Joseph was brought back to the student council building; he was giddy with excitement. He would finally get to see his little sister and surrogate aunt again.
When his mom died, Lady Marianne was kind enough to let him stay with her and her children at Aries Villa. While it wasn't the same without his mom, he still had plenty of fun with Lelouch and Nunnally. He was always able to get Lelouch to relax and let loose every once in a while and Nunnally had as much energy as he did so they were always playing clapping games, hide-n-seek, and just running around the garden they had. And he could only imagine how much more fun he would have with them.
However, he couldn't help but notice Lelouch getting quieter as they were approaching the household.
"I wonder what's up?" Joseph thought to himself.
They enter what appeared to be the dining area, Joseph then felt Lelouch touch his shoulder.
"Listen Joseph, when you see Nunnally. I'm going to need you to remain calm and not freak out." Lelouch said quietly
This confused Joseph, he looked at Suzaku who just had his head down with sadness.
Joseph was about ask what was going on when he heard a small, sweet voice.
"Brother, I'm home."
Joseph quickly turned back in excitement, he recognized that voice anywhere, it was older but it was definitely Nunnally!
He also heard the sound of wheels turning.
"Must have taken up bike riding! What a great way to stay in shape!" Joseph thought to himself.
He was about to shout her name, but once she entered the room, he cut himself off.
He saw Sayoko enter the room with a young girl with a smile on her face in a wheelchair and her eyes closed. This girl had a student uniform on and had the same sandy brown hair as...
"Nunnally?" Joseph thought to himself in surprise and a hint of fear, not really sure if this was real or not.
He felt Lelouch touch his shoulder again and quietly shush him, he then walked over to Nunnally, bending down and grabbing her hand.
"Nunnally, Suzaku and I have another surprise for you." Lelouch said sweetly.
"Two surprises in one week? Big brother, you're spoiling me." Nunnally innocently giggled.
Lelouch and Suzaku chuckled at this, Lelouch turned back to Joseph and gestured him to come over with a small smile.
Joseph slowly approached, afraid he might do something to hurt her. He bent down, Lelouch took his hand and put it into Nunnally's. Nunnally made a sound in surprise.
"This hand...there's something that feels so familiar about it..." Nunnally said, analyzing the patterns and marks on Joseph's hand.
"...Nunne?" Joseph quietly said, using the nickname he made for her so she would recognize him better. Nunnally gasped.
"That voice...Joseph...big brother Joseph?" Nunnally asked in a small voice with tears falling out of her closed eyes, afraid this wasn't real.
Joseph drew her into a tight but gentle hug.
"Hey little sis." Joseph said quietly.
They released each other and Nunnally was ecstatic with questions
"How are you here? Did Lelouch find you? What have you been doing all these years!?" Nunnally asked rapidly with excitement.
"Walked here. Found each other. Walking, dancing, here, there, everywhere!" Joseph happily replied.
"Sounds like something you would do." Nunnally said amused.
They all shared a laugh after that. Nunnally proceeded to touch Joseph's face.
"Oh my. You grew a beard." Nunnally giggled as she brushed his beard through her fingers.
Joseph smiled but then took a rare moment to get serious.
"Nunnally...why wheelchair...and eyes closed...and where Lady Marianne?" Joseph asked.
Nunnally was surprised by this and turned to Lelouch.
"He doesn't know?" Nunnally softly asked.
"I figured it was best to wait until he saw you so we could tell him together." Lelouch. explained sadly.
"Tell what?" Joseph asked, wondering what the Hell was going on.
"...A lot has happened in the last seven-and-a-half years Joe." Lelouch said with a sad smile.
...
The last time Joseph shed any tears was when his mom died, and he found his face wet again after hearing his sibling's stories.
So many revelations and so many heartaches in just a short time.
Lady Marianne was dead from an assassination attack, Nunnally was blind and crippled from that assassination attack, and their own father had exiled them to Japan after Lelouch tried to get Justice for his mother's death. They stayed at the Kururugi Shrine, which is how they know Suzaku, though it was pretty funny they didn't get along at first. However, more heartache came when it was discovered that the invasion of Japan started right near the Shrine and the three of them were almost killed. His siblings and Suzaku went their separate ways and they have been staying in hiding with the Ashfords ever since.
Joseph knew that his dad was a big jerk and usually never acknowledge his own kids, but to do something like that was WAY overboard. His dad was definitely off the "like" list!
The first thing Joseph did when they were done with their story was bring them into a tight hug.
"So sorry." Joseph said sadly.
"It's okay, it's not your fault." Nunnally tried to reassure.
"No! Should of been there! Bad big brother! Bad!" Joseph said angrily while hitting himself.
"Hey! Stop that! Now listen, you couldn't have had any idea what was going to happen in those months after you left. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Understand?" Lelouch lectured.
"...Okay..." Joseph said, not really meaning it.
It was clear that his presence was now needed more than ever!
"Well then. I stay here!" Joseph proclaimed as he stood up with his arms on his hips.
"What?!" The rest replied.
"Yep! Big brother right? Have to watch over siblings correctly!" Joseph said, marching back and forth as if giving a motivational speech.
"Oh, that would be wonderful! Wouldn't it Lelouch?" Nunnally said happily.
"Uh...yes. Um, would you guys excuse me for a moment. I think Joseph still has dirt on his face from earlier." Lelouch said nervously.
"I do?" Joseph asked, hand going to his face.
"Yeah. You do." Lelouch whispered through gritted teeth, pulling Joseph into the other room.
...
"You can't stay here." Lelouch told Joseph.
"Why not? Like old times!" Joseph asked surprised.
"That's not possible and we both know that!" Lelouch said aggravated, before taking a deep breath.
"Look, I know you mean well and just want to look out for us. But trust me, it would just cause a lot more trouble for us if started living with us. Students would start asking why we would let some random stranger into our house, and if it got out you were a prince, the word could eventually spread to Cornelia, who would come here to take us back to Pendragon and back to-"
"Dad. Ugh, what a big jerk!" Joseph finished for him. Lelouch eyebrow twitched at this.
"That's one word to call him." Lelouch said begrudgingly.
"Wait, why Cornelia?" Joseph asked.
"...Because she's the Viceroy, along with Euphemia as the Sub-Viceroy." Lelouch replied in a deadpan tone
"...Ooooooooh. Cool!" Joseph replied.
"You got to pick up a newspaper once in awhile. So you understand situation then?" He asked.
Joseph took a deep breath, and although he was sad, he nodded.
"Understand. Will come visit though. No discussion!" Joseph said. Lelouch sighed,
"Well, I certainly can't stop you. But if you're going to come during school hours, do so when I'm with the council so it looks like you're visiting all of us. And if you stay for dinner, make sure you leave when nobody is around campus." Lelouch instructed.
"No prob, Bob." Joseph agreed with a thumbs up and a smile.
"Alright then. Let's go back." Lelouch said before Joseph wrapped him up around his arm.
"Boys back in town! Haha!" Joseph said in glee.
Lelouch just sighed.
...
Suzaku and Nunnally were sitting at the dining table when Lelouch and Joseph got back.
"There you two are, Sayoko's about to come back with dinner." Suzaku said.
"Yum!" Joseph said as he sat down next to Nunnally.
"Nunnally, Joseph thought about it some more and he decided it would be better he went back to the Viceroy Palace to stay with Cornelia and Euphemia." Lelouch explained while looking at Joseph, gesturing him to continue.
"...uh, yeah, yeaaah. Gotta protect identities. Keep safe." Joseph continued,
"Oh, ok. But you'll come visit right?" Nunnally asked.
"Abso-toda-lutely!" Joseph proclaimed in glee. Making Nunnally giggle.
"Though I am worried how exactly he'll get to back in the palace. Judging from your appearance..." Lelouch said awkwardly.
"What's wrong with his appearance?" Nunnally asked innocently.
"Let's just say he's a lot more cleaner than when I first found him." Lelouch said.
"Goodness. Joseph, what have you been up to this whole time?" Nunnally asked.
"Many things. What about you? Any changes?" Joseph asked playfully as he poked her.
"No." Nunnally said as she made a small giggle.
"You sure? Not ticklish?!" Joseph exclaimed as he started tickling Nunnally, who started to laugh loudly.
"J-joe! Stop!" Nunnally exclaimed in laughter, tears swelling up in her eyes.
Lelouch and Suzaku laughed at this. Joseph then scooped her up into a hug and planted a bunch of kisses on her face.
"Missed ya!" Joseph said as he hugged her tight.
"I missed you too. Hehe, your beard tickles." Nunnally said.
"I know people in the engineering core. They should be able to get connected with the Viceroy and Sub-Viceroy." Suzaku reassured.
"Thank you Suzaku, that would be wonderful." Nunnally said after Joseph set her back down.
Sayoko then came back in with in dinner.
...
During dinner, Joseph told Nunnally about how he traveled from country to country on foot, which bewildered Nunnally. He told her about his scars which made her shed a few tears for him, Joseph of course brushed it off like it was no big deal. The rest of night was just a barrel of laughs and nostalgia of the three siblings and Suzaku.
When Joseph and Suzaku took their leave, Lelouch and Nunnally made sure to say goodbye.
"Give Cornelia and Euphie a kiss on the cheek for me please?" Nunnally asked.
"Well duh." Joseph replied as if it was obvious, making Nunnally giggle.
"Try to run into any trouble on your way over there." Lelouch telling Joseph more than Suzaku.
"No promises!" Joseph replied while saluting him. Lelouch looked at him in exasperation while Nunnally giggled even more.
"I'll make sure he gets there without anymore scratches." Suzaku reassured.
"I appreciate that Suzaku. Just make sure he doesn't get you tangled up in any of his adventures." Lelouch said playfully.
"I will certainly try." Suzaku replied with a smile.
Joseph then wrapped his siblings into a tight hug.
"Be back soon." Joseph told them.
"We'll be waiting!" Nunnally said with glee.
They waved to each other as they left, but Lelouch still had one lingering thought in his head.
"Dear God, please don't please don't let him accidentally reveal I'm alive!"
I decided to make this one shorter again so I can keep up week to week. So Joe attitude towards his dad has gone down a bit, how much so will be seen later on. Just so you guys know, I'm a very visual type of storyteller, and what I imagine can be hard to describe in words sometimes. So if you have trouble understanding what's going on in some sequences, I apologize in advance. Comment and tell me what you think!