Gavin's eyes snapped open. He shot upright. His heart was racing. He looked around as he caught his breath. It was light in his room. He was wearing his boxers, just as he had been the night before when he went to sleep. The covers were still tucked over his body. They pooled at his waist as he sat up. He shuffled around, looking at the bottom sheet. He quivered, breathing out a shaky breath. A dream. It was a phcking dream. Relief flooded his chest as he fell back and ran a hand through his mussed up hair. He flinched as a light knock sounded on his door, and tugged the covers higher before calling out for Nines to enter. It wouldn't be anyone else.

Good morning, Detective. I thought you might be hungry. Nines stepped inside, balancing a tray with one hand as he signed with the other. Reed sat up a little as he approached, quietly impressed at his dexterity skill. He didn't jostle the tray once. He dropped his eyes as he looked at Nines' face and felt his stomach drop. He felt an almost desperate yearning. Phantom touches from the night before raced across his skin, sending tingles across the pale surface.

"Sure, thanks," he grumbled stiffly as the tray was gently placed across his lap. He was surprised as Nines remained and sat on the edge of the bed. He was sitting quite close. It almost felt intimate. I'm projecting shit again. Wake the phck up! "I keep telling you, you don't need to do this," he added as he looked at the neatly sliced up toast and boiled egg. He'd made a mug of strong coffee, too. Reed desperately needed that to calm down.

I enjoy it. Nines sat somewhat stiffly as Reed started to pick at his food. I also wanted to apologise for last night. I fear I ruined your evening. Reed choked on his coffee as he remembered his dream from the night before. Not that, idiot! Nines looked concerned as he lowered the mug and coughed to clear his blocked throat.

"Don't worry about it. It was my fault." Reed tried not to feel jittery as he forced himself to eat. His stomach was literally tied in knots. The egg was cooked perfectly. The white was fluffy, and the yellow yolk was perfectly runny. Great for dipping the toast soldiers in. He could feel Nines watching him. He prayed to God he didn't scan too closely. "We're going out today...We'll fix up your wardrobe...get you out of that old Cyberlife jacket." He couldn't help noticing that Nines was once again fully dressed in his uniform besides his shoes.

But I don't have much money. I've yet to work my first month with the DPD. He almost looked disappointed. Reed scoffed as he sipped his coffee.

"You're my android, right? I'll pay." Nines looked strangely pleased with this development. "And no, you don't have to pay me back...You'll need the cash when you get a new place." Reed watched Nines' mood dip a little before he picked himself up again. How can he be so expressive without moving his face? His blue eyes flicked up to look at him before dropping away almost shyly.

Reed got up to shower before they left. Nines wore his Cyberlife uniform as usual, while Reed settled on a long-sleeved top and jeans. It was getting a little warmer, so he left his hoodie behind for the day. He checked his wallet to make sure he had some cash and his cards, and grabbed his keys. It seemed easier to go to one of the big shopping malls than the shopping district, so he parked underground and they took the lift to the ground floor.

Nines hadn't been to many places besides Cyberlife Tower, the DPD, and Reed's house. It was his first time being in a mall. There were so many people, of all shapes, sizes, and colours, as well as androids. They bustled about cheerfully in groups. Children running and playing. Teens sipping from soda cups. Adults sitting on benches. There were plants lining the halls in large growers, offering a little greenery to the cream tiles, glass, and metal rails. Shop fronts were bright and vibrant, glass fronts set up to show off the newest merchandise.

Where should we start? There's so much! Nines was amazed as he looked up to see five more levels towering above. All of these are shops? He turned as he noticed that Reed had yet to respond. In fact, he was no longer at his side. He found him a few paces behind with his head down and his eyes squeezed shut. Nines stepped closer and touched his arm from the front. Reed's head jerked up in surprise. Are you alright, Detective? Nines felt concerned as he noticed an unusual jitteriness to his movements.

"Fine...It's just a little crowded...and loud...Call me Gavin, alright? We're not at work." Nines seemed pleased at the invitation. He signed his name. Gavin watched as each letter was spelled out. He huffed a laugh. "Might be quicker to shorten it to G or something," he suggested, but Nines disagreed. He liked the feeling of spelling out his full name. Gavin started as Nines stepped closer. He was standing so close that their arms brushed.

If I stand closer, does it help? Gavin shoved his hands in his tight denim pockets. He nodded, a little surprised that it helped so much. While he was focusing on Nines, it distracted him from the hordes of people that surrounded them. He could feel their arms brushing with each step. As Nines signed, he found that he was so focused on his hands that he blotted out the white noise that surrounded them. Which shop should we go to first?

"A lot of men's stuff tends to be up on the third floor," Gavin replied as he walked them across to the escalators and stepped on. Nines examined the moving metal staircase with interest as he lightly hopped on. Gavin looked around, noticing how many things had changed. Outside, the android parking stations had been taken away. Inside, the various No Androids or Androids Only signs had been removed from the stores and stairs. It opened things up somewhat, making it feel more welcoming for everyone.

On the third floor, they took their time walking around the level, pausing to examine shop displays. Gavin took Nines to the store he bought a lot of his own jeans from and let him take his time walking around and examining the different styles. He was comfortable with the dark jeans he was wearing, so he looked for similar colours and styles. He managed to find some, and the store clerk helped to find his size. The clerk was an android, so it was easy for him to scan Nines' measurements and point him in the right direction. Gavin was patient as he waited, grabbing a couple more sets for himself since his own were wearing at the knees. It was a constant problem he had from chasing suspects in the streets and hopping fences all the time.

They found a smart suit shop, where Nines took his time browsing the various expensive items. Not having his own money yet, he decided to wait until he got paid to buy anything from there. He didn't know Gavin's financial situation, but he knew his house was quite expensive to run, so it stood to reason he wouldn't have a huge amount of spare cash. Despite the expense, Gavin suggested that he would need a suit for a few DPD functions. Nines remained resolute. The suit could wait.

Another shop had various fashionable T-shirts with slogans and printed pictures. They weren't really to Nines' taste, and Gavin agreed that this store was largely aimed at teens and college students. It was all a little too flashy for Nines, and since he was less than a year old, he didn't understand most of the references anyway. He could likely pull it off, but there wasn't really anything he liked. They continued on to another store. This one was filled with much simpler clothing. All of it looked quite soft and neat. This place has Connor written all over it. Gavin huffed as he examined a cream sweater made of some sort of cashmere. He tugged it down to look closer.

I don't think cream is your colour. Gavin was pretty sure Nines was teasing as he watched him examine the top. He held it up against Nines briefly as he considered it.

"No, but your brother would like it." He looked around for a darker colour for Nines. He found a navy one, ignoring the fact that it was quite a close match to his own top. He held the soft wool up against Nines' larger chest curiously, his nose scrunching in thought. "You know, humans like this stuff because it's so soft, but do you guys get anything out of it?" he asked curiously, watching Nines tilt his head almost thoughtfully.

I cannot speak for deviants in general, but even though I do not feel materials in the same manner, I do enjoy the different textures...The threads in this sweater are tightly woven, with minor exposed fibres that create a curious sensation on my tactile sensors. It is...pleasant. He stroked the sleeve of the top slowly. Gavin added it to the pile in Nines' arms to be tried on and kept the cream sweater to buy for Connor. As much as old Gavin would have hated it, Connor had helped him out a lot over the past few months. A sweater wasn't much, but he knew little things like this meant a lot to him.

In the next store, they found a few turtlenecks, and Nines pretty much went to town. He really liked the darker colours like black, chocolate, navy, and forest green. He tried a red, but felt it was a little too bright. He tried lighter colours, but whenever he tried pastels, he just ended up thinking of how much he looked like Connor. Connor was made for the gentler things. Nines opted to stick to bold colours to define himself. Gavin also seemed to like that. He often told them it was creepy when they did twin things.

Having similar base programs meant that they had a few of the same pre-programmed quirks. They shared the same at ease pose. They had the same method of calibrating, and would often perform coin tricks together. They had the same head tilt, and the same way of posing when thinking. They would sometimes have the same thought at the same time, and Nines would sign out what Connor was saying in real time. Creepy phcking twin things.

They stopped by a shop that had plenty of different briefs and sock choices, though Nines stuck to plain with dark colours like black and grey. They found a shoe store and got him some new shoes. He opted to stick to slip on styles, not wanting to risk the laces coming untied while chasing down suspects. Gavin couldn't argue with good sense. The last store they found had a lot of coats, so Gavin could finally pry him out of that damned Cyberlife jacket. He let Nines look around while he wandered the store himself, finding a new brown jacket to replace the one he'd lost to Nines. It didn't have the hood, and it was much newer, but it was the same dark brown colour he loved.

Does this look alright? Nines seemed uncertain as he appeared wearing a white leather jacket, which was actually a lot like his Cyberlife one. It had the same high collar, length, and general fit. The difference was the pockets near the waist and the two zipped ones across the chest. It fitted him like a dream. It was almost like it had been cut to his specifications. Gavin stepped forward to check the price tag. Damn, you're going to wreck my bank account, but anything to get you out of that phcking Cyberlife shit! It's too expensive. I'll choose something else. Nines looked at the tag himself and prepared to return it to the hanger.

"Hey, not so fast! A jacket is something that'll last you a long time. I'm talking years. Especially leather ones like this. Sure, it's almost six hundred dollars, but if you go for something cheaper, you'll just have to replace it more often." Gavin was adamant as he gently took the jacket from him. Nines still insisted it was too much, especially after all the money he'd already spent on the rest of his things. Getting a suit from the earlier shop would have been cheaper than the jacket. "If you really want to thank me, take that damned thing off and wear this instead!" Gavin griped, asking the cashier to cut off the tags after he'd paid.

Thank you. Nines seemed almost reverent as he handed off his Cyberlife jacket for the leather one. He zipped the metal zipper and secured the tight collar, running his hands over the smooth material of the sleeves and chest. It was stiff and snug, different to his Cyberlife jacket. He looked at home wearing it. He was fingering and staring at it like it was something he was going to cherish for a long time. The cashier neatly folded his old jacket and slipped it into a large paper bag, which Gavin took and hooked over his arm. You should eat something. It was a little past lunch time as they left the store.

"Sure...Maybe we could find a place with some of those new thirium items, yeah?" Gavin wasn't sure when Nines had last refuelled. He didn't keep an eye on things like that. He trusted him to drink thirium when he needed it. He'd seen him drink a pack the other night. How often does he need it? Every day? Every week? Every few hours? He really didn't know that much about the upkeep of androids. Guess that makes me a pretty shitty owner...

Nines led the way down to the food court, where there were many eateries to choose from. All of them shared a massive seating area, where Nines stopped and claimed a small table. This was a good choice. It meant they could eat whatever they liked and didn't have to choose items from the same place. Gavin went first, settling on a chicken sandwich and fries with a cola. He returned to the table with a buzzer and his soda to wait while Nines walked over to a small stall selling a few thirium based drinks and food items. He returned with a tall paper cup similar to Gavin's and a bowl of what looked a lot like blue dyed chilli and rice.

It is chilli. How did you know? Nines was surprise as Gavin asked him the question.

"It just looks like it...besides the funky colour." Ge watched Nines raise the fork to his lips. He was unsurprised to find he was an elegant eater. He did everything with a certain finesse. Hell, he'd probably even look graceful taking a dump! Gavin suppressed his smirk of amusement. He knew androids didn't use the bathroom, so it would never happen. Though...they can process human food, so what happens to it after they eat it? He wondered if it would be rude to ask.

You look like you have a question, Gavin. Nines tacked on his name just because he could. Gavin sat a little further forward on the edge of his chair, wanting to keep the conversation quiet. Just between them. He didn't know how sensitive a topic it would be.

"Do androids use the bathroom? I mean, you can eat human food, so..." He trailed off with an air of curiosity, watching Nines take on a mystified expression. It was an expression that said really? You had the whole of android mechanics to ask about, and you chose that? But he willingly obliged him with an answer. He finished the food in his mouth before responding thoughtfully, lowering his fork so he could use both hands.

It would be accurate to say we can use the bathroom, but we have no need to. We can expel biological waste either through flushing our internal systems by using the bathroom, or the waste compartment can be manually extracted and cleaned that way. Nines touched an area just below his diaphragm. It was in approximately the same place as a human stomach would be, and pretty much served the same function. Flushing one's system is much quicker and easier. It is unwise to continually open one's chest cavity and remove items. He watched Gavin shudder at the thought. A human could never just open themselves up and take bits out like that. It was damned unnatural.

"You haven't been awake long, so have you ever had to do it? Take bits out, I mean." Gavin didn't really want to hear about his bathroom habits. Nines seemed surprised by the question and turned it over in his head.

I have not removed items myself. However, while I was being repaired by Simon, Josh, and Connor, I had various components removed, upgraded, and refitted...It was not an entirely pleasant experience. He seemed a little uncomfortable as he recalled the experience. Gavin couldn't exactly understand or imagine what it was like, but he did understand the feeling of being violated. He knew what it was like to have people in your personal space messing with things they had no business messing with, and that included doctors and nurses. The feeling of fingers or tongs fishing around in his torso searching for bullet fragments still made him sick. It had been for his own good, just like with Nines, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

"I can relate...sort of." Nines wasn't sure why, but he believed him. Gavin got his food then, the loud buzzer interrupting the flow of their conversation. They exchanged a little of their food. A bite of chilli, small enough that it wouldn't make Gavin sick, for a bite of chicken sandwich and a fry. Gavin immediately recoiled from the blue abomination. It tasted nothing like chilli besides the heat. It was like greasy, hot, tasteless rubber. Nines appreciated the chemical makeup of the human food, but frowned at the level of salt, fat, and cholesterol. "Don't worry, I don't make a habit of eating food like this." The last thing he needed was a lecture.

No, I have noted a sizable amount of unhealthy ready meals stocking your freezer instead. Nines had quietly removed some of those meals over the past couple of days. He didn't need the ready meals. Gavin had him now. He would happily buy fresh ingredients and cook for him every day. It was a shame he seemed reluctant to allow him to do so. Reluctant, but not downright opposed to it. Nines' LED span blue at the thought.

"It happens when you work long hours," Reed excused with a defensive shrug. Nines chose not to bring up the fact that he still cooked, even after working all day. He had more or less unlimited stamina and didn't really need to sleep either. He only went into stasis to compile data and pass the time while Gavin was sleeping. At Cyberlife Tower, he'd never slept unless he was overloaded or rebooted, but that type of forced stasis didn't really count as sleeping. He soon forgot about Cyberlife as a gentle pressure was applied to the corner of his mouth. "You had a little blue..." Gavin excused as he dabbed with a tissue.