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“Reed, you need to move now!” Hank barks.
“No shit!” Gavin scowls between gritted teeth.
Things are going south. First the dead android, then the absence of human DNA on the crime scene, and now the deviant with a fucking gun that is firing at them blindly from behind a dusty couch. Ways to ruin one’s otherwise happy day.
Everyone from the DPD has successfully taken cover, but Gavin is painfully aware of his uncomfortable position - right between the suspect and the exit.
“I’ll cover you,” Connor informs from where he is hidden, somewhere on his left, and just from the collected tone of his voice, Gavin can tell the android is actually anxious. He never sounds that calm in such situations. Could it be that Terminator’s worried about him? Of course he is, especially after -
Now’s not a good time, you fucking moron, Gavin mentally berates himself. His own service gun in hand, he throws a few looks around him before locking his gaze on a pillar that would make an acceptable shelter. He readies himself to make a sprint for it just as something moves at the corner of his eye -
“GAVIN!”
Connor’s suddenly not-calm-at-all shout is all he can hear before something hits his head, and then he’s unconscious.
***
The sheets are odd. He isn’t in his bed. Instead of the usual cold cigarette stink, everything smells… neutral. Sterilized neutral.
What. The. Shit.
Gavin manages to crack an eye open, only to have some blinding light make him close it again with an irritated grunt.
“Gavin? Can you hear me?”
A quiet, concerned voice, spoken through lips he knows are soft -
Wait, what?
“Ngyeahh?” he grunts, forcefully opening his eyes again.
A hospital. He is in a goddamned hospital, without any bloody idea why. And Connor is there.
Why is Connor there?
“Thank rA9,” the androids says as he walks closer to the bed, proud line of his shoulders dropping in relief. “How are you feeling?”
“Haven’t slept that bad in a while,” Gavin mumbles as he stares. Hard. “What happened?”
“We were on a crime scene and things got heated,” Connor gently provides. “There were two suspects, one of them gave you a blow to the head. You… don’t remember?”
“I…”
Gavin looks away as a wave of heat submerges him. He only vaguely remembers… hushed words. Cold hands. Warm eyes…
“I remember… kissing you,” Gavin whispers, dumbfounded. “Why do I remember kissing you?” he asks, anxious to meet Connor’s gaze, doing it anyway.
All he can find there is fondness.
“Because you did,” the android replies, and he looks flustered. “Before the mission.”
Well, fuck if Gavin isn’t glowing red himself.
“I - I did?!”
Connor nods, and gives him a shy smile.
“Now is not the best time to talk… you need to rest,” he states, and he looks like he’s going to move away. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Gavin does feel tired, sure. Too tired to… talk right now. But he doesn’t want to be left alone, so he takes the android’s hand in his before he can leave.
“Stay,” he begs softly.
“Of course,” Connor murmurs lovingly, squeezing his fingers, but Gavin is already asleep.