I Dare You {Reed900 Fic} (Has Been Revamped)

Chapter 11

A few days had passed since Gavin had invited Conan into his home. Conan had continued to stay at his apartment per Gavin's request, stating that it was "fucking ridiculous to live in that shit hole of a building". So the partners had found a rhythm. Conan would exit stasis early every morning, before the sun was even in the sky. He made breakfast for Gavin to eat for when he woke up before he headed to work. Gavin got up typically around nine, ate whatever Conan had made for him, and looked at his phone or the TV for the rest of the day. Once he felt motivated to, he would finally take a shower and get into some clean clothes. By six or seven in the evening, Conan would return to the apartment, having been told to go home by everyone in the precinct. He would make sure that the detective had done his exercises, encouraging him when he improved. He was starting to figure out how to synthesize the artificial skin to look like his own and he could squeeze the stress ball with little issue.

Tonight, however, was a bit different. When Conan returned to the apartment, he looked frustrated, burying his nose in a case file. The case file. He didn't even say his normal "Good evening" to Gavin. Instead, he hurriedly took a seat at the dining table and furrowed his brows, concentrating.

Gavin took note of Conan's strange behavior, peeking his head up from the edge of the couch, staring at Conan. He never had seen the android so openly frustrated before. "You alright there Nines?" He asked, mildly concerned. 

Conan snapped out of his train of thought, "Yes, I am alright. Just a bit, disgruntled." 

"Is it about our case? I see you brought the case file home." Gavin continued. 

Conan met the detective's gaze, looking oddly tired. "You shouldn't be worrying about the case right now Detective. You're on medical leave, I don't want you to stress over work while you should be healing."

Gavin got up from the couch and pulled up a chair to the dining table, sitting next to the android. "It's kinda hard to focus on "healing" when you storm into my home "disgruntled" with your face stuck in a file. Plus, I've been sitting here trapped in my apartment without anything to do but drive myself insane for the past few days, just throw me a bone tin can." He quipped back.

Conan sighed, giving in and letting Gavin look at the case file. "More bodies were found today. Eleven, in fact, all across the city and dumped in piles of two or three. No witnesses, no evidence, and the same M.O. as before." 

Gavin sifted through the file as Conan explained the situation, taking in the new information. "Jesus." He muttered under his breath. "And you're doing this all on your own?"

"Lieutenant Anderson and Connor have agreed to help out between their own cases but they are also experiencing an influx. It has been difficult." Conan replied as he returned to the case file. 

Gavin noted that the android was being unusually short so he decided to leave the conversation at that. He had never seen Conan quite like this, so... openly emotional. The only other time that came close is when he woke up from his injuries. Even then, it wasn't the same. Oh well, best not to dwell on it, he was sure he had his reasons. 

He decided to focus his attention back on the case. But not much made sense about it. Ruthlessly murder androids, drained thirium, possible red ice connection, and most confusingly, that Ainsworth Mansion party. The first three he could see small similarities. But already rich people asking other rich people for money? It didn't add up. He sat in silence, scouring the papers for any sort of clues. 

"Hey, hold up. I think my brain may have thought and good thought." Gavin blurted out, standing quickly up out of his seat. Something clicked in his mind, maybe it didn't make much sense yet but at least it was something.