Work Text:
“Pay attention, everyone!” Captain Fowler barks from the front of the room. “I know you’re all dying to get out of here and start your weekend, but we have one more thing to go over. Reed, Nines.”
Gavin perked up in his seat at being addressed directly. Next to him, Nines sat stiffly.
“I know you two are getting close to busting that Red Ice ring. Any updates?” Fowler asked, tapping his pencil against the podium he stood behind. Gavin looked to Nines, letting the android take the lead.
“Yes, Captain. We believe the leader, Ricky Caprice, deals out of the back room of a local nightclub called Elysium. If we want to bring him in, I think it would be wise to stage an undercover mission as though we were interested in buying. Once we have the drugs in sight, we can apprehend the suspect,” Nines said coolly. Fowler nodded along to what he was saying, rubbing his chin.
“Alright. I want you two to scope out the place this weekend and report back to me on Monday with what you think you’ll need in terms of fire and manpower. Is that clear?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” Nines said.
“Yeah, whatever you want,” Gavin muttered, not paying much attention.
“Good. Dismissed, everyone,” Fowler said shortly, turning from the officers in the room.
Gavin stretched his arms above his head, groaning at the loud pop that came from his shoulders. Nines stood, waiting for his partner to gather his folder and pens.
“Alright, Tincan. Let’s go figure out what we’re doing this weekend. Do you even have any casual clothes?” Gavin asked, making his way back to his desk.
“I own a few pairs of sweatpants and some DPD issue shirts, but I do not own anything that would suffice for a night club,” Nines said, taking a seat at his own desk.
“I guess I’m not surprised. Are we going shopping then?” Gavin asked, tossing his folder down and kicking his feet up on the desk. Nines looked at him disapprovingly, but didn’t say anything about his feet.
“Nonsense. I can simply borrow an outfit from Connor, since we are of similar build.”
Gavin’s feet crashed to the ground as he surged forward in his seat.
“What? Connor goes clubbing?” he asked bewildered. He looked over to where the other android sat, trying to imagine him in something other than his usual uptight suit and tie, but coming up blank.
“Of course,” Nines said, bringing Gavin’s attention back. “He is quite fond of the night life. He’s invited me a number of times, but I’ve never seen the appeal of it, so I’ve always refused. You needn’t worry about my wardrobe. I’ll make sure I am prepared for our night out. Be ready by 7 tomorrow evening. I’ll pick you up.”
With that, Nines stood from his desk, straightened his jacket, and strode over to Connor’s desk. Gavin watched him go, but he couldn’t hear their conversation from this distance. Gathering up his stuff, he shoved his arms through his jacket and pocketed his keys, making his way towards the parking lot. As he neared his car, Tina stopped him on her way inside.
“Hey, Gav! Just the man I wanted to see,” she said cheerfully, taking her officer cap off and tucking it under her arm.
“What’s up, T? You coming in from patrol?” Gavin asked, twirling his keys around his finger, leaning against the door.
“Yeah. Finally. I’ve been out here since, like, 8. I’m exhausted,” she fell dramatically against Gavin’s car, letting out a loud sigh. Gavin chuckled.
“Damn, that sucks. I’m glad those days are behind me,” he said sympathetically.
“I’ll make detective someday,” Tina muttered, pouting slightly. “Hey, are you busy this weekend? I thought maybe we could go out. See a movie, get drunk, hit up the KFC. It’s been a while.”
Gavin shook his head. “Sorry, Nines and I have to scope out Elysium tomorrow for a bust we’re trying to plan.”
“Ooh, you’re going to a bar with Nines?” Tina teased, nudging Gavin with her elbow and wiggling her eyebrows.
Gavin rolled his eyes. Tina was the only person he trusted to tell about the little (okay big) crush he had on his partner. But he and Tina had been friends since police academy, so even if he tried to hide his feelings, she’d sniff them out one way or another. She’s always been weirdly perceptive of Gavin’s feelings, and if they weren’t both super gay, they would make a great couple.
“It’s just for work, T. It’s not a date,” Gavin said, scuffing his foot against the parking lot.
“Uh huh. Sure. What time is he picking you up?” Tina asked smugly. Gavin looked away, a blush creeping up his neck.
“Seven…” he muttered.
“Ha! I knew it,” Tina said, bumping against him. A serious look crossed her face. “What do you think he’s going to wear? I have never seen him out of his Cyberlife jacket. I don’t think anyone has.”
“I have,” Gavin muttered absently, staring off into space, trying to conjure up an image of Nines in clubbing clothes.
“You have?! When? Spill, Gavin. I want details. What happened? Where did it happen? Is he as chiseled underneath that turtleneck as everyone imagines he is? I bet he’s got, like, a twelve pack. Oh, and that ‘V’ on the hips? You know the one. God, that would drive me crazy if I liked dudes,” Tina rambled.
“Chill, it wasn’t like that. He came over once to take a shower after rolling around in a fucking puddle with a suspect. He just wore some of my shit while his stuff went through the wash. It was nothing scandalous, you leech. Nines and I are just friends anyway. This is just for work,” Gavin said resolutely. Tina patted him on the shoulder.
“Keep telling yourself that, buddy. Do you want my advice?”
“Fuck no.”
“Too bad. I think you should doll yourself up for tomorrow. I’m talking slut meter to the max, crop top, booty shorts, the whole nine yards, pun intended. We should get you some of that body glitter shit. Throw some eyeliner on, maybe a bit of highlight. I bet he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off of you.”
Somehow, Gavin found himself nodding along, actually entertaining the idea. Snapping out of his daydreams, he shook his head.
“No, he’s gonna be focused on the case. I guarantee it,” Gavin said. Tina clicked her tongue.
“Just try it, Gav. It wouldn’t hurt,” she said, shrugging her shoulders and stepping away from the car. “Besides, you don’t see the way he looks at you. I know it’ll work.”
With a quick wave over her shoulder, Tina walked back into the DPD, leaving Gavin with his thoughts.
Back at his apartment, Gavin’s room was unusually messy, with the drawers of his dresser pulled open and his closet doors hanging wide, hangers all over the floor. Atop his bed, Gavin had a few outfits laid out and he stood amongst the mess, hand on his chin, as he debated between the clothes.
“I mean, it’s not like it matters what I wear, right? It’s just Nines. It’s just work. Who cares? What do you think, Asshole?” Gavin said, looking over to his fluffy white cat. She lazily blinked at him before standing up from her spot by the window, giving a long, luxurious stretch, then jumping to the bed, settling down on the outfit in the middle.
“Well, I guess that settles that,” he muttered, shooing her off the clothes before she got hair all over them. Carefully, he hung the outfit up in the closet, nervously straightening out the creases. He turned back to his room and sighed at the disastrous mess.
“You know what? That’s a problem for future me. I’m taking a shower and going to bed,” he told Asshole, who ignored him.
He made his way to his small bathroom, shucking his clothes off in the hallway as he went. He hopped into the shower as soon as the water was steaming, relaxing into the hot spray. He ran through his shower routine on autopilot, his mind miles away. After washing his hair, he pumped some of his expensive face wash into his hands. He washed his whole face, scratching through his facial hair. When reaching for his pouf to clean his body, he saw his electric razor sitting innocuously on the shelf. He debated for a bit if he should shave his junk or not.
Why would I? It’s not like I’m going to be picking anyone up while we’re out and God knows Nines won’t be seeing my dick tomorrow, he thought, scrubbing harshly at his chest. He peeked back at the razor. Sighing, he grabbed it, compromising by just trimming up.
He finished his shower quickly, giving a perfunctory wipe down with a towel. When he found himself at the sink, carefully edging his beard, he knew it was time for bed. He sighed again when he saw the mess in his room, but he left it to deal with in the morning. Throwing himself onto his bed, he pulled the blankets over himself, feeling Asshole settle down, and fell into a fitful sleep.
~~
The next day, Gavin had too much energy to sit still, but was too anxious to do anything. He cleaned his room, dusted the shelves in his living room twice, and bothered Asshole to no end with his nervous petting. He spent most of the day in a weird limbo, just watching and waiting for the clock to tick over to the time he set to get ready. When that time finally came, he was relieved that his self-imposed waiting was over. In the bathroom, he fussed over his hair for a good thirty minutes before finally settling on his usual style. He eyed his sparse makeup collection.
“Fuck it,” he muttered, deciding to take Tina’s advice. Carefully, he lined his eyes with dark liner and dusted the tops of his cheeks with shimmering gold powder. Digging into the dark recesses of his bathroom cabinet, Gavin found a bottle of glittering body lotion, so he rubbed some onto his arms and bare chest, trailing some up his neck. Looking properly sparkly and sexy, he made his way into the bedroom, dodging Asshole’s attempts at tripping him.
He pulled on his outfit, a mesh shirt that made his abs look amazing, and shorts so tight, you could see every curve. Looking down at himself, Gavin admired the way he looked. He worked hard to keep himself in shape. Now that he was in his 30s, it was getting harder to keep the slight pudge off, but he’d always had a rigorous gym regimine and ate as cleanly as he could, coffee and cigarettes being just a few of his major vices. He briefly thought about the weather, wondering if he should wear a jacket to ward off the chill, but deciding against it, instead electing to show off as much skin as possible. Some shoes, a quick pat to Asshole’s head, and a spritz of cologne, and Gavin was ready. Unfortunately, there was still some time before Nines was supposed to pick him up.
Stepping out to his balcony, Gavin lit up a cigarette, leaning on the railing. The sun had already begun to set and the sky was painted deep oranges and reds, casting a fiery glow on the few plants Gavin had sitting out here. He stared out at Detroit, thinking of nothing at all. It wasn’t too chilly out, but he knew as soon as the sun set fully, he would regret not bringing a jacket.
As he finished up his cigarette, Asshole scratched at the glass door, gaining his attention. He stubbed his bud out in a pot of dirt and came back inside, crouching down just inside the door to give his cat some pets. He muttered praises to her as she flopped over to have her soft tummy rubbed. In his, admittedly small, pocket, his phone buzzed with a text.
Tincan: I am just around the corner. Please tell me you are ready.
Gavin glanced at the time. Seven o’clock on the dot. Gavin chuckled, sending a quick text back.
Det.Bitch: Of course im ready ill be right down
Gavin gave one last pat to Asshole, who chirped at him, then grabbed his wallet and keys, rushing down the stairwell. Once again, he felt nerves bubble up in his gut, though he wasn't sure why. He and Tina used to go clubbing all the time and he never felt this way with her. Logically, he knew it was because of his crush on the android, but the dumb part of his brain, which was most of it, ignored that fact and continued to question why he felt like throwing up at the thought of seeing Nines.
Pushing his way through the front doors of his apartment complex, Gavin saw a sleek black Mercedes parked just out front, the windows tinted so dark, he couldn’t see inside. He slid into the warm seat, the soft leather interior caressing him. Nines sat in the driver’s seat, looking incredibly casual, one hand propped on top of the wheel.
Gavin felt his breath leave him as he took in his partner. His usually styled hair was left natural, the slight curls Gavin didn’t know he had swept back away from his face. He was wearing a dark leather jacket, so he couldn’t see what shirt he was wearing just yet, but his long legs were in a pair of ripped skinny jeans, showing off more of his pale skin than Gavin had ever seen. The occasional freckle peeked out between the rips, enticing Gavin. Normally, Nines didn’t smell like anything, but tonight, a smokey, woody scent filled the car, making Gavin’s mouth water. Finally forcing himself to look away from his partner’s body, Gavin looked up into his eyes, catching the steel blue gaze traveling up and down his own body. He felt a shiver run up his spine, a small sigh leaving his mouth. Nines’ eyes snapped to his face, and he smirked at Gavin, giving him a knowing look.
“Shall we go, Detective?” Nines asked, to which Gavin could only nod. He pulled away from the curb and began the drive to Elysium on the other side of town. The car let out a steady purr as they drove, muted jazz playing from the speakers.
“Who’s car is this?” Gavin asked, breaking the silence.
“It’s mine, Gavin,” Nines replied matter-of-factly.
“What the hell? If you have such a nice ride, why do we bum around in my piece of shit all the time?” Gavin rubbed his hands along his exposed knees, feeling a little self conscious.
“The opportunity to use my vehicle has never come up. Besides, I like it when you drive. You seem very relaxed behind the wheel,” Nines said quietly, finally pulling up along the curb just a block or two from the club. Before Gavin can even process what is happening, Nines is opening his door, offering a hand to help him out. Blushing, he takes it, stepping out into the chill night air. It helps cool his heated skin. Finally getting the chance to see all of Nines, Gavin almost choked.
Underneath that leather jacket, Nines was wearing a dark gray crop top with the words “daddy’s boy” written in blue. It was tight across his chest, but Gavin was entranced with the android’s midriff. Nines had defined muscles that made Gavin’s mouth water and the delicious ‘V’ along his hips that led enticingly down into his tight pants. Curiously, he also had a belly button, and Gavin found himself briefly questioning the purpose of it.
“Gavin?” Nines asked, breaking him from his trance. “Are you ready to go inside?”
“Yeah, totally. Sorry, I just got…distracted,” Gavin said, flicking his eyes up and down one last time.
At the door of the club, a big, burly bouncer stood, checking IDs and waving people in. Thankfully, the line was short, and they found themselves inside the noisy club at last. Gavin scanned the dance floor, looking for any stairs or doors that lead to the back rooms they suspected their guy to use. There was a door behind the bar that looked to go to some storage rooms, but across the room, a small hallway led to other doors. He nudged Nines, who was looking towards the DJ’s table, and pointed them out.
“Those look promising,” he yelled over the music. Nines nodded, then leaned closer to Gavin to speak.
“Let’s go to the bar and get a drink first. We want to try and blend in,” he murmured in Gavin’s ear.
They found a space at the bar to squeeze into and Nines flagged the barkeeper down. She came over once she was done with the drink she was making, leaning on the counter.
“Hey, handsome. What can I get for you?” she smirked, tossing a wink at Nines. He quirked an eyebrow at her, looking pointedly down at his shirt, then back at her, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“I’ll have a whiskey dry, and my partner will have a lemon drop shot and a jack and coke,” he said, stepping closer to Gavin, and sliding a few bills across the counter.
The bartender looked between the two of them, finally seeming to catch on, and nodded, rushing away to make the drinks.
“Pretty presumptuous of you to order for me, Tincan,” Gavin said, lounging against the wooden bartop. “What if I wanted something different?”
“But you didn’t, did you? Given your other habits, I figured you’d like something strong and sour to start, but something smoother to sip on afterwards. Was I wrong?” Nines asked, looking down at him.
Gavin snorted, shaking his head. The bartender returned, dropping off their drinks, then scurrying away to attend other patrons. Gavin’s lemon drop shot was pale yellow and condensation dripped down the side of the shot glass. He grabbed it, holding it up to Nines.
“Cheers,” he said, clinking it against Nines’ own glass, before downing it quickly in one swallow, wincing at the sour lemon.
Nines watched him, sipping on his whiskey. Gavin pushed the shot glass away, reaching for his jack and coke.
“I didn’t know androids could drink,” he said, turning around and watching all of the people dancing, bodies grinding against one another.
“Most cannot, but, as you know, I am the most advanced android Cyberlife has ever made. Therefore, I can. In small quantities. I will not be able to consume anything else past this single glass,” Nines replied, taking another sip.
“Huh. Can you get drunk?” Gavin asked, rubbing his finger around the rim of his glass.
“Yes, but it does not last long, and since I can only ingest a relatively small amount of liquid, it needs to be straight alcohol.”
“Like what you’re drinking now?”
“Yes, like what I’m drinking now.”
“Why can’t you stay drunk for long?”
“My systems metabolize and break down the alcohol much more quickly than it does in humans. Once I’ve finished this drink, I believe I will have a nice buzz for about twenty minutes before it fades.”
“Damn, that sucks. Guess we’ll just have to have as much fun as we can in that twenty minutes,” Gavin said, winking at him.
“Hmm. Yes, I suppose we will,” Nines said, looking him up and down with a hungry look in his eye. Gavin felt a warmth bloom in his belly, an almost electrifying feeling. He turned back to the dance floor, taking a large drink from his glass. Next to him, Nines also took a drink, before setting the glass down.
“Stay here and keep an eye out for anything unusual. I’m going to scope out that hallway,” he muttered into Gavin’s ear. Gavin nodded, watching as Nines strode away, the sway of his hips tantalizing.
Once Nines was lost in the sea of dancing bodies, Gavin turned his attention to the people around him, scanning the crowd and looking for their guy. He didn’t expect to see him tonight, but there was always the chance. A couple along the opposite wall caught his attention, the girl looking up at the man where he crowded up against her. She didn’t look scared so much as just annoyed and he watched for a minute in case he needed to jump in.
A figure appeared next to him and he turned, expecting to see Nines back already, but instead, leaning against the bar in his spot, a stocky man with spiky blonde hair was smirking.
“Hey there, cutie. Can I buy you a drink?” he asked in a sleazy voice. Gavin was no stranger to being hit on, so he put on his most uninterested voice and looked away from him.
“No, thanks. I’m good,” he said.
“Oh, come on, baby. Just one? Or would you prefer a dance?” the guy slid closer, running a hand up Gavin’s arm. Gavin pulled away, scowling at him.
“No, leave me alone,” he said sternly.
“Feisty. That’s just how I like them. How about you and me blow this joint and head back to mine, yeah?”
Gavin felt his anger rising up at the man’s insistence, but just as he was going to say something back, a pale hand landed heavily on the guy’s shoulder. Behind him, Nines stood with a dark look in his eyes. He leaned down close to the man’s ear.
“He said no. I suggest you leave before something unfortunate happens,” he said menacingly, squeezing harshly. The man’s eyes widened and he gulped before scurrying away from them.
“Thanks, Nines, but I could have handled him,” Gavin huffed, trying to convince himself that wasn’t the hottest thing he’d ever seen.
“Of that, I have no doubt. But unfortunately, I had to step in before it escalated, or else I may have acted unpredictably,” Nines said darkly, looking towards where the man had made his escape. “I did not like the implications of his words, nor the idea that you may have found them appealing.”
Gavin scoffed. “Don’t worry, Tincan. That guy was totally not my type. Also, I’m fairly certain he roofied your drink thinking it was mine. I’d leave it if I were you.”
Nines picked up the glass that held the remainder of his whiskey. He swirled it around, taking a small sip. Gavin watched curiously.
“You seem to be correct, Gavin. There is a rather strong date rape drug in this drink. However, roofies do not work the same way on me,” Nines said.
“What do they do to you then?” Gavin asked. Nines smirked.
“They strengthen the effects of the alcohol,” he said, downing the rest of his drink in one go. Gavin watched the pale column of his throat as he drank, imagining how it would look marked up with his mouth. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Gavin looked away, suddenly feeling very hot.
“God, what a fucking creep,” he muttered, draining the rest of his drink too.
“You said he wasn’t your type. Tell me, Gavin, what is your type?” Nines said, standing close enough that their arms touched. Gavin looked up at him, feeling short of breath when their eyes locked.
“Why are you asking?” he said softly, feeling himself being drawn in.
“Just humor me,” Nines muttered.
“Tall, I guess. And strong. I like a man that can hold me down,” Gavin said, flicking his eyes down Nines’ body. “Someone who holds their own against me and gives back as much bullshit as I dish out.”
Nines hummed, leaning even closer. They were so close now and Gavin hoped wondered if he leaned forward, if they would kiss.
“Dark hair. Blue eyes. Pale skin,” he murmured.
“You are just describing me, Detective,” Nines said softly.
“So I am,” Gavin mused, licking his suddenly dry lips. Nines’ eyes flicked down at the movement, and Gavin saw his pupils dilate just a little bit.
Someone beside them bumped into Gavin, sending him into Nines’ chest, breaking the spell they were under. Gavin grumbled, straightening himself out.
“Are you alright?” Nines asked, letting go of where he had caught Gavin around the hips.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, frustrated at the stranger for effectively cock blocking his maybe-kiss.
“We have all the information we need, if you wanted to leave,” Nines said, scanning the crowd one last time.
“The night’s still young, Tincan. Let’s dance,” Gavin said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the packed dance floor.
Gavin weaved his way between people, leading Nines deep into the mass of people. Once they made it to a relatively open part of the floor, Gavin turned, pulling Nines close.
“I don't know how to dance,” Nines said, grabbing onto Gavin’s hips as the smaller man began to move with the pounding music.
“Just go with the flow!” Gavin called over the music, feeling the alcohol and the energy begin to take control.
As he moved to the beat, Nines began to loosen up a little. He pulled Gavin against his body and Gavin shivered at the feel of Nines’ hard chest against his back. He ground back against him, and Nines’ hands tightened against his waist, impossibly hot. The music was loud and thumping and it vibrated in Gavin’s chest. As they moved together, heat pooled in his abdomen, a hot wave of want clouding his mind. The flashing lights of the dance floor made his skin shimmer where there was glitter and he delighted in seeing it begin to stain Nines’ skin as well. Nines leaned down, his breath hot against Gavin’s neck, and he murmured in his ear.
“The way you move is utterly indecent. People are watching you.”
Gavin could hear something dark in Nines’ voice, something that made his toes curl.
“Let them look. You’re the only one who gets to touch,” he said, twisting around to face him. He looped his arms around Nines’ neck, seeing the black of his pupils almost overtake the thin ring of blue.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” Nines growled, grabbing the back of Gavin’s neck and pulling him into a rough kiss. Gavin instantly melted against him, letting Nines’ strong arms hold him up. He gasped into the kiss and Nines took the chance to slip his tongue inside. The taste of whiskey was strong, and Gavin’s only thought was more. He hands fisted into Nines’ crop top, wanting to feel as much of the android as possible. Nines slid a hand up Gavin’s back, underneath his shirt and Gavin shivered at the touch, imagining what those hands would feel like elsewhere.
Finally, they pulled apart, Gavin breathing heavily, resting his forehead against Nines’. He looked up into his eyes, seeing the blatant want resting there.
“We should head back to your apartment,” Nines said, the meaning unmistakable. Gavin nodded, quickly dropping his arms and all but dragging Nines to the exit. Once outside, the cool night air helped sober Gavin up, but the need within him still burned hot. Goosebumps formed along his arms, and he mentally cursed himself for not bringing a jacket, but suddenly, warm leather was dropped on his shoulders.
“It’s cold out and you’re not wearing suitable clothing for the weather,” Nines said, pulling the jacket tighter around Gavin. It smelled of that smoky, woody scent from earlier and Gavin snuggled deeper into the fabric.
With a hand on the small of Gavin’s back, Nines began to lead them to his car a little ways down the street. Gavin eagerly followed, but a small sound slightly behind them gave him pause. Turning, he saw the couple he’d been watching earlier against the side of the club. Though the man had his back to them, Gavin could clearly see the look on the girl’s face, and it was not a happy look. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but going off of the body language, Gavin could guess. He could see the girl shake her head and say something, then the man leaned closer, running a finger up her cheek. Fear crossed her eyes and she looked around frantically, locking eyes with Gavin. Silently, she seemed to plead with him to help. Turning, Gavin began to make his way back towards them.
“Gavin?” Nines called to him, but he must have figured out what was happening, because he followed Gavin. As he got closer, he could hear what the man was saying.
“Then, once I have you back at my place, I will take off your clothes and-”
“No, please. I just want to leave,” the girl cut him off, pushing weakly against him.
“Oh, come on, sweetheart. Let’s just have a little fun together,” the man said, grabbing her wrist roughly, causing her to wince.
“Is there a problem here?” Gavin asked in his best cop voice, though the effect was slightly diminished since he was wearing a mesh shirt, booty shorts, and copious amounts of glitter. The guy didn’t even look his way, but he attempted to wave him off.
“Naw, just my girl here playing hard to get,” he said, laughing. The girl looked at Gavin again, giving him a small shake of her head.
Please help, she mouthed to him.
“She doesn’t look too into it, man. You should probably leave her alone,” Gavin said, stepping closer.
“Why don’t you butt out,” the guy said aggressively, clenching his fists.
“She said no. You need to leave,” Gavin stated firmly.
Suddenly, the man rounded on him, grabbing Gavin’s shirt roughly.
“Listen here, faggot. You need to get the fuck out of here, or I’m going to beat your ass,” he threatened, nose to nose with Gavin. He almost gagged at the foul smell coming from the man’s mouth.
“I don’t think trying to beat me up is a good idea,” Gavin said, steeling himself for the first punch.
“Try, nothing, fucker. I’ll kick your ass from here to next Tuesday,” the man shouted, cocking a fist back.
Gavin ducked out of the way, pulling himself out of the man’s grasp. From the corner of his eye, he saw the girl take off down the alleyway. The guy stumbled with the momentum from his swing. Looking over at Nines, Gavin saw him lounging against the wall, looking calm and casual.
“What, you’re not going to help me?” Gavin asked, raising his fists as the man came at him again. Dodging again, Gavin threw a punch at the man’s face, a sickening crunch sounding from his nose. He yelled in pain as blood began to creep down his face, and he lunged again at Gavin.
“You seem to be handling it just fine on your own,” Nines said calmly, watching the fight with little interest.
Grinning, Gavin shook his head, blocking a punch. The man howled in anger, growing frustrated. He charged again, and Gavin brought a fist down on the back of his head, knocking him to the ground. Quickly, he jumped on top of him, pulling the man’s arms behind his back. He struggled against Gavin’s hold, but he wouldn’t be able to get free unless he dislocated his shoulders.
Sirens could be heard just down the street, and Gavin knew Nines had called for a patrol car to pick this guy up. Finally, Nines strode over, bending down and pulling something from the man’s pocket. He wriggled around, trying to keep Nines from getting to whatever it was, but he was unsuccessful.
In his hands, Nines held a small baggie of red crystals and a dirty glass pipe.
“Ricky Caprice, you are under arrest for assault on an officer, as well as possession, manufacturing, and distribution of Red Ice and Red Ice paraphernalia,” he said, as the cruiser pulled into the alley. Chris Miller and another officer rushed over, taking over for Gavin and slapping handcuffs on the man’s wrists. As the other officer continued reading the man his rights, Chris approached Gavin and Nines.
“Good job, you two. I thought the stakeout wasn’t until next week though?” he questioned, giving them both a glance up and down.
“Yeah, it’s not supposed to be. We were just getting a feel for the place, but this idiot was making a scene out here. Good thing Nines recognized him, cause I sure as hell didn’t,” Gavin said, resting a hand on Nines’ arm.
“Lucky break then. We’re going to take him back to the station now. You guys can question him in the morning,” Chris said, nodding his head and getting back into the cruiser.
Nines and Gavin stood in silence for a moment before they turned to each other.
“You really weren’t going to help me back there, were you?” Gavin asked, smirking.
“Of course not. As you pointed out to me earlier, you can take care of yourself, especially against someone like Ricky Caprice. Had I felt you were in danger, I would have stepped in, but as it was, I was content with watching you two fight,” Nines said, glancing down at him. Gavin bumped his hips against Nines.
“Asshole,” he muttered. He could still feel the heat between them and he hoped the confrontation with Ricky Caprice didn’t put a damper on their previous plans to go back to Gavin’s apartment. Testing the waters, Gavin ran a finger along the waistband of Nines’ jeans.
“Hey, you still interested in going to my place?” he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
Nines grabbed his hand and brought it up to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles, which had turned slightly red from the fight.
“Nothing would please me more,” Nines said heatedly, a hungry look in his eyes.
Gavin swallowed in anticipation, something stirring in his abdomen. Leaning forward, Nines met him halfway. They kissed each other with as much urgency as they had inside the club, but it was different than before. More tender, but still with fire. The whiskey taste was all but gone from Nines’ mouth. He reached up and cupped Gavin’s face, holding him close. They pulled away and Gavin gasped for air as Nines made his way down to his neck, pressing hot, open mouthed kisses along his collarbone. Gavin groaned when he felt teeth nip at his skin, Nines’ tongue quickly soothing the bite.
“Nines, fuck, we gotta go. Like, right now,” Gavin said, feeling his knees start to weaken. Against his throat, Nines hummed, sucking another mark into his skin. Pushing him back slightly, Gavin took his hand, pulling him in the direction of the car.
~~
The next morning, people at the DPD clapped Gavin and Nines on the back, offering them congratulations and wishing them luck in the interrogation. Chris greeted them at their desks, letting them know which interrogation room their guy was in. Turning to leave, Chris paused.
“Hey, Nines. You have glitter on your cheek,” he said, pointing to his own face where the glitter would be. At the desk a few over, Tina locked eyes with Gavin. She wiggled her eyebrows and winked at him.
Told you so, she mouthed at him, a smug smile on her face. Gavin blushed, flipping her off, but he grinned.