Pairing: Connor RK800 x Friend!OC (Tyler)
Prompt: Connor wasn’t always the android sent by CyberLife. He had to go through a series of tests over several years before he was able to be promoted to negotiator.
Warnings: Mentions of abuse.
Connor opened his brown eyes and was met with one of the most beautiful gardens he had ever seen.
It had a type of zen feeling to it; a place where one could go and stay for hours with only peace to keep them company. It was a tranquil place with the sun shining brightly on the river that weaved through the area, the water keeping the majority of flowers hydrated so it was less work that Amanda would have to do in her old age.
Connor glanced around and a new objective popped up in his eyesight, telling him to find his predecessor so he could make his weekly report to CyberLife. It had now been three weeks since he had arrived at the Jones’s household. Although this was only his third time in the garden, he felt as if he could stay there forever. Although it was simply a place in his programming, he felt as if it was real.
Tyler would like it. He thought.
Connor followed the path to the center of the garden, passing by the oddly shaped-what he thought was-art with a screen on it and a handprint he didn’t understand. Amanda stood towards the edge of the platform, her white robes glistening beautifully in the sun as she carefully tilted her watering can towards the flowers. She was watering a vine of roses that had woven themselves up various stakes that were implanted from the cement landing.
“Hello, Amanda.” Connor said softly, standing a few feet behind Amanda with his hands behind his back. Amanda hummed softly and turned around, smiling at the android. She set her watering can down on the cement and took a step closer to Connor.
“Connor.” Amanda said graciously. “How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you.” Connor said kindly. “And you?”
“Very well indeed.” Amanda replied. “Tell me, how are you adapting to life in the Jones household?”
“I believe it’s going well.” Connor said. “There seems to be no issues or resentment from any family members toward my person.”
Amanda hummed. “And Tyler?”
Connor raised a brow and his LED flashed yellow for a millisecond. “What about her?” He asked in confusion. Amanda’s eyes narrowed at him.
“She seems to be... attached to you.” Amanda said. “In an unhealthy manner.”
“We’re friends.” Connor admitted. “My systems have detected nothing wrong with Tyler. She’s merely a child, so her overreaction to certain situations is entirely normal. She has never had a constant person in her life, so she relies heavily on androids since her parents are never home. The family had a previous android that had a software malfunction and, as Tyler puts it, ‘ran away’. That is why I, as a prototype, have been sent to assist their family before CyberLife continues with my upgrade.”
“You’re a machine, Connor.” Amanda declared. “Your purpose is to be a household android. You do not make ‘friends’. When CyberLife takes you away to complete your upgrades, Tyler will be left with no one. You must not let her get any more attached to you.”
“But-” Connor began, but the sharp and disappointed look Amanda was giving him caused him to close his mouth.
“Are you... disobeying me?” Amanda asks. Connor stared at her.
“No.” Connor said, his voice sounding completely normal. “It’s not in my program, Amanda.” He could hear his regulator pump pounding in his ears.
Amanda looked suspiciously at Connor.
“Very well.” She dismissed, waving her hand at him as she picked up her watering can, continuing to water the roses.
Connor blinked and shook his head a bit, closing his eyes as a gentle breeze drifted over him.
What was happening to him?
“Daddy!” Tyler cheered as the front door of the house opened, Justin walked inside with his suitcase in tow. Tyler ran up to her father and jumped into his arms, Justin lifting her up and hugging her tightly as he settled the tiny girl against his hip. “I missed you!”
“I missed you too, sweetie.” Justin said, pressing a kiss to Tyler’s cheek as she giggled. “Where’s your momma?”
“Office.” Tyler answered as Justin set her down. “Daddy, look!” Tyler now raced over to Connor who was standing at the bottom of the staircase, grabbing his hand and dragging him over to Justin.
“This is Con Con!” Tyler exclaimed, letting go of Connor’s hand as she frantically motioned to her android. Justin smiled at her enthusiasm.
“My name is Connor.” Connor declared. “I’m the android sent by CyberLife.”
“I’m very aware of that.” Justin laughed. “I’m gonna go see your mom, Tyler. Then I’ll unpack and take a nap. We can go to dinner later tonight. How does that sound?”
“Connor, take my suitcase and empty it, then start my laundry.” Justin instructed. Connor nodded.
“Right away, Justin.” Connor replied as Justin brushed past him, heading towards Karen’s office. Connor pulled the handle up out of the suitcase and started to tug it towards Karen and Justin’s bedroom, but Tyler grabbed his hand.
“Connor, can I help?” Tyler asked with pleading eyes.
[ △ LET TYLER HELP]
[TELL HER NO]
“Of course.” Connor answered with a smile at the end. Tyler grinned and pulled Connor down the hallway to her parents' room. Connor laid Justin’s suitcase on the bed and unzipped it, making a pile of all the dirty laundry and taking out all of Justin’s toiletries.
“I know where those go!” Tyler chirped, taking the items out of Connor’s hands and racing to the bathroom with them. She put her father’s hairbrush away, along with his aftershave, razor, and some other products. She bounced back out to Connor, who was putting the now empty suitcase on the top shelf of the closet. Connor turned back to the bed and gathered the dirty laundry in his arms, heading towards the laundry room with Tyler trailing behind him. He sorted the darks and lights and started a load, lifting Tyler up so she could pour the detergent in.
As much as Amanda would hate for Connor to say, he had to admit that Tyler was a nice little helper.
Connor started to busy himself with tidying up the kitchen and Tyler sat at the bar, watching him in boredom. There was suddenly muffled shouts coming from behind the door to the office, Connor’s programming recognizing the voices as Karen and Justin’s. He zoned in on the voices and turned to Tyler, who was dashing out of her seat and rammed herself into Connor’s legs, gripping the fabric of his pants tightly. A quick scan showed her stress levels at 58%, and Connor placed a protective hand on her back in an attempt to comfort her. Tyler’s stress level went down to 52% and she pulled on Connor’s pant leg to get his attention while the voices raised.
“Connor, they’re gonna get mad.” Tyler said quietly. Connor cocked an eyebrow at her. “They’re gonna come out and try and hit me like last time.”
Connor’s LED flashed red as the words left Tyler’s mouth.
“What do you mean ‘try and hit you’?” Connor asked, crouching down to Tyler’s level. She leaned further into Connor’s touch and Max brushed against her legs.
“It happened once before you got here.” Tyler started. There was a crash behind the closed door of the office and Connor registered the sound as a vase breaking. “Daddy got really mad because Mommy said he wasn’t around a lot. He threw Lizzie against the wall and then he hit me. It really hurt, Connor. Please don’t let him hit me again.” Tyler was practically begging Connor for his help with tears in her eyes. He’d never seen her so afraid before. Even when she had fallen off the swing and scraped her hands, she wasn’t nearly as freaked out as she was now.
[PROTECT TYLER
PROTECT TYLER
PROTECT TYLER]
“Let’s go upstairs.” Connor proposed, grabbing Tyler by her waist and picking her up. Logically, this would make it easier for him to protect her if he was closer. “We can play with Max in your room.” Tyler nodded and buried her head in Connor’s neck.
As soon as Connor put his foot on the first step of the stairs, the doors to the office slammed open, followed by a crash of thunder sounding outside. Connor paused in his movements and turned his head to Justin storming out from the office, Karen screaming something after him.
“TYLER!” Justin yelled, his eyes full of rage as he stopped in the foyer. He looked at Connor holding Tyler and narrowed his eyes. “Come here, Tyler. Now. We’re leaving.”
Tyler shook her head and shared eye contact with her mother, who was standing in the doorway of the office. She had an upset look on her face and tear streaks that made a harsh line in her makeup.
“Connor, put her down.” Justin instructed, his tone harsh. Connor glanced nervously at Tyler, who mumbled a little ‘please don’t’ and tightened her grip on him.
[SET TYLER DOWN
PROTECT TYLER?]
Would I be protecting her if I let her go with Justin? Connor asked himself.
“Connor!” Justin barked, stomping his foot for emphasis. “Set her down. Tyler, we’re leaving.” Tyler shook her head and Connor held her closer to him. Connor narrowed his eyes at Justin as he struggled to move his legs.
[SET TYLER DOWN]
[ △ PROTECT TYLER]
Connor ran up the stairs and straight into Tyler’s room, locking the door behind him after Max came in after them. Connor put one of the chairs from Tyler’s tiny desk up against the handle and placed Tyler on her bed, holding her close to him as Max joined them. Justin’s footsteps could be heard thundering up the stairs and Tyler started to quietly cry as the door was harshly beat against. The sound reminded Tyler of the thunder outside in the storm.
“TYLER!” Justin yelled, slamming his hand on the door repeatedly. “OPEN THIS DOOR, YOUNG LADY! ONCE YOU GET OUT HERE, YOU’RE GONNA REGRET IT!”
Tyler buried her face in Connor’s shirt and started to cry. Justin eventually left, and Tyler wouldn’t stop trembling. Connor tried to calm her down and she eventually fell asleep against him. Everything had happened so fast, and Connor didn’t know how to handle it.
Right now, he knew he needed to protect Tyler. So that’s what he would do.
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