Title : Triangular

Author : DnKS-giRLs

Rating : PG-13

Characters/Pairings: Schneizel-Suzaku-Lelouch

Disclaimers : As per usual, we have no claim over the characters mentioned in this story

Warning : Containing mention of homosexual relationship that might offend some people, shamelessly sappy, indecently silly. Hey, that rhymes.

Chapter 2 – Reunion

Like his every other morning, Lelouch woke up that day precisely at seven. His early morning routines consisted of him switching on his espresso maker before heading to shower. Finished with his shower, he then took his much needed cup of coffee before he prepared his breakfast while turning his laptop on. He sprinkled his lettuce with vinegar in the same time with him checking his schedule for the day. He buttered his French loaf as his eyes skimmed his to-do list. And when he sat before his breakfast, he opened his inbox.

Like usual, that morning he got some incoming e-mails. The term had just begun so there was no mail concerning his study. But there was one certain entry that caught his attention.

The address of the sender, as being displayed on the screen, was one 'Schneizel onii-sama'.

His eyes narrowed at that. But he clicked at it nonetheless and read the content.

Dearest Lelouch,

How are you? I hope you are well. The new term has just begun there, I presume. I shall not reprimand you regarding your study for I know you would excel at all of them, but do please take more concern about your health. I wish everything is fine at home. Please send my best regards to mother and father, as well as my kisses to Rolo and Nunnally.

I miss you so much.

With immense love from your brother, Schneizel vi Britannia.

He snorted in his mind at his brother's choice of words. Immense love, he thought as he chewed on his lettuce. His mood suddenly turned a bit sour. Especially when he recalled those words of 'I miss you so much'.

"If you miss me that much, why did you leave at the first place?" he muttered to no one in particular. "Stupid brother."

He took his empty plates to the dishwasher with something heavy settling in his heart. He did not know whether to feel happy or sad reading that mail from his brother. Schneizel vi Britannia, the brother he just got after his mother married his step-father. Schneizel vi Britannia, the brother he trust so much. Schneizel vi Britannia, he thought as he dried his hands up after he finished with the dishes, the brother whom he had loved so greatly.

Or should he say the brother whom he still loved so greatly?

He sighed as his mind remembered the first time he met his older step-brother. He was only eight years old back then while Schneizel was already a fifteen year old boy. That time, he was in his cranky mood after having been forced to leave Suzaku, his Suzaku, and suddenly being required to see his new brother. He remembered how he glared at Schneizel, who only smiled while kneeling in front of him and said, "Hello, Lelouch, from now on please allow Schneizel onii-sama to take care of you."

And with that, his heart melted. After that day, he followed Schneizel anywhere and he trusted him blindly in a way that only an eight year old kid could do. During the next year, his little twin brother and sister were born. And he loved them deeply. But as years passed, he realized there was something different in his love toward his charming older brother. And when he hit puberty, he realized that he was, in fact, attracted to his own brother.

He smiled bitterly as he let that thought run in his head. It was something from his past that he tried to forget. But occasionally he recalled that fact, like that morning after he got that e-mail from his brother. And like always, he scolded himself for recalling unnecessary thing like that.

"It's in the past," he whispered softly as he took his bag, ready to walk to his first class. Yet his sour mood persisted. No mater how hard he tried to assure himself that it was all in the past, he still could not get rid of the bitterness in his heart. Schneizel was the one to betray him, the one to leave him so suddenly under the excuse of studying abroad for his doctorate, the one that still managed to torment him in his confusion whether he should love him or hate him.

With his mood still not at its very best, he entered his first class. It was still some minutes before the class would begin but already the room was filled with people. 'Politics in History' seemed to be one favorite class for that term, seeing how many people attending the class. Yet amidst those people, his trained eyes caught someone in particular.

He smirked.

Dumping his bag loudly to the table, he managed to surprise the dozing-off Suzaku from his trance. When two emerald orbs staring at him in annoyance, he only stared back defiantly.

"Couldn't you put it down more gently?" Suzaku asked him irritably.

"I could," he said as he slid to the seat beside his friend. "But I did not want to do that."

He saw Suzaku rolling his eyes and he almost stick his tongue out at him. Luckily he managed to check himself in time. It might sound absurd, but seeing Suzaku being annoyed really improved his moods.

Suddenly, there was a chuckle and a woman's voice cheerfully remarked, "You two seem close like always."

He turned his face to see one Milly Ashford leaning forward from the back of Suzaku's seat.

"Milly," he greeted the woman casually. "I didn't know you applied this class."

"Apparently I did," Milly smiled at them. "And just to let you know, Shirley also applied as well."

"But you two are in the Economics Division," he frowned. "I did not know they also teach politics and history there."

"Suzaku is from the Military Division and I did not see you complaining about him taking this class," Milly said. "Or is it because you are that happy having him in the same class as you?"

The way that woman smiled meaningfully made his face twitch. But Suzaku—bless his oblivion—only blinked.

"Oh, this is an obligatory course in our division," he said calmly to Milly. "They said we could not defend our country without understanding politics and how could we defend a country without knowing its history? So they forced us to attend this class, though I really don't like either politics or history."

"I share that sentiment."

The three of them turned their faces to the new coming Kouzuki Kallen. With a sigh, that woman dropped his body to the empty seat beside Lelouch before she looked at him.

"No hard feeling, Lelouch, but I do think politics is rubbish and I hate the long and windy paperwork that is History class," she said flatly. "If I knew that being in a Military Division still requires me to do paperwork, I would surely think twice before I decided to pick this major."

There was a loud scream of "Amen, sister!" coming from Gino Weinberg some seats away from them.

"But at least we can get together again, just like old times," Milly said. "Maybe I should force Rivalz and Nina to take this course also…"

"I guess you don't need to do that, to Rivalz at least," he said as his eyes caught the sight of Rivalz and Shirley conversing while entering the classroom. Seeing his two friends, Milly waved and called them to their direction. And with the addition of Rivalz and Shirley, the six of them soon got involved in an animated chat, mostly recalling their fun days as Student Council members during their high school time.

"It's like a class reunion," Shirley said excitedly, clapping her hands. "Too bad Nina is not here."

"Yeah, well, she said she had no time to take class that had no logical foundation whatsoever and only taught rubbish in the form of carefully crafted words," Kallen said. "This is one of the rare moments when I actually agree with her."

"Oi, careful, there," Rivalz laughed. "We have someone who worships politics here."

"I simply do not comprehend your words," Lelouch said haughtily.

"That's a perfect example of rubbish in the form of carefully crafted words," Suzaku smiled.

"Oh, hush," he said to Suzaku though there was a smile on his lips, his very first real smile that morning. And Suzaku surprised him when he only smiled wider and said so softly to him that only he could catch it.

"I'm glad," his friend said. "Your mood seems to be better now than a moment ago."

His eyes widened in surprise at finding that Suzaku could see his bad mood. He should be irritated at having someone manage to discern his emotion so well. But since it was Suzaku, since it was his Suzaku, he felt happy. And he let his friend know that by giving him one thankful smile that said nothing and in the same time, everything.

Truly, he mused as he watched his friends continued their chats, he was thankful for Suzaku. It was Suzaku who managed to cheer him up during the time when he was still bitter about Schneizel that suddenly went abroad. That happened during the beginning of his twelfth grade and Lelouch was highly irritated when he knew Schneizel suddenly decided to study abroad without consulting him about it. He knew Schneizel did not have the responsibility to tell him his every decision but still, he felt betrayed, moreover so since he had decided to apply for Ashford Academy as his choice of university, knowing that his dear brother Schneizel was at that time being acting as an assistant professor there.

Schneizel's sudden departure saddened him but a week after his brother left him, one certain person came to him. Suzaku suddenly showed up again before him after their nine years of separation. And he was still the same Suzaku that he remembered from his childhood time, an imprudent kid with a great sense of justice and a stupid tendency to jump into troubles head on.

But he was still his Suzaku whom he cherished so much, and maybe, he thought guiltily, whom he also liked so much.

There had to be something really wrong in him, Lelouch thought, so that he could get attracted to his brother, and now to his childhood friend whom he also liked to think as a brother when they were both only mere kids.

His thoughts were disrupted as there were loud clinks of high-heeled boots entering the classroom. The chatters died suddenly as they watched their supposedly lecturer, Professor Villetta Nu, walking to the front of the class.

"I thought it was Professor Jeremiah Gottwald who would deliver the course," Suzaku whispered to him.

He only shrugged because that time Professor Villetta said loudly, "No more whispering in class, please, we are about to begin!"

When there was no more noise, he saw the woman cleared her throat.

"Good morning, class," she began. "Now, I suppose you all were informed that Professor Jeremiah Gottwald would be your lecturer. But since we got so many enthusiastic students for this class…"

"With most of them forced to be enthusiastic," Kallen muttered softly.

"…we decided to change the system of this class. Instead of gathering you all in a big class, we think it's better to deliver this course in the form of research groups. So now I want you to make a group consisting of six students and give me the list containing your names. I will then assign a Professor as your counselor. Now do that and make it quick."

The once silent class was then getting noisy again as people began searching for friends to make their groups. The funny thing was, Lelouch decided, the moment Professor Villetta announced about creating groups, his hand automatically reached for Suzaku as Suzaku reached for his. It felt so clichéd that he almost laughed.

"Six students…" Shirley said. "We are six students, right? Our numbers match."

"You're right!" Rivals exclaimed. "So, should we get together in a group?"

"Is that even worth questioning?" Milly said as he slammed a sheet of paper and a pen down in front of Lelouch. "Now, Lelouch, please kindly write down our names and give the list to Professor Villetta, would you?"

"Why me…?" he muttered though he did what was told to him.

"Because you have the most beautiful handwriting among us, Lulu," Shirley said. He felt his face twitched at the nickname the girl gave him. While it was true that he liked Shirley greatly, after all, they were dating each other during their eleventh grade, but hearing her calling him Lulu always made him twitch internally no matter how many years he had been subjected to the treatment.

"It's true," Kallen joined them as she watched him writing. "You write so elegantly I could almost believe you're a royalty."

"What is the connection between good calligraphy and royal blood, anyway?" he asked. Having finished with his writing, he then turned to Suzaku. "Are you alright with joining us? You don't want to group with those people from the Military Division, like that Gino Weinberg for example? I know you are close to him."

"It's okay," Suzaku answered with a shrug. "Gino would prefer grouping with the girls and he knows that you always come first in my priority."

It was just like Suzaku, Lelouch thought as blush crept into his cheeks, to say such embarrassing thing like that with a calm tone. He could see how those words creating various effects on his friends, Milly was chuckling, Kallen was snorting, Shirley was choking, and Rivalz was trying so hard to pretend he didn't hear anything. And amidst those various reactions, Suzaku only blinked innocently.

"Did I say something wrong?"

All of them had a look of incredulity on their face and Milly even patted Suzaku's head with a resigned look in her eyes.

"Oh, Suzaku," she said. "You really are the cutest idiot ever."

Suzaku blinked again, "Er… should I take that as a compliment…?"

Hearing that, he released a sigh. He was not the only one to do that. As a matter of fact, all of them hearing the statement--minus Suzaku--seemed to release a sigh. Sometimes he wondered if Suzaku was really a soldier. His friend was far too naïve, too sweet, and too idealistic to be one. From what he heard, Suzaku always scored real high in battle simulation or whatever class involving real physical effort. But he could see how his friend struggled in much refined class like art or composition. Maybe it was a trade off; one could not possess both physical and intellectual ability at the same time.

Except his dear older brother… that jerk…

"Have you finished with the lists?" Professor Villetta suddenly announced, saving him from thinking further about the seem-to-be-perfection that was Schneizel vi Britannia. "Could you please bring me the lists, please, and we would decide which professor shall lead you by a draw. Now what are you waiting for, class?"

Knowing that Professor Villetta really despised slow people, Lelouch began to make his way to the front of the class. Though he swore he tried to walk as fast as he could, he was the last from the eight people to give his list of names.

"So, we have eight groups," Professor Villetta said. She then brought forth a box and said to the eight of them assembling in front of her. "Now I would like each of you to pick a paper from this box and tell me what was written there."

They all did her instruction. Lelouch took the first paper made contact with his fingers once he dipped his hand inside the box. Taking it out, he could see the alphabet 'G' written on the white paper. He frowned; suddenly, he had a strange apprehension. But he dismissed it because it was just plain idiocy to feel apprehensive toward a sheet of paper.

Professor Villetta dismissed them after she recorded the result of their picking. When she got to him, though, she had a small smile on her face. And he swore he could hear her muttering softly to herself about something that suspiciously sounded like '…well, if this isn't what you call fate…'

That statement only made his apprehension grow somehow. He made his way back to his seat while feeling a bit detached. He watched how his friends contemplating who might be their professor but he somehow felt like he could not share their excitement.

He did not like the feeling.

"Silence, class," Professor Villetta began. "I will now introduce who shall be your counselor. Would you please, professors…"

The class went silent as some people entering the room. Lelouch recognized some of them as the professors whose classes he had taken before. He watched as those people stood in a line facing the class and in his heart he fervently hoped that he would not get Professor Romeyer as his counselor.

"These professors will each lead one research group," Professor Villetta began. "As you can see, we have eight… no, we seem to miss one... where is…"

"Excuse me, Professor Villetta," one of the professors spoke up. He knew him; he had taken his class before. He was Professor Kanon Maldini, one of the most popular professors among the girls. "He told me that he was going to be late. It seems the Dean called for him."

Professor Villetta frowned but she continued, "Then I guess we will have to start without him. Very well, class, once I announce your professor, you will follow them and they will tell you the subject of your research. Group A, you will be under me. Group B, you will be led by Professor Jeremiah Gottwald. Group C will have Professor Romeyer as their counselor…"

Thank God, he said in his heart.

"…Professor Kanon Maldini shall lead group D…"

He could distinctly heard Milly's whisper of 'damn, I want him' and Shirley's disappointed sigh.

"…group E is under Professor Andreas Darlton, group F is under Professor Diethard Ried. I have to apologize for group G for their counselor has yet to arrive…"

Great, he thought dryly, they got a professor that did not even try to be on time.

"And group H will be under Professor Gilbert G. P. Guilford," Professor Villetta finished. "Since you will be working under your assigned professor for this whole term, I suggest you begin getting used to them. For group G, it seems that…"

He never got to hear the rest of her sentence. Because whatever thing Professor Villetta was going to say was disrupted by a sudden voice from the door. A sudden deep voice that could make him abruptly attentive.

"Excuse me, Professor Villetta," the voice said. It made all the professors turn their heads to the source of the sound. And it made something in Lelouch stir.

That voice, he thought with dread. It couldn't be, but… that voice…

"Perfect timing, Professor," Professor Villetta remarked as her eyes were directed to whomever person standing on the doorway. "Would you please come in?"

As the mysterious person made his way entering the class, Lelouch felt various things happening at once. He could hear the surprised gasps from those around him. He could see the starry-eyes expression that most female students possessed after seeing the one entering their classroom. He could feel Suzaku's worried gaze at him as he gaped breathless at seeing their allegedly professor.

He could feel his heart clenching in his chest, moreover so when he heard Professor Villetta's words telling him the thing he tried to deny.

"Group G," Professor Villetta said. "You will be working under Professor Schneizel vi Britannia."

- end chapter 2 -

(A/N: in this occasion, we will tell a story of how we could get the idea for this fic. Last term, we were doing our bachelor theses. Those months were really our dark period, trust us. And when we're doing our research, buried in academic papers and textbooks and (for one among us) source codes, we had this brilliant idea: why don't we make a fic about academic research? It would be cool should the leading characters found love when they were doing their research. That way, we thought that our research would not seem so dull because, hey, it's possible we would also find our love interests during the period. We know it's stupid but, let's face it, you try to read 15 academic journals in a day and you'll surely have some stupid ideas. Yeah, anyway, that's the story. As always, we hope you had a good reading. Thanks for giving this fic a chance and some reviews will surely be greatly appreciated.)