Hi! So, I'm late! Again! Just a day, but I still apologize. My weeks are so busy that I want to take my weekends to myself. -.- But! This chapter is, like, the longest. I think it's the longest for the entire story, at around 11,000 words. So, yeah. :-)
I added a nonbinary OC to this chapter. I apologize if y'all don't like that sort of thing, but I needed a character that fit my story, and I couldn't think of a canon character to fit the mold. I was thinking of having one of the Tracis, but I didn't want to erase their canon struggle just for my story. But, a warning: the OC is misgendered at one point, but please know I mean no offense, it was just because the person saying didn't know their gender. But still, I wanted to warn y'all.
Also, I only edited this chapter once, so I probably missed some typos. If you see any really bad ones, feel free to let me know. I wrote this story on my phone in the middle of the night, so you cannot imagine how many times Hank's cursing has been changed to "ducking." (Also, fun fact: I don't curse, so writing Hank's chapters were always an adventure to me. My dad accidentally read part of this story and was super shocked to see "my characters" curse. So yeah. Fun times.) I might go back and edit it later, but I just... I'm so tired right now. -.-
Enjoy!
Chapter 13: A Plan
No matter how bad things got, no matter how confusing or painful, nothing made Hank smile more than seeing his dog straining against his leash, Ben struggling to contain the beast who was determined to get to his master. After the week Hank had had, he had never been happier to see the Saint Bernard than that moment. Dropping to his knees, Hank greeted Sumo, wrapping his arms tightly around the beast, heart soaring when he heard happy barks booming in his ears, the side of his face attacked with a viscous pink tongue.
God, it felt good to hug his dog. He'd been so conflicted the last couple days and being able to hold Sumo made all that stress melt away.
It had been hard, staying away from Connor. The kid had seemed so broken hearted about it. Hank had no idea why Connor was so torn up about being away from Hank, but it hurt to see the lost look in the kid's eyes. And that painting… Hank hadn't known Connor could paint, but he definitely could. He'd never seen so much emotion in one painting. So much anger and pain and fear. He had no idea who Connor felt was chaining him down (Cyber? The facility? Hank?) but the feeling of being trapped was clear in that painting. He wished he could give Connor the answers that he wanted, to let the kid know he was fine with everything, but he didn't know if that was the truth. No, Connor wasn't the problem, but he was an element in the problem and Hank needed more time to think. To plan.
And he had been planning. He'd spent most of the previous day on the phone, calling up old contacts, casually mentioning Cyber to try and find out information. He didn't want to tip off the wrong person that he knew anything, though, so he made sure to be vague.
It had taken a while before he'd gotten anything worthwhile. He'd called at least 20 different people and most had no idea what he was talking about. Or, if they did, they hid it pretty well. Only one person had had any information. But they'd been squirrelly about it, avoiding his attempts to dig deeper. They'd mentioned that they wouldn't say anything on the phone, where someone could listen in. Once Hank offered some, ahem, cash incentive, they'd agreed to come in later that day, around 5:30, to discuss things. He only hoped that it would lead him somewhere. Otherwise he was at square one.
If he was being honest, he had no idea what he was hoping to achieve through his questions. He doubted he'd find anything of use to Markus, if he found anything at all. But it helped. It helped him to be productive, for once. This was what he was good at. The only thing he was good at. Detective work.
So he had a lead. A minor one, but it was better than nothing. He was a bit nervous about it, though. After all, the contact hadn't been one he'd known Before. They (and apparently, they went by the pronouns They/them?) were actually a contact of Jimmy's. He'd spent so often in Jimmy's bar after… Cole, that he'd created a bit of a rapport with the man, to the point where the man was a bit comfortable telling him about other contacts he knew. It helped that Hank had helped Jimmy get out of a petty theft crime he'd allegedly committed. Jimmy had told him of a person who went by the name Starlight, who had always seemed a bit… off. Unnatural. Jimmy had thought that maybe they'd know about the weirdness that Hank had alluded to. When Hank had called this "Starlight," the person had seemed so uncomfortable with his questions. When he'd mentioned Cyber, he'd thought they'd hung up completely. But after a moment, they'd asked, throat tight, how he'd known that name.
It had taken a while, but he'd finally been able to get them to agree to meet with him at the facility. And now they would meet. But Hank didn't have a read on them. Hank had always made sure to do research on someone before they met up, but he couldn't do that here. And it made him anxious.
But right at that very moment, arms around his dog, feeling that coarse and yet still soft fur tickling his face, wetness on his right cheek/ear? All of that melted away. Connor. Cyber. His upcoming meeting. Hell, even the thought of meeting Alice wasn't that daunting now that he had Sumo. He'd give anything if he could keep Sumo with him, but pets were not allowed to stay in the facility. They could come and visit, but only on the weekends.
Eventually Hank had to let go, loathe as he was to do so. He stood carefully, grinning at Ben in welcome. He held a hand to the rotund man and clapped his other arm on his back in a manly, faux-hug greeting. Ben chuckled slightly, grinning back.
"Hey, Hank. How's it going?"
Hank shook his head at that, grin fading somewhat as he thought on the answer. Honestly?
"Pretty shitty, actually. Had a little falling out with my roommate, as well as that volunteer that you like. Markus?"
Ben frowned at that, clasping Hank on the shoulder in commiseration.
"Ah, I'm sorry Hank. What happened?"
Hank blew air out of his mouth and shrugged. He couldn't tell Ben the truth, though part of him wanted to. He needed someone else to talk to about this shit, but it wasn't safe. And, after some thought on the matter, he knew Ben didn't know about Cyber, or else he'd have told Hank about it.
"Ah, you know. Usual shit. Connor and Markus kept things from me and it blew up. I'm more pissed at Markus than Connor, though. I've only known the kid a week, wouldn't expect honesty from him just yet. But Markus? Shit, I've known him almost a year, and that fucker kept something huge from me. That shit doesn't fly."
Hank shook his head again, before leading the group to the fucking ugly couches in the common room. He'd been told by Luther that the trio usually met around there. Luther wasn't around yet, but he was sure the man would arrive soon. It made sense. It was only 12:40, after all, Ben having arrived earlier than usual due to good traffic. The two men sat, while Sumo placed his head on Hank's lap, so Hank could pet him.
"Just pisses me off, that's all. Anyway. How's the precinct?"
Realizing the topic change for what it was, Ben kindly spoke about a recent crime they'd been called in for, about a housekeeper who'd killed his boss and had written the words "I am alive" on the wall in perfect script. Ben wasn't technically supposed to speak about cases with a civilian (and Hank hated that he counted as a "civilian" now), but the man didn't really care about that much. Ben was kind that way. Hank loved hearing about the interesting cases and Ben knew it.
"Huh. So the assailant stabbed his boss 28 times? And they're thinking it was self-defense?"
"Yep. It was a weird one. Especially the message on the wall. 'I am alive?' What could it mean? We have no idea if it's a calling card or a cult message. According to neighbors, the boss was a terrible person, always on some drug or another, spending time in and out of a psychiatric hospital, no offence, and had hired the assailant to clean his house. Don't know much more than that, as they both kept to themselves mostly. All we know is the assailant is an African American man, likely in his late-twenties."
Hank pondered the words, feeling the Detective within him begging for more information. But Ben was already risking himself by telling him the barebones of the case. Any more could get the man in trouble. And Hank didn't want that.
"Huh. Well, keep me posted. I want to know how that one ends. Anything else?"
Ben then spoke about things around the precinct itself. Hank laughed when he heard about how pissed Reed had been all week. Hank had seen the man the other day and he had looked like he'd eaten a sour lemon. Hank knew the man hated working for the facility. He honestly couldn't think of a person less kind and nurturing than Gavin Reed. That's why it was so poetic that Fowler had sent him there as punishment for punching a suspect in the face. Though, it was likely also a punishment for Hank as well, as he was forced to spend more time around the prick. Still. It was amazing watching how pissed the man could get.
It was as Ben was starting to talk about Damian, who Chris had brought in for another visit, that he heard Luther's deep tones, followed by an unfamiliar, higher pitched voice.
"Hello Hank. I'd like to introduce you to Kara and Alice."
"Hi, Hank! It's so nice to officially meet you, after all these months."
Hank looked up at the words, right into the face of a smiling, kind faced woman with short blonde hair, holding the hand of a young girl who had dark black hair. Luther stood to the side, soft expression on his face as he looked at the two ladies.
Hank felt his throat dry when he saw the kid, who immediately squealed when she saw Sumo, the dog lifting his head from Hank's lap at the sound, tail wagging a mile a minute. She was about to dart forward to pet Sumo, but the woman, Kara (?) kept her back, turning a chiding look on the young girl.
"Alice. You know you're supposed to ask before you can pet a dog."
Alice's eyes widened at that, before she turned her face to Hank, who was doing his best not to hyperventilate. Shit. It was just a kid. A little girl. Get a fucking hold of yourself, Anderson. Shit.
"Hello! My name is Alice. May I please pet your doggie?"
Hank could only smile and nod, heart breaking a little as he watched Alice gasp with excitement, finally darting forward to pet the dog. Sumo let out an excited boof, instantly covering the girl with kisses, Alice laughing happily as he did so. God. It was like he'd been transported to the past. He could practically see his son in Alice's place, young face filled with glee as he met the Saint Bernard puppy, a present for his fourth birthday. He felt a soft hand touch his shoulder before he could start going down a dark path in his mind, eyes meeting the kind eyes of the woman, Kara.
"He seems to like her. What's his name?"
Kara smiled gently at him. Hank had a feeling she knew exactly what he was thinking about. Hank knew Markus spoke with the woman and he had a sneaking suspicious she knew about his past. Hank did his best to get rid of the knot in his throat and smiled back. It came out wobbly, but it was there.
"Sumo. I call him Sumo."
Alice looked up at that, grinning widely.
"Sumo! I like that name!"
Alice then began to baby talk to Sumo, calling him pretty and a good boy. Sumo ate it up, tail wagging so fast Hank could barely see it. Sumo loved kids. Hank tried not to let out the sob that was building within him.
God. Why had he thought this would be a good idea? He already had so much shit going on, he didn't need this too. He didn't need to be reminded of Cole when he was already so conflicted with things. When he had something important to do.
But… but he had to get over this. This pain. This heartache. If he didn't do this now, then when? What if he was helping Markus and something reminded him of his son? Would he be rendered useless just because he couldn't deal with his emotions?
So he took a deep breath. He could distantly feel Kara's hand still on his shoulder, helping ground him as he stared at Alice and Sumo, letting the flood gates open.
It hurt. Watching the two. Cole had done the same thing, once, rubbing Sumo's belly while telling him how good of a boy he was. Cold had adored Sumo, making sure to feed him every morning and evening, giving him treats all the time.
Cole had been such a good kid. Such a kind child. It wasn't fair, that the world had taken him yet left a grizzled old fuck like him. But it had. It had taken Cole and left him behind, and he had to learn to live with it. And as much as it hurt, watching Alice play with Sumo, it felt… healing, in a way. Like part of his heart that he hadn't known had been missing had finally slotted back into place.
And so, with only a slight grunt of discomfort as his knees groaned at him, Hank slid to the floor, taking a small toy out of the bag Ben had brought with him. It had always been Sumo's favorite, the blue, plush police man faded after years of slobber and teeth marks.
"Here, this is his favorite. You give it to him and he will love you forever."
Alice turned to him and smiled wide, taking the toy with eager hands. Hank couldn't help his chuckle as Sumo went nuts, bouncing up and down, almost knocking Alice over.
"Careful, Sumo. Don't want to knock the lady over now, huh, you beast?"
Sumo looked over at Hank, barking once, before he pounced on Alice, knocking her down as he took the toy. Hank grunted as he lurched forward, pulling the dog back. While he would never hurt her, Sumo sometimes didn't know his own weight. Alice was laughing though and seemed thrilled.
"Dumb dog." Hank grinned as Sumo licked his cheek, before going back to the toy. "Yeah, I love you too, you big lug."
After that, Hank spent the next half hour watching as Alice played with Sumo, showing her the best ways to get Sumo to listen. He told her that the dog wasn't the best with tricks, though he did know sit, stay, lie down, and down. Alice then tried to get Sumo to learn how to roll over, with little results. Still, the girl seemed delighted, laughing so brightly. Hank could almost forget the knife in his heart as he watched her, infected with her happiness.
It was around 1:30 that things changed. Hank had been petting Sumo roughly around the ears, showing Alice Sumo's favorite way to be pet, when he heard a soft noise of distress coming from over by the staircase. By that point the trio had moved to the center of the room, while Luther, Kara, and Ben chatted softly in the corner, amused faces watching the three play together. Because of this, Hank had a direct view of the staircase, and felt his heart stop at who he saw there.
Connor was staring, wide eyed, at the three of them, an indescribable look on his face. It was like… heartbreak, but also awe? If that made sense? Hank felt the grin that had been bright on his face fade as he saw the man, his cheeks aching from the strain. God. He hadn't smiled so hard in… years. Fuck.
The two men stared at each other for a moment, eyes wide, when Alice finally took notice of the silence and looked up. Hank heard her let out an excited gasp, causing him to look at her, watching as she shot up and ran over to Connor. Oh yeah, they had been pretty close on Thursday, when he'd watched the two play for an hour.
"Connor! You're here! Come on, you have to meet Sumo! He's so awesome! I love him!"
Hank felt his grin return as he watched the girl grab Connor's hand, a bewildered look arising on Connor's beautiful face. Shit, Hank thought, grimacing lightly. Not beautiful. He meant… ah, fuck. Yeah, he had meant beautiful.
He tried to stop the way his heart flipped when Connor took a seat beside him, eyes intent on Alice as she told him the things Hank had told her over the past half hour, about the things Sumo loved. Connor would nod as she spoke, hand reaching out to pet the Saint Bernard, who just let his tongue roll out of his mouth, clearly in doggie heaven with so many people paying him such close attention.
It took Alice a few minutes, but she finally paused for breath, which allowed Connor to turn his gaze to Kara, carefully not looking at Hank.
"Hello Kara, it's good to see you again. You're here early, though. I thought you had said that you'd be coming at 2:00 today?"
Kara grimaced at that, eyes turning wide with remorse.
"Oh! That's right, I forgot to have Luther tell you! Hank had invited us to come and meet Sumo, so we came a bit early today. We'll be staying until 4:30 still, though, so don't worry. We still have plenty of time."
Connor looked shocked at the words, before finally turning his gaze on Hank. Hank felt his heart speed up and his mouth turn dry when those brown eyes pierced him, questioning.
"Hank invited you? I hadn't realized you were acquainted…" Connor trailed off, though he hadn't taken his eyes off Hank. Fuck. It was like a laser, boring into his very essence. Like Connor was looking at everything he was and was evaluating it. It made his heart pound like crazy, which was stupid. It was just Connor. His weird, quirky roommate/friend, who he absolutely didn't have any deeper feelings for. Definitely not.
Distantly he heard Kara speak, but he didn't relax until he saw Connor turn his gaze away from him and onto the woman, letting out the breath he'd been holding.
"Oh, Hank and I met many months ago, when Alice and I first started coming here. We never spoke much, though Markus would tell me good things about him. I'm so glad, Hank, that you invited us to spend time with you and Sumo. It was very kind of you."
Hank just grunted, looking away, ears turning red. Shit. She was thanking him like he'd done something special or something. He'd just mentioned to Luther he'd say hi the next time he saw the two. It was Luther's idea to have them see Sumo. Hank had just gone along with it.
But… but the way Connor looked at him when Kara had said it had been his idea… the way his mouth tilted upwards in a tiny, but breathtaking smile… the softness in his eyes as he looked at Hank, the- dare he say- adoration… Hank could take the credit for this one. No real reason, you know. Just. Easier not to protest. Really.
God. He couldn't deny it any longer. Hank missed Connor. He'd only known him a week and yet there was an ache inside him when he thought of the kid. Somehow, some way, Connor had come to mean a hell of a lot to him. In what way, Hank didn't quite know. But being away from him, even for a day, had hurt. Seeing the kid now, turning to Alice to listen to her excitedly talk about Sumo, the softest of smiles on his beautiful lips… it made his heart flutter. In a way he recognized but refused to acknowledge.
Because. No. He wasn't going to have a crush on Connor. Connor was his roommate. His much younger, formerly brainwashed roommate. Hell, Connor was young enough to be his son. He didn't need a creepy old man lusting after him. Fuck. He was creeped out just thinking about it. He'd already hurt the kid enough, assaulting him like he had done last Sunday (shit it had only been a week ago, shit), he couldn't do any more damage. Even though part of him was wondering if those lips were truly as soft as he remembered…
He snapped himself out of his disturbing musings when he heard a sound, but his breath caught when he heard Connor laugh. God, it was beautiful. He was beautiful.
Okay. Alright. Maybe, maybe, Hank had a crush. A teeny, tiny one. That was okay. That was fine. He'd had crushes before. He'd suppressed crushes before. That wasn't a problem. He just had to make sure Connor never found out. For he couldn't find out. Hank wasn't the kind of man to be lusting over someone at least twenty years his junior. After his wife, Barbara, had left him, he'd vowed to never fall in love again. It just wasn't worth the hassle. The pain it later caused. Of course, the divorce itself hadn't mattered at all, since his entire world had already been stripped away, but it still wasn't worth it. And it wasn't fair for Connor. What if they actually got together? Somehow? Hank had, what, 20 good years left? If that. His liver was failing him, he knew that, he'd be lucky if he survived another 10. What kind of life could he offer the kid, who was in his prime?
That was all pointless to wonder, though, as Connor would never feel that way about him. Hank was a grizzled old man, more rough around the edges than anyone ever should be. He looked like shit, he felt like shit, and he had nothing good to offer such an interesting person as Connor. Hank was old, and tired, and rundown. Connor deserved someone who could keep up with him, once he was finally out of this place and allowed to be free. Connor deserved the world. And Hank couldn't give it to him. His heart clenched at the thought.
"Lieutenant? Are you alright? You've been staring into space with a frown on your face for the past minute and a half. Is anything the matter?"
Hank blinked at the question, dragging him out of his thoughts. He looked around to notice all eyes on him, concerned frowns on everyone's faces, even Alice's. Hank forced himself to smile, doing his best not to let his prior train of thought become known.
"What? Yeah, shit, I'm fine. I mean, shoot. Just… thinking, that's all. It's not a problem."
He got a few more lingering concerned glances, but eventually everyone turned away, Alice returning to her fruitless endeavor to teach Sumo to roll over. The only eyes that remained were Connor's, boring into him once again, thoughtful look upon his face. Hank's heart skipped a beat. Fuck. Could he tell what Hank had been thinking? Shit, could Connor read minds?! After everything he'd learned, he wouldn't be fucking surprised if he did.
Hank held his breath for a moment, heart clenching as the look lingered, until finally, even Connor looked away, going back to help Alice with her cause.
It was cute, the two looking almost as excited as puppies themselves. Alice would look to him every few moments, asking questions about Sumo and his habits, things he liked, etc. He wouldn't be surprised if little Alice began begging poor Kara for her own dog soon. Hopefully they chose a smaller one, though. Dealing with an excitable Saint Bernard was not an easy task and required someone with a lot of upper body strength, which Kara didn't seem to have. However…
Hank sent a smirk at Kara, who was engrossed in conversation with Luther, soft, loving smiles on both of their faces. Maybe, if Luther ever was well enough to leave, they'd be able to deal with a large dog just fine. Hank chuckled, before being dragged into Alice's and Connor's effort to train the pooch.
The next half an hour continued on like that, the three of them trying to get the old dog to learn a new trick, while Kara and Luther spoke to one another and Ben sat reading the newspaper. Finally the clock struck 2:10 and Ben said he really had to go if he wanted to make it to his wife's lunch date.
"Sorry guys, but Sumo and I have to get going. I'll see you next week, Hank. Same time?"
Hank stood with a groan, his back aching from having spent almost an hour on the floor. He grinned at Ben, though, and clasped him on the shoulder in an imitation of a hug.
"Yeah, I'll see you then, Ben. It was good to see you. Give Fowler hell for me, okay?"
Ben nodded, smirking lightly, but his face turned sympathetic as Alice began to protest, the girl hugging the old dog tightly in goodbye, Sumo licking her furiously. After a minute Kara called her away, which she did, though she gave Sumo long, sad looks. It made Hank's heart break.
"Maybe you can come and visit him again next week. If you have time, that is."
Alice's eyes lit up as she turned to Kara to beg, but the woman was already nodding, smile wide on her face.
"Oh! That would be wonderful, thank you! This was so nice, being able to meet you and Sumo. We'd love to see you both again next week."
Alice nodded furiously at that.
"Yeah! It was really nice to meet you Hank, you're really nice! You remind me of my friend's grandpa, and he's super nice!"
Ah, children. They say the darnedest things. Hank tried not to feel as old as he was, and just smiled at Alice, ruffling her hair.
"Thanks, kid. It was nice to meet you too. Sumo had a blast, he really likes you."
Alice grinned widely at that, turning to pet Sumo behind the ears the way Hank had taught her. Kara also bent to pet the dog, cooing at him. Eventually they backed away, letting Hank say goodbye to his boy.
Hank bent down onto the ground, ignoring the aching in his joints. He hugged Sumo tightly, knowing it would be a long week before he saw him again. This was his least favorite part of his week. It never got easier to watch Sumo leave. He felt someone else sit down beside him, fingers digging into Sumo's fur beside his arm. Hank looked up and saw Connor kneeling beside him, hands petting Sumo while the dog tried to lick both of them. Hank felt his heart melt at the tender look on Connor's face. Fuck, he was fucked. That kid would, quite literally, be the death of him.
Finally, Ben had to leave for real, his kind face scrunched in apology. Hank waved his concern off.
"Don't worry, Ben. It's fine. Thanks, for bringing him at all. I'll never be able to repay you for this."
Ben gave Hank an exasperated look as he clicked Sumo's leash back on.
"Hank. How many times do I have to tell you I don't mind? You don't owe me anything. Really."
Hank didn't believe that but didn't say anything to the contrary. He just watched as Ben started moving to the door, Sumo's whines starting as soon as he was taken from Hank. Sumo kept looking behind him, whines and cries growing louder the farther he got from the group. Eventually the whines and cries got so loud that Alice couldn't take it, crying out as she broke away from Kara's side, hugging Sumo soundly. Yeah, Hank could sympathize with that. The first few visits, Hank had done the same thing. But it just made saying goodbye harder, for both of them.
"Don't worry Sumo, we'll see you next week! I promise! We can teach you how to roll over and jump! It'll be so much fun, I promise!"
Kara hurried over to the little girl, gently pulling her back. Tears lined the girls face, breaking Hank's heart. Yeah, he could feel that. It was heartbreaking, hearing Sumo cry.
It took another minute, but Ben was finally able to leave the room, Sumo's cries tapering off once he'd left the room. Hank knew he didn't understand why he had to go while Hank had to stay, but Sumo liked Ben. It wasn't quite the same for the dog, but he knew Sumo didn't mind staying with Ben. It was just hard to say goodbye.
With Sumo and Ben gone, the group turned to sit on the couches, Alice looking heartbroken. Kara tried to comfort her, but it wasn't helping much. Hank decided to try and smooth over any fears she might have for the pup.
"Hey, kid. Don't worry 'bout Sumo, okay? He's a strong boy. He'll be okay. It's just hard for him to leave, that's all. Ben and his family will make sure he's just fine, alright?"
Alice looked up at him at that, before nodding wetly. She sniffed softly, before reaching over and hugging Hank tightly, hiding her face in his stomach. Hank felt his entire body tense up, heart clenched so tight he felt like he was about to throw up. Oh, God.
Taking deep, even breaths, Hank pushed down the panic and pain and gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding her tightly enough for her to feel comforted, but loose enough that she could leave if she wanted. He hadn't hugged a child in… a very, very long time. Without wanting to sound creepy, he decided that it was… nice. Hurt like hell, his mind bringing up the last kid he'd hugged and how he'd give anything to hold him again and never let go, but it was nice. Great, even.
Eventually Alice let go, turning to the games area to go and pick out a board game for them to play. She dragged Hank and Connor over by the hands, talking a mile a minute. She chose Sorry! and set up four places to play. Hank frowned at that but agreed when she beckoned him to play around the table. Connor sat beside him, with Alice on his other side, and the three played together for a few minutes. It was when another man, a Jerry, came over to play that Hank realized why she'd set up four places instead of just three.
Over the next hour the three played various games, Connor's face alight with joy at playing with the little girl. Hank's heart spent the entire time being jerked around, beating furiously one second and stopping dead the next. It was like a fucking roller coaster.
After the hour, at around 3:00, Luther came over, picking Alice up and swinging her around. Then, Luther joined their games, Kara going around and talking to the patients there. While she only volunteered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, coming on Sunday to visit Luther mostly, she mentioned she enjoyed talking to her regular patients.
At one point the group took a brief walk outside, the ground icy with newly fallen snow. Connor didn't have a jacket, having left his in the room, so Hank gave the kid his jacket again, dealing with the cold like a real man (not that women couldn't face the cold. Just… you know what he meant).
They didn't stay out for too long, Luther claiming that Alice shouldn't stay out any longer, so the five of them headed in, the Jerry talking a mile a minute to an equally chatty Alice. They were talking about amusement parks and their favorite rides. Hank didn't have much to add. He hated amusement parks. They made his heart ache.
The clock eventually struck 4:30 and the two ladies had to get going. Alice went around and hugged everyone in the group, hugging Hank for a little longer and a little tighter. She also beckoned him to lean down, so she could whisper in his ear. Surprised, Hank bent down, ignoring the ache, and listened to what she wanted to say.
"Kara told me that you might be sad seeing me today, since you had a little boy once who isn't around anymore. I wanted to say that I'm sorry he's not around. My birth parents aren't around anymore either. And I hope that I didn't make you too sad today. Thank you for letting me play with Sumo! I really love him, he's such a good boy! I'll see you on Tuesday, and I'll bring you a drawing, okay? You can be my grandpa, if you want. I've always wanted a grandpa!"
Alice pulled back at that, looking at Hank with wide eyes, smiling widely. Hank couldn't force the lump out of his throat, so he ruffled her hair, and spoke thickly.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that, kid. And don't worry. You didn't make me sad at all. Promise."
Alice grinned impossibly wider and hugged him again, then pulled back to hug Luther one last time. Then, Kara and Alice left, promising to be back at 2:30 on Tuesday.
Hank watched as they left, heart strangely full. Grandpa, eh? While it stung to be reminded of his age, he supposed it made sense. Had he had a kid when he'd been in his twenties, not his forties, he'd probably have a grandkid or two by then anyway.
Connor moved to stand beside him, watching the pair leave, the other two members of their group dispersing to areas unknown. It was comfortable, standing beside the younger man. He still needed time to sort things through, to formulate a course of action, but he knew that after he'd settled, he'd truly enjoy being around Connor. He wouldn't let the kid know how he felt, knowing Connor wouldn't want that, but maybe they could become a sort of family. Him, and Connor, and Kara, and Alice, and Luther, and maybe even that weirdly excitable Jerry. And Sumo, of course. They would be the most unconventional family in the world, but they could be great. Who needed blood when you had love and affection, anyway?
Maybe it was too soon to be thinking about being a "family," but it could be a goal of his. He'd never had a real family growing up and his only family he'd had as an adult had been ripped from him so harshly. Even before then it had been splintered, him and Barbara fighting more often than not. So maybe having a family, as unconventional as it would be, would be a good thing. It could be his goal. Something he could strive towards as he got better. Yeah. He'd like that. He looked over at Connor, only to find Connor was looking at him, a soft expression on his face. Almost fond. Hank smiled softly at the man, the back of his hand brushing the back of Connor's.
"Hey, kid. I still… I still need time. But I promise, it won't take much longer. I swear."
Connor kept smiling at him, before he took Hank's hand in his, skin soft and smooth, warmth engulfing Hank. Hank's heart spasmed at the touch, but he didn't pull away. Something about this moment struck him as monumental. Like it would make or break the world.
"I understand, Hank. And I'll be waiting for you, however long it takes. You mean the world to me, and I'd wait a million years for you."
Holy. Fucking. Shit. What the fucking fuck, shit ball, fuck shit?! What the fuck?! What the fuck?!
Hank was pretty sure he had died and gone to heaven, because there was no way that Connor would ever say something so sweetly, smiling his fucking gorgeous smile, hand clasping Hank's. Not to fucking Hank Anderson, calcified old man that he was. Hank hadn't done anything good enough in his life to warrant such a soft, almost adoring gaze to be directed at him. Not even his years as a cop warranted enough good will to deserve this.
But Connor seemed to mean it. And, unless he was much mistaken, Hank was still alive. So Hank just nodded dumbly, watching as Connor smiled blithely, thumb rubbing the back of Hank's. A minute passed like that before Connor pulled away, looking over to the door. Hank almost tightened his hand, but consciously didn't, letting the kid leave.
However, Connor paused before he moved over to the door. He hesitated a second, before turning to face Hank and drew his face close to Hank's. For a second, Hank thought the kid meant to kiss him, heart thudding painfully. It didn't stop thudding as Connor turned to the side at the last second, kissing Hank gently on the cheek, soft lips lingering on Hank's aging skin.
Hank could only stare dumbly, mouth agape, as Connor gracefully left the room, looking for all the world like he hadn't just done something so insane. Like he hadn't just destroyed Hank's mind with one simple gesture.
Hank stared after Connor long after the kid had left, and only moved when one of the nurses asked if he was alright. Nodding thickly, Hank then moved to sit, sprawling carelessly on the couch, mind reeling.
Well. Shit. Hank had no fucking idea why the kid had done that (and he mercilessly pushed away the insane feeling of hope that was blossoming in his chest), but it sure was something. And, he could finally tell his mind that yes, Connor's lips were as soft as he remembered. So. That was something.
By the time Hank looked up at the clock on the wall, jumbled mind finally calming, it was already 5:00. Meaning he only had half an hour to prepare to meet his informant. He had to get out of his daze before then, he knew. He couldn't afford to show this "Starlight" any sign of weakness. Who knew what they were part of. It's possible they worked for Cyber and wanted to find out how much he knew. Or it was possible they didn't know anything and just were leading him on. He had to be on his toes, be the detective he'd been before he'd fallen into alcohol to numb his pain. While he'd given up after Cole, he'd once been an expert interrogator, always making his suspect give more information than they'd planned. Hopefully he wouldn't have to bring out the big guns, but he had to be prepared for anything.
So Hank stood up, back aching much more than it had in his youth and went to his room. He wanted to prepare for the meeting and to do that he'd need to look sharp. He was currently wearing his good outfit, a pair of dark slacks with one of his colorful shirts. Without his jacket it wasn't complete though, so he would get one of his other jackets to complete the look. Then he'd comb his hair a little and get the dog hair off his clothes, make himself look a touch more professional. He might even comb his beard, noting that he'd get it trimmed the next time the facility had a barber come in. For now, all he could do was comb it out. He hadn't made the effort to look professional since Cole died, which let him know that this was incredibly important. If "Starlight" had information that could help them out… it would be worth it.
Hank stood across from the person who had introduced themselves as Starlight, scrutinizing their appearance.
They were slight, he noted, with shifty eyes that darted around the room. They appeared to be of Asian descent, probably Chinese if Hank had to guess. They looked more feminine than masculine, though Jimmy had mentioned that they didn't associate with either gender and that calling them "female" or "male" would just offend them. Hank didn't get it, but he respected whatever people chose. Who the fuck was he to judge? They wore black clothes with a baggy, dark grey hoodie that covered their face and their black hair. Their hands were deep in their pockets, back hunched.
They seemed very uncomfortable in the common room, eyes darting from person to person, so Hank tilted his head towards the door. He had a place that would be empty for them to sit around in.
"Hey, come on. I have somewhere we can be alone, if you prefer."
Hank had already done the introductions and Starlight seemed alright with him around. Well. They didn't seem to hate him, at least. Maybe putting his hair in a ponytail was the way to go. His ex-wife had liked it, back when he had long hair originally, in his thirties. Said it made him look dignified. Still, when he mentioned going somewhere private, Starlight froze, eyes narrowing at him. Hank lifted his hands in a placating manner, half smile on his lips.
"We don't have to, if you don't want. But I felt that it would be best to have this conversation where people can't overhear us. You know what I mean?"
Starlight seemed to consider that, before nodding sharply once.
"Alright. Fine."
Taciturn words. Alright, if that was how it was going to be. Hank had cracked harder shells. Maybe they'd calm down when the two were in a private room together. It wasn't like he had access to the interrogation room in the precinct, so he would have to make do with what was available to him. Though, some people found the interrogation room intimidating, so maybe he'd have more luck outside it than in it. Who knew.
Hank led the way out of the room, confidently moving through the halls. He ignored the looks they got as they passed, most people probably surprised he looked decent more than anything else. Starlight didn't like it, though. They sunk further and further into their hoodie, until he could barely see their face when he glanced back. Well. This was starting off peachy.
It didn't take long for them to reach their destination, the dance room's closed door before them. Not many people used the room when dance class was not in session, though there was yoga shit and other mild exercise equipment in there. No machines, though, so Hank never saw much use in it. Still, right before dinner on a Sunday? It was probably empty, and no one would come looking in there. To be safe, as they walked in (the room empty like he'd thought), Hank placed a note on the door that said the room was out of service. Hank didn't know why the room would be out of service, but he figured it would deter most people. And if any of the nurses or orderlies came in, he could just say he wanted to meet his friend in private. He'd get in trouble, but it wouldn't be as bad as if someone overheard what they were speaking of.
Hank directed Starlight over to the two chairs he had set up earlier in the corner, one of the only areas in the room free from the camera's eye. He didn't know what the camera could pick up, as he knew they didn't have microphones anywhere (he'd checked, once, out of sheer boredom) but it never hurt to be safe rather than sorry.
Starlight took a seat carefully, eyeing the mirror on the back wall. Maybe wondering if it was a two-way mirror? Nope, Hank had checked that too. He'd literally had nothing better to do the first few months before Markus and his friends came.
"Promise there's nothing here to trick you. Cameras pointed in the other way. Mirror's just a mirror. No tricks. Honest."
Starlight stared at him for a moment after he finished talking, before nodding slowly.
"Alright. What is it that you wanted to know?"
Hank debated how he wanted to phrase his words. In the end, he decided to be blunt.
"I want to know more about something called Cyber. You know it?"
Starlight froze as soon as the words left Hank's mouth, their whole body stiffer than a corpse. Hank watched as their eyes turned suspicious, looking around once more to see if anyone was watching. Jeez. Jumpy much? What the hell was the Company like that it inspired such fear in them?
"How do you know that name? Who do you work for?!"
Starlight's words were harsh, biting. Hank put his hands up in the placating position again, trying to calm them down.
"Currently? No one. Previously? I worked for the DPD. I was a Lieutenant. I worked homicide mostly, until my son died, and I tried to kill myself, which ended with me being sent here. As for the other question, that depends. Who do you work for?"
Hank had a feeling honesty would work best here. He ignored the twist of his heart when he'd mentioned his son (not as intense as it once had been), eyes focused on his conversation partner. Starlight narrowed their eyes at him, before shifting their gaze away.
"No one. I work for no one."
Alright. So they didn't work for Cyber currently. While they could have been lying, Hank was a pretty good judge of character. He had a feeling that was the truth.
"Alright. A friend told me about it. Said some pretty interesting things. What can you tell me about it?"
Starlight stayed quite for a long time after that, probably debating on how much they would say. Just as Hank was about to ask again, Starlight looked at him with hard eyes.
"First, why do you want to know?"
Alright. He could deal with this.
"I can't say exactly, but I'm not working for them, if that's what you want to know. Just want to know more about the Company, you see. Stop them, if I can."
Starlight contemplated that.
"Alright," they started, before leaning forward, into Hank's space. Hank didn't react at all, staying motionless and uncaring. "But I need to know that none of what I say will leave this room. And I reserve the right to leave at anytime. I have friends who know I'm here. If anything happens to me, they'll know. You understand?"
Hank inwardly sighed, hoping that they wouldn't be as aggravated the whole time, but nodded calmly, eyes firm on theirs.
"You have my word that nothing will happen to you. I just want to know more about Cyber, that's all. And the same thing goes to you. None of this leaves this room. Got it?"
Starlight nodded sharply, before looking away, into the corner. They fiddled with their hands for a little while, clearly thinking. After a minute, they turned back and began to speak.
"As long as I can remember, I was under Cyber's control. They took me, controlled me, raised me to believe in their cause. It wasn't until I met her that I even knew anything was wrong. I hadn't even been given a name, or an identity at all. I was just a thing to be used, a weapon for their war. But she changed that. She looked at me like I was an actual person. And when she kissed me… I knew that I wanted to be free. So I ran. And I haven't stopped running since. I keep a low profile, keeping out of the public eye, but it's not enough. I feel their eyes on me, where ever I go. If you mean what you say, that you want to stop them? Then I'm all for it. But you can't. It's impossible."
Hank took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair.
"Impossible, possible. Who knows. But you gotta try. Before anything can happen, though, I need more information. What is Cyber? What is their purpose?"
Starlight paused, biting their lip.
"Cyber is a subdivision of the U.S. government. The government uses modifications in mostly young people, from ages 1-30, to increase productivity and security. Most are brainwashed, told that they must follow orders or else face punishment. Some get sent to integrate into society, super-humans in disguise, while others are used to keep the peace, whatever way possible. Cyber uses mostly people who won't be missed, children with no family, adults who have no money. The desperate and needy. I have no idea what my life was like before Cyber, but I know others who had lived a normal life before falling into hard times. Cyber takes advantage of those people, promising help, before taking control of them. If they survive the modification surgery, that is. I don't know the numbers, but many people who enter the surgery room don't make it out. And as for the purpose of Cyber, it is to create a new generation of super humans that they have control over."
Hank did his best not to shudder at that. Jesus fucking Christ. Who knew that those conspiracy theorist nutjobs had been right? The government really was brainwashing people and creating enhanced humans. Jesus.
At least Starlight was feeling pretty chatty, now. It wasn't as difficult to get information out of them as he'd thought it would be. Perhaps they just needed someone to tell all of this shit to. It sure as hell was a lot for one person to keep.
"Alright. And what about you? What had your purpose been?"
And that shut them up. Starlight froze again, glaring daggers at Hank. Hank just grunted, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Come on, kid. I need to know how close you were to the company. But you don't have to answer, if you don't want. Okay?"
Starlight slowly began to relax, eyes darting around the room, before landing on Hank once more. They scowled deeply but nodded regardless.
"Fine. I was designed to keep them organized. I would organize their data, sending their missions out to those designed to follow orders. I would make sure each person knew what they were supposed to do and when they were supposed to do it. If I sent out a mission to someone, it would show up behind their eyelids, blinking until they finished the mission. Then I would note what missions they'd completed and which they had failed."
Woah. That was… Hank could feel his mind begin to race with the information he'd heard, eyes wide as he stared at Starlight. He unconsciously leaned forward in his chair, suddenly eager. That was it. That was what he had needed to be useful.
"So you could communicate with all the people who Cyber had modified?"
Starlight paused for a second, then nodded slowly.
"Yes… yes, I supposed I could. I usually only sent out individual missions, though I could send out mass instructions if multiple people needed to know information."
Hank grinned wide at that. Yes. Fuck, yes. That was perfect.
"So, theoretically, if someone were to get into the place you had worked in and sent out a message to every person currently in Cyber's control, they could do it? They could communicate with everyone all at once? Or even send information out to them?"
Starlight blinked, before a light began to bloom behind their eyes. They nodded slowly, eyes firmly on Hank's.
"Yes. Yes, they could. They could send anything they wanted, really."
Hank laughed, grin wide as he slapped his knee. Finally, a win. If they could send a message out to every person under Cyber's control, they could get hundreds, if not thousands of testimonies against the Company, as well as free countless of people from what was essentially slavery.
"That's fucking perfect! How do you get to where ever the fuck you worked?"
Hank watched as the smile, that had been slight but still visible on Starlight's face, crumbled and died as the person's expression closed off. It was so much like what Connor would do that Hank felt his heart clench.
"No. I'm not doing it. I won't go back there. I don't care why, I'm never going back. You can't make me!"
Starlight shouted this, the first sign of real emotion in them, other than fear. Hank did his best to be soothing, knowing why they were afraid.
"Hey! Hey now, no one is forcing you to go back. I just want to know the location and how to get in. That's all."
Starlight shook their head at that, emphatic.
"It's no use. Only an advanced model can even hope of getting into the facility. And, unless I'm mistaken, you don't even have any modifications. You'd have no hope of ever getting in. And even if you did have an advanced model, you'd need one that has access to their data files. So it's pointless to even entertain the thought."
Hank felt his hopes be slashed when he heard this. Shit. What could they do? What did "advanced model" even mean? Huh. Maybe Markus or Connor would know. It was still worth it to look into.
"Maybe I'm not, but I may know other people who have modifications. Maybe they could get in. It's worth a shot. How do you get in?"
Starlight hesitated, then shrugged.
"You go to their main headquarters in downtown Detroit and go to sub level 49 then use the access key to enter the data files. There are hundreds of others who did the same work I did, all working in the same room, though they don't tend to notice much around them. I never did, at least. But it still would be impossible. You'd need clearance to even enter the building, let alone gain access to any sub levels. Going would be suicide, at best."
Hank pondered that, heart pounding with adrenaline. Starlight called it impossible, but...
"So how do you get the access key?"
Starlight sighed, turning to glare at the wall.
"You'd have to get the data package they send out every week. It's sent directly to the person, though, which is why the thought is impossible. There's no way to intercept a data package. While it is possible to transfer data packages onto flash drives for other advanced models to open, you'd need the package first before you could do anything with it. And you'd need an advanced model to be able to make sense of the data. Thus, it would be impossible. So stop entertaining the idea," Starlight stressed, turning their glare onto Hank. Hank just stared back, mind turning.
"But it could be done. Yeah? If you knew someone who got the data package, the key could be transferred to a flash drive and given to an advanced model, or whatever?"
"I mean… yes? But you don't know anyone who gets the data package. Let alone anyone who'd be willing to share it."
Hank noticed the shifty look that Starlight had after their words. Hank scrutinized the other person for a minute, before his eyes widened. Oh, he knew what that look meant.
"But you do. Don't you?"
Starlight looked up at him sharply at that, baring their teeth. Hank just stared coolly back, knowing that he couldn't show a hint of weakness now. He needed this information. This could ruin Cyber. And prove that he wasn't useless, no matter what Markus thought.
"No. I already told you, I won't go back. You can't make me!"
Starlight glared fiercely at him, but Hank could see the pain hidden behind the glare. Hank hated this, but if they wanted to dismantle Cyber…
"I'm sorry kid, but it's the only way. I know a group of people trying to take down Cyber. They could use this information to free countless people. It's worth the risk."
Starlight continued to glare for a minute more, but eventually ran out of stamina, for they deflated and looked away.
"It'd be pointless. But… I know someone who still is at the Company. I had tried to take them with me, when I left, but they had refused. They hadn't completely broken free from their programming yet and had been scared. But I think… I think they could help. But it wouldn't be easy to get to them. It would take a lot of effort. And I won't do it for free."
Ah. Of course. Hank had already promised them $300 for meeting with him (he still had a fuckton of money left over from the lawsuit he'd filed against the hospital that killed Cole), but he'd be willing to offer more.
"Alright. Name your price."
Starlight grinned harshly at that, sharp teeth bared.
"You said you used to work for the DPD? Well, in order to be free I had to do some… not so great stuff. I want my information erased from the records of the DPD. My picture, any personal information they found… all of it, gone. I want to start fresh, once this is over. That's my price. As soon as you do that, I'll get you your information."
Fuck. Shit. Fucking shit. Of course they wanted something he didn't know if he could give. Goddamn it.
Wait. Maybe… shit, no. That wouldn't work. Would it?
"Alright. Shit. Do you have a phone on you? I can do this now if you want."
Starlight hesitated for a second before handing over a burner flip phone, likely untraceable. Hank flipped it open and looked back at Starlight.
"Right. So what's the information you want erased?"
Starlight then told him about some theft they had done after escaping, their picture being recorded on a CCTV camera they hadn't realized was watching them. They had been forced to go deep into hiding after that, Cyber having been alerted to their presence. They'd even left Detroit, living somewhere outside Chicago. They had only come that day because Hank had promised cash, which they needed.
Hank nodded as he got all the information and began dialing a number that had once been as familiar as his own. Back when Cole was alive and the man he was about to call had been the kid's godfather. Better times.
"Hello? What the fuck do you want?"
Hank couldn't help the grin at the familiar gruff voice. Ah. Just as he remembered.
"Hey, Jeff. It's, uh. Hank. Listen, do you remember several years ago, after you'd just gotten remarried, I had gotten you out of that tight spot with your wife? Well, I need to cash in the favor you owe me."
"Hank?! What the fuck are you talking about? And why are you calling from an unlisted number? Besides, you already cashed in that favor when you fucking put a gun to your head and pulled the goddamn trigger."
Hank scowled, blood pressure rising. No one could get him more pissed off than Fowler. Guess that was friends for you.
"No, that doesn't fucking count. Listen, Jeff, I need help. I can't explain why over the phone, but I need you to go into the police files and delete an old cold case. Nothing serious, just petty theft. Please, Jeff."
Fowler immediately exploded, booming voice echoing over the receiver. Hank almost had to pull the phone away from his ear, it was so loud.
"You want me to what?! Hank Samuel Anderson, are you out of your fucking mind?! I'm the fucking captain of police! I can't just delete crimes like they never happened! Not only could I lose my job, but I could be thrown in jail for years! And for what, your sorry ass?! No fucking thank you."
Hank could tell Fowler was about to hang up, so he hurriedly stopped him, anxiety spiking. Fucking Fowler. Why had he ever been friends with the man?
"Jeff, Jeff, wait! Fuckin'… look, I can't explain over the phone. You never know who's listening. But this is big. Fucking huge. I've got information on something that could change the fucking world and I need you to help me so I can get what I need. Please, Jeffery. I need you."
Fowler scoffed over the phone, but at least he hadn't hung up.
"What the fuck, Anderson? You're in a fucking mental hospital, you're not undercover with the FBI. Nothing can be that important there. I'm sorry Hank, but not."
"No, would you just fucking listen?! Look, Jeff, I'll do anything. No one will even notice if you do it! It's a petty crime case that never even was solved from years ago. No one will ever look for it. Please, Jeff. You know I wouldn't fucking ask if this wasn't deadly serious."
Fowler paused for a long time after that. If Hank couldn't hear the sound of light breathing on the other end, Hank would have thought he'd hung up. But finally, after a few minutes of silence, Fowler spoke.
"If I do this, you owe me big. And I mean big. Fucking huge. I don't know why the fuck you want this, but I'm gonna trust you, alright? But you better not fucking ask anything more of me, ever again. Got it?"
Hank couldn't stop the grin that touched his face, heart lifting greatly. Yes!
"I've got it, Jeff. Thank you, really. You don't know what this means to me."
Hank could practically hear the scowl in the other man's words.
"Yeah, yeah. Fuck off. Now what is it you want? Be quick, my shift's almost over."
Hank then quickly told Fowler everything Starlight had told him, though he left their name out of the information. He waited while Fowler brought up the file using his computer terminal, plugging in the information.
"Alright, I think I found it. May 23rd, 2015. An Asian American woman entered a 7-11 off the highway and robbed the cash register while the cashier was helping a second woman whose face hadn't been caught on camera. The suspect's face had, though. The two fled quickly after and were never seen again. Why the fuck do you want this thing erased? It barley even is a case."
"I just do, okay? Like I said, no one will miss it. Promise."
Fowler sighed, and Hank could imagine the man shaking his head.
"Fuck it. Whatever. Keep your secrets, God knows you never tell me a goddamn thing. Why start now? Alright. I'm erasing the file. Give me a second and… it's done. The file is gone. You better explain this shit to me next time we see each other, you hear me? Anyway, I'll need to get the hard copy of the file later, but it shouldn't be difficult. I had Reed organize the files a few weeks ago as punishment. Now, is that all?"
Hank just grinned again and responded in the affirmative. Fowler grunted.
"Fine. I'll see you when I get time off. As long as I don't get another call saying you fucking tried to kill yourself, that is. Goodbye."
With that, Fowler hung up, leaving Hank to scowl at the phone. Fucking bastard. Well, at least he had done what Hank had asked. That was something. Turning back to Starlight, Hank nodded tightly.
"Alright. It's done. Now it's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain. Got it?"
Starlight nodded back, face blank.
"Alright. It will take a couple of days, but I should have the flash drive by Wednesday. Is that alright?"
"Yeah, that's fine. We can meet in the garden outside, Wednesday afternoon, alright? Unless it takes you longer. In which case, give me a call and let me know. Okay?"
Starlight nodded at that, so Hank handed back the phone and told them the number for the facility, followed by the extension number for his room. He warned them, though, that he had a roommate and that if Connor picked up, they should just hang up immediately. Hank didn't want to let the others know until he had the data package ready to go. He had to make sure it was real first.
Once that was over with, the two were finished with their discussion. It was currently 6:40, over an hour since they had started, but he'd gotten enough information to help take down Cyber. Hank still didn't know all that much about Cyber, but what little he had heard had horrified him. Especially when he thought about what they had done to Connor. His Connor. He'd do anything to take those bastards down, if only so Connor could finally be free. If anyone deserved it, it was him.
Hank stood up and gestured for Starlight to do the same. Hank thanked the other for their assistance, which they replied with a shrug, simply saying that they wanted Cyber to be taken down, and if this was what was needed, they'd do it to finally be free of the threat of Cyber. He promised he'd call his bank later and send them the money he'd promised, with a little extra for their assistance with the data package.
Hank walked Starlight out of the room and to the front of the facility, silence amicable. Hank watched as Starlight buried their face deep into the hoodie as they exited the facility, hurrying down the street. Hank went back inside and headed for dinner, stomach rumbling. He hadn't eaten much that day, just a single pancake for breakfast and a turkey hotdog for lunch. Hopefully the food was something substantial.
So. He had a lead. More than a lead, he had a potential way of taking down Cyber. He didn't know what Markus had planned; maybe he had the same idea. Regardless, it was a step in the right direction. He wouldn't tell anyone until he had the plan concrete, the data package in his hands, but once he did… shit, things would get so much easier. He didn't know who would take the package out, but he supposed it didn't matter. Markus would find someone. He hoped.
Regardless, Hank had done what he could. He'd done the work, been a good detective, and had gotten the information. He hadn't been useless. He'd had value.
That was something.
If you couldn't tell, I really like the idea of the cast being one big, happy family. 3