Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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December 17th 2038 

9:34AM

Connor's POV

~

Snow fell in large heavy wet flakes, the sun was low over the city of Detroit. It had been a little over a month since the Android revolution. The world was still uneasy, how things would work out was still up in the air.
The peace talks were all that was on the news, shelters and designated housing for androids was already in effect, as well as working to begin paying androids for their work. Which for most places had gone into effect a week ago. 

Connor stood, ringing the doorbell of Hank’s house. It took the older human a moment before the door swung open.

“It’s fucking early Connor” Hank rumbled with a glare, though there was no real heat to it.

“I’m sorry Lieutenant. We have a case, two androids were found dead early this morning.” Connor explained, his light cycled yellow once and then blue again 

Hank didn’t say anything, letting out a sigh instead he moved into the house. Connor of course followed him in, Sumo lazily padded up to Connor, tail wagging as Connor crouched down and pet behind his ears

“I-” Hank paused, glancing over his shoulder to Connor in the entryway “Where have you been staying? You got a place yet?” 

Looking up, the android’s face held a bit of confusion at first. Yellow, blue, yellow, blinking in turn as he thought over Hank’s words “I’ve been staying at the station. Like I have been since we met.”

A small look of surprise hit Hank’s face. Sighing heavily Hank motioned for Connor “Was gonna wait til Christmas to offer this to you. But what the fuck might as well do it now.” Hank led Connor into the hallway, there was the bathroom, and Hank’s room, and a second door that Connor had never asked about as it stayed shut tight. The faded and chipped off letters spelled out ‘Cole’, so Connor hadn’t brought it up, not wanting to drudge up painful memories for Hank. 

Hank stopped in front of the door and with a hard look on his face pushed it open “If you want a proper place to stay, you can stay here.” He motioned into the room, Connor stepping into it to take a look “It ain’t much, but it’s better than standing around staring at a wall all night at the precinct.”

Connor looked at the neatly made bed, the room was fairly plain, but it was a room that was being offered. A place to call home.

The android must have been too quiet for Hank’s liking, the human staring at Connor’s stiff back. “Listen you don’t need to accept it-” Hank paused when he noticed Connor’s shoulders begin shaking. The android had leaned forward slightly, hands balled into fists, a harsh sucked in breath, Hank could just make out Connor's LED was yellow with a following of red chasing it. Hank's eyes slipped down to the floor, a few small dark spots on the carpet, Connor’s shoe.

Pushing off the doorframe Hank reached for Connor, turning him to face him with a gentle hand on the Android's shoulder and pulled him tightly into a hug.

“You're alright son”

Connor's arms wrapped tightly around Hank, gripping the man's tee-shirt in his hands he buried his face in Hank's shoulder.

Hank didn’t speak, letting Connor cry on his shoulder, his arms tightly around the android, Connor’s fingers twisted into his shirt. 

Pulling away Connor avoided Hank's eyes and wiped at his face “Sorry Lieutenant. I don't, I don't know what came over me.”

Ruffling Connor’s hair Hank shrugged “Emotions are tough kid. You didn't even let yourself feel them til recently. Cry if you gotta. It's healthy or some shit.” 

“Thank you Hank.” Connor replied softly, back to blue he wiped at his face again 

“So, you accepting the invite to move in? Or are you gonna stay at the precinct like a neglected toaster?”

Chuckling Connor nodded “I accept. Afterall, it's beneficial to our partnership if I am close by.”

Hank rolled his eyes. Shoulders slumped, he shook his head, brushing hair from his face “Sure thing Kid.” 

~

11:00am

~

Two androids had been killed, their bodies dragged into an alleyway sometime early that morning. 

Around 5am if Connor’s scans of them were accurate. 

Which it always was.

Crimes against androids was something a bit on the rise. Even though the Android Revolution had been taken well by the public, and even with constant talks and negotiations for Android equality and recognition of Androids as a sovereign people, some humans were not ready to move forward and were too stuck in the past. 

Holding tightly to their prejudices and human superiority.

It was only logical that this was most likely the work of a Human. 

However something didn't add up.

Connor was crouched beside one of the bodies, a WR400, her counterpart was an MC500.

The Traci android looked as if she hadn't stood a chance, a bullet clean through her forehead between the eyes. The MC500 however, looked like he had put up more of a fight, wrong place wrong time perhaps, the model was utilized for paramedics. He was in much rougher shape.

》<[Analyzing]>《

》MC500 Unit《

 >Three bullet wounds

 >Thirium Pump removed by force

>No finger prints

>Finger dents in throat

Connor frowned, no finger prints could in theory mean that the assailant had worn gloves. However to remove a thirium pump, a heart, it would take heavy strength. Connor stood, brushing Snow from his knees, the grey pants now dark and wet but he didn't even feel it as he focused on the scene, LED a consistent processing shade of yellow as he tried to reconstruct the scene. The dented fingermarks around the deceased Android’s throat meant the attacker most likely had not expected to get caught over the body of the WR400. 

The angle of the bullet indicated the attacker had shot her from behind, she was facing into the alleyway, as if something or someone had caused her to turn this way. 

It was hard to tell with the police having trampled the snow in the alleyway, but there was a significant splash in the entryway to the alley. 

Connor looked up, there were plenty of opportunities to perch on the apartment building. Though the fire escape ladder was broken, the descent would have caused a human to roll, or break an ankle. 

“Anything?” Hank's voice cut in causing Connor to tear his gaze from the side of the building, snapping his eyes to Hank 

“I, don't think a human did this.”

Hank was quiet, the sound of the wet road and chattering of people on the street the only sound at first. Hank let out a grunt “So, Android on Android violence?”

“Possibly. The evidence is inconclusive. I need more data.” Connor looked up the alleyway again, eyes following up the fence at the back “But it appears the most likely scenario. We're most likely looking at some kind of military or security model judging by the strength it would take to pull a thirium pump clean out of someone's chest.” 

Connor's gaze snapped back to Hank as the human hummed. His hands buried in his coat pockets to keep them warm “Not surprised. Human on human violence has always been around, and android human violence is only getting worse. Makes sense that some androids may turn on each other.” Hank frowned at the two bodies as a few police officers began to get them packed up. Hank stopped one of them. “If they have registered families, reach out to them. Same as you would anyone else. If they don't, reach out to Jericho to let them know so they can collect their dead if they want.”

One officer frowned and opened his mouth, a protest clear in the scrunch of his bushy brows but the other officer spoke up first, her voice understanding “Will do Lieutenant Anderson.”

Connor paid half attention to whatever Hank said in response, it was short and clipped clearly cutting off the protesting officer. 

Slush splashed over Connor’s shoe as he made his way to the back of the alleyway, though he didn't feel that or the cold, the bottom of his grey pants dark with water.

He had the inexplicable feeling of being watched. 

“Connor!” Hank's voice sharply cut in even though there was no real heat to it “Find something else? Or are we good to get out of the cold?”

“I am unaffected by the cold.” Connor’s eyes narrowed at the dark end of the alleyway “But I'm done here. I'd like to look over surveillance footage from the deli across the street and the traffic cam. Can we have that acquired?”

“Already requested it.” 

“Thank you Lieutenant.”

“No problem kid. Come on. I need something to eat.” Hank patted Connor on the back as they both made their way back to the street, Connor glancing one more time over his shoulder, even though he didn't see anything. 

~

December 23rd

2:00pm

~

Left, right, left, right, left-

Up, down, up, down-

Over, under, over under-

Back, forth, back, forth-

“Connor!” Hank's voice cut him out of his coin flipping. Yellow blinked, big brown eyes fluttered over to the others Human across the desk

“Yes Hank?”

“You're fidgeting more than usual.” 

“Sorry Hank. I'm trying to catalog and sort everything. I feel, as if I've missed something important.” A frown tugged at Connor’s lips. 

Left, right- Connor blinked, LED blinked once, twice with his eyes as Hank held the quarter.

“We'll find the fucker. But you can't run yourself crazy about it.”

“Ten more androids have been murdered in six single days. And all I've been able to determine is that the killer is an android, judging by the partial footprints found this morning standing somewhere around six feet or so, perhaps slightly taller. Most likely military programming judging by its strength to rip plating off and leave dents in our plates. He also has avoided surveillance, and witnesses. So he knows what he's doing and how to do it.” Connor didn't have his coin anymore, but continuously clicked a pen. Ignoring the indignant sigh from Hank at the action the android continued. 

“Two of Androids were killed with military grade sniper, which, according to the damage, was from five or six hundred yards.” 

The clicking stopped and Hank let out a relieved sigh at that, Connor didn't notice.

“Sounds like you” Hank chuckled despite himself and Connor froze. It took Hank a moment before he realized, tired eyes glancing up from his computer screen to the android across his desk.

Yellow and red chasing around Connor’s temple in a flurry of worried color. “Connor?”

《^Software Instability Detected ^》

Big brown eyes blinked rapidly a few times, falling on Hank with a deep frown. “It does.”

“Did Cyberlife have any of your freaky twins still running around?”

“No, RK800-60 was the last. All labs and facilities were cleared. There were no more RK800s to be found.”

Another sigh of relief, this time Connor noted it.

》<[Analyzing]>《

》Hank《

>Stress levels maintained at 55%

>Blood pressure elevated

>Increased caffeine intake

|| {Solution} ||

》Water and Rest《

“Perhaps we should call it a night Lieutenant."

“It’s two in the fucking afternoon Connor”

“Irrelevant. Your stress is up, and you’ve only been getting half as much sleep as is recommended” Connor said matter-of-factly. He stood, adjusting his tie, eyes scanning over the desk to see what could be left for later, and what could be done by him while Hank rested. 

“So what? I'm supposed to sleep while you beat yourself up over all of this?” Hank leaned back in his chair with raised bushy brows “Like fuck I'm letting you do that.”

“It wasn't up for debate Hank.”

A pause, Connor watched Hank stand, the older human a little taller stared at Connor a moment “I'm gonna get lunch. Then we'll go over what we know. We'll have that meeting with Markus at the Jericho building and then I'll get some rest.” A hand on Connor's shoulder. 

Warm. 

Heavy.

Grounding.

“We'll stop this killer together son.” 

Yellow, yellow, yellow, blue.

“Okay Lieutenant.”

A pause lingered, Connor felt the urge to say something, anything, the silence was, not unpleasant. But the android didn’t like it.
The evidence did in fact point to someone a lot like Connor… It settled something uneasy in the android and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Finally Hank stood with a grunt, rubbing a spot on his lower back that Connor knew bugged him after sitting for too long.
“Let’s go kid” Scooping up his keys and coat Hank turned with Connor to leave.

They passed by Gavin Reed on the way out, the other Detective narrowed his eyes at Connor specifically as they passed by, Connor ignored him, but heard the unmistakable grumbled out “Fucking Androids” the Detective muttered under his breath.  

–

Chapter Text

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December 23rd

2:00pm

Gavin Reed's POV

~

The last place Gavin wanted to be was work. Not because he didn't enjoy his job, he loved his job. It was honestly the only thing that kept him going aside from his friendship with Tina and Chris. 

The real reason he didn't want to be at work was because it still worked there. That fucking robot detective Connor. 

The android revolution had filled him with a lot of muddled feelings that challenged his world view and it left him uncomfortable and angry. 

Well, more angry than he usually was. 

Working everyday with RK800 wandering around following Hank around like a doe eyed duckling was, infuriating. 

Gavin refused to take a step back and examine why it was so infuriating. He kept it under the guise of job security, nothing more. Nothing less.

Androids becoming sentient was probably the worst thing to happen to him. His fucked up past aside. Rubbing at the scar on his nose he entered the precinct at 2pm when he was scheduled, android crimes were currently they're own department. But with Androids fighting to be recognized as alive he knew it was only a matter of time before their ‘deaths’ would be clumped into homicide and would triple his workload.

Gavin's arms crossed over his chest as he saw Hank heading towards the door, Connor trailing behind him like a dog, all big brown eyes and that stupid face of his

“Fucking Androids” he muttered with a sneer. Neither Connor or Hank noticed, at least Gavin didn't think they did as neither turned to face him. 

Good. He didn't care.

“Who pissed in your cereal?”

Gavin tore his eyes from the holes he was trying to stare into the android’s back as he slipped out of view. His gaze turned to Tina, she was giving him a raised brow and expectant look 

“Nobody pissed in anything” 

“Then don’t look like it. Are your panties still in a twist over Connor knocking you out? You did pull a gun and shoot at him Gavin.” She crossed her arms over her uniform 

A laugh, more of a scoffing sneer left the Detective’s lips “Yeah whatever. I’ll keep ignoring him unless he guns for my job.”

Rolling her eyes Tina slapped him on the back “He’s not after your job Gavin. No one is. Besides, if you’re good at your job, which you are, then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Says you” It was muttered out and caused Tina to frown a little but she didn’t comment on it. She could argue with Gavin about it all day and it wouldn’t get through to him. The officer had a bet with Chris, that if Gavin could just get to know an android personally, he’d be a lot more understanding. 

“Whatever.” Tina tipped her head to the side “What are your Christmas plans?”

“Working.”

“Why?”

A stiff pause, Gavin didn't turn to her as he entered the breakroom, pouring a cup of coffee with tense shoulders. An irritated click of his tongue before he spoke

“I tell you every year. I don't have any family. So why waste overtime and holiday pay to sit around with my hand in my pants?”

He ignored the frown on her face.

“What about you? Going out of town to see your folks again this year?” Gavin needed the subject off him. He needed sappy Christmas conversation like he needed a bullet in the brain.

Except maybe the bullet would be preferable once he thought about it.

“Yeah, I was going to.” Tina leaned on the counter to get a good look at Gavin's face “You can come too Y'know. Mom loves you to death.”

“Mrs Chen has only ever seen me in a few video calls and some pictures you posted online. She doesn't know me. And if she did, she'd hate me the same as everyone else.” Gavin sneered and with another irritated click of his tongue took a sip of his coffee, “Besides. My alone ass working Christmas means someone with kids can have the day off. So there's my good deed for the year leave it alone” Gavin muttered behind his coffee cup, frowning when it burnt his tongue

“I got work to do T. Just let me do it.” was added when Tina opened her mouth to say something. 

He hadn’t meant to brush her off so harshly, but Gavin had this conversation with her every year since they met, he'd also already had this conversation with Chris, and with Fowler when his boss had tried to give him the holiday off and he'd burst into the office and demanded he give the day off to someone else.

Gavin had work to do. That's what was important. Not some holiday spent alone or awkwardly with someone else's family. 

~

6:00pm

~

“Fucking finally” Gavin grumbled. The last four hours had been spent filing paper work and going over dead end cases. 

Now however, there was a fresh body and he was finally getting to stretch his legs and work. 

The sun was long gone, joys of it being December, and snow was coming down in small fluttered flakes that settled in Gavin's hair and sat delicately on his shoulders.

As he approached the scene, the first responders talking to a human, she looked maybe 16 or 17. The poor girl looked so out of it, her narrow dark eyes vacant as she stared out the back of the ambulance, she didn't look hurt at first glance though, Gavin was grateful for that.

“What do we got?” Gavin asked the officer that had first arrived on the scene

“A human woman and an Android. Both dead.” The officer, whose badge read ‘Wilkens’ responded behind his prickly graying mustache “The daughter over there got home and saw the killer. The kid's name is Lena.”

“Thank you.” Gavin let out a heavy breath, relaxing his shoulders, and his face. He didn't want to come off as a douchebag to the poor girl. 

Despite how he was happily an ass to everyone else. 

Kids were different. 

“Hey Lena,” He started staying at arms length. “I know you don't wanna talk about it, but I need to know what you saw.” He pulled out a small handheld recording “Is it alright if I ask you a couple of questions about what happened?” Gavin kept his tone soft, kept his body language small. If she had witnessed the murders then the last thing he wanted was to upset her, even if she hadn't seen anything, her guardians were dead. Gavin hadn't seen the scene fully yet, but judging by what he had seen through the open front door, there was a lot of blood everywhere. 

Both blue and red.

The poor teenager had been staring past Gavin, she finally looked at Gavin, but the Detective still felt as if she were looking through him.
“Can you tell me what you saw when you got home?”

“Mom was-There was a strange android” She said and her voice sounded so distant. This sort of thing never got easier for Gavin. Not really, it at least most of the time didn’t keep him up. Or maybe that’s why he struggled to sleep every night. 

“How did you know it was an android?” 

“Its light was glowing, and it-it was wearing one of those coats. Like the CyberLife ones.” Her eyes watered, Lena pulled the shock blanket tighter around her “It had Milo-there was so much blood-so much blood” A sob shook her and she leaned forward. 

Gavin place a gentle hand on her knee “Take a breath. Take your time”

“It didn’t seem all that interested in Mom, until she went at it with a knife to try and get it to let go of Milo”

“Milo is?”

“Our Android, well not ours we don’t-we don’t own him. He became Deviant a few weeks ago around the revolution, but chose to-to stay with us” Another sob and Gavin gave her knee a reassuring squeeze 

“It just-looked at me.” Lena sucked in a shaking breath “It didn’t touch me, didn’t say a single word, just… Walked right out the front door. But I will never forget its face” 

“Okay, thank you” Gavin spoke softly “You were very brave to call the police.”

“My parents are dead” Lena said the tears still running heavy tracks down her round cheeks 

This was the first time Gavin had ever heard someone refer to an android as one of their parents. He supposed that was the time he was living in.
“I’m sorry. Has your next of Kin been contacted? An aunt or uncle? Grandparents?” 

Lena nodded “Milo had an android that was like a sister. She’s supposed to come get me” 

“Good. Good you’ll be safe with her” Gavin had no idea if she would actually be safe with this Android Aunt, but it was better than being on her own. Gavin ignored the loud car that pulled up and ignored the sound of Hank’s voice. Of course Hank and his plastic lap dog were also put on the case.
Lena’s eyes had trailed past Gavin, of course, Gavin assumed she was probably fascinated by the puppy dog Android.
Gavin had not expected the look of utter horror to paint the teens face as she stared wide eyed at the duo

Gavin would have made a joke, but she genuinely looked scared
“Lena?”

“Him” The word came out shaking, quiet. She pointed with a sob “He killed my parents!” 

Gavin’s head snapped over to Hank and Connor, Connor noticed him staring, gave him that stupid head tilt and wave. 

Gavin had the urge to flip the android off, but the girl beside him standing pulled his attention back to her “Connor didn’t kill your folks. He’s,” Gavin tried not to grit his teeth when he said the next part “He’s one of the good guys”

Lena shook her head, standing on shaking feet, the shock blanket fell as Connor and Hank approached them.
“No” She said, fresh angered tears filling her eyes “He killed my parents!” She cried out pointing right at Connor “I would never forget his face. He stared right at me as he-he pulled my Dad’s heart out! Didn’t even say a fucking word as he killed my mother!”

Connor had froze, blinking with a yellow circling light 

Hank looked almost constipated with confusion
“I’m sorry, you must be mistaken, I understand this is a very difficult time.” Connor frowned, that stupid puppy look that made Gavin want to punch him

“That Thing murdered-Its a murderer!” Lena was shaking and Gavin exchanged a look with Hank

“Hey, it’s been a long night-” Gavin started raising his hands with a shrug of his shoulders. Gavin shouted as the teenager grabbed his gun from his hip and pulled it, pointing it at Connor 

“Woah what the fuck kid!” Gavin put a hand over hers, his other hand palm out as he ducked his head to look at her “Give me the gun Lena” 

“He killed my family!” 

Hank had started to step forward but Connor put an arm out in front of Pete
“Why do you think I killed your family?” Connor’s voice was smooth, calm and slow, one arm blocking Hank, the other hand was up in soft surrender. 

“You stared at me, you walked right past me covered in the blood of my parents!”

Gavin pushed her hands down with enough force to do so “Listen, we’ll figure this all out. Just get your finger off the trigger before someone gets hurt okay?” 

The gun was almost pointing to the ground and Gavin took it from her loosened grip 

“I-I’m sorry-”

Gavin looked at Hank and Connor, Connor looked like he was going to start smoking from the years from how hard he was staring.
Hank stepped forward and ducked his head to meet the teens face “It’s okay Kid. We’ll figure it out. Right now let’s see if your Aunt is here okay?” Hank led her towards one of the squad cars, casting a glance to Gavin and Connor

“Why does she think you killed her family?” Gavin’s voice was low, distrust swimming along the edges, his hand tightened slightly around his gun before he put it back in its holster. “She tried to shoot you Tincan.”

Connor’s light was blinking yellow with bits of red and Gavin swallowed heavily. A sliver of worry that he had pissed the android off and was about to get his shit rocked… Again. But this time, he wondered if Connor would finish him off. 

“I don’t know Detective” Connor admitted with a frown

“Fucking androids” Gavin hissed crossing his arms over his chest. As Connor moved to examine the crime scene, Gavin watched his back. He didn’t know a ton about Hank and Connor’s current case. But he knew that an android was suspected, they had found virtually nothing but bodies.
What he had peeked of the evidence, and of their working theory, it seemed, sketchy. 

“Connor what did you do?” 

Maybe Connor wasn’t one of the good guys afterall. Was the last thought that crossed Gavin’s mind as the Android detective disappeared into the house.