The Sky's Eternal Sunset

Go Down With Me

Come down to the Black Sea
Swimming with me, ah-ooh, ooh
Go down with me, fall with me
Let's make it worth it, ah-ooh, ooh

A thousand nights have passed
Change doesn't happen overnight
Not visible at first (no)
It's important to hold on, hold on

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Inject your advice to me
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Incinerate our shackles

Black Sea - Natasha Blume

(⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)(⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)(⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)(⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)(⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)

Each day since they started the journey back, Roxas has been so excited that the moment dawn arrives he starts waking mer so they can get on their way.

Roxas volunteers for any shift that's asked of him. Fishing, babysitting, guard duty--anything. It makes the time go faster but more than that, he'll be able to ask for specific jobs, like the new forward scouting position. He wants to do that more than anything because it gets him to Falmouth a whole hour ahead of everyone else. That's an hour he can use any way he sees fit and what he wants to do is climb up the Highwind's ladder so he can see Sora that much sooner.

But that's not for a while yet.

Halfway through the trip, they reunite with the Rusalkas at the meeting point. It's thrilling to see Axel again. The same hair and same scars are familiar and comforting to see. Axel's just as happy to see Roxas and rushes to embrace him. They talk at length as they bed down for the night in some undersea trenches, playing catch up on everything they've gone through during the break.

Axel's getting rather good at the one arm thing and luckily he hasn't strayed into any other traps in Japan. Other than that, it's been rather peaceful and easy going. Roxas says it's the same for him. Nothing amazing happened on his end other than their pod catching several tuna on their own, the story of which heavily impresses Axel.

Axel eyes the necklace Roxas fiddles with as he talks but says nothing about it. It's clear Axel doesn't want to talk about the one thing they disagree on. Not when they finally get to see each other again after such a long time. So instead they focus on stories of their respective sanctuaries and share pod gossip.

The morning the pods wake for the final stretch, Roxas is already awake and raring to go. The others still need to reorganize and set up pod formations for safe travel. Not Roxas though. He's already got the all clear to leave whenever he's ready and to relay any trouble he sees via one of his underwater pulses.

Axel pulls Roxas aside before he goes, reminding him that just because they're only six hours away doesn't mean it's safe. In fact, he'd rather Roxas didn't take this unnecessary risk at all but he's all too aware that nothing he says will stop him. So he tells him to keep his head in the water and not in the clouds until he arrives.

♉Send a pulse back saying you made it safe♉ Axel insists. ♉And...be careful, Roxas. I know you're eager to see him but...you know what happens if you get caught.♉

♌I know,♌ Roxas nods and offers him an easy smile. ♌We'll be careful.♌

With that, Roxas gives Axel a half hug and when they separate Roxas takes off fast as lightning towards Falmouth.

Towards home.

*****

♈Machines ready,♈ Remus announces as he clicks a few knobs.

♋First wave,♋ Cid nods at him and looks at his watch. ♋In five, four, three, two...♋

With a point of his finger, Riku flicks a switch to send out the pulse. The entire cabin holds their breath collectively until there's a response. Excited pops and Axel's rhythmic pulse. Remus quickly scribbles numbers down and does the math.