Work Text:
Connor sits down on the porch bench. It's raining. Cars scatter puddles across the street as they rush by. Great beams of light reach into the fog, setting the neighborhood aglow. Headlights are caught in little pools on the ground, like tangles of colorful Christmas lights.
Rain patters on the roof, interspersed with the crashing waves of cars. The ocean of traffic washes over him and mutes the whispers in his head. The raindrops hit the roof with little clinks, tickling the insides of his brain. Clink, clink, clink. Pitter patter clatter. What a funny way to describe a sound. Clink. Tap tap tap.
“You wanna come inside, Connor?”
“I think I'll stay here Lieutenant, thank you,” Connor responds, not taking his eyes away from the street. Hank shrugs and shuts the door. Connor almost goes after him, but he wants to soak up this moment more. He's not quite sure why he wants to sit on the deck. It was a bit chilly by human standards and it was in no way productive. But it was so nice. Soothing was the word. The sound of raindrops streaming down, the foggy lights of cars, the smell of fresh dirt and gasoline and water. It was soothing.
The door opens with a squeak and Hank’s boots thunk across the porch. There's a slight swish as he walks. He must have a coat on now.
He sits next to Connor and looks around. His eyes flick from the water dripping off the roof to the puddles in the street. The man not so subtly glances at him and Connor shifts his gaze forward. But soon, Hank's eyes come to rest straight ahead of him too and the android focuses on the view again. The rain slows to a soft murmur above them.
Connor isn't sure why, but he finds himself shifting a bit closer to Hank. He leans into the man, relaxing with a sigh. He didn't even realize he was tense. Hank smiles and ruffles his hair. Connor grumbles but he's too tired to find any real annoyance in himself. He sinks into his friend more as Hank rests his arm around his shoulders.
Hank continues to pet his hair as cars drive by. Rivulets of water cleave themselves through the dirt. All Connor cares about now is the warmth of his friend next to him and the patter of the rain. He's lost in the lull of the water. Pitter patter. Hank strokes his hair ever so gently and Connor feels a real smile escape his lips.
Hank smiles back at him. If he could stay in this moment forever, he would. Just listening to the rain with his boy. Connor looks so peaceful now, so much different than he let himself when he was awake. This was the boy underneath the detective deviant hunter. The boy Hank really wanted to protect. Connors eyes drift shut and Hank gently hugs him closer, cradling him as he's lost to the realm of sleep.