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Diego walked towards the campfire the other person was sitting near. «Hey. You» he said, approaching slowly. «What do you want? I'm armed, leave me alone» the person responded, aiming what seemed to be a gun right at his head. «Woah there. I just wanted to ask if I could spend the night here». Diego's hands were raised in surrender, waiting for a response. The other person stayed silent for a bit, then said «Come closer, but one false move and I'll kill you. Don't say I didn't warn you». As the young man drew near noticed that the flickering fire lit the face of what he thought to be a young man, more or less his age. But the feeble light also revealed a strange shape under the loose clothes. The woman's chest was squeezed between the woman's arms when she was pointing her weapon at Diego, thus revealing her identity. "Breasts? She's a woman?" thought Diego, but even though he felt less intimidated he still knew his life wasn't safe yet. «I don't carry any weapons, check it yourself». The woman put the weapon back in its folder and checked Diego's pockets.
«You can stay for the night and, your leg is bleeding. I'd put some alcohol on it if I were you. It would be a shame for a jockey to lose one of his legs»
«Thanks, I will. I'll take my pants off, if it doesn't bother you».
She looked at him, perplexed.
«Why would it bother me?»
«Since you're a woman I thought it would»
«Just because I'm a woman it doesn't mean that I get embarrassed for looking at a naked thigh. I'll sterilize a needle, in case you need sutures».
As soon as the needle was ready, the woman sat next to the man and put his wounded leg over her. She poured some alcohol on a clean cloth and gently rubbed it on the wound. «Stop whining like a little kid! Now stay still» she scolded him. Diego did as told and she sutured the leg, then proceeded to put a bandage over it.
«It should recover soon»
«Thank you»
«No problem. Now suit yourself and go to sleep»
«Why don't we talk a little? Just for a few time».
The woman sighed. «What do you want to know?» she asked.
«What is a woman doing here in the first place?»
«I got a mission to complete. Can't tell anything else».
Diego was both fascinated and intrigued by her. She looked so mysterious, tough and brave. She had been able to fool everyone in making them think she was a man, for days. She even acted like a man, despite her, quite feminine to be honest, look and voice. «What is your name?» «Hot Pants. Now go to bed».
When Diego was up the following day she was already gone. They only met months after, when Hot Pants asked for his help in stealing the Corpse's parts from president Valentine. The night before they were once again sitting together on a rock, in front of a campfire. Both looked messy, dirty, pale, their eyes were baggy, and still Diego thought she was beautiful. He caressed her cheek, tenderly, and she didn't even question that gesture.
«If we make it through» he muttered, his voice low, his hand placed near the woman's «will you marry me?» he said, his voice even lower than before. Diego had fallen for her during that time, and seriously thought about proposing to her, but he hadn't. He didn't want her to reject him.
«If we make it through» she said, looking at him straight in the eyes «will you come to Italy with me? We'll just deliver the Corpse, then you're free to go, wherever you want». «For a moment I thought you were going to ask me to marry you» he giggled.
«If we make it through» said Hot Pants «we could get married, why not? I mean, I'm 23, I'd be considered a hopeless maid everywhere».
«If we make it through» said Diego, taking Hot Pants' hand in his «I'd want you to be my bride. I love you. I have a mansion in England, we could live there».
«Don't get over-excited» said the woman, a bitter smile on her face «I love you too, but we could die tomorrow. And if we survive Valentine, we have to make it to the end of the race. Then to Italy. There are so many things that could go wrong». «I know, but imagine for a moment the two of us in the future telling our possible children the story of tonight». Diego had got up and went to his horse, only to come back with two metal cups and a flask. «And when our children tell our story to their kids they'll tell the story of tonight as well» continued Hot Pants, with a glimpse of hope in her eyes and a smile on her face.
«Let's toast. To the two of us. And let's hope we survive this» «To the two of us». They kissed. Diego's head was resting on Hot Pants' shoulder, and his fingers were running on the woman's head, untangling her messy pink hair. Her hands went under Diego's sweater instead, and rested on his chest, while she sat on the man's lap. «If that's going to be our last night I want it at least to be good» she said, then took off his sweater, then her upper clothes.
For the first time since they met, they felt each other close, they became one, and they were so desperate as if, despite their hopes, they knew they were going to die. The following day came soon, maybe too soon. Both of them thought about all the things they would have done if they made it through once again. Both of them faced Valentine, one after the other.
Diego lied on the rails, cut in half, and died.
All alone.
Hot Pants was still on the train, a hole in her heart, lying dead on the floor, and she was once again being taken away from the one he loved.
Their hopes and dreams were crushed by a man whose power was too strong for their stands.
Maybe in one of the countless universes that existed they would live the happy life they dreamed about the previous day, but in that universe they had no second chance.
They didn't make it through