Art by CptJH (@cptjh-arts on Tumblr).

Nines sighed as he looked through the apartment window at the torrential downpour. Having checked the weather, he knew something like this was likely to happen, but he couldn't help being disappointed. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a big deal. It was just a date. A plan he'd made with Gavin a few weeks ago to celebrate their one-year anniversary. They could make other plans. They still had the day off, and they were still together. Perhaps they could take an autocar into the city and find a nice restaurant like most other people did. Most other people can both eat food...A movie then. There really isn't anything on that aligns with Gavin's current interests. What about swimming? A loud public pool at the weekend? His LED span yellow at the thought. Shopping? Hardly romantic or relaxing.

"Hey, you good?" Nines turned his head at the query, forgetting the yellow blink of his LED as he put on an unaffected smile. Gavin wasn't born yesterday. He knew what the yellow spinny thing meant. They'd been together for three years, which was more than enough time for Gavin to learn his tics. Even discounting the yellow of his LED, the smile was forced. When Nines smiled, his silvery eyes glistened and the skin around them crinkled. Right now, his brow was flat and his eyes were dull and somewhat forlorn.

"I'm fine."

"Liar." Nines' LED returned to yellow at being so directly called out, but the fake smile dropped at least. "What's up? You can tell me." Now Gavin was worried. Nines sighed softly, returning his attention to the window. He didn't need to look to hear Gavin's dull steps padding across the floorboards. Even in socks, it was easy to hear those measured thuds. Something in the pit of his artificial stomach warmed as familiar arms looped around his waist and Gavin's forehead came to rest on the back of his shoulder. It was as high as he could reach with their difference in height. "Did I do something?" Touching his arm, Nines huffed softly.

"No, it's nothing." Turning in his grasp, Nines lifted his arms to pull Gavin against his chest. Gavin gladly accepted the affection, greedily nuzzling his pecs and closing his eyes as gentle fingers threaded through his hair.

"It can't be nothing if it's brought you down this much." Perhaps that was true. It wouldn't hurt to tell him. It just felt foolish. Their plans had been ruined, but it wasn't a big deal. There would be other days. Warmer days with sunshine and open parks. Yes, that day was special, but it couldn't be helped. They could have their picnic in a few weeks. Of course, the snacks and sandwiches he'd prepared wouldn't last that long, but he could make more. It didn't matter what they did that day as long as they were together. "Tell me," Gavin murmured as he drew back to look up at him. Nines felt even worse as he saw the worried creased of his brow.

"It's raining." Gavin seemed confused by that. He could see it was raining, but he didn't see why that was an issue. Ah, he forgot...That wasn't unusual. The agreement had been made weeks ago, so it was really no surprise it had slipped his mind. Things like this often did. A human could only retain so much, and being so busy at work, home-life was often forgotten. However, it was their anniversary. Had he forgotten that as well? "We had plans today." Green eyes widened in recollection.

"The picnic." Nines nodded, and he could tell Gavin felt bad for forgetting as he cursed under his breath and joined him in looking out the window with a sigh. The sky was a dark, rumbling grey, and rain pelted the ground in a curtain of falling droplets, sending small rivers down the street. They wouldn't be going anywhere, and even if the rain stopped, a picnic was out of the question. The park would be a bog for the next week, at least. "Well...sometimes we have to work around these things." Resigning himself to the inevitable, Nines took another look at the movie list to see if there was anything he could recommend. If not, perhaps they might find a small cafe somewhere. That could be just as pleasant. "Did you pack the basket already?" Nines nodded. He'd been looking forward to it, so he'd packed the basket the night before, hoping for the best.

"I packed the room temperature items, and the cold food is boxed in the refrigerator." Padding into the kitchen, Gavin found the large wicker basket on the counter with Nines' favourite travel blanket folded on top. It was a rich dark blue with greenery and colourful flowers all over it. You wouldn't think a manufactured killing machine would develop a love of flowers, but here we are. Smiling, Gavin ran his fingers over the soft material. That would do nicely. This side of their apartment was facing the downpour, so the room was filled with a loud pattering sound as rain streamed down the glass. With only one window above the sink, it was a little dim, but that was easily fixed. Nines had a lot of artificial flower arrangements dotted around the house, and they had a bunch of electric candles stashed away in case the power went out.

Looking around the slate tiled floor, Gavin hummed. It was a pretty comfortably sized kitchen. The sink and main counter ran alongside the window, with another smaller counter on the rear wall. To the left was extra storage and a wall-mounted oven, which was handy with Nines' height. Between these counters was a generous amount of floor space. More than enough for two people to bustle about at once, but more importantly, it was big enough to spread out the blanket and sit down. Hearing Nines approach, Gavin turned to the doorway with a grin.

"Go and get dressed." It sounded like Gavin had a plan of some sort, though he didn't seem set to share it just yet.

"What should I wear?" Were they going somewhere formal? Should he wear a suit, or something more casual? Knowing Gavin, it would likely be something more casual. He wasn't one for formal dress unless he was forced into it. Nines accepted Gavin's weight against his chest as he hurried over to wrap his arms around him. His lips softened as he followed the guiding pull on his neck, silvery eyes fluttering as their lips met. It was gentle and chaste, and far too short as Gavin drew back.

"Something cosy and seasonal." Curious, Nines padded away, looking over his shoulder more than once as he left. Gavin lingered in the doorway, watching him until he disappeared into the bedroom before leaping into action. Knowing Nines, he was probably listening to his every move, trying to sus out what he was doing with that super hearing of his. Grinning, Gavin hurried around the small living room and grabbed the three vases of flowers Nines had scattered about. They'd go nicely with the ones already sitting on the kitchen windowsill. Next were the candles they kept in the sideboard by the TV. Bundling them into his arms, Gavin hurried back into the kitchen and set his plan in motion.

First, he needed the blanket off the basket, so he opened it with a flick and settled it over the kitchen tiles. Once he'd smoothed it out with his feet, he opened the fridge to find the cold snacks. Their basket wasn't complete until those storage boxes were inside. Neatly cut sandwiches, fresh fruit, and chocolate biscuits were neatly set on top of the crisps, nuts, and cakes that were already inside. Adding a bottle of thirium and another of orange juice, Gavin set the basket in the middle of the blanket. The last part was arranging the flowers and setting up the candles. He moved the vases from the windowsill to the counter where they could see them from the floor and set the living room vases on the tiled floor around the blanket. Once the candles were set up around them, it looked pretty cosy. Returning to the living room, he found Nines just stepping out of the bedroom.

"Wait here, alright? No peeking!" Nines could tell from the sharpness of his brows that he was being perfectly serious. Whatever he'd been rummaging around for, he wanted to see his face when the surprise was revealed.

"I promise." Those two words were all Gavin ever needed. Knowing how important honesty was to him, Nines had never uttered those words and not meant it. If he promised, he would absolutely keep his word. Standing on tiptoe, Gavin gave him another chaste kiss and hurried through to the bedroom. Unsure what to do with himself, Nines returned to the living room to stare out of the window. It didn't escape his notice that the vases were gone. Nor did he overlook the sideboard door, which was partially open where it was usually shut. Curious. Curious, but not enough for him to ruin the surprise.

Unsure what Gavin meant about seasonal wear, Nines had donned his usual black slacks and rollneck top, but over that, he'd pulled on an autumnal looking red sweater with a wide neckline. It was something he originally bought for hiking. A thick woollen material that would keep one warm in cooler temperatures. It wasn't something he required, but he'd noticed Gavin's habit of underdressing in such weather, so he always wore an extra layer he could remove and give to him later. Wearing such layers also helped him blend in with humans, who gave him odd looks if he didn't dress for the weather. Either he made them feel cold by wearing too little, or hot by wearing too much.

Folding his arms, Nines almost glared at the water rushing down the street. Their date was well and truly ruined at this point. He wasn't even sure the autocars would be running in such weather. The water level wasn't high enough to flood the lower levels yet, but it might make driving difficult. A blinding flash lit the street below, making Nines' LED stutter yellow. Approximately six seconds later, thunder rumbled in the distance. That made things even worse. If the storm reached their area, it might cause a power outage. Hopefully, that wouldn't interfere with whatever Gavin had planned.

"I'm ready!" Gavin said as he padded through from the bedroom. Nines couldn't help smiling as he approached. It was rare for Gavin to put in effort with his appearance, but it was impossible to overlook it when he did. He'd done his best to tame his brunette locks, brushing them back with a little water to help them stay in place for now. He'd pulled on his best pair of dark blue jeans, the ones with little to no wear, and he was wearing a smart flannel shirt in a deep forest green that complimented his dirty eyes. True to his roguish nature, he'd left the first two buttons popped to show off the gentle slope of his collarbone. A generous view that shouldn't be allowed to go to waste. "Are you ready?"

"For what?" Nines asked curiously, watching as Gavin hurried over to the sofa and grabbed the two plump cushions. They were a deep, bluish grey that matched the rest of the sofa and blended in nicely with the grey of the curtains.

"For the picnic!" Tossing Nines a cushion, Gavin hurried over to the kitchen door and edged it open. Nines hurried after him, clutching the thick cushion against his chest as he stepped inside to find his favourite blanket spread across the tiled floor. Gavin carefully stepped around the nearest vase of flowers and set his cushion down near the basket. "Jeez, this is some weather," he grumbled as another flash lit the window. Nines nodded his agreement as he followed suit and took the space below the counter. It was strange, sitting on the kitchen floor.

"We could use the table." Sitting on the floor like this probably wasn't good for Gavin's knees.

"It wouldn't be much of a picnic if we did that...Do you like it?" He sounded worried. Huffing softly, Nines leaned over and sealed his lips, taking his time to appreciate the finer details of Gavin's face as he did. The thin pink scar running across his nose and various nicks hidden within his neatly trimmed stubble. How those bristles felt on his fingertips when he stroked the skin. The myriad of colours in his dirty eyes. A deep emerald base surrounded by a thin ring of hazel, finished with speckles of blue and grey. His long eyelashes and neatly sloping eyebrows that almost matched his hair. Those untameable strands of brunette that were already coming undone to brush his brow. The soft wrinkles setting in around his eyes that neither of them talked about.

"I love it." Strange as it was, there was something utterly charming about the flickering candles and scattered vases of flowers. The floor was cold and hard, but the blanket and cushions were an acceptable barrier. Rain pattered on the windows, and thunder rumbled in the distance, but those were the only sounds outside. In a way, this was more pleasant than the park. Private. Intimate. Gavin grinned at his answer as he drew back and opened the basket. Nines joined him and accepted the bottle of thirium he was offered. "Let me..." He'd been looking forward to this part. Gavin relented once he had his juice, watching warmly as Nines opened the sandwiches and placed two small triangles on a plate with some salt and vinegar crisps.

"Thanks." He was the only one who was eating, so he tucked in right away while Nines got a second plate ready. It still stunned him that he got this lucky sometimes. Before Nines came along, he'd never even dreamed of doing something like this. A picnic in the kitchen? What kind of cringey romantic bullshit was that? As if he'd ever have someone who'd want something like that! Nines smiled warmly as he noticed him watching. "These are good," Gavin complimented as he ate a small triangle. They were just simple ham and cheese sandwiches, but Nines had made them with his usual care, getting just the right amount of butter and mayonnaise.

"You always say that."

"Because it's always true!" Nines chuckled softly as he placed a strawberry topped cake on the next plate and nestled it in a bed of blueberries. "Did you bake the cakes yourself?" Nines nodded. He'd had a little help from Connor as far as timings went, but his baking was improving. He'd come a long way since his first batch of blackened cookies all those months ago. Not being able to taste, everything was prepared with strict recipes and cooking times. Unfortunately, those didn't take into account the difference in ovens used or the different brands of produce. Luckily, Connor and Chloe had already done their fair share of experimentation before he'd asked for help.

"I'm glad we finally have some time for this." It often seemed like their working days would never end. Gavin always volunteered for overtime like he was still in his twenties, so when he finally had a day off, he often slept straight through it. Dates like this were a treat. That was part of the reason he'd been looking forward to the picnic. Gavin nodded as he finished his crisps and set the first plate aside. Nines was right. It felt like a long time since they'd just...been together. They slept with each other every night, and worked with each other every day, but it wasn't the same as spending time together properly.

"Sorry...I know I've been a pretty shitty husband lately." They just hadn't spent quality time together lately, and that wasn't okay. He could find more time between work if he tried.

"You've been no such thing." Yeah, right...He didn't believe that for a second. Nines had always been more forgiving than he deserved. It was part of the reason they'd lasted so long. Anyone else would have dumped him after the first few weeks of missed dates and wasted days. "You put in the effort to give me the picnic I wanted." That took all of five minutes to toss together! They could have gone into town and had a proper meal somewhere! He could have booked a mini-break or something with their anniversary coming up! Oh, shoot!

"I forgot something! Wait here." He was forgetful, but he wasn't a complete ass. With a groan and the click of his right knee, Gavin got to his feet and hurried into the living room, returning shortly with a thick envelope clutched in his hand. Nines' LED span yellow as he accepted the envelope and turned it this way and that. It was light. "I don't really do cards, but..." Opening the envelope, Nines pulled out a neatly folded paper. The paper was a lot like his blanket, blue with colourful flowers, folded in the shape of a Japanese kimono.

"You made this." It wasn't a question. His fingerprints were all over it, in every nook and crevice. A few of the edges had been folded and refolded, the corners slightly wrinkled and worn. Nines' lips softened as Gavin's cheeks coloured, his expression dropping slightly at the thought he might have disappointed him. "It must have taken you hours." He'd have had to learn how to fold it first, likely ruining many papers before finally trying on this one. On the back, in Gavin's untidy scrawl, he'd written Happy Anniversary Nines in thick gold ink. Ink he recognised as belonging to Ellie; Elijah and Chloe's daughter.

"You're telling me! I think Chloe almost ran out of patience." He grinned at the memory of her sighing and handing him paper after paper, folding along with him and covering her face as he tore straight through it. If it hadn't been for Nines, she probably would have given up. "The only thing I know how to fold on my own are these," he added as he pulled a second, smaller paper from the envelope. It was a paper crane. Nines watched with a smile as he pulled the wings to make the body pop and handed it over.

"I believe this counts as evidence to refute your earlier assertion of being a pretty shitty husband." A shitty husband wouldn't have gone to such efforts. He would have forgotten their anniversary altogether. Gavin had not only remembered the date but also that the appropriate gift for the first anniversary was something made of paper. With the choice of buying a card or any myriad of premade gifts, he'd decided to go the extra mile and make something himself. That made it meaningful. Something Nines could cherish. He would certainly get a frame for the delicate sculpture, and the little crane would have a permanent home on his desk at work.

"It's nothing special," Gavin insisted sheepishly, unused to such praise. Nines set both items aside before reaching into the basket to pull out a small packet that Gavin hadn't noticed before. It was neatly tucked at the bottom under the box of cakes, wrapped in white paper. Gavin seemed surprised as he accepted it. He could feel it was some sort of picture frame from the wrapping.

"It is special to me," Nines replied as he watched Gavin fingering the paper wrapping. Tearing the paper, a soft sound of surprise slipped out as he took in the clear frame. Within the transparent glass was a white silhouette of them in their wedding suits, kissing beneath the trees as they completed their vows. Woven within the branches was the date, Tuesday November 4th 2042, and their names, Nines and Gavin. At the bottom, beneath the ground at their feet, it simply said The Reeds. Gavin grinned as he looked at the frame and took in all the little details. The delicate shape of the maple leaves, the way Nines leaned over him exactly as he had in their wedding pictures, and even the cut of their jackets.

"Phck, that's amazing!"

"I'm glad you approve." It had taken many hours of cutting and sticking, late nights spent in Sixty's apartment while Allen slept in the next room. Despite his up and down relationship with Gavin, Sixty knew how important this gift was to Nines, so he'd been meticulous in helping to fit each piece. Even Allen had never seen him so focused outside of work.

"Did you make this?" Gavin was pretty sure he could have, but machines would do the job just as well, and probably a lot faster. Nines nodded, instantly making Gavin's chest swell with warmth as he looked in the transparent frame. They could stand it in the middle of the sideboard, or maybe in the window where the light would shine right through it. "It's so delicate!" Nines wouldn't argue there. Despite his steady hand, he'd had many anxious moments with the smaller details. Sixty had helped a great deal, using tweezers and cotton buds to place and dab glue where it was needed.

He didn't need to ask if he liked it. The star-struck look on his face and the way his twinkling eyes couldn't stop staring at it were proof enough of that. Since Gavin was so distracted by his gift, Nines returned his attention to his own. It was hard to believe Gavin had crafted anything so delicate, though he hadn't done it alone. It wasn't the sort of work one might sell at a high price, but the time and effort put into it was proof enough of his devotion. The dark kimono was interrupted by a pale blue obi that folded into a neat bow at the back. Getting the two papers to fold and overlap in such a manner must have been quite infuriating for Gavin's short temper.

"I love you." Nines' thirium pump thudded at the words, his core whirring softly. They were words that didn't come easily to Gavin. Even now, his eyes had dropped to look at his lap, body stiff with awkwardness as his cheeks flushed. Smiling, Nines leaned in to cup his cheek, stroking the stubble and drawing him into a gentle kiss.

"And I, you. Very much." Reassured, Gavin smiled and looked up again, feeling sheepish as Nines fingered through his hair and picked up the plate with the cake. "Open." Gavin did as he was told as Nines plucked a blueberry from the neat little plate and held it out. Gentle fingers popped the small berry between his lips, silvery eyes watching affectionately as he chewed and swallowed. He remained good and sweet as Nines fed him by hand, green eyes lidding as he accepted each small morsel. As they reached the cake, he started lathering Nines' fingertips, licking softly to remove any lingering crumbs and syrup.

"Thank you." Gavin's eyes were soft as he finally finished, keeping Nines' hand and licking each fingertip clean, kissing his way along them before brushing his lips across his knuckles. Nines smirked as he set the plate aside and leaned closer, leaving his cushion to lay Gavin on the blanket. Gavin exuded coyness as he lay caged beneath him, green eyes darting from his lips to his eyes.

"Perhaps there is something to be said for the privacy that comes with an indoor picnic..." They'd never be able to get away with such an intimate display outdoors in the local park. Gavin shivered slightly as Nines lowered his body, wasting no time in wrapping his arms around his neck to fist in his thick sweater. Nines kissed him greedily, parting his lips and drawing Gavin's tongue into a well-rehearsed dance. A moan rumbled in Gavin's throat, breaths panting as they parted. His eyes were soft and hazy, expression full of warmth as they gazed at each other. "Happy Anniversary."