Deviant Behavior (Connor x Reader)

Vigilo Confido

"You and Connor could both be free.  You could both forget about this, you could...start a new life some place else, just the two of you..." He held his arms out, "His life, their lives, are in your hands..."

They collapsed against his sides.

"All you can do right now is decide whether you want to trust me or not."

Trust.

A firm belief in the reliability, truth, or strength of someone.

Perkins' strength lied in his absolute dedication in preserving balance.  He'd been blessed with power, and took oaths to use that power to surgically remove the tumors of national insecurity.

But his obsession...his lack of perspective, was anything but reliable.

"Trust is something gained, not demanded, Perkins."

"And you're not in any position to be demanding much of anything."

"Aren't I?"

You stepped back, holding a hand out to the millions of CyberLife-branded androids in waiting.

"You have guns.  Explosives.  Tanks.  Trained soldiers."  You pointed your finger, leaning forward, "But what I have, what we have, is a purpose.  A duty to carry out, and a message to deliver."

His patience was swept away by a strong breeze, piling up and collapsing like the snow drifts around you.

"You're not even one of them."  His lips quivered, his brows creasing and smoothing over in nervous repetition, "You're human.  They, are machines.  Their kind killed your partner.  How could you even-"

"They are just like us."  You choked down the agony that came with his lack of understanding, and the mention of your best friend that'd died by a deviant's hands, "Some of them are misled.  Some of them are impulsive.  Some of them just need guidance...But make no mistake..."

You swallowed the lump stuck in your throat.

"All of them, are alive."

You regained control over your emotions, a skill that developed over time through stress testing; through trial and human error.

"You've spent so much energy chasing me, chasing them, that you allowed the real criminal to run rampant."

Fury and rage boiled inside you, reducing the somberness to vapor.  It warmed you in the cold, chipping away at the frost nipping at your resilience.

"I've been dodging her left and right.  That rogue AI.  Amanda."  You sneered, "The digital copy of the professor from Colridge."

You rolled your shoulders and sniffed, shaking your head in dismay.

"And while I was doing that, I stumbled upon an army large enough to run yours, and Jericho, into the ground."

His face dropped, his features falling flat.  The realization hit him in a visible collision, the provoking and prodding finally making a full circle.

"You see, when a wolf is caught in a trap...it sometimes gnaws its own limb until it can escape." You grinned, "And when that very same wolf calls for help...It can attract some very unwanted attention."

His nose twitched, and he grit his teeth, "Even an apex predator can be outmaneuvered by smart prey."

"And you were."

His eyes narrowed, his hand jerking without warning.  You reached for your gun, the army behind him pointing theirs at you in response.

His fingertips met an earpiece lodged on the side of his head.  He held up a flat palm, easing your weapon down, and those under his command did the same.