Chapter Text
15th of January 2039 - Hank’s residence - 09:32 PM
“A dwarf what now?”
“A dwarf gourami, Lieutenant.”
Connor and Hank were sitting in Hank’s living room watching the basketball game at 9 PM with blankets over their shoulders when Hank suddenly asked Connor when he first showed signs of deviancy. Connor started telling the story of his first mission on the rooftop, how he managed to save a little girl, Emma, from a hostage situation and how satisfied he felt when he saved the fish when the tank got shattered. He told him that that was the first time he had a ‘software instability’. Connor was really proud of himself when he told this story, Hank noticed.
Hank had also noticed the android had an interest in the aquatic life.
“Connor.”
“Yes, Lieutenant?”
“It’s Hank, we’re not at work.”
Since the Android Revolution 2 months ago, Connor tried getting used to calling Hank by his first name and not by his rank.
“My apologies Hank, I am still getting used to it.”
When Hank took a side glance towards Connor he noticed he was wearing Hank’s old DPD sweater. A month after he started living with him and Sumo they went clothes shopping. He couldn’t stand looking at his Cyberlife jacket and those damn numbers that said ‘RK800 #313 248 317 - 51’. As if he was nothing more then a serial number; Connor is a goddamn person, his best friend.
“Don’t worry about it.” Hank mutters.
Sumo, who’s been laying on Connor’s legs this whole time, lets out a huff. His front paws are on the armrest on Connor’s side while his behind presses against Hank’s left thigh. The starts petting him while smiling fondly at the Saint Bernard. Sumo wags his tail contented.
Hank just stares at Connor with a side glance, not really paying attention to the game on TV. Connor has been living with Hank since the Android Revolution. After they shared a tender moment in front of the Chicken Feed that either of them will never forget, Connor said that he had nowhere to go. Hank had invited him to his home immediately, not really thinking about it. Sumo had been ecstatic. He doesn’t regret it.
A week later Hank realized Connor could’ve gone to Jericho. When Hank confronted Connor about it at home, right before he left for the precinct, he had this guilty look in his deep brown puppy eyes and casted his eyes away as if he didn’t dare to look at him. Hank felt awful when looking at those eyes because he knew that guilty look all too well. Connor had given him a short answer: “I don’t belong there.” He didn’t ask any more after that.
When Connor had showered that same day (after Hank insisted he should) Hank texted Markus. He wasn’t surprised when he got an answer straight away.
‘Markus, it’s Lieutenant Hank Anderson. I need to ask you something.’
‘Good evening Lieutenant. What is your question?’
‘Is Connor welcome at Jericho?’
After that, Markus called him and told him Connor is always welcome after risking his life for their people. He couldn’t seem to understand why Connor left immediately after the speech Markus gave at Hart Plaza in front of all of the awakened androids.
1 month and a half after the Android Revolution Connor finally got a request from Captain Fowler if he wanted to return to the precinct to help out. Connor very happily agreed and thanked Hank profusely even after he insisted he had nothing to do with it. (They both knew that was a lie.)
Even though Connor knew he wasn’t getting paid (because of the fact that android laws were still underway), he was overjoyed about being able to be useful.
Lost in thought, he notices that it is now 10 PM.
“I’m going to go shower and then I’m off to bed. Wake me at 8?”
Hank has been doing so much better compared to how he was doing before the Android Revolution. Obviously, after years and years of self-neglect and alcoholism he still has his bad days, but they’re slowly but surely decreasing. He has not given up his beard and long hair yet.
Connor has been a huge help in this regard and he has yet to show his gratitude for the android.
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow Hank.”
He stood up from the couch, threw the blanket somewhere over the armrest and went behind the couch; until he remembered something that happened when he looked at the kitchen.
After one particular bad night he got so drunk that he couldn’t remember anything when he woke up that morning. When he went to the kitchen to get coffee before going to work he saw Connor making breakfast for Hank; his LED spinning yellow. When Hank approached and put a hand on his shoulder, Connor turned around so fast that Hank took a step back and saw his LED turn an anxious red. He knew then that he made a huge mistake.
The worst thing about it was that it wasn’t even that long ago that it happened. He apologized the morning he found out that he had called Connor ‘a useless machine’. Hank felt like an absolute shit bag and still felt guilty about it. Connor is his best friend. He doesn’t deserve an old alcoholic like Hank.
“Hank?”
When he turned back around to face Connor and saw his worried look in his eyes he knew he had to say something. Not about what happened that morning, but about how Connor has helped Hank on his long, tiring journey to his long forgotten happiness.
“You’ve come far since your first mission, Connor.”
Hank muttered and looked away in embarrassment. He’s not good and will never be good at showing gratitude. He stared at Hank for a good few moments and he thought he didn’t hear him when Connor suddenly gave him the warm smile that Hank knows and loves so much.
“Thank you, Hank. I’m proud of you too.”
Hank is crap at showing gratitude, but he thought it was a good start. He left Connor alone to get a shower and head to bed without realizing he hadn’t had a single drop of alcohol today, too preoccupied with his thoughts to notice.