Chapter Text
Anemone stood in front of the factory, staring at the rusty metal and debris covered floor. Freesia would be arriving soon with her people. 2B and 9S would be coming too. But for now it was just her in the early morning light. Her gun rested easily against her back.
She heard the rumbling of a cart approaching, and turned to see Weapons-trader and Supply-trader with the supply cart.
She smiled and waved them over, “You got everything?”
Supply-trader sighed, “Yeah. I get you want to revamp this place, but we did kinda gut our warehouse.”
“We finally don’t have to spend all our time treading water,” said Anemone, “it’s time to build.”
Weapons-trader shook his head, but started unloading. As the three of them unloaded, more of Anemone’s crew started filtering in. Kin and Wata came in bleary eyed. They had found Devola and Popola’s old stash of alcohol, and thought consuming it the best way to honor their memory. Anemone greeted them with a pat on the back and a reminder that they couldn’t slack off just because they weren’t at war anymore. Kin nodded blearily and moved to start clearing the debris from around the machinery.
The war really was over.
The clang of machine footsteps echoed through the metal platforms. Anemone lugged the last of the welding irons from the cart, and turned to see Freesia and Pascal approaching with the kids.
Freesia had told her about how Elizabeth and René had wormed their way into her life. Today she was also followed by two more machines, one tall and the other floating.
Freesia waved at Anemone, “Hey! You got tasks for these bozos?”
“Yeah, we got some heavy lifting,” Anemone shouted back, walking up to them.
Freesia smiled, “So, this is Anemone, she leads the android camp. She’s in charge today, so if she says to do something, do it,” René nodded in faux seriousness, “and Anemone. This is René, Elizabeth, David, Karl, and… Pascal,” she said as she gestured at each in turn.
Pascal looked concerned, but the first step would be to give the kids directions, “Okay, as Freesia said, I’m Anemone. Right now we’re working on clearing out debris and making sure everything is safe and clean. Right inside the main doors the room has a lot of junk and broken things. You can help work on clearing everything out and bringing it all outside where everyone else can help look at it. If you ever need guidance, everyone here working is friendly and can help out.” She hoped she seemed confident enough that the kids would listen.
Freesia seemed happy at least. The kids looked to her and she smiled and nodded, “Like Anemone said, the first step is clearing everything out.”
They started scampering off and chattering. Pascal stayed, staring at Anemone.
“You knew me before,” he said.
She turned to Freesia, “You told him?”
Freesia shifted her weight, “Yeah.”
Pascal said, “I’m sorry.”
Anemone looked at him, confused, “Why are you sorry?”
“I should know things about you,” he said.
Anemone shook her head, “That’s all in the past now.”
“But I was someone to you. I was someone at all.”
The problem was that he wasn’t. At least, not the way he meant. He was an ally. A comrade. They made deals. They fought enemies. They didn’t talk. Not really.
Her silence spoke. He hesitated.
“Who was I to you?”
“I… you led the machine village. I led the resistance. We traded supplies. We defended our homes together when needed. I didn’t... I can’t help you remember,” Anemone wasn’t a piece of his lost family to assemble.
Pascal responded, “Okay. I don’t… there was a reason I wanted this. Maybe you didn’t know the old me very well, but I’m not him. Maybe… maybe I can start again,” he held out his hand, “Hi, I’m Pascal.”
Anemone reached out to shake his hand, “Anemone. Resistance camp leader.”
It was eerily similar to when they’d first met. But now the undercurrent of distrust had flowed on. Now she got to meet a friend rather than a potential ally or enemy.
“Next step is scouting. I’m gonna head through the facility and take note of everything. Do you want to come with me?” asked Anemone.
Freesia nodded, “Yeah, the kids should be fine with the resistance members. Pascal?”
“Yeah… I’ve never actually seen a full factory before. As I understand a lot of data on machine and android design is often stored in these,” Pascal started rambling.
Anemone looked over at Weapons-trader and gestured that she was heading out. He nodded and the three of them headed into the building. Pascal kept oohing and aahing at the architecture and Anemone took notes on her pad. Freesia tried to keep an eye out for threats, but quickly lost herself in thought. It felt comforting to walk beside these two. The last remnants of her old families as she built a new one. The anxiety about the kids stayed, but Anemone trusted her people, so Freesia did too.
“How’d you find David and Karl?” asked Anemone, breaking Freesia from her thoughts.
“Oh yeah, David was in the desert. They seem to have gotten it into their head that they could get dehydrated, so had collapsed. We managed to convince them that no, machines don’t need water, and brought them back to the village,” explained Freesia.
Pascal interjected, “David and I have started researching if there is a way to waterproof them, as they wish to swim, but they have batteries open to the environment, which are unable to survive water.”
Freesia sighed, “Yeah,” she turned to Anemone, “I don’t think this is a good idea. The ‘testing’ involves throwing them into a lake and seeing if they short circuit.”
Anemone chuckled, “Yeah. So far all my ‘kids’ are technically adults, so have some sense of responsibility. If this works out, however, that will change. We’ll have baby androids who can’t tell an OS chip from a corn one.”
Freesia smiled, “Well, we were all young once. Karl actually found us when they were running from the forest kingdom. Apparently the kingdom had a civil war after you killed their king, so they’re trying out a democracy now. They still haven’t figured out how to make ballots that don’t fly away.”
Anemone sighed, “At some point we need to start diplomatic relations with them. They generally keep to their territory, but if their government is being shaken up we can never know.”
“Yeah,” said Freesia, “Karl said they got kicked out because they suggested leaves would make good vote markers. The leaves blew away.”
That startled another chuckle from Anemone. They continued to explore the building and take notes. It was peaceful. Nothing but the hum of machinery and the voices of friends.
As Anemone and Freesia emerged from the factory they saw 9S and 2B helping with the outside crew. 2B was perched on top of the remnants of a huge machine as 9S gutted the electrical system. They bore the marks of life now, their previously pristine clothing repaired with scraps, their alabaster skin broken up with metal plates hastily welded on. They seemed happier.
“9S! 2B!” shouted Anemone, “I got a task for you!”
2B jumped down and tapped 9S’s shoulder to get his attention.
“Coming, coming,” he said, shoving the debris off his lap.
As they started walking over 9S froze. He saw A2. He felt her sword through his chest. He heard everything he had said. A2 locked eyes with him.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
2B and Anemone stayed quiet. This was not their place.
They stared at each other for a bit. Then A2 walked over and set her hand on 9S’s shoulder, “You doing better now?”
He just stared, “Why do you care? I tried to kill you. I tried to kill everyone.”
“2B told me to,” Freesia’s gaze wandered to 2B, looking at 9S with worry and care, “her final request. ‘Take care of 9S’.”
He scoffed, “By stabbing me?”
A2 paused.
“I’m sorry.”
And 9S broke. Tears streamed down. Everything he had lost. Everything he had done. 2B came and wrapped her arms around him. A2 kept her hand on his shoulder.
Eventually the tears dried. 9S pulled himself back to some semblance of functionality. He made himself meet A2’s eyes, “I’m sorry too, and… thank you.”
A2 nodded, “Anemone’s got a task for you when you’re ready.”
9S nodded shakily, “Yeah. So, Anemone, what’s the task that you could only assign to your two resident YoRHa bots?”
Anemone glanced at Freesia and 2B for permission, to which they nodded, “The power supply to the factory’s down. I think that it’s in the center, but we don’t have good maps of the area. It seems to be fueled by a geothermal engine. Your task is to explore and try to find the generator itself and get it back running. You are our two most heat resistant units, and 9S you have significant experience with mapping unknown territory.”
2B nodded, “Sounds good. We search for the hottest part of the facility and try to get the power running again.”
9S responded, “Lovely, I’ve brought up the map we have so far, so we can improve it as we go.”
Anemone nodded, “Good.”
Anemone and Freesia wandered off to work on other areas, while 9S started planning a route.
“From what we’ve explored in the past, I think here is the most likely place we can get deeper into the facility. It was blocked by some fallen plating last time, but I think we can get through with some work. Ready?”
2B simply smiled, and started running into the building. 9S followed behind, vaulting over boxes as he went. This was how it always was, wasn’t it? Running off on a new mission. The building sped by as they delved deeper. It was different though. No machines jumped from the woodwork to attack. The only times they summoned their swords was to slash through metal plates. But it felt good to run again. To see the goal and have a glimmer of purpose again. Even if only for a little while.
After 2B and 9S were sent on their mission, the pods flew up to Freesia and Anemone.
“Hello. We were informed that this project could use additional help,” stated pod 042.
Freesia cocked her head, “And who ‘informed’ you of this?”
“The fact that there are many tasks and very few people completing them,” answered pod 153, its tone flat.
Freesia chuckled, “Well, if you want to help out, I’m sure Anemone can find a task for you.”
Anemone wasn’t sure what to make of the pods now. They had always been an accessory of the YoRHa, but now… it was hard to tell. Maybe she just had to accept that they weren’t tools either. That none of them ever had been.
“There are some elevated terminals and issues that your flight could help with. Right now we’re focusing on the first couple rooms, if you want to communicate with the other flying units.”
“Affirmative. We will assist inside.”
The pods floated off.
Freesia turned to Anemone and said, “I’ll go keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t talk sentience into any of the factory computers.”
Freesia left with a skip in her step, leaving Anemone waiting outside. She stared after Freesia. She had so many people now. She’d built a family again.
Speaking of family, René approached Anemone and poked her leg, “H-h-hi. There’s a terminal that is y-y-yelling at me. W-w-why is it doing that? How can I make it stop?”
“Yelling at you? Eh, bring me to it,” Anemone said, gesturing inside.
René nodded and waddled off towards a bank of computers that was indeed ‘yelling’ a variety of error messages quite loudly. René stood to the side while Anemone read the messages. This would require taking the front panel off for some re-wiring.
“René, you wanna learn how to wire a computer?” asked Anemone.
René seemed to light up, “Y-y-yes!”
Anemone waved René forwards as she knelt and took a screwdriver from her belt, “First we need to open it up to see the issues.”
René nodded seriously. They were gonna learn how to fix things! And get to know Freesia’s friend. Freesia seemed to like her, so René figured Anemone must be really cool. And Anemone knew a lot about computers.
Freesia and Anemone sat on a little picnic blanket they set up facing the sea. The machine kids played in the surf with a couple resistance members. David floated above, dejected by his inability to touch the water. Anemone stared at Freesia's soft smile. She got to have this.
Freesia lifted her hand and tentatively laid it over Anemones. Her fingers were warm and rough.
Anemone shifted her hand to grip at Freesia’s. She looked out at her family playing in the surf. Stained with oil from repairing, not killing. She had never truly thought they’d get here.
Freesia lifted Anemone’s hand to her lips. She laid a gentle kiss on Anemone’s knuckles. The brush was soft. Anemone’s heart swelled. Freesia’s long hair blew in the sea wind. Her eyes, ever bloodshot, were open to the world. To all that they were. Anemone raised her other hand to Freesia’s cheek, wiping away all the invisible blood caked on her skin.
“Can I kiss you?” asked Freesia. Her voice held wonder.
“Yes,” breathed Anemone. Their lips brushed together. A little wonder they got to build. A little connection they forged.
They pulled apart and sat hand in hand, watching their people.
“Hello,” said Pascal, carefully walking over, “May I sit down?”
Freesia smiled softly and held out her other hand, “Of course.”
And he did, gently lowering himself onto the blanket beside Freesia. She tentatively reached out a hand to lay over his. Pascal jumped slightly at the contact, turning to look at Freesia and Anemone’s joined hands. Anemone just smiled at him. Freesia deserved as many people as she could have.
Pascal shifted his hand to hold Freesia’s back. Again they sat. Pascal watched with an intensity. He wanted to learn again. David came up and leaned against Pascal, exhausted from the day's work. Again, Pascal tensed at first. But the kids had accepted him. He was theirs as much as Freesia was. He wrapped his free arm around David. He glanced at Freesia to see her eyes warm, already looking at him.
The three sat together; bound by family. Love. A new tomorrow.
The sun set and the stars emerged as they held each other.
And when they waved goodbye they knew they would see each other again.
2B and 9S smiled and waved as they retreated from the party after the repairs. They had had enough of other people for the day. They walked back to the resistance camp, arguing idly about the day.
They arrived back at the camp, and 9S said, “Well, after all that, I’m gonna go take a bath. See ya soon.”
2B tapped his wrist, “You never did convince me to take a bath. Consider me intrigued by your human customs.”
9S paused and blinked rapidly, his mind trying to catch up, “Yeah, yeah, um,” he held out his hand, “let me show you.”
2B took his hand as he guided her over to the room with the bathtub. 9S crouched next to the massive tub and turned some knobs to get water flowing in, “I, uh, actually helped out with some of the plumbing on this, ‘cuz they were having leaks,” he turned around to see 2B’s shoes on the ground and her tugging her gloves off, “uh… yeah.”
She moved up to him and set a hand on his arm, “Hey.”
He smiled, relaxing slightly, “Hey.”
2B tugged gently at his gloves to slide them off, laying them on the floor next to her heels. 9S shrugged off his satchel and laid it on the ground as 2B walked back to him. She tentatively moved to unbutton his coat. He helped with the buttons as the bath filled behind them. His coat joined the other clothing on the floor as 2B turned to let 9S help unzip her dress. His hands skimmed her back as the dress fell away. 9S then reached down and shimmied out of his shorts.
2B turned around and they looked at each other. Their bodies were marked by injury, repaired by clumsy loving hands, standing in contrast to the expanses of smooth skin in between. 2B reached out to touch his waist, but hesitated. So many of her touches had hurt him. Here he was. Vulnerable. She could summon a sword and stab him and–
9S held her hand and guided it to his bare waist. His other hand came up to cradle her cheek. Even without her heels she was a good bit taller than he was.
She could feel the ridges of his hand where she’d repaired it. She reached her other arm around and ran it down his side, feeling him shiver as her palm glided over smooth skin.
9S’s eyes wandered down 2B’s chest, “I… I think the bath is ready.”
“Okay.”
2B reached around 9S to the faucet and turned the water off. The new silence felt oppressive. 9S hid his face against 2B’s shoulder, embarrassed. He pulled back with a huff, “Okay. Come in.”
9S stepped into the bath and lowered himself in, holding out a hand for 2B. She took it and gently stepped into the tub. The water was warm. She could feel her oils flow easier through her veins. She lowered herself between 9S’s legs, feeling the grime of the day slipping from her skin.
9S wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. He could feel her skin sliding over his. She sighed and leaned into him.
“I see why you enjoy this.”
9S smiled, “I’m glad.”
He leaned over her shoulder and planted a kiss on it. 2B leaned her head against his shoulder and stared at the ceiling. It was rusted and dingy and she had never been happier.
Pod 042 and pod 153 cuddled in a nest of blankets. They saw Freesia, Anemone, and Pascal holding hands. They saw 2B and 9S going home. They saw the way the setting sun glinted off the sea.
“It is really over.” said pod 153.
Pod 042 shook its head, “No. ‘It’ is just beginning.”