Homecoming (part one)

He passed out before he swam more than a few meters. Mina moved around the blockade and swam toward him. "NIX!"

Most of his armor was melted away; he still gripped a broken sword hilt in one hand. When she hugged him close, she could smell his burnt flesh. She kissed his forehead gently, her pale eyes unable to look away from him.

"That hurts." Nix opened his eyes a moment later. "Hey, Min."

A wide smile creased her beautiful face. "Hey, Nix."

Nix grabbed hold of Soup's shell and pulled himself on her. "Go back to the cavern Soup; we'll walk from there."

The exhausted Aquarion clung to Soup's shell beside him. Her hands reached out to touch his face or stroke his hair. They didn't speak on the trip back.

The trip through cavern was uneventful. Nix unsummoned Soup and rode one of Mina's Vila out of the cavern.

"It's nice to have a ride," Nix spoke for the first time in a few minutes. They exited the Quarry and turned toward his house.