A/N: Ack! Sorry for the really late update! Um... On the bright side, I only have 14 days of school left, give or take, and then it's summer break, and from there, most likely super often updating! So hang in there! I hope you enjoy!
Ch. 7
"Mar… Ry?"
"Let's get married."
"Lelouch, that's not funny. Marriage isn't something to be taken ligh-"
"No one said I'm joking. I love you, C2."
She stared at the Britannian for some time, until she straightened up and said, "… We'll continue this conversation later."
"You're the only one who can grant my wish."
"I know that. But honestly, if you're going to propose, you could've done it in a better way."
"You want a crippled man who's hiding his identity and a mute on top of that, to go out, buy a ring, and then kneel on the very knee he got shot in, and then ask you if you want to get married?"
"Mmm…. Well, that doesn't sound all that bad."
"….. Then, when I propose the traditional way, will you give an answer?"
"We'll see."
"Do you not even feel a small bit of happiness from a man proposing to you?"
"Any woman would. But you forgot something."
"What?"
"I'm…. Well, in your words, I'm an immortal witch. It's hard to move me to tears. When you do, then we'll get married."
"Is this you saying yes?"
"I don't know, is it?"
She smiled as he tried to decide whether or not she had consented. Taking the empty bowl from him, she asked, "Are you done? Or are you still hungry?"
"Ravenous. This is irritating; the hunger won't go away."
"Somebody's growing up."
"Oh, be quiet."
"Are we upset, because you were rejected?"
"So you rejected?"
"No."
"But you didn't say yes."
"That's correct."
"Then… What's your answer?" the 18 year old asked. The emerald-haired woman didn't say anything, because in truth, she was feeling mixed emotions. She did love Lelouch, but marriage was an entire matter altogether. Their disguises would become limited if they became one under matrimony, and would hinder their ability to hide from the probing eyes of the public. She was about to leave the room again, when she heard the crippled man say, "C2. Do you remember when you told me that you had never met a man like me before?"
She only froze, with her hand on the doorknob, not replying or moving. He continued, "It's a given that I've never met a woman like you; an apathetic, cold, calculating, and snarky person, who didn't give a whit for anyone except for yourself."
"If you're going to insult me, the-"
"Isn't it strange, though? I could have had Shirley, or Kallen, or even Euphemia, but I chose the witch. Why is that, I wonder often. And then I realized it, when we were on the Avalon. Do you remember, C2? I was going to go to retrieve the key at Damocles, and you asked me if I hated you. I smiled then, not because I thought it was an obvious answer that I did detest you, but because it amused me."
"In what way?" she finally spoke.
"Because I loved you then. And you asking me whether I hated you…. Well…. I couldn't believe it myself, and to think that you thought that abhorred you…."
"Where are you going with this, Lelouch?"
"I'm trying to tell you that I fell in love with you. And I can't tell you often enough that I love you. Also, C2, you know that I'm not one to break promises easily without good reason. I will continue loving you."
"And?"
"Do you love me?" he inquired.
"I don't kno-"
"Look at me in the eyes and say that you don't know, not with your back facing me. Do you really not know for sure? Are you still confused? Hesitant? Afraid? That I'll leave you?"
The Britannian had silently gotten up from his seat and walked towards the witch. Grabbing her shoulder, he spun her around so that she was looking up at him. Eyebrows furrowed, his violet eyes intensely searched her face for even a hint of an expression. Upon the surprise, C2 had immediately donned her customary, neutral "mask". Before she could answer however, he kissed her. He was being uncommonly aggressive, and managed to push her against the wooden door. The bowl slipped out of her hand, shattering on impact with the maple flooring. When they broke apart to satisfy their need for oxygen, the man asked in a low, husky voice, "Are you still confused, C2, on whether or not you love me?"
Breathless, she replied that she knew now, and Lelouch smirked. Lifting her up bridal style, he picked his way carefully through the shards of the dish, and set her down on the cool sheets of the bed. He told her, "It's time to prove your declaration, C2. You don't mind, do you?"
Grinning up at him from her position on the bed, she replied, "Do I have much of a choice?" while unbuttoning his shirt.
. . .
"Goodness." muttered Niamh. She was sitting at a table near the counter where Brandon was. Shelling peas, she tsked and shook her head back and forth in disapproval. The blonde florist, who had stepped in for a short lunch break, asked, "What is it?" with a mouth full of sandwich.
"Listen very closely."
The snapping of the beans' hard shells ceased, and Cian momentarily stopped chewing. When he heard it, he turned a shade of red matched only with his roses. Having trouble swallowing, he reached for a glass of water. The old woman across from him said, "You would think that they would be prop-"
"Oh, give them a break, Niamh. They're newly-weds. Although… I never knew Leroy had it in him… Hmmm…. A voiceless person on top of that… I wonder how he did it. I should ask him."
Sighing exasperatedly at the gardener, the grandma refused to speak with him for the rest of his meal.
. . .
C2 brushed away the long bangs of the man who was fast asleep besides her. She thought, 'He'll have to get a haircut soon.' Lelouch had become exhausted, not only because of their spontaneity, but also because he was still a patient, even with his unusual healing abilities. She would let him rest, the pizza-lover decided; she reasoned that it would a good way for his to waste away the time they needed to bide before they could safely escape.
Slowly getting up so that she didn't disturb the napping person, she tiptoed out when she felt a hand grasp her wrist. In a sleepy voice, the raven-haired former Emperor spoke, "C2."
"Lelouch, you need to sleep. I made a mistake in-"
"So you regret what we did." he interrupted while opening his eyes slowly.
"No, I don't regret it, but-"
"Then how is it a blunder if you don't regret it?"
She had nothing to say in answer to his question and he smiled. Yawning, he stretched and lazily said, "Let's go to the festival tomorrow evening."
"Are you insane? Nunnally will see-"
"Then we'll just have to avoid her, won't we? Please, C2? I've been in bed for the past 4 days, and I want to go outside and walk around, looking at things like the river and the flowers with you."
"Oh, how romantic." she commented sarcastically. In truth, she also wanted to spend time with him outside of the inn, where they could be in the open and not shut away in a room. But the threat of his sister was too big, and she just couldn't take the chance. Not when they were so close to escaping.
"I don't think it's a good ide-"
"And why not? Actually, let's discuss a few things. Going out together isn't a good idea, leaving this village right now isn't a good idea, going to the festival tomorrow night isn't a good idea, but here's the most confounding one; marrying me isn't a good idea!"
"I never said that-"
"You sure as hell meant it though."
"What do you want me to say then?"
"I want you to agree. Why won't you say yes?"
"I…"
"I what?" he said. It wasn't that he was angry at her, but more sad. He had thought she would agree, but when she had avoided giving a definitive answer, he had been hurt.
"…. I do. I do want to marry you, Lelouch."
"Then why do you keep evading my question?"
"There are too many complications if we do. Disguising ourselves will be more difficult if we're a couple-"
"We're newly-weds right now."
"Yes, but we're here temporarily."
"C2."
"What is it?"
"I never said let's go get married tomorrow, I just asked you if you were willing to marry me. I can wait. I have patience for you. It's the only way I've been able to put up with you."
Giving him a dirty look, she pulled free from his grasp and crossed her arms. The ex-prince sat up and hugged her from behind, apologetically saying, "I was just teasing."
"You don't have to go that far though! Especially at a time like this!" she snapped.
"I'm sorry, C2."
They didn't move and only sat in silence until the refugee cleared his throat and asked, "Why don't we put some clothes on? It's getting a bit chilly, isn't it, now that the sun is setting."
As he was pulling an undershirt over his pajama pants and the emerald haired immortal changed into her nightgown, he asked in a slightly muffled voice, "Are we going to the feast tomorrow?"
"Lelouch, that really isn-"
"So, there's Suzaku and Nunnally, and all of the diplomats and guards from Britannia, not to mention the European Union…. So what? Haven't we accomplished more impossible feats than going to a party?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"And my knee is fine. It'll be completely healed by the time the festival begins."
"What will we tell the townspeople though? You were unconscious for four days because of excessive bleeding and a gunshot. If we tell them that you're fin-"
"Hemophilia. Not a very good cover-up, but better than nothing."
C2 shook her head, amazed at his determination to go to a party. No wonder he had managed to create a better world. The man himself gently ushered her to the bed so that she was on the inside. Climbing in besides her, he blew out the lamp. Darkness cloaked them and the tired woman relaxed, sinking into the thick and soft mattress.
"We're going, right?" his voice inquired from the pitch black.
"Ugh…. Alright, alright."
"I'm so glad you agreed to."
"Honestly, you're like a child at times."
"Well, I think it would be safe to say that my childhood was stolen from me."
"And you pull that card out again. Is that your only counter-attack?" C2 asked.
"Nope. I have this too."
Turning his head to the side, he lightly pressed his lips on her forehead. He could tell the witch had been caught off guard, and he tried to conceal his amusement. He said, "Then tomorrow it is."
"You can't do anything to catch any attention."
"I know, C2. Just a dance or two with you, and I'll be perfectly content to come back."
"Dance?"
"It is a festival after all."
"Oh goodness…. We'll have to come up with a strategy so that you don't get caught."
"I know, I know, but not in the morning."
"Why? What are we doing in the morning?"
"I don't know what you're doing, but I'm going to go buy something."
She became suspicious and asked, "What?"
"You don't need to know. It's something only men go buy."
"….. Lelouch…" she said in a warning tone. He laughed and replied with, "It's not what you think it is. I never knew you thought like that, C2."
Flustered, she didn't reply and pretended to fall asleep. Smiling, he hugged her closer and said, "Good night." Still embarrassed, she refused to say anything. Her stubbornness only amused him further, and he grinned.
. . .
"Leroy! How are you standing?! I thought you shattered your knee!"
Lelouch, who had donned his mask once more, ignored the interrogation and showed a fat, cloth pouch to the blonde man. The eccentric man saw it and understood. As they walked out of the tavern, he asked, "What do you want to buy? If it's flowers for Cera, I can help you there again."
The raven haired teenager shook his head, and Cian began a guessing game where he would name merchandise and Lelouch almost fell from shaking his head so often. Once he had steadied himself, he pointed towards his ring finger.
"A ring? For Cera? I thought you were married though….."
Frustrated by how limited his ability to communicate was, he stopped walking and squatted. Grabbing a stick, he wrote in the dirt:
We married, but I didn't have enough money to buy her a ring. I have the money now though, and I want to give it to her as a surprise.
Smiling not unkindly, the villager commented, "I see you two have become much closer since when you first came. Especially in the bedroom."
Lelouch involuntarily blushed. Seeing his reaction, the horticulturist laughed and said, "I'm just teasing, Leroy. But I'm glad. It's always nice to see two people in love. Now…. That ring….."
. . .
"Are you sure you can afford that?"
The Britannian nodded, and set down the sack of money. Falling to its side, it spilled gold coins. The jeweler and the gardener looked at the foreigner in astonishment. Shrugging, he snapped the small velvet box close and pocketed it. Waving once in goodbye, he walked out of the shop. Max, the town's jeweler, asked, "And you said he was a farmer?"
"Um…. We never really asked him what he does for a living, but apparently, it pays incredibly well. Could you not tell anyone about this?"
"Why? Look at all this gold! He could've bought everything in here and then some!"
"Just… Don't. Not until they leave, at least. Could you do that for me?"
"…. I'll hold my tongue, but only because of Alice."
At the mention of the name Alice, the blonde's expression suddenly turned to grief, but only for a split second. Patting the old man's hand, he thanked him and hurried out after the stranger.
Lelouch was randomly in the middle of the road leading back to the inn. He was looking at the ring he had just purchased. Smiling to himself, he thought, 'Well C2, I'll do as you ask. I'll propose… The traditional way. Ha, once even you see the ring, you won't be able to say anything.'
Suddenly, he heard a loud voice say, "MAKE WAY FOR THE EMPRESS! CLEAR THE ROAD!"
The people parted respectfully, and watched as a long train of guards made their way down the streets. From all of the jostling behind him, the former Emperor lost his grip on the small, velvet box and helplessly watched as it rolled away from him. Breaking free from the by-standers, he nearly ran into a military man on a horse in trying to grab the gift. The procession stopped abruptly, and a familiar voice asked, "Are you okay? You aren't hurt, are you?"
Lelouch stayed in his crouching position, not lifting his head or standing up to look the questioner in the eye because he knew if he did, all would be lost. The tiny case was picked up and the owner of the delicate hand giggled. She asked, "Is this for your girlfriend?"
Only one thought was turning over and over in the exiled ruler's head, and that was the fact that his younger sister, Nunnally, was standing right in front of him.
Ender: Okay, do I really have to point it out to you? Nunnally + Lelouch... Gee, I really wonder how he's going to get out of this one without giving his younger sister a heart attack by seeing her supposedly dead (and beloved) older brother.
A/N: Okay, wow, that was... Kinda sexual in the middle. Okay... Gotta let that go... I mean, it is rated as T. Anyways... I'm really sorry for any errors grammatically, or anything like that... :) I hope you liked it. Reviews are most welcomed.
