'Zero' walked slowly down the east wing hallway of the Britannian capital, his signature cape floating behind him as he picked up his pace. The day had been long, full of endless meetings for The 100th Empress Nunnally vi Britannia, which as always, included him accompanying her to every single one. Not that he cared either way, it was how things were now and he had no other will than to protect Nunnally and serve the role he was supposed to as Zero. As was his promise to-
He missed a beat in his step as he looked up to see a small boy skipping through the hallway, his black hair a mess on top of his head. He must have been the child of one of the ladies of the court, he thought to himself as he stopped and allowed the boy to make his way closer.
The boy, no older than eight or nine stood in front of him, looking up into his masked face; his round cheeks flushing in awe. "Zero…"
"L- Lelouch..." The name he hadn't allowed himself to utter once since that day fell off his lips in an inaudible whisper and he was suddenly left short of breath. It was if he was back at the Kururugi Shrine all those years ago, meeting Lelouch for the first time again. Though the boy's eyes were more on the blue side and he didn't come anywhere near to holding himself the same way his former Emperor had when they had been young.
He knelt down in front of the boy, who still had not said a word outside of his name since their meeting. "Hello there." He finally found enough strength to speak normally to the child, even though the urge cry and hug the boy felt overwhelming.
"Hello, Mister Zero." The boy's gaze turned down to the floor and 'Zero' watched as his hands balled up into little fists; something he remembered quickly that Lelouch had done when he was nervous or upset as a child.
"What is your name?" His voice softened as nostalgic feelings bubbled inside him.
"I- I'm Andre."
'Zero' tried his best to hold off a laugh. That name didn't seem fitting at all for such a young boy or for one with such a spitting image of his best friend for that matter.
"It's nice to meet you, Andre." He held out his hand for a handshake but the boy ignored it as he suddenly looked up, a serious look on his face. This boy really was Lelouch, he smiled to himself; never so glad to see such an expression on a child before.
"Mister Zero, I know, I know my Mama has told me I shouldn't ask anyone about this but, what- what is your name? My sister keeps telling me that 'Zero' isn't your real one."
Under any other situation he would have stood up and walked away, telling the boy his sister was wrong and he was only Zero now and no one else. But instead he found himself reaching up to the confiding mask, enjoying the fresh air hitting his face as the mask slid off; shaking long bangs out of his face. His green eyes sparkling for the first time in years.
He watched the boy gasp, his mouth opening into a small 'O' and cheeks turning even redder as 'Zero' reached his free hand up to tussle the boy's already wild hair.
"You can call me, Suzaku….. Lelouch." He smiled, but he could feel the tears already running down his cheeks and he could do nothing but force a laugh. The boy watched with wide eyes, confused as to why Zero was crying and why he had just been called the name of the Tyrant Emperor.