he’s still trying to wrap his mind around all of this; the past week, chasing leads that eventually brought them to cyberlife itself, to a weird ai system that was trying to blackmail its creator back into working for it. physical threats, sleepless nights, damn near panic attacks and then the overwhelming sense of relief to finally have elijah sitting beside him. he didn’t think he cared this much, would swear to anyone that asked that he didn’t, but the sheer willpower that he exuded to solve this case before it turned into a body-bag was something he hasn’t really had time to comprehend until now. elijah…was important to him. he spent most of his life hating the guy but now? he can’t fucking fathom letting him die. not if he could help it.
a sigh, gavin lets the silence settle between them for a moment, unsure of how to say what he needs to. just spitting it out would probably be the best for both of them, he’s just unsure if he wants to see any more change in his usually stoic brother. he’s going to find out eventually.
“the androids that were sent to grab you weren’t deviant. they were factory fresh, pretty much shells, and they were controlled by the zen ai. they were trying to preserve cyberlife, so kidnapping you to ‘fix’ the deviant problem was apparently the solution. they…” another sigh, gavin doesn’t look the man in the eyes, “your st200′s tried to fight them off before they got into the house. one of them was destroyed. you hid chloe away, she’s safe, her and the other st were staying at the precinct with me while we looked for you. but–” funny, he never thought he’d be applying ‘next of kin’ protocol to a dead android. but…things were different now. he knows that model…no, that girl, gave her life, whatever sense of the word she had of it, to try and protect his brother. he’s grateful for that.
“i’m sorry. techs manage to salvage all the parts but i didn’t let anyone touch her. i…she’s in evidence. i can have her sent back to your place if you want but. i dunno..what you can do.”
here, he finally chances a glance over at his brother in the passenger seat, who looks far too small for gavin’s liking tucked in his own leather jacket, “i’m sorry, ‘lijh,” he repeats, and you could fucking swear he actually feels remorse, “she was already gone by the time i got there.”
elijah isn’t looking at gavin, staring lifelessly at the road, but one would be mistaken in thinking that he’s not listening. his attention is entirely on focused on the detective’s voice, information making way to his head and being processed right away. what few words gavin has already said about the androids who attacked him works with what he thought he observed back at their mer...
back there.
had they been deviant... elijah suspects they’d have killed him.
or asked more questions than they did.
his first motion since climbing into the car comes with the mention of his personal androids. while he’d made sure the rt600 would remain safe at all cost, there hadn’t been enough time to... and he doubts they’d even have agreed to hide as well.
after all, she did try to stop cyberlife’s goons and he knows better than most how ruthless his own company can be. let alone industry made androids not yet ready for the sale.
air is pushed out of his mouth quietly as he brushes his finger against his lower lip in a nervous motion before lowering it down ( as if realizing it had moved without his permission ). he joins his hands on his lap and finally looks at gavin.
the sole brow perking up is the only hint at his surprise.
gavin protected chloé and her st200 model, keeping them in the precinct despite what elijah has come to believe was a deeply ingrained jealousy or rage against the scientist’s creation. he’s kept people from violating his android’s remains and admitted to the facts as one would when speaking about another’s loved one. a decency gavin was in no way forced to show elijah’s android.
he stares without a word or another hint of emotions, the silence stretching uncomfortable ( but for elijah ) until he finally blinks and nods.
“ if you would be so kind. ” he breathes out. perhaps can something be done. perhaps can her core be saved. he won’t know until he sees her.
how strange for his throat and fist to clench in this way.
but something in the back of his mind points to him that his brother not only showed his creations decency, he actually seems to feel guilty about something that was nobody’s fault but cyberlife’s own. had he been still the ceo, none of this would have happened.
“ you did what you could. do not misinterpret, i am grateful for what you have done. ”
his hand massages his throat absently.
“ what more can you tell me about the whole situation? if anything... ”
