Hubris: Sweat Melodies

Disclaimer: I don't own the Code Geass Characters so please don't sue me for borrowing them . . . or, for that matter turning Lelouch into a girl

The quiet solitude of the rooftop was broken only by the sound of students heading to their next class. He watched the controlled chaos with ease taking the time to breathe before diving into the rush. His eyes gravitated towards her without missing a beat; she wasn't too hard to spot even in the growing crowds. People, whether conscious or not would give her room to pass as she moved like Noah splitting the red sea so walked on without sparing even a small glance either way. She looked fearless and beautiful, a goddess stepping into the mortal realm.

"I thought I'd find you here." The familiar voice and the ease with which it spoke made him smile.

Suzaku turned to find Milly standing at the stairwell her arms folded across her chest and a slight teasing smile on her face. She broke first, rushing forward to pull him into her embrace as she laughed. Behind her Rivalz and Shirley were a close second as they too moved to embrace him, friends seeing each other after a year of being apart. He welcomed their joy and their carefree manner of speaking, a difference from what he'd experienced thus far in his new rank.

"So much has changed," Suzaku replied after a long moment of greetings and 'how-have-you-been's was over. His eyes strayed towards the thinning crowd once more but he found that she was long since gone.

"Much has changed, but some things do not." Milly answered thoughtfully, "The school certainly has changed, everyone's different – the only ones who remain from our class is Shirley, Rivalz, and I. Nina graduated after -," Milly hesitated slightly, "After what happened a year ago and I haven't heard from her much."

"Yeah . . . I heard about that." Suzaku rubbed the back of his neck, how much of it was easily blamed on Zero and how much on himself?

"ANYWAYS," Shirley beamed as she sidled closer to Suzaku, "Since you left our club's just barely holding it together! We even had to bring in a new student who just transferred. The Prez practically dragged her to the clubhouse as soon as she arrived. You should see what Rivalz and I have to deal with since you've been gone."

"Someone new?" Suzaku turned his gaze towards Milly who smiled slightly at him.

"You may have noticed her already, her name's Lelouch Lamperouge and she transferred here a year ago."

Rivalz laughed slightly drawing everyone's attention, "Yeah, and the funny thing is Shirley here thought she'd know who you were. I mean – Lelouch transferred here the same day you left so there's like no way she'd know who you are."

Shirley raged at Rivalz even as Milly smiled at the two of them. Caught up in their own argument the three did not see the pained look on Suzaku's face.

She yawned staring out the classroom window bored despite the fact that the teacher hadn't even shown up yet. All around her the other students continued to chat while they waited, only Lelouch remained absolutely bored sitting in her seat. In her mind she contemplated ditching class – it was only history after all and there wasn't much she cared to learn anyways, but shook the notion out of her head as soon as the teacher stepped into the classroom. Almost immediately all attention was focused on the young man walking just behind their teacher.

Lelouch on the other hand returned her attention towards the window; she didn't care who the guy was she just wanted to leave. The teacher, a young noble woman named Villetta Nu called the class to attention as she announced the arrival of their long awaited transfer student. Lelouch was only half-listening as the boy introduced himself and was immediately directed towards the vacated seat beside her. It wasn't until the boy stood beside her that she pulled her gaze away from the view outside.

Lelouch blinked at the look in his eyes, an odd olive-green color that seemed to burn with some kind of inner anger. She felt her back straighten slightly at the look. This was the guy her closest friends called 'friend'? The look he gave her made her feel as if she'd been pierced through the chest with a sharp blade. He looked away without speaking and only then did she realize that class had officially begun. She tried to ignore the piercing sliver of pain that continued to tighten in her chest whenever she glanced his way.

It didn't make sense, what could he be angry with her for? She was first to leave when the bell rang, clutching her arms to her chest as she rushed out of the class. She wanted to escape – no, that was a ridiculous notion she had no reason to run but still . . .. The memory of that sharp pain was enough to make her move faster through the halls and up the stairs until she reached the solitude of the rooftop. Lelouch all but collapsed against the stone railings sucking air in through her mouth as she held onto the ache in her chest.

Again that unspeakable nightmare spread through her like a wildfire threatening to consume her even in her waking moment. That feeling of fear, of the profound need – no it was more the instinctual urge to flee. This was no fight she could win and every fiber of her being wanted nothing more than to run as far and as fast as her legs could carry her. It was as if she were a castaway caught in the riptides being pulled this way and that with no chance of breaking free. Her chest tightened as she struggled to draw breathe, her eyes watered with effort it took just to stand. Every muscle in her body felt tensed to run as if the only thing keeping her grounded was gravity. She had to escape – to have to get away. Already she felt disoriented, lost to the panic threatening to engulf her completely. A hand touched her wrist and she screamed the strength in her legs drained away as she fell to the ground covering her head with her hands as if she would ward off some unseen attacker. It was only when she heard Rolo's voice that she felt herself calm. Rolo's voice was the only thing she could grasp in that nightmare, the only lifeline left to her and cling she did throwing herself into his arms as tears rolled down her cheeks.

It took Rolo the better part of an hour to calm her down enough so that she could get back onto her feet but the crying had left her face puffy and red. He brushed the last remnants of tears from her face and she offered him a slight smile.

"I'm such a bad sister . . . having to lean on my little brother like this for no better reason other than a simple night terror." She sighed shaking her head.

"N-no! I'm – I'm glad I could be of some help to you, sis!" Rolo replied.

Lelouch sniffed shaking her head again, "No, I'm the older sister I'm supposed to be protecting you my young brother from danger and just look at me." She gestured towards herself, "Shaking like a leaf over something as stupid as a faceless nightmare." She sighed in exasperation.

"I'm happy . . .." Rolo whispered, "I'm happy to help you in any way I can sis. So – so please, please don't send me away."

Lelouch looked down at him in surprise as she noticed the slight glimmer of tears in his eyes. Great, now I've made my baby brother cry. She pulled him close, "Of course you'll stay at my side. I would never dream of letting you go. We're family and family stays together no matter what. It's just – sometimes I wish these nightmares would just disappear altogether."

He watched the two of them leave before stepping into the sunlight. Suzaku lifted his head to the warm rays willing them to spread through his body. He forced the tears back as he listened to the sound of the wind and remembered . . ..

The long corridors stretched out before him like something out of a fairytale ornate walls and everything. Beside him putting up decidely less of a fight then he'd expected, Lelouch shuffled along blindly. The black bag he'd placed over her head offered no clue as to where they were though by this time he expected that she really didn't care. Her hands were kept restrained in the straitjacket he'd placed her in with some difficulty. The cuffs and the black bag she never fought but the straitjacket she'd put more resistance into than ever.

Eventually they reached their destination, the two men guiding them gestured forward as they pushed the doors open. He stared ahead at the dimly lit room and steeled himself. Suzaku took a deep breath and placed a hand against Lelouch's back urging her forward.

"Don't fight me." His voice held all the warning she would get as she all but stumbled over the threashhold. The doors slammed shut behind him and he immediately pushed Lelouch to the floor knocking her legs out from under her. She grunted but only slightly as the wind was knocked out of her. Suzaku knelt placing a hand against Lelouch's back to keep her from moving. Once again he was surprised at how easily she gave up, the fight lost even here though she knew nothing of where she was. In the dimness he could barely make out the figure sitting atop the throne but he knew who the man was. Charles zi Britannia, the Emperior of Britannia himself rose slowly from his seat his cruel eyes glaring down at Suzaku from on high. It was obvious what the man thought, a number had done what hundreds of his soldiers had failed to do.

"Remove the bag." His words were curt, as harsh as his gaze and twice as brutal.

He felt Lelouch tense at the voice, could feel her panic even as he began to undo the bag covering her head. She struggled then, screaming like a mad woman cursing him as she tried to get to her feet. Suzaku pulled bag free and grasped her hair in his hands slamming her face to the floor when she tried to lift her head. "Stay down." He growled low enough so that only she could hear it.

"Lelouch vi Britannia eleventh Princess of Britannia, you have cast aside your pride as a Britannian and thrown your lot in with rebels." Charles sneered at the words.

"No more than you cast me aside during the war, Father." Lelouch hissed struggling despite Suzaku's warning to raise her head.

"A pity you were not strong enough to die then." Charles answered callously as he turned his attention to Suzaku, "Suzaku Kururugi, you have earned Our deepest gratitude for your efforts in the capture of Our estranged daughter. We shall grant you one boon, and advance you in rank."

"I want the title of Knight of Rounds." Suzaku replied easily. Charles' eyes narrowed slightly but a cruel smile lit his face at the words.

"You have ambition – that is good, but why should We give you such an honored rank when you are no noble?" Charles asked.

"I hand you the criminal Zero, this is my wish." Suzaku answered easily.

"Zero?" Charles glared at him as Suzaku pulled a second black bag from around his waist. He tossed its contents to the floor and the split mask of Zero skidded across the tiles with a loud clatter.

"I present you the mask of Zero, the greatest enemy of Britannia. As well," Suzaku gripped Lelouch tightly to keep her from moving, "As returning your long lost Princess. For this I ask two boons instead of one."

Silence greeted his declaration as Charles stared down at the mask then back at Lelouch for what seemed a milenium. Finally he laughed, a cold twisting sound that wrenched at Suzaku's ears.

"You certainly are smart for a numbered," Charles returned to his seat but did not sit instead he turned back to stare at Suzaku that cruel smile now plastered to his lips. "Very well then, Suzaku. We shall grant you your first boon, you shall become a Knight of Rounds of the lowest order but a Knight of Rounds still." Charles gestured towards Suzaku and men hiding in the shadows stepped forward reaching for Lelouch.

"Your Highness – I would have you grant me my second boon." Suzaku responded glaring at the masked men hard enough that they all stopped in their tracks.

"And just what is this second boon?" Charles responded his smile fading slightly.

"I have knowledge of Geass, the power behind those eyes of yours and I would ask you spare Lelouch the death penalty." He answered easily.

Charles chuckled amused beyond anything he'd ever been before, this man was certainly more than a little interesting. "Very well then, Suzaku."

He felt his heart calm.

"We grant you your second wish," Charles gestured and this time the men stepped back into the shadows, "Lift her head so that you may witness my Geass."

He listened doing exactly what Charles asked without question. Lelouch screamed as Suzaku covered her left eye. "I won't let you cast Geass on His Majesty." He whispered fiercely. He could feel the tears in her eyes as he forced her right eye open.

"Be grateful my Daughter, for today I shall rewrite your memories, I will take away your anger, your hatred . . .," Charles smiled, "I shall even take away that which you most care about, your love. You will know nothing of your former life. Be grateful, my Daughter for today you are reborn without memory of the sins you committed."

"No – NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS! YOU CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY! DON'T TAKE IT AWAY!"