An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Last ch before the epilogue! Hope everyone enjoys <3
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Ryuuji stared out the small window of his cell. It was the last day. The tenth day. His execution was set to happen that very night, the moment the clock struck midnight and the date turned over. The sun was setting and was going to disappear past the horizon in an hour.
“They’ll make it.”
Rin’s voice carried quietly across the cell as he leaned against the bars. Ryuuji frowned and nodded. He didn’t doubt it, but there was something soothing about hearing someone else say it. He turned his head briefly towards Rin.
“You’re not here to try and convince me to run, right?” Ryuuji muttered as his eyes drifted back to the window.
“Nah. I know that won’t work.” Rin’s response was accompanied with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Though it seemed like your dad wanted me to. Not that I blame him.” He sighed. “I just figured you’d want someone around right about now. Shiemi’s up with your parents and I’m down here with you. Divide and conquer or something, right?” Rin grinned brightly.
Ryuuji snorted and allowed the smirk to stay on his lips. “Yeah. I guess. But they’ll be back. It’s not time yet.”
“Yeah. You’re the kinda guy who stays faithful right until the end.” Rin’s smile tamed, but didn’t go away in the least. “That’s probably something Yukio likes about you.”
“It’s something I like about Yukio, too,” Ryuuji said quietly. “He doubts himself, but he has this unshakable faith in others and a determination to see it happen.”
Rin laughed. “Yeah, that’s my little brother all right. He never gave up on me either, and now look at me. I’m a bespectable royal and everything.”
Ryuuji squinted his eyes and pursed his lips. “Respectable?” He turned back to Rin.
“... Respectable!” Rin brightened as he nodded. “Respectable Royal. That’s what I meant.”
Ryuuji laughed, half shocked, half amused. “It’s Yukio who’s bespectacled, you know,” he chortled slightly.
“My wires got crossed!” Rin quickly defended himself. “Anyway, you get what I mean!”
“Yeah, yeah, I did.” Ryuuji smirked sardonically as he looked back at the window.
There was a ship crawling over the horizon. A familiar one.
Ryuuji straightened up, his smile disappearing for a moment, before reappearing and blossoming wide.
“They’re back,” he whispered.


















