[COMPLETED] Corrupted (Connor X Reader)

Aloud

"...And guest," Mr. Kamski muttered softly, tilting his head. "Who might you be?"

It took a moment before the words worked their way to your lips, and you were able to introduce yourself in a quiet voice. As soon as you did, Mr. Kamski's eyes narrowed.

"Interesting..." He said, without elaborating any further.

After a beat of silence, Hank cleared his throat, "We're investigating a virus — an AI we think you might know something about."

"'A virus'," Mr. Kamski snorted offhandedly, seeming amused, "I believe we discussed viruses last time you visited, and you weren't interested."

"We're not here about deviancy," Connor spoke up from beside you, "We're here about Amanda."

Well, that piqued Mr. Kamski's interest. The faintest flash of something dark broke through his aloof, smug persona before he could cover it up again. You couldn't be certain what that was, what it meant, but for some reason, it unsettled you even more than the crimson pool the other two female androids were lounging in.

"Amanda Stern is dead," Mr. Kamski finally replied with a careless shrug.

Hank snorted angrily at that, and you couldn't blame him. Irritation flooded you at the misdirection. Mr. Kamski knew something — something that caused him to make that dark expression for a moment, something that he was trying to avoid talking about. Typically, you wouldn't want to pry, wouldn't want to make someone uncomfortable, but Mr. Kamski was your main lead right now, and you felt the impatience gnawing at your insides.

"Why did you make Amanda into an AI?"

Mr. Kamski's steely eyes bored into you, his nostrils flaring for a split second before he turned to the female android at his side.

"Chloe, would you mind bringing us something to drink? The empress tea should be a good way to warm up our guests."

"Of course, Elijah," Chloe's small lips quirked up as he nodded at her, and she excused herself, her bare feet slowly padding out of the room.

There was a moment of silence that followed her departure, settling across you, Connor, Hank, and Mr. Kamski as you stared at each other from opposite sides of the plush rug, waiting for someone to speak up, to break the growing tension. You hoped it would be Mr. Kamski, hoped he would answer your question.

But it was Connor who gave in and spoke first, probing Mr. Kamski further, "Last time I was here, you told me that you always put an emergency exit in your programs. You knew I would need that information. You knew about the Amanda AI."

"That doesn't sound like a question, Connor." Mr. Kamski's smug aura returned full force as he locked eyes with the android.

Fuck this, you thought — the flickers of anticipation at meeting the creator of androids, of CyberLife, the prodigy that turned code and plastic into the ethereal creatures you'd grown up aspiring to work with had faded, giving way to impatience. Androids, his creations, were dying because of Amanda, and he was just side-stepping your question, maintaining his aloof aura as he skirted around Connor and Hank as well.

"Why did you make the Amanda AI?" you asked again, barely concealing your irritation at having to repeat yourself, but you needed to know.

The corner of Mr. Kamski's lips twitched, and he folded his hands over his silky black robe before turning his attention back to you, something akin to amusement coloring his cool features. "You're impatient," He noted in a steady tone.

"And you're not answering my question," You very nearly growled.

Connor's eyes widened as he stiffened next to you, and Hank let loose a snort of laughter, barely concealed underneath a huffing cough, but you only had eyes for Mr. Kamski — Mr. Kamski whose steely gaze hardened, whose pale skin stood out in stark contrast against the dark hair of his bun and silken black robe, as well as the surrounding sleek lines of the room. But they were nothing compared to the darkness growing behind his eyes as he zeroed in on you.