Student Council Building
Dining Room
At this moment, Lelouch was doing one of his favorite activities. Spending time with his little sister. After what happened with Mao and Shirley yesterday, he needed some normalcy again.
"It's been a long time since we spent time by ourselves huh?" Nunnally said thankfully.
"You know even Sayoko and Naomi need a little time off now and again. Starting today, I'll be staying home for a while." Lelouch said warmly.
"Lately, you've been out of the house so much I was curious. Have you and Shirley finally started officially dating?" Nunnally asked curiously.
While Nunnally couldn't see it, she could tell Lelouch started to blush.
"Ah, well..." Lelouch sputtered his words. Nunnally couldn't help but giggle.
"It makes me happy that you finally found someone, big brother. And Shirley's perfect for you, she'll keep you out of trouble." Nunnally said happily.
"Hey! Since when have I gotten in trouble?" Lelouch asked surprised.
"If I had a nickel every time you asked that question." C.C. said with a smirk as she came into the room. Lelouch glared annoyingly at her.
"Good morning Miss C.C. Did you sleep well?" Nunnally asked her kindly.
"I did. Thank you for asking." C.C. said, returning the kindness.
Lelouch couldn't help but roll his eyes as he remembered that she once again took his bed and he was forced to sleep on the floor.
...
Ohgi's Apartment
The silver-haired woman slowly opened her eyes as she stirred awake. Ohgi had a warily look on his face and held a gun in his hand just in case she tried anything. However, the woman wasn't afraid as much as she was confused.
"Are you waking up now?" Ohgi asked her in a serious manner.
"Yes…" Was all she said.
"What were you doing in that place, passed out like that? What you're name?" Ohgi asked, almost interrogation-like.
"I am…My name is...What is my name…?" She said in a confused manner.
"You don't remember? What about Zero? You are talking about him before?" Ohgi said in surprise.
"Who's Zero?" She said, not know what he was talking about. Ohgi was astounded to say the least
"What am I doing? I practically betray him and why…" Ohgi said as his hand shook with anger at himself.
"But I don't know anything." She said worriedly, before covering herself up realizing she was naked underneath. "Nothing at all." She said quietly.
"Sorry, I was able to undress you with my eye closed. But getting clothes back on wasn't so…but I turned up heat, so I thought you'd be all right." Ohgi said awkwardly.
"Thank goodness." She said, confusing Ohgi. "Anyone could have picked me up out there, but I got someone nice." She said kindly.
"...Huh..." Was all Ohgi could say, not sure what to make of that.
...
Student Council Meeting Room
"Yes, I've read through your proposal for reorganizing the Black Knights. I've got a few changes, but overall I like where you're going with this. I'll run it by Ohgi tomorrow." Lelouch told Diethard over the phone.
"Thanks. I appreciate that." Diethard said gratefully.
"Next draft, I'd like you to insert a chart that forecasts how the cells-base structure will be implemented. That's all." Lelouch instructed.
"So that was the final test. I guess I passed." Diethard said with Lelouch was guessing was a knowing smirk.
Lelouch rolled his eyes and hung up.
"Diethard. Though he's Britannian, he's proving even more useful than I'd hoped. And I can't forgot what Joseph told me about him saving my life. Still, the fact that he only did it for a story makes him unpredictable, I have to keep an eye on him." Lelouch calculated.
It was then Milly, Rivalz And Suzaku entered the room. Lelouch noticed Milly and Rivalz have sullen looks on their faces.
"Hey guys. Is something wrong?" Lelouch asked concerned.
"The world is a cruel place, that's what wrong!" Rivalz exclaimed sadly as he sat down in a slump.
"Uh..." Lelouch said, very confused.
"He's just sad from the news he heard." Suzaku said sympathically.
"News?" Lelouch asked.
"Oh Lelouch, they've got another blind date set up for me. I may not be able to wriggle out of this one. What do you think I should do about it?" Milly asked in a depressed manner.
"Can't you just say 'No'"? Kallen asked as she entered the room with Nina.
"Oh, hello you two. Unfortunately, that can't be the case." Milly said defeatedly.
"It's your mother who set it up right?" Lelouch asked with scrutiny. Milly nodded.
Lelouch never liked Milly's mother, she had a typical noble attitude. That being stuck-up and always belittling anyone who she thought was below her. For years, she has tried to gain back the nobility status of the Ashford name, specifically by marrying off her daughter. The idea of the revealing Lelouch's and Nunnally's identities came up once or twice but Reuben was able to put a stop to it.
He thought about using his geass on her to lay off Milly once or twice, but he was afraid it would raise too many questions.
It was then Shirley finally made her way into the room.
"Hey, everyone!" Shirley greeted happily as she took a seat next to Lelouch.
"Ah! Just the special someone we were waiting for! Now that you're here, you two can give us the juicy details about your date!" Milly said with a Cheshire grin, happy to get her mind off more depressing things.
"Yeah, did you guys hold hands?" Suzaku asked.
"Did you kiss!?" Rivalz asked excited.
"Did Shirley finally profess her love for you?!" Milly exclaimed esctatcally.
"Milly!" Shirley shrieked with red in her face.
"So wait, does this mean you two are officially together?" Kallen chimed in.
"Guys! It was one date! Relax!" Lelouch said in exasperation.
"Ah-ha! So you admit it was a date! Come on, tell us what happened." Milly practically ordered.
"Nothing special if that's what you're wondering. We just talked for a bit, he learned some things about me, and I learned some things about him." Shirley said as she smiled at Lelouch while slipping her hand into his under the table.
"Yeah...what she said." Lelouch said with a smile of his own, gripping Shirley's hand in return.
"Awww, you two make such a cute couple. Joseph will be so happy to know he's one step closer to having a little sister." Milly said teasingly.
"You're exhausting." Lelouch said as he rolled his eyes. "Speaking of which, have you guys heard from Joseph? Suzaku told me your visit with him was shocking to say the least." He asked, already knowing what happened but deciding to play ignorant.
"Not yet, but Princess Euphemia told me he was up and dancing off the walls again like before. I wouldn't be surprised we saw him again soon." Suzaku said with reassurance.
"What was that about yesterday, anyway? The guy hightailed out of there like there was no tomorrow." Rivalz said, still amazed that Joseph broke through six layers of wall like it was nothing.
"I guess we'll have to ask when we see him again." Kallen said.
Nina on the hand was thinking about that moment she and Joseph shared. It was only for a single second, but she knew her lips touched his lips.
"My kiss woke him up." Nina thought in amazement.
"Thinking about your knight in shining armor, Nina?" Milly asked with a sly grin, disrupting Nina from her thoughts.
"Uh...well..." Nina stuttered with a blush, not sure what to say.
"You're so cute when you're nervous. I would make a move soon if I were you though. Competition is starting to heat up, isn't that right...Kallen?" Milly finished with a click of her tongue.
Suddenly the whole council had their attention on her.
"I-wha-where-I don't..." Kallen sputtered her words as her face turned even redder than Nina and Shirley's combined.
"Your mom can be quite a gossip, and I saw the way you looked at him when we went to the medical facility. I have enough experience to know that you have the hots for his highness." Milly teased.
"Oh come on! Even Joseph is picking up ladies?!." Rivalz said in angry, envious tone. "OW!" He screeched when Shirley reached over and pinched his ear in a tight grip.
"Don't be a perv, Rivalz!" Shirley chided.
"Kallen, do you really?" Lelouch asked, surprised that two friends of his like his brother.
"NO! Milly and my mother are reading way too much into it. I just see Joseph as a friend, that's it!" Kallen said, very annoyed this subject won't go away.
"Awww, thanks Kallen." Joseph said gratefully from behind her.
"You're welcome." Kallen told him with a smile. A moment passed before she realized what was going on. "What the-Joe!?" Kallen exclaimed as she whipped back around to see him standing behind her with a huge smile on his face. The scar on his head still had stitches but had healed somewhat since the Narita incident.
"Joseph!" The council cheered, happy to see him, especially Nina who started blushing.
"Where'd you come from?" Lelouch asked, genuinely surprised as he didn't even notice Joseph come into the room.
"Front door." He said simply with his dopey smile.
That explained a lot, he usually came in through the window.
"Well he did say he wanted it to be a surprise." Lelouch thought with amusement.
"Missed you guys!" Joseph cheered as he pulled Kallen into a tight hug from behind and swinging her around.
"I missed you too, Joseph, really...please let me breath." Kallen said under strained breath.
"Group hug!" Joseph exclaimed, not hearing Kallen.
To which everyone did, Nina quickly came in first and tightly gripped his waist, and Lelouch just gave a simple wrap around his shoulder.
"Good to see you, Joseph." Lelouch said simply.
"You too, little bro." Joseph said happily.
"I'm so glad to see you awake again!" Nina said tearfully.
"We all are." Milly said.
"Guys, seriously. Need air." Kallen wheezed under all the tightness she was receiving.
"Oh, sorry Kallen." Shirley said guiltily. Though she did wonder if this was just part of her sickly act or she really couldn't breath at the moment.
"So, are you going to stick around this time or are you going to destroy more walls?" Rivalz joked.
"Rivalz!" Shirley shouted angrily as she slapped him in the back of the head.
"Sorry!" Rivalz said as he groaned in pain, rubbing his head. "But seriously, what was that yesterday?" Rivalz asked.
"Bathroom." Joseph said in a simple casual manner.
The group stared at him in confusion.
"Bathroom?" Lelouch asked as if he didn't hear him correctly. "Was that his excuse for Cornelia?"
"Yep. Tiny bladder." Joseph said with a dopey smile as he pointed downwards.
Shirley couldn't help but giggle at his excuse.
"Didn't they a have catheter installed?" Kallen asked.
"Oh, don't drink coffee." Joseph said casually.
"What? No, I mean...nevermind." Kallen replied in exasperation.
"Well either way, we're just glad to see up and about again." Suzaku said with gentle happiness.
Joseph put his attention on Suzaku and looked at him with sadness, confusing him.
"Um, everything okay?" Suzaku asked confused.
To which then Joseph walked over and pulled him into a gentle hug, really confusing him and the council. Except for Lelouch and Shirley.
"Uh..." Was Suzaku could say, not sure what was happening right now.
"Shhh...all okay man...it be alright." Joseph said quietly as he patted his back like a baby.
Suzaku wasn't sure what to make of this, but he made sure to return the hug to not seem rude.
Lelouch and Shirley looked on with sympathetic expressions and she thought about what she was told the night before.
(Flashback)
Lelouch, Shirley, and C.C. were outside of the student council building, Lelouch explained how Suzaku killed his own father. Shirley stood there shocked.
"But...officials say the Prime Minister killed himself as an act against the fighting that was happening." Shirley said, trying to understand.
"I thought that as well...but when I think about it, it doesn't make sense." Lelouch said in a calculating manner.
"What do you mean?" Shirley asked.
"I met Genbu Kururugi a few times during my stay, and I can say right now he was not the type of man to give in so easily like that. No, what he had planned was probably the opposite." Lelouch deduced.
"Most likely he would have called for an all-out resistance against Britannia. Even if it meant the entire country perishing." C.C. said in her bored tone.
"My thoughts exactly." Lelouch added.
"What!? But why would he...what about all the civilians? Families?" Shirley asked in shock.
"Pride can often blind one's decisions, Shirley. I know from experience." C.C. said while subtlety looking at Lelouch, who gave her an annoyed look.
"And it's probably why Suzaku did what he did. He thought he be helping the Japanese in the long run." Lelouch concluded.
"Well, he kind of did, didn't he?" Shirley said after a moment.
Lelouch and C.C. looked at her with confusion.
"I mean, things for the Japanese are bad, but at least they were still left with a fighting chance. In a way, if Suzaku hadn't stopped his father, you and Nunnally might have perished when Japan was invaded. And you never would have been able to become Zero, giving the people here newfound hope." Shirley said optimistically.
Lelouch looked at her in surprise, he never thought about it that way.
"Still, I can't even imagine the guilt Suzaku must feel. Killing his own father at such a young age, what that can do to a person later on." Shirley said sadly.
She walked up to Lelouch and grabbed his hand, surprising him.
"Lelouch, you'll look after him, won't you? I know he's technically your enemy but he's still our friend, he's a good person. We just have to show him that we will care about him, no matter what. You'll do that, won't you?" Shirley pleaded with determination.
Lelouch didn't know what to say at first, he never seen Shirley with such fire before.
"Yes Shirley, of course. He's my best friend after all." Lelouch said with a smile.
Shirley smiled and hugged him.
(Flashback End)
...
Joseph pulled back and looked at Suzaku in the eyes.
"You, good person, okay?" Joseph told him in a serious manner as he poked his chest.
"Um...okay?" Suzaku said, still not sure what brought this on.
"Okay...get here training buddy!" Joseph said after a moment with excitement, putting Suzaku in a headlock and giving him a noogie. "Noogie, noogie, noogie..." He repeated, making Suzaku laugh.
"Alright, alright, come on." Suzaku said, trying to get out of Joseph's grip.
"So! What missed?" Joseph asked after letting go of Suzaku. He already knew, but like Lelouch, he decided to play ignorant.
"Well, you'll be happy to know that Lelouch and Shirley officially went on their first date!" Milly said excitedly, also making Joseph excited.
"New sis! Good job, bro!" Joseph said as he wrapped Lelouch and Shirley around his shoulders.
"It was just one date, Joe." Lelouch deadpanned.
"And Nunne?" Joseph asked in anticipation.
"She's good. She'll be happy to know you're back. Especially now that she's gotten over that fever." Lelouch told him, the last part got Joseph's immediate attention.
"Fever?" Joseph asked with a double take.
"Yeah, she had a fever few days ago. But it's okay, she's alright no-DAHHH!"
*BAM*
Lelouch didn't get finish his statement as Joseph suddenly pushed him into to the wall that was few feet away from him and landed with a THUD.
"COMING NUNNE!" Joseph shouted frantically as he ran to Nunnally's room.
The council looked at him in bewilderment while Lelouch muttered a simple, "ow..."
"You know, Lelouch. I think Joseph is a bigger Siscon than you." Suzaku joked as he helped Lelouch back up.
"I am not a Siscon!" Lelouch argued with annoyance.
"What's a siscon?" Nina asked.
"Nothing!" Lelouch said with embarrassment.
...
"How was your classes today, Nunnally?" Naomi asked.
"They were just fine, Naomi. Thank you for asking." Nunnally said with a smile.
"Any plans today?" Sayoko asked.
Is was then Nunnally's ears perked up and she smiled towards the door.
"I think I do now." Nunnally said excited.
"Huh?" Sayoko and Naomi said, confused.
Suddenly, the doors burst open, practically taking them off the hinges. Startling Naomi and putting Sayoko into a combat position with kunais in her hands.
"WHERE BE BEAUTIFUL SISTEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR!?" Joseph asked as he shouted to the ceiling like a wolf howls at the moon.
"Big brother!" Nunnally said with glee, happy to hear brother's voice again.
"Joe?" Naomi and Sayoko said in surprise.
"There she is!" Joseph exclaimed as he pointed at her.
He ran over to her, scooped her out of her wheelchair and into a tight hug.
"Oh Joseph, I missed you so much!" Nunnally said tearfully.
"You too, little sis!" Joseph said happily. "Lelouch said fever. What fever!? Tongue dry?! What rhyme with orange?! Joseph asked in a protective big brother tone as he put his hand on her forehead.
"It's okay, Joe. It was just a small cold, I'm fine now." Nunnally said with a giggle. But what about you? Lelouch told me you were in a coma." Nunnally said concerned as she touched the scar on his head.
"Yep. But better now!" Joseph told in reassurance as he put her back down in her wheelchair.
"I'm glad." Nunnally said happily.
"Nao and Lightning Servant! Missed both too!" Joseph said happily as he hugged Naomi and Sayoko.
"We missed you too." Naomi said sweetly as she returned the hug.
"Things weren't as lively as you made them, it'll be good to have that back." Sayoko said, also hugging him back.
"Abso-toda-lutely!" Joseph said as he pointed his finger in the air with triumph, as if it was life's mission.
He also realized something in that moment. Out of everyone he needed to make up time for, it was definitely Nunnally. Lelouch told him how worried she was about him and even the dream she had about him. That was something that intrigued Joseph, that noise he heard back in the void really was his sister. But why? Did she have a connection to geass as well? And why was she was able to see and hear him but not vice-versa? So many questions with no answers, it was like watching a season of Lost!
He tried going into ghost form again, but for some reason he wasn't able to do so. He simply tried going to sleep at first, but all he did was sleep. Then he tried meditating again, but that didn't do anything except calm his mind. He thought about putting himself into another coma but he didn't want to put his family and friends through that again. For now, it would just have to be something he looks into later, right now it was Nunne time!
Besides, it was clear he needed to be the definitive big brother for her!
...Besides Lelouch that is!
...And Eup!
"Come on, Nunne." Joseph casually as he went behind her and started pushing her wheelchair, surprising her.
"Oh, um, where are we going?" Nunnally asked, confused.
"You'll see." Joseph said happily, not realizing what was wrong with that statement. "Bye girls." He waved them goodbye casually.
"Uh...bye?" Naomi said with a confused wave. "Did you pull a kunai out of your uniform?" She asked Sayoko with surprise after a moment.
"Um...yes..." Sayoko said embarrassingly.
...
"Hang out with Nunne!" Joseph proclaimed as he entered the student council room with Nunnally in tow, confusing the council there.
"...You mean, like, all of us?" Rivalz asked confused.
"Nope, just me and she. Quality time!" Joseph said as he wrapped his arm around Nunnally's shoulders.
"Oh, I would like that very much." Nunnally said excitedly, she hadn't had any alone time with Joseph at all since he came back.
"Ummmm, I don't know..." Lelouch said a bit apprehensively.
While he did trust his brother, he wasn't exactly a master of being incognito. If people see him, it could catch people's attention as to why specifically Nunnally.
"Come on, bro. Very conductible." Joseph reasoned happily as he gestured at himself.
"Responsible?" Lelouch deadpanned.
"That too." Joseph said with his dopey smile.
"Look, I just wonder-" Lelouch didn't get to finish his statement as he was interrupted by Joseph.
"Ah-dah-dah-dah-dah!" Joseph said as he lightly slapped Lelouch on the face back and forth, annoying him to no end. "Listen here. Mr. Protect-Sister-All-Time-Weirdo!" He exclaimed as he poked Lelouch in the chest, making the others, especially his sister, start to giggle at his expense, and aggravating Lelouch.
"Always you and Nunne time! Well, time for me and Nunne time! Older than you, word is law, can't stop me! Make self clear?!" Joseph emphasized as he repeatedly poked Lelouch on the chest, whose eye started to twitch.
"Using the older sibling excuse on me when he probably doesn't even do half of what Cornelia says." Lelouch thought with irritation.
"Besides, got girlfriend. Hang with her." Joseph said casually as he pointed to Shirley. Making everyone "Ooooooooo" at Lelouch and Shirley blush.
"It was one date!" Lelouch exclaimed with aggravation as he went red in the face.
"Don't worry, Lelouch. We'll keep out of trouble." Nunnally said as she grabbed Joseph's hand.
"Come on, Lulu. Let your sister make her own choices." Shirley said in a lecturing tone as she pinched Lelouch's arm. Making the council laugh.
"(Sighs) Alright, fine. Just be back before dinner." Lelouch said defeatedly.
"No prob, bob!" Joseph said with a thumbs up, and then suddenly lifting up Nunnally's wheelchair on his shoulder with her still in it, with an "Alley-oop!"
"J-Joe, what are you doing?!" Lelouch asked shocked.
"Uh, can't walk, needs chair, duuuhh." Joseph told his brother in an obvious tone.
"But why do you need to lift her with the chair?" Rivalz asked.
He got his answer as Joseph suddenly charged towards the window.
"TO ADVENT-UARE!" Joseph shouted enthusiastically.
"Uh, Joe?" Nunnally said nervously.
"Joseph, wait! Just use the-" Lelouch tried to warn Joseph.
Only for him to kick the window frame off and jump outside to near buildings, shouting out excitedly and Nunnally shouting out in surprise and confusion.
"...door." Lelouch said as he stood in shell-shock that he just witnessed his sister being carried off by his crazy brother to who knows where.
"And to think, I was finally able to replace all the glass that was shattered before." Milly said in an exhausted tone, not even surprised by Joseph's actions anymore.
"Well hey, at least he hasn't lost his optimism." Suzaku said with an awkward smile.
Lelouch didn't seem to listen as he ran his hand through his hair as he imagined the worst possible outcomes this "time together" will bring.
"Don't worry Lelouch, Joseph cares too much about Nunnally to let anything happen to her." Shirley said in reassurance as she rubbed his shoulders to calm him down.
"Yeah, we all know he's too stubborn to let anything hurt him. So essentially, he's the perfect body guard." Kallen said with a small smile "...with the brain size of a pea unfortunately." Kallen thought with a sweat drop.
She then noticed Nina had a determined look on her face and was looking straight at her.
"Um, something wrong, Nina?" Kallen asked meekly.
"Why Kallen, just why?" Nina asked sadly. Surprising Kallen and the council.
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Kallen asked nervously, not liking where this was going.
"I thought you were just an innocent, sickly school girl. When in reality...you were playing for keeps this entire time!" Nina shouted accusingly as she pointed at a shocked and confused Kallen.
"I...what?!" Kallen asked, having no idea what this conversation was about now.
"You said that you didn't have any feelings for Joseph, but I saw the way you turned red when he hugged you!" Nina accused nervously but angrily. Kallen looked at her flabbergasted.
"I turned red because I couldn't breath! Nina, I'm telling you, there's no-" Kallen tried to explain but Nina wasn't having it.
"We may be friends Kallen, and I may be shy sometimes and often soft-spokened, but I refuse to be a fool! I don't consider myself to be a competitive person, but if it means winning the heart of my prince, then I shall give it my all!" Nina said in nervous determination.
"But I-"
"Don't think you'll be able to sway me away! From now on, I'll be paying more attention to you." Nina proclaimed as she gestured her eyes watching hers with her fingers.
She then picked up her laptop and marched out of the room with determination in her steps. The council looked on with surprise, they never seen Nina composed with such energy before. For Kallen it was shock, as she wasn't expecting things to go this way today.
"Well, well, Kallen. It seems you made yourself an arch-enemy." Milly said with a cheshire grin.
"Ba-ba-but...I...I don't, I'm not...she...!" Kallen sputtered her words, not sure how to explain the situation she got herself in.
"Was that how I acted when I thought you had feelings for Lelouch?" Shirley asked, now feeling bad she put Kallen through so much aggravation.
"Wait, what?!" Lelouch exclaimed, first time he heard this.
"Oops." Shirley said in awkward quietness, forgetting she never told Lelouch.
"UGH!" Kallen shouted as she left the room in embarrassment. "Damn it, mom! This is why I hate Britannians!" She thought in aggravation.
"An unexpected love triangle. I love it!" Milly cheered as she rubbed her hands together, thinking of a plan on how to move this forward, all with an evil grin on her face.
"I have a feeling it's going to be mayhem here in the next couple of weeks." Lelouch said tiredly.
"Yeah, but at least it'll be fun." Shirley said with joy. "I wonder if Joseph's aware of his crushes." Shirley said as she thought about it.
"Honestly, it's hard to tell what he's thinking half the time." Lelouch told her.
...
Tokyo Settlement
"I wonder if I should have ate before I left."
"I wonder if Nunne ate."
"I bet her hearing is better since she can't see. Or is that just superstition?"
"I broke a mirror once, that's suppose to be 7 years bad luck. But so far, it's been pretty good since then."
"I saw a film called 'Mirrors', it was pretty terrible."
"People say that song 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' is terrible but it makes me happy."
"Jumping on buildings also makes me happy."
"And music."
"And ducks."
"Wait, what was I doing again?"
Those were some of the several thoughts going through Joseph's head as he hopped from building to building with ease.
"Oh yeah, finding a place for me and Nunne to hang." Joseph remembered.
He finally found a wide open rooftop and landed there. He put Nunnally down, who had very frazzled hair due to all the wind blowing in it.
"Oh my. When Lelouch told me he witnessed you jumping feets into the air onto different buildings, I wasn't sure if he was joking or not. But considering the constant blowing of wind in my face and the up and down sensations I felt, you have made a believer out of me." Nunnally said with nervous surprise in her voice as she brushed her hair with her fingers.
"Yeah. Super fun!" Joseph cheered with a fist pump in the air.
"It's definitely an experience." Nunnally said with a nervous chuckle. "Where are we anyway?" She asked.
"Top of a building." Joseph said casually as he scooped up Nunnally, who let out a surprised squeak, and put her down to sit on the edge, him right next to her.
"Good thing Lelouch isn't here, he might just have a heart attack if he knew where we were." Nunnally said with a giggle.
"So protective." Joseph said with a smirk. Nunnally couldn't help but sigh sadly.
"He always is." Nunnally said with sadness in her voice, Joseph noticed this.
"What up, little sis? Lelouch told of bad dream." Joseph asked as he patted her head, making her smile at him.
"Oh no, nothing like that. Lelouch helped me through that. It's strange now that you mentioned it, I know it was just a dream, but for some reason...it felt so real. Like you and I were actually there, wherever there was." Nunnally said in thought.
"More real than you think, little sis." Joseph thought to himself. Truthfully, he wanted to tell Nunnally about his time in a coma but Lelouch didn't want to involve her until he found some answers to this phenomenon. So for now, he would keep it to himself.
"Sorry to make you worry. I'm fine, it's just...can you promise to not tell Lelouch?" Nunnally asked in concern, Joseph let out a smile.
"Cross heart, hope to die..." Joseph sang as he held out his good pinkie, learning it from Nunnally awhile back.
"...Eat a thousand needles, if I lie." Nunnally continued as she interlocked her pinkie with his.
"Pinkie promise song!" They sang together as they shook their pinkies together, laughing together after.
"Anyway, Lelouch always puts so much attention on me. Not that I hate it, it's just that I fear sometimes he's not able to live a life of his own." Nunnally said sadly.
"Oh Nunne, he's definitely living a life of his own." Joseph thought as he smirked.
"I just feel like...I'm a burden on him." Nunnally finished with a whisper as she gripped her motionless legs.
Joseph looked at her sadly, he had a feeling that was the case. When he watched Lelouch dote on Nunnally, he could see subtle sadness in her features, sort of like their father when he gave his speeches.
He had to make her feel better, it was his job as a big brother after all!
"Listen Nunne, no worry about Lelouch. Does things not with you all time!" Joseph said optimistically.
"Really?" Nunnally asked, not sure if that was meant to cheer her up.
"Yeah! Things that help people thrive! Loves it too!" Joseph said cheerfully. He knew he couldn't reveal Lelouch's identity as Zero, but no reason he couldn't give Nunnally a little leeway without spoiling anything.
"But, why wouldn't he say anything?" Nunnally asked in confusion.
"Not wanna hurt feelings. Worried about "no like spending time with" thinking." Joseph explained as he pointed to his own head.
"...I never thought about that. Perhaps me and Lelouch should talk about this when we get back." Nunnally said quietly.
"Besides, nothing wrong with attention. It proof." Joseph said happily.
"Proof of what?" Nunnally asked.
Only for her to be scooped up by Joseph in a bridal carry.
"Proof he be superhero! Beckon call, day or night! Be there always, no outta sight!" Joseph declared with pride as he puffed out his chest. Making Nunnally giggle.
"Same goes you!" Joseph proclaimed as he poked her on the nose.
"Me?" Nunnally asked, confused by the sudden proclamation.
"16 now! Make own decisions, be own person! Blind? Screw blind, Daredevil blind. Crippled? Screw crippled, Stephen Hawking crippled!" Joseph said with determination as he put her down in her chair.
"I thought his entire body was paralyzed because of ALS?" Nunnally said in confusion.
"Exactly! Now you gonna mope? Or roar?" Joseph asked her in anticipation.
"Roar?" Nunnally asked, now really confused.
"Roar! Raaah!" Joseph roared.
"Raaah?" Nunnally roared unsurely.
"Raaaah! Joseph roared again louder.
"Raaah!" Nunnally roared again with more energy.
"RAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"RAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
They both shouted to the heavens!
"Shut the Hell up!" A bystander shouted walking by.
"You shut up!" Joseph shouted back.
"J-Joe! Sorry sir!" Nunnally shouted while trying to hold back her giggles of the situation. "You always find the bright side to things, big brother Joe." She said sweetly.
"Big brother right? My job." Joseph said triumphantly.
"Too bad I wouldn't be able to see it, but a dance by you would really top this visit." Nunnally said happily
"Hmm...Lightbulb!" Joseph said after a moment of thinking.
...
A couple of hours later...
Student Council Room
"I really don't like how long they've been gone." Lelouch said with actual anxiousness in his voice.
"Come on Lelouch, I'm sure they're fine." Milly said in reassurance as she tried to keep her friend calm.
"In case you haven't realized by now Milly, Joseph is the literal textbook definition of 'unpredictable'." Lelouch said with unease.
"No argument there." Rivalz added.
"You're not helping, 'Riv-alz'." Kallen said annoyed, calling him by the same mispronunciation Joseph does. Making Rivalz groan.
"For all I know, he's taken Nunnally on some 'joyride' on top of a subway car!" Lelouch exclaimed with paranoia. He may be a chess champion and the leader of the fastest growing resistance groups, but controlling his brother was something else entirely.
"I don't think he would take it that far...maybe..." Suzaku said with hesitance, making Lelouch glare at him. "But I'm sure he would do everything in his power to keep her safe at the same time." Suzaku said quickly as he put his hands up in defense in case Lelouch tried to burn him alive with his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm sure they're on their way back right now." Shirley said as she rubbed his arm.
"HEADS UP!" Joseph yelled from outside as he threw the wheelchair from the window he broke earlier.
It landed on the table loudly, making the council jump back in surprise.
"Geez, man!" Rivalz shouted in shock.
"Sorry guys. I thought he was simply going to put it down." They heard Nunnally say awkwardly.
They then see Nunnally climbing through the window, with Joseph holding her on his shoulders.
"Nunnally?! Joe! What are on Earth!?" Lelouch asked, about to blow a casket.
"We not Joe and Nunnally!" Joseph proclaimed.
"We are, the Brother-Sister Mega Person." Nunnally proclaimed happily. The council looked at her in confusion. "That's the name he came up with." Nunnally explained.
"Nunnally, are you okay up there?" Lelouch asked worriedly.
"No worry, bro. Dead weight." Joseph reassured as he patted Nunnally's crippled legs.
"That's not what I meant." Lelouch muttered with gritted teeth, the twitch in his eye coming back.
"It's okay, brother. I'm fine, in fact, we have something to show you." Nunnally said excitedly. "Hit it!" She said as she pointed to Joseph below her.
Joseph pressed the play button on walkman and horns start playing. Joseph and Nunnally snapped their fingers together to the beat.
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road, Jack
And don't you come back, no more
Joseph moved along the beat with his legs, and Nunnally swayed her arms, both aligned with the beat. As if they were made of the same body. Joseph would lip-sync the male singer and Nunnally would lip-sync the female singer, and both looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Lelouch watched this in surprise at first, but then that surprise turned into a smile. His sister never looked so lively since she was a child, and his brother was able to bring that back.
The council looked on happily at the performance as well. However, a thought rang through Kallen's head as she watched the two.
"He sure is attached to them...as if they really were brother and sister..." Kallen thought to herself.
She also thought about what Suzaku said when they visited Joseph at the Viceroy's Palace.
"Would it be possible you guys could keep them out of the conversation around the princesses?"
Before she could think anymore about it, the music ended and Joseph put Nunnally back in her wheelchair. To which they then bowed to the applause given to them.
"Brava! Reminiscent of Tchaikovsky!" Milly cheered.
"And Sir-Mix-Alot!" Rivalz added. Making the group laugh.
"Thank you! We practiced that for awhile." Nunnally said happily, raising her hand in the air.
"Up top!" Joseph cheered as he high-fived her.
"It looks like you two had a lot of fun together." Lelouch said happily.
"We did! I'm glad I was able to spend time with Joseph." Nunnally said happily.
"Anytime!" Joseph cheered with a chill voice.
"Thank you, Joseph. That was the most fun I've seen Nunnally have in awhile." Lelouch said gratefully. "Just...next time you want to spend time with her, use the door, okay?" Lelouch asked tiredly.
"Bro, hear ya..." Joseph said with his dopey smile as he trailed off. Leaving the council in confusion, wondering if he was going to say anymore...which he didn't.
"So...you'll do that?" Lelouch asked after a moment.
"Hmmmm...don't know..." Joseph said in wonderment. "...Laters!" He then exclaimed in excitement as he kissed Nunnally on the head, who giggled, and ran his way out the window.
Leaving a very annoyed and perplexed Lelouch and a laughing council.
"I know he saved my life, but God, do I want to strangle him sometimes." Lelouch thought as he rubbed his face in aggravation.
"You know, in a weird way, I actually missed that absentmindedness of his." Shirley said happily.
"As long as you're not the target of it, it's quite hilarious to watch." Kallen said with a small smile.
"Especially when it makes Lelouch squirm." Milly teased, making the others laugh.
"Oh yeah, laugh up it now. Just you wait, he'll be driving you guys insane again soon enough." Lelouch warned with a glare.
"And we'll look forward to it with strive." Milly cheered. "For now, I'm going to see what I can do to make you look more presentable for his highness, next time." She said with a sly tone as she pointed at Kallen.
"WHA?! WHY?!" Kallen shrieked angrily.
"For the date you two will have." Milly said excitedly.
"WE DON'T HAVE A DATE!" Kallen shrieked in exasperation.
"Yet. Same goes for Nina. Just think, a double date!" Milly said with a toothy grin as she walked out the room.
"MILLY!" Kallen yelled as she ran after Milly, trying to stop her evil plan. Shirley couldn't help but chuckle.
"Times like these, I'm glad Milly is focusing her 'she-devil' attitude on someone other than me." Shirley said with relief.
"Don't expect it to last long, I'm sure she'll find ways to make all of us cringe till the end of time." Lelouch said with a tired smile.
"I find it nice that someone has feelings like that for Joseph." Nunnally said sweetly. "Do you think he would return them if Kallen were to tell him how she feels?" She asked Lelouch curiously.
"I guess time will tell, Nunnally." Lelouch said with a smile.
When it came to Joseph, anything was possible.
To be Continued...
And there we go. Joseph gets to spend time with Nunnally and Kallen gets forced into a love triangle she wants no part of. Does she truly have feelings for Joseph, would Joseph be able recognize such feelings? We shall find out later on. Until then, comment and tell me what you think.