up on the roof. // for north & simon!

[ex_attacked466]

[ As Markus raised his fingers from the piano keys, he tried to recall where he came up with that melody. The first piece he'd ever played had been Beethoven. Note for note. Even though he'd played it perfectly, Carl had been disappointed. Of course he was too kind to say as much, but Markus was wired to read his emotions. So he supposed this song that he kept turning to was born from his attempt to be impressive.

As it turns out... it seems he can't help but disappoint.

There's little reason they shouldn't be celebrating. They accomplished what they set out to do. Markus knew that some were actually celebrating downstairs, but he couldn't shake the image of that police officer begging for his life. Or the handful of androids who'd experienced freedom for only minutes before having it ripped from them. Markus didn't feel regret, he stood by his decisions, he just felt... too many things at once.

And he misses Simon. There had been no way to get back to him once the tower was swarming with police and FBI. The chances that he'd found a way out without being noticed were almost zero. This wasn't the first time Markus had questioned if this all had been worth it, but it was certainly the most trying.

He should have trusted North more. She'd been right about the alarm, and despite how the mission last night ended, working with her was almost as natural as playing that old familiar song. Comforting. Accomplished.

The only thing Markus is certain about is that Simon wouldn't want him to give up now. So he stood from the piano and looked out over the city. That means he'd have to decide what to do next. There was always another decision. ]

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[ourheartsarecompatible]

[Getting down from Stratford tower had taken hours. Waiting until the police had cleared out with as much as they could find meant being terribly still and absolutely silent until he couldn't hear anything but the wind and snow outside. He was still leaking thirium, and warnings flashed in his periphery. Another ten percent lost and he would be down temporarily, until he could be repaired and blood could be replenished. He'd only made it out by dint of the androids that Markus had converted to their cause along the way, having help getting out undetected.

When he'd gotten back to Jericho, Simon had stayed out of sight. He didn't want anyone to worry about him or try to stop him after he'd located one of the only people he wanted to talk to. He wanted to hear what Markus had to say, to know why he'd been left behind. Surely there was a better explanation than there just wasn't enough time.

But he finds himself stuck in the ship's corridor looking out on Markus moving around the upper deck, looking over the dock below and privately lamenting. He worries for Markus and the way he tenses at some thoughts, and he hangs back with a hand over the hastily patched hole in his chest. The front of his clothes is still stained blue.

Coward, his conscience whispers at him for staying back, as if scolding him for not just marching in and telling Markus that they were in danger from the FBI, or anything else that mattered. He'd lurk here in the shadows and wait a little while longer to find what he wants to say.]