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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: The title should be self-explanatory, though…

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Chapter 12 – Closure

Thursday morning found Schneizel vi Britannia leisurely reading a translation of Homer's Odyssey on his plush mauve sofa. He had no class until later in the afternoon. He did not have any scheduled meeting for the day. As a matter of fact, he literally had his free time for the whole morning that day. And since such occurrence was exceptional to happen, he had decided to enjoy it the best he could.

But fate did not really let him to have the morning go as how he had planned it. Just when he turned a page, a bell indicating an incoming visitor rang its shrill voice.

Schneizel winced. He always forgot to change that distasteful bell. And now he faced the consequences by hearing how the sound closely resembling that of a cat being strangled to death—not that he ever heard one, it was merely metaphorical—filling out the room he currently occupied.

Sighing, he put his reading glasses and book down. So much for trying to enjoy his life, he thought. On his way to the door he checked his attire: plain white dress shirt, navy blue jumper, and black slacks. Presentable enough, he decided. Running a hand through his locks of blonde hair to wipe some strands of hair that had fallen out of their intended place, he turned the knob of his door.

Outside his doorstep he saw his dearest little brother and the man whom said little brother had just recently taken as lover. Yes, there was Suzaku, grinning cheerfully as he bid him good morning. And there was Lelouch, looking down at his feet with his gesture every bit screamed 'I-don't-want-to-do-this' silently. Schneizel noticed how Suzaku had one of his hands holding Lelouch's hand. And he also noticed how Lelouch avoided his eyes.

He felt one of his eyebrows rising. It seemed his simple morning would not quite be so simple anymore.

"Suzaku," he addressed the smiling boy. "What have possibly brought you here this morning?"

"Lelouch and I need to speak with you," Suzaku said. "Do you have some time to spare?"

"Lelouch!" he said with faked surprise, staring at his dear Lelouch as if he just noticed him standing right then and there. "I would have never noticed you're there! Why, you did not even greet your onii-sama good morning. Have my brother do not respect for me anymore?"

He saw Lelouch stuttered something and blushed. His brother was blushing a cute shade of rose there, in front of his doorstep. And Schneizel took delight in the view Lelouch was making.

"Good morning, onii-sama," Lelouch said softly before he looked up straight into his eyes with something that curiously resembled fear in those amethyst orbs. "And before anything happened, please remember that I did not vouch my agreement in all this matter!"

"What matter?" he inquired but Lelouch could not answer his question for Suzaku beat him up to it.

"The matter that we are going to talk with you, of course," Suzaku said. "And of course Lelouch did agree to it, don't you, dear, or should I refresh your memory by telling you again what did happen that time until you finally nodded your head?"

The expression he could spot on Lelouch's face as his immediate reaction to Suzaku's statement only made Schneizel feel that he really wanted to know what exactly happened until his dear brother could agree to… whatever it was. Though he was more intrigued to know what it was exactly that they wanted to talk about.

"Well then," he said. "Why don't we all come inside?"

Opening his door wide, Schneizel saw how those two youngsters entering his quarter. He sighed forlornly as he thought of that book he was going to read. Sorry, Odyssey, he thought as he picked the book from his table to put it back to the shelves. Sure, classical literature was his passion, but of course Lelouch and Suzaku were far more important than that, he thought with an amused smirk. After all, Odyssey could not entertain him in ways that Lelouch and Suzaku could.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked his two guests. "Or coffee, perhaps?"

"Give me coffee, please, I need caffeine badly," Lelouch said. He frowned a little upon hearing that. While it was true that his brother was more of a night person than morning person, that morning Lelouch seemed extremely tired and in a very great need of caffeine. It worried him for he knew how Lelouch often failed to take a good care of himself though he did a very remarkable job at taking care of others.

"Is there something that troubles you?" he asked his brother worriedly. "You don't seem well, Lelouch. Maybe you should sit down."

"Oh, no," Lelouch said quickly and he noted how his brother eyed the chair anxiously as if it might bite him. "No, thank you, onii-sama, I prefer standing, really…"

He was about to question Lelouch why he was so reluctant to sit when a thought crossed his mind. Seeing the way Lelouch stood make his suspicion grow. And a glance to Suzaku's direction only enhanced his suspicion.

Now he knew why his brother seemed so… uncomfortable…

"Well," he smirked, "Don't worry, Lelouch, that sofa is… soft enough that I'm sure it won't hurt your… tender bottom…"

Oh how he laughed when he saw the redness on Lelouch's cheeks. His little brother was so adorable, even more so when he was embarrassed like that. But it was surely not something to be embarrassed about. And it looked like Suzaku shared his sentiment for he did not seem to take part in his brother's embarrassment. Instead of looking embarrassed, that emerald eyed man seemed to posses a satisfied and victorious smirk on his face.

"Oh, Lelouch," he said with a sigh as he guided his brother to the sofa. The wince that escaped his brother when he finally sat on the sofa did not go unnoticed by him. He gestured Suzaku to join them and when the three of them had already seated, with Lelouch sat in the middle between him and Suzaku, he smiled. "Is this what you two want to talk about?"

"No, not really," his brother said. He saw how Lelouch seemed to be in a deep thought for a moment before his brother looked up at him. "But it somehow is connected with the thing we want to speak with you. And I hope it doesn't bother you."

He blinked, "What are you referring to?"

Lelouch only made a gesture with his shoulders that for once he failed to translate into any human language. What his brother might refer to, he thought. What should bother him? He knew already that Lelouch and Suzaku were together and he had told them that he was content. Though of course he could not tell them the exact reason why he was content. He knew that sooner or later those two would finally… consummate their relationship so it was not a surprise for him. He was perfectly fine and even happy that his brother could come in to adulthood in the hands of such admirable person like Suzaku. So…

Schneizel stopped his train of thoughts as an idea suddenly took form in his mind. Could it be possible that it was finally the time? The time that he had waited and carefully schemed? But it was too soon. At least if he followed his scheme, it was still too soon. It was just a few days after Lelouch and Suzaku got together, he had assumed it would take longer time than mere days for the next step to be executed.

Yet now that he sat there, calculating the possibilities, he could not help hoping that it was indeed the time. He knew he could not be so avaricious, but there was never a law against a man hoping. After all, he thought as he observed Lelouch and Suzaku calmly, all the signs were there.

"Schneizel," he heard Suzaku addressing him. "Like I've just said, there's something that we want to talk with you. You see, Lelouch and I have talked about this and it is our decision to tell you about something."

"And that something is?" he said though he could feel his suspicion grow stronger by seconds. He noticed how Suzaku had an intense look on his face as he regarded him with his gaze.

"Do you remember, that time you told me that you loved me," Suzaku said. "And I remember I haven't given my answer to your confession."

"I believe I also said I expected no particular answer myself," he said, smiling in a way only an angel, or maybe a devil, can accomplish.

"Yes, but I owe you an answer," Suzaku stared right into his eyes with those amazingly brilliant emerald orbs of his that always managed to take his breath away. "And this time I can finally give it to you. Schneizel, I love you."

Ah, he thought, so it was indeed the time when everything should be revealed, when all masks would be discarded, when finally the curtain would fall, indicating the closing of a final scene. He knew that Suzaku loved him, of course. It was part of his grand scheme, after all, his grand scheme that he had woven so carefully so it might ensnare both himself and his dear Lelouch and of course his admirable Suzaku.

It was time to finally let those threads he had spun so tediously did their final performance.

"It's my honor to receive your love," he said calmly. His whole composure betrayed none of the excitement he had in him at the knowledge that everything went as what he had planned. "Like how I believe Lelouch surely feel so much honored to receive your love."

Lelouch smiled and he could see how his hand entwined with Suzaku's on his lap.

"Onii-sama," his brother began. "I have told Suzaku how much I love you as Suzaku told me his feelings for you. I have told him how much you love me as he in return admitted your affection to him. Onii-sama, I know you have said that you were content with how things were going but I am not."

"And neither am I," Suzaku said. "Schneizel, you are precious to us. We love you."

Schneizel found it so effortless to trust what the two had said. He could see how both Lelouch and Suzaku really held him as precious in their hearts. He could see it in their eyes as they looked at him. He could see it in their smiles. He could see it in the way their hand grasping each other as they told him this.

He knew he was loved but it was the time when he finally felt how much he was loved. He felt cherished. He felt treasured. Ha felt fortunate. And he knew he was really blessed to have those two love him like that.

He took a breath and said with the most sincerity he could find in him, "That really means a lot to me."

"Schneizel, do you love me?" Suzaku asked him sternly.

He had no hard time in telling the truth. "Yes."

Lelouch looked straight into his eyes as he also asked, "Do you love me, Schneizel onii-sama?"

"I do, Lelouch," he said. "But I have told you two already how I love you."

"I want you to know that I love Lelouch, so very much," Suzaku said with such earnestness in his eyes. He saw how Suzaku turned his face a bit so he looked straight into Lelouch's eyes as he said his next words of, "I love Lelouch vi Britannia and I will never betray him."

He closed his eyes briefly. He knew Suzaku was honest and he respected him for that. Surely, he was a worthy man for Lelouch. With a smile he said, "That, I believe."

"And Lelouch loves me," Suzaku continued, still looking at Lelouch so tenderly. "I know he will never betray me."

He chuckled, "That, I also believe."

"But we also love you like how you love the two of us," Suzaku said with such seriousness in his voice. "Leouch and I got together because we love each other. The three of us love each other so it's logical if we become together, right? So, Schneizel, won't you be our lover?"

Schneizel could not help a slight figurative wince as he heard those words. That came a bit more unrefined than he expected. Though it was also sooner than he initially expected. Maybe it was a trade off.

"Suzaku," he sighed. "You have such a strange logic."

"See? I've told you!" Lelouch yelled at Suzaku after hearing his words.

"What is so strange in wanting to be together with the people you love?" Suzaku countered.

"Nothing is strange with that," Schneizel agreed. Yes. It was not strange at all, seeing that he, too, wanted that. "Though you could do something with subtlety."

Suzaku frowned, "What's the difference?"

He sighed amusedly. Running his hand through his hair, he chuckled. "In any case, I shall just accept that each person has their own way to get things done. But don't worry, I clearly understand your message. And my answer is yes."

There was only silence following his sentence. He frowned. Maybe the two of them needed some time to digest his words. Oh well…

"Ah, please do excuse my manners, I seem to forgot about your drinks," he said as he made a motion to stand up. "Did you say that you wanted coffee, Lelouch?"

"Yes, I… onii-sama, what did you mean by 'yes'? Do you realize that you have conceded yourself into a… a threesome… with me… and Suzaku!?" Lelouch stared at him with wild eyes that seemed confused. Poor him.

He gave his brother a look of disapproval, "Does that mean that you actually hoped I would reject?"

"No…" Lelouch said, seemingly in a great distress. "No, but… onii-sama, I mean… Suzaku, help me here!"

He turned his eyes to Suzaku. A silent communication passed between them and a mischievous smirk was then apparent on Suzaku's face. If there was something he found himself in great similarity with Suzaku, it had to be their delight at teasing sweet little Lelouch. And that time was surely a very nice chance to conduct their favorite activity.

"Help you with what, exactly?" Suzaku blinked at Lelouch with a perfected look of innocence that he had to give him credit for. "Doesn't everything turn out like what we have hoped for?"

"But…" Lelouch tried, his eyes darted back and forth from looking at him and Suzaku. "But…"

He sighed. If they continued this longer, his dear brother would surely be subjected to a massive panic attack. That would not do, he thought with a deep contemplation. So, with a bit of regret, he sat back down and sighed.

"Lelouch," he addressed his brother with a gentle tone. Cupping Lelouch's cheek with one of his hands, he gave him his smile that he hoped would pacify him. "Why is it always so hard for you to take my words? Do you remember how you seemed reluctant to accept it when I confessed to you how I love you? Do you remember how hard it was for you to accept my words of contentment regarding your issue with Suzaku? And now you even doubted my sincerity when I speak with utmost honesty that yes, I do want to have this relationship with the two of you."

"It's not…" Lelouch bit his lower lip before he continued. "It's not that I don't believe you, onii-sama, it's just that… normally people do not suddenly declare their love to their little brother and then say they are perfectly content that said little brother love another, yet afterward they also give their okay to the idea of having a threesome with said little brother and the lover… it's just…"

"Perplexing?" he tried.

"Very!" Lelouch exclaimed.

He sighed. Using his hand that was previously cupping Lelouch's cheek, he ruffled his brother's hair. He observed how Lelouch squeaked a little at his treatment. He chuckled and only retracted his hand back after he heard enough of the cute little noises his brother made.

"My dearest little brother Lelouch vi Britannia," he said with mock despondency. "Someone so smart yet he could also be so dim at times."

"Onii-sama…?" Lelouch questioned.

"Do you really have no suspicion whatsoever that I might have planned it all along?" he said.

"Planned what?" Lelouch said and this time, Suzaku was also staring at him in curiosity.

"This whole thing, of course," he explained. "Lelouch, dearest brother, for how many years have you known me? Do you really think I will stand idle seeing those I love going away from me? And Suzaku, you know me intimately in our many occasions of sparring, do you really think I will give up so easily without a fight?"

Schneizel sighed, and with a demeaning smile he continued.

"The answer is 'no', obviously," he said. "I love you both, so of course I will try my best to win your love."

"But then…" Suzaku frowned. "You said you were content with Lelouch and I being together."

"I am content indeed," Schneizel said. "The fact that you two being together does not obstruct my attempt at courting you. In fact, I do think it makes the whole process easier for my part."

Lelouch seemed to eye him sharply. "Care to explain more thoroughly, onii-sama?"

"Face it, Lelouch, you and Suzaku are just being difficult," Schneizel said with something that resembled sarcasm in his voice. "Even I, during my short time of seeing the two of you, could understand that you are madly in love with each other. Yet you were being so… pardon me, idiotic, that without my interference I believe you would still dance this folly dance of pining each other in silence for years to come. I was the one who made you confess, was I not, Lelouch? I was the one who made you accept, was I not, Suzaku? I was the one who orchestrated the perfect time and place for the two of you to finally reveal all your feelings and heart's desire, was I not? Surely when you think of it, you can see how I planned for this."

The surprised look being thrown at his direction made Schneizel realize that neither Lelouch not Suzaku had thought about it before. It surprised him for, though he could understand Suzaku's innocent mind, he thought that his brother with his sharp and cunning wits would surely have suspected something. But maybe, he thought with a smirk, Lelouch was enough being troubled with his love predicament that he had no time thinking about his carefully veiled plan.

Well, little brother, he thought, too bad but the checkmate was already in his hands. It seemed he could still trick his brother into following his strategy not only in the game of chess but also in the game of love.

"I love you and I know that you love me," Schneizel said to both Suzaku and Lelouch. "I know should I make my move, should I profess my love, I would have a 'yes' coming from either of you. But I also know you love each other and I wish nothing but happiness to those I love. I know that you two will never get your happiness without each other. So I tried my best, with either subtle or unsubtle way, to get you two together, all the way believing, all the way hoping that your feelings for me would never change even after you found each other. Like how my feelings for you would never change even after I knew that you two are together at last."

Schneizel vi Britannia finished his speech with a satisfied smile. He had revealed his scheme; he had conducted his final move. Now he only had to hear the response from those two stunned young men before him.

"You planned this," Lelouch screeched with his eyes narrowing dangerously at him. "You set Suzaku and me together so you can have us both."

"Indeed," he smiled. "Is that not the very best thing?"

"Onii-sama…" Lelouch said with a look of pure bewilderment on his face. "You… you are… simply… impossible!"

"Thank you, little brother," he smiled genially. And when he saw Lelouch was still glaring dagger at him he scoffed, "Oh come on, Lelouch, you have to admit that you are actually happy with the outcome. You are just cranky because you could not read my carefully organized plan."

Suzaku chuckled lightheartedly and said, "You really hate to lose, don't you, Lelouch?"

Lelouch reversed his sharp glare to Suzaku's direction and demanded, "Why are you laughing?"

"Because I'm happy?" Suzaku said in such sincerity. "Schneizel is right, this is indeed the very best. Isn't being together with those you love the most amazing thing? It all goes like we hoped for so why I should be disappointed?"

"But…" Lelouch said. "My brother is using us as his plot devices, can't you see?"

Schneizel frowned, "That's rude, Lelouch. I did not use you. I merely included you in my plan."

"That's the same!" Lelouch insisted stubbornly. "Tell me, onii-sama, if all this is your plan, then why did you not reveal it to us yourself? Instead you were practically waiting for us to come to you to… to propose such…thing."

Schneizel frowned in horror, "Surely you cannot expect me to do such demeaning thing like… oh, begging for a chance of having a love relationship with you two? No, Lelouch, I might be madly in love with you but I still have my dignity to preserve. Why do embarrassing thing when you can trust somebody else to do it instead?"

Lelouch gaped for some seconds before he pointed his finger toward Schneizel and screamed to Suzaku. "Did you hear that!? He's been using us all along!"

"I see no harm in that," Suzaku chuckled and he even dared to give one very seductive smirk to Lelouch. "Aren't you the one who said the most important thing is the result and not the means to get said result? Lelouch, you have to live up your words. Now we can be together, now we can be happy, what else is there to complain?"

"You… Suzaku…" Lelouch said before he turned his eyes to meet Schneizel's. "Onii-sama… you two… I hate you guys!"

Schneizel chuckled and Suzaku's laughter roared unreservedly between them. With one of his arms, Schneizel seized Lelouch's waist and he observed how Suzaku took hold of Lelouch's shoulder with his own arm. Bending his face close to his brother's, Schneizel dropped a kiss there on his brother's cheek. At the same moment, Suzaku also did the same with Lelouch's other cheek. And the both of them observed with growing interest the blush that was blossoming on Lelouch's fair cheeks as the immediate result of their action.

"Still hate us?" Schneizel whispered softly into Lelouch's ear. He knew his brother was weak to his whisper. In the past he was used to calming him down by whispering in his ear and it always succeeded every time. It seemed it would also succeed that time, considering Lelouch's lack of either verbal or physical struggle.

Lelouch sighed. "Onii-sama, I still hate the fact that you have figured us out so easily and even planned all this without my understanding. But I'm also thankful… no, Suzaku and I are also thankful for you. Yet, this does not mean the end of our problem."

That time, it was Suzaku who asked Lelouch the question of, "What do you mean?"

Lelouch sighed. He put his palm over Suzaku's hand that was resting on his shoulder. He entwined his fingers with Schneizel's hand that was lightly clutching his slim waist. He gave his serene smile and Schneizel, upon seeing that, realized what Lelouch might have meant by his statement.

"You have to understand, Suzaku," Lelouch began. "That we are already accepted as… well, a couple, now. Surely we cannot suddenly announce that we now include Schneizel to be the third person in our relationship. No matter what, Schneizel onii-sama is our professor and he has his status to uphold. Should this fact be known, there is surely a great consequence to pay. I myself have no problem in dealing with it but I don't want to ruin Schneizel onii-sama's reputation. Being a man who loves another man is already something that can put you into difficult situation, moreover when you are in love with your own brother, moreover when you are in love with two people at once, moreover when you are a professor with bright career and so many envious people wanting for your downfall."

Schneizel smiled. Ah, he thought, Lelouch, his brother was indeed a very bright person. Already he could view the situation they were in and gave such astounding opinion about it. Yes, he knew that everything Lelouch said was true. He knew he should never reveal this dangerous game of love the three of them were participating in lest he would face the most disgraceful downfall in his life. Love might be a beautiful word, but Schneizel vi Britannia had been living for twenty eight years already and he knew that love could not resolve everything.

"I'm aware of that," he said. "And truthfully, I also am aware that the only possible solution for this matter is by keeping this a secret, right? Because I love you two too much, it will be simply unbearable if you ask me to forget this idea altogether."

"But…" Suzaku said. "Doesn't that mean you will have to live in lie? Are you saying that you are okay that people don't know about you… and us… and won't that… won't you be feeling hurt?"

He chuckled condescendingly at Suzaku's words, "Trust me, Suzaku, it will take a lot more than that to hurt me. I'm not saying that I enjoyed living a lie but for you, for Lelouch, I'm willing to take this path. This is merely a bit of pain, but the fact that I have you both somehow pays up for that, don't you think?"

"Onii-sama…" Lelouch weakly said. "It's not fair for you."

"I am the one to decide which is fair and which is not, which is just and which is not, which is right and which is not," he said sternly. "This is fair for me, this is just, and this is right. I see no problem, Lelouch, so please don't torment yourself thinking over this unnecessary matter."

After he finished his speech, Schneizel observed that both Suzaku and Lelouch still had a look of remorse on their faces. It was almost as if the two of them felt responsible for his decision, he thought fondly.

"Don't give me that look, you two," Schneizel chided them fondly. "This is something that I myself have decided, and I wholeheartedly accept any consequences that might follow my decision. What I ask is only your support; will you be with me in this?"

"Do you still have to ask?" Suzaku asked him, while Lelouch only smiled and said. "We will always be with you, onii-sama."

"That's enough for me," he said. "Now I believe someone was saying something about coffee. If you would let me, I will prepare some coffee for you, Lelouch. Suzaku, do you want something, tea perhaps?"

Suzaku eyed him for a while before he shrugged, "No, how about we go out for coffee instead?"

He raised one eyebrow. "A date?"

"A date between me and Lelouch while you are just being a meddlesome over-protective big brother who was too paranoid of the prospect of his dear little brother getting molested," Suzaku said with a laugh. "Or at least that is how other people would view it."

That time he did chuckle unreservedly at Suzaku's words. Even Lelouch with his trademarked scoff punched Suzaku lightly on his arm though the laugh coming from his lips indicating none but amusement. True, he mused, other people would never understand their relationship. True, the truth was only shared between the three of them. But seeing the three of them, feeling the close bond he shared with his Suzaku and his Lelouch, Schneizel vi Britannia felt content. It was worth it. He knew that and he also knew that this bond between them would prevail.

"Fine then, let's go out for coffee," he said, standing up to his feet. Suzaku also stood up after him and afterward he helped Lelouch to his feet, the latter still sported a slight wince as he steadied himself on his feet. He almost suggested that maybe they should postpone the idea for another day but Lelouch stared at him with unwavering resolve that he held his tongue back. Instead, he just took his place close by his side, ready to catch him should he fall though in the corner of his mind, he knew Suzaku would never let Lelouch fall, not with the way his arm so securely wrapped around Lelouch's waist like that.

He smiled as he observed the view they were making as they made their way to one of many cafeterias in the Ashford Academy complex. He observed their conversation, every word, and every comment dropped by any of them here and there throughout their trek. He observed every glint of eye, every smile, every silent communication passed between them. He observed the love, so very strong now he could feel it, that formed strongly among them.

Though it was invisible to the eyes of men, their bond was there. It was what had connected them, three separate entities, into one solid unity that was—he smirked as he thought of his choice of words—perfectly triangular.

- the end -

(A/N: this is the end of 'Triangular' and at this moment, we would like to thank you and your support for this fic from the beginning till the end. We thank you for all the kind reviews you gave us and we thank you for giving this fic a chance. We hope you had a great time reading our fic as we too had a great time writing it. With this final chapter, we wish to clear confusion, reveal all hidden plots, expose all intentions, and also explain why this fic is titled 'Triangular'. As always, reviews will be much appreciated. And now please do let us bid you goodbye and we hope to see you in the epilogue.)