"How are you feeling?" Nines asked as he noticed Gavin stirring He'd kept a constant vigil overnight, ready for any further unfortunate side-effects. They'd been lucky. The shot from Doctor Brown and plenty of water had been enough to settle his stomach for the whole evening. He'd slept through most of it, exhausted from the night before. Concerned for Gavin's wellbeing, Nines had opted to book an extra day off. They also had the option of remaining in the hotel for an extra evening. That was partly the reason for his question. Gavin whined softly as he rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. "Still sick?"
"No…just phcking tired…" Well, that was something. They didn't have to do anything that day, so Nines was content to let Gavin rest as he wandered around the room tidying things. Not that there was much to tidy. He stacked the plate and bowl from last night's dinner on the table for collection and neatened the bottom of the thick duvet, but there really wasn't anything else to be done. Gavin's clothes were already neatly folded away because he'd remained naked since their coupling. Nines' jacket was hung alongside Gavin's by the door and their shoes had been placed on the shoe stand. "Phck, sit down and stop fussing!"
Nines huffed fondly as he did as asked, climbing up beside Gavin's languishing form and stretching his legs out. Technically, it was lounging rather than sitting, but Gavin didn't seem to care as he shuffled closer. His body seemed to relax once his hip was resting against his thigh. Nines examined him closely as he rested a hand on his head and stroked his scruffy hair. He wasn't running a temperature. That was a good sign. His skin had also returned to its usual healthy colour, no longer pale and sickly. The rhythm of his internal organs had also returned to normal, no longer stressed and overheating. His blood was no longer rushing where his heart had returned to its usual steady one-two beat. Green eyes blinked open with an almost suspicious air.
"Are you phcking analysing me?" Nines knew he hated being analysed. He also knew that he already knew the answer. Gavin clicked his tongue indignantly as he nudged his shin with his foot. "Don't be a nanny-bot," he chided as he buried his face in the pillow. Nines' lips softened into a small smile as he noted the rising heat across the back of Gavin's neck. He hesitated a moment. They had shared a deep intimacy two nights ago. Did that mean he was free to express his affection however he pleased? All six eyes blinked as he contemplated. If Gavin didn't like it, he would surely let him know. With that decided, Nines leaned down to rest his lips against Gavin's bare shoulder blade, pressing a single kiss into the giving flesh.
Nines watched carefully for a reaction and noticed Gavin stiffen beneath his lips before he seemed to let out a slow breath. That certainly didn't seem negative, but he wasn't entirely sure it was positive either. Heat lingered across Gavin's neck as he turned his face away, but he also shuffled closer. Was that a request? An invitation? Permission? Nines settled himself a little more comfortably, propping himself up on one arm while running his free hand up and down Gavin's bare waist. Little prickles ran across his skin, making the hair on his arms stand up. Nines continued to enjoy the texture of Gavin's broken skin against his fingertips. He traced the little scars he found, only pulling back as Gavin turned on his side to look up at him.
"Hey, about…about the other night…I-um…" Gavin's gaze dropped to Nines' chest uncertainly. Nines felt his thirium pump stutter anxiously. He needed to be careful this time. He needed to be clear. It had been their previous misunderstanding that had led to this ordeal. He waited patiently as Gavin sighed. "Thanks…I know this shit makes you uncomfortable, and you're not exactly into it, so-" Gavin's dirty green eyes widened as Nines clumsily mashed their lips together. His silvery eyes were uncertain as he drew back, the lower set lingering on Gavin's wet lips as the upper sets gazed into his shocked green eyes.
"I never said I wasn't into it." Gavin's mouth dropped open as he stammered for words.
"B-but back at the hotel that time, you-"
"…said I was processing…I was processing. That doesn't mean that I felt disinterested." Gavin almost felt cheated by the excuse. That had been a pretty obvious rejection, and if it wasn't a rejection, then why hadn't he brought it up afterwards? Why had he let him avoid the topic for so long? Was he waiting for me to bring it up? More than likely. So what did he think when I didn't bring it up? That I'd lost interest? The slightly guilty pinch of his brow suggested he'd simply avoided bringing it up because he didn't know how to start. "I can only apologise for my error in judgement. Had I made myself clear, you would not have been drinking that night," Nines murmured softly, luminous eyes creased with guilt.
"What would I have been doing if I wasn't at the club that night?" Gavin asked curiously, turning on his side properly to face Nines' large chest. Nines' lips softened into something approaching a smirk as he stroked circles on his hip. Gavin's stomach fluttered at the look, especially as his blue on black eyes took on an almost predatory edge. Tingles ran across his skin as Nines' fingers pressed a little harder. Gavin licked his lips, green eyes darting between Nines' mouth and eyes.
"You would have been safe in my embrace, of course." Gavin felt his stomach fuzz at the softness of those words. Safe in my embrace sounded so much more romantic than bouncing on my cock. Nines seemed to notice Gavin softening at his words. He leaned down slowly. His lower eyes remained fixed on his lips while the top two sets remained alert for any sign of rejection. He found Gavin more than willing once their lips met. He hummed into the kiss, lips parting before Nines even licked for entry.
Nines wrapped an arm around his bare waist and turned him onto his back. The duvet remained between them, mainly because Gavin's lower body was still caught up in it. Gavin went willingly, eagerly pulling Nines down with a hand on the back of his neck. Nines obliged. His artificial skin was almost buzzing with the stimulation. He'd felt plenty the other night, of course. Gavin's hands had grabbed and caressed him in many delightful ways, but that didn't lower the stimulation he felt now. His eyes fluttered shut as he tilted his head. He could feel the seams of his jaws slowly opening as his tongue swept out to meet Gavin. Gavin moaned into the contact, eagerly licking his tendrils in greeting as they stroked and suckled his tongue.
"Phck!" Gavin hissed a little as he pushed himself up. Nines paused, all six eyes widening worriedly as he noted the pained expression on his face. Gavin winced and waved it off. Whatever it was, it hadn't been so serious as to cause lasting damage. "Sorry, I-uh…I don't think I'll be up to…you know…I'm a little tender." Gavin waited for the penny to drop. It slowly dawned on Nines what he was talking about. Of course. It made sense, what with all the stimulation he'd experienced two nights ago. Nines was gentle as he pulled the duvet back. "Hey! What the-hey!" He'd been rubbed and sucked so much his half-hard cock was a deep shade of pink, especially the sensitive tip.
"I can ease your discomfort…" Nines had never tried to treat swelling in such a place. However, it was likely that his numbing agent would assist. Gavin seemed to understand as his heart rate jumped and he avoided looking up at him. Nines knew what that meant. He was embarrassed, but it really hurt, so he wanted the attention. "Lie back for me…" Gavin did as he was told and Nines got on his knees. He was careful with the numbing levels. It would be unwise for Gavin to lose all sensation there. He merely wanted to take the edge off the sting.
"Ph-phck!" Gavin gasped and squirmed as Nines' mouth unhinged and his tongue flicked out to caress and lather his flagging cock. His brows knitted together as he hissed and whined. This was not a pleasurable experience. Nines squeezed his hip in apology as he wrapped his tongue a little more firmly around the sore looking flesh. Gavin took a series of deep breaths as he closed his eyes and leaned back into the pillows. After a while, a cooling sensation trickled across the sore skin and the searing ache slowly died down, though it didn't go away completely. Nines seemed to know when it had taken effect. His tongue unfurled and his jaws sealed once more.
"That should help…" Nines hovered above him awkwardly, unsure what he should do. The usual methods of showing intimacy were closed to him. Gavin was too sore to be lavished with attention, and his anal passage was untrained, and therefore unable to take him. It would be unfair to stimulate him in his current state anyway. The usual paths were closed, but it felt appropriate to show him affection. Kissing was a valid option, but would Gavin tire of it after a certain period?
"Why are you being all weird?" Gavin asked as he raised an eyebrow. Granted, Nines was weird on a daily basis, but this was weird-weird. Not just weird. He seemed lost, like there was something he wanted to do, but he was unsure how to do it. His lower set of eyes was staring at his limp dick, which was a little embarrassing, and the other four were darting all over the place. Nines slowly lowered himself back to his side and allowed Gavin to pull the covers over his lower half once more.
"I am uncertain how I should show my affection when you are in such a…tender condition…" Gavin blinked as he translated that into normal-person speech. You want to know how to bone me when my dick hurts? That was sort of the vibe he was getting, though it probably didn't have to be sex related. Affection could be a lot of things, not just sexual. "I wish to be in…close contact with you." Gavin huffed softly. That was about the sweetest thing he'd ever heard.
"There's plenty of other stuff besides sex…Why don't we just cuddle?" It sounded cringe worthy when he said it out loud. Cuddle wasn't usually a word in his vocabulary. It was almost sad when Nines tilted his head and looked confused. Right. Killer android…I'm probably the only person who's done this shit before…"You know, like we did when I was scared or you were stimmed out…Come here…" Gavin pushed himself up and directed Nines to lie down beside him. They certainly didn't have to worry about space in the enormous bed. Nines did as urged and lay stiffly on his back. "Let me know if it's too much, alright?" Gavin slowly settled down at Nines' nod.
Nines watched with curious eyes as Gavin moved his arm so that he could nestle himself in the crook of his shoulder. He remained still as Gavin turned on his side to rest his head against his pecs and looped one arm over his waist. One of Gavin's legs rose to hook over his thigh as well, leaving him half clinging to him. Nines slowly relaxed into this new position, turning on his side so that he could fully envelop Gavin in his arms. He could feel warmth radiating from his smaller body as the blood pulsed through his veins. Hear the steady thuds of his heart. Smell the lingering sweat of the night before. His hair was soft and fluffed as he ran his fingers through it. He could count every strand he touched. He could feel the tiny imperfections in his skin as he traced a path down his spine.
"You good?" Gavin knew how overwhelming physical contact could be for Nines with his advanced sensors. He wasn't even wearing his gloves. Nines seemed to hold tighter, as if he could sense that Gavin was about to push away and check on him.
"I am…Is there something more I should do?" Nines checked as he continued to stroke Gavin's back.
"No…This is it. This is cuddling…You just hold each other, and it feels good." Gavin nuzzled a little further into his chest as he settled. Nines could agree with that last part. It did feel good. No. It felt better than good. He liked this contact. He was most pleased they had the day off so that he could thoroughly enjoy this cuddling. They had done this before, but never just because they wanted to. It was usually done to offer comfort or support. Never for so long or so close, and never with so many lingering touches.
Nines came to a decision then. He wanted to do this with Gavin more often. Whenever he chose. He wanted to be the only one to do this with Gavin. It was common for most humans to become exclusive to a singular partner. He wanted to do that, but found himself inexperienced in these matters. How did one ask? Was there some formal code? There were many courting rituals, but which would work best for Gavin? There were very few people he could ask for advice. Especially with the precinct's fraternisation code. He also didn't want to go behind Gavin's back and contact his brother with something so personal.
Hello? The eight hundred's voice sounded in his head, apparently surprised. He hadn't been expecting a call and likely believed there was something wrong.
Eight Hundred. I require assistance. Nines could almost imagine the withering look on the eight hundred's face. At this time, he was likely at work. He was sure to have heard about the incident at the club. News travelled fast, and Nines had noticed the close relationship between Captain Fowler and Lieutenant Anderson. They would likely have discussed the incident, and that knowledge had surely been passed on to the eight hundred model.
It's Connor, and what is it you need? Is it about Detective Reed? Is he alright? The eight hundred, or Connor, as he insisted on being called, sounded concerned. That was somewhat surprising, considering their history. Nines examined Gavin as he lay curled in his arms, noting a drop in his vitals. His eyes had fluttered shut, and he was breathing softly. Well on the way to sleep.
Detective Reed is stable. I require your advice on another matter…I wish to attain exclusive rights to Detective Reed's emotional and physical attention. There was a pause on the other end as Connor turned over his words.
Are you…talking about an intimate relationship? With Detective Reed? Nines was unsurprised to find that Connor was surprised. Their experience of Gavin had been vastly different. Nines had rather quickly put Gavin in his place and forged a comfortable working relationship with him. Connor had not. Nines, even if I thought that were possible, you're partners! It's against the fraternisation code!
I understand. It is your duty to inform the Captain…I'm certain Lieutenant Anderson will miss your companionship once you are reassigned. Connor fell silent for a moment, waiting for Nines to explain himself. As the most advanced android, it is logical that I will work with only the higher-ranking detectives. If I can no longer work with Detective Reed, then it is only logical that you and I exchange partners. He smirked as he heard Connor stutter.
A-are you blackmailing me? He sounded incredulous, but they both knew he had him. Nines was a resource that couldn't be wasted. If he couldn't partner Gavin, then he would have to partner Hank. They were the two most senior detectives in homicide, and the only ones who worked on android related cases.
I am merely suggesting it would be unwise to divulge unnecessary information to outsiders…How does one lay claim to a human's affection? I am uncertain what method would work best on Detective Reed. Nines sincerely hoped Connor wouldn't waste too much time on his indignation. He wanted answers to his questions so that he could form a plan. There was a withering sigh on the other end.
I can't claim to know Detective Reed, but humans usually go on dates…You go somewhere to eat, or watch a movie, or take part in an activity that you both enjoy. If you ask Detective Reed on a date and he says yes, then that means he's open to the idea of dating you. Nines was already sure that Gavin would say yes. They'd had many promising sexual encounters already. That incident with the kiss had also suggested that Gavin had a strong emotional attachment to him. However, I don't recommend it. The fraternisation code is there for good reason and-
Thank you for your assistance. You have been most helpful. Nines ended the call and returned his attention to Gavin. He would need to perform extensive research to create the perfect date. He would have asked Tina or Miller if not for the risk of rumours spreading. At least with Connor, he knew he'd keep his mouth shut. He set the task running in the background as he focused on observing Gavin's sleeping face. He looked peaceful. The lines around his eyes were far less obvious as he slept. He didn't have any deep-set wrinkles yet, but faint webs appeared when he smiled or frowned. His stubble would need to be trimmed soon. He had two full days of growth on top of his usual short whiskers. The scar across his nose was a deeper pink than his skin and left the smallest groove across the surface. Gavin hummed in his sleep as Nines stroked his finger along it.
"Gavin…" Nines murmured as he noticed he was rousing. Gavin hummed sleepily as he blinked his bleary eyes open and looked up at him. "I know it…it seems we often perform acts in reverse order…Our intimacy has developed somewhat backwards, so I know this request may seem overdue, but I would very much like to go on a date…with you." Gavin frowned sleepily as his brain caught up with Nines' ramblings. A date? Nines was an android, so maybe he shouldn't be surprised he'd figured it out, but he'd never actually thought it would happen.
"You're asking me out?" Gavin seemed truly surprised by the question, even in his fatigued state.
"Yes…will you come?" Nines tried to ignore the creeping insecurity he felt. He wasn't normal. Most people, humans and androids alike, were afraid of him. Gavin was the only one who wasn't, though that had taken time after their first encounter. All six of Nines' eyes widened and blinked to capture images as Gavin gave him a sleepy smile. He looked dopey, and utterly serene as he gazed up.
"Yeah." Nines felt his thirium pump stutter and his core whirr loudly as Gavin agreed. Within moments, Gavin had buried his gleefully sleepy face in his chest and returned to sleep. Nines remained somewhat stunned as he held him closer. He needed to plan immediately.