Ten Days of SiMarkus
Day Two: Firsts
The transition into deviancy was easy for Markus in the beginning- like laughing or blinking his eyes, it was natural to him. Something the android couldn't control, though nothing he'd fight against.
As if seeing the world for the first time, Markus began to truly feel alive when he arrived at Jericho. He'd began experiencing excitement or joy when his plans for the android revolution began to unfold perfectly- like the CyberLife warehouse raid where him and the team of four were able to leave with enough thirium or biocomponents to last them months. Or when Simon and Josh got into small arguments, Markus couldn't help but laugh at his two friends- Josh had argued that North could win in a fist fight against Markus, but Simon was too headstrong to believe anything contrary to Markus' victory.
He'd begun to experience the agonizing pain and sadness from when new deviants arrived at Jericho too badly broken to be fixed. Though the android would rather feel anything but despair, he appreciated his ability to. He gradually became hyper-aware and deeply empathetic to those who'd never feel the rush and thrill of being free within their own lives. Markus was one of the lucky ones.
He'd begun to fully experience love as well- it had took the android some time after Carl's passing to fully accept what his processors were telling all that time in the artist's house. Carl loved Markus, and Markus loved Carl.
Android RK200 also began to feel love for one of his closest friends. The sandy haired and crystalline eyed PL600 affected him in ways he'd fought so hard to understand.
It was only after a failed android rescue mission a few months ago, that Markus fully accepted and understood what his heart had been screaming at him all along.
Simon had taken a stray bullet for Markus after the police open fired on them after attempting to free the workers from Detroit's very own Eden Club.
The shock rang through Markus' audio processors as he laid in bed, the memory too much to fully relive again.
Simon had lived, he was even able to run away from the spray of bullets after- but it haunted the RK200 to this day- it was the reason why entering stasis became so hard for him these past few weeks.
The ghost of Simon's blood on Markus' hands as he carefully removed the bullet from the android's shoulder taunted his senses. Even laying still, begging for his systems to power down for the night, Markus still felt the warmth on his hands and the acidity of thirium in his nose.
It was well past three in the morning now, and Markus couldn't seem to turn himself off. He'd tried and failed numerous times to prompt the script that would ask him if he'd like to enter rest mode, but his brain was filled with so much static memory and whorling thoughts that he couldn't.
Deviancy for Markus in the beginning was easy- like choosing when he'd want to enter rest mode for the night, or when he'd want to go out to the streets of Detroit and explore with his friends.
Now, deviancy for Markus was like a sickness- he was tired all the time, unable to turn off the video playbacks of various memories in his mind. His body was sluggish from lack of sleep, yet his fingers felt electric and his senses were so alive to the world around him.
Simon had noticed recently- the other night he wouldn't leave Markus' side. Even after the android fought for seclusion and time spent alone, the PL600 refused to let him be.
Simon no doubt loved Markus too- whenever the two androids were able to steal quiet moments alone, they'd talk about their pasts, share intimate embraces, and fully commit the other's hands into memory.
It was Markus' favorite thing to do admittedly- melting flesh and plastic structures into one, holding Simon's hand was like being able to breath for the first time, or walking into deviancy all over again.
Memories of their time spent together replayed in the android's mind, and like falling asleep- he was granted the ability to choose yes.
[ENTER REST MODE?]
[ Y / N ]
Markus released a sigh of relief, the thirium pump in his chest slowed to a steady rhythm. The sound molded perfectly to the soft steady raindrops dripping on the aluminum roof above.
The emerald and sky eyed android hungrily chose 'Y', and mercifully drifted into stasis for the remainder of night.
…
"Markus!?" Simon's frantic voice echoed through Markus. He'd heard this android's pleading screams so many times in the past, he couldn't tell whether this was a memory, or present day.
"Markus! Wake up! It's urgent!"
Like the lightning reflexes of a flashlight being turned on, RK200 was fully awake and now staring into two vast oceans of blue.
"Simon? What is it?" Markus was out of bed in one fluid motion and now stood inches away from his blonde-haired companion. "What's wrong?" RK200 couldn't help but shift his attention slightly to the fluttering that began jostling his chest.
Pl600's face unnerved Markus.
Simon had a half-cracked lopsided smile, and his upturned eyes were vibrantly bright and set Markus' nerves on fire.
"Do you know what day it is?" The android was clearly trying to hide his excitement behind the guise of normalcy, but Markus saw right through it.
"My system says it's November sixth, twenty-thirty nine." Simon's grin grew in response, his pale lips turned thin as his face lit up like the summer sun.
"Yes, my system says that too." Markus shifted on his feet, confusion began to bud in his mind as he tried to understand what Simon was alluding to. The android must have seen the confusion in Markus' face. "Do you know why today is so important, Markus?"
Jericho's leader ran a hand over his head, the stubble from his short hair prickled on his palms as he fought through endless scenarios or possibilities.
"Uhmm…"
"Happy anniversary, Markus."
If android's could pale like humans, Markus would have looked like a ghost. Standing as still as a statue and definitely colder than one, RK200 shook his head.
"No, Simon- our anniversary is-"
"Not that one!" Simon held his palms up to hush Markus, his cheeks flushed a mild warm blue. "It's been one year ago today that you came to us in Jericho."
Simon placed his hands on Markus' shoulders- the touch instantly melting away any ice or frozen hardware in the android.
"Happy one year with us!"
It was Markus' turn to blush as he sheepishly lowered his eyes from Simon's. "I totally forgot-"
"Yeah, yeah no worries!" Simon used a hand to tilt Markus' chin up once more, his eyes fought for connection to Markus'. "If it's okay with you, Markus…" Simon jerked his head towards the door and focused again on the RK200. "Josh, North and I got you a gift, and I honestly couldn't wait for you to come out on your own so…"
"Oh Si, you didn't have to do anything-"
"You've done more for Jericho in one year than I was able to do in three here, Markus. You saved us, and we wanted to show our gratitude." Simon's eyes never faltered, but Markus could sense the sadness behind his words- it was true unfortunately. Markus knew he'd been the spearhead into revolutionizing android rights, only he didn't realize how long until recently that Simon and the others were waiting for salvation in darkness for many years before.
"I hope its a puppy- I think maybe I'd name him Simarkus or Jo-Jo…."
Simon smacked his companion's shoulder playfully. "Are you serious!? It's not a dog, but we can-"
Markus laughed, and it felt good. It felt right. "No, Simon. I'm being one hundred and thirty two percent sarcastic." Markus laughed again, and Simon's chuckle was soft under his own. "I'd never name a dog something so silly as Sima-"
"Okay okay, come on then." The PL600 grabbed Markus by the hand and led him down the quiet corridors toward the main entry room at the base of the ship.
The only sounds in the entire place were the soft scuffs of the two android's feet and their synchronized breathing.
The morning's sunlight was beginning to penetrate through the small cracks and openings in the wall paneling, and golden streaks of light reflected off of the metallic interior and danced on various surfaces in the room.
Once they entered the main area, Simon stopped and squeezed Markus' hand.
"Alright, close your eyes." Simon turned to stand in front of Markus. The edges of the mysterious surprise were visible from behind the PL600 as he tried to conceal it with his body.
"Simon, I-"
Simon squeezed Markus' hand harder.
"Please."
Markus stared for a second longer at Simon's face, his eyes traced the sharp curve of the android's jaw, the subtle curve of the android's thin and smirking lips, and lastly his two crystal eyes.
"Because you said please…"
"Pft!" Simon released a small laugh and pulled his companion forward.
Nerves and slight excitement coursed through Markus' processors. He'd never been gifted anything before, not even from Carl. It wasn't something he'd ever dreamed of being a possibility. He was an android, exactly a year ago- a piece of plastic with no rights, no free will, absolutely dead inside. Now, he was part of a family. Surrounded by people like him, and people who supported him as a leader, and friend.
As Simon pulled Markus closer to the surprise, Markus couldn't help but notice he didn't have an audience. No one else was in the room, save for Simon and himself.
"Where's Josh? Or North-"
"They understand how weird it is at first, and how uncomfortable it might be for you to receive a gift or anything like this with an audience so…" Simon's voice faded as he cleared his throat and tried to find the right words. "They just wanted to make sure you had enough privacy and can appreciate the gift by yourself first."
Markus quirked an eyebrow as they stopped moving. It was thoughtful and nice of his friends to take his own well being into consideration- but that just leads to the question: What's the present then, if it has to be so private and confidential?
"Alright, you can look now."
Sucking in a breath to cool his racing processors, Markus opened his eyes.
His heart stopped.
His eyes refused to focus- as if his brain refused to analyze the massive object in front of him.
"What do you think? I'm not sure it's entirely in tune- we had to frankenstein a million different pieces together to make a whole one, but I think with a little tuning and some TLC it could-" Simon was rambling now, but Markus found himself lost in the view.
The android stepped forward, his finger began tracing the outlines of wood, of keys, of the piano standing in front of him.
His finger gingerly pressed down a white marble key, and a beautiful 'c' note echoed through the ship. The sound so full, so perfect in every way.
"Simon… Simon this is…"
Images like a tidal wave began crashing through the android. He saw Carl, sitting beside him choosing what music he thought the android should learn to play. He saw himself at two o'clock in the morning while Carl was sleeping to play himself some music when he didn't want to rest. All of the memories he'd once shown Simon, all flooded back to him.
"I remember you showing me how happy you'd been when you had Carl and music in your life… We figured this could brighten your day a little at least and-"
Markus didn't let Simon finish as he pulled the android into a tight embrace. His arms grabbed and held tight to the blonde one in his arms as he buried his face into Simon's neck.
He couldn't stop the saline tears as they dripped from his eyes and onto Simon's jacket. The first time Markus had ever felt alive before deviancy, was when Carl let him choose what music to play. The choice was his, always, since the beginning of time with Carl. And now with Simon, the android thought his chest might explode with all of the emotion slamming through him.
Simon moved one hand in circles on Markus' back.
"You deserve happiness, Markus." Simon's voice was a whisper in Markus' ear. "You deserve the world for what you've done for us." At the android's words, Markus calmed. His breathing slowed and his sensors were beginning to reset to normal. "I love you."
Markus lifted his head from Simon's shoulder and moved his hands to cup Simon's cheeks. Blue oceans against emerald and sky stared at each other. Markus leaned close, his lips brushed Simon's for barely a second before he whispered a small "I love you too, Simon."
Two android hearts beat as one as Markus kissed Simon again, their hands interlocked between them.
A short eternity later, Markus leaned away from Simon. He lowered his eyes and stared at the blonde android's chest. "I want to play you a song."
"Are you sure?" Simon tightened his hands around Markus'.
RK200's voice was soft as he spoke. "Absolutely. Carl was the only person to ever hear me play. He loved me, and gave me the gift of music. Now," Markus backed up slowly, pulling Simon with him toward the ivory keys. "I want you to be the first person I share this gift with."
The two androids' shoulders pressed tight against each other as both sat down on the old piano bench. Markus reached over to Simon and held his hand for just a second before returning his hands to the keys.
Simon smiled at the sight. "I'd be honored to listen, Markus."