.
Hazards of the Job
Hank set his things up in the spare bedroom, then went to take a shower. Once finished, he threw on pajamas and went downstairs to join Mr. Hench. Hench was nursing a drink from the bar while scrolling through his phone. Hank tentatively approached. Jack, hearing him, glanced up and smiled. "Settled?" he asked.
"Yes sir. Thank you again, sir," Hank replied.
"Not a problem. What are you in the mood for, Mr. Perkins?" Jack asked. "We have it all."
"Um, just tequila sir. Nothing fancy," Hank replied.
"Are you sure? I'm quite the mixologist you know," Jack said. Hank started in surprise. Jack chuckled. "Moonlighted as a bartender in college."
Hank was quiet a beat. "A paloma?" he finally and sheepishly asked.
"A paloma it is," Jack replied, going around the bar and starting to put together the cocktail. He fixed himself a hot toddy while he was at it, then gave Hank his requested drink and leaned on the bar. "You're sure you're comfortable?" Jack asked.
"I've never had a comfier bed, Mr. Hench," Hank replied, smiling a bit. "Thank you again. For everything."
"My pleasure, Hank. Y'know, you impressed me the way you handled my Uncle. There aren't many people who would be brave or reckless enough to deny him something he wanted," Jack said.
"I was just doing my job, sir," Hank replied.
"You laid down the law," Jack said. "Transfer that attitude to your parents and all your woes on that front are a thing of the past."
"Easier said than done," Hank replied, grimacing a little
Just then they heard the door swing open from not far, and quickly looked in its direction. "Dad?!" a familiar voice called.
Jack and Hank started, exchanging looks. Hank looked nervous. "Will Agent Du be upset that I'm here?" the young man asked.
"He doesn't have a choice," Jack replied.
"Sir, if I'd realized it was your time to have him…" Hank began.
"It isn't. His mother must be busy. That, or he came here of his own accord. Unlikely, but possible. The kid's not exactly bound by the rules of his childhood anymore. He can come and go as he pleases," Jack said. "I'll go down and greet him. Bring him here. We'll see how it goes from there."
"I feel like he doesn't like me," Hank said.
"He barely knows you," Jack replied, rising and going to greet his son.
KP
"Dad?!" Will called again, searching for his father.
"Welcome home, Sport. What's with the surprise visit?" he heard his father say from the staircase. He turned quickly to face the man and frowned a bit. "Mom's out on a mission. She wanted me to come here."
"You realize she doesn't dictate your choices?" Jack asked. Will narrowed his eyes a bit. "If you came of your own free will, honey, just say so."
Will glared at him. "I'm here because she told me to come here," he bluntly said, sticking to his guns.
"Sure. Whatever you say," Jack replied with a smirk. "Come on." He beckoned for Will to follow. Will harrumphed and pursued his father, shouldering his bag. "Did you drive yourself or take a cab?" Jack asked.
"Mom has the car," Will replied.
"Do you not have your own yet?" Jack asked.
"No! I just… can't be bothered. We usually carpool everywhere anyway since, you know, we work at the same place," Will replied.
"Great for efficiency, not so great when you want to branch out and do stuff on your own. Look into something you like, son. You have no shortage of funds," Jack said.
"It's a hassle!" Will argued.
"Convenience, convenience, convenience," Jack replied.
Will huffed, following his father into a room, and froze with a gasp, bag dropping to the floor when he saw who was there. He stared, mouth agape, and tried to process what he was seeing. "Hank Perkins?!" he blurted in disbelief.
"Good evening Agent Du," Hank greeted, raising a glass to him.
"Are you kidding me?! Why is he here? In pajamas?! Will demanded of his father, pointing at Hank.
"Major house renovations. He needed a place to stay," Jack replied.
"So put him up in a hotel!" Will said.
"Why bother when there's room here and we can get more done if he's close?" Jack asked.
"Now Agent Du, I know you don't approve of me, but…" Hank began, standing up.
"No one asked you to talk!" Will snapped testily.
"Son, why are you so up in arms about this?" Jack asked, going behind the bar. "Virgin cocktail?"
"How about a double real one?" Will bluntly replied, glaring at Hank with arms crossed.
"Because you're only eighteen," Jack replied.
"And in my father's house! With no plans to go anywhere! While dealing with this intruder!" Will replied, jerking a thumb at Hank.
"I'll do a single, that's it, and it never leaves this house that I did," Jack said.
"I had alcohol in Alberta!" Will protested.
"In Alberta you were legal," Hank pointed out.
"Seriously, why is he here?!" Will demanded, pointing at the temp.
"Will, what did Hank even do to get you so upset with him?" Jack asked, getting to work on the cocktail.
Will glared at Hank, who grinned innocently and shrugged. He turned to Jack again, eyes narrowing. "You mean besides existing?" the boy asked. Hank winced a bit.
"Will, enough," Jack somewhat testily warned, frowning. "Whatever jealousy you may be feeling…"
"I'm not jelling!" Will insisted.
"Get over it, sit down, and maybe try and get to know him instead of prejudging him," Jack said. "He's a good kid. You'll like him. I promise."
"What is this, an adoption?!" Will demanded. Jack was quiet, considering how to breach this topic. No, it wasn't an adoption, but Will had yet to realize Hank was the one being groomed as his heir to HenchCo. Will of course wouldn't have taken it on even if it was offered, but it was the principle of the thing.
"So, Will, you're in line for the Global Justice throne, so to speak, aren't you?" Hank asked casually.
Will looked sharply at him, eyes narrowed. "Classified," he replied.
"He is," Jack said. Will shot his father a dirty look, then turned back to Hank.
"Any plans to take on HenchCo as well?" Hank asked.
"Are you kidding me? Why on earth would I ever want any part of dad's crime syndicate?" Will demanded.
"I do need an heir, son," Jack said, catching on to what Hank was working up to.
"You could also shut it down altogether. That's an idea," Will said.
"HenchCo employs a lot of people," Hank pointed out.
"So he can give everyone a huge severance pay! That or he can hand the company to Falsetto or something," Will replied.
"Falsetto's more a... collector than a businessman, and lives in Lithuania," Jack replied.
"I'm not taking on your company, Jack!" Will said.
"Oh, I know. Which is why I think it's high time I started to screen for an heir all my own. Your mother has hers, now I need mine." Jack said.
"Clone yourself!" Will snapped. "That's about what it'll take for you to find someone that lives up to your standards."
"Right. A real mini-me. Smart, schooled in business, knows how to dance a fine line, resourceful, charismatic… A real go-getter and self-starter," Jack said, smirking a bit, eyes sparkling a little.
Will stared at him blankly a moment, then turned to Hank. Hank smiled, a glint in his own eyes that was far too similar to Jack's for Will to appreciate. Will turned to his father once more in disbelief. "I'm sorry, spell this out for me. What, exactly, are you trying to say?"
"Get used to him, son. He's gonna be in your life for a long time to come," Jack replied. "Meet the heir to HenchCo."
"Now it's not set in stone yet, I have a lot of work to do before I can even hope to step into your father's shoes, but I'd like to think I'm slowly getting there," Hank said.
"Rapidly getting there," Jack corrected.
"Be your own parents' heir!" Will snapped. Hank started then looked a bit wounded before turning away. Jack cleared his throat awkwardly, finishing mixing Will a cocktail, then slid it over. Will looked curiously from one to the other, confused at the change. "What?" he asked.
Hank sighed. "I grew up with parents who could have cared less if I keeled over and died, Agent Du. I was a tax break to them. They couldn't even be bothered naming me. Or paying for medical care when I ended up deathly ill. Twice. Or giving me even a word of praise when I graduated high school as valedictorian. Or giving me so much as a compliment when I double majored in business and law in Harvard and Yale. Or putting out a single cent for my education. Or caring that I went out of my way to try and help them out with some medical problems they're having now. The long and short of it? I don't have a relationship with my parents. Not for lack of trying either," Hank replied. "I did my best on that front. They were the ones that failed to step up to the plate. Now I'm done with them. I'm sick of being stepped on like trash."
Will stared at him in shocked disbelief. "And that's not even scratching the surface. Kid is resilient. I told you that you could have had worse as a father, son," Jack said, smirking a bit. "Went and met his parents tonight. Real pieces of work too blind to see how special their boy really is, so I told them I'm taking their son. Now he's mine. Say hi to your new big brother."
"What?!" Will blurted, turning sharply on his father in outrage.
"Mm hmm," Jack said, smirking mischievously. Hank chuckled a little.
"He's not your son! I'm your son!" Will insisted, knowing full well they were mocking him. He was too offended by even the implication of it to care, though.
"Yes. Yes you are," Jack replied. "Sport, I've taken him under my wing and he's staying there. That's all there is to it. Best you get used to the idea now."
"Screw you, Jack!" Will shouted. He downed the drink, then stormed off in a huff.
They watched him go, and Hank's smirk fell. He looked in concern at his boss. "Are you sure my staying is going to be okay, sir?" he asked.
"I'm sure. I'll deal with Will after he's had time to cool off. He's hostile right now, but he always is when something out of the ordinary crops up in his life. He's used to things a certain way. Doesn't like change. Takes him a while to adjust, but eventually he'll get used to it."
"If you say so, sir," Hank uncertainly replied.
"Hank, don't worry about it, okay? Tell you what. How about you take him to work tomorrow? Or home. Or wherever he cares to go. Bonding time, so to speak, though I wouldn't advise calling it that in front of him. After all, if he's Dr. Director's heir and you're mine, guess who's going to be butting heads for years to come," Jack said.
"Yes sir," Hank replied. "The weekend starts tomorrow, so I'll have free time to play chauffeur."
"Chaperone too if he gets it into his head he wants to go on a date," Jack said.
"Is he interested in dating?" Hank dryly said.
"Not in the least. That said, he was showing particular interest in one of Kim Possible's old schoolmates when he went on vacation in Canada with the Cheer Squad a few weeks back. No news on how that's progressed, if at all, but on the off chance it's going somewhere, keep an eye on him," Jack said.
"Wouldn't he just resent me more?" Hank asked.
"So don't get caught," Jack replied with a wink. "That said, Will's pretty practical. He'd probably want a chaperone. Just not necessarily you."
"Not that he'll have much of a choice," Hank replied with a smirk.
"Exactly. Take care of him, bud. Yourself too," Jack said.
"I will, sir," Hank replied.
"And uh, keep a close eye on your surroundings. I don't know what my Uncle is planning regarding you, whether he'll let it go or pounce, but if he pounces, do whatever you have to, to get out alive," Jack said, frowning seriously.
"Of course Mr. Hench," Hank replied, smiling. "Goodnight, sir."
"Sleep tight, Hank. Sweet dreams," Jack said affectionately. Hank smiled and left. Jack's own smile faded, becoming a concerned frown. He really hoped he didn't regret this…
The Next Morning
Will came down the stairs in pajamas, still in a foul mood from last night. He entered the dining room and froze. There, seated at the table, was Hank Perkins sipping at a cup of coffee, a tablet in hand. "Oh what sick joke is this?" Will said.
"Morning Will. Sleep well?" Hank asked.
"Agent Du," Will coldly replied, eyes narrowed at him.
"Of course. My apologies, Agent Du," Hank corrected.
"Where's my father?" Will demanded.
"Doing some work in his office that he needs to handle personally. He's asked not to be disturbed. Any plans for the day?" Hank asked.
"That's none of your concern," Will replied, grabbing a box of cereal and pouring it into a bowl.
"Well, if you need anything, I'm right here," Hank said.
"I need you to disappear, how about?" Will asked.
"No can do, Agent Du. I'm afraid we're stuck together for some time," Hank replied. "If you're going into town at all, I can give you a lift. I need to make arrangements to have my house repaired, after all, and despite the fact you don't particularly like me, I'll still be cheaper and more convenient than a bus or taxi."
"Whatever," Will replied, joining Hank at the table and starting to eat. Hank supposed that was a good sign. After all, Will could have just gone into another room altogether or outright refused his help. Maybe the agent was feeling a bit regretful about last night? Hank decided he'd take things slow and hope for the best.
They ate in silence. Hank was just fine with that. He continued scrolling through his task list for the day and scanning some interesting articles he'd bookmarked. Will rose and brought his dishes to the counter. Hank checked the time. "I should get going," he said, standing up. He brought his own dishes there as well. "Have a great day, Agent Du."
"Aren't you supposed to be driving me places?" Will asked, frowning at him.
"Well, you never really said whether you were going anywhere today, but sure. Where are you headed?" Hank asked.
Will grimaced. "Upperton University," he dryly replied. "Tour, screening, and orientation. Some 'brilliant' plan of mom's to get me to socialize more or something. She says it's keeping an eye on the Cheer Squad. I call BS. Ugh, I can't believe this. Forced to go to a lame public university like some common pleb."
"Your rich boy is showing," Hank said.
"I never needed to go to school before and I don't need to go now!" Will replied. "But mom just had to insist."
"Well, you will still get to keep an eye on the Cheer Squad. Regardless of ulterior motives. Besides, it's a prestigious university in its own right," Hank replied.
"Stuff it. I'm going to get changed," Will replied, leaving to do so. "Don't murder me on the drive and we'll be fine!" he called back.
"Of course not, Agent Du. That would be counterproductive to everything I'm working for," Hank replied. Will scoffed, but didn't look back again.
KP
Hank drove down the road casually. Will stayed seated in the passenger's seat, glaring out the window. "So, will your parents be there for the screening?" Hank soon breached. "I mean, not inside with you, but waiting for you to come out?"
"Darned if I know," Will replied, rolling his eyes. "Dad certainly won't be there for the tour. Neither will mom for that matter. Or even my Uncle."
"I mean, I've always wanted to take a look around it," Hank said.
"Whatever. Tagalong if you must. You do you," he replied.
Hank glanced curiously at him. Was that genuine indifference, or had he sensed a note of insecurity and nervousness there? If it was the latter, this must be a deeper seeded fear than Will was letting on. Especially if he was willing to let him tagalong. "Have you ever been to school?" Hank asked.
"No," Will answered.
"Not even Pre-K or daycare?" Hank asked.
"No! What does it even matter? You telling me the parents who wouldn't pay to keep you alive enrolled you in some Pre-K or daycare?" Will testily asked.
Hank shifted a bit. "No," he admitted. "Not even kindergarten. Honestly, they probably wouldn't have bothered with the school system at all, but then Social Services came knocking. My Uncle's doing I guess. He was a good man…"
Will glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, then turned away again. "Dead?" he asked after a long moment. Hank was quiet, starting to feel a bit upset. "Sorry," Will muttered when it was clear Hank wasn't going to answer that.
"His file's probably somewhere in GJ's databanks if you really wanna know, but you probably don't," Hank said, shrugging. "Marcus Foggman." Will glanced at him again, considered the matter, then shifted and pulled out a tablet, scrolling through. Curiosity and cats and all that, he guessed. "How about you not look at the pictures and bring your parents down on my head for bringing it up? Your mom kept you out of the loop for a reason I'd guess."
"If it has to do with common criminals, the really nasty ones, she always does," Will dryly replied. "Who does she think she's kidding? I'm eighteen. I've seen more than she figures I have."
"Most eighteen-year-olds don't see stuff like that unless they actively look it up," Hank said.
"Don't check my browsing history," Will dryly said. "Look, I'm law enforcement. I'm going to need a strong constitution for some of the stuff I'll run into as I get more involved in it. Mom and dad try to shelter me, but it's not like I'm oblivious. Ironically dad knows that better than mom. Probably because half my childhood trauma links back to him and his stupid…" Will trailed off, drawing a deep, calming breath. "Screw him," he finally finished bitterly.
"I mean, in his defense it was probably never his intention to let you see any of that," Hank said.
"Yeah, well, he should have seen it coming. He should have known better! In a lot of things," Will dryly replied.
"It's not like he had much of an example growing up," Hank quietly said.
"Don't defend him. It's what everyone else and their dog does, and I'm sick of hearing it, okay? I'm not the villain in this," Will said.
"I didn't say you were, and I'm not defending him. Just offering another perspective is all. There's a reason for almost everything," Hank said. "Maybe the step to addressing whatever's going on between you two is to, I don't know, have a heart-to-heart with him or something? What do you really know about your dad's past? Your mom's? Your Uncle's?"
"What part of sheltered don't you get? It's not like I didn't want to know, Hank. It's just they never talked about it and whenever I dared bring it up, guess what? Subject change," Will said. "Eventually I gave up." Hank was quiet. "What's he told you?" Will finally asked, voice quiet and a little upset.
Hank winced a bit. He was maybe starting to get a sense of where Will's hostility towards him was coming from. "I'm just his…" he began.
"Even if you are, you're still closer to the man than I've been in years!" Will snapped.
Hank was quiet. He couldn't imagine how hurtful that must feel to the poor kid… It had been a long time, he guessed, since father and son had been any kind of tight. He'd known the relationship was strained, sure, but not how badly. He was quiet, thinking a moment. "When was the last time you asked your dad about his past?" he finally asked.
Will frowned at him and thought about it, looking up. He grimaced a little before sighing and bowing his head. "Not since fourteen," he quietly said. "He shut me down then, and I dunno. I suppose after that it was me shutting him down. Even when part of me wanted to know, there was always the other part that really, really didn't."
"I'd like to tell you what he's told me, Agent Du, I really would, but that's not my story to share," Hank said. "Maybe now that you two are starting to fix things, it's time you asked again?"
"What's the point?" Will asked, going back to searching for Foggman in the GJ database.
"Giving up and taking things as they are won't strengthen your bond with your father," Hank said.
"I'm not ready for a bond with him," Will quietly replied.
"Then why are you lashing out at me for having one?" Hank asked.
"Because it should have been me!" Will snapped, looking sharply at him with eyes narrowed.
"So then make it you! You're not locked out of your father's life, Will!" Hank replied.
"The bonding, the teasing, the proud little smiles and affectionate gestures, the openness, the trust, the similarities and shared interests… For goodness sake, you're more my father's son than I am!" Will snapped.
Hank was quiet. "You feel like you should have been me," he finally said. Will was quiet, lips pressed together in frustration. "I'm not you, Will. I'm not his son," Hank finally said. "I'm just some upstart he sees potential in and happens to like more than most."
"More than me," Will bitterly said.
"That isn't true!" Hank replied.
"You're not the one that locks him in verbal combat every time you meet. You're not the one who belittles and berates him on the daily just trying to wear him down to a shell. You're not the one who exhausts him every time you share in a conversation. You're not the one who… who attacked him in a fit of anger then stormed off and disowned him before taking a new name just so you could dissociate yourself from him even more!" Will said. "You're not the one who kills him inside every time he sees you!"
"Which alone should tell you that I'm not even in the same league as you are when it comes to the people he cares about," Hank said.
"You're blind," Will said.
"Well so are you!" Hank snapped back a bit testily.
"Mommy and daddy didn't care about you, so now you figure no one ever could," Will sneered at him.
Hank started and looked wounded again, then narrowed his eyes at the younger man, looking sharply over. "You transfer your own inability to let go and forgive onto your father. Bad news, kid. That's your Uncle coming through, not your dad!" he bit before focusing on the road again. Will gave him a sharp, dangerous glare in turn. Hank ignored it. He couldn't let himself get distracted, he told himself. He was carrying precious cargo, so to speak. Mr. Hench would never forgive him if he got into some crash that ended up killing this kid.
Will turned back to the GJ database in frustration and shut it down before tucking it away and looking out the window. He'd dig into Foggman later when he wasn't so ticked. "Go to hell," he bitterly bit. Hank huffed a laugh.
KP
The rest of the drive was spent in bitter silence. Presently, Hank pulled up to Upperton University and got out. Will left the car. Hank considered just driving away, but then decided he was more mature than that and got out of the car with a scoff as well. "Get lost!" Will snapped.
"As far as you're concerned, I'm not here," Hank replied, pulling out his tablet and setting it up for notes.
"Hank, I swear to the gods!" Will shouted, turning on him. Hank put up a hand dismissively, shutting him down, and Will started then scowled. Angrily he turned, storming away. "Fine! Whatever! Be like that!" Hank rolled his eyes.
They entered the school and Will joined up with a group of other prospective students but hung out a bit away from them in the back like a snob. Hank got it though, he really did. The kid had never been to a public school a day in his life. This was probably more terrifying and stressful to Will than the boy was letting on. "You'll be fine, Agent Du," he said.
"I don't need your support!" Will testily replied. "You're not my dad, you're not my Uncle, you're not my brother, you're nothing! Just some stray my dad picked out of the gutter!"
"Ooh hoo hoo, somebody's in a mood," Hank said.
"Screw you!" Will snapped.
"Welcome all you Upperton hopefuls," a cheery voice said. They both looked up at the tour guide standing in front of them all with a smile plastered on her face. "We're so pleased you could make it today for the tour of our campus. There's a lot we have to show you, so buckle up and get into that good old Upperton U spirit." Will scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Young man in the back, is something the matter?" she asked.
"Oh, I'll tell you what's the matter! You…" Will began.
Hank covered the agent's mouth quickly. "Oh, don't worry ma'am. Just the pre-tour jitters. Nothing's the matter at all. We're raring to see your lovely campus," he cheerily said to the woman, smiling and pumping his fist across his body.
"Wonderful! I think you'll be very impressed," she said.
"We sure will," Hank replied, matching her energy and uncovering Will's mouth Will gave him a dirty look, but didn't comment.
The woman went on her spiel, and soon they were making their way through Upperton U. Will looked around, largely unimpressed. There was a hint of unease and intimidation in his eyes, though, that Hank noticed, so he just stayed close to the younger kid and every so often interjected a positive remark.
"Wow, look at the size of this library. You could disappear in here if you wanted to."
"Their gymnasium and exercise facilities are spectacular. Great way to destress I bet. They even have a pool!"
"The science lab looks cutting edge. Nothing compared to GJ or your father's facilities, I'm sure, but impressive nonetheless."
"At least the dorms are nice and roomy. Not that you'll need them if you plan on traveling back and forth from Middleton to Upperton. It's not so far."
Will was quiet and never responded to any of his remarks, but Hank liked to think maybe he was helping the boy in some way. He wasn't so sure he was, though. Will's indifference and disdain were gradually becoming uncertainty and unease unmasked. If nothing else, maybe the kid was letting his guard down a bit. "I don't like this. I don't want to be here. I don't feel comfortable with how many people there are," Will quietly and suddenly said when Hank had been silent a little longer than usual.
"Look, I get it Agent Du, really I do, but hey, you could always think of it as a mission or a job or a challenge. Or all of the above. Maybe it'll help. Besides, maybe it won't be so bad when you meet up with your friends. Allies. Whatever you're calling them," Hank said.
"And that concludes our campus tour," the guide cheerily said. "If you feel Upperton is right for you, our intake forms can be found in the main lobby at the front desk. If you're already in line for a screening, great! Our screeners will be waiting to meet you according to your scheduled interview time."
"See? Job," Hank said, smirking.
"I've never done an interview in my life," Will hissed.
Hank started. "Ooh… They really didn't prepare you for the real world, did they kiddo?" he said.
"Don't patronize me! I'm freaking out here," Will said.
Hank hesitated, then looked around before focusing on Will again. "Okay, come with me," he said, taking Will's arm and pulling him away from the others. "Lucky for you, I'm old hat at interviews." He brought him into the library and turned him around. "Now, let's practice and pin this down. It'll save you some anxiety. Introduce yourself like you would to a person you're working a case for, within reason of course, and we'll go from there." Will hesitated uncertainly, then nodded.
"Welcome to Upperton University. My name is Hank Perkins. I'll be conducting your interview today. So, tell me, to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?" Hank said. Will stared at him blankly, eyes wide. Hank frowned a bit. "Will, this isn't a test. Just be honest. So tell me, to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
"Will Du, sir," Will replied.
"Offer a hand to shake and a smile," Hank said. Will grimaced, clearly not a fan of that idea. "First impressions," Hank sang.
Will sighed, relenting, and straightened up a bit, putting on a smile. Wow did he ever see the kid's father in that one, Hank noted. "Will Du, sir. A pleasure to meet you," he said, offering a hand. Hank smiled and took it. Good form. That was a good sign.
"Mr. Du, the pleasure is mine. Please, take a seat," Hank said, gesturing to a chair.
"Thank you, sir," Will replied, sitting down on the easy chair.
Hank sat in the opposite one. "So, tell me about yourself." Will started, staring at him with eyes wide. "The question is common. It gives you a chance to showcase yourself, your knowledge, and highlight your accomplishments. It gives you the opportunity to impress and dazzle them. It gives them a feel for whether or not you're the right fit for the company or in this case university. Be straightforward and honest, and stay true to yourself."
"I've been homeschooled since pre-K. By the time I was thirteen, I knew more than most common teachers. I graduated with straight A's. I know eighteen different languages and thirty-two regional dialects. I've been studying Criminology since I was in elementary school, and quite frankly, I'm probably further along in it than every first-year student you have and probably more advanced than most second and third-year ones too. I'm here for the social aspect, not the learning."
Hank stared blankly at him then grimaced, clicking his pen. "O-kay, new plan. Be true to yourself, but don't be yourself."
Will started and looked offended. "What? I'm telling the truth!"
"True to yourself, but not yourself," Hank reiterated, tenting his fingers. "Try again."
Will sighed in exasperation, rolling his eyes. "Well, I've been homeschooled since pre-K. Graduated elementary and high school with straight A's. I know eighteen different languages, thirty-two regional dialects, and I've been studying Criminology since I was in primary school. My mom is in law enforcement. She really inspired my interest in the field, so I've known since I was a kid that it was what I wanted to get into. I've heard your program is quite substantial. I've been studying the curriculum and while a lot of it is stuff I have a pretty good handle on as is, there's always more to learn."
"There we go," Hank said. "Impressive, Mr. Du. What do you know about Upperton University?"
"Are you serious?" Will demanded. "Nothing? My mom forced me here." Hank gave him a blatantly unimpressed look and Will shifted then sighed. "Fine! Well, I've heard Upperton University is one of the top schools in the state. Maybe even the entire country. One of the newest but most impressive post-secondary institutions there are. It was close to where I lived, so I figured I'd come to check it out to get a first-hand perspective – it's one thing to read about something and another thing to see it you understand – and I must say, I'm…" He trailed off and grimaced a bit before clearing his throat. "Very impressed," he choked out.
"Work on the last part and you should be good," Hank dryly said. "What do you think you can bring to the table here?"
Will glared at him. Hank stared innocently back. "Do I need to be true to myself here?" Will flatly asked.
Hank facepalmed and sighed. "Do what you need to, to get through this," he said.
"I bring a can-do attitude and boundless optimism," Will said, copying Hank's tendency to pump his fist across his body.
"Within believable parameters," Hank flatly added, vaguely annoyed at the dig.
"Humph. Fine. I bring determination and an eagerness to learn and improve. I bring a can-do mentality to the table and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in Upperton U. Probably even surpass, because this curriculum is the most basic, bland…"
"Okay, I think we have it! Just uh, cut out that last bit and keep your impulses in check, and you should be fine," Hank said.
Will groaned, leaning back. "I'm so not ready for this," he said.
Hank sighed. "Look, I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but channel your dad for this one, okay? Your mom too probably. This is mission, Agent Du, so enter mission mode and make us all proud," Hank said. He caught himself before pumping his fist across his body again and grimaced a bit, clearing his throat and lowering his arm.
"You know I wasn't dissing it, right?" Will flatly asked.
"You weren't?" Hank asked.
"Look, I really don't care to give you credit for anything, but you're the type of person that could get into this place with no problem, so I figured chameleon-ing you would probably be my best bet," Will said. "I mean, you got into Harvard and Yale. Both. At the same time."
"Well, I'm flattered, but it's probably best if you stick to being you and not emulating me," Hank said with a smile. He stood, and Will followed suite. Hank put a hand on his shoulder firmly. "You've got this Agent Du," he said. Will started, looking at the hand in disbelief, then back at Hank looking torn between freaking on him or letting it go. Hank played it safe, releasing the shoulder and playing it off like he hadn't done a thing. "Now come on. Your future awaits."
Will winced hard. "Did you have to put it like that?" he bluntly asked.
Hank chuckled. "I'll be waiting outside the screening room," he said. Will nodded a bit nervously.
KP
Will sat next to him totally silent until his number was called by the screener. He looked quickly and nervously over, then to Hank. Hank smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "You've got this, Superstar," he said. Will frowned a bit, unimpressed by the pep, but then half of what the guy did was peppy and over-the-top enthusiastic. Luckily for Hank, it seemed to work for him and had clearly won him a crap ton of points in his father's books. Will could have scoffed at the thought. Rolling his eyes, he got up and made his way toward the room. The moment he was inside, Hank let the mask slip and began looking nervous and worried. Quickly he pulled out his phone and frantically began dialing a number.
"Mr. Perkins," the familiar voice greeted after the first couple of rings.
"Did you seriously never prep him for an interview? Ever?!" Hank demanded immediately, standing up and starting to pace a bit.
"Excuse me?" Jack asked.
"Did you seriously never prep your kid for an interview? Did you prep him for job hunting at all? That's like one of the most basic life skills there is!" Hank said.
"I was under the impression he had a job," Jack replied, a smirk in his voice.
"The screening, sir, the screening! You know? For Upperton U?" Hank pressed.
"They interview for those?" Jack asked, turning in his chair and shuffling through some documents, completely unconcerned.
Hank was quiet a beat, processing this, and a hopeless look passed over his face. "You're as detached from reality as your son, aren't you sir?" he asked.
"Isn't Upperton U that cheap knockoff of the University of Upperton?" Jack asked, ignoring the dig. "Believe you me, his mother and I had words about her pick."
"It's one of the most prestigious schools in the region! On par with its rival!" Hank replied.
"Riiight," Jack replied. "Look, Hank, it's not as if he gave me much chance to prep him for the job market. Not that he needed it either. His future is already secure," Jack replied.
"Your rich boy is showing," Hank bluntly said.
Jack smirked a bit. "If you should be griping with anyone about his lack of preparation, it should be his mother. She's the one that had him the majority of the time and she's the one who set him up for this," he said.
"And she'll probably tell me she figured her CEO husband would have taken it upon himself to introduce his kid to the job market long, long ago," Hank said.
"Then it's great you're there! Give him a crash course and call it a day. I'll pay extra," Jack said, turning back around and leaning on his desk with an amused smile on his face.
Hank sighed. "I already gave him one, sir," he said, rolling his eyes hopelessly.
"Then all's well and good! Listen, his mother, uncle, and I will be heading there soon to celebrate his success. Meet him for a nice dinner," Jack said.
"You're that sure he'll pass?" Hank bluntly asked.
"Have some faith, Mr. Perkins. He's a mix of Gemini, Dr. Director, and me," Jack said.
Hank grimaced a bit. "Well, I guess when you put it like that," he said in some embarrassment.
"Still, you're right. It's not a guarantee. If he fails it'll be a pity party instead," Jack said.
"I'm not sure that'll make it better, sir. He seemed pretty upset as was that you and Dr. Director weren't going to be here or at least nearby," Hank said. "I mean, no offense, but he's not exactly prepared for, you know, the real world."
"Oh, I'm aware. He's never not been handed something that wasn't on a silver platter," Jack said. "This'll be good for him! Sometimes you need to jump into the deep end to learn how to swim."
"Usually when a lifeguard is there," Hank bluntly replied.
"That's where you come in. Good work, Perkins," Jack said.
"I feel like you're not quite understanding what I'm saying," Hank said.
There was a pause and Jack sighed. "Mr. Perkins, I'm well aware his mother and I never exactly did him any favors in that department, believe me. It just sort of came with the territory. You know the overview. Family life a hot mess. Not as terrible as it could have been, but rough nonetheless. At times really rough. Really, really, really rough… Now those were mostly due to me, and I own that, I may or may not have unintentionally traumatized him in his preteens, but I mean, comparatively he's had it good! I uh, I think."
"You think?" Hank incredulously said.
"The point is a lot of his coddling probably stemmed from guilt. Sometimes extremely, extremely horrible guilt," Jack said, clearly wanting to get away from the topic now.
There was a distinct change in the man's tone that made Hank a bit concerned. "Um, are you alright, sir?" he asked.
"Keep up the good work, Hank! We'll see you around four. Take care of him for us, will you? Buh bye," Jack said. The phone clicked and Hank blinked blankly and grimaced. Did he want to know? Probably not. Sighing, he tucked the phone away and sat back down, waiting anxiously for Will to return.
KP
About a half hour later, the door opened and Will walked out with his ever-stoic and generally unreadable expression. Hank looked quickly over and stood more rapidly than intended. Will looked back as the door shut behind him, then to Hank. He let out a breath of relief. "I did it. Come next term, I'm officially a student at Upperton University," he said with the ghost of a smile.
"Yes! Great job, Superstar! I knew you could do it," Hank said. Will gave him a sort of look he couldn't really decipher. Sort of mystified crossed with curiosity like he wasn't quite sure what to make of him. Hank would take it as a good sign for now. "So, orientation next?"
"I mean, I have the package, but orientation probably won't be for a few days. It's getting late anyway," Will said.
"Right. Well, we're meeting up with your parents and uncle to celebrate. They were confident you could do it," Hank said.
"Tell them thanks for nothing," Will bluntly replied.
"You did fine," Hank said. "Come on. Mr. Hench texted me the address. Cute little café on the cliffs. Other side of the harbor. Your parents and Uncle will be coming from Middleton and we'll be heading toward it, so the five of us will meet up and do dinner. It'll be a blast! Your mom and dad will be so proud. Gemini too."
"Whatever Poindexter. Let's just go," Will said, turning and walking away. Hank let the remark go and followed with a cheery smile.
KP
It was largely quiet as they drove. Will didn't breach conversation, and whenever Hank attempted to start one up, he was met by single-sentence or one-word answers that led nowhere, basically, so eventually he just kind of gave up. Still, he continued wracking his brain for something that might catch the kid's interest. "Excited for the first day?" he asked.
"No," Will replied. "I haven't even figured out transportation yet."
"You could always do a dorm or a fraternity," Hank said.
"How'd that go for you?" Will bit.
Hank shifted a little. "Um, not so well," he admitted.
"Then trust me, it won't go well for me either," Will said.
"I mean, maybe you could start a fraternity with your friends," Hank said.
"They're not my friends. They're people I've been caught in a bad place with a couple of times," Will said. Hank was quiet. "I mean what are the odds any of them even really like me anyway?" Will demanded after a moment, turning to him. "I'm not a likable guy, Hank! Not like my dad! I'm not the one that gets people to fawn over him with an open smile and a hearty handshake. I'm not the one who commands respect and adoration everywhere she steps. I'm the Uncle that hates people and is hated by them right back."
Hank was quite a moment, a sad look coming to his eyes. "Yeah. I get that. I was my Uncle too," he quietly said. Will tilted his head a bit, watching his companion, then turned away and pulled out his tablet, scanning the records. This time he found what he was looking for, it seemed, because he paused a moment and set to reading the report. "It uh, might be better if you don't look at the pictures," Hank quietly warned again.
"Browser history," Will bluntly replied. He stopped suddenly, catching his breath, and Hank winced a bit. Will was silent a moment. "There's video," Will finally remarked. Hank was quiet. Will hesitated briefly, but then opened it. It opened on the sounds of anguished screaming and the high-pitched squealing of some kind of motorized device.
"Can we not?! Please?!" Hank immediately and sharply said, stress spiking. Will looked quickly at him, then rapidly muted the video and watched it in silence. Hank despised that silence immediately, eyes distractedly darting over to the screen ever so often only to quickly dart away again. He swallowed over a painful lump in his throat and cursed the burning sensation in his eyes. Finally, Will let out a long, slow stream of air and turned off the tablet, tucking it away. He crossed his arms, went back to looking out the window, and was quiet. Hank hated the silence.
"Sorry. About your uncle," Will at last said.
Hank said nothing for a moment. "Apparently you're an exception to the rule too," he finally, bluntly said.
"Rule?" Will asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your dad's words. I… didn't exactly have a strong constitution when I saw the aftermath," Hank quietly said. "He told me that a vast majority would have had a similar reaction to mine. I asked him if he'd been one of them and he told me he was the exception, not the rule."
Will was quiet. "First time I delved into stuff like this, I managed to hold it down physically. Not so much mentally. Really messed me up. Mom was pretty ticked. I was like, thirteen or fourteen or something. She child blocked me forever after until I figured out how to remove it," he said.
"You probably should have stayed innocent," Hank dryly said. "Contrary to popular belief, it isn't a bad thing."
"It's also not practical for my chosen field, so preparedness is key," Will said. "I figure it would be a whole lot different to see the aftermath in person though. Or see it happening right in front of you. Part of me hopes I never do. If mom has her way I certainly won't. At least not until she's dead and gone. Guess that's for the best though, huh?"
Hank was quiet. He got the feeling he'd be seeing a lot of similar things on his own end as well, if he continued working with Mr. Hench… He wasn't sure he was ready for that, but he knew he had to try. "No, but someone has to do it I suppose," he replied. "Better it be someone who's trained for it and prepared than someone who isn't."
"I guess," Will replied.
Hank sighed. "Look, Will…" Suddenly his eyes opened wide in shock as the roar of an engine echoed loudly and a few cars involved in a street race tore around the inside of the corner heading right for them!
"Hank!" Will cried in terror, bracing himself. Instinctively Hank jerked the wheel with a gasp, narrowly avoiding a head-on at more-than-highway speeds, but losing control on the sharp turn as the momentum of the back end of the car swung them around. He tried to regain said control, but realized in about two seconds what was about to happen. He shouted a curse, throwing an arm out in front of Will just before they went over the cliff! Will shouted in alarm.
Though Hank managed to slow the car enough not to outright fly over the edge, it began to roll hard and heavy. Airbags popped out, hitting them both, and it continued its descent. "No, no, no, no, no!" Hank insisted.
"Hank, stop! Stop!" Will pled, though they both knew Hank was pretty well powerless at this point. The car slid further down, the tires touched ground again, and Hank hit the brake on instinct. The car came to a stop, now turned on an angle about halfway down the cliff with part of the front dangling over the edge! Hank was frankly just glad it was his side hanging over the edge and not Will's. "Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods!" Will said, gripping the car in terror, heart pounding out of his chest as he stared in mortification at the drop they'd been about to go over.
"Keep calm! Don't panic! We panic we die, Will! Will, calm down!" Hank insisted to the panicking young man, though in truth he was on the edge of panic himself. The car was a mangled, crushed mess and that they were both still alive was a miracle to him. Will willed himself to get a grip, fighting to take some deep breaths and cool it. "Listen to me, listen. Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Hank urgently asked.
"I-I'm fine. I think I'm fine," Will stammered, still frozen in place. What were you supposed to do in a situation like this again? He willed his brain to start working. Stay still, right? So as not to shift the car's weight any more than necessary? "I won't know f-for sure until the adrenaline wears off."
"Okay, let's just-just keep calm. Do you have your cell?" Hank asked. Will shook his head frantically. "That's fine. I have mine," Hank said, reaching for it.
"Don't move!" Will pled.
"I know, Superstar, I know," Hank said. "Move as little as possible. That doesn't mean we have to completely freeze, though. It means don't make any drastic movements." Will glanced at him out the corner of his eyes, then back out the window, nervously letting his body relax. Hank pulled out the phone and dialed 911. The moment someone picked up, he told them their location according to the GPS, then said. "I'm in a car with my boss's son and we were just run off the road by a bunch of street racers. We-we went over a cliff. The car is pretty-pretty badly smashed up," he said, voice strained and wavering a little. "We can't-we can't tell if we're hurt yet, it's hard to tell through the twisted metal, but we're dangling part way over the edge and we desperately, desperately need help right now! Please! The-the kid's only eighteen." He listened to the instructions. "Okay," he quietly said, dread starting to seep in. He hung up the call.
"Well?" Will fearfully asked.
"She-she said just-just stay still unless the car's on fire or something like that. It's not. They're sending a rescue crew. Police, towing, helicopters for airlift in case-in case once the adrenaline dies down, we realize we're a lot worse off than we think…" Hank said. He turned on the radio and music began to play quietly.
"What are you doing?" Will demanded.
"Classical. It might help calm us down and keep us, you know, not losing it and panicking more than we are," Hank said.
Will was quiet, his breathing quick but more or less controlled. He shook his head fearfully. "We were supposed to meet them for dinner," he said. "I was supposed to tell them the good news then complain at mom for putting me up to this then talk about how things went and just-just…" He stopped himself.
"You can call them if you want," Hank quietly said, offering the phone. Will was quiet and visibly upset, not reaching for it. "If you don't, I will. They need to know what's happening," Hank said. Will shook his head then snatched the phone quickly and stared at it a moment, hesitating again. "What's wrong?" Hank asked.
"I don't know what to say," Will replied. "I don't want them to be scared. I don't want them risking their lives speeding here along this stupid…" He stopped himself, drawing a breath when he realized he was working himself up. "Dammit, they were supposed to build a shoulder here years ago," he whispered. "Cheap budget cuts… Maybe it's better if they don't know! Then if the best happens, we can just explain it and everything will be fine, but it the worst happens then… then maybe it won't hurt so much."
"Call them, Will. You don't have to tell them anything, just-just call them. It'll make you feel better," Hank said. Him too, for that matter. Will was quiet. "Who are you afraid will answer?" Hank asked. He could hazard a guess of course, but still. Will shook his head. "If the worst happens, is this really how you want things to end between you and your father?" Hank quietly pressed.
Will sniffed, closing his eyes tightly with his mouth quivering a bit. Letting out a slow stream of air, he dialed his mother's number. It was her car they would be driving, he knew. More family-friendly than his father's hot rod. "Hi honey," Dr. Director's warm voice said over the car speaker. Will gritted his teeth, closing his eyes tight, and almost broke. Hank felt a pang of guilt for listening in on this and decided he didn't need the extra comfort after all. He reached out to turn off the speaker, but Will batted his hand away and gave him a sharp, furious look before turning his attention to the phone again.
"Mom?" Will asked, inwardly begging his voice to sound normal. "Hey, are dad and Uncle Sheldon with you? Hank said you guys were coming to meet up with us?"
"Hello, William," Gemini said, tone fond.
"Hi Sport," his father said. "How goes things?" Will scrunched up his face and bumped his head lightly against the back of the seat like he desperately wanted to blurt it all out and was fighting with all he had not to.
"It's uh, it's fine?" he said. "G-great. I um, I saw the University and-and I did the screening. H-Hank helped with the interview and-and it went really, really well. They were really impressed. They approved my entry and gave me an orientation package and in a couple of days it'll be an orientation for transfers and-and…" He trailed off.
"Baby? What's wrong?" Dr. Director asked, sensing something was off.
"Hope and Marcella are attending you know! I-I caught a glimpse of them in the halls. And Bonnie and Tara set up a sorority so-so pretty well all the girls in Kim Possible's little clique will be there, and I heard that maybe Josh Mankey is investigating the possibility of setting up some kind of fraternity or club or-or whatever," Will said in a rush.
"That's great sweetheart! You'll fit right in. Don't worry," Dr. Director said.
"Yeah, uh huh, sure," Will said. "Wh-when will you get to the restaurant?"
"We're approximately ten minutes out from it," Gemini replied. "You sound strange, my boy."
Will was silent. So was Hank, who looked miserably down the cliff at the ocean below. Hank was starting to feel pain again and realized he was probably a lot more banged up than he'd initially thought… He wondered if Will felt the same and glanced worriedly over at him. Was the reason the boy sounded so strained more than just because of the crash? Had he been hurt worse than he was letting on?
"You know, I've realized something. I'm a lot more like you than I initially figured, Uncle," Will soon said. "In personality, mainly."
Gemini huffed. "I could have told you that. In fact, I believe I did, and your words were 'in your wildest dreams'," he said.
"You tried to recruit me to WEE," Will flatly said.
"Excuse me?!" Dr. Director demanded.
"Career day, remember? When I was like sixteen? You were busy on some big case you didn't want to risk bringing me on, and dad was booked solid with private meetings. Uncle Gemini was my only option, so dad set the whole thing up and Uncle Sheldon tried to tempt me with position Alpha. Said he was 'saving it for someone special'," Will flatly said. "It… it was actually a pretty cool and interesting day… I know I acted like I didn't care and wasn't into it and was disgusted that I had to be there at all, but-but I really liked spending time with you, Uncle. I really, really did. Sure, being there gave me an inside look at WEE, but I mean, it wasn't the reason I stayed. I could have just walked out at any time after I gained all the information I could, but I didn't because it had been so long since the last time you'd been around and we'd actually hung out, and…" He stopped himself. "I love you, Uncle," he finally, quietly said.
There was silence. "Will, where is this coming from?" Gemini warily asked.
"Turns out dad's mini-me is as good at stripping away layers as dad is," Will bluntly replied. "I don't think he even knows he does it. Just like dad, because of course just like dad." Jack chuckled affectionately at the remark. Will grimaced in disgust then focused on the call again. "Mom? I just, I wanted to say thank you. For everything. For bringing me into Global Justice, for all the training you gave me, for everything you do for me and have ever done for me… It meant more than you know. I love you mom, and I know I got snappy at you for pushing me to do this Upperton thing, I know I've gotten snappy with you like a lot the last few years, but I also know that everything you do is for me and that you only try your best and that I don't always make it easy, but I'll do better mom, I promise! I'll do better!"
"Oh baby, you do so great already," she tenderly said. "There's no one I would sooner entrust Global Justice to than you. One day you'll be a better Director than even I was."
Will huffed a laugh. "Replacements and successors are never as good as the OGs," he said. "Well, almost never. But I'll do my best to walk in your shoes and live up to your legacy." He was all too painfully aware of his father's silence. Dead silence. Jack, he knew, expected no such tender confession to be bestowed on him, but-but he was the one who needed it most, and deep, deep in his heart, Will knew that. He dreaded this so, so much… The car creaked and groaned, and he gasped, clinging to the sides again and dropping the phone. Hank had paled too and looked mortified.
"Honey, what was that?" Jack asked.
Will heard the wary frown in his father's voice and almost broke down. Drawing a breath, he picked up the phone slowly once more. "Just uh, some signpost in the wind."
"What wind?" Dr. Director asked.
"The wind where me and Hank are," Will replied like it was obvious.
"Be careful with that attitude, young man," Jack warned. "Especially when it comes to your mother."
"I'm trying, okay?! I-I'm really, really trying," Will said. Silence a moment. "Dad?" he finally breached.
"Son," Jack replied.
Will was quiet, staring down at the ground. "It's now or never," Hank quietly said.
"What was that?" Jack asked.
"Just Hank. We stopped to uh, get a pre-dinner snack," Will brushed off.
"Told you you'd like him," Jack said.
"I didn't say I liked him," Will flatly replied. "I'm stuck with him, that's it. And really, really wish I wasn't right now."
Hank huffed a half-laugh and smirked a little, understanding the double entendre immediately. "Nice," he praised.
Will smirked briefly, but the smirk quickly fell. "I want to hate you," he finally, quietly, said to his father. "I want to hate you so, so badly, Jack…"
"Will," Dr. Director immediately and warningly said.
"No. Let him," Jack said, tone tired and low suddenly.
"With every fiber of my being, I want to despise you. I want to curse the very ground you walk on! But every time I feel like I'm getting close to that point, you do something or something happens that pulls me all the way back, and then I realize how far away from hate I actually am even though I want so badly to be right on top of it, but you just… I can't stop loving you. I can't," he said, voice breaking. Jack was quiet. Will sniffed, looking out the window. "I'm sorry I attacked you that night," he finally said, not even bothering to try and stop himself from crying at this point, voice watery. It wasn't fear anymore, though. Now it was just this. This whole f-ed up situation he found himself locked in with the man who'd sired him. A man he loved as much as he hated. "I was just so angry and so scared, and all I wanted to do was hurt you. Gods I wanted to hurt you! So, so badly. I wanted to tear you apart! I wanted to kill you just so it could be over and done with and I wouldn't have to go through anything like that ever again, but I knew I couldn't overpower you and I knew that no matter how badly I managed to physically hurt you, it still wouldn't be enough to even express everything I was feeling in that moment, so I hurt you in the worst way I knew how and stripped everything you loved away! I couldn't take your life physically, even if somehow I'd been able to overpower you, but I could take your metaphorical life because I knew that I was your life! When-when I walked away that night into the rain, I took your world with me, I know that I did, and I'm just… I'm sorry, dad, I'm sorry!"
Jack was silent for a long moment before letting out a shaking breath. "Will…" he began, voice ever so slightly strained.
"I know that nothing will ever be right between us again, not like it was before at least, and I'm sorry we can't make it right no matter how hard we try, I'm sorry nothing we ever do will mend this broken bridge between us to the point it's strong again, but I… I love you, da. I love you as much as I hate you and I'm sorry that I was such a crappy, failure of a son that you had to unleash all the pent-up paternal instincts I denied you on some-some stray off the street!" Will blurted. Hank started and looked offended, frowning at him, but let it go. "I hate him! I hate him because he's everything I should have been to you and more, and he's the son you deserved, and he gives you everything that I should have! Honor, respect, admiration, loyalty, love… Dammit! He gives you everything I threw away and every time I see him with you or hear him talk about you or hear you talk about him, it means staring at myself long and hard in a huge mirror and realizing how pathetically far we've fallen from the bond we used to have that should have always been yours that I stole from you!"
The boy was outright sobbing now. Hank, arms wrapped tight around himself, felt tears burning in his eyes too. Neither of them could see, but both of them could sense by the silence, and the fact the car Will's family had been in had stopped moving, that Jack was probably breaking down on his own end. Dr. Director and Gemini as well, most likely, if they'd actually had to stop to pull over and collect themselves.
Will took a while to compose himself. In the distance, they could hear sirens and helicopters. Will sniffed. "I wish I could promise you I'll do better. That I'll be a better son. That I'll be everything you deserved. That I'll be everything Hank is! I wish-I wish I could fix this and make things right and go back in time and never let any of this happen ever again, but I don't know if I ever can."
Jack sniffed this time, loud enough for them both to hear. "I know, honey. I know," he said, voice breaking.
Oh how well he knew…
"I wish I could have been the father you deserved. I wish you'd never seen the darkness. I wish I could have sheltered and protected you from it forever. I wish I'd been smarter. More careful. Anything that could have-have saved us…" Jack replied.
"I don't know if anything ever could have," Will brokenly replied. Jack sobbed and Will sniffed. "I love you, dad," he quietly said.
"I love you too, sweetie," Jack said.
The sirens were so close now… The car creaked and shifted again. Hank gasped in fear, but Will was beyond the despair event horizon, so to speak.
"I have to go now," Will quietly said.
"Will, are those sirens?" Dr. Director asked, a note of concern seeping into her voice.
"I have to go," Will said, voice even quieter.
"Will? Will?!" Dr. Director demanded.
"Turn on the police scanner!" Gemini sharply ordered, a surge of dread shooting through him. Jack was pale, clutching his wife's phone tightly.
"It'll be okay. Everything will be okay. I promise," Will quietly said.
"Car was run off the cliffs… Vehicle mangled beyond recognition… Dangling above the sea… Two occupants still inside, an eighteen-year-old boy and another male of indeterminate age… Extent of injuries is unknown… No known fatalities, no confirmation of life."
"Will!" Dr. Director screamed.
"Mr. Hench, I'm sorry. I'll get him home alive. I promise," Hank quietly and defeatedly said.
"No! No, no, no. Hank, listen to me, you're getting the both of you out alive, okay? Both of you!" Jack immediately replied. They heard the car start up.
"I'll certainly try, sir," Hank replied, looking uneasily down. The car shifted again, and he gasped. "But it really, really looks like it's one or none right now so uh, blood before water and all that."
"Hank!" Jack shouted.
"I'm certain it'll all work out sir, don't you worry," Hank immediately but too-quickly said, forced pep in his tone as he tried to be reassuring.
"Will, we're coming!" Gemini frantically said.
"Will, open the door and get out of the car," Hank said as it began to slide.
"If I do you go over!" Will argued.
"There's a chance that if we both leave at the same time, we both make it," Hank said.
"There's a bigger one you go down in a ball of flame or get sucked out to sea!" Will replied.
"Agent Du, we don't have time for this! Hang up and do what I say!" Hank shouted.
"I'm not leaving you to die here!" Will replied. "This is all or nothing, Perkins!"
"You're the 'all' to them and I'm the 'nothing', so jump out of the car!" Hank replied.
"Perkins!" Jack shouted, sounding near panic now.
"Goodbye sir. Drive careful! Will's going to be safe and sound before you know it," Hank sang, leaning over and quickly hanging up. Will almost chucked the phone at his head out of spite before stopping himself.
"Why are you so stubborn?!" Will demanded.
"Look who's talking!" Hank argued.
"I'm not going without you!" Will said.
"I can't go!" Hank blurted desperately. Will started, staring at him in shock. "I-I'm pinned, Will. Like, really solidly pinned, and in really, really, really bad shape, and I mean you're in bad shape too, worse than you're letting me know or letting anyone else know, because that was definitely a goodbye call, but at least you can still get out and have a chance!"
"We're both getting out," Will said through clenched teeth.
"I can't," Hank said in defeat.
Will shook his head. That wasn't acceptable. Reaching into his utility belt, he fished around for something, then pulled out a pen. He clicked it and a laser beam shot out. He used it to sever the front part of the wreckage in an effort to free Hank's legs. Hank cried out in pain and Will saw the blood, so he knew this was so, so bad. For both of them.
"You need. To go," Hank said through teeth clenched in pain as urgent shouts sounded out and rescuers made their way down as quickly as they could to try and help them. Hank cried out again as he was freed from the wreckage. At least as much as Will dared to free him. If he got rid of too much, it might mean Hank bleeding out, because it looked like at least one artery had been pierced somehow. The guy was bleeding from the stomach as well… Really, really badly. Will's eyes filled with concern and worry.
Hank couldn't move… He hadn't been kidding when he'd said he couldn't go…
"Go. Please," Hank pled.
"No!" Will replied sharply.
"Then do whatever the hell you think you can do to save us both, but make sure that when it doesn't work, you still get out!" Hank said.
"All or nothing," Will replied.
"You're 'all'," Hank repeated.
"Then all and nothing," Will testily retorted. "Look, just shut up. They're almost here. We're gonna be okay." Hank huffed a laugh that implied he didn't quite believe that. The car jerked again and both shouted as the car began going over, but suddenly they heard metal clasp onto the back bumper, stopping the fall. They dangled precariously now, however. Will let out a breath and hoped said rescuers would still be able to get them out.
KP
Dr. Director tore down the road as fast as was safe. She probably would have been going faster if Gemini hadn't in so many words told her to slow down or they'd just be resources taken away from Will and Hank. Jack had been eerily silent and stoic. The sirens came into view and Dr. Director's heart plummeted. They screeched to a stop not far away and she didn't think, just acted. "Will!" she screamed, parking the vehicle and getting quickly out, racing toward the cliff. Gemini was quick to get out of the car, pursue, and grab her before she tried something stupid like climbing down with no safety equipment. "Will, Will!" she screamed in terror. Jack left the car numbly and went over to the edge, looking down with an expression that was a bit pinched and pained.
Police officers were approaching looking wary, but also concerned. They suspected who they were, it seemed, but still needed to be certain. "Do you know the two young men in the car?" one of the officers asked.
"Parents and uncle," Jack said, willing himself to keep calm and collected.
"How are they? Are they alive?" Gemini anxiously asked, looking over.
"For now. We're trying our best to make sure they stay that way," the officer said. Dr. Director shook her head in denial.
They watched numbly as two stretchers were lowered down from the helicopters and detached for the rescuers. "Older one is worse off but refuses to be moved until the younger is safe," a voice said over the radio.
"Do your best to get them out about the same time," the officer replied. "I'm with the family right now."
Jack's cheek ticked. "What happened to them?" he darkly asked.
"Some street racers tore around the corner heading straight for them. They tried to get out of the way to avoid a head-on, but lost control and went across lanes and over the cliff," the officer replied.
They watched helplessly as the rescuers struggled to save the two young men. Dr. Director let out a pained cry as they finally got Will free and strapped down on the rescue stretcher. Hank was pulled out right after and Jack swallowed tightly, tears threatening his eyes but not falling. The helicopters didn't get involved. He felt like that was wrong, but assumed the rescuers had their reasons. Maybe fear that the wind from the blades would make things more difficult than they needed to be, or blow the mangled remains of the car off the cliff before they could get the boys out.
Using a series of ropes and pulleys, the two cots were slowly brought up. Jack began quickly walking towards them, eyes fixed on the two. The ambulances were waiting, and he picked up the pace, starting to run. He heard Dr. Director and Gemini following, but barely processed them. As the boys were brought up onto the road again, fastened so tight they were absolutely still – assumedly to protect against serious back or neck injuries – Dr. Director, Jack, and Gemini reach them. "Will!" Dr. Director cried.
"William!" Gemini exclaimed, both racing to the boy. Jack stayed back, anxiety building rapidly inside him. Willing his body to move, he approached numbly once more and put a hand on his wife's shoulder. She turned desperately to him.
"Go with Will," he said.
"Jack…" she began.
"Only one can go with him, and I'm not letting Hank ride alone. I'm not pulling you from our son either," Jack said. Betty looked confused, then concerned.
"I'll drive the car and meet you both at the hospital," Gemini said.
Jack nodded and looked painfully at his son. Gently he reached out, running his hand through the boy's hair. Will whimpered and turned his head a bit toward the touch. Jack swallowed tightly, then released him and went to Hank. His heart sank when he saw the condition the young man was in. "I'm riding with this one," he said simply. Hank began stirring with a pained sound, eyes flickering a bit before opening. He started a little on seeing Jack there, then looked anxious. Jack offered him a strained but reassuring smile and gently brushed some hair out of the young man's face. "Well done, Perkins," he said. Hank relaxed a little, nodded, and closed his eyes.