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

19. Normality

A low, simple melody trickled out the speakers of Gavin's phone, it grating against Gavin's ears. Gavin didn't glance to it, didn't have to, knowing the tune for a 'Game Over' by heart. The corner of Gavin's lips twitched downward, and he turned off his phone and rested it on his lap, leaning back in his chair, uncrossing and recrossing his feet where they rested up on his desk. He didn't tear his eyes from Fowler's office and the two within.

The glass walls of the office trembled with the force of Fowler's voice, the glass warping and muffling his words too much for the outside world to comprehend. Fowler's outburst didn't last too long, the office growing quiet as Fowler paced back and forth in front of his desk, his fingers digging against his temples. He turned back to face Nines, his lips moving, Gavin too far away to even and try to guess at what was said. Fowler stepped closer and rested his hand on Nines' shoulder, Nines nodding along to whatever he'd said, then Nines turned and left the office once Fowler drew his hand back to his side.

Gavin turned back to his phone as Nines drew closer and grimaced at the 'Game Over' still on the screen. He closed out of the app and decided to start fucking around on Twitter, losing himself in the repetitive motions.

Nines settled himself into his chair with a creak of its hinges, and even with all the distractions in the world, Gavin couldn't ignore Nines' voice. "How's your work coming along, Gavin?"

"Amazingly," Gavin muttered, hating how spiteful the word sounded, dread, fear, and worry dripping venom onto his tongue.

In the corner of Gavin's eye, Nines frowned, and only when Nines turned his attention to his terminal did Gavin look up from his phone. Nines' gaze stayed locked on his screen, his hand a smooth, shiny white over the keyboard. Something felt...wrong, Nines' face devoid of expression, and something heavy settled in the pit of Gavin's gut.

Gavin lowered his feet to the floor and drew himself closer to his desk, then batted a hand in Nines' direction until he looked over. "Um," Gavin began, grace in his every word, tongue thick in his mouth, unease coiling in his chest. "What was Fowler yelling at you about?"

"The mission, as is always the case now." Nines sighed and twisted his chair to better face Gavin over their desks. "I asked Captain Fowler if he'd allow you to at least monitor some of the information I sent back."

"You...." Gavin blinked, averting his gaze to the side with a frown as he shoved his phone in his pocket. "Well, I can guess he didn't really...like that."

With a shake of his head, Nines lifted his elbows to his desk, laced his fingers together, and rested his chin atop the bridge. "No." A pause. "He worries about you."

"No shit," Gavin said with a scoff. "I just.... Thanks for tryin' to get me in on some of it."

At that, Nines smiled. "It's not a problem, Gavin. I understand how important my safety is to you."

Gavin bit back a hiss and leapt from his chair, leaning over his desk to slap his hand over Nines' mouth. "Can you just shut the fuck up for once? God." He kept his voice quiet, his threat a low growl as it left his throat. "I just, I-"

Nines didn't break Gavin's gaze and blinked slow, almost batting his eyes, before parting his lips and licking up over Gavin's palm. Gavin choked down a shriek as he jumped back and fell into his chair with a clatter of pens, papers, and an old framed photo of Jo from his desk. "You're like a fuckin' child," Gavin snapped, even as laughter bubbled in his throat, and he wiped his palm on his pants. He fixed up his mess and straightened in his chair, casting a playful glare at Nines.

And Nines giggled, not trying too hard to prove Gavin wrong. "I'm sorry, my maturity module must be malfunctioning."

"Damn, that's a tongue twister and a half." But Gavin laughed, soft, trying to not let that fill with dread, too. "Well? You can at least tell me about what you're gonna be doing, right?"