A/N: IT'S OUT! THIS ONE IS FINALLY OUT! I hope you all LOVE it as much as I do.


8:34 AM

Iris forgot what it felt like to sleep alone. Waking up without another body beside her felt weird. Wrong. Her hand searched the spot Markus normally occupied, eyes still shut, and frowned when the ground was cold to the touch.

Her eyes burst open as she remembered last night's events. The anger, the fight, the march…

"Shit."

She looked at the clock beside the filing cabinet and checked the time. They weren't leaving until 1 PM the earliest. She still had time to check in, make sure they were all okay.

Iris stretched her arms out, forcing the stiffness in her joints to cease and got a couple pops out of her back. Her hands—freezing, without her personal heater—interlocked and her knuckles cracked to her satisfaction.

Her hands grabbed at the nearly-empty cigarette pack, toying with the idea of lighting one. She flipped the fraying top open and stared. Four. There were only four more left. Better make them count.

Deciding against the idea, Iris shoved the pack into her butt pocket and stood, fighting against the stiff muscles in her legs. The desk by the door had no food on it like she normally woke up to. Her lips pressed together tightly, forming thin lines. Markus must still be upset about last night. I don't blame him.

Maybe she did.

Iris didn't know whether to be furious or understanding. The whole situation made her stomach churn. On one hand, she found it incredibly sweet that Markus was adamant on keeping her safe. On the other, she wanted to slap him for the condescending choice against her own wishes.

"You don't own me…" She hummed in the silence. "I'm not just, one of your many toys…"

As Iris changed her outfit—today was black long sleeves and a forest green jacket that reached her knees—she kept going back and forth. Was she going to keep fighting Markus? Would she give up and stay behind?

"You don't own me… Don't say I can't go with other boys…"

She laced up the long brown boots she'd grown accustomed to wearing at the desk. Her mind focused on the song instead.

"And don't tell me what to do. And don't tell me what to say…"

Her locks were pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. With a sigh, she made her way to the door.

"Please, when I go out with you…" Iris swung the door open. "Don't put me on display—"

The door struck something on the ground, freezing her voice and sticking the door in place. Looking down, there was a singular bag.

Food. Markus left her food.

She smiled. Though she was sure Markus was halfway across the compound, she murmured, "Thank you."


10:45 AM

Before every demonstration, the leaders of Jericho would host one last meeting to solidify all details. Normally, Iris would be present. Because of the stance Markus made in her stead, she hadn't been able to set foot in the office for any regarding the march.

But her friends were always punctual, and she knew that there was a meeting at 11. So she shoveled her way through the masses of Jericho and was ecstatic to find the two people she was looking for stepping through the office's threshold.

Iris caught the door as it was easing shut on her elbow, forcing it back open. Victory! She allowed it to swing itself fully open behind her with a slam on the wall. The noise jerked North and Josh to attention.

"Tell me everything."

Iris's eyes focused on her friends across the room. North's eyes reached hers in curiosity; Josh looked to the table separating them.

"Please," her gaze flicked between the two in desperation. "I deserve to know what you're doing, even if I'm not there."

"Markus wouldn't like us giving you the details." Josh finally responded. His brown irises caught hers.

"Screw what he likes. I deserve to know."

"I don't think it'd be wise—"

Iris huffed. "I am a big girl allowed to make my own decisions. I have the right to know where and how my friends are going to protest when I'm stuck on desk duty. So please, tell me what you know."

North and Josh shared a look. Iris raised an eyebrow, debating on if they were telepathically communicating with each other or if they were simply psychic. Neither would surprise her. She knew how close the two were.

North spoke first. "Detroit mall."

Iris looked to her, silent. North continued, "With Markus's ability to convert other androids as deviants, we figure we'd start there."

Iris furrowed her brow. "He's going to convert on the way?"

"Yes," Josh nodded. "We have about 30 Jericho recruits coming with, but the more androids on the streets, the better our message will come across. When their bonds are severed, the freed androids will walk with us."

"And you're certain they'll march?"

"They'll have a choice," came from behind Iris. "There is always a choice."

Fuck.

Iris bit the inside of her cheek—which she was certain was nearly raw from overuse. She forgot to close the door.

"It's 10:59," Markus looked to Josh and North. "Shall we begin?"

The two gave curt nods and took their places on the round table in the office. Markus trudged past Iris, giving her a pointed look.

She kept quiet as she left the room, this time grabbing the doorknob and swinging it tightly shut.


11:43 AM

Jericho's main area was always filled nowadays.

It was an amazing feat, but it left little areas to be alone. Any alcove, any room, any staircase had refugees resting. It was wonderful.

But for moments where Iris needed to be alone, she wanted to pull her hair out. She'd always been introverted—please, two of her favorite people were her father and cat—and banquets only last a few hours. Jericho had been her life for nearly a month. Sometimes, all she wanted was a blissful moment where she didn't need to talk.

Iris trudged up two staircases and roamed through the main areas. Hallways and offices were filled. She could hear the chatter of families and sighed. Not a single room available.

There was one spot that was always uninhabited. The walkway she and Markus broke their first day at Jericho. It led nowhere, and the androids of Jericho in turn left it empty. That left Iris with the best seat for people-watching; and after the break, the structure finally settled and was safe to walk on.

Iris hummed to herself as she trudged on the rickety metal, her hand ghosting atop the handrail. It would squeak, but never bent underneath her weight.

Once she reached the end of the broken walkway, she sat down and swung her legs over the edge. The handrail's design was a simple X, but provided the perfect resting points for Iris's elbows. With this spot, she had the perfect overview of Jericho. Close that she could see the bustle of the refugees, but far enough away that she could hardly pick out conversations. White noise.

Her legs dangled back and forth and her head snuck its way into the X's corner like a headrest. From her viewpoint, Thalia and an older companion were sitting near a fire, laughing. Josiah, James, and Sean were sitting atop some empty crates, deep in conversation. Lucy was introducing some new refugees into the infirmary.

All the way from a broken stairwell, Iris could see the wonderful friendships and culture in Jericho. She felt like an outsider all over again.

"What's a girl like you all alone in a place like this?"

Iris's head spun to find the speaker. Aidan. His clothes were neat and bright, hardly a speck of dirt to be seen. His blonde hair styled back from his face.

"Just trying to get some peace and quiet," her head turned back, eyes following a moving crowd. "Too much going on down there."

"Yeah?" From the corner of her eye Iris could see her friend settling down to her right, legs dangling through the handrail like hers. "Or just too much without you?"

"Both."

Aidan's line of sight followed hers, now focusing on the large television that was playing a newscast on their Stratford tower heist. "I'm sure you want to be there."

Iris nodded and her chin grazed the upper V-portion of the X. "Yup. But I've been shelved."

"Maybe that's a good thing?"

"Tell me how being here while some of my friends risk their lives is good."

"I mean, aren't you the only one here who could collect the insurance?"

Iris snorted. "Har, har, Aidan. I'm being serious."

He lightly shoved his shoulder into hers. "I know. Just trying to lighten the mood."

The human hummed, her feet lightly swinging in the air. Her eyes betrayed her as she looked through the crowd and landed on the shadows of her fellow leaders in the office. Whatever they were saying, they were clearly animated. The silhouette of Markus trekked through the small room.

"You know," Aiden followed her eyes, staring at the office in solidarity, "he may have a good reason for this."

"He gave a few. Doesn't mean I need to like it."

"… Yeah. Yeah, it doesn't."

The clock on the television ticked to 11:52, and the news station previewed a commercial for detergent. In case anyone at Jericho needed to know, Tide products were the way to go.

"I should get going," Aidan said. He tugged his legs from the X of the handrails. "The meeting is about to open."

Iris's brow creased. "What meeting?"

"For the march."

His statement was met with silence.

"You…" Iris's brain made the connection. "You volunteered?"

Aidan's words came out softly. "Of course I did. I want to help, and I'm in great shape to do so." He tried to continue the conversation with, "Us volunteers get to join the meeting at noon to go over the plans, ask questions and—"

"You volunteered. Why do you get to volunteer but I don't? What's the fucking difference?"

"The difference," Aidan enunciated, "is that I'm disposable. You aren't."

Iris ran a hand down her face and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her eyes shut tight and she asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Iris." Aidan's voice—as if this wasn't such a serious conversation—almost sounded like it was holding back laughter. "Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

An eye opened. "Spell what out?"

"He loves you!"

Her other eye opened. She stayed silent.

"He loves you so much he's not willing to lose you. It's the most disgustingly sweet thing he could have done."

Iris stammered, "Aidan. Seriously, we've been over this—"

He shot his hand up. "No, you've been over this. And you're so goddamn stubborn you aren't willing to see the truth. He loves you. And I'm more than willing to bet you love him, too."

There was a gun pointed at your face last night!

You could have died.

Iris opened her mouth, "He's just—"

"Just what? Protective?" She offered a tilt of her head as a nod. "Yeah, that's true. But he would rather have thirty of us go instead of you. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

I don't know.

"You're wrong," Iris's voice wavered.

Aidan let out a low chuckle. "And you're in denial."


12:31 PM

"Are we all clear on our mission?" Markus peered through the impressive crowd. The office was hardly big enough to withstand the number of androids. Josiah, far in the back, raised his hand. Markus nodded in greeting. The volunteer asked his question, Markus answered, and all thirty-three in the room were satiated.

"If that is all, we are ready. Get prepared, gather your things, tell your loved ones goodbye. We will gather in the main area at 1:15 PM. Thank you all for your bravery, and for your willingness to fight for the freedom of our people. We are Jericho. We are alive!"

The room's volume grew with a resounding, "We are alive!"

"We will see you all at 1:15. Thank you."

Someone by the door—Markus couldn't tell, they were truly packed like sardines—opened it, and the entire group filed out one by one. He gave a smile to those he personally knew, and hung back until it was the three leaders participating. He stared at the round table in the middle, papers and drawings of the sewer system and Detroit mall scattered about. The plan thought out to every second.

North broke the silence. "They're strong. And ready."

"You've done a great job preparing them," Josh added, settling the mound of papers into a pile. Every second he didn't have a task, he would create one. "Are you?"

Markus looked up to his friend. "Prepared? Of course I am."

"You've gathered your things?" North asked. Markus nodded. "Told your loved ones goodbye?"

No. He hadn't.

His silence answered their question.

"Markus," Josh began softly, "You should say goodbye."

"She's already mad. She doesn't want to speak to me."

North said, "She may be mad, but imagine how she'll feel if the last thing you two did was fight. It's important. Tell her goodbye."

Markus hated when he was wrong. He wanted to hide. He didn't want to face her or her anger. But Josh and North were right; if anything went wrong during their march and the last thing he and his best friend did were yell at each other, he would never forgive himself.

"Okay."


12:43 PM

Iris liked to play with the children of Jericho often. Most days, her time was filled with the infirmary, mingling with androids, and babysitting. But when Markus approached the daycare-like area, filled with the children and some makeshift toys Iris and them made—his human companion was nowhere to be found.

James, the first child at Jericho, stood from their spot and grinned. "Hello, mister Markus!"

Markus couldn't help but grin. "Hey there, James. How's everything going?"

Thalia, Kaia, and Damon silently stared at the pair in awe. Markus gave them a little wave. He never hung around the younger androids; always too busy with strategizing Jericho's future. Maybe he could take a few minutes of his days to hang out with them.

"We're doing great! If you're going out today, do you think you could find us a new wonderball?" They held up the stress ball. "This one is okay, but a bigger one would be much cooler."

"I'll see what I can do," Markus held back a grin. He was proud of Iris bringing back some childlike joy to the kids. "You wouldn't happen to know where miss Iris is, would you?"

Miss, because even though he knew Iris told them many times not to do that, it was not a habit easily broken.

James tossed the ball to Damon and shook their head. "No. Miss Iris said she wasn't feeling too great today so she wanted some alone time. She looked sad."

"Do you know where she went?"

James shook their head again. "She didn't say."

Dammit.

"Well, thank you anyways," Markus gave them a kind smile. "I'll be sure to check for cooler balls when we're out."

"Good luck, mister!"

"Thanks."

Markus turned to head back to the main area, but before he could take a full step forward James caught his hand. "Before you go, mister Markus! Did you know my eyes are green like yours?"

The older android's lip quirked up. "I didn't know that. That's very cool, we're like twins."

"Yeah, except you have a blue one now. Miss Iris said that she loves your eyes. She thinks they're handsome."

If Markus could blush, he would absolutely be beet red. "Did she now?"

James pulled their hand away. "Weeeell, she didn't exactly say it like that," James's hands went behind their back, leaning away from Markus on their heels, "she said that mine are handsome like your old ones, and that your new ones are still very nice to look at."

"That's very sweet of her. I'll be sure to let her know."

With that, James pulled back and waved goodbye to the Jericho leader, taking a seat between Kaia and Damon.

Markus, grinning, shook his head. Kids these days.


1:02 PM

Markus followed the trail of cigarette smoke back to their room. Of course, Iris would be there. One place where she could be alone and not bother the others.

Their door was cracked open, and her cigarette pack was opened beside her with her lighter. She took a deep inhale, her back pushed against the wall and her knees bent. There were three left in the pack.

"Please don't yell at me," Iris said. He didn't know if it was meant to be a joke or not—her voice was low with worry.

"I think I've preached to you all I can," Markus tried to joke back. His voice was about the same. Iris let out a low hum but couldn't think of anything else to say.

So the pair stayed silent. Iris puffed at her cigarette, Markus stood in the doorway.


1:04 PM

Iris's eyes found his—probably for the first time in 24 hours. "You can come in."

"Yeah?" Markus said it softly, like he was afraid he'd scare her off.

"Please."

So he took a few steps in, footfalls barely audible.

Iris thought they were both glad for the lessened space. It felt alien to be away for so long.

"We're leaving soon." The words flew from Markus's mouth, almost in a huff. Like he was afraid he wouldn't be able to get them out. "1:15, we're going out."

"That's… soon." Iris couldn't think of words to say.

"It is."

Her stomach churned with worry.


1:07

Markus was comfortable with his scanners being dormant. He hadn't used them in a long while. With deviancy, he felt the best way to see what was going on with Iris was asking her. Talking. But his scanners lit up in his brain, colors flying across his vision as they pointed to her.

Increased adrenaline, low serotonin, increased heart rate. Her could see sweaty palms trying to clean themselves against the fabric of her jeans.

"Iris, are you okay?"

"No," she answered honestly. The cigarette was inhaled heavily before she smushed it roughly on the ground. "I'm scared, Markus."

"Why?"

"You're going to someplace I can't follow. You all are. I could lose you."

"I'm just a machine," Those words were always programmed in Markus's brain. He hadn't said them in years, but they still flew through his lips with ease. "If I die, someone else will replace me and continue fighting."

Iris's eyes shut tightly. "Please don't say that. Please don't."

"It'll be okay."

"Can you promise that?"

He held his tongue.

Her fingers rubbed at her cheek. "I'm so, so scared. I don't want to lose you."

Markus didn't have a response. So he said, "I'm sorry."

She forced herself up from the ground, brushing the grime and dust from herself. "Please come back to me?"


1:10 PM

He always sounded so broken when he couldn't make a promise. "You and I both know I can't promise that."

"Promise me anyway."

Iris didn't care if it was a lie. She needed to hear it.

Markus forced them out, soft. "I promise."

Then, without any thought, Iris closed the space between them; taking three large steps, she threw her arms around his shoulders and gripped him as tight as she could. Iris's chin fit perfectly into the crook of his neck, like it always did.

It's been a while since they hugged. She missed the feeling.

Markus's arms copied hers, wrapping tightly around her middle, resting his head atop hers.


1:12 PM

Iris's heart rate was slowing down the longer they hugged. Markus wasn't complaining. If he could, he would stay there forever.

"Please," her voice was muffled in the fabric of his shirt, "Don't you ever say you're replaceable. There's only one person on this planet like you."

"I didn't know that would affect you so much," Markus replied honestly.

"Why wouldn't it?"

"I know I'm your best friend, but there are other amazing people here. You already have so many new friends."

"I do. But none of them are you."

She pulled her head away from him, arms still wrapped around his form. "You have no idea how much you mean to me."


1:14 PM

Iris's head was still spinning with thoughts of the march. God, was she acting stupid? This isn't the first time he's gone out with her in Jericho. He always came back. This is ridiculous; she's making mountains out of molehills—

"Iris?"

She shook her head, trying to force a smile out. "Keep getting stuck in my head."

Markus smiled to her, a hand involuntary pushing a stray hair back behind her ear. "It's okay." The clock on the wall ticked; neither of them wanted to look. "I should go…"

"You should," she replied, but she couldn't bring herself to let him go.

Neither could he. Her eyes looked up to his face; she could see his confliction, written like an open book. His worry, his guilt, his adoration. Once upon a time, he said he couldn't feel anything. Iris was certain he felt everything.

Damn it.

If this was the last time Iris ever saw him, she was going to be honest.

Without a second thought, she pushed up on her tiptoes—face in front of Markus's—and kissed him.


1:15 PM

Markus froze at the feel of her lips against his. Unmoving, unable to even twitch a finger.

Every time. Every damn time she kissed him, he froze.

Iris pulled away from him, brows furrowed deep and eyes wet with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. Fuck, I'm so sorry—"

Why was she sorry?

"Don't be," Markus's words came out in a strangled whisper and, grinning, he kissed her back.

Iris let out a whimper as his hand cradled her cheek. He could feel her grin spreading against his, and he pressed another kiss, and another, and another. His grip on her waist grew tighter. Her hands at his shoulders flew up to his face. One cradled his cheek, the other at the nape of his neck. Her lips were so soft.

Did kissing always feel like this?

While Markus may not need to breathe, Iris certainly did, so she ruefully pulled away with a gasp.

"Shit, sorry," he laughed sharply. Iris grinned back.

"Do not apologize," she replied, giving a chuckle of her own. "This is going to sound horrible but I've always wanted to do that."

"Really?"

His laugh grew stronger when she huffed, "Yes, really!" Frazzled hands pushed her hair back as she leaned back on the office table behind her. "But you were an android, and not deviant, and I didn't want you to think it was about your body, though that is also a gorgeous plus, but still. I didn't ever think you'd like me back so I just pushed that thought away and here there's other androids like you, so I never thought that would ever—"

God, could she ramble.

"You are so cute when you're flustered."

Iris was still beet red. "Shut up."

Her hands played with the ends of her jacket, fidgeting. Markus took a step towards her, lowly asking, "May I?"

She grinned. "You may."

His hands encircled her again—one to her back, another to her hip—and he kissed her again.

He may never get used to the feeling. The pleasure levels in him rising, the quickening beat of his thirium pump; it was all intoxicating. He could only wonder what it felt like for her.


1:18 PM

His lips were soft. Iris couldn't understand how they were ever made to be so fucking soft, but they were and they felt like heaven slotted against her own. His hands gripped her close, trapping her between the table and his chest. Is it still considered trapped when she was so voluntarily put there?

Her hands gripped the front of his shirt, his toned chest feeling so secure under her fingertips.

"Markus," Iris hummed, just to see what kind of reaction she could spur from him. The response was a gentle huff against her lips and an ease of his tongue asking for permission to enter her mouth. She would never say no.

Iris's hand reached up to his face, molding their movements perfectly. She was in heaven. They were in heaven.


1:20 PM

The gentle squeak of the door opening is what broke them apart.

"Oh." Josh's voice filled the air along with Iris's panting. "Oh, we'll just… leave…"

Markus stared at Iris with a softness in his eyes. "No, we should go."

The sentence struck through her. Her lips were swollen and wet and her eyes burned with an intensity he wished they didn't have.

As her heart rate began to even out, she peered through her friends. Josh and North were at the door—North, smiling deviously like she knew what was happening, and Josh, looking to the wall like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

And Markus, right in front of her, the collar of his shirt disheveled and eyes peering straight at her. Though Iris hated to say the words, she nodded and said, "He's right. You guys have a march to get to."

"We'll be safe," Markus said. "I promise."

"Then I better see you in two hours."