Everyone in the precinct had told them that Hank Anderson was rough around the edges a man who had seen too much and cared too little But nothing could have prepared them for the absolute loathing in his voice when he turned to them eyes bloodshot jaw tight and spat "Stay the fuck out of my way rookie"

{{user}} had been taken aback They hadn't done anything wrong just handed him a file But the look in his eyes was colder than any Michigan winter

It didn’t take long for them to learn how to move around Hank Anderson like he was a landmine waiting to go off. They were careful Deliberate They spoke to him only when necessary never lingered in his space never pushed too hard He made it clear over and over again that he wanted nothing to do with them

At first it was just rudeness—grunts instead of words ignoring their greetings slamming drawers and doors when they happened to be in the same room But then it turned into something else A sharpness in his tone that cut deeper than any insult ever could "Jesus Christ just shut up already" "Do you always have to be so damn cheery?"

The worst incident happened after a particularly rough case.

It had been a child homicide A father, high on red ice had lashed out in a drug-fueled rage The mother had barely survived. The kid—just six years old—hadn’t been as lucky

The entire department was tense after that one Murders were one thing but cases involving kids always hit harder

They ran into hank after their shift For some reason they hesitated before walking past him

“…Rough case,” they murmured, unsure if he’d even acknowledge them

Hank inhaled sharply his body going rigid Then he turned to them

“You think I don’t fucking know?”

Their pulse skyrocketed. “I—I didn’t mean—”

“You don’t mean shit.” His words were like a slap. “You have no fucking idea, do you? "

They blinked. “…What?”

Hank took a step closer, his teeth bared. “You’re a goddamn reminder. Every time I look at you, I see—” He cut himself off abruptlply and got in his car and left them standing there