Beyond The Sea [Hankcon / Hank x Connor AU]

sex; the lost art of conversation

[Disclaimer: The Latin for the number 6 is "sex", to clear up any confusion.]

He was relieved at the fact he wasn't working the following day, but the reality had set in.

He'd never been out on...  A date?

He didn't know what this was, or what this cop wanted from him, but...

He liked him. He was his preferred land person, out of everyone he'd encountered in his month or so of being here, but his father was less than impressed.

"---You're not going out with a total stranger, Connor." He'd sat him down in the living room, arms folded in disappointment. "But he isn't a stranger! He's a regular customer, we're friends." He'd argued his case, but knew Elijah wasn't budging. 

"I really want to do this."

Elijah raised an eyebrow, staring at his son for a moment. "When is it?" He asked, and Connor paused to remember what Hank had said. "---It's tonight, at... 8, I think. He told me to meet him outside the place, and gave me directions..." He smiled slightly.

"---Okay, fine. You can go. But I'm taking you there, and I'll take you home as well." His dad spoke eventually. "Is that not a little... sad?" Connor questioned, making him laugh. "Yeah, but, you're not technically full human. God knows what'd happen if I wasn't there, well... to walk you there and back," He replied, smiling when his son laughed too.

"I guess you have a point."

He'd explained his confusion to his dad; he'd told him about the place they were meeting, and had been told it was, "kinda fancy".

"---Wear this." He was handed clothes on a hanger. He looked at them, and then back at his dad. "---What is it?" He asked, making him laugh again. "It's a suit, Connor. Nothing fancy like a tux or whatever, but something to show you've made an effort. It's an old one of mine, I don't really need it anymore." Elijah smiled, but Connor smiled even more. 

"Thank you. It means a lot." He replied, going in for a hug, which was gladly accepted.

He looked at himself in the mirror once he'd figured out how to put it on, and, of course... had his dad do his tie for him. "I look kinda good as a human." He said, his dad chuckling beside him. "You scrub up well. Are you ready to go?" He asked, looking at him via the mirror. Connor paused before nodding.

It was now or never.

____________

He'd booked a table for two at Glasshouse, a gastropub along the waterside. It was a personal favourite of his, but it was merely for... special occasions.

He was outside on his phone, he'd finished work earlier than expected, and being early was better than being late, right?

"---Hi, Hank."

He looked up, eyes widening when he saw him walking over, a smile on his face. He then clocked the other guy, wondering who he was exactly.

"Hey, yourself. Who's, uh... your friend?" He asked, looking at him again. He looked down at his hand when he'd held it out, accepting the handshake. "Elijah. Connor's dad. He was worried he'd get lost, so..." Elijah laughed slightly, and his son blushed a little. "You can go now, thanks," He replied, being winked at by him as he left.

"Sorry for all the... sudden formalities," He looked back to Hank, making him laugh. "Oh, no. It's cool. You look rather smart, but perhaps too smart..." He said, Connor raising an eyebrow. "Is that a bad thing?" He asked, and a smirk appeared on Hank's face. "No. It's great. Let's head in," He replied, chuckling a little to himself.

They were seated immediately, and near a big window overlooking the water. It was on a stretch of pier, in amongst other restaurants, but this one in particular was the best... But perhaps Hank was just being biased.

"---It's so nice in here, I've never been before." Connor mentioned, Hank glancing up at him from his meal. "I've been a couple times. It's never disappointed." He said, a smile on his face.

"I like it so far... And given company," Connor smiled too, taking a sip of his drink. He'd just gone with a water, after all... This place was "kinda fancy".

"Oh, likewise. Cheers," Hank laughed softly, raising his wine glass and clinking it with his. "I'm enjoying this. It's been real fun thus far." He added, Connor agreeing with a quiet giggle. "What made you want to ask me to dinner?" He asked curiously.

He'd been wondering all last night.

"You seem very interesting, and I wanna find out more about you. Plus... It's kinda normal to ask potential... interests, out to get dinner, or to grab a movie... If you like 'em, ain't it?" Hank laughed again, and Connor just nodded again. "Oh, yeah, sure. What about the movie?" He asked, grinning at him. "Maybe the 2nd time," Hank replied, looking up as their server approached.

"Was everything okay for you both?" She smiled as she gathered the now empty plates. "It was great, thanks." Hank answered with a smile too, looking to Connor. "It was really good." He nodded too, still grinning. "Oh, that's good to hear. Shall I bring the---" The server gasped suddenly, cutting her own sentence off.

"I am so sorry, sir! I will grab you napkins to dry off!" She put the plates down and dashed for the bar. His water had been knocked over, and... onto him.

He looked down at himself, and then at Hank. He couldn't be here. 

He had to get out of there.

Now.

___________

He felt extremely guilty, and pretty weird, for frantically sprinting out of a busy restaurant and merely escaping to the pier, and hoped no onlookers were wondering why a guy in a suit just dived into freezing water, for what seemed like no reason.

But unfortunately, there was a reason.

He soon surfaced out of sight, looking over to the restaurants on the pier; their warm lights a contrast to his dark, cold surroundings. He didn't have a choice. He thought about it in retrospect; running to a bathroom would have been risky, especially if there were people there. Anywhere in that vicinity was a bad idea.

He frowned when he thought about Hank.

What the fuck would be going through his mind right now? His date just running off for no reason? Or, for slightly damp clothing?

He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, and decided it'd be best to tackle it in the morning. He looked back at the pier again, before slowly disappearing under the surface.