Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass or any of its characters. But, I wouldn't mind owning Lelouch and Suzaku. This is a LuluSuza. If you don't know what that means, then you're curious. Keep reading, you might find you like it. Enjoy my pleasure readers!
CHAPTER 1 Fernweh
The sunlight beams were peeking through the deep blue curtains…again. Lelouch turns over and blearily opens his eyes to red digits.
5:00 am. Ugh, too damn early.
A knock resounds off the hand carved mahogany doors. No use in trying to go back to sleep. It was like she had a sixth sense that knew when he woke up.
"Yes." Lelouch answers tiredly.
Kallen steps through the door in her suit, as always, ironed to perfection with a matching black tie.
"Good Morning Sir. Another late night?"
He sits up and the blanket falls away to let cool air hit his pale chest. He stretches, cracking a few bones, and sighs.
"Would you like ibuprofen?"
He gives a soft smile, nods, and holds out his hand.
Kallen places the two pills in his palm.
"Will you be having the usual for breakfast?"
Lelouch pops them in his mouth, and throws them back with the water she passes.
"Yes."
"I will have it waiting for you then." She bows and retreats to the hallway, closing the door softly behind her.
Lelouch regretfully gets out of bed, doing a few arm stretches as he walks over to the exercise mat. He goes down to the floor. A slow thirty pushups begins the thought process.
On the agenda: meet with a few stockholders, run though a portfolio, memorize the new security codes, etc. Shirley will fill in the rest.
Switching over for another thirty sit ups, finishes the small workout. Standing up he rolls his shoulders and ponders if he should go downstairs for a run on the treadmill, or outside to do laps in the pool.
He rather do one of them tomorrow morning, so he decides neither.
Heading across the dark hardwood floor etched with golden patterns he is acutely aware of the coolness against his feet. He arrives at the bathroom and steps on the tile. Turning to flick on the light, the bathroom floods, strategically dispersing by the white square panel overhead.
He was not completely braced for the brightness.
Blinking his eyes open, he peeks over to where his shower awaits him. Opening the glass door, he places his hand over the cool metal and twists to hot.
His gaze lands on the red shampoo bottle as he waits for the water to warm, and his thoughts go to Kallen.
It was a little bewildering to think she had worked for him for almost five years now. In all that time, always fitting the role of a butler better than a maid. An amusing concept in its own way. Lelouch believes the reasons are: for one he likes her in a suit and two, he knows she prefers it.
The steam rises off the floor, letting him know the shower is ready. He peels off purple-black plaid pajama bottoms, then black Calvin Klein briefs follow to the floor, and he eases himself into the shower. The warmth and speed of the water is relaxing to his tense muscles, and he relives the day of their first meeting.
He smiles. It was quite the introduction, instead of a handshake it was her fist aiming to connect with his face.
5 years ago.
Kallen was muddling through the sadness of her older brother's death. He had been shot in a drive by, and it had hit her hard. By chance, she had overheard about a kid disrespecting his memory, who as it happened, had the same profile as Lelouch's. Her anger was unrivaled.
And Lelouch never saw it coming.
He had finished visiting the Japanese branch, and when his feet landed on pavement he impulsively decided to take a walk.
The city lights shined and the breeze brushed through his hair. It was enough to accomplish a heady lift in his soul.
The world was his. He had it in the palm of his hand.
Filled with inspiration and enveloped in a beautiful night, he let his feet guide him.
He was so at peace he even lowered his guard. Focusing only a small amount of attention to his surroundings. The night had always been his silent protector, this time though, he relied on it too much.
His mistake, he singularly watched for those who would be at a distance. He was not paying heed to the intermittent person who strolled by, they were below his radar as an assassin. If someone was stupid enough to come after him they would need to be at a distance to do any damage.
Kallen though, she didn't know this, so when she had seen him, she had charged, which allowed their introduction.
It was by far, one of Lelouch's most enjoyable fights.
He was caught off guard, close combat was not his strongest asset, and his work clothes did not help with mobility. When the fast breeze hit across his face, as the result of her charge, it was the only warning to allow him to dodge. In one moment, all his senses were sharpened down to touch. The wind gliding against his skin steered Lelouch's gauge of where and what direction she was hitting.
It was exhilarating. Everything fell into place, like they rehearsed it.
He arched his back from the blow catching a glimpse of her shock, before replaced again with her pure rage. She went for a left uppercut and he side stepped. He watched the muscle movement, as she slowed down her hit so it would not follow through.
It is true one loses more energy missing than landing a blow and he has always fully capitalized on this fact. Close combat again not his strong suit and Lelouch hated the disadvantage.
Kallen was so surprised when her knees hit the ground.
Lelouch held her wrist firmly between his index and thumb, pressing down on the nerve. It took Lelouch a second to recover from all the adrenaline. Kallen was still wide eyed when the second was over.
He pinched harder and wincing in pain she came back to her senses. Having her full attention he asked her what seemed to be the problem. She responded "You're my problem bitch!" Then he took out the 9mm. She glared daggers, but she went quiet.
If she had called him anything else, he would have diffused the situation, and it would have stayed reasonably civil on his part. But. That. One. Word. Set him off, and once she had said it, understanding her actions was no longer something he cared for.
She stayed silent with her glare, and then the recognition drained into fear on her face. She knew what the gun he held in his hand represented and who it was holding it. The reaction was unexpected for Lelouch and on of top it he did not mean to have St. Jude with him, but the gun was made to be recognized.
St. Jude is Zero's most special gun. He is covered in shimmering black except for at the butt where a deep purple shines. Along his barrel, silver embellishments swirl until they reach the base where a depiction of the saint is engraved. The saying goes 'Your soul is lost when the safety clicks'; he thought it a poetic end for any life.
But, her recognition of St. Jude was unanticipated. He had not known the popularity of the Zero stories, or of their fierce spread though the syndicates. Japan obviously not excluded. The fact she knew made communication easy, but the problem was no one was allowed to know Zero's face.
"What is your name?" His voice was laced with anger and yet ice cold. He could not help that word's effect on him.
"Kallen Kozuki." Her response came without hesitation, though her fear was apparent. His grasp on her wrist enabled him to feel all the telling signs. The cold skin, the rapid heartbeat, the shaking hand and even without touch, her whole posture was of a cornered animal.
But, she had managed to say her words steadily and was going for a neutral expression. She had the courage to look him in the eye when she said her name, and he knew she would not be one of the many who begged for mercy. She was individual worth keeping around. So, he rethought his rule.
"Why are you out for blood, Kallen Kozuki?" He was still irritated she called him what she did, but a little clemency was within Zero's power.
"I" cough "I thought you killed my brother, Zero." She had regained most of her facade of confidence and so he let go of her wrist. No point in keeping her on the ground if she was working to maintain an appearance.
Putting St. Jude back into his jacket holster, "Do you understand it was not me?"
Present time
He smiles as he soaps his hair with the shampoo. Since then, Lelouch had watched Kallen prove herself.
She kept his secrets, and loyally stayed at his side no matter where he has gone.
It happens every once in while though, the urge to keep her on her toes comes over him. Little tests here and there. Last week was his latest.
He chose to take a promenade through a sketchier area of Pendragon. He knew Kallen was not too far behind, even though he had snuck out of the house. He finally turned a corner to be greeted with two men who hinted at confrontation if Lelouch pressed the right buttons. He adjusted himself to betray meekness as he made to step by. Purposely using a shaky smile when he caught their attention. They both got up and began their approach. One flicked out his knife threateningly. Lelouch smirked.
That time, the setup was not entirely for Kallen. He had been bored and he was hungry for some kind of a challenge. Not that the fellows presented much of one, but they could do the job. He was allowing them to get closer than usual and then Kallen, as fast as she was took care of them.
He had been slightly disappointed. He cannot have his fun, if the guy never got within reach. Yet, there was still enjoyment watching her lay those guys out.
After they became something like friends, he chose to pass her off to Tohdoh's tutelage and Tohdoh had trained her into an elegant fighter. Every time Lelouch got to watch her it made him swell with pride. That moment was one of the many in viewing her direct hit with no wasted energy take down the first man. Then the other, in five seconds flat, was sprawled with a well-timed high spin kick to the jaw.
Although her performance to these tests are magnificent and he is pretty sure she enjoys them, she hates (she has hinted more than once) he purposely puts himself in those kinds of situations. She believes those people are below his skill.
Which they are, but he knows it is not the real reason she pesters him. He has seen the way she gazes when she thinks he cannot see. Her eyes shouting deep admiration and he knows she wants him to be protected. It is a mystery to him how he earned that kind of respect, but he is grateful to have it.
Her respect along with his trust was decisive for choosing her to be his personal butler and bodyguard. He needed someone to have his back while Sayoko, his most loyal maid, is taking care of Nunnaly as she studies to become a fashion designer.
There was no better place than Paris, yet it was an ocean away and he missed them both dearly. He needed to visit soon.
Lelouch finishes his shower then gets ready for the day.
He examines himself in the mirror, straightening his black suit jacket and tightening his vermillion tie. He takes the lint roller over his whole ensemble before going down to breakfast.
As always, Kallen has had the kitchen staff prepare his scrambled eggs and potatoes to perfection. After taking his first bite, Lelouch leisurely sits back at the head of the 18 foot long Italian made marquetry table, switching between eating and reading the paper.
The paper holds only two new pieces of information, neither of them relative to his work. He folds it, and places it next to his plate. He finishes another happily satisfying breakfast, and takes the napkin from his lap to swipe across his mouth. He moves to stand up and immediately Kallen is there pulling out the chair.
Lelouch turns to her as he steps away from the table.
"Kallen, you do not need to pull out the chair for me."
"I like doing it." Kallen responds with her quaint smile.
Lelouch can tell the subject is not worth debating. She has already made up her mind to do it.
Sighing, Lelouch heads toward the library, Kallen following two steps behind.
"I am going to take a car today."
"Very good Sir, should I have dinner ready for you at eleven?" Lelouch continues walking, but now with a flicker of a smile. After all the reminiscing, he is still somewhat amazed he has allowed her to know him so well and not be bothered by it.
"That should be fine." He responds tersely but politely, and she leaves his side.
Exiting the dining room, Lelouch proceeds to the library where the elevator awaits to take him to the garage. Two floors down, and he exits out.
Lelouch decides today's choice will be his favorite, the black Bugatti.
His hand stills to rest on the door handle. He stands there studying it.
He did not necessarily need to get to work quickly. To be honest, he did not even need to go to work. Probably, could work from home. But after all, he did do so much to make that office of his immaculate, it would be a shame not to use it. And as it would be a shame not to use the office, it would be a shame not to use this beautiful car.
Lelouch hops in, mind made up, and gracefully pulls out, to speed down the driveway. The gate already opened at the end, and Lelouch flies the rest of the way until the main road, going back to the acceptable speed limits.
No need to have one of the officers pull him over. Once they realized who he was, they would not stop gushing things like "Oh, I love your work Mr. Lamperouge." And so on and so forth about the respect they had for him and his management at Geass Enterprises. He was not in the mood to wear a mask of feigned politeness this morning. Last night had been slightly tougher than the usual job, so right now he wanted to enjoy his drive in his fast car.
Waiting patiently for one of the six elevators to take him to the 50th floor is a boy with tousled brown hair and big bright green eyes. His gaze is unfocused giving the impression his mind is lost in thought. Twenty-three Suzaku Kururugi is currently thinking about the building he is delivering packages in.
There are only 52 floors in Geass Enterprises, and it's still an amazing height. Even if father's company building is about the same and soon enough he'll be in charge of it, he's still daunted by the skyscraper. However, the size is what makes his job better. He gets all his exercise by running up and down the 50 flights of stairs.
Sigh.
This incognito delivery boy job, for the last three years, may be rewarding with exercise, but not with learning from the employees. In all the time he's spent getting info from them, he isn't getting any closer at understanding how the CEO excels.
He did not choose to work here so he could learn about how terrific so-and-so's job was or how gorgeous the CEO is. He came here so he could learn how Mr. Lamperouge produced his ideas and then implemented them successfully.
Every time he'd ask a question, somehow the employee's response cycles back to the two main topics of how they value their job and their boss. They had such similar emotions towards him, his questions had become seemingly useless. The respect was like implanted into them. It was enough to boarder on the obsessive.
When the employee was actually obsessed it was like talking to a brick wall. They lived and breathed everything that made them part of the company. They would try so hard to be noticed by their CEO so when Suzaku did ask a question there wasn't any variation in the answer. Those two topics exclusively.
He had given up on talking to those people, now actively avoiding. There's only so much he can listen to about a person before even he becomes overwhelmed.
Sometimes, he stressed over if he was wasting his time. Employees being so difficult to gain info from, but he had to stay strong. He needed to learn the skills for his father's company, and delivery boy was the best option. He could see what's going on from all the floors while also not being noticed.
The elevator dings its arrival and he gets in.
From somewhere in the lobby though, he hears an echo call out to hold it. He presses his hand up to the door as a man casually ambles towards him from across the lobby.
Whoever this guy was he is very late. Definitely going to be chewed out by his superior.
Once the man steps through though, Suzaku momentarily can't move.
His eyes linger on the most aesthetically pleasing person he's ever seen.
The man has royal purple eyes framed well by long, black eyelashes. His skin, fair and contrasting nicely with his black wavy hair. His hair echoes its softness and maybe he wouldn't mind if Suzaku ran his... The hell… He pauses from his weird ten second reflection.
Where had that desire come from?
He clenches his hand so badly it leaves crescents in his skin and shoves it into his pocket, withdrawing the other from the door to press the button to his floor.
He glances at his wristwatch as a distraction.
What a strange train of thought.
He shakes his head and then actually reads the watch, it was going onto eight. No kidding this guy was late. Everyone arrives promptly at seven or earlier, and this guy was getting here an hour later. He certainly didn't seem like he cared though with the lazy aura he was giving off.
He guesses he should greet him suggesting they'll be together for a while, since he had pressed… Oh he pressed the 51st floor.
"Good morning." Suzaku starts up cheerfully.
The man's head turns in Suzaku's direction. With a slight nod he returns "Good morning."
Suzaku slowly absorbs the voice. It was deep, commanding, and smooth with eloquence. And why did he focus so much on his voice?
"You just getting here?" Suzaku's uses more or less small talk to rid himself of wandering thoughts.
"Yes, there was some traffic on 38. A truck smashed into construction, and it took about an hour to get through." The man gives with a frustrated snort.
Suzaku's eyebrows rise in concern. "Was it serious?"
"No, but you would never have known with all the people slowing down to stare."
Suzaku laughs openly, and his company looks at him, really looks at him. Like until then, he was going through the motions of conversation. Suzaku had been just another person he was obligated to talk to on an elevator.
And now… Suzaku's world has slowed down. He looses sight of lights changing on the elevator buttons and of floors announcing their change with a ding, he is frozen. His vision solely focused on the violet eyes analyzing him, studying him. They are striking. So intense, so calculating, and absolutely beautiful, they suit him. Faintly he remembers someone mentioning someone who has that color.
Then the world goes back to turning, and he realizes he's been gawking and it must have looked funny because now the guy is chuckling.
Suzaku stills again at his amazing smile. Like the warmth of the sun wrapping him up and making him… Dear god, what is wrong with him today?
His inner voice clears it up for him.
Well… it might be due to this guy having everything deemed absolute beauty. Besides his eyes, his hair, his smile, and his voice, there are the facts he is tall, dark and handsome.
Maybe it should be sin. No one should be allowed to have it all like this guy.
After the man stops chuckling, and considers Suzaku who is neither smiling or gawking. At that point, Suzaku was more miffed than anything else. His expression changes to remorse. The guy must think Suzaku thought he was laughing at him.
But he might as well! Resembling some kind of god, he makes everyone look laughable.
"Who is the package for?" The man asks to soften the tension.
Happy to think about something else. "Umm it's for…" He checks around the box "C.C."
"I wonder what she ordered." Spoken somewhat under his breath. Suzaku doesn't think he's meant to respond, but he's interested. His sole job, he remembers, is to get information.
"Oh! Are you two close?" He says charmingly chipper.
The other pauses, reflecting on an answer. "Yes, she is a friend."
Even though there was a pause he sounded sincere, which had to be impossible.
"A friend?" Suzaku asks politely, as he struggles to push down the sarcasm bubbling up.
A known fact, C.C. does not have any friends. She has perhaps annoyed every person in the building. If she wasn't so good as vice president, everyone would definitely hate her. She could basically start her own company if she didn't have some weird connection to the CEO, along with the horrible talent of making people's lives a living hell.
"Well yes. C.C. has always been a family friend, and in the past she has looked out for me. She is someone I could easily say I trust with my life."
Was he serious or was he crazy? Suzaku couldn't believe there was someone who actually liked her, let alone enough to trust her with their life.
Ha. He wouldn't trust her with a pair of sewing needles.
"I didn't know there was someone who worked for her who respected her so much." Suzaku hopes the man didn't catch on to how slowly he had said those words. He was trying hard not to laugh.
The man laughed again at his comment.
Why was it rewarding?
"Yeah, I guess she is not well liked around here."
And Suzaku laughs. He couldn't help it, and the glitter of surprise on the guy's face makes him laugh more."I think that's a bit of an understatement."
The man's gaze turns glacial. "Then something needs to be done about the perspective." The voice of hell frozen over responds.
Suzaku is shocked by how fast the mood changed. Everything about the guy's countenance is solemn that it veers on deadly.
Conversation is over. He knows to back off.
Well, only a few more floors till he leaves this frigid atmosphere. And…Okay…. Why is a slim arm reaching across him…?
He inhales.
He is surrounded in the scent of lilies and clean.
Oh whoa.
He could wake up every morning and never get tired of...What. The. Hell. He needs to focus on getting past, that's right past the arm because he's arriving on his floor.
To Suzaku's relief or resentment (he would decide later) his elevator pal withdraws his slender finger from the button, and Suzaku steps out practically running.
He realizes two steps in though he never got the guy's name. It would be incredibly rude if not extremely if he bolted down the hallway without any form of goodbye. Suzaku turns around.
"Hey I didn't catch your name, I'm Suzaku."
Purple eyes look up from where they were staring a whole into elevator rug. They lock on him making him feel somewhat exposed. The man smiles, "It was a pleasure to meet you Suzaku, I am Lelouch Lamperouge."
And then the elevator doors close.
This is my first fanfiction ever; I have never even done a fill before. I have read a lot of them though, and my top pairings are LelouchxSuzaku or Luluko(Leloucia)xSuzaku, ShizuoxIzaya and SherlockxWatson.
I don't know if I will I crank out a long one here, but the idea for this has been drifting around my mind for a long time, especially after reading so many great ones. (I love Primary Gain, the seven digits gets me smiling every time, it was so good). Secondly, since there is just way more fiction for Suzalulu I thought let's make some LuluSuza. And thirdly because of my personal loathing of the idea of Lelouch acting like a pancake in their relationship.
I can totally admit Lelouch is an effeminate character in Code Geass and I don't mind him bottoming and I like reading him in his alternate girl character Luluko/Leloucia. But he is just so much more than an obedient, pushover guy who cross-dresses. He was confident leader who started a revolution, didn't mind killing people, and being killed for it. (Honestly, if you haven't watched Code Geass yet, spoilers ahead.) I mean he shot Euphemia point blank not that made him a man, but that action displayed coldness and his dynamic character has to be present when I write him along with his kindness and overall fondness for Suzaku. It makes it more of an exciting read for me to see both sides.
Now these last words are dedicated to wanting you to review. I need some critic's. I edited the hell out of this sucker, but this is, after all, my first fanfiction. There is much respect for those who write their own, descriptions of surroundings are tough! Thanks for reading my pleasure readers!
P.S. I know it's a slow start, but it will get more interesting. Promise!