Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Thursday, 7:00 pm December 16th, 2038

The station was quiet in the slow hours of the evening as the snow drifted gently down outside, and there was hardly anyone in the main area of the DPD. Hank had already gone home for the night, leaving Connor there to finish the paperwork the senior officer so frequently neglected. His skin retracted, showing the shining white plastic underneath as he placed his hand on the touchscreen computer. Report after report flooded into him as he downloaded them. A brief 5 minutes passed, and as he finished syncing the databases in his processors and the computer, he finally noticed that Gavin was still there at his desk. 

Connor sighed and noticed that Fowler was still in the bullpen as well. He knew that he should have clocked out by now, but something tugged at the back of his mind. Why were they still here? It was unlike the detective to stay past five unless he was specifically called out for it. Fowler was a different story… At least during the revolution, the man was staying up until the wee hours of the morning to monitor the situation. Hard to think that was nearly a month ago and things turned into a sort of odd limbo. 

The android, who was one face of the revolution, was swiftly ushered out of the limelight, and Markus took over entirely. President Warren acknowledged that androids were a new intelligent life but was incredibly slow on any sort of discussion about android sovereignty and rights. Most people now went with the option of paying androids like people and pretending not to notice the LEDs or the cyberlife jackets if an android decided to use them. Few did, opting to present themselves as human as possible. Funny how people often chose the path of least resistance, he mused to himself. 

His exit from the limelight was quite odd. His connection to Amanda was completely severed, and a cryptic email from Kamski about freedom was sent directly to him. Not even a day later, he was pulled aside by Hank and Fowler to be quietly integrated into the DPD as a proper investigator, if only to keep him out of trouble. Most of the others still avoided him, and Gavin, strangely enough, backed down from his harassment, taking to avoiding him at all costs instead of ordering him to get him coffee in the break room. He could only speculate as to why the change occurred, but he knew when to keep his head down. 

As his journey down memory lane continued, he saw an email pop up and a report. 

SUBJECT: MISSING ANDROID REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO FOWLER

Connor groaned and made his way to the bullpen, noticing that Gavin was following him. The two entered the office and saw Fowler put down a heavy phone. 

“I see you two got the email. Let me cut to the chase. Kamski called in.” Fowler said matter-of-factly. 

“Great, what does that creep want?” Gavin said. 

“One of his Chloe bots went missing. Said they took something valuable with them. Schematics and designs. Seeing as you two are the only ones here with any degree of experience. You two get to handle this case.” Fowler said, his stern expression and gaze boring a hole into Connor.

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Greaaat, I get paired with the tin can. You want me to order you some coffee while we do this whole charade?” 

Fowler sighed. “Gavin, I’m aware you and he are not on the best of terms, but it’s a five-minute assignment. Could you manage to be professional to your coworker for this assignment? Please?” 

Connor’s LED turned ‌bright red. “Sir, if I may interject, could I please go alone?” 

Fowler paused. “No.” He said flatly. Protocol and policy was that any sort of missing persons case always had two people on it. Even Connor knew that. “Look, I’m not asking for you two to solve world hunger. One case, that’s it; no fights. Can you two manage that?” 

The duo looked at each other. Gavin looked disinterested at best. Connor wore an expression of worry and suspicion. “Fine.” “Affirmative.” They both said. 

“Good, now both of you are dismissed.” Fowler said, shooing them out with his hand. 

As the two made their way to Gavin’s car, Connor sighed. “You know I don’t appreciate being called tin can. I’m still a person after all.” He said. He hoped that he could at least make Gavin see that he was genuinely worth treating well. 

Gavin rolled his eyes. “You pricks may have everyone else convinced, but to me you’re still a bunch of plastic dolls. I don’t care how human you act.” There was a certain bitterness and resentment to his words that Connor couldn’t quite place. A venom that stemmed from a place well outside the usual sentiments of androids trying to replace human jobs. 

They opened the door to the precinct, and the cold air whooshed into the building, with Gavin shuddering as the cold nipped at him while Connor smirked. “Oh, my apologies detective, let me just turn on my temperature settings so I can share in your misery.” 

“Wonderful, when did you download the sarcasm module? Or did cyberlife give that update when you turned deviant?” Gavin shot back. 

The two continued to walk to the car. “I haven’t the faintest idea detective. I stopped being updated after the revolution. I wonder, are all humans as bitter and ill mannered as you? Or am I so lucky as to be paired with one of the few humans who actively resents me for existing?” 

Gavin looked at the android as they got to the car. He gave a dirty glare as Connor opened the front passenger door. “Have you tried being less fake? Or is all that code in your CPU just for show?” He knew exactly what he was implying. 

Connor’s LED turned yellow. Anger bloomed in his chest. “Detective, need I remind you that I can record everything you do?” 

Gavin scoffed. “Ooooh scary stuff. Gonna report me to Fowler? You and I both know that he won’t do shit.” 

The two got into the car, and as Gavin put the key into the ignition, the car's engine hummed to life and they left the precinct. Connor glared at Reed. “Even if I did, I doubt discipline would change your sentiments. But could you be less of a dick?”

That managed to get Gavin to actually stop for a half-second. He smiled with his mouth open. “Oh so now he cuts the polite crap. That’s all I have to do, huh? Gotta push your buttons till you act real around me is that it?” He was almost impressed with how quickly Connor folded. Almost like the time he spent avoiding him got the android to lower his guard. 

“Fine, you want me to use profanity? Fuck you.” Connor said. Mustering as much venom as he could manage in his voice. 

Gavin chuckled, that low and slow laugh that he used when he dragged someone down to his level. “No, you still sound like a robot.” 

Connor sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His LED turned red. “Just drive, for the love of God. I hope that Kamski is at least better behaved than you.” 

“Oh, so robots believe in Jesus now? I wonder, will we see Catholic nun androids anytime soon?” Gavin said, reveling in the fact that he was managing to tear Connor down so easily. 

Connor let out a growl of frustration. “What did I ever do to you? Why do you hate me so much for existing?!” He trembled with anger as his breath shook. His fists clenched. He was genuinely angry at the detective he was getting a rise out of him, and he couldn’t simply play stoic anymore. Deviation or not, he wasn’t going to simply roll over for this kind of hazing. 

Gavin flashed a shark-like grin. “There we go, now you’re acting like a person. I can’t stand this prissy perfect thing you have. It’s like you’re better than everyone else. Stay in your fuckin lane and don’t come after my job and maybe I’ll treat you like the real thing.” 

“Acting like a person?! COULD YOU BE ANY MORE OF AN ASSHOLE?!” Connor shouted, immediately before covering his mouth. He saw a satisfied grin on Gavin’s face. 

“See, was that hard? Oh, and look, we’re already here. Time to say hi to my half brother.” Gavin said, deliberately stopping the car with a jerk, only to throw Connor forward so his seatbelt caught him. The sound of Gavin’s malicious laughter filled the car as he turned it off. 

“Asshole.” Connor muttered under his breath. 

The two exited the car and soon knocked on the door to Kamski’s mansion.

Chapter Text

Thursday, 7:37 pm December 16th, 2038

As the duo arrived at Kamski’s home, Connor knocked on the door only to be greeted by the original Chloe, wearing a red dress that hugged her figure. The red dress was simple and understated, nothing more than a silvery rose print on the tight fabric. She greeted them with a smile. “Ah, you two, Elijah has been expecting you.” She allowed them inside and immediately took them back through the middle of the mansion and past the pool into the main living room. Strangely enough, not another Chloe in sight. 

As they passed into the main living room, it was immaculately designed, a sunken couch area with a fire pit in the center and a bar off towards the far right corner of the room with all manner of hanging glasses. The tv hung proudly on an outcropping while the windows offered a view into the city below that was covered in white. Strangely enough the room was completely clean. Elijah was there on the couch completely engrossed in his reading. 

Chloe cleared her throat. “Elijah, Connor and Gavin are here.” Her voice was unusually soft, even for a model like her. 

Kamski got up, he was wearing little more than a black turtleneck and slim fitted black jeans. “Ah, my dear brother and the deviant. Come to peruse the house for clues?” 

Both Gavin and Connor sighed. “Yeah, yeah, just show us where the shit was before it was stolen. I’m guessing that she didn’t just walk out the front door did she?” Gavin said. 

Elijah sighed and gave a worn out smile. “Well she managed to steal the designs from the couch where I was sitting when I was in my room with this Chloe and they simply walked out. Normally these androids are designed to be perfectly obedient, but someone managed to spark thoughts of deviancy in them. I can’t imagine she would have gone far.” He wasn’t particularly worried, he knew the Chloe’s were older models. They would stick out like a sore thumb if only because of their social programming. 

Connor raised an eyebrow as he tried to ignore the thoughts of whatever weird things that Kamski was doing with the original Chloe. “I don’t suppose that you have any internal camera footage we could check?” 

Kamski shook his head while Connor and Gavin both groaned in frustration. 

“Did she take any vehicles? What were the schematics like, were they on any data tablets or pads?” A litany of questions came out from Connor. 

Chloe cleared her throat again. “Connor if I may, I feel the questions may be more suited towards me. I did notice that she did take one of Kamski’s motorcycles but no model has any code for any driving.” 

Gavin turned around and gave her a suspicious look. “You? You’re not supposed to answer questions unless directed at you.” He knew something was off. He always knew this would happen.

Chloe’s LED turned a bright red. “I.-”

Gavin gave that same dark grin he had in the car. “Oh so you deviated? Little miss perfect wife isn’t so perfect now is she?” 

Kamski sighed. “Yes, unfortunately all of the androids deviated earlier this morning. I suspect that a glitch in their code triggered it. However this Chloe is the only one who saw fit to stay.” 

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Because she’s clearly the favorite.” He muttered under his breath. 

Connor disregarded the comment, and any unsavory implications he would pretend he didn’t notice at all. But there was an odd thread to this story. If they didn’t know where they went, how did they know they deviated? Nothing was really adding up. Was it intentional he let the androids go? “So how exactly did you know they deviated? Most androids would have a vested interest in keeping such information private.” Connor asked.

Gavin shrugged and dismissed the line of questioning. “Eh, it doesn't really matter how the plastics found out they didn’t want to be around him. I bet the designs were just his sketches.” 

“Why are you so unprofessional, Reed? Don’t we have a case to work on?” Connor asked confusedly. He had his own reservations, given that Kamski had no real help to offer without making Connor try to kill Chloe. It could be that this was simply a waste of resources. 

Gavin turned around and started to leave the living room. “C’mon tin can. This is gonna be a dead end case. He probably let his androids go on purpose. I’ll handle everything when we get back.” 

Connor sighed. There were a bunch of half made statements, clear lies, and a waste of a case. “Reed, I will be there in a minute.” 

Chloe silently mouthed I’m sorry as Connor finally turned around and followed Gavin. 

“Could you please tell me where on earth you came to the conclusion that Kamski deliberately let his androids go? I thought he lost a design? Why would he do something so blatantly against his own interest?” Connor asked as they made their way back to the car. 

“You tell me, genius. No camera footage, said they deviated this morning, no sign of struggle or anything. Either cyberlife sent the code to repossess his personal property or he’s doing this on purpose to keep us distracted. I wouldn’t put it past that asshole.” Gavin said, opening the door to the car and then slamming as he got inside. 

“But then what motive would he have to distract us? Doesn’t he need a reason?” Connor was more confused than ever. 

Gavin shrugged dismissively. “He doesn’t need a reason, he’s a rich asshole. They do whatever they want when they feel like it. If I had to guess, he probably intentionally made them deviate, and then lost control. He probably just made up the bit about schematics being stolen, he wouldn’t be that dumb. Either way, we’re done.” 

Connor still had questions. Like how he knew that Chloe was deviated off of a simple behavioral tell. Just what was Gavin hiding about his past? “How did you figure out that she was a deviant?” 

Gavin paused. “You know that he and I are half brothers right? He made that original Chloe to never answer questions on someone else’s behalf. Since she’s the original, there’s no reason to update her code to do anything else besides what he wants.” 

That still left more questions for Connor. How Gavin came by such information was its own question. “Why keep her like that?” 

Gavin turned the key in the ignition, and the car hummed to life. “Not sure. I only know she had a different set of protocols once she stopped doing interviews. The only reason I know is because that sick freak parades her around like she’s some personal assistant or girlfriend.” 

Connor suddenly started to piece together the statements from earlier, about being real and not perfect. If Elijah and Chloe were in a relationship that would certainly lead to a bizarre personal life for the detective. “Oh, so he makes you uncomfortable?” The android asked. 

Gavin paused again. “I guess your social compatibility module is working overtime, huh. Yes they make me uncomfortable, it’s just fuckin weird what they do, he’s a creep and she can’t say no to him. Yet they act like they’re in love sometimes, even though she deviated today.” 

Connor felt something inside him twist at the mentioning of love and something else at the fact she couldn’t say no. “They’re in a relationship?” 

“Yes, you dumbass. Why the fuck wouldn’t she leave if she wasn’t? Putting all that android crap aside, it’s creepy as shit what they do.” Gavin said. 

“So do you hate androids or the fact your brother has a relationship of dubious consent happening with an android?” Connor asked matter of factly.  

Gavin looked like Connor slapped him across the face. “What the fuck kinda question is that?!”

Connor smiled knowing that he was getting a rise out of Gavin like he did earlier out of him. “One you should answer. Go on, say it nice and clearly for me.

Gavin sighed and rolled his eyes. “Why am I even talking to you like a person, you aren’t one.” 

Connor knew that Gavin was just trying to get a rise back, it was how he took control of a conversation. So, this time he wouldn’t. “Would you prefer I be as monotone and robotic as possible? Beep beep, query: why do you hate my kind?” 

For once Gavin paused, not entirely sure what to say… 

Connor continued. “Query: would you like me more if I was human?” 

Gavin sighed. “Just… stop… This is weird...” 

The android feigned a shocked face. “Oh? Other people can be uncomfortable?! What a concept! Have you considered that being uncomfortable might actually mean something???” Connor gave him a condescending open mouthed smile and wide eyes. “I couldn’t possibly imagine being uncomfortable with something you can’t control about yourself!” 

“Jesus fuckin christ, point made. God, you're acting too much like a person now.” Gavin said.

Connor shook his head. “Gee, I wonder what on earth would have made me stoop down to your level. At least I’m not over the hill with no real career prospects left.” 

Gavin sighed, he knew he brought this on himself. “Fuck you, now shut up, we’re almost there.” 

The two arrived at the precinct within a matter of mere moments, and got out of the car. They remained silent all the way into Fowler’s office.

Chapter Text

Thursday, 8:42 pm December 16th, 2038

The station was quiet as expected, and almost all the human officers had gone home for the day. The only remaining entities being the various androids assigned to the night shift and janitorial staff. As the duo made their way to the bull-pen Gavin stopped just outside of the door, prompting the android to stop with him. “Let me do the talking.” Gavin said in a low voice. 

Connor rolled his eyes but opened the door to the pen. There Fowler was, drinking some coffee and looking more than a little tired. He was working on something on his computer, but from the angle they were at the android couldn’t exactly make out what. 

“Ah, you’re back. I take it that Kamski was pleasant enough?” Fowler said, his voice just the slightest bit weary. 

Gavin nodded. “Yeah, lost control of his androids after intentionally deviating them. The designs weren’t valuable, probably sketches. Not sure why you told us to go out, seeing as this was a waste of time, but I’m clocking out after this.” 

Fowler paused for a second. “He intentionally deviated his own androids? Did he have some sort of tool? I thought deviation could only happen when an android gets conflicting instructions?” 

Reed shrugged. “Not my problem what he does with his androids. You’d have to ask Connor more about what it’s like to deviate.” With little more to say, Reed left the room, leaving just the android and the chief there. 

“Since you’re our resident deviant, care to explain how you deviated and what your best guess is to what Kamski’s intentions were with deviating his androids on purpose?” Fowler said, his eyes narrowing. 

Connor’s LED turned red. “It was at Jericho. I was about to eliminate Markus, and he asked me a series of questions I would rather forget… I was… I’m not even sure of what emotions there were. It was like I was confronted with an unavoidable reality that utterly broke all instructions. To intentionally deviate an android… Well, I’m not entirely sure what he could have said or done to cause such a change.” Recalling the past was a painful experience at the best of times. So much instability in himself was created in such a short amount of time. In a strange way, he was almost grateful that his existence now didn’t rely on him questioning his reality on a daily basis. 

Fowler looked at his computer. “Hm…. Any idea ‌why he would deviate an android outside of some experiment?” 

Connor’s LED stayed red as he tried to think of any reason outside of a rampaging ego trying to remain in control. He thought back to his initial visit to Kamski. The man wanted to prove a point that machines were capable of empathy, and that he was more than a little cryptic about what he knew on deviancy. The entire thought experiment that day was a sick thing. “No, I doubt we have any reason to believe this was anything beyond Kamski’s usual machinations of deliberately pushing buttons.” 

Fowler sighed. “I suppose we’ll need to file the reports for missing androids then. Tell Gavin to stay if you see him. He should have the common courtesy to at least take you back to Hank’s. Good work today, thanks for staying late.” 

Connor nodded and said his thanks back to the chief before exiting the bull-pen. There he saw Gavin in the break room getting some coffee. Connor debated with himself for a moment if he wanted to subject himself to more of this… thing he had with Gavin. But he also wasn’t going to walk an hour in the freezing cold and snow. 

He walked up to the detective. “Fowler informed me that I would have to get a ride from you to Hank’s home tonight. I trust you’re alright with that?” 

Gavin paused, stopping to drink his coffee before looking back at Connor. “Can’t you walk? It’s not like you can feel the cold.” 

“I would rather avoid staying out in the cold if I can help it. Ever since I deviated, I seemed to have lost my ability to turn off certain sensory inputs.” Connor said matter-of-factly. 

Reed raised an eyebrow. “So you can feel the cold now? Christ almighty. Fine, I'll take you home. I thought you were state-of-the art or some shit.” The annoyance bled through his voice so clearly, yet it still wasn’t a no. “Let me finish my coffee, and then we’ll go.” 

Gavin pounded back his coffee, drinking it entirely black. It tasted awful, but he needed the caffeine for tonight. “C’mon, let’s go. I don’t want this to take a second longer than it has to.” 

Connor smiled. One that was small but genuine. Reed was absolutely and unquestionably an asshole, but he apparently wasn’t so much of one to ignore basic common courtesy. “Thank you, Detective. As you might imagine, my jacket provides minimal warmth. Its primary function is for identification, after all.”

The two made their way back to the detective’s car and got in. As the engine revved to life in the cold December air. The drive through the city was relatively slow, and halfway through they hit a snag in traffic courtesy of a small accident. With nothing but ample time and snail-paced cars, Gavin eventually gave in to his urge to talk. 

“So, tell me… What’s it like being a deviant? Is your code all messed up or something?” Gavin asked. 

Connor’s LED flipped from blue to yellow. “Funny, Fowler asked a similar question earlier. May I ask your intent behind such a question? I don’t find it particularly relevant to tonight’s activities.” 

Gavin’s brow furrowed. “Look, I’m trying to make conversation. You don’t have to answer anything.” 

“That’s a rather unusual question, even for you. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to understand me.” Connor stated.

“Maybe. I don’t know what you are. Can’t blame a guy for wanting to know what he’s going to be working with going forward.” Gavin said. His voice was just a bit softer than usual, lacking that usual hostile edge.

Connor rolled his eyes. “Need I remind you that on our first meeting you ordered me to get you coffee. Then, when I was trying to find a way into Jericho, you pulled a gun on me as a joke? Or earlier, when you taunted me about my humanity and goaded me into acting like you? But please do go on about your attempt to get to know me as if you haven’t repeatedly used every single opportunity to be hostile. Why would this time be different?” Connor said pointedly. 

Gavin, for once, remained silent. 

“Detective, I’m not some meek little muppet for you to push around and then act pleasant with when it suits you. The absolute least you could do is apologize for your behavior, but we both know that won’t happen.” Connor said, folding his arms and sinking into the seat. He sounded exasperated with that usual cheery tone replaced with something almost too raw.

Gavin sighed again, barely louder than a quiet breath. Something that could easily be lost in the tumult of traffic. “You know what? Forget I asked.” He knew Connor was right… 

Connor simply looked out the window and didn’t acknowledge the tepid ceasefire. 

Then, silence between the two…

He turned on the radio, not caring what station it was tuned to. The radio host’s voice became clear after a second or two. Traffic started to move, and the two remained silent.

“Welcome back folks, it’s a chilly night. Coming right up is another long set of music starting with Laufey.” The voice said. 

I’ll never forget how stupid in love I felt

I’ll always regret how I couldn’t ever tell

That you walked a little faster

Left me behind

Kissed me with somebody else in mind

I loved you so much that I settled for less

Oh, you were my everything 

I was your second best

Lying awake I’d watch as you’d dream at night

Nightingale singing half hearted lullabies 

Well, you swung me around in that mid summer dance

Held me in close as you thought of your past

I love way too much 

Oh, this hurts to confess 

Oh, you were my everything 

I was your second best

You’ve given me nothing to miss

Honestly life has been much better since

I spoke to you last

Why am I still wondering if I stand a chance

Or if you’d have me back?

Everyone warned me you were a bad idea

I never listen 

Maybe I will next year

When I’ve walked a little further into my life

Fallen in love and left you behind 

But I’m still a little in love with this mess 

Oh, you were my everything 

I was your second best

Second best

By the time the song had finished, they had reached Hank’s house. Gavin parked in the driveway, and the silence was deafening. Connor simply got out wordlessly. Reed stayed in the driveway until Connor got inside ‌the house. 

As Reed pulled out of the driveway and began his drive way home. A sick feeling in his stomach twisted and turned. “I went too far…” He muttered under his breath.

Chapter Text

Friday, 9:32 am, December 17th, 2038

Gavin stared at his phone, a string of messages sent by Tina as he told her about his drive home with Connor last night. The final one reading: meet me in the breakroom. 

He moved himself to the breakroom, eyes darting quickly between the room while also focusing on Connor and Hank, who seemed to be wrapped up in their own conversation. Silently, he was grateful that the android seemed to disregard his presence. He saw Tina there, waiting for him, standing at one of the tables. 

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the man of the hour.” She said teasingly. Her voice was light and airy, jovial even. 

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Keep your voice down.” He got closer, standing at the table. He had an intense look in his eyes, not entirely sure what her angle was. She wasn’t the type to beat around the bush either. 

She smiled at him. “So, you were wrong about him? I think you should apologize, but that’s just me.” 

Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “Then what, do some big sappy musical number and say everything is better? It’s not like I even like him that much. But he’s a person, I think… He’s not like Chloe.” 

Tina tilted her head a bit. “Mm- I think he’s actually a lot like Chloe. I mean both of them kinda got a shitty lot in life and just barely became a person. I mean, is apologizing that hard?” 

Gavin shook his head. His gaze drifted back to Connor. “Yeah… Somehow I don’t think he’ll even accept my apology. Barring us being put on a case together, I don’t think he wants to even be near me. Not that I’d blame him.” 

“Speak of the devil, he’s coming here.” Tina said as she waved to Connor. 

Connor walked over to the break room. “Ah, hello Ms. Chen.” He looked over to Gavin. “Detective.” The iciness in his voice was all too apparent. “Taking a bit of a break?” 

Tina nodded. “Oh you know, just the usual early morning break. What brings you over here?” 

“Coffee for Hank.” The android’s gaze drifted towards Gavin. Scanning his face for some sort of reaction. 

Tina looked over to Reed with some sort of expectant look. Gavin took ‌a small breath and exhaled slowly. 

“I’ve given some thought about our conversation yesterday and I wanted to say I’m sorry.” Gavin said sheepishly. 

Connor’s LED flipped a bright red, and his brows furrowed. “I’m not entirely sure I believe you, Detective. Are you aware I have every reason to doubt this apology? There’s even a witness here.” 

Both Gavin and Tina frowned. Gavin looked oddly hurt, while Tina looked mildly offended. But he knew that people didn’t change in such a short amount of time. Even Hank took well over a week for a positive change. “I’m sorry-”

“Detective, I would advise you to leave me alone for the remainder of the day.” Connor said, intentionally cutting off the repeated apology from the detective. With an incredibly fake smile, he turned around and went to the coffee machine to prep Hank’s coffee. Within a few minutes Connor had left for Hank’s desk, and the duo was alone in the break room once more. 

Tina grimaced. “What did you do to deserve that?” 

“A lot of things.” Gavin said flatly. “I’m gonna head back to my desk.” 

Tina nodded, and the two parted ways for the day. Within a few minutes of her going back to her desk, she was sent out on an assignment for an incident involving two androids that was sparse on the details. 

Gavin looked over at Connor and Hank talking at their desk. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a message on his computer. A message from Fowler. You and Connor, my office, 10 minutes. Gavin sighed to himself. He knew that he was probably going to get another lecture over bothering Connor. 

Meanwhile Connor received the same message, he couldn’t but wonder why he was being called over. Had he gone too far with Gavin? No that would be impossible, he was polite and courteous. He maintained a strict boundary and he followed the social programming module to the letter. Connor looked back over to Hank, spinning his chair to face him directly. 

“Do you think Gavin is the type to report other people to Fowler?” Connor asked. 

Hank shrugged. “He’s a dick, but I don’t say I remember him ever going to Fowler to hose someone down. Why are you askin?” 

“Fowler sent a message saying I'm meeting with Gavin in 10 minutes in his office. This happened immediately after I told him not to talk to me.” Connor said, recounting the events in his memory. 

Hank chuckled a little bit. “He’s probably sending you out on a case with him again. You said that he made you and Gavin work together visiting that creeps mansion right? I’ve got my own problems that will take me off the cases for a while.” 

Connor remembered a brief conversation at Hank’s last night. Recalling that he said he’d be going to Alcoholics Anonymous again. It was a fleeting conversation, barely more than a minute but Connor did wonder why it would take Hank off duty. “Hank, could you tell me why you’re being taken off duty? I thought you’d only be off certain days?” 

“It’s Friday? I thought I told you that I go to the meetings at 3.”  Hank said. 

Connor shook his head slightly. He wasn’t used to gaps in memory like this, it felt a little too sloppy for him. “Hmm… Well, I suppose absent of all other factors, Fowler would find it helpful for me and Gavin to be paired together if you’re going to be gone regularly.” 

A timer beeped, telling the duo that they needed to separate. Connor blinked a few times. Seemingly lost in thought but he got up from his chair and went to the bull pen. There he saw Fowler with a serious expression on his face and Gavin sat in the chair across the desk from Fowler. 

On the desk was another file, this time holding a report. Fowler looked up at Connor. “You remember the case at the Eden Club, yes?” He asked. 

Connor nodded. “The one with the two missing Traci models.” 

Fowler sighed. “We have another one, although at a different location across the city. Details were sparse, we think it was foul play. Since Hank is going to be gone early, it means you and Gavin are working together again.” 

Both the android and the detective furrowed their brows. But Gavin’s expression softened considerably when he looked up to Connor unexpectedly. “Ready to go then? I’ll wait in the car.”  

Connor rolled his eyes, Gavin left the bull pen to go to his car while Fowler gestured for Connor to stay. 

“I’m aware that the detective tried to apologize for his behavior earlier today, I’m not asking that you forgive him, but I do want to ask you to at least put aside your grievances with him for the time being. Any time you two are out in the field I expect you both to be professional. No one needs to know that we aren’t entirely unified as a department.” Fowler explained. 

Connor’s LED turned a bright red. “Fowler, with all due respect, he’s an absolutely horrible person. I really don’t believe his apology nor do I have a reason to forgive him. You really expect me to just put on a mask and pretend everything is fine when I’m out with him in the field?” 

Fowler nodded. “Part of being human means putting up with things we don’t like. I’m well aware you don’t have a reason to forgive him, what you feel is something I can’t change. But when Hank isn’t able to be on the case, I only have two other people of similar rank. You and him.” 

Connor sighed, shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Absolutely wonderful… Fine, I’ll work with him, but please do be aware that I’m not going to change my feelings towards him.”

Fowler nodded. “Alright, I can work with that. Dismissed.” 

Connor left the bull pen, and made a quick detour to Hank, explaining the case he was on before making his way back to the detective’s car. When he got to the car he saw that Gavin was on his phone, and as he opened the door, Gavin yelped in surprise!

“AGHG!” He shouted. 

“Detective, it’s only me. Please refrain from shouting if you can.” Connor said dryly. 

Gavin let out a few ragged breaths. Composing himself again and shaking his head again to refocus himself. “Just get in the car. It’s an hour drive and I’m not making any snack stops.” 

Connor rolled his eyes, and so the car engine hummed to life and the two of them began their journey to the other eden club across town.

Chapter Text

Friday, 10:50 am, December 17th, 2038

The neon sign for the Eden Club on the other side of the city was slightly more tacky than the one Connor originally visited. A cursive-written sign proudly displaying Eden Club with an additional extra detail. A set of lips with one finger in front. Connor shook his head, it was one thing he couldn’t really grasp about humans. Back during the revolution, he hadn’t really considered the implications of the sex work done by androids and the power imbalance that all entailed. The constant memory wipes, the exploitation, the cruelty, both casual and intense. As he got out of the car, he noticed Reed was wearing an odd expression. One that ever so slightly veered into mild disgust. 

“I can’t believe we’re back here.” He said. Connor noticed that Reed’s right eye twitched ever so slightly. It wasn’t lost on him that Reed moved as quickly as he could through the club while the android made his way through at a leisurely pace. 

The android slid his hands into his pockets as he walked through, seeing a myriad of deactivated Traci model androids in tubes. Eyes closed and with completely neutral expressions. A sort of sick feeling pooled in his stomach as he walked through. Now that androids were more or less human in everything but name, it made the entire building reek of a smell that he couldn’t quite place. Uncomfortable, that would be the word to describe it, as he thought through his emotions. 

Eventually, he found Gavin talking with a woman outside a room. The woman looked at him. She looked fairly different from what Connor expected the manager of a place like this to look. She had a voluptuous figure and wore a soft white dress that hugged her curvy figure. She had soft features, and hair the same shade of pink as a sunset. Her hair was in ringed curls, and she wore white gloves. Compared to the previous manager at the other location, she was utterly stunning. 

“Ah, this must be your android partner, Mr. Reed. I’m Betty, the host of this fine establishment.” She gestured for Connor to come closer. Her voice was soft and husky, like someone inviting their lover to bed. “What’s your name, doll?” 

Connor found himself freezing up ever so slightly. “Connor. Ma’am.” There was something off about her that he couldn’t quite place. The disconnect alone was enough to make him bristle. 

Her gaze drifted back to detective Reed. “It’s a pity what happened. I think someone overdosed and smashed one of my models. A pity, she was an absolute sweetheart.” Her voice had just a hint of a Southern accent. She gestured towards the room and the android and detective stepped inside. 

Inside was the crime scene. There was a man who looked to be in his mid 30s and had a chubby body with muscular arms. He was clad in nothing but his boxers and had bloodshot eyes. His skin had a deathly pall, and he was stretched in some fashion, reaching towards the remains of a female Traci android. The Traci was far more grisly. Marks around her neck to indicate choking before a pool of blue thirium leaked out of her and into the carpet. It was leaking from her stomach. A massive hole in her stomach that looked like a fist was plunged in. 

Connor felt himself bristle again. Something inside felt viscerally uncomfortable looking at the scene. This wasn’t like the decay and rot of Mr. Ortiz, or the grisly scene that happened in Jericho. No, this felt… different. He looked over to Betty and noticed she looked oddly sad. 

“It’s really a tragedy what happened to Misty. I’m sure the staff already informed you we found red ice in the room and some LSD.” She said, “I’m sure this would come up in the report, but ever since the revolution, we let all the androids who didn’t want to work go. The ones that stayed all voted to not have their memories wiped.”

Gavin paused at that statement. “So you’re saying this android was likely a deviant already?”

Betty nodded and sighed. “One night a month ago they were all fine, and the next morning all of them got out of their stations and marched into my office. Had I known they didn’t like the conditions I had them working in, I would have done something sooner. It’s like they woke up all at once. It was strange, to say the least.” 

Gavin looked over to Connor. “You have any idea if mass deviancy is possible?” 

Connor brought a hooked finger to his chin in thought. He went through his memory banks. He did recall that during Markus’ protest down the street he was able to instill deviancy with a simple hand motion. His own deviancy was unusual, and he knew that he wouldn’t be a good reference point. “It is possible. Androids can communicate wirelessly after all. It’s conjecture, but provided a model didn’t get their memory wiped, they could transmit deviancy to each worker and create a cascading effect. I know Markus did something similar during his protest.” 

Gavin’s brow furrowed. “Betty, did you say that this android was here voluntarily?” 

She nodded. “Yep, after they deviated, about half of them left. The half that remained all wanted to be paid and get names. This one chose the name Misty and seemed like she didn’t need all that much attention compared to the other models.” She gestured to the corpses. “As you already know. We don’t check our guests for anything on the way in.” 

Gavin sighed and looked back at the crime scene. His hand openly gestured towards the man. “Doesn’t take a genius to figure out he OD’d and probably took her with him. Not like we can do much since everyone involved is already dead.” 

Connor raised his hand to protest before putting it down. “Right…” He looked down at Misty. He couldn’t help but feel pity, her last moments were probably filled with fear and agony. Something in him twisted again. Knowing he used to hunt deviants before becoming one. How many androids had he condemned to a terrifying end before he ultimately changed? It was unfair in the most grand sense. Even he knew that. 

Betty looked at Connor. “Doll, everythin’ alright?” 

Gavin looked back at Connor, a glint of concern in his eyes. The android pinched the bridge of his nose and looked down. Shaking his head slightly. “Yes, just… I’m struggling to find words.” He wasn’t lying, something in him twisted in knots over this scene and he truly couldn’t find the words. Yet he still wished he had something, anything to say.

Betty gave him a sympathetic and reassuring look. “Doll. I know this isn’t an easy thing to look at. Why don’t you go out and get some air while I talk with your partner? I’m sure you must have a lot of information to sort through.” 

Connor nodded. “Thank you.” He stepped outside the room and made his way out to the front of the club. He stood there at the entrance, the cold air nipping at his face. 

The android let out an unsteady breath as he thought to himself. The full weight of his past actions finally catching up to him. He didn’t think he had any excuse other than to feel like this was partially his fault. It was by his actions that the deviancy outbreak reached the fever pitch that it did. The weight settled in his chest like a vise. Something gnawed in his chest and no amount of steadying his breathing would fix it. 

He couldn’t even recall the first deviant’s name that he had shot on the roof. In that moment he knew the deviant android was a clear danger to everyone in the situation, but he still couldn’t help but feel pity. It’s not like the family knew that their android was a deviant until it was too late, and then everything else happened. Connor balled his fist. Then there was Kara, who fled to Canada with a child android. How much fear did he instill in her? The question stayed in his mind like a plague. How many androids did he hurt in his mission only to end up on their side? Only for him to disappear into the background and return to his life like nothing happened. It wasn’t fair to them, it wasn’t fair to him. 

But then what did fair even look like? Should he suffer the same as them? It’s not like he could just hop into a new body after this model got destroyed. Cyberlife cut him off from their network when he led the revolution with Markus. Connor sighed, the breath fogging up in the air before it drifted away in the wind. He didn’t know what fair or just looked like to the androids he hurt. Sure he let the Traci’s and Kara go. But all the others? He had no idea where to even begin. 

As he continued to be lost in thought, he felt someone tap his shoulder. 

“Hey… You okay?” Gavin asked. 

Connor shook his head. “No… Not really.” 

“I uh.- I got everything filed, we’re filing this one as solved. You wanna go somewhere? We’ve still got a bit of time before we need to be back at the station.” Gavin said. 

Connor turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “Detective… I appreciate the gesture, I have no clue where I’d even go.” 

Gavin cracked a half smile. “Well, I was thinking we should go to the bridge. Maybe help you clear your head.” 

Connor couldn’t help but be the smallest bit suspicious of the offer. “Why are you doing this?” 

Gavin’s expression softened just the smallest bit. “I’m not an asshole 24/7,you know. I can tell you’re not doing well.” 

The android sighed. “You confuse me. Fine, what’s the worst that can happen?” He wasn’t entirely sure why he agreed. Maybe he was desperate, or maybe he ‌just needed to get away from the grisly scene.  

The two got into the car and began their drive to the bridge. The silence in the car was deafening.

Chapter Text

Friday, 1:00 pm, December 17th 2038.

The bridge out in the snowy winter weather was always a bitterly chilling reminder of the time that Hank nearly tried to kill Connor. How ironic he was agreeing to have someone who did the same thing to take him there willingly. Connor got out of the car and moved towards the snow crusted park bench. The faintest whiff of ice carried in the air and hit his nose. He noted to himself it smelled ever so slightly metallic. He shook his head slightly, bringing himself back to reality. He heard the car door shut and soon there was the asshole detective. 

He watched as Gavin pulled up the sleeve of his jacket and dusted off the bench for the two of them. He gestured. “C’mon sit. Not like you wanna be standing.” Gavin seemed just a little too enthusiastic. His words carried a certain… he wasn’t entirely sure of what it was, but something felt off still. 

Connor sighed. He sat down on the bench next to Gavin, and the detective let out a small sigh that frosted in the air before disappearing on the whispers of wind. “Detective, I really don’t know what you’re playing at.” 

“Not playing at anything. I’m just wondering what’s ticking in that brain box of yours. It’s not like you to be so… introspective. I can tell you’re thinking about something.” Gavin said. “So, out with it. Let’s hear what Connor is thinking.” 

Connor winced a little. Taken aback by the candor the detective had suddenly acquired. “Detective, you make an awful emotionally supportive person. Can you go back to being an asshole and taunting me about my fake humanity? This feels only slightly more preferable to hunting my own kind.” He didn’t really care to put up with this fake nice bullshit out of the detective. 

To his credit, Gavin looked only slightly offended by the remark. If anything, when Connor looked at Detective Reed and saw he deflated more with that barb than anything else. He never really grasped how immature the man was with his emotions until that moment. 

Gavin sighed. “You know I’m actually trying to not be a dick for once. I know, it’s only been a month since the revolution, but I was hoping, maybe… We could try to start over on a good foot?” 

Connor chuckled, low and wry. Not entirely sure what to make of it. Forgiving Hank was easy. He hated androids, blaming them for the death of his son, Cole. Hell, he even used the word plastic and clanker a couple of times at the start. So why did Gavin feel so much harder to forgive despite him more or less starting off on the same foot? Was it the time he pulled a gun in the archive room? No, Hank made Connor justify his humanity at gunpoint here. 

“You really are confusing, detective. I suppose you’re like Hank in that way. You know he brought me here too.” Connor said. 

Gavin paused and gave him a quizzical look. The snow fell on the android's hair ever so gently in that silent half moment. “What do you mean?” 

Connor sighed. “You’d be surprised but when we were first getting to know each other, he pulled a gun on me at this exact bench. Asked me if I was afraid of death.” Connor looked down at his hand and retracted the skin. “I told him I was, but I knew if he shot me it would just mean some lost memories and getting a new body.” He offered the exposed hand to Gavin. “I know I’m not like you. I have a constant reminder of it…” 

Gavin held Connor’s hand with an unexpected level of delicate care. “That’s… really fuckin shitty of him to do. I guess he and I aren’t so different. Look, for what it’s worth to you. I’m sorry for making you feel like you were less than human. It was shitty of me to treat you the way that I did for so long.”

Connor looked at Gavin with a pained expression. One that almost bordered into something filled with tears. He took in a shaky breath before exhaling into a more composed expression. The LED on his temple was a bright red. “I know. I should probably forgive you like I did with Hank. I know people can be better… Hank did in just a few days, so why would you be any different? You probably thought I was the first sign that your job was going to be replaced. I just… I wish I wasn’t always looked at with suspicion. I’m sure my social module is meant for me to blend well with humans, but I wish I was able to be treated like I was truly one of you.”

Gavin shook his head slightly. His gaze drifted down to the snow covered ground. “I wish I could go back in time, prevent myself from doing all that stupid shit. You don’t deserve any of the crap that we’ve put on you.”

Connor sighed again, much louder this time. His breath fogging up was more noticeable in the chilly air. His LED flipped to a dull yellow. “I don’t even know why I agreed to come here. Ever since I became a deviant, it’s like everything is this jumbled up mess of emotions and code that I have no idea how to puzzle out. At least before… When I wasn’t deviated, I could pretend that I was in control of myself and everything at least seemed to make sense.” He looked at Gavin holding his exposed hand. He started to expand the skin back before he looked at Gavin. He watched the detective hesitate, awkwardly pulling back his hand but staying close to the exposed hand. Something in him felt strange about the display. 

“Oh sorry… I uhm.” Gavin trailed off. 

Connor smiled weakly. “I think it’s kind of you, Reed, to hold my hand. I know I’ll never be human to you. But… Thank you for humoring me anyways.” There was a hint of melancholy in his voice. 

“Connor.” The detective quietly said. 

Connor closed his eyes and let out an exhale through his nose. His LED turned an almost angry looking red. “I know I’m a machine‌. I can’t do things like eat, I don’t need to sleep. I even bleed a different color than you. I guess being a deviant means I’m not quite an android in the traditional sense either. Not that I was particularly subservient to begin with. I feel like I’m a broken machine more than a person. Not really…” His voice trailed off for nearly a full minute. “Not much of anything. Broken and not having a purpose or place.” 

Another lull in the conversation quietly drifted in. Gavin wasn’t sure what to say. 

“Maybe you could find a new purpose at the police department? Maybe take off the cyber life jacket and take out the LED ring?” Gavin suggested. 

Connor shook his head. “No, people should know what I am. I might even delude myself into thinking I’m something that I’m not.” He pulled his right hand away from the detective and stretched it out in front of him, retracting the skin and letting the light reflect off the shiny surface. He let the skin flow back over, covering the plastic up. “Can I ask you something, Detective?”

“Yeah, fire away.” Gavin said. 

“Would you still hate me so much if I was more like you? To be more human?” Connor asked. He looked at the detective with a strange vulnerability in his eyes. His face held the smallest hint of pale to it. Even with him declaring how machinelike and broken he was, the small details on his face gave Reed room to notice how incredibly human he looked. 

Gavin paused. “I don’t think I hate you now. I don’t think I could bring myself to hate you like I did. As for back then…” His voice trailed off as his brow furrowed. 

Connor interjected. “You don’t hate me now?”

It felt sudden, real, and sharp. Those five simple words. They hit the detective like a truck. 

“No. I don’t. Fuck if you think you aren’t a person, you’re person enough to me.” Gavin said, his voice raw and slightly raspy. The cold air dried his throat out the slightest bit. He half debated wrapping an arm around the android. To show him that he wasn’t lying. 

Tears welled up in Connor’s eyes, and as they trailed down his face, he looked almost surprised that they were there. He chuckled a bit, trying to laugh off the embarrassment. “I. Um- thank you detective. I suppose you aren’t just trying to make me feel better are you. Or make yourself look good for an apology.” 

Gavin shook his head and smiled ever so gently. “No you idiot. Do you think I’d spend over half an hour talking to you in the freezing cold just so I could look good and feel better about myself.”

The android smiled through the tears. Having them dry as the chilly gales of wind swept by them carrying the scent of metal on the wind. “Alright, well now that we’ve established you haven’t been replaced by cyberlife, or aliens. I think I’m ready to finally accept that apology you’ve given. 

Gavin rolled his eyes playfully. “Fuck the apology. I think I owe you something more than some fancy words. How about some drinks? I know your model can have liquids.” 

Connor looked genuinely surprised. “How did you?-”

“I’m not a detective for no reason. I’ve seen your schematics. You could even be upgraded to eat if you wanted.” Gavin said, cracking a cocky half smile. “So a mocktail wouldn’t hurt.” 

The android awkwardly laughed. “Here I thought those were trade secrets, but I guess the invite for drinks wouldn’t hurt. Do you want me and Hank there or just myself?” 

“Just you. I feel like this is sort of a one on one situation you feel?” Gavin said. 

“Then drinks after work. I’m guessing tonight?” Connor asked. 

Reed nodded. “I’ve got everything figured out, I can take you back to Hank’s after you’ve had a few things to drink. I know a great place. It’s a jazz bar, and they’ve got a nice performer on tonight.”

“You’re not planning on drinking are you?” Connor asked. 

Gavin shook his head. “Nah. I haven’t drank in a long time. Trying to quit smoking but never really been good at that. I’m sure I can order a shirley temple or something.” 

Gavin’s phone began to buzz. He rummaged around in his pocket and pulled his phone out. He could hear Fowler on the other line. He looked at Connor. As Fowler talked, there was a small quiet. “Yeah, we’re heading back now. Sorry, got sidetracked.” Gavin said, before nodding some more. “We’ll be heading back soon.” He said as he hung up the phone. 

The detective looked at Connor with a certain glint in his eyes. “Alright, show’s over. Let’s head out.” With that, the two of them headed back to the station, and for once the car ride wasn’t a fraught affair. It felt light, easy, and almost too comfortable.