I don't own Code Geass.


"Wait, what? Lelouch and Shirley?"

"Shh! Christ, Suzaku, you don't have to announce it to the entire school. And yes, Lelouch and The Ginger. What's so surprising?"

It was a break between classes, and they were sitting in their usual chairs at the back of the classroom, their conversation hidden in the buzz of noise created by the other students enjoying their own breaks.

"What's so surprising? I swear, C.C., you're the two smartest kids in school, but you're both clueless."

She glared at him with piercing eyes that would absolutely terrify anyone who wasn't used to it. Luckily for Suzaku, he'd been given that look just about every day since he was eight. Plenty of time to adjust.

He gave her a questioning look in return. "So you really don't get it?"

"Get what?"

He sighed and placed a hand on his forehead, resting his elbow on the desk. "How long have you known Lelouch?"

"Two and a half years."

"Okay, well, for those two and a half years, the two of you have been practically glued to each other. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was taking bets on when you'd finally get together officially. People stopped talking about it a year ago, though. I think they assumed that both of you were just keeping it a secret."

The girl stared at him with a mixture of anger and confusion in her eyes. "And you? You let these rumors fly around about Lelouch and me, without even trying to tell people the truth?"

Suzaku slid down a few inches in his seat, burying his head in his shoulders. "No- Well, yeah... I tried, at first!"

"At first?" The glare intensified.

"Yeah, at first," he slid a few more inches down. "But then..."

"Then?"

"Well, he was so happy with you all the time! And you always talked about him!"

"So?"

"So...It made sense, didn't it? I also kind of assumed you two were... sort-of... together."

Her glare held on him as he slumped in the chair. There was a moment of silence between the two, and he could have sworn everyone in the room got quiet at once, as if to wait for something to happen. Finally, she spoke.

"You're an idiot, Suzaku Kururugi."


"Listen, I'm sorry! I was just being honest with you, what was I supposed to do?"

She ignored him and ate her lunch in silence.

He pouted at his untouched bento, tapping his fingers on the desk impatiently. "Come on, C.C., at least say something. You don't have to forgive me, but this silence is unbearable!"

She gently put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth, finally looking up to meet his eyes. "Fine. I do forgive you, Suzaku. But you're still an idiot."

"I know," he quickly responded in relief, picking up his own chopsticks and setting to work on his food. "But- you have to admit..." He paused to finish chewing, then continued, "the two of you do have a connection."

She sighed in response, and took a swig of juice. "Yeah, we do. It's called friendship."

"Nooo, no, no, no, no. It's more than that. I think you two like each other, you're just both too afraid to admit it."

Her glare quickly began to return, but he didn't notice and continued talking.

"This Shirley girl isn't his type, and everyone knows it. She should know it. And so should he. I don't get why they're together."

"He likes her, he's talked to me about it," she replied, sounding more defensive than she would have preferred.

Suzaku took another bite and rolled his eyes while chewing. "Yeah, okay, he likes her. But that doesn't mean they should be dating. He likes you more, I can guarantee that."

She raised her eyebrows and leaned in a bit. "Has he said anything? To you? About that?"

He swallowed and stabbed another morsel to eat. "Nah, but I can tell."

She rolled her eyes and took another swig of juice, leaning back in her chair again.

"It's just so obvious that you both like each other, but you've managed to put each other in the friend zone! You need to take the initiative, C.C! You should tell him how you feel! I know you must be really jealous by now. Don't you want to get him for yourself before that obnoxious Finette girl takes him aw-AEYEOW!"

He nearly fell to the floor as he clutched his shin in pain. Somehow, he had failed to notice the increasing anger in the golden eyes of wrath, and then failed to avoid the swift boot that proceeded to hurtle toward his shin in anger.

She reached over the little table, grabbed his shirt collar, and pulled him up to look into her eyes. "Never. Speak. Of this. Again." She let go of the collar, got up, and walked out of the room without another word; leaving Suzaku clutching his shin in pain.

"No wonder he chose the redhead..." he grumbled through his teeth after she left earshot.


III

"Just Shut Up"


Lelouch's phone loudly buzzed against the table, rudely disturbing the previously peaceful sound of the shower emanating from the bathroom. C.C. glared down at it, watching it slowly glide across the surface as it vibrated, and saw Suzaku's name flashing on the screen. She grabbed it, flipped it open and placed it to her ear.

"Yes, Suzaku?"

There was a pause before he answered, "Lelouch, you sound different."

"Yep, got a sex change."

There was another pause. "C.C.?"

She thought of messing with the boy, but wasn't in the mood. "Why'd you call me?"

"I called Lelouch, not you. It's none of your business."

"Whatever it is, you know he'll tell me anyway."

She heard a sigh crackle through. "Yeah, I know. Whatever. I'll have you know that I just got a very angry text from Shirley, asking why I ruined her anniversary and telling me how I'm apparently a terrible influence on Lelouch."

C.C. couldn't help but crack a little smile, despite Lelouch's current predicament. "Ah, right. Probably has something to do with you getting him drunk the night before their anniversary."

"We were celebrating!" Suzaku defended, "And I didn't get him drunk, he got himself drunk! How is it my fault!"

She chuckled. "Well, she needs someone to blame. God forbid Lelouch actually makes a mistake for once in his life, right?"

"Ugh. She needs to accept he's not perfect. She's obsessed with the guy, but it's like she doesn't even really know him."

C.C. closed her eyes and sighed, twisting a lock of hair around her finger. "I know what you mean, but he really loves her."

"Tch. I don't think he knows her, either. He doesn't even know what he wants. You already know how I feel about it."

Her eyes narrowed. If she could, she would have given him a glare that would send him running. "Shut up. I told you we would never speak of that conversation again."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. It just bothers me, I feel like all this weird tension between them is winding up, and any minute now it'll snap. Their whole relationship is stressed and you know it."

"Maybe. But she makes him happy. That's what really matters."

"Does she, though?"

C.C. shrugged even though he couldn't see her. "He seems happy to me."

"Yeah, to you. That's because he's only happy when he's with you."

She would have kicked him in the crotch for that. "Alright, Suzaku! Shut up! We've been over this, you know why it just won't happen, so stop suggesting it!" She stomped the ground and suddenly realized she was standing on her feet.

Suzaku didn't say anything for a few moments, probably to let her calm down. She slowly sat back on the couch and ran her hand through her hair frustratedly. He finally spoke with a calm voice, "Yes, I remember what he said to you, but if you're going to let that stop you, then you're not the person I thought you were. She's not right for him and you know it."

She let out an ungraceful grunt. "Just mind your own business," she responded coldly.

"Fine. But you should talk to him."

"I'll tell him you called."

He sighed. "I'll talk to you later, C.C."

She replied with another grunt before being treated to the dull tone of a dead line. She clapped the phone shut and tossed it back on the table. Her hand took another exasperated trip through her hair again before she finally leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she noticed the quietness of the room.

"C.C.?"

She turned her head and looked at the boy with one eye open. He was drying his hair with a towel, wearing only his favorite jeans with no shirt. "Are you trying to seduce me again, boya?" she asked mockingly.

He smirked and picked up a shirt from on top of the dresser beside him. "I don't know, is it working?"

She smiled and let her head fall back, closing her eyes again. "It'll take more than that to impress me, Lelouch."

He didn't respond, but she could hear him pulling the shirt over his head and could feel his presence standing over her. "Who called?" He suddenly asked.

She let out an annoyed sigh and massaged the bridge of her nose, eyebrows scrunched. "Suzaku. He says Shirley's mad at him for getting you drunk last night."

Lelouch chuckled lightly. "Sounds like her. I'll talk to her about it. But why are you mad at him?"

"I'm not."

He didn't reply, but she knew without opening her eyes that he was giving her one of his doubtful, eyebrow-raised looks.

She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm just a little annoyed."

"Why? What's he done now?"

"Nothing, it's stupid."

"It's not like you to worry so much about stupid things. What is it?"

"Don't ask, trust me, it really is stupid."

Again, he didn't reply, but she could still feel the doubtful look in his eyes boring into her head. After a few seconds of silence, she heard him sigh and walk back into the bathroom to get ready. His voice echoed out of the little bathroom. "Sometimes I think he likes you, you know."

Her eyes shot open and snapped to his reflection through the open door. "No, Lelouch, that is definitely not the case."

"I don't know," he glanced at her through the mirror as he skillfully worked with his drying hair, "he talks about you a lot, he's constantly concerned about you, always asking questions. I think it's pretty obvious."

She opened her mouth to speak, but didn't know what to say. She wanted to tell him the truth, that Suzaku wasn't just concerned with her, but with her relationship with Lelouch. If only it were that easy.

"Seriously, Lelouch, he's not interested," she paused, and quickly added, "and I'm not interested in him, either, for the record."

He chuckled at her and finished messing with his hair in the mirror. "Alright, let's go."


Ooooooh geez. Sorry I've been gone for like... a while. I'm absolutely swamped with University stuff, it's around that time that all the professors decide they're going to assign huge essays, all due around the same time as each other! But I managed to squeeze this out between assignments, I hope it's not too...crappy. Well, at least it's something! Haha.

Review please! And feel free to make me feel guilty, maybe it'll motivate me to update sooner. :P

Edit: Format's screwing up, there's supposed to be an exclamation and question mark after Suzaku's "Lelouch and Shirley!" line. I know it's reeaally trivial, but it's bugging the hell out of me! Hope it didn't completely ruin the story for you.