Summary: Trevor, Alfredo and Gavin are getting ready for a gala. Too bad their good looks are rather... distracting.
For @ganglylimbs! Thanks, love
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“Hell yeah, boys,” Alfredo purred, tugging at Trevor’s tie. “You clean up fine.”
“You clean up fine,” Trevor shot back, batting his hands away and smoothing out his dress shirt. They looked like mirror images standing across from each other like they were, Trevor dressed in all black with cream tie and Alfredo in a cream-white suit with black tie.
Gavin smiled, pulling on his gold embroidered vest. Where their formal attire was a warm cream tone, his was pearl white, contrasting sharply with the solid gold of his tie.
“You’re both pretty princesses,” he teased, adjusting the breast cloth. He checked the mirror, making sure he’d gotten rid of all the creases. The suits fit them like gloves, specifically tailored to highlight their forms. Trevor had splurged on the budget to treat them and the effect was undeniable. As Gavin looked them over in the mirror’s reflection, arms wrapped around his waist from behind, Trevor hooking his chin over his shoulder.
“You’re still the prettiest of them all,” he assured Gavin, fingers running over his stomach, circling around the buttons of his shirt. “Right, Fredo?”
Alfredo hummed, reaching around to cup Gavin’s face, tilting it up. Gavin met his mouth easily, lips sliding against each other softly. A familiar and reassuring feeling of warmth radiating from Alfredo’s palm on his cheek, from Trevor leaning against his back. Fingers danced up his chest, under the jacket, teasing around his nipples. Gavin gasped into the kiss, and Alfredo swallowed the sound greedily.
They broke apart panting wetly, and Gavin pressed back against Trevor, eyes not leaving Alfredo’s as he rubbed against Trevor’s hardening length.
“We should be going soon,” he murmured huskily, one hand stilling Trevor’s clever fingers even while the other reached for Alfredo, pulling him in. “We don’t really have time to fool around.”
“I hear it’s fashionable to show up late to parties,” Alfredo quipped, fingers tracing below Gavin’s eye, then up behind his ear.
“Only if you do it in style,” Trevor corrected, a sly smile in his voice. His breath brushed over Gavin’s neck, leaving goosebumps.
Gavin hummed, wrapping an arm around Alfredo’s waist, tugging him close. Pressed between his boys he felt safe.
“We have until dusk,” he murmured, cupping his free hand behind Alfredo’s head and pulling him in for another kiss.
“Which is less than an hour away,” Trevor pointed out reasonably, his hands drifting up and loosening Gavin’s tie despite his words. Alfredo broke off, grinning at Trevor.
“C’mon,” he purred, leaning over Gavin’s shoulder to brush his lips over Trevor’s. “Aren’t you feeling… dusky?”
“No ruining the suits,” Trevor mumbled, his breath hitching as Gavin rubbed up against him. “We blew almost our entire budget on them, they better be in top form tonight.”
“Just means we have to swallow, dunnit?” Gavin teased. Trevor’s arms around him tightened and Alfredo turned his dark gaze on him.
“You volunteering?” he asked, voice hoarse.
“I don’t know.” Gavin let his lips pull into an arrogant smirk. “Why don’t you make me?”
some prompts for u dear: a fun twist on king au, gav as king and some of the others of his court? whatever ship you’re feeling but idk king gav is always a favorite. boy is smarter and more competent than others give him credit for
Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this one for the last couple of days and it’s a whole ~universe. (Mainly because I am such a sucker for the whole trope of the evil chancellor/coup/DRAMA in a kings au setting, but yes.)
It happens when Gavin’s a child, seven or eight, and his father allows himself to be captured to give his mother and him time to escape.
They use hidden passages and such under the castle that let out near the stables, take his father’s war horse and ride as far as they can before the poor thing needs to rest, but it’s not far enough. So they leave it tethered to a post in a small village, taking care to remove its tack and whatever else might give them away too soon and his mother steals a horse.
She gives him a look when he makes a noise, swallowing up any protests because this is not the time for things like that, knows these are unusual circumstances.
They keep traveling like that for days until they manage to cross the border to a neighboring kingdom through a treacherous mountain pass. They finally stop in some sleepy little village far from the border and while the people there are curious, they have manners, don’t pry too much when news reaches them of what’s taken place. Assume they’re refugees for one reason or another and leave them to their own business.
Gavin’s mother has sold off bits of jewelry and other finery along their way here so they have a little money, enough to get them a room from someone in town long enough for her to find work in a tavern, and things are fine for a little bit.
She works hard to keep them both fed and clothed and when she’s not at work she tells him stories about their kingdom, his father, and so on in their tiny bed while the rain falls outside. Makes sure he continues his schooling with the local children, tells him not to mind them when they look down on him and his threadbare clothes, hand-me-downs from their parents who feel sympathy for this widow and her son.
But then she becomes sick a few years on, and there’s no cure. (Heartbreak, someone tells him, because sometimes a loss is too great.)
There’s no one in the village willing to take Gavin in – too poor, and he’s likable enough, yes, but not one of theirs – so he’s take to a larger town nearby with an orphanage.
Underpaid workers there with too many mouths to feed, too many children to clothe and care for and it’s made them not unkind, exactly, just not caring.
There are children there who are mean and cruel, bully those weaker than them and at first they think Gavin is like that.
He isn’t, though. Small and quiet, far too clever for his own good, but not weak. (A good king is never weak.)
Too small to fight off the larger boys – nearly teenagers – on his own, but there are others who don’t care for bullies. A pair of boys who look enough alike at first glance it would be easy to think they were twins, who fight dirty and whisk Gavin away to some hiding spot of theirs before the adults take notice.
And that’s where Gavin first meets Trevor and Alfredo.
Alfredo loves him immediately, but Trevor is a harder sell. Wary of new people and the like, but it’s not long before Gavin and Alfredo win him over and they become close friends as they grow up in the orphanage together. (Think he’s a bit odd with his accent, the way he speaks – no commoner, Gavin – but he’s quiet and clever and quick to offer a suggestion when they’re up to some small mischief.)
A few years later there’s word of bandits getting bolder, attacking villages and the like. No one knows what they’re after because it’s obvious they’re looking for something – someone – and Trevor and Alfred worry about Gavin when they find out his old village was one of the first attacked.
Gavin makes ~secret plans to leave because he knows they’re after him – doesn’t want to get Trevor and Alfredo caught up in this whole mess.
Doesn’t realize that Trevor’s making similar plans and doesn’t explain why when Alfredo catches him at it, refusing to let him go alone and all that both reluctantly agreeing it would be best to leave Gavin out of it. Think he’ll be safer at the orphanage and that he’s bright enough to look after himself when he ages out.
Before they can put their plans in motion their city gets attacked.
It’s pretty obvious that the attackers aren’t your typical bandits, more organized, better equipment and so on, and Gavin goes missing in the chaos.
Everyone thinks he’s been killed – he’s just a kid and the orphanage was one of the main targets in the attack, burned to the ground and such – so they assume one of the bodies is his.
Trevor takes it hard, thinks it’s his fault even though he doesn’t tell Alfredo why
Trevor and Alfredo run away, get lost in the city’s underbelly and become thieves and the like, dragged in deeper and deeper until someone notices them and thinks they have ~potential and before you know it they’re part of an assassin’s guild.
(Trevor tries to convince Alfredo to stick to thieving, or learn a trade, but Alfredo won’t hear of it. Worried about Trevor after Gavin died because he’s grown colder, more distant and so on.)
There’s also this budding...something between them, which honestly has always been there but neither of them act on it. (They both know something it missing and don’t dare talk about what – who – it might be, because Gavin’s dead, so...)
A few years go by where they get a reputation for being able to pull off assassinations thought to be impossible – they step on a few toes in the guild in the process.
This pair of upstarts the guild master found picking pockets in the marketplace who don’t know their place, have upstaged senior assassins who have too much ego and nowhere near enough skill so the guild master hands them an assignment, someone with a grudge against a storekeeper in the capital city.
Trevor and Alfredo are a little offended at first because this is the kind of assignment handed to the novice assassins, but the way the guild master’s acting and the nature of the assignment itself is super suspicious, right?
She warns them to be careful, something she never does, and gives them the pick of the armory and whatnot and something it definitely up.
They gear up, grabbing weapons and such they didn’t have access to before and head off on their assignment. Go through cities and villages, small settlements the bandits have attacked – the attacks don’t happen as frequently anymore, and Alfredo wonders why that is, Trevor musing about the number of assignments their guild has gotten since they joined. Senior assassins who weren’t threatened by them mentioning there have been more than usual, and maybe the two are connected?
And then they reach the capital city and check in with the assassin’s guild master there (all of them thinking it a bit odd if not wholly unusual their client didn’t go to them directly) and spend the first day there familiarizing themselves with the city.
Wait until night of the second day to see to their assignment, but when Trevor sneaks in the storekeeper is gone.
His son, however, is not, and proves to be something of a capable fighter. The two of them trading blows in the near darkness and Trevor reluctantly impressed with his ability to keep up with him – until Alfredo steps in to put an end to it.
And it’s a terrible idea, sudden impulse that makes Trevor reach for the candle on the table to see the face of the person who’s been able to fight on an even level with an assassin of his ability as long as he did – and it’s Gavin.
!!!
This look on his face, in his eyes, they remember from the orphanage when the bullies caught up to him before Trevor and Alfredo let them know what a bad idea that was.
Defiance and bravery and all that, and clearly he’s expecting them to kill him. Don’t know it’s them with the scarves and masks over their faces, so – against guild rules and all common sense – Trevor pulls them away, and watches the disbelief on Gavin’s face.
Sees the way he glances immediately to Alfredo like of course that’s who Trevor’s partner would be and all three of them are caught in this standoff not knowing what to do next.
So of course that’s when the storekeeper arrives, startling all three of them.
“Friends of yours?”
Gavin looks back at Trevor and Alfredo, blade to his throat and clearly in some form of trouble – it’s clear the storekeeper is armed, will act the moment he gets a chance.
“I’d like to think so,” he says, but times change. (People change.)
Alfredo clears his throat, shares a look with Trevor and puts his blades away, Trevor following suit a beat later, and then it’s all-over awkward.
Gavin is still staring at Trevor and Alfredo, and they’re still staring at him, and the storekeeper just sighs as he goes about making tea because clearly it’s going to be a long night?
Trevor watches him closely – it’s clear the man knows they’re there for him but he doesn’t seem at all ruffled by the presence of two assassins in his kitchen.
After a moment Gavin goes to help, placing four mugs of tea around the small table and looking at the two of them expectantly.
He’s nervous, scared, Trevor knows. Small tells he learned when they were in the orphanage together, but he’s placing some level of trust in the two of them. (Still makes sure to keep himself between the storekeeper and the pair of assassins, though, and that makes him smile a little because it’s very...him.)
The storekeeper gets things rolling, tells them he knows they’re here for him and guesses their client correctly – and instead of sounding worried or even afraid he’s just annoyed.
“Bastard doesn’t have the balls to come after me himself,” he grumps, and Gavin hides his grin behind his mug, because Geoff.
Trevor and Alfredo are like ??? because not the usual reaction to someone sending assassins after them?
But then Geoff looks at Gavin – full-on Dad mode and asks if this is why Gavin wanted him to pay visits to some of their associates in the city earlier.
Gavin can’t meet his eyes, hems and haws and answers the question by not answering it.
“Idiot,” Geoff mutters, and Gavin shoots him a look, which he ignores as he studies the two assassins.
Young, just stupid kids. And he’s heard Gavin’s stories about his childhood, the friends he had at the orphanage before this and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out these are the same people. (In name at least.)
“Well, this changes things, doesn’t it.”
Trevor and Alfredo have no idea what the hell that’s even supposed to mean, but Gavin clearly does.
Looks startled, sitting up with this strange expression on his face.
Geoff sighs, odd smile gracing his lips.
“If they’re getting this desperate, we’ll have to move things ahead.”
Which is how Trevor and Alfredo end up discovering Gavin is the missing(presumed dead) prince to their neighboring kingdom???Geoff is a former castle guard who ~fled to this kingdom with his husband not long after the coup.
Realized the man behind the coup suspected Gavin was still alive and started searching for him following vague clues and whatnot to the orphanage the night it was attacked and used the chaos to spirit Gavin away. (Because plot reasons.)
The made it to this city thinking it would be a better place to hide him than some border village or what have you. Bought a small store to bring in money and set about training Gavin and inadvertently start up a resistance cell???
Gavin snorts at that because there was never a chance they wouldn’t get involved in things being who they are, but Geoff and Jack insist Gavin would have done something stupid that forced their hands, so. Yes.
Jack comes home while Trevor and Alfredo are processing everything they’ve learned, and Geoff sends him to help because Jack’s got packages – foods and whatnot that were given as gifts.
And Geoff, okay. Geoff.
Leans forward, making sure to keep his voice low so Gavin won’t hear him and threatens to kill Trevor and Alfredo if they even think of betraying Gavin. Tells them he’s trusting Gavin right now, but he doesn’t know them. Doesn’t trust them, and they’re assassins.
A respected profession, to be sure, but there are always weasels in any walk of life. The ones who are good at faking morals and the like, and he might be old now, but he’s smart.
Trevor doesn’t seem overly impressed by the threats, but he swears he won’t betray Gavin, as does Alfredo – and when Gavin comes back he knows something happened but no one’s talking, so.
Yes.
They agree to fake Geoff’s death, reporting to the assassin’s guild in the city they’ve completed their assignment and send word to their guild master via carrier pigeon or whatever to prevent arousing suspicion anything is wrong.
And then they get roped into helping with the resistance cell, realize it’s larger than expected as they leave the city and meet with more along the way because it’s past time they retook the throne and all that.
Gavin and Alfredo reconnecting quickly while Trevor takes longer to warm up – partly at the surprise of Gavin being alive after all these years, partly because of the fact he’s the prince? (And a little of Trevor’s own secrets.)
It takes time setting everything in motion. Getting word out to various cells that they’re finally ready to act without revealing themselves.
A lot of time spent traveling, shenanigans in which they run into bandits – real and not – along the way. Gavin, Trevor, and Alfredo getting separated from Geoff and Jack after an attack and having to take shelter in an old farm somewhere until the weather lets up.
Trevor got hurt in the fight while watching Gavin’s back and so Gavin fusses over him while Alfredo looks on in amusement (really, he’s the best adjusted out of everyone in this AU and think Gavin and Trevor are the dumbest smart people he knows).
Trevor studying Gavin and talking quietly, Alfredo standing guard and piping up as they talk about their lives after the attack on the orphanage. Gavin sharing what happened with him, guilty about keeping his secret from them but not wanting to endanger than he already had.
Tells them about his plan to sneak away before the attack happened and Alfredo giving Trevor this look because Trevor has secrets of his own, right? And Trevor stiffly telling Gavin about his plans to sneak away and they’re both just like, so stupid?
Trevor reveals he’s from Gavin’s kingdom as well, has an older brother who was some kind of scholar, a researcher in service to the new king – he scoffs at the title, bitter twist to his mouth because the man is no king, merely a petty bully – who sent Trevor away when things became too dangerous.
Intended to send him to stay with relatives in this kingdom, but there was a bandit attack or something and he ended up in the orphanage where he met Alfredo and later Gavin. (How long he spent thinking Gavin died because the bandits might be looking for him instead and thinking he might be able to do something about the baddie if he became an assassin, sneak into the castle and kill him, reunite with his brother and so on.)
They reconcile, Alfredo a little too smug about things, so of course he gets his comeuppance hen Trevor and Gavin share a look. And Gavin grabs Alfredo into play fight, giddy laughter and this relief that they’re not completely changed by their experiences and Trevor and Alfredo fully throwing their lot in with Gavin and the others.
They meet up with Geoff and Jack a few days later and both of them sense something’s changed in their time apart. See the way Trevor’s cool demeanor towards Gavin has softened, the way he and Alfredo are always at his side and decide to let the three of them figure the rest out for themselves. (Idiots that they are.)
Once they cross the border the extend of the tyrant's abuse of the people is more evident, abandoned farms – some because the farmers couldn’t afford the taxes, some simply burned to the ground when they dares speak out.
It gets worse the closer they get to the capital city, Gavin more and more determined to put things right. (And scared, because what if he fails?)
Trevor getting quieter as he watches Gavin, and Alfredo watching both of them.
They join up with the main resistance cell and spend some time going back and forth deciding a plan of attack, and Gavin speaks up when someone brings out a map of the castle showing hidden passageways and the like.
Asks for a drawing implement and adds to it, the passageways he and his mother used when they escaped. Half-remembered but a better way in to the castle than other routes and it’s decided a small party would be best.
Gavin, Geoff, Jack. Trevor and Alfred – a pair of assassins of their ability will be valuable in this. Jeremy, who smuggled the map out of the castle to the resistance cell given to him from an inside source, and a few others.
They infiltrate the castle and get caught up in an ambush – because of course they do – and Gavin ends up separated from the others while the baddie monologues.
There’s a one on one fight where Gavin manages to hold his own, but then the baddie plays dirty – calls in hidden guards he has to fend off and in the fray he gets hit with a throwing knife that’s been dipped in poison.
Just as the baddie is about to kill Gavin, the others break through the barricaded doors for a last minute rescue.
Trevor and Alfredo take up protective positions around Gavin while Geoff and the others deal with the remaining guards and the baddie.
Geoff gets into a tight spot and suddenly Trevor’s there, killing the guard before he can kill Geoff and then he’s gone again, going after the baddie while Alfredo helps deal with the riffraff.
No one notices Gavin following Trevor and the baddie up to one of the castle towers, especially not Trevor or the baddie. So when the baddie corners Trevor who’s lost his weapons, back to a window, both of them are surprised when Gavin appears.
Distracts the baddie long enough for Trevor to snatch up a dropped weapon and kill the baddie with, the two of them staring in shock when they realize they’ve done it.
Killed the tyrant and cleared the way for Gavin to retake his throne, start setting the kingdom to rights and all that.
Go back down to where the others are to find them mopping up, Geoff and Jack running over to Gavin who collapses. (Still poisoned, btw.)
They fuss over him before Alfredo comes over with the dagger used on him that Alfredo pocketed before the real fighting started. He and Trevor figure out which poison was used and the antidote needed to counter it (plot reasons) and Gavin recuperates with Geoff and Jack taking care of things in the meantime.
Trevor or Alfredo can be counted on to guard over Gavin, and thwart a few assassination attempts while he recovers. (Leave their guild, although neither of them mention it to anyone, especially Gavin.)
Shenanigans, in which Gavin is recognized as the missing (presumed dead) prince and a coronation ceremony happens.
Everything looks like it’s going to have a happily ever after, but Trevor is distracted.
Gavin too busy to notice at first, but Alfredo mentions he doesn’t seem himself and Gavin goes to talk to Trevor. Realizes Trevor’s brother is missing and he’s worried.
Afraid he’d been caught or killed before now, that Trevor’s been wasting time that could have been spent looking for him. (A mole for the resistance within the castle walls for so long, surely he would have been discovered by now.)
So Gavin looks around, all these loyal guards – Geoff’s taken up position as head of the castle guard grumbling all the way. (Has his eye on this particular guard, mouthy brat who could be incredible with more training.)
Knows Trevor, that eventually he’ll sneak off on his own to look for his brother now that things are starting to settle, the people realizing that things are changing for the better, and acts first.
Arranges supplies and equipment, money, for Trevor and Alfredo to go find his brother, because of course Alfredo will go with him. (Leaves a note, telling them to come back when they’re ready to and all the documents that will allow them to travel freely in the kingdom until then. Acting as his personal agents or what have you.)
They’re gone for a long time, following what small clues and whatnot they find along the way. The three of them sending letters back and forth, and finally, finally, they come back, Trevor’s brother in tow.
He’d fled when the baddie realized he was the mole, handed the map to Jeremy and acted as a decoy to allow him to get it to the resistance. Gotten caught up in various shenanigans of his own – fake bandits and the like and thrown into a prison on false charges when Trevor and Alfredo caught up to him.
Got him out using their positions in Gavin’s court and spent some time waiting for him to recover before making back for the capital and the castle.
And in the meantime, Gavin’s installed Jack as his main advisor, takes his counsel seriously as he builds up his staff of advisors and whatnot.
Finds suitable candidates for most, but the role of head researcher/what have you is proving difficult – until, of course, Trevor and Alfredo return with Trevor’s brother.
Clever man with a fascination for redstone and its potential.
There’s a bit of unease within the court at first, people recognizing him as someone who was close to the baddie. Worked his way up the ranks until he became the baddie’s most trusted advisor, privy to sensitive information he funneled to the resistance when he could.
Worked with operatives like Jeremy and Michael and other key resistance members who vouch for him.
Still, to avoid the appearance of favoritism Gavin sets up a competition between the people vying for the position, and Ryan (because of course it’s Ryan) winds handily. (And while there’s still grumbling, it’s more thoughtful now, and as time passes it fades away when he doesn’t reveal himself to be the traitor his detractors think he is.)
And then, you know.
Trevor becoming Gavin’s spymaster while Alfredo fades into the background, carrying out assassinations and aiding Trevor in his work.
People thinking Gavin’s too young, inexperienced at being a king, but he has Jack and Geoff helping guide him and several others besides. Makes mistakes, yes, but he’s learning, doing his best and his people learn to love him.
Trevor and Alfredo continue to thwart assassination attempts, sniff out dissenters who have plans to start another coup before they gain any traction.
Geoff is clearly training Michael up to take over as captain of the castle guard with Lindsay as his second in command there.
Jeremy shows an interest in redstone - and Ryan, which is absolutely mutual and entertaining to watch play out for everyone else.
(Gavin goes down to their workshop when his duties get to be a little too much, gets drawn into explanations of their current projects and volunteered as an extra pair of hands. Ryan’s tolerant of his questions and curious about the other brazen fool who’s won Trevor’s head so completely. Jeremy just likes having a similarly minded partner in crime.)
After an assassination attempt that comes a little too close, Trevor insists Gavin pick up his training again. (Terrified about what could happen if he doesn’t, if Trevor and Alfredo are too slow, or away dealing with Gavin’s enemies.)
Which of course leads to close quarters combat, and Trevor pinning Gavin who cheats outrageously by kissing him. Takes advantage of Trevor’s surprise to reverse their positions, smug grin on his face and face bright, bright red.
From the exertion, yes, but also at his boldness. Little bit of fear that he’s overstepped, that things have changed between them – but then Trevor’s kissing him back and it’s all very lovely, indeed.
Until Alfredo complain about being left out of things. (He’s been gone for the better part of a week on a mission for Trevor, and this is what he comes home to? Come on, guys.)
Gavin and Trevor sharing a look before they gang up on him, and manage to make up for being so unbearably inconsiderate of him. (Thoroughly.)
And then happily ever after for everyone, because of course it is.
Alfredo doing the "Hmmm, baby girl, I don't know" and having Gavin put on like a fashion show for him and Gavin is all exasperatd "Fredo, it's just a meet, it's not even anything fancy" and Alfredo all fake offended, hand to his chest and gaping "Babe, you gotta dress for the occassion! Wear those skinny jeans, if I gotta watch your ass I want something worth watching" and then at Gavin's arched look, hastily adds, "only if you want, honey" and Gavin rolls his eyes but absolutely picks those
omfg thats absolutely beautiful and i love it! god i really need practice writing fredo because he would have the BEST dialogue. this whole scene is amazing and my new favorite
Notes: @miss-ingno is to blame for this one. Totes.
Chapter 1 - Gavin
Gavin’s made mistakes in the past, but none quite like this. Stupid enough that he hasn't quite shed the arrogance of youth, and ends up paying for it for a long, long time.
AO3
It’s a silly little whim, bit of curiosity, that has Gavin hacking a system no one in their right mind would even think about before they’ve learned enough to do it cleanly and it lands him in the worst kind of trouble.
Changes his damn world when he wakes up one morning to his door being kicked in and armed men in body armor and big damn guns aimed at him.
A man in a suit and bulletproof vest and this smirk as he looks Gavin over like he’s nothing. (Less than nothing.)
A flick of his hand and one of the men moves forward to cuff Gavin. They march him past his gawking neighbors and shoved into the back of an unmarked van, driven down to the FIB building.
Plunk him down in an interrogation room for what has to be bloody hours.
Handcuffed to the metal table facing the two-way mirror and all the time in the world to pick apart the how of him ending up there.
Every little misstep, thing he’d done or not done when he was poking around their files and other bits of interest, thinking the would never notice.
He loses track of time, too-bright lights and changing of the stone-faced bastards watching him, stomach growling and mouth dry and aware – so very aware – that things in Los Santos work differently than anywhere else he’s seen in his short life. (Anything he’s been told about, knows people like him go missing all the damn time in this city.)
Gavin’s starting to wonder if he’s just going to rot in the interrogation room. Up and waste away without anyone knowing what happened to him when the agent from his apartment walks in.
Perfectly pressed suit and slicked back hair, pair of horn-rimmed glasses and this too-calm air about him.
Voice this smooth, controlled roll and pitch.
Soothing, mesmerizing.
“Gavin Free,” he greets. “I’m Agent Harris.”
He’s holding a simple manila folder in his hands with Gavin’s name across the little tab. Blocky font, last name first, first name last and a string of numbers and letters under it Gavin can’t quite make out.
His record, Gavin assumes. Various files and whatnot documenting his misdeeds over the years. From England to certain areas across Europe to where he’d crossed the ocean to the US and eventually Los Santos.
Small things here and there, nothing serious enough to land him jail time. Most easily explained away as the indiscretions of youth and all that. Running with the wrong crowd and he’d make an excellent candidate for rehabilitation and on and on and on.
Gavin knows it by heart, all the times he got off lightly, and knows this won’t be one of them.
Agent Harris tosses Gavin’s file on the table, and he watches it slide across the smooth metal until it stops in front of him.
“Go on,” Agent Harris says. “Open it.”
Gavin gives him a look, but Harris gives him nothing to go on, so Gavin opens the folder to reveal a stack of photos placed on top of his file.
The top photo isn’t that old, and Gavin’s heart stops in his chest as he studies it.
He knows where it was taken, when.
Gavin headed back to his terrible little apartment a few weeks back a few weeks back as he was coming back from a job. Head down against the cold, chin tucked into the collar of his jacket, hands shoved into his pockets and so damn oblivious.
The cuffs are just long enough for him to reach for the folder, move that photo aside to see the others.
Some go back months, almost a year and not once had he noticed. (A few with Dan in them, when the idiot had visited him on leave, new rank insignia and boyish grin and this pride about him, because he was thriving and it kills Gavin a little seeing those photos.)
“You’re an interesting young man,” Agent Harris says as he takes a seat across from Gavin. Folds his hands together. “Uniquely talented.”
Gavin swallows thickly and puts the photos down. Flips the folder shut and leans back in his chair. Wants away from this man with his too-calm manner and calculating look in his eyes. Smug in his position of authority, knows he has Gavin exactly where he wants him.
“But you’ve made...questionable choices in your life,” he says, like he regrets such a waste. “This latest incident of yours is quite serious, you understand. You’re no longer considered a minor.”
Gavin’s careful not to let his hands curl into fists. He’s met more than his share of people like this agent since coming to Los Santos. Knows what a mistake that would be.
The agent smiles, a mockery of kindness, sympathy.
“My superiors have an offer for you to consider,” the agent says. “We could use someone with your talents.”
And there it is, trap closing around him of his own making.
“If you decline the offer, well. You did hack into the FIB’s database.” The agent spreads his hands. “I doubt your country will fight us over this.”
If they even find out about it, Gavin knows. Got a peek at all sort of unsavory things before he ducked out of their systems, thought he’d managed to do it cleanly.
“Well,” he says, keeps his eyes down. Tone of voice resigned, defeated. “When you put it that way.”
There’s a quiet laugh, a sense of good boy to it that plants a little seed in Gavin’s mind, sets down roots.
“You’re making the right choice, Mr. Free.”
========
Gavin keeps his head down, plays meek and mild. Lets them think they’ve broken his spirit with threats of what will happen to him if he puts a toe out of line. All these laws he’s broken, the case against him they were building for ages before he gave them the perfect opportunity.
Plays by their rules and as time goes by they get complacent, comfortable in their belief he would never dream of doing something about the pretty little cage they’ve built around him.
It gains him small freedoms, privileges, and he’s so, so careful with them. Hoards them like precious jewels and makes sure not to do anything to have them revoked. (Or really, get caught doing anything that would get them revoked because he’s nowhere near broken, defeated the way they assume he is.)
Gavin learns so much working for the FIB. Goes up against other hackers out there, cyber threats and the like and all it does is sharpen his own skills, hones them. Teaches him to be better, smarter, than those he catches fumbling like blind fools.
He snares the worst of the lot, the ones with plans to hurt and kill for the joy of it, because it sounds like fun to them.
Runs them to ground, wraps them up nice and neat for the FIB and feels a vicious sort of satisfaction because they’re monsters, nice and simple.
He takes warning swipes at the young and stupid, too curious for their own good. Sends them scurrying away before the FIB catches onto them. Teaching them the lesson he learned the hard way.
Things shift a little sideways on him when he finds himself staring at a chat window one day. A chat window for a program he knows for a fact wasn’t installed on his machine when he came in that morning.
Simple enough message, too. Quote from a classic eighties movie. One of the Matthews, if he recalls correctly.
Shall we play a game?
He stares at it for a long, long time, aware it could be a trap. Some clever new way for his handlers to extend his so-called contract with them, but he’s feeling reckless enough at the moment not to care.
Love to. he types, but leaves off the rest because he’s not to the point where thermonuclear war sounds like an appealing option.
Yet.
Tell me who I am. his mystery pen pal types, and Gavin’s never really been one to leave that kind of mystery unsolved.
It takes him two weeks of sleepless nights in between his work for the FIB and his own side projects before he finally discovers who he’s been tracking. Sniffing out little clues here and there until he gets his answer.
A hacker known as Axial who is rumored to have ties with the Fake AH Crew. Group of notorious criminals known to be a thorn in the FIB’s side, and an offer.
Feed them information regarding the FIB’s operations focus on the Fakes and they’ll make it so the FIB can never touch Dan or their families again. Remove that ugly bit of leverage the FIB has on Gavin, and the promise of help if he ever wants to escape his cage.
It’s too good of an offer to be true and one Gavin can’t refuse all in one.
There’s little enough Gavin can do to protect Dan or their families from the FIB in his current predicament. Not the way he wants to, and he’s heard about the Fakes.
Best of a bad lot, as far as these things go here in Los Santos. Known for being an honorable enough bunch who keeps their word and the sort who will deal honestly with you so long as you do the same.
And to be fair, Gavin’s been looking for a prime way to get back at the FIB for trapping him the way they have. Holding him here with ugly little threats against people who have nothing to do with this mess he’s made of things all on his own.
It’s easy to slip the Fakes information when his handlers and other FIB agents talk freely around him. Don’t stop to think he would resent their treatment of him, that he could do anything with the information he gathers easy as anything and passes along to Axial and the Fakes.
He gets curious, though, Gavin does. Looks into the FIB and their previous attempts to bring the Fakes down. (It pays to know what to look for in case the FIB get it into their heads to try another go at the Fakes. Give them a heads up long before things get off the ground, or so he tells himself.)
It makes for an interesting read. Gavin learns when the Fakes were first setting up shop in Los Santos the FIB sent several agents to infiltrate the crew.
Agent after agent over the course of a year, sent them in at random points in time in order not to make it seem suspicious. None of them were successful. A few were killed, some simply went missing, and the rest resigned soon afterward.
There was one recent attempt, a few few weeks before the FIB snatched Gavin up.
Promising young agent that everyone seemed to like, talent for charming anyone he met and their best chance at bringing the Fake AH Crew tumbling down.
The files about it are sparse, but there’s a note in one of the files Gavin gets his hands on. References the archives room in the basement because even in this day and age the FIB hasn’t fully done away with hard copy files, things they don’t want hackers getting their grubby little hands on.
Gavin’s not allowed access, of course, but he’s got light fingers and stubborn determination on his side.
It doesn’t take him long to discover who does have access, and in what manner their paths might intersect. How their keycard might end up in his possession long enough to clone it and slip it back to them without being noticed.
There’s a bit more work involved in getting himself down to the archives without being seen on the cameras or caught by anyone, but he’s only gotten better working for the FIB. It’s tense, nerve-wracking, Gavin all too aware of the risk he’s taking with this.
Realizes he’s never really learned his lesson when it comes to satisfying his curiosity, but for the moment things are going well.
The cloned keycard works beautifully when he swipes it, and he breathes a sigh of relief when the door shuts behind him before he gets to work.
Sets down the folders he’s carrying. Perfect props for playing the role of a lowly peon handling shuffling along, and digs into the files he’s after.
He gets bits and pieces, long sections redacted and no closer to finding answers he doesn’t have the questions for. (Knows the shape of them well enough to have a starting point but not much else.)
His phone buzzes in his pocket after half an hour has gone by. Convenient little warning to get out before he’s notices. Agents and staff returning from meetings, lunch, other business and the odds of him being discovered rising the longer he dallies.
Someone bound to see him, wonder what he’s doing down here and so on and so on and so on.
He almost forgets his folders on his way out. Just as he gets to the door he hears the lock disengage and looks up to see it swing open. He has a split-second to register the look of surprise on the face of the agent in the open doorway before they run into each other, stumbling back into the archives room.
“Oh, God,” Gavin hears, hand on his arm to help steady him, actual concern in the agent's voice. “I’m so sorry, are you okay?”
Gavin blinks, arms tightening around the folders as he bumps up against a filing cabinet, and realizes the agent’s looking at him closely.
He’s trapped, the heavy door having shut behind the agent when he stepped inside to check on Gavin, and -
“Uh,” the agent says, and there’s no snap of anger in his voice when Gavin fails to answer right away, no suspicion darkening his eyes as he cocks his head. “Really, are you alright?”
Gavin opens his mouth to speak and flushes as he squeaks, voice betraying him.
The agent’s eyebrows go up, corner of his mouth quirking slightly.
“Sorry,” he says, and he sounds amused of all things, but not in the malicious manner Gavin’s come to expect. “I didn’t get that?”
Gavin clears his throat, runs a nervous hand through his hair and startles when his hand brushes the glasses he’s forgotten he decided to wear for this little mission of his.
Poor attempt at a disguise, but people tend to look for signifiers and the like, gaze drawn to the things the expect to see first and all that.
“I’m fine,” Gavin says, tries for a smile. “Just didn’t expect to bump into anyone down here. Are you alright? I’ve been told I have a hard head.”
The agent laughs, and laughs again as he realizes he’s still touching Gavin, as he pulls his hand back.
“Nah, I’m good,” he answers, and then, “You’re sure you’re okay, though?”
Gavin nods, anxiety easing a bit as the agent shows no signs of hostility towards him, the resentment at his mere existence in such hallowed halls.
“Okay,” the agent says, “Good, good.”
Unexpectedly awkward, and shy?
No.
Something like it, though, and Gavin finds his smile turning a little more genuine in the face of it.
“Well, this has been lovely,” he says, and strangely it has, if only because this particular agent has so far shown he’s not the typical sort Gavin’s dealt with in his time here. “But I need to get back to work.”
The agent finally seems to notice the files he’s holding, and steps aside with an apologetic laugh.
“Oh, yeah, Sorry again!” he says, as Gavin sidles past. “And, uh. Have a nice day?”
Gavin laughs in spite of himself.
“You too,” he calls back, and hurries the hell away before something else unexpected happens.
========
It’s sad, really, that the small bit of kindness the agent extended towards him should have such a strong effect on Gavin. Have him oddly restless, this little itch in his bones to do something, but he’s been working for the FIB for a while now. Forgets what something like that looks – feels – like.
Not to say all the FIB agents are complete bastards, but the ones who are seem to be the ones in positions of power. Arrogant with it, having had it all this time, and it makes them stupid.
Gavin cracks his knuckles – literally and metaphorically – and does his research.
Learns that the agent is one Alfredo Diaz out of San Andreas. Enlisted in the Army out of high school and portions of his records are highly classified. Require clearances higher than anyone in the building can access and that is definitely interesting, isn’t it.
The sections that aren’t paint him in a good light. High marksmanship scores and commendations from his superior officers and so on.
Decided on the FIB after his enlistment was over and did well at the start. Seemed to be on his way to building a successful career, until an incident around a year ago involving some kind of altercation with fellow agents.
Conflicting reports and redacted information, and it’s one of the most suspicious things Gavin’s happened upon in his time with the FIB. Endless hours scraping together suspicious files, reports. Any evidence he can get his hands on of the corruption that’s taken root in the agency sure as any police department in Los Santos and this void surrounding this incident is the most suspicious thing he’s seen yet.
And it doesn’t stop there, incidents on cases Alfredo was assigned to. Reports of tension among the agents. Injuries and close calls in the field that shouldn’t have happened. Suggestions in between the line that Alfredo be reassigned due to his incompatibility with other agents that resulted in him being bounced around until he ended up in Los Santos.
It’s -
Something is very clearly going on with Agent Diaz, and Gavin can’t let well enough alone, can he. Five minutes of kindness from someone who wasn’t a complete bastard to him and Gavin’s setting aside his own priorities to look into things on his behalf.
Finagles things so that he’s the one handling the comms when Alfredo’s in the field. The one sifting through data to bring him vital intel that could mean the difference between life and death.
He doesn’t think Alfredo remembers him until Gavin’s sitting in a surveillance van with a pair of bored agents. One sitting behind the wheel humming tunelessly to himself and the other listening in on their target’s phone lines while Alfredo sits in an unmarked car a few blocks over.
“You sound familiar,” he says, like it’s something that’s been bothering him for a long time. “Have we met?”
Gavin blinks, eyes darting to the agent next to him, engrossed in what she’s doing so she doesn’t notice the incredulous look on Gavin’s face at could have been a pickup line any other time. (Surely he hadn’t meant it that way, surely.)
“Don’t think so,” Gavin murmurs, better not have him put two and two together, realize Gavin had no reason to be down in the archives that day. “Think I would have remembered meeting you.”
There’s a long pause, Gavin dragging his focus back in time to realize what he just said, and presses his hand over his eyes in mortification. Waits for the disgust, derision, but instead -
“Oh, nice,” Alfredo says, laughing in delight. “You got any others like that one? It’s boring as shit over here.”
Gavin snorts, sneaking a glance at the other agent who gives him a dirty look before focusing on her job.
“Did it hurt,” Gavin says, makes sure to keep his voice as carefully neutral as he can to see how long it takes for the agent to notice what he’s doing. “When you fell from Heaven, Alfredo?”
Alfredo is cackling, this bright, breathless laughter that has Gavin smiling like an idiot at the sound.
“Okay, okay, okay,” he says when he has his laughter under control, “Let me think of one.”
Gavin adjusts his headset, turning away from the agent as he waits for Alfredo’s next terrible pickup line. He’s a bit of an idiot, but it’s not like any of this means anything. Like Alfredo knows who he is, so this.
It’s safe enough, isn’t it?
========
Only, it isn’t. Because they manage to break that case wide open, Alfredo and Gavin and the other agents assigned to it. That brings expectations of further ones from that team, Gavin included.
His handlers are loathe to let him roam too far, but someone further up the chain of command is impressed with what he was able to do. Overrules their objections, list of reasons as why it’s a bad idea.
“Hey, we have met!”
It’s the first thing Alfredo says to him when Gavin is moving his equipment into the so-called office Gavin’s been given.
It’s more of a storage closet that’s been repurposed into a workspace for Gavin. Room for his computers and other equipment and tiny and cramped and just down the hall from the where Alfredo and his team work.
Gavin looks up, overflowing cardboard box of his things in his arms.
“Er, beg your pardon?”
He’s glad for the mess of boxes and equipment between them, because he feels trapped like this. Too many lies – deliberate and by omission and everything in between and this horrible knowledge he’s made a mistake getting this close to Alfredo. (Even now he’s not afraid of him even though he has every reason to be when they’re, technically speaking, not on the same side.)
“Before, down in the archives?” Alfredo prompts, and it doesn’t seem to have occurred to him that Gavin never should have been down there. “We literally ran into each other.”
He’s grinning, like it’s a good memory. Something to look back on with fondness.
“Oh.” Gavin says, as though he’d honestly forgotten. “That. Yes.”
Alfredo's smile softens as he steps around the mound of crap and helps Gavin with the box.
“Finally nice to put a face to the voice whispering sweet nothings in my ear all the time,” Alfredo says, sly twist to his moth as Gavin sputters.
“I have not!” he manages, grateful for the dim lighting as he feels his cheeks heat, because he hasn’t.
Not...okay, not all the time, anyway. And anyways, Alfredo’s always one to return the favor, laughter in his voice and Gavin smiling helplessly.
There’s been some professionalism between them as well. Gavin feeding Alfredo and his team information through his earpiece as he goes undercover. Searching premises after following up on leads and the like.
Alfredo laughs, and Gavin realizes he’s made another mistake because he can’t look away from him.
========
It doesn’t last, because Gavin hasn’t forgotten his own mission. The reason he’s played nice all these years – a chance to repay the FIB for that they’ve done to him. What they made him into.
He keeps funneling information to the Fakes through Axial and whoever pretends to be him from time to time, thinking Gavin wouldn’t notice.
Definite shift in their interactions that makes it perfectly clear it’s someone else. This odd sense of approval from them when Gavin let them know he was on to them. Suspicious and paranoid and only the use of specific code phrases Axial had insisted Gavin learn reassured him he was dealing with one of the Fakes.
He’s careful, though, when it comes to information regarding Alfredo because Gavin’s grown regrettably fond of the man. (Regrettable only because they’re very much on opposite sides in this, and when Alfredo finds out, he imagines it won’t be pretty.)
Funny, then, that he always seems to come back to the tangled mess surrounding Alfredo. This ongoing belittling of his accomplishments and contributions, undercutting him and slow attempt to break him down.
Butting heads with his teammates and other agents on a constant basis, lack of trust that’s chilling to witness when all too often their lives rely on such a thing.
Alfredo smiles through it all and pushes on, but he fades as time passes and it all begins to weigh on him while Gavin watches on helplessly.
Offers support where he can, does his best to keep Alfredo as safe as possible in the field, but Gavin’s limited in what he can do. Hobbled by his own situation and it’s maddening watching it all play out.
“Oh, well hello then,” Gavin says, when his computer chirps at him, an alert he’s set up when his backdoors into the FIB's systems are tripped. “What’s this?”
Someone’s tampered with the security cameras placed throughout the building. Think they’ve manage to loop the footage for a bit, but Gavin’s got his little tricks and this is interesting indeed, because it’s Alfredo.
Furtive, looking over his shoulder as he picks the lock to a senior agent’s office and accesses his computer terminal. (This tension to him Gavin’s all too familiar with.)
Not so squeaky clean, it seems, and Gavin squashes the disappointment he feels watching Alfredo. There's no reason he should have expected more from Alfredo just because he was kind.
Still.
Gavin covers Alfredo’s tracks when he’s done. Erases what little evidence he left behind because he’s a sad bastard and Alfredo’s the closest thing to a friend he has within the FIB.
The incidents and accidents that predated Alfredo’s transfer to Los Santos start to happen here too, and Gavin can only do so much to help him without tipping his hand. He spends endless nights trying to find out what the root of it all is, and every trail leads back to that incident in his records that remains a blank mystery.
Around that time the FIB considers another attempt to infiltrate the Fake AH Crew, send one of theirs into the lion’s den and hope it pans out better than previous ones.
The way things are going now, it won’t be long before there’s an unfortunate accident involving Alfredo. A case of friendly fire, or backup that never comes. Pinned down elsewhere or some other flimsy excuse and goodness, what a tragedy, but he was a damn fine agent, wasn’t he.
It’s a dangerous prospect for anyone, and somehow still a better option for Alfredo than remaining where he is. Better odds for his survival, which is the worst kind of irony.
It’s undercover work that Alfredo excels in. That easy charm of his and sharp, clever mind. Backwards sort of logic that has Gavin realizing Alfredo stands a better chance of survival with the infamous criminals than with the law enforcement agents meant to watch his back.
Gavin mentions it to Alfredo one morning when they're the only two in the office. Too early for the others to venture in, and should be safe enough.
“What?” Alfredo says, not quite processing what he’s just said.
Gavin shrugs, tells him that he overheard other agents talking about it. Couldn’t be that big of a secret if they were going to gossip about it at the water cooler.
Alfredo scrubs a hand over his face, and looks at Gavin.
“I was going to tell you,” he says, myriad of expression flitting across his face before he seems to settle on bemused. “I took the assignment, Gav. I was going to tell you. Let you know before the others.”
Oh.
Gavin blinks at Alfredo stupidly.
This is an unexpected development.
“The way I figure it,” Alfredo says, and Gavin winces at the bitterness in his voice. “It’ll be a hell of a lot more straightforward than what’s been happening.”
“Well,” Gavin says, awkward little laugh in there. “Criminal types, I suppose. Pretty clear what they’re all about, innit?”
Alfredo cocks his head as he looks at Gavin.
“Yeah,” he says, odd note to his voice. “It is.”
=========
When Alfredo goes undercover Gavin’s handlers seize the opportunity to drag him back to that little cage of his. Shove him back down in that office with the wonky light and broken air conditioning. Put him to work sniffing out cyber threats and keep him so busy he doesn’t have time for much else.
And yet, he still manages to slip information to Axial when he can. Does his best to glean any bit of information from Axial about Alfredo.
Figures he’s doing well enough for himself. Clearly still alive since the FIB haven’t pulled the plug on their little operation, declared it a failure and how sad it is to lose such a bright young man to the criminal scum of this city.
Axial goes quiet a few months later, and before Gavin can wonder what that’s all about everything goes to hell.
From what he can tell, the Fakes manage to stumble over another FIB operation and an agent who knows Alfredo, and it turns into a downright mess.
Building up in flames and several dead in the initial shootout. A few assumed dead in the fire, and the rest either missing. Gavin’s world grinds to a halt because Alfredo’s listed among the casualties. (No body, but it’ll be some time before they clear the rubble away to search for them.)
Gavin goes through the motions with the FIB until he overhears something he surely wasn’t meant to. Alfredo’s former superiors laughing, mean and ugly and glad about the fact he’s gone because it because it saves them the work of doing it themselves.
Five minutes of kindness and this odd sort of friendship and Gavin’s so easy, isn’t he.
No problem at all for him to burn everything he's been working toward for years down for Alfredo.
Gathers everything he’s fond on the FIB over the years and packs it all up nice and neat and gifts it to one of the reputable reporters in Los Santos. Sends copies to another in Liberty City just in case, and sends Axial one last message, a request not to look for him and disappears.
Or, rather, he plans to, really. No reason to stay in Los Santos any longer and he misses England. Misses Dan and the terrible weather and good tea and talks it up in his head because he feels hollow, aching. Directionless for the first time in a long time, and that much is something, isn’t it?
Goes to a rundown apartment he managed to hide from the FIB. Lease under a fake name and so very careful not to tie it back to himself.
Gavin dithers like an idiot, and wakes up one morning in his terrible little apartment not to his door being kicked open, but a knock.
Far less dramatic than that day years and year ago now.
“Hey, Gav.”
Gavin’s hand tightens on the doorknob, voice caught in his throat because that’s a face he never thought he’d see again.
Familiar smile, hair styled to within an inch of its life. (Alive, he’s alive.)
The knock on his door may be less dramatic, maybe, but it still manages to change Gavin’s world all over again.
