Gavin stared open-mouthed at the huge metal tower. It probably wasn't that special. He'd seen taller buildings in Dubai, and maybe it was a little old. It wasn't as grand as some of the other buildings around, but there was something alluring about it all the same. There was a nice park around it that stretched for quite a long way in front, with a huge fountain beneath. The air wasn't exactly fresh, but it was far fresher than in Detroit, and the park was also much larger than he was used to seeing. Nines let him have his tourist moment, waiting patiently with a warm look in his eyes as Gavin wandered around and snapped a few photos on his phone.

"Come here..." Gavin looked over his shoulder in surprise as Nines approached. He flustered a little as Nines hooked an arm around his waist and turned him away from the tower, plucking the phone from his hand as he did so. Gavin managed a sheepish smile as Nines leaned in and snapped a picture. It was a nice picture. They were both smiling. Nines head was almost leaning against his, and the tower stood in the background surrounded by blue skies and fluffy white clouds. It was a good day for the trip. It was warm. Right at the end of summer, before autumn arrived. "Will you send it to me?" Nines asked as he pulled out his own phone.

"Sure, give me your number," Gavin replied as he went to add a new contact. There was something almost giddy in his chest as Nines reeled off the number and it was stored in his phone. Had the picture been a ploy? An excuse to get his number? A guy can dream, right? He sent the picture and watched as Nines reviewed the message. He had an almost fond smile on his face as he tapped away at his screen. Gavin huffed inwardly. He was turning this into his own little whirlwind romance, pretending it was more than just a casual fuck and a friendly lunch afterwards.

"Alright, come on. We should head up. Cleo reserved a table for us on the way here." The drive had been insane. Gavin really didn't want to be reminded of the chaos. The motorway from the airport had been alright, but once they'd reached the square nearby it had been a roaring mass of cars turning this way and that with no clear direction. There were no lights or signals anywhere. Cars just took their chances whenever there was a gap. Gavin had never been so grateful for his brother's androids. He knew Chloe well enough to trust her sister implicitly. He'd gripped the armrest tightly anyway, only loosening his hand as Nines had chuckled and rested his on top, gently linking their fingers. He swore his heart had almost burst out of his chest as Nines' thumb had rubbed soothing circles across his knuckles.

The most impressive part of the drive had been the giant stone arch they'd driven around. The stone had likely been white once, but it was still pretty clean considering the amount of cars on the road. He wasn't really sure what it was supposed to show, or what it meant, but the statues looked Greek in style. Some of them even seemed to have wings. Whatever it was for, it looked quite beautiful. They just didn't have those sorts of things where he came from. Detroit was a pretty young city when compared to places like Paris. He loved seeing the mishmash of architecture all squashed together throughout the city.

Gavin followed as Nines led the way, talking about how this was a pretty nice place with a view of the city. He was surprised. He hadn't expected the restaurant to actually be inside the tower. He'd thought maybe it would be under it, or opposite. Nines listed off a few facts about the tower as he called the lift. That it had been named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company had built the tower for the World's Fair in 1889. The restaurant they were visiting had been revamped in 2022, but the chef had changed a few times since then. Apparently, the current chef was a good friend. Pierre Rochefort, a three Michelin star chef who'd run the restaurant for seventeen years now.

Gavin nodded along as the lift carried them up. It was glass, so he could see the city coming into view as they rose higher. The view was amazing. Grey stone and glass towers. Old and new standing together as one. There was a stone path leading out towards the main roads. Grass lined either side. It was a busy area, clearly a big hit with the tourists. Gavin was surprised Nines had managed to make a reservation at such short notice, but maybe being friends with the chef paid off. The money probably doesn't hurt, either...He hoped they hadn't bumped anybody out of a place.

"Ah! Richard! My friend!" An older man, probably half a decade older than Hank, was already striding across the large dining space to greet them. He was short and slim, just about reaching Gavin's nose. He had a ring of short, silver hair and crinkled brown eyes. His smile was wide as he approached with his arms spread wide. "How are you? It has been too long! And where is that delightful wife of yours?" Gavin just about had a heart attack at the question. A...wife? His chest dropped and dulled, and he did his best to keep his face neutral. Nines was shameless as he wrapped his arm around Gavin's now stiff waist and tugged him against his side.

"You mean Cleo. She'll be along shortly. This is Gavin, my date for the day," Nines replied smoothly as he gestured towards Gavin. The chef gave Richard an almost knowing wink, which made Gavin even more wary. Was it a misunderstanding? Or did Nines really have a secret wife somewhere? Or was Cleo his wife? Did she just freely allow him to have relations with humans outside of their marriage? He didn't recall seeing a ring on either of them. He flinched as Nines' hand moved to squeeze his hip, getting his attention just as Pierre moved to kiss him on each cheek in greeting.

"Ah! A handsome young man! He is much better than the last one, Richard! You should keep this one, no?" Gavin was stunned, from both the kisses and his words. Keep this one? What was the set-up here? Did Nines bring all of his casual partners here? How many had there been? Stop overthinking things! He wasn't dating him. He didn't owe him an explanation. He already knew Nines had done this before, and likely did it regularly. I should know better than anyone that a casual fuck doesn't mean shit. Despite that, he couldn't help the hollow feeling from filling his stomach.

"Gavin is on his way to Detroit. He's Elijah's brother. Do you remember him?" Nines asked as Pierre led them to a small window table. Pierre looked thoughtful as he seated them beside the wall of glass overlooking the city. It was a beautiful view, though Gavin was a little distracted as he sat down. Pierre made a loud sound of exclamation and clapped his hands, taking a second look at Gavin to examine his face.

"Ah, yes, of course! Elijah! The smart one with the beautiful blonde." It was no surprise to Gavin that he remembered Chloe. She was one of those people who could make friends wherever she went. Judging by Nines' low chuckle, it was no surprise to him that Pierre had remembered Chloe, either. "What can I get for you? Breakfast? Lunch?" Nines looked at the menu that had been laid out for him. Gavin looked too, but the whole thing was written in French. Phck! He looked up at Nines like a deer in headlights.

"Breakfast, Pierre. The day is still young...Two large Americanos and a selection of your finest pastries. You know then ones," Nines added as he handed the menu over. Pierre laughed heartily as he took the menus, which saved Gavin from having to answer. Pierre shared a few more friendly words with Nines before wandering off, leaving an awkwardness in his wake. Nines sighed, content as he leaned back in the padded chair and crossed his legs. Gavin tried not to seem too affected as he sat back and looked out at the distant city.

"The coffee here is the best in Paris, and Pierre's pastries are to die for! I visit every time I'm here...Please, don't take his words to heart. He likes to tease." That didn't really reassure him, but he did his best to set his disappointment aside. It didn't matter what was in the past or future. They were here. In the present. He'd only have around three hours with Nines before they parted forever. He'd only met him yesterday. He's not the first guy to fuck and leave, and he won't be the last...At least this time I got paid for it. He had to remind himself more than once that this was the only reason they'd met in the first place. Nines had seen his ass and decided to rent it for the flight. He still couldn't believe he'd gone through with it. "Do you like the view?"

"Yeah, it's...it's really something..." Gavin replied distractedly, looking out with an almost regretful air. He turned his head as he heard Nines' chair move. He'd shuffled it a little further around the table, bringing them closer together. Gavin huffed and shuffled his own chair around beside Nines'. If they only had three hours, then he may as well make the most of it. Sometimes, it was nice to pretend. He bit his lip as Nines' hand covered his own and laced their fingers once more. He wasn't sure he'd noticed before how soft his skin was.

"Is there anything you'd like to see? There's the Louvre? Notre Dame?" Nines paused with a fond smile as he noted Gavin's mystified expression. He truly was different to his brother. Elijah had all but demanded to see the Louvre on his first visit. He'd spent hours staring at the paintings and statues within, commenting on the exquisite lines and anatomical proportions. "Do you enjoy museums?" It seemed a sensible question before planning out the next couple of hours. Gavin shrugged. He wasn't disinterested. He just didn't really know much. His brother was the academic. Gavin had never really focused on much beyond the daily grind, even as a kid.

"I guess...I mean, isn't that what people usually want to see?" He didn't want to miss out. It made sense to play the tourist, since he was there. His brother would probably lecture him for a week if he stopped in Paris and didn't do something touristy. Nines' gaze softened again as he nodded his agreement.

"Usually, but there are shops if you'd prefer?" Nines was quietly sure that Gavin would have more fun that way, but he also knew he'd choose the museum to try to seem a little more intellectual. He wasn't sure who he was trying to impress, but it was endearing nonetheless. Gavin murmured a small agreement, and they were soon enjoying breakfast. Nines was surprised as both of them reached for a Pain au Chocolat first. The pastries were still warm, and crumbled as they bit into them. They also had buttered croissants, raisin whirls, and cinnamon whirls to choose from. They were about half their usual size, since they were a breakfast selection made to be eaten together.

Gavin had to agree with Nines that the coffee was good. Maybe not the best he'd ever tasted. He'd been to Italy and Brazil, and those places knew how to make coffee, but France was now coming in at a close third. It was a good, strong brew. He wasn't sure how many shots were in the large mug, but it was certainly black and almost frothy. It was bitter on his tongue as he sipped the strong liquid, being careful not to burn his mouth. He closed his eyes as he cradled the mug greedily, enjoying the fresh smell as he breathed in the warm steam. He was surprised as he opened them to find Nines watching him. He was leaning his chin on one hand as he lounged in his large chair, resting his mug on his crossed knees. His expression was warm and fond, almost enchanted. It wasn't a look Gavin was used to seeing directed his way.

"What?" He felt a little defensive at the intense scrutiny. Nines' lips thinned into a soft smile.

"You just looked so content..." His gentle tone made Gavin even more flustered. He hoped he didn't look as embarrassed as he felt at all the attention. He looked outside to distract himself. There were a lot of people. In fact, the restaurant was quite busy as more came up for lunch. It was a large open space, so the din of plates and voices carried and filled the room. There were windows at the front and back, so you could look out at the city or inwards towards the inner workings of the tower. Not that there was much to see. It was mostly metal struts, but it was still quite cool to see how all the sections slotted together.

After lunch, Nines led him down and out towards the city. There was a mass of people out to enjoy the park and snap pictures of the tower. There was also a small bridge further along, where Gavin paused to look at all the padlocks. Nines stopped with him, smiling fondly as he crouched beside him to examine the locks. There were hundreds. Hell, it might even be thousands! There were big ones, small ones, normal ones, heart-shaped ones, expensive looking ones, and cheap ones. Nines hummed in amusement as he fingered one that was the shape of a teddy bear's head. It had even been painted to look like a bear. Cute!

"This is a Lover's Bridge tradition...Couples who want to stay together forever will come here and add a lock to the bridge...Many even toss the keys into the water. There's a clean-up every few months to take out all the keys and cut the older locks to be recycled. It's a lot more commercialised than it used to be, of course...It started as a sort of high school tradition many years ago, and of course, the tourists caught on, so...here we are," Nines explained as he stood and looked down the bridge. This wasn't the only bridge in the park to do this. He wasn't even sure which was the original at this point. They'd added more and more to keep up with the demand. They'd even added little metal trees you could add your padlock to, because the bridges kept getting full.

"Have you got one? A padlock on the bridge, I mean," Gavin asked curiously as he got to his feet. Nines' smile tightened just a little as he sighed and looked up and down the bridge. His silvery eyes seemed a little far off as he nodded, still sweeping the rails.

"I did...A few years ago...It's probably long gone by now," he added almost dismissively as he led the way further down the wooden walkway. Gavin followed, wondering if he'd hit a nerve. He got it. Relationships ended all the time, but that didn't stop it from hurting. Sometimes for a long time. He almost cringed at his own sentimentality as he reached out and took Nines' hand. He pointedly looked out across the river so that Nines couldn't see his face, but he heard the small chuckle and Nines' hand tightening in thanks. He laced their fingers as they walked, Nines' hand taking the front space. It had been a long time since Gavin had held hands this much with anyone.

He'd thought Nines might drop his hand as they drew closer to the busy city streets, but that only seemed to make him hold tighter. They walked side by side where they could, but Gavin often ended up ducking behind to let people pass and avoid the crowds. It was still weird that no one had commented on or even given them funny looks. It was nice that it was so normal. There were even a few other couples about, holding hands and looking in shop windows without a care for anyone else. He was starting to see the appeal of living in Europe. Hey, wait. Where does Nines live? He was in Dubai, but was that just for business? Where does he spend most of his time?

"Here we are...I'll get the tickets," Nines insisted as he led Gavin towards a huge glass building that was shaped like a pyramid. It looked like it was part of a larger and much older complex. The place was massive, and somehow grand. The older parts looked older than most of the places in Detroit. They headed in and Nines handled the transaction in flawless French. Gavin didn't follow a word. He didn't have a second language. At least, he hadn't practiced German since high school, so he'd forgotten more than he knew. The young lady handed Nines two tickets and Nines led the way deeper into the grand building.

The floors looked like they were marble in places, but Gavin wasn't sure if that was real or fake. It seemed old and expensive enough to be real. There were also rooms with thick carpets and wooden flooring instead. The walls in the older parts were wood panelled or painted cream, likely so that they didn't distract from the art. Gavin didn't know much about art, but he recognised a few of the more famous works. They saw the Mona Lisa from a distance, and he was pretty sure there was a Van Gogh he recognised. Oh, right! That's the one with the soup! He huffed as he paused to look at the bright flowers. He didn't really appreciate art, but he was still glad the painting hadn't been damaged. Nice things deserved to last.

It wasn't just paintings inside. There was a whole room filled with white statues, which Gavin was pretty sure were Greek. He stared up at one of them. It was a tall, naked man. He was pretty much perfectly sculpted, with large, defined muscles, a neat beard, curly hair and then-Gavin couldn't help snorting into the back of his hand as his emerald eyes trailed lower. He stiffened a little as he felt Nines pressing up behind to wrap his arms around his waist and lean his head on his shoulder. That was way more physical contact that Gavin was used to with his clothes on. He felt even more flustered as Nines chuckled in his ear, warm breath tickling the shell.

"Apparently, the statues used to be anatomically correct, but at some point it was decided that showing full sized cocks was just too scandalous, so they were cut down and made smaller," Nines purred as he rested his chin on Gavin's shoulder and joined him in looking up at the statue. It was pretty amazing that he couldn't tell. Whoever did the alterations had done a good job of blending it into the original work. Gavin hummed his understanding as he leaned back against Nines' chest, enjoying the warmth and security he found there.

"Who was it?" he asked as he turned his head, enjoying the closeup view of Nines' clean-shaven face. Nines hummed thoughtfully as he drew back and tugged Gavin along to the next group of white statues.

"Probably some Christian group or other. You know how they are." Gavin nodded his agreement as they wandered along. They moved to other rooms, seeing a lot of different items. Vases, armour, weaponry, tapestries. They moved surprisingly quickly. Nines had seen everything before, and besides a few items that caught his eye, Gavin wasn't overly interested in lingering. He quite happily consumed everything at a fast pace. They were done within an hour and a half, even pausing at the shop so that Nines could buy him a keyring as a memento of the trip. Gavin added it to the key in his wallet and zipped it safely in his breast pocket. "It's based on the astrolabe."

Gavin had no idea what that was, but the keyring was quite beautiful. It looked like an antique itself. It was a golden metal, maybe bronze. There were a series of delicate loops connecting it to the ring at the top, and a large circle beneath that looked like the inside of a pocket watch. It wasn't mechanical, but it looked like it should be. The back had a tiny ruler across it, with different lines and engravings that looked like they were made for working out angles or something. Astro sort of suggested astronomy, or astrology. Something to do with stars...

They didn't have much longer. Gavin felt his chest drop again at the realisation. He was subdued as they headed for the door. They returned to the streets, walking close as they began winding their way back towards the Eiffel Tower, where Nines had left Cleo earlier. The sky had turned grey since they'd been inside, matching Gavin's mood as they strolled along past a string of small shops. Despite only having a short time left, they did pause as they walked to look in some of the windows. Fancy suits, soft scarves, berets, bags, wine, and all sorts of food lined the small streets.

At one of the small stores, Nines tugged Gavin inside. It was a shop filled with warm looking scarves made of what Nines insisted was the softest, finest wool in all of France. Gavin wouldn't know either way, but they were certainly soft. There were all sorts of colours and patterns. Creams, browns, black, grey, reds, pinks, yellows, greens, cream, chequered, and striped. Nines lingered beside one of the racks as Gavin occupied himself walking around the store. He fingered some of the long scarves. They were definitely expensive. They didn't even have price tags. That's how expensive they were. He looked at one of the labels as he idled. They're phcking cashmere!

"Gavin." He didn't even have time to turn before he felt a soft layer of wool slip over the back of his neck. He stammered an objection as Nines wrapped the wool around his throat. There was a stern-looking shop clerk watching them. He was likely used to tourists coming in and fingering his stock without buying it. There was no way Gavin would be able to afford something so expensive. Alright, I could probably stretch to a scarf, but it's still a lot of money! Nines didn't seem bothered at all as he tugged the ends tighter and bit his lip. "Perfect." He turned Gavin towards a mirror. The scarf was a plain shade of deep forest green that brought out the base colour in his eyes. "Monsieur!" Nines turned and headed for the counter, wallet already in hand.

"H-hey, wait a-" Gavin tried to object, but Nines was already talking in extremely animated French and handing over his card for payment. It didn't take a minute, and they were heading out the old shop door, only to find it was raining. Heavily. They stepped to the side of the door so they didn't block the way, but they needed to find some cover to get to before they left. Phck, I'm sure it was sunny when we went inside! Nines grabbed his hand and tugged him further up the street. Gavin let out a small yelp as he stumbled out into the downpour.

"I'll call Cleo..." Nines laughed as he pulled him into a small side street and pushed him into a small alcove with a locked door. Nines ran a hand through his damp locks as he panted for breath. Gavin nodded as he flicked his own wet hair out of his face and looked up at him. "You need to get back..." Gavin gave a second nod. He did need to get back. He couldn't miss his flight. It took him a few seconds to realise that Nines had made no move to take his phone out. They were still catching their breaths as they huddled in the arched doorway. Gavin hoped it was just a passing shower and the heavy rain would stop.

He gasped as Nines made his move. Both hands came up to cradle his cheeks and tilt his head into the perfect position. He stooped down and closed his silvery eyes as he claimed his lips. A hum escaped Gavin's lips as he was pressed more firmly into the faded wood of the door. He reached up and gripped Nines' elbows, unsure whether he wanted to pull him closer or push him away. He opened his mouth as he felt Nines' tongue slide along his lips and openly moaned as Nines' hands moved to explore. They slipped into his open jacket and started sliding up beneath the back of his top. Gavin fumbled his own hands to hook over Nines' shoulders and laced his fingers in his hair, pulling him down as their tongues entwined. Phck, if we had time I'd-

"Phck! I have to get back..." Gavin gasped as he pulled back. They paused a few seconds, breathing heavily and searching each other's faces. Gavin didn't want to think about how pathetic he must seem to Nines. He was pretty sure he had a love-struck look on his face that he'd probably seen a thousand times. Nines' eyes were filled with regret as he drew back with a small nod. He kept a hand on Gavin's hip as he made the call to Cleo. She was close by. Barely a five-minute drive. They waited almost awkwardly, though Nines never removed his hand.

Nines led the way as Cleo pulled up on the main street. They hurried through the rain and into the back of the car. Gavin swallowed hard. His chest dropped again. This is it. He was going home. He looked out the window as he felt his eyes tearing up. I am not going to cry over a one-time fuck! A one-time fuck who'd upgraded him to first class. As payment! Who'd taken him to breakfast. Because I had a stopover and we were hungry! Who'd taken him sightseeing. To fill the time! Who'd bought him expensive presents. They're not expensive to him! He was just being polite. Did people buy presents to be polite when there was no need? He was just being nice because I'm Eli's little brother! If he thought that much of Elijah, he shouldn't have fucked him. We'd already agreed to that before he knew!

His thoughts ground to a halt as Nines took his hand and laced their fingers. Gavin glanced across almost shyly, enjoying the way Nines' thumb traced gentle circles on the back of his hand. He bit his lip as he squeezed back and enjoyed the contact for as long as possible. His heart really sank as they pulled into the airport and Cleo pulled over by the entrance. Nines led him back inside to check the board. His flight would be boarding within the hour. He had to go. He had to get through security and find his gate. He turned to Nines with a look of resignation, forcing a small smile as he looked up into his silvery blue eyes.

"Thanks for...you know...You didn't have to pay first class the whole way," he added with a small huff as he tugged his ticket out ready to show security, along with his passport. Nines had a warm smile on his face, though Gavin liked to pretend that maybe it was a little forced. He ground his teeth a little, probably thinking of what to say. What the fuck did you say to a one-night stand that had gone on too long? Gavin was surprised as Nines' smile dropped and he gripped his elbows.

"Fuck, Gavin, don't leave...I want you to stay longer! I didn't...I didn't expect to meet you-to like-to get attached-I...Please stay..." Nines' stammered request caught him off guard. He hadn't heard him stammer the whole time they'd been together. He'd even held his own against Chloe's judgement. Part of Gavin's chest swelled at the request. Nines liked him. Nines wanted him to stay. The other part, the more logical part, knew it was a dream. This was typical honeymoon phase bullshit that would wear off within three days. He'd do something, or say something, and Nines would realise he was just another loser. Then he'd be stuck in Europe in need of help to get home. Not to mention how much trouble he'd be in with work. But it's a nice dream...

"I-I can't...I have work, you know? Someone needs to catch the bad guys." He let out a small huff as he forced a smile. Nines' expression dropped at his refusal. He's probably not used to being turned down...I must be phcking crazy..."Call me if you're ever in Detroit, yeah? You have my number," Gavin added with a small quiver in his voice. He coughed a couple of times to clear it. No way was he crying again. Nines forced a smile of his own. Both of them knew it would never happen. He'd left Detroit to get away from the risk of seeing his own face walking around. Gavin worked in Detroit. With Connor. But I can dream...We can pretend for another two minutes.

"You could come back sometime?" Nines' tone was almost hopeful, lifting at the end as he looked up through thick eyelashes. Gavin smiled in a way that said it was unlikely. He'd only left America in the first place to help at work.

"Maybe." It was suitably non-committal. He almost stumbled as Nines latched onto him again. The kiss was deep and urgent, arms holding him tight. Gavin opened his mouth and accepted the tongue that so desperately demanded entry. Nines was barely giving him room to breathe as he fisted a hand in his hair and pulled him as close as he could. Gavin whined as he held on, partly returning the hug and partly just trying to stay upright. "Phck, I'm going to miss my flight if you don't let me go." Gavin had meant it to be a joke, but Nines actually held him tighter in response and buried his face in his shoulder.

"I know..." For a moment, Gavin thought he was actually going to keep him there like a hostage, but he soon stepped back with a sigh. "Call me?" Nines' tone sounded hopeful and pleading as he made the simple request. Gavin bit his lip. It didn't hurt to say yes. Nines would probably forget about it anyway. The very next time he took a plane, he'd find someone else and pay for their flight. His stomach dropped a little at the thought. He'll forget me in less than a week...How could he not? He was rich, smart, handsome, sophisticated. Everything I'm not...

"Sure...Bye, Nines." Gavin hefted his bag a little more securely over his shoulder.

"Good bye, Gavin." Nines gave him a final chaste kiss and watched as he headed towards the security gate. He stayed and waved until Gavin disappeared into the queue. His smile fell once he was out of sight. He'd never done that before. Asked someone to stay. Usually, a simple fuck was enough. He usually didn't even walk them off the plane. He wasn't sure what was different about Gavin, but he just couldn't get enough. It was like his lips were a drug. He just wanted to keep going back for more. His hazy green eyes made his heart flutter. The way he bit his lip and smiled made his stomach swirl. That one time he'd gotten to pound his ass had made him feel complete, like he'd been missing something all those other times.

He sighed as he headed out to find Cleo. This was all romantic nonsense. What if it wasn't nonsense? He sighed again. He'd given up on that sort of thing years ago. There was no such thing as true love, and even a genuine, solid relationship wasn't guaranteed to last. It was probably better to leave it as one amazing day they could both remember. He smiled wryly as he thought of the lover's bridge and all the padlocks. For once, he wasn't thinking about the lock that had long been cut free and discarded. Instead, he was thinking of the way Gavin had held his hand as they'd walked.

"Take me home..." he sighed as he slumped into the passenger's seat. Cleo turned her head to look him over. She knew that expression. She also noted that Gavin hadn't returned with him. As she'd expected. Nines sank lower in his chair as she started the car and rolled a few feet forward. He was confused as she stopped with a sigh and put on the handbrake. His silvery eyes widened as he looked across. Her LED was spinning yellow. A giddy flutter filled his stomach as he grinned and threw the door open. "Thanks, Cleo!"