It was a good thing Suzaku had his new friend to occupy his time, because Lelouch had his hands full trying to wrap his brain around the concept of alternate universes and a different Suzaku who invaded his dreams at night.

At least Arthur liked Gino and Gino liked Arthur. The sound of them playing and Suzaku's occasional cheerful laughter kept Lelouch grounded. His life had been so simple before – play with Suzaku, gamble now and again to make ends meet, achieve enough power to oust his father… simple pleasures and simple goals. And now he was having transuniversal make-out sessions.

Hot transuniversal make-out sessions with a Suzaku that knew his body and, after realizing that Lelouch knew what was really going on, had taken advantage of that fact and left Lelouch gasping and tingling and aching for more when he woke up. It was like an uncomfortable addiction, but Lelouch could hardly stop sleeping just to avoid him. (He wished that felt more like a reason and less like an excuse.)

And he wasn't sure he wanted to. Dream!Suzaku seemed so much more worn that he should – tired and worried and even older than Lelouch. As if he'd gone through so much more. He'd whispered words into Lelouch's skin that Lelouch hadn't understood (probably Japanese) but were filled with a melancholic longing and touched him with such tenderness and care…

The thought of abandoning that Suzaku didn't sit well with Lelouch. But the thought of betraying his Suzaku sat equally poorly.

It had been weeks and Lelouch dodged the question of sleepovers when Genbu was away, trying to avoid any unnecessary complications. That had left him open every night to a visit from the other Suzaku. It didn't happen every night, but most nights…

"Lelouch?"

Lelouch wiped the faint fond smile from his face as Suzaku's voice startled him out of that line of thought. "Yes, Suzaku?"

Suzaku was holding Arthur to his chest, the poor cat's paws dangling over his arm and his feet free and swinging. Sometimes Lelouch had a pretty good idea why that cat bit and scratched at Suzaku so much.

Gino, for his part, was holding Suzaku – one arm around his shoulder, closer than was really appropriate in Lelouch's opinion…

"…I'm sorry, what?" He'd been distracted – Suzaku had just asked something.

"Can we take Arthur out to the park?" Suzaku repeated patiently. "It's nice out and we'll be back before supper."

Gino's hand slid down Suzaku's shoulder slightly, cupping his biceps and Lelouch really had to stop noticing these things. "Sure. Try not to lose him." Lelouch smiled and went back to studying because that had totally been what he was doing. Not daydreaming about his night dreams with Suzaku and his friend in the other room. That would be completely inappropriate.

He missed Suzaku's return smile, but he could hear Gino's in his overly chipper voice. "Thanks, Mr. Lamperouge. It's really nice of you to have us over like this."

Lelouch shrugged. "Arthur certainly appreciates the company."

Suzaku, already getting his shoes on and the keys out, called from the doorway, "You do too, Lelouch!"

"You're always welcome, Suzaku." Lelouch's voice was more modulated, but he wasn't quite able to keep the affection out of his tone.

Gino hesitated, then moved to get ready as well. "It's a little weird, is all. More than just neighbourly, ya know? And Suzaku's so familiar with you…"

"That's 'cause he's Lelouch!" Suzaku answered before Lelouch could think of an appropriate thing to say. "He's practically family."

…that added a subtle level of creepiness to their kind-of-sort-of mutual affectionate crush thing. Lelouch silently winced.

"It's still a little weird," Gino maintained. "But kind of cool."

Suzaku laughed and it was genuine and joyous and it made Lelouch's mouth curve up and his stomach unclench. "That's Lelouch!"

…the little brat. "Get out!"

"Going! Bye!" Suzaku waved cheekily and dashed out the door, Gino hot on his heals.

Lelouch stared at his textbook and tried to stop smiling. He failed.