spooky scary

[donotlick]

aka: a psl for grumpy cops

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[coffeedipshit]

[ As much as Gavin loves coffee... he was spoiled by Good Tea as a kid. So yoink, he'll have that Hank!! He turns back to Eli. ]

Are you kicking us out now so you can turn into a research gremlin like usual?

[donotlick]

You can stay. Chloe can surely entertain you while I work.

[ Elijah shrugs, like it's nothing. He waves a hand as if to say, 'make yourself at home.' He really does share a look with Gavin though, looking between him and Hank again. Oh, they're fucking alright.

Hank looks at Chloe. She's a nice girl... even if Kamski almost had her shot. She sure doesn't seem to have minded. It's still a little awkward for him. ]

So, uh... Guess that went well?

[coffeedipshit]

[ Oh you'll regret that, Eli. He has little brother privileges now, he's gonna go touch all of your stuff. (And gives him a look at that look. Don't you start!!)

Still cradling the tea cup, he nods. Ah, look at him. So happy. ]

Yeah, it went great. [ He turns to Chloe with a smile. ] Can you point me in the direction of the couch? I got lounging to do.

[donotlick]

[ He probably will, there's no doubt about that. But with Elijah gone, Hank at least feels a little less weird talking about him. ]

Good. Glad you and him got it figured out.

[ Chloe nods and leads them back into the "living room" which is to say a giant, gaudy room, with a giant TV for a wall and a single leather couch. Hank follows. Guess they'll have to share the couch. ]

Would you like me to bring you anything else, Ezra? Elijah still has some of your things.

[coffeedipshit]

[ He hides the shy little smile that pulls at his face in taking a big sip of tea. He's so fucked by these feelings...

Yes, couch. Gavin sits on it and pulls his legs up, resting the tea cup on his knees. Purr, purr. But then he looks up at Chloe, a little surprised. ]

Wait, he does? I knew he was a sentimental idiot. Yes, please, I'd appreciate it.

[donotlick]

Alright. I'll be back in just a minute.

[ Chloe smiles and steps away. It's ok Gav, Hank feels the same way, he's just trying to hide it. He still loves hearing Gavin's cute purrs so it's always a win when he's happy. Hank just wants to keep fanning that flame. ]

How's it feel, making up with him?

[coffeedipshit]

[ He downs the rest of the tea in a big gulp, putting it down on the little end table. He hugs his knees and buries his face in them, to hide his big dumb smile. ]

Really good. [ Gavin peeks his eyes back up at him. ] Thanks for helpin' me work up the courage. I mean it.

[donotlick]

[ Hank chuckles softly. Wow, Gavin is cute!!! This is so not helping how much Hank wants to reach out and hold him. ]

You did all the actual talking. All I did was tell you not to be a chickenshit.

[ He means that in a surprisingly endearing way. ]

[coffeedipshit]

[ He's dangerously cute when his face isn't scrunched up in emotional constipation. And please... come hold him... hold him in your big warm arms, Hank.

He laughs a little. ]

You did. And it was surprisingly effective.

[donotlick]

[ Yeah, there's no real point in sitting on a couch together and not cuddling so Hank is gonna go ahead and scoot close enough so that he's at least closer to Gavin's side. ]

Tough love. I hear it works wonders sometimes.

[ yeah "tough love" that's definitely another word for "honest encouragement." ]

[coffeedipshit]

[ Gavin's heart does a few furious skips at Hank saying 'love' but his expression at least does't change. He scoots a little closer, shoulder to shoulder. ]

Yep. I've always responded well to a metaphorical boot in the ass.

[ Pause. He gently puts his head on Hank's shoulder. ]

[donotlick]

[ Smooth, Gavin. Play it cool. He won't suspect a thing! Hank smiles to himself as Gavin leans on him, another soft chuckle rumbling in his throat. ]

Yeah, I kinda got that feeling.

[coffeedipshit]

[ So smooth, look at him. This is definitely how you get your man, right? Totally. (Gavin hasn't dated since he was like. Twenty one.) ]

I'd say you know me pretty well at this point, Anderson.

[donotlick]

I guess so.

[ Hank starts to purr, softly. He hasn't dated since his wife left him so they're definitely cut from the same cloth. It somehow makes Hank happy to know he understands Gavin, too. He should know his beta. He's his after all. ]

[coffeedipshit]

[ He turns and nuzzles against Hank's shoulder proper, that cute little rumble erupting from his chest. Yes, very happy. Alpha and brother, everyone's here now. Safe. Hank will look after him, and he'll watch over Eli.

How it should be. ]

I'm... I'm glad you understood. When I told you about all of this. [ He closes his eyes. ] Dunno what I thought would happen if anybody knew, I'd built it up to be such a monster in his head. Like I thought you'd think I was spying on the police for him or something.

[donotlick]

[ That cute rumble and the comfort of having him near is honestly enough for Hank. He's a simple guy. Being a werewolf and losing everything and then all the shit with Connor -- it's all taught him to make the best of things and take advantage of what he's got. Gavin will always be there now. For better or worse, their little pack is expanding. It makes Hank smile. ]

You're kidding, right? [ Hank snorts. The thought of Gavin spying for Kamski is a pretty lame joke. ] It'd be one thing if I hadn't met the guy, but I did kinda get a vibe off him when I first met 'im. He smelled so damn familiar. Now it makes sense.

[coffeedipshit]

[ Gavin snickers and shifts. Then... puts a hand on Hank's knee. So scandalous. ]

You can see why I never got my nose fixed. It would've been way too obvious before. [ He sighs. ] Guess it seems kinda silly now.

[donotlick]

[ Gasp. Scandal. Hank doesn't seem to mind the touch at all. ]

Yeah, pretty hard to fight the twin thing.

[ Hank can't imagine what that was like, having to change his whole image to get away from his family. But luckily Chloe comes around to bring them an adorable reminder. That... sure looks like a photo album. A fancy, future-y one, but a photo album nonetheless.

Hank's eyes light up. ]

Here you are, Ezra. Your mother had these made for both you and Elijah, but it was never delivered to you.

[coffeedipshit]

[ ...oh fuck. Gavin feels a blush starting to creep up his neck. ]

Wait, what? Why the fuck did she do that? Was she having an empty nest crisis or something?!

[ He hasn't talked to his parents in the same amount of time as Eli, except he has no desire for reconciliation on that end.

Yep, it's a photo album alright. Blue, which was Ezra's Color when they were children. It's made like a book, but has fold open screens. And said first screen is him and Eli when they were literal babies, little wiggling nuggets swaddled in blankets with disgustingly cute knit caps on. ]

Oh my god.

[donotlick]

I think they were clearing out their storage units. She didn't say exactly.

[ Yeah, Hank is definitely looking over your shoulder for this, Gavin. Baby pictures!!! ]

Ohhhhh my god, you were so cute. Is the blue one you?

[coffeedipshit]

[ Yeah that sounds about right. Why else would she spend time on something like this?

Said blue one is Very Red right now. ]

Yeah, I was always blue and Eli was red... [ Swipe to the next page. Toddlers now; they looked even more identical before puberty hit. Both long hair, little shorts, suspenders and bow ties. Clearly an Official Family Portrait, probably for holiday cards. Another with them playing with big toy dreidels and wearing kippahs, clearly for the family in Poland. ]

No wonder I hate bow ties.

[donotlick]

Funny how Kamski went and made CyberLife blue.

[ Hank smiles, warm and bright as Gavin scrolls through each page of photos. It reminds him of Cole's own photos, hidden and gathering dust somewhere in his garage.

Yeah, let's not go there. Focus on how embarrassing this is for Gavin instead. ]

Aw, I think they're cute. You look so adorable.

[coffeedipshit]

Probably an act of defiance or something. [ He doesn't want to think too hard about what that could mean...

Ugh god, he's so embarrassed. But Hank calling him cute is... nice. ]

Yeah, probably the only time I ever was. [ There they are posing with some science fair trophies. Aaaand there's the point when they started cutting Ezra's hair short, keeping Eli's long.

Suddenly there are two separate class photos, both boys not in the same one anymore. Gavin sighs a little. ]

[donotlick]

[ Sure, buddy. Sure. ]

Eh, I dunno about that.

[ Which is as close to calling Gavin "cute" as Hank feels comfortable getting, what with the two of them being in Elijah Kamski's house and Hank Definitely Not Having A Feelings for Gavin. Besides platonic ones.

The split and the difference is pretty obvious, though. ]

Aw, what happened? This when they pushed your brother ahead or something?

[coffeedipshit]

[ Totally. It's all platonic!! Gavin still isn't putting a name to what he feels, haha! It's good he's already flustered though so it's not obvious. (Hold him and tell him he's pretty, Hank.) ]

Yeah. And I dunno who started it, if it was them or a teacher, but they started thinking I was cheating off of Eli or something. So they split us up.

[ Yet amazingly, he was still doing just as well. He ended up getting kind of... forgotten for a few years. Until his acting out from boredom couldn't be ignored anymore.

More pictures, a little older. Eli in a graduation gown with Ezra's arm around him, grinning brightly. They definitely both have braces. ]