Unfortunately, closing his eyes was about all that happened. Go to sleep. He just couldn't seem to get comfortable. Sleep. It wasn't really the bed. There was a mixture of soft and firm pillows he could choose from, and the cushions were all of good quality. Maybe if I turn over…He sighed and rolled over, fingers still teasing Fuzzball's fur. He closed his eyes again. Did I hear something? He sat up cautiously, listening intently to the silence. Nothing. He lay down again and closed his eyes with a frustrated huff. I have work tomorrow! Come the phck on! He opened his eyes with a forlorn sigh and stared up at the ceiling. It was unfamiliar. As high as Elijah's, but still not quite the same. He propped the bear on his chest and looked at his face in the darkness. The phck are you looking so smug about? I thought you were supposed to be helping!
He teased Fuzzball's ears as he remained stubbornly silent, not that he'd expected otherwise. Maybe under the covers would be better. He got onto his knees and shuffled beneath the thick duvet. The cotton was fresh and carried that just cleaned smell. He turned on his side once more, facing the curtained glass door. It's so phcking dark…Staring at the curtains, he could just see a slim grey glow around the edges. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness. He let his gaze drift around the unfamiliar room, huddling under the duvet a little more as he took in the unfamiliar drawers and vanity table. It's so phcking empty…The room was just a cavernous space. Cold. Hollow. Phck!
Gavin huffed as he tossed the duvet aside and got out of bed. He crossed to the balcony and opened the curtains, putting night time Detroit on display beyond the terrace walls. It was a nice view, especially at night. Unfortunately, the view wasn't visible once he was lying in bed, but he could see the pale orange glow rising over the edge of the wall. It was better than the darkness anyway. He sighed as he tucked Fuzzball under his arm again, burrowing his head into one of the pillows. I'm wide awake now…He groaned quietly as he turned over to face the almost closed door.
Pips hasn't come up…He wondered if he'd padded his way into Nines' room instead. He tried not to feel too hurt at the thought. Before Nines came along, Pipsqueak had slept in his bed every night. That had changed a little at Elijah's house. He'd taken to sleeping on his new cat tree, and at the cabin he'd preferred the sofa near the fire. This is the first time he's had the choice between me and Nines…Guess he chose Nines…Not that he could blame him. He huffed as he rolled onto his back again, fingers still teasing the soft synthetic fur.
He'd gotten used to sleeping with Nines at his side. It felt weird without him. He'd spent weeks listening to the light hum of his core and the thud of his thirium pump. Weeks of a firm chest pressed up against his back and a strong arm hooked over his waist. I can't believe I'm phcking pining! He scoffed at the thought, resting an arm across his eyes. He needed to fucking sleep. Ironic, considering how many years he'd spent trying to avoid it. Come on, asshole! Close your phcking eyes and go the phck to sleep! He closed his eyes as he dropped his arm, hugging Fuzzball in the crook of his elbow. He didn't like being on his back.
He rolled back towards the balcony, keeping his eyes squeezed tightly in the vain hope that if he kept them shut, he'd be able to drift off eventually. He sighed as he tried to imagine that Nines was in bed with him. He curled up a little more, tucking the duvet under his chin. If he stayed really still, he could almost imagine the warmth of Nines' body pressing up against his back, but he knew it was just his own body heat warming the covers. He opened his eyes miserably. At this rate I'm never going to phcking sleep! He sulked silently as he buried his face in soft synthetic fluff.
"Gavin?" Nines' voice was soft and hesitant as he hovered in the doorway. Gavin jerked up on his elbow and looked over his shoulder. His free hand was already under his pillow on reflex, reaching for a gun that wasn't there. His heart had just about leapt into his throat. Being in an unfamiliar room, distracted by his own frustrated thoughts, he hadn't even heard Nines walk across and open the door. He sighed in relief as he recognised the figure in the doorway.
"Nines, what the phck are you doing?" he sighed as he flopped down and ran a hand over his face, his heart slowly settling. Nines seemed somewhat amused as he remained in the doorway, the glow of his blue LED lighting the room a little with its soft glow. It wasn't really a strong light, but it was enough to make out Nines' face and see the gentle smirk on his lips. He approached slowly, moving silently on the expensive carpet.
"I was preparing to enter stasis. However, your frustration was palpable even down the hall…Can't sleep?" He already knew the answer, even without Gavin sighing in frustration and rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. He shook his head as he hunkered down in the pillows again, apparently forgetting the small white bear tucked under his arm. Nines chuckled softly as he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned closer. Gavin's heart leapt as Nines' arm slipped over his chest. "Even with Fuzzball looking after you?" he teased as he caressed the bear's soft fur.
"Shut the phck up." His expression was embarrassed as he tugged the duvet up a little higher to hide the small bear from view. Nines chuckled again at his defensiveness. The sound so close to his ear made Gavin shiver. Suddenly, he was wide awake for a whole new reason. "So, now what?" he prompted as he teased Fuzzball's soft fur beneath the duvet. It was still soothing, even if he was a little embarrassed at having been caught.
"I have noticed that humans often feel vulnerable in new surroundings, particularly at night…" Nines knew he'd hit the nail on the head as Gavin's eyes shifted evasively. "Would you like me to stay?" he added searchingly, leaving it entirely in Gavin's hands. Gavin sighed as he relented, nodding as he turned over to face him. Nines seemed unsurprised as he shuffled his way into the bed and joined him, lying on his side. He looked down at him with a lingering softness in his silvery eyes. God, if you were a deviant I'd…
"Felt weird without you and Pips." Gavin wasn't even sure Nines would hear the low grumble as he reached up to place Fuzzball on the pillows above his head. He didn't need the soft fur when he had a whole android to burrow into. Nines hummed thoughtfully at that, LED pulsing yellow in the darkness. Gavin didn't know what he was doing, but he felt content as Nines slipped an arm across his waist. With a small yellow flicker, the light returned to blue.
"I hadn't thought about Pipsqueak's sleeping arrangements…It seems he's chosen to remain on his cat tree in the living room," Nines reported, having signed into the security system. There were cameras set up in most rooms and Nines had access to the feed since he was part of the household. Gavin seemed a little relieved at the news. Nines smirked playfully. "Did you believe you'd been abandoned?" Reed's grumbled objection was a clear confession of agreement. He always seemed to think that he was about to be abandoned, though when looking into his history, one could certainly see why. His father had never been there. His mother had left without a word. He'd lost his work partner, and a lover. It was no wonder he somewhat expected only temporary commitments.
"You may do that weird skin shit, but I give the best belly rubs," he groused as he shuffled closer. Nines leaned back a little so that he could settle comfortably, smirking teasingly as he looked down at him. He seemed a little smug as he nuzzled his chest. It was almost like he was searching for something. It only took Nines a few moments to realise that he was searching for the most comfortable place to listen to his core. The realisation almost made his pump stutter as a warm feeling swelled in his artificial stomach.
"So what you're saying is that once I've analysed your technique, I'll be Pipsqueak's true favourite," Nines teased, running his fingers through Gavin's hair. He looked somewhat hurt and resentful at the suggestion. Nines chuckled when he gave a final grumble of phcking androids…before he closed his eyes and relaxed. He'd turned his head slightly, listening to the faint hum of Nines' internal workings. Nines scanned him, pillowing his head on his biceps since Gavin was pressed so close to his chest. It was touching, the way Gavin immediately relaxed against him. A small hum escaped him as he continued to stroke his hair. He enjoyed the way he could feel each strand gliding across his sensors. His hands were particularly sensitive due to his forensic abilities, and he very much enjoyed analysing Gavin.
Nines stiffened just a little as Gavin sleepily looped an arm around him, mumbles escaping as he rolled even closer. He couldn't see his face anymore, it being buried against his chest. Nines slowly relaxed once more as Gavin fell further into whatever dream he was having. He was peaceful for now, so it wasn't a nightmare, at least. Nines leaned lower, resting his chin on Gavin's head and sliding his free hand down to stroke circles on his spine. He had been quietly pleased to note Gavin's unrest. It had given him the excuse to walk across the hall. It had been…unsettling — Lonely? Cold? — being alone in his room without him.
Although he still charged in his port at the precinct whenever he could, Nines had taken to resting exclusively in Gavin's bed at Elijah's mansion. There had been a sense of wrongness when parting with him that night, and the feeling had only increased as he'd crossed the room to his charging port. He'd stepped up and connected for a while, keeping his sensors active in the unfamiliar surroundings. He'd also wanted to monitor Gavin, knowing how easily unsettled he could become. He hadn't been all that surprised to note his frustration as he'd rolled around the large bed. It had been almost amusing to monitor. Gavin had been predictable, huffing and sulking as he'd tossed this way and that. Nines had settled on charging for an hour before stepping out and making his way across the hall.
Although he didn't sleep, he had developed a preference for entering stasis close to Gavin's side. It was always a nice surprise to find out what position he'd gotten them into by morning if he remained undisturbed during his cycle. That morning was no different. When Nines pulled himself out of stasis, he was somewhat amused to find he'd been rolled onto his back and was being used rather effectively as a body pillow. Gavin was almost entirely on top of him, head nestled in the crook of his neck, warm breaths ghosting across his synthetic collarbone. Nines desperately wanted to see his sleeping face, however the chances of him moving without rousing him were low.
Gavin's chest was flush against his torso, one arm looped across his chest while the other was lost in the pillows somewhere. His pelvis was resting almost uncomfortably against his jutting hip, something that would no doubt make him groan when he woke up. One of Gavin's legs had hooked over his thighs, while the other rested against his leg. Nines had one arm resting across Gavin's back while the other lay trapped beneath him against the mattress. A human would have been uncomfortable, however, this was a pleasing position for Nines. He could feel Gavin's heat and pulse, measure his weight and body mass, and hear his steady breaths. His breathing pattern had much improved over the months he'd given up smoking. He was pleased to see his lifespan increasing in his estimation. He'd once put it at sixty years old. That had now increased to seventy-five, and still had the capacity to rise further.
Gavin squirmed a little in his sleep, trying to shuffle even closer. Nines' lips quirked somewhat as he tightened his hold. Gavin instantly relaxed again and nuzzled his throat, reassured by his presence. Nines checked the time internally, noting that it was approaching nine o'clock. It was about time to rouse Gavin so that he could get ready for work. He was careful, holding him close as he slowly turned their bodies, so that Gavin was against the mattress with Nines holding himself above on one arm. Gavin murmured a soft objection, brow pinching as he noticed the loss of warmth. Nines moved off to the side before gently shaking him awake.
"Gavin…It's time to get ready. We agreed to visit the university today." Gavin groaned and rested an arm over his eyes in objection. Light was flooding the room where he'd opened the curtains the night before, though the heavy grey clouds limited the amount of sunlight. "If you shower now, I'll have time to make you pancakes," Nines added in what he hoped was a tempting tone. Gavin huffed as he lowered his arm to reveal slightly red and tired green eyes. He even had small crease marks on his skin where he'd been flush against Nines' body.
"How old do you think I am? Twelve?" he grumbled as he sat up. Nines gave him a small smirk as he watched him rub his eyes.
"If you're good, I'll even cut them into dinosaur shapes." Nines chuckled at the sharp swat that earned him, though he noted Gavin was failing to hold back his own amused smile. Gavin tossed the duvet back and stretched, the usual breathy whine escaping as he did so. Nines allowed his eyes to greedily take in his bare skin and tense muscles as his shirt rode higher up his waist. Gavin threw himself into a sitting position and ruffled his own hair before getting to his feet.
"Alright, Terminator, but these better be the best damned dinosaurs I've ever seen. I'm talking compsognathus, stegosaurus, triceratops, diplodocus, brachiosaurus, and all that shit." His tone suggested he was joking, but Nines stored the information away curiously. It was interesting that Gavin had a preference for herbivores and non-threatening scavengers as opposed to the more dangerous predators. With his love of cats, it probably shouldn't have surprised him to find the compsognathus on the list. They were small and, from what he'd seen in various media, they would be as nippy as Pipsqueak when it came to showing their displeasure or affection.
Nines headed down to begin his task, his precision allowing him to cut the shapes efficiently, though of course not quite to scale. He left the extra pieces cut up on the side of the plate so that they didn't go to waste. He was quietly pleased with his work, having completed the compsognathus, diplodocus and stegosaurs by the time Gavin arrived downstairs. He was wearing his usual jeans and a grey V-neck, his badge already clipped to his belt. His gun was in its holster, ready to be attached to his belt before they left.
"Shit, I didn't think you'd actually do it!" he exclaimed with an amused chuckle as he sat at the breakfast bar and looked at the plate that Nines had set before him. He almost didn't want to eat them because they looked so damned cute. Six-year-old Gavin Reed would have been out of his mind. Thirty-six-year-old Gavin Reed was trying not to smile too much as he gently prodded the small compsognathus. Nines watched with some amusement as Gavin pulled out his phone and took a picture before he finally scooped the small dinosaur onto his fork and ate it in one go.
"Ah…I see," Nines murmured as he began cleaning up, smirking as Gavin hummed curiously. "I was curious as to why you had a preference for herbivores and smaller scavengers, but it makes sense that you'd wish to play the role of apex predator yourself." Gavin snickered as he continued to fork small bits of pancake into his mouth. He had the decency to finish his mouthful before responding.
"Are you insinuating that I'm pretending to be a T-Rex? Because that is absolutely not true." Nines watched as Gavin continued to eat, cutting off the head of the diplodocus next. He quirked an eyebrow at that. He hadn't exactly read up on the subject of dinosaurs and their suspected personalities, however, he did have access to various forms of media. More than enough to draw his own conclusions.
"With your preference for solitude and short temper I should think the tyrannosaurs would suit you perfectly…though you'd certainly cause more chaos as a velociraptor, or what most media portrays a velociraptor to be." Nines was well aware that popular films and games had misrepresented the small feathered dinosaur on most occasions. Gavin looked mildly impressed, surprised that Nines had let the chance of a height joke pass him by. His height wasn't exactly something he was sensitive about, but he had been teased about it occasionally. I'm not even that short! I'm pretty phcking average…
"Yeah, but I'm shit at working in a team," he retorted as he took another bite.
"On the contrary, our recent work with Connor and the Lieutenant has been quite seamless." Nines could also cite their work with Perkins and Colin. Gavin could work extremely well in a team, as long as he was respected and listened to. He did, of course, prefer to work independently with his own freedom, but he worked in a team just as well. Gavin had no comeback for that, and they eventually settled into their morning routine. Nines cleaned up while Gavin ate, and then they were ready to leave.
Upon arriving at the station, they headed to their desks to prepare for their trip to the university. Reed had to be a little more careful these days. He had to dodge around reporters and whatnot to get work done. Nines called ahead to ask for a quiet room where they could interview various students discretely. Upon speaking to a few staff members over the phone, Nines had managed to find out that the cult was well known around the campus. Not their activities, but the group itself. It had concerned quite a few of the staff to notice the effect on the students, both physically and mentally. They'd noticed quite a few missing classes due to being sick.
"The group is called Cyberlight. It purports itself as a society where students can develop a deeper understanding of cybernetics and android culture. The university saw no harm in allowing such a group at first, believing it would promote acceptance and integration. However, staff have noticed a negative impact on students more recently. They are concerned, but there's no evidence linking the group to the drop in health and focus directly," Nines reported as they made their way across town. Reed was constantly looking out for any sign of them being followed. The reporters were fucking annoying. He almost regretted letting Morgan run that story, but he was hoping it would be worth it in the long run. He nodded along. It made sense. Getting rid of the group without cause would likely kick up a stink about discrimination on campus or some shit. "They are compiling a list of known members for us to interview. I shall review it upon arrival and pick out those most likely to be of use to us."
They managed to arrive pretty much unhindered, and the room they were given was small and functional. It was likely a spare office of some sort. It had a desk and a few chairs, along with some empty shelves. Nines accepted the list from a middle-aged lecturer and began looking through the names. He cross-referenced the names with their previous victims and suspects, keeping all those with shared classes and social links. Reed could tell he'd chosen correctly. Each student they met had that odd glassy look in their eyes and an unhealthy sheen of white in their skin. Early effects of thirium poisoning.
Reed quickly decided to let Nines do the talking. Like Zachary, they all gravitated towards Nines more than him. Nines was hesitant to reveal as much about himself as he had with Zachary. He didn't want news of his identity to get back to the WR600 in charge. They didn't want to put another target on their backs or spook him into disappearing. The students all had the same devotion in their tones as they spoke about Cyberlight and RA9. They didn't admit to any of their practices, but Nines wouldn't expect them to incriminate themselves so easily. When probed on what happened at meetings, they were fairly forthcoming. The light, the chanting, the scriptures. Reed was surprised how deep these kids were. Is it really that appealing to think about becoming a machine? Sure, he could understand the living forever part, but what about everything else? Most androids couldn't taste or eat yet, their touch sensors weren't the same as a human, they saw differently, probably smelled differently. Didn't they get creeped out by the thought of it? He couldn't even imagine being ripped out of his body and shoved into an artificial shell like that. He imagined a lot of androids would feel the same about the reverse, too.
It was easy enough to look up the meeting times, but there was no way they would be able to go along discretely. Reed was too well known in the media and Nines was the only RK900 in existence. They'd stick out like sore thumbs, not to mention neither of them were student aged. After returning to the precinct, they spoke about it with Hank and Connor, who helpfully arranged for a couple of the newer recruits to go along. These were guys who'd been in training for undercover operations, so they had a little field experience already. They'd have to go in wireless just in case there were scanners set up. With the mission handed off, they returned to their desks. It was frustrating that everything had ground to a halt. Again…
With all the media attention, the copycat seemed satisfied to take a break, likely savouring his newfound fame. The real Hickory Killer still hadn't made a move yet, and now their cult case was frozen until the undercover guys got something on the WR600. Ring…Come on, phcking ring! Reed silently stared at his desk phone, fingers resting idly on the keys of his terminal. He didn't even have his little tree as a distraction anymore. The Christmas items had been removed and stored at home. His desk felt pretty bare without it. He glanced across at Nines' desk where Gavin the Cactus was still coming along nicely. It was a healthy green and looked ready to begin sprouting flowers soon. It probably would in a few months.
Would you like a distraction? The message popped up on his screen. His brow furrowed as he looked at the sender. It was Nines using the chat function attached to their email. The function had been added for practicality, giving officers the option of talking in real time from across the office without clogging up the phone lines. He looked up with a raised eyebrow. Nines didn't even look at him in response. He seemed intent on whatever was on his screen.
You're literally sitting right there! Why are you using the chat function? He probably shouldn't complain. The chat was quiet and somewhat private. Nines was right anyway. He did need a distraction. Alright, whatever! What's up, Terminator? Anything would be better than nothing right now. There was often a slight lull just after New Year as everyone came down from that seasonal high. A new shared file offer opened. Reed's brow raised again as he clicked it.
You mentioned the possibility of converting part of the first floor into a maintenance area. Since there has been a drop in activity, I decided to begin preconstructions. Nines hadn't even typed with his hands that time. Reed nodded along as he looked at the design. He'd created a closed off room beside the hot tub in what was currently the sitting area. The large curved sofa had been moved to the bar section, and he'd gotten rid of the intimate sofa overlooking the city completely. His reasoning was that they had their own small sitting area upstairs for such things, which they could rearrange if they wanted to look out at the city. The small room made downstairs less cavernous. He planned to have the walls made from opaque frosted glass, allowing the natural light to filter in while maintaining a sense of privacy. This would make the kitchen feel a little smaller, but that only increased the intimacy of the space. The hot tub was now somewhat shoved in the corner, but to limit that closed in feeling, Nines had suggested they build a similar room around the tub, making it into its own private space rather than it being part of the sitting area on display all the time. He'd also suggested a small massage table that could be set up near the hot tub and added the ability to steam up the room like a sauna.
Sure, it looks good. I like the sofa being in the bar. I don't think it would have been used otherwise. Nines agreed with that. Reed had never been one for guests, so the chances of them having much company was fairly limited, but if they did, then they would most certainly be sitting in the bar. The current amount tables and chairs in the bar had also been reduced since they weren't as comfortable looking as the curved sofa, which had been placed to face outwards across the balcony.
Is there anything else you would like me to add to the design? Interior design wasn't really Reed's thing. He never would have thought to use the space like that. He probably shouldn't have been surprised by it. Nines was an android. Of course, he'd be able to design a more efficient use for the space. The only thing he could really think about was Pipsqueak. He had his cat tree, but there was probably more they could do.
What about adding some platforms or something for Pipsqueak? Like a little climbing area. Nines' lips quirked as he interfaced with his terminal, LED spinning yellow as he compiled the data. Reed was surprised how quick he was. It was barely two minutes later that a second plan popped up. It was largely the same, only now the whole bar area had an overhead cat haven built in. There was an artificial tree in the centre of the room with various posts and platforms to help Pipsqueak reach the walkways, which wound around the room in all directions with various options for hopping down or settling to look outside. There was also a cat fountain set up in the windowed corner to offer a constant stream of fresh water.
That's amazing! Did you seriously just drop that in ten seconds flat? It really hadn't been that hard. All he'd had to do was look up a few images of various cat cafes and analyse the layouts before overlaying it into the space they had available. With his processing speed, it had barely taken any time at all, though perhaps ten seconds was a little optimistic. He was pleased that Reed seemed pleased. Well, it looks great. Are you going to send it to Eli? I guess he'll know the best people to fit all this stuff.
I already have. Elijah was already enthusiastically messaging him, giving various options on materials and such. Apparently, Chloe was very excited to see the cat area once it was done. Upon asking for estimates, Elijah guessed that they could have everything set up and completed within a week. With his influence, it was quite easy to find good companies with good people and excellent supply chains. Since he was heavily involved with Cyberlife, he also had access to the machinery Nines required for his workshop, and he was sure Markus would have no objections. They didn't make use of all of it and Elijah was more than rich enough to replace whatever they gave away. The majority was still sitting in the tower unused since Cyberlife was still pretty much up in the air. New laws for android creation and upgrades were still crawling through the courts.
"Come on, let's hit the gym for a while." Nines gave no objection as he sensed Reed's restless energy. It had been steadily building over the past couple of hours, and the remodelling plans only seemed to have increased his agitation. A thorough dose of physical domination was likely the perfect remedy. Nines' lips curled at the thought as he admired Reed's tight jeans on their way down the hall.