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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Code Geass or do I own any of the other characters that I put into this story except for my own OCs. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fanfiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me. You'll just lose money instead of gaining any. And remember to leave a review!
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Meet the Hat's –
Schneizel held his mouth tight as he was toss up into the air and caught as he fell by the arms of his uncle, Jeffro who then repeated his greeting. As he was toss into the air he was reliving all of the past meetings he had with his uncle. Unlike his father his uncle is a big and playful soul who always treated his brother's children with affection that his father never shown. All of his siblings are closer to their uncle then their father as they were growing up, even if he didn't like what they became once they grownup. He didn't like how Guinevere held so much pride on her looks, Cornelia's view on people from other countries, Clovis being full of himself, or his outlook on the world. The only one his uncle like is Odysseus, saying that he's the man his brother should have been. Which he always said in front of his brother, saying even if he couldn't see it his first born is greater then him.
Schneizel always wonders what his uncle sees in his older brother. Though in theory he is the Crown Prince and first in line to succeed the throne, his performance in many areas is quite plebeian compared to that of himself. Odysseus also fairly indecisive and leaves matters to him or one of their other siblings, as he doesn't like to order the arm forces to do battle, always wanting to fix things peacefully. When he ask his uncle about this, all he did was shake his head and said 'If you can't understand why when it's right in front of you then what's the point of me telling you? When you wouldn't get it if I told you? You're too old to be spoon fed anymore.' He's been trying to figure out his uncle since then. When they play chess his uncle would always make a move that would get him into a checkmate and ended the game there. Making him wonder if his uncle was that bad or just let's him win.
"Uncle please stop this already," Schneizel said as his uncle did as he was ask as he was about to catch him, that ended with him falling to the ground.
"All well... so you fell so what? Are you too much of a weakling that you can't even take falling down?" Jeffro ask his nephew as he picks himself off the ground.
"I see you're still the same as ever," Schneizel said dusting himself off.
"And why would I want to?" Jeffro said as he leads Schneizel to his home for the pass few years... a junkyard.
The junkyard is in a largely empty industrial area around the airport, where he was met by his uncle. He spotted the big steel fence around his uncle's junkyard that even a Knightmare wouldn't be able to look over. The street was pretty empty, there was nothing on the other side but waist high grass and a few trees. His uncle's junk yard, or Salvage Center as it said on the twenty foot high fence, occupied almost the entire street and went back at least a block. It was an enormous area, filled mostly with junked cars and small metal sheds and shacks, along with all the huge, noisy machinery necessary to turn a big family station wagon into a two-foot-square block of metal. A sign on the enterance of the junkyard read, 'Junk Hat's'.
They walked in through the big gate and passed around the tall piles of treadless rubber tires and a giant sea of mud, then walked down a narrow lane lined with automotive parts. They walked into the big steel and shop that held his uncle's home. In front, was a giant 8-bay garage, packed with junked old cars and the pieces of hundreds of others. Through this mess was where his uncle and his family lived, a large warehouse size building. It wasn't exactly a palace, in fact, it was an incredibly ugly building. But knowing his uncle he wouldn't have wanted it any other way. It was like a giant, ramshackle corrugated shed, the way that he like it. It reminded him of the first time he went into his uncle's room in the palace.
"This is where you been living all of these years?" Schneizel ask staring at the building that his uncle has been living in along with his younger siblings.
"Why scared that you dirty your clothes?" Jeffro ask grinning.
"No," Schneizel said quickly. His uncle whenever he or one of his siblings said that they didn't like getting dirty would be thrown into a mud puddle by their uncle. His reason was that kids like mud even if they have to be thrown in to do so. Which is how he and all of his siblings learn how to swim as their uncle threw them into the pool, till they learn. He also did what he could to get all of his brother's kids to treat each other as family should, unlike their father.
"I know what you want to ask. Why didn't, I called about being alive with your younger siblings," Jeffro said.
"You have no idea how upset we were when we heard that father had banished Lelouch and Nunnaly, so soon after their mother had died. It took four days until Euphie stopped crying. Cornelia was furious, I mean, really furious. And I protested for three weeks, he was incredibly determined. I went to father every day to reason with him, but to no avail. We did feel better once we found out that they were with you knowing that you would keep them safe. But then you three declared dead after the war," Schneizel said.
"Good to hear," Jeffro said. "I like to think that even if you kids fight that you'll still love each other like family should. A lesson that my brother of mine never learn."
"But why keep hidden for all of these years? And why didn't you ever told us that you have a wife and kids?" Schneizel ask.
"Simple really if my brother had known that both Lelouch and Nunnaly were still alive he would have used them again. And my wife your aunt thought it would be the best if they have the chance of growing up in a normal family setting," Jeffro said.
"Normal?" Schneizel ask staring at his uncle.
"Fine as normal as it gets with me that is," Jeffro said before his eyes harden. "I know that you'll be reporting to your dad once you're done here so tell him this. Both Lelouch and Nunnaly are under my care and if he thinks of using them again. I'll just have to teach him why he's all bark and no bite."
"Yes you did defeated all of the Knights of the Round when you storm into the palace after you heard about my aunt's death," Schneizel said.
"They shouldn't have tried to stop me," Jeffro said as he's the only one who has ever defeated all the Knights of the Round at the same time.
"And about auntie?" Schneizel ask.
"Yes, I met her during my younger days and we fell in love," Jeffro mused. "Imagine my surprise when, I found out that she's the last of the Hat family."
"Why keep that hidden? Everyone since they left the empire have been looking for them?" Schneizel ask.
"Because, I told him not to tell," Shasti said appearing behind them to the surprsie of Schneizel.
"Greetings," Schneizel greeted his aunt for the first time.
"So this is one of your brother's children," Shasti said as she looks over her nephew. "Not too bad for a blue blood."
"What does that mean?" Schneizel ask.
"She doesn't care much for nobles," Jeffro said. "When I first met her she thought that I was one of those run a of mill nobles."
"But he prove me wrong," Shasti said. "You and the rest of your siblings still need to prove to me that you're more then inbred nobles. Since, I know that you and the rest of the family already knows that me and my children are all that is left of the Hat family."
"Yes that fact is spreading around like wildfire in the upper classes," Schneizel said.
"And many will be seeking our favor as many of my nephews and nieces," Shasti said staring at him. "Remember child, the reason why my family left the royal family services is because of what they became. The only way any of us is ever going to favor anyone in the royal family is if they earn the right."
"What about Lelouch and Nunnaly?" Schneizel ask.
"Since, I raised them once my husband brought them home, I like to think of myself as their second mother. I raised them as my own and I know that all of my children are the best generation of Hat's in a very long time. But don't think that us being family will help you or anyone else on my husband side of the family. Because, I know that none of you have ever put in a hard days work in your whole life. Both Lelouch and Nunnaly have helped out in the junkyard and help pay the bills," Shasti said shocking Schneizel.
"But Nunnaly is...," he said knowing that news would cause an uproar back home.
"No Nunnaly only helped out with the paperwork since she learned how to read those bumps that blind people use... but I can't remember what they're called," Jeffro said. "But if you and your sibling are ever going to prove yourselves to your aunt you kids are going to have to earn it. Besides when Lelouch and Nunnaly's mother was laid to rest the only ones that showed up for it were, Cornelia, Odysseus, and Euphie."
"Well, I was busy," Schneizel said feeling himself getting smaller under his uncle's and aunt's glaze.
"Too busy for family...," Shasti huffed.
"I would have thought that, I showed my brother's kids the right path but it looks like only a handful ever learn. But then again since you are my brother's kid, I shouldn't be surprise. All of his talk about the strong eating the weak is nothing more then hot air. I was the one who earned the right for the throne from your grandfather, passing his test while, little brother failed. Well the old saying does say that the weakest dog barks the loudest," Jeffro said shaking his head as he and his wife walked ahead as their nephew trailed behind them.
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Inside the main building -
Inside the building Schneizel found himself inside a large living room that also acts as the dinner room as there was a large table at one side of the room. Both of his uncle and aunt went inside another room leaving him there. In front of a large TV were Lelouch, Nunnally, Emily and Mack. They were watching one of those cartoon shows, which he would guess that Emily wanted to watch, seeing the bored look on Lelouch while Nunnally seem to enjoy it listening to the show and Mack was laughing. Nunnally was wearing a dress while Lelouch was dress in a white shirt and overalls.
Schneizel was about to say something when his view was blocked by a man appearing in front of him. Looking upwards he saw the mask wearing Drake staring down at him. For the first time in years he was utterly frozen in fear at the gaze of his older cousin's. His eyes were like wells that only went deeper and deeper into darkness.
"You must be Drake," Schneizel greeted him.
"Schneizel," Drake said as he studies him. "I can see now why father supports, Odysseus for the throne instead of you."
"What does that mean?" Schnizel ask.
"As, I said," Drake said as he walks outside with his cousin watching.
"Brother Schnizel?" Nunnally spoke up drawing his attention back inside the living room.
"So he sent you," Lelouch said.
"HI!" Emily shouted out.
"Hello cousin," Mack said suddenly appearing behind him.
"How did you do that?" Schnizel said as he only took his eyes off of him for a second.
"Do what?" Mack ask appearing in front of him.
"Will you stop that," Schnizel said as he looks to Lelouch who was smirking at him. 'Seeing me lose my cool must be funny for him.'
"Brother is Mack bothering you?" Nunnally ask.
"Yes," Schnizel said as he walks over to Nunnally. "It's good to see you again sister. How have you been doing."
"Uncle and auntie have been taking care of us," Nunnally smiled.
"While this isn't a place that you wouldn't be seen in brother. Uncle and auntie gave us something that we never had while living in the palace," Lelouch said.
"And what would that be?" Schnizel ask.
"Family!" Emily shouted.
"Family?" Schnizel ask looking down at his cousin.
"Come on brother you know very well that we're not a close family even with uncle doing what he could to bring us together," Lelouch said. "Uncle is more of a father to me then ours ever was."
"Even if we don't have the extravagant things things that you and the rest of the royal family are use to. But under our family we showed them to appreciate what they have instead of wanting more and more," Mack said. "Something that the rest of your family should take to heart."
"It's one of the reasons why, I always traveled around," Jeffro said entering the room. "I showed Lelouch and Nunnally what's life outside of the upper class. You have to work for it and earn what you want in life instead of it magically appearing. Why do you think whenever I was around the palace that, I always had you and your siblings work and earn what you wanted?"
"Which is why, I'm dress in work clothes," Lelouch said. "The one thing that uncle made clear to us is that we should never be disconnected to people who aren't our class level. That's the reason why unlike father, uncle commands the respect of the army not just the top brass. When's the last time that you fought on the front lines and lead your troops into battle?"
"Well... I," Schnizel said as he unlike Cornelia never fought on the battlefield.
"Too much like his father," Jeffro said. "All he can ever do was bark orders but when it comes to doing it himself he always couldn't be found. I have never ask someone to do something that I wouldn't do myself. If you ever want to command the respect that I wield with the soldiers, you're going to have to show them that you can do more then just command them to fight and die. Besides it's not like there's going to be a shortage of heirs for the thorne since my brother can't keep it in his pants."
"But I do need to be careful," Schnizel said earning him a flat stare.
"And you wonder why I like your older brother more," Jeffro said. "Since you're already here stay for dinner and we can talk about my borther's plan now that everyone knows that we're still alive."
"Will, I meet my other cousins?" Schnizel ask.
"Yes we already called them to come home for dinner and hear about the news," Jeffro said. "Brutis and Tina are working on filling the shipment of scrap metal we got to do by today. And Annabelle and Molly are busy at the office handling the other businesses that we run."
"Other businesses?" Schnizel ask.
"What you see is where it all started, nothing more then a humble junkyard that soon sprang other businesses that would be known world wide," Jeffro said.
"I never heard of that," Schnizel said.
"You never heard of Hat Inc?" Mack ask with his face suddenly in front of Schnizel causing him to fall backwards.
"Hat Inc?" Schnizel repeated as his eyes widen. Hat Inc is a fairly new company that sprang up from nowhere. They work in just about everything from food, drugs, and industrial goods. Hat Inc excels at manufacturing high-tech consumer products, and before long, Hat Inc's consistent export of cheap, reliable, mass-produced goods begin to dominated the global economy. The CO of the family own company had never been seen as middle-men handle the transactions. What is known about the CO is the riches and powerful person in the world, even compared to the Emperor.
"Yes, I'm the founder and CO of Hat Inc," Jeffro smiled at his nephew. "The riches man in the world, who made it to the top with nothing but the tools at hand. It's another thing that can be added to the long list of things that, I'm better then my brother. He got to be emperor only because, I let him. While, I made it to the top the hard way. And, I'm still more powerful then he is."
"Father isn't going to like this," Schnizel said.
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Author's Notes –
1 – Any ideas would help.
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