What Once Was Broken is Now Gold | Reed900 [Rewriting]

4. Old Routine

Gavin knew this would happen. He knew, and yet he didn't do anything to prevent it.

A twisted dream from a twisted man, he supposed.

Nines' fingertips were gentle against Gavin's back, the android whispering something Gavin couldn't comprehend. He just had to keep walking, everywhere, no matter what. After a few days of exercise like this, he no longer needed his crutch to aid him, but sometimes he still swayed on his feet and clutched Nines' strong arm to stay upright while he fought off the weakness in his legs.

Gavin wouldn't admit that he kind of liked this exercise.

"Gavin. Are you with me?" Nines' voice pierced through the haze of Gavin's mind. The android peered down at Gavin, those gunmetal eyes revealing a soft emotion Gavin couldn't quite place, no matter how fake that emotion had to be.

"I think I...." Gavin turned to the side and chewed at his lip. He needed to get his strength back. "I'm fine."

Nines nodded, then proceeded to usher Gavin around his living room again. Gavin struggled to ignore the soothing warmth on his back whenever he felt Nines' fingers press close. Gavin was just desperate. A twisted man.

Though, Gavin had to admit: Nines' gentle warmth was a welcome distraction from the searing soreness in his legs. Sure, he needed to do this 'carefully' or whatever, but he'd rather get himself back into shape as fast as possible. The DPD had already paid for all his medical bills, even his prosthetic, so he couldn't just sit on his ass and not work harder than ever.

In the meantime, over the past week, Gavin tried to keep his anxieties in check. "Why are you helping me?" he would ask, and Nines always gave a quiet laugh and a pat on his shoulder.

"Because I want to," was the answer the majority of the time. "Because you trust me enough to let me do so," was the more embarrassing version. "Because you need me," said low and with a hint of something dark that made Gavin's body coil into a spring, had been the most recent answer, and the most ambiguous.

Gavin had brushed that answer off with a strained laugh. "Fuck off, you plastic prick," he had said.

Everything other than that was blissful normality.

"Okay, okay, I need to sit down." Gavin grasped Nines' sleeve again as the android led him to the couch. He lowered down with an exhausted groan and stretched out his legs. "Fuck."

He caught Nines' flicker of an expression, worry, before it drew back to his default bitch face. "You're getting better," Nines said, unable to keep the faux concern from his tone. "I believe lots of rest and a variety of different types of physical therapy will be more useful from here on out."

Gavin nodded, out of breath. "Whatever you say, toaster."

"Are you hungry yet?"

Gavin nodded and smirked up at Nines. "Hell yeah. Do we still have leftover chicken?"

"Yes. I'll heat it up for you." Nines stepped away, but instead of heading straight to the kitchen, he opened the window on the other side of the room to let Jo inside. The orange tabby mewled her thanks, jumping down from the windowsill to nuzzle against Nines' legs. After Nines closed the window and detached himself from the cat, he went into position in the kitchen.

Soon, Gavin smelled salt and garlic in the air. He took a deep breath, warmth spreading through his chest. Jo jumped up on his lap and he scratched behind her ear, and soon the cat curled up on him with a yawn. Gavin couldn't help a yawn of his own, and he didn't resist when his eyes slid shut.

Gavin woke on his side, a warm blanket over his body. He shifted to his back and looked at the other end of the couch, where Nines sat processing data, probably for work. On this side, Gavin couldn't see the android's LED, but Nines' blank stare at the wall couldn't mean anything else.