Chapter Text
Gavin would be lying if he said he didn’t notice anything off about Nines. In fact, it seemed like the RK900 was moving slower than normal. Like there was a lag in his systems. Quite honestly, if Nines were a human, Gavin would think that he was either drunk or high. But Nines could do neither, well scratch that. Gavin had heard a rumor that some new kind of android alcohol was in the works but he doubted Nines would be interested in such things.
Gavin spared another glance at his partner who was just starting at the crime scene. But not in the way he normally analyzed things. He was just… staring into space. Something was wrong and maybe it was a malfunction or whatever. Maybe Nines just needed to run a quick diagnostics and he’d be fine. Gavin just hoped that whatever it was, Nines was well enough to analyze the crime scene and get them another tick on the solved cases pile.
His android’s LED spun a sluggish yellow and he wobbled in place.
“Woah,” Gavin grabbed Nines, “What the fuck, are you okay?”
Nines weakly and unsuccessfully pushed Gavin away from him. “I- I’m fine.”
“No,” Gavin argued back, “You’re clearly not fucking fine.”
“Yes,” Nines slurred and his LED flickered bright red, “s-sokay, m’ fine.” As soon as the last word left his mouth, Nines’ leg buckled under his weight.
“FUCK!” Gavin screamed and caught Nines gently bring him to the floor. “HEY! Someone call a fucking ambulance!”
Chris happened to be nearby and he was on the radio in less than a second calling for help.
“Hey,” Gavin leaned over Nines, “Hey, Nines, can you hear me? It’s Gavin- OH FUCK!”
Blue sludge began pouring from the android’s mouth and Gavin swore there was steam coming from it.
“Fucking hell!” He shrieked and yanked his jacket off stuffing it under Nine’s head. He actually had no idea what the fuck he was doing and had never had to deal with a situation like this before; human or android. And seeing his partner sent his brain into a frenzy. Watching Nines spew smoke with his eyes rolled back into his head was just about the worst image in the whole fucking fucked up world.
“Sir,” a paramedic grabbed Gavin’s shoulder and firmly pushing him away from Nines, “please step back.”
Gavin obeyed and stumbled backwards as if he’d been hit with a baseball bat. He was at a loss for movement and could only stare while Nines was stabilized and loaded onto a gurney. He was going to be okay. Right?
Without thinking, Gavin fished his phone into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Fuck, what in the hell was he going to tell Hank?
Hank glared at his phone as Gavin’s name popped up interrupting his game. “Gavin, what the fuck do you want? Because I swear if you are calling just to-”
“Nines in in the hospital,” Gavin blurted out cutting off Hank.
“WHAT!?” Hank exploded disturbing the whole precinct, “What the fuck do you mean he’s in the fucking hospital!?”
Connor’s head popped up from his desk looking at Hank with worry. Even Fowler had heard the outburst from his office and poked his head out.
“I don’t know, he just fucking passed out at the crime scene! There’s like blue shit coming out of his mouth! I’m on my way to the hospital now.”
“Fuck, we’ll meet you there.” Hank hung up and motioned fro Connor who scrambled out of his seat.
“Keep me updated!” Fowler yelled despite not knowing what the issue was, he had a pretty damn good instinct that whatever it was, it had to do with Nines.
---
Earlier that day… Nines was staring at the child in the waiting room with Tina. More specifically, he was staring at the blue slime said child was playing with. It seemed so… pliant and the way it reflected light reminded Nines of the stupid hard candies at the reception desk.
“Detective?” The voice of Angela Harper, the CPS agent he was waiting for interrupted Nines’ train of thought.
“Ms. Harper,” Nines greeted, “Toby is waiting for you with Officer Chen.” He opened the door for her and they walked in.
“Hey Toby,” Angela greeted, “You ready to go kiddo?” Toby nodded and went to grab Angela’s hand.
“Let me walk you out,” Tina offered, “Besides there’s a couple forms you need to sign first.”
“Of course, lead the way,” Angela agreed and the trio left.
Nines was about to follow but found himself inexplicably drawn to the pile of blue slime on the table. “I might as well clean it up,” he reasoned.
The RK900 picked up the slime and was ready to slide it back in the jar but he stopped. The slime itself was warm from the child’s hands and it was forming a pool in his hands. He could feel the analyzers in his mouth beginning to secrete fluid.
Nines took a quick peek around to see if he was alone. He was. Without thinking Nines popped the whole lump of slime in his mouth. It was… oddly satisfying. He liked the way it filled his mouth and formed to the shape of his throat. And then, it was gone.
Realizing what he had just done, Nines gathered himself and exited the room hoping no one would notice the missing slime.
---
Hank was staring at Amari with an expression that clearly meant “you have got to be fucking kidding me”. He gave a look of disbelief to his son sitting in the hospital bed clutching a cup of thirium and then back at Amari.
Amari shrugged, “I did say it was unpredictable.” She patted Hank on the shoulder. “You have my number.” She walked out of the room.
Hank looked back at Nines. He took a deep breath to steady himself. He had thought that Connor would be a one time thing and that Nines would have more logical sense than to repeat his brother’s mistakes. Clearly, he was wrong. Damn it.
Connor stared at Nines’ humiliated expression and bright blue cheeks. He smirked, “Don’t understand the appeal, huh?”
“Shut the fuck up, Eights.”