[ Why is it that terror has decided to take the forefront now? Even as 9S feels comfort in the way she holds him so close, something about all of this poisons him. His stress levels haven't gone away, and it's a wonder his Pod hasn't commented on it yet. She had, much before he had returned, but it's pretty clear now that he's not "fine", as he'd also reassuringly put it. No, 9S is far from fine, especially when the conflicted feelings he has continues to plague him.

She tries to calm his tears. It succeeds only insofar as the sobbing softens. But the tears don't stop. It's years of them, he thinks, but he can't be sure. All of his memories are there but they don't feel like they belong in his head. Nothing feels right. He feels like a stranger in his own body because it's been replaced so many times. Is he even the same 9S?

Who the fuck is he?

"I love you."

"I'm with you."

The words sound so genuine but so foreign. 9S clings to them nonetheless as he strives to melt into her. She kisses the corner of his lips, and they part in a shaken exhale that gets caught in his throat. He manages to reach her face, to touch it as he has so many times before. He can only hope that she doesn't see this as a mistake, because he isn't sure if he can see it as anything but. The more she reassures him, though, the easier it gets. But only by a small number.

His voice is a labored whisper, hoarse and struggling as he speaks against her lips. ]

Something...

Something is wrong with me. I don't know what it is. I can't... For once I can't figure anything out.

Did I break myself?