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Squad 13 were shocked as Squad 26 hobbled in. Some limping and injured but all with defeated faces. The only one unfazed was Zero Two. Her eyes now shifting to territorial protection. No one should hurt her squad.
Ichigo slowly got up to meet them, but before she could get a word in 090 responded. "I can't work with her! Why do you have the partner killer here.". Everyone in the squad knew who he was referring do. A slight glance shared among them.
They all got defensive. Goro and the rest got down to defend Ichigo while Hiro made his way to Zero Two. "While I understand your concern, calling one of our squad mates a partner killer will not be tolerated. Zero Two is apart of Squad 13 and we expect her to be treated as one of us. Regardless on how you see her."
"How can you say that?" 090 responded "She killed my partner. How can you allow her into your squad?".
"Zero Two is a member of our squad weather you like it or not." Miku responded, "She's Hiro's Pistole and they ridden pleany of times togher."
"Yea what gives you the right to tell us that Zero Two is not a member of the squad. She the best Pistol around." Zorome yelled back. Doing his best to back up his partner.
"That's enough children." Nana called to them. "Lets go show them your Franxxs"
Zero Two walked down with Hiro as they started to move out. As Squad 13 left she gave a whisper to 090. "Me and my Darling are different. My squad knows it."
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The stayman lockers were sterile as Hiro and the others go changed. He could feel the nerves between them all. Zorome on the other hand had no such qualms for the heaviness in the air. "Squad 26 needs to let up. Were not that inexperienced. We have the great Zorome to take care of the job."
"And then Strelitzia will come and get you out of trouble." Futoshi quipped back.
"That's not the point. The point is that were far better than them. Come on we get to fight with Zero Two and Hiro the best piolets around. That means were better than them any way, and besideds they have not right to attack Zero Two over an accident." Zorome yelled back.
"Calm down you two" Hiro interrupted as the argument heated up "We need to get focused for the mission. Zero two isn't happy about this either, but we need to show them why were able to do well on our own."
"Hiro's right you two." Goro replied as he got into the machine that put his suit on, "We need to show them how even now as were still inexperienced that we can handle this.
"Hiro how's Zero Two feeling about this mission?" Mitsuru asked.
"She fine I asked Ichigo to help feel better before the mission with the other girls. You saw just how hard she took 090 comments." Hiro replied back.
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"Ready to wipe the floor with those Klaxosaurs Zero Two?" Miku asked as they all got ready.
"Not really, I don't like working with other squads." Zero Two responded in hush tones, "They get in the way.".
"Get in the way, but you fight with us just fine?" Miku questioned as she finished putting her underwear on.
"You guys are different. You see me as one of squad and not just some monster." she responded getting inside of the machine that put her suit on. The white and red now reversed from what she and her Darling were used to.
"Of course we treat you as apart of the team. You taught us so much about piloting and what to expect." Kokoro called in the middle of bradding her hair.
"With out you and Hiro we would have been so lost on our first missions as a squad." Ichigo called back.
"Just stick with the plan and ignore what squad 26 says." Ikuno said as she walked out of the machine.
"Thanks guys that really means a lot." Zero Two said.
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"Ready everyone?" Ichigo asked as they headed towards the Franxx.
The whole squad no pared up gave a knowing look. Zero Two clutched her Darlings arm. "You ready Darling?" she asked in a low voice. The one that always got him ready for piolting.
"Yea lets show them what were made of." Hiro responded.