Chapter Text
“Cole?” Hank called as he was rummaging around the kitchen counter, making sure he found all his things—wallet, badge, keys… “Almost ready, bud?”
“Yes!” Cole shouted, running out of his room with a stuffed cat in his arms. It was missing an eye from when Sumo got ahold of it one night, but Cole didn’t mind. He was great at taking things in stride.
Hank grabbed Cole’s backpack from where it hung by the door, slipping it on his shoulders for him. “Just remember, if you take the plushie to school—“
“—I have to watch it and then remember to bring it back,” Cole finished. “I know, daddy.”
Hank scoffed a laugh, ruffling his hair as he opened the door. Unfortunately he was learning Hank’s smart mouth already.
Hank gave Sumo a goodbye scratch on the ear before heading out.
Cole was struggling to get the car door opened, so Hank scooped him up in his arms and pulled it open for him. Hank helped him get settled; since he was barely six, he still used a car seat, and you would think Hank would be quicker with this thing after all these years, but he still fumbled.
Hank was running a bit late that morning, but he made sure not to come off as cranky to Cole. He could save that for work.
Hank dropped him off in front of the school. Hank never really had to help him with getting out of the car seat, he conveniently had that down no problem. Hank did open his door so they could hug goodbye and he could watch Cole disappear safely into the entrance.
Hank was quick to peel out of there the moment he knew Cole was safe. Fowler was already going to kill him at this rate.
When Hank arrived, he ran inside, anything to get him a few minutes back. He went rushing to his desk, and by some miracle, he was only about ten minutes late.
“Hank!” Fowler shouted from his office. “Get in here!”
“ Fuck ,” he muttered under his breath, begrudgingly going to face his punishment.
“Hank, I have a new assignment for you.” Fowler started.
Hank stared in surprise. By yet another miracle, he wasn’t in trouble. And Hank wasn’t a self-snitch so he didn’t say a word about it. “Okay, whatcha got?” He asked, eyes darting around Fowler’s desk, trying to find a new folder.
“No new cases besides the ones you’ve already got,” Fowler said dismissively upon seeing Hank’s searching. “It’s not that kind of assignment.”
“Okay…?”
“Well higher ups have really been getting on my ass about enforcing that everyone has a partner, so…”
Hank groaned. “Awe come on, you know I don’t work well with other people.”
“It’s not up to me.” He said firmly.
Hank sighed heavily. “Who is it?”
“He’s new, he’s—“
“New? You’re joking. You’re pairing me up with a rookie? Jeffery, I’ve already got a kid, I don’t need to be babysitting when I get here.”
Fowler took a sip of his coffee as if that would save him from Hank’s complaints. “He graduated the top of his class, lots of schooling background, he’s very thorough.”
Hank was mildly aware of the door to Fowler’s office opening behind him, but he ignored it. Whoever it was could wait their turn to bitch at Fowler, Hank was first.
“Book smart is barely half of it, you know that. If you pair me up with a rookie, I’m gonna have to hold his hand through every damn investigation, and then I’m going to get stuck being there whenever he has a meltdown the first time he sees something gnarly. I don’t want babysitting duty for some overgrown toddler.”
“I really wish you would watch your mouth,” Fowler muttered through a rather defeated sigh. Hank was surprised, usually he had more bite back. Just as Hank was beginning to wonder if it was because he had an audience, Fowler just motioned unenthusiastically to the back of the room. “Hank, meet your new partner. Connor.”
Whoops. Hank’s heart dropped to his stomach, turning to face him.
Connor just stood there with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. He was definitely young, looked too young to be on the force. But Hank supposed he possibly just had one of those faces—big brown eyes, high cheek bones, sharp jaw, and dusted with freckles. His hair was brushed back and out of his face besides one stubborn piece that looked so good fallen over his face it could’ve been a choice he made to look better.
But judging by the perfectly ironed slacks, damn near seamless white button up tucked into them, and black tie—Connor wasn’t exactly the type to purposely allow something out of place. Too straight edge.
“Why don’t you go show him to his desk, Hank? The one beside yours.” Fowler said like he was directing an unruly child.
And well, knowing that Connor heard him throwing his fit, he definitely felt like one. “Sure.” he muttered awkwardly, giving Connor and halfhearted smile before leading the way.
He would have to apologize. Once he managed to talk himself up enough.
Connor followed him without a word and without so much of a twitch of a smile. Either he was generally unfriendly, or perhaps he was just not happy with Hank. Which Hank had no room to be upset about.
“Here it is,” Hank said, patting the empty desk. “Sorry you’ve got to be next to me and my messy ass desk,” He laughed weakly, trying to lighten the mood.
Connor just nodded, giving him the fakest half smile he’d ever seen, as he sat down.
Damn, tough crowd.
“You look pretty young,” Hank tried again, trying to break some of this ice between them. “They letting teenagers on the force now?”
Connor didn’t seem to appreciate the joke, but he did at least finally look at Hank. “I’m almost 32.” he said.
“Oh shit, no kidding.” Hank muttered in astonishment. “You don’t look it.”
“I get that a lot.” Connor said quietly, turning his attention to logging into his computer.
Brrr.
“You look really good.” Hank blurted, realizing how weird that came out. Connor did too, turning to him with a questioning look on his face. “Your clothes, I mean.” Hank hurried to correct, cheeks burning slightly. Of course Connor was hot but he didn’t need to be saying that to his face or anything. “No pets or kids, I’m guessing?”
Connor relaxed a little bit, his defenses softening now that he knew he wasn’t being come onto. “None. Well, besides a fish.”
Hank laughed softly. “Fish keeps you a lot of company?”
Connor appreciated this joke a little more, giving a shrug and small smile. “It’s quiet. But I’ve been in school forever so that was what I needed.”
“Every think about getting a dog or something?”
“I don’t know about that.” Connor said with a little laugh. “Hair and slobber? Maybe not.”
“Oh yeah, I could definitely tell you a few things about hair and slobber.” Hank laughed, pulling out his phone and showing Connor the lock screen—a picture of Cole hugging Sumo’s huge head.
“A Saint Bernard? Yeah, I bet there’s plenty you could tell me about that.” Connor said, studying the picture another minute more. “You have a son?”
“I do.” Hank said, immediately switching into proud dad mode. “His name is Cole, he just turned six.”
“Wow.” Connor said, looking genuinely surprised. “I guess I don’t often expect to see parents who are homicide detectives.”
“It can be tough.” Hank admitted. “Job gets dicey sometimes and the hours can be demanding. Even harder after his mom took off a few years ago. Thank god for babysitters.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about his mom.” Connor offered, clearly very awkward and not sure how to approach this. But there was a genuine concern under it all. Hank appreciated it regardless of how rough it may be.
“Thanks for that.” Hank decided to spare him the awkwardness for now, pulling out his files. “Wanna review what I’ve got here?”
“Yes please,” Connor said so eagerly it almost made Hank laugh.
Connor was sort of stuck up, but something about him was endlessly endearing. Maybe his crooked smile or awkward sincerity. Whatever it was, Hank liked him just fine. Plus, a totally added bonus—Connor was very attractive. Like, looked more like a detective from a movie than a real one. It definitely wasn’t a requirement and definitely not the most important part, but it sure was a nice added perk.
Hank supposed he could make this work.
They’d been at it for hours.
Mostly Connor, if Hank was being honest. He had that rookie determination to prove himself, scanning every document, taking extensive notes, not taking his eyes off the page even once.
Hank sort of envied it in a way. Connor had nothing else he had to do or think about than this job. Hank, however, was thinking about Cole. Wondering how he was doing at school, wondering if Sumo was alright at home, wondering if the babysitter would pick Cole up from school on time.
Eventually, Connor did take a break. Barely. “I’m gonna get a coffee.” he said distractedly, clearly his mind was still somewhere deep in that case he’d been reading.
Coffee sounded pretty good, actually. Hank was considering going to get some himself a little bit later.
After about ten minutes, Connor returned. And much to Hank’s surprise, he set a coffee down for Hank too.
“Oh.” Hank floundered. “Thank you.”
Connor just nodded like it was no big deal. And maybe it wasn’t. But to Hank, it sure was. That sort of effortless consideration and thoughtfulness was a very special trait few people had.
Hank was starting to feel even more like a jackass for what he’d said before.
He took a sip—it was a little overly sweet for Hank’s taste, but coffee was coffee. He watched Connor’s sharp eyes cutting across the words on the folder. Hank wanted to express his appreciation and apologize for earlier, but he couldn’t quite work up the nerve. It didn’t help that Connor’s focus never wavered—if Hank interrupted him, wouldn’t it piss him off? Not exactly the ideal way to start an apology.
Hank let it go for now, but he was determined to make sure Connor got an apology once the time was right.
The moment the clock hit five, Hank was up and grabbing his shit.
Connor hesitantly allowed himself to be pulled out of the deep focus he was in, looking up at Hank almost questioningly.
“When that clock hits five, I’m out of here.” Hank explained.
Connor seemed almost annoyed by that. He hummed thoughtfully, returning his focus to the case files.
“I gotta go get Cole.” Hank explained, not sure why he felt the need to defend himself. He supposed he just didn’t want to lose anymore points with Connor.
Connors features softened. “Oh, right, of course. I forgot.” he relented. He looked like he was chewing something over for a moment, like he’d say something else, but decided against it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Hank said somewhat awkwardly, turning and heading out.
He looked down at his now-empty paper cup. Connor was a little uptight and Hank could tell he had an attitude when he wanted one, but he was a nice enough guy. At least he was eager; Hank didn’t have to worry about a slacker.
Hank picked up Cole from the babysitter’s and they were back home in no time.
Their evening was pretty typical—Hank cooked dinner while Cole played with his toys and/or Sumo.
The only difference than most nights was that Hank was thinking about Connor.
When they sat down to eat, Cole told Hank all about his day. Which kids he played with, how much he liked his teacher, what they learned, what he ate at lunch, what games he played with the babysitter after school. All of it. Hank just listened and chimed in with excitement where appropriate.
“What did you do today?” Cole asked through a mouthful.
“Lots of boring paperwork.” Hank said with nod. “But I did get a new partner.”
“A partner?” Cole asked.
“Mmhmm. Someone who works with me on all the jobs I do.” He explained. “His name is Connor.”
“Is he nice?” Cole asked excitedly.
“He is nice. He’s a little quiet, though.” Hank said, deciding that would be the easiest way to sum him up to a child. “I like him.”
“Does he like you?”
It was such a typical little kid question, but it still made Hank stop to think in a very serious way. “Well… I don’t think so.”
Cole looked so saddened, dropping his fork. “Why, daddy?”
“I wasn’t very nice to him.” He explained. Hank of course treated Cole like a kid, but he was also very big on honesty so he tried to reflect it where he could. “I was saying mean things about him behind his back and he heard me.”
Cole shook his head disapprovingly. “You’re not supposed to do that.”
“I know, I made a mistake.” Hank admitted, trying to contain the pride he felt when Cole scolded him. “Do you know what we do when we make a mistake?”
“Say ‘I’m sorry’?”
“That’s right. Good job. I think I’ll do that tomorrow. Maybe I’ll bring him treat, too.” Hank said, practically wondering aloud. Maybe coffee? Breakfast?
“Can I help pick the treat?!” Cole suddenly shouted, the desperation on his face making Hank laugh.
“Sure buddy.”
Cole was very excited about this. Hank was amused, but honestly, he wished he could’ve felt the same.
It was definitely a little stupid, but Hank was nervous.
He just hoped it would go well.