"When will you tell me?" Nines asked curiously as Gavin hummed along to the music, idly tapping his hands on the steering wheel. He didn't answer besides giving him an almost secretive smirk, clearly pleased with himself at being able to keep such a secret for so long. Nines felt he'd cheated somewhat. Gavin had asked to be allowed to plan their next date, which then turned into a long weekend. Since their first date had been less than successful, Nines had agreed to leave it in Gavin's more experienced hands. For the past two weeks, he'd been sneaking around with Tina and Chris, telling him he wasn't allowed to snoop.

Nines had been good and patient, letting Gavin head off with Tina for a few evenings to plan. He definitely hadn't hacked their phones, which had been left in Tina's car. He also didn't know the IP address of her computer, so he couldn't simply hack in. Not that he would. He'd promised Gavin to be good. Whatever he had planned, Gavin was smart enough to do everything on Tina's computer, in her house, and have her pay. There were transactions showing that Gavin had sent a sizeable sum to her account, but he had no idea what Tina had spent it on. They never mentioned anything in their emails or personal messages, so even when Nines did glance over them, there were no hints about the trip.

"Curious?" Gavin teased, keeping his eyes on the road. Had he looked, he would have seen Nines' LED spinning yellow in the opposite window. He'd been trying to work it out since they got on the road. They'd left Detroit for Canada and seemed to be heading into the mountains around Lake Erie. Due to the time of year, Gavin had to be careful as they drove through the snow. Flakes were falling in flurries, but the roads were still clear where the morning salt had melted the ice. It was still fairly early. Gavin had insisted on leaving his apartment at four o'clock, so they made it to their destination in the afternoon and got to enjoy the day there.

"Extremely." There were many places they might go besides the lake. Canada was vast, and they had a whole three days. Perhaps he intended to go sightseeing, or fishing, or they might visit one of the larger cities. The only clue he had was that it would take perhaps eight hours to get there, possibly more when taking the weather into consideration.

"Good!" Gavin chortled happily as he shuffled in his seat, leaning a little lower over the wheel to peer through the falling snow. With all the clouds, it wasn't very bright, and the flurries blended in with the surrounding white blankets, making it hard to see. Nines would have been more comfortable driving, only he didn't know where they were going and Gavin had insisted. The most he could do was watch the road in multiple spectrums and ensure Gavin knew about any upcoming obstacles. His blue on black eyes blinked one set at a time, the highest set squinting a little as he frowned.

They only made one stop in a small town that looked deserted from the road. Gavin pulled in at the service station to use the bathroom and get directions to the lodge. He couldn't wait for Nines to see it. They got it for a steal, too! No one wanted to go to the lakes during the winter, especially when it was snowing like this. The resort wasn't for skiing, and a lot of the surrounding places were closed for the season. It was perfect! The lady who owned it had been sweet and helpful over the phone, too. Since most places were closed, she'd offered to stock it with any food and drink they needed. She'd been surprised at the request for thirium, but with androids now free to travel, a lot of places on the border had started stocking it for just such an occasion.

After getting a few directions from the guy at the service station, Gavin drove further into the small town, which was really more of a village. Though brimming with curiosity, Nines agreed to stay in the car as Gavin pulled up outside an unassuming house. He watched curiously as Gavin trudged up to the door, shivering in his leather jacket, to be greeted by an old woman. Not so old that she looked feeble, but old enough that her hair had turned grey. She seemed warm and welcoming as she hovered in the doorway speaking to him, smiling and handing over a set of keys and an envelope.

"Alright, we're all set!" Set for what? Nines was dying to know as Gavin shut the door and buckled his seatbelt. "Hold this, and no snooping!" Gavin said as he handed over the plain envelope. Nines turned it this way and that, resisting the temptation to scan it. His top four eyes watched the road and searched the surrounding hillsides for clues while his lowest eyes stared at the envelope. It felt like there was a note inside. A receipt? Perhaps some instructions? She'd handed Gavin some keys, so perhaps there was a map inside. "Don't ruin the surprise." Gavin was right. It would be rude to ruin it when they seemed to be so close to their destination.

As they followed the winding road into the steeper hillsides, Nines noted that the road was quite deserted. It made sense. The weather was quite poor, and from what he'd looked into about the area, this was mostly a summer retreat. Few people actually lived in the immediate vicinity. Houses were few, and those they passed were dark with the curtains drawn tight against the blustery day. Entire resorts stood locked and empty, without a car in the lot. He was surprised as Gavin pulled off the main road and followed a less used trail into the forest. His LED span yellow as he swapped to the negative spectrum, watching bright white shift to black, enhancing the surrounding trees and allowing him to see better.

"It should be just a little further up here..." Gavin squinted as he followed the small road, which was completely covered in snow. The trees acted as a guide, lining the path leading up to a large lodge. With a triumphant hum, Gavin pulled up outside and shut off the engine, looking at him hopefully as he leaned against the wheel. Nines had to admit, he was surprised. He hadn't expected this. "What do you think?" Nines was hard to read sometimes. His LED span yellow as he took in the large log cabin, eyes blinking one set at a time, lips soft and stoic.

"It is a lodge." Gavin nodded anxiously, tilting his head curiously. He doesn't like it?

"Yeah! Come on, the landlady said she was up here earlier and started a fire for us." Gavin was clearly excited as he shut off the car and hopped out. Nines followed slowly, scanning the lodge for any sign of life. He could see there was a fire as he swapped to the heat spectrum. The flames warmed the living room and swept through the whole house, which was a generous size. There were two levels. A living area, kitchen, and jacuzzi on the ground floor, with two bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor. It was large enough to comfortably house four adults or a family of four. Looking around, Nines could see no danger lurking in the surrounding trees either. Not that he expected any. In 2038, things such as bears and wolves were a thing of the past, and he doubted any humans would be lurking about in such weather.

He joined Gavin at the trunk and lifted the two duffel bags. Since they'd only come for a long weekend, they hadn't packed much. Gavin needed winter clothes and changes of underwear, and he'd snuck in his own toiletries and personal items. Nines needed even less. He'd packed some pyjamas and extra clothes, but he didn't get dirty the way Gavin did. He didn't sweat or produce skin oils that necessitated a daily change of clothes. It was only as he lifted it that he realised Gavin's bag was suspiciously heavy, considering how short their stay was. Gavin smiled his thanks as he shut the trunk and led the way to the wooden porch, which would be a lovely place to sit in the summer.

"Phck, it's freezing! What do you think? Shall we dump the bags and check out the forest?" Looking up at the sky, Nines assessed the flurry of falling flakes. It wasn't a blizzard yet, not by any stretch, but it was snowing heavily. With the snow came an inevitable drop in temperature that increased Gavin's risk of catching a cold if they indulged for too long. Add to that the fact the afternoon would only last a few short hours and it made the thought rather unappealing.

"Charming as that sounds, I believe it would be wise to remain indoors for the remainder of the day." Gavin seemed a little disappointed, but quickly changed his mind as he unlocked the door to be met with a rush of heat. Even Nines noted the difference on his own artificial skin layer as he stepped inside. There was a series of beeps as Gavin deactivated the alarm and pulled off his jacket, leaving it on the coat stand as he looked into the living area with a low whistle. Closing the door, Nines took his first look at the place that would be home for the next few days. It was truly charming.

The room opened up before them into a large sitting area, where a large corner couch sat in front of the fire between two large armchairs, one of which had a matching footstool. In front of the grate was a sprawling white fur rug, clearly synthetic, and a small coffee table. On the left was a dining area comprising a large, round table and four chairs set up at the bottom of a set of wooden stairs. Along the back wall was a large, open kitchen stocked with whatever one might need. A stove, an oven, a coffeemaker, a microwave, and cupboards full of cooking and eating utensils. Through a door by the kitchen was a small conservatory that had been altered to house a large, square jacuzzi in the floor.

"What do you think?" Gavin asked hopefully as he pulled his tan boots off and left them on the mat by the door. A wise precaution considering how much snow had gathered around the soles. Nines' lips softened as he noticed Gavin's almost anxious gaze. He'd put a lot of thought into choosing this place, so he hoped Nines would like it. "It's homely, right?"

"It is. What made you think of such a retreat?" They'd never discussed going away before, but this is just the sort of place that he would have chosen.

"I just thought you'd like it...It's quiet, peaceful, hidden away...There isn't another cabin for about two miles in either direction, and at this time of year, the whole forest is pretty much exclusively ours!" Nines was touched Gavin had put so much thought into his wellbeing for this trip, however it seemed he'd overlooked his own. It was far more convenient for Gavin to be close to a city to ensure he had access to any food or entertainment he desired. There were no shops this far out, none that were open anyway, and there were no bars or movie theatres. Few other people lived out this way, so they would be fairly isolated as far as company went. "I-I also thought it would be a good chance for you to unwind, you know? Take off your skin an...um...be yourself." Nines' LED span yellow, all six eyes blinking at the suggestion.

"I'm always myself." That was true as far as personality went, but Gavin knew he was holding back.

"I mean physically! You've said before how you're always worried about how others will see you and putting them first, but you're happier in that other form. It's been a long time, so I thought you'd be feeling a little...pent up." Nines softened at the consideration. It was true that he felt freer in his Lovecraft form when his plating had fully unfurled, but that didn't mean his human form was uncomfortable. Indeed, there were many things he couldn't do in his true form. Kissing would be out of the question with his jaw unhinged. Caressing Gavin's skin would be more difficult with his clawed hands. Penetration would be absolutely out of the question unless he trained Gavin's ass even further. His plating would be uncomfortable for Gavin if they lay together, and risky with all the extra blades.

"That was considerate, however, I am content in this form for now." He was surprised to note a hint of disappointment as Gavin nodded. Slipping out of his shoes, Nines swiftly caught him in his arms and sealed his lips. Gavin was eager, as always, parting his lips almost immediately to caress his tongue and accept the teasing little tendrils in his mouth and along his jaw. "Perhaps we should unpack and get you into some dry clothes," Nines murmured as he drew back, noting the damp creeping up Gavin's jeans. He hadn't even been out in it that long!

"Mm, we could do that..." Nines could already hear the or in his tone as he looked up through soft lashes.

"Or?"

"Or...we could strip down and warm up in the hot tub." Nines' LED blinked yellow at the suggestion, enjoying the playful smile on Gavin's lips. His human made a tempting proposition. Despite the warmth of the house, a hot bath was sure to warm him faster than a simple change of clothes. Gavin knew he was interested. His eyes softened as he pressed closer and held his waist, fingers slowly creeping over the waist of his jeans. Nines hummed softly as he returned the loose embrace, enjoying the sensation of wool on his sensors as he stroked Gavin's spine.

With a final press of lips, it was quickly agreed that Gavin would start running the tub while Nines carried the bags upstairs. The second floor was as warm and cosy as the first, which didn't surprise him as he noted the radiators dotted along the walls. There were two bedrooms, both adequately furnished, however Nines made for the larger of the two. This one had a large bathroom attached, which was handy for Gavin. He wouldn't have to navigate the hallway while half asleep and risk stumbling down the stairs. One might think it unlikely, but Nines had developed great faith in Gavin's ability to find trouble no matter how unlikely it seemed.

Nines dropped both bags on the bed and opened Gavin's first. He only had a set of comfortable sweatpants and a thermal top to sleep in, one set of jeans, two snug V-necks, and extra underwear. He'd grabbed a bundle of socks, fully expecting to get his feet wet whenever they went out. It may have been wise to bring more jeans as well, but they could always leave them by the fire downstairs to dry. There was a large wooden wardrobe to hang clothes and a set of drawers on either side of the bed. As Nines moved to his own bag, he noted for the first time that the sheets were a rich, soft flannel material rather than cotton. The texture was most pleasant on his sensors, and he was sure it would keep Gavin warm when they went to bed later.

"Wow, this place is nice! What's the matter? Is the material too much for your sensors?" Gavin asked as he approached to find him still stroking the pale blue covers. His LED was spinning yellow as he analysed the thread count, picking out each fluffy strand. Nines drew back and turned his attention to his own small bag, smiling softly as he felt Gavin's anxious gaze.

"No, it's actually quite pleasant," he replied as he pulled out his own extra turtleneck and slacks to hang in the wardrobe. He also had a set of blue tartan bottoms to wear at night, though he preferred to sleep topless. The bedding would feel nice against his sensitive skin, and he'd feel Gavin's pulse when he pulled him against his chest. With the skin on skin contact, he could keep a constant vigil on his vitals, watching them rise and fall in his HUD as he slept. Gavin took over unpacking the rest of his bag, tossing a few toiletries on the bed to be put in the bathroom. There was something almost smug in his green eyes as he pulled out the black box of plugs and set it on the nightstand with a bottle of lube. Nines' top set of eyes followed him, LED blinking red as he set down the box and bit his lip. That explained why his bag was so heavy.

Gavin was still smirking as he grabbed his toiletries and headed into the large ensuite. Hearing his zipper, Nines tuned out to give him some privacy and finished his own unpacking. He hadn't actually brought much more, just an extra set of underwear. They were only there for three days, so he didn't see the need to carry anything more. If worst came to worst, he'd thought he'd be able to buy whatever they needed. Being so isolated, he didn't think they'd need anything besides food for Gavin, which he'd already found provided during his earlier scans.

"I'm ready." Nines wasn't sure why he needed to announce it, but hummed his acknowledgement anyway as he moved the two empty bags to the bottom of the wardrobe. It was as he turned to head downstairs that he realised why Gavin had spoken. His voice stuttered to a halt; LED spinning red as he took in the sight of Gavin's naked body in the dim light of the bedroom. The surrounding trees and cloudy sky meant only a dim grey light flooded the room from the large windows on Nines' side of the bed. He was still standing in the doorway to the bathroom, gripping the frame with both hands as he bit his lip and looked up with heady eyes.

"You are naked." Gavin snorted at the stunned observation, leaving the open doorway to loop his arms around his neck and pull him down. Nines' blue on black eyes blinked as he allowed Gavin to pull him down and kiss him. He gasped into the kiss, fingers caressing the soft skin of his back and tracing whatever little nicks and scars he came to.

"What? Did you expect me to get in the hot tub with my clothes on?" That certainly wasn't the case, but he'd thought he might have a little more modesty than to strip upstairs and walk through the house naked. However, it was somewhat flattering to see how his cock twitched and stiffened with each gentle touch and press of lips. "I'll just go and wait downstairs...in the tub..." Gavin purred as he drew back, leaving Nines spinning yellow as he turned and headed for the door. Nines watched him leave, shamelessly staring at the sway of his rounded ass.