Hey guys, I'm super new to this fandom and ship, but they've already chipped out a place in my heart. I'm not heaps confident with writing the characters yet, but I just had this idea and wanted to write it, so if anything is off its likely to make my ideas work.
Please remember that this fanfiction, I'm just having fun with characters that I adore, so if you don't like it there's no need to read or leave a comment. But if you did happen to read this fic and liked it, please feel free to tell me so :)
This is for Lizzy0305 for so many reasons. For being an inspiration to me, for being a great friend, for being encouraging, for having to deal with the haters. This is because I'm proud of you, because I can't be there in person to hug you, because you deserve all of the nice things (including Hankon fics). All this and so much more. Love you 3
Hope you enjoy the fic, much love xox
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It's crazy how the simplest thing can change your life, and often you don't even know what that thing is until it's already too late. Sometimes the change is good, and sometimes it brings everything you hold dear crashing down around you.
Your beliefs can change too, one moment you're so sure and content with something, and the next you've thrown it out the window and gone in a completely new direction.
Looking back, Hank knew the exact moment that his life changed. He could see the events that led to the entire overhaul of his life and beliefs in his mind. And he had one person to blame; Connor.
If Connor, with his warm brown eyes, enduring attitude, and glacier melting smile, hadn't of been assigned to him, if he hadn't of persisted with Hank, tried to get to know him, and if he hadn't of decided to deviate and become truly alive, well Hank would probably be dead right now. Lord knows he wasn't far off drowning himself in whiskey, or gaining the courage to pull the trigger and finally be reunited with his son.
Things were different now though. After the revolution Connor had to hide until the heat settled down and Kamski smoothed things over with Cyberlife, which in turn drew him out of retirement. For better or worse it remained to be seen; but at least Connor was free now to do as he pleased. Which, surprisingly to Hank, was to become the Lieutenant's full time partner. This somehow led to Connor also moving in with Hank and Sumo.
Hank set Connor up with his own room so he had space for himself, and that was that. Hank went from despising androids to loving-uh-living with one. They were partners, but only on the job, which was fine, why wouldn't it be?
He'd been alone for a long time, trying to drink himself to death, but Connor was here now. One of the conditions of Connor moving in was that Hank had to cut back his drinking, and much to his own amazement he'd agreed. What was even more incredible was that he was drinking less now. Connor helped; having company in those hours between getting home from a case and passing out made all the difference. Sometimes Hank would lay awake in his bed, his thoughts darker than the lightless bedroom, but somehow it was easier to manage now that he had his partner to lean on.
They'd been settled into this routine for several months now, and Hank couldn't exactly say when it happened, but at some point he had started to find Connor endearing. Maybe it was that night he found Connor and Sumo on the couch cozied up together, or the way he told Hank to eat at least one vegetable that wasn't potato, or how he would smile proudly when Hank introduced him as his partner.
Finding the android endearing was one thing, and Hank could live with it, quietly. But, then he began to notice the way Connor laughed when was happy, and how his eyes lit up with cheerful surprise when Hank hugged him after a close call. Things quickly got out of control after that. Hank could draw Connor's lips from memory if he had to, he found himself wondering if the constellations of his freckles had names. He marvelled at how flawless Connor's design was, but it was nothing compared to how the android had really come into his own. He discovered many things that he enjoyed, and other things that he didn't, and Hank had the privilege to watch this incredible being grow. Somewhere along the line, Hank had discovered that the ice had thawed from his lifeless heart, and it had begun beating in sync with a thirium pump.
In true Hank style, he denied his feelings for weeks until he accidently walked in on Connor in just his underwear. There were plains of pale skin to drag his eyes over, and Hank could have watched Connor for hours. Even as Connor turned his skin off, Hank couldn't draw his attention away from the perfect white of his android body. That was when Connor had noticed Hank, he whirled around, skin reactivating as if he'd been caught naked. It took Connor three sentences before Hank could tear his eyes away from the bulge in Connor's underwear and look at his face instead. There was no denying to himself the salivating, or the wave of arousal Hank had felt.
Of course he'd kept all of this to himself. God forbid anyone, especially Connor, discovered his dirty little secret. He'd lose everything. Again.
But the simplest things can change everything.
The first thing Hank noticed upon waking up that morning was how raw and dry his throat was. He'd had a bad night, they had cracked the case they'd been working on for the past week, but it had been too late to save…he didn't want to think about it. He'd drank more last night than he had in a while, not enough to black out, but enough that in the solitary of his room he'd shed some tears before falling asleep.
As he sighed and pushed back the covers he noticed the ache in his joints that had nothing to do with getting old. Still he dragged his sorry ass out of bed and straight to the bathroom to empty his nearly bursting bladder.
Connor was already in the kitchen when he finally made it there after putting some pants on over his underwear. There was a steaming mug of coffee on the table for him, accompanied by a couple of asprin.
"Good morning Lieutenant," Connor greeted him cheerfully, but at a lower volume than normal.
Hank's lip twitched, it almost made him smile how considerate the android was. Instead of his usual 'Morning Connor' he just made a noise half was between a grunt and a hum and took a large gulp of sweet, sweet coffee.
"How are you feeling this morning? It had been forty one days since you last consumed that amount of alcohol. I understand that last night was hard for you, so I want to remind you that-"
"Connor."
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Just let me drink my damn coffee."
Connor frowned, and even though he felt like shit, Hank still wanted to kiss the pout from his lips.
Things didn't improve throughout the day either, which wasn't helped by Connor giving him worried glances all day. His throat only got worse, and then his nose blocked up, and suddenly his waste bin was filled with used tissues. By the end of the day the tip of his nose was red, and Hank was in no doubt that he had caught a cold. That was all he fucking needed.
As Connor opened the front door to their home and greeted Sumo. Hank couldn't help but to curse technology; all these advances that they'd made, and they still couldn't just give you a fucking pill and cure the common cold.
"Would you like me to make you some dinner Lieutenant? I downloaded a chicken soup recipe that promises to be soothing when you're unwell," Connor offered, getting Sumo ready for his walk.
"Nah, just gonna hit the sack. I'm beat," Hank tried to sound appreciative but he didn't think he quite achieved his goal when Connor's shoulders slumped and his LED flashed yellow for a few cycles before returning to blue.
"Hmm, alright Lieutenant. I will take Sumo for his walk then."
"Connor, how many times have I told you…it's 'Hank' when we're not on duty…" not giving Connor a chance to answer, Hank waved his hand dismissively, and then sneezed followed by a tired sigh, "I'm going to bed."
He'd apologise for being a grumpy old man later…or maybe he wouldn't; Connor knew what he was like when the android moved in. It niggled at him as he stripped down to his underwear and chucked on an old shirt, before slipping under the covers of his bed. Fine, fuck, he'd apologise when he was better, he told himself.
He tossed and turned, trying to find a position that was comfortable and still allowed him to breathe. Vaguely, he thought he heard the front door open and close followed by Sumo whining and Connor speaking to the Saint Bernard, though he couldn't understand what was being said.
Sumo had become just as much Connor's dog as he was Hank's. Connor wasn't kidding when he'd stated that he liked dogs all those months ago. Hank suspected that he enjoyed the responsibility of a pet. Connor made sure to walk Sumo every day, and took care to give him the precise amount of food he should be eating for optimum health.
Hank smiled to himself, half asleep. Connor made him smile a lot these days, whether the android knew it or not; Hank's whole existence seemed easier to bear with Connor in his life. He didn't understand Connor's choice to stay by his side, but he was damn grateful for it, even if he didn't express it out loud.
Sleep swept him away again, the corner of his mouth still turned up in a half smile, and Connor on his mind. His unconscious mind took hold of his thoughts and supplied him with dreams. There wasn't really anything new about them; he was transported back to Cyberlife, and then there were cases, Connor squatted to analyse something by tasting it, and then something changed.
He'd never had a dream like this before, not about Connor anyway. They were in his bedroom, Connor dipped the tips of his fingers into liquid chocolate and then brought them up to Hank's mouth. His mouth dropped open, allowing those warm fingers in, he licked and sucked them until long after the chocolate was gone. A blue flush adorned Connor's freckled cheeks, his fingers falling from Hank's mouth, only to be replaced by Connor's lips on his own.
He had wondered what it would feel like to kiss Connor, would android lips feel artificial? There in his dream though, it felt as natural as any kiss he'd ever had. Hank reacted immediately, moving his lips against Connor's until the android's mouth opened and Hank wasted no time in exploring with his tongue, and twisting it around Connor's.
Strong arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck, while Hank's own hands slithered down Connor's torso and waist, tracing narrow hips with his thumbs. His fingers spread out and clutched into firm buttocks while Connor's slid into his grey hair.
Fire sparked low in his body and quickly spread to each limb, travelling through his veins, until he thought that he would combust. Just when Hank felt that the moment couldn't possible get any better, Connor's free hand dropped from his neck to Hank's crotch, ghosting over the straining bulge.
Hank gasped, fuck he wanted Connor to touch him so badly, and he wanted to touch the android just as desperately. Connor seemed to read his mind; his hand came back to rest on Hank's tented groin, and Hank had to fight the urge to rut against that hand. Luckily he didn't have to resist long because Connor's fingers began to rub over him, up and down, slow at first, but again and again.
They continued to kiss through Hank's moans, his body was on fire, and still Connor touched him, faster now though.
"Ah, Connor," Hank was breathless, and Connor relentless.
Connor kissed down Hank's neck, grazing his teeth along Hank's collarbone. Hank's fingers dug in hard enough to bruise a human, causing Connor to let out a little grunt. Fucking hell if it wasn't the sexiest noise he'd heard in a long time, and it went straight to his cock.
Things were tightening, pleasure circulating with the heat, building up. Hank thought himself too old to come like this, but Connor was proving him wrong. Maybe he was old, but he was also starved for all of this, he ate up anything Connor would give him.
The end was in sight, he was breathlessly moaning into Connor's ear and thrusting his hips one moment, "Fuck, oh fuck," and the next his eyes flung open, now wide awake and the dream gone as he cried out Connor's name, his orgasm tearing through him.
That was one way to wake up, he blissfully high from his orgasm, but shaking and sweaty. His breathing was laboured, his mouth dry, and it caused a coughing fit.
Hank didn't have time to gather himself, or even think about his intense dream, because the next moment Connor was bursting through his bedroom door. He could see the LED in his temple flashing yellow, the rest of his figure silhouetted by the dim light outside his bedroom.
"Lieu-Hank are you alright? You called for me, what happened?" Connor scanned the room and then Hank himself, trying to determine the source of Hank's distress.
Shit. That evidently didn't only happen in his dream.
"You have a fever," Connor stated, worry clear in his voice as he approached the bed.
"Sorry," he coughed again, still shaking, "d-didn't mean to bother you. I, uh, must've been dreaming."
"Your heart rate is elevated, so is your temperature. Would you like me to call for a doctor?"
"Nah, I'll be fine, just-just give me some of those cold-and-flu tablets, there's a packet in the bathroom cabinet," Hank assured the android, wiping sweat from the back of his neck. He really needed to change underwear too, the mess in his pants was getting sticky and uncomfortable.
Connor frowned, his LED spinning yellow, and Hank's mind recalled how his lips felt in his dream. Christ, if only he could know for sure.
"Perhaps you should take a shower to help reduce your temperature. I will assist you to the bathroom…"
A shower would feel good, he decided, "I don't need any damn assistance Connor, I'm sick not crippled," Hank tossed the covers back, glad that evidence of his orgasm hadn't seeped through his underwear yet, but his shirt was clinging to him in big wet sweat patches. He kicked his legs over the edge and groaned with the ache in his joints.
Getting up was far more effort than it should have been, Connor reached out to help him, concern written all over his sweet, young face, but Hank batted his hand away, "I got it."
He picked up what he thought to be clean clothes from a pile near the door and headed for the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
XXX
Connor stood at the door for a few moments, waiting to hear the water turn on. He wished that Hank would let him help more sometimes, but they had come a long way in the time they'd known each other. He was glad that the Lieutenant let him in at all.
He wondered what to do while the Lieutenant showered, he wanted to check on him, make sure he took some flu relief tablets. That was when he remembered how sweaty Hank had been.
Connor looked in the linen cupboard and found a spare set of sheets. He set about changing the ones on the Lieutenant's bed. Once finished he stood back and smiled, glad that he could do something to help.
A loud thud came from the bathroom. Connor's head snapped to the direction of the noise and he rushed to the bathroom, knocking insistently on the door, "Lieutenant? Hank?! Are you alright?"
There was no answer from the other side, all he could hear was the water rushing from the shower head.
"Hank, please answer me!" his LED flashed red in the dim light, "I'm coming in!" he called out, and still no response came.
Connor gripped the handle and flung the door open, noting that the Lieutenant hadn't locked it. Through the steam, he immediately saw Hank's body in the tub, water pouring over him. The Lieutenant was unconscious.
He rushed to his partner and turned the water off, "Hank! Hank, wake up!" he scanned the Lieutenant and found nothing major; he had just passed out, he'd have some bruises, but nothing was broken or seriously damaged. He let out a breath of relief, his LED switching back to yellow from red.
He needed to get Hank dry and back in bed though. He glanced around for the Lieutenant's towel and picked it up. That was when he realised that Hank was naked. He paused, of course he was naked, he was showering. It shouldn't have distracted him, but it did, not because of the nudity, but because it was Hank.
"Hank?" he tried again, shaking the Lieutenant's shoulder. Hank groaned but didn't wake up.
Connor couldn't just leave him there, he hoped that the Lieutenant would forgive him later, but he had to get Hank back to bed. He gripped the towel and dried as much of his partner as he could before lifting him up and pinning him against the wall to finish the job except for his ankles and feet as they were still in the tub. He pointedly avoided looking at Hank's crotch, feeling slightly guilty for even being interested. Now was not the time to analyse his feelings for his partner though.
He wrapped the towel around Hank's waist and carried him fireman style back to the bedroom. He laid Hank on the bed sideways so that he could dry his feet and ankles. Connor had picked up the Lieutenant's clean clothes from the bathroom and redressed him before tucking him into his freshly made bed.
Connor stood and observed him for a short while, his LED finally settling back to blue as he watched Hank's chest rise and fall steadily.
Eventually he noticed that his clothes were wet in places from the bathroom, he would need to change them, and then he would make Hank that chicken soup he'd said about before. The Lieutenant needed to eat something.
Hesitantly, Connor leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Hank's forehead. Hank hummed, a brief smile adorned human lips.
"Mmm…'Onnor."
"I'm right here Hank, get some rest," Connor whispered.
XXX
Hank opened his eyes, or at least he thought he had, but now he wasn't sure if he was awake or dreaming. Lucid fever dreams were common right?
His sheets and clothes were different to when he went to bed, the world felt heavy and unclear…he must be dreaming.
Connor came in then, blue LED bright in the dark room. He was carrying a tray, and sporting a deep green apron.
"You're awake," Connor smiled, bringing the tray over, "how do you feel?"
The smell of chicken soup hit him and his stomach rumbled, "Mmm, hungry now I've smelt this."
Hank pushed himself to sit up, groaning and coughing, even in his dream he was sore and sick, typical, but at least Connor was here. Something about the android wearing an apron and bringing him soup made his chest tight with affection.
Connor laid the tray on his lap and turned the lamp on beside the bed, "Eat up, I'll get you the flu relief tablets, your temperature is still high."
Hank raised a spoonful of soup to his lips, blew on it and then drank it down. Damn, that was good. He even felt his sinuses clear minutely. Who knew the kid could cook? Well, he supposed Connor could do anything, especially in his dreams.
Connor came back moments later and handed Hank two tablets and a glass of water. Hank took them obediently and then handed the half empty glass back to Connor, who sat it on the bed side table. Hank went straight back to his soup, and they sat in comfortable silence while he ate. What a strangely normal dream, Hank thought, but he was enjoying it. The soup and tablets were making him sleepy, going to sleep in a dream also seemed weird, but it wouldn't be the first time he supposed.
When he'd finished his soup, Hank's eyelids were drooping. Connor stood to clear the tray, but before he could Hank caught his arm and pulled him in close, kissing those soft lips without hesitation, it was even better than his last dream.
"Thanks Connor, I don't know where I'd be without you," he whispered, letting go of the android and closing his eyes.
"You-you're welcome Hank," his voice only just audible as the tray was removed and Hank moved on to another dream.
XXX
Multiple dreams later, Hank woke to Sumo barking. Immediately alert, Hank was about to get out of bed when he heard Connor shushing Sumo, telling him that they were only birds and not intruders. Hank smiled, relaxing back into his mattress and pillow.
There was enough light coming in through his blinds to see that Connor had brought him in a glass of water and some tablets. He sat up and reached for them, popping the tablets into his mouth and swallowing them down with some water.
He felt a lot better than last time he was awake. Still achy, and one nostril was blocked, but at least he wasn't shaking and feverish. Though some of those fever induced dreams had been nice.
Hank didn't really want to get out of bed, but his bladder finally won, and a nice big cup of coffee wouldn't hurt. He wondered if Connor would actually make him chicken soup if he apologised for being a grump when he'd offered. That dream had left him craving it, and craving other things.
After relieving his bladder and finding pants, Hank made it to the kitchen and started the coffee machine.
"Lieutenant?"
"Yeah?" Hank slumped into a chair while he waited for his coffee and scratched his beard.
Connor appeared from the living room, Sumo right behind him, "How are you feeling? Did you take the tablets I left you?"
"Better than earlier I think, that fever really knocked me about, I don't remember much, other than some fever dreams," Hank told him, voice gruff. "Yes, I took the tablets," he confirmed scrubbing his fingers through Sumo's thick fur.
"I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better, I was worried when you passed out in the shower," Connor admitted, gripping Hank's shoulder comfortingly as he moved into the kitchen.
He'd showered…yes, he remembered that now, but everything after that was fever dreams, "How did I…did you…?"
The coffee machine beeped that it was ready, and Connor was there pouring his coffee into his favourite mug before Hank had even considered getting out of his chair.
"I dried and dressed you and put you back to bed. After making sure that you hadn't done any damage of course, just some bruises," Connor filled him in and then handed Hank his coffee.
"Thanks," he said nodding as he brought the mug up to his lips.
"No 'thank you' kiss? Or are they only reserved for chicken soup?" Connor smirked, though the little flashes of yellow swirling through his blue LED said he wasn't entirely confident about bringing this up.
Hank choked on his coffee and it sent him into a coughing fit, "What?" he croaked when he could speak, "When?" that dream he had where Connor brought him soup rose to the forefront of his memory…shit. If Connor had changed his sheets and dressed him after the shower, then that would explain why things were different, and he was just sick enough that everything felt dream hazy.
The heat rose to Hank's cheeks, "Fuck. Connor, listen, shit…" he put his mug on the table and scrubbed his face with his hands, he was not up to this conversation. "I thought I was dreaming, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
Connor cut off his rambling, "I don't want an apology Hank…" he knelt on the floor next to Hank to look him in the eyes, "but maybe an explanation…and definitely another kiss."
It took his brain way too long to catch up with what Connor had just said, partially because he was sick, but mostly because he wasn't expecting it, "Wait, what?" he put his hands down and looked into warm brown eyes, accompanied by the smile that had been lighting up his life lately.
"Dream or not, it seems we've both been hiding our true feelings. I-I didn't believe that you would ever feel the same. I know that you don't despise my people anymore, but I never thought that you would reciprocate my feelings, because I'm not human," Connor explained somewhat timidly.
"Connor," that one word was soft and strained as Hank's gut twisted, his heart fluttering in his chest. Don't fuck this up Anderson, he told himself sternly. He couldn't lose Connor because he was insensitive or self-sacrificing in this moment.
Connor made to stand up when Hank took too long to continue, misjudging the situation as his blue LED spun round to yellow.
Hank grabbed his hands, holding him at eye level, this was his chance and he had no idea what to say. The whole thing had caught him off guard, he hadn't prepared anything to say, or tried out lines that could go either way. But now it was out in the open, and Connor was waiting for him to say something, to either make them partners in every sense of the word, or tear their lives apart.
"Connor," he tried again, those hopeful brown eyes blinked back at him, and suddenly he couldn't stop the words from falling out, "please don't leave. I don't fucking care that you're a android, it's you that's important to me, it always has been. I've seen you without your skin and thought you were just as beautiful as with it, because all I saw was you. I'm a different man because of you, thanks to you. I would be six feet under by now if it wasn't for you. And somewhere along the way…" he paused, it had taken him a long time to admit this to himself, and now he was trying to tell the object of his affection just what he meant to him, things he didn't even know that he could feel anymore, "you made me feel again. Little by little, every day you showed me that I could…that I could love again," it was almost a relief to admit it out loud finally. "Fuck, Connor, I was so scared that you would…leave me. I couldn't risk losing you," his voice was a little shaky by the end, and he hoped that he'd said it right.
Connor's yellow LED was spinning fast while he spoke, and after a moment it slowed and turned back to blue. Connor grinned, one of those bright, blinding smiles, full of genuine joy.
"It will take a lot more than that to get rid of me Hank. I didn't know what the feeling was to begin with, but it grew inside of me like a seedling, and now it's a fully developed tree. I wish to show you the love that you deserve to have, if you'll let me, I want to be by your side for the rest of your life Hank," Connor informed him sincerely.
"Christ, I don't know what I did to deserve you, and knowing my luck it's probably someone's fuck up, but I'm not strong enough to let you go like I should," Hank let one of his hands go to cup the back of Connor's neck, drawing Connor's face closer to his own, "Thank you," he whispered, voice rough with emotion as he closed the distance and kissed him. It was just a simple press of lips on lips, but it was life altering.
Connor kissed him back, and when they pulled apart so that Hank could breathe, Connor rested his forehead against Hank's, eyes closed, his blue LED spinning.
Hank smiled contently. Every little thing since he'd met Connor had led to this moment. Connor was the simple catalyst for extraordinary change in his life, not that he knew it at the time, but he was eternally grateful for it.
Connor opened his eyes and Hank kissed the tip of his nose, simply because he could. The android chuckled and finally stood back up to full height.
"Would you like some more chicken soup?"
"Love some."
