A/N: Thank you for the alerts and the reviews. I really appreciate it.
Many thanks to united88, shao, and Dirac Blade for the encouraging reviews. Special mention to ryder77, whose fanfictions 'Full Circle', 'Full Circle: Tangents', and 'quid pro quo' had had me interested in KaLulu since late 2009. I feel flattered that you reviewed my story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.
Story No. 2: The One With The Beginning pt. 1
EDITED [08/05/12]: Fixed most mistakes on punctuation. Some sentences were also rephrased for easier reading.
If Lelouch were to describe the interiors of Babel Tower, he would say that it was excessive to the point of being ghastly. As per usual Britannian custom, whatever enterprise that owned the place used all means to flaunt their opulence, which to Lelouch, eagerly crossed over to bad taste. Its floors and counters were made of granite, which gave a ridiculous reflection of the neon lights from the slot machines and wall decorations; bear rugs accentuated each section of the tower, their artificial eyes and open mouths giving an eerie feel to whoever looked at it long enough; often next to the rugs were chaise longues made of rosewood with leopard printed cushions that Lelouch assumed to be actual fur. It was obnoxious, to say the least, which was probably why Britannians were so at home with it.
Despite Lelouch's gripes with its decorations, he often found himself frequenting the Tower, even becoming quite popular there for his prowess in chess. Daily life for him began with hollow mornings and ended with sleepless nights. Needless to say, he lived quite a banal existence and he supposed the novelty of the Tower jarred him out of the life of the mind that he was trapped in.
Today was no different. Another effort to distract himself and exhaust his mind so he could sleep at night.
"Red Bombshell, 9 o'clock." His companion for the day, Rivalz, bared his teeth in a silly grin as he cocked his head to the direction.
Turning his head, Lelouch saw a redhead server come to them. 'Red Bombshell', as Rivalz had deemed her, was a recently hired server - a very pretty girl around their age who had easily become the two's favorite - Rivalz' for her physical attributes, a stunning face and a well-developed body; Lelouch's for the direct manner that she served, free of unnecessary small talks in feigned sweetness.
Reaching their counter, the redhead quickly moved to settle two glasses in front of them, "Ginger ale, as you've ordered." She addressed Lelouch with a piercing glance that sent tremors down his spine, "Please press the buzzer if you need anything." She added in perfect, fluently-spoken English.
"Man, did you see the way she looked at you?!" Rivalz exclaimed when the redhead walked away, "She's always looking at you. You always get the girls, buddy."
Lelouch could only chuckle, "I doubt that's it, buddy." In his periphery, he saw two drunken Britannian men, who shared their counter, leering at her distant form.
"If bunny girl is into you, then don't waste your fuckin' time and tap that, boy," one of them slurred, uninvitedly joining in, "Look at that leotard! Clingin' to her like second skin…" He exclaimed as he guzzled his beer.
The other man smacked his back in a failed attempt to seem brotherly, "If she likes you, you can get a fuck for free!" He laughed boisterously.
Lelouch jerked at the contact, offended by the men's presence, "I don't thin-"
"Hey!" The one guzzling down his beer tapped his companion, effectively ignoring Lelouch, "How much do you think she is?"
"I dunno, she looks high-class. 'Pro'lly expensive, like one of those only damn nobles can afford."
"Well, how much do we got?!"
Lelouch could only look at them in disgust as they dug their pockets for money, only to find a few pieces of silver coins. Clearly, they had not won anything for the day.
On his right, Rivalz was looking at the men with shock and worry, "We have to warn Red Bombshell!" He turned to Lelouch.
"Rivalz, I don't think those men can even afford another bottle of beer," he reasoned as he took a sip of his ginger ale and looked at the men busily counting their coins.
His friend still locked his eyes on him, "Still, they can attack her!"
Lelouch smirked, he had to admire the boy and his chivalry, no matter how futile and misguided it was, "What do you want me to do, Rivalz? Warn her?"
"That's what I said! Look, she's leaving the room, go!" Rivalz nudged him off his barstool. Lelouch landed on his feet, and as he gave his friend an exasperated look, he shrugged.
'Oh well, at least it's something different to do…'
For a while, Lelouch followed the server, eyeing her from behind, watching as the cheap bunny ears held her hair in place as the red locks tumbled about her toned shoulders. She continued to walk - and Lelouch continued to follow her – until they reached the less crowded section of the tower. Reaching a door, she halted and turned, offering him her profile.
"This is the servers' bathroom, follow me." She spoke to him. Her skin, usually vibrant and rosy, radiated a peculiar glow that made her appear savage. Lelouch gulped, strangely enticed by it, and followed her.
Once inside, she faced him, standing rigid, "Yes?" She inquired, out of breath, her stance heavily guarded as if eagerly waiting for him to speak.
"Uhh," Lelouch started, feeling uncomfortable, "This may serve as a warning or a heads up, but there are two men who have taken a very keen interest in you. My friend and I just wanted to let you know that."
"Oh," she slouched, appearing disappointed, but only for a split second. Soon, she smiled at him, "Don't worry about it, sir. I am not for sale, we servers wearing pink uniforms are just employed by the Tower as servers. They do not own us or can sell us in any way." She looked at him, pools of blue boring into his amethyst ones.
Lelouch found himself unable to move, it was the first time he had really looked at her eyes.
Where had he seen them before?
"You're very nice, warning me and all. Thank you," she continued to talk, "Are you a student? At Ashford Academy?"
"Y-yes…" He forced himself to speak, not finding it strange to have an Eleven address him so directly. It actually felt quite customary.
'Besides the Tower, where have I seen you before?'
"I recognize the uniform," she explained before he could ask, "I used to live near there, before my brother and mother became victims of the war." She looked away, then, her jaw clenching.
"I- I'm sorry to hear that," he responded mindlessly. 'Where have I seen you before? Did I meet you in Ashford?'
"It's alrig- What are you doing?!"
He found himself grabbing her face, so that their eyes could meet again. Her blue orbs quivered but determinedly looked back at him, sending a whirl of sentiments rushing through him.
"You look so familiar. Have we met before?"
"W-what?" She blinked, and before Lelouch could realize what he was doing, he found himself thoughtlessly inching his face towards hers.
The moment their lips touched, a dam inside Lelouch broke, releasing an impulse in him he never knew his calculating self would let exist. Inhaling, he opened his mouth and engulfed the girl's sweet cherry lips as the hands gathered and pulled her to him, squeezing her up against his chest. Lelouch was not a romantic man, much less a sensual one, yet he kissed her with the ardor of a fervid lover, a seemingly misplaced longing overcoming him.
She started to squirm and withdraw, "S-stop…" She managed to gasp out when she succeeded pulling away from the kiss. "STOP!" She repeated more loudly when he stubbornly leaned closer to her in attempt to capture her lips again. With outraged tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, she pushed him away from her, his back hitting the cold tiles of the bathroom wall.
Lelouch winced, the woman was fairly strong. Rubbing the slight ache on his back, his head snapped back as his actions dawned on him.
'I just harassed a defenseless Eleven.'
"I'm sorry-" he started, pale and trembling hands rising to touch her face, aiming to pacify her seething.
She slapped his hands away, "Don't touch me like that!" She screeched as she stormed out. Lelouch stood inside the bathroom, seemingly paralyzed with confusion and shock. He was appalled at himself, at his behavior.
Lelouch Lamperouge, the ever cool gentleman, had just been impassioned by an Eleven server.
Lelouch remembered the redhead's manner of looking at him – hard, unflinching.
'And oddly familiar.' He added.
-00-
Three days after the incident, Lelouch found himself lounging around Babel Tower in the hopes of seeing the redhead again. He blamed his obsessive mind for fueling the motivation. Thoughts of what occurred, or even thoughts of the redhead alone, didn't cease on pestering him, and had worsened his insomnia – as his brother now deemed. The inability to sleep was bad enough on its own, the inability to sleep brought about by having his mind troubled with incessant indistinct thoughts and flashes of red hair and blue eyes was, the least to say, vexing.
Lelouch glanced around the section he was in, and as if fate had decided to gift him, he caught sight of her, partially hidden behind one of the pillars. Her eyes, with their familiar hardness, were fixed on him, and as they met his, she flinched. Bowing to hide her face from him, she gave a sharp turn and walked away. Seeing her walk to the bar, Lelouch stood up and followed her. Given her duties and her status, Lelouch figured that, with her Britannian supervisors around, the girl would be hard pressed to talk to him. It was unappealingly utilitarian, but if it would give him the opportunity to make an apology or even merely talk to her, he would be at peace.
"What's your name?" He asked the redhead upon reaching the bar.
His assumption proved to be right. Cornered between him and a Britannian bartender, she answered, "K-Kallen," Her eyes traveled warily from the bartender to him.
The bartender joined in and addressed Lelouch, his manner assuming, "She's employed as a server, meaning she's not for sale. But if you will insist, you and our boss can settle it in the office. She will be very costly, though."
Lelouch ignored the bartender, seeing how his words had alarmed the girl, "Kallen," He addressed her, surprised at the authoritative tone he instinctively used. When she stood up straight – seeming as if also instinctively done – he continued, "I want to apologize for what happened a few days ago."
"I am a mere Eleven and you are a Britannian, sir. What you are doing is unnecessary," She answered in a meek voice, bowing.
'My, aren't you the actress.'
Lelouch smirked inwardly, "Don't brandish my status, Kallen. I don't like it."
She bowed again, "People with no power must bear it with patience." With yet another hard look, she grabbed a few glasses of champagne and walked out on him.
"Her shift ends at six o'clock today. If you want her, you have to settle it with our boss before she leaves." The bartender supplied when he saw Lelouch look on.
Turning his gaze on him, Lelouch cracked a small smile, "Thank you for the information, but I'm just a student, I have no interest in her."
What he claimed was a terrible lie.
At six o'clock and with two cans of colas in hand, Lelouch waited at the tower's lobby and gently blocked off Kallen's path when she stepped out of one of the elevators. Not giving her the opportunity to react, he quickly explained, "I only wanted to apologize to you, without you having to act." He extended his hand, offering her one of the cans he was holding, "You must have had a long day. Take this."
"My name is Lelouch," he introduced himself when Kallen warily took the drink, holding it with both hands as she looked at him quietly.
"I was wondering how many times you would walk out on me."
"What?" Kallen's face snapped up to look at him, narrowing her eyes.
"Uhhh," Lelouch mumbled, "Back in the bathroom, you left without giving me the chance to apologize. You also left the bar a while ago, without hearing me explain."
"Oh," she cast her gaze downward, "Well, I suppose you'll start explaining, now that you have my attention."
His mind swelled and rippled to conjure up something to say. For someone who lay awake in bed, thinking of the incident, one would expect that he, at least, would have thought of a reason why he had acted such way. He soon gave up, his hands resting on his hips as he sighed in resignation, "Well, all I can tell you is that I must have suffered a bout of insanity that time, and that I was at fault. I'm really sorry and I hope you'd believe me."
She narrowed her eyes, "Let's say I believe you. What I don't understand is why you waste your time on me. I'm just an Eleven, si-"
"Lelouch," he corrected.
"I'm just an Eleven, Lelouch," she continued.
"Number or not, you still have your dignity, right?"
"Britannians don't seem to be aware of that."
"Not all Britannians are jackasses."
"What do you want from me?" Just when he thought her eyes couldn't get narrower…
Lelouch sighed again, "Look, it's getting dark and it's not safe for you to walk around, with prowlers lurking. Let me at least walk you home, as an act of my apology, or out of courtesy, you decide."
"I live in the ghettos, it won't suit a student like you to be walking around there." Kallen slouched, which Lelouch took as a sign of her relaxing.
"Doesn't matter." He shrugged, he flashed her a smile.
'What am I doing? Am I actually wooing this girl?'
His smile seemed to calm her. Opening the can of cola with a soft 'sfft', Kallen took a sip, the corner of her lips twitching, "You're quite an insistent man, aren't you?"
Lelouch shrugged, "Shall we go, then?"
'Seems like I am.'
-00-
It was a pleasant walk, and Kallen proved to be friendly with her guard down.
"I live here, on the ground floor."
Lelouch looked around. With her company, he had failed to feel troubled about being in the middle of the ghettos. As he looked at her residence, he couldn't help but wince – the place looked as if it barely had the capacity to house anyone. It was a rundown apartment complex, made of hardwood walls that were chipped away by the rain and wind. The lights out front were either flickering, growing dim, or were already burnt out, such as the light that led to Kallen's door.
He followed her as she made her way to her apartment, and as she opened the door, the room next to her rumbled. Lelouch looked at the room's window, seeing an emaciated black cat jump on the futon that was left hanging there. It was strangely hair-raising, and he couldn't imagine a girl like Kallen living in such a place. He scooted closer to her, feeling safer with her presence.
"It's not an ideal home, but it houses me from rain and criminals." She told him when she opened the door.
Her apartment was a small studio type that lacked the luxuries of wallpaper and carpeting. Inside was a headboard-less twin bed, an old lamp sitting on a stool beside it. In the middle of the room was a modest wooden table, with two stools – the same as the one beside the bed - on each side. There was also a sink and some tiled counters that held a small gas stove and a plastic dishrack. Most of the furniture were old and seemed to come from dumpster-diving, as per Eleven custom, but the place was well-lit and the sheets and surfaces seemed clean.
"It's not so bad inside," Lelouch commented as he stepped in, watching Kallen place a small bag on the foot of her bed and scurry to the sink to get a glass of water.
He accepted the glass when she handed it to him, studying her pert nose and large, round eyes, "You don't look like an Eleven, did you know that?"
"I've been told," she answered. "It has benefited me, looking like a Britannian. It lets me walk around the streets unbothered. People here see a Number and they automatically assume that they're part of a rebellion." She averted his gaze at that and cleared her throat before smiling back at him. It was when she smiled that he saw the slight slant to her eyes.
Lelouch swallowed, his throat dry. His hands moving to touch her face to closely study her. Feeling her skin - so smooth and supple - on his fingers, he leaned in, his body moving on its own.
Kallen froze, but she spoke, looking at him, "I don't suppose you'll tell me why you keep on trying to do this."
Her words made him catch himself in the middle of his actions and immediately stopped. His arms relaxed, but remained on her face. He sighed, "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm doing it again. You just, you just feel like… It comes instinctively." He muttered.
Fortunately, she didn't slap him, "Are you the kind of person who acts on instinct?" It was a sincere question, borne out of curiosity.
Lelouch answered her honestly, "No. I'm actually a rational person, which is why this surprises me as well." He watched her softening reaction, and before he knew it, he had already blabbed, "You just, you just feel like… home, Kallen."
Something indiscernible flashed in her blue irises, and before Lelouch could mentally slap himself for saying such a stupid, stupid line, Kallen had already pulled him in for a kiss.
Next thing he knew, he was on her bed, pushing her cotton dress over her head, having both of them clad only in their underwear. Kallen placed a series of kisses on his lips, light and sweet like little confectionaries that seemed contrary to her willful manner. Lelouch began to kiss her back, his lips pressing against hers, his tongue sliding across her lower lip, eliciting a loud moan from her. She groped at his shoulders and arched against him, the heat of her body making Lelouch lightheaded with desire.
Finding himself suddenly frustrated at the 'abundance' of their clothing, Lelouch leaned back and slid Kallen's panties off. He could hardly think as she began to groan, his hands reaching in to let his erection out. Parting her soft folds, he guided himself into her and pushed.
Tight. She was so tight. Looking down, Lelouch saw her squeeze her eyes shut, her face contorting in discomfort. As he started to move in slow pumps, she began to whimper, suppressing gasps and groans as she writhed around his hard length. She opened her eyes wide and looked up at him, astonished, tense, and grimacing. Even with her discomfort, Lelouch's heart was filled with a sort of soft joy that he was the one to touch her first.
And he continued touching her as he took her. His breathing staggered, he moved against her, rocking in a rhythm that held him in ecstasy. As thoughts of everything else began to disappear in his mind, he groaned her name repeatedly into her ear and violently came inside her.
Catching his breath, he rested himself on her, marking today as the day he lost his virginity. It was quick and feverish, and he left her unfinished.
He blushed at the fact, ashamed – in his rampant desire, he had failed to consider how she experienced it, what her feelings were as they have done it. He quickly looked at her. Aside from looking tense, she looked… fine. She was fine, wasn't she? Besides, it was she who started it. It was she who had kissed him, pulled him to the bed, and tugged his shirt and pants off.
"Care to tell me what that was about?" Lelouch asked to distract himself from the guilt he was starting to feel.
It took Kallen a while to reply, "I don't know. I suppose you feel like home to me too…"
He chuckled at her answer, his guilt alleviated and his ego gratified by it, "I hope you realize how cheesy that line is." He, then, quickly added when he felt her hands clench at his chest, "I said it was a cheesy line, not a pick-up line. I was telling the truth when I told you that."
"I see…" The claws at his chest flattened to her palms, awkwardly running down his torso. Still, Lelouch purred, basking in the warmth she provided. Most men would most likely classify the experience as troublesome, but Lelouch liked it. Through their actions – no matter how awkwardly it panned out – he felt satiated of what seemed like a long-established desire stored inside of him; through her presence, even in such a dingy apartment, Lelouch felt safe, he felt restful.
"Hey, Kallen." He murmured, moving his face near her tangled tresses and yawning. Her hair smelled like a mix of mass-produced shampoo and sweat.
"Yeah?"
"Would you mind if I take a short nap?"
"No, go ahead." He barely heard her answer as he let his mind ease in a wonderful rest.
He was woken up by Kallen's soft murmurs. Opening his eyes, he saw her talking on the phone, her back hunching and straightening as she did so.
"What do you mean not ready?! You can just come here and we can settle it! Of course I don't understand because you don't tell me anything!" With that, she snapped her phone shut and turned around, suddenly gasping as she saw his eyes sleepily boring into her.
"I was talking to my fellow server. She's very annoying and I'm currently finding it hard to get along with her," she explained with a self-conscious slouch. She pouted and nodded to herself, as if agreeing to what she had just said.
Still groggy from his nap, Lelouch dismissed the whole thing and closed his eyes to go back to sleep.
"Are you staying for the night?" He felt the bed shift from her weight as she sat down.
"No, just a couple more minutes," Lelouch grumbled, slowly dozing off again, "Wake me up when it's… eight…"
"It's ten o'clock."
"WHAT?!" He shot up from the bed in panic, "My brother must be running around town looking for me!"
Kallen responded by handing him his clothes, neatly folded on top of each other, "You have a brother?"
"Yeah. Rolo," he answered, thankfully grabbing the clothes from her as he began putting on his pants and shirt.
"Are you going to tell him you were with me?" She sounded wary.
"I don't know yet. I told him I would spend time with a friend. If he hasn't asked my friend about me yet, I'll keep it at that."
For a moment, Kallen looked thoughtful, but soon shook her head, "Lelouch, it's late. I'll walk you out of the ghettos."
He looked at her as she stood from the bed and paced before him, "Are you sure? Will you be safe?"
She stood tall, smiling, "Yes, I can look out for you while taking care of myself."
Not needing any further explanation, he nodded, immediately believing her.
As they prepared themselves to leave, Kallen held the door open for him. Lelouch studied her, seeing her gait grow more solid, as if on guard. She looked back at him, with curious blue wells that had moved him to strange emotions and reactions. Now, it was a wave of possessiveness that engulfed him. He fought the emotion away quickly.
He braved a few steps towards her, "Would you mind if I continue seeing you?" He asked with a light smile as he exited her apartment.
He caught a glimpse of her blushing, "No. I'd like to see you too and, um, be near you, I guess." She said as she followed him out the door. As she turned on the large flashlight she was holding, the light that cast over her showed Lelouch her still-flushed face.
"Lelouch, it's uncomfortable meeting at the Tower, would you mind if we meet in other locations next time?"
He smiled at her request, "Understood."
For two weeks, Lelouch casually saw Kallen, meeting her in different locations, even taking her to a park in Fukushima on a weekend. He weaved a web of lies to Rolo, even including Rivalz in his ploys. 'It's about a girl. I'm going to see a girl, but I want to keep her a secret.' He would tell his friend and promise him he would introduce her to him soon. He wondered why he couldn't bring himself to admit the same thing to his brother, wondered why he exerted so much effort for such uneventful rendezvous. They only talked – she would ask about his life, his past, and his thoughts, then she would talk about herself, hinting at the disdain she felt for the world, for how it treated her. Lelouch could only reveal his dispassion and just quietly agreed with her, enjoying her company, glad to find someone who also saw the awful mediocrity of the world.
Despite Kallen's wishes, Lelouch visited Kallen in Babel Tower another week later. He discreetly watched her as she served alcohol to lush Britannian businessmen, some lecherously grabbing her as they got drunk. Lelouch clenched his fists as they trembled on his knees. 'We, the Britannians, are the ones laughing and playing. The Elevens are the ones laughed at and working' He often told himself, resigning himself to the fact. However, seeing Kallen so powerless made him reexamine his complacent observation. His fists trembled again, frustrated.
"Forgive me!" An agitated cry distracted him as a glass of wine toppled over him, soaking the hem of his pants.
"No, it's alrigh- Kallen!" He blurted out as he realized who it was bending down to clean the mess.
Kallen carefully wiped his pants with a rag, "You're here." In contrast to the cry she let out, she seemed perfectly calm now.
"I was bored." He answered, and with shy hesitation, he added, "… And I came to see you."
She smiled at that, "My shift ends at 5 o'clock today. We servers use the exit at the back of the building, you can meet me there and walk me home, if you like."
"Exit at the back of the building, got it." He answered. He grabbed the hands still working on his pants, "Stop that already, Kallen."
She withdrew her hands and looked up at him, "I also prefer using a shortcut home that I discovered recently. We have to go through the alleys, I hope you don't mind." She smiled and stood up.
"I'm sorry again, sir!" She feigned another cry before leaving.
Lelouch watched her, smiling. Babel Tower housed and employed Elevens like livestock, and the ones they kept shared one look – vulnerable, frightened, despondent. Kallen was different. Amidst the persecution she called her job, she looked tall, strong, and dignified. She looked beautiful.
He felt proud.
-00-
As Kallen preferred, Lelouch walked a good five steps behind her as they rounded to the more hidden corners of the alley leading them home. Kallen looked tense and wary as they walked, looking at empty corners and up the high-rise buildings. The poor girl seemed so stressed and tired. Lelouch somewhat understood, she just came from a horrible job and now had to walk through the dangerous alleys of the ghettos.
Lelouch took a deep breath and, taking the risk, walked up to her and grabbed her hand. He smiled at her, "Better venture through these unsafe shortcuts with company."
Kallen tensed, more than she already was, but clutched his hand back.
When they arrived to her home, Lelouch wasted no time and immediately took Kallen to bed. Lifting the dress she wore over her head and discarding it to the floor, Lelouch embraced the nearly naked girl.
"I… I want to make you feel good, Kallen," He whispered with a blush. Considering that he had failed to make her come the last time, hearing the words come out from his own mouth was awkward.
He cleared his throat and looked down at the girl, only to see unlovely splotches of red surface her skin. Staring at her, it occurred to him that she was blushing too. She glanced at him sheepishly and sat up. Reaching back to unclasp her bra, she freed her breasts for him to see, looking especially robust as she breathed deeply. Lelouch immediately reached out to knead them, massaging her mounds and tweaking her nipples as her breath started to become uneven. Kallen watched him, not moaning - she seemed so nervous and strained, just as before. Lelouch stroked her body softly, trying to ease her. Whatever apprehensions or personal demons she had had to go away tonight, if they kept her from enjoying his company. He spread her bent knees apart, giving each of them a soft kiss.
"Kallen, I want you to let go. Trust me," he soothed. Kallen jerked at his words and stared at him, motionless. She seemed to slip into her own thoughts for a while and Lelouch anxiously waited for her, looking at her with honest open desire, showing his growing arousal for her.
Finally, as if unable to give him a verbal consent, she sighed, "Hmmm." She leaned on her elbows, lowering herself in submission.
Lelouch nodded and began to slide her panties off, gazing at the flesh being revealed as he did. He looked at her fixedly, his hands tracing her body - from her jutting breasts, her firm yet femininely rounded stomach, to her smooth and bare folds. He ran his hand through the heated flesh, looking at it before cupping it in a light grip. "Oh!" Kallen gasped and twitched as her watchful eyes followed his every move. Lelouch groaned, the sight of Kallen watching him as he touched her lined his member with pleasure, making his pants grow too tight.
"Wait," he groaned at her as he hastily took care of the problem. Tugging down his pants and boxers and kicking them aside, he uncovered his throbbing shaft before her.
"Oh," Kallen gasped again, reddening as she peered at his erection. Lelouch saw her pink tongue peek out of her mouth to lick at her lips. He leaned over her and gave her a hungry kiss, happy at his body's effect on her.
As Kallen started to moan, Lelouch pulled his lips away from hers and attached them to her knee. Looking at her, he trailed kisses and suckles down her thigh until he reached her pink folds, now swollen and glistening with need. He lowered himself between her spread open legs and kissed her there, the heady scent of her arousal welcoming him. He pressed his mouth against her again, his breath whispering across her flesh. Hearing sharp cries starting to get caught in Kallen's throat, Lelouch teased her tenderness, his tongue stroking between her folds, tasting all of her.
Soon, elbows gave in and Kallen fell back to the bed. She moaned, her back arching and shaking as she pushed herself to him. Lelouch opened his mouth and eagerly pleasured her, his fingers parting her folds open as he laved her with greater force, sending Kallen bucking in her place.
"M-more, Le… louch," She seemed to have a hard time catching her breath as she gasped and gasped again. Loudly, she drew a long breath in and continued to moan as she opened her legs wider for him. Lelouch's own hips began to buck into the mattress, her responsiveness exciting him immeasurably. Moaning loudly against her, his hands slid lower and cradled her bottom as he lavishly licked, and pushed into her vagina.
Kallen squealed, her whole body clenching. Fluids came rushing, soaking her folds and Lelouch's lips. It was then that Lelouch took her, for the second time, and with Kallen finally reciprocating his heat, he took her several times more.
As they basked in the afterglow of their act, when Lelouch was about to take a nap, Kallen spoke, "You're a strange Britannian, Lelouch. Choosing to waste your time with me. Aren't there other girls of your status who would agree to talk to you? To have sex with you? I'm sure there are a lot-"
"Kallen, I have told you this before, don't brandish my status." Lelouch cut the girl off as he turned to his side and propped himself on his elbow to look at her, "Besides, you don't seem to mind my company, and judging from your reactions tonight, you even seem to like it a lot."
"Pervert!" She thumped his chest with her fist, the patches of red returning on her skin "I just, I just want to keep an eye on you."
Lelouch suppressed an amused laugh, her words confusing him, "Oh? What for? Who died and made you my personal guard?"
The jest didn't seem to hit well with her. Lelouch watched her flinch, her face hardening, her eyes glazing over with scorn, "You use- Britannians are so arrogant…" She spoke heavily, and when her words became fuddled, she stopped and just blinked at the ceiling.
His chest tightened, his gut sinking at the thought of upsetting her. Growing up in the mainland and having fellow Britannians as friends, Lelouch found it difficult to interact with Numbers without brandishing their unequal standings. He tried, using intuition and basic sense, but just as the situation had proved – as his comment most likely demeaned her, albeit unintentionally- he was no master at it. He clenched his fists, suddenly remembering the lecherous Britannians calling out to her earlier. Abasing someone was something that he never wanted to do, and though he didn't know why, the case was exceptionally true when she was the 'someone' concerned.
"Kallen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. If I have demeaned you in any way, I didn't intend that." When she gave no reply, he continued, "I would never intend that. Kallen, we, Britannian commoners, are no better than any Number. The empire, with big enterprises and nobles sitting at the top, also oppresses us. We are also helpless as they piece us into the hierarchy."
"You are not at the bottom of the hierarchy. If the empire oppresses you, it is nothing compared to how it oppressed us." Her voice was hard and it sounded like she was about to cry.
Lelouch frowned, wanting to touch the girl but afraid that she would rebuff his actions, "Kallen, I'm sorry. What do you want me to say? Yes, Britannia's an ass-"
"I hate Britannia, Lelouch," she quietly murmured the unexpected statement as she continued to stare at the ceiling, eyes ablaze with passion. "One day, I will give justice back to Japan." It was a strange and random thing to say, something that Lelouch guessed to be coming from pain and frustration – from being robbed of her home, her family. Her future.
Normally, he would find such passion pointless, and often dismissed it as futile rebelling of the powerless. However, it was the first time that he had witnessed the spirit behind them, through the fight in her eyes. It stirred a clouded sense of pride in Lelouch and he found himself saying, "I don't know how you would do it, but I hope you would, Kallen. I hope you bring justice to your country and destroy the empire that has been clutching it. I won't stand in your way."
Her eyebrow rose, though her face softened, "You do realize that you're still part of this empire, right Lelouch?"
"Yes." For some reason, he didn't care. "Even though I am part of the empire, I'd like to think that I am different." He sighed. Kallen smiled at his words.
She grabbed his hand, her fingers fiddling with his palm, "I see hope in you."
He responded by taking her into his arms and Kallen let him, settling her body against his. With that, Lelouch felt that they had reached an understanding.
Lelouch didn't leave Kallen's apartment that night. Holding the redhead in his arms, he slept soundly.
When Lelouch had lost count of how many times he and Kallen had done it already, had lost count of how many schemes he had conducted just to sneak out at night to be with her, had lost count of how many elaborate lies he had told Rolo on mornings when he caught him out of Ashford, he decided to call the act 'making love'. Since then, he took comfort in his redhead. With her locks, so stunningly carmine, and beguiling blue eyes flamed by coalescent emotions, she made his heart flutter-simultaneously making him feel so much and making him feel at ease.
One morning, several months later, Kallen roused him from his slumber with an odd question, "Lelouch," she kissed his jaw, "Are you happy with your life?"
"Hm? What kind of question is that?" Lelouch snorted, his eyes still closed.
"I'm just curious." She laid her head on his shoulder, the tips of her fingers drawing little circles on the inside of his naked thigh, "I know certain things annoy you, but do you ever feel like you're missing out on something? Feel that something's not right?"
Lelouch snorted again, even though his mind started reeling. Yes, except for having her by his side, almost all aspects of his daily life seemed out of place. It was ironic, how routine could feel so foreign. However, what was he supposed to tell this girl who, aside from being Japanese – as he had learned to call Elevens from Kallen - was also degraded everyday serving brutish, disparaging Britannians? That he wasn't satisfied with his already 'blessed' life?
'Oh, yes. Although I am fairly well-off and happily busy cutting class, hanging out with my fellow students, gambling, and making love to you, I feel like a part of me is missing, that a part of me isn't right.' No, he didn't think so.
He opened his eyes to look at her beautiful face, "I've got complaints, but I'm at peace. I'm generally happy. What else can I ask for?" He lied in the most pleasant voice that he could muster.
For a moment, Kallen stopped breathing, her jaw clenching, "Oh."
-00-
That night, Lelouch had decided to sneak out of Ashford to visit Kallen again, bringing take-out for them to eat. Upon reaching her apartment, Lelouch could already hear Kallen's voice. Her words, however, were mumbled. Lelouch pressed his ear to the door.
"Next week, on that day, then? So we're done stalling, huh?" Kallen appeared to be talking to someone, her voice had become louder yet her tone seemed unsure. Lelouch figured that she was talking on the phone, perhaps with the fellow server he always caught Kallen talking on the phone with.
'I wonder what they're done stalling for…'
There was a pause, and Lelouch thought about knocking, thinking the conversation to be over. As he raised a fist to the door, Kallen suddenly bellowed, "DON'T TEASE ME, C.C.!"
Lelouch continued to stand outside as Kallen's words became indistinct again, 'C.C.?'
Where had he heard that before?
Suddenly, the room became quiet. Lelouch stayed still for a while, making sure he wouldn't interrupt Kallen's conversation before he made his presence known. When he was about to knock, the door had flung open, revealing Kallen in a fighting stance, a pocket knife in hand. Lelouch quickly raised his arms to his face, more in shock than in defense, "Kallen, it's me!"
"Lelouch!" She squawked and quickly dropped her weapon. She took a minute to regain composure, before slowly bending down to pick her knife up, placing it in her pocket before looking at him. She let out a deep breath, "I'm so sorry," she said as she moved to touch his chest gingerly. "I heard you sneak behind the door and I thought you were - A girl in the ghettos can't be too careful, you know?"
She started blushing, then, the usual splotches of red appearing unevenly on her face before spreading out. In contrary to how awkwardly her blushing started, Lelouch had learned to find her flushed face particularly pretty. "It must be weird, seeing me like that." The hands on his chest slid up to cup his face.
Why Lelouch thought seeing her flushed and ready to attack and fight felt more right that anything he had seen her done before, he didn't know, so he merely smiled at her, "It's good that you know self defense. Besides, it suits you." He then lifted the take-out to her face, "Burger and cola?"
The hands on his face only cupped tighter. Giving him a strange smile, one that seemed affectionate and dejected at the same time, Kallen pulled him in for a kiss and led him inside.
-00-
The next morning, after staying another night at her shabby apartment, Kallen suddenly grabbed his face and looked into his eyes intently, as if searching for something. Lelouch squirmed, uneasy, yet they locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity – Kallen desperately searching and Lelouch puzzlingly blinking. Lelouch's heart started racing. What on Earth was going on? Beneath him, the girl looked determined, but forlorn and remorseful. It was an odd expression, one that set off Lelouch's heart to an unsteady beat.
Suddenly Kallen let go of his face and lay back on the bed, eyes squeezed shut. She was quivering. The boy laid a hand on her arm, then made way to her face, his thumb pressing gentle circles to her cheek. His stomach churned. Why did he suddenly feel defeated? It was as if he had gravely disappointed her.
Lelouch sighed when the girl refused to move. In retrospect, Kallen did seem bothered and distant the night before when they were making love, but it wasn't something Lelouch found alarming. Kallen often had moods that made her seem like she was in a different planet altogether, and Lelouch always let her be during those times. Kallen was living a difficult life and Lelouch was sure she had personal demons to deal with. He only hoped that she would eventually start confiding in him about them.
"Do you need to be alone, Kallen?" He asked. "I can leave if you want. My brother is probably looking for me, anyway."
A gentle grip to his wrist was his answer. Slowly, Kallen sat up.
"I-I care for you so much," she whispered, suddenly embracing him, the tip of her nose pressed to his shoulder. "I just wish I was able to figure out that it was you sooner," Lelouch was barely able to hear the girl. Moreover, what she was running on about made no sense to him, but Lelouch listened. As difficult as it was for him to understand her, Lelouch instinctively knew how distressed the girl was – how dire she was in need of assurance.
He rubbed her back, "Relax, Kallen. Listen, when you figured out that you liked me doesn't really matter. If you're not sure if your feelings are yours – that part I really don't understand- then just take your time. I love you, Kallen." He told her, a comforting smile gracing his lips as he admitted his feelings for the first time.
"What?" Kallen almost choked. Lelouch knew girls reacted differently to confessions of love, but he didn't expect Kallen to look so stricken and guilty. He had thought that his admission would give her comfort, maybe even happiness. Now, the girl sat frozen on the bed, looking aghast. Was it because she was Japanese? Was it because of their different social standings? Was she suddenly disgusted for spending six months being with a Britannian? Something inside Lelouch knew that the reason was graver than that. His heart sank.
But then, the girl replied, "I-I think I do t-too." It was only a murmur, but Lelouch heard it clearly, and that was all he needed. Overjoyed, Lelouch let out a chuckle and wrapped his arms around her while Kallen tightened the ones around him. They stayed on the bed for a long time, embracing.
When it was absolutely time for him to leave, Lelouch gave Kallen one last squeeze and kissed her cheek, "Look, Kallen, I have to go. My brother is probably having a panic attack right now with my absence and all, but I'll see you again. I'll see you at work, even."
"On Tuesday." She seemed unsure when she said the day, but repeated it more clearly, "O-on Tuesday, please."
Lelouch nodded with a smile, "Okay, I'll come to the Tower on Tuesday. I'll wait for your shift to be over and walk you home. I'd just have to skip this stupid make-up class for P.E. and find a way to ditch my brother, but I'll see you."
Walking to the door, Lelouch took one last glance at Kallen. He saw her hug her knees.
A/N:
1) Readers probably already know what conflicted things were going on in Kallen's head throughout this chapter, but I will still write part 2 in her perspective to shed more light on her behavior here. I believe she would have to deal with a bitter 'memory-restored' Lelouch on the next part.
2) As promised, this chapter is less graphic than my first one. I found this chapter difficult to write. I'm not used to writing fiction, and it takes me days, even weeks, to write the characters' interactions and emotions. It's a frustrating thing to endeavor, but it challenges me and I think I'll keep on doing it until I get better.
3) I wanted one of the first stories to be a time stamp to when Kallen and Lelouch start their affairs. Some of the chapters here would be related and would follow the same timeline.
4) I'll try to get inspired to finish the next chapter in a week's time. It'll be called 'Story No. 3: The One With The Ropes'.
Thanks for reading. Please review,
Maria C.