Sunk Costs
(Written by EvaUnit01 aka Gundam Kaiser)
With Zero promising an open door policy, Ray Kenton's meeting with Zero over his family's fate was notable... in that it hadn't happened, and some concerns were raised among the relevant staff that it might have indicated a potential time bomb.
As evidenced by Deithard Reid's prowling through the Black Knights' base in Area 18, decisions were made to nip that possibility in the bud.
Before long, Reid found his target at a table in the cafeteria, filling out paperwork… whatever it was would keep for a few minutes. "Lt. Kenton?"
The Honorary Britannian looked up, and recognized Reid immediately. "Sir."
"My apologies for the delay. We assumed you'd make your own appointment. Master Zero has reviewed the footage from the news broadcast and would like to speak with you about the contents."
Ray Kenton offered little reaction, but was compliant in rising up to walk with Reid to Zero's office.
"As you are aware from the address to the troops," Reid began, "Master Zero is still recovering from the events of the Siege of Tokyo. This has limited his time for these sorts of meetings and necessitated precautions."
Ere long, they had arrived at Zero's door, where C.C. searched Ray's body for potential weapons, before leading them into Zero's office.
The legend himself was seated in a wheelchair, sipping tea through a tube in his mask. A tea set was arranged on a low table, with two open chairs in the room - one next to Zero, and one across from him.
With a thousand-yard stare and the air of a man knowingly but uncaringly walking into a viper's den, Ray saluted. "Zero. ...or is Your Majesty more appropriate now?"
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Kenton-san," Zero said with an inviting wave to the seat across from him. "Douzo." (A pleasure to meet you. Please.)
"I respect your intentions," Ray said while taking the indicated seat, "but the man with my face who spoke that as his primary language... has long since died. I prefer to use Britannian, if it's not a problem."
Zero shrugged. "As you wish... as someone who survived the 2nd pacific war, I try to do my best to keep the culture alive where I can. ...and you may address me as you wish. Given the nature of this meeting, there is very little you can address me as, that I will not accept as having earned."
"Hm. Prior to Her Highness's speech and yours at Tokyo... I saw little difference between resistance fighters and Refrain users, in the sense that both are trapped in a past no one can reclaim."
"Funny you should say that," Zero mused. "I made a similar comment to General Katase in our last meeting."
C.C. shrugged, languidly dropping into the chair next to Zero's. "Suffice to say, the Four Holy Swords did not take it well."
Ray closed his eyes, waving the anecdote away as unimportant. "We all face consequences for the choices we make… even if it's one as simple as not biting the hand that feeds us."
Zero nodded, understanding from the man's personnel file exactly what he meant. "I cannot scorn a man who chooses to lower his head to survive; only one who averts his eyes from evil. Nor can I apologize to you, as we both understand that no words would ever be enough."
"As someone who has been a mother and lost a child," C.C. offered, "if you wish to talk, I can make time for you."
For several moments, Ray said nothing… until with clenched fists, he reopened his eyes and stared Zero down. "With honeyed words and a silver tongue, you promised a future in which my family wouldn't be punished for their ties with me. And as I should have had the sense to expect from a Faustian bargain, you took my child as your price."
And then he sighed, and any anger or fighting spirit that had been mustered left him all at once. "...but even so, Mephistopheles has already renewed the vow to uphold his end of the contract. And should you die or fail - again - it will truly have been for nothing. The only choice of consequence I can still make... is to ensure that doesn't happen. I will fulfill my duties in good faith, as I must. If that were your concern, then let it trouble you no further."
A moment later, the bereaved father grew puzzled as another thought occurred to him. "...and if not, then I can't imagine why you called for me." As if the entire conversation was pointless.
Zero heaves a deep sigh, toking from a joint, taking several moments to gather his thoughts. Eventually, he was prepared to answer.
"I wanted to look into your eyes. To ensure the cost of my ambition, of my ideal, is one that is remembered."
In Ray Kenton's eyes, Zero saw a man patiently completing the self-imposed requirements that delayed his chance to die.
"I cannot change the past... but believe me when I say that I wish you did not have to pay so high a price to change the world. It can't be done without spilling blood," the man in the mask admitted, "but all the same I would mitigate and abrogate as much of that cost as I can."
Ray said nothing in response for several seconds, which Zero took as a cue to continue speaking. "Understand this, Rei Kenton. I will not let myself be deified or lionized for what I do and have done-"
Ray stood abruptly, his expression carefully and utterly blank. "...I don't believe that. Not from someone who seeks the glory of ruling the world. With all due respect, I trust there's nothing left to say here."
With that, he made for the door, only for a sharp question from C.C. to pin the man in his tracks.
"Shall I give your regards to Sgt. Rachel Kenton, then?"
For several tense seconds, Ray said nothing, his hand clenched tightly on the doorknob.
"...that's between she and I," he eventually replied, before opening the door and taking his leave.
C.C. followed him to the door and locked it behind him, before turning to look at her unmasking husband.
"...There leaveth a man who hath departed this mortal coil," the Demon King mused while massaging his temple, "though he knoweth it not."
C.C. leaned against the door, electing to get to the point. "I can sympathize with him. But you'd be a fool to trust him with further responsibilities."
Lighting a j, Lelouch let out a snort. "So does that make three for three on the fate of Mr. Rei Kenton?"
His only answer was an arched eyebrow, silently prompting clarification.
"You, Reid, and Laila all think he's a problem. Hell, Reid and Laila broadly hinted that it would be better for him to die heroically in the heat of battle as a martyr for the cause," Lelouch explained, using finger quotes for emphasis.
The immortal verdette considered that for a moment, tapping her chin with her finger. "They're not wrong, you know. He could just as easily decide to turn on you."
"Oh I'm well aware of the possibility. But I'm not my father, nor Schneizel, nor the man I once was. I keep people like Reid and Laila in my employ precisely to come up with the worst case scenario and remind me of all the options on the table."
Shaking his head solemnly, he continued, "However, I choose not to exercise those options. I will not disrespect the sacrifice of a man who has lost everything and continues to serve. Fool that he is, I'll at least give him credit where it's due."
C.C. walked back to her husband before taking a seat next to him and embracing him. "So, what will you do?"
"I'll give him the opportunity to have it out with his wife," he said with a heavy sigh, "and see what happens there. If things change and that no longer looks viable, then if it comes down to it I'll put him behind a desk and off the battlefield. ...and hopefully, I can keep this kind of misery from happening again once I'm in charge."
"Few people are rational when it comes to their children," C.C. acknowledged. "Your parents are very much an exception to the rule."
Lelouch rubbed the bridge of his nose in faint disgust and annoyance. "Ugh, don't remind me."
Husband and wife spent a moment together in silence, before Lelouch shook his head. "Glory? Tche. Rei Kenton doesn't understand the meaning of the word. No sane man would want this role, this responsibility, this vision. Not when the price is so high."
"...although," he mused in thought, "glory is one of the things that makes it worth it. That men can and will fight for so wicked a prize. It's part and parcel of what makes war the way it is. Glory and damnation go hand in hand. But if we do not move forward, the price paid thus far is for nothing. And I will not let those deaths be in vain."
