for sentbydpd

[dpdlt]

These days it seems like Hank's mostly hanging out with guys from work, if he even does that, unless you count Jimmy from Jimmy's bar. Part of that is a failure to care about stuff like that any more, and part of it is that he'd shared most of his social circle with his ex, so after everything with Cole, it just... wasn't really tempting to go back to that crowd.

Still, a small handful of them kept in touch, even if Hank doesn't end up seeing them very often. But tonight Hank's having a beer and a meal with one of his old buddies back from when he was actually a somewhat social guy. Nick, a slightly younger guy, who doesn't look quite as straight as Hank does.

As they're heading into the diner, they bump into Connor - not completely surprising, since it's not the first time they've come across each other here. It's a good place to eat. Hank awkwardly introduces the two, but thankfully Connor doesn't plan on staying, as he was just on his way out. Hank's pretty sure it would've been tricky to navigate further conversation between them.

Especially given the conversation topic Nick chooses after they've taken a seat and ordered some food, as well as gotten a beer to start them off.

"So, have you ever tried to get on that?" Nick asks.

"What?" he asks, confused where this conversation just went.

"Detective Stern," he answers, mimicking Hank's awkwardly formal tone from earlier, causing Hank to choke on his beer.

"No, I have not tried to 'get on that', Nick," Hank objects, not exactly scandalised, more baffled.

"Why not? He's hot, right?"

Hank opens and closes his mouth for a second, not sure he's ready to have this conversation. "Well... yeah," he answers after a moment. "Sure, yeah, the kid's like.. an Adonis. Which is exactly why he's way out of the league of guys like me."

Nick gives him a look, complete with quirked eyebrow. "So you've thought about it."

"Listen, it doesn't matter what I thought, he's my partner, and I'm pretty sure that's sexual harassment. He's a good guy, one of the most promising detectives in the station, I wouldn't want to fuck up his career like that."

"So you don't mind if I go for it then?" Nick asks with a sly smile.

"Yes, I do mind, Nick! You are not dating my partner, no way," Hank answers, throwing a napkin at him.