Accident Prone - Becoming Human

Holiday Madness

One week after their nasty mutual bout with the flu during the chilly weather, Connor decided that Hank was well enough to be left alone for a few hours and now he could go out and pick up a few groceries to replenish the supplies that had been used up over the month during Hank's slow but steady recovery after his emergency surgery. Slipping on his thick leather jacket over a simple black t-shirt and putting on the Detroit Gears cap to conceal his L.E.D. for the sake of avoiding any and all of the anti-android violence that had building up throughout the city, Connor made mental notes of everything needed in the house and set off to run his errands.

With Christmas just around the corner Connor knew to expect crowds and that numerous stores would be operating with unusual hours. He'd need to be quick if he were to get his errands accomplished in a timely manner.

"I should be back within a couple of hours." Connor announced as he grabbed the car keys from the bookshelf in the livingroom and made his way toward the front door. "If you need anything-"

"I'll be fine. Take your time, holiday shoppers are going to be crazy right now. Traffic's going to suck, the stores are going to be crowded, people are going to be nuttier than usual..." The senior detective sounded completely indifferent to the whole idea of celebrating the holidays, if not a little glum. "Makes me kinda' glad I stopped doing holiday crap years go. So yeah, no rush."

"It won't be too long since you're still healing. I will only take as much time as required to-"

"Connor." Hank was sitting in the recliner with his still healing right leg propped up on the edge of the coffee table while trying to relax. Sumo was resting his chin atop the leg cast with his tail wagging slowly as he kept the senior detective company. "I'm okay, son. Why don't you do what you need to do, then just go out and do something for yourself? You've been cooped up in this house with me for over a month between your shifts. You've got to be stir crazy."

Sensing that Hank wanted to be alone for one reason or another Connor took him up on the suggestion. "Very well. I will find something to preoccupy my time before returning home."

"Good. Part of being human is having a social life." Before Connor could reply again Hank held up a hand to silence the deviant. "I'm the exception to the rule."

"Why's that?"

"Because I said so."

"Convenient." Giving the senior detective an odd glance Connor just shook his head a little as he opened the front door to take his leave. "I'll be back in a few hours with the necessary groceries."

"Take your time. I'll manage to live a few hours without your help."

It took Connor only an hour to pick up the necessary items from the grocery store and pack them neatly into the trunk of the car, giving him plenty of free time to do whatever he pleased. With his primary concern now taken care of Connor set about trying to find something else to do before returning home and decided to stroll down the sidewalk and take in the oddly celebratory display of Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa decorations that had quickly adorned every street. The store windows, the light posts, digital billboards and bus stops throughout the city were all a vibrant display of love and celebration that seemed to unite the city toward a single positive outcome.

Having never celebrated a holiday during his short life Connor never understood the purpose of the decorations, but he found the festive displays enjoyable all the same. Brightly lit multicolored lights, shining garland, red bows, gleaming gold and brass menorahs, metal stars and thousands of different scented and different colored candles burned warmly all throughout the block creating an aura of peace and understanding.