Gavin's leg was bouncing the whole way to Elijah's house, as it had been all afternoon. It started after he'd sent a simple text asking if he could meet and saying he needed some help. He'd been wary of bringing any specifics into it via text. He'd thought that it would take a while. Maybe he wouldn't see the text until later, or he'd need to think about it, or maybe he'd ignore it altogether. What he hadn't expected was to get a more or less instant response. He'd just been standing to put his phone away and grab another coffee when it had vibrated with a simple message. Sure. Dinner? My place at seven? Gavin almost thought he was going to have a panic attack. Dinner? With his new brother? In that huge mansion?

They'd had a small back and forth. Nines had watched as he stood anxiously in front of his desk, apparently planning on getting a fresh coffee. Within moments, Nines had confiscated his empty cup and bought him a bottled water from the vending machine instead. Gavin had frowned at that, but accepted it anyway. He didn't have to push too much. Elijah had jumped at the chance for him to bring Nines. He'd asked about food preferences, and Gavin had said he liked steak, but left it largely up to Elijah to choose. It was strange that Elijah didn't pry into the reason for their visit, but maybe he was more used to conducting business in person.

After that, Gavin's leg had been bouncing nervously for the rest of his shift. Since it was case related, Hank had told them they could leave early and he would clock them out at the end of their usual shift. As their superior, he could do that, and Connor could confirm it was work related. Not that Fowler would question anything Hank said. Nines had done what he could to calm his human, besides allowing him to indulge his vices. Taking his cigarettes had stopped him from chain smoking, and confiscating his cup had stopped him from turning to caffeine.

He'd tried to engage him in other case related queries, even though he'd already worked out satisfactory answers himself. He'd also reminded him of the cases he needed to write reports for and distracted him with idle chit-chat about the various goings on in the city. The good news was that abuse against androids was slowly declining. Humans were getting used to the idea of androids being around. They weren't so scary anymore. They weren't all out to steal jobs. They just wanted to live like normal people. The surprising thing was that android on human crimes had begun cropping up. They were mostly old grudges being acted upon. There were even androids who were actively applying to the police force now, mostly thanks to Connor's integration program.

Nines had driven them home at six, giving them time to get showered and dressed for the meeting. On the way back, he'd asked what to wear, only to find Gavin himself had no idea. Elijah's house was fancy, and Elijah himself was fancy to some extent. Gavin didn't do fancy. Not at all. In the end, he just told him to pick out something nice, though Nines didn't really know what that meant. He wasn't sure Gavin did either.

At the house, they'd both showered before looking through potential options. Gavin could have used the clothes Elijah gave him, but he thought that would be pandering, or maybe it would seem like he didn't have many choices. He'd sighed while looking through his wardrobe, eventually settling on black slacks and a light linen shirt, which he left untucked. It wasn't buttoned all the way to his throat either. He left the first three buttons open, showing off his collarbone. He then pulled his jacket over the top and called it a day. Nines had chosen similar slacks with a tight woollen turtleneck and finished the look with his white leather jacket.

The drive felt long, and Gavin's leg bounced faster and faster the closer they got. He was overthinking it. He'd been to dinners before. It wasn't the first time he'd asked experts for help, either. It was rare for those to overlap, but not unheard of. This was his brother though. The brother he'd only just met. The brother he'd only contacted because he needed something. Jeez, I'm a shitty partner and a shitty brother…He knew he'd be pissed if his long-lost brother kept turning up asking for favours. He started to feel sick as they reached the bottom of the mountain path that wound up to Elijah's glass palace. He bent over a little as Nines parked, taking a deep breath.

"Gavin…" Nines' LED turned yellow as he took in the pale shade of Gavin's skin. He looked ill.

"I'm fine…" Gavin felt his ears pop at the new altitude and tried to shake off the nausea. They climbed out, both taking in the mountainous view. Detroit was clearly visible in the distance, lights shining in the increasing darkness. The house was lit up with UV lights outside, while the inside was shrouded in black. It was one way glass that acted like a mirror on the outside. Gavin tried not to notice how pale he looked as they approached. Nines squeezed his shoulder on the way by, leading the way up to the door. He waited patiently, allowing Gavin to push the bell when he was ready.

"Good evening, Detective Reed, Nines. Please, come in," one of the Chloe androids greeted politely. Nines noted the way Gavin stepped just a little closer at her appearance. He hadn't exactly had great experiences with them so far. Chloe was wearing a summery white dress covered in purple flowers, and her feet were bare on the cold tiled floor. That wouldn't matter to her. Gavin led the way inside, where Chloe took their coats before directing them into the living area. Inside, Elijah was pacing the same way Gavin did when he was nervous.

"Gavin, Nines! It's good to see you again." He seemed jittery, but in a good way. He seemed to be earnestly pleased and excited about having them, but unsure where to begin. In the end, he gestured to the bar. "Let me get you a drink. I have some thirium options." He seemed perfectly at home as he headed behind the counter to bustle about with various expensive looking bottles.

"Thank you," Nines replied as he sat on the edge of a stool, which was the perfect leaning height for him. Gavin hopped up beside him and waited, accepting a clear-looking cocktail with some green leaves inside. An analysis told Nines they were mint leaves. Elijah had the same drink and slid a similar blue one across to Nines, minus the mint. Androids couldn't get drunk, but the beverage left a fresh coolness in his throat. "Interesting…" He'd never experienced that sensation before.

"Glad you like it…It's actually one of Chloe's creations." There was no way of knowing which Chloe he meant. Gavin guessed the one in the white and purple dress as she returned and accepted a drink of her own. It seemed Gavin wasn't the only one who'd brought some moral support. Once Elijah stepped around to them, Chloe slipped in against his side. Elijah's arm fell across her shoulder as naturally as breathing. Nines tilted his head as he met Chloe's bright gaze. "I fully intend to hear your request, but perhaps after dinner…Let's talk awhile," Elijah suggested as he leaned on the bar beside Gavin, who sat back on his stool to keep Nines in the circle.

"Sure, uh…What do you want to know?" He wasn't sure what he could tell him that he didn't already know. Elijah had seen all of his records. He knew everything a person could want to know about his schooling and work backgrounds. The footage of what happened at Cyberlife was also in his possession. The footage that existed anyway. Elijah's fingers circled the bare skin on Chloe's shoulder intimately. She seemed content with the contact, even encouraging it as she leaned a little closer.

"Tell me about you…What was it like for you growing up?" He listened with interest as Gavin told him about his old house, where he'd spent a lot of time caring for himself since his mother had to work a lot. He told him about how she'd lost her job and gone off the rails, trying not to sound too bitter or resentful about almost ending up on the streets and going through a rough patch himself. Elijah looked sympathetic, but he didn't say anything. He knew Gavin would hate that. He wasn't one for pity. It was something he'd hate, too.

"What about you? I'm guessing your childhood was very different…" Gavin was right. Elijah's parents had both been wealthy even before marriage. His mother had been a model and his father worked in banking. They'd pushed him from a young age, sending him to expensive boarding schools. They'd doted on him once his high IQ was discovered, trying to get him interested in many areas to see where he shone. He'd enjoyed robotics and mechanical engineering, and they'd funded the hobby extensively. They were delighted when he'd created the first android. They especially enjoyed reaping the benefits of his success. Even though he was kicked out of the company, he still made a tidy sum in profits. "Sounds boring…Sorry! I just mean, it sounds like you were working all the time…"

"No-no, I understand entirely, and you're not wrong…I was worked hard, but I assure you I've more than made up for it since my success." Gavin didn't doubt that he had, in his own way. Elijah wasn't the party-hard type. His idea of enjoyment wasn't to get blind drunk and sleep his way through half a club. He was content being alone, in his mountaintop home, with his androids, working on whatever invention took his fancy. "I've also done my fair share of travelling, not just for business." He'd visited China and Russia extensively to learn about their androids, though of course they couldn't share everything. He'd also travelled a lot around Europe, mostly trying to work up business contacts and see if he could get Cyberlife to go global. Europe was a lot like Canada, though. Worried by the high rise in America's unemployment. He'd been skiing and fishing with his father, and did a lot of shopping with his mother.

"Wow, I can't even imagine that." Gavin was almost crushed by how truly opposite they were. That's some Prince and the Pauper shit right there…

"I'll take you next time. Where would you like to go?" Elijah's enthusiastic offer almost made him choke on his drink. A trip to Europe was impossible on his wage. It would have taken him years to save for something like that, and Elijah just offered it at the drop of a hat. A trip to Italy wouldn't even be a drop in the ocean to him.

"You don't have to-I'm not here to-Don't waste your money!" Gavin stammered as his cheeks turned pink. His outburst seemed to make Elijah relax a little. Nines noticed it as well. Gavin's objection had pleased him greatly, and upon first thinking about it, Nines hadn't understood. Why would Elijah be happy that his brother didn't want to go away with him? But as he considered it further, he realised it wasn't that he didn't want to travel with Gavin. It was that Gavin had rejected the use of his money to do such travelling. It showed him that Gavin wasn't interested in his wealth. Their interactions were genuine, not for potential benefits.

"Consider it a bonding exercise." Elijah didn't allow him to argue as they moved on to other topics. Elijah didn't really watch movies, since he always had his head buried in either a book or an android. He enjoyed music, mostly classical since that had been his mentor's favourite. They'd spent hours listening to various composers while working on androids together. That was very different to Gavin's choice of noughties pop and old rock from the eighties. He also liked a fair bit of nineties music, with a healthy dose of rock from later decades. Elijah mostly read technology and science magazines, while Gavin enjoyed crime and horror novels.

"Please, come through to the dining room," Chloe instructed eventually as she peeled away from Elijah and led the way. She brought through the plates, and Gavin was surprised to find that Nines had been catered for. It probably shouldn't have, considering there were androids living in the mansion. The androids had a thirium salad while the humans had stuffed mushrooms. Their main course was steak, genuine for the humans and thirium based for the androids. Dessert was a thirium sorbet for the androids and chocolate fudge cake and ice cream for the humans.

Gavin was courteous and thankful for the meal, and Elijah lovingly put all the credit on his Chloe androids, who'd planned the meal and cooked for them. They returned to the living area for more drinks and Gavin started to feel pleasantly drowsy. He almost forgot why they were there. Luckily, Nines was present to brush his arm and give him a meaningful look. Gavin sat up, putting his glass on the low table in front of the sofa he and Nines were sitting on across from Elijah and Chloe. Chloe had pulled her legs up beside her and leaned into Elijah's chest while he sat back with one leg crossed over his knee. It was another familiar pose that Nines had seen Gavin use when relaxing at home.

"Right, I need your help with something." Gavin was hesitant as he finally broached the subject.

"Of course. If you need money, I can-"

"No! It's nothing like that…I need your expertise. It's for a case, and I could probably ask some other sap from Cyberlife, but I thought since you're the creator, you'd be way better." It never hurt to flatter. Elijah's interest had been piqued at the mention of his expertise. Helping the police with a case? Working on androids? It sounded interesting, and he'd had little else to do since the android revolution. He couldn't exactly continue experimenting with androids. Not now they were sentient. They hadn't even decided whether they could manufacture more yet. He could probably get away with creating a whole new model. That would be a challenge…topping the RK900.

"I'm listening." He remained relaxed, with Chloe settled beneath one arm and the other draped across the back of the sofa cradling a large measure of sherry. It was his usual after dinner vice, one he'd introduced Gavin to that evening. Chloe and Nines had a simple thirium shot, but there was something in it that warmed the chest. It was another interesting addition to Nines' internal records.

"You must have heard about the case I'm working on. We have eight android bodies now, all smashed to pieces. Nines and Connor have been working on a plan to track the murder site." He paused to ensure Elijah was still following. He nodded for him to continue. "We're planning to use Nines as bait. He'll allow himself to be taken, and we'll follow along behind. Now, to do that, Nines will need his internal tracker up and running, and I need to know more about it. I don't want to send him into this with potentially faulty equipment." Nines looked at him with warmth in his blue eyes. Elijah could see it already. Gavin was sweet on him. He understood it, of course. He wouldn't send Chloe into something so dangerous without installing and checking the components himself. Considering the danger, he might not send her at all.

"Well, I didn't work on the Connor series, but I can certainly open him up and take a look…I may even be able to enhance or update the tracker, depending on the type they used. I have to warn you, though. Things can always go wrong with these GPS devices. Certain materials can interfere with the signal, and if the satellite malfunctions, it will knock it out completely. Those may be unlikely scenarios, but you should be aware of the dangers." Elijah's greenish eyes were already analysing Nines in a way that told him he couldn't wait to get beneath his shell. It was a look that made him shiver uneasily. He would have been afraid if not for his relation to Gavin, and that he'd been nothing but courteous so far. It seemed he was simply a robotics enthusiast.

"Is there anything you could do to get around that? A backup component or something?" Gavin didn't like the idea of sending Nines in if something could go wrong, no matter how small the chance. Elijah crossed his legs the other way, idly chewing his lip as he turned the thought over.

"It depends…The more components I add, the bigger the strain on his systems, and the more likely his captors will pick up the signals if they're checking for them…I could install a backup tracker and set it to turn on if the first blacks out. That would at least protect it from a surge…You're going to have to accept there's some risk though. I can't ensure that any tracker will work one hundred percent of the time. Materials and signal drop will still be an unavoidable issue." He knew Gavin wasn't entirely reassured by that, but a backup was better than nothing. "I'll see what other improvements I can make while I'm in there." Gavin's eyes shot sideways as he noticed Nines tense at the suggestion. He didn't exactly have a positive experience when it came to humans rummaging through his insides.

"Is that okay with you?" Gavin watched Nines nod his stiff agreement. That meant it really wasn't okay, but he'd go through with it to put his mind at ease and improve their mission's chances of success. Elijah also picked up on his discomfort.

"I wouldn't do anything without running it by you first, of course, and Chloe can be present at all times…Gavin can also stay if you'd like." They all noticed how Nines relaxed at the mention of Gavin staying. Gavin seemed somehow touched and uncomfortable at the same time. "I have to say, I find you fascinating. Your series is one of the few I've played no part in designing." Elijah went on to ask Nines all sorts of questions that Gavin couldn't follow. Nines seemed surprised and on edge at first. He wasn't used to being the centre of attention or speaking about his own internal workings.

As time wore on, he became flattered by the attention. Elijah was genuinely thrilled to have a new android in his presence, and he was incessantly curious. It seemed he couldn't ask enough questions. Nines told him about his processing power. The different abilities he'd been programmed with. His physical speed and strength and how they'd managed to balance them out. He also told him about the special lightweight, bullet proof material he was made of. It meant that he was light enough for a human to lift, barely, but strong enough that he was very difficult to physically damage. He avoided answering questions about the testing phase, and Elijah quickly recognised it as a sore topic.

Before they knew it, three hours had passed, and one of them was no longer mentally present. Just as the topic was about to shift back to Cyberlife Tower and Gavin's visit there, the trio paused. Elijah was the first to become aware, letting out a small chuckle as he took in his brother's slumped form. Seeing Elijah's amusement, Nines turned his head to find Gavin slumped back in his seat, head leaning back against the leather as he slept. The sight sent a small hum through his thirium pump, especially as he noted Gavin's mouth was ever so slightly open.

"Gavin…We should go home," Nines murmured as he reached out to rouse him.

"No, please! The city is so far from here, and he's already asleep. Use one of the guest rooms for tonight, I insist. Chloe, dear?" Elijah added sweetly as he turned to look down at her. She was still settled comfortably beneath his arm. Chloe watched the exchange with her usual softness and nodded her agreement. She got to her feet and silently padded through the large door into the hall. Nines hesitated as he looked at Gavin's peaceful form. It would probably be best to remain, but he was unsure Gavin would approve.

"We wouldn't wish to inconvenience you or your…housemates." Nines was unsure exactly what relationship Elijah had with the other Chloe androids in the house. Elijah chuckled softly as he got to his feet, leaving his empty glass on the table.

"I'll be more inconvenienced at the thought of you driving back into the city in the middle of the night. Can you manage him by yourself?" They both knew Nines was more than capable of carrying Gavin. He was merely being polite. Nines agreed with shy thanks as he got to his feet and followed Chloe out into the hall with Gavin gathered securely in his arms. She led them up a glass staircase to the next floor and into a large suite. Elijah had followed and paused in the doorway as Nines carried Gavin over to the huge emperor sized bed.

"If you need anything, you can call the kitchen. There's usually someone there." Elijah and Chloe quickly left to let them settle. It occurred to Nines after they'd gone that there was only one bed in the room. Nines wasn't sure whether that meant they assumed he and Gavin slept together, or if it was an oversight, or if they thought he didn't go into stasis. Whatever the case, it left him with a predicament. It wouldn't matter if he missed a stasis cycle. They weren't a requirement for his model. He could just as easily stand or sit on a chair or the sofa. The problem was that he had wants.

Looking down at Gavin's peaceful form, he knew he could comfortably sleep in his clothing, but he wanted to undress him. He wanted to slide his shirt open button by button to reveal his chiselled chest, and he wanted to lovingly fold his nice cotton shirt on the dresser where it wouldn't get creased. He also wanted to slowly slide those tight slacks down Gavin's toned legs so they didn't pinch his waist all night. Then he wanted to remove his own outer clothing and slip beneath the thick covers with his human, where he could curl up and breathe his familiar scent in this unfamiliar place. There was no harm in enacting his plan. He and Gavin had shared a bed before, and they'd been undressed together multiple times.

He got started. Gavin didn't stir as he opened his shirt, but his skin reacted. Small hairs stood up across his pale arms, small bumps forming on the skin. They felt a little rough as he ran his fingers over them. He eased Gavin's body up and slipped off his shirt, lowering him gently as he hummed in his sleep. Gavin rested one arm above his head and the other across his bare chest, head leaning sideways on the pillow. Nines took in the peaceful sight before moving down to his slacks. He was gentle as he popped the button and lowered the zipper. A new wave of want flooded his systems as he brushed Gavin's twitching cock. He recalled with perfect clarity what it had been like to touch it, and the noises Gavin had made.

Gavin's hips squirmed, and Nines flinched away to avoid arousing him further. Clearly, he'd lingered too long. His own skin heated as he tugged Gavin's trousers down his shapely legs and folded them neatly on the dresser. He removed his own clothing, leaving it folded with Gavin's before shutting off the main light. He didn't need light as he stalked towards the bed and pulled the thick duvet back. Gavin seemed to be half awake now, but he still allowed Nines to shuffle his body onto the firm mattress and tuck the covers over his smaller body.

"Where are you going?" he asked sleepily as he heard Nines' steps heading towards the bottom of the bed. It was a sound Nines hadn't often heard. Gavin's sleepy voice was very sweet and somewhat vulnerable. "Nines?" he called, realising abruptly that he had no idea where they were. He had a new alertness in his tone, as if he were ready to rouse himself.

"I'm here…You fell asleep, so Elijah provided a room for the night," Nines explained as he slipped beneath the covers on the opposite side of the bed. He could see with perfect clarity simply by turning up the brightness of his optical sensors, but he knew Gavin couldn't do the same. Gavin was squinting slightly as he turned on his side to face him, peering through the darkness. "He was worried about us driving home in the dark." It was a worry he would have understood had he been human. As an android, he would have found it as easy to drive in the dark as he did during the day, but it had seemed preferable to remain and ensure Gavin had a restful night.

"Guess I'll thank him tomorrow." Gavin was clearly tired as he nuzzled into the plush pillows that were piled at the top of the bed. He chose one particularly fat one and dragged it lower. One arm slipped beneath it as he settled with a drawn-out sigh. He was clearly comfortable in the massive bed, and Nines had to admit it was nice, but perhaps a little too big. He felt too far from Gavin in the cavernous space and found himself creeping further forward.

"I'm pleased we came…It was an interesting evening," Nines murmured softly, dragging one of the pillows lower so that he could lie properly facing Gavin. Gavin was tired, but not so tired that he didn't acknowledge his words. He hummed his agreement, unsure how he felt about Nines getting closer to Elijah. He was barely close to Elijah. They'd made a lot of progress, though. On all fronts. He'd shown a continued interest in his past and shared his own. He'd agreed to help with their case, and seemed genuinely interested in Nines.

It didn't take long for Gavin to fall asleep again, allowing Nines to watch him undisturbed. There were some fine lines setting in across his forehead and around his tired eyes. He was still fairly young by human standards, and Nines couldn't help wondering if those lines would have been less pronounced had he chosen a less stressful career. No grey coloured his brunette locks yet, and a simple analysis showed that he didn't use dye. His hairline was strong and immovable, though perhaps it wouldn't always be so. It was hard to say without a genetic comparison to earlier generations. His scarred nose was ever so slightly misshapen, likely by whatever impact had caused the angry pink scar. Gavin's lips quirked suddenly, green eyes flickering open tiredly.

"I can feel you staring, you phcking weirdo. Start your sleep cycle or whatever it is you do at night," Gavin chided lightly as he prodded the blue LED at his temple. Luckily, he couldn't see the way Nines' skin flushed pink at being caught out. However, he did notice the way his silvery eyes dropped and the embarrassed expression on his face. He could see it clearly as his eyes adjusted, and they lay so close together. He felt Nines' warmth and wondered if he was radiating heat on purpose to warm the large bed.

"Stasis cycle…" Gavin huffed out an affectionate whatever before turning over. It was hard to tell whether he was awake or asleep after that, but he didn't move as Nines gradually shuffled closer. He was gentle as he slotted himself in behind his human and snaked an arm around his waist. Nines quickly decided that this was his favourite sleeping position, especially as he brushed his cheek against Gavin's soft locks. He closed his eyes, content as he began his cycle.