Gavin knew it was bad when he woke up the next morning. He barely had time to roll over before he was puking his guts up. Luckily, Nines was well prepared. He'd researched the drug extensively and had been monitoring his vitals for just such a reaction. Gavin didn't even realise there was a bin beneath his chin until he caught a whiff of the acidic scent. That almost made him vomit more. Nines was gentle as he coaxed him into a sitting position, stroking his hair and handing him the box of tissues from the bedside. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to empty the bin before Gavin had his face in it again. He winced sympathetically.
Gavin whined as he slumped back. His whole body ached from the night before. Although he'd managed to sleep after the round kneeling on the bed, it hadn't been the last time. He vaguely remembered floating in the tub with Nines sitting behind him. Gentle hands had cleaned him, coaxing him back to sleep awhile, wrapped in a warm embrace. He'd squirmed in the tub as a firm hand coaxed his sore cock to spill beneath the water. It wasn't clear how long they'd stayed in the tub, but Nines had rinsed them off in the shower, where he'd licked him to completion a second time. He remembered gripping Nines' hair as his ass had bucked against the tiles. Silvery eyes had gazed up, long tongue wrapped around his weeping cock. After that, Nines had taken him to bed. He wasn't sure if it had ended after that or not. It could have been a dream that he'd fallen asleep with Nines' lips closed around his cock.
Whatever the case, he was fucking paying for it now. Nines had barely returned to the bedside when he was reaching for the bucket a third time. It fucking sucked! He was pretty sure he didn't deserve this shit. He'd changed his AAL ways and had even been getting on better with Connor these days. If this was karma, it was long overdue and cruelly misplaced. He could at least pretend there was maybe a little compensation in the fact that Nines was with him. He shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if Nines hadn't found him. If that other guy had taken him home and he'd met his friends. If he'd been dosed a second or third time.
He leaned over and vomited as the memory of clammy, searching fingers filled his mind. The hot breath of that guy on his neck. He didn't even remember his name. Did I even ask? He barely remembered talking to him. He'd been too depressed about Nines to even think of fucking anyone else that night. Wait…what was Nines even doing there? Did Tina call him? He would have asked if he hadn't been so busy huffing vomit from his nose. He whined miserably as Nines hurried to empty the bin before he needed it again.
"Gavin, you need to rehydrate," Nines urged as he uncapped a bottle of water. A new one. He must have called room service at some point. He'd definitely called room service. The sight of the small fruit bowl had Gavin puking again before he could even think about drinking the proffered water. "Gavin…" Nines held the bottle out again as Gavin shook his head and spat into the bucket, coughing to clear his burning throat.
"If I drink that now, it'll just come straight back up again." He grimaced as he cleared his throat and spat miserably into the bin. Fuck, that was such an awful night. It could have been so much worse though. He shivered at the memory of the young man's promises. That he'd take him home. That he had friends who'd pay for a turn. The threat he'd top up the drug the next day to keep him wanton. He would have become addicted. Permanently on his knees, begging for the drug and getting fucked. He trembled, ice prickling across his skin. A gentle hand on his cheek urged his face up.
"Gavin. You are safe…I'm here…We're together…No one will touch you…but you need to drink. Your fluid levels are falling at an alarming rate." Nines' tone was firm and reassuring as he spoke, holding his gaze with all six of his gentle eyes. Gavin closed his own tired eyes and leaned into Nines' touch. He swallowed against the thudding in his chest. Nines was right. He'd saved him, taken care of him all night. He was still taking care of him. No one would make him take more drugs. Gavin gagged again, choking miserably as bile rose in his throat. He had nothing left to throw up. His eyes watered and he wasn't sure if it was just a reaction or if he was actually going to cry. He fucking wanted to cry.
His abs and ribs were aching from the continuous retching, and his throat was burning. His nose was stinging, body still raw and aching from the night before. He was tired and sick. Feeble. Cold and shivery. He didn't need to look in the slatted mirrors to know his skin was faded and pasty. All it took was Nines' fingers running through his hair in sympathy, and he was gone. He bit his teeth together as the first shuddering breath escaped in a silent sob. Tears trickled down his cheeks as he hunched over and sniffled. He cried more as Nines started hushing and soothing him, settled on the edge of the bed with one arm looped around his quivering shoulders.
"Phck! I'm such a phcking loser!" Gavin sobbed, angrily swiping his eyes.
"Gavin, you are not a loser. You are my partner. You…you allowed yourself to be physically violated multiple times to protect my secret when you didn't have to. Many others, most others, would have given up my codes before the abuse had even started. You suffered for me…A loser would do no such thing." Nines' eyes sharpened, LED spinning yellow with stress at the memories. Seeing Gavin like that had been difficult. Reviewing the full video footage had made his chest burn with unbridled rage. Had he not already dispatched those guilty of harming him, he would have hunted them down then and there. His brow furrowed as Gavin scoffed.
"I shouldn't have been taken in the first place! I should have watched my back! And what about last night? I got a little drunk, and that was enough for some other guy to-" He cut off with a violent choke as he gagged. His muscles clenched and ached, trying to force up bile that wasn't there. Nines rubbed circles on his spine as Gavin continued to sob and retch. He was gentle as he cleaned Gavin's lips with a fresh tissue and wiped his dripping nose.
"You can't help what happened…You were working a case. There were other officers who should have had your back…I should have been watching over you. Last night was also my fault. Had I been clearer…Had I spoken sooner, you wouldn't have drunk so much. Tina would not have planned the evening out…Had I answered her earlier requests to join you, I would have reached you before that human ever touched you. None of this was your fault." Nines held Gavin's gaze with a glare, daring him to disagree. He raised his chin with the crook of his finger as his eyes dropped doubtfully. He couldn't help leaning in to kiss to his damp forehead.
"Phck, don't…you'll get puked on," Gavin stammered as he leaned back. Nines huffed softly as he pressed a final kiss before drawing back. Gavin was slow as he finally accepted the bottle. He knew he'd probably throw it up, but it was better to throw up something than nothing. True to his thoughts, he vomited almost the moment he'd taken three small gulps. Nines' eyes thinned as he scanned his ailing body. He was severely dehydrated, shivering and miserable as he leaned back. Nines was quick to empty the bin and return it lest he need it again.
"Perhaps we should go to the hospital…" Nines suggested softly as he returned the bin. Gavin scowled as he took it and hugged it against his chest. "You're severely dehydrated, and unable to keep down fluids. If this continues, then it could lead to-" He paused as Gavin waved it off miserably.
"It's just vomit, Nines…I've had stomach flus that were way worse than this. It'll probably settle in a few hours." Nines was alarmed to hear that this could last for hours. Gavin breathed steadily as he leaned back, closing his eyes and taking slow breaths. It was almost like he thought he could settle his stomach by staying still and breathing. He whined softly as Nines stroked his hair. His skin was so pale. He didn't look healthy at all. Nines was torn. He really thought Gavin needed a doctor, but he didn't want to go against his wishes by simply taking him to the hospital. He opted to wait and see what happened within the next half hour.
No sooner had he decided that than Gavin chanced sipping a little more water, only to violently throw it up a few moments later. He seemed weak and miserable as he fell back. Nines' LED span yellow as he continued to watch. Gavin threw up less over the next few minutes, but Nines still wanted a second opinion. There were few people he could trust with such things, and fewer people who understood Gavin's health and personality enough to assess how much he was hiding. Gavin managed to fall into a light doze as Nines made an internal call to the only reliable source he could think of.
"Nines. I wasn't expecting to hear from you again so soon…Did something happen?" Kamski seemed wary as he waited for the answer. It was perhaps unsurprising after the last, and only time, Nines had called him for assistance. Hopefully, Gavin wouldn't be too angry if he found out about him contacting his estranged brother.
Unfortunately. Gavin was drugged last night, and is suffering severe side-effects. The drug is called pink. It is a new drug on the market. He heard Kamski sigh at the new. He'd heard of the drug, but it wasn't usually fatal after a single dose. Not in those as healthy as Gavin, anyway, though it was highly addictive. Nines talked Kamski through the current issues. Gavin was still losing fluids through sweat, tears, and vomit, and could not replenish those fluids due to the excessive vomiting. Kamski asked for their location and said he'd have everything taken care of. Nines was unsure what that meant, but did as asked.
"Phck…No wonder this shit's so addictive," Gavin groaned as he opened his tired eyes. Nines tilted his head questioningly as he settled on the edge of the bed once more. He wanted to remain close, offering comfort and support. Gavin seemed to appreciate it on some level. He seemed more relaxed with him close by.
"Why would anyone become addicted to this?" Nines could see how miserable Gavin felt, and he'd seen how distressed he'd been the night before. He knew it had been painful, despite the pleasure forced upon him. Gavin groaned as he leaned over the bin, though he didn't vomit just yet. Nines' hand was there in an instant, stroking and teasing the back of his neck. Gavin's eyes fluttered as sparks trickled down his spine, making him shiver for a whole new reason.
"Part of why drugs are so additive is fear of the comedown afterwards…If I took half a dose, or even a quarter more, I probably wouldn't be puking like this…Plus, I'd feel good again. Last night was fucked up, but it still felt good…I'd rather feel good than feel like this." Gavin's explanation made sense. It also made Nines feel glad he'd reached him in time. He didn't even want to think about the state Gavin would have been in if that human had taken him away and dosed him a second or third time. Luckily, his research suggested that a single dose was unlikely to lead to addiction, so long as a second dose wasn't taken within two weeks.
"I will make you feel good when this has passed. You do not require another dose." Gavin's gaze softened as he looked up at Nines' yellow LED. He rested a grateful fist on Nines' shoulder. It was sweet that Nines was willing to make such an offer, even though it wasn't necessary. There was no way he'd ever voluntarily touch a second dose of that shit. It was vile. The intense effects were horrendous, and the comedown was unbearable. "Rest awhile…" Nines suggested softly as he took the hand on his shoulder and cradled it. Gavin sighed as he reluctantly shuffled lower to rest his head on a plump pillow and Nines placed the bin on the side table, keeping it within reach.
"Thanks, Nines…" Gavin mumbled as he closed his eyes, letting Nines keep his limp hand in his grasp. Nines gave him a small smile and a nod as he squeezed back. He kept a constant vigil over him as he finally dozed off, hopeful that perhaps the worst was over. It was a shame that Gavin jerked awake a few minutes later as a loud knock sounded on their door. His green eyes were bleary as he looked up and turned his head. Nines eased the duvet a little higher over Gavin's bare chest as he made his way to the door. He knew it wasn't housekeeping. He'd already called them and asked for fresh sheets to be left for him to deal with. They'd stopped by earlier, being quiet and discrete as Nines had requested. Nines assumed this visitor had something to do with Kamski. There was an old man on the other side of the door when Nines opened it. He was short and stern, carrying a large medical bag.
"Gavin Reed?" His greeting was almost curt, though he seemed to soften somewhat as he approached the bed at Nines' nod of confirmation. "Look at you…Twenty years later, and you're still getting yourself in the shit," he scolded with a small smirk as he opened his medical bag and grabbed his stethoscope. It seemed he was going to perform a small physical while he was in. Gavin blinked in disbelief as he looked up at the old man, allowing him to lower the duvet enough to rest the cold metal circle against his chest. He winced at the sensation, still not convinced he wasn't dreaming.
"Doc? The phck are you doing here?" How did he even know where he was? Had Nines called him? How did Nines know him? The only one who knew that Doctor Brown was his family doctor was his brother. He hadn't seen him for years at this point. Not since he'd left home. The only time he saw doctors these days was in hospital, when he was desperate. He gasped at the cold press as the doctor listened to his chest, moving the small circle across his skin.
"I got a call and thought I'd stop by…Pink is a nasty drug," Brown replied as he drew back and popped a thermometer into Gavin's mouth. Gavin didn't really think that was necessary, but he put up with it for Doctor Brown. The disgruntled scoff told him all he needed to know. You're phcking telling me! It was the worst comedown he'd ever experienced. Not that he had much experience, but it was bad. "I'll give you a Valoid shot. That should help enough for you to get some water down…and these," Brown continued as he tugged a couple of blue sports drinks from his bag. Gavin huffed. They were the ones he always used to drink as a teen. Vitamin rich drinks to replenish blood sugars after intense exercise.
"Phck, I didn't know they still sold these!" He let Brown take his arm and held still as he examined the sporty label. He'd chugged them non-stop back when he'd been on the football team. Unfortunately, that hadn't gone further than high school, but he'd had such high hopes back then. Not that he regretted joining the academy. He loved his job. Nines watched curiously as the two humans interacted. This old man had been welcomed into Gavin's inner circle as if he'd always been there. He was allowed close and treated Gavin with an almost fatherly fondness. It was something Nines had never seen before, outside of his interactions with Tina. He didn't even talk to his brother.
Doctor Brown stayed a little longer. Just enough to catch up on things and see that he drank at least one sport drink and kept it down. Apparently, it tasted just as Gavin remembered. He seemed worn and tired as Brown left, and relaxed enough that he settled down by himself to sleep. It seemed the medication was doing its job. Hopefully, he wouldn't require a second shot, though the doctor hadn't mentioned it being likely as he left. He'd just told him to ensure he rested and drank fluids and perhaps tried to eat some toast or porridge later.
"Did you call Doc for me?" Gavin asked drowsily as he turned on his side and peered up at him. Nines was impressed to find that there was already a little colour returning to his pasty cheeks. His green eyes were a little bloodshot as he looked up, dazed and half-lidded.
"I believe your brother did…As my creator, Dr Kamski is one of few humans I have to rely on," Nines replied in an almost vulnerable tone. He didn't want Gavin to feel that he'd betrayed his trust somehow. He'd merely required a second opinion and felt that Elijah Kamski was best placed to help in this instance. It seemed Gavin understood on some level, since he didn't launch into a tirade. "Rest, Gavin…I will be here." That was the only assurance Gavin needed before his eyes slid shut. Nines sat on the edge of the bed like a sentinel, scanning his vitals as he drifted off.