A2's hand rested lazily on her hip, as she and 2B walked through the seemingly never ending desert. Scanning the area multiple times just wasn't enough, her laser sharp focus always resting on the horizon laying in front of her.

Their mission was a success, their targets eliminated, damage to their chassis kept to a minimum.

Anemone's list of required parts was fulfilled. Pods carry them with ease.

There's a bag hanging over A2's shoulder, filled with treasures and goodies.

That's what A2 called them once, ironically.

In truth, the bag was filled with machine fish. Hand caught by 2B herself.

What a treat.

A2 carries them for the other android, claiming that 2B worked hard enough already. She jokingly shook the bag, noting that 2B just single handedly fed the entire resistance camp, Anemone including.

That earned her a heavy eye roll and a very, very deep sigh.

So they walk. A2 taking care of the prize, 2B making sure the road is clear.

A2 kept her gaze focused on the road before her, though her mind would wander.

As her eyes would wander.

To a certain short haired android.

2B is..an enigma, one could say. A2 once called her a 'puzzle that she would crack, one way or another'.

A puzzle of emotions, prohibiting herself of all of them.

Once, a rule that was as important as life itself.

At least for 2B it was.

Now ? A2 wasn't sure anymore.

The android has changed, as she herself has changed. Time has an unfortunate effect on all that is cursed with life.

Some wither and die. Some loose memories. Some change their view on life itself.

Some just get tired and give in.

2B seems to embrace all of time's curses.

And yet...

2B holds herself high, keeps her hand strong, her senses sharp.

Her punch hard.

She trains constantly, she helps around the resistance camp, she has never, EVER given up.

A2 looks at 2B and she sees a tired, betrayed warrior. The long haired android sees herself in her younger counterpart.

When she looks at 2B with her azure eyes, she sees the woman that changed her life.

Once an enemy, always an enemy, as the old human saying states. 2B was ready to end A2's existence with a swift slash of her sword, consequences be damned. A2 was ready, almost eager to do the same. She was an outcast, after all.

YoRHa was an enemy. To A2, ending the all too obedient YoRHa soldiers was a blessing, maybe an addiction.

An order is an order, and a good soldier obeys without a question.

2B was a proud soldier once, but now ?

A2's azure orbs do not see an enemy soldier, something to tear apart, something to destroy.

A2's eyes see 2B as someone to admire. Someone to aspire to be.

A2 sees a woman with purpose, with the strength to move the very heavens, should she ever desire it.

A2 sees an android she hopelessly fell in love with.

2B, in all her emotionless glory, was slowly walking beside the other android. Whatever mantra she was whispering to herself was slowly dying off as the heat proved itself to be way too insufferable.

Talking meant wasting energy.

Wasting energy meant slower reactions.

Slower reactions meant endangering the mission.

Endangering A2.

The long haired android was the one and only constant in 2B's life.

Everything else seemed...fading.

A2 was here. A2 was living, breathing, walking the same path she was.

Holding her fishes...

This definitely wasn't a situation 2B thought she would be in. Ever. The Commander's stern voice still echoes in her memory.

What you see in front of you... is your enemy.

The clashing sounds of metal could be heard the second that sentence was spoken.

But now ? The so called enemy stands by 2B's side, protecting her, occasionally staring her way through 2B's carefully put defences.

2B wonders why.

2B shakes her head. This isn't the time, nor the place to have a mental discussion with herself. Enemies were lurking in every corner, no matter how barren the desert was, and 2B needed to focus. To concentrate on the road before them.

The resistance checkpoint wasn't far now, 2B could indulge herself then.

Now however, she needed to focus.

A task quite impossible with how the other android carried herself right next to her. As if A2 was deliberately teasing her, maybe even reading her mind.

2B let out a heavy sigh. One may never know with A2, in all honesty. The older android was a metal chamber filled with secrets and unspoken emotions. 2B took this as a challenge. Uncovering all of A2's secrets would prove to be a time consuming, never ending task.

And she didn't mind, really. She, after all, had all the time in the world.

They both did.

2B smiled at the idea. A companionship with A2 sounded more than pleasant.

Her, almost non existent grin, didn't go unnoticed though. A2 was fast enough to acknowledge it, before it disappeared again, just as fast as it first appeared.

"I'm glad this heat can bring a nice smile to your face." she stated with a half grin herself, cursing as she stumbled over a lonely rock. 2B's grin quickly returned as she watched A2 kicking it high enough to break the atmosphere. She looked back at 2B, the older android feeling a bit better about herself, now that she managed to make her grumpy companion smile.

If 2B could blush, she would. Or so we think. The grumpy android may as well self destruct over how stupid some of A2's remarks may be.

A grin will suffice, for now.

A2 decided to continue with the silly banter. "I, for one, would like nothing more than to nuke this place." she stated, slight anger coating her voice.

2B can relate. She hates this place, too. "So you've mentioned. Five minutes ago." 2B replies, trying her best to sound as uninterested as possible. A2 fixes her hood, letting out one last curse before kicking the nearby pile of sand.

2B's Pod started flaying around them, much to A2's irritation, pointing various flaws in A2's nuking plans.

"It would be unwise to attack this area with nuclear weaponry, as unit A suggests. The area of effect of such weapon would affect the nearby resistance camp and effectively destroy it, along with any progress Unit 2B and Unit A achieved." Pod says in its cold, calculating voice.

A2 immediately pushed him away from her face, sighing heavily.

"Someone's very clever. And irritating !" A2 snarked back at the flying machine, sending him back to his master.

Pod resumes to fly around 2B now.

"Suggestion: Unit 2B should escort Unit A to a less irritable climate to prevent unnecessary casualties."

2B stops for a moment, relaxing the grip on her sword. Pod is waiting for a confirmation, A2 all but shakes her head.

"A2 will not destroy anything, Pod." 2B reaponds in a calm voice. Silently, she's enjoying it. The way Pod calculate all of A2's actions. The way she's getting all frustrated with him.

2B finds this part of her strangely entertaining and... alluring.

"As if i could !" A2 yelled in defense. The sudden loud noise startled the younger android, effectively derailing her train of thought. "I mean i could, but i can already see the look on Anemone's face if i ever did. I bet she'd haunt my every step till the day i die."

Pod returned to A2, her eyes squinting heavily on him.

"Unlikely. I have no record on the subject of afterlife, therefore-" 2B raised her hand, trying to silence their flying companion.

"Quiet, Pod."

There was calm in the desert. No birds. No animals. No machines.

Two lonely souls walk the road. One clad in black leather, wielding a greatsword, the other holds a spear, a black hood covers her head.

Their blindfolds long, long forgotten.

2B prefers this, if she is to be honest. Its true, she misses her visor. Her YoRHa uniform, her weapon. Her...purpose. But, as life itself taught her, everything is expendable.

Everyone is expendable.

So, 2B adapted. As A2 once did. Her help was priceless. 2B couldn't thank her enough, but A2 heard none of that. Companionship was something the older android missed the most, needed the most.

The transition between a YoRHa battle model and a low budget mercenary can be quite problematic, A2 remembers. Anemone was there for her, guided her, showed her the ropes.

Gave her shelter, at least for the time being.

A2 had none of that to give, yet she was more than happy to help the younger, less experienced soul.

Solitude was a known mistress, it kept the older android company for quite some time.

But then 2B came and...

And solitude got replaced by a sense of purpose. An overwhelming desire to help, to guide her younger counterpart. To keep her safe.

Keep her close.

But, lines were drawn and bridges burned, and blood, if there was any, never felt sweeter.

Wars were waged, allies lost and it all felt too familiar for the rogue android.

It never stops. But maybe, just maybe, it will be slowed. YoRHa is gone, machines brainless...

With both sides defeated, the resistance flourishes.

A2 thinks that this is the closest they will ever get to a peace.

A2 thinks that maybe all of this was fate. Her deployment, the betrayal, meeting and then killing 2B, only to have her back weeks later.

Life has a strange way of writing destinies, and A2 has realized this a while back.

Now with 2B by her side, the lines between companionship and wanting that 'cursed more' are blurrier than ever.

2B disturbs her from her never ending thoughts.

"We're almost there." A2 sighs at this, nodding slowly. She can't wait to get back.

"As much i appreciate Anemone giving us the opportunity to help the resistance camp, these desert trips are becoming more and more ridiculous." 2B nods to this.

She thinks to herself though, and comes to a realization. These missions are barely noticed on the bulletin board. The desert can be both highly irritating and sense that Anemone keeps these types of missions for the battle models.

Who else is capable enough to do them?

"I swear, Anemone hates me." A2 adds to the conversation, 2B let out a slight laugh.

"That would explain your involvement in this situation." 2B says, pausing for a second to actually look at her companion, then she continued. "It does not explain why I'm stuck here with you, A.."

A2 let out a full out laugh, startling 2B for a moment. "You messed up her garden, what else did you expect ?" she answers with a wide smile. The mood felt lighter.

2B wonders why.

"Can't say i blame you. Anemone has the worst sense of placement. The number of times i stepped into that sorry thing..." A2 scratches the back of her head, letting out a loud sigh.

Wonders, wonders. Anemone may be a battle-hardened survivor, but her soft side could never be defeated. She's like a beacon of hope and prosperity in these sovereignless lands.

"She doesn't hate you." 2B says without a hint of uncertainty. Trying her best to convice her doubtful companion. "I don't know if she can even hate anyone. You know her better, after all." she added quietly when she felt A2's worry seeping into the atmosphere between them.

Another smile. A2 was giving her divine smiles away and 2B was more than happy to take all of them for herself.

Why did it make the younger android feel so much more energetic, so much more alive ?

Oh, 2B knew. 2B knew very well.

How the lines between friendship and passion are ridiculously blurry.

The road ahead is exhausting and hardly enjoyable. The wind is dry and the heat insufferable.

With A2 here however, the journey seems less tedious. A chore, nonetheless, but not as unnerving.

One could hope that the older android felt the same.

The road is long and their burden heavy. But maybe, just maybe...

The end goal will be worth the effort.