Markus one day feeling all his insecurities attack him, from not feeling good enough to be leader of his people, his memories in he Junkyard, to not feeling worthy being with Connor. He hides in a corner of Carl's old room or his studio, curled up impossibly small upon himself. Connor finds his after however many hours of Markus' ignoring his calls. Connor of course relieved but worried. Ahh all the feels. *Cries endlessly*
Markus role is beyond stressfulness.
Do not get me wrong here, I love the Jericrew™ so much, but they ain't Markus.
North, Josh, and, 'waiting to die' Simon are afterthoughts. What I mean is when the revolution breaks, respectively because Markus does push it forward, they are just background noise, accomplices to the humans.
They are much more in Jericho, where their skills they've developed as individuals are put to use as co-leaders.
But to the world, Markus is public enemy number #1.
Markus being overwhelmed is a common occurrence I've head cannon, he just redirects it or ignores his needs in lieu of others better, because their will always be a android in need at this time.
***
Connor falls into the mix after the revolution is won and him being deviant with his beautiful face and scanning capabilities and Markus loves and hates him immediately because he knows that Connor will know what's up with him.
They grow to something more and Connor does know, in fact, Markus is not dealing, not with legislation and rights being hammererd out... Carl's death soon afterwards. He tries not to push but of course he's worried and loves him so much. He understands firsthand more than any other android created the stress of having a major mission, of having to accomplish it all cost. It just so happens he was for the opposite side of this same task Markus is undertaking so his resolved itself when he switched sides...
Connor finds Markus one day staring off into nothing. He scans him and his stress levels are in the 70s. Connor internally wigs out and sends markus to bed after platitudes and kisses, promising to continue on whatever benign thing he'd been working on. He swears to watch him closer, make him be more honest talk with him more.
***
Markus goes off the grid.
He's just gone. He's not answering and no longer even in Jericho as his scans indicate. There's one of two places that he knows that Markus would be.
Connor pulls up to Lafayette avenue in front of the beautiful mansion.
The chime of the door lets him in and Connor was touched that Carl had thought of him to continue visiting. Meeting the man had been another wonderful human experience.
Scanning and moving, he took the stairs swiftly to where he felt Markus was.
He looked small, so wrong for the presence he'd built up to the world.
He was in a corner of Carl's, his father's room, silently weeping and stress levels a mess. He clutched at a medium sized picture of Carl and himself when he was caretaking.
Caretaking. That's what he was doing on a grand scale and it was exhausting him.
"Markus, you cannot keep doing this to yourself. I am here. I am am to help you. North, Simon, and Josh are able to be delegated to. I love you, just, please let me help."
Markus in his silence for a moment and allows Connor to pull him into the the weighted, comforting hug only Connor could give and the dam just broke.
His tears were real, hot, and justified. He was so hurt for all his people had and were going through and the loss of his father.
Connor lets him just talk and cry, interface when words fail.
***
Markus is better for it, leans on the crew more, on his lover as well instead of trying to take the world on alone.
