regulation (connor-centric/hank dbh whump)
hi hi this was for @carley-carley-carley who sent me a prompt! my prompts are open! u can send me one thru my asks yeehaw
pls don’t rb to non kink/whump blogs thanku
FIND CHARGING PORT WITHIN 3:00:00 OR IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN WILL OCCUR
The message blinks into view with an alarming high-pitched peal of sound that makes Connor’s head ache desperately. It’s not his fault he hasn’t been able to charge properly, he thinks miserably. His pump regulator is shot, functioning on a mere 87% capacity. He can only barely maintain his usual standard of work, and now it seems, he will need to retire this strategy. He knows he has a port stashed in Hank’s house, but the problem is actually pulling Hank away long enough to let him know how he’s feeling without humiliating himself. The pump regulator is arriving in a day or so, there’s no reason to fuss and make Hank take him to Cyberlife for a repair that he could easily complete himself with half of the risks.
The only reason he knew to order the pump regulator though, is the palpitating of his thirium in his chest. Abnormally hard, it puts him out of breath, or at least he appears so - cheeks flushed with exertion from even the shortest chase or least intimidating fight. His diagnostics system is down. Some kind of bug, maybe, in his software. Connor is at a loss for whatever else is wrong. Hopefully, if he can fix this stupid regulator he’ll be able to produce enough internal energy to actually run a software patch and repair his systems.
A bead of something akin to sweat runs down Connor’s face, and then suddenly he’s plagued with devastating chills. The increasing whirr of processors in his chest is alarming, so he sits down on the cold linoleum floor for a moment. At rest, the whirring thrums to a more manageable pace, though now he supposes he can assume that his thermoregulator is out of commission as well. His shoulders shudder, and he solemnly loosens his tie, pulling his thin jacket tighter around himself in an effort to rid himself of his chill.
Hank is in the archive room, corresponding a lead with some evidence Wess picked up an hour ago, pertaining to the new heroin-like method of using Red Ice. Connor suspects that is merely a cover story and Hank is in fact getting drunk underneath the staircase. He calls out to Hank anyway.
“Hank. Hank? I need your assistance.”
Obviously Hank is too far away, but it was nice to humor the possibility that maybe he wouldn’t have to get up and stumble down those stairs. Instead, he bites his lip in thought, then gently heaves himself off the ground. Immediately, the room spins in a decidedly terrible way. Connor grabs the wall, blinks hard, and when this doesn’t seem to help, he runs a hand through his hair. He staggers to the archive room, falling twice, and only once stumbling into Gavin-
“Watch where you’re fucking going!”
-who doesn’t seem to care that he’s currently dying, he’s dying he’s dying he’s dying he’s dying
Oh. He blinks, and Hank’s right in front of him, placing a cool hand against his cheek prosthetic, his middle finger pressing gently along his temporal lobe panel, granting a small reprieve from immense pressure inside Connor’s head. Hank frowns, then opens his mouth like he’s going to say something. There’s alcohol on his breath, and Connor wants to express several emotions at once. Instead, he leans into Hank, shivering. He wants to go home, and he wants to be done with today and his stupid pump regulator and his stupid chills and stupid everything. He wraps his arms around Hank fully and they stagger into the wall. Connor’s head is hurting too badly to realize maybe he’s trusting a little too much of his weight to a man who’s clearly been throwing back some scotch.
“Woah, oh. Okay. We’re doing this then? You don’t look so good, son.” Hank mumbles against Connor’s hairline.
Connor looks up at him slightly, just enough to catch Hank frowning.
“How long’ve you been feeling like crap, kid?” He mutters, holding Connor without worry of what Gavin or Wess might say, should they walk down the hall.
“Approxi...approximately ten hours. I have replacement p-parts on the way” Connor is shocked when his voice glitches, in accordance with a strong shudder running down his spine.
“My pump isn’t manufacturing energy correctly. It’s a special m-model and thus isn’t ah...a-available in store. I am a-afraid that I am draining m-my power reserves as we speak.”
“Connor, there are docks right by the smartboard in the corner. You’re free to use them, you know that right? Don’t bullshit me.”
“D-different...uh, type. The...the less advanced android model charger has an aluminum conductor. My thirium needs to be charged with silver or I deplete the power bank too quickly to charge. I am a high maintenance machine, above all else.” He explains, looking vaguely humiliated.
Hank’s eyes widen slightly, and he glances at his watch. Steering Connor out the door, he’s quick to flip Gavin the bird and give Wess a nod. Connor wouldn’t exaggerate about things like this.
The ride home is uneventful, but when they come to a stop, Connor is flushed a dark blue, to the point where Hank is sure if he were to touch him he would receive a nasty burn. Connor struggles to keep his eyes open, chest trying equally as hard to contain the deep swells of ineffective thirium pumping through it.
Hank searches for the power dock he was sure Connor had thrown into the back of the closet - he was usually self sufficient and only used the dock once in a blue moon - and set it up, just in time for Connor to shuffle inside the dim room. He looked like hell.
“Rest up, son. If this doesn’t work...” Hank scowls. The threat of taking Connor back to Cyberlife for a repair hangs in the air, but all Connor can do is curl up on the bed, plug himself in, and try to find a way to heal himself. There is no other option.