Title: Imperfect Fairy Tale
Fandom: Code Geass
Pairing: Implied Guilford x Cornelia
Warning: SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 19 - 24
Synopsis: They had always been an imperfect fairy tale.
They were no longer royalty, no longer soldiers. That was something she knew in her heart, when her knight's trembling hand gripped hers, whispering her name, his voice faltering.
"You still call me that, Guilford?"
The small, wavering smile on her knight's lips were almost uncertain, his calloused fingers curling tightly around Cornelia's frail, slender ones. Violet eyes gazed at dark glasses, knowing that hidden in the depths were warm grey eyes that would never see again.
They no longer needed to fight. This war wasn't theirs to fight any more.
"Yes, my princess."
His words were sincere, they reminded her of the knight that he was, the knight he would always be.
A ragged sob, so unlike the Guilford she knew, shook the man's frame. He obviously blamed himself, as he always did with matters that concerned her safety. The man always did.
"You don't have to."
Guilford looked up, or he would have, if he could see.
Cornelia shifted slightly, the bullet wounds causing her some discomfort. Her fingers reached up to caress her knight's cheek, the man's fingers still tangled in hers, almost as if scared to relinquish the trembling grip on his princess. It drew a small smile from the wounded princess, whose fingers gently brushed against Guilford's cheek.
A choked sob slipped from the man's throat, his grip on Cornelia's hand tightening ever so gently.
She couldn't help but wonder, what future did they have? They were an odd pair, a displaced princess in a kingdom with no king, and her loyal knight, blind and defenseless. Her lips moved, softly murmuring about her brother Schneizel, quiet contemplations to the man who had always been at her side.
Cornelia didn't know what else to ask of her knight, didn't know what to say. When Schneizel had spoken of his passing, she had believed him gone for good. She had grieved for the loss of another dear one, ripped from her side just like the ones before him; talented, artistic Clovis, dear, beloved Euphemia, and the genius madman Lelouch. But he lived, and now he sat at her side, silent, the guardian he had always been, bearing battle-scars he said nothing about.
They had always been an imperfect fairy tale.
Guilford too, could not find words. He could not remember how he had survived, except that he had, albeit emerging with lasting injuries. The soft, quiet hum of the machines mingled with Cornelia's gentle, melodious voice. It was a comforting, almost familiar song. Guilford's other hand curled around his princess's hand, slender digits tangling with those of hers, lowering his head slightly to ever gently touch against Cornelia's fingers. A smile touched her lips, before she closed her eyes.
A long time ago, a princess and her knight had discovered that sometimes, they didn't need words.
Seconds to minutes, minutes to hours. And they stayed just like that, an injured princess and her ever watchful blind knight. A flawed, imperfect fairy tale, and their little perfect ending.
His skin was still warm against her cold fingers, hours after Guilford had fallen asleep at her side.
END