[ 2B isn't sure why, but she finds herself rising to the occasion. Her expression is one of cool, simmering annoyance as he turns to face her, her eyebrows furrowing as she squares her jaw. She tries not to lose sleep over the thought of 9S in someone else's bed, though she knows such thoughts are useless at best and dangerous at worst. Their relationship has undergone many a change since their arrival upon the island, and while most of them are for the better, 2B finds herself yearning for the simpler days where she was simply his ward and her feelings were much less complicated.

Emotions are pain, pure and simple. While she misses the simplicity of their time back in their world, she vastly prefers this reality to killing him over and over again. She'd rather be having this uncomfortable argument with him time and again if it meant that she'd never have to hurt him again. ]

I don't know what protocol you're talking about, but I'm pretty sure it flew out the window the moment we woke up here. [ 2B's gaze holds his evenly, fire flickering behind her eyes. ] I'm pretty sure protocol doesn't entail fucking strangers, either, but that hasn't stopped either of us, now has it?

[ Her voice is low, dangerous. ] Protocol didn't stop you from running off to take care of that brand the instant it showed up on your skin.

[ 2B knows that that's not entirely fair; 9S' nature makes him inherently inquisitive. Of course he'd be interested in studying the nature of their prison and all that their captivity entails. Still, she glares at him, leaning against the edge of a table with her arms folded, one leg crossed over the other. ]