Recap: Kallen needs to fight Marianne. Suzaku's stint as a rebel with Ohgi's group has not been going well.
Chapter 26: And Treasonous Lips
You were quite wise, my beloved, to suggest supporting Prince Lelouch. I have had the fortunate opportunity to make his acquaintance in the past few days before he once again disappeared. He thanked us for our earlier supporting words, and when I asked him how I could be of further use, he made the audacious request that we support Honorary Britannians earning full citizenship within their lifetime. I almost refused on principle, yet I am glad that I managed to hold my tongue, as Prince Odysseus had apparently thrown his support behind the idea already.
I wonder why he is so keen on the Honorary Britannians. His friend and possible sweetheart, Sumeragi, hardly benefits from such political maneuvering. His political position remains shrouded, and in our brief conversations, I caught nary a glimpse of his true thoughts. His face and posture are merely a convenient canvas, yet I wouldn't call him dishonest like Prince Schneizel. Prince Lelouch has merely mastered the art of arguing with the truth, and once he presented his points to me, I found myself unable to confute them, which speaks to our lack of knowledge regarding the Numbers, despite our strong beliefs. It was a most disconcerting feeling...
—Excerpt from a letter from Lord Heuberger to his wife, postmarked July 5, 2017
Location Classified, Area Six
Now in a fresh suit and a small sip of water uneasily sloshing in her stomach, Kallen watched Empress Marianne toy with Gino in awe. According to rumors, the knightmare linked directly to the user's mind. Only the E.U. used a similar system.
A deafening clang of metal marked the end of their duel and the marvelous spectacle, and she shook her head as Gino helplessly sprawled on the ground. With a heavy, pounding heart and sweaty palms, she grasped the rung of the ladder.
"K-2, this is K-1," Gino called as she settled into a spare Gloucester. "You ready? Over."
She launched the knightmare and swerved to a stop. "K-1, this is K-2. If you mean 'to die,' I've made my peace. Out."
Her eyes squeezed shut. This wasn't what she imagined her end to be. Executed as a traitor perhaps. Killed in battle, either on Japan or Britannia's side. Assassinated by her family's enemies. Not dying for nothing in the middle of nowhere in some grand drawn out sadistic game for one of the royals.
"K-2, this is the Knight of Six. If you hold back again, this will be the end for you. You may start the match when ready. Out."
Kallen readjusted her grip on the control. Her heart now beat steadily. The original plan was to be no one, inconsequential. Not let Britannia know how good she was. None of that mattered anymore since she was clearly, utterly hopeless. Even at her best, she had no chance to land a single strike on Empress Marianne. The woman had been holding back for the entire duration of their previous spar.
If she was going to die, she was going to make the woman regret ever underestimating her for her Japanese heritage. A shame she wasn't skilled enough to kill the Butcher. The world would have rejoiced.
She shot across the field.
The lance spun through the air. Kallen accelerated a smidge. The lance pierced the space she would've been with a devastating blow. Too distracted by watching the perilous lance, she almost missed the arm, fingers twisted together in a makeshift drill. Kallen threw her weight to the side, along with the controls.
Her cockpit rattled and shrieked. The alarm blared with information she already knew to be true. The ejection system was jammed. There would be no escape from this fight.
Kallen twisted out of the next strike aimed right at her factsphere and screamed in frustration as it instead snagged on her shoulder and threw her halfway across the field to the merry tunes of warning alarms.
"That's the best you have?" Kallen snarled over the com. Screw decorum. Britannians had entirely too much of it anyway.
Another strike clipped her leg, slowing down the reaction speed. She wiped her forehead and threw herself forward, diving beneath the outstretched arm and skimming past vulnerable joints. Normally, they would be sheltered by bulky material. The tip of her knightmare's finger struck the Lefay's chest before she was blasted backwards.
Another warning light turned on.
"You, girl, are hardly worth my best," Empress Marianne said, amused. "I imagine you will be very uncomfortable there soon."
Kallen grit her teeth as the next strike finally knocked out her factsphere. She twisted her head to keep track of her opponent through the various other tiny monitors and the small windows. She wiped her forehead again and hissed as her hand brushed against the scalding back chassis. Those seeming near misses from before had knocked out substantial parts of the cooling system.
"Fuck!" she shouted.
Her eyes wandered over to the panel in the corner which hid the lever supposedly only used by technicians. Lord Ashford had often insisted she switch over to the maintenance mode for testing. An embarrassing ordeal which sent the Horus skittering forward with too much force and slamming into inconvenient obstacles such as walls. The more control she acquired, the more she had to manage and track, but it gave her the benefit of bypassing various safety mechanics. Safety mechanics which were now a hindrance given that Empress Marianne had made them all obsolete.
A faint whistled over the low rumble of the Yggdrasil Drive, and she jerked the controls frantically backwards. In the peripheral window, she saw the damn lance skewer her knightmare's arm.
Growling, she flipped the switch, ceasing functions to the arm, but left it attached. Ejecting it would only unbalance her frame, and for now, it temporarily made Empress Marianne's damn lance useless. The factsphere flickered back to life after relieving pressure, and a loud bath of steam flooded over them.
Cool air rushed into the cockpit again, and her sweat slid like icicles down her back.
The knightmare responded to her slightest touch. She danced forward and narrowly avoided the clawed arms. Reflexively, she adjusted her legs and moved her center weight slightly lower to absorb the next strike better.
This time, she only stumbled a few steps backwards.
Unlike the Horus, the Gloucester had few automated systems. It piloted smoothly in maintenance mode. Kallen used the improved control over her legs to kick forward. The Lefay jumped safely away , finally dragging the lance free.
"So Reuben did teach you some of his fancy tricks. I guess you are somewhat decent compared to the numerous other wash-outs he employed in the past. Although your friend did fine without it."
Kallen growled and grabbed the lance. Using the distraction, she swung the entire weight of the knightmare forward and down, crashing into one of the spindly legs. Metal clanged on metal, and her teeth vibrated at their roots. But she finally dealt a blow.
The Lefay rolled forward, and Kallen clenched her jaw as she felt her knightmare hit the ground. Behind her, the Lefay stood without a single issue. Using the ejection rockets in a maneuver which would have every technician baying for her blood, Kallen righted herself unsteadily.
Empress Marianne didn't give her a moment of respite. A strike to the upper right. A leg from the bottom. An impossible jump with a kick to her midsection. The damn spear twirling through the air with sharp whistles.
Kallen retreated, blocking or dodging each one as her eyes tracked the various numbers and made minor adjustments. Legs. Arms. Cooling right. Cooling left. Exhaust port increase. Temperature unideal in C-27. Shed the forward paneling to improve airflow.
A mistake.
She fell over. The lance raised. Kallen brought her arms forward in one last desperate attempt to save herself.
It slid between the fingers in a stunning exercise of precision. Kallen closed her eyes. This was the end.
Metal screeched and sunlight flooded her cockpit.
Three hand widths from her chest, the lance stopped.
"Next time set the balance controls on automatic. It is more of a distraction than an advantage. I better not catch you ever holding back again, Stadtfeld. The manual emergency release latch should work. I look forward to fighting you in a machine more suited to your skills."
The lance withdrew, and Kallen blankly stared at the lazy clouds transversing the sky.
"K-2, this is K-1... Are you okay, Kallen?"
She groaned. "I feel like I've been run over by a knightmare."
"Close enough." He chuckled softly. "I only caught the tail end of your fight. Gosling wanted to talk to me. I feel like you have been holding out on me."
"I thought you said some guy Pablo or so would kill you if we wrecked another knightmare."
An anguished groan came through from the other end. "You are cordially invited to my funeral."
Kallen laughed and pushed herself upright. "About what I said earlier..."
"Nobody here will care, trust me."
"Most Britannians would. All part of this ever so obvious secret you're keeping regarding your operations."
"Right, Mr. Eight wants to see you afterwards. Best to come out now though. Empress Marianne won't wait forever for you to recover. Out."
Groaning, she searched for the manual release and tumbled out onto the muddy field. The knightmare spars had done a number on the greenery. The Lefay sat on the opposite end of the field by the hanger. Kallen stretched her limbs, wincing at the various sores. Tomorrow, she would be a canvas of black and blues. Pain meant nothing though when keeping royalty waiting, so she grit her teeth and began the jog back.
Gino greeted her first with an enthusiastic hug before remembering himself and turning sheepishly to Empress Marianne who had rolled in after him. For her part, she looked more amused than irritated as Kallen dropped into a formal bow.
"You should pack, Sir Weinberg," Empress Marianne instructed. "We will be leaving in a half-hour. While spars are exciting, I am much more eager to spend some time with my daughter."
A daughter? Kallen blinked.
"Will I meet her?" Gino asked excitedly. "Do I have a special guard mission? Is she seeing a foreign princess, and I will be her knight? Or is this—"
Empress Marianne raised her hand, cutting him off. She lifted an eyebrow. "He didn't tell you?"
"Um, the commander?" His eyes darted over to Kallen, and he shrugged. "He said he was sorry to see me go, but that we would undoubtedly see each other again soon? Was he supposed to tell me something else, Your Majesty?"
Surprisingly, Empress Marianne laughed and shook her head with a smile tugging on her lips. At that moment, she looked nothing like the Butcher. "He derives too much amusement from surprising people." She inclined her head, slightly more than was appropriate for her station. "Welcome to the Knights of the Round, Sir Gino Weinberg. The Emperor is expecting you."
Kallen whirled her head. Him? He was nothing like the bloodthirsty image of the Rounds. He was a mere ace! Not someone with any noticeable skill... She had been keeping up with a Knight of the Round. Shit.
"How long did he know?" Gino asked, stumbling over his words.
Empress Marianne smirked slightly. "I imagine he anticipated this from the moment he first saw you fight. The repeated visits from Lucy would have confirmed his suspicions. Tests take a while."
"What of Kallen—Sir Stadtfeld," Gino asked. "She's good too."
Swallowing, she lowered her gaze even more. So much for not sticking out.
"We will see," Empress Marianne said. "Her tests are for now incomplete. I look forward to our future spars, girl."
If they ever saw each other again, it would be too soon.
Tokyo Airport, Area Eleven
Nunnally tightened her grip around her suitcase as dizzying announcements resounded around them. Security was stringent as of late; the Blood of the Samurai were becoming increasingly vicious in their terrorist attacks. Even Lord Ashford, usually so liberal, was forced to take offensive actions with broad crackdowns on the Elevens. On the bright side, the terrorism distracted the Knight Police and Clovis from thoroughly investigating their portests.
She could barely believe that he had been so stupid as to use his Royal Guard to break them up. The few he managed to arrest were quickly released due to loud public outcry. None of them had done anything wrong. She even filed the proper permits and everything.
"I will miss you, Nunnally," Nina said and pulled her into a tight hug. "I can't believe you have to go home for the break. You almost never go home."
"My mother insisted," Nunnally grumbled. She shifted and squashed the trickle of panic. Suzaku hadn't showed up to their prearranged meeting. What if something happened to him? She wouldn't learn the truth until her return. Allie and Euphie were under strict orders to not say anything, and Euphie, having acted so rashly, would do anything to regain her favor. "If she had asked, I would have told her we were busy."
"You still can, " Nina insisted. "You never hesitate to tell people what you think."
Allie humphed from the side. "Of course, you wouldn't understand. She has to do what her mother says."
"Don't be mean," Euphie hissed quietly. "I think they're cute."
"Well, why?" Nina cried. "She's her mother. Of course she can."
"My mother isn't one to be denied," Nunnally explained.
"Will I meet your family?"
Nunnally turned away and clenched her suitcase even harder. "Maybe."
"Why are you always so cryptic? I know Euphie told everyone before you were ready, but they haven't complained yet, right? Aren't we together?" Her hands desperately passed over her own.
"Of course..." But how could she explain this? Her family was fraught with danger, and Nina had no idea what she was getting into. "It's not a big deal. You have your internship with Camelot starting in a few weeks, anyway. Maybe we'll run into each other in Pendragon."
"Still can't believe your family can afford to live there. It's so expensive. It took me forever to find accommodations. Thought I was going to have to live in a poorhouse," Nina grumbled. Her last minute apartment find at a stellar deal had been because of Nunnally pressuring her connections. She probably could have leveraged her familial ones, but that would've left a trail. "Maybe you can visit me?"
"I think I'll see you again before you leave. My mother doesn't have that much time to entertain me for long."
"What about your father?"
Nunnally snorted. "He is hardly my father. I can't even imagine him sitting down for something mundane as a board game. If I'm lucky, I won't even have to see him. It's not like he cares for me at all. A blind daughter is quite useless to him."
"Lamperouge, Nunnally," a stern, deep voice interrupted with a cultured accent. Their boots stopped with a sharp, precise click. Security, most likely. "I have been asked to escort you."
She nodded sadly and turned to her friends. "Keep everyone safe, please. I know you can manage everything. I will try to keep in touch as much as possible, and if something big comes up, Allie, for my side project, ask Milly for help. She'll probably yell at me though."
"Your friends may accompany you," the security officer said.
Could she refuse? Send her friends away before they became entangled with her mother? Maybe now her mother would finally express her disapproval of her love life. What if she tried to force them apart? No, she couldn't do that. Nina was hers.
"Oh, we would love to!" Euphie interrupted. "Did your mother really come here?"
Nunnally pinched her nose and swallowed a frustrated scream. Why was her sister so stupid? This was a terrible idea. Her friends should stay safe and far away from her mother with her unpredictable temper.
"Your mother is a Warrant Officer, right?" Nina asked.
"Yes," Nunnally lied through the lump in her throat. Could she really stand up to her mother? She wanted this relationship, to finally have someone's loyalty so undeniably hers. To be wanted and desired. To be seen as worthy. But not at the expense of Nina's safety.
Defiantly, she spun around and pecked Nina on the cheek. "I lo—will miss you."
"Me too," Nina whispered and nuzzled her neck.
Face hot, Nunnally stepped away and rolled her shoulders back. She didn't wait for the security guard, pridefully striding past them with her cane illuminating the way. The guard rushed after her. He didn't offer her any assistance, and she instead followed the distinctive sounds of his boots. Her friends hurried afterwards, once they overcame the shock of her abrupt departure.
Nina's hand brushed against her elbow, but Nunnally snatched her arm away. They were entering a different world now, one where softness was disavowed. She was of royal blood and required to lead through the darkness; Nina, her weapon of choice. Nunnally had to stand independent and strong on her own. One could never succumb to a lover, to allow a moment of weakness to pass between them. It would only be exploited by others—her mother.
A set of doors slid open with a slight brush. The motor had to be oiled. There was a painful high pitched screech at the end. The din of the airport faded as they hurried through more doors.
"I will take them from here," a new voice interrupted in monotone. Nunnally suppressed a shiver. Her mother's guards were always impossible to get a read on. Almost blank as if the world beyond her mother and father had ceased to exist around them.
Allie's and Nina's footsteps turned more wary and hesitant in direct contrast to Euphie, who bounded ahead.
The last door slid open, and Euphie squealed in delight. "Mary!"
At least, she had remembered her mother's pseudonym. It would've been very awkward to explain the truth to Nina and resulted in the poor girl having a panic attack.
"It's good to see you again, Euphie. You have most certainly grown since the last time I've seen you. And don't worry about your sister. You may date whoever you wish." Her mother chuckled. "I always love a good romance, but next time, let's keep my daughter out of any grand announcements."
"I'm sorry," Euphie cried. "I was just so angry!"
"Well, you can and must do better. At your age, I would have challenged them to a duel... but that's not an option for you, is it? Perhaps, your sweetheart will fight for your hand instead?"
"He broke up with me! It's so embarrassing. Nelly was so mean and scary. She threatened to cut off his dick and feed it to him. Then destroy his family's business and attached a very graphic video!"
Nunnally sighed; Euphie deserved it.
"Well, it is your fault for letting him get away, dear. There are many ways to fight. You need to figure out the way best for you. Only then will your sister stop hovering." Wheels squeaked against the tile floor, rolling forward. Voice tender with a strange note of longing and something else she couldn't place, her mother said, "Nunnally."
"Mother."
"Come here," she ordered, tone almost pleading.
Her friends shifted behind her. Nina let out a timid squeak, and Allie's breaths were noticeably louder and faster. Now was not the time to bait her mother. Why had she decided to come instead of waiting in Pendragon for her to arrive?
Nunnally bowed her head and stepped closer. A warm arm looped around her waist and pulled her against the awkwardly shaped wheelchair. The familiar scent of bleach tickled her nose.
"You're blushing, sweetie." Her firm hands brushed a strand of hair from her face. She pressed a kiss against the top of her hair. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."
"You didn't write." Nunnally pulled back, crossing her arms. Not that she looked forward to her mother's letters, but it had been strange. They usually arrived like clockwork, even when her mother was on a mission. She sent prewritten letters then. "You didn't need to come. I would've gotten on the plane without any difficulties. I'm not Lelouch."
"I'm sorry... Your father is an ass sometimes. Things took longer than planned, but I'm here now, and we'll spend the week together."
"Before you have work again."
"Yes. I can't change that."
"You could." Her father always bent to her mother's will.
"Then you would miss spending more time with your friends?" Her mother rolled past her. "It is a pleasure to meet you two. Allie, right?"
"Yes, Yo— I am very honored to be friends with your daughter," Allie recovered.
"Same," Nina squeaked.
"You don't have to be that scary," Euphie whispered.
"I'm not scary," her mother hissed back. "I only want to meet them."
"Well, now you have," Nunnally said crossly.
"We'll see you when you get back," Allie said, a slight tremor underlying her words. "Don't worry. We'll take care of everything here. You just have some fun."
Nunnally squeezed her eyes shut and rushed forward, wrapping them both in a strong hug. With her mother so near, she didn't dare to do anything further. Instead, she simply basked in their sweet scent. Oranges and worn paper.
"Don't I get a hug?" Euphie asked.
"No." Nunnally marched back to her mother. "I am sure you will be fine without it."
"Nunnally." Her mother sighed and whispered into her ear. "Go give your sister a hug. She made a mistake, but it's hardly a big deal."
Grudgingly, Nunnally turned to Euphie and half heartedly patted her back. Euphie, not to be deterred, swept her into an enthusiastic hug, lifting her off the ground.
Finally, they left. The door slid shut, cutting off their nervous whispered tones. Her friends would be fine, and if they weren't, Nunnally would burn Area Eleven to the ground to avenge them.
As they settled into their private plane, and the last of her mother's guard finally left the cabin, she let out a long sigh and rested a hand on her knee. "We need to talk about Clovis."
Tokyo, Area Eleven
As Suzaku dodged another security patrol, he desperately wished he had listened to Tohdoh. If only he hadn't become involved in terrorism—because despite every justiifcation he made, that was what it was—he wouldn't be in this situation. Their little cell had for the most part been able to escape the raid, but their base of operations was now crawling with Britannian soldiers, and Suzaku desperately hoped nothing there could give away his identity.
Not that it mattered if he didn't manage to stay out of sight. Chiba had already rushed him out of their apartment after pressing a small wad of cash in his hands.
Lord Ashford's men were regularly sweeping through the ghettos, grabbing every Eleven teen around his age. None of them had returned home yet, and nobody knew where they were... or even if they were alive.
Were they looking for him because of his heritage?
Or because of the incident—blood ran down his hands and those innocent eyes stared at him in shock, not understanding his final moments as one of his own killed him—in the subway? Or was it simply part of the crackdown on terrorism, as Lord Ashford publically proclaimed?
The only bright side was Lelouch's coat. A simple garment that let him flee the ghettos so he was less likely to be caught. A tattered and muddied newspaper drifted by his feet, and he cautiously lifted it out of the muck. On the front page, Prince Clovis denounced the recent Britannian protests. The writer though merely waxed poetics about the protestors bravery in trying to rescue images of Empress Marianne from overzealous guards. On the next page, Kusukabe stared at him, eyes wide and deranged. He barely looked human.
Fifteen Britannians, dead in the last cowardly attack of the Blood of the Samurai. Thirty-seven Honorary Britannians, getting their paperwork in order, among them.
Raising the newspaper, he hid his face as another patrol passed by way. Lord Ashford's efforts were much more tenacious and organized than the Knight Police ever had been.
To survive, Suzaku simply had to avoid attention, act like he belonged. How much longer could he keep this up? Eventually, his luck would run out.
The only hope and chance he had was to go back to Ban and Ohgi and whoever else had survived the raid. Or...
He lowered his cap and ducked his head as he approached the cafe. He fished out the last of his cash and bought the cheapest item on the menu—a plain coffee. The barista didn't bother looking up, his Britannian accent shielding him, and he anxiously waited for his drink behind his newspaper as Britannians passed him by.
If Nunnally didn't show... Then he could assume she or Lelouch had sold him out. That Lord Ashford was conducting the entire operation to specifically catch him.
He shouldn't have skipped the last meeting. Then, he would either be safe by some scheme of Nunnally's or already in Britannian custody and the torturous uncertainty would be over.
The barista called his false name, and he graciously took the drink before grabbing one of the tables outside. Footsteps followed him, and he tensed.
"Excuse me, may I see some ID?" a male, Britannian voice asked. Not a noble, thankfully.
Suzaku glanced over his newspaper at the three security officers standing before him. He realized his mistake a moment too late as their eyes narrowed, and one of them forcibly slammed him against the table.
"An Eleven," the leader growled. "What are you doing out here, away from your kind?"
"Honorary Britannian," Suzaku wheezed. "I'm allowed to be here."
They ruffled through his pockets, emerging with his wallet. He had discarded his fake ID earlier. If they were looking for him, his real first name would only cause trouble.
A rough hand trailed down his arm. "Right. Without an ID, you're just a worthless Eleven. This is a fine coat. Who did you steal it from?"
"No one," Suzaku hissed.
"How old do you reckon he is?" one of the guards asked. "It's always so hard to tell with the damn monkeys."
His arms were violently twisted behind him, and Suzaku clenched his teeth. He could take them, but where would he run to? He had to talk his way out of this.
"Let's just grab him. Worst that can happen is the commander will let him go. He's still an Eleven out of bounds."
"Check my ID," Suzaku shouted. "I know you have it! I have a right to be here."
A strike sent his head lolling to the side.
"Don't talk back to your betters. You have no ID."
"Filthy liars. I bet you stole it! Let me go!"
The Britannians around them gave him a considering look, but none believed him. They didn't care. What was one more useless Eleven to them? He was merely getting what he deserved.
They dropped him on the ground, kicking him in the ribs, and he scrunched his nose as the bitter taste of blood filled his mouth.
"Still bleeds red," one of them said.
The other sighed. "Hurry up, man. This is getting boring. He's not even fighting back."
Suzaku coughed and propped himself up on his elbows. The street wasn't too wide. He could sprint across. There was an alleyway with a chain link fence which he could easily skirt. The men were reasonably athletic, but Suzaku was better. It would merely buy him some time. Then where to? They would be calling for reinforcements. Trying to pin him in one location.
The subway was too predictable. Could he catch a bus? Use it to hasten his escape? No. They were stopped too easily. A train? If he could time it just right, he would be on before they could do anything. No... The crowd. In their midst, he could easily lose his pursuers. And from there... Well, he would figure it out.
He took a deep bolstering breath and tensed, ready for the perfect opportunity.
"Hey, what do you think you are doing!" a familiar female voice cried.
Snapping his head into her direction, he gawked at the pink haired girl. Euphie, if he remembered correctly. She stormed forward in righteous fury, her hair flowing behind her, like a halo or a lion's mane. Her shoes stopped right before him, and she extended a tender, milky white hand.
Shit. He forgot to run. But Nunnally was here... Except, where was she? He grabbed her hand and pulled himself upright. She wasn't there. Only her two friends. Euphie and Allie.
"Let me ask you again," Euphie said coldly, "what do you think you are doing?"
"He doesn't have an ID, ma'am," the guard replied. "According to protocol, we are detaining him."
"Excuse me, but I know this young man. He came here at my request, and you will not be detaining him or anything else!" She slammed a finger into his chest, and he stumbled back in surprise. "I will personally vouch for him."
"May I see your ID?" the guard asked.
She humphed and threw her wallet at him. "Or will you say mine isn't in order?"
He fished out the card. "Well, due to these unusual circumstances, we will of course have to verify..."
"Is there a problem, mister?" Allie interrupted sternly. She stepped right in front of Suzaku and crossed her arms. "Has he actually done anything wrong?"
"He doesn't have an adequate ID," the guard repeated. "We are acting in accordance with protocol. That Eleven doesn't need two little girls playing good samaritan."
"Zachary is a friend of mine," Euphie said, voice dripping with righteous sorn. "And like I said, I will vouch for him. You are free to leave."
"It would be best to do as she says," Allie added. "Lady Milly Ashford is a personal friend of ours, and I would hate to inform her of some overzealous men working for her grandfather."
"You're lying," the guard on the side announced. "You're a mere student."
"On the student council." She fished out a fancy card from her pocket. " 'I do hereby dub thee Vice President of the Junior Student Council, signed Milly Ashford.' Is that enough proof, misters?"
Their faces tightened, and the leader nodded brusquely before spinning around. They gathered across the street by the traffic light, watching them.
"Let me get some proper food," Allie said, glancing at the spilled cup of coffee. "Some napkins too."
"I can't believe they would do that!" Euphie declared, fussing over him and straightening his shirt. "They had absolutely no honor to accost you like that."
Suzaku smiled tenderly. Yes, there was still goodness in Britannia. Even apart from Lelouch and Nunnally.
"You would think we are an uncivilized society by how they were acting." She sniffed. "I am truly sorry."
"No worries," Suzaku said, catching her hand before she could fix his collar again. "I am used to it."
"You shouldn't be."
"But I am. This is how Britannia is, isn't it? I am not Britannian—"
"Nunnally said..."
Suzaku winced at his mistake. "My family was very important before the invasion, Euphie. What they were then hardly matters. Now, I am an Eleven. I can't even legally become an Honorary Britannian due to my family history." He bowed deeply in the proper Britannian style, exactly as Lelouch had shown him. "Please accept my sincere apologies for the deception. Of course, if you wish to withdraw your favor—"
"Oh, don't be silly." She smiled and lifted up his chin. "I was merely surprised, and I know you aren't going to cause trouble. A friend of Lelouch and Nunnally will always be a friend of mine. It's nice to meet you properly..."
"Suzaku," he answered before snapping his mouth shut. Why did her smile have to be so honest and sincere?
"Suzaku," she tasted the name, slightly stumbling over the foreign syllables. "Suzaku," she repeated, perfectly. "I am honored to meet you."
Allie arrived with napkins and three takeout boxes. She raised an eyebrow at them, and Euphie jumped back, her cheeks flaming. Shaking her head, she set the boxes down. "Nunnally will kill you if you do anything."
Of course. Suzaku would never.
"Allie!" Euphie screeched and sunk into a chair, hands covering her face. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened. I'm not going to do anything."
"Are you sure? As her friend, it is my duty to protect his virtue."
"Yes. I am destined to live the lonely single life forever until my mother finally manages to marry me off when my sister isn't looking."
Allie patted her back. "Life must be so hard with people taking care of everything for you. I am sure he will be a perfectly nice boy, loaded of course, and a line of lovers will leave your bedroom every night."
"Don't say things like that," Euphie squeaked. "It's so improper."
Gratefully accepting the offered salad, Suzaku looked between the two bickering friends before eating with gusto. Constantly being on the move made it impossible to have a proper meal. Now, he was finally safe, protected by the presence of two Britannian girls.
"Are you doing alright?' Allie asked as he took another large bite.
He swallowed. "I'm sorry. I didn't have the opportunity to eat all day." Or the one before.
"Nunnally was worried when you missed the last meeting."
"I'm sorry." He hung his head and forcibly released the fork. It was rude to talk with one's mouth full. "Things have been hectic in the ghettos, and I couldn't make it. I didn't mean for her to worry."
"I think she was half afraid you abandoned her," Allie admitted.
"Where is she now? I was hoping to... talk with her." Ask her for a desperate favor because he wasn't yet desperate enough to call Lelouch. This wasn't an emergency. Not yet anyway. Not until he was sitting in a cell. Although what Lelouch could do then, he didn't know.
"Her mother collected her," Euphie answered. "She had some time off and wanted to spend it with her. Nunnally wasn't exactly pleased, but it's not like she could say no."
The Butcher had been to Tokyo? Even briefly?
He pushed away the salad, suddenly having lost his appetite.
"She asked me to look out for you," Allie said. "If there's something you need... we'll help. To be honest, you look like you need it."
He swore softly. He had no idea if he could trust them. "Lord Ashford is conducting raids in the ghettos. People my age are... disappearing.. Unfortunately, I have nowhere else to go."
"Because of the Blood of the Samurai?" Euphie asked.
He nodded.
"We can't help," Allie said softly. "It'll be too suspicious."
"We can't do nothing." Euphie crossed her arms. "It doesn't have to be big, but enough that he has somewhere to sleep..."
Allie's eyes widened. "Babel Tower... There are enough Elevens there for him to hide among. He can even get a job with our recommendation. Who would say no after all?"
"Thank you," Suzaku said, his mouth dry. They were doing far more than needed, and while he didn't like the idea of roughing it with criminal elements, wasn't he one of them now as well? He had killed someone after all.
"I do have one condition." Allie's gaze turned hard. Whatever she asked, he would have to provide. "Teach me how to fight."
"Why? Don't you have Britannian teachers?" he asked.
"Because she wants to protect Nunnally," Euphie explained, rolling her eyes. "Of course she still turned down knighthood."
"I'm not—!" Allie hunched in her seat. "I'm not good enough for her. I know how it goes, but Nunnally will keep getting into trouble until then, and our instructors only teach us how to fight honorably. When you fought in Babel Tower—" She swallowed. "I want to do that. So please, teach me. If not for my sake or your own, then for Nunnally's sake."
Suzaku looked between their solemn faces, searching for a reason to decline. If another Britannian saw him teaching her, he would be met with countless accusations. Yet, she seemed so earnest. Was it really for Nunnally's sake?
"What is she planning?" Suzaku asked.
"Only to get Clovis sacked," Euphie answered. "I never thought I would agree, but power has turned him foul. Actually..." She ducked her head. "Would you mind teaching me yourself?"
At least with Allie, she had the physique, but Euphie resembled in every manner a dainty, morning rose. He had seen some of her inner strength today. Her pride and passion. Yet—
"Why?" he asked.
"My sister and mother always want to protect me—"
"Her sister challenged her boyfriend to a duel, so he broke up with her," Allie cut in with a slight shrug. "The entire school heard of it, and now every boy is afraid to be alone in the same room as her."
"I need to prove to her I'm strong. I'm not Nunnally who can fight with barbed words. Just enough so my sister will finally trust me."
If Nunnally had turned against Clovis, and even two Britannians agreed, perhaps Ban and the others weren't doomed for failure. Poison gas was utterly heinous, and if Nunnally knew... She would never have turned against family unless they were particularly morally depraved.
Did Suzaku have a duty to his people, to the father he killed, to Tohdoh and Chiba who took him in? Did he have the duty to protect his people and even engage in immoral actions to protect them?
He had done so before. Each time it brought him only strife, yet would he choose differently if he could? No. His students, his friends, and even innocent Britannians would all erupt in boils and choke on air if Clovis released poison gas on the unsuspecting, rowdy population.
"If I teach you," Suzaku said slowly, already regretting his decision, "I would like for some... associates of mine to join me as well. As well as some storage. They need a place to lie low."
Euphie's eyes narrowed, and he met her gaze firmly. They were asking a lot of him. He had this leverage.
"Your conditions are acceptable," she said and extended her delicately manicured hand. Suzaku wiped his grimy hands on his pants before accepting and sealing the deal.
"Euphie!" Allie hissed. At their questioning looks, she slumped and waved her hand. "Fine. If Nunnally were here, she'd say the same. Both of you are so... rash."
"You're just mad that Nunnally is dating Nina," Euphie dismissed. "They're such a cute couple."
Absently, Suzaku wondered how Lelouch had taken the news of Nunnally's newfound love life. A small smile teased the corner of his lips. Her troust with the Black King had worried him. Fortunately, under her mask, she was clearly still a young girl.
"She's way too old for her!" Allie protested. "They're all wrong for each other. Like what are they even going to do! Nina spends all her time in front of the computer, and then Nunnally is just sitting next to her... doing nothing."
Euphie snorted and whispered in his ear, "She's just mad that Nunnally isn't attached to her hip anymore."
"Not to mention how Nina will react to all of this. She nearly fainted meeting her mother, and she didn't even know who she was! She'll just abandon her. I don't know what Nunnally was thinking..."
"Maybe that she's very intelligent?" Euphie suggested. "Her internship is highly competitive. Besides, have you seen the other students in Nunnally's year? They're all too immature. All the people she talks to are older than her."
"I'm not," Allie whined.
"You turned down her offer of knighthood," Euphie said sternly. "Of course she would move on to find someone who can be there for her later. Maybe that will be Nina, maybe not. But you said no."
Allie wilted in her chair. "I'm her friend. I don't want to be her knight."
"It's an honor," Suzaku interrupted. Nunnally and Lelouch had talked of it often enough and idly even offered it to him with the naivety that only young children could.
"I know." Allie rolled her eyes. "Everything is always such an honor, but a knight is part of them... like property."
"That's not how they see it. I told Lelouch, no, when he asked." He had been so steeped in Japanese traditions. Not that an affirmative answer would have changed anything. A child couldn't knight someone, and not even a royal would dare to knight a Number. "He didn't talk to me for an entire month, and even Nunnally was cross with me. It's... an extension of trust. You're not subservient; they're saying whatever action you take is implicitly the right one."
Allie scoffed. "You? A knight?"
Suzaku ducked his head. "We were kids."
"Not that anyone would've allowed it."'
"You're quite right," he said.
Euphie frowned. "Why ever not? If Nunnally asked him to be his knight of honor, once she is of age, nobody would be allowed to interfere."
"Because he's an Eleven," Allie dismissed.
Suaku nodded.
"That hardly matters. A Knight of Honor, especially for roy— Well, they're entirely above that. It would be a great snub to call him that then."
"It would never happen. Even Nunnally wouldn't. It'd be political suicide." Allie studied him intently. "Only the Emperor could really get away with it. A Number would have to be beyond exceptional for that."
He coughed. "I don't need to be knighted. It's just... By turning her down, you practically insulted her. That you didn't want that much trust."
"Well, I don't want it." She scowled. "And it's not like that at all. It's a trap which you can't leave. Sure, you'll be blessed with honors, but you don't even get a noble title anymore. The Emperor got rid of that. You have nothing to your name, and they can kill you whenever. Everyone just thinks it's oh-so great because people will have to bow to you... I wouldn't even be able to marry without her permission."
"Of course not," Suzaku said, befuddled. Knights of honor were similar to samurais; their life belonged to their liege.
Allie glared at him before dropping her head in her hands. "Neither of you get it. Nobles use knighthood to take control of family fortunes, and sure my family has nothing, and Nunnally would never do that, but it's what it signifies. Besides," she added bitterly, "I would need to be a fancy, posh lady. They would look down on her even more if she made a commoner her knight. I'll just be another burden."
Suzaku sighed. "Do you want to be with her?"
"Yes! And it hurts that she keeps pulling away. Spends time with Nina of all people now. I want my friend back."
"Things change," Euphie said softly. "I know Lelouch wants her to stay, but she isn't going to wait for you to change your mind. She'll leave for her birthday... and she won't come back." Her eyes drifted to him. "I will probably follow her."
Allie's face twisted, and her shoulder drooped. "But I can't follow."
"Then it'll be goodbye," Euphie said, offering a comforting hand. Allie clenched it tightly. "She'll never forget you. I can promise you that."
"At least you have time to say goodbye," Suzaku said. "Don't let jealousy cloud your remaining time together. You'll regret it, be plagued by endless what-ifs."
"I'm not jealous," Allie snapped. "I'm not... I just don't want to lose her."
"We all lose people eventually." He knew far too many who had crossed over unexpectedly and far before their time. Japan was bathed in premature deaths, but for a Britannian, the upcoming loss of a friend was the hardest obstacle she had ever faced. "Make the decision you won't live to regret."
Location Classified, Area Six
A few paces out from the Britannian flag, Kallen dutifully saluted. Across from her, another soldier snapped to a salute, but his eyes were clearly focused on the accompanying flag, flying a little lower—a bird in mid flight. Was it supposed to symbolize freedom? That was a rather odd decision for a Britannian division.
She pulled out the slip of paper again with the neatly written room number and continued her journey. Mr. Eight wanted to talk to her, and while she would have preferred to rest after her second disastrous duel with Empress Marianne, she couldn't disobey.
After three wrong turns, she stopped to ask someone for directions, and they thankfully pointed her the correct way. This was the first time she was allowed to see the base, and she pondered the numerous Numbers running around. It couldn't possibly be normal for the army, but the cynical part of her said that it was because nobody would miss a few hundred Numbers, or even a few thousands. In a way, Numbers were ideal for covert ops.
Finally, she stopped in front of the correct building. The guard in front inspected her pass and moved from the door. The sweet tender kiss of cooled air greeted her as she stepped inside. The floors were worn and the walls were covered in names, delicately carved into metal. Most of them were foreign or extremely generic. Each included a small, individualized line.
The other wall stood less somberly, decorated with countless hurried sketches, newspaper clippings, and crisp smiling photos. Too many were of birds, mostly geese. In the corner, bold words welcomed a new batch of trainees. She stepped back, uncomfortable at the open display of humanity, and checked her slip of paper again for the room number.
The wall placards were entirely absent of individualized information, and the small slips of papers could easily be replaced. None of the numbers were sequential. At the seventh door, she stopped and double checked her slip. She raised her fist and hesitated.
"Stop standing there and come in," barked a stern voice from inside.
She flushed, noticing the security camera pointed directly at her. An amateur mistake. She opened the door and strode towards the desk before she could lose her nerve. She snapped to attention, hand rising to salute, and froze at the familiar face.
"What are you doing here!"
He shouldn't be here. This couldn't be the right office. He was twenty-one years old, far too young and way too common for a Brigadier General.
Fadiman pulled out a notepad and made a note. His pen rested in the corner, a slow and steady blot growing wider. "I work here, cadet."
"You can't—" She stumbled over her words, trying to understand.
"Sit, cadet, " he ordered and any trace of amusement vanished from his eyes. He leaned down, opened the drawer and pulled out a stapled packet of papers. Leaning back, he idly flipped through it. "Perhaps I should be asking you the same. What are you doing here in my division, Cadet Stadtfeld?"
"I was assigned here," she growled. "Is this some sort of prank? Your asshole subordinate and you decided it would be amusing to swap the numbers?"
"Such childish antics are far beneath me, cadet. Now, for the last time, sit."
Swallowing her pride, she sat. Something was amiss, and for now, she had to play it safe.
"You're half-Eleven," he said idly. "You never self-reported that."
"I didn't think it would have any impact on my performance," she said, deliberately leaving off the "sir" he was owed.
He made a note on his pad. "The commander has asked me to fully induct you in the division after that disastrous show with Empress Marianne."
"She was the one who attacked me! She's a Knight of the fucking Rounds!"
"Gino didn't wreck two knightmares," he said coldly.
"Lamperouge put you up to this, didn't he?"
His pen scratched across the paper again. He sighed and pushed a nameplate to her. "Does this answer your question?"
She read his name and title, and then again. Brigadier General Fadiman. "Did Empress Marianne knight you?"
He smiled lightly. "She made the offer."
Somehow, despite his young age, he had managed to impress royalty and rise to an impossibly high position. She was surprised his family hadn't announced the news off the top of their roof yet. Knighthood was an honor.
"Normally, we do this much earlier," he said, "but due to your heritage and our prior encounter, we decided to wait for the commander to return and hear his judgement. So, I would like to formally welcome you to the 712th Division, more commonly known as the Numbered Divisions, or less commonly, Britannia's little social experiment. Social rank means nothing here, only merit."
"You're here." Kallen clenched her hands in her lap. His family was probably as pure as most nobles. They had a reputation to uphold after all. "So was Gino."
"We arrived here through some more unusual means," he answered. "And the correct form of address would be 'sir,' cadet."
His rank had nothing to do with merit, but the purity of his blood. A noble would probably balk at being stationed here.
"You will find that here your paltry noble rank means very little. While you are here, you will listen to my every order. If you can understand that, we will get along just fine."
"Yes, sir," she grumbled. Paltry noble rank? Did he truly think that he had somehow accomplished anything of note? Unfortunately, he outranked her for now. She couldn't ignore that. "Keep Lamperouge away from me, and we won't have a problem."
"Yes, the commander noted that you would be more amenable to me introducing you to the division than him."
Well, at least he had some common sense. Needed it to command an entire division of Numbers who probably would love nothing more than to knife him in the back. He merely showed them some basic decency, and they all fell over their feet to please him. It was disgusting.
He passed her a form. "You will need to sign that one as well. Note that if you tell anyone outside the division a word, your family's life is forfeit, including those two siblings of yours."
How—
"Everyone has a quite thorough background check. Standard procedure. Your brother... Naoto, sent you a letter under his pseudonym and acting as Lord Ashford's secretary. There are a few others from your school friends." He passed the opened letters over, observing her intently. She deliberately picked up the one from Milly first, ignoring her brother's stupid and potentially damning letter. He passed another paper with various checkboxes. "None of your letters have been sent. If you wish to inform your family of your status, you will use that one."
"You can't—" She bit her tongue at his harsh stare. His pen scratched across the notepad again. "My apologies, sir."
"Apparently, Sir Weinberg is capable of impressing upon others the importance of discipline. Wonders will never cease," he said. "As you will be our only knightmare pilot for the foreseeable future, expect that your request for leave will be denied." He gathered the papers. "You will treat all soldiers and officers appropriately, regardless of their heritage or social rank. Failure to do so will be met with swift punishment."
There would be no problem from her there. She wasn't like Britannians who kicked a man when he was down.
He studied her intently for a moment, his face dreadfully neutral. She couldn't read him at all. At least back at his home, he had been somewhat expressive, even if mostly exasperated with his subordinate.
"The division does not have the resources to foolishly waste knightmares," he said at last. "You will be grounded for the foreseeable future until you show more care for your equipment."
"It was a Gloucester," she protested.
"Yes, and I shudder what the bill would be of that prototype Lord Ashford foolishly entrusted to you, the Horus. No, until you can prove yourself responsible, you will be assigned other duties. You have much to learn regardless if you are to take Gino's spot."
Right, because he was about to be a Knight of the Round. She could still scarcely believe it.
"The Gloucester will be waiting for you once you prove yourself."
"The Gloucester? But sir, the Horus—"
"—is too expensive," he cut in. "We don't need a fancy prototype. Merely a half decent pilot who will do as they're told. Clearly, you are incapable of both at the moment."
She bristled. "Empress Marianne attacked me. You cannot hold me responsible for the damages. She was the one who tore it apart and demanded a rematch. What should I have done? I can't say no to royalty."
"You held back," he said coldly. "Empress Marianne was quite explicit with the fault she found in your conduct. We do not condone any form of slacking here. I see Gino has been much too lenient with you in your training."
"You can't take it away from me," she whispered.
"Sir," he corrected again and his pen tapped the paper. "And I very much can." He pushed the notepad to her. "Tell me, what do you see, cadet?"
"It's sir, or Knight Stadtfeld," she hissed.
"Plus one," he said. "Tell me, what do you see?"
She grabbed the notepad and after the various idle meaningless words, she found five tick marks. "Your doodling."
"Plus two." He sighed and stood, snatching it from her hands. "Five plus your two recent infractions. Well, that is quite unbecoming of a noble heiress such as yourself. Not to mention your punishment for the entire debacle with Empress Marianne."
"She threatened to kill me!" Kallen shouted, shooting to her feet. "I shouldn't have held back, I get it. But isn't that enough?"
"Plus three. Empress Marianne complained to me officially about your performance. I think your so-called punishment was quite unsatisfactory, Cadet Stadtfeld. Imagine what will happen when she returns and learns that you faced no discipline for your disrespect?"
Disrespect! Kallen had done nothing of the sort, but of course, he would never believe her.
"You will be attending our version of Basic training. Perhaps some time with the soldiers will teach you some humility and discipline. Now, let's see..." He tapped his finger on the notepad. "Five plus three. Well, I think eight weeks of training is quite sufficient, wouldn't you agree, Cadet Stadtfeld?"
The instinctive protest died on her tongue.
He held out his hand expectantly. "Your knight pin. After all, you are to be one of the men now. Can't have nobility running around with them. They might get spooked."
"You can't do this..." Her hand shook as she set it down on the desk.
"Another week. It really is quite simple, Stadtfeld. The more you resist, the longer your punishment is, and don't think you'll be escaping either. I will send you off in handcuffs if I must. The Drill Sergeant will have no problem forcibly dragging you along. If you continue racking up more weeks, we will send you in for a second round until the lesson finally sticks."
"Understood, sir," she said bitterly. She was supposed to be a proper Britannian, and no matter how reluctantly, they would always follow orders.
"Good. Drop and give me twenty."
Her mouth opened.
"Forty push-ups then. Next time, remember to salute to your superior officer." He turned his back, and she fell to the ground. A note fluttered down before her. "Follow the instructions there. If you fail to present yourself within the next hour, you can spend a night in one of the cells. Also, all the way down. Ninety-degrees in your arms, cadet."
She grit her teeth and lowered herself even further. His boots mockingly rested beneath her chin.
"You should hurry. It takes a solid hour to get across the base. I wouldn't want you to be late."
Silently, she cursed his name. Any friend of Lamperouge was obviously an undeniable asshole. It was a miracle Nunnally had such a pleasant attitude.
Arms shaking, she finally finished the last push up and scrambled to her feet. She snapped to attention and lifted one heavy hand to salute.
He checked his watch. "You better run, cadet. Forty minutes left. You are dismissed."
The door slammed shut behind her, and she took a deep fortifying breath. Across from her, one of Lamperouge's friends who had visited Ashford Academy watched her with clear amusement. Frustrated, she flipped him the bird and took off. At least Gino's insane runs were good for something.
If Lamperouge was her Drill Sergeant, she wasn't sure how long she would last before snapping and throttling him.
712th Division, Area Six
Watching the lone figure hurtle out of the administration building and across the courtyard, Lelouch chuckled. Roy had clearly succeeded in lighting a fire beneath her. She was intriguing. He hadn't thought she would hold her own so well against his mother, especially when his mother was enraged.
Holding back? That was a curious tidbit which fit neither of the profiles.
A spy wanted to climb the ranks as quickly as possible. Wanted to gain trust to achieve the greatest access. They needed to be indispensable so when allegations of treasons floated around, they were safe.
A true Britannian then? Yet if she was so fanatical, she would've bristled at the thought of underselling herself. Might made right, and for her, power rested in being the most skilled pilot around.
"You enjoy toying with people too much, Gosling," Pablo said, stopping beside him with a cup of coffee in one hand and a sealed bottle of water in the other.
"Must you always insist on that childish nickname?" he grumbled, gratefully grabbing the bottle.
"It helps your image, which has taken a hit in your absence. You need the mythos to sway the new recruits. There are far too many for you to personally bond with. Besides, it hardly bothers you as much as you claim."
"I do need to maintain some level of propriety."
"In this division that hardly matters. Others must bother with that bullshit to maintain the divide between commoners and nobles, but we aren't that here."
"Yes, despite the new noble in our midst. She is an interesting one. Why would she hold back in her duel? Doing that against Empress Marianne... was incredibly foolish."
Pablo snorted. "Sometimes, I forget you and Roy have spent far too long here. Despite her few skirmishes and Gino's training, she still thinks like a civilian. She's a teenage girl who is absolutely terrified out of her mind by the sudden attention. Gino said she only started piloting at the beginning of the year? No one in her position would be comfortable facing a Knight of the Round, especially the Butcher."
"It's not like she would have killed her," Lelouch said. His mother had far too much control for such an accident. "She is a potential Knight of the Round candidate. She's far too valuable."
Shrugging, Pablo took a sip of his coffee. "Most people don't remain cool and rational like you and Roy when facing royalty. Hell knows that I wouldn't." He leaned forward, shielding his eyes. "Someone should tell her she's going the wrong way."
"About the brain scan..." Lelouch began, searching for the right delicate words. He glanced over his shoulder where Henry was gratefully waiting out of earshot. "Have you managed to `arrange it?"
"A day's worth of travelling for tomorrow... but yes."
"And I can't knock him out."
Pablo sighed. "No."
"Henry!" Lelouch shouted.
His dutiful guard hurried forward, snapping to attention before him. Wary eyes stared at Pablo, and Lelouch remembered a time when Henry had trusted him.
"Your priority is my safety, correct?"
Henry's brow furrowed. "Yes."
"Good. You will accompany me and Pablo tomorrow. Tell anyone, and I mean anyone,"—he raised a meaningful eyebrow—"and we'll see if you have improved at all in fishing bullets out of me. Understood?"
Pale, Henry nodded feverently. "Yes, sir."
"Good. You may go."
He fidgeted anxiously under his stern gaze, and his eyes flicked to the gun in Lelouch's holster. At the slight narrowing of his eyes, Henry winced and bowed his head before hurrying back to his spot.
"You don't trust him?" Pablo asked softly.
Lelouch sighed. "Yes, and no. I trust him with my safety. But with prudence? Not so much, especially because he's been forgetting things. I need to know what is happening before he wakes up as a stranger. It's... complicated. Have patience with him. It's not his fault."
"I will, but if Roy learns he is the spy..."
Lelouch jolted and let out a weary laugh. "You're much too observant at times. Roy knows and understands the extenuating circumstances."
Narrowing his eyes, he wondered what else Pablo had surmised. Only his lack of knowledge regarding noble and royal culture hid the truth from him. Still, he couldn't let the fear of discovery cripple him. Pablo deserved more; all the Numbers did.
"Have you heard of the new education bill?" Lelouch asked.
"My grandfather ranted on it for six pages, so yes." Pablo raised an eyebrow. "You need a noble's recommendation... Are you planning on asking Gino?"
"I'll take care of it, but will you take the test next year? If you pass—"
"—I'll be a full citizen. They'll make it fiendishly difficult, you know."
"Can you pass?" Not that Lelouch would leave it to chance. Odysseus would probably have a list of topics covered as the date neared.
"Probably," Pablo admitted, glancing away. He never liked to advertise his education. "I'll take it, Lelouch."
"Thank you."
Pablo's hand caught his shoulder as he turned to leave. "One more thing, it concerns your sister."
"What?" Lelouch asked, any hint of warmth vanishing. His sister should never be a topic of discussion.
"Remember your mail scheme? Well, it always felt rude to send letters through her without acknowledging her. My grandfather apparently agreed and began translating his letters into braille. They've been talking for years, but I stopped reading their letters after the fifth discussion on Portuguese and the Jesuits ..." He held out hole punched sheet. "Until now."
Somehow, Lelouch already knew what he would find as he scanned the letter. Treason. Well, close enough. She was openly discussing tactics to avoid detection by Imperial Censors and the OSI. He clenched his jaw, and suddenly his mother's earlier question asking whether he had discussed politics with Nunnally as of late made sense.
His sister was committing treason. His mother knew of it. And now he did as well.
Flipping to the end, he shook his head as the letter took to philosophical musings about the value of community and how the implementation of social darwinism was fundamentally flawed. His finger paused at the last few lines. A code... Fuck.
"Do you have more of them?"
"No," Pablo said. "I always send them on... They were simple history at first, I swear—"
"These are to your grandfather?"
He hung his head. "Yes... I fear— No, I know he is, and I have been merely avoiding the elephant in the room. My negligence led to your sister being wrapped up in this mess. I am sincerely sorry."
Familial loyalty was always fraught, yet Pablo had come to him in the end with evidence. For a Britannian, it would be enough to start an investigation into his grandfather. For a Number, as Pablo well knew, it meant a death sentence.
Sometimes, Lelouch hated his job.
Worldbuilding Thoughts:
- One thing which I didn't really distinguish in this chapter is Knights of Honor and regular old knighthood. The former is drawn upon from canon, and we see how much of a big deal it is with Euphie knighting Suzaku, but there also seems to be a large element of trust as well since Lelouch actively considered making Suzaku Nunnally's knight. In Excalibur, it was historically a way to rise to nobility as a noble would grant a Knight of Honor a subsidiary title. That ended as part of the condition of Charles making Marianne his Knight of Honor, which means the difference between a regular knight and a Knight of Honor is more one of perception now.
- So Area Six is mostly former Portuguese territory, meaning they probably should speak Portuguese, while Area Seven is former Spanish territory and thus should probably speak Spanish. It's a little tricky though because Area Six was for much longer under Britannian occupation, and Portuguese was effectively banned, while Spanish was simply a foreign language that could therefore be spoken. So I'm left wondering if most people simply switched to Spanish since the two languages are very similar, or if some creole formed…
- Birthday madness: Yes, it's inescapable. I've been mentally subtracting one year from characters' canonical birthdays, so they're actually the age they are supposed to be in s1 and s2. Anyway, this brings me to Kaguya whose birthday is apparently in August and therefore in the middle of s1 and s2. I'm going to take her canon age as the one at the beginning of the season, which means she'd be 16 during the canonical Zero Requiem.
Author's Note:
Wednesday update! Is it here to stay? Don't know lol. We'll see. I'm also really sorry to everyone whose PMs and reviews/comments that I haven't replied to yet. I've been a bit distracted.
Leave a review on your way out. :)
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / uSBegVj
Thank you x1tears1X on FFN and dark for your help with betaing.