For Connor, it all started with the fish.
For Hank, it all started with an unexpected encounter at Jimmy's Bar.
For Gavin, it all started in one of the DPD's interrogation rooms.
For RK900, it had all yet to start.
Pairings: Hank/Connor, RK900/Gavin
Hank&Gavin, Connor&Gavin, Connor&North, North&Gavin, Hank&Jeffrey
Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Partnership, Robot/Human Relationships, Humor, Fluff, Pining, Slow Burn, Dialogue Heavy, Conversations, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Post-Canon, Canon Continuation, Gavin Reed Redemption, Rating May Change, Other Additional Tags To Be Added
Notes: So, it seems like this fandom swallowed me whole.
Had a few years back someone told me I'd be shipping a 53-year-old dude with an android, I would have given them a weird look. Yet here I am.
God bless you guys and all of the internet for the unexplainable phenomenon that is 900Gavin for it is a National Treasure™ and should be protected (and I still wake up every day wondering how it managed to come to existence on such a grand scale, but it is as amazing as it is baffling/fascinating and just yes please do carry on—)
Experience has shown that I am unable to write short stories, and once I get into "the zone" with something, I'll end up plotting a story into oblivion, so if you're into this kind of thing, buckle up and enjoy my struggles at trying to figure out how the DBH universe actually works.
Chapter 1: One Last Mission
"So, you're a full-fledged deviant now, huh?" Hank asked, as he held Connor close. "I could say that's the last thing I saw coming, but then I'd be lying."
They'd seen each other briefly back at CyberLife Tower barely a few days ago, but events had kept them apart again until now. Truth be told, the whole situation felt surreal - just like seeing Connor playing an active part in the android revolution had been surreal - but it really wasn't that surprising.
He had suspected something like that might happen from the moment they had had their last conversation back at the DPD, where he'd agreed to buy his partner time by punching Perkins square in the face. He had asked 'What if we're on the wrong side, Connor?' back then, and Connor had seemed lost at the question just as much as at the implication that he was capable of showing empathy.
Something in Hank's gut had told him that things would end up this way. Or rather, for some unfathomable reason, he had hoped they would.
"I suppose you always knew something was... off with me." There was a hint of fondness in Connor's voice.
"Starting from the point where you never listened to a goddamn word I said?"
Hank was exaggerating, of course. Not wanting to stay behind in the car when ordered to wasn't much of a sign of deviancy, was it? All the times where Connor ended up endangering himself while being told to stay put, however...
"All in all, CyberLife fucked up big time, huh?"
"You have no idea, Hank." That didn't sound like much of a joke, considering how grave Connor's voice sounded all of a sudden.
Hank raised his eyebrows and pulled away from their hug, placing both hands on the android's shoulders. "Well, you can tell me all about it back home. Come on, it's freezing out here."
Connor blinked. He didn't move.
"Before that..." The android hesitated, then frowned with resolve in his eyes. "I wanted to ask for your help."
"...Again?" Hank couldn't help but smile at that. Hopefully, it didn't involve breaking someone's nose this time around. "You're going to be the death of me, Connor. What is it this time?"
"I need to speak to Captain Fowler. But considering..."
"Aha." Something clicked. "But considering you're off the case and dismissed, you lack the authority to get inside of the DPD anymore."
Right. Connor hadn't come here specifically because he wanted to see him. He had come here because he wanted something from him.
Connor and his missions. It seemed like that was something that hadn't changed, deviant or no.
Hank continued, "I'm currently suspended from work, but that doesn't mean I couldn't enter the building if I wanted to."
The android blinked again, frowning the tiniest bit. "Is it because of me?"
"Yeah, well. Don't worry about it," Hank waved it off, letting him go, and turned to leave. His car wasn't far away. "Can't say I didn't enjoy beating the shit out of Perkins, that fucker. He had it coming."
Connor stood in place for a second more before he followed Hank without another word.
"Good morning, captain. I hope I'm not interrupting," said Connor as he entered Fowler's room with Hank by his side. "I wanted to have a word with you. I'll be brief, I promise."
"Hey, Jeffrey."
"Well I'll be damned," Fowler both looked and sounded surprised. "Didn't think I'd ever see you here again, considering... well, you know, what's currently happening out there," he gestured in the general direction of the building's entrance. "Connor, wasn't it?"
"Correct."
"With most of Detroit evacuated, things are all over the place here right now," Fowler informed him. "Well, I'm all ears. What brings you back here?"
And with that, Connor cut straight to the chase.
"It's about the evidence Lieutenant Anderson and I managed to collect throughout our deviant cases. I am aware that, technically, the androids located in the evidence room are... well, still evidence," Connor emphasized with a short pause. "However, one of the androids in the DPD's possession is someone important to Markus, the leader of the revolution. And it's my fault he's in there."
"Okay." Fowler nodded, registering what had just been said. "Okay, I know what you're trying to get at," he said, then thought for a moment. "Listen. I know Warren acknowledged you guys being... alive and whatnot. There's no doubt some laws are going to change. But knowing how things usually work, that's going to take a while," he went on. "I cannot just bend the current laws to my will."
Judging by Connor's reaction - or rather lack thereof - that wasn't what he wanted to hear. "...I understand."
Fowler looked at Hank, stared at him for a moment, then leaned close over the desk and gestured for Connor to do the same. Hank leaned in instinctively, as well.
"Would you be able to hack the cameras in the precinct?" Fowler asked in a shushed voice.
From the corner of his eye, Hank could see how Connor stilled at the question. "I should be able to do that, yes."
"There's usually nobody here during the night. We're short on staff with the evacuation order up and about, and after the androids that worked here made a run for it..."
"Heh," and here Hank was, having been wondering if he'd need to start butting in. "Would be a pity if one of the deviants managed to get down to the evidence room during all the commotion, right?" He gave the captain a smile. "Thanks, Jeffrey."
"Just be careful. Don't leave any traces behind," Fowler was shaking a finger at them. "And if anybody asks, this conversation never happened."
"Copy that, captain," Connor gave the man a polite nod, then turned to leave.
"Also, Connor," Fowler stopped him before he could open the door. "Since you're not anyone's property anymore, CyberLife can't assign you to me, and since you're not officially a person yet, I can't hire you either," the captain explained. "However, everything's fucked right now. Nobody knows how anything's supposed to work anymore. If you'd care to lend us a helping hand with police work again, I wouldn't say no."
"Noted, captain. Thank you, I appreciate it."
"That makes two of us," Hank pointed out. "Thanks for doing this, Jeffrey."
"Not that I'm not doing it for our own benefit," Fowler argued. "The truth is that we could use all the help we can get. As I said, we're short on staff right now. And until some new laws go through, androids still can't get paid. Just keep that in mind, if anything."
Connor only gave a slow nod before he opened the door and both he and Hank made their way outside.
"I suppose that went better than anticipated," Connor commented in what sounded like a state of slight awe.
"You can say that again," Hank agreed. "It's like he's actually in a good mood today."
The android turned to look at the ceiling, and when Hank followed his gaze, he noticed that the focus of Connor's attention was one of the DPD's cameras.
"The security here is weaker than in CyberLife Tower," Connor concluded. "I should be able to interact with all of the cameras from a single entry point. They seem to be connected to a single network."
"Something has weaker security than CyberLife? Such a shocker, right there," Hank snorted. "Wait, you're able to tell just by looking at those things?"
Connor turned to look at Hank. "I'm able to hack them just by looking at them. I know it's possible because that's precisely what I did back at the tower." A smile made its way to Connor's lips. "Wireless connection is a thing, Lieutenant."
"Jesus fuck, who in their right mind allowed this shit." Granted, he assumed CyberLife didn't foresee androids going deviant and abusing their power in such a way, but still... this was a serious matter of security. That shit should have been banned from miles away.
"If it's of any comfort, not all android models possess such an ability," Connor assured. "Being an advanced prototype has its good sides."
"Yeah, yeah, flatter yourself more." Hank wasn't about to admit he was proud. "So, what's the plan?"
A few hours later, the man found himself sitting in his car with two androids.
"Okay, I know you guys have computers for brains and don't forget anything, but let's go over this one more time so that nobody fucks anything up," Hank spoke up, staring at the entrance of the DPD building. "I park the car near the entrance in the camera's blind spot, then Connor gets out to hack the surveillance network."
"I'm going to loop the feed for ten minutes. That should be not enough to cause suspicion and enough for us to get what we need and leave."
Hank still wanted to argue that ten minutes was cutting it really fine in case unexpected things happened, but both Connor and North insisted that was more than enough for them, based on Connor's earlier infiltration of the chamber.
He had no other choice but to trust them on this one.
"Then I join Connor with the bags while you wait here for our return," North continued explaining. "Once we're back, you floor it," she added, narrowing her eyes at him. "Not very complicated, is it?"
"Yeah, just humor me here," Hank raised a hand. "We ready to go?"
"Ready as we'll ever be," North's voice turned serious again. She was trying to put up a brave front, but Hank could tell she was nervous. "Let's do this."
Speaking of unexpected things... This was the moment where Hank wanted to bash his head against the steering wheel. Hard.
Having tensely watched as Connor did his weird blinky-light shit under the camera and then had North join him, Hank's attention was suddenly caught by a glimpse of motion in his rearview mirror.
To his horror, it was Gavin. Gavin fucking Reed was leaving the PD building.
With their plan going to shit barely after it even started, Hank hurriedly scrambled out of his car to intercept the detective before he could see in detail what his companions were doing.
"The fuck are you two doing here?"
"You took the words right out of my mouth, Reed." Hank approached the three, trying to sound nonchalant. "Why the hell didn't you evacuate with everyone else? Or better yet, why the fuck aren't you in bed? It's almost 2 AM."
"Funny you're the one asking me that, Anderson. Last time I heard, you got suspended." Gavin narrowed his eyes, then gestured to the two androids. "The fuck is going on here?"
Hank saw Connor and North exchanging glances, their LED rings flickering yellow.
"And you, dipshit." Gavin approached Connor, pointing a finger at his chest. "Don't think I've forgotten our last encounter."
"You were trying to shoot me, detective." Connor frowned at him but didn't move an inch. "I only acted in self-defense."
"Yeah, because you were communicating with your broken deviant buddies down in the archive room! Which was creepy as fuck, by the way."
"Okay, I've had enough of this." North was clearly out of patience by now. Her gaze jumped back and forth between Connor and Hank. "Are we shooting him now or later?"
"The fuck?"
"As much as it pains me to say this, we can't just..." Hank sighed in defeat. Why was this his life right now... "Reed, listen. Back off this one time, would you? We'll be off your case in a few minutes. No trouble for anybody."
"Good one, Hank." That seemed to get Gavin's attention back to him, at least. "What, you helping these tin cans with the revolution now? Weren't you eager to start dumpster fires with these things inside of them like barely a few days ago?"
"Yeah, well. Believe it or not, people change."
"Ha! Robo-boy got you good." Gavin laughed and clapped, clearly amused.
Nobody else was laughing.
"Okay, we really don't have time for this." That was the moment when North approached Gavin, and Hank feared for the worst. "Listen, I'm not a cop and I couldn't care less about one shitty human's well-being. Either you let us through, or we're going to do this the hard way."
"Feisty, this one." Reed crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Someone let you off a leash or what?"
"Okay, that's enough." Hank moved, getting between the androids and the asshole. "You two, go."
"Hey!"
Gavin reached for his gun, but to Hank's relief, Connor and North took his order to heart and were gone before the detective managed so much as to touch it. That apparently changed his mind and he left the weapon in its holster.
He turned back to Hank instead, finger pointing in his face.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't report you to Fowler for this," he hissed.
Hank knew he shouldn't mention anything about their conversation with Jeffrey earlier. Especially not to Reed. He needed to push his luck however he could. "Fowler won't do anything."
"Oh, yeah?" Gavin's eyebrows rose in a mocking challenge.
"Listen, Reed, the androids down there are still alive." Honestly, Hank felt tired. He really didn't need Gavin's shit right now. "It's inhumane just to keep them locked up as 'evidence'. Show a bit of heart for once in your life."
That earned him a spiteful look and a few seconds of silence.
And then Gavin was taking a step back from him, looking all agitated.
"I can't fucking believe this," he muttered, before turning back in Hank's direction, the accusatory finger back in his face. "You're out of your goddamn mind and you're going to lose your job because of this, old man."
"Sue me if it makes you feel better." Hank tilted his head, raising his chin upwards. "Sometimes it's about doing the right thing."
Reed shook his head in disapproval, looking only more and more agitated with each passing second. And then he took off, running into the building.
Hank didn't trust him with anything, so he quickly followed suit.
When they made it to the bottom of the stairwell, the two androids were still standing before the input panel in the center of the room.
Connor was obscuring most of the screen, but Gavin could see the computer's 'ACCESS DENIED' text showing in bright, red letters.
"Hank, did you... actually change your password?" Connor asked in puzzlement, turning in their direction.
"What?" The man sounded just as confused. "Why would I do that?"
"Well, your 'fuckingpassword' isn't 'fuckingworking'!"
"Aww." Gavin almost felt bad for them. Almost. "Did you forget you're suspended, old man? The system must have cut you off."
"...Fuck."
Well, whatever kind of plan they had for their little adventure here, it was going to shit pretty fast, as far as Gavin was concerned. It was kind of hilarious.
"You were able to hack the security network," the female android cut in. "Can't you just hack this one, too?"
"I've already tried," Connor shook his head, sounding resigned, his hand still connected to the panel. "It's no use."
"Well, then." That was the moment when the amber-blond-haired lady's gaze met his, and she took a step towards him. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way," she offered. "The easy way is that someone with a password opens the door here, and we do what we need to."
"Hah," Gavin crossed his arms defensively - not that he was at all nervous. Fuck that. "If you think I'm going to give you mine, you've got another thing coming."
She was stepping closer, slowly. So agonizingly slowly, as if there was some kind of promise in those eyes. Most likely a painful one.
Gavin was determined not to let her have any of it.
"The hard way is that we smash the door down, possibly using someone who wasn't being helpful as a battering ram."
As soon as those words made their way out of her artificial mouth, a soft beeping sound echoed throughout the chamber - and before any of them knew it, the panel hiding the evidence slid up to reveal what was behind.
All of a sudden, Gavin felt like punching someone.
"Fucking—"
"Humans can be so predictable sometimes," Connor looked at him with a knowing smile and it took all of the detective's willpower not to draw his gun and fire it into that smug face of his.
"...Fucking androids."
"Exactly that, detective," the android nodded, very helpfully.
Hank gave Gavin a suspicious look.
"Shut up."
Reed actually recognized the female android that was with them. He'd been watching the news when the revolution was happening - honestly, he doubted there had been anyone in all of Detroit who hadn't. Considering the scale of the whole thing, the news outlets had barely reported on anything else back then. And either it was another identical model - which he doubted - or this was one of the androids that were close to the leader of the revolution.
It just figured, that Connor, of all those fuckers, would be swimming with the big fish.
Gavin watched as said female android was fiddling with the tin can that was hung up on the very right side of the wall. Connor was kneeling on the floor further away from her, preparing the backpacks and containers they seemed to have brought along.
The plastic asshole stole glances at him from time to time, undoubtedly unsettled, and Gavin couldn't help but have an uncomfortable moment of deja vu.
"Simon... Can you hear me?"
Well, that was definitely a change in tone compared to when she had been talking to him.
"...North? Is that you?"
From what Gavin could tell, the reactivated android's eyesight was fucked.
"We've come to get you out of here."
"Where's Markus? Is he alright?"
"He's fine," North assured. "He wanted to come here for you himself but he's currently caught up in something else."
Markus, right. That was the leader of the revolution, Gavin recalled.
"I see." There was something sad in the blond's voice. "Well, I'm glad to hear he's alright."
"Simon, I'm going to put you into stasis again, for safety. The next time you wake up, you'll be in Jericho," the female android continued. "That's a promise."
"That sounds lovely. Thank you, North."
North. The android's name was North.
Not that Gavin cared.
She placed her hand on the other android's chest, and shortly afterward, her friend's limbs went limp, the sound of him shutting off echoing in the chamber.
"That's creepy as fuck," Gavin couldn't stop himself from commenting.
"You know what else is creepy?" North snapped back at him, fists clenched as if she was ready for a fight at any moment. "Your goddamn face."
Hank snorted next to him.
"Shut it, Anderson." He didn't need the guy interrupting his fun. "I'm starting to wonder what's your general malfunction," Gavin sneered. "You on your period or something?"
If looks could kill... "You'll end up on one if you don't shut up."
"I used one of Daniel's parts in order to be able to reactivate Simon when I came down here before," Connor interrupted them and Gavin knew he did it on purpose. "They're the same model."
"Meaning that we won't be able to reactivate Daniel at the moment," North concluded. "That's fine; we're short on time, anyway. And I'm sure we'll find the right parts back at Jericho."
It came to Gavin's attention that for all the space that was prepared in the room, only two android models were there. How many deviant cases had Anderson and the plastic prick been assigned to again?
"Let's get them both out of here."
Hank and Gavin ended up staying on the other side of the room. A few minutes passed as Connor and North prepared the two incapacitated androids. In the meantime, Reed seemed to relax, no longer attempting to aggressively obstruct the group. Had he secretly taken a chill pill? What did one know, miracles did happen.
Hank took out his phone, checking the time.
"Hey, I kinda like her style."
And then he looked at the detective, wondering if he'd just gone senile. "I always knew you weren't right in the head, Reed," Hank commented with little amusement. "What, surprised an android doesn't just stand there and take your shit?"
"It's definitely a refreshing change compared to your piece of plastic."
"Well, start getting used to it." Hank turned back to look at the androids. They were finally done with the packing and ready to leave. "Connor has every right to say no to your antics now, too."
"Can't wait for the day it happens," Reed spoke, sarcasm practically dripping from his voice.
Hank pushed himself off from the wall as North and Connor passed through the glass door, both of them nodding at him before sprinting for the corridor.
"You owe me for this."
"Thanks, Reed."
Minutes later, they were far away from the PD building. Thank fuck, at least the 'flooring it' part had seemed to go according to plan.
Hank stopped the car in a spot that North had specified earlier. Both Connor and North wasted no time in getting out of the vehicle, and Hank watched them approach the trunk before he killed the engine and opened the door to get out himself.
"Thanks for your help, Connor. We wouldn't have been able to do this without you."
"There's no need to thank me, North." Connor shook his head. "If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be there in the first place."
"Well, you're right," North agreed. "If it wasn't for you, he'd probably be dead by now. I'm sure someone else would have found him instead."
That seemed to make Connor go silent.
"So, what's the plan now?" Hank approached them and watched what he assumed to be other Jericho members coming their way. "I take it you'll be going back to your android buddies? Try to figure things out for yourself?"
"I..." Connor averted his gaze to the side. If Hank didn't know better, he'd have said his friend seemed lost all of a sudden.
The androids that approached them were clearly here to take over what they'd retrieved. To where, exactly, Hank wasn't sure. And he doubted he'd get to find out anytime soon.
"Connor, you know you can stay with us, right?" North turned back in the android's direction. "As Markus already said, your place is with your people."
There was definitely something off about Connor. Hank was sure he wasn't just imagining it.
"I appreciate it, North. But there's somewhere else I need to be."
North gave Connor a suspicious, slightly unsettled look. Then her gaze jumped to him. The lieutenant frowned back in kind.
"Okay, spill," Hank instantly demanded the moment the car doors closed shut. "What's the deal with that?"
"I can't stay there." Connor turned away from him, looking through the window. "Or rather... I don't want to stay there."
"How so?"
"Markus said that they could use the skills of someone like me. Someone who would be good at negotiating with people. And I understand that. But..."
"But?"
"Staying with them just somehow... doesn't feel right. I don't feel like I'm welcome there, no matter what they say."
"Holy shit, you're feeling guilty," Hank concluded in slight awe. "Well... Can't say I don't understand where you're coming from. There are things in life I regret doing, too. Some of those aren't that easy to just... let go of."
"I was hunting down my own people. And I was the reason why Jericho came under attack," Connor went on. "...I suppose guilt is the appropriate description for what I'm feeling."
'Feeling.' It was such an odd word when it came alongside such an admission, from someone who was supposed to be nothing more but a machine little more than a week ago. The reality right now was that Connor had the capacity to feel emotions, and Hank needed to wrap his mind more properly around the idea. He knew this was now a thing, but the realization of what it really meant was only starting to be getting through to him.
It was... an odd thought.
"If it's any comfort, you were just doing what—" what you were designed to do, Connor's voice echoed in his head. He'd heard that line from his android partner enough times by now. "—what you felt was right at the time. Nobody should blame you for... for the way people programmed you to behave, or whatever. In the end, what matters is that you changed." Hank halfheartedly pointed a finger in his direction. "Besides, how many deviants did you successfully hunt down in the end? Most of them managed to escape from us, for one reason or another."
Like that android with the little girl, for instance. Connor was too stubborn for his own good and had pursued them, picking up chase along the highway, but he hadn't managed to catch them in the end. Hank would be lying if he said that he didn't wonder about it sometimes - whether that was purely a case of bad luck or if Connor had actually started to doubt his actions along the way and hesitation had caused him to fail. He was definitely capable of outrunning either of the two androids he'd been hunting back then.
"When you put it that way, I clearly sucked at my job." The admission would probably be a tad worrying if it weren't for the hint of amusement in Connor's voice.
Hank couldn't help but smirk back at him. "It all turned out well in the end, didn't it?"
A moment of silence stretched out between them.
"Nobody's perfect, Connor. Everybody makes mistakes - human or android, it doesn't matter. What's important is that you learn from them," Hank continued. "Fucking up is all part of being alive. Welcome to the club, buddy."
At that, Connor gave him a tiny, fond smile.
At this point, Hank could tell something about Connor was different. He'd been observing him ever since they met back at Chicken Feed, and there had been no clear hints when he was asking him for help or entering the DPD. It was pretty evident by this point, however.
The way Connor moved, the way he talked... The way his expressions changed. His gestures were more expressive, more raw, more unscripted - less mechanical, somehow. Subtle twitches here and there, his eyes roaming around with less purpose, almost as if he was lost, or even shy, at times.
It was probably to be expected since he became deviant, but seeing it for himself was still rather unexpected.
"So, where are we going?" Hank finally asked. "You said there was somewhere you still needed to go?"
Connor looked away, staring at the front window in a moment of silence. "...I don't know."
And that made him frown. "Wait, what? But you said—"
"I lied," Connor admitted. "Getting Simon out of the evidence room was the last mission I was set on completing. I have no more directives anymore."
Hank kept staring at his partner with a contemplative frown on his face. For some reason, he couldn't help but think back to the first android they'd caught and the things he'd said back in the interrogation room. How suddenly he'd found himself in a situation where nobody had been giving him orders anymore and he had no idea what to do, so he ended up hiding in the attic for three weeks before he finally got found...
Deviancy gave androids free will and the ability to set their priorities and make choices for themselves... and they had no idea what to do with it. Hank couldn't help but wonder if it was any different for Connor right now.
Imagining the android walking the streets in this weather for the next three weeks - or more - without knowing what to do with himself crossed Hank's mind and something foul twisted in his stomach. Not a chance, that wasn't even an option. He'd be damned if he let Connor tackle all of this on his own.
"Okay, question," Hank finally spoke up. "Do you have anywhere else to stay aside from Jericho?"
Connor turned to look at him. "Markus said that he'll be working on establishing some temporary shelter for all androids that need it as things settle down after the revolution. However, as things are at the moment..."
"Do I need to repeat my question?"
"Not really, no," Connor answered and Hank just kept staring at him. "...To both of your questions," he blinked repeatedly, then looked away.
Yep, there was definitely something different about Connor, and the more Hank observed him, the more apparent it was.
"Then we're going to my place." With that settled, Hank started the car. "You need to tell me how your whole deviancy streak started," he added, firmly. "And I need a drink."
Notes:
A few hours later, Hank found himself sitting in his car with two androids.
Two pretty androids. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
"When you put it that way, I clearly sucked at my job."
"Yeah, well, I know something else you can suck on now," Hank ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)'ed.
I know a lot of people don't like North, but personally, I love her. Fight me.
A big thank you to Xolf for proofreading! :D And for being an amazing sounding board, for that matter - the scene with the "fuckingandroids" password was his idea. :)