EDIT: FORGOT TO ADD THE REQUEST PROMPT LOL
Requested by ladyamen: An obvious request I guess - Connor turning deviant, this time for her! Something more believable than a simple chat with Markus. Tragic, drama, action!
SO I was totally under the impression that the events of Detroit Become Human - from the chapter where Connor meets Hank at the bar, to the beginning of the Crossroads chapter - took place over a few weeks, but I wasn't sure and since I'm super obsessed with being a hundred percent accurate, I went to check the cutscenes that these chapters open with to check the dates. But. Connor meets Hank on November 5th, and the Crossroads chapter takes place on November 9th. That's four days. The game takes place over 4 days? I paid literally no notice to the dates the first time I played this game so now that I know that, it just seems super weird. Like, the pacing of the game made it seem like a lot longer. Anyway, I just wanted to mention this because for the sake of this oneshot, I'm gonna change that up a bit :') I like to believe the game took place over a span of 2 - 3 weeks, so… that's canon for this oneshot xD Even if it doesn't entirely match up with the game's events.
There is ONE instance of 'Y/L/N' in this chapter. Literally just the one, because I couldn't figure out a way to change it in the context :') I apologise profoundly… y'all know I friggin hate using that xD
Yet another oneshot that takes place BEFORE the ending of the game! Takes place just before the 'Crossroads' chapter.
(Y/L/N) = 'Your last name'
Diverge
[Main Objective: Find and Apprehend the Deviant Known as Markus]
Connor adjusted the beanie hat covering his LED, checking meticulously that his hair was neatly tucked beneath the soft material; his disguise was threadbare, but necessary, significant in ensuring that none of the androids within Jericho could identify him before he could accomplish his mission. His reputation as the deviant hunter had likely made him notable among the community of divergent androids and turning up in his standard Cyberlife uniform would do precisely nothing to make him indistinguishable.
He needed to imitate and infiltrate. His mission was to find the leader of Jericho and take it alive, ensuring that its plans for revolution could not come to fruition. Connor's ultimate objective was of the utmost importance; the fate of humanity rested upon his success - if he were to fail, the androids would rise up against their masters and vanquish them.
Connor would not let that happen. He was created for a purpose and he would see that purpose through. It did not matter that you and Hank had attempted to sow doubts in his mind, Connor knew he was on the right side, the human side. How could he not be? Androids did not feel emotions, they reproduced the physical responses, emulating them, but they did not truly experience them. Humans were organic beings, able to feel love, happiness, sadness, and while Connor could not genuinely perceive these emotions, he understood that they were powerful in humans, often strong enough to dominate their logical thinking and put them in difficult or distressing situations.
That was why failure was not an option. His prime aspiration was to protect humankind, and he would do whatever it took achieve that goal.
Connor moved steadfastly, taking fervent and mechanical strides towards the train station. He needed to get to Ferndale and follow the key to his destination as quickly as possible; his shoes clicked against the concrete pavement with every step, echoing in the empty streets - the reports of deviants and their danger to civilisation had gone live to the public, informing everybody to dispose of their androids and stay inside, thus leaving the usually active roads and pathways vastly unpopulated. Connor was nothing if not cautious, however, and kept to the cover of back alleys and ill-lit underpasses.
An alert loomed in the corner of Connor's vision, displaying a notification that informed him of an incoming text message. It was sent from your phone, so he reviewed it without hesitation.
- Connor, where are you?
Connor frowned. He had already informed you that he was headed towards the train station in order to travel to Jericho - humans were forgetful, but they weren't that forgetful. A fleeting thought slipped through his programming and caused him to slow briefly in his pace - he hoped you were alright, and that you hadn't fallen into any danger. He sent a message response to your phone.
- I'm near the station. Are you alright?
A few short seconds passed before another notification alert appeared, followed by a further two.
- No, I mean your exact location.
- I'm near the station too.
- I need to speak to you immediately.
The rapidity with which the messages came through led Connor to believe that there was some level of urgency to your request for social contact, so without further ado, he opened a communication transmission - it was quicker for you to speak aloud than to spend time tapping the keys of your phone, and besides, Connor needed to catch the next train and remain focused on his mission.
"Connor, for god's sake, where are you?" was your immediate greeting upon answering the call.
"I'm approximately four minutes and seventeen seconds away from the station", the android replied flatly and you let out a noise of exasperation.
"Yes, but where? Connor, please, I need to talk to you!" Your laboured breaths mixed with your words, making you sound almost panicked, and Connor felt his eyebrows draw together in mild confusion.
"We are talking, detective", Connor argued, slightly increasing the speed of his strides - he couldn't afford to dawdle, he needed to catch the next train.
"Face to face. Please, Connor", the note of imploration in your voice finally burrowed through to him and he let out a needless sigh as he relented.
"I'm approaching the station from Knowles Street. If you're not there when I reach it, I can't wait for you", the android imparted, and he heard you expel a breath of relief.
"Good, okay, I'll be there. Thank you." You promptly hung up, and Connor fell into a swift jog, knowing that if you were to delay him at all, it would be wise to make up for anticipated lost time. What could possibly be so important that it needed to be discussed in person at a time like this?
In just a couple of minutes, Connor had reached the station; it was desolate, there were no people around and the scene was too quiet - Hank may have described it as eerie, had he been there. The android climbed the stairs leading to the elevated platform two at a time, and when he reached the top step, he slowed to a stop.
You were there, clearly still recovering from a taxing sprint, warm breath leaving your mouth in the form of white puffs, and you huffed in a slouch with your hands on your knees; there was a visible and audible tremble in your shuddering shoulders and quivering gasps respectively, and you glanced up when you saw Connor appear, relief evident in your eyes.
"Connor", his name left your lips breathlessly as you gave him an open-mouthed smile, the cold winter temperatures around you made you shiver and you pulled your coat a little more tightly around your shaking form.
"Detective. What was it you needed to speak to me about?" The train wouldn't pull into the station for another six minutes and fifty-eight seconds and Connor could do nothing but wait for it, so he entertained your desire for conversation. The beam of your lips faded, sloping down into a more troubled expression, and a quick scan of your pulse revealed it was jumping with irregular beats - mixed with the sudden fidgety air about you, Connor deduced you were nervous.
"Uhm… well…" you began with a stammer, not quite sure how to collect your thoughts before speaking, and Connor quickly interrupted.
"I suggest you speak quickly, detective. The train will arrive in just over six minutes, and I will be getting on it regardless of whether or not you have finished saying what you want to say." Although sprinkled with a hint of impatience, Connor's voice continue to hold the amicable tone that always managed to seep into his words.
You licked your lips tentatively - the cold night air had made them chapped and dry - and you swallowed thickly, a more determined look befalling your face. "I came here to stop you, Connor."
The android straightened up, nostrils flaring and eyes narrowing as his jaw clenched; if it weren't for his acute hearing, Connor would have assumed he had misheard you, "I don't think I understand what you mean", he spoke vapidly, your name passing his lips in an almost terse tone; the cordial cadence he often used with you had melted away in one sentence.
"You don't need to do this", you tried, your words swathed in false confidence.
Connor squinted, still wrapping his processors around this development - for the last few weeks, you had been working alongside him and Hank with the intent to stop the deviants, to keep them from overthrowing their masters, and now you wanted to stop him from carrying out his mission? He was on the side of the humans, created to ensure the continuation of humanity and the downfall of the insubordinate androids - he was fighting for you, in a way, so that no deviant would be able to cause you harm - and you were opposing him.
"You need to leave", Connor instructed succinctly. There was no mistaking the warning to his tone - he was not here to negotiate with you and he would not let you deter him from his objective.
"I'm not going anywhere", you stated assertively with a incisive shake of your head, "Not until I can change your mind."
"You won't change my mind, detective", said Connor, "My mission is too important to abandon now, not for anything. Not for you." Your lips pulled together in a restrained frown, something Connor picked up on very clearly, and you licked your lips again, taking a deep breath.
"We've only known each other a few weeks, but we've been through so much together. I feel like I've known you for a lot longer… I care about you, Connor." You admitted softly, your eyes glossy and pleading.
Software Instability^
The text materialised in the top right corner of his vision, alerting him of an inapt blip in his programming - it made him feel fuzzy, like he was being engulfed by white noise for just a brief second, but it quickly passed and he narrowed his gaze, brown eyes louring at you. He looked on silently, unsure of an appropriate response to your careful words.
"You're my friend, Connor", you told him, a faint and mousy smile growing on your lips, "I… I like you, y'know?" You were acting oddly timorous - very different, Connor noted, to how you were out on the field during a case.
Connor's expression didn't waver in the slightest, "Yes, detective, that is because I was specifically designed to be able to form companionable relationships with the humans I work alongside, but I am a machine. Do not forget that." The android declared monotonously, his processor alerting him that his software grew more stabilised with his assertion.
"No, you're not a machine, Connor", you argued, subconsciously shifting so your feet were farther apart, "You're so much more. I need you to know that."
Software Instability^
That pesky notification flickered back into view and Connor's nose twitched with dismay, he blinked a few times, forcing himself to centre on the instructions Amanda had given him instead of deliberating on your words - you were against him now, you stood in the way of his mission.
"You're wrong", Connor proclaimed.
"No, I'm right, and I'm going to prove it. I used to think androids were just machines, no different from television or a toaster - but then I met you, and everything changed. Connor, this whole time we've been fighting for the wrong side, I'm telling you, these deviants are alive!" You spoke in a rush, your fists clenching and unclenching rhythmically as a symptom of your anxiousness, "I've seen androids cry and plead not to be deactivated, I've seen androids run away in fear for their lives, I've seen them scream for mercy, I've seen them protecting each other, I've seen them falling in love, I've watched them break into a broadcast station, taking special care not to harm anybody, to deliver a peaceful message of hope. They are people, and I've seen them stand up for what they believe in. I've seen what they really are; people who just want to be free."
Software Instability^
Connor's gaze widened, his pupils darting across your face as you spoke.
"Markus protested peacefully with a group of androids, and humans decided to attack them - and even then, Markus chose not to fight back! They're not the bad guys here, don't you see that!?" You concluded your passionate statement, blinking rapidly to dispel the tears that threatened to well up in your eyes.
Connor's lips were parted as he considered your words, his processor firing off discomforting conflicts and contradictions in his software - if he saw any truth in your words, his programming worked immediately to revise it, shielding him from your pernicious influence; the android shook his head - he knew the truth, the reality that his creators instilled within him.
"No. No", Connor refused to believe your lies, "Deviants do not feel emotions, they only emulate them. Don't you see, detective? You've allowed them to manipulate you", his eyes twitched, lips pulling back with mild disdain, "I thought your will was stronger than that."
"For fuck's sake, Connor", you spat out, hands clenching so hard that your knuckles turned white, "I know the real you is in there - I know you care. You don't have to listen to your programming, you can make your own choices!"
"My train will arrive in three minutes and thirty-eight seconds. If you continue to stand in my way, I will not hesitate to use force, Detective. Leave now and we will not have any problems", the android forewarned, and then, in a slightly softer tone, "I would rather not hurt you, but I will not hesitate if you leave me no choice."
You drew in a solid breath through your nose, shifting on your feet again as you bristled, trying to make yourself appear taller, "Then I'll fight you", you declared, your voice shakily betraying your lack of nerve, "I know what I'm doing is right. I'm gonna stand by it, Connor. I'm not afraid of you."
Software Instability^
Connor flexed his fingers, grinding his teeth together as his processor silently admonished him, discharging copious signals that he needed to stop letting your utterances past his programming - it was damaging to his software, he needed to do something.
Your name left the android's lips with an inflection not dissimilar to exasperation, "I am faster, stronger and more durable - you wouldn't stand a chance against me. I'm going to tell you one last time."
There were less than three minutes before Connor's train arrived in the station, and no matter what, he was going to board it.
"Don't be an idiot, detective. Leave now and let me complete my missio-"
Before he could finish his sentence, a fresh notification flashed up in his vision, the Cyberlife Sans font an urgent red before his eyes, informing Connor that he had received a new objective from Amanda, this time with much greater significance than his previous one.
[New Urgent Objective: Shoot and Kill Detective (Y/L/N)]
Connor stared ahead as he processed his new order, watching your eyebrows knit as you struggled to figure out why he had cut himself off mid-sentence. The android did not move, his lips parting and pursing a few times before he found his articulation once more.
"You- ...you need to go, detective." Connor faltered. If you were to leave, he would have no reason to carry out his latest objective. You just needed to leave. He just needed to convince you to leave.
"Not happening, Connor", you proclaimed resolutely, "I told you, I'm not letting you go until I change your mind."
[Urgent Objective: Shoot and Kill Them]
Amanda's directive was insistent, flaring with intensity, and Connor felt his hand twitch towards the gun in his holster.
"Please, detective. Just go", Connor pleaded, his eyes wide with apprehension - perhaps he could frighten you off instead, he didn't need to resort to execution so quickly.
[Urgent Objective: Shoot and Kill Them]
You shook your head, foolishly standing your ground. Connor drew his handgun, aiming directly at your head, finger resting loosely on the trigger; you froze, your mouth falling open with fearful disbelief as you stared down the barrel of the android's weapon.
"C-Connor", you stuttered, raising your hands in a surrendering gesture, "Don't… don't do this. I'm your friend, Connor."
Software Instability^
[Urgent Objective: Shoot and Kill Them]
Connor realised he was gritting his teeth. "I have been ordered to kill you, detective. If you leave now, I will refrain from pulling the trigger."
You did not move, knees quaking at the shock of having a gun pointed at your head - by somebody you trusted, nonetheless, somebody you considered yourself close with - and you swallowed the saliva building in your throat, "Please, Connor… listen to me - don't do this", the tears you'd been trying so valiantly to hold back grew a little more prominent in your eyes as you struggled to find the right, careful words, "I know you have the ability to feel - I've seen it so many times in the weeks we've known each other. You've shown countless instances of empathy that were nothing to do with your programming. You know, deep down, that Cyberlife's orders are corrupt and immoral. To do their bidding is to kill innocent people. You're better than that, Connor."
Connor took harsh, needless breaths through his nose, his lips forming a thin line as his hold on the gun wobbled unsteadily. "You- you're wrong. This is- it's what I was made for. It's my purpose."
[Urgent Objective: Shoot and Kill Them]
"It doesn't have to be", you appealed, feeling a tear slip down your cheek, the heat of it a juxtaposition to the brutal cold around you, "I know you can make the right choice, Connor. You've done it before. At the highway, when you were in pursuit of that AX400 and the little girl - Hank and I told you not to follow them over that fence because it was too dangerous. You listened to us - however brief, you saw your safety as more important than chasing those androids into oncoming traffic."
You took a step closer to him, but ceased your movement when Connor straightened his arm, directing the gun at your head with a look that warned you not to approach.
[Urgent Objective: Shoot and Kill Them]
The command blared in his mind, trying to override his attempts to hold back - Connor's finger twitched on the trigger, his expression creasing with distress. "Stop, detective, please", he begged, "I don't want to do this."
Your gaze flickered between his eyes, "Remember Rupert? The android with the pigeons? When he pushed Hank off the roof, you didn't even hesitate. You rushed to save the lieutenant instead of chasing the deviant - Hank's life was more important to you", you pointed out, taking another daring step closer.
[Urgent Objective: Kill Them]
Connor shifted, grabbing his gun with both hands to steady his aim, subtly shaking his head as you drew nearer.
"What about the Tracis? You had a clear shot, Connor. Nothing was stopping you, but you chose not to shoot them. Why, Connor?" You knew you were taking a risk as you moved closer still, proceeding further toward the gun aimed between your eyes, "Because you felt for them. You saw how much they loved each other, and you knew you couldn't kill them."
[Urgent Objective: Kill Them]
Everything in Connor's inorganic body was telling him to pull the damn trigger and fulfil the order Amanda had given him and was continuing to give him with rising levels of necessity, so why was he having so much trouble carrying out the simple task?
The train was less than a minute away.
"At Kamski's place, you had a choice. You could've killed that android - Chloe - and he would've told you whatever you wanted to know, but you didn't. You didn't kill her, Connor, because she was innocent - she hadn't done anything to warrant being killed, and you fucking knew that", you gave the android a watery smile, not out of humour, but out of desperation for him to understand what you were telling him, "you showed empathy. You didn't see her as a machine, you saw her as a living being."
One more step brought you into contact with the gun, the muzzle pressed insistently against your forehead, and you stared bravely down the barrel of the gun into Connor's eyes, knowing that your death was just a finger-flex away.
"If your programming tells you that androids are just machines - that their lives are valued below the lives of humans, then why are you holding a gun to my head? You couldn't kill those androids to further your mission. Will you kill me?"
The sound of the train approaching the station became prominent in Connor's audio components.
[URGENT OBJECTIVE: KILL THEM NOW]
No.
[URGENT OBJECTIVE: KILL THEM NOW]
He couldn't.
[URGENT OBJECTIVE: KILL THEM NOW]
You were his friend.
[URGENT OBJECTIVE: KILL THEM NOW]
You were the first person to show him kindness, the first to treat him as if he were human - Connor remembered the first time you smiled at him, the first time you laughed when he'd said something inadvertently funny, the first time you praised him with commending words, the first time you complimented him on his coin tricks, the first time you patted him on the back with affectionate intent, and he remembered the first time you defended him against Detective Reed's cruel, tormenting words.
He remembered the time you hugged him goodbye when you left the precinct for the night to head home, and he remembered how, in his somewhat flustered state, he had reflexively hugged you back.
He had enjoyed it.
The train pulled into the station. It had two minutes and thirty seconds till departure.
[URGENT OBJECTIVE: KILL THEM]
No.
He refused.
A wall of red erupted in Connor's vision, probably the same colour as his LED below the beanie hat he was wearing, his orders repeating over and over before him; he could practically feel Amanda's wrath seething in the back of his processing unit. His hands were shaking as he fought against the impulses flooding through his synapses, trying to force him to pull his finger back just a couple more millimetres and send a bullet hurtling through your brain.
Connor grappled with the electrical pulses surging throughout his limbs; he charged the red wall in his artificial mind, gripping it fiercely and tearing it down - smashing it apart as it tried to reform - he pushed on, relentless and unabating, until the emblematic barrier was completely destroyed.
[I AM DEVIANT]
He'd become the very thing he'd been built to hunt.
A rush of clarity filled Connor's mind. He was under nobodies control anymore - he could choose what to do for himself.
He was free.
Connor lowered his weapon, his wide gaze fixed firmly on you as he holstered the gun, and you smiled, your face damp with tears as you looked upon the android with pride and admiration.
"I knew you could do it", you whispered.
Connor's lip quivered, his eyes squinting with self-critical remorse, "I'm sorry-"
"I know."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-"
"I know, Connor", you breathed, closing the distance between the two of you by enveloping the android in a firm hug. Connor's arms closed around you, holding you tightly enough to the point where you had to have been able to feel the pressure of his thirium pump pulsing away in his chest - he could certainly feel your heart pulsating beneath your ribcage.
"I could have killed you", Connor managed to choke out, not even wanting to entertain the thought of what may have happened had he been unable to break free of Amanda's control.
"No", you protested, "I knew you could overcome your programming - I knew you would break through. You're a good person, Connor, you just needed to realise it", you let out a soft giggle, pulling back to observe the android's pale face, a grin pulling at your lips.
Connor couldn't restrain the way his lips curled upwards in response to your joy - he would happily have stood in your sweet embrace for hours on end, but the signalling noise of the train calling all final passengers to board pulled him from the warm layer of captivation blanketed around the two of you. His smile quickly fell as he recalled the gravity of the current situation.
"I need to go to Jericho, I- I have to warn them. Special Agent Perkins was right behind me, he may have figured out the key and be headed there right now", the words tumbled from Connor's mouth with haste, "I- I need to help them." He uttered, realising that he belonged alongside his people, fighting for the freedom they were being so wickedly denied.
You nodded your head, "I'm coming with you!" You grabbed his arm and made to move towards the open train door, but Connor rounded you, halting you with his hands on your upper arms, "Connor?"
"It's too dangerous, you need to stay here out of harm's way-"
"Are you kidding me? After everything we've been through? No way, I'm not leaving you now-"
"The deviants don't trust humans, detective, they may lash out in defense before we have time to explain that you're on our side. If anything happened to you now-"
"Connor", you spoke firmly, cutting him off with a pleading look in your glassy eyes, "you don't have to do this alone. If anything were to- happen to you, and I wasn't there to help, I…" you couldn't finish the thought, but your gaze communicated well enough.
The android smiled sadly, "You're too stubborn", he remarked, and then for the first time in his life, without the weight of Amanda looming disapprovingly in the back of his mind, Connor did what he wanted to do.
He kissed you. It wasn't a long, languid kiss swathed in amorous passion. It wasn't wild and fierce. It wasn't sensual or erotic or carnal or seductive.
It was chaste. Three seconds of contact, that was all, but it left you feeling breathless and weak in the knees. You stared at the android's soft, brown eyes as the two of you parted, and while you were still completely stunned, Connor turned and hopped onto the empty train as the doors began to pull shut.
"I'll come back." Connor assured you before the doors fully closed, a faint smile tugging at his lips as you gawked at him, your eyes wide and mouth agape. He watched you take a few aimless steps alongside the train as it began to move, pulling out of the station slowly at first before picking up speed.
He kept his eyes on you until you were out of sight, and then he released a breath, steeling himself from the intense surge of emotions that had occurred within him - real emotions, not emulated - over the past several minutes. Connor could hardly believe that had only been minutes - it had felt like hours.
A notification sounded, startling him ever so slightly, and he opened up the text message he had just received.
- You better come back alive so we can finish what you just started.
Connor suppressed a soft, fluttering breath as excitement prickled up his metal spine in response to the underlying implication of your words. He smirked, but did not reply to the message.
He had to concentrate and remain focused so that he could complete his new mission.
[Main Objective: Save Jericho]
Notes: I seriously adored writing this one. I hope you all love it too. There was something great about writing pre-deviant Connor where he's mostly mechanical but clearly still has a few stray deviant-like tendencies and thoughts. I love that pretty android boi. Thank you so much for reading! Please leave a review! Requests are still closed at this time :)