[ 2B begins to calm the more 9S exhibits the traits that make him... well, himself, and though she can't deny the pain she feels, she's happy to have him back by her side. She can feel how warm he is even from this distance, and she notices the twitch of his hand just as she pulls away. 2B mildly regrets allowing her arm to fall, but she chalks that up to the foolish sense of hope she's inexplicably holding onto.
9S has never once left her thoughts since the end of the first cycle. 2B feels almost as if she's forgotten what it feels like to think of anything else, and she knows that it shows. Her Pod has commented on her mental stability on more than one occasion over the past month, though thankfully it was usually in the heat of battle, far removed from any other android down on the surface. 2B knows that she can't possibly carry on like this, but she doesn't know what else to do.
2B simply grunts in response to what he says as they make their way back to the camp in relative silence. The walk back seems to take an eternity with the transport systems down, and the sound of his footsteps crunching alongside her own feel mildly like stab wounds in her head. When they finally do reach the camp, she leads 9S towards the small room tucked away near the entrance, turning her head over her shoulder to speak. ]
We've got nothing else on the docket today. The Resistance Leader is loaning us this room while we're running YoRHa operations here on the surface. There's a bed for you on one side; I'll let you know if we get any further orders from Command.
[ With that, she pushes the door to the room open and moves to her side of the small chamber. ]
[ The entire trek back is... Uncomfortable. 9S isn't sure what to do or say, especially when all he can think about is the feeling of her gloved hand against his cheek. Why does it matter? Is he just that sensitive? It's not like he's been touched by anyone before, so maybe he's just reacting the way he's meant to.
The silence is deafening, but 9S spends the entire walk to the camp just thinking. Hes not sure if it's a blessing that he can take this silence to quietly go over that code. He examines it behind his combat visor, which is a bit difficult while focusing on walking, but something is nagging at him to do it. He finds it strung out through his normal coding, as if it was purposefully hidden away. It can't be located through a normal scan-- He's tried. This seems intentional.
Did he... Put this here? Or had someone else?
It's not a full sentence. Just words. 2B's name scattered all over the place, inconsistent, and it's hard to tell if the words "dead" and "love" are related to one another in any way. They're spelt awkwardly, utilizing symbols and numbers in favor of traditional spelling, and it's extremely clear that these are in place to send a message to him.
When he looks at 2B, he can't help but try and piece everything around her. There's only so much that he can deduct from this, and that likely involves asking her more questions. But... What would that result in? Is the word "dead" a warning? And if so, is it for her or for him?
They arrive at their room, 9S quietly following in toe as 2B follows up on its purpose. He gazes around, dropping his bag upon his bed as he takes a glance at the entirety of their placement. ]
It's pretty big. That's... Really nice of them to give us such large accommodations. I hope it's not a problem.
Guess it isn't, if they offered.
[ He sits at his bed, where his view of 2B is slightly blocked between shelving and random objects. He tilts to see her better, sitting in brief silence until he realizes he won't be able to for long. This is driving him insane. ]
They did. [ She responds evenly, satisfied with the organization of her chipset. 2B opens up her second configuration, replacing some chips with more efficient ones if only to distract herself from the fact that the both of them are alone together. She knows nothing of the contingency that 9S left for himself, and she burns in silence.
At his next question, 2B pauses, her finger lifted above the projected chip menu in front of her. She knows he can see her, though her expression remains unshifting beneath her visor.
She knows the correct answer to this. She really does. But something rebellious inside of her cries out and takes hold of her when she speaks, arguing that yes, she hasn't done routine maintenance on herself in weeks, she's fairly sure a few of her environmental filters is busted, her nerve sensors are fried, she needs him to be so much closer-- ]
[ Validation. To be needed. Those are things 9S is in constant need of. The last cycle had fulfilled that, but his previous reformatting had left him an empty shell. Hungry and parched for something he isn't sure he'll ever get. So when 2B agrees to maintenance, 9S is on his feet quick. Questions and curiosities aside, all he knows is that he wants to be there for her. To please her and ensure she's safe and well. 9S can't say he's ever felt that for anyone else, and he can't understand why. At all.
But he moves forward. There's so much on his mind, and part of him wonders if seeing 2B's entirety via maintenance will answer any of his questions. He was told to only do what is supportive of routine maintenance, to not pry any further, as it's unnecessary and unethical. But... He has so many questions. ]
You got it.
[ His feet click upon the ground with every step, seemingly echoing in the small room that bears so much silence on 2B's end. He comes close to her bed, standing to the point of hovering over her as he activates his projected screen. ]
Initiating routine maintenance check. You can relax if you want.
[ It may take some time. But 9S connects to her quickly, initiating the full scan. Which takes little to no time. His brow perks when he's immediately thrown a barrage of malfunctioning or broken code. So many of her features are either completely out of date or broken entirely. Unnecessary buildup of files and back-end commands that never went through. ]
This... Wow. There are a lot of errors I'm getting here, ma-- 2B.
[ 2B knows of 9S' need for validation; she's seen it since the beginning of the neverending cycle between them. Part of her feels disgusting, like she's playing with that need in order to further her own gain, but another part of her argues that it's only logical. This had been their relationship outside of her own personal feelings, so it stands to reason that she would ask him to perform maintenance upon her like this.
As she hears him step closer, she closes her chipset menu in order to lie on the bed provided for her, removing her visor. There would be no need for it here. She knows full well that 9S won't go prodding through her memories or other auxiliary functions, but... She can't help but wonder what would happen if he did. Still, she does nothing to verbalize her thoughts, instead opting to remain still as he scans her. At his question, she exhales. ]
... Weeks. Months, maybe. [ She offers lamely. Honestly, maintenance had been the last thing on her mind. ] My reactionary processors have been sluggish lately. That explains a lot.
[ She tries to remain casual, like she hasn't been barely holding it together this whole time. ]
[ He hadn't taken 2B to be inefficient. This is... Ridiculously inefficient. 9S is shocked, because his initial observations of anyone aren't usually wrong. This is flat-out neglect. Many of the issues he's finding being so simple to fix when they first start, but can so easily lead to requiring replacement if they go unchecked. He looks worried, because he can't help it. ]
Sluggish? I'm surprised it's running at all. At this rate, you'll need a full replacement. I can't do anything about this from a software level.
[ He squints at the errors firing off regarding her nerve sensors. How... Really? She must be practically numb. Or in constant pain. He can't be sure. 9S is functioning purely on an analytical level when he leans down and pinches her arm. ]
[ It definitely isn't like 2B to fall into such a state of disrepair; she can hear the incredulity in 9S' voice, and part of her feels... sheepish. A little embarrassed. What is wrong with her? Still, she shows no outward signs of this, her eyes moving to his face. She can see his furrowed brow from beneath his visor, and it puts a heavy weight on her chest. ]
... No. [ She says, completely honest. The constant pain had been an issue in the beginning, but she'd ignored it. Now she hardly feels anything, and while that had its uses in combat, she knows that it makes her inefficient. She's prone to be labelled a liability at this rate. ]
... Should I see the medics instead? Are you equipped to handle hardware issues as a scanner type?
[ He can't imagine what mentality goes behind ignoring maintenance issues outright. There's something rather indicative of something wrong with 2B in terms of her mental state. That can be the only answer. No android willingly goes without repairs if they're needed. His gut wrenches, heart seemingly pained to see how many error messages pop up one after another. He isn't certain why he's so emotionally compromised facing this, but he doesn't feel that he should question it. 2B's health is crucial to all missions, and he's in charge of her stability and well-being. Because of this, he wears a bit more of a serious composure.
With the swipe of his hand, 9S forced the projection to the side so he can better face 2B. It's hard, for whatever reason, but his worry takes the front seat. Gently, he reaches down to usher her up. ]
Depends entirely on how bad it is. I might be able to do a simple fix, if a replacement isn't required. C'mon, sit up for me?
[ Should she comply, 9S seats himself on her bed. He crosses his legs, facing her completely. He points to her abdomen. A bit meek when he starts to speak again. ]
I um. Just need to open the front panel of your abdomen. Could you unbutton your top? Y-You don't need to do it all the way. Just enough for me to take a look.
[ 2B hadn't realized just how far into disrepair that she's fallen, but seeing the seriousness that clouds 9S' features clues her in. She knows she's being careless, that her prime directive should be at the forefront of her list of priorities, but something inside of her shifted between the time she'd last killed him until now. The world seemed to hold nothing more for her, especially in the wake of the fact that 9S was going to return, completely unaware of who she is and what he means to her.
2B complies easily, sitting up. She says nothing as she does as she's bade, undoing her skirt and lifting her top, pushing the upper part of her leotard down so he can more easily access her front panel.
She knows it's overkill. But some disgusting part of her can't help it. ]
[ He can easily face most grave situations from a logical standpoint. Not allow himself to get too scared or nervous when he's faced with something that requires finesse. But he's got his faults, his weaknesses, and 9S is discovering that for whatever reason, 2B is one of them. He's mentally prepared to open her up and get this done quickly without much guilt or nerve.
And then she completely goes topless.
9S had his gaze locked on her abdomen. Prepared to keep his glance there and pay attention to nothing else. But when everything comes off and he's met with her breasts squeezing out from her leotard, he halts. 9S' eyes widen, and he's thankful for the cover that his combat visor gives. But that doesn't hide the brows that raise. His pulse-rate is spiking again, heart mechanism pounding against his chassis. ]
O-Or that. That works, too.
[ His voice cracks there, cheeks colored. 9S struggles to shake out of that, but he manages once he gets to work on opening up her front panel. He hesitates at first, especially because he realizes fast that it's hard not to stare at her tits. And he isn't entirely sure why they're a distraction to begin with. It's not like he hasn't seen a naked android before. But.... They weren't activated yet.
Somehow this is different. 9S feels something shift inside of him, but he ignores it for now. Once he's exposed to her wiring and panel, he can find some focus. Her circuits aren't fried, thankfully, and that brings a sigh of relief. ]
It'll take a few moments but....
[ 9S leans to the side, zooming his camera in further toward her insides. ]
I think I can take care of this. Nothing's sparking or overheating. Your nerve-circuits burned out, but I think I can salvage them.
You... Really shouldn't avoid routine maintenance going forward. I'll keep it in check going forward, don't worry.
[ 2B keeps her eyes locked on his face, knowing damn well what her stripping down like this will do to him. A small, selfish part of her feels satisfaction in knowing that she still has this sort of effect on him regardless of his memories, but she keeps her expression as stoic as ever. With the top portion of her dress bunched up around her neck, she imagines she looks a little bit like those human women in that magazine that they had found in that basement an eternity ago, if one didn't take into account the fact that her abdominal chassis was open and vulnerable, exposing the wires underneath.
She can practically feel the way his eyes linger over her bare chest beneath his visor, the coloring of his cheeks giving her a more explicit indicator than any of his behavior.
At what he says next, she inclines her head, remaining stock still as she lowers her gaze. 2B can't deny that she wants him closer, and the feeling of being so vulnerable in front of him sparks an almost Pavlovian response within her. She feels hot, though she knows she has no reason not to; he's performed maintenance on her a countless number of times before. The last cycle seems to have added a strange, hungry sensation to the feeling of being laid bare beneath his eyes, though, and 2B focuses on quelling the urge even as her body seems to prepare itself for something that... hadn't happened in nearly a month.
What on earth is wrong with her? ]
... Sorry for the trouble, and thanks for the assist. [ 2B manages, curt as ever. She does her best not to shift, but she can't help it; a familiar awareness begins to build between her thighs the more she feels him look at her, and she squeezes them together in response. ]
[ It's... Certainly an interesting position she's in. 9S tries to bury himself in his work, but he can't help his gaze wandering here and there. 2B's breasts are quite perfect in their shape, a generous size and pale under the light. Delicate, pink nipples that continuously catch his eye and make this the most difficult maintenance session since his activation period. He isn't sure why. Normally this doesn't bother him but something about 2B does..
He doesn't realize that a similar Pavlovian response has effected him... Elsewhere. 9S is so drawn in to the act of repairing his partner, he pays no attention at all to the tent he's pitched in his shorts. Call it unawareness of the software that's still activated.
He forces his gaze down, it shows in his posture that he's trying. For a moment, he's silent as he tinkers around in her abdomen, delicately fussing with wires and ports. Disconnecting and reconnecting receptors all while making sure he doesn't intentionally power her down. 9S has an extremely delicate hand, and while it takes a lot of troubleshooting and referring to the projection that still hovers beside him, eventually? He gets her at 100%. Distractions and all. ]
Any... time.
[ He's delayed in his response, tongue darting out to the side when he leans in. ]
Ok. I disconnected your nerves while they cooled down. Should be fixed now. There were just a few snags in the wiring that I was able to sauder back together.
I'm gonna reconnect them now. It might hurt or be overwhelming. Fair warning.
Ok.
And...
[ 9S switches her nerve receptors back on, bracing himself should something spark or hurt her. That seems to keep the heat he's felt building up at bay. ]
[ 2B knows him well enough to be able to see when he's actively trying to focus, and part of her feels guilt for baiting him the way she is. She wants to know if some part of him remembers anything about the intimacy they'd shared, desperate to the point of doing this while he's tinkering around with her insides and uncaring of whether or not he might hurt her as a result of her distracting him. She watches him in silence, not noticing the way something in his pants seems to strain against the fabric, knowing that she's in good hands.
Her faith in him is unshakeable, and it's because of this that she feels even more guilty for the fact that she knows that he feels the same way. 9S would never, ever do anything to hurt her, while she was created to destroy him.
2B braces herself when he warns her, fingers tangling in the sheets beneath her as he works. All the bracing in the world couldn't have prepared her for the deluge of sensation that comes crashing down on her, however, causing her to feel like every wire in her body is shorting. It hurts like a bitch, but at the same time... Well.
The noise that rips past 2B's lips is somewhere between pain and ecstasy as her nerve receptors are reactivated, her body writhing and shuddering in response. She grips the sheets and does her best not to thrash, gasping for air.
Loath as she is to admit it, the slickness between her thighs has only increased. She can only imagine that she looks even more like those ridiculous women in those porn mags they'd found, her chin spit-slick and her eyes threatening to roll to the back of her head. ]
[ 9S had been prepared for damage control, to help her brace herself in case anything went wrong in the reconnection. But all scans told him it should be fine. 9S powers off his projection, but he doesn't have time to fully disconnect from 2B when she cries out in...
Pain? Pleasure? That noise is so confusing.
9S jolts, his connection to her causing a misfire of communication that seems to make him acutely aware of how this has effected her. His visuals begin to glitch and blank in and out, firing off something that he doesn't quite understand. But he grunts, shocked as if he'd been electrocuted. Frantically, 9S disconnects his network connection to her, inhaling a sharp breath as he braces himself with his fingers into the sheets. He can't at all begin to understand what this is, but he's incredibly uncomfortable and the pressure between his legs increases in strength. It fucking hurts. ]
--!
[ Quickly, he shuts her front panel, despite the way his hands are shaking. 9S' gaze looks up to 2B, his face flushed and incredibly surprised. She throws her head back, body trembling and lips dribbling with saliva and he can't help but be completely captivated by it. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand, and he still hasn't noticed the growing need between his legs. ]
[ Though she can't do much thinking, she gets a sick sense of satisfaction in knowing that 9S is still connected to her; not in the pain that it causes him, but in the fact that he's closer to her than he has been in what feels like an eternity. Part of her wants to reach out to him, though she has enough sense not to.
When the bombardment of sensation subsides, 2B is left fighting for air, her abdominal panel closed and the crux of her thighs a dripping mess. She leans her head against the wall, dazed and barely registering his question, bringing a gloved hand up to gather her skirt more carefully atop her legs. 2B wouldn't be surprised if 9S noticed the wet mess of fluid covering her inner thighs at this point, but she isn't about to go out of her way and show him.
With her breathing regulating, 2B brings a hand to her face, brushing a few long strands of white hair out of her eyes. ]
... I'm fine, [ She responds breathlessly, turning her gaze to his face. 9S looks flushed and lovely as ever, and something inside of her aches. ] You... felt that, too, didn't you. [ Not a question. ] Are you okay?
... Thanks again. For the assist. I didn't realize my systems were so shot.
[ 9S feels his internal temperature spike, his coils burning up. Something about that entire reaction lingers, and it takes 9S just as long, if not longer to recover. But there's a lingering sensation, a longing that remains with which he remains alluded. His gaze stares upon 2B, a flushed and wet mess against the wall, and his glance only briefly shifts down to see that a flood of lubricant has soaked her thighs and the sheets beneath her. She... That aroused her?
9S is fully aware that the software still exists, but it's rare that it's ever activated. Especially outside combat situations. He stares at her like a deer in headlights, blinking furiously and shaking his head when he can tell she's asking him a question. ]
I-I um, yeah. Yeah I'm fine, I just should have... Disconnected first. That was an oversight on my behalf, no worries.
[ He exhales heavily, hand at the back of his head. 9S looks down as he speaks. ]
You should be all green now. Might be best that I do a final scan to make...
[ His eyes fall upon the tightness between his legs, the tool that has activated completely on its own. 9S' eyes widen from behind his visor, cheeks coloring red. It's easy to remain completely mechanical in the face of this but... why? ]
When...
I didn't activate that software. Why in the hell am I...
[ Hard? Erect? Saying those words proves impossible. 9S promptly covers himself, stammering. ]
Oh god, I-I'm sorry. I never activated this. I had no idea this even happened, it must have glitched out in that connection and caused a malfunction.
[ 2B watches him quietly as he recovers, not realizing how much she missed the sight of him like this. Her own face is flushed with fluid, lips pouty and glistening with wetness in the half-light of the room, and when she feels his eyes on her, she meets his gaze evenly through half-lidded eyes. She doesn't even flinch when his stare moves downward, instead clenching her jaw as she pushes off of the wall.
If the molten ache between her thighs was bad before, it's unbearable now, leaving her feeling soft and swollen. With all of her operations functioning normally, 2B is more keenly aware of the need she feels for him, long-neglected as it's been. Part of her wants to get angry at him; he did this to her, he made her want to go against her prime directive... But at the same time, she knows that the blame rests squarely on her own shoulders.
Her expression is soft as she watches him come to the realization of the implement tenting in the front of his pants, and she moves across the bed with slow deliberation, propping herself up on her hands and knees before him. When he covers himself, she reaches out for his hands, making to remove them. ]
Don't. [ She murmurs. ] I know you didn't. It's not a glitch. [ 2B raises her eyes to his face, lust and not a little bit of sadness coloring her features. With a marked gentleness, she attempts to pull him onto the bed with her, making space so he can sit comfortably. ]
We don't... Need to leave immediately. If you don't want to.
[ The last time she'd said those words had been in that cavern filled with Lunar Tears. 2B had thought she'd be prepared for this, but having him here again fills her with a longing she can't begin to hope to understand. ]
[ 9S is incredibly embarrassed, realizing the implications of such an accident. He's just met her! Or... Wait. Has he? Has he always known her? 9S begins to think again about the fact that her name had been plastered all over his internal code. Hidden away. Deliberate. It had to have been deliberate. And something that 2B says about it not being an accident only seems to help him draw to more conclusions about the two of them. ]
It's... it's not?
[ Then what the hell is it? Why was this active? Why is he feeling so incredibly reliant on 2B and seeing so much about her throughout the entirety of him? 2B ushers him closer to her, and he can't deny her. He doesn't want to be far away from her at all, and the way she looks at him shoots him to the very core. His mechanical heart rapidly beats against his chassis, internal wires coiled up and tight. She so breathlessly, sweetly tells him they don't have to leave and he feels something tighten and threaten to come undone inside of him. ]
2B...
[ He's so confused. He has so many questions, but he's far too distracted by her to ask them. {
[ 2B's expression is gentle, a quiet sort of desperation brewing just beneath the surface. She knows that this is wrong, that she can't do this again; but she also promised herself that the last time would be the final instance where she'd kill him for the sake of her programming. She shakes her head at his question, wanting desperately to give him all the answers she has... but she holds back. Now isn't the time. Not so soon. ]
It's a carryover from a few models back. If anything, it's working as intended.
[ When he gets onto the bed with her, 2B reaches for his hands again. Need, hot and sticky, rolls and boils in her gut, but his hesitancy stops her from acting upon it. Holding his hands in her own, she gently ghosts her lips against his knuckles, shaking as her eyes flutter shut. ]
I'm sorry. [ She murmurs, breath gusting warm against his palms. ] I don't know... How to deal with any of this. [ 2B wants, more than anything, to be close to him, so close that she can't tell where her identity ends and his begins. It's a want that borders on obsession, and when it couples with her sadness and guilt, it threatens to overwhelm her. ]
[ Where is all of his coming from? Both on her end and his? 9S becomes instantly suspicious of something he can't be sure of. But it's becoming abundantly clear that she is not a stranger. And that fact alone confounds him. 9S comes close to 2B, shoulders touching and his hands held in her own without any protest. She kisses his knuckles, expresses herself in a way that is so very much different than what it was a few hours ago.
It could make sense. But it's as if he doesn't want it to. Not if it means his theory is correct, and that his contingency was made by him.
9S swallows thickly, staring at her lips that seem so deliciously soft. He wants to taste them, to taste her, but he still isn't sure if he's supposed to. But something is dictating him to do otherwise. 9S is completely confused, lost, and maybe a bit scared because of it, but there's a thrill that keeps him from running away. A need to be close to her. 9S doesn't understand, but what he does understand is that he needs her.
So, he adjusts, lowering his head and willing himself to relax against her. As her lips dust across his knuckles, he only barely pulls them away to curiously touch her face. To hold it there. There's uncertainty in his features, but he shows no sign of hating this. ]
I don't either...
But... I...
Do I already know you? Have... Have I lost something?
[ 2B's eyes open and look to his face again when his shoulder nudges hers, though she doesn't release his hands. 2B feels hot, feverish; her systems, having been recently restored, kick into overdrive just by being next to 9S, and she feels like she could combust. He doesn't stop her, but she can see the confusion on his face even with his visor in the way.
She doesn't know about any contingency, though again, it likely wouldn't surprise her. All 2B knows is that 9S is here, whole and real, and while it isn't her Nines, it's close enough that need continues to gnaw away at her. Lowering his hands from her lips, she looks to his face at his question, and she swears that the artificial chambers of her heart crumble and dissolve.
Leaning close, she nudges the side of his face with her nose, closing her eyes. She reels trying to think of an answer, knowing she can't lie to him again. ]
... I don't know.
[ 2B says this softly, her lips grazing along his jawbone. The breaths she takes are shuddering and hot, almost as if they're bordering on sobs. Her eyes, thankfully, remain dry. ] Do you feel like you know me?
[ The overload of stimuli is almost too much to bear, but 9S finds himself willingly drowning in it. There are so many questions, so many needs, but all he can manage to hang onto then most is the feeling of 2B against him. Soft, yet hard where she needs to be. Her heat radiates off of him in waves, causing his systems to practically scream in protest but he can't back away. He doesn't want to.
9S feels like he has no idea who he is... That something is missing. But all of it is held within 2B. And so, he clings to it naturally. She doesn't answer his question, not in the way he seeks her to, but there's no room for questioning or arguing when her lips graze along his jawline, warm and soft.
He exhales, craning his neck in her favor, finding himself incapable of focusing on anything else but this. Perhaps he'll learn more in letting this happen, in allowing such a dated software to run him completely. For him to intermingle with 2B until his entire self is completely her. Something akin to a moan or whimper falls from his lips, the hands at her face falling to her shoulders, then to her thighs. ]
I...
[ He bites his lip, timid and meek as ever. Should he be? ]
I do.
2B I... I don't know what's going on. I need--
[ You. It's embedded in him. Running his entire being. ]
[ 2B can feel the sensory overload slowly beginning to build deep within her, her processors already kicking into overdrive as she gently presses her lips against the column of 9S' neck. She's been spending so much time trying not to think that she hadn't realized how much she missed him, and her complete and utter need of him extends much farther than the physical. Now that she has him here, she can scarcely help herself; it takes everything in her power not to attempt to take him without hesitation, knowing full well that she's taken so much from him already.
When he gives her more access to his neck, she doesn't hesitate, planting kisses across the expanses of skin she hasn't yet reached. When his hands fall to her thighs, she gently grasps them, bringing them to her still-bare chest after a moment's hesitance. She pauses between kisses in order to bury her face in the crook of his neck, moving slow enough to feel like she might overheat from inaction. ]
... Don't. Don't think, [ She mutters, soft and desperate. ] Stop me... If it's not what you want. Otherwise... I don't think I can hold back.
[ 2B's voice is low and dark, her mouth moving upwards towards the shell of his ear. She gently suckles at his ear lobe, gently rolling the skin between her teeth. ]
[ This would be different, had he recalled their last rounds of intimacy. But the fact of the matter is that he doesn't remember a thing, and something is telling him that he's forgotten so much. He has no basis for it yet, no confirmation, but that curiosity will destroy him. Literally and figuratively. But 9S can't bring himself to move away or deny 2B, because there's this part of him that is permanently geared towards being with her. Making her happy.
He was so lonely.
But even in that loneliness, it's not the true driver of his affection for 2B. It doesn't dictate why he so willingly opens himself to her and cranes his neck for her lips to devour. He does it because he wants to. Because something about her speaks to him more than words ever could. While 9S is mentally the experience level of a novice, he doesn't falter or shy away. His hands are delicately placed upon her breasts, where a soft, startled little exhale is the curtain rising for his hands to twitch and tentatively squeeze. To touch her. To give her whatever she needs.
She tells him not to think. He can't. But he shuts up about it. Something about those desperate murmurs makes him incapable of doing anything that doesn't revolve around her. He has no idea what he is doing, but he wants this. Wants 2B to claim him and do as she pleases, even if something about this arrangement seems strange. ]
C-can't... Hold back?
[ Never has he experienced someone being attracted to him. At least not in his memory. His face colors and his body writhes against her to learn this, and the attention she gives to his ear only seems to encourage it. He softly moans, an unintentional noise that he can't help but be embarrassed about. But his hands squeeze harder at her breasts, press them together as he presses into her and he whispers: ]
[ 2B knows he doesn't remember, which is why she wants to give him an out, should he decide that this isn't for him. She isn't so arrogant to assume that he will always feel the same way as he did before, even if his behavior demonstrates otherwise. She takes her time with kissing his neck and ear, getting him used to the sensation again, making a soft noise of approval as his fingers curl around the tender flesh of her breasts.
She never understood why there were pleasure receptors built into the soft mounds until 9S took hold of them for the first time. While the pleasure she gains from them pales in comparison to that which she receives when he pays attention to her sex, the feeling of him squeezing them is nice. The twitch of his hand earns him a soft, suckling kiss beneath the shell of his ear as she leans into him, her hands coming to rest upon the opening of his coat collar.
2B knows damn well that telling 9S not to think is the same as telling him not to breathe, but she doesn't care. Thinking won't serve either of them well in this situation; she's been far better at that than he has to begin with, but it's a skill she learned with repeated trysts between the two of them. ]
Alright. [ 2B concedes, her voice still heavy with equal parts sadness and want. She pulls away in order to bring her hands up to his face, gently lowering his combat visor before doing away with it entirely. His moans are sweet, sweeter than anything she's ever heard, and when she leans in to press her mouth against his, it's almost as if she intends to drink them in. ]
no subject
9S has never once left her thoughts since the end of the first cycle. 2B feels almost as if she's forgotten what it feels like to think of anything else, and she knows that it shows. Her Pod has commented on her mental stability on more than one occasion over the past month, though thankfully it was usually in the heat of battle, far removed from any other android down on the surface. 2B knows that she can't possibly carry on like this, but she doesn't know what else to do.
2B simply grunts in response to what he says as they make their way back to the camp in relative silence. The walk back seems to take an eternity with the transport systems down, and the sound of his footsteps crunching alongside her own feel mildly like stab wounds in her head. When they finally do reach the camp, she leads 9S towards the small room tucked away near the entrance, turning her head over her shoulder to speak. ]
We've got nothing else on the docket today. The Resistance Leader is loaning us this room while we're running YoRHa operations here on the surface. There's a bed for you on one side; I'll let you know if we get any further orders from Command.
[ With that, she pushes the door to the room open and moves to her side of the small chamber. ]
no subject
The silence is deafening, but 9S spends the entire walk to the camp just thinking. Hes not sure if it's a blessing that he can take this silence to quietly go over that code. He examines it behind his combat visor, which is a bit difficult while focusing on walking, but something is nagging at him to do it. He finds it strung out through his normal coding, as if it was purposefully hidden away. It can't be located through a normal scan-- He's tried. This seems intentional.
Did he... Put this here? Or had someone else?
It's not a full sentence. Just words. 2B's name scattered all over the place, inconsistent, and it's hard to tell if the words "dead" and "love" are related to one another in any way. They're spelt awkwardly, utilizing symbols and numbers in favor of traditional spelling, and it's extremely clear that these are in place to send a message to him.
When he looks at 2B, he can't help but try and piece everything around her. There's only so much that he can deduct from this, and that likely involves asking her more questions. But... What would that result in? Is the word "dead" a warning? And if so, is it for her or for him?
They arrive at their room, 9S quietly following in toe as 2B follows up on its purpose. He gazes around, dropping his bag upon his bed as he takes a glance at the entirety of their placement. ]
It's pretty big. That's... Really nice of them to give us such large accommodations. I hope it's not a problem.
Guess it isn't, if they offered.
[ He sits at his bed, where his view of 2B is slightly blocked between shelving and random objects. He tilts to see her better, sitting in brief silence until he realizes he won't be able to for long. This is driving him insane. ]
Are... you in need of any maintenance?
no subject
At his next question, 2B pauses, her finger lifted above the projected chip menu in front of her. She knows he can see her, though her expression remains unshifting beneath her visor.
She knows the correct answer to this. She really does. But something rebellious inside of her cries out and takes hold of her when she speaks, arguing that yes, she hasn't done routine maintenance on herself in weeks, she's fairly sure a few of her environmental filters is busted, her nerve sensors are fried, she needs him to be so much closer-- ]
... Yes. [ She says simply. ]
no subject
But he moves forward. There's so much on his mind, and part of him wonders if seeing 2B's entirety via maintenance will answer any of his questions. He was told to only do what is supportive of routine maintenance, to not pry any further, as it's unnecessary and unethical. But... He has so many questions. ]
You got it.
[ His feet click upon the ground with every step, seemingly echoing in the small room that bears so much silence on 2B's end. He comes close to her bed, standing to the point of hovering over her as he activates his projected screen. ]
Initiating routine maintenance check. You can relax if you want.
[ It may take some time. But 9S connects to her quickly, initiating the full scan. Which takes little to no time. His brow perks when he's immediately thrown a barrage of malfunctioning or broken code. So many of her features are either completely out of date or broken entirely. Unnecessary buildup of files and back-end commands that never went through. ]
This... Wow. There are a lot of errors I'm getting here, ma-- 2B.
How long has it been since your last scan?
[ How the fuck have you been living like this?! ]
no subject
[ 2B knows of 9S' need for validation; she's seen it since the beginning of the neverending cycle between them. Part of her feels disgusting, like she's playing with that need in order to further her own gain, but another part of her argues that it's only logical. This had been their relationship outside of her own personal feelings, so it stands to reason that she would ask him to perform maintenance upon her like this.
As she hears him step closer, she closes her chipset menu in order to lie on the bed provided for her, removing her visor. There would be no need for it here. She knows full well that 9S won't go prodding through her memories or other auxiliary functions, but... She can't help but wonder what would happen if he did. Still, she does nothing to verbalize her thoughts, instead opting to remain still as he scans her. At his question, she exhales. ]
... Weeks. Months, maybe. [ She offers lamely. Honestly, maintenance had been the last thing on her mind. ] My reactionary processors have been sluggish lately. That explains a lot.
[ She tries to remain casual, like she hasn't been barely holding it together this whole time. ]
no subject
Sluggish? I'm surprised it's running at all. At this rate, you'll need a full replacement. I can't do anything about this from a software level.
[ He squints at the errors firing off regarding her nerve sensors. How... Really? She must be practically numb. Or in constant pain. He can't be sure. 9S is functioning purely on an analytical level when he leans down and pinches her arm. ]
Can you feel that?
no subject
... No. [ She says, completely honest. The constant pain had been an issue in the beginning, but she'd ignored it. Now she hardly feels anything, and while that had its uses in combat, she knows that it makes her inefficient. She's prone to be labelled a liability at this rate. ]
... Should I see the medics instead? Are you equipped to handle hardware issues as a scanner type?
no subject
With the swipe of his hand, 9S forced the projection to the side so he can better face 2B. It's hard, for whatever reason, but his worry takes the front seat. Gently, he reaches down to usher her up. ]
Depends entirely on how bad it is. I might be able to do a simple fix, if a replacement isn't required. C'mon, sit up for me?
[ Should she comply, 9S seats himself on her bed. He crosses his legs, facing her completely. He points to her abdomen. A bit meek when he starts to speak again. ]
I um. Just need to open the front panel of your abdomen. Could you unbutton your top? Y-You don't need to do it all the way. Just enough for me to take a look.
no subject
2B complies easily, sitting up. She says nothing as she does as she's bade, undoing her skirt and lifting her top, pushing the upper part of her leotard down so he can more easily access her front panel.
She knows it's overkill. But some disgusting part of her can't help it. ]
no subject
And then she completely goes topless.
9S had his gaze locked on her abdomen. Prepared to keep his glance there and pay attention to nothing else. But when everything comes off and he's met with her breasts squeezing out from her leotard, he halts. 9S' eyes widen, and he's thankful for the cover that his combat visor gives. But that doesn't hide the brows that raise. His pulse-rate is spiking again, heart mechanism pounding against his chassis. ]
O-Or that. That works, too.
[ His voice cracks there, cheeks colored. 9S struggles to shake out of that, but he manages once he gets to work on opening up her front panel. He hesitates at first, especially because he realizes fast that it's hard not to stare at her tits. And he isn't entirely sure why they're a distraction to begin with. It's not like he hasn't seen a naked android before. But.... They weren't activated yet.
Somehow this is different. 9S feels something shift inside of him, but he ignores it for now. Once he's exposed to her wiring and panel, he can find some focus. Her circuits aren't fried, thankfully, and that brings a sigh of relief. ]
It'll take a few moments but....
[ 9S leans to the side, zooming his camera in further toward her insides. ]
I think I can take care of this. Nothing's sparking or overheating. Your nerve-circuits burned out, but I think I can salvage them.
You... Really shouldn't avoid routine maintenance going forward. I'll keep it in check going forward, don't worry.
no subject
She can practically feel the way his eyes linger over her bare chest beneath his visor, the coloring of his cheeks giving her a more explicit indicator than any of his behavior.
At what he says next, she inclines her head, remaining stock still as she lowers her gaze. 2B can't deny that she wants him closer, and the feeling of being so vulnerable in front of him sparks an almost Pavlovian response within her. She feels hot, though she knows she has no reason not to; he's performed maintenance on her a countless number of times before. The last cycle seems to have added a strange, hungry sensation to the feeling of being laid bare beneath his eyes, though, and 2B focuses on quelling the urge even as her body seems to prepare itself for something that... hadn't happened in nearly a month.
What on earth is wrong with her? ]
... Sorry for the trouble, and thanks for the assist. [ 2B manages, curt as ever. She does her best not to shift, but she can't help it; a familiar awareness begins to build between her thighs the more she feels him look at her, and she squeezes them together in response. ]
no subject
He doesn't realize that a similar Pavlovian response has effected him... Elsewhere. 9S is so drawn in to the act of repairing his partner, he pays no attention at all to the tent he's pitched in his shorts. Call it unawareness of the software that's still activated.
He forces his gaze down, it shows in his posture that he's trying. For a moment, he's silent as he tinkers around in her abdomen, delicately fussing with wires and ports. Disconnecting and reconnecting receptors all while making sure he doesn't intentionally power her down. 9S has an extremely delicate hand, and while it takes a lot of troubleshooting and referring to the projection that still hovers beside him, eventually? He gets her at 100%. Distractions and all. ]
Any... time.
[ He's delayed in his response, tongue darting out to the side when he leans in. ]
Ok. I disconnected your nerves while they cooled down. Should be fixed now. There were just a few snags in the wiring that I was able to sauder back together.
I'm gonna reconnect them now. It might hurt or be overwhelming. Fair warning.
Ok.
And...
[ 9S switches her nerve receptors back on, bracing himself should something spark or hurt her. That seems to keep the heat he's felt building up at bay. ]
no subject
Her faith in him is unshakeable, and it's because of this that she feels even more guilty for the fact that she knows that he feels the same way. 9S would never, ever do anything to hurt her, while she was created to destroy him.
2B braces herself when he warns her, fingers tangling in the sheets beneath her as he works. All the bracing in the world couldn't have prepared her for the deluge of sensation that comes crashing down on her, however, causing her to feel like every wire in her body is shorting. It hurts like a bitch, but at the same time... Well.
The noise that rips past 2B's lips is somewhere between pain and ecstasy as her nerve receptors are reactivated, her body writhing and shuddering in response. She grips the sheets and does her best not to thrash, gasping for air.
Loath as she is to admit it, the slickness between her thighs has only increased. She can only imagine that she looks even more like those ridiculous women in those porn mags they'd found, her chin spit-slick and her eyes threatening to roll to the back of her head. ]
no subject
Pain? Pleasure? That noise is so confusing.
9S jolts, his connection to her causing a misfire of communication that seems to make him acutely aware of how this has effected her. His visuals begin to glitch and blank in and out, firing off something that he doesn't quite understand. But he grunts, shocked as if he'd been electrocuted. Frantically, 9S disconnects his network connection to her, inhaling a sharp breath as he braces himself with his fingers into the sheets. He can't at all begin to understand what this is, but he's incredibly uncomfortable and the pressure between his legs increases in strength. It fucking hurts. ]
--!
[ Quickly, he shuts her front panel, despite the way his hands are shaking. 9S' gaze looks up to 2B, his face flushed and incredibly surprised. She throws her head back, body trembling and lips dribbling with saliva and he can't help but be completely captivated by it. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand, and he still hasn't noticed the growing need between his legs. ]
H--Ah. 2-2B...
You okay?
no subject
When the bombardment of sensation subsides, 2B is left fighting for air, her abdominal panel closed and the crux of her thighs a dripping mess. She leans her head against the wall, dazed and barely registering his question, bringing a gloved hand up to gather her skirt more carefully atop her legs. 2B wouldn't be surprised if 9S noticed the wet mess of fluid covering her inner thighs at this point, but she isn't about to go out of her way and show him.
With her breathing regulating, 2B brings a hand to her face, brushing a few long strands of white hair out of her eyes. ]
... I'm fine, [ She responds breathlessly, turning her gaze to his face. 9S looks flushed and lovely as ever, and something inside of her aches. ] You... felt that, too, didn't you. [ Not a question. ] Are you okay?
... Thanks again. For the assist. I didn't realize my systems were so shot.
no subject
9S is fully aware that the software still exists, but it's rare that it's ever activated. Especially outside combat situations. He stares at her like a deer in headlights, blinking furiously and shaking his head when he can tell she's asking him a question. ]
I-I um, yeah. Yeah I'm fine, I just should have... Disconnected first. That was an oversight on my behalf, no worries.
[ He exhales heavily, hand at the back of his head. 9S looks down as he speaks. ]
You should be all green now. Might be best that I do a final scan to make...
[ His eyes fall upon the tightness between his legs, the tool that has activated completely on its own. 9S' eyes widen from behind his visor, cheeks coloring red. It's easy to remain completely mechanical in the face of this but... why? ]
When...
I didn't activate that software. Why in the hell am I...
[ Hard? Erect? Saying those words proves impossible. 9S promptly covers himself, stammering. ]
Oh god, I-I'm sorry. I never activated this. I had no idea this even happened, it must have glitched out in that connection and caused a malfunction.
no subject
If the molten ache between her thighs was bad before, it's unbearable now, leaving her feeling soft and swollen. With all of her operations functioning normally, 2B is more keenly aware of the need she feels for him, long-neglected as it's been. Part of her wants to get angry at him; he did this to her, he made her want to go against her prime directive... But at the same time, she knows that the blame rests squarely on her own shoulders.
Her expression is soft as she watches him come to the realization of the implement tenting in the front of his pants, and she moves across the bed with slow deliberation, propping herself up on her hands and knees before him. When he covers himself, she reaches out for his hands, making to remove them. ]
Don't. [ She murmurs. ] I know you didn't. It's not a glitch. [ 2B raises her eyes to his face, lust and not a little bit of sadness coloring her features. With a marked gentleness, she attempts to pull him onto the bed with her, making space so he can sit comfortably. ]
We don't... Need to leave immediately. If you don't want to.
[ The last time she'd said those words had been in that cavern filled with Lunar Tears. 2B had thought she'd be prepared for this, but having him here again fills her with a longing she can't begin to hope to understand. ]
no subject
It's... it's not?
[ Then what the hell is it? Why was this active? Why is he feeling so incredibly reliant on 2B and seeing so much about her throughout the entirety of him? 2B ushers him closer to her, and he can't deny her. He doesn't want to be far away from her at all, and the way she looks at him shoots him to the very core. His mechanical heart rapidly beats against his chassis, internal wires coiled up and tight. She so breathlessly, sweetly tells him they don't have to leave and he feels something tighten and threaten to come undone inside of him. ]
2B...
[ He's so confused. He has so many questions, but he's far too distracted by her to ask them. {
no subject
It's a carryover from a few models back. If anything, it's working as intended.
[ When he gets onto the bed with her, 2B reaches for his hands again. Need, hot and sticky, rolls and boils in her gut, but his hesitancy stops her from acting upon it. Holding his hands in her own, she gently ghosts her lips against his knuckles, shaking as her eyes flutter shut. ]
I'm sorry. [ She murmurs, breath gusting warm against his palms. ] I don't know... How to deal with any of this. [ 2B wants, more than anything, to be close to him, so close that she can't tell where her identity ends and his begins. It's a want that borders on obsession, and when it couples with her sadness and guilt, it threatens to overwhelm her. ]
no subject
It could make sense. But it's as if he doesn't want it to. Not if it means his theory is correct, and that his contingency was made by him.
9S swallows thickly, staring at her lips that seem so deliciously soft. He wants to taste them, to taste her, but he still isn't sure if he's supposed to. But something is dictating him to do otherwise. 9S is completely confused, lost, and maybe a bit scared because of it, but there's a thrill that keeps him from running away. A need to be close to her. 9S doesn't understand, but what he does understand is that he needs her.
So, he adjusts, lowering his head and willing himself to relax against her. As her lips dust across his knuckles, he only barely pulls them away to curiously touch her face. To hold it there. There's uncertainty in his features, but he shows no sign of hating this. ]
I don't either...
But... I...
Do I already know you? Have... Have I lost something?
no subject
She doesn't know about any contingency, though again, it likely wouldn't surprise her. All 2B knows is that 9S is here, whole and real, and while it isn't her Nines, it's close enough that need continues to gnaw away at her. Lowering his hands from her lips, she looks to his face at his question, and she swears that the artificial chambers of her heart crumble and dissolve.
Leaning close, she nudges the side of his face with her nose, closing her eyes. She reels trying to think of an answer, knowing she can't lie to him again. ]
... I don't know.
[ 2B says this softly, her lips grazing along his jawbone. The breaths she takes are shuddering and hot, almost as if they're bordering on sobs. Her eyes, thankfully, remain dry. ] Do you feel like you know me?
no subject
9S feels like he has no idea who he is... That something is missing. But all of it is held within 2B. And so, he clings to it naturally. She doesn't answer his question, not in the way he seeks her to, but there's no room for questioning or arguing when her lips graze along his jawline, warm and soft.
He exhales, craning his neck in her favor, finding himself incapable of focusing on anything else but this. Perhaps he'll learn more in letting this happen, in allowing such a dated software to run him completely. For him to intermingle with 2B until his entire self is completely her. Something akin to a moan or whimper falls from his lips, the hands at her face falling to her shoulders, then to her thighs. ]
I...
[ He bites his lip, timid and meek as ever. Should he be? ]
I do.
2B I... I don't know what's going on. I need--
[ You. It's embedded in him. Running his entire being. ]
no subject
When he gives her more access to his neck, she doesn't hesitate, planting kisses across the expanses of skin she hasn't yet reached. When his hands fall to her thighs, she gently grasps them, bringing them to her still-bare chest after a moment's hesitance. She pauses between kisses in order to bury her face in the crook of his neck, moving slow enough to feel like she might overheat from inaction. ]
... Don't. Don't think, [ She mutters, soft and desperate. ] Stop me... If it's not what you want. Otherwise... I don't think I can hold back.
[ 2B's voice is low and dark, her mouth moving upwards towards the shell of his ear. She gently suckles at his ear lobe, gently rolling the skin between her teeth. ]
no subject
He was so lonely.
But even in that loneliness, it's not the true driver of his affection for 2B. It doesn't dictate why he so willingly opens himself to her and cranes his neck for her lips to devour. He does it because he wants to. Because something about her speaks to him more than words ever could. While 9S is mentally the experience level of a novice, he doesn't falter or shy away. His hands are delicately placed upon her breasts, where a soft, startled little exhale is the curtain rising for his hands to twitch and tentatively squeeze. To touch her. To give her whatever she needs.
She tells him not to think. He can't. But he shuts up about it. Something about those desperate murmurs makes him incapable of doing anything that doesn't revolve around her. He has no idea what he is doing, but he wants this. Wants 2B to claim him and do as she pleases, even if something about this arrangement seems strange. ]
C-can't... Hold back?
[ Never has he experienced someone being attracted to him. At least not in his memory. His face colors and his body writhes against her to learn this, and the attention she gives to his ear only seems to encourage it. He softly moans, an unintentional noise that he can't help but be embarrassed about. But his hands squeeze harder at her breasts, press them together as he presses into her and he whispers: ]
D... Don't stop.
no subject
She never understood why there were pleasure receptors built into the soft mounds until 9S took hold of them for the first time. While the pleasure she gains from them pales in comparison to that which she receives when he pays attention to her sex, the feeling of him squeezing them is nice. The twitch of his hand earns him a soft, suckling kiss beneath the shell of his ear as she leans into him, her hands coming to rest upon the opening of his coat collar.
2B knows damn well that telling 9S not to think is the same as telling him not to breathe, but she doesn't care. Thinking won't serve either of them well in this situation; she's been far better at that than he has to begin with, but it's a skill she learned with repeated trysts between the two of them. ]
Alright. [ 2B concedes, her voice still heavy with equal parts sadness and want. She pulls away in order to bring her hands up to his face, gently lowering his combat visor before doing away with it entirely. His moans are sweet, sweeter than anything she's ever heard, and when she leans in to press her mouth against his, it's almost as if she intends to drink them in. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
the matching icons.......... my heart
this canon is cruel ;3;
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)