Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass. I do own the plot and Lindo.

Chapter Seven: Discussing and Resolving

The drive to the hospital was eerily quiet. Lelouch kept his gaze fixated on the outside world, trying to process how this had happened. Tamaki was mumbling curses to himself, swearing he would be losing his job for this unless Suzaku could smooth things over with big Papa Genbu. Suzaku was sitting in his seat with a somewhat content look on his face. Lelouch was disgusted with it but kept his mouth shut. Rin was already pacing in the waiting room when they arrived. "It'll be okay, Lady Kururugi," Lelouch stated softly, taking her hands in his and giving them a little pat. She nodded quietly, not seeming completely convinced but grateful for the support.

"And if he doesn't make it that's fine too," Suzaku stated casually as he walked in. Tamaki was in close proximity behind him, uttering something softly to himself. Rin stared at Suzaku as he had just slapped her across the face. Lelouch, seeing this, growled and grabbed Suzaku's wrist.

"Can I speak with you in private?" He hissed lowly before tugging him down the hall and to the small room with the vending machines. He then shoved Suzaku into a chair, using all his force to get him there. "What the Hell is your problem?! Your mother is sitting there, fretting over your little brother's well being and you decide to voice her greatest fears like that?! You're absolutely pathetic!" He snapped loudly, hands on his hips and his British accent coming out. He, however, was far too pissed to notice or care.

Suzaku's fists clenched and he glared back at the raven haired beauty standing over him. "You have no idea why I feel how I do toward Lindo! If it wasn't for him my mother wouldn't have to suffer day in and day out, wouldn't have to put on smiles and stay by my father's side!" It came back again, his memories rushing like a current behind his eyes. Seeing the other woman straddling his father… Remembering the fights between his parents… Remembering the weeks he spent with his teacher, Master Todo, without his mother and wondering what had happened… How his mother had wanted to terminate her pregnancy so she could be free of Genbu… And then he was brought home and it was all magically repaired. Lindo was born and Suzaku was left feeling resentment. "You have absolutely no idea!"

"Then why don't you tell me?" Lelouch asked calmly, settling down in the chair across from the other male and meeting his gaze gently. Suzaku blinked, jade orbs widening in surprise, before looking away and glaring at the tiled floor.

"After my mom found out she was pregnant with him she found out my dad was having an affair with one of his employees. I walked into his office once and saw them together," He began to explain softly. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. He didn't want to blow up again. "My parents started fighting a lot so my mom decided it would be best if I stayed with my swords teacher, Master Todo, until everything was finalized. After a while she brought me home and it was as if nothing had ever happened. My parents started going to marriage counseling to repair their broken relationship and then he was born. When Lindo was born… I knew my mother had stayed because she didn't want Lindo to miss out on having a father, even if he was a total scum bag."

"Have you ever thought that maybe she stayed for you, and not Lindo?" Suzaku's eyes widened and his head snapped up at Lelouch's words. Lelouch cleared his throat lightly before continuing. "You had grown up under both your parents' watchful eyes. You weren't used to being with just one of them. Perhaps she thought you'd become depressed or do things you shouldn't have if she disturbed your routine like that. It happens to lots of children if they were aware of their parents divorce." He explained calmly. "Although that didn't seem to really stop you either. Now you sleep with any girl who will let you flip up her skirt. Plus you treat Lindo like complete crap. Did you ever consider that maybe now your mother's biggest cause of pain and stress is really you?"

A long silence followed Lelouch's words. For a moment he worried that perhaps he'd stepped beyond his boundaries and enraged the young man. He perked up, however, when he saw the look of realization on his face. "I… I never really thought about it like that," He mumbled softly. His gaze shifted downward and he began to fidget with his fingers. "I just thought she was afraid that Lindo would feel like he was less wanted if he didn't have our dad in his life. I never realized that it might have been because of me."

"Either way neither of us knows which of our theories is the one your mother was actually inacting," He stated as he stood and brushed his skirt a bit, "but that shouldn't effect how you react to Lindo. He's your little brother, Suzaku. It's not his fault that these things happened."

"How can you be so sure?" Suzaku asked softly, sounding a touch upset with himself and put off by how Lucia's opinion.

"My mother died in complications from child birth when I was about three," He stated calmly, meeting his gaze. He kept the strength in his eyes. "The child, however, survived but was born extremely ill. She's still alive and her name is Nunnally. You see, I could have lived my life blaming her and hating her for our mother's death or I could have loved and protected her like I promised my mother I would. Even with all the bills, the long hours at multiple jobs, the weekends surrendered to do homework instead of going out with my friends, the expensive medications and all the times I had to drop whatever I was doing to tend to her I still can't harbor any type of resentment for her. Maybe that makes me a freak, makes me too weak at heart and too emotional, but so what? No matter what happens Nunnally will always be my little sister. Even if everything else in the world betrays me or lets me down I'll always have her, and she'll always have me. Little siblings are more than just our flesh and blood; they're people we can make amazing bonds with if we nurture them the right way."

"That was really touching," Both boys jumped at the voice of a third male joining. They turned to see a teary eyed Tamaki standing in the door way. "You're really smart, girl! Give me a hug!" He wailed loudly, darting over and flinging his arms around the paler figure's thin neck. Lelouch growled and tried to push him off but it didn't seem he was too keen on moving any time soon. "I wish there was a girl who cared about me enough to lecture me like that! You've got yourself a great catch here, Suzaku! Don't let her get away or you might live the rest of your life regretting it!" He cried loudly, shaking Lelouch from side to side. He could feel a humiliated blush flair to his face.

"Get off of me, you fool!" He yelped shrilly, the voice changer making his sound that much more like a girlish squeal. He hated it even more now because it made him sound so weak and jumpy. Suzaku chuckled lightly and waved a hand at Tamaki, causing him to release the young maid with only a slight bit of resistance. Lelouch shivered a bit and stepped away from him. "What did you come to tell us, any way?" He asked flatly, knowing it had to be more than his own dumb curiosity that lead him by his side.

"Oh yeah! Lady Kururugi wanted me to let you guys know she had to go see Lord Kururugi and to stay here until the doctor's give you an update on his condition. I'm supposed to drive her back to the manor so I'll be back to get you later on," He explained quickly. He then gave them a grin and nudged Lelouch's arm a bit. "Just make sure not to do anything you might regret while you're alone together!" He laughed before walking off. Lelouch, whose blush was dying down, was rekindled to the hue of a fresh red apple.

"Dirty lecher!" He seethed quietly before huffing and sitting back down, one leg crossing over the other. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed lightly, blowing a lock of long raven hair from his face. There was another thing he hated about parading about as a girl; he hated having long hair. He thought long hair was gorgeous on girls but for him, even though he did like to pamper himself when it came to his physical appearance, having long hair was quite a hassle. He was used to having hair that only reached his shoulders and the newfound length was still quite a bit obnoxious to him. "I knew there was a reason I was thinking about dating women again! Some men are just such pigs!" He snapped angrily before thinking better of the statement. He was awarded with a wide eyed stare from one Kururugi across the table from him.

"You were with other chicks for a while?" He asked in sheer shock. In all honesty, it had been Shirley. She'd been head over heels for the purple eyed male and, being too kind to reject her of all people, he agreed to go on a date. They got along well enough but there was no physical attraction in it for Lelouch. He had already come to terms with his sexuality at this point but was not quite ready to share it with the rest of the world. He tried explaining to the red head that it wasn't her and that it was him, which it truly was, but she ended up overreacting and running to Milly. For a whole two weeks none of his friends would speak to him. It wasn't until he exploded and confessed his sexual preferences that all was forgiven. Shirley had actually cried from guilt, afraid she had been "forcing Lelouch to keep his true self locked inside". He just translated that to she was worried she was the reason he had been so content in the closet, when really it was because he was afraid it would get back to his older siblings and it would create even greater tension within the house.

"W-Well… I mean, kinda… I went on a date with a girl once but it never escaladed to anything like sex or making out or even holding hands. It was one brief date that confirmed who I am," He stated quickly, looking off to the side and trying to fight back another blush. What was with Suzaku's presence? Lelouch normally didn't get so visibly unsettled. Yes, there had been times when Milly had pulled a stunt that caused his face to get pink or red in color but never this often. It seemed like he was blushing ever five minutes, usually pertaining to something involving the curly haired brunette. "It doesn't really count in my opinion."

"Hmm. But if you have such a problem with guys why don't you date girls? I mean, wouldn't you be able to communicate with a woman better since she'd know exactly what you'd want her to do or say?" He asked curiously. He seemed genuinely interested in this new topic, despite Lelouch's desperation to change it. Lelouch leaned back in his seat, trying to relax, and contemplated how to explain it without revealing too much.

"I can read men easier than I can read women," He began cautiously, "is my main reason, I guess. Women are erratic and emotional. Men, however, are creatures of habit. If a man doesn't like someone they'll just ignore them and mind their own business. With a girl if she doesn't like someone she'll still spend time with them and then spread rumors about them. Why do they do it? Women like the drama. Men, on the other hand, try to avoid drama to the best of their ability. I'll admit there are exceptions to the system on both sides of the field. I mean, take Mao, for example. I chose him because he was intelligent, attractive, calm and seemed like the kind to always be faithful. Instead he caused turmoil and pain in my life. The drama between Mao and I later became drama with my friends because once they found out they wanted blood. From there it escalated into the show earlier at the karaoke club. Do you see what I mean?"

"Well if you think girls cause drama and just stab one another in the back why do you hang out with girls too?" Suzaku pointed out calmly. Lelouch blinked a bit, caught slightly off guard by the question, but did ponder over it.

"Because sometimes it's not always drama; it's fun. If you can find people you like being around who like you just as much it doesn't have to be a bad thing," He explained softly, glancing down at his hands folded neatly in his lap. For a minute he remembered the cross dressing festival Milly had made them all partake in during high school. It had been ridiculous, and the teasing directed at him had been merciless, but it had still been a fun memory. "No matter how much I like to think I'm independent and don't nee other people I do. I'm just like every other person in the world. That's why I like to have friends. That's why I try to always be there for my little sister."

Suzaku fell silent, letting Lelouch's words sink in. He thought back, trying to remember a time he'd ever been truly kind to Lindo. There was a time, once, when Lindo was first born. He was crying in his crib, for seemingly no reason, and it had woken Suzaku up. He'd gone in, planning to yell at him to be quiet, but as soon as he poked his head over the side of the crib Lindo stopped crying and did something that stunned the ten year old; he smiled and reached up at him. Suzaku, slowly, reached down and took his brother's hand. The other held tight. And there Suzaku stood for nearly two hours, watching his little brother smile up at him and giggle until he was too tired to open his eyes. But still Lindo smiled up at him.

When Lindo was permitted visitors Lelouch went in first. "I'll let Lindo know you wanted to come see him so he won't freak out when you head in," He had explained. He ignored the hurt look that flashed into the other's jade orbs and marched in after receiving a silent nod. Lindo looked so small and frail tucked under the white hospital sheets. A few machines were attached to him, beeping every so often, and he looked to be half awake. Lelouch's mind flashed back to hi own younger sibling. He had to call her after he was done here, dealing with the Kururugi boys. The doctor had said Lindo's side had been clipped by the car, breaking a few of his ribs and keeping his damage internal. He said Lindo's ankle might be sprained, and that he had a slight concussion, but would be fine after a lot of bed rest. "Hey there little guy." Lelouch stated softly as he walked over, gently reaching over and pushing Lindo's bangs from his face. A weak smile turned up the boy's lips.

"Lucia," He stated in a raspy voice. Lelouch smiled lightly. He could hear excitement in the boy's frail voice.

Lelouch looked back at the door for a quick second. He wasn't looking forward to mentioning Suzaku's want to visit. He worried that it would upset Lindo, which was the last thing he wanted to do with the boy in this condition. "Lindo, sweetheart, Suzaku wanted to come in and see how you're doing. Is that okay?"

"He's gonna make fun of me," Lindo mumbled lightly, seeming a little bit sad.

"He's not going to make fun of you, Lindo; he's just worried about you. He wants to make sure you're okay," He stated gently, stroking Lindo cheek in a way similar to how he would if this was Nunnally. He assumed that the fact he had always been so motherly added to the reason he was so good at being a girl and had ended up gay. He was grateful for that instinct, especially at moments such as this.

"Really?" He asked softly. There was a spark of hope in his tired voice. Lelouch smiled and nodded reassuringly. "Okay then."

Lelouch walked over to the door and poked his head out. Suzaku was leaning against the opposite wall, looking nervous, but then pushed off the wall and waited for an answer. "He's really tired right now but he's up for your company," He informed Suzaku as he stepped aside so the other could walk in. Taking a deep breath, as if trying to gather his thoughts and courage, Suzaku walked in slowly and took the seat next to his brother's hospital bed quietly.

Lindo looked at him and smiled, taking Suzaku back to that night when he stood beside the others crib. His heart gave a painful tug. Why had he always been so cruel? Lindo was as much a victim as he was. He should have been there, protecting Lindo from all the terrible things in the world, not shoving them in face to scare him. He had wasted all these years trying to take his frustration out on other people. Years ago Suzaku had offered his hand to a scared and lonely Lindo. And now, years later, he felt Lindo's hand slowly seize his. Now, years later, Lindo was offering his hand to a sad and disappointed Suzaku. Tear stung at the back of Suzaku's eyes and he held tightly to Lindo's, resting his head down against his brother's skin. "I'm so sorry, Lindo," He whispered, voice think and on the verge of tears. He'd been such a fool all these years. He had so much he had to make up to the younger boy. "I'm gonna make it all to you though. I promise, Lindo."

Lelouch slipped away soundlessly, heading into the bathroom and locking the large blue door to assure no one else entered. He then removed the voice altering necklace, pulled his cell phone out of his purse and dialed the hospital. He had Viletta patch him through to Nunnally, sitting on the floor by the door as he waited. "Lelouch?"

"Hey, Nunnally," He states with a smile.

Milly Hint #7: Don't let love blind you from the people who need you most.

End

What does the Milly Hint mean this time? That's your decision! Until next time, keeping giving me your feed back!