November 8th, 2038

AM 02:31:10


A/N: "Deviating," from the timeline and rearranging the course of in-game events for the sake of my plot outline.


Enchanted forests were a common theme in fairy tales – often representing a place of danger, or refuge. You'd seen them depicted as both mazes of dark, twisted trees that marked points of no return; and bright, sunny clearings framed by lush greenery.

You'd never seen Detroit as either, and yet, much like the city that held a duality of both threatening and majestic; a forest of sky-scraping guardians protecting lost orphans:

You found yourself rooted in place by an internal struggle between love and logic.

Love, an emotion that was supposedly exclusive to your kind. That which made humans infatuated with the concept of dangerous adventure, and the sanctuary that came after.

Logic, the foundation of an android's existence. Methodic, processed actions that dictate a system of fabricated organs. A principle that shouldn't have allowed the being in your company to make you question if you were dreaming a romantic fantasy.

Once upon a time, you'd been sleepwalking through a dark, twisted maze – waiting for a light to guide you to refuge. Now, your inhibitions laid in a burning stockpile of disenchanted lumber; sacrificed from a leafless canopy and reduced to protective layers of ash.

You couldn't escape. You breathed in cool, wet air to douse the flames trapped in your flesh and bone vessel, but it only fueled you with the steam. The fizzling out of your bruised past joined the symphony of dark days, stoking the flames as they chanted a black and blue hymn. The paranoid patterns in your mind realigned, preventing backtrack to lessons learned from a failed adventure.

Your spine met the door, the glass shuddering along with your body.

His lips slipped past your jaw and massaged the rapid pulse in your neck, his fingers locking in your hair and aiming your face at the night's sky. Your teeth chattered at how good it felt, and you clawed at his jacket.

"Connor-"

You tried to stop him. Tried to course-correct a derailed train of thoughts that told you this was okay. That he wasn't risking deactivation by pursuing human emotions, or wants.

His hard body froze, and his eyes cautiously leveled with yours. He looked nervous, scared, confused…and behind all that, there was an ounce of lust.

"What about-" You sucked in another breath, trapped between him and his hand now anchored on the door above you.

His fingers curled on your back, holding you in place.

"What about CyberLife?"

His yellow LED blinked rapidly, almost in sync with the heavy breathing that had his shoulders rising and falling.

His features tensed, and his eyes closed. He shook his head, turning away. He swallowed hard, and a frustrated growl rumbled in his throat.

"…Are you okay?"

He snapped awake, and found you in a wide-eyed stare.

"I don't know what happened-"

And then the panic started.

"I don't know why I-"

"Connor."

"I…I can't…I didn't-"

"CONNOR."

He jumped, his arms dropping to his sides.

He looked at you like you'd slapped him across the face, his LED flashing red, "…I should…I should leave-"

He reached for the door, and you stepped in front of him.

"Uh-uh. Not a chance."

"Just let me-"

He latched on to your arm, rougher than he'd ever touched you before. He tried to move you to the side, but your legs held firm.

"Not until we talk."

"There's nothing to talk about. Please, don't make this more difficult than it has to be."

You struggled to hold your ground. He was stronger than you, and his patience was fading.

"Me? I'm not the one making this difficult."

His fingertips dug into your shoulders. The door shook again – your head thudding against it in unison with your back, the tension in your muscles pushing a yelp from the pain in your stomach.

You winced, clutching your bruise. It didn't faze you as much as the unstable android pinning you to the glass. The rage he watched you with – the anger that dissipated into regret and shame…Your fear sent your heart into a frenzy.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

A sharp inhale had tears brimming on the edges of your eyes, "You didn't."

"Yes, I did. You're in pain. You're scared." His brows pinched, "You don't feel safe."

This kept getting worse. The situation was spiraling out of control. You should've seen this coming, shouldn't have ever got involved with him. Should've just kept sleep-walking…stayed bored.

That regret was familiar.

You weren't sure if the sporadic thoughts came from the lateness of the hour or what'd happened between you two, but your state of mind was far from healthy.

"Do you truly wish for me to stay?" He asked in a pained voice.

"Yes-" You choked down a hard lump and relaxed your shoulders, "We'll figure all this out in the morning, okay?"

His LED stabilized, and he gave you a series of quick nods.

"Please don't leave." The words came out in small squeaks, "I'm afraid you'll…I don't want you to…"

"I won't. I just don't know how to stop them from…"

Neither of you could say it. Couldn't entertain the idea with vocalized acknowledgement.

A long-forgotten anger of your own reared its ugly head. Renewed confidence that reminded you exactly who you were. The woman who almost brought down CyberLife as the world knew it and sent its founder scurrying to the outside of the city because he feared you. You were the "mysterious circumstance" surrounding his resignation the tabloids had written about.

Fuck that.

Your jaw locked, and your lips twitched in a snarl.

"I won't let them." You bit off the end of each word, "I won't let them take you."

The creases in his forehead smoothed, his neck snaking back. He blinked, releasing you from his grasp.

"How could you possibly stop them?"

Your fingernails dug in the fleshy mounds of your fists.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Connor. Maybe we'll have that conversation one day. For now…" You turned your back on him, sliding the glass door open, "You're just gonna have to trust me."

You stepped inside, shaking off the cold as you kicked your boots under your writing desk. He closed the door, standing with a robotic stillness as if waiting for directions.

"I do."

He watched the fireplace with doubt and longing all the same, the spinning light on his temple giving away his chaotic thoughts.

"I'm glad." You smiled, trying to restore some sense of normalcy, "Why don't you read more?"

He perked up, looking at you.

"Seems like you need it."

He hesitated before silently agreeing, and began sliding off his jacket. You sighed, snatching your phone from the table to set an alarm.

[MISSED CALL – HANK ANDERSON, TODAY 02:26]

[MISSED CALL – HANK ANDERSON, TODAY 02:27]

[MISSED CALL – HANK ANDERSON, TODAY 02:28]

[2 UNREAD TEXT MESSAGES]

Hank Anderson

Today 02:29

Hey kid, call me ASAP.

Hank Anderson

Today 02:42

You never sleep, I know you're awake!

The phone started shaking, a green ANSWER button hovering next to a red REJECT.

You groaned under your breath, "Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Pfft, don't give me that 'Lieutenant' bullshit. You know damn well I've been trying to get ahold of you all fuckin' night."

You and Connor exchanged looks, and you put the phone on speaker. You tossed it on the table, sitting down and crossing your arms.

"What's up?"

"Just got off the phone with Jim, told me there was some kinda altercation at the bar. You alright?"

You plopped your head down, face smashing into your wrist, "Yeah."

"'Yeah' as in fuck off, Hank? Or 'Yeah,' you're actually alright?"

"…Both?"

A dog started barking, interrupting your drifting off to sleep.

"Sumo! Bad-" The microphone became muffled, and there was a struggle on the other end, "She's not here! DOWN!"

You smirked, lifting your chin, "Sumo! Attack!"

The dog barked, and Hank swore.

"Good boy!"

Hank sounded like he was walking farther away from the phone as if he'd put it down, too.

Connor smiled, leaning against the wall with his sleeves rolled up and his ankles crossed. It was nice to see him happy again. Relieving. Your mouth creased in response.

"You're a little shit, you know that?" Hank returned with a vengeance, "Look, I need you to meet me at my place tomorrow morning. Leave your car and take a cab."

"Huh?" You yawned, "Why?"

"I – uh…" His lips smacked, and he sighed, "I need your help with something."

You gulped, "With what?"

"It's about this fucking case…I know you're off-duty, but it's gotta be off the books and-"

"I'm in."

You were on full alert, your elbows supporting you as your back straightened in your seat.

"Whoa whoa whoa, let me finish." He cleared his throat, "You're not gonna like this."

"Doesn't matter. If it'll help us solve the deviancy dilemma, I'm in."

"Would you just let me fuckin' talk? Christ…"

Connor made his way to your side, pulling out a chair and sitting next to you. His hands folded over each other, and his chin planted on top of them. He watched you curiously as if on stand by for support.

"I need to…I need you to come with me…" Hank growled, "I've got questions for…"

"Spit it out, Hank." You mumbled.

"I need to have a word with Kamski."

You flinched at his name. The thought of having to be face to face with him again, hear his voice, or even smell the stupid fucking cologne he wore religiously – it laid siege to your reconstructed resolution.

"Think you can make that happen?"

You knew you could. You also knew if Hank was asking you, it was critical that you did. But did you want to? No. Hell, he could've asked you for anything else and-

"You still there?"

Connor rested his palm on top of your hand. You hadn't realized how bad you were shaking until you'd stopped. You tore yourself out of a distant gaze, finding him watching you with concern. His eyes pointed at the phone, and he nodded towards it.

"Yeah. I'm here." You focused on the comforting touch that kept you tied down instead of floating away into new panic, "I'm in."

"If you aren't comfortable-"

"Hank, don't make me keep repeating myself." Your voice wavered, and you scoffed, angry at yourself.

"Pull your fucking shit together."

"Ah…alright, then. I'll see you at 10." He spoke with the tone he took on when he felt awkward – or any emotion that didn't involve being disgruntled, "Oh, one more thing. Is Connor with you?"

Both of you tensed, unsure how to answer.

"No."

"Yes he is."

"If you knew he was here, why'd you ask?"

He huffed, "I don't know what the two of you are up to, but bring him with you tomorrow."

"What? Why?"

"Because he's my partner, and I'm not allowed to even fuckin' look at a deviant unless he's around, much less talk to Fuckface McManbun. Or drink alone, apparently."

"Yeah, heard you've got a thing for revolvers. Are YOU alright, Hank?"

There was a heavy silence on the other end of the call.

"Connor, are you listening?" Hank's voice was low and angry.

"Yes, Lieutenant. I am."

"Good." His microphone fell into static before it cleared itself up, "Fuck you."

Connor frowned, "…Have a good night, Lieutenant."

There was a click, and the "CALL DISCONNECTED" message flashed on your screen.

"Did you do that, or did he hang up?" You asked.

"He hung up…" Connor leaned back, his hands falling in his lap.

"Hey, don't look so down. His 'fuck you's,' are terms of endearment and he called you his partner. He likes you."

"While I'm pleased to hear that, Lieutenant Anderson's strange way of bonding is not what I'm upset about," He whispered your name, looking up at you, "I've drawn a conclusion that I find myself at odds with."

You were nervous to ask, but did anyway, "What is it?"

Connor fidgeted with the end of his tie, flipping it between his fingers.

"That you have a history with Elijah Kamski."

Your anxiety came flooding back, slipping through the cracks of your intangible armor.

"…What makes you say that?"

"When I mentioned him before, noting that he'd gifted Markus to Carl Manfred, you were less than pleased. It's public knowledge that Kamski and Manfred are friends, but it bothers you in a personal manner." He smoothed his tie, still avoiding eye contact, "You said your ex-husband was a dangerous man, the one responsible for you being protected under WITSEC. You-"

"I get it. That's enough…"

It was a fairytale you'd gotten caught up in. The nights that turned into mornings – making him dinner while he studied for tests. Doing his laundry while he was at meetings. Halting your life to take care of him from the shadows as every step he took represented progression for humanity.

You remembered how his fascination with androids began – a project started not long after his graduation. The idea born from watching you work your hands to the bone to support him:

A machine that could lift the burdens of life in order for humanity to embrace it.

It was the fantasy you'd followed, moving to the concrete jungle of Detroit because land was cheap. Where the arguments took place after he pushed his obsession to a breaking point.

Household appliances didn't need to pass the Turing Test. They didn't need to be cognizant enough to realize they were enslaved. It was cruel. These were the things you'd tried to explain.

"You're right." Your thumb flicked against the spot where your wedding ring once sat.

You'd made it through the twisted labyrinth that marked the point of no return, but whether you were stronger or fractured because of that misadventure was left up for debate.

"We were married, once upon a time."


A/N: Phew! What a wild couple of days. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you guys!

Just wanted to give a huge to jellyFish0719 for beginning a Russian translation of this fic. :) (Link on AO3 version of Deviant Behavior)

SIDE NOTE: If your team didn't make it to the Round of 16, I'm sorry! D:

I hope everyone enjoyed the overdue update! KAMSKIIII!

Guest Review Responses:

Kaycie: In regards to your previous review, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the time you read this :D Also, your enthusiasm is awesome :) thank you.

MysticalSquirrel: Thank you! My birthday was great :D Haha, and thanks for the compliments. I'm so glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Also, my betas really are the best, they make this process incredibly easier. :3

Miki: HEHE! That makes me so happy! That was definitely the goal! :) thank you!