Author's Note: Alright, you'll probably notice that chapter eleven is technically skipped, but there's a reason for that. Chapter 11 was an image and won't let me upload that kind of thing (or if it will I have yet to find out how to do it). So, for those of you reading this here, go check out Chapter 11 on Archive of Our Own under the same username.
Chapter Twelve: Deserted Island
It had been a week since they had first woken up on the island, three days since their confrontation over the cave. Kallen looked up from where she was snapping a branch into smaller pieces, checking on the one who had remained behind at their camp.
Euphemia was busy plucking a bird that Suzaku had brought down, a pile of fruit beside her. Kallen was sure that they would go search for more later, but it was enough for now. Besides, Lelouch had told them to always stay in pairs, just in case there was something big on the island. Kallen doubted it, but Lelouch seemed swayed by the scratches that they had found in the cave. He had said that it was an indication of people living on the island, something that Kallen scoffed at. They might have been on the island once, but they weren't there now.
Unfortunately, Lelouch wasn't around for her to argue with, he had gone off with Suzaku to do another sweep of the island, maybe spot a ship. Kallen thought that Lelouch was just trying to stay away from her. She hadn't taken it well when she had realized who was behind Zero's mask.
Out of everyone that it could have been, Zero had to have been Lelouch. He was too apathetic, too distant. He belonged to the world of Ashford. Even worse was the fact that she had suspected him and then ruled him out. She had known but had been tricked, just like the rest of the Black Knights. The branch in her hand made a satisfying snap as she broke it, Kallen tossing the pieces aside with more force than needed. The work was something to keep her from shouting at Lelouch or breaking him as easily as she broke the branches.
How dare he lie to them? How dare he promise them freedom and some kind of camaraderie when he was a Britannian? No, it wasn't because he was Britannian; it was because he was privileged, rich and sheltered from the rest of the world. By now, he knew how they struggled, but that didn't mean that he had the right to push his way into their business; even if he had been bringing them victory.
Kallen groaned and threw the last pieces of wood into the pile, ignoring the confused look that Euphemia shot her. She didn't want to have to talk to the princess, not while she was so angry at Lelouch. But mostly she was angry at herself, that she had allowed herself to be tricked.
In the end, she didn't care if Lelouch was a Britannian. The Black Knights were focused on justice for everyone and it would be hypocritical of her to hate their leader for that. What she resented was that Lelouch had known about her, about everything and had kept silent. It was like he didn't trust her, and she was the leader of the Zero Squad, his body guard. Surely he could have let her know and she wouldn't have told a soul. Kallen was sure that she could trust Zero, Lelouch was another matter entirely. Kallen was sure that she could come to some decision if he would stop avoiding her.
Lelouch was out all the time, with Suzaku or Euphemia, but never with her. When it was her turn to search for food or to see if there were any boats coming, Lelouch would stay back at camp, leaving Suzaku to volunteer. Not that Kallen would complain about having to go around the island with Suzaku, she was sure that Lelouch was gone twice as long because he was so badly out of shape. That he always seemed to take the most time with Suzaku was something that she was not going think too hard about. There were better things to occupy her time, like focusing on getting the fire started and what she had to do tomorrow.
She glanced up as Euphemia hummed, the princess looking inland. Euphemia remained motionless for a while before turning to look back at Kallen. "It's getting late. I thought they would be back by now."
"Yeah." At least Lelouch should have been. Suzaku would work until he ran out of light. Kallen brushed her hands off on her flight suit, her attention going to the pile of sticks. "I guess we start cooking then, it'll take a while."
"And if they don't come back in time?"
"There's always the fruit."
Kallen didn't expect Euphemia to laugh, or look quite so devious. "It serves them right, standing us up. Let's enjoy our dinner and watch for ships. And if one comes, we might not remember to tell them to wait for those two."
To her surprise, Kallen found herself laughing along with Euphemia. It served Lelouch right for lying to her and then refusing to talk. And, even though it was a lesser sin, getting her stuck on this island in the first place. She was Zero's bodyguard and could hardly be expected to just let him get captured. A week long vacation on a deserted island was not her idea of repayment. Lelouch could suffer through a dinner of fruit for all she cared. It was the perfect punishment.
