Page 132 of Gunslinger Girl

“Yes,” said Pity. “I understand.”

Alanna Drakos kept a half step ahead of Pity as they traveled through the house. Her heels clicked against the stone floors, reminding Pity acutely of Selene’s office. She wondered how much of the truth Alanna Drakos knew about her son’s injury. The story they had told was the same one concocted for Sheridan’s death—that rogue Reformationists had stormed Casimir, killing dozens before they were finally turned back. Rumors and half tales had reached Columbia before they had, and Pity had been amazed to see how quickly the explanation was accepted. Certainly Max’s parents knew it was a fiction, but they also seemed content to keep their part in the affair secret.

“Did you know my son?” Alanna Drakos said abruptly. “During his time away from us?”

“Yes.” Pity chose her words with care. “He saved my life once.” Twice, in truth, but it didn’t seem wise to point out that the bullet he’d taken had been meant for her. “If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Hmm.” Alanna Drakos sped up her pace.

“Your son has a good heart, ma’am.”

She stopped in front of a door, eyes as hard as emeralds. “Be quick.” She turned the handle.

The room was large, white, and almost entirely empty. One wall was glass, looking out into a small courtyard filled with flowers and trees. On another was a display, streaming the afternoon’s news broadcasts. Opposite that was a bed, surrounded by machines that beeped and clicked and hummed. Pity saw all of this and none of it.

Max lay in the bed.

She barely recognized him at first. His hair was shorter, the blue spikes gone. All of his piercings had been removed. But when his eyes opened and alighted on her, familiarity returned. They stared at each other.

“Darling,” his mother said from behind her. “This young woman asked to have a word with you.”

“Pity.” His voice cracked.

“Hi.” She blinked, desperate to keep the tears away.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said, and waited.

For a moment, Pity feared that his mother would remain, but then she heard the click of the door as it shut. She ran to the bed.

“What are you doing here?” Max hissed as she crouched down beside him.

Pity wanted to kiss him so badly that her whole body ached. If she could have thrown her arms around him and healed every inch of him with love, she would have. Instead, she took one of his hands in hers and squeezed. “Who do you think got you here?” Her face felt like it would split from smiling. “You’re alive,” she said, finally believing it. “You’re okay.”

Max squeezed back weakly. “I told you I would be. And you… you’re okay…” His face went grim. “You are okay, aren’t you? I saw the broadcasts. Sheridan is…”

“Dead,” she interjected, her words wooden. “An unavoidable tragedy.”

He didn’t ask her to elaborate. She filled him in on the other details, good and bad, elated to be talking to him. When she was done, they sat quietly, surrounded by the lifeless sounds of the medical machines.

“You can’t stay,” Max said finally, his voice thick.

“I know. Siena’s been paid. We’ll be heading out pretty soon.”

He nodded several times, as if forgetting when to stop. “I…”

“You’re going to get better.” Pity tightened her grip on his hand. “You’re going to get yourself strong again, and then I’m coming back for you. Do you understand?”

“Pity—”

“I’m coming back unless you tell me that you don’t want me to. Tell me that, Max, and I’ll stay away forever.”

He stared at her, eyes wet, a small, sad smile on his lips. “I don’t want you to go at all.”

She stood. “Then hurry up and get well. For me. And to hell with your parents or anyone else who tries to get in my way. I’ve had dissident drifters, trained assassins, and mad politicians try to kill me, and I’m still here.”

She leaned over and kissed him on the lips, not caring if they were being watched. Max returned the kiss eagerly, reaching up to place a hand behind her neck and pull her closer. When they separated, Pity kept her face a few inches from his. “I don’t care if I’m in Cessation, Columbia, or at the ends of the earth, so long as I’m with you.”

“Same here,” said Max. “I love you, Serendipity Jones.”