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“Wait a minute, I know this place.” Gavin pushed open the heavy cabin door, a heavy waft of cinnamon spice air freshener hitting him in the face. The midday light streamed in through the frosty windows, casting a cool glow over the cosy, open plan living space. It spilled from the small kitchenette by the entryway, over the breakfast bar and stools, and to the plush looking lounge space.
Gavin strode into the middle of the room, eyeing its log walls, carved wood furniture, and large stone fireplace. Christmas lights glittered from the gables, and holly hung in as many places as it could be strung up on the ceiling. “I thought the route looked familiar on the way in, even with all that snow. Nines, tell me you didn’t.”
Nines hummed from the doorway, kicking snow from his nearly pristine boots and stepping in. He dropped all of their luggage on the floor with a thump. “Well, you did say you’d never seen anywhere more romantic.”
Gavin snorted, wandering past the Christmas tree dripping with lights and golden foil tinsel, up to the fireplace and running a hand along the mantle - stopping when he got to a familiar bullet shaped gouge in the wood.
“It was a murder suicide scene Nines, I was being sarcastic.”
“Really? I shouldn’t have brought all that duct tape then.” Nines said, walking up behind Gavin and placing his large hands on cold shoulders. He ran his palms down Gavin’s arms, leaning into him. “Do you think there’s a home depot around here? I paid a lot for the tarp.”
Gavin snorted. “You’re the one one with the map in your fucking brain, you tell me.” He leaned back into Nines chest, letting his head fall back onto the android's angular shoulder. “Don’t take back the tarp. When one of us finally snaps, it’ll make throwing the body off a bridge way easier.”
“If you think you could lift me over a railing you’re vastly overestimating yourself.”
“I’m resourceful. I’ll get a forklift.”
“Adequate, but noticeable. If you plan on disposing of me, at least be subtle about it.” Nines dropped a kiss on the top of Gavin’s head and went back for the cases, stooping to grab his own.
“Oh yeah? How would you do away with me?” Gavin said turning around and holding his arms out invitingly. “Hit man? Poison? Something complicated I bet.”
“Pig farm.”
Gavin glared at him, incredulous.
“A pig farm? That’s amateur. You know dental identification is a thing, right? That’s how we got the Turner killer in the end.“
“Partial imprint of upper molar fifteen.” Nines said warmly. “If you hadn’t convinced me the indent wasn’t from being pressed up against something post-rigour, we might never have solved it.”
Gavin snorted a laugh and came to Nines’ side to grab his own bags. “What can I say, gut instinct has its uses. But, hey. Are you apologising for something? It’s not often you pump up my ego.” He hefted the suitcase like it weighed little, and secretly died inside because what did he pack in this thing? Bricks?
“It’s Christmas.” Nines said, “I figured it might be nice to go easy on you for once.”
“When have I ever liked easy?” Gavin said with a laugh, and pretended not to struggle with his suitcase as he lugged it to the bedroom.
Nines watched him go, a smile on his lips.
“When indeed?” He said, mostly to himself. Then he followed.
—————————————
Nines didn’t need much when he travelled. His bag had some spare clothes, but was mostly full of food and drink to stock the pantry. The remote cabin was fairly cut off from the nearest town, and the blizzard rolling in meant it would be next to impossible to get supplies if they ran out. But, Nines reasoned, it shouldn’t be an issue, as they were only there for a couple of days. Gavin might whine about it, but he was resourceful when pressed. If anything happened, they’d make the best of it.
He was putting a few packs of Thirium into a cupboard when Gavin padded from the bedroom door to the counter that zoned off the kitchen. His leather jacket was shucked off and left on the bed, exchanged for a loose hoodie with a logo so worn out Nines had never been able to tell what it was, and thumb holes worn into the sleeves. A trend from when Gavin was young, Nines gathered - mostly from Gavin’s old social media photos. His socks had pictures of cacti on them, needles positioned so they looked like they were flipping the bird.
“Hey, did you remember the beer? I’ve got this image in my head of a nice big fire, and an ice cold beer.”
“Am I in this picture anywhere?” Nines asked, straightening the last pack and shutting the cupboard door.
“Sure. You’re getting me the next beer.”
“Cute.”
“You think I’m adorable.” Gavin smirked, rolling his weight on the balls of his feet and leaning over the counter. He did his best impression of a wide eyed movie star in a romance, batting his eyes at Nines. Nines didn’t grace him with a smile, but Gavin could read the amusement on his face anyway.
“A terrible glitch in my system that I contend with every day.” Nines said with a heavy sigh. “The beers are in a crate outside. For a place this expensive, the refrigerator is a piece of shit. The snow will do a better job.”
“Then you’re definitely getting it for me. You don’t feel the cold.” Gavin pulled a face. Nines rolled his eyes at his partner.
“How about I do that, and you do what humans do best and go make fire. If a Neanderthal could do it, you should just about be able to manage.” Gavin smirked at that, and winked with both eyes.
“One caveman special, coming right up.”
Pushing himself away, Gavin sauntered towards the fireplace, which had been pre-stacked with logs. Nines heard vague muttering about matches, gas, and ‘what the - how the fuck does this thing… fuck it, the internet will know. How do you…’
Nines stepped outside, into the cold. The wind was picking up, bringing with it new flurries of snow. A glance at the car showed it was almost over the wheels. They’d been lucky to get out here when they could.
A soft crunch made Nines ears prick up.
From the tree line, a pair of beady eyes watched him as he stooped to push the beer crate closer to the cabin wall, and easier grabbing distance. They tracked him as he opened the top and pulled out a couple of bottles. Nines observed himself being watched.
He reached into his pocket. The watcher moved.
————
Gavin sat in front of the now roaring fireplace. It was simple in the end. This model just needed to have two valves adjusted, one switch flipped, and then a button pushed and held in for exactly three and a half seconds, and bam! Fire!
He definitely hadn’t needed to watch several tutorial videos to get it right.
He sat back and let the heat wash over him. The rug in front of the fireplace was soft and furred, and probably not the one that had been covered in blood a few months ago, unless the dry cleaners in town were magicians.
It was glorious. Almost perfect. If only Nines would come back, then the holiday could really begin.
Actually, those videos he hadn’t watched had been several minutes long each. Nines had been gone too long.
Gavin looked uneasily into the flames. Nines was a big boy, he could take care of himself. But, just in case…
Gavin got up, stomped to the door and pulled on a coat, glancing out the peep hole. He could see the car snowed in, and a few footprints, but no Nines.
He opened the door warily, shivering as cold air met flame warmed skin, the chill feeling like a burn.
There was no noise, or anything suspicious. But still no Nines. Gavin crept out, clenching his jaw to stop his teeth chattering. He followed the footprints past the crate, and to the corner of the cabin.
He peered around. Nines’ pale figure, in his white coat and dusted with snow across his hair and shoulders, almost blended in with the snowbank. He was low to the ground, crouched and unmoving.
“Nines? What are you…?”
A brown, furry head shot up at the sudden noise. Nines startled, and the deer that had been nibbling at his hand startled too, dashing back into the woods with a skittering crash.
Nines turned back to Gavin, betrayed.
“Excuse you. I was having a moment.”
“With a fucking deer? What am I, chopped liver?”
“I was appreciating an animal that I didn’t have to try very hard with.” Nines said, standing up slowly. Gavin scoffed.
“Deer are skittish as fuck, how’d you get it so close?”
Nines came back, jerkily through the snow. “It wasn’t hard. It seems fairly used to human presenting beings, and I had some trail mix in my pocket. I offered, it accepted.”
Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “Why’d you have trail mix in your pocket, you don’t eat.”
“You do. Like I said, I have experience in what certain animals need.” Nines shot back. Once he was in arm's reach, Gavin shoved a hand to Nines face.
“Uh huh, and I know what a certain android needs. You feel like an icicle, get back inside.”
Nines huffed, his breath making the barest puff of steam. “I was designed for far lower temperatures and longer exposure than this. I can handle it.”
“Yeah, but you don’t like it.” Gavin said, grabbing Nines’ collar and hurrying him towards the front door. “Consider this your handsome prince saving your dumb Disney Princess ass.”
“I’m f-fine.”
“And I’m android Gavin nine hundred, beep boop. There, now we’re both lying.”
Gavin knew Nines was letting him tug him around and fuss. He could have stopped Gavin if he wanted. The fact he didn’t was how Gavin knew he’d hit close to the mark.
Once they were back inside, Nines let Gavin strip him of his coat, and peel off his snow damp shirt. Gavin followed suit, shedding clothes and leaving them in a trail as he did. It wasn’t long before they were sitting in front of the fire, Gavin warming his hands and Nines basking full bodied in the glow. It was so much less stress on his systems to be warm and comfortable, no matter how well he was manufactured to handle the cold.
Nines slipped an arm around Gavin’s shoulders and pulled him in. Gavin grimaced.
“Cuddling you right now is like holding a cold soda, but with all of me.”
“I can always hear your organs processing.” Nines returned lovingly. Gavin barked out a startled laugh.
“You are so weird.”
“You think I’m adorable.” Nines said, smug. Gavin sighed and relaxed into Nines’ bare chest as it went from chilled to pleasantly warm.
“Yep. It’s tragic. You’re right up there with my cat, and about as likely to kill me.”
“Is that a compliment to Gregory’s deadliness, or my tolerance?”
“Yes.”
The fire crackled, and Gavin let his eyes slip shut as he relaxed back into Nines.
“We are ‘that sicking couple’ right now, aren’t we?” Nines mused. He’d heard Tina say it about them several times at work.
“Mmm.” Gavin said, too relaxed to care. “Guess so.” The fireplace crackled and snapped in front of them.
“Gavin?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you ever think you’d be here?”
Gavin cracked an eyelid.
“In the murder cabin for the weekend? Nope.”
“No, not that. I mean - I…”
Gavin leaned away from Nines, turning to look at him.
“Not like you to be lost for words tin can.”
“I’m aware you don’t always enjoy conversations involving emotional vulnerability.” Nines said carefully. “I don’t want to spoil the moment.”
“But you want to know if I thought I’d ever be here, as in, emotionally vulnerable?” Gavin guessed. “If I was going to be that anywhere, might as well be in the murder cabin.”
“Honestly, the cleaners did a good job, even my scanners can barely pick up-“
“Hey, don’t change the subject, I was getting somewhere.” Gavin said, elbowing Nines gently in the torso. “Emotions, right? Damn I’m shit at those. But, uh. No. Didn’t think I ever would be. Not somewhere like this. Not with someone. Not with anyone who made me feel like you do. You’re not recording this are you?”
“Technically I’m always recording you, that’s how my memory works.”
“Hey!”
“But it’s heavily encrypted. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Damn right. No one else better know I’ve got feelings.” Gavin said. “What about you?”
Nines was quiet.
“No. I hoped. Imagined what it would be like to be somewhere different, with someone I cared about. The media is full of images of happy couples and family during this season. It’s the opposite of everything I was built for. Home, peace. Love. I wished I could know what that was like one day.”
Gavin leant towards him, raising a hand to touch Nines neck, hold the machine-sharp line of his jaw in his warm human hand.
“And now we're both here.” Gavin said. “I always knew I was a wish come true.” He smirked at Nines, who smiled back, helplessly fond.
The moment for talking passed, but there was one way Nines knew Gavin would always be happy to leave himself open.
Nines kissed him, sweetly at first - a soft, unhurried press of mouths. Gavin sighed into it, the hand on Nines jaw smoothing up into his hair and pulling him in, closer. Nines wound his arms around Gavin as they traded kiss after kiss.
Gavin’s other hand settled on Nines arm, and Nines swept him around so they were chest to chest, ignoring Gavin’s grumbled ‘fucking rug burn’ in favour of kissing him, trailing down from his mouth to his neck, taking in the little sighs and hitches of breath, all the places he could nip with his teeth that made Gavin’s hand fist in his hair.
Studying all the facets and reactions of his partner was the work of a lifetime, even with his incredible processing capabilities. If he could spend one hundred years with this man, he’d still feel the thrill of success, his internal ‘mission accomplished’ when he knew he’d made Gavin quiver and groan in his arms.
The hand on Nines arm moved up to the shoulder, then Gavin’s palm brushed down over sculpted pectoral, and the smooth chest plate where a human would have ribs. The difference didn’t bother Gavin. The palm lifted, Gavin’s touch turning into the brush of gentle fingertips over his thirium pump.
Nines shivered, even in the firelight, almost crushing Gavin to him. This man, this abrasive, rude, incomparable, sweet man, could end him if he wanted to. Nines could, with little effort, end Gavin too. But here they were, equals at last, because neither of them would.
Nines pressed a harder kiss to Gavin’s mouth, revelling in the feeling. You are mine, he thought to himself. And I am yours, irrevocably.
Gavin let his hands roam around Nines’ body and enjoyed himself. Nines mouth tasted sweet, and the circle of his arms felt to Gavin like the things Nines had wished for. Peace. Home. Love.
He’d say it, one day, without the jokes and teasing. But Nines already knew. He could hear Gavin’s heart pick up when he entered the room, could sense the sweat on Gavin’s palms when he nervously asked Nines if he’d ever consider moving in with someone, he could probably read Gavin’s thoughts if he tried hard enough. Of course he knew.
The firelight dimmed by the time they were finished, the logs burning low and ashy. More light was coming from the glittering LEDs on the Christmas tree in the corner. The blizzard outside was howling, promising days of staying by the fireside, warm and cosy and together. Gavin lay back on the rug, Nines beside him as tiredness started to sweep through him.
“Hey, Nines?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for all this.”
“You’re welcome, Gavin.” Nines brushed a lock of hair from Gavin’s forehead, smoothing it back. “And thank you.”
“For what? Being a pain in the ass?”
“For being you. That’s all I want.”
Gavin shoved at Nines shoulder with no intent to move him. Nines didn’t let himself be moved anyway.
“Are you seriously pulling an All I Want for Christmas is you right now?" Gavin groaned. "You're the worst."
Nines grinned impishly. "But Gavin, you are all I want for Christmas. And the one hundred flavour collection of chupa chups I told you to get."
"Yeah yeah, I got your candies. Did you get me -"
"You'll have to wait and see. I promise it's better than a novelty mug."
"Keep saying shit like that and I’ll have to keep you around.” Gavin laughed, sleepiness creeping into his voice. Nines reached up to the couch, pulling a blanket off the back and settling it over him and Gavin.
“Oh no. Whatever shall I do?” He said.
"Keep me too." Gavin breathed, on the very edge of sleep. He dropped off seconds later, breath deepening and his internal processes slowing. Nines saved the audio to his favourites file, before he settled back into being the big spoon. Then he made another booking for the same time next year.