Geass Order
C.C. stood next to the bleeding, broken-bone V.V. in the lower realms of the Geass orders.
"How many years has it been since we were together face to face, V.V.? In the end I couldn't run away from my destiny, could I?" C.C. asked
"Now I bear the burden of… that destiny…" V.V. said weakly.
"Huh?" C.C. said in confusion.
"...of immortality…" V.V. continued
"What? V.V., are you…?" C.C. said, realizing what he was doing.
"So please...Charles-" And before V.V. couldn't finish his sentence, his eyes widen in shock and realization. "Someone else is there." He said in surprise.
"What?" C.C. questioned.
"...Him? ...Him?!" V.V. asked viciously with his last breath, his and C.C.'s code glowing.
...
Joseph eyes fluttered open as he awoke from that blackout.
"Good gravy, what happened last night?" Joseph asked himself, before realizing something. "Wait a minute, I'm talking in complete sentences again. Oh God, did I fall into another coma?!" He asked himself, freaking out.
But then he noticed his surroundings and saw he was at some sort of farm. It was foggy all over and for some reason all the colors seemed to be muted.
"Where am I?" Joseph asked himself, he then heard footsteps approaching.
He looked and saw a young girl approaching, she looked dirty and disheveled and could barely walk. She had rags for clothes and a chain cuff around her right ankle. But what really caught Joseph's attention was her face, he seen that face before, he seen it over a hundred times while she ate pizza and played Candyland to pass the time out of boredom.
"Seaweed?" Joseph asked in surprise.
He then saw her about to tip over due to fatigue.
He quickly came over to catch her. "Whoa! Not to worry! I got-"
Only for her to phase right through him and fall to the ground unconscious.
"...You." He finished weakly. "Ah man! I'm still a ghost!" He complained.
He then saw the colors around him become brighter and saturated.
"Hmmm. I must be dealing with A Christmas Carol situation..." He theorized before looking down at C.C. "Poor Seaweed. This must have been before she became immortal. Looks like she was a slave of sorts." He said sadly.
Sudden he felt himself get pulled away from the vision and spat into another one.
"That felt weird." Joseph said as he gathered his bearings.
He turned around and saw he was in a chapel. In the middle of that chapel, by the altar, was a young C.C. and a nun. The nun had a Geass symbol on her forehead. Joseph's eyes widen in recognition.
"That's the same nun from my visions!" Joseph said as he went over to the two.
"Do you have some reason to live, child?" He heard the nun ask.
"I don't know…I just…don't wanna die!" C.C. said with a teary voice.
"Then let's make a contract. I will give you a special power so you can survive. And in return one day you will grant me a special wish. Do you swear that you'll do it?" The nun asked as she held a hand out to C.C.
"That nun. She's immortal. Which means...Seaweed also had a Geass?" Joseph wondered
He could see hopeful tears fall out of C.C.'s eyes as she took hold of the Nun's hand.
Once again, he was pulled out of that vision and thrust into another.
"Cecina! Please take these flowers as a gift for your company." A man told her, handing her flowers.
"Why thank you." C.C. said with a grateful tone, she looked to be 13 now. Joseph could see the Geass flaring in her eye.
"Cecina?" Joseph asked curiously, realizing he just learned C.C.'s real name.
"Have these apples as a token of my gratitude!" A woman said happily, giving her a basket of apple.
"You're too kind" C.C. said kindly.
"Your figure shines brightly in this portrait, Cecina!" A painter told her as he brushed colors on his canvas.
"I love you, Cecina!"
"I love you!"
"I love you!"
One by one, man and woman, old and young came and professed their love for C.C.
"So that's it. Her Geass was like cupid, she made people fall in love with her." Joseph deduced.
He was thrust into another memory that showed C.C. at a ball, dancing with a suitor of sorts. She looked to be at the age of 16.
"Tell me, Philip. Do you love me?" C.C. asked.
"I do Cecina. With all my heart!" Philip told her.
"Yes. But do you truly love me?" C.C. asked again with a hopeful tone.
"A thousand times, yes! I'll gladly die for you! Philip said with a crazed smile.
"...I see..." C.C. said with a disappointed tone.
Joseph saw this and looked on sadly.
"It wasn't real love though. Not the love she wanted." Joseph said.
And once again, he was thrusted back into the chapel.
C.C. appeared to be age she physically appeared to be now. Except now she was nude.
"Whoa! Sorry! Not looking!" Joseph said quickly as he turned around and covered his eyes.
"Yes, yes. I gave back all the gifts I received like you told me to. But it can't be helped, can it? It's because of the Geass. I'm grateful to you sister, but this is a pain for me, too. I'm so tired of all the proposals and flowers. Now some of them are starting a religion around me." He heard C.C. say tiredly.
"Then shall we end it?" He heard the nun say.
"Huh?" C.C. asked in confusion.
He peeked his eyes over his fingers and saw the nun holding a long knife.
"Uhhh...what are you doing with that?" Joseph asked, not liking where this was going.
"I need someone to take my place. Someone with a Geass that's exceptionally strong. So eternity can finally end for me. Can you imagine the agony? The hell of living on and on for eternity?" The nun said sadly.
"What are you talking about?" C.C. asked in concern.
"...Is this how immortals ask people out?" Joseph asked in curiosity.
"I'm sorry dear. I'm afraid I tricked you!" The nun said with a crazed smile as she brought up her blade.
C.C. went into a panic and tried to back away, only for the nun to pull her by the hair, wrapping her in her arms and stabbing them both through the heart.
"Holy shit!" Joseph said in shock.
The foreheads connected and he could see the Geass symbol fading from the nun's head and encrypting itself onto C.C.'s.
"Peace at last. Thank you." The nun quietly said with relief as she closed her eyes and fell backwards, physically dead.
C.C. stood there for a moment while the hole in chest healed. She soon collapsed against the altar, mentally dead.
Joseph stood there, shocked and appalled.
"She...she betrayed you. She used you...just so she could die." Joseph said slowly before realizing something. "Hey! Wait a minute! Is that what you plan on doing to Lelouch?! Is that it, Seaweed?! Were you an undercover bad guy this whole time?!" He asked angrily to the slumped C.C., not caring if she was nude or not.
He then groaned in annoyance as he knew she wouldn't answer him. "Stupid Shakespeare." He muttered, but he then realized something. "Still, she had helped Lelouch several times now. Even getting his memories back. Maybe she turned over a new leaf." He said optimistically.
And of course, he once again got thrust into a new memory.
He looked around and recognized the area.
"This is Pendragon." Joseph said in realization.
He turned around and saw C.C. with a familiar face. A face he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Aunt Mary?!" He said flabbergasted.
They both appeared to be wearing horseback riding clothes. Marianne looked at a bird on her finger with a smile, C.C. stood by her side.
"What the Hell?! Seaweed, you knew Aunt Mary!?" Joseph asked in frustration. "What else have you been keeping from us?! Is Seaweed even your real name?!" He accused the memory.
He then noticed Charles next to V.V.
"Dad?" Joseph said in curiosity as he went over to the two of them.
His hair was a long sandy color, similar to what Nunnally inherited. The same stern look on his face though. He and V.V. observed his wife and C.C.
"Charles, have you learned anything by becoming emperor?" V.V. asked.
"Yes, big brother. All people are liars. And this vast nation we call Britannia never changes." Charles told him.
"Well that's not fair, dad. Not everyone..." Joseph started to say until his mind halted. "...wait...'BIG BROTHER'?!" He yelled in utter confusion.
"That may be true. But it's just human nature, isn't it?" V.V. countered.
"Perhaps you're right about that." Charles settled.
"Charles, you won't forget, will you? Our contract?" V.V. asked.
"I know. To kill God and smash this world of lies." Charles said.
"Hold on! Hold on! Back up!" Joseph yelled, waving his hands in the air. "This guy is my uncle?!" He asked incredulously.
"Yes. Yes I am." V.V. said as he turned and looked right at him with a smile.
Joseph gasped in surprise.
...But then he squinted his eyes and slowly reached a finger towards V.V.'s eye, who swatted it away in annoyance.
"I'm real, you idiot." V.V. grumbled.
The memory around them faded and soon found themselves in a white abyss.
"Strange. It seems C's World heals the parts of your brain that let you form complete sentences." V.V. said casually.
"C's World? Does that mean we're dead?" Joseph asked curiously as he looked around.
"I am. But don't worry, you'll be as well soon enough." V.V. said.
"So limbo? Hmmm...it's very...white." Joseph said in philosophical way.
V.V. only rolled his eyes.
"Is it true...are you really my uncle?" Joseph asked.
"Unfortunately for me, it is very much so." V.V. told him.
"...Does that mean I'm my own grandpa?" Joseph asked quizzically.
V.V. lowered his eyebrows down in unamusement.
"Honestly. Why Charles willfully dealt with your stupidity all these years, I'll never know." V.V. said blankly.
"Well as I always say sir. Do something, do it stupid." Joseph said proudly.
"Yes, and it's done for marvels for you, I'm sure." V.V. said sarcastically.
"Alright, enough small talk, Darth Vider!" Joseph said angrily. "What's going on here! How does Seaweed know you, dad and Aunt Mary?! And what's this that you and Dad are talking about 'killing God' huh?!" He interrogated.
"I don't see how that concerns you anymore. I don't know who sent you through C.C.'s memories, but I only baited you with that so I could have you to myself." V.V. told him with a sneer.
"Ha! Joke's on you, smart guy! I'm not a fish!" Joseph said smugly.
But suddenly, he felt gravity pushed him down. Like an anvil fell on him.
"Oh, I am so going to enjoy killing you." V.V. said, having enough of the moron in front of him.
"Argh! I don't get it, man! We're suppose to be family! What did we ever do to you?!" Joseph asked as he struggled against the weight pushing on him. "Lelouch has made mistakes but he's a good guy, he only took you on because you're being an ass! But Nunnally?! Who you kidnapped! And Eup, who you made go on a rampage?! You never even met them! So what's your problem?!" He asked, wanting to understand.
"My problem? My problem?! My problem is you! You and that half-breed brother and sister of yours from that whore, Marianne!" V.V. said viciously. Joseph's fists tighten in anger at that. "She tried to take Charles' away from me and then dared to have children with him?! And to make matters worse, it didn't even start with her! No, it started with you! He never liked Rebecca to begin with! But you!? He had no problem with you! The man who conquered dozens of countries and promised me we kill God actually grew a soft spot for you! I let it slide by because I thought you wouldn't cause a hindrance in our plans! But no more! Your existence is too much! I may be dead but I can make sure to take you with me! I'm going to do what I should have done years ago! The same thing I did to Marianne" He said with rage.
Joseph's eyes widen in realization even as the gravity became stronger. "You killed Aunt Mary?"
V.V. chuckled at that. "Yes, and it was second best day of my life. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and do it all over again." He said with a longing voice.
"And Eup?!" Joseph asked angrily.
"Oh. She was a simple means to an end. I wasn't sure what Lelouch would say in that moment but the results were even better than I expected. To see the look on your brother's face realizing what he had done made it all worth it." V.V. said with a childish laugh.
Joseph was starting to seethe even as he felt gravity push into his back and skull.
"But don't you worry, you and Lelouch be joining her join soon." V.V. continued with a crazed smile.
Joseph's was starting to see red.
"And you can finally reunite with that bitch of a mother of yours." V.V. said.
And that...was the final straw.
*BOOM*
V.V. didn't even know what happened. He suddenly just felt a sonic boom impact him and send him flying through the air. When he landed on the ground, he looked up in shock and saw Joseph floating in the air, very pissed off.
"What...did you just call...my mother?" Joseph asked in a deadly voice.
"W-What...what the Hell?!" V.V. stuttered, very confused by what was going on.
"SAY IT AGAIN!" Joseph shouted with all his might, sending V.V. flying several feet away and crashing hard to the ground.
He struggled to get back up as he looked at Joseph with shaky eyes.
"This...this is impossible. You're not immortal! How are you doing this!?" V.V. asked in disbelief.
"I don't know, and right now, I don't care." Joseph said in a rare serious voice as he floated towards his uncle. "You killed Aunt Mary. You kidnapped Nunne! You turned Eup into a mass-murderer and forced Lelouch to kill her! What you did was too much! TOO MUCH!"
As he was saying this stuff, V.V. saw something form behind Joseph. Something big.
"And I can no longer sit around and let you torture our family. The family that you threw away like trash! Trash that could have easily been recycled!" Joseph continued.
V.V. was too busy looking at the monster forming in front of him to even be confused by Joseph's statement.
That monster was a giant purple phoenix, with the Geass symbol in the middle of its chest.
V.V. eyes widen as he realized what he was looking at. "So that's it...this whole time...you were..." He said as he looked back at Joseph.
And he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Fear.
And it was last thing he ever felt as the phoenix launched a fiery purple breath from its mouth, incinerating him into nothing.
Joseph looked on in surprise as he floated back down. "Whoa. Did I do that?" He asked himself as he looked at his hands.
He then finally noticed the huge shadow behind him and turned around. His eyes widen in surprise at first, but then he recognized the phoenix.
"Oh hey! It's you!" Joseph said excitedly as he waved at the phoenix. "Thanks for that! I was just going to toss him around until he was nothing but mush." He said with a thankful tone.
The phoenix said nothing, just stared at him.
"So...are you like my...guardian-monster-bird or something?" Joseph asked curiously. "Not that I'm complaining, I just know you helped me out before in the past whenever I needed to wake up from comas, and I remember seeing you for the first time all those years ago when I trained with Sensei. So I know you've been with me for a long time." He continued.
The phoenix still remained silent.
"Stoic and silent...I dig it." Joseph said with a thumbs up. "Do you at least know how I can get out of here?" He asked.
"Joseph." A voice called out to him.
Joseph froze in place as he recognized that voice. He slowly turned around and saw who it was.
"...M...Mom?" Joseph asked, still stunned by what he was seeing.
She was wearing a white, silk dress. Similar to what Euphemia wore when he saw her in his vision. Her hair back to it's long, brown length and her skin no longer pale and deathly but back to being smooth and tannish. She looked at him sadly, as if bearing bad news.
"Remember Ragnarok, Joe." Was all Rebecca said with a weary voice before he felt white take over his vision.
...
Joseph's eyes opened to blurry vision. He groaned from the electricity that was still surging through his head.
"Hey, he's waking up." He heard a girl whisper.
"Don't get too close." He heard a boy warn her.
"What happened? What did that asshat mean? I was what the whole time?" Joseph wondered as he shook himself awake. "And mom..." His eyes widen at that and he shot straight up as he shouted: "MOM!?"
He looked around and he saw he was in some collapsed building, a couple broken lights gave a dim purple aura. But he didn't see his mother though, and he turned around and instead found something else.
Five little kids, all huddled up together.
One was the little boy who had dull blue hair, he looked at Joseph blankly.
One was the little girl with long purple hair who looked at Joseph with fear in her eyes.
However, there were two more girls that looked at him with curiosity. One was the blonde haired girl with two ponytails while the other had short burgundy hair.
The one in the center of them was the boy with grey, bowl-shaped haircut. He looked at Joseph with hostility in his eyes.
Joseph looked back at them(specifically the bowl haircut kid) with a curious eye, wondering what he did to get that look.
He tilted his head sideways in thought, and the kids minus the bowl haircut kid did the same.
"Uh...hi." Joseph said with a friendly smile and wave.
"Stay back guys." The bowl haircut kid warned.
"Director V.V. said he was a bad man." The purple long-haired girl said with a scared tone.
"But he saved us, Kaecus." The short burgundy haired girl reasoned to the purple haired girl who apparently was named Kaecus.
"And he knows big brother Rolo." The blonde ponytailed girl told the bowl haircut kid.
"Rolo just betrayed Director V.V., they both can't be trusted as far as I can see." The bowl haircut kid told them.
Joseph couldn't argue with that. These kids were raised to solely believe that his evil uncle was the good guy in all of this. He would need to gain their trust, and he would do so by calming their nerves.
"Pie have apples in them." Joseph said proudly. After all, who didn't love pie?
The kids stared at him in a confused manner.
"...What's a pie?" The dull blue haired boy asked.
Joseph raised an eyebrow at that.
"Dessert! One of best! Lelouch and Nunne's favorite!" Joseph said excitedly before gasping in realization. "Little bro!"
Were Lelouch and Rolo okay? Were they still fighting?
Joseph went over to one of the walls and put his ear next to it, he couldn't hear anything which meant there was a lot of layers around them.
He could try punching his way out, make a tunnel for himself. But he wasn't sure how sturdy the walls were, and he didn't want to risk the kids' safety if the place were to collapse.
"Ghost form, here we come." Joseph thought excitedly as was about to activate his astral projection.
That is until they felt a rumble shake around them. The kids moved closer to each other in fear, especially Kaecus who looked really scared and started to hyperventilate.
"Hey, it okay." Joseph tried to reassure as he went over to comfort them.
"Stay back!" The bowl haircut kid yelled, his Geass lighting up in his eye.
Joseph stopped in his tracks, not because the Geass was affecting him, but because he knew he needed to take a different approach with these kids.
"Are we gonna die?!" Kaecus asked, terrified.
"Kaecus, calm down." The short burgundy haired girl said.
"I don't wanna die!" Kaecus cried, tears sprouting in her eyes.
"Hey, hey. Look here." Joseph gently told her, gesturing to look at him as he kneeled to get down on their eye level.
Kaecus was still scared but she looked at him.
"Breathe." Joseph told her gently with a kind smile. "In..." He began as he inhaled a breath through his nose. "...and out." He finished with an exhale. "You try."
Kaecus was confused, as were the other kids as they weren't sure how this would help. But she did what he said.
She slowly started to inhale and exhale, watching Joseph and repeating what he was doing.
"In...out." Joseph told her as he repeated his breathing technique.
The kids could see that Kaecus was actually starting to calm down. So they too, minus the bowl haircut kid, started to do the same.
Soon the rumbling stopped and Joseph and the kids took one last exhale.
"Better?" Joseph asked.
"...Y-Yes...thank you." Kaecus said a bit shaky, but not as scared before.
Joseph nodded. "Start over. Me, Joseph du Britannia. You?" Joseph asked.
The kids still looked at him with uncertainty but Kaecus felt this man meant no harm to them. Besides Jeremiah, he was the only adult to show them any kindness.
"I-I'm Kaecus." She said timidly.
Seeing how Kaecus, the most timid of the group, was willing to open to this man. They decided to do the same.
"I'm Umbra." The blonde haired girl with ponytails said.
"I'm Animi." The short, burgundy haired girl said.
"Longe." The dull blue haired boy said.
"He's Potestas." Umbra said, pointing to the bowl haircut boy.
"Umbra!" Potestas said angrily, still not willing to trust Joseph.
"What? He asked." Umbra pouted cutely.
"Nice to meet!" Joseph greeted happily.
"We can't be friendly with him. Not when he's Lelouch's brother, the same man who wears the bad mask." Potestas protested.
"Oh! Know about that?" Joseph asked excitedly, glad to have more people already in on the secret.
"Yes. Director V.V. told us how you and him were bad people that were trying to disrupt everything he's worked for. To disrupt his mission to make the world a better place!" Potestas said angrily.
Joseph's eyes widen in shock. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Got it wrong dude. He bad guy." He told them firmly. "Start from beginning."
...
Island
Ohgi patiently sat on a rock as he waited for Villetta. His lover but also his enemy. He was shocked to get her call just out of the blue like that, and through the Black Knights communications for that matter. Was she working for Zero this whole time? Was she here to talk to him, confront him, or kill him? He knew he would have his answers soon as he heard rustling in the bushes.
"Chigusa." Ohgi said as he stood up.
There she was, in her firm but elegant form.
"That was the name you called me when I'd lost my memory. What's my real name?" Villetta asked blankly as she took out a gun and pointed it at him.
"So it is an execution..." Ohgi thought inwardly. Outwardly, his expression didn't change. "Villetta." He said calmly.
They stared at each other for a moment, wondering what the other might do.
"But that doesn't change anything." He finally said.
"I'm a Britannian Baroness. No matter what the reason, if I don't erase the disgrace of my having loved in an Eleven, I won't be able to live in this world." Villetta told him.
"I suppose not. If I must die, I just wish it could've been in Japan." Ohgi said with regret, Villetta blinked at that.
"You came here knowing I was going to kill you?" She asked in surprise.
"Everybody dies. I wanted to choose the time." Ohgi told her softly.
"You could also choose to kill me if you want." Villetta countered, when he didn't say anything, she became angry. "Tell me, why did a terrorist save a Britannian in the first place!?" She barked, wanting an answer.
Ohgi thought about, remembering how he found her. Wounded, dirtied, on the brink of death.
He thought about the smile she gave him to show her gratitude, how she went out of her way to cook for him even when she didn't need to, and how she asked if she could be Japanese like him even it meant betraying her country.
"In the beginning I thought I could get information from you about Zero. I tricked you." He began softly. "But while we lived together…"
"I'm your sworn enemy!" Villetta insisted, the gun starting to shake in her hand.
"But I still love you!" Ohgi told her, not able to hide feelings anymore.
"Are you insane?!" She asked angrily, tears forming in her eyes.
"I must be…you are the enemy. But I can't stop myself from loving you!" Ohgi insisted, his heart knowing what to say.
She sucked in a breath, her mind begging her finger to squeeze the trigger right then and there. But all she could think about was how he saved her from dying, how he gave her a home and feel welcomed, how despite betraying him he never felt anger or sought revenge against her.
"...I...I wish I'd never set eyes on you." Villetta said quietly, tears rolling down her face as she knew that in her heart, she loved him too.
Suddenly they heard rustling in the trees, they looked up and saw a certain woman in a green dress with a maid hat on looking down on them.
"From intelligence…?" Ohgi asked in shock.
...
Geass Order
"Zero's gone?" Rolo asked in surprise.
"Yes. We received the signal that he'd sighted the target but he and the Shinkiro are missing." A Black Knight told him.
"What about Joseph? Did you find him or the kids yet?" Rolo asked in concern.
"Not as of yet. The Orange Knight is still looking for them." The Black Knight said.
Rolo shook down as he tighten his fist in rage. "First Joseph, now Lelouch? Damn you V.V.!"
...
"After big bird blast V.V. away, hear voice, mom's voice. Turn round, see split second! Then wake up." Joseph concluded his tale.
The kids looked at him in disbelief and amazement. They never heard such tales from the outside world before.
"S-So...Director V.V. was lying?" Kaecus asked in shock.
"No! He's the one lying. He's just trying to confuse us." Potestas argued.
"But those people, Potestas." Longe said in reluctantly.
"Director V.V. probably had his reasons! He always does! It's why he has our older siblings do missions for him!" Potestas insisted.
"Like Rolo?" Joseph asked.
"Exactly. It's the sole reason we exist. Whether it's to gather info, spy, or even kill, our purpose is to follow Master V.V's word. Nothing more." Potestas said determinedly.
Joseph couldn't help but look at the young boy with sadness. "Is this what was shoved in Rolo's head for so many years..."
"Why are you looking at us like that?" Potestas asked in confused annoyance, not understanding Joseph's reaction.
"You feel same?" Joseph asked the rest of the kids.
Potestas looked at his siblings for justification, but instead they looked at each other in uncertainty.
"...We-Well...Director V.V. told us we had to listen to him because he was protecting us...but I-I guess...I-I sometimes wondered what the outside world was like." Kaecus said timidly.
"All the older ones get to go out there but they aren't allow to talk about it. Saying their missions are secret." Animi told him.
"It's not fair. They get to have all the fun while we have to do those stupid checkups." Umbra said with a pout, Kaecus shuddered at the mention.
"Checkups?" Joseph asked, noticing her reactions.
"To hone our Geass, make sure we kept focused on future missions." Longe told him.
"We're suppose to go on our first ones next year! Which means we finally get to go outside!" Umbra said excitedly.
"...Checkups...they hurt you." Joseph stated apprehensively, afraid to even bring it up.
Kaecus shuffled around uncomfortably. "N-Not all the time...but s-sometimes they would use big needles..." She said with a shaky voice.
"Those would hurt..." Animi said sadly, also shuddering at the memory.
"Director V.V. said it was to make us stronger." Potestas said.
"But sometimes he have the doctors use them to punish us." Longe said.
"To make sure we didn't misbehave!" Potestas insisted as he subconsciously rubbed his neck, where needles had found their themselves many times before, trying to excuse the immortal's actions. "We can't show weakness after all."
"Why defend him?" Joseph asked. Not angry, just confused.
"Because we have to! That's what he expects of us!" Potestas said, his hands shaking.
"But why?" Joseph asked again.
"Because that's our purpose, to follow V.V's word!" Potestas insisted, his voice becoming shaky.
"Why?" Joseph asked once again.
"Because...because..." Potestas tried to say, trying to think of some reason. The other kids were also conflicted about the whole thing.
"V.V. make do many things. But ever give back?" Joseph asked.
"Give back?" Umbra asked curiously.
"Yeah. He ever reward you? Say 'good job'?" Joseph asked.
The kids looked each other, wondering if V.V. ever gave them such acknowledgment.
He never did.
"He ever smile at you? Hug you?" Joseph asked.
All the kids looked at him confusion.
"What's a hug?" Potestas asked.
Joseph's mouth dropped at that, it was a question that definitely broke his heart and made him hate his "uncle" even more.
Instead of answering, Joseph slowly started to approach Potestas, who in return became defensive.
"What are you doing?" Potestas asked.
Joseph didn't answer, he just continued to approach him.
"Get back!" Potestas said angrily, trying to use his Geass on the immune Joseph. "Stay away! I mean it!" He said, starting to get scared, as he didn't have any other way to defend himself besides his Geass. The other kids wanted to help but they too didn't know how to defend themselves outside of Geass,
He tried to back away only for Joseph to kneel in front of him and grab him by the shoulders. "Don't!" Potestas warned.
To which Joseph brought him to his chest, wrapping his arms around him.
"STOP! LET GO!" Potestas screamed, hitting Joseph's back as hard as he could.
Joseph in return just shushed him.
"Stop it! Please!" Potestas practically begged, tears forming in his eyes, his hitting becoming slower.
"It's okay. It's okay." Joseph cooed, patting him on the head to calm him down.
Potestas stood there frozen, his eyes shaking with confusion. He always abided by what V.V. told him and his siblings, he followed his orders to the letter and never questioned him, even if it meant a cold stare and painful experiments.
And yet this man, who he only met today, was telling him everything he knew was a lie. That V.V. wasn't the person that deserved to be respected and be commanded by, it should be absurd for Potestas to think otherwise.
...But this man...
This man who was a complete stranger to them went out of his way to save him and his siblings. And while the others didn't see it, he saw V.V. destroy the bridge underneath them without a second thought. He could practically feel the coldheartedness in his actions.
Why would he do that? After taking care of them for so long, why would he throw them away like a piece a paper?!
Why couldn't he be like this man!? This man who has shown them more kindness than V.V. had in their entire lifetime!
Potestas wasn't sure why, but as Joseph wasn't holding him, he felt something he never really felt before.
Warmth. Peace. Calm. Joy. Relief.
Potestas started to breath heavily as the tears leaked down his face before it became a full blown sob as he gripped Joseph's shoulders.
"Let it out. Let it out." Joseph said quietly as he hugged the child as if he was his own.
The other kids looked in confusion and worry as they weren't sure what to make of this.
"Potestas, are you okay?" Animi asked in concern.
"Are you hurt?" Kaecus asked
Potestas eventually calmed down to where was just hiccuping, Joseph let him go and looked at him with a kind smile.
"Why...why are you being so nice?" Potestas asked with a small voice, tears still running down his face.
"Why not be?" Joseph said as if it was obvious, wiping the kid's tears with his thumb.
Potestas looked at him in surprise, not sure how to respond.
"Was that what a hug was?" Umbra asked.
"Yep-per-rooni." Joseph said proudly.
"Is that...suppose to happen when you do it?" Longe asked curiously.
"Not always. Not bad thing though. Hug helps emotions. Hug is compassion." Joseph explained.
"...Can...Can I have one?" Kaecus asked timidly.
Joseph smiled brightly and went over to her. Gently bringing her into said hug.
Her eyes widen with disbelief, she never felt this way before, like she was cared for, like she mattered. It brought tears to her eyes and she laid her head against her chest and silently wept.
"Can I have one?" Umbra asked excitedly.
"Me too." Animi said.
"I also?" Longe asked.
"Get here! Group hug!" Joseph cheered as he gathered all kids together and brought them together.
Umbra and Animi couldn't help but laugh while Longe felt a bit suffocated, he didn't complain though as just like his siblings, it was a nice feeling.
Joseph then put them down and sat with them in a circle.
"So, tell about selves." Joseph asked intrigue and curiosity.
...
Vicreoy Palace
Nunnally had just concluded a meeting with Suzaku, Miss Lohmeyer and the other officials there.
"So very well then, I'll proceed with the redevelopment of the Saitama ghetto according to this schedule." Miss Lohmeyer told Nunnally as she went go on here way.
"Wait a minute, please." Nunnally called out.
"Huh?" Miss Lohmeyer asked in confusion.
"Here." Nunnally said, sticking her hand out for Miss Lohmeyer to take.
"Is there something wrong?" Miss Lohmeyer asked in concern as she put her hand in Nunnally's.
"This plan you worked out. It isn't going to penalize the Elevens, is it?" Nunnally asked.
Suzaku looked in surprise. "It's like what she did before..." He thought as he remembered she did the same thing when she asked about the phone call.
"Of course not. It's the best possible plan for them and for us." Miss Lohmeyer told her professionally.
"...That's a lie, isn't it?" Nunnally said after a moment, shocking Miss Lohmeyer who recoiled her hand, as well as Suzaku. "Please rework the plan once more. I don't wish the Elevens to be disadvantaged by it." She ordered professionally.
"Princess. I am an expert. Please let me handle that." Miss Lohmeyer insisted.
"Like I let you handle the Special Administrative Zone announcement?" Nunnally asked with a raised eyebrow, making Miss Lohmeyer gawk. "Miss Lohmeyer, I believe that I am the Viceroy. You will do well to remember that." She told her in a professional manner.
"Your Highness!" Miss Lohmeyer said, appalled by Nunnally's words.
"Please rework the plan. That is all." Nunnally ordered, waving her away.
Miss Lohmeyer gritted her teeth, really wanting to say more. But instead huffed a breath and went on her way.
"Wow, Nunnally. I don't think I've ever seen a fire like that in you." Suzaku said with an impressed tone.
"It is true though, I asked for this role, I have to make sure I perform it well." Nunnally told him as Suzaku started to push her wheelchair. "By the way Suzaku, let's go to my office. There's something I need to discuss with you." Nunnally told him.
"Huh?" Suzaku asked in confusion.
...
Dallas Research Lab
"Please forgive me. I had to speak with Nunnally." Schneizel said as he entered the testing grounds.
"It's all right. We're still getting ready." Nina told him.
"What happened?" Kanon asked.
"Oh you know the topic. Lloyd's Camelot group and Suzaku." Schneizel said.
"I meant with the Tromo Agency." Kanon corrected.
"Oh that. It depends on the result of this test." Schneizel said with a smirk.
...
Viceroy's Office
"Yes. My brother Schneizel contacted me. We can raise Area 11 status to satellite region. He said it's in recognition of improved public order and productivity." Nunnally told Suzaku.
"That's good news." Suzaku said.
"...Suzaku, you're not hiding anything, right?" Nunnally asked suddenly, surprising him.
"Of course not. You're the one person that I'd never lied to." Suzaku insisted.
"So that student I spoke to, he really wasn't big brother?" Nunnally asked, wanting to be sure.
Suzaku internally cringed but kept a straight face. "Yes, it was a simple misunderstanding." He told her calmly.
It was at that, Nunnally's eyebrows arched into an angry expression, confusing Suzaku.
"Nunnally?" He asked.
She then open her drawer and pulled out a stack of paper in braille.
"Then why is it that the documents I have from Ashford Academy show a Lelouch Lamperouge and Rolo Lamperouge in their school records?" Nunnally asked with an edge in her voice. Suzaku's eyes widen in shock and disbelief.
"H-How...how did you..." He stuttered.
"I'm not naive, Suzaku! Lamperouge was my mother's maiden name, the name I used when Lelouch and I were in hiding!" Nunnally stated. "You've been lying to me this whole time!" She said angrily as she wheeled her way from behind the desk.
"Nunnally, please..." Suzaku tried to say, knowing everything was becoming undone.
"Why are you keeping me and Lelouch apart!? Who is this Rolo?!" She asked as she snatched his hand.
"Nunnally! I am just trying to protect you!" Suzaku tried to reason.
"Protect me from what?! What are you not telling me?!" She insisted, wanting answers.
"ENOUGH!" Suzaku yelled as he pulled his hand out of hers, almost making her fall out of her wheelchair, he saw this and gasped in worry. "Nunnally, are you-"
But before he could help, Nunnally shot him a look of contempt and bitterness, making him recoil. She never looked looked at anyone like that, not even Miss Lohmeyer.
She readjusted herself and spoke with a low voice, filled with sadness and betrayal. "Suzaku, you're just like him, aren't you? Like my brother."
Before Suzaku could say anything, a couple of guards came bursting in.
"Viceroy! We heard yelling! Is everything alright?" One of the guards asked in concern.
"It's fine, Suzaku was just leaving." Nunnally said in a professionally.
"Nunnally-" Suzaku tried to say.
"You're dismissed." Nunnally said blankly, going back to her desk.
Suzaku looked at her in shock and then sadness. He could tell right there that the bond between them had broken a bit.
"Yes, your Highness." Suzaku said professionally as he curtsied and went on his way. "This is not good. If Nunnally is catching on, she might try to contact the Emperor, and if that happens..."
As he walked through the palace, he remembered what the Emperor told him:
"If Lelouch regains his memories then I shall simply use Nunnally to deal with him."
Suzaku's fist tightened and he hung his head in shame.
"I'm sorry Nunnally..."
...
Geass Order
"Wow! You guys mini Avengers! So awesome!" Joseph said excitedly.
The kids had told Joseph what their Geass powers were.
Potestas had the ability to control a person's movements.
Kaecus had the ability to appear invisible around others at least 25 meters away.
Umbra could cast illusions upon others, both to a single person or an entire group.
Animi was able to manipulate people's emotions, she could make them feel like the happiest person in the world to downright terrified, not able to move a muscle.
And Longe could see things from a far distance, like a telescope, even through walls.
"Wow! Really?! What's an Avenger!?" Umbra asked excitedly.
"Superhero! Like Zero!" Joseph told her.
"But what is a superhero?" Animi asked curiously.
"Why superhero greatest thing ever!" Joseph proclaimed as he jumped back to his feet. "They save day, save lives! Do good deeds, ask nothing back! Defeat villains and do again each day!" He said proudly as he put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest.
The kids looked at Joseph in awe, amazed by such description.
"Does that mean you're a superhero?" Longe asked.
"Me?" Joseph asked.
"W-Well, you did save us. And you fight those mean people who hurt others. T-That means you have to be a superhero." Kaecus said with a shy smile, and Joseph smiled brightly back at her.
'Why thank you! Super Coat Man to rescue!" Joseph said dramatically as he raised a fist in the air.
The kids couldn't help but laugh in excitement, it was then Umbra noticed something on his pants.
"Hey! What's that?" Umbra asked curiously as she pointed at the device.
"Oh! This?" Joseph said as he looked down and pointed to his walkman. "Greatest invention ever! The Walkman!" He said happily.
"Walkman?" Potestas asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Does it walk by itself?" Longe asked innocently.
Joseph couldn't help but chuckle as he too had the same question when he was her age.
"Nah! Name for walking and dancing while music listening!" Joseph explained.
The kids looked at each other in confusion and then back to Joseph.
"What's music?" Animi asked.
Joseph gasped in horror at that, even bringing his hands to cheeks, he was that much in shock.
"OH YOU POOR THINGS!" Joseph shrieked with aghast as he fell to his knees, hands on his head. "CURSE YOU V.V.!" He shouted angrily to the ceiling, fist in the air.
While Kaecus was a bit startled by his reaction, the rest were just confused.
"Are you okay?" Potestas asked.
"Is not knowing music really bad?!" Umbra asked with panic in her voice.
"Oh God! Worse thing NOT knowing! Gotta fix now! Not too late!" Joseph insisted.
"What do we do?" Kaecus asked with concern.
Joseph smiled widely at that and grabbed his walkman. "Sit back, relax..." He said as he rose to his feet. "...and observe." He finished as he pushed the play button.
What came out was soft piano notes, playing one by one, second by second. Joseph waved his fingers around as if conducting each note. Soon more piano notes started playing, more in rhythm with each other than before, Joseph started hopping on his toes a bit.
It was then violins joined the piano notes and Joseph started swaying to the beat while still pretending to conduct the song.
The kids watched and listened with keen interest. Never had they heard such sounds or seen such movements before, so different, so full of life and emotion.
But then music stopped and Joseph froze in place. And all of a sudden he jumped into the air as horns blast through the speakers and the rhythm became energetic. Joseph moved around the area as he danced with joy and laughter, and it made the kids laugh too!
Joseph then approached Kaecus and gently brought her hands up. She looked at him in confusion and he started to clap his hands to the beat, he gestured her to copy him and she did so. Eventually she found herself keeping up with the beat and smiled in joy, Joseph gestured the other kids to do the same and they happily joined along.
Soon a trombone started playing and Joseph took Animi's hands and had her join in his dancing, she was confused at what to do at first but she was soon able to make her own moves by following Joseph's example. Umbra excitedly joined in herself, taking Animi's hands and dancing with her. Longe soon joined in as well, followed by Kaecus who pulled Potestas with her. He was a bit reluctant at first but he was soon enjoying himself as he danced along with his siblings.
As the song was getting to its conclusion, Joseph and the kids joined hands and danced around in a circle. When it ended, they fell to the ground, laughing together.
"Yes! Achieved enlightenment!" Joseph proclaimed, fists in the air.
"That was so much fun!" Umbra said happily.
"Yeah! Up top!" Joseph said excitedly as he raised his hand for a high five.
Umbra looked at him in confusion, to which Joseph demonstrated by slapping his hand, gesturing her to do the same. She did so gleefully.
"Is all music like that on the outside?" Kaecus asked with a hopeful tone.
"Not all. But many different ones! All different! All special! All unique!" Joseph proclaimed.
Wow. And that thing you did with Umbra, is that also from the outside?" Longe asked with curiosity.
"Yep! The high five! Means "good job!" or "very nice"! Give me one!" Joseph explained as he reached over for a high five, which Longe happily did.
"What else is outside? V.V. would usually just be vague about it and our older siblings were never able to talk about their missions." Potestas asked with keen interest, the other kids moved in closer as they too wanted to know what was out there.
"Hmm. Where begin?" Joseph said with a thoughtful look on face, finger on his chin, and a smirk to go with it.
...
Island
Sayoko launched kunai at Villetta while she shot bullets in return. The two clashed as they ran through the forest.
"Stop it! Stop it both of you, please!" Ohgi yelled as he ran after them.
Soon they made it to a cliff, rocks and the ocean below them. Villetta stood on the edge as she shot her gun again, only to realize she ran out of bullets.
"I'm sorry about this. I honestly thought we were getting along quite well together." Sayoko said blankly as he approached Villetta, kunai between her knuckles. "If it makes you feel any better, I too have fallen in love with someone I once considered my enemy. But my loyalty to Master Lelouch comes first."
Before Villetta could question that, Sayoko threw her kunai.
She braced for death right then and there. "Ohgi..." ran through her mind, laced with regret.
"Stop!" She heard Ohgi yell as he moved in front of the Baroness, the kunai puncturing his body.
Villetta and Sayoko's eyes widen in shock.
He slipped and fell off the cliff.
"Ohgi!" Villetta yelled as she jumped after him without a moment's hesitation, knowing what her heart wanted.
She caught up to him and hugged his head with all her might as she braced for the ocean water.
...
Unknown
Lelouch watched as Charles took C.C. into his arms, her eyes widen as she put her hand on his chest. It was finally coming true, her wish to die.
"Stop it! Tell me C.C., why didn't you make me take your place? You could've earned your death that way. Force me into your hell of eternal life! It wasn't out of pity, was it?" Lelouch asked from inside his Shinkiro, wishing he could do more if it weren't for the blockades. He saw her other hand shaking, tears forming in her eyes. "Don't die looking like that! You should come to death smiling. I promise you the smile you never had! Me, Shirley, Joseph, Kallen, Rolo! We'll make it happen! PLEASE!" He shouted with all his might, tears falling down his eyes.
And that was enough to snap C.C. out of her senses as she pushed Charles away and went to the control panel that activated the blockades.
"What do you think you're doing, C.C.?!" Charles asked incredulously.
The blockades moved away and the Shinkiro was back in control.
"You have stolen enough from me already, father! You won't have her, too!" Lelouch said determinedly as he activated his weapons and destroyed the platforms around them.
"No! No, you'll ruin it all!" Charles said angrily.
They could the feel the world distort around them but Lelouch could pay it no mind as he saw C.C. fall into the abyss. He flew the Shinkiro in her direction. He opened his cockpit.
"I know what it was now. I understand what your Geass was! And I know your true wish! Come closer! Let me reach you!" Lelouch shouted as he reached his hand out to her.
C.C. looked at him and did so.
...
Dallas Research Facility
The earth rumbled around Nina, Schneizel, Kanon, and the other researchers there as the explosion set off. The smoke from the aftermath felt endless.
"F.L.E.I.J.A. activation, confirmed." A Britannian Researcher said.
"It worked! I can't believe the explosive force!" Kanon said in shock, awe, and even fear as he took off the glasses protecting his eyesight.
"Chief, congratulations!" Another researcher complimented.
"Oh no. The whole staff at Invogue deserves the credit." Nina said humbly.
"You'll have to accept the compliment, Nina. You are a genius!" Schneizel said proudly as he also removed his protective glasses.
"I'm very honored, Prince Schneizel. Now war itself will change, and mankind, with it." Nina said happily.
"Damocles is here at last." Schneizel said with pride.
...
Geass Order
"So...ice cream is basically where you take frozen milk and eat it?" Potestas asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yep! Many different flavors! Better than pie!" Joseph proudly said.
"TV sounds amazing too! Watching other people just for fun? I didn't know we could do that!" Animi said excitedly.
"Yeah! V.V. always said those monitors were only used for surveillance and communication." Umbra said, just as excited.
"And that the only books you can read are the ones with really small words in it! I want to read one with pictures and adventures in them!" Longe said with anticipation.
Joseph couldn't help but chuckle at the kids' enthusiasm.
"And...parents are the people...who raise you?" Potestas asked with trepidation.
"Yep. Mom and Dad. Care for you. Nurture you. Guide you. Love you." Joseph happily explained to him. "Mom girl, dad guy. Other names be mother and father, mommy and daddy, mama and papa." He continued to explain as he counted the terms on his fingers.
Potestas looked down as he thought about this. "...Papa..." He muttered quietly.
Joseph was going to ask if he was okay when he felt a tug on his sleeve and looked to see that it was Kaecus getting his attention.
"Mr. Joseph. Is the sun really as bright as you say it is?" Kaecus asked with a shy but hopeful tone.
"The brightest." Joseph said with a gentle smile, Kaecus smiled widely at that.
"Do you think maybe we can go see it when you leave?" She asked excitedly.
"Abso-toda-lutely! Need way out though. Need way to call..." Joseph thought to himself before remembering something. "...Oh yeeeeeaaaaahhhh..."
...
"I'm glad you're okay big brother. We'll be there soon." Rolo said with relief after he hung up with Lelouch, it was then he received a call from Jeremiah, which he quickly answered.
"Jeremiah! Have you found Joseph and the kids yet?" Rolo asked with concern.
"Yes! Joseph activated his tracker app that we placed on his phone. Apparently he only just remembered that he had one." Jeremiah said over the phone.
"Of course he did..." Rolo thought with a sigh. "Well at least he's okay. What about the kids?" He asked.
"See for yourself." Jeremiah said as Rolo heard his knightmare approach.
It had Joseph and the five kids in its hands.
"BROTHER ROLO!" The five kids shouted with glee.
"LITTLE BRO!" Joseph shouted excitedly.
The knightmare lowered its hands and the kids ran up to Rolo.
"I'm glad you guys are okay." Rolo said with relief, before being pulled into a tight hug by Joseph.
"Back at ya!" Joseph said happily as he swung Rolo back and forth.
The kids laughed and joined in on the hug. Jeremiah couldn't help but laugh as he exited his knightmare and approached the group.
"I found them under some rubble. Thankfully they were under a structure that was strong enough to both hold the wreckage and give them shelter." Jeremiah explained, remembering the kids shouting, "Uncle Jerry!" to him in excitement. He wouldn't lie, it warmed his heart.
"Lelouch and Seaweed?" Joseph asked quickly.
"Lelouch just called me. He and C.C. are okay." Rolo said with a tight voice.
"Alright!" Joseph said excitedly.
After they let go the kids quickly surrounded Rolo.
"Brother Rolo! Mr. Joseph told us so much about the outside world!" Animi said excitedly.
"Yeah! He had us listen to these wonderful sounds called music!" Umbra said excitedly.
"And he told us about picture books!" Longe said, also excited.
"And ice cream!" Umbra continued.
"He also said people get to see the sun all the time. Can we go see it? Please." Kaecus asked
"Please! Please! Please! Please!" Longe, Umbra, and Animi chanted as they bounced on their feet.
Rolo couldn't help but chuckle. "Sounds like they warmed up to you real quick." He said to Joseph.
"Hell yeah! Little rascals!" Joseph said as he lifted Umbra and Longe into a hug, who laughed in joy.
Potestas quietly approached Rolo. "Brother Rolo, is V.V..." Potestas started to ask.
"...He's gone." Rolo said solemnly, Potestas took a deep breath at that.
"...Good." Potestas said quietly before looking up at Rolo with regret. "I'm sorry I ran away from you. I put us in danger." He said, his voice becoming shaky.
Rolo got done on his knee and put his hands on his shoulders. "It's okay, I understand. What V.V. did to us was unforgivable. He poisoned our minds and bodies for the longest time and he finally paid for it." He told him gently.
It was then Joseph came in and put his hand on Potestas' head.
"That right. No blame on you. Any of you. Caught in bad system is all. Like cheese wheel." Joseph told him gently, though the last part made Rolo raise an eyebrow. "But cheese is melted, can push forward! And gonna help." He reassured, Potestas looked at him in surprise and then smiled, believing him.
"Now! Let's watch sun!" He declared as he charged towards the exit, kids running behind him in excitement.
"Does he know where the exit is?" Jeremiah asked.
"I highly doubt it." Rolo said with a shake of his head.
...
"Hey, we're back C.C. Wake up." Lelouch said, shaking the unconscious C.C. awake. "I've managed to contact Rolo. He'll come get us soon." He told her.
"Who are you, sir?" C.C. asked with a shy voice that Lelouch had never heard before.
"What are you saying? We need to talk about the emperor and…" Lelouch tried to explain as he reached his hand over to her but she pushed herself away in fright.
"Are you… my new master?" She asked shyly, making Lelouch blink in surprise and confusion. "I can clean and help prepare food for cooking. I can also fetch water and tend cows and sew. I can read a little and count to twenty. Oh, I can even carry away corpses if you need that…" She explained, shaking a bit.
"Oh God..." Lelouch thought in shock, realizing what happened.
...
The kids looked up in complete awe.
The outside...it was so...different.
It was warm, it was fresh, and it was big!
The sky was a colorful blue that they could have only imagined.
The sand below them was smooth and gentle.
And the sun? It was the brightest thing the kids have ever seen!
For Kaecus, it was like looking at the Heavens itself.
"Whoa...it's so bright!" Umbra said in awe.
"Brighter than anything I've even seen!" Animi said in excitement.
"It's like a lightbulb, but very high in the sky!" Longe said excitedly too.
"Amazing..." Potestas said in awe.
"It's better than what I imagined..." Kaecus said quietly, tears sprouting in her eyes.
"A-Ok?" Joseph asked as he crouched down to her level in concern.
Even though tears ran down her face, she gave him the biggest smile ever. One she didn't even know she had. "Thank you."
Joseph smiled brightly at that. "No prob."
"Do you think...it's possible to touch it?" Kaecus asked.
Joseph put on his thinking face before getting an idea.
"Let's try." Joseph said with a bright smile.
He then lifted Kaecus into his arms and jumped into the air, freaking her out a bit as she clung to his chest.
"WHOA!" The rest of the kids said in awe as they saw Joseph soar in the air.
"Look." Joseph said as he gently shook her. She nervously looked at him and he pointed in the air.
She looked up and her mouth dropped open in amazement. She was surrounded by blue skies and white clouds, and the sun looked closer than before. She reached up as if she could touch it herself.
Soon enough though, they started to descend back to the ground. Once they landed, Kaecus couldn't help but laugh in joy and excitement.
"Again! Again!" Kaecus cheered.
"That was so cool!" Umbra said elated.
"Can everyone jump that high?!" Potestas asked flabbergasted.
"You really are a superhero!" Animi said excitedly.
"Can I go in the air like that?" Longe asked.
"Me first!" Umbra quickly said.
"No, me first!" Animi quickly added.
"Gotta catch first!" Joseph said as he sat Kaecus on his shoulders and ran away from the kids.
"Hey!" Umbra said, chasing after them.
"No fair, Mr. Joseph!" Animi said while laughing, going after them too. Longe joined as well, as did Potestas who smiled widely.
Joseph hung on tight to Kaecus' legs so she wouldn't fall. She laughed as she felt the wind blow in her hair.
Soon Jeremiah walked up to group and observed them. Rolo had gone to get Lelouch and C.C.
"How I envy the youth." Jeremiah said with a chuckle.
Potestas noticed him and ran up to them.
"Uncle Jerry. What's going to happen to us?" Potestas asked.
"We're going to take you back to all the other children. There's a shelter that we have ready for the younglings until we can find a proper home for all of you." Jeremiah explained.
Potestas thought about that and then looked at his siblings. How they ran through the desert with such joy and excitement, they never looked so happy before.
So alive.
And it was all because of that man in the black overcoat, the man who saved their lives and comforted them in their time of need. Who taught them so many new things in just a manner of hours and made them feel safe.
Potestas didn't want to lose that, and he was pretty sure his siblings didn't want too either.
"Uncle Jerry. Is it okay if we stay with Mr. Joseph?" Potestas asked innocently.
This surprised Jeremiah, Joseph, and the rest of kids.
"Me?" Joseph asked as he put Kaecus down.
"Yeah! I like that!" Kaecus said, hugging Joseph's leg.
"I wanna stay with you too! You're really nice!" Umbra said with a hopeful tone.
"And fun!" Animi added.
"And you know so many things about the outside! You're definitely smarter than V.V.!" Longe said excitedly.
Jeremiah sweat-dropped at that.
"No like other kids?" Joseph asked.
"We got along fine. But the five of us were often paired with each other during exercises and experiments." Animi explained.
"Besides that, we never really talked to the others." Longe continued.
"Yeah, V.V. always said we weren't suppose to make friends with the others." Umbra told Joseph. "But the five of us secretly did so we wouldn't be lonely." She whispered excitedly before giggling.
Joseph couldn't help but giggle as well.
"V.V. was suppose to be our caretaker. But he didn't do a good job like we thought he did. And you said that a papa and mama is suppose to love their kids and help guide and nurture them." Potestas started to say nervously. "You've done all of that for us so far Mr. Joseph. So maybe...you could be..our papa?"
Joseph's eyes went wide at that, as did Jeremiah's. He never expected to be asked a question like that.
"Yeah...Yeah! I want that too! I want you as our new papa!" Umbra said elated, jumping up and down.
"Me too!" Longe said, just as excited.
"That would be so nice!" Animi said, eyes twinkling.
"Please Mr. Joseph. Could you be our papa." Kaecus asked sweetly, hands clasped together to her chest.
Joseph looked at these kids with confusion, not sure how to answer. He turned around and walked a few feet away, putting his hand on his chin, thinking about it.
Could Joseph do it? Was he father material? He was only 22 years old after all, so perhaps he was too young. Then again, he met people who had kids even younger than him, but those usually ended badly, it could very well be the same here.
And yet, the time he spent with these kids gave him the same feeling that he had bonding with Tianzi. It was heartwarming, it was pure, it was all the good feelings he thought a parent could feel and he wanted to feel it more!
His own father wasn't exactly a good example, but his mother was able to fill both spots for him and he remembered everything she taught him. He could do the same for these kids, after all, he taught them so much already!
And they needed a parental figure now more than ever, adjusting to this new world would mean they would need guidance, nurturing, and care. Joseph knew in his heart he could provide that for these kids.
Thus, as the kids started to think he was going to reject them, he turned around with a bright smile on his face and said:
"Yes. Yes I be."
To Be Continued
...
And thus,
Joseph has officially become a father _!!
Ah man! I cannot tell you HOW LONG I've been wanting to write this chapter! This was the moment I always wanted to get to in my story!
Because I won't lie to you, I'm a sucker for animes that involve the MC adopting a kid!
Great examples are If It's for My Daughter I'd Even Defeat a Demon Lord, Somali and the Forest Spirit, and most recently Spy x Family.
Plus, I felt so bad for those kids who got killed by Rolo in R2 episode 14 T_T! Yeah, they were Geass users who were raised to be killers, but they were just KIDS!
So I did what I thought would be the best thing, which is have our lovable goofball adopt them! Does he have what it takes to be a dad? I guess we'll see!
And of course I wasn't going to miss out on writing the confrontation between Joseph and V.V. Especially when I get to annoy the immortal kid with Joseph's way of thinking.
And don't worry, there will be a confrontation between him and Charles, it'll just be further down the line.
And what exactly is the giant phoenix's relationship to Joseph, and what is it that V.V. figured out about his nephew? That remains to be seen.
But now he knows about C.C.'s past and what her contract was all about!
And Nunnally finally knows that something very wrong is going on between Lelouch and Suzaku! Will she connect all the pieces? Who knows?!
But until next time, comment and tell me what you think!
P.S. The song that Joseph and the kids dance to is Rabbia E Tarantella. Hence the title of the chapter.
