For better or for worse, Connor’s always tracking Hank’s state, physically and mentally (as much as he can without directly looking into his mind, maybe through interfacing), and he notices his deep breath and the almost… tenseness, the apprehensiveness he seems to have letting it go, and recognises why that might be — on a psychological level, it might be something to do with being afraid to lose things, his son, maybe even him. He can’t directly communicate these findings, though — that would be… extremely strange and would probably be upsetting for Hank to find out in such a weird and emotionally charged way, so he reached out, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently. Connor couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose someone like he had, but he understood why he would be nervous about losing him — he was terrified of losing Hank, of outliving him. He thought it might be possible, that as a prototype, he would run down at about the same time, but he was still nervous.
He considered the lieutenant’s question, before shaking his head. “I haven’t heard about that. As far as I know, we’re built to be perfect, more or less. I mean, we do have some flaws, or product issues. I meant it more as a joke, honestly. Did that work? I’m still trying to learn how to do that properly.” He frowned, lowering his head a little to think about it, and then pausing, lifting his head just a little so that Hank might feel inclined to give him some tips. “I don’t have difficulty pronouncing Lieutenant. But ‘Dad’ is less syllables, so it’s easier to pronounce. At least, I presume it is for humans. Less of a mouthful, right?”
As he hides his hand back into his black coat’s pocket, he coils his fingers in his hand tightly, both hands now morphed into uncertain fists; clenching, grasping -- anything to hold on a little longer, right?
It was a subconscious action that usually appeared any time he was faced with the subject of loss... Assuming there wasn’t a burger or a brown bottle already occupying his hand. Gaze lingers on the android (his android? -- his son.) and mind begins to question what Connor had been able to pick up from Hank. He’s seen his investigative prowess, and as much as he hated being analyzed -- and, probably saved a few times from over-indulging whatever cheap enough spirits he can get his hands on -- he questions if Connor could detect his discomfort currently. Could he see a super x-ray of his hand in his coat? He already assumes Connor can pick up his increased blood pressure, rather, he’s certain that Connor can tell it is noticeably higher than his normally elevated level.
The remark about jokes is enough to ease Hank out of his alerted state, almost like coaxing a nervous cat out of a tree. Facial hair moves as lips pull into a warm, Hank-like smile and he dares step a bit closer to Connor. “Gettin’ there.” He starts, a humored huff in a flawed attempt to pretend that nothing was wrong. “You’re catching on to the idea that absurdity breeds humor.”
He gives a shrug of his shoulders, a more sympathetic expression written on his features as he beholds the other. “Read somewhere that the word dad doesn’t seem to have any real linguistic origin, but was instead picked up from da-da, y’know, baby-talk... You, uh, you probably already knew that, though.”