"How did you sleep, Detective?" Nines asked as he joined him in the car. Reed kept his eyes on the road and hoped he wasn't looking too closely. He'd slept the worst he had in a long while. He'd gotten used to having Nines there as a sort of reassurance, knowing that if he had a nightmare, he'd pull him out of it. Last night, he'd barely been able to drift for half an hour at a time, too worried about falling asleep and getting trapped in a bad dream. It had also been too damned quiet. Every little noise caught his attention, wondering if someone else was in the apartment or hanging around his door. Since he'd gotten so used to Nines being there, the background noise of the apartment unsettled him. It didn't bother him before, but the noises now startled him from the edge of sleep.

"Fine." He hoped Nines wasn't scanning him. If he was scanning, he didn't say anything about the lie. "I thought we could park up around the Plaza and look around there," he added quickly, forcing a change of subject. Nines agreed easily, having never looked around the Plaza before. He knew there were many shops in the square and surrounding mall, but there had been no reason for him to actually go there to see for himself.

The area was full of life, human and android alike. The old android parking shelters had been removed and replaced with benches or sheltered seating areas, and the old human only signs had been removed from all areas. Humans and androids were now going up and down the stairs and escalators together, and the buses had been fully opened up. No more segregation. There was even a small android-run stall outside the large shopping mall where one could buy thirium slushies. Noting the direction of Nines' gaze, Reed walked over and bought one. He tapped his card on the payment point and handed the cold plastic cup across.

"Thank you," Nines said curiously as he examined the semi-frozen drink. He sucked the straw, eyebrows raising as he noted the mixture of tiny ice fragments and cool liquid. It was a most pleasant texture combination. Reed watched almost fondly as he tested the drink. Silvery eyes widened in something akin to mild delight and surprise as he crunched the ice in a way that made Reed's teeth ache from just watching. He soon returned the straw to his mouth and sucked lightly as they walked along and examined the shops. They went slowly, giving Nines the chance to fully analyse and take everything in.

There was a large Cyberlife store, fully repaired and upgraded, ready for business. It offered a range of services, including repairs and upgrades, but remained relatively empty despite being manned mostly by android staff. A lot of androids were still distrustful of the brand, even though both Markus and Elijah had come together to assure them otherwise. Over the past few months, announcements had been made about new features in development for older android models. Things to bring them up to date with the later generations. That wasn't something Nines needed to look at yet, but it was interesting to know.

Reed led the way further into the shopping mall, where an escalator took them up to the second floor. There were more shops circling the area, many of them offering different clothing options. Reed was slow as he walked along, looking closely at all the different styles. As Nines followed, he noted that a lot of them weren't his usual style. They were a little too snug and formal for the slightly scruffy detective. Reed paused by a somewhat formal shop and led the way inside, taking his time as they browsed the various items on offer. There was a sale rail that still had a lot of winter tops, including some snug turtlenecks made of a soft woollen material.

"What do you think?" Reed asked as he held up a black one against his larger chest. Nines tilted his head curiously. Were they shopping for him? It wasn't like he required more clothing. His Cyberlife uniform was almost indestructible. It was hard-wearing, waterproof, and easily cleaned. Androids didn't sweat, so his clothes wouldn't get dirty like a human's. He looked at the top, finding that Reed had chosen one that matched his larger body size. It would certainly fit, but what purpose did it serve?

"It is acceptable, however, I fail to see the point in purchasing superfluous outerwear. My Cyberlife uniform is perfectly serviceable." Nines remained mystified as Reed pushed the top into his hand and turned back to the rails to look for more bargains, grabbing another matching top before moving on to jeans. He eyeballed Nines' size and began searching through the dark grey and deep blue options. Nothing was wildly outside his pre-set style, he was just giving him some new options. Nines accepted the extra items without complaint, watching curiously as Reed continued to search through the racks like a scavenging animal.

"Serviceable my ass! Everyone needs to change things up every once in a while. Besides, what would you do if your uniform got wrecked? Walk around naked?" Reed teased as he chanced a looser black top with a lower, rounded neckline. Nines hadn't objected to any choices so far, but he likely didn't have the option to. If he ordered him to wear new clothes, he'd have to wear new clothes. Not that he actually had any intention of doing that. If Nines tried them and decided he still preferred his stiff-necked Cyberlife getup, that was his choice. Reed was happy as long as he tried, and hopefully got some sort of enjoyment out of it.

"I have no sense of modesty, Detective," Nines replied as he looked at the small bundle of items on his arm. He'd finished his thirium slushy now and was simply following Reed where the mood took him. As if to make a point, Reed grabbed a sheer black top made of some sort of thin mesh. Nines raised an eyebrow, but said nothing at the addition. The sheer material was so thin and light it barely had any weight. It would be skin tight, judging by the elasticity of the material.

"We're not at work, Nines. Call me Gavin...That should do for your first store. Come on. Try them on and see how they fit." Gavin tugged him towards a separate closed off area where four stalls stood open with red curtains waiting to be pulled shut. Nines allowed Gavin to take the empty plastic cup as he stepped inside and began to change. He heard his footsteps getting further away as he headed off, probably to find a recycling point. While he was gone, Nines pulled on a turtleneck and a pair of dark grey jeans that almost matched what he was wearing already. He wasn't sure how Gavin had managed, but he'd grabbed an almost perfect size. "How are you doing? Ready to show me yet?" he called as he returned.

"Is this satisfactory?" Nines asked as he drew back the curtain, noting the way Gavin's eyes travelled slowly down his body. The turtleneck was much softer and less restrictive than his stiff Cyberlife collar, and the material clung tightly to his body from his wrists to his slim waist most pleasingly. The jeans were perfect, sitting on his hips and hugging his figure in the best possible way. As he turned, Gavin's eyes dropped to his sculpted ass. He was almost jealous that it didn't stick out the way his own did, though he knew many would say that was his best feature. Hell, the way some guys grope me, you'd think it was my only feature...

"Yeah, looks good. Next one." Gavin ushered him back inside the small stall and whipped the curtain across. He liked the way the new clothes made him look. The softer turtlenecks looked like they were caressing his neck in a warm embrace, rather than restraining it like a collar. The rounded neckline of the next top let him see Nines' pale skin for the first time, revealing a small mole just to the right of his clavicle along the collarbone. His neck seemed much longer without the high collar too, almost elegant. He actually looked a lot more like Connor, pale flesh softening out his sharper features.

"I am unsure about this item. It seems inappropriate for work," Nines said as he tugged the curtain back for the last time to reveal the sheer mesh top. Gavin almost regretted getting him to try it on as his jeans tightened. It was supposed to be a joke item to test his modesty, but of course, non-deviants didn't feel discomfort like that. The almost transparent top clung to his torso like a glove, showing each artificial curve of his abs and pelvis, the outline of his pecs, and the darkened skin of his nipples. The small buds were even reacting to the cool air the way a human would. Who the phck even thought of being that thorough? Especially with a combat android! As well as the darker skin of his nipples, Nines' body was dotted with multiple small moles. He found it hard not to count as he spotted them one by one. "Do you perhaps feel differently, Gavin?" Nines purred almost smugly as he lounged in the doorway of his cubicle. What is this sultry phcking attitude?

"Th-y-wha-take that off!" Gavin stammered, cursing under his breath as Nines deliberately obeyed his order to the letter. There was something downright sinful about the way the mesh peeled away from pale flesh, especially as he kept his silvery eyes honed in on him the whole time. "In private!" Gavin yelped as he shoved him back inside and whipped the curtain across. He buried his face in one hand as he tried to push the playboy worthy images out of his head, glancing around the small store and hoping no one else had been paying attention. He was lucky. The store clerk was busy with another customer at the register.

"I approve of these items," Nines decided as he stepped out and headed to the counter with his bundle of clothes. Gavin didn't question him about it, quite determined he wasn't going to mention it again for the rest of his existence. He quietly hoped that Nines would cut him some slack and not mention his physical reaction to it either. Walking was uncomfortable as they headed into the next store, but he could soon ignore it as he sorted Nines out with some new shoes and underwear. They even found him a smart blazer in a similar style to his Cyberlife jacket, an all-white number without the logos. It was a slightly softer cotton material, not waterproof, but still smart. Gavin got him a black one too, though Nines didn't understand why.

"Just trust me on this one," was all he said as he handed the large bag over and led the way to a few more stores. Nines didn't actually buy much more for himself, but he was content to watch Gavin as he browsed. Gavin didn't buy much for himself, just an extra set of gym clothes. He noticed Nines was also interested and helped him pick out a black tank top, some sweats, and a set of black sneakers. He knew he didn't actually need such things. Connor was proof of that, but if Nines wanted to blend in at the gym or whatever, then who was he to argue?

Since Nines was staying at the DPD with limited to no storage space of his own, Gavin said he'd keep most of his clothes at his apartment. That being the case, it was no surprise when Gavin drove back to his apartment and invited him up. Nines was surprised by the sensation in his chest cavity as they climbed the familiar stairway. The change the night before had been unpleasant, though he couldn't imagine why. He'd never disliked being at the DPD before, and nothing out of the ordinary happened. Once he'd entered stasis on a charging cycle, it hadn't been an issue, but prior to that, he had experienced...something. Something unpleasant. A heaviness of sorts.

"Sorry in advance...Pips missed you last night, so I'm pretty sure he'll be all over you the moment the door opens." Gavin sounded more than a little amused as they headed down the hall to his door. The night before, Pipsqueak hadn't entered his room once. When he'd finally given up on sleeping and dragged himself into the living room, Pipsqueak had been sitting on the back of the sofa, staring at the door almost expectantly. He'd barely spared him a glance, even as he'd tipped some fresh thirium out. Nines' lips raised a little at the news. The moment Gavin opened the door and stepped inside, the mewls began. "Hey, Pips. Look who's here," he cooed as the fluffy silver cat darted past him and wrapped itself around Nines' long legs.

"Did you miss me?" Nines asked softly as he put his bags down and lifted him, accepting the urgent interface request. A sense of abandonment filled his senses, along with the insistent desire for physical contact. Nines relented, sending a sense of apology through their connection as he scratched in all his favourite spots. Gavin watched in amusement as Pipsqueak purred and pawed at Nines, scenting and head butting him wherever he could reach.

"You absolute horndog," he teased with a huff as he watched him stretch out as much as he could in Nines' powerful arms. He was purring loudly, fluffy tail swishing in contentment as he lavished slow blinks and nuzzles on Nines. "I see how it is. You got yourself a fancy android buddy and now I'm not good enough for you, huh?" Gavin grinned and ruffled Pipsqueak's silver head before gathering the bags and heading into his bedroom.

"I'm sure that isn't the case," Nines assured almost guiltily, though the responding chuckle let him know he was teasing. He watched from the doorway as Gavin unpacked his new clothes and pulled the labels off before hanging each item neatly at one end of his wardrobe. One set of clothes was left out on the bed, and the gym clothes were packed into a bag. He stuffed the extra underwear into his top drawer in a little corner before turning around with his hands on his hips.

"Why don't you grab a shower and change?" The offer caught Nines somewhat off guard. It wasn't like he needed to shower. He didn't get dirty. Not in the same way humans did. He didn't sweat or produce oils. The city might leave its scent clinging to him, but it wasn't noticeable if it did. "Connor said something once about how he likes the feel of the water. I figured you might too," Gavin added with a shrug.

"Very well." Nines wasn't sure he had the same capacity to enjoy things the way Connor did. He wasn't a deviant, so he didn't feel things as deeply. Having said that, he had noticed that the more he experienced things, the more he was developing certain preferences and attachments. For instance, he'd formed close ties with Connor, Hank, Gavin, and Pipsqueak, and would actively choose to seek their company or see to their welfare above many others. He'd also developed a dislike for certain things, such as Gavin's smoking and being forced to do menial tasks. Experiencing certain oral textures like the thirium slushy were enjoyable. Preferences for certain tactile sensations had cropped up as well. He enjoyed physical contact with Gavin and noticed things like his temperature and heart rate. Interfacing with Pipsqueak and attending to his needs, few and simple as they were, was another enjoyable pastime.

Gavin showed him into the small bathroom attached to his bedroom and left him there with a slightly worn white towel. The pile of new clothes was left on the bed and Gavin assured him he'd be left alone to change. He would be in the living room watching television. Nines thanked him and undressed inside the bathroom, folding his uniform neatly before turning on the water. His skin registered the temperature as being around ten Celsius. That was colder than the average human shower, so he adjusted the setting to around thirty-eight. His skin could more than tolerate the temperature, and it seemed fine as he stepped beneath the spray.

He could immediately understand the appeal. The rush of water left a pleasant pattering sensation on his skin, and the water rolling down his body also felt...nice. It didn't exactly loosen his muscles the way it would a human, but it left him with his own sense of appreciation for the rainy feeling and sound of the water as it pattered on the tiles. He borrowed Gavin's products in small amounts. Although he didn't really need them, there was something pleasant about leaving the bathroom knowing he carried Gavin's scent.

He towelled off and headed to the bedroom, where Gavin had remained true to his word. The bedroom door was shut, giving him privacy to dry off and dress. It could be said he enjoyed the freedom the new turtleneck afforded him. His head was no longer restricted by the stiff collar of his shirt. He didn't dislike his original clothes, but perhaps this new ease of movement would assist him during their investigations. He ran his fingers through his synthetic locks, knowing they would dry within a few minutes and settle back into place.

"Gavin?" The television was playing a movie as he stepped into the living room. Nines watched a little with a tilt of his head. There were two men in dark suits and sunglasses terrorising a young human office worker, attempting to draw a confession of sorts. The name of the human caught his attention somewhat since he shared Hank's surname. Getting no response to his entry, Nines padded closer to the sofa. He didn't make a sound without his shoes.

Looking over the edge, he found Gavin sleeping soundly with one arm looped beneath his head, which was tilted to face the screen. He'd clearly been watching this movie when he fell asleep. His other arm was resting on his stomach lazily, where Pipsqueak had curled up in a ball, purring through a stasis cycle. Gavin's legs were stretched out right up to the other end of the sofa, feet crossed at the ankles. Knowing from his earlier scans that he hadn't slept well the night before, Nines opted to leave him and turned his attention to the kitchen instead.

Gavin hadn't used his kitchen much in his absence, and what he had used he'd already cleaned up. A coffee cup sat on the drainer. A human might suggest it looked lonely. Nines merely took it as a sign that he hadn't taken care of himself. He opened the fridge and gathered a few things together. There was enough fresh food left to make a stir-fry, something relatively quick and easy. He would prepare the vegetables and wait for Gavin to rouse himself before starting to cook in earnest. As he chopped the vegetables, he was vaguely aware of Gavin returning to consciousness briefly. He took a slow breath as he opened his bleary eyes, barely registering the movie still playing on the screen. He squirmed a little, listening to the steady sound of a knife on the chopping board. Nines...He closed his eyes, feeling content as he fell asleep once more.