Exia Chapter 2, a gundam 00 fanfic

Title: Exia
By: Lily and Jane
Chapter: 2/?
Pairing: Lockon/Tieria
Fandom: Gundam 00
Notes: To Lily and all her randomness (and if you see this, I still want pr0n).

It was divine punishment; he was sure of it. It was for trying to pass off as something he was not, for deceiving the king's men. He had hoped that with the (arguable) good intention of caring for his mother, perhaps the gods would take pity on him and let it slide. He would have lived out his life in seclusion, knowing that his mother is now well cared for. Never could he have thought that the gods would be so angered, they threw him into an impossible situation. One where not just his live but also that of his mother's would be threatened.

He wanted to tell them, to admit that he was wrong. But the grave look they wore made him hold his tongue. The situation was dire, the princess was missing and the kingdom was in turmoil. This marriage alliance was to be their one chance in finding peace. As the wizened officials explained, their kingdom was weary from the decade-long war; the citizens wish for none but to see their fathers, brothers and husbands home. The princess was to bring them just that, a madonna who put all above herself, but she was gone, unmistakably a devious plot from their rivals. The Northern army had always been strong and efficient, but now even stronger and so if they failed to carry out this alliance, a different one will be brought about; their rivals will siege this chance to ally themselves with the Northerner and attacks their land with renewed vigor.

Tieria was torn; on the one hand, these were his countrymen suffering, the old grandfatherly figures pleading him to be their savior. But on the other, what they asking was for him to be married, married. He was a man; it was one plan that was doomed to fails. But at the same time, he also couldn't say no. What they left unsaid was pronounced instead in their story. It was do or dies; they were willing to sacrifices their princess to save the treaty, as the appearance of a double would undoubtedly meant her dead. Her captor would have deemed her worthless and an unnecessary risk. This was a matter of state secrecy. He was let in on the plan, and now to decline would be equal to be asking for death. They would have him killed to protect their secret, but taking the princess' place and he would be killed because of his secret.

And they was going to kill his mother, he was sure of it. With him dead, she would be useless to them and they weren't going to let her become a batty old woman who screamed murder because the king kidnapped her son. No, she will be dead, because the alternative is not favorable to the king's good name. And he will be sent to hell for getting his mother killed, and he will never get to see her again because obviously, she will be going to heaven (the sweet, gentle lady that she was).

Distress and depressed, Tieria agreed to be the bride.

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His eyes itched, his throat patched and more than once he had been ready to just bolt up and ran, but the devoted maid held his hand still in hers. 'Be brave my lady', she said. 'Soon, it will be over. Soon, you will see, that it was all but a test of strength. Your anxiety will pass and you will love him just as there have always been none but you in his eyes.'

For an eternity he waited, silently fidgeting in the confine of the darkened carriage.

In the next instance, the many curtains were swept aside, light flooded in and in their midst was a young man. His eyes looking straight at him and his hand outstretched.

Nervously, Tieria offered up a silent prayer and took his hand.

He stepped off the carriage on unsteady feet; the small, heeled slippers pinched his toes with each step. He struggled to follow, the many layers of robes a heavy shackle, the long, added strand of hairs that were meticulously weaved in with his own an added weight to further disoriented him and wavering his steps.

Lockon looked to his bride and fail to hide his amusement. Here, next to him, was not the proud, sharp girl he often heard about. Contrary to her painted picture of an unconstrained, witty and somewhat shrew lady of royal blood, the person walking by him portray instead that of a demure and bashful maiden.

Taking pity to her timid steps, he slowed his own and softly tightens his hand around her, letting her know that it was alright.

Tieria's heart promptly fell to the bottom of his stomach when the king's hand tightened. Here he was, trapped. Between the king's grip, the thousands of soldiers standing at attention on either sides of the carpeted walk and the numerous citizens crowding around the forum in wish to witness the event, (not to mention there was even cavalries, mounted and spaced in immaculate rows), there was no escape. No matter how fast he ran, they would still be able to drag him back. Resigned, he kneeled in front of the altar and closed his eyes, waiting for the priest to spell out his doom.

It wasn't until after the bustle of the ceremony had long pass and they were ushered into their chamber did Lockon really get a good look at his new bride. Just as rumor has it, her beauty was beyond compare (they might however, had forgot to mention that part about her flat chest).

Here was his queen, sitting patiently in wait for him. Her eyes cast down and her hands worrying her sleeve.

"My lady." He reached out and bended down to kiss her hand. "My Exia."

"That is not my name." Her hand was pulled out of his grasp, denying him the kiss.

He looked up in mild surprise. "I wasn't aware."

He smiled. "My apologize. May I then enquire for your name?"

"My mother calls me Tieria."

Tieria knows he had made a mistake, a slip of the tongue, but told himself instead that it had been in his favor. After all, it might come off as strange (if not suspicious) if the princess fails to response to her own name. Better to have them think she prefer a pet name of sort over her royal title than having to explain any unforeseen events.

"Neil, Neil Dylandy." The king answered, and Tieria shifted his eyes to him, somewhat confused.

"My name is Neil." Lockon clarified, again reaching out to her, letting his fingers threaded through her hairs and molded along the back of her head.

He moved in and she evaded but he was delighted all the same, seeing a light flush spreading quickly, staining through the length of her neck and peeked under her collars. So was the joy and thrill of pursuing a virgin.

Tieria knows he was going to dies, like right now, and it was going to be a horrible death, and what he had gone through to this moment would be all in vain because he was going to screw this up, because he hasn't expects the king to be this much of a lecher.

"My Lord," He took a step back. "Please allow me this one query."

"Am I none but a readily made whore, a hostage in my own marriage? Degraded so low that I am to satisfies with a relation without love, to be won over without contest?"

A breath.

"Am I but a glorified harlot for the enjoyment of your nights?"

She was as proud, as blunt and as much of a shrew as she was rumored to be. Lockon allowed himself a smirk. She was every bits the girl he has expected. One who fear not to speak her mind; a queen who deserve to be queen, his queen. He kissed her hand and slightly bowed his head in salutation; he will conquer this challenge.

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After reading the first draft:

Lily: this princess has one heck of a vocabulary.

Jane: umm... she's a gundam, made of metal, so she's badass?

(Yes dear, Exia really is Exia the giant robot, guess who she ran away with.)