1. Belongs: The universe and characters of Detroit Become Human belong to Quantic Dreams and David Cage.
2. Rating: "T" in general, but might be "M" for cursed words, graphics contents such as violence, injuries, or sexual scenes.
3. Summary: Since the painful revelation in front of the old Walmart, Gavin buries himself in his work to not think about it and forget the vigilante. But the days go by, Collin doesn't show up, and Midnight has gone radio silent according to the media. Worried, Gavin decides to go to the old districts of Detroit in order to have some answers and, perhaps, to finally confront Nines to tell him what's on his mind.
Note: HELLO! YES, I AM HERE ! I'M ALIVE ! Sorry for all this time and this certainly endless wait (especially after the kind of ending the previous chapter had!) I hate writers who leave their stories waiting, especially at the critical point of the script! But a lot of things happened to me, between my internships, my job search for the summer, the life in general and my passion for crochet alongside writing! I also admit I've had a lack of inspiration. This chapter has been ready for almost a month and a half, and I wanted to write more in off before posting it, but ... voilà, I've been stuck on chapter 19 for a while, and I've kept you waiting long enough! So I hope to be faster for chapter 19, please excuse me in advance if I don't stick to it ... BUT THIS STORY WILL HAVE AN END (I already have side notes for it !)! I would like to thank you for all your comments, your faves, and your follow! I saw it, I read them, and it warmed my heart! Come on, no more chatter, and happy reading!
PS: For those who noticed that North was never mentioned in this story (although I mentioned Markus, Simon and Josh), you will have a little more explanation in this chapter!
CHAPTER 18
"Breathless"
- May 12, 2039, 4:43 PM, Gavin's Apartment -
The curtains had been drawn for several days, and the weak sunlight, hidden by the dark clouds outside, tried to slip between the interstices to lighten the living room. Only, the room persisted in remaining in the semi-darkness, giving the objects and furniture which composed it almost colorless, even gray.
The apartment was bathed in an almost religious silence, but only the light lapping of the rain's drops could be heard, pounding against the windows. It had been three days since the sky was gray, the rain was falling, ceasing, then falling again... The weather was in perfect harmony with Gavin's depressing mood, who was currently lying on his couch, his face in a cushion, a plaid pulled upon his body.
It was his turn to be off duty today, and Tina and Chris had offered to go back to the Black Spot, as usual. But Gavin had declined the invitation with a simple text, no longer having any energy to get up from that couch, which he'd fallen into the night before, late after work.
The days following the painful revelation had passed at the speed of light. Gavin had refused to dwell on the subject, even in thought, and had given himself 100% in his work. He'd done a lot of overtime in just two days, to make progress with the case, of course, but mostly to tire himself and collapse at home, refusing to give his brain time to think about it.
But today was unfortunately his day off. And ever since he'd woken up around ten this morning, his brain was running at full speed about that famous night.
He knew deep down that he'd known the truth from the start, that he'd subconsciously refused to see it and admit it. He knew what he was getting into from the beginning, and yet he blamed the vigilante for what was happening. He felt betrayed, cheated, and abandoned by Nines when he knew too well that it was Gavin himself who'd ordered the android to leave.
He hadn't seen him since, in any way, not even in the context of Collin's case. Fowler hadn't heard from him either, and the media hadn't heard of Midnight the past two nights also.
Gavin didn't want to think about it, but the more he told himself this, the more he did the exact opposite. The last time Midnight didn't play vigilante in Detroit at night was because he was injured by Collin. And now Gavin was worried about him regardless.
Gavin was brought back to harsh reality by a primary urge that his bladder manifested in a painful pressure. He really didn't have the strength to move, but the urge had been coming and going for several hours now, and he felt this time was his last chance. So he struggled to get up from his couch, accentuating the unpleasant sensation in his bladder, and hurried off towards his bathroom.
He wondered why he'd held back for so long when the feeling was salvation, that he seriously should have done it sooner. But laziness can sometimes be terrible and dangerous. He also felt his stomach protest with a terrible growl. Indeed, he hadn't eaten anything since last night either, and his head was starting to spin slightly.
Gavin groaned in his bathroom and managed to motivate himself to follow up with a good shower. He had to come out of this lethargic state or he would feel bad all day. At least what was left of it.
He went to his bedroom right after and put on clean clothes. Except for his empty stomach and his slight spin, Gavin was already feeling better and fitter. He then went to make himself a quick sandwich in the kitchen while he activated his coffee machine to pour one.
He sat down on one of the stools next to his island and checked the news on his cell phone, in case there was another Midnight appearance or worse, really bad news. But neither had been reported, and Gavin sat at his island, doubting, again and again, eating his sandwich on his own. He was hungry but had little motivation to put in the effort to chew and take the time to do everything else, like swallowing and biting.
He knew what state he was in: he was depressed. He'd been there several times. He'd grown attached to Nines and now that he was no longer around and not giving any sign of life to anyone, Gavin was worried. Certainly, it was he who'd asked him to go, to leave him alone after this painful revelation, but deep down, deep down, he missed Nines terribly. He wanted to see him again, apologize for acting like an asshole, for rejecting him and giving him up.
For two days he'd ignored what had happened to keep hunting down Collin, and obviously, that bastard had kept a low profile. He knew how to do it, he was an RK800. Collin wouldn't get caught that easily. The only times they had been able to meet him was because Collin had decided so.
The only card Gavin could use to trap Collin and stop him once and for all was Connor. He wasn't sure yet how he could use him against Collin, but Connor was his weakness.
But that wasn't the point. Focusing on the investigation, Gavin hadn't been able to figure out what had really been said between himself and Nines that night. But by now he had replayed the scene over and over again in his mind.
Midnight cared about him too. He had kept the truth from him for fear of losing him because he knew Gavin hated Connor.
It was a hazardous action, yes, but Gavin understood the fear and doubt of the android. Gavin didn't like being alone… He was sick of telling himself that nothing good would ever happen to him, that no good person would ever show up in his life.
But he was wrong. Nines was there, and whether he looked like Connor or not, Nines was a wholly different person in his own way, and who'd managed to spark something in Gavin's heart.
He'd been a fool to react that way, but he was in the grip of anger, surprise, the adrenaline from the situation, the storm, and the rain that had soaked him to the bone and made him slightly feverish afterward.
No, he actually had no valid excuse for being such an asshole. He had to go see Nines and talk to him. He owed him an apology and had to tell him what was on his mind. It was now or never.
Gavin had mechanically followed up with his coffee after finishing his sandwich, and now that he was ready, he grabbed his keys, put on his jacket and shoes, then left his apartment to get in his car and leave for Detroit's Old Districts.
- May 12, 2039, 6:07 PM, Detroit's Old District -
The sun was still trying to break through the dark clouds when Gavin parked his car along the sidewalk of the long avenue, near the church the androids called Jericho.
Gavin pulled his hood over his head to limit the damage from the rain, and walked, head low, towards the church. He passed a few androids on the way, which he greeted silently with a weak nod, but his presence seemed to intrigue them. It wasn't often that humans passed by, for the sake of the deviant androids' safety, so the latter turned back in his path, curious.
Once in the shelter of the church entrance, Gavin lowered his hood and silently entered the building, his gaze scanning the area. Still damaged androids sat on the many wooden benches awaiting repairs and assistance, but many more were busy helping them, replacing broken limbs with new ones, removing old bio-components, and installing new ones. Even some were participating in the thirium distribution.
Gavin wondered where all these components could have come from, because since the end of the revolution, Cyberlife had been shut down, and therefore, it no longer produced androids, and he also knew that the production of components, as well as thirium, had also been suspended.
The thought reminded Gavin that the government just wanted to work with the former Cyberlife founder, Elijah Kamski, to once again produce the parts and thirium required for already existing androids, to allow them to be repaired when needed, and just live their life as any other alive being.
The good news was that a branch of Cyberlife had been created for a few years now, but it was only focused on medicine purposes. Following the great evolution of cybernetics over the past three decades, which had given the androids they all knew today, this branch was able to develop cybernetic limbs and artificial organs for human beings. It wouldn't be so complicated to take control back and proceed on producing bio-components for androids. Those cybernetic limbs were working with thirium too anyway.
"Detective Reed? "
Gavin turned his head to his left to see an android he recognized immediately. It was Josh. He gave him a warm smile before walking up to him and shaking his hand.
"Josh," Gavin said to be sure and the android nodded. "Today it'll be just Gavin, I'm off duty."
"I see," the ex-professor smirked. "What brings you to Jericho if it's not work-related then?"
"I'm looking for… Midnight."
"Midnight," Josh repeated as if to be sure he understood well. "Um… I think he should be back from Cyberlife soon."
Gavin's blood only froze at the name. Was Midnight at Cyberlife? Why? What happened? Was it because of Collin? Was he in danger? Cyberlife was no longer supposed to be in business, so why was him there?
"At Cyberlife?" Gavin asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
"Yeah, well," Josh smiled, moving his head slightly from side to side. "I'm talking about the abandoned Belle Isle tower. He found some good parts and thirium when he went there a few days ago for… well, you must be aware, for the RK800."
"Hm-hm, Collin, we're both working on this case. How do you know about it? "
"You know, it doesn't really go unnoticed about an android killing other androids…" Gavin found the reasoning rather logical. "Then I'm one of The Three, along with Marcus and Simon, Midnight was forced to tell us what was going on so that we could protect Jericho's androids… Then he'd been a little in shock the time he'd come back with a bullet in the shoulder, Simon had taken care of him, and Midnight had told us all about it then. "
"I remember him telling me about this… event, indeed," Gavin said, nodding slowly. "So… he went to the tower to bring back components and thirium?" Josh nodded, and Gavin smiled. "He ... He always wanted to do the right things, and basically protect…"
Josh smiled when he saw that gleam of admiration in the human's gaze and that slight smile.
"You seem, both of you, to get along well, don't you?"
"Arf ..." Gavin grimaced a little, "Yeah, normally ... But ... I kinda ... screwed things up a few days ago." He pursed his lips with a hint of regret. "When I found out he was an android, I experienced it well, but… When I saw… that he was like Connor… Well, physically, I… badly reacted…"
"The most important thing is that you know about it and realize your mistake, right? It shows that you have passed a blockage and are ready to move forward."
Gavin frowned, not quite sure where the android was going, but something made him feel like Josh knew more than he thought.
A young man, at least another android, with blond hair silently approached them so as not to disturb them but signaled himself to Josh with a small nod.
"Yes, Simon? "
"Marcus has just returned," Simon said, approaching them again before silently greeting the human. "He asks to see you. He… managed to extract North's AI. "
Josh looked at his counterpart in surprise then looked again at Gavin, who didn't understand anything.
"Um, I'm sorry, I have to leave you," Josh said with a hint of regret. "North… was one of us during the Revolution. Only she had been shot in the raid on the Jericho boat…" Gavin suddenly shivered at this revelation. "For months we searched for her body, and when we found her, we tried all we could to reactivate her, in vain. The only way was to extract her AI and… and I have to go see Marcus. It's important, she's our family."
"Oh uh, no, no worries," Gavin said, nodding as he looked at the two androids. "I'll see if I can see Nines outside."
Josh thanked him and followed Simon out of the church. Gavin stood there for a few more minutes, suddenly feeling the guilt gnawing at him from the inside.
He was responsible for this raid.
The day Connor came into the Archive Room with the case taken away from him, Gavin followed him. He'd seen him reactivate the blue-haired Traci, and even seen him pick up the other Traci's head to fool her into getting Jericho's coordinates. He'd witnessed the whole scene. But Connor had knocked him unconscious, and when Gavin came to his senses, he'd rushed over to the blue-haired Traci. He'd seen Connor reactivate her with a simple gesture, he'd simply repeated it.
The Traci had come to herself, in a panic, calling for her lover in desperation. Gavin had asked her where Jericho was, that he had to stop the android that fooled her and shot them both down at all costs. The Traci hesitated for a few seconds, but seeing the other Traci's head on the ground, she divulged Jericho's location to Gavin. At her request, he turned her off again, the android preferring to be dead than to live without her love.
Gavin had gone up to the station and had grabbed Perkins. He had given him Jericho's location himself. It was because of him that many androids had died that day in that boat, all because he wanted revenge on Connor.
Gavin took a deep breath to focus and return to the present moment and walked out of the church as well, no longer enduring the heavy silence and the curious, accusing looks of some androids. As if they knew.
The rain was still falling thinly outside, but the air was suddenly more breathable. He pulled his hood back over his head again and ventured into the inclement weather, heading for his car with his hands in his pockets. An electric woosh reached his ears, suddenly pulling him out of his thoughts, his heart pounding in his chest. He looked around, almost frantically, seeking for the bike that made the sound. His eyes then rested on the object in question a few feet up the street, slowing down to park, Nines settled in its sit.
Gavin's heart skipped a beat when he saw him. He wasn't in vigilante gear and didn't wear sunglasses to hide his face. It was as if, now that Gavin knew his true identity, he no longer had the heart to continue playing the masked vigilante and hiding.
But there he was, in civilian clothes, with that black leather jacket and jeans of the same shade. The white t-shirt he was wearing underneath was visible from here, and Gavin wondered if, because of the rain, he could see through it.
A surge of adrenaline overwhelmed him when he saw him getting off his motorcycle, a backpack on his back, but above all completely soaked. Nines ran a hand through his hair to pull it back and free his forehead from the few strands that had stuck there because of the rain.
It was then that their eyes met, and Nines froze, the gesture suspended. His pump suddenly raced at the sight of Gavin, and for a second he wondered if it was his reconstruction software that was tricking him.
But the human seemed to be there, on the sidewalk in front of the church, across the road. Nines gently lowered his arm, removing his fingers from his hair, and looked at him for a long time, now wondering what the hell he was doing here.
He tightened his grip on the strap of his bag and crossed the road as he walked towards him. The closer he got, the more his pump seemed to become bigger, and the thirium was circulating at high speed through his artificial veins, causing his body to take a few more degrees.
Gavin cut his breath after a deep inspiration when Nines stopped beside him. He didn't know what to say, at least didn't know how to approach and phrase it. The sudden fear that Nines wouldn't accept his apology lumped in his stomach and the thought of being alone again paralyzed him even more.
"Breathe…"
Gavin took a deep breath, hadn't actually noticed he was starting to suffocate while keeping his eyes in the vigilante's icy ones. Nines smirked slightly, comforted that the human had taken a breath of fresh air, but that small smirk made Gavin melt in place.
He wanted him. He loved Nines. He couldn't and wouldn't try to convince himself otherwise, because it wasn't possible.
"What are you doing here..?" Nines asked, having no idea that Gavin was there for him. "Oh," he suddenly realized he wasn't wearing any mask or sunglasses, and felt exposed. He looked away, turning his head slightly. "Sorry, I don't wear my mask…"
"Don't hide…"
The words came out of their own will and Gavin was just as surprised as Nines. The android looked at him again, frowning in both incomprehension and hope.
Gavin swallowed hard and took a step towards him, lifting one hand to rest his fingers on the corner of his jaw.
Gavin lifted his chin, his eyes locked with Nines', and let his hood slip off his head, the rain now wetting his hair and face.
"I'm sorry… for reacting like this…" Gavin almost whispered, his gaze drifting to the android's thin lips. "I don't want us to be mad at each other…" He absently caressed the angle of his jaw, and lifted his gaze to look at him again. "This is far from what I want…"
"And..." Nines began, hope bubbling in his chest, his voice slightly uncertain. "What do you want.. ?"
Gavin could almost hear his brain screaming to retreat, to get away from this stressful situation that was making him palpitate and shaking from within. Doubt was trying to creep in: Was that a good idea? Did Nines love him that way too?
Was he going to reject him? What if their friendship was ruined because of him and those damn feelings?
Panic began to surface, and as he had momentarily lost himself in his tumultuous thoughts, the silence between the two people began to become palpable, sparking fear both in the human guts and in the android's bio-components.
Gavin inhaled sharply, making him realize that he had stopped breathing again and that he was still there, motionless, his fingers on the lower part of Nines' face and his gaze locked in his.
Gavin snapped back to reality when he caught the glint in the android's eyes. The emotions were there, the doubt, the impatience, the hope, the anguish. All those same emotions were overwhelming him at that very moment.
"Gavin ..? "
His name echoed in his head, the voice resonating within him. He had no right to doubt because it was obvious. There was nothing to question about.
Gavin then slipped a hand on the back of his neck, pulled himself up slightly on tiptoe, and sealed his lips to his gently, eyes closed. His heart seemed to explode in his chest when he felt Nines' breath coming out of his nostrils and crash against his skin, and especially when he pressed his lips more against his.
He felt his hands rest on his hips to pull him a little closer and Gavin wrapped both arms around his neck, kissing him more fervently, sighing against him.
Their lips found each other with delicacy and envy and could easily slide together because of the rain which had soaked them from head to toe.
Gavin sighed in pleasure against Nines lips, euphoria overwhelming him, giving him the feeling that static electricity was running through his skin, causing waves of chills.
Nines felt his whole being on alert, a multitude of notifications opening in his HUD, obscured by his closed eyelids. He involuntarily analyzed Gavin through their kiss and could detect his heartbeat and hormone levels from there.
Nines tightened his fingers on the human's hips, pressing him closer to his body to become almost one. He gently nibbled on his lower lip, causing him a delicious gasp that Nines still wanted to hear, giving him a sudden electric shock in his lower abdomen. He slid his tongue gently between his lips, and Gavin greeted him willingly by parting them, sliding his own as well to stroke his in a dance that ignited their beings in just a few seconds.
Gavin had to pull back to catch his breath, having been completely sucked in by the kiss, Nines lips, and the sensations electrifying his body.
Nines also took a breath to cool him down a bit and watched the human in front of him, still against him, in his arms. Gavin didn't dare look at him, he kept his eyes closed and rested his forehead against his, trying to calm his breathing and his heartbeats.
Nines lifted a hand to place it against one of his cheeks and stroke gently his wet skin. Gavin opened his eyes again to the touch and fixed his blue eyes into Nines' almost gray ones. The latter couldn't help but smile and bent slightly to kiss him, just on the surface, but with unsuspected tenderness.
Gavin sighed against his lips and almost felt tears rise to his eyes as the feeling was liberating.
"It's ... not very professional ..." Nines gave a lopsided smile, parting slightly from the human.
"Great, I'm not working today."
Nines let out a chuckle that warmed Gavin's heart. Despite the rain, Gavin wasn't cold. The adrenaline, the excitement, and the Nines' body warmed him considerably. He smiled back when he saw the android smiling tenderly at him before kissing him gently on the lips.
"I could do this all day..." he whispered almost against his lips.
"Could we consider doing this in a more... dry place..?"
Nines seemed to realize it was still raining, and the sky was getting darker and darker. He looked at Gavin and nodded, giving him a small grin.
"I have to drop my backpack in the church, but… if you want… I can show you where I live."
Gavin smiled, a glint in his eyes, and nodded.
"Yes, I would love to."
