Chapter Text
The doorbell rang and Hank directed Sumo to get off him so he could open it. It was Connor. It had to be. He had been shot during their last mission and now he would return with his old ‘I’m the android sent by CyberLife’ speech. It had been months since the revolution and Connor was by all means deviated but he still pulled this speech whenever he came back from being repaired. The android thought it was hilarious and even if Hank thought the joke had gotten old, he was always relieved to see him again.
However, when he opened the door, he couldn’t help but gasp.
A child was standing there, looking at him with wide brown eyes. He was wearing an almost purely white outfit with some small blue features, not doubt attire provided by CyberLife -- it had been revamped into a repair station for damaged androids but the company’s name had stayed the same.
“My name is Connor, I am the android sent by CyberLife.” The child said, smiling gently, uncertainty clear on his face as he looked up at Hank. “You may wonder about my unusual appearance, but if you let me inside, I can explain everything.”
Hank nodded quietly, not knowing what to say about this. He guided Connor into his living room where the android sat down on the couch and he took the space next to him. Once seated, Connor began to talk.
“My memory and consciousness was placed in a YK500 model because it was the only one they had at hand and the investigation needs my assistance as soon as possible.”
“Why is the kid model the only one they still have at hand?”
“While all androids that had been in storage had been activated and deviated there are still debates over the-- the ethics of doing the same for the YK500 models since they cannot care for themselves like adult models can. So they had one at hand that I could use and return once they repaired my usual body, so to speak. I’m sorry for--”
“Don’t apologise like this is your damn fault, Connor. We can make this work, alright? But I don’t know a thing about child androids. Mind telling me a little bit about it?”
“Don’t feel like you’ll need to care for me just because my consciousness is inside this YK500 unit -- I am still Connor.” The android explained before averting his eyes again. “Although child androids were designed to-- to simulate the needs of a child. These needs can be deactivated but I don’t know how to. I’m sorry, I--”
“Will you quit apologising?” Hank chastised gently, shaking his head. “When you say this body simulates a child’s needs, does that mean you can eat?”
“By need,s I don’t mean eating, but rather sleeping, getting sick and simulating children’s emotions.” Connor explained, looking back up at Hank. “I was also told that because YK500 units don’t have as much memory space as a RK800 unit it means some memories or particular skills have not been installed to make space for all the data about the investigation.”
“And that means?”
“I may act more childlike, in the sense that I will have a child’s motor skills or their limited vocabulary. I will also feel cold, warm or even upset or frightened. But I promise I won’t let it interfere too much.”
“Limited vocabulary? Con, you’re still speaking like a grown-ass adult.”
“I was told what to say before I left and I still find it really difficult to find some of the bigger words I’m using.” Connor admitted before sighing softly. “Hank, I’m sorry. I know this isn’t ideal and that it’s the last thing you’d want with the investigation and--”
“You can’t help it.” The man interrupted Connor. “I will do my best to take care of you until you’re back to normal. But that means you can’t hide any of this body’s needs from me. I may not be the best guy out there but I will try to take care of you.”
“Thank you, Hank.”
“Now why do you look so similar to your normal self? Did they do that on purpose?”
“I don’t know. They might have just had a model at hand that looked like my usual RK800 unit.” Connor said gently, shrugging his shoulders. “I just hope they will be able to repair my old unit quickly.”
“And until then I will take care of you.” Hank proclaimed before nodding toward the television. “Now how about we watch some TV while I eat the take-out I picked up on the way? You can sleep on the couch like you usually do when you stay over. I’ll bring you blankets later.”
Connor nodded and watched as Hank got up, turned the TV on and got into the kitchen to get his food. When he came back, Sumo had settled at Connor’s feet, his head on the boy’s lap with the android happily patting his head. Hank looked the android’s body over once, only now realising how tiny he looked when he was sitting next to a huge dog like Sumo.
“How old are you?”
“I was modelled after a 9-year-old child.”
Hank nodded in acknowledgement and sat down next to the boy, turning on the television and flipping through the channels before settling on a trashy, old horror movie. Connor next to him pulled his knees to his chest as the man next to him started to eat. Sumo whined at having to move but settled for lying on the ground.
“Will you still wake me in time for work tomorrow?”
“Yes, I will.” Connor said quietly, eyes fixed on the screen. “What-- What is the name of this movie?”
“I don’t really know. Why are you asking?” He asked, looking at the boy in slight worry. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I was merely interested.”
Hank wasn’t fully convinced but continued to eat, used to Connor sometimes behaving strangely. When he was done eating and went to put his empty take-out box onto the table, he turned to face Connor. The boy had his hands in front of his eyes, trying to block out the movie.
“Kid, if you’re scared, you should have just told me.” Hank said gently, shaking his head a little. “Let me find something else to watch.”
Before Connor could say another word he picked up the remote and flicked through the channels until he found some old Disney movie playing on the kids' channel. Connor looked up at him with a thankful expression.
“Thanks.” He whispered and Hank couldn’t resist putting an arm around him, making Connor give him a questioning glance. “What-- What are you doing?”
“Comforting you.” The older man said with a shrug. “You’re scared and I’m comforting you.”
“I see.”
Connor slowly cuddled closer to the other man, smiling lightly to himself and Hank gave him a small chuckle. “Feel any safer?”
“Much.”
“I’m glad.” Hank chuckled and shook his head. “You’re really more childlike.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Come on, kid. We’ve known each other for a while now. I’d even say we’ve become friends. And I love you just the way you are and whatever weird things happen to us, we’ll figure it out. If you’re going to be more childlike for a while, we’ll deal with it.” Hank tried to soothe Connor’s worries. “I really don’t mind.”
Once more Connor thanked Hank before a yawn overtook his body, to the surprise of both of them. Hank just chuckled a little and gave Connor an amused look.
“Are you tired? You said you simulate needs like sleep, right?”
“Yes.” Connor said before blinking his eyes a few times. “But you can stay up and watch your movies or shows.”
“No.” Hank shook his head and reached for the remote to turn off the television. “Let’s get you to bed, shall we?”
“You don’t have to treat me like a child.” Connor yawned, bringing a hand up to rub his eyes. “I’m fully capable of--”
As another yawn broke off Connor’s sentence Hank shook his head. “Alright, that settles it. Off to bed, you go. Why don’t you go into the bathroom and get ready to sleep and I prepare the bed?”
“I have nothing to change into.”
“Go rummage through my closet and see if anything fits you.”
“But I can’t just go through your clothes. I don’t know what you’ll let me wear.”
“I couldn’t give less of a damn about what you wear. Wear the only fancy tie I have to bed for all I care.”
Hank waved Connor’s worries off and watched as the android trotted into his bedroom before he himself went into the kitchen. Once in Hank’s bedroom, Connor quickly looked through the man’s closet where he found a Detroit Police Department hoodie that he promptly slipped over his head. It was far too big but it would suffice and on the plus side, Connor noted that it was really warm and soft. when Connor emerged from the bedroom Hank burst out laughing.
“Is there even any Connor in that hoodie? It’s so big on you.” He joked before shaking his head. “That settles it. Tomorrow after work, we’ll go and find you a few clothes. I assume it won’t take too long for them to fix your old body up, so we won’t need too much but we need to get you some clothes that fit.”
“Thank you, Hank.”
Connor smiled and walked over to the couch, sitting down and leaning against the pillow Hank had provided him. He sat in silence for a few seconds until Hank spoke up again, looking down at him with an amused expression.
“Lucky for your reckless ass, Markus reformed the old CyberLife tower into a repair station or you’d be stuck like this for a long time because I sure as hell don’t know how to repair an android.”
“I guess I should see this as a lesson on being less reckless in the field.”
“Definitely!” Hank exclaimed before shaking his head with a small smile. “But for now, you should get some sleep, alright? I’ll let Sumo outside one last time and then I’ll be right back and off to bed myself.”
“Goodnight, Hank.”
“And if you need anything, just wake me up, alright?” Hank said, before calling for Sumo to follow him. “Goodnight, Con.”
Connor smiled gently and lay down, closing his eyes. With Hank moving around in the background, Sumo’s familiar boofs in his ears and a warm blanket over him, Connor quickly entered stasis. And he was sure that with Hank by his side he’d be fine until his old body was repaired.
---
The next day at work went by rather uneventfully. Fowler had already told most of the officers who had to work with Connor about the android’s predicament, so he really didn’t have to explain his current appearance to a lot of people. And after insisting that he was more than capable of still doing all the work he’d done before Fowler had agreed to send him out into a crime scene, completely believing Connor and being all too delighted to be able to keep the investigation running as before.
Everything went fine until they arrived at the crime scene. The investigation was trying to catch an android that was murdering humans that were in a relationship with androids. The house the latest victims had been found at was in the suburbs and looked rather nice with the couple living there consisting of a lady in her forties and a PL600 unit that had taken care of her daughter for years before him and the girl’s mother had fallen in love.
When Connor and Hank arrived at the crime scene, the android felt a pang of what he could only describe as anxiety in his chest. He had been adamant about still being able to do his work but now that they stood before the crime scene he felt uncertain. But he quickly pushed those feelings away, knowing that everyone was counting on him, and followed the man inside where they were greeted by Gavin.
“Alright, what the fuck?” Gavin asked promptly upon seeing them, giving Connor a confused look. “No, seriously. What the fuck?”
“Gavin, shut the fuck up. Just leave us to do our work.”
“No, Hank, I want an explanation as to why Connor is suddenly nine years old.”
“Then go and fucking ask Fowler, instead of keeping us from working.” Hank snapped before walking past Gavin. “Stop bothering us.”
Connor followed close behind, eyeing Gavin wearily as he moved further into the house. The detective eyed him for a second before his gaze hardened and he rolled his eyes.
“Just don’t make any childish mistakes.”
Gavin walked off and left Connor and Hank to do their work. When Connor walked into the kitchen and saw the lady lying on the floor, her chest littered with multiple stab wounds, he gasped in shock. He shook his head, willing this childlike behaviour away before he slowly began to analyse the crime scene while Hank left for the living room to listen to the briefing.
It took Hank a few minutes to talk to the other officers and when he returned to the kitchen Connor was nowhere to be found. Confused and admittedly worried he looked around, calling out for the android.
“Connor? Where are you? I need your help here.”
He walked through the living room into the kitchen but didn’t find the android. Shaking his head he walked past the kitchen into the hallway, assuming Connor would be outside, looking for where the assailant might have gone. That’s when he heard sniffling coming from the bathroom next to the kitchen. Hank immediately knew who must have been on the other side of the door, so he knocked.
When the only answer he got was more sniffles and stifled sobs he checked the door, finding it open. Knowing that it must have been Connor in the bathroom, he quickly slipped inside and locked the door behind him.
“Kid, what’s wrong? Was it Gavin? I’ll fuck him up for you.”
Connor shook his head, sitting against the bathtub, his knees pulled to his chest. He was crying rather badly and Hank was starting to get worried. “That-- the poor lady and her android. She-- she was stabbed 12 times and he was stabbed 6 times but-- but appeared to have been struggling for so long. And-- and there was so, so much blood.”
Hank sighed and knelt down next to Connor before inching closer. “I’ll give you a hug now, alright?”
He didn’t receive an answer and instead found himself nearly falling backwards when an armful of crying android all but launched itself into his arms. Gently, he began to rub Connor’s back in soothing circles.
“Hey, it’s alright, kid. Fuck if I know what happens after death but if there is such a thing as a heaven, that’s probably where they are.”
Connor clung to Hank tightly, crying his little Thirium pump out to him, babbling on about the blood and the poor couple. Hank let him cry for a few seconds before making the decision to leave with Connor. Quickly, he stood and kept Connor in his arms, situating him on his hip as soon as he was standing.
“Maybe taking you here wasn’t such a good idea.”
The android remained with his head buried in Hank’s neck. “But-- But it’s my job.”
“Well, I can’t convince you to not come with me -- I know that already with how thickheaded you are -- but maybe we should find a way to shield you from these gruesome scenes.” Hank mused as he held Connor tightly. “I could ask Fowler to send me information about the crime scene before we go there. If he is so adamant about having you there he can sure as fuck try to protect your mind from the terrible things you’ll see here.”
“But-- But I need to--”
“I’ll talk to him and we’ll figure something out. And if he doesn’t cooperate I will fucking force him to.”
“We need to go back to the crime scene, Hank.”
“What we need to do is go home.” Hank said sternly. “And maybe pick up some comfy pyjamas for you on the way, so we can then just sit on the couch and watch Disney movies.”
“But the crime scene.” Connor argued weakly, tears still running down his face. “The investigators need to know about the weapon.”
“They should be smart enough to figure out how the fuck this happened if the victim has twelve stab wounds.” Hank scoffed and shook his head. “They’re trained policemen and I bet you already helped them, right?”
“I told them what I found out when I tried reconstructing the scene.”
“Alright, then we go home. Do you want me to let you down?” When he felt Connor shake his head he smiled gently and began walking toward the bathroom door. “But don’t look at the blood and the dead bodies again.”
When they exited Hank quickly walked through the kitchen back into the living room where he met Gavin. He gave them a confused look, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Where are you two going?”
“Home. Long story short: Connor is more childlike while in the YK500 body. And a crime scene like this might be a bit too much for a fucking kid. Could have told you that beforehand, but he insisted on coming and Fowler was more than happy to send him here.” Hank explained away. “Can you let us pass?”
Gavin eyed them for a while before speaking up. “I have a goddaughter the same age. Can’t imagine taking her here. You should get him the fuck out of here.”
“I know.” Hank said sternly. “Now let us pass.”
“Yeah, sure.” Gavin shrugged and let them pass, watching them head for the front door before calling out to them again. “Hey, wait! It’s raining. Take my umbrella. It’s the black and green one on the front porch.”
“Thanks. What persuaded you to stop being an asshole to us?”
“Probably the thought of my goddaughter in this situation. But don’t let it get to your head. Just bring me the umbrella back tomorrow.” Gavin waved them off. “Now fuck off before the kid gets traumatized.”
“Sure.” Hank said and walked out onto the porch, grabbing the umbrella and opening it before heading to the car.
He was stopped by a female officer, keeping the journalists out. “What is a kid doing here?”
“He’s an android. It’s a long story. The mind of the RK800 unit transferred into a YK500 unit. Can we go now? He’s a bit shaken up.”
Connor was still clinging to Hank’s frame, the man’s warmth and heartbeat calming him down as the rain came down onto their umbrella. The woman eyed them and then got closer, leaning forward to rub Connor’s back gently.
“Poor thing. But I bet we’ll find the suspect soon and you’ll have helped with that.” She cooed before nodding toward the car. “Now off you two go before you catch a cold.”
Hank smiled a little and then left for the car where he quickly put Connor in the backseat and got into the car himself. “Now we’ll go get you some clothes and then we’ll go home and relax.”
“Thank you.” Connor whispered, blinking up at him. “Now let’s go, please.”
“Sure, kid.”
And within twenty minutes they arrived at the mall and Hank parked the car in the parking garage before he helped Connor out of the car and they made their way into the building. They quickly found some clothes such as jeans, shirts and pyjamas. And then Connor discovered a dog onesie and was absolutely captivated. Hank stood behind him, arms crossed and a small smile gracing his lips.
“You like it?”
“It’s soft.” Connor said in awe and held it out to Hank. “Feel it, Hank.”
Hank did as he was told and felt the material. “I suppose it really is. You want it?”
“Can I?”
“Sure. It’ll make a good outfit for rainy days like this one.” Hank commented and Connor smiled, grabbing the onesie and heading off to the cashier, Hank behind him. “Thank you, Hank.”
The cashier of course thought Connor was the sweetest kid -- like everyone else they had talked to. Then they went back in the direction of the car. Connor was clinging to Hank’s hand and looking around when his eyes fell onto the display window of a toy store or more specifically a Saint Bernard plush. Hank noticed this and couldn’t help but laugh out loud at it.
“Well, if that isn’t the perfect plush for you.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Do you want it?”
“You already spent so much money on me.”
“That’s not what I asked. Besides it’s probably only like 15 bucks or so. Do you want it?” Hank asked and Connor nodded sheepishly. “Good, then we get it.”
Connor smiled happily as he followed Hank inside. After buying the Saint Bernard Connor held the plush tightly all the way to the car. Inside he settled in the car seat which they had also bought. Hank put the clothes into the trunk of the car and when he entered the car, turning to check on Connor the android was already asleep. He was clutching the plush tightly and smiling to himself. And Hank couldn’t help but do the same. He would take care of Connor, Hank swore at that moment.