It wasn't long until life settled into something that resembled normalcy. They established a routine that was a far cry from Suzaku's usual military order. Instead of a rousing reveille Suzaku woke to the softest vibration of the cell phone under his pillow. Instead of a mad rush to dress Suzaku took his time, dressing carefully before walking out on the balcony to watch the sun rise. Suzaku treasured the little moments of disparity daily, but there was never a sweeter moment than the first act of his day when he crossed the hallway and opened the other door.

Lelouch was a heavy sleeper, breathing deeply and curled up on his side. His hands were always clenched tight but his face was slack and soft. Suzaku would sit on the edge of the bed and Lelouch wouldn't even wake, not until Suzaku reached out and ran the palm of his hand against the slope of the Prince's shoulder. He was always very warm, sleeping in silk pajamas that felt nearly like skin.

"It's morning." Suzaku murmured, and he always smiled. "Time to wake up, my Prince."

Eyes fluttering, hands going slack, Lelouch woke with a sigh.

"…really?" Lelouch rolled over onto his back until Suzaku's hand was resting on his sternum. It was a solid touch that Lelouch returned by resting his own hand atop of Suzaku's. The Prince looked sleepy and lovely. Suzaku wanted to kiss him and tell him so, but he understood his place in life ever more acutely with each passing sunrise.

The Prince yawned, stretched, and then let go to point to the doorway.

"Yes, my Lord." Suzaku rose and did as he was told. "I'll have your breakfast ready."

"Good." But then Lelouch would always smile. "Lock the door on your way out."

So that's what Suzaku always did.


"Suuuu-zaku." A voice sang out, making Dr. Fetch wince. "It's tiiiime!"

Lelouch rolled his eyes from across the room but he finally perked up after a day of restlessness while Lloyd interrupted Suzaku's English assignment. Suzaku didn't much mind. Chaucer was dead boring.

"Sorry, Dr. Fetch. Duty Calls." Suzaku sighed in relief and stood, carefully putting his things into his satchel. He went over to the other side of the room automatically. It had become a habit in very short order to kneel, accept Lelouch's hand, and then go off to do his work.

"Thank you." Suzaku smiled, lopsided and kind. "For the Lancelot."

"You're welcome." The Prince granted before going back to his work with a short nod. It was a blunt acknowledgement, rote instead of practiced, but Suzaku didn't let it bother him…much. Instead he rose and followed Lloyd on their merry way to the hangar where he could sigh and finally let his smile sag.

"Trouble in paradise?" Lloyd said, sticking his hands deep into his pockets as they walked. "I only ask this because your accuracy has decreased 12.384 percent in recent field tests."

"I had to sneeze, Lloyd." Suzaku sighed at the strange man. "And I still managed a body shot."

"The numbers don't lie, Suzaku-kun." Lloyd started walking backwards, facing Suzaku. "If you were a proper machine I'd fix, you but, eh…Cecil says-"

"Look." Suzaku finally snapped. "Everything's fine. There's nothing wrong-"

"With you abandoning your previous life and then pledging your existence to a person you don't even know within the space of two days." Lloyd nodded, looking entirely too understanding. "I agree entirely."

Suzaku stopped walking, feeling ill, like the bottom had dropped out of his stomach.

"I know enough."

"Honestly, I don't care." Lloyd shrugged. "I just want to ensure that you're at maximum efficiency. My control tests require you to not ruin my data pool by having some sort of existential crisis."

Lloyd had a funny way of not caring. Suzaku finally took a deep breath and stared at the man, crossing his arms as he watched Lloyd's lips curl into a smirk.

"Alright. What is it?"

"Just remember what you are Suzaku." Lloyd turned and started walking again. "Everything will work out if you just remember who he is and what you are."

"Remember my place, you mean." Suzaku called out, unmoving. "I know that, Lloyd."

Lloyd said nothing and kept walking.


"I thought it would be fitting for you to accompany him." Fetch smiled and sat next to Suzaku on the piano bench. Suzaku noted that there was no cover for the keys. "Do you remember much from your old lessons?"

"I remember which keys go to which notes."

"Good enough. Now watch my hands."

Suzaku paid strict attention, just as he always did, but he was hard-pressed not to turn around and stare. His teacher seemed very sure of himself on the piano, his long fingers moving easily over the keys, but Lelouch-

Lelouch was only a few feet away, his eyes closed as he drew a bow over the strings of a cello, frowning in concentration as he completed his part of the duet. So close the sound of the instrument could have easily overpowered the doctor's piano playing but the notes were quiet, slow in an easy slide and the tilt of Lelouch's head as his arms moved. The instrument was beautiful, a deep cherry wood that was polished with expert care.

"Suzaku, you're supposed to be paying attention to me." Fetch murmured.

Lelouch's eyes opened briefly and he smirked before being absorbed back into the music without a single hitch.

"Sorry." But Suzaku really wasn't and was unable to keep from sneaking glances through the whole piece, amazed at the deft movement of Lelouch's fingers on the neck of his cello. There was no comparing to Fetch's easy playing. There was something terribly intricate about the way Lelouch played his instrument, with the surety of what had to be complete and utter mastery and the grace of what had to be love. Lelouch gave himself over completely and when he looked up there was the same expression in his eyes, but only the barest glint as they stared each other down. With his cello Lelouch gave his all, but with Suzaku…well, it had been optimistic to assume that he would receive the same treatment but Suzaku had assumed and learned Lelouch's lesson in that second of intensity.

It had been foolishly optimistic for Suzaku to hope that a prince would give himself wholly to a boy he had only known for a few weeks…even if Suzaku had already pledged his life and his heart to that same prince.

Suzaku could only smile in return as the music turned to silence and he let that love shine through and outward as he said, simply, "Beautiful."

Lelouch looked surprised and then ducked his face away to hide a blush, letting his bow fall away to the side.

Fetch sighed deeply, rubbed a hand over his eyes and intoned, "Perhaps we should try again."

After a few days of contemplation Suzaku came to a heavy decision. It was right for the prince to hold himself aloof from Suzaku. Suzaku was simply a Warrant Officer still, contract or no contract, and even though they had a clear connection they hadn't quite…well, bonded didn't seem to be the right word but it was all Suzaku could think and not feel ridiculous afterward.

What he said to himself in the dark was, well, they hadn't quite fallen in love. In the beginning Lelouch had given him a hundred percent, but that had only been on paper and after a thorough interview. It was in the Lancelot, going through his maneuvers that Suzaku realized that he'd have to give one hundred percent too. Lelouch wasn't the only one holding back.

Suzaku kept his secrets close but he wanted to keep his prince so much closer and if that meant giving himself up to him, to Lelouch, then Suzaku would do so. He would bond them together with his deepest fears, his shames and then maybe if he was so vulnerable then Lelouch wouldn't be so hesitant love him too.

It was probably a bad idea, but Suzaku couldn't really think of anything better. It was all or nothing and he was keenly aware that his gamble might result in having absolutely nothing, but still…

Suzaku powered down Lancelot after a few hours of work and ejected the pilot's seat with a weary sigh, rubbing the sweat from his forehead. In the simulations it had been easy, but piloting an actual knightmare had strained muscles he hadn't even known existed until then. By the end of each training session, or information gathering as Lloyd called it, Suzaku was practically soaked through his flight suit and sweltering.

After a moment's rest Suzaku took the towline down, scowled and said, "The environmental controls are still off, Lloyd."

Lloyd looked up briefly, smirked, and went back to his screen of rolling data, taking notes with one hand while typing with the other.

Then Suzaku hopped up the stairs, starting to unzip his suit as he ran straight into another body. Quick reflexes were the only things that kept them both from falling to the ground and when the Prince looked up at Suzaku his eyes were wide with surprise that turned dark as he looked Suzaku up and down. For the first time Suzaku felt a little embarrassed. His bare chest was exposed through the flaps of his suit, and he was holding Lelouch by the waist, close enough that the man had to be able to smell his exertions, to see the sweat sticking his hair to his temples and his awkward flush.

"Ah, my Prince…sorry, I just-" Suzaku righted them both with a blush before smoothing out the wrinkles in Lelouch's silks and crushed ruffles. "I wasn't paying attention."

"Obviously."

"Yes, ah…my apologies, my Lord. It's just-" Suzaku finished lamely. Staring into Lelouch's intense stare made his convictions fumble a little and he hesitated until the prince's gaze sharpened.

"Caught up in deep thought perhaps?" Lelouch smirked and it looked odd, different, and for the first time Suzaku noticed that his hand was wrapped into the open material on Suzaku's chest, his knuckles brushing one of Suzaku's nipples in a breathtaking accident.

Suzaku was too breathless to answer, all caught up in his eyes, his mouth, in the touch of his hand.

After a long moment of weighted silence Lelouch finally let go with a sigh, backing away as if nothing had ever happened. Suzaku took his cue and ran a hand through his hair as he looked away feeling unutterably awkward.

"Do you need anything?" He looked back reluctantly, afraid of what he might see but Lelouch was only staring absently over at the Lancelot, his gaze distant and his hands tense on the railing.

"You do this every day?"

"That or physical training, my Lord." Suzaku bit his lip. "If I don't keep up on-"

"That wasn't a reprimand. I understand the necessity of endless repetition." Then he sighed, looking very tired as he leaned against the railing. "It's the only route to perfection, unfortunately."

Suzaku pulled together his courage and took a step forward, close enough that Lelouch had to look up and meet his gaze.

"My Prince…do you think you could spare some time later this evening? I have-"

"I have a meeting with the Emperor." The prince replied shortly, pulling his shoulders back to stand straight and regal. "Perhaps after that I will have some time."

"Oh." Suzaku felt nervous for him. "I hope nothing's wrong."

Lelouch just looked at him, long and hard before turning to go, leaving Suzaku alone and cold.


The dream didn't feel real at all but Suzaku gave himself over to it anyways with half a thought and a sigh. He was standing next to Lelouch and Lelouch was saying something, something important and he was wearing his father's crown. It looked a little silly paired with his ordinary clothes but Suzaku didn't mind. Under Lelouch's whispering Suzaku could hear two men talking, laughing, and in some dim corner of his mind he wondered how the Emperor of Britannia knew his father.

"They have the same name." Lelouch explained. "We have the same name."

Suzaku looked at him for a while and then reached out to touch the edge of the crown, confused.

"Prince?"

"No," And Lelouch's smile was bright and sunny and absolutely nothing like the real thing and he said, "Dead, Suzaku. We're all dead kings."

Then he said, confused, "I've told you all this before."

Suzaku tried to remember but all he could do was sit next to his Prince on a marble garden bench, trying to see the two dead kings for himself…but all he could hear was the laughter. He knew that they were laughing at him.

Suzaku whispered, "But he's not dead… I can hear him, I can-"

"Hear who, Suzaku?" Lelouch's tone was soft, indulgent, and Suzaku came back to himself drooling on the parlor table like a fool. He wiped his face, flushing in embarrassment as his prince smiled down. He looked tired in the half-light but not nearly as tired as Suzaku felt as he rubbed his face and admitted, "I was dreaming about my Dad. And you said we were all dead together. It was stupid."

Lelouch cocked his head to the side with a smirk.

"I need to work on my Japanese." He reached out, frowning a little as he touched Suzaku's shoulder. "What was that?"

"Oh." Suzaku sighed. "It was just a dream."

"A dream about your father." Lelouch sat down in front of him, still holding on but leaning on one hand. "Do you often…dream about your father?"

"I used to." Suzaku laid his head back on the table, exhausted, and Lelouch's frown deepened. It was quiet for a long time, too long, and Suzaku closed his eyes and felt very small and too big for himself at the same time. He hadn't expected the old wound to hurt so much. He clenched his jaw against the pain but it stayed.

He should have known it would still hurt, the trembling of it birthed from the constant dull ache in the back of his mind. Suzaku opened his eyes to his prince leaning close, something strange in his stare as he moved his hand to Suzaku's neck and brushed his thumb against the line of his hair as he whispered, "You don't have to tell me."

Suzaku reached up and held his wrist while Lelouch stared.

Pity, Suzaku realized, Lelouch pitied him.

And he wouldn't, Suzaku thought, if he knew the truth. If he knew, he wouldn't want him any more either…but it was the truth and Lelouch was Suzaku's prince. Suzaku was fit for nothing else.

"Britannia was winning," Suzaku whispered back. "I killed him."

Lelouch jerked back like Suzaku had slapped him and his grip tightened, but he didn't…he didn't let go. He just stared down, his mouth wide open and his eyes even wider and Suzaku couldn't look away. He couldn't stop either.

"There was a reason why once." Suzaku heard himself as if from far away and dead too. "But it didn't matter. Not like that."

"Then…" Lelouch exhaled quickly. "…Suzaku."

"He hit me and I was angry." Suzaku blinked once, slowly. "So I picked up a katana and stabbed him."

And that, of all things, shuttered Lelouch's face into something bearable. He sighed again and closed his eyes, loosening his grip on Suzaku's neck.

"I thought you were going to tell me you'd changed your mind." He smiled a little. "I'm glad that you didn't, Suzaku."

Suzaku ground his teeth together, sat up, and started to cry. The tears were cold but persistent as he trembled under the Prince's regard, his mercy.

"I didn't mean it." Suzaku felt young again, and just as horrified as he had felt then, feeling the hot spray of blood as his father fell down. The regret had been instant, right on the heels of horror. "I didn't."

Lelouch hushed him once and then pulled him close, warm and trembling as Suzaku buried his face into the fabric of his coat.

"It's okay. It's okay, Suzaku."

And finally, effortlessly, it was…because Suzaku's prince had told him so. It was okay.

But Suzaku still cried.


"You're excited to go to the ball," Lelouch gave Suzaku a curious smile, "Have you been to one before?"

Suzaku blushed and rearranged his clothes for about the thousandth time, fidgeting in the fine cloth yet again under the Prince's stare. He'd been a little bemused at first about the color scheme, but standing next to Lelouch they seemed to be a pair, a prince and his knight. Haws had utilized some of the same lines, the same gold embellishments…he knew it wasn't going to be obvious unless someone stared at them for a significant amount of time but Suzaku could see the resemblance. Luckily Haws had added accoutrements to make Suzaku seem more militarily inclined, no one would doubt that he was some kind of soldier, but at the same time Suzaku had never looked in the mirror before and wondered 'Is that really me?'.

"No, but I've heard of them." Suzaku tugged on the hem of his sleeve. Everything was loose and comfortable, which was unnerving. "Everyone all dressed up, dancing and having fun…I always imagined it would be something beautiful to see."

"Are you expecting to dance?"

"Me? No," Suzaku gave up on the outfit and just stood straight as he watched the Prince getting dressed by Haws' assistant, "Sir Guilford said that we could stand together since he doesn't dance, so I'll just keep an eye on you and he'll keep an eye on her Ladyship while you two have a good time."

"You seem to have this all planned out."

Suzaku couldn't see the Prince's face, he had turned his head, but Suzaku didn't like the way his voice sounded, all quiet and stiff.

"I'm sorry, my Lord…I just assumed that my presence would make things… I want you to have a good time, not-" Suzaku was keenly aware of the maids and assorted staff hanging about, "I seem to make most of the nobility…uncomfortable-"

Uncomfortable was not the word Suzaku would normally use, but the phrase, 'Your family and friends are bigots who would rather shoot themselves in the foot rather than acknowledge my existence, my Prince' would be a bit much. He knew from experience that ninety percent of the nobility were staunch purists. So far only Guilford had acknowledged him in front of the other knights, and that was because he had to explain the cuts and bruises from every time they sparred. Cornelia regularly threw things at him, a little halfheartedly, yes, but after the first salt-shaker to the forehead Suzaku had learned not to push his luck. He still smiled at her out of habit, but was starting to remember to duck when he did so.

Suzaku felt the urge to babble come on strong but he was cut off by a low, rich laugh that filled the room as Lelouch tilted his head back up, meeting Suzaku's eyes in the reflection of the mirror.

"Uncomfortable…" The prince smiled a little with a familiar half-twist of hidden mockery, "Suzaku, it's the nobility who you don't make uncomfortable that I'm worried about."

He looked away into his own reflection, violet meeting violet eyes in an odd, inquisitive stare, the line of his smirk going sharp and making him look very much older. Suzaku was astonished at the change, at the fact that there seemed to be level upon level in the Prince's personality. The maids, the tailor's assistant, all of them seemed to tense, keeping their eyes on anything but Suzaku and that smile.

"Besides," The Prince ducked his head again, adjusting his collar, and when he looked up Suzaku's breath caught at the sudden exposure of an untroubled, sunny smile.

"You've yet to meet my sister."


The first thing Suzaku thought: What a beautiful woman.

The Next: Duck.

Without her stiff uniform and dark makeup Cornelia looked like a different woman entirely. She still had her stiff, commanding presence and when she looked at Suzaku her slightly bored expression turned into a glare he'd seen more than once. Still, in a dark blue gown that made her long spill of hair shine, turning her eyes from the usual strange color between Lelouch's violet eyes and her own into shining sapphire The dark blue turned her eyes light , her embroidered white gloves making her arms look thin and delicate, much like her brother's. Despite being taller and in the possession of breasts they looked suddenly similar, like family.

Cornelia arched an eyebrow, clenched her hands with promise, and Lelouch saved the day by stepping between them and kissing her lightly on the cheek. Then he held out a hand. Cornelia rolled her eyes and dipped her fingers into the cleavage of her dress, producing a small microchip that she handed over. Lelouch smiled and snapped it between his fingers.

"I'm so happy to see that you made it, little brother."

"You look lovely, Cornelia." The Prince's smile didn't falter. "Will your husband be here tonight?"

Cornelia snorted, "Do you think he'd miss an opportunity to suck up to Schneizel? Please don't feed me bullshit."

Lelouch only shrugged, nodding over to Guilford, who bowed in return offering, "My Lord."

Cornelia didn't acknowledge Suzaku in the slightest, she simply allowed Lelouch to accompany her up the stairs. They looked like something out of a fairy-tale; the stunning, graceful princess in an elegant floating gown, diamonds and jewels at her throat, the delicate tiara weaved into her hair, and Lelouch, the Prince, upright and clever looking at the world with distant eyes and a curious calm. Guilford nodded and Suzaku followed, both of them trailing a few feet behind the royalty, waiting to be announced to the ballroom at large. The knights names were left out, but Suzaku hadn't expected any less…to the eyes of the world he was an extension of Lelouch, of his desire and will, and Suzaku wouldn't want it any other way.

"Shouldn't you, you know, have one of those hideous things…" The Earl of Yorkshire curled his lip in distaste as he looked down to Suzaku's side. "Those ugly Eleven knives."

"I think you mean a katana, my Lord." Suzaku supplied with a smile. Lelouch was speaking with a few men over to the side and Suzaku got stuck with the poor idiot who had been left behind and his drunken friends.

"Yes, that's the word," He motioned with his champagne glass, "That horrible thing you cowardly people use to kill yourselves rather than face trial like proper men…why aren't you wearing one of those? I imagine it might be useful some day."

Suzaku smiled again, brushing his hands over the hilt of the sword Lelouch had given him. With that on, that beautiful, beautiful blade, Suzaku was still high on a happy buzz.

"I certainly hope not, my Lord," He said, taking a sip from his own champagne glass, "The curved edge of a proper Katana can cut an armored warrior in half with a single blow, but that's messy. A straight edge works just as well and it's much easier to clean up afterwards."

The Earl and his friends went a little green, casually backing away from the circle they had established for an intimidation effect, Suzaku supposed. Suzaku took another sip of sparkling cider.

"And if you wish, my Lord, I can give you some clarification about the suicides." Some of Suzaku's good humor dulled, "I've heard it's something of a mystery in Brittania."

"Tch. Well, from the horse's mouth I suppose. Out with it, boy." His color returned with the insults. Suzaku smiled.

"One of the cultural differences between Britannians and the people of Area Eleven is the tradition of seppeku." Suzaku said in a calm, even voice, "It was mostly used in a distant era by the warriors called the Samurai…they were much like the knights of this kingdom. They lived and died for their lord, protecting him and his lands."

Suzaku was a little amused that the men were actually start to appear interested, watching with little of the disdain and loose postures. Even the Earl was listening, but his sneer seemed sadly permanent.

"These Samurai also held to a strict code of conduct, called Bushido, or the way of the warrior…much like chivalry, my Lord," Suzaku continued with a small bow, "I was taught that this included frugality, loyalty, mastery of their style of fighting, adherence to religion and wisdom, but most of all, honor."

Suzaku paused and the man motioned him on with a flick of his fingers. Out of the corner of his eye Suzaku caught Lelouch and the men around him still talking to each other, but watching quietly.

"To lose your honor is a terrible thing, especially when it is nurtured and pursued so loyalty by a warrior who lives to serve his master. His honor comes from that devotion, from his own personal character and if he fails that, if he loses his honor…I've been told that the shame," Suzaku faltered for a moment, remembering the bright spill of blood that soaked through the tatami mats, "…I've been told that it feels as if your soul has been ripped into two, that you become nothing but an embodiment of shame, shame and regret and despair."

Suzaku took another sip, looked them in the eyes and said, "What man can live like that? What man would want the world to see the shame on his soul when there is still an act of reparation he can perform? Seppeku is sort of like," Suzaku suddenly found it difficult to translate between cultures, "the ultimate apology that shows the world that you realize you have failed and are willing to give your life for your broken honor…and at the same time the act itself is considered honorable."

They were leaning closer, trying to hear, and more than a few people had paused close by to eavesdrop as Suzaku continued, faltering a little.

"You must embrace death without fear. In our history it was very ritualized. A man would have a last meal, would write what we'd call a 'death poem', a last note, and would be presented with a tanto." Suzaku held out his hands, "A knife about this long, very sharp."

Lelouch was enrapt, much closer than he was before, watching with bright, intent eyes.

"Then, my Lord," Suzaku pretended he was holding the knife, feeling suddenly, extremely calm as he pretended to plunge the knife into his belly and the pull it to side firmly but more slowly than an easy slash.

Suzaku let out a shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. They couldn't know that his hands had traced a thin scar across his stomach, but for a moment it burned so hotly that he could only imagine that everyone knew. When he looked up the men weren't looking afraid, but more astonished as Suzaku let his hand fall.

"Normally the man would have a second, a friend, who would remove his head, and the process was very quick, very quiet. The samurai wouldn't want to make his guests feel uncomfortable by revealing his physical pain."

The Earl blanched a little at the thought.

"And the generals, Kururugi?"

"My Lord," Suzaku said very quietly, with respect for the dead, "Those were the men who firmly believed that they had failed their duty to their country, and the people they were meant to protect. Those men showed their love and sadness in the way that the people would understand, and those people, the people who might have hated them with every breath until their last, were instead comforted by that show of ultimate remorse."

Suzaku wanted to say, 'are they cowardly now?' but knew that it would be inflammatory, taking away the small bit of sadness and respect in those men's eyes.

"And you?" A blonde man was suddenly in the circle, Cornelia at his side as the crowd parted. "Would you ever do such a thing Kururugi Suzaku?"

Suzaku looked into the man's blue eyes. There was no mockery in his glance, but a cold calculation that reminded Suzaku of a snake about to strike. Somehow with a simple sentence Suzaku felt oddly exposed, naked in front of the staring eyes around him…but Suzaku never faltered. Instead he brought every ounce of earnest, deadly devotion to his eyes and said, "I have made my pledge already to protect and guard Lelouch vi Britannia. If he were to ever die I would find every single man involved, make them suffer until they begged for death and then end my own life."

Then he smiled, joy infusing every part of him in a heady rush. Cornelia smirked and the blonde man raised his eyebrows, not taking a step back, but the tilt of his head implied that he was slightly disturbed at the display.

"But, my Lord and Lady, there isn't an ounce of shame in my heart when my Lord is happy and safe." Suzaku bowed to the man, to Cornelia. "His acceptance of my devotion is the greatest honor a Lord or Lady can bestow."

"Well," He looked at Cornelia curiously. "Your judgment is fully correct as always, my Sister. I will relay my backing of young Lelouch's proposal to the Emperor." Then he looked back to Suzaku with a small smile…but Suzaku still saw those waiting, snake-like eyes.

"Soon, young man, you will be Sir Suzaku Kururugi. You almost make me wish to find a knight of my own," He looked over Suzaku's shoulder and suddenly seemed to lose interest, "Come now, sister, dance with me?"

"Of course, Schneizel," Cornelia laughed, rich and deep, "Of course."


"Miss Millay Ashford, my I present soon to be knighted, Warrant Officer Kururugi?"

Millay Ashford, blonde, beautiful, and attached to Lelouch's arm, smiled brightly and said, "Congratulations, Sir Kururugi."

Suzaku bowed a little and said, "Thank you Miss Ashford."

"The Earl of Ashford was a great friend of my mother," Lelouch continued, looking on Millay with a fond smile, "It's been some time since you were at court, Millay."

"No offense, Lelouch, but I'd rather ice skate in hell than live in Pendragon," She winked at Suzaku, not bothering to whisper. "Court politics are so tedious. I'd much rather be at home with my father…at least he doesn't make me practice embroidery or silly things like that."

"Miss Millay is a modern woman," Lelouch smirked. "I'm surprised you didn't show up in pants."

The young woman flipped her blonder hair over her shoulder. She looked radiant in a sea foam green gown embroidered with pearls. Her arms were covered in long silk gloves, flowers were woven through her hair, pearls of enormous size at her ears and throat, encrusted with diamonds.

"I may be modern," She pinched the Prince in the side. "but I'm still a girl, you silly boy. I love dressing up and dancing…I even have a collection of porcelain dolls."

"I stand corrected, miss Ashford." The Prince rewarded the pinch with a light kiss to her cheek, "I beg your pardon."

"You shall never have it," She said primly, "Now be a good boy and fetch me some champagne while I speak with your much handsomer knight."

"I live to serve." Lelouch had only a touch of irony in the twist of his smile as he bowed, kissing the woman's gloved knuckles before glancing briefly at Suzaku and walking towards a swamped server.

"So, Lelouch likes you," Millay moved a little closer with a sly look in her eyes. "A lot."

Suzaku cleared his throat, blushed, and tried to think of how to respond when she added, "A lot, a lot…in fact-"

He only barely managed to stand in place. The perfume she was wearing was not unpleasant, but it meant she was far too close for any kind of comfort.

"I'd even go so far to say that he's fascinated." Millay was whispering, leaning close, "And it's been a long time since I've seen Lelouch look interested in anything that doesn't have twelve-point font."

"Um." Suzaku laughed a little nervously, "Is that a question, my Lady?"

"It's Millay, Sir Kururugi," Millay giggled, "And I suppose it's just a compliment…unless you want to share the secret with lovely old me?"

"Well," Suzaku laughed again and looked around. Unfortunately Lelouch seemed to have been caught in another group of black clad men and seemed to be one more slapped back away from rolling his eyes.

"The day we met I saved his life," Suzaku shrugged. "Then I fought Lady Cornelia's knight, Sir Guilford-"

"And won?"

"Tied," Suzaku grinned and Millay grinned back. "Sir Guilford is very talented and experienced."

"Annnnd?" A small fan appeared from nowhere and she used it to tap the tip of his nose. "There has to be more."

Suzaku bit his lip, thought for a while and finally ended with, "You'd have to ask the Prince. I really don't know."

"Oh?" She gave him a prim, petulant glance. "So, if I were a lady of the land and happened to take a liking to you…would you be my knight?"

Suzaku opened his mouth, closed it, bit his lip…Millay started laughing.

"The look on your face…" She opened the fan and fluttered it between them, "Don't worry, Sir Kururugi, I'm not going to cry myself to sleep tonight. I just want to know why you said yes. It clearly isn't because you're dazzled by royalty. So?"

"Well," Suzaku thought of the night Lelouch had asked. The moment had seemed oddly definite, as if they hadn't needed to go through the process at all. Suzaku was starting to learn that the Prince wasn't the sort of person to hand out 100%, every flaw was weighed and analyzed by those keen eyes, but somehow Suzaku had succeeded to earn that degree, and peerage, and in only a few hours. He thought of the quiet time losing at chess, the slow walk through the gardens…the maze-

"I suppose that settles that." Millay snapped her fan shut again. Her smile was a little softer, her manner a little less smooth. "You just make sure my little Lelouch stays safe, understood?"

"Yes, my Lady."

"I'll ask you not to take advantage of my knight, Millay." Lelouch finally appeared, with two glasses of champagne. "I'm afraid he's somewhat susceptible womanly wiles. My sister takes great delight in terrorizing him for it, too."

Millay took the glass and frowned. "That doesn't sound like Nunnaly."

Lelouch said nothing, only taking a sip of champagne with tight, pressed lips and dark eyes.

"The Prince means Lady Cornelia," Suzaku smiled and watched as the concern left Millay's face when she responded, grinning back. "She's been, ah, allowing me to assist her in perfecting her aim."

"Oh dear." Millay laughed again. "Another reason why I avoid court. Anyways, Sir Kururugi, I would actually like your assistance in a certain manner. It would be a little better if we were out of the public eye."

Millay's eyes were on him, but Suzaku felt as if they were both staring at Lelouch still, watching as he emptied most of his glass in a single go.

"Yes, my Lady." He looked over his shoulder, "There seems to be an opening in that alcove, perhaps if we sit-"

"It's warm enough for the gardens." The Prince cut in, emptying another glass. "We'll go there."

"Alright." Millay shot Suzaku a glance he couldn't begin to interpret as they both fell in step behind the prince who had apparently grown tired of watchful eyes. Out in the dark and away from the crowd Lelouch seemed to deflate and Suzaku sent her a worried expression in return. They had a brief flurry of silent conversation until Suzaku was finally able to interpret and took himself out of the vicinity with a polite, "I'll be back in a moment, my Prince."

"Don't be long." Lelouch looked up, but it was too dark to see the expression on his face. "I want you to stay close, Suzaku."

His voice sounded very sad and Suzaku didn't want to leave, but Millay gave him another hard look over Lelouch's shoulder. Suzaku took the hint and left, bowing deeply before striding in the opposite direction to where the castle was lit up in the night.

Suzaku was distracted by thoughts of the Prince and what he was like with a very princely hangover when he finally diverted off to the side at a flash of white.

"Waiter!" Suzaku had visions of pain-killers and water in his head as he pursued. "Hold on! I-"

-and an image of a gun-barrel as he took the corner and froze in surprise, but only for a second. Suzaku was still for a single moment, and then moving forward as his heart started up a heavy staccato. There were three men, two of them dressed in waiter's outfits, one of them halfway dressed, another man all in black and three dead, naked men in the grass. Suzaku darted to the right faster than a gunshot and shoved the heel of his hand into the half-dressed man's throat. He fell back, choking and Suzaku ducked just in time for the first bullet to pass by his ear as the first man turned around.

The noise was covered by the music inside, the raucous laughter, and Suzaku didn't have time to do anything but keep going, dropping low to the ground and kicking out to sweep the legs of the man behind him.

There was a grunt and a thump as Suzaku took a violent kick to the skull. He rolled with the force, looking up to find that the third, a man dressed entirely in black, was already moving out of the shadows. Suzaku dodged, rolled, and dodged again but the man in black kept moving too. There was a single lunge and a sting as Suzaku realized he was dealing with a professional and a bared, blackened blade. There wouldn't be any tell-tale flash of silver to warn him as the man moved.

Time seemed to slow as adrenalin spiked through his body. He remembered his prince's command as he continued on, trying to keep all three men in his sight as he debated finishing the fight or running for help.

Suzaku darted to retreat and only managed to kick the gun out of the second man's hand before he was pulled back by the neck.

"I don't think so." The man snapped in Japanese, his voice gruff. "I know you…you're that little traitor."

His hand seemed to wrap around Suzaku's neck entirely, choking Suzaku as he struggled and failed to break free. He was simply ignored and to his own dismay it took Suzaku going faint to realize that he still had a weapon at his disposal. His prince's sword. Instead of trying to dig his thumbs into the man's eyes Suzaku pulled his blade and stabbed backwards with all of his strength and speed. He was able to scurry away, gasping for air, but Suzaku's relief was very brief. The man had only freed him in order to better dodge the blade.

"The puppy has teeth." The man in black smirked and fell into a stance that Suzaku had only seen once before. The first attack Suzaku dodged, the second clipped his side, and the third was blocked by his own arm and followed by a kick.

"You were with General-" Suzaku followed the blocked kick with an elbow-strike that landed squarely on the man's cheek. "-Todoh."

One, two, three and the man seemed enraged by Suzaku's statement, especially when he added, "He was my sensei, you know. And he was much better-" Suzaku pulled his knee up into the man's gut. "-than you are."

Suzaku had never fought with a sword in hand before, so it was with great reluctance that he retreated to the one man still standing wide-eyed behind him and sheathed it in the one place that it would stay out of reach. The man clutched at the blade where it had pierced his chest, gave Suzaku a bewildered look and fell back, dead.

There was movement to the right and Suzaku ducked just in time to be clipped by military-issue steel-toed boots to his temple. The full force should have knocked him out, he knew, so there was no denying that he was lucky to be simply seeing stars and hallucinating Cornelia's voice in the background.

The man's eyes widened as Suzaku turned out of his crouch and advanced in a rage. The knife was no longer in hand, just a vial of liquid attached to some kind of device. He managed to shatter the glass window closest to them, but Suzaku knew better than to allow the bomb or whatever it was to reach the hole in the glass.

Instead Suzaku realized that the man had meant to kill his prince without fair warning, barreled into him and pinned his wrists to the wall. He slammed their foreheads together, but he knew it was only enough to keep him stunned for a couple of seconds and realized what he would have to do.

Suzaku, still dressed up in all his finery and in full view of the window, tilted his head down, bit, and tore the man's jugular open with a viciousness he hadn't been aware existed inside himself but was nonetheless exhilarating. The heat of the terrorist's blood startled Suzaku into mental cohesiveness but he continued on in the task nonetheless, ripping and tearing until the man's hand went limp and the weapon dropped to the ground.

The man dropped next, weak and still spouting blood in heartbeat bursts when Suzaku finally staggered away, leaned against the wall and spit. It took a few tries to clear his mouth of flesh and blood, long enough that he was forced to his knees by pain and fatigue.

"Suzaku!" Lelouch's voice brought him out of his shock but not his daze. And Suzaku spent a confused moment trying to decide what to wipe his mouth on. He didn't want his prince to see him bloody, but he didn't want to ruin his outfit either after he had taken so much trouble to commission…Suzaku went to wipe his face with his hand, his head ducked, but Lelouch snatched his wrist and gasped.

"Your head is bleeding…your mouth…is any of that yours?" Lelouch's eyes were very wide as he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and began to wipe around Suzaku's mouth. It took him a moment to realize that the gasping noise was his own breath rasping in and out, in and out, his chest heaving as Lelouch took hold of his chin with a delicate touch, as if he were holding fine china, and looked him in the eyes.

"Well done." Lelouch smiled, looking very generous and kind, and Suzaku would have kissed him then if he wasn't covered in blood. The dead man had done him a favor, because from the look on Cornelia's face, hovering over Lelouch's shoulder, she knew it and didn't approve. Suzaku closed his eyes and pretended no one was there as the prince wiped his cheekbone, the edge of his lips, and finally the lips themselves with a tender touch that was slow and almost like a kiss itself.

And then Suzaku lurched forward, exhausted and breathless as he fell into Lelouch's arms in boneless fatigue.

"Where in the hell were the guards?!" Cornelia cut through the silence like a knife, scattering onlookers. "Why didn't our Intel hear about this? Who the hell is about to be demoted?"

"I'm sorry." Suzaku muttered under the bellowing. "I ruined your evening."

Lelouch ran a hand through his hair and laughed and laughed and laughed.