Connor sat on the couch with his coin dancing over his right hand as he rubbed at Sumo's ears nervously with his left hand. Waiting for Hank to awaken that Sunday morning felt more tense than it should have, but Connor was unsure of how to approach the detective in regards to the plans he had formed with Markus in private. Double checking with deviant leader regarding the time they were supposed to meet up, and where, Connor nearly jumped when the bedroom door opened and Hank wandered out in a sleepy daze to enter the bathroom just down the hallway.

As the sound of the running shower filled air Connor took the moment of opportunity to speak with Markus before having to speak to the emotionally stunted detective in a few minutes.

"Are you certain about this?" Connor asked Markus cybernetically as he remained on the couch. "I don't think Hank wants to acknowledge the concept of 'Father's Day' after suffering his personal loss."

'I know it may seem a little strange, but I think it's important to at least try.'

"And if I can't convince him?"

'Then that's okay. I'll spend the day with Carl at his house with just him.'

"Will Carl's biological son, Leo, be there?"

'I doubt it. Don't get me wrong, Leo's not a bad guy, he's just got a lot of issues he needs to deal with.'

"Have you celebrated Father's Day with Carl before?"

'Yeah, every year since he took me in. We don't do anything fancy or elaborate, we just talk.'

"Oh. I doubt Hank would be up to talking to a man he just met, but I will try to get him to join me. Perhaps I can convince him that you and I are meeting up at Carl's home to discuss future plans for android laws."

'Whatever you think will work. Just let me know if you're going to come over or not.'

"I will, Markus. I promise."

The shower turned off and Connor turned to look at the closed bathroom door down the hallway over his shoulder. As the door opened Connor watched as Hank stepped outside with his hair damp over his face, and his eyes still looking tired.

"Good morning, Hank."

"Yeah... Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?" Rising from the couch Connor pocketed his coin and approached the detective and noticed the heavy bags under his eyes. "You seem tired."

"I had a little trouble falling asleep, but I'm fine." Hank gave the android a strange look and could see there was an important question burning in his soulful brown eyes. "Something on your mind?"

"...Perhaps another time." Nervously Connor dismissed the idea of asking Hank to go anywhere, and tried to take his leave of the hallway. "I'll let you alone to rest."

"Hold it." Hank grabbed onto Connor's wrist and kept him in place. "What's going on, kid?"

"...Markus would like my assistance at Mr. Manfred's house regarding future android laws."

"Aaaand?"

"I was hoping you'd join me."

"Oh. Why are you acting like I was going to shoot you or something?"

"...I didn't want to bother you."

"Kid, it's a not a bother. Give me a minute to change into some clean clothes and we'll head out."

"Thank you, Hank."

As the detective released Connor's wrist he disappeared back into his bedroom and closed the door behind himself. Connor retreated back to the livingroom and sent another cybernetic message to Markus as he had promised.

"Hank and I will be there in fifteen minutes."

'See you, soon.'


The old car drove up the long drive leading to the beautiful brick mansion that Carl had purchased and lived in for almost thirty years after he became recognized as a truly talented painter. The mansion itself was warm and welcoming, and had proven itself to be a loving home for the unorthodox family that was Carl and Markus as a father and son duo.

"Holy shit... This place is incredible." Hank complimented as he stepped outside and closed his car door to take in the sight of the towering building. "Great neighborhood, too."

"Yes, it is. Markus is waiting for us inside." Connor stated in a casual manner as he walked up to the front door. As he rang the doorbell Connor have Hank a somewhat anxious glance. "Thank you for accompanying me."

"Connor, what's the matter with you?"

"Matter?"

"You're jumpy. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were up to something."

"...I guess I'm still wary of-"

The front door opened and Markus greeted the two detectives. "Hey, glad you could make it."

A feminine artificial voice greeted the two detectives upon their arrival, but neither noticed. 'Welcome to the Manfred residence.'

Connor stepped through the door and let Markus show him inside to the foyer. As Hank entered he shook Markus's hand politely and gave the large foyer the admiration as he had given to the exterior of the house.

"Man, this is a nice place."

From the connected sitting room the elderly voice of Carl replied sharply. "It better be after all the damn money I spent on it."

Hank laughed at the comment as Markus showed the two guests into the room where Carl was sitting. "Come on, I'll introduce you."

Situated in the middle of the sitting room Carl was bundled up in a thick red robe and sitting in his electric wheelchair with a thick blue blanket draped over his legs. An oxygen tank was secured to the back of the chair and he had a nasal canula under his nose to give him the additional oxygen and ease his breathing. The elderly, paraplegic man was in failing health physically, but his mind was as sharp as ever.

"Connor, Lieutenant, this is Carl. My father."

"So, you're Connor." Carl noticed the timid android and gave him a smug look. "You're the one who helped my boy on the night of the revolution. It's about time we had the chance to meet so I could thank you properly."

"No thanks are needed."

"Sure they are. It's not everyday you can say your son changed the world thanks to someone taking a risk to help them out."

Hank crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at Carl with a curiously furrowed brow. "It's not everyday you can say your kid's an android without some nut-bag going berserk, either."

"You're Lieutenant Anderson, aren't you?"

"Yup."

"Thought so. Good to know I'm not the only who prefers androids over humans."

"Humanity is overrated."

"A man of infinite wisdom." Reaching a hand over to the nearby table Carl picked up his bottle of scotch and poured a shot into a glass. "Care for a drink?"

Connor didn't say anything as Hank rubbed his hand over his beard thoughtfully. "Why not? It's my day off."

"Good answer."

Markus patted the side of Connor's arm and motioned for the detective to accompany him outside and into Carl's exterior studio. "We can talk out here and get things underway."

Connor was a little confused by Markus wanting to leave the two humans alone until he saw that Hank and Carl were already deeply engaged in a discussion regarding life and all of the tragedies they had endured. As the two humans spoke Connor could see a strange glimmer in Hank's eyes as if he had found a kindred spirit who would actually listen to him, rather than just hear what he said.

"...Of course."

Sliding the studio doors shut Markus stood in the middle of the room and addressed Connor in a low voice. "I was hoping that would happen."

"You wanted them to be alone to talk?"

"Yeah, I honestly did. Connor, I've known Carl for years and in those years he's rarely ever spoken to any person beyond his publicist or collectors at art auction. And he's so... frail. I didn't want him to spend his last few days alone with just me or his android caretaker, David."

"You don't want Carl to... pass on without having addressed any personal regrets. Regrets that only another human can understand."

"Yeah..." Markus crossed his arms defensively over his chest and took in a deep breath. Tears were welling up in his mismatched eyes as he spoke. "I think this will be the last time we'll be together for Father's Day, so I... I guess I wanted my last gift to him to be peace."

"Markus. I understand." It wasn't just a turn of phrase, Connor truly did understand why Markus was so adamant on celebrating the day together. Though new to human emotions and the concept of human traditions Connor understood that sometimes humans needed to confide in one another in the same way androids did for each other. "Hank needs the chance to talk to someone who can relate to his own pain, someone who isn't a therapist or secretly passing judgement. Just... listening."

As the two humans laughed in the neighboring room Markus felt a sense of relief wash over him. "We should discuss at least one new law, you know, so it isn't quite so obvious we got these two to meet up for their own good."

Connor smirked a little and agreed. "Sounds reasonable. I believe this is what humans refer to as 'multitasking'."


The two humans spoke to one another for nearly three hours, laughing and talking about their pasts, talking about their losses and more importantly talking about their sons. It was a therapeutic discussion that eased the heavy burdens of their souls with mutual interest, and a desire to at long last let go of their pain and begin to heal.

Markus noticed the time of day and made a return to the sitting room to ensure that Carl received his proper medication. "Sorry, Carl. It's time."

"Ah, come on." Carl openly lamented as Markus proceeded to wheel the kind old man out of the sitting room and over to the staircase to reach the second floor of the house. "What's the worst than can happen if I skip one dose?"

"Heart failure."

"So what? That's what we pay paramedics for."

"Carl... Please."

"Alright, alright. Just make it quick! My time is valuable."

Connor joined Hank as he sat on the soft couch beside Hank and folded his hands neatly over his lap. Running a scan over Hank's vitals Connor noted his slightly elevated blood-alcohol level, but found it to still be well within reasonable limits.

"Are you still tired?"

"Nah, I'm good. How're you and Markus doing with your new law thing?"

"We've made some progress. It still needs to have a few details checked, but if we're successful then it'll benefit androids all over the city."

"What new law is this?"

"It serves to allow humans to sign their android companions as insurance beneficiaries and medical proxies. It'll simplify matters in the event that family members are at odds and disagree on the proper course of action in emergency situations."

"Good idea." Hank sipped at his scotch and patted Connor's shoulder. "If it passes it should give us less domestic dispute calls."

Markus returned to the sitting room with Carl in his chair, and the elderly artist gave Connor a curious glance. "So, Connor. Hank tells me you are the first android detective in the whole damn world. That's pretty incredible."

"...It's not as glamorous as it sounds."

Laughing at the humble remark Carl pointed at Connor with a shaking finger. "You're way too damn modest, son. Try to think of it as an outsider looking in."

"An outsider?"

"You're the first of your kind and you've already done some amazing things for the betterment of the world. To anyone who watched you from afar as you aided in the revolution and helped change the world, you could be seen as a hero."

"I'm not-"

Hank grabbed onto Connor's shoulder and shook once. "Shut up, kid. It's a compliment."

"Anyway, Hank also tells me that you and Markus have been working hard on making sure androids and humans have the same laws applied to one another; true equality. I know it won't be easy, but don't give up. The world needs new leaders to carry it in a new direction."

"We won't, Mr. Manfred."

"Please, call me Carl."

"Carl." Connor corrected himself as requested. "We won't fail our people." Glancing slightly over to Hank as the detective, his face seemingly relaxed and at peace, he returned his attention to Carl. "And we don't fail the friends and families we've acquired along the way."

"That's what I wanted to hear. Now," Carl slapped his hands together readily and stared at Markus. "I'm starving. Did you make those reservations downtown?"

"Yes, Carl. Everything is ready and we'll be able to be seated in twenty minutes."

Connor's brow arched and Hank gave the artist a curious glance. "Reservations?"

"My treat. It's not often I get to talk to someone who is trying to kiss my ass or tell me what to do!"

"You don't have to-"

"I know I don't, but it's my money and despite what my damn accountant says I can spend it on anything I want. And I want to do this."


Connor and Markus sat at opposite ends of the private booth while Carl and Hank sat in the middle. The two humans were laughing loudly and talking about everything ranging from politics, to the media, their professions, their tragedies and about their sons much to the slightly embarrassment of the two androids. It wasn't that the two minded that the humans were singing praises about their accomplishments that was embarrassing, it was the fact that everyone in the rather nice restaurant was staring at them.

Cybernetically Connor spoke to Markus to avoid offending the two humans. "Perhaps we should convince them to leave?"

"Can't do that, Connor. Carl is friends with the owner of this place and can pretty much do whatever he wants."

Hank laughed and grabbed onto Connor's shoulder lightly. "You know something, this guy is pretty damn smart and all that jazz, but he still put his hand into a hot oven and burned his palm!"

Connor felt himself blushing blue at the silly story and tried to hide his face behind his hand. "Shouldn't be at least cut off the alcohol?"

"No. I don't want to ruin their good mood."

"...I don't like all these people staring at us. It makes me feel as though we're intruding."

"Relax, Connor. It's late and no one else will showing up."

Carl pointed at Markus and spoke about one of the deviant leader's own mistakes. "The first week Markus was in my house he tried to have a conversation with the damn doorbell! I had to remind him that it was a generic greeting, not another artificial intelligence!"

Now it was Markus who blushed. "It'll be over soon enough..."

"I was unaware that humans could talk and eat consecutively for five hours, forty-six minutes and seven seconds."

"It's Sunday, so the restaurant will close in about an hour. We should be able to get them back home soon."

"Is it like this every Father's Day?"

"Only when things go right."

"...That's a relief. I guess."


After an additional three hours of Hank and Carl laughing it up drunkenly at the restaurant the two androids were finally able to take the two humans back home to sleep it off. It was a slight struggle but Connor managed to open up the passenger side door of the car and pull Hank out and onto his feet to lead back to the house through the backdoor.

"You know what?" Hank slurred dumbly as he leaned heavily against Connor's shoulder. "I like that Carl guy!"

"...I noticed."

"He's nice... And he knows what it's like to keep an android from killing himself over stupid shit... That's pretty cool."

Connor sighed as he guided Hank through the backdoor and around Sumo to get him down the hallway and into his bedroom.

"Hey, Sumo..." Hank greeted the dog with a heavy slur as he followed the duo down the hallway. "Good dog..."

"Hank, you need to sleep now." Connor instructed as he sat Hank down on the edge of his bed and pulled the coat from around the detective's shoulders. Lightly he pushed Hank over to he was laying on his back, and then proceeded to pull of Hank's shoes to ensure the human could sleep peacefully. "And I'm going to be as quiet as possible to ensure you rest appropriately."

"...Connor?"

"Yes?"

"This was a pretty good Father's Day..."

Connor froze and his eyes went wide at the comment and he dropped Hank's shoes on the floor in the moment of surprise. "...Pardon?"

"I'm not... I'm not dumb, kid." Hank slurred again as he draped his arm heavily over his eyes. "I know what today is... Why did ya' think I could... I couldn't sleep so good last night? I fuckin' hated the damn day for the past... three years. I always had a bad time sleeping the nights before because... because I wasn't a father anymore. Now I kinda' am again... and it's not so bad."

"You aren't upset that Markus and I did this?"

"Nope... Just don't do it again... okay? Nothing will top this Father's Day. This was a good... very good Father's Day."

"Of course, Hank. I was just uncertain-"

"I know... Because of Cole. You didn't want me all... upset or some bullshit. I get it, you were lookin' out for me."

"Correct."

"I'm fine, kid. Thanks for everything..."

"...Goodnight, Hank." Connor picked up the dropped shoes from the floor and then threw the quilt over the detective's sleeping form before parting from the bedroom quietly. "Happy Father's Day. Dad."

-The End