Hello everyone,
Yes, I am going to finish this story, working on it.
Disclaimer: Nothing new here...
The next day when Suzaku stands in front of the door to headquarters, he takes a deep breath. He barely slept the night before, too anxious about Lelouch's reaction. Finally he pushes the button and the door slides open. Clad in full costume, he steps in. Even though he knows he should first go to his command, his feet bring him to the quarters the prince lives in.
He knocks and waits for an answer. But he doesn't get one. Even after another time there is no reaction. His chest tightens. Hurriedly he types the code to unlock the door into the keypad, bursting into the room. His green eyes scan the living area from behind the mask. No one is there. Urgently he storms over to the bedroom, ripping the door open. But to his shock, that one is completely empty as well. After checking the other rooms as well, he has discovered that the prince disappeared. He feels panic, disappointment and sadness.
But now is not the time to think about that. He has to find Lelouch again. And if not, take up some countermeasures. The prince knows more than enough to become dangerous to the Black Knights and Suzaku especially. Damnit! Maybe he shouldn't have trusted him so easily. But he really thought he was in the process of convincing the prince to join their side.
The Black Knights stare at him strangely, as their leader sprints through the halls. Panting behind his mask (wearing it doesn't make it any easier to breathe), he bursts into their council room. Only to freeze in shock when bright purple eyes lock onto his mask. His jaw falls down. What the hell is he doing here? He would have suspected him everywhere, but not here.
"Is something wrong?" a concerned Lelouch asks.
"I… you… err," Suzaku stutters, before hurriedly grabbing the prince's thin wrist and dragging him from the conference room to a smaller one a bit down the hallway.
There he pushes him against the wall, looming over him, "What the hell are you doing there?" he hisses.
Defiant purple stares back, "Helping you win the war."
"But that's our main room," Zero says incredulously.
"I know that. Why do you think I went there? All the maps and plans are there and I needed to take a look at them."
"But you weren't supposed to leave your rooms," he hisses, "How did you get you out of there anyway?"
"I memorized the code for the door from the times when you typed it to lock it so no one could barge in," Lelouch answers blankly.
"You're incredible," the Japanese groans, tension leaving his body, "And I thought you fled," he sighs and his head falls onto the other male's shoulder.
The prince frowns, "Why would I flee? You opened my eyes about my father. I have my own memories to confirm it. I wouldn't voluntarily go back to them."
"I know that now," Suzaku answers wearily, then perks up, "Does that mean you will fight on our side now?"
The raven cocks his head to the side slyly, "Depends on how you see it," he grins.
"What do you mean?" the other asks alarmed.
"I am fighting for the same goals as you are now, yes," the smirk broadens, "However I will not become part of the Black Knights. At least not officially."
It causes another frown on Suzaku's face, "Why not?"
That earns him a sly chuckle, "Don't you think," Lelouch begins, reaching a hand to the back of the other's head and pressing the button to open the helmet, "it would be better to have a man on the inside," he pulls the mask away from Suzaku's face, "who can easily get to the Emperor?"
Emerald eyes narrow on him, "You are planning on assassinating the Emperor yourself, don't you?"
"Don't you find it better to have this conversation face to face as well?" the raven muses, causing the Japanese to get angry.
"Answer the question, damn it!"
He doesn't want Lelouch to get so close to their biggest enemy again. The risk that the Emperor will just erase the prince's memory again is too high as well. If that happens his whole work was for nothing. He doubts he can capture Lelouch another time. Neither does he want to see the other boy in such a danger if he can help it in any way.
"That's true," the raven finally answers, determination in his voice, "He will pay for what he did to Nunnally, you, me and everyone else. And I want to be the one to do it, after he deceived me for ten long years."
"You can't!" Suzaku suddenly shouts, causing the other's eyes to widen.
"Why not?" he grumbles.
"It's too risky. If you just march up to the Emperor after being here, he will know you're up to something. Then he could rewrite your memory or kill you."
The prince shakes his head, "What are you thinking? I'm not that stupid. Of course I have to make it believable. I will first get back to the forces here and pretend I managed to escape you. They will most likely send me to Charles anyway. I am good at acting, nothing is going to happen to me."
"But it's still dangerous," the Japanese unconsciously pulls the prince's body against his, "Even if they all believe you and you manage to kill the Emperor. They are going to find out that it was you and will execute you."
It earns him a bemused smile, "I am aware of that risk, but there is always danger in war. But this is still the best way. It would take too long and cause too many deaths until you can remotely get close to the Emperor. If you would even succeed. I can get close easily and kill him. Remember the saying that if you cut of the head of the snake it is going to die. If I kill the Emperor, Britannia is going to fall into chaos and until they manage to straighten that back out, you can easily take over Japan and return it to the state it was before Britannia invaded it."
The brunette bites his lip. Of course he is aware of that. It is one of the best chances they have but he still doesn't want to let Lelouch take that risk. He wants to keep the prince safe, not only for Nunnally but also for himself. At his silence the raven chuckles, relenting in the other's hold.
"Why are you so worried for me, Zero? Many men and women walk on the battlefield every day, for you and for what they believe. I am part of the enemy side, yet you don't want to let me go out. Not close to anything dangerous. Tell me, knight of revenge, why are you so worried for the enemy prince?" he says softly, smirking up at the surprised Japanese, "Because for me it sounds like you care for me a great deal more than you let on."
It actually causes Suzaku to blush, the slightly sensual tone Lelouch is saying that in not helping his embarrassment at all, "And even if that were true?" he grumbles.
"Then tell me," Lelouch pushes the black cloth over the other's face away, "What exactly do you feel for me?"
In agitation, the Geass in the Japanese's eye flares up, catching the prince's attention, "That's the Geass, isn't it? Interesting colour. But what do you need it for right now? It is you who has to answer, not me."
Glaring down at the prince, Suzaku decides he has enough of the other's teasing. If what the raven is doing there is not an invitation, then he doesn't know what is. So without further ado and with a determined look on his face, he simply leans down and captures the other's lip. He feels the smirk against his lips. It disappears the moment he touches them, but to his relief the prince doesn't push him away, only stills for a second, then wraps his arms around the brunette's neck. Soft lips push back against Zero's who is glad that he locked the door. For some moments they just stand like that, until Suzaku pulls back.
"I hope that is answer enough, my prince," he grins, running his fingers through raven locks
"It is," the other replies with another smirk, "And I have to tell you I feel the same."
Suzaku dives in for another kiss as the green aura flashes around the prince's form, confirming that he just told the truth.
That's it for today. Thanks for reading.
Here goes the shounen-ai.
It's a bit short, but the next is going to be longer. And the last one.
Please review and see you for the final chapter.
