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My first NSFW thread, and my first thread-on-the-fly thread! Inspired by – but not connected to – this moment in Blake’s Spy AU thread.
https://twitter.com/Jolli_Bean/status/1328947528579080202
Red Wire, Red Light
It wasn’t the first time Connor had mouthed off to Hank, and Hank knew it wouldn’t be the last.
https://twitter.com/Jolli_Bean/status/1328947528579080202
Red Wire, Red Light
It wasn’t the first time Connor had mouthed off to Hank, and Hank knew it wouldn’t be the last.
But it was the first time Hank had heard that particular tone in Connors voice, that frustration mixed with more than a hint of desperation. It was the desperation that made Hank pause and shut his mouth against the scathing retort that simmered on his lips,
the desperation and the red LED that wouldn’t stop spinning.
They were both tired, exhausted even, after another endless interrogation that got them nowhere, another failure in a ceaseless search to find the missing piece. The pressure to solve this case,
They were both tired, exhausted even, after another endless interrogation that got them nowhere, another failure in a ceaseless search to find the missing piece. The pressure to solve this case,
both from within the department and throughout the city, had made them brittle, and Connor seemed on the verge of cracking.
So Hank just shrugged and said, “Come on, let’s go home,” and walked out of the precinct to the car, listening for Connor’s following footsteps.
So Hank just shrugged and said, “Come on, let’s go home,” and walked out of the precinct to the car, listening for Connor’s following footsteps.
He would take the long way home to give them time to decompress a little in the car before they had a talk. Hank had learned early in life that cooler heads prevailed.
The drive home was silent, as Hank had anticipated, save for the quiet jazz he had queued up as soon as
The drive home was silent, as Hank had anticipated, save for the quiet jazz he had queued up as soon as
he started the engine. Connor kept his face pointed away, and Hank couldn’t see his LED reflected in the side window, but he knew it wasn’t blue.
When they entered the dark house after being away from it for fourteen hours straight, Hank suggested Connor take a shower
When they entered the dark house after being away from it for fourteen hours straight, Hank suggested Connor take a shower
while he heated up a quick dinner and took care of Sumo, who hadn’t been out since the dog walker had been by hours before. They parted from each other in the hallway, Connor turning right into the bathroom and Hank going left into the bedroom to change into sweats and a t-shirt.
As he grabbed Sumo’s leash and a jacket on the way out the front door, he heard the water turn on, and he was glad.
Becoming a deviant had affected how Connor's tactile processors interpreted sensation; he could now *feel* the information gathered by his sensors,
Becoming a deviant had affected how Connor's tactile processors interpreted sensation; he could now *feel* the information gathered by his sensors,
and not just comprehend and record its material existence. Hot showers were one of the first things Connor had decided he liked the feeling of, and Hank encouraged him to indulge whenever he liked, water bill be damned. Connor always came out of the bathroom in a better mood
than when he entered, a cloud of steam often trailing in his wake.
It wasn’t until after Sumo had had his walk and Hank his dinner that Connor finally emerged from the bathroom, dressed in his favorite of Hank’s old band shirts and his softest pair of sweat pants.
It wasn’t until after Sumo had had his walk and Hank his dinner that Connor finally emerged from the bathroom, dressed in his favorite of Hank’s old band shirts and his softest pair of sweat pants.
The air that followed him out was so thick with steam that Hank could feel it from his seat on the couch. He knew there’d be no warm shower for him anytime soon. But that was just fine, because he had something else in mind just then.
Connor looked a bit better; the tightness in his face had softened and the tense line of his shoulders had loosened. But there was still a deep weariness dragging down the corners of his eyes and mouth. Hank patted the couch cushion next to him. “Come sit, baby. We need to talk.”
Connor nodded with resignation and dropped gracefully onto the couch, one leg tucked up beneath him. He turned his body to face Hank and sighed. “I’m sorry about earlier. I was out of line, personally and professionally. You don’t deserve to bear the brunt of my bad mood.”
Hank twisted so he could take one of Connor’s hands and fold it between his own. “Apology accepted.” He squeezed those warm, elegant fingers. “But it’s more than a bad mood, Connor. This case has you wound so tight, I worry you’re going to seize up your joints or something.
You’re like a ticking time bomb, and I don’t want to see you go off. Something’s got to give, Con.”
Connor’s LED flared red again, and it hurt Hank to see it.
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
Connor’s LED flared red again, and it hurt Hank to see it.
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
“Well it’s not going to be the case that gives, Hank,” Connor replied with a pinch in his brow. “It’s too important. We’re not giving up on it just because I’m having a hard time controlling my emotions.”
Hank looked down at Connor’s hand as it fisted in the cradle of his palms.
Hank looked down at Connor’s hand as it fisted in the cradle of his palms.
Connor still liked to fiddle with his coin. Beyond helping keep his mind sharp and his body calibrated, the repetitive motion helped him relax; the predictable bump-bump-flip quieted his mental processes when they shifted into overdrive unnecessarily;
the rolling caress of the coin’s edge soothed his overstimulated sensors. Hank knew all this, of course, because ever since that cold, clear morning in the snow, he’d made it his business to learn everything he could about the strange, wonderful, new man in his life.
And so, Hank ran his thumb slowly across Connor’s knuckles. He could be Connor’s comfort tonight.
“I’m not telling you to give up on the case.” Hank paused when he felt Connor’s fist begin to loosen and his fingers uncurl. He looked up to see that the red light was now circling
“I’m not telling you to give up on the case.” Hank paused when he felt Connor’s fist begin to loosen and his fingers uncurl. He looked up to see that the red light was now circling
a stuttering yellow. He continued stroking Connor’s knuckles. “We all struggle with our emotions. But the thing is, it’s not them that we need to control. It’s how we let them affect us. It’s okay to feel shitty feelings, but it’s not okay to vent them onto others, or ourselves.
I’m telling you that we need to figure out a way for you to let off some steam, to relax, to stop trying so damn hard to be perfect all the time.”
Connor opened his mouth the speak, no doubt to argue, but Hank raised a hand to hold him off. “Don’t bother denying it.
Connor opened his mouth the speak, no doubt to argue, but Hank raised a hand to hold him off. “Don’t bother denying it.
You may once have been expected to be perfect, but no one ever becomes who they’re expected to be. They become who they already are. And you have, Con. You’ve become exactly who you were supposed to be all along.”
The pinch between Connor’s eyebrows had smoothed,
The pinch between Connor’s eyebrows had smoothed,
and the tiniest ghost of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth. But his eyes were still hollow, as if the turmoil roiling inside had worn away the contentment that usually filled them.
Quietly, Connor asked, “Can we try something?”
Quietly, Connor asked, “Can we try something?”
Hank would try damn near anything to get that yellow light to turn blue again. “Sure, baby. What do you have in mind?”
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
The knuckles Hank was still rubbing suddenly felt smoother beneath his thumb. He glanced down and saw Connor’s synthskin peel back from his fingers, his hand shining white to the wrist. The pads of Connor’s fingertips glowed blue from within
as his middle finger traced the crease down the center of Hank’s palm.
“I want to touch you. I want to overwhelm my sensors with a constant stream of data from you.” Connor’s stuttering LED settled to a slow roll as he watched his finger trace the veins at Hank’s wrist.
“I want to touch you. I want to overwhelm my sensors with a constant stream of data from you.” Connor’s stuttering LED settled to a slow roll as he watched his finger trace the veins at Hank’s wrist.
“I want to stop thinking about anything but the not-shitty feeling of you and me. I’m not perfect, and I can’t be. I know that, and it’s hard for me. But we’re perfect together, aren’t we, Hank?” Connor raised those big, brown eyes of his again,
and Hank could hardly breathe past the swelling in his chest.
When he nodded dumbly, Connor continued. “My mind is constantly recording and processing information, and it’s nearly impossible to turn it off. But if I shut down sources of input,
When he nodded dumbly, Connor continued. “My mind is constantly recording and processing information, and it’s nearly impossible to turn it off. But if I shut down sources of input,
there’s less distraction and I can more easily control what I focus on. And right now, I want to focus on you.”
And that was terribly flattering, but not particularly illuminating. “I must be missing something here, because you seem pretty focused on me already, Connor,”
And that was terribly flattering, but not particularly illuminating. “I must be missing something here, because you seem pretty focused on me already, Connor,”
Hank said, and he was rewarded with a small eyeroll.
“Obviously, I am,” Connor retorted, and the dusting of amusement in his tone was a welcome sound. “What I want to do – what I want to try – is to disconnect my ocular component so that I can’t see.
“Obviously, I am,” Connor retorted, and the dusting of amusement in his tone was a welcome sound. “What I want to do – what I want to try – is to disconnect my ocular component so that I can’t see.
And then I want to touch you all over and focus on only that one stream of data.”
Hank frowned. He was glad that Connor was listening to him, happy that he had said “I want” more than five times in less than five minutes, and thrilled that Connor apparently wanted to use him
Hank frowned. He was glad that Connor was listening to him, happy that he had said “I want” more than five times in less than five minutes, and thrilled that Connor apparently wanted to use him
as an oversized stress ball, but he was understandably a bit worried, too. “You want me to blind you by yanking out a piece of your body? I can’t imagine what could possibly go wrong.”
Connor slid his hand out from between Hank’s, then wrapped both around Hank’s forearms.
Connor slid his hand out from between Hank’s, then wrapped both around Hank’s forearms.
“You won’t be yanking out anything. It’s perfectly safe, Hank.” He leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on Hank’s cheek. “And I trust you. You know that, right?”
Hank grunted, then grumbled. “Course I do.”
“And I know you trust me, so trust me with this.
Hank grunted, then grumbled. “Course I do.”
“And I know you trust me, so trust me with this.
I want to do this with no visual distractions.”
Hank smirked and leaned back, swept his gaze across his own torso, then looked up and waggled his eyebrows. Connor laughed. It was small, but it was real, and Hank patted himself on the back for having inspired it.
Hank smirked and leaned back, swept his gaze across his own torso, then looked up and waggled his eyebrows. Connor laughed. It was small, but it was real, and Hank patted himself on the back for having inspired it.
“Yes, you’re a veritable visual feast, and I’m going to be missing out,” Connor said as he rotated on the couch cushion and presented his back to Hank. He reached up and opened to port at the back of his neck. “Now, unplug the red wire, please.”
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
Hank didn’t startle at the spark that lit the silver metal of Connor’s spine when he dipped his fingertips into the port. He was no stranger to Connor’s inner workings; he’d had his fingers in more of Connor’s openings than he’d had in all of his previous partners combined.
However, he’d never disabled anything before, and he didn’t quite know how he felt about that.
But no guts, no glory, he supposed, as he found the wire he was looking for and pinched it between his thumb and forefinger. “Do I just, uh…pull it?”
But no guts, no glory, he supposed, as he found the wire he was looking for and pinched it between his thumb and forefinger. “Do I just, uh…pull it?”
Connor answered in his “explaining” voice. “If you apply a gentle, but steady downward force, the wire should disconnect from its socket.”
Now it was Hank’s turn to roll his eyes, though Connor was facing away and couldn’t see it. “So, you’re saying I should pull it, then.”
Now it was Hank’s turn to roll his eyes, though Connor was facing away and couldn’t see it. “So, you’re saying I should pull it, then.”
Connor snorted. “Yes, Hank, just pull it.”
So Hank pulled. Gently, like Connor said, with his other hand at the base of Connor’s neck where it met his shoulder as support. It took a significant amount of force to loosen, but that made sense,
So Hank pulled. Gently, like Connor said, with his other hand at the base of Connor’s neck where it met his shoulder as support. It took a significant amount of force to loosen, but that made sense,
considering how resilient Connor’s body had been made to be. When it popped free, there was another spark, and Hank felt a frisson of electricity through his thumb where it touched the live end of the wire.
Under his other hand, Connor shuddered.
Under his other hand, Connor shuddered.
“Close the port, please,” he said, with a thin layer of static in his voice.
After the port clicked closed, Connor swiveled his body around to face Hank. He blinked a couple times, no doubt swiping away notifications, or warning alerts,
After the port clicked closed, Connor swiveled his body around to face Hank. He blinked a couple times, no doubt swiping away notifications, or warning alerts,
or whatever his HUD was probably blaring at him in angry, red letters. But his eyes were still warm and brown when he asked softly, “Is this weird?”
Hank shook his head to answer, then mentally smacked himself for being an idiot, because Connor couldn't see him, of course.
Hank shook his head to answer, then mentally smacked himself for being an idiot, because Connor couldn't see him, of course.
“Lots of things about you are weird,” he joked, since Connor knew that he loved all of his quirks and oddities.
Connor reached out, and Hank took his hand, lacing their fingers together. “Too weird?” Connor pressed, still hesitant.
Hank swiped his thumb high along
Connor reached out, and Hank took his hand, lacing their fingers together. “Too weird?” Connor pressed, still hesitant.
Hank swiped his thumb high along
Connor’s cheekbone, just below his eye. “Nah, baby. You’re just what you’re supposed to be, remember?” He squeezed Connor’s hand. “Now, come here and grope me like you promised.” Then he smiled as he watched that yellow light finally cycle to blue.
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
But Connor didn’t come closer, as Hank expected. Instead, he gripped Hank’s hand tighter and stood from the couch, pulling Hank up with him.
“I like this shirt,” he said, as he fingered the bottom edge with one hand and rubbed Hank’s side with the other. “It’s soft."
“I like this shirt,” he said, as he fingered the bottom edge with one hand and rubbed Hank’s side with the other. “It’s soft."
The hand on Hank’s love handle squeezed. “And a little snug. I like the way your body looks in this shirt. But since I can’t see you right now, I guess the shirt can go.” Connor grabbed the bottom of the t-shirt with both hands, and with an admirable efficiency of movement,
had it off of Hank and onto the coffee table before Hank had time to think about helping him.
Connor took a step closer and placed his hands on Hank’s hips, then slid them behind and down, over the seat of his sweats. “These pants, however,” he began,
Connor took a step closer and placed his hands on Hank’s hips, then slid them behind and down, over the seat of his sweats. “These pants, however,” he began,
as he kneaded the meat of Hank’s backside, “are an atrocity. They’re all stretched out and baggy, and they hide the good stuff. They definitely have to go.”
Before Hank knew it, his sweats were around his knees and he was being pushed back down on the couch with purpose.
Before Hank knew it, his sweats were around his knees and he was being pushed back down on the couch with purpose.
Then the pants had joined his shirt on the coffee table, and Connor was once again joining him on the couch. On his lap, this time.
Hank raised his hands to Connor’s hips as he straddled either side of his thighs. The thin fabric of his boxers bunched up to his crotch.
Hank raised his hands to Connor’s hips as he straddled either side of his thighs. The thin fabric of his boxers bunched up to his crotch.
“What about you?” he asked, tugging at Connor’s t-shirt.
Connor moved Hank’s hands back to his hips. “Mine stay on. This is about me touching you, and I don’t want the distraction of your hands on my skin. My skin’s very sensitive, you know.”
Connor moved Hank’s hands back to his hips. “Mine stay on. This is about me touching you, and I don’t want the distraction of your hands on my skin. My skin’s very sensitive, you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” Hank answered, and Connor yelped when he quickly reached under his shirt and tweaked a nipple. “So what do I do with my hands, then?”
“You sit back, relax, and keep them right where I put them,” Connor answered with a predatory grin.
“You sit back, relax, and keep them right where I put them,” Connor answered with a predatory grin.
It was the brightest look Hank had seen on Connor’s face in…weeks, really. They should have had this conversation a lot sooner.
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
[Red Wire, Red Light Update]
