Another day, another mission, another chance to kill or be killed.

Sanford and Deimos leave their room.

"Man, I swear, there was chemistry between me and her." Deimos exclaims, raising his arms.

Sanford scoffs. "You're telling me that there was chemistry between you and an 'Against Hank' agent?"

"Yeah! And it could have turned into a beautiful love story if you didn't shoot her at sight!"

"She was about to stab your head."

"I was about to ask her out. She probably was going to change her mind."

Sanford sighs. "Deimos, you're delusional."

They go to the living room and find Loid working on his workspace.

Deimos raises an eyebrow. "Working already kid? Damn, you lose no time."

Lois shrugs. "I just don't like to waste time." He turns to them, revealing a big bruise on his face.

Sanford and Deimos look at him a bit surprised.

"Dude… Is that a hickey?"

Sanford and Loid stares at Deimos for a second. Sanford turns to Loid. "Kiddo, where did you get that bruise?"

Loid looks at him thinking for a second. "... I was walking to the fridge at night when I tripped on a chair and fell face down on a table."

Silence settles between them for a moment before Deimos starts laughing. "Bro, you can't be serious? You're seriously that dumb?"

As Deimos laughs, Loid just turns back to his work.

After a few moments, Hanks comes from his room with a tired and annoyed expression behind his mask. "The fuck is going on? What is all this laughing about?"

Sanford looks over at Hank, his expression caught between amusement and confusion. "Morning, Hank. Seems like Loid here had a little… accident last night."

Hank's eyes flick from Sanford to Loid, lingering on the dark bruise on Loid's face. He narrows his gaze, recalling their tense encounter the night before and the punch he launched at Loid.

Loid shrugs. "Don't worry. It's nothing. I messed up, and took the consequence of my actions. It's alright." His calm gaze makes it obvious to Hank that he didn't forget the hit but still somewhat isn't mad at it.

Hank stares at Loid for a moment, the weight of last night's encounter still heavy in his mind. He opens his mouth to speak, but something in Loid's calm demeanor catches him off guard. The kid's not mad? Not even a hint of resentment in his eyes? Hank feels a bad feeling in his chest, a feeling he's pretty sure he never felt.

Hank grunts, his voice low and gruff. "Messing up, huh? You sure about that, kid?"

Loid meets his gaze without hesitation, his tone even. "Yeah. I tripped. It happens. Sorry for getting hurt, I guess..."

Hank stands there for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he tries to gauge Loid's sincerity. The bruise on the kid's face should have been a sign of something more, but Loid's nonchalant attitude makes it hard for Hank to read him.

"Tripped, huh?" Hank mutters, his voice rough. "Sure you didn't just—" He cuts himself off, eyes flicking to Deimos, who's still snickering under his breath. "Forget it."

Deimos, noticing the tension in the room, leans against the wall, arms crossed. "Yeah, Loid. Whatever you say, man. Can't believe you're taking all this like a—"

"Shut up, Deimos." Hank cuts dry. He goes to the kitchen and returns with a small pack of ice. He presses it against Loid's bruise. "Be more careful next time. We won't need you if you get hurt all the time."

Loid sits still as Hank presses the ice against his bruise, the cold compress feeling oddly soothing despite the tension hanging in the air.

"Don't act like you care." Loid says quietly, his voice flat but not cold.

Hank, after a long pause, finally pulls the ice away and looks at Loid. "I'm not doing this for you, kid," he mutters, his voice low and heavy with something unreadable. "Just making sure you don't get in the way when shit goes down next time. Can't afford to have you out of commission."

Loid doesn't flinch at Hank's words. He simply nods, his face unreadable, before turning his attention back to his workspace. "Thanks for the ice, I guess."

Deimos, still leaning against the wall, crosses his arms with a grin. "Damn, Hank, you actually embraced the single-father role. You almost look like a happy family."

Hank and Loid stare at Deimos for a second.

"... Can I taze him?" Lex asks with a taser on his hand.

Hank sighs and shakes his head. "No, he's going on a mission in a few minutes."

"Got it."

Hank turns to Loid. "And you're going on a mission with me to recover some papers for the S.Q."

Loid raises an eyebrow, curious at Hank's decision. "... why exactly?"

Hank's eyes narrow slightly, the weight of his decision settling in. "Because I said so." He mutters, his tone low and firm. "You're coming along. We'll see if you can handle yourself out there."

Loid stares at Hank and sighs. "Fine… At least turn my body into ashes if I die."

[LATER]

Loid and Hank are on a small A.A.H.W base.

As they hide in a vent, Hank looks to Loid in curiosity. "... Why?"

Loid glances over at Hank, trying to read his expression. "Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell Deimos and Sanford that I punched you?" Hank's voice is barely a whisper in the confined space of the vent. "They wouldn't make fun of you."

Loid shrugs. "I know, but they would judge you. If I told you punched me in the face they probably would judge you for that, and I didn't want that." He pauses for a second. "I don't expect you to regret, but I hope for it, and if there is the minimal chance for you to regret it, I don't want to make you be judged for something you regret."

Hank stares at Loid, momentarily caught off guard by the kid's unexpected sense of loyalty, or maybe it's just some odd, twisted sense of logic. Loid's words sink in, and Hank feels that feeling again, but he identifies it and it's worrying: it's guilt.

"You don't need to cover for me," Hank mutters, his voice low. "I don't care if they judge me."

Loid studies Hank's face, a flicker of empathy softening his gaze. "Maybe you don't care, but I do. People are quick to judge, and they don't always get the whole picture. Not everyone deserves a label over one mistake." He hesitates, looking down at the vents below them. "Even if you hit me, I know you're not just a brute. You're… complicated."

Hank's jaw tightens. He's used to people seeing him as a weapon, a tool for violence, not someone with depth. Loid's words cut through the noise in his head, forcing him to look at himself in a way he's not used to. "You talk like you actually know who I am. But you don't, kid. All you know is what you see on the surface."

Loid glances at Hank, unbothered by his gruff tone. "Maybe I don't know you as much as I think I do. But from what I've seen, you're more than just a blunt instrument. I pay attention to the way people are, beneath the surface. And you… you're not as empty as you make yourself out to be. Everyone has their own deepth, even you."

Hank grunts, turning away, but his grip tightens on his weapon. "Thinking too much about people gets you killed, kid. Out here, it's not about depth; it's about survival."

Loid gives a quiet laugh. "I get it. But just because we're out here doesn't mean we can't try to understand each other. This life doesn't mean we have to shut down completely."

Hank scoffs, a hint of bitterness in his tone. "Understanding each other doesn't change a damn thing. It's still kill or be killed. Out here, being soft gets you nothing but dead."

Loid leans back slightly, his gaze drifting as he considers Hank's words. "Agreed, but I think understanding each other makes it easier to endure each other's presence. And what would you lose allowing yourself to be understanded? It's not like I'm going to tell anyone."

Hank stays silent for a long moment. Loid's persistence is starting to gnaw at him in a way he's not used to. He's never been one to entertain this kind of conversation, never been one to allow himself to be understood.

"Fine." Hank mutters, finally breaking the silence. "I get it. But don't think for a second that I'm gonna change. I'm not here for therapy. I'm here to get the job done. And if you can't keep up, I'll leave you behind."

Loid nods. "Fair enough. But just know that… I'm not going to judge you. I'll just do my job. And I'll be here if you need someone to talk to. Or if you don't." He glances at Hank with a small, almost imperceptible shrug. "Your call."

The vent is silent as Loid's words linger in the air. Hank shifts uncomfortably, feeling a sense of unease that's different from the usual tension he's used to on missions. There's something unsettling about Loid's offer of understanding, something Hank isn't sure he's ready to accept.

A noise below them catches their attention, snapping them both back to the present. Hank holds up a hand, signaling Loid to be quiet, and listens. The faint sound of footsteps and muffled voices drift up to them, A.A.H.W. agents just beneath their hiding spot.

Hank's focus sharpens, his instincts kicking in. "Ready?" he whispers, his eyes hardening.

Loid nods, his earlier calm shifting into steely resolve. "Always."

Hank nods. They jump out of the vent and begin shooting the agents they see, not leaving a single one alive in the room. When they finish, they move to the next, to the next, to the next, Hank with his combat skills and Loid with his intelligence and modified guns.

As they enter the last room of the building, Loid searches for the papers and finds them. Hank takes them in his hands and looks with certain annoyance.

Loid notices Hank's annoyance behind his mask. "What is it?"

"Dunno. I was expecting something more… exciting. My last days were quite quirky, but this mission was rather… quick and boring."

Loid looks at Hank thoughtfully. "... I got an idea."

Soon, when they prepared everything, they settles themselves to run.

Hank looks to Loid. "Are you sure you can do that?"

Loid shrugs. "Maybe. I'll only know if I try."

Hank nods. "Fine." He takes the detonator in his hand. "Three… two… one… RUN." He activates it and they start running, explosions taking over the A.A.H.W base. They manage to jump through the window right before everything explodes. They land on a convertible. Loid hotwires it and Hank drives themselves away from the base.

As the dust settles behind them, Hank glances at Loid with a rare, almost approving look. "Not bad, kid." He mutters, as they speed off into the day.

From afar, someone watches them with binoculars, their gaze fixated on Hank.

The person grips on the binoculars tightly.

"... Hank…" The person mutters.

"I need him… I NEED Hank." The person says, gripping on the binoculars tighter.

[TO BE CONTINUED]