"Good." He almost purred the words. "Told God I needed something good to happen, and I think it just did. Ok. So..." He looked at his watch. "You have twenty-seven minutes to complete this problem. Can you do it?"
"Are we trying to return before the lobby closes?" she asked.
"Fuck, no," Sin assured her. "I've got you for a couple of hours. I just need you to finish this quickly so I can show you something."
She dared to look up at him for a moment, then dropped her head back to the ground. "The problem has already been completed."
"Good."
He had no intention of spoiling the surprise, but they needed to leave RetGen in less than thirty minutes. She didn't ask him to clarify. Maybe she'd already figured out he wouldn't tell her, but she did hurry. They made it across the district, into the corporate headquarters, and out of them again with plenty of time to spare.She staggered as they left the building, most likely because she'd transferred the data faster than she ever had before, but he thought she'd be willing to forgive him.
He turned left, guiding her away from the train platform. They walked less than half a block when he turned toward another set of glass doors. The oranges and blues of sunset reflected back into their faces, nearly blinding both of them, but Sin didn't slow. He grabbed the handle, unlocking it with his Legion-provided transponder, then held it while she entered. Inside, he turned her toward the elevators before she'd taken two steps.
Rissa looked completely confused. Those silver eyes were both wide and creased, making it clear she thought he'd lost his mind. Good. That would only make this better, because for once, he was going to give her something truly good to remember.
"You'll love this," he said as he pressed the last button.
"Brother Sin? Why are we headed to the Exa-Com roof?"
He chuckled and held a finger to his lips, begging her for patience. "Because my Princess blew a port and needs a little pampering. Stop complaining."
That made her pretty eyes brighten. "A question is not a complaint."
He laughed. "Just trust me, Riss. This building isn't under surveillance. If you can make it in the doors, it's one of the few places in the city where you can find real privacy. It's also really damned tall."
"I know." She looked up at him. "Thank you, Sin."
"No, thank you, Princess. I didn't expect you to do that, but I really did need the time. Benedict was like a father to me, and he left a mess."
Her head dropped. "I'm sorry for your loss," she whispered.
"Me too, but I got to say good-bye, thanks to you. Now, let's stop talking about depressing things. I'm spoiling you a little today, ok?"
She twitched her head slightly. "By showing me the Exa-Com roof?"
"Yes." He looked at the numbers ticking ever upward. "Exactly."
The door chimed once, then opened, releasing them on the topmost floor. The sun was already touching the horizon, swelling as the atmosphere distorted it. He didn't have a lot of time. Heading to a set of stairs, he pressed his hand against a delicately concealed panel to release yet another lock. Sweeping his arm toward the opening, he said, "All the way up. We're still hurrying."
"Yes, Legate," she teased, lifting her robes in her hands to keep her feet clear as she jogged up the stairs.
She was moving better than she had previously. When he first met the girl, she couldn't walk to the train station without losing her breath. In their time together, they'd found the longest paths back to the Enclave, finding every excuse to give her a little extra time away from the building. Obviously it was helping. She was now simply delicate, not an invalid.
At the top of the stairs, Sin opened the last door, revealing an open-sky observation deck. Rissa's eyes widened as she walked onto the top of the world. The wind was stronger this far above the ground and her veils fluttered around her face, but she ignored it. A tendril of dark hair escaped the layers of cloth, writhing in its freedom. Sin took note of the color, but refused to mention it. It was the closest he'd come to seeing his angel's face.
"Look west," he said, moving to stand behind her.
She turned and gasped. "The sun is huge!"
"Yeah. You probably know why better than I do, but can you see the ripples?"
"It's like it's underwater."
He reached up and grabbed her shoulders, rubbing them gently. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It really is." She giggled. "The sun gets flat before it sets. I didn't know that!"
He bent closer, his face over her shoulder. "Doesn't always. I think God's putting on a show for you today."
