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Title: Triangular

Author: DnKS – giRLs

Rating: PG-13

Characters/Pairings: Schneizel-Suzaku-Lelouch

Disclaimer: Not ours.

Warning: The drama continues…

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Chapter 10 – Intermission

Schneizel vi Britannia put his reading glasses down with a satisfied sigh. In front of him was a pile of papers with an innocent red marker sitting precariously on top of it. Being a professor was without a doubt the career of his dream but when he was confronted with such mundane task, like grading his students' essays, he started to wonder if his choice of career was indeed the best for him.

But still, he thought with a fond expression as his gaze fell upon the papers with scribbles of red over them, grading paper work had its own fun. He still held his opinion that his students were surely astounding students with sharp minds and refreshing ideas, though maybe their sense of creativity was too much for him to follow. Their session that weekend just enhanced his belief. The field trip was a success, all things considered. It was only day one and Schneizel took delight in finding how much his student's research had already progressed. They made him really proud.

Thinking of taking a short break before he continued his work, Schneizel walked to a small cabinet in the room. Being a professor, he had booked two rooms for himself in that inn during their field trip. One was supposed to be his bedroom, as yet unused. And the other room adjacent to that was to be his study, where he currently occupied. Knowing that he might still have to work until approximately two more hours, he intended to pour himself some coffee. He was more of a tea person actually yet during that time of the night, caffeine was something he highly cherished. But he never reached his destination for a knock on the door interrupted his steps.

Frowning a little, since it was already 1 a.m., he turned his course of direction to the closed door of the room. Opening it wide, he found the figure of his dear Lelouch standing on the wooden porch outside his doorstep. His brother looked up at him, and with that he realized what might be bringing Lelouch to his room in the middle of the night.

The field trip was really a success, all things considered.

"Onii-sama," Lelouch greeted him. "I am sorry for intruding in such a late hour."

He smiled at his brother and moved aside so Lelouch could enter the room. "Come in first, Lelouch, it is cold outside."

He saw Lelouch reluctantly did his bidding. Glancing to his brother's direction, he felt like he knew why Lelouch looked so uncomfortable around him. Sweet Lelouch, he thought amusedly, did his brother really think he had not yet foreseen the turn of event? Did his brother really think he was not the one who arranged the stage for him?

He guided Lelouch to a small coffee table in the room. Once they comfortably seated, he regarded his brother with a calculating look, waiting for him to reveal his intention of visiting him.

"Onii-sama," Lelouch began with some difficulty. "Something happened today that I highly think should come into your awareness. I… the matters between Suzaku and me… have somehow… we have resolved it somehow…"

He smiled tenderly as he cupped Lelouch's cheek. "Congratulation."

Lelouch blinked. "Pardon me?"

"Is it not something to be grateful of?" he said. "I believe now you are together with him."

Lelouch, he observed, had a blush on his cheek as the immediate effect to his words. He chuckled lightly as he retracted his hand that was cupping his brother's cheek to his lap.

"My dear little brother, you do not have to be so embarrassed about such thing," he said.

"Does it not bother you?" Lelouch asked softly.

"What should bother me?" he asked back.

"Schneizel onii-sama, you said to me that time that you loved me," Lelouch said clearly, his voice only wavered a bit. "Maybe I am too presumptuous in thinking that my current state of affair with Suzaku shall bother you but still, my heart will not be at ease until I speak of this matter with you and ask for your blessings, or forgiveness, or maybe both."

"Why the formalities, Lelouch?" he asked gently. Lelouch was surely in distress, poor him. "You always have my blessing, and nothing of you I should forgive for you did no wrong. If you can be with he whom you love then it will be my happiness. I love you, true, never doubt that, but I respect your choice. As I have said, should you find your happiness in others, I am content."

For a moment Lelouch seemed not to know what to say. His brother only looked up silently at him, offered none as his response to his words. He knew that Lelouch might find it hard to follow his way of thinking but he did feel content about how things were going. Lelouch getting together with Suzaku was more or less his doing. He knew Suzaku needed some push so he talked to him. He knew they both needed some alone time so he called for Rivalz after he finished talking with Suzaku, giving Lelouch and Suzaku enough time to settle things between them. And knowing that his effort entailed in his brother and Suzaku getting together, he was every bit delighted.

After all, he thought with an inner smirk of victory, things had been going following his scheme. Just after some more steps, the final checkmate would be his.

A weight settled against his shoulder and he in amazement realized that Lelouch had rested his head there. His brother had a very beautiful smile when he looked up into his eyes and said to him, "Thank you, Schneizel onii-sama."

"Anything for you, Lelouch," he said as he embraced Lelouch with one arm and kissed the top of his head. "Anything for you, my beloved Lelouch."

"Onii-sama, actually I have a confession to make," Lelouch said softly as he nuzzled further against his shoulder. The way he did that reminded him of time long past when Lelouch would fall asleep on his shoulder after they talked for hours during the cold winter night. "I love you."

A small spark of surprise formed in his heart when he heard that, but quickly, he schooled himself so he might show nothing of his astonishment at the revelation.

"I…" he tried to speak and failed. Sighing, he then admitted defeat for this was one of those rare moments when Schneizel vi Britannia found himself at lost for words. "…am really honored."

Lelouch chuckled, "I made the mighty Schneizel vi Britannia briefly lose his calm, it seems."

"Briefly," he agreed. "Your choice of timing is the one major contributing part, I believe."

"Not the fact that I love you?" Lelouch said teasingly.

"I think it is common knowledge," he replied with faked haughtiness and Lelouch laughed at that.

"I have loved you even before I knew what love is," Lelouch said. "But I could never tell you that. Maybe in my entire cunning and daring mind, I also posses cowardice as my weakness. When you left, onii-sama, I was devastated. And then Suzaku came and he somehow filled the emptiness that you left in your leaving, but not quite so, never quite so. I love him, onii-sama, but I still love you, and there shall be no one to replace you. Now I trust myself, my heart, my soul, onto him, but in my heart, I still hold dear my beloved Schneizel onii-sama."

That time it was Schneizel's turn to get speechless. To see Lelouch, his dear Lelouch, delivered such eloquent speech like that, he was amazed. To have him show his affection so unreservedly like that, he was astounded. Lelouch's words were to him the highest praise he could expect from his brother and that time, he, Schneizel vi Britannia, was once again reminded why he could fall in love to his dear Lelouch. That night, he found himself falling in love all over again to the smart and beautiful young man named Lelouch vi Britannia.

"It is so sweet of you, Lelouch," he said, meaning every word of it. "And I thank you for that."

That was the end of their conversation that night. And Schneizel, after he walked Lelouch to his room, found himself could not quite go back to his work like what he had planned earlier. Sighing, his eyes caught the sight of some sheets of papers waiting to be graded. How could he work on those essays after what he just heard coming from Lelouch's lips? Those words printed neatly on each sheet of paper would forever not outclass the words spoken tenderly to him by his brother just mere minutes before.

Schneizel smirked sardonically as he finally surrendered to his exhaustion and prepared to go to bed instead. It was not in his nature to behave like a complete lovesick person. As a matter of fact, it was also not in his nature to stand still watching in contentment as those he loved walked away from him. But he knew, in this case, and only in this case, he should do just that. It was for the best, he reassured himself. It was needed. And it went just like what he had schemed all along: it would lead him to nothing but victory.

But the road to victory was a long one. And that road was filled with numerous distasteful emotions. One of those emotions, as Schneizel found out in a hard way during the next weekly meeting, was loneliness.

He made a figurative snort as he thought about that thing. He never thought he might fall subjected into such emotion like loneliness. Yet there he was, standing in front of his students as they were having their weekly discussion, watching how Lelouch and Suzaku behaved toward each other, and feeling somewhat… lonely…

Coughing discreetly to dispel such unnecessary thought from his mind, he gave a half amused half scandalized smile as he read a passage from Milly's report. At the moment, he was giving his feedback to his students' reports and Milly's report was something he could dub as… controversial.

"To quote what you wrote in your report, '…these political moves employed by Zero seem unconnected. But with deeper investigation, it could be seen that these moves were employed to the benefit of The White Knight. This can lead to a thought that Zero was somehow trying to protect his supposedly greatest enemy: The White Knight of Britannia…'" he said with his professional tone. "And then you concluded with such ambiguous sentence of 'Zero and The White Knight might be recorded as enemies but these certain political moves of Zero indicated that he held The White Knight in his heart as someone he really cherished.'"

Putting the paper down, he looked at the beaming Milly.

"Why do I get the impression that you are trying to show us that Zero loved The White Knight?" he said.

"Because that is the exact impression I want to cast, obviously," Milly answered with a self satisfied smirk. He observed that the rest of his students had a look of hopeless resignation on their faces, and that amused him.

"And what kind of 'love' do you really mean here, Milly?" he asked.

"The very same kind like which is currently happening between Lelouch and Suzaku, Professor," Milly Ashford casually said as she threw her gaze to the direction where Lelouch and Suzaku sat side by side. "The beautiful erotic male bonding…"

Lelouch's indignant yelp of 'Milly, that's vulgar," was drowned in the laughter of his other students. Even he had to smile at that. It was no surprise that the development of Lelouch and Suzaku's relationship was known by their circle of friends in nearly no time. Rivalz Cardemonde was anything but a discreet person, and his loud mouth gave the greatest contribution in letting his friends know about what he dubbed as 'Lelouch and Suzaku's lovey-dovey moment'. By the end of their field trip, every one in their research group had known about said fact and began to tease the two mercilessly.

He was relieved that Lelouch and Suzaku's friends could accept the two being in love without throwing any fuss. He was relieved that their friends seem to support them; Milly even said she would not mind to be their bridesmaid should they want to get married. At her suggestion, Lelouch grew incredibly red on his face and Suzaku only gave something that could pass as a nervous chuckle. And he, upon watching such scenes happened frequently within his sight, would only smile calmly like a good older brother he was, like he was perfectly happy for them.

In a sense, he was happy for them. Their happiness was also his happiness because Lelouch and Suzaku were two people he loved the most.

But in another sense, he was a bit irritated because somehow that nagging feeling of loneliness started to disturb him greatly. He knew the current stage was part of his plan. He knew it was necessary to achieve the outcome he was wishing for. He knew it was for the best.

Schneizel took a breath and examined his watch, all the while never let out any indication of his cluttered thoughts inside. Realizing it was nearly the time to end the class, he began gathering the scattered papers on his desk and announced to his students.

"I guess this is almost time to end the class," he said amidst the laughter of his students, minus Lelouch, of course. His words were enough to make them end their jolly merrymaking and refocused their attention to him.

"Before I end the class, allow me to give my short comment on your latest report submission," he said before he began addressing each of his students personally. "Milly, I still do not know how to take your idea. I did say you can use your utmost creativity, and even I have to admit that your idea was a somewhat mind opening one. It now just depends on how you phrase it in your report, or in other words, you have to convince me to accept your idea."

"I will try my best, Professor," Milly Ashford said with a smile.

"Kallen," he said as he turned his face to meet the sight of one expectant Kallen Kouzuki. The girl seemed very anxious to hear his feedback but he gave her his smile. "You made a very nice work on putting much thought on the matter of trust between Zero and his followers. I am impressed you can think about that. But maybe you would want to put more background information before you get to the point so that readers might find your report easier to comprehend."

"I will do that, Professor," Kallen said. "Thank you very much."

"And, Rivalz…" he said as he turned his gaze to Rivalz Cardemonde. The boy gulped upon receiving his gaze. "Rivalz, you probably want to revise the structure of your sentences. You need to put much thought on your introduction, try to make people understand the urgency of your topic."

"Yes, Professor Schneizel," Rivalz said.

He smiled at the boy before turning his gaze to Suzaku, "Suzaku, please have Lelouch edit your works like how you used to have it in the past. Your report is fine but your grammar is not. I believe now after you became… reunited with each other, such task is accomplishable, right?"

"If they don't begin doing other 'favorable' things, that is," Kallen said with a snort.

"Like I can do that!" Suzaku laughed. "Lelouch is more interested in correcting my work than doing other 'favorable' things like you have said. So yes, Professor, I believe I can accomplish that."

"Such uncouth words," Lelouch grumbled with a low voice.

"Such honest words, you mean," Suzaku countered.

Schneizel allowed a smirk at seeing the banter between his brother and Suzaku before he continued, "Lelouch, you have yet to single out your preference on what certain political move you are going to exploit. Please make your choice soon. And no, 'all of them seem equally important' is not an accepted reason not to make any choice. By next week, I hope you already make your choice, can you do that?"

Lelouch smirked at him and said, "Very well, Professor."

"After all this time, do you still hate it so much to call me 'professor'?" he frowned genially at his brother before he continued to the last member of his class. "Shirley, you have such a nice narrating style, and your issue of humanity in the war is refreshing. There is a journal that I highly think will be much help for you. I shall give it to you next time we meet."

"Thank you very much, Professor Schneizel," Shirley beamed at him.

"All of you," he said to all of his students. "You have all made me proud of being your professor. Please keep up the good work."

A collective affirmative replied his statement and he smiled at the enthusiasm his students possessed. He was fortunate to lead that class.

"We will conduct our next discussion within the same hour next week, and I hope you are ready with your revised reports by that time," he announced. "Class dismissed."

He watched his students packing their belongings and exiting the room with a simple farewell while he was also taking care of his things. When he was shutting off his laptop, though, he noticed that someone had not yet made his exit. As a matter of fact, he could feel the gaze of that certain someone being directed at him.

Schneizel vi Britannia looked up and stared right into the emerald orbs of one Suzaku Kururugi who was standing calm before him. There was only his desk separating them and in such close distance, he could see seriousness in those eyes.

"Suzaku," he calmly said. "Is there something you wish to speak with me?"

"Yes, there is. Can I ask for five minutes of your time…" Suzaku said before he added, "Schneizel?"

His given name that came so easily from Suzaku's lips let Schneizel know that whatever matter Suzaku was going to say to him was personal. And somehow he thought that he could see where things were going to go to.

"Please have a seat, then," he gestured to the chair opposite him. He watched as Suzaku did his bidding and he followed suit, sitting calmly on his own chair. Entwining his fingers in front of him, he waited for Suzaku to begin.

"I have to thank you," Suzaku said with a smile. "You have helped us, Lelouch and me, I mean. Thanks for talking to me. I guess I'm too stupid and too scared so I need people to spank me and told me to stop being an idiot."

He chuckled lightly, "I am ready should you want another spank in the future."

Suzaku also chuckled at his reply and the meaning insinuated within it.

"But I'm still confused about something," Suzaku said. "You said you loved me."

Ah, Schneizel thought with an inner smirk. So it was that. It seemed things would progress sooner than what he initially expected. The next movement had already been executed. The final checkmate was near.

"I did," he said. "What about it?"

"What exactly…" Suzaku said. "Did you mean by that?'

Time for the next crucial move, he thought with a calculating smirk.

"I love you," he said simply. "What else is there to explain?"

"You love me like…" Suzaku stopped for a while as he searched for the correct word. "…that?"

"Disregarding such an ambiguous way you phrase your sentence in," he said in a collected manner. "Yes, I love you like that."

"Ah…" Suzaku said. "I… don't know how to respond to that…"

Hearing that, Schneizel could not help a chuckle from escaping his lips. He remembered how Lelouch also said similar thing to him the first time he revealed his feelings for him. It almost felt like déjà vu.

"You are somehow similar to Lelouch in some aspects," he said. "And I am not expecting any particular kind of respond, truly. I merely answered your question."

"But it's…" Suzaku looked as if he was searching for words. "I somehow feel like I'm the bad guy here…"

Schneizel blinked condescendingly, "Bad guy? You? Suzaku, please…"

"What I meant is…" Suzaku said as he stared straight into his eyes. "I'm sorry…"

"Why are you sorry for?" he smiled to his student, his friend, his brother's lover, and also his love. "You are happy and you make Lelouch happy. That is my happiness. I should be thanking you instead for making my brother feel his much deserved happiness."

"But how about you?" Suzaku persisted.

He frowned, "What about me?"

"Are you perfectly content with how the things are playing out?" Suzaku asked. "I feel somehow unfair because… I love Lelouch, but I also… to you…"

He saw how Suzaku gulped before continuing with a steady voice.

"I care about you, Schneizel, so much. You are also precious to me," Suzaku said with such a strong determination in his eyes. Those eyes, Schneizel reflected, maybe they were the ones that had made him captivated in the first place. Those emerald eyes shining with fierce determination had mesmerized him, and now he found himself admiring those orbs even more than before.

"I am honored to hear that," he said to Suzaku in all honesty. They stared at each other for a moment before Schneizel glanced at his watch discreetly and said, "But now your five minutes is already up and I somehow had an idea that you might have another appointment to meet."

"Actually, yes…" Suzaku said, glancing at his own watch and frowned a little.

"My brother," he began in his chiding tone. "Really hates latecomers, do you know that?"

Suzaku chuckled, "I know, I've been victim to his silent treatment numerous times just because I was late for our supposed appointments."

"Then I shall not prevent you from going to meet up your date," Scneizel said. "Please give my regards to Lelouch."

"I will," Suzaku promised him with such a sincere smile that he found himself smiling in return. He remained seated while he was watching Suzaku getting up from his seat and proceeding to walk to the door. Seeing Suzaku taking his leave, Schneizel could not help but thinking what a perfect allegory it was: Suzaku walking away from him. And it was not that he could not hold him back. He chose not to hold him back.

Why?

Because, he reminded himself for the umpteenth time, it was for the best.

When he reached the doorway, though, Suzaku stopped. Schneizel watched in mild curiosity as his student turned his body to face him again.

"Schneizel," Suzaku addressed him before he gave him a low respectful bow. Once he straightened himself up, Suzaku said to him, "Thank you very much for everything. Meeting you is surely a fortune."

"The pleasure is all mine," he said with a courteous nod in return. "And likewise, Suzaku, meeting you is surely a good fortune."

Suzaku smiled, "So, I guess… I'll see you around, Schneizel…"

"Indeed, I'll see you around… Suzaku…" he said so softly to no one in particular. Suzaku had left the room and it was just after he left that Schneizel finally said those words. Yes, he would see him around. And for a while, he had to be content merely to be an observer. Again.

He sighed as he got up from his seat. Lonely, he thought with an ironic smile. What an absurd thing it was. What a painful thing it was. What a weakness it was to feel things like loneliness. Should his father know of the fact that he was at the time being tormented by loneliness, Schneizel wondered what harsh reprimand he would get.

Yet loneliness was bearable because it was all for the best.

Tapping his fingers against the surface of his desk, he began calculating in his mind. He had executed his every move perfectly. He had used up all his cards. All along, everything had been going following his plan, but for the final outcome…

He stopped his tapping motion and his gaze flew to the sky visible outside the window. He did not have any more movement to conduct. The rest are now in the hand of those who sat opposite him in this grand game of love and life. Should they move in the direction that he had prepared, then the final checkmate would be his. But should they defy his expectation, it would take a whole new strategy to win the game.

And Schneizel knew that he could only wait. So wait he did, with only loneliness as his company. He waited, while the clock kept ticking, until the next movement was executed. He waited until the time when his grand plan would be revealed. He waited until finally he could dispel the loneliness from within him. He waited for his victory.

- end chapter 10 -