Loud and hectic, hectic and loud, with music and lights and sweat and bodies. Gavin sauntered over to the bar, ordering something strong before staring out blankly.
"Come here often, Detective?"
It was an innocent enough question, but Gavin still snorted, the phrasing making him feel as if he were the star in some cheap chick flick. "Yeah, I guess," he answered honestly, not really knowing why. The android hummed in response, LED yellowing, no doubt storing the information away for later abuse, Gavin thought bitterly. Fun .
"I don't really know why I wished to accompany you, Detective, " the android admitted, seemingly avoiding Gavin's eyes. It looked like there was more to it, something left unsaid, but Gavin didn't know or care to ask. "I wanted to get as well acquainted with humans as Connor is. Many seem to find me intimidating or scary or 'metal as fuck', though I'm still unable to comprehend what Hank meant when he said that."
Gavin found himself snorting again, mentally blaming it on the drink and not the terrifying possibility that he found the android amusing. He looked up at it again and found Rk staring at him, that strange twitch of the lips back again, like a person trying to smile but never learning how. Gavin scowled. "Just cause you don't scare me doesn't mean I fucking like you."
"Of course."
Its indifference pissed him off. He swung his head back, swallowing the contents of the glass all at once, before ordering another. And another. And another. Slowly getting drunker and drunker, head spinning, cheeks flushed.
Androids ruin everything.
He was cosying up to a guy. A large bloke that groped his ass and looked like he'd smack him just hard enough. Gavin wanted it to hurt. He deserved it. No one had said no before.
The man was just inviting him back to somewhere , eyes hungry, and Gavin was just about to slur a response when all 6ft of the bastard android stepped in between them.
"My partner is not sober enough to consent, I doubt you'll be pleased to have a chat with my colleagues. I have your details." It was clear, assertive, no-nonsense. The guy backed off immediately. Gavin's head swam. "Come, Detective, you should sit down."
Gavin let the bot drag him over to a seat, enough time between one place and another for his anger to boil. "Why the fuck did you do that?"
"You are not in the right frame of mind for consensual sex, it's my job to prevent crimes from being committed."
"It's your job to do as you're fucking told!"
The android chose to ignore that, much to Gavin's displeasure. The idea of it caring for him was uncomfortable, weird, he swallowed down bile. "I'm going to fetch you some water and then I'm taking you home, Detective." He must of groaned something in response, because the android curtly nodded and marched away like some kind of super solider, returning just as fast.
Gavin snapped to awareness with a hand on his cheek, shockingly gentle, guiding his jaw up and a glass to his lips. It supported his shaking hands as he grabbed the glass, pushing him to sip and washing away the taste of vomit from his mouth. For a moment he relaxed, simply focusing on the androids hands and the sickening rush of everything. For a moment, there was silence and calm.
"Get the fuck off me, freak!"
Rk pulled away, but didn't flinch at the tone, expression not wavering of changing from anything other than grim neutral. Lips a line and eyes hard. Why did I do that?
Without a word, the android grabbed his arm, making an attempt to pull out over its shoulders before hesitation, a Connor like confusion gracing its face for a moment, before it settled for wrapping the arm around its waist, supporting Gavin as he rose from the chair and keeping him steady. It was still gentle, not angry or violent, and Gavin couldn't figure out if it was incapable of feeling those emotions of simply didn't. He felt small, literally and figuratively.
"I'm driving," it had said, no room for argument as he settled Gavin's uncooperative body into the passengers side, clicking the seatbelt into place.
"You can drive?"
"I installed the appropriate files when I saw you drinking, Detective."
"You downloaded driving?"
It's lips upturned then, a sharp exhale through the nose which Gavin refused to believe was laughter. "Yeah, I did."
It had rolled the sleeves of the black turtle neck it was wearing up to the forearms, synthetic fingers flexing on the wheel, before reaching into the glove department and pulling out Gavin's sunglasses. Rk put them on, the stereotypical cop style somehow suiting him, and wiggled his eyebrows all dramatic and handsome. And maybe it was the alcohol, or the foul mood that got him in this situation but Gavin laughed, laughed , all hearty and happy and tearful and sad, the androids joke enough to throw him over the edge. Gavin was sobbing and throwing up in the seat of his car with a glamorized vacuum cleaner sitting next to him, staring.
"What are you looking at!" Gavin screamed, facing the android accusingly, chin covered in spit. Rk had reached out, then, expression confused, and it took Gavin another moment to realise that perhaps he didn't know anything about this either, that emotions where just as new and raw and confusing to him as any human. No don't think like that! He? You're giving it a fucking pronoun! You're falling for it, you're letting yourself be tricked, it's gonna-
Two pats.
Two sympathetic pats on his back, a there there on his lips, before the android had turned awkwardly, cheeks tinged blue, and started the car up.
The next time Gavin was aware he was leaning against the android, balanced on his solid chest as he was skilfully patted down. "Where are your keys, Detective?"
"S'in my back pocket," Gavin slurred the response out, not aware enough to be embarrassed of his speech, or the fact that his vomit covered shirt was touching Rk's chest. A hand respectfully grazed over his ass, fishing the keys out while Gavin giggled immaturely, struggling to hold back a comment. I'll probably want to die a tad more than usual after this.
Rk hoisted his up, balancing him while reaching out with his freer hand unlocking the door to his apartment and supporting him inside. If the android had an opinion on the mess, he didn't voice it, instead gently treading through debris and sitting Gavin down at the kitchen table. "I'm going to grab you some clothes, stay here." Gavin scoffed at the authoritative tone, ignoring him and looking around. The kitchen was a mess of shattered plates and bloody sides. A bloody shirt, stripped for use as a makeshift bandage, lay on the table he sat at. That got through to his drink addled mind. The android couldn't know, couldn't see, Gavin would scream and fight before anyone saw his depression, his pain, his weakness.
Rk stood behind him, motioning with a flick of the wrist, "arms up." He'd stolen one of Gavin's shirts for himself, the battered tee tight on the shoulders and a tad too high at the navel. Gavin curled in on himself, shoulders hunched, shaking his head. He felt sick, disgusted; the ugliest person alive.
"I don't think any less of you, Detective." Gavin's head shot up, swallowing down confused nausea and ignoring the voice that made him want to bang his head against a wall for a moment. Rk gestured at him, at his arms more specifically. "I am fully aware those are self inflicted." Once again the tone wasn't angry, or disappointed, the look in his eyes didn't make Gavin want to throw himself off a bridge. The android continued, "I respect you, Gavin, and I respect your views on my status as an android," he chuckled, "so long as they do not result in violence, I'm still an officer after all. Though if you wish to punch me in the morning I'll understand." Gavin looked down, and Rk's voice got serious again, "though I do ask that you talk to someone, I'm probably not the best equipped, but there are others who are. "
Gavin nodded, twitchy, hands shaking. He lifted his arms. Rk said nothing more of his wounds, changing his vomit covered shirt and making him a coffee. Black, of course, Gavin wondered how he knew.
"You got a name, bot?"
" Rk900."
"Why?"
"Why?"
" Yeah, why can't you have a normal name like Chris or John or, I don't fucking know, Connor squared?"
"Why are you called Gavin?" the android was starting at him, expression unwavering, head tilted like a fucking cat. Gavin looked away, choosing to get lost in his drink rather than his eyes, swirling the cup around to make a little whirlpool. He shrugged.
"I didn't pick a 'normal' name for myself because I am content with the one I possess, I like being called Rk. I suppose its that freedom that you take for granted yet so many wish to possess."
"If you want freedom then why did you keep your android name?"
"Because I can, freedom of choice and all that."
Gavin snorted , all-fucking-rightly then. Gavin didn't want to process what the android had said, didn't want to open himself up to the thought that they might have feelings and thoughts . He scratched his wrist, suddenly uncomfortable.
"And I'd hate to be called Connor, Connors an asshole."
Gavin laughed.
As months went on Gavin found himself tolerating Rk, surprised at his own self restraint. Everything was faster, work seemed more rewarding, the idea of having a partner no longer something that kept Gavin up at night. Rk had helped his clean his apartment, sort out his life, and got him the occasional coffee, which alone made him better than Connor.
He didn't like the android though. Nope, never, its not happening.
Mental health issues weren't cured by a helping hand, and bad days happened, Rk giving Gavin a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, handing him a helpful business card and driving him home. It was confusing as it was unexpected, Gavin sometimes finding himself afraid of what his life had become, afraid that Rk was only helping him for a more convenient work life. I don't like him.
"I just have to finish some paperwork and then I'm going to discharge you, Mr. Reed."
"Mhm."
"You have a visitor as well."
"What!"
The android stepped in smiling, ducking his head to avoid hitting it on the door. Fuckin' tree.
"And what, pray tell, are you doing here?" The androids smile evolved into a smirk, eyes bright and lifelike. "No one visits me, it's tradition."
"I heard the infamous Detective Reed was bedbound and had to confirm the rumours," he looked at Gavin's shattered leg, the bullet gone but damage done, "Seriously? The one day I don't come into work you get yourself shot." Rk's voice was deadpan and sarcastic, Gavin had to bite his lip to hide the smirk. They both chuckled for a moment, Rk stepping forward, helping Gavin sit up and adjusting the pillows around his back. He seemed to hesitate, looking Gavin in the eyes.
He hugged him.
Gavin was knocked back slightly, taken off balance, Rk's arms wrapping around his torso and squeezing. "I'm glad you didn't die."
Gavin's eyes widened, a shocked inhale before, almost unconsciously, he returned the embrace. "Me too, Nines."
Gavin stumbled on the crutches, Rk laughing before reaching an arm out, looping them together to balance him and taking the spare crutch. Together they stumbled across the hospital carpark.
"You don't have to come, I could manage on my own."
"I know, Detective."
"So? Why did you?"
Rk smiled at him, no longer strange and robotic, seemingly more human everyday. The synth skin touching Gavin faded, a smooth white plastic underneath. Rk shrugged.
"You know, freedom of choice and all that."
Gavin smirked, shoving the android, "you're still getting me a coffee when we get home."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."