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Connor was sitting on the couch, staring at a book he held open in his hands. Hank had been trying really hard to get Connor to understand reading, but it was difficult for him to read each word on the page instead of taking in all the information instantaneously through a quick internet search. But this was something Hank wanted from him. This was something he could do. His grip on the book tightened. He didn't want to fail. But how could he slow down his mind enough to read the words one at a time?!
Connor physically startled so badly he nearly dropped the book when Sumo's head shot up at the sound of a soft step approaching the front porch. The android stared at the dog, remembering that animals had very high senses of danger. Danger. Connor's systems kicked into high gear. A threat must be just outside the door. Connor felt tense, but also relieved. This was something he knew about, something he could actually do successfully. His new ability to preconstruct meant scenarios were now rapidly flashing in front of his eyes. He didn't know who the attacker was or what they wanted, so any number of preconstructions could be useful here.
Swiftly and silently, the android lay the book face down on the couch and moved to stand behind the door. Connor felt like his limbs and extremities were vibrating. If the attacker made it in, he could hide here once the door was open and take them by surprise, or maybe he could find a way to prevent them picking the lock, were they even going to pick the lock? They could, but maybe they were only casing right now, or maybe they would break down the door, there were too many possibilities, it was too open-ended, all Connor knew is that the household was in danger and he flexed his fingers as the footsteps had now made it right up to the door-
Meanwhile, in Hank's room, he got a notification that his package had just arrived. Took them long enough. He'd better go grab it before those porch pirate whatevers did.
When Hank entered the living room, he was stopped in his tracks at the sight of both Sumo and Connor intently staring at the door, Connor literally poised to fight only inches away with his LED flashing yellow.
"Whoa, the fuck's going on?!"
"Shh!" Connor whipped his head around to glance at Hank before turning his wide, unblinking, almost manic eyes back to the door again. "Someone's out there!" he whispered.
"Yeah someone's out there, it's the mailman." Hank held up his phone with the delivered email on his screen as Connor turned to him more slowly this time. "He's got my package."
Connor looked uncertain now, and his LED started to spin. "M-mailman...?"
"Yeah, buddy, it's the mailman. Just the mailman." Hank tried to make his tone soothing to hopefully help Connor relax a little, jesus this kid was wound tight. He carefully approached and gently reached past Connor to open the door.
"Hank-!" Connor's LED was flashing again.
But when Hank pulled the door open, the only thing Connor saw was a cardboard box sitting on the doorstep, and a man walking through the snow to the next house down the street.
"See? Mailman. Nothing's wrong, Connor, it's okay."
Connor felt like his world was crumbling around him as Hank bent down to retrieve the package. He'd been so sure. He'd been so sure. How could he have been so wrong? He'd thought this was something that he could do, something he was actually good at. But apparently he wasn't even good at this anymore. He was so incredibly far off the mark. He really must be useless....
Sumo's tail started to wag and he trotted over, panting happily, to investigate the foreign object brought into the house. Hank closed the door softly, keeping an eye on Connor. The android was staring at the box in Hank's hands, looking crestfallen and- and lost.
"Hey." Hank very carefully put a hand on his shoulder, trying not to startle him. "You're okay, everything's fine."
"I thought - I mean it just seemed like - I..." Connor frowned. "I - I don't know anything about mailmen." He looked up at Hank as his LED slowly went back to blue, but didn't stop blinking or spinning.
It was another one of those things, Hank realized. Connor was only programmed to deal with crimes. "That's alright, buddy, you'll learn."
"I'm sorry, I should have-"
"Connor, you've gotta stop apologizing for every little thing. I just said it's alright."
"Sorry," Connor said again, in a small voice.
Hank sighed and put an arm around him. "Come sit down, okay?" As they moved towards the couch, Hank noticed the book that was still there. "Oh, were you trying to read it again?"
"I couldn't," Connor admitted wretchedly as he sat. He rubbed at his arms. He felt cold. He always felt cold when he felt like this. Or was it the other way around?
"Then how about we watch something?" Hank moved the book and joined Connor on the couch. He knew watching was infinitely easier for Connor than reading. He tried to replace his arm around Connor's shoulder, but the kid's posture was ramrod straight and rigid. "You don't have to sit like a pole, you can lean back and relax your muscles for god's sake."
Connor didn't bother reminding him that androids don't have muscles.
"Do you wanna watch The Great Mouse Detective again? You liked that one," Hank kept his voice gentle and soothing.
"I did," Connor acknowledged, but his voice sounded far away. Then he blinked and seemed to come back to himself, and said with a nervous nod, "Um, sure."
As the movie started, Connor still sat very tensed and balled in on himself. Hank suppressed another sigh and just kept an arm around the kid, trying his best to make him feel comfortable. He and Connor still had a long road to go but they'd get there.