He'd blink, looking towards the table in surprise. The body... was gone. 2b.. Was gone.
His immediate reaction is to stress, feeling the tension of his body rise as he'd think that even she has been taken away from him, that even a lifeless body with no soul was too much for him to possess, when he'd hear the two beings outside arguing once more. Listening to A2's voice become more frantic while he could notice a tension rising in 2b and he wondered why?
He'd frown once, feeling the memory chip in his jacket before heading out, opening the door slowly, hearing it creak loudly, the door seeming to resist being opened slowly as he'd step out almost behind 2b who seemed to be blocking the door herself, but as the door would open with its loud creaking the android woman would turn her body, looking towards him, strong emotion crossing her visage.
"9s!" 2b would cry, her voice sounding like one of shock and surprise, the android looking up at her in surprise as he'd regard a soft smile that was crossing her lips as she'd regard him, unable to deny that a warmth coursed through him seeing her smile. It was rare... to see her smile, especially a smile like that which was directed towards him. He'd grown so used to her simply looking worried or unconcerned he'd forgotten what a smile towards him felt like. It had... always been for someone else. Not him.
"2b. I..." he'd say, still uncertain of the situation when her arms would suddenly wrap around him, pulling him close, pressing tightly against her body, holding him close.
"I was so worried! I didn't know what was wrong that you weren't waking up! What's going on..." she'd say, before he'd hear a growl from next to her.
"What did you do to her?!"
That voice would snarl and 9s would look towards A2's visage, seeing a glare as she'd bite back her own tears, her eyes fighting back anger and frustration, worry and... a look of deep seeded hurt. A look that echoed one he'd had for a long time. Betrayal.
"What did you do to her?" she'd growl once more, the threat in her voice clear as the android would look at her with concern, stepping back for a moment before he'd feel a hand on his chest, pushing him back.
"Stay back, nines," she'd say, her voice sharp and firm as she'd draw out her blade, placing herself between he and A2. "I will handle this."
"You'll.. handle this?" she'd hiss, a sharp bitterness in her eyes as she'd regard him before she'd pull out her own blade, tensing as if readying to fight 2b. "Get out of the way, 2b. I don't want to hurt you."
"No," she'd say firmly, her stance remaining tense as she'd keep her sword before her, keeping her position in front of 9s. "I won't let you hurt 9s."
"You don't know what he did to you! Don't you see! That little creep is manipulating you! He did something-" and he'd see the tears beginning to break in her eyes. "You can't let him do this! You can't-!"
"What?" he'd say, looking in confusion from her to 2b. "But I didn't do..."
His voice would catch as he'd glance at 2b's back, the android having missed it when he'd come out the door, his hand briefly rising to touch her back, fingers tracing the injury there, an injury he'd never been able to fully repair, the skin still blemished showing a mark from where the chasis had been split open, fingers lightly tracing the light bump against the skin, something one might miss if they weren't aware.
"2b..." he'd whisper. This wasn't the 2b he'd grown used to, who showed little concern for him save when he was injured, the one who spent all her time with A2. This wasn't that 2b. This was... the one who A2 had murdered. The one who had glanced back at him warmly before she'd been lost to him... forever.
Even if it had been 2b's face on the other. She'd stopped really being the person he cared for before he woke up. He knew that... because it had seemed she'd stopped caring for him.
He'd feel 2b tense under his touch, the woman tilting her head as she'd regard him.
"9s... this isn't the time for.. Things like that," she'd say and he'd pull his fingers back, a blush falling on his cheeks as he'd consider how intimate that might feel to her, falling back to old habits from when they'd been together, only snapped back by A2's yell.
"What are you doing?!" A2 would snap, trying to take a step forward when 2b would place her blade in front, blocking A2's path.
"Y-you can't be serious! You can't be.. Taking his side on this!" she'd say, the android able to hear how the voice of the other is trembling, as if it is nearly breaking. He'd tilt his head regarding her, unsure if he cared or not.
He'd felt a bitter hatred for the other android for a long time and her pain... it felt... numb to him, as if he really didn't care. He'd watch her, watch as she began to break, and he could only take a bitter joy in it.
"It hurts doesn't it, when someone you care about doesn't recognize you anymore or acknowledge you," he'd say.
"9s," 2b would say worriedly, part of her possibly considering if what A2 had said was true. He'd glance at her and shake his head.
"You fucking shit. You just admitted it. I'll kill you!" she'd hiss when 9s would step forward in front of 2b, his gaze firm as he'd curl his hands into fist before opening them slowly, glancing back at 2b and shaking his head.
"She's not the person you're looking for."
"Of course she is!" A2 would snap. "I'm looking at her right here!"
"No. You're not. She just... looks like her," he'd say, admitting something he didn't really want to admit to 2b, the android woman tensing for a moment.
"Enough of your games! Tell me what you did to 2b!" she'd howl, readying to bring down her blade against the android.
"I brought her back," he'd say simply. "While you were off.. Galeventing around not giving a damn, I found her and I brought her back!"
"Like hell you did!" she'd say, intending to slash at the male android when 2b would get between the two, her blade countering A2's and pushing it back, a look of shock on her face.
"2b..."
"There is something wrong with you. These thoughts you have.. Of us, I have no recollection of them. But I assure you, I'll get to the bottom of it. Isn't that right, nines?" she'd say, but her words sounded scolding, making the male android rub at his wrist uncomfortably.
"Right... it's starting again."
"Starting again?" the android woman would say, looking at him with genuine confusion.
He'd raise his hands, lowering his head as he'd grasp his scalp, fingers digging into his skin as he'd shake his head.
"I can't... I can't... not again. Not again," he'd murmur. "I can't do this again. I..."
"Can't what again, nines?" she'd say worriedly, her voice cracking with concern. But he wouldn't hear her, shaking his head as he'd fall to his knees, shoulders beginning to tremble.
"I don't want to go through that again! Not again. Please..."
"9s!" she'd say, her voice breaking in fear as she'd grip his shoulders, placing herself before the smaller android as she'd look at him. "Go through what again! What happened to you? What is it? Tell me!"
Her words and her worry, mixed with her touch against his shoulders would make him snap as he'd yell, "I don't want you to leave me again!"
"Leave you again?" she'd say, his words of pain and heartache making her own heart burn with pain, making the woman do what is uncharacteristic to her and pull him into a hug, holding him close.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left you. I had to protect you. And with the logic virus coursing through my body... I'm so sorry. I didn't realize... I'm sorry, 9s," she'd say as he'd feel her body shudder against his.
He'd pause, confusion setting in on him for a moment until he realized.. She thought he meant when she left him when she was killed by A2. Such a time.. It had been agony to him, though it was different, different from watching her drift away and become part of someone else. He wasn't sure which pain was worse, only... this 2b wasn't aware of the second one, because whatever had caused her to drift away hadn't occurred here. Whatever had taken root to cause it was not here and the android would grip her more tightly.
"You damned bastard," he'd hear A2 growl above him, his eyes opening wide as he'd see A2's blade raised to skewer him when her eyes would widen for a moment as she'd glance at 2b, her movements faltering as she'd step back in surprise.
"That's...not her," she'd finally say, shaking her head. "You brought her back.. For yourself? That's really sick, you know that? What would she think about this, if she knew."
9s would slowly rise to his feet and shake his head.
"I don't know..." he'd say quietly as he'd remember the data chip in his pocket. "But... I think she already knows."
The long haired woman would scoff, turning away from him then and walking away.
"Whatever. Just keep yourself... and that ... thing.. Away from us. Makes me sick to look at it," she'd say, regarding 2b coldly.
9s would frown watching the woman jump off and disappear into the shadows, to run off to who knew where. It seemed obvious to him she'd become aware this wasn't the 2b she knew. But how she'd become aware eluded him unless...
He'd glance once more at her back, the mark clear and visible there and frown. A mark that wouldn't disappear and couldn't be erased. It was likely how she understood. But...
"9s?" 2b would sound, her voice quivering and sounding uncertain.
"Yes, 2b?" he ask.
She'd turn to regard him slowly as she'd pull away her blindfold, showing clear blue eyes full of worry and concern.
"Tell me... what's going on..."
He'd regard her, his hand opening and curling before he'd nod his head. She deserved that much... of at least what he could give her...