Primary Gain

A/N: What's in a name? Nine people wanted to convert to Schneizel, three were fine with Schneizer and the rest of you just wanted an update...so I'm going to have a happy medium. From now on we will spell with the L, but until I'm done with the story I'm not going to go back and edit previous chapters. This saves me time to just keep writing.

Another big thank you for those who commented with advice/observations/enthusiasm. I get all excited when I get reviews in the inbox. I do read every review and I keep them for later motivation!

(also, clears throat, not to tease you or anything but I started 7...and I think you'll really like it)

Chapter Six


The sound of a motorcycle coming to a stop broke Lelouch from his pensive daze, his daydreaming. The further the night had progressed since returning Lelouch had gone from planning and not thinking of Suzaku and then planning to not think about Suzaku, ending finally, alone and in the dark, planning about what he was going to do with Suzaku who had somehow made himself a key issue. Lelouch’s original plan had been simple; play hard to get and then ‘give in’ by throwing tidbit missions his way every once in a while. Suzaku would still think he was being helpful while Lelouch doled out the crucial aspects of his war to other people, specifically people already tarnished by Britannians.

Lelouch had never intended to actually kick Suzaku out of the house, he’d only wanted to throw his weight around a little, show Suzaku that he was being indulged, not encouraged. The plan was to go to his father’s house, leaving Suzaku out on the porch and then returning home to let Suzaku back inside once the inevitable tantrum had passed. He’d never once considered that Suzaku would be able to be brutal with him and hadn’t been prepared at all for the man to throw his own weight around. Somewhere things had gone wrong and Lelouch had miscalculated, but Lelouch never miscalculated.

It had quickly come to Lelouch’s attention that Suzaku had a strange ability to make him do things that he would never ever do, like hitting a patient. There had been absolutely no need for physical contact and Lelouch had never been the type of boy to get into fights. He had only ever needed a few sentences to make a man crumble and was never fond of the residual pain that came from using his own body to hit hard objects like Suzaku’s jaw.

And the kiss…well, Lelouch had never been very inclined to kissing anyone at all, but he’d kissed Suzaku. He’d just leaned forward, pressed their lips together and for a single moment had felt-

Well, it didn’t matter how Lelouch had felt because luckily Suzaku hadn’t felt anything but momentary confusion followed rather astonishingly quickly by sophomoric humor, obligatory breast reference included.

And then Lelouch had hit Suzaku again, multiple times, and he was almost as angry at himself for losing control as he was at Suzaku for having the nerve to single out his ultimate weakness and then use it against him not only effectively, but with a coolly satisfied look that had reminded him far too much of Schneizel. For a little while it was all Lelouch could think about; that Suzaku had, for just a moment, looked like Schneizel. It was on his mind in the car, during his reunion with his father, at lunch, but then something startling and miraculous had happened. Lelouch had rounded the shrubberies and discovered that he didn’t know Suzaku at all.

Knights, when not working towards a defined purpose had a tendency to get into brawls.
The fact that his sister had been watching as two men tried to maim each other hadn’t been a shock. He’d only glanced down when he recognized a tense, waiting expression on Cornelia’s face, usually worn when she was caught in between excitement and worry. Then he’d finally seen Suzaku.

After a moment of staring Lelouch surprised himself by not being surprised that Suzaku was fighting a ruthless killer like Guilford, that was practically his job description, but by the fact that Suzaku had won, or was certainly in the process of winning.

The look on Suzaku’s face had instantly made Lelouch forget all the moments he had ever seen Suzaku as a person who needed to be protected. No, Suzaku had yanked Guilford’s head back, snarling, his eyes alight with primal, absolute predatorily fire, and Lelouch had realized that Suzaku was the sort of person people needed to be protected from. He’d come a breath away from killing Guilford right there on the lawn, just like he’d killed five others without so much as a blink.

When they had started their sessions Lelouch had assumed that Suzaku’s suicidal nature had numbed him from the mental stress and insecurities of taking a life. Then Lelouch had watched him move towards Cornelia, every movement smooth despite his obvious pain and understood that this wasn’t the case at all.

He wondered how far his father would have let Suzaku take the fight if Lelouch hadn’t snapped out the first thing that came to mind when all of this started to process in his head, because in the end, even if he never really understood it, Suzaku was ultimately a killer playing good cop/bad cop with the world in general. The fact that he’d picked and stuck with ‘good cop’ at an early age was probably just dumb luck.

Lelouch had never really had a problem living with or around murderers. What disturbed him most about the revelation was that he’d gotten too emotionally entangled to notice that he’d opened his doors to one far more dangerous than the others. When Suzaku was good he was very, very good, but when he was bad, well Lelouch had never really had a problem loving murderers either. There was a new thrill in having the man around while knowing that he was capable of such an exquisite expression of passionate rage.

Still, that single moment didn’t have the power to truly erase all of the moments before. Suzaku was going to come back the same man that had left, whether Guilford had lived or not. Lelouch would still need to be careful with him, to lead him along for a while until he came to the realization that Lelouch was simply a man with a difficult past, not a victim waiting to be saved. The dependency issues would fade with that urge to save, to be the hero, and Suzaku’s emotions would level out. After a week or two they’d go back to being professional friends with the same goal of revenge and eventually Suzaku wouldn’t need him anymore. Once Lelouch was finished dealing with Schneizel Suzaku probably would want him around either.

The idea of losing Suzaku to time was depressing, but Lelouch would recover knowing that Special Agent Kururugi was back to shooting down criminals and screwing fellow agents against his desk with an added vigor of a love for life.

Lelouch’s cell phone began to ring.

“Oh, good. You’re still up.” Suzaku’s voice startled Lelouch into full coherency, “Hey, come outside for a second. I don’t want to wake everyone.”

Lelouch got up and walked to the door, frowning. He knew the difference between the sound of a motorcycle and the rumble of an SUV.

“Did Weinberg bring you home?” Lelouch scowled, pausing to slip on shoes, “I told him specifically not to put you on the back of a bike.”

Suzaku’s laugh was quiet and fond and like nothing Lelouch had ever heard in his life. For a moment he was stuck on that sound as Suzaku said, “Just come outside. It’s a gorgeous night.”

Lelouch came to a conclusion and rolled his eyes.

“Asplund gave you pills.” Lelouch sighed, “That man-”

“Put your hand on the doorknob,” Suzaku sounded like he wanted to be laughing, “and turn the handle to the right. Give it a little push, and then-”

Lelouch hung up his cell phone and let it drop to the side with a satisfying clatter.

And then Lelouch walked outside. He made it halfway down the yard before he realized that there was only one man waiting in the yard, his formal knight’s uniform very bright in the moonlight. It took only a moment to wonder where Suzaku was when Lelouch finally realized what was standing before him, smiling softly, his hair wild from driving without a helmet. The first thing Lelouch thought; he’ll get killed that way.
The second…well there wasn’t really any thinking done after that first thought.

There was just Suzaku.

“No,” Lelouch stopped short, stopped walking as he stopped wanting to believe, “No…you didn’t. You couldn’t-”

But there Suzaku was, standing tall and proud and looking like everything a knight should be. He didn’t falter for a moment, he just took on the momentum that Lelouch had left behind the second he realized that someone he’d treasured had died. Suzaku’s uniform might as well have been his shroud. Lelouch pushed him away, the corpse of a friend come back to bring hurt and pain, but like any terror Suzaku was relentless and wouldn’t leave, but worse, he wouldn’t let Lelouch try to retreat.

“You’re dead,” Lelouch hissed, trying to jerk his arm away, “You’re dead to me.”

“Why?” Suzaku scowled back, “You’re the only one allowed to be a Britannian?”

“Britannian?!” Lelouch was trapped again by his wrist, “Suzaku you’re meat. Anyone can use you now. Anyone, even Schneizel-”

“Hey, shut up about Schneizel!” Suzaku grabbed him by the waist as Lelouch watched the neighbors’ lights come on. “I don’t belong to him. I’m never-”

“You will if he’s Emperor!” Lelouch hit him hard in the chest, right in the ribs and Suzaku’s grip lightened enough that he could wrench his arm away. “And you’ll deserve it too, you -”

Suzaku just lunged forward and grabbed him again, grunting at another hard blow but refusing to let go of Lelouch’s wrist. His grip was sure but not hard.

“Just shut up for a second-”

“-stupid, pathetic, excuse for a-”

“Lelouch!”

“-human being! This is how you thank me?” Lelouch hit him again, glad when he could make Suzaku really wince. “I help you and I take care of you-you’re just like everyone else-”

“Godamnit,” Suzaku wrenched hard, pulled Lelouch closer and grabbed his other wrist. His eyes were very bright despite being slit in anger, and Lelouch’s heart gave a note of warning as he recognized the look on Suzaku’s face. It was the look he wore as he tightened the strap around Guilford’s neck, but Lelouch didn’t care because-

“You’ve betrayed me,” the words hurt more than the others and he spat them out with even more vitriol, “You’ve gone behind my back, and-”

Kissed him, full on the lips, one hand still on Lelouch’s wrist and the other on the back of his neck as soft leather gloves moved up into his hair, but that touch wasn’t enough to stem Lelouch’s fury. He fought back by-

Again, and slipping his tongue into Lelouch’s mouth when he tried to yell, tried to bite, and holding him tighter, closer, with a fistful of Lelouch’s hair, just like he had when-

A little animal part of Lelouch told him to stop struggling, that he’d only hurt himself because he obviously wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. And another little part asked him why he was struggling at all as an undeniable electric thrill ran down Lelouch’s back and made him arc into the hold that Suzaku had shifted from his wrist to his waist. And god, Suzaku was…was making a little noise as Lelouch fisted the fabric on his back and opened his mouth further, gentling in Suzaku’s hold with his heart pounding wildly in some form of distress.

The consistent emotion wasn’t fear and certainly not terror as Suzaku’s hand relaxed its grip and cupped Lelouch’s neck instead. And Suzaku-

Suzaku.

Lelouch inhaled, breathing in his scent and remembering that one moment when kissing Suzaku had felt more than right, comfortable, and now encompassing as Lelouch was kept in a solid hold, cradled by a warm body that didn’t want anything but to be kissed back. Lelouch wasn’t used to being kissed, he was sure that much was obvious, but for some reason Suzaku wasn’t deterred by the awkwardness and soon there wasn’t anything awkward at all. Lelouch was a fast learner. Suzaku made another somewhat helpless sounding noise that was very pleasing and small, a breath that Lelouch could catch and answer with his own, with-

They were suddenly gasping for air and Suzaku was staring down when Lelouch finally opened his eyes, and Suzaku looked just like that sound, delicate, vulnerable, and terrified. It took a moment for Lelouch to catch his breath, to blink, and comprehend and understand something beyond a massive, insistent desire. Wide green eyes moved down to his lips and then back again and Suzaku’s mouth worked for a second but nothing came out. Lelouch had to acknowledge that while he was confused and still stuck in the shock of a kiss that…well, safely, vehemently heterosexual Suzaku wasn’t going to be the first person to say something intelligible. He hadn’t even managed to let Lelouch go.

“Alright, I concede,” Lelouch’s voice was breathy but clear, “Your hormone-distraction technique is clearly superior. We’ll talk this over in the morning when we’ve both had some rest.”

Suzaku blinked a few times, exhaled shakily, and asked, “This?”

“Yes, this,” Lelouch said, casually dislodging himself from Suzaku’s embrace, “’This’ being your ridiculous and ill-informed decision to become a knight; well-intentioned, I’m sure, but you’re obviously a bit dimmer than I had thought.”

Suzaku made a little face and smiled wryly, “Shiny packaging.”

Right. Shiny packaging. Lelouch kept a straight face. “This is important. Did Lloyd give you any pills? Any injections? Any strange-smelling drinks?”

“Um, no.” Suzaku stood a little straighter and then looked around as if trying to remember where he was. Finally he gestured to the motorcycle, “He gave me Lancelot.”

Lloyd obviously needed to brush up on his pharmaceuticals. Suzaku took a deep breath, sighed, and let his arms fall to the side right in time for a familiar bike to round the corner and come to a stop in Lelouch’s driveway. Laughing, Gino took his helmet off, exclaiming, “I finally caught up! Suzaku, you’re insane-”

After another moment of witless staring Suzaku glanced over to Gino, looked back to Lelouch and started to laugh, alternately stumbling and gasping for air as he slowly made his way to the front door. Lelouch had to admit the sound was heartening, especially without the previously accompanying tears. After a moment of scrabbling at the handle Sayako opened the door and helped him inside the deep shadow of the house.

“Did I miss something important?”

Lelouch looked at Gino, observed his happy blue eyes crinkled in a smile and said, “I’m going to kill you.”

Gino took a step back and put his helmet back on, his grin a little strained.
“I’m going to come back in the morning.”

“Good. I’ll be waiting on the porch,” Lelouch enunciated, his hands fisting in anger, “With my fully-loaded weapon.”

“I’ll call first,” Gino slung a leg over his bike, “Things will look better in the morning.”

“Because I’m going to blow your brains all over my yard,” Lelouch took a step closer, cold fury draping him as he thought of what Gino had allowed. They both knew that one phone call would have insured Suzaku’s safety from the Britannians, but Gino hadn’t made that call. Gino laughed a little wildly and started the engine.

“Your flowers are already beautiful Prince Lelouch!” He started backing down the driveway, “I wouldn’t recommend more fertilizer. If you add too much-”

And Gino was gone, taking his suddenly spectacular idiocy with him.

Lelouch wished he really had someone to kill and made his way up the yard wondering if any of the house’s many occupants hadn’t looked outside. It was going to be a long day.

When he finally made it up to the bedroom he was greeted by the sight of Sayako carefully tucking Suzaku in with the sincere doting smile she usually saved for Nunnaly. She gave him some aspirin, helped him drink a little milk, and was looking forward to seeing him in the morning. Suzaku gave a thank you that sounded ridiculously grateful. She bowed back, turned off the light and made her way out the door, murmuring, “He’s such a lovely young man.”

Lelouch made his way through the dark, his heart still thrumming and his skin still tingling as he slipped under the covers and silently but reluctantly agreed.

***

”Fuck you,” Suzaku said through a mouth of cereal, glaring, “It’s none of your damn business.”

Kallen grinned, leaning forward on her elbows. She’d tagged along with Gino who had apparently stayed at her apartment for the evening since Lelouch had been about to go get his gun and practice his aim. Moving targets still gave him a little trouble.

“I totally spotted that man-crush,” She laughed, “Deny it all you want, fag-”

CC snorted, stirring her oatmeal absently. “Fag.”

“-But that time in your office you totally-”

Suzaku’s face turned bright red as he leaned forward brandishing his spoon, “That was you being a freak! Jesus, it was just a kiss, and I was trying to get him to shut up-“
CC, the witch, was watching the drama avidly, taking delicate bites of her toast.

Kallen put a hand up and leaned away from the splattering milk, her amusement still going strong.

“-which is all your fault!” Suzaku continued vehemently, making the dishes rattle as he slammed his fist into the table, “Because it was the only way to get you to shut up…and I had a concussion because Lelouch’s sister is just as crazy as you and made me choke Gilbert fucking Guilford!”

“My god,” CC murmured, grinning, “I’m never leaving this house again.”

“Don’t you dare blame me for the kissing thing! That’s all on you, Suzaku, you started it!” Kallen brandished her butter knife in retaliation for a moment before her lips twitched up, “You seriously choked Guilford? And no one gutted you?”

Suzaku threw himself back into his chair, crossed his arms and glowered. “Shut up about it, it’s none of your-”

“With his own belt!” Gino leaned forward, grinning, but his blush didn’t falter and his eyes were still a little glassy. Lelouch suspected that the man was taking the first available opportunity to change the subject, and with enthusiasm. “Right in front of his Majesty! Sir Guilford’s face was turning purple and Sir Kururugi says-”

The room seemed to freeze, making the sound of chirping birds and clicking sprinklers almost obscenely loud as Kallen’s eyes began to widen, as she inhaled, her shoulders going back as her knuckles whitened on her butter knife. Gino started to retreat, biting his lip and silently sitting in his chair.

CC was obviously barely containing herself in an ecstasy of expectation, looking positively gleeful.

Finally breaking the silence, but not the tension, Suzaku sighed, put his hands over his face and muttered, very succinctly, “Fuck.”

The only information Kallen had been given was that CC had caught Lelouch and Suzaku in a ‘torrid embrace of unconstrained homosexual passion’. She’d been smart enough to keep the truly vital information to herself.

Lelouch turned to Gino and said, “I should shot you when I had the chance.”

“Yeah,” Gino muttered miserably, his shoulders drooping, “Kallen-”

“No!” Kallen looked wild, her voice clipped as she leaned forward, her gaze switching to Suzaku, “I want to hear what Sir Kururugi said to Sir Guilford in front of his fucking Majesty.”

The assembled Britannians, which surprisingly included Suzaku, winced at the last addition.

“Goddamnit,” Kallen yelled, looking half afraid as her eyes filled with tears, “How long, Suzaku? Huh? How long have you been lying-”

Reaching forward slowly, carefully with a bare, outstretched hand Suzaku took hold of her shoulder. She surprised them all by not turning away, choking out “How long?”

“Last night,” Suzaku was watching nothing but Kallen. A slight discomfort settled over the table. Even CC looked away from what was becoming a painful, private moment.

“That’s why Lelouch and I were fighting-”

“Prince Lelouch,” She snapped, her voice thick with tears, “Right?”

“Yeah, Prince Lelouch,” Suzaku whispered without shame, “Like I said. I’m new at this, Kallen…and he was pretty angry at me too.”

“Thus the hormone-distraction technique,” Lelouch said dryly, glaring when Suzaku didn’t look his way, “And despite that momentary distraction I continue to be angry, Suzaku.”

“See?” Suzaku sounded a desperate high pitch, “Everyone’s angry…and it wasn’t like I was planning-”

“No shit,” Kallen ran her arm over her eyes and was dry-eyed once again, “You stupid fuck. You don’t plan anything, you just-”

Kallen sighed and looked at the table while Suzaku gazed at her, longing and pathetic and hopeful. After a moment Kallen looked back up, crossing her arms and staring at Gino, “Tell me what Sir Kururugi said, Weinberg, before I lose my shit all over this house.”

Gino’s smile stuttered a little before shining as he leaned forward eagerly. The man just wouldn’t stop.

“Gilford’s flat on the ground, trying to get up but Suzaku-”

“Sir Kururugi-” Kallen raised an eyebrow, dryly insistent and pulling all of Suzaku’s strings. He winced and slid down his seat looking guilty and miserable as Gino continued, starting to grin in excitement.

“-Sir Kururugi has his knee in his back, and every time he tries to get up Sir Kururugi yanks hard on the belt with this insane look on his face-”

CC was back to nibbling on her toast, but her eyes were on Lelouch as Gino continued his tale, teasing Kallen carefully into a sharp grin as he described Cornelia’s mortified wince. By the time he had made it to the ‘good cop’ reference she was laughing hard, grinning at Suzaku’s mortal embarrassment. They continued on without any encouragement.

“It’s a little funny,” CC murmured, her eyes narrowed over a sweet smile. “How you insist on surrounding yourself with all the freaks you can find. Really, Lulu, a psychologist? That’s like a serial killer working in a butcher’s shop.”

Lelouch could only glare, hating her beyond words. Of all the people he knew CC was the only one who could manage to get under his skin, and she abused the ability with great fervor.

“It’s even funnier,” She leaned forward coquettishly, “How many insane people seem to want to be around you. Are you collecting them or facilitating them?”

“I don’t know,” Lelouch shot back, “You tell me, you’re the craziest of them all.”

She laughed then and it was delicate, like the sound of tinkling bells. She nodded towards Suzaku, being subtle for probably the first time in her life, and her smile went soft.

“I think we both know that’s not true.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“No, but I know you Lulu,” She volleyed in return, “And you’ll always be the king of something, you can’t help it, it’s in your blood…but you’ve let him be the king of you.”

She laughed loudly then as Lelouch shot up, shoving his chair away with a curse.

“That makes you the queen, right?” CC giggled, “It explains all these mood swings! You’re probably just on the rag-”

Lelouch decided, out of the graciousness of his heart, to save Suzaku’s dressing down for later. When everyone was gone. Especially that, “Witch.”

There was a very short silence that ended with Kallen’s amused, “So I’m guessing you’re not coming in to work today Sir Special Agent Kururugi.”

Suzaku’s answer was lost as Lelouch made his way outside to the porch. It was a beautiful day, sunny and clear, and he closed the front door with a satisfying slam. Nothing rattled or broke but Lelouch felt a little better sitting on the front steps.
He watched as his neighbors escorted their children to the bus stop, surreptitiously staring at him as they walked by looking like frightened small game. The bus stop was doubly crowded as they waited there, casually touching their children’s shoulders, patting their heads, smiling.

 News traveled fast in a small community and while Lelouch was slightly exasperated at the reaction he had to smile a little. There was no harm in children knowing that their parents cared. For a moment he envisioned himself walking around the neighborhoods shooting blanks in a quest to make all the latch-key kids get some one on one time every morning. If he was crazy, like CC had implied, he’d probably do it too. Or get someone else to do it.

He watched as the bus pulled up and the crowd scattered into their luxury sedans, probably late for work. That mad dash was amusing too. The front door open and closed nearly silently and Lelouch was slightly surprised when he was met by Suzaku holding two cups of coffee and some toast. He’d expected Sayako.

Suzaku put the food down between them and sat, staring resolutely at nothing at all. He leaned forward and sighed, resting his arms on his knees.

“We need to talk about ‘this’.” Suzaku’s hands tensed, and he said, “And I’m not talking about the knight thing.”

Lelouch didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t prepared an answer because he hadn’t wanted to dwell. Obviously his assumption that Suzaku was going to let the moment go as a concussion side affect was flawed.

“Say something,” Suzaku murmured, threading his fingers together. Lelouch made a decision.

“I don’t see the need to discuss something that never happened.” He picked up his coffee and took a sip. It was too strong for his taste, which meant Suzaku had probably made it himself. Lelouch continued to drink. Suzaku’s head dropped as he massaged the bridge of his nose, his lips pressed into a grimace as he stared at his socked feet.

“You know,” Suzaku glanced to the side, “There was this guy I knew a while back. He taught me that denial was a pretty bad habit. He called it emotional cancer.”

Lelouch clenched his jaw shut and kept his eyes forward.

“And there’s only two ways to cure the problem,” Suzaku continued quietly. “You cut the cancer out-”

“Stop it,” Lelouch whispered, not recognizing his own voice. “Stop, Suzaku.”

“-or you die.” Suzaku continued on, relentless and lacking even an ounce of pity.

Lelouch turned his eyes away wishing he was the type that could cover his ears in defiance.

“We’ve both got enough cancer to deal with already Lelouch. We don’t have the luxury of adding this one in too.”

After a moment Suzaku chuckled, “I bet you hate me right now just as much as I hated you…but I think I understand why you do what you do. The doctor thing.”

“And why’s that?” Lelouch didn’t snap, but he wanted to. Between Suzaku and CC he’d had about enough armchair psychology than he could stand, and it wasn’t even past noon.

“I don’t worry nearly as much about my own problems when I’m worrying about you.”
Suzaku began to crunch on his toast, laughing again. “Makes life easy.”

Which ultimately meant, after translation, that Suzaku’s skewed separation anxiety issues were now iron-clad since Suzaku was addicted to something that ‘made life easy’.
Lelouch sighed and cursed his father for the first time in a long time. He’d obviously known exactly what to do to acquire Suzaku. All he’d had to do was dangle Lelouch a little and he now had a knight who could police the knights himself if he was forced to. Suzaku had no ties to their little community, emotionally or otherwise. Beyond Gino Suzaku wouldn’t have a single qualm about taking other Rounds members down, in fact with his FBI background he’d probably enjoy the opportunity to get rid of a few ‘bad guys’ while he could.

And Charles had certainly chosen an excellent reminder of who was still the Emperor and why.  The punishment hadn’t even been a punishment. Suzaku in all his earnestness and good intentions was both a welcome home gift and a warning. He had a personal protector with the power of a Knight of the Rounds but Lelouch would never be able to leave the family again knowing that Suzaku was still tied to them as the Knight of Seven. The only way to leave the Rounds was by death. If Suzaku had taken just a moment to discuss the situation with Lelouch then Lelouch would have still had the option to retreat, no matter how distasteful the idea was, but as it was Suzaku had made a fool of them both.

“I like you, I love you, you kissed me and I returned the kiss,” Lelouch said shortly, glaring into green eyes, “But I can’t trust you anymore, Suzaku. So no matter what your opinion might be that moment means nothing and will continue to be nothing even if you somehow manage to win my trust back. There is still nothing to discuss.”

Suzaku stopped, his smile wiped clean as he stared back, whispering, “Oh.”

“The fact that you’re now my father’s knight means I have to tolerate you and give you what you want,” Lelouch continued, cold and furious, “It doesn’t mean that I have to be your friend or enjoy your presence. You decided to be a knight. Fine. Then I’m going to treat you like a knight and you are going to treat me with the respect that a prince deserves and nothing more.”

And Lelouch after so many hours, so many days, so much time spent worrying about Suzaku finally let himself get to the core of the issue, to expose what hurt most.
Lelouch hated Suzaku and he hated the hurt, despairing look in his eyes.

“And since you’re suddenly so fond of honesty,” Lelouch’s voice faltered and he leaned forward, “I never intended on pushing you away or leaving you alone. All you had to do was trust me. If you had trusted me you’d still be in there, a free man, but now you’re nothing but a Britannian guard dog waiting for your master to ring a bell, Sir Kururugi.”

The Lelouch stood, ignoring the way the world wavered, and laughed, feeling a little broken as he went for the door. Lelouch didn’t have to slam the door to make Suzaku flinch, all he had to say;

“Welcome to Britannia.”

***

For the rest of the day Suzaku was very quiet, very pale, and he kept exactly three feet away at all times, as if he could see some invisible yard stick. His sadness could be felt in the space of the empty chair between them and the way he had to raise his voice to be heard by Lelouch, there couldn’t be anymore quiet laughter, no whispering. When Suzaku looked at Lelouch everyone could see, when he spoke they could hear every word, but they couldn’t understand the dull ache of having him close at hand, but never near.

Suzaku’s sadness could be felt, but not a single emotion showed on his usually expressive face. He’d become a wall, a watching thing, and there were moments that he was so quiet that Lelouch forgot, or didn’t know he was there. He and Gino were in their whites looking very neat and striking, but Gino was nervous and his body said so, especially when compared to Suzaku’s entirely still form. Even Jeremiah, usually effusive, looked a little wary as he twirled his pen and watched Suzaku from the corner of his eye.

“If we establish our base as off-limits we can guarantee both Nunnaly’s safety and a secure environment to rest or retreat.” Jeremiah leaned back, didn’t look at Suzaku and said, “Nunnaly is your greatest weakness, my Prince.”

“If I ask for neutral territory in which to plan Schneizel will make his own base mobile.”

“Then we ask for a specific piece of land.”

“And Schneizel will move in next door.” Lelouch sighed, wishing that Suzaku would speak up or get out. “We can’t single her out individually because Schneizel will ask for the same privilege and make himself off-limits. She’s going to have to leave the country.”

“Or have a body guard,” Gino added, “Or perhaps she could live at the main house under his Majesty’s protection.”

“He won’t give it,” Lelouch said tersely, “He can’t show favor during a blood feud. It’s a free for all…’Survival of the fittest’, remember?”

“Limit the battlefield.” Suzaku said suddenly, making everyone jump, “You both gain if your feud is contained in one area. You’ll have the same resources and the same territory. You can both try to kill each other while Nunnaly works on her tan in California.”

Lelouch only nodded. It seemed almost obscene to respond verbally when it was the only thing Suzaku had said all day.

“You’ll both have to agree not to leave the designated area,” Jeremiah looked at Suzaku carefully, “but otherwise that would solve a number of problems.”

“I still don’t trust Schneizel not to go after her,” Lelouch tried to think rationally, but Schneizel’s very nature was forcing him to analyze and reanalyze everything. “and I can’t spare anyone, not even Sayako.”

“Maybe if-” Jeremiah’s voice cut off and Lelouch opened his eyes to see that Suzaku had disappeared. The front door shut firmly and in a few minutes the familiar hum of his motorcycle came to life.

“Where the hell is he going?” Jeremiah frowned, “My Lord, I’m not sure-”

“Don’t bother worrying about Suzaku,” Lelouch cut him off quickly, “He hates Schneizel almost as much as I do.”

The last thing Lelouch needed on his team was rumors of treachery or distrust.

“And that was pretty good advice,” Gino shrugged before catching Lelouch’s eyes in a hard stare, “Whatever’s going on, I’m sure he’ll get over it soon.”

The cut was subtle but it stung all the more fiercely when Lelouch had put himself in the position to be chastised by Gino of all people. Even if he didn’t know what was going on Gino apparently could read people accurately  enough to spot when someone stepped out of line. Lelouch was starting to understand why Gino had been given a pot of the Rounds; he knew people, but more importantly he empathized with the wronged party. That talent had been the one that had gotten him up the ladder at the FBI so quickly. Gino was a fixer, the perfect mediator. Still, Lelouch would have loved to get him on a couch sometime. He’d never met a person who insisted in being so damn happy.

Suzaku knew how to play good cop when he needed to, it was becoming a habitual tool, but he was generally aware that he was just acting to get something he wanted. Had Gino just forgotten that he was supposed to be acting? If a coping mechanism was used consistently enough-

“Uh, Prince Lelouch,” Gino looked a little disturbed, “Could you maybe not look at me like that? I feel like you’re trying to explode my head with your mind.”

“That would be a very useful ability.” Lelouch said dryly, looking down at his notebook. “Rest assured, if I could I would have by now.”

Gino’s eyebrows went up, he stared, and Lelouch sighed again. Despite being annoying and mostly an idiot Gino had been there when he needed him to be, and without complaint. The death threats from the night before had come in the heat of passion, and he’d deserved it then, but sitting at the dinner table, helping to plan a war when he had no obligation…

“I’m sorry.” Lelouch was sincere and he knew that to Gino, it showed. The man smiled, and for once Lelouch was just grateful for it, not annoyed.

“No apology needed, my Prince,” He stood up and wandered into the kitchen, “I’ll find you some aspirin.”

They were back to planning in only a moment and Lelouch’s mood slowly improved as his headache lightened, but he still didn’t know what he was going to do about Nunnaly. The group was back to discussing territorial issues when they were interrupted by the sound of a motorcycle coming to an abrupt stop. They were all looking towards the doorway expectantly when the front door opened and Suzaku’s voice came back through.

“-that stunt again and I’ll dropkick you,” Suzaku didn’t sounded angry, but he sounded serious. There was no answer, but there was a general intake of breath when Suzaku dragged Rolo into the kitchen. They were both dirty, Suzaku’s left arm was dripping blood and Rolo had the beginning of a truly impressive black eye. The boy was scowling nevertheless and jerked his shoulder out of Suzaku’s hand when they were finally inside.

Rolo crossed his arms defiantly and stared them all down, not a single shadow of the pale, mousy young man left on his face, his posture. Watching, understanding, Lelouch’s heart began to pound as horror began to sink into his bones. Rolo had been alone with Nunnaly dozens of times, and Lelouch had never seen a hint of the person who was standing in front of him now.

“Jeremiah needs to leave,” Suzaku gave the knight a hard stare and nodded to the front door.

There was only one thing Jeremiah could do. He left without another word from Lelouch or Suzaku, closing the door behind himself.

“Either you tell him or I will,” Suzaku peered down at him with a strange, scolding tone that lessened Lelouch’s anxiety. Rolo glared back and pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Nunnaly already has a bodyguard,” Suzaku said, glaring back, “And he’s good, too.”
Rolo’s glare lessened a little, but not much.

“Now, that’s fine with me,” Suzaku continued, briefly looking towards Lelouch, but not making eye contact. “But there’s another issue here that needs to be cleared up, Rolo, and you know what it is.”

In a moment Rolo’s glare faded into reluctant agreement as he turned to Look Lelouch in the eye.

“It was a mission,” The boy finally said, “I was told to do whatever I had to do to keep Lady Nunnaly safe.”

Then, and it was amazing to see, all the fight went out of the boy and his eyes were pleading, insistent.

“But,” He looked away briefly, agonized, “I know it’s not my place…but-”

He closed his eyes briefly and Suzaku put a hand on his shoulder, comforting but still watchful as Rolo lifted his eyes again to meet Lelouch’s.

“-I really love her,” Rolo said quietly, “Please don’t send me away. I don’t trust anyone else to protect her…especially now that you’ve declared a blood feud anyone might try to get through.”

Lelouch didn’t say anything, but he could feel himself start to tremble with the mounting rage.

Rolo sighed then looking, reluctant, maybe sympathetic, “Everyone knows that it would destroy you to lose her, Prince Lelouch. It would break me too. She’s just so good, so pure-”

“Shut up.” Lelouch snapped, feeling his fingernails cut into his palm. “Tell me who your master is.”

Rolo had a moment where he was clearly fighting himself before whispering, “His Highness, your father.”

“Tell the Prince exactly what your mission was,” Suzaku said quietly, “You have His permission, on my honor.”

Rolo looked at Suzaku and gave one enormous sigh of relief. When he opened his eyes they were untroubled, clear and bright.

“I was told to do my best to help her become independent and prize my life before hers. I was told to keep her safe at all costs, and to do no harm.”

“What do you mean, ‘independent’.” Lelouch’s started feeling bottomless as he glimpsed what was coming on the horizon. He was only asking to confirm.

Just like Schneizel it seemed that Lelouch’s father had been moving to get him out of the FBI. If Nunnaly was independent Lelouch would have been able to cut ties with his other life and re-enter the other. If it hadn’t been for Suzaku Lelouch might have started on his resignation letter the second Nunnaly hadn’t needed his care anymore.

Rolo confirmed that Lelouch’s father had been silently taking control of his son’s life by manipulating the people Lelouch loved most.

“To help her leave this house as soon as possible.” Rolo said blithely, smiling, “I was going to ask her to move in with me in a couple of months, maybe weeks. I found an apartment that helps the disabled-”

Lelouch slammed his fists down, shaking the table and making everyone but Suzaku flinch. It was almost as if the man was mocking him, watching coolly as Lelouch came very close to losing his temper in public, yet again.

“Get out,” He choked, “All of you get out.”

Suzaku nodded to Gino and whispered something into the boy’s ear. His wide, startled eyes gained a little stability as the two shared a glance. Suzaku pointed and the boy nodded…no, the boy bowed, joining Gino’s hasty exit.

Then Suzaku sat, crossing his feet at the ankles on an empty chair as he examined his wound with nonchalance.

“I told you to get out,” Lelouch hissed, hating him for his calm, “Get the fuck out.”

“Sorry, Prince Lelouch,” Suzaku grabbed a few napkins and dabbed at the cut with a frown. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Suzaku-”

Suzaku looked up with wide, untroubled eyes and suggested, “You could lock yourself in the bathroom and throw your tantrum there. Girls do it all the time. It seems to work for them.”

Furious, blind with it, Lelouch took two steps forward and-

Suzaku caught Lelouch’s wrist in his hand before it could touch his face and squeezed. Hard. Lelouch made one helpless, terrible noise at the sharp pain that ran up his arm.

“I’m going to tell you what I told Rolo, my Prince,” Suzaku jerked him close, not caring that Lelouch winced, “Grow up, fast, and start taking responsibility for your actions or I’ll put you over my knee until you learn.”

Lelouch scowled, furious, and Suzaku wrenched his arm again, his eyes narrow with intent as Lelouch cried out a little louder. The pain began to increase with the same increments of Suzaku’s gloved fist closing slowly.

“Do you think I won’t?” The coolness in Suzaku’s voice made Lelouch’s heart speed up, made him try to back away in fear. Clearly Suzaku wasn’t experience a moment of hesitance, he was going to do what he was going to do and Lelouch didn’t have the physical strength to stop him.

“You’re hurting me,” Lelouch swallowed, “Let go.”

Suzaku stared, put his feet on the floor and leaned forward in such a way that Lelouch was forced to go down on his knees or get his wrist broken. He clenched his teeth but couldn’t bite off another gasp as his bones were ground together.

“Answer me.” Suzaku said coolly. For a moment Lelouch couldn’t understand the demand, his arm hurt too much and the pain fogged his mind. Suzaku twitched his hand and Lelouch cursed, finally comprehending as his body settled into healthy panic. There was movement from the other room, but a sharp word from Gino settled the house back into silence, making Lelouch’s hiss echo against the kitchen walls. Still, Lelouch had his pride to consid-

Suzaku stared at him and ruthlessly gave another twist.

“Yes, fuck, you’ll do it-” Lelouch didn’t recognize his own voice has eyes started to tear. Either his wrist was broken or Suzaku had hit-

Suddenly the pain was very nearly gone and Lelouch was left on his knees, looking up at Suzaku with tears in his eyes. The threat of reprisal was still in Suzaku’s loose grip, and Lelouch couldn’t think of anything but that he didn’t want to feel the agony again.

“Does it hurt?” Suzaku asked, “Do you want to feel that again?”

“No,” Lelouch hissed through his teeth. He considered pulling away but Suzaku began to squeeze again, a warning in his eyes.

“The next time you lose your temper I want you to remember this pain,” Suzaku went very still before continuing, “Every time you decide to cut someone down with your words I want you to remember how much this hurts, because that’s what you’re doing to other people when you lash out.”

Suzaku wrenched and Lelouch’s attention sharpened until nothing else existed but Suzaku’s steady speech. He wasn’t even angry, Lelouch realized, and somehow that made the moment even more horrible.

“You’ve been getting whatever you want whenever you want for too long,” Suzaku continued, “and it’s easy for you isn’t it?”

Lelouch scowled, and snapped bitterly, “Yes. It’s easy.”

“You are not entitled to manipulate people just because it’s easy,” Suzaku punctuated each sentence with a long agonizing squeeze, “You are not allowed to make other people hurt just because you hurt. There are consequences. You might be getting away with it now but someday it’s going to catch up-”

Suzaku’s hand tensed hard enough to make Lelouch to close his eyes and hiss. Then, slicing through the pain, there was a hot breath on Lelouch’s cheek as Suzaku whispered close to his ear.

“-just like it’s catching up with Schneizel.”

A different pain started to strike, far more excruciating and much more relentless.
When Lelouch tried to free his wrist again Suzaku let it go, let Lelouch hunch forward and try not to scream.

“You need to figure out the difference between revenge and justice, or everything that’s good in you is going to get ripped up.” Suzaku stood, putting his hands in his pockets. Lelouch swallowed and didn’t dare look up, but that choice was taken from him when Suzaku’s hand shot out and grabbed his jaw. Suzaku’s eyes were still stern, unforgiving, but his grip was gentle.

“Don’t make me do this again.”

Then Suzaku was upright, hands in his pockets as he walked towards the door saying,
“Welcome to reality.”

Then Suzaku was gone, and what Lelouch wanted was to kill him. Kill everything he loved. He wanted to destroy Suzaku. It would be so easy. It might make all the things he’d said go away.

Lelouch braced one arm on the chair and started gasping for air, trying to catch some grip on his fear, contain it, but with the added ache, a proof of reality that Suzaku left behind, the fear became ephemeral and untouchable. Half of that pain was grounded to the shock that it had been Suzaku who, despite his own words earlier in the morning, Lelouch trusted to at least keep him safe from physical retaliation. Knowing that that was no longer true Lelouch felt terrified, abandoned and alone standing before a personal demon he’d taken on without deliberation…just because he could.

There was a touch against his neck and Lelouch was too numb to flinch away like his body told him too, instead he rose with the gentle urging to sit in Suzaku’s chair.

Gino looked him in the eyes and Lelouch had never more grateful for anything than he was for that familiar smile. The knight looked down briefly and pulled away the hand that Lelouch was holding to his chest, pulling up the sleeve with care.

“It won’t even bruise,” Gino said softly, and when he looked up that smile was said, “But I bet it hurts, huh?”

“Suzaku hurt me,” Lelouch confirmed in a whisper, his eyes moving down to the floor, feeling cold with disbelief.

Even sitting, his arm aching, Lelouch couldn’t comprehend anything but a tenacious fury that he just couldn’t touch or utilize no matter how far he reached into the recess of his mind. It was as if there was a wall in front of him, a solid force of incomprehension. His body began to pulse with the hard pound of his heart, trembling.
A whisper suggested that he might be going into shock, but it was silenced as a pair of arms wrapped around him firm and warm. Lelouch hid his face in Gino’s shoulder, shaking and unable to return the embrace.

Suzaku had hurt him.

The man who had smiled at him in the morning, the man who had said, repeatedly, that he would protect Lelouch because he was worth it, had walked in without a single qualm and deliberately, forcefully hurt him.

The man that he respected, loved, had forced him to the ground and…and Lelouch learned what it really felt like to be betrayed. He understood what it felt like to be discarded by someone he had genuinely, completely trusted.

And he despaired, finally understanding how badly he had injured Suzaku just by talking to him, sitting on the porch in the morning, and just because he’d been afraid.

Lelouch tried to push Gino away, the last thing he deserved was comfort, but Gino shushed him quietly and declined the silent order. Ten minutes ago Lelouch would have been furious, but Lelouch was just grateful that Gino had enough heart not to stay three feet away.

Outside a motorcycle came to life and then drove away.

Suzaku had left him alone.

Would he come back?

***

The home phone rang and Lelouch bolted awake, looking at the clock and then at the phone in horror. He knew exactly what kind of calls came on the land line at one in the morning and Suzaku still hadn’t come home ye…no, Suzaku hadn’t come back yet. Lelouch grabbed the receiver, almost dropped it and went cold at the sound of his sister’s voice.

“There’s been an…accident,” Cornelia said, muttering, “Get over here before things go more wrong.”

“Where are you?” Lelouch stumbled out of his empty bed and pounded the wall, listening to Cornelia as he yelled, “Gino, get up!”

“You’re going to need more than one gun,” She said dryly before hanging up. Lelouch pulled his bedside drawer open and grabbed his mother’s gun.

“Call Kallen!” He yelled, breathless as he pulled on pants, “Sayako! No…shit…Rolo!”

“Where?” Gino called back. Lelouch gave the address and Gino cursed quietly, before speaking quickly and earnestly into his cell. Rolo came around the corner, eyes wide, saying-

“I thought we were-”

“Sayako is the least conspicuous,” Lelouch pulled on the first shirt that came to hand, “Go get a gun.”

Lelouch couldn’t tell if he matched but he was clothed and out the door as Rolo disappeared into the dark. He nearly ran into Gino who was still in his uniform, thank god, and said, “Go ahead with Kallen. We’ll catch up on mine.”

Gino looked Lelouch up and down with wide eyes and then shook his head like a wet dog, before opening finally his mouth to finally settle with, “When’s the last time you rode that thing? Does it even have gas? And with a passenger-”

“Rolo’s light, and if I could handle it at fifteen I can handle the damn thing now.”

“Shit,” Gino ran a hand through his hair, thankfully distracted by the sound of a horn in the driveway. He turned and started out the door before pausing, “Do you have a helmet?”

Lelouch threw a shoe at him.

Gino took the hint and luckily Sayako was there to put a holster on him, a jacket that felt like leather, and a new pair of shoes.  Lelouch was breathless, making sure that the safety was still on before securing the weapon as she helped him with his shoes.
He was sprinting out the back door and ducking under the slowly rising garage door as he revealed a piece of ancient history. He pulled off the cover, slightly surprised to see it clean and obviously taken care of, walked it to the street and got on.

The sound of the idling motorcycle was shockingly calming. Adrenalin was still racing through him but more focused, making his mind sharp. Carefully, very carefully, Lelouch tried to remember how to center his weight, taking corners, how to adjust for a second rider…it would be easier now that he had some kind of muscle tone and a little more weight. He’d been frighteningly light at sixteen. Rolo ran down the yard, stuffing a gun into the small of his back and neatly catching the helmet Lelouch tossed him.

“No,” He said, absolutely scandalized, “Prince Lelouch you-”

“Shut up,” Lelouch snapped with a following huff, it was actually painful to say, “You’re my sister’s lover. You’re coming home to her, you understand?”

Rolo looked at him for a moment his mouth open in shock before he finally blurted, “Yes!” and shoved the helmet on.”

“Good,” Lelouch snapped, “Because that’s the last time I’m going to say it, you little bastard.”

Rolo…after re-considering the situation Lelouch wasn’t sure if he should be chopping his hands off or welcoming him to their extremely fucked-up family. One thing Lelouch knew for sure, Rolo was going to do whatever it took to ensure that he could come back home and (Lelouch stopped thinking for a moment) Nunnaly.

Frustration, fear, and acute worry spurned him into speed. The second Rolo was securely seated, his thin arms around Lelouch’s waist Lelouch began to race one of Asplund’s early experiments to the only bar in DC that catered specifically to Britannians.

***

Gino and Kallen were waiting when they arrived, looking grim and staring at the two police cars that were in the parking lot, the accompanying officers leaning on the sides smoking, just watching. Kallen looked at him, made an odd face and nodded to the open door. Lelouch walked in first, his heart pounding as he molded his expression out of panic and into a Prince’s cold anger. His group followed but they were stalled by Cornelia whose stern expression turned into wide-eyed shock as she said, “Jesus fucking Christ, Lelouch.”

Lelouch just stared coolly forcing himself to ignore her shock. The scene was eerie, the usually bustling bar was completely empty with its tables overturned, drinks spilled from shattered glasses, and broken furniture illuminated by a painfully bright overhead light. He could see some figures in the corner but Cornelia was in the way, Guilford close at the side, his neck just one purple bruise.

“Tell me what happened.”

For a moment, and that moment was startling, Cornelia simply stared wordlessly. She came back to life when Guilford rasped something that almost sounded like a word.

“Your boy fucked up,” She put one hand on her waist, looking down her nose coolly as Lelouch stared back in narrow-eyed mockery, with a short closed-mouthed laugh. The intimidation effect had been ruined the second she had revealed a burst of shock just at the sight of him.

“Really, Cornelia,” Lelouch scolded in a cool drawl, “What am I supposed to do, cower?”

Her eyes narrowed in return but Lelouch cut her anger off at the ankles with a small, amused smile, his shoulders moving in a silent laugh.

“Sister,” Lelouch said slowly, enunciating as if talking to a small child, “I just spent five years staring down serial killers and felons. Don’t waste your energy. We both know you’re only here to revel in the aftermath.”

Cornelia made an expression in-between anger and astonishment. It was a fair bet that it had been a while since anyone had the nerve to give her lip and even Guilford seemed to smile a little, if the grimace was anything to go by. Then she huffed, her expression molding into nonchalance and a shrug.

“I don’t know why, but I thought you’d be less of a smart-mouth little shit.”

“You’ll find that age has only sharpened my tongue,” Lelouch said calmly, a little amused, “I have even less patience for senseless posturing. I appreciate the value of time.”

Then he narrowed his eyes, tapped into that waiting cool rage, and said, “So either tell me what happened or get the fuck out of my way.”

For a moment Cornelia just stared, then the corner of her lip twitched up and she started laughing gently, almost fondly.

“Oh Lulu, you’ve always been such a sweet little thing. So cute!” She laughed more loudly, “Stomping your feet and giving me angry eyes, it’s so adora-”

Lelouch silently pulled out his mother’s gun and pointed it in Guilford’s direction, clicking off the safety exactly as a tense silence fell. The sound was very loud but Cornelia didn’t flinch, though he knew she appreciated the dramatics. They stared at each other silently as he let himself think of how she was keeping him from Suzaku and showed her exactly what such a feeling could make his do-

“HA!” Cornelia laughed loudly, grinning, “You’d do it! You’d shoot him!”

“Cornelia,” Lelouch growled, “I’m only giving one more warning.”

If Lelouch had just been a normal Britannian Guilford would be allowed to defend himself, but a Prince had certain privileges. Only royalty was allowed to kill or injure Royalty. All Guilford could do was stand and take it since Lelouch would pull the trigger long before Cornelia would be able to stop him.

“Fine,” Cornelia nodded into the bar and began to lead the way, “Can you be objective?”

“Stop asking stupid questions, Cornelia.”

He couldn’t see her but Lelouch was fully aware that the woman was rolling her eyes.
But the effect Cornelia’s presence nearly evaporated when they turned the corner and Lelouch could finally to see why they had all endured a panicked race through the city.

V.V. was standing, taking notes as he looked down at a body on the ground, and for a moment Lelouch’s heart stopped. The dead man was in a Round’s uniform, his blood pooling around the lawyer’s shoes. It was only until Lelouch saw blonde hair on the corpse’s head that Lelouch managed to calm, his hands shaking as he searched for Suzaku. He finally found a single figure in a shadow out of the glare of the light.

Suzaku was sitting on a corner bench, his top naked except for the bandages on his ribs and a hastily wrapped cloth on his upper arm. But, and Lelouch’s breath caught, there was a long straight gash across his stomach still weeping blood. His white trousers were also ripped, filthy and bloody. He was watching VV work with an expression of morbid interest, his elbows on a table with his head resting in the cup of his hands.

As Lelouch watched Suzaku reached down and pulled a long-necked bottle of beer of the bench, took a sip and leaned back, still staring at the dead body.

“There are two other knights on their way to the hospital in critical condition,”
Cornelia murmured, sounding impressed, “One of them had their face smashed into a pile of broken glass and his femoral artery slashed. The other one got knifed right up between his jawbones. If there’s not brain damage they said they might be able to save the tongue. There’s a couple injured guys waiting for the next bus.”

She laughed again, but quietly, glancing over to Lelouch for a second. She was obviously trying not to catch Suzaku’s attention. Watching keenly as Suzaku watched VV turn the body over with his foot. Lelouch exhaled shakily, but managed not to gasp.
Suzaku took another drink, looking blank but entranced.

“They’re all like that, even the guys waiting for the bus. The slashes were just deep enough that they’re going to need stitches,” Cornelia hummed, “They were done with a piece of broken bottle so they’ll scar.”

Lelouch was like Suzaku, entranced as he stared at the roman numerals sliced deeply into the man’s back. Even VV’s eyebrows rose as he made a short note. A few vicious strokes, a single number.

Seven.

“Surprisingly, none of the men seem very angry,” Cornelia was amused, “Apparently Sir Kururugi gave quite a few warnings before the fight, and before the brawl afterwards.
It’s some kind of knight honor thing, and he was obviously their superior. He knew the code words and said them. But Sir Bradley came inside and insisted on a duel. Kururugi had been sitting at the bar long enough and looked so miserable that they all assumed he was dead drunk. Easy pickings.”

Bradley. Lelouch understood why Suzaku wasn’t showing any emotion but that watching stare. Lelouch had killed the father and Suzaku had killed the son, probably not even knowing who he was until the air had cleared. He probably wouldn’t even hear Cornelia if she was screaming the news.

Lelouch turned around and looked at the pale-faced group waiting behind him.

“Go outside,” He pointed to the door, “And look as angry as I feel with your weapons in hand. Find Suzaku’s bike.”

They left and Cornelia snorted, an eyebrow raised.

“Do you really think someone would risk pissing off the Knight of Seven now?” she crossed her arms and peered back at Suzaku, “No, they’ll bow low for that boy, even if it rips the stitches out.”

“Those other knights are waiting outside for you to come out and kill them.” Cornelia informed idly, “You should. They should have come to a Round’s aid once the duel was over. They watched him fight off the now-maimed instead.”

“I know the rules, Cornelia, and I know my rights.” Lelouch’s voice was hoarse, and he couldn’t help the sound as Suzaku’s stare started to turn inwards, looking blind as he nursed his drink.

“But you don’t know the people little brother, and they don’t really know you.”
Cornelia murmured, as if whispering a secret, “Dropping a dozen knights would remind them of what our sweet little prince Lelouch is capable of doing while protecting himself and his people. Mercy will make you look weak.”

Lelouch looked her eye to eye, letting his rage show through and whispered, “Did I say anything about mercy?”

Cornelia smiled, a proud, curling thing of pride, approval. She patted him on the arm. “That slick fuck VV is done. Go tend Seven before he cracks.”

Lelouch did so, walking over the body as if dreaming to stand in front of Suzaku who was still caught up in his own mind.

“Love,” Lelouch murmured, just a breath above silence as he wondered what Suzaku would do. Just wondered, didn’t analyze, predict, speculate, he just wondered and waited for Suzaku to show him what was going to happen. There was no reaction.

“Love,” Lelouch increased the volume and saw VV stiffen behind him. After a long moment Suzaku blinked a little, blurry, looking like he’d been woken from a deep sleep. He rubbed his eyes, looking exhausted as he mumbled, “What?”

“I love you, Suzaku.”

After a moment of blinking, comprehension solidified as Lelouch looked down, smiling a little. Softly.

Finally coherent Suzaku ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath before making eye contact again.

“Still?” Suzaku frowned, still uncertain.

“No ‘still’ Suzaku.” Lelouch lowered his voice, touched Suzaku’s chin and said, “Just what I said…I love you.”

Suzaku was overwhelmed, but there was a small measure of hope in the persistent disbelief.

That was fine. Lelouch would just have to prove it, prove that he loved him. He pulled his hand away and leaned back, crossing his arms as he nodded to the door, “Time to go.”

But Suzaku wasn’t saying anything, a different kind of disbelief on his face as he stared at Lelouch’s clothes, looking up and down in fascination. Lelouch finally gave in, looking down with a grimace. Whatever he’d grabbed must look entirely ridiculous for even Cornelia to comment. Instead Lelouch was able to sigh in relief, a little bemused with himself.

It was a simple outfit; jeans, a sleeveless turtleneck that was a little snugger than when he had worn it before, and a familiar red jacket. Cornelia had probably thought she was seeing a ghost of the kid he used to be, the kid that knew exactly what he looked good in and wasn’t afraid to show himself off. It had been a very subtle torture to be a beautiful prince around so many young female knights. He’d been very amused to watch them make eyes at someone they knew they couldn’t have. That look of carefully curbed lust, the fidgeting as his proximity made them blush, and the way they bit their lip and got caught staring was always the same.

Lelouch would recognize that look anywhere. And after a moment of stunned revelation Lelouch did recognize that look, because it was sitting right in front of him, biting his lip and stuck in that awkward roaming stare, made in short glances. But Suzaku didn’t look guilty…his expression was the same one Lelouch had opened his eyes to, panting into each other’s mouth as Suzaku forgot to let him go. Amazed.

“You were right,” Lelouch gave him a wry, self-mocking smile, “We obviously need to talk about ‘this’.”

Suzaku flushed bright red, looking slightly stunned and extremely confused.

Lelouch just gestured to the door with a smile. And when he walked, heedless of the body and the bloody footprints he left behind Suzaku immediately followed.

***

The knights in the parking lot had gathered into a small, wide-eyed herd, surrounded by three very angry looking people, very angrily holding their guns in full view.

The first thing Suzaku noticed was the bikes. He dashed over to make sure that the ‘Lancelot’ had survived. Inspecting it thoroughly for a single scratch and finding none. When he was done Suzaku looked at the other parked bikes, eyeing Gino’s briefly before settling on the last, a plum-colored vehicle with airbrushed gold designs similar to the knights’ uniforms. As a teenager Lelouch had been attracted to bright, almost garish colors, but somehow Lloyd had turned a color scheme that could have been ridiculous and pretentious into a beautiful, startling design. Suzaku made a small, wondering face before understanding blinked on and he grinned, turning to Lelouch while pointing at the bike.

“Is this yours?!” He didn’t wait for Lelouch to answer, he just grinned, “You drove this?”

“That’s generally how one gets around in a vehicle,” Lelouch scowled. Suzaku’s disbelief was not very flattering, and especially not in front of a dozen knights, the police, and his snorting sister.

Suzaku smiled like Christmas had come early and started babbling in testosterone-ese while alternating quickly between groping different parts of Lelouch’s motorcycle, staring up at him disbelief and then back again. Lelouch sighed, wondering why all of their altercations seemed to start at witching hour. The early hours seemed to leech the sensibility straight out of Suzaku’s brain, which was not entirely sensible to begin with.

Still, seeing Suzaku happy, darting around without any of that previous, iron cold was deeply satisfying and worth a little humiliation. It was an easy decision to send him away before Suzaku had a reason to forcefully dull his personality again.

“Suzaku, take Kallen home.”

Kallen looked up, scowling, “Fuck that, I’m staying here-”

“Kallen,” Suzaku smiled a little, and said, “This isn’t your place. You have to find somewhere else to be.”

Kallen opened her mouth to continue but Lelouch gave her a Look and she relented, kicking up gravel and cursing.

“You’re a fucking creep, you know that?” She angrily holstered her weapon, “Is that supposed to be some kind of Jedi mind trick? Idiot.”

Kallen walked over to the bike as Suzaku got on. She slung her leg around and Suzaku laughed a little, looking very tired but not too tired to drive. Fortunately Suzaku didn’t ask what was going on, he just accepted that a friend needed to get home and he’. They were scowling and cursing each other by the time the motorcycle was out of the parking lot. Then they were gone, leaving Lelouch to sigh in relief.

There were ten knights waiting for them in the herd, the two with bloody backs sitting near the police cars as they waited for the ambulance to return. That made a dozen knights that he was going to be forced to punish. He knew that Cornelia was testing his resolve, and that if she was left in charge they’d have to dig a mass grave for the dead. Twelve husbands, fathers, sons…Suzaku wouldn’t want that on his conscience.

“What next, baby brother?” Cornelia crooned, leaning close, “What’s going through that wicked little head?”

“Round up all twelve and bring them back to the bar.” Lelouch said to Gino and Rolo. They both left and Guilford followed when Cornelia gave him a nod. They watched as the group was filed in, as obedient as sheep under a Prince and Princess’ watchful eyes.

Living as a Britannian under the Emperor’s protection was no small thing. Every one of them lived in nice houses, drove nice cars, and their children went to one of the best schools in the country. Each family had medical coverage for any illness. There were regular opportunities to go to professional sports games, the opera or have expensive meals on special occasions for those who didn’t receive a regular salary. No one had too much and no one had too little, but there were prices for that comfort.

They would be asked to do illegal activities, there was a possibility that they might go to jail to protect their superiors, and those who refused to participate in either were required to give free care to the community. Knights were their police, their protectors from other gangs or the ‘official’ law so they were treasured. Their lives were just a tad grander because of that trust. The knights of the Round were treasured even more highly because they did the same job every day, all day without gaining a single thing beyond their social privileges. They were very simply the best protection that Britannia had to offer. Fewer Knights died when a Knight of the Rounds was called to serve and more civilians lived.

These Knights who had watched the duel between Bradley and Suzaku instead of trying to intervene would only have been given a very painful warning to try harder next time.
They had earned death the second that no one came to Suzaku’s aid when he was attacked by someone beneath him in rank.

Each one of those men lived in comfort and luxury but there was for a price, everything had a price, and one of those prices was absolute devotion to a list of clearly stated rules. Forgiveness would only make this structure crumble.

But Lelouch knew that the last thing Suzaku would want were another dozen dead on his shoulders. No, he had to be more inventive. They walked back into the room, Gino, Rolo, and Guilford following. When everyone was settled Lelouch grabbed a stool, taking it to sit behind the bar. Cornelia moved to the back and everyone watched in silence as Lelouch poured himself a glass of scotch. He took a sip and then pulled out a bottle of vodka, setting it off to the side.

“Sir Weinberg, your blade if you will.” Gino nodded and passed his knife over. Lelouch flipped it open carefully, not having to test its sharpness, it almost hurt just to look at the edge.

Lelouch had an odd flashback to kindergarten, sitting in a semi-circle around the teacher as she read from a story book. It was the same, they all sat before him, but the lesson was going to be drastically different.

“You all know who I am, correct?” He’d been gone for a while, it was good to check. Everyone nodded, looking slightly confused. Lelouch smiled, pleased, and Cornelia crossed her arms, still watching intently.

“And you were all aware that Sir Kururugi was a knight of Rounds even before the conflict began, correct?”

There were more nods, mostly winces as Lelouch scanned the small crowd to make sure that every one of them acknowledged his statement. Punishment was only effective when those being punished understood what they had done wrong. Lelouch decided to elaborate.

“You will not be receiving the usual punishment for not coming to Sir Kururugi’s aid.” There was a round of astonished faces that turned back into waiting fear, when Lelouch continued, “I’m sure that it’s become obvious that Sir Kururugi knows how to handle physical altercations and he has already punished you how he sees fit.”

Cornelia peered at him, just waiting.

“You’re being punished because you disrespected Suzaku Kururugi, Knight of Seven, by making him have to kill. He isn’t fond of killing; unlike you he has still retained some form of conscience.”

The men started to go a little pale again, some of them crouching into themselves, some of them staring resolutely at nothing at all.

“But more importantly,” Lelouch stared at them, letting his fury leak into his gaze until they were afraid, “You have broken one of our most sacred rules. Since Sir Kururugi is still adjusting to this environment he doesn’t understand the gravity of your crimes. The only reason I’m not cutting out your hearts while you beg for mercy is because your deaths would bother our Knight of Seven and he’s been bothered enough this evening.”

Everything was silent and everyone but Lelouch’s people were white and scared.

“So, effectively, Sir Kururugi’s sense of mercy has saved your lives.” Lelouch said, “But I’m going to make sure that you remember why you’re still breathing from this day to the end of your pathetic existence.”

Lelouch pointed to a man in front and gestured, making him the first to come forward.

“I’m sorry my prince,” He bowed, his head dipping, “I’m-”

“Be silent.” Lelouch snapped, “Come around the bar.”

The man did so, his hands shaking. Lelouch took another drink and said, “Face your peers.”

The man did so, swallowing, and Lelouch said, “Pick up that knife in your right hand and put your left hand flat on the counter.”

He did as he was told, starting to breathe hard as he stared down at that hand, sweat dripping from his brow.

“Keep your trigger finger and your thumb,” Lelouch said coolly, taking another drink, “Remove the others.”

There wouldn’t be a single day that these men wouldn’t remember the number seven, and there wasn’t a moment that the others still waiting would forget the agony of watching their friends scream and bleed, wondering if they were going to be the next ones chosen to stand. The only luxury that Lelouch gave the men was blood. The puddle was cleaned and the knife doused in alcohol with each turn. Lelouch instructed them to put the removed fingers into a nearly empty pickle jar at the side.

After the first few men Lelouch remembered to look up at Cornelia.

Lady Cornelia watched with a pleased, fond smile and nodded in approval.

Then, while everyone was still bleeding and groaning Lelouch led them all out to the parking lot where the police were still lounging, smoking their cigarettes. A few of them cursed when they saw the men’s hands, shaking their heads, but none of the four moved to help, not even when Lelouch made the last two men kneel on the ground. They watched, eyes bright and intent under the floodlights as Lelouch gestured Gino away and removed his mother’s gun.

It struck him then that they had both used the weapon to protect the people they loved; first his father, and now Suzaku.

“Unfortunately,” Lelouch’s voice carried in the quiet night, “Your crimes can only be paid for in blood.”

Then Lelouch pulled the trigger twice and watched with satisfaction as Suzaku’s enemies fell forward, dead.

One of the cops laughed quietly, “You can always rely on the Britannians to take care of their own messes with some kind of order. Not like those damn Italians-”

“You’re a sick fuck,” The other one laughed back, giving a small two fingered salute in Lelouch’s direction. They drove off but the men nearest to the bodies were having a problem. One of them was speaking quickly, sincerely, but the other’s voice was jagged, one hand on his weapon.

“There’s no way we can just let this go-” He hissed, “That man just killed two-”

“Excuse me,” Lelouch interrupted the argument, startling the younger of the men enough that he pulled his weapon, eyes wide. Showing his empty hands in a flash of color, Lelouch managed to calm him enough that he put the weapon down. A rookie, Lelouch knew, that wide-eyed disbelief hadn’t been filed away yet. He was afraid.

“Look,” The other officer said quickly, “He’s new, he doesn’t-”

“Understand, yes officer, I’m aware.” Lelouch looked straight into the boy’s eyes, “That’s why I’m here.”

Reaching out Lelouch caught the kid by the jacket and pulled him away from the car a little, closer to the corpses.

“These men were part of our police force,” Lelouch said quietly, standing close. “They made an oath to protect Britannians but they broke that oath trying to kill their captain, their mentor.”

“Then they should go to jail,” The man whispered back, “Not-”

“What jail?” Lelouch pointed to the other men, getting their hands taken care of near an idling ambulance. “They all knew that they’d done something wrong and they took their punishments without objection. By our law I could have dropped a dozen bodies tonight, but these two-”

He pointed back to them, “Did you see them struggle? Beg for mercy?”

“No,” The man whispered, “They didn’t.”

Lelouch looked into his eyes, staring, and said, “Britannians take care of Britannians according to a carefully structured hierarchy and a collection of laws. When these men are loyal and follow the rules they are given anything they need whenever they need it. These men betrayed their people. You may not like it, Officer, but every punishment fits the crime.”

“That doesn’t give-”

“Yes it does.” Lelouch said quietly, “If a single person gets away with betrayal it puts the whole community at risk. Think of Britannia as a separate nation, if you must, and understand that we take care of our own.”

The man opened his mouth again and Lelouch raised a single finger, watching with satisfaction as it shut again.

“This just isn’t your business,” Lelouch informed him quietly, “We respect peace-keepers. Britannia has never killed or gravely injured a straight cop. We keep tight control of our people. No one is forced to stay with us and they’re not penalized if they decide to leave. Spend your time worry about people who need and want your help. It’s just that simple.”

“But-” He was just as quiet when Lelouch cut him off again.

“Ask your commander and you’ll never have to deal with Britannia again.” Lelouch smiled a little, patted him on the shoulder, “Or maybe get to know us better. There’s and Honorary Britannian program and we always take care of the people who take care of us. Knights who follow our rules have the highest respect…perhaps even more respect than a single cop lost in a large police force. It was nice meeting you, officer.”

Lelouch held out his hand and the man shook it immediately without a qualm even standing next to two fresh corpses. Still, he looked very confused.

“Did you just offer me a job?”

“No,” Lelouch nodded, “I just offered you a simpler, more comfortable way of life. If you decide to go through the program to see if you’ll fit in just find a knight and tell him that Prince Lelouch sent you.”

The man’s eyes went very, very wide and Lelouch was fairly sure that if the sun was out he would have seen him go pale.

“You’re a prince,” He looked very afraid, “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean-”

“Never be sorry about doing your job,” Lelouch nodded to the dead men, “I’m not.”

Lelouch escorted the dumbfounded man back to his car with the full knowledge that he wasn’t even going to make a peep about what had transpired right under his nose. It was the little details that got people into trouble and Lelouch always made sure that when he did a job it was well done. He opened the car door for the man, nodding politely as he shut the door and grabbed his partner.

The man was smoking a cigarette with a wry, slightly grim smile.

“You really a prince? I’ve never seen you around.”

“I was working as a civilian until I got outed,” Lelouch shrugged, it was better that the police were informed by someone other than the FBI and it was the foot soldiers who knew how to spread the words around.

“Really?” His eyes widened, “May I ask what you were doing?”

“FBI,” Lelouch took a little pleasure in the man’s flinch, “I was working as their criminal profiler, psychologist, etc.”

“No wonder you’ve got such a slick tongue,” He laughed a little, “That kid’s going to be a knight, isn’t he?”

Lelouch only shrugged, smiling. He was fairly sure there would be a new Britannian soon but he always left room for error.

“I guess I don’t have to ask you to keep him safe.”

“Not at all.” Lelouch lowered his voice a little, “There’s going to be a conflict soon so he’ll have to wait, but after the dust settles-”

“Conflict?” The man’s eyes went sharp and he took the cigarette out of his mouth. It had been a long time since there was an internal war but the man was old enough that he may have witnessed the last one. The last war had been about succession and ugly, but Charles had come out on top with a relatively low body count.

“Blood feud.” Lelouch said simply. The man sighed and went back to smoking. “I’d appreciate it if you could ask your Lieutenant to send over the local liaison. I’d like this to go through with as limited trouble as possible.”

“Yeah, ‘course.” He dropped the cigarette and ground it into the dirt. “Where do I send him?”

“To Lelouch Lamperouge,” Lelouch said, “He’ll have my address and number.”

“Jesus,” He took out another cigarette, his fingers slipping on his lighter for a moment, “So it’s you against-”

“Schneizel.”

“Jesus.”

“Thank you, officer.”

“Yeah, no problem.” He shook his head and picked up the crushed butt, calling over his shoulder, “Good luck against Schneizel. You’ll need it.”

“I make my own luck.” Lelouch said, watching them drive away. He caught the slight gleam of blonde as Gino came to stand next to him
“Recruiting, Prince Lelouch?” He grinned, “That’s a little beneath you.”

A little beneath him…Lelouch frowned down at the ground, remembering Suzaku’s voice in his ear as he struggled and failed to stand.

If CC hadn’t been right before she was right now. Lelouch had let Suzaku be the king of him. He might fight it, he might resent it, but Lelouch understood that under Suzaku’s insistence he would always bow. Suzaku would just always be the better person and Lelouch would always acknowledge that fact.

“Why didn’t you come into the kitchen, Gino?” Lelouch asked, quite and melancholy, just wanting to know. “Did you know what he was doing?”

“No,” Gino ran a hand through his hair, sighed, “But it was obvious that something needed to change between you two…and Suzaku doesn’t like to fight unless he’s cornered. I think that’s what makes him so good at it.”

“How’s that?”

Lelouch looked over to see Gino with a small, worried look on his face. The man smiled when he met Lelouch’s eyes but it was strained.

“Everyone fights best when it’s their last resort,” Gino looked up in the sky, crossing his arms, “I figured if he was fighting you it was because he’d been backed into a corner and for some reason you’d dismissed his warnings.”

Lelouch stared at the ground, sighed, and whispered, “That wasn’t a fight Gino. That was his warning.”

They were both silent for a long time, but the silence was surprisingly comfortable despite the growing chill. The comfort was interrupted by the sound of crunching gravel and they turned to see the two bodies being dragged away while a draped stretcher was coming out of the bar.

“Considering what happened tonight,” Gino’s voice was even, deadly serious, “You should probably heed that warning, Prince Lelouch.”

Lelouch planned to, but Gino didn’t need to know that, just like he didn’t know what had forced Suzaku to make a move in the first place.

“He said something that I didn’t really understand.” Lelouch felt odd confessing to Gino of all people but Suzaku was the subject of the conversation, CC would just heckle him, and Cornelia was too blood-thirsty to give good advice. The knight would keep their conversation private and Lelouch knew from being on the other side of the couch that some things just had to be worked out with the help of someone else.

“Yes?” Gino startled him back into the present.

“He told me I had to figure out the difference between revenge and justice.”

Gino sighed deeply and stuck his hands in his pockets, staring down at that ground.

“That bad?” Lelouch was a little morbidly amused. Gino’s lips pressed into a frown and Lelouch added, “Just say it, Weinberg.”

It took a few more minutes but Gino finally spit it out.

“I don’t know what happened between you and your brother,” Gino looked very sad, and given his personality that expression was enough to make Lelouch sober. It was enough to make Lelouch want to back away.

“All I know,” Gino continued very quietly, coming a step closer, “Is that two men who had previously proven to have complete control over their emotions just lost it.”

Lelouch crossed his arms to hide the tremble in his hands and only barely kept himself from looking away.

“You were honestly going to kill Kallen just for showing up one your doorstep.” Gino’s voice was very nearly a whisper, “Even Kallen knows that you like her…and not many people can say that about you, Lelouch, but if Kallen hadn’t said Suzaku’s name she’d be seven feet under right now.”

Lelouch swallowed, nodded the slightest bit and forced himself to keep eye-contact. At the time he’d felt so numb that he could forget who his friends were. Gino’s prediction was very probable.

“And then Suzaku just drops everything he understands to defend you in a completely foreign environment when only a few days before he’d been determined to ruin you.”
Gino’s voice was strained, “That kind of stuff only happens in fiction. Not real life.”

He finally lost the battle with himself, Lelouch looked away. They were all playing at being Princes and Princesses but their life wasn’t even close to being a fairytale. Gino continued, relentless despite the lost contact.

“I don’t want to speculate about the catalyst and I won’t. I want to be able to sleep at night. All I’m concentrating on is the fact that no matter what Schneizel’s done I sure as hell don’t want a man who’s capable of creating a situation like that as my master.”

Then, and Lelouch’s heart pounded hard, Gino said, “I’ll kill him myself before that happens.”

Lelouch’s eyes shot back up. Gino was a knight, one born and bred in Britannia, and as far as Lelouch could tell the man resolutely followed the Emperor. The fact that he could even utter those words with cold truth was a blow. If Gino was capable of killing a prince then he was capable of doing anything, he was dangerous. The Prince in his mind wanted to retreat and turn him in but Lelouch processed the statement as the person he was, not the person he used to be, and wondered at Gino’s courage to even think the words, let alone say them out loud.

“Cornelia’s fit to lead if it comes to that,” Gino continued, his eyes bright and determined, “but I’d much rather this be done properly. I want Schneizel to lose because he has proven himself to be unfit and untrustworthy. I’m not angry at him, I’m disgusted, and I’ll fight with you to make sure he doesn’t have the power to hurt anyone again.”

Gino nodded, his expression tight and worried.

“But for you the war is personal. You want to beat Schneizel because you want to see him suffer for what he’s done to you, and you keep feeding your rage with anything or anyone that’s close enough to let you.”

Then, and Gino laughed, smiling again as he ran a hand through his hair he finished with a comment that Lelouch felt change him in a deep, echoing way.

“I think that would cut Schneizel the deepest, if you ignore him as a personal enemy and just try to eliminate him because he’d make a bad Emperor.” Gino smirked, “Anger is the difference between justice and revenge.”

Lelouch understood and he agreed, but, “I’m not sure I know how to not be angry.”

Gino smiled and shrugged playfully.

“If you give Suzaku a chance he’ll probably teach you.” He laughed, “I’ve never seen a guy who can switch off like he can.”

Lelouch smiled back.

“That’s because when he really fights he’s little more than an animal. Suzaku kills when he needs to just as he eats when he needs to, there’s no difference to him.”

Pursing his lips, freezing for a moment Gino’s eyes widened and he said, “Um...”

Lelouch allowed himself to laugh, allowed himself to slough off the weight of their conversation to be more carefully examined later. He continued because the look on Gino’s face was entirely amusing.

“It’s just like any domesticated animal. A guard dog will wag its tail when you love him, play and all that, and then turn around and rip someone else’s throat out for stepping on your property.”

He looked over at the motorcycle and started walking, Gino following. He was back on his bike and pulling his helmet on when Gino gave some murmuring advice.

“That analogy does not make it less creepy.” Gino said slowly, “Just so you know.”

“Oh, I know.”

“Then why do you-”

“Because it’s hilarious.”

“Oh.” Gino was just about to start his motorcycle when Lelouch put his hand out, stopping him. The knight looked up and smiled even in the face of Lelouch’s serious, wondering expression.

“If I give up my anger we no longer have a blood feud.” Lelouch whispered, “The only valid reason left to try to kill Schneizel is for the right of succession. Are you still willing to support with me then?”

Lelouch watched Gino watch him and realized that he’d finally asked the right question. Gino gave a small bow and a wide smile.

“I think you’ll find, Prince Lelouch, that if this battle is about succession you’ll find more allies than just me.” Gino shrugged, gesturing towards the bar, “There are already ten men who owe you their lives and those ten men had friends, wives, children…and they’ll wake up thanking god that you weren’t Schneizel.”

Understanding began to settle and Lelouch said, “I’ve been gone too long.”

“But you’re back now!” Gino started the engine when Lelouch removed his hand. “I’ll take care of Rolo. You just get home to check on Suzaku, yeah? I’m sure he’s waiting up.”

Lelouch could only sigh and do what eh was told, unable to outrace all the questions building up in his mind, all of the opportunities and paths being opened up before him. Succession, death, and the quiet what-if that Suzaku represented just by breathing all added up to the same thing. In his father’s absence Britannia needed help. If mercy was so unexpected, so startling, then there needed to be changes within the hierarchy. Despite Cornelia’s ability and Odysseus’s birthright it was Schneizel who had filled that power gap. He was already sitting on the throne, all that he was missing was that crown, their father’s crown.

The idea of stealing that crown at the very last moment…well, it didn’t make Lelouch frown.

And Lelouch had to be the king of something.


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