Interlude 15: Rising Tide
I breath in deeply as I wake up, smiling at the feeling of Alice sleeping by my side.
CC stayed up a bit to play a few games with us, but begged off after an hour or two.
I am, of course, not so naive as to what likely happened when she intervened in Big Brother fighting with Suzaku.
I shake my head sadly as I stroke Alice's hair. Suzaku is a lost and broken soul. And...as much as I do love him? I can't give him what he needs.
Big Brother was right, Suzaku really does need someone willing to be hard on him to make him confront himself.
But maybe Euphie can help moderate that approach just a bit. She's certainly going to be happy if what I think happened did.
Alice yawns cutely as she wakes up. I'm definitely going to enjoy it when we're both a bit older and able to fill out lingerie like CC can.
"Nunna, what time is it?"
I look over to the clock nearby, feeling absolute joy at being able to do something as simple as look at a clock.
"About 9 AM," I whisper as I hold her close.
"Think your brother and Suzaku stopped fighting after Euphie went upstairs?"
I giggle to myself at the question. Knowing my brother? It would have been like putting a buffet before a ravenous hound. There's no way he could resist indulging.
"Alice, I'm certain it worked out fine. Please don't tease my big sister when they come down later. She's probably not had a lot of sleep last night."
It takes a minute for Alice's sleepy brain to connect the dots on that sentence before her eyes widen.
"But she's his—!"
I shush her with a finger on her lips, "She's loved Lelouch ever since we were children. Our mother actually considered her as a candidate to marry Big Brother, back in the Homeland. Let her have this."
She sighs and flops back onto the bed, "Our country is insane. So you don't care about incest in the royal family at all?"
Huh. I forgot, Alice never really had someone explain this to her.
"It's not something that happens all the time. Even in the nobility, it's rare. But for the royal family? It's kind of an open secret. Help me to my chair, please."
Alice brings the chair over and gently guides me into it.
Someday...someday soon, I'll be out of this chair.
"Full incest is rarer. Partially for the genetic issues, and partially because even in a family as deviant as ours, it isn't encouraged."
I shake my blonde tresses out as we come to the kitchen, "Half-incest via half siblings, however? Ridiculously common. Euphemia being potentially engaged to Big Brother is only the first example that comes to mind. Most of my sisters that I played with ended up fighting each other over who got to play marriage with Lulu."
Alice pours herself a cup of instant coffee and gives me a flat stare.
"This explains soooo much..." she grouses as she sips her coffee.
"I...may have joined in on that occasionally," I admit with a wince. How embarrassing.
She gives me a scandalized look at that statement, "Nunna! He's your brother!"
I throw my hands up in exasperation, "I was six! I didn't know any better! And have you seen him?"
Alice raises a finger to object, and then sighs in defeat. "He's so pretty it's ridiculous. So! Any other juicy gossip I should know about from back then?" she asks slyly.
I give her a pouting look, "You understand you can't talk about this, right?"
She nods, "Nunna, I would never do anything to hurt you. Besides, it will be fun to tease him and you can't say he isn't asking for it sometimes."
I giggle to myself at that observation. He's much more relaxed nowadays, compared to how uptight he used to be.
"Alright. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think Cornelia may have had a crush on my mother."
Alice whistles in amazement, "Wow. That must have been awkward."
"Not really. Marianne thought it was hilarious. She actively encouraged it."
We both turn around to see CC buttering some toast, and sitting wearing a fluffy robe and one of Big Brother's shirts.
"When did you get here?" Alice asks with a note of mild annoyance.
CC smirks as she bites into her toast, "A woman has her secrets, after all."
It's hard to reconcile my image of my mother, the loving, kind, sweet-natured woman, with the sex maniac, trickster, and bloodthirsty warrior that CC paints her as.
"CC, exactly how did you meet my mother?" I say with a questioning eyebrow.
She winks at me, "I met her when she was a bit younger than you are."
She lets out a small laugh at something in her memories no doubt, "And I immediately regretted it."
Alice sips her coffee slowly before answering, "She tossed you out with the garbage?"
I gasp at Alice's crass statement, "Alice! She's my sister-in-law, practically!"
She turns back to me with a put-upon look, "I know. But...we don't know who she is or what she wants. And your brother hasn't felt like answering."
She gets up and pokes CC in the chest, her eyes alight with determination.
"So I want to hear it from you. How do you really know Nunnally's mom, and what do you want with her brother?"
CC takes a sip of water, sighs, and then smiles. But...there's something bone-chilling about it.
The kind of smile I've seen when Big Brother is enthralled by his fury.
"You have good instincts, little knight. You're right, you should be wary of me. For I am an immortal witch, contracted to Lelouch vi Britannia. As I was contracted to his mother, Marianne."
She stands, a regal presence surrounding her as she looks down at Alice.
"The power I promised them was the Power of Kings, a dread and terrible power, different for every person. It is part of the curse I bear. That I must pass my immortality to someone else, who has mastered this hideous strength, so that I can finally die..." she whispers.
I stare horrified at her, so much making sense now.
"How...how long?" I whisper in a dry voice.
She turns to look at me, and I cannot avoid the gasp that escapes my throat. Her eyes...they're so sad...like a dry cloth that was wrung out of all happiness and life.
"Six hundred years, give or take."
I wheel forward, taking her hand in mine, my breath catching as I see EVERYTHING.
Horrors, death, war, intrigue, sexuality, love, sorrow, it's...it's...so much.
She pulls her hand away quickly, looking at me with wide eyes.
"How?"
I pant, catching my breath. That was...usually I can tell when someone is lying, but that was...what WAS that?!
"I just wanted to hold your hand..." I say on the verge of tears. How? How can she live with so much pain?
"You saw my life, little one...how did you do that?" she asks softly.
And...I can't answer her. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID!
"I don't know! I just saw all that pain and I wanted to comfort you! I—!"
She gently brings me close in a hug, humming gently as she rocks me in her arms.
I cry. Not because I'm scared, not because I don't understand what I did. But because it feels right, as though it's the only honest response I can have to what I saw.
She's been through so much...
Alice looks on, her face pale, "What just happened?!"
"She saw my life. All the highs...and the lows," CC whispers.
I look her in the eyes, violet meeting gold.
"You really do love him, don't you?"
She smiles, but there's something heartbreakingly beautiful this time in it. A radiance that rivals the sunshine coming through the window.
"I've loved before. Even been married once or twice. But...your brother is the first person in a very long time to treat me as a true equal. And not a means to an end. Because he loves me too. So much that he made an impossible promise to me," she says, wetness on her cheeks.
A promise? "What was it?"
"That I will destroy the Codes, the curse of immortality she bears, and set her free."
All three of us turn to see Big Brother wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, sipping on a cup of coffee, a look...a look I can't begin to describe on his face.
"How long have you been watching, Mr. Voyeur?"
He shrugs, "Long enough. Alice."
She turns to face him, expression guarded.
"Good job."
She blinks, nonplussed at his reaction.
"CC is admittedly, a rather suspicious person. And you reacted as a Knight should. To protect your charge is your first and in some ways only duty."
I wheel over and hold Alice's hand, prompting a shy smile from her. Sooo cute.
"But in the future, try asking politely next time. We've been rather busy lately, true. But that's not an unwillingness to answer," he says with a teasing tone to his voice.
I look around the room, "Where're Euphie and Suzaku?"
He shrugs, "Last I saw? Still sleeping. It was an emotionally and physically exhausting night for both of them."
But not you? You have bags under your eyes and you look troubled.
I frown at him, "What are you not telling me, Big Brother?"
He gives me a pained grimace before hanging his head in defeat.
"You know it's damned frustrating, when your little sister can read you like a bar code scanner."
I giggle as he sighs, starting on breakfast.
"Fine. I was going to talk to CC about this in private, but Euphemia is your sister too, and you're neck deep in this drek anyway."
He turns his head around, bangs over his eyes, "Just remember, you asked for it. Alice, help keep an eye on the waffle batter while I handle the bacon, please?"
As the smell of frying bacon percolates the room, I catch CC giving him a look of adoration that just melts my heart. I might not be ready to be 'Auntie Nunnally' just yet. But I think the idea sounds fantastic.
"I'm sure you're aware that Euphie, Suzu, and I enjoyed ourselves last night."
I blush at how frank he's being about having a ménage à trois involving one of my favorite sisters.
"What you don't know is that I made that happen on purpose," he says with a smirk as he pats down the bacon.
That was obvious. My Big Brother is a Casanova with little to no shame.
Seeing my questioning look, he sits down, his face looking haggard and worn.
"I can tell you didn't understand. Let me put it this way. It's not what I should have done."
I put the maple syrup I was going to pour down as I try to figure out what he meant by that.
"Really, Big Brother? You think I'm going to believe that you did not want to have sex with the two of them?" I say to him with a frown.
He lights up one of his joints, taking a deep inhale before answering.
"Of course not. I meant, I should have done something else first. Namely, get both of those two naive idiots to wake up and smell the cordite," he says with a lazy gesture from his free hand.
I open my mouth to say something in defense of my older sister, when he holds up his hand.
"Let me finish. I love the both of them dearly, but ye gods, they are two of the most delusional and foolishly naive people I have ever met."
I really want to argue with him about this. Unfortunately? He has a point.
CC takes the joint from Lulu's fingers, taking a puff before continuing where Big Brother left off.
"So why didn't you just do what you've done with everyone else and just use that acid tongue of yours to show them how wrong they are?" she says airily, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
At that question, Big Brother sags into his chair, his hand on the table shaking.
"Because...because I couldn't do it," he whispers.
I look at him with some alarm. What has him so troubled?
"I couldn't break her heart like that. Not on a night like last night. And certainly not when Suzaku was in such a fragile state himself..." he croaks out with a forlorn voice.
He hits the table firmly with his hand, clenching his fist.
"I know it was a bad idea. Neither of them understand the utter stupidity of their approach. They think that the world can be changed without using force or bloodshed..."
He gets up, pacing, his eyes wild.
"But I still couldn't do it! Even though I know it will cause me problems later!"
Problems? What is he talking about...?
"Big Brother...what do you mean?" I ask him, worried seeing his manic expression.
He rubs his forehead, taking another puff before answering.
"Because last night solved NOTHING."
I lean forward, eyes narrowed at him, demanding answers with my gaze.
"Nunnally, do you think one night of outpouring of good feelings and debauchery can solve everything? I have lifetimes of experience at this sort of thing, and I can tell you are very much mistaken," CC answers with her eyes closed, shaking her lime hair as she rubs Big Brother's back.
"But why is there a problem? Euphie knows we're alive. And Suzaku knows that you both love him. So what is left to solve?" I say pleadingly. Why can't they just be happy?
Big Brother looks at me, eyes wide with surprise, before he strides over, holding me in his arms.
"Because, little sunshine, sometimes life isn't that easy. Suzaku may not feel that his heart is torn between two loves, but his loyalties remain divided," he sighs out as he rubs my back while hugging me.
"And Euphie yet remains convinced that her approach can work. That she can appeal to the common decency of the people of Britannia, that justice can prevail by peaceful actions."
But...no. He's right. I might have foolishly believed that once. But I've seen the darkness in our country. I've experienced the smell of rotting dead on battlefields.
Garbage dumps, Suzaku and Big Brother had called the smell. How could I have been so willfully blind? So accepting of white lies to protect me?
"What will you do then, Big Brother Lelouch?" I ask him, violet eyes gazing into their twins upon his face.
"I seduced them both because they deserved at least one happy night together, before I send Area 11 crashing down and force Suzaku and Euphie to choose."
He moves back to his chair, slowly cutting up his waffle after drizzling a bit of a different kind of syrup on it. I think it says Agave?
"I don't know what to do, Nunna. Or rather, I don't know a way to do what is needed without shattering both their hearts."
He munches on a piece of waffle, his eyes concentrating.
"Hmm, need to use a lighter butter next time. Anyway, that's what's going on. Your brother is a fucking soft-hearted idiot," he grumbles.
I take a sip of the tea in front of me, now chilled below lukewarm.
Alice takes a bite of her bacon, and then walks over and smacks him on the back of the head.
"Ow. Da fuck, Alice," he says, rubbing the back of his head.
"You're an idiot, Lulu," she says glaring at him.
Before he can respond, she puts her hands on her hips and interrupts him, "You're the one person who actually cares about the Japanese people in this country enough to try and save them. I've seen what Britannia does in this country, and my Uncle has told me stories over the years about the Empire's dark side."
She hiccups, her eyes filled with angry tears, "The terrible thing is? I didn't care. I didn't think it was right, but I thought, 'That's just the way it is. There's nothing I can do about it.'"
She points at my brother, sniffling as she carries on with her tirade.
"But you said 'NO!', you stood up and did something. Because you cared enough to get your hands dirty and try to change things!"
I look at her as she browbeats my brother, who can only look at her in disbelief.
"So stop feeling sorry for your boyfriend and your sister, and get them to stop being dumb! You're the genius here, you figure out how to do it!"
Seeing him dumbstruck and being berated like this is really funny. And judging by CC's hiding her face with her sleeve, she clearly agrees with me.
He blinks, and then starts laughing to himself, hand ruffling Alice's hair as she glowers at him.
"As expected from my sister. She choose a knight who can do what has to be done, regardless of feelings."
She blushes as she frowns at him, "How did Nunnally put up with you as a brother?"
I grin, wiping some syrup from my mouth, "Oh, I was a complete brat before...that happened."
Alice looks between the two of us, "Wait..., YOU were a brat as a kid? You're the nicest person I know."
Big Brother looks away with a grimace, no doubt remembering our life back in Pendragon.
I wheel over and hold his hand, smiling at him. I'm not going to let him wallow in bad feelings, not after he got me to wake up and smell the roses.
"I was very young and didn't understand how precious and happy those times were. Big Brother was also shyer and more standoffish back then."
He kisses my forehead, then leans back into his chair, a soft smile on his lips. This really is better than the 'Ice Prince of Ashford' that he used to be. Granted, it's more like the 'Heartbreaker of Ashford' now, after what happened with Shirley...
"I was a stuck-up little shit, little sister, let's not beat around the bush. If you weren't family? I would not even notice you."
"And yet you were still the sweetest boy I ever met..."
We both turn to see Euphie there wearing shorts and a t shirt...that clearly was not meant for someone as 'healthy' as her.
Big Brother raises an eyebrow at her attire, "Why does every girl I know like to steal my shirts?"
"Are you really that upset, Lulu?" CC says with a sly smile.
Euphie blushes, fidgeting from all the attention, "Well, I needed something to wear and my shirt was dirty from last night, so..."
I gave Big Brother a dirty look. That was more information than I wanted to know.
He raises an eyebrow, "Why am I getting the stink eye and not her?"
"Because it's the man's responsibility to ensure a lady's reputation is protected," I say, sipping my juice as Euphie looks away with a flushed face.
Speaking of the man? I look around and notice someone isn't here.
"Where did Suzaku go?"
"Oh. He said he was going to exercise a bit for his morning workout and then join us."
It constantly amazes me how incredibly fit Suzaku is. I still don't understand how he does that spinning kick technique...
"He didn't get enough exercise last night?" Big Brother says incredulously. Oh god, why did you say that? Every night, I thank God and Sayoko for soundproofing and reinforced rooms.
I point my fork at him with a malicious grin, "If you can't behave at the breakfast table, I'll spray you two with a squirt bottle like cats in heat."
Euphie flushes and sits down, her cheeks red, "Ohh, I was so bad last night..." she says looking down at the ground.
I facepalm at that statement. Doesn't anyone in this family have a sense of propriety and shame?
...On second thought, never mind. I had forgotten what the rest of the family was like.
"YOO HOO! LULU, NUNNA! YOUR FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS HERE!"
Annnnnd that's probably the universe telling me that shame is a wasted emotion with this crowd.
I turn to see Milly walking in with a bright green sundress...and Nina following after her in a red blouse and skirt?! Oh no...
"Hello, all you happy people! Never fear, your friend and heroine of Ashford, Milly, is here to brighten your...Euphie?" Milly says, starting out boisterously and then slowing to a shocked whisper as she spots a weakly smiling Euphie, who waves hello to her.
"Princess Euphemia?!" Nina squeaks as she sees my pink haired sister paling upon spotting her.
"What are you doing here with your siblings...oops..." she says as she covers her mouth, eyes wide at what she just said...
SIBLINGS!? She knows?!
My eyes widen in alarm as Big Brother's expression changes and Zero appears without the mask.
"How did you figure it out, Nina?" he asks gently, but with the force of his charisma behind it. A presence that even I, his own sister, can only stare in awe at.
"Well, that is...Your Highness...I-I-I..." she stutters, knees shaking at the intensity of Big Brother's voice.
Alright, time for a gentler approach. This clearly isn't working.
I wheel over and elbow him in the side, whispering to him, "Stop scaring her. If Cornelia knew, we'd already have had to run. She's our friend, right?" I say to him with a glare.
Milly has her arms on Nina's shoulders protectively, giving us a raised eyebrow. Which means she had no idea about this either.
I keep my glare on Big Brother until he lets a breath out, rubbing his forehead.
"You'd think I'd stop getting people springing ridiculous bullshit on me, but noooo," he grumbles.
Saying that, he gestures negligently to Nina to sit down and sips his coffee, eyes closed in thought.
My turn then. He's really over-stressed at the moment, and this needs some finesse.
"Nina, we're still your friends, and we don't consider ourselves part of the royal family anymore. So please, tell us how you found out," I say, smiling sweetly as I hold her hand.
Looks like that did the trick, she's calming down.
"Nunnally, your brother Clovis, the former Viceroy, he has a portrait of you, Lulu, and your mother in a hallway in the inner keep of the Viceroy's Palace."
I stare, completely poleaxed and unblinking at her sentence.
"Princess Euphemia and Princess Cornelia both confirmed to me whom the portrait was about. I originally suspected that you and Prince Lelo—"
Big Brother groans and slowly bashes his head into the table, "Please for the love of God, do NOT start calling us that. I always hated the bowing and scraping even back in Pendragon. I put up with it because it was protocol, not because I enjoyed it."
"Yes, if he wants bowing and scraping, it will be with any of the three ladies here sharing his bed and on our knees," CC chimes in with a catty smile.
I nod to Alice, who nods back and swats CC on the head with a newspaper, causing her to narrow her eyes at her.
"Stop being lewd at the breakfast table, or next time I'll pull your ears," I say, tapping my spoon on my hand.
Nina stifles a laugh at that, before blinking.
"Wait, three? You mean...?"
She looks around, and she's probably already figured out what Big Brother's wife meant. I swear, those two are made for each other the way they act.
"But isn't Euphemia...?" she trails off as the dots connect on what happened between them.
Euphie, who up to this point has been silent, sighs and leans back in the chair, "I told you Nina, just call me Euphie. Yes, he is my half brother. And yes, we did have sex last night along with Suzaku."
Milly's face lights up as she wolf whistles, clapping appreciatively.
"Way to go. Euphie! I'm so proud you found your inner deviant!"
I cough, tapping the spoon in my hand on the table meaningfully, which gets Milly to stop clapping and look my way nervously.
"If you want to have girl-talk with Euphie, go ahead. But please do it elsewhere. I already know far too much about my Big Brother's sex life, I'd rather not learn anymore."
Milly nods and grabs Euphie's arm, pulling her out of the room, when Lulu speaks up.
"You understand, that I would appreciate you not disclosing our survival to Cornelia, yes?" he says in a deathly serious tone.
It's a testament to Euphie's mettle that she glares back at him. One of the many reasons why she's one of my favorite sisters.
"I know well enough that you two don't need any more of the ridiculous drama and pain of being part of the royal family again. Not to mention it would hurt Suzaku. You have my word, Lelouch."
He sighs in relief, a genuine smile on his face, "Thank you, Euphie. I just needed to ask."
Milly insistently drags her away, giggling to herself. I'd pity Euphemia for this, if I wasn't aware that she and Milly are old friends and that she's likely going to gushing about last night.
There's a reason Euphemia and Milly were friends back in the old days. They're both bubbly and exuberant people who always want to see the best in everyone.
Primary difference is that Milly knows how Britannia really works. Euphie? Euphie is...naively ignorant or willfully blind to how bad it is.
"Umm, Nunna? Am I in trouble?"
Right, Nina. Let's see how to salvage this, shall we?
"No Nina. You're not in trouble. Big Brother and I just want to make sure nothing happens to you."
She gulps, looking between us, "So you're not mad at me for not telling you I knew?"
Wow, she really was worried about this. Though, given the implications if anyone realized who Big Brother really is? It does make a certain amount of sense.
Big Brother takes a puff, breathing out a cloud of smoke, with a tired smile at Nina, "Nina, you said you weren't going tell Cornelia about us when you thought we were simply high nobility on the run. Is anything really that much different from then?"
Wait, she suspected we were lying? And Big Brother didn't tell me?!
I pull on his ear, causing him to wince in pain, "How long have you known that she suspected that we were hiding?"
"About a month or two, ow! Stop it!"
I shake my head, "Did you have any good reason for not telling me, your little sister, about this?"
I can't believe he let this go so long. I thought we already had this out about telling me the truth.
"I forgot, alright! I've been busy with my other gig!"
At least Nina looks calmer now that she's off the hook. She waves her arm gingerly to get my attention, "Umm, Nunna, please let Lulu go. It probably slipped his mind. And he's been a big help to me in coming out of my shell."
Big Brother smirks at me, thinking I'm going to let go that easily.
I yank harder, causing him to grimace as he leans towards me to lessen the pull. He really needs to learn to talk to me about this kind of thing and not just keep secrets to himself.
"Nina, thank you for protecting us. I'm extremely grateful for your courage and your friendship in keeping this secret," I say to her with one of my best smiles.
Nina sighs in relief, tension washing off her slim shoulders.
"Thank you, Nunnally. I wasn't sure what to do. Euphie and Princess Cornelia have missed you both so much, I didn't know if I should say anything. But I remembered that Lulu told me that I shouldn't judge things by how they look."
She takes her glasses off, wiping her eyes off before looking me in my eyes.
"I don't know why you two are hiding. And given the public facts surrounding your apparent deaths, I can only assume that there's something scary behind this conspiracy, am I right?"
I let go of Big Brother's ear, sitting straight in my chair as I nod, giving this conversation the seriousness it deserves.
"There is indeed something dark at the heart of this. The question is, do you really want to know what's going on, Miss Einstein?" Big Brother says, crossing his legs, purple eyes glowing with intensity, CC standing behind him.
Nina puts her glasses back on, looking back at him for a few moments in silence before answering.
"Only if you want to tell me or you think I need to know. You're my friends, I trust you."
The look of genuine surprise and heartfelt affection on Big Brother's face at that sentence, is something I'm going to commit to memory.
"I know this country is a much darker place than I believed it to be. I may not know what's going on, but I can guess based on available information. And what I can hypothesize...are things I don't want to speak of out loud."
She shakes her head, "As a scientist in training, my intellectual curiosity tells me I should ask, that knowledge is something that should always be uncovered and revealed for it's own sake."
She salutes with her hand over her heart, "But as a person who's trying to be a better person than she used to be, and as someone who has personal connections to that information? I realize that sometimes things have a reason to be buried. And some knowledge isn't worth the price of unearthing it."
She holds both our hands, "Lelouch gave me his trust once, and I have kept it. The only thing that's changed, is that I know more about why he was worried. And as your friend, I don't need to ask for any further explanation."
I embrace her in my arms, Big Brother holding both of us as we both let our emotions flow out at this shining example of true friendship.
"Thank you, Nina. This means a lot to us," he says, rubbing her back.
"Cornelia really does miss you two, though. I hope one day you can see her again," she whispers.
He shrugs, "Maybe some day. For the foreseeable future, though, it's better we stay under the radar. Euphie knowing about us is enough for now."
What a crazy morning this has been. Although, I do worry about one thing.
How many more of these peaceful days will we have in the near future, when Zero begins his campaign to take Area 11 openly...?
