Budding Bond

P.S.A. I'm not sure where I stated this but I want to make sure everyone sees it so no one is confused. The week of new years (Next week) I will be on a road trip with family for part of my break. I don't think I'll be updating that week. Don't think I died or anything if I drop off the face of the planet around that time; I just won't have access to reliable internet nor a charge for my laptop.

-Route A, No. 023-

When he went out on hunts, Apex liked to use his tree hopping method of travel. Besides the fact that it was one of the fastest ways for him to get around the dense forest that surrounded the cabin, as fast and light as he had become there was almost no chance of the animals far below catching on to his presence. Of course, jumping between branches and using greenery as cover made it much easier to avoid wandering machines and keep his word to the twins.

Recent hunts were a bit different, todays included.

'According to previous data, these are the tracks of a moose.' Navi's voice filled Apex's head as he kneeled over a patch of dirt like any other, following a faint trail of activity. Partially eaten grass and plants, imprints in the dirt, trampled leaves, broken sticks; it all stood out like a sore thumb once he knew what to look for. 'Would you like me to mark the trail?' At his approval, the faint prints were outlined by glowing particles of light that only he could perceive.

It also paid off to have an incredibly intelligent AI as an assistant.

'Flattery is unnecessary, master. I am always running at peak efficiency.'

'Just take the compliment Navi.' He back while coming to a stand.

"Got a trail." Apex said. A2, who'd been standing off to his side, nodded and they set off together, walking rather than running.

Before she'd always kept her distance during his hunts, only approaching once his prey was captured or machines threatened him. For one reason or another, she'd taken to flat out coming to his side the moment he set out from the cabin.

They learned pretty quickly that tree hopping just wasn't something she could do with all the advanced machinery packed into her; beautiful as she may be, A2 was still an android built for battle, a fact reflected by her weight. And since she'd taken to running closer to him, her steps alerted animals before he could catch sight of them. He could just chase them down but that could easily end with them being led into a group of machines lying in wait.

And so, they started walking and properly tracking animals.

Apex found that he didn't mind the change of pace. Pushing his body to move as fast as it could until the wind brushed through his hair and few could keep pace was freeing but he'd admit that there was a certain appeal to walking through untamed wilds, taking in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. It helped that he always went further and further from the cabin in different directions, still making slow progress in mapping the whole thing out with Navi's help.

"Why go so far?" A2 suddenly questioned. A rare occurrence; normally she didn't say much of anything unless he started a conversation. "There were other tracks we could've followed that were closer to the cabin." And, as he was coming to learn, despite being built for combat A2 was adaptable, picking up things quickly. At first, she hadn't been able to make sense of the tracks he followed but now she sniffed them out almost as easily as he did.

And he had the help of an AI so that was saying something. Or maybe it wasn't? Semantics.

"I like to explore, see what I can find." Apex admitted with a shrug. "Don't you think following the same old paths would get boring pretty quickly? This keeps things fresh."

A2 simply shook her head. "Devola and Popola are right about you."

"Oh?" He questioned, focusing more of his attention on her. The three of them were gossiping about him? Consider him curious. "And what did they say?"

"You do stupid crap." The blunt statement drew a chuckle out of Apex. He doubted they, or rather Popola, phrased it like that but he couldn't say he was surprised to hear that.

"That's not…incorrect." He said. A2 was far from what he would call expressive, but the side eyed she fixed him with said everything; as far as she was concerned, she was as accurate as can be with that declaration. And given that his wandering usually led him to machines trying to take his life? Exploring was a stupid idea no matter how he sliced it.

That never stopped him before.

"But, now I'm exploring with one of the most advanced fighters in the world looking over my shoulder. I think I'm pretty safe no matter where I go." He added.

A2 shook her head, dropping the side-eye she was giving him, the edges of her mouth curved upwards.

Apex stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" A2 questioned, stopping as well and readying her weapon as she glanced around the rustling greenery all around them.

"You can smile?" He questioned, a finger jabbed in her direction. A2 stared. Then frowned and clicked her tongue, following the animal tracks without him. "Come on, A2. It was just a joke." Apex called out as he followed after her.

She didn't show any form of acknowledgement, back to her usual stoicism for the rest of their little hunting trip.

-Route A, No. 023-

A fist shot past his cheek. He ducked another only to be forced to raise his forearms, just barely managing to block a knee to his face. The force of the blow sent him skidding backwards, Apex digging his heels into the ground to stop himself from hitting one of the many trees at the clearing's edge.

A double-edged sword.

Apex tilted his head, another punch grazing his cheek. This time he threw out attacks of his own, pushing forward in a lowered stance to get a hit on his opponent. His initial punches missed but forced them to take a few steps back, a moment he used to drop down, attempting to sweep their feet from under them with a kick.

They jumped right over his outstretched foot, their form blocking out the sun above.

Apex threw himself out of the way, a heel stabbing into the dirt where he'd been. Scarcely a moment of respite was given before he found himself avoiding or blocking more blows.

He'd been more than a little surprised when A2 had finally caved in to his requests but far more excited. Their first battle she'd been hesitate, only counter attacking. When the second rolled around she'd somewhat adjusted to his capabilities and actually took to the offensive for short bursts. Now, today marking what was their fifth bout, she'd fully accepted his durability and-

Apex leaped over an attack from A2, lashing out with his foot to get a kick in, blackish tendrils spreading across the limb. She blocked it, wincing ever so slightly but remaining steadfast in the face of the blow. Kicking off of her, he flipped through the air, A2 already rushing to where he was poised to land.

He had a few different options. Fully change his arm into one of those tendrils and grab onto a distant tree, fire bones at her, or straight up lightened his weight to skew the speed of his descent. That final bit was a little something he figured out he could do while improving how quickly he leaped from branch to branch in the forest.

Instead, he landed, doing his best to take her blows head on. Whether that be by blocking or dodging. His arms, constantly jumping between stinging and numb as they healed from her attacks, put up a studier defense with every fight while his reactions improved, her moves growing clearer despite the initial difference in speed.

The point of fighting A2 wasn't to experiment with his other abilities -he could do that on his own time- but to see how far he could push his raw enhancement capabilities. And the results were already beginning to show.

He went for what he thought was an opening only to end up on the receiving end of a hard punch to the face that left him spread out on the ground and staring at the sunny skies above.

His face throbbed with quickly subsiding pain. He was pretty sure there was blood leaking down from his nose. And, to top it all off, his stomach released irritating growls, the speed of his healing already beginning to subside.

Nevertheless, Apex couldn't help but grin.

Had he ever felt sore since his awakening? He didn't think so but here, lying on the ground and soundly beaten, his body noticeably heavier than usual, he was certain he felt something akin to soreness. And with it came a strange sense of satisfaction that no amount of running or experimenting had ever left him with.

He was getting stronger. He was sure of it.

A2 blocked out the sun once more but this time she wasn't attacking, a hand held out for him.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Apex said as he took the offered hand, A2 effortlessly pulling him upright. She merely grunted as she looked him over. While she typically had a sort of unfriendly impassiveness about her, a frown bogged down her face.

One always did whenever they practiced together.

"You don't enjoy fighting do you?" He questioned. She didn't make any sound, merely looking at him with a blank stare once she was done looking him over. At least, its what he once considered a blank stare. Maybe he was just imagining things but she almost looked…resigned? Tired maybe? He wasn't sure but he did know one thing for sure. He didn't like the look. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to. You know that, right?"

"It's fine." She said. "It will help you survive."

A2 headed over to her camp, grabbing the fluttering cloak that'd been hanging off her giant blade and draping it across her shoulders as she took her usual seat among the logs. He got it back from time to time, but she'd really taken a liking to the thing so he just left it with her more often than not.

Apex wiped the blood from his nose, noticing Devola approach from the garden, apple in hand. She tossed it over and he met her at the fences as he bit down into it. His regeneration strengthened with every bite.

"She really laid into you today." Devola pointed out, reaching up, bits of blood and dirt he wasn't aware of or missed, wiped away.

"I did ask for it." Apex said, unbothered by the pain. It helped that it'd more or less completely subsided by now.

Devola hummed as she let go of him. "So, did Two say anything?"

He raised a brow. "Only that you and Popola think I make stupid decisions."

She cocked her own brow, grinning slightly. "Do you?" She questioned rhetorically, getting an amused exhale from him. "She really didn't say anything did she?"

"Something I should know?"

Devola shook her head. "Just Two being Two I guess. So long as you're both getting along, I'll keep my mouth shut." She said. "Just don't let her attitude fool you. I think she's finally coming around to accepting the fact that you're human."

Apex wasn't so sure he'd entirely agree with that. Sure, A2 was now willing to practice with him despite a clear dislike of fighting and took protecting him seriously but it didn't feel like the product of some engrained loyalty. The way she talked to him? The fact that she was willing to lay hands on him at all even if in the long run it improved his chances of survival?

It felt more like developing familiarity than anything else.

"The food is ready." Popola called out from the kitchen's open window. He and Devola pushed off the fence, Apex shooting a glance towards A2 on his way to the cabin.

Their eyes met and she snapped her attention away.

She also liked him to some degree.

Closed off as she was, he couldn't be absolutely certain but she was more willing to talk to him rather than her fellow androids, liked wearing his cloak whenever she got ahold of it, and often looked his way. Perhaps some of that could be attributed to curiosity but the signs were there.

Whatever the case, he'd just let things play out.

He was just happy to finally have a way to fully push his limits.

...

www.patreon .com/contradictioncentral

You read that right; I finally got around to fully publishing a patreon page. Right now I'm just plan on keeping it a week ahead of my current update schedule meaning this story is three chapters ahead while my Elden Ring is two but if I can manage it over break, I might keep both at five chapters ahead. I've seen some people go up to crazy numbers like ten but that feels ways too far ahead of the main audience.

Donating or not I don't want to fall out of touch with your opinions on upcoming stories beats as well as ideas you may have. Check it out if you want to give me even more support than just showing up here but don't worry too much about it. Honestly, I'd say save your money until I prove I can finish a story. I myself have been left disappointed by plenty of authors disappearing off the face of the internet after dropping a dozen fire chapters but losing motivation or inspiration out of nowhere.

I can say I won't do that but there's no real way to guarantee that. I will say I'm enjoying myself and don't plan on stopping.

Also one last note I really want everyone to see. I will be doing edits to fix small errors throughout the story as well as ones pointed out by reader Drojam (Thank you so much for the comments) sometime this week before I go out on that roadtrip. I'm pretty sure editing paragraphs with comments causes them to disappear so I just wanted people know in case that was important to them.