A few days later
The funeral had been quiet and felt far too short. Max's mind had been elsewhere for most of it as he sat in his wheelchair. Even after the mysterious man had somehow healed his legs, he had continued using the chair,until the moment he stood up, to the shock of everyone present, and delivered his eulogy to say goodbye to his one and only friend.
He went home afterward, feeling surprisingly well. He even had dinner with his parents, who were overjoyed that he could stand again. It gave them hope that he might fully recover and walk on his own. They stayed up late together as Max told them about a strange dream he had while unconscious,one where he had started his own family. He mentioned that the woman he had married was a little older than him, but his parents didn't mind the age gap as long as it wasn't too large and she genuinely loved him in return.
Later, they helped him to his room. He fell asleep in a good mood.
The following morning, his mother entered his room still riding the lingering happiness from the night before, only to find him completely still and unresponsive. His eyes were closed, and a peaceful, content smile was frozen on his face. Beside him on the pillow lay a note written in Russian:
«Мама, папа, спасибо за всё. Я люблю вас обоих. Будьте здоровы.»
("Mom, Dad, thank you for everything. I love you both. Be well.")
The cause of death was determined to be a brain hemorrhagic stroke,quick and painless. Judging from the note, he had known he was living on borrowed time and had chosen to spend his final moments with his family in happiness rather than sadness.
Starlight City, DC Universe
Max materialized on the sidewalk in front of his house in Starlight City. He looked down at himself and flexed his fingers experimentally. He was older again, back to the age he had been when the Miracle Machine took him.
He stood there in the sudden silence and took inventory: no abilities, no ki, no chakra, no haki,everything had vanished along with the system. By all accounts, he was now an ordinary man.
"He actually kept his word," Max murmured to himself. "Though this is all I got for third place…"
He stood there for a while before walking up the path to the door. He raised his hand to knock, then hesitated and reached for the handle instead. To his surprise, the door was unlocked. He turned it and stepped inside.
"Thena?" he called out. "Terra?" He paused. "Diana?"
No response.
As he looked around, he noticed the house had changed slightly. It carried a more feminine touch now. On the wall hung a framed picture of him, Terra, Diana, Thena, and Nina. He stared at it for a long moment before continuing through the house to Thena's room. It hadn't changed much compared to the rest of the home.
His eyes moved to the bedside table, where he found a smaller photograph. It showed him and Thena from years ago,her sitting happily on his shoulders in a shoulder carry, still so innocent and learning about the world. A small smile slowly formed on his face as the memory surfaced.
Then he felt cold metal press against the back of his neck. Max went completely still and raised his hands in surrender. A cold voice spoke from behind him.
"Who are you?"
Starlight City, DC Universe
"Am I being questioned in my own house?" Max asked as he slowly turned around. His eyes met Thena's, and hers widened in shock.
"You've grown, Thena. How long has it-"
Max was cut off as Thena dropped the kunai and threw herself into a powerful embrace, knocking the breath out of him. He coughed lightly while gently rubbing her back.
"I thought you weren't coming back," she whispered. "So how…?"
"I sacrificed my power to return," Max replied.
Thena looked up at him with her mismatched eyes, tears streaming down her face. Max reached up and cupped her cheeks, wiping the tears away with his thumbs.
"Nothing could keep me away from you," he said with a warm smile. "So from now on, I'll depend on you to protect me."
"Don't worry, Dad. Powers or not, you're still my father, and I will protect you no matter what," Thena said as she wiped away the lingering tears.
"I know. I already feel safe," Max replied, smiling.
He then raised his eyes and saw a stunned Terra standing in the doorway. Max smiled at her.
"You've really mastered silent walking. I didn't hear anything," he said.
That single remark erased all doubt in Terra's mind. This was truly Max. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly. Max wheezed from the strength of her embrace.
"My back… You've grown strong too," he said with a strained laugh.
"Be careful," Thena said softly. "Dad isn't as strong as he used to be."
Terra pulled back awkwardly, blinking away the tears that had started to form.
"How long has it been?" Max asked.
"It's been two years," Terra replied.
"I see. Where's Diana?" Max asked.
"We left her at the training grounds," Thena answered. She looked at Max expectantly, waiting for him to teleport them there. When he didn't move, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I can't teleport anymore," he admitted.
"Oh… I forgot," Thena said sheepishly. She grabbed both his and Terra's hands, and in the next instant, they teleported away.
Thena, Terra, and Max appeared at the training grounds to find Diana practicing with a sword against several of Thena's shadow clones.
With a swift motion, Diana cut down the last clone, which vanished in a puff of smoke.
Sensing new arrivals, she lowered her sword and turned around.
"Just in time. All your shadow clones have been-" she stopped mid sentence as her eyes widened.
"Max," she muttered.
Without a word, Thena grabbed Terra's arm and teleported away, leaving the two of them alone.
For a few moments, neither spoke.
"It's been a while, Diana," Max finally said with a small smile.
Diana stared at him as if afraid he would disappear if she blinked.
"Yes, it has," she replied quietly. "But... how?"
Max shook his head.
"That's not important right now."
He stepped closer.
"What is important is that I remember what you said before I left."
Diana's grip tightened slightly around the sword in her hand.
Max took a breath.
"And I've had a lot of time to think about it."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"I've met a lot of people in my life, Diana, but I've never met anyone quite like you."
A faint blush threatened to appear on Diana's face.
"You're strong, confident, kind... and honestly, you're probably the bravest person I've ever known."
The blush deepened.
Max scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"My life may be shorter than yours now."
His smile softened.
"But I'd like to spend whatever time I have left with you."
Diana's breath caught as Max met her eyes.
"Because I love you, Diana."
For a second, Diana simply stared at him.
Then, before Max could say anything else, she closed the distance between them and pulled him into a hug as max froze before returning the hug as Diana spoke "I love you too max"
End of Chapter .
Chapter 57:The End