Disclaimer: If I came under ownership of Code Geass there would be lesbians everywhere. And not just in the fanservicey way either. And you would all worship me for it.

Soliloquy: Oh god I KNOW. And I'm SORRY. I didn't mean to be so late to update but I'm currently in that whole exam period thingy, not to mention I turned 18 last month and that damn social life of mine finally caught up to me. I told my friends time and time again that, NO, I would rather sit inside and write fanfiction than go to a pub and drink (Cos' I'm totally allowed to do that now) but it got to the point where they dragged me.

This is: I'm not completely sure what the name of Kallens mother is but after searching for a while I'm pretty sure its Karen. I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyways, heres your would-be lesbian antics.

I guess we could date

Chapter 4

A working and mutually satisfying relationship comes about, because of Compromise. Attempting and succeeding to meet in 'the middle' is the only way to find a balance of respect, trust and pleasure (physical or otherwise) and establish a solid foundation from which to enjoy general togetherness and exchanging of Hallmark occasion cards with your Partner/s.

In relation, other interpretations of the context of a successful relationship are, frankly, incorrect; a relationship does not require a dominant male or androgynous female to lead along the weaker spouse, and neither does a successful relationship consist of the cliché Shoujo-Beat comic strip 'Opposites Attract' angle. Because, in actuality, compatibility makes for a more stable and positive relationship. Because from compatibility comes a greater natural understanding of ones Partner. And with greater understanding, it becomes wholly easier to compromise on any relationships internal or external problems and threats.

Which rolls on back to the key ingredient in a successful relationship, compromise.

Let's apply this to a real-life example.

In their prevalent relationship, Suzaku and Lelouch have just recently arrived at a compromise over extending the limits to which Lelouch's personal boundaries may be breached.

Personal boundaries that have been agreed to be lifted significantly, in return for Suzaku promising to never again show up at Lelouch's workplace unannounced and uncalled for. The reason as to why this compromise was needed, had occurred earlier in the week, when Suzaku, struck by the bug that is 'Spontaneity', decided to surprise Lelouch at the office and celebrate his boyfriends 130th column with a lemon cake, the scent of which accidentally caused Lelouchs cubicle-neighbour to break into hives due to his lemon peel allergies, and the mini confetti cannon Lelouchs Editor, Milly, had whipped out from literally nowhere in response to Suzaku's 'Surprise'had temporarily blinded the Indonesian cleaning lady when the shards of tiny rainbow-paper erupted at an astounding velocity and range unexpected of the store-brought party item.

Thus, the reason why Suzaku is now forbidden from showing his face around Ashford Weekly without warning Lelouch first, lest Suzaku once again become the toppling domino in a line of grief and court cases.

In return for agreeing to this restriction, Suzaku was now permitted to not only 'make love' to Lelouch over the sheets on occasion, but also be allowed to actually sleep in Lelouch's bed until 8:20am exactly if he happened to be staying over that night.

Which was a pretty big deal, Lelouch had never had any problem with sleeping at Suzaku's apartment but in his own abode, although the coitus itself might just take place in Lelouch's bed, Suzaku would be fiercely shooed away as soon as the activity and the inevitable three minutes of afterglow-cuddling had passed. Which would be considered overly-Queer behaviour, for a normal person that is, but for some reason Suzaku found such anal-retentive quirkiness on Lelouch endearing.

The reason was either 'Blinded Love', or the aforementioned sex was just really, really good.

In summary, Suzaku and Lelouch had managed to reach a balance, expressing a mutual respect and trust in their relationship and an ability to cooperate, executing a successful compromise.

A compromise that Suzaku was cheerfully reaping the benefits of. He hummed softly and twiddled his thumbs atop his chest as he gazed to his right at Lelouch, who was curled up on his side and seemingly oblivious to the adoring smile Suzaku was blazing at his back.

"Stop fucking staring, you creep."

Then again…

Suzaku gave a light grunt of apology, but instead of abiding to Lelouchs request (order), continued to stare openly as the smile elevated into a grin, birthed by a fusion of love and self-satisfaction. He sat up against the headboard, rolling his head back against the black upholstery, his face suddenly captured by confusion as his back nudged a peculiar lump. He reached back to search down the front of the headboard, eventually pulling out a clear-plastic sandwich bag; he examined the half-empty contents.

"Cookie dough?"

Lelouch turned his cheek somewhat towards him, "That's CC's side when she invades, she hoards food there". With that he turned back and burrowed into his pillow with a low sigh. Suzaku looked down at the bag inquisitively "Like a squirrel?" Lelouch moved his head a tad, perhaps in a nod to signify affirmation. Suzaku put the bag on the bedside and edged over to Lelouchs side of the bed, wrapping a muscled arm around his waist.

Lelouch gave a sleepy warning grunt.

Suzaku chuckled and nuzzled into the crevice between Lelouchs neck and shoulder. Lelouchs shoulder sprung up in a bony defence, "Don't do that, you need to shave for christ's sake…" his voice tapered off into a moan as Suzaku placed soft, soothing kisses along the long length of his neck, not really in an attempt to apologize but rather an attempt to lower Lelouchs defences and leave him vulnerable for attack…

Suzaku pressed himself firmly against Lelouchs back. Lelouch stiffened at the obvious indication of Suzakus intentions and let loose a louder grunt, spiced this time with less warning and instead more threatening of Lelouch's wrath.

"We're not having morning sex so you can just forget it."

Suzaku whispered a "Damn" into the back of his neck, before drawing himself up on his elbows and leaning over Lelouchs curled form. "Why not?" the brunette asked, "its 8:09, we've got time…" Lelouch scoffed into his pillow, "Certainly we have time, but I haven't the stamina nor the overwhelming urge to fake it. So the bathrooms over there if you desperately need a completion of some sort" he waved a hand lazily towards his bedroom door before it disappeared back under the covers.

Suzaku frowned; however, he reminded himself that besides a healthy sex life a relationship also needed one key thing. Compromise. He smiled and laid his chin on Lelouchs shoulder. Silence passed, Lelouch turned his left eye back towards Suzaku, taking in his 'loving boyfriend' smile and his (ridiculously endearing) messy bed-head curls and handsome morning face. Lelouch mustered every ounce of his feeble amounts of pre-coffee energy and glared heavily.

"No."

"How about yes?"

"Piss off you over-demanding prick."

"Listen to my proposition…if you let me do this, I promise I'll not only keep it within my time limit but I'll also make YOU climax."

"…"

"I'll also let you prioritize my files at work?"

Hook, line and sinker for sure, Lelouch loved organization, especially organizing aspects of other peoples lives if only so the person themselves would remark with awe and gratitude over how much 'they loved the colour-coding of their medical history files' (green for prescription and red for possible cancer symptoms) and thus give Lelouchs ever gluttonous ego a stroke.

Silence passed. With a great (melodramatic) sigh Lelouch rolled onto his back and looked up at Suzaku, his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. "Fine, do what you will, but don't expect me to do anything besides lie here and take it."

And with that, he presented himself submissively, palms up and legs apart with a dismissive and bored expression on his elegant face. Suzaku raised himself above Lelouch and gave a smaller, more mischievous smile.

"Well that's not too different from what you usually do anyway" and he swooped down to capture Lelouchs lips, smothering his indignant protest.

Lelouch was saved when the door to his bedroom was suddenly kicked open and in entered this scenes Presenter of Conflict, or in this case Suzaku's cockblock, CC who had seemingly just woken from her slumber (surprisingly early for her) and whose face held an expressive portrait of woe, depression and annoyance.

There were several reasons why CC's usually blank face would adopt such an expression, for One, she might be angry and sore at her biological clock deciding that this is when she should wake up and not several hours later as per usual, Deux, she could be angry at Suzaku for taking up 'her space' In Lelouch's bed and forcing her to actually sleep in her own bed for once, which was strange and new. Or, Drei, CC was full of woe, depression and annoyance because of reasons and events she'd rather keep to herself or only share with her deemed 'confidante' Lelouch.

Which was why, instead of apologizing to Lelouch for damaging his door or to Suzaku for ruining his chance at getting laid, CC instead padded over to the foot of the bed, crawled atop it, made her way to the head of the bed and butted her way between the two bedfellows, lying between them and staring up at the ceiling.

After a while, she spoke. "I'm in a bad mood."

She looked to her left at a frowning Suzaku, then peering over his shoulder at the bedside table, before looking back at him and commanding "Cookie dough." And, because he saw no other real choice, Suzaku wordlessly handed the sandwich bag to her before conceding to sulk at the far right of the bed. Suzaku liked CC he really did but 'sometimes', he thought as CC shifted into Lelouch's side, 'she could be a real Bitch'. Lelouch noticed Suzaku's grimace and sighed, "CC, what's wrong?", Suzaku interjected from his corner, "and can't it wait till later?"

CC blinked at the both of them and, after nibbling on a chunk of cookie dough, answered, "It's something I need to talk out, and I need to talk to Lelouch now, and no, I can't come back later because, while I'm totally down with you two bumping uglies and shit, I'd rather talk to Lelouch when he's not smelling like a Turkish bathhouse" tossing an endless lock of green hair over her shoulder.

Suzaku sighed heavily and relented, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing to stretch, he spied Lelouch's victorious smirk and frowned. Lelouch's eyes flashed and he motioned gracefully at the doorway, "Off to the bathroom are we Suzaku?" and his smirk widened to show teeth. Suzaku rolled his shoulders and hmmphed dismissively; "Whatever, I do enjoy my files being all messy and piled atop one another" Lelouch's face dropped "the only form of organization being a sparse Alphabetical System…" and he grinned at Lelouch's scowl, fleeing from the bedroom and the pillow that was thrown at him in rage.

Lelouch huffed and made to settle back into his remaining pillow, a notion disrupted suddenly by CC, who wrapped thin arms around his form and laid her chin on his chest. Lelouch's entire body stiffened and, after a while, he firmly stated "No...CC, no, I don't like this" and attempted to pry her off. Unfortunately for Lelouch CC was like a barnacle on a rock at the beach, she didn't just simply hold, she LATCHED. CC sniffed dismissively at Lelouch's attempts to break free, "Well this is how it's supposed to go isn't it? I have a problem, I'm sad and so I come here seeking comfort in your bosom…"

"For the last time CC I don't have a bosom" "Yeah you do, its just all flat." And to emphasize, she poked aforementioned 'bosom'.

Before Lelouch could interject with a remark in defence of his manly physique and related assured manliness in general, CC continued onward with her ideal comforting session that she had seen on several western sitcoms. "As I said before, I'm in a bad mood, and I can't figure out why exactly I am in a bad mood which confuses me because usually I know why I'm in a bad mood when I'm in a bad mood and so on and so forth".

This was true; CC had always had a knack for understanding her emotions and, when faced with an uncommon burst of emotion, was generally able to stand back and figure out what was causing such expression and thus solve (eliminate) whatever (or whoever) was causing the problem. But, with this particular bad mood, CC had done a lot of standing back and was no closer to solving the puzzle. Confused with this, CC had gone so far as to consult the internet but found nothing but pop-ups advertising 'cures for depression' ranging from guides on meditation to the latest brand of happy pills available on the market, black or otherwise.

And it certainly wasn't her time of the month, so biologically the cause couldn't be found either. And so, having woken up this morning with the sinking feeling still existing, CC had decided to seek the advice of aforementioned (but protested) 'bosom buddy' Lelouch. She peered up at him, her gaze wholly expectant that he would offer a solution to her problem just so that CC herself could stop looking.

It was beginning to become hard work, all this emotional crap.

And if there was one thing CC hated more than liars, cheaters and striped shirts it was hard work.

Lelouch glared back down at her, feebly clawing at her shoulders, "I'm really not interested in dealing with your strange little life WOMAN, so get off and go find someone else to bother! Hell! I'll even let you bother Suzaku for once; you enjoy doing that don't you?" CC made a hum of agreement, but, continued to latch, digging a pointy chin into his sternum, causing Lelouch to squeal (in a totally masculine way) in pain.

Lelouch frowned, "Okay, that's it, get off!" with a surprising display of strength Lelouch managed to wrench CC away from him, "and get out." CC shook her head, Lelouch pointed dramatically at the still open bedroom door "LEAVE." CC frowned, "But what use is being a Fag-Hag if I can't confide in my Fag?"

Lelouch threw his remaining pillow at her and, in a move deemed rather out of character, CC visibly huffed and whacked Lelouch with the same pillow. A combination of CC's astounding strength, which given her petite form was an easily forgotten aspect of her person, and Lelouch's body weight being particularly 'weedy' in the morning meant that, under the force of the pillow, Lelouch was catapulted off the bed and to the floor.

After a few seconds of silence Lelouch's consciousness was affirmed by pained groans, CC hugged the pillow to her and gingerly shifted over to the edge of the bed, peering over the side and observing the fallen Lelouch who glared heavily up at her. "YOU." He pointed at her, CC waved the fingers of her right hand, "you are so ridiculous sometimes, you want to know why your in a 'bad mood'?" he attempted to sit up, "it's because of a combination of guilt, anger and frustration at that shoeless maniac you picked up last week!" he was eventually able to drag himself up by clinging onto the bed sheets.

"And I am sick to the back teeth-!" Lelouch pulled himself up onto his bed and continued to spit and glare at CC over his shoulder, "of your 'bad mood', so just go find your stray and stop taking out your convoluted mess of emotions out on me! Or my possessions!" he grabbed his pillow back from her, "Because I refuse to be your bloody scratching post!" and to provide a dramatic end to a dramatic speech Lelouch kicked CC off the mattress.

He once again flung a hand at his door, "now BE GONE."

After a few seconds CC gathered herself from the floor and backed out from the room silently, refusing to back down from the haughty glare he glowered at her by supplying a blank but wary stare in return. She made it to the doorway, groping behind her for the door knob, before a flash of remembrance flittered across her gaze, and instead she padded back towards the bed.

"Nearly forgot my cookie dough."

She made a grab for the sandwich bag and received a tremendous whack of pillow in the face as Lelouch screeched "Get the FUCK OUT!" prompting CC to flee from the room in a way that, in a comical sense, could be described as 'scampered'. As CC leapt across the doorway she heard Lelouch shout once more, except this time it wasn't directed at her. "SUZAKU! In here NOW!" and Suzaku, who appeared from nowhere as if he had been lying in wait, strode quite happily towards the open doorway, shooting a…grateful look at CC?

CC was confused until she heard Suzaku mumble, seemingly to himself, "Hell yes, angry sex is the BEST." before practically bounding inside the room, slamming the door behind him.

CC, after a moment's deliberation, edged silently away from the door, still confused but also strangely enlightened at the same time…and a little bit aroused. But that was another matter entirely.

Probably.

The general schedule for Kallen's day went as thus; at 6am she would wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast and go for a 30-40 minute jog in the 2 mile radius surrounding her apartment (never any further, and always with her bus pass in case she had to return home quickly) then she would return home, take a quick shower and wake her mother. Then she would wash, dress and feed her mother before proceeding with the days events. If her mother, Karen, had a hospital appointment they would take a train to Keio University Hospital, see whichever doctor was available, and then maybe go for lunch before returning home. If Kallen had a job interview or was visiting a client to go over their books, she would generally take Karen to the Shinjuku historical museum and let her wander around or, for lack of time; she would leave Karen in the apartment with the TV and some of her old books.

There were days, however, when neither of the women had to go anywhere, when Karen didn't have a hospital appointment and Kallen didn't have to visit a client (fortunately) or have a job interview to get to (unfortunately). On those days, of which there were many, the time was passed indoors, although sometimes Kallen might be able to coax her mother outside but these instances were far and few between and usually the morning would be spent having breakfast and watching TV, the afternoon spent having lunch and going over Karen's old books from High School, and the evening spent having dinner, after which Kallen would then do a few pages of accounting whilst her mother gravitated back towards the TV or towards several photo albums carefully arranged in the bookcase in her room.

This evening however, Karen seemed less willing to stick to her schedule; she was seated in, what Kallen might call, the 'living room' rigidly on the sofa, with the TV off, watching Kallen talk on the phone whilst scribbling calculations in a notebook. Glancing up from one clients ridiculous dry cleaning bills to her mother's blank stare Kallen smiled easily, the move practised, and her mother smiled back before dropping her gaze to her lap. A painful clench spiked in Kallen's chest and she sighed shakily as she returned her attention to the phone conversation, her brow instantly furrowed.

"So you're trying to tell me, there is literally nothing available?" she practically spat into the receiver, Kallen heard Ohgi sigh on the other end, "Kallen, we both knew that getting you a Sub-place at this school was a long shot at the least, so please-" a deep breath in preparation "-don't take that tone of voice with me?" despite the fact that the general concept of the words given was command Ohgi knew that, with Kallen, it was actually best if the concept was a question instead.

Kallen's frown became a dictionary definition for the word 'Fury', from the sofa her mother glanced up shyly before picking at a patch of dry skin on her left hand.

Kallen breathed in through her nose, attempting to calm herself, before answering to Ohgi's question in a somewhat unproductive way; with another question.

"Is there no one with hay fever in the staff? Hasn't anyone been diagnosed with…I don't know, Spring Madness or any other illness?"

"Kallen I don't know what to tell you, its February, it's nearly the end of the school year and if I have seen anyone ill they've got a mask over their mouth and they refuse to collapse in exhaustion-"

There was a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry Kallen, I looked but Yamabuki doesn't have any need for substitutes right now, maybe in April when the school year starts I can-"

"Give me your job."

"…What?"

"You get chronic nosebleeds right? Stand in the sun and get a few weeks off, no big deal."

"…Kallen, I can't do that."

"Why not? You teach English, I'm half-English ergo I could teach it better than you. I'm perfectly qualified…"

"No Kallen I can't let you do that, my homeroom class is graduating this March I can't be absent."

"I thought you were my friend."

"I am, but just not enough that I'd be willing to lose a pint of blood just so you could take my job for a few weeks, not to mention these last few weeks I have with my graduating students are precious!"

"Don't be such a girl, give me your job."

"No!"

"Just for a week or two, I need it more than you do!"

"I refuse."

"Ohgi, I swear to god that if you don't bleed from your nose soon and I will personally see to it that you bleed everywhere else instead!"

"Honey! Help!"

There was a frisson of noise on the other end of the line, whispering and then a heavy feminine sigh, Kallen frowned as the conversation picked back up.

"Oi. Stop shouting at my husband and telling him what to do, that's a privilege strictly reserved for the wife."

"Figures he'd run off to get his guard-dog…"

"Yes, yes, oh what a bitch I am. Heard it before toots, now talk."

Kallen shuffled the phone to her shoulder, tilting her head to hold the device in place as she peered half-heartedly down at the calculations on the notepad, evidently Mr. Watanabe's savings would eventually not be able to support his Wife's excessive lingerie cleaning bills.

Kallen had met Watanabe's wife, a civil servant who was half his age with fresh, clean skin and a full head of shiny hair, in contrast to her husband who was wrinkly and near bald (dimly Kallen wondered whether Mrs. Watanabe was having an affair).

She heard Villeta tsk in impatience in her ear and sighed, "Talk about what?" "Well obviously talk about the reason why you threatened to physically harm my husband who is now standing cautiously in the doorway attempting to salvage his bravery-hang on" there was a bit more muffled talking and then "Just go watch Elmo with Chihaku, put the TV on mute she likes it when you do the voices…" Kallen tapped her pencil on the page as she heard, what she could only assume, Villeta making herself comfortable in a chair.

"Alright, he's out of earshot and emasculated completely, surely that makes you happy enough to talk?"

"Why would I want to talk to you anyway?"

"Because I'm the only person you know who refuses to take shit from you, and you respect that."

Kallen started drawing circles in the margin, "I've just been feeling a bit overstressed lately, it's really nothing…" "Is this because of the job thing?" she scratched an angry expression inside one of the circles, "Yeah, I suppose". "You suppose?" "I dunno, the job, or lack therefore of, is always a thing but lately there's been other…things."

Villeta made a hum of interest, "Other things? Like what?" Kallen scribbled across the angry face and leaned back in her chair, feeling the stretch of her back muscles, "Just, things y'know." She heard Villeta snort softly in amusement, "Do you mean things like your lack of a social life?" Kallen sighed heavily, before she could retort Villeta continued her tone now animated and, dare she say, excited.

"Because with that thing I can help, I met this really nice guy at my Pilates class and I told him about my 'depressed single friend' that's you by the way, and he seemed pretty interested so…?" Kallen sniffed dismissively "You can tell him your depressed single friend is content being depressed and single", "My depressed and single friend is obviously lying. Come on Kallen, he's cute and smart, he's a Government man too!"

Kallen gave an amused smirk that quickly turned into a bright smile when she spied her mother glancing over, "A Government man Villeta?" she could hear Villeta made an annoyed hmph but could hear the identical smirk in her voice, "Yeah, he works with Immigration." The doorbell run in the background, "Yeah, I'm going to be hanging up now." Before she did she heard Villeta crow out "He's surprisingly flexible if that helps any!" over the speaker, causing Kallen's mother to quietly giggle into her hand. Kallen stood up, the doorbell rung again before descending into a symphony of continuous ringing. "I'm coming!" Kallen yelled and the symphony halted, as Kallen walked out of the living room she saw Karen smooth out her skirt in preparation for visitors.

Kallen eventually approached the door and opened it, and found a very blank-faced green-haired woman who directed a cool gaze towards Kallen and blinked. Slowly.

Kallen was actually sincerely surprised. "Oh…CC?"

CC tilted her side to the side a tad, "Yes. That is I."

For a while there was a distinctly uncomfortable silence as Kallen struggled to find something to say, and then, "Oh, you're here for your shoes right?" CC's lips twitched, "Um, yeah I guess" and she leaned to the left conspicuously attempting to look past Kallen's shoulder into her apartment. But, because CC was, frankly, a very short woman and Kallen's shoulders were surprisingly broad for a female, no such achievement was made.

Kallen's slipper-covered feet toed the threshold of her front door, "Well then, come in and I'll get them for you." And she tentatively raised an arm behind her in invitation. CC accepted and stepped beyond the threshold onto the doormat; Kallen closed the door and, with her back turned to CC, nervously bit her bottom lip.

"Do I need to take off my shoes?"

"Hmm?"

Kallen turned back towards CC who pointed first at the neat row of shoes beneath the coat hooks, and then down at Kallen's own slipper adorned feet. Kallen ran a hand threw her hair, "Oh. No, its fine, it's a Western-style apartment so-but if you feel more comfortable doing so then you can."

And to her dismay, CC did, delicately, and then pushing her expensive-looking green canvases to join the other shoes with her tiny pale feet. Generally, Kallen found, people who took off their shoes in other peoples homes and weren't Japanese (and Kallen was certain CC wasn't) indicated that the person sought to stay for at least an hour. And to be honest Kallen just didn't feel like dealing with CC right now and certainly not for an hour or more. But, Kallen mused as she led CC into the kitchen area; Kallen felt it was only polite to maybe take the time to properly apologize to CC for what had happened. Which might take only 20 minutes at the most so…?

"You can just wait here; I'll be right back with your shoes." Kallen walked the short distance to her room (her apartment really was tiny, she could hear CC tapping her feet back in the kitchen) and sidled her way in, fighting her way through all the crap on the floor (in contrast to the rest of the apartment Kallen's room was ridiculously messy, she just couldn't see the point in cleaning it) and hurriedly searched for CC's converses.

After returning home last week to find her mother sitting alone at the kitchen table Kallen had thrown the borrowed shoes somewhere in a hurry to give her mother a proper meal and a bath. All the while apologizing again and again…

She finally found the shoes under her bed, she turned them over to check they were still in a relatively clean condition, in the rubber of the sole of the left shoe she found a scratched doodle of…a bird, or a mammal of some kind…or maybe it was words, Kallen didn't know. And for a while Kallen sat on her bed with the right shoe on the bedspread, and the left one held close up to her face, attempting to decipher the doodle. Her mind drifted back to CC herself and, specifically, CC's current presence in her apartment.

It was probably just best to give CC her shoes, usher her back to the front door and then maybe give a heartfelt apology before closing the door literally and closing the door metaphorically on CC. Kallen's brow furrowed, recalling her childhood and her tutors attempts at teaching her proper manners (which were lost on Kallen, because getting in a mud fight with Naoto looked so much more fun) but as far as Kallen could remember, the polite thing to do would be to offer CC tea and introduce her to the apartments other occupants. But Kallen wasn't sure whether she wanted to introduce CC to her mother, as technically CC was the reason why Karen had been abandoned for an entire day (although, Kallen dimly acknowledged, Kallen getting drunk beforehand had something to do with it too).

On the other hand, CC was also the woman who apparently saved Kallen's life.

From drowning.

In two inches of water.

Kallen glanced at the alarm clock on her bedside table, seeing that almost seven minutes had passed Kallen gathered the converses in her arms and rushed out towards the kitchen. "Sorry I took so long-" but CC wasn't there.

Had she left?

No.

Because Kallen could hear that damn woman's lazy drawl in the living room.

Whilst Kallen had considering being polite and introducing CC to her mother, CC apparently didn't give a single fuck about being polite and waiting for someone to introduce her.

Kallen strode into the living room, fully prepared to be righteously angry at CC, but was too perplexed by what she saw to act on it. Seated on the floor in the middle of the living room (with the table and chairs pushed back to the far wall) was her mother and a placid-faced CC, setting out a board game that usually gathered dust in the cupboard in the corner.

Karen held all the board pieces in one hand, excitedly combing through them with a smile on her lips. CC mumbled something to her before glancing up and noticing Kallen's presence, "Hey" she leaned back on her hands and waved slightly, "you wanna play?" and her hand moved to indicate the board game.

Kallen blinked.

CC blinked in unison. Then she leaned forward towards Karen and poked around at the board pieces in her hands, she lifted one out and held it up.

"You can be the car if you want."

Two hours later found Kallen with all of the energy outlets, three of the four railways, 15 wards and around 700,000 Y, her mother had the remaining railway, seven wards and close to 200,000 Y whilst CC was in Jail, near broke and only had two apartments in Nakano.

"I never do well in monopoly, eventually I go broke and I'm forced to rob the bank." CC lamented as she stared down at the board with what could be assumed to be anger (her face didn't really change so…). Kallen, who was the Banker, shifted uneasily on her knees, "How do you rob the bank in monopoly?" CC shrugged.

"Pillowcase over the head?"

Karen gave a sleepy laugh and yawned, she slowly got to her feet and bowed politely at CC with a smile, "I apologize, but I think its time for me to retire for the night" Kallen glanced at her watch, it had just turned a quarter to 11, she stood up too and made for the doorway, behind her she heard her mother softly say "It was very nice to meet you CC" before she joined Kallen at the doorway, slipping out of the room and heading for her bedroom.

Kallen looked at CC and shifted from one foot to the other, "I'll be right back so if you could…" she motioned towards the monopoly board still set out on the floor and before she turned away Kallen saw CC move to gather it up.

Getting her mother ready for bed was as troublesome as any other night, which is to say, it wasn't troublesome and was never troublesome at all. In fact, tonight, Karen seemed more relaxed and it was clear that her mother was really very tired. Kallen supposed she owed this to the monopoly game earlier where CC, despite seeming typically vacuous, made an animated atmosphere and talked both calmly and eagerly to both Kallen and her mother, but mostly her mother.

Closing Karen's door softly behind her Kallen made her way to the kitchen to find a plastic bag to put CC's shoes in, the flimsy plastic material in her hands, Kallen hung around the doorway to the living room. Peering into the room she saw that the monopoly board was now gone and that CC was currently dragging chairs back to their original places. Kallen stepped into the room and watched as CC, probably through a lack of effort, struggled to pull the table back towards its original spot.

Eventually Kallen saw fit to intervene and approached the table, butting CC aside and easily pulling the table forward, the feet fitting into the grooves made in the carpet. CC whistled, probably in a sarcastic way, "I see this ones got strength." Kallen felt her cheeks burn and cleared her throat, "Well, I jog…" she stood up straight and turned her head towards CC who looked at her with a clear gaze. In that blank, amber stare Kallen registered a question, "What?" she asked and CC lifted a hand to fold thick strands of lime hair behind her ear.

"Do you wanna get a drink?"

Kallen didn't know why she was here. Why was she at Café Haiti at 11pm and not at home, finishing her page quota or sleeping? Why was she with this woman? This woman who had shown up at her apartment hours before without warning and had instigated a competitive game of monopoly with her mother before inviting nay practically commanding Kallen to go for a drink with her. Well okay, not commanding, the invitation had clearly been a question and Kallen had quite willingly agreed. But this still felt a little bit forced…somehow.

Kallen looked up from her lap.

CC wasn't even drinking it seemed.

In fact, rather than drinking, she seemed quite intent on eating and was currently discussing the menu with the waitress. CC held the laminated menu up to the waitresses face and pointed around the page. "Can I have" point "a plate of this, half a plate of this" she pointed somewhere else "and a quarter of that?" she then looked up at the waitress, eyes wide and glimmering with what Kallen supposed was excitement.

The waitress looked down at CC and, after a while, replied, "No."

CC frowned, quite deeply, and leaned back in her seat, narrowing her eyes up at the waitress, "In that case I'd like to speak to the Manager."The waitress tapped her pen against the notepad in her hand, "The Managers not in tonight, your idea of a meal is too needlessly complicated for this time of night" she waved a hand around her, it was nearly closing time and there were few people eating and probably even fewer people currently on staff. CC breathed out deeply through her nostrils and the waitress turned towards Kallen. "Uh, just a beer please, thanks." And the waitress shone a look of gratitude at her before glancing back at CC, "And you Miss?"

CC raised her head slowly towards the woman and sniffed loudly, "Vodka and Coke then," the waitress noted down the drinks and walked away, at her back CC visibly sneered and Kallen stifled a laugh with her hand. Afterwards there was silence as CC examined her nails and Kallen checked the time on her mobile again, if something went wrong it would take her less than a minute to run home, so she really shouldn't worry…

"Your mom's really pretty."

Kallen came back to earth, "Hm?" she blinked at CC who leant her elbows on the tabletop, threading her hands together and placing her chin atop them. "Your mom is pretty, she's nice too, I can see why you were so angry last week." CC drawled as she stared openly at Kallen, her catlike gaze sparkling. Kallen's brow furrowed and she could only assume she looked apologetic, "About last week, I'm sorry-" CC put her hand up to silence her as the waitress returned with their drinks, she dauntingly sipped once, twice at her Vodka and Coke before turning back to Kallen. She nodded once, indicating that Kallen continue, "Um, I shouldn't have slapped you or shouted at you, I mean, you didn't know my mother at all so it wasn't exactly justified. I'm sorry."

CC blinked at her and sighed softly, "You're not completely to blame, I should know better than to make sensitive comments about parents and other family members whether I know them or not…" she sipped at her drink again, "so I'm sorry too."

And then, in a moment of unison, they nodded at each other in a mutually satisfying way. And Kallen suddenly felt a lot more relaxed, she lifted the cold glass of beer to her lips and took a gulp, "Careful with that" she heard CC say in a somewhat amused tone, Kallen looked over the rim of her glass at CC who lifted the corners of her lips in concealed mirth. "We don't want you falling into any more fountains do we?"

Kallen raised an eyebrow at her. CC's own eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Sorry, are we not allowed to joke about that yet?" Kallen looked at her before a smile forced its way onto her lips and a small chuckle escaped, "I suppose it is pretty funny" and she sipped at her beer again, relishing the taste before a question occurred to her, "Do you know what happened to my shoes that time? I was wearing heels but when I woke up at-" she motioned at CC "-your place they were gone." At this question CC actually laughed, a soft tinkling sound, "Kallen, you threw those shoes into the fountain in a drunken rage."

Kallen spluttered into her glass, "What?" "I'm not lying; those shoes must have done something awful to you…" Kallen mused about this before grinning widely "Yeah, I did hate those heels, screw 'em!" and she celebrated her proclamation with a deep gulp of marvellous, marvellous beer. She heard CC give a small sarcastic cheer and felt the intrigue of her stare, and then there was the question.

"What happened to your mom?"

Kallen swallowed. And then she cleared her throat, looking anywhere except at the woman sitting across from her. CC followed up her question, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I understand if it's private…" The dull thud the glass made as it was placed on the table was audible, highly so, Kallen sniffed and suddenly felt the urge to wipe her nose. After several long seconds of Kallen looking down into her glass she spoke, "There's nothing physically wrong with her, its just, some stuff happened a few years ago and my mother sort of…" she glanced up at CC "got depressed, like really, really depressed." CC looked at her unabashedly and leaned towards her before, "Is your mom married? I saw earlier that she wears a wedding ring so…"

Kallen sat back in her chair, leaning as far away from CC as was possible with the seats, however her eyes were still latched onto hers, it was hard to look away. And for some reason, it was even harder not to answer.

"She was married, yes."

"…To your father?"

"Yeah."

"Well what happened to him?"

"He divorced her. And now he lives somewhere in Europe with his new wife."

At this CC actually looked somewhat taken aback. A Beat. "Sorry." She said and after a while Kallen replied, "Why are you apologizing? It's not like you're the wife…" and Kallen sipped at her beer again, this time slowly and without any real enthusiasm. CC blinked slowly again and the low lighting of the Café bounced across her eyelashes. "How is your mother?" CC asked her tone slow and calming, lulling Kallen into a sense of comfort, or that could just be the beer, she didn't really know.

"She's fine, at the moment. I think."

"And how are you?"

Kallen hummed at the question, this was safer territory, "I'm healthy. So I'm fine too." CC tilted her head and rose her glass to her lips; the glass amplified her question, "Really fine?" and the tiny smirk CC sent over the rim of the glass before she took a sip suddenly made Kallen feel like sharing. "Well I'm unemployed and that kinda sucks, I mean, I'm a freelance Accountant but my clientele aren't the most reliable in paying me on time so…" she shrugged here as if to say 'What you gonna do?' and CC placed her glass on the table, her glass was still quite full in comparison to Kallen's own which was nearly drained of its contents. God, beer was nice…

"Are you fine socially?"

"Hm?" this time into her glass, Kallen glanced at CC again who, for the first time since the conversation had started, was not staring at Kallen but instead down at her glass as she traced a thin finger around its rim. "Y'know," she directed this to the tabletop seemingly "friends, romantic partners and shit." Kallen chuckled half-heartedly, "Well I have friends, but at the moment I'm single and pretending to said friends that I'm actually happier that way!" Kallen summarised that she was a bit tipsy, perhaps more than a bit. She had never been to Café Haiti before (despite living so close) so maybe the beer was stronger here than the stuff you brought at the store?

"Y'know, I have a question for you Miss. always asks questions…" that last word was slurred, she was certain of it, "why are you so interested in knowing about me, ME, the bitch who slapped you across your face?" Ooh, here came the verbal self-abuse that always seemed to happen when Kallen was drunk.

CC looked up here, crossing her arms, she sighed "I don't really know why I'm so interested, to be honest" she regarded Kallen with a faintly confused stare, "I mean your so" she suddenly rose her hands to each side of her head and made circularly motions, "ANGRY." CC crossed her arms again, "And that's usually totally unappealing to me."

Kallen had the common sense to look affronted, "M'not angry, M' just stressed." and she leaned forward, one elbow on the table, to point at CC to emphasize how affronted she was. CC peered at her and leaned her crossed arms on the table too, "Even though I technically only talked to you for like, 15 minutes, and a part of that was spent with you yelling at me, its weird how…" she frowned "I'm not saying that I've been thinking of you for the past week non-stop because I haven't, there were many times when I thought of something else in fact." She paused, and Kallen dimly noticed how close their faces were.

"I've thought about you a lot. Like, A LOT."

And then suddenly, but not so suddenly because it was actually quite slow and tentative, CC was leaning in, her eyelids dropping, and Kallen could only make out the dark-green of her eyelashes as a thin pair of lips met her own.

CC's lips were soft, like, ridiculously soft.

And they tasted fruity.

This was what girls lips tasted like.

Like strawberries, or watermelon, or kiwi.

LIKE FRUIT.

These were girls lips kissing hers.

WHAT THE FUCK.

And CC drew back and slowly blinked at her, a faint haze of realization came over her face, "Oh, OH. Well now it makes sense…" and then Kallen could feel her eyes widen and her eyelids stretch painfully.

In the next second, Kallen slapped her.

In the following second CC gasped in pain.

In the second after that CC swore into her hand as she nursed the red that slowly formed on her pale cheek.

In the three seconds after that, Kallen looked between her still raised hand and CC in shock.

In the next five seconds Kallen had tightened her coat around her, shot out of her chair and bolted for the door.

In the second following, CC hurriedly followed her.

And, in the entirety of those 12-second events, the few other eaters and the waitress from before wondered just what the hell had happened and whether any figures of public authority should be called.

It was either because of the alcoholic daze that inhibited Kallen's physical efficiency or because CC could run really fast despite having tiny feet, but eventually Kallen felt a hand pull at her arm and she was dragged to a halt. She whipped around to look at CC, who was still using the spare hand to palm the offended cheek. "Jesus, you really have a thing for slapping people!" Kallen tore her arm away, "You kissed me! You lesbian!"

"I'm not a lesbian!"

"You kissed me!"

"You slapped me!"

"It was self-defence!"

"Against what? It wasn't like I was gonna rape you or something!"

"You KISSED ME."

CC's brow furrowed, "And is that what you do every time someone kisses you? BITCHSLAP THEM?" she tsked and glanced to the side. Kallen clutched at her coat in barley suppressed drunken horror, "Well, WHY did you kiss me?" "I don't know. I just did, and then you slapped me!" CC's eyes narrowed, "I mean, fuck, if you didn't like it you could have just said so..."

Kallen's clenched hands loosened a bit, there was silence as she found her thoughts drifting to dangerous territory, "I think I slapped you…because I was surprised, because-" she looked carefully at CC "-maybe I liked it a little actually." And she had, thinking back to the kiss itself, and how soft CC's lips were…and how fruity…CC looked at her, breathing out deeply (the fog around her mouth flourished and then filtered into the night air) and then-

"Huh."

"…Yeah."

And they both continued to stand there.

And not a Single Fuck was given that day.

This chapter was supposed to have 'The Talk' plastered onto the end of it but then I thought about how good a spot this was to leave off on, and now the next chapter can be longer too! [This was 15 pages, I seem to advance on each chapter with 2-3 pages so woopee!]