Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass, but I had to write this after seeing 25. And I don't care what anyone says, I thought it was the best ending ever. I was hoping that if Lelouch couldn't live happily, that he would die for the sake of his dream, and that's what happened, and I'm glad. Npw read on.
JUST FOR TODAY
Turn…turn…turn…
He didn't know what to think.
Really, he didn't.
Half his heart ached horribly.
Lelouch, god, Lelouch, he'd sacrificed everything, how could this be fair, he didn't deserve this…
The other half was completely at peace.
He's finally free, all his pain, his sorrow, his hatred, it's gone forever, he won't suffer anymore…
His hands glided over the mask. The mask of Zero. Lelouch's final gift to him, a legacy to unite the world, a name that was whispered and echoed in the hearts of everyone, the identity of a man who once gave everything he was to make a change.
He was not that man.
The mask he held was a symbol of everything his life had been since that fateful day in Shinjuku, so very, very long ago. It was a symbol of a mystery, an intense hatred, a betrayal, a friendship that swayed in winds of time.
His hands ached. These hands that, not very long ago, had held a sword, the sword that had ended the legacy they now held before picking up the threads and tying them to his heart.
Back then, when he'd hated Lelouch with everything he was, he'd never imagined taking his life could hurt so much. He wondered if, even if things hadn't come to this point, if he'd killed him when he'd hated him, would it have still hurt this much?
He gripped the mask a little tighter.
His hands hurt. They hurt so much.
"Do you think…"
"Eh?"
"Never mind."
He could still see it, every time he closed his eyes. The sword piercing cloth and flesh, so easily, like it was nothing, and then all that beautiful, rich, deadly red, and a painted hand gently caressing the side of his covered face. He wondered if that hand had been warm, or was it already cold?
"You know, Suzaku…"
"Yes?"
A smile like he'd never seen before.
Lelouch. He'd bore the sins and the pain and the hatred of everyone. For what he'd done, he'd taken all of it, when Suzaku'd only ever run away. He didn't deserve to be here, but he was. And he was glad, really he was, but it hurt so much…
"I'm glad in the end it's you."
His hands clenched tightly and he cradled the mask to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world, hunching over. He missed him. It was only a short time ago, but it felt like forever and he missed him.
A sob hitched in his chest and he crumbled. Here, where he was alone and no one could see him. He cried. He cried and cried and cried. He cried for the friend he'd lost, for the time they'd lost, for everything he'd said and never said and done and never done. He cried like he was breaking all over again.
"Only those that are prepared to fire should be fired at."
"Lelouch…" he sobbed through clenched teeth, "I will. I definitely, definitely will. This thing you gave me…I won't fail."
He cried for so long that when he finally stopped, it felt like years had passed. The mask was still held tightly against his chest, but his hands hurt just a little bit less.
He let his head rest against it.
"I have time. You gave them happiness, peace…but for me, the exchange was time. The time you should've had is mine now. And I swear I won't waste it."
His shoulder still felt warm where Lelouch had leaned against it, like a lingering touch. It felt like he had his confidence, Lelouch's way of saying, 'I have faith in you'.
Tears slowing, he closed his eyes and let a faint smile touch his lips.
Tomorrow…he was going to be busy. But today, just for today, there was only him and the memories of a man, no, a friend, who'd given him everything.
Farewell, Lelouch. Goodbye.
"I'm glad it's you."
"I'm glad."