Dickory

Vacancy

Gavin rolled over. His body was heavy as he leaned over the side of the bed and gagged. Hard. His whole body trembled. His skin was clammy despite the chill that cut him to the core. He heaved again, not even trying to resist as the bile rose in his throat. His eyes streamed, blurring his vision as he emptied his stomach onto the faded carpet. He choked, sobbing a little as Pipsqueak mewled his distress. He was going crazy. He jumped onto the bed, ran into the living room and back, jumped on the bed again, and knocked Fuzzball onto the floor with a soft bump. He seemed more freaked out than Gavin, who was still coughing up bile.

Gavin's green eyes were still blurred as he slumped down, half hanging off the bed. His body felt so heavy as he hung limp. He was mostly on the bed with his head and part of his chest lolling over the edge. He let out a small choke every so often. He continued to drool acid onto the slowly spreading puddle of vomit. He felt so out of it that the smell didn't even reach him. He sort of felt like he was floating. In mind and body. He couldn't keep a single thought in his head as he stared blearily at the stained carpet. He flinched a little as he felt sharp claws drag across his bare shoulder. He blinked. Tears dripped on the floor. Small teeth dug into the soft flesh of his upper arm. A small whimper escaped his lips, but he didn't move.

Pipsqueak continued to run around the apartment like crazy. Gavin continued to stare blankly at the messed up carpet. He didn't move again. He wasn't even aware of the noise. Pictures were knocked down. A glass smashed on the kitchen tiles. His phone was thrown from the bedside table, and the pile of files stacked on the coffee table was hit so hard the papers scattered. Pipsqueak's running around soon had the pages crumpled and spread across the whole room. Gavin's eyes were slowly crusting from being open and unfocused.

It was over an hour later that Pipsqueak scurried into the living room, meowing loudly as he heard familiar footfalls approaching the outer door. Nines barely had the chance to step inside before he was upon him, jumping and howling as he clawed at his jeans. Nines didn't even need the offered interface to know something was wrong, though he accepted as he scooped the feline into his arms. He tried to offer some comfort and assurance as he was assaulted by Pipsqueak's alarm and distress. The primitive AI was unable to be more specific. Nines scratched his tufted ears and neck in a soothing motion as he took in the chaos.

"Gavin?" Nines called nervously, his thirium pump thumping against his chest plate. The living room was a mess. Papers were scattered everywhere and various items had been knocked over. Pipsqueak's tail flicked as he struggled from Nines' arms. Nines released obligingly and watched the silver ball of fluff race into the bedroom as if leading the way. "Gavin!" Nines cried in alarm as he followed. His thirium pump stuttered to a halt as he looked at the vacant human. He scanned his vitals, finding them so low he could barely read them. He'd only seen Gavin like this once, shortly after Aaron's death. "Can you hear me?" Nines asked softly as he crouched down beside the bed.

Gavin wasn't moving at all. Drool and vomit was drying on his lips and chin where he was hanging limp above the floor. If it wasn't for the slow breaths, he would have thought him dead. His skin was pale and slightly cold. He had injuries. Bleeding cuts and small punctures on his upper arm and shoulder blade. They'd been made by small claws and teeth. Pipsqueak had likely been trying to shock him into a more wakeful state. Nines reached out and rested his hand on the back of Gavin's neck, squeezing in his usual manner. He closed his eyes in relief when Gavin's green eyes moved. He didn't blink. He wasn't even sure that he'd focused, but the movement of the iris surely meant he had some level of awareness.

"I'm here...You're safe...You can come back now, Gavin," Nines soothed, moving his hand up to card through Gavin's soft hair. He seemed to breathe a little deeper. Nines briefly examined the bedroom. The sheets were twisted and discarded. Gavin's skin was cool and clammy. He was still vaguely trembling. He picked up Gavin's phone from where it had tumbled onto the floor. It has been lucky enough to miss the slowly drying puddle of vomit. "I'm going to take you to the shower," Nines murmured as he rose to his feet.