"Excellent, notify me as you obtain any other useful feedback."
Lelouch stepped away from Viletta's station after completing the debrief about latest Britannian movement. Sure enough, as expected, all of its entirety (Knights of the Round included) were being deployed over Japan: the focus predicted to be Tokyo Settlement where Kallen was entrapped. Such a defensive maneuver would prove useless beneath Zero's newfound power.
The Black Knights found backing behind a banner of 47 countries, harnessed under the United Federation of Nations collation (a power to truly rival Britannia's might). Even with C.C. deprived to a younger more timid personality after the Asaka incident and his developing Shinkirou suit, the massive army was more than enough to reclaim the important chess piece. He knew enough behind the Emperor's motivations at this point, thus must take the offensive to prevent any further development.
"Yes sir," a meager confirmation finally spewed out of his subordinate. A despicable aura emanated from the woman as her gaze pierced into his back, but Lelouch paid such no mind. As long as Rolo took in standby inside this place, she could present no harm. He simply basked in his appraisal of the situation while also enjoying his leisure stroll down another corridor. Without a doubt, the close proximity of this base was proving more useful as the days progressed. At the least he could praise the blissful Emperor for doing something effective for once in their lives.
A quick scan of the clock on his phone reminded the young prince that Chemistry class would be starting soon. In regards to school, this was one of the rare moments he felt anxious to attend.
"I've been meaning to ask- have you noticed anything strange lately? Any reason for why anyone would be missing class so much?"
So enough, Lelouch found Suzaku loomed over a pestered Shirley once again at the classroom door. The tension was too obvious that he intended to extract more proof about Lelouch from the girl. In more ways than one, the soldier was more desperate than Rivalz to get what he wanted, Lelouch jested in his mind just as he approached the two unnoticed. One would assume Suzaku had gotten the hint weeks ago that Shirley would not indulge any information, given certain circumstances a few weeks ago. Not to the soldier at the least.
"Not really," Shirley curtly replied during a middle of a stretch. A rather interesting gesture used to evade the instigation.
"Really? Because I was thinking-"
"Good morning," Lelouch chose to chime in at the exact necessary moment thus interrupted the one-sided inquisition. The annoyance written on the soldier's expression was evident, so was the relief on the girl.
"Hey," Suzaku returned the greeting beneath a cold undertone shortly before he retired into the classroom. Lelouch recognized the harsh glance thrown to him just in time; the same type of glare that this boy posed on him when Lelouch genuinely begged his friend to protect Nunally during the ongoing war. The unexpected turnabout still haunted Lelouch as he remembered that moment: when he thought he had convinced that boy to trust him.
Then the fierce ambush from Schneizel's guard attacked. The meeting and conversation. It was all a trap. An attempt to draw Lelouch out into the opening so the enemy can rid of their combatant. Had Lelouch not prepared for such a possibility, it would have succeeded. Lelouch allowed the hate to flow through him as he stared at the betraying back moving away. If he could grant death at that moment, he would gladly give it to Suzaku. All the while Lelouch failed to notice that Shirley caught on to his extensive observation…
By luck the class lecture ended soon than expected, mostly due to an odd chance the teacher was not well prepared.
How fortunate.
Only Lelouch and Shirley remained behind as the rest of the students hurried on to enjoy the rest of their evening. After all the two were duty bound to clean up the results from the laboratory experiments. Although the schedule initially planned for Rivalz to stay behind with Shirley, Lelouch made the adjustments to accommodate better results (of course Rivalz was more than obligated to hand over the role from the start). He was satisfied to know that Shirley didn't appear disturbed by this fact (as she must have known Rivalz was originally planned) thus did not need to explain his reasons.
The two favored the silence between them as they attended to individual tasks, speaking up only when needing to confirm certain ingredients. Lelouch organized the uncontaminated metals meant for analyzing the chemical reaction of various heats from a Bunsen burner while Shirley sorted the collection of test tubes and other instruments. Of course Lelouch was quickly done on his end given how he knew each metal by heart (a rather useful detail under guerilla combat). His eyes shifted from one to another, ending an ounce of calcium placed aside. An element which burned a bright orange tint when exposed to heat. A necessary material to grow life and also supported a healthy skeleton structure. It reminded him of Shirley in many ways.
Lelouch was a bit amazed to realize Shirley had not lashed out at times, his subtle attempts to appeal to her. She had not even tried to avoid him on purpose since that meeting a few days ago. Perhaps this was the most opportune moment to follow Suzaku's suite- extract his own data and press deeper about their attraction, but that Lelouch could not convince himself so. His curious glances continued to sweep to her as he shelved those cased materials. The traces of uncertainty were present on her grimace as well as she toggled through several test tubes in quick succession. At that rate and with her aloof expression, she was bound to-
*KSH*
-break a few.
On cue a graduated cylinder slipped out of her careless grip and crashed against the sturdy base of the table. Its shards shattered and spread all directions just as Lelouch palmed his forehead. A sharp hiss escaped her lips just as a piece cut into her skin.
Lelouch already had the first-aid kit set aside earlier in the day and brought it along as Shirley limped to a nearby stool so they may investigate her wound. He knelt down before her and pulled her foot onto his thigh so he may thoroughly inspect the site.
A thin trickle of blood trailed down the hem of her black sock, indicating her wound started upward. His soft fingers glided up along the small slit of skin underneath her knee as his other hand scurried through the kit in search of the disinfectant. Just then his finger came across the slash, his finger probing the few pieces of shards that inserted themselves into her skin. Shirley reacted by instinct against the pressure, causing her leg to jump in a kick. Her expression was pained in an obvious result.
"It hurts," Shirley hissed in excuse for her action.
"Stay still," Lelouch ordered. His eyes struck hard against her squirming, defiant demeanor. Not since that Mao incident had Lelouch exposed his authoritative tone to Shirley. That fact clearly shown as she immediately complied.
"Sorry…"
Shirley turned her head in fear of the operation about to commence. His hand reached for the tweezers then looked back to see her reaction. Her teeth were clamped on her lower lip as she waited for the moment.
How cute.
Lelouch could hear her tightened grip against the table edge the moment cold steel contacted with her exposed skin. The largest piece of glass was easily extracted first. The blood flowed out a bit more rapidly after it was removed, thus Lelouch used some gauze to clean the wound. With care he resumed the removal of the remaining shards, and then inspected his work before confirming all were gone. Afterwards he wiped the blood covering the tweezers against his jacket sleeve. Shirley's face was still frozen in a painful embrace by the time he put the tweezers back into the kit.
Priceless.
Her expression returned to normal as he repositioned her ankle onto the back of a nearby chair on his right. His hands worked to cut out a larger piece of gauze and prepare a cotton ball dapped in peroxide.
"You won't need stitches thankfully," Lelouch confirmed in a soft voice as he wiped off the trails of blood that ran along her calf. "Probably shouldn't worry about a scar appearing, considering how shallow the wound was."
He offered such soothing words as he applied pressure on the wound with the peroxide. He assumed that she might panic should the alcohol be too strong or if he applied more pressure… or worst off, she may actually fret about a blemish 'ruining' her figure (as he was sure Miss President would state). However from the corner of his eye, he noticed how calm she remained as she too watched the foam expand upon contact with blood.
Lelouch finally realized after the conditions resolved. She was close, so close. He chose to ignore that thought as he wiped the residue once more with the gauze.
"Thank you," Shirley mentioned a moment later after he bandaged the site. Because of his previous thoughts he chose not to look up at her.
Without concern his mind argued that by logic, this was the moment. She was at his mercy, in his hands; this was the time to ask those dire questions. Does Shirley know about him- about being Zero? Does she hate him now, because he refrained from revealing that? Would she consider killing him in repentance? Then those few conversations with Suzaku came to thought. Had she revealed anything to the soldier about what she saw? Would she? If he was able, could he wipe her memory once again to save her?
The rapid circulation of question after question suddenly came to a screeching halt as his view suddenly caught something. Red. Not the color from the blood he cleaned, but from underneath the flap of her skirt. Red panties. Unbeknownst to the two teenagers, Shirley's tiny skirt had scrunched up as she sat down, revealing a considerable amount of access to her girlish secret. A blend of lust, curiosity, and seduction overrode his logical output. Her alluring body was so close. That one pleasant place for a man to visit was so close to him. Angst became the dominator of his composure and lent power to his desires.
Thankfully Lelouch managed to break out of the trance before he was caught in the act, granted he was sure Shirley was aware of the scrutiny. He recovered by standing up slowly, deliberating leaning in towards her as if to observe closer. She had yet to pull down her skirt in defense, still revealing that great view of her long, silky thigh. She seemed to pout as he drew closer and closer.
Kiss her.
The light bouncing off her skin was too enticing at this point; those brilliant shades of green glistened back at him. He wondered if they longed for him after all this time.
Kiss her.
Blood had pooled at the corner of her lip he noticed, evident from the way she bit at her lower lip earlier. It beckoned him to lick it off. "You're bleeding here. Too." His voice dropped as low as his vocal could allow: so deep and alluring as though deliberate.
"It. Really. Hurt," Shirley replied just as equally despite some hint of hesitation beneath it. She was being succumbed as well by the close proximity. His heartbeat raced furiously at the approaching event.
"Oh."
Lelouch's thumb instinctively swept across her lower lip along the smear, crossing just shy of her parting lips at a slow, teasing, gentle pace. His eyes widened in surprise as she reacted, pulling his thumb into her mouth in a single move. He could feel her taking him in: how she sucked at his skin and allowed her tongue to stroke in soft swipes across his surface. Blood rushed in excitement throughout his body at the very act, his entirety beguiled by her alluring stare up at him. Words could not describe how aroused she appeared by her own actions as she let the digit go.
"It's my blood," Shirley stated so simply that it perplexed Lelouch more. He didn't any more reasons to warrant her logic; in fact he thoroughly enjoyed it. The feeling of attraction grew too strong as they drew closer together. Those soft pursed lips begged for his attention.
Kiss her.
As much as Lelouch wanted to initiate the next move, Shirley took it upon herself to grab his jacket collar and connect their lips in a long-ignored passion. Their kiss was much different than the abrupt and emotionally driven times under the rain; this was an experience driven by great wanton and pleasure to exchange lips and tongues. Like those two times though, the thrill of it all melted away his fortitude. The consistent brush of tender lip upon lip threw him into wonderful bliss. Her taste teased his senses with subtle hints of oolong tea and orange as their kiss deepened.
His scalp burned under her fingers as she raked through his hair. Their body hastily pressed against one another in hunger for more contact. His arms automatically coiled around her lustful curves in response to her aggression through that passionate kissing.
Without a doubt, this was the answer he was looking for.