La Mondotte: Drinking $600 a Bottle Wine.
The following days were a calm before the storm. Schneizel still kept his mealtime appointments, obviously enjoying the act of feeding her. His method of doing so stayed appropriate. Lelouch learned her lesson and didn't fight. She accepted the offering the first time like a "good girl." He seemed just as amused watching her flinch away from innocent gestures, for example, wiping stray food off the corner of her lips with a napkin.
She denied the desire to have him lick it off instead.
She was allowed freedom of movement when alone. Her warden, Suzaku, would enter the room with restraints if any one else were to visit. That role was limited to Schneizel, mostly, and an 'artist' of some sort came once to measure her head. She didn't need to ask to know that it was the final fitting for her locking eye patch. That eye patch would act as her shackle, and make her weak. The eye patch would give Schneizel the strength to rape her. If we are being honest, he always had that strength. The ability to do so without her tied down, however, required her to be bared from using geass.
The time that she was alone was incredibly boring. So boring that she theorized ways Schneizel actually could defeat the Emperor. Their Father didn't need to literally die to be considered dead to the world. Something simple like blasting the entrance to all the Thought Elevators would work. Even more simple would be encasing him in the holding tank C.C. was trapped in. None of these theories made it to conversation. Let her sadistic brother come up with his own plan(s.) A small voice in her mind argued that helping Schneizel was actually in her best interest. That voice was too small to be convincing. It was small and weak, just like her.
Once again she was reminded that her physical abilities were pathetic. If she shared Kallen's agility, Lelouch could calculate at least twenty-seven different routes of escape. It didn't matter that she could crack every code that locked her door, considering that Suzaku was always there. Each time she attempted to leave, he was standing in the hallway. Whether it was four in the afternoon or four in the morning, he was there. After the first stab he didn't even bother to force her back into her cell. He would just stare are her and wait. This inevitably resulted in her returning by her own volition and a technician coming out to reprogram the lock.
Words could not describe how much she despised him. The hatred she felt was different than the hatred for her father, and now her brother also. Ironically it made her sympathize with Suzaku's actions. She wanted to hurt him and love him at the same time. She wanted to see him suffer, and save him from that suffering. It made absolutely no sense. She could only hope he was as conflicted. At least then he would be in pain too.
It was funny how thin the line was. Love. Loathe. They even sounded similar. If she spoke them fast enough; it became a blur.
She didn't have a place to go anyway. Maybe that was why her brother never reprimanded or threatened her. In the event that she could outwit him, and over power Suzaku, she was still at his mercy. She couldn't return to Ashford Academy. She couldn't return to the Black Knights. Schneizel went one step above claiming her death, and met with the officers, explaining her geass power. That was the nail in the coffin. Even if she returned they wouldn't welcome her. The only person, who unconditionally had her back, C.C., had reverted back to a slave girl.
That's not even mentioning that if he did want to cease her efforts, he knew how. He could use Nunnally against her. Realistically, she should be playing good prisoner. She should be doing everything Schneizel wanted, so why didn't she? Pride? Fear? Those were factors. The root reason was boredom. He left the room without books or a computer so she would spend her time philosophizing and hacking the system. He stationed Suzaku out the door, and continuously used an electronic lock, rather than one that required a key, because it was amusing.
Lelouch didn't bother to get up from the sofa when she heard the door open. It could only be one person. Time must have slipped away from her because she didn't realize it was evening. She surprisingly wasn't even hungry. Maybe that was because she wasn't expending countless amounts of calories coming up with high-level calculations. It could also be the reason she was dreading. Lelouch glanced at the extremely large modern style clock on the wall.
The time was 1600, or as the clock read 4pm. The numbers glared back at her with no emotion. She prayed the device was wrong, the hands stopped. She knew she wasn't that lucky. There was still three hours till dinner. Her stomach lurched and her palms began to feel sweaty. It was a cold sweat, the kind that was extremely uncomfortable, especially in the dry air conditioning.
Lelouch rolled over, and curled up in the fetal position. She was skilled at both falling and remaining asleep in any situation. The possibility of sleeping through this event was minuscule. It was smaller than the voice in her head telling her to not resist.
Suzaku hovered over the back of the couch for longer than she expected. " Wake up."
"Make me."
She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. A feeling of déjà vu washed over her, overlaying the environment like the red haze when she used geass. The cold sweat faded as another memory became ruined. She imagined Suzaku felt it also, considering his body stilled mid motion.
She was still mostly asleep, but alert enough to appreciate her lover's tentative touch on her hair and face. Suzaku was soaking up the moment, committing it to memory. Lelouch was doing the same thing, although he could never tell. She cracked one lavender eye open and watched him unabashedly stared down at her naked form. The air was cold without the warmth of the comforter; he pulled it down to get a better look, to drink her in. It was the morning after, after all. That's probably what any teenage boy would do.
They took each other's virginities the night before in the stale moderately priced hotel room. The paisley walls were tacky, matching the bedspread too perfectly. The mix of Britannian and Japanese culture was absurd. A small Buddha statue, and pictures of Zen gardens seemed comically misplaced even if all the colors matched. The owner was obviously catering towards people visiting the old city on holiday, rather than anyone who already knew traditional culture.
Still, it was magical. A mass of opened condom wrappers made it even better. No, not because the couple had copious amount of sex the night prior, but because it was a funny story. Lelouch was so concerned about getting pregnant; she made Suzaku put the latex on a ridiculous amount of times until the fit looked right. Needless to say, they went through a few packs because the items broke.
Everything about the interaction was awkward. She thought about calling it off several times. She didn't, obviously. As Zero, she put herself in danger every day. She was prepared to die because she took the lives of others. That was the philosophy she lived by.
The timing didn't matter. She loved him. She loved him for eight years. Their relationship wasn't rushed.
"It's time to wake up." He said, finally noticing she was watching him watch her.
"Make me," she replied, knowing full well that was an invitation.
His unforgiving grip on her leg made her gasp more than being pulled onto the floor. If looks could kill, she wouldn't have to worry about what the next few hours would bring. Suzaku's expression was the worst yet. It did prove her theories correct. He was treading the line also.
"Get up." He repeated, glancing at the door. His jaw was tense. "Stop screwing around."
She snorted, wondering if that was a terrible attempt at a joke. "If you accept Schneizel as Emperor, wouldn't that make me first Empress Consort?" Her own attempt at lightening the mood was even worse.
He scowled down at her before quickly reaching when the door opened. Suzaku's movements were always lightening speed. He bypassed bullets when the two of them risked Mao's booby traps to save Nunnally. Still, the speed in which he pulled both of her arms behind her back, and covered her eye surprised her. She lost her breath when he slammed her back against his chest, wrapping his right arm around her slender body. Due to her recent reminisce; his hot breath tickled her neck more than it should have. They were almost the same height, so there was nowhere else for the carbon dioxide to go.
"Am I interrupting something?" Schneizel inquired, just enough jealousy breaking through his mask to make a point, but not enough to spoil his gentle air.
"No." Suzaku responded a little too quickly. He even neglected the honorific.
Lelouch watched in horror as her brother slowly approached. Her eye wasn't locked on him per say; the small box caught her attention. She would have preferred for it to be smaller. The idea of wearing a wedding ring left a sour taste in her mouth, but nothing like the contents of that container would. Her eye patch. The lacquered black box surely contained an even worse symbol of her capture.
"Please, Suzaku, if you ever loved me let me go." She whispered, allowing herself to visibly shake. When his grip didn't let up she continued. "I promise, you will still get Japan. Let me take Schneizel under my control. I'll defeat the Emperor. You know I can do it. We can do it. There's nothing you and I can't do together. Please. Don't give me to him. It's not worth it."
"You're a small price to pay." His words were a knife to her heart. "Just think about Nunnally," he added in a softer tone.
"Schneizel will still protect Nunnally! She won't be in danger if you let me go!" She hissed, concealing her surprise when his grip slackened a fraction. "Suzaku plea-"
"You wound me, Dear Sister. After all the thought I put into your gift, I was hoping you would like it. That doctor you killed would have preferred I give permission to gouge that eye out for study.
"Personally, I would have gone with something more modest in fashion, but then I remembered it's for you, and not me." His smile was sickeningly sweet when he places the box on the end table and opened it. "You always enjoyed flashy trinkets. Kannon helped me pick it out."
"Don't get me involved any more than you already have." The Earl said not bothering to look up from whatever he was doing across the room.
She didn't notice him enter. Was Schneizel making her shackling a party? Or worse, he was adhering to archaic traditions. God knew what he had in mind after the damn thing was put in place.
Schneizel chuckled and held the offending accessory, rubbing the material between his fingers. "I suppose you are right. The inspiration came from someone else."
He was mocking her. That was the only explanation for why he would choose such a color scheme. When he said the eye patch would remind her of her Zero helmet, he didn't just mean visibility. The large black material wasn't solid; there was indigo swirling throughout in bold lines. Amethyst gemstones hung off chains of varying lengths.
"I thought it matched your eyes. Well, the right one." It was a believable lie.
She stifled a whine when the lock clicked, sealing her power in a gothic inspired prison. It didn't hurt, at least not physically. It was a mechanical lock, so she couldn't use a mirror to rewrite computer code. Based on the intricacies of the key, it would be difficult to pick also.
She saw Schneizel's smug satisfaction from her peripheral vision. His hand lingered at the clasp, rearranging her hair around it. The coloration of the world was slightly off between her two eyes. Despite the cloth-like texture, it didn't feel like she was wearing dark mesh or sunglasses over one eye and not the other. The tint was minimal, and would likely be forgotten sooner rather than later. Her senses would adjust.
"I do believe that will be all, sir Kururugi. You are dismissed."
She almost fell when the knight released his hold, and moved away. Lelouch didn't notice that she was leaning on him. She was able to right her balance before stumbling. Here eyes were glued to the pristine tile floor. She might be freed from restraints, yet she lost her only chance to access freedom.
"You too, Kannon. I will see you tomorrow morning."
Dear Lord, he plans to spend night here.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" The assistant voiced concerned, staring at her with steel blue eyes.
Her brother sighed, and ran his hand through thick blond hair. "You worry too much. Besides, I'm sure my dear sister will behave in favor of privacy."
Her ghost-like complexion was apparently enough of a response. Kannon shrugged, mumbling, "You're the boss," and left. The door closing seemed to echo throughout the 250sqft room. She watched, rooted in place, and Schneizel strolled over to the table, pouring two glasses of wine. Her heart raced seeing the platter of room temperature served food. His statement of privacy was synonymous with "do not disturb." That must be what Kannon was arranging when she was distracted.
"There's no need for you to shake like a sacrificial virgin. Neither are true for you." Schneizel smirked, sitting on the sofa. "Join me, or have you become accustomed to being tied up?"
His words were a threat, and yet the way he said them suggested otherwise. The smirk turned gentle, so much that she wondered if a sinister undertone ever existed. He watched her with a twinkle in his pastel eyes, like she was the most fascinating person in the world. It would have been flattering if it didn't make her feel like an animal at the zoo. She could have found his sharp cheekbones and square jawline attractive if he weren't her brother.
She acted as requested, taking care to leave as much separation between their bodies as possible without causing offense. It still wasn't enough. Schneizel's long arms could reach her at a far longer distance. She accepted the glass of full-bodied red wine, unceremoniously downing the alcohol in one breath.
His joyous laugher made her face flush, or perhaps it was the drink. He ran his fingers through his hair again, holding his side with the other hand.
"You're showing your age, Lulu."
Hearing him say her name, rather than a role made the flush worse. Thankfully, her hand was steady when he took the glass from her. She watched him pour more La Mondotte from the decanter, informing her "it's better when swirled and sipped, rather than gulped. It's a strong wine." That much was obvious, her body was already warm, with her anxiety dulled.
He removed his long white jacket, and purple under robe, leaving only pressed white dress shirt and slacks; his back was turned, she couldn't tell if the ascot remained. In addition to the wine, and large piece of dark chocolate cake cut. The portion would make any other woman embarrassed. Lelouch had too much on her mind to worry about such trivialities. Seeing her brother without his royal robes made him seem more human.
That perspective might also be the wine talking. Lelouch wasn't a connoisseur, but she recognized the quality nonetheless. The single glass she gulped cost considerably more than the bottle that was purchased for Villeta's birthday gift. The alcohol content was certainly significantly higher. She accepted the rich dessert and refilled glass, watching as he laid out intricate crystal chess pieces on the coffee table. He didn't need to ask if she wanted to play, and definitely not what color. She was the black king, formerly anyway. All that remains of that title was homage through her eye patch.
"I'll make you a deal." His silken voice seemed far too intimate since he returned to an even father off seat. "If you win, I won't touch you."
Her heart was pounding in her ears. Her reply "and if I lose?" sounded like she was speaking it from underwater.
He chuckled again, a much tamer version of his previous laugher. "Don't give me that look. I never suggested you down wine on an empty stomach." He leaned against the side of the sofa, head propped on his arm, while he made his first move. "I want you to feed me that cake. The portion is large enough that we can share; you don't need to wait. It pairs well with the wine."
Her eyes widened before returning to normal. The calming haze of her mind was now a hindrance. For how stoic and calculating her nature was, she acted rash in that decision. It put her two, maybe three moves behind her brother. She cursed the way the smooth pawn felt with her tingling sense of touch.
She hated playing his game. She loved chess, and German chocolate cake, but both sent unpleasant shivers down her spine. The rich flavor lost its appeal when consumed in hopes of hastening sobriety. It did pair well with the wine. There were no water cups present; nothing else was available to quench her thirst. The thought of pouring the alcohol down the drain seemed too wasteful. Then again, he wasn't Suzaku. There was no reason for her to subconsciously tally up the cost of this date.
"Check."
He moved his second rook to protect the white king. She closed her eyes, attempting to dispel the lovely sensation of floating by sheer willpower. Lelouch wasn't drunk, not yet. Being near intoxication in that situation was just as dangerous. She wondered if the close match was him teasing her, or her experience with binge drinking. Just because she threw away the refrain did not mean a replacement to drown her sorrows wasn't procured.
"You know. I am afraid of you."
Her eyes snapped open at his admission. It spilled from his mouth with ease, and he took a long sip to fill the void. She glanced at the decanter and attempted to calculate how many ounces it likely contained. Schneizel was large, and could probably hold his alcohol. Still, he seemed to have drank enough to crack his mask.
"You don't act like it." She retorted, using the opportunity to reassess the chessboard. He was still two moves ahead. She managed to hold her own, despite the initial disadvantage.
"A facade, I assure you, Dearest Sister. Lulu." The way her said her name and caressed her delicate wrist felt more sinful than it should. "I needed to make you fear me. I need to make Kururugi believe I am hurting you. I hope one day these won't be required."
"Why?" She asked, to what statement; she wasn't sure. All of them, probably.
"Hmm. I wonder." He drawled, lifting the wrist to his lips.
The way he swirled his tongue around her rapid pulse made her gasp. No one should be so skilled at inciting a reaction. She cursed the alcohol once again, blaming it for the heat in her lower torso. It had absolutely nothing to do with the way his clouded eyes peeked through his bangs.
"Lay with me."
"No." She felt a swell of pride at the firmness of her voice.
He smiled against her skin, trailing kisses up the underside if her arm. He murmured his response, voice husky and quiet. She subconsciously scooted closer to hear it. "The game is over. The only possibilities are a draw, or if you finish your third glass; I could probably take your king in four turns."
He bunched the floor length skirt at her knees, using his legs to keep the fabric in place. In the back of her mind she realized the outfit resembled Euphie's on Kamine Island, except with hues of contrasting deep and light purple. The clasp at her neck, the one he was undoing, was a Vesica Piscis rather than a rose. He picked it to match her eye patch.
"Either way," he continued, now near enough to kiss the bare skin of her clavicle and not lace. "I do not have to relinquish my right to touch you."
Lelouch wanted to argue that he had no right to touch her in the first place. She was a damn human being, not some prize to be won, and not a chess piece (taking her outfit into account). These words died in her throat. She knew how that conversation would progress. He would laugh at her. Again. Schneizel would say it was a contradiction. Someone like her, who repeatedly stole free will, the right of choice from others, saying those words was ironic. At the end of the day he would have her. He controlled not only her own life, but Nunnally's as well. The man she once loved, Suzaku, denied her only chance of freedom.
"Brother." She hissed when he bit at the sensitive skin behind her ear.
He was on top of her, using one hand to cup her bare butt, and another to support his weight. Panties, it would seem, were something she would never wear again. He chased her lips when she tried to turn her head away, robbing her of her last protest. Tentative wasn't the right word; his lips weren't forceful either. He coaxed a response from her with unfair skill, moaning when she wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his hair.
"Good girl."
She could hear the condescending praise in her mind because he surely didn't break the kiss to voice it. They remained lip locked when he removed his dress shirt, and kicked off his pants. He even managed to maintain the kiss carrying her to the bed. Whether she wrapped her legs around his waist, or he used his arms to carry her, she would prefer not to know.
Lelouch needed more wine, or less. More would push her over to oblivion, a definite state of drunkenness where she could easily justify her incestuous actions. Less might give her the cognitive ability to think of something to do other than arch her back when he licked at the hem of the sweet-heart neckline of her dress. The hypothetical right course of action was an even bigger mystery than how Schneizel managed to untie the corset style backing of her dress in his position.
The chill of the air didn't last before her brother's body covered her nakedness. She moaned, grabbing at his impossibly broad shoulders when he took one erect nipple between his lips. His hand pushed her thighs apart; this time he didn't make a comment regarding the amount of wetness. She probably wouldn't have notice if he did. He had to hold the "Guinness Book of World Record" for finding that spot.
Her scream permeated the whole room, and at another time she would inquire on the ability of the walls to absorb sound. The feeling of illusory liquid warmth that entered her body mirrored the literal kind that left. His touch was more intoxicating than the wine. She panted for air; convinced she was slick with sweat.
Unlike the last time, he didn't cease his relentless probing. Profanity and prayer mixed with her brother's name. If her eye were uncovered, her power would certainly gone haywire with conflicting orders. Her whole body was on fire. Schneizel's alternating touch, ranging from irritatingly light, to almost painful depending on the location, was perfected with years of experience.
And here she thought she was a discreet, controlled lover.
The only time she was quiet was when they kissed. The only time he said anything was a confession that he could "barely keep control." She couldn't remember the last time she genuinely laughed, a chiming sound without evil taint or self-pity. She didn't notice the way his breath hitched at her face lighting up.
"I need you." His voice was hoarse like he was the one screaming and not her.
Lelouch squeezed her eyes shut when he pushed into her core, feeling like she was being torn apart, an amazing feeling despite the description. She dug her short nails into his shoulder, whimpering with each thrust. Her legs wrapped around his torso, giving him deeper access. She blamed everything on the alcohol. She would have carried the sins of the world on her back, and yet this cross was too much to bear. The evidence of their sin would be on her brother's back.
"Sch-Bro-oh god-I-I"
If he truly did lose control, his voice was drowned out. She did, however, notice when everything stopped. A split second sooner, and it would have gone unnoticed. They would have ridden the wave together.
"No." She voiced her protest. That voice became shriller when his previously loving touch became binding. "No, no, no!"
He held both wrists in one hand, and her ankles, still wrapped around his torso, in the other. She struggled against the invasion with all her might, strength heightened with drunkenness. It still wasn't enough to prevent his seed from being planted in her womb. The pulsating of his cock would have felt nice if it didn't signify an attempt at conception.
She prayed her uterus was still a toxic environment. The IUD was only extracted a few days ago. It was highly unlikely the sperm would live. How long would that last? Not long. That's why she got the damn thing in the first place. It allowed for a woman to get pregnant right away. There were no hormones to expel from the system.
"Let me go." She scorned, feeling ill. "Brother, please I -"
She never finished the sentence. After his transgressions, she wished he couldn't infer what she was going to say. Schneizel's eyes widened and he pulled her to the edge of bed, keeping a firm hand on her chest to lean against. His other one made small circles against her spine as she emptied the expensive contents of her stomach.
The barf burned her throat, making the physical and emotional cold worse. Tears ran down her cheeks as she heaved. Her only source of comfort, which she hated the most, was her brother's shush and coos.
"You are the first person to vomit from having sex with me." He voiced once there was nothing left.
A/N:
Hentai (Guest Reviewer): I'm guessing you read my other fic. This one is based on a different timeline; the events of Chapter 16 in 'The Feminine Rebellion' never happened. Without divulging spoilers, let's just say that this fic follows canon unless otherwise noted. Next chapter is going to have a flashback/dream explaining why Suzaku and Lulu broke up.
Read and Review! I hope you like it! Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'm taking it all into account!
Oh! Other guest reviewer that mentioned that you can't find a fem!Lulu pregnancy fics, "I Saw My Lady Weep" by Magery is AMAZING! Read it and cry right after leaving me a review!
