Counterpart

Disclaimer : I do not own Code Geass.

A/N : This contains spoilers. If you didn't finish the second season finale then reading this will spoil the ending.
I decided to write this after finishing the series (is there going to be a third season ?). I love Lelouch and I refuse to believe that he is dead and I'm going to continue to believe that C.C. somehow managed to save him. So there. Surely he is the mysterious driver who stays with C.C. in the end. This takes place right after that. Rated M.

Chapter 1

The monotonous sound of the river and the feel of the cold rushing water falling from above soothes his nerve somehow. Ebony hair, now plastered to his scalp, and purple eyes, now closed to concentrate, he sits cross-legged under the waterfall, deep in thought. The hot summer air doesn't reach him through the drape of water surrounding him and the buzzing of the crickets, lost to the gushing sound of the falls, remains unheard to his keen ears. The smell of the summer blooms forgotten and the charming blue sky unseen, he just sits in his own bubble of nothingness, only feeling the water flowing through his hair, down his naked back and into the chasm of his hips.

He doesn't want to remember anything... or maybe he does. Even his own feelings confuse him now and all his memories seem foreign somehow. Like he was just spectator to some one who rewrote history and owned the world, rather than being the one who actually did it. How long has it been since his "death" ? This brought a smile to his face. His eyes snapped open and he gingerly touched his own lips, amazed at how it was curved upwards. And then he burst out laughing. How come the fact that he can smile, even after all this, seem so incredulous ?

'What's so funny ?' a flat voice asked from the river bank. He could barely see through the screen of water around him but he remembers that light green hair... He remembers it well. His saviour has come. He squints his eyes, determined to etch that figure into his brains, so that when he dies someday, he can remember what was precious and what mattered.

It was amazing how everything worked out in the end. The Zero Requiem did its job. He destroyed the world with his own hands and Zero is now rebuilding it. He leaned back on his hands and looked upwards so that the water ran down his face now. Loss, betrayal, lies, pain and eventually DEATH – he endured it all. And it was worth it in the end. The world was now at peace and Nunnally was happy. Everyone was happy.

But what about him ? He didn't dwell on that thought.

'It's okay. I'm not alone after all', he thinks to himself as he glances sideways towards the green haired witch. He remembers that day as if it were just yesterday. He was the evil emperor, conquering everything and being hated by all and then... He was nothing. Zero came in at the last moment like he always did and saved everyone. The world cheered as he fell, bloody and alone. But he was not dead. Suzaku was a soldier indeed, missing his heart by only a few inches and injecting him with the drug as he stabbed him. He was right to trust Suzaku and his abilities. The drug stopped his heart but it didn't kill him. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even blink as he watched Nunnally weeping over him. He wanted to comfort her. Say that everything is going to be fine now. But he was paralysed, caged within his own body.

His whole life flashed before his eyes. He regretted some of his actions in the past, maybe he was too reliant on strategy and less on kindness. But that's all that is – the past. Its didn't matter any more. Life as a student, with his friends, he enjoyed that. He didn't know he was capable of loving anyone other than Nunnally, but he did. He loved everyone. And then came the darkness. He was sure he was dead then, getting glimpses of C.C and Jeremiah and earl Lloyd, their faces contorted with fear and concentration. His life may have not been perfect but it was well spent. And he remembered something that made him smile even through the immense pain. His love was returned tenfold from everyone. Time and again. He closed his eyes and welcomed the darkness this time. He was so tired but now he could rest in peace.

However, peace didn't come easy. He could hear C.C 's voice from a distant. It was too low and he could barely hear her. He remembers being annoyed with her then. Hadn't he done enough already ? Surely he could now give in to this heavy vacuum that was sucking him in even deeper into unconsciousness.

'What more does she want from me ?' He tried to listen.
'You never lied to me so don't you dare start now' C.C 's voice sounded hoarse. 'NO ! ITS NOT OVER YET !' She screeched, as someone tried to pull her away from him.

'Or maybe she's just watching a match ?' he speculated. Dying doesn't agree with him especially not his sense of humour, he thought with dismay.
Then he felt a slight pressure all over his body as C.C leaned in closer to him, pressing her body onto him. He felt her breath in his ear, she was so close. Even on the verge of death, his skin felt tingly and hot. This feeling was unfamiliar and therefore unwelcome to him.

'Lelouch...' her voice shook slightly as she whispered through her sobs.

Goosebumps rose on his flesh as his name rolled on her tongue obscenely.

'Ah ! He moved his finger.' Lloyd announced merrily.
'Shi Tsu - sama please keep going' Jeremiah urged in a gruff tone.
'Lelouch please...' C.C begged as silent sobs raked through her body. He felt his hair rising on its end again.
'Stop this, witch ! What are you doing to me ?' He screamed incredulously. But of course no one could hear him.

'You promised Lelouch.', C.C kept going oblivious to the sweet torture she was inducing on him.
'Tch ! What are you talking about now ?' Lelouch snorted. 'Regardless I break promises. Now please let me sleep.'
'You can't leave me.' C.C 's voice was almost inaudible by then. 'You promised... You're going to fulfil my one true wish...'
His pupils dilated and his breath started coming out in short pants. The machines connected to his heart, till then counting the feeble beats, started going crazy. Of course how could he forget ? This is one promise he could not break. And all her memories raced through his mind again. Her pain, her sorrows, her desperation, her vanity, and later on her playfulness, her loyalty, her spite, her love and her solitude. There was so much of that and Lelouch had already made up his mind, way back while the world still made sense, he made a promise to her and to himself to love her and to stay by her side as long as she lived. So obviously he was not going to die. This is just ridiculous. And like an adrenaline rush, he suddenly sat bolt upright.
'Lelouch !' C.C. gasped as she fell back on the floor, her eyes wide with joy, relief and something else. Something so deep that Lelouch felt like he would burn under its intensity if he looked for too long.
'Stop doing that' he said, trying to sound calm.
'Eh ?' she cocked her head to one side.
'My name. Stop saying it like that.' he closed his eyes and fell back on the bed.
'NO !' C.C. has already jumped to her feet, ready to do anything, thinking he was slipping again.
'Don't worry. I'm okay. My chest hurts, please do something about it.' He had managed to calm himself down considerably.
'Yes, your Majesty' Lloyd replied gleefully. Everything was going to be okay after all.

Like a rubber band at its limit,the feel of naked skin against his own snapped him back to reality. He shifted on the rock, the water still cascading around him. But there was someone else with him now. C.C. sat on the same rock that he was occupying, her back pressed to his, so that he could feel her but couldn't see her.

End of chapter 1

So I hope you liked it. I myself felt that maybe it was a bit slow and serious. But isn't that how Lelouch is ? Oh well. Please leave reviews or any suggestions you might have. Thank you for reading. Much love xx.