Confession prompt from this list
“Just listen, real closely, alright. And stop laughing.”
It’s a fancy neighbourhood. And Gavin doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing there.
The building is taller than any he’s ever visited, let alone lived in. There’s exotic plants in the lobby and jazz music playing in the elevator.
Trust the plastic prick to manage his finances this well.
Gavin gets to the top floor. He pauses to take in the abstract art on the walls.
They can afford to put Manfred paintings in the hallway? Holy shit. I should turn around and go home right now.
He comes to a stop in front of a double-door. The only one on the floor.
He starts to reach for the door bell, but then pulls back.
This is crazy. What am I doing?
He spends a few minutes floundering and is just about to walk shamefully back to the elevator when a crashing sound resounds from within the apartment.
Gavin smiles to himself. His clumsiness and colourful language have fully rubbed off on his partner. Cyberlife’s deep learning algorithms were no match for the company of Gavin Reed.
“Janice, you come back here right now!”
Gavin frowns. He’s heard plenty about the feisty cat but never understood why she had a name befitting an old office secretary. He didn’t understand a lot of things about his partner… but he supposed that was part of the appeal.
Another crash. A loud feline yowl. An exasperated groan.
Is he trying to bathe or skin his cat?
Gavin waits it out as the meows and grunts and crashes continue.
He feels a bit like a creep, eavesdropping on his partner through the door, but he honestly doesn’t know what to do next. He’d worked himself up after a few whisky shots with Hank… the old man convinced him to finally go do the deed… and then all his confidence drained as soon as the autonomous taxi rolled up outside the glittering residential complex. His old insecurities came back in full force.
People like me don’t belong within a mile of this postcode…
People like me don’t belong within a mile of people like Nines.
The door suddenly swings open violently.
“Jenson, if it’s about the fucking noise again, I swear to RA9! You are two floors down! How the fuck can you-”
Nines breaks off as he registers the identity of the man lurking outside his door. His blue eyes widen in surprise. Gavin stares back in equal surprise.
The android standing slack-jawed in his doorway looks nothing like the stoic, snooty RK900 that Gavin has come to know and love.
His dark hair hangs loose around his face… he’s bare-legged, actually in his boxers… and there’s a long slit ripped into his thin white t-shirt. Gavin is also a cat-owner. He knows the look. But never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined it on Nines.
“Gavin! What are you doing here?”
“I… was in the neighbourhood.”
Nines nods slowly and Gavin kicks himself mentally.
“Just wanted to say hi. And now I have. Bye.”
Cheeks burning, he’s halfway through turning on his heel, when Nines reaches for his arm.
And before either can say anything else, there’s a flash of black fur shooting though the crack in the door.
Gavin drops to his knees instinctively and deftly traps the rambunctious little animal. He stands up with a grimace.
“You sure she’s a cat? Acts and smells like a dog.”
Nines rolls his eyes and takes his pet back.
“She got stuck on top of my kitchen cabinet and fell in the compost box when I tried to get her down.”
“Man, I keep telling you to buy her a treehouse. She likes exploring.”
“It’ll ruin my whole aesthetic.”
“Can’t be worse than the respect Janice shows your decor today. Get one. I’m telling you. Asshole stopped shredding my curtains immediately when he got his.”
Nines shrugs noncommittally but his LED cycles yellow in a manner that tells Gavin he’s ordering a kitty treehouse immediately.
Janice struggles in Nines’ grasp, clawing at his ruined shirt. He glances down and tosses her back into the apartment, shutting the door firmly behind him. He looks back at Gavin, arms folded over his chest.
“As much as I need it, I’m guessing you didn’t come here to give me pet advice in the middle of the night.”
He stares at his feet. The alcohol haze that brought him to Nines’ doorstep is clearing. Under the glow of the crystal chandelier hanging above them, Gavin feels very stupid.
“I… it’s nothing. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”
“Gavin, my scans are telling me all kinds of things right now… but I’d rather you tell me yourself.”
“Yeah sorry, I forgot to disable my facial analysis… emotion recognition… and um… pheromone detectors…”
There’s a knowing look on Nines’ face and Gavin feels so damn small.
Guess I shouldn’t bother taking the elevator down. I’ll just jump.
“Tell me, Gavin. Before Janice chews through all the cushions on my couch.”
There’s silence, even from within the apartment. Nines’ eyes briefly dart to the door, scanning right through it to check on Janice no doubt, and flit back to Gavin. A teasing smile is playing on the corner of his lips.
The whole game is up. He already knows. Just tell him.
Gavin closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“Should I go wash the compost off my cat first… or are you planning on telling me sometime tonight?”
His eyes fly open to see Nines stifle a giggle.
Several moments pass with Nines’ mirth steadily increasing and Gavin’s shyness transforming into annoyance.
“Aren’t you gonna invite me in?”
“You’ve never visited me before. I have no idea why you’re here. The least you could do is give me an explanation for showing up unannounced and interrupting my night.”
“Alright, you prick. Just listen, okay. Just listen, real closely, alright. And stop laughing.”
Nines’ hand actually comes up to cup his mouth as his frame shakes with silent laughter.
“You got a lot of attitude for someone getting their ass kicked by a tiny kitten.”
Nines doubles over and holds up a finger, actual tears streaming down his face.
“Oh my god. You’re such an idiot. I can’t believe I was worried about coming here. Shut up for a second. Shut up.”
Nines props himself up against his door. His chest is heaving and he looks ready to burst into another fit of giggles, but he manages to hold it in valiantly.
Gavin clears his throat. He’s come all the way and he’s going to say his piece, fears and insecurities and everything else be damned.
Just as he opens his mouth… Nines pushes himself off the door and reaches for his face. Then suddenly, somehow, he’s being kissed.
Plush lips cover his own, and his eyelids flutter shut as Nines pulls him in. By the time they part for air, both are panting and intertwined in the entranceway.
Nines bumps his nose against Gavin’s.
“So did I guess right? Is that what you wanted to tell me?”
Their eyes lock for a moment and laughter threatens to bubble up once more. Lips trembling, they both manage to quell it. Foreheads touch and each man’s gaze dips back down to the other’s mouth.
They start to lean back in… and then there’s a spectacular shatter of glass from the other side of the door… an accompanying screech… and absolutely no chance of escaping the hilarity that bursts forth once more. 
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