Chapter Text
“We have much to talk about, brother.”
Nines gave his brother a once over before stiffly nodding in his direction. It wasn’t going to be a talk, it was going to be an interrogation.
Two hours had already passed since he left the station. Nines could’ve commuted by train or bus but that would’ve taken him home faster than he wished. So he opted to walk. He often did this, it was a way to clear his mind and think through his problems but instead of helping him figure out why exactly he was mad, it only complicated things. It felt wrong to leave but in the heat of the moment, his emotions had won out. Nines prided himself in thinking things through, putting himself in someone else’s shoes and making sense of their intentions. For the first time in his life, Nines didn’t want to be inside someone else’s shoes, he wanted to react and feel and not feel compelled to understand someone’s motives, just his own.
Huffing in frustration, Nines ran his hand down his face before looking around his whereabouts. There in the corner of John street and Maple was the telltale sign of Omar’s Market, it’s bright sign a stark contrast to the evening sky. The whole city would soon follow. Nines glanced at his watch, letting him know Connor still had four hours before his shift ended and that he was right in the center between the station and his home. He could turn back around and clear the whole thing up or go home. Instead of making a decision right then and there he sat on the nearest bench.
It was time. He needed to go over everything that happened as someone from the outside. He took on his brother's shoes and looked at the scene in his perspective. With eyes closed, Nines conjured everything down to the last detail, he could see everything in a new perspective. Connor would joke with him about his ability, even though he had the same gift. His was just more precise. One could say Nines was better suited as a detective like his brother.
With great difficulty, Nines ignored himself and watched the scene play out, he would rewind and fast forward on certain moments before he finally got to where Gavin sauntered toward him. He paid rapt attention to the expression that crossed his face. Filed the most mundane to the most important details and stored for further analyzing. After dissecting, watching the scene from every angle Nines came to one and only conclusion. He was a love sick fool.
The trek back to the station was as Nines expected, uneventful. Yet, it helped him clear his head and really see that it was all a misunderstanding, it’s not like it never happened before, their school years were proof of that. No, that wasn't right. He wasn't mad at the fact that Gavin mistook him for his brother but the way he was, how he had treated him thinking he was his twin. Yet, the painter believed that the Gavin he interacted with was the true one, Either way, Nines feelings on the matter still held ground, they were real and it was okay to feel that way.
The building loomed ahead. Checking his watch for the tenth time, Nines gathered up his courage and began ascending the steps. Alicia was gone and in her place sat Pearl, she wore her namesake on her neck and earrings. He gave her a wave hello and showed his ID card before swiping it and heading to Connors' desk.
His eyes took in the place this time around. Not one single detail missed him. Officers milled about, others either left or checked in for their nightly shift.
An older man sat behind Connors screen. By the silver chin length hair that was tied at the nape of his neck and bright blue eyes, Nines deduced it was Hank. The hawaii shirt giving him away.
“Connor? I thought you left- ” the older man leaned away from the screen and took in his partners look alike. Those bright blue eyes assessing the twin. A smile appeared. “I can see why Reed confused you and Connor.” That piqued Nines’ interest. Gavin had spoken about him in some way or another.
“It happens quite often.”
“And yet it hurt you, and that wasn't the only thing..” Nines raised an eyebrow. The man was perceptive. He wondered if Hank had been in the room and how much he had caught on.
Nines schooled his features and sat across from Hank, which from the nameplate on the table told him that occupied Hank’s seat. Empty bags of fast food littered the space, ketchup stains and greasy fingers could be seen on the darken monitor. Crossing his leg over the other, Nines made himself comfortable.
“It may have been seen that way. Where’s my brother?”
Hank copied Nines’ actions but instead of schooling his features a grin appeared.
“You should’ve crossed him on your way in.”
“We did not.”
Hank shrugged. “Well. I wouldn’t know where he could be.” If he were someone else, Nines would’ve easily accepted Hank’s words except it was impossible to believe the man didn’t have an inkling as to where his brother was. It didn’t sit well with him.
They sized each other for several minutes, neither one adding more to the conversation. There was the occasional sigh but other than that. Nothing. Hank was the first to break. He rubbed the back of his neck before stretching his hands above his head and stretching his aching muscles.
“Hey, you seem like a reasonable kid. Just go and talk some sense into that asshole. And maybe he could do the same to you.” Hank advised. He stood up and winked at Nines. It left him confused. He watched Hank gather his things and scurry out of the room.
Hank's presence left him feeling confused. Their conversation was short and to the point and yet it went deeper than any other conversation. Nines almost wanted to bang his head against the digital keyboard but he refrained from doing such a ridiculous thing in the presence of officers. Sweeping the room, Nines finally settled his eyes on Gavin’s desk on the other side. The painting was still there, sitting on top of the desk and lending against the monitory, forgotten. Clenching his hands, Nines stood up and in two strides was in front of the painting.
He took a hold of it, his fingers digging into the fragile material and wishing he could take it back. Take the time he spent working on it. He opened himself up for rejection.
“Give me that.” Nines head jerked to the right, eyes widened for a fraction before narrowing. Standing there was his muse, his fingers beckoning the painting over.
“Connor. Give me the painting.”
“I’m not Co-“
“Nines,” Gavin’s arm falls back to his side, green eyes looking anywhere but at Nines. His mouth opened and closed but no words came out. Nines patiently waited. .
Nines had enough of it. Hank's words come back to the front of his mind reminding him what he needed to do. Placing the painting back to its original place, Nines then took a hold of Gavin’s jacket and pulled him forward, their faces inches away.
“We need to talk. I’ll be outside by the alley.”
***
Twenty five minutes and fifteen seconds before Gavin was bound to show up. There were at least five alleyways, two on either side of the DPD and three across the building. Nines could’ve easily chosen one of the three across the department, it would give him the perfect view of all the officers walking out but Nines knew better.
He didn’t wish to force Gavin, he needed to come on his own. As much as the prospect of seeing his muse walk toward him, Nines stayed rooted to the spot. His thoughst swirled around, none of them making any sense to the painter. He let them drift through without so much of analyzing them.
“Nines.” Nines was forced out his thoughts, his back straightened at the sight of Gavin, who held the painting securely to his side. Words wanted to slide out of his mouth, gratitude for arriving, for taking the time to see him. Words confessing what he felt for the detective but the words that came out his mouth made him cringe.
“Detective.” The painter felt like an idiot.
“I’m not going to apologize.” Gavin spat, “you’re a fucking asshole.”
Taken aback the resolution he felt moments ago, Nines narrowed his eyes and unconsciously moved forward, his body towering above the detective only to back away at seeing him flinch away.
“This was…wrong.” Nines for the fifth time that day sighed in defeat. His overanalyzing left him exhausted, and now he feared he made the wrong choice. He should have just made his way home, gotten into bed and sulk away like any normal person. Gavin’s reaction to himself reinforced that thought. “I should leave.” As he had seen it, he would have side stepped Gavin, walked out of the alley and onto the bustling streets of Detroit. It had a probability of 88.6 percent of it being effective.
Nines neglected to calculate Gavin Reed into his construction.
“Oh, no you don’t. You don’t get to fucking do this.” Gavin’s hand was wrapped around Nines forearm, fingers digging in as he spoke. “You’re a real piece of shit. Coming here and gloating around the department about how you bested Gavin Reed. Well, I don’t need your shit. Take your painting.”
The thud of the painting hitting the concrete sent a jolt of pain through Nines, his heart constricted at the scene. The feeling was fleeting.
The warmth he felt on his arm was gone, he peered up in time to see Gavin retreating. Without thinking he stepped forward and yanked the detective back only to stumble away as pain erupted on his cheek. Years of formal training had gone straight into the trash, if his instructor could see him now.
“What are you talking about?” Nines ignored the sting of pain, he could already feel the blood rushing to the spot making him feel warm where Gavin’s fist connected. “In what way -no, what did you hear?”
Even with the littles of information, Nines was beginning to piece things together. Gavin’s words echoed back at him, helping him get a better picture of the situation. Before he could realize exactly what happened two voices snapped him out.
“Hey, man. That was low, even for you.”
“What? That jackass deserves it. Come on don’t look at me like that. Tell me you didn’t enjoy how his face scrunched up? If you had let me continue I could’ve made him cry.”
“I ...guess you’re right. You realize this will worsen his mood.”
The voices soon faded away, Nines had a hard time identifying the two men. Both were part of the police force but in what division he did not know.
“Wait!” Then it clicked. “Did they say something to you earlier? Before meeting me?” Had to be the reason why Gavin’s mood had shifted drastically in a span of minutes.
Instinct told him to place his hands on Gavin’s shoulder to keep the man from storming towards the other police members but none of that happened.
Nines expected many things from Gavin but laughter was not one. The already darkened alleyway was filled with the detective's laughs that soon turned into soft chuckles. “Oh, they’re going to pay. Miles was right this has worsened my mood.” Gavin finally brought his attention back to Nines as he felt nines fingers press against his shoulders. “You can let go. I’m not going after them like some blood thirsty fool.”
Nines thought otherwise but that’s not why he kept his hands on Gavin. No, Gavin could easily break free from his hold and go after the two men and Nines would gladly watch; that thought itself made him cringe.
Nines held onto Gavin for the sole reason of wanting him close.”I know.”
“Then let go.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to do that. Let me hold you.”
Nines let his hands glide behind Gavin’s shoulder before engulfing him into a hug only after Gavin huffed in consent. It was everything and more. So much more that he found himself pulling the detective closer, his head coming to rest on top of the brunette gelled hair.
“All I know is- I create chaos, N ines. I don’t fix it.”
Nines breathing hitched at the sound of his muses voice, low and unsure, so unlike him. Regardless if Gavin was right about his own assumption, Nines couldn’t disagree more. In their own way, they were trying to fix something that neither of them knew how to deal with. Nines sure hoped it wouldn’t be their last.
“Then let me lend you a hand. I’m not qualified at this either, Gavin.”
“Whatever. Let me go.” Nines did so without hesitation, although he felt cold afterwards he respected Gavin. With uncertainty, the painter followed Gavin’s figure moving past him and towards the painting that laid too close to a puddle.
Gavin stood there looking down at the painting. Nines had to resist walking to his side. Unsure of what went on in Gavin’s head, Nines own continued to play out scenarios. Gavin kicking the painting into the puddle, effectively ruining any progress they made. Another where Gavin handed him the painting and left him behind without so much a word, and that hurt him more than the first scenario.
Gavin bent down and sighed in relief. “Taking this won’t solve everything. But, it’s a start.” He picked up that painting and held it close. Nines gasped, his heart soaring at the scene in front of him.
“I can’t apologize with words. So I’ll show you with actions.” Balancing the painting on one side, Gavin released a hand and stretched it out towards Nines, his face turned away from him in what Nines assumed was embarrassment.
The painter's hands reached out and once again held his muse close.