"Then consider this me cutting in line," he tells her, because there's really nothing he can use besides their feelings to argue. Freelancer has no power here, and D being designated his means nothing when they'd take him away the second they could.

Recovery.

He shudders, hitting another goon with his full strength. He can't deal with his own death and the raw wound in his mind at the same time. The death bullshit, and Delta choosing to stay with him, York had picked that up just before losing consciousness, just has to wait.

"Are you going to keep running from me?"