A lot of sympathy for Connor in that last chapter. I don't blame you all, that prank was rather mean. Safe to say Connor is out for revenge again…only this time he's getting a helping hand!
Also, lots of you are asking about Katie's reveal to Gavin. I reckon it will appear in the next 5 or so chapters, so you don't have to wait much longer!
This chapter does start another arc which will be rumbling on in the background, but I'm going to keep schtum about that for now. Spoilers.
Special thanks for reviews: DyeTheSheep, FandomsMJ, lordvaatithewindmage, Darnea, Celestic1234, xNarielx, ViktoriaMagrey, Time Lady 802379, DemonSkitty, inuchara2511 and two Guests.
As much as Hank was loathe to admit it, he missed the excitement that the constant stream of pranks brought about. It was exciting, infuriating, enjoyable, amusing… So having nothing happen for a couple of weeks had been a bit of a shock.
It wasn't for any other reason than poor timing on multiple fronts. After their lull at the precinct, everyone had been thrown on to a massive case involving android kidnappings and murders. The complexity of the situation had pooled everyone together in an effort to solve it: which gave Hank and Connor their first opportunity to witness Gavin and Katie's partnership up close on a case together.
Safe to say, it was highly entertaining.
Gavin would whinge at something, and Katie would fling a coin off his head to tell him to shut up.
Then he'd get wound up at their lack of progress, which would lead to Katie playing Despacito on her phone. That glare was always worth seeing.
If he protested about spending so much time on 'solving plastic problems', she'd just stare at him completely blankly until he stopped his mutterings and got back to work. Hank had to admit that look unnerved even him; it seemed intent stares were somewhat of an android trait (either that or Connor had taught her that trick way too damn well).
Despite all their theatrical bickering, Hank could see they were actually a fantastic team. The dramatic responses to Gavin were exactly what was required, and the brief moment of push back that the female android gave was always enough to redouble their effort to close the case. Gavin wasn't afraid to do the legwork to track down shadier leads, while Katie worked through all the graft of research and witness statements.
Even Connor was impressed with their dynamic, and that was saying something given that the relationship between he and Gavin was still somewhat frosty. Though it had seemed to have mellowed to more of a snarky rivalry at this point.
As it so happened, they were at a dead end for now. The Jericho leaders were in Canada at Kara's request to begin a movement to help give androids a similar level of recognition to the US, but they were expected to be gone for another month yet. All their leads had dried up, there was no-one else they could interview about the missing androids, and until Markus got back, they didn't have access to the Jericho network for information.
Morale was low among a lot of the officers in the precinct, so Fowler brought forward an old tradition which always got the blood pumping – and the bets flying.
Connor was completely bemused. "I really don't see the point in this, Hank."
The lieutenant just smirked at him. "It's just a bit of fun, Connor. That's all. Who doesn't love getting to see a bunch of cops kick each other's asses in sparring matches?"
"So, Fowler decides each officer will face one other in a spar. For what purpose?"
Hank smirked. "Bragging rights, that's what. Whoever wins the match gets to lord it over the other for the whole of the next year." Connor raised an eyebrow at him. "Don't give me that look! Besides, I made a nice little wad of cash when I bet on Chris and Tina trashing a few hides. Not to mention the little pool that went on me."
Connor looked at him suspiciously. "Dare I ask how badly you lost?"
That earned Connor a swipe to the shoulder, which the android deftly avoided with a lean. "You cheeky shit! I won, asshole!"
"It was worth it just so I didn't have to hear you bitching about your back afterwards, Hank," Ben shouted over from the next desk, a sour look on his face which implied that the other detective may have been fabricating slightly…
Hank chuckled. "Yep, that's why you've been moaning since." Ben waved him off dismissively and went back to working on his terminal, which had Hank laughing.
Connor contemplated this for a few seconds. "I guess that means I will be barred from the competition I take it?"
The lieutenant looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "What the fuck gave you that idea?"
"Hank, I'm an android. Not only that, I am one specifically designed with combat in mind. How can I possibly be deemed a fair opponent?"
"We've got to put up with Reed's bitching every day, and that's even less fair."
Katie snickered from across the gap as Gavin flipped Hank off. "Not fancy looking for a short pier, Anderson?" he snapped.
"Sure thing, so long as you bring the cement to tie to your ankles," Hank fired back.
The young woman piped up at this point. "We'd need some for his hands too. Maybe we could then doll him up in some makeup before we toss him over?"
Hank, Ben and Chris all doubled over laughing at the suggestion while Connor's eyes gleamed. Gavin groaned loudly and threw one of the disposable coffee cups at his partner. "Why the fuck did you have to give the pranksters ideas?!" he screeched, while Katie just winked and stuck her tongue out at him.
"I think you'd look pretty fetching in some mascara and red lipstick, Gavin," she teased.
"You'd better hope I don't get matched up against you, Katie," Gavin warned, but she could tell he was enjoying the banter.
Katie scoffed. "Trust me, Gavin. You wouldn't have a chance against me."
"That a challenge?" Gavin smirked.
She winked back at him. "It's a promise."
As the pair continued to banter, Hank was suddenly struck by an idea. A brilliantly wicked idea that threatened to have his face splitting with an eager smile. This is going to be fantastic.
Connor noticed Hank begin to move away and raised an eyebrow at him. "Where are you going, Hank?"
The older man gave as close to a nonchalant shrug as he could muster. "I'm gonna ask Fowler if he's going to include you or not; and if he doesn't, I'm going to boot his ass."
Chris laughed. "The Lieutenant versus the Captain? Not that would be a fight worth seeing."
Leaving the others to banter between themselves in an effort to unwind, Hank strode up to Fowler's office purposefully. The other man noticed Hank wander in and openly groaned. "If it ain't a breakthrough on your case, I'm not interested, Hank," Fowler warned, but the other man simply ignored him.
"You going to include Connor in the sparring competition?" he asked with faux lightness. He really was going to be pissed if Fowler excluded him just because Connor was an android.
Not having expected that question, Fowler sat back and stared at Hank for a second before sighing. "Don't really have much choice, Hank. Given we've actually got two androids in the detective ranks, it'd be more than a little asshole-ish to exclude one and not the other, even if her identity is a secret."
Hank smirked at the logic, even more glad for Katie's secret now. This gave him half a chance. "You done the match-ups yet?"
That earned a raised eyebrow. "Partially. What are you after here, Hank?"
The shit-eating grin was all over his face now. "Simple. I want you to set up Connor and Gavin to fight."
Fowler barked out a laugh. "Seriously? This is what you pestered me for? Not a fucking chance."
Hank groaned and leant on his hands right along the front of Fowler's desk. "Come on, Jeffrey! Are you honestly telling me you aren't going to set up one of the tastiest scraps the precinct will have seen in years?"
"That won't be a fight, Hank, it will be a humiliation."
"Well, nobody better for it to happen to."
Okay, so Hank was truthful in that statement, but his real motivation may be a little more protective than that. The fact was that Hank knew Connor had been trying to think of a way to pay back the detective duo behind the static prank for a while now, and he'd been a little stumped on what to do to Gavin. Katie was taken care of, they just had to wait for a window. Connor had run into the same problem with Gavin as he had with Markus weeks ago: he was struggling to find something menacing enough given the restrictions of the precinct itself.
This was the perfect chance. Connor could whip Gavin's ass easily and humiliate the human as much as he wanted.
Fowler still looked unconvinced, however, so Hank made one final play. "Jeffrey, whoever you pair Connor up against is going to get a hiding anyway. At least this way it'll be a fun show! Come on, I'll do whatever you want without bitching for a week if you give me this."
That got Fowler's attention. "Whatever I want? Without so much as a whinge?"
Hank knew he might regret this, but it was far too good an opportunity to pass up. "Isn't that what I said? Look, have we got a deal or not, Jeffrey?"
After a second's pause, Fowler nodded. "All right, you've got your match. Now get the fuck out."
Hank beamed as he marched back out and gave Connor the good news that he was in.
He really, really wished he'd not opened his big mouth when the list of matches was pinned up on the noticeboard later that day.
As expected, one pairing instantly had the gossip mill rolling, and it was already being labelled a 'massacre in waiting'.
C. Anderson vs G. Reed
Connor flashed Hank a grateful smile, instantly knowing of his involvement, but it soon turned smug. Before Hank even had the chance to ask what brought it about, Connor just pointed further down the list.
H. Anderson vs K. Marshall
Oh fuck no! Fowler you fucking dickhead!
Gavin wasn't the only one about to get his ass handed to him by an android. Hank didn't know what was worse: Fowler's smirk as he walked past a minute later, Connor's amusement, or the way his back already had phantom pains from the thumping he knew was coming.
I'm so fucked.
By the time the competition came around three days later, Hank's trepidation had been drowned out by the upcoming spectacle that would be Gavin getting trounced by Connor. Unsurprisingly, Gavin didn't have anyone backing him to beat the android, but the detective was still fired up at the prospect of the showdown.
Every time she had wandered past since the matchups were announced, Katie had just smirked at Hank and occasionally thrown in a wink. At this point he just wanted it over with. Connor's matching glee did nothing to help the older man's mood, nor did the message Hank got from Markus the day of the match to say they were all eagerly awaiting Connor's livestream of the event.
Fucking androids.
All of the officers soon gathered in the training hall at the very back of the precinct for the competition. After more than two weeks of soul draining cases with no apparent resolution, everyone was looking forward to blowing off some steam. They all circled around the foam training mats which were laid out along the floor, watching intently as Fowler came to a stop in the centre.
"All right, you all know the rules," he barked. "Round ends when one competitor gives in or I call it. To submission only, I don't want any broken bones this year…" he aimed a pointed glare at Tina, who blushed under the criticism, causing several others to laugh. "And no eye gouging, hair pulling, any of that shit either, got it? Keep it clean, this is for fun only."
"Fuck that, this is for pride," Hank jibed, earning a few echoing cheers.
"Too bad you ain't going to have any left when Katie's done wiping the floor with you, old man," Gavin shot back, to which she elbowed him good-naturedly.
Hank glared at Connor as the android chuckled next to him, while Katie chimed in. "Hope those sweats of yours are well padded, Lieutenant. Might need the cushion for the ass-kicking that's headed your way," she teased.
Jeers rose from the crowd and Hank flipped her off with a smile as Fowler spoke up again. "Can it, you lot. Well, since you two are so eager to run your mouths off…Hank, Katie, you're up."
The lieutenant froze momentarily. Crap, I didn't think I was going to get trashed this early…
Still, at least this meant he might not have a banging headache by the time Connor wrecked Gavin.
As the pair stepped forward, cheers for each of them rose from different pockets of the crowd. Since Katie's android nature was still a secret, quite a lot of people were actually backing Hank for the win. Connor smiled at the encouragement, and decided to play along. "Come on, Hank!"
The older man smiled at him affectionately while Katie raised an eyebrow at him as her voice drifted into Connor's mind via the android network.
Really?
I need to at least make it look like I don't know how this is going to end, Katie. Just please don't hurt him too much.
Relax, Connor. The only thing that's really going to take a beating is his pride.
Funnily enough, that did not reassure Connor. He'd spent enough time training and helping Katie augment her strength to believable human levels to know just how much of a kick she could really pack. Still, he trusted her to hold back sufficiently.
He didn't trust Hank to know when to quit, however.
A bell went off at the end of the circle and everyone roared as the two started to circle each other. Both of them were in fighting poses, hands raised to block any attack. "Ladies first," Hank taunted.
"Be my guest then," Katie snarked back, causing laughter to echo around them.
"You little brat…" Taking the invitation, Hank lunged out with a hand, only for Katie to deflect it and quickly flash a palm strike to his shoulder. He groaned at the blow, only to have a kick aimed at his stomach to compliment it. Hank recoiled and hissed at the sudden pain, Katie flashing him a confident smirk. Gavin and Chris were cackling at the side of the circle as Connor chuckled sympathetically.
This was not going to end well.
It turned out, however, that it was very quick.
Deciding to go for an all or nothing move, Hank charged forward to try and get a lock on Katie around her midriff, only for the android to twist and bend back out of the way. Now off-balance, Hank didn't have time to recover as Katie quickly used the momentum of her spin to hook her trailing leg around Hank's back and swiftly kick him to the floor.
He bounced off the mat with a sharp thud, Katie's android strength leaving him winded, as she climbed on his back and grappled him into a submission hold. Hank groaned at realising he was beaten so easily and heard Fowler declare Katie the winner. She beamed as she released the older man, stepping off him daintily and offering him a hand back up.
Swallowing back on his bruised ego, Hank took it begrudgingly. "Okay, I've got to ask. What the fuck was that you just used on me?" he asked heavily.
Katie shrugged. "I watch a bit too much anime," she answered lightly before walking away. Gavin was stood there with a massive grin on his face, and offered her a high five as she came to a stop next to him. She gladly took it, the pair sniggering away as Hank skulked back to Connor.
The android was sympathetic, but the gleam in his eyes was unmistakable. "Not a fucking word, Connor," Hank warned him. Connor chose to stay silent, but remained smirking.
As the competition rolled on, everyone soon came to the conclusion that Fowler was deliberately leaving the main event to last. Normally, once the officers had completed their matchup, everyone went to clean up before returning to work. No such chance today, everyone was eagerly awaiting the final match.
They all wanted to see Connor in action.
True, they had seen security tapes of his fighting prowess, but nothing like this. When Fowler called them up at long last, Connor smirked as he approached Gavin. The detective seemed apprehensive, though determined, and Connor could see Katie watching in interest. From the frown on her face, Connor guessed she was a little torn on who to cheer, despite knowing how this would end.
Connor decided to twist the knife a little at Gavin's discomfort. "Ready for round two, Gavin? Maybe you'll actually put up a semi-challenge this time? Unlike that poor excuse of a fight in the evidence room."
The audience catcalled as Gavin glared back. "That was over six months ago, asshole. I know what I'm up against now, I can take you."
With a raised eyebrow, Connor laughed at him. "Don't let me stop you, Detective. Let's see what you've learned."
Eyes met all the way around the circle as the pair traded insults, while Hank's bruised ego and back wasn't a concern anymore. Here we fucking go. About time Gavin got put in his place.
Connor's smirk stayed in place as Gavin reached out for him, the android not making any noticeable effort to dodge him as he leant out of the way. Gavin continued to stalk him while Connor simply strode in tempo with him. He wasn't even in a combat stance, which really annoyed Gavin. It was like Connor wasn't even taking it seriously. Gavin lunged again and aimed a punch at Connor's chest, but the fist was caught deftly in Connor's hand.
Gavin watched Connor's hand close over his fist and hold it perfectly in place for all of a second, before soon finding his arm be thrust upwards as the android used his other hand to collide with Gavin's ribs. The human tumbled back as the rest of the circle winced sympathetically. That was not a nice blow. Even Hank felt for him with that one, it had to have stung.
Snarling under his breath, Gavin kicked off the floor and went for a shoulder barge. His eyes widened comically as Connor's arm then linked around his while the android bent over. Gavin's momentum and pinned arm meant that he ended up essentially rolling over Connor's back, and the android kicked at his foot as the human was about to land, stealing all his balance away. He crumpled to the floor in a heap, groaning loudly as he scrambled back to a crouch.
The crowd was growing more raucous as the scrap went on, and Hank couldn't help but to laugh loudly. Connor wasn't even trying. He almost felt bad for Gavin, he really was on for a hiding. "Connor, stop playing with him!" Hank jeered, at which the audience began joining in.
Connor turned towards him slowly with a lazy smirk. "It's more fun this way, Hank," he drawled back, earning laughter from those gathered around. Hank adored the answer, and he spied Gavin getting angrier. If he was honest with himself, he was surprised the detective hadn't given in at knowing how outmatched he was.
Oh well, at least it means we get a show for longer.
Gavin rushed back in, trying a combination of kicks and punches to break through Connor's defences, but the android batted away each attempt before flicking Gavin's forehead. He was mildly off-balanced at the unusual attack before Connor kicked him away in the chest with just enough force to make Gavin stumble back.
Katie winced at the display and began to shout over the din. "Connor, this is just plain hard to watch now. Put him out of his misery already!"
Staring at her with a look of hurt and mild betrayal, Gavin snarled as he then charged towards Connor again, but the android had taken her words to heart. Leaning back as Gavin went for another punch to the face, Connor instead pushed him further on with a fierce shove to the back. Before Gavin could fully stumble on, Connor's arms linked around both the front of his shoulders and his lower abdomen while kicking upwards, hard. The kick dragged Gavin's legs out from under him, and the position of Connor's arms meant he went spinning in mid-air, landing in a gasping heap.
Barely a second later, Connor had his legs pinned over Gavin's while the detective's neck was clamped in a mock choke-hold as his right arm was twisted up his back. Fowler barked at Connor to back off, which the android did.
But not without leaving a last biting remark in the detective's ear.
"Don't fucking mess with me, Gavin. It won't end well for you."
As Connor stood up and walked away, Gavin sat up in mild shock, rubbing his now bruised collarbone. There was no mistaking the threat. Gavin hadn't thought Connor had it in him.
He wondered at how much more humanity the android was showing at time went on. It was food for thought.
Hank was smirking widely as Connor approached him, and the pair swapped smiles as Hank wrapped an arm around his shoulder and led him away. "That was fucking gorgeous, Connor. Talk about humiliation. While we're at it, what the hell did you just say to make Reed go white in the face?"
Connor smiled at him innocently. "I may have hinted that things will go poorly for Gavin if he continues his attitude towards me."
That had Hank laughing loudly. "Connor, you wouldn't hurt a fly if you could avoid it! Gavin's in more peril from Katie than you! He's honestly not that thick, is he?"
The android's smile turned smug. "Perhaps not, but it was worth it for the short term amusement."
"Kid, your sense of humour is fucking amazing. Come on, I'm starving, let's get out of here!"