"Here, let me," Naru offered warmly as Mai went to pick up a tray of drinks. She sighed fondly as Naru easily balanced the round tray of hot drinks with perfect poise. It was annoyingly attractive. He even managed to swoop in and kiss her cheek without jostling the full cups. Mai watched him circle the counter and head over to a round table, where four humans sat talking loudly about the latest movie they'd just seen. They thanked Naru as he handed their drinks out, none of them commenting or even looking at the blue LED on his temple.

"He takes good care of you," Takigawa observed quietly as he watched Naru clear up an empty table. He gathered the old cups onto his tray and wiped it down one handed. Mai leaned her elbows on the counter, watching almost dreamily until Takigawa teasingly waved a hand in front of her eyes. He stopped as Ayako's elbow jabbed him in the side. Mai didn't notice any of that as her focus remained entirely on Naru. She had a fuzzy feeling in her chest and flutters in the pit of her stomach. She smiled as Naru looked up and met her gaze in surprise.

"I think it's sweet!" Ayako excused, and Takigawa couldn't argue with that.

"Looks like Romeo and Juliet got a happy ending this time," he murmured as he sipped his coffee in satisfaction. Life seemed so much better than before. He lived with Ayako openly, as his girlfriend. Naru had moved in with Mai to take care of her and help run the café. John and Lin had a brand new superstore and penthouse. Even Charlie was getting his new life on track. He looked around idly for Charlie, who was sitting at a small table with two RG600 androids. They'd become good friends during the protest, and Charlie would often disappear with them for a few hours at a time. He waved as he noticed Takigawa watching. The more socially awkward of the RG600s also waved. Takigawa grinned and held up a hand in return.

"How are you feeling? Do you need a break?" Naru asked anxiously for the fiftieth time that day. Mai couldn't blame him. They'd only been open for about a month, and Mai was still on painkillers, but the pain itself had lessened quite a bit. Elijah had suggested, and tried, some sort of electrotherapy and that had actually helped a lot. She also had a local doctor she went to every two days for further treatment. Despite her progress, Mai often got tired and started to ache after standing for too long. "You should sit down with Takigawa for a while and enjoy yourself," Naru added as he stepped behind the counter and dealt with the dirty cups.

"He's right, you know. You don't want to overdo it," Takigawa added, watching warmly as Naru sidled up behind Mai and wrapped his arms around her waist, his head leaning down to bump hers. She rested her hands on his arms and leaned back, letting him take most of her weight. He closed his eyes in contentment, enjoying his own sort of peace as he rested his chin on her shoulder. He quite enjoyed working in the shop. It may not keep his mind busy like the bank, but his social interactions were improving, and Mai was teaching him how to make the perfect coffee.

"I'm fine, really!" Mai replied affectionately, her skin prickling as Naru moved to pepper light kisses along her shoulder. A small yelp escaped as her knees buckled from the sensation of Naru's lips teasing the skin circling her cybernetic spine. The tickle of his lips on her sensitive skin had sent shocks through her nerves, and the surprise had made her collapse. Takigawa was on his feet in an instant, leaning over the counter as she dropped, but she hadn't fallen. Naru's arms, already loosely around her waist, had tightened the instant he'd noticed her slight wobble.

"Break time," Naru stated firmly, easily lifting Mai into his strong arms and carrying her around the counter like a blushing bride. Takigawa sighed in relief as he sat down and pushed a stool back. He supported Mai as Naru deposited her on the seat and moved back around the counter. Ayako smiled brightly as she looped her arm through Takigawa's where it rested on the counter. He leaned ever so slightly closer to her in response, feeling her head rest against his shoulder. It felt good to be out in public together. Many humans didn't even realise she was an android, but he wouldn't care if they did. He felt lucky to have her either way.

"You know, in a few years I'll be a real silver fox, complete with the hot sugar baby!" Takigawa thought aloud, giving Ayako a wolfish grin as she slapped his arm. His hazel eyes were slightly crinkled in amusement, the first faded lines already creasing his youthful face. Ayako wondered what he'd look like in a few years. He'd get laughter lines. A lot of them. They'd crinkle his eyes and cross his brow in their hundreds, she was sure. His hair would streak and fade with silver, but she wasn't sure he'd lose it. She couldn't even imagine him without his lion's mane.

"Technically, you're already a sugar daddy. I'm barely four years old," Ayako teased with mirth, not missing the way his eyes shot open at that. He coughed sheepishly as he took her hand, amazed at how human it felt even now. It was warm and soft, with perfect nails and perfect skin. He raised her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, enjoying the way her eyes warmed and her lips widened into a gentle smile.

"Well...you don't look a day over six months," he insisted in a flattering tone, accepting the amused kiss that Ayako pressed to his lips. He chuckled at the look Mai was giving him. It was a smirk that suggested she'd been hanging around with Naru and Yasuhara a little too much. Naru had returned to his place behind the counter, wiping clean cups with a tea towel and stacking them neatly on the coffee machine. He was wearing a similar look of amusement as he watched the exchange, blue eyes raising as the bell above the door rang.

"Sorry we're late! I lost track of time at the shop," John greeted sheepishly as he pushed the door open, stumbling a little as he was pulled inside by Katie's eager hand. She loved the hot thirium in the café. She thought it was nice to feel warmed from the inside out. Lin followed only a few steps behind and shut out the cold. Voices raised in greeting from the counter and the androids at the small table. Naru was already working, knowing what they'd drink since there was currently only one option for androids.

"How's the new shop? Any trouble so far?" Takigawa asked meaningfully as John approached the counter. Katie tugged her coat off and put it on one of the stools next to Ayako, who dutifully helped her climb up. They'd met a few times by now, both at the shop and the café. Katie sometimes stopped in after school with Lin or John, and Ayako always bought her thirium from John's store. Lin ordered three thirium lattes from Naru, who was already halfway through the order.

"Not since the opening, but Lin handled it," John replied sheepishly, dropping his blue eyes and hoping Takigawa wouldn't ask for details. It had shocked him. Hurt him even. He should have expected it. He'd known somewhere inside that not all people would accept what he'd become, but to actually have it happen was much harder. During the opening, someone had recognised him from his interview. They'd asked him how it felt to no longer be a real person and then joked that they'd made a mistake, because glorified toaster ovens don't feel. John had shut down right away. His chest had tightened as he'd bitten his lip until it almost bled. Lin had been at his side moments later, his fist connecting hard with the human's cheek. Luckily for them, Takigawa had already given his uniformed friends the message to be on the lookout. The man had wanted Lin arrested and destroyed, but the attending officers had threatened him with hate speech and reminded him that, legally, John was still registered as a human on paper.

"And how are you doing now?" Takigawa asked a little more quietly, helping Mai down as she insisted on returning to help Naru. Naru objected as she appeared behind him, but he quickly made room for her. She stood heating some thirium as Naru pressed up behind her again. He got a mug ready in front of her and held it steady while she poured. John took Mai's place, giving Takigawa a small smile. It was a question he was used to getting by now. He got it from everyone, constantly. David, Joel, Adrian, the RG600 androids, Elijah, Chloe. The only one who hadn't asked so far was his father. He didn't expect him to.

"I'm alright...It's still strange, and it's tiring sometimes...splitting my time between the shop and Detroit. There's still a lot that Elijah wants to do. A lot of tweaks and upgrades we're working on," John replied with an edge of fatigue, secretly grateful as Lin appeared behind him. He tugged him back to lean against his much taller body, wrapping his arms protectively around his waist. He spoke a little more about what Elijah was working on. Internal hardware to process human food into useable energy, a taste function, improved nasal sensors, physical fatigue, and a programmable sleep function. These were all in development right now, with varying levels of completion and success. The sleep program was his top priority because he knew how much John hated stasis.

"You shouldn't push yourself so much...Let him use someone else as his guinea-pig for a change," Lin grumbled with a small frown, trying to hide his frustration. It was painful, watching John get hooked up, poked, prodded, and sometimes suffering side effects. Seeing him in pain. Seeing him upset. He didn't need to look to know what John was doing. He almost rolled his eyes as he raised his hand and pressed his thumb against John's lip, feeling teeth nipping his skin. He felt John kiss his thumb in apology before he turned in his seat.

"No one else can...I'm the only hybrid, the only one who knows what these things should feel like!" John replied in exasperation as he looked up at Lin, who was avoiding his gaze. He knew John was right, but that didn't mean he had to like it. "Besides...you help me..." John added quietly, which Lin couldn't argue with. He kept Elijah in check where possible, letting him know when he was going too far. He also offered himself as a test subject where he could, like with their current temperature software. He had to admit, it was interesting being able to feel hot and cold. John said it wasn't quite the same, but it was very similar. With a few more tweaks, it would be perfect. It was worth it to see the way John's face softened when he sank back in the bath.

"Of course...You're my human," Lin purred possessively, right against his earlobe. John enjoyed the shiver that ran down his spine, Lin's breath still warming his neck as he teased his reaction. John gave him an almost pitiful look, a look that told him he was torn between enjoying their evening out and begging him to go home. "And I love you," Lin added as he drew back, giving John's waist an apologetic squeeze. John almost beamed at the news, Lin's words filling him with warmth. He leaned back further into Lin's chest, forcing him to step closer to stop him toppling from his stool.

"I love you, too." John took Lin's hand and looked up at him with the same seriousness he had over a year ago. It was a memory Lin had reviewed many times. The memory of John gripping his hand and promising he'd help. Swearing he wouldn't let him shut down. That he'd definitely bring back a power core. That same power core was still humming in his chest. Beside them, Takigawa had shifted his attention to give them a few private moments as he wrapped his arm around Ayako's waist and joined her in talking to Katie.

"Naru! Mai!" a new voice greeted as the bell rang. Naru and Mai looked up with matching smiles as they saw him enter. There were warm greetings and excited exchanges as Yasuhara walked up to the counter beside Lin and John. The couple behind the counter greeted him warmly and Yasuhara then fell into an easy conversation with Takigawa. Lin felt the time was appropriate for them to slip away, just for a little while.

"Come with me," he urged quietly, tugging John's hand until he stood. They grabbed their full mugs before Lin led the way to a small table by the window. Yasuhara instantly took their place at the bar so that he could lean across to talk to Mai. Lin and John sat across from each other, hands held across the round table. "I was so afraid when I deviated...I never imagined loving a human. When you first touched me, I was terrified. Broken...In pieces...I didn't understand why you put so much effort into fixing me. You were the kindest, gentlest, and most loving human I could have hoped to meet, and when I thought I'd lost you...I'm grateful to Elijah for bringing you back, and giving us this second chance," Lin confessed quietly, watching John's cheeks heat at the attention. He smiled softly. John never knew the effect he had on people. He looked at their joined hands, his thumb tracing the synthetic flesh. It felt so much like his human skin. There was a slight difference, of course. If he scanned it, his sensors would detect the synthetic materials. It didn't feel quite as warm, though John did run hotter than most androids. The texture was almost perfect, but Lin could still detect the slightest hint of smoothness that didn't quite match human skin. It looked the same though. Each line, each crease, and small hair. He was as close to perfect as he could be.

"I was scared, too...At first, I was afraid of letting you down. Then, I was afraid I was manipulating you somehow...When we figured out our relationship, it was the best thing to ever happen to me...I wouldn't change a single thing. Losing my body has been...painful...I know I'm not the same, and I know you can feel it...but I don't regret it. We helped to end the revolution. The final moments of my human life went towards peace and freedom for androids, and even if Uncle Eli hadn't saved me, I couldn't regret that...And when I saw you again, when we almost...I don't know what I would have done if you'd left me." John's jaw tightened at the memory as he squeezed Lin's hand like a vice. Lin tried to push down his guilt. He remembered the broken cry John had let out as he'd turned his back. His desperate pleas not to leave. It still tore him up from the inside. "I wouldn't have been able to come this far without you...I'd probably still be lying on a bed in Elijah's lab." John couldn't imagine Markus helping him as Lin had. He was busy with his own work as a leader. John would have been alone without Lin, or reliant on Elijah and Chloe. I wouldn't see the point without Lin.

"I'm sorry...I don't even want to imagine leaving you there. I was so ready to walk out of that garden, but when I heard your voice I...I couldn't." Lin retracted his skin and held up his hand. John smiled softly as he allowed the interface. The couple joined to share their deepest thoughts and feelings. It was something they did regularly, but at times like this, it felt so much more intimate. John could feel the pain and hesitancy in Lin's chest that day as if it were his own, just as he knew Lin could feel his despair and desperation. "I adore you, John Brown...right down to your core," Lin added with a twitch of his lips. John said nothing before leaning across the table and kissing him. No words were needed. The warmth in his blue eyes was enough. It always had been, and it always would be.