Red.

All he could see was red.

Suzaku's bare feet, swallowed by the thick fog settling around him, padded through a narrow alley way. He gulped loudly as he felt the wet concrete rub up against him, and felt his muscles tense at the way the liquid clung afterward.

Where am I? he thought to his self, peering through the darkness. He jumped as the alley way opened up to a blinding wave of light.

"Suzaku!" a voice faintly called out.

Suzaku blinked at the voice and felt his heart begin to bang against his chest. The voice called out to him again, but with a different tone. As his name bounced off of the brick walls and ran through his ears, a warm afterglow enveloped him. Almost like the very sound wave was reaching out to him. "G-Gino?"

"Suzaku!" the voice cried out again and this time Suzaku heard it. The bubbly, yet strong vibrations that would constantly lull him time and time again into large arms-begging him to be held even for just a moment.

"Gino!" Suzaku exclaimed. His legs tore down the alley towards the light, his heart singing in anticipation.

I promise we'll never break up again! His thoughts whirled chaotically as he passed through the light. I'll protect you better than I tried to. I'll change my working hours to spend more time together. I'll-

His thoughts cut off short once he left the alley. Blistering cold air swiped his breath away and left him gasping for air. Letting out a sharp pained gasp, Suzaku's knees buckled and he plummeted to the ground. Pain slowly etched over his legs and back as if gravity itself was pushing all of its weight down onto him. His throat convulsed and felt bile begin to burn its way up his throat. Letting out a choked cry-crimson drops slithering down his lips-Suzaku peered around him to find his self in a dark room with faint swirls of blue light dancing around him.

"Suzaku!" Gino's voice exclaimed, snapping Suzaku out of his daze. Suzaku shakily turned his head forward to the voice with the corners of his lips quivering. But as soon as his emerald eyes landed forward, he swore his heart's beating came to a horrific halt. Lounging in violet velvet cushioned throne etched in gold and black laid Lelouch, his skin as pale as the moon with a twisted-sinister-smirk worming across his lips. Suzaku's breath hitched as he gawked at the man before him while Lelouch, dressed in all black, crossed his legs.

"Why the long face Suzaku?" he asked,, voice dangerously low. Suzaku cringed at Lelouch's narrowed stare. His eyes-smoldering red-violet eyes straight from hell-undressed him while his tongue tauntingly licked his pink lips hungrily. "You wanted Gino, right?" Lelouch's hand dipped to the side of his throne and heaved up an object. "Well you got him."

Heat began to pry at the back of Suzaku's eyes and leave streams of tears down his ashen face as he stared at the object in Lelouch's hand. Thin, pale fingers violently twisted themselves in spiked blonde locks, once twinkling azure eyes now a dull cobalt, and skin at the end of its neck torn raw and red. The violet lips of the creature moved slowly as it stared down at Suzaku.

"Suzaku." It said, voice void of any emotion as crimson splashed before Lelouch's leather shoes.

Before a bloodcurdling scream could leave Suzaku's throat, the blood dripping from the head began to drip faster until it began to pour onto the ground-flooding the entire room in a matter of seconds. Suzaku felt the sticky substance cling onto him, dragging him lower and lower into its crimson sea. The icy blood nipped his flesh as he gazed up at the darkening light above him, the head of Gino still staring down at him with dead eyes. Suzaku opened his mouth, metal devouring his taste buds, and felt his throat vibrate violently. Though blood flooded his eardrums and seeped through his throat, Suzaku felt his throat vibrating on until his vision finally blurred and the dull cobalt eyes melted into the sea.

Red.

All he could see was red.

Yet as the red grew deeper and darker, falling deeper towards the bottom of the crimson sea, a voice so animalistic, burning in rage and desperation screamed,

"GINO!"

Suzaku bolted up right with a loud gasp, cool air filling his lungs and brushing over his sweat slicked skin, making him shudder. He let his head drop in his hand as he let salt stinging tears trail down his cheeks. His teeth sunk into his knuckle to control his sobs and sniffed ever so gently.

I'll never get over him.

Quiet, yet sharp ticks of the grandfather clock just outside of the bedroom rang out through the apartment room, low and hollow-just like him. Once his shoulders finished quaking, Suzaku let out a sigh as he played with the smooth lining of the cream colored bed sheets. His teeth began to grind against each other as he eyed the sheets.

This isn't what I want.

A soft snore brought Suzaku's head back up with a shiver running down his spine. His emerald eyes glanced over at the still figure next to him, a peacefully sleeping pale man with raven black hair that caught the moonlight. The moonlight's silvery aura danced around his ruffled hair like a halo. It-no-he was truly beautiful. And the thought alone made Suzaku's blood begin to boil. His fingers twitched as he eyed the other's pale neck and imagined how lovely he would be if he hand thick red lines around the slender column.

No. Suzaku breathed, jerking his head away from Lelouch. That would make me just like him.

Suzaku glanced around the bedroom that was sickeningly becoming familiar to him and glanced down at the arm wrapped around his-for once-clothed waist. Unlike other nights where they would have nearly 7 rounds of love making, Lelouch was content with cuddling and whispering for the night. It had been three weeks since Suzaku broke up with Gino and became Lelouch's lover again, and the raven haired man made it his mission to monopolize every free moment the brunette had. Between concerts and song writing sessions, Lelouch would be there to drag Suzaku off into some closet or whisk him away to an expensive hotel for a rough reminder who he belonged to.

Suzaku felt his stomach clench and felt his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. Wasn't their entire relationship before the breakup exactly like this?

Lelouch trying to dominate Suzaku with loving get aways when ever they argued or felt the stress of his company getting to him. Then a full on brawl between would follow with Lelouch coming around trying to put the pieces back together. Suzaku slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes widening in realization as toxins whirled in his stomach. His heart beat flooded his eardrums as he glanced down at Lelouch once more.

"Oh god," he breathed out shakily. "What have I done?"

Sickening rage and guilt pierced through his stomach as he wiped his hands over his eyes. The brunette stared out into the luxury darkness engulfing the room, eyes hardening at the lone thought that went through his mind.

Gino. I'm getting us back.

Lelouch's soft snores danced in the air as he snuggled deeper into his fluffy pillow and tightened his arms around the large column pillow protectively. Suzaku gulped as quietly as he could as he carefully let go of the pillow and tiptoed back from the bed. Lelouch had always been a deep sleeper, but his inner senses would always alarm him when his presence was needed at full alert. Thankfully, Suzaku hadn't set them off this time.

Suzaku quickly pulled his hoodie sweatshirt over his head and tied his bag over his shoulders. Giving one last glance over his shoulder at the snoring man in bed, Suzaku quietly turned the knob on the door. With a quiet creak, he slipped out of the bedroom, letting out a sigh of relief. His eyes noted the shadowy figures of furniture through the darkness and made his way to the front door. His hand went over the brass knob and turned-yet the door wouldn't even creak. Suzaku's brows furrowed as he pushed, as quietly and strong as he could, against the door.

"Damn it!" he hissed, flinching at the increased volume. Suzaku glanced over his shoulder to find the room still and quiet as ever.

Thank god C.C. is out with Mao. Suzaku thought as he glanced over at the far window that looked out to the other apartment rooms. He gulped down the thick knot in his throat and shuffled over to the window. His fingers pried the window up, peering out over the giant fire escape-and the long drop down. Suzaku looked back at the front door with a low groan as he turned around and let one leg out the window. I must be out of my mind.

Suzaku's tennis shoes landed on the metal stairwell as he climbed down the ladder. Black rust nipped and cut his fingers as Suzaku moved down the rungs of the narrow escape.

"As rich as this place is," he grumbled to his self. "They couldn't afford a better fire escape!" Suddenly, the escape creaked lowly and the bolts in the upper rung shattered. Suzaku gasped as he watched the metal screech off of the main foundation of the ladder and murmured, "Oh no."

The ladder, free of the bolts keeping it down, raced down the side of the building. Sparks of white flew into the air as wails of the metal against the brick wall and Suzaku's drowned out cries. His fingers wrapped around the rungs tighter and he pressed his self to the sliding ladder. Shutting his eyes tight against each other, Suzaku let out a final scream as the ladder neared the pavement below him, waiting for the cartilage ripping sound of his bones.

Yet, the sound never came.

Suzaku shakily opened his eyes to find his self just two feet from the ground with the ladder snatching onto another sturdy fire escape.

"Kami-sama," he breathed heavily and pried his fingers from around the rungs. He jumped down to the ground, legs trembling uncontrollably as he eyed his ladder hanging loosely like a Christmas ornament. Suzaku tottered away from the alley way of the apartment complex as he mumbled, "This apartment's getting a nasty complaint from me later."

Fingers stumbled and caught loose change falling from a sweat shirt pocket as Suzaku fumbled with the pay phone in front of him. Dropping the cold coins into his palm, he looked up at the black phone hanging on the receiver and grimaced. Suzaku pressed his back up against the glass of the booth and let out a long sigh. Running his hand through his chocolate curls, the man's heart fluttered in his chest uncontrollably and glanced back down at the coins.

"Enough for one phone call." he sighed.

It would make sense to call Lloyd and Cecile to come pick me up. No. The police. They'll finally put Lelouch in his place. Suzaku thought with a grin that immediately shattered. Who am I kidding? Lelouch has enough money to own the police force!

A groan rumbled in the back of Suzaku's throat as he eyed the phone. Aged old stickers and markers crawled up the sides of the pay phone and he let out a sigh. The scrawled hand writing looked so much like Gino's.

Gino.

Suzaku's fingers curled into a fist and glared at the dull black phone. He raised his hand up to the slot, the coins sliding in with a mellow clang. His heart beat to roar through his ears as he picked the phone up from its receiver. His pointer finger, slick with sweat and trembling, punched against the number board and froze as the phone began to ring.

What am I doing? Suzaku thought, the ringing mingling with his pounding heart. What am supposed to say-

"Ugh...hello?" a gravelly voice that was thick with sleep ran through Suzaku's ears. Silencing any and all thoughts that were present. "Who is this?"

Suzaku's lips trembled as they tried to move, frozen stiff at the voice. His vision grew blurry, the phone booth swirling into a kaleidoscope of amber streetlights, scattered paper rolling along the empty roads, and glass. Suzaku's fingers tightened around the phone as he steadied his self against the glass.

I'm sorry.

"Anybody there?"

I never wanted it to be like this.

"Is this a prank?"

I just wanted you to be safe.

"Ah, what the hell man?"

But now I see...

"It's two a.m. for Christ's sake!"

We can be safe.

"You don't see me calling you in the middle of the night!"

As long as we're...

"God, you son of a-"

Tears finally broke out along Suzaku's red puffed cheeks as he gasp out, "G-Gino."

Gino's rant cut off into utter silence and Suzaku could only imagine the annoyed shock twisting his face. Suzaku sniffed harshly as he wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve. His throat finally loosened its knot, letting the boy free to breath. As Suzaku heaved in a large breath, his lips moved into a firm line before opening once more, but only to hear...

"Gino," an all to familiar soft groan rattled through the phone. "Who are...you talking to?"

The words on the tip of Suzaku's tongue froze, tumbling downward into the dark pit where his heart would have been. The tears streamed down his face more heavily as Gino continued questioning the "no good bastard" who had called him in the middle of the night.

Together.

Before Suzaku could choke out an excuse for the call or slam the phone back into its receiver, the phone booth's door slid open and a large gloved hand wrapped around Suzaku's head. Suzaku let out a muffled scream as the phone fell out of his hand and he was violently dragged out of the phone booth. Watery emerald eyes stared at the phone hanging off of the receiver that finally clicked to the end of the call and he dug his teeth into the leathery glove. Foul, stale cloth filled his nostrils as the man holding onto Suzaku groaned lowly, jerking him harder against his chest as they melted into the darkness of an old alley way. Suzaku screamed into the gloved hand, kicking wildly against his captors legs until his captor flung his free hand into Suzaku's rib cage. A pained cry was muffled by the glove as Suzaku's captor whispered hotly in his ear, "If you know what's good for, I'd shut it small fry."

"Would you really?" a voice asked behind them.

The two swerved around to find a thin boy with soft brown hair ruffling through the icy air and dark pink eyes stare at them with amusement quirking at the corners of his lips. The captor gulped heavily at the intense glare thrown his way.

"B-boss Rolo! I can explain, really! This piece of shit was-" he stuttered helplessly.

"I don't need to hear it Ranji." An voice colder than ice cut in, leaving the alley littered with dead cats and rotting flesh with an even colder air. Footsteps of high Italian leather echoed against the walls as the owner of the voice strolled behind the boy like a vicious cat eyeing his prey. "I've already seen enough to deem your punishment."

Suzaku's breath hitched at the sight before him. Raven hair captured silver rays of light from the moon and danced down the black trench coat lining the man's lithe frame like a second skin. His lips grew thin as he eyed the hired capturer coldly, his eyes lit with ice and a pool of crimson iolite. Any warmth that was in Suzaku dwindled into pure emptiness. This wasn't his Lelouch.

Demon like eyes lazily moved over to Suzaku's trembling frame as he waved a hand at the captor.

"Release him." he said, the captor immediately dropping Suzaku to the ground and fighting off his trembling. Suzaku gasped for air as he coughed harshly. Lelouch bent down to Suzaku and let a pale hand gently cup his chin. A frown began to twist at the corners of his lips as he eyed the fresh tear trails on Suzaku's cheeks. "Didn't I tell you he moved on love?" he tsked. "Now look at what you've done to yourself."

Suzaku gave him a shaky glare as Lelouch's fingers rubbed his cheeks dry.

"Rolo." Lelouch called. Rolo automatically squared his shoulders. "You've done well. I'll be sure to reward you as soon as I get Suzaku settled." Suzaku's skin crawled at the way Rolo's eyes lit up and licked his lips eagerly as Lelouch turned back to Suzaku. "Now then, let's get you home love."

"No."

The captor, Rolo, and the very cadaver that littered the alley froze as they eyed Lelouch cautiously. Lelouch merely tilted his head to the side.

"What?" he asked.

Suzaku gave him his hardest glare as he snapped, "I'm never going anywhere with you again!"

"Love," Lelouch sighed tiredly. "I believe all this running around has gotten you spouting nonsense. I don't understand you."

"Then read my lips: I will never love you."

A earsplitting slap rang through the alley, making even Rolo flinch as his eyes widened at his brother. Lelouch's hand stood firm in the air, glaring down at the quaking form of his love with bubbling rage. Tears slid down Suzaku's cheeks as pain pulsed along his cheek and lip, red drops dribbling and mixing with his tears beneath him. Lelouch's hand snatched Suzaku's hair and jerked his head towards him. Suzaku's face paled at Lelouch's face scrunched in pure rage as his fingers twisted viciously through Suzaku's locks.

"Now look at what you've done love." Lelouch murmured, voice calm and steady despite his crimson eyes glinting with bordering sadism. "You've gone and made me hurt you. How many more people have to hurt in order to make you happy, hmm?" Suzaku felt his muscles trembling against his bones and saw a vicious smirk widen along Lelouch's lips. Lelouch brought Suzaku's face closer to his, their lips only inches apart as he breathed, "Perhaps a visit to Gino will make you change your selfish attitude?"

Suzaku jerked under Lelouch grasp as he gasped out, "No!"

When did Lelouch get so strong? Suzaku panicked, paling even more. When was Lelouch ever strong?

Lelouch's smirk softened as he let his tongue run over Suzaku's trembling bottom lip. His teeth gently grazed the flesh and forced his tongue into Suzaku's mouth. Suzaku groaned, but complied, letting the older man invade his mouth to greedily trace every nook and cranny. His stomach twisted into a perfect bow as he felt Lelouch press up against him with a hardening member grazing his thigh. His lungs began to burn for air, for the kiss just kept going and going and going. Lelouch never kissed him like this before. In fact it was damn near impossible when they were younger. Yet, the kiss kept going until-

Lelouch's lips left Suzaku's, licking his lips of Suzaku's sweet saliva like it cream. Suzaku greedily filled his lungs with air and fell to the ground. Lelouch grinned as he jerked Suzaku's head up once more, digging his nails into his scalp.

"Amazing as always love," he sighed, brushing his lips against Suzaku's cheek. Suzaku turned his head away only to have nails bite into his cheeks as he was twisted towards Lelouch's heated glare. Crescent moon marks sank deeper into Suzaku's cheeks as Lelouch snarled, "If you don't love me, then I suppose I'll have to teach you to." One of his nails broke into tanned skin like a piece of fruit, evoking a sharp cry from Suzaku's throat. As dark red began to dye Lelouch's nails, a dark grin twisted along his lips. "I'll teach you to love me Suzaku. All. Over. Again."

To Be Continued...

Wow, nearly three years since I've worked on this story, and this is what Lelouch turns into. Yikes!