Gavin was in fresh clothes and was settled on Nines' lap.
After Gavin had woken up, he had promptly told everyone to fuck off as he changed into his last pair of unworn clothing. It only goes downhill from there.
But that was around five minutes ago. Now Gavin was munching on a muesli bar whilst Nines lazily slung his arms around Gavin's torso.
Connor was in the process of changing the bandages he had applied to Hank when Gavin was asleep. Gavin saw him wince and just cuddled closer to Nines.
"To think that you hated androids once," Hank chuckled.
"Yeah, well, you did too," Gavin pointed out. "I hate a lot of them for a different reason now."
"'Kay." Hank looked away and stared down into the tunnel ahead.
"Is there anything wrong, Hank?" Connor asked.
"Eh… I'm just realising we will have to take a detour. Who knows where those shithead monster dicks could be. We should get going soon. Gavin, that means no more gay."
"Shocked, confused, and offended," Gavin said before he pressed a gentle kiss against Nines' cheek.
Hank rolled his eyes. He tried to stand up, but he groaned and fell limp again. "Stupid bones."
"You're injured, Hank. Let Nines carry you," Connor said.
"Actually, Connor," Nines interjected, "I'm going to be leaving today."
"What!?" Connor and Gavin exclaimed in unison.
"I need my boyfriend!"
"Hank needs someone to carry him!"
Connor and Gavin yelled at the same time, dismayed at what Nines had said.
"Remember I have duties to attend to and a reputation to uphold," Nines said tartly. "I'll be back when I can and I'll try to extend my day to the end of the day."
Gavin clung on to Nines, not wanting to let go of him. "But… You're the best gay I know."
"I'm the only gay you know, as far as my knowledge extends."
"Yeah and you're my boyfriend! Sure, life is nice and all, but giving me attention is a lot better."
"You sure love my attention, huh?"
"Yeeeessss! That was the whole point of this conversation apart from please stay!"
"Gavin, I am unable to do that and you know that. I'm sorry, but I must go."
Gavin hugged Nines tightly and gave him a kiss. Nines kissed back, embracing Gavin closely. Nines gently ran his hands up and down Gavin's slender hips.
"I'm not sure when I'll be back," Nines said when he broke the kiss, "But I won't make you wait too long. I appreciate you, Gavin."
"I appreciate you too." Gavin gave Nines a squeeze before reluctantly letting go. He gave Nines' cheek a soft kiss. "Well, goodbye. No - let's say farewell instead of goodbye. It seems less permanent."
"Farewell, Gavin." Nines gave a smile and squeezed Gavin's hand before giving Connor and Hank a respective nod. "Connor, Hank."
"Bye, Nines," Connor said.
"Stay safe!" Gavin added as Nines began to walk away.
Watching his lover disappear into darkness made Gavin feel sad. He just wanted to pull him back towards the light, but he was unable to.
"Where does he even go?" Gavin asked.
"There are ways to reach the outside world riddled all across these tunnels," Hank answered.
"There are what? Why don't we just travel up above the surface then?"
"Because authorities would be doing a search on us by now, Gavin. It is far too dangerous," Connor said.
"Far too dangerous my ass," Gavin mumbled.
"If I go out into daylight my eyes will probably hurt," Hank said.
"No one gives a flying fuck about your eyes, Hank."
"We should think about what we should do," Connor intervened. "Hank?"
"Take the detour."
"Detour it is then," Gavin sighed reluctantly.
The group consisting of two humans and an android spent the next few days travelling through the tunnel. It took extra time due to Hank's wounds and limping, but they still made fairly decent time. Gavin was slowly becoming more excited to reach a place where he could see actual humans (that weren't Hank. As far as Gavin was concerned, Hank was barely a human anyway). They went through a series of twists and turns. Gavin had never knew that this all existed, and very much questioned the planning to the confusing underground structure.
Throughout the journey, Gavin heard distant growls and sounds which always shot a rush of adrenaline throughout his body. He did not appreciate the background sounds. Gavin would really appreciate a phone, some earplugs and a Spotify connection at that point.
"We're getting close," Hank abruptly announced. Gavin noticed a light in his eyes that wasn't present before.
Hank walked down a hallway towards a door. "Home," he said softly.
"Home?" Gavin echoed questioningly. "Hank, this is not home. Home is something we lost two years ago. Home is gone."
Hank turned around to face Gavin, and he glared at him. "You're right, Gavin. Home is gone - our old home is gone. Now, my home lies with these people. You have to get used to this difference some time. Stop focusing on the goddamn past and look at what you have ahead of you. Nothing and no one can change what has been done."
"He's right," Connor said. "It's okay to have trauma, but you can't let yourself drown in it." He put a hand on Gavin's shoulder. "You have to grow, think about the good things ahead. Change happens all the time, Gavin. It's something you have to adjust to."
"Whatever," Gavin said. "I mean… Fuck. I guess that this has all been tough, and I…I don't know."
"Let's just continue," Hank said. He turned back towards the door. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it, opening the door.
Gavin watched Hank's face, and experienced every moment of the cheerful gleam fading from his eye and his face falling into one of unmasked horror.
The large dimly lit room was covered in blood, and Gavin recognised a few scattered mauled bodies. Android creatures were all around the tavern, and they all turned to look at the new arrivals.
"Shit!" Gavin yelled. "Fuck, I left the spear Hank gave me somehwere." He drew the machete out of his bag.
The creatures, mostly animal-like, bounded towards the three with ferocious snarls. Connor began to throw knives as swift as his coding and mechanics could possibly allow. Hank had a glazed look as his countenance remained soaked in a horrified distraught.
"Hank, snap out of it!" Gavin yelled before bringing the machete down on a creature. "We have to run. Now!"
Hank was frozen for another moment before looking at Gavin. Just as he opened his mouth, barks of the monsters sounded from the other end of the tunnel. They were surrounded.
"Fuck! Hank, what do we do!?" Gavin screeched.
The blank look faded from Hank's face. "We have to fight our way through. I know where survivors would have went, but we have to travel above the ground to get there."
"Shit, okay."
Hank drew his pistol and began to shoot. As more and more creatures leapt, he shot them. He turned around and shot a few approaching from the other way. Gavin took a step forward and kept chopping up the android hybrids. More swarmed and dealt Gavin swipes and bites to the legs.
One suddenly leapt onto Gavin and bowled him over. Gavin yelped out in shock as a few of the creatures jumped onto him. Claws that seemed to have been dipped in poison ripped through his skin, resulting in prolonged screeches of agony.
Gavin tried to shove them off to no avail. Tears quickly came to his eyes. He watched as one of them opened up its mouth, prepared to rip a big chunk out of Gavin's side, until a bullet went through its brain.
Connor threw knives at the others, and took a chance to rush in and give Gavin his machete back. Gavin stood up, blood streaming from multiple wounds around his body. He wielded the machete and began swinging.
Hank began to push through to another door, so Gavin and Connor followed his lead as they thought with all their might. Gavin had to fight the urge to be reduced to a heap on the floor, his wounds were burning badly and dealing him immense anguish.
Gavin continued to swing his machete as the group went towards the door.
"I'm out of throwing knives," Connor suddenly said. He started whacking creatures with his bag.
"I only have a bullet left," Hank said. "Gavin, it's up to you."
Gavin nodded and he kept hitting the never ending stream of jaws and claws with his machete. There was a point where the weapon was ripped from his hands, but Gavin quickly tugged it back. As soon as they reached the door, all three men rushed through and closed the door behind them.
"Up ahead is a trapdoor. We get out of there and we'll be in the suburbs near a forest," Hank said. "Past the forest there is a field with an old mansion. That's our backup location. Survivors will be there."
"Shit, okay," Gavin said. He took a few more steps before falling to the ground and groaning. His nerves felt like they were burning and Gavin was convinced that a few of those monsters had poisoned claws.
Connor knelt beside him and he grabbed bandages out of his backpack. He wrapped up Gavin's wounds hastily before pulling him up to his feet.
"We don't have time Gavin, please, let's go. We have to move."
Gavin forced himself to limp forward. Hank pulled down a ladder and opened up the trapdoor. Gavin squinted at the sudden exposure to daylight. It was bright but it seemed to be near sunset.
Hank hauled himself out of the trapdoor, then reached down a hand. Connor got behind Gavin and helped him up the ladder. Hank grabbed him and heaved him upwards.
Gavin panted as he collapsed next to Hank. Connor looked behind him where he saw the door slam open, followed by a wave of android mutants.
Connor's eyes widened and he suddenly seemed fearful. The horrible sounds from the monsters flooded his auditory senses. Connor began to climb, but jaws clamped onto his leg and pulled him back down towards the darkness.