Lelouch ♚ 005

[zerointegrity]

Who: zerointegrity, incorruption, cravatted, and scientize. Also featuring aevitas .
Where: Somni and Espoir
Style: First
Status: Closed

Backdated to the night C.C. was murdered.Despite having been in Somarium for quite some time now, he had never been shaken to the core. Several things over the course of the past year had shaken him, yes, but nothing like this. The people he held closest to

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[zerointegrity]

When the people that he cherished and held close to his heart were put in harm's way, when they were taken from him without his consent, when their lives were extinguished, that was when he started to panic. He lost all control over something he thought he had a handle on. Nothing could be taken lightly anymore, every precaution had to be taken lest something like this happen again. This sort of situation was what he feared the most, when all of his emotions were written all over his face and the terror can be seen in his eyes. This was when Lelouch was at his most vulnerable.

He wasn't concerned about his own wellbeing, for the most part. No, he didn't want Nunnally to have to lose her brother a second time, but that was the only thing that crossed his mind when thinking about his own life. Nobody was out to kill him in Somarium, there was no war, there was no powerful army at his disposal. Things were normal. The only thing he was concerned about was the safety of two of the most important people in his life, C.C. and Nunnally.

Nothing could ever happen to them.

Nothing would ever happen to them in Somarium.

Yet, he stood, gasping for breath and tears streaming down his cheeks, at the front door of the home he shared with his sister and accomplice in Espoir with a lifeless, bloody body in his arms.

"Nunnally!" he screamed, the urgency easily heard in his voice. "Nunnally, please hurry! I can't unlock the door. I need you to hurry!"

He didn't want to see his sister's face when she opened the door and saw her brother standing there with the witch's mangled, bloody body in his arms. His eyes darted everywhere they possibly could as he heard her approaching, calling back to him to tell him that she was hurrying as fast as she possibly could. His entire body shook as the key turned and the doorknob slowly turned, tear-filled eyes locking with the terror filled eyes that met him as the door opened.

[incorruption]

[She had almost never heard him sound so frantic. Even before seeing the scene, she was shaking and fumbling with opening the door. Lelouch was always so calm under stress, so something that had shaken him up this much...

It couldn't be good.

Finally, she opened the door. Her eyes were wide as she saw the state of C.C., and the tears on Lelouch's face. She was frozen, though her mind was trying to get her to say something, anything.

But how could she, when once again, she was faced with death? And again, of someone she was close to.

When would it stop? First Euphie, then Shirley, then Lelouch and Suzaku...everyone kept leaving her.

And now C.C. Granted, she may not have been as close to her as anyone else, but it was still someone she felt was dear to her.

She didn't even realize that she was crying. Her vision was blurring, and she was shaking even more now, but it didn't register in her mind. C.C. had made cranes with her, had even promised to come and see her at home (as long as there was pizza involved, of course).

Would she never be able to do that?

There was something in the back of her mind that told her to move for her brother, and finally, shaking fingers started to move herself away from the door. She didn't move much, just enough so that he could get through with the girl in his arms.

Nunnally couldn't speak, couldn't say anything still. All she could do was cry.]

[zerointegrity]

[As much as he wants to keep his composure in front of his sister, to never let her see him in such a vulnerable and pathetic state, Lelouch knows that there's no way he can keep himself from falling apart right now. Slowly, each brick starts to crumble, every wall of defense he'd spent the last 10 years building collapsing around his feet.

He stares at Nunnally for a few seconds, though it feels like an eternity, before moving into the foyer and dropping to his knees, C.C.'s body held tightly against his chest. Tears stream down his face as he stares at the body in his arms, frantic because he has lost something he truly can't replace.]

Nunnally... Nunnally, what do I do? What do I do?

[He swallows the lump forming in his throat, struggling to keep the tears from continuing down his cheeks. Nunnally hasn't moved an inch since he moved past her, frozen by the door, crying, and shaking... and he wishes he could comfort her, he does, but he can't right now.]

She's not supposed to die. She can't die...

[incorruption]

[If only there wasn't so much blood - it reminded her far too much of things that she didn't want to remember. She can't think, she can't...

But Lelouch...he was so upset. They couldn't both be this way, right? Then they really couldn't get anywhere.

Slowly, slowly, she starts putting herself back together. Her hands were still shaking as she moves her wheelchair forward, and she puts a hand on Lelouch's shoulder. Of course she had no idea about his words about her not being able to die - after all, everyone died, right?

She swallows hard, trying not to think about it.]

Did you...call anyone about this? [She's trying not to look at C.C. - it's only her and her brother right now. She's trying to be strong, but she knows that if pushed in the wrong direction, she'll crumble all over again.

But it was her turn to be strong for her brother.]

We need to put her somewhere...[Her words catch in her throat, and she curls her hand into a ball.] she can't...stay like this.

[She's scared, very scared, and it shows on her face and her voice.]

[zerointegrity]

[Upon Nunnally's suggestion that they put C.C.'s body somewhere, he tightens his grip on her, pulling her lifeless body even closer to his own than it was before. He has no intention of letting her go. He didn't want to admit to himself that she was really gone, he's not ready to do that and he didn't know if he would ever be ready do that.]

I'm keeping her with me.

[His tone isn't the nicest toward his sister and he realizes it moments after the words leave his lips. Hurting Nunnally is the last thing he wants to do, especially considering the time he has in Somarium is all they have left together. But how does he begin to explain why he's so upset? She doesn't know the depth of the relationship he has with C.C. She has no way of knowing how important C.C. is in his life.]

I sent a text message to both Naomi and Miles Edgeworth.

[After a brief pause, Lelouch looks over his shoulder at Nunnally, helpless and pained eyes meeting eyes full of fear. His voice is barely above a whisper.]

Nunnally, this has never happened before. What am I going to do? She's never died... Everything has always been fine.

[incorruption]

...Okay.

[She doesn't want to correct him and tell him that the blood unnerves her. His tone stopped any sort of comment like that.

She even lets go of him - at least she'd calmed him somewhat. Even if his tone bothers her, it's better than nothing. At least he's not panicking so much, right?

Nunnally puts her hands in her lap, and takes a deep breath.] And they'll be able to help, right?

[...But then she sees the look on his face again. Once again the tears start streaming down her face, and she clutches her dress. What can she tell him? Not for the first time, she's useless to help her brother. She had always wanted to help him, but the time he asks for it...

She has nothing she can tell him.]

I...I don't know. [Her voice breaks. She takes a few moments to try to compose herself--] I'm so sorry, Lelouch...

[That's all she could say. What else could she say? Dealing with people in this state wasn't something she knew about, not at all.]

[zerointegrity]

I don't know, Nunnally.

[He looks down at the body in his arms and thinks back to the times he has seen C.C. in this condition, and he can't think of any. Yes, he's seen her injured and near death, but never like this. None of her injuries have ever been this bad. She has always been able to heal herself, always been able to struggle through everything life has thrown at her.

Was that not possible in Somarium? Did her immortality mean nothing in this dream? Had her wish finally been granted?

It was something he never wanted to think about and something he would not (and did not) let happen. Selfish of him? Perhaps, but that was the path he chose to take.]

I don't know if anybody can help her.

[Lelouch turns to face his beloved sister, the most important person in his life, with the other most important person held tightly against his blood-soaked chest. He sees the tears falling from her eyes and it pains him to know there's not a thing he can do to stop them... He can barely stop his own.]

I hope I never see you like this. I struggle every day with the thought of leaving you here by yourself when I go to work, especially after seeing the things I've seen. What would I do?

[He holds C.C.'s body closer, not wanting to let go, not wanting to admit to himself that she's actually dead. And, he realizes, sitting here covered in the blood of his accomplice, his cheeks stained with tears, that he can't always be strong for his sister.]

I'm a wreck.

[incorruption]

We could...still try.

[She's trying to remain hopeful, for him. It's the only thing she can do, even though she was upset as well.

Again, she places her hand on his shoulder. What he said hadn't surprised her; she knew that he worried about her all the time. However, it wasn't in her plans to have anything happen to her, or put herself into a position where it would happen. She didn't want to cause him that much pain if she could help it.

But she knows the feeling. She doesn't want to anyone she cared about like this either - especially him. To lose him a second time...

Nunnally knows she wouldn't be able to keep it together, for anyone.]

I'll be fine, Lelouch. Nothing will happen to me - I'm very careful both when I'm in the house and when I'm outside.

[She looks down at C.C.'s body one last time, and then away from both of them.]

...I know.

[scientize]

[Immediately interrupting their conversation, a swift knock was heard at the front door.]

[zerointegrity]

[Upon hearing the knock, his head jerked toward the door. Not wanting to move from his current location in the middle of the foyer and not wanting to force his sister to get the door, he yells. His voice shaky, nothing like the normal commanding tone Naomi is used to hearing when she speaks with the young Emperor.]

Come in! Please hurry, the door is unlocked...

[His focus remains on the door for a few seconds before returning to the lifeless body in his arms. It was selfish of him to want her alive, after all, this was her wish, wasn't it? But he didn't care. Lelouch is a selfish child and is not willing to let go or give up on something (someone) he needs in his life.]

[scientize]

[That quick command is all she needs to hear.

Hefting up the heavy bag onto her thin shoulder, Naomi enters the house and immediately finds her way towards the pair and their deceased friend. With a small glance to the young girl she doesn't recognize and the man she does before kneeling beside them and C.C.

A brief glance to her wound is enough to recognize just what has happened.]

Another victim of the serial killer.

[incorruption]

[She doesn't recognize Naomi either, but she must've been one of the people Lelouch called.

So she looks up at the woman, frowning.]

Is there...anything we can do?

[It's obvious she's dead, but...what now?

That's what Nunnally wanted to know.]

[scientize]

[Honestly, no. Not at this point, when the poor girl is already so far gone.

Naomi's dark gaze flickers away from the bloody corpse to take a peek at Lelouch's pale face, attempting to gauge just what he is thinking.]

No, there is nothing to do anymore but give her to the police so we can find the monster who did this.

[zerointegrity]

It's unlocked!

[Lelouch doesn't bother to get the door or to even move from his current position in the foyer beside his sister and Naomi. The woman in his arms is far more important than politeness and manners, far more important than most things. Apologies can always be given at a later date should the Chief Prosecutor take offense to his actions.

He turns to Naomi, an angry and desperate look in his eyes.]

Naomi, you don't understand, C.C. can't die. This isn't supposed to be happening... Nothing like this has ever happened, things have always righted themselves.

[incorruption]

[She's just taking it all in. The whole scene was surreal...so very surreal.

What did Lelouch mean about C.C. not being able to die? There was always something about her that she thought was different, but...

She'll have to ask him later, maybe when circumstances are a little bit better.

With Naomi and now (she assumed) was Miles, she backed up just a little bit to let them take over the situation. They would know more than she would how to handle the situation.

Right? As much as she wants to help her brother...that would prove to be difficult right now.]