Hubris: Memories Long Forgotten
Disclaimer: I don't own the Code Geass Characters so please don't sue me for borrowing them
"What are you doing here witch."
The angry tone in Alex's voice startled her as she watched the two standing before her from where she sat on the cot. He placed the bag he'd been carrying on the table turning away from the green-hair woman standing in the middle of the room as best he could. For her sake she didn't so much as flinch at the tone of his voice. C.C folded her arms in front of her as she stared back at Alex with those same deadpan eyes.
"I didn't come here for you," She answered pointing at Lelouch, "I'm here to get her."
Alex slammed his hand on the table glaring at C.C, "No – I told you already I wouldn't let you do this."
"That isn't your decision to make Alex, he is already beginning to move and we can't stand around here waiting for another war." C.C replied coldly.
"As if you care!" He shouted, "This whole mess is your fault, Japan – Lelouch's memories, all of it was because of your selfish wants."
She stared back at him but this time he saw something – flinch inside her eyes as if his words had actually hurt her. He sighed running his fingers through his hair as he looked over at Lelouch. She didn't look startled at all that the two of them were speaking about her while she was in the room in fact she looked almost bored. I'm sorry . . . I'm going to have to do something horrible to you again, he thought shaking his head.
"If Lelouch agrees to your terms, I will stand by my Princess." He replied sinking into the chair.
"As obedient as always," C.C replied turning away from him, "That's why you lost to him in the first place." She brushed her hair back behind her shoulder as she moved to stand before Lelouch.
She's as calm and collected on the surface as always. C.C thought as she knelt before the other woman reaching out to touch Lelouch's chest. The frantic beat pulsing beneath her fingertips told the truth Lelouch's calm facade had failed to project. Lelouch was terrified, no – more than terrified she was beyond that and only the fact that Alex was close by had kept her from bolting or screaming. He makes her safe, even to this day and she doesn't even know why.
"You don't need to be afraid anymore, Lelouch." C.C replied softly.
"Are you – are you going to tell me the truth?" Lelouch asked.
"I have something else I must give you," C.C felt her chest ache at her words, "And while I cannot help you regain what you have lost, I can help by protecting you from those who would take what you have from you."
How long? Suzaku slumped into the contours of the couch with a heavy sigh. Matters concerning Area 11 had almost concluded despite the resurgence of the Black Knights and Zero. And, while there were still sectors were resistance still reigned, they'd managed to quell the public uprising of the Eleven's in the Ghetto. He didn't agree with the Governor's methods but at the very least they'd managed to bring some semblance of peace to Area 11. The only problem was Zero, though the masked villain had proven less of a match for Schneizel's careful planning his charisma was real enough. Recent events at the very least had convinced him that the current Zero was not Lelouch, though her disappearance was still shrouded in mystery. Gathered behind Zero, the Elevens and the Black Knights things were coming to a head as war loomed over the entire area. To make matters worse, they'd lost communications with Britannia. Needless to say with everything that had happened, he'd been taken out of school and the hunt for Lelouch was left in the hands of her previous 'caretakers' with the exception of Rolo who had disappeared.
He rubbed his eyes leaning his head back against the seat back, Where are you Lelouch? Anger welled in his chest as he took a deep breath to calm the beating of his heart. No, Suzaku shook his head as he leaned forward staring intently at the floor. The answer he was looking for was Barton not Lelouch, he needed to find that man first if he wanted to find Lelouch. That bastard, he slammed his fist against his leg. You disappeared eight years ago and left her to cry, he gritted his teeth together, As if I'd let a bastard like you do it again.
The sound of soft crying caught his attention as he moved through the denser part of the forest. Above him tree branches swayed in the breeze and the rustling of falling leaves nearly covered the noise but it was there just above the normal sounds. He followed the sound curious to find out who was making them until he reached a large cherry tree. Thick roots protruded from the ground extending outwards from the base of the tree itself. He could hear the sound getting louder as he moved towards the tree.
"Hello?" He called out as he neared the tree and the crying stopped with a yelp.
Suzaku blinked as he stared down at the figure huddled beside the tree. A pair of lavender-hued eyes stared back at him from beneath a wave of dark black hair. He caught a glimpse of tears running down her pale face as she turned away brushing furiously at her eyes. He remembered meeting her a few days back and could vaguely recall that she was a 'guest' but that was all.
"Are you –?"
"GO AWAY!" She shouted climbing to her feet. She let out a squeak and fell back to her knees gripping her ankle.
"You're hurt!" He cried out rushing to her side. He reached out towards her and she slapped his hand away bristling angrily at him.
"This is nothing! I am a Princess of Britannia, I am not hurt!" She shouted pushing herself up. Her face scrunched up in pain as she leaned her back against the tree glaring at him.
"You're not fine! You're hurt and if you keep that up you'll only make it worse." He shouted back reaching out to grab her hand. It happened too fast for him to fully recall but suddenly he found himself pressed against the tree with his arm twisted behind him.
"You dare harm the Princess, commoner." A gruff voice echoed against his ear as he twisted his face to see a tall man standing behind him with an angry look in his eyes.
"Alexander!"
Her cheerful voice caught his attention and he strained his neck to see her smiling up at the larger man. It was completely different from how she'd looked a moment ago. The soft light in her eyes, the open smile that felt like sunlight against his face it was as if he were looking into the sun itself. She reached out a hand to grab the man's and her face looked somewhat pained but with a steely determination he could recall seeing that first time he'd laid eyes on her.
"He didn't hurt me – I fell." She replied a slight flush spreading across her face at the words. "I was trying to climb the tree and the branch broke."
"Princess . . ..
The grip on his arm relaxed then let go and he spun to face the man who'd held him down so easily. His eyes traveled up the tall frame to a pair of light brown eyes and short unruly hair, the man looked like someone out of a mafia movie minus any scars. His eyes stared back at him, measuring him as if to determine something. After a moment the man bowed towards Suzaku.
"I apologize, I was coming up the hill and only saw you reaching towards the Princess. I was afraid you were some kind of assassin sent to kill her and when I saw the tears in her eyes I thought maybe you had hurt her. I am deeply sorry for any trouble this may have caused you." The man replied calmly as he bent to lift the girl into his arms.
He. Is. So. Cool. Suzaku thought as he watched the taller man disappear down the hill with the young girl.
What am I thinking about, Suzaku shook his head at the memory of his first official meeting with Alexander and Lelouch. Until that moment he'd never witnessed a person's single-minded devotedness towards another in his life. To him, Alexander had become the pinnacle of what it meant to be a true Knight. The man had thrown everything away to remain at Lelouch's side eight years ago, he'd devoted his life to keeping the exiled Princess happy. At that moment, when he'd first seen Lelouch's warm smile he recalled his intense jealousy towards the man who had brought such a look on her face. Knowing that she was with that man, whether she had her memories or not struck a cord deep in his heart.
Damn it, will I lose to him again?
He landed against the floor hard knocking the wind from him as he struggled to suck air back into his lungs. Suzaku blinked looking up at the man standing over him. The slight smile on Alex's face made him angry despite knowing that it was not meant in a mocking way. Two weeks had passed since he'd first met this man and the Princess he swore to protect. Two weeks and already they had become close, though Lelouch still refused to smile at him no matter what. He twisted his head to see her sitting on the edge of the mat watching their sparring session with a bored look on her face. In two weeks he'd learned that Lelouch detested working out, her slender form and soft features were after all ill-suited for fighting. She tired easily but her mind was absolutely brilliant when it came to puzzles and mind games.
Alexander's full name was Alexander Vin Barton and he had been the son of a Duke until Lelouch's exile to Japan. The man had thrown it all away, his title and rank within the Britannian Military to follow Lelouch. His devotion to her was like nothing Suzaku had ever seen before, his skills in hand-to-hand and range weapons were absolutely astounding. He was everything he'd heard Knights of Britannia were and more. If there was a flaw in his personality it would probably Lelouch. Alex would do anything to protect her, even to the point where he'd give his own life in exchange for hers.
"You shift your weight to you legs when you begin to doubt yourself." Alex replied breaking Suzaku's train of thought. The older man sighed as he reached out a hand towards Suzaku. He heard a chuckle coming from Lelouch and he gritted his teeth together as he took Alex's hand in his.
"But Alex-sama is so much stronger than I am!" Suzaku pouted.
A strike to the back of his head made him cringe as he clamped his hands over the sore spot on his head. Behind him his teacher, Kyoshirou Toudou glared down at him.
"Excuses are not tolerated Kururugi. Alexander is correct in his assessment, in war if you hesitate because your enemy is stronger then you die." Toudou replied grimly. "Fear has no place when you are fighting. If you want to become strong to protect the weak then you must cast aside your fear and meet the enemy head on."
"-zaku?"
A voice shook him awake as he sat upright his eyes focusing on Cecile's cheerful smile. He blinked climbing hastily to his feet with a rushed apology.
"I'm sorry – I must have dozed off is something wrong Cecile?"
She smiled holding up her hands as if to ward off his excessive apologies, "Oh, nothing I was sent here by Lloyd he said he had new information that you might want to see."
Suzaku blinked dumbfounded for a split-second before he realized what it was she'd said. He thanked her shaking both her hands before rushing out of the room. Cecile watched him with a soft smile on her face. There was only one reason Lloyd would call Suzaku – only one reason why the sometimes lazy man would request that she call Suzaku rather than coming here himself. I hope its the answer you so desperately want to hear, Kururugi-kun, she thought with a sigh.
He raced into the room almost breathless, ducking to the side as a bullet whispered past his cheek. Suzaku dived behind one of the desks cursing himself for a fool as he reached for a weapon he didn't have. Another gunshot rang out in the room and he steeled himself for what he was about to do next. He stepped out from behind his cover, trusting in that curse to keep him alive long enough to immobilize his attacker. Suzaku stopped himself before he could even take one step pulling him back when his eyes took full stock of his surroundings.
Lloyd's wary smile greeted him as he pulled up short of his attack, a gun pointed at his head showed Suzaku why the man was so reluctant to do much of anything. Suzaku's eyes followed the path of the gun towards its owner and he cursed inwardly. Alex's smiling face greeted him as Suzaku gritted his teeth together. The man looked as if he were simply paying an old friend a visit rather than having walked into an enemy base past dozens of guards and Knights.
"Hello Suzaku-kun." Alex's easy tone grated on his nerves as he clenched his fists together.
