A/N: WARNING: A detailed fight lies ahead. I'm not sure if it's graphic (because, let's be honest, 'graphic' means differently to different people). But if you have an active and detailed imagination, then just be aware that there's going to be some violence.
Also, the fight Kallen mentioned in Two Dancing Vipers is this one. ;)
Thank you for the support I'm getting on this story; the reads, the reviews, the faves, the follows... I'll always say I'm grateful.
Chapter 3: The Play and its Characters
The Vaults had never been a pleasant place. But never before had Lelouch understood the true meaning of suffocation until the moment he was within range of the roaring crowd in the Pits.
The stench of unwashed bodies, sweat, blood, and the natural odor of the Vaults combined created a stench so strong that he was thankful to have an excuse to use the mask that would cover the lower half of his face. Granted, he needed it for this fight if he was going to discard his cloak and hood.
He shoved his way in through the jostling crowd just in time to make it to the edge of the open and flat arena to see the dominant fighter land a knock-out punch to the other man. Blood sprayed in the air as the defeated challenger's body crumpled into an unconscious heap. The rowdy crowd only grew even louder as shouts of triumph and groans of defeat echoed across the tight space. Coins were tossed and claps on the back were exchanged while the winner raised both fists into the air, howling and puffing out his chest like a rutting bull.
Off slightly to his side, Lelouch spied Kallen Stadtfeld's annoyed face as she surveyed the scene. She made a quick motion with her hands to the announcer taking center stage. And Lelouch observed the exchange quietly from the shadows of his hood as the announcer declared the victor for the last fight.
He stood aside as Kallen easily shouldered her way past the men and heading for the tall man in the center who was ushering the last fighter out of the arena. Two other men materialized from the crowd to drag the unconscious body away.
Above the din, Lelouch could hear them speaking in normal tones as a collective murmuring began.
"Kozuki." The announcer, Ohgi — as Kallen said so earlier, grinned. Lelouch could already see a myriad of gold and silver coins flashing around him as they passed the currency from one man to another to place the bet. "Name your opponent."
In her suit of lightweight armor, Kallen made a show of rolling her shoulders to loosen them. She jerked her head from side to side as well, and shook her hands outward before clenching them into fists. The crowd was getting restless, waiting for their favorite fighter to name her unlucky challenger.
"Him!" She jerked her chin in the hooded figure's direction.
And like one body, all eyes turned to Lelouch. Taking that as his official cue, the assassin stepped up to the edge of the arena. He lifted the mask from his neckline to cover the lower half of his face.
"No weapons." One of the Vaults' guards grumbled just slightly behind him.
Lelouch merely cocked his head and lifted his arms, turning in a circle to allow the beefy guy to pat him down with his sweaty and dirty hands.
Lelouch was wearing his form-fitting suit underneath the glorious tunic, and as the guard failed to find the weapons concealed in his clothing, the Warlock of Britannia looked across the pit. Kallen's stern glare wasn't lost on him. And when the guard had finished his failure of an inspection, Lelouch removed the hood shadowing his face with the flourish of a preening prince.
Kallen mentally rolled her sleeves up in preparation for this fight. She refused to take her eyes off of him as he stalked towards the center of the pit. And just like every other fight she'd started and had been challenged to before, she could feel the crowd's incessant noise diminish into a faint drone in the background. All focus and heavy determination was set on defeating the assassin who, for a few hours of conversation, managed to dangle a noose over her head.
But as her opponent drew closer, she finally had a clearer view of his face. And boy, was it interesting…
There was a sudden bright flare from one of the caged torches on the edge of the arena, signaling the start of the match. A roar rushed through the crowd as Kallen paced the edge, watching this assassin closely.
When she inwardly told herself he was interesting, she wasn't lying. Even with the lower half of his face concealed in a heavy black mask, his crown of ebony hair was shiny in the low light. And from a distance of approximately eight feet, she could see the fire light catching in his eyes. They glimmered in a shade of an otherworldly violet. It was — dare she say — too impossibly remarkable for just this world to behold.
He moved like a black jungle cat; prowling around the edge, sizing her up just as she was doing to him.
And then, like two whips snapping from their coils, they sprung…
Kallen got ahead by a few seconds, angling her body back as she feigned a left hook, but kicked and aimed for his sensitive parts instead. Men didn't always fall for it, but when they did, it was an easy win for her from there on out. He, however, belonged in the former group and protected his privates easily enough by swaggering out of the way while still keeping a defensive stance.
But that was his mistake…
In the minuscule of a second when he slid into his fancy stance, Kallen went on the offensive and landed alarmingly consecutive jabs — no breaks in-between — to his unprotected side. A right hook to his jaw, a sharp shin-kick to his thigh, a foot slamming into the joint of his ankle, and a fast left hook sent his head snapping back violently from the force.
With a triumphant smirk, Kallen watch as this almighty assassin gave into a disturbed balance and sprawled all over the dirt. She didn't even hear him yelp or scream. The only sound was the thud muffled by his clothes and the dirt as he fell.
Well, those fancy clothes are going to need some fancy washing…
The rabble roared as a shower of silver coins began hitting the ground in the arena. The noises were a mix of disappointed taunts and riotous cheering. And if she was going to be honest, Kallen herself was slightly disappointed. She had planned to defeat him in a glorious match. A fight worthy enough to flaunt her prowess. Not one that was so piss poor it was hardly even fair game.
"Seriously, you're all talk." She scoffed and spat on the dirt adjacent to her. Her armor clinked as she shook her arms out to loosen them.
But he climbed steadily to his feet, those stunning eyes glittering with so much mirth, it was irritating. What the hell was the bastard so smug about? Obviously, the fight wasn't over because he stood up to continue. But if he couldn't even defend himself properly with that proper stance, how was he expecting to withstand her speed and her agility?
Kallen growled under her breath and lunged with alarming speed…
And Lelouch effortlessly dodged out of the way again.
The only difference was that the assassin was finished playing around…
He let her have a go at him, both to get the element of surprise by letting her assume the worst about his skills, and to put up a show. A really good one.
Needless to say, from the short beating he let her do to him, he could already tell that Kallen was a practiced and skilled fighter… Just not as adept as him, unfortunately.
So, as soon as Lelouch had dodged her attack, he caught her arm and locked it into a hold. This close to her, he saw the pained wince on her face as she struggled against his bone-snapping grip. He kicked the back of her knee with his own, immediately forcing her to nearly bend one. But although she buckled, Kallen recovered enough from the initial shock to have the mind to elbow him in the gut.
The assassin's gravelly chuckle in her ear was cut short when she felt an explosion of pain on her temple. She could have sworn the air rushed out of her and back again when she staggered back from the force of that blow.
He drove his knee into the side of her head, didn't he?
Shaking her head from the momentary stupor, she was grateful the stars from her vision cleared long enough to see him dancing on his toes. He could have finished her off quickly and easily, but he was goading her to strike.
With a cry of fury fitting of an enraged woman, she rushed at him, this time more prepared to read his movements. Perhaps she had been too hasty in saying she got the better of him.
Punch after punch, block, dodge, lunge, duck, kick, spin…
The flurry of movement was so brutal and impossibly fast that even the crowd had trouble keeping up. She was just getting frustrated at how fast he moved. He was evasive — almost passive in his dodging, but the blows and the attacks he delivered ached and stung where they hit. Kallen was holding up fine, but the longer he swiftly moved without tiring visibly, the more she felt frustrated.
Could she ever take him down like she did the first time?
Around her, the crowd was a writhing slobbering mass; all eager to see blood; all waiting for anyone of their bones to just snap. And the gods help her if she couldn't get a jab or a kick in.
She threw a punch that grazed his cheekbone just before he gripped her wrist, pulled, and secured his elbow around her throat. She barely had the mind and the strength to push all her combined weight against him so they tumbled to the ground.
Sand and clumps of dirt moist with blood from the previous fight sprayed and sifted violently as the two grappled for dominance on the earth. She managed to get him under her, delivering a solid punch to that masked face, successfully splitting his cheek and drawing blood.
Lelouch took full advantage of her miscalculation fueled by her fiery emotion and determination to beat him down. Quick as a writhing serpent, he twisted his body and brought his legs up, wrapped them around her neck, and flipped her. He did it only to be hurled off with a shove so hard that he tumbled right off of her.
The Warlock smoothly rolled on the ground to absorb the impact and uncoiled to his feet just as Kallen picked herself up from the dirt to come at him again with a roundhouse kick.
Her mistake though…
Lelouch side-stepped and easily caught her outstretched leg. She yelped from the sudden and unwanted shift in her balance. But Kallen didn't have enough time to process what happened when she felt her face slam into the ground again.
After catching her leg and preventing her attack, he twirled swiftly and kicked her bottom with the sole of his foot, sending her careening into the blood-soaked earth. He could have aimed the axe kick at her back, but it could have been an offensive move that would have damaged her vertebra — if it didn't snap it in half, that is…
Her butt was the safer option…
Lelouch schooled his shallow breathing as he watched the Fighting Pits' Ace struggle to balance herself on all-fours.
Kallen shakily inhaled huge gulps of air. And only in this still moment — when the adrenaline was slowly fading — did she have a brief moment to process the fact that her face was aflame with pain; pain that signaled bruises. There was something wet trickling from the corner of her mouth, on her lips, and at the side of her head, too — blood, most likely.
Being a fighter, she was more than used to the pain and the wounds and marks that came with it. But just because she was accustomed to the excruciating pain, it didn't mean she had to like it.
She slowly blinked the white spots away from her swimming vision. And in the chaos of her own crushing effort to gain her bearings, she could just make out Ohgi declaring the assassin as the winner.
So much for making him drink himself stupid and forget tonight… Now, he was really going to grill her in. He had won, after all.
But he couldn't exactly get the answers he wanted if she was passed out from exhaustion and shock, right? But what would happen now? Would he make do with his threat to expose her? But he said he only wanted answers; wanted to know who told her about that girl's dispatch mission that night… But he could… He could—
It was a thought she never got to finish though as her addled brain gave into the abuse and the fatigue. Kallen surrendered herself to the sweet embrace of unconsciousness; oblivious and completely unaware of the pair of arms that slid beneath her and carried her away from the Vaults — away from that eventful night of drinking and fighting.
vVvVv
The start of a new day was barely beginning. The sun hadn't peeked between the tallest towers of the Royal Palace yet when Lelouch was steadily making his way into the inn and the room he had rented out for the night.
Upon his return to the slightly lavish quarters, it was to find the nobleman's daughter uncouthly rifling through his things.
She was so distracted in her prying, she didn't even hear him when he pushed the door open and leaned against the jamb. Well, to be fair, he did have a habit of moving like a cat, but by the gods! Weren't people like her more sensitive to others' presence, or at least, movement?
So when Lelouch cleared his throat to get her attention, Kallen jumped — startled — and hastily backed herself against the dresser in the rented room. Her response was almost funny, but he wasn't in a particular mood to jest. If anything, he was still on edge from last night's brawl, and given that so much inside information was about to be put on the line, the Warlock of Britannia couldn't help but feel antsy.
One look at Kallen though, revealed that she probably felt the same — if not worse. He was just better at hiding it.
"What a way to express your gratitude after how I saved you last night." He drawled, entering the room without preamble, shutting the door, and plopping down on the love seat placed diagonally across the fireplace.
He didn't bother to try and see Kallen's face, but he knew she was utterly infuriated. It was an emotional outburst caused by the shock and the indignance, probably.
"Saved me?!" And there was the outburst he had been waiting to hear. "You brought me to gods know where after that fight. The deal was to answer your questions and go right after."
Lelouch frowned, stopped digging into his knapsack, and stared at her. "You weren't exactly in any condition to answer my questions. I did what I had to."
Kallen growled under her breath. She was fully aware of a glass mirror behind her, but she refused to look — refused to see the dark bruises peppering her face, or a split lip she would have to nurse for the next few weeks. And yes, she did remember blacking out, but still… This was just… Just—
There were no words to describe her outrage at the moment…
Huffing like a scolded child, she sat down on the bed and played with the hem of her short pants — the ones she wore underneath her padded and lightweight armor. At least he had the decency to unburden her while her body recovered from the beating; even if the thought of him taking off her armor from her unconscious body made her flush.
Who's to say he didn't sneak a grope or two in-between? God, this was frustrating.
"I could break a run and leave you here if I wanted to." She grumbled.
He smirked smugly at her. "Then why don't you?" She didn't spare him an answer, so he spoke. "Even you're smart enough to know I wouldn't let that happen."
"What do you plan to do to my friend?" She asked, fixing her steely blue eyes on him.
He wasn't wearing any sort of cloth to cover his face anymore. And even in the dim light of a barely lit torch because of the closed drapes, she now had a clearer view of his face. She hadn't imagined the violet eyes last night. But with the addition of a mouth and a nose and a full face, Kallen inwardly admitted he wasn't half-bad — as far as physical features went.
It was a pretty face — for a boy… One that could have grown up in the cradle of Britannia's aristocracy.
And she still didn't know his name…
"That depends…" Lelouch commented stoically, finally turning to address her properly.
"On what?" Kallen asked with steely eyes, arms folded across her chest. She felt slightly exposed, for some reason.
"On which agenda I deem more important." He shrugged. The stoic expression melted before her very eyes as a sudden weariness settled on his young face. It made her feel uneasy. She opened to her mouth to speak but he stood up. "I couldn't tell you my name last night. But it's Zero."
"Zero…" Kallen mumbled, testing out how the syllables rolled down her tongue.
Lelouch nodded once, and began to pace the length of the room. "Kallen." The smooth way he pronounced her name broke her out of her reverie. "Do you believe that in life, certain sacrifices have to be made for the sake of the greater good?"
A small frown drew a crease between her eyebrows. He was looking at her expectantly, with wide doe-like eyes; pools of violet that glimmered softly in the low light. "I'm not sure why you would ask something like that."
He waved a gloved hand at her. "It's an honest question."
She didn't want to admit that after he asked her his ideological question, her mind had drifted to what she had seen in Pendragon and its surrounding areas while growing up in her father's care. She had spent most of her life in a noble house — pampered and cared for — but the displaced people of war didn't escape her notice.
Kallen had been in Nippon when Britannia's conquest for territory expansion had happened. And she had heard her fair share of stories from the older people about the Empire's slave encampment being constructed at the foot of Mount Fuji. Being a child then, she couldn't understand much. Even the people who worked at Babel Tower weren't always Britannians. There were people there originating from different kinds of races. Ohgi was a prime example of a displaced citizen.
And when you really traced the trail of suffering, the road led back to Britannia's Empire and its government — led by the Emperor, of course.
Kallen faltered, but hesitantly told the assassin her answer, nevertheless. "It depends on the sacrifice, I guess. But then again, if it's for everybody, then perhaps a sacrifice would be worth it. Because…" She bit the inside of her cheek, recalling an unpleasant memory. "Because everything has a price." He stopped pacing and their eyes met. The contact triggered a blush to dust across her bruised cheeks. She hastily looked away. "I mean, the world could certainly do better without Britannia." She mumbled under breath.
Kallen was surprised when he laughed. Wholeheartedly laughed. She frowned. Did he find her answer amusing or something?
And just when she thought she'd explode in irrational outrage again, he began to speak between chuckles.
"Yes, the world could most certainly do better without this wretched Empire." He nodded at her approvingly, which only brought a blush out of Kallen again.
What was it with this guy and making her flustered?
Lelouch found her answers amusing and most intriguing. Perhaps he didn't have to drill a couple of ideals, after all. She was pretty much on the right path for him to execute the rest of his plans already.
"Kallen," he called her name in that tone again. "I won't ask for your friend's name anymore."
Kallen's eyes were wide, and judging from the look on her face, he could tell she wanted to question his reasonings. But instead, what came out of her mouth was a simple, "Thanks…"
A smart girl indeed… Perhaps she figured asking him why he decided to give her this mercy would cause him to change his mind.
"Sacrifices have to be made for the sake of the greater good." He echoed his own words and nodded resolutely, finally ceasing his pacing and taking a proper seat on the edge of the bed across his befuddled guest. "I'm setting aside retribution for a captured comrade for the purpose of carrying out a different agenda — a much more important one."
Lelouch silently hoped she wouldn't just shut her mouth. He wanted her to take the bait… It took a lot of her chewing the inside of her cheek, but she didn't disappoint.
"Agenda?" She cocked an eyebrow. What could an assassin from Pendragon's Guild have that would be interesting to her?
His face set into contemplation, Lelouch let the silence fester, building up a bit of anticipation and a lot of suspense. Let her have the impression that he was thinking. A simple glance at her facial expression revealed the sudden anxiety he had triggered. He could practically feel the air come alive as Kallen's curiosity radiated out of her.
"I want Britannia gone as much as you do." He sighed, as if he had just made up his mind. In truth, he had this little conversation planned out hours ago. "And even though this offer is too soon for our level of acquaintance, I believe you would be a valuable addition to my secret coup."
And there it was… The explosive that would leave an impact in this conversation.
When Lelouch had brought her here last night with the intent of claiming his end of the deal before the fight, he had every inclination that she would be a marvelous addition to his secret network of people all geared to take down Britannia. And because she was the piece that he needed, there was no way he was going to let her walk out of this conversation with her old mentality.
Kallen, on the other hand, was taking the moment to turn his statement over in her head. His words were simple. Straight forward. There was no room for misinterpretation on that one. Had she been a simple-minded idiot, she would have thought he was joking. But even so, the dead serious face and the hopeful look on his eyes said otherwise.
"You do realize that your words are grounds for being tried and imprisoned for mutiny, right?" She spoke slowly after careful consideration, pressing her lips together in thought as her fists clenched on the duvet beneath her.
Lelouch just shrugged, expecting this line of reasoning from her given her level of rational thinking. His answer was simple, and truthful. "I've known it from the moment I began plotting it, and working every single day to make it a reality."
"How long?"
"Four years…"
A pregnant silence fell again. It was the longest thirty seconds of both their lives. It was while before Kallen spoke up with her curiosity and skeptical inquiries.
"But how are you going to get close enough to the Emperor to even get rid of him? How are you going to rally support from the nobles? There are so many holes in your plans, and I don't think you even realize it."
Yes, the plan would have many holes if he hadn't spent careful time grinding in the past years to make sure there won't be any when the opportunity would rise. Rest assured, almost all of his pieces were in place. There were just drawbacks — like CC getting captured and him devoting time to find her.
But Kallen didn't need to know that… Not now, at least. So he was going to provide her with the vaguest plan possible.
"I can recall you telling me last night that the Emperor wants a Champion, and has invited his small council members to sponsor a worthy candidate. And if I'm not mistaken, your father is still sorely in need of one, isn't he?"
He looked almost hesitant, but his words struck something in her that Kallen could only blink with realization at his words.
"I… Well, yes. But—"
Pleased with her reaction, Lelouch gladly filled in the blank he had intentionally left. He needed her to be curious. If he failed at playing his cards, nothing good was coming out of this.
"I only need to get close enough to the Emperor to kill him. And this little stint is just the window I need." He supplied, and Kallen watched as a slow and sly smile formed across his lips. It was so smug, that she felt the need to ask, but he interrupted her before she can speak again. "And as for the other concerns, thank you for pointing them out, but I'll handle that."
She frowned. Kallen didn't like the vague answer — at all.
"How are you so sure I won't sell you out the moment I leave this room? And for that matter, how can I trust you after you threatened me last night?"
He ignored her failed attempt at threatening him. Lelouch only raised an eyebrow. "You hate your father, don't you? And wouldn't you want to see your mother much sooner?"
From his perch on the edge of the adjacent single bed, Kallen watched as he reached into the inside of his coat. The assassin produced a thick stack of rectangular sheets and a fancy fountain pen. She wanted to peek at what he was writing down, but apparently, she didn't have to die of curiosity as he looked up, fixed that penetrating gaze on her, and said:
"Name the reasonable amount and it's yours." Twirling his fountain pen smoothly between the spaces of his fingers, Lelouch resisted the urge to physically grimace at his own actions. He was usually never one for bribery, but some situations called for it. And he was never really above doing whatever means necessary to get what he wanted.
Gods, he was turning into Arobynn.
Meanwhile, Kallen had no trouble gaping at him and his rather frivolous method, though. She honestly didn't know how to feel about it. Well, maybe she was a little… insulted that he would think he could win her over with money. But…
She did need it, to be perfectly honest. Although, she was going to give him leverage if she accepted the uncouth offer, but what's a fat pouch full of gold and being someone's tool when she could spend the rest of her days with her real family in Nippon after the ordeal?
She had another year of saving money to go before she had enough to take a ship and travel for several months. If he wasn't going to dupe her, she could be on a ship to Nippon by the end of however long his rebellion was going to last.
Kallen had gleaned that he was well-off judging from his clothing last night and the previous nights she had caught glimpses of him stalking around the Vaults, but how much money did he actually make?
"If I take your offer, I'm assuming you're going to promise me I can go to Nippon by the time your coup de tat ends, right?"
Lelouch was truly impressed by her level of logic. A smart girl indeed. He could really use someone like her on his side. And he meant that genuinely. Gods knew how there weren't enough intuitive people in the world.
"You don't need to assume. It's what I intend to do. My time frame is within the length of the Emperor's ridiculous competition. Right after we're done here, I plan to present myself to your father as a mercenary who's heard word of his announcement."
Kallen glanced at the fat stacks of paper in his lap and the pen poised delicately between his slender fingers. "And if he doesn't take you, or if he already has someone?"
The smirk he gave her was the same one he wore last night when she challenged him to a fight. "Then I'll just have to prove that I'm the better option, now, won't I?"
She wrinkled her nose at his smugness. "You're too arrogant for your own good."
Glad that some semblance of light-hearted banter gradually returned to slice the thickening atmosphere, Lelouch just shrugged with an easy and charming smile.
"I can back the boast, so perhaps I have a right to be."
Kallen chose to ignore his quip, and sighed through her nose. He held out his hand with the banknote clipped between his fingers.
"I don't need to tell you to keep it from your father. But when you've decided, write the amount of gold you need on it. You'll see me around when the competition starts anyway."
She took the proffered banknote, and took a moment to glance at it. All the required information was filled out, complete with his signature and a symbol made by a signet ring she wasn't familiar with.
Kallen met his gaze steadily, the slip of paper that possibly held her future gripped in her steady hands. "I need a bit of time to think about it, Zero…"
"Not too much, I hope." Lelouch grinned at her. "You thinking about it is as good as you agreeing in the long run."
Kallen tucked the piece of paper away in the pockets of her pant shorts. "If I do decide to accept your proposal, what's my role in your rebellion?"
Lelouch clucked his tongue. "Rebellion's a strong word. But I suppose it's the only word ample enough to describe the revolution that's about to happen." That slick and easy smile was back again, emphasizing his handsome features. "I'll provide more details when you've made a decision. But to give a brief description, you'll be in charge of networking to the general masses because you're a favorite fighter in the Vaults; therefore, you hold a degree of influence. You do have influence over your friends, don't you?" The grin morphed into a kind and endearing smile — one she found attractive and immediately hated herself for thinking it.
"Well, Ohgi, Tamaki, and some of the others do listen to me." Kallen mumbled under her breath, her mind lost in a mental account of the fighters in the Pit who respected her. "Yes, I do."
The mention of an important name didn't escape Lelouch's trained ears however. The Freudian slip made him smile (a charming smile that hid all semblance of smug victory). He was smiling so much today, but how couldn't he?
He didn't need to wring the traitor's name out of her, after all…
Just like he wanted. Just as he had hoped. Just like he planned.
So, it was Tamaki, then. He should've known, honestly; and he was disappointed that he didn't figure it out himself. The bastard had been the one to suggest killing her at the meeting days ago.
Lelouch pretended to only hear her last three words.
"You're brilliant!" He exclaimed, clapping his gloved hands in delight. He took out a pocket watch, made a show of inspecting the time, and addressed her again in his normal tone. "And now that our deal last night is met, I believe you're free to go." His face fell then, and Kallen didn't know why. "I am sorry about the…"
Kallen listened to him trail off, and watched a light dusting of pink materialize on his cheeks as he gestured to her face. If she wasn't so busy thinking about how bad her face probably looked, she would have found his momentary lapse in composure quite cute (and half of her did, to be honest).
Too annoyed at being reminded at the sorry state of her face and her still aching body, Kallen waved him off nonchalantly. "Don't apologize. It was a fight, and it was fair game. I'm used to the afflictions."
The blush disappeared like magic, and Kallen secretly gaped at his ability to switch from one expression to another. She swore that had to be a practiced skill. "If you're sure." He nodded. "I did my best to apply some salve to help with the healing, but you'll have to take good care of it."
Now it was her turn to flush. She knew she probably shouldn't think of how much he technically touched her last night, but she couldn't help it. He had to have slipped his gloves off to apply the healing ointments, right?
"I'm leaving for a friend's house." She mumbled.
He nodded. "The inn staff kept your stuff in the armoire in the foyer."
"Thanks." Kallen mumbled, her blush receding as she made her way to the door. But before she twisted the knob to open it, she addressed the assassin sitting on the edge of the bed again. "How do you know I won't tell on you?"
He only gave her a tired smile. "You won't."
God she hated that he was right. But she wouldn't tell him that…
Kallen shrugged. "We'll see." A pause. "And… For what it's worth, thanks for taking me here for the night. It was a good fight."
"Likewise. It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Kallen."
But she hadn't waited for his reply, and the door was already shut when he said it…
Left alone to his own devices, Lelouch stared at his own reflection staring back at him in the dresser mirror.
He was satisfied with the outcome of his efforts today and last night. It was a great start to an even greater deed. So he was right in assuming that someone within the Guild betrayed his best friend, and that someone saw her stalking Stadtfeld's manor.
Well, he now knew the assassin who betrayed CC (thanks to Kallen's subconscious rambling), and the Emperor's attempt at proper entertainment was going to land Britannia in a hell hole they would soon uncover. Thanks to that whole Champion business, his schedule could significantly commence in advance.
And if Kallen was right in saying that the nobles were after low-lives like himself (technically), then Lelouch was guessing that there was a strong possibility that CC was wrangled into the whole thing to. In fact, he was betting that one of the nobles already had her. Talk about convenient timing. It would sort-of explain her absence in the Imperial dungeons when he had broken in yesterday. The real question was if CC was going to accept.
The presentation was happening tomorrow at the Imperial palace; a closed court announcement. So he only had today to convince the Chief Templar that he was the man for the job.
And since Ruther wanted the Warlock of Britannia so badly, then he was going to get him… unknowingly.
A ruthless grin spread across his face, quite satisfied that at least some of the pieces were clicking into place…
vVvVv
The Council Room was a grand place; much too frivolous for just a simple meeting. But the royal family in Britannia was infamous for their taste in luxury. And with his sister Guinevere at the helm of most of the interior design, he shouldn't expect less.
At the moment, three members of the Emperor's Small Council gathered at a long table beneath the lavish chandelier attached to the vaulted ceiling. The afternoon sun's rays filtered through the glass ceiling above their heads, creating a lovely spectrum of colors atop the plain white table. A welcome decoration.
Schneizel el Britannia, the Empire's respected Prime Minister stared unblinkingly at the man who sired him. He was waiting for the 98th Emperor to speak; to slice the pregnant silence with that gruff and booming voice he knew all too well.
"So you have chosen to sponsor her, I'm told." The Emperor finally spoke. His voice was gruff, edged and hardened with years of battle and conquest.
"She's not posing any threat while she's tucked away in Aries Villa, for a day. Heavily guarded." Schneizel answered calmly.
He was all too aware about the edge he was dangling on, at the moment. They were given free reign to choose whoever, and he had picked a notorious assassin — responsible for a good number of murders that had happened within the government. Odysseus, his older brother, had the expected reaction — surprise and worry. Bismarck — the highest among the Emperor's twelve knights, however, mirrored his father's stern countenance.
"Without the trap Stadtfeld's guards had set up for her, His Majesty's first adviser would be dead. Had they been unaware of her coming, another dead noble would be on our hands." Bismarck commented, his weathered face crumpled into a disappointed frown. "Someone like her owes allegiance to none but herself."
"You think like every fool she's murdered." The Emperor commented, one of the rings on his fingers glittering dangerously in the afternoon sun. "She won't balk at putting a knife through your heart."
"And that honed ruthlessness is exactly what she needs to win this little competition of yours."
"I hate to impose, brother. But you probably would have been better off choosing someone like Shin… Or perhaps people like Ashley or David Darlton." Odysseus offered helpfully, maintaining that pleasant temperament that people admired him for.
"Ex-noblemen." Schneizel turned the thought over in his head. "Forged and experienced in battle, with an innate desire to please and regain what they have lost. The perfect Champion among others' standards." Propping up his chin atop his fist, he stared off into the distance for a moment until the Emperor's First Knight spoke up.
"Do we have the complete number of would-be Champions?"
"Last I heard, Lord Stadtfeld was having a slight dilemma." Odysseus replied, stroking his beard habitually.
Schneizel found that bit about Lord Stadtfeld having problems finding a Candidate quite interesting. But instead of commenting, he voiced his own long-hidden inquiry.
"Your Majesty, if I may?" Schneizel asked, waiting for the Emperor to grant him permission. "You never really made it clear on why you've chosen to create a competition out of it."
"We are at war with Southern Europia, and my enemies all around. Who better to do my work than the person utterly grateful for a second chance along with wealth and the power of my name?" The smile on the Emperor's aged face was smug and a little poisonous. "The competition serves to weed out the weak and leave only the strong, until only one remains standing."
No one spoke or moved a muscle as the Emperor stood from his place and gazed out through the glass window at the view that lay beyond.
"This competition is more than just a game." The imposing man glanced over his shoulder at the three other men in the room with him. "And all of you would do well to remember that…"
A/N: The fight wasn't a pain write; the conversation between Kallen and Lelouch was! I know this chapter was like bleh (I think), and things are slow. But that's just because I'm laying the foundation; the ground work. Rest assured, however, that when the Champions are announced [Hint: Next chapter], oh baby! It's a rollercoaster!
Review Replies:
FataLInfluence0: Thank you for the review. :D And about Aelin. It's a possibility, tbh. But, nothing's set in stone yet. I have multiple endings for this thing, and I wanna see where it goes as the story progresses.
Freudentraene: Thank you for the compliment. *0* More Jeremiah and the rest of the CG characters coming up ;)
The221 (Guest review): Thank you for leaving your review, and your thoughts about Kallen's backstory! :)
Guest reviewer #2: Yesss! First off, thanks for the review. :) And second, I see another fellow ToG Fan. ;) About following the book plot loosely, yes a little bit. Since this fic's a hybrid between a book, a video game, and an anime series, the three will be blending together. And I won't give too much away, but I would definitely say that Celaena's character is split between Lelouch and CC. ;)
Thank you for asking your questions. If you have others, feel free to ask. I'll answer as long as it won't spoil anything major. :)
See ya'll in Chapter 4