Gavin's brow pinched as he felt the small flick on his nose. Something soft and fluffy. His nose wrinkled as he turned his head, still heavy with sleep. He flinched as a harder bat swatted his chin and opened his eyes with a small start, blinking in confusion to see Pipsqueak sitting on his chest with almost calculating green eyes. Gavin tilted his head tiredly as he stared at him. Something felt weird. Pipsqueak never looked at him like that. He let out a small meow as he padded around on his torso, turning to sit facing Nines, tail flicking lazily. Gavin followed Pipsqueak's gaze to where Nines stood in his charging port. He stood rigid as always, head held straight where the connector sank into his neck. His silvery eyes stared ahead vacantly, LED spinning a lazy yellow as he updated his internal systems.

"What's up, Pips? You alright?" Gavin hesitantly ran a hand down his silver spine, wondering if he needed reassurance. Pipsqueak's ears flicked at the attention, tail swishing as he shuffled a little further down towards Nines and meowed insistently. Gavin followed his gaze with a frown. It was just Nines. Standing in his charging port like always. Pipsqueak let out a series of small hunting clicks in the back of his throat as a small red light appeared on the wall. Gavin's heart stuttered, freezing him in place as he watched the small dot creeping across the wall towards Nines' head. Pipsqueak hopped aside as Gavin scrambled out of bed with a whimper and dove for the curtains that Nines had left wide open, blocking the view from outside.

His heart pounded as he walked over to Nines and looked up at him in horror. The red beam had been right in the middle of his forehead. A perfect kill shot. Nines had remained completely inert. If Pipsqueak hadn't woken him, Nines could have been shot dead before they even knew what was happening. The gunman could still take the shot. He'd lined it up perfectly. The beam had been right on his fucking forehead! Drawing the curtains hadn't changed that. So why isn't he firing? Gavin licked his lips nervously as he stared at the closed curtains. He needed to wake Nines. It took him a few seconds of staring to remember how to do that. Phone! My phone! He had to call Nines or send him a message. He had to wake him up. Pipsqueak's meow stopped him with a flinch. His eyes were large and sharp as he gazed up at him from his place on the bed.

"Pips?" Gavin murmured questioningly as the sleek cat hopped down and padded to the partly open door. He paused almost expectantly, looking back before padding out into the hall and waiting. Gavin wasn't superstitious or anything, but he knew a request to follow when he saw one. It was fucking weird. Pipsqueak was a house cat. An android, but still a simple pet model. He wasn't programmed to do complicated shit like this. It was like he was trying to communicate. Gavin followed him to his own room. Nines had cleaned up. The bed had been made, and everything was as he'd left it. That included the phone on his bedside. "What are you doing?" He frowned as Pipsqueak hopped onto the bedside table and rested one small paw on his phone. The fur on his paw drew back to start an interface.

"Can you hear me, Gavin?" His heart hammered into overdrive as the familiar voice came through the speakers on his phone. Pipsqueak's large eyes rounded on him with an awareness that wasn't his own. Gavin couldn't speak. His voice stuck in his throat and he almost choked. "Oh, good. I was worried the connection wouldn't take. Domestic pet models aren't the easiest things to hack. They're too simple. Too crude." Gavin swallowed hard at the words that mocked him in Aaron's voice. He'd hacked Pipsqueak? Would he be alright? Would it damage him? What the fuck did he want? I'm phcking naked! Gavin covered himself, suddenly shy as Pipsqueak's eyes continued to stare at him.

"What the phck do you want?" Gavin demanded as he hurriedly crossed to his dresser and scrambled for some boxers. No way was he giving this sicko an eyeful. The voice on his phone chuckled as Pipsqueak's head turned to follow him. It was sick. The fucker was using his cat, a member of his family, like some sort of fucking voyeur cam! His heart was still racing as he blindly grabbed a T-shirt and fumbled into some jeans. It was violating. This was his home! He was supposed to be safe! They were supposed to be safe!

"That should be obvious, Gavin...I want you...I want you to come to me willingly." The tone was almost expectant. Gavin shuddered with loathing at the suggestion. As if he'd ever willingly go to that sick fuck! "I've been kind, Gavin...Patient...I've waited for you to seek me out. We're not so different. I know you've come to realise that...You relish the feeling of taking lives as much as I do. Come to me, Gavin...Let me show you how much sweeter it can be." The Hickory Killer was trying to make it sound alluring, but Gavin could only feel shocked and disgusted at the notion. He seriously thought he was on his side? That he wanted to be like that? He recoiled at the thought. But...he'd had those thoughts, hadn't he? He was suddenly uncertain as he recalled his previous wonderings. All those times he'd taken down a perp with that rush of adrenaline and blissful relief. Had he enjoyed it? Did he secretly crave more? "I can see it in you, Gavin...You've tried to hide it for so long...Come to me. Let me show you...."

"No! I-I don't..." Gavin flinched as Pipsqueak let out a hiss of displeasure. His heart thrummed as he stared at him. His mouth felt dry as he swallowed. Pipsqueak raised his free paw and started grooming, licking with disinterest and cleaning his face. Gavin wasn't sure if it was the Hickory Killer or whether Pipsqueak's base program was still running underneath the hack. "I don't just phcking kill people for no reason! It's a risk of the job!" Gavin flinched as Pipsqueak seemed to trill in amusement and Aaron's smooth chuckle filled the dimly lit room.

"How many times have you repeated that to yourself over the past month? How many times have you tried to tell yourself that it didn't feel good to hold that innocent life in your hand? Was she not grateful, Gavin? Did you not feel better when she thanked you?" The words chilled him to the core. It was like the fucker was in his head. Those thoughts had crossed his mind. Every time he thought back to holding Chloe's pulsing core in his hand, he asked himself how he'd felt. He asked himself if he'd liked it, always afraid of the answer. He wanted to say no, that he'd been horrified at the thought, that there was no way he could have enjoyed killing Chloe. "Did you not share in her relief when she was finally free?" He had felt relieved. She hadn't been in pain anymore. The screaming and crying had stopped. She'd looked so serene and grateful. Like a sleeping princess.

"Stop phcking twisting things! You always phcking twist everything!" Gavin snapped almost tearfully as he clapped his hands over his ears. He dug in his nails as he gripped his hair and stared at the floor. He was fighting off a panic attack, heart racing as his throat closed up. Nines...I need Nines! He couldn't have Nines. Nines was trapped in stasis, and if he even tried to wake him, the Hickory Killer would take the shot. Gavin had no doubt about that. "I-I didn't kill Chloe because I phcking wanted to! You made me do it!"

"I did no such thing, Gavin...The choice was yours. She would have been fine, had you left her. Did your partner not show up barely ten minutes after you'd murdered her? After you'd watched the life fade from her eyes...felt her internal motions still...received her sincerest thanks..." He was right. Nines had turned up not long after. If he'd held on, then Chloe wouldn't have had to be rebuilt. She would have been the same Chloe he'd always known. It was his fault. He'd let her screaming and pleading get to him. He'd done as she'd asked. She was suffering! I couldn't just phcking watch that! That didn't mean he'd wanted to kill her, or that he'd enjoyed it.

"I-I d-didn't know! I-didn't-know! Nines could have arrived hours later! There was no way I could have known he was that close!" They'd been trapped in a small room, in the middle of nowhere, with no clear idea of if or when they'd be found. He couldn't put her through that. He couldn't force her to writhe in pain, screaming and crying, for hours on end. Who the fuck did that? "I didn't enjoy it! I've never enjoyed any of it!" Gavin's cry was insistent. He needed the Hickory Killer to believe him, so that he could believe himself. Pipsqueak trilled again, grooming as the Hickory Killer paused. It was a tense and almost calculating silence.

"Perhaps you haven't fallen far enough yet...Perhaps I need to show you more..." The suggestion made Gavin's blood run cold. Nines...Nines was immobile. Trapped in an update with no link to the outside world. If the Hickory Killer pulled the trigger right now, then-"I see you understand...If you come to me, Gavin, I will never harm another living being that you care about. Your friends, your colleagues, your secret lover...they will all be safe from me." Gavin's mouth fell open, bile rising in his throat. He was really doing this? Making the one offer that he knew he could never refuse? "I need an answer, Gavin...What will it be?" Gavin's blood ran cold as he heard the metallic click of a large rifle being readied to fire. His skin pricked with dread at the sound. It took him back to the warehouse, to the table. To Nines stalking up the corridor. To the bullet tearing through his body, splattering thirium on the walls.

"A-alright! Phck-alright...Y-you-promised...You promised Nines would be safe!" There was a heavy silence as he waited, a sob poised in his throat as Pipsqueak regarded him coolly. How many times had he done this? How many times, throughout all these months, had he hacked into Pipsqueak and spied on him? On them? He swallowed bile again. This wasn't the time to let his body get the better of him. He needed to get through this. He needed to keep Nines safe.

"So I did...Do you agree then?" A chill ran down Gavin's spine at the thought. Was he really doing this? Was he really going to give himself over to this sicko? He didn't even know what he'd do to him. His blood ran cold at the thought. He'd seen what he did to his victims. How he cut them open, keeping them that way for hours on end. How he'd dig in the knife again and again, prodding and fingering their wounds and squeezing their soft innards. His death would likely be slow and painful, but Nines will be safe...There was nothing on Earth he wanted more than that. Nines had barely started living. He'd been deviant for less than two months. He deserved a shot at actually living.

"You phcking keep your word! You promise me, right phcking now. I come to you, and Nines is off limits...All of them are off limits! Nines, Hank, Connor, Colin, Chloe, Elijah, everyone at the DPD! Promise me you won't touch, hurt, or kill any of them! Same for that phcking android!" Gavin was firm and clear, leaving no room for any tricks. He heard Aaron's sultry chuckle through the speakers. It sent an icy shiver down his spine. Pipsqueak lavished him with a slow blink, clearly pleased. "You have my word, Gavin." Gavin panted for a few panicked breaths. He was doing this, he was really fucking doing this. He must have lost his fucking mind. Phck, I've never been that important...If he wants me, and it keeps Nines and the others safe, then that's a good phcking deal.

"A-and Pipsqueak...Once I'm gone, you get the phck out of his head and leave him alone."

"That was my intention...Make your final preparations, but remember, no tricks. Until you leave, I will be watching...Give yourself to me fully, Gavin." The Hickory Killer didn't wait for an agreement. He didn't need to. The moment the line went dead and Pipsqueak removed his paw from the phone, Gavin sank to his knees. His lips trembled as the cat padded towards him, butting and rubbing up against him. He shuddered, not knowing whether it was Pipsqueak or the Hickory Killer. Phck...phck-phck-phck...How had it come to this? How could it have taken four years to get to this fucking point? What more could the Hickory Killer possibly take? He didn't even know what time it was. It was still dark, but he needed to get moving if he was going to get out before Nines came out of stasis.

Pipsqueak trilled and padded over to the bedside table again, reaching his paws up in a silent suggestion. Gavin pushed himself to heavy feet and walked over. His phone had lit up with a timer. Thirty minutes...Thirty minutes to say goodbye...His jaw tightened at the thought. It was more than the Hickory Killer had to give. Guess I should be grateful...He picked up the phone and left the bedroom, unsure what he'd need. Probably nothing but himself. The Hickory Killer had said no tricks. He'd know about the trackers if he'd been watching him through Pipsqueak. He couldn't chance fucking things up this time. Nines' life was in the balance. Get ready first...

He headed downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed his leather jacket. That was the one thing he wouldn't leave behind. His one constant comfort and security. He slipped the leather over his shoulders and reached into his pocket. Heading into the kitchen, he picked up the sergeant's badge he'd left on the counter and ran his thumb over the cool metal. He'd worked so fucking hard to get this far in his career, and for what? To die at the hands of a serial killer? Phck...He sighed heavily as he pulled out his wallet and left that on the counter, too. He wouldn't need money where he was going. He checked the other pockets. His keys were left by the wallet. The small pad and pen in his inside pocket remained as well.

His hand hesitated above the pad. The Hickory Killer had said to make final preparations, but he hadn't said he couldn't leave a note. So long as he didn't give any solid details, there'd be no harm. Nines deserved more than a simple disappearance. He opened the small pad and flicked past the last case notes, folding it back so it would be the first thing Nines saw when he looked at it. He leaned on the counter, the small pen poised and ready. Pipsqueak hopped up with a trill, sitting watchfully as he tapped the corner of the page. How do you say goodbye in just a few short words? His breath hitched as he looked at the blank lines. He wanted to write something. He needed to let Nines know.

Hey, Terminator. Sorry I have to leave like this. I got an offer. A good one. Whatever happens, this isn't your fault. Sorry I broke your trust. I know we agreed to talk about shit like this, but I don't have time. I have to go right now. Stay safe, and let Perkins handle it. I don't want you to be the one to find me. I don't want you to go through that. You shouldn't have to see that. I'm not sure if this counts as a will, but I'm giving you the penthouse and everything else I own. Take care of Pipsqueak for me, alright? You know he always liked you better anyway. Gavin paused with a small huff as he reached up and scratched Pipsqueak's ears, getting a soft trilled in return. I love you, Nines. I'll love you to my last breath. Take care, Gavin. He was never good at ending things, and cringed a little as he read over the short note. If he had the time, he'd probably tear it up and re-write it a hundred times. A hundred times would never be enough.

He left the pad on the counter and headed up to Nines' room to remake the bed under Pipsqueak's watchful gaze. Pipsqueak hopped on the surface as he finished, watching like a hawk as he placed his badge neatly on the end where Nines would see it. He licked his lips fearfully as he finally turned his attention to Nines' naked body. He was still locked in his stasis cycle, unaware of the outside world. Gavin couldn't help the silent sobs that wracked his shoulders as he stepped forward and reached up to stroke his soft cheek, committing every mole and wrinkle to memory. This was the last time he was going to see him. The last time he was going to touch him. He blinked hot tears as he stood on tiptoe and kissed his soft, unmoving lips. Nines remained as he was. Frozen and unresponsive.

"Phck, I'm sorry...I love you, Nines...Don't ever phcking forget that, and this isn't your fault...No matter what happens, no matter how they find me, this isn't on you..." he whispered as he carefully wrapped him in a final hug. He didn't want to pull back. He didn't want to leave. Pipsqueak meowed impatiently from the bed, tail flicking in agitation. "Sorry...I've got to go...Bye, Nines..." Gavin sniffled as he drew back, taking a few steeling breaths as he turned away and headed for the bedroom door. He closed it behind him with a thick swallow as Pipsqueak wrapped around his legs in comfort. There was nothing else to do.

He headed downstairs with heavy steps and pulled his phone out of his pocket. His watch had already been left on his dresser when he'd stripped down for bed earlier. His phone was the last form of tracker he had left. He looked at the screen. Five minutes...He breathed out heavily, coughing a choked up sob from his throat and rubbing his face. With a final sigh, he finally gathered Pipsqueak in his arms and stroked his silken fur, pressing gentle kisses to his fluffy head. He was so light, just like a real cat. The perfect copy.

"Phck, I don't know if you can hear me in there, but I'm sorry this happen to you...You're a good cat, and you didn't deserve this shit...Phck, I've been such a shitty owner..." Another quiet sob slipped his throat as he stroked Pipsqueak and held him against his chest, feeling the purr through his ribcage. "You're the best phcking cat, you know that? Take care of Nines for me, alright? You know he's going to take it hard...Let him know that it wasn't his fault..." Gavin gave him a few last strokes before putting him on the floor by the door. He ran a hand over Aaron's sculpture, leaving his phone beside it as he pulled the door open. With a final shuddering breath, he stepped into the hall. "Bye, Pips."