a/n: third version of nothings fair in love and war, the version where nobody (in chaalust at least) died

The battle is over. Cowardice lays on Envy's lap, lifeless and covered in blood. Witchcraft is heavily injured. All his "kids" had merged back with him.

Kindness and Patience tends to everyone's wounds. Mischievous, freed from Black Magic's nails, sits near Cowardice, sadly looking at her. As her friend and ally, it must've hurt to see Cowardice dead.

Despair is sitting alone, staring at the casualties and the injured. The rest are trying to clean up the battleground.

Except for one sin. Lust.

She's staring at her rival, beaten, bloody, and alone, sitting on the ground, limbs shaking, blonde hair matted with her own blood.

Chastity is staring down at the earth, seeing red stains everywhere, too ashamed to lift her head.

"Just leave her alone!" Diligence yells, the only one not as shaken as the others. Even Gluttony is barely able to form sentences. "She's not worth it, Lust!"

Lust ignores him.

"What is there to love about you?" Lust says, looking down at Chastity.

At her rival's words, the virtue dips her head even lower.

The pink-haired sin crouches down next to her rival.

"Nothing," says Lust. In her view, Chastity has nothing. She's got nothing sexually appealing. No makeup, no revealing clothes, and no empathy.

Chastity is heartless.

Yet Lust extends a hand towards the shaking girl and envelops her in a hug. "But I still do."

Slowly, minutes after Lust cradles her in her arms, Chastity lifts her shaking hands and circles it around Lust's figure.

"I'm sorry," Chastity whispers hoarsely, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so—"

Lust, hearing the increased panic in her rival's voice, immediately patted her hair comfortingly as a reminder to calm down and that she has forgiven her.

"You're forgiven," Lust whispers back, feeling hot tears on her bare shoulders stinging her wounds, but she didn't care, "I forgive you."

Chastity didn't respond, but Lust knows the unspoken words in her mind.

Thank you were the two words Chastity wants to say.

"Everyone will hate me," she chokes out instead, "I hurt everyone, I betrayed everyone, please just finish me..."

"Shh, no," Lust says reassuringly. "I will love you unconditionally. Even when the world turns against you."

--

this is the song i've been learning in my singing lesson so-

oh no, did i get too close?
oh, did i almost see
what's really on the inside?

all your insecurities
all the dirty laundry
never made me blink one time

unconditional
unconditionally
i will love you
unconditionally

there is no fear now
let go and just be free
i will love you
unconditionally

(the title is unconditionally)