What Once Was Broken is Now Gold | Reed900 [Rewriting]

12. Together Again

this whole first part is just smut im sorry if you wanna read that go to https://archiveofourown.org/works/16595795/chapters/38893325 lol

Nines fixed Gavin's boxers and gown, then sat at the edge of the bed, his hand drawing gentle circles against Gavin's chest. "Sleep. I'll be here when you wake."

"Yeah, you...you'd better." Gavin curled onto his side and closed his eyes. A moment passed. "Nines?"

"Yes?"

Gavin smirked. "You like it when I say your name."

Nines' hand paused. "...Yes."

"As per the current...." Gavin trailed off, thoughtful. "Situation, I suggest I say your name as much as possible, to see you...disheveled more often."

The tremor that shot through Nines' body was so strong Gavin could feel it through his palm. "Understood, Detective." 

~~~~~~~~~~

Gavin could say everything went back to normal, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Most had been for the better, more or less, but, well, after all that happened in that fucking hospital, nothing could go back to its usual normal.

Though, this brought a familiarity to Gavin's job that he'd honestly missed these past few days.

"Never fucking do that again, Reed," Fowler seethed, jabbing a finger into Gavin's chest. "Do you know just how fucking idiotic you were, starting that damn mission without so much as a heads-up to us?"

Gavin frowned. "Hey, I got us whole cells stuffed with drug dealers. All's well that ends well, Fowler."

Fowler drew in a deep breath. "Gavin," he said, quiet, calm. Ice shot down Gavin's spine. "You had barely recovered from your first injury," a pointed glare at Gavin's stump, "and then you go ahead and get yourself shot—twice, no less—and end up in the hospital. Again."

Gavin opened his mouth to reply, but Nines cut in from beside him. "It is my fault, Captain. I initiated Detective Reed's undercover mission by wrongly forcing him to interact with the suspects." Nines wet his lips, an action Gavin had noticed him doing ever since Gavin had been released from the hospital. "Instead of aiding him, I fell back. I am solely responsible for Detective Reed's injuries, traumas, and expenses."

Fowler's wrath simmered down into something akin to pity. "Nines—"

"The hell is wrong with you?" Gavin snatched the collar of Nines' shirt and shoved him back. "You literally— Christ! How the fuck do you think any of that was your fault? You can't control everything, dipshit!"

"I—"

Gavin shook Nines hard, the two stumbling, Nines an immovable wall, Gavin an unstoppable force. "No! Shut up. Don't even think of saying anything." He released Nines with a glare, then turned back to Fowler. "So, what? Do I get a suspension? Some trips to a therapist? I can handle desk work, Fowler, I'm going to go batshit crazy if I have to wallow in my apartment alone while Nines gets to buddy up with someone else."

Fowler held up his hand, a vein popping in his forehead. "Shut up, Gavin." He sighed and folded his hands over his lap. "Only desk work. If you dare go into the field, I'm taking your badge."

Gavin frowned. "Yes, sir."

"And Nines—"

Nines stood even more at attention, his expression hard. "Yes, sir?"

"If something like this ever happens again—" Here Fowler leaned forward, brow furrowed in thinly-veiled rage, "—I'm transferring you to another detective. Another precinct, even."

Something flashed across Nines' face—complete, utter terror. It disappeared as fast as it had come. "Yes...sir."

Fowler leaned back in his chair with a nod. "Glad you two understand." He turned to his terminal. "Get out."

Gavin led their exit, holding the glass door open for Nines, but glanced back when he hadn't followed. Nines stood, frozen as he stared at Fowler. "Nines!" Gavin called, and Nines flinched, then turned and left the office.

They headed to the break room. Gavin slumped against the wall near the coffee machines, Nines standing stiff at his side. "Well, that fuckin' sucked."

"Gavin...." Nines frowned, glancing down for a moment. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, what'd I say? It's not your fault." Gavin sighed and shook his head. "Look, you couldn't control what Peter did to me, you couldn't control Zeus knowing who I was. Not everything can be—be preconstructed and executed perfectly." He pressed a few buttons on the coffee machine a tad too hard, his shoulders tense and shaking. "You—you did good, Nines."

Nines reached out and placed his hand on Gavin's shoulder. "What makes you say that?"

"God, uh." Gavin picked up his coffee cup and downed half of it in one go, it scalding hot against his throat. "You got us outta there, for one. And even with you half dying." He coughed. "You gave me info when I was in the dark. Since you're connected to the Internet and shit."

"Still," Nines murmured, his hand trailing lower, over the hidden bite mark on Gavin's collarbone. He didn't say anything for a moment. "Are you satisfied with your caffeine intake?"

Gavin furrowed his brow and snorted into his cup. "Uh, I mean, I guess. Why do you ask?"

Nines stepped closer. "December 22, in the morning. You told me we would talk about my behavior once you," he paused, and his next words came out in Gavin's voice, "finally got some caffeine."

Gavin sputtered, coffee dripping down his chin. "Well, damn. Uh." He glanced around, no one else in the break room. He sighed. "Shoot, I guess."

"I apologize if I overstepped any boundaries," Nines began. "I understand you were uncomfortable with my advances, at the time. I still find it hard to believe you accepted me in the hospital."

Gavin hissed, elbowing Nines in the chest. "Shut the fuck up, will you? Christ." He furrowed his brow and placed his cup on the counter to rub his fingers against his forehead. "Look, I— I don't fuckin' know, I...." God, he couldn't say it. "Just don't think too much about that, got it? I dunno how you...you got so good at sucking dick, but uh, I'd be down for that again." Gavin shrugged off his embarrassment. "I mean, uh, it's whatever. I'm fine, so, um, you could do whatever."

Nines cocked his head. "Understood." He frowned, then, LED flashing red for a second before it cycled yellow. "Again, I'd like to apologize for your wounds."

"What'd I say about that? It's not your fault."

Nines stepped forward, and Gavin stepped back. "Are you certain?"

Gavin scoffed. "Yeah, you haven't pointed a gun at me, as far as I know. That makes me pretty fucking certain."

Another step. Another step back. "Gavin," Nines whispered, Gavin's name rolling off his tongue, sweet like chocolate with a bitter aftertaste. "If I hadn't pushed you, none of this would have ever occurred."

Gavin pressed his palm against Nines' chest as if to push him back, but Nines still backed him against a wall anyhow. "Nines, it's not—"

"My sole task," Nines rasped, resting his head on Gavin's shoulder. "My sole task is to keep you safe, Detective Gavin Reed." Nines wrapped his arms around Gavin's shoulders and inhaled, slow and long. "My life, as fake as others say it is, wasn't meant to be lived without orders, missions. I have access to thousands of missions, objectives, tasks. And yet, I stay with you." He turned, his lips brushing against Gavin's ear, the flashing red of his LED in Gavin's peripheral. "You are precious to me. I must keep you safe." One of his hands lowered and brushed against Gavin's stump.

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