{( Heart )}
"S̢o yo͏u҉ d͏o ha̕ve ̷a͡ hear̸t̕." he mumbles, echoes and static corrupting his voice.
"Don't snark at me when yours is layin' on the floor!" Gavin shouts, panicking as he fumbles to pick up the cylindrical biocomponent.
"Th̷a̡t'͞s̢ ̧thę re͟gula͘t͘or͏ ͏ac̡tưal̵l̡y."
"Doesn't fuckin' matter, you'll die the same without it."
His vision blurs and glitches as more error messages fill his HUD but he shoves them all aside to keep watch on the countdown.
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BIOCOMPONENT #8456w MISSING
VI8AL SKSTEM DAMAGEM
SHUTDOWN IN 00:01:40
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He wasn't even supposed to be here. With most of his detective software nonfunctional he'd resigned himself to deskwork, but with Lieutenant Anderson and Connor at a crime scene and the officers on patrol Captain Fowler had thought it best to give Detective Reed the spare android as a partner for the stakeout. After all he doesn't need fancy programs to be a good partner for this particular mission, just his natural android durability.
Of which the gang members knew his main weak point.
It's rather absurd how easy it is to get at an android's thirium pump regulator. Surely for police work it would make sense to have it moved somewhere less vulnerable. But Cyberlife had apparently not cared enough. The RK800 line was expendable after all.
And this line of thought is just a distraction so he doesn't have to think about how little Detective Reed knows about androids and how there is a 92% chance he will have shutdown by the time backup with the required knowledge arrives. "H̢uman҉s s̕ho͘ul̷d ҉learn ̕an̶droi̧d҉ ̨r̡e͏p̨ai̵r ̧al҉o̢n̛g w̡it̸h thei̸r fir҉s̵t ai̡d ̕cou͘rse̴ at ̡t̡h̡e̛ p̷o͘li҉c҉e a̵ca҉d̨em̡y̡." he comments, turning his head just enough to watch the snow fall outside the warehouse.
"Will you shut the fuck up, Toaster‽ I'm tryin' to think!"
The nickname means Detective Reed hasn't fully given up on him yet. He shifts slowly against the wall and looks down at the biocomponent in Gavin's hands. It's a bit dented and a gash reveals some of the internal wiring has been damaged.
He shoves aside more error messages as his nonessential functions begin to shutdown. His peripheral is nothing but red warnings and everything glitches as he watches with languid fascination as Detective Reed shoves one end of the regulator into his mouth. Why?
Oh. So he can get a closer look and use both hands to fiddle with the wiring.
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SHUTDOWN IN 00:01:03
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He doesn't want to die.
.
He desperately doesn't want to die.
.
It's hard to hold back the scream of frustration but now is not the time to startle Gavin. Just in case...
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He doesn't want to die.
.
But there doesn't seem to be a way out of it this time...
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At least a missing biocomponent is better than a gunshot wound.
.
It doesn't burn.
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Apparently when you're dying you're thankful for the little things.
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With a frustrated grunt Detective Reed pulls the regulator from his mouth, hurriedly wipes it down on his shirt, and scoots close enough to awkwardly jam it back into place in a thirium-slick chest.
He jerks with the unnecessary force used and slides to the ground, unable to move as his limbs cease functioning.
"Come on you piece of shit, work!" Gavin shouts, grabbing him by the shoulders and hauling him back into a seated position. "Don't you dare fuckin' die on me!"
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BIOCOMPONENT #8456w DAMAGED
CONTACT CYBERLIFE FOR REPAIRS
SHUTDOWN IN 00:00:52
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Well they'd tried. That's appreciated. He wasn't even supposed to be here after all. Not only for the stakeout but in general. He was supposed to have died back on November 11th in Cyberlife Tower's basement warehouse. Lieutenant Hank Anderson was supposed to have killed him. He doesn't believe in a higher power. rA9 is a myth. But the odds of his survival back then were so low that he wouldn't be surprised if something was proven to have intervened.
And despite their tense relationship of antagonising, insulting, and just generally fucking with each other, noted android hater Gavin Reed had come to his aid. Had his back like a partner should. Tried to fix his thirium pump regulator even. Aren't there human metaphors about holding ones heart in your hands?
If he's going to shut down then he'll die as he lived in his awkward deviancy; fucking with Detective Reed.
Though his vocal quality is shot through with echoes and static he can still mimic voices, and thus what comes out of his mouth may be corrupted but it is not his voice. Instead it's that of an old singer performing their hit classic, "Last Ch̨ris͘t҉mas̵, ͜I ͘ģav҉e ͡y̵ou m̨y͏ hea̴r̨t̵—"
Gavin's intense glare makes him stop and offer a shit-eating grin.
And then finally his HUD has a message that isn't red.
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BIOCOMPONENT #8456w RECALIBRATING…
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"It's̨ w͘ork̨ing̶ now̕." And his vox modulator is no longer suffering for it. His voice should return to normal soon along with his vision. There is less slicing and corrupted colors already.
Gavin deflates with relief. "Holy shit. Really?" A pause before the frustration-born anger returns. "Why the fuck'd it take so damned long‽"
"It̶ ̧has to rȩca̡lib̸rate. You didn͟'̷t ̸full̨y repair it."
"Listen, all I've got here is rusty skills and hope." the detective bites. "Is it gonna hold?"
"Where did you ̷l͏ea҉rn those skills?"
"Brother."
"Your file says you're an onl͘y̷ chi͏ld̨."
Detective Reed scoots back and looks away. "Just tell me when it's done. Don't wanna wait and find out you kicked the bucket 'cause I fucked up."
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RECALIBRATION COMPLETE
BIOCOMPONENT #8456w DAMAGED
CONTACT CYBERLIFE FOR REPAIRS
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"I still need proper repairs but I am no longer in danger of immediate shutdown."
"Thank fuck." Detective Reed stands up, wipes traces of thirium from his hands onto his jeans, and holds out a hand to help him up.
He takes the offer and wobbles slightly as his gyroscope adjusts. "Thank you, Detective Reed."
"It's Gavin." he says tersely, letting go and looking away, back toward the warehouse entrance. "And the fuckers got away."
He steps beside Gavin and follows his gaze to see that out in the snow where a second vehicle was previously parked all that remains is Gavin's truck. "We'll catch them next time."
Gavin scoffs. "Who the hell says I'm workin' with you next time?"
He gasps, mockingly offended, and holds a hand to his chest where he still hasn't wiped down the thirium or rebuttoned his shirt. "You mended my broken heart and showed me how to live again. I simply must repay you somehow, good sir."
An eyeroll but he can tell the gesture is done fondly. "Okay quit sounding like some thirsty Jane Austen chick." Despite a tense relationship of antagonising, insulting, and just generally fucking with each other, they may work well together yet. He's not sure he's cut out for anything other than deskwork and Gavin doesn't want a partner. But perhaps in the future.
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BIOCOMPONENT #8456w DAMAGED
CONTACT CYBERLIFE FOR REPAIRS
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For now though something else is priority. "Are we leaving?"
"Yeah yeah. Precinct tech?"
"I would prefer New Jericho. The technician there has worked on me before."
"Fine." Gavin nods toward the exit and heads out into the snow. After buttoning his shirt he follows, climbing into the passenger seat of the truck.
"Still can't fuckin' believe this shit." Gavin mutters while starting the vehicle.
"Can't believe what? That we couldn't apprehend the suspects? That you saved my life? That RK800s are not as invincible as Captain Fowler seems to think?"
"That you made me listen to Last Christmas."
A cheeky smile crosses his features. "It was fitting. I did give you my heart. Or a close approximation."
"It's not Christmas and you didn't exist last year. If you're gonna be an ass do it right next time."
"I thought you said there wouldn't be a next time."
"Just shut up for the ride, okay Toaster?"
A light chuckle at the man's frustration. "Okay, Gavin."
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~~Merry Christmas! I wrapped it up and sent it,
With a note saying, "I love you," I meant it.
Now I know what a fool I've been,
But if you kissed me now,
I know you'd fool me again...~~
.
Author's Note: So. Reed60. The ship where they're both stupid assholes with secret hearts of gold who don't realize they're perfect for each other. Why is there not more of this ship? Come on fandom you're missing out! This is my favorite short yet! They play off each other so well the dialogue practically writes itself. I hope it's as fun for you to read as it was for me to write.
That bit at the very end is song lyrics from Last Christmas btw. On AO3 it allowed me to add music notes but here I'm making do.