Chapter Text
They got out.
Only here and now existed. The blurry white and blue stretching far beyond his vision was hypnotizing. It soothed and emptied his mind. He had to keep his eyes open or else Gavin would give him a wet slap again. Didn't want to put more creases to his already dark expression. He moved his head up, only to realise water was lapping in and out of his ears, a small patch of his chest and stomach occasionally feeling cold and numb from the wind while there was another body underneath.
"Nines?" It strained his eyes but he managed to catch the pair of stormy green eyes, even more brilliant in the sea of blues. Nines could sleep to this peacefully, enveloped by strong yet soft arms, floating above the unknown depths of the ocean. But, strangely, he felt safer than in the confines of that pristine white place.
"Nines? Stay." The voice pressed.
His lips automatically lifted themselves, trying his best to reassure him. "Gavin," he mouthed, lungs filled with thick soup as time past by. "'m here. Not goin' an'where."
But it didn't work because tears rolled down Gavin's eyes and he heard a mix of a grunt and sniffle. Who knew mermaids could cry too even though they're water creatures? Too bad he couldn't learn morw about them after this. The splashes grew louder and wind blew colder. Though, he stopped shivering long ago.
Markus was right. There truly was no escape to that place. All his preconstructions failed fourteen billion times no matter how meticulous their plan was. The stuff he broke were quickly replaced. The tunnels he found was cemented. And he didn't know shit about the security system, let alone hacking it. The guards increased tenfold. So he chose the only way no one has never dared to try before: forcing his way out.
No one did because even if they did get out, the rest of the journey is the ocean or a long road of nothing, which they would've gotten caught again too easily. Markus and his friends knew that much, so they stayed, hoping Nines would make it out by Gavin's help to cross the sea and somehow come back to set them free.
They all fought together against the armed guards. It was bloody, but there were no casualties as far as he knew because they didn't want to lose too many assets. Well, not yet at least.
He took pride in his efforts, even though he barely succeeded in carrying a two hundred pounds mermaid across blazing guns and fights to the front elevator. He stole as much as keycards he possibly could from the unconscious bodies while he ran and swiped them one by one on the scan until he got the correct one like winning a lottery ticket. It nearly knocked him off his feet from relief when the doors slid close. Actually, he did got knocked out, but that was a different reason he couldn't really wrap his mind around. Thankfully, most of Gavin's grazes were quickly patched up due to his amazing regeneration, so he assumed Gavin dragged them both the rest of the way into the water where the cold jolt him awake.
And now he's here, skywatching on the waves while Gavin held him as he swam like a speedboat
He was utterly useless at the moment and he didn't like it one bit, but he couldn't even take a deep breath, let alone do anything. His entire body was numb. Not sure if it's a good sign or not. He almost fell asleep a few more times before Gavin yelled at him with incoherent noises. Nines figured he was trying to speak English even if he wasn't on that level yet. His insides warmed knowing how he's working hard for him instead of ditching and letting him drown. Though, he didn't know why exactly.
The sky slowly changed its hue and clouds thicken, but he didn't really take note of it. He was occupied with keeping his heavy eyelids open and putting pressure on his stomach with a hand that's losing its grip. Not to mention how much the salt water stings his gunshot hole and the amount of blood that freely drifted with the water as they cut through and-
No this didn't seem to be an optimistic situation.
"Gavin," he exhaled.
"Mh." He felt the rumble in his chest rather than heard it.
"My brother, Connor. Please," he took struggled to take a breath, "take care of him." What was he thinking? Asking a deep sea creature to keep an eye on his brother?
"No. Nines, stay." His voice broke at the last word.
He wanted to protest, but they come to a halt and soon Gavin heaved him to the surface. The cold air no longer made him shiver, but the sharp solid ground pinched his back uncomfortably. At least his head was cushioned by something. Every inch of his body screamed discomfort.
Gavin grunted beside him. He then covered the darkening sky with a scowling expression that Nines want to smooth with his hands so badly. His eyes occasionally drifted away and then back to Nines as if checking something. It took him a while to notice Gavin was dripping his blood on his wound.
"Gavin."
The green eyes locked onto his.
"'s alright. You gave enough."
He mustered the energy to push Gavin's wrist, though, it wasn't nudging the slightest.
"No," he resolutely said, tears streaming down his face and dripping onto Nine's chapped lips. "Nines stay."
"I'm here."
"No, Nines stay."
"Hm, I'm here, Gavin."
"No going. Please."
Each crack in his voice and sniffles tugged his strings dangerously. A hand grasped the shirt on his chest and moved frantically as if trying to keep him together. Sounds of the sea lulled him almost as sweet as the voice he heard that one night. Phantom waves carrying his body in a rocking motion. It was as if he was back to an infant. All care of the world was gone. Just them and the sea.
Too bad the masked person was never revealed its identity. He wondered if the one who shot him was that because he didn't see the shooter. Though, it didn't matter anymore. As he heard Gavin beg from afar and the skies darkened, it didn't matter as long as long he got him out safely.