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blueseachelle · 1 year ago

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Sebastian Sallow X MC! Slytherin! Reader

WARNINGS:

Angst

Tears will fall

Depression mentioned

Summary: After Y/n defeated Ranrok, she chose to take the power for herself before Sebastian dived into the darkness. She sacrificed so much just to be cast aside. Will Sebastian realize what he has done to her or will it be to late? Will his dream of his trio being back together blind him from the truth?

I wanted to write angst. So, I decided to write this while playing angst music at 2 am. In this scenario, Solomon never died. MC beat Ranrok before Sebastian dove too far into the dark arts. For the sake of this piece, that's how it's gonna be. Please enjoy.

The fifth year has ended.

Lots have happened since Y/n started at Hogwarts. Ancient Magic, the Defeat of Ranrok, the death of her beloved Professor Fig, etc.

The magic Y/n now held in her body was simmering. She would sit in class, staring into space. The magic just buzzed in the back of her head like static. It never let up.

Of course, Sebastian Sallow was more than ecstatic at her recent development. He knew she could cure Anne. All he had to do was take Y/n to Anne and that's that. Easy, right?

Y/n watched as her roommates pack their items in preparation to leave for their families. She just sat there. She had nowhere to go. Professor Fig was her only family. He was like a father figure to her.

She thought about the past. Why did she decide to put herself into this mental hell? Oh yeah. To cure Anne. For Sebastian. She didn't want to do this for herself. Hell, she would have trapped that magic in that goblin silver container for the rest of eternity. But, of course, she has to help others. Not herself.

Y/n sighed. Her roommates bid each other and her goodbye as they rushed to their awaiting families. She just nodded in acknowledgment.

Just then, an owl flew into the window to her. In its talons held a letter. She watched the paper fall into her hands. It was from Sebastian.

The urge to just Confringo the damned letter rushed over her, instead, she opened it.

Dear Y/n,

I don't know what you were planning to do this summer break but, I would like to discuss some options with you. Ominis and I will be waiting for you in the Undercroft. Please don't tarry long. Ominis has to leave for his family soon. So, do I.

Sebastian

Y/n felt her eyes water. She held the letter away from her and burnt it in her hand with a wandless Confringo. She learned how to do this after she gained this horrid power. She blinked back her tears and stood up and put her green and black robe on. She left for the undercroft.

_-_-_-_-_-_

The magic in the back of her head seemed to buzz louder and louder as she made her way. She couldn't think anymore.

She finally made it to the clock. She waved her hand at it and entered after it opened.

"I don't know, Sebastian. She hasn't been answering all that much. She probably won't show."

"Oh shove it, Ominis. She will. Trust me."

Just then, Y/n walked into the open space. Sebastian turned to her. He smiled at her. She just looked at him with a blank stare.

"See, Ominis. She made it. Told you so."

Ominis ignored the brunette and "looked" the Slytherin girl,

"How are you, Y/n? Doing good I hope. No one's heard from you since... Ya know."

Y/n just stared blankly for a second before replying,

"I've been fine."

Ominis nodded and crossed his arms. He felt something off in her aura. Something sinister radiated off of her. What happened to her after she saved the school? Did Ranrok do something to her in the final battle?

Ominis worried for her. He cares for her and wanted to... to be okay.

Sebastian stepped a little closer. Looking carefully into her eyes. He could sense what Ominis was feeling as well. Her eyes would reveal all, he knew it.

Now, this is where things get slightly frazzled in Y/n's mind. Her eyes stared into his. All the memories that she shared with him surfaced. All the little touches. Sebastian and her escapades in the Forbidden Forest. The first kiss they shared after finding out that she could help Anne by using Isidora's magic that stems from Ancient Magic.

Y/n knows that he doesn't care what she had to sacrifice to help him cure Anne. Her sanity is gone. Peace is but a dream now. Nothing can help the buzzing in her head. After the passing of Professor Fig, she has been reevaluating all her relationships. Her connection to Sebastian revealed itself to her. She knew the only reason he wants her so close is to cure Anne. That's it. To make the past come back. The trio to be together again.

Y/n moved her eyes from Sebastian's to look to Ominis,

"What did you want to discuss?"

Sebastian came out of his trance by clearing his throat,

"I wanted to ask you if you wanted to spend the summer with me in Fieldcroft? Just hang out all summer with Anne and me. Ominis will visit often, of course. And, I don't know, you could heal Anne while you're there?"

The buzz became deafening. Y/n's anger built up. Her eyes darkened more than they already were. Her eyes were now a dull ice-blue color, emotionless. She breathed out a slight sigh.

"Fine. I'll visit in a few days."

Sebastian looked at her, crossing his arms,

"Why don't we go now? Everyone else is leaving today as well. We'll be there super fast since we have a floo fire there. It shouldn't be that long to pack either-"

Y/n swiftly turned and glared at him,

"I SAID, I will be there in a few days. Safe travels."

With that, she walked out of the Undercroft.

Sebastian looked to Ominis, in shock at the outburst. Ominis sighed,

"Something happened in her fight against Ranrok. Other than the death of a loved one, of course. I'll be there to check on you three very often. Mostly to check on Y/n."

Sebastian crossed his arms,

"Don't you want to visit more to check on Anne at all? Or this little crush caught ahold of you?"

Ominis felt Sebastian's defensiveness. Ominis shook his head at him,

"I understand now. Anyway, I'll visit soon. I'll write at least."

With that, Ominis apparated away. Leaving Sebastian to his thoughts. What did Ominis mean? Why is Y/n acting weird? So many questions yet, none can be answered.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

It's been a couple days since Sebastian went home to Fieldcroft. He awaited Y/n's arrival. He was getting more and more impatient. He knew she was the only way to heal Anne. He needed to prove his uncle wrong. He needs to give Anne a second chance. He needed his trio back. Even if it kills him.

Sebastian wrote Y/n a number of times yet, no response. He then would write to Ominis, complaining about the situation with the blonde Slytherin girl. Ominis always responded because well, it kept him away from his family.

After another day, Y/n arrived. She didn't bring anything with her. No point. She was just planning to heal Anne and disappear. Let Sebastian have the trio he wished for. How it's supposed to be.

Y/n slowly walked to the little house Sebastian resided in. She made it to the door and took a deep breath before knocking.

Not even in a second's time, Sebastian opened the door. He smiled his normal dimpled smile. He stepped to side,

"Hello, Y/n! We've been expecting you. Come in."

So, now, she was treated like a stranger. Great. She stepped into the house and was instantly greeted with a hug from Anne. She hugged the girl back. The brunette girl looked at her,

"It's been a while! How have you been, Y/n? Feeling better?"

Y/n just nodded. Anne released her and gestured to the chair at the table,

"Please sit. Make yourself fell at home!"

Y/n sat down at the table. Sebastian sat in the chair next to her as Anne sat across from them. Solomon peaked his head from the doorway of the kitchen to the small dining room,

"Hello, Y/n! Dinner is almost finished."

Y/n looked to him.

"Hello. Thank you for letting me visit."

Solomon smiled slightly before disappearing from sight.

Sebastian cleared his throat,

"So, how have your last few days been in isolation?"

Y/n just glanced at him slightly,

"Fine. Did some reading."

Anne nodded,

"I heard you are more than special, Y/n. Sebastian told me all about your abilities."

Here we go. Y/n just nodded. Just then, Solomon came in with bowls,

"I made some soup. Eat up."

He set them in front of everyone. He sat down as well to eat the dinner he prepared.

As everyone else chatted at the table, Y/n stared into her bowl. She took a couple bites here and there. The buzzing seemed to be a little more prominent than normal.

"-You see, Anne. I saw something that I think I found a cure, possibly."

Solomon sighed,

"Not this again. You know nothing works."

Sebastian locked eyes with the older man,

"I KNOW this will work. I have no doubts. Y/n is the cure."

Anne gasped and looked at the blonde girl. Y/n just kept her eyes down.

Solomon slammed his hand on the table,

"See! Look at what you've done. You gave Anne hope in something that isn't going to work! Stop this at once!"

Sebastian stood with his hands on the table,

"This is something to have hope in! I know this will work! I saw it myself! Now,"

Sebastian's gaze switched to Y/n,

"Do it! Heal Anne! Prove Uncle wrong!"

Y/n looked at Anne,

"Do you consent for me to try?"

Anne looked between Sebastian and Solomon. She didn't know what to do. She took a breath,

"Do it."

Solomon's eyes widened as Sebastian gained a smirk.

Y/n held her hand out and closed her eyes. She channeled her buzzing throughout her body. Slowly, from Anne's chest, A mixture of green and red magic formed in a ball. The ball slowly moved its way across the table into the blonde Slytherin's hand.

After a couple seconds, green faded from Anne's chest. The ball now was completely only with Y/n. It suddenly forced itself into her palm and she felt everything cycle through her body. The emotions caused by this curse filled Y/n's body. She kept an unfazed physic as Anne confirmed that the curse was lifted.

Sebastian was the first to hug Anne with tears running down his face. Solomon hugged the two into a bear hug. As they cried and talked excitedly, Y/n got up without being noticed and walked out. The pain of the curse racked through her body. She walked down the trail towards Hogwarts as she processed her thoughts and feelings.

Anne looked around for the blonde girl yet, she wasn’t there.

“Where did Y/n go?”

Sebastian wiped his face and looked at the slightly cracked door,

“It’s okay. You can thank her later. She probably already knows you are grateful for her healing. Anyway, we have so many spells and information to catch up on so you can attend Hogwarts again!”

-_-_-_-_-

Y/n laid in her dorm room. The pain clamored through her body. Yes, she could remove it but, she welcomed the pain. It helped keep the buzzing in her head at bay. She stared at the roof. She still couldn’t think for some reason. All that ran through her head was the pain and the memories of Sebastian. He used her. For his benefit. She cared for him still even though he caused her to go down this path. She wished he could be blameless but, he knew what he was doing by playing puppeteer. She felt as if she was hung by strings and danced to the music Sebastian decided. What they say is true, Love is blind.

The rest of summer consisted of really nothing. Y/n didn’t receive any letters from Sebastian. Ominis wrote to her and asked if she was okay. She replied to his letters but, of course, she lied and told him everything was okay. Ominis, on the other hand, knew these were lies. Yet, he can only write because of his parents strict eyes. He can barely go to Sebastian’s. He was grateful that Anne was healed but, it wasn’t the same. He knew it even though Sebastian wanted his little fantasy. Ominis is nice to Anne but, not as close as he once was. He longed for Y/n’s presence more. He grew to admire Y/n and thought of her as a close friend. He hated to see Y/n so… different. Yet, he can only wait until school started once again before he can do anything.

Y/n learned a lot from being alone. She learned to embrace this strange feeling. Don’t reject it. She read books and talked to this darkness. It taught her things. She enter the Scriptorium as Sebastian wanted to but didn’t. It let her through instead of insisting on Crucio being used. She found the relics and read the book. The darkness thrived inside her. She became a parselmouth. She learned the forbidden spells. She learned Legilimency. She can take the form of animals. Now, when she stares at herself in the mirror, the darkness turned her eyes into a bright green color. She looked calm and calculated now. She didn’t let what Sebastian did to her hurt her any longer. She let it turn into anger. That fueled her change.

-_-_-_-_-_

School has started. Y/n watched the hustle in the common room. She mostly watched for Ominis, Sebastian, and Anne. She wanted tabs on them to avoid them. She will speak when needed. She finally spotted them. She smoothly retreated back to her dorm room. She requested to not have roommates this year. It was granted because she was the Hero of Hogwarts. Black couldn’t not accept it.

—

Sebastian hurried to the common room with his sister. They excitedly chatted as they made there way. After spotting Ominis, they three walked back to the common room. Once there, Anne, Sebastian, and Ominis searched for the certain blonde girl. Once they couldn’t find her, they decided to check the Undercroft.

Once they opened the door, Ominis could sense the dark magic that reeked in the air. Anne gasped,

“What happened here?”

Sebastian carefully walked to the pile of scattered pages in the corner. He looked down at them and picked on up,

“It’s not in English. I think it’s Latin. They are circular as they were wrote. Some type of spell.”

Ominis walked over, his wand blinking,

"No. I know Latin. From what my wand can make out, it's the same thing over and over."

Anne cautiously approached them,

"What does is say, Ominis?"

Ominis took a breath,

"Nothing normal."

Sebastian huffed,

"Just spit it out already, Ominis!"

Ominis took a breath before reading the papers with his wand hovering over them,

"He did this. He made me do this. He knows what he did. He will pay for his transgressions."

The room fell eerily silent. Sebastian felt his breath catch in his throat. He felt as if the air around him was against him. Anne gazed at the paper,

"Who caused this person so much pain?"

Sebastian let out a choked cough,

"I-I don't know but, this person needs to go to the looney bin, I say. Let me just pick these up and get rid of them properly."

He could feel Ominis's glare on his back. Bile rose in his throat as he burned the papers. As he turned around, the gate to The Undercroft opened.

The creaking caught the group's attention instantly. Y/n walked through them. Her usual long hair was cut short in a bob. She kept a stoic face. Her eyes were dull and empty.

Anne was the first to say anything.

"Y/n! It's nice to see you! I meant to thank you for well... giving me my life back. You have no clue how much I owe you."

Y/n's locked with Anne's. Anne felt a shiver rack through her body as Y/n spoke,

"You owe nothing. You are but a pawn in a game as we all are."

Her voice was as cold as ice. Ominis put the dots together quickly. Y/n spiraled because of Sebastian. He used her. Anger built inside himself. How could he let him do this to her?

Sebastian slowly spoke,

"Y/n. It's been a while. You cut your hair? Your eyes changed as well? How did you do that?"

Y/n stared at him. He felt her eyes pierced his soul. She then spoke after a minute,

"I decided to take all of the things I loved and get rid of it. I had many revelations over the break."

She shifted the book under her arm. Sebastian glanced at it. His eyes widened,

"Is... Is that Salazar Slytherin's Journal? Where did you get that?"

Ominis felt his body shiver. A coldness filled the room. Y/n glared at Sebastian as she hissed out,

"I owe you no explanation, Sallow."

Her eyes grew into a bright green from the dull forest green they were. Something filled her eyes as she locked eyes with the male. Sebastian recognized that look. It was hate. She hated him. Finally, the sky fell in on him it seemed. His eyes widened as the girl turned and walked away out of the Undercroft.

What has he done to his sweet Y/n?

Comment if you want a part 2 or if you think this is awesome! Thank you!

Part 2 of this work is Vile! You can find in in my pinned post under the Hogwarts Legacy Masterlist!

#x reader #hogwarts legacy #ominis gaunt #sebastian sallow x reader #sebastian swallow #hogwarts legacy imagine #sebastian x mc #slytherin

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ayewritebullsheet · 2 months ago

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CHAPTER THREE

November 6, 2038

9:06 AM

"So, Sarah," Carley propped an elbow on the desk, jaw resting on her palm as she stared at the ST300 with her lips pressed together and eyelashes batted. "Is Detective Collins here? Have you talked to him about what happened last night? Or did he ask about it? Mention it? Or maybe someone else did?"

"Detective Collins hasn't arrived yet, Miss Walters. But is there anything specific I should inform him when he arrives?" The android receptionist asked as politely as always, and now Carley felt ashamed for even proposing this idea.

Her plan was far from nefarious, but she couldn't bear to drag Sarah along to help cover for her late-night tarrying in the Interrogation Room with the lieutenant, Gavin, and Chris. She knew Detective Collins wouldn't do anything to the android, except, maybe, give her a mild chastising for the involvement, but not too severe that their android receptionist would begin to ponder over it.

"You know what? Forget it. It's nothing. It's fine." She shook her head and sighed. Carley handed her ID and the android scanned it before returning it to her. She gave the receptionist a little wave as she walked away. "Have a good day, Sarah."

"You, too, Miss Walters."

She treaded cautiously to her desk, intending to elude Detective Collins during her first hour back at work. Or at least, let her have her coffee and sandwich before getting the inevitable reprove. She already had a mental list of people giving her an earful that day, and she wasn't looking forward to it.

Carley was neither scared nor apprehensive of the older detective, but tired of getting called to his desk to listen to the same old censure a parent would do to their supposedly troublemaking child. She had enough tongue-lashing from her mother throughout her life and garnered more than one would like of Casey and Anne Marie's coddling during her months of suspension. She didn't need more mouths to listen as she only had two ears, and one barely functioning brain to register everything.

The idea of reproach at her age was already embarrassing, but the seniors would use the same excuse of wanting to oversee her career since that was what their father wanted. Or maybe it was what their Uncle Keith wished to prove to everyone.

If she had known that choosing this career would amass her not just one parental figure but a couple more, Carley would've chosen something else. She had planned something before, something her family had considered pointless and unconventional, or call it a phase where she simply wanted her childhood dreams and fantasies to be fulfilled.

She can't help but imagine it still.

To be submerged in the pool the entire day; surrounded by the smallest fishes to the largest ones available. Her hair flowed in the water as she gazed at her audience while they admired her tail and fins, her pretty glittering make-up, and how gracefully she swam across the aquarium.

That was the dream.

And it'll stay as a one.

"Whoa!" Carley looked up and found Chris in her way with his hands full of papers and some files. He seemed genuinely surprised, too. "I didn't expect you today, Detective!"

"I forgot to check on the Gang last night." Carley shrugged. "Blame Reed for that."

"Those shrimps are gonna be fine for a couple more days without you. I know, they made me Google it just to be really sure. Should've taken your word for it."

"I told you, they're very low maintenance than the cat, and entertaining, too."

Chris giggled. "I get why you like lookin' at them for so long. Spent almost five minutes starin' at them, especially when they're clambering around the jar."

"Exactly! And, oh! No oats today! I got... busy."

"It's alright." He shrugged. "Zara's keeping me stuffed since she'd known the ropes with Damian, and you're not technically supposed to be here anyway, so..." Chris reassured her with a soft chuckle. A brief, awkward silence followed, and then Chris began to stammer, seemingly careful with his words. "How's last night? Like, how are you feeling? 'cause you looked kinda spooked if I'm being honest. But I hope you don't mind me asking."

"Oh!" came her exclaim. Though she tried not to sound and appear disgruntled about his inquiry, she couldn't imagine how last night must've appeared from an outside spectator. To stand frozen in fear, sift the entire room for an invisible figure, mourn over someone she had known within the hour and by name only, and then walk out of the room without an apprise.

Baffling.

It would've been easy to say the bullet could've gotten her instead of Connor, how last night could've been her last, or say something similar to that sentiment.

It seemed like a rational explanation: to fear for her life and safety. But if she were to admit that November 4th assaulted her again, she would. To professed how vivid it felt to live through it again; to remember how cold that night was, the smell of the rain on the concrete and iron on her hands, the taste of her tears, the heavy pounding of her head, and how Connor's lifeless figure resembled Carson. She would.

But that seemed too much to admit, and she didn't want to burden her friend with the truth.

The rational explanation, then.

"Last night was... I don't know. Surprisingly scary? I can't help thinking it could've been either of us. That's all."

"Yeah, last night was just... wild." Chris' nodding was slow and cautious, his eyes on hers. "That was pretty close, too. Felt bad for the android, though. Uh, Connor, right? But, you know, Reed's been complaining about the paperwork for hours."

"I mean, what's new? If anyone deserves a medal this coming February, it's you... at least, just for putting up with him for hours."

"I'd swap that medal for two weeks off if I'm being honest."

"Same." Carley agreed, but not wholeheartedly.

The officer replied with a small nod and a smile before he asked. "Uh, sleep?"

"Oh, uh. A good five hours, yeah."

"Liar..."

"Shut up." Carley snapped back instinctively. Her voice was lower than a whisper and her action was subtler than a tic.

For once, the ghost spoke the truth.

Though time moved strangely that night, her cellphone's thousands of alarms made her slightly mindful of the hours that passed.

It was some tiring hours of restrained crying in the bathroom. Then some gnarly minutes of washing and rubbing the blue blood off her face and hands, and an impulse decision to pour bleach to get the stain off her hoodie—with undesirable results, of course.

Carley managed some hours of sleep after tossing and turning for god knows how long, only to be awoken by Mr. Wellington tapping the window while his head peeped through it sometime later. The last hour before work was wasted engaging in a one-sided staring contest with Eli Price's mugshot, and several minutes of stabbing his neck. She imagined the blade piercing deeper into his throat and twisting it so delicately that blood would splatter and drench her face and clothes. She'd relish every drop of his blood on hers like a child enjoying the rain.

It was strangely therapeutic to her; to muse about getting her hands on him. Get even. An eye for an eye and let the world go blind. Flipped off Gandhi if she could. Grab a knife and stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab! Stab! Stab!

"Well... better five than nothin'. You're starting to look great, too. I think Zara would approve," said Chris, snapping her back from her... thoughts. Carley nodded and mumbled thanks before the officer excused himself and disappeared into the Meeting Room behind her.

Thankful to get Chris off her short, mental list of 'people to avoid if she could for the day' but the friendly officer was hardly ever a bother. She wished she could say the same for Captain Fowler, but to shirk from that ever-grouchy man would be impossible. It didn't help that her desk was a few strides away from his elaborate office. A small turn to his right or a glance through his peripheral and she'd be there, glaringly visible to him.

She didn't want to be noticed this soon, but to witness the shock and eventual displeasure on the captain's face seemed worthy of indulgence despite the inexorable censure she'd received. But Captain Fowler was too preoccupied with his cell phone to notice her beeline to her desk.

This is good, she thought. She wanted to be inconspicuous for a day. She hoped she could be inconspicuous today, which was unlikely, but a cup of coffee and a sandwich before anything else should brighten the mood.

With a glance at the empty and bestrewed desk behind hers, Carley wondered whether the lieutenant would show up today or if was he running very, very, very late at the moment.

Those were the questions, and the answer was: who the fuck knows.

Lieutenant Anderson was hardly ever on time anyway. And if he was, he barely occupied his desk except for a quick sit, a glance at his screen, or a sip of his coffee before he dismissed himself for lunch or a cigarette break despite having just arrived. They had caught him smoking at the back of the station or somewhere discreet or unfrequented like the roof deck. Sometimes sober, sometimes drunk. Everyone stopped giving a damn about it and just went along despite their many complaints, except for some police officers and a certain choleric detective in their precinct.

Carley's eyes went to find him and well... there he was.

She was almost thankful she hadn't seen him when she passed his desk or crossed paths with him in the hallway. A minute without seeing his face would've been as good as seeing the sun in this cold, rainy weather, but Carley never gets the peace and quiet she wants.

Gavin Reed, their overzealous yet irascible detective. He was in the Break Room at their usual table, conversing with an officer Carley couldn't identify from afar.

No doubt he pulled an all-nighter again judging by the clothes he wore and how his shoulders leaned forward, sloppy yet exhausted. Carley gauged the cups of coffee he must've had to withstand this long and wagered she could drink twice as much as he could. But for some reason, Captain Fowler and Sergeant Barnes would always discover her monopolizing the station's coffee and chastise her. Sergeant Barnes became harsher than the captain after the accident and had accused her of being a caffeine glutton more often than necessary. If they hadn't done so, Carley would've competed with Gavin Reed's caffeine dependency and won, easily.

Maybe.

Yes, for sure.

But with her sleep deprivation and Gavin's brazen and spiteful remark last night, Carley's mood was far from optimal to deal with him and his antics, and that hankering for a cup of coffee was more frustrating to deny than her nuisance for the detective.

As she set her bag down and gathered her much-needed confidence, Carley put on her headphones, turned the volume up, and marched into the Break Room to the vending machine for a sandwich.

Gavin immediately took notice when he looked up from his coffee, and his stare was followed by the officer who accompanied him, who Carley realized was Officer Chen as she entered.

"Mornin', Walters!" She could hear him call out despite her music at its highest volume.

Carley hurried with the vending machine and her sandwich before she went for the coffee machine. With the passing of her beloved mug last night, again, she was forced to use these... tiny, disposable coffee cups they were provided with, which were too small for her liking. But with nothing else to use and she didn't want to borrow anyone's mugs, Carley yielded to these tiny abominations with high hopes she could whisk her preferred blend with it.

The machine started to operate in a soft buzz, and as the music slowly ended, Carley heard Gavin talking again. His voice was obscure, his statement disjointed and incomprehensible, but as new music began to fill her ears, the last she heard from the detective was: "Another son of a bitch takes its place!"

Carley took a bite of the sandwich and waited for the coffee to fill the cup. Bella suggested adding milk or condensed milk to make the blend... less refined, but she preferred her coffee at its full strength. She'd just have to keep quiet about it.

As she inhaled the strong aroma; Carley's tongue salivated, excited to take that first sip. However, her excitement was also accompanied by Gavin's exasperation when she caught bits of his exchange again whenever the song's beat dwindled.

Seething, she heard him order out loud. "Get a move on!"

Whoever was antagonizing him at the moment? And this early, too? Brave soul. She thought it might be Dean since the officer and Gavin shared some quick, sporadical banter through the years they'd been friends. But the officer wouldn't tolerate being berated despite his amicable comportment. She wagered it was James, though the young officer mostly does shit for a few giggles, and sometimes to raise a couple of confused eyebrows, but nothing extreme that would infuriate Gavin. James would know when to stop.

Not in the mood, perhaps. She can't blame him. Everyone had their wild, puzzling, and hair-raising moments on the job. Last night was just another wild ride. She'd be upset, too, if their suspect suddenly blew their heads off before their eyes, and the additional paperwork he had to submit to CyberLife on their newly released and newly-damaged android detective would add more hours and workload on his shoulders.

Carley raised the coffee cup near her nose and inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of its deliciousness before she took a careful sip. Good. Great. Lovely. Delicious. Cravings, satisfied. The sandwich may not tasted as good as last night, but that appeased the mild ache in her stomach. She hoped it would last until her lunch with Bella or Dean later.

She took a careful pivot and saw Gavin leaving the Break Room in a huff, beckoning Officer Chen along. The officer hastily followed behind.

Thank goodness. Carley raised an eyebrow before she looked down at the man hunched over on his knee. He slowly got up, his head turned slightly to the right, following where Gavin and Officer Chen made a swift egress as he straightened his necktie.

Carley's stare returned to her drink as she blew the steam and took another slow sip. The music began to quiet down, ready to shuffle to another song, and Carley heard someone call to her with a melodious voice.

"Hello, Detective Walters."

"Hi—" She pulled the headphones down, looked up, and then yelped in surprise. Carley recoiled a couple of steps back and bumped against the counter. The cup escaped her hold and crashed to the floor, making a puddle over the dark, pristine floor, and splashing some on her shoes.

"Ahh!" Carley yelped in horror when her eyes darted over the spilled coffee, and her breath choked when she sought out his unmarred face.

There he was: Connor's ghost, standing upright in front of her with curious eyes. Not dead or vindictive eyes, but curious ones. His curiosity was accompanied by the slight tilt of his head and the yellow buffering of his LED.

Some part of Carley anticipated his hauntings sooner or later in some sudden, unwanted recollection, but she didn't expect to see him this vividly. In front of her. Standing tall as he did before he passed. In the same hour Carson's ghost visited her and made a permanent residence.

She remembered that night, and how long and numbing it was. She remembered every bit of that plight despite being shoved into a bubble of daze and silence the entire time, looking like an outside spectator of her life.

Blue and red lights blinded her, and the noise of the blaring sirens was still audible. Her shaking and aching knees were smeared with dirt from the concrete and her shoulders were damped from the light rain that night. Blood coated her hands, tears had dried on her face, and snot from her nose hardened that breathing became a chore. Everyone wore their consolable faces when they pulled her away from him and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.

Time moved strangely that night; it was brisk and tedious altogether. The Interrogation Room was prickly cold. Their faces were blurry and darkened. Their questions were confusing and muted. Her responses were condensed and torpid. Then she was staring at Carson's lifeless body lying on a cold, stainless table. He looked at peace, unmoving. He was still in his uniform and the coat she gifted him years ago. His eyes were closed, never to be opened again. He had gone pale during her absence in the Interrogation Room and stiff when she held his hand and sought warmth, comfort, and reassurance one last time. She kissed his hand, hopeful that her love would bring him back to life.

She waited.

And waited.

One minute turned to ten. Ten to fifty. Minutes turned hours.

Nothing.

Still, she stayed beside him, longer than what was allowed. In whispers, she reminisced about the times they'd spent together. The good and the best. The awful things he had done didn't matter despite the unanimous and decided to leave it locked in a chest. Never to be spoken and reminded again.

And in the early morning of her quandary; when she sat, shaken and numbed, there came Gavin. Despite their estranged friendship, he drove from Indianapolis to Detroit when he heard the news and took her in his arms. Never mind how she reeked of blood, sweat, and rain, or how cold and shriveled she felt. It was the last thing she expected, but it was the first thing he did anyway. She remembered collapsing into his gentle and reassuring touch, melting into his lasting embrace, and dwelling into this strange sensation while her mind wandered.

A ticket to freedom.

A glimpse of a bright future.

A repose she had yearned for her entire life.

It felt exhilaratingly good for a short moment until she was brought back to this grim reality and pushed aside those selfish sentiments.

Carson was dead.

And it was her fault.

Gavin spent the rest of the time handling what should've been her duty while she sat back again in the waiting area with her shoulders hunched forward. Her tired and vacant eyes locked on her hands, trying to scrape the dry blood that besmirched her fingernails despite Dean and Bella's efforts to wipe it off earlier.

He drove her home afterward, and the journey was inundated with still and deafening silence. Gavin hadn't turned the radio on or attached his phone to its holder as he always did, which she found distractingly bothersome but decided to say nothing about. When they arrived, he insisted on staying and cooking for her, but her goodbyes and reassurances were persistent as she went inside the house.

And there he stood in the corner of the room, lurking at nine-something in the morning. Carson.

She remembered it very well. Too well.

The veil of sunlight made it easier to see his figure, and how haunting his marred features were. The left side of his lip was pulled down, his mouth slightly opened from gargling blood, air, and saliva, and the hole on his neck continued to ooze with blood, dripping on their carpet floor. Her skin grew cold at his ragged breaths, and the choking and wheezing that followed. Calling her name. Asking for help that never came.

Despite the ghastly sight and the fury in his eyes, Carley walked up to him. Slow and careful steps. Frightened he might vanish like mist if she hastily approached him, or he might move further back and back, and back, and back, and back, and back, that no matter how much she would walk, walk, walk, walk, walk to cut the distance, she won't get to him. But Carson remained stationary, conditioned to linger there, and when she reached out to touch him... she couldn't.

"You did this..."

Suppose that was the difference between Carson and Connor. With her hands holding onto Connor's arms, she could feel him. Real and true. The texture of his jacket was tangible when she brushed her fingers against it. His skin was soft when she moved her hands to cup his face, caressing every inch of his flesh with her thumbs and feeling the cheekbones of his face.

Real and true.

She'd tell herself that as much as she could for reassurance, but Carley's many thoughts and questions were jumbled together. Everything was just too complicated to take in, slow to swallow. She could only stare at him. Disbelief remained, but a hint of care and concern resurfaced, and yearning prevailed when her eyebrows furrowed.

"You're alive." She managed to say quietly and shakily.

Connor blinked, and his LED flickered yellow and then blue. "My predecessor was unfortunately destroyed, Detective Walters. The destruction was beyond repair, so its memory was transferred to me and sent me to replace it." He paused, and his LED made an expeditious shift from blue to red before it returned to its gentle blue. He blinked again. "This incident should not affect my future investigations with Lieutenant Anderson."

She heard him say as solemnly and as forthright as before. Her disbelief withered, and the longer she held onto his face, Carley's realization became clear. Though his freckled skin may be soft under her touch, it didn't stretch the same as a human would. It was firm and taut like synthetic skin should feel.

His predecessor.

Not alive.

Android.

CARLEY 🔽

No. This... this isn't fair! Her hands briskly withdrew from him. He can't waltz right back in here as if nothing happened! As if last night was merely a gimmick, and they were the stupid ones for believing he was gone!

No, no. She was the stupid one.

To come back from the dead... this wasn't normal. But then again, neither was Connor. He was an android after all; a simple, replaceable machine. Carson can't do what an android can. He was, after all; human but buried six feet on the ground.

"Detective Walters, I was wondering when will—"

"Excuse me a minute." She snapped, her face was devoid of emotions but her eyes were watery. Connor hadn't had a chance to reply when she sprightly exited from the Break Room and into the restroom. His blinking eyes followed her leave, while his LED shifted expeditiously from red to yellow and finally to blue again.

S0FTWAR3 INST4BIL1TY 🔼

HANK🔽

random author's note:

this chapter is slightly edited. *inserts cheeky smile here*

#detroit become human #dbh #dbh gavin #dbh connor #dbh connor x oc #dbh hank & oc #dbh fanfic #love homicide and androids #ayewritebullsheet #tw mention of blood #tw mention of death

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