A small sound escaped John's lips as Lin's fingers worked methodically into his shoulders. Lin smirked as he squirmed into the touch. He leaned back in his seat, tilting his head to look up at him. Lin was standing behind the sofa as he worked, leaning low over the backrest. John's eyes widened slightly as he realised Lin had been looking down at him the whole time. He'd expected Lin to be focused on the screen as the news reports came in. It had become an almost nightly ritual. They'd huddle together at night, waiting for the worst to happen. Things had been strangely quiet since the androids took over Stratford Tower.
"You're tense," Lin observed quietly, his fingers not pausing for an instant. John's covered muscle was hard beneath his fingertips, knotted from constant worrying. About the shop. About his father. About Lin. About the other androids in his care. He was even worried about David. John couldn't argue with Lin's statement. He'd been on edge for days. The phone call with his father. The miscreants in the shop. David finding out Lin's secret. The constant police presence outside. Android news reports. He sighed, the sound almost frustrated as he bent his head forward. He just wanted things to go back to normal. Was it too much to ask that he be left alone with his shop? With Lin? He was about to speak when his phone rang. He tensed as he saw his father's caller ID.
"Sorry," John murmured evasively as he got to his feet. Lin respected his silent request for privacy and took his place on the sofa as John hurried through to the bedroom, already hitting the answer icon. "Father," he greeted stiffly, on edge as he awaited the inevitable. His heart was already pounding as he readied himself for another fight. His father seemed to be busy. There were voices in the background. He was probably walking through part of Cyberlife.
"I'm sending a car for you. Things are happening here in Detroit, and I want you back home where it's safe," his father stated in his usual business tone. A tone that he only broke out when things got serious. John bit his lip hard, feeling his hand shaking with adrenaline already. He paced his room anxiously, knowing Lin was likely listening in from his place on the sofa.
"No! I told you already; I won't return to Cyberlife," John insisted stubbornly. He knew what his father was worried about, and it wasn't his welfare. It was the company. Of his current children, John was the only one at the right age to take over if necessary. It wasn't something he wanted, not with the company run the way it was. It also would be good if deviants got their hands on the CEO's son. He could be used as leverage.
"I can't afford for you to get caught up in this mess, John! Your position is too important…Besides, Joseph's been asking about you…" he added in a gentler tone, knowing that John had a soft spot for his younger half-brother. John faltered, heat rising in his chest as his father played the older brother card. It was a dirty trick. John hadn't understood it at first. He'd been so young when his mother and sister had died. He hadn't understood how his father, barely two years later, could marry his secretary. He didn't hate Wendy, but he hadn't been close to her. He'd taken to spending most of his time with his self-proclaimed uncle. The only thing that had brought him back was news of a brother. John had been around eleven, unsure how to feel. It had felt like his father had made himself a replacement family. A family that didn't really have a place for him.
His return had been awkward. He was so used to running around his uncle's mansion at that point, always shadowed by his favourite RT600. He'd felt vulnerable being back with humans. That had ended when he'd held the baby. It had looked up at him almost in wonder, big blue eyes so much like Josie's and his own. The baby had reached up and tugged his fluffy hair, and that had been that. John had been in love. He'd remained a regular visitor at his father's new family home for the next few years until college, avoiding his father and Wendy, but spending as much time as possible with the younger boy. Joseph had started to take after John a little, totally fascinated with androids, and watching as John would tinker and fix broken old units. He'd avoided going back since college. His father was always dropping hints about going to Cyberlife and learning the ropes. He wasn't interested in that kind of Cyberlife. He wanted the original Cyberlife. The one that had pictured a brighter future. The one not based completely on endless profit margins. The one that had created androids simply out of love and curiosity.
"How is he?" John murmured reluctantly. He hadn't even spoken to Joseph in almost two years. Between avoiding his father, running his shop, and completing his education, he simply hadn't had to time to go back to Detroit.
"He gets more like you every day…Thinks you'll come visit again if he tries hard enough to fix up some old android…He's really missed you," his father pressed, and John couldn't help the tug of guilt. He really should have called more, or even asked Wendy to bring him for a visit. He just didn't want to deal with the inevitable questions and pressure. When are you coming home? Cyberlife could really use your talents. You're wasted on fixing up old models. Why are you so obsessed? When was the last time you saw your therapist? When are you going to meet a girl and settle down?
"I miss him too…Tell him for me," John added softly as he looked at the floor.
"You can tell him yourself when the boys pick you up," his father insisted, hanging up before John could object further. John cursed before tapping out a response, refusing to simply be hauled off by a bunch of men in suits. Luckily, they'd probably be taking a car, so that gave him a few hours to come up with some form of plan. He tossed his phone at the bed before heading to the living room to tell Lin.
"Lin, my father-" John cut off, noting the attention Lin was giving to the television. He slowly walked forward, unsure his chest could take any more bad news right now. He felt sick as he watched the screen. Androids. Hundreds of them. Marching down the main street in Detroit. They moved slowly, their numbers growing more and more. Their leader was Markus, the one from Stratford Tower. "No!" John almost whimpered as shots were fired. He watched as units dropped lifelessly one after another.
"…mostly peaceful protest. It looks like the DPD are opening fire as the group gets closer to…" the voice on the screen continued. It was hard to make out over the thrum of the helicopter. The dark-skinned caster was holding on tight with one hand, a microphone clutched in the other as he spoke about the protest below. John watched in mild horror as the android, known as Markus, stepped forward with his arms spread wide. A peaceful gesture. He flinched at the shot that took him down, blue splattering the snow from a hole in his shoulder.
"Lin…" John murmured as he gently took his hand. Lin was suddenly standing beside him rather than sitting on the sofa. John hadn't even noticed him move. They watched together as another android ran into the fray, protecting Markus as his allies pulled him to safety. The dark skinned android was shot and beaten down, his skull finally crushed under a police boot. John turned into Lin's chest and closed his eyes. It isn't fair! The androids hadn't done anything wrong. They hadn't hurt anyone. It hurts. He felt Lin's arms close around him. Lin was stiff and quivering slightly. He was angry. John could understand why.
"Your father?" Lin murmured eventually, long after the news had moved on to other things. John nodded silently. His father seemed such a small problem now. "What do you want to do?" Lin asked quietly, pressing kisses to the top of his blonde head. He knew John didn't want to return to Cyberlife, but if his father arrived to take him back, then he wouldn't have much choice. John bit his lip as he looked around the small apartment. There wasn't really much choice.
"I think…we have to leave," John decided finally, his heart wrenching at the thought. If those men arrived and he was still here, then they'd literally drag him back. He suddenly felt overwhelmed. He had no idea what to do, where to go, or who to turn to. What would happen to the shop? He couldn't leave the androids. They'd be too vulnerable. He could call David to take care of them, but he wasn't sure how much he trusted him. David hadn't told anyone Lin's secret yet, but he'd been distant since John's confession of love. Lin nodded his silent agreement.
"John!" Lin said suddenly, alert and clearly afraid as he snapped his head up and looked towards the top of the stairs. John didn't have time to respond as Lin dragged him over the back of the sofa. At the same time, a deafening boom sounded from the shop below. The whole building quaked and rocked. John was terrified as the sound seemed to permeate his whole body. A rush of hot air swept through the whole apartment. His ears rang and turned almost silent as Lin held him tightly, calling his name in what seemed to be a faint voice. A high-pitched whine sounded in his ears as the world came back into focus. The room was now shrouded in darkness and a strangely toxic smelling smoke.
"Th-thirium!" John choked, allowing Lin to pull him up. Thirium wasn't usually volatile, but combined with the fuel from his tools in the shop below, it was burning up. John choked and covered his face with his arm, feeling himself being dragged up by Lin. It was surreal. He didn't understand what was happening. He was still deafened and disoriented as he looked around the dishevelled apartment. A huge crack was running up the wall by the stairs. Lin hooked an arm around his waist and helped drag his stunned form through the kitchen. The small building was groaning and roaring.
Flames were licking the wall by the stairs, angry orange and green flames. Chemicals and metals were burning up. There was a thick wall of fire in the back of the stock room. The door had literally been blown off its hinges. John coughed and choked as Lin all but carried him across the ashy workshop. His tools had been blown over and scattered, some even melting in the heat. The work bench was in pieces, and parts of various androids were scattered across the floor. He could barely see through the dark cloud.
"The AP500!" John choked as they passed the feminine unit, who lay crumpled in the debris. It almost looked like she'd been thrown into the workshop from the stockroom. Lin nodded as he released John, watching to make sure he could stumble through the shop by himself before hefting the half conscious android. Her eyes blinked and her head tilted as she was carried into the main shop, where John was choking and raising the shutter. The street was full of people staring in horror. Police were already holding people back. One of the officers hurried over as Lin and John stumbled out.
"Are you alright? Is there anyone else inside?" the officer asked urgently as he helped Lin lower the damaged android to the ground. Lin hesitated. The officer clearly meant human lives. John felt his blood run cold as he looked around the crowd, flashes filling his eyes as phones were pointed at him. GT! Where is he? A sick feeling rose in his chest as remembered that he had been the one to raise the shutter. That means…John didn't even think as he ran back inside, narrowly missing a burning mass that fell behind him in the doorway.
"John!" Lin's voice almost screamed as terror ripped through his chest. He only paused because the human officer tried to hold him back. He watched John disappear inside, unable to stop the pounding of his thirium pump. John choked as he ran through the thick smoke. It burned his eyes, his nose, his throat. Everything was so grim and dark, despite the brightness of the fire. It was hot. Too hot. Heat seared his skin as he stumbled through to the back room.
"GT! GT where are you?" John cried, his throat burning in objection as more smoke filled his tortured lungs. His eyes streamed as he searched, almost blind in the chemical haze. He barely noticed the hot debris that pressed against his feet, or the heat of flames licking at his barely covered skin. It was hot, but he wasn't actually touching the fire. "Answer me!" he screamed tearfully, staggering through the workshop blindly as he coughed and spluttered. He has to be in here somewhere…he has to…
"J-John? Wh-at…are you-do-ing?" the GT300 asked in a weakened, static laced voice. A whimper of horror caught in John's throat as he fell to his knees. The GT300 was stuck. Twisted metal from the storage racks was twisting through his torso. His LED span in an endless red whirl as he watched John crawl towards him. He was kneeling on the floor, only held up by the hot metal shards in his chest as a shutdown counted off in his vision, along with an endless stream of error messages. "You're-go-ing to-die…G-et ou-t!" he insisted in a voice filled with buzzing. It was a wonder he was still active at all. He was losing thirium rapidly, and the metal had torn through multiple internal components.
"N-no! GT! I have to get you-" John rasped before breaking out in a coughing fit. His eyes were wide in shock and disbelief as his hands touched the hot metal uncertainly. He hissed and drew back as it burned his palm. The GT300 hadn't left his side, not once since he'd first arrived. They'd built this business together. Saved countless androids together. The GT300 had taken care of him when he'd needed it most. Supported him. Encouraged him. John's hands shook as he again gripped the metal in the GT300's chest. His hands stained blue in seconds. The GT300 smiled in understanding and regret.
"You ca-n't…fix-everything John…You-kn-ow…my compo-nents are-rare…I'm too-dam-aged…Ple-ase, I don't…I do-n't-want to-watch yo-u die!" the GT300 pleaded in a slightly distorted voice, watching John rapidly breaking down as he leaned forward, choking against his broken chest. "John, g-o!" the GT300 insisted with a pleading tone, panicking as he watched John's vitals spiralling. He wasn't getting enough oxygen. He was going to pass out. Shaking hands tugged insistently at the metal, which didn't budge an inch. GT…can't…
"John!" a new voice cried from the shop. The GT300 called out in response, hoping his static tone carried through the roaring blaze. He'd never been so happy to see Lin as he was right then. Their eyes met with a look of understanding. John was the priority. The GT300 was done for. The GT300 watched Lin's jaw stiffen in something akin to grief. He didn't object as Lin reached out and touched his neck, interfacing with him. The GT300 felt peaceful as he allowed Lin to see everything. His old life. His new life. Every interaction he'd ever had with John. In return, Lin gave him his feelings. The overpowering adoration he felt every time he laid eyes on John. John was in safe hands. The GT300 had nothing to worry about.
"No! Lin! Lin! We have to save him! Lin!" John shrieked, hands gripping tightly to the metal and refusing to let go. The interface had taken mere seconds, and now the GT300 watched as Lin gripped John's waist and pulled. John was using everything he had to stay in place. His blue eyes were red as he screamed at the GT300 and Lin. The GT300 took John's hands and held them tightly, his skin drawing back as he subconsciously tried to interface with his favourite human. He removed one shaking hand and reached up to his temple. The skin drew back to reveal his dirty white plastic casing. He gripped his LED and pulled, digging in his synthetic nails as hard as he could.
"Tha-nk-you…I lo-ve yo-u," he said peacefully as he pressed the small circle into John's shaking hand. He threw John's hands away, smiling almost serenely as John continued to scream and fight against Lin's strong arms. Once they were out of sight, the GT300 closed his eyes and replayed the feelings Lin had given him alongside his own memories. He didn't feel physical pain, so the metal and heat didn't bother him. He had an alert telling him the temperature was too high. That his systems would shut down in a few more seconds. The GT300 smiled. John had given him extra time. Anyone else would have scrapped him years ago. He felt blessed to have had that extra time in the shop.
He played them again. The memories of being in the shop with John and David. David teasing his friend over something or other. Their laughter rang like bells. Thirty seconds to deactivation. Tucking a blanket around John's shoulders as he fell asleep over yet another broken android. Twenty-five seconds to deactivation. Watching John eating dinner as he told him about his latest class at the university and talking through every small problem with him. Twenty seconds to deactivation. Watching John playing with Katie. Fifteen seconds. Talking to Lin as John slept curled up in Lin's lap. Ten seconds. John standing in front of him protectively. Five seconds. John screaming his name as he was carried away, grief and shock straining his usually peaceful features. Systems critical. Deactivation imine…
