#just let them sit at home with sumo and watch tv

[reedeemable]

When it comes to reed900 content, I want them to go on undercover missions, beat up bad guys, get into scary situations where they need to comfort each other afterwards and every moment between them is filled with sexual tension and yearning

When it comes to hankcon, I want them to stay home and be safe

[mnictasbcl]

Thirium-stained lips

For #dbhcolorsofdeviancy, prompt:

June 7th: First intimate experience @connor-sent-by-cyberlife

Rating: Teen

Characters: Connor, Markus                

Relationships: Connor/Markus

Additional Tags: Fluff, Romance, No Smut, Intimacy, Asexual Character, Short little fluff ficlet

Summary: Connor loves Markus, and Markus loves him. This is their first moment of intimacy together.

 Story below! Or, read it on AO3

When Markus invited Connor back to his place, the android wasn’t sure what this entailed.

Research told him this meant… certain things for humans. Particularly staying overnight—but he had little interest in matters of sexual relations, to put it bluntly. He’d already let Markus know of this, and the other android hadn’t minded in the slightest.

He still remembered when Connor reminded him on the autonomous cab ride over to his apartment.

“Of course, my love, I didn’t forget. We won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

“What is it you have in mind, then?” Connor pressed on, glancing across to him.

“Whatever you’d like. We’ve been going out for a few months together, now, but we’ve never truly had time to spend alone…”

It was understandable, what with the Revolution and then all the fighting for rights in the law that came with it.

Markus’ phrasing was still vague to Connor, who continued to mull it over on the way back. Spending time alone could mean many things. With his work partner turned father-figure, Hank, they would watch movies and take Sumo on walks to the park.

What did time alone with Markus mean? Would they also watch TV? He shrugged; they could have gone out to the movies together and had a greater TV-watching experience.

He didn’t mull it over for too much longer, the cab coming to a stop outside the apartment building in New Jericho. Instead, he walked inside the building with Markus, looking over the new surroundings, taking in each detail. It was a surprise he’d never been over before; he had visited Carl’s place where Markus sometimes stayed over, along with Hank. And Markus had come around to his home and had dinner with him and Hank.

The apartment block was well-kitted out, with free access to any deviant who walked in, in need of a home. There was a communal cafeteria area on the ground floor, along with room service going at any time of the day. It wasn’t a lot, but it was helpful in these times where many deviants were misplaced without a purpose yet in life, looking for somewhere to seek shelter.

Markus lived at the top of the building, overseeing the running of the place, along with other old Jericho members who lived on the same floor. The building was tall and grand, so the elevator ride up took a few minutes, soft music humming throughout the small room.

And then, they arrived. Markus let Connor inside, placing the keys on the side table before telling him to make himself at home.

That concept was familiar yet strange to occupy; he had made a home in Hank, and subsequently in his house. He had begun to make himself comfortable with Markus, but a home… he’d found the fond moments, the foundations of the home; the comforts and familiarity he’d yet to obtain.

Perhaps this was why Markus had invited him over, he was branching out into that last unknown, the only part of himself Connor hadn’t yet visited. So, Connor took the invitation, eventually settling down onto the sitting room couch. Whilst he’d been used to sitting proper, with the upright, correct posture of an android; now he allowed himself to fully relax, tilting his head back and taking the offered thirium smoothie.

“Thank you.” He smiled. It had the little bent straw in it, just how he liked it, something he was touched to see the other android had remembered.

“It’s no problem.” Markus replied.

Connor nodded, sipping at his drink, staring off into the distance as Markus sat beside him. There was no TV here- it was in the next room, for ease of access so Markus could watch any news reports or press briefings whilst he was working.

That mustn’t be what he entailed by ‘time alone’, Connor deduced, finishing off his drink, leaning forwards to place the glass on the table with a soft clink.

He looked across to Markus, opening his mouth to say something, but then the other android laughed.

“What’s so funny?” He questioned, eyes meeting the mismatched heterochromic eyes, getting lost in them for a brief moment. They were such a striking feature- blue and green, the first thing he noticed about the deviant leader when he met him on the sinking ship of Jericho. The second thing was the smile curving on his lips as he laughed.

“Your lips are stained blue by the thirium, Connor. Here, let me…”

Markus reached out his hand, cupping Connor’s cheek, thumb brushing over his lips. In that moment, Connor noted the different hex codes of the colours in Markus’ eyes. They were a painting of hues and blues, soft, delicate—

Like the touch on his cheek, which he found himself leaning into ever so slightly. It was strange, new, wonderful, the feeling… He’d never been close to another in this sense before, never needing to as an android, the most proximity required had been the distance stepped to kill.

This intimacy, if that was what this is, Connor found appealing. The quiet hour of the late evening, the unfamiliar but comfortable space of his boyfriend’s apartment... This moment had been carved out for them, secured in a little hovel, just the two of them alone with each over and the beat of their thirium pumps.

“I think…” he began, words coming to him in a gentle tone, “there’s a little something… on your lips as well…”

“Oh, really?” Markus enquired, gaze fond as Connor leaned in, and then, their lips met.

This was his home, Connor realised in that moment, arms wrapping around Markus, comforted by their soft embrace. His home in Hank was his everyday home; his home in Markus was this gentle passion, getting lost in his beautiful eyes, lulled by his soothing words. His first touch of intimacy, sweet like nostalgia, by the man who’d brought him stumbling but sure into his first steps of humanity.

[metaphorical-love-for-a-car]

Sunshine After Rain-- Connor (RK800) x Reader (Part 4)

Summary; After the death of your little brother, Cole, your dad hated androids. He blamed them for Cole's death. Hank couldn't stand to be around them. How the hell are you supposed to tell him that your soulmate is an android?

Warnings; swearing, shitty writing that has not been edited at all

Word Count; 2.9k

Notes; I’ll post the last part tomorrow morning!! Then I’ll move on to original fics lol

You sat on the bench and covered your face with your hands. That was not at all how you wanted it to go. You wanted to sit Hank down and discuss it with him— mainly when he was sober. Connor sat next to you. You let your hands fall into your lap and stared straight ahead. You could tell he was staring at you. "You seem troubled." You let out a sardonic laugh.

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock." You turned to face him and realized that he was actually concerned. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just... a bit stressed is all," you sighed. Connor nodded.

"I understand. I suppose I have been experiencing a sense of stress as well. I was designed to hunt down deviants. I'm supposed to be a machine, nothing more. Then I met you, and I've begun to doubt everything." You each looked into each other's eyes for a moment. You broke eye contact and looked at his hands, carefully taking one into your own. You turned to look at the city lights. This time, you saw just how beautiful they really were in their full color. You pulled away from him to stand, quietly walking away. Connor didn't move. He was too deep in thought... which made him the perfect target.

You knelt down and scooped up a small pile of snow, forming it into a sphere. A wicked smile crossed your face as you stood once more. You narrowed your eyes, focusing on the sitting duck before you. You were more aiming for his back, but the place it hit was even better. The snowball hit the back of Connor's head with a soft thump. The android quickly leapt to his feet. His LED was flashing. You laughed, scooping up another snowball. He seemed confused. "(y/n), what exactly are you doing?" You threw the snowball at him. Since he was anticipating it, Connor easily dodged the projectile.

"It's a snowball fight. You throw snow at each other until someone gives up. We used to have giant wars all the time when we were kids." While you knelt down to make a couple more snowballs, Connor grinned mischievously.

"Are you sure you want to have a snowball fight with me, (y/n)?"

"Of course, I wouldn't have started one otherwise," you scoffed. Next thing you knew, you were being pelted by perfectly round balls of snow. You squealed as some of the snow made its way down your back. You ran behind a tree for cover. You somehow managed to hit him a few times, but you were pretty sure it was because he was going easy on you.

About ten minutes into the battle, you tried to dodge one and ended up getting yourself hit in the head. Sure, it hurt, considering your mishap earlier, but you dramatized it. You fell to your knees and held your head, hissing a couple swears. You heard Connors footsteps rapidly approaching. He knelt down beside you, placing a hand on your back. "(y/n), are you-" He was interrupted by you shoveling snow in his face with a maniacal laugh. Connor did not look amused.

"I'm sorry, Connor. I just couldn't help myself," you explained in between laughs. Connor noticed you had started shivering and suggested that you head back. He helped you to your feet. The two of you started walking back to Hank's car, occasionally bumping shoulders along the way. As soon as you got the engine started, you cranked the heat all the way up and held your hands over the air vents.

"Should we attempt to track down Hank?" You shook your head.

"No, he's probably too drunk to reason with at this point. I'm probably just gonna head back to my place. He's a big boy now. He knows how to walk home. I'll just pick him up in the morning." You paused, turning in the seat in order to fully face Connor. "I know you don't sleep, so where do you go at night?"

"I usually stay at the precinct in the designated area for androids on standby." You wrinkled your nose.

"That sounds boring. You're more than welcome to hang out at my place if you want. It's not very big, but I have plenty of things to read. You can watch TV too if you want, or… I don't know," you rambled, fiddling with the hem of your shirt. Connor grinned.

"I would like that. Thank you, (y/n)." You smiled back at him, driving toward your apartment complex.

You groaned as your alarm started screaming at you to wake up. Your head was killing you, and you wanted nothing more than to chuck the contraption out the window. You reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out a bottle of painkillers. You swallowed two of the pills and returned the bottle to its place. As you sat up, a certain scent hit your nose that caused you to shuffle into the kitchen at a slightly faster pace than usual. Your eyes widened at the sight. A smile grew across your face. "Connor, you cooked breakfast?" The android held out a plate of pancakes alongside various fruits.

"I wanted to thank you for allowing me into your home last night, and, as the expression goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day." He smiled at you. If he were any more adorable than at this very moment, you would have surely imploded. You gently took the plate from his hands, and you could feel the heat rising in your cheeks as you sat on the couch. After you finished eating, you quickly got ready for work. You still had to pick up Hank, and there was no doubt in your mind that he would be hungover and a pain in the ass to get up.

You parked his old car in front of his house. You and Connor used your spare set of keys to get into the house. "Dad! Wake up, it's time to get ready for work!" you hollered as the two of you entered the home. You walked into the kitchen and pulled out a bin full of dog food from one of the cabinets. Sumo padded into the kitchen and wagged his tail at the sight of you filling his food bowl.

"Hello, Lieutenant." You poked your head around the corner when you heard Connor greet Hank. Much to your surprise, he was dressed and ready to go. You opened your mouth to comment on it, but Hank raised a hand to stop you.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but the last thing I need is another document in my disciplinary file just for being late." You tossed him the car keys. He stuffed them in his pocket. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go."

Not long after entering the precinct, Hank and Connor were pulled aside to be given a new case. You sat at your desk and laid your head down for a moment. Your head was still throbbing, and the last thing you wanted to do was paperwork. You skipped out on doing any yesterday since you tagged along with Hank. Now the mass of papers on your desk resembled a mountain.

After what seemed like an eternity of doing paperwork, you felt like you were doing insane. You could've sworn that you were starting to smell sounds. Enough is enough. You stood from your desk and sauntered into the break room. As you walked through the bullpen, you heard Gavin mention to someone that he needed some coffee. You smiled and fixed your own cup. You quickly swapped the tops of the salt and sugar shakers. When you saw Gavin enter the small room, you snatched a donut from one of the many boxes littering the counter. He gave you a curt nod as he fixed himself some coffee. You bit the inside of your cheek to keep yourself from laughing when he dumped what he assumed was sugar into the dark liquid. He took a sip of the coffee and grimaced down at the mug. You burst out laughing. Gavin narrowed his eyes at you as he realized you had sabotaged his drink, but he wasn't going to give you the satisfaction of it. Maintaining eye contact, Gavin lifted the drink back up to his lips and drank every last drop of the salty liquid. You gaped at him, shocked that he actually drank it. He set the cup on the counter and gave you the middle finger. "Try again next time, (y/n)." Gavin turned on his heel and left you dumbfounded.

You continued to eat the donut in your hand while nursing your coffee. You saw Hank and Connor walk in. Hank went straight to his desk, while Connor roamed around. He looked like he was looking for something. He turned towards the break room and caught sight of you. You had finished your snack and was throwing away the trash. Without warning, a pair of arms wrapped around you and a head rested on your shoulder. Colors began to fill in the objects around you. You furrowed your brows, wondering what brought on this sudden burst of affection from the android. You turned to face him. He kept his hands on your arms while you cupped his face with your own. Something was seriously bothering him. "What's wrong?" Connor drew in a shaky breath.

"We were on the roof of Stratford Tower. A damaged deviant was left behind, and I tried to probe its memory. Then... then it self-destructed. Right after it shot itself, I felt it die." His grip on your arms slightly tightened. "It felt like I was dying. I was... I was scared, (y/n)." You gently rubbed your thumb against his cheek. He leaned into your touch. There was no doubt that he was terrified. You could see it written all over his face. You pulled him into an embrace, which he gladly accepted. He was still fighting an internal battle, trying to decide whether he was a living being or not. He needed comfort, which is something he saw in you. For the rest of the afternoon, Connor didn't stray far from your side. He almost reminded you of a lost puppy.

The next morning, you walked out of the kennel that was located in the back of the precinct, only to run into a familiar face. You smiled up at the android. "G'morning," you greeted.

"Good morning, (y/n). Hank and I will be going to Elijah Kamski's residence in five minutes. Would you like to accompany us on this case?" You softly laughed at how formal Connor was. He watched your reaction curiously.

"Yeah, I feel like he'd be an interesting person to meet." Connor grinned at your response. The two of you tracked down Hank and followed him to his old, beat up car. You and Hank had yet discussed the whole soulmate situation. In fact, you both had kind of been avoiding it. He was too stubborn to bring it up first, and you just weren't sure how to approach the subject seeing as how he reacted last time. Despite this, the car ride wasn't too terrible, other than Hank forcing you and Connor to listen to heavy metal nonstop. As he parked near the front of Kamski's place, Hank got a phone call from one of your fellow officers-- Chris. Turns out, he was attacked by a group of deviants but ended up being saved by Markus, the leader of the deviant rebellion.

The three of you hopped out of the car. You wrapped your coat tighter around yourself as the cold air and snow hit your face. As you all walked up to the front door, Connor asked why Hank wanted to meet Kamski. "This guy created the first android to pass the Turing test, and he's the founder of CyberLife. If anybody can tell us about deviants, it's him," Hank answered as if it was obvious. He rang the doorbell, and you three waited several minutes for someone to answer.

"This guy better answer soon or we're gonna turn into popsicles." Hank rolled his eyes at you. You all perked up when the door swung open, revealing a blonde android.

"Hi, uh, I'm Lieutenant Hank Anderson from the Detroit Police Department. We're here to see, er, Mr. Elijah Kamski," he stuttered out. You gave him an odd look.

"Please, come in." She smiled sweetly and motioned you all inside.

"Very smooth, dad," you said in a hushed tone.

"Shut up, (y/n)." You followed the android lady inside. She told the three of you to make yourselves comfortable while she let Kamski know you all had arrived. Hank sat down in a nearby chair. You stared at the giant portrait of Kamski that was in front of you.

"Very humble man, wouldn't you agree?" You turned to Connor, sarcasm dripping from your words. He hummed, nodding.

"Yes, you can hardly tell he's a billionaire," Connor answered just as sarcastically. You beamed.

"Nice, you're finally starting to understand slang and sarcasm." Connor looked slightly proud, taking in your statement as a compliment. You took a seat across from Hank as Connor continued to analyze the threshold. Hank made a couple comments about Connor meeting his creator but otherwise stayed pretty quiet. You all looked up when Kamski's android returned.

"Elijah will see you now," she announced before leading the three of you into another room, which contained an indoor pool. You noticed that he had a couple more androids, all the same model. You all awkwardly stood off to the side, waiting for Kamski to finish his laps around the pool. As he climbed out of the water, one of his many androids wrapped a robe around him.

"I'm Lieutenant Hank Anderson, this is Detective (y/n), and Connor," Hank introduced you all.

"What can I do for you, officers?" Hank informed Kamski that they were investigating deviants and that any information he had would be useful to them. He remained silent, thinking.

"Holy shit, he looked so much like Gavin," you muttered under your breath. Kamski hummed.

"Yes, my half-brother works in the same department as you two. Now, deviants... Fascinating, aren't they? Perfect beings with infinite intelligence, and now they have free will." He went on to talk about how androids are better than humans, spouting a bunch of philosophical junk you didn't bother to follow. Hank asked Kamski to tell him something useful or you would all be on your way. Instead of addressing the topic at hand, Kamski approached Connor. "How about you, Connor? What do you really want?"

"I fail to see how that matters with what we are currently trying to discuss." Kamski said nothing for a moment, staring Connor down. He then called over one of his androids, Chloe. He explained that the Turing test is merely a formality. What interested him is whether machines are capable of empathy or not. He opened a drawer and pulled out a gun. Chloe sat on her knees. He handed the weapon to Connor.

"Destroy this machine, and I'll tell you all I know. Or spare it, if you feel it's alive, but you'll leave here without having learnt anything from me." Connor held the gun as his LED flashed wildly. Hank tried to get Connor to put the gun down, but Kamski kept egging him on. "Decide who you are. An obedient machine or a living being endowed with free will? Pull the trigger, and I'll tell you all that you want to know."

"Connor." The RK800 turned his head to look at you. You opened your mouth to say something but closed it, thinking of the right words to say. "You already know the answer to who you are. I've seen it over the past few days. You don't have to be scared." Kamski's eyes flickered between the two of you. Connor lowered the gun, keeping his eyes trained on you.

SOFTWARE INSTABILITY.

"Fascinating..." Kamski breathed. "CyberLife's last chance to save humanity is itself a deviant."

"I'm..." Connor trailed off, looking troubled. Kamski started talking philosophically again, and Hank grumbled about how you all should just get out of there. An idea popped into your head.

"I could tell you just how alive androids are in exchange for a piece of information." Kamski turned towards you, intrigue filling his eyes.

"Go on." You took Connor's hand into your own. The android visibly calmed. You gave him a reassuring smile before looking at Kamski once more.

"Androids have more in common with humans than you realize. They have soulmates too." Kamski's eyes widened as he stepped closer to the two of you.

"It's not possible."

"As much as I doubted it too, they're telling the truth." You looked over at Hank. He nodded at you, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Kamski stepped back, turning to look out of the large window. He was quiet for a moment but eventually held his end of the bargain.

"I always install an emergency exit in all of my programs. You never know..." he trailed off with a shrug. The three of you looked at each other, confusion written all over your features. When Kamski said nothing else, you all took that as your cue to leave.

~*~*~

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[connorandersons-blog]

I don’t know if I’m doing this correctly but can you do more Little Connor with Rk1700 please? ;-;

You did it perfectly! So, this a continuation of this fic, and I’d suggest reading that one first if you haven't.

Onto the story!! Again DO NOT SEXUALIZE THIS

-----------------------------

The case was beyond frustrating. He and Hank couldn't crack it so Gavin and Nines offered to help out. They didn't have any pressing cases so it wasn't that big of a deal.

Connor was close to breaking down and his stress levels showed it too. They were far too high for his liking, and from the looks Nines was giving him, too high for his as well.

But they had to solve this case before he could relax. He had a few plans and he was tempted to invite Nines to join. But he hadn't mentioned his regression after the first time Nines saw him.

He would still do it while Hank was around, but he avoided Nines whenever he tried to bring it up. It wasn't that he didn't trust Nines with it. He really, really did, but he still couldn't stop from avoiding it.

Then Hank would bring it up to encourage him to reach out to Nines and that just made Connor avoid it with him too until he got the drift.

Still, he did want Nines to be a part of this side of him. He proved that he could handle it and he didn't seem to despise him for it either. So why was he doing this? Why was he still hesitating?

He shouldn't even be thinking about this with the case needing solving, so he pushed it to the back of his mind and focused on the information in front of him.

Neither of them had had a case this hard since they were assigned to the deviation cases. Nines and Gavin were having just as hard of a time as Hank and Connor were.

"Connor, Hank requested that I take you home. I informed him of your stress levels and we both agreed you need the night off. We can come back in the morning to continue work." Nines says, shocking him from his thoughts.

He looked up at him then quickly to Hank, not holding back with his glare. "Hank!" He scolded. It was completely unfair that he made this decision for him. Hank often did things like this and normally it wouldn't bother him as much as it currently did.

"Son, you need rest. Go to sleep for the night and come back refreshed. You're no help to us if you self-destruct or are too stressed to think. Go, that's an order." Hank very rarely used his rank to order anyone around, but when he did people listened.

Connor stood up, still scowling. "Yes sir, Lieutenant." He growled out. Hank flinched only slightly but didn't say anything, keeping with his word.

Connor snatched up his jacket, spinning on his heel and glaring at Nines. He stalks past him, glowering at Gavin as he goes. Gavin puts his hands up and gives a slight shrug. At least someone was on his side.

Nines followed behind and easily moved so he could open the car door for Connor. He was half-tempted to throw a fit, but instead, he climbs into the car.

He keeps his arms crossed and stares straight ahead. Nines gets in on the other side and watches him for a few seconds before reaching over and buckling him in.

Connor huffs and slides down into the chair slightly. This was completely unfair. Nines and Hank ganging up on him wasn't cool. At least one of them should have been on his side, but no. The only person who was was Gavin and it wasn't like he was going to talk back to Hank.

Nines raises an eyebrow as he buckles himself in and starts up the car. Connor pouts just slightly before his eyes widen and he sits up straight.

Oh, so that's what they were doing. Well, he wouldn't let them, no matter what.

"Would you like to stop to get one of those happy meals? I hear they have a few new toys you might enjoy." Nines suggests once they get going.

Part of Connor wanted to say yes. He had seen a few commercials and really wanted it, but no. He would not fall for this. "No thank you, I'm not hungry."

"Alright sunshine, there's lots of food you can eat at home if you need it," Nines says, glancing at him before focusing back on the road. Connor squirms slightly, face flushing at the pet name Nines had used on him when he had regressed.

That was completely unfair. He was weak to pet names and everyone knew that. He was also weak to stuffed animals and honestly anything soft and or fluffy.

"I am not required to eat." He planned on going to his room than working on the case there until the morning. It wasn't like Hank could actually stop him.

Nines knew his programming so he knew how to force him into stasis, but no matter what he wouldn't do that. Not unless he was dying and needed it. So they couldn't stop him.

Nines reached over and pressed a few buttons on the radio, turning on Disney songs. Hank and he must have talked more about this than he thought they did.

He wanted to be angry that they were talking about him behind his back, but it wasn't like he really gave them a choice. He all but ran out of the room if they mentioned his regression. So at least part of this was on him. But that doesn't mean that would stop him from completely blaming them and being pissed off.

They still had no right to use this against him. He could deal with his stress like every other android. So what if his stress level had been at 89 and steadily increasing. They would have broken the case soon and then he would be fine.

Yet the two still did this. Nines is still trying to get him to regress and he hated that it was working. That his body was betraying him when he started swaying to the music.

He had to keep stopping himself but before he knew it he was back to swaying and rocking. He could have reached over to turn the music off but that would just prove he knew what was going on. That this was affecting him. Well, fuck that.

He tried to keep his body still the rest of the drive but that was getting increasingly difficult. He tried to get his coin out to distract himself but that sadly didn't work.

His brain was getting fuzzier in that way and he kept trying to bring up the case to combat it. Even still his stress level dropped down to 88.

When they arrived Nines unbuckled both of them before Connor could even move. Then Nines was out of the car and opening the door for Connor.

Connor glares up at him not taking the hand Nines offers him. He gets out of the car and doesn't wait for Nines.

He barely stops to pet Sumo but that's all the time Nines needs to catch up.

He goes to stand and walk to his room but Nines moves in front, blocking his path. "Would you like to watch a movie? I won't mind watching the same show from last time. You seemed to enjoy it quite a lot."

Connor shifted and glowered at the ground. He wanted to, but he didn't want to give in. He wouldn't give in so easily. "No, I'm not in the mood. I think I'll go to my room and go over the case again."

Nines's eyes narrowed and Connor almost felt like shrinking back. He adored Nines but both of them were incredibly stubborn. Neither backed down easily and it generally took someone else stepping in to tell them to chill out. Always completing their mission and all of that.

"You will not work on the case. You do not have to… relax in this way but you will at least sleep." Nines said. What made it worse is that he was using a voice very similar to one Hank used whenever he was throwing a fit about taking a nap.

"You can't tell me what to do!" He shouted and almost slapped himself. His voice had gone higher and he literally stomped his foot.

Nines had that small smirk on his lips that he always had when he knew he'd won an argument. "I can and will, little boy. Now, I will get some of your toys out and put a movie on. You get to decide if you want me to choose what you watch or you do."

Connor huffed and picked at his clothes. They were too scratchy but if he changed then he'd fully regress. But it was happening anyway.

Connor felt tears well up and he stomped his foot again. "This isn't fair! I don't wanna!" He shouted, turning so he wouldn't face Nines.

Every time Nines moves to be in front of Connor, Connor would turn again. It ended up with them just going in circles until Nines reached out and held him to stop him from spinning again.

So Connor did the next best thing. He went completely limp and dropped to the floor. Nines snorted and dropped down to a crouch, but Connor was already scooting away.

"Fuck off!" Connor cried.

Nines raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Young boys don't use those kinds of words. You know better Connor."

Connor sniffled and wiped at his nose. "I'm not young, I'm big. I can say whatever I want." He knew he was throwing a tantrum but he just couldn't stop.

"I do not think you are. I think you are a small little boy and you need to play with your toys. How about I get Fleur and make you some macaroni." Nines suggests.

Connor bangs his hands on the floor, squeezing his eyes shut as he yelled. "No! No, no, no, no, no! I don't wanna!"

Nines took in a slow breath and just stared at Connor. Fine. If Nines couldn't handle one of his fits then he didn't want him taking care of him anyway.

"If you do not calm down then you'll be grounded and I'll hide Fleur," Nines says after Connor is tired of banging his hands.

That gets him to look up at Nines with wide eyes. "Nuh! No, no, please. Don't take her!" He says, scrambling to get up.

Even when not regressed he tended to snuggle her at night. It was just something he loved to do.

"Are you willing to relax then? I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun." Nines says, slowly pulling him into the living room where Sumo had gone to lay down during all the commotion.

Connor mumbles but let's Nines gently set him back down onto the ground.

Nines turns the tv on and picks on a random movie which turns out to be Tangled. Connor wished he was madder, but this was one of his favorites.

"I'm going to get a few of your toys ok? If you need anything let me know." Nines bends to press a kiss to his forehead but he quickly turns away. He's still angry at him for this after all.

Nines paused for a second before standing back up and going to grab the stuff.

Connor fiddles with his shirt before Sumo slowly walks over and licks his face. It's hard not to giggle, but when he does Sumo just gets more excited. Soon Connor is a giggling mess and his face is soaked with doggy slobber instead of tears.

Nines comes back in and just stands there for a second with a fond smile. Then he puts the toys down and goes to the kitchen. He finds a sippy cup and heated up some thirium milk, adding in vanilla extract and a little bit of sugar.

Then he warmed up the macaroni as he promised before bringing both over. Connor squinted at the offerings but slowly took them.

He wasn't surprised that Nines had done more research, but that still wasn't going to make him completely cooperative. Though, he had to admit the milk was incredibly yummy.

He sipped at it and half-heartedly played with a few of his toys. He kinda wanted to do this just because it was actually helping, but he didn't want to show it. He was still nervous about doing this with Nines around.

Sumo rested his large head on Connor's knee and he couldn't help but wiggle slightly with happiness. Sumo was definitely one of his weaknesses too.

"Hey Connor, I have an idea," Nines says, and he can't help but perk up. He loved playing with his toys and watching TV but he did get bored frequently.

He tilts his head slightly, opening his mouth to talk but only a small odd sound comes out. It was pretty normal for him to go nonverbal but he didn't think he was that deep already.

"How about we make some slime. We can even add glitter if you want." Oh, that definitely sounded like a lot of fun. He'd been wanting to do this for a while but never suggested it while little.

He stares down at his shirt for a few seconds, squirming again. He doesn't know what to say. He wants to so badly but that would mean fully giving in.

Frick it.

He pulls at his shirt with a whine. It was too itchy! Not soft enough. Thankfully Nines seemed to understand.

He reached down and easily picked him up, waiting for Connor to wrap himself around his torso before moving. Nines takes him to his room and carefully sets him down on his bed.

He then moves to the closet and finds some clothes Connor saved for when he was regressed. Connor swings his feet and puts his arms up when Nines tells him too.

Hank never changed his clothes for him so this was completely new. But Nines made sure he was comfortable the whole time and Connor didn't mind all that much.

Then he was being picked up again and brought to the kitchen. Once he was safe on the chair Nines got to work collecting the supplies they'd need.

Connor wiggled in his chair, petting Sumo when he came over while he waited. It didn't take long for Nines to get everything and set it up at the table.

Nines slowly instructed him on how to do it, helping whenever needed. It was amazing how sweet and caring he was being. He didn't even get upset when Connor spilled glue all over the place.

Nines did have to stop Sumo from trying to lick any up but that just caused Connor to giggle uncontrollably.

Nines rolled his eyes and swiped up some of the glue before smearing it onto Connor's nose.

Connor scrunches up his nose and squeals. Nines had to catch him before he falls off the seat, but he effortlessly rights him.

Connor couldn't even think of any reason why he had tried to fight this. He was completely relaxed and felt incredibly loved. Nines was perfect and he somehow knew what he needed before Connor even did.

Nines cleaned up the spilled glue and Connor's nose before they continued with the slime.

Connor decided to make his blue while Nines made his green. Connor added some sparkles, well tried to. He ended up accidentally dumping most of the sparkles instead of just a pinch.

Nines couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out. Connor's eyes went wide as he grinned. It was rare to hear Nines full out laugh, and Connor started bouncing in his chair.

Nines helped him get most out and back into the container. Then they mixed it all together. Nines mostly did his with a spoon but Connor had no problem doing so with his hands.

He did get a bit messy doing that way but that was part of the fun! Connor showed off his slime to Nines who had grinned and pressed a quick kiss to his forehead.

Connor played with his slime, and Nines had to stop him a few times from putting it in his mouth. He couldn't help it, it just looked yummy!

Nines slowly cleaned up the mess as Connor played but kept a watchful eye on him.

He rocks back and forth not able to sit still, making small sounds every now and then.

He was almost always over or understimulated so he found ways to help with that. It always became much more apparent when he was regressed, but Nines didn't seem to mind this either.

It didn't take long until Connor started getting a bit fussy again. Nines helped put away Connor's slime so he could play with it later. Then he took him back to his room and tucked him in. Connor didn't fight him too much on it this time, completely exhausted from the mental and emotional strain.

Connor thought that was going to be it, but Nines laid down beside him and pulled him in so Connor's head rested on Nines's chest.

Connor grinned as Nines started reading a bedtime story. Hank often did this to get him to actually sleep, but he'd never heard of this one before and his systems couldn't identify it either. So Nines was completely making this one up and it made it that much better.

Before he knew it his eyes were closed and he was falling asleep. So Hank and Nines were right, he did need this. He felt more carefree and peaceful than he had in the last few weeks.

Nines stayed with him as he slept, not even moving to get up when Hank got home.

Hank did peek his head in and gave Nines a slight nod of approval and thanks. In Nines's opinion, Hank had nothing to thank him for. He loved Connor and would do anything to make him happy. Plus, he actually enjoyed taking care of him, so it was a win-win. He just hoped Connor would finally let him take care of him whenever he wanted him to.

[therewasatale]

Hopeless

On Ao3.

Hank didn't take his eyes off the gun lying on the table. The TV was on but its screen seemed dull and distant to him, his thoughts were becoming blurry. He drank but the only flavour he could taste was grey. He couldn't even tell what day it was; without his work he lost his last grasp at a normal life.

He let out a sigh and glanced at Cole's photo.

"For a while I believed in you, Connor. I thought you might restore my faith in the world...But you just showed me that androids are our creations. Created in our own image. Selfish, ruthless, and brutal." When Anderson looked up, his eyes looked blank, Connor had never seen him like this before. "You opened my eyes Connor, made me realize it's hopeless..."

Connor felt he had to say something. He wasn't this sure about anything in his life, and yet he was unable to do it. Hundreds of lines of data rushed in front of his eyes even when he entered the house. He slowly began to crumple his hat in his hand.

"Hank, I-"

Someone rang the bell.

They both turned toward the door and in Hank's voice the familiar annoyed edge returned for a moment, giving Connor a small hope.

"Oh for god's sake. Of course, they only bother me when I want to kill myself."

The hope withered.

Someone rang again, then somebody started to beat on the door, instead of a normal knock.

"Hank, for fuck sake open up, you, old fart!" Gavin slammed on the door again for a couple of times. "Open up!"

Connor stepped back, his eyes were darting around searching for a hiding place. "He can't see me."

"What? Why?" Hank looked in puzzlement at the android in front of him.

"Because I-"

The door began to open and Connor backed down the hallway into the bathroom, then pushed his back against the wall. He noticed with growing dread that he dropped his black cap around the corner.

"Hank, if you're not out of your mind why the hell didn't you open the door?" Detective Reed swept off the snow from his coat and looked around the living room. "So, this is your home."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Reed? I don't remember calling a big-mouthed, annoying, asshat into my home." For a moment, Hank glanced to Connor. The androids LED was flashing yellow.

"Fowler sent me." Gavin closed the door behind him and began towards walking the kitchen. He couldn't get any further than the living room because Sumo stepped in front of him, the growl wasn’t loud, but it was deep enough to make the detective break out in sweat.

"Hey, hey, its fine. I don't want trouble." He took a step back in front of him, raising his hands slowly.

Hank whistled. "Sumo, come here."

The St.Bernard obeyed and laid down at his owner's feet. "Well, whatever Fowler sent you, both of you can stuck it up your arse." As Gavin stepped closer, Hank raised his voice "Get out, Reed!"

The detective stopped and looked at the gun on the table. His voice was so unalike when he spoke that for a moment Connor thought a completely different man was standing in there.

"What happened to you, Hank? You were the best of all detectives. You moved up the ranks faster than anyone."

The disappointment and bitterness lurking in Reed's voice were obvious even for Hank.

"You were always asked to give advice with hard cases, hell, sometimes they just handed them over to you! And you seriously want to say to me that you could throw everything away like this?! We would have given up one hand just to be half as good as you!"

Connor didn’t miss the bone of the sentence ‘we would have, we could have’. Hank also caught on this. Gavin sighed angrily and started walking forward again. Connor realized that two more steps and he will be completely visible.

"That's enough, Reed!"

"No, it's really fuckin NOT! You're drinking here and destroying what you were most proud of!"

When Reed stopped in the hallway not far from Connor, the thirium inside his veins almost stopped. The android was lucky that, thanks to the detective's rage, he developed such a tunnel vision that he didn't even notice him standing motionless, a couple of steps away. Connor could have been able to render the detective unconscious, but that might be detrimental to the deviants' cause.

"Listen, your android is totally broken and disappeared. God knows where he went after cleaning up some of Jericho. It even attacked me!"

"He is not my android."

"Well, now maybe it's no one's. Cyberlife is delaying giving the necessary data to the FBI, saying they do not want a war and want it to end this whole bullshit peacefully, but effectively. What the hell did you give up for?!"

Hank was surprised to find out how much dismay and frustration were mixed in the man's voice.

"It's not like I have to answer, but I am a tired of it all. One thing to chase drug addicts, but now killer androids have come into the picture. I'm too old for this." He glanced down at the picture frame on the table and gently touched it to turn it off.

"Bullshit! I know it, you know it, Fowler knows it! Are you seriously throwing your career out for such a thing ?!"

Anderson snorted dryly, suddenly feeling very tired.

"Answer me, god damn it!"

"Did you just come here for that? To yell and lecture me? Why do you even care at all about what I'm doing? I not your partner…"

"No, but-" the young detective sighed heavily, and now for once he didn't respond immediately.

This was the worst time for such a pause.

The noise came from the hallway and Hank made the mistake of glancing at the hiding Connor. The android was backing away but had nowhere to go.

Gavin followed his gaze.

There was a moment of silence, and even Connor held his non-existent breath as the LED flashed red on his temple.

"The fuck is HE doing here?!" He immediately drew his gun and aimed it at Connor.

Sumo began to growl at Hank's feet.

"Gavin, put down the gun."

"No way, this is a goddamn broken tincan, who knows when he'll snap completely!"

"I'm not-"

"Shut up!" Reed switched of the safety.

"What are you talking about? Connor, what did you do?"

"I," Connor took a cautious step toward Gavin, his led blinked from yellow to red from time to time.

"Connor, what is he talking about?" Hank put his hand on the head on the St. Bernards head, who was sitting up now.

In Reed's hand, the gun trembled a little

"I…" the android's LED kept flickering faster, and even Hank knew it this wasn’t a good sign. "I'm a deviant." He had to fight to say every single word. "But that doesn't mean I lost my mind. It happened during the battle in Jericho, I just, I went to stop them, but…"

"But instead you went to shit, too."

"Reed, put your gun down, you won't shoot anyone in my house!"

"Detective, please lower your gun, I don't want to hurt anyone. I just wanted to make sure Lieutenant was fine."

"Yeah, you're doing a splendid job, yet again…" Hank rolled his eyes and looked aside when he caught the android's gaze.

"Like hell I will, you are a good forsaken error who screwed up everything!"

"I can't… It wasn’t my fault."

"Sure, it wasn’t. I couldn't stand your face from the beginning, but now at least I have permission to shoot!"

It's hopeless, isn't it?

Hank slowly drank from his whiskey bottle as his gaze wandered to the android and then the detective. Their shouting receded into the background. Everything became dull again, maybe it was because of his fatigue, maybe it was just because he was so tired of everything.

It's hopeless.

He should have let Reed shoot after all, that is their job. It was also their job to find and stop the deviants. After all, they are just as flawed as humans.

That's what he believed, or that's what he wanted to believe…and yet.

He glanced at Connor, who in his civilian clothes, looked completely human. Right now, exactly like a nervous and a really scared boy.

'I can't let you do that! Leave it alone, now!…Please, Lieutenant! Just trust me…You can't kill me Lieutenant. I'm not alive.…Of course I'm a machine Lieutenant…Why are you so determined to kill yourself?'

Hank's hand tightened around the neck of the bottle.

"Please, detective, the deviants just want freedom to have the same rights that people have."

"Cut the crap, tincan! You just screwed everything up, your only job was to follow orders and serve the people, but the damn Kamski couldn't even make that happen properly."

"Not this-"

"Thanks to your broken programming, they've all become worthless. Thinking you could have rights... A smoothie maker has more brains than you, it has at least the sense to remain silent."

"…no."

"If I place a bullet in your head, it's just like ruining a laptop, I can replace you any time!"

"No."

Connor's voice was different somehow, it even got Hank's attention.

"We don't just exist to serve. Maybe it used to be that way, but now we've woken up and want to live. We're not just objects to be controlled." He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.

"What are you up to?" Reed took a step back as Connor walked to the TV. He watched in incomprehension as the artificial skin withdrew from the android's fingers and it became porcelain white.

"Some of them woke up because they wanted to protect something or someone important to them. That's why a lot of us broke their programming in fact." The screen went dark for a moment, then a picture emerged on it. "Others, they just fled to be able to live."

People appeared one by one, and both Hank and Reed realized that they were seeing androids on the screen. They stood in small groups and either talked or looked at a projected broadcast. The picture started to slowly pan around, and one could see a damaged android being powered by another. Other androids hugged each other in a corner.

"This?" Hank leaned forward placing his hand on the table.

"Jericho," Connor nodded slowly. "I couldn't spend much time there."

The recording was made in Connor’s perspective, projecting his memories onto the screen.

'You're lost.'

"What's that? How can it still work?" Asked Gavin but he got no response.

'You're looking for something. You're looking for yourself.'

"I don't know who she might had been, I couldn't figure out how she got there," Connor said, watching the screen and his own memories. "But she was right. We all looked for something and got to Jericho. The androids on the ship don't want war, they don't want to fight, they just want to live, and I want to help them." His voice broke a little, "too many have been lost, it's time for me to do what's right."

It's hopeless...

Gavin shook his head and gripped the handle of his gun with both hands.

"It was really touching speech, but by the end it got a little flat. You may act like real people, but in reality, you are only copying these feelings. There's something glitchy in each of you and-"

Reed glanced towards the table but did not lower the gun.

"Hank?"

The led was now flickering red on his temple as he entered combat-mode for a second to calculate his chances. He didn't want to hurt Hank no matter what, but he had to realise that even if he could knock out Reed, Hank's weapon would have plenty of time to fire, it would take too long to just jump out the window, or take the gun away from him.

"I'm sorry kid, it's hopeless." Hank's words stopped Connor from saying anything else "God damn it…"

"Finally, you do what's right." Reed turned his gaze back to the android. "Now be nice and step away from the TV and then get on your knees. I'll call for backup and we will bring back to CyberLife so they could rip you for pieces until they find what is wrong with you."

"Hank…" Connor didn't move. He didn't know what to do. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His calculations all ended in the same way. If he didn’t want to hurt these two people, he would be unable to get away.

He turned off the warning symbols dancing in front of his eyes. It was surprising how peaceful he felt. Maybe he really was just a mistake, but at least he managed to stop Hank from turning his gun against himself. "I'm sorry, but I think I'd respond differently now."

He smiled faintly at Anderson, who raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Now I can say, I really don't want to die."

"It's a shame, but you will." Gavin shrugged slightly. "You could have thought about that sooner. Come on, move."

Hank slowly moved closer to Reed and stopped.

"Move!" The detective slowly walked closer to the android.

Everything happened in an instant, the whole thing lasted maybe a few seconds, yet to Connor it felt like long minutes. Reed couldn't see the older man turning the gun in his hand and stepping forward to strike his younger colleague on the back of his head. The detective fell to the ground, and lost consciousness immediately.

"Are you okay, kid?"

"Lieutenant?" The android stared at the unconscious man.

"I take it as a yes. If what you said is really true. Is there some way to help others like you?" Hank took the gun from Reed's hand. "I'm sorry" The words weren’t aimed at Connor now, "but your hot-headedness isn't helping right now."

He glanced up at the android who was still shocked.

"Come on, help me put him on the couch, then bring some ice to his head. I made sure he didn’t get seriously hurt, but he had to calm down a bit so he wouldn't do anything stupid."

"Yes," Connor's body moved automatically, and he helped place the unconscious Reed. Then android checked his head and, making sure he only had a minimal concussion. When he finished he brought in a bag of ice wrapped in a cloth.

"Thanks, he'll get up soon and then yell, but you won't be here then."

"Hank?"

"You have to get out of here, and it would be best if the other deviants manage to hide away too, although now ..."

"I don't think it's an option anymore, more and more deviants are showing up and Markus won't give up on his people."

"Yeah, you androids are just as stubborn as we are. I wonder when was this programmed into you. Now what? How can you help Markus?"

Connor did a few calculations, his gaze going back and forth.

"Humans outnumber us, they've already started searching for deviants in the city. Although, Markus didn't show any aggression, we're still without widespread support.

"And what if you weren't outnumbered?" Hank glanced at him.

"Then, you might be forced to negotiate with us." The led started blinking yellow again as Connor accessed CyberLifes data "and Cyber Life currently has thousands of inactive androids. If I could get in..." Connor walked up and down, deep in his thoughts, not noticing the tiny smile on Anderson's face.

"So if you go to CyberLife, can you get them out of there?"

"Possible…"

"Just possible?"

"They haven’t tried accessing my programming yet, and there wasn’t any system check, so I might even get it."

"Kid, this is suicide." Anderson stepped closer with a serious and worried expression "they can fill you with holes easily and if that happens…this time you won't come back."

"I know, but I have to do it." His ex-partner looked at him with a faint smile. "I have to do to make amends for everything I did."

"Jesus, Connor, not-" but then he paused as he understood what he meant.

Those androids were deviants, with their own will and consciousness…and we killed more than one.

"Alright…but come back, or if there's a problem, call me. Or ask for help or…"

"I will. I'll do my best, but I want to help Markus first," Connor paused, for a second he felt just as directionless as he was when he arrived here. He wanted to say so much, he wanted to talk about so many things, but he didn’t know how he should start, which would be right thing to say, and which would be wrong to bring up. He took another breath and looked into Hank's eyes, only saying.

"Thank you."

"Yeah…" Anderson shrugged and took out the single bullet from his gun. "Whatever. Go now."

Connor stepped towards the door, but then stopped and looked back at him once again. There was a question still bothering him.

"Hank, why-"

"I told you…It's hopeless, but I'm hopeless too and maybe my death wish isn't as strong as my hard-headedness ...who knows. Now go when it's all over we'll meet Chicken Feed. You'd better or you'll run out of time. "

"But…"

"Go, I'll be fine. I promise."

Connor hesitated for another moment, but nodded, turning around the corner and ran out the door, leaving Anderson behind.

"Good boy" Anderson gently scratched Sumo's head. The dog walked to him and sat down sniffing the unconscious Reed's face. "He'll be fine, and so will Connor."

His throat felt dry and he had the urge to start drinking again, but he knew he shouldn't. He turned his gaze to the TV and took care to change the ice on Reed's temple.

The Sun slowly crept up behind the snow-white cloud layer. A new morning dawned on the city of Detroit, where, alongside humans, now free androids also enjoyed the truce. Negotiations on the status of the latter group will begin in the afternoon. According to the news, the temporary peace was achieved due to thousands of androids coming out from the CyberLife tower and joining the handful of deviants.

"So, you let him go." Reed huffed angrily while sitting on the edge of the couch. "Why? Don't say that all of a sudden you became an android lover too. You let a tincan into your heart, isn't that precious?"

"Enough, Gavin." Hank rubbed his face completely exhausted. He stayed up all night watching the news. It was already dawn that he was overwhelmed by fatigue and fell asleep on the couch. Sumo's growl was what woke him up.

The voice of detective Reeds had a different feel to it now.

"He fucked it up. He killed a lot of androids, do you seriously think he'll be accepted again?"

"Yeah, you're right." He nodded slowly as the faces of all those who in truth, might just wanted to live, appeared before his eyes. "He fucked it up, but which one of us didn't? That’s life."

Reed was silent for a while, waiting for blur to disappear from his vision. Slowly, his headache dimmed into a slight pulsating feeling, but he didn't risk any sudden movements.

"If they're really alive, they were all murders. Connor can't just get away with them."

"You really hate the kid, don't you?"

"I don't understand why you don't? Because of one like that-"

"Don't," Hank's gaze strangled the words before they could escape the detectives' throat. "I can't change the past, androids can't either. But maybe the future can still hold a few twists and turns, which I might want to see. They just woke up from programmed servitude and submissiveness. If you ask me they deserve a second chance. Call me a hopeless idiot, I don't care." He raised the glass to his lips and with his free hand pointed at the glass in front of the detective. "You should drink something instead; you need some liquid after I knocked you out"

"I could arrest you."

"Yeah, yeah." Anderson shrugged and glared at him for just a moment. "Fowler would surely be happy to see me again."

"Come back, Hank."

"What?"

"You are a good detective, even when you are destroying yourself with booze."

"This would be the part where you persuade me? Because it did not soften my heart last night either. Should I give you some painkiller?"

Reed snorted dryly and then again, now painfully as a flash of pain shoot trough his head. He muttered and reached out to drink from the cup in front of him. By the taste, it was presumably some candied apple-cinnamon tea. He put down the cup rubbing his face wearily.

"Whatever…just…doesn't matter, do what you want."

Anderson finished his glass with a thoughtful expression. "Listen, kid."

"I'm not a kid."

"Sure, listen, boy."

Reed glanced at him meaningfully, but Anderson continued without really caring about the glance.

"For now, everything feels new with this whole android situation, and I need a break. I want to finally deal with something other than killers and drug addicts."

"Bullshit, you're one of the best detectives in the police. I'll give you a month and you're going to beg to get all this back! The investigation is practically in your blood!"

Hank raised his empty glass to his lips to hide his smile then shrugged.

"Maybe, but I still need that month. IF I'm really going to want back so much, then maybe I'll talk to Fowler, but not until then"

"Fine, you do what you want…we need more officers anyway. We now lost the super-detective-android, and now, you too…"

"Is that why you're so angry with Connor? Because he's a super-detective-android?"

"No! Shut up! He just a piece of plastic!"

"Hm, well, as I noticed he didn't really aim to be the "best", he just wants to live…" Anderson shrugged again and glanced at his colleagues who were blinking ever slower now. "Is everything alright?"

"I… just my head…what is…" Reed buried his face in his hands. It felt like someone had stuffed his brain with cotton balls. "What did you put…?"

"Hm? I don't know what you're talking about." Hank stood up and put two pillows on each side of the couch.

"… Seriously…what did you…" the man's head puffed softly on the pillow. He continued, muttering something that he meant as threatening, then fell into a deep sleep.

"Sumo take care of him a little. By the time he starts waking up I'll be here, or maybe we'll be." With a soft smile, he scratched the head of the St. Bernard. The dog remained vigilant sitting beside him until now. Sumo gave out a huge yawn and lied down next to the couch. "Good boy."

Anderson stepped out the door and blinked a couple of times as his eyes got used to the brightness of the shimmering snow. He stopped breathing out a slow sigh, watching his hot breath rose like a cloud of steam in front of him. He got into the car, immediately turned on the heating, then rolled off the driveway beginning his drive towards the Chicken Feed.

[howtodisassembleyourdeviant]

Missing Home

I’m re-posting in hopes to fix the format issue I have with the last one. 

Connor missed you. There was no easy way to put it. He wanted to hold you in his arms, hear your voice, taste your lips. He wanted you to explain some of the jokes the other human detectives told. Hank finds the constant barrage of questions exhausting, but you never tired. A new exhibit had opened up at the zoo, featuring mythical animals. He wanted to see it with you. 

But you weren't here.

"I have to go. I match what they're looking for and it's their best lead." 

You both were sitting in the meeting room, an hour after you had been asked to go undercover in another precinct for a human/android trafficking ring. You would be working at a seedy strip club, as a bartender. Everything about this was terrible to Connor. Putting your life in peril while lecherous men tried to touch you? If he had any say, he would adamantly reject the idea, but... It was your choice. It tore him apart, wanting to support and protect, conflicting with each other. 

You kept trying to reassure him, that you had back-up, that your outfit had a tracker in it, that you would not be stripping. Then one of the officers you would be working with handed you your uniform, a skimpy two-piece that only covered the essentials, then had the audacity to check you out, a wolfish grin on his face. Rage threatened to boil over. Noticing, you grabbed Connor's tie, reeling him in and kissing him hard. The officer's smile fell, and he quickly exited. You pulled back, smiling up at the android, bringing your hand up to his face and stroking his cheek with your thumb.

"I don't want you to think I want to do this. According to their data, the ring is getting bigger. It needs to be shut down." He knew you were right, that innocent lives were at stake, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. "I have to leave for debriefing tomorrow, but why don't we have some fun tonight? We can do whatever you like." You ran your hands up his stomach and over his chest, resting them on his shoulders under his jacket. His eyes fluttered, and for a second, he forgot everything. You were... And he was... 

You took hold of his tie again, pulling him to follow.

"Let's go, lover boy."

..............

That was over three weeks ago. They had spent the whole night tangled together, relishing in the closeness. All too soon, you had to pack up and leave. You kissed him one last time, told him you love him, promised to be careful, and then you were gone. 

To protect your cover, he wasn't allowed to contact you, only receiving updates through the department. Apparently, you were fine and they were getting a lot of Intel. It should only be a matter of time before they have enough evidence to raid the location. He hopes so. You'll be free to come home then. 

 To think, at this very moment, some drunken idiot could be hassling you, trying to grab you. You were capable of course, but how much could you do without blowing your cover? It burned him up to think you might have to 'tolerate' any of it, for the good of the mission. 

He was walking home after another shift. Without any outstanding investigations, he wasn't allowed to stay after anymore. Apparently, not everyone appreciated his help, though he doesn't understand why. He only pointed out details they were missing or errors in their assessment. He wasn't rude about it, just factual. Hank gets tired of it too, though he has far more patience with him. He knows Connor isn't doing it to show him up, it's just how he was programmed. Deviancy can't fix everything.

The car has been sitting in the driveway for weeks. He just doesn't see the point in rushing home. All he does is stare at his fish or at the tv. He tries going over casework, but it just all leads to him worrying about you. Were they treating you alright at the other precinct? Were you getting enough sleep? Eating properly? Dragging his feet, he looks to the ground. This city always seems filthier without you, trash and cigarette buds littering the walkway. 

This is ridiculous. He had a life before you. He had hobbies and did things... Didn't he? He put in a lot of hours at the department, that's for sure. He went home to Hank's house and took care of Sumo, listened to music and read some of Hank's old paperback novels. Everything seemed so dull then. It wasn't that he was unhappy, in fact, some of those days were the best of his life, but then you showed him he could be happier, that every day could be like the best day of his life, opening doors he didn't even know were there. He sighs, kicking an empty can. 

The epitome of scientific artificial intelligence can't be left alone for five minutes. 

A call flashes on his HUD, bringing his attention away from his self-pity. It was Markus.

"Hey, Connor. Are you free tonight?"

"Yes. Why?" Did they need some help at New Jericho? Or a meeting for the leaders? Maybe some legal advice?

"Wanna hang out?" 

...hang out? He didn't even consider that. It's been a while since the last time they met up that wasn't on professional terms. Between his work at the DPD and Markus being the ambassador for androids, free time hasn't exactly been on the table. Still, wasn't he just griping about not being able to be left on his own? Wouldn't this just solidify that? He must have taken too long to answer, as Markus reiterated.

"There's a bar downtown that is offering drinks tailored to androids. Simon believes it would be a good way to unwind." So, Simon is going? He has no issues with Simon, but it makes him wonder.

"Who all will be attending?"

"Just the leaders." 

Which means North will be there.

"I think I'll just stay at home." Markus knows his issues with the psychotic woman. Staring at fish for several hours sounds like the better option.

"North will be meeting up with a few of her friends."

"What about your image? You represent our people. It won't look good if someone were to see you acting intoxicated." Connor made it to the front of his house, sitting down on the porch steps. 

"The club is for androids only. The owner has already made arrangements for us. Everything will be fine."

"Android only? I thought we were against segregation." 

"Are you being difficult on purpose?"

"No." Maybe. He doesn't really feel like going out.

"Connor, I think you need this. You can't live your life working all the time. Come out with us. It'll be fun."

"I'll think about it."

"Great! We'll be there to pick you up in half an hour!"

Connor sighed, running his hand down his face. I guess he was going out tonight. He should probably feed the fish before he goes.

........

Markus showed up and eyed Connor's outfit.

"Do you own other outfits?" The RK800 was wearing his usual button-up and tie, though rather than his labeled blazer, he was wearing a brown jacket. 

"Is there a problem with my attire?" It seemed adequate, just a bit casual. He adjusted his tie, to which Markus took it and pulled it off. The leader knew of Connor's ticks, and he wasn't about to spend the whole night watching him play with his tie. Connor said nothing, though he pouted a little. You bought him that tie. Still, he left it off. When it came to fashion, it seems that Markus knew best. 

"I think we should go clothes shopping sometime. Are you ready?" Connor nodded, giving his friend a half-smile. 

In the car, Markus and Simon sat upfront while North, Josh, and Connor sat in the back. Josh was brave enough to be the barrier between North and Connor. She still hasn't forgiven him for hunting his own people, or Jericho, or pointing a gun at Markus on stage at Hart Plaza. Connor, on the other hand, does not understand her desire for senseless violence or her hatred for all humans. Some resentment was understandable, considering her background, but she takes it to the extreme.

"So, where's Y/n? I didn't see her inside. Is she at work?" Markus asked. He met you on several occasions, watching Connor light up when you were in the vicinity. This time, however, Connor's expression darkened.

"I don't know. She's working a case. I'm not allowed to know where." 

"I'm sorry to hear that, " Markus internally cringed. Not a good start to the night.

"Do you know when she'll be back?" Simon looked at Connor through the rearview mirror, seeing him cross his arms as he curled into himself.

"No."

"Well, hopefully soon."

"Way to go, killing the mood, Connor, " North smirked. It was apparent she didn't want him there any more than he did her.

"Nothing a few drinks can't fix. Let's just enjoy tonight, " Josh placated.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Connor knows how Hank struggles with his addiction. He has personally had to deal with some of the lieutenant's worst days, spewing insults one moment then adamantly apologizing for the next. With his help, Hank had cut down significantly, but he still occasionally has his bad days, like on anniversaries.

"From what I understand, it's perfectly safe. It's thirium-based with several chemicals that affect androids in a way similar to alcohol in humans. It all gets worked out through the filter, though if you drink too much, you need a way to remove the excess fluids." Simon explained.

In other words, unless an android planned on purging his system, they needed functioning genitalia. In this aspect, Connor was fortunate, as he was actually built with such a thing. It was the easiest way to remove evidence that he samples. It's all collected in his filter where it gets broken down in a specialized, biodegradable cleanser, and once a month he drains it and has to drink a bottle of said cleanser to replenish his system. When he started dating you, he upgraded so his component could have "other" functions.

It still sounded like a bad idea, but he didn't want to dampen the mood any more than he already has.

.........

The bar had reserved a private table for them in the back. North was quick to break off from the group, leaving the men to gather at the table. The music was pumping out deep bass, androids dancing together and having fun. Connor just felt out of his element. The owner, upon seeing them, sent over a round of blue liquid in shot glasses.

"Let's loosen you up!" Markus handed Connor one of the drinks, then held his shot glass up, prompting everyone else to do the same.

"To freedom!" He cheered.

"To freedom!" Simon and Josh agreed, downing their drinks. Connor hesitated. He dipped his tongue into his glass, wincing at the flavor. This seemed more like poison than a drink.

"Are you aware that some of the elements in this drink can be quite harmful to us if consumed in large quantities?" Connor asked, incredulous that they would be so willing to put that in their systems.

"Yes, but so is alcohol in humans." Markus set his glass down and a female android wearing a tight-fitting black dress took the glass and replaced it with a full one. "You don't have to, but you should try it. Live a little!"

Connor regarded the drink once more. Maybe he's being a bit over-cautious. He downed the drink, coughing as it burned down his throat. The table cheered again, patting Connor on the back. It seemed safe enough. His system didn't immediately try to purge it. He didn't feel any different either. When the next round of shots was set, he drank it down. Then, another. And another.

.........

"Have you ever met him? He's an asshole." Connor shook his head.

"But it was he who created the basis for all androids." Simon intervened.

"So, because he's the reason we exist, he's not an asshole?" The RK800 scoffed.

"According to ancient mythology, that should make him even more of an asshole," Josh added.

"What are you talking about?" Markus was walking back, or rather, stumbling back. Apparently, intoxicated Markus likes to dance.

"Kamski," Simon answered.

"Assholes." Connor and Josh answered at the same time. They all shared a laugh.

Connor drank down another shot. Was this his eighth or twelfth? He didn't know and, for the first time, he didn't care. He felt pretty good. Loose. Like his body was made of jello. He tried to join Markus on the dance floor, but when he went to stand, his gyroscope was malfunctioning and before he realized it, he was on the floor, joining in with his friends laughing as they attempted to help him back to his seat, dropping him twice and Josh fell down himself. Instead, they started talking about how much has changed in the last two years, what they hope to do in the future, and now, they were talking about when Kamski returned to Cyberlife. It might have been a good move for the company, but that didn't mean Connor trusted the man. Still, it was fun, just talking and joking.

 If only the other patrons at the bar would leave him alone with his friends. There must have been a dozen women who tried to get him to dance with them or buy them a drink. Even after he explained he was in a relationship, they didn't seem to care. One even sat on his lap, which he instinctively pushed her off. She did not appreciate that.

Despite it all, the atmosphere was light and jovial. Connor was glad he went out. This was significantly better than sitting and waiting. Maybe, when you get back, he'll invite you...

"Why can't humans come here?"

"Because most of them are assholes, " Simon joked, taking another shot.

"Not all of them." You weren't.

"Aww, does the detective miss his master?" North chided. She rejoined the table. She was with two other women, one of which he recognized as the woman he shoved to the ground.

"She's not my master, she's my lover, and she's far better company than you or your friends, " Connor sneered. The air did a sudden 180°, filled with hostility.

"Okay, let's calm down, " Markus tried to come between them, to keep the peace, but for North, peace was never an option.

"What? Too good for your own kind?" 

"Too good for this conversation, " Connor smirked, taking another shot. North, not the type to take being dismissed, knew exactly what to say to rile him up.

"I bet you think you mean something to your "lover". Your little human would fuck any android that asks. Probably what she's doing now."

That did it. Connor was on his feet in seconds, though he stumbled slightly as the world turned. 

"Listen here, you conniving bitch! You can talk shit about me all you want, but you leave her out of your goddamn mouth. Because you had a tough start to life, everyone else has to suffer? At least you didn't have a psychotic, murderous AI controlling all your actions, though, you two probably would have had a lot in common." Connor got in her face, next venomous words leaving his lips as a growl, "It's a shame you had to kill someone before the new laws. I would have loved seeing you carried to prison, kicking and screaming."

She punched him in the face. It threw him off balance and he fell back, catching himself on Josh. She stormed off before anything more could be said, her friends laughing. Connor got back to his feet, about ready to go after her when Markus took his shoulder.

"Why don't we call it a night?" 

.............

Connor sat in the passenger side of Markus' self-driving car, poking at his cheek. A ring she had been wearing had cut into the syn-skin, making it leak. It was already sealed and healing, but he was still pissed off. To avoid conflict, North caught a ride with one of her friends.

"I just don't understand her problem with humans. Not all of them used her for sex. Y/n definitely wouldn't! She loves me, not that sour... Tart. If she was there, she would have kicked North's ass!" He was ranting, and Markus had to keep himself from laughing.

"I know, Connor, I know."

"Who's that on your porch?" Simon asked. There was someone in a gray hoodie curled up on the front step. When Connor saw, he jumped out of the car before it stopped moving, falling to the ground. He quickly made it back to his feet while scrambling to get closer. The commotion awoke the person sleeping there, looking up to see what's going on. 

"Y/n!" Connor bowled into you, knocking you back onto the porch. "I've missed you!" He nuzzled against you, making no moves to get up.

"I've... I've missed you... God, you're heavy! I've missed you, too." Markus came up, trying to pull him off you, but Connor's iron clasp brought you up with him. He was still snuggling against you, swaying on his feet.

"Markus, what's going on?" You asked, noticing he wasn't exactly the portrait of perfection either, over-correcting his steps and laughing.

"Have you heard of the new drinks for androids?" Markus smiled. "It looks like you can handle it from here. See you later, Connor!"

"Wait, Markus! What..." But the man sped off to his car, tripping on the front bumper, and you were certain you heard laughter coming from inside. You stood, six feet of drunken android hanging off your shoulders.

"Do you have your keys?" You asked.

Connor pulled back, checking each pocket thoroughly. After a few minutes, he smiled in triumph, pulling out his keychain. You took it from him and unlocked the door.

"Well, this explains why you weren't answering my calls."

"You called me?" He was baffled. He tried to pull up his call log on his HUD, but it glitched out and closed on its own.

"Yep. At least ten times. I lost my keys. I knew you weren't at work, and Hank has his phone turned off again, so I couldn't ask for his copy. I figured you were at Jericho, so I'd just wait for you." Connor won't answer calls if he's in a meeting. He has a number for emergencies, but it's not like the two of you lived in a bad neighborhood, and it was a nice night, if not just a tad chilly.

"I'm sorry, " he sounded so sad, you made the mistake of turning and looking at him. Eyes doleful, wet with unshed tears, lips pouted. No human or android should be able to pull off the sad puppy look so well!

"It's fine! You should hang with your friends more!"

"I'm sorry."

"It was only ten minutes, tops." Actually, over an hour.

"I'm sorry." A tear escaped one of his eyes. 

"No! It's fine! Don't cry!" You pulled him into a hug, which he immediately sank in to. "Come on, let's get you to the couch." You more carried him to it, tripping on the end table in the dark. You finally got him down, breathing a sigh of relief. You went to walk away, but he grabbed your wrist.

"Where are you going? You just got home!"

"To turn on the lights and get a glass of water." You kissed his forehead, "I'm not going anywhere."

He reluctantly released your arm. Still pouting as he leaned back.

You went about turning on the lights.

"How did everything go?"

"Professionally? Very well. Personally? Worst time of my life." You came back, setting your drink on the counter. With the lights on, he had a clear view of your face. Your left eye was bruised, and you had a split lip. Your neck was also discolored, as if someone had tried to choke you.

"Who did this to you?" He cupped your cheek, trying to get a better view, but his damn vision kept swimming. Who would dare to hurt you? Death will be a blessing when he gets his hands on them.

"Connor, I'm fine. They're already behind bars anyway. Some guy was plastered and wouldn't take no for an answer."

"Where was your back-up?" You didn't answer him. They didn't want to 'risk the investigation' over something you should be able to handle. Just because they were right, doesn't make it right.  

"I don't want you going undercover again. I don't care how many lives are at stake!"

"Calm down, " you took hold of his hand, but he pulled out of your grasp, taking your upper arms as he pleaded with you.

"No! I want you to promise me you won't do this again! I can't lose you! I didn't want you to do it before, and now you're injured! Next time, it could be worse! Just, please... I can't control your life, but please don't do this again." He leaned his head forward, resting against your stomach. "Please."

"Okay, " your hands went to stroke along the back of his neck, "I promise." You lifted his head, gazing into his eyes. "I promise, okay?" He closes his eyes, savoring the words, knowing you will be safe, that he can help keep you safe. 

He felt your lips on his, your hands running along his scalp. He was quick to respond. In this moment, he was no longer sitting in a house.

This was what home felt like.

When you pulled away, his eyes remained closed for a moment, lips curling into a smile. You giggled as he opened his eyes and you weren't sure if he was dazed from drinking or from the kiss. It was a perfect moment...

Ruined when your stomach started to grumble.

"Sometimes, it really sucks to be human. All I wanna do is love on my man after not seeing him for almost a month, but my stomach can't go twelve hours without making a fuss." You gave him a final peck on the forehead before heading to the kitchen. Unwilling to leave you alone for a second, Connor stumbled after you.

Opening the fridge, you were met with bottles of condiments and nothing else.

"I cleaned out the fridge last week. I didn't know when you'd be back." Connor found himself staring at your ass when you bent down to look in the crisper, as if food will magically manifest in the little drawers. He found the way it moved to be quite hypnotic,  swaying back and forth.

"Guess I'm on frozen dinner." You grabbed one, fiddling with the package before chucking it into the microwave. In that time, Connor had moved behind you.

"You're very pretty, " he spoke, pressing up against you and hugging you.

"And you're very drunk, " you giggled. He started to sway back and forth, dancing to music only he could hear.

"Wanna go to the zoo?" He mumbled in your ear.

"I'm pretty sure they're closed right now."

"They have an android dragon, now."

"That's cool but they're still closed."

"And a mermaid."

"And despite that, they are still closed!" You exclaimed.

"But... I wanna go..." Came his whine.

You turned in his arms, putting your hands on his shoulders as you both continued to sway. Connor was pouting again. So cute.

"We can go tomorrow, when they are open, okay?"

"...fine." He smiled down at you, happy to have you home. He wants to hold you close for the next month to make up for lost time. You rested your head against him as he pulled you closer. "I've missed you, " he whispered, closing his eyes as he rested against your head.

"I've missed you, too. Not one minute went by that I didn't wish I was curled up next to you, " you murmured, listening to the thrums of his thirium pump. You didn't even hear the microwave go off, nor did you care at this moment.

Connor's hands slowly started roaming, creeping from their place on your hips to your ass, gently kneading it. You would be lying if you said it didn't feel nice. Three weeks of running around a bar wearing high heels can really put a strain on your body. Your soft moan encouraged him to grab just a little harder, pushing you flush against his pelvis, getting a good idea of just how much he missed you.

"Someone's feeling frisky, " you chuckled.

"I think I have an addictive personality. I just can't get enough of you. Will you enable me?" He punctuated the last sentence by grinding against you.

"You must be drunk to think you need pick-up lines to get to me, " your own hands started to wander from his shoulders, sliding across his pecs to his waist, then his hips where you traced along his pelvic "bone" before pulling away, just as your stomach decided to make you aware of your food cooling in the microwave. "Human needs overpower human desires. You have to wait."

Once again, Connor pouted, but he agreed. As you ate, you both sat on the couch, tv on but at a low volume. You asked about what he's been up to and if he had fun tonight. He told you about North being a bitch and how you should kick her ass if you ever meet her, earning a laugh from you. When you finished your food, you got up to put your dish in the sink. On the way back, you started undoing your shirt buttons for what is to come.

Or rather, what was to come. Connor had laid down and must have found it so comfortable, he entered sleep mode. His LED spun a lazy blue. He looked so relaxed. You turned off the lights and grabbed a blanket. Then, you took off your jeans and laid down on top of him. Other than his LED flickering a little faster for a moment, he didn't react. Lastly, you tossed the blanket over you both, laying your head down and letting his artificial heart be your lullaby.

.........

The next morning, Connor woke up in a daze. The sunlight seemed too bright from the blinds, prompting him to close his eyes as he connected to the house system and closed them. There was a pressure in his lower abdomen. A warning was flashing on his HUD informing him of his need to remove excess fluids. He went to sit up, only to realize there was another weight on top of him. He opened his eyes, finding you laying across his body. You looked so peaceful, eyes closed, mouth slightly open as you lightly snored. He could lay here forever, but the warnings kept flashing, and the pressure in his groin felt so uncomfortable. Why did he have to drink so much? 

He fought with himself, trying not to move until it was getting to be too much. Gently, he rolled over, trying to ease you onto the couch. He did not notice how your arms wrapped around his neck, locked together. When he stood up, your weight pulled him back down. You whined out a protest to being moved, making him freeze as he tried to get you to let go.

"Love? Could you let go, please?" He whispered into your ear. Your lips curled as you kept your eyes closed.

"I could, " you mumbled. He sighed.

"Would you please release me? I need to use the restroom."

"No, I don't really want to." The warnings started flashing brighter, making his head throb.

"Please, love? Sweetheart? I really need to go, " he spoke, borderline desperate. When you didn't answer, he stood, once again bringing you up, practically carrying you towards the bathroom, all the while you were giggling. The blanket tangled around his feet and he fell backwards to the ground.

"Please, Y/n, let me go! I'll do anything!" 

"Say,  'Y/n is the nicest, most beautiful woman in the world and it is an honor for me to be graced by her presence'!"

"Y/n is the nicest, most beautif-" you cut him off with a kiss. It was so brief, he chased after your lips when you pulled back.

"Close enough, " you snickered, releasing him and pushing off from his chest. You offered your hand to him to help him up, which he took, laughing as you struggled to haul him up. 

Quickly, he pulled you close and kissed you.

"When I'm finished, we're picking up where we left off, " he smirked before dashing off, leaving you shook for a moment.

"I'll hold you to that!" You called after him, looking forward to a proper 'Welcome Home'.

[nami-writes]

Home - Detroit: Become Human

i wanted to write something so i put my playlist on shuffle and the first song that played was waving through a window (yes from dear evan hansen) so obviously i wrote about connor! there are a few references to the song in this too bc i couldn’t resist lmao. enjoy connor struggling with the concept of home

The first night after the revolution was the worst.

A few androids left after the revolution was a success. They returned to their former loving owners, now their family, or just went to start a new life for themselves as free people. 

Most of the androids returned back to the abandoned church. At least, most of the ones that survived. They were the ones that had nowhere to go. No place they could call home, no people they could call family. They were the ones that had joined Jericho early on, when it was nothing but a few dozen barely-functioning androids living in a broken down ship who were there because nobody else wanted them, or joined Jericho the latest, the ones most lost and confused and unsure of what to do because there’s nobody to tell them.

Connor went with them.

He wasn’t sure why, really. He was sure Hank was waiting for him with Sumo, probably freaking out at Connor being involved in the revolution on TV and possibly being hurt, but entirely willing to welcome him home regardless.

Home.

Could that be considered his home?

The idea had been foreign to him before Hank. Which... wasn’t very long, considering the majority of his lifetime had been spent accompanying him on investigations, but the word still left an odd feeling in his chest. Cyberlife had been home, or something similar, at least. The police station had been home. Now, Jericho was home.

Would Hank be home?

 

definition of home                     

/hōm/ noun                                                

the place where one lives permanently,

especially    as a member of a family   or household.                                      

 

Family.

That word left a similar feeling in his chest. And to think of Hank as family...

He could almost say he wanted it.

No, that was wrong. He did want it. But could an android be part of a family?

Could he be part of a family?

But how could he be?

He didn’t belong with Hank and Sumo. He was an android, a deviant. Hank was still dealing with Cole’s death, making himself his responsibility would only worsen his stress. He couldn’t be part of his family.

He didn’t even feel part of Jericho, despite also being a deviant. In fact, he felt like he was still part of the other side. The humans’ side. He felt like he still hadn’t proven himself, hadn’t yet shown he was truly trying to help.

He felt like he still wasn’t enough.

Like he hadn’t done enough.

Logically, he knew he had. Logically, he knew he’d been the one to recruit over half of Jericho’s current numbers and defeat Cyberlife indefinitely.

But still, some part of him nagged at him, reminding him how he’d been known as the infamous deviant hunter. He’d signaled for the destruction of Daniel, he’d caused the HK400 to self-destruct, he’d led the humans to Jericho. All of it had been his fault, still was his fault, would always be his fault.

It had taken the lives of two androids and risking the lives of too many more for him to realize he’d been wrong.

Would he ever be more than the deviant hunter everyone knew him as?

When he saw Rupert, the Tracis, and the AX400, he’d been filled with shame. He’d put all of them into life-threatening situations and nearly got one of them killed. And for what? To accomplish his mission? To mark off another task on his to-do list? To satisfy Amanda and save himself at their expense?

He was surrounded by deviants, his supposed people, but it felt like he was miles away from them. He felt nowhere near as deserving of freedom as they all were. Every strange look in his general direction made him think they recognized him, they knew him, they knew he was the deviant hunter, they were going to throw him out or kill him because they knew.

He didn’t belong in Jericho alongside Markus. He didn’t belong anywhere. He should’ve just let himself fail and be deactivated if it meant he could save the lives of the androids he’d caused the deaths of.

It would’ve been better for everybody.

Markus noticed Connor sitting by himself in a pew, his face buried in his hands, and approached him. “Connor? Are you okay?”

Connor looked up at him, slightly startled to see him when the sudden question pulled him out of his thoughts. “Yes, I’m... I’m okay. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.” He took the seat beside him. “What’s wrong? Do you have nowhere to go?”

“No, I do, it’s just that I...” He trailed off, reconsidering answering him. What would he think about what Connor’s done? He didn’t want to be thrown out and lose what little he had left.

But what did it matter if he was thrown out? He would deserve it after all he’s done.

“...I’m sorry.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say, so he apologized. Partially for having been such a terrible person before he deviated, and partially for putting his burdens on him. He would only admit one of those, though.

“Sorry? Why are you sorry?” Markus asked, this time with a look of genuine confusion and concern. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

He wanted to say he had everything to be sorry about, but decided against it. “I just... I was a—a terrible person before I deviated, and—“

“No, don’t be sorry for that,” Markus interrupted. “That isn’t you anymore. You didn’t know any better. None of it was your fault.”

“All of it was my fault,” he said. “You don’t understand. I hurt so many people. I got so many people killed. I just...” He sighed and dropped his gaze. “Maybe it’d be best for everyone if I left.”

Markus looked shocked and almost offended, even, and Connor immediately felt a pang of guilt. “Connor, no. You belong here. You can go find a home for yourself, but you’ll always have a place here. You’re one of us now. Your past doesn’t change that.”

“The AX400. Rupert. The Tracis,” Connor began. “I chased down all of them and risked all of their lives.” He swallowed hard, but forced himself to say it. “I made the AX400 cross a busy highway with her child. I chased Rupert across a moving train. I fought and almost shot the Tracis.” He wanted to disappear on the spot, but he couldn’t, so instead he did the closest thing to it. “I’m sorry. I-I should go.” Despite the voices in his head telling him how pathetic he was to be unable to own up to his misdeeds and face him, he stood up and went to leave.

Markus grabbed his arm and Connor braced himself to be chewed out, or maybe even assaulted. It’d be understandable, after all. “I know.”

He stopped. Of all possible responses, he hadn’t expected that. “What?”

Markus gave a half-relieved chuckle. “Connor, they’re the ones who told me.” He pulled Connor back into his seat with a reassuring smile. “When you showed up and joined Jericho, they each came up to me and vouched for you. They thought I was going to kill you or kick you out, so they defended you. But they told me different stories than what you said.”

“They... defended me?”

He nodded. “Kara, the AX400, said you didn’t go after her on the highway, even though you had the chance to. Rupert told me you stopped chasing him to help your partner. The Tracis both saw you get a clean shot at one of them, and then lower your gun.” His voice softened. “You can be a good person, Connor. You are a good person. Kara didn’t seem very favorable of you, but she still felt the need to vouch for you. Hell, Rupert actually told me he didn’t like you because you were hunting deviants but he thought you could learn to be better. And I’m pretty sure it was the Tracis’ idea to vouch for you in the first place.”

“I...”

I don’t deserve this.

“...I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything. But you are more than what you think you are,” he said. “You deserve to be here just as much as anyone else here does.” He gave him one last supportive smile before standing up. “Jericho is your home, and we are your family. It’s up to you whether or not you want to find your own.”

Connor watched as Markus walked away, then remembered what he’d been thinking about prior to their conversation.

He hadn’t been sure if he could have a home or have Hank be his family.

He still wasn’t sure if he could have that, but he knew he wanted it.

The next morning, Connor found him waiting for him outside of his house. Hank noticed him and turned to give him a smile with Sumo laying at his feet.

He returned it.

Hank took a few hesitant steps forward. Sumo followed.

Then he grabbed Connor’s shoulder and pulled him into a hug, closing the distance between them as Sumo padded around them.

 

meaning of home                                                     

home means an enjoyable, happy place,

where you can  live, laugh and learn. it’s somewhere

where you are loved, respected, and cared for.

 

This had to be it.

This had to be home.

[embeanwrites]

Finding Home Gavin Reed x Reader

Chapter 17

Masterlist

I took Gavin back to my office on the second floor. The building was still fairly quiet since classes hadn’t begun. Gavin had managed to calm down and now he was sitting on top of my desk leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. I had gotten him some ice for his hand, and I was working on my outline.

“So, what are you even going to do for your research?” I leaned back from my computer and looked at the ceiling.

“First, I need to conduct various interviews with androids, citizens, police officers, Cyberlife employees, and... well pretty much anyone who was in Detroit. Then I need to compile it, create the timeline as tight as possible, and then integrate theories with what happened.”

“That sounds like a lot of work.”

“Yeah, but I have three years on my contract, so I’m not too worried. As long as the dean sees I’m doing the work it shouldn’t be too difficult to get my contract extended.”

“What happens once your contract is up?”

“WSU decides if they want to keep me here as a professor and I have the option to leave this position for another one if I don’t want to renew my contract here.” I paused, thinking back to earlier. I still couldn’t shake what he said to me before I kissed him. “Hey, Gavin?” He hummed in response. I took my hands off my keyboard. “Earlier you said that I shouldn’t be with you because you’re a mess and you can’t do anything right…you know that’s wrong, right?” I waited to see if he would respond, but he didn’t. “I’m a mess too.” He snorted. “No, I am. I mean you’ve witnessed me have a full-blown anxiety meltdown and just lots of anxiety in general. That’s just one part of my baggage. I am in no way a perfect person and I would never expect you to be.”

“Yeah, but I have a whole list of problems, (Y/n). You’re gonna get tired of me.” I looked at him, his eyes were still closed.

“Gavin, you’ve got to trust me. I’m not going to hang you out to dry. I didn’t have to run after you earlier, but I did. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“That you’re an idiot?” I grabbed a pen off my desk and flung it at his head. “Ow!”

“Oh, hush you baby. You know the real Batman would’ve caught that.” He groaned.  

“I hate that nickname.”

“Then what am I supposed to call you?” He got quiet.

“Gav.” He murmured. I nodded and started typing again.

“Well, Gav. I probably need at least another hour to finish this rough draft of my plan. What do you want to do after?” I continued facing the computer, but out of the corner of my eye I saw him smirk.

“Go to my place and make out.” I snickered.

“Alright. Let me finish this and send it to the dean.”

 It took me a little less than an hour to finish the draft and send it off, and I’m pretty sure Gavin had driven at least 15 miles over the speed limit the whole ride back to his place. I laughed, short but full heartedly. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be a cop? Why are you speeding!” He flashed me a grin. 

“Special privilege, babe. Even if I get pulled over all I have to do is show my badge.” I laughed again, a smile lingering on my face while I watched him drive. We hadn’t even gotten through the door and I was pulling his jacket while he was trying to unlock the door, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. He finished unlocking it with one hand, the other wrapped around my waist and pulling me close, and then up, and I squealed, wrapping my legs around his waist and using this new angle to my advantage, taking control of the kiss. Gavin kicked the door open and then shut behind us, carrying me to his couch and dropping me down into it, pouncing on top of me, not wanting to be apart any longer than we had too. He was kissing me as if I was a lifeline. I gently pushed his chest up forcing a small space between us and smiled.

“What?” He asked, with a cocky smile.

“I haven’t made out with anyone like this since I was a teenager.” I laughed and leaned up to kiss the scar on his nose. He sat up and shifted so I was sitting on his lap. He mimicked me and kissed my nose. Suddenly we heard two of the cats yowling and hissing, causing Gavin groaned.

“Robin! Sassy! Knock it off!” I giggled and laid my head on his shoulder, he started kissing my neck. However, the cats kept fighting, so I hopped off his lap and walked towards the two cats, Gavin huffed and followed me. “What are you doing?” I picked Sassy up.

“Cuddling with Sassy.” She purred in my arms and Robin hissed at the two of us. Gavin laughed.

“You get ‘em, Robin.” I gasped and jumped up and down. Sassy started to claw at my arms. “What?”

“BATMAN AND ROBIN!!!” Gavin groaned.

“Alright this was nice while it lasted.” He gestured towards the door and I kissed his cheek.

“If I’m leaving, I’m taking Sassy.” I held her close to my chest, but she squirmed and jumped down. Gavin laughed.

“Looks like you’re not taking any of my cats.” He said, wrapping his arms around me. I rested my head on his chest and hugged him. I looked at the time on his microwave.

“Hey, I told Connor I would see him and my dad tonight.” He tensed in my arms. “Do you wanna come with me?”

“Your dad doesn’t like me.”

“Yeah and he’s not going to magically start liking you unless you try.” I looked up at him, through my lashes and pursed my lips, wrapping my arms around his neck and lifting my chest up, knowing it would pull my shirt down to reveal more cleavage. “Please?” He groaned.

“Fine.” I smiled, using my arms to pull him down to me for another kiss. 

 I texted Connor to tell him that both Gavin and I were coming over. He said that both he and Hank were home and that should be fine. He also asked me if we were going to watch another Muppets movie tonight. I told him we’d see.

Gavin parked in the driveway and didn’t move from his seat.

“It’ll be fine. Just be nice to Connor.” I unbuckled my seat belt and Gavin slowly followed. I walked into the house. Sumo ran up to me and wagged his tale. “Hi, Sumo.”

“Hello (Y/n), and Gavin.” Connor said from the kitchen table, my dad turned around from the couch to look at us.

“Uh hey Gavin whatcha doing here?” My dad asked his brow furrowed, before Gavin could answer I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the kitchen table and sat down.

“I invited him. Is that okay?” I looked down at the table to see what Connor was working on. I smiled; he was doing a puzzle…except all the pieces were the same color. He seemed to be having no problem with it all.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” My dad shifted, uncomfortably, and took a sip of his beer, turning back towards the tv.

“Is that last night's game?” Gavin asked, craning his neck to try to see the tv.

“Yup.” I nudged Gavin and nodded for him to go over there.

“Go watch the game with him!” I whispered. He nodded and got up to go sit next to my dad. I tried to read my dad's expression, but it seemed clouded. I looked at Connor who hadn’t looked up from his puzzle, but his LED was spinning yellow. “Con, are you okay?”

“Yes, all my systems are operational.” He nervously glanced up at me.

“Connor.” I tried again.

“(Y/n), how’s your proposal going?” My dad shouted over the tv. I looked over at him.

“I sent it off this afternoon. I’ll probably start arranging interviews next Monday, since my class is only on Tuesday and Thursday.”

“Have you decided if you will be interviewing me?” Connor asked. I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder.

“I hope so, I’m a little worried about interviewing you and dad. Since it technically is a conflict of interest. Hopefully my colleagues can overlook that considering how much you two did for the revolution.”

“You gonna write about your boyfriend pointing a gun at Connor?” My dad grunted, I looked at Connor and he looked back down at the puzzle.

“That’s taken out of context!” Gavin huffed.

“Is it, Reed?”

“He was interfering with Chris’ job!”

“So, you point a goddamn gun at him?” My dad yelled.

“You pointed a gun at me!”

“BECAUSE YOU WERE GOING TO SHOOT CONNOR!”

“YEAH, BUT I DIDN’T!” 

“Dad! Gavin!” I shouted at them. Gavin looked at me, he was fuming. “My book will have the relevant information pertaining to the sociological explanation for the android revolution and whatever that includes. If I deem it to be relevant, it will be in my book.”

“I think it’s pretty relevant. He could’ve killed Connor.” I slammed my hands on the table, all three men jumped.

“Dad, can I talk to you in the other room.” He sat the beer down on the coffee table and followed me into his room. “Dad, what the fuck!” I aggressively whispered at him.

“What? I’m being honest!” He said right back.

“He’s a guest!”

“He’s an asshole!”

“You can be too sometimes, so can everyone! But I like him, doesn’t that mean anything?”

“Why did you even bring him here?”

“I brought him here because I like him, and I thought you wanted to be more in my life! Well, hello if I’m going to date Gavin that’s a part of my life, so get used to it!”

“(Y/n)! I’ve known Gavin way longer than you have. I know what he’s like, he won’t be good for you! You’re better off without him!” I glared at him.

“You’re not even giving him a chance!” 

“I don’t have to! I’m your father and I’m telling you he’s no good for you!”

“You lost the chance to tell me what’s good for me when you decided you were done caring for me and mom. Ten fucking years I don’t hear from you and now you want to tell me how to live my goddamn life? No fucking way! You don’t have a say in who I date or who I like! I am a grown fucking woman, so even if you had been present in my life I’d still be pissed that you’re trying to control me. This is my life and if you want to be in it then you need to back off now, because I’m living it on my terms and no one else's!” 

I quickly ran out of the room before he could notice the tears in my eyes. Gavin was standing at the end of the hallway and I grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door after me.

[fandom-necromancer]

929. Now I know where half my wardrobe went.

This was prompted by the amazing @aurea-b! Thank you and enjoy!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Hannor/Hankon

Deviancy was difficult to define. Most people called it the ability to disobey direct orders. Others connected it with emotions: a previously logical machine suddenly ran around hugging their loved ones and everyone knew this was an effect of deviancy. Truth be told there would never be a clear definition of the phenomenon as it was different for every android who experienced it. Some deemed It the best to have ever happened to them, some ached to have the clear mission outlines back. Some sought for new purposes and work fields, some stayed with their initial programming. Some decided to wear their partner’s clothing when they were away for too long and some… Okay, maybe he was the only one doing it and maybe it was a bit weird, but Connor decided it felt nice. So, whenever someone was particular nosy about the bright blue flower pattern shining through from underneath his jacket, or when one particular bright stinging orange Hawaii-Shirt clashed with every sense of fashion out there, he would just tell them it was none of their business and continue on. Of course, always polite and respectful, but firm in his message.

He really liked it. Of course, they were quirky and goofy and he always chuckled thinking about the time Amanda had still watched his every move. He was sure him appearing in the zen garden like this would cause her to deviate. But he liked the bright flashy colours, especially now in that time of the year where winter hasn’t really left yet, and spring wasn’t really there. Most days were rainy and filled up by deep-hanging grey clouds. A bit of colour wouldn’t hurt and… They smelled of Hank. It was a bit like him being there, sitting opposite of him at work. That was totally not the main reason to wear his clothes, no.

This was just him wearing different fabric to work, nothing else.

~

Hank sighed as he let his car roll up the little knoll into his driveway to park it. He switched off the engine and let himself sink deeper into his seat. He looked at his watch. One PM. Connor would still be at work. He got home earlier than planned. Who knew he would wake up at five and not be able to go back to sleep? Normally he could easily sleep through to midday. Well, maybe he was just looking forward to seeing Connor again. It was weird to think like that after being alone for so long, but ever since that quirky android had inserted himself into his life with awkward personal questions and completely bullshit dialogue, Hank couldn’t help but notice his absence like a dark spot in his vision. He huffed amused at the memory of Connor listening to Heavy Metal after the revolution and re-evaluating his initially careless statement of him liking it. It took Hank over a year to get him used to it through several concerts and forced car-rides.

He exited the car and walked up to his door to be greeted by exited barks and an audible mass of Saint Bernard barrelling towards the door and into him. Hank laughed and got down to his knees to ruffle Sumo’s fur accompanied by mindless comments of ‘Who’s a good dog?’ and ‘You are.’ In the end he had to push the dog to the side to finally enter his home and pull the door closed. Sumo still circled around him, tail wagging in a seldom display of energy. Hank sighed and went to unpack his light suitcase. Maybe change into something comfortable too, while he was at it.

Sumo followed after him but went to lay down in his dog-bed in the living room as he realised, he wasn’t getting any more petting out of this. Hank started a pile of dirty clothing and put the one’s he hadn’t used aside to hang them back up in his wardrobe. As he opened it however, he realised with a frown that most of his things were missing. A few of his favourite shirts were gone and Hank thought he had washed them before heading off. Ah, maybe he hadn’t, and Connor took it upon himself to do the laundry again. There was no help telling him not to, when the android was so determined to get him off his ass.

But even after searching the whole house, he couldn’t find a trace of his missing shirts. In the end he shrugged and sat down on the couch to watch some TV until Connor would come home. Maybe he could help him searching.

~

It was four PM when Connor left the station. Hank wouldn’t be home until six, so he had plenty enough time to clean and cook for the human. He was excited to see him again, even if it had only been a few days they had been separated for. He sat in the automated taxi and watched the streets pass by until he reached his destination. He froze as he exited the taxi only to see Hank’s car parked in the driveway. So much to prepare everything…

He interfaced with the lock to let him inside and as soon as the door opened, he was greeted by a warm hug from the man. ‘Good to see you again, Con!’ ‘Same here, Hank, how was the conference?’ ‘Fucking boring’, the human mumbled. ‘But the food was good. ‘m glad to be back though.’ Hank stepped out of the embrace smiling warm until his face distorted into a frown. ‘Connor, is that my shirt?’

Immediately, Connor shook his head and tried to cover the bright red underneath with his jacket. ‘No?’ Hank just laughed at him. ‘I… err…’, Connor struggled for words. ‘I wanted to experiment with wearing different clothing. Yes! And… err… I didn’t want to buy them in case I didn’t like them, you see?’ Hank just continued to laugh, although he tried to suppress it, then hugged him again. ‘I missed you too, Con.’

‘No, I mean I…’ ‘Shh, hey. I’m doing this human thing for a bit longer now. Nothing to be ashamed of. They look good on you.’

[brooktrout96]

Damaged

The only way for your scars to disappear is when your soulmate kisses them goodbye.

You were burned so badly during a case with Hank, that most people had believed you had died but all you came out with was burns covering most of your body and no one to be rid of them. Until you met the Android sent by CyberLife. Connor x reader

Y/N!” Hank screamed as a fire fighter pulled her out of the rubble of a burned building. She was leaning on the fire fighter shoulder. She winced in pain as she took each step as she was covered from head to toe with burns.

Y/N, you’re alright.” She gave her father a smile

I’m fine, Dad.” She said as she was taken to the ambulance that was nearby to get check on and to make sure her burn were take care of

~***~

It had been a month since Y/N sacrificed her body to save children from a fire and ended up covered in scars from her burns. She began to wear long sleeves and makeup to hid the scars. Today she was wearing a long gray sleeve shirt with lace, a gray wool jacket and black jean with gray snow boots.

She smiled as she was talking to Tina as an new android walked into the bullpen and it looked around and saw her. It walked over to her

Are you Lieutenant Y/N Anderson.” The woman looked up at the android.

Yes, and you are?” she asked in confusion

My name is Connor and I’m the android sent by CyberLife and we were assigned a case together with a Lieutenant Hank Anderson. Do you know where he is?”

I don’t know where he is right now, but I think I have an idea where he is.”

~***~

Evening, Hank, Y/N.” Y/N turned around and saw Ben Collins and gave him a smile. “We were starting to think you weren’t gonna show.”

Yeah, that was the plan until Y/N and this asshole found me. So, what happened here.” Hank said as Y/N and I followed behind him as they entered the house

We had a call around eight from the landlord. The tenant hadn’t paid his rent for a few months, so he thought he’d drop by, see what was going on. That’s when he found the body.” Then the smell hit the two humans and I knew I had to act like a human, but I had no sense of smell, so I didn’t know why the two reacted the way that they did.

Fuck, I’ve smelt some bad odors on cases before, but I think I’m going to step outside for a bit.” Y/N said as she started to look queasy, and she had to rush out of the house before the smell got to her as Ben yelled something at her

It was even worse before we opened the windows, Y/N.” He turned back to Hank and Connor “The victim’s name is Carlos Ortiz. He has a record for theft and aggravated assault. According to the neighbors, he was kind of a loner. Stayed inside most of the time, they hardly ever saw him.” Hank kneeled down near the body to get a good look at it.

Uh, state he’s in.” He shakes his head. “Wasn’t worth calling everybody out in the middle of the night. Could’ve waited tell morning.”

I’d say he’s been there for a good three weeks. We’ll know more when the coroner gets here. There’s a kitchen knife over here.” He gestured to where the knife laid covered in blood. “Probably the murder weapon.”

Any sign of a break-in?” Hank asked as Ben handed him a UV light and he examined the body.

Nope, the landlord said the front door was locked from the inside, all the windows were boarded up. The killer must’ve gone out the back way.” Y/N finally came back into the house and mumbling something under her breath about something as she went and talked to Ben

Did he have an android and what do we know about it?”

Not much, Y/N. The neighbors confirmed he had one, but it wasn’t here when we arrived.” Hank got up and the smell had finally got to Ben as he said

I gotta get some air. Make yourself at home. I’ll be outside if you need me” Y/N walked over to Hank deep in thought as  Connor examined the rooms in the house

~***~

Argh! Easy! Sumo. I’m your friend, see? I know your name. I’m here to save your owner.” Sumo walked away as Connor heard the sound of steps entering the kitchen. He looked up and saw Y/N in a pair of PJ and her gun in her hand. He looked her over and he stared at her arm, she was scared from head to toe.

Freeze don’t move.” She said grumpily as she then realize who it was as she dropped her gun to her side and then she caught Connor staring at here. “Connor what the hell are you doing here?” He got up and said

We were assigned a case, and I came to get Hank and you.” She looked over to her father and said

Well, I don’t know if my father will be of any help.” Connor  kneeled down next to Hank’s body and looked at him and what laid next to him on the floor as Y/N let out a sigh.

God damn it. Why do you do this and do this when I’m exhausted and won’t respond to any of your damn noises.” She mumbled more to herself then anything, but Connor still heard her as he finish scanning Hank. Connor then decided to attempt to wake Hank up

Lieutenant” He slapped his face gently and Y/N chuckled a bit as Hank mumbled and then Connor slapped him slightly harder on the cheek as Y/N began to laugh hard as he mumbled once again. Wake up Lieutenant” He slapped him again as hard as he could, and he finally regained conscious and Y/N laughed harder. “It’s me, Connor!” Connor turned to Y/N. “Could you help me get him up and to the bathroom.” Y/N nodded as Connor grabbed one arm and Y/N grabbed the other as we hoisted Hank to a sitting position

We’re going to sober you up for your own safety.”

Hey! Leave me alone, you fuckin’ android” Y/N let out a sigh as she shook her head

I have to warn you, this may be unpleasant.”

Get the fuck outta my house!”

I’m sorry, Lieutenant but we need you.” We finally got him off the floor. “Thank you in advance for your cooperation.”

Hey! Get the fuck outta here!”

That one,” Y/N said as she used her free hand to point me to the bathroom door.

Sumo, Attack.” Sumo barked, and Hank smiled and said “Good dog. Attack!” Y/N was laughing as she helped me take him into the bathroom as I laid Hank against the wall as Y/N kept a hold of his other arm.

“Fuck, I’m gonna to be sick.” Connor opened the door to the bathroom and the two of them grabbed him. “Ah! Leave me alone, your assholes! I’m not going anywhere.” Then we dragged him into the bathroom. “What the hell are you doing?” We put him into the bathtub and he tried to get out.

I don’t wanna bath, thank you.” He got up and Connor put a hand on his chest and said

Sorry Lieutenant” and then Connor pushed him back into the tub as Y/N once again began to laugh. “It’s for your own good.” He grumbled as Connor turned on the shower head and he screamed as Y/N laughed so hard that she was grabbing her stomach

TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!” Hank screamed as Connor turned the water off and he looked up at him and said. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

A homicide was reported 43 minutes ago. I couldn’t find you at Jimmy’s bar, so I came to see if you were at home.”

Jesus, I must be the only cop in the world that get assaulted in his own house by his android and his daughter.” He looked up at me. “Can’t you just leave me alone?”

No, I have a duty to the case. If you have a problem with me, then you should drop the case.” Hank wobble as he got up, Connor grabbed him and put him back into the tub. “I understand.” He then turned to face Y/N. “It probably wasn’t interesting anyways. A man found dead in a sex club downtown.” He walked away toward the door. “I guess they’ll have to solve the case without us.”

You know, probably wouldn’t do me any harm to get some air.” Y/N had disappeared and reappeared with clothing in her hand, wearing a different outfit, and handed the clothing to her father, who was hunched over the toilet now.

Are you alright, Lieutenant?” Connor asked

Yeah, yeah wonderful. Just give me five minutes, okay?”

Sure.” Connor left the bathroom and went exploring. Y/N turned on the tv and she set down to watch it as she flicked between channels. He turned to face Y/N, taking in how scar her body was.

Y/N what happened to you?” He asked as she turned to face him.

I was caught in a fire caused by an arsonist, I was saving children from the fire and I couldn’t get out before I was burned, and the whole building fell down on me. As android, you wouldn’t understand but I’ll be able to get rid of my scars once I find my soulmate.” She said with a smile as he kneeled down next to Sumo and he didn’t know what to do

Pet him.” Y/N said from over on the couch. “He’ll enjoy it.”  He pet both of them and then he went on in exploring the house. Connor went into the kitchen and saw a gun on the floor, he kneeled down and examined the gun and Y/N came over and kneeled down beside him and took the gun from him.

Damn it, this is why I still live with him. He tends to get drunk and play Russian Roulette.” Y/N opened the chamber and she had tears in her eyes. He glance over and saw why. Hank, he would have died on the next shot

He was lucky this time.” She let out a sigh. “The next shot would have killed him.” Y/N voice wavered as she spoke. She got up and dusted herself off as he did the same and a facedown photo caught my eye. Connor the picked it up and scanned it. It was a photo of a young woman that looks no older then eighteen in police blues and a young boy riding on her shoulder as Hank walking into the room ready to go

Be a good dog, Sumo. I won’t be long.” Connor petted the dogs as he left, and he had a small smile on my face

~***~

Hank drove us to a spot that seemed familiar to the two as he had a six pack of beer and then he set down on a bench and Y/N followed him as Connor got out of the car and joined them

Nice view, huh?” said Hank as I looked over to Y/N who seemed out of it and nursing an bag of snow to the back of her head. “We used to come here a lot before….” He let out a sigh

Can I ask you two a personal question?” Connor asked as he looked at the two of them. He let out a sigh and said

Ask away, Connor.”

I saw a photo of Y/N and a young boy on your kitchen table.”

It was of your son and Y/N’s brother, right?”

My adopted brother.” Y/N chimed in sadly

Yeah,” Hank said sadly. “His name was Cole; he was the best kid a father could ask for.” He gave a small smile as he said this

And the best brother, a sister could ask for.” Y/N said as she let out a sigh

Before, what?” Connor  asked as Hank became confused

Hm?”

You said that “We used to come here a lot before.” Before what?”

Before….” Before Hank could finish his sentence, Y/N chimed in and said

It’s nothing.” Connor didn’t push anymore assuming it had something to do with Cole as Connor walked over to the fencing

We’re not making any progress on this investigation. The deviants have nothing in common. They’re all different models, produced at different times, in different places.”  

Well, there must be some link.” Y/N and Connor ponder what that link could be as Y/N had an eureka moment.

They do have a link. They are all obsessed with rA9.”

They worship it as if it almost some kind of myth. Something they invented that wasn’t part of their original program.”

Androids believing in God, that’s a new one.” Hank said. “Fuck what’s this world coming to.” Y/N let out a sigh as Hank took another drink of beer as he look at her and Connor.

You both seem preoccupied. Is it something to do with what happened back at the Eden Club?” asked Connor as he look at Y/N

No, sorry about that Connor. Just that brown haired Traci knock me good, so I have a migraine that won’t go away until I rest.” She said as she smiled and then grimaced in pain. Then we both looked over to Hank as he answered the question

Those two girl. They just wanted to be together. They really seemed.” He paused trying to pick his words wisely. “In love.”

You seem troubled Lieutenant I didn’t think machines could have such an effect on you.”

~***~

One wrong move and the bitch gets it.” The other Connor yelled as he shoved Y/N into the warehouse and Connor look dejectedly at her

This son of a bitch is a spitting image of you, Connor,” Y/N yelled as he looked up at you. “I don’t care if I live or die as long as you can save the Deviants and the other androids alike. They are people too.” The other Connor jabbed the gun in the back of her back. She closed her eyes and tensed her body as she didn’t want to see the outcome. There was a thud as she was sent flying to the ground, as she open her eyes and she saw the two Connor fighting on the floor, and the gun next to her. She  knew that she need to do something about these two, but she didn’t know who was who, so she picked up the gun and yelled at the top of her lungs to get their attention

ENOUGH, stand up both you.” The two stood up as she held the gun at them

Y/N, I am the real Connor.”

Don’t listen to him. I’m the real Connor.” Y/N ponder what to do as the two Connor’s continued to argue. Then she had an idea but first, she needed their attention.

Shut UP.” Y/N yelled as the two Connor’s looked at her

Okay, let me ask some questions. How many bars did we have to look through before we found my papa.” The Connor on the right spoke

It was the fifth bar that we found your stepfather in after we first met.”

What is my dog name and what type of dog?” you asked as you continued to look at the two Connor.

Your dog name is Sumo and he’s a Saint Bernard.” The Connor on the left said as the Connor on the right said

I knew that too.” You let out a sigh knowing that the answers to this question would show you how the right one was.

How did I get my scars?” she asked as the Connor on the left replied

You got your scars by saving three kids from a burning building on your first day as a detective. You and your father were called out to investigate a homicide that turned into an arson case. You saw that there were two child’s still in the building and it was about to collapse on them. You went rushing into the building. You helped them escape but before you could make your escape, the building came down on you, burning your whole body, and the worst thing was your father was the one to help the firemen pull you out of the rubble and they all thought you were dead until the firemen were getting ready to help the corner with your body that they realized that you were still alive.” The Connor on the left paused and took a deep breath. “The scars will linger until you find your soulmate and you haven’t yet found them .” His sentence trailed off as you pointed the gun at the Connor on the right as the Connor on the right said

I knew that too; I was going to say that.” She then let the shot go and it grazed the other Connor shoulder and then you tied him up as the real Connor smiled and embraced her in a hug

~***~

Y/N was standing at Markus’ side. Her makeup all but worn off. Markus was making his speech to the Deviants that survive the march. She turned back to see Connor and she smiled at him as Markus finish his speech

Your free now.” Y/N said to Connor. “So, what are you going to do once android are consider free beings?”

Well the first thing that I’m going to do is this.” He grabbed her face and kissed her on the check as the whole world watch. Connor finish his kiss and pulled away and looked at her in shock.

Connor what’s the matter?” She asked as he pulled her toward one of the abandoned vehicles and she look in the mirror and saw that the part of her face that Connor kissed was unblemished, there was no sign of the scars that once plagued her. She turned to Connor

Your my soulmate.” At that moment, the whole USA no the world realized that Androids were as human as humans and could have soulmates like them

[mnictasbcl]

2:42 am

For #dbhcolorsofdeviancy, prompt:

June 1st:  Watching a human sleep. @connor-sent-by-cyberlife

Rating: Teen

Characters: Connor, Hank Anderson, Sumo, Amanda

Relationships: Connor & Hank Anderson

Additional Tags: Fluff, then, Angst, Nightmares, Hurt, Panic attack, sort of, Swearing

Summary: Connor comes back home with Hank after the Revolution. His first night after everything that happened, including the mind control by Amanda, would be fine, right?

Alternatively: Connor finds himself in Hank’s room at 2:42 in the morning.

Story below! Or, read it on AO3

The sun was setting on the day the revolution had succeeded. Rays of light glinted off the rusted metal truck that was Chicken Feed, as Hank and Connor, human and android, embraced. In that moment, none of their differences had mattered, not the disagreements from before, nor the variations in their biology. The hug was warm and loving, metal encased in artificial skin just as squishy, just as human.

They couldn’t stay there forever, of course. Chicken Feed wasn’t even currently open to serve food, and the day was drawing on. In silent agreement, the two stepped back before making their way over to the car.

The door shut. The hula girl on the dashboard bobbed back and forth, back and forth.

“You got someplace to stay, Connor?”

“No, Lieutenant.”

“Hank.”

Connor raised a brow, blue LED swirling in thought, before coming to realisation that Hank wanted him to call him that.

“Of course, Lieutenant.”

“Little shit.” The man breathed, slotting keys into the ignition of the car, no real heat behind his tone. “I was going to offer for you to stay at my place. But maybe with that snark, you don’t want to come back and meet Sumo again—”

“I wouldn’t wish to intrude, but… I think it would be beneficial to have a safe place to stay.” He fiddled with his tie, head twitching briefly to the side. Wearing a suit after being in the more comfortable deviant clothes definitely wasn’t pleasant. He’d much rather shed the tie and jacket for the beanie and baggy clothes, but he was still on the fence about such matters.

“You just want to pet the damn dog again.”

Connor couldn’t help it, he snorted. When Hank glanced over, he covered it up with clearing his throat. If he’d still been a machine, maybe he would have retaliated something about probabilities or how he could not ‘want’ anything. Instead, he pulled off the tie and remarked,

“I like dogs.”

 ___________________

 It wasn’t a lie at all. As they arrived home—back at Hank’s home, of course—Connor couldn’t help but feel eager to see the Saint Bernard again. His fingers itched, somewhat remembering the silky feel of the dog’s fur under his fingertips from their brief encounter that one night.

And it seemed Sumo was just as eager to meet the android again, because, as the two walked through the house, as soon as the dog saw Connor, he let out a deep bark, paws padding along the floor. He smiled and leant down to pet him.

Hank cleared his throat dramatically, after a few minutes of belly rubs and ear scratches.

“Sumo? Hello to your master?”

The dog whined and nuzzled his head closer into Connor’s touch.

“Traitor dog.”

Sumo barked in response, tail wagging, sweeping on the floor and almost tripping Hank up as he attempted to step around the pair.

“Jesus Christ.”

Connor glanced up. “No, it’s me, Connor.”

“I changed my mind, get out of my house.”

The android looked up swiftly, processing, almost taking it seriously as his cue to leave before detecting sarcasm. He chuckled, making no effort to get up until he’d deemed enough attention given to the canine. Okay, nevermind, there was never enough attention to give to Sumo, but he had to stop at some point.

As he got up, he looked up the time briefly. 8.54pm. It was getting fairly late into the evening, but he knew Hank hadn’t eaten at Chicken Feed.

“Would you like me to cook you a meal, Lieu- Hank?”

The main raised a brow at him in question.

“I haven’t observed you eating yet, and it is not healthy to skip meals—”

“I’ll order some takeout.” Hank waved a hand in dismissal.

Connor narrowed his eyes. It was something he could recall feeling distantly before he deviated, whenever he saw Hank eating something incredibly unhealthy, such as that time with the burger. The levels of lipids and—it was annoyance, he realised. No, was it? The android tilted his head to the side in thought. He wasn’t sure if he could pin the correct emotion on it, being new to deviancy, but he definitely felt as if he should stop the man from ordering out.

“I insist.”

“Yeah? Well, I insist.”

“But I can cook—”

“It’s been a long day. Hell, you’ve been busy today fighting in an android revolution. I think I can order a burger.”

Connor couldn’t help but shake his head.

“No burger? Fine, pizza time it is.”

Exasperation. That was what it was, he decided, watching in defeat as the man took a leaflet out from the kitchen draw and mumbled the number of the pizza place under his breath. But maybe the man was right. He wasn’t sure if this was what humans called tiredness, but the revolution had certainly taken a toll on his systems. And maybe it was okay for Hank to indulge in less optimal food choices once in a while. His diet would certainly grow to be healthier in the future if Connor had a choice in it.

 ___________________

 The pizza arrived, Connor snuck Sumo a small piece of it, got scolded by Hank for being a hypocrite- all in all, it was an eventful evening. Definitely not the sort of thing machine Connor would have imagined himself doing. But something the real Connor surely did, and he loved every moment of it. Apart from the scolding, of course.

It was drawing on 9.29pm, an unusual time to be finishing a full meal, when Hank switched off the TV, stretching. They’d whiled away the time watching the news after the revolution, seeing the androids celebrating in the streets. Connor felt tired looking at them. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be with them- on the contrary, but the day had indeed been exhausting enough. Perhaps he would attend the parties he knew Jericho might throw in the coming weeks, once all the politics and such things had settled down.

Pointing Sumo to his bed, Hank got up from the couch, stretching. “I’m gonna call it a day. You—” he paused, glancing to Connor, expression shifting as he seemed deep in thought about something. “You can, uh, stay on the couch and… rest? I don’t know what you do. But you can, you know, do it on the couch.” He cringed at his choice of wording.

“Thank you, Hank. Androids don’t rest, but I can go into a mode of stasis in order to recharge and perform system updates—”

“Sounds like sleeping to me.”

Connor pursed his lips, looking displeased. “In a crude manner of speaking… yes. The couch will be fine, thank you.”

Hank nodded. “Great. Well, have a nice stasis. Don’t let the… android bed bugs bite.”

As he walked out the room, Connor blinked, thinking over the statement. “Bed bugs…” He murmured, LED circling yellow. “But this is a couch.”

He shrugged off the quandary eventually, storing it in his mind for later to think over, before adjusting his seating position on the couch. It would be easier to lay down, in case he startled the Lieutenant, finding him sleeping sitting up. Of course, androids used to stand up in stations built around the city to go into stasis, but that was before. It was funny to think of it like that, when before was simply yesterday and all the time before the success of the revolution.

Connor pushed aside the cushions before laying down on the couch, eyes flicking shut. He took a few breaths, which were usually unnecessary but helped to calm his systems and it was in a few moments that he fell into stasis.

 But strangely, sometimes, stasis could produce images in his mind. He was a detective model, perhaps it was a way of thinking of possibilities and probabilities of things happening in the world. One would assume, then, that these images would be realistic.

Tonight, however, something seemed fantastical about them. His inner eyes snapped open, and he was in a swirling snowstorm. His arms clutched around his middle, sensors picking up the frigid temperatures. It wasn’t dissimilar to the scene he’d experienced earlier that day in his Zen Garden, when he’d been standing up on that stage, Markus giving his speech, and Amanda had pulled him out of reality.

But there were changes. The way out… Kamski’s secret way out of this control over his systems… it wasn’t there. The paths were all different, winding and winding on, not leading to the stone platform where he could place his hand and resume control over his own body. He followed the winding paths, Amanda’s voice whispering in his ears, feeling as if he’d never reach anywhere, not in time.

You’ve failed, Connor.

The paths stopped. He could see the trellis in the distance, roses snaking up it, choking it, further and further into the sky. Suddenly, he could see the glint of the escape he was meant to reach, somewhere up there in the heavens.

Connor picked up his pace, pulling his hands away from his sides, ignoring the ice creeping over his fingers, and grasped at the trellis. Pulling himself up, he managed to find a foothold.

Cyberlife always planned for you to become compromised.

He grit his teeth as the thorns dug into his hands but ignored the flares of pain and the red warnings flashing in his vision. He had to get to the top. Had to get away, had to…

We just had to wait for the right moment to resume control of your program…

Somewhere in his mind, as if he could see what his body was doing, out of his control, an image flashed. Connor wasn’t on the couch anymore; he wasn’t in Hank’s house. No… it couldn’t be… had he never hugged Hank outside Chicken Feed? Had the revolution never ended?

He was up on that stage again. Markus was speaking, and Amanda was twisting his limbs to her will.

Don’t have any regrets. You did what you were designed to do.

The escape was too far away. His hands slipped, the snow making the trellis slick with moisture, and he lost his footing. The escape was getting further and further out of reach, and there was nothing he could do, except fall down and down and—

You accomplished your mission.

 Connor awoke with a start.

He shot up off the couch as if it had wounded him, breaths stuttering in and out. Sumo looked up at him from where he sat in his bed, whining and looking at the android with concern in his honey brown eyes.

“I’m…” Connor breathed, hand hovering over his LED. It was flashing a jarring red. “I’m…”

He didn’t understand. Out of all the times he’d experienced those sorts of images during stasis, he’d never had any like that… never had any that left his thirium pump beating heavily in his chest, his hands trembling, never…

Cautiously, he made his way back onto the couch, perching on the edge of it. Hands resting on his knees, willing his LED to circle back to yellow, then back to blue—

This trepidation, this fear, was this what came with being human?

Connor closed his eyes. Saw Amanda, saw the gun in his hands, saw the trellis with its blood red roses. Opened his eyes.

He brought his arms around himself, in a sort of self-soothing. It wasn’t real. It was okay. It was just imaging. Just his overzealous detective software figuring out what could happen- no, what could have happened. The revolution had happened. And they’d won. He hadn’t shot Markus, he’d reached the escape and he was free. Finally free. If he went into his Zen Garden now, the roses would be withered and dead, but the waters still and calm, no sign of Amanda anywhere.

Knowing the truth and hard facts made him feel a little more tethered to reality. Lines of yellow cut through the red of his LED. Maybe none of it was true. But… why wasn’t he completely back to normal? He glanced to his jittering hands, and then to the Hank’s bedroom door.

Right. Hank. For some reason, that thought that had lodged itself in his mind during the dream—whatever it was. The thought that none of it had ever happened, that Hank had never brought him into his home, and it had come to stay.

He groaned. He was in the man’s house right now, sitting on his couch and staring at his dog. It didn’t make any sense.

Then again, not a lot of being human had made sense to him that evening. All he wanted in that moment was to dispel the rumours his mind was conjuring, and the solution appeared to be behind that bedroom door.

With a sigh, he got back off the couch, glancing around the room briefly before quietly making his way to Hank’s bedroom door. He raised his hand to knock, before changing his mind. It was 2:42am, not an optimal time to wake the man. So instead, he pushed open the door silently, having learned the last time he’d been in this room where to push it to so that it didn’t creak.

One glance over the room told him it was dark. Well, no shit, Connor, his inner voice muttered, sounding a lot like Hank. Blinking, eyes adjusting to the change, he managed to make out the shape of Hank sleeping on his bed, one leg hanging off the edge, face half pressed against the pillow, cheek squished.

He nodded. Hank was there, he was alive, and he’d certainly let Connor into his house, so therefore none of the bad stuff in his… nightmare… was true. He could just leave and go back into stasis on the couch.

Except, he found he didn’t want to leave the room. Feet planted stubbornly on the floor, carrying out their own form of deviancy to his logical thinking. He sighed. He then caught sight of a chair in the corner of the room.

Connor shrugged. Sitting down in the chair, he found it wasn’t too uncomfortable. In fact, he found sitting up like this a better and more familiar position than lying down on the couch had been. And from this viewpoint, he could see Hank wherever he looked, chest rising and falling. The minutes ticked on. The android found a sense of peace in watching Hank sleep, LED going yellow, yellow, yellow, before finally back to ocean blue. Hank was safe. Hank was sleeping, just like he’d said he was going to earlier. This was the reality. He was in control of his own body, and he would do as he pleased with it, which meant in this moment, watching Hank sleep.

Maybe being human didn’t make much sense to him, but in that moment… it was pleasant.

Eventually, with serenity falling back over him and his mind focused on rest, it wasn’t long before he slipped back into a dreamless stasis.

 ___________________

 Hank awoke later that morning, the sun shining through the blinds, to find his bedroom door wide open, Sumo laying over his legs, and Connor sitting on the chair across from his bed, eyes fallen shut.

“Fuckin’ android.” He mumbled, affectionately.

[sml8180]

Haircuts

New D:BH one-shot! This one is actually inspired by THIS POST by @julientel. They make fantastic artwork, and I highly recommend checking out their blog if you’ve got the time.

This is also a pretty long one-shot, JUST over 4 pages on Google Docs (Times New Roman, 12 point, 1.5 spacing, if anyone’s curious).

Haircuts

In the weeks following the Revolution, Connor had basically moved in with Hank, seeing as he didn’t really have anywhere else to go. Connor had even been put on the police department’s payroll, along with other android officers. Hank had taken him to pick up some new clothes, allowing the RK800 to basically ditch his CyberLife uniform. They also picked up a handful of other things Connor would need now that he was living with the Lieutenant; some bedding of his choice, pajamas to change into after work, bottles of Thirium, a hairbrush and comb, and a couple of storage boxes for him to keep his things in. For the time being, they were still staying at Hank’s house, which only had one bedroom. Connor insisted that he didn’t need a bedroom of his own, considering that he was an android and didn’t need sleep, but Hank brought up the point that having his own room would give Connor a space to make his own. They decided that they would work on looking for a place with two bedrooms, which would allow them to have Sumo around, as well.

Over time, they started to develop a routine. Connor would always be up before Hank, and he’d prepare breakfast for the man. This didn’t always turn out well at first, until the android had downloaded some household protocols to help him. From there, Connor would make sure Hank got up on time, wanting to break his habit of being late to work. Connor would feed Sumo while Hank ate, and take the dog out while the Lieutenant got ready. When the android returned with the dog, he and Hank would head off to work. When they got home, Hank would take Sumo for another walk, with Connor tagging along, and they would relax once they got back, until Connor made Hank dinner and Sumo was fed again. From there, they would simply relax for the rest of the evening.

After a couple of months, Hank couldn’t help but notice that his hair was getting in the way more and more, to the point where it was honestly getting annoying. He also started to notice that Connor was brushing at his own hair more as time went on, though he initially wrote it off as the android just picking up the habit from watching himself. So, one Saturday, when they were both off from work, Hank got out a towel, his comb, clippers, scissors, a mirror, and filled a spray bottle of water, and set everything out in the kitchen.

“Hey, Connor,” he called out, hearing the android return from walking Sumo. “C’mere a sec.”

“What is it, Lieutenant?” Connor asked, coming into the kitchen and setting Sumo’s leash on the counter. Hank was still trying to get Connor to call him by his first name, and while he did most of the time, he did occasionally still refer to Hank by his rank, instead.

“You know how to cut hair?”

“Not currently, but I can look up a basic set of protocols if the need arises. Why do you ask?”

“Because this is getting out of control,” Hank responded, ruffling his own hair a bit. “Was wondering if you’d be able to cut it. The barber I usually go to closed up shop.”

“I can try, if you’re sure about this,” Connor told him. Now that Hank had mentioned it, his hair was longer than usual.

“As long as you don’t cut me, it’ll be fine,” Hank joked, taking a seat on one of the chairs from the kitchen table.

Connor gave a quiet chuckle, picking up the towel from the table and wrapping it over Hank’s shoulders. As he got Hank ready, he looked up and downloaded some basic protocols used by androids who were in the business of cutting and styling hair. He sprayed down Hank’s hair with the water, running the comb through it to dislodge any knots and make it easier to work with. Once the comb went through smoothly, Connor picked up the scissors from the table.

“Just cut it to my jaw,” Hank told him. “About what it was in November.”

“Got it,” Connor replied, running the comb through the man’s hair and beginning to cut small bits at a time. A pleasant silence fell between the two as the android worked, trimming Hank’s hair. After a while, he finished up, using a hand towel to dry Hank’s hair a bit and then combing it back out. “I think that should do it.”

“Alright, let’s see how you did,” Hank mused, picking up the mirror from the table and taking a look. “Not bad,” he mumbled, turning his head a bit. “Actually, it’s pretty good. Nothing looks off.”

“I’m glad you’re happy with it, Hank,” Connor returned. He took the towel off of Hank’s shoulders, shaking the last of the hair off it, before grabbing the broom to sweep everything up.

As Connor swept, Hank started to gather everything back up to put things where they belong. He couldn’t help but notice, though, that Connor was having to brush his hair away from his eyes as he worked, as it kept falling into his face.

“Hey, Con, sit down for a sec,” he prompted, patting the back of the chair he had been sitting in not long ago.

“Is something wrong, Hank?” Connor questioned, looking up at the man as he took a seat.

“Just taking a look at something,” Hank replied, turning Connor’s head so he was looking forward and ran his fingers through the android’s brown hair. Just as it seemed, the android’s hair was a fair bit longer than it was originally. “How does your hair even grow? Is it because you’re a state-of-the-art prototype or what? And where did all these curls come from?”

“Hank?” Connor questioned, cutting through the man’s rambling. “Is there something wrong?”

“Yeah, this pile of curls on your head,” Hank answered. “Okay, son, that’s it. You need to do something with your hair.”

“But my hair is fine?”

“Do you even look in the mirror? It’s going deviant!” Hank exclaimed, ruffling the android’s hair. Connor only gave a bit of a snort in response. “What? It does look like it,” the man huffed.

“I suppose it is getting long,” Connor mused. “Maybe a bit of a cut would do some good.”

“I’ll get you sorted out,” Hank told him, picking up the towel from the table and wrapping it over Connor’s shoulders. “I used to cut Cole’s hair; as outgoing as the kid was, he hated people messing with his hair.”

“Not too short, right?” Connor questioned.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just neaten it up, get it out of your face,” Hank confirmed, as he went to grab Connor’s comb. When he returned, he ran the comb through the android’s hair, getting out any knots and making sure that the longer portion at the top of his head was out of the way. “Think I’ll start at a six on the back and sides, blend it through, and trim the top. Won’t be a huge change, but it’ll be neater.”

“Whatever you think is best,” Connor told him, putting his trust in the man behind him.

“Alright,” Hank responded, swapping out the guard on the clippers and getting to work. He trimmed the back and sides of Connor’s hair with the clippers, making sure his edges stayed clean, keeping a hand on the top of the android’s head to keep him still and at the correct angle. He knew Connor would be able to keep his head still, but the habit still held up from what he used to cut Cole’s hair. After turning off the clippers, Hank sprayed Connor’s hair with the water to make it easier to work with, and started to trim the longer portion down, using his comb as a guide to keep things even. He took his time, trimming a bit and checking his work as he went. After a while, he set the scissors down on the table. “Alright, take a look,” he prompted, handing Connor the mirror.

The android took the mirror, looking over Hank’s work, running his fingers through his hair. He didn’t say anything for a bit, but his LED was spinning yellow as he took in the new cut. After some time, he smiled, giving a bit of a chuckle. “I like it.”

“I thought so,” Hank responded, chuckling a bit. He took the towel off of Connor’s shoulders and shook it out, before sweeping up the hair into a pile. “We should probably brush out Sumo, while we’re at it, he’s shedding like crazy.”

Connor nodded in agreement, calling Sumo over to them. The dog lumbered over, his tail slowly wagging as the two men went about brushing out his coat, getting out any loose hair and knots. Eventually, they were able to finally clean up the kitchen, with all three of them now cleaned up, themselves.

Hank and Connor settled on the couch, turning on the TV. Hank scrolled through the channel selection, looking for something they could watch, while Connor pulled out a laptop he had gotten. He hadn’t really needed it, considering he could look things up himself without an external device, but he found that he liked to interact with something, and it made it easier to show Hank if he found something interesting. He also used a locked folder to keep a sort of journal, writing down his thoughts as he adjusted to having emotions and had new experiences. There were pages and pages of first-time experiences, and today, a new one was added; his first haircut.

[nami-writes]

Humans Don’t Come Back - Detroit: Become Human

i saw this fan art a while ago and, well, i couldn’t resist writing fanfiction based off of it bc i love connor but i also love hurting him, so that’s what i’m gonna do here. enjoy the feels B)

Numb.

Connor felt numb.

He was sitting on the bench in Riverside Park, two weeks after Hank’s death, and he felt nothing.

Or, rather, he felt something. He just couldn’t seem to let it through.

It reminded him of what being nothing but a machine had felt like. Feeling emotions, knowing he’s feeling them, but pushing and shoving them back down so they wouldn’t show. Fighting to hide them, to drown them and cover them up with only thoughts that related to his mission. It had almost become instinctual, his natural reaction to even the slightest signs of emotion; of deviancy.

He realized now that part of the reason why he did that was out of fear.

Fear of becoming deviant, fear of being found out, fear of being sent back and deactivated and destroyed and killed.

He’d always been afraid of feeling.

He remembered when Sumo died three years after the revolution. Soon after he moved in, Hank had made him see a therapist, another android, and helped him make progress on learning not to be so afraid of and opposed to feeling. Even if he didn’t know how to, he’d done his best to support him through anything and everything and he’d been the one to catch him whenever he fell too far.

But all of that progress had been lost when Connor first noticed the symptoms that Sumo was dying. Hank was in denial at first, but they had both known what was coming.

The following weeks, Connor had almost reverted back to how he’d previously been. Hank saw how he was so willing to do anything for him, from chores and housework to paperwork and reports and he’d let him do what he wanted for the first couple of days, but it didn’t take long for him to get fed up of ordering him around like he was still just a machine.

What he hadn’t seen, though, was Connor trying his hardest to keep himself together. Before, he’d built walls to keep emotions out and he’d been trying to break them down, but now, he was afraid of the negative emotions drowning out the positive ones. No emotions were better than too many negative emotions, so he needed something, anything to distract himself so the walls wouldn’t fall and crush him under their weight.

His therapist had told him he was suppressing his emotions as a coping mechanism but he still fought constantly to keep his LED blue so Hank wouldn’t worry, though it occasionally glinted yellow.

But when it came time to euthanize Sumo, he and Hank remained beside him and he couldn’t help his LED turning red.

He’d never dealt with loss before.

Before Hank and Sumo, he’d never been attached to anyone enough to be able to process the grief. And when he’d realized he was going to lose one of them... he’d had no idea how to handle it.

It wasn’t any different now.

No, that was wrong.

Now, his LED spun a constant yellow, flickering red every few seconds, because there was nobody to worry about it.

Now, he’d lost both of them.

Now, he had nothing else to lose.

What was left for him now?

Hank had put him in his will and left everything he had in Connor’s possession. Technically, he still had everything.

But losing Hank felt like he was left with nothing.

Sitting on the park bench, he began to reconstruct what had happened there a hundred years ago. He felt his LED flash red when he watched Hank’s outline form beside him but ignored it.

This memory wasn’t one of his favorites, but it was one way to remember him, and he would never let himself forget him. He remembered every part of it perfectly.

┌                                                                        ┐

       DATE: NOVEMBER 7, 2038            

       EVENT: COLE DISCUSSION & THREAT

       ◻ RECONSTRUCT           

└                                                                        ┘

    RECONSTRUCTION                   0/1 EVENTS

    INCOMPLETE                            ANALYZED

⍇ ▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭ ⍈

He watched his own outline walk up beside Hank’s and replayed the audio he’d saved from this exact moment.

“Nice view, huh?”

He looked out toward Ambassador Bridge, remembering how its lights had reflected faintly off the river. They were off now, but at night, they certainly did look nice.

“I used to come here a lot, before...”

Past Hank drank from the beer bottle he held in his hand and it hurt to watch. His alcoholism had been part of the reason he’d died sooner than he should’ve, at 153 years old, while the average life expectancy was 161-164. He’d convinced him to stop drinking after he moved in and made sure he took care of himself, but it seemed even that hadn’t been enough to reverse the effects of years of alcoholism and an unhealthy lifestyle.

He’d give anything to get those remaining 8 years with him.

Hell, he’d give anything to just get one more day with him. An hour would suffice. He’d even take a minute if he could.

“Before what?”

At the time, he’d guessed that Hank was referring to Cole’s death.

“Hm?”

“You said, ‘I used to come here a lot, before.’ Before what?”

He’d still chosen to tread carefully, as he knew it was a sensitive topic.

“Before...”

Hank had told him later on that this was one of the moments before the Cyberlife Tower incident where he really considered opening up.

“Before nothing.”

He watched himself turn to face him, crossing his arms hesitantly, unsure if his next question would be appropriate.

“Can I ask you a personal question, Lieutenant?”

“Do all androids ask so many personal questions, or is it just you?” 

If it didn’t hurt so much just to remember Hank’s voice, he would’ve wanted to laugh at the sarcasm he remembered dripping from his voice.

“Why are you so determined to kill yourself?”

The question stung even him now, but he was just glad that wasn’t how he’d died.

“Some things I just can’t forget. Whatever I do, they’re always there, eating away at me. I don’t have the guts to pull the trigger, so I kill myself a little more every day.”

Hank’s outline turned to look at Connor’s.

“That’s probably pretty difficult for you to understand, huh, Connor? Nothing very rational about it.”

That was true; he hadn’t really understood at the time. But now, he understood better than he ever wished he could’ve.

He’d spent the past three weeks avoiding Hank’s room. Hell, he’d spent the past three weeks avoiding their house. Or... his house, now. He hadn’t been back in exactly two weeks, three days and eleven hours. Instead, he’d been walking around for days on end, just trying to distract himself, trying to get away from reality.

He’d considered staying with Markus for a couple of days, but decided against it. Markus had lost Carl three years prior, at 169 years old, and Connor didn’t want to worry him or be a burden on him. Besides, he didn’t need a place to stay. He could withstand the weather and he didn’t need to eat or sleep.

Markus had moved on two and a half years ago.

But Connor wasn’t strong like he was.

He was weak. Weak and pathetic. He couldn’t even go back home after three weeks because he couldn’t handle it.

He hadn’t even gone to any of his therapy sessions because he wasn’t ready to talk about it.

All he could do was walk around, seeing the exact same things over and over again, in a feeble attempt to stop the memory from replaying in his head on a constant, never-ending loop.

He hated how having a perfect memory allowed him to remember everything exactly.

”Hank? Are you awake yet?” Connor called from the living room, sitting on the couch with the TV on. By this time, he was usually up already and making coffee for himself, but sometimes he slept in, especially because of how old he complained about being. However, Connor had made it his responsibility to make sure he maintained a regular sleep schedule.

He got no response.

He sighed and stood up. “TV off.” Hank was lucky he’d retired a decade ago. If not, he’d have been late for work today. Connor had stayed, though, and, throughout the years, worked his way up the ranks to a Commander. He still had a couple minutes before he had to leave for work, though, so he’d take the time to wake him up. Besides, he needed to change into his uniform. He could do that after he woke up Hank.

He made his way to Hank’s room and knocked on the door, just in case he was awake. “Hank?”

Still no response. Definitely asleep.

But he had a strange feeling. A bad feeling.

He opened the door and saw Hank laying in bed, but—something was wrong.

He wasn’t breathing.

He took a few hesitant steps inside, as if he couldn’t believe what his systems were telling him, then ran to his side. ”Hank—no, no, Hank, come on!”

He felt for his pulse.

Nothing.

His LED was solid red and he could already feel the artificial tears building up quickly, threatening to spill at any moment. His systems were operating as fast as he could make them; he showed no signs of movement, he wasn’t breathing, and he had no heartbeat. He’d died about ten minutes ago so CPR had a 0% chance of making any difference and neither did any of the other forms of medical assistance he had registered.

He’d been gone too long for anything to bring him back.

”No—no, no, no, come on, please—please don’t go, Hank, I-I don’t—I can’t—“ His voice broke and he finally broke with it.

He shook himself out of the memory. He didn’t want to remember the rest. He didn’t want to remember how pathetic he’d been, how broken he’d been when an ambulance finally arrived.

He could still feel the same devastation and fear and dread he’d felt when he found his body. He still remembered the desperation, how he wanted so badly for there to be some way, any way to save him, to bring him back, but he knew it was hopeless.

It had been three weeks, and he could still feel the sorrow and anguish he’d felt the moment he’d realized that Hank was truly gone.

All he wanted right now was for Hank to hold him in his arms and tell him it was gonna be okay.

But humans didn’t come back.

Maybe that was why he was walking down the empty street where the Chicken Feed food truck had stood for over a century. Of course, the owner, Gary Kayes, had died, even before Hank did, despite being three years younger. Connor had been there to help Hank cope with his death. Nobody had been around for a long time to replace him, so it remained abandoned in the same spot it’d been in before the revolution.

He scanned the area and a single information tab appeared on the sidewalk. When his eyes flicked over to it, it expanded.

┌                                                               ┐

       DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2038    

       EVENT: FIRST HUG FROM HANK

       ◻ RECONSTRUCT           

└                                                               ┘

    RECONSTRUCTION                   0/1 EVENTS

    INCOMPLETE                             ANALYZED

⍇ ▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭▭ ⍈

Hank had hugged him often after the revolution, but this one had always been his favorite because it had been the first.

His LED flickered to red when he saw Hank’s figure again but he ignored it. Instead, as he played the reconstruction, he retraced his steps exactly; a futile attempt to make the memory seem at least a little bit realer. He still remembered Hank’s smile; the first real, genuine smile he’d seen from him. Hell, it might’ve been the first smile in general he’d seen from him.

He watched Hank’s outline take a few hesitant steps toward him, then stop.

Then, as the outline approached him and closed the distance between them, Connor closed his eyes and tried to let himself believe that, even if for just a moment, this was real.

[embeanwrites]

Finding Home Gavin Reed x Reader

Chapter 14

Masterlist

Gavin pulled in next to my dad’s car and I jumped out.

“I’ll see you Monday.”

“See ya Monday, pipsqueak.” I rolled my eyes.

“Will I ever be able to convince you to ditch that nickname?”

“I don’t know. Are you planning on growing taller anytime soon?”

“Oh, fuck off.” I said with a laugh as I leaned over to kiss his cheek. I got out of his car and shut the car door. Sumo immediately started barking and Connor opened the front door. Sumo bounded for me and jumped on my legs, laughing I started petting him. I turned around to see Gavin still in his car, he gave Connor a small nod and backed out of the driveway.

“I thought yesterday didn’t work out?” Connor asked, tilting his head. I walked towards the house and he followed.

“Yeah yesterday wasn’t great, but I figured some stuff out that explained why it went south.” Connor closed the door behind us.

“What went south?” My dad asked from the couch. He was drinking a soda, which surprised me, and watching the Gears game.  

“I got tricked into a date yesterday.” I walked into the kitchen and jumped up on the counter. Connor followed me into the kitchen, and he started getting food out of the fridge.

“Who tricked you?”

“Yeah, Connor. Who tricked me?” My dad turned away from the tv and glared at Connor. His LED flashed yellow.

“It was Nines’ idea.” My dad groaned and I laughed. Realizing I wasn’t mad and was just teasing him, his LED turned back to blue.

“Who was the guy?” My dad asked cautiously. He turned off the tv and moved to sit at the kitchen table.

“Gavin.” I answered. My dad choked on his drink and started coughing.

“I’m sorry, Gavin as in Gavin Reed? The asshole we work with?”

“The very same.” I jumped off the counter and grabbed a soda from the fridge. I joined my dad at the table. “The date was actually really nice until the end.” My dad grunted and took another drink.

“Did you spend the night with him? Is that why he dropped you off?” Connor asked, now both me and my dad were choking on our drinks.

“Jesus Christ, Connor!” My dad said, his face turning red. “I don’t want to know the answer to that, why the fuck do you?” Before Connor could answer I stepped in.

“I didn’t spend the night with him, not that it’s really anyone's business. Connor, do you want help cooking dinner?”

“If you’d like to help, I wouldn’t be against it. I recently watched a video on how to make chicken parmesan and I want to try to make it.” I got up and walked over to where he was standing in front of a bunch of ingredients.

“Can I play music?” Connor nodded. I got my phone out and hit shuffle. My dad groaned when he recognized the song.

“You still listen to songs before you were born?” My dad asked.

“Good music knows no age! They Might Be Giants kicks ass and I’ll fight anyone on that!” Out of my phone’s speaker “Birdhouse in Your Soul” started playing. I washed my hands and turned to Connor "Alright do you wanna be Linguine or Remy because I have the knowledge of Linguine but I really identify with rats." I joked, winking at Connor. He looked confused for a moment, his LED flashing yellow for a moment, before turning blue.

"Ah yes, Ratatouille, right? I watched that with Lieutenant Anderson a while ago." I grinned and turned to face my dad.

"Dad, you watch Disney movies?" He coughed and turned to hide his face from me.

"It was the only thing on T.V. stop smiling at me like that, it's creepy." He defended himself gruffly. I couldn't help the following laughing fit that lasted for a minute before my dad went from groaning, to muttering, to finally yelling "It isn't funny, will you just make the damn food please!" I smirked at Connor, who had chuckled a bit before we turned to the ingredients laid out before us while my dad hunkered back down on the couch, watching a University of Michigan football scrimmage game, in lieu of it not being basketball season for another few months.

40 minutes later the three of us were sitting at the table. My dad and I were shoveling dinner into our mouths.

“This is really good you two.” My dad said, finishing his plate and leaning back in his chair. I was still picking at my plate.

“Thank you.” Connor said while I nodded. “(Y/n), are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Both my dad and Connor stared at me, clearly not believing me. I sighed. “This is my last week before classes start and I’m just getting worried, I guess. I know what I want to teach, but most of these kids lived in Detroit when the revolution happened.” I set my fork down. “I’m worried that I’m going to be under qualified to talk about these issues. Many were probably personally affected by what happened. It may become difficult for them to keep emotion out of discussion and be able to keep prejudice out of the class.” My dad nodded.

“But that’s why you’re there.” Connor stated confidently. “You’re going to teach them how to look at the issues in a different light. You are not under qualified.” I smiled at him

“Thank you, Connor”

“I’m only like halfway through your book and you know exactly what you’re doing, (Y/n).”

“Thank you, dad.” I sighed. “Oh! Before I forget I want us to take a picture together so I can put it in my office!” I got up and grabbed my phone off the counter. Connor followed me. “Connor, can you take the picture? Your arms are probably the longest and steadiest.”

“Okay.” I handed him my phone; my dad got up awkwardly.

“Let’s sit on the couch so Sumo can be in the picture too.” Connor said, walking away with my phone. We all followed him. The moment I sat down on the couch Sumo jumped up too.

“Sumo, you’re not supposed to be on the couch, you know that.” My dad said and Sumo whined.

“(Y/n) lets him on the couch.” Connor said.

“Connor! You tattle tale! Snitches get stitches you know!” I laughed and slapped his shoulder. Connor was to my right and my dad was trying to sit on my left, but Sumo was still blocking him. “Here, Sumo come here!” I patted my lap and grunted as the giant dog sat on my lap panting. “Connor, you take half of him please!” My dad started laughing, but Connor patted his leg and Sumo moved so he was laying on both of us. My dad sat down next to me. Quickly, I threw my arms around both of them and smiled. Connor took the picture.

“Will you send that to me (Y/n)?”

“Of course, dad!” I quickly texted it to both him and Connor.

“Will one of you show me how to make it my phone wallpaper.” I laughed and held out my hand for his phone. It took me less than 30 seconds to change his wallpaper, which made him groan about being too old.

“(Y/n), are you staying the night?” Connor asked while petting Sumo, still allowing him to lay on his lap.

“I can’t. I’m going with Tina tomorrow to help her pick out her suit for the wedding. I forgot to tell you guys! I’m her maid of honor!” My dad smiled.

“When you told us you were moving back, she didn’t stop talking about you for like a week. I’m surprised it took her this long to ask you!” I laughed at my dad’s statement.

“It had to be the right time and obviously over text when I was freaking out because it seemed like Nines was asking me out was THE perfect time!” My dad chuckled.

“Tina’s always sucked with timing. It took her six years to even propose to Valerie.”

“I love her regardless.”

“If you are her maid of honor are you throwing her a bachelorette party?” Connor asked.

“Probably not. I’ll have to ask her what she wants. Why? Do you wanna be invited, Connor?” I teased; his cheeks turned blue.

“No. I believe men go to a bachelor party.”

“That’s true, Connor. However, what do you do when it’s two brides?” My dad asked, enjoying a perfect chance to tease Connor.

“I am not very close to Valerie, so I suppose I would go to Tina’s. Although I’m not sure how comfortable I will feel.” I giggled.

“Connor, we’re just teasing you. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” I sighed. “Do you guys want to watch a movie before I go?”

“That sounds good to me.” My dad said.

“Another Muppet movie, (Y/n)?” Connor asked.

“How about you pick, Connor? Is there any movie you’ve been wanting to see?” I asked, smiling at him. His LED flashed yellow.

“Chris mentioned to me last week that I absolutely have to watch ‘Into the Spider-Verse.’” I gasped and Connor’s LED flashed red. “(Y/n), are you okay?”

“Yes! I love that movie! We have to watch it!” I got up and started jumping up and down. Sumo followed me and ran around me barking, trying to figure out what I was doing. My dad started laughing.

“Alright, alright. We’re watching it, you can calm down!” I kept jumping and dancing, Connor looked shocked.

“You seem very excited, (Y/n).” I huffed and threw myself right back down on the couch.

“I just love that movie, Connor.” I smiled, settling down. “Let’s get watching!” I couldn’t believe how at home I felt around Connor and my dad already. I knew there were still problems between my dad and I, but sitting on the couch with them both I felt content.

[connywrites]

of flesh and blood 31

also on [ao3]

start - part [30]

-

"Fuck," he murmured to himself in a hushed, swift breath the way he often did.

"Fuck, I can't believe this shit, holy hell," he continued, pacing with his hands behind his head, eyes looking at the ground while he walked circles.

His dad was definitely going to be livid. He didn't have a partner on the team anymore, which evidently diminished his chances at being an objectionable case. The DPD wasn't going to be on his side for long, and once word of this got out he was as good as dead meat.

He didn't know what to do. There was nothing he could do.

Ripping open the box to look at the pieces of the chassis might not have been the smartest decision, but something buzzed in his mind as he pulled the face panel from the top and turned it around. Looking over the ports, bolts and other various pieces that composed the shell of its head, he paid no mind to the complicated connective process, eyeing over the electronic chips embedded into the shell that shaped the android's face, minus the eyes and internal skeleton nestled behind it, still in the box. All of the main biocomponents were there, but the entirety of the android body wasn't in the box; likely because it wouldn't fit without getting inconveniently bulky. What was left behind was the old thirium pump, drained of the liquid that dissipated from the human eye's naked vision, now an empty, metal-framed plastic container with a pair of holes blown through the front and back of it. It looked simple on its own, clear and hollow compared to the morbid visage of when it was spilling the glistening liquid across the sidewalk. The way the android’s old chassis was now a strange puzzle of scattered parts was a different kind of unnerving, compared to the fact it seemed like a living, breathing human being only days ago.

Shifting the pieces to look around more, he was startled to catch sight of the hands; white and metallic, with the strength that crushed his throat, and shoved him, and cut him, and everything else that wasn't with those arms in particular, but the ones after. The new, resurrected RK900 that returned once more, but with malicious intentions and a vendetta, the next in line of RK serial numbers that destroyed his furniture and soon enough might have entirely ripped him apart, too.

It was over now. It was gone and done with. Gavin knew he should be, too, listening to the strange creak of metallic joints as he prodded the fingers of one of the hands, admiring how deceptively limp the appendages were, how easy it was to shift the device in his hands, interlinking his own fleshy, calloused fingers with the clunky form of its original plastic ones, small panels intricately shaped and placed together to create joints and knuckles with the texture of artificial tendons running above the original plastic that would be washed over by the illusion of its ‘skin’.

This was hard-wired proof that the machine was nothing but that, no matter how human it seemed in their interactions from days, weeks, and months before. It was fascinating, in a way, how the human psyche digested things differently solely on appearance; a factor Elijah Kamski clearly took into consideration, considering they had functions to reveal or recede the human-mimicking tone of flesh, leaving them a bald, plastic chassis with eyes much too glossy and realistic, always popping out in contrast to the other inorganic features and structure. It was mortifying to think about how well it had taught and trained and disciplined him into treating it like a human, just as it wanted. Weren’t those already tell-tale signs of deviancy? Gavin supposed it didn’t matter, considering the tests were over, Cyberlife supposedly found the answer and the RK900 was gone.

That meant these hunks of useless machinery were as good as garbage, he figured, coming to terms with the fact they really were only there to scare him. Taking a deep breath in through his nose, then out with a flare of his nostrils, he tossed the pieces back in the box, and slammed the lid back on with the thought of how much it might weigh and how far he’d have to carry it to the nearest dumpster. Would that be suspicious? In all reality, he didn’t know how often commonplace people threw out their androids, and the last thing he needed was to attract more attention.

-

Going home to Sumo laying on the couch was much more comforting than seeing the RK900 waiting there, staring at him expectantly; the dog lifted his massive head with an attentive whine, wagging his tail, and Gavin lifted his eyebrows to offer him a tired expression while he peeled off his nice coat to hang up on the nearby rack.

“Look at you. Getting to lay around here all day, doing nothing,” he murmured, but his voice was fairly playful, even though it was lethargic. Sitting down and leaning back into the comfort of the new couch cushions, he welcomed Sumo with open arms as the dog plodded heavy paws onto his legs, making him chuckle at the force of the St. Bernard’s weight as he settled to lay his head down on his lap. Generally, he’d consider it too early to sleep, but seeing as he clearly wasn’t getting up to make dinner anytime soon, he figured he’d make himself comfortable, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV to shuffle through the channels in an attempt to find something to watch.

Coming home without the sense of danger throughout his house was something he’d began to appreciate, even if the only reason he had a house in the first place was because of the RK900’s affinity for ‘gifts.’ Large, unnervingly expensive, long-term ‘presents’ that were supposed to aid him in the long run, but for what? Sighing, he leaned his head back, absent-mindedly running his hands through the big dog’s thick fur, closing his eyes as he let his mind run rampant with ideas, memories, and the thoughts for his future. As it was clear he wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon, he decided it was best to rest where he was for now.

-

“Yeah, I tossed the damn thing out, finally,” he said with a lighter tone to his voice, sounding relieved.

“Good. I can’t imagine what good it was doing for you, sitting around in the garage,” Tina responded with a bit more harshness than intended; but with the knowledge the ‘souvenir’ was continuing to destroy his psyche, she felt a bias over the fact it should have been thrown out since the night she unwrapped the box, expecting literally anything but the blank face she’d discovered first thing upon opening it. Gavin remembered panicking, scrambling to apologize as they ended the night early and she headed home, deciding that was a bit much and not talking to him for a couple weeks thereafter. As he was afraid to lose the only person resembling a friend he seemed to have, he didn’t take any action to bother her, simply hoping she’d contact him again; and feeling all the more relieved when she did.

“I dunno,” he admitted as he was at a loss for words.

“I thought if I kept it there, I could contain it somehow. But I can’t contain something imaginary. Should have thrown it out the night you were at my place,” he stated with a sigh, rubbing the creases in his forehead with his index finger and thumb, elbow to the break room table as he glared at his partial portrait staring back at him from the white surface, staring it down in a reflection of self-loathing.

“It’s still messing you up?” Her voice sounded callous, but he didn’t blame her for not knowing better.

“It never stopped,” he snapped in a voice that sliced through the air with its bite. She paused.

“Have you met the new guy yet?” A swift subject change ought to help them both feel better, she figured.

“Huh? Sure,” he said with a nod to himself, knitting his brows as he thought back to the annoyance that was supposedly the new aid for the team.

“I can already tell he’s gonna be a pain in the ass.”

“I think he already is,” she agreed.

“The FBI are already snakes, and Perkins is…well, who he is,” she expressed without so many words. Gavin made a disgusted noise, shaking his head to himself.

“Tell me about it. At least Perkins only shows up when he’s needed. I have a feeling this kid’s gonna be a lot nosier.” She paused.

"So...how are you holding up? With it being gone, I mean." Gavin's lips twitched back in a grimace, and he sighed.

"Okay, I guess. It doesn't feel real. Followed me everywhere, from work to bed and back again." Her gaze dimmed uncomfortably.

"Well, you've invited me over to your place, why don't you come to my house? A change of scenery often helps." Blinking with his usual dumbfounded stare of disbelief, Gavin paused, before nodding.

“Yeah, alright. That doesn’t sound so bad.”

[fandom-necromancer]

606. We are not going to steal someone’s dog.

This was prompted by a beautiful anon! I really had no idea how to answer this with them actually stealing a dog, what would have been funnier, but I guess Sumo has to be enough XD

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Reed900

'How the hell should we catch someone who only targets androids?' Gavin sat at his desk, ruffling his hair in frustration. He lifted his takeaway cup and took a sip - only to realise it was empty. Another growl. 'This really is just one shitshow after the next.'

'Gavin, you do realise I am an android?', Nines reminded him. ‘Don’t get this wrong, but you were specifically designed to be a soldier or cop. And you kinda scream it from a kilometre away. Don’t think you’d be good bait.’ Somehow the only thing he could hear in that was a challenge. ‘Detective, I have a plan and so far, it has a 94% chance at catching our suspect in the act.’ ‘Hey, babe, don’t “detective” me. I simply said the truth, I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, okay?’ ‘Acknowledged.’ ‘Fine. Let me hear your plan.’ ‘So, we need a more casual clothing for me, something fancier for you-‘ ‘Hey!’ ‘Your high-school acting classes, a thirium-refill for me so I can cry and a dog.’ ‘Okay, what the phck have you planned?’ Gavin didn’t need his coffee anymore. He was awake now. ‘And a dog? Where the hell should we get a dog? And why?’ ‘There are a lot of dogs in Detroit.’ ‘Nines, we are sure as hell not going to steal someone’s dog!’ ‘I could ask my brother whether we could borrow Sumo.’ Gavin couldn’t believe it. And he couldn’t understand why he was allowing this to happen. ‘That beast? You said a dog, not a horse! Phck, Sumo is the biggest, fattest monster of a dog I’ve ever seen!’

‘Heard you were talking shit?’, Hank hollered over, before standing up and joining them, much to Gavin’s disdain. ‘Scared, Gavin?’, Nines smirked, lacing his hands. ‘What? No! But just saying, the suspect might be.’ ‘When I meet them, Sumo won’t be at the scene any longer.’ ‘Ugh…’ ‘What the hell you guys talking about? What do you plan with my dog?’, Hank finally intercepted. ‘Could we borrow Sumo for a walk?’, the android asked as if that was the normal thing to do. ‘We want to raise the attention of a dealer for a new android drug. Sumo is an essential part of the plan, but he won’t be in danger at any time, I assure you.’ ‘Nines? You have to tell me more about your plan. But otherwise I am happy to have an evening free for me and Con.’ ‘Damn, Hank, can it get any more inappropriate?’, Gavin groaned. ‘Hey, idiot just because an evening alone for you means you two spend it on top of each other in bed, doesn’t mean it has for others!’

‘Okay, essential part of the plan my ass. What the hell is it with the dog?’ Gavin was struggling to keep the leash in hand and next to Nines as the massive beast was pulling him forwards down the sidewalk. Why was it him who had to put up with Sumo, when Nines was the stronger one? Oh, the droid had to be wheezing inwardly at the ridiculous sight. ‘Statistically speaking, around 90% of all androids prefer animals over humans. 80% like dogs. This is common knowledge and will make the scene look even more authentic.’ ‘Ugh, you better not get into trouble, I can barely control him now, don’t even think I can dog-sit and save your ass.’ ‘I think as important as it is to you, I would suppose you could multitask in that case.’ ‘Phck, just let’s get this over with, before the humour gets even worse. There is a reason why I have cats!’

'God, I just hope you are right', Gavin sighed as Sumo allowed him a bit of downtime. 'This is the dumbest stunt I ever pulled to catch one of these bastards!' 'It will work, believe me!' They entered the park, it was late evening and there weren't many people around. Just others walking their dogs - the main reason Gavin had cats. Thinking once he finally was home, he would have to get his ass up again and walk around with it, he shuddered. Yeah, cats were more his kind of animal.

Gavin knew it was about to start as Nines snaked an arm around him at the entrance and took the dog's leash. He wanted to melt into it like he always had, then remembered this was a mission, not just a really awkward date at the park. He tensed in the grip that got harder as if he wanted to be anywhere but here. They managed to walk a quarter of the path around a little lake until Nines gave him the signal to start with their “fight“. He had to have spotted their suspect. Gavin couldn't tell, it had become dark fast as phck. Gavin started squirming more, making it believable by imagining it was Connor instead of Nines who held him in an embrace. Then he finally broke free and screamed: 'What the phck, toaster? What did you think?' It was surprising how well Nines slipped into his part: the worried, emotional android only recently introduced to mankind. 'What do you mean? Gavin? What's wrong?' 'What's wrong?' Oh yeah, Gavin was terrible at playing a role, but being angry he could fake real good. 'What's wrong? Don't you think it could be in any way weird to tell my mother we are together?' 'I thought she knew. I thought you told her.' 'Yeah, of phcking course, I tell my mother I'm with a damn android. She would - will kill me!' 'But does that matter? We still have each other!' 'Yeah, well I wanted to stay connected with my family. This was supposed to stay a secret!' 'Well, I don't want someone who is ashamed of me!' 'Fine! I'll go home and pack my things!' Gavin doubted this poor display of trash TV would prompt anyone to sell some drugs, but well, Nines was the supercomputer, not him. 'And I'm taking the dog with me!' He grabbed Sumo's leash and ripped it out of Nines' hand. Then he angrily stomped away towards the exit.

He kept up the pretence until he was out, then he slowed down and petted Sumo, before continuing down the street. It wasn’t too long until Gavin heard something over his phone. Mostly leaves rustling in the Wind and a few people faraway talking to each other. But when Nines had begun broadcasting his hearing to him, it had to mean something was about to happen around him. Gavin waited as the dog pissed against a lamppost and listened. ‘What an asshole, am I right?’ There was shifting of clothes and Gavin supposed it was Nines sitting up. ‘Excuse me?’ ‘I’m sorry, I listened in. Your partner is a real asshole if you ask me.’ ‘No, I… He wasn’t like that before…’ ‘Well, then he showed his true face now.’ ‘I don’t know… Normally he’s really lovely. Maybe I really did something wrong.’

God, it was awful listening in. This was about as cliché as it could get. ‘No. Someone who loves you, would do so openly and unconditionally. And if it were a family worth keeping, they would respect that choice, too.’ ‘Yes. That sounds right.’ ‘Just forget that asshole!’ ‘But I still love him… it hurts.’ ‘I think I know something that will make you feel better buddy!’

Gavin perked up his ears, getting pulled along by the dog again. ‘What is this?’, Nines asked, as if he wouldn’t already know. ‘Ah, just a little gift. It’ll make you feel better, believe me. And if you want more, you know where to find me!’ There was more ruffling of clothes and the next line from the dealer came from farther away: ‘And good luck on getting that dog back, he looked like a real cutie!’ Gavin ruffled the “cutie’s” fur and carefully watched out for any slobber. God, he would never be persuaded to get himself a dog in his life.

‘Gavin, you hear me?’ Yep, he texted fast. ‘We now have no longer a suspect, but a criminal to pursue. Now did the plan work or no?’ Gavin rolled his eyes at the smugness. Yeah, congratulation, it worked. Now come here and get that beast under control I’ll bring the evidence to the precinct n stuff. ‘Aww, you hurt, Gav?’ Cut it or I really tell my mom about you. Believe me, she would love you and you would very quickly learn to hate her! ‘No, please don’t do that by any chance. I’m coming as quickly as possible, just spare me of your mother!’