Chapter 269 United (2/2)
”Like I can trust you to handle a hysterical woman,” she chuckled, walking up and sitting down next to him. ”No offense, of course.”
”... it's true,” Lino chuckled faintly. ”Sassy lass? Flirty one? Dangerously maniacal one? I've got those covered. A hysterical one, however... eh, I'm not confident.”
”And for good reason,” she added. ”But, not to worry, I happen to be an expert in handling hysterical women.”
”So, what's the secret?” Lino asked.
”You just feed them a lot of booze,” Hannah replied with a shrug. ”A lot of booze.”
”... well fuck, I could have figured that one out too.”
”But you didn't.”
”A fair point.” Lino nodded as the silence fell between the two. ”Are you angry?” he asked after a while.
”... a little bit.” she replied.
”... did I do the right thing?” he asked lowly. ”Or just fuck everything up beyond repair?”
”I wouldn't know whether you did right or wrong,” she said, wrapping her arm gently around his neck and pulling him into her chest. ”But I do know that you pissed off a lot people. Probably more than you can even imagine.”
”... isn't that just par for the course with me, though?” he said.
”Ha ha ha, yeah, I suppose it is. But, at the very least, you made a great show out of it. You both pissed them off and scared them shitless at the same time. I don't think many people can pull that off.”
”... I'm tired Hannah,” he sighed lowly. ”I know I keep saying that shit a lot... but, I think, for the first time in my life... I truly, truly mean it.”
”... I know...”
”I haven't thanked you.” he said suddenly.
”Thanked me?”
”Yeah, for showing up when you did.” he continued. ”And saving that girl.”
”... you wouldn't have killed her even if I didn't show up.” Hannah said.
”I would. Without a shred of remorse.” he said. ”Just so I can 'get even'.”
”...”
”I'd have killed a completely innocent girl,” he continued. ”For the stupidest reason imaginable. All the while I believed I was entirely immune to the world's corruption, that no matter what I wouldn't turn into one of those murderous maniacs who exterminate entire towns for the simplest of slights. That, no matter how bad things got, I would never involve innocents into whatever shitstorm I'm involved in.”
”...”
”Clearly, though, I've overestimated my ability to resist,” he added with a sigh, pulling himself out of her arms and leaning back onto the wall. ”When you grabbed my arm, back then, I'd realized: I'd already lost. I can bitch and whine about how the world handles shit for however long I want, but what of it if I'm no different?”
”... so what?” she asked after a few moments of silence, causing him to meet her gaze once again. ”In the end, you didn't. And, just like this time, if in the future you once again feel yourself slipping away, I'll be there to pull you back... because I know you'll also be there to pull me back. As they say, united we stand, divided we fall.”
”... they've probably figured out that you're in bed with me, now,” Lino said, taking a deep breath. ”Well, most-likely they've yet to figure out you literally are, but they know you're with me, so you pretty much have no choice.”
”Oh, that's just terrible.” Hannah stifled her laughter. ”Now I'm stuck with you no matter what! What will become of my life?!”
”Well, you know, a little bit of dancing,” he said, smiling faintly. ”A little bit of dining, little bit of fighting, little bit of sex. So, you know, the standard affair.”
”So there's gonna be dancing?! I can't wait!”
”You'll have to teach me first, though.” he said. ”And then we can dance to your heart's content.”
”And we will,” she said, smiling. ”So you better don't skip leg days from now on.”
”I'll try my hardest, m'lady.”