(A/N: Well, Camilla has her Lulu back. Now what? Let's find out!)
Lelouch did not have the fortitude to stay up all night, not with how warm his sister's body weight was laying on top of him. At some point, he'd dozed off. However, since the area was not swarming with police, it was a safe bet that no one had passed through here. Unsurprising given the park had been out of use for years now, but still, that was a weight off his shoulders.
The light of the sun indicated it was morning and checking his phone revealed that it was a little bit after 7am. Camilla stirred, feeling Lelouch squirm beneath her body. Her eyes opened. She gazed down at him.
"L-Lulu?"
So it wasn't a dream. She hadn't imagined any of it. Lulu was really alive. And they'd really, truly reunited. She kissed him lovingly, holding his cheeks with her hands. He reciprocated, if only because he knew she needed it.
"We need to return to our separate lives as a civilian and a Viceroy," Lelouch told her.
"Must we?" Camilla asked, smiling. "Let's run away, Lulu. Let's just stay together, forever."
"Camilla, you made me a promise, and I intend for you to keep it," Lelouch told her seriously.
Camilla snuggled him. "But…we've finally reunited. I…I have to leave your presence so soon?"
"You can come by Ashford in the evening."
"Ah yes, Ashford Academy," Camilla stated bitingly. "I suppose I will need to do something about Miss Ashford for lying to me about you still being alive." It then dawned on her. "Come to think of it, Suzaku lied to me too. Lulu, how many people did you have covering for you?"
"Enough," Lelouch answered. He refused to name names. He knew how Camilla could be.
"How dare they keep you from me," Camilla huffed angrily. "My Lulu is mine and mine alone."
"I…didn't want to be found. When the war happened…I resented all of you. When you didn't show…I became spiteful."
Camilla twitched in anger. "I'm going to strangle Xander. It's his fault I couldn't take a military jet."
Lelouch glanced away in what appeared to be guilt. "If…I had, at any time wanted you to find me…all I had to do was call your cell phone."
Camilla looked surprised. That…was true. Her Lulu's memory was amazing and she never changed numbers.
"I…couldn't bring myself to trust you. I was concerned you would try to bring me back to Britannia." Lelouch admitted. "And I'm not going back. Britannia will fall for what it's done to me, Nunnally, and the people under its rule," he added scornfully.
"You're…not wrong…years ago I probably would have tried to drag you back home against your will. Your pleas would have fallen on deaf ears," Camilla admitted, embarrassed at how well she knew herself. "But now…now I just want to help. I've seen what Britannia can do to others. Its rich only care about lining their own pockets. And that's not even getting into what Charles did to Corrin," Camilla said, anger rising. She looked forlorn. "But…Lulu…Cornelia…Corrin…Euphemia…they're all good people. You're not…you're not going to hurt them, are you?"
"Whoever becomes my enemy is my enemy. Britannia must fall," Lelouch answered scornfully.
"You'd make an enemy of your own siblings."
"The only siblings I have are you and Nunnally," Lelouch responded coldly.
Camilla could not help but feel pangs of sorrow in her heart. This young man looked like her Lulu and talked like her Lulu, but he certainly wasn't acting like her Lulu. Lulu…I'm so sorry. It's my fault…you ended up like this. I should have tossed away my own lavish lifestyle…so that I was always there to comfort you when you needed it. It's my fault you've become so bitter. I'm so sorry. "Lulu…please…I can understand being mad at the Empire and his majesty, but…to your siblings, who love you? Even little Elise? She's thirteen this year, Lelouch? She's practically our baby sister. You wouldn't…hurt her…would you?"
Lelouch tried to sit up, mouth opening. Camilla had a suspicion of what he was doing and put her finger to his lips. No amount of mouth to mouth would distract her from an answer. "Lulu, I've put up with far too much manipulation this past year. Answer me. Are you going to hurt Elise, yes or no?"
Rather than answer directly, Lelouch sidestepped the question, "Are you saying you can help me dismantle Britannia without having to eradicate the bloodline?"
Camilla felt a chill run down her spine. "Eradicate the…Lulu what's happened to you? This is your family we're talking about."
"I don't have a family that does nothing but hedonistically look after themselves! I have no need of a family interested in pitting themselves against each other, all for the sake of power!"
Lelouch found himself suddenly being smothered into Camilla's chest, much to his surprised and embarrassment.
"I get it. You've been hurt, okay? I…I promised I'd help you. I'll kill his majesty. I have no problem with that. But don't hurt our family, Lelouch. Please. Just as with you…they're the only family I have. They've helped me when you weren't around. I…I can't bear to lose them."
"There are many that won't understand," Lelouch told her, freeing himself from her chest.
"I…I know, but…I want to save as many as possible, especially the innocent ones, like Euphemia and Elise," Camilla said, looking crestfallen. "And despite everything, I know Cornelia still loves you. She idolized your mother, built her career following her tactics. The day she became head of your mother's royal guard…was the happiest day of her life. We all love you, Lulu. I understand you're angry. So fine, be angry, but don't take it out on us. That's not right."
Lelouch could hardly refute Camilla's argument. Well, he could. Geass. But he wasn't going to. He had chosen to trust his crazy, quirky sister, whom he loved. Narita was coming whether he liked it or not. If she could do something to level the playing field or turn the tables before a single Knightmare was deployed, all the better.
"All right," he said calmly. "Do what you must, but if I don't like what you do, don't scream at the consequences."
"I'll do it right, Lulu. You have my word," Camilla promised seriously. "It's me, so you know I never go back on my word when it's to you."
Lelouch had to admit, in the 10 years of knowing Camilla, she had never once lied to his face. Oh, she would hide the truth for birthday presents and such, but never outright lie. If she promised him anything, she'd always fulfill it.
"Then it's settled. You have work to do. All the more reason we need to separate. Now," Lelouch told her.
"Mhm," Camilla uttered. What was on the line was far more important than a snuggle fest with her half-brother.
The two separated, Camilla requesting Beruka's presence and Lelouch getting on the train. He and Camilla kept eye contact right up until the doors shut. Camilla was hurt by the fact that he wasn't smiling. He was all business. And yet…she couldn't help but think one small thing. When did her Lulu…become such a man?
Lelouch returned to Ashford Academy, finding the campus whirled into a frenzy. Milly came running right up to him when she spotted him.
"There you are!" She exclaimed. "Where have you been? I've been trying to find you all morning."
"I mean…you could have just texted me."
"We don't have power! No Wi-Fi no cell tower service!" She got behind Lelouch and shoved him towards the school yard. "Put that big brain of yours to use and do something about it. Nobody can teach like this."
Lelouch glanced behind him. "I mean…we could just give everyone the day off," he commented, trying to act in a manner befitting his lazy persona.
"Grrrr, could you not be lazy for once in your life?!" Milly complained. "We can't just impromptu cancel classes."
"Well then, I guess someone's going to have to go to the store and buy a bunch of candles."
"You are impossible!" Milly shouted. "Look! Nina's working with the power grid in the basement! Go help her and don't come back up here until it's lunch time or the power's on, whichever comes first!"
Lelouch rolled his eyes. "Yes, Madame President."
Lelouch had a sneaking suspicion what was going on and so took out his phone and texted his sister's number.
[It's Lulu. Did you cut the power grid to Ashford?]
Camilla responded.
[Yes.]
[Turn it back on.]
[No. Milly lied to me. She's being punished.]
Of all the childish…
[Turn it back on -_-]
[No. :U]
[Please? What about my education?]
[Read a book :U]
So…so petty.
[Well then, I guess I'll have to revoke my invitation for you to come see Nunnally.]
[The power will be back by then. I told the power company it was for routine maintenance due to a potential fire hazard.]
Lelouch rolled his eyes.
Camilla then added a [Love you!] She attached a heart emoji.
Well…so much for the easy way.
He wasn't done texting, of course. [You know without power, teenagers can get rowdy and horny. Girls might have trouble keeping their hands off me and dragging me into the janitor's closet]
[…I want names. Heads will roll]
Okay, that tactic is out…
[Okay, I can read a book. What about Corrin? Do you want to face the disappointed little sister face of a girl who just wanted a normal day at school and had to deal with a blackout?]
[She owes me one anyway :/]
Okay, clearly things had gotten complicated when Lelouch wasn't looking.
[The student council will have to work overtime because of the outage. I won't be able to see you tonight. You'll have to swing by tomorrow.]
[Okay!] Heart emoji.
Unbelievable, Lelouch thought. Truly, her pettiness and selfishness knew no bounds. Oh well. Out of his hands.
Lelouch pretended to go talk to Nina, returning to Milly to give her the news that the power would not be returning for several hours, something about a glitch in the system that risked a fire.
"Ugh, guess we have no choice but to cancel classes, I guess," Milly remarked, scratching her head. "Wish they would have told us something. How'd you find that out anyway?" Milly asked.
"It's amazing what you can do with enough time and patience. I'm excellent with customer service," Lelouch responded.
Milly bought it.
"Well, since we have the day off, I suppose I'll grab Rivalz. Excuse me, would you?"
"Awwww, no you don't. You're not leaving me holding the fort by myself."
Lelouch proceeded to run away from Milly far, far faster than his gym record would indicate.
"Hey! You get back here!" Milly exclaimed. She pouted, knuckles on her hips, rather than chasing him down. "Honestly, the nerve of him."
In reality, Lelouch had no intention of going chess playing. Instead, he decided to take advantage of his day off. He continued to keep up talks with Camilla as he left campus. If she was going to join him, she had to do so in a capacity beyond simply words. Besides, he needed to show the Black Knights that he wasn't all talk.
So, he made for his bunker, having it pick him up, as Zero, in Matsudo before driving south towards Ichikawa. He could have just showed up in Ichikawa, as that was where he expected Camilla to meet him, but he needed to keep up appearances and make it seem like he was always on the move.
"Good to see you, sir," Ohgi standing at the ready to greet him as he got on board. "Did your business last night go well?"
"Superbly," Zero replied. "How go preparations for Narita?"
"Kyoto house is sending us supplies in Kawasaki. We'll be heading there once they've arrived."
"Good. I'll wait for you in Shinagawa then on the appropriate day," Zero told him.
"You sure do love coming in and out of our lives," Azama commented from the couch. "Especially when we would be lost like a plank of wood upon the waves without you. No rest for the wicked, hmm? Or perhaps you simply don't want us to know what you get up to when we're not looking at you."
"Azama, don't trouble him. Like you said, we need Zero," Hinoka told him strenuously.
"Ah, but I am just saying what we're all thinking," Azama pointed out. "Isn't it marvelous to have opinions?"
"And sometimes you keep them to yourself," Hinoka stated through gritted teeth.
"What's the situation at Narita? Have we heard any changes?" Zero asked.
"I've heard from Ryoma," Hinoka told him. "They're getting ready for a fight, no question about it."
Camilla and I will need to delay Narita as swiftly as possible if she intends to protect Corrin and the others from a fight with the Japanese. I only have one plan and lack the resources to devise another, Lelouch thought. "Then for now we stay the course. Today, Ichikawa. When appropriate: Yokohama! And then: NARITA!"
When the bunker finally arrived in Ichikawa, Zero disembarked and had the Black Knights stay on standby as he procured a vehicle from a bystander. He simply went up to a driver parked at a red light, took the keys and the car, gave him instructions for the whole day and where he could get his car later. He then picked up Camilla in the non-descript vehicle.
"Oh my, picking me up," she said, surrounded by ruined buildings. "How stylish."
"I'm going to have to ask you to tone that kind of behavior down. My identity is on the line," Zero told her.
Camilla hugged him from behind, hanging off him. "So the girls in your army can steal you? I don't think so."
Well…I expected this. It was worth a try though.
Upon arriving at his bunker, Zero got out of the driver's seat and stepped towards his Black Knights. "My trusted and loyal Black Knights, I told you that attacks from the side are what an army should be most concerned about. Now, behold!" He gestured to the vehicle he'd come here in.
"And…what?" Subaki asked, confused. "We're supposed to be impressed by a red Volkswagen?"
"It's what's in the Volkswagen, obviously," Hana pointed out.
"Right you are," Zero said. He then snapped his fingers.
The passenger door opened and out stepped Camilla, shutting the door.
Understandably, and immediately all of the Black Knights drew rifles and aimed them at her.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Tamaki demanded.
"You set us up!" Hana shouted.
"Calm yourselves!" Zero shouted, raising his arms.
"Calm ourselves?! That's The Smiling Demon!" Inoue shouted.
"I know how this looks, but you have nothing to fear. Princess Camilla has been plotting against Britannia for a while now. That's why she has been doing her best to aid the Japanese."
Tensions lowered a little, but some people weren't convinced.
"Yeah, right," Hana said sarcastically. "I bet it was real funny, huh? Directing us around so you could get our trust and lure us all together in a pile so you could turn us into the police?!"
"I'm here alone," Camilla said in her own defense. "I came here in Zero's borrowed vehicle of my own volition. No one, not even Princess Cornelia knows that I'm here." She then said much more playfully. "If you'd like, you can strip search me for wires."
Amidst the mistrust, Kallen decided to give Zero the benefit of the doubt. "Let's hear what Zero has to say. I…I think we owe him that much."
"Kallen…" Ohgi said with concern.
"I thank you, Kallen," Zero stated. "As I said, Princess Camilla has been looking to stand against Britannia for a while. My business yesterday was inviting her to formally join our cause."
"Britannia's greed took the person I cherish most from me. Zero has given me new purpose to direct my anger at the people who deserve it," Camilla said, staring scornfully. "The Briar Rose Barbarian's axe will not take one more Japanese life without Zero's word."
"My, you're quite taken with our so-called leader," Azama pointed out.
"I have been…lost for seven years. Zero…gave me a new purpose. I will have my revenge…no justice against those that wronged me within my own country. And…with my help, I hope to lessen the bloodshed that needs to be spilled."
"Oh yeah? How are we supposed to trust you?" Tamaki asked, jolting his rifle, aiming at Camilla's forehead.
"You can't," Camilla answered honestly. "I can't even begin to try and sway you with words that they're good. Quite frankly, with everything I've done and messed up, my words and my vows would mean less than a pebble in a hurricane to you all. But…you can trust Zero. So…trust him…to trust me as I trust him. I…know it can't take back the lives my family stole, but…I can at least offer my own coffers to the war effort. I can hide you from Cornelia to the best of my ability. And…I plan to delay the attack on Narita as best as I can."
"Princess Camilla and I will be working together going forward," Zero told his knights. "She and her Harlech will be a powerful asset to the Black Knights."
"I can't say I fully approve of this," Hinoka remarked, stone-faced. "But…Princess Camilla is really strong and the people of Britannia love her. If she's on our side, that's huge for our cause. I only have one question: how is Corrin doing?"
"…Corrin saved me…from a dark place. She…loves you very much…in her memories," Camilla admitted, recalling the Refrain incident. "She is your sister," she smiled, "As much as she is mine. I hope to convince her to join the revolution and see the light before her eyes…" she hugged Zero around the neck, "Just as Zero helped me see it."
Kallen blushed, gazing at what was happening. How…how dare this hussy suddenly start getting cuddly with her Zero.
"Ohhhhhh, I see what's going on," Tamaki remarked with a whimsical grin. "You made Princess Camilla your mistress."
Camilla's hug grew tighter. "Yes. I am Zero's mistress."
…Roll with it, Lelouch thought to himself. "We have further business to conduct and I have war plans to discuss with the princess. If anyone shoots her, they will not live to see tomorrow."
"Ah, yeah, sure, war plans," Tamaki responded with a wink and a clicking of his teeth. "Gotcha."
"Tamaki, don't be gross," Hinoka chastised.
The bunker went back on the move to circle around to a safer location, away from prying eyes of the Empire. After getting on board, Lelouch settled down into his room while Camilla did her best to ingratiate herself to the Black Knights. Unsurprisingly, they weren't really warming up to her. Still, that didn't stop her from smiling as she spoke to them.
Once pleasantries had been concluded, she made her way upstairs to Zero's room…only to find a woman with green hair lounging on the bed, eating pizza…in her underwear.
After the door closed, and noticing Lelouch didn't have his helmet on, Camilla felt confident enough to talk to Lelouch by name. "Lulu, who is this?" The seething jealousy in her voice was plain as day.
Without even hesitating, Lelouch answered with, "Remember that poison gas from Shinjuku? This is its true form."
The green-haired woman, simply stared at Camilla with cheese dripping out of her mouth…and then resumed eating pizza, acting like nothing was amiss.
"Who is she? And why is she half naked?" Camilla demanded to know.
"Who she is, is C.C. Why she's naked…I haven't the faintest." He turned to look at C.C. "Why are you in your underwear?"
C.C. did not answer Lelouch at all and just kept stuffing her face with pizza.
Voice dripping with malice, Camilla asked. "Is she your wife?"
"I'm his accomplice," C.C. answered in a tired tone. "We made a contract."
Lelouch rolled his eyes as he leaned closer to his computer. That she answered.
"Hmm. Mmmhmm. I see," Camilla responded, put off. "So she's your pet."
"She may as well be," Lelouch responded tiredly. "I feed her, clean up after her, and have to take her on regular walks."
"Oh haha," C.C. responded sarcastically.
"Mmm. Mmmhmm. Well…" Camilla said, flicking her wrist at C.C. "Off the bed now. It's mine."
C.C. didn't just not get off the bed, she deliberately laid down on it and kept eating.
While going through some forms that needed addressing, Kallen drew the short straw and found herself needing to speak with Zero directly. As she made her way up the stairs, she suddenly saw C.C. getting tossed against the wall before a half-eaten 14" pizza was whipped at the woman's head, box following.
"Shoo."
If automatic doors could slam…
Kallen turned around, spinning on her heel, mouthing the word "No." to herself over and over while shaking her index fingers at the air.
Many, if they knew the whole context for this, would have called this a wise decision.
Inside Zero's private suite, now that pest control had been taken care of, Camilla posed on the bed sensually, laying down. "Now my dear Lulu. Claim me."
Lelouch did not respond to this. He was too busy typing away on his computer, clearly scheming for the future.
Camilla whined. "Luuuuuluuuuuu."
"This is neither the time nor the place," Lelouch told her. He pulled out a tablet and seemed to be using that and the computer to draft war plans. With Camilla firmly at his side, many of his plans and schemes had to be completely redesigned, and new ones had to be incorporated. "I'll be needing your cooperation to possibly end the war before it even gets going. If all goes according to plan, I could have Japan liberated this time next month."
In the midst of his scheming, Lelouch felt his half-sister's boobs press into the back of his neck.
Lelouch blushed, but did not give rise to his sister's behavior. He continued to work, albeit slower.
Not having this, Camilla spun Lelouch's chair around and Lelouch found himself face to face with Camilla's chest…covered only by her bra, nose nearly reaching her sternum.
"Take five and enjoy my warmth," Camilla encouraged, brushing the back of his head.
Lelouch let out a shrill gasp and managed to turn his head away and back to his computer, doing his best to remain focused. Closing his eyes, swallowing and blushing, he uttered, "As enticing as that is, the plan comes first."
Lelouch was not amused when Camilla's brazier came floating down onto his keyboard. "Just a taste," she encouraged with a naughty tone to her voice.
Lelouch remained unamused. "Please put your brazier back on, sister."
Camilla pulled Lelouch backwards towards her. "Oh come now. You can relax a little." She spun him around put his face into her bare breasts.
Lelouch closed his eyes, ignoring how warm and soft the comfort of Camilla's chest was attempting to be. "I cannot afford to. I have too much responsibility."
Camilla was beside herself. She figured Lelouch would be over the moon to have his face buried between her mountains no man had ever had the pleasure of bearing witness to. There could only be one explanation. Expecting the worst, she asked, "Do you prefer someone else?
"I didn't say that," Lelouch responded with growing irritation.
Camilla pulled Lelouch away from her chest and tilted his head up so that they were meeting eye to eye. She did not look happy. "If I find out you are bedding anyone else, let's say your bishop will be missing its head."
Lelouch spun his chair around. "You have an active imagination, sister. No one has shared my bed all my life."
Camilla spun his chair back around. "Poor Lulu. Let Cammy fix that." She proceeded to straddle him, pressing her knees into the parts of the chair Lelouch wasn't occupying.
Lelouch shut his eyes, right eyebrow twitching. "Camilla, I don't have time for this. Narita is swiftly approaching. Seconds not spent preparing are seconds wasted."
At this, Camilla just sounded heartbroken. "So…even to my precious Lulu…I'm nothing but a tool. You don't care about me anymore. You only care about what I can do for your revolution."
"I didn't say that," Lelouch responded in annoyance. He swiveled back around. "But there is work to be done. Within this room, I am not your brother, I am the revolutionary, Zero. The world's fate rests upon my shoulders."
"And what about me, Lulu? What about my fate? I spent seven years believing in you, that there was hope that you were still alive. And so far, all you've done is ignore me," Camilla complained. "You said it yourself, you couldn't be sure that you could trust me until you saw how devastated I looked. Are my mental health problems that unimportant to you?"
"No, of course not," Lelouch answered, feeling a bit guilty.
"Lulu doesn't care about me. Uwaaaaaah!" Camilla wailed, sounding only half-serious.
Lelouch groaned. "Don't cry. Look…I'm sorry. I…I've been hurt by seven years of isolation. And…emotional passions can only act as a distraction for my goals. I am grateful for the love you have for me, sister, but…the rest can wait."
"Pwomise?" Camilla asked, pursing her lips.
Lelouch stood up and hugged Camilla. "I promise."
Camilla hugged him back. "Lulu." She started to shake. "Lulu." She sniffed.
"Easy there." He pet the back of the top of her head. "Lulu's here. He's not going anywhere."
Camilla went for a kiss. Lelouch obliged her. Camilla pushed against the back of his head, suckling his tongue passionately. She loved him. She had waited seven years to reunite with him. His arms around her bare back were so warm. She snuggled into him as their lips parting, cooing.
"I have a lot of work to do," Lelouch told her. "I'll tell you what. If you're patient and let me work, I won't make you wait until tomorrow to see Nunnally."
"You promise?"
"You have my word."
Camilla pecked his cheek. "Okay, Lulu." She picked her bra up off his keyboard and started putting her clothes back on. While faced away from him, she asked, "Is…is Nunna okay?"
Lelouch paused his work and replied with. "…For certain definitions of the word."
Camilla uttered a confused noise, pausing getting her bra hook on, to ponder the meaning of Lelouch's statement.
"You'll see when you see her. But…she won't be able to see you," Lelouch told her.
Now Camilla was even more confused.
After parting ways with the Black Knights, Lelouch had Camilla help him return the man's car he borrowed, and then he rode in the back of Beruka's car with her to Ashford.
"I am glad to see the two of you reunited," Beruka said, adjusting the rear-view mirror at a red light. "Princess Camilla has yearned for you tirelessly, my prince," she said with a smile.
Camilla was purring lowly, her head on Lelouch's shoulder, hand clasped tightly. She'd be canoodled in his lap if not for having to wear a seatbelt.
"I'm…well aware," Lelouch responded. "You were a big help." The last five words he stated released his Geass he had over Beruka. They were an exit trigger phrase.
Since Camilla and I are working together, I no longer need Beruka giving me constant updates of her presence and activities. I can ask her directly.
As the trio pulled up to Ashford, Lelouch noticed the lights were on. "Oh, the power is back."
"I told you," Camilla stated with a sweet smile.
"So you did," Lelouch responded.
"I shall wait here for you, Princess," Beruka told her.
Camilla smiled. "Yes, it would be bad if something happened to the car. Oh, but if thugs somehow slashed the tires and I had to spend the night—"
"Camilla," Lelouch stated strenuously, knowing what she was implying.
Camilla giggled. "Only teasing, Lulu." She pecked him on the right temple.
"You're lucky it's dark out here."
Lelouch brought her to the suite that he and Nunnally lived in by themselves, requesting Camilla make herself comfortable. It was her first time being in this part of the school. Well, at least Lelouch and Nunnally were living comfortably. The suite was very luxurious. Such a pretty couch they had.
"Just wait there, if you're comfortable, be quiet and wait. I'll bring Nunnally in," Lelouch told her.
"Oh, sure," Camilla responded. Lelouch then left the room.
She can't see me? What did Lulu mean? Camilla was very nervous. She was concerned that Lelouch was going to bring out an urn full of Nunnally's ashes, along with a picture. Or maybe she was a brain in a jar hooked up to an apparatus. No. No. What kind of silly sci-fi nonsense was that? But then…
Her answers were given when she heard something being wheeled into the room, seeing a familiar head of sandy brown hair…attached to a pair of closed eyes…and legs sitting in a wheelchair.
Camilla covered her mouth, crying. "Nunna? What did…what happened to you? My sweet…my sweet little Nunna?"
Nunnally gasped. "That voice." Nunnally then squeaked, feeling herself being lifted out of her wheelchair. "Only one person I know can lift me up so easily." She felt for Camilla's face, feeling the pillowy lips and her long, silky-smooth hair. "Big sister Camilla, is that you?"
"Yes, Nunnally, it's me," Camilla responded, squeezing her with a big hug. "Ooooooh. Look at you. You're so big."
Nunnally giggled. "Ahaha. I bet you've gotten bigger and stronger too, big sis."
"Oh, like you wouldn't believe my little angel. I'm just so happy to see you," Camilla told her.
"What are you doing here?" Nunnally asked, excited to be in her sister's presence, but still very confused. "Lelouch told me we weren't supposed to see anyone from our family."
Lelouch smiled. "Well, Camilla convinced me to make an exception for her."
Nunnally hugged her big sister, smiling. "Thank you, big sis."
Camilla looked and sounded guilty and apologetic. "I just wish I could have been here sooner." She placed Nunnally back in her chair. "Why don't Lelouch and I make some dinner and you go get cleaned up, okay, Nunnally?"
"Okay!" Nunnally exclaimed. "I'll wash my hands extra well." She then spun the wheels of her chair to the bathroom.
Camilla waited for Nunnally to leave her sight before her smile faded and she looked horrified, shaking. "Who did that to her, Lulu? Who hurt my Nunna?" She sounded heartbroken.
"The same person who killed my mother. Their identity remains a mystery to me even now," Lelouch spoke seriously.
"They're dead," Camilla stated with harsh seriousness.
"I agree," Lelouch responded with similar levels of hostility.
He let the tension air out from the topic before changing the subject. "After dinner, I imagine you'll be returning to the Viceroy building, or has Cornelia taken over your job? Reports have been…conflicting."
"I'm still the Viceroy, but Cornelia is overseeing military operations and Clovis is still the Sub-Viceroy. I imagine Euphemia was only brought over so Cornelia could keep an eye on her, and so that Euphie could learn politics from Clovis. And…Cornelia is first in line to take over for me if I have another…episode."
"Episode?" Lelouch asked.
Camilla proceeded to tell Lelouch everything, about her time in the padded room, about her catatonia before Euphemia's arrival, about her freakout at the hotel when she thought he'd killed Euphie. By the end of her explanations, she was crying.
"I just want you, Lulu. I…I want to be able to love you, just like you promised."
When Lelouch didn't answer her, or attempt to comfort her, Camilla asked, "Y-You do remember our promise…right?"
More silence.
"…Right?" she asked, blinking out tears.
Lelouch exhaled deeply, looking exhausted. "…The promises of a child long since forgotten hold no meaning in the modern day. If that was what you are living for," He looked away sorrowfully. "I am sorry I cannot give you what you seek.
Camilla nodded. "I understand. Tell Nunnally that it was a joke. I'll…I'll be stomping out the revolution then. If you value your life, you will run." Camilla began holding back rage that was boiling up.
Lelouch cut her off. "Let me finish."
Camilla looked from the carpet to Lelouch's face. "I cannot give you what you seek. However…" He cupped her cheek. "But I can give you something new, a new promise. If we are to destroy the old Britannia, then so too must we destroy our old promises, and take new vows, face-to-face, not as siblings, but as adults." He smirked devilishly. "I want you by my side. Don't go anywhere. Stay with me…and we shall usher in a more prosperous world…that the old me always believed could exist.
Camilla swooned. "That's the Lulu I love."
Lelouch caressed her cheek. He stared at her seriously. "I meant what I said before, per the revolution I am Zero, the miracle worker. I have no time for games, and even less for romance. But at Ashford, I am not Zero. I am Lelouch Lamperouge. But…what I said back at the park still stands, raising a family before Britannia's fall would be complicated. But…I can give you a reason to stay." He initiated a kiss. It was gentle. It was tender. His lips were molding to match the curve of hers.
Camilla deepened the kiss, arms around Lelouch tightly, the two fully embracing. Their tongues danced, lips breaking slightly, only to rejoin as Camilla's lip gloss pressed into Lelouch's lips. Camilla felt like she could fall over in pure bliss. All she'd ever wanted since the day he saved her was for Lelouch to kiss her with the same passion as she has kissed or wanted to kiss him. When did he get to be such a man?
As soon as the kiss was over, Camilla picked Lelouch up. Even if Lelouch had a few inches over her, she was still leagues stronger than him. As he was carried in her arms, bridal style, he folded his arms in annoyance.
"Sister, this is embarrassing. I insist you relinquish me."
"Never again. I will never you out of my sight. I will never let anything bad happen," Camilla stated sweetly.
Lelouch protested. "I am not a child anymore. I'm a grown man, not one of your stuffed animals. Please let me stand on my own two feet."
"No," Camilla responded in a spoiled tone. She kissed him briefly. "My Lulu."
Seeming to give into his sister's selfishness, Lelouch reached up a hand and started brushing the back and side of Camilla's neck with his fingertips. The sensation was so sensually pleasing, Camilla's grip slackened, allowing Lelouch to escape it to a standing position.
When Camilla realized she'd been tricked, she pouted. "That wasn't fair, Lulu." She pursed her lips. "Meanie."
"The only time I should ever need to be held by you in such a fashion is during a daring escape. Come, you said you were going to help me make dinner, and that is what we are going to do."
Camilla then followed Lelouch into the kitchen without another word.
The two began to make Shephard's pie. Lelouch seasoned the meat and began to mash up pre-cut potatoes while he let Camilla chop the carrots and celery. During meal preparation, Camilla found herself in a playful enough mood that she ended up dabbing Lelouch's nose with a spoon covered in Mashed Potatoes. Lelouch couldn't help but chuckle as he cleaned his nose off with a paper towel.
As he proceeded to throw what he'd wiped off away, he heard Camilla say, as she stirred the bowl, "I've named them already."
"Named what, exactly?" Lelouch asked, honestly, turning around.
"The seven-hundred children we are going to have," she answered, face flushing.
Lelouch stared at Camilla for a moment before taking a deep breath. "…Sister, I hate to tell you what you can and cannot do, but it is impossible for us to have seven-hundred children together."
Camilla gasped. "You're right. Nine-hundred children."
Lelouch attacked Camilla's delusion with facts and logic. "You are 25 now. Britannia is unlikely to be defeated until you are 26. A woman's menopause begins between ages 45 to 55. Even if every time you gave birth, you bore triplets, the safest amount of children to have at one time, we would only be able to have one-hundred twenty children at most."
Camilla appeared to be lost inside her own head. "You're right. 2,000 children."
Lelouch looked at his older half-sister with a glazed look. "You're not listening to me at all, are you?"
No. No she was not. "Perhaps even 3…hmmm…I don't know if I can come up with that many names." She left the spoon in the bowl as she poked her cheek, trying to answer her own pondering.
Lelouch picked up the spoon and poked the side of her head with the base of it. "If you don't start paying attention, you won't see the inside of my bedroom, much less have the opportunity to make children in it."
Camilla gasped. No. Not that! Anything but. "Ah! Yes, Lulu. Darling. My love."
Lelouch rolled his eyes. This was the woman he never fell out of love with. Lot he'd forgotten about her, it seemed.
When dinner was finally served, Camilla realized she'd never actually had anything Lelouch ever cooked. As a child, he'd never tried cooking before. However, as she sat there, she was prepared to eat it all, even if it was terrible. She forked a bite full of crust, chicken scratch, chicken and some peas and put it into her mouth. Her mouth crushed around the soft, flakey crust.
It was like an explosion of flavor in her mouth. The best food she'd ever eaten, and she'd been to a lot of luxury places since becoming Viceroy.
"Marry me right now!" She demanded, bouncing in her seat.
Lelouch almost choked on his water.
Nunnally laughed, hearing Lelouch cough. "Big brother's cooking is good, isn't it?"
"No, Nunnally, it's simply divine," Camilla answered. "Here, have some." She proceeded to try and spoon feed Nunnally, using her fork. "Say Ahhhhh!"
"Oh. I don't need to be fed anymore, Camilla. I'm a big girl now."
Before Camilla could even plead with Lelouch, Lelouch reached out and touched Nunnally's hand. "Nunnally, maybe you could indulge Camilla just for tonight. She hasn't seen either of us in so long."
"Well, all right, for you big sis," Nunnally answered and opened her mouth wide. "Ahhhhhhh."
Camilla never felt happier to be feeding her second-youngest sister once again.
As Lelouch put Nunnally to bed, the moon was out in full outside. Not a sliver of dusk remained. "It'll be dark soon. Are you going back or are you staying here?"
"Did you not hear me earlier? I'm not letting you out of my sight," Camilla told him. "I already told Beruka to come get me in the morning."
Lelouch groaned. "Well, there are no spare beds here." He pondered how to approach this. "I suppose I can get the spare sheets out of the closet. The couch is good enough. I had to sleep on it when C.C…"
Lelouch was floored when Camilla swept him off his feet and into his bedroom. She then grabbed his desk chair, sliding it in front of his door, locking it. She then immediately started to take her shirt off.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" He demanded to know as he put his chair back where it belonged.
He got his answer in the form of Camilla pinning him to his own bed. She was flush against him, and heavy. He couldn't push her off, much less get up.
Camilla licked his cheek, breathing like a bitch in heat, which wasn't far from the truth. "You might not want children, but nothing is stopping us from just copulating."
"Consent!" Lelouch stressed. "My consent is definitely a factor."
Camilla leaned up. "Awww, now don't be shy. I hear it's supposed to feel amazing." She leaned up and threw her shirt at the wall, her bra now the only thing encompassing Lelouch's vision before he whipped his head to the side. He shut his eyes, blushing.
Camilla looked down in concern. This was not proceeding at all as planned. "Lulu, what's wrong?"
"It's…all too sudden. I'm…not ready," he told her.
"What do you mean you're not…" Camilla reached down, hand landed in between Lelouch's legs. She felt a wriggly, lump of flesh down there. And wriggly was precisely the problem. As she pressed her palm to it multiple times, it didn't react…at all."
Well, okay, that wasn't… "I mean…I never imagined you were going to be…record setting, Lulu, but that's no reason to be embarrassed. I mean…there's more than what I can feel…right?"
"Maybe," Lelouch responded, staring at the wall, "I wouldn't know."
Camilla looked devastated, grasping the implications immediately. Her Lulu…was broken. "O…oh."
Lelouch's expression bore both shame and embarrassment.
Despite the setback, Camilla took this in stride. "It's okay," she said with a smile, "We'll work through this together."
"Work…through it?" Lelouch questioned. "I don't follow."
Camilla got off Lelouch and lay down next to him, putting a comforting hand on his chest. "I'll stay by your side until you reawaken on your own. I'll help fix you." She kissed his cheek. "Because I love you."
"That's seven years' worth of damage to fix, Camilla. It doesn't go away overnight," Lelouch told her.
"That's all right," Camilla said with a shake of her head and a doting smile. She brushed Lelouch's bangs. "We'll just take it day by day."
Things were quiet for a long time in the darkness of Lelouch's bedroom. The sounds of chirping insects emanated from the window, along with the low hum of the air conditioning. Lelouch's hand…found its way on top of Camilla's.
"So…what now?"
Camilla snuggled Lelouch in response to his question. "This. This is what now. Let me make up for seven years of absence. I promise I'll be good to you." She rolled towards him, halfway onto him, gazing at him with pleading eyes. "Just please, Lulu…don't throw me away."
"I would never throw you away, Camilla, not as long as you want me by your side," Lelouch told her.
"Lulu…I couldn't imagine life without wanting that," Camilla told him.
Their lips met until they could keep them together no longer. Then Lelouch and Camilla repositioned themselves so that they were cuddled up under the covers, Camilla embracing Lelouch, protecting him from the world. This was her Lulu. Her Lulu. She would protect him with her heart and her life. No one would hurt him ever again.
Now…now all she had to do was be his Cammy. One day, one day he would be able to fulfill her dream. She would get up onto an altar in a white dress and say I do and then the following day sit in his lap in Britannia's throne room, listening to him bark demands at whomever came into his chambers that day.
Lulu…sweet Lulu…Cammy is always by your side.
The next morning, before classes started, before she left for the office, Camilla needed to get her hands on Milly Ashford. Luckily, the young student council president was easy to pluck from a crowd.
With the grip of a bird of prey, and the presence of an angry big cat, Camilla's hand clenched Milly's shoulder, sending a chill up the teen's spine.
"You and I need to talk. Right. Now."
Milly gulped and was taken to a secluded location: the Student Council Room, which was not in use before classes started. With the lights off, Camilla drew the curtains and pushed Milly up against the wall. With a smile so sweet, yet more toxic than a vat of sludge, Camilla spoke to Milly calmly. Her tone was cheerful, yet it was a mask for the raging hurricane contained within.
"Milly Ashford, I hope you know that lying to my face is high treason, punishable by death." Camilla then revealed she had her trusty axe on her. She took a stone out of her pocket and grinded it against the blade, sharpening it. "Do you have any last words for keeping me from my Lulu?"
"Uhhhhhh…it was his idea?" Milly responded in an unintentional interrogative tone, hoping Camilla would buy it. Her glute regions had gone from normal to sweaty in an instant as the sphincter region puckered, Milly swallowing in terror. She let out a nervous laugh.
Camilla continued to sharpen her axe. "Let me make something abundantly clear to you. Lulu is mine. I am the only one allowed to tease him. So unless you'd like to take a permanent vacation to the Mariahna Trench, I suggest you start behaving in a way that's more…ladylike." She held her axe blade to Milly's chin. "Do we have an understanding?"
"Fully."
"Good girl," Camilla said, stroking the top of Milly's head. "Now, I don't want to get any complaints from Lulu that you've been harassing him, okaaaay?"
"Then you'll um…" Milly swallowed. "You'll have to do something about Shirley."
"Who's Shirley and why should I care?" Camilla asked, jealousy burning with murderous intent.
"Shirley Fennette. She's a member of the student council. She um…she legitimately likes Lelouch. She also calls him Lulu. Um…she doesn't know about the whole…prince thing. So…um…be careful in your approach? Eheh." Milly didn't want to put Shirley in harm's way, but better to inform Camilla of it sooner rather than later and risk finding out Shirley and her family "moved away to Antarctica."
"Ohhh, nothing to worry about then," Camilla responded with a smile, taking her axe away.
Milly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll gently put her down. As for your punishment, I'm thinking an hour's long spanking will do."
"N-N-No…U-Uh Um…p-please don't um…hurt Shirley. She's a really nice girl. You can spank me twice as hard if it pleases you. You can even…" she gulped. "Shove stuff up my butt." She wanted to spare Shirley a violent beheading, not encourage one.
"Hon, what sort of bloody barbarian do you take me for? I won't harm Shirley. I promise. You however…I'm going to need to teach you some manners."
Milly would be noticed walking funny by other students for the next three days and would refuse to comment.
Camilla was not done at Ashford. Ohhhhh no, no. She needed to find this Shirley Fennette character and mark her territory. She found the little redhead peering around the corner, clutching some sort of paper in her hand. A love letter perhaps? No, they looked like tickets. Following Shirley's gaze, Camilla noticed Lelouch standing next to a boy with blue hair. They appeared to be talking about chess.
She noticed Shirley squirming, nervous even. And she was…blushing. Well, looks like Milly wasn't lying to her this time. Someone had a big crush on her Lulu. And someone needed to know their place.
"Hello there," Camilla said in a friendly enough tone as she approached.
A startled "Bwah!" Came out of the completely off-guard Shirley. She turned to see Camilla. "P-P-P-Princess Camilla! What are you doing here?"
Shirley had said it so loud that she'd drawn Lelouch's attention. For now, he wasn't sure if he needed to enact damage control or jump in to protect Shirley. For now, he watched carefully while carrying on his conversation with Rivalz.
"You love that Lelouch boy, right?" Camilla asked in a hushed tone.
"I-I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Shirley exclaimed defensively, too embarrassed to even ask how the hell Camilla knew Lelouch's name.
Camilla giggled. "Aren't you just adorable," she commented, cupping Shirley's cheeks. She looked her up and down. "Mmmm, yes, you're so cute too in all the right places. Yes, I will allow you to be the second wife."
"Wh-wh-wh-what in the world are you talking about?!" Shirley exclaimed.
Yup. Damage control.
"Oh, Princess Camilla. Good day. I didn't think we would be expecting you. I guess you came down to check up on Princess Corrin. Is something the matter? I'm sure I could be of far more help to you than Shirley. I know the school pretty well," Lelouch stated amicably, approaching Camilla in the guise of a stranger. Understandable given the situation. With Shirley's back to him, he was able to give Camilla a stern look. His eyes silently said it all: Don't screw this up.
"Oh just teasing your girlfriend, Lelouch," Camilla said with a sweet smile. "I must say, she's quite the adorable little sweetie. I approve of her."
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"You don't have to deny it so strongly!" Shirley shouted, red in the face, enraged and stormed off.
"I'm going to have to explain to her how we know each other. You were way too casual in that conversation. Do you not know the meaning of the word restraint?" Lelouch asked bitingly.
"You're smart. You'll figure it out," Camilla responded with a flirtatious smile.
"You ever think about maybe not creating problems for others. I like my calm, boring life at Ashford. I prefer to keep it that way. If someone reports me to the government, Cornelia or Clovis could find me. We're not ready for that. And I thought you were heading into work."
"I was. But I had to take care of business here first," Camilla told him.
Lelouch resisted the urge to swat his forehead. "Look, go do your job and let me do mine. I'm sure Beruka is waiting."
"So cold, Lulu."
Lelouch pointed in the direction of the parking lot. If push came to shove, he'd have to use his Geass on Shirley to forget the conversation.
Camilla could tell she absolutely riled her Lulu up. She'd done a wrong. He was mad at her. "I'm sorry, Lulu. I was just trying to—"
"Mark your territory. That much was obvious. Look, I have a handle on things here. No one is getting between us. No one," Lelouch insisted.
Camilla looked like a puppy who got caught doing something naughty. "Are you mad at me?"
"Quite," Lelouch spelled it out for her. "Go to work and think about what you've done."
Camilla sniffed sorrowfully. "Okay."
"Remember, Camilla. We have to be subtle. I know that's not your strong suit, but as much as you're happy to be reunited with me, remember: if I get caught by anyone other than you, think what his majesty will do to both of us. Do you want to live together, or die together? Because he won't stop at me. He'll kill me first, make you watch and then starve you to death as punishment. Is that the fate you want, because that's not the death I choose for myself, or you."
Camilla was horror stricken. No. She…she definitely didn't want that. "I…I'm sorry. I'll go." She began to leave. A depressed expression crept over her face as she walked away, crying as quietly as she could.
Her phone bleeped. She received a text. She looked at it. The sender was Lelouch.
[Have a good day at work, Cammy. I'll see you tonight.]
Camilla looked back at her Lulu, swooning, her index finger almost reaching up to her mouth. Two billion babies, she thought to herself.
She wiggled her butt as she turned around, texting him back. [I love you, Lulu] Heart emoji.
He texted back. [I love you too, Cammy. Stay safe.]
Camilla arrived at her office that day to Clovis greeting her as he was exiting his own office on his way to a meeting. "Ah, Camilla. Good to see you. You seem quite yourself today. You're all smiles. Something good happen recently? No one's been able to reach you late at night these past couple nights. You've had Euphemia worried."
"I met someone, Clovis. Someone who makes me so very happy."
Clovis smiled. "That's wonderful news, sister. Do you think we'll be able to meet the lucky gentleman soon."
"Maybe," Camilla said playfully, rolling a finger around her lips. "I want to make sure he's up to the task first."
"Ah, of course. Vetting a potential spouse is important. Ah, if you need any help with anything, venues and such, I would be more than happy to get you exclusive reservations. You know you can always count on me for such things."
"You know, send me an email of all your favorite restaurants. I'm sure Lu…"
"Lu…?"
Camilla needed a cover name and quick. "Ludwig! Yes, I'm sure Ludwig would really appreciate your suggestions."
"Ah, well I hope to meet this Ludwig as soon as it's a serious relationship. A fine idea to keep it hidden, sister. You know how the public leers after you. Don't worry. Your midnight trysts are safe with me."
Camilla smiled. "Thank you, Clovis. I'm glad I can count on you."
Later that same day, Camilla called Cornelia into her office. After some brief pleasantries, Camilla told Cornelia exactly why she was being called in.
"You want to delay the attack on Narita? Why?" Cornelia inquired.
Camilla decided to play fast and loose with the facts. "I'm in negotiations with Zero."
"That would be fine if Zero was our opponent there, Camilla, but the enemy at Narita is the Japan Liberation Front, including Kyoshiro Tohdoh and the head of the Sumeragi family, Ryoma Sumeragi," Cornelia countered.
"Zero already made an enemy of the Japanese Liberation Front once, Cornelia. Think what could happen if we could convince him to stand against them again," Camilla told her.
"He's a terrorist, Camilla. You can't negotiate with them. Give them a hand, they'll take the whole arm," she told her pointedly.
"Corrin also feels that Zero needn't be our enemy, Cornelia," Camilla told her.
"How many of our men has he killed?" Cornelia snapped.
"And what about the men we've killed? What about the men you sacrificed at Saitama in order to draw Zero out?" With Lelouch at her back, Camilla's objections were far more rational and her ire far more focused. Without having to worry about her younger half-brother anymore, Camilla could care about far, far more. "What about the people, good, Japanese people, you slaughtered to pull that stunt? And that's not even getting into the men I cut down at Shinjuku in a pointless rage! War isn't without bloodshed, anyone knows that, but the amount of blood shed doesn't always have to be the maximum!"
Cornelia was startled by Camilla's outburst, and after getting over the shock, was rather impressed. She smirked, curling her finger and thumb under her chin. "Where's all this fire coming from? That's more life in your voice I've heard since I got here," Cornelia remarked.
"I've gotten better, sister. You and everyone else nursed me back to health. Lulu's gone. I have to do what I can now," Camilla responded.
"The Camilla I know would never negotiate with someone like Zero," Cornelia responded, staring intensely.
"Then you don't know me as well as you think you do," Camilla responded. She stared intensely back at Cornelia. "Zero's crimes are as follows: rallying terrorists at Shinjuku, rallying terrorists at Saitama, holding Prince Clovis hostage, unlawful detonations, and unlawful entry into the Viceroy building. Treason, sure, outspoken heresy against the crown, sure, but look me in the eye and tell me that you stand for what his majesty does, Cornelia? Who's your loyalty to? The flag, or the throne?"
Cornelia nodded slightly. Camilla made a damn good point on that last one. "So what are you trying to accomplish?"
"I'm saying we can placate Zero for now. Lulu's gone, so it's my job to carry on his tactics: use evil to destroy a greater evil. If we delay Narita, and I can secure Zero's cooperation, not only will the JLF be wiped out, but we can then capture Zero at its conclusion with the right setup," Camilla told her. "We can have debriefings and draft war plans to try and accomplish precisely that. As long as I keep communication with Zero, we can know where he'll be and what his tactics might be. Even if he pulls a fast one on us like the slippery little eel he's poised as, you nearly had him at Saitama, you can prepare for any of his shenanigans."
Cornelia smiled. "I'm proud of you, Camilla. You're sounding like a real leader right now. Very well. Two weeks, not a day more, or our own people will be calling for bloodshed."
"Two weeks is all I need," Camilla told her. "And…thank you…for trusting me."
"You delayed Narita by two weeks?!" Tamaki exclaimed, after Camilla relayed the news to the Black Knights that evening. He sounded ecstatic.
"Good, right? See? I can be useful. And now we'll know exactly what day Cornelia is going to strike on and I can provide her exact attack pattern," Camilla responded with a clever smile.
"That's assuming warfare still needs to go to Narita," Zero responded, sitting in his usual spot at the center of the lounge. "You've bought us and the JLF two entire weeks, more than enough time to prepare."
"Cornelia probably anticipates that and will be doubling down on her forces. But, at least the situation is far less urgent now," Camilla stated.
"My, how delightful. And all it took was branding yourself a traitor behind everyone's back," Azama responded whimsically.
"Azama, shush," Hinoka told him.
"Well, he's not exactly wrong per say," Camilla responded with a smile. " But it's far more nuanced than that." She gazed at the Black Knights with a serious expression. "I've uncovered some nasty truths these past few days, and when my family learns exactly what they are, I can guarantee their lust for blood against the Japanese is bound to freeze over."
"Corrin's already sympathetic to our plight," Hinoka pointed out. "Are you suggesting you could actually get Cornelia to turn against Britannia?"
"Well, I wouldn't say my tongue is silver, but we'll see what it's made of during the JLF's stay of execution," Camilla remarked chipperly.
"Gotta say, I didn't expect this when we first saw you," Ohgi responded, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Neither did I," Kallen agreed, wide-eyed.
"Preparations will need to be put underway with this new information. Let's hope we can get a word out to Narita in the time we have. Inoue. Ohgi. Hinoka. Subaki. Azama. I'll be counting on you to gather our resources and outfit our newcomers as they show up. Even if Narita is avoided, we still have what comes after to consider. We cannot grow complacent. The king is in the back row, unguarded by its queen, or its strongest knight." Behind his Zero helmet, Lelouch smirked devilishly. "And I call check."
In the dark of his bedroom, Lelouch was settling down for the evening, turning to gaze at the smiling Camilla with the covers open for him to get in.
"You surprised me today," he said, unfolding the wrinkles of his sleep shirt. "In a good way."
"Always my best for you, Lulu. You know that. See? I'm reliable in more than just battle."
Lelouch nodded and climbed into the tight fit between the edge of the bed and Camilla's shoulder, allowing her to embrace him.
"You can snuggle a little closer when you first get in, Lulu. I'm not going to hurt you," Camilla told him.
Lelouch stroked her face. "Your warmth is like an ocean filled with the rays of the sun. It's tranquil and peaceful. I hesitate to rely on it. Its comfort could make me complacent, sloppy. That won't do while the game is in progress."
Camilla hugged him tighter. "Right now, Lulu, be at peace. Let Cammy protect you."
Lelouch kissed Camilla on the lips, enticing her closer. "Do you mind leaving me room to get up for once? It's hard to get a drink of water or to the bathroom with how tightly you hug me?"
Lelouch was a bit concerned when Camilla's hug became even tighter.
"I…I've had frequent nightmares since you disappeared, you blaming me for your death, you dying in all manner of ways, me being married off with you nowhere in sight. But…since I've slept next to you…I've been at peace. You've chased my nightmares away, Lulu. I'm scared…I don't want to have bad dreams again."
"I didn't think you of all people could get scared," Lelouch responded, surprised.
"Bigger women have bigger hearts to break…and they're much harder to mend," she responded, shaking slightly. "I'm sorry for being selfish, Lulu. But…you're not the only one who's broken inside."
Lelouch pulled Camilla closer, causing her to mewl. "You really are like my other half. Without you, it's like a part of me is missing. I imagine, it's the same for you."
"Yes! A thousand percent, yes," Camilla responded, almost swooning. She linked her hands with Lelouch, kissing him. When their lips parted, they nuzzled foreheads and then cheeks. "I was lost without you." She embraced him tightly. "I'm so glad I have you back. Your Cammy is whole again, Lulu. Thank you for being alive. Thank you…for still loving me."
Lelouch hugged Camilla, patting her on the back. "If I am the wind beneath your wings, then you are the shield above my head. If I am the sun that gives you light, you are the tree that gives me shade. If I am your sanity," he said as he gave her a long, slow passionate kiss, "You are my strength."
Camilla swooned. "Oh, Lulu."
An intense romantic kissing session broke out between the two of them. Despite this, Camilla could still not cause Lelouch to rise to the occasion. But…she could be patient. And she loved him regardless. As Lelouch turned over to go to sleep, he thought Camilla had turned away from him in disappointment, but before long, he felt her embrace.
"You're not alone anymore, Lulu. Cammy's here to help," she said, embracing him gently. She snuggled her head into the back of his shoulder. "No matter how long it takes, no matter how hurt you are, I'm here to mend your wounds until you're confident enough to throw me to the bed and do as you will with me." She reached up and stroked his cheek. "You needn't feel guilt or disappointment, or disgust. I love you, no matter what. You're my Lulu, and I'm your Cammy." She stroked his chest gently. "You're precious to me far beyond the fact that we share blood. I'd feel the same, even if we were genetic strangers. You're everything to me, Lulu. So, stay by my side. Always."
Having used all her nightly strength to talk, Camilla fell asleep before Lelouch could respond.
Camilla…the brother you came to save, the Lelouch that you loved died a long time ago. I'm all that remains, Lelouch told himself. I love you enough to trust you, but…I'm concerned about you all the same. And I pray I don't need to make you forget all about me. I pray you don't come to regret the choice to love me. Because I'm as capable breaking your heart alive as I am dead. Nevertheless, if I'm allowed to be selfish… He turned over and faced the snoozing Camilla, then I would rather have my life with you in it, rather than be apart. I love you, Cammy. Don't leave me behind again.
Lelouch fell asleep too then. Camilla didn't know it, but she wasn't the only one plagued by nightmares. However, as long as the two broken royals were together, nothing in the realm of sleep could harm them. They had each other to rely on. As long as they had that, they could sleep as peacefully as the most naïve child in the world.
(A/N: Awwwwwww, isn't that cute? I'm glad nobody in the comments is making a big deal about the whole half-sibling thing. Granted, this is Code Geass where the incest is so thick it may as well be text, not subtext, but I thought I would at least shine a light on the whole thing. But, as you can see, a reunion does not simply fix all the problems. There are many more ahead. I have nine pages left of my 44-page outline before this series will have to go on an indefinite hiatus. I hope that I can come up with more content soon. I don't intend for this to be a long fic, not like some of my others. But who knows what may happen?
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