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“Get off my desk,” Hank says without heat, and also without even looking, which defeats the exact purpose of Connor sitting on it in the first place.
That said, there is something pleasing about how Hank treats it as something familiar and perhaps even mildly amusing, since he also never resorts to just shoving Connor off. He could, he’s a strong man, and while Connor can hold his own there’s no question that Hank could easily overpower him. Hold him down. Press him into the mattress and-
“No witty retort? Hope you’re not coming down with something,” Hank mutters, and Connor jerks out of his thirsty musings.
“Why? Are you admitting that you’d worry about me?”
Hank huffs, eyes still on his paperwork. “No. But you’re literally an inch away from me right now, I could catch it. Or Cole could.”
Connor sighs, both from frustration that Hank is as determined as ever to not give an inch, and also from the heartwarming reminder that Hank always keeps his son at the forefront of his mind.
“I never get sick.”
“First time for everything.”
“Well. I’ll try anything once,” Connor says, making sure his smirk is the exact right combination of cocky and inviting. Not that it matters, since Hank still isn’t casting him even the tiniest glance. Not even Connor’s increasingly outrageous outfits seem to provoke any kind of reaction, but Connor’s not one to give up once he’s on a mission. And even if he never gets his dearest wish of Hank becoming his in every way, he’ll consider it a win if he can just get under his skin a little. He’s had no luck so far, but he’s only been at it for a couple of months, and he’s prepared to make it a long term project.
Speaking of long term projects, Gavin wanders in with his usual sneer, and Connor prepares for the usual abuse flung his way. Gavin clearly holds a torch for Hank as well, and the jealousy does his already abrasive personality no favors, but, unlike Connor, Gavin seems to find it beneath him to parade around in the tightest and most eye-catching outfits known to man. Possibly, Gavin also finds it beneath him to ask the hired help for advice, which was the first thing Connor did.
Niles the housekeeper looks like an emotionless robot, but his thirst for drama seems to know no bounds, and he was more than happy to show Connor pictures of Hank from his younger years, decked out in florals and neon patterns and showing a clear preference for the flamboyant. After the death of his wife five years ago he seemed to retire most of his cheerier wardrobe, but Connor has a suspicion that that version of Hank is still in there somewhere, buried under his grief, and Connor is prepared to debase himself pretty hard to unearth him.
Today’s outfit is purple silk pants so tight they could be painted on, velvet waistcoat over a striped, billow-sleeved shirt, and a choker. Because Connor knows he’s got a pretty neck, and he’s not going to let any advantage go to waste.
He picks at the shirt, undone enough at the neck to show plenty of collarbone, and savors the face Gavin makes.
“Could you go be a slut somewhere else?” he says, which does actually get a reaction from Hank. A stern glance.
“Gavin.”
“Am I wrong, though?”
“He’s not wrong,” Connor interjects, and Hank rolls his eyes.
“Both of you have jobs, don’t you? Go do ‘em.”
Gavin smirks. “My job is in here, in the office. Yours is in the nursery, isn’t it? Nanny?”
“You say that like it’s an insult, but we both know who fathers get divorces for,” Connor says as he slides off the desk, and he can feel Gavin’s sour glare on his back all the way out of the office.
Niles is outside, pretending to dust something while clearly listening in, and he tuts when he sees Connor’s dejected sigh outside the closed door.
“No luck today, either?”
“No. But maybe if Gavin hadn’t come in, I could have gotten somewhere with the banter. Or perhaps the shirt wasn’t open enough,” Connor ponders, and Niles rolls his eyes.
“If you showed any more skin you’d need a warning for partial nudity, and I do think there’s a limit to how far you can push it in your job.”
That gives Connor an idea, and he grins to himself. “There wouldn’t happen to be a paddling pool tucked away somewhere in the house? It’s quite warm outside…”
“God help me,” Niles groans, but he does help get out the paddling pool after lunch, and Cole is an excited ball of delight at the prospect of splashing around in it.
- - -
Sometime in the early afternoon, Hank is pulled out of his work focus by a shriek from outside. A stab of panic shoots through him before he realizes it’s followed up by laughter, and he sinks back down in his chair.
The car crash that killed his wife could so very nearly have taken Cole as well, and Hank will probably never stop being on alert for any harm coming to his son. It’s part of why he works so hard now. He used to be a cop, but when he was suddenly faced with the prospect of being a single father he started his own business instead so he could stay at home. He now consults companies on security, doing as much from home as possible, and sending Gavin out for anything that needs a physical presence.
It feels like supreme irony that he’s actually more busy now than he ever was as a cop, but at least this way he can stay close. And now that Connor’s here, he can breathe easier knowing that Cole isn’t left to Niles’ weirdly wooden personality. As much as Hank rolls his eyes at Connor’s constant flirting, there’s no denying that Cole worships the ground he walks on, and so far nothing he’s ever said or done has caused Hank even the slightest concern that Connor doesn’t have Cole’s best interests at heart.
With a groan at the twinge in his back, Hank gets up from the desk and goes to the tall window to see what’s going on in his back garden, and the sight that greets him is more than any sane man should have to bear.
Cole is outside in his sunflower swim trunks, brandishing the water hose as a weapon as he chases Connor around the small paddling pool, spraying him with water that must be frigid, judging by how desperately he tries to dodge it. If only that was the end of it, though.
Connor is wearing Speedos, and Hank is willing to bet they’re at least one size too small, leaving so little to the imagination it’s downright indecent. But Hank has a half decent fence around his property, obscuring the display from vision for any nosy neighbors, and since Gavin has gone somewhere, probably to the kitchen to argue with Niles again, Hank can have this view all to himself.
And what a view it is. Miles and miles of smooth, pale skin, dotted with moles and freckles here and there, long legs and slim hips. Connor is laughing as Cole chases him, eyes wide, smiling toothy and bright, darting from side to side and jumping over the pool to escape the hose, and Cole is so focused on the chase he faceplants directly into the water. Connor stops immediately to check on him, but he’s giggling even as he’s shaking the water from his face, and soon enough the chase is on again.
It’s ironic, really. All of Connor’s effort to flirt and catch Hank’s eye and get him all hot and bothered has so far completely failed at making him crack. He’s affected, sure, but he’s not about to fuck his nanny. He’s just not, no matter how gorgeous and clever and funny he is. No matter how much he flirts and banters and sits so close to Hank’s hand that he can feel the heat of his thigh. No matter how mesmerizing it is to watch his nipples harden as cold water droplets trickle down his smooth chest.
No, what really gets under Hank’s skin is how Connor laughs and goofs around with Cole. Even as he’s still clearly trying to be alluring, should Hank happen to do exactly what he’s doing right now, Connor’s focus is still on Cole. They fight over the hose, both getting soaked, and their joyous faces as they end up rolling on the grass, wrestling and spraying water everywhere… that gets Hank straight in the heart.
He’s still not going to fuck his nanny, that’s just not going to happen. But getting his worn, old heart involved? That was never in the cards, and he’s not sure what to do about it.
As he stands there, pondering his stupid, fucking feelings, Connor happens to look up and see him, his face lighting up in a huge smile, and for once he seems to just be happy to see Hank. No hamming it up, no winking, no suggestive poses or words. Just sheer delight at seeing Hank there, and he waves up at the window. Cole spots him too, then, and joins in on the waving, both of them making such a perfect picture of happiness that Hank has to swallow a lump.
No. He’s not going to fuck his nanny. But fall in love with his nanny?
Well. There’s a first time for everything.
End.