Work Text:
Most people don’t screw up as badly as you
think they do. At least, that’s what Gavin originally thought. Right now, that motto was thrown out of the window. No fucking way was he going to ever willingly speak to his asshole brother. That was his vow. Only one thing, technically two, could make him break it. His sisters.
Getting more of the ethnic names, his older sister is Junko, his younger, Fumiko. Gavin and Elijah were the names their deadbeat father picked out. Not like he stayed past Fumiko's conception.
Their stepfather made a harder wedge in his relationship with his older brother. Elijah and Junko took his last name while Gavin remained stubborn, and Fumiko was unable to choose. His clear favoritism was a factor in it all. Despite Gavin wanting to branch out to more forensics and detective work, his stepfather would never put in the money and effort like how he did with Elijah’s android projects.
Junko was the first to realize that. To know he wouldn’t allow her to do her dreams because of his ideals. She wouldn’t ever get into anything fashion, modeling, makeup, if she stayed. So, she did what any genius kid would. Use her college fund to attend a school in Japan. She effectively got away. But that just left Gavin to take more of the neglect.
At some point, Gavin stopped expecting anything from his step ‘father’. No being picked up after school, no extra activities after school, no new clothes, no food, no necessities. He was completely alone. So, there was no surprise that he ran. While he didn’t have much to his name, he did have his own college fund, and ran with it. 16 and in the middle of Detroit, attending a police academy and living on the streets.
His streets smarts were probably what got him a job in the first place. He knew the loops from being in them for so long. Made easy friends, helped the community. That ended once a certain someone made an AI so strong he almost lost his job. Luckily, he got promoted. Unfortunately, he had to work with an android detective now. Great…
“Stop bringing me coffee.” Gavin said, finally putting down his foot about the constant coffee cups that were full and littered around his desk.
At least the previous Conner had good enough puppy eyes to make him take it. But these coffees had milk. Something he could not have. They sat cold and untouched. He had only said ‘get me a coffee’ as a joke. He’d expect the android to stay on task and refuse or ignore through request. The strange part was, he found Conner encouraging that behavior.
“I see you drinking coffee, though. Do you not like this specific brand?” RK900 asked, keeping his blank face and shoulders stiff and tense.
“No, well, yes, but that’s not the reason. I can’t have milk.” Gavin stuttered, struggling to articulate his response in a way the android could understand and make it stop.
“Would you rather I put a milk alternative or no milk?” It asked instead of taking the hint.
“No. I’m fine.” Gavin sighed, resting his head in one of his hands.
The android seemed to take that as a proper response and left, going back to it’s own desk to work. How the hell was he supposed to survive this android if the previous one is trying to teach the new one how to get on his good side. He hardly could get Conner off his dick about everything, he didn’t want this new one to do the same.
After what felt like hours staring at a blue screen, his eyes were strained and began watering as he worked. Having to pull away from the screen, he stood from his desk, going to mark his break before heading off to the coffee shop a block down. While he had nothing against the shitty coffee they had at the station, he had a lot against it. Plus, they didn’t have oat milk there.
“Hey, Lucy, just an oat milk latte please.” Gavin said to the barista working at the front register.
Paying for the drink, he went to sit down, looking through his notifications. Youtube: How to polish dirt into a marble, Instagram: 34k new likes, message app: 6 new messages. Messages?
Opening the app, Gavin couldn’t help but feel dread as he saw who the texts were from. Family group chat. How nice.
_____________________
Elijah: link
Junko: I’m free that day, I can show up.
###-###-####: You shouldn’t be inviting your siblings to something the public will see, they might not act as preferred in front of public and… *more*
Fumiko: I’m down.
Not that he particularly wanted to attend. He’d changed his name and everything. Gavin was also baffled that his phone number could still be seen in group chats. Let alone how he sent an entire essay trying to scold Elijah for ‘being reckless with his image’. Honestly, who does that?
Gavin was distracted by a tap on the shoulder and a paper coffee cup hitting the table.
“They called your name.” RK900 stated, going to sit across from Gavin.
“Oh.” Gavin only took the cup, looking at the name scribbled on it. Gavin Reed. They even put his last name. It wasn’t his last name; it was his middle name. But, with how his mother so easily abandoned her family honor for a westerner and took his last name, Gavin could alter what people call him now.
“Did you hear me?” RK900 snapped him out of his that’s again.
“No. What did you say?” Gavin asked.
His mood had shifted. It brought back gad memories. Ones he tries to forget.
“Would you prefer I get coffee from this shop with this order for our morning coffee, instead?”
This android was really trying to get on his good side. Not like he wouldn’t mind saving the extra energy.
“Sure.”