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.
