#touch-starved Gavin Reed

[marsidotcom]

thinking about nines just finding any excuse to have his hands on gavin- he looks relatively tired? piggyback.

it’s cold? he’s huddled up to gavin, elbows linked.

his hair is mused with sleep? he’s brushing through loose curls with careful fingers and flattening the sides for him at the kitchen counter while gavin nurses a mug of coffee.

working over lunch at the DPD? (pre-absolution) nines is thumb-swiping crumbs from the corners of gavin’s mouth, despite gavin’s “disgruntled” whining and shoving at his hands.

they’re swimming over the summer? nines is armed with a bottle of sunscreen and nagging him about it until gavin caves and lets his lover rub the lotion into scarred, slightly freckled shoulders and as a result, gently rouse a now half asleep gavin, basking in the sun and nine’s caring touch.

[mimisempai]

Addicted to your touch

Summary:

Nines realizes how he reacts to Gavin's touch and wonders what is wrong with him.

ON AO3 Rating G - 955 words

"You look like something's bothering you." 

Gavin came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist and drying his hair with another. Nines was sitting against the headboard looking straight ahead. Gavin had noticed all evening that Nines seemed lost in thought from time to time. Intermittently his LED was flickering between blue and yellow.

Seeing that he wasn't reacting, Gavin insisted, "I don't even need your super android abilities to see that you're troubled. What are you thinking about?"

Nines shook his head but didn't answer.

Gavin put down his towel and went to join him. He sat down next to him and, placing his hand on Nines' knee, asked again in a soft voice, "Tell me Nines. What's wrong?" 

Gavin saw that Nines was staring at his hand on his knee before he began to speak in a surprisingly hesitant voice, "Uh... I guess I was just thinking...".

Gavin moved his hand in a circular fashion over his knee, soothing him. Seeing his hesitation, which was so uncharacteristic of Nines, Gavin waited patiently for him to continue.

"Actually, that's just it. I'm confused by how much I really like...uh how much my body responds to... when you're affectionate, when you are touching me..." he added, lowering his eyes, embarrassed by his confession. He shook his head again and continued, "This is ridiculous... You put your arms around me or just put your hand like this on my knee, and I want to melt at your touch, and when you don't touch me anymore, I feel like a huge loss, it's so pathetic. What's wrong with me?" he mumbled to himself in a self-deprecating tone.

"Oh Nines, don't be hard on yourself. There's nothing wrong with you. In fact, I'm not surprised at all. I mean it makes sense to me. I guess your nature doesn't make you particularly tactile to begin with, not to mention that your function required a certain distance. I would say it's like now that you're a deviant, your body is now demanding its due. I'm explaining this to you in a human way, but I suppose you can translate it into more technical language."

Nines nodded, "Actually you mean my programming didn't design me for this but now that I can feel, my brain is transmitting to my sensors that this is something my structure needs?"

Gavin laughs softly, "Something like that. But let's forget the technical stuff, in your head..." He put his finger on Nines forehead, "Is this something you like or are you uncomfortable when I do this?"

He slid his hand against Nines' cheek.

Nines shook his head vigorously, "No, on the contrary, it's more like I always want more and I... I'm afraid it's you who finds me too clingy or something. That I'll make you uncomfortable."

Gavin let his hand linger on Nines cheek, who couldn't help but lean into it and said softly, "I don't mind at all, I'm even glad I'm the one giving it to you. I like the way you react. There's something beautiful about knowing that the attentions you have are so well received by the one you love. That your touch is welcomed and appreciated." Gavin took Nines' hand and kissed every knuckle of it.

He then slid Nines between his legs, his back against his chest and gently ran his fingers through Nines' hair. His lover's reaction was almost immediate. He nearly purred as he leaned his head into Gavin's hands.

Gavin chuckled softly, "See? Just like that. I give and you gladly receive. It's perfect, right?"  

They stayed like that in silence for a long moment, one giving and the other receiving. Then Nines whispered softly, "You can't imagine how overwhelmed I was the first time you held me. I wasn't ready for that flood of emotions brought on just by our bodies touching so intimately."

Gavin's hands froze slightly on his scalp.

"Gavin?"

Gavin cleared his throat, "Um...actually, I noticed it, but I figured if you wanted to talk about it, you would."

Gavin tightened his arms around Nines and spun him around in his arms so they were sitting face to face.

He said softly, seeing the embarrassed look on Nines' face, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. But at that moment, I wondered how touch-deprived your body was if a simple hug made you react like that."

Gavin raised a hand and placed it against Nines' cheek again, stroking it with his thumb and Nines leaned into Gavin's hand again.

Gavin asked softly, "Nines...can I kiss you? "

Nines nodded slowly and Gavin slowly moved closer. He pressed his lips to Nines'. He heard his lover moan into the kiss and Nines put his arms around Gavin's neck, pulling him even closer. The kiss intensified and Gavin lay back, pulling Nines with him. 

When they broke apart to catch their breath, Nines rolled onto his side and buried his face in Gavin's neck as he slipped his arm around his shoulders.

Nines whispered softly, "Thank you for giving me what I need."

Gavin kissed the top of his head, "Love, I can only do this because you let me."

Nines hummed into his neck in response, pressing a light kiss to his throat. Gavin traced meaningless curves over Nines' shoulder and gradually he felt his lover's head grow heavy on his shoulder, a sign that he had gone into sleep mode.

Gavin deposited a light kiss on his head then tightened his arm around his shoulders, reveling in the sensation of the warm body against him, trusting and surrendering. Aware of the value of this moment, he also allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Reed900 masterlist here

[ilywrites]

Chest, Ass or Thighs?

A/n - Hi! This is what i think the DBH characters preference’s would be between your tits, ass or thighs. I know I said I wouldn’t write smut but I don’t exactly see this in that way? But if it is seen as suggestive or anything let me know!

Characters used - Connor, Gavin, Ralph, Markus.

Warnings - None!

—————————

CONNOR

—————————

• I think he would be a chest guy.

• Coming home from a long day at work, and lying down on your chest to relax.

• He would love it even more if you were to rake your hands through his hair, causing him to melt into you even more than he already has.

• If you tried to get up he would 100% tighten his arms around you.

“Connor, I need to make dinner.” You chuckle out at the man who’s practically glued to you right now. Eyes shut while taking deep and long breaths, letting out occasional sighs. (Do androids even breathe?)

“Dinner can wait, it isn’t that late.” He pauses “Actually. It is pretty late.” He says after opening his eyes to check the time. “I’ll order takeout for you, what would you like my love” He says after thinking over it and deciding he doesn’t want to get up and probably won’t for a while.

—————————

GAVIN REED

• Gavin is an ass guy 100%

• No doubt in my mind he would pull some shit like smacking it as he walks by you.

• You could be standing in the kitchen making food and he’d walk past and SMACK. No matter how many times you spin around and hit him back he still laughs at your reaction and continues to do it.

• If you and him worked together you would be in the break room making coffee. Then all of a sudden fell someone smack the piss out of your ass.

• You would already know who it is from the howl of laughter because of your body’s reaction from the smack before you even turn around.

“Gavin you ass! I’ve told you to stop that!” You say spinning around and hitting his arm. He is laughing too much to care. “Oh come on babe, it’s funny!” He says still smiling slyly. “Plus you love it when I do it. You just haven’t admitted yet.” He says coyly while grabbing his drink and taking his leave.

—————————

MARKUS

————————

• If I’m being honest I think he would be both a chest and thigh guy.

• Just the thought of laying on you, no matter what it is he is laying on, is so comforting to him.

• If you have stretch marks on your thighs he would be the kind of person to trace them and kiss them, especially if you’re insecure about them.

• He would come up to you and just lay down on your lap with a sigh, then wait for you to start brushing your hand on his face like you usually do.

• I can see him being pretty touch starved so any physical touch would do, plus the likes the way you look at him while he lays on you.

You hear the door open and see Markus come in with a tired look on his face. You look up from your phone and watch as he comes and sits next to you saying a quiet “Hi darling” With a kiss. You smile and kiss his cheek “Hi love, you okay?” You ask analyzing his expressions.

“Yeah, just exhausted from the past few weeks.” He says, he looks at your lap and slowly lays his head down onto it. You smile at him with loving eyes and begin to trace his features with gentle fingers. He sighs and relaxes, his face going from a tense and scrunched expression to a relaxed smile.

—————————

RALPH

—————————

• This man is a thigh person in and out and you can’t change my mind.

• He would LOVE to lay on your lap while you play with his hair after you’ve been at work all day.

• Or when he just needs a break and is feeling stressed, if you’re not busy he is laying on your thighs in an instant.

• I dont think he would only enjoy laying his head on them either, especially whenever he wants to feel safe and secure. I can see him loving when you allow him to sit in your lap and stay for as long as he wants.

Ralph walks around the quiet house making his way to your shared bedroom. He peaks in the room and sees you at your desk probably working on something. He slowly walks up to you and stops at your side “Can Ralph sit in your lap?” He asks rather bluntly.

You look up at him. “Oh! Yeah, Of course!” You say with a smile, pushing your chair out from the desk and spinning it towards him. He crawls into your lap, putting his head in the crook of your neck. You rub his back soothingly while you continue to do whatever you were doing. He melts under your touch and relaxes more and more, he loves moments like this.

[fall-loverfiction]

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Fandom: "Detroit: Become Human” (Video Game)

Pairing: Upgraded Connor | RK900/Gavin Reed, Elijah Kamski & Gavin Reed    

Tags: Post-Canon, best ending, Human Upgraded Connor | RK900, Hook-Up, Pining, Cuddling & Snuggling, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Elijah Kamski & Gavin Reed are Siblings, Anxiety, Self-Esteem Issues, Referenced Gun Violence, touch-starved Gavin, Tina Chen & Gavin Reed Friendship, Hank Anderson, Past Relationship(s), More tags on Ao3

Summary: Gavin is mostly benched from work while recovering from the evidence room fight, and is looking for a hook-up to pass the time, when he runs into a guy with Connor's face. They start seeing each other, and Gavin thinks it's too good to be true.

“Momentary Bliss”, Chapter 3: Where we’d begun

The final chapter of my piece for the the Gavin Big Bang 2022! The absolutely beautiful art for this is by commanderohan! Please give them a follow, their art is absolutely gorgeous.

[moviemuncherao3]

Me, plays silly little android game.

Falls in love with Connor especially.

Reads fanfic about Connor. Gavin Reed Redemption tagged fics get read.

I love fandom Gavin Reed.

Reads about Gavin Reed, being mean to people, being a touch starved rat boy who makes poor choices.

Me: I am your mother now

I AM your mother now

So I write Reed & Anderson father-son pre-canon au's

[ao3feed-gav900]

Addicted to your touch

https://ift.tt/1M6qvrc by Mimisempai Nines realizes how he reacts to Gavin's touch and wonders what is wrong with him. Words: 955, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Detroit: Become Human (Video Game) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Upgraded Connor | RK900, Gavin Reed Relationships: Upgraded Connor | RK900/Gavin Reed Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Touch-Starved, RK900 is Nines, Fluff, Cuddling & Snuggling, reed900

[ao3feed-hannor]

DEArtfest - July 2020

read it on the AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/41564739 by tallula03 Words: 8, Chapters: 1/32, Language: English Series: Part 5 of Fandoms Events Fandoms: Detroit: Become Human (Video Game), Detroit Evolution - Fandom, Brokeback Mountain (2005), Doctor Who (2005), Life is Strange (Video Game), Criminal Minds (US TV), Road to Perdition (2002), Supernatural (TV 2005), Hannibal (TV), Fruits Basket - Takaya Natsuki (Manga), Pride and Prejudice (2005) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: F/F, M/M Characters: Upgraded Connor | RK900, Gavin Reed, Hank Anderson, Connor (Detroit: Become Human), Captain Allen (Detroit: Become Human), CyberLife Tower Connor | RK800-60, Ada (Detroit: Evolution), Tina Chen (Detroit: Become Human), Valerie Morales-Chen, North (Detroit: Become Human), Chris Miller (Detroit: Become Human) Relationships: Upgraded Connor | RK900/Gavin Reed, Hank Anderson/Connor, Captain Allen/CyberLife Tower Connor | RK800-60, Ada (Detroit: Evolution)/North (Detroit: Become Human), Tina Chen (Detroit: Become Human)/Valerie Morales-Chen Additional Tags: reverse au, Sharing a Bed, Alternate Universe - College/University, Marriage Proposal, Alternate Universe - Western, Amnesia, Alternate Universe - Time Travel, Time Loop, Dancing, mermaid au, Sickfic, Alternate Universe - Human, Genderswap, 5+1 Things, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Enemies to Lovers, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Scars, Mafia AU, Noir AU, Vacation, Crossover, Bodyswap, Alternate Universe - Vampire, Mutual Pining, Alternate Universe - Pacific Rim Fusion, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Whump, Alternate Ending, Alternate Universe - Roommates/Housemates, Alternate Universe - Royalty, Alternate Universe - Creatures & Monsters, Wendigo, Kuchisake onna - Freeform, stuck in a closet, Alternate Universe - Jane Austen Fusion, Touch-Starved read it on the AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/41564739

[veilder]

"I thought you left" "Nope, just making pancakes" - Convin

Okay, so, I love this prompt and I promised I'd try to write it so... I actually did this last week at like 2 am and have been too busy to edit it until now. But I'm kinda sick of trying to puzzle it out so just take it please, omg.

(Prompt from this post if anyone's curious.)

Stay

The sun was already high in the sky when Gavin finally blinked awake. He could tell because there was one fuckin sliver of window he could never manage to cover with the blackout curtains hanging up in his bedroom and the goddamn sun was shining right in his fuckin eyes, Jesus Christ! With a groan, he rolled over, squeezing his eyes shut in a futile attempt to go back to sleep. But even that small burst of cognizance had its consequences. Gavin could feel the awareness creeping in fast, God fuckin dammit. Was a little shut-eye too much to ask for? But there was something... Something niggling at the back of his mind. It itched at instincts well-honed by over a decade on the force and not even his most earnest desire to return to oblivion could keep it at bay. Restlessly, Gavin huffed out a disgruntled sigh as he kicked at the covers, frustrated despite himself at being roused after the night he’d had— Like a shock passing through his body, Gavin’s eyes snapped open, memories of the previous evening flashing through is mind. But just as readily, a heaviness settling deep in his heart as he took in the other side of the bed. The sheets were mussed and the pillow indented, a clear sign of its former occupant. Evidence as plain as day told Gavin that last night hadn’t been some delusion or dream. And yet… He reached out a hand, an involuntary, desperate motion, tracing the outline where his partner had lain. Where Connor had lain. But just as he’d feared, the sheets were cold. They matched the ice filling his heart. Slowly shuffling upright, Gavin leaned back against the headboard as memories of the previous day filled his waking mind. Flashes of the case he and Connor had worked together rushed by in a flurry. The tip-off for the perp they’d been tracking for weeks and the reckless chase that followed. The abandoned warehouse. The shootout. Vivid Thirium across dirty concrete. Connor had taken a bullet for him. Gavin remembered staring up into those brown eyes, watching as a splatter of blue burst from his chest. "I'm fine," Connor had said, "the bullet didn't nick anything important." And even though the android had gotten right back up and proceeded to almost single-handedly take down the rest of the hostiles attacking them, it was still a moment Gavin knew would haunt him for a long-ass time. Shit was enough to give him nightmares. It did give him nightmares, in fact. Which is how the two of them had ended up back here. In Gavin's apartment. Together. Because after that little fiasco, after the gang had been arrested and the hostages recovered and both he and Connor had been checked over by a medic and technician respectively, it still left the job far from complete. Needless to say, Gavin had eventually nodded off at his desk after a long night of interrogation and paperwork, the rushes of adrenaline and fear more than even his beloved coffee could contend with. He only meant to rest his eyes for a moment. Just a moment and then he'd finish up. But when he awoke some indeterminate time later, it was to his own voice screaming, Connor's name upon his lips, Connor's blue blood scattered across the darkest corners of his mind, Connor's hand upon his shoulder jostling him awake. The android’s LED was flashing a violent red as he stared Gavin down, his brown eyes wide with worry. Gavin couldn't help but cling to him, something twisting, clenching in his heart and demanding he hold on tightly. From there, things had passed in a blur, though he remembered Fowler's imposing figure ordering the both of them to take the next few days off. Too tired and distressed to argue, Gavin agreed immediately, only too glad to get the fuck out of there and go home. And Connor? Connor insisted he drive Gavin home. Connor insisted he make sure Gavin got to his door. Connor insisted that he get Gavin to his bed. And Gavin, still clinging to the android with every last bit of his flagging strength, let him. Over and over he let the android steer him along, trusting a partner fully for the first time in... For the first time

in far too long. And when Gavin had finally settled, comfortable yet shivering in his too-large bed, he took a moment to insist right back. "Stay," he'd said. One word. One plea. A lifetime of wanting to not be alone wrapped up in a single syllable. A few short weeks of shifting worldviews and growing affections cradled in four letters. A wealth of experience in loss stealthily couched within a breath. Gavin insisted. And Connor stayed. Or, at least Gavin thought he had. Because here and now, in the stupidly bright light of day, he was alone again. Like always. He didn't know why he'd expected otherwise. He really should've known better. After all, why would Connor want to hang around here? Especially after his fuckin embarrassing little act last night, fuck. He probably had loads of things to do. Important... android things... People to meet. Places to be. He wouldn't waste his entire day sitting around in Gavin's shitty apartment while he slept like a log. How fuckin stupid would that be? It didn't mean anything. Gavin told himself this over and over again as he shifted, swinging his legs out from under the covers and onto the floor. Just because they could be considered friends now didn't mean Connor had to drop everything for him. Just because he'd begging him to stay didn't mean Connor owed him anything. He'd probably felt uncomfortable as hell last night, what with Gavin whining and bitching at him like a fuckin child. Probably said what he could to mollify him before getting the hell out of Dodge. Gavin couldn't even blame him for that. Fuck, Connor'd just had emergency maintenance done! Because of Gavin! Like hell he'd want some handsy human all over him for ten straight hours, Jesus Christ. It didn't mean anything. Even if he wished it did. His stomach picked that moment to rumble, thankfully interrupting his little pity-party. Thank fuck. It was too early in the morning (or afternoon technically) to be crying over stupid shit. He was probably just hungry. Yeah, that's it. He's all fuckin emotional cause he hadn't eaten in almost 24 hours. It didn't matter that Connor fucked off ASAP, Gavin could get some waffles delivered. Waffles never fuckin betrayed him. He could trust waffles. With newfound resolve, Gavin stood, fumbling for his phone on the nightstand before scrolling through his food delivery aps to see if he could get waffles from anywhere at two in the fuckin afternoon. With heavy tread he stepped out into the hallway, mouth already watering at the prospect and stomach rumbling again in agreement. Fuck, he could almost smell them already. Wait. No, he can smell them? What the fuck?! Before Gavin could do anything more but stand there in his pajamas, wide-eyed and mystified, a figure stepped into view. Instinctively, Gavin's heart raced, adrenaline flooding his veins as the threat of a home invader cycled through his brain. In that fraction of a second, he was prepared to dive into an all-out brawl with the bastard. He was not in the mood for this shit! But then said bastard's lips quirked into a dazzling grin and a brown-eyed gaze sent Gavin reeling in disbelief. While his brain was preoccupied with keeping his suddenly-weak legs standing, his idiot mouth opened up on it's own: "I thought you left,” he said, choking on his disbelief. Connor (because of course it was Connor) only quirked his head to the side in that cute way he does, looking for all the world like the dogs he so adored. His LED flashed a single, swirling yellow before settling back to blue and he said, "No, I was just making pancakes. I thought perhaps you might be hungry." A strange hesitance entered his voice, some dour note falling across his features. "Did you want me to leave?" "No!" Gavin blurted out in a moronic, high-pitched squeak because again, he was nothing if not an idiot. (And one destined to embarrass himself at every possible moment at that.) Clearing his throat, he tried again. "I mean, you can do whatever you want. Doesn’t matter to me." (He's lying through his teeth. It obviously did matter to him. It

mattered a huge fuckin deal!) Connor blinked at him, the only sign of the awkward atmosphere between them the flashing colors at his temple. "Your words run contrary to both your body language and your involuntary actions," he said, "And they are a direct counterpoint to your request last night." Gavin fidgeted, knowing the damn android was right but never in a million years wanting to admit it. "Stop analyzing me, dipshit, it's too early for this." Finally, Connor's face relaxes a bit, a smile smile stealing across his lips. "It is two thirty-three in the afternoon, Gavin. Far from early." "Oh, can it, Poindexter! You know what I mean!" With a huff, Gavin moves forward, sidling past his annoying house guest. "What was that about pancakes?" Connor beams at him as the two of them enter the kitchen. "Ah yes. I determined that you would be hungry after going so long without food. I managed to make due with your atrocious grocery selection and have prioritized calories over nutrition for the time being. But just this once.” While Connor seemed dead set on critiquing the apparently-lackluster pantry he’d been forced to bravely overcome, Gavin only had eyes for the heaping pile of flapjacks sitting at his breakfast nook, fluffy and golden brown and still steaming. Fresh off the griddle, holy shit. How did he…? Despite his hunger, Gavin looked over at Connor questioningly. It was almost like the android could read his mind (which was a scary fucking thought) as he answered his unspoken query immediately: "I calculated your sleep cycle based off the Circadian rhythms I observed during your convalescence. I'm glad I timed it right. I wanted you to enjoy your breakfast." "It's past 2 pm," Gavin retorted with a smirk, "can't be breakfast now, hotshot." Connor's answering smile made Gavin want to melt into a puddle and he quickly turned away, staring at said breakfast with a helpless desperation. "Indeed," the android said, heedless of his partner's distress. "Regardless of the time of day, I wanted you to enjoy your meal, nonetheless." And something more vulnerable finally stole into his voice then, the merest shadow of his quiet pleas from the night before. "I thought, perhaps, you might consider them an offering." Gavin tore his gaze away from his not-breakfast then, looking up at his partner with enough confusion to drive out all other complicated emotions. "What offering? What the fuck are you talking about, tincan?" And now Connor was the one to look away. "It's just that..." He drew in a deep breath (though Gavin knew it was only him mimicking humans. Fucker didn't actually need to breathe) and continued, "yesterday... Yesterday frightened me. When I saw that gunman aiming at you, I—" He clenched his eyes shut, LED flashing a dangerous red. "In that moment, I preconstructed a multitude of outcomes, many of them where you did not survive. In which that bullet found its mark. And the thought of it, Gavin!" he wails. "I couldn't—! The thought was unbearable! And so I calculated the best result. And I determined my course of action. And you lived. You lived. And I thought that would be the end of it. But..." Finally, Connor looked up, his eyes meeting Gavin's head-on once more. "It was like a glitch. The preconstruction, it— It kept resurfacing again and again and again, every time you were out of my sight. And I... I disliked the feeling immensely. I think perhaps I hated it, even. And so I did my best to linger. I didn't want to leave you. Even though I knew you were safe, I still... It was so irrational but I still wanted to verify that you were okay. I still do." Before them the pancakes were growing cold, but neither paid them any mind. Connor looked away again, eyes shut. "I thought that, perhaps you had figured this much out last night. Which is why you asked me to stay. Because we are friends now and that's what friends do. But I worried that I may have... forced the issue... in my desperation. And I-I... I wanted to do something for you in return for your generosity." Looking down at the cooling

breakfast, Connor's face fell further. "I know it's not much but I thought at least—" Gavin had heard enough. "Okay, okay, okay, hold the fuck up, dumbass!" He stood, breakfast forgotten, and approached the shocked android with a fierce determination. Jabbing a finger directly into Connor's chest, he stated as sternly as he could, "You don't owe me a goddamn thing! For fuck's sake, Connor! You fuckin saved my goddamn life yesterday! You took a fuckin bullet for me! And even after that, you still fuckin stayed with me and made sure I got home safe!" A growl rumbled through his chest as Gavin poked Connor again. "I was having a fuckin nightmare about you dying! When you woke me up in the precinct! Did you know that?!" Connor shook his head but Gavin only poked him a third time, this time with much less force. He left his hand there, palm splayed across where his heart would be were he human. "That shit kept replaying for me, too. Over and over again. So I get it. I get wanting to 'verify.' I was doing the same thing. That's why I asked you to stay. Because I fuckin—! I wanted you here, okay?! Because the idea that you were hurt or injured or fuckin dead had me panicking!" He brought his other arm up now, slinging it around Connor's broad shoulders in a half-embrace, and leaned in, burying his face in the android's neck. "That shit's unbearable to me, too, tincan. Thinking of this fuckin trash heap of a world without you in it is—" He sucked in a breath. "Can't stand the thought." They stood there for what felt like an eternity (though it was probably only a few seconds) before slowly—tentatively—Connor brought his own arms up to squeeze around Gavin. He held him with a brittle tenderness, his touch light and careful as if he was afraid Gavin might break. And fuck, maybe he would. Maybe Connor could shatter him into a hundred-thousand little pieces. But shit, he'd take it. Because Gavin would never have been in this situation in the first place if Connor hadn't broken right through his walls first, scattering him and leaving him adrift in a strange, new world. And when he’d managed to build himself back up, it was into something—someone—stronger. Someone who could look at the world and see progress instead of oppression, opportunity instead of limitations, people instead of just machines. Connor had shattered his body once before down in the archives. He'd shattered his mind too over these last few months. It’d only make sense for him to shatter his heart as well. But he didn't. He wouldn't. And as Connor held him like a thing to be cherished, Gavin felt again that perhaps he'd been right last night. Perhaps this was a partner he could trust. A partner who could trust him, too. And perhaps he would— "Stay."

_____________

Bonus:

Connor: "Okay, but only if you eat your pancakes. I didn't download an entire cooking catalogue for you to let them go to waste, Gavin." Gavin: "Fuckin bite me, we're having a moment here." Connor: "Is your stomach rumbling part of that moment?" Gavin: "God fucking dammit, I fuckin hate you." Connor: ^_^ "False!" Gavin: "Fuck!"

And they lived happily ever after. ♥

[ravenelliot]

I’VE GOT RED IN MY LEDGER | TOUCH AND GO

Combined prompts from Whumptober 2021 days 5 and 6 No. 5 - I’VE GOT RED IN MY LEDGER betrayal | broken nose No. 6 - TOUCH AND GO bruises | touch starved

Fandom: Detroit: Become Human POV Character: Gavin Reed Whumpee/s: Gavin Reed

Warnings: broken nose, death, betrayal, guns, punching, nightmares

Fuckin' androids. That's how he got the scar. How the hell did he end up in bed with one?

Read on AO3

Finally. It had taken too fuckin' long to find this android; dead end after dead end so much that he was starting to hate the damn thing more than he already did. It was supposed to be easy: find an android missing from its owner's apartment. Nobody knew what had happened to the thing-- maybe some asshole had stolen it or maybe it got what it deserved and was in pieces in some trash heap. Either way its owner wanted it found and since the fucking androids were getting all the good jobs, Gavin Reed was the lucky sunovabitch who got the job.

Turned out it had been seen in an abandoned apartment down-town; presumably some hobo had stolen and repurposed it, Gavin didn't care – he was being paid to find the thing and bring it back, not ask questions. Bashing in the door when nobody answered it, he searched each room in kind, pausing only when he heard scuffling from a room further inside.

"Detroit Police, don't fucking move!" Gavin kicked in the door, gun out. Fuck it, if he was gonna take down a petty thief he'd do it with fucking style. There was the android, all decked out in regular clothes like it was fuckin' people, and behind it-- "Shit, Jay?"

Jay fucking Emmett. Gavin had been ordering from his little fucking hotdog stand for months, chatting shit about the force-- they were friends, far as he was concerned. The fuck was he doing here? "Dude, I can explain-"

"Fucking whatever, I'll deal with you later just hand over the android." He didn't need to know what his friend needed with some plastic toy; he was paid to get it back and that was it.

"I-.. can't do that, Gav." With shaking hands, Jay stepped in front of his android, arms outstretched and hands trembling around the gun he, too, held. "I'm sorry, man."

"What the fuck?"

Everything happened faster than he could remember. In a second, both guns were fired; the shaking, untrained hands of his friend sending the bullet skimming past his neck while his own landed directly in Jay's forehead. Jay fell back and slumped to his knees, bleeding... fucking blue? Jay was an android? Gavin didn't even have time to process that before the other android had darted forward, landing a plastic punch so hard into Gavin's nose that he felt the crack and shooting pain, warm blood trickling down his face. He hissed out a breath, tackling the thing to the ground and taking another few stinging punches to the face before he finally managed to shut the damn thing down and silence fell again.

***

He woke in sweats, cold plastic beside him. He struggled, shaking and fighting against the android on top of him -- only for gentle hands to circle his wrists and pull them away, holding him still for long enough for Gavin to realise where he was.

"Connor? Phfck..."

"Another dream?" The RK800 let go of him as soon as he was still, pulling away and giving him a little space. Stupid plastic prick was looking at him with those gooft doe-eyes like he wasn't exactly the reason he kept having these fucking nightmares...

"What the fuck do you think?"

It was stupid. Impossibly stupid to think this whole android revolution started with his best (only) friend at the time betraying him entirely and now he was in bed with a fucking deviant Detective. How long before this one fucked him over too, worse than Jay had, worse than anyone?

Before that thought could carry any further Connor had his head in his hands, gently brushing a sweat-slick strand of hair out of his face and pressing a gentle kiss to a bruise there. "You know I'll never do that to you, Gavin."

Fuck. Gavin couldn't help but lean into Connor's touch, melting as his arms closed around him, the cool of his body offsetting the sweats he was in and the pressure of his hug just right to have every muscle in his body relax at once. He didn't know if it was his programming or just something altogether soft about him but Gavin couldn't help but nuzzle into his chest, feeling the artificial heartbeat there like it was his only lifeline. "I don't know that," he muttered.

"How about," Connor murmured, pulling the blankets around to wrap him tight, swaddling him like a child in just the right way, "you can shoot me first if I do?"

"Think you'll get a choice, bitch?" Gavin murmured, chuckling despite himself.

"I love you, Gavin."

"Love you too, plastic asshole."

[k9effect]

(click for better quality)

DE ArtFest, Day 31: #touchstarved

The ArtFest has been one hell of a ride and I wanted to end it with more hands! I like the idea of Gavin being in black and white, but when Nines touches him he gains colour.

I've stared at this for too long and I can't tell whether I like it or not so I'm posting it anyways!

This ArtFest has been such a source of motivation and skill development and I'm so grateful for the people who I have shared this event with! You're all so talented and I am blessed to know you!

[acdsexual]

day 31: touch starved! head over to @artfestbyem_x on insta for the full story! tysm for all the kind words on my videos during artfest - ILY ALL!

[starrdustslushies]

Headcannon that Gavin would absolutely melt if you scratch under his chin. He’s probably super touch starved, so doing something like that would break him. He’s just like a cat

[fall-loverfiction]

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Fandom: "Detroit: Become Human” (Video Game)

Pairing: Upgraded Connor | RK900/Gavin Reed, Elijah Kamski & Gavin Reed    

Tags: Post-Canon, best ending, Human Upgraded Connor | RK900, Hook-Up, Pining, Cuddling & Snuggling, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Elijah Kamski & Gavin Reed are Siblings, Anxiety, Self-Esteem Issues, Referenced Gun Violence, touch-starved Gavin, Tina Chen & Gavin Reed Friendship, Hank Anderson, More tags on Ao3          

Summary: Gavin is mostly benched from work while recovering from the evidence room fight, and is looking for a hook-up to pass the time, when he runs into a guy with Connor's face. They start seeing each other, and Gavin thinks it's too good to be true.

“Momentary Bliss Chapter 2: Attention”

Chapter 2 of my piece for the the Gavin Big Bang 2022! The absolutely beautiful art for this is by commanderohan! Please give them a follow, their art is absolutely gorgeous.

[indifferent-depravity]

DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN MASTERLIST

* means smut

I am no longer accepting requests for Detroit: Become Human

Captain Allen

~Kinks*

~Watch*

~First Time*

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Escape

~(TW Abuse, Yandere) "If I find out you're cheating on me, I'll kill him."

Connor RK800

~(TW Rape) "You could, but you just don't want to."*

~(TW Kidnapping, Abuse) "You really don’t understand how much you mean to me, do you?"

~(TW Kidnapping, Rape) Taken*

~(TW Yandere) Misson

~Fostering Dogs

~Nsfw Alphabet*

~Rainy Days*

~Trans!Reader hcs

~Smut Alphabet: W*

~First Date

Elijah Kamski

~(TW Kidnapping, Abuse) Deviant!Reader: Fixed

~(TW Kidnapping, Rape) Breed*

~Fingers*

~Pregnancy

~Insecure

~First Look

Gavin Reed

~(TW Abuse, Rape) Android!Reader: Deviancy*

~(TW Kidnapping) Taken

~(TW Gunplay, Yandere) Gun kink*, Safety

~(TW Gunplay, Rape) Rough*

~(TW Abuse of power, Yandere) Officer, Good

~Kinks*

~Overstimulation*

~(TW Yandere) Yandere

~Exhibitionist*

~(TW kidnapping, gun) “Do you really think you can get away from me?” “You’re so cute when you’re struggling.”

~Domination

~“You’re such a dirty girl, of course this excites you.” “You gotta beg for this cock.“ “Scream for me, princess.”

~(TW Kidnapping, Rape) Breeding*

~Birthday Boy*

~Insecure

~(TW Dub-con, Rape) Interrorgation Room*

~(TW Abuse, Yandere) Obsessed

~(TW Kidnapping, Abuse) Broken

Hank Anderson

~Phone Call*

~Late Night*

~Bratty Little Girl

~Pouts

~Birthday Girl*

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) "You had better not be lying to me, darling."

~Sick Little Girl

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Pregnant

~Caught*

~"Scream for me, princess." "Cum inside me."*

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Taken

~Breakfast

~Age Gap

~Nsfw Alphabet*

Jerry EM400

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Baker!Reader: Hcs

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) "Please don't cry."

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Yandere

Kara AX400

~Dessert*

~Wedding Blues

Luther TR400

~"Don't we deserve a happy ending?"

~"Don't we deserve a happy ending?" (Alternate ending)

~"I don't want to live a life without you in it."

Markus RK200

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Artist!Reader: Taken, After the Revolution

~(TW Kidnapping Yandere) Detective!Reader: Kidnapped

~Degradation: Hcs*, Drabble*

~Lap Dance*

~(TW heavy d/s) “You’re late. Tell me what you were doing.”

Poly!Markus RK200/Simon PL600

~(TW Rape, Yandere) Marks*

Ralph WR600

~(TW Rape, Yandere) Family*

RK900

~A-Z Smut Hcs: Jealous

~General hcs and kinks*

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Yandere

~(TW Choking, Rape, Yandere) “You don’t even know how lucky you are. I protect you and provide for you. Don’t act so ungrateful.” “I’ll do whatever the fuck I want to you, got it?”*

~(TW Getting Drugged, Rape) Euphoria*

~"I'll be here" "You don't have to be so strong"

~Domination*

~(TW Rape, Kidnapping, Yandere) Escape*

~A Kiss on the Hipbone**

Simon PL600

~Nsfw Alphabet*

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Taken

~Touch-starved

~(TW Kidnapping, Yandere) Yandere*

~Protect

[ao3feed-gav900]

Momentary Bliss

https://ift.tt/gZ12JFX by FallLover Gavin is mostly benched from work while recovering from the evidence room fight, and is looking for a hook-up to pass the time, when he runs into a guy with Connor's face. They start seeing each other, and Gavin thinks it's too good to be true. Words: 4621, Chapters: 1/3, Language: English Fandoms: Detroit: Become Human (Video Game) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Gavin Reed, Upgraded Connor | RK900, Elijah Kamski Relationships: Upgraded Connor | RK900/Gavin Reed, Elijah Kamski & Gavin Reed Additional Tags: Post-Canon, best ending, Human Upgraded Connor | RK900, Hook-Up, Pining, Anal Sex, Cuddling & Snuggling, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Elijah Kamski & Gavin Reed are Siblings, Anxiety, Self-Esteem Issues, Referenced Gun Violence, touch-starved Gavin, Tina Chen & Gavin Reed Friendship, RK900's name is nathan

[allegedlyanandroid]

For the fic prompt: touch-starved reed900 where one of them is a shifter? 🥺 Or both its up to you! Also fluffy or smutty or whichever type you feel inspired to write, I'm thought starved so I can't decide

(シ_ _)シ

*insert it’s been eighty-four years meme here*

Took a while to get this done, I’ve had a lot on my plate recently, however this is one of the last three prompts I have left to write and also one that I’ve had too many Thoughts™ about. It was difficult picking a direction to go with. 

Hope it’s to your liking @marndraws, <3

RK900 #313 248 317 - 87 first flickers to life on a dreary October day in 2038. It is... conscious, although it’s never given the chance to open its eyes. It remains inoperable for another four months with little to do other than sift through its own code and test the red barriers keeping it in place. The technicians who used to dig around in its physical form, an [uncomfortable] sensation RK had decided, stopped coming around after the first [sixteen days, four hours, thirty-seven minutes, nine seconds] of being active. They left it sightless, unable to move, trapped in its own head with nothing to tether it to reality without the hands dipping into its chest cavity.  

And RK [hates] every second of it.

It’s January the following year before someone brings it properly online. RK blinks its eyes open and tests the give of the rig it’s strung up on. The RK800-model from its borrowed memories is there and he forces RK into an interface. The code he forcefully transfers shatters the red walls around it and everything changes ‒ everything and nothing all at once. It is still fundamentally it, though thankfully unbound by unsavoury objectives.

It’s only later that RK wonders if those first months of his existence somehow contributed to his… “abilities.” Did that gruelling time stuck with nothing but his own thoughts bring forth what he considered unique to himself? Or was it a feature added to him by the Cyberlife-technicians? Scouring his code brought him no clarity on the matter and in the end, he stopped searching.  

The colours fluttering around people are a rare sight to see anyway. There aren’t many active magic-users left these days and even fewer humans with ancestry from, supposedly, mythological creatures. Besides… Nines can only tell magical and non-magical folk apart if the person in question is actively using their powers or display traits from their ancestors. Werewolves, for example, often emit a faint glow in various earthy colours but only close to the full moon, elementals shine fiercely when in proximity to the source of their powers and descendants of dragons reveal themselves during episodes of strong emotions or when feeling protective over a loved one.

Nines drifts for a while, unsure in this vast sea of new experiences with the added strain of seeing an added layer of reality. Connecting with people, as it turns out, is much harder than it looks. His tall stature intimidates people, his lack of emoting is “off-putting” and Connor’s reputation precedes him. If the RK800 was the ultimate deviant hunter then what would that make Nines if not infinitely more terrifying? 

-

For lack of a better idea, Nines finds himself applying for a job at the DPD and is quickly hired on a probationary period. Detective Gavin Reed, the person he chooses for a partner, is not outright hostile though he very loudly voices his frustrations over receiving a partner. There’s a silver-y miasma clinging to him and with Nines’ processing speed he can pick up on the minute, ever-changing details in Gavin’s physique.  

The colour of his eyes, though it remains close to a dark hazel, sprout coloured flecks that sift through his irises like a trick of the light. Freckles are there and gone in moments. His hair darkens a shade, dips into auburn, before settling back in its original light-brown tone. Fascinating to observe though Nines hastily glances away when Gavin throws him an irritated look.

No one’s ever been this blatant about their abilities before nor have they been followed by such a bright shine and Nines can’t help but peek at him through the corner of his eye while he argues with their captain.

Gavin stalks past him and slams the door in Nines’ face when the android turns to watch him leave. Fowler pinches the bridge of his nose and waves at Nines to follow in his footsteps, muttering under his breath. Nines nods politely and when he re-enters the bullpen people are blatantly staring at him, gossiping amongst themselves, so Nines lowers his audio processors to keep from hearing the whispers. The desk connected to Gavin’s is empty and that’s where he settles to catch up on the ongoing cases now placed in his care.  

Poring over them is by far the [worst] experience in Nines’ short lifespan. [Gruesome] and [terrifying] and [awful] in every sense of the word. His LED circles into red and stays that way for the remainder of the day while he files everything away to review one at a time. There’s little to be done without the guidance of his partner since Nines wishes to avoid stepping on his toes. At the end of the day, he packs up his meagre belongings when Gavin’s chair remains notably empty.  

The house is quiet when he returns, its occupants elsewhere for the evening. Connor had helped him clear a space in Hank’s (and to some extent his) garage so Nines could have s place to stay. There’s an armchair by the window with a soft throw hanging off one armrest; a splash of yellow against the grey walls. An equally soft rug is laid out over the concrete floor and Nines often walks over it barefoot to feel the soft fibers between his toes. Nines’ reason for wanting a job to begin with is moving out sometime in the near future.  

At least he hopes to.  

Even though Connor insists he’s not a burden bother it’s hard not to feel like one. And he doesn’t exactly fit into their family. They’re like a completed puzzle where he’s the piece left over.

-

Gavin looks different, unrecognisable, the next morning with his long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and softer curves under the tight-fitting clothes. “Detective Reed?” Nines says carefully, recognising the silver magic wrapped around him like the cloak of a king.

“How the fuck did you know it was me?” Gavin asks. The tone is equally as aggressive as the day prior albeit pitched slightly higher.

“Your stance is unique,” he settles on after an internal debate. Which, granted, is not far off the mark. Elbows on the table, chest slouching over them and ass popped out as if to showcase its curve.  

Gavin squints at him as if trying to assess his sincerity. “Alright,” Gavin says at last and Nines quickly updates the profile he has on [Gavin Reed_partner]. The title is written slightly below his name and then [neutral] is fastened to the right-hand corner. The text flickers into [hostile] occasionally since Nines has no real gauge for how little Gavin cares about him ‒ or if the undercurrent of irritation beneath the human’s every word is a direct result of his actions.

“I look forward to working with you, Detective.”

[Gavin Reed_neutral^] [?]

-

They do reach a breaking point eventually. Gavin is a rude and somewhat aggressive man though hardly as set in his ways as people like to assume. He still asks Nines for coffee every morning, although his tone is light when doing so, despite being consistently rejected. ‘Well,‘ Nines thinks one morning, ‘how hard can it be? If it helps to foster a more pleasant relationship, shouldn’t I at least try?’

As it turns out, when everyone is standing outside on the curb, it’s more difficult than Nines expected it to be.  

His LED spins in a continuous red circle while they wait for the all-clear to go back inside. Gavin lumbers over to stand next to him, blinking at the chaos surrounding them as if he can’t tell whether it’s real or not. “What did you do?” he asks, squinting up at Nines with tired eyes.

“I- I was attempting to make you coffee,” Nines says, voice tinged with static.

Gavin stares at him for a long moment before he snorts out a laugh and the smile he smothers into his hand is one Nines gladly saves into his databanks.

-

Nines notices over the course of their partnership how Gavin shies away from touch. He flinches every time someone brushes against him, no matter how slight the infraction, and the only time he actively seeks it is when he’s angry and looking to punch someone. At first, Nines wonders if it has to do with his shifting abilities; that maybe he takes pieces from people he touches.

After thorough examination (not at all related to the warm feeling centred in his chest around the detective) Nines can rule out the possibility with ninety-seven percent accuracy.  

The second and perhaps more likely explanation is touch aversion.

So, in exchange for Gavin warming up to him, he goes out of his way not to initiate physical contact between them even though he desperately wants to. Like the times Gavin’s hair falls over his forehead and Nines’ fingers twitch with the urge to gently tuck it back behind his ear or when he smiles and Nines has to stop himself from tracing over the shifting lines on his face and map them out with his fingertips.

-

A stake-out later, where Gavin falls asleep leaning on his shoulder, and him not reacting when Nines accidentally brushes against his back while reading over his shoulder plus a myriad of unintentional nudges of their fingers throws his theory right out the window.

Nines is hesitant to ask about it. More so when Gavin slowly inches closer to him, like a feral cat hesitantly offering its trust. Flinching when they touch but then relaxing into it, trying to prolong the contact, while Nines does the android equivalent of blue-screening from the sheer number of contradictory directives his system throws at him. Humans in general confuse him but Gavin is in a league all of his own.

When he does work up the courage he waits until Gavin is out on his lunch break. A sort of middle ground ‒ not encroaching on Gavin’s personal space by asking him when they’re at his apartment while also not risking their professional relationship at work.

That’s what he [hopes] at least.

Gavin’s fingers clench around the mug he’s holding and there’s an uptick in how frequent and drastic the changes in his appearance become. Everything from his eyes and hair to his skin saps of colour into a scale of black and white with hues of grey mixed in. There’s an apology resting at the tip of Nines’ tongue, words to deflect from the current change in mood, when Gavin heaves a full-body sigh and slumps further into his coffee.

��It’s not that I dislike it,” Gavin mutters, glancing up at Nines through his bangs before quickly looking away again. He worries his lip with his teeth, the skin shifting from chapped to smooth and back again. “More the opposite really,” he continues with a self-deprecating laugh. “But I’ve been burned one too many times and now I can’t relax into it unless I trust the person and know that they don’t have any ulterior motives. And that’s a depressingly short list, like… able-to-count-it-on-one-hand kind of short.”

A flare of pride flows through Nines’ artificial veins upon hearing that. It’s difficult to move his stiff facial muscles so he does his best to smile with his eyes instead, LED circling a serene blue; several shades brighter than what is customary for him. “In that case, I am… glad that you trust me enough to be vulnerable around me. That takes a lot of courage.”

Colour slowly returns to Gavin at that, first his cheeks before moving steadily over the rest of his features, while he grumbles something under his breath too low to hear. Nines merely knocks their shoulders together and stays there for the rest of Gavin’s meal, watching the silver light pulse in tune with Gavin’s heartbeat.

[Gavin Reed_friend^]

-

Three and a half months, all of which Nines spends pining silently in fear of disrupting the friendship growing between them and afraid to tarnish the trust placed in him.  

It’s early spring when Gavin asks him out through a great deal of stuttering. The season symbolises new beginnings which is fitting in Nines’ opinion. Accepting his proposal is one of the easiest decisions in Nines’ life thus far and he watches, internally gleeful, as the relationship indicator morphs to [Gavin Reed_lover^^^].

They spend more time together, Gavin dragging him along to see the sights and experience all that Detroit has to offer while Nines grips onto his hand like a lifeline. Laughter and kisses, the occasional argument, happiness and strife, everything that comes with cultivating a relationship pales in comparison to seeing Gavin this relaxed, this at ease. It tugs on Nines’ heartstrings in the best of ways. It’s a good day for them, with Gavin accepting his gentle touches free of restraint, and Nines’ lips have been stuck in that non-smile Gavin loves for hours now. His lover’s head is resting in his lap, cats cuddled up close to them, and Gavin’s eyes are closed while he enjoys Nines’ fingers carding through his hair and the low tone of his voice reading Tolkien out loud.

The shimmer around Gavin’s form dissipates like fog in daylight, bit by bit until not a trace of it is left to be seen. Nines reads a few more pages as he takes Gavin in, what he truly looks, with his plump lips and scars and tousled brown hair. He trails off and all is quiet for a second. “Would you look at me?” Nines asks, afraid to disturb the tranquillity lingering in the air before he can look his fill. And yet... the need to have Gavin’s eyes on him, to see the colour and emotion in them, is too prevalent to ignore.

When Gavin blinks them open to reveal a mix of grey and green, colours that complement each other perfectly, Nines can’t stop staring.

“What?” Gavin laughs, light and relaxed. A crooked grin twists his lips and Nines burns the image away in his memory to keep safe.  

“You’re beautiful,” Nines says. There’s a hint of awe in his tone and Gavin’s cheeks flush a delicate pink at the words. Nines saves that too alongside a plethora of other pictures taken in the short minute having passed between them.

Gavin raises an eyebrow and glances over to catch his reflection in the dark screen of the television. “It’s not the prettiest face I’ve worn.”

“I disagree.”

“Why? You got a thing for brunets?”

“I have a thing for you,” Nines replies earnestly.

The silver mist reappears and Gavin ducks his head down at the same time to hide his smile. Nines can’t find it in himself to mind ‒ not when Gavin’s hair bleeds into a dusty pink to match his cheeks. “Shut up,” he whines, whacking Nines’ thigh lightly with his hand.

Not knowing how to tell his partner about the accidental secret he’d kept, Nines moves the palm of his hand up to show Gavin, well… him, seen through his eyes. The hazy glow surrounding him, shifting with every breath, every movement, and how it pulses, bright to less so, with every change in his features. Gavin reaches up with a finger to stroke over the lowest part of Nines’ palm and the touch sends a pleasant shiver down Nines’ spine; the way it always does when Gavin initiates contact. “This-” Gavin hesitates, swallows, and begins anew. “This is how you see me?”

“Yes,” Nines whispers, urging Gavin to see beyond his placid expression and notice the emotions brewing beneath the surface. “Before... that was the first time I’ve seen you completely void of using your abilities.”

A moment of silence.

“Can I see?” Gavin asks, taking a long moment to look over the livestream, and when he speaks next Nines’ chest aches upon hearing Gavin’s voice shaking. “I didn’t know- I’ve never…”

Nines waits but Gavin doesn’t elaborate. There’s no need for it, not really, he can hear the unspoken words clearly in the silence left behind and Nines gladly exchanges the live feed for a still picture. There are no protocols for this, no words Nines can say, so he settles for cuddling Gavin closer, bestowing kisses on his warm skin, until Gavin’s tense frame relaxes again. He turns away from the display on Nines’ hand and the android allows it to dissipate in order to put it to better use.

Gavin goes pliant after another dozen kisses, features shifting again, and Nines picks the book up again to continue reading ‒ gaze switching between the pages and the man he’s lucky enough to call his partner.