broom leaning just inside that doorway, there. You can sweep for me.”

“Got it.” Connor shrugged off his jacket revealing a gray hooded shirt underneath. He pushed up the sleeves to his elbows and stepped through the swinging half door connected to the counter. He leaned himself just inside the doorway of the dish pit.

Haley stole a sideways glance as he stood up straight next to her with a broom in his hand. His eye caught hers briefly and her face warmed. She quickly looked down at the grinder and consciously continued to dry the parts.

Haley then moved to the side, cleaning the other machines in the same manner. She listened to the broom’s bristles brushing the wood floor while she worked.

What was it about Connor that made her a little bit dizzy when he smiled at her? Was it just because he looked so deeply in her eyes every time? And his voice…it always calmed her. Made her feel safe. But was that just because of the way they met? Or how he protected her?

She turned her head to see if he was facing her way.

The android focused on moving some chairs near the fireplace to sweep under the table.

Haley had been thinking about him more and more. What would he think if he knew? Could she even ever truly understand him? They were from very different worlds.

She began to wipe down the counter one final time.

Connor swept up the dirt pile and dumped it into the trash by the bussing station. He snapped the dust pan onto the broom handle.

“Here, I’ll put that up.” Haley stepped to the end of the counter to meet him.

Connor lifted the broom over the half wall and when she took the handle, a couple of her fingers overlapped his.

The android’s skin felt cool, but not like a chill from being outside…just simply not warm. He didn’t move.

Haley looked from their hands up to Connor’s face.

His blue LED flickered, and he had a curious expression. The light around him blurred as he looked back into her eyes.

Haley finally exhaled. “Are you cold?”

“All androids have temperature sensitivity settings. I don’t make…physical contact with humans often. So it’s usually turned down.” He paused. “If it bothers you, I can adjust it.”

Haley glanced at their hands on the broom handle, her bottom two fingers laid on his top two. Then she gazed up at him. “No. That makes you, you.”

Connor’s eyes darted between hers, his led spun yellow for a split second, then returned to blue. He hesitated another moment before he loosened his grip on the broom.

Haley placed the broom and dustpan duo back inside the dish room. When she turned around, Connor was still watching her. She resumed wiping the counter, just for something to do.

Connor watched the young woman’s movements as she wiped the lacquered wood countertop. The warm lighting gave her auburn hair golden shimmers. He studied her hands, one braced on the counter, the other working the wet towel along the lacquer.

Her fingers were slender and delicate looking. He could hardly believe that they had been poised on a gun trigger the night before.

He thought about just a moment before, when her fingers overlapped his. Her skin had felt soft. He wasn’t sure why he had liked that feeling, or why he enjoyed her company more than other humans.

Haley met his gaze for just a moment as she worked. The sight of her dark, emerald eyes made Connor think he almost felt an electric spark in his chest. He ran a quick diagnostic and when all systems reported normal, he decided to look away.

He glanced up and analyzed the shelves of coffee.

Exactly twenty-two flavors. All Arabica. Light, medium, dark, and espresso roasts.

“Can I ask you a personal question, Haley?” The android returned his gaze to her.

She had just finished wiping the last edge of the counter. “Sure.” She sounded cautious.

Connor leaned his forearms on the countertop. “If you don’t mind my asking, what happened to your father?”

Haley stared at him, taking deep breaths. Had that been a bad question to ask?

“Leukemia. Three years ago.”

Connor imagined if something like that happened to Hank. He lowered his gaze down to the counter, feeling a heaviness in his chest. “I’m…sorry.”

“He left me with a passionate love of coffee,”

Connor looked back up at the sound of her voice.

“And the power of healing a single cup can bring.”

The android blinked. “Coffee does have some anti-oxidant properties but…” He trailed off when she shook her head.

“I’m not talking about physical healing. I’m talking about mental healing. Emotional healing. A hot cup of coffee or a home cooked meal can really improve someone’s state of being.” She smiled, her eyes almost sparkling. “Comfort food.”

“I guess that’s not something I could understand.” Something strange moved in Connor. It wasn’t pleasant. Not upset…but a type of unhappiness…

“Sure you can.”

Connor blinked at her again.

Haley leaned forward on the counter on her elbows. “You tasted my coffee. You analyzed it, rather.”

Connor found himself a little distracted by how close her face was now, her lips a rosy pink.

Haley looked deep into his eyes. “How did that taste make you feel?”

The android raised his eyebrows. “Feel? From the coffee?” The memory of him taking the stir stick from her came to him.

“Yes. Try closing your eyes. Really think about it.”

Connor continued to stare at her.

Haley nodded her head once.

The android finally closed his eyes.

“All right. Think about the latte you tasted. What comes to mind?”

“Caffeine and sugar content. Also a decent amount of fat from the whole milk. Flavor levels. The espresso to milk ratio. The texture of the milk foam.”

Haley smiled and rolled her eyes to herself. “Anything other than the makeup of the coffee?”

The LED on his temple slowly spun around yellow. “Hank.”

“Why Hank?”

“He’s always drinking coffee when we’re working at the office. So I guess…coffee reminds me of him.”

“And how do you feel about Hank?”

Connor’s eyebrows pressed together. “He’s the first human who ever treated me like more than a machine. Like I mattered.” He gradually opened his eyes. “Hank is…my friend.”

Haley smiled at him. “Your attachment to the lieutenant is linked to coffee. If you had a full cup, you’d likely think of him and experience those positive feelings.”

Connor slowly looked up at her, his LED returning to blue.

His face was only a few inches away.

Haley imagined grabbing Connor’s shirt, pulling him in, and pressing her lips to his.

She straightened up, feeling overwhelmed by the vision playing in her head. “We should go.”

Haley wrapped herself in her coat and scarf and came out from behind the counter.

“Thank you for helping me clean up.”

Connor smiled, pulling his sleeves down and putting on his jacket. “Of course.”

Haley flicked off the café lights on their way out the door.