Hello everyone,
here's the next chapter. Sorry for the wait. Like I said, I am one hell of busy these days.
I am glad you like it Shiranai Atsune. I am working on the other one-shot too, promise. I hope 'Damned Geass' helps a bit over the wait.
Disclaimer: Surely not.
Suzaku Kururugi does not enjoy playing the role of Zero. Every time he has to take up the mask. Hiding his identity, deceiving, fighting and killing. But he has no other possibility. The fight for Japan's freedom was getting desperate. Zero managed to unite them and give hope, now they are gaining first victories. Still he wishes nothing more than to find an easier and less brutal way to overthrow the Britannian Epmire.
So when today they captured their prized weapon, the Lancelot, and his pilot, he got a bit hope of finding such a solution. But he has to admit that it was a shock when he was suddenly staring at the youngest prince's face. Lelouch vi Britannia, 11th prince of the Britannian Empire, one of emperor Charles' favourites and a very good strategist. But the Japanese would never have though that it was the thin raven, who he had seen on t.v. sometimes, was the one piloting the deadly Knightmare all along. As far as he knew the boy lived relatively sheltered since the death of his mother and sister until his appearance in Japan about a year ago. How curious to meet him again this way. But the sound of an incoming call interrupts his musings.
"Suzaku, did you really capture Lelouch?" a young, nervous voice sounds from the speaker.
He smiles softly, "Yes, don't worry. He wasn't harmed."
"Thank god," the voice sighs relieved, "Can I see him?"
"Not yet. He is knocked out for now. And we want to question him first. Give him some more time, we don't know how he would react to you," he explains softly, "I can send you a video feed of him though."
"But I can meet him at some point?" the voice sounds desperate.
"Eventually, yes," he smiles, soothing his conversation partner.
"Don't let him leave again!" she pleads, "You can't let him go back there! He has suffered long enough under his control."
"I know, don't worry. We will be careful," he calms her, "I – "
But he is interrupted again by the door of the room suddenly opening with a loud hiss. A girl about his age with wild red hair enters. Hurriedly he closes the communication screen. Luckily he still has his mask on, since the girl goes to the same school as him and he doesn't need her finding out about his identity. He turns his head towards her.
"He's waking up, Zero," she reports in a slightly bored voice.
He nods, "Thank you, Kallen. Can you take care of the rest? I will pay a visit to our prisoner."
"Sure, go on," she waves him off, taking his place behind the electronic table.
He nods thankfully and gets on his way deeper down into the Black Knight's main quarter where the other boy is being held for now.
When he arrives there, his eyes immediately fall on the prince in one of the improvised cells, which remind of the interrogation rooms at a police station. The thin raven is bound to a chair, hands behind his back. He is still wearing his white pilot suit, just emphasizing his thin figure. Silky, ebony hair is tousled, with red-matted strands at the back of his head. Beautiful amethyst eyes glare at the guard standing beside the door. The red cut along his cheek emphasizes his pale skin and sharp features. All in all the young man is a beautiful person. Shaking his head free from thoughts like this, Suzaku pushes the door open.
"Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, nice to finally make your acquaintance," he greets.
Purple eyes glower at him, "I am afraid I can't say the same about you, Zero," he growls.
A chuckle escapes the brunette, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Lelouch."
"I don't know you!" is the angry retort.
"Oh, but you do know me," Suzaku sighs, "Or maybe you really don't. Not anymore."
"I don't know any criminals, thank you very much!"
"Hm," the masked Japanese just nods and turns to the guard, "Thank you for your work, Takeshi, but you can leave now. I will call when I'm done. Oh, and turn the camera off, please."
The man nods and exits the room while Lelouch gulps at what he suspects is awaiting him now. Especially when Zero has asked to turn the camera off. He knows how Britannia treats his prisoners after all, especially behind closed doors. But all Suzaku does is sigh. What he is planning is not going to be easy.
"I don't want to harm you, Lelouch. Don't worry," he begins, "But I would ask you again to join our side."
"And I already said, I won't," the raven growls back.
Shutting his eyes for a moment, the Japanese shakes his head. When he opens them again, his left eye is glowing with a pinkish light. A symbol is shining in it.
"Do you believe that what the Empire is doing to Japan is right?" he asks.
To his satisfaction he sees the prince stiffen, "The Empire says that – " he starts but Suzaku cuts him off fast.
"These are the words drilled into you for your whole life. But I am asking for your personal opinion."
"I am a britannian prince, of course I believe in the Empire's plans and actions," he finally answers blankly.
But his words paint a very different picture for the masked figure, because the moment he says them, Zero sees a bright red aura flashing around the bound prince. He smirks behind his helmet. Silently he thanks his Geass for pointing out that Lelouch is indeed lying. Being able to tell when someone is lying turns out to be a useful ability.
"You don't," he says, trying to hide the victorious hint in his voice, "You lost your belief in the Empire some time ago, didn't you? And it would not have been the first time."
"I don't know what you are talking about!" Another red flash, less bright this time.
"The cruelties you have to inflict and see in the colonized areas break your belief in your home country and family. You have been punished for your rebellious mind before, haven't you?" Suzaku growls but not from anger at the young prince.
Something like nervousness flashes through bright amethyst, "And even if? I will not join a terrorist group trying to destroy my whole family."
"We are not trying to kill your whole family. The only ones we are really after is the emperor himself and maybe the crown prince. We don't want to harm any of the others," the Japanese patiently explains.
"Why should I trust you? You killed many good britannian soldiers," Lelouch grumbles, but sounding far less resistant than before, causing Suzaku to grin behind his mask.
"I am truly sorry for those we killed, but we had no choice but to fight," his eyes fix on the other boy, "I am not asking you to trust us immediately. For now all I ask is for you to give us a chance. Try to understand our side and maybe we will find something to convince you to join us."
"And we had a great start with knocking me out and tying me up," the other drawls sarcastically.
Suzaku laughs and Lelouch can't help the smile coming to his face at the rich sound, "I apologize for that," the masked man chuckles, "But I doubt you would have come willingly with me. So it was the only possibility I could think of to get this talk with you."
"Hm, you might have been right with that," the raven smirks, "However it would be easier for me to trust you if you would release me."
"I can do that. However I can not allow you to return to the britannian forces for several reasons. Neither can I allow contact with them. If you swear to try none of that, I can release your bounds and have you transferred to more comfortable rooms. You will be still guarded obviously and restricted to these rooms but I would say it is a step in the right direction."
The purple eyes stare at him calculatingly, "So if I would agree to that deal, what would it be in it for me? And what would I have to do?"
"Like I said, you would get a more comfortable living environment, no bounds. As for what I would ask you to do, is that you do not try to return to the Britannian Empire. And that you answer any question I have truthfully. I can easily have you tied up again should you lie."
"Fine, I will not try to run away or establish contact to any of my forces. Now could you untie me?" he sounds annoyed.
"Sure," the brunette leans forward, pulling a key for the handcuffs out of his pocket, "But should you try anything then I will, as unwilling as I would be to do it, bind you again."
"I understand," Lelouch sighs, "I'm not stupid."
"Good," the other smirks behind his mask, "Then you should know what is best for you."
It earns him another calculating stare, but he ignores it. Soon he is finished with untying the raven haired boy. Rubbing his wrists the prince gets up. Zero grips his upper arm with a gloved hand. Like that he leads the other boy out of the door and down some corridors. The Black Knights who they pass stare at Lelouch hatefully. His brain is reeling. Because he has spent most of his life away from the normal folk, not being allowed to go out no matter how much he wished, he is shocked to see the anger in the Japaneses' gazes. He has indeed started to doubt his home country. Simply killing off civilians like in Shinjuku is not right. But joining the direct opposite side? Not really the right way either in his mind.
Some minutes later Zero with the prince in tow arrives at a red door. Before they can step in though, it opens with a hiss, revealing a girl in s similar pilot suit as him and hip-long green hair. Strange person. As soon as she spots the raven, she leans forward.
"So that's the famous youngest prince and pilot of Lancelot. Both in one. How interesting? I wonder how long it will take," she grins but Suzaku waves her off annoyed.
"That's enough C.C., I would say. Leave please, Lelouch will stay in these quarters for now," he sighs.
"Aw, are you throwing me out?" she teases him.
"I wish I could, but you are mostly sleeping at the house anyway, aren't you? So go now."
She sends him a last knowing grin and disappears around the corner, leaving Lelouch to stare after her surprised. Zero pulls him into what looks like a living room. When the masked figure releases him, he turns surprised. Countless questions burn in his head and he feels a strange curiosity over both this place and the leader himself.
"Who was that?"
"C.C. Let's call her an annoying accomplice," the man sighs then point into the back, "You will stay here for the next time. The left door is a bathroom, the right a bedroom. Of course it's not as luxurious as you must be used to but it should be enough. You will get food three times a day. There are cameras in this room and the bedroom too. A guard will be in front of this door at all times. You are not allowed to leave this rooms except when I'm with you. There are books and a t.v. If you need anything ask. You are technically our prisoner but we still want to make it acceptable for you."
"So I am supposed to just sit here alone for the next days and do nothing else? That's boring," Lelouch crosses his arms.
"No, I will come tomorrow again. We can talk, play chess or whatever you like."
The prince smirks, "Well, then I will be awaiting you."
"I hope you will be looking forward to it," the brunette teases.
"That will depend on how much your company will be worth," is the reply, equally teasing.
Suzaku nods, feeling like he accomplished more than he originally expected. Maybe Lelouch's doubts about the Empire's actions are bigger than he had hoped. It would surely make the next steps of his plan easier. So he bids the prince goodbye and exits the room. Locking the door behind him, he returns to the control room where he finds Kallen. She tells him that everything has been taken care of and they can return home for today. He thanks her and assigns a group of his most trusted Black Knights to take shifts in guarding the prince. After about an hour more he too returns to the apartment he is currently staying at.
He has shed his Zero outfit on the way home and is now entering the house with a big bag in his hand, immediately he is greeted by the voice from the receiver, "How is he?"
"I told you he is fine," he chuckles, reaching down and ruffling light hair, "He just needs some time. I got him to stay willingly for now. I will talk to him, find out how much he remembers or whether everything got deleted. Then maybe you can already meet him in less than a week."
"Really? That would be great!" a bright smiles is directed at him
"Indeed. Let's hope he remembers, so that he returns to us soon."
She grins up at him knowingly, "So we can become a family. Is that what you actually mean?"
Suzaku blushes, "I have no idea what you are talking about. It's time for you to go to bed anyway."
That's it for today. Thanks for reading.
Who was that person permanently asking for Lelouch? Can you guess it?
Hope to see you next time and review please.
