Happiness In Slavery

CODE 2


Suzaku went through hours, days and finally weeks as though trapped in a bad dream, each day a kind of groundhog day of the same events and feelings. Wherever he turned he could not escape the consequences of the rebel uprising. Every television program, every radio broadcast, every topic of conversation seemed to ramble on endlessly about some aspect or other. The Britannian government did indeed weave a story to appease the probing of the media, although gossip and speculation was still rife. A man was brought to justice as the perpetrator behind the facade of 'Zero' and publicly executed to sate the bloodlust of the masses. An attempt was even made to pacify the Japanese factions by purposely selecting a Britannian to pay for the crime. True, it had been a Britannian who had lead the Japanese to fight against his own kin. But man executed that day paid a great price for a lesser crime. The true monstrous mastermind of the whole thing was still alive... somewhere. Suzaku wondered as he swallowed the bile rising in the back of his throat, would he have felt more or less sickened if it had been Lelouch instead of an innocent man.

He had heard that life at the Ashford Academy was doing it's best to recover from the upheaval, the students pulling together to help fix everything that had been destroyed during it's time in a hostage situation. Only the student council rooms were uncharacteristically quiet... occupied now by only a fraction of the original members. Rivalz especially suffered from the loss of so many of his close friends... even as he tried to concentrate on his study book his thoughts drifted back to the unfortunate fates of Nina, Kallen and Lelouch, caught up and perishing during the fighting. Suzaku had returned to the army. Nanali taken to live elsewhere. Shirley currently hospitalized after suffering something of a breakdown and insisting, crying hysterically, that Lelouch was Zero, although there was absolutely nothing she could show to prove it, and he was dead now anyway. But, if her course of drugs and therapy was successful, she could return soon. Milly immersed herself totally in anything and everything school related... it broke Rivalz' heart whenever he caught a sign of her forced composure slipping, but she shrugged off his concern time and time again.

Suzaku wished that he had something to do with his time. He had been granted indefinite leave of active service, and while he had not been officially imprisoned in the military complex, he had been strongly dissuaded by his superiors from leaving or making any rash moves. It felt like there was a very uneasy truce between them, too much information known on each side to potentially bring the other down. He made several token attempts to attend some training exercises, but his heavy heart was just not focused.

His gloomy, listless mood had not gone unnoticed.

Suzaku stood uncertainly before the door to Second Prince Schneizer's office. Being called to see Schneizer in his private rooms, especially during the evening, was not the normally followed protocol, but the message had been delivered by senior officials and it all seemed genuine and above-board. He knocked gently.

“Enter” came the call from within.

Suzaku let himself in, pulling the door closed quietly behind him. Schneizer sat behind his desk, his fingers interlaced, regarding Suzaku in a casual manner as he approached.

“Schneizer-sama”. He stood straight and attentive before his superior.

“I heard reports that you seemed a bit distant.. somewhat 'under the weather'. Hardly surprising given the circumstances. Everything that has happened and the people close to us that we have lost.” Schneizer frowned a little in a way that seemed a genuine show of upset. “Those of us who know the full horrible details need to be strong and supportive of each other. I am naturally as shocked as anyone that Lelouch would go so far..”

Suzaku grimaced at the mention of the cursed name.

“So I gather that you and Lelouch were childhood friends, separated by the occupation, and re-united again recently at the Academy, and then unfortunately in battle?”

Suzaku nodded slowly, not liking the sudden, oddly chiding tone of Schneizer's voice.

“I think there is a little more to it than that.” Schneizer reached forward and twisted the little desk monitor before him around so that Suzaku could see the screen. His mouth dropped open in horror.

The display was slightly grainy, fortunately just a little too pixilated to show in any great detail what was happening on the security tape, but Suzaku recognized the scene in a mere gut wrenching second. The hidden camera must have been concealed in one of the corners of the cell behind him, and he should have realized that just because he didn't notice one obviously when he entered, didn't mean there wasn't one at all. He could almost feel the colour draining from his face as the image of himself on the screen dropped to it's knees in front of Lelouch's naked groin, and noticing now from this unusual angle how Lelouch had flung his head back as he had cried out, his fingers curling into fists as his body tensed. Schneizer let the tape run on a little longer as he watched Suzaku's reaction with amusement, then mercifully flicked the off switch just before the point where Lelouch had come.

“Very good friends, I would say”.

Suzaku opened his mouth, but no words came out. He felt something akin to being a specimen on a dissection table... all his inner workings laid open and exposed for everyone to see.

“It's alright”. Schneizer's tone made a mockery of true sympathy. “Let's see now if we can't cheer you up a bit. Everyone likes a nice surprise when they feel down.” Schneizer stood and beckoned him forwards.

Suzaku mutely followed Schneizer as he led the way to the rear the room, and, sliding a key out of his pocket, approached the door towards the left. The key turned loudly in the lock and the door clicked open. Laying a hand on Suzaku's tense shoulder, he escorted him into the dimly lit room beyond.

As his eyes adjusted to the soft candle-light he found that they had entered a spacious and lavishly furnished bed chamber, graced by ornate bookcases, side-tables, a couple of plush, red velvet chairs, and dominating the room against the middle of the far wall, an outrageously grand four poster bed. Certainly living quarters worthy of one of the high princes of Britannia. It was only a slight movement, a mere raise of the head to greet them as they approached, that gave away the third presence in the room. Suzaku felt faint.

Lelouch knelt pitifully on the cold, hard floor just beside the foot of the bed. Bent forwards, as though exhausted enough to drop but fighting to stay upright, Suzaku could see the way his arms were laced tightly into what looked like leather sleeves, and these were bound together behind his back with thick sturdy buckles, not allowing him to move them at all. His uncovered eye widened in shock as Suzaku's face came into focus and he tried to straighten up but gave a long, muffled moan of pain as muscles locked too long in the same position screamed in protest at the sudden movement. A thick leather collar encircled his slim, graceful neck, and attached to it a chain that was fastened to one of the bedposts. Schneizer knelt down beside him and hooked two fingers through the back of the collar, pulling back and forcibly uprighting him, regardless of whether it hurt or not. His long lean torso and groin were fully exposed as Schneizer held him back, as completely naked as he had been when Suzaku had seen him last. Despite a good few weeks passing since that time, Lelouch was still coloured in places by livid purple bruising and fresh cuts, evidence of the physical abuse he was still being subjected to.

“What... why? Why are you doing this to him?” Suzaku's voice shook a little, as Schneizer released Lelouch and he fell forward into his former position. “It's... it's inhumane... he's your brother!!” His voice rose to a shout at the last word.

“The Britannian family will deal with it's wayward offspring in whatever way it deems fit” Schneizer said dismissively, casting a disapproving sideways glance at Lelouch.

Despite himself, Suzaku dropped heavily onto his own knees in front of Lelouch, and placing his fingers under Lelouch's jaw, urged his face upright, although his uncovered eye remained downcast.
He had been silenced with an odd looking gag, comprised of straps that passed firmly round the back of his head and held in place a large, rubber ball that cruelly forced Lelouch's mouth widely open while still making it impossible for him to make any attempt at coherent speech. Saliva ran in twin streams down the corners of his mouth to his chin and dripped every now and again with a soft wet 'plip' onto the polished marble slabs.

“I had no desire to listen to his arrogant, traitorous outbursts.” Schneizer said, noting Suzaku's incredulous look. A faint smile touched the corners of his mouth. “Remove it if it offends you so greatly.”

Suzaku hesitated, but his sense of pity won out against his misgivings. Lelouch held still as Suzaku ran his fingers through Lelouch's long, silky hair to locate the buckles that held the ugly muzzle in place, and carefully released them until it slid loose and landed on the floor with a dull thunk. Lelouch gritted his teeth against the intense pain in his jaw as Suzaku carefully wiped his face with the cuff of his shirt.

“You're so much more gentle with him now than you were before. I wonder if he would prefer to be treated that way then...” Schneizer mused. “He responded positively when you were somewhat rough before.. it seems nothing I do excites him.” Before Suzaku could object, Schneizer hooked his fingers back underneath Lelouch's collar and yanked him right up onto his feet, pushing him, coughing and spluttering at the leather pulled tight against his windpipe, over to the bed and dumping him unceremoniously on it.

Even though Lelouch didn't struggle, Schneizer held him down firmly against the mattress as he snaked a hand down past Lelouch's hips and ran his fingers lightly over Lelouch's privates before taking hold of his limp cock and stroking gently, but firmly. Suzaku watched transfixed, feeling like he was trapped in the most fucked-up nightmare ever. Lelouch's expression told of nothing other than his intense anguish and humiliation, and he kept his eyes firmly fixed on a point elsewhere in the room, looking at neither Suzaku or Schneizer. Despite his best efforts, Lelouch failed to react in the manner that Schneizer apparently desired. With an over-elaborate show of giving up, Schneizer eventually released Lelouch and backed away from the bed, settling instead in a nearby armchair.

“I can't help thinking that somehow, you might be the person to have more luck than I..”

It took a couple of seconds for the casually delivered comment to sink in. Suzaku turned, haltingly, to face Schneizer. “What...” he said in a small, incredulous whisper.

“I think you know what”.

“Wh... Here? Now?” Suzaku could not bring himself to say what he knew Schneizer knew he was thinking.

In front of you?

“Absolutely”. Schneizer said in a measured tone of complete seriousness.