Pre-Comment: Hello. It's me.
CHAPTER TWENTY, AAAAAAAND GO!
Chapter Twenty: The Art Of
Anya was cute, sweet, and reminded him terribly of his younger sister—making him incredibly homesick. The proud declaration of marriage intent (although without the promise to shank, poison, maim, or castrate any competition) was so reminiscent of Nunnally that he felt immediately taken with her.
And so, because CC's siscon label for him was beyond accurate, the mere resemblance to his beloved sibling earned her all of Lelouch's love and affection.
Placing one hand gently on the top of her head and another on her shoulder, he smiled fondly down at her. "Sure, okay."
"What!?" came the scandalized hiss.
Lelouch glanced curiously at Suzaku for a moment before looking back at Anya. "But I would be your husband."
Anya's cheek inflated with air on one side in utter petulance and she shook her head. "Wife," she emphasized.
Lelouch's eye twitched. "I'm not a—"
"Lolicon, food," CC deadpanned.
He could feel a vein pop on his forehead.
"I've prepared fresh pizza for a late lunch if anyone is hungry," Sayoko announced with perfect timing, intercepting any complaints.
Amber eyes shifted their demanding focus from him to the nearby maid and sparkled. CC gazed at Sayoko so adoringly and followed the capable woman so obediently that Lelouch felt like a new religion had just formed right in front of his eyes.
When he felt a light pressure around his middle, he looked down at the young girl still attached to him. She looked up at him with wide, puppy-dog eyes, and he felt a surge of affection for her bloom warmly in his chest.
"Food," she demanded quietly in a simple, unassuming voice, looking like the very definition of an angel.
He had to look away for a moment or be overwhelmed.
Lelouch smiled down at her fondly and patted her head. "Of course."
And it was that very second, when Lelouch's hand came to rest upon her head, that the two of them shared a tender moment that was borderline illegal anywhere laws existed. The near-overwhelming desire to continue patting her head and call her a 'good girl' probably wouldn't have helped his case.
The obvious clearing of Suzaku's throat indicated that he wasn't about to have any of that, though.
Attention successfully diverted, Lelouch saw that Suzaku looked tense and his jaw clenched every now and then. Green eyes flickered briefly from him to Anya and back again, as if trying to spell out some silent message Lelouch was supposed to understand.
But above all that he was clearly irritated.
"I—"
And then Suzaku's cellphone went off.
Making an irritated noise, he turned away and yanked out his phone, barking a loud, "What?"
A face burying itself into his chest with a sigh once again drew his attention away from his frustrated, trying-not-to-be-fake fiancé. Carefully detaching the girl from him, he squatted down so he wasn't looking down at her. "Suzaku's got a huge movie theatre in the basement. After dinner would you like to watch a movie with me?"
Anya's cheeks pinked and she nodded.
Lelouch smiled. "Then it's a date."
Suzaku's head snapped around to give them both a wide-eyed look. "Date!?" And then the person on the other end must've said something, because Suzaku immediately turned his back, muttering, "No, no, I'm still here. Sorry, I'm listening." A furtive glance was thrown over his shoulder at them every few seconds before focusing back on the conversation at hand.
And just when Lelouch started to breach the topic of what movie they should watch, Suzaku ended the call and Lelouch stood up, with his hand unconsciously closing around Anya's. "How's the company?" Lelouch queried, genuinely interested.
There was a long moment where Suzaku just looked between him, Anya, the space somewhere between them, and over again that Lelouch's eyebrows began to knit together in concern over the odd behaviour.
"The company will survive," he answered dismissively, quickly following up with, "I heard something about a date. Did you want to go for dinner tonight? I know we just got back and all…"
He looked hopeful, and Lelouch would've thought more about that look and his current circumstances if it weren't for the small hand squeezing his in reminder. And it was only then that he noticed that their hands were connected.
"Ah, no, that's okay. It sounded like they need you at the office. And I've got date plans with the little lady here anyway. It would be rude to cancel. Go ahead and take care of business. Don't let us get in the way."
A huge, metaphorical arrow labelled 'Total Rejection' pierced cleanly through Suzaku's heart.
And without a second look or backward glance, Lelouch tugged Anya along to the kitchen, starting up a chattering conversation with the girl, receiving the slightest hints of a smile, a nod, or monosyllable answers in return.
If Lelouch were more observant, he would've seen how Anya ever-so-subtly glanced back at Suzaku over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at him.
ooo
Our Lady Maid, who worketh for Kururugi, wonderful are your crusts. Thy cheese be melted perfect. Thy pepperoni divine. May your slices be protractor perfect forever and ever. Pizza Hut.
CC had found heaven.
After just about melting on the floor into a puddle in awe of the perfection that was Pizza by Sayoko Shinozaki (somewhere after gorging herself on three slices for a light snack), CC wandered back into the ridiculously large foyer of the estate to head up to her room to pass out when she saw Kururugi still standing there, looking like an idiot.
And so, because she was a compassionate, caring person, she called out to him in an effort to help ease some of the frustration creasing his brow.
"Hey, Susan, you look like you just lost your woman to, literally, a little girl."
Her cheer of support resulted in that brow creasing even further, now decorated with a complementary scowl at her.
She was such a good person.
Suzaku glared at her and let out a long breath through his nose.
"You promised to help me. So, help me."
CC took in his look of irritation and took pity on him. She did pledge some form of assistance after all. So she gave him a big grin and sloppy salute. "Sure thing, soldier. Now answer your phone and go put out the fires at work," she scolded, flicking his forehead as she passed him on the way to her room—or rather, Lelouch's room.
Suzaku shot her an annoyed look, rubbing his forehead. "My phone's not even—"
His phone started ringing.
It was the office.
…what even?
ooo
The moment Suzaku walked through the doors to his office he felt a chill run down his spine as his survival instincts kicked in, and so he turned himself on his heel in a complete one-eighty, instead deciding to head straight to the heart of the problem in his R&D divisions first. They were expecting him and he was a responsible boss and all that. After all.
There was a gasp, and the loud, shrill cry of, "Suzaku!"
He walked a little quicker.
The sound running footsteps became louder.
He arrived at the elevator and began pushing the button.
"Heyyy~!"
Suzaku began pushing the button faster, willing the elevator to arrive sooner.
DING!
Succ—
And then there was the tackle hug from behind.
He sighed, feeling his midsection get squeezed in a crushing grip. His shoulders slumped. "Hello, Kaguya," he greeted as the door to his escape closed after an idle moment.
He would've asked how she got in, but wasn't sure he really wanted to know.
The teenager let go, allowing him to turn around to face her. He put on his sternest, business-like face, proven to be the only thing that worked against his often single-minded cousin.
"I'm b—"
"I want to meet him!" she interrupted, eyes sparkling.
Proven ten percent of the time, anyway.
And knowing all-too well who 'him' was, Suzaku frowned at her. "My vacation was good, thanks for asking. And no, you can't meet him."
Her mouth fell open in utter shock and appal. "What!? Why not!? I've listened to you wax poetic about the guy for months now! You're even getting married to him! I'll have to meet him eventually! I want to meet him!" she demanded, stamping her foot down.
Suzaku would rather face Kallen Stadtfeldt in a sour mood with the sky raining down fire in an active volcano. And while he would normally address that 'wax poetic' comment, there was a more pressing issue at hand that took priority.
"No, you cannot meet him."
"I have a right to meet your future wife!"
ooo
Elsewhere.
Lelouch sneezed.
Anya looked up at him worriedly from the movie.
He caught her look and patted her head. "I'm okay."
Strange, he thought.
ooo
Suzaku held his ground.
"No."
"Suzaku!"
"No."
"Eventually, Suzaku, eventually!"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
Kaguya bit her lip and her eyes started tearing up. And in the smallest, most imploring voice she had in her arsenal, she begged, "Please?"
Kicked Puppy Look. All rights reserved.
Suzaku sighed.
Not as a sign of defeat.
No.
He knew his cousin better than that.
Much better than that.
"First of all, that's not going to work on me ever again. Ever. Second, no."
Kaguya tsked. Then she furrowed her brow in irritation before they shot up in hope. "As in 'no means yes?'"
Suzaku frowned. "I'm going to do you a favour and let you know that that wouldn't hold up in court. And, again, no—as in dictionary definition 'No.' "
The teenage girl stamped her foot and folded her arms, puffing her cheeks out in annoyance. Huffing, she turned her nose up in the air and walked around him towards the elevator, pushing the button to summon the elevator, which opened for her instantly. Suzaku felt a prick of irritation at that. "Fine, if I don't have your permission I'll just have to bump into him while I visit CC," she declared just as the elevator pinged open.
Suzaku could not roll his eyes harder. "Right, you do that—wait, what did you just—"
"Bye, Suzaku!" she waved as the elevator doors closed.
A Very Bad Feeling began calling a spot in his brain home.
And then his cell phone rang again.
Fishing it out of his pocket, Suzaku answered it with a gusting sigh and weary hello.
"Suzaku! Buddy! I'm getting married!"
ooo
Anya inevitably fell asleep during the movie, so Lelouch carried her up to her room and put her to bed. He spooked for a moment to find Sayoko waiting for him outside. Without a word she handed him an envelope with his name on it, bowed slightly to him, and then walked away.
He eyed the envelope with a raised eyebrow.
Lelouch wasn't sure how news spread around so quickly that he was living at the Kururugi Estate now, after barely a day of residency, to receive mail here, but it was addressed to him all the same. The envelope it came in was nondescript enough, but the contents (aside from all the glitter ever) were anything but. Inside was a single card with an invitation to Kallen Kozuki slash Stadtfeld's bachelorette party. From Milly Ashford.
"Huh. That explains all the sparkles."
He flipped over the invitation for the details. It would be this weekend at some swanky-sounding nightclub that whispered the promise of male strippers of some kind. Lelouch shivered in disgust at the thought. And then he hummed.
So they were getting married.
"I guess Gino's more of a masochist than I thought. Good for him, I guess."
Well, he was free this weekend, so why not?
Kallen and he were… sort of friends-ish.
Acquaintances?
At the very least ex husband and wife.
…
Wait.
"Why are they inviting me?"
ooo
After sorting out the mess that had brought him home earlier than expected with militaristic efficiency, he set Nina back to work at her usual post and went out for lunch with Gino. It had been a rather anticlimactic affair for how big of an emergency it sounded like—recalling him from his impromptu vacation and all that. Cecile summarized the problems in detail for him and he tore up their resignation letters with a smile after calling them both in. He then both subtly threatened and not-so-subtly promised the two departments with a huge budget cut and budget allocation if they couldn't provide a proper schematic by the end of the week.
As expected, like the adult children they were, both grudgingly went back to work.
Allowing him to go out to lunch.
"My condolences," was the first thing Suzaku said to Gino upon finding him at the restaurant table waiting for him.
Gino simply laughed good-naturedly, looking like he was on top of the world. He breathed in deeply and let it out airily with a huge grin plastered to his face. "She's an angel. I thought to myself one day, 'Man, I can't let her go. How do I do this? What do I do even?' And as I was thinking that I was passing by this dress shop—you know the ones—and it just hit me!"
Suzaku frowned, ordering a glass of water from the approaching server after settling down. "You really are a masochist."
"No, no, no. I mean metaphorically. But that's enough about me! If I talk about it too much I might wake up for this all to be some fever dream because she nailed me with a frying pan or something and I'm really in the hospital. So how's it going with you and Lelouch? Kallen told me that… what was it she said… that you're 'trying?' "
Clearing his throat, Suzaku took a drink of water. "Yes, well, it's complicated. But what Kallen told you is mostly accurate."
When Gino quirked an eyebrow up, Suzaku went into detail, at length, about this awkward fake-turned-real relationship of his. By the time he finished, lunch was done, and Gino was working on a slice of pie while Suzaku ordered a coffee.
There was a moment of silence as Gino polished off the plate of pie, looked at the empty plate as if contemplating whether he wanted to lick it or not, decided not to, and let his fork clatter onto it with a contented sigh. And then he grinned at Suzaku.
"Nice to be in love, isn't it?"
Suzaku nearly spit out his coffee at the man, but didn't in favour of choking.
"Excuse me?" he asked incredulously, clearing his throat. "Did you or did you not miss the entire section of my monologue about whether I wasn't sure about that very detail? I said I would try, not that I expected it to work out with any degree of success."
Gino shrugged. "But, Suzaku, the way I see it, it's really simple. And it goes like this: You can't be jealous over something you don't care about. You punched one of your marketing directors in the face because he was moving in on your territory. I know; I was there. I'm not sure what to tell you."
Suzaku's eyebrows furrowed and he opted to stare broodingly into his coffee cup. The way that Gino had dissolved just about every worry, confusion, and anxiety he had about the whole situation was unsettling in and of itself.
And perhaps the most unsettling bit about it all was that it made sense.
It just made sense.
But was that really all there was to it? He had his doubts.
Seeing that he wasn't quite convinced, or at least willing to entertain his denial a bit longer, Gino sighed. "You don't like it when he spends time with other people. I mean, you see my twelve-year-old cousin as a legitimate threat. I'm sorry about that, by the way, but thanks for letting her stay with you. She's a cute kid, and usually gets away with it."
Suzaku waved it off.
"I just…" He groaned, letting his head fall on the table in front of him. "I didn't think…" Another sigh. He turned his head up so he could look up at Gino from the table. "What do I do?"
Gino just shrugged and smiled that good guy smile at him. "Admit you like the guy, take him on a date, and call it a day."
"Is that what you did with Kallen?"
"Ha! No. I cried for nearly an hour and went through all the stages of grief before sucking it up like a man and going for it. I realized I couldn't stand to see her with anybody else and that made things a bit easier." And then Gino cleared his throat. "Don't tell her I said that first part, by the way; I like my kneecaps functional."
Suzaku sat up and zipped a finger across his lips.
"Great, now you got to admit it, out loud, that you like him."
Suzaku stiffened. "What?"
"Admit that you like him. It'll be cathartic, trust me."
"Right here?" Suzaku quirked an eyebrow.
Gino grinned. "Right now."
"But what if I change my mind later? What if I'm not gay? What if I don't like guys and I just like Lelouch? What if—"
Suzaku snapped his mouth shut.
Gino gave him a sympathetic, understanding look. "You don't have to be gay. You don't have to like guys. It's okay to just like Lelouch. It's okay to love that one person."
Green eyes widened, as if Gino had just told him the answer to life, the universe, and everything. And then they narrowed at him suspiciously. "What if… what if I just want to be friends? And I'm confusing all of this?"
"Suzaku, buddy, I hear you broke some poor guy's face because he was saying mean things about Lelouch."
Suzaku's lips tightened as his only reply.
"Anyway, I got to run. My boss is working me ragged before the wedding, but he's paying for it, so I can't complain. He'll actually be at the wedding by the way. For real. I still can't believe he's even coming. I gave him a guest list to tempt him into coming if only to schmooze. Told him to think about it. Called me back five minutes later saying he'd come. It would be nice for you guys to finally meet—he hates leaving home for anything and everything, so it's a pretty big deal for him to be there."
"That would be good. It's hard to do so much business with someone you've never talked to or met in person."
Gino laughed, getting up to leave. "Yeah, Schneizel's a bit weird like that, but he has really good business sense. He's also a really nice guy; you'll like him. And I'm sure Lelouch will like him too."
Suzaku smiled, getting up to shake Gino's outstretched hand. "I'm sure he will. Thanks for the help, Gino."
The blonde clapped him on the shoulder. "Any time, buddy."
Feeling energized, and a bit resolved, Suzaku pulled out his phone and called home. The phone rang until a familiar voice answered.
"Hey, Lelouch, can I take you out on a date?"
ooo
Lelouch was the kind of person who took life choices to heart. The results were often permanent and life altering, so he wanted to make sure he would be ready for all of their repercussions. They weren't called life choices for nothing, after all. He often saw them coming and had ample time to prepare for them physically and mentally; deliberating carefully and thoroughly over his options. Everything was weighed and measured, and he was almost never caught off-guard by the results.
And yet here he was.
Wearing a dark crimson, silk kimono that he let CC, of literally all people, pick out for him for his date tonight.
Mistakes were made.
Arms slid around his middle and a familiar bust pressed itself against his back. CC leaned her chin on his shoulder and he didn't have to look to confirm the smug look plastered to her face. He glared at her in the mirror. "I was inspired," she explains. "It's very 'Take me! Take me now!' " she exclaimed in a husky tenor. "Don't you think? I'm rather fond of it," she sighed, poking his cheek. "I would ask you to give it to me after you're done… but I'm not sure I'll want it after tonight."
His face both darkened and reddened considerably and CC just grinned wider. Shrugging her off irritably, he turned to face her with the full force of his disapproval. He opened his mouth to scold her thoroughly, but paused, taking in how she simply smiled innocently with that ever-so-slight, who-me? tilt of her head. He could sense that nothing he said would stick to her and so he sighed irritably and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You couldn't have chosen something more prudent?"
CC gave him a blank look. "Getting the 'please ravish me' look across is the point, Nancy. If you want this relationship to succeed all the way to the bank some sacrifices will need to be made."
Turning away from her, Lelouch looked himself over in the mirror, wearing the dark-red, dress-like thing. He never would've taken CC's word alone that men wore something like this too, but Sayoko had apparently helped pick it out. (By giving CC's choice a thumbs up, ignoring the nosebleed.) And given how highly Suzaku spoke of his very capable maid, Lelouch was more likely to believe it.
Though he still had his doubts.
"Besides, you have bigger things to worry about—like what you'll do when you're actually on the date."
Lelouch scoffed. He felt fairly confident—dress-like attire aside—that the date would go stunningly well. This was all old hat to him, after all. There were a few new and minor details (like the red, silk kimono that CC had ultimately chosen, and the role reversal), but a date was a date. And in this line of work Lelouch had gone on many. He had the formula down to an art form. This was in the bag.
"If he goes for a grab, slap the hand away, blush shyly, and tell him to save it for later with a shy, flirty look," CC advised.
Albeit a bag with many holes in it.
Flushing brightly, Lelouch gave her a sour look as she adjusted the minor details on his kimono. It would be his first time wearing one, and he couldn't quite shake the nagging feeling that he was wearing some type of dress.
Well, he had worn a skirt that made only the most cursory attempt to hide anything before, so this was a walk in the park by comparison.
Still.
"You've been on hundreds of these before, Nancy. And the shoe's on the other foot this time so that should make things easy."
"Easy how?" Lelouch asked somewhat petulantly as CC sat him down in front of the mirror and began fiddling with his hair.
CC grinned, giving his shoulders a good squeeze before grabbing a comb off the vanity. "If you were looking to get a kiss from the girl, what would you do?"
Glaring at her from the mirror's reflection as she began combing through his hair, Lelouch grumbled, "Is this a trick question?"
Smacking the side of his head lightly, CC narrowed her eyes at him irritably. "Answer the question, Nancy."
Sighing, Lelouch thought for a moment. "Well, I'd make hints all night. Lots of eye contact, stare at her lips a lot, and then, when the mood is right, lean in. If she realizes what's coming and looks okay with it, go in for the kill. If not I'd just kiss her forehead and try again later."
"Right. Right. Now tell me," CC continued, taking the hair gel and swiping it through his locks, "If Suzaku did all that to you, what would you do?"
Vomit. That's what he'd do.
But CC had a point and his eyes widened at the realization. And maybe a touch of horror. There were endless possibilities to make this date go the way he wanted to. And the difference between now and every other one before was that Suzaku's cards were all on the table now. He was at least committed to making things work, if CC's claims were true, and who was Lelouch to deny the ardent feelings of a nearly endless Swiss bank—er—man desiring his love and companionship?
"You see? This will be a walk in the park." With a few more quick swipes CC finished up fixing his hair, placing a red flower clip in it. "Perfect!" Lelouch frowned at the clip, but let it be. Other than the clip, he couldn't tell the difference between it now and three minutes ago, but he wasn't about to argue the aesthetics of hair with a woman who had ten times the amount he did. If she said it looked better now, it looked better now.
Glancing at the clock, Lelouch relaxed his shoulders and started to mentally prepare himself for the night ahead of him. Suzaku would be home in less than an hour and his panic meter was already cresting over its first threshold. Covering his face with both hands, he slumped his shoulders and sighed heavily. This date felt so much more momentous than all the other ones combined for some reason—like it was being weighted differently. It wasn't a feeling he was used to and it definitely wasn't a feeling he liked.
CC gently squeezed his shoulders and rested her chin on the top of his head. "You'll be fine, Nancy. You're smoking hot and Kururugi won't be able to take his eyes off you. Just remember everything I taught you."
He shuddered. CC had made him read and study nearly every popular shoujo manga since the date's announcement. They were going to do this by the book, she decided.
Lelouch grumbled, wiping his hands down his face. "That's what I'm afraid of. I still can't believe you're making me wear the red one."
CC just grinned.
When the chime sounded throughout the house, signalling that Suzaku had gotten home—earlier than expected, Lelouch felt his heart beat quickly in a panic. He wasn't ready! He had no game plan! But, wait, it was technically Suzaku who was supposed to be ready and to have the game plan. Lelouch was in the unique position to make sure it succeeded—whatever that success looked like. And if it led back home to—
Oh.
Oh no.
"CC! What do I do when we get home!?" he asked, suddenly panicked.
CC's grin grew wider and her eyes glinted. "Try not to look directly at the camera."
Lelouch's stomach dropped.
ooo
Suzaku stepped into the house just as he heard a loud sound come from upstairs—possibly from something breaking or falling over. He quirked an eyebrow at it, but ultimately brushed it to the side of his thoughts. Sayoko would handle it.
Between dousing all work-related fires and chatting with Gino, it had been two whole days since he saw Lelouch—and when he did in the sparse moments he was home, Anya was stuck to him like glue every time, hogging all his attention from everything and everyone else.
Irritating.
Pink.
Glue.
Suffice to say, he found himself missing Lelouch a bit—perhaps even more so at the prospect that he like liked Lelouch. Probably.
He would even grudgingly admit that he missed CC a little—as annoying as she was—and she was someone he thought he would never miss.
It had been years since his house had ever been so lively before. It was usually just him and Sayoko occupying the whole of the estate—and lots of the time he wasn't even here, often choosing to stay in the repurposed apartment suite next to his office at work out of convenience. It had been that way since he was old enough to inherit everything his late parents left him. He never minded the solitude before, but now he found that he was hoping to come home instead of spending another night at the office.
Living with others… it was… nice.
And maybe, just maybe, it would also be nice if it was all… permanent.
Thoughts of domestic life were swept away when he saw CC heading down the grand staircase, with her hair a little more mussed than usual. They locked eyes and she smiled that Cheshire grin of hers—like a baited trap.
With a wink, she passed by him with the encouraging words of, "Go get him tiger," and the ever-inappropriate slap on his butt.
Suzaku glared at her, rubbed his bottom on principle, and felt a little confused until the sound of a door opening alerted him back to the stairs where he saw Lelouch approaching the top of the staircase, wearing a stunning, red kimono with a faint sakura design all over the long sleeves and hem. It wasn't a typical colour men would wear, but with the faded design and deep crimson—almost burgundy—of the silk it wasn't quite something women would flock to either. Even from this far away Suzaku could see how the colour brought out the charming violet of Lelouch's eyes.
"You're back early," Lelouch said, breaking the awkward silence that had taken place, beginning to descend the stairs.
Clearing his throat, Suzaku shrugged, realizing he had been gawking. "Lloyd and Rakshata are like small children; sometimes they just need an adult. You look really good in that, by the way."
A faint blush tinged Lelouch's cheeks. "CC picked it out," he admitted grudgingly.
God bless that woman.
"She has… good taste. It really is a good colour on you." And then, after a pause and remembering the advice from Gino, he added with a smile, "It brings out your eyes."
Lelouch smiled back somewhat hesitantly. "Thanks."
There was another awkward moment of silence before Suzaku realized the other was waiting for him. "Oh, uh, give me a minute to get changed and then we can go."
"Sure."
Suzaku hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should give Lelouch a quick kiss on the cheek or something affectionate like that. But before he could come to a decision the moment was gone, and he ended up disappearing into his own room to dress down into something more casual. When he returned to the foyer he saw Anya had appeared from nowhere and was already clinging to Lelouch like glue.
A vein of irritation popped up on his forehead, but he quickly let it go, telling himself that he would be alone with Lelouch for the rest of the evening so he could afford small losses for the greater gain.
And that getting jealous over some twelve-year-old brat was childish.
Not that he was jealous or anything.
…okay, so maybe he was a little jealous.
"Please?" he heard her say, looking up at Lelouch with wide, sneaky, doe eyes. He could already see Lelouch's will waver and begin crumbling.
Suzaku squared his jaw and walked a little quicker to the scene, already having a guess as to what was going on. There was no way he was going to allow this pink menace to tag along on their date tonight. She already had Lelouch all to herself for the last two days.
"It's… um… you wouldn't want to come, Anya. It's a date."
Anya's eyebrows drew together pitifully. "I want to take Lulu on a date too."
Those eyes got wider and—
Kicked Puppy Power: Over nine-thousand.
Lelouch made a conflicted sound in his throat and finally caved, turning to Suzaku with a pleading sort of look.
To his credit, Suzaku didn't crumble immediately and the look bounced right off his stone-faced façade. It was a strong enough message of no she cannot come that Lelouch turned back to her with an apologetic look on his face.
"Anya, we can go on a date of our own later. But tonight is—"
"But…" she sniffled.
Oh no.
Lelouch turned back at him, panic and plea stark in his eyes.
Clenching his jaw tightly to prevent stupid from falling out, Suzaku stood firm. He would not back down on this. There were times for moments of weakness, and this wasn't one of them. He would be a man and stand up for what he believed in. He would stand strong and not waver. He would not yield. He would not succumb. He definitely would not be letting Anya tag along on a date of theirs, and that was final!
Final!
And then Anya started to cry.
ooo
"Cotton candy!"
"Okay, okay!" he relented, allowing the little girl to tug him to the booth selling clouds of cavities and tooth decay.
Lelouch felt bad. Really. He did. It seemed like Suzaku had been really looking forward to tonight's date. And now that it was here they had an extra come along for the ride. While Lelouch didn't particularly mind Anya being there—being so incredibly fond of her, it was painfully obvious that Suzaku was, at the very least, frustrated with the situation—if not completely and irrationally miffed beyond all reasonable doubt.
Once she got her sugar, Anya inevitably dashed off to the next point of interest. And as he watched her go about the festival like she had never seen a Japanese festival before (even though Lelouch had technically never seen a Japanese festival before either), he felt a pang of nostalgia for his own beloved little sister. What was she doing right now? Did she think about him? Did she miss him? Was she okay?
A hand squeezing his shoulder brought him out of his reverie and he turned to see Suzaku's concerned look. "Hey, everything alright?"
Giving him a reassuring smile, Lelouch turned to look over at Anya, who was giving the goldfish a good stare-down after having failed three times at scooping them. "Yeah, I'm just… remembering someone important I left behind in Britannia. I was just wondering what they're doing right now."
Suzaku cleared his throat. "I guess you've been in Japan for a while now," he said, clearly avoiding the topic. "I've never been away from Japan for longer than a few weeks, but I can understand homesickness. Why did you move here anyway?"
This would've been the perfect opportunity to score points, but Lelouch knew from (painful, embarrassing) experience that the usual approach was destined to fail.
So he recalled every moment of training CC had put him through, in order to prepare him for moments like these.
And while he would never, ever, ever admit it…
…a lot of it could be pretty useful.
And so, Plan Boys Can Be Heroines Too! (Copyright CC, all rights reserved, trademarked even) was put into action.
Summoning a blush, he looked away shyly. "You'll think it's stupid."
Suzaku's eyebrows rose and there was a teasing smile. "Try me."
"Well… I saw you on TV and fell in love. Instantly. So I dragged CC out here like an idiot to come and meet you."
It was sad in so many ways that much of that was true.
Give or take a detail or two.
It was so embarrassing that Lelouch didn't have to fake the blush.
To his benefit, Suzaku didn't laugh at him, he simply looked stunned. He covered his mouth with a hand and looked away, as if taking in the enormity of that. "Wow."
"Stupid, huh? There are millions of people in this city alone. How was I ever going to find you? What were the chances of ever being able to meet with someone like you? It wasn't like I could just randomly run into you on the street."
And in retrospect of all that, he completely understood why CC was so miffed at him upon first arriving here.
But one of Lelouch's greatest strengths and weakness was his single-mindedness.
Lelouch laughed humourlessly. "Man, what was I thinking even?"
"Whoa, hey, come on. It's… well… it's flattering. I'm flattered. That you went through all that effort when the odds were stacked against you. It was a big risk. I get it." Suzaku reached for his hand and Lelouch repressed the urge to pull away immediately.
He was a professional at this!
He could do this!
For love!
For money!
For the love of money!
"Big risk; big reward."
Suzaku smiled brightly at him, turning to face him fully. Green eyes darted down briefly at his lips before holding his gaze.
This was it. Lelouch could recognize that look anywhere—that universal 'I want to kiss you' look. He had given it often enough, but this was the first time he was on the receiving end.
(And he would think about that feeling later to adjust his own application of it, but other things demanded his focus right now.)
He tried to calm his quickly panicking heart and surging feeling of disgust; abandoning all common sense and every survival instinct he had that was telling him he was crazy, and that he needed to run, and that this was a bad, bad, bad idea, and that nothing was worth it, and that there were—good God man!—other ways to go about this. He could feel his head getting dizzier and so he inevitably closed his eyes before recognizing it for the damning mistake it was. A hand came to rest lightly on his waist, and he felt himself stiffen. The familiar skin-crawling feeling of repulsion rushed through him. He could feel Suzaku's warm breath on his lips and he felt himself tremble slightly from the effort and strain it took to hold still and for the love of that money take it like a man (woman?) instead of running to the other side of the world.
For an eternity he could feel Suzaku's hot breath, hesitating slightly on his lips.
He could feel the hand resting comfortably on his hip.
He could feel the other hand slowly reaching for his.
And finally he—
"Lulu! Fish!"
—felt a whoosh of air as all those sensations suddenly disappeared, leaving him a bit cold even.
Lelouch opened one eye and then the other.
Suzaku was standing away from him, looking somewhat frustrated, but also resigned.
Safe.
He let out a sigh of relief.
Anya trotted up to them, triumphantly holding up her prize that she had replaced the cloud of sugar for; blissfully unaware of the moment she had just broken up.
It was blasphemy in his world to merely think it, but it was the first time Lelouch wondered if the money was really worth it. He wanted to wrap his arms around the pink-haired angel for innocently ruining the ruin of his innocence.
He felt a bit dazed and his heart was beginning to come back from panic mode, but with the practiced ease of an older brother, Lelouch examined the goldfish happily swimming in its bag with approval. "Good job," he congratulated, patting her on the head. She threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly with a contented look on her face.
A hand slipped into his and he turned to see Suzaku smiling at him. Anya instantly frowned at the linked hands and gave Suzaku the stare down. Without even bothering to hide his irritation, Suzaku simply smirked at her smugly.
Taking the bait, Anya reached for their joined hands and separated them, holding both in each of her hands—most likely to prevent the hand holding from happening again. And, while still holding both of their hands, standing right in between them, she looked up at Lelouch imploringly.
"Fireworks."
Lelouch just chuckled at her behaviour then looked at Suzaku, who sighed and squeezed the girl's hand, drawing her attention. "Alright, come on brat," he conceded, tugging her along by the hand to the place they would be shooting the fireworks at. It caused Lelouch to get pulled along as well, since Anya wouldn't let go.
The crowds around them got thicker as they approached the grounds and holding hands proved to become a necessity so they wouldn't lose each other. Once they picked a spot, Suzaku hoisted Anya up into his arms. She scowled and looked about ready to complain just as the first burst of colourful light exploded into the night sky.
The disturbing thought that they looked just like a family came to mind, but Lelouch chose to ignore it in favour of enjoying the moment.
ooo
The disturbing thought that they had looked just like a family never quite left Suzaku even after they got home from the festival and finished off the night with a movie—all three of them.
Anya sat between them and was the first one to fall asleep—curled up against Lelouch on his lap in her pink, bunny pajamas—but Lelouch followed shortly after. When he noticed that the other two had passed out, Suzaku turned off the movie and carefully woke Lelouch up.
Sleepy, confused violet eyes peered at him in confusion in the dim theatre lighting. Awareness slowly crept back into them and Lelouch yawned, glancing down at the pink bundle attached to him. He looked up at Suzaku and whispered, "What time is it?"
"Time for bed. It's late. We should get this princess to bed."
Understanding, Lelouch carefully gathered the dozing girl up in his arms and made his way out of the theatre. Suzaku did a cursory clean up and turned off the screen and system before following Lelouch upstairs, catching sight of him just as he entered Anya's room. By the time he caught up at the doorway, Lelouch was closing her door quietly and let out a gusty sigh, leaning against the wall.
"I feel like a parent," Lelouch muttered, shaking his head.
Suzaku grinned, running a hand through his hair. "Me too," he agreed. There was a moment of hesitation before he blurted out, "You'd make a good one... parent, I mean."
Shrugging, Lelouch pushed away from the wall and started back down the hall towards his own room, Suzaku following. "I've had experience dealing with kids. They're all the same on some level."
"Oh? Younger cousins?"
Lelouch opened his mouth to say something, but paused and closed it before shaking his head. "Something like that."
Suzaku nodded in understanding. "I know what that's like. I've got a younger cousin. She's dying to meet you, by the way. I keep telling her no… but I guess there's only so long I can delay that."
Lelouch smiled. "Well, I'll have to meet her sooner or later. We are getting married after all."
In reflex, Suzaku returned the smile and carefully reached for Lelouch's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Yeah…. We are."
Slowly, Suzaku let Lelouch's hand slide through his own, surprised that he was somewhat reluctant to let go. Wishing Lelouch a good night, he turned away and headed for his own room further down the hall. He got about halfway when Lelouch calling his name caused him to turn back around.
"Do you… um… want to…" Lelouch's cheeks burned a bright red and it looked visibly difficult to be saying what he was saying. There was much fidgeting to be had and looking everywhere, but him.
Unexpectedly, Suzaku felt his heart pick up the pace in anticipation of… of what he didn't really know. But it was anticipating something and was nervous as all hell about it. It would be great if his heart could clue his head in about what was going on though, because thoughts simultaneously rushed through his head and emptied out of it all at once at the full gamut of possibilities of what Lelouch might ask him. When those violet eyes either subtly or nervously darted towards him and at the closed door of his room all Suzaku could hear was the loud beating of his heart.
"Do I want to… what?"
Lelouch's face was full-on red now and it would've been an amusing sight if it didn't make him feel slightly flushed himself. Finally, Lelouch looked up, looking Suzaku in the eye, and took in a deep breath while Suzaku unconsciously held his. The moment seemed to last forever, and then finally—
WHOOSH.
—the door to Lelouch's room opened with a sudden gust of air and out walked a sleepy-looking CC, wearing a large Cheese-kun shirt that was not long enough to completely hide her white panties. She looked from one to the other and back again. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face and she latched onto Lelouch's arm, pressing it against her bust and giving a meaningful tug at Lelouch.
With a sigh, Lelouch shook his head and gave Suzaku a helpless sort of look. "Never mind, good night, Suzaku. I had fun tonight. Thank you."
Amber eyes held his green ones and held his stare while CC disappeared into the room with Lelouch, sending him a clear enough message over Lelouch's shoulder without saying a word.
But slamming the door.
Like the gunshot signal for the start of a race, Suzaku charged the few steps that separated him from Lelouch's door, raised a fist and—
Wait.
What was he doing?
His fist stopped and hung in mid-air, literally inches away from banging on the door like the crazy man he felt like.
It hung there for a few more moments before he retracted it and quickly turned on his heel before anything else could happen. He entered his room that hadn't been used recently and closed the door behind him, the click of the lock sending out a shock of calming clarity to how he was feeling at the moment. Sighing loudly, he scrubbed both hands through his hair and shook his head out before going about his nightly routine.
Slipping under the covers, he turned the light and lay awake in bed, staring up at his ceiling.
"Do I want to… what exactly?"
It had been a good date. He hadn't been on many, admittedly, but he had a really good time all the same—even with the hitchhiker. Suzaku hadn't been sure of what he was trying to figure out on this date, but the moment where he almost…
It hadn't been a dare, a prank, or even some moment of forced awkward display of affection demanded by the situation at hand. He had merely looked over at Lelouch and thought to himself, 'Yeah, I want to.'
And there, he supposed, was his answer.
"I want to," he said to the darkness of his room before closing his eyes to sleep.
Comment:
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I'm done writing this beast! That's right! Armageddon is just around the corner! Pigs have started flying! Water is no longer wet! I can release these updates like a respectable person again! I can also be bribed to release things faster than I intend to! End everything with an exclamation point!
Stay tuned!
Please R&R!
- Minute Maid!
Beverage of Queens!
