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[arecompatible]

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[arecompatible]

It was an assumption any of them would have assumed. If it had been Josh or North instead of him up on that roof with just a handgun, wounded, Simon would have thought just the same. They died for their cause.

It wasn't something he blamed Markus for, he'd done what he thought was best in a stressful moment that hadn't left them a lot of time. If he felt anything for anyone it was resentment towards North for how quick she'd been to tell Markus to put a bullet in his head. While it was what Simon had ultimately done himself, it didn't mean he'd liked it. He didn't like how quick North seemed ready to deem him a lost cause. Markus had at least left him with the means to go out on his own terms. Had given him the choice.

"... of course, Markus. I'll do whatever I can." After he's all fixed up of course, right now he's a mess. There's a hole in his head that's been covered by his synthetic skin on the underside of his chin. A hole in his chest. His legs are shot up. He needs a little TLC. Then he's ready to get back into the swing of things, to forget about the past and move forward to help their people now that they have their freedom.

Simon can't help but lamely reach for Markus' hand when it pulls away, patting at the space between them for a beat before just letting it rest there. There's an uncomfortable silence for a minute or so, Simon can almost hear the gears turning in Markus' mind.

"Do you think President Warren will really listen to our demands?" Freedom was one thing, but demands certain rights is another. It was going to continue to be an uphill battle, he knew that much. This was just the beginning.

[diplomats]

"All I know is she has so far."

A combination of self-protecting concern and public sympathy, that's what it boiled down to. Perkins hadn't been wrong: the androids he slaughtered in the streets? They didn't have human eyes protecting them, human voices crying out for justice on their behalf. Besides, asking for the right to live was already a divisive issue— now that they've found it, that support will likely splinter under individual perspectives. Work, money, perceived power or even want of it, that's the singular, predictive point where hairline fractures will start to break. So no, Markus doesn't sound hopeful when he says it.

He sounds determined.

And...weary. Wan and thin, and because that's all Simon has of him, he realizes, the soft press of Simon's hand into the empty space between them drags him away from fractal, damaged trains of thought.

"The rest we'll worry about when you're back on your feet."

Literally, figuratively. Markus shifts fully in his seat to face Simon, leg propped across plush cushions as he scoops up slender fingers between his own.

The silence hangs too long. He blinks too quickly in cyclical patterns, and maybe for that he's glad Simon can't see him.

"I should have done more."

[arecompatible]

Of course. With the building sympathy from citizens with their plight the president hadn't had much choice but to go along with things in the end. Now that things had changed would that sympathy keep carrying them along? Not as if Markus and the others hadn't done so much either. It had just seemed like no matter what they'd done police and the military only killed them more.

No matter how peaceful. It had meant nothing.

At least from what he'd seen when he'd been interfaced with Markus. It was all so quick, but he'd seen enough. Seen all their people who had died, seen Jericho destroyed, seen them making a last effort to free their people who had rounded up into camps to be murdered. He'd also felt the heavy weight Markus carried with him, but he'd been so blinded by his own fear to notice it then.

He remembers it now when he feels Markus shift to face him, feels him take his hand in the silence between them. Then Markus laments that he hadn't done enough and Simon shakes his head. He'd never thought that through all of this. Squeezing the hand in his he'll reach awkwardly where he thinks a shoulder would be, pats at Markus' chest before his hand shifts up to the right place and he'll gently pull the other android in.

Hugging him close, Simon closes his eyes even though there's no point to it, arm wrapping around Markus' back as he rests his cheek against a shoulder.

"You did everything... you set our people free, Markus." He knows that's not what he meant, but he wants to say it regardless. Then softer, "I don't blame you for what happened to me... you came back to get me, you didn't have to."