Hickory

Under the Table

A month passed. A blissful month. Reed wasn't sure what had happened, but it felt like something good. He'd spent every night with Aaron at his apartment. Sometimes staying over. Sometimes going home. It usually depended on whether he could walk afterwards. Aaron was an insatiable menace. He wanted him each and every way he could have him, for as long as his feeble human body could hold out. Sometimes longer. Reed had taken to wearing turtlenecks like Nines to keep the red marks hidden at work. It was a little inconvenient, but a small price to pay for the pure fucking relief he felt.

He was working out all of that pent up stress and energy, finding he was more relaxed by the time he woke up and headed to work. After the first three days, his nightmares had just stopped. He wasn't sure whether it was because he was emotionally feeling more positive or just so fucking exhausted after being fucked every which way that his mind didn't have the energy left to make them. Whatever the case, his lack of nightmares had left him feeling much freer.

Dr Marr had taken note, of course. They'd agreed that it was a positive sign and he should try to keep that positivity going. They'd touched on the relationship more than once. He never let her think it was anything more than sex. It really wasn't. Sure, there was aftercare involved. Gentle soothing touches, drinks and breakfast in bed, and relaxing on the sofa watching movies. Aaron had developed this habit of touching his hair when they were lying together, long fingers idly carding through the strands. It felt familiar. It took him back to Cyberlife Tower. To lying on the sofa after that beating, his eyes too heavy to open, and the feeling of a gentle soothing touch. He thought he'd imagined it, but more recently he'd been wondering...Did Nines touch me? Was he seeing what my hair felt like? What made him do that? Was I imagining it?

Working with Nines had continued the same as always. Reed would come in and order him to get him a coffee, often giving him a slightly disappointed look as the hot mug soon appeared at his elbow. They started the shift by reviewing their current case files and handling a few callouts. Android attacks had actually dropped a little in the past few months. Humans were getting used to the idea that they were people, and coming to terms with the fact that damaging them now came with a hefty prison sentence. They were bigots, but they were smart bigots. That meant they actually had a reasonable caseload for a change. Reed was no longer pressured and overworked.

They had more time to focus on physical training, leading to more than a few awkward looks and touches as Nines examined the fresh purple circles on his skin. He hadn't told him, but with his advanced optical units, he could see the indentation of each tooth and match the pattern perfectly to Mr Hughes' teeth. He'd checked more than once to make sure that he was alright, worried blue eyes measuring his vitals until he was satisfied that it had been consensual. The concern was touching, but also a little invasive as far as Reed was concerned. Though with these phcking bruises on my hips, I can hardly blame him for asking, Christ! Reed paused as he caught sight of the greenish blue marks in the changing room mirror, fingers tracing the tender circles.

Despite feeling fully satisfied with Aaron, he still couldn't control his bodily reactions where Nines was concerned. If anything, it had gotten worse. It didn't help that Aaron had figured it out within the first minute of seeing them together. He was a fucking menace! He'd have him on his knees, balls deep in his ass, and then he'd lean low over his shoulder, hot breath teasing his ear as he purred out in Nines' voice all the things he wanted to do to him. Reed couldn't help it. He'd spill right then and there with Nines' name on his lips. Aaron would smirk afterwards, always teasing him and asking when he was going to just give in and tell him. No phcking way! It's not happening! Reed remained resolute as he returned to his desk and looked across at Nines, who glanced up with those piercing silvery eyes-And I've got a boner again...phck!