A fic for Jarod
Cornelia slammed her fist against the table as a gentle knock rapped the door. Couldn't she be let to nurse her wounded pride in peace? She was Cornelia li Britannia, the goddess of victory! She would defeat Zero. His trickery had simply gotten the better of her... twice now. He had detonated his ally's ship. The timing was too perfect-utterly ruthless.
She had to admit, he would've done well in Britannia.
"What is it?" she shouted as they knocked again, more insistent.
"The Knight of One is touching down in five minutes, Your Highness," a quiet voice answered.
Cornelia's eyes widened. No, no, no! She hadn't failed. She could still win and drive Zero to his knees. The Emperor couldn't be punishing her; she had won every fight before. If Bismarck was here to dismiss her for her failure, what would happen to Euphie?
"Damn it!" she screamed, hurling her cup against the wall. Her sister was too outspoken, too soft, too innocent. Without Cornelia, she would do something foolish and earn the Emperor's ire.
Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and yanked open the door. She would not let her sister suffer the same fate as Lelouch and Nunnally. She would find a way to make this right. She would deliver the Emperor Zero's head, even if she had to raze the entire Area to the ground. For Clovis, for Euphie, for Lelouch and Nunnally. Zero had to go down.
"Ah, Cornelia. You look rather tired," Bismarck greeted her. His personnel loitered around the hanger, watching her attentively. Mixed in were the familiar uniforms of the Emperor's personal guards, the Emperor's eyes, the Office of Secret Intelligence, and the Imperial Bureau of Intelligence. "You should have some peace soon."
Her mouth dried, and she snapped to attention. "Sir. I have multiple leads on Zero. Within a few weeks, I can-"
He waved his hand. "It does not matter."
Yes, it did! Her sister's life was on line. And her reputation.
"Sir Waldstein, please," she begged. "Zero's strategies are new, unfamiliar admittedly, but we are learning. He will fall. If you give me just a week, I will have made progress-"
"Enough." Bismarck looked at her coldly. "Your little squabble with the terrorist is beneath the Emperor's concern. You may continue as you wish although I suspect that the Black Knights will be quiet as news of my arrival spreads."
She frowned. Zero was below his concern? Then why all the intelligence operatives? "What are you here for?"
"The Emperor has a few matters to attend to," Bismarck said. He smiled softly. "It does not concern you, Cornelia. You have nothing to fear."
"I am the Viceroy."
His brow furrowed. "You will learn when His Majesty allows it. For now, we are merely here to secure some assets that recent unpleasantness has put at risk."
"My men would be happy to assist," Cornelia offered.
Bismarck hummed, frowning at the OSI agents huddled in one corner. "They have it handled, but as a personal favor... Reuben Ashford, you remember him?"
"He worked with Marianne." Where had she heard that name recently? Oh. "He runs Ashford Academy these days. His school was the only one willing to listen to Euphie's request that they educate that Eleven."
"The Emperor is interested in him," Bismarck mumbled.
Whatever for? He was an Eleven. And Euphie was unduly interested in him. There was a disturbing look in her eyes whenever she talked of him. And way too many dreamy sighs. And if she didn't stop thinking along this line, she was going to stab that boy which would make Euphie pout.
Sisters were truly a unique curse.
"The school is a lucrative target," Bismarck continued, ignoring the digression. "I doubt Ashford remembers me fondly given everything that has happened, but he would remember how enamored you were with Lady Marianne and that you lacked the resources to interfere after her death. He would be far more open to discussing the security measures of the school with you than myself." He chuckled wryly. "I am afraid he might try to run if I dared to enter the campus."
Cornelia narrowed her eyes, voice dropping to the faintest whisper. "Who killed her?"
"If everything goes to plan, she will have her justice soon enough, Cornelia. I swear." Bismarck turned, then abruptly stopped. "Keep the security quiet. There is no need to panic the students or, worse, tip off the Black Knights that the school is worthy of protection."
As dawn broke, Shirley packed her bag, a picture of her father and Lulu's gun-the gun which she had used on a Britannian officer. Her hand clapped over her mouth reflexively, and she swallowed a sob. She had killed someone. She had killed someone to protect a murderer-a liar. What would her father say? Lelouch was Zero; he had killed him!
"Shirley?' her roommate asked sleepily.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Shirley slammed the door behind her and broke into a run. She had to get away. Had to get her thoughts in order. She had shot a Britannian officer. She had committed treason... because Lelouch was Zero, who killed her father.
Why? She loved him. She knew he was kind and caring. He had held her as she cried in his arms. Hiding that he was the cause of her tears.
Was it all an act? How could she still love him?
"Ma'am," a soldier interrupted her thoughts as she left the school.
She shrieked, her heart pounding in her chest. They knew. They knew she had killed that woman. They knew Lelouch was Zero. She was going to die! Lelouch was going to die!
"Where are you going?" the soldier asked.
"Narita," Shirley stuttered. "To the memorial."
Would he believe her? Would he look into her bag and discover the treacherous gun? Why had she taken it along? She should've left it.
"My father, he died, in Narita," Shirley rambled, "and I thought-"
The soldier raised his hand gently. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I am going to have to ask you to postpone. Any trips outside of Tokyo will have to be approved by a teacher. The policy changed this morning."
She wasn't being arrested? "Why?"
He shrugged. "We simply want all the students safe. You know how things are right now. There is nothing to worry about. Every school in Tokyo is reviewing their security policies right now."
They were afraid of the Black Knights attacking a school? But Lelouch would never- Yet, did she even know him? She had no idea what could push him to terrorism of all things. He was hurting people. That wasn't the kind Lulu she knew.
"I will head inside," Shirley whispered. "Did they... Will they catch Zero?"
The soldier smiled. "The Knight of One arrived last night. It is only a matter of time now."
Only a matter of time until Lelouch would be executed for treason. Nunnally would be devastated... Would they even let her live, the sister to Britannia's greatest enemy in modern times? What was Lelouch thinking!
Shirley forced a polite smile and nodded to the guard before heading back through the gate and into the sheltered academy grounds. The gun in her bag burned. If they found her with it-
No. Everything would be fine. Shirley darted behind a tree and caught her breath. Everything would be fine. She merely had to take care of the evidence. Which she could not do without leaving the academy grounds. There would be way too much of an uproar if they found a terrorist gun on the academy grounds.
Was this the gun which killed Clovis?
Focus. She had to focus. Checking her surroundings, she opened the bag and pulled out the gun, slipping it beneath her uniform. Her father had a proper holster he always used. Shirley would have to make do. The guards would probably not search her without reason.
She was Shirley-the nice, sweet, innocent gymnastics and swim girl. Why would anyone suspect her?
Nervous laughter escaped her. Just like no one suspected their lazy, vice president who never applied himself.
They were both murderers now.
Someone had seen his face. Lelouch paced his office in the Black Knight's base, clutching his phone. Someone had seen his face. His identity could be compromised, and he had no leads.
"Will you stop that?" Lelouch snapped as C.C. threw his helmet into the air once more.
"Are you going to call?" she asked with her usual bored tone.
"Ugh, fine." He selected Suzaku's contact and prepared himself. What would Suzaku do if he knew? Would he even listen? "Suzaku?"
"Lelouch?"
"Is there anything unusual there?" he asked.
"Yeah, there is. You're not here," Suzaku joked.
"Oh, right," Lelouch said, relieved. The military didn't know. But then who had been there? What would they do now?
"Actually-"
Shit. Cornelia wouldn't have set a trap, would she? She was far too prideful. She wouldn't wait and risk Zero slipping through her fingers. Or was Lelouch deluding himself because he was so desperate to hold onto the peacefulness of Ashford Academy?
"The Knight of One arrived last night. There is no word why he is here, but security is being tightened up. I think Zero is planning something big. You should get back here. At least I can protect you then."
"Haha. Very funny," Lelouch said dryly. The Knight of One. They were not prepared to handle that. Kallen was an excellent pilot, but even she struggled against the Lancelot, and Bismarck was the absolute best. The only one who ever beat him was his mother. Worse, if the Knight of One was here, it meant the Emperor was planning something.
"I'm serious, Lelouch. You're my friend, and I don't want anything happening to you or Nunnally. If I need to call in a favor to keep you safe, I will."
In the background, Milly cooed and Suzaku half-heartedly protested that wasn't true.
Could Lelouch risk coming back? Heightened security could mean all sorts of trouble, especially for his civilian cover.
"Damn it," Lelouch whispered.
"Lelouch?" Suzaku asked gently.
Even if his cover was broken, Nunnally was there. He couldn't leave her alone to face his family. With his geass, he had a fighting chance. Nunnally didn't. It was the perfect trap; he had no choice but to come.
"I will be there soon. Maybe, I will even be on time for English."
Lelouch shut his phone and glared at it.
"What is it?" C.C. asked.
"The Knight of One is here." He snatched his helmet from her hands. "I need to find Kallen. We need to lie low."
"I thought you wanted to fight the Emperor," she teased.
"Preferably in a way where we do not all die."
Irritated with herself, Kallen returned to Ashford Academy under Zero's orders. If only she hadn't lost to that white knightmare, then maybe Zero would believe her. She couldn't believe they were going to bunker down quietly as the Emperor's chief enforcer took a vacation in Area Eleven. They should strike now, while the stove was hot. They had been so close, but now everything was crawling to a halt.
It was so unfair!
Her shoulders prickled under the gaze of the not so hidden guards loitering near the campus. Perhaps Zero was right. If they rushed ahead, they could get caught.
She pasted a happy smile on her face. She would do her job and secure her civilian identity.
"Hey, Kallen," Shirley greeted as Kallen sat down for English. Her eyes were unusually morose. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah. I think I'll be around more in the next few days."
"That's good," Shirley muttered absently, scanning the room.
"Looking for Lelouch?" Kallen teased.
"I just don't want him to be late again. He's going to fail." Her words felt empty, as if being read from a script.
Clearing his throat, the teacher began attendance. He paused briefly over Lelouch's name with a frown before continuing on. Sighing, Kallen pulled out her book and flipped to the appropriate page as she kept a half eye on Shirley who was staring absently out of the window.
For a moment, the teacher appeared to want to say something before he shook his head and reprimanded another student for not paying attention.
Her father...
Kallen hunched her shoulders, a strange tightness in her chest. She had killed Shirley's father. The sweet girl didn't deserve it. She was kind and enthusiastic, even accepting Suzaku without any trouble unlike everyone... but Lelouch.
She had to wonder about him. Despite his gambling, he kept his head down for the most part, only being drawn out of his shell by Milly's absurd antics. Yet he was openly friends with Suzaku and spoke amicably of the Black Knights. Of course, he absolutely refused to do anything with his intelligence, opting instead to accept the status quo.
The teacher dismissed the class, and Kallen grabbed her bag, glancing out of the window. There was Lelouch, walking next to his sister and conversing with her quietly.
"Kallen?" Shirley asked, stopping next to her. "Oh. He missed class again."
"Yeah," Kallen said bitterly. She was juggling a secret life and working her ass off to keep up her grades. Meanwhile, he skipped near every class and still kept his spot in the top ten percent of the class. She was sure if he actually put in the effort, he could grab the top spot easily.
"He really does love her," Shirley murmured. "Nunnally would be heartbroken if something happened to him."
Kallen groaned. "Then maybe he should actually try instead of philosophizing from the sidelines. If he was actually a good brother, he would be there for her or securing a high paying job. Instead he slacks off and gambles all the time. It's such a waste."
"What do you think he wants to do?" Shirley asked.
"Keep his head down," she spat.
"Did you have a fight?"
Shaking her head, Kallen followed the stream of students out into the hallway. "It's just something he said when we were out. Some men were beating up a hot dog vendor because he was an Honorary Britannian. I tried to intervene, and Lelouch stopped me. He said it wouldn't help, and that we could live a better life by submitting." She threw up her hands. "I don't get it! His sister is crippled; she'll never have a life, and he just wants to sit by and do nothing."
To think she had briefly considered him as Zero once. And then, after his numerous positive remarks concerning the Black Knights, as a potential recruit.
But no, he was the worst kind of Britannian; he saw what was wrong and actively chose to do nothing.
"That doesn't sound like him at all," Shirley said.
"What? You said he was a slacker."
Shirley shrugged, her expression drawn. "Do you know why he is the Vice President?"
"Because Milly likes to harass him?"
That startled a giggle from her. "That's part of it, I guess. The teachers don't call him a delinquent for slacking though. There were some girls who used to bully Nunnally."
"Who?" Kallen asked angrily.
Shirley's expression grew uncomfortable. "It was more than a few back then. They would do all kinds of mean things, but they always had terrible luck. Their stuff would go missing or their assignments would vanish. Nobody could prove it was Lelouch but... Most people eventually backed off, but there were these five girls who wouldn't stop and instead grew worse. They were planning on pushing her into the pool. Lelouch was furious. By the next week, four of their families were under investigation for tax fraud, money laundering, and drug possession. The last girl, the leader, her house burned down, then her parents lost their job, and a bank error emptied their account. She begged for Lelouch's forgiveness. Two weeks later, she died in a drug bust. I think she was trying to get money."
That was a much different image than their usual slacker and aloof Vice President.
"The principal made him the Vice President shortly after. Not that it mattered by then. The rumors were enough to drive people away, and anyone who got too cocky gives up after Lelouch assigns them detention." Shirley shuddered. "People beg to have detention with Milly instead."
"Did Lelouch take justice into his own hands often?" Kallen asked.
"Into his own hands?" Something akin to realization spread across Shirley's face. "Yeah. If you listen to the rumors. I guess you missed out on that being sick all the time. Like a year ago, there was a girl being harassed by some noble. He ended up in a big scandal because he gambled his family heirlooms away."
"Yet he says to just bow our heads while he's off playing vigilante," Kallen grumbled. He was such a hypocrite. She had to bow her head for her cover. It was a mask... What was it he said? She doesn't need a costume because she was already wearing a mask.
Her eyes widened and her heart leapt in her chest. He knew! And she had been too blinded by her prejudice because he was a Britannian to see it. He knew she was half-Japanese. That this wasn't her true self. He had access to her attendance records. He knew she was a Black Knight.
He was best friends with a Britannian soldier. Why hadn't he turned her in?
"Kallen?" Shirley asked. "Do you think Zero is taking justice into his own hands?"
She flinched. "I'm sorry that your father-"
"No. Why is Zero doing this? Hurting all these people? He killed Prince Clovis." A tear rolled down Shirley's face, joined by another. "Why does he think this is necessary? Doesn't he have family or friends? Why hurt them all?"
"Shirley..." Kallen slouched. The girl really was too nice for her own good. "Zero is fighting for the Japanese, their justice. If they stop, then all the violence, all the blood, will have been for nothing. They do not really have other options."
"But"-Shirley threw out her arm-"if Zero wanted to deliver justice, why doesn't he join the police or the army? He could change the laws to be just instead of murdering people."
This was so wrong in so many ways with Shirley unknowingly grieving to her father's murderer. What could Kallen even say? She believed in Zero. She still did even as she mourned the tragedy they would inevitably cause. Blood had to be spilled.
"They're Elevens," Kallen reminded her gently. "They cannot change the system. Britannia won't listen to them."
"But Suzaku-"
"Never uses his locker because people kept ruining his stuff. Just yesterday, two boys dumped canned sardines inside."
"He hates Zero though."
Kallen scowled. That was because he was an idiot. "I am sure he has his personal reasons."
Shirley shook her head. "Lelouch wouldn't allow..."
"I still can't believe he is acknowledging him as his friend. I guess your story explains why no one has tried teaching him a lesson for it."
"So Zero has to fight," Shirley whispered, turning away. "Because he cares."
"I guess?"
"I got to go," Shirley cried, breaking into a run and disappearing down the hall.
What the hell? Kallen had been out of it when Naoto died, but never to such an extent. She would have imagined Shirley frothing at the opportunity for revenge, not trying to understand Zero of all things.
"What was that?" Milly asked, stopping at her side. "You look like you've seen a ghost, and she looks like she is running from one. You didn't say anything about her father did you?"
Kallen winced. "She was asking me why Zero fights."
"That girl-" Milly sighed. "She is too kind for her own good. Still, it doesn't explain why you're out of it."
"Just learned that our Vice President is more dangerous than I realized." A startled laugh escaped her. "Guess I should stay on his good side."
Milly patted her shoulder. "He likes you. There is nothing to worry about. He just..." She brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "I've known him for a long time, and while Lelouch might reject his family, he has their habit of obliterating his enemies. Unless you are an active threat to someone's safety, he won't do anything."
But he knew that she was a member of the Black Knights. She had held a knife to his arm. She was a threat.
Why would he like her?
Or was he Zero like she once suspected.
"Who is he?" she asked. A family who obliterated their enemies. "Lamperouge isn't a noble name."
Milly grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into the neighboring classroom. "I'm sorry. I said too much, but trust me, you don't want to ask that, especially not now."
"Because Zero?" Kallen narrowed her eyes. "Or does it have to do with the increased security?"
Groaning, Milly pulled back and paced the room. "Lelouch- Ugh. How do I put this? His mother made some powerful enemies, but after her death and Nunnally's accident... Well, it turned out most of them weren't friends after all, and Lelouch's father rejected any responsibility for either of them, but they still have enemies and people who would try to use them."
A mistress perhaps? After the mother died, the bastard children were useless.
"You don't want to dig, Kallen. Trust me. People who find out tend to die."
"Lelouch?" Kallen asked, surprised. He was so soft, a sprawling mess in P.E. Could he really kill to protect his secret?
Milly's eyes hardened. "My grandfather. We were once nobility, and certain habits aren't so easily unlearned."
Kallen swallowed. "I understand."
"Good." Milly draped herself over her shoulders. "You'll be seeing more soldiers soon. If some get too interested in Lelouch, distract them will you? It will make all our lives much easier."
"Of course. Anything for a friend," Kallen promised.
She had to tell Zero.
Milly turned to leave before stopping abruptly, discontent clouding her face. "Make sure you're here the day after tomorrow, even if you need to drag yourself sick to school."
"Why?" Kallen asked.
"We have an assembly. The Emperor is making some kind of announcement."
Another story... There is absolutely no problem.
Everyone can thank Jarod for this plotbunny and convincing me to write this. He really wanted a fic where we actually see people react to Lelouch's big secrets. Because of that, I wanted Shirley to keep her memories. So she never leaves the school which jogged Lelouch's concussed memory originally nor does she run into Mao. You can expect somewhat frequent updates as I already have around 15k prewritten which just needs to be edited.
Anyway, thanks to all the betas for their work on fixing the abundant typos.
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / MFKuCGYxcT