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“Lieutenant, it is Christmas in 24 days.”
“Yeah.”
“We haven’t even started getting gifts yet.”
Hank stared at him. “Connor, we put up Christmas decorations… half an hour ago.”
“Correct.”
“And now you want to go Christmas shopping?”
“Correct.”
“Jesus… I thought deviants got tired too.”
“We do. However, the excitement of the holiday has nullified the effects of exhaustion.”
“Uh… Well, it hasn’t for me. Give me half an hour’s nap, and then I’ll be ready.”
“Wait, we’re going?”
“You asked to.”
“I was being… presumptuous. And asking a lot. Really, we don’t have to—”
“We’re going. You’ve psyched me up to it now, so start making a list of what you want to get, alright?”
As Hank slept in the other room, Connor made his list. Setting up columns of what each of his friends would want, trying to find the best gifts. His pay wasn’t a lot from the DPD, androids only now starting to be paid for their work, but he had to start from the beginning, unfortunately. Fortunately, he’d saved up just for the holidays.
“Are five new toys going to be enough for you, Sumo?”
Sumo tilted his head to the side, eyes widening.
“You’re right. It’s not enough. I’ll find another whilst I’m at the shops. So… I have art supplies for Markus, toys for you—oh, and matching coats to try and find for the Jericho members…” he chuckled to himself. “Or Christmas jumpers? Boy, I should stick to matching coats. North wouldn’t forgive me for matching Christmas jumpers.
“Now… Hank.” He paused. Stared hard at the wall. “What do I get for Hank? He does not fall into an easy hobby to buy for. He likes drinking, but I’m not fuelling that. He likes heavy metal, but he doesn’t like modern music, which is difficult to buy for. I need something that shows him how much his companionship and allowing me to move in with him, has meant to me. Any thoughts, Sumo?”
Sumo turned away from him, rolling onto his side with a sigh.
“I’ll see something there. I’m sure of it. I won’t disappoint Hank on Christmas day after he’s been so kind to me. Maybe—”
“Who the fuck are you talking to in there?”
Connor stopped immediately as Hank walked out of his room, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“No one.”
“Huh. Talking to yourself?”
“I wasn’t talking.”
“Uh… right. Whatever, I’m too tired for this. You still want to go holiday shopping?”
He grinned and scrambled to his feet.
**************************************************
Before he could even move onto buying gifts, he was mesmerised by the grand mall they entered. Tinkling music jingled over the speakers up above, slightly too loud but festive enough for him not to care. Not too many people were bustling about, as expected from planning to go shopping on the 1st of December. But decorations were already out, a tall tree at the centre of the mall and twinkling coloured lights draped over every surface.
“Huh, you really have never seen Christmas before.” Hank remarked, stopping by his side.
“No. This is very pretty. I like the colour schemes.”
“Yeah? Well, I like the smell of pastries in the air, the lights… Maybe that tacky stand over there selling hot cocoa, too.”
“Let’s get some.”
Hank chuckled. “If I bought food every time it smelt nice, I’d be out of pocket.”
“But… it’s Christmas.”
“Oh, I tell myself that every year. Mostly on Christmas dinners. It’s fuckin’ Christmas, I’ll eat what I want. Then I end up on the couch so full I can barely move.”
“You seem fond of the season.”
“Yeah, I....” Hank nodded, then turned his head away. “Let’s start shopping.”
Connor turned back to him and already the man was halfway up the escalator. He hurried to catch up with him, taking the steps by the side two at a time.
“Are we splitting up, Lieutenant?”
He turned around. “Oh, yeah. Shit, I forgot to say. We probably should, ‘cause I got some stuff to get for you…”
“Oh. Yes, I was getting you something as well. It would be wise to split up.”
“Yeah. What about… we meet back up right here in an hour?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Hank walked off, leaving Connor feeling as if he had missed something, watching his retreating form. Not that Hank was upset, but he could feel a change. Like something had shifted, disturbed, out of place. But he couldn’t quite pin it. With time ticking on and no idea of what to buy for Hank yet, he made a start on getting gifts for his friends.
He wasn’t sure whether it was a good thing that this only took twenty minutes. With a map of the mall in his mind, he found the perfect shops to get what he wanted. Bags clutched in his hands, two full of four matching coats and santa hats, the other filled with various presents, he stopped and accessed the map in his mind, eyes fluttering all the while.
He’d thought that, if he scanned every store, he’d find one eventually that would have something Hank wanted. But the mall was so large, and his feelings confused that he found no match.
“Damnit. Why is it so hard to buy something for Hank? I… I know him. But I want it to be good enough.”
Connor sat down on a bench, bags behind his legs, and thought. What exactly did he want it to be good enough for? Good enough to show his appreciation, that was for sure. Appreciation of… of what he and the Lieutenant had. The man was like a dad to him.
He winced. That was a tricky subject. He’d never said it to the man and didn’t plan on it. For some reason, he felt embarrassed by the topic. As if it were something taboo that he should shy away from. Hank had lost his son. Connor might be his friend, but he was a grown adult. Well, a one-year-old android with the body and mind of a grown adult.
Of course, that didn’t stop the fond thoughts from coming. Every time he talked to Hank, worked with him, whenever he did something well and the man said, Good job, son. Or when they sat at home and watched shitty TV and it just felt… right. Relationships were tricky to him, but somehow this one had claimed its label in his mind, wouldn’t let go.
He couldn’t deny that he wanted that closeness. He loved his friends, loved Markus as more than a friend, even if he was too shy to say it—but that was another problem entirely. Right now, he wanted to get a gift that showed Hank that bond. And that was wrong. Right?
Connor sighed, tracing a finger over his LED, betting that it was giving everyone in the mall one hell of a light show. It couldn’t be wrong. He cared for Hank. Hank cared for him, showing it in his own way. And he didn’t want to replace anyone Hank had lost—he just wanted his own little space in his life. One where he could live a little freer, not worry about being so uptight and professional and…
Yeah, a Christmas gift wasn’t going to solve this. But it would be a good starting block.
He closed his eyes again, and suddenly the right two shops flashed before his eyes. Smiling, he got up, picking up his bags.
And when he met up with Hank later, he didn’t mention the gifts but smiled again at the thought of them, nestled snug at the bottom of the third bag. A t-shirt reading the words ‘BEST DAD’, and, of course, some books. Hank liked reading, after all.
“Alright, took you long enough. You get lost?”
“No. I was just finding the right gift. You’re a hard man to buy for, Hank.”
“Yeah, yeah, alright. Lay off, mr-not that fuckin’ easy to buy for either. Let’s get out of here.”
“Of course. But first… Let’s get some of those hot cocoas by the door.”
“Connor…”
“I insist. My treat. It is Christmas, after all.”
“Fucking December 1st… but fine. You win, son.”
Connor smiled.