Archive of Our Own

Gavin observed his reaction from the breakroom, blushing as he sipped from his cup of coffee. He had come in early with Tina to plant the humorously large present at the android’s desk.

Tina also planted Gavin’s phone on top of the counter that was right in front of the pair’s desks to document the moment for him. In addition, she sat at her own desk, recording him with her phone while trying to not seem suspicious and capture what the other phone may miss. She smiled gently, mentally cooing at his reaction. 

Nines tapped at the box in multiple spots, listening to the variations in pitch and reverb. The item inside seemed solid, but soft. He looked around, noting the very few people in the bull pen. There was Tina, at her desk, and a few other officers around that he wasn’t acquainted with. 

He looked around the box, looking for a name or something to signify who it was from. The giant box was forty-eight cubic feet, four by four by four. He was surprised at how heavy the box was when he rotated it upside down to look at the bottom for any more information. The item shifted inside, but he was not worried about it breaking: he was sure it was too soft to break. Not finding any information, he turned it right side up and peeled at the tape the sealed the top. 

The android opened the flaps of the box, seeing an obnoxiously large teddy bear sitting inside, sagging under it’s own weight.

The surprised expression was back, now with the addition of his LED spinning a frenzied yellow with flecks of red making their appearance. He pulled it out, admiring its beady black eyes and cream colored fur. It seemed to be six feet tall, just a few inches shorter than him. He hugged the large plush, smiling at the comforting weight and texture it provided. His sensors picked up on the very faint scent of roasted coffee beans and cologne.

With the bear in his arms, he peered back into the box. He was surprised yet again when there was a light blue envelope at the bottom that he had originally missed.

Nines looked around once more, but now with a bashful expression. His cheeks tingled with the sensation of a blush. He looked down, trying to discreetly hide his blue-tinged face. He set the bear on his chair and took the envelope carefully in his hands.

The RK900 tried his best to open the card without damaging it and was, thankfully, successful. He pulled out the card. The front side said “Happy 1st Birthday!” in bright pink font against a pastel blue background. The edges of the card had little balloons covered in holographic glitter. He ran his fingers over it, analyzing it.

He opened the cute card, seeing a messy scrawl in black ink that undoubtedly belonged to his partner.

“Happy Birthday, dipshit. Here’s to more crime-solving and ass kicking.

- The World’s Best Partner and Detective >:)”

Nines chuckled at the message, his LED shifting between yellow and blue. He covered his mouth, keeping his head down again. His thirium pump fluttered unexpectedly, making him feel impossibly light and ecstatic. The addition of the little emoticon was so very much Gavin of his partner to do, for the lack of a better term. He saved this memory to his databanks, under the file that was full of things related to his partner. He delicately put the card back into its envelope and closed it before setting on his desk. He then grabbed the bear and placed it in its box with the utmost care.

Nines pushed the box flush against his desk as to keep it out of his way and sat down, glancing around the building to find his partner.

He looked down at the box again, seeing traces of Gavin and Tina’s fingerprints all over the box.

He stared at his computer in an attempt to use it to hide the ghost of a smile on his lips. However, a curiosity washed over his mind.

“Where was Gavin? Why did he give the present to me this way instead of just giving it to me himself?”

The android understood surprises and the appeal of them, liking them himself, but it seemed rather uncharacteristic for the detective to avoid just giving it to him. He preferred to do things face-to-face.

Nines looked down at the floor, finding faint traces of Gavin’s tennis shoes leading to the break room. He decided to wait for him rather than seek him out.

After seven minutes and fifteen seconds of waiting, the man finally came out of the break room, steaming hot coffee in his hand. He smirked lazily.

“Good morning and happy birthday, tin can.”

“Good morning to you too and thank you very much, meat sack,” Nines replied.

The teasing that originally started as malicious had grown to be sarcastic and friendly: a part of their routine.

The detective sat down unceremoniously, starting up his computer as he did every normal day.

Thoughts of the present, its significance, and its presentation made Nines’s LED swirl yellow.

Gavin said, still looking his his computer, “Ya doin’ anything for your birthday?”

“I didn’t really think of anything. I think Connor, Sixty, and I are just going to play a new game I had wanted to purchase, but that’s about it.”

No other events of significance were marked on his calendar.

“Well, do you wanna try something new? Like, I don’t know, uhm, stargazing? Going somewhere scenic?”

Nines was amazed at how much the detective seemed to remember about him. He had mentioned wanting to get out of the city to look at what nature had to offer a few months back. It was mentioned briefly, but the man had seemed to remember it well. In addition, he had mentioned that he wanted the over-sized stuffed animal in an extremely random conversation during the summer. 

How did Gavin remember something as insignificant as that? He wasn’t sure, but the fact that he did made Nines feel giddy.

“Yes, that... That sounds rather pleasant, Gavin. Thank you.”

He looked at his partner, smiling.

Gavin rubbed at the scar on his nose with a gentle touch, something Nines knew he did when he was nervous.

“Yeah, don’t mention it, you glorified toaster.”

He looked back at his computer. Nines scanned him, noticing his increased heart rate and body temperature.

“IT’S A DATE!” Tina called from her desk.

Immediately, the blush and sheepish smile came back to Nines. Gavin noticed how quickly the android’s LED flashed from a calm blue to a deep red. He snapped his head toward her, raising his voice.

“No it’s not, you bitch!”

Nines covered his face with a hand. Pre-constructions ran through his mind palace, creating an endless amount of scenarios and possibilities, all about Gavin.

His face became impossibly more blue.

Gavin looked like he was about to start fuming, until he took another look at his partner.

“Nines, you okay?” Genuine concern made itself evident in his tone.

“Yeah, don’t worry about me, Gavin.”

Well, fuck. 

Nines was sure that Gavin would be the death of him.