Detroit Become Human: Every Breath You Take (Connor x Reader)

Chapter 5: Chasing Instability

*I own nothing. 

AN: One of my favorite chapters. I hope you enjoy the crazy ride!

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw blue.

Spurting from Daniel's hand, trickling down Ortiz's killer's forehead, and oozing out of Connor's temple.

Emma said something to me and I startled, slicing open a red line in my finger. With a curse, I set down the knife and washed my hands.

"Take mine," I offered her my bagel, strawberry jam glistening like rubies on its surface.

"You have a lot of those," Emma said. She chewed slowly, her mouth open as she took in all of the marks scarring my hands.

"I'm a badass."

Emma spewed bagel and jam across the table, her nose scrunching. "Sure you are."

When the sun slid beneath the horizon and a deep indigo sky blanketed Detroit, I often returned home to find Emma nestled like a bird in my bed. Her hair spilled across my pillows, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow over her. Cuddling beside her, I'd vowed to free her from the cage mom was slowly fastening around her. I'd held her tight, remembering the good times with dad. The times Daniel had defied his programming to be our friend.

Piece by piece, Emma pulled herself back together. The edges were never completely the same, but that's how life goes. With every corner that stuck out, she'd arrange it to her liking, until that puzzle became her armor.

I only wished she'd never have to.

"That a bet?" I challenged. She nodded vigorously and with dramatic effect, I shoved the entire bagel into my mouth. Emma screwed up her face as I set down a single sheet of paper and slashed an X into one of the latticework of squares.

She made an O, and we continued our battle of tic tac toe until I fumbled, letting her claim victory in a whooping cheer.

"How will I ever beat you?"

Emma beamed, "Give up, there's no hope."

"I don't accept defeat."

She held out her palm and I puffed out air, sending my hair fluttering across my cheek. "Fine, you won." I handed her a glittering phone case and she gasped.

"Where'd you get this?"

"Secret," I said. "Happy early birthday."

Emma frowned. "My birthday was last month."

I scooped up her empty plate, "I know."

She replaced her case with the sparkling silver one, rhinestones shooting blinding beams about the room in the sunlight. In the center was a cluster of pink and blue stars.

"When do you get home?"

"Whenever the job's done, I'm sorry, I wish I had more time."

Work occupied most of my day, and mom left early to toss money at whatever she believed to be more important than making sure her youngest was fed. Being cooped up inside all day had to drive her mad.

Emma didn't attend school either-not that many went anymore what with the all-time unemployment rates resulting in many parents refusing to have their children taught by androids. Yet somehow, they were perfectly fine with one as a personal maid, the irony.

We were comfortable thanks solely to dad. He'd worked with computers, rising to the upper echelon of his company, and had been transferred to work at Cyberlife. His intellect had joined the likes of many top creators, and soon he'd come up with new model ideas. Like Daniel.