Rebooting...The word flashed red behind John's closed eyes, along with a short countdown. After it hit zero, he was able to open his eyes again. He blinked into awareness, unsure how much time had passed this time. It was enough time for Lin to have pulled out and cleaned him up. He sat up slowly, surprised by the lack of stiffness in his body. But then, I don't have real muscles anymore...It still surprised him, no matter how many times it happened. He could free run around the estate for hours and not tire. He didn't need to stretch, and even after three or four hours, there was no stiffness or pain anywhere.

"How do you feel?" Lin's voice had come from the side, where he'd propped himself up on one arm. They were beneath the thick cotton duvet, which had been freshly changed. The whole bed had been remade during the time it had taken for him to reboot. It was still somewhat jarring. He hadn't felt a thing as Lin had moved and touched his body. He hadn't always noticed it as a human either, but there had been times he'd been half awake in Lin's arms as he was carried, or he'd opened his eyes briefly when being put to bed. As an android, it seemed like no time had passed at all.

"I think I'm alright." John was mostly referring to his internal systems. His heat levels had gone back to normal, and nothing had been damaged during their lovemaking. Rebooting had also turned off his sexual subroutines since his shaft remained soft between his legs. He was secretly relieved. It would be far too easy to get addicted to that feeling. He practiced bringing up menus behind his eyes. It was something he'd gotten better at over the past couple of months. His reboot had taken around thirty minutes this time. His thirium levels were holding at forty percent, but it was far too low. He should have drunk before they started.

"I brought you some thirium," Lin promoted gently as he handed John a large plastic cup with a lid and straw. It was mostly to prevent any blue from getting on the sheets, but it also worked to hide the blue liquid from sight. Drinking it still made John feel uneasy. He noticed it every time he drank from a clear container or the packet directly. His logical mind knew he was no longer human, but his instincts still warned him it was dangerous. Lin had a similar cup. He'd waited for John to reboot before starting. "Your thirium levels were almost depleted," he warned as he sipped his thirium.

"Mm...If it had run out, you could have kept me as a doll," John joked fondly, watching as Lin seemed to consider it. He sat beside him, resting a hand on the back of his neck and gently massaging. John closed his eyes with a hum of appreciation. It didn't actually loosen any muscles the way it used to, but since Elijah had programmed his sensitive spots, it still sent a wave of contentment through his body. He leaned further into Lin's skilled fingers, chasing the affectionate circles. Lin huffed as he continued to tease and circle the skin.

"I could just look at you forever...Occasionally, I might give you just enough thirium to regain movement and run your sexual subroutines...Enough to have you shivering beneath me...Helpless...Trembling..." His voice was a deep, silken purr. John swallowed nervously, eyeing Lin as his cheeks flushed. Lin was playful as he put their cups aside. He'd only taken one small sip so far. John's eyes widened slightly as he was pushed down on the bed. "I could do it right now...You can't stop me from interfacing with you and turning them on," Lin purred as he rested his hand on John's arm in a place they both knew he could start a probe. John shuddered. He knew Lin wouldn't really do such a thing. "Your thirium level is low...I doubt you have the strength to even push me away..." Lin teased suggestively as he kissed along his jawline.

"I wouldn't want to push you away," John replied in a small voice, his cheeks turning pink as he looked up. Lin's gaze softened as he leaned in for a kiss. He paused, making sure John was still comfortable, before finally pressing down. The kiss wasn't sexual. It was lazy. Comforting and affectionate. Lin drew back and sat up, returning John's cup as easily as he'd taken it. John leaned against his side and nuzzled into him. "Maybe one day we could try it...Running down my thirium level..." John was hesitant in his suggestion, but he knew he could trust Lin.

"Maybe once you've had time to fully adjust...I doubt being a prisoner in your own body would be positive for your mental health right now." Lin had experienced low thirium levels himself. As androids lost thirium they lost strength and mobility. If they had a working power core, most internal systems would continue to work. It would be like watching the world, only without the ability to do anything. A mind trapped in a shell. Lin almost shivered at the memory of how close he'd come to that in the warehouse with his broken limbs and leaking systems. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't know...Everything feels...different. I don't get tired. I don't physically ache. Any pain seems to be temporary...My body is completely different! I have an endless amount of energy. My vision is crystal clear, like a camera lens. It's so crisp and sharp...Sound is the same, just so clear and defined...Whenever I touch things, I can feel them, but I also know things about them...Sixty percent Egyptian cotton, forty percent silk blend," John added as he stroked the duvet cover. It was quite amazing to suddenly be one of the creations he'd devoted his whole life to. At the same time, it was scary and unsettling. He was afraid of something going wrong. Afraid of being deleted or suffering some sort of failure. At the same time, the news that Elijah had saved a copy of his brain made him uneasy. He'd never intended to sign up for immortality. If this counts as immortality...

"I...miss your human body...I miss your scent...The exact silken feel of your hair...The taste of your sweat...The tiny imperfections in your skin that Elijah could never recreate...and yet there is something perfect about you as you are now...Had you remained human, we would never have been able to interface...To share our most intimate thoughts and feelings...That is something I deeply desired to share with you. There were some things I was looking forward to...I was going to trace each new line that appeared on your face, count each silver hair as it grew, watch you grow old...I won't get to do that now, but this is perhaps better...You'll never age or change...Like me. We can remain on even footing for as long as we remain active." Lin took John's free hand and ran his thumb up and down the vein patterns beneath his synthetic skin. John nodded his agreement. He'd lost some things, but he'd also gained some things. He wasn't sure which he preferred. He hadn't had enough time to really get to know this new body. Even after all these months, he still needed to learn how to use his systems. Perhaps in two years, when he'd had time to adjust, he could make a more honest comparison.

"We'll have to make do...I don't think Uncle Eli kept my human body, so I can't go back." Lin smiled at the sheepish joke and nodded his agreement. Exactly what Elijah had done with the flesh shell, Lin wasn't sure. He'd been inactive at the time. It was likely that he'd dealt with it like any other body, either burying or cremating it. He likely wouldn't have had a funeral or laid a headstone though. John was still alive. Alive as far as we're concerned...What about the rest of humanity? Will they accept him? He wasn't even sure his own father would accept him, and Elijah hadn't mentioned it. John hadn't either. Perhaps John also knew how Mr Wishart would react and had decided not to contact him for now.

"Would you want to?" Lin asked curiously, unsure which answer he'd prefer. John looked thoughtful and somehow troubled. His blue eyes took on a far off look as he went over everything that had happened until now. "Would you have chosen this life, if given the choice?" That was perhaps an even more important question. Everything in the past few months had been done without his consent. He'd be dead if Elijah hadn't stepped in. Of course, he was grateful. He'd been given a second chance. A new opportunity. A new experience. But would I have chosen it?

"I'm not sure...I don't hate it, but it's been...an adjustment," John settled on as he sipped his thirium. He could read the little metre in his vision going up as he drink. This one drink wouldn't replenish his levels, but getting more thirium was easy. Elijah had an almost endless supply stored for the workforce and labs below. Not being able to taste properly was something he missed as well, though he should probably be grateful. He knew what thirium tasted like. He remembered it being salty and oily. Even now, he could feel it clinging to his teeth.

"I'm...happy that you were saved...I wouldn't have remained active without you," Lin confessed as he looked down at his own cup. He could feel John watching him and turned his head as he felt a small hand resting on his forearm to get his attention. John looked troubled by the revelation. Of course, he was already unconscious when I..."I had no desire to live without you...My last memory before waking here was removing my power core and entering stasis with you in my arms." Lin wore a far off and somewhat pained look as he thought back.

"I wouldn't have wanted that for you," John replied softly as he nuzzled Lin's bare shoulder. Lin smiled as he ran his fingers through John's fluffed curls. They were still messy and tangled from their earlier lovemaking.

"I know..." He pressed a kiss into John's hair. They remained quiet for a while, John still sucking on his straw. His levels had barely reached forty-seven percent when he finished his cup. Lin refilled it with one of the many bottles he'd brought up. He'd had a feeling John would run low this session. They'd already gone running around the estate and completed further physical tests for Elijah before returning to their room. Their original intention had been to shower. However, John had other ideas as they'd stripped off, and Lin hadn't objected. "We should shower once you've had your fill." John didn't argue as he sucked his straw.

Lin left the bed and turned on the shower in preparation, his mind automatically turning to the outside world. John was perfectly happy here in Elijah's home, but how would he feel when they returned to their own home? If they returned. The shop was gone. If they were to return, they'd have to rebuild. How would his friends treat him? It was unlikely his status would be kept a secret. It seemed to be Elijah's intention to make his procedure public so that it could be used for others. How would regular people treat John once they knew? What about David and his other friends? Would they accept him? He hoped so, though he didn't doubt it would take time.

"Lin..." John's naked body pressed up behind him. Lin huffed fondly as he turned in John's arms and guided him into the shower. Lin would be with him, no matter what. He'd shield him from those who'd abuse him, and fight his corner whenever necessary. He wouldn't let anyone treat John as something less than human. Less than a person. Less than John...