Selfish

Sunrise. Another day in an endless parade of days.

Preparations were already underway for her escape. Jeremiah--loyal Jeremiah--had been tasked with seeing her safely out of Japan once the plan had come to fruition.

Physical proximity strengthened the link between her Code and the user of the Geass, that much she knew. So she remained within the Tokyo complex until this day.

It had not been a night she could sleep through. She had spent most of the time on a small roof-top terrace and was joined by Arthur for a while. The cat was non-demanding and pleasant company. His human . . . well, she trusted that they would find the time for farewells. It was a regrettable thing, not being able to say goodbye to those who were closest--this she knew.

When the sun rose, she made her way down. The hallways would be bustling soon as the Emperor made his first public appearance after the war. But for now a witch could move about unnoticed.

There were other ways for her to render herself almost invisible, but she chose not to as she moved through the long corridors like a wraith. Just outside the royal apartments, she met a ghost of another dead man walking the other way.

Draped in a flowing cape and clad in a familiar suit, the silhouette was unmistakably that of the fallen leader of the Black Knights.

Lelouch--no, this was not him. He shifted and the shadows slid aside to reveal his face. The shadows in those green eyes did not dissipate as he faced her.

He held that mask under his arm. And the sword. He bowed to her--almost apologetic, almost buckling under the strain of what lay ahead, but entirely resolved. It was all she could do to reach out and lay her hands on his head without trembling.

No--there would be no hesitation on his part. Her hands moved down to clasp the gloved hand that held the hilt of the sword. She could trust him to be quick and efficient about it.

He laid his other hand over hers--an awkward gesture to be sure, but as good as a pledge. He would carry out his side of the bargain, as would she. It was oddly reassuring, to be able to know another’s intentions without needing to intrude upon their minds.

Without a word, without a backward look at her, he was gone and she was alone.

It would be soon. And like a child she sought comfort in the things of her youth. In the things that she thought she had ceased to believe in after so long.

He would not be alone.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

When the time came, when that sharp blade thrust forward, it was as though the sword had taken them both in one stroke. Her body twisted in pain and she would have fallen if she had not already been on her knees.

It was unlike anything C.C. had ever known, this dual death. So close to his mind--it was unbearable. And from his assassin, the echo of mental agony, reflecting and amplifying her own anguish a thousand-fold.

Oh my Emperor, my king, my beloved, my friend, my dearest one--

The shock of life parting from flesh--like being plunged into ice water one moment and burned the next. But she held fast, refusing the very human urge to flee.

The darkness--the darkness was coming. Swallowing them up, engulfing them in the void. She followed him down, sinking like a stone into the abyss. He could not be allowed to go too far . . .

She called him from the depths. Called for him with every fibre of her being. Weaving all of herself into a siren song to guide him to her.

You promised--

Before it was too late. Before consciousness dissipated into nothingness. This was not working . . . she had to allow her Code to draw her to him.

You said you’d make me smile--

Time was running out. She could sense him near, linked as they were by the power of the Geass that she had granted him.

Lelouch--

And he was there, within reach at last.

The witch spun out her web, ensnaring the prince in a cocoon. The power of her Code gave her the wings to fly free of oblivion’s embrace. Lifting upwards with her precious burden, she soared out of the void, back into the blinding light of awareness where they would be safe--

Safe in her world forever.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

A week later, a witch stood at a crossroads, Cheese-kun in tow. She pondered the road going south and the one heading north.

Decisions, decisions . . . She had not got used to making them yet. The simple ones, at any rate.

The first hay cart that came her way was going south. She went with chance and stuck out her thumb.

A smile from a pretty girl was payment enough and the fragrant hay at the back of the wagon was more comfortable than a feather bed. The sky was very blue and the future . . . well, the future was unknown. Thank goodness the power of her Code did not grant prescience.

She was smiling. Just like he had promised.

There had better be pizza, wherever she was going.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

End-Notes:
- Grey Witch and Knight of Zero love their Emperor very much.

- And Arthur rules.