✓ Skin Deep ↠ Connor | D:BH

Chapter Four: We're Both Hurting

I wake up to the sound of shattering glass. Either Hank dropped a glass from being so drunk, or we are being robbed. Gripping my trusty taser, I tiptoe out of my room and down the hall, towards the kitchen.

"Connor?" I question, putting my weapon down. "Why didn't you just knock?"

"I did. You must've been so tired that you didn't hear me. I saw Hank passed out through the window and was worried he was hurt."

I look down at my adoptive father's unresponsive body, kicking him with my toe. He groans, not opening his eyes. "He's just a drunk. What do you need him for at-" I look over to the stove clock "two in the morning?"

"There was a homicide at the Eden Club. He is needed there."

I sigh, going to Hank's side and grabbing him with my good arm. Connor gets the other side, doing most of the carrying. We push him into the shower, the motion waking him up some.

"I'm going to sober you up for your own safety," Connor says while I stand behind him with my arms crossed, or as much as I can with my sling.

"Hey! Leave me alone, you fuckin' android!"

"I have to warn you, this may be unpleasant," Connor warns, looking back to me as if for approval. I nod. Hank needs to learn this is what happens when you get shitfaced drunk during an important investigation.

"TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF! What the fuck are you doing here?" Hank yells out, flailing in the tub. I snicker, enjoying his suffering. If Connor can make Hank kick the drink, I'll be forever in his debt.

"A homicide was reported 43 minutes ago. I couldn't find you at Jimmy's bar, so I came to see if you were at home."

"Jesus, I must be the only cop in the world that gets assaulted in his own house by his own fuckin' android. Can't you just leave me alone?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot. I've been programmed to investigate this case and I can't do it without you," Connor says calmly.

"I don't give a shit about your goddamn case!" Hank slurs.

"It's your case too, Hank!" I yell at him. "And you're fucking it up."

"Shit, Aurora, get out of my face. I should've left you on that bench! Nothing but a pain in my ass since then."

I turn away from him, tears smarting at my eyes. He's said stuff like this when I was younger, back when I tried to sober him up. It's why I stopped attempting to. The insults being brought up again hurt me as if I was sixteen again.

"Rory, go get dressed. I'll deal with him."

I nod, not looking at him, fleeing from the room. Wet drops begin to fall from my eyes as I'm putting on raggedy white skinny jeans then a black Detroit Police t-shirt, the writing in white.

"He didn't mean it, Aurora," Connor says from behind me.

I turn, nodding, wiping away the traitorous tears. "I should've gotten used to it by now; it's just been awhile since he has thrown that back at me. I know he's hurting, but I am too."

Connor nods, patting me on the shoulder awkwardly. I grin at him. "You aren't very good with hugs, are you?"

He shakes his head sheepishly. "I'm not. I'm sorry. I'm going to go clean up the kitchen. Cyberlife will pay for the window." With that, he walks out of my room and I follow behind him, sitting on the couch watching the news. Sumo hops onto the cushion beside me. I cuddle him against me. Sumo is the only reason I had any happiness in my life back in my earlier teens.

"Lieutenant? What were you doing with the gun?" Connor calls from the kitchen. Gun?

"Russian roulette! Wanted to see how long I could last. Must've collapsed before I found out," Hank replies, walking out from the hallway. He was going to kill himself? With me sleeping in the next room? Does he realize how much it would tear me apart to find him dead? A bullet through his head? Did he think about Sumo?

"You were lucky, the next shot would have killed you."

I pull my knees up to my chin, closing my eyes, tears falling for the third time today.

Something tears in Connor's chest every time he sees or hears Aurora cry. He never thought a human's emotion would bother him, but it does. He wanted to punch Hank for what he said to her. He doesn't seem to realize that Aurora loves him. He might be her only family, even if it's adoptive. If she didn't care about him, the words wouldn't have hurt her.

But they did. They hurt her a lot.

Internally, he's glad that Hank is still alive. It would be...unfortunate...if he died, he'd be losing his partner. Aurora would lose her dad, possibly her job and home. The thought of losing him probably has her shaken right now.

"Are you okay?" Connor asks, squatting down in front of her.

"Yeah, I-I'm fine," she blubbers out breathlessly. "I'm perfectly fine after hearing that my father would rather kill himself than have to face me everyday."

"I don't think it's you. He has other demons."

"Well," she says, standing up. "I wish he would've left me at the damn hospital bench if he never wanted me in the first place." With that, she grabs her coat from a hook and walks out the door.