It was a desperate last minute change. Shirley Fenette knew it might look a little shady, but she couldn't not do this! She would never forgive herself if she let something like this go without acting!
"Milly! Milly!" the redhead whisper-shouted to her blonde friend and sometimes lover, trying to be heard over the crowd but not so loud that the crowd would pay too much attention. "We need to get Kallen into the bracket!"
"What?" The blonde heard her, she just didn't understand. She stood on her toes to look over the top of the crowd, seeing the named redhead standing with her friends, looking resigned but willing. "Uhh... Shirley?" she said, attempting to be gentle for the sake of the girl who maybe didn't quite understand the whole situation. "You remember what this competition is really for, right?"
"Of course!" They had planned it together extensively, after all! "But what if Emma wins?!"
"Oh, sweetie. Then she gets a date with Lelouch and probably makes him miserable for a couple of hours because she's a bitch. It won't go anywhere."
"I guess..." Shirley murmured, sounding like she didn't quite believe it. After all, Lelouch was with her, and Milly, and Kallen. Then again, even if Shirley didn't think she was all that special compared to the other two, she at least knew Lelouch. She didn't believe he would try to get under a girl's skirt without even knowing her first. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Still, Kallen deserves her chance too!"
"Ah..." The Ashford heiress knew full well that Shirley was drastically misinterpreting the situation. Partially by design. It was a lot to ask for Shirley to suddenly be saddled with the new reality of being a future bride of a future emperor. And so the redhead remained blissfully unaware that Kallen was not at all in the running.
Or rather, she didn't consider herself to be in the running. Lelouch was interested, Milly could tell. And so was Milly. A woman with maybe a little more physical prowess, another nicely tight and taut body still holding wonderfully feminine curves, that was a tempting idea. She tried to hide wetting her lips. "You're too nice a person, Shirley," she finally sighed, adding Kallen's name to the bracket. "You know she's going to beat the pants off of us, right?" That sounded fun in a literal sense, but here it meant they were both going to lose out in securing Lelouch's first time. The entire point of this little contest.
"You say it like you wouldn't enjoy it," the ginger girl teased.
"Ooh, nice but sassy! I like it! I've put her in the bracket." Her saucy smile slipped as she put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Don't regret this, okay?"
Shirley shook her head as she wore an understanding smile. "I won't. Even if I lose." She adopted a fighting pose. "But I won't lose! GUUUUUTS! Right?"
Milly shook her head. This girl was such a puppy. Later, following her tragic defeat, Milly would blame her loss on being distracted by imaginings of Shirley in droopy puppy ears and going 'woof'.
Which, to her mind, was a perfectly valid reason to suffer defeat.
-(-)-
Kallen stood with folded arms, wearing a robe over her underwear and an expression that openly declared that she was contemplating murder. She stood in her bedroom, a place that had been what little sanctuary she had in her father's home. The one he so rarely stayed in, instead leaving Kallen with only the servants and her father's wife for company.
In a sense, the current circumstances, the current misery was entirely her own fault. She had gotten back from training early. After what Lelouch had asked her to do, she had spent a little more time with the Knight of Six. She was a dour girl. Or maybe listless was a better word. She didn't seem to care at all about anything. That is, until Kallen had requested a little time away. Gottwald had flatly denied her when he found out it was for a date, but Anya had somehow brightened just a little. Just enough to be noticeable. The smaller knight had immediately overruled him and given Kallen permission. For as cold as Kallen had found the girl to be, it was nice to see there was at least something she valued. Even if it was something like dating, and even if it was entirely misplaced.
In any case, after getting home early to get ready, the bitch had made a crack about how mannish Kallen was, training to be a knight. And in response, the redhead had sniped back that she was going on a date tonight while the toxic shrew was left behind to rot in the Stadtfeld manor because the Lord Stadtfeld couldn't even stand the sight of her. It was satisfying in the moment. Unfortunately, it seemed the only part the bitch had heard was 'going on a date'.
The woman had barged into her room as she was getting ready for the date she didn't even really want to go on. Had thrown aside the outfit Kallen had chosen and started rooting through her closets for something 'better'.
"No. Not that one. Ugh, what pedestrian trash is this? Who provided this? I'll ensure we never have dealings with their type again if this is their idea of evening wear."
"You got a problem with my clothes, maybe you should just butt out! No one asked for your help! Hell, like I ever would!"
The woman scoffed, tore a dress off its hanger, sneered at it before she ripped it and threw it aside. "Disgusting." Kallen merited barely a glance from the woman before she moved to the next outfit. "You should be grateful. At least someone is willing to teach you how to properly catch a man. In fact you're lucky to get the advice of someone who managed to snare a great man like your father."
"You didn't snare him," Kallen countered the revisionist history coldly. "You were just the gold-digging skank that jumped on him first!" The gall of this woman, pretending she was worth anything more than a placeholder to keep up appearances! Kallen's eyes widened when she saw a cardigan in the woman's hands, poised to rip. "Hey! That's–!" She tried to snatch it away, a moment too slow, the bitch tore the collar without thought.
... Naoto got that for her.
"Get out..." she hissed, fists clenched.
The bitch looked at her like she was an idiot. "Ugh. It will forever escape me why he insisted you stay his heir. Uncouth and ungrateful. For this?" She held up the torn garment. "Trash a commoner would wear. It doesn't belong in this house–"
"I SAID GET OUT!" The scream ripped out of her throat, painful and raw.
The bitch sneered. Scoffed again. "Suit yourself. Must be that filthy Eleven blood coming through, refusing the kindness of your betters." Her parting comments were cut short for the sake of flight, escaping the small yet heavy lockbox thrown at her head.
Still breathing harshly, Kallen stepped over to the discarded cardigan and bent to pick it up. The bitch didn't even know it and she was still destroying things that reminded Kallen of her real family.
"Miss Kallen?"
Oh no. Not her again. She couldn't do this now. "What?" the redhead bit out at the maid.
"I," the maid swallowed thickly, "I heard a commotion and thought I'd ask if there was anything I could do to help?"
"No." The words were short and sharp. "Leave."
"As you wish." Even though she said it, she didn't leave. "Um, Miss, if I may, I could repair that if you like. I'm quite good with a needle and thread! It won't be as good as new, but–"
"Are you deaf?" Kallen growled.
"... No, Miss. I beg your pardon. I'll–"
"Wait," Kallen interrupted. Having second thoughts. The welling disgust for the woman was still there, but for once it was overridden by another feeling. "You said you can repair this?"
"Yes, Miss."
"How long would it take?"
"Not too long, Miss. Not more than an hour."
Kallen nodded. "You can do it here. And I want it done in a particular way."
The woman, the maid, the mother listened to the request, wearing a bright smile as she agreed. "That will be no problem at all, Miss. I'll fetch the needle and thread right away."
Why had Kallen said that? Why did she want the maid to be here in her room to repair it? What did that matter? She never...
It didn't matter. She put it out of her mind. Forced herself not to look when she returned, pretended not to notice the melancholic smile as the maid sat and got to work. It wasn't important. She wasn't important. Just a pathetic cast-off who couldn't let go.
Instead, Kallen focused her attention on her task. On getting ready for the stupid date she didn't even want to go on. The stupid date that she got roped into without realising, the one she felt too stupidly guilty to pass up when it meant Shirley couldn't go instead. Hell, the ditzy swimmer girl even refused to take the opportunity for herself when offered!
So here she was. Stuck trying to find an outfit that would work, make her look good... Why did it matter if she looked good?! She should wear something stupid instead! A burlap sack! Yeah! That would work! That'd show that stupid prince for thinking she was going on this date to enjoy it! Like she actually wanted this stupid prize! It was just a cover! Because... It was really important that... Shirley...? Not know that... Kallen wasn't interested in Lelouch...?
Yeah! ... Yeah that! That was it! She had to maintain her cover! And if it was for that, she had to act the part and try to look good! That was the only reason she was taking so much time and effort to find the perfect outfit.
"May I make a suggestion, Miss Kallen?"
The redhead opened her mouth to immediately say no, but after dithering in indecision for ten minutes... "Sure."
"Do you intend to wear this?" the maid asked, not needing to indicate the cardigan.
"Why do you think I wanted it repaired so fast?" Kallen asked with a frown.
"In that case..." The maid looked over the few outfits that had been lain out already. The ones the bitch hadn't ruined for being 'too common'. "The blue dress."
"... You think?"
"It would be a lovely match for your eyes," the woman elaborated, smiling like she wouldn't rather be anywhere else. "And it would be a lovely contrast to this red. Then the dark red heels and maybe some accessories to match what I'm doing here."
"Ugh, I hate heels."
"You'll have to get used to them sooner or later," the maid said chidingly without thinking.
But Kallen didn't comment on it. "Why? If I'm going military anyway–"
"Knights and noble ladies still wear heels in dress uniform," the maid reminded her. "Plus, they make your legs and backside look fantastic. Whoever this boy is you're seeing, his jaw will drop and he won't be able to keep his eyes off you!"
"You think so?" That did sound appealing. Seeing the look on his stupid smug face when she showed up looking like a million pounds.
"Oh, yes, absolutely! I remember when your father–"
"Don't talk about him."
And just like that... Whatever magic spell had occurred that allowed them to act like the mother and daughter they were, suddenly broke. The reality of the past few years rushing back into the room to leave an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.
"You can just leave..." Kallen whispered.
Her mother's head drooped, a melancholy smile crossing her face. "As you wish, Miss. I'll have this ready before you–"
"No," the daughter corrected her before she could stand up. "You don't have to be here, in this house." This had been coming. It was an inevitability since her idea of what her family had become had been challenged by Lelouch. Her father wasn't what she thought him to be. Not entirely. But her mother... "He doesn't love you. Not as much as he loves his status. And even if he did, he can't show it. There's nothing for you here. He doesn't even come home more than once a month. Just... Leave."
"Kallen..."
"Just leave! Just... Stop torturing yourself! You don't have to deal with that bitch or the other maids or any of that crap!"
"Kallen." The repetition was only slightly firmer. The maid was making an attempt, but years of being verbally (and sometimes physically) pushed down had marred her ability to stand up for herself. "You're right. I don't have to. I want to."
"Why?! Don't you have any pride?! Stand up for yourself or at least stop letting that bitch walk over you for a man who never–"
"What in the world made you think I stayed for him?" The question was simply spoken, like it should have been obvious. And maybe it should have. But that no less meant it rocked her teenage daughter on her heels as though she had been slugged. "We knew. What we had, we couldn't keep. Your brother was near enough a grown man. Your father supported him quietly as best he could, hoping he could find his feet despite everything. But you..." The mother wept, her hands slowing for her sight blurred by tears. "You were still so small. You didn't understand what was going on, not fully. Not until Naoto–" She stopped completely, forced to wipe her eyes as she spoke the name of her lost son. "Not until he went away. No matter what happened, no matter what I had to do, I couldn't leave you. I just couldn't–"
"Stop it stop it stop it!" Kallen exclaimed, horrified by how badly she had misjudged her entire life. "Why?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"You started pushing me away, I thought you understood. Your life would be better if you pretended I was never your mother. You go to a good school, you're in knight training, your father's heir..." The mother smiled weakly through her tears. "A better life for you. That's all I wanted. How could I ever say anything that would make you walk away from that?"
"I didn't want that! I never wanted that!" Kallen raged, almost entirely at herself for being so blinded by her anger. "All I wanted was to have my family back!"
Both women forcing themselves to keep their distance. No matter how much they wanted to close it, such a thing wasn't so easily overcome by a simple reveal of the truth. Someone needed to bridge that gap. One of them had to be willing to overcome that uncertainty, guilt and doubt.
And no matter how much their relationship had been changed over the years, it was still a mother's duty to support her child when she was struggling. "Kallen," she said as she set aside the cardigan on the desk. "Would you like some help fixing your make-up?"
The redhead blinked in surprise. Wiped at her tears to see the smudge of running mascara on her fingers. She spent so long getting that right. It took her three tries. "Please." As did finding the will to give that answer.
In half a moment, the tomboyish girl was sat at her desk, looking at herself in the mirror. Looking at the woman she had quietly despised for her lack of self-worth carefully clearing and reapplying her make-up.
"Hey now, none of that!" her mother chided, wiping her eyes with the cloth. "It'll run again!"
"R-right, sorry," Kallen managed to say as she forced herself to calm down.
"Now, what were you thinking for your hair?"
"I don't know, how I usually have it for school?"
"No no, that's no good, if this is your first date we need to do something special. Something he hasn't seen before so you can knock his socks off!"
Kallen wasn't so sure about that. Or at least, she liked the idea of him being in awe of her. That sounded like fun and a nice change of pace from him being a superior dick. But thinking about him losing any article of clothing brought back memories of Shirley eagerly discussing her experiences with him. A dangerous road. She didn't want to think about that. "I'm not even sure I want to go."
"You've gone to surprising lengths if you don't," her mother commented, brushing her hair back.
"He's a bastard."
Her mother hesitated, as if debating on chiding her daughter for her choice in language. But in the end decided it was a step too far. "All men are, on some level. But to do all this and take time off, there must be something you like about him, right?"
Sure. There were things she liked. Too bad it was all buried under him being a bastard. His stupid smug smirk. Giving her orders. And she was starting to think he was actually trying to get into her panties even if he wouldn't outright admit it. He sure seemed happy to find out he'd be taking her on this date instead of one of the two girls who would absolutely have spread their legs for him.
Shirley would probably even tell her about it.
"You're blushing!" her mother teased.
"I'm not!" But the mirror didn't lie. "Th-that's for something else!" It wasn't because she liked him! Or liked anything about him! Sure he was a Britannian who actually gave a shit about the Japanese but just being a decent human being wasn't enough to get her interested! After all, she wasn't riding Tamaki's dick! And yeah, maybe that stupid smirk was handsome sometimes. And yeah, he was super sweet with his sister. Who he took care of for years when she couldn't fend for herself. And yeah, maybe he cared enough about Kallen's own family situation at a glance to set her to actually see things as they really were. Basically half the reason she was sitting here letting her mother lovingly brush her hair.
"Oh no."
"There it is," her mother sing-songed. "Don't worry, Kallen," she reassured as her daughter wore an expression of horror. "It happens to the best of us."
-(-)-
Lelouch tried to keep his smugness to a minimum. Which is to say, he had the level of smugness of an ordinary young man about to go on a date with a beautiful girl, rather than himself, enjoying the satisfaction of Kallen getting involved in yet more silly and romantic situations with him. He knew for a fact she wasn't trying to do so, yet it seemed to keep happening regardless of her desires. He couldn't help but be amused by that, and appreciate just how flustered she could get about it.
The harassment from other Ashford students was an unexpected problem. But also one that wouldn't last long enough to be worth interference. Shirley was helping. Milly was helping. Getting involved himself was as likely to make things worse as make things better. One-sided infatuations could lead to foolish decisions like that, perhaps even especially when it was openly declared that such infatuations were not reciprocated. They were certainly at the age when belief that they could somehow change his mind would overcome all good sense, so he could only judge them so much for it.
Such was also the reason that while he was intent on showing Kallen a good time, he had no intention of pressuring her into Milly's true purpose for her little competition. A pleasant dinner date, some teasing, but the hotel room that had been booked would remain sadly unused. A shame, but Lelouch was in no rush to indulge himself in the pleasures of the flesh. Well... He was, but he was already enjoying himself quite a bit with Milly and Shirley's moments of mutual indulgence. Shirley was already getting quite good at–
... He was letting his thoughts get away from him. It wouldn't be right to think about the unexpected carnal abilities of another woman tonight. Truly romantic or not, Kallen was to be his only focus.
The taxi slowed to a stop, the driver acknowledging the order to wait as Lelouch emerged and strolled to the front entrance of the manor. Sounding the doorbell and waiting with the confidence of someone who was far more used to residences of such wealth than his cover would imply. A servant opened the door, prompting Lelouch to introduce himself and his purpose. The servant in turn offered him the option of waiting in the drawing room for Kallen to be ready. Only for the girl herself to appear and send the servant scurrying away.
It came as a surprise, seeing her dressed rather formally on nearly every level. He had seen her reserved persona she used for school. Quiet, demure, neat, but drab. He had seen her more honest rebellious persona, showing the tough girl she really was. This however, was the first time he saw her demonstrating her feminine side. Her nascent womanly side. Her short hair woven into a small bun, save for letting her bangs hang to frame her face. An understated amount of make-up turning a cute and feisty girl to a sharp-eyed woman. Even if a woman visibly unused to wearing high heels. "You look beautiful," he complimented her, meaning it sincerely even if he expected it would be taken as a tease.
Surprising him, she took the compliment rather than deflect or get irate. "Thank you," she responded, blushing just a little as she cleared her throat. "You're, uh, you're looking pretty sharp too. I'm ready to go."
He nodded, offering his arm which, again, she surprised him by taking. Looping her hand through the crook of his elbow as she stepped out of the house. As she turned to shut the door, he got a clearer look at something he at first wasn't sure he saw correctly. "Interesting."
"What's interesting?" she asked with suspicion as they started walking to the car. The redhead's steps a little unsteady. Enough for him to notice when she put just a little of her weight on his arm to balance herself properly.
"Your cardigan." It was an oddly declarative part of her outfit. The dress was elegant. As were the heels, despite her difficulty with them. But the red cardigan didn't match that elegance at all. Not by value, aesthetic or quality. That would be enough on its own, but beyond that, it had been repaired at some point, with direct intent to not hide the fact at all. "Kintsugi," he observed. A horrible tear in the jacket repaired with gold thread. "I've not seen it used to repair clothes before." As he had observed. It was declarative. Not just for being of lower quality, but also repaired with a method reminiscent of Japanese artistry.
"Is that a problem?" she challenged.
"Far from it," he answered as he moved to get the door for her, only for her to get it herself. "It's a wonderful touch, and very you."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" she demanded just before he shut the door.
Moving around the car, Lelouch opened the opposite door and climbed inside. "It means," he began to answer as he waved for the driver to get moving, "that it suits you on every level. Who you are, where you come from, what you stand for, and how all that combines to make you such a fascinating woman."
"You're not wasting time before laying on the compliments, huh?" Kallen asked, sounding flattered yet trying to appear unimpressed.
He wasn't, and while saying they were all valid and genuine was true, it would only make them sound trite in retrospect. So instead he moved on. "I admit, kintsugi is a concept I didn't understand when I was first sent here. I imagine most Britannians still don't. But as certain things happened, I found myself re-evaluating. To keep something broken or damaged in itself is not a Britannian perspective. No matter how perfect a repair, the value of it would be considered irreparably tarnished. Considered no longer worth keeping."
"Right. If you mess up, that stays with you no matter what."
"Just so," Lelouch nodded in agreement. "The idea of taking something as valuable as gold and expending it on a damaged object... Why not make something new with the gold? Surely that would have more value. It would be bad enough if such a wasteful attitude were only applied to objects, rather than anything or anyone." He sighed in frustration. "Kintsugi is a beautiful concept. No matter how damaged or broken something might be, with the right care, it can be reforged to be more beautiful than it was to begin with. Every ill-fated moment, every thoughtless action, never forgotten. But mended. And made more beautiful for the hardship it endured."
"... You don't know the value of something until you lose it. But you only really lose it when you give up on it."
Lelouch's eyebrows rose, surprised at the contemplative statement from a girl who didn't seem the type to say such things. "Precisely."
The conversation lulled, to the point Kallen was startled when the short car ride came to a halt outside the Caerleon Hotel and Lelouch opened the door for her.
A fully paid night at one of the settlement's finest hotels, complete with a private dining room at their restaurant. Milly really didn't hold anything back in arranging this. They could at least make the most of what they would use.
"Lamperouge, private room for–"
"Three," Kallen interrupted his declaring their reservation, glancing at him before returning to staring at the maître d'.
"Yes, the booking that was changed," the head waiter acknowledged with a touch of frustration. "Very well, please follow me. Shall your third be arriving separately?"
"Yes, please escort her to our room when she arrives."
Lelouch picked up the cue from the first time he tried to do the gentlemanly thing that she wouldn't appreciate further attempts, and so didn't bother pulling Kallen's chair for her. Only when they were sat at their table (with three chairs) did he speak up about the obvious question. "Three?"
She didn't answer immediately, instead she stared at him as if angry. "Let me be clear," she finally said. "This whole thing is stupid. If I'd known what was really going on, I'd never have agreed to any of this. Shirley is a... She's a good person. She has this weird idea that you and I are a thing, so I figured I'd play along to not hurt her feelings when she tries to include me in your little harem shenanigans."
"Thus agreeing to this date," Lelouch nodded along, understanding the logic. "Well, that and the part where you're desperately attracted to me," he added as a joke.
"I wouldn't say desperately."
Or... Evidently... Not a joke.
"Don't get me wrong," she continued with a scowl made of defensiveness more than disdain. "You're a smug asshole. And you seem to think it's funny making it look like I have a crush on you."
"It was, until around twenty-six seconds ago when I found out you really do."
"Stop getting ahead of yourself!" she snapped, again, defensively. "I... When I was getting ready, maybe I realised I was looking forward to this more than I thought I was. And maybe despite you being a smug asshole there are things about you that maybe make up for that."
"And suddenly I feel the need to put my best foot forward, not that I was intending to slack off in that regard anyway." Lelouch fixed the few imperfections he found in his clothing, tightening and straightening his cravat. "But happy as I am to learn it's not just me that finds you interesting, that does raise the question of why this is suddenly a reservation for three."
"... You need to tell Shirley the truth."
"So Shirley is our plus one."
"No, it's Jeremiah Gottwald," she responded flatly. "Keeping secrets from her, I get it. Or I did, at least while you were setting yourself up. But you don't need to do that anymore. Every minute you don't tell her who you really are is a minute longer you're stringing her along. It isn't fair."
"You want me to tell her? Here?" His glancing around was a fair demonstration that he didn't trust this room to be as private as advertised.
It baffled him that Kallen blushed in response to the question, at least until she explained what she really meant. "She's... She wants to be with you even knowing you're lying to her, so... She's continuing the date when I leave." The redhead glared at him. "That's why I want you to tell her the truth, before things get that far. She deserves that much."
"How things change," Lelouch mused, wearing a fond smile for his date. "Were it a month ago, would you have ever cared so much for a Britannian girl's feelings?"
"Stop... Changing the subject," Kallen grumbled.
"You're right, I apologise. And you're right about Shirley too." He didn't particularly intend to 'string her along' for much longer regardless. Milly's hare-brained scheme seemed tailored specifically to force his hand on the matter, even. "I wouldn't have allowed things to progress as far as you expect they will tonight without revealing the truth. I imagine that's why such a thing was the 'prize' in Milly's contest, until Shirley's giving nature threw a spanner in the works. Honestly," he continued, gesturing at Kallen with his hand as his arm leaned against the table. "It's a trait I wasn't aware you shared."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, of course not. I'm sure rearranging the restaurant reservation to be for three people was the simplest thing in the world."
"I just had to ask Milly to do it."
"My point stands."
The redhead scoffed. "You can't turn the smug asshole off for five minutes, can you?"
"For that long? With you?" the prince asked, pantomiming doubt and struggle. "No, that's more than I can manage. But, I can endure long enough to say." He reached across the table, took her hand in his. "Thank you for caring so much. More than almost anyone else, I expect she'll need someone looking out for her."
"Pardon the intrusion, Sir, Madam. Your third has arrived."
"Lulu! Kallen!" a slightly breathless Shirley exclaimed as she moved past the maître d'. "Sorry I'm late! Did you order without me?"
"No, we were happy to wait for you," Kallen answered.
Lelouch stood, as was proper manners, taking Shirley's hands in his. "It's good to see you, Shirley," he told her, earning a blush. "I'm glad you could join us. Shall we sit?" Contrary to Kallen, he did pull her chair for her, admiring her as she sat. She had gone for a less overtly formal outfit, likely as a result of short notice. But she had certainly not spared effort to look fantastic despite that. Her long, ginger hair weaved into a braid, her outfit a frilled blouse and long skirt, with heels she wore with much more confidence and familiarity than Kallen did hers.
What followed was an evening of mild awkwardness and difficulty only smoothed over by two people who were more than capable in social situations. Lelouch, a young man learned in etiquette while also in more casual social dynamics by necessity. Shirley, a girl who had a naturally social and gregarious attitude. An extrovert happy as could be to spend an evening chatting with her boyfriend, and even with what she thought was his other girlfriend. What could more realistically be called Lelouch and Kallen's first date and their first interactions with the possibility of romantic inclinations even being on the table.
Instead, whatever nerves Shirley held for what would likely come later were quickly forgotten as she did what she did best. Being a cheerful and friendly person, willing and able to draw a standoffish person out of their shell. In this case, Kallen. Shirley and Lelouch knew each other fairly well despite the secrets involved. But Kallen was at best an acquaintance. Before long, Kallen found herself becoming the focus of conversation. Unsure what to do with that, she was nonetheless pulled into discussion whenever she began to drift into silence. Shirley was nervous. Kallen was uncertain. None of it mattered. Larger implications didn't matter. All that mattered was enjoying the evening together. Good food and good conversation.
A whirlwind of pleasant vibes and good cheer. It took a fair moment for them to realise the late hour growing even later. That the evening was drawing to a close. The three teens left the restaurant, left the hotel to find the taxi waiting to take Kallen home.
"Shirley," the redhead said, wetting her lips, her mouth having gone dry from what she knew she was about to do. "I didn't think I wanted tonight. Lelouch will probably explain why, or at least he better," she added with a glancing glare sent his way. "But... I guess I'm glad that you pushed me to do it, even if we were both way off base about what was really happening."
"I'm happy you're happy, Kallen! I had fun getting to know you better too! I feel like we'll get along great in future!" As was typical, there was not a hint of guile in the ginger girl's words. "But... Um...?" The question remained unasked, Shirley waving it away herself with a smile.
"Lelouch," Kallen continued, turning to her and Shirley's mutual romantic interest. "Get that smile off your face."
"Kallen, I'm glad you had a good time! Why wouldn't I smile?"
"Can't believe I'm still this willing to put up with you," she muttered mostly to herself. "I'm already putting so much trust in you, but this still scares the hell out of me." Taking a quick, steadying breath, she leaned up to kiss him. Almost entirely chaste, yet that didn't prevent her heart from racing in her chest. "So I need you to not screw this up."
"That's a two way street," he noted, "But I'll do my best. And... Thank you again."
All too aware of her vibrant blush, the Stadtfeld heiress and double agent muttered a hasty goodbye as she climbed into the car. The taxi soon speeding off.
"Wow," Shirley uttered as they watched the car disappear around a corner. "She was really embarrassed to kiss you in public, huh? Was she like that in private too? I kind of assumed she was... Well, I thought some mean things about her. But she's really sweet when you get to know her, huh?"
Nothing Shirley said was technically wrong. "Would you like to go upstairs?"
It was the swimmer's turn to blush. Her expression suddenly flooded with nervousness and eagerness. "I'd like that."
He offered her his hand, leading her back into the hotel, into the elevator. To their room and inside. Once inside, Lelouch found himself on the receiving end of a teenage girl who was not only eager but excited for what would come next. The door was barely closed before a grinning girl was pressing her lips to his, coaxing and playing with his tongue to encourage his reciprocation.
"Shirlmph," he almost managed to say her name between kisses. "Shirley, we should talk first."
Being physically held back from continuing, the desire in her eyes receded a little. Replaced with disappointment. "What do we have to talk about? Do you... Not want...?"
"Shirley, we're in a hotel room together. If I didn't, we wouldn't have gotten this far. But," he guided her away from the entrance to the room, toward the bed and sat her down. "Before we do this, I need to tell you the truth. All of it."
"The stuff you couldn't tell me before?"
"It more or less doesn't matter if you know at this point from a practical perspective. But even if it did, I wouldn't want to take this step while still hiding things from you. Without telling you who I really am."
"Who you really...?" Her face scrunched up cutely in her confusion. "I don't understand," she confided with a nervous laugh.
"Lelouch Lamperouge isn't my real name. It was a nom de guerre I chose to hide from those searching for Nunnally and I. My name, my real name, is Lelouch vi Britannia."
He told her. All of it. With her eyes wide, he confided his true identity to her. Why he owed Milly and the Ashfords so much. Why they had to hide. And as an afterthought specifically because Kallen had insisted, how the illicit relationship between he and her was entirely fabricated, with the single exception of this night.
"Oh my god," the entirely ordinary Britannian girl breathed through the hands covering her face.
"I know it's a lot to take in all at once–"
"I told her what it was like giving you a blowjob!" Shirley wailed in mortification.
"... Come again?"
"She didn't know anything! She hadn't done anything with you! And I thought she'd experienced it too so I talked to her about the taste of your–! Nnnnn! I'm so embarrassed!"
"Er... If it makes you feel any better, she clearly doesn't hold it against you?" He didn't know what else to say. "This isn't quite the reaction I expected. I thought you'd be surprised about the prince thing, at least."
"I am! But that part isn't important!"
"I feel like it's fairly important."
Shirley sighed, fighting down her mortification to look him in the eye. "Lulu," she said, taking his hands, "None of that matters to me. That you're a prince, what you want to do, it isn't important to me. When you asked me in that closet if you're what I really want... Even if it wouldn't be a perfect storybook ending... The answer was yes. I realised, no matter what else, no matter what you were hiding, I still want to be with you. What you just told me, it doesn't even come close to the worst things I imagined, the things I would still accept if it meant I could be with you."
The prince wasn't sure what to make of that. It seemed... Mad. Or maybe naive. Shirley couldn't understand what she was saying. Couldn't truly mean that. But her eyes were clear, focused, her demeanour entirely sane. And she had put her words into practice just a moment ago, ignoring a world-shaking revelation for her own personal embarrassment at an admittedly severe and raunchy social faux pas.
She really didn't care. His true status didn't make him more or less desirable in her eyes. To her, he was just... Lulu.
A realisation that terrified and enthralled him all at once.
Before he even understood what he was doing, he was kissing her again. Before either could put thought towards the action they were removing each other's clothes. Lelouch's cravat and coat yanked off and thrown away. Shirt and blouse unbuttoned and awkwardly pulled off; neither teen could say with any kind of certainty whether pants and skirt went before during or after.
All they could say for certain was that in their next aware moment, Lelouch was pinning Shirley to the bed, both of them in their underwear and grinning at one another. Another searing kiss, Lelouch's arms wrapped around the back of his paramour's neck. Shirley rising to get her hands behind her back and open the clasp of her bra. The two parting only long enough for the garment to be thrown off and get hooked on the ceiling fan. Lelouch didn't wait any longer, sliding down to fondle and suck on his girlfriend's ample breasts, the redhead gasping and mewling in encouragement. His free hand slipping her panties down to her knees, far enough that she could kick them off.
There was a momentary struggle, Lelouch not wanting to let her lovely breasts go, Shirley wanting to reach down and remove his underwear. For them both to be bare, to be ready. A shove, a pull, and it was so. A prince's erect length sliding along her slick lower lips. "Lulu," she gasped, feeling their most intimate places meeting for the first time.
"Shirley," he answered, trying to restrain himself. Her folds felt so good and he wasn't even inside her yet. "Do you want me to–?"
"Yes!" she answered eagerly. Grinning. Begging with her eyes. "I can't wait anymore! Make love to me, Lulu!"
Neither even considered the idea of protection in the preceding moments. And at the point of entry it was the furthest thing from Lelouch's mind. Nothing was more important than being inside this beautiful girl who somehow accepted him for who he was without a hint of question. He pressed himself between her folds, watching the seductive biting of her lip as she felt it just as much as he did. The tightness as he slowly entered her for the first time. He kissed her barrier, held there, pressed ever so slightly more insistently.
"Lulu–! Lu–Ah!" Shirley squeaked, wincing in pain, but trying to smile all the same. "You're..."
"Yeah..."
"Lulu..." She bit her lip again, then nodded shakily. "Keep going, I'm okay. I want to feel it."
He nodded back, pushing further, gently. Giving her as much opportunity to adjust as he could despite his desires roaring that he do otherwise. He wouldn't hurt her if he could help it. Inch by inch, he slipped inside his lover's vice-tight womanhood. Her first time forever his. His first time forever hers.
Shirley panted, smiling brightly as they both felt him reach as deep inside her as he could go. She nodded again, giving him permission. She wanted it. Wanted him to make love to her. And so he began to move. Rearing back and pressing in with smooth strokes. At first uncertain, but with growing confidence as he grunted and she mewled in the pleasure of the other's body. A moment of beauty, yet unavoidable indecency. Neither could ignore the wet sounds of Lelouch moving inside her slick opening. The debauched sounds giving the both of them an awareness, a removal of innocence neither knew they had. No matter the romance of it, no matter the station and pride and propriety. Sex was wet, and sticky, and lurid. And anyone who pretended otherwise was either lying or doing it wrong.
And with that loss of innocence, they both knew they wanted more and threw themselves even deeper into their romantic rutting. Shirley's hips rolling to meet her lover's as his pace rose. Lelouch leaning down to take her lips again, to have their tongues dance together again. Her hard nipples scraping against his chest as he moved inside her with desperate pumps chasing the inevitable climax. He knew he had to hold back. He was supposed to make sure Shirley reached her peak before he did. But there was no force in the world that could get him to slow down at that moment.
"Lulu!" Shirley whimpered. "Harder! Please!"
And that was not helping! He couldn't refuse her. Only go faster, harder, deeper, filling her with every thrust as he felt a tightening. A familiar straining that told him what was to come.
"Lulu! Lulu, I'm–! Hn!"
He kissed her again, thanking whatever force let her cum first. His own hips wouldn't, couldn't stop moving toward his own climax. A fraction of a moment behind her, Lelouch felt his insides clench, his manhood erupt inside Shirley. Heard her moan in response to her freshly deflowered pussy filled with his thick, white seed. That pussy squeezing and milking his cock as a result of her own climax, ensuring every drop he had to give flowed directly into her thirsty womb.
"Lulu... I..."
Whatever Shirley had to say, it faded into pleased mumbling as he lay atop her. The two teens' bodies entwined as they drifted into sleep together.