Drabble two. Written by Reversedhymnal on LJ.
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Lelouch was braiding her hair; the day was past done and they could get maybe three hours of sleep before they had to wake up, robe, go back out and face the world with a determination to do the impossible. They were so different, they were the same; and Euphemia felt knots in her slender shoulders loosen with each gentle pass of Lelouch's fingers through her hair.
Suzaku was a warmth sprawled against their sides, tan against the white of their sheets, breathing peaceful and easy, curled close to them. Euphemia trailed her fingers against the man's shoulder, over his side; brushed bangs away from his face. "I'm happy," Euphemia said, quiet so as not to wake their sleeping Knight.
"I know," Lelouch said, amused. He leaned his chin on her shoulder with a smirk and half lidded eyes, fingers tangled in her pink hair. "I wonder how long it will last."
"Oh, brother," Euphemia said; she pursed her lips and quirked her eyebrows at him, glancing out of the corner of her eyes at his thin sharp face. "Were you born a pessimist, I wonder? Fine, I will be your optimism."
Lelouch breathed a laugh over her pale skin and sent her shivering; she leaned against him, feeling his heart beat against her back. He said, "Optimism doesn't solve anything. It's absolute determination. You have to want it so badly," he whispered, reaching a hand out before her, fingers curled into a wicked cup; he twisted the air in his grasp, a sharp violent movement. "And you have to take it."
"Lelouch."
Lelouch snorted, draped his arm around her waist. Pressed a kiss to her shoulder, and said, drolly, "Fine, sister. If you must be optimism, let me be cold realism. After all," he spread his fingers against her stomach, "my hands are already stained."
She placed her small hands over his; "But no more," she said, staring hard at Suzaku's trustful, dear face. "No more, right Lelouch?"
"What I do not regret," he murmured, "is what will be done." He laughed, and added, lighter, words twisting silver in the air; "Be at ease, sister. With you and Suzaku making those mournful eyes at me, what do you have to fear?"