Dislaimer: I do not own Code Geass

He gently set Suzaku down on his makeshift bed, lifting the boy's soaked nightshirt slightly to examine the wound. Suzaku flinched as he noted that it looked a lot worse than before.

"You shouldn't have been walking on this." Lelouch chided, before grabbing some bandages to wrap it with. "I have to twist it back in place. I'm not gonna lie, it'll probably hurt like hell."

Suzaku just nodded. He knew it would hurt, since he had tried to do it himself. Lelouch gripped his foot and twisted hard, holding his shin in place with the other. It hurt more fixing it than it did when it happened, Suzaku noticed as he brought his hand to his mouth, biting it to keep from screaming bloody murder.

This, of course, caused his sleeve to fall slightly, revealing a dark bruise around his wrist. Lelouch noticed it just as he finished wrapping his ankle.

"Thank-" Lelouch suddenly grabbed his wrist, careful to avoid the bruise.

"Who did this?" Lelouch more demanded than asked. Suzaku stayed quiet, trying to think of some excuse. He tried to pull his arm out of Lelouch's grip, which only resulted in his sleeve sliding further down his arm, and revealing more bruises. They both froze, Lelouch in shock and Suzaku in panic. A moment later, Lelouch yanked the nightshirt completely off of the boy, his scarf along with it. He stared in horror at the bruises littering Suzaku's paler than normal skin. He knew they weren't there before. Lelouch felt bitter anger well up inside him.

Who would do such a thing to an innocent child?

"Who. Did. This." Lelouch repeated through tightly clenched teeth.

"...The king." Suzaku finally answered, quietly.

"That bastard! I should have known!" Lelouch growled.

"Why?"

"Well..." Suzaku hesitated.

"Well?!"

"The maid from yesterday, she recognized you, and she told the king. He wanted to know where you were, but I wouldn't tell him." Suzaku said, staring down at the ground.

Lelouch's eyes widened. 'This...was all because of me?' Lelouch stared down at Suzaku, trying and failing to think of something to say.

Suzaku stood and threw his nightshirt and scarf back on. "I have to go. I only came to apologize." He stated as he walked towards the entrance.

"Suzaku, wait." Lelouch called to him. Suzaku ignored him and continued walking.

"Suzaku!" Lelouch cried out desperately, jogging after him. Suzaku stopped at the entrance, not looking back.

"I probably won't be here for a while." He paused for a moment.

"Suzaku..." Nunally said quietly.

"Goodbye."

And with that, Suzaku was gone.

Lelouch wanted to chase after him, to tell him that he would protect him from the king, tell him everything would be fine, but it would be a lie. He and Suzaku both knew that Lelouch couldn't help. He couldn't do anything against the king, and neither could Suzaku. Somehow, he knew Suzaku would never betray him, either, so he would continue to get hurt because of him.

Lelouch was absolutely powerless.

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