"…Clearing the last of the debris from around the Lake Kawaguchi Convention Center Hotel. It's been two weeks since Zero unveiled his Black Knights. But there's still little insight into the man behind the mask. They weren't able to track his escape route. They let the hostages go and somehow made it to the other shore."
(Archive footage of Zero and the Black Knights is being shown during the hotel crisis)
"He's not the only one gaining attention though. In other news, viral trend #EatThatHorse has hit number one on every social media outlet due to the strange term and the individual himself who delivered it during the aftermath of the hotel hijacking.
(Archive footage of Joseph and other people chanting "EAT THAT HORSE!" from a smartphone perspective.)
"The individual is claimed to be Prince Joseph Du Britannia, who is 50th in line for the Throne and it seems to have only increased the favoritism of the term. People have already made merchandise, memes, and reenactments on the streets of the said quote.
(Archive footage is shown of having t-shirts with the words "EAT THAT HORSE!" on them being sold at stores and on the streets. A meme of a boxer getting knocked down and the crowding cheering for him to get back up, except the cheering is replaced with the audio from the video of people chanting "EAT THAT HORSE!". And people starring at cameras chanting "EAT THAT HORSE!" while wearing horse masks.)
...
Lelouch's Bedroom
Lelouch turns off the TV with a very angry groan while C.C. laugh hysterically from the behind him as she clutches her cheese-kun.
"This was NOT how it was suppose to go!" Lelouch complained. "Damn it, Joe! Couldn't you cut the superhero crap for one second!" He thought to himself.
"I swear, I have seen many ridiculous things in my life, but this definitely takes the cake." C.C. said as she was trying to catch her breath from all the laughing, making Lelouch glare at her.
"Oh relax, boy. You're still the top news and your big appearance influenced other resistance fighters." C.C. brushed offhandedly.
"True, but still, that 'performance' is making..."
...
Viceroy Palace
"...a mockery of Britannia! Why on Earth didn't you stop him?!" Cornelia complained as she and Euphemia watched the news.
"I honestly thought he brought a lightheartedness that was needed after such a heavy day. I didn't think it would start this." Euphemia giggled out.
"He's a prince Euphie, and he needs to start acting like one." Cornelia lectured.
"While the actions are indeed strange, they are not surprising either. For his Highness is known for being "The Dimwitted Prince" due to his mental-"
Cornelia turns off the TV with a huff.
"Even all after all these years later, they still refer him by that insulting name." Euphemia muttered sadly.
Cornelia herself was pissed and wanted to take a knightmare to the news station and run over everyone who was employed there, but that would just be adding fuel to the fire.
And while she didn't like to admit it, her brother does legitimize the name.
...
(Flashback)
"Tell me Joseph, did you speak to him?" Cornelia asked Joseph, who looked at her blankly.
"Who?" Joseph asked casually.
"Zero." Cornelia told him. Now he was looking at her confused.
"When?" He asked.
"Yesterday." Cornelia asked, keeping her cool.
"Where?"
"At the Lake Kawaguchi Hotel." She answered, starting to get annoyed.
"Why?"
"Joe!"
And of course, like always, he just laughed.
(Flashback End)
...
"Damn it Joseph, why do you have to act like such a buffoon?" Cornelia thought angrily.
"Where is he anyway?" Cornelia asked, but then her eyes widen as she realized something and quickly turned around...
To find no one there.
She turned back to her sister who was stifling a laughter.
"Never mention that to anyone." Cornelia warned her.
...
Pendragon
Some of the children of Emperor Charles watched the screen as Joseph danced around as people chanted "EAT THAT HORSE!".
"Joseph? I thought that retard died a long time ago." Carine, the hot-headed princess, commented.
"Carine, I wish you wouldn't use such harsh language on him, he is still our brother. I'm for one am happy he is still alive and about with that same energy he had all those years ago." Odysseus, the kind if not mediocre prince, commented.
"Indeed, to see him thriving as such is always pleasant. Though his appearance does surprise me." Schneizel commented.
"Obviously, personal hygiene wasn't something he kept up on. Looks like a damn bum." Cassius joked.
"Careful Cassius, you don't want to receive another punch to the jewels do you?" Guinevere commented with a sweet smile.
This made Cassius unconsciously reach for his lower region, as he thought back to that "incident" that occurred all those years ago. Carine laughed hysterically at this.
"You actually been somewhat quiet about this Guinevere, what's your opinion about all this." Schneizel asked her.
Guinevere just stared at the screen for a moment before turning away to leave.
"I honestly don't care either way." Guinevere commented blankly.
"Geez, what's up her ass?" Carine asked as she departed.
Guinevere on her end, had other things on her mind.
...
(Flashback)
Pendragon
"This is ridiculous Lady Rebecca, I know nothing about babysitting!" A 14-year old Guinevere complained to Lady Rebecca, who was currently tickling a 3-year old Joseph.
"Well then, this would be a perfect time to learn, wouldn't it?" Rebecca asked her with delight as she gathered a giggling Joseph into a hug.
"Why can't you ask Cornelia? Or literally anybody else?" Guinevere asked bitterly.
"Cornelia is undergoing training, Lady Marianne has business with the Emperor and Odysseus and Schneizel are both out of the country for foreign affairs. Besides, my little Joe should get to know all of his siblings when given the chance." Rebecca explained as she planted a kiss on Joseph's cheek.
Guinevere groaned in annoyance as Lady Rebecca put Joseph in her arms.
"Now be good for Gwen, my precious little munchkin. I'll be back soon." Rebecca said sweetly to her son. Joseph just gave a simple smile and nod.
Guinevere's face turned a tinge bit red, both in embarrassment in the nickname Lady Rebecca gave her and in jealously that her own mother never gave her this much affection.
"You know I'll catch Hell for this if anyone finds out." Guinevere muttered.
"I know, which is why it'll be our little secret. Plus, I'm sure you don't want anyone to know about that incident with you and the dress?" Rebecca asked with a tender, if somewhat demented smile on her face.
"Uh, y-yes ma'am." Guinevere stuttered fearfully.
"Good. Have fun you two!" Rebecca said as she waved goodbye.
Guinevere just sighed in frustration as she looked at her little half-brother.
"So you're the little dimwit everyone's talked about. (Holds him up to her face) Yeah, you do look kind of dumb." Guinevere said as she analyzed him.
Joseph responded by grabbing her nose with his tiny hand, laughing a tiny baby laugh. Guinevere couldn't help but smile a bit.
"You are kind of cute, I guess. Very well, I suppose I can show you my jewelry collection. You better not eat any of them!" Guinevere warned as she carried him to her room.
(Flashback End)
...
Pendragon
Guinevere shakes her head at the memory.
"You buffoon..." Guinevere muttered quietly.
...
Stadfelt Residence
Kallen heard a crash that startled her out of bed. She covered herself and went to see what happened.
"Kallen. I mean, miss. Forgive me. I didn't wish to wake you." A maid said as she was trying to clean up a broken chandelier
"Again?" Kallen muttered.
"I'm sorry. It was the step ladder this time, it broke." The maid explained as she gestured to the broken stepladder, and if one were to get a closer look, they would see it was sawed off.
"Well, just get it cleaned up. And be quick about it. I have to leave for school." Kallen ordered.
"Mistress, you've been attending school quite a bit lately. Making any friends there?" The maid asked.
"I don't see how that's any of your business!" Kallen said angrily as she slammed her door.
"Just go, will you..." Kallen said in quiet anger and sadness.
On her desk, is a picture of her as a young child, with her brother Naoto and a woman in the middle, with a sticker over her face.
...
Tokyo Settlement
Joseph joyfully jump from building to building as he made his way to Ashford Academy for the first time in two weeks.
Ever since the hotel hijacking, Cornelia has been on his bee-hind about his safety and Zero, never once giving him the time of day to be by himself. He honestly could have left anytime he wanted, but he thought it was better that she cool down first, at least that way she wouldn't start sending the army all over the settlement, eventually leading to Ashford Academy.
So thankfully, it was today she finally let up on the guards, which he took as a sign to get out of there and enjoy himself again.
He saw the camera crews and news reporters outside the gate of the school, so he made sure to land in a different area. When he finally made it, he heard some students talking.
"I heard he sent a terrorist home literally crying to his mother." A male student said.
"I heard he threw one of them all the way to the moon!" A female student said.
"All this time there was a-(gasps) PRINCE JOSEPH!" Another female student noticed him and rushed towards him, along with many other students, surprising Joseph.
"Oh yeah, this is how people act when they know I'm a prince. Weird." Joseph thought to himself.
"Your highness, my name is Sophie, and I just wanted to thank you for saving my friend's life that night!" Sophie said excited.
"No prob, Bob." Joseph answered casually.
"Yeah, we heard you were such a badass! And listen, that comment I made that first time we met, it was just joke, no hard feelings right?" The guy with the bandana asked nervously.
"We'll see." Joseph said with the demented smile he picked up from his mother, making the bandana guy even more nervous.
"Hey, eat that horse, eat that horse..." A guy started to chant, he was soon joined by other students, Joseph got excited and joined them as well.
...
Student Council Room
"Man, this double life sure is a killer." Kallen said tiredly as she yawned entering the student council meeting. But then she heard Milly's voice.
"Come on, Suzaku, hold him down!" Milly ordered.
"Damn it, Suzaku, cut it out!" Lelouch yelled.
She entered the room, what she saw was something she did not expect. The student council members were dressed in cat costumes, well Nina just had a Cat hat on, and Lelouch was tied to a chair while Suzaku was trying to apply makeup on him.
"Stop it! I'm not kidding!" Lelouch yelled more.
"Sorry, Lelouch. But it's the president's orders." Suzaku said apologetically.
"Yeah, like you're not enjoying this at all!" Lelouch said as he tried to get out of his restraints.
"Will you hold still!" Shirley ordered, trying to paint whiskers on him. Milly notices Kallen.
"Good-meowing." Milly greeted as she wave her "paw" at Kallen.
"Good morning, I guess." Kallen said confused. "What is all this?"
"What do you mean? Didn't we tell you? It's our welcome party for Arthur." Rivalz explained as he pointed to Arthur, sleeping on this cat scratch post.
"Sounds like fun…?" Kallen said, still not sure if this was a joke or not.
"Well, classes are postponed, we might as well have some fun, right?" Milly cheerfully said.
"I set some stuff aside for you, over here. To make up for all my getting so upset before. Take your pick." Shirley said as she pointed to all the assorted costumes.
"What? For me?" Kallen asked, not sure she really wanted to.
"She doesn't need a costume. You're already wearing a mask, right?" Lelouch joked.
"You really are a riot, you know that? You ought to be on television." Kallen sarcastically said as she glared at him
"What do you think, Miss TV Star?" Rivalz said in a joking manner.
"Oh, I thought that she meant Lelouch." Suzaku commented.
"Would you quit joking about that? The whole thing's a huge pain in the butt. We've been hounded with questions day and night. Even in the bath!" Shirley complained, as she honestly hated all the attention.
"We haven't been able to leave school grounds in a week." Milly complained as well.
"Well at least most of the students have stopped chanting that mantra. I swear, if I have to hear..." Lelouch didn't get finish his complaint as he started to hear said mantra getting louder, the same mantra that has been giving him a headache for the past two weeks.
The student council then hear a thump and see Joseph standing by the window, chanting "EAT THAT HORSE!" with the students. He opens the window and the chanting gets louder, he looks back at the crowd that is surrounding the building at ground level that is chanting with him.
"Joseph?!" Milly asked, surprised but happy to see Joseph here at the school.
Kallen is subtlety glaring at him, for she is actually bit annoyed if not pissed off at Joseph. It was because of him, the Black Knights' debut was not as powerful as it could have been. They were the top headline and people have been noticing them, but every time that moment comes up, it's followed by the mention of Joseph and "EAT THAT HORSE!" He was technically supporting them but it didn't really seem to translate that way for the public.
Nina on the other hand, was blushing madly.
Joseph turns around, closing the window and smiles widely.
"Hey! Milly my billy!" Joseph said happily, engulfing Milly into a big hug, spinning her around a bit, making her laugh.
"Shirley, Dirley!" Joseph exclaimed as he pulled her into a hug.
"It's good to see you." Shirley said sweetly, happy to have a nickname from him.
"Riv-alz, my miv-alz!" Joseph said as he patted Rivalz on the back.
"Hey, it's good to have you back!" Rivalz said excited, not caring that Joseph kept getting his name wrong.
"Kallen, The Wallen" Joseph exclaimed, bringing her into a tight hug as he swung back and forth.
"H-hi" Kallen said under strained breath.
"Made superhero team, so proud!" Joseph said under whispered breath in her ear.
This confused Kallen to no end, not sure what he meant by that.
"Is he just making up words to rhyme with our names?" Suzaku whispered to Lelouch.
"Pretty much." Lelouch muttered as his foul mood just got fouler.
"Suzako, my taco!" Joseph exclaimed as he put Suzaku into a headlock and gave him another noogie.
"Come on Joe, do you have do this everytime you see me?" Suzaku asked a bit in strained pain .
"Yep!" Joseph said with glee, then turns to Nina and waves. "Nina, Tina!"
"H-hello, your highness." Nina said quietly with red blush on her face.
Joseph didn't notice and jumped onto Lelouch's lap, making Lelouch groan out in pain and glare at him.
"Lelouch, BaBeouch!" Joseph said with his dopey smile. This made the other snickers, especially Kallen, considering it revenge for his "mask" joke earlier.
"Nice to see you again." Lelouch said through gritted teeth, both in pain from Joseph's weight and anger from Joseph's comments.
"I'm surprised Princess Cornelia finally let you out after what happened at the hotel." Milly commented.
"Eh, Corn hothead, but softie." Joseph casually answered.
"How's your head by the way?" Shirley asked concerned.
"Ehh, hard noggin." Joseph brushed off as he hit himself on the head, particularly close to the stitched area. "Cat party?" He asked seeing all the costumes.
"It's our welcoming party for Arthur. Go ahead and try something on." Shirley told him invitingly.
"Coolio!" Joseph exclaimed as he got off Lelouch and put on some cat ears.
"You really caused the start of something though. I think your 'Eat that Horse.' mantra is more popular than Milly's crossdressing ball." Shirley said as she painted whiskers on his face.
"Indeed. Not everyone returns the love though. The equestrian club has needed security for their stables because they're afraid someone's going to take your comments literally." Milly mentioned in an annoyed tone.
"Had horse. Ehhh." Joseph casually said as he waved his hand in a "it was ok" fashion.
This confused the Student Council to no end as they all gave him a WTF face. Nina decided to change the subject.
"Um, about that night. I just wanted to say...thank you...for saving our lives, I don't know what would have happen if those terrorists took us the way they did." Nina said gratefully if not nervously.
"The feeling's mutual Joseph, that was very brave of you to go with those terrorists just for us." Shirley added sweetly. Joseph gave them a kind smile.
"Hey, no problemo. Friends after all." Joseph brushed off as he patted Nina's head.
Making her face go really red, she even started to tremble a bit.
"I-I-I uh...Ihavetogotothebathroom!" Nina said quickly as she rushed out of the room in frenzy, surprising the council and confusing Joseph, who just shrugged.
"I am curious why exactly you were chanting for Zero though." Suzaku decided to chime in.
"Show support. Man is...(does a dramatic pose as he sticks one arm arched up in the air while bending one back) SUPERHERO!" Joseph exclaimed with enthusiasm. Surprising the council, especially Kallen and Suzaku.
"Wait, that's why he kept bringing up superheroes, he was serious about that?!" Kallen thought to herself dumbfounded.
"Oh God, here we go again..." Lelouch to himself as he rolled his eyes.
"You really believe that?" Suzaku asked quietly.
"Abso-toda-lutely! Cool mask, check!" Joseph exclaimed as he pointed to his face.
"Long cape, check!" He then grabbed the end of his coat to emphasize a cape.
"Dramatics, check!" He does another dramatic pose.
"Superpower, check-er-roo!" He blinked his eyes repeatedly, making Lelouch tense.
"Superpower? What would that be?" Rivalz asked, now Lelouch was starting to sweat.
"Influence, duh!" Joseph said as if it was obvious. Lelouch sighed in relief.
"That is true, his speech that night was pretty inspirational." Shirley said, making Lelouch smile a bit.
"ONE FLAW!" Joseph exclaimed, jumpscaring the council.
"W-what's that?" Milly asked nervously.
"Name. Terrible." Joseph said with disappointment.
This confused the council and made Lelouch glare at him. "Don't. You. DARE!" Lelouch thought with venom.
"His name?" Shirley asked in a confused manner.
"Yep, "Zero", booooring. No finesse, no swauve. No sense, person isn't zero, Person! Is! One!" Joseph reasoned as he emphasized the last part.
"I don't think it's suppose to be literal..." Kallen quietly said, wanting to defend Zero but not wanting to blow her cover either.
"Wait, is that why you called him Captain Zero at the hotel?" Rivalz asked.
"Yep. Captain, leader. Zero, leader. Ergo, Captain Zero." Joseph equated.
"And did you come up with that on the fly?" Milly asked, as she decided to play along with Joseph's reasonings.
"Yep, other ones too." Joseph said with glee.
"Really, like what?" Shirley asked.
"Shirley, no!" Lelouch thought as he tried to get out of his restraints.
"Well, The Black-Caped Crusader!" Joseph said with a dramatic pose, making the council chuckle.
"The Purple Power Ranger! THE BLACK EGG!" Joseph exclaimed.
That last one confused everybody.
"Why The Black Egg?" Kallen asked.
His answer would make her regret ever asking.
"...Head shaped like egg." Joseph casually answered.
This made everybody, minus Lelouch and Kallen, who were giving Joseph a deadpan look, gut-bust with laughter.
"That is definitely the best!" Rivalz said after he calmed down.
"As President, I declare from now on, we hereby call Zero, The Black Egg!" Milly declared with enthusiasm.
Kallen stared at her mouth agape, not believing this conversation came to this conclusion.
Lelouch's eye on the other hand started twitching, badly.
"Rivalz, I need to go to the bathroom, please untie me." Lelouch said with a low voice.
"Oh, sure Lelouch. Is everything okay?" Rivalz asked as he untied Lelouch, noticing his mood soured drastically.
"I'm fine, just need to go real quick, I'll be right back." Lelouch said as he walked out of the room.
In the bathroom, he started to repeatedly hit his head against the wall in frustration.
"HE. IS. RUINING. EVERY. THING!" Lelouch yelled with each bang to the wall.
...
Nina was frivolously washing her hands after the dirty deed she just did. Still blushing madly.
She thought back to that night, how he stepped in, saving her from impending doom, giving her a huge smile and a thumbs up just to let her know everything was okay.
"He's so cool..."
...
Tohdoh sits before his Four Holy Swordsman as they argue with each other.
"Why would the masses flock around those who saved Euphemia?" Urabe asked.
"Even Kyoto has said that they would send the Black Knights the Guren MK II." Senba commented
"To those would-be Robin Hoods?" Asahina asked surprised.
"They're not part of the resistance. Killing Kusakabe was proof of that." Chiba argued.
" The colonel killed himself, didn't he?" Urabe asked, surprised at Chiba's accusation.
"Well, I hear they didn't try to stop him." Senba argued.
"Then there's also the case of that 'prince'. Asahina added on.
"You mean that dimwit, as the media has been calling him? Please, he's not even worth the conversation." Chiba brushed off
"Still, an actual prince of Britannia was clearly in support of Zero. Though his comments are strange nonetheless." Urabe commented.
"Are you serious, it was just the wild ramblings of a moron!" Chiba argued.
As they continued to argue, Tohdoh thought about said prince.
His strange yet optimistic attitude about everything, how he would do 200 pushups in two minutes without any argument and with a huge smile on his face. Always asking questions about their philosophy of life in his own way, truly a different type of individual.
And then there was his mother.
Tohdoh silently shuttered at that.
...
The Next Day
Stadfelt Residence
"Mistress Kallen, mistress Kallen." The maid called out to Kallen.
Kallen came down the stairs and was surprised to see who it was.
"Madam president?" Kallen said in a surprised tone.
"I just dropped by to give you something." Milly told her in a formal manner.
"Huh?" Kallen asked confused.
"Where would you like me to show her to? The parlor perhaps. or maybe-" The maid was cut off by Kallen.
"We'll be in my room." Kallen said sternly
"As you wish." The maid said.
"Oh, I heard you had a friend down here, I was sure it would be a boy. Out all night and missing school..."
Kallen turned around and saw the hag that was married to her father, stiff as plank coming down the stairs in all her nobility draped on her clothes.
"...Not to mention all your visits to the ghetto. You're lucky your father's back in the homeland. No fighting one's blood, is there?" The hag asked in a sneer tone. The maid sidestepped away from the conversation.
"You're the one who enjoys dad not being around here, aren't you." Kallen accused her
"Uh…" The hag couldn't believe the audacity of her, and was about to reply when the maid sidestepped into the vase by her.
Which would have broke had it fell to the ground.
Instead it fell into a pair of hands, a dimwit's hands.
Everybody's eyes widen in surprise when they saw it was none other than Joseph, with his signature dopey smile on his face.
"Whoopsie, doopsie. Close call." Joseph said casually.
"J-Joseph?" Kallen stuttered in surprise.
"Prince Joseph!", "Your highness!" Both the hag and the maid shouted in surprise as they both made sure to properly curtsy.
"Milly?!" Kallen asked her in a demanding tone.
"He wanted to come with me to meet your family." Milly said with a nervous smile as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Big house." Joseph commented, looking around.
"Thank you, your highness. It was made by the finest architects." The hag said in a sucking up tone. Ironic, considering she was insulting the man's appearance and intelligence the other day.
"Kallen, show some proper decorum! Forgive me your highness, her kind has always been known for their dimness." The hag explained in offhanded tone, making Kallen angry.
"Hmmm...what is dim if not lit?" Joseph asked, developing a look of scrutiny.
The group looks at him in a confused manner.
"I'm sorry?" The hag asked him, not sure what he was asking.
"If not dim, too bright? Or dark?" Joseph asked, now walking towards the hag in a judging manner.
"If lights dim, more energy saved." Joseph stated as he swung the vase around without care, spilling the water and flowers out, and getting some water on himself.
"Uh..." Was all the hag could say as he walked up the steps, getting closer to her, it was starting to scare her.
"More energy saved, dimness continues, dimness helps light, but not too bright! Brighting the Dim wastes the dimming into brighting and energy wasting! No dimmings dongs that dingus those ding dong dims!" Joseph stated loudly as he got into the hag's face, noses touching. She was too scared to utter a word.
Kallen and Milly on the other hand were just trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about.
He starred at her like a hawk for a few seconds until he pulled himself back and said in a casual manner.
"Vase ugly. Buy new one."
"...Pardon?" Was all the hag could ask.
He then shoved the vase into her arms.
"BUY NEW ONE! NOW! NOW! NOW!" He shouted at her, pointing to the door and then proceeding to screech like a maniac, waving his arms in the air and walking like a crab as he chased her out the door. Leaving her running away, screaming in a panic.
The rest of the spectators were wondering what the hell just happened. Except Milly, who was holding back a laughter.
Joseph turns to speak to the maid.
"Man, A-Class...(looks around for a moment and then puts a hand next to his cheek to cover his mouth and says in a whispered voice)...bbbbbbbiiiittttcch." He said to her in a sly tone.
This surprised the maid. One, because he was speaking to her, an eleven, in such a casual manner. And two, a prince used such foul language on a noble.
Suddenly, he strutted up her and stuck out his hand for her to shake.
"Joseph Du Britannia, ma'am." Joseph greeted to her in a friendly manner.
It took a moment for the maid to recompose herself at the man's friendliness but quickly recovered as she nervously smiled and put her hand into his and curtsied as best as she could, if not clumsily.
"Naomi Kozuki, your majesty." She said in a polite tone.
Suddenly, he pulled her into a hug. Surprising Kallen and Milly.
"Kallen's mom! No curtsy needed." Joseph said happily as he tightly hugged her.
This surprised Milly and Kallen even more, Naomi's mother would have been surprised too if she wasn't trying to breathe.
"Ho-how did you...?" Kallen stuttered out, surprised he figured it out in just a few seconds.
"Same eyes, same face, older looking version. Obvious." Joseph explained casually as he put down a surprised Naomi and pointed at her features.
Kallen eye twitched a bit. "What is this guy!? The Dumb and Dumber version of Sherlock Holmes!?" She thought to herself in astonishment and anger.
"I see, I have to say, it's amazing my daughter is friends with an actual prince." Naomi said in amazement.
"Acquaintances is more like it." Kallen said to her in harsh tone. This caught Joseph's curiosity, he then saw the mess of water he made with the vase.
"Sorry..." Joseph said sheepishly to Naomi.
"Oh, it's quite alright. I'll clean up it up." Naomi reassured.
"Shall assist." Joseph happily offered, surprising Naomi.
"Oh, your highness, there's no need-" Naomi tried to decline but was met by an errant waving finger.
"Ah, dat, dat, dat. No highness. Mother of Kallen, friend of me. Besides, love cleaning." Joseph said excitedly.
He turned to the Milly and Kallen.
"Girls do...girl things." He waves them off nonchalantly, then proceeds to take the surprised Naomi's hand. "Adults working." He says in a professional manner, before pulling her into a different room.
He left behind a bewildered Milly and Kallen, who both were not expecting the day to go like this, especially Kallen, who was not expecting this guy to suddenly get chummy with her mom. To which he then shouted, "Where we going?!"
...
Kallen took Milly to her room where they had tea.
"So what was it you wanted to give me?" Kallen asked.
"Grandfather asked me to pass this on." Milly said as she pushed a document across the table.
"You mean the principal?" Kallen asked.
"Your transcript since middle school. I thought I'd better give them to you off of school grounds." Milly said knowingly.
"So my secret's out then, isn't it? That I'm actually an Eleven and Britannian half-breed. Though I guess you figured that out already when Joseph decided to burst out who my mother was like it was no big deal." Kallen muttered with a bit of anger.
"To be fair, things like that aren't a big deal for him." Milly said in a chuckling tone.
"Yeah, I guess." Kallen apprehensively agreed.
"And your father, is he the head of the Statfeld family?" Milly asked.
"My mother is such a fool. In the end, she wound up a servant. She doesn't have any real skills. And no matter who's ridiculing her, all she can do is laugh like it's nothing." Kallen said angrily.
"Like Joseph does?" Milly asked in a slight accusing tone, he may be odd but he's still her friend after all. This caught Kallen by surprise.
"Uh, I-I didn't mean...he's different, he honestly doesn't care. She didn't have to choose to stay in this house, you know? She's just clinging some old lover who jilted her." Kallen argued.
"You really hate your mother, don't you." Milly asked sadly, thinking about her own mother, how she was trying to get her into an arraigned marriage to get their nobility back.
"...I just find her depressing." Kallen asked after some thought.
"Well, this is getting a little heavy. Imagine, the wife and the daughter and the other woman, all living together." Milly tried to wave off.
"Ah, it could be worse. Three square meals and a roof, right? I mean, it's not unbearable. Most of the time, anyway." Kallen reasoned.
"That's good. Still, somethings in life we can bear on our own, but when you add them all up, they eventually break you." Milly said with a sense of nostalgia.
Kallen looked at her in surprise.
"Oh, don't worry. I won't lie, I'm always hungry for secrets, but I'd never talk about this." Milly reassured her, taking a sip of tea.
Suddenly they heard the faint sound of music coming from outside the room. A woman harmonizing.
Ooh...
"Is that music?" Milly asked surprised.
"You have got to be kidding me." Kallen muttered, getting up to see what the likely source was.
oh yeah yeah
Ooh yeah yeah
They go downstairs and decide to do some spying and see Joseph and Naomi in the kitchen. Naomi is sitting at the table in wonderment as she observes Joseph dramatically holding a mop like it was microphone.
I need a tough lover, yeah yeah yeah
I need a, a tough lover, woo
(Joseph lip-syncs the lyrics like he's a female singer a nightclub.)
I need a, a tough lover, yeah yeah yeah
(He moves his body with the beat, sways his hips around like a pole dancer. Naomi looks at him in astonishment, Milly stifles a giggle, and Kallen just rolls her eyes.)
A tough lover, ooh yeah
(He bends backwards with the mop as the "yeah" is harmonized)
When he kisses me, I get that thrill
(He moves the mop around with each beat)
When he does that wiggle I won't keep still
(He starts moving his feet around, dancing and mopping at the same time)
I wanna a tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (woo)
I need a tough lover (yeah, yeah)
Tough lover (hum, hum)
(He moves with the beat as he mops the kitchen, making sure to get every corner.)
The seven sisters got nothing on him
I'm talking about a lover who's fast as the wind
Everyone will talk about how he got me fixed
(Joseph then swiftly, grabs a chemical sprayer and paper towels and starts wiping down counters and Naomi unconsciously starts bopping her head to the beat)
It ain't voodoo, it's just that twist
He will be the greatest lover that ever come to pass
Don Juan ain't got the half the chance
(He puts down the cleaning supplies and approaches Naomi, grabbing her hands and lifting her up to her feet.)
He's a tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (woo)
He's a tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (oh oh)
(Joseph gets Naomi into the dancing mood. She slowly, if not clumsily, but happily gets into a swing dance motion with him. Milly herself sways to the beat and tries to get Kallen into the beat, who just watches in bewilderment as her mother actually shows more signs of life than she has shown in a long time.)
Hey, hey, he'yeah
He'll make me laugh, he'll make me cry
He'll be so tough he'll make Venus come alive
He'll do anything that he wants to do
(Joseph grabs a feather duster and starts sweeping with the beat, Naomi claps her hands with the beat as she watches him work.)
Step on Jesse James's blue suede shoes, yeah
(Joseph then grabs a broom and charges out to the main hallway and slides into the center, spinning a little as he does so. Kallen and Milly make sure to keep themselves hidden from their view.)
A tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (woo)
A tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (hey yeah, yeah yeah)
A tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (yeah, yeah)
A tough lover (oh oh)
(He sweeps in a circular motion as he gather dust around him, he strikes a pose at the last lyric.)
Naomi laughs heartily and gives Joseph a round of applause.
"Oh my, I haven't had fun like that in years. Though, I never heard a cleaning song like that before." Naomi said happily.
"Mom's favorite." Joseph said with glee.
"His mom danced to that while cleaning?" Kallen quietly asked in a bewildered tone.
"I swear, that woman gives me more reasons to love her." Milly quietly said in a romanticized tone.
Kallen's face goes a bit red at that statement.
After a moment of silence, Joseph decides to ask Naomi something.
"Kallen not like you?" Joseph asked.
This surprised Naomi and Kallen.
"...I guess it is a bit obvious when you think about it. I do make it kind of easy for her to dislike, considering how I present myself." Naomi said with a sad, quiet voice.
"Whaaaa, come on, kind woman, kind face, kind voice, great dancer, very brave. Likeness through roof!" Joseph encouraged with enthusiasm, making Naomi give him a small smile.
It pissed off Kallen to no end, who starting glaring at the two.
"What the hell does he know?! He doesn't understand anything!" She thought to herself in anger.
"I appreciate your kind words your high-um...Joseph, but I'm anything but brave." Naomi said quietly.
"Nah, definitely are. Knocked vase purposely after all." Joseph told her casually.
This surprised the rest of the group.
"What do you mean?" Naomi asked timidly.
"Knocked vase as distraction for Bitch. No punishing Kallen. Almost took instead." Joseph told her with a smile of admiration
Kallen was now dumbfounded.
"She did that to protect me?" Kallen asked herself, unsure of what was going on now.
"Yes, I suppose I did. That's what a mother does after all, protect their child. That's all I wanted for my children, to live happy lives." Naomi said sadly.
"Children?" Joseph asked.
Kallen's eyes widen, Milly was surprised as well, she didn't know Kallen had a brother.
"Yes, my son, Naoto. He was Kallen's older brother, she always looked up to him. He was part of the resistance fighters in the area a few years ago, and unfortunately he...he..." Naomi's voice started to well up, as she didn't want to finish the sentence.
Fortunately she didn't have to, as she felt being pulled into a gentle hug.
"Was taken forever." Joseph finished for her quietly.
Naomi just nodded her head as she quietly wept on Joseph's shoulder. Milly looked at Kallen with sadness, who had her head down, as she didn't want to show any type of emotional weakness.
After they let go of the embrace. Naomi wiped her tears and finished her story.
"That's why I stay here. Because it's a way for me to keep a watchful eye on my Kallen, to let her know I'm always there for her, no matter what." Naomi said with a smile.
Now Kallen was completely shellshocked, everything she thought about her mother was wrong.
"She stayed...for me...?" Kallen thought to herself as she realized something.
She was a fool. A complete, utter, naive fool.
"See. Dy-no-mite Mom!" Joseph cheered for her, making Naomi laugh a bit.
"Right Kallen?" Joseph asked as he suddenly looked in the direction Kallen and Milly were hiding. Surprising them and Naomi.
"Kallen?" Naomi asked.
Seeing the jig was up, they came out of their hiding spot.
"How did you..." Milly started to ask.
"Very loud whisperers!" Joseph said with a loud whispery voice.
Kallen however was just looking at her mother with trepidation.
"Mom, is it true, do you really...?" Kallen asked, afraid to finish the question.
Naomi looked at her sweetly.
"Of course, my little girl." Was all she said, before she was suddenly engulfed into hug by a crying Kallen.
"Oh God, I'm such an idiot! All this time, the way I treated you. I'm so sorry mom, I'm the worst daughter ever!" Kallen sobbed into her mother's neck, who just shushed her and rubbed her back like she used to when she was a kid.
Milly looked on at the scene with emotional happiness, wiping a tear that was starting to sprout from her eye. She looked at Joseph who gave her a thumbs up.
"I guess we should take our leave." Milly said quietly to Joseph.
"Yep-per-rooni." Joseph agreed.
As they made their way to the door, Joseph remembered to say something.
"KALLEN!" Joseph shouted, jumpscaring the group there.
He walks over to the mother and daughter and points a finger at Kallen's nose.
"One mother. Don't. Waste." Joseph quietly ordered with a demented look in his eye.
Kallen silently nodded with wide eyes.
And like a switch, he has a friendly demeanor for Naomi.
"Nice meeting. More dancing again." Joseph suggested with a friendly tone.
"Um...sure." Naomi said, not sure what just happened.
...
Ashford Academy
"Well, good thing's the Black Knights were there to save them. That's all I can say." Lelouch said to Suzaku as he saw him be bit by Arthur again.
"If they wanted to catch criminals, they could have joined the police force, you know? Why don't they, I wonder?" Suzaku asked curiously.
Lelouch can't help but frown at that question.
"They probably don't think the cops are up to the job. I tend to agree." Lelouch answered, with a bit menace in his voice.
Suzaku looked back at him in surprise
"The police may not be that effective right now, but they could evoke change from within." Suzaku reasoned.
"Yeah, and in the process, they get all tangled up in red tape and bureaucracy." Lelouch then said in a bored tone.
"If they had done everything in their power to change things, that might hold water. As long as they don't, then all of it's just self-righteous posturing." Suzaku insisted.
"Self-righteous?" Lelouch asked.
And what constitutes evil in their eyes? What standards are they using? It's nothing but self-satisfying gratification." Suzaku argued,
Before Lelouch could argue about it, Shirley entered the room.
"Oh, it's just you two?" Shirley asked.
"Anyway, I guess I gotta go back to the base pretty soon. See you around, Shirley." Suzaku gave a wink to Shirley as he made his way out.
"See you later." Shirley said as she turned back to Lelouch and thought about the talk her and Joseph had earlier today.
...
(Flashback)
"So, when crush on little bro?" Joseph curiously asked.
Shirley looked up at him surprise at his sudden question. Milly stifles a giggle from the background, Shirley just signs.
"I guess it is rather obvious when you think about it." Shirley muttered.
"Yep." Joseph casually said before getting into a seat next to her at quick speed. "Come on, deats!" He insisted excitedly.
Shirley gave him a nervous chuckle.
"Honestly I didn't like Lelouch at the beginning when I first met him. He gave impression that he was flippant, and only thing he worked hard at was avoiding hard work." Shirley reminisced
"Little bro for ya." Joseph agreed happily.
That got a laugh out of both Milly and Shirley.
"I guess it was when we were both freshmen, I happened to see him come upon a traffic accident. A driver rear-ended another car and was clearly at fault, but he tried to blame on the elderly owners of the other car. Nobody tried to help them. And then… Ah, Lelouch didn't do it so he could boast to his buddies or laugh about it later. He did it with the same bored expression he always wears. That's when I wondered, "What's up with this guy? What goes on his mind? What does he wanna do?" I really wanted to know and in the process of finding out-" Shirley reminisced with a bit of dreamy tone to her voice before she looked back at Joseph, who was staring at her with wide eyes and a wide grin on his face.
"Fell in love!" Joseph said in a giddy tone as he clapped his hands together. Suzaku said the same thing to her.
"Well...I..." Shirley didn't know what to say, perhaps they were both right.
Suddenly, she was pulled into a tight hug by Joseph.
"New little sis!" Joseph proclaimed with excitement.
This made Shirley go red with embarrassment.
"J-joe! You shouldn't be saying stuff like that! Were not even dating!" Shirley said in hysterics.
Milly just kept on laughing.
"Not yet!" Joseph pointed out with enthusiasm
"Ba-but-" Shirley tried to argue but Joseph wouldn't let her finish.
"Gotta go in strong. Talk dirty like somebody you used to know. Swalla challa and walk line feeling strived!" Joseph proclaimed.
"...What?" Shirley asked, very confused by his statement.
"Make move! Romance movies, someone meets person, don't like first, then get along, then date! Passed three stages!" Joseph proclaimed.
"...But what if he rejects me." Shirley quietly asked.
"Smack him myself!" Joseph proclaimed once more. "Dense little bro, gotta open eyes." Joseph said as he emphasized the eyes opening.
"We'll let you stew on that Shirley. Come along Joseph, we have to deliver these documents to Kallen." Milly said in a playful tone.
"Okie-dokie! Bye new little sis!" Joseph said as he waved goodbye to Shirley, making her face go red again.
"Joe!"
(Flashback End)
Shirley took a deep breath and walked over to Lelouch.
"So Lelou… I was, um…I was thinking if you had some time, you and I-" Shirley nervously tried to ask him out before being interrupted by Lelouch.
"'Back to base'..." Lelouch said with a hint of anger in his voice.
Shirley looked at Lelouch in confusion.
"Now that was an interesting choice of words. 'Go back', implying that's where he thinks he belongs." Lelouch thought out loud.
...
Sometime Later at a Bar
"So, about this Orange thing…" Villetta brought up to the sulking Jeremiah, who angrily grunted at her. "Sorry to bring it up. Is this whole thing true, though? That you can't remember anything about when Private Suzaku Kururugi was taken?" She asked him.
"I don't except you to believe me." Jeremiah muttered in a sulking manner.
"No, it's just that… during the whole Shinjuku incident, I suffered some sort of memory lapse also." Villetta confessed.
"You did?" Jeremiah asked as he looked at her in surprise.
"By the time I regained my senses, my Sutherland had been stolen. But right before that entire gap in my memory, I remember running into some high school kid." Villetta explained.
"So you think it was that student?" Jeremiah asked, his full attention on the subject.
"I can't remember his face, but there may still be a way to get to the bottom of this." Villetta told him.
"Hmmm..." Was all Jeremiah said as he took another sip of his drink.
"Um...I also remember another individual alongside the student. An individual who looked homeless...an individual who happened to look similar to-" Villetta didn't get to finish her awkward statement as Jeremiah then slammed his drink down.
"You're starting to tread into high waters, Villetta." Jeremiah said with a quiet intensity.
"I'm not saying he's involved, but he may have some sort of connection to Zero. We all saw how he cheered for him back at Lake Kawaguchi." Villetta argued.
"He saw a man wearing a costume and a cape. I would have been surprised if he hadn't started cheering." Jeremiah reasoned.
"I'm just saying if we bring it to the Viceroy, then perhaps-" Villetta tried to reason only to be stopped by Jeremiah.
"We'll get into even more trouble. Letting Zero get away already demoted us, but accusing a royal of assisting terrorists will just get us thrown in prison cells." Jeremiah told her with a "That's FINAL!" tone.
Villeta sighed and decided to drop it, but that doesn't mean she wasn't going to investigate.
...
That night in the Tokyo Settlement.
After doing some "EAT THAT HORSE!" chants with some people, Joseph breathed in the night skies as he danced on the roof of some random building. He always enjoyed the way the moonlight shined upon a city, added a tint of beauty.
During his routine, he happened to notice a individual who was walking in a hurried state. He got a closer look and broke into a wide grin when he saw it was Kallen's mother, Naomi.
His joy started to turn into confusion though when he analyzed her appearance.
She appeared to be sweating, had bags under her eyes, and looked like she was in a panic.
"Ah jeez, is that Bitch giving her the biz again?" Joseph thought to himself.
Deciding to investigate, Joseph made his way down to the ground.
"Nao?" Joseph called out to her, using the nickname he gave her.
She looked at him startled, as if expecting something bad to happen. When she recognized it was him, she calmed down a bit.
"Y-your h-high...I-I mean J-Joe. W-what are y-y-you doing h-here?" Naomi stuttered out, her eyes shaking.
"Enjoying night. A-Ok?" Joseph asked her confused and concerned.
"O-Oh, y-y-yes. O-Of c-course, I-I-I m-myself w-was j-j-j-just t-t-taking a-a-an e-evening s-s-stroll t-through..." As Naomi continued to try to give an explanation, Joseph noticed a tiny little detail on her body.
Several tiny little details actually.
She was wearing a short sleeved shirt, which enabled him to see the tiny holes that connected to Naomi's veins. Some old, some fresh. This made Joseph think of something he heard people around the settlement talking about.
Which was Refrain.
Refrain, according to what he heard, was a time travel drug of sorts. Something to take people back to times in the past that they missed the most, considering that description, it was the bestselling drugs for the Japanese.
Not needing anything else, Joseph slowly put a hand on Naomi's shoulder, stopping her nervous ranting.
"Refrain..." Was Joseph said in understanding.
Naomi was shocked at first, but she didn't try to deny it.
"I-It's n-n-not t-t-t-that I-I w-w-wanted t-to, it-it-it j-just m-m-ma-made e-e-everything e-easier to-to g-g-get t-through. W-W-When K-K-Kallen a-accepted m-m-me b-back i-i-into h-h-her l-life, I-I-I-I-I-I t-t-t-thought I-I-I-I-I c-c-c-could s-s-st-stop. B-B-B-But it-it-it-it's s-s-so h-h-h-hard, a-a-and t-t-there's s-s-s-so m-m-m-many t-t-t-things I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I w-w-w-want b-b-b-back. My-my-my-my l-l-l-l-life, my-my-my-my-my h-h-ho-ho-home, my-my-my-my...s-s-s-s-s-s-s-son..." Naomi stuttered out frantically, painfully, and full of lost.
When she finally broke down into a big sob, Joseph made sure he held her tightly as he rubbed her back like his mother used to do whenever he would get sad.
"I-I-I w-want m-my s-son!" Naomi wailed into Joseph's chest.
Joseph knew what he had to do.
...
Ashford Academy
Student Council Building
Sayoko heard a loud knock on the front door, almost as if someone was banging their head against it.
It obviously wasn't Master Lelouch, he would let his presence be known with a lot more subtlety.
It was probably just some drunken student coming back after hours, trying to get their vice president to give more funding to their club.
Sayoko was ready to shoo away the unwanted guest when she opened the door.
The person behind it, was not who she was expecting.
"Joe?" Sayoko asked with surprise and confusion in her voice as she saw him holding a shivering Japanese woman in his arms.
"Hey. Lelouch home?" Joseph casually asked.
...
Stadtfeldt Residence
Kallen finally made it back home after their refrain heist. So many Japanese there at that warehouse, it made her think about her mom. Wondering if she herself ever considering using that drug.
The thought terrified her as she knew she only had herself to blame if such a thing happened.
Suddenly she heard her phone ring, she looked at her caller ID and saw it was from the Student Council Building.
Why would they need to call her so late at night?
She answered her phone with a confused "Hello?" and she was surprised to hear Lelouch's voice on the other end.
"Kallen, your mom is here at the academy."
...
Student Council Building
Kallen sat next to her mother who was lying on the couch with a towel over her head and still shivering.
"What's wrong with her?" Kallen quietly asked.
"Detox. Seen before." Joseph told her in a serious manner.
"Considering the amount of refrain she has taken over the years, it could last for a few days." Sayoko explained as she brought tea into the room.
"It's all my fault, if only I'd pay more attention. Hadn't been so cruel." Kallen said as tears sprouted from her eyes.
"You can't spend your time focusing on the past, Kallen. You can only make sure the future is better." Lelouch said to her in his pajamas.
Kallen looked at him and nodded.
"...Sorry about slapping you earlier today." Kallen awkwardly apologized, but she was confused. "Still what you said..."
"Just because people bow their heads, doesn't mean they should suffer for it." Lelouch told her in an understanding tone.
Kallen looked at him, trying to figure out what makes this guy tick.
"...Well either way, thank you for taking her in." Kallen said and then turned to Joseph. "And thank you for bringing her here."
Joseph waved it off and brought her into a gentle hug.
"Friends for." Joseph told her in a casual manner.
Kallen apprehensively but warmly returned the hug.
Lelouch couldn't help but smile a little.
Then they heard a groggy voice call out Kallen's name, they saw it was Naomi awake and looking at Kallen.
Kallen quickly kneeled down next to her and took her hand.
"Mom, I'm so glad you're okay. I'm so sorry I didn't notice." Kallen apologized frantically.
"Shhhh...It's okay, it's not your fault." Naomi quietly said to her.
"I swear to you! I'll make a world where you and I can live a normal life again. So please, Mom, please power through...a little bit longer." Kallen tearfully said.
Naomi then squeezed Kallen's hand.
"Hang in there… Hang in there, Kallen… My little girl…" Naomi tearfully replied.
Kallen smiled.
"Don't you worry…I will. I promise you." Kallen said as he hugged her mother.
"Alright! Celebrate Dance!" Joseph exclaimed, surprising the group there.
He took his walkman from his coat and pressed the play button.
What played sounded like something from an old black and white film, and Joseph started dancing around like one of those old silent actors.
Lelouch couldn't help but shake his head as he chuckled at his brother. Joseph's antics were annoying sometimes, but he meant well. He just wish his antics didn't collide with his rebellion.
Sayoko looked on with a small smile, even tapping her foot.
And Kallen and Naomi just looked on in enjoyment. Taking in the moment that they had with each other right now.
To Be Continued...
Happy New Year! This probably my longest chapter now, sorry it took so long to come out with. I want to thank SomebodyLost for the name "Black Egg", very handy this chapter. EAT THAT HORSE will carry on in later chapters and Kallen's mother will appear in later chapters as well. And some big things will be happening in the next chapters of course. Anyway, leave a comment and tell me what you think. Have a nice day.