From Your Wires to Your Core

Temptation

Are you sure you're alright? It had to be the tenth time he'd asked that evening. Gavin gave him a withering look as he sat across from him at the breakfast bar stabbing some pasta onto his fork. So, he had a headache. It wasn't a big deal, and it certainly didn't have anything to do with his eyes. Probably. More than likely. I understand that your vision has improved, but...He paused as Gavin held up a hand to demand silence.

"Nines. I was blinded, and now I can see. Yes, I'm alright." Technically, that was a half-truth. It would be more accurate to say he had most of his vision back. He could sort of see Nines and follow his hands when he focused, but everything still looked murky and green. He was hoping that after a full night of rest, it would sort itself out. It had been around eleven hours since the attack, and he'd been resting for most of that. Better than he had in years. Not that he'd admit that to anybody. He'd fallen asleep pretty much five minutes after Nines had shuffled in behind and wrapped an arm around his waist.

Very well...I'm pleased you're alright. Nines knew from the slight hike in Gavin's heartbeat that he was thankful for the concern. He laid a hand on his elbow, drawing his eye. I am sorry. As your partner, I'm supposed to protect you, but I wasn't there. I did not anticipate an attack at the precinct. His silvery eyes blinked as Gavin's hand batted his head in reproach. It may have hurt a human, but as an android, Nines couldn't feel pain. It was merely an impact on his skull plating. Despite the sharpness, it had been partly spurred by affection.

"One, you're my partner, not my bodyguard. Two, you're supposed to help on our cases, not act like my babysitter. Three, I had no reason to think the note was malicious, so you didn't have to be there. It's not your fault...and it's not my fault. It was just a freak incident. Shit happens." Gavin forked more pasta into his mouth while Nines processed his words. Of course, that made sense, but it didn't get rid of the ball of guilt that swelled in his chest. He was the most advanced android ever created. Surely he should have had some sort of preconstruction available. "You've done more than enough taking care of me and shit...I'd be alone if it weren't for you," Gavin continued in a quieter voice.

I don't believe that...You have friends at the precinct. Reed scoffed at the notion.

"Barely, and none that I'd want to come here and...Just accept the praise, dipshit!" He let out a small huff as Nines tried not to seem too pleased with himself. Sure, he knew he had Tina and Chris, and in a pinch there was Fowler, Hank, and Connor, but he didn't like to be vulnerable around them. He didn't like to seem weak. He cringed inwardly as he remembered the way he'd clung to Hank, shaking and vulnerable. He must have looked absolutely pathetic. How many others had been there? How many had watched? Had anyone filmed it? He shuddered at the thought of it being shared around. "Did you hear from Connor yet?"

I did. Unfortunately, it is as we feared. Avery's previous owners have had no contact with her since the revolution. I also checked your emails. We have the requested CCTV footage. After leaving her home two nights ago, at around six o'clock, she headed towards the city centre. I have sent requests to the surrounding areas for further footage to aid in our search. Nines smirked at his tick of annoyance when he mentioned hacking his email account. He decided not to focus on it. It was purely for work purposes, and he hadn't skimmed any other sensitive emails. Not that Gavin had any sensitive emails in his work account. It was all case related correspondence. Which Nines certainly hadn't looked through...

"Good idea...I'll have a look at the footage tomorrow." Gavin knew Fowler would have his head if he pushed himself that night. He didn't have enough focus to watch a bright screen anyway. Nines nodded his agreement. He would allow his human to view the footage tomorrow, provided his eyes had sufficiently healed. If not, he would need to find a way of convincing him to take it easy and let him do the heavy work for the day. That was never an easy feat. Gavin Reed didn't like to be idle, and he didn't like to seem lazy.