"Take them away!" Schneizel said and motioned the soldiers to lift up Suzaku and Gino from the floor.
"You won't get away with this!" Yelled Suzaku as he was dragged away from the room.
"I'm afraid I already have." Schneizel said with a triumphant smile.
He watched as he took the traitors aways, which now only left his... wife. "Now dear.. how will you answer for your crime?" He asked as he turned his gaze towards her.
C.C. bit her lip nervously and balled her fists. She knew if she wanted Lelouch to be safe, she was going to have to play the cards she has been dealt with. She just didn't know if she could save all of them. She fell to her knees and bowed her head down.
He raised an eyebrow at her.
She took a deep breath. "My lord.. I am sorry to have offend you. Especially more now, since we just got.. married. But please! Have mercy!"
"Mercy?!" He snorted. The gall of this woman! He thought and walked in front of her. "What kind of mercy are you speaking of?"
"Have mercy on Lelouch.. for he did nothing wrong." She started off and looked up at him.
Of course. He thought as he met her gaze. He should have known that she would be the first thing she'd ask for. But there was something else. He could see it in her eyes. "What other request do you have?"
"Now that you ask.." She began softly. "Also have mercy on Gino's and.. Suzaku."
He was stunned. "Okay." He started to laugh a bit. "Now you are asking for too much."
Before he could walk away, she quickly grabbed his hand. "Please!"
"And why should I give in to that ridiculous request?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.
"As a wedding gift.. to me." She said and held onto his hand.
"You're gift was me sparing Lelouch, which is more than generous." He said and took his hand back. But he quickly stopped for a moment to think.
"I'll give you anything!" She blurted out.
"Anything you say?" He said and slowly put his hand on her cheek.
"Anything." She purred softly and leaned her head into his hand.
"Then I guess we can compromise." He grinned.
In the Dungeon
"We were so close!" Yelled Gino's and banged his hands against the bars.
Suzaku leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. He didn't care that he was back down here, he was more concerned what was going to happen now. Especially since he dragged Gino's down with him.
"I am so sorry Gino." He said softly. "I didn't mean to ruin your career with the Round."
"To hell with that now!" He yelled and turned towards Suzaku. "How are we going to save ourselves now?!"
"Try saving yourself." He said and looked at him. "When they come down here, make a case for yourself."
Gino's looked at him in complete shock. "You're asking me to throw you under the bus?"
"That's exactly what your going to do."
"That's insane." He shook his head. "I won't do it."
"Think about yourself and think of Anaya! You can't leave her behind! Especially not for me!"
"What about Lelouch?"
Suzaku stopped breathing for a bit. "What about him..?"
"You can't leave him behind either you son of a bitch!"
"How am I suppose to protect him down here?!" He shouted and stood up.
"We fucking try again!"
"There is no again! I FAILED!" He growled and gripped his hair. "Again." He whispered.
Execution Day
"Today's the day Eleven!" Shouted one of the soldiers and banged on the bars. "And disgraced Round member!"
Gino's groaned and sat up slowly. "Fuck." He grumbled.
Suzaku slowly opened his eyes and gripped the floor. Today was the day he was going to die.. The thought of dying didn't really bother him as much, he always knew that he would die eventually.. He just didn't think he'd die branded a traitor.
"I'll take it from here boys." Said a female voice from behind.
The soldiers moved to the side to let a petite woman with pink hair through.
"Anaya!" Gino's yelped and went to the bars quickly.
"Why am I not surprise Gino." She shook her head in annoyance.
"It's not what it looks like!" He shouted and gripped the bars.
"You helped a traitor escape the dungeon Gino's! And on the kings wedding day no less!" She scowled at him.
"Suzaku is no traitor Anaya! And you know that!"
"It doesn't matter what I think." She said and turned to Suzaku. "I am sorry, I have a duty to do."
"I'm not angry at you Anaya." He smiled and stood up. "Duty always comes first."
"You both know the drill." She said and unlocked the cell. "Please make it easy on me."
They both stepped back and put the hands behind their backs. Anaya came inside the cell and handcuffed them both and stood to the side. She motioned them to walk forward. Once out of the dungeon, they were surrounded by more soldiers who kept their weapons pointed at them. The whole ordeal made Suzaku chuckle a little. The sight was laughable. Even though it was his last.
"The King wants the traitors at the courtyard." Said one of the soldiers to Anaya.
She nodded and went first. Soon the rest followed behind her.
Is that where I'm going to die. Suzaku thought and peaked over Gino's shoulder to see Schneizel standing there.
"Afternoon gentlemen." He said and pushed his hair back. "Sorry to have kept you waiting." He chucked some. "Your all dismissed.. except for you Ms. Alstreim. I need you to stay, the rest of you back to your posts!"
They nodded and soon took off, leaving them alone.
"My King?" Anaya asked a bit confused.
Schneizel pulled out a handgun and pointed it towards Suzaku. "The honor should belong to me." He smiled. "Luck is on your side Gino's Weinberg, you get to see another day."
Gino's jaw dropped in total shock. "W..why?"
"Thank my new wife, you owe her your life. But you Eleven." He chuckled and put his finger on the trigger.
"You promised the Queen." Anaya reminded Schneizel.
"As yes." He chuckled and put the gun down. "The Queen.. I did make a promise but I didn't promise to let him leave unscathed." He said and lifted the gun back up and shot Suzaku.
Suzaku fell to the ground and gripped his shoulder. That bastard! He thought and groaned in pain. Schneizel walked up to him slowly and pressed his foot on his shoulder. He howled in pain as he pressed his foot down.
"Suzaku Kururugi, former Knight of One; you are here by banished from the palace and from Britannia. " He said and removed his foot. "Next time you decide to show you're face, the next bullet won't miss." Schneizel said and walked passed them but stopped. "After you two take care of him, come to my office." He said and took his leave.
Anaya quickly un cuffed Gino's and went to Suzaku's side. "We have to stop the bleeding."
Lelouch's Room
"What was that?" Lelouch asked and rubbed his eyes.
C.C. shook her head and closed the curtains. "I don't know beloved." She said and sat down at the foot of his bed. Even though she knew exactly what it was. And she was going to have words with Schneizel later.
"Okay.." He murmured and sat up slowly. He was getting tired of sitting in bed, doing nothing. It was suffocating! But he knew that C.C. wouldn't allow him to take one step out the door. Especially if Schneizel was out prowling around. Speaking of Schneizel.. He thought. "Um C.C. I need to ask you some things."
She looked at him. "Like what?"
"How.. how was the.. wedding?"
She stopped breathing for a bit and rubbed her cheek nervously. "It went.. it went well." She said softly. "You didn't miss much.."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why does it look like something bad happened?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm sure you do." He said and put one of the pillows behind his back. "Love, you need to come over here." He said and patted the spot next to him. "Because I have no strength to go over to you." He smiled.
She didn't bother arguing with him and went to go sit beside him. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and leaned his head on hers. She could feel the tears fall down her cheeks slowly.
"I seduced the devil on my wedding day." She whispered.
"Was it bad?" He asked softly.
"I don't know if I should even talk about it.. it's you're brother after all." She shuddered and wiped her eyes.
"I would understand if it was terrible." He said and rubbed her shoulder gently.
She stayed quiet for a moment and let out a sigh. "Schneizel maybe a lot of things.. and I cannot believe the words are coming out of my mouth.. but he was an incredible lover."
"Schneizel an incredible lover huh.." He mumbled and wrinkled his nose. She was right. It was too much information for his liking.
"Told you." She mumbled. "But.. it was more-." She coughed softly. "Political, so to speak.."
"Why political?" He raised an eyebrow.
She looked up at him and bit her lip nervously. He still didn't have a clue about Suzaku.. and she didn't know how she was going to break the news to him.
"There's that look again." He said softly. " And I'm sure it doesn't have to do with the wedding.. or what happened afterwards."
You have no idea my dear. She thought sadly and took a deep breath. "We need to talk about something."
"About time."
She sat up straight and took his hands in hers. "There's no easy way for me to say this.. hell I was debating on not telling you at all."
"Tell me what?" He raised an eyebrow. "What the hell happened at that wedding?"
"A lot.. more than you know." She said and gripped his hands. "When I tell you.. you need to keep you're calm."
"Why wouldn't I be calm?"
"It has to do with Suzaku."
He looked at her in complete shock. "Why?"
"When you woke up this morning.. were you not curious on how he was acting?"
He bit his lip and nodded. "I just thought that he was trying to sneak out of here without Schneizel seeing..?"
"It was more than that.. my love, Schneizel blamed Suzaku for you're falling ill and thus branding him a traitor."
He was stunned. He couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head. "What? No way."
She looked him deep in the eyes and nodded. "Suzaku spent most of his time in the dungeon.. until last night. When he came to see you."
"It has to be a misunderstanding." He said and let go of her hands. "Suzaku wouldn't do anything to hurt me."
"Most of the nobles don't see it that way.."
"Help me out of this room." He said and moved the blankets off of him. "I need to clear Suzaku's name! I can't let him be punished for something that he didn't do!"
"You know you can't step out of this room!" She said and put her hands on his shoulders. "If anyone saw you.. if Schneizel saw you!"
"To hell with Schneizel!" He shouted and slapped her hands away. "I can't let Suzaku continue to suffer on my account!" He cried and rubbed his eyes. "So please!" He whispered.
"My dear.." She started and put her hand on his knee. "You need to collect yourself." She said as she moved her hand from his knee to his cheek. "There's still more I need to tell you.. but I need you to calm yourself."
"How can I be calm?!" He whispered and griped her hand.
"I know.. I don't expect you too for when I tell you what happened next." She took a deep breath. "After Suzaku saw you, he and Gino's tried to make it back down to the dungeon, before anyone caught wind that he had helped Suzaku escape.. but it didn't work out that way because the guards ended catching them anyways. After Schneizel and I said our I do's.. he took me to his study.. a surprise he called it. But when we got there.. Suzaku and Gino's were there.." She whispered. "I am so so sorry."
"What did that bastard do."
She gulped nervously and stayed quiet.
"C.C!" He cried. "What did that son of a bitch do to my Suzaku?!"
"I think he sentenced him to death.." She said softly. "I thought I could save him! I thought I convinced that heartless fiend to just let him go.."
"Now I understand by what you meant by political." He said in disgust.
She looked at him and dropped her hand. "Please don't do anything stupid." She said and stood up. She gathered the blankets and covered him back up. She planted a light kiss on his cheek.
He laid back on his bed and watched her go. Once he was completely alone he broke down into sobs. He covered his mouth with his hands to muffle his cries. "Suzaku!"
In the hallway C.C walked pasted the guards who stopped to bow to her. But she didn't have time for chitchat. She needed to find her scumbag husband.
Ugh! She thought in total disgust. The thought made her want to vomit.
Soon she found herself in front of his office. She took a deep breath and before she knocked on the door, he spoke.
"I know its you out there." He spoke through the door.
She entered the room and closed the door behind her. He had his back to her, looking out the window.
"I'm surprised you came to me first." He began softly, his back still turned.
"Cut the formalities you bastard." She spat. "I know what you did.. and you promised!"
"I promised?" He repeated back and turned around.
She walked up to him and lifted her hand up to slap him. But he quickly caught her by the wrist. He chuckled at her attempt to strike him. It was almost cute. Almost.
"You gave me you're word! No harm would fall on Suzaku!" She shouted and tried to use her other hand to land a blow.
But of course Schneizel caught her hand again. He kept a firm grip on her wrists and pushed her back against his desk. C.C yelped as he stood in front of her, still holding onto her wrists.
"I was more than happy to give you what you asked for." He started and chuckled mischievously. "And how do you know that I didn't grant that last request?" He raised his eyebrow.
"I heard the damn gun!" She growled and tried to use her knee to knee him in the balls.
In a swift motion, Schneizel pushed her down onto the desk and held her hands above her head. She gasped in surprise and struggled under him.
"I didn't expect you to play so dirty.." He chuckled and grinned.
"Let go of me!"
"I don't think I will." He smiled and thought. "How about another compromise?"
"What kind of compromise?"
"You already know what I want." He began and used his knee to gently part her legs.
"She shuddered a bit. "What do I get?"
"Not only do you get to feel the greatest pleasure.." He said softly and bent down to slowly kiss her neck. "I'll even tell you what happened with the gunshot." He whispered in her ear, gently bitting her lobe.
She bit her lip and let out a shaky breath. For Lelouch. She thought and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer. "Alright my lord. I accept you're compromise."
"Excellent." He grinned and let go of her wrists. "But-." He began and soon had his hand on her throat, squeezing a bit tightly. He could feel her heart race against his fingers. "For you're insolence.. I will not be gentle."
A New Day
Gino's brushed his hair back and paced back and forth. He was more nervous now than anything else! He wasn't expecting for Schneizel to be summoning him this early. Especially after what happened this week.
Get a grip you fool! He thought and stopped moving. He was going to drive himself mad.
"Good to see you Gino's." Said a female voice from behind him.
He quickly turned to see that it was the Queen. He bowed to her and kept his head down. "You're highness.. I wasn't expecting you.."
"I know you weren't." Said Schneizel as he stood beside C.C.
"I don't understand.. what's going on." Gino's mumbled and finally lifted up his head.
"You owe a great deal to my wife here." He began. "If it were up to me you wouldn't have gotten off so easily."
Gino's gulped nervously and stood up straight. "Whatever punishment you deem fit.." He breathed softly. "I'll take, no complaints."
Schneizel chuckled some. "Alright.. Today onward you will be my wife's personal Knight, along with Lelouch's when and if he ever wakes up."
"What?" He asked confused.
"Exactly what I said, you will resume you're knightly duties and will not lose you're title. Be grateful." Schneizel told him and put his hand on the doorknob. "Don't make me regret sparing you're life boy." And with that Schneizel took his leave.
Leaving only C.C. and Gino's in the room. He fell to his knees and breathed in deeply.
"Are you okay?!" C.C. gasped and went to his side. She placed her hand on his back.
"I'm sorry you're highness." He breathed softly. "I shouldn't have lost my composure like that.. It will not happen again."
"You're among friends." She murmured softly. "We have things to discuss.. take a breath. Gather you're thoughts."
He nodded slowly and took deep breaths.
Max here! I know after a long hiatus I apologize and say that I will try to post a bit more frequently.. who was I kidding. I lie to myself, but hopefully I'll work on that and get better! Just know that I haven't given up on this story! As always review and let me know what you think!
Much love
-Max-