Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Connor!"

Said the leader of Android revelation with a mildly amused tone as Connor walked in through the city gates and saw the man waiting for. Again, just like the last time.

Stress levels: 5% and increasing.

Software instability.

Connor didn't get why Markus would do that in the first place. As a state of art prototype with the best social programs among all androids, It confused him why a man this busy and this stranger would personally escort him around New Jericho to meetings that Connor didn't have any business in at the first place.

He, in return, just hosted his natural one with a very small smile out of politeness, not wanting to be rude but not wanting to look that happy either.

He didn't want to be here, not really. Everyone called him a founder but he was just another deviant. He wasn't a leader, he was an investigator and he liked that mission, all these meetings did were distracting him from his original objective of the moment.

Main objective: Help and Protect Lt. Hank Anderson.

"It's good to have you here again, it's been so long since your last visit." The leader's smile widened a little bit there, genuine happiness in his voice at the fact that the former hunter was here. Connor couldn't say he knew why.

Software instability.

"It's been five day, fourteen hours and thirty seven minutes since my last visit. I do not think that's a very long time, Markus." Monotone voice and a raised eyebrow was all Markus get as the answer to his cheer.

Markus let out a chuckle at that and gave a little squeeze to his shoulder, Connor could not bother to think of a reason as why the man had laughed.

Humans would go a lot more without visiting each other before calling it a long time, he didn't undrestand the necessity of him visiting New Jericho everyday and no matter how much he explained it, the other android didn't seem to get it.

Connor could choose for himself and he chose to stay with Hank for a reason, all these temptations and questions made him think Markus did not belive in his intelligence at all.

That was the whole point of being a deviant though. Doing what he wanted no matter what others would say.

New Jericho, just like usual, was thriving. An overwhelming place where the android population of US lived right now, well, most of it.

The place was overwhelming and the new found free will wasn't really helping with all of this. Androids turned out to be socializing and interactive creatures, a fact that Connor, in all honesty, did not appreciate.

Being among his own kind was good, to be seen and accepted as a part of this community was a valued experience that he enjoyed from time to time.

Key word being from time to time, not always, one other reason for him choosing to stay away. He was different from people who lived here.

Con would say he did a lot better with the silent chaos of Hank's house and the organized formality of DPD, they felt familiar and safe to him and unlike this city and this many people.

His table at DPD, in Hank's car going to a crime scene , scanning and observing and being rational, things he was programmed for were things he still wanted even after gaining free will. As Hank had said there was nothing wrong with it but other androids just didn't get it.

Markus took his hand off of the man's shoulder and they started to walk through the city togather. Him and Markus walking togather in a city that they helped into being and people they freed yet Connor felt nothing like that toward it.

Markus was smiling softly at everything and everyonee, as if looking at all this made him proud. Connor on the other hand? He felt that pride after solving a case, a successful interrogation or watching as Hank took once less shot at a bar.

Awkward silence slowly warmed its way in, settled as they walked through the small city and making the walk feel as obligatory as it was.

"So... how's life outside of Jericho working for you, Connor?"

"Good."

Markus blinked at him with those mismatched eyes, as if waiting for something more from him.

"I enjoy my job very much." He said as he looked at android kids who were playing with each other, hoping for it to be enough of an answer for the leader.

With the look that Markus was giving, it wasn't. Connor's state of art processor was really tired of explaining how he actually wanted to do this job again and thanked RA9 when the revelationery didn't mention it again.

"I know how it is on the professional side of things, Con. you are helping a lot with getting humans to accept us and I thank you for that." Markus paused for a second, giving him an undefined look.

"But I wanna know more, how's everything else? Like with your human."

"You mean with..  Hank?" He questioned, the deviant had come to realize that making sure of the other side's intentions always helped specially when he failed to assess their actual wants.

Like he usually did with Markus and anything that wasn't android rights. 'Best at reading human expressions', guess they didn't meant androids.

"Yes."

Software instability.

"We go along very well and I find our life and interactions something to look forward to." Not even the tip of that iceberg but he wasn't close enough to Markus for that much information yet. Never give the opponent information any more than necessary.

Markus nodded but didn't stop loking right into his face.

"You know you can come and live here anytime." Said the man as he looked at him, "You don't have to keep working for DPD either."

"I know that, Markus, I simply want to do so"

"Just... others are worried about your safety as a founder of New Jericho among humans." Markus sighed as Connor just went deeper into irritation.

He frowned. Why would deviants that he barely knew concern themselves with his living arrangements? Where he lived was his business and what he did also the same.

Now he really got what Hank meant. These meeting weren't just trying to get his help but they wanted to involve him into all this, for him to finally decide on staying.

This was a different thing now. From a simple walk to something akin to an interrogation but with Connor as the one getting interrogated.

"Well, their worries are appreciated but I think my personal life choices should not concern them." He said, as calm as possible but with no smile this time.

'You should start standing up for yourself more, son.' Hank would say, 'You have no problem walking over Gavin with nothing but your wits, use those skills on others too.' He was gonna take lieutenant's advice on this.

"I wanted to live with Lieutenant Anderson and work with him and DPD. As far as I know, the point of deviancy is choosing for ourselves and doing what we want, am I correct?"

Markus went silent for a moment, Connor knew he had said the right word and had triggered the right reaction in the freedom fighter.

"I'm not questioning your decisions, Connor, I would never. I just..." Markus hesitated for a second, unsure how to express this without making it look weird, "You are one of us. We would like to have you here with us."

"I am here frequently though, I don't see why you would need me to be here 24/7." I think you want to control me with this and I do not like it. "You know i can't do that." I don't want to do that.

"The thing is..." Markus took a deep breathe, no need for it but he did it anyway.

"I want to get to know you more, Connor." The words went out with a hint of nervousness, "Not just as another deviant who helped but as someone."

Stress level: 13% and increasing.

Software instability.

Connor looked at him with an expression that resembled nothing more than it did a 'loading screen', almost shocked. This was a whole different situation.

Markus, the leader of Jericho and Androids as a whole, a legend or as Hank would say 'robo jesus', wanted to get to know him. So sudden and out of nowhere.

That was weird. Specially with the course of actions Markus had been taking lately. It was bizarre to say at least and Connor had doubts about this.

"Well, getting to know me does not require me being here." He said, trying a more friendly tone this time and going for one approach that he was specialized in. Negotiation.

Talk with the target, try to convince them that this is the wrong way for approaching things and try to settle on a ground you could both agree on using facts or half-truths. Gaslight if needed.

But Connor knew he didn't need to do that, Markus was a very negotiable person and listened anyways. He was kind and cared for others, that could be to Connor's advantage here.

"As you know, I have a job and a fa- coworker to take care of. These Frequent and unscheduled visits will cause set back both in my work and my personal life so I say..."

He took a breathe to text Hank.

RK800: lieutenant, what are yours opinions on having a guest come over?

"You can visit me sometimes instead. I get to watch you work and interact with others, it helped me get to know you better so I'm certain it would also work the other way around. What do you say, Markus?"

The leader seemed actually appealed by the idea.

"I think that would be a lot better for both of us... how about tomorrow? if you're not busy of course!"

Lt. Hank Anderson: What the fuck, Con?

Chapter Text

Stress levels: 23%
Software instability.

"Are you serious right now?" North gave out a very deep sigh, looking at her friend with so much disappointment and 'done'ness. "Is that why you're so nervous?"

Stress levels: 27% and increasing.
Software instability.

Yes, it was. He was nervous cause he was invited over to Connor's residence by Connor himself and was supposed to be there in two hours as Connor had requested.

God, too many Connors per sentence.

"I think you should be happy, Markus, he invited you over. That's a step." Josh said, trying to encourage their 'fearless leader to freedom' to stop acting like a lovesick teenager.

But they all know, coming into existence as adults meant they didn't get a lot of 'growing up' experiences so a crush like this that an adult human could probably deal with perfectly? This was news and everyone wanted a part in it.

Except for Markus himself. He did not want to be the first one of their circle to fall in love and be the show for them.

"I think it's wonderful, Markus!" Simon said, putting a hand on the man's shoulder as Markus just looked like he was ready to blow up by all this, "He wants you to actually get to know him, isn't that what you wanted?"

It was, it really was. But it was also stressful as hell... He could feel his pump pumping way faster than it should've as if he was raiding that Cyberlife store again.

Markus let his head out of his hands for a second, looking around at his closest friends that had occupied his small office. He felt embarrassed to let his weakness show.

Stress levels: 30%
Software instability.

Deviancy was a blessing that came with a lot of things, which Markus was prepared for thanks to Carl. But this? Markus wasn't prepared for romantic love and getting a crush! And on Connor of all people...

Connor, the oddest android they have ever met, the only android they knew who lived outside of New Jericho and the most task-driven person he knew. he would have more chance of receiving anything back falling for a human and most humans hated him with a passion.

Markus did not undrestand Connor at all. He was a deviant who still did the same job he had before deviancy. He had weird ways of communication and showing interest. He hadn't changed a single thing about himself since becoming aware.

He was unlike all of them and yet just the same, everything about him made Markus' pump regulator to speed up and his processor to stop working.

And none of his friends really got it but tried to support his impossible dreams as best as they could... well, not North.

"Markus, you do realize that you are better than this, right?" North sighed, still well disappointed but at least a bit kinder on tone, "You built a nation-"

"We built a nation." Markus cut her sentence and earned a glare.

"Let me talk, dumbass." Markus sighed and gave in again, "You built a nation and led a whole ass revelation to success, a simple flattering in your tummy cause of some guy, and not the best one at that," Still not a fan of Connor, Markus didn't think she would ever move on from all the deviant hunter bussiness. 'Shouldn't be something you piss yourself about."

North shook his head and Josh, for the first time since... well... ever, rose to agree with her.

"She's right, Markus. You've done so many things way harder, this should be relatively easy for you to manage."

Stress levels: 33% and increasing.

Markus wanted to bang his head into the closest wall. The situation was so bad Josh and North were agreeing on somethig.

"And you're a great guy, he should be dying to have you as a boyfriend, You're a literal legend and he's a... well... him." North said, firmly with hands crossed over her chest and a look of determination and... disappointment again.

Simon gave another reassuring smile to him and put a hand on his, Markus sighed softly.

Markus couldn't explain it to them... how it felt when he merely looked at Connor.

He could see the same android he did the first time, determined and confused but unwavering with something special in his eyes... he had never seen an android so alive.

Connor was scared, he could see the fear in his eyes, yet so so brave as he went on s mission with success rate that was under any existing line in the world. And he succeeded.

Connor was different. Connor was special. Connor was someone Markus wanted to be invested in for the rest of his active days, just to undrestand him and devour all he could get about him.

Connor was kind and caring but also serious, very professional but never failing to lighten up the mood when needed. He was confused but not stupid, but smart... very very smart. So intelligent and witty.

He wanted to know everything, every small detail aout Connor, to count his eyelashes and see how soft his hair really felt and how was his job as an investigator.

He wanted to investigate the man in ways the man would investigate crime scenes... down to the smallest of details with dedication and determination until everything was uncovere-

Simon yelped.

Markus looked to see the hand of his friend as well as his own didn't have skin on... and realized a moment too late what it meant.

Simon saw all the thoughts he just had.

Stress levels: 38% and increasing.

Markus wanted to explain that it wasn't like that, that he didn't mean it in the way Simon was thinking (kinda did, kinda didn't), but it wasn't going to work.

Markus could as well go and jump off of Jericho's walls cause this right here could not get any worse, until Simon let go of his hand and started laughing like a maniac.

North and Josh were fast to catch up and jumped to Simon, grabbing the blonde by his shoulders and shaking him while he just kept laughing. All the seriousness of the situation was gone as they saw a chance to mock their friend, no worry or support mattered as the chance to roast their perfect leader presented.

"Simon, please..." Said the (robo) jesus of a nation, tone pleding as he looked at his friend with all the begging of the world in his eyes.

"What was he thinking, Simon? C'mon, tell!" North said with the most diabolical expression ever, Markus begged Simon with his eyes.

"C'mon, Sim! Spill it!" Josh said, too eager for Markus' taste. Simon was not gonna stay quiet, Markus survived everything just to die cause of embarrassment. This was not how he wanted his life to end.

Simon was out of (unnecessary) breathe as he took a few moments to recover from the fit.

Markus prayed to rA9 for a sweet and fast deactivation as Simon gave in (as if he was ever fighting) to the other two's  request. They will never let it it go.

"He was..." He couldn't stop laughing, "Thinking about Connor and... how much... he wants to... investigate and... have.. him..." Simon couldn't stop laughing even for a moment.

"Simon, please..." Markus pleaded to the man. It wasn't all lost, if the blonde spared him that one word he wouldn't lose all his dignity.

Software instability.

"Have him what, Sims??" North said, as if knowing exactly what it was gonna be.

Stress levels: 47% and increasing.

"Have him... un... covered!"

There was a moment of silence, Markus said goodbye to his dignity at the right time cause right the second he did, the three started laughing so hard Josh was having tears.

Well, He had overcome everything just to lose to this. What pathetic fate for the man he thought he was. Rest in peace, Markus, the lovesick leader of Jericho who self-destructed out of sheer embarrassment.

"Uncovered?! OH MY GOD!" North was having the time of her life with Josh laughing like there was no tomorrow and he had to get it all out tonight.

After something that felt like an eternity of laughter and shame, They finally stopped.

And than started to laugh again.

And went on for what felt like eternity DLC.

They laughed so hard Josh started to cry with it and Simon had started to cough like dying man, North still having her grace throughout the whole fit.

"Now, Lover boy... No matter how much you want the covers off on this one,..." a chuckle escaped Simon at that, who was still recovering from the laughter turned cough, "You should cover up nicely for your meeting with family.." North said at the middle of the fit while the other two tried to gather themselves.

Oh holy rA9.

Stress levels: 50% and increasing.

"Simon, go and bring the clothes in! It's time to make him shine!"