A/N: Happy Holidays if you celebrate holidays! I hope your day is full of happiness and love! If you donât celebrate Holidays then I hope your day is filled with the same thing. For all I wish winter happiness!! this is a Christmas fic. @shadows-echoes I hope you like this! Also stay tuned for a special announcement later. I hope this is ok! Enjoy!
Music thrummed through the bullpen, red and green streamers hung haphazardly on the walls. Many were chatting and milling around, the bowl of eggnog had been spiked, as expected, but you stood against the wall, watching the activity with a water in your hand. It was Christmas Eve, everyone was in good spirits, you smiled looking at your watch, then to Hank who also had a water in his hand.
No one asked why he didnât have a bottle of cheer, but you knew. You could only hope that a certain someone wouldn't ask you why you were fidgeting. Speaking of which, your gaze now wandered over to the android in question. He was speaking to Gavin, asking about the genetics it would take to create a reindeer with a glowing nose or if the reindeer was exposed to radiation at an early age. Gavin,clearly beginning to become annoyed, was actually getting better. Well, at least he was trying since the revolution. He could still be a prick, but he was better than before. Even now that it was Christmas time, he was trying to keep his patience.Â
You smiled softly, looking over at Hank again, he met your eye and gave a solemn nod, then turned to leave, going to his car. Giddiness etched in your stomach, began to grow. This had become quite the tradition for you and Hank every year at Christmas. You slipped out of the Department unnoticed and followed him to your car, which was parked right next to his âDo you think any one saw us?â You opened the trunk of your large car, pulling out a hanging bag with a red suit inside, handing it off to the scoffing man beside you.
âI donât know how you convince me to do this every year.â You only laughed, grabbing your own hanging bag with a green out fit inside âoh shut up, you love this.â He only looked away, blush hidden behind his scruffy white beard. you moved away and behind your van, starting to change into the elf costume you had, complete with ears. Once you were sure Hank was done you came back around, smiling wide at the view of Hank in a Santa Clause outfit. A shrill of excitement escaped your lips âIâm so happy we do this!â You tossed him your keys, shutting up the back of the van.
He couldnât help but chuckle and shake his head âAlright we should get going if-â the sound of footsteps approaching caught both of your attentions, soon you were greeted by Connorâs voice, calling out for the two of you. Your head snapped to Hankâs âHurry!â The two of you scrambled into your van, starting the engine and screeching out of the parking lot, leaving behind a confused and dejected android. You blew out a puff of breath âThat was closeâ âToo closeâ was Hankâs grumbled reply.
You settled into your seat, the green elf outfit was soft. Guilt from the look on Connorâs face stung within you, but was soon ebbed away as you smiled once more, remembering your task. The back of your van was filled with different sized coats, hats, scarves and gloves. There were also several childrenâs toys wrapped in colorful bright paper, and pre-made meals kept warm in aluminum containers, condensation on top of the clear lids.
You had started doing this a few years ago, convincing Hank to join you in your escapades. You stopped at the first house, opening the back door of the van while Hank went and knocked on the front door. You soon joined him, a package, meal, and warm clothes. you smiled wide as Hank let out a gruff âHo Ho Hoâ.Â
This was a common occurrence. Every year you would take your Christmas bonus and buy gifts and ingredients and handed them out anonymously to those who needed it every year. The best part was that it was anonymous. The families only knew Hank and you as âSantaâ and âSantaâs elfâ. You would drop a gift off each house that had a child and a meal went to everyone. Of course you couldnât cover all of Detroit, which made you frown, but you were able to help. You couldnât remember exactly how it started.Â
You smiled at Hank as he drove, almost done with your gift giving. Of course, no one at the DPD could know. âHank, you know I always wondered why you decided to help me with thisâ His eyes flash to you then back to the road . He only shrugged and you accepted it. With his help, you could do more than what you used it. You looked out the window. âI wonder what Connor was wanting before we let... I feel bad that we just left him standing there.â The man next to you smiled, crinkling around his eyes âI think heâll be alright.â a shirt silence âHeâs a good kidâ You scoffed, rolling your eyes at him, glad the van was too dark to see your blush âHeâs not a kid Hank. Heâs...â you smiled âHeâs really great.âÂ
âYou like him.â you gave a nervous laugh, it wasnât a question, just a blunt statement. You cleared your throat, looking askance âYeah, I doâ âYou should tell himâ âWhat?!â your head snapped to face him for the second time that night âTell himâ he shrugged, acting like it wasnât a big deal. You stammered, gobsmacked âWell.. I canât... I justâ you blew out a puff of air âI donât think I canâ nerves coiled in your guts at the mere thought of it, possibilities of rejection took the place of the sugarplums faeries that danced in your head. You looked away, chewing your bottom lip.
You finished up delivering packages, driving back to the now mostly empty lot, Hank pulled the van back to itâs spot, next to his clunker. You hopped out the car, going to the back to grab the bags for your costumes, freezing solid at the sound of someone clearing their throat right behind you. Spinning, on your heel you came nose to chest with none other than Connor. you gasped âc-Connor! what are you doing here?âÂ
Hank came around, leaning against the van to watch the scene unfold. âI could ask the same of you two. I came out to see if everything was alright, I noticed the two of you left early. When I came to check, you drove off as if you were avoiding me. What..â his gaze shifted between you and Hank, now noticing the costumes âWhat is going on?â you looked at Hank, looking for help, he simply shrugged. âI... canât tell youâ Connors' eyebrows twitched up in surpriseâNeed I remind you that I am one of the most advanced models made for detective work.â
You smiled shaking your head âConnor how could I forget? I just...â He gave you puppy eyes and you melted completely âYou can not tell anyoneâ You then began to explain everything, Hank helping along the way, Connorâs smile growing wider and wider âSo you see.. you canât tell anyone, itâs sort of âSantaâs secretââ you breathed deeply, winded from your rant-like explanation. He simply looked down at you, joy in his eyes your name slipped from his lips as he stared at âThatâs amazingâ you blushed, laughing awkwardly
You now only registered how close the two of you were standing. You went to move away, stopping when you heard Hank say your name. Your eyes widened as you saw your friend with his arm extended above the both of your heads , Looking up you saw that Hank had a small plastic sprig of mistletoe that he found in the back of your van. His smirk was devilish as you looked at Connor, your face reddening. âHank what are you doi-Mff!!â You were cut off by lips crashing into yours, surprisingly warm and soft.
You closed your eyes, pressing yourself into him kissing back. You gripped the front of his jacket, to ground you and keep you from falling as you kissed. His hands enveloped your waist as you hold you to him. You were vaguely aware of Hank laughing and shutting the back of your van. Slowly you pulled away, gasping softly âCon...â His eyes still closed, pressing his forehead against yours âYouâve no idea how long Iâve been wanting to kiss youâ The small interaction warmed your body and left you wanting more. Hank had left right after holding the mistletoe up, the lot silent as you whispered.Â
You smiled up at the kind android, joy touching your features âIâve wanted to do that as wellâ You moved your hand to take his, intertwining the fingers âMerry Christmas, Conâ âMerry Christmas Detectiveâ He kissed your temple as the two of you walked back to the van.
Out side snow began to fall, blanketing the world in a fresh blanket of white. Lights shone on the buildings, and everything was merry and bright.