Dickory

A Lazy Sunday

Sunday arrived sooner than Gavin expected. He felt a little anxious as the day wore on. Since he wasn't due at work that day, Nines encouraged him out of the apartment. He actually ended up grabbing an old basketball and leading Nines down to the small plot he used with the kids. The land was supposed to be in development, but it had been fenced off for years, so Gavin had made use of it. Nines had never played basketball, but he was more than happy to learn. He tried the old-fashioned way for a change, watching Gavin and copying his movements rather than downloading a program. It took him a few tries, but he soon made his first basket and looked more than a little pleased with himself.

"Detective G!" Gavin turned with a grin as five of the kids rolled up. He greeted them with his usual fist bumps, hair ruffles, and secret handshakes before introducing Nines as his work partner. The boys were more than a little impressed with him and asked all sorts of questions about his strength and processing speed. It was rare to see androids in their part of town. It was a prime spot for AAL members, and many lived in the area. The boys were more than happy to teach Nines how to play, so Gavin leaned on the mesh fence and watched as they raced around the small plot, expertly ducking and weaving around him despite his height. They trounced him in the first round.

"Don't get too cocky, he's a fast learner!" Gavin's warning was almost smug as the second round began. He snickered as he watched the kids' stunned faces. Nines had figured out how to counteract each of their previous strategies, and ended up taking the ball all the way to the other hoop within the first few seconds. He was pretty much unchallenged, able to duck and weave around the teens as he'd seen them do earlier.

"That was so cool!" Now that Nines knew how to play, the group split up to play a proper game. It was agreed that one team would get Nines and the other would have Gavin. Since there were odd numbers, Gavin's team got an extra member, the smallest boy in the group, to make it fair. Gavin noticed more than once that Nines would often let the smallest child duck around him, giving him a fair chance. After an hour or so, the kids wanted to watch Nines and Gavin play one-on-one. Gavin chuckled as he took the ball and bounced it a few times.

"You guys just want to watch me getting my ass kicked!" The boys didn't deny it as they sat along the fence yelling their support. For Nines. Gavin put a hand on his heart and feigned hurt as he took his place in front of Nines. They settled in a low stance and Gavin tossed the ball to him. Nines tossed it back, and the game began. Getting around Nines was almost impossible. He was taller, faster, and pretty agile, too. Gavin turned his back and held an arm out as he bounced the ball, trying to spot a way to at least make a shot. He took a few steps forward before doubling back and throwing the ball, cursing as it bounced off the edge of the old metal hoop. The boys jeered as Nines took the ball and made a shot himself, landing it perfectly. "Nice shot," Gavin gasped breathlessly as he bent over.

"Giving up already, Rump Steak?" Nines teased as he bounced the ball. Sharp green eyes accepted his challenge as they reversed roles. Gavin took a few deep breaths before straightening up, ready for the ball. It was no surprise to him that Nines managed to dodge around him within seconds and land another basket, much to the amusement of the watching crowd. Nines was almost smug as he span the ball on one finger. Cocky bastard...

"You think you can do better? Have at it!" Gavin huffed invitingly as he went to the fence and nudged one of the taller boys towards Nines. He watched them settle into place. Nines' eyes were sharp as he examined every move the teen made. The boy was slightly lanky. His muscles hadn't developed to match his growing height and wider physique yet. At fifteen years old, he still had a good seven years of growing left to do. Right now, he was no challenge for Nines, but his superior experience would likely give him a small edge in their match. The group at the fence cheered as the lanky teen managed to get a lucky shot over Nines' head, but the game ended up a tie since Nines scored a basket during the second round. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon. It had been far too long since Gavin had been out with the kids, and Nines had managed to slot right into their small group.