Love Like Yours 💙 - A Hankcon Story

Chapter 13: Beginning of the End

Police Station
5:00 pm
The work day ended as it had started; tons of cases and two overwhelmed men. With everything going on in Detroit and all the new changes involving androids; they knew this wouldn't be the end of everything they'd have to do and one was definitely not looking forward to it the most, like he didn't with almost everything else in his life.
*Hank's POV*
He rubs the bridge of his nose in frustration, Jesus Christ I could use a fucking drink right about now. He looks at his terminal. All these cases are bullshit half the time anyways! Just stupid people trying to stop anyone who fucking dares to be different because god forbid anyone be anything outside of "normal standards". He takes a glance at Connor who's extremely focused in his work not seeming to notice anything else in the world at the moment. He finds himself smiling a little to himself despite his irritated mood; seeing Connor working alongside him made him happy now. Nobody ever wanted to work with him; which he couldn't say surprised him, as he hasn't made himself easy to work with in the past few years. Despite that, Connor seemed to constantly look past his many struggles and insecurities.
< Little did Hank know though that wouldn't quite be possible forever >
"Alright Connor, you ready to head home? I think I've handled all I can manage today." Connor nods and gets up putting on his jacket.
"Oh I meant to let you know Lieutenant! I will be going by to visit Markus today for a little bit. Since we decided to have.. a little more fun than anticipated; I wasn't able to really have a conversation with him." Connor explained as Hank nods, suggesting, "I can just take you by there if you'd like Connor, there's no need to walk." Connor smiles softly and thanks Hank as they walk to his car together. On their way out Connor notices Nines standing around in the waiting room. "I'll meet you in the car Lieutenant." Hank noticed Nines as well and agrees as Connor walks away to talk to him.
*Connor's POV*
"Nines? Are you alright?" Connor approached him slowly. Nines led flashes from yellow to blue as he notices Connor.
"I'm alright Connie, thank you. My mental softwares have just been in overdrive as of late."
Connor couldn't help but notice his counterpart did not adapt to human language as most deviants did; besides that little nickname but to Connor, that only made him more special. "I understand. Mine have as well." He lays a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "If you would like to talk about anything with me Nines, I'm here." Nines seemed to feel a lot better as his smile slightly widened. "The same goes for you Connor." He tries to deny himself that he needed to talk about anything but his mind couldn't help but linger on so much at once; he didn't know where he'd even start. So he just simply smiles and pats Nines shoulder before leaving to go with Hank. In the car Hank is curious as to what he wanted to talk to Nines about, "So what's up? Everything okay?"
"Yes Hank everything was fine; I just wanted to make sure Nines was alright."
Connor assumed the car ride would be mostly silent after that so he proceeded to turn on the radio for Hank. After a few minutes passed he was surprised when the song playing abruptly stopped. Silence then filled the car before Hank let out a sigh. "Connor? Can I ask you something?" Connor looks to him and gives him a look of curiosity as if to say 'Yes, what is it?' until he realizes Hank can't look due to him driving, "..Yes Hank?"
"Why won't you tell me what went on between you and Gavin last week? I mean- I don't care, I'd understand why or whatever I'm just curious you know? You normally tell me everything, sometimes too much." He laughs to fill the awkward silence but there's no humor in his tone; he genuinely wanted to know what Gavin had said to Connor to upset him. Connor lets out a simple sigh and attempts to avoid the question
"As I'd stated before it was nothing of any importance Lieutenant. Just Gavin being a prick as always." But Hank was not giving into his excuses this time. "Jesus Christ Connor! You know you're an awful lier. If you don't want me to know that's fine I get it. I just don't understand why I guess? He pauses. "But that doesn't matter I should just accept the fact you don't want to tell me." He tries to reassure himself and not sound irritated at Connor. He has every right to not want to talk about anything, but it didn't make it any less frustrating. Connor's led starts turning red as he recalls the things Gavin had said to him that morning. "You're nothing, you'll always be nothing more than just a machine. What? You think he cares? His life was better before you came in it. Just a defective machine. Is the android in love too?" All these things I can't stop replaying in my head and I want to tell him but I don't want to be an inconvenience. I know these things aren't true deep down. Logically none of it makes sense and I can defy all of what he says with it but, outside of the logic.. his words, they make me feel scared and they hurt. All I wish right now is to hear Hank's words of reassurance but all I can do is worry they'll fall on defective hearing. That I won't be able to believe him or maybe he won't actually care, and just play it off as I have been trying to. So what's the point of saying anything?
[ Confess ]
[ Lie ]
[ Stay Silent ]
Despite his worries Connor speaks up, "I'm.. I'm sorry Lieutenant. I know you had no choice in rather I was in your life or not and- and I know you do now and I'm glad you want me around but.." He pauses trying his hardest to get all his troubles together into words. "I worry deep down I'm only a nuisance; that my presence in your life caused or if it hasn't yet, will cause more pain than anything." Connor sighs but doesn't stop talking, giving no time for Hank to interrupt. "I'm nothing.. nothing we do matters.. in the end of everything we will always just be machines; defective worthless pieces of metal and wires." Connor starts tearing up hearing himself say it out loud, he feels pathetic. "Gavin was right.. nobody would care if something happened to us. In the end no matter how hard I'll try to be something, it'll never be enough." Hank can't stand how dejected Connor sounds and is so happy to see Jericho in the distance. He quickly pulls the car into a parking space and shuts it off. Hank unbuckles his seatbelt and gets out of the car while Connor watches in confusion; seeing Hank walks around to open his door. Getting it open he unbuckles Connor and tries to pull him out slowly but meeting resistance he caves in and kneels down. "Connor.. look at me." Hank laid his hand on Connor's leg and tried to make eye contact with him. Eventually Connor looks at him; meeting with Hank's soft tired eyes he places his hand softly on top of Hank's reassuringly. Hank pulls Connor into a deep hug not caring who around them is watching. At first he can tell Connor didn't want to return the gesture, which is unusual but he tried not to overthink it. Eventually though he did hug him back and felt his worries melt away for a slight moment. "Connor.. I'm not good at this. A lot of the feelings you're feeling I struggle with still myself; but I do know that I care about you." He pulls Connor back to look at him. "I care so much about you, I would not still be here if it was not for you. You gave me hope in humanity and in life again, that's truly as alive as you can get. You'll never understand how much you've done for me Connor, and I know it's hard to not listen to all the noise but I promise you are special to anyone who matters, especially me. You are so special, okay? In some unbelievable way; if to nobody else, you always are to me." He places his hands on Connor cheeks and wipes his tears with his thumb. Connor smiles softly as they stare at one another for what seems like eternity. Hank finally breaks the contact awkwardly moving his hands from Connor's face. "Thank you Hank. You are very special to me as well. I know things aren't always easy and statistically might not always be, but I'm always so proud of you and I'm happy to be by your side." He smiles warmly to Hank before leaning slightly closer to him, pausing to see if Hank will pull away. He doesn't so Connor continues; kissing his cheek softly. Hank tries to shake off that whole moment and moves so Connor can get out. "I uh- of course Con just- just you know don't listen so much to what Gavin says. He's just trying to get to you." Connor nods, "You're right Lieutenant."
"Well you're here, do you need me to come back and pick you up?" "I don't need you to no, I can just walk back." Connor assured but Hank shook his head. "If you want me to I will, it doesn't matter if you need it or not." Connor considered and agreed to the offer. "I shouldn't be long, but I'll message you when I'm ready." He smiles and watches Hank get back in the car and drive off and messages Markus to let him know he's here.