Sounds of a battle echoed in the forest, heavy thumps resonated loudly as the couple of Goliaths guarding the castle made the ground shake with their fists, in a futile attempt to harm the smaller and much faster female android.
Metal clashed on metal as the swift white blade of the android cut through the body of one of the towering machines, landing gracefully at its feet as it toppled over and exploded in flames that threatened to set the android's chassis on fire from how close they were.
The android turned just in time to see the remaining Goliath throwing an electrified kick at her, she barely managed to cover her face with her plated arms before she was sent flying through the air, barely managing to catch herself before falling over into the waterfall below.
"You could have dodged that easily."
A2 got herself standing back up as her body trembled both with the pain of the impact, her left arm hanging limp at her side as electric shocks threatened to paralyze it. It took a moment for her systems to recover and allow her to move it again.
"How about you shut up and let me fight?" she snarled at the nagging voice in her head that loved to comment every move she made, especially as of late 2B seemed to want to intrude in her business more than usual.
In a pure act of defiance, A2 willingly overloaded her fusion reactor to allow her body to gain more strength and speed beyond the limits a normal Yorha android would have.
Her body glowing lightly red with the excess heat and steam that were being released.
With a dash she was upon the Goliath in a mere fraction of a second, the machine barely managing to register her presence close before it was too late, as A2 unleashed her anger on it, cutting away its limbs one by one first.
And then with a cry she jumped high in the air as the machine fell and stabbed Virtuous Contract right in the head. This hadn't been a kill, this was an execution.
A2 let herself sit in a corner as she caught her breath, to allow her body to briefly rest up as it pulsed and sizzled at the excess of energy used. It hurt but she was past the point of caring.
"Was Berserk Mode necessary?"
"I told you to stay out of my business…" she wheezed, struggling to get her breathing under control. Perhaps that hit she took could have damaged her chestplate too, but again, did she even care? Not really.
But it seemed that 2B for some reason did.
"Should I? It isn't pleasant to see the android hosting me harming herself over and over, what if you damage yourself too much to function anymore?" was it worry in 2B's voice? No, A2 didn't believe someone would care for her at this point.
Maybe Anemone she assumed, but that must be because of the painful occurrence they shared together. But it was nice to have someone that at least could tolerate her presence she supposed.
She was the friendliest thing towards her she had in... forever really.
2B's nagging voice however was really starting to annoy her though. Moments like these made her regret taking the android's request, though she wasn't entirely sure why she did in the first place.
Perhaps she was still seeking for a meaning she could give to her damned life…
"What's it to you anyways? Why does it matter if I get hurt? Nothing will happen to you if that happens anyway." she shrugged, internally wincing as her shoulders protested at the motion.
"Because I'm stuck with you now, the best I can do is at least look out for your wellbeing."
A2 snorted at the words. "Yeah right. Not even you believe in your own words."
She could almost feel 2B raising her eyebrows at her. "Are you sure it is me that doesn't believe that? A2, you're lying to yourself."
"What are you now? My therapist?" she huffed, lying down on the grass, now that this zone was safer than before she could allow herself to.
"I just want to be helpful." 2B told her, she almost sounded annoyed at her.
Helpful? No one had ever even remotely been wanting to help her, no Yorha android that she came across offered anything more than foul words and a sword pointed at her, if not even stuck into her in the eventual fight that would take place right after.
2B herself hadn't been any different when they met first either, following orders like an obedient little dog. At least A2 could give her credit for the lack of insults directed at her.
And now she wanted to help? A2 refused to believe there would be anyone kind enough, she never had help, no one ever took pity on her enough to offer anything at all.
She always had to take care of herself, salvage items and materials to keep herself standing at a functioning level for years, and the mere presence of another android in her head wasn't going to change that fact.
Besides, she was hardly worth anything.
"Don't waste your time." she softly whispered to the other android that was still waiting for a response.
Her words held more sadness than she thought 2B could ever understand, however…
"I see… you believe you're past the point of salvation."
A2's eyes widened. "How…?"
"Because I too know what it means to feel a similar way. I won't pretend to be like you, that no, my pain is mine and yours is yours, but you have seen my memories, how many times over and over I would have to kill the person closest to me, and it hurt, and hurt more and more each time. There have been times where I would have harmed myself, if it wasn't for my safety protocols that wouldn't allow me to."
In other words, 2B knew exactly what A2 was doing before.
"It seems that you do not possess this kind of thing, don't you? I don't know the reason why, nor I will ask nor look for it, but it is very clear to me that you're hurting, and that harming yourself is the only way to inflict a punishment on yourself. Perhaps, another android would not notice, but I had more than enough time to observe you closely."
A2 just let her talk, unsure on how to react. Someone that could understand her almost seemed surreal to her.
She still had Anemone, however she'd just be a hypocrite to ask her to aid her to relieve her pain, not after she had been the main cause of it, and still the woman was willing to accept her.
She refused to hurt her again.
"I apologize for judging you, however, I still stand by what I said, I am here if you ever feel like sharing anything. It is only fair of me to take your pain on my shoulders when you accepted mine without question."
What should she do? Accept it? She didn't know if she could, what if she'd just end up dragging 2B down with her? What if it happened just like with the others?
Number 4, Number 16, Number 21, Captain Rose and the Resistance… there were so many that believed in her and that she let down…
She didn't want it to happen again.
"I'm not worth the trouble." still, she swallowed a lump in the throat, her eyes stung too.
Was she crying? Impossible, it wasn't something she did anymore. She had cried many tears at first, but tears would solve nothing in the end, they didn't save her friends.
"Neither I am worth it, and yet, here we are." 2B replied to her. "Someone believed I was, and if there was hope for me, then I want to believe there is for you too."
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" A2 added, a small smile forming on her face.
How long has it been since that happened?
"Says you." she heard 2B snort. "Didn't I tell you before? You and I are the same.."
"We can cry and scream but no one can hear us. Yes, I remember." and she recalled being really annoyed too, she'd been exhausted from fighting too and was in no mood to listen to anything.
"That wasn't exactly true, I can hear you, and you can hear me, we don't have to be alone anymore, you don't have to be."
2B was right, they would have each other, if only A2 would allow herself to open her heart. But it had been a long time, and she didn't know how anymore, but perhaps with time…
"I'm not sure if I am ready for this yet. I'm not used to people caring for me." maybe long ago, but those times were gone, torn away from her with pure cruelty.
"I understand. When you'll be ready, I'll be here."
A2 was relieved that 2B decided not to comment on the whole caring thing, perhaps she did understand her more then A2 gave her credit for.
In the end, they were both hurt, taken and used, destroyed to the core from the person that created them and was supposed to look after them. They were lonely and alone because they could never be with the people they loved because they had been sacrificed for the sake of a future that probably would never even happen.
Maybe it would take a long time, but perhaps A2 too would learn to rely to confide in someone else again.
Perhaps one day 2B will too get to know about Number 4 and the others.