2:46 AM, February 20, 2039

Connor had no idea how he ended up here. It seems that somewhere along the line the android had started to come to Hank whenever he needed help, whether it was with tying his shoe or advice on a particularly difficult case. So when he found himself standing outside of Hank's door when he came back to his senses, he didn't hesitate to raise his fist and knock loudly, impatiently waiting for him to open it. Hank wasn't at all surprised that it was Connor that was knocking on his door so late, as he often did. What did surprise him was the panicked expression that he found in the young android's eyes. Any angry one-liner that Hank had prepared on his way to the door, died in his throat as he took in the appearance of his partner.

"H-Hank...I " Connor tried, but the attempt was poor, and Hank watched as the panic grew and his LED light started flashing an intimidating red color. The lieutenant immediately ushered the android into the house and onto the living room couch. Sumo, awakened by all the movement, clumsily thudded his way over to Connor who loving placed a hand on top of the St. Bernard's head. After a few moments, Connor's LED changed from the blinking red to a more thoughtful yellow that slowly circled his temple.

"Alright Connor, what the fuck is going on?" Hank asked while perching himself on the edge of the seat next to Connor. The android's eyes slowly slid from the spot of the wall he had been staring at, to the eyes of his adoptive father, his hand still stroking Sumo's head. He could feel his lip tremble, a radically unfamiliar feeling, as he hesitantly stated,

"I think Markus is killing me."

Hank had no idea what was happening, if he thought he was confused before it was nothing compared to the confusion he felt right now. Markus? Killing Connor? Nothing about that sentence made any sense. Everyone knew that Markus had developed a massive crush on the other android during the few months since he witnessed Connor leading an army of freshly stolen androids. Well, everyone but Markus himself knew. And apparently Connor.

"W-What? Why and how the fuck did you come to that conclusion?" He bitterly questioned the confusion and bewilderment evident in his tone. Connor's expression, although it seemed impossible, became even sadder as his eyes fell on his lap, filling with artificial tears.

"He makes me feel sick. My palms start to sweat, my stomach feels all weird when I look into his eyes, and my thirium pump gets out of rhythm whenever he smiles. I checked my systems, and it says there's nothing wrong, but then why am I experiencing these feelings? Why, Hank?" During the brunet's small speech, tears had started flowing freely down his face, and he had abandoned Sumo's head in favor of rolling his coin nervously between his shaking hands.

He had no idea what he expected his partner to do with the information that he had just shared, but any suggestion that his robotic mind generated couldn't have been further from what happened. Hank had started laughing. He wasn't just giggling or doing the half snort he sometimes did, he was honest to rA9, full body laughing. He'd thrown his head back, and his hand was slapping his knee as the offending sound slipped past his lips.

Connor's eyes snapped up to him in shock, and the coin fell unceremoniously from his hands. Connor had no idea how he was laughing right now. The android's life was literally at stake, and his father was laughing at his apparent pain. He found absolutely no humor in what was happening to him. Connor obviously wouldn't be able to see Markus anymore if he was indeed trying to kill him with his infectious smile and beautiful heterochromatic eyes. That thought alone had the tears streaming more heavily down his face, and his body began to shake with the force of his sobs.

The sound of the deviant's intensified crying seemed to snap the lieutenant out of whatever place he had wandered to during his laughing session. The aloof happiness he felt was immediately replaced with intense guilt and worry for his son. He pulled Connor into an awkward side hug in an attempt to comfort him before letting go and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder instead.

"Connor, you are not dying, and Markus is not killing you." He stated succinctly. Trying to draw the android out of the bottomless pit of outcomes he was dreaming up. Fortunately, it seemed to do the trick as Connor's deep, chocolate-brown eyes raised slowly and his sobbing subsided to silent tears slipping down his cheeks.

"R-Really? Then how do you explain what I'm feeling then?" He innocently asked, his voice choking on emotion and suppressed noises. Hank saw as a glimmer of hope shimmered in the brunet's eyes as he patiently awaited Hank's response.

"You have a crush on him, son," Hank said letting a soft chuckle escape his lips at the simple solution. But to his disappointment, Conner didn't appear to accept this solution, as the look of intense confusion smothered the hope that Hank had previously seen in his eyes.

"But Hank, I don't want to crush him," he said a questioning tone evident in his voice. The gray-haired detective slowly brought his hand to his head, expressing his disbelief in what his son had just said. Without lifting up his head, he quietly mumbled under his breath,

"Y'know, for an android you can be pretty fucking stupid sometimes." He then slowly lifted his head out of his hand and looked at Connor. "No idiot, you have romantic feelings for Markus. You want to kiss, fuck him, whatever androids do. "The bluntness of the statement cleared up any confusion that Connor was still suffering from, and after a few moments of thought his frown lessened, and he wiped his face with the end of his sleeve.

"So I can still see Markus?" He asked hopefully, his eyes once again filling with hope. Hank couldn't help but smile a little at how utterly adorable and innocent he could be.

"Yes, you can still see Markus. Nothing was stopping you in the first place." With that answer, Hank had the pleasure of seeing an honest smile spread across the deviant's face. This expression was the one that made him appear the most human, his eyes lit up, and it made his perfect, artificial skin, appear younger and more full of life. It was a rare treat to see him smile so honestly.

Hank thought for sure that with that conclusion, the conversation was over and he could continue his exciting night of alcohol and sleeping. He was so confident, in fact, that he had started to heave himself off of the couch when he suddenly felt a hand encircle his wrist and pull him back down. He let out an audible sigh, realizing that this conversation was still far from over. "What is it now, Connor?" Hank inquired, letting his exhaustion seep into his voice a bit, accidentally.

"Hank, there is no way that I harbor any romantic feelings for Markus. And even if I did, he definitely doesn't return them." The older man calmly looked over at the android and merely urged him to close his eyes."But Han-" Connor started, before the glare of his partner convinced him that now wasn't the time for questions. Giving Hank one last skeptical look, he slowly slid his eyes shut.

"Fucking finally, now I want you to think of Markus. Think of his smile and eyes and how he makes you feel. Only think of him."Hank muttered feeling slightly embarrassed and aggravated about what he was doing. But when he witnessed a brilliant smile spread across the younger man's face, any negative thoughts he had previously, disappeared. Although Hank loved his son, he was much too uptight all the time, and if Markus was able to bring this expression to Connor's face more often, then he knew he was leaving the brunet in good, loving hands. The sheer happiness that Hank saw in the smile was infectious, and he had unconsciously mirrored it. He watched as Connor slowly brought a hesitant hand up to his mouth, feeling the broad smile that had subconsciously found its way onto his face. "That smile is proof you do indeed 'harbor romantic feelings for Markus'" Hank said, his voice sarcastically imitating Connor's earlier statement. At the crude imitation of his voice, he allowed his eyes to slide open, he looked over at Hank before his gaze once again fell to his lap, and a blue hue began to glow on his cheeks.

"Okay, you're right Hank, the most likely explanation for my recent behavior is that I have feelings for Markus." Hank gave him a look that blatantly expressed the contempt he felt toward Connor for doubting his ability to interpret his son's emotions. For good measure, Connor added a quieter "sorry for doubting you...dad." Hank felt pride course through his body as he ruffled the boy's hair before getting up and heading back to bed. Right before he entered his room, Connor spoke up once more, "This doesn't change the fact that Markus won't ever return my feelings."

"Son, do me a favor and go talk to robo-jesus before deciding that for yourself. G'night."And with that, he lifted one hand in a Hank-like goodbye wave before retreating to his room for the night.

"Good night Hank."