"Well, isn't this cozy."

The deviant had reportedly been spotted in an old, abandoned warehouse that looked like it was pulled straight out of a horror movie.

"I do not believe many would consider this cozy, Tasha."

I sighed, "I was being sarcastic, Connor."

"You two bicker like an old married couple." Hank shook his head, "I can't believe you two. Gah, I feel sick."

I rolled my eyes, "Get over it. I'm not a kid."

"Yeah but most parents don't enjoy hearing from their kids boyfriend that they had sex."

"Why not?" Connor asked innocently, causing me to facepalm.

"Can we just drop it please? I will die of embarrassment."

"Well, we're not gonna find the deviant standing idly out here — get a move on you two." Hank pushed me towards the door.

"Hey! I'm not going in first! This building gives me the creeps!" I jumped back as I heard a creaking noise come from within the building. "Nope, fuck that!"

Hank sighed in frustration, "You're one of the best detectives in this city, but you're scared of a damn building?"

"Uh, yeah! Have you not seen like every horror movie EVER?!"

"I'll go first." Connor said, stepping in front of Hank and I, walking into the building with ease.

"Ass." I mumbled as I trudged behind him, holding my gun tightly in his grasp.

•••

"We gotta split up to cover more ground." I spoke up after a while.

Hank nodded, "Fine. Go check upstairs. I'll do the basement and Connor can stay on the main floor."

I turned towards the rickety staircase.

Great.

I nearly let out a scream as Connor grabbed onto my arm, stopping me from walking up the stairs. "Jesus, Connor! You scared me!"

"I'm sorry," Connor looked worried. "I don't like you going off on your own."

I smiled slightly, "Connor, I'll be fine. I promise if I sense any danger I'll get you."

Connor was hesitant. It was like he was battling internally with himself. Slowly, his grip on my arm loosened and then he let my arm drop from his grasp.

"I'll be okay. I'll call you if I find him." I said as I placed a chaste kiss to his lips, trudging up the staircase.

•••

Empty.

Empty.

Maybe....

Nope, still empty.

I sighed in frustration as I walked through the long corridor of the top floor. "If I were a deviant, where would I hide?" I walked towards the last door on the floor, turning the handle slowly.

It was in that moment I was pushed to the ground, the deviant running out towards the exit to the roof. I scrambled to my feet, chasing after the deviant.

Once outside I noticed the deviant was holding a gun, pointing it at me. "Stop!"

I had my gun pointed at him. "I'm just here to talk!" I called out to him, trying to gain his trust. His LED was bright red, which caused me some concern. "My name is Tasha. What's yours?"

"Timothy." The deviant replied, his hand shaking as he held the gun.

"Hi, Timothy." I smiled at him as I took small steps towards him. "Wanna tell me what you're doing up here?"

"I just... I wanted to be alone. I wanted to be free." He seemed conflicted, "Stop! If you come any closer I'll shoot!"

"Please, put down the gun. Please." I begged, putting my gun up in surrender. "See? I'm not going to hurt you." I set my gun down, kicking it away. "I just want to talk."

"Why should I believe you?! You're a human!" Timothy yelled, anger fuelling him.

"Because if I wasn't being honest, back up would be here by now!" I said as I got closer. I was only a foot away when he cocked the gun.

"Stay. Back." His LED was flickering between yellow and red.

"— please, Timothy. Help me understand."

The deviant's LED stayed a solid yellow as he looked at me. "I just want to be free."

His eyes held a fear and sadness I had never seen before, and it ripped straight through my heart like a knife. "You need to go, now before—"

"Get away from her!"

Connor ran towards us, grabbing my gun I had left on the ground

"Connor, stop!" I begged, tears brimming my eyes. "I got this—"

The deviant grabbed onto me, shoving me to the ground as it pinned me there, moving it's hands to my neck and squeezing with incredible force.

I gasped for air as the Android continued to choke me, and I was sure he was going to break my neck. The deviant was dodging the few bullets Connor shot as he ran towards us. "St-op-" I gasped harder as I felt the air slowly leaving my windpipes.

The Android let me go as Connor neared, pointing the pistol at his own head. Connor grabbed onto his arm as the deviant shot itself in the head. Connor fell back against the air duct, the expression on his face pure horror.

"Tasha!" Hank ran to me, "Are you hurt?"

"Connor—" I managed to get out, trying to look over at him. He looked terrified. Something I had never seen before.

Connor's POV

"Connor!" Hank ran to him, "Are you alright?"

"I felt him die... like I was dying." Connor looked terrified.

Connor's fear turned to rage as he went to Tasha, examining her neck which had visible bruising beginning to form from the force the Android was using to choke her. "Another second and he would've broke your neck!"

Tasha had tears in her eyes as she finally regained her breath. "M'okay." She called out, though it was a quiet whimper. "Connor... are you okay?"

He simply nodded as Hank kneeled in front of her, "C'mon, Kiddo, let's see the damage."

"I'm okay..."

Tasha turned her head to the side, her hair falling back to expose her pale flesh, which was now turning blue and purple, hand marks imprinting themselves into her skin.

"He just wanted to be free..." Tasha's voice sounded broken, like something else had happened on the roof that Connor didn't witness.

Connor analyzed her, ignoring her words as he reached his hand out very slowly, "It didn't do any permanent damage." His voice was quiet, serious but mainly empty.

"See, Hank?" Tasha forced a laugh, crying in pain afterwards. "I'm right as rain."

"I'll be in the car." Connor said as he walked away, leaving the two of them alone.

Tasha's POV

"I've never seen Connor so... scared. He's really upset." I said quietly as Hank helped me to my feet.

"He has every right to be, darlin'." Hank sighed, a frown on his face, "You nearly died back there."

"But I didn't."

"You could have." Hank shook his head. "You need to realize that you're not invincible, Kiddo. You can't always be the hero."

"I know I... I just didn't want anyone to get hurt. I'm so sick of all this fighting. Androids, Human — who cares?! Why can't everyone just get along?"

"That isn't how the world works, Kiddo. If it did Gavin wouldn't be a prick."

I laughed quietly as we reached the car. My small smile faded as I saw Connor in the front seat, his eyes forward and void of any emotion.

"How am I supposed to do this, Hank?" I turned to him, a frown on my face. "I love him. I love him so much it hurts— but I don't agree with what we're doing at all. Catching Deviants... I just— they just want to be free. I'd give anything if I could..." I trailed off, shaking my head. "If we succeed in taking down the Deviants, CyberLife will take Connor away. If Connor doesn't do his job, CyberLife will take him away... it's like no matter what I do, I'm going to lose him."

"Look, kid, I don't know what's going to happen, but what you and Connor have— that's the real thing. Regardless of him being an Android. Maybe you two can... can leave, go to Canada and be together."

I shook my head, "I can't leave you, Hank. You're my best friend— you're my only family."

Hank smiled slightly, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I've got your back, kid, no matter what happens."
•••

Connor was never angry, he rarely ever portrayed his emotions completely, but anger and rage was something very rare to see in him.

As we walked into the house, I felt my whole body shiver. My neck hurt like crazy, but my chest hurt worse in that moment.

I felt empty, like a part of me got ripped out.

If I hadn't chased the deviant, maybe he'd still be alive....

"You were going to let it go." Connor looked at me, his expression unreadable.

I was silent for a moment, unable to look at him completely. Eventually, I looked up, tears brimming my eyes as I looked at his face.

"Yes." I answered, frowning as I looked away from him. "I was going to let him go."

"Why would you do that?! Why would you be so reckless?! You said if you found anything you'd get me!" He yelled, narrowing his eyes at me. He began to pace, "If he had choked you one second longer, he would've broken your neck and you would've died!"

Connor's anger caused me to jump a little. I had never seen him angry — and he was furious.

"I— I knew you'd either take him in or kill him! I just, I wanted time to talk to him! They're not all bad, Connor."

"You could've gotten yourself killed!" He yelled, pacing furiously. "Deviants are dangerous and need to be stopped!"

I turned away from him, trying to muffle my sobbing as tears began falling down my face.

He just wanted to be free.

They all just want to be free.

"Tasha..." I heard Connor's footsteps as he walked over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist while turning me to look at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

Connor kissed my head as his body began to shake. "I'm sorry."

"Connor," I pulled back to look up at him, shocked to find tears falling down his own face. "Connor, what's wrong?"

"I'm just... I'm scared, Tasha." He admitted, his LED flickering between yellow and red. "If... if something were to happen to you, I—"

"Hey, it's okay!" I smiled up at him, touching his face as I wiped away his tears. "No matter what happens, we're in this together. I love you, Connor. Nothing will change that."

Connor relaxed slightly, the tears faded as he pulled me against him, his grip tight enough it hurt slightly, but I didn't mention it as I stood there with him, trying to forget the many trials we still had to face to find our future together.

A/N: Please leave scene suggestions you'd like to see me write and add to the story! Thank you for reading I love you all!
just to be clear the deviant wasn't Simon :) he's still alive.