[] ... You're the Healer type, and in the end, this is the only thing you're good for: support 5B. Mentally, emotionally, and physically. You are aware that you're a defect, that you're more prone hurting 5B than actually helping her, but you can't go against what you're built for. That's your excuse.
-[] 5B seemed to enjoy your conversation about how you'd think she'd look better in red earlier, maybe try and restart it. At the very least you can try and figure out where you could find some red cloth.
[] "There is a forest nearby. The Bunker is always so dull... maybe a change of scenery would be nice."
[Blank Storage]
There is an undeniable charm wandering through the ruined city. Of crumbling concretes, and cracked pathways. Metal signs with its words scrubbed by time, either lying off on the ground, or hanging barely on red-crusted poles. And from these holes, and nook, and crannies, nature creeps in; worming vines, and roots, and woods - curving, and entangling around where time has most taken its toll like a snake; breathing in new life into the place. Leaves scattering in the wind, and animals grazing upon the ground.
This place is old. You can almost feel it in your 'soul'. Older than you, and older than 5B, and older than even the androids or the machines themselves. Older than imagination. Ancient. Historic. Monumental. In a way, it is a testament of Mankind's ingenuity, of what they could do, and did do; how after millennia have passed since they evacuated to the moon, their footsteps are still here. Aged, perhaps, but not gone.
And then there's the Machine Lifeforms. It's the first time you've seen them in real life; or at least, it is for the you that woke up hours ago. Beings made by the Aliens as weapons against Mankind. Your enemy. Short, clunky things that move with halting gait; coat rusted with red, head round as a ball, and their body almost as thick as a tree trunk. Awkward. Passive. Without purpose. Without meaning. It's almost pitiful. For the most part, they don't seem to know that you're even there, and when they do, they don't seem to recognize you.
If Androids are built based on humans, then these Machines are based on something else. Maybe the Aliens. Maybe something else. Nevertheless, they are weak. You're sure that 5B could destroy dozens, or hundreds of them without even breaking a sweat. But that only applies in small-scale. What these Machines lack in quality, they more than make up for it with quantity. Cut one, and two will sprout. Cut two, and four more will come. So on, and so goes. Though thankfully the same rule doesn't apply to Goliath-classes - or at least, not at the same rate.
... And you're stalling. You know you're stalling. Silently, you glance over to your side. 5B hums a toneless tune, green eyes drinking in the view. You could keep quiet. You should probably keep quiet. But you know you can't keep at it. Sooner or later, 5B will turn to you, and you will be faced with either option to keep your distance - and hurt her, or reciprocate, and hurt her as well because of your defect.
Your defect.
It all comes down to that, huh? Your defect. You feel resignation; feel ugly acceptance at the inevitability. One day, you're going to forget that all of this has ever happened, and one day, you'll come to this same realization, and one day, it will all repeat again. Again, and again, and again. Meaningless. It gnaws on you, that cruel despair. Once again, you wonder what cruel god ever bothered with your existence -
You breathe out.
No. You cut that line of thought.
Nonono. You can't keep thinking like this - you can't just break down in front of 5B due to some existential crisis.
You'll hurt her. And you suppose that's what all that matters. Not your defect. Not your existence. You're 3H, and as a Type Healer, it's your purpose to support your partner: to support 5B, emotionally, mentally, or physically. And keeping silent - keeping yourself distant, that'll
definitely hurt her, and...
That's the excuse you're going for: because you're built to.
You let out another breath. You need... a topic. Something light. Something harmless. Something easy. Something that's not going to touch about anything that has ever happened before you are... you.
She would look better in red. The thought comes to you suddenly, and you smile. Anemone
did cut off that conversation, didn't she? And for once, it's... yours.
"Hey 5B," you start out. Green eyes turn to you, lips curving upwards. For a moment, you hesitate. Only for a moment. "You'd look good in red."
"
Umumu?" she tilts her head, before perking up. "Naturally! And you haven't told me yet, 3H," she pouts at you. "What were you thinking about, back then?"
"Hmm..." you hum, scanning her dress. Not answering. And then you nod.
5B pouts harder, delight in her eyes. "3H!"
Your smile becomes impish. "It's a secret, but if you really want to know..."
She hums thoughtfully at that, hand under her chin. And then she nods. "Alright. Tell me, 3H."
"We YoRHa Units don't have a strict uniform code, I don't think," you shake your head. "So I'm trying to see how you would look -"
5B interrupts you with a gasp. "You are correct!
Umumu..." she mumbles, ducking her head. "This means I could actually tailor myself a new dress. Not to say that this dress is bad, but it is too gray. It needs color. Red, and gold, and maybe..." she shakes her head, smiling like a puppy as she turns to you. "What do you think... 3H, what's wrong?"
Ah. She must have noticed. You chuckle sheepishly. "No, it's fine."
5B frowns. "No, you're not. Tell me, 3H," she steps right in front of you, hands resting over your shoulders. "Something's bothering you lately, and..." she sighs, smiling. "You're my partner, and I you. You can be honest to me."
"W-well," that, perhaps, stabs deeper than it's meant to be. You can't simply say what has been on your mind in the past half-hour or so. "I was hoping that I could make you a dress," you smile. "But if you want to make your own -"
"No!" you blink, flinching at the ferocity of the reply. 5B grimaces. "I'm sorry, 3H... but I would prefer something made by your hands," she grins.
"But it won't be perfect," you say, quietly. "I'm sure you could make it better, 5B."
"That's not the point, 3H," she shakes her head. "I would rather have something made by
you, 3H. It doesn't have to be a gift, but..." she smiles at you. Sad. Happy. Both. "Anything by you will always be better than anything by me. It's..." she brushes your cheek. "Something for me to remember you."
Ah.
She knows. Stupid, stupid.
Of course she knows. She has been hurting - is hurting more than you. For her, this has happened over, and over, and over. And you would forget. Over, and over, and over.
You smile, try to make it look natural. Try not to clench your hands. "Alright then. I promise."
[Blank Storage]
"I think this used to be a shopping mall," you say, after a moment of digesting the new information. It's one of those things again; similar to how you still remembered your Type, and duty after 5B's re-introduction in the Bunker. You marvel at the surrounding. Nature has nearly taken over its entirely; overgrown by trees, and coiled by vines and brambles. There's a pair of what used to be elevators, now broken; the path leading upstairs broken by fallen rooftop.
5B makes a noise of interest. "Shopping mall? Like a market?"
"Something like that," you nod, smiling. "It's like one giant store center separated by several stores. It used to be that you could buy almost everything in here."
"Everything?" 5B looks up, curious green eyes scanning through the second floor. "Even clothes, and jewelry?"
"And more," you add. "Food, and entertainment, and even things from the other side of the world."
5B exhales from her nose, nodding with a satisfied smile on her face.
You frown. "What is it?"
"It is nothing. I am simply saving this in my memory. One day, this will all be over, and..." she turns to you, lips smiling softly. "We will be able to come here, and enjoy various leisure together. Maybe," she chuckles. "I'll make one for ourselves."
"Ah," you intone. That sounds like something 5B would do. But you wonder when that time will come. You wonder if... one day, you'll wake up, and realize that everything is over. You wish for that to never come. Not to you. Not to the you that will come. "That would be nice. I guess at that point, you won't be wearing my dress, huh?" you smirk impishly.
"Wha -" 5B sputters, her cheeks pink. "3H, I would never! When you've sewn me that dress, I'll treasure it! I'll wear it everyday, and even if I find something made of diamonds, and gold, and the finest fabrics - yours will still be objectively the best!"
She's serious. Of course she's serious. Is it just you, or is it very hot in here? "Oh," you place your hands over your face. "That would also be very nice."
"Umumu?" there's a curious tone under her mumble. "Umumumumu?" and then there's that hint of suspect joy, and the beginning of amusement. Oh no, this is dangerous - 5B is starting to learn the enjoyment of - "3H," she exclaims. "Are you -"
"We should probably be going, and hunt that White Boar," you say quickly, moving towards the big hole off to the side. That way leads into the forest proper. Well, there's another way, but this here is the safest, according to the map.
"3H, wait!" 5B calls out, hurrying up to your side. There's an unfairly bright smile on her face. "I just said something that made you blush, didn't I? Umumu. And what is this happiness I am feeling?"
Oh no.
[Blank Storage]
Strangely, there is a lack of Machine Lifeforms in here. You would have expected there to be more, but it's... quiet. Peaceful. Chirps of birds perched on trees. An air that is quite different from the ruined city; a different sort of 'cleanness'. You breathe in, and out. Beside you, 5B is humming a toneless tune. It confuses you greatly at first, but you realize that it's just 5B being 5B, so you don't mind it too much.
This is nice, you decide. Or at least, you decide that it is nice after you've successfully took control of your body heat. You don't know what got into you there. It's not exactly a bad sensation, but... you're not sure. It makes you happy, certainly, and objectively speaking, you know that such a reaction from people means that they're happy. But for it to feel this way...
Naturally, you should make 5B feel this way more often -
5B takes your hand in hers. You let out a noise between confusion, and a squeak. She smiles at you. "I believe this is how Humans would share their affection in this situation," she explains.
"I guess that makes sense," you nod. Humans do share a lot of their affection through various contacts. Though it's certainly not bad. Something that defines their closeness, huh?
You remain like that for a long time. Just walking, and enjoying the forest's view. At this point, you may as well have forgotten Saber's request; it's just an excuse for you to go here, by now.
Naturally, that's when you actually encounter your target.
"Stop," 5B whispers to you, and you nearly stumble. Only 5B's steel grip keeps you from falling. After a moment, she releases your hand. "I think I see our target."
You blink, looking around. "Where?"
"There," she says, gesturing into the foliage of trees. It takes time, but now that you know where to look, you eventually see it. "You should take a step back," 5B explains, and you belatedly realize the seriousness beneath her tone. She takes a step forward, acting as your shield. "Boars are very tough. That's a fact. You should keep a distance... hm?" green eyes squint. "It's limping."
She turns to you.
You blink. "... What?"
Her lips twitch into an excited smile. "This would be very easy. I could kill it immediately, but if it's limping, then we could take our time - or maybe we could follow it. Maybe it'll lead us somewhere? Or rather, it'll lead us somewhere. There's..." she frowns, humming quietly. "Hm. Purpose? Something like it."
... That sounds very cruel.
[] Strike it now.
[] Follow it.
