Virus (Yandere Connor x Reader)

Forty-Three

When it came to it, Hank had very little knowledge or experience with medical concerns. And now he'd been witness to an android with medical issues. Hell, he wasn't that great with computers, either.

He knew that having plant life pulled from inside Connor meant something was really wrong, at least. "Around his... goddamn..." the lieutenant muttered, sounding out of breath from the stress. "There aren't any more in there, is there?"

Setting the vine in a beaker, you took the diagnostic scanner and carefully looked for anything else out of place. "... nothing that I'm getting. I think it was just the one, but... around his heart?" You set the scanner down, quietly wiping the tears from your cheeks and subsequently smearing blue blood on your face. "Hank..." you added, barely louder than a whisper.

He did not like that tone. "What?"

"It was moving. Like a boa, trying to squeeze the life out of its prey." It was futile to try and wipe the tears now, so they ran freely. ".... l... let's... c-clean him up. He's got thirium just everywhere."

The frown deepened, but Hank did his best to assist you, carefully soaking up and removing the spilled thirium in the android's body. Something serious was brewing, but for once he had no idea of what to expect. Learning about the virus shit was bad enough. Then you'd said you'd cured him, and now this. The lieutenant glanced up at you, seeing only worry and concern in your eyes.

He knew what lay behind the worry, as well.

When the two of you had cleaned as much as possible, you lay your hands on the table, needing the support. "Th... thanks..." you panted, all the hard-hitting emotions released at once and tiring you out.

There was a peculiar look in Hank's eyes as he walked around the table, hand on your shoulder this time. "Hard to handle?"

"It's a lot all at once... I feel like I can't catch my breath before something worse happens...." Your lower lip shook, and you whipped your head away so it wasn't caught. "I... if I hadn't--"

"No," he cut you off. "He probably doesn't let you go down that road, but he's gentle about it. Me? I'm gonna tell you straight and come off as an asshole, but too bad. You're not allowed to blame yourself. So stop fucking beating yourself up over shit you can't control. That kid loves the hell out of you. Beat yourself up and that hurts him. Do you want that?" Mildly stunned, you shook your head. "That's what I thought. Now, uh..." He made a few faces before sighing heavily, pulling you into a hug.

"... are you okay, Hank...?" you asked, voice muffled against his jacket.

"No. I'm not good at this, that's what he's for. But... you need this." It was like magic, but not the good kind. Your body settled and suddenly weighed a ton, and the dam burst with an abrupt sob. After a little while his frown lessened. "It's all right, sweetheart. Let it out. You did good, really fucking good. Proud of you."

"Oh my god you're turning into a sap," you teased through the tears.

"That one you can absolutely blame yourself for." Hank let you pull away first, but there was a smile on his face. "Like I said, I'm not good with... anything remotely like this. But he's still my kid, whether I like it or not, and he's devoted to you. So by extent... I guess I've got two kids and oh my fucking god do NOT ask me about female shit." The giggle came out before you could bite it back. "I'm serious. At least you're a grown woman; this kid..."

Gazing at Connor, still suspended as his regulator worked with the thirium you were replenishing, you grinned. "Does he ask you random uncomfortable questions?"

Hank pointed at you, close to your face. "You called him Daddy and he fucking asked me about it at the precinct. I wanted to go home sick. Stop giving him reasons to ask me shit like that!"

"Okay, okay. No more Daddy." He shuddered violently. "I'll just bring home a leash and collar and let him decide who wears it."

About to protest, he paused. "... he might just ask about a mystery dog."

"Doubtful. I brought it up a few times already."

"Goddamnit."

Giggling again, you returned to your android, ensuring his levels were optimal before closing his chest. When his skin returned, you brushed the LED first, then the hair from his forehead. Seeing Connor in that much pain hurt your heart, so his relaxed expression was a relief. Hopefully not temporary.

You let him stir on his own, and you had a horrible thought that he'd continue spitting blue blood. His mouth worked, and his eyebrows knit tightly. "... my own blood is the last type I should be analyzing," he said with a mildly joking tone. A hand went to his chest, feeling everything back to normal before sitting up.

"Easy, son. I know you're not built like us, but a health scare is still a scare. Don't push yourself." Hank crossed his arms.

There was thirium splattered a bit on the lieutenant's clothing, but you looked like you'd damn near bathed in it. "...... th-thank you," your android mumbled. "I... had no way of explaining what I felt. I believe the closest description would be a heart attack."

You and Hank shared a look before he passed you the beaker. "It's pretty close, actually. Your heart was literally being attacked, it wasn't just failing." Coming closer, you pulled out the long, bloodied vine for him to see. "... this was wrapped around your regulator. It was actually squeezing it, I saw it move."

His dark eyes widened, taking the lengthy vine into his hands. It was exactly the same as the ones growing in his garden. But... it had gotten inside him?

"Honey... how did it get there? It was inside, but... it came from somewhere..."

[From the garden you tried to destroy...]

Connor's face was set, determined but unhappy. "This is... something I will need to look into." Meeting your eyes, he pressed his mouth thin, already regretting his words, but the lie had come out before he could stop himself.

[This is a warning... I may still be infected. I do not know. All seemed well...]