The DPD was an equal opportunities place of employment. They didn’t discriminate, no matter the origins of someone. Even a plain old human like Gavin could get hired with the right skills were demonstrated. Though it was rare to have a human on the force, they were generally considered too vulnerable to magical influence even if they were hardier than some other creatures.
Still, Gavin worked hard and he made the grade, became a detective, even became friendly with Tina, one of the fae on the force. She and Chris, a suave incubus were his friends though Hank made for a decent boss, especially as a werewolf. His need to form a pack translated well into helping the precinct gel as a unit, especially when his Alpha tendencies showed. As an ogre, Fowler was better suited as Captain, he willingly fought for his subordinates with words, only old school ogres were sticklers for clubs and fist fights.
As a human, Gavin was used to being one of the smaller beings on the force. It had its advantages at times. People whispered in surprise at how easily Gavin seemed to resist the near constant lure of Chris’ nature. And how delicately he navigated around Tina’s questions in a way that never left him open to any kind of vulnerability. There were unasked questions that Gavin didn’t really fancy talking about so he left the gossips to wonder.
The day the haughty centaurs deigned to join the force, Gavin was seething. They had resisted lowering themselves to such mundane works as policing and were generally considered standoffish at the best of times. To have not one but two of them arrive at the precinct and be fawned over was all but spitting in his face. Centaurs were lauded for their acquiescence to join while humans had to bust a nut. It wasn’t fair. To add insult to injury, Gavin was partnered with one, at least until Nines got into the swing of things.
To an outsider, the initial face-off between Gavin and Nines would have looked ridiculous. Gavin stood there with his chest puffed out and ready to pick a fight with Nines who towered over him. The disparity between their appearances was quite drastic too, Gavin in his slightly shabby clothes, leather jacket and jeans while Nines was brushed and shiny coats with a sharp shirt covering his human half.
It was a sight most people grew accustomed to; the two of them facing off, Nines seemingly passive and calm while Gavin was all but spitting fury. Yet any attempt to separate them, break their partnership was met with stubborn resistance on both sides. Gavin maintained that to separate them would mean he was admitting defeat while Nines simply asserted that his learning curve was not yet at a plateau so he was loath to be removed from his partner. A deeper understanding of their partnership was gained when Gavin was sent out to a domestic disturbance.
The call had come in, requesting a single officer to intervene between a human couple. As per department procedures, a human detective was sent out. When a second call came in requesting backup, Nines was already half out of the precinct, annoyed he had been left behind in the first place. The report of an officer down shortly followed. Nobody quite knew what had happened, one minute, there was the bustle of an arrest, the next, Gavin was on the floor, blood pooling around him from the stab wound nobody had expected. The ambulance was too far out for Nines’ liking. He broke all social standards as he helped swing Gavin onto his back and raced to the hospital in record time. Some said he even made the siren noises just to get a laugh out of Gavin.
After that, things between Nines and Gavin shifted. There was a comfortable camaraderie between them. More often than not, when they faced off, it ended with Gavin on his tiptoes and Nines leaning down for a soft kiss. Rumours began to spread which neither of them bothered to even acknowledge.
It was only when Nines was confronted by Connor that certain things came to light. Not that anything Nines confided in his brother went far but somehow the truth had its way of getting out, along with a few candid pictures.
Most nights, Gavin and Nines left separately, nobody paid them much attention. Which suited them just fine. Especially since their routes home were exactly the same. Nines’ house had more space and was converted with centaurs in mind. Over time, it gained a few stools and portable steps so someone of shorted stature could reach the top shelves too. And at nights, Nines bedded down on a nest of blankets and pillows, curled around Gavin who was more than content to snuggle in and leach warmth.
“So, he’s half horse and hung like one, how does it work?” Tina asked bluntly one lunchtime. Gavin shrugged around a mouthful of hot dog. “Oh come on, you know I won’t tell anyone.”
“I don’t know,” Gavin finally muttered. The outraged muttering from Tina wasn’t the most encouraging but he ignored it.
“So you’re telling me, you have him all to yourself and you haven’t...” she trailed off as understanding dawned. “Oh.”
Gavin smiled sweetly at her. “I didn’t tell you so you can’t use it against me.”
“Like I ever would,” she scoffed in offence. “But you and him. Never?”
“Don’t need it. I like what we have as it,” Gavin assured her and he straightened from the table as he felt a warm presence approach from behind. Arms wrapped around his chest and Nines leaned down to nuzzle his hair.
“Guessing that’s our not quite secret is out?”
Gavin nodded and turned to crane his neck, silently asking for a soft press of lips against his. Having been given it, he smiled contentedly. It didn’t matter if nobody else understood what he and Nines had. Or if they made wild assumptions which, in his eyes, were laughable. As he’d told Tina, he and Nines were happy as was, they didn’t need anything more even if others thought otherwise.
I’m such a dumbass, when Ifirst read this I thought you meant if I’m physically comfortable as I am XD Somy initial thought was, it’s very sweet of you to consider that but here I amin slummy home clothes, under 4 blankets on the sofa with a dog by my side. Ithink I’m pretty cosy so should be able to write. And then it hit me. Yes. I amthat thick. But to answer your actual (equally sweet) concern, this isabsolutely a-okay so have some ace!Gavin!
If The Shoe Fits
Reputations were a serious thing. Gavin wasknown as a bit of a workaholic, a foul mouthed asshole, a brat. What he wasn’tknown for though, was being a ladies’ man. Or rather, in his case, a gentlemen’sman. There weren’t even whispers of his conquests, even after a night ofhitting bars and nobody could remember what really went on. Rumoursoccasionally cropped up that he was seen in some bar or other with someone, butnot once had Gavin ever outright answered a question about whether he wasdating anyone or had a casual fling. Gradually, people just accepted that maybethere were a few areas of his life that Gavin much preferred to keep private.
It didn’t escape the attention of the eagle eyesgossips at the DPD that over time, Nines and Gavin had grown close. Very close.They spent most of their lunchtimes together, sat side by side. On occasion,Nines would dip his finger into whatever Gavin was munching on and pop it intohis mouth for analysis. Usually, he’d hum in approval but on some days he’dsend Gavin a withering look and declare his lunch unfit for even a pig.Expectation and experience dictated that Gavin would blow up in Nines’ face atthe insult. Instead, he tipped his head back and laughed while Nines crammedfood into him to shut him up.
“You two make a cute couple,” Tina grinned asshe watched Nines try to throw jellybeans into Gavin’s waiting mouth across thebreakroom.
The jellybean sailed through the air just asGavin’s mouth snapped shut and stared at her in horror. It bounced off hischeek and Nines clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“We’re not,” Gavin stumbled over his words. “Imean, we aren’t. It’s not like.”
“Just tell me this much, is sex with an androidreally all that much better than with a human?” Tina snickered at his growingflush.
“Gavin wouldn’t know that,” Nines butted in. “Atleast not with me because I’m not equipped with human genitalia.”
“Ohhhhh,” Tina looked between them. “Is that whyyou guys aren’t official yet?”
“No!” Gavin snapped and grumpily slammed a mugunder the coffee machine.
He completely missed the look Nines shot him,one full of assessing contemplation.
The days went on, nobody brought up the thingbetween Gavin and Nines again, just let them get on with things as before.Lunches were still spent together, messing around and laughing with each other.Cases and reports were much the same too. Nines still went home with Gavin inthe evenings and they came in together too. Whispers were quickly shut downthough, warnings that it was a touchy topic for Gavin spread and for once,people respected his need for privacy until his relationship with Nines wasclarified.
“Gavin,” Nines stood by the closed front door tohis apartment and for the first time in his life looked nervous. “I haveprocured the necessary upgrades to maintain a physical relationship with you.My apologies I didn’t obtain it sooner, I did not realise this lack was whathas made you reticent about declaring our relationship.”
He expected many things but not for Gavin toheavily sit down on the couch and hang his head while muttering a tired “shit”.
“If I have misread the situation then pleaseaccept my apologies. I did not mean to presume.” Nines stood stock still, everybit the awkward android he felt himself to be.
“It’s not that. Fuck, Nines. I don’t know how tosay this,” Gavin rubbed a hand over his face. “The whole sex thing. It, I’venever, not really. Urgh. It’s just not my scene.”
Silence stretched between them as Nines tried tomake sense of it all.
“I want to be with you, I really do,” Gavincontinued, desperate to have anything but the quiet, or the shouting and namecalling that usually followed this conversation.
“You’re asexual,” Nines nodded to himself as heput the pieces together.
Gavin nodded sadly and pushed away from thesofa.
“I still wish to be with you too,” Nines foundhimself reflecting Gavin’s words.
“But you’re not ace, and those upgrades cost apretty penny,” Gavin approached him with none of his usual bluster. “We canstill make use of it; I can make you feel good if you want.”
His hands went for Nines’ belt but there was noexcitement in his voice, his face was slack, eyes distant with worry. It waseasy to wrap fingers around his wrists to stop him.
“We don’t have to,” Nines tried to catch Gavin’seyes but it was proving impossible.
“That shit’s expensive; I don’t want you to havewasted all that money on something you won’t get to use. Or if you want, youcan find someone else who can give you more, someone who is better. Someone whois norm-”
“I want you,” Nines cut in. “You’re perfect asyou are. This upgrade was for you only because I thought it was what youwanted. I had foolishly assumed you weren’t keen to declare our relationshipbecause we hadn’t engaged in coitus. Now I know better and realise you wereworried I would demand more than you were willing to give.”
Cheeks aflame, Gavin nodded and mumbled a soft “yeah”.
“You forget, I’m an android. Sexualgratification isn’t central, or even all that desired in my kind. We havedifferent needs. Sex is a human construct that we can indulge in but do notgain the same pleasure from it. So I can keep this upgrade purely for aestheticreasons because I do like the way my slacks fall. Or I can remove it if youfeel its presence is a pressure on you.”
He pulled Gavin into his arms for a hug and wassurprised at how little resistance he was met with. It was all too easy to tuckGavin’s head into the crook of his neck, to let him snuggle in and re-centrehimself.
“Now,” Nines began with a soft smile when Gavinfinally pulled away, “I do believe you promised me two episodes rather than theusual one tonight.”
They settled on the sofa like almost every othernight, Gavin’s feet in Nines’ lap and immersed themselves in the show they’dbeen watching for the last couple of months.
The next day they walked into the precinct,heads held high, fingers linked and Tina whistled at the sight.
So your magicalDPD inspired me. What about a society where everyone has some sort of magic and by some sort of blip in the matrix Gavin is born mundane. There hasn't been a mundane in centuries. He manages to lie/trick everyone he's ever met (hence why he's so on edge) and has successfully flown 'under the radar for years'
That is such a great idea!! Because Gavin has perfected the art of "don't touch me, don't even look at me" thanks to being a mundane. It does come with added benefits that people brush off as a Gavinism. He seems to be blind to illusions (he sees some of them but he never knows which ones should only affect certain magical lines so he ignores them all), he's unaffected by any pheromones (werewolves and shape shifters are especially prone to those), he's also learnt to tamp down all emotions for fear of vampires or succubi manipulating him. Instead, he's projects an aura of bitter anger which is easy enough to conjure up from his fear of being discovered and cast to the fringes of society.
It takes what Nines would call an embarrassingly long time for him to notice. Gavin never uses any kind of magic to make his workload easier. Be it gentle persuasion to get his way or tapping into flows to get a better appreciation of a situation. He never uses any kind of magic to speed along things, no fire, water or air influenced spells to aid a live case. Everything is done by hand and through hard sweat.
At first, Nines is charmed by it, thinks Gavin is old fashioned or embarrassed by his magic - perhaps it was weaker than he wanted to portray. It was sweet to watch him grumble about his coffee cooling before he could drink it, shed layers when the temperatures began to pick up. Less endearing was his aggression with his colleagues, his resolute dedication to forcing everyone away. The silver thread sewn into every item of clothing kept the wolves at bay, the scattering of beads on his desk distracted vampires, the number of them always varying so each time one walked past, they had to count it all over again. The only thing that came naturally was his wilful ignorance of any attempt at seduction. Even Nines' own, perfectly mundane, attempts were shrugged off.
When Nines finally figured it out, not just that Gavin simply wasn't interested in a fling (and never would be) but also that he had not an ounce of magic in him, he kept it quiet. Wooed Gavin the way he deserved to be and cherished his uniqueness. The affection that came over time warmed his heart in a way no other magical being ever had.
By the times Nines was head over heels in love, Gavin had started dropping hints that maybe he wasn't quite as magical as he made out to be. That he held no mysterious power that he was guarding fiercely. In the dark, curled up against Nines' flank, words haltingly came, eased by the night.
In response, Nines kissed his cheek and muttered that he already knew and it changed nothing. He loved Gavin for who he was, not his unique lack of anything magic.
Ships: Gavin Free/Ray Narvaez Jr.Jack Pattillo/Geoff RamseyMichael Jones/Lindsay TuggeyGavin Free/Original CharacterRay Narvaez Jr./Original Character
WC: 1314 - WIP
Rating: G
Warnings: -
Summary: Ray is a generally shy, awkward, can't-even-get-his-coffee-order-out-without-saying-um kind of guy. Gavin is a generally outgoing, hyperactive, I-act-really-stupid-sometimes-just-to-be-cute kind of guy. They couldn't be more opposite, to be honest. Even in sexuality, Ray is pansexual and Gavin is asexual. The two of them are now college dorm-mates, and now, it's time to see them off on their new adventures.
Summary: Prompt fill for “asexual!anyone telling their parter(s) theres something utterly awful about telling others that youre asexual you know that theyre not trying to be hurtful and that ignorance is often not a choice but you really dont want to be the one to explain it and while youre trying to explain they ask the questions wrong in a way that makes you feel emotions from before you knew what asexuality was the old insecurities and hate for yourself pop up your hands are shaking and you feel awful and nervous”
i never thought that you would be the one to hold my heart
Author: eponings
Link: ao3
asexual!Gavin, aromantic!Michael
Ship: Gavin/Michael-ish
WC: 1619
Rating: T
Warnings: Mentions of internalised aromantic-phobia
Summary: Gavin whipped out his phone to show them all some new viral video. His safari was open to some page called AO3, of which the scrolling header read ‘Mavin Milk Fic’. (aka im so so sorry)
