Trust

Trust
A Code Geass fan fiction story
Written by Archangel
Edited by Comixgal

{Author’s Note: This story begins shortly after Code Geass episode 1.09. Chapter 1 is dedicated to Dragoness22 (forgot to add that when I first posted the chapter). The music suggestion is “Angel Eyes” by Jim Brickman. Further notes at the end. Enjoy, and please provide feedback! RATE and/or REVIEW, please!}


The man known as Zero looked at the small figure curled up on the couch below him. The incident with her mother must have bothered her more than he’d first thought. She hadn’t even changed out of her school clothes; normally she exchanged them for her Black Knights uniform as soon as possible.

The man donned the mask tucked under his arm. The face behind the mask frowned.

I’ve got to snap her out of this, Lelouch Lamperouge thought. She’s no use to me in this state. Besides which, he added to himself, it hurts to see such a strong person reduced to this. She looks like a puppy in the rain.

Sounds like one too, Lelouch noted as the young woman’s quiet sobs drifted through the mask’s auditory amps. His chest felt tight. The urge to go over and cradle her in his arms was very strong. Lelouch dismissed the impulse; such behavior would be bad for discipline. That still left the problem of how to help. With a mental shrug, he descended the stairs from the vehicle’s upper level.

Kallen Kouzuki started violently as she heard the whisper of cloth and the clack of boots on metal. She lifted her face from the cushions of the semicircular couch. Her ice-blue eyes went very wide. Oh God! Zero! He can’t see me like this! I can’t look weak in front of him!

Zero sat down next to Kallen as she hastily sat up, tucking her legs underneath her body.

“Zero! I… I didn’t realize you were…”

“Good evening, Kallen,” Zero replied.

Kallen was surprised at the mild tone of his voice. Zero almost sounded… gentle. He also seemed more relaxed than usual. He still exuded that wonderful confidence and energy though, that indefinable something that drew the Black Knights together. The something that Kallen adored.

As Zero just sat and looked at her, Kallen realized that she’d never been completely alone with him like this. Sure, Inoue was sitting watch in the cockpit, but she had no reason to come back here. Kallen felt her face warming as she looked back into that blank mask.

Her gaze dropped to the cushions before her. “I didn’t know where else to come.”

“You didn’t want to stay in the Britannian world.”

Kallen nodded mutely. She unconsciously tried to rub the tearstains from her cheek.

“Wherever I am, you are welcome.”

She looked up again, giving Zero a faint smile. “Thanks.”

“What kind of general would I be if I turned my best soldier away?” Zero asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Kallen blinked twice. Did Zero just make a joke? He had to be joking. “Best soldier?” she asked incredulously.

“None of my other Knights can match your skill as a knightmare pilot,” Zero replied evenly.

“That’s me. A pilot.” Kallen’s eyes drifted closed. “If you took that away, I’d be no use to anyone.”

“And I trust you,” Zero added as if she hadn’t spoken.

“What? I mean… why?”

Zero lowered his head, resting the chin of his mask upon his breast. A minute passed. Then another. “Because you trust me,” he answered at last.

Blue eyes opened. “All of us trust you!” Kallen protested.

The violet oval came up to face those eyes once more. “Do you truly believe that?”

The eyes dropped. “…No.”

“I can truly trust you. That’s why you’re important, Kallen.”

That’s probably the kindest thing anyone’s ever said to me, Kallen thought. Zero’s the only person who’s ever *really* cared about me, except Mom. And now Mom’s… Fresh tears traced their way down her cheeks. The salty droplets felt like acid as Kallen hugged herself. For someone she looked up to so much to see her like this…

“She won’t be in prison for twenty years, you know.”

Mind-reader. “She won’t last twenty days,” Kallen whispered bitterly. “Mom doesn’t know how to fight… or anything, really.”

“That’s not what I meant. Before the year is out, we’ll be going through Britannian prison rosters to see who was arrested legitimately. Refrain users should be rehabilitated, not incarcerated. Until then, she’ll be safe. You have my word.”

“You know the worst part? I was horrible to her all these years… I thought she was stupid and weak for staying… and now that I finally find out why she stayed…” Kallen broke down again, quiet sobs shaking her body. The shame of showing weakness in front of Zero only made her cry harder.

Zero didn’t speak, didn’t so much as twitch. He just sat there in his usual pose, arms folded, watching her. Behind the mask, Lelouch was exerting every ounce of willpower not to reach out to her. If he offered more comfort than he already had, Kallen would become overly familiar, prompting others to do the same. He really shouldn’t have said as much as he did, but… Kallen had done so much for him since that fateful day in Shinjuku. It was only right that he help her when she needed it.

As her tears began to ebb, Kallen began talking. She told Zero about her parents, about growing up in a Britannian household, about her brother and Oghi. Largely rambling, going off on many tangents, she only paused for breath. Zero listened to it all without moving a muscle. In time, there was nothing more to say, and Kallen fell silent.

Kallen waited for the cutting comment as Zero stood and looked down. She waited for Zero to tell her she was weak. It was true, after all. She was just a spoiled kid with a bad home life playing at being a soldier.

Zero’s gloved hand alighted gently on her shoulder. Kallen gasped. A single, soft squeeze to her shoulder. Warmth and strength flowed through Kallen’s body, as if Zero was infusing her with his drive and energy. Kallen felt herself blushing as she smiled her thanks up at him. Zero removed his hand. His black cape swirled around his body as he turned and walked back upstairs to his office.

Kallen Kouzuki sat unmoving until the morning shift arrived.

*****

“Come in.”

The door of Zero’s office hissed open. Zero was sitting at his desk, reading a report. He didn’t look up, but Kallen knew from experience that she had his full attention.

“Here’s the analysis of the Gurren Mk. II that you asked for.” She handed the disc over his shoulder. Kallen turned to leave, then paused. “Zero… do you have a second?”

“What is it?” His voice betrayed no emotion whatsoever.

I might as well, Kallen thought nervously. She turned back, her gaze falling on the spikes at the back of Zero’s helmet. “About the other day… I just wanted to thank you for listening. And for what you said about trusting me. It meant a great deal to me.”

Zero was as silent and unmoving as a statue.

“You know, whenever you’re not around everyone talks about you. Everyone wants to know who you really are. What your name is, where you’re from, all of that.” Kallen drew in a deep breath. “Everyone but me.”

“Are you trying to tell me you’re not curious?” Zero asked quietly. He sounded almost amused.

“I already know who you are, Zero,” Kallen replied in a steadier voice.

Zero’s whole body stiffened in an instant. Kallen caught a glimpse of his hand slipping into his tunic as she stepped up to the back of his chair. Reaching for his gun. Kallen instinctively reached out and laid her hand on his shoulder. The tension in his muscles was palpable to her even through the thick fabric of his cloak.

Kallen bent low, bringing her lips near the tiny audio amps in Zero’s helmet. “You’re the man I love,” she whispered. She leaned further and softly kissed the ‘cheek’ of his mask. Kallen lingered for a second, feeling the cool metal against her lips.

She straightened up. A single, soft squeeze to his shoulder. Kallen turned and walked quietly out of the office.

The man called Zero sat unmoving until the next Knight came to report.


{More Author’s Note: Not really sure what to say this week, except that Kallen and Zero are far more complex to write than Suzaku and Euphemia.

Oh, and yes. I did borrow the basic idea for the second scene from the movie “V for Vendetta.”

This is not a one-shot story. There will be further chapters.

See you next week! Same Angel time, same Angel channel!}