Darkness sat quietly in the room, hanging limp from each corner of furniture - only held at bay by a small lamp balancing upon a bedside table.
"Goodnight, Alice" Luther pressed his lips against the child's forehead, bringing a smile to her lips as he finished pulling up the blanket around her shoulders.
"G'night Luther" Alice's voice travelled quietly into the dark, her tiredness keeping her words low and lazily as her systems quietly powered down. Pushing his heavy frame upright, hands falling upon his knees as he straightened Luther flicked off the light sending the room into a more complete form of darkness. He paused, lingering in the doorway for a moment or two, watching as the android he had taken as his adoptive daughter fell into something close to human sleep. Something inside him relaxed, his mechanical heart creating synthetic warmth that spread through him in his entirety, as he looked on at Alice. If it hadn't of been for the collection of people awaiting his presence down stairs he would have stayed, possibly all night, just to guarantee the small girl's night would be truly uninterrupted. As quiet as his powerful limbs would allow him, Luther closed the door on the girl sleeping inside, journeying down the stairs with all the noise of a sneaking cat, careful to avoid the stairs he knew would squeal under his footfalls as he progressed. So far, Canada had been good to them. They had made it across the border with surprising ease, that may have made up for the tightness that appeared in Luther's chest when he recalled their crossing, allowing them to reach Rose's brothers house alongside herself and Adam. The same couldn't be said for all of the android's formally in Rose's case however. Of the three that had made the journey, only two had reached the house; although, even a month or so later, neither would recount the incident that reduced their number. Orienting himself toward the living room, Luther nudged the door open alerting those nestled inside to his presence before he lowered himself to his former seat on the sofa. Automatically, Kara reached for him, placing a small hand against his knee.
"Is she okay?"
Luther nodded "sleeping". Kara seemed calmed, nodding as she retracted her hand to her own knee now knotting her fingers together. Sat around the low coffee table central in the room they numbered seven, some sat on the available furniture others, namely Adam perched on the edge of a chest of draws his arms folded firmly across his chest.
"You are welcome to stay as long as you need to" Rose's brother, Craig, dropped his gaze against every android in the room lingering for a moment or so longer on Kara "I am more than capable of keeping you safe, and I am happy to provide you with anything you need until you can adapt to life here". He had kind eyes, like Rose's, with a smile that was filled with both strength and compassion.
"Thank you" Kara nodded her thanks, smiling down at her feet.
"We're" the android they had come to know as Vanessa started, her eyes shifting uncomfortably from Craig to Rose and back again "we're going back – we're really thankful for all that you've done for us, we are but, Detroit is our home".
"And it's safe there now, safer than anywhere else – even Canada" her companion offered.
"Jamie's right, because of Markus android's have rights there now. We can be free" Vanessa shifted closer to Jamie, a hand reaching for his as they stood in solidarity of their decision. Craig nodded calmly, his mind whirring slowly in the background of his words.
"We can't make you stay" he said finally, an element of defeat evident in his rustic tones "it is your decision after all". Offering a small smile, Vanessa nodded.
"But" Craig continued "the borders are still as difficult to navigate as ever, it will not be easy getting back".
"Markus will help us" Jamie's voice broke slightly, his eyes shining violently as hope distilled within them.
"Markus?" Kara lifted her head.
"He's got buses taking android's to Detroit from all over the US – there is a pick up point just out of town". The group silenced, falling into a soft lull as minds picked through the information at hand.
"I had heard that android's were being moved from hostile area's into Detroit" Rose picked through her words with care, she had risked much in providing a safe haven for deviants and a part of her had developed feelings close to love for those stationed of the many chairs in this room "that doesn't make it any less risky – there are still a lot of people who would rather androids didn't reach the city limits". Vanessa acknowledged Rose sending a broken smile her way before speaking again.
"We have to try".
"What's the point of being alive, if we can't live" Jamie added, tangling his hands with Vanessa fully now, their grip like iron; much like their decision.
"Okay, okay…We'll help you. I can drive you out and I'm sure Craig wouldn't mind giving you another change of clothes to travel with" Rose's voice strained, tears echoing in her eyes even as she removed them with a seamless swipe of her hand.
"Thank you, Rose. Thank you" descending upon Rose, Vanessa wrapped her arms firmly around her shoulders squeezing her close to her chest. With more tears echoing in her eyes, Rose turned her attention to Kara.
"What about you Kara, will you go?"
For a second Kara felt her throat seize, the components that lined her neck frozen preventing any noise from leaving her.
"I think…I think we're safe here".
"Why would you want to be safe, when Alice would live a proper life in Detroit? She could have a life where she didn't have to hide, Kara – Don't you want that for her?" Vanessa's words rocked Kara, sinking into her like nails. For so long, all she had wanted for her and the android she now called her daughter was safety, a small slice of peace to fill out the rest of their days together. Now a new problem plagued her, what if they no longer had to settle for safe, what if they could have more? From the corner of the room, Adam stirred unfolding his arms.
"Don't leave" he whispered softly causing all attention to switch toward him. He stood, panic strewn lazily across his face in a patchwork of emotion.
"Please don't leave".
In a moment of panic, Kara found herself dizzy steadied only but Luther's large hand squeezing her thigh. Casting eye's to him, her body asking assistance of him silently she opened her mouth to speak, only to hear Luther's first.
"I think Vanessa has a point" he suggested. That only served to force Kara's mind deeper into thought, situations of potential short comings playing repeatedly before her eyes in rapid succession.
"Is it safe?" Kara forced Vanessa to meet her eye completely.
"It's just a bus, straight into Detroit no stops" the android spoke truthfully. Meanwhile, Adam opened his mouth to speak once more only to met by the harsh hushed tones of his mother.
"They have to make their own choice Adam". He closed his mouth, only wishing he could communicate with Kara telepathically like he knew Luther sometimes did if the house was quiet, or if he had something extra private to say.
"I don't know" Kara started, words failing her "we've only just got here but, if we'd be better off in Detroit…" she stopped, tapering off. The idea of uprooting Alice once again made her joints ache but, the idea of a life lead free was sweet enough to make her lick her lips. Luther's hand on her thigh kept her secure; at least with him she knew they would be safe either way. The door to the living room edged open, a small hand clasped around it serving as its steady momentum forward. She appeared from around its edge, large eyes blinking steadily into the light that poured out of the room.
"Alice, you're supposed to be sleeping" Kara moved to stand, only to be held back by Luther's grip. Gingerly, Alice moved toward the gathering – the collection of both androids and humans smiling down at her as she approached.
"I" she stuttered "I was listening". The child looked down at her feet, her toes itching at the carpet as guilt swayed around in her stomach.
"And" Rose prompted as expectant gazes fell upon Alice.
"I want to go home".