All characters depicted in situations are 18 years of age or older and of the age of consent, even if it looks otherwise. Acts depicted are all consensual. No real or fictional person was harmed in the making of this workThe battle in the ruins of the abandoned factory was intense. A2 moved with lethal agility, shredding machines with the heavy, brutal strikes of her sword. However, in a moment of carelessness during a leap, a bipedal robot jumped from a scaffold and managed to grab a firm hold of A2's long, signature white mane with its mechanical claws.
A2 growled, immobilized in mid-air and exposed to enemy fire. Suddenly, a silver flash streaked across the sky. It was 2B. With a swift, precise motion of her sword Virtuous Contract, 2B didn't just split the machine in half; she sheared right through the hair that was pinning her ally down.
Once the battle was over, A2 looked at her reflection in a piece of broken glass. Her glorious, rebellious white mane was ruined, hacked off at a diagonal angle that was uneven and full of jagged clumps. A2 glared at 2B, who was visibly stoic but clearly trying to suppress her concern.
"It was the most efficient tactical option to free you," 2B defended herself, maintaining her monotone voice. "However... I offer to repair the aesthetic damage."
At a secure save point, A2 sat down reluctantly on a pile of rubble. 2B pulled a comb and elastic bands from her supplies, determined to style the disaster without using scissors first.
She tried to gather the strands into a ponytail, but the uneven ends poked out in every direction. She then tried rolling it into a low bun, but the irregular weight caused it to fall apart almost instantly. Experimenting, 2B divided the hair and formed two buns on top of A2's head, which caused A2 to let out such a menacing growl that 2B took them down immediately.
With the longest strands that remained on her back, 2B tried to weave a long braid, but the uneven thickness made it look spindly and strange. She tried childish twintails at the sides of her head and, finally, attempted to camouflage the mess with an elegant half up-do. Nothing worked. The sword slash had completely destroyed the structure of her hair.
"I will have to cut it," 2B announced, taking out a pair of tactical shears.
First, 2B evened out the disaster by cutting the mane into a straight bob, styling the hair with a side part. A2 looked at herself; she felt ridiculous—too formal and corporate.
"No," A2 said dryly.
2B nodded and cut a bit more in the front, adding a thick, blunt fringe. A2 raised an eyebrow. She looked too much like the YoRHa Commander, which she despised.
Searching for a "rebel" style that fit A2's personality, 2B cut the sides very short but left the back intact, creating an 80s-style mullet. A2 clenched her fists, a second away from strangling the other android for her audacity. Trying to fix it quickly in a silent panic, 2B evened the back with the front... leaving her with a terrible bowl cut.
Pod 042 floated nearby, scanning the situation. "Report: Unit A2's visual intimidation level has dropped to critical levels."
A2 sighed, exhausted and furious. "Just make it stop looking stupid."
Carefully, 2B used the scissors to trim the sides and nape, texturizing the top until she left her with a very short pixie cut. It was practical and looked decent enough, but A2's natural cowlicks and the previous battle damage made some strands on the crown continue to stick up stubbornly, ruining the aesthetic. A2 ran a hand over her head, fed up with the process.
"Screw this," A2 grunted. "Give me the clippers."
2B handed her the electric trimmer. Without a second's hesitation, A2 turned it on and ran it right down the center of her head. The white strands fell to the floor. 2B stepped in silently to help her finish the job on the back and behind her ears, until A2's head was completely shaved down to the skin.
A2 rubbed her bare skull, feeling the smooth texture of the millimeter-long stubble. The cool breeze felt strange, but at least there would be no more ridiculous hairstyles, nor machines that could grab her by the hair in combat again.
"Tactical efficiency maximized," 2B remarked with a slight nod of approval.