Love Like Yours 💙 - A Hankcon Story

Chapter 18: Wanting to Love You

💕 artwork by: ushidoshi 💕

As days passed, Connor continued to do whatever necessary to distance himself and move on from Hank. While Hank, he tried to figure out how important Connor truly is to him. If he was willing to live in denial of this feeling for the rest of their time or confront it.
Although they aren't the only ones trying to figure out the love they have for one another..

New Jericho
Friday November 19, 2038
11 am

A knock on the door distracts Markus who is currently working through a plan of talking with the president to achieve a better life for androids now living amongst them.
"Come in." Markus calls out. The door opens slowly as Josh appears. "Can we talk for a minute if you have the time?" Markus puts his things aside and turns his attention to Josh. "Yes, that's fine Josh. What would you like to talk about?"
"Well the 'game night' we all had a couple days ago. It was fun no doubt but we haven't really discussed it, any of it. I know it was mostly just fun and games but.." He trails off. "But what?"
"But I couldn't help and notice the way you interacted with not only Connor, but Simon. I'm not one that needs to be in your business by any means but I just thought maybe we should talk about it, if not all of us together then at least separately." Markus didn't mind to talk about whatever was needed to be discussed and nodded his head. "So what's your concern?" He sits himself down on his bed across from Josh who now sat in the chair at Markus' desk.
"It's not concern more just curiosity. I know it was a game we played but was it all actually just a game for you? With Connor.. or Simon?" Josh truly didn't think Markus had feelings for Connor he could see his attempts at playful flirtation but with Simon it seemed something was completely different. Markus looked away slightly, "I'm not asking because it is a problem if you do or don't. I'm asking in best interest of one of our friends and you if it's truly how you feel." Markus finally admits it to his other friend. "With Connor it more so was, yes. I might have questioned things some time afterwards but I discussed it with Connor and both of us were never more clear of what we truly wanted. Which we were right, it does seem Connor loves that Lieutenant Anderson he works with; but you are right. I care more deeply for Simon than I first wanted to believe and I assume the alcohol just gave me a little more incentive to show it." Josh looks at him questionably shaking his head, "Markus.. why don't you just tell him?"
"I don't know Josh. You and Connor ask the same questions yet I truly just don't know. I'm afraid I guess." He slumps over slightly shrugging his shoulders. "Markus you've literally faced dozens of humans eye to eye that wanted to murder us, helped fight for all of us to be here in the worst circumstances, and yet you're afraid to tell Simon you love him? What is the worst he could possibly say to you than no?"
"I know there's nothing worse than him saying no, but thinking of him saying it, knowing he'll know and never forget it. Though we'll have to pretend it just didn't happen. I wouldn't be caught up in a fantasy where we could be and I'd just be faced with reality we aren't and that would be okay. Given time of course but that initial fear, the fear of losing him again.. It's not one I've wanted to face."
Josh gets up and places a hand on his shoulder. "That's the worst what if, but what if there's more? Just like when we thought hiding and staying quiet would be our only way to survive it seemed. That felt like it was all we had if we wanted to live but you came and over time showed us what more could be and now here we are despite everything we feared. Living by the what ifs will only make you run in circles trying to control every aspect of life you can't, and you know you can't control the world around you but you can make small differences that lead to bigger ones. You taught us that and I think it applies just as much to something like this. You'll never know how he truly feels, until you try." Josh moves his hand off and is about to leave the room but shares one last thing before he does. "Besides, if given anything Simon's reaction to your interactions with Connor said more than words. That's the only way I truly knew.. you should talk to him." Josh leaves without another word giving Markus all the time to think about what he wants to do. Laying back on his bed he looks up at the painting Simon did. He imagines the two of them through it, seeing each other through their hardships so far and if one confession was truly enough to break all of that.
Suddenly his head starts vibrating, it's an incoming call from an unknown number.
410-555-2386
"Hello?" He answers slightly confused as he sits up. "Is this Markus?" A soft spoken feminine voice proceeded through the phone. "Kara, is that you?" "Hey Markus! Yes it's Kara." Markus is shocked to hear from her. "Did you end up settling in alright?" "I did yes. Alice loves it here and Luther and I have interviews at some jobs soon." "That's great Kara. I'm so happy for you. Was there anything you needed?" Kara asks Markus if they ever needed to come back to Detroit for visiting would they be able to stay in Jericho for a few days. Of course Markus didn't hesitate with the offer. "Thank you Markus for everything you've done for us.. all of us." She said happily. Markus smiled and congratulated them once more before hanging up.
Getting up, he makes his way to see if Simon is in his room. "Simon? It's Markus.. If you're in there could I come in?" He waits for a few seconds before the door slightly opens, "Of course Markus. I'm sorry for my absence these past few days, if that's what you're here for." Markus shakes his head as he makes his way in letting the door stay slightly opened as they sat down. "That's not at all why I was here." "You're right that makes sense. With everything you do I'm sure you hardly had time to notice." Markus looks at him concerning. "Simon that's not true. I always notice when you aren't around. You might think you hide yourself well from the rest of them but certainly not me." He reassuringly smiles to Simon. "If it's alright with you though I would like to know why you have been absent? I figured you might have just wanted some time alone as you usually do but now it seems like there may be more to it than that. Whatever it is though, you can always talk to me Simon.." He places his hand gently on his shoulder. Simon looks at him but stays quiet. Markus sighs, he can figure what it's about. "Simon.. if this is about the truth or dare game and everything with Connor and then you and me-" Simon shakes his head quickly, "Why.. why would it be about any of that? There's no reason it should.." Markus rubs his shoulder softly. "However that night made you feel, that wasn't my intention. I honestly don't know why it could upset you but I had a feeling and it didn't go unnoticed to others either. I just didn't want to hurt you Simon by any means. If I did though I'd want to know so I can apologize and try to fix it." Simon sighs, "Oh Markus you can't control how you feel for someone.. It's completely understandable you'd like Connor. More than anything I'm happy for you, I guess I just had to look for some realization myself that night." He speaks in his quiet demeanor trying not to cause any confrontation. Markus drops his hand from his shoulder.  "Woah Simon, I never said I liked Connor. That night it was all mostly just a game, we were all drunk and just having fun like we intended. Though I did play into it with him a bit more than I should have so I can't blame you or anyone else for thinking what you did." He sighs. "Connor is close to me, he's done a lot in his short time for all of us but he's not someone I could see myself loving in that way. Besides Connor is in love with Hank, there's no question behind that and I.. I have someone else in mind. " Simon leans back into the wall where his bed stayed against and sighed, "It's alright Markus, no matter what I would have been happy for you. I know you deserve someone wonderful." Markus thinks heavily about what he says next.
[CONFESS]
[QUESTION]
[STAY SILENT]

[QUESTION]
"Simon.. why did it upset you? Did it just make you uncomfortable? We all would've respected that." Markus tried not to pry but he could tell he was hurting. "I.. I'm not sure. Seeing you and Connor, I looked at you two and all it made me think about was.." He goes silent realizing what he was about to say. "Was what Simon?" He takes his hand and placed it over Simon's rubbing it softly. "It's okay to tell me, I promise." Simon looked at Markus holding his hand and sighed, "That I.. I wanted to be where he was. Who I thought he might be to you.. I don't know why- I don't even understand it myself. All I do know is when I'm around you.. I feel so safe and happy, and when you aren't I feel everything but that. I felt like I lost everything you when you all had to leave me at Stratford Tower. I feared I'd never see them again.. see you again; but when I finally made it back and you embraced me; all I knew was that I wanted more of that, to be closer to you. You make me feel so.. alive. So much so that it scares me. " Simon looked away from him shyly. "It's probably really silly to hear." Markus can't help but blush softly. He squeezes Simon's hands slightly and looks at him.
[KISS HIM]
[REASSURE]
[EMBRACE]

[KISS HIM]
"Simon.." Markus softly takes his other hand and places it on his face causing Simon to look at him. He slowly rubs his thumb across his cheek. "You will never lose me. I'm right here.. always. I'll hold your hand as tight as I can and I'll never let you go." Holding Simon's hand together, both slowly move closer as their leds flash blue then yellow and returns to a soft blue as their lips connect. Markus' human skin begins to retract in his hand the longer they kiss as Simon wrapped his arms around Markus. Pulling away slowly the two androids blushed profusely as they sat together entwined, with their foreheads pressed together. "Does.. this mean you feel the same way?" Simon smiles shyly looking in his blue green eyes. Markus smiles warmly, "Of course." He kisses Simon's forehead softly after he moves his away. Afterwards they just sat there hand in hand; enjoying one another's company. A bit later slight laughter can be heard from the room and someone passing by hears it all too well to ignore.
*North's POV*
"Where is he? He wasn't in his room so he must be around here somewhere!" North looked around the New Jericho for Markus but couldn't find any site of him. Continuing down the hall she hears laughter come from Simon's room. Noticing the door was left cracked open, she peaked through it. "Wh-" She pulls herself from the door and moves away quickly. To say seeing Simon and Markus holding hands as Markus kissed them upset her was an understatement. She felt hurt. She looked back at the room.. "Obviously it was Simon.." Tears filled her eyes, falling down her cheeks as she ran to her room angrily while Markus felt like the happiest he'd ever been since Carl.. since their freedom and wanted more than anything to continue making Simon happy.

Author's note:
It finally happened!! If only it was canon (will never forgive Quantum for their failure to give us Simarkus) 😭 but fuck it I'll make it everything they didn't give us!! Don't worry though Connor and Hank are still the mains of this story but I had to include my favourite ship so there will 100% be more stories of them in here too. 💕