Last time: Lelouch had a motivational crisis and then collapsed into teen/grief stricken misery. Kallen now knows that C.C. has broken her brain. And Cera is as innocent as ever...but! They have a game plan!
The Hope Spot
"Kallen, I could bloody kiss you right now."
"Wh-what?!" The unexpected declaration had her sitting up straight, staring at him, her face flushing read. "H-hey, don't get the wrong idea! I just wanna get you back to normal! Look at you! You're a wreck! The real C.C. would kick your ass for acting like this!"
She would, Lelouch found himself agreeing with a smile, she really would.
Suddenly things didn't seem so bleak, suddenly everything was vivid and alive again. He had a chance to set things right for his Witch and he had his Queen to thank for it. Now all he had to do was get Kaguya on the line and they could be on their way to Kaminejima in just a few minutes!
"Um…e-excuse me. Master?" The timid voice of the girl in question stopped his thought process short and he turned his attention to her. She was standing, just beyond the stacks now, observing him warily but also inquisitively. "Are you going somewhere again? Do you need me to fetch you anything?"
His bright grin that hadn't wavered since Kallen's brilliant suggestion eased to a soft smile and he nodded. "Yes, we'll be going on vacation in a little while."
"We?" She parroted, her gaze glancing past him to focus on the slightly scary lady who was watching her now too. "Does…does this mean I have to…l-leave?"
Leave? What's she talking about? And why is she always looking at Kallen like…oh. Suddenly it hit him exactly what had C.C. so apprehensive. In her time, women were little more than disposable toys, more so in Europe than the Mother Isles* but it was hardly equal footing there either (they blamed the French for that, naturally). And now Kallen had arrived, brash and informal with him, something so casual today would have sounded warning bells in C.C.'s poor terrified mind. Realising his mistake, Lelouch made the short way over to his Witch and crooked a finger under her chin. Pushing ever so gently, he raised her head up so she was looking him in the eye.
"Cera," he would let himself break their unspoken rule about using her real name considering their circumstances, "you will never have to leave me if that is what you want. Stay by my side as long as you wish, and not a moment longer."
The widening of her yellow eyes, combined with the doe-like expression almost brought him to tears again. But C.C. saved him from that by tearing up herself and smiling. She was unable to hold his gaze once he let her go but her response was impossible to miss.
"Thank you, Master. Thank you so much. I'll be good to you, I'll do whatever it takes to please you, Master. Anything."
Anything? Just what had those long dead bastards done to her to think like that? Probably better he didn't know so he just moved on.
"I was actually hoping you could come with us." He continued, trying his best not to cringe at the hopeful hitch that incited in her. "Kallen and I would be more than happy for you to join us. Isn't that right Kallen?"
"Huh?" Kallen had drifted off a bit at the sight of C.C. acting so grateful about anything so Lelouch's words caught her off guard until she spotted the doubtful look on the verdette's face as well as the look on his own that shouted 'play along!' "Right! Yes, of course we'd like you to come with us. It wouldn't be a vacation without you."
Not the most reassuring way she could've said it, but I've done more with less before. Turning back to C.C. he gave her a reassuring smile and gently ushered her towards the wardrobe – well her wardrobe really, the only things he kept here were spares of his Zero costume. "There you see? Now why don't you find something suitable to wear and we'll get going shortly."
"Th-these?" She asked him as he pulled the wardrobe open for her, displaying all the clothes she'd bought with his money. "But, Master! I couldn't! Aren't these… well… I mean. Aren't these…?" Her gaze passed back apprehensively over to Kallen again.
This time though she caught it and shot them a wry smirk. "Yeah, don't flatter me. He never gets me anything."
"I beg your pardon!" He spoke up in offence, his own smile quite ruining it however. "I seem to recall a very excited young woman fawning over a certain Knightmare Frame."
"Oh yeah, guns, bullets and super fighting robots." She retorted, rolling her eyes at him. "Just what every girl dreams off, you are the king of romance. Forgive me for ever thinking otherwise."
"Such insubordination." Lelouch muttered, "Is this how the famed Ace of the Black Knights talks to Zero?"
"No." She shot back, remembering the last time they'd talked about this. "Just to the ass who wears his mask."
"Master doesn't resemble a donkey." That came so out of left field that they both turned to stare at C.C. who had been silently watching the byplay with some confusion. Was this some strange courting ritual that she unaware of? Oh, but now they were staring at her and she was in trouble. Thinking quick she ducked away into the wardrobe to do as Master had instructed to find something to wear.
As she got on with that, the remaining two just continued to look at her completely befuddled before turning to each other. Such a response should have them both laughing if it had come from someone like Tamaki (or Rivalz), but to laugh at her for saying it just felt wrong. As such, Kallen hid her response behind a cough and Lelouch pulled his balaclava back over his mouth to muffle his own.
"So," Kallen started after they'd had a moment, "her name's Cera huh?"
"I'd rather you didn't go spreading that around." He told her, serious again. "I shouldn't even have said it in front of you. Hell, I'm not supposed to know it either, I overheard her whispering it after she saved me at Narita."
So, he does respect people's privacy. That was a really encouraging thought now that she considered it. His remaining quiet about his identity was one thing but to protect someone else's… that spoke more about him than Kallen had honestly let herself think about before. He's known about my mixed heritage even longer, but he never called me on it, never made me seem less for it. Has… has he been protecting me as well all this time?
For some reason that sent a warm tingling through her chest as she regarded the thin young man before her, his own gaze focused on something only he could see. Probably thinking of the hundreds of ways this little trip of theirs could go wrong and planning for every single one of them. And then he'd screw it up at the last second and need either her or C.C. to bail him out again…
"What's that smile for?"
Huh? Was she smiling? She had to be for Lelouch to ask her that, that analytic stare of his trying to work out what could turn her face like that. Well tough, if he was so smart he'd just have to figure it out for himself. As such she just shook her head and leaned against the nearest wall.
Why do I feel like Milly just walked over my grave? Lelouch had long since determined that if a woman as dangerous as Milly Ashford smiled at him like that then he was in very deep trouble. Unfortunately, Kallen was far more dangerous than his old tormentor could ever hope to be so seeing that smile on her face… maybe he ought to consider writing a Will.
"Excuse me…Master?" Saved by the innocent. Whatever torture Kallen was thinking up for him it would hopefully be forgotten in whatever crazy ensemble C.C. had put together. Turning relieved eyes back to the wardrobe, Lelouch made to inspect what mad look a naïve 13th century child in a woman's body could concoct from today's fashion…and froze. C.C., seeing his fixed gaze, ducked her head down and tugged at the sleeves. "I know it's not very immaculate, but it's quite warm. Will this be all right?"
But…why? That was the only thing on Lelouch's mind as he continued to stare at her choice of clothes. Of all the outfits she'd pilfered and shoved into that wardrobe she chose her old prisoner's straightjacket over them? Did she even realise the significance of that outfit?
"Er…Cera?" Damn it felt weird calling her that. "Are you sure you want to wear that?" Kallen had spent enough time in one of those to never see one again but C.C. had kept hers? Where had she even been hiding that thing?
C.C. however didn't see the problem – or rather she didn't see that particular problem. "Oh, is this too plain? Should I get something with more colour? I can get one of the more revealing ones out if you'd like, Miss. Would Master prefer it if I chose the-?"
"Cera." Lelouch's sharp tone silenced her in a second and her attention immediately darted over to him, head dipped submissively. He would have cringed had his attention not been more focused on her clothing choice. "Why did you choose that… outfit?"
His questioning sent off automatic warnings in C.C.'s mind, manifesting in fearful quivering and unconsciously stepping away from the two. "I-I can go and change if it offends you, M-Master. I'll be good, j-just tell me what to wear."
"That is not what I said, Cera. Do not presume to know my mind." Gods he hated talking to her like that, Lelouch was aware that Kallen was also staring at him in shock over his terse words after his previous gentleness, but the way she was now this was the only way to assure a direct answer. "I asked why you chose that ensemble, no more or less."
"I…well I…" Oh she was in so much trouble now. Master was offended with her, that was never good. Why did she think this was such a good idea? Stupid little girl, how dare she think she knew his thoughts? What did she say now? Did she tell the truth? Master always seemed to appreciate when she was honest with him, surely he would understand… but what if that just made him angrier? Would he throw her out? No, no, he said he wouldn't do that! He wouldn't get rid of her, he promised!
Oh God she was crying, she could feel the tears beginning to build. Stupid girl! Crying wasn't allowed! Crying meant you weren't working, if you weren't working you got flogged, if flogging didn't work you were out. Do. Not. Cry!
"Lelouch!" The sharp voice of the woman in red accosting Master had her looking up in surprise. At some point she had crossed the room and was now between them, glaring heatedly at Master. What did she think she was doing?! No one spoke like that to the Master, oh she was in so much trouble!
Kallen, being a woman of the modern era however, was far from concerned with what was proper in the thirteenth century and more so with the fact that the unflappable C.C. was quivering and damn near bursting into tears. And that triggered something in her that had her wrapping an arm around the girl and shooting daggers at the cause of her discomfort. "Back off. What does it really matter why she chose it? She's dressed in what she wants to wear and that's it. Isn't that enough?"
For a moment Lelouch was shocked at Kallen's audacity to speak to him in such a way. He could count on one hand the number of times she'd talked to him like that in both campaigns, usually because he damn well deserved it, but this… he hadn't expected her ire to be sparked on bloody fashion! He was just about to put that into words when his gaze caught the wide-eyed, tear-filled yellow orbs of his Witch. She was staring at Kallen worriedly but also with amazement, it was likely she'd never conceived of a woman talking to a man in such a manner and to see it for herself… Her eyes suddenly slipped to look at him and to Lelouch's shame she shrank behind the redhead.
And just like that, Lelouch felt rotten. He'd promised himself to not behave like the people who had abused her in the past and now here he was, about to dictate to her what he felt was proper attire. That it was enough to get Kallen to push him back should tell him all he needed.
Suitably cowed, he let out a simple sigh and nodded contritely. "Of course. You're absolutely right, Kallen." That seemed to be enough for her as her fierce expression eased up, though she didn't let go of C.C. who remained partially behind her. Idiot. I've gone and done it again.
"Cera…" Uttering her name got her attention, though she kept herself as small a target as he slowly stepped past Kallen to stand before her. She probably expected him to punish her as any 'good' Master should. Quelling the anger he felt at that, he spoke gently, "I apologise, Cera. It was wrong of me to question your choice. If you want to wear that then you can wear it."
Stunned was too small a word to describe the look on C.C.'s face at hearing those words from Master. He…apologised? No one had ever apologised for a thing they'd done, and Master had no reason at all to do so. Master was right. Master was always right. That was the first thing she'd learned. So why was Master apologising?
No, stupid girl! Her common sense kicked in with a vengeance. Don't question it. Master is letting you wear these clothes, don't you dare give him a reason to go back on it! Just be grateful and move on!
"Th-thank you, Master." She did as her survival instincts demanded. "I'll try not to cause any more trouble."
Not exactly what either of them had wanted to hear out of her. For a moment Lelouch was lost as to what else he could do to prove he wasn't angry with her but, as he cast his gaze away for a brief second, his gaze suddenly fell on a fallen object by the wardrobe that had been left there and forgotten. Stepping away from C.C. for the briefest of moments, Lelouch picked the large yellow plush toy up off the floor and returned to her.
"Here." He presented it to her. "This is Cheese-kun, a lazy do-nothing who likes nothing more than to be hugged as tightly as possible." Risking a small smile as he noticed her gaze look up at her old snuggle companion, Lelouch went on, "I can't cuddle him as hard as he deserves so I was wondering if you would like to hold on to him for me?"
Now C.C. really wasn't sure what to do. Gifts weren't given to her, they should be going to the Red Woman who was watching them. Master shouldn't be doing this! Although the yellow cushion-like thing did look friendly, with that silly little grin on its face… She shouldn't take it, she knew she shouldn't… and yet, neither Master nor the Red Woman were stopping her. In fact, the Red Woman was nodding encouragingly at her to do so. And so, ever so tentatively, C.C. wrapped one arm around the yellow thing – Cheese-kun, Master had called it – and pulled it close.
So soft… without thinking of it, she wrapped her other arm around it and gave Cheese-kun as mighty a hug as she could manage. So warm… her face disappeared behind a see of yellow and for a moment C.C. forgot herself, a trembling smile that couldn't hold her tears in check bloomed over her face. This… was this what it felt like…?
Unable to hide her gratitude any more, she lifted her face back up to look at Master and felt a strange tugging in her chest at the concerned expression that met her gaze. He… he really valued her… she was useful to him…
"Thank you, Master." She told him, hugging Cheese-kun even harder and smiling at him behind watery eyes. "I'll treasure him."
Such a warm moment almost made Kallen feel like an interloper, not helped by the relieved smile Lelouch was sending C.C.'s way. However, the interaction just further proved that this wasn't their C.C. Sure she was well-mannered, polite, and far more considerate but there was no confidence, no strength, no certainty that made her the queen bitch that she couldn't stand half the time. But damn if Kallen couldn't deny she found herself missing her. It was an opinion she noted that Lelouch shared when he glanced her way (and damn, when was it that she could actually read him?), the concerned look that said the same thing she was thinking: We've got to get her back to normal.
Therefore, Lelouch wasted no further time. Turning away from C.C. he picked up his mask from the table and grabbed his cloak off the floor where it had been discarded. A quick dusting off later he had it back wrapped around his shoulders and the balaclava back over his lower face. "Very well then, shall we be off?"
His suggestion was met with an affirmative grin from Kallen and she ushered C.C. along, "You just stay by me, okay?"
The verdette gave her a quivering nod and fell in line behind her. Meanwhile, unnoticed by either woman, Lelouch gave his Queen a soft smile of gratitude as he slipped his mask back on. Taking care of C.C. had been a task he couldn't entrust to anyone else, too many questions that he either didn't want to answer or didn't even have an answer for. He'd been resigned to this silent post, this responsibility that only he could undertake. But then Kallen had come back and in the short span of time he'd found a confidante, someone he could trust to help them both.
They filed out together, the corridors thankfully empty of personnel as they made their way to the lift. The fastest way to get all of this over with would be to take a small jet but considering the situation it would be safer to take a Knightmare. The Shinkiro could fit him and C.C. and Kallen could back them up with her new Guren if anything happened. Considering what it had done to Luciano Bradley, the Knight of Ten, in under a minute, Lelouch didn't foresee any trouble. He couldn't help but smirk though, Rakshata must be fuming at the improvements made to her 'child' by someone other than her. But damn what a welcome back present.
And now that he was properly thinking about her return Lelouch suddenly realised, due to the course of the last few minutes, he'd failed in a simple matter.
"Kallen," his altered voice caught her attention from where she was keeping an eye on the awestruck C.C. "it's good to have you back. I'm sorry it took us so long to get you out."
And I'm sorry it's just me who got out. She thought but didn't say, his breakdown still echoing in her mind and the reason behind it still smiling right before her eyes. Stopping in front of the elevator doors, waiting for it to arrive, she thought over her time stuck in the Viceroy's Palace and all that had happened. The interrogations, the taunting, the… unusual conversation with the Knight of Three… and all the talks with the Viceroy herself. Not the little wallflower she remembered, that was for sure.
"Lelouch…" Kallen really wasn't certain whether she ought to bring it up… but he at least deserved to know how she'd been before everything happened, "while I was a prisoner, I happened to talk to Nunnally. She stood up for me during the interrogations, even saved me from that bastard Bradley."
At the utterance of her name Lelouch had tensed, damn he wasn't ready to talk about that… but the more Kallen said about what his little sister had done for his Queen, the more he found himself unwillingly smiling. And standing up to Bradley, of all people… despite it all he couldn't feel a touch of pride. "That sounds like her. Always looking after her friends."
Must run in the family. She couldn't help thinking fondly as the elevator doors opened and, with a little assurance to C.C., the trio stepped in. As the doors closed and the descent to the Knightmare deck began, Kallen glanced over at him and went on. "Look, I know this is the worst time to talk about it but… I know what you're going through."
Behind the mask, Lelouch's gaze turned sharp and it was only C.C.'s presence that curbed his tongue… and in doing so it gave him a moment to actually consider how Kallen could dare say she knew his pain. The resulting thought process brought him to the obvious conclusion. "Your brother."
"Yeah." She nodded, a sad smile taking over her expression as Naoto flooded her mind. "When he died, I was a mess. I was angry at the world and everyone in it. I did things, stupid things. Things that you'd have expected of Tamaki."
"That I find hard to believe."
"It's the truth." She insisted, "Fighting Britannia was about the only thing I had that didn't end in unnecessary property damage." A memory suddenly struck her, and she let out an unconscious laugh. "Actually, the way I got into Naoto's old group was by running off with their sole Glasgow and going for a joyride through Shinjuku and nearly totalled it. Oghi was furious."
"What changed?" He found himself asking. Lelouch knew precious little about Naoto Statfeld, only that he had been the leader of the Kozuki cell until his death and that Kallen had adored him. If so how did she cope with the chasm of misery his death had brought her? Even when Euphie died he'd never felt so empty… so how?
Frowning, Kallen thought over her answer for a moment before replying. "It didn't, not really. That angry girl's still in here, screaming at the world… but now I have something to focus all that rage at, a drive that I didn't have before." Turning to face him she concluded, "I'm a Knight for Justice. Someone who will make sure that no one else will ever feel like this again…I'm just…sorry I couldn't do that for you."
A Knight for Justice? That old song and dance? For a moment Lelouch wanted to make some snide remark about that ideal. Since when had anything he'd ever done been in the name of justice? All he'd wanted was to create a dream world for his sister to live in and his father's head on a pike and damn the methods to get him there. And now Kallen was telling him she actually believed in all that crap?
What held him off though was the sincerity she held in her eyes as she told him this, that drive she spoke of reflected in those sapphire orbs that had thrown so many different emotions his way. He was the source of that strength? Impossible. And yet…
The elevator came to a halt but for a moment no one moved, not even C.C. who had been quietly observing the two before her. Even when the doors opened they didn't budge. Something had just passed between them, Lelouch was sure of it, but for the life of him he couldn't place what this strange thing was.
And then the moment passed as Kallen realised just what she had said and the way Lelouch was still looking at her through his mask. Feeling her face starting to flush she turned away and focused on C.C. again. "Anyway, come on Cera. We'll just talk to Oghi and then be on our way. Honestly why he wants to talk to us in a warehouse is just dumb, granted this is the same guy who didn't realise the secret goldmine of robbing department stores but seriously!"
"Kallen." Lelouch's voice cut through her attempts to calm her embarrassment, though the gloved hand that grabbed her own as he followed the two women out of the elevator into warehouse 4 sort of ruined it. He didn't know where this was coming from, but if she was serious about that knight business, if she truly believed in those ideals, then she deserved to know the rest. "When we've got C.C. back to normal, there's something I need to…"
His request was suddenly interrupted though as half a dozen spotlights suddenly flicked on, temporarily blinding him even with his mask on. When his vision cleared however the vision that greeted him was as disheartening as it was confusing. Immediately ahead was a squad of Akatsukis aiming their rifles at the three of them, and above on the gantry stood most of the Black Knights' command staff and Tamaki also pointing weapons at them.
Wh-what is this?! Shock and anger shot through Kallen as she stared up at her friends all of whom were keeping their sights keenly trained on their heads. What's going on?
"Surrender Zero!" Todoh spoke for them, glaring fiercely down at the masked man.
"How dare you try to run a con-game on us!?" Chiba threw in, sounding and looking even angrier than her superior/crush.
What are they talking about? Lelouch desperately tried to think of what they could be referring to, even as he firmly planted C.C. behind him. There were only a few possibilities for that kind of language and phrasing, and they all lead to one possibility… but they couldn't have found out!
Ohgi, of all people, disabused him of that notion. "We know all about your Geass!"
They do know?! How?! His theorising however was again cut off as another figure stepped out from behind the Knightmares, camera recording as he threw in his own declaration. "Zero, the renowned hero, died in battle before he could triumph. But his gallant life and daring deeds will continue to live on in myth and legend."
Why that rotten little-! Lelouch had been aware of this particular snake in his garden but had suffered him for his usefulness. A mistake that was coming back to bite him as he continued to recite his final story. "Is that the script you've written for me Diethard?"
"Actually, I wanted to film your brilliant campaign and glorious victory over Britannia." The reporter replied, unmoved at his former commander's outrage, "But I'm afraid that show's been permanently cancelled."
Note to self: If I get out of this, murder him first. That low humour only lasted a second before the severity of the situation returned to him. The Black Knights knew about Geass and whether they knew it or not had cornered him in one of the situations where that power wasn't worth a thing. What do I do? Knightmares are beyond my reach but Ohgi and the others are defenceless. If I could use my Geass secretly, maybe turn Todoh… But that didn't erase the problem of the Knightmares themselves, dammit!
While he was trying to figure a way out, the turncoats continue to air their grievances with him.
"Everybody trusted you Zero!" Minami shouted down at him.
"Inoue and Yoshida sacrificed their lives for you!" Sugiyama threw in, grief at the loss of his friends colouring his tone. "Was it all a game?! Some sick joke?! Their deaths meant nothing to you, didn't they? That's why you abandoned us to Britannia!"
"Wait a minute!" Kallen shouted out, putting herself between them and Lelouch. What the hell were they saying, accusing him of this? "This is all one-sided! Look at how far we've come because of Zero! At least let him answer!"
"You're in the way Kallen!" Tamaki yelled back in response, his aim not once shaking. "You wanna die along with Zero? Don't tell me he used that Geese thing on you too!"
Used it on…? They think Lelouch used his Geass on us to follow him?! That was where this was coming from? What bastard fed them such a line? As if he would ever stoop to doing such a thing like that! They'd followed him because the believed in him, because he'd brought them so far. Hell, they'd even created a whole new global power under his direction! They were worth more to him than that… weren't they?
Behind her, Lelouch continued to calculate the situation. Kallen's just one person, put her in a Knightmare and she'd wipe them all out hands down. But we have to get her to a Knightmare, in which time that squad ahead of us will have mowed us all down never mind them up top. A nudge at his back reminded him of C.C. hidden behind his cloak. If this was the real C.C. she could probably feed them a bunch of shock images like she did to Suzaku at Narita. But she isn't… And that reminder also came with another thought, one that he should've had weeks ago. What if she doesn't have her Code anymore? What if that's why she can't remember a thing? If they shoot her they'll kill her just as dead as any other human being!
The sudden shake in her conviction gave Kallen pause and, in that moment, the same question she'd been asking herself after every one of her talks with Nunnally reared its head again. What were the Black Knights to Lelouch? Just looking at Nunnally told her all Kallen needed to know why he was willing to fight Britannia and talking to her would make it a necessity of any decent human being… but where did the Black Knights fit into it? Where did she fit into it?
The shame she felt of letting it get to this however didn't stop her asking though. Dropping her head low so no one could see her words she whispered to him. "Lelouch, I need an answer. I have to know, what am I to you? Am I just another soldier, or am I…?"
Her trailing off however didn't hide the extent of the question, from either of them. Damn it, girl! Why are you doing this now of all times?! But the question had been asked and now she waited for an answer. "If I could stay with you I would…if I can help you escape I will…so please, just…"
Stay with me? How? The numbers are too great. Help me escape? You'll be dead within seconds! That outcome was unacceptable for reasons Lelouch was unclear over just yet. Dammit, they were so close. They were just one warehouse away from the nearest Knightmare dock, if they could just make it…! Whoever planned this had to have known that though, had to have accounted for all exit strategies and set things up accordingly. Such a work of art… it could only be…
Schneizel! Lelouch's gaze rocketed upwards to glare up above and behind his rebelling subordinates to a figure just visible behind the spotlights, his pale gaze watching with an air of indifference. As if this was just another day on the job. You've made your move and now you're calling check? And why not? Even if he didn't know the full spec of Lelouch's Geass, the Black Knights had been swayed. He probably even had a plan if, by some miracle, he really did get out of this mess alive. This really was it… There's no way out for me. It's over…checkmate…
But that still left him with two problems, one with her back to him and the other pressing into his own back.
"Please, answer me Lelouch!" Kallen hadn't meant to beg, but he'd been silent far too long. If he had anything to say, even if it was to tell her to get her head on straight and focus on the matter at hand, now was the time to say it. Oghi and the others weren't going to wait forever. Please say something, anything! Just don't… Kallen caught her breath as the thought crossed her mind, just don't say goodbye.
However, she might have preferred that to the answer she actually got. Out of the blue, Lelouch started to laugh. That laugh quickly elevated to what could only be described as a maniacal cackle that surprised even Kallen enough to turn around and look at him in askance. From behind him, C.C. looked up at her Master, equally confused. Why was he laughing at all this? There was nothing funny about what was happening here.
And at last the Demon spoke.
"Fools!" Lelouch cried out to them, reaching up and pulling off Zero's mask to reveal his face to them all. With his face finally uncovered, he looked beyond Kallen to the traitors above, treating them all to his most sinister of grins. "You've finally figured it out! With some help, I see."
He glanced over at his brother for the briefest of seconds before returning his look to them. "How does it feel to be played like little puppets on a string?" He asked them all, chuckling further as Chiba in particular grew even more irate. "Welcome to Britannian politics, children, where everyone is a piece on the board and your feelings don't matter!"
Ignoring the additional fury that his words sparked in the stooges he turned his grinning visage now to Kallen who was staring at him in pure horror. "Lelouch…no…"
'Please forgive me.' Was what he wanted to say to her, but this final act had to play out this way… it was the only way… As such, he maintained his spiteful smirk as he addressed his Queen. "My commendations to you though, Miss Statfeld. Never have I met a more gullible individual in my life and we're acquainted with Shinichiro Tamaki. The perfect toy to play the greatest game this world has ever seen!"
No…you don't mean that…you can't mean that! Each word dug into Kallen like a blunt knife, tearing at her insides as Lelouch continued to batter her. That couldn't be all she was to him, what about everything they had just been talking about in his room? Had that all just been a game as well?
Before she could demand this of him though, another more fearful voice spoke up from behind him.
"Master, why are you saying these things to her?" C.C. was staring fearfully at Master's back. She didn't know these other people who were threatening him, but why was he being so cruel to the Red Woman? They were each other's companions…weren't they?
But her words caught his attention and he turned his sneering visage to her. "Oh yes. I forgot about you."
With as much spite in his actions as there had been in that one sentence, Lelouch tossed C.C. at Kallen who had to stumble to remain upright at the sudden weight addition. He however just stared at the pair of them with all the disdain of a Pureblooded Britannian Nobleman. "Consider her my gift to you, Kallen. A reward for being such a good pawn. I have no further need for so useless a servant."
"M-Master?" C.C. whimpered, both at the rough treatment and his words. He couldn't mean what he was saying. He said she could stay, that he wouldn't throw her away. He'd promised, he'd promised she wouldn't have to go away! "Why?"
But he was already ignoring her and grinning up at his firing squad.
Meanwhile, Kallen just held onto C.C. looking anywhere but at Lelouch. He meant it. That was all she was, a pawn. A toy to be played with and then thrown away much as he had just done to the still amnesiac verdette.
She'd wanted to know…and now she did.
Damn tears wouldn't stop running.
"I see." She finally said, taking hold of C.C. and turning her back on him pulling her along, doing everything she could not to reveal the break in her voice. "Goodbye, Lelouch."
As firmly as she could she walked away from him, leaving her heart in pieces on the floor.
And that takes care of that. Lelouch thought to himself, his defiant smirk hiding the pit of hate that had opened inside himself. All it took was breaking her faith in you and destroying all the trust you built up with C.C. but you did it, well done Lelouch.
"Get ready!" Todoh yelled to the others and they all cocked their rifles.
Well Suzaku, looks like I bite the bullet first after all. He might have let out a small sarcastic chuckle at that, not that he cared anymore. We've done all manner of things to each other these last two years, but I do hope you make Knight of One.
Would it hurt? Probably. Strange that he would think something so stupid at the end but there it was. Would it be quick? He could only hope so. The way he'd shot Euphie…he should have been cleaner, one bullet in the heart would have done it but the way he had done it, she must have bled out over thirty minutes – an hour tops. No wonder Suzaku wanted him dead if that's how she went. Well, I'd say I'll say Hi to her when I get there but I don't think demons go to Heaven. I'll leave her to you then Shirley, look after her and… a tiny tear almost slipped free, but he caught it at the last second; he would not cry here, dammit, not with Schneizel watching. Nunnally…I am so sorry…for everything.
She had always been the stronger one. You didn't see her making deals with witches to achieve some ridiculous ideal world, no she just came along and did it herself.
It seems, though, that I am destined to be surrounded by strong women. He found himself thinking happily as he let himself look upon his Witch and his Queen one last time, the emotion somewhat marring itself as he considered the state both were currently in. And it also seems I'm destined to break those same women.
With them he could have toppled Britannia. With them he could have ruled the world. With them…he could have gone to Death with a true smile and not this charade mask.
But they were about to walk the Earth without him in those broken states and, in this cruel world that trampled on the weak, acting like that would most certainly get them killed… and that he would not allow. Not them. Never them.
"Cera…Kallen…" His voice was a mere whisper, but these words were for only them so fuck the rest of the world. "You have to live."
Maybe they heard him…maybe they didn't…but as last words went, Lelouch didn't think they were too bad. And with that, he let his eyes drop closed and awaited the hail of bullets that would take his life.
Except they had heard him. C.C. in particular suddenly came about at her Master's words stopping Kallen as well, not that she'd been going anywhere when that entreaty reached her ears. Once again, she was confused. What was he doing? What did he mean by that?
The time for questions ended though as Todoh called out to the traitors again. "Take aim!"
At the sound of the six up above getting ready to kill her Master, something within C.C. suddenly broke free. Some strange recklessness that she couldn't recall ever feeling for anyone before urged her to move, to do something! Without conscious thought she started tugging against Kallen's grip on her arm until she was all but straining her limb as she tried to pull free.
"Cera!" Kallen couldn't help the name slip loose as the verdette continued to try to pull free, "Stop it!"
"No!" She shouted back at the Red Woman, for once all her conditioning going mute in the face of this strange need to save Master. "They're going to kill him! They can't kill him! I won't let them!"
Above, her struggles didn't go unnoticed as Chiba glanced down at her. "Sir?"
Her single-word query was all he needed, and he momentarily turned his gaze away from his target to look at the girl pulling free of Kozuki's hold. "If she tries anything, we'll deal with her next. For now, focus on Lelouch."
His order was gospel and Chiba focused back on the bastard in front of her.
But C.C. was having none of it. "No! Don't do it! Leave him alone!"
And then it happened. Whether out of shock at the sudden resurrection of C.C.'s wilfulness or merely out of some unconscious desire to do something to help Lelouch regardless of all he'd just said, Kallen couldn't be sure. All she knew was that one second she'd had a hold of C.C. and one second later she didn't and the girl was rushing back towards him at all speed.
It's impossible to know just what, if anything, she thought that she could do in this moment. Years later even Lelouch and Kallen, looking back, wouldn't have an answer as to why she did what she did. Whatever it was that sent her hurtling towards Lelouch though, it set the course for everything that came afterwards.
"FIRE!" Yelled Todoh, just as C.C. got between them and Lelouch.
"HE MUSTN'T DIE!"
"C.C.!"
"NO!"
It feels like hail. C.C. found herself thinking as sixty rounds of anti-personnel ammunition punctured her spread-out body. But even at its worst, hail had never hit her body this hard. When they hit her arms, it was all she could do not to scream as her bones broke, when they hit her legs it took every ounce she had left not to collapse, and when they hit her chest she coughed up blood as her lungs were ripped to shreds.
She wanted to fall down, to curl up and let the pain flow out as she always did when she took her punishments, but if she did then Master would surely die. That couldn't happen, she wouldn't let it happen. Her life was nothing compared to Master's. He'd shown her kindness, protected her, valued her. Such a person did not deserve to be killed like this.
Oh…a piece of yellow fabric passed her gaze as the loud noises finally stopped. That's right, she'd been holding Cheese-kun when she ran back to Master… and now he was in little yellow pieces all over the floor. Master's…not going…to be happy…about that…
Maybe she should just lie down for a minute…
"C.C.!" Lelouch cried again, clutching her as she fell back onto him. She felt warm against his chest…too warm to simply have been heated by the room... No…please no! A raised hand confirmed it though, stained red.
"Gods…" Kallen was struck solid, horror-filled eyes staring at the riddled mess that had been C.C.'s favourite play toy besides her or Lelouch. The yellow stained with red though dragged her eyes to the equally ruined shape that was C.C. herself as the man whose life she'd just saved dropped down to his knees with her, his face a mixture of equal parts terror and denial. "Please no…"
"Idiot!" Lelouch yelled at her, his voice choking as he stared at the state of his accomplice. "Why did you do that?! Didn't you just hear a word I said?!"
Strangely, C.C. felt no fear in the face of his anger. Maybe it was because she'd succeeded at something for once, or maybe it was because she felt strangely warm right now, but for whatever reason she just felt happy to see his face. "I'm sorry, Master…I'm...not a...good servant."
"As if I didn't know that." He couldn't help replying, tears falling as he begged her Code to kick in and save her. She couldn't go now. Not like this! "You're lazy. You always do things your way. You never let me go without getting the last word in. You've caused me more problems than Suzaku ever could…and you think you can just go?!"
She wasn't sure what he was talking about, but whoever this Suzaku person was sounded like someone Master should probably avoid if he was as troublesome as her. But that was alright, he'd be safe now wouldn't he? The Red Woman…Kallen…yes, she would look after Master better than a silly little slave girl ever could.
But it had been nice…while it lasted…
"Master…?"
Why did she sound so weak? That wasn't C.C. That wasn't C.C. at all. How dare she talk like that! But for all that, Lelouch just whispered back "I'm here."
"I'm so tired…sorry…but I think I...just want to...sleep for a while…would you…allow that?"
Sleep? But if she closed her eyes, she would… no.
"NO!" Lelouch suddenly was straddling her body and staring right into her eyes. Ripping his contact lens out his Geass flared to life and he yelled right in her face, "Live! I order you to live!"
The crane to flight, as it always did every time he used it. It travelled to it's destined point, her weakening yellow eyes… and immediately bounced off. There wasn't even a blip of the red ring around her irises.
No…no…NO! This wasn't happening again! It wasn't! It couldn't!
"LIVE!" Nothing. "LIVE!" Still nothing. "DAMMIT, STOP BEING STUBBORN FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE AND LIVE!"
Every time nothing. And behind him, the Black Knights watched unmoved. Zero, their con of a leader…humbled.
All save Kallen as she edged back towards him. "Lelouch? Is she…?"
"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" He suddenly snapped around, glaring at her with his Geass on full display and she froze stone cold at the desperate anguish he fixed her with. Uncaring of her reaction to his demand, Lelouch turned back around and yelled at C.C. again. "LIVE! LIVE! PLEASE, LIVE!"
And then the yells gave way to broken whimpers as he continually begged her "Please live…please…"
"Master…" Her whisper caught his attention and she smiled as he looked at her in askance, that kind questioning look, begging to know what he could do for her. That look he gave her that made her… "Is this…how it feels?"
"H-how what feels?" He asked brokenly at his clearly failed attempt to save her. Why? Why couldn't he do just one goddamned thing right?! Why not for someone like her? Someone he…
"Is this…what it…" Her voice was less than the faintest whisper now, all her strength ebbed away, but she still fought to keep her eyes open. These were her last moments, what else would she want to look at but him? "What…it…feels like…to be…loved?"
Loved…at the utterance of the word Lelouch's mind shut down. In its place a reel of events played before him, voices he knew along with some he'd forgotten all talking over each other. People he knew, friends he cherished, family he adored…
"…but honestly I love you more than anyone, big brother."
"Lelouch, I've lost too much. Precious friends and the love of a woman no one can ever replace."
"No matter how many times I'm reborn…I'll keep falling in love with you Lulu."
"The Geass I manifested was to make people love me…because deep in my heart…I wanted to be loved by someone."
And then his mind snapped back on…too late…her golden eyes that had mocked him at every turn, that had caused him so much grief, lead to so much mischief…the light in them had gone out…and she was still staring at him with that adoring look. C.C. - Cera, Ceceniah, his Witch - was gone.
"What about me?" He whispered. "Where's my love? Why are you always so selfish?"
Behind him Kallen slumped to her knees, the finality of the situation hitting her at last. C.C. was dead…the alpha witch bitch pizza girl was dead… But…but we were gonna fix her…we just needed to get out for a minute…we were going to tell Xingke and everything…
On the gantry though, feelings were less sympathetic. The members of the Kozuki group just watched Lelouch with contempt, whilst Todoh maintained his unshaken vigil. If the girl wanted to die for him let her, they'd be sending him to join her soon enough. Chiba however made the mistake to vocalise her satisfaction with the situation. "Good riddance. One whore bitch down, one fake commander to go."
Her words, spoken too loudly, travelled down to the floor below. First reaching Kallen's ears and sparking something furious in her which brought her back to her feet… but that was nothing when they reached Lelouch. At the utterance of the words of the single remaining member of the Four Holy Swords, all manner of going down quietly died.
With a snarl he turned back to face them, these treacherous dogs who thought themselves his better. How dare they claim the moral high ground?! How dare they call him a traitor?! And HOW DARE THEY INSULT C.C?!
His enraged glare, amplified by his unveiled Geass, had the six above him suddenly feel a collective shiver run down their spines and above, where he'd observed the drama without comment, even Schneizel raised an eyebrow. It only took a moment for Kallen to cotton on to the others' discomfort and she too soon saw the same unnerving fury painted on Lelouch's features. Where was the smug con-artist from a moment ago? Where was the shattered boy from mere seconds ago? This wasn't either of those things…had C.C. really meant that much to him? But then what was all that before?
Lelouch however was not up for answering questions anymore. He wasn't up for anything anymore. All he wanted was to show these so-called knights for justice just how badly they had fucked up.
"So…" his first utterance didn't even sound like him, more the gurgling that preceded the roar of a raging beast "you say you know about Geass…"
Despite himself he felt a sickly grin start to work its way up his face as the Black Knights suddenly retrained their weapons on his head. As if he gave a damn about those little things. Death would take him today but, as C.C. had just demonstrated, that didn't mean he had to go to Hell alone. "Well then, allow me to show you just how much you don't know. For example, the full distance of effect."
"Todoh!" Oghi, strangely enough, suddenly took charge, "He's going to use it again! We have to stop him now!"
"No, wait!" His words shook Kallen into action and she rushed back towards Lelouch, "You don't have to do this!"
Oh, Kallen dear, I am far past the point of caring.
"Not to worry, my Queen." He told her, still in that sickly tone. "My Geass can only effect a person once. Which," he continued, the smile dropping away as his murderous intent returned itself on his targets "is one more time than I need to deal with you kasu!"
His choices of curses notwithstanding, under the threat of an incoming Geass attack the Black Knights suddenly rediscovered their spines.
"Take aim!" Todoh called out again.
"Now then Lelouch vi Britannia commands you!"
"WAIT!"
"All of you! DIE!"
"FIRE!"
Well...that happened. And yeah, I did that. I killed off a key Geass character. That's why they call it a hope spot and not a hope plot...that was terrible, I will summarily punish myself for my crime. For my own sake I'll try to keep this as the maximum chapter length and not stupidly long.
*I'm well aware that we men were shit to our women in Britain as well during this time period, but I like to think that Britannian Britain was just a little bit better about it than RW Britain. Hell, in this reality Boudica might actually have triumphed against the Romans at Watling Street (yes I know the Romans were thrown out when Caesar tried it but c'mon, it's the Roman Empire. You're telling me they didn't try again?) so at least some respect had to have existed. On that note, does anyone want to build me a Knightmare and name it Boudica after the warrior queen herself? No promises but I might use it if I like the build.
Next time: Wham, Bam, no thank ya, Ma'am.
