Things between Hank and Connor had been rocky ever since the Kamski incident. The air in the house was heavy and suffocating. (which was saying something since Connor didn't need to breathe) Half of the time, Connor would retreat into his room so he could get away from Hank's stare. It was his stare that would stay glued on the back of his head the minute Connor returned to home until he turned the corner into the hallway.

When Hank finally confronts Connor - Connor thinks that he'll scold him - but the man doesn't do anything of the sort. Instead. he leans against the doorframe of Connor's bedroom with his arms crossed against his chest. The gaze that Connor receives makes him shift in his spot on his bedside until Hank decides to spare him the awkwardness by saying, "When's your birthday?"

Connor is beyond shocked at this point. He's in outer space because his mind had calculated several different scenarios and this...? This wasn't one of them. He was preparing himself for another shout-fest from Hank even though they… sort of… reconciled in the car on the way home when Hank had reached over to hug him. Connor shakes the shock off quickly with a couple of blinks and answers, "If you mean the date of my creation - I was turned online on August 14, 2038."

"So we missed your birthday?"

"Well, yes?"

"You're one year old?"

"Technically." Connor responds and then questions, "Why do you ask? If you don't mind my curiosity."

Hank grumbles something under his breath and Connor wonders if his audio processors are malfunctioning.

"I'm sorry. I didn't catch that. What did you say?" Connor asks.

"I said," Hank doesn't sound happy when he has to repeat himself, louder, "it was bothering me, okay? I was thinking about some things and you've been here for a while and…" Hank gazes around Connor's room. Cole's room. "I realized that I don't know a lot about you."

"What is there to know?" Connor inquires. The question comes out of his mouth before his mind can catch up with him. Hank actually didn't know about Connor's past, of how he was programmed to take over the position as a deviant leader, and how he was a tool for Cyberlife's grabby hands. Markus was the only one who knew about that. At the time, Connor had told Markus because he wanted him to know what he was getting into while pursuing a partnership with Connor. Connor hadn't thought of ever telling Hank about it because it had slipped his mind. His past was in the past.

"I… I don't know…!" Hank runs a hand through his hair, "Just tell me about the stuff you like."

Connor raises an eyebrow.

"I like Sumo," he states bluntly, "the cats, and you."

Hank brought a hand up to massage the crook of his nose between two fingers.

"That's not what I meant-..."

"I apologize for not understanding," Connor says. He plans to say more but Hank is quick to the punch.

"No - okay - look," Hank begins, letting his hand fall from his face, "Basically I'm trying to figure out what you want for your birthday."

"My birthday passed already," Connor says slowly, "and I don't think you have to follow human traditions on my account. I am not human. I don't need anything."

"But do you want anything?" Hank stresses.

Connor allows Hank's words to settle in his head. Did he want anything? Didn't he already have everything he wanted? A family? Friends? Peace? A job? Freedom?

"I don't want anything," he answers.

Hank is impatient when he says, "Everyone wants something."

Connor blinks.

"But I'm not everyone."

The two fall silent and Hank looks at his son with an indiscernible expression. Connor doesn't bother attempting to figure it out. It doesn't last as Hank says, "No. You're not." The way he says it makes it sound like it's a pure fact. "You're not like anyone else I've ever met. You're stubborn - stupid - and…"

Connor interjects, "I am one of the most intelligent androids of my generation."

"And you're annoying," Hank scowls but his face lightens as he continues, "I worry about you more than I've worried over anyone except for…" Hank glances around once more and Connor could already hear the name even though Hank probably wouldn't say it. "Well…" he pauses, "Let's just say trouble has a habit of finding you. Even so, you're still my son, and I.. uh…" Hank looks at the ground and brings his arms up to fold them across his chest once more.

He heaves out a heavy sigh.

"Damn, I'm not good at this kind of stuff. Look, I'm only going to say this once. Happy late birthday, I don't care if you don't want anything, I will find something, and just know that… uh…" Hank swallows air, "I love you."

Connor startles.

"What?" He asks because he could not believe that Hank had just willingly said that to him, aloud.

"I'm not going to repeat it," Hank growls and he picks himself up off Connor's door frame. Hank turns and almost disappears from view from the doorway until Connor raises his voice. What Connor says next makes Hank pause in his spot.

"Love you too!"

Hank doesn't reply. He mutters something that Connor cannot pick up but Connor does pick up something nonetheless. He saw the bright red flush on the tip of Hank's ears and that told him all that he needed to know.