Maybe this time it could work.

Markus has left his coat in the dummy he uses as art reference, in hopes he could fool the passers. Although most androids are not easily fooled by cheap traps, Markus can only try before they notice he's gone. It's his only chance right now.

The corridor seems to be clear, all the rooms silent. Markus still takes slow steps in case he's wrong and he's not actually alone.

It's like he's in one of the mission raids at Cyberlife, trespassing security and dodging defenses. Only this time, Markus is at New Jericho, the wood smelling liberty instead of the repression, the rebellion of what were only machines.

Markus rebels against… something else.

He's almost leaving the first floor, on the way to the stairs…

Only to be caught like the worst person in disguise.

"Are you really trying to leave again?"

Markus internally curses. He was so close.

"I just wanted some fresh air," he argues.

"You know I can tell you're lying, right? Your stress levels are high."

Markus sighs in defeat while Connor approaches him and takes him by his arm, right back into Markus' room.

"How do you always catch me?" He asks.

"I was built to be a detective in case you forgot. Besides, you're sick. Your systems are not working as well as they should."

The RK200 groans, "Connor, let me go."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"I'm not feeling that bad—"

"Your face is blue, Markus, you have a 103-degree fever, and your battery is low. You need to rest," Connor insists, trying to guide Markus to his bed, but the RK200 dodges him.

"I don't need you to babysit me, Connor," Markus complains.

"I'm not babysitting you. But you are certainly acting immature."

Markus frowns at Connor being so firm, like he's talking to a suspect.

"I have a job to do – multiple jobs, actually."

"I know, and we have arranged all of them, remember?"

"You guys don't need to do everything for me."

Connor only turns more serious. "Markus, you can't overwork yourself, you're going to get hurt like this."

"I've been through way worse, why is some dumb virus going to get in the way?" Markus' stress increases, he vaguely notices.

"Viruses directly affect our core. You could have a forced shutdown and really hurt yourself."

Markus scoffs, "Come on, that's an exaggeration."

Connor crosses his arms. "Is it?"

"Well, yeah, I'm the deviant leader. I can't stop working because of some- some dumb android cold."

"Your body can't think like that, Markus. That's why it's warning you to calm down and rest."

Markus loses patience, "I can't just rest, Connor. I can't stay trapped in here and- and do nothing!"

"Now you're exaggerating."

"I feel trapped, I can't do anything without you grounding me!"

"If I let you go, you're going to do something stupid."

"Why won't you trust me?"

"Why won't you trust me, Markus?"

"It's"— Markus groans, "It's not you, Connor, it's just—"

"Why can't you simply relax?"

Fists tightened, he burns.

"I can't relax while my people are getting KILLED because of me!"

He's not sure if it's the fever or Connor's wording or the multiple warning windows blinding his view, but Markus is angry.

Yet the moment Connor's firm and serious face falls off, Markus realizes what he's really angry at.

Who he's angry at.

Water is leaking out of his eyes. Technically, his right eye cries the most.

Markus feels nothing but… shame.

Shame was what he'd felt when Leo would push him and force him to crash and break. Shame was what he faced when stuck in the graveyard; shame that he was forced to take an eye and a leg from lost, innocent lives. Shame was when Markus, no matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, couldn't prevent androids from getting killed.

Violent, pacifist, it didn't really matter.

It was always his fault.

Markus dries his eyes. Or tries to.

"… Sorry. I'm sorry," he mumbles, his voice also wet. "I'm just…" he sighs as he loses balance and falls back on his bed, "… sick."

Markus presses his hand against his eyes, realizing the water won't stop leaking. He knows that's not because of the virus.

He almost wants to tell Connor to leave instead of seeing him like this. Markus has never felt so pathetic before.

The RK200 hears the other kneeling in front of him, standing close but not too much. Connor respects his space.

"Markus…" Connor starts, genuinely sympathetic, "We're all grateful for everything you've done for us. But you've been fighting so much, and for so long… you're allowed peace, too."

Markus shakes his head. "You don't get it, Connor. I shouldn't rest. I shouldn't stop… I can't stop."

Connor sighs. "I certainly don't know how it is to be in your place, Markus. Even if we have telepathic connections, I'll never truly know." He pauses. "But I want to help make it feel better. I want to help you with your sickness."

Markus sniffs out of his control, the warning signs giving him the equivalent of a headache. He can tell Connor is looking at him.

"I-I… I hate being sick," Markus sobs. "I don't want to be sick."

"I know. But you can't pretend you're not sick, either. At least not for too long."

For once, the crying android exposes his heterochromatic eyes, scared of Connor finding out the truth behind them. Connor, however, does not judge them, does not condemn them for his crime. To him, they're not a crime at all.

Markus considers it.

"… I wasn't supposed to be sick," he realizes. "I was born to take care of Carl. I love him more than anything, of course, but…" Markus stares at his own lap, the tears falling onto his clothes. "That was it. I couldn't be sick. And when I finally stood up for myself, the police shot me. No one saved me. I had to crawl in the rain and find my own hope and stand up again to build my own path. I couldn't rely on anyone. I had to do everything alone. I had to lead Jericho, I gave them my hope – and I would never, ever trade that for anything, I am more than grateful that I'm here helping my people, helping them find their homes and their rights…" Markus sniffs again.

"But I was… never taken care of. I don't know how to take care of myself. I don't think I can." He stops for a moment and shakes his head. I don't think I deserve it.

Hopefully, Connor would not hear that last part.

But of course, he does.

"Let us take care of you, then," Connor insists. "I promise you, Markus, you deserve to be taken care of."

Markus tries to clean his eyes with his arm. "I'm terrified, Connor. What if something happens and I'm not there to stop it?"

"Nothing is going to happen, Markus. You have my word. Our word – Josh, North and Simon made sure to take care of everything while you're gone. Even so… we can't always prevent bad things from happening. I know that's the hardest thing for us to accept… but we can only do our best. For others and ourselves."

Markus can't quite help the little smile that comes out.

"You've certainly changed, Connor."

Connor blinks, a tinge of dark blue showing. Though it's not from sickness, he assumes.

"Well, I hope that's a good change," he says.

Markus smirks, staring at the rebellious curls Connor has stopped stylizing, and the heavy metal shirt he's wearing.

"It's beautiful."

Let's just say the blue is a lot more obvious.

Connor seems to try to adjust a tie that does not exist, so he then rubs the back of his neck.

"I-I could get some thirium ready for you," he suggests, "You need to restore all your energy considering all the battery your systems must be consuming."

Markus nods, still smiling, "Yeah, alright. That sounds good."

Connor stands up, awkwardly moving his arms back and forth as if unsure what they want to do next.

"I'm… I'm glad you told me all those things, Markus," he says. "I know it's not easy talking about it."

Markus simply sighs in response.

"I'm relieved you must, um, trust me enough to share all those things. I hope you feel more comfortable sharing your feelings with me," Connor implies. "I mean, if you'd like to."

"Right… I'll try."

"Thank you," Connor smiles too, but he averts his gaze quickly.

Markus smiles too and relaxes, the tears no longer falling. The warning windows seem to have stopped for now.

He eventually feels a hand squeezing his shoulder. It's very awkward, but… it's trying, and it's comforting either way.

Connor hesitates to take it away, and Markus feels a little disappointed when it's gone.

"I'll be right back with your thirium," Connor tells him.

Before he leaves, though…

"W-Wait, uh…"

Connor stops and turns around, an eyebrow raised.

"Will you stay?" Markus wonders.

"Would you like me to?"

"… Yes."

Connor smiles, "I will, then."

Markus' cheeks warm up. "G-Great, that's… great."

They kind of laugh awkwardly together, until Connor waves and leaves the room. Markus takes the opportunity to fall on his bed and grunt like Carl used to when he'd have migraines.

Markus realizes he's really the opposite of a patient person, hating to stay put for a long time, but thankfully Connor keeps his promise and returns as quickly as he can. Markus drinks the thirium in the plastic cup that Josh and Simon came up with, to make it feel more pleasant to consume.

Connor and Markus might hold hands at one point while Markus does so.

And they might share Markus' bed since the time for hibernation mode comes closer.

And North probably comes in the room and takes a picture and sends it to Josh and Simon, who tell him they'll give the "cutie pies" alone some more.

Markus' sick day doesn't feel as bad then.