Chapter 26

That same day sometime later in the afternoon, Simon had dropped by. Markus gazed up at him expectantly.

He smiled softly.

"You look excited. Did something happen?" Markus asked.

"Earlier I dropped by to visit Connor," Simon replied.

If Markus was surprised, Simon couldn't see it in his expression.

"So how did it go?"

"I told him everything."

"Good."

"He gets just as grumpy as you do when you are confined to bed rest."

Markus smiled.

"Guess it must be genetic."

"You don't get as flustered as he does though," Simon said, his lips curled in a pout. "Unless I haven't found the triggers yet."

"I don't have a trigger."

Simon sighed.

"How disappointing. I was hoping that might have also been genetic."

"Don't be a pervert," Markus scolded him. A thought hit him. "And you've better not have hit on my brother. The last thing he needs is for you to fluster him. It'll go straight to his head."

"You say that even after you spoke so highly of him. I didn't think he was naive when it comes to matters of the heart. I mean...he does have a partner."

Markus sighed, shaking his head.

"I mean you have to wonder about his tastes if he gets easily flustered by you."

"Wait...flustered by me? Markus, you're not jealous of us are you?" Simon asked.

Markus turned away.

"Of course not," he grumbled. "Don't joke around like that."

'Idiot, can't even have a serious conversation without saying something stupid like that.'

"Who says I'm joking. Besides I never said I was interested in him anyway. I only have my eyes on untaken men."

Markus turned with some reluctance, glancing back at him as Simon winked in his direction.

He gritted his teeth, lava pooling in his gut. It felt as though it was eating at his stomach and was searing in it's intensity leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

'Who can love a man like that? Jealous?! Unlikely. Where does he get such stupid ideas? What does he mean he has eyes on untaken men? He's messing with me.'

Sometime after Simon had left, North had dropped by to visit.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself. You hardly ever drop by to see me."

"Sorry bout that I've been busy," North added coolly.

Markus raised his left brow in inquiry.

"Practicing your kickboxing?"

North brushed off his curiosity.

"Something like that. Simon told me you're going to get a new leg after tomorrow."

Markus frowned.

"There still no guarantee I'll be able to walk again."

"Nothing wrong with that. You're lucky your legs is all you lost," North said.

"I suppose so."

"Besides dying here, the worst thing you can lose is your dignity. Trust me though, no cares about that. Most of the people here are lucky they even survive."

"You're not very good with small talk are you?"

"How could you tell?" she added dryly.

"Just a guess. You don't have to force yourself if it's too hard."

"I want to though," North cut in. "It gets kinda boring practicing everyday."

"Kickboxing?"

"Yeah."

"Same here."

North chuckled.

"Shame you're tied to the bed. Makes my problems seem like Christmas when it comes too early."

"Don't remind me."

"Are you always so grumpy when you're bored? I might have to reaccess my opinions about you."

"Sorry, I guess it wasn't that amusing."

"On the contrary, it's a breath of fresh air compared to the dull skit you had going on the last time I seen you."

"Dull skit?"

"Yeah, trying to act like the typical nice guy who kisses up to the girl they like. The idea is solid in theory but most girls already know all men have an ugly side."

Markus frowned.

"I'm sorry I came off as dull. I thought that was considered normal behavior. I even told you I found you attractive not many guys would bear their soul to a stranger they just met."

North smirked at him.

"Unless they thought honesty was a way to get in her pants."

"I'm more interested in the hunt than the catch," he said glancing at her in bored interest. One eye was shut and the other one was half-way open gazing sideways. "If I had sex with any girl that was interested, it'd leave me equally vulnerable to her ugly side."

"Fair, but you'd never know about a girl's ugly side upon seeing her. That's not to say that girls don't have one but we never kiss and tell."

"You're a smooth talker for someone who is horrible at small talk. I guess Alice must have rubbed off on you."

North smiled softly glancing off to the left.

"She was watching me and Josh play scrabble yesterday and chess the day before. Got really sassy when she saw Josh coming with the scrabble. I think she was hoping for us to play some more chess after Josh lost."

North glanced at Markus with wide eyes.

"How in the world did he lose? He's an android for crying out loud."

Markus chuckled.

"That's more or less what I told him. He's quite a sore loser."

North sighed.

"Typical. Course they programmed him with something like that. Can't have anyone thinking that their androids are just going to accept getting creamed by the humans that made them."

"You miss her don't you?"

North felt her face heat up and turned to glance at Markus.

"Of course not, don't be silly. I'm no good with kids. Alice may have been a nice girl but she didn't change that."

"Alright, alright whatever you say."

"You don't believe me."

Markus chuckled.

"It's cute when you're in denial. It was obvious you liked her the minute I saw you teaching her your fancy moves."

North punched his shoulder.

"Oh shut it you."

Simon dropped by witnessing the exchange.

"Oh North, there you are. I was looking for you."

Markus looked up and saw Simon was glancing at him. A pained emotion momentarily appeared in his eyes flashing to his shoulder before it shifted to indifference.

'That was strange. Maybe I'm just seeing things. Simon never has that expression on his face.'

"What's up?" North asked.

"Kara and Luther will be out. I'll need you to watch Alice again until they return."

Alice ran up to North and gave her a hug.

"Oh."

"I'm counting on you alright," Simon said.

"Gotcha."

With that Simon left.

Markus grinned.

"Don't even start."

Alice pulled away.

"What's the matter? I'm not bothering you am I?"

"Of course not. What made you think something like that?" North asked.

"The way you were talking with Markus."

North got up and sat closer next to Markus' side.

She sighed.

"It's not you."

Markus smiled.

"What she's trying to say is that she adores you but doesn't know how to express herself."

North turned towards him with a red face.

"Markus," she said coolly in a warning.

"Are you two dating?"

Markus and North sputtered.

"W-what?"

"Where did you get that idea?" she asked.

Alice walked to where North was sitting. North leaned down as Alice got up on her tiptoes to whisper in her ear.

"Well it's just I think Markus really likes you," Alice whispered.

North pulled away as though burnt.

"So what did she say?" Markus inquired in amusement.

"Nothing," North snapped.

"She said she likes you back so what's the problem?" Alice asked.

"Alice!"

"Why don't you kiss her?"

He wondered if he should kiss her or not.

North turned bewildered by the softness in Markus' eye. He reached out and clasped her cheek within his hands.

She was taken surprise by her own desire as she met him half way capturing his lips in a kiss.

"Ew."

North pulled away embarrassed. Markus merely looked up at her in a dopey smile.

"Y'know for a while, I was a little worried you might not like me the same way. I'm glad I was wrong though."

She turned to face him with a dark red face.

"Don't let it get to your head."

He chuckled heartily.

"So what's your deal with Simon anyway? You two don't seem the type to be good friends," Markus said.

"I saw him during one of the rallies he was doing in the city," North said. "We shared some common interests so I joined. It's not like I had anywhere else to go."

"How did he know he could trust you? He was acting as if he was being targeted by Cyberlife since day 1."

"It's not like we got along when we first met each other," North said. "He simply left me to my own devices while he did his own thing. I thought he was a pushover always letting people walk over him. Some people used to just drop by for the food and supplies. They'd steal them without even telling him and you know he pays for that stuff so everyone can use it. He wouldn't do a thing about it though."

"You told him though right?"

"Yeah, he accused me of being cruel. He actually called me cruel," she scoffed. "I'd let him call me anything but you call me cruel and I won't stand for it. Long story short, I called him a brown-nosing pushover who wouldn't know if people were using him if they were in front of his face."

"How'd he react?"

"I thought he'd be p-ssed but he just laughed. Laughed as if it's the funniest thing he's ever heard. I wanted to punch him, still do. I guess after that something changed. One day after that, this guy comes by and threatens to..." she cut off glancing down at Alice. "and kill me. He says, 'Cry for help but no one will save you not even that Simon fella. Everyone knows that Simon guy is a joke. He'll probably sit back and watch. What a coward.' At this point I'm beyond mad at him even implying I'm lower than trash. I'm about to wipe the floor with this dude."

"What happened after that?"

"What happened? Simon comes up behind the guy and taps him on the shoulder. The other guy grins whirling around about to punch him when Simon catches his fist and bends it in such a way that he breaks the guy's arm and then punches him across the face. Most people were surprised he actually confronted the guy but I was more surprised he actually punched the guy. Needless to say after that he made me second in command."

Markus hated to admit it but for all the times he had trashtalked Simon the way he defended North was downright admirable.

"Well enough about me. What about you? What's your history with Simon?" North asked. "I heard you two were quite chummy."

Markus glanced at her in surprise. It didn't sound confrontational, more along the lines of amused.

He rolled his eyes.

"Don't start."

North smiled slyly.

"Why? Solomon seems to think you two have unshatterable chemistry."

"I don't see how. The man is a relentless flirt who has no concept of personal space. I think he gets turned on by how cryptic he thinks he is when he's as obvious as a fine toothed comb."

"Huh, I would have thought you two were good friends otherwise. I mean you two have surprisingly civil conversation for someone who claims that's it's anything but..."

"I don't know. He just irritates me and I hate all this cryptic business. I just want someone to tell me how it is because I hate guessing games."

North chuckled.

"Me too."

"It's only really fun when I can grovel in victory after owning my opponents in a game of chess."

"A shame I would love to give you a run for your money but I'm horrible at chess."

"Really?"

"Yeah, shocking I know. Those kind of games just really hurt my brain trying to figure out the spaces where your opponent can move all for the sake of victory. I just get no satisfaction out of it. I'm just a girl who likes instant gratification if you know what I'm saying."

Markus chuckled.

End Notes: So this is the part where Markus' choices really come to play. Most of his routes are dependent on who he pursues and how he handles the relationships with whomever he pursues. A potential of six endings based off that.