Love Like Yours 💙 - A Hankcon Story

Chapter 24: Changes

Wednesday November 24, 2038
10:30 am
Hank's alarm rang throughout the room as he grumbled; turning to shut it off. He definitely wasn't ready for work today as he reluctantly gets up and dressed.
Connor sat in the living room with Sumo, now looking up fish facts. He was especially interested in the one he saved during his first mission. He smiled and looked at Sumo, "Did you know that this fish I saved is called a Dwarf Gourami, scientifically known as the Trichogaster lalius. It's well known in the Southeast and there are more than 133 species! They are also mostly found in rivers, ponds, and streams and are low maintenance pets." Connor's led flashed blue as he joked, "Maybe we can convince Hank to get us one." Sumo barked.
"So you just look all that up in your head?"
Connor turned around slightly startled as his led flashed yellow. "Oh, good morning Lieutenant! I didn't hear you walk in." Hank laughs slightly. "He's a good listening buddy when you need him to be." Connor smiled softly as he pet Sumo and got up. "I made you breakfast Hank. You might want to reheat it though as it might have gotten cold." Hank looks around at the cleaned house and all the kind gestures Connor did and smiled. "Thank you Connor." He said warmly laying a hand on his shoulder as he passed him. Connor blushed slightly before remembering he had a surprise for Hank and went to his room to grab it. Hank sat down with his plate and started to eat and watched Connor come quickly sit beside him with a grocery bag as Hank looked at him puzzled. "Open it. I went grocery shopping today so I was able to get it!" Hank laughed slightly, "You were hellbent about these damn brownies weren't you." "Of course Lieutenant I'm excited to make them with you!" He smiles softly and looks at the box as Hank stares at him for a moment before clearing his throat, "Uhm Connor- I wanted to ask you something.." Connor looks at him intently and nods. "I know you remember the case with Ms. Robbins we investigated last week; well she invited us to dinner tomorrow at Central Bar + Kitchen at 7pm.. you know if you wanted to go?" Connor looks at him confused for a second as his led flashes blue, yellow and back to a stable blue. "Did she invite us as in me as well or did she just invite you Lieutenant?" Connor asks confident in the knowledge that lady was not interested in him being there. Hank shuffled a bit and pushed his food around, "Ah shit Connor even if she didn't invite you- I'm inviting you." Connor smiles slightly. "I appreciate your invitation Hank but we both know her only interest is in you. There's high probability I'd be more of a nuisance showing up." Hank shakes his head, "Dammit Con you're not a nuisance. I don't care her interest in me I'm only there to try and help her or just be there for her! I want you there because it would make me feel more comfortable but I get it why you wouldn't want to go I honestly do. I don't even want to go but I'm hoping I can help someone not experience what I've been through.. in some way." He says slightly dejected and Connor sighs, smiling softly. "I'm so proud of you when you're vulnerable. Of course I will try going for you Hank. I'm sure you will be able to do so much more than help, like you always do. Now finish up, we don't want to be late." Hank scoffs slightly at Connor's comment and finishes up.

Detroit Police Station
It was a little after 11:30 am when they arrived at the Station. Connor goes to sit on Hank's desk while he showed him some of the files they were reviewing today and two scenes they needed to investigate. "You do know you could see the same shit on your terminal right?"
Connor smirks and shrugs slightly, "Of course I do Lieutenant but I chose to listen to you tell me them today. My processing allows me to read through them immediately so it's nice to just listen sometimes." Feeling slightly awkward Connor isn't sure if he wanted to ask him a question anymore but he wanted to alleviate some of the tension they keep feeling together because of that night. "Lieutenant, can I talk to you about something?" He asks reluctantly. "Yes, what is it?" He leans back in his chair and listens. Connor sighs, "I don't want to drag on the conversation longer than needed because I know the situation makes you uncomfortable and so I just really wanted to tell you that I respect your feelings and decision when it comes to everything from that night. I'm working on myself when it comes to my feelings too so that I'm not pushing anything onto you. I also wanted to say- I mean just wanted you to know that your friendship is always more than enough to me." He pauses slightly as his led flashes yellow. "I did have just one more question about it.. the night you kissed me. Had you ever thought about being with me before that, before the alcohol.. before the kiss?" Hank gets embarrassed and looks away as Connor's led flashes to a stable yellow. "You can be honest with me Lieutenant, I won't be upset by your answer. What are you still avoiding with me?" "Jesus Connor! It's only gonna leave you with more questions." Connor shrugs. "Perhaps but it will at least answer one." "Yeah, and what's that?" Connor smiles hopelessly, "That I might have had some kind of chance with you Hank, that's all."
Hank sighs and sits up to move closer and lay his hand on Connor's that rested on his leg. "Connor.. agh fuck I'm not good at these things you know that but I never want you to question that you mean a lot to me and that I-" Hank was about to finish before he was distracted by some man walking into the station with some sentimental gifts. Who the fuck is that and why does he even have all that shit with him in a police station?
Connor noticed and looked behind him to see what it was. Connor was extremely shocked to see Matt standing across the room. Matt noticed him quickly after he turned around and waved to him.

*Matt's POV*
(takes place as he's
walking to find Connor)
See if he likes these things. Took me forever to find anything that looked like stuff an android might like. He shakes his head and looks around the room. Can't be that hard to find a prototype android in this place. Wait- I think that's him. He looked in Connor's direction but only saw an older man staring at him in confusion before Connor turned around and Matt waved. Though he quickly was very annoyed realizing him and Connor were holding hands and turned away awkwardly causing Connor to tilt his head.
"I will be right back Hank." Not even realizing he was still laying his hand on Connor's yet he put more pressure down and stopped him, "You know him Connor?" Nodding his head innocently he answers. "I do Lieutenant. That's Matt, the friend I told you about me meeting at Jimmy's Bar. Just give me a few minutes okay?" He blushes slightly as he moves his hand from under Hank's and goes over to Matt. Hank leans back irritably and watches them.
*Connor's POV*
"Matt, hello! How are you today?" They hug as Matt shrugs and pulls back; smiling at Connor. "I think it should be me asking you that, don't you think?" Connor tilts his head, "Why do you say that?" "Well if your message was any indication I figured you weren't doing okay. I didn't know what it might be about but I wanted to check on you and give you these things. I also was just thinking about you today so I figured why not stop by." He hands Connor a bear, card and a single rose causing him to blush brightly. "Matt, thank you very much. You didn't have to get me anything; you taking time out of your day to visit me was more than enough but I sincerely love it all." Matt smiled awkwardly as Connor embraced him. He then noticed Hank staring at them and glared at him before letting go of Connor. "Well I'm glad you liked it all. So how are you feeling?" Connor shakes his head, "I'm sorry if I worried you. I was perfectly okay I just needed to be home yesterday for Hank." "Ah of course well I'm glad to hear that at least you're okay." He says dismissively before he continues, "Well I also came by to ask you something I've wanted to ask you for a couple days now but I'm not sure if you'd be interested. I wanted to ask though if you would be up for going on a date with me Saturday night?" Connor blushed more; nodding his head shyly as they continued to talk.

Despite standing off to the distance a lot of people in the station; not just Hank had their eyes on them both. Chris, Gavin, Nines, and Tina were also watching from their desks and making their own comments about it all.
Chris: "You know good for him. I mean I guess if they can feel just like us seems like it makes sense love is no exception to that."
Tina: "Love? With him? I give it a month or two. I mean come on, you can't tell me you all don't notice the way him and Hank act around each other. They are perfect together. I seriously think Connor's the only one I've seen be able to deal with a person who once hated him until you came around Nines."
Chris: "I don't think I've ever seen Hank so pissed! I totally thought they might kill each other before this ended."
Tina: "Maybe it's possible to see a new Gavin then. Don't change him too much though or I won't have anyone to talk shit around the station with anymore."
Gavin: "Don't even! Give him some time, I'll chase him off at some point." He laughs mockingly.
Nines: "That is something that will only occur in some delusion you've made up Gavin but I find myself fond of the challenge. Besides, Officer Chen is most likely correct. This person is probably only a momentary fascination of Connor's.. or at least I'm hoping so." His led flashes blue for a moment.
Gavin: "Can't stand to see others showing actual emotions tincan." He laughs tapping his led.
Nines: "I feel plenty more than you think Detective. I just refuse to waste my time sharing them with the likes of someone as shallow and intolerant as you." He states with annoyance laced in his blunt tone. "Give me a fuckin' break! Yeah sure you feel plenty as you spend all your time just being another machine toy we stupidly built." He glares and scoffs at Nines, "Whatever I don't even care about all this lovey dovy shit!" Gavin gets up and angrily makes his way out of the room.

Hank grumbled to himself as he watched Connor. Fucking android is quite literally lighting up as they speak. Does it with me too I guess but now I fucked that up by being idiot and now.. I've gotten exactly what I thought I wanted. I do want this though.. That's what I wanted to tell him, I just want him happy. Something he wouldn't have achieved being with someone like me. He sighs and turns to look at his desk. Its fucking stupid anyways. Of course I thought about being with him; how could I not when he continued to stick by me at my worst. Every time I showed I don't deserve him and yet he stays, showing me love and compassion when he shouldn't and all I did was waste it.
Noticing Hank slumping at his desk Connor attempted to wrap their conversation up and let Matt know he needed to return to work. He thanks him once again and excitedly says he'd see him again on Saturday. Still feeling embarrassed by the display of affection especially in the work place Connor returns to his terminal quickly to talk to Hank again and simultaneously try to understand the situation that just occurred.