The deafening sound of the falls roared in Shulk's ears as he struggled to stay afloat. He vaguely remembered one of the rope bridges in Makna Forest snapping apart as he and Reyn tried to cross it to join Dunban and the others on the other side. He remembered Reyn grabbing him before the hit the water, then nothing but darkness. His friend's weight had disappeared after Shulk resurfaced. The blond cried out his name in desperation as he dove underwater only to be pushed back by the strong current. Shulk coughed and spurted as he fell beneath the water. Resurfacing once more, he clung to a nearby rock and caught his breath as best as he could. He looked around the falls in a frantic gaze in search of Reyn.
"Reyn!" Shulk yelled above the loud crash of water "Reyn!"
A dreaded feeling emerged in his chest as tears weld up in his eyes. He had lost Fiora, was he going to lose Reyn as well? Suddenly, he caught sight of the Hierax armour that Reyn wore. The red-head's Heavy Driver had wedged itself between a pair of cracked rocks; which cemented an unconscious Reyn in place. Shulk let out a cheerful noise as he swam towards the larger teen. With a mighty struggle, the frail swordsman managed to free Reyn. The full weight of the Defence Force solider nearly sent the blond underwater.
With an agonizingly slow swim, Shulk managed to drag Reyn to the safety of a nearby island. Once on land, the Monado wielder finally looked at the Reyn and the feeling of dread came back in full swing. Reyn wasn't breathing. Everything came to a crashing halt as Shulk desperately tried to remember what Sharla had told them about CPR. The blue eyed boy began to press down on the center of the brown eyed teen's chest wile counting under his breath. Once he reached thirty, Shulk gave Reyn air, he only stopped when the bulky body gave a jolt and rolled away from him. The tribal dressed teen coughed up lungs full of water as he heaved for air.
"S-Shulk?" Reyn asked weakly as he turned to face the seer.
The blond couldn't hold it back anymore, the tears fled down his face as he hugged the revived gunlance user with all his might. "Reyn." His name was said in such a small voice that the red-head had to strain his ears to hear it.
He held the crying teen as it dawned on him "I-I-I drowned, didn't I?"
A nod was his answer.
"And I scared you, didn't I?"
Another nod.
"I'm sorry." Reyn tighten the hug as he lay his head on top of Shulk's "I'm so so sorry."
Shulk looked up at him, blue eyes shimming from the wetness of his tears "I lost Fiora. I couldn't lose you too...You mean too much to me."
Reyn kissed him lovingly and Shulk returned that kiss with just as much love. The kiss lasted until the Monado by shivered from the lack of warmth and dry clothes.
"We should find the others."
The blond nodded as another shiver shook his lean and small body "C-Can you swim us both back? I feel l-like I could fall asleep right here and I don't have the e-energy to swim."
"Leave it to Reyn." The brown eyed teen offered his best smile as the shorter climbed onto his back.
When they reached the shore, they were greeted by the others. Sharla quickly checked the duo for wounds while she fussed at them. Melia watched from a distance relief showing in her teal colored eyes. Riki flapped around happily, saying that he was happy that his sidekicks were alright. Surprisingly, Reyn didn't rise to the Heropon's words. Only Dunban saw how drained the teen both looked.
"Let's rest nearby." The ex-Monado wielder said "Clearly the boys looked ready to drop dead."
Reyn and Shulk glances at each other upon hearing that. If only Dunban knew how right his words were.