Predecessor (Connor x Reader)

17 - Built to Break

You tap in the code to your apartment with a trembling hand, fingers slipping slightly on the keypad. The click of the deadbolt sounds too loud in the hallway.

Connor follows behind you silently, every step precise. He doesn't ask questions. Doesn't fill the silence. And somehow, that makes it worse.

Inside, everything is still.

You toss your bag onto the table, kick off your boots—one lands upright, the other flops onto its side. You stare at it for a beat longer than necessary.

Connor closes the door gently behind him.

You shrug off your jacket and drape it over the arm of the couch. The place looks the same as always. Neat. Lived-in. Yours. But you don't feel like you belong inside it tonight.

He stays near the door at first, hands loosely at his sides. Waiting, like he's not sure if he's supposed to follow or leave.

You walk into the kitchen. Open the fridge. Close it. You weren't hungry. It's not like there's anything in there anyway. You just needed something to do.

Rain patters against your windows, a sound you usually find comforting, but right now it sounds like static.

You walk back into the living room, arms loosely folded over your chest now—not defensive, not closed off, it's just... something to hold onto.

Connor's eyes follow your movements. Still calm. Still waiting.

You speak before you think.

"I didn't mean to drink that much," you say, trying to make it sound like a joke, but your voice comes out smaller than you intended.

Connor nods. "It's understandable. You've had a lot to deal with."

You laugh, but there's no humour in it. "That's one way to put it."

You move to sit down, but hesitate. Stand instead. Then shift your weight.

Then pace a little—slow, like you're not sure if you're trying to walk something off or wear a hole in the floor. Connor watches. Quiet. Unmoving.

You stop.

And for a moment, all you can do is stare at the floor.

"How long do you think they've been keeping tabs on me?"

It's not a demand. It's not even directed at him, really. It just slips out. Small. Tired.

Connor's brow creases slightly. "I don't know. I only received the directive this morning."

You nod slowly. "Right. You did."

You sigh, rubbing your eyes with your palms.

"I should've just kept my head down," you mutter. "Should've stopped asking questions. Stopped... pushing."

Connor steps a little closer, cautiously. "You think that's why they're watching you?"

"I don't know." You laugh under your breath, but it's brittle. "Maybe. Maybe I said too much. Looked too close. I should have just left it alone."

"Most people avoid conflict. You didn't. That matters."

"Yeah, I thought I was helping," you mutter. "Trying to do something that mattered. I didn't used to care. I used to stay quiet. Invisible. It was easier that way."

You grip your arms a little tighter.

"But then that case came up. LucidSec. CyberLife. All of it. And I don't know... I got tired. Tired of pretending not to see it. Tired of pretending it didn't matter."