Work Text:
After pulling back from Hank’s hug, Connor looked at Markus and smiled.
“Thank you, Markus. I…”
“It’s alright, you don’t need to thank me. You’ve been through a lot these past few days.”
“I know. But I appreciate all of you helping me. You, Hank, Simon, the techs here… You didn’t have to do that.”
“Uh, yeah, we did.” Hank said, a hint of confusion in his tone. “We all love ya. Alright, maybe in different ways,” he laughed, “but people care about you.”
“Yes. I… just didn’t want to hurt anybody.”
“Well, you didn’t. Did he?”
“No. The only thing that hurt me was sticking my hand through the hole in the door.” Markus chuckled.
“Excuse me. I drilled that hole, and I tried my best.” Simon said, acting affronted. “Do you want me to kiss it better?”
In response, Markus spluttered.
“Or maybe, you’d rather someone else did…”
“Alright! Alright, let’s leave Hank and Connor to catch up. I assume you two will be missing out on the New Year’s party.”
“Yes. Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine, Connor. You need time to rest. We’ll see you another time.”
“Of course.”
It was true; after the whole ordeal, Connor was exhausted. Nothing sounded better than getting back home and into his own bed.
The realisation of his freedom only came to him on the drive back home. He’d been sat, head pressed up against the cool glass of the window, staring at the flickering lights outside, when he realised his vision was… blissfully empty.
No need for tasks to build up. No mission driving him. No little prompt to enter his mind palace in the top right corner of his vision.
Even when he got back inside their home, Sumo bounding in a few moments later to slobber him in kisses, and he stared at the wrecked mess of their dinner table… He felt free. Cyberlife might’ve made him screw over boxing day dinner, but they were gone now.
Gone for good. No sense of foreboding this time, no ominous tune playing in his mind. They were gone.
“You alright down there, kid?”
“Yes. I—thank you.”
“Yeah, uh, no problem. Sorry you had to go through that shit.”
“So am I. Fuck Cyberlife.”
Hank blinked, then laughed. “I’ll allow that, this time.”
“You always let me swear.”
“Yeah, maybe that should be my New Year’s Resolution. Clean up your potty mouth. Now, I might be able to swear—but that’s different.”
“Oh yeah? Because, what, you’re an adult?”
“No. ‘cause I’m me and it’s my thing. Get your own.”
“Oh, I believe I do… it’s called tinsel.”
“Get another thing. A hobby, or something. Play your new keyboard I got for you.”
“Alright.” He braced his hands on his knees, standing up slowly. “But that’s not my New Year’s Resolution.”
“No? What is it, then? Annoy the fuck out of me with tinsel?”
“No. It’s… to appreciate you more. All of you. To appreciate what I’ve got. The best friends, dog, and dad I could ask for.”
“Aw, man. Can’t believe they gave me a sap for a son.”
“But you love me.”
Hank patted him on the shoulder. “Guess I do. Now come on, might be New Year’s, new Cyberlife-less you, but we got to tidy up that mess on the floor before Sumo eats it all.”