"What the phck is this?" He'd barely gotten out of the shower when the smell of steak assaulted his senses. He'd had a rough first day back, not because of the work, but because no one would leave him the fuck alone. It felt like every officer in the precinct had stopped by with cards and presents, telling him how much they'd missed him and to let them know if he needed anything. It was weird. Even Brad had been nicer than usual, though that may have had something to do with Haley being there. Since he'd only just returned, he was going to be on desk duty for a few weeks. After six months off, he felt like he needed to go through the academy again. Luckily, Nines was there to bring him up to speed and put him through his paces in the gym.

"It's your birthday." Gavin frowned as he approached the neatly set places at the bar, where two large plates loaded with steak, fresh vegetables, and baked potatoes sat ready to be devoured. There was tomato, a huge mushroom, onions, carrots, and broccoli neatly set out around the slab of half-cooked meat. Perfectly half-cooked. Rare. Just the way he liked it. Outside, the sky was already dark, which meant the flickering candles that had been set up around the room filled the space with an intimate glow. Many of the surrounding buildings were dark, but the sprawling city flickered and glowed as much as the candles.

"Nines, it's May!" Nines hummed his agreement as he appeared behind him and rested his hands on his shoulders, pressing a gentle kiss against his neck. It sent tingles across his skin in a way he hadn't felt in months. He coughed, trying to ignore it as he turned to face him. "My birthday is in October." Nines' silvery eyes remained soft as he took his chin and leaned down to kiss him, though he didn't linger. He didn't want to make Gavin feel pressured or trapped, and he certainly wouldn't take advantage of him.

"I know, but you were in the hospital for your last birthday, so we didn't celebrate." Sure, they hadn't celebrated, but he rarely did anyway. He would have said so if Nines hadn't tugged him against his chest and held him there. The way his body stiffened suggested he'd done something wrong and expected to be told off for it. "I already missed one birthday." Gavin sighed and wrapped his arms around him. That was true. He'd been with the Hickory Killer for over a year. His thirty-ninth birthday had passed without notice, probably in the tiled room. He held Nines tighter at the memory, silently reminding himself that it was over.

"You know birthdays aren't important to me, right?" Nines nodded against his shoulder.

"But they are important to me..." Gavin huffed as he drew back, his lips softening at Nines' uncertainty. If Nines wanted to celebrate his birthday in May, then they'd celebrate his birthday in May.

"Thanks for remembering." Few others ever had. Before Nines, it was only Tina who'd made a note of it. She was sometimes the only reason he remembered. "This can double as our first day back celebration, too." His first day back after six months of intensive therapy shouldn't pass unnoticed. He even had a pile of cards and gifts. Nines smiled before swooping in to claim his lips, leaving a chaste peck there before guiding him to the bar and helping him onto his stool. He didn't need the help, but it was chivalrous, and the way his hands lingered made Gavin's stomach flutter.

"Happy fortieth birthday, Gavin." Gavin blinked as they clinked glasses. Was he really only forty? His time with the Hickory Killer made it feel like he should be a lot older. He felt somewhat numb as he sipped the red wine in his glass. A hand on his knee interrupted his brooding as he stared off into space. "I'm glad you're home." He wasn't the only one. It almost seemed his voice had summoned Pipsqueak as he hopped onto the bar and padded across to butt and nuzzle his shoulder. Gavin smiled as he scratched his small head, enjoying the rumbling purrs against his fingertips as he looked across at Nines.

"Thanks...Phck, I missed you." It wasn't the first time he'd said it, but it still brought tears to his eyes as he remembered the pain and vulnerability. Nines took his free hand and leaned in to kiss his cheek, lingering to nuzzle his temple.

"And I you..." Nines didn't think he had the words to express how much, but the spinning red of his LED seemed to do the job for him as Gavin cursed under his breath and reached up to rub circles around the small circle. Nines swallowed hard, closing his eyes and leaning into the firm touch. It was so familiar it made tears slip between his lashes.

"Phck, don't cry!" It almost sounded like a tearful chuckle as Gavin grabbed his napkin and dabbed the saline away, sniffling and trying to cover his own emotional state. Nines murmured an apology before leaning in to kiss him once more. "Come on, the food will get cold." That was true. In fact, it was a little cool already, but no less delicious as Gavin tucked in. Nines' food was always good, but it felt like a little extra effort had been put into this meal. It was one of his favourites, clearly saved for this special occasion. He wasn't sure about Nines, but eating made him feel a lot better and chased away the lingering sadness. There was no need for tears. They were together now. They couldn't forget what happened, but they could at least set it aside.

After dinner, Nines took the plates to the kitchen and rinsed them off to fill the dishwasher. It was Gavin's birthday, so he insisted on him taking his wine and sitting on the curved sofa to look out over the city. As usual, it was a breathtaking sight. There wasn't a better sight in all of Detroit. Streams of red and white light tore through the streets as cars made their way home, windows blinking as lights turned on and off, and in the distance stood Cyberlife Tower. The great glass techno-cock. The magnificent diamond phallus. A shimmering shaft of light on the distant island. Gavin closed his eyes with a fond huff. I've been thinking way too much about cock lately.

That probably had something to do with the fact he wasn't getting any, and for good reason. He and Nines were both being cautious. They hadn't spoken about it, but he was pretty sure Nines had some idea of what had happened throughout that year. He hesitated to call it rape, but it had certainly been fucked up. What he'd had with Jack was wrong. What he'd been put through with the Hickory Killer was traumatic. Both were a recipe for disaster when it came to Nines. A few months ago, any hint at physical intimacy had made him flinch and tense, a clear signal for Nines to back off, which he had. Every single time. He didn't even need to voice an objection. Nines could read him like a book.

That was a few months ago though...More recently, he'd been getting frustrated. Even though he didn't flinch, Nines never went for the prize. He forgot himself sometimes, stroking his back with cool fingers and slowly creeping up to his shoulder blades, but the moment he shivered with want, he drew back. Whenever they kissed, it was brief and chaste. That had been good a few months ago, but now it was frustrating. Whenever he opened his lips in invitation, Nines drew back. He even drew back when his cock twitched, thinking he was unfairly stimulating him and wary of taking advantage.

Gavin shook his head and took another sip of wine. He shouldn't complain. Nines was being considerate, trying hard to respect his earlier boundaries. He was an android, not a mind reader. The only way he'd know for sure that everything was alright was if he opened his mouth and told him. That's easier said than done. Speaking had never been his strong suit. Hearing the gentle rumble of the dishwasher, Gavin looked up and saw Nines heading his way.

"It's a nice idea, having the sofa this way." It was turned to look out over the city rather than in towards the bar. They'd tried it both ways, but it really was nice being able to stretch out and watch the world go by. He'd spent many weeks like that during recovery, once he'd left the hospital and been handed into Nines' care. Since he wasn't working for the DPD then, Nines had stayed home to oversee his recovery.

"It is. Detroit is quite beautiful at night." You can say that again. Gavin took the opportunity to admire Nines in the flickering candlelight. His LED was spinning a lazy blue now, silvery eyes soft as he sat back and sipped his wine, draping his free arm across the back of the sofa. Gavin bit his lip as he watched him, swallowing as his cock twitched in anticipation. It had been a while since he'd properly tried to instigate something. Would he stop me if I...There was really only one way to find out. Finishing his wine, Gavin set the glass on the carpet and turned sideways in his seat. Nines didn't move at first, thinking he was getting comfortable, but his LED blinked yellow when his hand landed on his knee. His eyes were uncertain as he peeled the hand off and held it, stroking his thumb over Gavin's knuckles.

"N-Nines, I..." I what? I want you to rail me against the window? Yeah, that'll go down well...Nines' brow creased worriedly as he turned his head, unsure what he should do. He'd downloaded just about every protocol he could find about dealing with victims, and all of them agreed it was unwise to be intimate. Six months seemed such a short time, and he'd only just come out of recovery and returned to work. It was for light duties only, but it still seemed too soon. Nines had noticed a few subtle hints and invitations, but what if that was just Gavin's way of keeping him near? What if he thought he might abandon him without such offers of intimacy?

"I don't want to take advantage of you, Gavin." That was it. The invitation to talk. Gavin stammered, unable to push the words out. Phck, I suck at this stuff! It was downright embarrassing. Nines knew he wasn't good at this talking shit, so why couldn't he just take the hint? Because hints like that are easy to misread and he's scared of getting it wrong. "I need you to tell me what you're thinking." Gavin thought his cheeks might steam, they felt so hot.

"I-I want..." His skin had to be three shades darker than usual. He could feel himself blushing. It was almost worse that Nines was giving him his full attention. The hand on the back of the sofa moved to tease the back of his neck, squeezing in the usual way that let him know he was there and he was safe. He could say anything and Nines wouldn't laugh or belittle him. On the contrary, he was eager to hear it. Gavin's eyes fluttered as those cool fingers caressed his neck, licking his lips as his cock twitched. "I-I want to touch you." It seemed a feeble thing to say, but Nines got the message. He nodded, remaining perfectly still as Gavin moved closer.

Getting to his knees, Gavin wasted no time in kissing him, resting his hands on his shoulders as he leaned over him. Nines let his head fall back and closed his eyes, parting his lips at Gavin's silent request. He kept his hand on the back of his neck, but didn't use it to direct him. As Gavin's tongue teased his own, he let his hand slip higher to finger through his hair, but he didn't grip or grab. With no way of knowing what he'd been through before, he was hesitant to show any form of dominance. Gavin hummed into the kiss, enjoying the way Nines teased his tongue and worked his lips. He was breathless when he finally drew back and pushed himself off the sofa.

Nines remained as he was, unwilling to move as Gavin dropped to his knees and crawled between his thighs like he used to. Silvery eyes watched cautiously as nimble fingers reached for his belt and popped his jeans. He had no problem with letting Gavin have his way so long as he knew he was under no obligation to continue. He kept his free arm draped across the back of the sofa and sipped his wine with the other, keeping his thighs relaxed and parted as Gavin stroked up and down his clothed thighs. Nines felt his genital component activate and allowed it to fill out at Gavin's light touches. It had been a long time since he'd indulged himself. It hadn't crossed his mind throughout Gavin's captivity, and since then, he'd actively turned it off whenever the urge arose.

"Use your word if you want to stop." Gavin nodded. That would be best. He could say it and they'd stop, no questions asked. With that in mind, he slowly leaned down to rest his head on Nines' thigh, nuzzling and kissing his way up his jeans as he continued stroking. Nines remained relaxed, occasionally sipping his wine as he watched him work. Uncertain green eyes looked up at him, silently asking if it was okay. Nines took a deeper breath as those lips finally reached the bulge in his pants and kissed higher. Gavin mouthed and licked the rough material, green eyes hungry as he watched Nines' LED blink yellow. "Gavin!" The word was a cross between a moan and a gasp as he finally dragged the zipper down and reached for his cock.

Nines' head fell back, lips parted and eyes closed. He hadn't felt the touch of another in almost two years at this point. Gavin's hand was softer than before, since he hadn't handled weapons every day. The callouses on his palms had softened and disappeared in some places, but a little roughness remained. His grip tightened, tearing another moan from Nines' lips. He looked down as he heard a gentle chuckle to find Gavin watching him with an air of smugness. Nines bit his lip in reproach, cheeks darkening a shade.

"Someone's sensitive today," Gavin teased, still gripping and pumping with steady strokes. Nines did his best not to rock his hips and gripped the back of the sofa to resist grabbing Gavin's hair. He wouldn't have thought twice about swapping their positions before, but he was wary. Gavin seemed fine now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't suffer a panic attack later. He had to keep control of himself.

"My sensitivity level is no different from usual, but it does feel...intense." That felt like an understatement. If he were human, he would have spilled at the first firm grip. Gavin seemed pleased with the news, perhaps worried he might have lost his touch in their time apart. To save himself from embarrassment, Nines lowered his sensitivity slightly. He wanted to finish his drink and allow Gavin to enjoy himself before getting more involved. Despite the lowered sensitivity, he still shivered as Gavin's lips caressed his glans.

Gavin closed his eyes as he leaned in to lick and tongue the slit, still rubbing the shaft and teasing the loose skin there. He could tell something had changed. Nines was a lot calmer, his LED spinning blue as he sipped his wine and watched him work. Being able to control one's libido seemed a lot like cheating, but this wasn't really a competition. If it was, Nines would beat him every time. Creeping fingers slipped down to tease his heavy sack, rolling the small globes in his palm as he finally suckled the tip. The usual thirium flavour filled his mouth, and he had to open his eyes just to remind himself he was with Nines. The taste of synthetic skin and thirium was the same for all androids.

"Good, Gavin." That helped. A shudder ran down his spine at the sound of Nines' voice. He wasn't sure if it was coincidence or if he was reading his vitals. Either way, it brought him back to the moment. Shuffling closer to the sofa, knees resting against the seat, he threw himself into the motion. A small moan fled Nines' lips as Gavin sucked him down, taking in about half. One hand gripped and pumped while the other teased his balls, squeezing and rolling him closer to the edge. Nines held off, determined to finish with Gavin later, but it was hard.

His cock was shrouded in warmth, getting sucked and licked as Gavin ducked and bobbed his head, and the little choking sounds in his throat were driving him crazy. Warm breath huffed against his pelvis as Gavin gasped around his cock, making his artificial skin prickle. Gavin's skin was warm and flushed, lips wet with a mixture of drool and pre-release. The sight of his lips wrapped around his cock, green eyes glittering with lust, was almost enough to finish him.

"Gavin!" Nines' hand finally came to rest on his head, gently guiding him all the way down to the hilt. Gavin went willingly, whimpering around the blockage in his throat as his lips reached the base. Eager hands moved to grip his thighs, letting him throw himself into the motion. This would usually be the point where Nines allowed himself to let go, where he'd fuck Gavin's throat until he spilled and then peel him off to paint his lips and cheeks. Nines had other plans. He peeled Gavin off, ignoring the whine on his lips as he dragged him up for a kiss. His vitals fluttered as their lips met, and he climbed up to straddle his thighs. "Can I return the favour?" Nines panted as he drew back. Gavin barely had time to nod before Nines' lips return and a cool hand closed over the back of his neck.

Nines wasted little time in pulling off the fresh woollen top Gavin had put on, and it didn't take long for Gavin's fingers to start pulling the buttons of his black shirt. Nines barely bothered shrugging his shirt off before turning their bodies and laying Gavin on the sofa. Gavin bit his lip and used his feet to nudge Nines' jeans down his hips. Nines huffed softly, obliging the silent request and kicking off his jeans and boxers. He had no trouble being the first to lose their clothes. The look on Gavin's face and the way his hands instantly reached for his ass were well worth it. He was greedy as he locked his legs around his waist and pulled him closer, reaching down to grip and stroke his thighs, hips, and ass before stroking up and down his back.

"Nines, phck!" Gavin panted between kisses, unsure what to do with his hands. With so many choices, he settled on rubbing needy circles on Nines' back, pulling him down until their chests touched. He shivered at the sensation, enjoying the dry coolness that always came with being naked with an android. Nines answered the needy pants by leaving a trail of kisses along his stubbled jaw and throat. Nails scratched his back as he bit Gavin's neck right at the curve of his shoulder. Gavin seemed dazed as he drew back and looked down at him, green eyes soft and needy.

Lowering his head to his pecs, Nines took his time nipping and kissing his way to his nipples, teasing one with his fingers while licking and biting the other. Gavin whined and squirmed in response, gripping his hair and pulling him closer. Firm hands moved to his hips, holding him down as he rocked to grind his cock. Nines smirked as needy hands fisted in his hair and gripped his shoulders, feebly trying to push him lower. He moved slowly, shuffling further back and kissing a trail over his abs and pelvis until he reached his tight jeans. Unlike Gavin, he didn't tease. The moment he arrived, he popped the button and loosened the zipper to get rid of the barrier shrouding his prize.

Gavin worked with him to push the offending items off, impatiently kicking his legs before wrapping them around Nines naked hips. Nines allowed it for a few moments, caressing his spine and leaning up to kiss his lips again. Prising himself away, he returned to his place between his thighs, LED pulsing yellow as he eyed the angry pink scar on his hip. A scar that hadn't been there when they met a few years ago. A scar the Hickory Killer had left. Gavin stiffened as Nines leaned down to kiss the offending mark, eyes snapping wide at the memory of a warm tongue licking up blood and probing the open wound.

"Gavin, it's me...I'm here..." Looking down, Gavin met Nines' worried eyes as he soothed the opposite hip with gentle fingers. His LED pulsed yellow as he ran a scan and noted Gavin's raised heart rate and adrenaline levels. "Colour?" Gavin swallowed, unsure which to use. He didn't want to stop, but he could feel the Hickory Killer lingering, feel his fingers pressing the wound and-"We can stop." Gavin gripped the wrist by his hip in response and watched Nines' LED spin yellow. He couldn't continue without a clear sign.

"B-blue." Nines remained as he was. That was a lie. Gavin whined softly, feeling like he was in trouble. Tears pricked his eyes as Nines moved to lie beside him, cradling him against the back of the sofa and stroking his back in soothing circles.

"I know you're not ready to continue. We don't have to stop...We can take a break until you feel better." Gavin blinked out tears as he nodded against Nines' pecs and leaned into the hand on his head. "Was it the scar, love? Does it bother you?" He kissed the top of Gavin's head as he felt the nod against his chest. No further words were necessary. Gavin would open up about his experiences in his own time. It was enough for now that he'd made his discomfort known and stopped.

"I-I c-can feel him t-touching it." Nines tightened his embrace at that. It was the most Gavin had told him so far. Heat swelled in his chest at the knowledge that they had been so intimate, but he couldn't say he was surprised. The Hickory Killer's status as a sexual sadist had been a topic of discussion throughout the investigation. His obsession with Gavin had verged on romantic at times.

"You're safe, love. He will never lay a hand on you again." There was another nod against his chest. Logically, he knew that. He'd seen the evidence that tied the body from the mansion to the Hickory Killer's identity, but that didn't stop the creeping thoughts. What if they were wrong? The Hickory Killer had always been one step ahead, so what if he'd planned for them to find that information? He could have made fake records to link them to that body. "Gavin." Nines was right. It was foolish to think the Hickory Killer had such access to records. He was a good liar, an excellent trickster, and skilled with technology, but that was all.

He had faults. The DPD had caught his trail twice in the past year and forced him to move his plans forward. His failure to properly research Elijah's home security system and lack of information about Chloe's doppelgangers had left him vulnerable. Those mistakes proved he wasn't invulnerable. He hadn't planned for every outcome. There were systems he couldn't hack. Information he couldn't find. Facts he didn't know. He was human, and he now was dead.

Gavin continued to remind himself of that as he nuzzled Nines' chest and closed his eyes. One cool hand remained on the back of his neck while the other stroked soothing circles on his back. Comforting whispers reached his ears as kiss after kiss landed on his forehead. His tears soon dried, and softer feelings returned. Nines smiled and moved to finger through his hair as he felt gentle lips on his pecs. He found Gavin's eyes warm and hazy as he raised his head and accepted Nines' lips against his.

"Colour?" Nines paused by his ear, unwilling to go further until he heard it.

"Blue." With a small nod, Nines returned to his place between his thighs, avoiding the angry pink scar this time. Gavin sighed and squirmed on the padded surface, almost relieved as Nines' lips dragged along his inner thigh. It didn't take long for his cock to revive. A few gentle nips and licks on his thighs, and it was already twitching for attention. "N-Nines..." Gavin parted his thighs wider, looking almost coy as Nines settled on his stomach and licked a greedy strip up his cock. The muscle was already half-hard, slowly rising to attention.

"Don't worry, I've got you." Gavin nodded nervously as Nines ducked to suckle the tip, gripping his cock in one hand while the other stroked and squeezed his ass. Nines remained guarded for the first few strokes, ready for any negative reaction Gavin might have. As more needy whines slipped out, he felt confident in letting go. Closing his eyes, he focused on licking and sucking the cock in his mouth, working all the way down to the base. Gavin was like putty in his hands, thighs already quivering as he pulled off and licked his way lower to work over his balls and slide along his perineum.

"Ph-phck!" Nines smirked as Gavin's heels met his back, letting warm breath caress the tightened ring as he pried his cheeks apart. Gavin was just as sensitive as he remembered. Barely two licks in, and he was already whimpering and squirming against his face. Gavin looped an arm across his face and turned his head to look out the window. With the lights so low, he could clearly see the glittering city sprawling out before him, glowing in the dark. It was beautiful, if a little exposing. He had to remind himself more than once that the penthouse had the same one-way glass as Elijah's mansion. "Oh-God-phck-Nines!" The slick tongue breached his entrance, rubbing and teasing the tight muscle.

Nines hummed softly, LED spinning blue at the sound of Gavin's mewling. His skin was soon flushed and warm, a light coat of sweat slowly building on the surface. Moulding his ass with one hand, the other moved to tug and finger his loosening entrance. Gavin lifted his hips in response, ready and eager to be filled. Two fingers pressed in with little resistance, curling and searching his passage. A needy keening cry let Nines know when he found it. His lips returned to Gavin's dripping cock as he twisted his wrist and extended his fingers. Gavin's mouth fell open in a needy gasp, eyes hazy and wanton as he looked down at him. Nines pulled off and wiped his mouth on his forearm before shuffling higher to Gavin's lips.

"Are you ready, love?" Gavin nodded eagerly and followed Nines' pull as he sat against the backrest and guided him to straddle his hips. It was rare for him to be on top, but it was the position that gave him the most control. He trembled as he felt Nines' tip nudge his loosened entrance. It was slick and ready, coated with the usual lubricant he'd squeezed from the tip. Gavin followed the hands on his hips as Nines guided him down, taking it slow as he allowed himself to be filled. At least that was something that hadn't been tainted. Being filled by Nines felt like nothing else in the world. His cock stretched him more than any other, leaving him feeling like the tip was nestled deep in his stomach.

His breath stuttered as he settled, holding himself still and trying to adjust to the intrusion. Nines took a few slow breaths of his own, rubbing gentle circles on Gavin's hips and dotting kisses along his chest and shoulders. Needy arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him in for a series of demanding kisses. They were both gasping as Gavin drew back to look down at him and rested his hands on his shoulders. Feeling him lift, Nines gripped his hips and helped, slowly guiding him until he almost slipped out before pulling him down again just as slowly. Gavin's expression was one of pure bliss as he slowly moved up and down.

Nines hummed softly, leaning up to chase his lips as he gasped. Gavin's arms returned to circle his neck as he accepted the needy kiss, tongues tangling as their open mouths met. The hands on Gavin's hips moved to squeeze his ass, still working him up and down at a painfully slow tempo. Gavin's breath shuddered as they parted, giving Nines a moment to look down and check how he was doing. His cock was stiff, twitching and dripping against his pelvis where it was trapped between them.

"Nines, please. I need-I-I want-more!" Nines wasn't one to deny a request like that. Gavin let out something between a moan and a yelp as he was lifted in one smooth motion. The cock didn't leave his ass for a second as Nines stood, greedily squeezing the soft flesh in his hands. Going with the change in position, Gavin locked his ankles behind Nines' back and gripped his shoulders for support. Nines looked up at him, enjoying the mixture of surprise and lust in his eyes as he gazed at him. There was nothing quite like it when Nines showed his full strength. He was holding him effortlessly, as a child might hold a stuffed teddy bear. He weighed nothing to him.

Nines slowly speared Gavin on his cock, biting his lip at the sinful sound that wrought. Each slow thrust tore a cross between a keening whine and a moan from Gavin's gasping lips. His expression was beyond bliss, so far beyond that Nines thought he might cry. Nines indulged himself, speeding up a little and watching Gavin almost melt in his arms. His name fell like a desperate plea, quivering legs gripping his hips tight. The evening skyline was the perfect backdrop for such a coupling, offering a peaceful contrast to their heated pants and moans.

"Shi-phck-Nines!" With a final shuddering cry, Gavin spilled, painting their chests and abs. Nines kissed him greedily, rocking faster and milking him for all he was worth before finishing himself. Gavin trembled in his arms, accepting the load with deep scratches on his back. Nines savoured the sensation, though he knew the skin would quickly heal. "Phck, I love you...I love you." Nines smiled as their foreheads touched, recording the breathy confessions and storing them in his usual folder. Their lips met again before he could respond, leaving them both gasping by the time Gavin drew back. Soft silvery eyes gazed up at him like he was his entire world as their lips parted.

"Happy Birthday, Gavin."