Chapter Text
His job had been the only part of his life untouched by androids, or so he had thought. Then the police officer androids arrived and, following that, the detective android, Connor. While he had mostly avoided and ignored the existence of the patrol androids, there was just something about Connor that pissed him off. Maybe it was the fact that he was a detective, not just an officer, and designed to do Gavin’s job better than he ever could with his advanced processing capabilities. Maybe it was because, despite his resentment toward the android, he couldn’t help but to be attracted.
What? If there was one thing Gavin could admire (besides good looks), it was Connor’s efficient competency at doing his job. He couldn’t deny that if Connor wasn’t an android, Gavin would have been flirting with him since day one.
Then the revolution happened, and Gavin realized that even though he was made up of different parts, maybe Connor could be a person, too.
When Connor came back, he’d lost the machine-like qualities that had reminded Gavin of his species. He still had his LED for some reason, but otherwise, he dressed differently, he walked differently, he even talked differently, albeit still with an overly-complicated vocabulary. His expressions were much more genuine, as opposed to the pre-programmed social protocols he’d followed in the past. Sometimes, Gavin could almost fool himself into thinking that Connor was just a new transfer, not somebody he’d antagonized and even attacked in the past, somebody he might actually have a chance with.
The daydreams were short-lived. He avoided Connor like the plague, even though the majority of those at the precinct had already said their apologies and reconciled with the android. Gavin merely observed with no small amount of longing and jealousy as his coworkers talked freely with Connor about their cases and about their personal lives. It came as a small shock for him when he noticed Connor being invited out for drinks with some of the younger officers. The android accepted with a stunned but sincere gratefulness.
Gavin felt a pang of loneliness as Connor left with them, all laughing amongst each other like old friends. Sometimes he wished he hadn’t pushed all his colleagues away so many years ago. Maybe then he’d be able to go out for drinks with Connor, be able to apologize to him like a normal person and bring himself to friendlier terms with the android.
It was kind of sad that an android not only did Gavin’s job better, but fit into the workplace much more seamlessly than Gavin ever did. Hell, even Fowler seemed to have a soft side for him, and it was no secret that Anderson doted on Connor like a father.
Gavin wanted to be a part of that, but he knew that Connor still saw him as the rude, abrasive asshole who'd tried to kill him twice. There was no apology or repentance for that. Connor made it obvious, from the way his eyes discreetly tracked Gavin’s movements around the precinct. Always watchful, wary of when he might next snap. Whenever the two were forced to cooperate on a case, Gavin noticed the way Connor's LED was a permanent, uncertain yellow. It was obvious that Connor was still… afraid of him. The very prospect of talking to Connor, apologizing, and having it shoved back at him by a disbelieving and hostile android made Gavin’s heart sink into his stomach.
So he worked.
It was a long-lasting tradition that whenever Gavin got stressed, he would throw himself into his cases for days or even weeks on end until he ran out of gas and/or Fowler forced him to take a break. Gavin spent more overtime at the precinct than any five people put together. Hell, once he’d pulled four all-nighters in a row trying to catch a serial killer. He’d gotten to the point of actual hallucinations before being sent home.
The only person who worked just as much if not more than Gavin was Connor. Of course it was Connor, considering he never tired and didn't need breaks to get food or water. Gavin had hated seeing Connor's face after work hours at first, but he had to admit, he’d gotten used to the android’s presence in the early hours of the morning. On the days where Connor left immediately after his shift to spend time with Anderson, Gavin felt alone weirdly distracted. He didn’t get much done those nights.
It was one of those late nights that Gavin found himself more tired than usual. Sure, he’d been staying past midnight and coming in at around 7 in the morning for the past five or so days, but he was chasing dead ends with his current case and was stressed and determined to find anything new. He’d been poring over the evidence files over and over again, convinced he’d missed something. Gavin paused in his dedicated study and rubbed at his eyes, glancing at his empty coffee mug. Shit, he’d run out again. Hadn’t he just gotten coffee fifteen minutes ago?
Gavin groaned inwardly and slumped over his desk, burying his head in his arms. Great, he’d have to go to the coffee machine to get a refill of shitty precinct coffee for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. Whatever. It kept him awake and functioning, so he’d trudge through the motions. But maybe in a minute. He just wanted to rest his eyes for a moment, the bright lights were giving him a fucking headache.
… He was brought back to consciousness by someone shaking his shoulder gently.
“Whh… th’phck…?” Gavin mumbled, feeling heavy with sleep. Who the hell was bothering him? Couldn’t they see that he was busy getting some well-deserved shut-eye?
The person kept shaking him, and Gavin was reluctantly awakened. He opened his eyes blearily, squinting against the light only to realize that shit, right, he was at the precinct. He’d probably fallen asleep while working his case. Dammit.
Then the face in front of him came into full focus and Gavin jerked away, scrambling back in his chair. “Holy shit!” he yelped as Connor’s worried eyes followed his movements. “The fuck do you think you’re doing, dipshit?!”
“Detective Reed,” Connor said, “I think it would be prudent for you to go home and rest.”
“Why the fuck do you care?” Gavin spat back, standing from his chair. “What, you wanted to come over here and rub it in my face that you don’t have to sleep or take a break? How much fucking better you are than us because you can work nonstop?” He punctuated his words with a sharp jab to Connor’s sternum. Some part of him was screaming that this was exactly the reason Connor thought he hated him and was so reluctant to make amends, but shit, Gavin wasn’t thinking properly. He was furious that he’d fallen asleep, and taking it out on Connor made him feel better for the moment.
Connor’s LED flashed red the moment Gavin’s index finger made contact with his chest. He stepped backwards, jaw clenched. “Detective Reed,” he ground out, “perhaps people would find it more enjoyable to associate with you if you did not constantly assume the worst of them. I came over here because I was worried about you, as you have slept approximately 7 hours in the past three days. I had no ulterior motive in urging you to go home.”
In response, Gavin deflated, feeling all his anger leave him with the long sigh he heaved. Fuck… Connor’s words and the way he’d said them made Gavin feel like a piece of shit. More so than usual, that was. Connor was probably right; if he was taking out his anger on someone who he knew deserved it the least, then he was pretty fucking tired.
“Fuck,” he muttered to himself. “Fine, shit. I’ll go home.”
The LED on Connor’s temple swirled back to yellow in tandem with the frustration on his face morphing into surprise. Gavin clicked his tongue and began cleaning up his desk, picking up his mug and bringing it into the break room to wash. When he returned, Connor was still standing there. Ok then. That was a bit strange.
Hesitantly, Gavin approached the android. He felt like he should say… something. Thank him. Apologize for being a shithead. “Uh… hello…?” he asked, snapping his fingers in front of Connor’s face.
Connor blinked out of whatever stupor he’d been in, eyes focusing on Gavin. He had confusion written all over him. It was… endearing. “Yes, Detective?’
Gavin cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’ll be off now. Just, uh. Thanks, I guess.”
Confusion turned into astonishment, but Connor’s face broke into a smile nonetheless. “It was no problem. I will be seeing you tomorrow, Detective.”
His heart tightened in his chest, Gavin averted his eyes, feeling the telltale heat in his cheeks that signalled imminent blushing. “You don’t have to call me that," he huffed.
The android tilted his head like a curious puppy would. “What would you have me call you, then?” he asked, sounding genuinely at a loss.
Shit. Alright, so he was really doing this.
“Just Gavin. ‘S fine.”
If possible, Connor looked even more amazed, and yep, Gavin was definitely blushing now.
“Certainly, Gavin. In the future, please try not to overwork yourself. We need your mental capabilities at their finest.”
Gavin laughed, his chest feeling lighter. For the first time, he let himself hope that the friendship he’d wanted for so long was within reach. “I’ll try, Connor,” he replied, unable to prevent his own answering grin, “but I won’t make any promises.”