Detective Gay Reed

For the @reed900celebration winter gift exchange, for @celexdraw !

AHH. Took bloody forever but it is DONE. Thank you so, so much for all the prompts, I REALLY needed something fluffy this month.

God I’m such a big fan of this person, their inktober D&D Reed900 pieces are adorable! I barely contain a squeal when I saw I was their gifter… so to all those poor sods who have yet to unfollow me, go check out their stuff!! It’s amazing! 

Yes and yes! NInes is an elegant fucker even when drenched in Detroit rainfall.

It was based on one of my favourite @celexdraw​‘s art: https://celexdraw.tumblr.com/post/189834857109/going-undercover-reveals-a-lot-about-a-person

Please accept my hastily drawn shit shitposting God 

@six-ninths-deviant

The door stood ominously before him as he held his fist up to strike it.

Which was total *bullshit*, he reasoned with himself. Because it was a fucking door.

It was more about what it meant. Why it would conjure up a top shelf cocktail of nerves and excitement and anticipation.

It was Nines’ door.

 After being essentially torn away from him for three fucking months, working undercover as some mobsters lackey only to have the fucking satisfaction of putting a bullet in the guy’s head.

He had been so happy to have that damn case closed for good, until he realised he didn’t have his Tincan celebrating with him. Packed up right away after that, took the first flight the fuck home to sweet, noisy Detroit.

That’s how he ended up here, using his runaway thoughts as ample excuse to buy time, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, only to come out with a packet of aeroplane tissues with speckles of white lint. Fuck. His keys were in his suitcase. 

Looks like he’ll *have* to knock.

He needed to catch his breath, anyway. 

Yeah, that’s why he was stalling.

 He had ran through the fucking labyrinth that is the arrival hall, dicked around on his phone through passport scanning, ran through baggage claim, ran back through baggage claim because he took the wrong suitcase, ran around for an Über for a good half and hour, and lugged his fucking suitcase up three flights of stairs. 

This surprise return idea had been a horrible one, he reprimanded himself as he lay gasping for a few seconds. Seriously. Never again. God please don’t say he’s not home.

He finally, *finally* gathers the courage to knock.

so yeah, he’s alone with four cats. he was gonna go out in a walk soon, butbshit man it gets dark at 4:30 now we can’t have that.

so he stayed home in mega warmth.

most of his co-workers knew where he lived, but maybe he forgot something? he doesn’t do that often.

“can i help you?” he asked, opening the door.

nines was holding one (1) screaming cat, a black bombay named Luna (he had gotten her while gavin was away) and lord.

he looked- well, i guess down at gavin and lord he would’ve screamed if luna didn’t just absolutely just jump out of his arms.

“…surprise?”

He made a face like he had forgotten something, as he reached into his hoodie pocket to retrieve a fucking party popper, and pops it enthusiastically, glittery sprinkles flying amidst his tincan’s confusion.

“Happy birthday, Tincan!!”

Immediately the new cat makes a dive for the glitter, and now Gavin has to desperately pry this flailing feline away from the mess to avoid a rather unpleasant visit to the vet.

“Uh, case ended early-“

Aka, perp got shot in the head.

“So I decided to surprise you instead? You know, it’s your birthday, and we missed mine, and it’s what they do in the movies, because you’re a nerd and I figured you’d like it? Well, they don’t include the ‘nearly poisoning your cat with a handful of tiny plastic’, but I didn’t really think about that part.”

His scrabbles for some coherent reason. Really hard to explain your thought process when.

 You. 

Don’t.

“Oh my- i forgot it was by birthday.” 

he chuckled lightly, being quick to scoop up a very flailing and screaming kitten. Luna is one loud bitch, i swear.

“You’re so sweet, gav. I missed you.” ask nina, he really did. 

Hello world?? May I announce how absolutely cute and precious my tin can is, and how we should all appreciate and love him forever. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Oh baby, you’re smile is so cute, never go away.

Now, if he could put those fucking feelings into coherent sentences and SAY those sentences to his tin can without sounding like a bloody lunatic, that would certainly make his life easier.

““Well, asshole,” he chastises him fondly, obviously suppressing a wide grin without little avail. “That’s why I put it in our calendar with heart emojis. Those emojis mean important shit in my life, told you they would come in useful”

He cooes very audibly when Oreo rushed to him, because he loved her and Mocha just as much, and he was a huge softie on the inside so what did you expect?

What he didn’t expect was what happened next. Perhaps it was the phrase ‘I missed you’ said aloud that caused a warm wave of sudden emotion to wash over him. Gavin Reed was rarely ’missed’.

He couldn’t remember how the space between them disappeared, one moment he was knelt on the floor, looking up to see those steel grey eyes, the next his arms were wrapped around his Tincan’s torso in a tight embrace; one he never wanted to end.

He was silent. Muted. For once he struggled to form words to say, an explanation or excuse for *why* warm tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked, crying for the missed time they’ll never get back, to release the tension that had been slowly winding up over the months, and the fact that finally, *finally*.

he smiled at gavin- warm and loving. his heart POURS out love gavin so like you already been knew sis. you already fuckin knew this a long ass time ago.

nines could probably pour out how much he loves gavin, but lord would it be awkward. he doesn’t know why either, but it just *does*. But he can always try, anyways.

Nines watched as Gavin pet oreo, as the cat rubbed up against his hand, making happy click noises. Oreo clicks, sometimes.Luna, who was in Nines’ arms, was jealous. SHE wants love from dad’s boyfriend!! Why does oreo get all the love???

But she quickly scampered off after gavin quickly stood up and hugged nines- as the said tin can was a little stunned and let her run back into his apartment. 

Like i said before, nines was a little surprised by the hug- but not as much.

It felt weird. But a good weird. Like a ‘falling down a huge drop on a rollercoaster’ ‘doing funny flips to your stomach’ type of good weird.

There was no telling how he’d react to it; that had to be the most terrifying part. Being with Nines was a whole adventure park ride of ‘good weird’s, and the best damn thing that happened in his fucking life.

He felt himself shake against his hold. Arms wrapped around his shoulders, feeling the android’s synthetic warmth against his skin. God, he missed this. Before he knew it, he was on his top toes, snagging that amazing-as-fuck smile against his own.

 It was sweet. 

It was slow. 

Because they had all the time in the world now. They’ve waited so long and they have each other now, no way he’s letting him leave now.

“I love you too, for the record.” It’s mumbled against Nines’ lips, before he pulls away to catch his breath.

“Now, I see you have new members of the Anderson family to introduce me to?”

but they are lucky they’re inside his apartment, or he would’ve been annoying his neighbors. he had kissedback in the slow kiss Gavin had offered, he hasn’t done this in a while and, honestly?

he missed it. a lot.

He wouldn’t leave even if he had to (unless i it was for his cats, lmao)

Nines laughes softly, kissing gavin’s cheek. “Yeah, i got two new cats. Mainly because Nina didn’t stop me.”

he smiled, as he scooped up Artemis (who was laying on a shelf)

Artemis was a white bombay, with bright blue eyes.

But at the same time, he was *happy* as fuck. 

What they had between them was worth it. *Nines* was worth it. So despite his love history, he’s staying this time. For as long as Nines want him, he’ll stay. He coos audibly at the new family members, one arm around Nines’ waist, drawing soft circles on his hip, the other hand scratching behind Luna’s ear, as he rested his head on his shoulder.

“Hello asshole. I’m Gavin, your dad’s boyfriend.” He chuckled softly, dabbing at his wet cheek with his sleeve. “*He’s* the crybaby in this relationship, I swear. Just- not today- fUCK. I’m normally like this, I’ll have you know. Niiiiiines, tell them I’m not the crybaby!”

Gavin groans, an overly dramatic gesture of defeat, as he buries his head into Nines’ shoulder.

Nines had one relationship before gavin, and it didn’t exatly end out too well. He wasn’t too damaged by i, but it still kind of hurt. feelings wise, not physically. that would be bad.

he pressed a kiss to gavin’s head, with a soft chuckle. “You tell them that yourself.” he jokes, as artemis, hops up onyto nines’ shoulder.

He mumbles something incoherent, but overall chastising. Now this bitch cat was taller than him, as if looking up at three Anderson family members wasn’t damn enough. Fuck him and his average-height-ness. 

“I’m not a fucking crybabyyyyyy” He tries again, pouting and putting on the best I-am-serious face he can muster. Which was still not very convincing, as he broke into a large dorky grin immediately after and reached up to stroke the soft fur behind Luna’s neck. His other hand slowly made its way down Nines’ spine, under his shirt, his fingertips barely skimming the surface of his skin. Because he was one Cheeky Boi.

~ “Well?” He paused to jump onto his tiptoes and sip on his android’s lips for a fleeting moment. He could get drunk on that featherlight touch faster than any brand of vodka.

 Only for a few seconds though, as his attention returned to the cats.

“Mmm, just a wittle.” Nines used a baby voice, as he leaned down slightly and kissed Gavin’s ‘large dorky grin’. Luna rubbed up against Gavin’s leg, gently scratching his leg with her teeth. She’s baby. Nines shivered lightly when gavin shoved his hand down his shirt, as he smacked his arm.

~

Artemis stayed up on Nines’ shoulders, as Mocha, (timy wittle bapy) came running over from Nines’ room- she loved gavin. Oreo also came out from his room, probably gonna sit on the floor right next to gavin.

Gavin has to tiptoe to kiss him. Gavin has to scream like his cats for his tol bi when the coffee powder were in the top shelf. Gavin has to function as Nines’ armrest sometimes.

Gavin is convinced this is cyberbullying.

Not that he’s gonna... complain ALL that much though. Having a tall top has its... perks.

“Hmmmph. Fine. I’m baby. Love your babies.” He ‘baby voices’ back. God if T was here she’d never let him hear the end of it.

He was still smiling like a dork when he kissed him, his eyes dazedly drifted closed, his hand gently coming up to cup his cheek. And then he snickered against his mouth when he was caught red handed.

“What? Can’t I admire my beautiful boyfriend?” He asked innocently, though that facade was broken by the corner of his lip, curling into a tell tale smirk.

Luckily for Nines’ ever decreasing sanity, Gavin’s 5-second attention span has once again been consumed by cats. First Luna, then Mocha, then cooing for Oreo (because honestly? When has this man NOT bitten off more than he can chew?), this 38 year old totally mature guy was sprawled on the floor cooing over cats, making dumb faces that would otherwise never see the light of day.

[honestly she,,, she would have given anything to see those eyes again, to see her beautiful fiancee again, to have her in her arms again,, god she literally owed Elaine everything and more]

[and as Gwen continued Nina let out something that sounded like a mixture of a huff and a chuckle]

“You never told me it was a chicken sandwich, you asshole,”

[she shook her head but ,,, there was no real malice in her voice, she was smiling now and the tears continued to slide down her cheeks, she couldn’t possibly be mad at Gwen, not when she just got her back]

[and god when Gwen wrapped her arms around her, Nina practically melted into her warmth and wrapped her own arms tightly around her, never wanting to let her go] 

“I know, babygirl, I know, I’m here, I’m right here,” 

[she laughed lightly and allowed herself to bury her face in Gwen’s shoulder, getting her shirt wet with tears as her shoulder’s shook slightly]

[she couldn’t stop crying it seemed, she was so overwhelmed with emotion, she had been so scared, terrified that she would die, terrified that Gwen wouldn’t believe her,,, and yet she was so happy to be alive, to be back home, to be in her fiancee’s arms ,,, she was so in love and so desperately afraid of losing the life she had ,,,,] 

[,,,,,]

[Nina couldn’t hide the squeal that escaped her when Gwen started hitting her with pillows and she reached to still her, a few giggles escaping between her sobs] 

“Please! Have mercy on me!”

[she couldn’t help it, she was giggling now and there was a new playful glint in her eyes, a look that only Gwen had ever seen] 

[once she had successfully ceased her partner’s attacks she pulled her in for a couple messy kisses, not even caring about the tears that stained their cheeks or ,, anything else for that matter, she just desperately needed to know that she was alive, to know that Gwen was there and she could actually kiss her and hold her properly] 

[she raised a hand to cup her cheek and pulled away, brushing their noses together softly before speaking] 

“I’m so sorry about what happened,, I promise I’ll be more careful from now on and it’ll never happen again.” 

[she paused for a moment before continuing] 

[and the words that followed? That was enough to make her shiver, she adored being called kitten and the purr in her ear was way too attractive]

“You know I’ll do anything, I’ll do whatever you want-”

[nina smiled almost mischievously as she pressed another kiss to Gwen’s lips, chuckling softly at the connotations-honestly these two-]

[and she enjoyed being able to pet their cats, most of them were trying to steal from the bag of Doritos but ,,,, some of them were curled up next to their moms, happy that everyone was home and their other mama wasn’t sad anymore]

[Nina had been scratching Ugly’s head when she felt that kiss on her jaw and she gave Gwen a smile, happy to give her attention to her fiancée instead of the cat]

“Yeah yeah well, you make me sappy too.”

[and pressing their smiles together was almost too much, she was back to pulling her partner in for another kiss, only pulling away to let her fiancée breathe before she was pulling her in again]

“Ugh, feelings. How painfully human of us. I say we go back to regular fucking like the chucklefucks we are.

...Later. It’s definately on the to do list. THEN, you can show me what you’ll do, sweetheart.”

She chuckles against her lips, before pressing their lips together once again, cherishing the warm buzz she felt from her heart down to her numbing fingers and toes. 

Weaving their fingers one by one with one hand, the other wove into her chestnut curls. Soft featherlight kisses alternated to long, somewhat desperate ones, then back again, and as they settled down, they resumed a regular routine of sipping on each others lips and resting in their embrace to until the hours that slipped by fell into the new day. Despite the winter’s waning of sunlight day by day, the world outside began to seep light into the apartment, slowly flooding their little world of dark concealment.

When the sliver of sunlight pricked her eyes, she groans, rubs her eyes to re-focus, and picks up her phone.

“jeeeesus fuck- how long... nevermind. Time to tell Captain Fuckwad of taking to day off, at least. 

What would this even come under on the absence form? Where’s android-fiancee-came-back-from-the-dead? Family grievence? Well, family un-grievence. Ctrl-Z mourning.

@six-ninths-deviant

The door stood ominously before him as he held his fist up to strike it.

Which was total *bullshit*, he reasoned with himself. Because it was a fucking door.

It was more about what it meant. Why it would conjure up a top shelf cocktail of nerves and excitement and anticipation.

It was Nines’ door.

 After being essentially torn away from him for three fucking months, working undercover as some mobsters lackey only to have the fucking satisfaction of putting a bullet in the guy’s head.

He had been so happy to have that damn case closed for good, until he realised he didn’t have his Tincan celebrating with him. Packed up right away after that, took the first flight the fuck home to sweet, noisy Detroit.

That’s how he ended up here, using his runaway thoughts as ample excuse to buy time, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, only to come out with a packet of aeroplane tissues with speckles of white lint. Fuck. His keys were in his suitcase. 

Looks like he’ll *have* to knock.

He needed to catch his breath, anyway. 

Yeah, that’s why he was stalling.

 He had ran through the fucking labyrinth that is the arrival hall, dicked around on his phone through passport scanning, ran through baggage claim, ran back through baggage claim because he took the wrong suitcase, ran around for an Über for a good half and hour, and lugged his fucking suitcase up three flights of stairs. 

This surprise return idea had been a horrible one, he reprimanded himself as he lay gasping for a few seconds. Seriously. Never again. God please don’t say he’s not home.

He finally, *finally* gathers the courage to knock.

so yeah, he’s alone with four cats. he was gonna go out in a walk soon, butbshit man it gets dark at 4:30 now we can’t have that.

so he stayed home in mega warmth.

most of his co-workers knew where he lived, but maybe he forgot something? he doesn’t do that often.

“can i help you?” he asked, opening the door.

nines was holding one (1) screaming cat, a black bombay named Luna (he had gotten her while gavin was away) and lord.

he looked- well, i guess down at gavin and lord he would’ve screamed if luna didn’t just absolutely just jump out of his arms.

“…surprise?”

He made a face like he had forgotten something, as he reached into his hoodie pocket to retrieve a fucking party popper, and pops it enthusiastically, glittery sprinkles flying amidst his tincan’s confusion.

“Happy birthday, Tincan!!”

Immediately the new cat makes a dive for the glitter, and now Gavin has to desperately pry this flailing feline away from the mess to avoid a rather unpleasant visit to the vet.

“Uh, case ended early-“

Aka, perp got shot in the head.

“So I decided to surprise you instead? You know, it’s your birthday, and we missed mine, and it’s what they do in the movies, because you’re a nerd and I figured you’d like it? Well, they don’t include the ‘nearly poisoning your cat with a handful of tiny plastic’, but I didn’t really think about that part.”

His scrabbles for some coherent reason. Really hard to explain your thought process when.

 You. 

Don’t.

“Oh my- i forgot it was by birthday.” 

he chuckled lightly, being quick to scoop up a very flailing and screaming kitten. Luna is one loud bitch, i swear.

“You’re so sweet, gav. I missed you.” ask nina, he really did. 

Hello world?? May I announce how absolutely cute and precious my tin can is, and how we should all appreciate and love him forever. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Oh baby, you’re smile is so cute, never go away.

Now, if he could put those fucking feelings into coherent sentences and SAY those sentences to his tin can without sounding like a bloody lunatic, that would certainly make his life easier.

““Well, asshole,” he chastises him fondly, obviously suppressing a wide grin without little avail. “That’s why I put it in our calendar with heart emojis. Those emojis mean important shit in my life, told you they would come in useful”

He cooes very audibly when Oreo rushed to him, because he loved her and Mocha just as much, and he was a huge softie on the inside so what did you expect?

What he didn’t expect was what happened next. Perhaps it was the phrase ‘I missed you’ said aloud that caused a warm wave of sudden emotion to wash over him. Gavin Reed was rarely ’missed’.

He couldn’t remember how the space between them disappeared, one moment he was knelt on the floor, looking up to see those steel grey eyes, the next his arms were wrapped around his Tincan’s torso in a tight embrace; one he never wanted to end.

He was silent. Muted. For once he struggled to form words to say, an explanation or excuse for *why* warm tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked, crying for the missed time they’ll never get back, to release the tension that had been slowly winding up over the months, and the fact that finally, *finally*.

he smiled at gavin- warm and loving. his heart POURS out love gavin so like you already been knew sis. you already fuckin knew this a long ass time ago.

nines could probably pour out how much he loves gavin, but lord would it be awkward. he doesn’t know why either, but it just *does*. But he can always try, anyways.

Nines watched as Gavin pet oreo, as the cat rubbed up against his hand, making happy click noises. Oreo clicks, sometimes.Luna, who was in Nines’ arms, was jealous. SHE wants love from dad’s boyfriend!! Why does oreo get all the love???

But she quickly scampered off after gavin quickly stood up and hugged nines- as the said tin can was a little stunned and let her run back into his apartment. 

Like i said before, nines was a little surprised by the hug- but not as much.

It felt weird. But a good weird. Like a ‘falling down a huge drop on a rollercoaster’ ‘doing funny flips to your stomach’ type of good weird.

There was no telling how he’d react to it; that had to be the most terrifying part. Being with Nines was a whole adventure park ride of ‘good weird’s, and the best damn thing that happened in his fucking life.

He felt himself shake against his hold. Arms wrapped around his shoulders, feeling the android’s synthetic warmth against his skin. God, he missed this. Before he knew it, he was on his top toes, snagging that amazing-as-fuck smile against his own.

 It was sweet. 

It was slow. 

Because they had all the time in the world now. They’ve waited so long and they have each other now, no way he’s letting him leave now.

“I love you too, for the record.” It’s mumbled against Nines’ lips, before he pulls away to catch his breath.

“Now, I see you have new members of the Anderson family to introduce me to?”

but they are lucky they’re inside his apartment, or he would’ve been annoying his neighbors. he had kissedback in the slow kiss Gavin had offered, he hasn’t done this in a while and, honestly?

he missed it. a lot.

He wouldn’t leave even if he had to (unless i it was for his cats, lmao)

Nines laughes softly, kissing gavin’s cheek. “Yeah, i got two new cats. Mainly because Nina didn’t stop me.”

he smiled, as he scooped up Artemis (who was laying on a shelf)

Artemis was a white bombay, with bright blue eyes.

But at the same time, he was *happy* as fuck. 

What they had between them was worth it. *Nines* was worth it. So despite his love history, he’s staying this time. For as long as Nines want him, he’ll stay. He coos audibly at the new family members, one arm around Nines’ waist, drawing soft circles on his hip, the other hand scratching behind Luna’s ear, as he rested his head on his shoulder.

“Hello asshole. I’m Gavin, your dad’s boyfriend.” He chuckled softly, dabbing at his wet cheek with his sleeve. “*He’s* the crybaby in this relationship, I swear. Just- not today- fUCK. I’m normally like this, I’ll have you know. Niiiiiines, tell them I’m not the crybaby!”

Gavin groans, an overly dramatic gesture of defeat, as he buries his head into Nines’ shoulder.

Nines had one relationship before gavin, and it didn’t exatly end out too well. He wasn’t too damaged by i, but it still kind of hurt. feelings wise, not physically. that would be bad.

he pressed a kiss to gavin’s head, with a soft chuckle. “You tell them that yourself.” he jokes, as artemis, hops up onyto nines’ shoulder.

He mumbles something incoherent, but overall chastising. Now this bitch cat was taller than him, as if looking up at three Anderson family members wasn’t damn enough. Fuck him and his average-height-ness. 

“I’m not a fucking crybabyyyyyy” He tries again, pouting and putting on the best I-am-serious face he can muster. Which was still not very convincing, as he broke into a large dorky grin immediately after and reached up to stroke the soft fur behind Luna’s neck. His other hand slowly made its way down Nines’ spine, under his shirt, his fingertips barely skimming the surface of his skin. Because he was one Cheeky Boi.

~ “Well?” He paused to jump onto his tiptoes and sip on his android’s lips for a fleeting moment. He could get drunk on that featherlight touch faster than any brand of vodka.

 Only for a few seconds though, as his attention returned to the cats.

@six-ninths-deviant

The door stood ominously before him as he held his fist up to strike it.

Which was total *bullshit*, he reasoned with himself. Because it was a fucking door.

It was more about what it meant. Why it would conjure up a top shelf cocktail of nerves and excitement and anticipation.

It was Nines’ door.

 After being essentially torn away from him for three fucking months, working undercover as some mobsters lackey only to have the fucking satisfaction of putting a bullet in the guy’s head.

He had been so happy to have that damn case closed for good, until he realised he didn’t have his Tincan celebrating with him. Packed up right away after that, took the first flight the fuck home to sweet, noisy Detroit.

That’s how he ended up here, using his runaway thoughts as ample excuse to buy time, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, only to come out with a packet of aeroplane tissues with speckles of white lint. Fuck. His keys were in his suitcase. 

Looks like he’ll *have* to knock.

He needed to catch his breath, anyway. 

Yeah, that’s why he was stalling.

 He had ran through the fucking labyrinth that is the arrival hall, dicked around on his phone through passport scanning, ran through baggage claim, ran back through baggage claim because he took the wrong suitcase, ran around for an Über for a good half and hour, and lugged his fucking suitcase up three flights of stairs. 

This surprise return idea had been a horrible one, he reprimanded himself as he lay gasping for a few seconds. Seriously. Never again. God please don’t say he’s not home.

He finally, *finally* gathers the courage to knock.

so yeah, he’s alone with four cats. he was gonna go out in a walk soon, butbshit man it gets dark at 4:30 now we can’t have that.

so he stayed home in mega warmth.

most of his co-workers knew where he lived, but maybe he forgot something? he doesn’t do that often.

“can i help you?” he asked, opening the door.

nines was holding one (1) screaming cat, a black bombay named Luna (he had gotten her while gavin was away) and lord.

he looked- well, i guess down at gavin and lord he would’ve screamed if luna didn’t just absolutely just jump out of his arms.

“…surprise?”

He made a face like he had forgotten something, as he reached into his hoodie pocket to retrieve a fucking party popper, and pops it enthusiastically, glittery sprinkles flying amidst his tincan’s confusion.

“Happy birthday, Tincan!!”

Immediately the new cat makes a dive for the glitter, and now Gavin has to desperately pry this flailing feline away from the mess to avoid a rather unpleasant visit to the vet.

“Uh, case ended early-“

Aka, perp got shot in the head.

“So I decided to surprise you instead? You know, it’s your birthday, and we missed mine, and it’s what they do in the movies, because you’re a nerd and I figured you’d like it? Well, they don’t include the ‘nearly poisoning your cat with a handful of tiny plastic’, but I didn’t really think about that part.”

His scrabbles for some coherent reason. Really hard to explain your thought process when.

 You. 

Don’t.

“Oh my- i forgot it was by birthday.” 

he chuckled lightly, being quick to scoop up a very flailing and screaming kitten. Luna is one loud bitch, i swear.

“You’re so sweet, gav. I missed you.” ask nina, he really did. 

Hello world?? May I announce how absolutely cute and precious my tin can is, and how we should all appreciate and love him forever. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Oh baby, you’re smile is so cute, never go away.

Now, if he could put those fucking feelings into coherent sentences and SAY those sentences to his tin can without sounding like a bloody lunatic, that would certainly make his life easier.

““Well, asshole,” he chastises him fondly, obviously suppressing a wide grin without little avail. “That’s why I put it in our calendar with heart emojis. Those emojis mean important shit in my life, told you they would come in useful”

He cooes very audibly when Oreo rushed to him, because he loved her and Mocha just as much, and he was a huge softie on the inside so what did you expect?

What he didn’t expect was what happened next. Perhaps it was the phrase ‘I missed you’ said aloud that caused a warm wave of sudden emotion to wash over him. Gavin Reed was rarely ’missed’.

He couldn’t remember how the space between them disappeared, one moment he was knelt on the floor, looking up to see those steel grey eyes, the next his arms were wrapped around his Tincan’s torso in a tight embrace; one he never wanted to end.

He was silent. Muted. For once he struggled to form words to say, an explanation or excuse for *why* warm tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked, crying for the missed time they’ll never get back, to release the tension that had been slowly winding up over the months, and the fact that finally, *finally*.

he smiled at gavin- warm and loving. his heart POURS out love gavin so like you already been knew sis. you already fuckin knew this a long ass time ago.

nines could probably pour out how much he loves gavin, but lord would it be awkward. he doesn’t know why either, but it just *does*. But he can always try, anyways.

Nines watched as Gavin pet oreo, as the cat rubbed up against his hand, making happy click noises. Oreo clicks, sometimes.Luna, who was in Nines’ arms, was jealous. SHE wants love from dad’s boyfriend!! Why does oreo get all the love???

But she quickly scampered off after gavin quickly stood up and hugged nines- as the said tin can was a little stunned and let her run back into his apartment. 

Like i said before, nines was a little surprised by the hug- but not as much.

It felt weird. But a good weird. Like a ‘falling down a huge drop on a rollercoaster’ ‘doing funny flips to your stomach’ type of good weird.

There was no telling how he’d react to it; that had to be the most terrifying part. Being with Nines was a whole adventure park ride of ‘good weird’s, and the best damn thing that happened in his fucking life.

He felt himself shake against his hold. Arms wrapped around his shoulders, feeling the android’s synthetic warmth against his skin. God, he missed this. Before he knew it, he was on his top toes, snagging that amazing-as-fuck smile against his own.

 It was sweet. 

It was slow. 

Because they had all the time in the world now. They’ve waited so long and they have each other now, no way he’s letting him leave now.

“I love you too, for the record.” It’s mumbled against Nines’ lips, before he pulls away to catch his breath.

“Now, I see you have new members of the Anderson family to introduce me to?”

but they are lucky they’re inside his apartment, or he would’ve been annoying his neighbors. he had kissedback in the slow kiss Gavin had offered, he hasn’t done this in a while and, honestly?

he missed it. a lot.

He wouldn’t leave even if he had to (unless i it was for his cats, lmao)

Nines laughes softly, kissing gavin’s cheek. “Yeah, i got two new cats. Mainly because Nina didn’t stop me.”

he smiled, as he scooped up Artemis (who was laying on a shelf)

Artemis was a white bombay, with bright blue eyes.

But at the same time, he was *happy* as fuck. 

What they had between them was worth it. *Nines* was worth it. So despite his love history, he’s staying this time. For as long as Nines want him, he’ll stay. He coos audibly at the new family members, one arm around Nines’ waist, drawing soft circles on his hip, the other hand scratching behind Luna’s ear, as he rested his head on his shoulder.

“Hello asshole. I’m Gavin, your dad’s boyfriend.” He chuckled softly, dabbing at his wet cheek with his sleeve. “*He’s* the crybaby in this relationship, I swear. Just- not today- fUCK. I’m normally like this, I’ll have you know. Niiiiiines, tell them I’m not the crybaby!”

Gavin groans, an overly dramatic gesture of defeat, as he buries his head into Nines’ shoulder.

[nina giggled at her brother and reached out her arms, pulling him into a hug]

“Conraaaaad,”

[she responded, giving him a sisterly nuzzle]

“What’s wrong?” 

“Okay fine, Spider-Man Three then.”

“Cool, okay.” 

[ he smiled. ]

[she laughed]

( cough @gavinphuckingreed cough )

The Great and Glorious Gwen Reed not-so-great-and-gloriously banged her shin into the coffee table as she came in, and is now lying curled up in the fetal position pondering all her life choices leading up to this idiotic moment.

Her hair was mussed up from the wind of her motorbike, and she was wearing her loungewear. So this is clearly the image of a life-put-together and responsible fiancée of Nina. Clearly.

She lays thirium based take-out for the both of them on the table, and attempts to get up to regain whatever dignity she can claim to have.

@six-ninths-deviant

The door stood ominously before him as he held his fist up to strike it.

Which was total *bullshit*, he reasoned with himself. Because it was a fucking door.

It was more about what it meant. Why it would conjure up a top shelf cocktail of nerves and excitement and anticipation.

It was Nines’ door.

 After being essentially torn away from him for three fucking months, working undercover as some mobsters lackey only to have the fucking satisfaction of putting a bullet in the guy’s head.

He had been so happy to have that damn case closed for good, until he realised he didn’t have his Tincan celebrating with him. Packed up right away after that, took the first flight the fuck home to sweet, noisy Detroit.

That’s how he ended up here, using his runaway thoughts as ample excuse to buy time, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, only to come out with a packet of aeroplane tissues with speckles of white lint. Fuck. His keys were in his suitcase. 

Looks like he’ll *have* to knock.

He needed to catch his breath, anyway. 

Yeah, that’s why he was stalling.

 He had ran through the fucking labyrinth that is the arrival hall, dicked around on his phone through passport scanning, ran through baggage claim, ran back through baggage claim because he took the wrong suitcase, ran around for an Über for a good half and hour, and lugged his fucking suitcase up three flights of stairs. 

This surprise return idea had been a horrible one, he reprimanded himself as he lay gasping for a few seconds. Seriously. Never again. God please don’t say he’s not home.

He finally, *finally* gathers the courage to knock.

so yeah, he’s alone with four cats. he was gonna go out in a walk soon, butbshit man it gets dark at 4:30 now we can’t have that.

so he stayed home in mega warmth.

most of his co-workers knew where he lived, but maybe he forgot something? he doesn’t do that often.

“can i help you?” he asked, opening the door.

nines was holding one (1) screaming cat, a black bombay named Luna (he had gotten her while gavin was away) and lord.

he looked- well, i guess down at gavin and lord he would’ve screamed if luna didn’t just absolutely just jump out of his arms.

“…surprise?”

He made a face like he had forgotten something, as he reached into his hoodie pocket to retrieve a fucking party popper, and pops it enthusiastically, glittery sprinkles flying amidst his tincan’s confusion.

“Happy birthday, Tincan!!”

Immediately the new cat makes a dive for the glitter, and now Gavin has to desperately pry this flailing feline away from the mess to avoid a rather unpleasant visit to the vet.

“Uh, case ended early-“

Aka, perp got shot in the head.

“So I decided to surprise you instead? You know, it’s your birthday, and we missed mine, and it’s what they do in the movies, because you’re a nerd and I figured you’d like it? Well, they don’t include the ‘nearly poisoning your cat with a handful of tiny plastic’, but I didn’t really think about that part.”

His scrabbles for some coherent reason. Really hard to explain your thought process when.

 You. 

Don’t.

“Oh my- i forgot it was by birthday.” 

he chuckled lightly, being quick to scoop up a very flailing and screaming kitten. Luna is one loud bitch, i swear.

“You’re so sweet, gav. I missed you.” ask nina, he really did. 

Hello world?? May I announce how absolutely cute and precious my tin can is, and how we should all appreciate and love him forever. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Oh baby, you’re smile is so cute, never go away.

Now, if he could put those fucking feelings into coherent sentences and SAY those sentences to his tin can without sounding like a bloody lunatic, that would certainly make his life easier.

““Well, asshole,” he chastises him fondly, obviously suppressing a wide grin without little avail. “That’s why I put it in our calendar with heart emojis. Those emojis mean important shit in my life, told you they would come in useful”

He cooes very audibly when Oreo rushed to him, because he loved her and Mocha just as much, and he was a huge softie on the inside so what did you expect?

What he didn’t expect was what happened next. Perhaps it was the phrase ‘I missed you’ said aloud that caused a warm wave of sudden emotion to wash over him. Gavin Reed was rarely ’missed’.

He couldn’t remember how the space between them disappeared, one moment he was knelt on the floor, looking up to see those steel grey eyes, the next his arms were wrapped around his Tincan’s torso in a tight embrace; one he never wanted to end.

He was silent. Muted. For once he struggled to form words to say, an explanation or excuse for *why* warm tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked, crying for the missed time they’ll never get back, to release the tension that had been slowly winding up over the months, and the fact that finally, *finally*.

he smiled at gavin- warm and loving. his heart POURS out love gavin so like you already been knew sis. you already fuckin knew this a long ass time ago.

nines could probably pour out how much he loves gavin, but lord would it be awkward. he doesn’t know why either, but it just *does*. But he can always try, anyways.

Nines watched as Gavin pet oreo, as the cat rubbed up against his hand, making happy click noises. Oreo clicks, sometimes.Luna, who was in Nines’ arms, was jealous. SHE wants love from dad’s boyfriend!! Why does oreo get all the love???

But she quickly scampered off after gavin quickly stood up and hugged nines- as the said tin can was a little stunned and let her run back into his apartment. 

Like i said before, nines was a little surprised by the hug- but not as much.

It felt weird. But a good weird. Like a ‘falling down a huge drop on a rollercoaster’ ‘doing funny flips to your stomach’ type of good weird.

There was no telling how he’d react to it; that had to be the most terrifying part. Being with Nines was a whole adventure park ride of ‘good weird’s, and the best damn thing that happened in his fucking life.

He felt himself shake against his hold. Arms wrapped around his shoulders, feeling the android’s synthetic warmth against his skin. God, he missed this. Before he knew it, he was on his top toes, snagging that amazing-as-fuck smile against his own.

 It was sweet. 

It was slow. 

Because they had all the time in the world now. They’ve waited so long and they have each other now, no way he’s letting him leave now.

“I love you too, for the record.” It’s mumbled against Nines’ lips, before he pulls away to catch his breath.

“Now, I see you have new members of the Anderson family to introduce me to?”

[honestly she,,, she would have given anything to see those eyes again, to see her beautiful fiancee again, to have her in her arms again,, god she literally owed Elaine everything and more]

[and as Gwen continued Nina let out something that sounded like a mixture of a huff and a chuckle]

“You never told me it was a chicken sandwich, you asshole,”

[she shook her head but ,,, there was no real malice in her voice, she was smiling now and the tears continued to slide down her cheeks, she couldn’t possibly be mad at Gwen, not when she just got her back]

[and god when Gwen wrapped her arms around her, Nina practically melted into her warmth and wrapped her own arms tightly around her, never wanting to let her go] 

“I know, babygirl, I know, I’m here, I’m right here,” 

[she laughed lightly and allowed herself to bury her face in Gwen’s shoulder, getting her shirt wet with tears as her shoulder’s shook slightly]

[she couldn’t stop crying it seemed, she was so overwhelmed with emotion, she had been so scared, terrified that she would die, terrified that Gwen wouldn’t believe her,,, and yet she was so happy to be alive, to be back home, to be in her fiancee’s arms ,,, she was so in love and so desperately afraid of losing the life she had ,,,,] 

[,,,,,]

[Nina couldn’t hide the squeal that escaped her when Gwen started hitting her with pillows and she reached to still her, a few giggles escaping between her sobs] 

“Please! Have mercy on me!”

[she couldn’t help it, she was giggling now and there was a new playful glint in her eyes, a look that only Gwen had ever seen] 

[once she had successfully ceased her partner’s attacks she pulled her in for a couple messy kisses, not even caring about the tears that stained their cheeks or ,, anything else for that matter, she just desperately needed to know that she was alive, to know that Gwen was there and she could actually kiss her and hold her properly] 

[she raised a hand to cup her cheek and pulled away, brushing their noses together softly before speaking] 

“I’m so sorry about what happened,, I promise I’ll be more careful from now on and it’ll never happen again.” 

[she paused for a moment before continuing] 

“He~y, I only knew after! Besides, it’s not like actual robo chicken was killed for that, it’s the… whatever creepy 3D printing thing.”

She huffs indignantly, at least having some conscience to look slightly guilty, and settles into her lover’s arms, pretty content on the floor.

Well, if you just found out your fucking fiancée was alive, you’d be ‘pretty content’ just about anywhere.

Letting herself slowly savour her lover’s touch, drinking up all her features she had only seen in dreams for the past month, she found there was something so undeniably tangible about that playful glint in her partner’s eyes, despite all logic. Like a small flickering flame, fleeting yet energetic.

Alive.

It was undeniably human.

God, love has made Gwen stupid.

She indulges in her partner’s warmth, toying with the hem of her CyberLife jacket.

Wait. Hooold the fucking phone. What the fuck has Eli done now that fucker-

“Why d’fuck are you still wearing that sketchers jacket? ‘M just noticing now holy fuckkkkk, this brings back memories.”

She performs an almighty shrug and practically flops onto her partner, and wraps her arms around her middle, and buried her face into her chest.

Much the fuck better. Gwen can now die happy, leave flowers at the door and get out.

“Hmph. Of course I do asshole. But that’s for later. As soon as possible, but not when I’m in my pjs.

Right now, we are gonna take the day off tomorrow, there’s no way I’m going ta sleep now, so we are watching horror movies all night and day to hammer on home about how right I was.”

Of all things to change over grief, Gwen’s enormous ego was not one of them.

“Well, if you had called in earlier to say you were comin’ back, the place would’ve been cleaner.” She did a sweeping gesture around the room. “An’ y’know, would’ve avoided the fun in yer face. But hey! It’s part of my charm.”

She shoots her a side double eyed wink, and chuckles as the flicked the lid off her bottle, immediately downing half of it. Shitty hangover was Tomorrow Gwen’s problem. 

Today Gwen was drinking beer and cuddling the shits out of her (updated) now-alive fiancée on the couch with a movie at 1 am. She’s been busting her ass for the last few months anyway.

 Right now, she wanted fears that include ridiculous ghosts and zombies and NOT the very real fragile mortality of her and all her loved ones. 

[she began to pull off her cyberlife jacket as she listened to her fiancée speak and nodded her head, changing instead into one of Gwen’s sweatshirts]

“We can do whatever you want, sweetheart, and yes I suppose for once you were right.”

[she giggled again and as she pulled her partner to the couch, reaching for the remote to put on their designated horror film once Gwen was settled in her lap]

“And I did call you but you didn’t pick up the phone. I called you multiple times actually, were you at work?”

[she tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at Gwen, it wasn’t like her to be working so late, or even to be out that late]

[she didn’t wait for an answer though as she took the bottle of beer away from her partner with an almost stern look]

“Hey come on, I want you sober, I don’t want you to forget anything I say or do to you tonight.”

[she pressed a soft kiss to her fiancées forehead as she wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her further into her lap]

“God I can’t believe I’m actually able to kiss you again,”

[nina muttered mostly to herself as she pressed more kisses all over her partner’s face, trailing the kisses over her cheeks, the scar on her nose, her jawline and then to her lips, practically kissing her with this desperate hunger]

[she pulled away to instead pepper more soft and fleeting kisses to her lips as she spoke in between kisses]

“Bitch I’m always right, excuse you. God forbid you listen to my amazing advice 24/7.”

*Flashback through all of Gwen’s bad decisions*

She suggested releasing rats instead of doves for their wedding. I think that moment is representative enough.

She shifts until she finds a comfortable position, (which, from experience with Gwen in bed *with* the intention of sleeping, is something she is *very* particular about) and wraps her arms around her waist as the logos played. 

“Yeah, yeah,” She scoffs, squishing her cheek into her neck. “from the time *you’ve* known me that is very unlike me. Unfortunately for me, without you and your magic digital brain I *actually* have to do paperwork. Which is the deepest circle of hell filled with the upmost misery and despair, *and* it’s killing the trees, so… my point is made.”

Ah yes. The one thing Gwen hates more than door duty and stakeouts without a good supply of coffee is paperwork.

Well, she labels anything in her job as , ‘utterly, mind-numbingly boring’ that isn’t:

A) Shooting bad guys

2. Looking cool *while* shooting bad guys

iii) Investigatory work that ultimately *should*, in the esteemed Detective Gwen Reed’s good opinion, *lead* to shooting bad guys.

Which, of course, is what the movies say cops do and definitely not what they do 24/7. Not even like, 60%. Gwen feels scammed.

In essence, Gwen always needed something to *do*. Whether is was a new case she would dive into or *trying* to train her cats to speak (with little results), it was a reason to be *useful*, at least.

To her, she felt useless doing nothing. She could never see herself retiring early.

She was abruptly pulled out of her thoughts when her Tincan confiscated her alcohol.

Her fiancée’s kisses killed what would’ve been a perfectly logical and reasonable on her end. She rolls her eyes and return her affections enthusiastically, hugging her tightly, the touch of her soft lips and the silky brown hair threaded through her fingers making her forget about everything except the smiling face in front of her.

“Hmm? Fuck, more paperwork?”

She lets out a light hearted giggle, and turned to her again, more seriously this time.

“Of course, babe. I lost you once, I can’t lose you again, so fuck it. Let’s do it.”

She felt safe for the first time in months. Nina was her firm rock through the time they’ve been together, and for once Gwen had found home in a person.

[also Trashbag knows how to “say” mama and I love you sooooo]

“Oh my poor baby,”

[Nina cooed as she rubbed small circles on her fiancée’s back, occasionally pressing featherlight and gentle kisses into her chestnut hair]

“I wish I could have been there to save you from paperwork, I promise I’ll make it up to you somehow okay?”

[what that entails is beyond me but knowing these two it can’t mean anything chaste]

[she hummed at the softness of it all, at the feeling of her lover in her arms and those kisses on her lips and those hands in her hair-god she couldn’t believe she almost lost this]

[she almost lost her soulmate, her partner, her best friend, her home, her life,,, seriously she needed to repay Elaine somehow, she owed her soon to be sister in law everything and more]

[she also missed her cats which could be heard faintly meowing in the background, happy that their other mama was finally home]

[Nina’s arms around Gwen’s waist tightened as she giggled between kisses, rubbing their noses together softly before pulling away to fully look into her green eyes]

[speaking of which her partner’s appearance would have taken her breath away if she could breathe, almost dying made her truly appreciate everything, and she wanted more than anything to kiss all over her]

“I can’t lose you ever,”

[she murmured, reaching a hand up to tuck a piece of hair behind Gwen’s ear before cupping her cheek]

“I want to marry you as soon as possible, I want to be yours forever and ,,”

[she paused, biting her bottom lip as a smile broke out on her face]

Dipshit will look beautiful is lace and blue roses.

And she *is* marrying a rat, so...]

Gwen had thought she had lost all moments like this at that run down warehouse, a few months ago. 

But here we are, folks. Gwen phking Reed, snuggled up on the couch with 7 cats that she has to constantly keep swatting off the TV , watching a horror film and *tragically sober*.  

As well as un-tragically holding her not-dead fiancée in her arms. Well? You win some you lose some.

She hums with anticipation at the comments.

“Oh yeah?” She fucking *purred*, leaning in for another mind blowing kiss. A how-the-fuck-do-I-deserve-this-amazing-women-by-my-side kind of kiss. “I’ll hav’ta hold ya to that, kitten.”

She has one hand absentmindedly threading through her tincan’s hair, the other alternating between grabbing crisps and petting her asshole felines. Because if cats, Doritos and horror films doesn’t say romance and welcome back, *holy fuck you’re not dead* (!!!!), well shit Gwen has no idea what fucking does.

She angles her head to press a kiss to her jaw, humming contently against it before replying, grinning like a dopey idiot for what’s probably the hundredth or fucking thousandth time today.

“I’d love that, babe. I’m all yours, now and forever.

...

God fucking dammit Tincan, you mad me all sappy.”

She lightly jabs Nina’s side, but she’s smiling. Grinning so damn much it’s a surprise her face hasn’t split in fucking half by now. Pressing their smiles together, one hand rested on her hip, the other scratching Dipshit behind the ears, it hit her. A feeling soft and warm in her stomach. This felt *right*. 

@six-ninths-deviant

The door stood ominously before him as he held his fist up to strike it.

Which was total *bullshit*, he reasoned with himself. Because it was a fucking door.

It was more about what it meant. Why it would conjure up a top shelf cocktail of nerves and excitement and anticipation.

It was Nines’ door.

 After being essentially torn away from him for three fucking months, working undercover as some mobsters lackey only to have the fucking satisfaction of putting a bullet in the guy’s head.

He had been so happy to have that damn case closed for good, until he realised he didn’t have his Tincan celebrating with him. Packed up right away after that, took the first flight the fuck home to sweet, noisy Detroit.

That’s how he ended up here, using his runaway thoughts as ample excuse to buy time, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, only to come out with a packet of aeroplane tissues with speckles of white lint. Fuck. His keys were in his suitcase. 

Looks like he’ll *have* to knock.

He needed to catch his breath, anyway. 

Yeah, that’s why he was stalling.

 He had ran through the fucking labyrinth that is the arrival hall, dicked around on his phone through passport scanning, ran through baggage claim, ran back through baggage claim because he took the wrong suitcase, ran around for an Über for a good half and hour, and lugged his fucking suitcase up three flights of stairs. 

This surprise return idea had been a horrible one, he reprimanded himself as he lay gasping for a few seconds. Seriously. Never again. God please don’t say he’s not home.

He finally, *finally* gathers the courage to knock.

so yeah, he’s alone with four cats. he was gonna go out in a walk soon, butbshit man it gets dark at 4:30 now we can’t have that.

so he stayed home in mega warmth.

most of his co-workers knew where he lived, but maybe he forgot something? he doesn’t do that often.

“can i help you?” he asked, opening the door.

nines was holding one (1) screaming cat, a black bombay named Luna (he had gotten her while gavin was away) and lord.

he looked- well, i guess down at gavin and lord he would’ve screamed if luna didn’t just absolutely just jump out of his arms.

“…surprise?”

He made a face like he had forgotten something, as he reached into his hoodie pocket to retrieve a fucking party popper, and pops it enthusiastically, glittery sprinkles flying amidst his tincan’s confusion.

“Happy birthday, Tincan!!”

Immediately the new cat makes a dive for the glitter, and now Gavin has to desperately pry this flailing feline away from the mess to avoid a rather unpleasant visit to the vet.

“Uh, case ended early-“

Aka, perp got shot in the head.

“So I decided to surprise you instead? You know, it’s your birthday, and we missed mine, and it’s what they do in the movies, because you’re a nerd and I figured you’d like it? Well, they don’t include the ‘nearly poisoning your cat with a handful of tiny plastic’, but I didn’t really think about that part.”

His scrabbles for some coherent reason. Really hard to explain your thought process when.

 You. 

Don’t.

“Oh my- i forgot it was by birthday.” 

he chuckled lightly, being quick to scoop up a very flailing and screaming kitten. Luna is one loud bitch, i swear.

“You’re so sweet, gav. I missed you.” ask nina, he really did. 

Hello world?? May I announce how absolutely cute and precious my tin can is, and how we should all appreciate and love him forever. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Oh baby, you’re smile is so cute, never go away.

Now, if he could put those fucking feelings into coherent sentences and SAY those sentences to his tin can without sounding like a bloody lunatic, that would certainly make his life easier.

““Well, asshole,” he chastises him fondly, obviously suppressing a wide grin without little avail. “That’s why I put it in our calendar with heart emojis. Those emojis mean important shit in my life, told you they would come in useful”

He cooes very audibly when Oreo rushed to him, because he loved her and Mocha just as much, and he was a huge softie on the inside so what did you expect?

What he didn’t expect was what happened next. Perhaps it was the phrase ‘I missed you’ said aloud that caused a warm wave of sudden emotion to wash over him. Gavin Reed was rarely ’missed’.

He couldn’t remember how the space between them disappeared, one moment he was knelt on the floor, looking up to see those steel grey eyes, the next his arms were wrapped around his Tincan’s torso in a tight embrace; one he never wanted to end.

He was silent. Muted. For once he struggled to form words to say, an explanation or excuse for *why* warm tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked, crying for the missed time they’ll never get back, to release the tension that had been slowly winding up over the months, and the fact that finally, *finally*.

@six-ninths-deviant

The door stood ominously before him as he held his fist up to strike it.

Which was total *bullshit*, he reasoned with himself. Because it was a fucking door.

It was more about what it meant. Why it would conjure up a top shelf cocktail of nerves and excitement and anticipation.

It was Nines’ door.

 After being essentially torn away from him for three fucking months, working undercover as some mobsters lackey only to have the fucking satisfaction of putting a bullet in the guy’s head.

He had been so happy to have that damn case closed for good, until he realised he didn’t have his Tincan celebrating with him. Packed up right away after that, took the first flight the fuck home to sweet, noisy Detroit.

That’s how he ended up here, using his runaway thoughts as ample excuse to buy time, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket, only to come out with a packet of aeroplane tissues with speckles of white lint. Fuck. His keys were in his suitcase. 

Looks like he’ll *have* to knock.

He needed to catch his breath, anyway. 

Yeah, that’s why he was stalling.

 He had ran through the fucking labyrinth that is the arrival hall, dicked around on his phone through passport scanning, ran through baggage claim, ran back through baggage claim because he took the wrong suitcase, ran around for an Über for a good half and hour, and lugged his fucking suitcase up three flights of stairs. 

This surprise return idea had been a horrible one, he reprimanded himself as he lay gasping for a few seconds. Seriously. Never again. God please don’t say he’s not home.

He finally, *finally* gathers the courage to knock.

so yeah, he’s alone with four cats. he was gonna go out in a walk soon, butbshit man it gets dark at 4:30 now we can’t have that.

so he stayed home in mega warmth.

most of his co-workers knew where he lived, but maybe he forgot something? he doesn’t do that often.

“can i help you?” he asked, opening the door.

nines was holding one (1) screaming cat, a black bombay named Luna (he had gotten her while gavin was away) and lord.

he looked- well, i guess down at gavin and lord he would’ve screamed if luna didn’t just absolutely just jump out of his arms.

“...surprise?”

He made a face like he had forgotten something, as he reached into his hoodie pocket to retrieve a fucking party popper, and pops it enthusiastically, glittery sprinkles flying amidst his tincan’s confusion.

“Happy birthday, Tincan!!”

Immediately the new cat makes a dive for the glitter, and now Gavin has to desperately pry this flailing feline away from the mess to avoid a rather unpleasant visit to the vet.

“Uh, case ended early-“

Aka, perp got shot in the head.

“So I decided to surprise you instead? You know, it’s your birthday, and we missed mine, and it’s what they do in the movies, because you’re a nerd and I figured you’d like it? Well, they don’t include the ‘nearly poisoning your cat with a handful of tiny plastic’, but I didn’t really think about that part.”

His scrabbles for some coherent reason. Really hard to explain your thought process when.

 You. 

Don’t.

[honestly she,,, she would have given anything to see those eyes again, to see her beautiful fiancee again, to have her in her arms again,, god she literally owed Elaine everything and more]

[and as Gwen continued Nina let out something that sounded like a mixture of a huff and a chuckle]

“You never told me it was a chicken sandwich, you asshole,”

[she shook her head but ,,, there was no real malice in her voice, she was smiling now and the tears continued to slide down her cheeks, she couldn’t possibly be mad at Gwen, not when she just got her back]

[and god when Gwen wrapped her arms around her, Nina practically melted into her warmth and wrapped her own arms tightly around her, never wanting to let her go] 

“I know, babygirl, I know, I’m here, I’m right here,” 

[she laughed lightly and allowed herself to bury her face in Gwen’s shoulder, getting her shirt wet with tears as her shoulder’s shook slightly]

[she couldn’t stop crying it seemed, she was so overwhelmed with emotion, she had been so scared, terrified that she would die, terrified that Gwen wouldn’t believe her,,, and yet she was so happy to be alive, to be back home, to be in her fiancee’s arms ,,, she was so in love and so desperately afraid of losing the life she had ,,,,] 

[,,,,,]

[Nina couldn’t hide the squeal that escaped her when Gwen started hitting her with pillows and she reached to still her, a few giggles escaping between her sobs] 

“Please! Have mercy on me!”

[she couldn’t help it, she was giggling now and there was a new playful glint in her eyes, a look that only Gwen had ever seen] 

[once she had successfully ceased her partner’s attacks she pulled her in for a couple messy kisses, not even caring about the tears that stained their cheeks or ,, anything else for that matter, she just desperately needed to know that she was alive, to know that Gwen was there and she could actually kiss her and hold her properly] 

[she raised a hand to cup her cheek and pulled away, brushing their noses together softly before speaking] 

“I’m so sorry about what happened,, I promise I’ll be more careful from now on and it’ll never happen again.” 

[she paused for a moment before continuing] 

“He~y, I only knew after! Besides, it’s not like actual robo chicken was killed for that, it’s the… whatever creepy 3D printing thing.”

She huffs indignantly, at least having some conscience to look slightly guilty, and settles into her lover’s arms, pretty content on the floor.

Well, if you just found out your fucking fiancée was alive, you’d be ‘pretty content’ just about anywhere.

Letting herself slowly savour her lover’s touch, drinking up all her features she had only seen in dreams for the past month, she found there was something so undeniably tangible about that playful glint in her partner’s eyes, despite all logic. Like a small flickering flame, fleeting yet energetic.

Alive.

It was undeniably human.

God, love has made Gwen stupid.

She indulges in her partner’s warmth, toying with the hem of her CyberLife jacket.

Wait. Hooold the fucking phone. What the fuck has Eli done now that fucker-

“Why d’fuck are you still wearing that sketchers jacket? ‘M just noticing now holy fuckkkkk, this brings back memories.”

She performs an almighty shrug and practically flops onto her partner, and wraps her arms around her middle, and buried her face into her chest.

Much the fuck better. Gwen can now die happy, leave flowers at the door and get out.

“Hmph. Of course I do asshole. But that’s for later. As soon as possible, but not when I’m in my pjs.

Right now, we are gonna take the day off tomorrow, there’s no way I’m going ta sleep now, so we are watching horror movies all night and day to hammer on home about how right I was.”

Of all things to change over grief, Gwen’s enormous ego was not one of them.

“Well, if you had called in earlier to say you were comin’ back, the place would’ve been cleaner.” She did a sweeping gesture around the room. “An’ y’know, would’ve avoided the fun in yer face. But hey! It’s part of my charm.”

She shoots her a side double eyed wink, and chuckles as the flicked the lid off her bottle, immediately downing half of it. Shitty hangover was Tomorrow Gwen’s problem. 

Today Gwen was drinking beer and cuddling the shits out of her (updated) now-alive fiancée on the couch with a movie at 1 am. She’s been busting her ass for the last few months anyway.

 Right now, she wanted fears that include ridiculous ghosts and zombies and NOT the very real fragile mortality of her and all her loved ones. 

[she began to pull off her cyberlife jacket as she listened to her fiancée speak and nodded her head, changing instead into one of Gwen’s sweatshirts]

“We can do whatever you want, sweetheart, and yes I suppose for once you were right.”

[she giggled again and as she pulled her partner to the couch, reaching for the remote to put on their designated horror film once Gwen was settled in her lap]

“And I did call you but you didn’t pick up the phone. I called you multiple times actually, were you at work?”

[she tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at Gwen, it wasn’t like her to be working so late, or even to be out that late]

[she didn’t wait for an answer though as she took the bottle of beer away from her partner with an almost stern look]

“Hey come on, I want you sober, I don’t want you to forget anything I say or do to you tonight.”

[she pressed a soft kiss to her fiancées forehead as she wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her further into her lap]

“God I can’t believe I’m actually able to kiss you again,”

[nina muttered mostly to herself as she pressed more kisses all over her partner’s face, trailing the kisses over her cheeks, the scar on her nose, her jawline and then to her lips, practically kissing her with this desperate hunger]

[she pulled away to instead pepper more soft and fleeting kisses to her lips as she spoke in between kisses]

“Bitch I’m always right, excuse you. God forbid you listen to my amazing advice 24/7.”

*Flashback through all of Gwen’s bad decisions*

She suggested releasing rats instead of doves for their wedding. I think that moment is representative enough.

She shifts until she finds a comfortable position, (which, from experience with Gwen in bed *with* the intention of sleeping, is something she is *very* particular about) and wraps her arms around her waist as the logos played. 

“Yeah, yeah,” She scoffs, squishing her cheek into her neck. “from the time *you’ve* known me that is very unlike me. Unfortunately for me, without you and your magic digital brain I *actually* have to do paperwork. Which is the deepest circle of hell filled with the upmost misery and despair, *and* it’s killing the trees, so... my point is made.”

Ah yes. The one thing Gwen hates more than door duty and stakeouts without a good supply of coffee is paperwork.

Well, she labels anything in her job as , ‘utterly, mind-numbingly boring’ that isn’t:

A) Shooting bad guys

2. Looking cool *while* shooting bad guys

iii) Investigatory work that ultimately *should*, in the esteemed Detective Gwen Reed’s good opinion, *lead* to shooting bad guys.

Which, of course, is what the movies say cops do and definitely not what they do 24/7. Not even like, 60%. Gwen feels scammed.

In essence, Gwen always needed something to *do*. Whether is was a new case she would dive into or *trying* to train her cats to speak (with little results), it was a reason to be *useful*, at least.

To her, she felt useless doing nothing. She could never see herself retiring early.

She was abruptly pulled out of her thoughts when her Tincan confiscated her alcohol.

Her fiancée’s kisses killed what would’ve been a perfectly logical and reasonable on her end. She rolls her eyes and return her affections enthusiastically, hugging her tightly, the touch of her soft lips and the silky brown hair threaded through her fingers making her forget about everything except the smiling face in front of her.

“Hmm? Fuck, more paperwork?”

She lets out a light hearted giggle, and turned to her again, more seriously this time.

“Of course, babe. I lost you once, I can’t lose you again, so fuck it. Let’s do it.”

She felt safe for the first time in months. Nina was her firm rock through the time they’ve been together, and for once Gwen had found home in a person.