#switch!markus

switch!markus, switch!connor

other characters : north, simon, josh

summary : connor has recently joined jericho, but markus doesn't trust him yet. the prototype tries to make conversation, which leads to a discovery between both of them and a close bond slowly forming.

warnings : pretty out of character, some of my hcs included, tickling, and slight swearing. if this makes you uncomfortable, please keep scrolling.

word count : 1848

(A/N: this came to me in a dream btw lol)

---------------------⟡⟡⟡-----------------------

Markus wasn't sure this was the right idea. He had allowed a deviant hunter into a place where deviants could be free. While he hadn't done anything yet, Markus still did not trust him. He had encountered the prototype once before, and things didn't end well. So, imagine his surprise when Connor showed up randomly. Connor said he became deviant, and he hadn't gone back to CyberLife or this "Amanda" he talks about, yet Markus just couldn't believe him.

Connor, on the other hand, didn't understand why Markus avoided him. He really wanted him to be a close ally. He was slightly hurt that he refused to talk to him. However, he was determined to have Markus talk to him.

Connor wandered the walls of Jericho, looking for Markus. No matter where he went, he could not find him. He wasn't by Lucy, he wasn't by the fire, he wasn't on the crates, this man wasn't anywhere. He had started to lose hope, when he saw Markus' friends, North, Simon, and Josh. His hope replenished, he straightened his tie and walked towards the group communicating upon themselves proudly. When North saw him, she stopped talking immediately, and the others soon followed. "Connor," she said, "what do you want?" She raised a slim, dark eyebrow and looked him up and down.

"I am looking for Markus, North," he spoke proudly, his shoulders straight, "would you happen to know where he is?" North crossed her arms, a silence falling over the group. Clearly, she didn't want Connor in front of her.

Simon broke the tense silence, letting out a bark of laughter, and arched his back. He made a noise that sounded partly like gibberish and partly like 'JOSH!'. He flipped around toward the other deviant, scowling at him, and elbowed him in the ribs. Josh let out a snicker and faced Connor. "Yeah, I know where he is," he said. North turned around and stared at him, a confused look on her face. Connor heard a faint 'Josh, what are you doing?' he could only assume was from her. His attention shifted from the woman in front of her to the dark-skinned man behind, sitting on a higher crate.

"Great. Could you tell me where he is?" The prototype said. Josh nodded, a smirk on his face. He nudged Simon by the arm and seemed to signal him with his eyes. Simon nodded and stepped down from the crates. He walked towards Connor, who didn't move a muscle.

"He's up in the control room," he said, "up those stairs and take a left, you can't miss it. Oh, and between you and me," he moved to the prototype's side, whispering in his ear, "don't let him scare you. He's a sweetie, he just doesn't want to admit it." Simon pulled away, walked back to a sly looking Josh and an infuriated North, and sat back down on a crate in between the two.

"Thank you, guys," Connor said, nodding, "I appreciate it." Josh just nodded back and Simon gave a thumbs up. The prototype walked up the rickety metal stairs next to the group, grimacing at the rust creaking. As he walked through the second level, something was stuck in his mind,

Why did Simon tell him that?

He knew it was probably just advice, but he couldn't help but think there was something behind it. However, as he approached the menacing control room, he shook his head, fixed his hair, and walked through the dark arch.

The control room was nothing like Connor would've expected. It looked way more decorated and 'homey' than the rest of Jericho. There was fairy lights hung around the top of the ceiling, small clutter scattered throughout the floor, comfy looking living chairs, and a pink couch where Markus was sitting, seeming to be lost in thought.

"Hello, Markus." Connor spoke, walking toward the deviant. He sat down on the other side of the couch, looking at him. Markus didn't reply, but he obviously noticed him. When Connor sat down, he saw the deviant's shoulders tense slightly. Connor, being the socially unaware android he was, thought Markus just didn't hear him. He spoke after a moment of quiet, saying, "I said hello, Markus."

"I heard you," Markus said quietly. He looked over at him before shifting his gaze back onto nothingness. Connor was stunned for a second. He didn't think the fair-skinned android across from him disliked him to the point he would go out of his way to ignore him. He shook the thought out of his head, and was about to speak, but Markus talked first, "why are you still here? You know I don't like you."

"I am aware of your opinion of me," Connor said, "but I think we could be good partners if you just tried to trust me." the prototype saw Markus' eyes flicker to him and back again, and he could practically see his mind contemplating. Silence fell over the two yet again, but this time it wasn't as tense. It was... kind of peaceful.

"I just... I don't know if I can," Markus spoke, "I mean, you were designed to literally murder my kind. You say you've become free, but... I just can't trust it." now he refused to look Connor in the eye. He sighed heavily and felt a small pressure on his back. He flinched but relaxed after realizing it was just the other deviant trying to comfort him.

Connor looked to the side to figure out what to say, but nothing came to mind. He figured the silence was better than talking at this point. To be honest, Connor felt a small feeling in what would be his chest. It felt like excitement - Markus was starting to trust him. A small, barely visible smile on his lips. Without thinking, he started to move the hand on the other man's back up and down.

Markus' eyes widened slightly, and he bit his lip hard. He did his best to not start laughing, because the android beside him had unknowingly started to tickle him.

The prototype noticed the slight change in his face, the small twitches whenever he got close to a specific spot on his back, the way his leg stated to bounce randomly, and started to come to a conclusion. Markus saw the gears turning in Connor's head (yes, pun intended).

His mind went back to the moment he had earlier with Simon and Josh. How Simon laughed randomly, startling North and him. And then he realized what had happened. Josh had scribbled on Simon's stomach. He saw the deviant's hand move to the other's abdomen, and then it clicked.

Markus. He was ticklish.

Connor paused his movements. Like every single muscle in his body hit pause. Markus felt it - he felt fear. He slowly began to slide further away from the other, and Connor didn't move with him, so a sense of relief went over him. But just as he was about to let out the breath that he had subconsciously been holding...

"Say, you're not ticklish, are you, Markus?"

.

.

Shit.

Markus refused to look over at Connor. He could tell that the prototype was staring right at him. He shoulders were as tense and solid as a brick wall. The strong, seemingly unafraid deviant looked like a scared cat. It was almost pitiful.

Connor slowly slid over to Markus who seemed to try and sink further and further into the sofa. When Connor was close enough, he reached out a hand and jabbed him in the side. Markus jerked forward, his hand flying to his side to protect it. This proved the android's suspicion. Within a second, Connor was above the deviant with his hands upon the other's sides, kneading and squishing.

Markus immediately burst out in laughter. The sensations were intense, and he was already feeling desperate. He lightly tugged at Connor's hands, but to no avail. The android above him was designed to be stronger than him. He knew pleading would do him no good, but he couldn't help but try.

"Cohohohonor! Stahahahap!' he laughed. Connor smirked at Markus' attempts, finding them somewhat adorable. He also found it ironic how THE Markus, the leader of Jericho, the one who started the android protest, was taken down by a few scratches.

"I'm afraid I cannot. This discovery is very helpful for me," he said, "I believe this is helping us grow together." Markus protested, but it was drowned out by his own laughter.

The deviant noticed that pulling at Connor's wrists didn't do anything, so he started trying anything else. He smacked his arms, pushed at his shoulders, he did everything he could. Nothing worked. He was starting to feel helpless. But no matter how many failed attempts he made, he kept trying. And this proved to be helpful.

When Markus kept switching the attempts to get Connor off of him, he accidentally brushed against part of his chest where his rib would be, and the android froze. The deviant didn't waste a moment, and he switched their positions in the blink of an eye.

"Wait - wahahait Markus," Connor tittered in anticipation, "let's be reasonAHABLE-!" he tried to protest, but was cut off from Markus slipping his hands under his arms and scratching. Connor reacted in an instant, attempting to curl into himself, pushing at Markus' arms. Markus didn't respond, but a smirk formed on his face.

"I'm afraid I cannot." He mocked what Connor said earlier. If he wasn't laughing his ass off, the prototype would've rolled his eyes at that. He flailed around, almost smacking Markus in the face, but he leaned back in time. He looked almost like a child - it was pathetic in the cutest way.

Markus moved one of his hands onto Connor's stomach, making him shriek and turn a faint shade of blue from said action. It startled the other for a split second, making him pause his attack before continuing. Connor's giggles turned up an octave. His legs kicked behind Markus, which he found slightly adorable.

He still wasn't letting up, and Connor was starting to feel helpless. Markus noticed this and was about to stop but switched to one final spot - his hips. He wrapped his hands around his artificial skin, pinching and kneading. Connor's laughter quieted just slightly, and his back arched.

"M-Mahaharkus!" he laughed, "quihihihit it!" synthetic tears of mirth were starting to form in his eyes. He was almost at his limit, and it was obvious to him. He was starting to wheeze and gasp, so Markus finally let go.

Connor immediately curled into a ball, trying to protect his sensitive spots. Markus slid to the other side of the sofa, sitting in a comfortable position, and also subtly protected himself with his hand. He let out a breath he was unaware he was holding in. Connor slowly started to sit up, leaning against the armrest of the couch.

"...So are we okay?" Connor asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, we're good." Markus replied.