The List
His hands began shaking uncontrollably which then caused his arms to shake, and then it cascaded throughout his body. Lelouch Lamperouge studied the piece of paper over and over. His temple was throbbing, his teeth grinding. All sense of coherence was completely gone.
"What is the meaning of this?" Lelouch said angrily between gritted teeth.
"You're number one in my book, nii-san." Rolo offered trying to provide some sort of comfort for his older brother.
"SHUT UP!" Lelouch yelled out. "I don't care what you think of me. It's this!" Lelouch held the piece of paper higher. "This shows what other people really think of me!"
Suzaku sighed. He lazily crossed his arms and watched as his lover had yet another mental breakdown. He was not looking forward to calming Lelouch down over the newest incident that was seemingly damaging to Lelouch's pride. This is what he liked least about his lover. Most of the time Lelouch was kind and helpful. He had a very gentle side to him, but once you do anything Lelouch interprets to be a challenge he turns into a defensive, stubborn, unreasonable, child-like individual. He will do whatever it takes to satisfy his sense of honor. He listens to no one except for perhaps Suzaku. He is the only one who can get through to Lelouch. There are times when it can take hours, even days to talk Lelouch down and Suzaku just wasn't in the mood to cater to Lelouch. He knew that this was exactly how Lelouch would react if he ever saw this piece of paper and he did everything in his power to prevent Lelouch from seeing it. Suzaku didn't think that the person he was standing next to would be the one to show it to him. Suzaku had misplaced his faith in Rolo.
"Why did you show that to him?" Suzaku asked annoyed.
"I-I didn't mean to." Rolo responded looking worried at his rather upset older brother.
"Look how far down the list I am!" Lelouch yelled with a hit of whining.
"Well you didn't do a good job."
"He's better than me?" Lelouch began commenting on the information listed on the piece of paper. "He's a wimp!"
"Lelouch" Suzaku took a couple of steps towards the love of his life. "Please give me that paper." Suzaku extended his hand.
"No!" Lelouch retracted the paper and turned his body so that Suzaku was unable to take it from him. "This is mine!"
"Nii-san."
"I said no!"
"Lelouch, nothing on that paper matters."
"Of course it matters! Not only am I ranked so low, I was also tied with the one person I can't stand more than anyone! How could anyone think him and I are the same! It's, it's unthinkable, it's embarrassing, it's…insulting!"
"Lelouch, please clam down." Suzaku begged. "You're taking this list way to seriously. If it makes you feel any better I didn't even make it onto that list and I'm not upset."
"Are you an idiot, Suzaku? You're right here!" Lelouch shoved the paper in Suzaku's face pointing at his name. "Way above my name!" Suzaku moved his head back to get a better look.
"Oh, I see. I guess I missed it before." Suzaku caught himself. The paper was retracted for Suzaku to see the more disgruntled look Lelouch now carried.
"You saw this and never told me about it?" Lelouch's anger grew with each word he spoke.
"Lelou…."
"You knew about this and didn't even tell me?" Lelouch looked at Rolo. "And you were trying to hide this from me as well?" Lelouch went silent. A realization came to him and ever so quietly he said: "You're in on this together."
"What? No, Lelouch…."
"How could I be so blind not to see?"
"Nii-san, I would never work with him." Rolo pleaded.
"SILENCE!" Lelouch extended his arm and raised his hand to gesture for Suzaku and Rolo to stop speaking. The back of his other hand he placed on his forehead. "I never thought I'd see the day when the two of you would work together."
"Now wait a minute, Lelouch..." Suzaku grew angry.
"I've heard enough. I see the truth now." Lelouch began storming towards his bedroom. Suzaku and Rolo watched as the person who they consider to be the most important to them stop just inside of the bedroom. He turned to face them. "You'll see I will find a way to make it to the top. I will be number one!" The bedroom door slammed shut. Suzaku and Rolo jumped at the reverberation.
Rolo looked sadly at the door. "Nii-san."
Suzaku stood there confused by Lelouch's last statement. "What the hell does he mean by that?"
"What'll we do?" Rolo asked desperately.
"We'll do nothing. You would never work with me, right? I need to get that list back from Lelouch. He's obsessing over nothing. I must bring him back to his senses." Suzaku began walking towards the bedroom door. "You should probably leave."
"But I want to help."
"You've done quite enough. I don't want you doing anymore damage to the situation. I'll get back the list on my own and calm him down." Suzaku reached the door and stopped. He turned around to face Rolo and with a stern expression he said: "Now, please leave, Rolo."
Rolo left quietly without another word. He stood in the hallway. If the paper hadn't fallen from his pocket none of this would've happened. How did he come upon it? He found it attached to his apartment door. He noticed that other doors around his apartment had paper attached to them. When he opened the paper and read it he knew immediately he needed to go to his brother's. He ran to Lelouch's and found Suzaku with the paper outside their apartment. He was studying it. Suzaku saw Rolo approach. He saw that Rolo held the same piece of paper. Both agreed at that point that Lelouch shouldn't see it. They went to every door that had the paper attached and ripped them off and disposed of them. They cut it close. Lelouch just emerged from getting ready for the day and found Suzaku and Rolo in the hall. He called for them to come in. They were sure they got rid of all the lists. Rolo forgot about the one that was attached to his door. It was sitting in his pocket. And when he reached inside his pocket to retrieve his phone, the paper slipped out onto the floor. What happened next was a horrible mistake. He should've disposed of the paper before coming over, but it was too late to dwell on the past. What's done is done. Now he had to rely on Suzaku to make things better. Rolo's hands tightened into fists. Why Suzaku? Why is he the one to make things better for Lelouch? Why couldn't it be him? Someday. Someday Lelouch will look at me instead of Suzaku.
Rolo began walking down the corridor with Lelouch still on his mind. He was thinking up ways to cheer him up in the event Suzaku was unsuccessful. However, he knew that was unlikely.
He wondered what tactics Suzaku would use to calm Lelouch down. A horrible, unwanted vision popped into his head. Suzaku was comforting Lelouch by holding him in his arms, touching him everywhere on his slender body, whispering sweet nothings into his ear.
Rolo shook his head of these disturbing images he gave himself and decided to make his way back to his apartment.
"Lelouch" Suzaku yelled through the door "if you don't open this door I'll break it down!"
"I don't care! Do whatever you want!" Lelouch yelled back.
Suzaku was losing patience. He reached above the doorway on the ledge and felt around until he grabbed the key. He unlocked the door and abruptly opened it.
At first he saw an empty room. Lelouch was no where to be found. After quickly scanning the room he found Lelouch curled up in a corner on the far side of the bedroom clutching the paper.
"Lelouch, don't you think you're overreacting?"
"Overreacting? I'm not overreacting!"
"Yes you are. Look at you. You're sulking in a corner over a stupid ranking someone came up with. You really shouldn't care what others think of you."
"That's easy for you to say."
"Hey, my name was on that sheet as well and do you see me having a problem with it?"
Lelouch looked up at Suzaku. His expression was blank. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. He got up off the floor and faced the man he couldn't believe at this moment he was in love with. He started off quietly then his voice grew loud. "You don't have a problem with it BECAUSE YOU WERE RANKED NUMBER FOUR OUT OF ALL THE MEN IN THIS BUILDING! I AM RANKED NUMVER TWELVE! TWELVE! And to make it worse I share the same ranking with Tieria! I am much better than that pretty boy!"
Suzaku chuckled. "Well, I can see why. The two of you do have an awful lot in common."
Lelouch couldn't contain his anger any longer. Right after hearing the thoughtless comment from his lover Lelouch raised his hand and slapped him across the face hard. Suzaku stood in shock. Lelouch was breathing heavily.
"You apparently don't understand. I have more dignity than just sitting around letting people use me in one of their ridiculous games." Lelouch waved the piece of paper around. "I'm leaving." Lelouch stormed out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Suzaku called out but Lelouch had left the apartment.
Suzaku massaged his cheek with his hand. "I guess I said the wrong thing, again."
Neil sat at the dining room table eating his breakfast. He usually read the morning paper but this morning something else caught his interest. It was stuck to the front of his apartment door. He found it as he was getting the newspaper. He unfolded the paper to find a listing of all the male occupants of the building and they were numbered in a certain order. He read the top of the page: Your ideal man. He looked down at the ranking. He found his name, his brother's name, even Tieria's name. Tieria's name was toward the bottom of the list. He also noticed another name next to Tieria's. It looked like whoever made the list was having a hard time deciding who was better, Tieria or Lelouch.
"I guess they think they're on par with each other." Neil said to himself. "Tieria isn't going to like this."
His attention then shifted to the top of the list where his name was. He beat out his twin brother. He wondered why. He really didn't care about the list per se he just found it quite interesting that someone would go to such lengths to create such a list. Not only that, but the list was posted on his door. Was there a reason that he needed to see this? Was he the only one who got it? He didn't remember seeing anyone else's door with a piece of paper attached to it. Then again he really wasn't paying attention when he got his newspaper.
Whatever the case may be, Neil knew that Tieria couldn't see this list no matter what. He knew exactly how he would react if he were to see his name next to Lelouch's let alone his ranking.
Neil heard the bathroom door open. Quickly, he folded up the paper and placed it underneath the newspaper. He began flipping through the sections of the newspaper to pick one out to make it look like he was in the middle of reading it.
"You just started reading the newspaper?" Tieria observed as he walked by the table. "You're usually almost done with it by now." Tieria went to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Well, you see, the thing is….."
Tieria sat down at the table across from his husband. "You're almost done with your breakfast."
"Yes, well the paper was…."
"Late?" Tieria finished for Neil.
"Ah, yes. That's it. It was late." Neil said nervously.
Tieria sighed. "I thought this was taken care of. It's only been a week since the newspaper's been delivered on time and already they're slipping up? I'll have to tell Regene about this. At least it will get done if I ask him…"
"No!" Neil said with a little too much excitement in his voice which caused Tieria to jump a little. "I think today was just a fluke. Don't bother your brother over this." Neil said smiling at Tieria. "I know how difficult it is for you to get away from him once he's caught sight of you."
Tieria dropped the matter and took a sip of his coffee. Neil breathed a sigh of relief to himself. That was close.
Neil went back to flipping through the sections of the paper. He pulled out the Arts & Entertainment section and gave it to Tieria then he pulled out the sports section and opened it.
"What? They lost again? Man, things better turn around for them soon. Lyle will have a field day…."
'BAM' The door burst open.
"Ooohhhh, Tieria!" Regene walked briskly over to Tieria and hugged him while he was still sitting. "I'm here for you! Please don't feel bad!"
"Regene!" Tieria said disgruntled. "Please get off!"
Regene just squeezed tighter.
"How did you get in here?" Neil asked.
Regene held up his right arm and dangling from his fingers was a key. "How do you think?"
"Tieria, you gave him a key to our apartment?"
"No! You know I would never do that!" Tieria glared at Neil.
"It's the master key." Regene said lazily as he folded his right arm back around Tieria's shoulders. "You must be aware that I have access to it?"
"Unfortunately for us."
Regene ignored his brother-in-law's comment and turned his attention back to Tieria. "Tieria, Tieria" he started. "Please don't be upset. Your most beloved brother is here to comfort you."
"What are you talking about?" Tieria asked confused.
"Seeing that you are so far down the list must have shocked you so."
Neil choked on his toast.
Tieria tried prying Regene's arms from him but the more he struggled the tighter Regene held on. "What nonsense are you spewing now?"
"Don't worry Tieria…."
"Regene…" Neil finally got out.
"….I have made you something that is guaranteed to make you very happy."
Regene reached into his pocked and pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Tieria.
"What are you doing?" Neil asked almost panicking.
Tieria had already unfolded the paper and studied it. A perplexed look slowly crossed his face as his eyes followed down the piece of paper. Tieria looked up at his older brother. In his defenselessness Neil stood up from his seat and grabbed the sheet of paper from Tieria's hands. Once he looked at it, confusion overtook him.
"No matter what anyone thinks, you will always be number one in my book, Tieria." Regene smiled creepily.
"Regene, are you ill?" Tieria asked seriously.
"No, why would you say that?"
"Neil, please tell me you know what he's talking about?"
"Well…."
"Of course he does but I'm sure he must be quite happy with it." Regene reached underneath the newspaper at the corner of a white piece of paper that was sticking out. "I know you want to bury it. I'm not surprised but this will be your list to keep and you can show it to anyone!"
Tieria grabbed the paper that Regene now held and looked at it.
"Tieria, please don't look at that!" Neil pleaded as he tried reaching for it. Tieria held it out of reach of Neil. Neil waited for the dreaded reaction he would get. When he saw Tieria's eyes grow wide, Neil put his hand to his forehead awaiting the ensuing ranting.
"What the hell is this?" Tieria jumped up from his seat. "Who did this?"
"Don't be upset Tieria. You have this list now." Regene offered.
"That just has my name written down eighteen times!" Tieria threw that list back at Regene. "This is a list of all the men who live in this building, and someone rated them?" Tieria said offended. "And they tied me with….." Tieria's hands started shaking. He was having a hard time saying the next word. "…..L-L-Lelouch?"
"Tieria." Neil said.
"HOW DARE THEY?" Tieria screamed. "I AM NOTHING LIKE THAT, THAT HOMEMAKER!"
"I thought you wanted to be a homemaker?" Neil said thoughtlessly in which he was about to pay for when Tieria offered him the most disgusted, anger filled look he had ever seen Tieria make. "What I mean to say is….."
"NOT one more word!" Tieria warned pointing a finger at him like a parent would to a child. "I know exactly what you meant to say." Tieria paused for a moment. "You think I'm like him too!"
"Huh?" Neil looked at Tieria like he was crazy.
"You must've had a hand in making this, didn't you?" Tieria accused Neil.
"NO! Tieria get a grip!" Neil said back in defense. "And why are you only yelling at me? What about Regene? He could've had a hand in this."
"Regene would never do this!" Tieria was quick to come to Regene's defense. Both Neil and Regene looked surprised, almost shocked. "This" Tieria picked up the list which had his name written in all eighteen slots "is what Regene made. He would never put me at number twelve and especially put me in a tie with anyone!"
Regene's face lit up with excitement. Rarely had Tieria ever come to his defense and this was one of those precious moments Regene reveled in. He put his arm around his younger twin's shoulders. "Oh Tieria, I love you so much!" He rested his head on Tieria's head. An awkward silence followed. Both Neil and Tieria thought the same thing. Leave it to Regene to make any situation uncomfortable and weird.
"Oh, isn't that sweet. I'm so glad the two of you kissed and made up." The all-too familiar voice stated sarcastically from the doorway of the apartment. Regene neglected to close the door after his dramatic entrance.
"You heard us again?" Neil asked already aware of the answer.
Shinn just shook his head in acknowledgement. "I can never seem to get a break can I, especially when it comes to Tieria?"
"What about me?"
"Are you serious?" Shinn laughed. "You're constantly losing your temper over something and screaming at the top of your lungs. I practically know your whole life story by now."
"You're exaggerating." Tieria tried ignoring Shinn while trying unsuccessfully to get away from his overly emotional brother.
"Really?" Shinn took a couple of steps into the apartment. "Ok, you were just complaining how you hate Lelouch. If you hate him that much, why is he over here every day?"
"Mind your own business, Shinn Asuka!" Neil silently agreed with Shinn. He also wanted to know why Tieria put up with Lelouch. If he wanted to learn how to cook there were plenty of other people in the building he could learn from that he gets along with better than Lelouch.
"If you want me to mind my own business, then for the love of god stop yelling!"
"Don't tell me what to do!" Tieria shot back at Shinn as he finally got himself free of Regene.
"Maybe I should get Lelouch. He's good at telling you what to do. Maybe you'll listen."
"Shinn!" Neil said shocked. Tieria walked over to Shinn and came face to face with him.
"What did you say?" Tieria said slowly and with much anger in his voice.
"I'd be more than happy to get your Home Ec teacher for you. I know how much you want to be just like him." The anger inside Tieria overflowed. He raised his hand with the intention of hitting Shinn however Neil caught his wrist at the last second.
"Tieria, calm down." Neil ordered.
"I will not calm down!" Tieria pulled himself free from Neil and stepped away. "You think this is all a joke don't you?"
"Tieria" Neil started "you're overreacting."
"I'm overreacting?" Tieria slapped the list he was still holding onto Shinn's chest.
"Hey!" Shinn grabbed his chest while Tieria marched out of the apartment.
Neil sighed. "Great Regene, you had to show him that list, didn't you?" Neil turned around.
"He was bound to find out sooner or later." Regene surmised. "Everyone was given a copy."
"How do you know?"
"How do you think I got my copy?"
"So, you didn't make the list?"
Regene frowned. "Why would I make that list? Besides, if I did make a list like that it would be the one I gave Tieria." Regene began making his way out.
"That's true. Then who? Who would make something like that?" Neil asked as Regene walked by.
"Who indeed?" Regene left leaving Neil standing perplexed inside his apartment.
"I'm number nine? And Kira beat me? Again? He even beat Athrun? Why? How?" Shinn stared in utter shock at the list Tieria had given to him. "That is so totally wrong!"
Neil sighed again. This time he was getting annoyed. He walked up to Shinn. "Did you see this?" Shinn asked Neil.
"Yes, I did." Neil answered with a hint of annoyance in his voice and he began leading Shinn towards the exit.
"This is messed up. I can't believe it!" Shinn kept his eyes on the list as he was pushed out the door. "How can anyone think that Kira is better than Athrun? Athrun is, is, he's just better than Kira!"
"Yeah, yeah, Athrun is better than Kira. See ya Shinn." Neil finally got Shinn out into the hallway and he shut the door and locked it. Shinn finally was aware of where he was. "Hey, don't you care about this?" Shinn yelled through the door.
"No, I really don't." Neil said, his voice muffled and distant. Shinn looked at the list again.
"Of course you don't. You have nothing to worry about since you're number one!"
"I can't believe this! The nerve….wait till I show Athrun…." Shinn muttered to himself as he left the apartment he frequented the most besides his own.
Tieria didn't have any particular destination in mind. He just knew he wanted to be as far away from his apartment as he possibly could and where he found himself made him even more uneasy. The roof. Somehow his legs had taken him to the roof of Gadessa Heights. Why? He took a quick look around and there was no one to be found. I guess he was safe for now. The roof happened to be Ribbons' and Regene's favorite hangout. What was so appealing about being on top of a roof? He never understood. Then again he never bothered asking his brother the reason. Whatever. Tieria walked over to the edge. Two metal bars ran parallel preventing anyone from falling. Tieria leaned against the top metal railing and looked out over the morning sky. It was crystal clear except for a few clouds in the sky here and there. It seemed like the perfect day. Seemed. Until he saw that stupid list. It really was stupid but Tieria just couldn't let it go. And Neil didn't help matters in the least. "I'm overreacting?" Tieria muttered to himself. "I guess for someone who made number one he just wouldn't understand." Tieria chuckled to himself and smiled. "Oh, Regene. The things you do to cheer me up. At least you tried, even though you were the cause of this."
"Gyah!"
Tieria quickly turned around. Where is that coming from? Tieria began to searching. He turned a corner and as he did so something flew past him. He dodged it just in time.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
Tieria knew that voice all too well. He hesitated. He wanted nothing more than to run away. Anything happen now. A distraction of some kind. I don't want him to see me. This is the one time I would love it if Regene would step in. Tieria waited and nothing happened. Tieria begged inside his head as if Regene would be able to read his thoughts. So badly did he wish he were somewhere else at this moment. He saw the shadow approaching and then:
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lelouch stared at Tieria in disgust. Tieria went immediately on the defensive.
"I can ask you the same thing." Tieria & Lelouch glared at each other in silence.
"Leave." Lelouch waved his hand as he walked away.
"What?"
"You heard me. I want to be alone and you're bothering me."
"You can't tell me what to do. This isn't your domain to command. I can be here if I want."
"I'm warning you Tieria, I am not in the best of moods. I don't want to do anything I might regret later."
"You can't even control your own temper? What was it that was so detrimental that would make you act this way?"
"That's none of your business! Now please go away." Lelouch began making his way back to where he was originally, taking him past Tieria.
"I'm not leaving." Now it was a matter of pride. "Besides if you're this upset why don't you talk it over with Suzaku Kururugi? I'm sure he can help….."
"Don't mention his name!" Lelouch raised his voice cutting off Tieria.
"I see. So he's the problem?"
"I really don't want to talk about it." Lelouch snapped at Tieria.
"And I really don't want to know about it."
Lelouch looked at Tieria out of the corner of his eye before turning his back to him. They stood in silence for quite some time. Tieria was about to walk off in the opposite direction when Lelouch stopped him with an unexpected question.
"What about you?"
Tieria looked at him confused.
"Why are you up here?"
"That is none of your business. Do you really expect me to tell you?"
"Fine, don't tell me, but I'm sure I can guess."
"What nonsense are you spewing now Lelouch Lamperouge?"
"You don't think I can guess?"
"I really don't care." Tieria crossed his arms.
"I'll take you up on your challenge."
"I never challenged you!"
Lelouch walked over to Tieria and began studying him. Tieria felt Lelouch's eyes on him. He turned his head to meet his eyes. He stared back. "What? You're being creepy. Stop staring at me!" Tieria turned around. He still felt a pair of eyes on him. He was becoming anxious and self-conscious. He was about to turn back around and tell Lelouch off but Lelouch began speaking before he had a chance to say anything.
"You had a fight with Neil. Didn't you? Oh? Not answering? That's ok. I'm more than confident that that is what happened. You came up here so he wouldn't find you. This is where your brother frequents so you decided that it was worth the risk coming up here and running into your over-affectionate brother than being around your husband. Neil would never know to look up here."
Tieria quickly turned around and met his unacknowledged rival's pompous gaze. "Bingo! I'm right, aren't I?"
"You're wrong."
"You're lying."
"And how would you know that?"
"Because I'm in the same boat you are."
Tieria now looked confused. "You mean, you and…."
"Please" Lelouch sighed as he brought his hand to his forehead and rubbed it with his fingertips. "Don't mention his name right now."
"That mad, huh? I could only wonder what he could've done to make you this upset."
"Being rational, I know he didn't mean what he did. He is so thoughtless sometimes and that's what sets me off and I need to get away for a while. He made things ten times worse."
"So did Neil but I had Regene there trying to cheer me up."
Lelouch laughed. "I can only imagine what he could've done. He must've made things worse."
"You could say that." Tieria laughed as well.
"But, I guess that's what brothers are for, to always be there to help you and protect you in any situation, even if they fail horribly at it they always have your best interests at heart and it's rarely seen that way."
"I guess the same could be said about our husbands." Tieria added.
"Actually, sometimes I think they could be worse. Never thinking before opening their big mouths."
"Maybe you're right."
"I know I'm right." Lelouch said softly but not softly enough for Tieria not to hear. Typical Lelouch but Tieria wasn't in the mood for arguing with him. They each were dealing with their own issues at the moment and Tieria didn't want to add to it. Tieria walked over to where Lelouch's jacket lay on the ground. He wondered if Lelouch saw the list as well and that is why he is just as upset as himself. Suzaku probably said something insensitive to him that set him off about the list and sent Lelouch storming up here. As Tieria picked up Lelouch's jacket, he suddenly stopped and thought about him and Lelouch being tied for twelfth place. I'm not the same as Lelouch. Anyone who saw that list would react the same way, at least those ranked low. Besides, I don't throw things around when I get upset.
Tieria walked back carrying Lelouch's jacket. Lelouch was enjoying the morning breeze looking out over the horizon deep in thought. If he was still angry about whatever happened there were no signs of it now, even Tieria was feeling better.
"Here." Tieria held out his jacket.
"Oh, thank you." Lelouch said feeling a little embarrassed. "Well, it's about time I get down from here. I have a few appointments so I will be unable to stop by for cooking lessons today."
"My schedule is pretty full today as well. We can reschedule for another day."
Lelouch began making his way to the staircase. He stopped and turned around when he noticed that Tieria wasn't following. "Are you coming?"
"I'll be down in a minute."
Lelouch left leaving Tieria alone. He gazed up at the sky and sighed. "How absolutely ridiculous"
"Oh, no! No, no, Saji!" Shinn pleaded. Tears began running down Saji's face after he had finished looking over the Your Ideal Man list.
"I'm not that desirable?"
"Saji, don't let that list get to you."
"But, this is what people think of me. This is what Setsuna thinks of me."
"What? No, not at all. Setsuna l-l-loves you. He treasures you. You're a very kind, sweet person no one can hate. Hell, I can't hate you!"
"But you say you hate me all the time." Tears streamed faster down Saji's cheeks.
"I don't mean it! I'm just being playful….listen, Saji you need to calm down before Setsuna gets home or he's gonna kill me." Shinn pleaded
"Setsuna? Setsuna doesn't love me anymore." Saji cried harder.
Shinn sighed. "I just told you….look where I am on that list. Kira beat me out! Hell even Allelujah ranked higher than me!" But that did nothing but make Saji cry more. Shinn put his hand on Saji's shoulders. "Saji…"
The door clicked open. When Shinn saw it was Setsuna he quickly removed his hands from Saji. He quickly walked over to Setsuna blocking his path to Saji. "Before you do anything, I had nothing to do with this." Shinn's voice was filled with panic. He knew what would happen to him if Setsuna even thought for a moment that Shinn had hurt Saji and he was desperate to let Setsuna know it wasn't him. Of course reading Setsuna was a different story. Setsuna just stood there staring at Shinn expressionless. He eyes shifted between Shinn and Saji.
Finally Setsuna walked around Shinn without a word and approached his lover. "Saji, what's wrong?" Saji kept crying unable to speak any words. When he attempted to speak, he would hiccup instead. Setsuna put his bag down and took the paper he was holding. Shinn expected the worst out of Setsuna. He waited for his reaction. Even someone like Setsuna would have to get angry over something like that. But nothing came. Setsuna just disregarded the list without a hint of a change of expression on his face. He just spoke softly addressing Shinn. "Shinn Asuka? Where did this list come from?"
"I-It wasn't me. I-I-I got it from Tieria!" Shinn said nervously.
"Saji, are you crying because of this?" Setsuna held up the list.
Saji hiccupped before speaking. "I-I'm s-s-sorry, S-Setsuna! You must hate me now!" Saji covered his face and cried into his hands.
Setsuna reached up and tried removing Saji's hands from his face but Saji wouldn't budge. "Saji, look at me." Saji just continued to cry.
"I tried telling him that list doesn't matter but he won't listen to me." Shinn offered.
"Why did you show it to him?" Setsuna kept his attention on Saji.
"It wasn't my intention to show it to him. It just somehow happened. I'm sorry Setsuna."
"Saji, this means nothing to me and it shouldn't to you."
"…b-b-but i-i-t s-s-says s-s-so m-m-much a-about m-m-e!" Saji breathed in deeply. "I-I-I'm n-n-not w-w-worthy of y-you!"
Setsuna was able to pry Saji's hand from his face. Saji tried looking away but Setsuna gently laid his hands on his cheeks allowing the tears to fall on his fingers. Setsuna looked deeply into Saji's tear-filled, bloodshot eyes. "Saji, I will decide who is worthy of me. It's you and will always be you."
"Setsuna." Saji whispered.
"I know that words alone aren't enough to convince you."
"Ok, I'm outta here." Shinn turned to leave. He should've left sooner but the two of them were having their moment and it was hard for Shinn to just up and leave. He found his opening and left without saying another word. As he closed the door he saw Setsuna lean in and kiss Saji and not just any kiss. He had to French kiss him didn't he? That image will be forever burned in my head.
Shinn entered his apartment and went straight to the bedroom. He fell onto his bed face first and groaned. "What a day already and I haven't even gone to bed yet." Shinn grabbed a pillow and threw it over his head and held it down with both of his arms. Earlier, after he left Neil and Tieria's apartment and before he went to check on Saji he found himself going straight to Athrun and Kira's. Athrun answered the door and was still in his pajamas. Shinn was visibly upset so Athrun let him in. Shinn sat down and without saying a word handed Athrun the list. Athrun read the list.
"Who did this?"
"I don't know."
"Is this what you're upset over?" Athrun asked a little surprised.
"Of course." Shinn answered loudly.
"That's very unlike you." Athrun smiled. "Is it because I'm higher on the list?"
"That's just it….."
"Shinn" Athrun sat down next to him on the couch. "This doesn't matter in the least and no one is going to think differently of you. I don't."
"No, I'm not upset that you were ranked higher than me. I'm upset that Kira did."
"Kira? Why?"
"What about me?" Kira entered the living room.
"You!" Shinn stood up. "Why is it always you?"
"Huh? Did I do something wrong?" Kira looked bewildered.
"Yes, you're always in my way!" Shinn yelled out.
"Shinn!?" Athrun stood up.
"What did I do?" Kira asked again.
Shinn walked past Athrun and up to Kira. "How come it's all about you, Kira? You think that you're the greatest just because you beat out me and Athrun? I'll make sure the next time I'll win." Shinn stormed out.
Athrun walked up alongside Kira. "Athrun?"
"Yes, Kira?"
"Can you tell me what that was all about?"
"I'm not sure myself. He's probably just tired. I'll talk to him when he wakes up later and see what's going on." Just then birdie flew over to Kira and landed on his shoulder.
"Birdie, there you are."
"Before we leave, I have something to discuss." Regene said as Ribbons and Revive were getting up from their seats. They both froze at the same time and looked surprised at the innovator sitting across the table. This was certainly rare for Regene to bring anything up at meetings let alone show up to them. Most of the time anything Regene had to say was nonsense and had nothing official to contribute.
"Yes Regene, what is it?" Ribbons said as he sat back down. Revive followed suit but was clearly annoyed. He wondered if this would have anything to do with Tieria. That was his favorite subject.
"I thought it important to share with you a list of how we're doing." Regene passed out the list to Ribbons and Revive. They studied it. Revive was first to react.
"What's this, Regene? Your Ideal Man?"
Ribbons sighed. "Regene, we don't have time for your games." Ribbons was about to disregard the list.
"I am not the one who put this list together. One of our tenants did this."
"Who?" Revive asked.
"I don't know."
"Regene, why did you show us this list?" Ribbons asked calmly.
"To show you how good of a job you're doing. You must be very happy Ribbons. You made it into the top ten. People really like you, but I wonder if you're desirable to the male or female occupants." That last part Regene said to himself but loud enough for Ribbons and Revive to hear. "Revive needs to work on his social charms if he ever…."
"Enough!" Revive jumped to his feat slamming his hands on the table. "There is no relevance in this." He began to leave.
"Are you upset that Tieria actually got higher than you?" Regene added.
I knew this had to do with Tieria. Revive stopped. "If we're going to discuss working on 'social charms' as you like to call it, you should probably work on that yourself seeing as you are ranked last on the list. Apparently nobody likes you." Revive left without another word.
Ribbons stared at Regene, his hands folded in front of him. "He has a point. If this is how you wanted to use the list to discuss how well we are seen by the occupants of this building, I'd say you have the most to work on."
"Oh, Ribbons I honestly don't care about this at all. I just thought you would find it interesting."
Ribbons chuckled. "And why would you think that?"
"It shows how much influence you have over others."
Regene was flattering Ribbons and he knew what that meant. Ribbons closed his eyes and took a deep breath in then out. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Hm? What do you mean Ribbons?"
"Something good happened to you and I know you're dying to tell someone. You would've told Revive too but you seemed to piss him off a little too soon."
Regene was quiet for some time then he stood up. This surprised Ribbons at first, then he realized Regene was just playing games. He stood up as well and began to gather his papers. "Am I to assume this has to do with your twin?"
"You'll never guess what Tieria did just a little while ago." Regene said with held-back excitement in his voice.
They began walking out of the conference room. "Hm?"
"He actually defended me! Me!"
"That's quite rare of him." Ribbons observed.
"I know and the best part is that he defended me against his husband, Neil. Can you believe that?"
"That certainly is surprising. For Tieria to choose you over Neil, I wonder if he's feeling ok?"
"Tieria is fine. Neil just didn't know when to shut up."
"I see."
"You should have been there Ribbons. It all started when I decided to make my own list after I saw this one. I made one just for Tieria because I knew he would get upset with the first list, the one I had nothing to do with…."
Ribbons walked with Regene listening to him drabble on. It was certainly rare to see Regene in a good mood and by that, a very happy mood. Ribbons wondered if he would be able to take advantage of this mood of his for as long as it lasted and he hoped it lasted a while.
The elevator made its way down to the bottom floor. All was quiet. Patrick was accompanying his wife Kati. He carried a rather large grin on his face. The other occupant of the elevator was Mr. Bushido who looked the opposite of Patrick. No longer able to contain himself Patrick moved over and wrapped his arm around Mr. Bushido's shoulders.
"Did you hear?" Patrick started. "I'm ranked number two among all the males in the building as the ideal man." Patrick boasted. Mr. Bushido made no reaction. "If you are ever in need of any advice in the matters of love I would be happy to assist you. I noticed that you were a little low in the ranking….."
"Patrick!" Kati scolded.
Patrick cringed.
"Step away from Mr. Bushido." She commanded.
"Yes, Taisan?"
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Taisan?"
The elevator stopped and the occupants emerged. Mr. Bushido left quickly to avoid any more contact with Patrick. Patrick walked Kati out. They stopped just outside the building.
"Patrick?"
"Yes, my love?"
"Don't harass any more of the tenants with that stupid ranking."
"It's not stupid. May I remind you that you are married to the number two ideal man." Patrick bragged.
Kati just sighed. "Patrick."
"Yes?" Patrick stood at attention
Kati kissed him. "I'll be home late from work."
"Yes, ma'am!" Patrick saluted.
"Hey, Neil!" Neil cringed once he heard his brother's voice. He had hoped to have evaded his brother by taking a different route to work. Obviously it failed. Neil stopped walking long enough for Lyle to catch up. He prepared himself for the onslaught of unkind words he was to receive from his younger brother. "You really piss me off!" Lyle finally caught up.
"Lyle, don't get mad at me."
"Why? This always happens. Things just come easy to you, don't they?"
"I don't know why you're blaming me. My god, even Tieria got mad at me."
"Really?" Lyle looked surprised.
"Of course. Why do you think?"
"Well, I'm kinda surprised. He usually doesn't care about such things."
"Tell me about it. I guess Regene was the cause."
"What did that lazy-ass do?"
Neil wondered why Lyle was getting so upset. "Well, he…."
"Don't tell me he broke it?"
"Broke it?"
"NO! Our car that we've been working on for two years! Oh, I'm gonna kill him when I get home….."
"Lyle, the car is fine."
"So he didn't break it?"
"No."
"Not even the new part you got?"
"What new part?" Neil thought back and remembered getting a package the night before last. "Oh, yes now I remember." Is that what Lyle is upset about? Did he not see the List? If he did, I think I would be dead by now. I guess I'll have to call Anew at some point today to find out.
"Yeah, now you remember. You were supposed to call me when it came in. We were looking for that part for months."
"I'm sorry Lyle." Neil smiled to himself relieved that for now Lyle didn't turn into another victim of that list which circulated throughout the building this morning, at least for now.
They began walking. "What was so important that you couldn't call me?" Lyle whined.
"Well….Tieria and I…had a date."
"That's not an excuse."
"What if you interrupted one of your date's with Anew just to tell me a car part came in? How do you think she would react?"
"I see your point." Lyle said defeated. "Will you have time after work?"
"Today isn't good. How about tomorrow?"
"Sounds good to me." Lyle smiled in excitement. This was one of the only times Neil and Lyle really got along as brothers. Neil enjoyed this time and wished that he could get along with him better all the time but that just wasn't going to happen.
"Hey, I saw the paper today."
At the word 'paper', Neil flinched just a little. "Oh, yeah?"
"My team won twelve to nine." Lyle walked backwards so as not to miss his older brother's reactions to his taunting. "I told you they would win!"
Neil let Lyle have is fun.
"You owe me a drink."
"Yes, I owe you a drink."
"After work?"
"I told you I can't."
"Why?"
"I have plans with Tieria."
"Why is it always Tieria?"
"He is my husband, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Your Ideal Man
1. Neil
2. Patrick
3. Lyle
4. Suzaku
5. Kira
6. Athrun
7. Ribbons
8. Allelujah
9. Shinn
10. Setsuna
11. Saji
12Tieria/Lelouch
13. Revive
14. Divine
15. Bring
16. Mr. Bushido
17. Rolo
18. Regene