Chapter Text
December 31st. Just over a month after the government decided that androids could get rights. It wasn’t easy getting here. Markus can still vividly picture the sight of blue blood splattered across the concrete streets of Detroit. But he did it. They did it. Now looking over the city, Markus can feel a sense of pride rising in his chest. They came so far. There was still work to be done. So. Much. Work. Markus was getting tired of all the meetings and documents. But he knew it was necessary for the hope that humans and androids could one day co-exist.
“You’re here early,” North greets as she enters the abandoned warehouse with Josh.
“Wanted to get my easel set up so I could paint the fireworks,” Markus replies.
North hums in acknowledgement as she sits on the ledge the building’s open wall creates. Markus smiles and sits next to her, waving Josh over to do the same.
“Can’t believe it’s been nearly two months since Simon died…” Josh murmurs as he sits a cautious two feet from the edge.
North shakes her head. “Damn. It feels like just yesterday.”
Markus gazes up at the sky, stars just now starting to appear. “Do… Do you guys think I made the right decision? Leaving Simon behind I mean… We could’ve taken him with us. We brought the parachute.”
“No,” North scolds, “Don’t think like that. We can’t go back and change the past, so there’s no use dwelling on it.”
Josh nods. “I hate to say it, but North is right. Simon wouldn’t want us stuck in the past anyway. He’d want us focused on the future.”
Markus lowers his gaze, turning to face North and Josh. “Yeah… You guys are probably right.” He smiles. “Now what are we waiting for? Who brought the stuff?”
Josh motions toward a very excited North who then points to a large wooden crate sitting next to the entrance. It’s filled with poppers and sparklers and other simple technologies that make just enough fire to keep small children entertained until the real show starts. “I did!” She states getting up to go grab one.
“Then let’s start the 2039 New Years celebration!” Markus exclaims as he stands up, offering a hand to Josh so he can do the same. “Let’s go get our girl before she burns all of Jericho to the ground,” Markus playfully remarks as he helps Josh up. In response Josh just stares at him, the look on Josh’s face somewhere between amused and horrified. “Yeah… that would’ve been funnier about two months ago, huh?” Markus admits.
“Yep.”
Despite the unfortunate timing of Markus’s joke, the small group would soon find it extremely fitting. North enjoys playing with flames, and that joy caused a recklessness that led to a small fire. The group were able to deal with it before anything serious happened, but after the playful teasing North endured as a consequence, she’s sure she’ll never live that moment down.
The years come to a perfect end with the group huddled together, watching the fireworks the city set off from afar. This year had been a struggle, that was for sure, but it was all worth it if it meant Markus could spend the rest of his life with these Androids.