Interlude 23: Rosé Intermezzo
I look back at the stadium as the Gawain lifts off into the air, my eyes awed by the view, and my heart pounding within my chest as I think about what I just did, and whom I did it for.
"Hahahahahahhahaha!"
I look to my right, at the maniacally laughing face of my brother, and to my left in the other pilot's seat, his lime-haired paramour, who's looking back with a single crossly raised eyebrow.
"Euphie, do me a favor and get him to stop doing that now."
I blink at being addressed and tilt my head in confusion.
She sighs and waves one arm lackadaisically behind her as she looks forward at the viewscreen, "Just hit him. It's what everyone else does."
Hit him?! But I don't want to hurt Lulu!
I tap my finger on my cheek. Maybe there's a better way?
Oh. That might work.
I straddle his lap as best I can in my dress, holding his face in my hands as I kiss him, his voice silencing in a moment as he starts returning the kiss.
"Mmm, magnifique. Je suis enchanté," the woman says with a lascivious smile.
Oh pooh. I can't remember what that means in French.
"CC said magnificent, she's enchanted," Lelouch replies as he kisses my neck softly.
Ah ah ah! I moan at his touch. Even after spending the night with him and Suzaku, I'm still amazed how...virile he is.
Abruptly he stops, and leans back in the chair, eyes closed as he holds me.
"You've put me in an awkward position, pinky princess."
I wiggle in his lap with a sly smile. Not so awkward, from where I'm sitting.
"Merde, she's feistier than I thought. I want her for myself, Lulu," CC says with a throaty laugh.
My brother sighs and flicks me in the forehead gently. Ow.
"Stop that. I have a few serious questions to ask you and your cock-teasing isn't helping."
"What's a cock-tease?" I ask, rubbing my forehead.
He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it, and then opens it again.
"I don't want to dignify that with a response...but unfortunately I'm quite certain you were serious. Which means I need to answer you now before you acquire any misconceptions," he grumbles, rubbing the brow of his face. "A cock-tease is a girl who entices guys and doesn't intend to actually have sex with them. They delight in causing blue balls, frustrating men, and generally using their sex appeal to manipulate."
CC sniffs at that, "You didn't complain last night."
Lulu chuckles and turns his smoky violet eyes to my lilac ones.
"As my fiancé correctly points out, it's not necessarily a bad thing when it's done well. It can be incredibly sexy." He firmly holds me in his arms, my face flushed, "But in your case? You're grinding in my lap to distract me from asking you certain things. Stop that now," he says in a commanding tone.
A light on the instrument panel lights up and starts flashing.
CC turns back, "Tohdoh, secure line."
Lelouch, no, Zero nods, "I'll take it here."
A panel showing a middle aged Eleven, no, Japanese, man with a severe expression and sharp eyebrows appears on the viewscreen in front of us.
"ZERO、じょきょは何~?" (Zero, what's the situati—?)
He narrows his eyes at my big brother in confusion.
"Am I interrupting something, Lelouch?"
Lulu shrugs and reaches into his coat for something.
"Only pinky princess here once again deciding to throw monkey wrenches into everyone's plans. What's up, Kyoshiro?"
So that's the infamous "Miracle Tohdoh" that Cornelia was hunting. Huh, he reminds me of her quite a bit. Same no-nonsense military personality.
"So this wasn't your plan to add yet another lover to your harem, Sir?" he says with a smirk.
Lelouch opens a case and pulls a cigarette and starts puffing on it after he lights up...wait, what is that? That doesn't smell like tobacco.
"Strictly speaking, she's already in it, considering that she spent the night at my house. But no, this entire shitshow was all on Euphemia once again leaping carefree into the jaws of danger without thinking of the consequences. 我が妹は死狂い、仕方がないだ。" (My little sister wants to die, what can you do?)
Tohdoh takes a deep sigh before replying, "I did not need to know that first part, Lelouch. As for you, Your Highness?"
I turn to face the infamous Japanese rebel, mildly aware of the embarrassing circumstances of being in my brother's lap with my dress up over his legs.
"Yes, Colonel Tohdoh?"
He smiles and offers a polite nod of the head, "I have been promoted to General, Your Highness. That was an exceptionally brave and heroic thing you did, standing up for the rights of non-Britannians. I offer you my sincere respect and admiration for it."
I look down glumly, reminded of my hubris in trying to force the Japanese to go along with my plans with the SAZ.
"I didn't do anything. Lelouch is the one who knows what people really need. I didn't help at all..."
He shakes his head lightly, "It was a mistake made in good faith, and we of the Black Knights bear you no grudges. What are your plans now, Princess Euphemia?"
I look into his dark eyes and see only sincerity. So this is the loyalty my brother commands with his army. I think I made the right choice after all.
"I request asylum with the Black Knights and the protection of my brother, Lelouch vi Britannia, also known as Zero, Demon King of The Sixth Heaven."
Said king blows a cloud of smoke out at that remark, "That can wait. What's the status of the troops? We need to prepare to mobilize immediately."
Tohdoh salutes, "All forces can be mustered within twenty minutes. There is mass rioting going on across the country, and the Knight Police are unable to suppress it."
My brother brushes his hair back as he nods, "Excellent. Dispatch guerilla units where possible. Do what you can to direct manpower and resources to our purposes. I'd say try to stop civilian casualties, but at this point speed is the only remedy. We cannot prevent collateral damage, but we can minimize it wherever possible."
A button lights up as a second screen shows up saying 'Audio Only, Scrambler On'.
"Zero! You can't be serious! We have to take steps to save the people!"
Zero slams his fist onto the panel, glowering at the second voice.
"No. We cannot break our momentum. Not now, not when we are on the verge of being the first Area in Britannian history to successfully oust the Empire from its borders. I will not waste this opportunity, nor will I condone any delays not absolutely necessary! Is that clear, Commander Ohgi?!"
I gasp at the coldblooded tone in my brother's voice. He cannot be serious!
"But that's outright murder! You can't leave them to the mercy of the Britannian army!" Ohgi yells out in defiance.
My brother sits up, snarling, "Stop being a bleeding heart and think like you're part of the goddamned command staff! We don't have the resources or the firepower to strike atevery disturbance in every city on Kanto, let alone all of Japan! I am PRIORITIZING the single most important point, the central command center for Area 11, the Viceroy's Palace in Tokyo!"
He wipes his brow off, "Any forces not attacking Tokyo itself will be striking the outlying bases around the Kanto Area. Kyushu is too broken to matter at this point, and the Hokkaido garrison is a skeleton crew. Honshu is, and has always been, the heart of Japan. If we take the main part of this country, the battle is ours."
"Sir, I—!"
Tohdoh clears his throat, "I'm afraid I must agree with Zero's analysis. We cannot spare the forces. However, given Zero's bombastic performances and spotlight-stealing, Cornelia will almost certainly come to the same conclusion as him and fortify Tokyo into a meat grinder to bleed us dry until reinforcements arrive."
"Precisely, but once the Britannian Third and Fifth fleets are sunk, the Homeland will be unable to coordinate a response," Lelouch says with a sinister smile.
Seize Tokyo? Destroy the fleets? What is my brother planning?!
This is beyond even what big sister Cornelia feared Zero was capable of!
"Zero...what are you planning?" I whisper in fearful awe.
I need to know. I need to know what my Lulu is trying to accomplish.
He breathes out a cloud of smoke, the vapors wafting around his head, granting him an otherworldly air as he speaks.
"To do the impossible. To obliterate Britannia and shatter the chains of injustice and oppression. All men are not created equal, but creation does not determine worth. Britannia as it is must be stopped. This is how it must be done."
He holds my hand gently, "But where I am the avenging sword and the defending shield, you are the healing balm and the ministration of kindness. There is more than one type of strength in this world, and Britannia does not understand the might of COMPASSION!"
He raises his other arm high, "I will take this land and begin my grand designs from it! And you, Euphemia li Britannia, the saving angel of Britannia, shall help to show them a better way."
...I'm utterly speechless. He's not lost in darkness and hate at all. He is everything I hoped he still was.
"Gentlemen, can you excuse us? I have something I need to tell Zero, in private," I whisper.
Tohdoh rubs his chin before smiling and offering a slight bow of his head, "Then shall we resume when you arrive back at base, Zero?"
My brother nods before turning to Ohgi's panel, "Commander, steel thy nerve and gird thy loins. For we rally to claim a land and none may know the outcome till the dust is settled."
"For...forgive me, Zero. I just..."
Lelouch shakes his head, "Believe me, I understand. It's a shitty thing to have to do. But what is worse, Ohgi? To come so far, only to fail in our first step? Or to stride forward, fully knowing that blood will flow regardless and that to keep going is the only way to honor that sacrifice?" he asks with a downcast look for a moment before looking upward, a regal cast to his fair features.
"I don't know that I can do that so easily...sir..." Ohgi's voice says with a pained grimace leaking through.
I hold Lelouch's hand as I respond, "Don't fault yourself, sir. The fact that this is hard for you says that you're a good man."
Lelouch chuckles as our fingers intertwine, "We'll be there soon. Auf wiedersehen."
As the comms panels shut off, I turn to face Lelouch, whose eyes meet mine. The princess and the demon king, both seeking answers. I have the ones I want, it's time I repaid the favor.
"Why?"
I hold his face in my hands, a melancholy look adorning my face.
"Because at that moment, when you cast down my dream, it all became clear to me."
It was shocking, almost beyond belief. But then, that's what he does, isn't it? To do the impossible.
"The people didn't want me, they wanted YOU. And I saw in that instant, that you would leave me, and I might never see you again. That I would lose my brother, the man I love, all over again."
I blink away tears as he looks on with open, clear eyes.I knew it would hurt, and it will hurt all the more as time goes by. But I cannot abandon him.
"You were right. The Empire will not change by being kind. So I did the only thing I could. I threw everything to the wind and leaped into your arms. Because in the end...?"
I hold his head to my chest gently, tear drops falling. I'm sorry I ever doubted you, my Lulu.
"My family means everything to me. And if doing the right thing means I can't be a princess anymore...but I can still be with you? Then that's a price I'll gladly pay."
I can feel CC stroking my hair from behind as she embraces me. I can see why he likes her, she compliments his nature.
I turn my head towards her, this mysterious girl with emerald hair, "Because you know I'm right. Someone must ensure he survives this war with his heart whole. And I know I can do so. He needs me, just as Suzaku does. And I want both of the men I love to live through this."
I kiss his lips gently, "And the only path to happiness...is through the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven."
He looks at me with shimmering eyes, "You really are the best of us, aren't you, Euphemia?"
I blush at the praise. Why does he keep saying that? I'm not that special. I'm just plain little Euphie.
"Lulu, you know I'm not that important compared to—"
"Pinky, shut up for a moment and listen. You are important, more than you know. Lelouch and I...we're not good people. You should have figured that out by now," CC says with a sigh.
Not good people? Maybe not by a strict definition. But you're both taking on the burden of saving the world from itself. And...that can't be done without sacrifice.
"You're both better than you think. And the fact that you're saying this to me speaks to your kindness, Queen CC."
CC blinks and starts chuckling at the form of address.
"Queen? My my, now where did you get that idea?"
I kiss her cheek before giving her a bedroom eyes look, "I've seen enough. You are my brother's other half, as much as anyone can be. If the spouse of a king isn't a queen, then I don't know the meaning of the word."
Lelouch pipes up, "Technically, she's my fiancé right now, but sooner or later I'll make an honest woman out of her, as hard as that might be to believe."
A red light ups on the controls, what is that?
"Are we under attack?"
CC shakes her head, "No, this is a stealth Knightmare. That's the comms unit again, but this time it's a coded signal."
Lelouch slaps his forehead, "I knew this was coming. Put him on. Let's get this over with."
Over with? Who could possibly...oh.
I gulp as the comms panel shows up once again, but this time?
This time the face is that of my beloved knight, the other man who holds my heart. Suzaku Kururugi.
"Sooo, yeah, shit happened. How are you, Suza—"
"Shut up Lelouch."
I look aghast at the expression on his face. It's a mask of outrage and frustration. The kind of emotions that don't belong on my Suzaku's radiant features.
"Oh, come on! How the fuck was I supposed to know Euphie was going to pull this shit?!"
"Maybe you could have come up with a better plan than humiliating her in front of the entire world, you shitty Char Aznable-wannabe!" Suzaku yells back, his jaw clenching in rage.
"Wannabe? Piss off, Suzu, you know I'm cooler and sexier than him," Lelouch says while blowing on his fingernails.
"You smug son of a bitch! You threw Euphie into danger and you're still acting like you did nothing wrong?! You told me there are clandestine forces within the Empire that you're operating under the noses of! And now you made my Princess, the woman I love, into a target for OSI assassins! AND YOU HAVE THE GALL TO ACT NONCHALANT ABOUT IT?!"
I look back and forth as they scream insults at each other, biting my lip as the fight escalates. Why are they always at each other's throats?
"Don't look so worried. Those two idiots love each other; nothing bad will happen."
I turn to see CC smoking one of those cigarettes and blowing out a cloud of smoke.
"I've seen plenty of men in relationships with other men. Two passionate and hotblooded young men like these two, in a polyamorous relationship with other people, with the stress of clandestine operations and war? It's not surprising at all that their unease would explode into fights like this."
I move to lean against her, wrinkling my nose at the smell, "Speaking from experience? And what is that, anyway?"
CC shrugs, "My dear, you could not begin to catalog my experience. And it's marijuana, also called gangja or weed. Would you like some?"
"Goddamn you, Lelouch! I love you, but right now I want to break your skinny spine over my knee for pulling this stunt! Do you have any idea what's it doing to Cornelia?!"
"Fuck off, Suzaku! As if this wasn't partially Nelly's own fault for trying to smother Euphie and not finding me and Nunnally!"
I narrow my eyes at that remark. Cornelia was beside herself with grief for months when we thought Lelouch and Nunnally died. How dare he make light of it?
"No thank you, CC. If you'll excuse me, I'm tired of listening to this," I say as I move back to Lelouch and Suzaku, interrupting the argument with a loud slap to Lelouch's face.
"Euphie...?" Suzaku says in disbelief.
Lelouch's mouth is open in stunned disbelief and before he can say anything, I slap him again on the other cheek.
"BOTH OF YOU BE SILENT!" I scream at them with my full voice.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, "Lelouch. You have no idea how much it hurt Cornelia and myself to hear that you and Nunnally died. I'm so sorry we didn't find you, but you have no right to scourge her for failing to find you when you yourself took measures to ensure you would not be found, brother."
Lelouch slumps back, shrugging his shoulders, "Fine. I'll defeat Nelly on the field of battle and work it out with her after she's captured. Chances are we'll work things out after a good fistfight and maybe a hatefuck anyway."
I'd hit him again for being a meanie, but knowing him and Nelly? He's probably right that their reunion would be more physical and vitriolic than his was with me.
"As for you, Suzaku? You are MY knight, not Lelouch's! And I refuse to let you waste yourself in rage tearing apart the man that we both love!"
Suzaku stands up in disbelief, "He dragged you into this war and made you a target! Despite the two of us agreeing that you needed to be protected! Why shouldn't I be furious at him for breaking his word?!"
I throw my arms wide as I glare at him, "Because he had nothing to do with my decision to defect! That was my own prerogative, which I undertook because ZERO WAS RIGHT!"
Suzaku's eyes widen, hand shivering at the conviction in my voice as I grip the hem of my dress, emotions roiling inside my heart.
"He was right all along, Suzaku. The Empire...it can't be saved. Not unless the poison is bled out by force. I did everything I could...I was even prepared to surrender my claim to the throne if I wasn't sure it wouldn't have helped..." I sniffle as salty tears trail down my cheeks.
Even now, my failure plain for the world to see, on the run from my own country, it makes my heart keen in sorrow to know how far away from reality my vision was.
"But...what good is a gilded cage when the world outside will tear the bird inside apart? The Empire is sick, Suzaku. And even though my sister may not understand it, she's wrong. And we were both wrong too," I say as I wipe away the drops of sorrow from my face.
It's plain to see that these words are taking their toll on my love, his face grimacing as though each syllable was a cutting barbed edge embedding themselves within him.
"I sided with Zero, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, because the Empire does not believe in justice. As much it hurts me, as much as I wish to God that I was wrong...I have to do what's right, no matter what it costs me. And because I love the both of you," I whisper quietly, sitting up as I look him in his tearful luminous green eyes.
"But you're in danger now...ちくしょ…" (Dammit...)
"If the king does not lead, his subordinates will not follow. Euphemia understands the truth of my war maxim. Why don't you?"
We both turn to see Lelouch sitting him, his countenance relaxed, one arm holding up his face as he smiles, despite the weight of the pronouncement he just delivered.
"She put her money where her mouth is, Suzu. And you have my word that I will not permit her on the battlefield and that no harm shall come to her."
No. There's something else I can do. Something to prove to Suzaku once and for all that I trust him and Lelouch equally.
"By my Rank as Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, I hereby invoke the Right of Command."
At my solemn voice, both of them turn to me in surprise, CC looking with an intrigued expression on her face.
"In my Name of Euphemia li Britannia, I offer Zero, Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, right of Command over my Knight of Honor, Suzaku Kururugi."
Lelouch smiles victoriously and salutes with one arm, "By my Title and my Honor, I swear to uphold the Trust and Responsibility that has been granted me. Let Valor and Glory guide my Blade."
I salute back at him, sighing in relief that he understood, "May your Armor and your Heart be ever untarnished."
Suzaku tilts his head, trying to figure out what just happened. I didn't expect him to know. This is not a ritual used lightly, if at all.
"What just happened?"
"Boya, Lelouch can now command you with the same authority as Euphie. She gave him the Right of Command, a sacred ritual used as a sign of trust and love. Usually, only a spouse or someone absolutely loyal to a person is given such rights. By doing this? Euphemia is outright placing her fate and yours...in the hands of Zero," CC says slowly with her hand going to a salute as she inclines her head lightly in Lulu's direction.
Suzaku scratches the back of his head sheepishly and then looks me in the eyes, a boyish smile on his face.
"Is this really what you want, Euphie?"
I nod, showing him a radiant smile. He looks so much better when he smiles. Like the weight of all his burdens has faded away. Lelouch looks like that sometimes too, come to think of it. I should do something nice for him, especially considering how much I've put him through.
"Yes, my Suzaku. I know I'm not a fighter. But I'm sure I can help more with other things. You're a born warrior, however reluctant you are to hurt people. Lelouch can use your help to end this war sooner and save people. By fighting with him, you can save lives, Suzaku, just like you always said you wanted to do as a soldier."
Lelouch strokes my back, fingers teasing my pink locks, "You will stand and fight with Britannia, until the time comes. 'White Knight Turncoat' is to be used only when I see fit."
Even with his eyes bloodshot from crying, tear tracks on his face and a weary cast to his features?
Suzaku is the most beautiful man I've ever seen when he smiles in that carefree fashion.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Keep our Euphie safe."
"Of course, My Knight, my love."
The communication screen shuts off as I lie back on Lelouch's chest, looking up at the sky.
"Thank you, Pinky Princess. You have no idea how much that will help me."
I smile, hearing that nickname again. I can't wait for the day that Nelly is on our side, when we can start being a family again. And with the Right of Command, Suzaku's heart will be safeguarded. I outright said that I trust Zero to protect me as much as I do him. And to protect Suzaku from himself.
"Lulu...please don't let Suzaku hurt himself on the battlefield. I worry for him."
He kisses my forehead, shaking his head slowly, "Trust me, taking care of Suzu is a full-time job. I won't let my stallion get in over his head. But do me a favor? If you have any more great ideas? For the love of Mara, please run them by me first," he says in an exasperated tone.
I giggle as I try to tickle him, frowning when he doesn't react. Oh pooh, he's not ticklish.
"Hmmm, no. You'll have to make me," I say mischievously, wiggling my derriere in his lap.
"Challenge accepted," CC says as she captures my lips, bending me over to frame my face with her green hair. Oh my...she's better than Cornelia. Well, maybe not better, but different.
I feel her tongue sliding into my mouth, the saliva mixing as her arms snake around my waist.
"Hmm, I'd ask who's piloting, but I think I get the message. Enjoy yourself, my dear, I'll pilot us back," Lulu says as he gets up and climbs over into the pilot's chair.
I blush as the kiss breaks, "That was..."
CC tilts my chin up with a finger, smirking, "More?"
I nod shyly as I kiss her back with a peck on the lips, "Yes, please."
