Interlude 6-D: Eighth Rank Promotion

One thing that I don't miss about being blind? Being unable to see the sunshine. It's one thing to simply feel when it's warm. It's another to see the sun shining down and everything illuminated by the brightness of the day.

Thank you, Big Brother.

I do wish he and Suzaku would just stop being shy around each other, though.

Well, no. I'm being unfair. Big Brother isn't shy, he's just reluctant to push Suzaku too hard. Which, given Suzaku's issues? Is entirely understandable.

I giggle to myself as Milly follows Lelouch around, trying and failing to get his attention. Really, she should know why he's distracted.

After all, he's worried about his Witch. CC has been in negotiations with Li Xing-Ke for support for awhile now. And after that, she has a few days of meeting with the Maharaja of India.

I had wondered why India, and so I asked Lelouch.

"Let's just say it's to ensure I don't get backstabbed later, and for an ace in the hole as insurance."

I was unsatisfied with his answer and after a few tickle attacks, he had cried uncle and explained that he wanted something called the Shen-Hu for safekeeping, because he didn't want the Chinese Federation getting it.

Am I cheating by abusing my privilege as his little sister to make him tell me things? Absolutely.

Do I care? Not even slightly. Big Brother wouldn't tell anything important for Operational Security that was Need-to-know basis, anyway.

He probably also still feels guilty about Shirley.

I wasn't happy with him when I found out Shirley had left the Student Council building in tears. And I was especially angry when rumors about his cruel dismissal of her feelings started circulating around the school.

I tap my pencil on the desk my chair is parked at in the living room. I still haven't confronted him about THAT, yet. Probably in a few days, after CC gets back.

"Nunna!"

I look up startled to see Alice waving to me from outside.

I wave back gingerly. Oh dear. That's another situation I'm not looking forward to dealing with.

Big Brother had looked Alice up. Apparently her uncle is a retired Britannian special forces commando. So he's worried she might be a spy. Thus...

"Ah, Alice. Come in, please. There's something I want to ask you," Lelouch opens the door and waves her to his study.

Milly leans over to whisper in my ear, "I'm thinking we should spy on them. If nothing else, maybe it will get you and Alice to stop goosestepping around each other."

I wince. Did everyone see that? Wait...

"Alice is doing that, too?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

Milly giggles, "Oh, this is just precious! Hahaha!"

I really don't get her, sometimes.

Milly and I move to a secure room where we can watch the meeting. One-way mirror, not so large that anyone who didn't already know would suspect it of such, speaker system connected to hidden microphones, so we can hear them without them hearing us.

I grin slyly as we settle in, "This is so exciting, we're spying on Big Brother and he doesn't even know it!"

Milly passes me a water bottle as we kick back and watch. "Oh, he probably knows. He just doesn't care," she says with a dismissive wave.

She gives me that 'Cheshire Cat' grin of hers, "I'm more interested in finding out about your cute girlfriend."

I flush and fidget in the chair, "Milly! She's not my—!"

"Good afternoon, Your Highness."

I pause in what I was going to say and look at the screen. Alice had gone to one knee in the Knight's pose before saying that.

Uh oh...

Lelouch, on the other hand?

"...What," he says flatly with a twitching eyebrow.

"I apologize for the deception. Please forgive me, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, 11th Prince of the Empire."

Oh SHIT. I blink slowly as I turn to look at Milly, who's shaking her head slowly with a concerned look.

"...WHAT," Big brother says a bit louder.

Alice looks up nervously, "I...I erased data from the school network that might have pointed to your true identities. I don't believe anyone else was aware of it. Please tell Princess Nunnally I'm sorry for deceiving her," she mumbles the last sentence.

"WHAT?!" he bellows.

Oh no...Big Brother is about to snap.

"HOW? How in the name of fuck did YOU connect the dots?! THE GODDAMN OSI COULDN'T FIND US FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS! HOW DOES A FUCKING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT MANAGE TO FIGURE IT OUT?!"

Alice backs up as Lelouch rants, waving his arms around.

"Well, that's just fucking great! Next thing you know, Nina or my ditzy sister Euphemia will come through the door! Or worse, FUCKING CHARLES 'GOATFUCKER' ZI BRITANNIA HIMSELF!"

And then suddenly the histrionics vanish, his expression nothing but cold and focused as he turns and points an accusing finger at Alice, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rid myself of you for endangering my sister," he snarls, teeth bared, looming over her menacingly.

But instead of shrinking away, Alice's cheeks puff up as she pushes him back. "I'D NEVER DO A THING LIKE THAT! I'LL NEVER ENDANGER THE GIRL I LOVE, NOT FOR A MINUTE!"

I gasp at that declaration. Alice...loves me?

And like that, the fire gutters out in Lelouch's eyes, Alice's yell appearing to have taken him off balance as well.

I can't understand what he's saying. I think he's just mumbling half syllables while his brain is off kilter.

"HAHAHAHAHA! OH MY GOD! HAHAHA! I KNEW IT, I JUST KNEW IT!"

Speaking of off kilter...I think Milly's snapped too.

"SCHOOLGIRL ROMANCE! CLASSMATES BUT SECRETLY IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER! HAHAHAHA!"

...WHAT?! I blanch at what she's implying.

Milly has fallen out if her chair and is currently rolling on the floor laughing.

"IT'S JUST LIKE A GIRLS' LOVE NOVEL! BOTH OF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THE OTHER FEELS THE SAME! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I blush furiously, "MILLY! STOP IT! I don't feel that...way..." I trail off as I start thinking about Alice.

...Oh god. I actually DO like her THAT WAY. She's perky, cute, sporty, she's always trying to make me smile...

I laugh hysterically as it hits me full force. "Hahaha...I'm in love with Alice...hahaha!"

Milly sits up, trying to catch her breath. "Hahaha, let's, hahaha, go see your brother so he, hahaha, doesn't have to deal with this himself. Hehehe!"

Milly wheels me to the door of the study. I take a deep breath to stop giggling and then nod to her.

We enter the room to see Alice looking askance at big brother, who's mumbling something about a "goddamn nightmare."

He looks up, and sighs, "Alice, make yourself useful and pour me a pull of Scotch on the rocks. The bottle and tumblers are in the cabinet."

She nods and busies herself with the drinks as I wheel up to Lelouch.

"Big Brother, let me handle this," I whisper to him.

He narrows his eyes and then smirks, "So you were watching. Tell me, little sister, do you trust Miss Hargreaves?"

I blush and push my fingers together, embarrassed.

His smile widens as Alice hands him the scotch. "Heh..."

He takes a sip and snickers to himself.

"So, the shoe is on the other foot now, and I get to screw with you about your girlfriend?" he says with a smile that honestly makes me want to hit him on the nose.

"I don't annoy you about having sex with your girlfriends, Brother Dear. You don't get to dictate my relationships," I say with a flat tone.

I am not letting him pull the overprotective brother card this time. Not unless he wants his own dirty laundry aired.

...I just realized that I now understand the concept of a 'punch-able face'. Because Big Brother is making one deliberately, right now.

I pull his ear, causing him to wince. Not this time.

"Listen to me very carefully. You have been very protective of me ever since that day. And for that, I am eternally grateful. But! I am growing up, no matter how much you try to deny it. With my sight back, I want to try and live more. Even if it's in a wheelchair."

I yank on his lobe harder, prompting an "Ow!" from him.

"So if you try and ruin this relationship with Alice out of some stupid, big brother-guardian instinct, I swear I will do my best to make you regret it. Do you understand me, Lelouch vi Britannia?"

Wary, he nods slowly.

Success! He can be taught!

I smile brightly as I let go and clap my hands together, "Wonderful! Thank you for being so understanding, Big Brother!"

He finishes the Scotch and then lights up, letting out a cloud of smoke before responding.

"It's all too easy to forget how utterly devious you are, little sunshine," he whispers.

He ashes the joint and puts it in a cigarette case and then wraps me up in a hug.

"I'm looking to see if I can do something to get you out of the chair eventually, but I can't guarantee when."

I gasp in shock. Out...of...the chair?

My eyes tear up as I look at him in utter shock.

"You'd never tease me, not about this. What have you done?"

He gives a stage bow, "Dr. Rakshata Chawla, the designer for Kallen's Guren, used to be a specialist in medical cybernetics before she switched to engineering and Knightmare Frame design. I have retained her services to see if she can help you, IF, I repeat, IF it's possible."

He kneels, looking up with wet eyes, "I'm going to give you back what was taken, Nunnally. All I ask is that you stand with me in my cause."

I let out a sob as I embrace him, almost falling out of the chair.

"I BELIEVE IN YOU, BIG BROTHER!"

He sets me back gently in the chair. The chair that I thought would be my prison for my lifetime. But now? Now I might be FREE someday.

"Oh, Nunna, that's amazing!"

Alice glomps onto me with a hug, causing me to blush, thinking about how good it feels.

Lelouch smirks at Milly and hands her a fifty-pound note.

"I'm handing this to you because I have a hunch you're right and we're about to witness a Knighting ceremony."

Alice blinks, "Knighting? Who's being knighted?"

I gulp and raise my head up.

"Umm, you are. I heard everything, Alice-chan," I mumble.

She gasps and falls over, expression shell-shocked.

"But I can't be a knight, I'm not nobility, I'm not a soldier, I'm-Mmm!"

I dive out of the chair and silence her with a kiss. Ignoring my big brother clapping slowly and Milly's catcalls.

Alice starts responding after a moment and it feels so good and—

"Ahem!"

I turn to glare to Lelouch. Stupid killjoy big brother.

"I appreciate the enthusiasm, and completely understand the feeling, really I do."

He kneels down and looks at our flushed and embarrassed faces.

"But, I do need to know if you need us to stay as witnesses for Alice's ceremony, or if you want privacy first," he says with a cheeky tone.

Right after he says that, Milly grabs him by the arm and starts pulling, frog-marching him to the door before I can respond.

"Nunna, your brother is an unrepentant asshole at times. And he's been warned to stop it," she says with a glare at him.

She turns back with a bright smile, "We'll have a proper ceremony and party later. As for you!" she says, turning to a quizzical Lelouch.

"We're going out for the day, and you're taking me shopping!"

"I can hear my wallet screaming in agony already," he grumbles.

"No more backtalk! Minions take orders, not grumble! GUTS!" she yells at him as they're out the door and gone.

Alice blushes as she looks at the ground. I look away, cheeks red.

"Umm, before we continue, you should know that Big Brother is Zero and he's planning to tear down the Empire," I whisper.

Alice whistles with wide eyes. "Wow...how do you feel about that?"

I sigh, "I don't like that he's putting himself in danger. And I worry he's turning himself into something inhuman sometimes..." I say as I lay my head on her lap.

"But as long as he has people like Milly, and Kallen, and CC and Suzaku to protect him? I think he'll be okay."

Alice smiles softly, "I don't care about the Empire. It's just been...there. A fact, just a thing that exists for me."

She kisses my forehead, "But the Empire hurt you. And for that alone, I'm going to join you and your brother."

I reach up to touch her cheek.

"Alice Hargreaves, will you be my Knight of Honor and help make my dream of a better world happen?"

Her lip quivers as she answers.

"I-I can really be your knight?"

I nod and smile brightly.

"Oh, thank you, Nunna! I promise I'll use everything Uncle Robert taught me to protect you!" she sobs out as she embraces me.

I tear up and return the hug. I never thought I'd find love right under my nose like this.

But I'm so glad I did. I'll ask Mr. Orange to help her learn the formalities of being a knight of honor. As for the rest?

I grin mischievously as I steal a kiss from her.

That's for another day.