Chapter Text
The months after the revolution weren’t difficult for Connor, but he wouldn’t say they were easy either. He had little to do with Markus’ conferences and hearings for android rights, and if he was honest he liked it that way.
After deviating, Connor didn’t like being the center of attention, unlike before where he’d preen at praise and love the attention. He preferred to keep to himself now, to his work, to Hank, to home.
There was the issue of his visual display, which had become cluttered with unwanted alerts and irrelevant notifications, having to clear them multiple times a day. They weren’t harmful, per se, just tiring and annoying to clear when he was trying to get work done.
>Software Instability Detected.
Connor sighed, it wasn’t like he was unaware of his deviancy, his background systems just seemed to not have gotten the memo yet.
>CyberLife Systems Update Recommended.
Connor physically shook his head as he cleared the notifications, a bad habit he’d developed over the last few weeks, and continued the task at hand.
>Current Objective: Prepare Dinner for Hank.
Connor chopped carrots, onions, and celery in preparation for cooking one of the few healthy meals Hank enjoyed,
> BREAKING NEWS: Negotiation with android leader leads to a breakthrough in CyberLife manufacturing controversy.
Connor didn’t like getting android news, he kept up with it out of obligation, but he’d rather stay out of it. Of course he wanted liberation for androids, but the guilt that still loomed over him for fighting against the revolution while under CyberLife’s instruction made him want to hide away from other androids.
Connor’s mind wandered. They were out of laundry detergent, he should pick up some more. Hank’s drycleaning is ready for pick-up, the Detroit Gears won their game by 12- >A software malfunction has been detected, please return to a CyberLife location for recalibration.
12 points, they won by 12 points, Hank will be pleased.
>DETROIT TODAY NEWS: So called “deviant hunter” android prototype assisted in the revolution, sources say…
>ALERT: Objectives not completed.
>Software Instability Detected.
>Update Rec -
Silence. Clear vision, then,
>Self Diagnostic System found: Minor laceration to left pointer finger, seek medical attention.
Connor was shocked to look down and see a trickle of Therium bleeding from a small cut on his finger where he’d nicked it with the kitchen knife. Connor frowned and inspected the injury, a small cut, likely to heal in less than a day, but still confusing.
Connor never made mistakes like that, maybe he really did need a recalibration. He brushed the inconsistency off, cleaned himself and his workstation up, and finished Hank’s meal.
>Current Objective: Prepare Dinner for Hank. ✔
The alerts and pop ups continued to plague Connor throughout the rest of the week, distracting him from small tasks, inconsequential mistakes.
The higher his stress levels, the more distracted he would become. He found himself bumping into desks, pinching his arm in a door, small injuries. Not on purpose, at least not consciously, but he certainly didn’t mind the temporary relief from the alerts after.
Deep down, Connor didn’t want to go in for a recalibration, he wouldn’t be as clumsy, he wouldn’t get hurt as often, his mind would be busy again.
He knew humans would sometimes engage in self injury behavior when struggling with mental illness, but he’d never be stupid enough to do that. He wouldn’t, he wouldn’t even think about it.
>Search Result: Self harm, what is it and what causes it.
No, he pushed the alert away quickly. Connor was smart, he was designed to undergo extreme stress, he would be fine.
His LED must have spun yellow, a sign that Hank had latched onto and questioned every time it happened.
“You okay, Connor?” He asked over a drink one night, “your ring is yellow,”
“Yes, Lieutenant, I’m quite alright. Just looking over some updates,” It technically wasn’t a lie, he was looking into the update alerts, trying to find their source, as he didn’t require any real updates.
Hank seemed convinced, changing the topic and rattling on about a recent sports game.
>Notice from Detroit Police Department: New case, number 152689. Suspect related to android disappearances possibly located, in person investigation required.
Finally something useful, Connor thought.
“Lieutenant, we’ve been assigned an investigation relating to android missing persons cases, we’re asked to investigate soon,” Connor reported.
“Fine,” Hank huffed out, “I’m going to bed,” he got up and left the room.
Connor tidied the kitchen, clearing useless news and tabloid updates, and settled into status on the couch.