Chapter Text
It was just Gavin’s luck that it was his turn to host the group’s New Year party. Granted, Hank had hosted their Christmas get-together, so it was only fair that Gavin would return the favour by hosting their New Year celebration—but he still wasn’t too keen on the idea of cramming multiple people in his living quarters. It was not for lack of space, however. His apartment may not have been big, but it was spacious enough to comfortably fit their small group of people—especially after it had been deep cleaned. He simply was not used to having many guests over.
Much like their Christmas party, the humans had agreed on a potluck. Initially, Hank had offered to prepare the food, but upon Connor’s pestering that the food be healthy, he quickly backtracked. He loved the kid to death, but he just wanted one meal without Connor fussing over his health. The android had no doubt improved his life and helped him get back on his feet, but it wouldn’t hurt to indulge every once in a while.
And so, it was also just Gavin’s luck that he got stuck preparing the main meal while Hank got to bring drinks to the party. Gavin mentally cursed Connor, hoping that the drinks would at the very least be something palatable. He shuddered just remembering the one time he’d accepted some kind of health drink from Connor and wretched as soon as he took a sip. Afterward, he vowed to never accept another drink the damn android offered him ever again.
Hank didn’t really need any help picking up beverages, so the RKs figured Gavin would appreciate their assistance more. Nines would’ve helped him regardless seeing as he lived with the man, but he was pleased that his brothers wanted to help as well. As such, Connor and Sixty helped out by running errands while Gavin and Nines prepared dinner—including a few dishes designed especially for android consumption.
It was a little past 3pm on New Year’s Eve when Gavin realised he was missing several ingredients for the main meal and a few side dishes. The RK800s volunteered to go to the store to purchase the items while Gavin and Nines finished preparing what they could. The idea was great at the time, but after over an hour of radio silence, the couple began to worry. Truth be told, neither had realised how long the RK800s had been gone until a dip in their usual teasing nestled between them.
“What’s taking your brothers so long?” Gavin murmured, flustered by a suggestive comment his partner had quipped moments earlier.
Nines set his knife down, pausing from chopping carrots to pinpoint where his brothers were.
“I’m unable to locate either of them,” he muttered, his LED blinking yellow in confusion. While not necessarily terrifying in and of itself, Connor and Sixty having been gone for much longer than anticipated and seemingly offline were causes for concern. When his messages to Connor didn’t go through, Nines tried reaching Sixty and was met with the same result. Neither were responding to him.
“Try again,” Gavin set down his own knife and turned to his partner. “They were supposed to be back with the rest of dinner fifteen minutes ago!”
“I can’t reach either of them. Either they’re both ignoring me, or they’re offline for whatever reason. You try contacting them.”
Gavin scoffed.
“Yeah, like Connor’s gonna answer my call over yours.”
“Sixty would.”
Gavin grunted at that. He knew it was true from past experiences with the RK.
“Alright, pass me my phone.”
Nines retrieved the phone from where Gavin had left it and handed it to the shorter man. He then tried his luck with calling Hank, hoping that perhaps his two older brothers had at the very least updated their father on their whereabouts.
Gavin cursed under his breath when he was sent to voicemail. Although he wasn’t expecting Connor to answer, he had been somewhat hopeful that Sixty would pick up. Whenever Sixty found himself in some sort of awkward or uncomfortable situation, he’d reach out to Gavin, too embarrassed to contact any of his brothers for assistance.
The detective threw off his apron and hurried into his bedroom. Nines watched him walk off as he explained the situation to Hank, learning that he hadn’t heard from the RK800s since earlier that day. Nines thanked him before hanging up, watching again as Gavin reemerged from his bedroom and throwing his jacket over himself.
“What are you doing?”
“What’s it look like, tin can?” he said, patting himself down to make sure he had everything on him. “M’gonna go look for them.”
“I’ll accompany you,” Nines removed his apron and left it neatly folded on the counter. He was quick to put the knives away and store every ingredient back to its proper place, knowing Gavin’s cats would get curious and make themselves sick if they ingested something they shouldn’t have.
Gavin sighed and ran back into the kitchen to turn off the stove, double checking the knobs to avoid accidentally causing a gas leak that could harm his cats while they were out–or worse. As outdated as gas stoves were, the appliance had come with the apartment and he was loath to spend his own money on something new when this stove worked perfectly well as it was. He picked his keys off the coffee table and nodded his head at the door while staring his partner in his eyes.
“Let’s get a move on.”
****
“What if we called Hank?”
“Do you want to be shut down?”
Connor groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose out of habit–something he picked up from Hank whenever the older man was annoyed or frustrated.
“Well we can’t just sit here all day!”
Sixty threw his arms up, equally as upset as his older brother.
“We can, actually.”
That earned him a glare.
The holding cell of the Dearborn Police Station wasn’t the most comfortable place on the planet, nor was it the most welcoming. The drab, grey walls and barren room made even the cheeriest of detainees want to curl up into a pathetic little ball and die. It was enough to make Connor pity the people who got thrown into holding. Although he didn’t experience discomfort to the same extent as a human could, he knew that the conditions of the cell were far less than ideal. Being stuck in the cell with Sixty—the one responsible for the both of them even being there in the first place—only aggravated him more.
“You’ve said no to every suggestion I’ve made. If you’re so wise, why don’t you suggest someone?”
“I did,” Sixty crossed his arms again.
“Someone who’s not Detective Reed.”
“He’s literally the only option left if we want to keep our synthetic skins safe!”
Connor frowned at the irony of that statement. He would never associate the word “safe” with Gavin Reed of all people.
“Fowler?”
“Sure, let’s just call the captain and tell him two of his officers got arrested while running errands.”
“Officer Chen?”
“She’d tell Gavin and then we’re back to you crying about calling him.”
They sat in silence as Connor thought of another person they could contact.
“What about Captain Allen?”
“We really need to get out more. We seriously cannot keep depending on coworkers,” Sixty muttered before clearly telling Connor, “Just call Gavin! What is the worst that could happen? He’s covered for me before.”
“By your logic earlier, wouldn’t he tell Nines? So why don’t we just call Nines and get this over with?”
“No way!”
“We’re calling Nines.”
“Don’t you dare!”
“It’s either him or Hank.”
The prospect of getting Nines or Hank involved terrified Sixty. Despite having been part of the family for over a year now, he secretly feared that they were just waiting for a reason to get rid of him—just waiting on him to prove that he was nothing more than a troublemaker who couldn’t be trusted. Deep down he knew that his fear was unfounded, and if asked about it, he’d deny having any such fear. After all, he’d openly declared that he’d worked out all his feelings of inadequacy during therapy. And yet, under these circumstances, he couldn’t bear to face his younger brother who he’d gotten so close to or his father figure who’d treated him well despite their tense beginnings, afraid that their disappointment in him would be overwhelming. Connor didn’t have this fear. He couldn’t understand Sixty’s anxiety, and it irked the younger RK model.
“You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re a big baby.”
*****
The sun had set a little past 5 o’clock, but the roads remained brightly lit by radiant traffic lights and towering lampposts. Digital billboards ruled the skyline and illuminated what the streetlights failed to reach. Snow was not expected to fall tonight, but the sidewalks were covered in a thin white layer of frosted powder where no footprints carved paths atop the pavement. Nines was half tempted to hack into the billboards to put out missing posters, but he knew it would not only be illegal, but also impractical. His gaze remained glued to his surroundings, his software rapidly scanning the crowds to single out his missing brothers.
The radio was on with the volume down low, some obscure band quietly playing amidst the muffled commotion of the street. Gavin mindlessly drummed his fingers along to the beat against the steering wheel. They’d been on the road for at least half an hour by now, unsure of where else in the city they could check for the two missing imbeciles.
“‘State of the art’ my ass,” Gavin thought when they still didn’t catch sight of them.
“I’m beginning to wonder if they’ve been kidnapped,” Nines broke the silence.
“If that’s the case,” Gavin smirked, “let’s head back home. Whoever was dumb enough to kidnap them is gonna wanna give them back once they realise how annoying they are.”
Nines scoffed.
“God forbid anyone ever kidnap you.”
“Why? You won’t pay the ransom to get me back?”
“As a matter of fact,” Nines leaned back in his seat and finally turned to look at his partner, “I would not. And I doubt Elijah would either.”
“You asshole!” Gavin lightly punched his arm, a wide grin plastered across his face. “Fuck you, and fuck Eli.”
Gavin’s grin dropped slightly.
“Especially fuck Eli. Bastard still owes me,” he sighed, returning his gaze outside the window.
Nines sensed he’d made a mistake bringing up the detective’s brother, so he refrained from pushing the conversation further. Ever since discovering that his partner was the estranged younger brother of Elijah Kamski, he’d been keen on learning more about their relationship. Unfortunately, any time he’d been bold enough to directly ask questions concerning the matter, he was always met with vague or frustrated answers. Even after meeting the man on a few occasions, Gavin would remain tight-lipped. A dinner here and there at Kamski’s residence never seemed fruitful, either, as both brothers avoided discussing the past and seldom disclosed information about the present (aside from playing awkward, impersonal games of catch-up). Although he was by no means an expert on the matter, Nines knew that the strained relationship between Gavin and Elijah was doomed to fall apart again if they continued to avoid talking about the issue that drove them apart in the first place. But, without knowing what the issue was himself, there was hardly anything he could do to encourage his partner to resolve the problem. He figured that Gavin would open up some more eventually, but he couldn’t help from trying to coax the information out every once in a while.
He turned his head and continued the search for his own brothers. A sharp ringing sound caught him off guard, but it did not deter him from his mission.
Gavin reached for his phone and answered, similarly keeping his eyes focused outside the car for any signs of the RKs.
“Detective Reed,” he mumbled after not recognising the number. “This better not be some fucking scam or any-”
“Gavin!”
“Sixty?” Gavin barked into the phone, eyes shooting towards Nines only to find the android was already staring intensely at him. “Where the hell are you?”
“Is Nines with you?”
“Why?” He turned his head away from his partner.
“Connor and I would rather keep this from him,” Sixty sighed on the other end, dispelling warm air as his body temperature gradually increased from stress.
Gavin snickered but didn’t say anything as he pulled over and parked the car on the side of the road. Nines shot him a quizzical look which was returned by a poor attempt at a wink.
“Stay in the car and don’t even think about eavesdropping on the conversation,” Gavin told him, opening his door and stepping out.
“Excuse me?” Nines wanted to protest, exclaiming that this was a family matter and he had every right to know what was happening, but the look Gavin gave him silenced him. He merely frowned and let his partner slam the door without another word.
“Alright, I’m alone now,” Gavin spoke back into the phone. “Care to tell me what the fuck is going on?”
“So, funny story,” Sixty laughed nervously. “You know how you sent us out to buy groceries?”
“Yeah?”
“Well the first store we went to didn’t have some of the things on the list, so we went to another store across town to look. But that store didn’t have everything either, so then we went to a different store a city over. But for some reason, that store was out of stock for some stuff, too, so we decided to get what we could and hope you wouldn’t mind some missing ingredients. But then the craziest thing happened.”
Gavin hummed in response, prompting the android to continue.
“I think it would be better to explain the next part in person, so, uh, could you come to the Dearborn Police Station?”
He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but learning that Sixty and Connor had been sitting nicely at a police station had not been it. Nothing about them going to a police station explained why they’d been blocking everyone out and had turned off their locations. Only one explanation made sense to Gavin as to why Connor and Sixty had gone radio silent for so long, and it wasn’t exactly a good reason.
“Sixty…”
“Yeah?”
“Did you and Connor— were you two arrested?”
“Don’t tell Nines.”
Gavin threw his head back in laughter, tears welling in his eyes at the absurdity of it all. He could believe that Sixty was arrested, but picturing Connor in a holding cell, his LED probably burning red while he looked like a kicked puppy was really too much. He was a goody two shoes, so what on Earth could they have possibly done to wind up in trouble with the law? Gavin’s mind raced with the possibilities of what could’ve gone so wrong that Connor of all people could end up on the wrong side of a holding cell.
“Yeah, okay,” he caught his breath and wiped the tears from his eyes. “We’ll be there. Sit tight.”
“We?”
“Yes, ‘we.’ Nines and I went out to look for the two of you after you didn’t come back. I'm not kicking Nines out of the car, and I’m sure as hell not driving back to my place to drop him off.”
“Gavin, please. It’s imperative-”
“Don’t get your wires in a bunch,” Gavin huffed. He could practically hear Sixty’s frown, and, not wanting the android to self-destruct from the stress of the situation, he gently reassured him in a tone he reserved for people in crisis, “You know my lips are sealed, toaster. I’ll tell him to wait in the car.”
The detective chanced a glance back at the passenger seat of his car and met the frosty gaze of his partner, body posture stiff and unmoving. His LED was blinking yellow again.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned the RK, reverting to his typical brusque self. “We’re on our way.”
*****
Hank pulled up to Dearborn Police Station, parking in the empty space next to a familiar vehicle. He’d seen the sleek, black car often enough to know whose it was, but he hadn’t expected there to be someone in it. He exited his own vehicle and tapped on the passenger side window to get Nines’s attention. The android rolled the window down and greeted his father.
“Hello Hank.”
“Why’re you sitting here?” Hank looked at the driver’s side and saw it was empty. “Where’s Gavin?”
Nines’s LED circled yellow before returning to a soft blue.
“He went inside to speak with Connor and Sixty. He insisted that I remain in the car.”
Hank didn’t need an LED for Nines to know the man’s stress had increased.
“C’mon,” Hank grunted. “Let’s go in.”
“But Gavin said-”
“Who the hell cares, kid! Since when have you ever let him boss you around? Thought you hated taking orders from him.”
Nines shook his head, recalling the way the detective had softened during the phone call with Sixty earlier. It was a softness he knew Gavin resorted to using when trying to calm someone down—usually children. Whatever was happening inside, he knew it was incredibly stressful for Sixty. Without wanting to, his mind ran thousands of possibilities of what could’ve happened to his brothers, each one worse than the last.
“I’m sure he had his reasons. It may surprise you to hear this, but he and Sixty have become remarkably close over the past few months. If something’s wrong, I’m glad that Sixty at least trusts Gavin enough to reach out for help.”
Hank was taken aback by the information, but he didn’t say anything. He knew that the two men were on good terms, but he hadn’t known that Sixty had come to regard the former anti-android detective as one of his confidantes. He supposed it wasn’t that strange if that same detective was now in a relationship with an android, but to think Gavin was capable of allowing more than one android into his life was surprising. Then again, who was he to be shocked by this when he, too, had been devoutly anti-android but had come to regard three of them as his sons.
The two left their vehicles and walked up the stone steps to enter the police station. Three ST300 receptionists were busy helping visitors at the front desk while officers came in and out of the building. Winter decorations were still on display, snowflakes and faux icicles hanging from the ceiling and decorating arches. The potted plants near the front desk sported fairy lights on their foliage. The air smelled faintly of cinnamon and, rather disappointingly, sweat.
Nines stepped up to the front desk when an opening appeared and greeted the receptionist. Her name tag read Ophelia. She smiled and wished him a happy New Year before asking how she could help.
“We’re looking for somebody. Two people, actually—both RK800 models.”
“Connor and Sixty Anderson, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Someone came in not too long ago asking about them. You should find all of them in Holding Cell 01.”
Nines’s LED flashed red. He thanked her and led Hank through the station until they saw familiar figures just ahead of them. Gavin appeared to be laughing at something, but the detective tensed when he realised they were being approached.
Hank picked up his pace and reached the group before Nines.
“What happened?” The older man nearly growled, his voice then melting into something gentler. “We’ve been looking all over for you two. Are you hurt?”
“It was Sixty’s idea to not call you,” Connor blurted out, immediately throwing the other android under the bus.
“Thanks, Con,” Sixty nudged him roughly. “I’d be lost without your loyalty.”
Nines took his spot beside Gavin, his face stoic. He didn’t know what to make of the situation. At least neither of them were damaged.
“It’s your fault we’re in this mess,” Connor snapped back at him.
“Oh, really?” Sixty nearly shouted. “Yeah, okay. Maybe next time I'll let that asshole push you around.”
“I could handle it.”
“That’s not the point!”
“Cut it out,” Hank interrupted the argument. “You two better explain yourselves before we leave you here.”
Sixty and Connor’s eyes shot to Nines.
“You wouldn’t leave us here, right?” Connor pouted, his puppy eyes begging him to take pity on them.
“I would,” the youngest RK plainly said.
“Nines, please! I wanted to call you, but Sixty kept saying no.”
Sixty elbowed him with a panicked stare. They were about to argue some more when Hank raised his voice again.
“Why are you here?”
Their proud demeanours fell apart and they were suddenly shy.
“Sixty punched a cop,” Gavin said. “Square on the nose. Probably broke it.”
“Gavin!” Sixty hissed.
“He’s already here,” Gavin raised his hands defensively. “Might as well tell him! Geez, I just wanna get home. Sue me.”
“You did what?” Hank’s eyes widened, his brows raised in alarm.
“I punched a cop,” Sixty murmured, his quiet voice muffled further by the glass wall between them.
“Why?”
“Cuz he was being an asshole to Connor! I couldn’t just stand there and watch it happen.”
“You do it all the time when Gavin does the same thing,” Hank snorted. “Hell, you even join in.”
“Point is,” Sixty placed his hands against the glass and looked pleadingly at them. “I punched a scumbag and we both ended up in here.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Why is Connor in here when you’re the one who punched an officer?”
Connor shuffled uncomfortably up to the glass, his face flushed with a faint smattering of blue.
“The officers that detained us claimed that they didn’t see who threw the punch since we’re the same model. Therefore, both of us were taken in.”
Hank groaned, his headache worsening with each new piece of information acquired. The RKs noticed his stress level and irritability spike, so Nines moved past Gavin to rest his hand on Hank’s shoulder. He gave a comforting squeeze and received a tired sigh in return.
“I’ll speak to whoever’s in charge here. Try to convince them to let you go,” Hank waved his hand half heartedly before jabbing his index finger at the RK’s inside the holding cell. “You two better behave.”
“Thank you, Hank,” Sixty sang out as his father figure walked away from the group. Connor looked like he wanted to berate him but decided against it, probably reasoning his words would fall on deaf ears.
“Did anyone see you get arrested?” Gavin thought to ask before silence could settle among the group.
“Why?” Sixty asked. “I don’t know. Maybe a few people. The confrontation happened in a parking lot.”
“Well,” Gavin jut his thumb at Connor. “Kind of a big deal when one of the faces of the android revolution gets arrested, don’t you think?”
Connor’s LED cycled amber. It would intermittently flash red, but ultimately, it settled on yellow. While Gavin no longer held ill will against Connor, he found amusement in the panic evident in the excited light show on the android’s temple. However, after a few tense seconds, even he knew it was cruel to let Connor continue panicking.
“Relax,” he decided to be kind to him just this once. “We’ll deal with the media if it comes down to that. Besides, Sixty’s the one who punched the dude.”
“And I’d do it again,” Sixty stood proudly, deflating only when he locked eyes with Nines’s steely gaze. He’d almost forgotten he was there with how quiet he’d been.
“You’re mad,” Connor said.
“I’m not mad,” Nines replied coolly.
“You’re disappointed,” Sixty said.
“I’m not disappointed.”
“Then?” Both detained androids asked in unison.
Nines relaxed his shoulders, the weight of the evening’s surmounting stress finally easing despite his brothers still being in holding. He shook his head, his intense stare softening.
“You’re concerned,” Gavin said for him.
“Of course I am,” Nines placed his hand against the glass wall. “I was immensely worried about the both of you. Neither of you had your locations available, and you weren’t responding to my messages. What was I supposed to think?”
“Nines,” Sixty reached out to the glass and positioned his hand against Nines’s. “I’m sorry. This was my fault.”
“Don’t apologise,” Nines huffed, his lips slightly quirking upwards. “You did well.”
“Nines!” Connor gasped.
“He was defending you, correct?” He dropped his hand from the glass and properly smiled at his brother. “Violence may not be the answer, but it certainly sent a message. I cannot say I would’ve done the same, but I won’t deny that it would’ve crossed my mind.”
Sixty stared at him in awe. He let out a breath, grateful that his worst fear hadn’t been realised. He wanted to thank his brother for being understanding, but nothing came out. All he could do was quietly offer him a smile and hope it expressed everything he wanted to say.
The group perked up at the sound of Hank returning with a couple other officers. Nines and Gavin stepped aside as one officer unlocked the holding cell and slid the glass door open.
“You’re free to go,” the officer mumbled, not at all happy about letting them leave without facing any consequences.
“Thank you,” Connor flashed him a grin as he practically dragged Sixty out before the android could run his mouth and land them in more trouble.
“Sorry for the inconvenience,” the other officer grunted, clearly as disappointed as their partner.
Hank let out a tsk and resolutely ignored the officers.
“Let’s get out of here,” he patted his boys on their backs and pushed them out of the station before anyone could change their minds about letting them go.
The group exited the station and deeply inhaled the crisp winter air even if it wasn’t necessary for a few of them. It was refreshing, and the androids understood why humans appreciated the cold air. It cooled their overworking systems. It calmed them.
“I’ll take the boys home to get ready,” Hank told Gavin. “We’ll meet you at your place later.”
“Be on time,” Gavin shouted, already climbing into his car. “Or we’ll start without you.”