Lovecraft

First Date 1 - Dinner

Gavin was pretty sure it was a bad idea the moment he saw the restaurant. It looked like a nice place and all, but it definitely wasn't the sort of place he thought Nines would feel comfortable. There was romantic lighting, which wasn't so bad. He knew at least two of his eyes would have a night vision setting or something, but what if the extra shadows set off his combat senses? The tables were small and mostly cramped, with tight walkways and staff rushing about. It looked claustrophobic. People would have to step in close to get by them. Customers and staff. Nines didn't like people being in his personal space. He also didn't like people being behind him. There was also the noise to consider. Sure, romantic places like this were usually fairly quiet by human standards, but Nines wasn't human. Even being on a busy street could set him off, and the restaurant looked busy.

"Is this really the place?" Gavin asked, trying not to let the nerves seep into his tone. He knew Nines had gone to a lot of trouble planning this, so he wanted things to go well. The restaurant looked nice. He was sure a lot of people enjoyed dates there. Maybe he'd enjoy it, too. But what about Nines? Nines' LED was spinning blue for now, but he was pretty sure it would shift to yellow once they actually went inside. This place was a lot more closed in than the mall, and even though Nines had been working on his sensitivity, it still wasn't low enough for big crowds in small places.

"Yes. It came highly recommended by numerous sources, with excellent hygiene ratings and balanced meal options." Which is good for me, but what about you? He knew there weren't that many android options yet as far as eating out went. They couldn't process actual food, and so far thirium only came in liquid form. Most eateries didn't even bother to stock it. "Does it displease you?" Gavin internally winced at the worried tone. He'd put so much thought into planning the perfect date, he didn't want to ruin things.

"No, it looks great! Come on," he added as he took his hand. Nines had even bought a new outfit for their date. It wasn't so different from his day clothes, but the rollneck he wore looked better than the more restrictive shirt of his uniform. He seemed a little more relaxed now he could move his head freely. The soft, woollen material clung to his toned muscles from his waist all the way to his wrists. Over that, he wore a simple black blazer, which was way less conspicuous than his usual white and black Cyberlife jacket. The darkness of his clothing also seemed to emphasise the luminous silvery blue of his eyes. Gavin had also dressed up a little, though the only difference to his look was that he'd worn slacks instead of jeans, and a pair of black shoes instead of his tan boots.

Gavin led the way because he knew that's how Nines preferred it. He liked to bring up the rear, keeping him in his direct line of sight. Gavin's height worked in his favour. Nines could see over his head and look in all directions. He could use his strength and superior casing to cover his body or pull him out of harm's way in an instant. Sometimes, Gavin felt insecure about his height, but Nines always made him feel safe. He liked the way Nines held him against his large chest, and how he could lift him like he weighed nothing.

They waited in the doorway to be seated. That's when Gavin noticed the first sign. Nines' top set of eyes pinched shut. A sure sign he was overstimulated. The chatter didn't sound loud to Gavin, but Nines' ears were way more sensitive. His LED blinked yellow as they waited, lower sets of eyes darting back and forth, assessing threats, marking exits, finding possible weapons and spots for cover. Gavin squeezed his hand gently to give him something else to focus on. Nines squeezed back, silently insisting he was alright.

The host headed over. It was a smartly dressed young man in a red waistcoat, which set him apart from the servers. They were all wearing simple black shirts. He smiled in greeting, doing a noticeable double-take as he took in Nines' odd appearance. His smile became a little strained as he looked up their reservation and called over a timid-looking guy called Howard. He was to be their server. Howard's gaze also lingered on Nines' six eyes and yellow LED. Gavin softened himself a little more to balance out their oddness. He spoke in a softer tone than usual, hoping it would put Howard at ease.