1. Belongs: The universe 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 keeps working on the deviants' murders case when he is called to Fowler's office. The Captain confronts him with photos of him and Midnight captured by the security cameras in the parking lot of the Central DPD. While Fowler accuses him of not arresting the vigilante, Gavin justifies himself by saying that Midnight was a good person who wanted to do the right things. After a few seconds of thought, Fowler listens to Reed's offer.


ChapteR 8

« He's Not Human. »

- 02 May 2039, 16:21, DPD -

Gavin was already fed up. It had been a week since the android killer started operating, and he wasn't improving. Over the weekend, two more deviant androids were found killed, again with a bullet to their heads. What now made seven murders. With this Modus Operandi, it was clearly a serial killer who only targeted deviants, but other than that detail, nothing seemed to tie the victims together.

The only lead Gavin could potentially have was the League of Robophobes. Yes yes, they were called like that. They were all fond of saying that they hated androids, that they were going to have them deactivated one by one, both machines and deviants, but they seemed to forget that the suffix -phobe meant fear, not hate. Gavin, being openly gay for more than twenty years, had already spat this detail in the faces of some homophobes. Yeah, these people were afraid of homosexuals. Pathetic.

But let's move on. Although every member of this league was listed on their site, none had serious records of android violence. Some had already verbally threatened deviants or pushed a few down, but never to the point of damaging them. Because yes, when you're a little smartass, you don't strut your stuff when you have things to be ashamed of. It was proof that these people had no common sense and were undeniably stupid. But Gavin couldn't let that one lead out just because it "showed logic." The police operated on evidence and on leads exploited or dismissed based on that evidence.

He had to go check it out, interview them, and make a report to show he had ruled out that possibility. But who knows, maybe he would be surprised and find out that one of those stupid robophobes had dared to take the step of no return? If only it were that simple ...

Gavin stretched out at his desk, cracking his lower back suddenly, causing him to let out a small cry of pain and surprise. Tina looked up at him and smiled.

"I thought you just came. "

"And I think I'm going to fu-"

"REED! "

Gavin straightened up despite his lower back pain when he heard his captain's voice. He watched as Fowler motioned for him to join him in his office.

"Shit ..." he said, standing up while looking at Tina. "Do you think he heard me? "

"From so far away and through the windows ? "

"I don't know, maybe? "

Tina shook her head, saying it was impossible unless the captain was a robot. He considered the idea for a few seconds and then shook his head as well. Nah. Too far-fetched as an argument.

He then got up from his chair and walked along the open space to climb the few steps to Fowler's office, called the Aquarium for the more adventurous. After entering and closing the door behind him, the windows blurred. Gavin walked over to the desk, searching his Captain's gaze to get an idea of why he was there.

" Sit down. "

Gavin did so and crossed his legs so his ankle was resting on his knee. He expected any sermon on his inability to solve the android homicides, but Fowler remained silent as he took a seat behind his desk.

"Um…" Reed began a little uneasily. " Yes.. ? "

"Since when did you work with the vigilante Midnight?"

Gavin raised his eyebrows so high that he wrinkled his forehead. He uncrossed his legs as he leaned forward. He clearly hadn't expected this type of topic.

"What? "

"Do you want me to ask the question again?"

"No no, it's- I'm not working with the vigilante, no. Why would I work with him anyway? He is a civilian who acts illegally. "

"So what is this? "

Fowler threw a few pictures on his desk so Gavin could see. He dragged his chair closer and could see that they had been taken at night. After a few seconds, by the time his brain managed to analyze all the elements of the pictures, he recognized his car as well as himself and the vigilante face to face, certainly talking. The photos were from April 29, and were taken at 02:42 am by security cameras in the Central Post parking lot near the River.

Shit.

Gavin ran a hand over his face.

"Yes I saw him that night, and it was absolutely not planned. I was coming home …" He stopped. "From a friend's, and I found him at my car. "

"What did he want? "

"Knowing how I was. It's thanks to him that I didn't die in the alley ten days ago. "

"How touching and kind of him." Fowler took the photos again to show more. "There he assaulted you and tackled you against your car. "

Great, that was humiliating enough already that his captain needed to remind him. He could clearly see himself pressed forward against the trunk of his car and Midnight pressed against his body, holding his arms behind his back.

"He didn't assault me, he-" Gavin sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I tried to call him out but he didn't like it, he just defended himself. And I have nothing, not even a bruise. So no, you don't have to call it assault. "

"Hm hm ..." he took the photo again and pointed to another. "There, we see him leaving on a motorcycle now. "

" Yes and so ? "

Gavin frowned, pursing his lips. Fowler took the picture again, placed it with the others in a perfect, neatly aligned corner. He placed his elbows on the desk and crossed his fingers under his chin as he gazed into Gavin's. Ouch...

"You didn't arrest him. "

"What? "

"You didn't arrest him, Gavin. "

"I was off duty at that time." Gavin said to defend himself, raising his hands mechanically in front of him. "Compared to other things happening in Detroit right now, Midnight is far from being a threat or a priority. That's why, if I had been on duty, I still wouldn't have arrested him." He leaned forward, resting his fingers on the desk. "It's true that what he is doing isn't legal, I don't endorse his actions, not at all. But it does help us all the same, we have to admit that our arrest and case resolution rates are much higher than five months ago, or even the last five years." Gavin caught his breath. He hadn't even realized he had launched into an argument to defend himself - defend himself? Or Midnight? "What I mean is ..."

No… He wasn't about to dare to ask this to Fowler. Nope. He hadn't the courage to face him, right ?

"Maybe if we cooperated with him, things would be much simpler and more official" he said, mimicking quotes with his fingers. "We could have some sort of control over his actions, and we could get Detroit back on track much faster?"

Fowler stared at him silently, his chin still resting on his intertwined fingers. Gavin inhaled through his nose as he began to nibble the inside of his lower lip nervously. He had really dared to suggest such a stupid thing to his captain.

He really needed to clear his head. It became worrying.

"Let's just pretend he could cooperate with us on a more… official level." Fowler finally said, mimicking quotes.

"Really ..?" Gavin said, looking at Fowler.

"This isn't how we normally operate, but Detroit has been politically unstable since the Revolution, and our streets are unfortunately no longer safe for humans as well as for androids. In situations like that, we would bring in new recruits to strengthen our teams, but ... a lot of people have left town and the DPD is understaffed. What happened in Detroit reverberated around the world, but ... Detroit was the epicenter of the disaster. Nobody wants to come and live here after what the Revolution caused and because of the current crime rate. So we cannot recruit consultants from other cities or states either. So…" Fowler inhaled, straightening up and settling back into his chair. "It might not be such a stupid idea, Reed. We are living in an unprecedented context, so exceptional situations, exceptional measures."

"You… do you really want Midnight to team up with us?"

"What I see is that he's determined, he's got guts, he's tenacious and he's effective." He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the detective. "However, I am not going to hire him without first talking to him personally. Can I count on you to make contact? "

"Uh ... I don't know how to contact him, and all the times we met it was by chance." He frowned as he remembered the vigilante watching him from afar to watch over him. He pouted before resuming. "But I will do my best to let him know about this decision and that you want to meet him."

" Good. "

Gavin sat there with his fists clenched in his knees, waiting for what to do next. But nothing came.

"So you… aren't you berating me for not arresting Midnight?" "

"I wanted to know what your relationship was like, and what you personally thought of him. Knowing that you weren't doing anything illegal behind our backs was a good point for you, and also sharing your opinion about him, convinced me enough to consider cooperation. "

"Why are you basing yourself on me? Because I'm the only one who was in contact with him more than once?" Gavin asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

" No." Fowler said, getting up from his chair. "Because you're my best element Gavin."

Gavin tightened his jaw in an attempt to control his sudden embarrassment and his cheeks blushing too much. It wasn't often that Fowler was so blunt with him, and although he was committed to his job and always made sure to do it right and fair, hearing that his Captain was proud of him was an accomplishment in itself.

"So can I count on you?" "

"Y-Yes Captain ..! "

" Good." He smiled slightly before clearing his throat. "You can dismiss. "

Gavin stood up, nodded briefly, then left the Aquarium, which resumed its transparency. He tried to keep a neutral expression as he walked out of the office to his desk, but he was far too excited from this conversation. He needed to go smoke and scream.

He grabbed his jacket then and Tina stood up at that moment.

"Smoke ?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep."

"Okay, I'll go get us coffees."

And she got up to go to the break room. Gavin watched her do so and shook his head, smiling as he headed for the exit. He loved this girl.

Once outside he lit his cigarette, shielding the wind with his back for a few seconds on the porch, and then leaned against the wall. He hated this wall. It was tiled all in red. It was really bad taste.

He rested his head against the black metal D of the word Department while exhaling smoke from his lungs. He was jubilating silently as he thought back to what Fowler had said. He started to smile as Tina walked through the automatic doors, a steaming mug in each hand.

"Gavin smiling after stepping out of Fowler's office. Should I be worried?" She asked, teasing him as she handed him his mug.

" No." He smiles as he took his coffee while winking at her thanking her. "Fowler just gave me some good news. " He stopped himself. Maybe it was good news for him but not for the others ..? "Well, from my point of view. "

"Just say it, God". She said, leaning back against the red wall.

"He wants me to get in touch with Midnight so that we can work together to get the city back on track. "

Tina choked on her coffee and began to cough. She pushed herself off the wall to face him, her eyes wide.

"Are you going to team up with him ? "

"We have to wait and see what he says." Gavin pointed out before taking a drag on his cigarette. "He always had avoided the police as best as he could, maybe he won't want. "

"Why would he say no? If helping citizens is what he is looking for, then he can only agree." She took a sip of her coffee. "And two stubborn guys working together might be entertaining. "

"First of all, no I'm not stubborn, I just have temper." He said with the cigarette between his lips, smiling and giving her a middle finger. "And nothing says it's hard to live with him either. Neither you nor I know him. "

"The guy is going to wear his mask the whole time he's working with you, Gavin." He twitched a little. "And he'll refuse to give his name, like all the other times you've tried to ask him."

"The fucker… I'll know what his name is..." he said, shaking his head as he dargged on the cigarette. "But first I have to find him, and that's going to be complicated. I don't know where he is during the day. "

Instinctively, he looked up at the buildings on either side of the precinct, hoping to see a familiar face spying on him.

"Apparently he's watching me during the day. "

"Wow, that's super creepy." Tina said, looking around too.

"That's what I told him, but he says he's doing this for my good." He snorted. "As if I needed someone to watch over me."

"Maybe he knows you a little bit after all." She said, rolling her eyes. "You are good at your job Gav, but you are reckless and sometimes even oblivious. Remember the time I found you sprawled out in the Archive Room? "

"So." Gavin said, pushing himself off of the wall. "I'll repeat myself, but I was only doing my job trying to get Connor out of the case that wasn't his anyway." He finished his cigarette and crushed it in the ashtray on the wall. "Then it was the first time that I had fought against an android. He was good, I have to admit."

Tina smirked and gave him a gentle punch in the shoulder to tease him. Gavin chuckled, looked at Tina with a smirk, and swung his arm over his best friend's shoulders as they walked back inside.

"I would be bored without you, Tina." He smiled, rubbing her shoulder affectionately as he guided her.

" Ah yes ?" She looks at him with a mischievous look. "How was it with Jack then? "

Gavin hurriedly withdrew his arm from her shoulders and looked at her outraged, his face already completely crimson.

"What are you talking about ?" He shook his head and walked back to his desk alone.

"Oooooh don't act like you don't know! He told me that last night when I went with Vicky to the Black Out!" She said, trotting behind him to catch up with him.

Gavin put his mug down next to the virtual keyboard and sank into his chair, making the chair squeak. Tina moved to stand next to him, laying her hands flat on the table.

" You're in love ? "

" No !" He answered almost barking, glaring at her. "You know very well that's not what I'm looking for." He paused to sigh. "It was…" He closed his eyes so as not to see Tina's big goofy smile. "It was a good experience, okay. But it stops there. "

"Okay" she smiles. "I just wanted to hear you admiting it."

"Admiting what? "

"That androids are equal to humans." She smiles before pouting, thinking. "Hmm… Actually, no, they're even better!"

She stuck her tongue out at him while winking. Gavin rolled his eyes as he sighed and told her to get back to work before Fowler realized their break was going too long. She then snapped to attention, laughing, and returned to her desk.

He shook his head and went back to his business. So what was he - Oh yeah, the League of Robophobes.

- May 02, 2039, 8:16 pm, Bagley Elementary School -

Thanks to the League of Robophobes's social networks opened to public, Gavin was able to identify a meeting place. A meeting was being held that evening at Bagley Elementary School at 8:45 pm in the multipurpose hall.

Gavin was in his car, parked a few yards from the school, engine off and binoculars riveted on the entrance. He had only been hiding for fifteen minutes since people seemed to be arriving. He discreetly noted the plates of the vehicles that parked along the sidewalk, and tried to recognize a few faces.

These people seemed cheerful to see each other, some hugged each other, others shook hands like they were all good friends and were getting together at a BBQ party every Sunday.

Gavin sighed and lowered the binoculars to ease his arms. He felt deep inside that he had nothing to do here. All of these people were ordinary, some were unemployed, the majority did not have a license to carry weapons, and they did not engage in hostile behavior.

Someone who shoots perfectly with a firearm and manages to leave no mark behind was clearly not an amateur. And all these people out there touched each other, leaned against the railings or the cars, some even ate and threw the rest of the food in the trash. No precautions to avoid leaving traces were taken.

Something then caught Gavin's reasoning from his conversation with Tina earlier in the afternoon. Gavin got knocked down by Connor with surprising ease despite his training and years of law enforcement. Certainly Connor was a special model, the RK projects were all experimental, and he had an incredible and effective combat program, but Midnight had said that androids, in general, were much tougher than humans.

The killer had taken out only deviant androids, technically capable of the unpredictable and easily defending themselves against a human if they had no more restrictions. But the killer still shot them all easily in the head, without smudges, without marks.

Gavin put the binoculars gently on his lap and leaned on the armrest in the door, bringing his left hand to his lips.

"Holly shit ..." He stared into space for long seconds. "He's not human ..."

He jumped suddenly, cursing when he heard a knock on the front passenger window and turned his head sharply towards it to see who had just surp-.

"Midnight ? "

The vigilante stood next to his car, leaning slightly forward, his visible blue eyes seeking the detective's gaze. Gavin frowned and unlocked his car with the push of a button on the dashboard. He expected the vigilante to open the door to speak to him but absolutely did not expect the latter to enter his car to sit in. He closed the door and turned to face Gavin.

"We need to talk to Detective Reed. "