Work Text:
'Dear Heeseung,'
Jay looks up in surprise when he hears the doorbell ring. He drops the magazine he'd been reading – something about indoor plants – and begrudgingly crawls to his wheelchair, collapsing down on it after a few tries.
It's always difficult to get on that wheelchair, even when Jay's been using it for most of his life now. But he can manage. He'll always get through it, just like he's always done.
The doorbell rings again.
"Coming!" Jay swivels the wheelchair towards the door, even though he could've just bought the electric one. But he figures he needs the exercise. Doesn't want his limbs to get any weaker than they already are.
He unlocks the front door before long, moving back in surprise when a delivery man with dark curls wheels in a tall, rectangular package inside the house.
"Uh, good morning, Mr..." Jay begins, trailing off.
"Kim Sunoo," the delivery man grins, big and bright. "I'm kinda new at the job, so excuse me if I seem a little nervous. And good morning to you too, Mr. Park Jay?"
Jay just nods, before looking at the cardboard box. He never ordered anything recently. He doesn't know why this man's here. "What's this for?"
Kim Sunoo pulls out a clipboard and a pen from under his arm. "It's from this guy named Lee Heeseung. He sent you our company's Help Bot. I uh, need you to sign this, then I'll be on my way."
Jay's chest tightens at the mention of Heeseung. He remembers all those years they spent at that orphanage, running through the halls and staying up late at night, talking about the life they'd both envisioned for themselves. That was before the accident happened.
Now, Jay's on his own. Heeseung hasn't been around much since he got adopted by a well off family and they stopped having many things in common.
Wordlessly, Jay acquires the clipboard from Kim Sunoo and signs his name, trying his hardest to ignore the lump in his throat.
"Great!" Sunoo beams. He seems like the type of person who hasn't experienced a lot of worries in his life – and while that usually annoys Jay to no end – he feels his mood lifting a little.
But then Jay sees that look on Sunoo's face – the one Jay recognizes as pity. He's seen it on too many faces not to know what it is. "Do you... want me to help you open the box, or –"
"No, I got it," Jay tells the man. He's been living alone for three years now. He's found a way to make ends meet, even if he can't ever walk again. "I can do it."
"Oh, alright then. I hope you feel satisfied with your Help Bot." Sunoo nods, before gathering his things and leaving. Jay's small house is plunged into a dreary silence once more. It's sickening, the static echoing off the walls, reminding Jay how painfully lonely he is.
But Jay is used to it by now, because when you go through the same thing again and again, you eventually learn to live with it.
He searches for the sharp box cutter, and gets back to the cardboard, eventually tearing through the tape.
Though it's strenuous, Jay's careful not to damage anything inside. When the cardboard falls and the bubble wrap has been taken off, he gapes at the... thing laying before him.
It's an android.
The android can almost be mistaken as a human at first, until you see the small opening on the left side of its neck – the tan skin far too realistic. Its upper body is bare, but it has a pair of boxers attached to its equally realistic legs.
The android lifelessly glances at nothing, silky black hair falling over round eyes, and Jay bends over to pick up the long pieces of paper on the floor.
One is an instruction manual, and the other one is folded. Once Jay opens it up, he realizes that it's a letter.
'Dear Jay,
I'm sorry I haven't been able to see you. I really miss you, but work has been so hectic these days.
I'll be there before Christmas, I promise, and I hope you like the gift I got you. It'll make your daily life a little more comfortable.
Best regards,
Heeseung'
Jay rereads the letter, the lump in his throat difficult to swallow. He misses Heeseung too – so much. He's the only one who stayed by Jay's side after everything that had happened. Jay's parents had died a long time ago, and the casual friends he acquired over the years all eventually left him. Life at the orphanage was tough, and life now is even more exhausting, but Heeseung made it bearable.
Jay blinks away the tears, and flips through the instruction manual.
S.JAKE 2.5, the front cover displays in bold, and Jay opens the next page.
Help Bot, S.JAKE 2.5, is now better than before!
Trained to help you with all your household needs, S.JAKE 2.5 is the best in the business. Newly updated and far more advanced than its previous generation, S.JAKE 2.4, you’ll surely be left satisfied!
The manual gives basic instructions on how to power up the android, charge it, and how to command it to do the chores around the house. The android also has three buttons on its wrist: one showcasing a happy face, the other a neutral face, and the last face red and displeased. Jay figures it's for feedback on the android's performance.
He looks around the cardboard for the charger and other equipment, and when he finds a silver device that looks like a flashdrive, but is probably the charger, he wheels himself to where the android rests.
Knees wobbling in the process, Jay plugs the charger into the charging port on the android's neck.
Faint green lights glimmer on the android's neck like a loading screen, then disappear completely. The android blinks, and up close, it's easier to notice its defined cheekbones, its lips the color of blooming roses.
Jay's breath hitches when the android gets up, its brown eyes abruptly locking with his.
"Hello. My name is S.JAKE 2.5. How may I help you?"
'Thanks for your gift'
The next few days pass by in a blur.
The android, apparently named 'Jake', does exactly as it's programmed to do. He cleans up the house, washes the dishes, arranges the books on the shelves, and takes care of the potted plants that Jay has around the house.
He does his job well, making Jay feel a bit useless at times, but at least he can still move himself around. He hasn't commanded Jake to do that for him.
Every night, Jay presses the happy face on Jake's wrist, and leaves the android in the living room to charge as he shifts around on his bed, hoping he won’t succumb to nightmares this time around.
'Jake is a good android. He cleans everything, and treats me well.'
Jay’s just finished working on the first part of his new book, because he's an author working from home, and sends the manuscript to his editor.
He stretches his arms and glances at the spotless living room and kitchen, wondering where Jake is.
"How may I help you?"
Jay startles, almost falling out of the couch he's seated on. He knows he'll actually get hurt if he trips even though he can barely feel his legs. "God, you scared me."
Even though Jake's features are stripped of emotion, he looks so human, all swaddled up in Jay's hoodie and sweatpants, that it catches Jay off-guard a bit. "How may I help you?"
Jay tugs off his glasses and rubs at his eyes. "You don't need to help me with anything. You've cleaned the whole house already."
Jake tilts his head like a curious puppy's would. "But…" He places a finger on the smiley button on his wrist. "You don't look like this. Why? Are you dissatisfied with my performance?"
"No," Jay snaps, but the android looks more confused than not. "I… I'm not unhappy with anything." It's almost like Jay's trying to convince himself of this, because he knows deep down that he isn't happy. At all.
"You're sad. Your lips aren't turned up at the corners, and your eyes aren't crinkling at the sides. It's my job to change that. What can I do?" Jake asks, his chiseled face still unnervingly stoic.
"Go stand in the corner, Jake." Jay oddly feels amused when Jake quickly follows his order, but his smile fades when he remembers Jake is only an android. That he's only doing what he's been programmed to do.
Jake stays in that position until night falls, and only moves when Jay tells him to.
'Jake can be somewhat stubborn at times, but maybe it's because he cares.'
"It's nighttime," Jake says, staring out the window. "The stars are out. Do you want to go outside?"
Jay sips on the coffee Jake made him (black, just how he likes it), then places the mug on the table. "No, it's okay."
"People usually want to go out at night. The sky looks amazing because of the stars, and now that it's nearing winter, the snow will make everything prettier."
"Well, I'm not like everyone else," Jay snaps. "I'm different, I want to stay inside, and I'd rather be alone."
Jay doesn't know why he's saying all this, but he figures it doesn't matter anyway. Jake is just a piece of metal; he won't get it.
"But… why do you want to be alone when I'm there?" Jake asks after a moment. He walks up to Jay, and places a hand on the man's shoulder, rubbing it. "Shoulder rubs indicate comfort and affection. I'm trying to show that."
Jay stares at the android, momentarily speechless. "Don't touch me."
Jake drops his hand, brows furrowed. "You're mad, aren't you? I apologize." His finger lingers on the displeased button, but Jay beats him to it.
"What are you doing?"
"You're angry with me. I need to do this," Jake answers.
Jay grimaces. "You don't need to do anything. Just… keep your distance, god."
He then slowly wheels himself through the backdoor to get to the yard, exhales visible against the night air.
Jake was right. The sky looks incredible, the moon clearer than ever. It's terribly cold though, but Jay doesn't move from his spot. Just rubs his arms.
He soon hears the faint whirring sound that Jake's body always emanates, and sighs when the android stops next to him.
"It's too cold out," Jake starts, before dropping a blanket over Jay's shoulders. It's the one Jay usually uses when he’s in for a long night of writing. "You need something warm."
Jay keeps his gaze locked on his surroundings and pulls the blanket tighter around him, feeling warmer. They remain in silence for a while, before Jay eventually breaks it. "...Thank you."
Jake looks confused again – as confused as an android is allowed to look – brows knotted and all. "You don't need to thank me."
Jay chews his lip. "I know you're just an android, but thank you for giving me that blanket. That was kind of you to do. And, when you do something kind for someone and they say thank you, you have to say 'you're welcome', okay?"
Jake nods.
Jay manages a smile, before adding, "Come here."
Jake obeys him, and Jay leans over to press the happy button.
"Thank you," he says.
Jay spots a faint outline of a grin growing on Jake's face, his mouth curling at the corners to reveal teeth that make him look a little too cute. A little too human. And once again, Jay finds himself at a loss for words. "...You're welcome."
'Sometimes I wonder if Jake really is an android.'
Jay's having one of those nightmares again. It's so vivid that he can almost feel the pain consuming his legs, hear the loud screech of the tires, breathe in the smell of burnt, twisted metal. He experiences the same dizziness, how he rolls around in the warm pool of his own blood, how his head feels like something's squeezing it. It all hurts. So bad.
Jay's too occupied with everything that he doesn't register the door slamming and footsteps entering.
Jake sees Jay trembling on the bed, sweaty and pale, and doesn't need his motherboard telling him to go help the human for him to spring into action.
He stands next to Jay's bed, and pulls the curtains far apart to let in more air. When the room cools down, he lightly taps on Jay's arm, asking him what's wrong.
Jay doesn't answer. He turns away from Jake so Jake won't see his tears even though it's illogical to do so since Jake is an android and nothing else. "Leave, please."
"But, you're clearly not well."
"You think I don't know that? Just go, please, if you want to help me."
"You're hurt, and it's my job to make you feel better," Jake answers.
Jay sniffs, not saying a word as the bed dips beside him. Then his head's resting on Jake's chest, the android’s arms around him.
"You're hurt, and hugs make people feel better," Jake explains while Jay's tears wet his shirt. "I don't want you to be hurt anymore."
"You don't care about me. You're just an android."
Jake rubs Jay's back in a comforting manner. "I know I am. But I'm just trying to help."
Jay stays silent, and Jake rocks him back and forth, something lowly vibrating through his chest. Jay realizes it's Jake's heart.
Jake holds Jay until he falls asleep. Then Jake rests him on the bed, before quietly shutting the door to finish his chores.
'He acts so much like a human at times. He prioritizes my happiness. Maybe I was just too afraid.'
Jay presses the neutral button on Jake's wrist the next morning.
"If I don't want you entering my room, then don't." Jay glares at him. He wheels himself to the couch and works on his laptop for the rest of the afternoon.
He doesn’t know when he fell asleep, and wakes up to a blanket wrapped around him with his favourite book by his side.
Jake stays out of Jay's way until night comes, and then he appears to ask if Jay's going outside today.
"No."
Jake nods and stands at the corner to charge himself.
For some reason, Jay feels bad, so he calls out to him. "Fine. I changed my mind."
Jake smiles, a little quirk of the lips that looks more awkward than not, and Jay has to remind himself that Jake isn't human. That Jake doesn't care about him. That he's just doing what he's created to do.
But it's hard, especially with how Jake checks up on Jay on a daily basis, doing things that make Jay feel... accepted and loved. Jay, whether he accepts it or not, isn't as lonely as he was before, because Jake is there.
When Jay stops just in front of the yard, he notices the snowflakes falling from the dark sky. He can't believe he's never noticed them before. Maybe that was why Jake had asked if he wanted to go outside today.
"They look pretty," Jake mutters next to him, voice coated with awe. "I wonder what they'd feel like."
"Soft?" Jay replies, scrunching up his nose at his word choice. He's an author, for crying out loud. "...Do you want to touch them?"
Jake looks shocked – the most human he's ever looked. "Really? May I?"
"Sure. Whatever."
Jake carefully walks down the weathered steps, and slowly reaches out his palms, wanting to feel the snow against his fingers. They tickle his skin, and frankly he's quite cautious.
"They won't hurt you!" Jay encourages, kind of entertained by the sight.
Jake looks at the human, something… bright warming his chest at the smile plastered on Jay's face. Jake quickly recognizes it as happiness. The emotion urges him to keep moving forward, and soon enough his black hair is home to several snowflakes.
Jay chuckles at how bold Jake is surrounded by all the snow. He looks so content.
'Now that I think about it, Jake is kind of like an angel. He made my days brighter than they ever were before
He reminds me of you, Heeseung.
Jake seems too good to be true, sometimes. And good things don't last, especially in my life.'
Jake reads passages from Where the Red Fern Grows – Jay's favourite novel – to him a few days later at night when he's trying to sleep.
"Is it easier to fall asleep now?" Jake asks.
Jay hugs his pillow. "No..."
Jake presses the red button on his wrist before Jay can do anything about it.
Jay frowns. "Stop doing that!"
"I just want you to feel better."
"I do. Even if I may not seem like I'm in the best mood, you are making me happier. So stop pressing that button."
Jake looks like a kicked puppy, and Jay immediately feels bad.
Forcing himself upright, he places a hand on Jake’s shoulder and rubs it. "Shoulder rubs indicate comfort and affection, remember?"
Jake smiles, a lock of hair falling over his eyes, and Jay feels accomplished, his heart skipping a beat.
"Let's go outside. I bet the snowflakes are gonna be there again," Jay tells the android, slowly getting up. He'll rather rest, but he knows how much Jake likes the snow. Plus, it's useless trying to get some sleep anyway. He'll just have nightmares.
'I think along the way I started getting selfish. I thought too much of myself, and wanted happiness for once in my short lifetime.'
Jay shuts Jake off while he waits for Dr. Park Sunghoon to tell him the result of his last checkup over the phone.
The man, although nice and civil, is also extremely blunt.
He doesn't sugarcoat anything, so when he notices that something's off with Jay's heart, he tells him straight away. He talks about treatment options, then asks when Jay will be available to come see them.
When the call cuts, Jay feels himself break.
Jay puts on a smile when Jake's powered back on, and the android doesn't suspect a thing. And that's good, because Jay doesn't want Jake to worry.
"Can we get a Christmas tree?" Jake asks that night while Jay’s trying his best to get dinner down. "Oh – and gifts! Though I don't have any money to buy you anything..."
Jay rests his fork on the plate. Despite everything, he nods, because he likes seeing Jake excited. "Alright. We'll get a Christmas tree. We'll decorate it too. And buy gifts. Don't worry about getting me anything though."
"But you took me in," Jake responds. "So you deserve something good."
Jay doesn't answer, but the lump in his throat worsens.
Jay allows Jake to trim his hair the following day since it's getting a bit too long, something he's never done in a long time.
Jake's more than ecstatic, grabbing the hair-cutting shears as he gets to work in front of the bathroom mirror.
When he's done, Jay's hair is shorter, but not too short that it makes the man panic. It's just right. He stares at his reflection, at his tired eyes, sunken cheeks and dejected expression. But Jake beams down at him.
"You look beautiful, Jay," Jake says.
Jay feels like he should believe it, because Jake believes in him.
'Jake makes me happy, but I think I've started to let him go.'
"Why did you start using a wheelchair, if I may ask?" Jake questions a week before Christmas, cuddling Jay on the loveseat. His hands are cold as a result of him running about in the snow earlier, but Jay doesn't mind.
In front of them stands the Christmas tree, wrapped up in fairy lights, baubles and a dazzling star on top that Jake had spent the entire morning making sure laid perfectly in the middle. Frank Sinatra's Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas plays lowly in the background.
Jay hesitates in responding, since he doesn't like talking about that time in his past. "...I was a kid then, and Heeseung and I were playing in this orphanage, like usual. We had a ball that we were throwing around, and then Heeseung had accidentally kicked it to the road. I – I didn't want to lose the ball because my parents got it for me, so... I ran to the road, didn’t watch where I was going, and then I got hit. I don't know how I made it out alive, honestly."
"There's a reason for everything," Jake replies after a few moments of silence. "And you're alive for a reason."
"I don't really know the reason, to be honest,” Jay admits.
"I know you write good books, since I read some of them already. I bet the people who bought your books think they're great, too. So maybe that's the reason you're alive. You bring joy to others through your writing. I… think I'm alive because of this machine in my chest. It's like... like my heart." Jake touches his chest. "And as long as it's working, I'll continue to do what I was made for, which is to help you, Jay."
Jay's eyes water, but he keeps the tears in place. "You... you're being ridiculous."
"I'm not. I'm being truthful, because androids don't lie."
Unlike humans, who rarely keep promises and say that everything's okay when nothing really is. Jay looks away. "Whatever."
Jay falls asleep a couple minutes later. Jake presses a soft kiss on the human's forehead. Then he smiles, observing their festive decorations.
He's happy.
'Heeseung, I wish you came earlier.
I'm sorry'
Jake makes breakfast for Jay a day before Christmas, and enters his room to bring it to him. It takes several tries to wake the man up, but when Jake finally does, he cheerfully wishes him a good morning.
"I made breakfast!" The android beams, placing the plate on the nightstand. He also pushes in Jay's wheelchair, guiding Jay into the seat.
"Thank you, Jake."
Jake smiles. "You're welcome."
Jay returns it and high fives the android, because Jake actually remembered to say those two words this time. He then eats the food, scrambled eggs and toast – his favorite.
After Jake wheels Jay to the bathroom, putting everything Jay needs within reach, he busies himself with cleaning the house like he always does.
But Jay barely has the energy to do much else after showering. He's ashamed when Jake enters, witnessing him in his most helpless state on the shower chair.
Jake doesn't judge him however, or look at him any differently – maybe because he isn't human – grabbing the towels to dry Jay up as carefully as he can, before covering him up and resting him in his wheelchair.
Jay can't doesn't look Jake in the eye throughout, eyes on the floor as Jake asks if he needs help brushing his teeth in that kind, gentle voice of his. In moments like these he seems the most human, but Jay knows there's a difference between being human and having humanity.
"Alright." Jay nods.
And so, Jake helps him brush his teeth, ever so patient as Jay spits out the remaining toothpaste into the sink after they're done, avoiding his reflection whenever possible. He doesn't have to look at himself to know he's lost a significant amount of weight.
Then Jake blow-dries Jay's hair, takes him back into his bedroom, helps him into a pair of boxers, a green sweater and lastly a pair of red socks.
"To match the Christmas season." Jake grins as he's done. Jay doesn't have it in him to be embarrassed as he lies there on the bed, and when Jake is about to leave again, he grips the android's wrist.
Jake immediately stops, glancing his way. "Hm?"
"Can you..." Jay swallows thickly. "Can you just stay here with me today?"
For a second, there's silence. But then Jake wastes little time crawling into the space next to Jay, their faces now inches apart. Jay doesn't hesitate to hold him and Jake reciprocates, arms wrapped securely around Jay's waist.
Jay rests his head on Jake's chest. He can hear his heart. "Thank you."
Jake nods against his hair. "You're welcome, Jay."
Maybe it's the vulnerability of finally losing yourself – or maybe it's because he's truly pathetic, but Jay leans in at that moment, his lips almost brushing against Jake's.
The android stills, dark eyes searching Jay's features. Questioning. Jay's heart falls, but then Jake shuts the distance between them.
His lips are soft, faint against Jay’s, but that's more than enough for him. They stay like that for a few seconds, and Jay lets himself believe he's living the life he's always wanted, cuddling up on the bed with his boyfriend. He'd tell Jake about this new book he's working on, while Jake would hug him tight and grin at him all excited, listening with rapt attention because he's always been good at that.
Maybe he and Jake would even get a pet. A dog, preferably. Jake smiled a lot anytime one appeared on the TV. Jay knows he'd be a good dog dad.
They'd go on date nights that Jake would specifically plan out (Jay just knows he'd be amazing at it), because he believes Jay spends way too much time cooped up in the house and urgently needs a break. Jay would complain but he'd secretly be thrilled, because he considers everyday with Jake a blessing.
Jay soon falls asleep because he's tired, and dreams of better days.
'I hope that someday, I'll be able to walk again.
Then I'll run in the snow with Jake, even though it's a little childish, because I know he'd love it.'
"There'll be a meteor shower tonight. We'll be able to see it from here," Jake predicts that evening as Jay drinks his coffee. He's excited, pacing around the living room. "Can we go watch?"
Jay nods, smiling fondly at how his sweater fits Jake. "Sure, why not? What time is it?"
"A little after midnight, I believe."
Jay watches movies with Jake to pass the time, laughing a little at how flighty the android gets as the moment draws nearer.
When it's eleven fifty, Jay allows Jake to push him through the back door. They wait, staring up at the stars.
In minutes, two shooting stars leap across the sky, mesmerizing to look at.
Jake grins at Jay, an adorable sight. "You should make a wish."
Jay makes a show of clasping his hands together. On the inside, however, he's mourning.
I wish that you'll be happy without me, and find something, or someone else to live for, he thinks. Thanks for not letting me spend this Christmas alone.
"I have a wish too," Jake says all of a sudden, handing Jay something. It looks like a card. "It's a gift. I didn't have money so I couldn't afford a better alternative."
Jay stares at the folded paper before him, decorated in green and red glitter to match the holiday season.
On the front page is scribbled Merry Christmas, Jay, in honestly the messiest writing Jay's ever come across, and Jay has to wonder how an android has such atrocious handwriting. Even with this, hot tears sting Jay's eyes.
It's when Jay opens up the card and sees a drawn picture of what's supposed to be the two of them beside the yard – him in his wheelchair and Jake hugging him tight while snow falls around them – that the tears roll down his cheeks.
Under the drawings are words Jay has to blink a couple of times to read.
'Dearest Jay,
I wish we could live together forever. I know androids don't age like humans do, but maybe I can convince my developers to do something about it.
I'd like to grow old, and spend many more Christmases with you.
Love, Jake'
There's a hand on Jay's shoulder, snapping him out of his somber thoughts. He looks up, meeting Jake's concerned, almost hopeful gaze.
Jay wants to be hopeful too, but he can't allow himself to. Not with the tightness in his chest, not with the way his heart hurts. "You want to grow old with me?"
Jake nods, genuinely serious.
Jay forces on a smile, for his sake. "Okay."
He watches on as Jake soon runs into the snowy yard before them, making snowballs with a beautiful curiosity etched on his features.
Jay finds it all peaceful. He wouldn't mind seeing Jake laughing and playing in the snow like this for the rest of his life.
'I'm sorry that I gave up so easily.'
"Jay, I made snowballs! See?" Jake runs up to meet Jay after a few minutes. "They're pretty easy to make. I just have to find the right amount of snow and – Oh, you fell asleep already? I should bring you inside now, shouldn't I?"
Jake kneels before the human, studying his ashen face, closed eyes and calm expression. "...Jay?"
Jay doesn't respond, even when Jake tries to shake him awake. His motherboard yells at him to stop, but he doesn't listen. "Jay? Look, the meteor shower hasn’t stopped. Why… why aren't you answering me? Please answer me. Jay?"
Jake tries to convince himself that Jay's just taking a nap, but something about Jay's silence this time feels… final.
The night is deathly silent, the machine whirring inside Jake's chest the only sound heard. When Jake checks for a pulse, he finds nothing.
Jake might be suffocating. His grip on Jay loosens, his heart like crushed glass.
He reaches out to press the red button on his wrist.
He presses it the second time.
Then a third.
Then five times.
It continues, until Jake can no longer count the number. But he deserves it, because he hadn't been able to help Jay.
'I hope Jake will be fine.
I know it's too much to ask, but if you see him around, please take care of him, Heeseung. I don't want him to be alone.'
The next day, Jake wakes up and cleans the house that he now calls home. Then he makes Jay some coffee and breakfast, even when he knows Jay won't be able to take them anymore.
Jake then peruses Jay's library of books for hours, and at night, he enters the yard and looks at the sky, telling Jay what he did that day. He covers himself with Jay’s favorite blanket, and keeps pressing the red button on his wrist because Jay isn't there with him anymore, and it's all his fault.
Afterwards, he sleeps on Jay's bed, thinking about nothing else other than him.
Two weeks later, there's a knock on the front door.
As soon as Jake opens it, two unknown men in uniforms stare down at him.
"Is Mr. Park around?" One of them asks.
"He –" Jake's voice wavers, thinking of where he buried him. In the yard, right where he felt Jay would still be able to watch the stars. "He's not here anymore."
"We've been receiving numerous bad reviews from him about you. And since he isn't around, the contract he signed puts you back under our care," the second man says.
Jake panics, because he doesn't want to leave this house, doesn't want to leave the one place that reminds him of the person he cares the most about.
He tries to make a run for it, but the men grab his wrists and activate his power off command.
Jake immediately falls limp. The men take him away.
'Sincerely, Jay.'
A couple stare at a Help Bot. They've just gotten it for their boy who can't walk and are excited to see how everything will go.
The woman turns the android on, watching its eyes glimmer while it blinks. Then the android begins to speak.
"My name is S.JAKE 2.5. How may I help you?"