A/N: Just want to open this with addressing something that has become a recurring criticism of this story. One that got struck down on QQ because people can respond to each other easier there. So if one person got it, they could explain it to people who didn't. Maybe that makes me lazier in exposition.

"Why can't Lelouch just geass x inconvenient person?" Because while geass isn't a known quantity in DxD, mind control most certainly is. Excalibur Ruler can do it. True Longinus can do it. Many other methods exist for it. And on the lowest end, devils have it as a basic racial ability. It doesn't work on those much stronger than ordinary humans, but it's still there. In the position someone like Zekram has, he will have counters to mind control by necessity. Whether they would work on geass too? Who knows? But it's a hell of a mad gamble to try it without being sure.

-(-)-

Lelouch awoke, the usual whirl of thoughts in his mind no longer the chaotic mess they had been the previous day. His mind had always been a hive of activity, never idle, always making connections and piecing things together for whatever subject might drift into his thoughts. He was a gifted young man when it came to such things. But where there were people he could name who had similar gifts and could use them without issue in even the most trying times, Lelouch did not have it so easy. He had a flaw, if one could call it that. His emotions ran high. Even before he was a devil, he was often in a struggle to keep his feelings in check. To keep them leashed so they didn't overwhelm his thoughts.

As they had since he spoke with Zekram.

Ever since he had been handed an ultimatum by the ancient devil, Lelouch's usually controlled and endlessly calculating mind had been in a frenzy. A mad monofocus from which he couldn't free himself. Where under normal circumstances his thoughts would find patterns and make connections, the unchecked rage ruined that process. Instead, it was like he was trying to force a plug into the wrong socket. Trying to make a connection, find a solution, that was utterly impossible. And yet despite how obvious it was from a single attempt, he continued to try to change that unassailable fact. Tried to force the solution, tried to insist to his own logical mind that there was a path forward, one where he could have everything. Where he could live his comfortable life, fulfil his position as heir and eventually head of the House of Bael to a level of excellence with which no one could argue. That his mother could be saved. That he could marry, father children, live a happy life. A peaceful life.

Or a peaceful afterlife. He had once thought, imagined, that this second life he was living might in fact be his eternal rest. His own personalised heaven of chess-themed wargames and people, devils, as morally flexible as he was. In hindsight, it was an absurd notion, but one he had seemingly failed to entirely disabuse himself of. There were signs. Warnings. But ones he had not heeded. This was no ideal afterlife. Simply another life. With all the trials, tribulations, joys and sorrows that come with any life. He had experienced sorrow. And joy–

"Hm-mm..." Ana grunted in her sleep, her body pressing tighter against his arm, bare skin against bare skin. She wore a cute frown as she adjusted to get herself comfortable. A frown that settled into a peaceful smile as she found comfort again, letting out a pleased little hum.

And joy.

Love. He had experienced love in his first life. Fraternal and romantic. But he had never been able to express romantic love, nor have it expressed to him. Not like this. Ana had given of herself to quell the storm in his mind and his heart. She had succeeded. Thanks to her words, her actions, his mind was not clear. It never could be. But it was clearer. Able to process, to think, to draw conclusions and to devise plans. No matter how much he wanted something to be true, there were times it never would be true. There were plans that no matter how much he wanted them to work, they would never come to fruition.

That naivety, that haste and dare he say it, laziness. It had cost him a great deal. The end to his first life, it had left him listless. He had planned his own murder. Arranged an elaborate suicide. So rarely do those who take such a course ever need to pose the question 'and then what?' He didn't have a plan for this life and he hadn't wanted to have one. He tackled every situation as it came with the simple goal of keeping his loved ones safe and happy. When things weren't so simple he gave of himself in the hopes that would be enough to make up the difference. He had wanted everything to be easy. That wasn't naive, it was arrogant. This life could never be so kind. He had given Nunnally a world where that might come to be, but that was not this world. This world would take, and crush, and rip apart if he let it.

Ana had been right. It wasn't unexpected. She was a woman who could literally see right through his every facade to the heart of him. He was scared. Of who he would be if he became his old self in such a life as this. Of what a world would be that would require he become his old self. But... The time had come. Zekram was determined to push him into being ruthless. Into being more like him.

To think, he had seen Zekram as someone to be feared. Someone worthy of hatred. No. Zekram had proven he was no ally, nor an enemy. That left him as only two things. An obstacle and an opportunity. He bore no more thought or concern than that. How best he could be used or undermined.

And in being so keen to 'teach Lelouch a lesson', he had offered himself up as a tool with no strings attached. How convenient.

… Too convenient. But ignoring the opportunity would be worse than taking it.

He looked again to the girl sleeping peacefully beside him. Enjoyed the warmth of her dreaming smile. Yes. His mind was calm. His course set. But action could wait for the morning. For the moment, He let himself return to rest with a wonderful woman there to share his bed.

Despite the troubles that still plagued him, the sleep he returned to was the most peaceful he had enjoyed in years.

-(-)-

"I'm sorry Shirone," Lelouch apologised, on one knee before the small nekoshou with a regretful smile. "I didn't mean to scare you yesterday. I was very angry but it wasn't at you. Are you alright?"

"Mm, nya!" She was barely even looking at him. As the peerage had gathered for breakfast he had pulled her aside for this heartfelt apology. Only for the young girl to be entirely distracted by the breakfast sundae that was waiting for her on the table.

"Okay, as long as you're happy. Go sit down."

"Nya!" The kitten didn't need to be told twice. She scampered over the back of her chair, dropped down into her seat with a thump. She had a spoon in hand before she had even landed, glee writ on her face in shining teeth.

Lelouch shook his head, at least happy she was happy. "Kallen," he called out as he stood and walked toward his own seat. The redhead perked up, looking at him with complete attention. "You'll be with me this morning."

"Right," she answered, though thought again immediately afterward. "Should I tell Rudolf–?"

"I'll handle it."

Less than an hour later, King and Queen were out in the courtyard of the castle. The air a cool chill despite the lush greenery of the space. Within the walls the climate was carefully controlled to be comfortable and good for gardening, even in the outdoors. Just a pleasant crispness as opposed to the often snow-covered lands outside. It led to... Occasional weather anomalies just outside the castle. But that was of little concern to those of devilish constitution.

"Kallen, today you're going to learn to fly," Lelouch announced, a pair of bat wings spreading behind his back.

On reflex, Kallen's own appeared behind her, startling her. "Oh. Wicked. Couldn't Rudolf have taught me this though? I mean, you seemed to be on the warpath after yesterday–"

"True," her King acknowledged. "To be clear, you won't be under Rudolf's tutelage for much longer. In fact, for the rest of today I'll be having Ana instruct you and Shirone in the basics of devil magic. However, this seemed like an ample opportunity for you and I to have a very necessary talk. For now..." With more will than effort, Lelouch's body rose from the ground with a single flap of his wings.

Kallen's imitated the motion to little effect.

"Flight," Lelouch began his explanation, "Like most things devils are capable of, is a matter of will, intent and imagination. It is the fundamental principle behind devil magic as a whole as Ana will explain later. For now, rise."

"Right, will. Imagination. Like, er, Peter Pan I suppose?" the redhead psyched herself up. "I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the–"

"Are you singing?" a bewildered Lelouch asked.

"Sorry, bit nervous. Got thinking about Peter Pan and then it turned into– Never mind, not important." She breathed deeply in and out. "Will. Imagination." She closed her eyes. "I'm a dragon. Dragons are big fat fuckers but they can fly. I can fly. I can fly."

"Well done."

She opened her eyes, looked down and saw she was rising above the grass. Half a foot. Then a whole foot. Then two. "Ha... haha! Wicked!" she exclaimed, rising and falling as her intent guided her body, her wings gently flapping behind her.

"Very well done," Lelouch praised her again. "Now, follow me," he beckoned as he took off at a very measured pace. First up and over the planted trees, down again to circle them, a simple course to give his Queen a chance to get used to manoeuvring in the air. He watched her progress for around ten minutes, watched her confidence grow. It seemed once she got past the mental block she was a natural. Not that he expected anything less. "Alright. Next, let's add a little competition to it."

"Like that idea," the red Queen approved as she came to an unsteady stop. "What do I get if I win?"

"Satisfaction."

"Not much for rewards, are you?"

"The joy of flying free like a bird, or a dragon, isn't enough for you?" the Bael asked with a smirk. "By the way," he tapped her on the shoulder, "You're it," then took off.

"Oh, you prick–!"

She took off after him and so a game of airborne tag began and lasted for a good half an hour. Kallen led on a merry chase around, over, under and through any obstacle Lelouch could lay eyes on. Through the boughs of a tree that left her spitting out leaves. Under the bridge that crossed a small brook, the redhead bonking her head on it and crashing into the water. That one may have left her the least pleased and most vengeful. Not that her irritation came to much beyond a vow to get him back one day.

But, before much longer, it was time for the training game to end. "That's enough," the King announced, coming to a halt only to dodge away from a reaching hand. "Kallen. That's enough."

She blinked. Shook her head, inadvertently clearing some twigs from her hair. "Sorry. I get a bit–"

"Intense," he finished for her, clearing her hair and clothes of detritus with a gentle burst of magic. "I know."

She muttered her thanks, finding her clothes were suddenly dry as well. "So, what now?"

"How do you feel?" Lelouch asked. "Tired at all?"

She frowned. "Fine I suppose. A bit chilly? Could've kept going. Would've got you too."

"Given enough time, I don't doubt you," her King smirked. "Flight relies on mental stamina and demonic power. It's a form of magic which, the same as any other devil magic, is enforcing your will on reality. That you're still comfortable suggests you have at least acceptable reserves of demonic power."

"Oh, acceptable is it? What a compliment."

"As a Queen I would have expected no less," Lelouch responded, ignoring her mild sarcasm. "Ana will be putting you through your paces later to see how far it goes. Come." He led her back down to the ground, down to a patio toward the end of the brook as it ran under the castle wall. Unseen, a trick of magic took the water and returned it back to the top, there to cycle endlessly. The sound of moving water adding to the idyllic air of the scene.

"We'll be going on a visit to the human world soon," Lelouch told his Queen. "It's been a few weeks. We're reaching the time to finalise your discharge from the British Army and solidify your cover. Of course, we can visit your family at that time."

The news seemed to take a weight off her shoulders. "Yeah? Can't say I'm looking forward to the 'I told you so' I'll be getting. But it'll be good to see them again." Any misgivings were proven as insignificant by the bright smile on her face. A smile that grew uncertain. "Can I... Tell them? You know, what really happened?"

Lelouch sighed through his nose. "Your father is in the government?"

"Welsh Assembly. So... A bit? Government that can't do anything, like."

"If you would prefer they know, it can be arranged. Though precautions would need to be taken to ensure they don't attempt to spread dangerous information. It would end poorly for everyone involved."

"You... Don't mean...?"

"No. A cleanup operation would take place to expunge the information from those who have no business knowing. Your family would be among them, naturally, and they would no longer be permitted to know the truth of your status."

The redhead considered that, her expression downcast. "Maybe just my brother Naoto then. I'll be happy Mum and Dad knowing I'm alive. They don't need to know more than that."

"Fair enough."

"Was that all you wanted to talk about?"

"No," the Bael heir drummed his fingertips on the table, glanced to the courtyard entrance nearest the kitchen and saw Rudolf on his way. "Your conversation with Zekram. He was pumping you for information."

"What?" she asked in confusion, then amusement. "On my hobbies?"

"On your everything," Lelouch corrected. "Your hobbies. Your interests. Your temperament. Your drives. Your ambitions. Your friends. Your family. Any and every bit of information you were willing to give, so that one day he can choose to use it against you."

"You're joking." She tried to say it with amusement, but after what she had seen of Lelouch for the past day, she found herself unable to find it funny. "All he did was ask me about–"

"You think he only learned from the words you spoke?" her King interrupted seriously. "Zekram Bael has spent millennia as a political powerhouse. If there is one thing he understands, it's how to read people and figure out what makes them tick. Combine that with the information he could readily acquire about a newly minted war hero and he will know everything he needs to for the sake of bending you to his will."

"Lelouch," Kallen spoke in a warning tone, "Do you really think I'd be that easily done over?"

"It's only easy for him for how many times he's already done it."

"Young Master, your refreshments," Rudolf announced, laying the tray he carried onto the table and served the drinks from it.

"Thank you, Rudolf," Lelouch said absently, taking his cup of coffee in hand. "Zekram Bael thrives on and delights in getting anyone and everyone to play to his tune. I am a priority and because of that, so are you. You wouldn't be the first in this house to fall under his sway." He raised the cup to his lips.

Brewed to absolute perfection. Just how he liked it.

And yet it tasted bitter all the same.

His father's Queen moved more stiffly as he took the tray again and walked away. He let nothing show on his face, but he didn't need to.

"You can of course believe what you wish," Lelouch said as he sipped his coffee, his redheaded companion staring into her teacup. "However. Should he threaten those you care about, they will be empty threats. He would never be so flagrant without cataclysmic cause. Should he bribe you, his promises will be genuine but you will feel cheated regardless. And finally and most likely, should he say he acts in anyone's best interest but his own, he is lying."

For a moment longer, she continued to stare into her cup. Then, looked at him, her expression showing bitterness. "I think I understand."

-(-)-

Before midday, Lelouch was once again in the luxury car as it conveyed him from Bael Castle to Zekram's personal manor. However, for this journey, no one accompanied him. No one but Rudolf who once again acted as driver.

The car was deathly silent. But, even though Rudolf now knew that Lelouch had figured out exactly who was feeding Zekram information on the house, there was nothing to be said. They both knew well enough that neither could ever say anything to Herodotus. After everything, the truth would break him completely. It was already to the point Lelouch expected his Father to abdicate within the next decade or so. A lifetime of pressure to succeed and a lifetime of failing to live up to those expectations. To find out it wasn't entirely his fault would be crushing because the reason for it was his best friend tripping him up at the starting line.

No. At this point, the only thing less forgivable than that betrayal would be revealing it purely to assuage a guilty conscience. So far as Lelouch was concerned, that was a fitting punishment for Rudolf. To let the guilt of it eat away at him from the inside for the rest of his life.

The car slowed to a stop outside of Zekram's estate. Lelouch didn't wait for Rudolf to get the door, getting it himself. A petty act but one not without meaning.

"Good afternoon, Young Master Lelouch. Master Zekram will be with you shortly. If you would like to wait in the lounge?"

There was a temptation to be brash. Irritation upon irritation weighed on him being back here so soon. But, this was likely to be the last time for a long time. It was best to leave things on a polite note. And of course, Mary had done nothing wrong. "Thank you, Mary."

He sat, waiting in that room that he had learned to fear, and then despise. It seemed Zekram had no intention of making him wait, letting him sweat. He arrived to greet him shortly after he sat down.

"Lelouch, back so soon." Genial as ever, wearing that same smile as though he hadn't sent his descendent into a destructive rage the day before. "I believed it would take more time for you to come to a decision. But, I'm glad to see you aren't the type to stew over difficult choices. Shall I have Mary fetch drinks? Mary–"

"That won't be necessary," Lelouch answered shortly before the Bael progenitor could answer for him. "I won't be staying long."

"As you like," the ancient devil nodded with the slightest bow. The air of victory about him was yet another irritation stacked on top of Lelouch's pile. "So, your decision?"

"If you could have someone fetch your files on the Sephiroth Graal?" Lelouch requested.

"Hm," Zekram grunted, "Interesting." The word was at odds with the somewhat disappointed look as he communicated with one of his peerage. Within less than a minute a stack of files was laid on the coffee table. "So am I to assume–" And then they weren't on the table. They weren't anywhere. Rendered into nothing by a malevolent crimson and black energy. "Ah. You understand I have other copies...?"

"I'll accept your best wishes and full support for an arrangement between Rias Gremory and myself."

"And so you choose the little girl crying on your shoulder over the life of your own mother," Zekram mused aloud, attempting to twist the knife. "Not the choice I was expecting, but–"

"You misunderstand," Lelouch said with a shake of his head. "I didn't choose one over the other. In truth, there was no choice at all. I will still pursue a means to cure the sleeping sickness. However, I came to a realisation last night. As a devil, you are intimidating," the young devil explained. "For a young naive devil, you come across as someone who has all of the answers, someone who can do anything at all. Sitting quietly atop devil society, a lone equal to four of the strongest devils alive. Two arguably the strongest to ever live. You sit comfortably enjoying wine served by an infamous, zealotus monarch in fetish wear. It makes a young man believe that you can do anything. But you can't, can you? Ever since I came here asking for your help, you were using me from the start."

"That is how agreements tend to go, Lelouch," the ancient devil answered mildly. "Each side using the other for their own purposes."

"And you certainly used me. Gladhanding with nobles. Ferreting out true allegiances from your tight knit faction of not-at-all like-minded houses. That one was particularly interesting. It seemed so genuine that it might be an opportunity to benefit both of us. But..." The frustration leaked out, audibly and physically, in voice and in body language. "Senjutsu. Manipulating life energy. As if that had never been tried before! My youth betrayed me there. It's rare but not unheard of. Someone else must have tried it. Am I wrong?"

"It seems plausible to me that someone may have."

"Of course!" Lelouch immediately agreed, getting only more animated as Zekram remained as collected as ever. "Why give a straight answer! Why admit bad faith! Only a fool would! But without that one glimmer of action from you, we have the great project fit to impress! A quite literal hunt for the holy grail! How long is it that you've been searching? Using all of your vast connections with devils across the underworld, with other factions? However long it is, it was long enough that if you were going to find something, you would have found it. Am I wrong?"

"I never guaranteed you success, Lelouch–"

"No, you didn't," the younger devil allowed, "Nor did you imply you had or could even acquire worthwhile leads. I made that deal with you on the expectation that you could do anything. I made that deal on your image and reputation alone." He shook his head in disappointment at himself. "An amateurish mistake. Politics. Arrangements. Deals. That's what you are, Zekram Bael. Showing all you had was dead-end research on the grail revealed your hand. You had nothing. You never had anything. And unless the grail suddenly appeared with flashing lights reading 'Sephiroth Graal', you never could have had anything. I came to you with a deal I believed you could uphold, and like the natural devil you are, you let me keep believing it. I was a fool. But I'm done." His hand cut horizontally. "I agree to your new deal, and so I'm free from the old. Smooth the way for an arrangement between Bael and Gremory. It's politics. That's all you're good for."

And even after that tirade, Zekram continued to just watch him. Seconds counted by, four, five, before he put his hands together repeatedly in a slow clap. "I imagine that was quite cathartic, Lelouch. Do you perhaps feel better for getting that off your chest?"

"Don't mock me. You've done enough of that over these past years."

"Mock you? At this moment I'm entirely sincere. More than that, I'm..." He stopped. Looked up and to the side, lips pursed in thought. "Hm. 'Proud' might not be the word. Relieved! Yes. I'm relieved. I was worried for you."

"Do you expect me to believe that? You used me!"

"Lelouch," the ancient devil tutted as he shook his head. "Really, you were so close! Just another step and you would have truly impressed me. But, I suppose there are some leaps of logic it would be unfair to expect." He sighed theatrically. "Alright. I'll spell it out. It's the least I can do when you were so close. You're right that I've been mocking you these years. All this time acting on hope and prayer that your dear mother could be returned to you. And what did I have you do in return? Lelouch, answer me this. And be honest."

"How much do you think I care about the Great King faction?"

Lelouch gaped. Stared uncomprehendingly. All while Zekram smiled like he had just told the punchline to a hilarious joke. "What? You... The Great King... You said they're the reason half of the houses aren't trying to revive the Old Satan faction."

"Very true! And what did you say in response? Something along the lines of 'destroying the Old Satan faction would remove the need for the Great King entirely'. Something like that?" Another golf clap. "Congratulations. If you had said that any other way than as a petulant complaint regarding the faction you shackled yourself to, I would have praised your thinking. Instead you proudly declared how unnecessary they are having already sold your ideals to them. All for a cause that was near-impossible to achieve. You were indeed a fool, you simply had no idea how much of one. Not to worry though. It may seem like a lot now but three years of work is a paltry sum to learn such a valuable lesson."

"But if you think it's worthless too then why–" Lelouch's complete confusion and humiliation lasted only a second more. Before it gave way to rage. "Because it puts you in charge."

"Lelouch, I have lived for millennia. How many times do you think I've seen great factions of devil politics rise and fall? How many of them do you think I've led? How many do you think I've controlled, even if they never knew it? As for the Great King faction, how did you put it? 'A lone equal to the four most powerful devils alive'? The Forneus, the Asmoday, the Barbatos and all the rest. Fools that they are, they follow my lead, doing my bidding with just an assurance that it's in the interests of our faction."

"It's just that easy for you?!" Lelouch demanded. "Just don't believe in anything, acquire power for no better reason than to have it?!"

"Lelouch, I believe in many things. I believe in the survival and betterment of our race. I believe in the superiority of pureblood devils. I believe the Old Satans continue to be a festering cancer that should have been permanently excised centuries ago. I simply value power more. After all, what meaning are your beliefs and ideals without it? You should know. You enslaved yourself for your mother's sake. You worked for a faction you despise, for a cause directly counter to your ideals. In the powerless position in which you trapped yourself, how much were those ideals worth to you then?"

"AGH–!" He couldn't win! Even now, even knowing the mistakes he had made, even resolving to be truer to himself and his nature, Zekram was still–! No... He wasn't still anything. This was the rotten core of the man he had met so long ago. The one Ana had warned him of. He could dress it up as much as he liked with deceptive rationality. There was nothing rational about Zekram's ways. It was all his desires that determined his actions. He had said it himself. His power over people was worth more than anything else he believed. His fetish. One of the first things Lelouch found out about the progenitor of his house. It was to have control over those who would be powerful. Rulers. That didn't end at human royalty. Why would it? All the Great King faction existed for was so an old man could get his rocks off at having so much power over the powerful.

It sickened Lelouch to his very core. Enough that for the first time since he was five years old, since he first learned to express it, the Power of Destruction burst out of him in an uncontrolled wave of malice.

Only for it to be met and engulfed by another. Enough that Lelouch couldn't even see the old devil through it. But he could hear him. "Lelouch, temper tantrums don't resolve anything. Neither does picking a fight you can't win." The wall of destruction moved forward, toward him, the doorway eclipsed from view. He raised his own wall, hoping to fend off that of his elder, but it kept moving. Kept pushing him back as once again his power was eclipsed. Was this how it–? No, of course not! He put his hands on the wall behind him, the mandala for the Ruin Cannon forming in his hands before it activated, blasting a hole in the wall that he scrambled through.

But before the wall of imminent death would have reached him, it expired. Behind it stood Zekram wearing a disappointed frown. "Now, I think it's time you go home and think about what you did." Chiding him like a misbehaving child, he turned his back on his descendent. "I'll expect an invitation to the wedding."

The Bael heir was left, squat and sweating in the foyer, staring into the empty room, at the door Zekram left through. But as he got to his feet, a cold understanding came over him. It was not understanding of how thoroughly he had been played. If there was one thing he had learned about Zekram it was that one never saw the full picture until he allowed it. Even now Lelouch fully believed there was more to his actions than he had stated. He was so used to spinning webs of intrigue the threads seemed never ending. No. Lelouch had been played. He had known that, accepted that, before he even arrived today.

The understanding he gained... Was of the kind of malignance Zekram Bael was. By his own admission, he was happy to leave problems to fester. To leave dangerous elements to grow in strength and influence not because there was a long-term strategic aim, not because there was some greater objective to it. The only objective Zekram Bael truly valued was power. He was the conceptual ideal of the devil mindset. Power. Dominion over others. Corruption and torment. Satisfaction before reason. Perhaps in the past Zekram had been more than that. Perhaps at some point in his long life those things he held dear crumbled to ash as he continued on. Now, like the Old Satan faction, he too existed as a cancer. A creature that only lived to enrich itself. To satisfy itself at the expense of those around him. That such a man had been allowed to live, grow and thrive for so long sickened Lelouch to his core.

Months. Years. Decades. However long it took. Zekram Bael needed to be removed from this world.