Backslide

Max awoke to find herself staring up at the pink cotton candy sky with the rising sun peeking over the buildings of the city. It was barely sunrise, but she had slept most of the night up on the Space Needle.

Zack, surprisingly, had stayed with her throughout the night. He wasn't awake yet and had his sleeping head resting on his knees, drawn up to his chest. His Manticore uniform was torn, most likely from fighting with Lydecker and climbing up to the Space Needle. He sighed heavily, turned his head to face Max and continued to sleep.

In sleep, the harsh mask he wore was gone. He actually looked…peaceful. Like he could actually be a normal person who had just stayed out late, instead of fighting off men who wanted him as a killing machine.

Max sat up and stretched her arms out. Below, far below, a few lights were twinkling on and a couple cars headed down the street. She was cold in her thin uniform and rubbed at her arms furiously, trying to ease the goosebumps away.

Her thoughts drifted and she realized that she had to come to a decision about the child. To have or not to have, that is the question, she thought somewhat bitterly to herself. Aborting the child would mean it would never have to live the life she did; never have to run from Lydecker; and never be used in his army. But, if it stayed, it might be able to help her as it got older, and besides, she didn't know how truly right it was to just abort something like this. She pressed her cold hand to her stomach and inhaled deeply. Decisions, decisions.

Zack stirred, but Max didn't notice until he had scooted down beside her. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he had obviously just woken up about a second ago. "Good morning," he told her, his voice still thick from sleep.

"You too," she replied and looked at him. One of his eyes was almost entirely black and blue where he had fallen the previous night. The other eye stared at her, seemingly trying to reach her soul. "I thought you didn't sleep," she joked.

He shrugged, not liking to admit mistakes. "Consider it a moment of weakness."

"Yeah, well, at least we're safe now."

"Not really."

"Will we ever be?" she asked, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Until Lydecker's dead…no." The conversation dropped and they both stared out at the city far below. Far beyond, the glittering water was able to catch the first rays of sun. Shadows began to rise as the sun cast its light down upon the buildings.

"Another new day," Max said more to herself than Zack.

"And?"

"And we're still alive," she replied, turning to look at him as her black curls tumbled down around her face. "Better than I could've hoped for yesterday."

"Max, yesterday's gone, don't worry 'bout it," he told her.

"If only it were that simple."

Zack moved in closer to her until their hips were touching as both stared out ahead. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. She found herself laying her arm across his back as well. His body was warm against Max's own cold body, and she pulled him closer. "It is that simple," he told her.