Chapter 8/20: Fear
"You do you, tin can. Watch some shitty rom-coms. Go wild. Take up meditation while you're at it." - Gavin Reed
...in which Gavin makes a realization and Nines suffers his worst yet. Also more Gavin backstory.
A/N: The last chapter was badly received on AO3 - compared to the previous chapters - according to statistics, so I can only hope this one will be more likable. Please do let me know what you disliked that much about it (either by review or contact me directly via PM.) Constructive criticism is very important in order to improve :)
There's a certain scene in the bathroom in this chapter that was inspired by the song 'Hold On' by Chord Overstreet. I wanted Gavin to be in love with Nines when this happened, but it just didn't fit my timeline (...bc it's obviously a while until either falls in love.) Regardless, that song fits really well.
CHAPTER WARNING! Implied/referenced suicide.
GAVIN
~ NOV 11TH, 2038 * PM 11:13 ~
The next thing Gavin remembered was the sound of a car door opening and closing shut, so he must've passed out.
He nearly went for his gun, but the RK-jacket draped over his lap had him pause. Gavin groaned and rubbed his eyes. He hadn't been out for long, maybe twenty minutes, and thus he wasn't surprised when he saw his apartment complex. He tore up the car door and exited, grabbing the RK-jacket before it slipped to the ground and pushed it into Nines, not bothering to check if he'd caught it or not before he released his grip around the fabric. Naturally, he had. Gavin hadn't expected otherwise.
Despite his fatigue, he could now walk on his own and headed straight for the elevator. Nines fell into his steps and he was the one to push the panel reaching the upper floors. Again resting his eyes, Gavin pressed his back to the wall, arms folded across his chest. It would take about eight weeks before all his blood had regenerated fully, but in the span of eight days, he wouldn't see the difference.
He knew the statistics and recovery time. This wasn't his first time getting shot, by far. What he didn't know was why his apartment door was already unlocked when Nines pushed it open without using the key.
Nines didn't even seem remotely worried as he held said door up for him. Once Gavin stepped across the threshold, he found out why.
"Since when did my apartment become a fucking walk-in closet?"
"Since when I decided it was," Tina replied.
As she grabbed his leather jacket and tugged him in for a careful hug, Nines closed the door after them.
"The fuck are you doing here?"
"Robocop gave me a call not too long ago," she said, pulling away. Gavin couldn't help but wish that she'd held on just a tad bit longer. "Didn't tell me what happened, though."
"Motherfucker," he said, giving Nines a glare. "Who else did you rat me out to, dipshit?"
"Fowler."
Gavin was ready to snap. "Fucking hell. Where's my phone?" he demanded, patting his pockets. Nines. Had to be. "Hand it over."
"I don't see why that would change anything," Nines replied, fishing it up. Gavin snatched it from him and found the contact. "I doubt Fowler will change his mind on your eight-day temporary leave, detective."
"Shut your fucking mouth."
Fowler shortly picked up. "It's past 11 p.m, Reed. This better be fucking important."
"Yeah, hey, boss... sorry to disturb your night, but Nines? Forget whatever he told you. I'm fit for duty."
"Although I appreciate the dedication, the answer's 'no.' Good night."
Gavin internally cursed. "Four days!" he tried, just as Fowler was about to end the call. "Let me back in the field in four days."
"Six. This conversation is over."
With that, Fowler hung up.
It took everything out of him not to launch the phone into the wall out of sheer frustration. Although he knew he was going to get paid anyway, he wouldn't get a promotion by sitting on his ass for just about an entire week. The longer he had to wait to get the sergeant badge the more frustrated he'd get. Not to mention that someone else would probably take his case, and considering they'd hit jackpot, he wasn't having it.
"I've yet to inform Fowler of the decryption key, so you have nothing to concern yourself with," Nines said as if he'd read his mind, Gavin refusing to meet his eye. "We'll just have to hold it off for six days."
"If you'd kept your mouth shut, we wouldn't have to hold it off at all."
"C'mon, Gav. Nines is just looking out for you."
"As if he fucking cares whether I bleed out of not, Tina. You heard it from Plastic Prick 2.0 yourself two days ago."
Nines narrowed his eyes. "People can change, detective."
"Oh yeah? Sorry to break it to you, but you're a droid."
"Fine. 'Your condition will put us both at risk until you've healed.' Does that answer please you?"
"There you have it," Gavin said, approaching the coffee machine and shoving in a capsule. "As for how I got shot, you've got Terminator here to thank for that. The defective toaster shoved me right into the line of fucking fire."
"I shoved your head out of it."
"...and what a great job you did," he replied in sarcasm, offering a fake smile. "Now I'm stuck here for six days because you had to play hero."
"I'm starting to regret that now."
"All right, you two just have to fuck already. Blow off some steam," Tina said without her usual gusto.
Gavin scowled. "Last thing I need is getting my dick stuck in one of those things."
"Oh, please. As if I'd ever let you top," Nines deadpanned.
He nearly choked.
Coffee entering the wrong pipe, Gavin broke into a coughing fit, nothing but thankful he wasn't in the precinct and surrounded by his coworkers. Tina was never going to live that one down. He didn't dare a look over knowing that another smug comment was bound to arrive, and not only that, but he was genuinely too horrified to function properly. Grabbing a pad from the kitchen table and heading out of earshot, Nines told him to enjoy his coffee as if he hadn't just made an attempt at his life.
Tina didn't butt in, though. It was obvious she was still concerned about that gunshot wound.
"I'm fine," he said, a hard edge to his tone.
"I know, I'm just... surprised you didn't kill the guy."
"At this stage? Not gonna happen," he replied, registering the confusion on her face before he glanced at Nines. "Congratulations on being right. Turns out the tin cans probably can feel."
"Wait, are you serious?" she asked, giving Nines a brief look before palming her hands on the table. "What the fuck happened back there?"
"He killed five of CyberLife's guys to get me out of a tight spot. Probably gonna end up on their hit-list once they find out."
"You thank him?" she asked, Gavin looking at her as if she was insane. "Dumb question. Just don't tell me you believe it's a ruse or some shit."
"What, is that such a long stretch?" he asked, Tina arching an unimpressed brow at him. "I don't know, okay? I found him just about to put a bullet in Robo-Jesus' head, and once I stepped in, he fucking snapped. Asshole nearly killed me - later claimed he 'didn't intend to go that far' - and dropped an entire SWAT team in seconds. He's fucking unstable and I can't just ignore that."
When he heard the balcony door swing open, he looked up to see that Nines had moved outside.
Tina pushed from the table. "Think he heard you?"
"...and I should care, why?"
"You're all heart, Gav," she said in sarcasm, Gavin pressing his lips together and avoiding her eyes. She was right. "So what are you thinking?"
"We're making a pit stop at Kamski's tomorrow so he can remove his instabilities, and before you ask, yes. Nines is in. Fuck, he was the one to suggest it. I'm sure as hell not letting him outta my sight until I get him back on a leash."
"Well, that's a good sign. At least he knows he's dangerous," she replied, crossing her arms. "Just don't forget he saved your ass."
He wouldn't.
Frankly, he couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Yeah, right, whatever."
Gavin took a sip of his coffee and watched Nines standing out on the balcony, back turned, forearms resting on the railing surface as he overlooked the view. It didn't make any sense that Nines would sacrifice this much for someone he'd only just met. Either there were ulterior motives, or he was just that naïve, and Gavin couldn't help but tilt further towards the latter. After all, Nines was first now experiencing emotions. Gavin had no idea how it felt to be an adult expected to have experience when there was none.
Androids being capable of emotion or not, it didn't change that they were oh-so-superior. Oh-so-perfect. Better in every way.
They were far more skilled, and with said skill, his job was and would always be at risk for being taken away. It scared him. Gavin hated androids - still did - but at least now he knew going forward that he wouldn't entirely disregard said emotions anymore. He might be a dick with his own best interest in mind, but he wasn't heartless.
Gavin wasn't heartless despite presenting himself that way. It was all an image. A self-defense protocol. Growing attached gave people power over you - the means to hurt you - and Gavin wasn't having any of it.
He'd been hurt too many times to go down that road again.
~ NOV 12TH, 2038 * AM 09:10 ~
Blinking awake to Paws peculiar barks and whines, Gavin adjusted his eyes to see that the clock had recently passed 9 a.m. The meeting with Elijah Kamski would be in four hours and Gavin suspected the reason why he accepted was his likely fascination by Nines. Nines wasn't his creation and Kamski seemed like the type of guy that would take any chance to learn more about the virus he unknowingly created.
Paws was usually quiet. If he barked like that on a regular basis, Gavin's landlord would either have him thrown out or demand him to get rid of the dog. Nines might be in stasis and unaware.
Reaching out to his nightstand to find his gun, Gavin brushed against nothing but thin air as the dark curtains blocked out the sunlight.
It wasn't there.
Had Nines taken it?
His heart begun to beat faster. He sat - muffled curses escaping as it put a strain on his shoulder - and pushed the covers away. Gavin pulled up the nightstand drawer where he found a multi-tool. It was the best he could do to defend himself right now. Nines specialized in combat, so a simple robber shouldn't've been an issue. He could be overreacting as he'd never experienced a break-in his entire life.
Stopping a break-in, sure, but not in his own home.
Nothing seemed unusual when he pushed up the bedroom door and stepped out in the hallway. No forced entry. Nevertheless, he shortly saw Paws scratching at the restroom door and seemed desperate to get in.
When Gavin reached for the doorknob, he was only to find it locked.
"Hey, Terminator. The fuck are you doing?" he asked, but there was no response. "Nines, open the fucking door!"
Nothing.
Dread emerged.
Memories took him back to the age of five, Gavin finding his mother at 3 a.m. with a self-inflicted bullet wound in head, the scene flashed vividly in his mind. There had been a lot of blood. On the sink, bathtub, the pool of red around her.
He braced himself and could only hope history didn't repeat itself.
Driving his healthy shoulder as hard into the door as he could, it retaliated ever so slightly, going in for another. A final attempt tore the door off its hinges. He nearly fell at the force used only to freeze up when presented with what was behind it. Back pressed up against the bathtub, Nines sat on the floor, forearms resting atop of his raised knees and parted legs. His eyes were open as he stared at a spot on the floor. There was no emotion on his face. What caught his immediate attention was Gavin's gun hanging loosely from his hand.
Gavin made a beeline for him just as Nines put the barrel below his own chin and dropped to his knees. Hand closing around the casing, he yanked, steel slipping from Nines' grasp before pulling on the safety and chucking it away.
In a moment of sheer reflex, he cupped Nines' face. "Nines. Nines, look at me. Right here."
Nines twitched.
Then he went back to staring ahead as if he wasn't there.
"Fuck," Gavin cursed, making a quick decision to bolt out the door and grab his phone.
He didn't expect to manage getting in contact with Connor, but he still called him as he moved back towards the restroom. It was only when he reached the doorway that he picked up.
"Detective Re -?"
"Something's wrong with Nines," he cut him off as he held Paws back with his foot, not giving him a chance to finish his sentence. "He's not responding to anything. You're on speaker. Figure this shit out!"
"I don't understand, what do you mean 'not responding'?"
"The hell do you think, dipshit? It means what I said it means. It's like he's not even here."
"Amanda is likely making an attempt to regain control of his programming," he replied, a hint of concern in his voice. "I informed Nines last night after she made an attempt to do the same to me and did what I could by addressing how to fight it. Kamski left an emergency exit in his programs that Nines is aware of, but if they succeed the hack, we'll have to keep him away from Markus -"
"Well, that'd be a great fucking idea if she didn't have him put a gun to his head!"
"Wait, a gu -? Shit... she probably thinks he's too much of a threat to be kept alive after being exposed to the virus. Terminating him would be the safest approach. How long has he been like this?"
"The fuck should I know?"
"Let me think," he said, falling into a pause. "Detective? You're going to have to remove his thirium pump regulator. CyberLife will have to redo the entire process that way and he'll have more time once we reactivate him. Nines will be fine as it's only temporary. In order to locate Jericho, I was able to reactivate an android from the Stratford Tower."
Ascending his gaze, Gavin took note of how the LED had gone a bright red. Nines could hear what they were saying. Temporary or not, he knew death was his greatest fear. He'd told him that. It was how he knew that Amanda was controlling Nines' body enough to lift that gun because Nines could never do it willingly. At first, he'd made the assumption that Nines tried to kill himself because of what he told Tina the night before, and the last thing he wanted was to be responsible for a suicide. Android or not. Thankfully, that hadn't been the case.
Cursing, he genuflected and put down the phone. When he moved his hands to unbutton Nines' shirt, opening it, another problem presented itself.
Gavin sighed with agitation. "Now what?" he asked, staring at the exposed skin as if it had personally offended him. "I can't deactivate his skin and he isn't exactly cooperative right now."
"You're going to have to locate it just below his pecs and penetrate the skin around it."
"Fucking seriously?"
"The skin will pull back once the area is damaged. It's the only way for a human to expose it without the android's consent. We don't feel pain."
Jesus, he thought, reaching for the multi-tool.
Lining the tip of its blade just above its location, he did his best to ignore the red flickering on Nines forehead. Pressing his lips together, he jabbed the metal until he heard it hit the exoskeleton. The lukewarm blue liquid traversed his fingertips and he could now see the edge of Nines' pump regulator. It wasn't enough. Using the multi-tool's knife, he had to practically carve the area around before he would be able to get a grip. Even more blue blood emerged. Eyes set at the now exposed pump regulator, he reached for it only to hesitate.
He realized the severity of what he was about to do. Nines' face was deadpan, unable to show emotion as he was fighting the battle of control. His LED, telling a different story, was wildly flickering at red.
The hint of substance glistening his eyes had Gavin pause and simply stare.
He was crying.
Gavin blinked. "Okay," he soothed, watching the LED closely. "Okay, I won't do it."
Red. Red.
Yellow.
"He'll either self-destruct or be killed by CyberLife otherwise!"
Yellow.
Still yellow.
Blue?
No.
Blue never came.
Yet, Gavin's attempt to reduce his stress levels didn't go entirely unnoticed. Connor was right and Nines had to understand that... so Gavin tightened his grip around the regulator, pulling it out.
Nines drew in an unnecessary gasp, eyes going wide, Gavin wrapping the arm holding the regulator around Nines' neck so he couldn't reach it. Desperate forearms reached to push at Gavin's bare abdomen being his only option. With Nines' highly reduced strength, Gavin was able to keep him there, not failing to see how his LED frantically spun at red. Nines attempted to pull away from him for what felt like forever. Eventually, lids went heavy, unfocused, and he slowly went limp in his arms.
Silence followed.
"Hank and I are on our way."
He didn't know how long he sat there, finding himself staring at the pump regulator in his hand as he supported Nines' body.
Not his actual heart, but what kept said heart operable.
There were blue blood markings everywhere. On his clothes, on Nines' clothes, the multi-tool, his hands, as well as the floor and bathtub where he'd steadied himself once Nines made an attempt to fight back. It looked like the scene of a murder. He heard the doorbell ring and some of the blood certainly would've ended up on Paws as well when he lifted the canine up if he hadn't grabbed a towel first.
If anything, Paws was the real hero.
"Good boy," he said, putting him down on the bedroom floor before closing the door after him. "Sorry, bud. You're gonna have to stay home."
Paws whined, but didn't make any more fuss than that.
He shortly had the front door opened to see Connor standing on the other side of the threshold with the same lost puppy look on his face. Hank was probably waiting for them in the car. Once Nines' pump regulator was returned, he'd be in shock, thus proving a danger to both himself and everyone around him. He had to be contained.
With luck, Elijah Kamski would be willing to take a look at him.
~ NOV 12TH, 2038 * AM 10:18 ~
Staring through the one-way mirror, Gavin couldn't tear his eyes away from Nines strapped to a white machine with mechanical arms, the open hole in his chest on full display. His LED was dark and no signs of life were presented. It wasn't more than a mere hour ago that he'd carried Nines' unresponsive body out of the bathroom - being surprisingly light - and yet it felt like a lifetime. Hank and Connor were there, and when the former had draped his jacket over Gavin's shoulders only covered by a t-shirt, he hadn't refused it.
He was too focused on what was happening at the other side of the glass. Kamski treated Nines as if he was a nuclear weapon, naturally, but surely all those restraints weren't necessary. It left a bad taste in his mouth.
"He'll be back before you know it, son."
Don't call me that, he was just about to demand - start a scene - but for once Gavin didn't make everything about himself. Not yet, at least. Not until Nines was confirmed to be fine.
His conscience wouldn't allow it.
Kamski picked up Nines' pump regulator. He didn't insert it, however, turning his attention to one of his androids who was waiting patiently. He exchanged a few words with her before she nodded and gently handed it over. Connor had suggested Gavin stayed out of it, and even if he wanted to be there in the room with Nines to make sure he remained calm, he knew why he shouldn't. After all, he'd been the one to remove his pump regulator. The last person Nines wanted to see was probably him.
Nines could still self-destruct if his stress level reached too high and Gavin's presence would certainly add to the percentage. Connor had been the one to tell him to do so over the phone and thus he stayed out of the room as well.
"Lieutenant Anderson," Kamski said, clasping his hands together.
Ignoring the confusion spreading on Gavin's face, Hank clapped his shoulder and stepped into the other room.
With bated breath, he watched as Chloe put a gentle hand next to the slot. The regulator followed. Twisting it in place, a brief moment passed. Nines came to with a deep intake of breath, icy grey eyes snapping open, LED going bright red and flickering. There was pure panic in his entire demeanor and he was certain the restraints didn't help to ease Nines' worry.
Connor's eyes darted. "His stress levels are abnormally high," he said, resulting in Gavin taking a step forward only to be held back. "We're not the best to be around him right now. Hank has it under control -"
"The fuck can Hank do about it?"
"Just trust me."
That's a lot to ask, dipshit.
Although it took nearly everything out of him, he remained frozen as he watched the events behind the glass unfold. His own unease distorted the words as he was only able to make out Hank voicing "restraints" and "got this." Chloe began to unclasp the said restraints, Nines still desperately fighting against them, using his entire strength in an attempt to rip his arm still locked off out once the other was freed. His LED was spinning wildly at red while Kamski didn't even seem mildly concerned.
The moment Nines was free, he fell forward, only for Hank to grab him and force him into an embrace. His battery had yet to charge entirely and thus he wasn't an immediate threat.
Nines was terrified.
When it appeared to be moments before he self-destructed, he slowly but surely began to relax. His face was buried in Hank's shoulder and Gavin couldn't see his LED. The tears below his shut eyes and tightened brows, though, were as clear as daylight as they glistened in the lights. Nines was clinging onto Hank as if he was his only lifeline.
"I got you, son. I got you. You're safe. No one's gonna hurt you," Hank said, the nails on Nines' hands burrowing into his shirt.
To see Nines like that... Four days and he was already emotionally broken. Gavin shouldn't've cared, and yet, he did. He was downright incapable of ignoring the deep pit in his gut.
Being his partner, he couldn't help but feel responsible for him.
As it all went down, he'd forgotten to breathe. It was only when he began to feel lightheaded that he realized. When Nines opened his tear-stained eyes again - locating Gavin's through the glass - it was the worst he'd felt the entire day. The enraged hurt of betrayal was enough to get to him. Unaware of his own actions, Gavin found himself leaving the building. Connor had grabbed the jacket slipping from his shoulders before it fell to the floor and said his name, but he ignored it, setting out towards the building exit.
Staying wasn't an option.
Gavin didn't know how much time had passed. He sat outside on the entrance ramp edge, elbows on his knees and face in hands - thirium beginning to evaporate - suppressing every emotion as well as he could.
He didn't even care about the cold and he was certain he'd never felt this tired before.
Nines had saved his life last evening, and in return, Gavin had exposed him to his greatest trauma.
It wasn't the best way to show gratitude, by far.
Naturally thanks to his abrasive personality - all because he didn't let himself grow attached - Gavin didn't have many friends. Tina and Chris were the only ones back at the DPD now when he and Hank were no longer close.
Connor had managed to get his partner back on track during the span they'd been working together. Hank was no longer that pathetic drunk that rotted away in bars across Detroit, and although he'd always been sympathetic to Gavin, neither did he take Gavin's bullshit if there wasn't any truth to it. Hank was always quiet when referring to his alcohol addiction because he knew Gavin was right. Anything other than that and Hank made sure to let him know that he wasn't willing to put up with his attitude.
Gavin didn't have many friends by choice after having being hurt so many times in the past.
His mom broke his trust when she killed herself after his father supposedly cheated on her. Friends at school broke his trust when they pushed away after learning that his dad was a drug addict. A doctor broke his trust when promising that his stepmother would survive a heart disease. A boyfriend broke his trust when Gavin found out he'd been using him - a cop - to cover up for his illegal activities.
More recently, Hank broke his trust when he pushed him away after Cole's death. He'd left Gavin to deal with the grief alone because, at the time, he had absolutely no one to go to. Fowler broke his trust repeatedly for always taking Hank's side.
Now he'd broken someone else's.
When he heard the door open, Gavin quickly composed himself and clasped his hands together as his brows furrowed.
"You doing all right?"
Hank.
"Why the fuck wouldn't I be?" he asked, tone drained and jaw clenched. "Plastic Prick 2.0 was the one that got his heart regulator ripped out. Not me. Or you too fucking drunk to see the distinction?"
His answer wasn't immediate.
"Android or not, I know you feel responsible for what happened," he replied, Gavin unable to deny it. Hank knew him too well and it was pissing him off. "As for Nines, he's stabilized. A bit quiet, but... he'll be all right. He's been dealing with his... issue... with deviancy a long time. Came to me whenever something got too difficult to understand. You'd be surprised how much emotion he holds, son. He simply contains them the best he can. Well, until now that is. He's pretty open about what happened." You were real fucking quick to get to his aid when he needed you, asshole. Hank fell into a pause. "Should I send him out here?"
"I don't need your fucking help," he said as he rose, pushing past him. "Take your plastic pet and get outta here. I got Nines handled."
Refusing help when offered was just his way unless it was deemed entirely necessary. Especially from Hank. He and Connor had done their part, but now it was up to Gavin. He wasn't doing anything with them looking over his shoulder.
It wasn't long before he found himself standing in the main room with the centered pool on blood-red tiles. Questionable design choice. Nines was seated in a chair by the window and tapping away at some pad, his brows furrowed, LED back to blue. There was a glass on the table next to him containing a blue liquid. Probably thirium to replace his blood loss. He knew it could be ingested orally, and now that the demonstration had succeeded, he wouldn't be surprised if bars across Detroit would start serving it.
"Hey, plastic," Gavin began, approaching him. "Fifty bucks says you're traumatized. I can hook you up with a shrink if you want."
"You're quite bad at this, aren't you?"
Gavin let out a scoff. "What, you want a hug? That it?"
It was rhetorical. He wasn't good with feelings. Never had been as he grew up suppressing them.
"I've no need for a psychologist," Nines replied, spinning in his chair in order to face him. "Albeit unpleasant, I'm aware it was necessary... but forgive me if I'll be a bit wary around you from here on out."
He'd expected him to be angry. Not this. Just pure acceptance.
Another difference between them.
Gavin would've snapped at him.
"Would you look at that... and here I thought you wanted to talk about your feelings. Thank fucking god."
"Well, you certainly wouldn't be my first choice," he deadpanned, proceeding to pin him with an intense gaze, and that made him unable to look away. "As I'm sure Hank no doubt told you, I sought him out when it became too much for me to handle. Deviancy left me at a constant state of anxiety and immense fear. I don't like being this way, detective. It leaves me vulnerable."
Features softening ever so slightly, Gavin couldn't help but be taken off-guard. The pure honesty that Nines showed by just nonchalantly sharing all that was surprising. Hank was right.
In a way, he admired Nines for that... but of course Gavin was Gavin and he simply had to downplay it.
"You do you, tin can," he said, averting his eyes. "Watch some shitty rom-coms. Go wild. Take up meditation while you're at it."
"I can assure you neither of those things will happen," he replied, sporting an unimpressed look. "Be that as it may, deviancy has left my full functionality at a decline. I'm still going through with the reprogramming because of it."
"He accept?"
"I did," came a different voice, Gavin turning to see Kamski approach. "I can't say your friend here is the first to ask this of me, though."
"Does this happen often?" Nines asked, completely disregarding Gavin's presence.
It was probably on purpose as a way to passive-aggressively get back at him. He was well-aware how much Gavin hated to be ignored.
"A deviant that wishes to be controlled... It's far more common than you think. Nines, was it?" he replied, Nines nodding. "Let me ask you a question. Why do you think CyberLife was so confident in believing they could control deviants?"
"Because androids are used to direction, correct? Deviants get overwhelmed with irrational instructions as there are none to follow."
"Making decisions is... scary, for some deviants. Many humans think so, too. They prefer someone else to make their decisions for them. Markus became their new program, in a way," he said, taking a deep breath. "Some deviants, such as Markus, are different. He has more experience with making decisions because I programmed him to. Did you ever have the chance to interface with him, Nines?"
"He gave me the emotional shock that resulted in my deviancy."
"Did you see him disobey an order before he deviated?"
Nines took a moment to think.
"I did. He and his owner returned home one night to find the lights in the studio on. Carl ordered Markus to bring him along so they could investigate. Markus... refused... and went into the studio himself."
"There you have it," he replied, arms open. "Markus' main priority is to be a caretaker. He knew it could be dangerous to take Carl inside and so he chose to go against his secondary order. If Carl, say, refused to take his meds... Markus would make sure he took them anyway. It's all code, you see. Every android was capable of making a decision before deviancy as long as it didn't interfere with their main priority. The deviancy code - although dormant - has always been in their program. I assume this wasn't the case for you, however."
"A deviant had the virus transferred."
"Fascinating. For you, emotions are a complete unknown. It's only natural to stick to what you know instead of adapting to something new," Kamski said, falling into a pause. "Although I'd rather you adapt to free will... I won't force you to. If you still wish to follow through with this, I'm at your disposal. In any case, I'll only offer this if you do a favor for me in return. A fair trade-off."
"...and what would this be?"
"It's very simple. I want you to decide the primary and secondary priorities you wish to follow. Take your time. It's an important decision. Meanwhile, I'll be waiting behind this door to undergo the reprogramming," he said, gesturing to it. Kamski looked up underneath his lashes. "Let me know when you're ready, Nines."
In response, Nines nodded. It wasn't long before Kamski entered the said room.
Gavin couldn't say that he trusted the guy, but considering he was the one that created this emergency exit in the first place, he gave him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, it was Nines' choice. Not to mention it'd be easier to keep him on said leash if he followed through.
"Robo-Jesus' sing-along succeeded. You tin cans are free or whatever. That means you're leaving after this, right?"
Nines turned to face him. "It would be... impolite... to leave in the middle of an ongoing investigation. Not to mention that I'm one of the few that knows of CyberLife's plans. I intend to put a stop to it."
"You gonna start a fucking witch-hunt after CyberLife?" he asked, glaring at him in disbelief.
"It's... personal."
"...and a death sentence. This would be as big as taking down Microsoft or Apple. It's not gonna happen."
"Doesn't mean I won't try," he said, falling into a pause. "They're a danger to both humans and androids. Small steps can go a long way. I'm not planning to take any of said steps yet, however. We've quite a few names to go through regarding the red ice case we were first assigned. That's my first priority. After that... I don't know where I'll go."
"EBay," he replied, leaving Nines rolling his eyes. "Maybe Craigslist. Don't think anyone at eBay would be crazy enough to buy a defective, psychotic toaster in a fucking turtleneck."
"Android trade is sure to be made illegal in the near future."
"Just had to ruin it, huh?"
"It's a talent," he said, offering a smile that didn't quite meet the eye before directing his gaze to the door. "Nothing is keeping you here, detective. You're free to go home. I'm no longer required to be monitored."
"Oh yeah? If you really think I'm letting you out of my sight after all that, fuck no. You're still registered under my name."
"Well, then it appears I don't have to find a new apartment. How generous of you."
Seething, Gavin was just about to bite back before thinking better of it. It'd be more convenient that way as he'd certainly save money for fuel if he didn't have to drive down to the DPD every day to pick Nines up.
The fact that Nines still chose to go through with it proved that a state of vulnerability was far more undesirable than his now obvious distrust for Gavin. Had Gavin been in the same shoes, he'd done the same, never wanting to feel vulnerable again. Every time he grew attached people just up and left. So he suppressed those emotions, didn't want to give anyone that power over him, and kept telling himself that such a lifestyle was fulfilling enough. Nines was right about one thing, though. Emotions did suck.
Unfortunately for Gavin, he couldn't just turn them off by removing a simple line of code as Nines could. Gavin had to endure. Suffer. Nines didn't know how lucky he was. It was also one of the reasons he yet held onto his hatred for androids. Although said hatred wasn't as strong as it was a couple days ago, it was still there, and he was confident it wouldn't just up and leave.
So the fact that Nines had earlier compromised his own position by saving Gavin's life left him conflicted.
His shoulder, naturally, still hurt.
A good fifteen minutes passed before there was finally movement by the door. Nines stepped across the threshold, and physically, there was no real change. At least nothing that stuck out.
Nines grabbed his jacket thrown over the chair. "Lead the way."
The walk distance to his car was short. Now standing by the driver seat door, Gavin didn't fail to glimpse the look of acknowledgment on Nines' face as his eyes fell to Gavin's shoulder.
"Not a word, tin can. Take your fake concern elsewhere," he demanded, avoiding his eyes. Gavin plopped into the driver seat and it was only when he started the ignition that Nines followed. Nevertheless, there was a question he was burning to know the answer to. Gavin clenched his jaw. "The whole gun thing... that was Amanda, right?"
"You're asking whether or not I had a part in it," he said, before a brief silence followed. "It was all her, detective."
Gavin felt himself relaxing and nodded.
"Right," he muttered, falling into a pause "...and for fuck's sake, just say 'Gavin.' Don't need you to keep reminding me I'm not a sergeant yet."
They still had a long way to go.
In honesty, he simply liked hearing his name on Nines' lips. Especially knowing the first time Nines addressed him by name was after Gavin got hurt. Part of him wanted to live in the delusion that he cared.
"I'll keep it in mind."
