Author's Note:
Set in the "Man of Secrets" 'verse with Li Xingke and Zero meeting in the Season 1 time frame. It is highly AU, out of character, and very enjoyable to write. Both of these two are exceptional men who in different circumstances could have done so much together. Originally this began as a Kallen/Zero one-shot called "Man of Miracles", but that will have to wait until next week.
I have become quite enamoured with this universe that I have been playing around with recently, maybe, you can expect a few more one-shots..?
Originally posted as one-shot, but fixed a few typos and added it to its prequel.
Li Xingke had approached him during the recess between negotiations. Upon the arrival of Zero and his Black Knights, all Xingke could do was study the masked man, trying to discern the measure of the man. Truly, it was frustrating trying to find something that could pinpoint Zero as a possible ally in his quest - the discussions told him nothing.
Zero was standing, staring out over the yellow grass that dominated for miles around. Seeing him up close gave Xingke the opportunity to realise that the man was not simply lean of build, but far more likely ravaged, as if from illness.
"Ah, you have come, General Li Xingke," the voice was unsurprised, clearly he had been expected by the masked man, something that unsettled him slightly.
"Did you expect anything less, Zero?" Li Xingke found himself inquiring, dryly.
From behind the mask, Zero chuckled.
"I did not. However, if anyone would act disconcordant with my expectations, it would be you, General."
It was true; this man was as disarming as he appeared. Li Xingke said nothing in return, knowing that challenging the reply given by the Black Knight founder would lead only to more questions. During his time in the Military he had been lauded as a rare genius; ripped through the ranks rapidly to stand equal with skilled men; yet, only standing behind this figure in a mask did he feel as if he was outclassed.
"Do you believe Britannia is rotten?" Zero asked, it was sudden and unexpected.
What was the man hoping to gain by asking Li Xingke this? Britannia was rotten to the very core, ruled by those who lorded over others, with no care of who they trampled over as they scrambled for more than what they had, yes, it was rotten.
"Yes." Li Xingke answered, firmly.
There was no other answer to that question, the Britannian Empire overshadowed even the Eunuchs in regards to lacking honour and sought only to devour all that it could in its bloodstained maw.
"I do not believe that Britannia itself is rotten. There is kindness between neighbours, heroes seeking to aid in the lives of others, even a Princess with dreams of peace for all and is that not true universally? Britannia is more than the royalty, nobility and soldiers marching through conquered nations sowing pain, suffering and death to all with the misfortune not to be born Britannian. Britannia is slave to the lies fed to children from infancy, beaten into soldiers during education and spoken by men such as Charles daily...do you see it now?" The voice was passionate, belonging to an orator of charisma and skill that confirmed to Li Xingke the validity of tales of Zero's talents.
The speech itself had opened his eyes, he could understand the meaning behind it, which made him see that contrary to what most thought about the Black Knights being a Japanese Rebel Army, their formation was built on something more.
We of the Black Knights stand with all those who have no weapons to wield...
We cannot stand by and allow such cruelty to be carried out...
I will not repudiate battle on a fair and level field, but neither will I tolerate a one-sided massacre of the weak by the strong...
The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed...
Wherever oppressors abuse their power by attacking those who are powerless, we shall appear again, no matter how mighty or formidable our foe may be...
Those of you with power, fear us! Those of you without it, rally behind us! We, the Black Knights, shall be the ones who stand in judgment of this world!
He had studied all footage pertaining to Zero, searching for anything that might allow him to learn more, that hadn't helped him in the slightest - until now.
"The entire world has misjudged your cause, they see you as a champion of the Japanese, but you intend to do change the world. "
A madman, or a dreamer? Li Xingke could not quite work out as the motivations of Zero were somewhat clearer, he hadn't accepted the invitation from the Eunuchs to bridge relations between his cause and the Federation...he knew about Li Xingke.
"Yes, change will never come about it you don't make it happen. Your Empress dreams of peace, a world of gentleness that does not taint the innocent, and you, once a boy who risked death to help the sick imprisoned feels the same," each word seemed designed to provoke something from him, all of them meant to resonate with something within Li Xingke.
"Why are you really here, Zero?" He asked, a part of him already having realised.
He didn't expect for Zero to raise a gloved hand to the mask that adorned his face, nor for him to remove it, thus facing him directly.
A boy. It was almost laughable that the number one enemy of Britannia was little more than a boy, some years junior to his twenty-three. This was Zero, a boy of not even twenty, and with the look of a dying man; something that Li Xingke only recognised because some-days it mirrored his own.
"To fulfill your promise, you cannot be merely a man, you must be something more than a man...you must be symbol," the voice was unfiltered by any device, it was strong, but it was also tired in ways that he could appreciate as understanding. "The world needs a symbol to stand for freedom, righteous quests for justice and equality. For such a peaceful world to come into fruition...Zero is needed."
"Such a world will never come into fruition, it simply is beyond the reach of men, Zero. Even you cannot change the past, the present and the future on such a scale. " Enough was enough, no matter how brilliant the man before him had proven himself to be, and what he spoke of doing was impossible. "Men can be killed, broken and destroyed – this world we dwell in will not listen to what you propose, such plans will crumble and fail. "
The pale-faced man seemed to come alive at Li Xingke's dismissal.
"Zero's truth is not based on who is within. It is the actions that measure the man. It is because of that truth being such that makes Zero immortal, Li Xingke. " The explanation came slowly, as if some greater being was bestowing truth upon a lesser form.
He was trying to make a point, one that Li Xingke thought he understood, but at the same time was left confused at what the point was meant to mean to him. Zero certainly was as formidable in mind as Li Xingke had suspected – exciting the part of him that had always felt to be stagnant when forced to deal with others around him.
"I came here for you. You who have been blessed by the heavens twice: renowned for your battle prowess, but more importantly to me…as a genius. "
Li Xingke couldn't speak, for the first time truly comprehending where this conversation was going…
"Our motivations are not so different, what drives us both forward are two gentle souls born in circumstances that devour them cruelly and that is why only you – Li Xingke - may be the one to succeed me as ZERO. "
"You are a madman. "
"Even so, nobody else will do, Li Xingke. "
"My loyalties are to-"
"Wherever oppressors abuse their power by attacking those who are powerless, we shall appear again, no matter how mighty or formidable our foe may be…" Zero quoted, softly, looking at Li Xingke with victory in his eyes.
They were not so different; it seemed, once again, that Zero was correct.
"We are not so different, both blessed by the heavens, or so some say; but, neither of us have the time to do as we have pledged to others. What consumes you, stealing the luxury of time and unknown future, what is your curse that has stolen tomorrow?" Li Xingke asked, fully understanding that this request was from one man dying to another who shared the same assured fate.
"Some call it the Divine White Plague; unrelenting and unresponsive to long-term treatments. It consumes the lungs first, moving onto the body – until, even the mind is not spared. "
"A plague that has struck twice it seems. "
And, at that, Zero laughed at the irony of a new realisation.