The ocean was a harsh mistress.
Sasha was even harsher.
She clawed her way onto the beach, the waves dragging her back with every movement she made. Her muscles ached and the armor was only aiding the water's attempts to drown her.
But Sasha was not one to be defeated by the forces of nature. She finally managed to secure herself upon the sand, finally free from the ocean's deathly grip.
Her forehead was pressed to the ground, harsh breaths drawn out to suck in as much oxygen as possible.
She should not be alive.
Aleksis crossed her mind and her fist clenched involuntarily. There was no certainty he had made it.
The attacks from both of the kaiju was enough to destroy her beloved Cherno Alpha and send them plunging into the unforgiving waters. Sasha knew that if she had not broken from the conn-pod in time, that she would have certainly drowned.
But she had. She had pulled herself free and fought, fought with the fire she carried deep within herself. The ocean would not have her.
And so, it didn't. Sasha was alive and on a beach, presumably somewhere in near China. But the waves had pulled at her for what felt like centuries, so she could not be certain. She was alive. That was all she knew and the simple fact kept repeating inside her head like a mantra.
It was broken by the thought of her husband.
Sasha finally lifted her heavy, heavy, head off of the beach, eyes red-rimmed. He was not beside her. She had not seen him since Cherno Alpha went under. There was little hope he was alive.
She felt the tears slip away, against her will. Her husband had died a warrior's death, in the midst of battle. That was nothing to cry over. But she did anyway.
Then she heard it. The strong, slapping sound of a body hitting the ground. It was the sound she made when she pulled onto land.
Despite her body screaming in agony, she slowly turned to her right and saw Aleksis struggle against the current, bringing himself to shore. His wet hair obscured his vision, but he carried on all the same.
The sight was enough to undo her. Tears flowed even faster, mixing with the saltwater that dried on her face.
When Aleksis finally brought his entire body out of the ocean, he was beside her. He raised one hand to bring the hair out of his eyes and was met with the visage of his wife.
His own tears started to fall. They were both alive. It shouldn't be possible, but the two weren't going to question the circumstances of their survival.
She reached a trembling arm out to him and he met her halfway.
They didn't say anything. There was no need to. Alive and together, that said enough.
They held hands against the silence, which was only broken by the lapping of the waves and their intakes of breath.