Chapter Two: Zero's Accomplice
Kallen sat up in the dark room, her eyes puffy and sore and her muscles aching. She frowned, unsure for a moment where she was or how she got there. Something was familiar about the bedroom she had slept in, but she couldn't seem to place it. The girl shifted, her gaze snapping down as cool metal brushed against her arm. When she saw the mask on the mattress next to her, everything clicked.
She blushed in the dim room, embarrassed by how she had acted the night before, and recalling how Suzaku had responded. Turning, Kallen planted both feet on the plush carpet floor, and rose slowly, making her way to the switch next to the closed door. Upon lighting the room, Kallen instantly realized where she was, and couldn't help the small gasp of surprise that slipped out.
"It's still here?"
What was once the Black Knight's mobile headquarters apparently hadn't been destroyed after their departure from Japan almost two years ago, and Kallen felt a small smile touch her lips. She knew she had recognized this room, even in darkness, and even after all this time. This had been Zero's room, the only real bed in the entire trailer, and where he had spent much of his time. It looked the same now as it did when last she had been in it, aside from missing the man that made it memorable.
Sighing, Kallen glanced down at her wrinkled school uniform. She vaguely recalled being jolted in her daze the night before, and wondered how far Suzaku had carried her to reach the trailer. How could she have let her guard down so completely? It was embarrassing. The woman slowly paced the room, dragging her fingertips across every surface of it as memories of the Black Knight's early days drifted lazily through her mind.
This place had been a second home to her during the Black Rebellion, and she probably had fallen asleep on one of the sofas downstairs more than she had in her own bed throughout those months. Kallen hadn't thought of herself as a woman inclined to nostalgia, but it was nearly impossible to deny the smile that remained as she walked around what was once Lelouch's room.
Reaching the slightly open closet tucked against one corner, she curiously opened it. It appeared as neat and ordered as Lelouch would have kept it. Each article of clothing had been hung carefully, including two more of the dark uniforms that identified Suzaku as Zero. Kallen began to swing the door shut, when a familiar piece of red cloth, folded neatly and tucked into a shelf, caught her eyes.
She pulled the uniform out, unfurling it to reveal a jumpsuit she didn't believe she would ever see again. After the war was finally over, Kallen had thrown her piloting suit out, as the various tears and cosmetic damage from her final battle, ironically against Suzaku, had rendered it a lost cause. Holding what had been her second skin by the shoulders, she quickly looked the jumpsuit over, before glancing once more at her crumbled school clothes.
Folding the jumpsuit over one arm, Kallen made her way to small attached bathroom, snatching a plush towel off the rack against the wall. A shower would do wonders for the knots in her shoulders, and she definitely wanted to get out of her stale school clothes. At least she knew her old uniform would fit her. Peeling her wrinkled clothes off and removing the broken rabbit's foot key from her neck, Kallen slipped under the stream in the standing room only shower.
The hot water felt glorious as it rolled down her body, dispelling some of the aches that had accompanied her fretful sleep and prior breakdown. She tried not to think of how she had lost control of her emotions, ashamed to have allowed such feelings to rise so easily to the surface. She hadn't been prepared for so much stimulation from her past, but she was much more rational now. Shaking droplets of warm liquid from her hair, Kallen turned off the stream, stepping out onto the tile floor.
She dried quickly, snatching up her scarlet jumpsuit and striding out into the bedroom once more. That uniform was tossed onto the bed, sprawling across the sheet as she began to dry her hair, staring down at the mask of Zero. It was a strange sensation, staring at the false face she had come to know so well. Small nicks and scratches marred the surface of the helmet, and she could still recall when Lelouch had acquired most of them.
Kallen was so deep in thought, her gaze crawling over the imperfect reflected visage of the black visor, that the door of the bedroom suddenly swinging inward startled her. Suzaku strode casually into the room, Zero's familiar cape flourishing behind him, and stuttered to a stop immediately. For a long moment the two teens stared at each other across the small room, shocked resignation flooding into their features in the same instant.
"Kallen! I'm sorry, I didn't realize…"
"What are you doing just barging in here?" She shouted, quickly covering her body with the towel and shuffling toward the bed.
"I needed my mask and I didn't know you had-" Suzaku explained, stumbling over his words.
"Then take it and get out!" Kallen cried, hurling the helmet at his chest hard enough to make the brown haired boy stumble.
Suzaku quickly retreated from the room, shoving the door shut and making his way down the stairs to the lower level before Kallen could get her hands on something else to throw at him. The girl let out her held breath, glaring at the closed door before pulling the uniform off of the mattress.
"Idiot…"
A few minutes later, dressed in her old crimson jumpsuit and no longer flustered by Suzaku's lack of tact, Kallen made her way down the stairs. She fully intended to give the boy a piece of her mind, but halted upon hearing a familiar voice drifting to her from the front of the trailer.
"I understand that Zero, but are you sure you can handle it on your own? From the reports you sent us, they seem much more organized than the other insurgent groups in Japan."
Kallen glanced around the corner, and immediately noticed the changes Suzaku had made to the trailer. The entire rear of the headquarters had been altered, with a recently constructed wall shortening the long room by a fair amount. Kallen distantly wondered if the trailer had been damaged, and couldn't help but miss the familiar common area that had been where the wall began. The bank of monitors that had lined it had also been removed, as there was no need for so many when only one man inhabited the base. A video display was mounted at the front of the room, next to the door of the cockpit. Suzaku sat opposite of it, his body language a passable imitation of the man he had replaced, as he remained engaged in his video call.
"I'll be fine, Tohdoh. I'll have backup here if the need should arise. You're needed in Kyoto."
"Understood."
Suzaku broke the connection, sitting back in the armchair and removing Zero's visage. Kallen watched him for a long moment, as he quickly typed several commands into the display. She was curious what the remnants of the Black Knights were dealing with, but didn't want to pry. Though the world was enjoying a state of relative peace, there were always internal conflicts that required the attention of those with authority. Nearly all of that authority had fallen upon Zero, almost all of the weight of the world resting on Suzaku's shoulders. Despite how much better the world had become, some still rebelled against the change, or sought to take advantage of the growing tolerance and complacency.
"Where are we?" Kallen asked as the boy swiveled his chair to face her.
"Just inside the Shinjuku Reclamation Area."
"The construction site?"
"Yes," He replied with a nod. "Look, Kallen, about what happened… upstairs."
"Just drop it." She said, rolling her eyes and collapsing onto the only remaining sofa in the trailer.
"As you wish."
"I can't believe this thing is still in one piece." Kallen mused, absently stroking the material of the sofa.
"Before leaving Japan Lelouch had stored it, in case he should need it again someday. I changed it into my mobile command center for my frequent trips to Tokyo."
"You'll find none better." Kallen replied with a rueful smile.
"I would have dropped you off at home, after Ashford…" Suzaku began, glancing at the floor. "But I didn't know where you lived."
"It's fine." Kallen replied, blushing at the reminder of her breakdown.
"I can take you back now, if you want me to. I have a few things to take care of, but I can put some of my plans off for the time being."
"No rush. It's not like I have class today or anything." Kallen shrugged, leaning back against the sofa and closing her eyes.
Silence fell over the trailer, as Kallen simply relaxed on the familiar seat, her thoughts wandering to nowhere in particular. Even with her eyes closed, she knew Suzaku was still looking at her. She could feel his gaze on her, and after a few minutes it began to annoy her.
"What is it?" She asked, sighing.
"Huh?" Suzaku replied, flustered. "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking I hadn't seen you wear that since…"
"Since the last time we met, on different sides of the same battle?"
"Yes…"
"Hopefully you learned your lesson for going against me."
Suzaku chuckled lightly, and Kallen opened one lid to glance over at him. The former Knight of Zero sat back in his chair, leaning on one of the armrests and rubbing his chin absently.
"We never really got along, and always ended up on the opposite side, except that time on Kamine Island."
"You mean when I tried to stab you?"
"Oh, yeah." Suzaku said with a small laugh, a light flush of color slipping into his cheeks as they both recalled that incident.
A chirping tone interrupted their conversation, and Suzaku quickly rotated his chair back to the display. He typed in a couple of commands before snatching Zero's mask from his lap, glancing over his shoulder at Kallen.
"I have to take this call; you're welcome to stay for it."
"As if I would leave even if you asked me to."
Suzaku shook his head, slipping his false visage on as the screen in front of him came to life. Kallen immediately shot up in her seat, uncommonly bright smile lighting up her features, as she saw who his call was from. Kaname Ohgi sat in his office, glancing at a folder in front of him before he turned his gaze up to the video call.
"Zero, we're ready to dispatch the-" He began, only to halt mid sentence. "Kallen?"
The girl was on her feet in an instant, leaning on the back of Suzaku's chair to smile at the man who might have been her oldest friend. She hadn't seen him since his wedding, and with the constraints of his position as Prime Minister of Japan, it wasn't as though he could make much time for old friends.
"Ohgi! It's good to see you!"
"Same here, but Kallen, what are you doing with Zero?" He asked, perplexed.
That was a good question. What was she doing with Zero? She couldn't tell him what had really happened, because it would raise too many questions. Zero wasn't the personal bodyguard of the Empress, so why would he have come along to Ashford to visit old classmates? It may have gotten past the members of the Student Council, but Ohgi would no doubt wonder what business he would have there.
"I'm, uh," She began, her mind quickly searching for an excuse. "I'm assisting Zero with the operation."
Ohgi sat back, momentarily surprised, as Kallen bit her lip. She'd left her old life behind, and of course Kaname knew this, so saying she was helping the new Zero with what was probably a military operation was likely as bad an idea as telling him the truth. It took the man a moment, but he finally shrugged, smiling at her through the monitor.
"I see. I'm happy to see you're doing well Kallen."
"Did you say Kallen?" A second voice yelled from off screen, and Ohgi had just enough time to bury his face in one hand before Tamaki burst into view, shoving the Prime Minister aside.
"Kallen! I haven't seen you in ages! Are you working with Zero again?"
Out of all the former Black Knights, Tamaki was the only one who treated Suzaku as though he was the original Zero. He knew that it wasn't really the same man that had led them in the Black Rebellion, of course, but he never questioned the man's orders. He saw Zero as an idea, a formless shape of justice that the rest of them never quite could. In that way, he was much wiser than his comrades.
"Yes," Kallen replied, glancing down at Suzaku. "For this particular mission."
"Great! With the two of you together, there's no way you can fail!" Tamaki cried with a grin, before he was shoved out of view roughly.
"Zero," Ohgi said, obviously flustered. "The police are standing by now. Whenever you're ready, we'll begin the operation."
"Thank you, Prime Minister. Tell them to make the preparations now for my arrival."
"Very well."
The display went dark again, and Suzaku slowly turned toward her, removing his mask. Concern furrowed his brow, as he locked his gaze onto Kallen's.
"Did you mean what you just told them?" He inquired, frowning.
Kallen asked herself the same question. She'd left that life behind long ago, though she had to admit the thrill of potential combat was dancing in her stomach. It couldn't hurt to help Suzaku out with this one little thing, could it? Especially if it was for Ohgi.
"Yes." She said firmly, nodding. "Since I'm here, I may as well help out."
"Are you sure? Won't your mother be worried?"
"It's the weekend. I'll just call her and tell her I'm staying with a friend. It's not too big of a lie."
"If that's what you really want."
"Stop being so gloomy," She replied, rolling her eyes. "I liked you better when you were just a headstrong idiot. Well, a bigger idiot. So what's this mission, anyway?"
"I'll explain that on the way, but first we're going to have to familiarize you with your equipment." Suzaku replied, climbing up from his chair and making his way toward the back of the trailer.
"My… equipment?" Kallen asked, falling into step behind him.
Suzaku halted at the recently constructed wall, and pressed a button on one side of it. A door in the center, hardly noticeable even this close, slid up rapidly. The dark section ahead intrigued Kallen, as she followed him inside. What could Kururugi have stowed behind a fake wall? Reaching over, he flipped a switch, illuminating the hidden room and the crouched form that was kept within.
"Isn't that…" Kallen said with a small gasp, glancing back at him after recognizing the now black Knightmare she believed to be destroyed.
"Yes," Suzaku said with a small smile. "The Lancelot."
Author's Note: You would think by now that Kallen would realize she can never shower in peace.
Well it looks like what was originally going to be a random one-shot will be developing further. With all the little post-ZR ideas in my head, I can't do anything but drive them out and into writing. I couldn't resist running with the Kallen bathing gag, and honestly I was always bothered by Suzaku's lack of a reaction to their confrontation on Kamine Island. Sure, he's a chivalrous and honorable knight, but he's also an insecure, shy teenage boy. It seemed strange to me that he didn't react at all to seeing Kallen as he did, especially with how her impromptu stabby-stab attempt ended up. I tried to show that more here.
I'm not certain what exactly happened to the Black Knight trailer following their exile from Japan, but I can't remember seeing it at all in R2, so I decided to use it and hope I didn't break any canon with it. I did my best to maintain Suzaku and Kallen in character, and to that end I think I succeeded, more so in this than the first chapter. Kallen has such an interesting emotional range, it makes her very fun to write. Especially when paired against the one person in the series who is most like her, in my opinion. They're both incredibly strong-willed and sure of themselves, but at the same time plagued by self-doubt and uncertainty.
Hopefully you enjoyed it.
Aynessa: To be honest, I'd never even considered Kallen/Suzaku until the idea for this fic, wherever it came from, popped into my head. It's still not a ship I sail, but I couldn't help but write it out, and see where it went. I'm quite the fan of turning people's opinions of crack pairings around, if that pairing is possible in the first place. As far as ships go, Kallen and Suzu is really not that far-fetched. If the two of them had ever managed to be on the same side of things, they would have realized just how much they had in common, and how well they can compliment each other. So, for a fun experiment, let's see if I can turn people into fans of the pairing!
ghu: co za asy?
