Chapter Twenty-One: His Story

Hank had gotten Connor to the closest bathroom he could find to get rid of the blood on him. The kid also needed to relieve himself, as did Hank, having been stuck in that room for so long. After it was all said and done, Connor asked a question Hank would prefer he didn't ask. Not now.

"Why was there blood on me? I don't remember…"

And it was best that he didn't. He didn't need to know. Well, he did but not now. He probably wouldn't be able to handle the fact that he murdered someone so brutally. He needed a safe place first in case he had a panic attack.

"It's okay, Connor," Hank said. It really wasn't. "We can talk about it when we're off the ship."

Connor tilted his head and looked too innocent for his own good. Hank could practically see question marks popping up above his head.

"Come on, we need to get a move on before Zlatko decides to make a move."

"Okay."

They left the bathroom and headed to Hank's room, Hank keeping Connor close to his side. He found it odd how there wasn't more commotion considering there was another murder. It made him wonder just where it was Blondie-McAsshole did it. He also couldn't help but wonder if the other guards knew about it.

Too many questions, not enough answers. He could get some answers about the Sterns from Connor but he didn't want to push him too hard. It wasn't fair. It was hard to hold back, though. It took all his will power not to consistently ask questions.

The walk to Hank's room was silent. Hank didn't miss to notice Connor glancing around from time to time. He didn't seem too paranoid, despite everything that had happened. Maybe Hank's presence helped him remain calm. Maybe he trusted Hank enough to believe he would keep him safe.

Hank wasn't surprised that the door to his room was unlocked. He was sure he locked it but the Sterns probably wasted no time in getting in there. He just hoped nothing too bad was waiting in there.

What he was surprised with was that everything seemed to be in place. But the last time something seemed in place, his gun was gone. Hopefully that wouldn't be the case this time around.

Connor went and sat on the edge of the bed while Hank made a beeline for the closet. He rummaged around, similar to how Connor did in the room Blondie-McAsshole was laying dead. He checked every pocket of his coats and jeans. He didn't find his phone or gun but he pulled out a new coat and threw it on.

He turned and saw Connor searching the bed for him. Hank headed into the bathroom to check around in there. While he was searching, Connor spoke up from the bedroom.

"The Kamski house and facility is thirty minutes out of town. The bus stop is an additional fifteen minutes away. It's a very isolated area, a one-way street. No one goes down that way except the bus or tourists who get lost."

Hank stopped and turned to face the door. He saw Connor still checking through the bed sheets. The kid sighed.

"I walked down that street all the time. Nothing ever happens, nothing."

"Connor-"

"Last year, when I turned fifteen...when I was walking to the Kamski house from the bus stop, something happened. A truck drove by and I thought it was just another lost tourist; I didn't think anything of it."

Hank walked back into the bedroom. Connor was sitting on the bed again but his back was turned to Hank.

"I've helped lost tourists before. All I have to do is write them directions and they're on their way. But this time…" Connor rubbed his forehead. "They grabbed me. Daniel and Shaolin grabbed me and used chloroform to knock me out so I couldn't fight back."

Hank walked forward and rested a hand on the kid's shoulder. He didn't fail to notice the slight tremble. "You don't have to tell me this if you don't want to; if you're not ready. I understand."

Connor wrapped his arms around himself and leaned down, as if to hide himself. It made him look so...weak. It almost reminded Hank of that day where he almost fell off the side of the ship. Hank wanted to wrap him into a hug again but he held back, unsure if it would cause the kid to snap. He normally wouldn't, Hank knew, but this was a different situation. He recalled events that were harmful to his mind and it could make him lash out. Hank didn't want that.

Connor groaned as if he was in pain. He probably was; his bruises were probably acting out with how he was holding himself.

"Why?" Connor's voice was someone muffled. "Why was I so stupid? I should've known better...I shouldn't have tried to help them, I should've known something was wrong!"

"You couldn't have known, Connor," Hank said. He rubbed his back gently. "You said yourself, you've helped tourists before and nothing happens down there. It's-"

"I should've known! I should've seen the signs or- or…"

Hank sighed. "Connor…"

"Why? Why did I let it happen, why did-"

"Stop it, right now," Hank snapped. He forced Connor to look at him but made sure not to grab him roughly. The kid's eyes were wide. "This wasn't your fault. It was beyond your control."

"But-"

"No, no 'buts'," Hank said. "You're just a kid, you couldn't have been prepared for something like this. It's just something that happened. It's not your fault."

Connor swallowed hard. Hank knew how hard it was to accept words like that. People tried to tell him his son's death was not his fault. Even now he still thought that and he probably always would. The feeling might dwell down a little but that guilt wouldn't completely go away. It was a shame but it was the truth.

This was not about him, though. This was about Connor. A kid with no home who was kidnapped because he had association with Elijah Kamski. Hank didn't know what kind of association but that didn't matter. It was no excuse to kidnap and harm a kid.

Connor shifted his eyes away. Hank ruffled his hair, hoping it would calm him down.

"I wish I was braver, not so submissive…"

Hank scoffed. "You are brave, Connor. You're brave and strong."

Connor rubbed his eyes. His voice was tired when he finally answered. "Okay."

It would take him time to really accept it, considering how long the kid had been with the Sterns. He could only imagine the kind of lies he was fed by them and the kinds of things they physically did to him. He would see about getting Connor into therapy when they got back and things settled down.

Now that he thought about it, the more he felt like he was doing a lot for this one kid. It had been a while since he dedicated so much time for one person. But it had also been a while since he had a reason to care for one person.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice Connor searching under the bed. He pulled out his gun box and placed it on the bed. Hank wanted to take it away from him but stopped himself. There was no point. The kid knew what was originally in it. Besides, it was empty.

"Oh." Connor pulled out a syringe. It wasn't used. "What is this doing here?"

Hank sighed and ran a hand down his face. Connor raised a brow and put the syringe down. The Sterns were attempting to plant evidence against him. He couldn't think of another reason why the syringe would be in there. The Sterns were really going out of their way to make him seem like the enemy here.

"Never mind." Hank waved his hand lazily. "Take it just in case."

Connor hesitated but did as he was told. He hid it in his pants pockets. He closed the gun box and hid it under the bed again.

"Looks like that's the only thing here," Hank said, sounding a bit more tired than he meant. "I think I have another place in mind."

Connor tilted his head.

Author's Note: And now we know what happened with Connor. I was thinking of making a chapter where it's Connor's POV from what happened to him prior to the events of ETU but changed my mind.

Four more and we're done.

That's all for now. I'll see ya'll in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading!

~Kurosaki