[ She had seemed to take to the flower, but the rest that follows? Not... Exactly what he wanted. But he expected it. This is 2B. Cold and aloof. 9S often has to wonder if this is a front that she puts up to avoid something, and he never stopped wondering if she initially intended for them to never get close. He could point out the flower in her hair, correct her, but something about what she says has him feeling a bit deflated. ]

[ There is no room for loneliness in war. ]

[ 9S turns his head away from 2B, simply following beside her. Perhaps with a bit of distance between them. Perhaps what happened a few days ago was a mistake. He shouldn't be surprised. It's not recommended of androids to participate in anything remotely close to intimacy. Hell, even friendships are ill-advised. ]

[ But it's 9S' obsession with humans that has him so far off from what is expected of him. It's no secret that he'd rather be human than a cold, unfeeling android. But he can't help it, and he can't understand why androids have emotions to begin with if they aren't supposed to have them. So what does that make him? Other than separated from the rest... ]

[ At least 2B gives him the time of day. He always seems to put his own Operator in a bad mood. Pod 153 has been a close companion, but... That's different. ]

[ Perhaps he's just assuming too much and there's just something wrong with his code. His gaze shifts down to his feet, voice lowered. ]

Right.

Loneliness is just a human concept anyway. More for social creatures. Androids just... Do the bare minimum. Whatever's relevant for the mission.

[ He probably should just stick to that. And whatever signal he's reading from afar. ]