The warm spring weather continued to grace the city even after the two detectives returned from their time out at the cabin. Thousands of colorful flowers bloomed all throughout Detroit in the large parks, in countless flowerbeds, and all along the decorative planters that adorned the sidewalks throughout downtown Detroit. With the new blooms came a rich scent from flowers all of kinds blossoming together that provided a visual reminder of how life would continue to thrive even after enduring such harsh natural conditions and moments of destruction. Such a bright, refreshing and inviting atmosphere made it easy for everyone to venture outdoors and find something to do and somewhere to go during the lovely day.
It didn't long for the two detectives to set about catching up on their chores back home and preparing for their return to work after they unpacked their luggage and thanked Chris for taking care of Sumo while they were gone. Hank and Connor wisely took advantage of the good weather and promptly set about maintaining the Oldsmobile in the driveway to ensure that the car was ready to handle the future spring storms and the steadily increasing heat.
"This old girl's been through a lot." Hank stated proudly as he popped up the hood of the aforementioned vehicle and eyed the car's dirty engine. "But she hasn't let me down yet. Hand me that rag over there, son."
"Why do you insist on maintaining this particular vehicle?" Connor asked as he placed the worn-out red rag down into Hank's awaiting hand. "You could purchase another vehicle that is far more fuel efficient, is capable of Bluetooth connectivity, and can potentially save you a vast amount of money on your monthly insurance payments."
"Because this car still runs, it's fully paid off, and I hate dealing with fickle technology." Giving Connor a glance of his shoulder, Hank acknowledged the deviant's entire being and overall existence. "That doesn't include present company."
"I hope not." Leaning over the engine Connor gave it a quick cybernetic scan and proceeded to list off everything that'd need to be fixed or tweaked in order to ensure the aged vehicle ran properly. "It seems that we'll need to do more than a simple oil change today."
"Oh?" Hank flashed Connor a mischievous grin and proceeded to check the oil level by examining the dipstick. "Hate to break it to ya', but checking over the car is MY chore for the day. As in, I'm going to spend all long giving this ol' beauty the treatment she deserves entirely by myself."
"You don't want my assistance?" There was a genuine offense to Connor's words as his blue L.E.D. flashed to yellow for a beat. "May I ask why?"
"It's nothing personal, kid. I just enjoy working on cars as a sort of hobby, AND you're still healing from your damage. I don't want you physically exerting yourself."
"I no longer require any bandages since my lacerations have all properly healed." Connor's palm rested over his chest for a moment as he tried to not think about how he had been buried alive by a lunatic and nearly perished as a result just a few days prior. "I'm entirely capable of assisting you in maintaining the Oldsmobile."
"Your physical wounds have healed, but you're still dealing with your mental and emotional wounds." Speaking with an impressive amount of empathy and insight, Hank reminded Connor that he went through a traumatic experience and deserved all the time in the world to recover. "It's a beautiful day today, which is why I want to work on the car. Why don't you head into town and find something to do and enjoy yourself out in this good weather?"
Drawing an immediate blank Connor resisted the urge to fidget with his coin as he sought further information from his adopted father. "...Such as?"
"I dunno'." Returning the dipstick to where it belonged Hank tried to think of something to do while also concentrating on his work. "Take a trip to the park. Walk along the river. Go fly a kite!"
"Perhaps I should take Sumo to the dog park."
"You ALWAYS take Sumo to the dog park. Go do something new." Eager to set to work Hank walked around the side of the car and gave Connor's upper arm a light pat before handing the deviant a few dollars from the wallet he always kept in his back pocket. "In fact, I want you to go out to the city, find something new to do, AND I want you to buy something special for yourself. If you don't come back with something new in your hands by sunset, then I'm going to mess with your Thirium and give you a bunch of mystery flavors to suffer through for the next six months!"
"That seems both excessive and petty."
"Yup, sure is." Slapping the bills down into Connor's hand Hank practically turned the deviant around a full 180 degrees where he stood, and then pushed him toward the end of the driveway toward the sidewalk. "Go on, enjoy your day. I'll be here when ya' get back."
"All right, if you insist. I'll return by sunset."
"Cool. See you then."
Money in hand, Connor made his way toward the sidewalk and slipped the bills into his pocket as he casually strolled toward the heart of the city. Being a deviant meant Connor could easily walk wherever he needed to go without getting tired, and it gave him the chance to directly enjoy the nice weather without needing to observe it through an obstructive windshield instead.
It didn't take Connor long to return to the shopping plaza downtown and find himself back where he had been initially attacked and abducted only a few days ago. The sight of the damage to the numerous stores caused by the riots having already been mended and repainted was somehow eerie. It was as if Connor had set foot on forbidden ground and was trespassing where he'd never be welcome. The negative association with the area was sure to linger in Connor's heart and mind for years to come if he didn't take any steps to overcome his past trauma.
"I was taken by a single vindictive person while working in broad daylight."
Connor looked at the alleyway where he had ventured and had been subsequently lured into a trap. It was such a simple thing, and yet Connor had failed to react appropriately when he willingly walked into the isolated location without any form of back-up, or his weapon already drawn.
"How could I do something so foolish? I should've known better."
Unable to stand being in the area any longer Connor clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides and bowed his head in misplaced shame. Marching down the sidewalk Connor was determined to get away from the uncomfortable space and find something new to do and a new area to explore without any negative association to taint the experience. He needed to do something beyond think about work or his past mistakes.
Just as the shaken deviant made it out of the plaza and reached an area of the city that was full of hotels, restaurants and a casino, Connor overheard a familiar voice loudly complaining to herself just down the street and the shrill cry of an upset baby. Focusing on the commotion Connor recognized Tina standing beside a smoking car pulled up along the street with a small baby crying in her arms even as she tried to soothe their distress.
"Officer Chen?"
"Connor!" Tina looked relieved to see Connor approaching her and adjusted the fussing baby to rest against her other shoulder as she continued to rub their back lightly and shush them in a soft whisper. "Man, am I glad to see you. And we're both off the clock, so just call me Tina. Hell, only call me Tina even when we are on the clock. It's just weird to be referred to my title all the time."
"I'll make a note of that." Connor stood beside Tina and scanned over the smoking vehicle with a grimace on his face. The engine had overheated and was on the verge of throwing a rod that'd cause a very costly, if not irreparable, damage to the engine entirely. "It seems you're experiencing a serious car malfunction. Do you require assistance?"
"Tow truck's on the way, but now I have to think of a 'plan B' for my day out with my niece."
"Niece?"
"My little sister Sasha's daughter. Mei, this is Connor." Lightly Tina readjusted Mei so that she could cradle her niece and allow the six-month-old baby to see Connor's face through her tears as she introduced her to the always helpful deviant detective. "Connor, this is Mei. Isn't she beautiful?"
"Yes, she is very pretty." Connor looked at the little baby and took in her appearance with a thorough intrigue. Mei had raven black hair that was just long enough to have a bright purple bow to hold a single collected lock atop her head. She also had dark blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and an impressive set of lungs considering her size. "I was unaware that you had become an aunt."
"Sasha's never been one to be super social and make big deals out of her accomplishments, so I kept things quiet on my end out of respect. But today..." Tina gave her tiny niece a big kiss on her cheek and finally quieted the baby's cries. "I get to show Mei off to anyone I want! Sasha agreed to let me take the baby for the day so that she and her hubby could have a nice day just together. It's hard to make time for romance once the family starts to grow, you know?"
"No. I wouldn't know anything about that."
"Anyway, I had planned on taking Mei out to the new 'kid-nasium' on the other side of town, but with my car out of commission and my lack of willingness to move Mei's car seat into the backs of autonomous cabs all day long, have left us without a new plan of action."
"That is unfortunate."
"Nah, it just means we need to get creative." Thinking on her feet Tina gave Mei a small smile and then looked up at Connor with a sly gleam in her eyes. "Do me a favor... Thanks!"
Without waiting for an invitation Tina passed Mei over to Connor's arms and proceeded to pull Mei's diaper bag and a stuffed koala bear from the backseat to carry instead. Once she had the bag and bear in her possession Tina made a move to take Mei back for herself but froze when she saw the way Connor was staring down at her niece with genuine intrigue and raw kindness in his gaze.
"Hey, have you ever spent the day with a kid before?"
"Beyond rescuing a child in distress, no." As he spoke Connor tilted his head slightly as Mei reached up and curiously touched his nose and cheek with her small and soft hand. The deviant found it fascinating that the baby had no fear of him and just seemed to be curious about the new person who had entered her life. "I have not spent any constructive time with children."
"Really? Want to spend the day with me and Mei?" Eager to have a new playmate for the afternoon, Tina tried to entice Connor into joining her during her day out with Mei before needing to drop the baby off with her mother. "I'd love to hear your opinion on who'd be the superior detective when comparing Sherlock Holmes to Batman."
"...I have nowhere I need to be today." Connor admitted with some reluctance as he wasn't sure what to expect. Then again, he'd be able to enjoy his day and do something new just as Hank had essentially ordered him to do. "I could join you and Mei today for a few hours."
"Great! Let's head over to the local park and chill in the grass." Casually Tina looped her arm around Connor's arm and watched as the deviant seemed to instinctively know how to keep Mei properly supported in his arms without needing any guidance. "I also want to hear all about your vacation away from the city. From what Chris told me, it sounds like you and the Lieutenant found a perfect hideout to avoid workplace drama and stress, and I want to know where to start looking for when I earn a little more vacation time."
Riverside Park was full of laughter as children ran about playing games together and climbed all over the equipment that was painted in bright colors and given unique shapes to inspire creativity. The warm and sunny day had brought out the best in people from all over the city. There was no sign of violence, aggression or even the slightest hint of bitter resentment from anyone as the diverse Detroiters gathered together just to have some fun and forget about their usual stress regarding the city as a whole. In a way, it was as if everyone in Detroit had called for an unspoken truce and willingly put aside their differences for the sake of a single day of peace and harmony for the sake of their loved ones.
Tina had found a nice shady spot beneath a large tree in the park and promptly sat down to hold Mei and help her young niece become more comfortable with being out in a new place and without her parents to protect her. The loving young woman was never one to hold a grudge or discriminate against anyone, and she had no problem with being seen in public with a baby or a deviant android while she too set about enjoying the glorious spring day.
"Oh, Mei, you're just too tiny and cute!" Tina cooed as she laid Mei over her lap after stretching out her legs before herself. The six-month-old just giggled and smiled up at her loving aunt as she too enjoyed the warm spring day. "Makes me want to have a dozen little ones of my own someday!"
"Twelve children?" Such a high number left Connor perplexed as he sat down beside Tina and observed Mei with a curious eye. "That seems a little extreme."
"Not for me it isn't. I think that's part of the reason it's been so hard for me to find 'Mr. Right'." Softly Tina pulled on Mei's hands and gave her niece's tiny knuckles gentle kisses that just made Mei giggle even louder. "Not too many guys actually want to do the dirty work when it comes to raising children."
"Illogical." Connor stated rather bluntly as he looked out at the park and watched the dozens of parents running about and playing with their own children. "To be willing to participate in the creation of new life without actually taking responsibility for said new life is incredibly foolish, selfish and irresponsible."
"Oh, Connor... Honey, sweetie, my dear innocent summer-child, you have NO idea how illogical and foolish humans can be."
"Actually, I have a fairly good idea of the illogical behavior of humans." Without a shred of smugness Connor leaned back against the tree trunk and peered out at the Ambassador Bridge stretching over the Detroit River while connecting the United States to Canada on the other side. It was at that very park where Hank had gotten drunk and challenged Connor's personal resolve after Connor had chosen to not pursue the fleeing 'Tracis' from the Eden Club two years prior. "I believe I've worked with enough humans for long enough in general to truly appreciate the willful stubborn and ignorance of humanity."
"Ooh... If I didn't know you any better, I'd say you just insulted my entire species." Tina replied with an amused grin. "But I'm very aware of my species, and I know you're just speaking the truth. So, I'm not going to argue with you."
Mei's giggling began to shift over to discontented grunts and immediately caught her aunt's ear.
"Uh-oh, someone's getting hungry. Good thing your amazing Auntie Tina packed you some extra formula just for such an occasion."
"How do you know that Mei is hungry?" The question was entirely sincere. Intrigued by the interaction Connor ran a biometric scan over Mei but failed to find anything regarding the little baby's vital signs that'd indicate something so specific without Mei somehow expressing her needs verbally. "Human infants are capable of inarticulate 'babbling' at approximately six months of age. They are not capable of expressing any actual and clear words of communication."
"Because I know my niece." Without missing a beat Tina reached for the diaper bag and located the thermally contained pouch on the side containing the bottle of pre-made formula. After securing a clean top and grabbing a clean towel, Tina cradled Mei in her arms and watched as her niece took to the bottle quickly. "See?"
"How could you know such a thing? Being able to discern one inarticulate sound from another identical inarticulate sound seems impossible."
"That's the special thing about bonding with babies. You just get to know them in a way that lets you communicate without needing to say a word." Tina began to softly hum to Mei as she fed the little baby and offered her a finger to wrap her little hand around. "I know that androids that look like children were created by CyberLife and are now free just like you and the other deviants, but did CyberLife ever create androids that resembled infants?"
"Only to be used for therapy sessions regarding past traumas and as education tools in hospitals and schools. The infant model was extremely rare and readily discontinued when many humans found the entire idea of caring for an infant android to be controversial."
"So, they aren't around anymore?"
"CyberLife records to claimed to have deactivated and dismantled all infant models, but it wouldn't be shocking if at least one of the models managed to elude recall and deactivation."
"That sounds horrible. Deactivating anything that looks, sounds and acts so alive and innocent is just all kinds of fucked up."
"Which is why Markus had decided to forbid any future activation of the children model of androids. They are far too vulnerable in the world, and without any means of 'growing up', they are unable to fend for themselves and live without an adult deviant or a human family to shelter them during the entirety of their existence."
"They sound so much like human children it's a little scary." Tina's observation was as keen as it was empathetic. With a ginger motion Tina moved Mei to her shoulder to lean against the soft towel and proceeded to rub and lightly pat the baby's back. "Do deviants like kids? I mean, I know everyone's different and that some people are more comfortable around kids than others, but it seems like deviants wouldn't be too interested in human children."
"Many deviants do in fact like children. Markus has spoken of his personal desire to raise a human child and aid them in becoming a happy, healthy member of society." It was then Connor wondered if Markus's strong bond with the late Carl Manfred had any influence on his future plans or not. "Markus lived with a very kind human who treated him like family, arguably like a son. I suspect that very kindness is the motivation behind his desires."
"Really? That's so sweet." Tina felt and Mei let out a small burp and laughed a little as she made sure the little baby was ready to resume eating before offering her the bottle a second time. "What about you? You're such a caring kind of guy, and I know the Lieutenant's been treating you like family. Do you think you'd want to raise a child of your own someday."
"I... am not sure. Even so, it wouldn't matter." As he spoke Connor found himself fascinated by the way Mei just settled into her loving aunt's arms without a single fear or care in the world. "While the new rights and laws allow deviants to be legally represented as the family, heirs and medical proxies of humans throughout the entire nation, the laws allowing us to legally adopt children have not yet been altered. Until such laws are recognized I have no reason to contemplate a potential future decision such as that."
"That's dumb. If deviants can be legally seen as members of a human's family regarding wills and important medical decisions, then deviants should be legally seen as parents. Some of the kindest and most caring people I've ever met are deviants, and I know for a fact that the world would be better for everyone if deviants took on the role of parents for the next generation."
"What makes you say such a bold statement?"
"For one, you guys don't have fucked up childhoods that'll affect your ability to raise children. You may have had traumatic experiences," Tina elaborated as she continued to cradle Mei and make sure the baby didn't drink too fast and upset her tummy. "but you won't be stuck in an abusive cycle repeating the same mistakes as your parents. You also won't teach your future offspring to hate other people just for existing, or treat people different based on race, gender, religious beliefs or sexual identity."
"Dare I ask if you're speaking from personal experience?"
"No, my parents were great. My papa died when I was a teen and mama raised me and Sasha alone after that, but we weren't traumatized. We were loved every day of our lives, and we knew it without any doubts." With Mei now taken care of Tina decided to just hold the baby to her shoulder and rub her back again to try to lull her little niece into taking a nap. "I do have a friend who loves kids and would like to be a parent someday, but he's worried he'll mess the kid up since his parents were really messed up. I've reminded him countless times that cycles of abuse can be broken, but he doesn't want to chance it."
"It seems to me that your friend's awareness of how repeating his own parents' past actions can have dire consequences implies that he'd be an excellent parent."
"That's what I said, too! I just wish Gavin would-" Tina stopped suddenly and blushed a bright red as she realized she accidentally revealed one of Gavin's more vulnerable sides behind his back. "Damn it, I shouldn't have said that. Please don't let Gavin know I was talking about this, it'd crush him. He doesn't trust many people, and I don't want to ruin our friendship."
"I assure you that I will not speak of this moment with Gavin. It was a simple mistake on your part, not anything intentionally malicious." As he spoke Connor saw residual fear in Tina's eyes and decided to quell her worries entirely. "Also, deviants don't gossip. We only discuss matters that are truly relevant to situations of utmost importance. Your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks, you're a good friend." Relief washed over Tina as she realized that her mistake wasn't going to cost her anything. It was nice to have another friend to confide in without any fear of being the unintentional source of gossip. "You know, with that type of understanding and empathy, you'd be a great father, too."
"A father?" Such a concept caused Connor's blue L.E.D. to flicker to yellow as the very idea sent his head spinning. Deviants had only just recently been recognized as living beings, let alone being given the chance to take care of life itself. "I'm not even sure if I'd want to have children in my life at this point. I still have a lot to learn as an individual, and I'm not sure how I'd adapt to having a child to care for."
"So what? Sasha and her husband weren't expecting to have Mei in their lives after being married for just one year, yet her she is, and they couldn't imagine their lives without her." The sight of Mei drifting off to sleep as she snuggled into Tina's shoulder made Tina smile brightly. "Sometimes the best moments in life don't have to be planned, and the people you end up loving the most just seem to show up in your life completely out of nowhere."
"Even if deviants were to be given the rights to adopt human children and raise them as our own, that won't override the fact that I don't know how to raise children or how to be a father."
"Like all parents just know how to be parents the second the baby pops into the world." The good humor in Tina's voice was enough to make the entire notion of becoming a parent or guardian seem impressively simple. "You'd just do what you're doing every day of your life right now; you'd learn!"
"That is a reasonable outlook, but that doesn't seem like a logical decision. To take on something as important as raising a child without any certainty of even wanting to take on the role of a parent is too risky for the child."
"See? You already have the right instincts as a parent."
"I appreciate your confidence, but there's one very important thing that you're forgetting."
"Let me guess: You're worried about finding a spouse to help you parent a future child, and to do so as a loving team."
"...Yes, that is correct." The way Tina picked up on what he was suggesting was actually very impressive. "I don't have anyone like that in my life, and I'm not sure if I ever will."
"Love is everywhere! It also has an amazing ability to just pop up and take over your life seemingly out of nowhere." As if to emphasize her point Tina motioned to Mei with just her eyes as she gave Connor a knowing smile. "I had no idea how much this little one would impact my life until I got to meet her and hold her for the first time in the hospital. I may not have a spouse or even a significant other at the moment, but that doesn't mean I won't find them someday. Could be in a year, a month, a week, tomorrow, or even sometime tonight. Love is fickle and amazing like that."
"I'll take your word for it. I don't really know how it feels to love someone."
"Really? There isn't a single person who just pops up in your mind every now and then with seemingly no reason, and then you feel your heart get all warm, fluttery and feel yourself smiling for no reason? I don't believe you."
The question made Connor blush a pale blue as a special deviant immediately came to mind. "Well..."
"I knew it!"
"There is someone that I occasionally think about, but I doubt she thinks of me in the same way."
"Is she someone I know?"
"No. She is a deviant residing at New Jericho Tower."
"How do you know her?"
"I rescued her. She was one of the deviants who had been trapped in the 'Eden Club', then managed to run away to freedom." Telling the story made Connor's eyes lit up and he subconsciously put his palm over his chest. There was seemingly a flutter in his heart that felt warm to the touch. "After she had been taken by a dangerous man over the Canadian border, I helped her to escape back to Detroit, and she's been in the tower ever since. And I do think of her every so often without any provocation."
"Do you talk to her?"
"Not as much as I'd like to."
"Why's that?"
"I doubt she'd want to talk to me." Their bleak introduction wasn't one that Connor truly cared to discuss for obvious reasons. "We have a strenuous past, and I'd just bring up bad memories for her."
"Then give her a reason to have good memories of you instead." Tina insisted as she gave Mei a kiss on her cheek and was rewarded with a tiny, adoring smile in return. "Reach out to her, talk to her, and befriend her. If you don't at least try to do that, you'll regret it for the rest of your life and keep wondering about what could've been your life, and your future."
Connor was quiet for a minute as he contemplated Tina's advice and wondered if taking the first bold step to reach out to that special deviant would in fact pay off and allow him to create a new friend and even a romantic relationship in the future. Dealing with romance wasn't something that Connor was particularly experienced with. The last time he had let himself open his heart to a possible relationship he had felt it break when he learned that the deviant he had developed affection toward was already spoken for. It hurt to be rejected, and Connor couldn't bear the idea of being rejected yet again.
"I'll consider reaching out." Breaking his silence Connor gave Tina a confident nod and watched as she showered her niece with affection. "I'm not sure when exactly, but I will try."
"Trying is all that matters. Here, take Mei from me for a minute." Using a slow and smooth motion Tina passed Mei over to Connor and made sure he had the towel over his own shoulder in case Mei spit-up despite taking a nice nap. "I want to make sure she has a fresh bottle in case she gets hungry again before we head for home, and I'm going to check with the garage on my car's repairs."
Connor managed to mirror Tina's pose as he held Mei for himself again. Copying Tina's every move, Connor supported the baby in his arm and against his shoulder while also rubbing his free palm lightly along the baby's back. Being able to hold the baby gave Connor a strange sense of warmth and comfort that he couldn't explain. It was as if a part of him that had been unknowingly missing was being momentarily filled just by holding Mei. He liked holding the baby, and he liked the idea of being able to help take care of her even for a few humble hours.
The memories of helping the woman who had been stranded in a broken-down autonomous taxi while in labor flooded Connor's mind as he realized that warm feeling of holding Mei was one that he had felt before. Holding the crying newborn baby and keeping her safe from the rain was one of the few precious memories that Connor had when it came to helping an innocent civilian in distress. Being able to witness the birth of a new life gave the openminded and big-hearted deviant a true appreciation of the delicacy and fragility of life as a whole. It was an incredible moment that Connor would reflect upon for years to come.
It was then the darker memory of being trapped in the collapsing well after rescuing a trapped little boy came to the surface. Ricky wasn't an infant, but he was still a helpless child who was trapped, scared, and just wanted to go home. Had Connor not descended into the well and protected him from the second collapse, Ricky would've perished and there would've been no way to help his surviving family heal from such a tragic loss. The threat of losing an innocent child during a freak accident was one that Connor would always be prepared for after surviving the dramatic rescue alongside Ricky himself.
After seeing Hank struggling to keep living after losing Cole made it undoubtedly clear that the loss of a family member, specifically a child, would cause a pain that'd never truly go away. No one could possibly protect their child from all the evils of the world, and no one could thwart death itself. Having already lost Lucas, his own little brother, gave Connor a taste of that type of pain, and it was a taste that he wished he could rid from his mouth as he tried to keep living without the guilt of being able to protect Lucas from holding him back. Connor had made peace with the fact that he couldn't have done anything more to save Lucas, but that peace didn't free him of his pain.
"Bottle's done, and I can go pick up my car in an hour. Everything's working out just fine for everyone." Tina announced as she made sure the fresh bottle of formula was secured in the thermal pouch and wouldn't leak inside of the bag. Casually Tina knelt down beside Connor once more and prepared to take Mei back for a few minutes, but the sight of Connor holding the baby with an emotional gleam in his soulful brown eyes gave her pause. "Connor, are you okay? You look like you're about to cry."
"I'm... not going to say that I'm fine, but I'm not emotionally distraught either." The admission sounded heavy as it passed over Connor's lips. "I was merely processing the emotional depth of my past experiences with both children and personal familial tragedy. I'm not sure if I could handle such a pain if I were to experience it again."
"You never forget about your loved ones, even when they're no longer a part of your life. I think about my papa all the time, and I dream about him almost every night." A loving smile graced Tina's lips as she opened up to Connor about her own past issues. "Mama and I often wonder how he'd react to being a grandfather, but we'll never know for sure. We know he'd be happy and adore Mei, and yet that knowledge alone isn't the same as actually experiencing it."
"I dream about Lucas." Connor looked down at Mei as she slept peacefully with her cheek being pressed into his supportive shoulder. It was such a sweet sight and gave Connor a strange desire to protect Mei from any potential threat despite being in a safe family park. "We have the chance to speak to each other despite him no longer being a part of the world. It makes it easier for me to move on from that horrible day."
"What do you talk about?" Sitting down beside Connor on the grass, Tina looked at Mei and couldn't help but notice that Connor was very subtly rocking from side to side to keep Mei content as she napped. How he knew to do that was beyond her, but she wasn't going to complain. "I always tell my papa about my days at work, how we all miss him working at the diner, and how I can't wait to see him again someday way, WAY down the road."
"I talk to Lucas about my cases at the precinct, what's happening at New Jericho, and of how well Hank is doing in his sobriety. We're both proud of Hank for being able to overcome his addiction to alcohol and remain sober even when being faced with stressful situations."
"He's a good man who got stuck dealing with too many bad situations. I'm glad you ended up in his life." As she spoke Tina saw a ghost of smile appear on Connor's face as he continued to admire Mei and the way the small baby was just an innocent new life who had the entire world for her to experience on her own terms. "I don't think he'd still be around without you here to remind him of how important he is."
"I don't think I'd be where I am today without his guidance. While I've never had a childhood, I imagine that the way Hank's treated me since we befriended each other is reminiscent of how a father would treat their own child." Connor found himself looking down at Mei again and wondering how much different his life would be without Hank's friendship and paternal protection. "I truly appreciate everything Hank's done for me, and how he's treated me. He's been an amazing mentor and father figure."
"You'd be a great mentor and father too." Tina insisted as she pulled a small blanket from the diaper bag and draped it over Mei's back and Connor's hand to ensure that her niece was perfectly warm and comfortable. "You just need to find that special someone in your life to start a new family with. Don't give up on finding someone you want to share the rest of your life with. That's a special kind of connection that isn't like anything else in this whole world."
Connor admired Mei napping peacefully in his arms and against his shoulder and knew that even without any past experience that Tina was right. Having a special person in his life would be a journey worth taking, and having a family of his own someday would be a challenge he'd be happy to adapt to.
The peaceful day had come to an end with an unexpected yet welcome feeling of warmth, growth and promise for the future surging in the air. After escorting Tina to the local garage to retrieve her car, Connor returned home on foot with his friend's words of advice bouncing around inside his mind. The day had been surprisingly informative and left a positive impact on Connor's mind and his still growing heart. Being given such optimistic hope for his own future had reinvigorated Connor's determination to keep making a positive change on the city and for his people by being an honest detective in a dishonest world. It also gave Connor the motivation he needed to stop hiding away inside himself to avoid uncomfortable social situations, and to embrace his unique personality melding with the lives and routines of the very people he swore to protect.
Flicking his coin up into the air and catching it in his palm in a rhythmic pattern, Connor strolled up the driveway of the house just in time to see Hank slam down the hood of the Oldsmobile and wipe the grease from his hands onto the old red rag for the final time. The way Hank acknowledged Connor's return home with a very faint but sincerely happy smile only encouraged Connor to keep moving forward and dare to leave his comfort zone more often to ensure he continued to adapt and grow as his own person.
"Good timing, son." Hank watched the coin flip into the air one last time before Connor caught it was a swift hand and slip the old quarter into his pocket out of sight and safekeeping. "So, what did you do today? You're empty-handed, and I'm not the type to bluff with my threats."
"I spent the day accompanying Tina at Riverside Park while she babysat her niece. And I did buy something, I purchased Mei a small stuffed dog." Connor held up his palm and showed Hank a holographic image of Mei being cuddled by Tina and her new toy as if offering up a piece of evidence. "I've never babysat a child before, which means I did something knew as you very strongly suggested that I do."
"Huh, didn't expect you to come back home with a tale of babysitting." Laughing to himself Hank motioned for Connor to join him inside the house and relax for the evening. They'd have to return to work in the morning, and he didn't want to be too tired to arrive at the precinct on time. "How'd ya' like it?"
"I found Mei to be... amazing. She is special."
"All babies have that kind of impression on people."
"To me, she is truly special and always will be." As he set foot inside the livingroom Connor saw Sumo curled up on his pillow in the corner of the livingroom and promptly picked up the dog's green fetch ball to roll to the Saint Bernard and entice Sum into a game of fetch. "When we're not at the precinct, I'd like to begin spending more time at New Jericho Tower."
"Oh, yeah? Good." A hearty pat to the deviant's shoulder confirmed that Hank fully supported Connor's plans. "They need ya' out there to keep everyone in line."
"The tower isn't unruly, but it could stand to have a more frequent police presence to remind the other deviants that they are still being protected."
"Damn right. We won't let anything happen to that tower if we can help it."
"I'd also like to try to be more social." Walking past Sumo still laying on his pillow but now chewing on the ball, Connor gave Sumo a quick ear rub, then entered the kitchen to begin cooking dinner since he was the mood to try a new recipe just for Hank to enjoy. "I have no issues with talking to people when it's necessary for an investigation, and yet when it comes to one-on-one interactions, I feel very uneasy."
"Being sometimes socially awkward is very human, son." Hank joined Connor in the kitchen to wash up his hands in the sink and keep an eye on what his health-conscious son was going to prepare for dinner that night. "You're actually doing pretty damn good at coming out of your shell, so don't stress too much about it."
"Even so, I want to be more open to developing new friendships and stronger relationships." Connor began thinking about that special deviant again and felt his heart flutter in his chest. "I'd hate to think that I'd let an opportunity to love and grow pass me by because I let uncertainty of a new experience keep me from opening my heart and sharing it with something truly special. Someone I'd unconditionally love for the rest of my life without a single regret to hold me back from the best moments of my life is something I want."
Hank turned off the sink and gave Connor a truly proud smile as he casually gave the deviant's shoulder a small shake before stepping out of the kitchen to head off and take a quick shower. The man didn't need to say a single word that Connor hadn't already said. Seeing the way his son was growing up, changing for the better, and fearlessly facing the world made Hank truly proud to call Connor his son, and he knew he had done everything right as a father.
In time, perhaps that guidance would be shared with a new generation that'd know only love and support as they too took on the world.
-next chapter-