Because like many others I had to write SOMETHING after watching the ending of Turn 25. And because I love the angst factory that is Suzaku, and I feel sorry for him - personally, I think it's easy to die, and much harder to live. Not that I would belittle Lelouch's sacrifice. I'm not sure whether Lelouch making Suzaku live is due to loving him or hating him, though.

I'll probably write a 'proper' fic for Code Geass once I a) have time and b) finish Evolution Devolution (my Bleach fic I should be writing instead of this) - believe me, I am going to update that soon, this just came easier right now.

Also, For anyone who follows my stuff, I have finally signed up for a LiveJournal account (same username) in order to get more involved with the community there... so if you like it, please find me on there :) I'm looking to challenge myself with my writing, so prompts and challenges are very welcome!

Hugs and Zero-mask cookies to reviewers. Zero masks with little icing smiley faces drawn on them, just for the amusement value.

Usual disclaimers apply.

"You will live no longer as Kururugi Suzaku… You will wear this mask forever."

A punishment. A curse. To become the man he hated, the man who had destroyed his peace, and then offered it back to him. The man who had murdered Shirley… Rolo… Euphie…

Yet was he himself any better? He had murdered his father. Destroyed so many innocents with FLEIJA. Shot down his former comrades and Knights. And then…

Lelouch…

The two of them had bound themselves together on that fateful day in the World of C, in loss, despair, guilt. And then those months that followed, each locked in a world where they could only rely on the other, where they were no longer friends, nor enemies, but something so much closer than either.

Accomplices, bound in blood, two guilty souls trying to save the world from the mess they themselves had made of it.

Zero had once promised he would destroy the world to rebuild it anew. But it took more than Lelouch to bring that promise to fruition. Things had gone too far, gone too far out of control, for Zero alone to save it.

It would take both of them.

And so Lelouch became the Demon Emperor, and took the hate of the world upon himself. And Suzaku became his Knight, his sword. That same sword that cut away Lelouch's enemies, cut away his weakness. And that same sword cut away what remained of Kururugi Suzaku. Instead, he became the Knight of Zero, empty and merciless as the shining white mecha he piloted. Eyes which once smiled were reduced to mere green glass, reflecting the despair that welled up around him.

Kururugi Suzaku was long-dead by the time the Lancelot exploded into flames. His anger, his guilt, his despair were used to mould himself into the tool that could plunge that sword into Lelouch's chest.

The irony of it, that the punishment each laid upon the other was the one thing each wanted with all their heart. Lelouch, who had wanted only to create a world in which he and Nunnally lived together. Suzaku, who for so long had desired nothing more than a meaningful death.

To wear a mask the rest of his life… in what way was it different? He had worn the mask of Private Kururugi, Britannian soldier. Suzaku, happy-go-lucky student. Lord Kururugi, Knight of Rounds. Kururugi Suzaku, Traitor Knight.

Zero.

At least beneath this mask, he no longer had to concern himself with keeping the tears from his eyes.

Hope you enjoyed reading :)

The title for this fic is taken from a song title for a band called Fraid, who were damned good, but probably never actually got signed... However if I can get hold of them I may post the lyrics here, as they represent perfectly the Suzaku/Lelouch dynamic.