Love Like Yours 💙 - A Hankcon Story

Chapter 11: Mornings With You ♡☼

Monday November 15, 2038
10:20 am
Hank woke that morning feeling surprisingly good. He wasn't used to waking up without a splitting headache or some feeling of sickness. Didn't make him want alcohol any less though. If anything after all this.. shit.. I need more than just one drink! He shakes his head and turns over to see Connor wasn't in bed. He rubs his eyes and stretches; getting up to make his way to the bathroom.
He sees Connor in his usual cooking attire making him breakfast once again.
"Good morning Hank." Connor calls out while still facing away from him.
"Good morning Con. I'll be in there in a little bit."
He proceeds to go into the bathroom to get ready for work that day. Looking in the mirror he notices some new blue sticky notes that read,
"I'm proud of you!" Connor had drawn a little alcohol bottle. He looked at another,
"Thank you for being you!"
Hank smiled and felt his eyes well up with tears a little as he sniffled trying to hold it back for whatever reason being since nobody else was there.
I don't know what I did to deserve this chance.
All the times I wanted to be gone, all the times I tried to just get rid of it...
Yet something wanted me here.. I don't get it. I used to hate it, whatever kept me here.
~
*FLASHBACK MOMENT*
< this moment was inspired by the comic strip by sunsetagain and was captured through a Jerry's memory. This memory is unknown to Hank. >
"Hello little one! What's your name?"
"Cole!"
"Well it's very nice to meet you Cole, our name
is Jerry! We want to always make the kids happy here, that's our job!" Jerry smiles at the eager boy and pats his head. "Would you like a cupcake, Cole? We just heard from your daddy that today is your birthday! How old are you now?"
Cole smile beams as he takes the cupcake, "I'm six!"
"Happy sixth birthday kiddo! Now hold this cake, close your eyes and make a wish and we promise you it'll come true!"
Cole closes his eyes and then opens them immediately again, smiling to Jerry. "I love my daddy. So I wish for him to live happy forever!" Jerry warmly smiles to him.
"Cole, what are you doing over there son? Time to go home, daddy has a big surprise for you!" Hank called out to him.
Running off Cole turned around making a shush gesture to Jerry, "Please keep it a secret for me, or it won't work!"
This was a moment Jerry knew he wouldn't forget. He smiled at the sight and sent his wishes to the loving father hoping it would come true.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
~
Hank's mind continued to overthink as tears still built up in his eyes.
My job, my fear of my shitty attempts working, the memories of Cole, 'specially if there was just nothing after this. But now it's you.. My friend and my partner. I didn't want you there, I despised everything to do with you but still you insisted. Followed me around, studied me to learn my life for some reason and saved my life. His wondering thoughts pause and he sighs in frustration, tears falling. I can't wrap my mind around it. You've came into my fucked up world and gave me hope in humanity.. hope in myself again. A machine gave me hope in people again. He laughs a little to himself. Shit that's about as alive as you could get.
Hank was deep in thought tears still fell from his eyes, feeling undeserving of any of this. Soon though he's snapped out of his thoughts by a gentle knock on the door.
*Connor's POV*
"Hank, are you okay?" He calls through the door and waits for a reply. He hears more sniffles and shuffling around before Hank answers, "Yeah Connor.. I'm okay, what's up?"
Connor decided he wasn't going to say he overheard him crying as he was passing by the door so he simply just said, "I was just checking on you Lieutenant. Your breakfast is ready whenever you are."
"Thanks I'll be out soon!" He hears Hank call out as he continues to what he was originally going to do and get ready for work as well. He put on his normal work attire and went to grab his jacket hanging up. Hearing Hank come out of the bathroom he goes out to sit at the table with him.
He sits down in his usual spot beside Hank and tries his hardest not to just stare and watch him. It wasn't meant to be in a creepy or annoying way. He was just fascinated by the things Hank did and people in general did. Not being forced to constantly think about some mission that was against his actual being he actually had time to just think more-so than before. He could search everything but he knew everything and for some reason the internet didn't explain people very well. It makes sense people are complex. Being alive, life has already made me realize it's exactly the same way; but I truly couldn't be happier despite that. Unknown to him he still finds himself despite his attempts staring at Hank. I have someone who seems to actually care about me and my well-being. He truly gave me a feeling of being alive that I hadn't been able to recognize with anyone else. I questioned so much already with him before and now it just keeps growing into.. he sighs out loud, more and more questions.
"Connor you good?" Hank asks noticing his staring and sighing.
Connor immediately snaps out of his thoughts and attempts to play it off.
"Yes I was just thinking about what we might have to do for work today is all."
Hank obviously not believing him tries to ask "Are you sure?" But Connor already knew what he was going to say.
"And yes I'm sure."
Hank rolls his eyes and asks something different,
"Are you feeling alright? I mean after last night."
Connor nods and does a slight smile, "Unlike humans headaches and hangovers are not a side effect of drinking, we just experience the alcohol longer in our systems."
"So you're still drunk?" Hank immediately questions.
Connor giggles. "Certainly not. If you didn't notice I can still contain myself to some degree Lieutenant."
"And to the other degree?" Hank mumbles.
Connor turns blue and looks away. "I apologize again Lieutenant for any inconvenience I caused you. I realize I could've made you extremely uncomfortable and I truly didn't mean to so I just wanted-"
He rambled as he's cut off by Hank resting his hand on Connor's knee reassuringly,
"Connor you're fine, I'm just messing with you.
It's crazy though."
"What is?" Connor looks at him puzzled.
"I would've never known you were drunk by your messages." Hank laughs a little and Connor smirks. "Unlike you I refuse to message anyone like a child would. Besides I'm a machine, it's unlikely I'd be able to make such grammatical errors."
Hank rolls his eyes again and jokes, "I'm just glad I decided to eat dinner early."
"I apologize for missing dinner Lieutenant. I hope the groceries I bought were good enough to find something you'd enjoy." He smiles softly.
"Connor you don't have to keep apologizing for everything and besides I had Sumo to keep me company still." He pets Sumo who sits beside him begging for some of his breakfast.
Connor innocent smiles, "Well I'm glad Lieutenant. Its good to know you weren't missing me or anything of the sort."
Immediately defensive Hank rebuffed. "Now hang on Con I never said that! That's not what I meant." Connor is confused as he didn't mean what he said negatively as he attempts to explain, "I didn't mean to portray it as a bad thing Hank. I am just glad that you weren't concerning yourself too much about my presence here or not."
Hank shakes his head and puts his utensils down; turning to grip Connor's shoulders soft but firmly. "Connor, you're presence here is everything to me. Shit of course I miss you when you're gone. You're not just some machine to me who sits around here and idles by following some program or to do just things for me. You're special and important to me Connor, don't forget that." His grip tightens a little before noticing Connor's big smile and his entire face turning blue. Hank immediately let's go extremely embarrassed. "Jesus Christ Con, got me over here.. being all emotional and shit." Connor giggles slightly as Hank shakes his head and finishes his breakfast. He couldn't help but notice how before Cole died the house never stayed quiet and he absolutely loved it but after... all he knew was silence. It felt nice to hear laughter and talking in the home again.. ones that weren't just to himself, Sumo or that picture of Cole. He looks over to the picture Connor kept up for him and sighs.
He couldn't take the to think about that any longer though as it was time for them to head to work. They say their goodbyes to Sumo, giving him his pets and head to the station.

Authors Note:
Enjoy these sweet moments now
things are going to be getting a bit more angsty soon 😅 but I hope you're all enjoying so far!! Be sure to hit the little ⭐️ star to vote for a chapter if you liked it and tell others about the story if you think others would like it too!!💜