Running away, Robin was running away again from her.

However, this time she couldn't blame her, because it was just all her fault, she'd been so happy to see Number 4 again and have her at her side, literally, that she ignored Robin's feelings about this.

She had sworn not to hurt her ever, to be better than all of those humans that had betrayed her trust, and here she was being just the same.

What did she see in her? Someone that couldn't move on, that's what.

That was all A2 had been so far, she hadn't changed in the slightest.

She hadn't even noticed that Number 4 had led her away from the rest of the group and back out in the open, so much her thoughts had been focused on the human.

But how could she tell Number 4 that she was now with another woman in her face? The person that had been her emotional crutch through the entirety of the mission they spent here…

The person she refused to forget no matter what, the person that even despite everything still held her heart.

But now she wasn't the only one anymore.

And Robin knew, that was why she decided to just leave without saying anything, once again she'd been the one not wanting to hurt her, to want her happiness, but what about hers then?

She didn't want to reject any of them, she didn't want to hurt them either.

How could she choose between them now?

Between the two people that had truly supported her through everything when they had been at her side.

Number 4 seemed to notice her inner turmoil and lack of response, as she just stared ahead in the direction Robin went, completely ignoring her.

"Number 2, what's wrong?" she heard her ask.

A2 tried her best to answer, she really did, but how could she tell her that she no longer was the only one anymore? Her mouth moved, but all that came out were just incoherent sounds.

"It's about her, isn't it?" so she knew then?

"You two are a thing, am I right?" she asked again and A2 didn't find it in herself to say yes. "I've seen it, you know? The way you look at each other, and the way she looks at you specifically."

She hadn't missed how the human's different colored eyes would often spare glances in A2's direction, and the looks of understanding they threw to each other while they battled earlier.

"When you ran towards those machines, she didn't hesitate a moment to follow you, it was almost as if she'd known you'd be in danger." and had saved her too.

"It's… complicated…" it was all A2 could manage, refusing to meet Number 4's eyes.

"Because you love us both, isn't it?"

"I never stopped loving you, Number 4." and that was very much true. "She knows it but…"

A2 raked a hand through her hair, frustrated.

"I wished so much you'd be with me again, and now that you are I don't know what to do. I don't want either of you to suffer…"

She actually never thought she'd get to see Number 4 before her again either, she thought at it to be just a stupid pitiful wish of someone that refused to let the past rest.

A2 didn't think she'd actually have to face this situation.

"I spent years alone, being hunted from YoRHa, and not only all of a sudden this mysterious woman shows up to kill me, but instead she saves my life, lets me live and helps me out, she told me Anemone was alive and vice versa, she deserted for me even though she had people she cared, she trusted me, had faith in me beyond reason…" A2 let herself slip so she was sitting on the ground.

"This is how I'm repaying her?" an angry fist collided with the rocks, leaving a dent in them.

"The only person that had ever shown me kindness through these years, the person that allowed me to find a new family, the person that brought the old Number 2 back to the surface when I believed her dead and buried with you guys." she shook her head.

"I don't know if I can do this to her…" blue eyes shining with tears met equally blue ones. "But I don't want to do this to you either."

Instead of walking away, Number 4 crouched in front of her, eyes sweet and understanding.

"That's all right, Number 2, you don't have to choose right away. Take your time to know what your heart truly feels, I'm not going anywhere."

She wasn't, but Robin?

Robin ran away often from her issues, running was her specialty, and what if this caused her to shut down the others too? She didn't want her to be alone again, not after she'd worked so hard to have her open up, yet she still felt that she was the only person that truly knew the human for real.

"She had an awful life, humans treated her terribly, they hurt her to the point she hid her feelings. Sometimes I ask myself how someone that received so much pain could still be so kind." Number 4 sat, listening.

"She'd been so alone, she hadn't known friendship, or love. I spent a while wondering if my feelings were legit, given we were made to love humans you know? And when I realized I loved her, I promised I would have never hurt her the way humans did." she smiled at the memory of their first kiss.

"I just wanted her to have everything that had been denied to her ever since she was born, but so far it was the opposite most of the time." even now when she offered that spark of hope to have everyone back, for her.

And all of this just had to happen not too long after she'd seen Robin actually be entirely honest with her feelings for the first time, when they all saw her cry tears of joy for the first time ever.

How could she take all of that away from her?

But didn't Number 4 deserve happiness too? After spending so long here didn't she deserve it as well?

Number 4 arose, turning around in the direction that the human woman went. From the way Number 2 spoke about her, she was truly someone special, beyond what she'd been, she had wanted her to live her own life and be happy too, so for this reason…

"I'll talk to her." she announced.

She had to know if this person was how Number 2 spoke of her, and then eventually make a decision. In the end what counted was Number 2's happiness, that had been her last message before she'd taken her own life. Despite everything, she still had the others here, but Number 2 had been alone until that woman came along.

She had to know her better.

She could hear Number 2 protest at it.

"It'll be okay, Number 2, we'll get through this, all three of us." she gave a smile, before heading in the same direction that the human went, leaving Number 2 behind.

Her excitement and attachment had done more harm than good so far, so maybe it was best to leave her to breathe and gather her thoughts on her own for the time being.

The human hadn't even turned when she approached, so that Number 4 wondered if she hadn't heard her or didn't want to acknowledge her presence. Not that she felt like blaming her, when she was all of a sudden coming back from the dead, disrupting what she and Number 2 built.

Her voice almost startled her when she spoke.

"Shouldn't you be with Number 2? I'm sure you two have a lot to say to each other." not only she knew she was here, she knew even who she was.

"How do you know it was me?" they barely met each other, she hadn't even turned her head to look. "The sound of your steps, I learned to recognize people from them when I was on the run." it was how she protected herself most of the time, and android hearing made it easier now.

Still, Number 4 forced herself to sit next to her, looking for some kind of closure, she didn't mean to be hostile or anything.

"I'm here to settle this matter."

"Don't bother." was the quick reply before she could say anything more. "I understand if she were to choose you over me, I'm easy nor a good person to love."

"Number 2 doesn't think that way."

"I know, and if I'm honest, I still don't know why she, or anyone else here believes that." Robin passed a hand in the water, even if she could touch the sea, she couldn't feel it since she wasn't in the real world.

"I'm a criminal, Number 4, I killed people for a multitude of reasons, I have done deplorable things, I could still do them if I wanted. She has forgiven me, but part of me doesn't believe I deserve it, part of me thinks this is all pity."

Because they knew of her past now, and A2 before anyone else. She'd taken her words and entirely chose to ignore anything she'd been and what she'd done, because she claimed she saw a different person that Robin still doubted today it was there at times.

"I spent years under YoRHa, doing anything the Commander wanted from me, because I knew nothing better than to obey if I wanted to survive, but when I met A2, something changed, when our eyes met, I saw myself in her. I didn't see the murderous deserter people claimed her to be, I saw someone lonely, abandoned from everyone, just like I was."

She gave a sigh. "All the loneliness and pain I felt in my life, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone."

And back then, A2 was just another Nico Robin in the making, another Devil's Child.

"I gave her what I could, that I had always wanted for myself because if I couldn't have it, at least someone else could." she never regretted that decision, however…

"But unlike you or her I'm unable to express my feelings, I don't truly know what it means to have friends, a family, and to love someone, I don't know how to deal with problems, I just run away like a coward. She doesn't need someone like me in her life."

Finally, their eyes met.

"She deserves someone better, someone like you." she shook her head. "I just wish for her to be happy, nothing else."

"For what is worth, I have to thank her, for showing me what it means to feel, and what it means to be cared for, and, I do believe that the time I spent here made me a better person than before."

She took a moment to gaze at the sky.

"It was good while it lasted. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to go back to my planet so you all could forget about me." forget she ever existed.

Number 4 sat quietly, listening to the woman talk, no, her name was Robin, Number 2 respected her so she should too. Realizing that it was like she had said, this person had been hurt so much, and her wounds ran deep, so deep they had become invisible scars.

Those humans made her believe she was not worth her life, she understood it just from the way she spoke that she didn't have any kind of love towards herself, so much that she convinced herself to be such a horrible person too.

But in reality she wasn't, because she saw it in the way she cared for the people around her with words and gestures.

Had she been truly evil, she would have left them to die here instead of offering a solution, but much like her, she was ready to sacrifice her own happiness for Number 2's one, something they had in common.

She now understood why Number 2 was so attached to her, and why she so much wanted to show her kindness, and to teach her how to open up and let herself feel like a person.

So…

"It doesn't have to be that way."

Robin frowned at her, as if she didn't understand her words.

"You said you want Number 2 to be happy, you can't just leave her alone like this."

"She won't be alone, she'll have you…" with glaring eyes, Number 4 cut her off "That's not the same thing!"

"Number 2 cares about you as much as she cares about me, and everyone else, having you at her side makes her happy, so you can't just leave, you can't always run from your problems!" Number 2 would be devastated if she were to just run.

Robin looked like a person who understood other people well, so it would be time she understood that said people wanted her to be here with them. Number 4 knew this even if she met her from just a few hours, if those humans made her believe she didn't deserve to be loved they would change that.

After all, weren't humans just evil people that left androids to die? So screw them and what they thought and what they did to this person too.

"We'll find a way that doesn't involve hurting either of the three of us. After all, don't we both just want Number 2's happiness? If either of us were to leave or die she'll be sad, no?" Robin knew it, didn't she?

She didn't truly want to run, Number 4 was sure.

But again, she knew no better, because she grew up that way, she said so just now.

She watched the woman nod at her words, confirming what she thought.

"From your words I understood that you two share a bond that I never had with her. Sure, I was the person she relied on and that she could count on when our squad was still alive, but times have changed, she has changed, and I don't know if I can understand what she's been through after I died as much as you can." she shook her head. "Despite everything, I've never known loneliness like you two did."

"You understand her desires and would sacrifice your own for her, that's why you offered us a way out of here because you knew she desired it, even though my presence would be hurting you." she sighed, this would be hard, but in her heart, Number 4 knew it was a good decision.

"So I have no intention to separate you two, the bond you share is too strong and beautiful for me to do so."

Robin shook her head. "I don't want to break what's between you two either."

"I know, but I feel in my heart that in the end you could take care of Number 2 better than me, like you've done while I wasn't here with her. I must thank you for that." Number 4 placed a hand on her chest. "When I died in the server room, sacrificing myself for her, all I ever desired was for her to have a better life and be happy, you've given her exactly that. My wish came true and I'm content this way."

"I just want her to keep smiling."

Suddenly, she remembered something from her false memories.

"I have memories of an adolescent teen, and is it true that humans change love interests all the time? Maybe that is what happened." Robin gave a nod. "Yes, humans can no longer love the same person but someone else over time."

"Since we're made in their image maybe that is what changed, time has passed and I couldn't be there for her, so maybe her feelings for me are no longer that strong as they used to be."

"But she still cares about you." Robin pointed out, she knew just from the way A2 spoke of her in the past, and how fond she was of those memories.

"I suppose… I suppose I could settle being her friend then? If you would allow me."

She watched the human give a knowing smile, placing a hand on her shoulder she just said…

"Why don't you ask her?"

And all of a sudden, turning around Number 2 was there, standing a few meters away and Robin had heard her. She had followed them, and probably had even listened to them talk too, at least part of it.

"Would you be fine leaving things as they are, A2?" it was Robin asking, as she rose from her seated position. "We just want you to be happy." Number 4 chimed in, doing the same thing.

A2 didn't give a verbal response right away, she just threw herself in their arms, sniffling and crying.

"Just don't leave me… neither of you. There's enough space in my heart for both, I swear."

Their answer was just for them to hold her even tighter.

"Don't worry." Number 4 left a kiss on her cheek.

"We're not going anywhere." Robin herself left a kiss on her temple, feeling it'd be wrong to outright kiss her on the lips with Number 4 present.

"We should go back to the others, they must be worried."

"And whose fault is it?" A2 jabbed a finger in Robin's chest as she said so, but she was smiling again.

"Guilty."

"Do you think they're okay?" Margaret asked, putting her head outside of the cave.

"There aren't any machine attacks right now, so it's safe to assume they should be."

"I don't think she was referring to that, Captain Rose." Anemone said, looking at her comrade, while sitting at Number 21's side.

She should have expected that Number 4's presence could have caused problems to Number 2 and Robin's relationship. She'd been the one encouraging her old friend to make a move too, but no one really knew Number 4 nor anyone else would be still here either.

She was as guilty as she wasn't at the same time.

She watched those two grow close and closer still, saw Number 2 heal from a troublesome past and learn to trust others again, and she saw the human learn to open up and be honest with her feelings.

But she knew Number 4 too, and saw how much of a help she'd been to Number 2 when she didn't know what to do, and kept her going.

Both of them were just equally important, so she just hoped that between the three of them they could solve things.

"They are together, Number 2 and the human, aren't they?" of course someone as observant as the Scanner would notice it too, even for as not very emotional as she was.

Anemone nodded.

"Well that certainly could create issues." Rose commented. "I hope they can solve them, but I don't know that new woman well enough to tell."

"Robin is very kind and caring, even if she seems cold." 6O spoke up, wanting to defend her friend's honor. "And she loves A2 a lot too."

If 6O wanted to be entirely romantic about this, she could say their relationship could be almost a fairytale.

"Robin is not a bad person, she has a good heart, a heart that humans have stepped on with no regard too many times, that's why she may appear a bit emotionless. She's not bad, she's just been hurt too much, and doesn't know how to deal with her feelings very well, because she's been alone for most of her life." 21O explained, as Robin's Operator and guide, she had to protect her unit, even if things changed, she felt that was still in charge of her safety.

Though she didn't want to spill things from the woman's past, if she wanted she'd say it.

"You see, I have been told my predecessor here as a Scanner is a very curious person, and I myself had taken an interest in old world things, I've always been curious about how humans lived. Our interests matched, because she's a former archeologist, and she'd actually look for stuff for me in her free time as I wasn't allowed to go down to Earth to search for myself." she had so many fond memories she had held on so hard when Robin had left.

"She was always smiling when she talked about the things she'd find, she's very serious and passionate about what she cares about, interests and people alike." 21O brought a hand on her chest. "I can swear that she is not going to hurt A2."

"Miss Robin has always been very kind to us too." a robotic voice spoke from further away, and the group noticed that 2B and 9S were back, in the company of Pascal.

"The children of my village would always be waiting for her to tell them stories."

But it didn't seem that Rose was interested in love affairs nor the human's past life anymore.

"You must be the one they call Pascal."

"That would be me, yes." Rose nodded to him. "Then let's make things clear, we don't trust you, but you're also our only way out of here, so if you do your work then maybe we may start thinking of you as an ally."

"We accepted your help just because you're Number 2's friend, nothing more."

"I understand. A2 has done us a lot of favors, and much like Miss Robin, the people of my village were fond of her too. Even if they are no longer here, I still owe them both for helping me, and attempting to save them. It is thanks to A2 teaching me that memories are important if I still remember those times, when I wanted to forget she didn't let me." even if it was hard to rebuild, if androids could move on then he could too.

"Pascal and his people have always been pacifists, they've aided us in fighting a massive Goliath once too, they never hurt anyone, but from what we understood a bunch of other corrupted machines attacked the village one day, no one was left from that attack." 9S explained, he hadn't been there so he couldn't say more than what he heard from A2.

"A2 lost Miss Robin too that day. I saw them both at the village's fire, and when A2 rejoined me at the factory where I was with the children, she was all alone. She taught me that even if the people you lost are gone, it is our duty to remember the fallen." and he couldn't forget the look of pure anguish on her face that day either.

"Robin let herself die in the fire of the village because she caught a logic virus during that battle, she pushed A2 away so she didn't have to watch her die or have to kill her." 2B put a hand on her chest, recalling how broken A2 was as if those feelings had been her own, perhaps part of that pain had been her own too, she had cared for her mentor after all.

"What a tragic story." Lily said in barely a whisper.

"But we're all still here." A2's voice arrived from afar, as she, Number 4 and Robin rejoined the group, the two women on either of her side didn't appear hostile to one another.

"Did you solve things?"

"We found an agreement, let's say." Robin shared a knowing look with Number 4, which relieved the others since they were getting along at least.

Perhaps there was nothing to fear then.

"We picked ourselves up before, and we can do it again, we just have to work together." A2 joined Pascal's side, a sign that she trusted him.

"All right then, are we sure we have all we need?"

"I counted our weapons and they should be enough for all of us. 2B has two swords, so does A2, I have one, 21O and our Commander have one too, that makes seven." 9S pointed at each of them as he mentioned their names.

"Unfortunately Robin's sword doesn't have a big storage, it's a very old weapon, but her Pod was built to save her data if she perished, and we could modify ours temporarily to do so as well, we'd just need one between 042 and 153."

Before the Pods could attempt to choose between themselves, Robin stopped them.

"Actually that won't be necessary." she said pulling out a weapon that hadn't been in her hands for a very long time. "I still have this."

The Standard YoRHa Blade she was given for the very beginning of this adventure. "I no longer need it, but I kept it as an emergency, or as a lucky charm." she shrugged.

So they were good on that aspect.

"And about the… cores?" Rose felt disgusted at having to say that they needed them for the YoRHa girls.

"Well we don't have them with us…" 9S scratched his head.

Anemone put a hand on her chin. "I'm not sure we have a supply either, I think the last ones were used for White and 6O."

But Pascal chimed in. "Actually, if I may be allowed to say, I still have the cores of the children. They loved A2 very much, and if her friends were to give them a new life I'd be very happy, it wouldn't be the same as them being alive, but I know they would be in good hands."

"As long as they agree." Rose looked at the trio of YoRHa, expecting their answer.

"Well if you put it this way, I don't think I could say no. They liked Number 2 and so do I." one positive vote for Number 4.

"As much as I do not like the fact we were built with machine parts, it is the easiest and most efficient thing we can afford, and we need those cores. If he's willing to provide them I will accept it, it is the most logical course of action." another yes, this time from Number 21.

Number 16 only gave a growl, not liking the thing one bit, but she felt the eyes of everyone else on her, waiting for her to accept so they could move on, like back then they did the same when Number 21 didn't like the alliance with the Resistance. But outnumbered she had to yield that time so…

"Fine…" she crossed her arms indignantly, hating that once again the Scanner was correct, as she always was. "Only if I get to kick the asses of these two machines keeping us here though."

"You'll have to fight me for it." Dahlia gave her a bump on the shoulder.

"Of course, of course, we got to get free first. So if we're ready, let us be on our way."