Stop interrupting my thought proc-

Day 3

As always, beta'd by the talented @honkforhankcon ~

WARNING! This chapter contains major character death, aggressively behaving animal and gore (both android and human). Read at your own discretion.

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Connor came out of stasis all giddy and refreshed. He and Hank had kissed! He hugged Dewey to his chest and rolled a few times in bed, definitely not squealing happily all the while. His voice modulator just glitched, that's all.

Instead of getting up right after waking, like he usually does, he decided to stay in bed some more. It wasn't like he had to do much before leaving for work – he had plenty of time to spare. The buzzing in his head that normally accompanied thinking about Hank wasn't there so he let his mind wander.

Connor closed his eyes and replayed the memory file from yesterday. His lips tingled as the video played behind his lids, the image of Hank's beard scratching against his face causing a physical reaction. As the memory-Hank's hand travelled down memory-Connor's spine, a shiver wracked through the real-Connor's body. The hand that was curled around Dewey placed the plushie on one of the pillows, while his other palm glided smoothly down his front. He bit his lower lip.

But as Connor's fingers skimmed along the waistband of his sleeping pants, he stopped. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath, calming himself. He couldn't. Or, well, he could but he didn't want to. No, this wasn't right either. He wanted to. But he wanted Hank to be the one to do this even more. Connor smiled. Now, with their relationship improved even more, this want might actually be fulfilled. He shivered in excitement again. He couldn't wait for the end of their shift already.

Or was it too soon? Connor worried about it while ridding himself of his sleeping clothes and putting on work-appropriate attire. He decided on something nicer today. For the past five months or so he dressed as casually as he could get away with. This time he fished a blue button-up, black tie, black vest and dark jeans from his closet.

...or maybe he should just dress casually? Behave like always and not worry about anything? Will dressing up make it weird? Does Hank even like when Connor dresses up? Or does it remind the Lieutenant of the times when Connor was just a machine?

Connor sat down on the bed with two vastly different outfits strewn around him, his head in hands. The buzzing might have stopped but he suddenly got something akin to a headache overthinking about what to wear.

In the end he decided to put on the nice shirt but left the first button open and skipped the tie. He also picked jeans from the 'casual pile' – a dark pair that was criminally tight, something Hank might appreciate. Maybe. Connor just hoped it won't end with one of them having a heart attack.

Connor pulled on his leather jacket as an afterthought and left for work in higher spirits than ever before, his mind swimming with thoughts of Hank.

***

But when Connor arrived at the precinct there was no sign of Hank anywhere. It was fine, the Lieutenant was late sometimes. True, days like these occurred less frequently nowadays, but there was no need to panic. Not even when Connor was called in and had to go with Gavin instead of his partner.

Oh, who was he kidding? Connor's LED was stuck on yellow, sometimes blinking red when his processors got particularly creative with various reasons as to why Hank might be late.

"Stop thinking! Geez, I can hear the cogs in your head turning."

Gavin, charming as always. Connor would probably find that mildly amusing if he wasn't worried sick. Hank always tells him whenever he's going to be late or absent. He hadn't heard a word from him since last night.