(Untitled)

[hopeisblind]

[location: somewhere behind cabin #4]

[There is a girl lying in the snow.  She is wearing a red dress and chains, and far more blood than any girl should wear.

A corner of her mind informs her she is no longer in the prison cell the rebels threw her into. Not that she particularly cares.  Instead,  she stares numbly at the wrong sky

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[thekingsgambit]

[Has actually been looking for his little sister since earlier in the day and is returning to the cabin to seek the others' assistance in determining her location. So it can only be expected that his response to finding her prone and almost painted in blood nearby the cabin is dangerously close to a mental shut-down.]

[thekingsgambit]

[Almost just as quickly, panic and fear take control, forcing his numbing limbs to carry him toward her.]

Nunnally!

[thekingsgambit]

[The dress and chains fall away from his mind, as his vision focuses entirely on the blood covering her body, not even noticing the state of her eyes in his manic rush to protect her. Losing more of his ability to process sense, breath with every passing second, he drops to her side, reaching out to lift her in his arms.]

Nunnally...

[hopeisblind]

[Now, that gets her attention. She pushes back HARD, searching your face with a bewildered look, cold lips trying to form words and barely managing them as she finally understands where she is.]

You!

[hopeisblind]

[hitting your chest and shoulders and face and arms over and over again with her bony little fists]

[thekingsgambit]

[The push and subsequent blows cause his eyes to immediately connect with hers, taking in the swirling, raw emotions of pain and anger. He knows that look. How could he forget the last time he saw it, in that room aboard the Damocles. When he had looked back at her and immediately shattered whatever innocence she had left, that blind (for once, she was not) hope that he would not use his power against her. All in the same moment, even as she proceeds to rain her misery upon him in the form of frenzied fists, his gaze flits back to her appearance. The familiar red dress, color and shameful cut chosen to evoke an image of debasement, befitting of a heartless monster of an emperor who would turn on his own baby sister. Chains to add to the salacious presentation. And the blood... well at least he knows now it isn't hers

[thekingsgambit]

[He suffers another series of blows before finally reaching out to grasp one fragile wrist. A breath leaves him as he meets her terrible stare once more (oh how many months has he longed to see those beautiful eyes again).]

... Your hands are freezing, Nunnally.

[hopeisblind]

[her hand is shaking. She blinks her eyes rapidly, pushing the flood of fast-paced images away.]

...You are d-dead.

[It's not an accusation. Her fists have conveyed that enough. It's just unbearable reality, piercing her soul like a sword she remembers so well.]

[thekingsgambit]

[His voice is barely a whisper, as he slowly releases her wrist and tries to move his hand up to warm hers.]

I couldn't tell you. There was just too much...

[He picks up his tone with effort.]

We need to get you inside before you get sick.

[hopeisblind]

[She doesn't care about getting sick.]

You lied.

[thekingsgambit]

[Squeezing that hand before he can help it.]

Nunnally... you can't stay like this. The blood will make it worse.

[hopeisblind]

I want to stay with big brother.

[thekingsgambit]

[Eyes widen, as his voice trembles noticeably. He almost lets go of her hand, pulling back in complete disbelief.]

Nunnally... how can you... I have done nothing but hurt you... all of those people, you have suffered for each one, haven't you?

...I have stayed by your side until now because I wanted to give you the happiness I stole from you back home.... But I couldn't change anything. You still lost so much.

[Looks away, struggling with himself to not release her. Is he still just running? When he can actually do something for her here?]

There is no reason for you wanting to be with me.

[hopeisblind]

Please.

[thekingsgambit]

[The plea strikes him like a knife, forcing him to close his eyes to manage the pain. But the thought of losing sight of those lost lilac eyes is almost unbearable, and his open again barely a second later. He looks back at her again, wishing for anything to take away that soft, sad stare.

Without thinking, he finds himself drawing her into his embrace, his hand going to her hair and stroking with the same comforting movements as always, as he just holds her, regardless of the blood.]

Here. I promise you here.

[hopeisblind]

[She is clutching to him harder now, because she is so afraid he might vanish in midair or something equally stupid. His promise makes her angry again. So very angry. At him, at Suzaku-san, but most of all at herself. She has caused this. Her blindness did.]

It's not enough. [she says truthfully] Big brother knows very well it will never be enough.