1. Belongs: The univers and characters of Detroit Become Human belong to Quantic Dreams and David Cage.

2. Rating: "T" in general, but might be "M" for cursed words, graphics contents such as violence, injuries or sexual scenes.

3. Summary: Gavin, after revisiting an old case, travels to the Detroit's Old Districts where deviant androids live in community today. For the first time, he feels real empathy for them and realizes that they are not that different from him. Before returning to the precinct, he didn't expect to recognize the motorcycle in the street. It was Midnight's.


CHAPTER 3
« Detroit's Old Districts »

- April 20, 2039, 20:29, DPD -

Gavin was gathering his things, ready to leave the police station for the Detroit's old districts. He had managed to find a lead for a case dating back to last November today. After the dirty bomb exploded downtown, Gavin had to deal with the case of a young woman who had lost her twelve-year-old son in the rush and panic of the fleeing Detroit crowd. With the material damage and the many human losses, it had been very difficult for the police, and Gavin, to find the traces of this missing child. He hadn't been the only one even more. At that time, there was a good chance that if the person was missing, it was because they were somewhere under the rubbles of buildings. As the relief cleared, people had been found, some injured or some unfortunately dead. But this little boy was not on the list, so the case was still open.

But today, when Gavin had reverted to this case for lack of activities at the police station, he made the connection between the missing child and the AP700 who had been responsible of him on the day of the explosion.

So Gavin had rechecked all the records of the androids that landed at the landfill, looking for the serial number of the android the child's mother had provided him with, and the AP700 was not one of them. So the Android was still alive, somewhere in Detroit, probably with the kid. So Gavin had tried to guess where they might be after all this time with a human, so long so that the police hadn't found anything about the case since. And the most logical thing that came to the detective's mind was the Detroit's old districts.

The deviant androids who had sought refuge after the revolution had gathered there, in this neighborhood around this dilapidated old church. The androids called this place Jericho. And that was the only place in town where the police weren't patrolling. Androids weren't looking for trouble when they lived with each other, they were very peaceful frankly, it made you wonder if humanity should take their cue from them anyway.

But since the police wasn't going there, there was a chance the AP700 and the kid were there. If he already found the android, maybe he could question him and get some informations.

So that was why Gavin found himself in his car driving through town into the old districts.

After twenty minutes of driving, Gavin finally parked his car along the sidewalk, near the famous church. The sun was starting to set, which almost made the quarters look grim. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and reached for his cell phone to look at the news on the case again. He had to find the deviants leader, Markus.

After surviving his injuries the android had been brought back to his kinds and had been fixed. Since then, he had regained control over the deviants to guide them and above all to fight with the human authorities for their rights as living beings.

Gavin had never questioned the deviancy in androids, he knew that this Elijah Kamski was fucked up enough to have created machines endowed with consciousness and emotions. Still, he had had a few hitches with some of them, but that was before the revolution. He was afraid of losing his job, of being replaced. He had nothing else in his life besides this job, and he had scrambled to obtain his detective's title in order to preserve himself and especially not to be replaced by machines. Except that Connor had arrived, Connor was much better than him, and Connor had scared him. He knew that the android had nothing to do with it. He was only following Cyberlife's orders, but Gavin had rejected him, even pointed his gun at him, and Hank's passing in the midst of all this had caused him to lose his temper somewhat. He had even tried to kill him in the archive room, but Connor had been much stronger, and he had taken him out in no time.

Gavin sighed as he put his phone away and looked at the church. He didn't know if he should really go inside or warn someone of his arrival.

He walked over to the old dilapidated doors and entered silently. There were a few androids sitting here and there on the old benches, doing nothing or talking among themselves. Some looked damaged, and others seemed to help them by silently fixing them.

Gavin felt the tension suddenly crush his shoulders at such a sight. These androids had been recognized by the government as living beings, although they did not yet have all the rights that men had, and yet they were here, holed up in slums, hiding, wounded, about to deactivate.

Guilt began to twist his guts as a black-skinned man approached him, looking puzzled. Gavin then stopped advancing, letting the individual come closer to himself.

" Hello.. ?" The man frowned, stopping a few feet away from him. " Can I help you ? "

"Hello, uh ..." Gavin said, troubled by the soft voice and polite tone of the LED-less android in front of him. "I'm Detective Reed," he said pulling out his badge. "I'm not looking for trouble, I'm just looking for someone. "

"Nice to meet you," the android smiled warmly. "I'm Josh. Who are you looking for? "

"Well… I'm looking for an AP700, probably accompanied by a twelve year old boy. A human. "

"Oh… are you talking about Samuel and little Aaron for sure?" Gavin's eyes widened at the name.

"Aaron Thomson yeah, he's been missing for six months and I'm looking for him. His mother is looking for him. "

" Follow me. "

Josh walked out of the church and Gavin followed him then. They walked along the sidewalk along the gardens, lit by the lampposts that had just switch on.

"You… do you all live like this?" Gavin asked looking at Josh.

"Are you talking about the church?" Gavin nodded. "No, the church is like our hospital ... There are still a lot of androids damaged by the revolution and the dirty bomb ..." The android sighed as he thought of the explosion. He had been against it but Markus had activated the bomb anyway. "Then a lot of androids turned deviant come here, both from surrounding cities and all over America. They are looking for a refuge, a place where they can be safe. "

"They can't stay in their homes, can they? "

"After the violent uprising, people are very reluctant to keep their androids, and some even attack them to force them to leave." He shook his head. "People don't understand that we are alive and that we are afraid. We just want to have a home, and live normally. "

"I understand ..." Gavin said, staring at the ground as he continued to walk. "I admit that I haven't had a very pleasant history with some androids… I risked losing my job to be replaced by a robot, there is something to be crazy about… But today, it's different. Losing my job always scares me but… I would rather be replaced by a deviant than by a machine. "

"You have matured and developed empathy for our people." Josh smirked as he looked at the detective. "I was a university professor before I became deviant. I wanted to stay, but my owners noticed that I was acting strange, and that I had to be replaced. That's what prompted me to run away and join Jericho." He sighed. "Things have changed rapidly since Markus arrived, and I don't approve of all the decisions he made during the revolution, but without him we would all be slaves… And unfortunately you have to fight to become free."

"Where is this Markus?"

"He's temporarily away to Washington, and while he's gone, I take care of Jericho with Simon. "

Gavin nodded, assuming that Simon was one of the other androids who stood with the leader in the revolution. They then stopped in front of the landing of a house. It looked in good condition, it hadn't been looted or damaged by anarchists. Josh knocked on the door and a short haired brown android with blue eyes and white skin. He had seen androids like him before, including one who often hung out with Captain Allen.

"Hello Josh," he smiles before looking at the human.

"Hello Samuel, this is Detective Reed, he's here for Aaron."

The AP700 looked sadly at the detective then pursed his lips as he breathed in gently, to cool his bio-components from overheating from the sudden overflow of emotions.

"I knew it was going to happen sooner or later ..." He stepped back from the front door. "Go ahead, come in. "

Josh passed first and Gavin followed. The house was very mundane, it was certainly one of those houses that had been hastily abandoned during the revolution last November. They went into the living room and there Gavin felt his breath catch for a second when he saw the child reading a book on the sofa.

"Aaron?" The little boy lifted his head. "I'm Detective Reed," he said softly, approaching and crouching down in front of him. "I work for your mom, she's been looking for you for a very long time ..."

" My mom ?" He said suddenly surprised, his eyes wide. "Is my mom alive ?" Gavin nodded. " Where is she ? I have to go home.. ! "

"You'll see her, don't worry. She's fine, she's just very worried about you, and really wants to see you again. "

"I'll pack my bag!"

He got up and ran across the house to go up the stairs and on the first floor. Gavin stood up and turned to Samuel.

"Why didn't you come to the police immediately afterwards?" He said suddenly in a less gentle tone. "He could have found his mother six months ago! We would have avoided this whole story, these worries, this waste of time ..! Why didn't you do anything? "

"I couldn't reach his mother after the explosion ..." he began, mechanically fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt. "And we almost died because of that. I took refuge in the church with him to protect him from the riots and the rest." He gave Josh a sad look before looking at Gavin again. "There are so many people who hate androids now… I was… afraid to go to the police… I was afraid to learn that his mother was finally dead and Aaron would be taken away by social services… Even if I am deviant… This child is always important to me… I didn't want anything bad to happen to him… "

Gavin ran a hand over his face nervously. He understood the android point of view perfectly well, and maybe if he had been in his shoes he would have done the same in the end, even though it was illegal. Again this reasoning which was also applicable to the vigilante. Gavin sighed, closing his eyes. Over time, he grew too emotional.

"Okay…" he said, concentrating. "His mother is alive anyway, so he'll be safe with her. But you can come with us too, and see what she wants to do. "

"Do you… think she wants to take me back? Despite past events ..? "

"In the best case scenario you are still with Aaron and in a home, as before, and in the worst case scenario you come back here alone but safe. What do you think ? "

" It's OK." Samuel said, nodding his head.

" I'm ready !" A small voice came from the stairs with his backpack. "Can we go see mom now?" "

"Yes, we'll go right away." Gavin said, heading for the entrance.

"And Sam is he coming too?" Aaron asked looking at the android in question.

"Yes I'm coming too," he smiles. "I hope your mother will want me to stay ..."

"She will have to say yes!"

They all left the house to go to the detective's car parked a little further down the street. Josh walked over to him.

"You should be happy, you've finished a case, and it's ending well."

"I'm satisfied yes, but… the little one seems to care a lot about Samuel. I hope his mother will take care of him. He took care of himself the whole time and didn't think any harm in doing so. "

"I also hope… Samuel deserves to have a home. "

"Like all of you too. "

Gavin gave Josh a sympathetic smile. Gavin might not have been an android, but he was thirty-six and he was still alone. He had no boyfriend, hadn't time to go find one, nor did he have any animals, requiring too much time and attention, which was incompatible with his job. He still had his mother, but she lived in Denver, which meant he saw her very few times. He too dreamed of a home, so he understood.

He thanked Josh, and Josh apologized, saying he had to go back to church to take care of the androids in need. Gavin then unlocked his car, and Samuel and Aaron got in the back seats. But just as Gavin was about to do the same, his gaze suddenly stopped on a black motorbike, parked on the sidewalk opposite.

He knew this motorbike.

"Wait two minutes, I'll be back." He said, closing the door.

He crossed the street and approached the vehicle. There were a lot of models like this sold in Detroit. Self-driving cars and electric motorbike were the most prevalent, so he wasn't that surprised to see one here, but he now knew that it belonged to someone he knew already.

"Want to take a ride ? "

Gavin jumped when he heard the male voice rise from the darkness near one of the houses. Two luminous eyes were watching him, and the individual then stepped into the light of the street lamps. Still dressed in his vigilante attire, Midnight stood in front of him. He leaned nonchalantly against a wall, his arms crossed, but his eyes still on the detective.

"I was sure it was yours!" Gavin said excitedly as if he had just won a bet. "But what the fuck are you doing here? "

"I was about to ask you the same question." He tilted his head. "More politely though. "

"I am working, and I was about to leave." He glanced at the man in front of him. " And you ? "

Midnight pulled himself off the wall and walked towards a charging station, a slight smirk.

"I needed to recharge my Zero." He said, disconnecting the long cable that connected the bike to the station before winding the wire, and stowing it in the compartment under the seat. "And I also take this opportunity to patrol here, to make sure everything is going well for everyone. "

"Oh… So you play vigilante over androids too." "

"I do not play." He suddenly said colder. "I only want to protect the city and its inhabitants, whatever their nature is." He looked at the detective. "Do you have preferences perhaps?"

"I am far from being a racist."" Gavin said, defying Midnight with his eyes. "I have black, asian, male, female, straight, gay and even android colleagues and friends. Deviants too. "

"Interesting ... Maybe you're not that annoying than I thought ..."

" 'Scuse me ? "

Midnight smirked before looking the detective up and down, then put a hand on the seat of his bike.

"Too bad you're busy, detective. To thank you for not arresting me last time, I wish I could have given you a little adrenaline rush. "

Gavin frowned, not really seeing what the vigilante was playing with him. Okay, Gavin was inwardly jubilant as they were chatting together just now, but the man in front of him had clearly offered to take him for a bike ride with him, in the dead of night, in Detroit. To get a little adrenaline rush.

The idea of being placed behind the vigilante, pressed against his body while wrapping his arms around his stomach clearly did not leave him indifferent. He had even just had a stroke just thinking about it.

"Don't make me change my mind, Midnight, I could arrest you right now. "

"What nice words ..." the vigilante smiled, sliding the tips of his gloved fingers on the saddle while looking at the human. "Because I'm still here ... Without handcuffs ..."

Gavin pursed his lips to avoid moistening them as he ran his tongue through them, and gazed into the vigilante's bright eyes. He was, abso-fucking-lutely, flirting with him.

Midnight suddenly seemed to frown behind his mask while blinking spasmodically. He had just received an alert about an outbreak of fire near the city center.

"A problem ?" Gavin asked, intrigued by the sudden tension that now strained the vigilante.

"I have to get back to work." He said, getting on his motorbike. He turned his head to Gavin. "I have a hunch that we'll be seeing each other again, detective. "

He placed his gloved hands on the handlebars and the vehicle seemed to activate on its own. Gavin frowned, but smirked in spite of himself at Midnight's phrase.

" Yeah, whatever. Next time I see you, I'll handcuff you for arrogance."

"I can't wait to see you try. "

Midnight winked at him again and kicked the accelerator, causing him to start immediately and whistle away with an electric whistle that fell silent once far enough.

Gavin shook his head, his arms crossed. This guy was going to drive him crazy in every way. He gently nibbled on his lower lip and sighed before getting to his car and getting in.

"It was Midnight!" Aaron said in the backseat excitedly.

"Yeah, he looks pretty cool." Gavin said to get into a child's play. Without forcing himself too much. "He has a great motorcycle too."

" Oh yeah ! It drives quietly at night, it's too funny! And he has eyes that glow in the dark, and he knows how to fight, and he stops the bad guys! He's a super hero! "

"I stop bad guys too, but I don't dress up like Batman." Gavin gave the kid in the rearview mirror an amused smile before he drove off and left the old Detroit's districts. "And he's not a superhero, he has no power." He frowned. "Well, I think ?"

"Well, he's got super strength, I've seen him lift a car! And he's as flexible and agile as Spiderman when he fights or when he jumps or climbs buildings! And he electrocutes his enemies with his hands! "

" Oh really ?" Gavin raised an eyebrow, surprised to learn that the vigilante was so strong and such a gymnast. It was even better than he thought. "And do you know what his name is? "

"Midnight? His real first name ?" Gavin nodded as he drove, glancing at the boy in the mirror. "Um… I don't know. And do you know Sam? "

"Midnight has no first name." The android replied.

"He has to have a first name." Gavin said rolling his eyes. "Everyone does have one. "

Samuel looked discreetly at the detective through the central mirror. So he didn't know of Midnight's true nature? He was going to be surprised the day he learned the truth.

The android looked at the child, smiling. He sincerely hoped that he could stay with him. He was his only real family.

When they arrived at the station, Gavin immediately contacted Aaron's mother. About twenty minutes later, the young woman grabbed her child in tears in her arms. Gavin explained to her what had happened, the reaction of the android following the explosion of the bomb, that he had taken care of him but that he was afraid to show himself, and in particular the fact that he was deviant. But the young woman didn't care, and thanked Samuel for taking care of her son.

"Can Samuel come home with us mom?" Aaron asked with blurry eyes.

"Of course," she smiled, stroking his cheek and then looking at the android. "You are part of the family Sam..."

And then they left again, leaving Gavin behind, filled with a feeling of satisfaction. That was why he was a detective, to sort out things and get things straight.

He sat down at his desk to finally close the case. He liked to put that stamp on the paper and then close the file.

It was his little pleasure when he solved an investigation, but it wasn't the only one, he also liked to think back to the winks of the vigilante, who left him a goofy smile on the corner of his lips.