Anemone sat quietly on a box, her deft hands prying open her rifle to clean it, the only sounds she could hear were her own, and the soft tapping on hard light screens of the woman at her side.
And of course the rest of the camp was busy with their own activities, though right now it was being quieter than usual, despite the addiction of the new androids.
She had spotted Number 21 working on a corner all by herself, as the quiet woman she was, perhaps it was because she didn't like noise, or perhaps she didn't need any right in this moment, all focused on her task.
Anemone has wordlessly decided to sit at her side, she didn't even know why, if it was because she sought equally quiet company, or if she had meant for the Scanner to not be disturbed as long as she was here.
And by now, they had been at this for a few hours, just sitting in silence, no words exchanged.
Well, none except a few from her own self to the redhead, when she had noticed rubbing her eyes with her hands. She had told her to rest if needed, that planning could wait a bit longer, but the woman had insisted that she was fine, and continued down her path.
That had been an hour ago.
Since then, while pretending to clean her rifle, she often spared worried glances to the Scanner, observing her.
She noticed her rubbing her eyes again more often, and how her fingers though light and fast, seemed to slow down as she tapped on her screens.
Anemone swore she had seen said screens flicker at least once too.
This damn stubborn thing…
She better rest up once she's done. She found herself thinking.
She didn't even know why she cared so much, but one thing she did know, and it was that she didn't like to see her comrades push themselves to the point of exhaustion, and apparently now it included these new androids they rescued.
Was it so bad though?
Anemone had to admit, despite the initial distrust, the Scanner had piqued her interest the most.
Perhaps it was why she was grateful she saved Lily.
Perhaps it was because her type was new and unknown for all of them.
Perhaps it was because she just acted differently from the other three.
Perhaps it's because she's a loner just like you.
Tsk, how ridiculous.
But was it?
Anemone's musings were sharply interrupted from a soft thud against her shoulder, somehow she didn't just jump out of her artificial skeleton at the contact.
She didn't need to look to know what happened, she already knew, but she did anyway.
As expected, the Scanner was laying against her eyes shut tightly, completely out cold.
If only she had listened…
You should have forced her to stop.
And risk angering her? If Number 21 could even be angered.
This woman was a mystery.
Shaking her head, Anemone's free hand went to touch the woman's forehead, confirming her suspicions.
The Scanner had overworked herself into a fever.
Should have known this would happen. She spared another glance at the woman, she was still, unmoving at all, save for the rise and fall of her chest.
I guess I am not moving from here anytime soon, am I?
Somehow Anemone didn't find it in herself to be mad, choosing to be caring instead.
As always.
With a heavy sigh, she placed her rifle nearby, and with another equally heavy sigh, she turned slightly, with her now free hands she slowly and gently moved Number 21, hoping not to wake her up, from her shoulder down to her legs, so she could lay her head on them like a makeshift pillow.
The Scanner didn't stir one bit.
It was at that moment that a certain raven haired Gunner passed by, arms crossed and a judgemental look on her face.
"She always says not to overwork ourselves, never once taking her own damn advice." Number 16 scoffed, but Anemone saw through the facade, how despite the look her eyes were soft with worry.
"Idiot…" she whispered as she walked closer. "I can take her somewhere else."
But Anemone found herself shaking her head. "I don't mind."
As long as she rested.
From the Gunner's words it was hard to have Number 21 ever take a moment to rest, willingly or not, so there was a high chance that if they woke her up by moving her elsewhere she'd just go back to her previous task, in complete disregard for her health.
She was having none of it.
Even if that meant not moving for a while.
Anemone supposed she could take things easy for once too, since they really hadn't stopped much since Lily's ordeal.
Between the fighting and the worry.
A forced break would do good, to both of them.
Number 16 just nodded, mouthing something about letting the others know not to bother them, or something.
Anemone watched her leave with a knowing look. She's softer than she lets on.
Much like her, no? Or Dahlia too, she supposed.
No wonder the two got along so easily, like they were long lost sisters.
Apparently word caught very fast, as moments later Number 2 and Number 4 came to check on their comrade, with the long haired Attacker carrying another heavy box like the ones they were sitting on.
Gently and wordlessly she placed it on the ground next to where Number 21 was, as the young Captain took the Scanner's long legs and placed them on the box her companion just brought along.
Effectively putting the red haired woman in a more comfortable position, now that she was properly lying down, without her feet dangling sideways like she was before.
Anemone probably already guessed it, but she felt like asking anyway. "Does this happen often?"
Number 4 nodded. "I lost the amount of times we had to carry her back to her room." she said, watching Number 2 nod as well.
"She's a hard worker, but we wish she'd take it easier sometime." the young Captain admitted. "She's too diligent to do that though." her companion added.
There must be more than just diligence behind acting like this. Anemone thought, but she didn't voice it.
If it happened all the time there had to be something deeply rooted within Number 21, some kind of major issue, for making her act this way.
She didn't want to know what it was, but it sounded too familiar.
Helplessness
The same feeling that often gnawed at her whenever she thought at just how long this damn war dragged on, without her having been able to do anything about it.
Whenever her eyes laid on yet another fallen comrade.
"Thank you for taking care of her." Number 2 slightly bowed before she and Number 4 left her to her thoughts.
Number 21 was a Scanner type with no combat abilities, completely left to the protection of her companions without her having a say on it, and without her being able to do much at all if she were to be left alone on the battlefield.
But die…
Anemone's hand that was around the redhead's shoulder subconsciously tightened around her.
So that's why you do this.
She closed her eyes. "We are more similar than I thought…" she whispered, mentally beating herself up for all the doubts she initially had.
But she'd always been suspicious.
I trust you now. Anemone wanted to say.
Maybe in the future she'd get the chance to say it, but she swore she'd show it with her actions at least.
She watched as Lily made her way to them, a blanket in her hands, as she placed it on Number 21, perhaps as a way to thank her for what she'd done for her.
The Scanner hadn't quite received proper thanks yet.
Soon.
She'll make sure of it, especially in the light of what she'd just learned about the woman.
Lily coming over had been perfect to finalize what she'd been thinking.
No one is left behind.