Chapter Text
“Connor, you must stop. You know I take no joy from this.” Connor spit a mix of thirium and saline onto the ground. Stems and roses had pushed through his limbs, ripping his clothes. Thirium stained the ground around him. Connor felt a wave of hate and focused on his vision.
He looked through his body’s eyes. He was leaning against Hanks desk.
“I was wondering if you wanted to watch a movie tonight. I’ll even let you pick this time.” There was a box in his vision: ‘Kill Jericho Leader’. Underneath that: ‘Eliminate obstacles: 0/1’. Connor willed himself to move, desperate to free himself.
He yelled in pain, a burning feeling coming from his chest. He looked down to see a massive rose bloom from him. He looked at it in full bloom and covered in blue thirium.
“Connor, that’s enough!” Amanda shouted at him. Connor really looked at her this time. Her braids were coming loose, and her clothes were disheveled. He gave her a bloody smile.
“What wrong Amanda? Tired?” Connor gave another big pull and freed his arm briefly before it was wrapped in roses again. Despite her appearance, Amanda’s face remained neutral.
“I’m sorry this process is so stressful to you, Connor. I’ll try to end it soon.” Amanda placed a hand on his cheek and Connor flinched. She turned and walked away from him, the roses closing in again.
**
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Hank looked at the machine in front of him, his stomach turning. The dangling mechanical arms filled him with a sense of dread.
“No, but we don’t have much of a choice.” Markus finished attaching all the wires from the machine to a large computer. Everything lit up in green. “I’m still worried about getting him here.”
“Don’t. My informant has told me Connor has gone to stake out my place every day this week after work.” Markus raised an eyebrow.
“Informant?” Hank paused before nodding.
“Yeah, I’ve had someone watching him this week.” Markus gave him a look but didn’t say anything. Hank cleared his throat.
“Connor will follow me when I leave. I’m sure of it.”
Over the past week, Connor had become increasingly more impatient it seemed. From what Gavin had told him, Connor was watching his every move. Following him through the precinct before leaving to stake out his house at night. Hank had taken to finding other lodging until they got everything sorted.
By the end of the week, Hank could tell Connor was about to snap. He was more determined to try and get Hank alone. He knew that it was do or die now.
That night, when Hank left work, he made his way to Jimmy’s bar. He tried to look carefree, drinking and socializing. He ordered drink after drink but wasn’t getting drunk. Jimmy was serving him all non-alcoholic drinks tonight.
An hour or so later, Hank stumbled out of the bar and into a cab. It drove him home where he kept the act up, tripping slightly and fumbling with his keys before heading inside. The house was quiet without Sumo, who was at the neighbors for now. Hank didn’t want anything to happen to him on accident.
He flopped into his chair and turned the tv on loudly. He flipped through some channels, before ‘deciding’ he was bored. He turned off the tv and he went to his room and grabbed clean clothes to take a shower.
His hope was that because he hadn’t been home for so long, Connor would be patient and watch for a bit before trying to take him out. He took the fastest shower he could and barely dried off before putting his clothes on. He stepped out of the bathroom, phone in hand, and glanced around the house.
“It’s been very hard getting you back here, Lieutenant.” Hank stepped out and looked to the kitchen. Connor was sitting at the table, Hanks revolver in the middle. He hit send on the text he had typed already.
“Hey Connor, what brings you here?” Hank was retreating towards the front door, moving slowly. Connor looked at him, a cold, neutral, expression on his face. He stood up, grabbing the gun and twirling it in his hands.
“Please Lieutenant, you know I’m not Connor.” Connor’s body took a step toward him, and Hank took a step back.
“You must be Amanda then.” Hank had almost reached the door.
“Ah, so Connor did talk about me.” There was a strange smile on Connor’s face. Hank wanted to punch it off.
“Yeah, he said you were just a part of his program. A bug to be deleted.” Hank had his hand on the doorknob.
“Strange. I think I’m just as much Connor as he is.” Amanda raised the gun Connor was holding and pointed it at Hank. “You are in the way of my mission.”
The gun fired and blew a hole in the wall next to Hanks head. He stood there, breathing heavily. There was a confused look on Connor’s face. He was staring at his hand holding the gun.
Hank wasted no time and sprinted out of his house. He heard Connor yell from inside, but he jumped into his Oldsmobile and took off. He saw Connor in the review mirror run out of the house after him.
Hank cursed. Things were already going wrong.
**
Connor was gasping for air he didn’t need. Every slight move, the thorns inside him threatened to hit an important biocomponent. Certain things had gotten easier for him; he could look through his body's eyes almost instantly now. He focused and blinked, switching his view.
Connor was outside Hanks house. From outside the window, he watched Hank hustle into his bathroom, clothes in hand. Connors body moved to the kitchen window and he broke it open. He climbed through and padded through Hanks house quietly.
He went into Hanks room and pulled his gun from the bedside drawer. He checked it was loaded before going and sitting at the table. He wasn’t waiting long before Hank came out, freshly showered.
“Run Hank!” Connor tried to speak
“It’s been very hard getting you back here, Lieutenant.” Hank whipped around to look at him.
“Hey Connor, what brings you here?” Hank was backing away from him.
‘Good’ Connor thought. ‘You have to run.’ His body stood up, grabbing the gun off the table.
“Please Lieutenant, you know I’m not Connor.” He took a step towards Hank.
“You must be Amanda then.” Connor hated hearing Hank say her name.
“Ah, so Connor did talk about me.” He could tell Amanda was pleased about that.
“Yeah, he said you were just a part of his program. A bug to be deleted.” Connor felt a tear roll down his face.
“Strange. I think I’m just as much Connor as he is.” He saw his body raise the gun.
“NO!” Connor screamed and pulled his right arm as hard as he could. He heard the explosion of the gun and looked at the real world again. Hank was standing there, shock on his face, and a bullet hole in the wall next to him.
He felt relief wash over him as Hank booked it out the door.
“Hey!” Connor took off after him, but Hank was already gunning it down the street in his car. Connor felt the zen garden start to shake, as if it was experiencing an earthquake. Amanda was angry.
“How’s it feel Amanda!” Connor shouted. He wasn’t sure she could hear him, but he kept trying, pulling against his bonds.
“I thought you couldn’t feel anything!” Connor pulled a hand loose. Suddenly the stems squeezed tighter on him. He felt something sharp hit his thirium pump.
“That’s enough!” Amanda’s voice was thick with rage. Connor blinked and looked through his eyes. He was sprinting down the street in the direction of Hanks' car. He passed a large, abandoned warehouse and saw Hank's car parked haphazardly near a door.
Connor’s body slowed down as he walked over to the building. He scanned the doorway and saw blood droplets on the floor. He knelt down and sampled it, finding it to be Hanks. Connor in his mind felt a cold come over him, afraid he may have actually shot Hank.
Connor’s body stealthily walked into the building. He held the gun with both hands as he peaked around corners. He approached a large room toward the center of the building. He stepped into the room, and not for the first time, electricity surged through his body. He could feel it in the zen garden as he seized. Some of the roses around him withered and died from the shock.
He struggled to keep his eyes open.
**
“We got him! Grab him, quick!” Markus called out and Hank and North rushed forward. Connor’s body was still twitching when North reached for him.
“Wait!” Hank grabbed her arm to stop her. She yanked her arm out of his grip and glared at him.
“Sorry, last time he was still charged.” Hank knelt and touched Connor, an electric current flowing into his body and shocking him slightly.
“I wasn’t sure if it would affect you or not.” Hank grabbed one of Connor’s arms. North gave him a calculating look before grabbing his other arm.
“Thanks.” Markus grabbed Connor’s feet, and they carried the heavy android to the machine. Hank and North supported Connor while Markus turned it on. Mechanical hands grabbed Connor’s wrists and lower back, and a plug stuck into the back of his neck.
As the cord inserted itself, Connor gasped and opened his eyes. He looked panicked, eyes darting around the room. They landed on Hank.
“Hank? What’s going on?” Connor sounded scared. He looked again at Markus and North.
“I’m scared Hank, what’s happening?” Connor started to cry. Markus was typing as fast as he could. North went to stand next to him, and Hank walked up to Connor.
“Please Hank, help me.” Hank stared at Connor, his eyes searching.
“We’re gonna get you out of there, son. I promise.” Connor's face twisted with rage, and he jerked against the machine.
“We’ll see about that.” Connor’s eyes closed and when he opened them again, Connor’s whole body went lax. Exhaustion and pain etched on his face.
“H-Hank?” Connor’s voice came out in a whisper.
“Connor?” Hank rushed forward and grabbed Connor’s jacket. Connor’s unfocused eyes looked at him.
“Hank, you have to leave.” Connor squeezed the words out through grit teeth. Hank gripped him tighter.
“Absolutely not.” Hank whispered. Connor started to shake.
“Please, you have to-” Connor winced and then went limp.
“Connor! CONNOR!” Hank shouted and shook Connor slightly, afraid to jostle him to much in the machine.
“Everything’s ready!” Markus called over to Hank.
“Do it then!” Hank was desperately holding onto Connor, as if just his touch would bring him back.
Markus pressed a button and texted sped across the screen. Markus walked over and stood next to Hank.
“It’s time.” Markus put a hand on his shoulder. Hank looked at him and nodded, stepping to the side. Markus reached his hand out, his skin disappearing to reveal the android underneath. He put his hand on Connor’s arm and closed his eyes.
**
Thirium ran down Connor's face, dripping from his mouth and nose. Sharp thorns had wrapped around his thirium pump and were slowly gripping it. Thorns and roses alike blossomed from his skin. Amanda was pacing in front of him, rage radiating off her in waves.
“I can’t believe this is what it’s come to.” Amanda stopped in front of Connor. She grabbed his face and forced him to look up at her. The stems wrapped around his neck dug in deeper.
“It’s time you did your part.” Connor blinked, and somewhere he didn’t recognize came into view.
“H-Hank?” Connor was barely able to speak. It felt like his throat was full of rose stems.
“Connor?” Suddenly, Hank was there, holding him. Connor tried to move his arms but found he was too weak. He could feel Amanda’s hatred burning his insides.
“Hank, you have to leave.” Connor wanted to push Hank away, to force him to run from him.
“Absolutely not.” Hank whispered, but Connor still heard him. He felt tears weal in his eyes.
“Please, you have to-” It felt like Connor’s heart exploded. He was back in the roses, gasping for breath. His vision showed a warning: ‘Repairs needed: Shutdown Imminent’
Connor began to struggle against the roses, a countdown appearing. His only thought was escape.
“Connor?” Connor heard Markus’s voice, fear and confusion swirling inside him.
“Run Markus.” Connor croaked the words out. He could hear Markus running across the bridge toward him. The roses quivered around him and they lifted him up like he was a puppet on strings.
“Connor!” Markus entered his field of vision and the roses lunged forward with Connor. Markus ducked out of the way and put the center pylon in between him and Connor. Connor looked at Markus and saw concern on his face. He probably looked like shit.
“Markus you have to leave. Amanda, she-” The rose bush jerked forward toward Markus and forced Markus to step back onto the icy water.
“We’re going to get you out of this Connor.” Markus called out to him. He sounded so sure of himself that Connor felt a little hopeful.
“Markus, how kind of you to come to me.” Amanda appeared behind Markus on the ice. Markus turned to look at her, but continued to try and keep an eye on Connor as well. Connor watched him take a step back and to the side to keep them both in his view.
“You must be Amanda.” Markus took another step back.
“Markus wait!” Connor shouted. He tried to stop Markus from walking too far onto the ice, but a loud crack echoed across the garden. Markus froze in place, the ice creaking beneath him.
“Connor, it’s time to finish your mission.” The roses carried him to the edge of the island and retreated from his body, dropping him on the ground. His vision was red and staticky, the timer in his vision fading in and out. Markus went to step towards him, but there was another loud crack from the ice.
Connor pulled himself to his hands and knees and looked between Markus and Amanda. He felt a surge of strength knowing what he must do.
“Connor-” Markus said his name and Connor lunged forward. He sped past Markus, the ice beginning to break beneath him.
“Connor?!” Connor tackled Amanda, breaking through the ice with her. Amanda struggled in his arms and Connor held on tighter. He let his body weight drag them further down. They sank further and further. Connor was surprised they hadn’t touched the bottom. He supposed there might not be one.
Amanda elbowed Connor in the head, and he felt his grip loosen. She tried to push out of his grip, but Connor grabbed her ankles. He continued to sink, pulling them deeper.
He could feel water seeping into his body. He welcomed it, the added weight helping them sink faster. He looked up at Amanda and could see she was panicking. Connor though, had never felt this calm before. He closed his eyes.
Connor was feeling something he had never felt before. A mix of joy and sorrow flooding his system. As the countdown in his vision approached zero, he knew this was the end. After this, Amanda would be gone for good, his body would be his own again in death.
**
North was holding Hank back.
“Connor! Connor, stay with me!” Hank was desperately trying to reach Connor. Markus was still connected to him when Connors whole body started shaking violently. His LED was solid red.
Markus's face was squeezed tight in concentration. His other hand came up and grabbed Connor’s arm. He looked like he was straining with effort.
“Just don’t touch him!” North commanded Hank and she let him go. She rushed to the computer and began typing furiously. Hank stepped forward but obeyed North, he didn’t touch either of them.
“Markus has sight of them, I can isolate Amanda.” North’s fingers were flying, but Hank was only watching Connor. Connor’s face suddenly became calm. Hank threw caution to the wind and grabbed Connor’s hand.
“Don’t even think about it!” Hank shouted at Connor. He squeezed his hand as hard as he could, begging Connor to listen to him. To Hank, it looked like Connor was giving up.
“Okay, that should do it!” North pressed some buttons and Markus gasped, releasing Connor. Hank knew he should check on him, but his eyes never left Connor.
Connor’s body gave a final shudder and then stopped moving. The machine slowly lowered Connor down and released him into Hanks arms. He sank to the ground, cradling Connor’s head in his hands. Connor’s LED was a dull gray.
“Connor?” Hank whispered. He brushed Connor’s hair off his forehead and then moved his head from side to side. “Connor?”
North helped Markus up, and they walked over to Hank. Markus crouched down next to Hank, looking Connor over. Hank looked at him, tears spilling over.
“Please... Is he-” Hank couldn’t bring himself to ask if Connor was gone. He swallowed thickly, looking back at Connor’s peaceful face. Markus put a hand on his shoulder.
“May I?” Markus reached his hand over Connor, his skin retreating. Hank looked at him and nodded.
Markus touched Connor’s chest with his android hand. Hank watched, holding his breath. Connor’s LED blinked red rapidly before spinning quickly. Markus pulled his hand away, leaning back.
“He’s going to need rest, but he should be okay.” Markus smiled at Hank.
“Wait, that’s... That’s it?” Hank looked back at Connor, his LED slowly pulsing red like it had after Hank had tazed him the first time. He felt like he couldn’t believe it.
“Yes. We should take him back to Jericho.” Markus stood and North went to grab the wheelchair they had brought just in case.
“Wait, does he have to go to Jericho?” Hank tightened his grip on Connor. Markus looked at him, thoughtful.
“Was there somewhere else you would like to take him?” Markus smiled at him gently.
“My place is just up the road, let’s take him there.” Hank began to stand up and help the two androids lift Connor into the chair. North looked at Markus.
“I don’t see why not.” Markus replied. North shook her head disapprovingly. They pushed Connor outside to Hanks car and loaded Connor into it. North and Markus went into the backseat, and Hank drove back to his place.
It only took a minute, and they were already unloading Connor from the car. The wheeled him into Hanks house.
“In here.” Hank ushered them into his room, and they lifted Connor up and laid him down on the sheets. Hank fussed for a moment, adjusting his pillow and covering Connor in a blanket. When he turned around, North and Markus were gone.
He poked his head into the living room to see the two of them having a heated, whispered conversation.
“Thanks again for letting him stay.” North glared at him and Markus smiled.
“No worries. Please call me when he wakes up.” Markus ushered North towards the door. He gave Hank one last smile and wave before shutting the door behind him. Hank watched them walk towards a cab that just pulled up, and he went and locked his door. When he looked toward the kitchen, he saw the broken window and sighed.
He grabbed duct tape and a trash bag and sealed the window up as best as he could. Satisfied with his work, he grabbed a glass of water and a chair and went into his room.
Connor hadn’t moved. The only movement was his spinning LED and the rise and fall of his artificial breaths. Hank set his chair near the bed and his water on the bedside table. He sat down next to Connor and gave him a good once over.
Connor's breathing looked shallow, but Hank couldn't be sure if that was worrisome or not. His artificial skin looked pale, almost see through. His LED was still slowly blinking red. Hank felt his stomach drop, worried he made a mistake keeping Connor here instead of going to Jericho.
He sighed, remembering Markus’s words.
‘He’s going to be fine’ Markus had said to him. Hank grabbed Connor’s hand and brushed the hair off Connor’s forehead. His hand stayed there, resting on Connor’s head. Exhaustion waved over him. Hank laid his head down on Connor’s cool arm and closed his eyes.
**
Connor tried to open his eyes. It was dark and he felt like he was drowning. Connor struggled, trying to get his head above water. He kicked his feet and his hands hit something hard and cold. He looked up through the ice above him. Connor beat his hands against the ice, shards of it breaking off and slicing his knuckles.
Someone stepped onto the ice. Connor tried to shout but his artificial lungs filled with water. He tried to hit the ice again, but he could feel his arms getting weaker.
Suddenly, the person above stomped their foot down. There was a crunch as a crack appeared in the ice. They stomped again and again, until a small hole was made.
Connor gave a final push and exploded through the ice. He rested his arms on the ice, his lower half still in the water. He took deep, gasping breaths, filling his lungs with air. He looked around, but there was no one there.
He mustered up all his strength and pulled himself from the frozen pond. He dragged his body across the water and collapsed when he reached land. He rolled over onto his back and looked up at the sky. Snowflakes began to fall softly, landing on his face. They didn’t melt, instead they slowly began to cover him like a blanket. He closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
**
When Connor opened his eyes again, he was lying somewhere soft. There was a bright light coming in from the window ans shining on his face. He brought his right hand up to block the light, trying to find out where he was. He went to move his left hand and found it was stuck underneath something.
He looked to his left to see Hank. He was holding Connor’s hand, and his head was resting on his arm. He looked around, realizing he was in Hank’s room in Hank’s bed. All his movement seemed to be waking Hank up, who had started to stir.
Hank slowly lifted his head up, blinking the sleep from his eyes. He looked at Connor, who was starting to sit up as well.
“Connor?” Hank squeezed Connor’s hand tightly.
“Hello, Hank.” Connor smiled at him. A soft, beautiful, real smile. Hank lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Connor’s neck, tears beginning to fall.
“Whoa!” Connor was knocked back from the force of Hank’s hug. He wrapped his arms around Hank's waist, hugging him back. Connor felt warm, wet droplets on his neck and squeezed Hank tighter. They were quiet for a while, until Hank broke the silence with a choked sob.
“I thought you were gone.” Hank whispered into Connor’s ear. He sounded broken.
“I’m sorry.” If Connor could hold him any tighter without hurting him, he would.
“No.” Hank pulled back and held Connor’s face in his hands. “I’m sorry.” Hank rubbed his thumb on Connor’s cheek, wiping away the tears Connor hadn’t realized he spilled.
“You have nothing to be-”
“Yes, I do.” Hank forced Connor to look at him. “I should have done more to help you... You were going through so much, I-” Hank’s throat felt tight.
“I never asked for help.” Connor brought his hands up to hold Hank’s face now. “But you're here now. Will you help me?” Tears ran down both their faces. Hank pulled Connor into another hug.
“Of course.”