They staggered into the bedroom, exhaustion hanging heavy on the both of them. The second the reached the double bed, they collapsed onto it, not caring they were covered in dirt and blood.
For a second the two of them just breathed, enjoying the taste of oxygen in their lungs. It could have been seconds or hours later once they remembered the other's presence.
Lizzy looked down at her newly wed husband of a few days. She hadn't been surprised their honeymoon was a front for an investigation. What did was the fact he had been so at ease about her coming. Lizzy had spent years trying to get in on one, and he had been adamant about the issue before.
"You regretting what you got into?" His voice brought her out of her musing. Ciel reached up to tuck a stand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Things tend to end messily. Not for most noblewomen."
There was so much to be said, about the secrets that still lingered between them, about what she just saw and the blood that stained her hands. But instead of mentioning any of that, Lizzy just laughed. She laughed a girlish laugh that was suited for long idyll, summer days, not something like this.
"Have you gone mad?"
"We're alive!" She smiled as bright as the sun. "That's reason enough to celebrate."
"We're alive?"
"We're alive!"
"We're alive…" To her surprise, Ciel started to laugh as well. It started out as a low murmur before growing into a youthful roar. It was so powerful it sent her into another fit. All they could do was laugh from the simple joy of living.
He looked so young when he laughed. It surprised her, for he looked younger than he had when he was ten. No, happier was the better word. It was the fact he was smiling and not caught up in other morbid matters.
On an impulse, she wrapped her arms around him, bringing him so close their foreheads touched. Lizzy noticed he didn't stiffen at the contact like he used to. In fact, his smile seemed to grow even bigger.
"We're alive," He whispered it like a prayer, as if in awe of the idea of such a thing.
"Yeah, we are," It was brazen and forward of her, but Lizzy pressed her lips to his forehead. She didn't expect much, even on their wedding night, Ciel had been skittish about physical contact. However he leaned up and kissed her deeply on the lips, the taste of sweat and tears still fresh.
"We're alive," He repeated the phrase. "We might not be tomorrow, but for now we are." He rest his head in the crook of her neck, like they used to when they were young.
"That's all that really matters," She felt sleep approaching her as his arms moved to hold her as well.
"It's all that matters for now…." His words trailed of as he closed her eyes.
As the couple fell asleep, Lizzy heard the click of a lock, but she didn't care.
She didn't care they were still filthy.
She didn't care they hadn't even taken off their shoes.
They were alive, that was all that mattered for now.
A.N. While I write 95% angst for these kids, I can do something not sad, see?