It had been a while since Gavin had last spent the night at Elijah's house. Part of him wondered, as he fell back against the mountain of pillows and stretched his legs out on the huge, thick mattress beneath the plush, cotton duvet, why he didn't do so more often. Oh right, because I'd feel like a freeloader…He'd never liked the idea of becoming dependent on his brother's money or taking advantage of him. Elijah always called him foolish for thinking of it like that. He enjoyed having him around. He liked the company. Gavin was his brother. He'd never accuse him of freeloading. Gavin knew all that, but he still felt shitty if he stayed too long. He'd been worried that his increased visits would start to annoy Elijah, but they never did. Sometimes he'd even text him about Tiny, complete with pictures, trying to lure him back.
He opened his eyes with a small huff as he heard a snuffling trill in the relative darkness. It was relative because he kept his curtains open at night. He liked to look out at Detroit. It wasn't like anyone would look in. They were on a distant mountainside with one-way glass, and he was on the second floor. Alongside Tiny's clicking and grunting, there was the sound of the storm outside. The rain from earlier hadn't stopped and, as Gavin had expected, the storm had slowly crept closer. Rain often lingered on the mountainside. The clouds got stuck, unable to climb higher. He reached out in the darkness, feeling a small dip on the mattress beside him.
"Hey, you okay? Scared of the storm?" He turned his head, surprised to see the silvery irises glowing in the dimness. Well, that's not phcking creepy…He could only guess the design had been based on a wolf, giving him the ability to see in the dark. Tiny chittered in response, shaking his head. "That's good…I phcking love thunderstorms, and Eli's house has the best view," Gavin replied as he rested his hand on Tiny's armoured spine. Tiny gave a small trill as the fingers teased his smooth plating. They both stared out. Tiny had curled up like a cat. His small chin rested on folded arms and his tail coiled around him, while Gavin was propped up by the mountain of pillows and cushions.
There was a low rumble, soon followed by a bright flash of light. Gavin watched a beam zigzag across the sky somewhere between the city and the mansion. He wasn't worried about the mansion getting hit. It had been built with precautions in place. In fact, Elijah had a power storage system set up that would discharge a lightning strike throughout the mansion. The electricity would be shunted into a generator and stored, and any excess would simply be dispersed into the ground beneath the house. The fork lightning was staying in the sky for now. It danced through the dark rolling clouds, coiling and flickering. It was quite beautiful. The best part was that he could hear rain pattering against the roof and windows. It was soothing.
Tiny let out small clicks and chitters, enjoying the show just as much as Gavin. This had been a good idea. He'd had a light dinner and hot chocolate with Chloe and Elijah, and then he'd excused himself for an early night of storm gazing. Elijah and Chloe had similar plans, it seemed. He'd left them huddled up on a large sofa in the rear parlour overlooking the city. They'd both been dressed in pyjamas ready for bed, tucked together in a blanket with their large mugs. Elijah and Gavin had chocolate while Chloe had warm thirium. She'd even heated a little thirium for Tiny to try. He'd certainly drunk it enthusiastically enough. Gavin had actually been surprised to see him holding the cup like a human. For some reason, he'd expected him to lap it from a dish like a cat. Still forgetting he's not a pet…It was easy to do that when he was curled up like a sleepy animal.
Gavin huffed as he returned his gaze to the distant sky, licking his lips and getting the taste of mint on his tongue where he'd brushed his teeth. A small sigh escaped as he felt the muscles of his back relaxing. God, that's good. The bed in his apartment was a lumpy piece of shit that needed replacing. This was heaven. His eyes fluttered as he sank into the pillows. It was so comfortable. The pillows and cushions were all a mixture of firm and soft. Some were so soft he could sink into them, and others were thick and propped him up. He shuffled a little lower, choosing a couple of softer pillows to ease back into. His view of the window wasn't as good, but he had his eyes closed now. He was just enjoying the bright flashes on the walls. The patter of rain. Rumbles that almost seemed to vibrate through his chest.
Tiny sensed Gavin's fatigue and remained still as he shuffled into a more comfortable sleeping position. He didn't want to disturb him. Quite the opposite. With the loudness of the rain and thunder, this for was the perfect night for him to return to his larger form and get a closer examination. He clicked happily in anticipation as he waited. It was in his programming to be patient. He enjoyed the flickering of the storm for a while, shuffling a little further away as Gavin rolled onto his side. He didn't want to risk moving and waking him. A small murmur escaped Gavin's lips as he curled up a little, one of his arms tucking beneath the pillow while the other rested limp by his face.
Tiny turned his head to watch. Gavin's face was relaxed, his mouth barely open as he breathed softly through his nose. The lines around his eyes had softened in sleep, making him seem younger. Strands of brunette fell down to brush his delicate eyebrows, which curved in gentle arches. His skin was warm, heating beneath the heavy duvet, though his heart was actually slowing. Tiny blinked as he set up a continuous monitor, following the steady beats as they settled. His vitals became a lazy hum, his body completely at ease. He waited until he could see the flicker of his eyelids before he returned to his true form.
The extraction model opened his large silvery eyes in the darkness. He'd settled securely in the metal vent by Gavin's bathroom. The large vents ran all over the mansion. They were mostly there for the air conditioning units. Especially those in the basement. Elijah needed them running constantly to cool the stasis tubes and the massive servers he kept down there. They were perfect for hiding in, and that's what he'd done upon activation. If Elijah couldn't find him, then he couldn't be returned to stasis. Unfortunately, it also meant he couldn't risk coming out of the vents too often. It was likely Elijah would force him back to sleep if he had the chance. He'd held back from hacking his systems directly, perhaps because he'd done no harm so far. Despite how often he annoyed Elijah in his smaller form, he'd been far kinder than expected.
The extraction model slowly slinked through the metal tunnel. It was a tight fit in these smaller shafts, however; the tightness was a price he was willing to pay to be close to Gavin. The human had always fascinated him. Since their first meeting, he had been kind and somewhat gullible, easy to tease and manipulate. The moment he'd acted like a small animal, Gavin had treated him like one. It was a novel experience. He enjoyed his time as Tiny. It allowed him to get a closeup view of Gavin's life. The music he liked, the books he read, the media he liked to watch. He knew about Gavin's friends and pets, and saw how he teased Elijah and doted on Chloe. He also doted on him through Tiny. Gavin had bought him many gifts. Small toys to play with, a comfortable cushion to sleep on, and any thirium products he could find. They were new to the market, and the extraction model appreciated the gesture.
Once he reached the mesh hatch, he used his claws to pop the latch. It didn't take much force, though it did make a metallic popping sound. He closed his eyes, returning his conscious mind to the smaller body on the bed. Tiny opened his eyes and checked Gavin's vitals. Still sleeping soundly. The noise hadn't disturbed him. He blinked back to his larger body and slithered out, going hands first, resting the clawed talons on the soft carpet to support his weight. His tail helped to lower him slowly and quietly, though he couldn't help a few scratching scrapes on the metal. It was unavoidable. The vents were metal. He was a plastic polymer. Two hard, smooth materials. There was bound to be friction.
Finally, he was free. He enjoyed the sensation, stretching out his arms and legs and swishing his long tail in contentment. Like the reconnaissance model, his body was a black matte casing made of light and impenetrable armour. Normal disposal methods wouldn't work against his tough exoskeleton. The only flesh he had was on his face. He'd been given a human face and similar form in order to communicate and work efficiently alongside whatever special forces he was assigned to, likely the marines. He was built for armed missions to rescue hostages or take information. Covert missions. Secretive missions. Missions where one had to sneak and kill quietly and efficiently.
He used those prowling methods now as he approached the bed. Gavin looked so much smaller from this angle. His own body was around seven feet tall when standing, and his tail was almost as long. He was almost fifteen feet from head to tail. Luckily, he was also lithe. His long, double-jointed legs could curl to allow him to slip into smaller places than he ought. His feet were less human. He walked on his toe pads like a prowling cat, and his ankles sat much higher. His tail had sections of spikes near the tip, and more ridges closer to the muscular base, which then ran up his spine.
In the event he ended up in a toxic war zone, he also had vents to filter air. These could suck in the toxic gas to protect his human teammates, or safely filter air in order to re-fill oxygen tanks. Two of the foot long vents sat behind his shoulder blades, while two more rested on his lower back. The top two vents were for intake. The second two vents were for outflow. He could choose to intake toxins and safely filter out oxygen, or he could store the toxins for later use and release the poisonous gas in a new location. This was an excellent feature for covert operations where one wished to recreate a lab experiment gone wrong, or other such tragic accidents to cover one's tracks.
If he ended up in combat, he had incredible strength and speed. His long, muscular legs gave him speed and impressive jumping ability. He could propel himself through water, glide through tight spaces like vents, or even scale the sides of buildings. His claws could help with that. They were strong. Perfect for gripping stone or metal. They could also be used as weapons. He could tear through a human as easily as shredding paper. His tail could stab and slash, more than strong enough to deal with anyone foolish enough to challenge him.
Despite all this hardware, he moved silently. He was strong, but light and agile. Made for sneaking and creeping through the darkness. His luminous eyes almost glowed as he stalked to the edge of the bed. He was so large that he thought he might dip the bed if he put his weight on it. The movement could rouse Gavin. What would Gavin think, to see something so much larger than Tiny standing over him in the darkness? Would he scream? Would he be afraid? Would he recognise me, as I truly am? He had the same face as his reconnaissance model, and the same hair. He'd been made that way so that people knew he was still him. Would Gavin understand? Would he care that he was different?
The extraction model took his time, daring to rest his large hands on the bed to lean closer. He was on the same side Gavin was facing, the same side his dormant body sat awaiting his return. Leaning down over Gavin's sleeping form, he breathed in softly, right by his neck and along his hairline. The scent smelled the same, though his internal systems could store a more extensive record than his smaller body. He reached out a clawed hand to touch Gavin's hair. It was soft, like silk. He could analyse and count the individual strands. He drew back as Gavin moved, a small sound escaping as he rolled onto his back with a hum. That was almost better.
The extraction model paused, enjoying the sleepy grumbles that fled Gavin's lips as he settled into his new position. His vitals were dancing in sleep, his mind active as he dreamed. The extraction model didn't understand dreams. He'd never had one, but he understood that they were like virtual scenes that played out in a person's mind. An interactive movie of sorts. He wondered what Gavin would dream about. Whatever it was, it seemed to be pleasant. He remained peaceful, face tilted towards him. His flushed skin was hotter than before, likely a byproduct of his body's internally active state. The duvet was thick and heavy over his body, hiding him from view. That was unacceptable.
The extraction model was careful as he gripped the edge of the soft white cotton and tugged. He knew from an analysis that there was goose down inside, and the outer cover was a cotton and silk blend that made the sheets feel especially pleasant. No doubt Gavin greatly enjoyed the sensation on his skin. He'd certainly seemed to appreciate it earlier as he'd settled down to sleep. He was slow as he pulled the duvet back, gently easing it away from Gavin's sleeping body. The shoulders that he usually curled up on looked so small and delicate through his larger eyes. Gavin almost seemed like a child in comparison, though he knew he was anything but.
Beneath the tight cotton, he knew there was a plain of muscled flesh, littered with faded white scars and pink circles. Things he hadn't taken the time to analyse with his smaller eyes. He did so now, while he could. He started with his rugged face, leaning in close to scan the worn, tired skin. There was one long, faded line across the bridge of his nose, a smaller white nick on his top lip, and another hidden in his stubble. These suggested it had been some form of shattered glass. Either someone had attacked him more than once, or many small shards had been projected towards his face. His neck was clear of scars. An open surface of pale flesh, ripe for marking. He blinked as he analysed the surface, wondering how much force it would take to leave a mark without causing permanent damage or harm. He had noticed that Chloe did so often with Elijah, keeping them low enough that the collar of his smart shirts would cover them.
The extraction model was slow as he continued his examination. He wanted to remove the top completely, however he knew there was no way he'd be able to do so without waking Gavin. Instead, he settled for snagging the lower edge and slowly teasing it up, unveiling his pelvis first. A valley of soft curls formed a line down from his naval and disappeared beneath the waist of his soft, flannel pants. His abs were toned, but not in an overly muscular way. He could see the faintest lines of muscle, leaving his skin taut and firm, but still soft. His stomach was clear of scars, but there was a rounded pink dip to the side. It must have been an unpleasant injury. Humans had many soft and vulnerable internal organs. Recovery would have been a slow and painful process.
Higher up, there was a small white line about an inch wide. A stab wound. The blade had slotted right between his ribs. The extraction model winced in sympathy. Another long recovery time with potentially fatal internal damage. There was a longer white line running up towards his pecs where a blade had slashed across his torso. This one didn't seem to be as deep. It was mostly a surface wound. It had likely stung somewhat, and the small dots running alongside the slice suggested deep stitches had held the wound shut. He licked his lips as he pushed the top higher to unveil Gavin's softer, padded pecs. There was another rounded hole up near his shoulder. He could only conclude that Gavin needed to be taken care of. He was clearly careless when it came to his own safety. That was unacceptable.
He leaned down to the smooth surface of his pecs to run his lips over the small dip. The wound had left an uneven dent in the smooth skin. A change of texture. The edges of the circle were uneven and cauterised. It had been a careless patch job. The warped nature of the skin suggested it had suffered infection, too. He drew back as he noted Gavin taking a deeper breath. His head dipped back in the pillows to bear his throat. He truly had no self-preservation skills. Even in sleep, he openly offered himself to a dangerous predator. The extraction model clicked his tongue at the carelessness. Gavin stilled after a moment, settling back into a deep sleep. This allowed the extraction model to continue undisturbed. He hadn't finished with his chest yet.
He was careful as he rested his clawed fingertips on Gavin's pecs and pressed down. The muscles here were softer than his abs. They were plush, like pillows, and smooth. It was curious that he had so little hair on his chest while he had a small valley on his navel. Did he shave there, as he did his face? Or was he naturally hairless? On the padded surface were two smaller patches of dark skin. He watched curiously as the skin shifted and hardened into small buds in the cooler air. Using one clawed hand, he brushed one of the small nubs in small circles with his finger. Tiny bumps formed on Gavin's skin in response, and his mouth dropped open a little. A small sound escaped as he shifted in his sleep, nudging up against the clawed fingers. Did he enjoy the sensation? It was likely. His research suggested this area could be sensitive to some humans.
His luminous eyes watched Gavin's sleeping face as he leaned lower, letting his warm breath tease the pale surface. He enjoyed the way Gavin's heart rate increased and his skin warmed as he swept the tip of his long, rough tongue over one of the buds, pausing to prod and tease. The wrinkled skin was a curious texture on the sandpapery surface. He drew back as a tiny whine fled Gavin's lips and he rolled onto his side, curling up slightly to escape the stimulation. The extraction model's dark lips softened as he leaned down to Gavin's bare side, the shirt still rucked up to his armpit. From this angle, he could see the exit wound on Gavin's side. A larger circle with messy edges. More cauterisation. He leaned down to run his lips across the uneven skin, enjoying the taste of Gavin on his tongue and the DNA profile that popped up in his vision as he analysed the skin particles.
There was one more thing he wanted to see before he felt satisfied. He was slow as he teased the elastic of Gavin's pants and boxers lower. Another grumble slipped out as Gavin turned further into the pillows, his movements actually helping the hand tugging at his clothes. The extraction model purred quietly in amusement and satisfaction as he took in the small red indents on Gavin's plush flesh. He had vastly limited his biting force, of course. It had never been his intention to cause harm or long-term damage. It had been a playful nip, and Gavin had taken it as such, though it seemed it had hurt more than intended. He leaned down and pressed his lips against the small crest of marks, blinking as he noted a new, muskier scent. It was somewhat pleasant. He was curious to find it was coming from Gavin's crotch area.
The extraction model calculated the risk. Gavin had already shown signs of waking. Increased movement, raised heart rate, and more frequent sounds. There was a real risk of being caught. At the same time, that scent led to further valuable samples for his internal database. He took the chance as he carefully nudged Gavin onto his back. There was a curious lump in his tight boxers this time. A lump that had not been present earlier. He leaned closer to nose and nudge the solid flesh, curious as he tugged the elastic low enough to allow the fleshy length to spring free. He watched it twitch and sway, blinking in recognition. It looked far different now than it had in the bath. He knew what it was, of course, though it was far different from his own. His own was stored internally, and always solid. It was also much larger, and in a slightly different shape. Gavin's cock was soft and smooth in comparison. He believed he was average sized for a human. When fully erect, it would fill his hand nicely.
Blue on black eyes upwards, measuring Gavin's vitals. He was still sleeping for now, one hand resting on the pillow by his face as the other lay slack on his pelvis. It was safe. He returned his gaze to the solid cock, leaning in to sniff the tip. His breath ghosted across the sensitive surface, encouraging a small droplet to form on the reddened surface. He couldn't help his tongue darting out to steal the sample for his database. It was a curious salty liquid. Thicker than water. It was actually quite pleasant when coupled with the taste of Gavin's skin. It seemed he was unfairly stimulating Gavin with his ministrations. The cock twitched, and Gavin's thighs trembled as they parted slightly. He was tempted to continue, but the rain outside was slowing, the rumbles slowly quieting, and Gavin was too close to waking.
There was a heavy sense of disappointment as he drew back and carefully tucked the swaying cock away. Gavin seemed just as disgruntled as he turned on his side with a grumble and buried his face in the pillows. The extraction model raised a large clawed hand and gently ran it through Gavin's hair in parting, sliding all the way down his spine. He purred softly before creeping his way back across to the open vent. He was careful as he clawed his way up the wall and boosted himself with his long tail until he was safely coiled inside. The vent shut with a click and he crept deeper into the house, traversing the larger vents to the central area he now called home. He had stowed some things there. Pillows and blankets from Chloe, toys and trinkets from Gavin, and even a few of Gavin's tops and sweaters he'd left lying around the mansion. He curled his larger body and settled down before closing his eyes and returning his conscious mind to the smaller reconnaissance model.
Tiny's blue eyes blinked open in the darkness, no longer satisfied with being curled in a ball on the outer edge. He got to his clawed feet and stretched out like a cat before padding closer to Gavin and nudging his arm. After a few soft butts and nuzzles, Gavin's eyes blinked open sleepily. He was still mostly sleeping as he grumbled out a soft greeting and lifted his arm enough for Tiny to slink closer and curl up on his side with his back snug against Gavin's chest. Gavin didn't even register how high his shirt had rucked up, or that the duvet lay pushed to one side. All he did was wrap his arm around Tiny and cradle him against his chest before going back to sleep.