Two years had gone by… well.. to be honest, rather deathly slow… Lelouch had just turned 16 four months prior and it was now march. Lelouch couldn't wait to see how Suzaku looked, how he felt and tasted again. The brunette and his father were coming for some official business, a hushed secret that had a pretty negative effect on his mother. It seemed to cause her to become a bit somber for some reason but, whatever, the prince figured she was probably just hormonal or going through menopause or something. She had become increasingly clingy on all topics regarding love, especially surrounding Lelouch's personal knight, Gino Wineberg. It was no secret that Gino thought Lelouch beautiful and had made it clear that, if Lelouch gave the blonde the time of day, he would probably die happy but… well… that was just ridiculous. Lelouch had never officially come out, so he just kept using that as an excuse to his mother for his refusal to allow Gino to court him. But that would all change soon. Soon everyone would know he was gay.. or bi-sexual.. or maybe just Suzkau-sexual. People would find out within the next hour actually, because Lelouch had planned to to straight-away kiss the boy, parents and others be damned. Lelouch didn't really care whether it would have been awkward for Suzaku. If it did, he planned on apologizing in a very intimate manner later. Marianne took one look at the smile on her sons face and spoke up.
"Lelouch…? A..are you sure you want to greet them? Maybe you should wait to greet your friend separately… away from prying eyes?" Marianne blocked Lelouch's view of the front door by standing directly in front of him, as if to protect him from the sight of something. It upset Lelouch, she was blocking his view of Suzaku's entrance. He took a few steps to the side.
"Mother, enough, who's prying eyes?! Yours?" Lelouch stopped attending to his mother when the giant doors opened. Lelouch's smile widened. Genbu Kururugi entered first and walked with an air of pride and smugness that was new for him. Then Suzaku walked in and Lelouch's eyes brightened and his smile went mega beam…! He took a step forward and immediately came to a screeching halt when he noticed the young woman hanging off of the brunettes arm. She was Japanese, no doubt, probably around the same age as Suzaku. She had long light brown hair down her back. Her eyes were a mixture of blue and green. Lelouch's smile was wiped clean off his face and was replaced with a look of confusion, anger and, to those who took note, clear hurt.
Genbu Kururugi was the first to speak
"Allow me the honor of introducing Yukina Hatami. Suzaku's lovely fiancé."
Lelouch stumbled back a few steps and Suzaku reached his free hand to help stabilize him.
"H…hey Lelouch! How are you? Daijobu desku ka? Yukina… meet Lelouch Vi Britannia" It took all of Lelouch's princely willpower to keep from crying.
Although he wouldn't break down, he still wasn't completely in his right mind…
"Y..you said you would.. wait" He whispered as Suzaku's brow furrowed in concern and obvious obliviousness. The Japanese boy was about to say something when Marianne interjected.
"Oh… it's just… I suppose Lelouch figured you would wait at the airport or elsewhere to greet him. He's sick, very feverish, almost to the point of delirium… come, dear, let mother escort you back to bed… sorry about that Yukina, Suzaku… it's very nice to meet you, I'm sure when Lelouch is feeling better, he will no doubt greet you properly. Congratulations on your engagement, may you both share many happy years." and before Suzaku could further inquire about Lelouch's health status, Marianne tugged her little boy away and to his room.
Lelouch promptly burst into tears and his mother just hugged him and didn't say a word, allowing her son to nurse his broken heart, nothing she could say would have helped anyway… it took almost 3 hours of spontaneously breaking out into tears for Lelouch to finally attempt to compose himself.
"There's my prince..." His mother stated encouragingly. Lelouch looked at his mother and something just clicked and he was struck with an epiphany.
"You've… known from the… beginning? Everything makes sense now."
"About their engagement? I'm sorry sweetheart but it wasn't my place to say anything, I was specifically asked and…?"
"N..No..No, not about… oh god" Lelouch started crying again, he couldn't even get the words engagement out of his mouth "I meant… a..bout…you know… us"
"Ah… yes… I did, probably even before my little stubborn boy realized… I ju..just wish that well that I had either done something earlier or… for a different outcome…"
"Hrm… so your suggestion of Gino was….?"
"Yes… after I found out… but Lelouch, if it's worth anything… Gino's feelings are real… people do love you, even if you don't realize it… sometimes if they don't realize it…"
"Hrm…" Lelouch's eyes went into their state of calculation at that thought and the change caused his mother pain and happiness at the same time. Yes, a distraction from his current pain was something she heartily welcomed. But her concern was that whatever her bright boy planned might be an immediate distraction but also might just prolong or cause more long-term pain.
"Mother… I… I need your help" Marianne sighed. It seemed that Lelouch wasn't quite ready to give up this boy or love quiet yet. Well… she knew her son and his stubbornness. He would just replace her role if she denied him and she would rather be close enough to help hedge against additional hurt than be left out and watch a potential disaster ensue for her darling only son. And she really would do just about anything for her kids.
"Yes darling, anything… tell me now, what do you need from your mother…?"
Suzaku had felt horrible at what had happened and how it had happened. Mostly after the fact though. During the situation however, Suzaku was absolutely awe struck at the sight in front of him. Lelouch was as tall as him, if not possibly even a few centimeters taller? The prince had filled out stunningly. He didn't have an hourglass figure like Yukina or other women but his slender frame was statuesque in itself. So much so that Yukina couldn't stop commenting on how absolutely beautiful he was, especially for "how sick he is." And she emphasized that phrase with something more than concern but Suzaku let it slide. Besides, she prefaced it with a compliment and one that the brunette found he couldn't help but wholeheartedly agree. His fiancée turned an eyebrow up when he did but Suzaku's thoughts were focused on Lelouch and that face full of… something.
"So… you two were, close? He addressed you with an air of familiarity that I wouldn't have guessed" His fiancée cautiously asked.
"Uh…" Suzaku blushed hard, that also wasn't lost on Yukina, she stayed quiet though.
"Kinda…? I mean we've only spent less than a combined month together, once when he was 12 and in Japan for 2 weeks and I came here when he was 14."
"Did you come to see… him?" She said the last word with a bit of venom.
"N…no, I mean… we hadn't spoken at all in the two years, he probably didn't even know I was coming until I stepped in view" Suzaku couldn't help but smile at the memory of the warm hug Lelouch had given him last time. Man, he really would enjoy a hug from Lelouch now… Lelouch, of legal age Lelouch.. oh god… 'shut up Suzaku, you can't be thinking like that, your fucking smoking hot and wonderful friend and fiancée is sitting here with you.'
"I came here to accompany my dad on official business..." Suzaku had composed himself and smiled warmly at Yukina, who melted at the smile and scooted over to give him a deep kiss. Suzaku sighed into it, enjoying it to the fullest extent… that he could muster… at the moment. But it wasn't much because his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of a certain raven-haired boy and the hurt and confusion in those beautiful eyes.
And of course, what he had said… "you said you would wait for me" But Lelouch never called or wrote or came to visit, on, before, or after his birthday. To be completely honest though… Suzaku had sort of forgotten it altogether. It was said in such a cursory haste and… seemed so random and out of character. But maybe that's why it was so important? Suzaku strained to remember the circumstances surrounding that statement. He had a vague recollection of pleading eyes full of… something… desperation maybe…? For what though? Ugh. Whatever, he would just ask the prince directly. The one great thing about Lelouch was, he would tell Suzaku, no doubt, then they could work on rectifying their friendship, he really had missed his… the… young prince… 'hrm.. not so young anymore though, ne Rurushu?' Suzaku smirked. Yukina watched him out of the corner of her eye and frowned.
"What are you thinking about….?"
"Just a memory of Lelouch…" Uh oh, he should shut-up. He didn't want to have to lie to his fiancée. Blissful ignorance is what he had decided on with his past with the young prince.
"Ah… I see… would you mind elaborating?"
"Oh, just a time when I was teaching him some Japanese and how much he enjoyed hearing the language. He actually said he thought Japanese sounded romantic…" Suzaku knew he should have stopped talking but he accidentally let it slip while becoming too immersed in the recollection, so… damage control time "Which is so ridiculous, right?! It's what I told him at that time too. I mean, there's French and Spanish, even Portuguese is prettier than Japanese in my opinion… so ridiculous." Yukina frowned for a brief second before she spoke up.
"Well, what does he know anyway!? I mean, a spoiled prince probably knows nothing of romantic languages. And if it's any consolation, I agree with you."
"Oh… well, thank you babe. But I wouldn't say he doesn't know anything of romantic languages. He's fluent in both French and Spanish and well, he had made terrific progress on Japanese, I wouldn't be surprised if he more than fully fluent by now." Yukina's eyes widened at that.
"Oh… oh my. Th..that's very… interesting" She had clearly underestimated the young prince. He was beautiful beyond belief and a polyglot? Hrm… this was… not an ideal situation. But she could handle this…
"yes… commendable..." Suzaku said with a far-away look in his eyes. Yukina worked on bringing him back to her, always and only to her.
"Do you remember when we ran into that Spanish couple on our picnic and they gave us those lollies with salt and chili in them? Haha"
"Oh yeah! And they took such offense when I spit it out on accident. I was little and wasn't expecting candy to not be sweet!" 'Yes' Yukina thought 'I have too strong of a hold for anyone to disrupt our bond, he's my soulmate, we are destined to be together… and I'm the one with the wedding ring on my finger' she looked lovingly at her ring.
"You sure do like staring at that rock huhn? Haha" Yukina smacked her fiancé playfully.
"I think it's… mesmerizing. But not as mesmerizing as your eyes… I could look into those for the rest of my life. And well… I'm so glad that I get too…" Suzaku smiled a warm smile at his fiancée and hugged her. When he closed his eyes though, all he saw were a pair of deep purple eyes. He shook his head clear and tucked himself in next to his fiancé and hugged her tight as they fell asleep.
"Gino… it's only temporary! Only for a few… well… I don't know exactly how long and I'm not about say something that will end up being untrue."
"Lelouch… how could you DO THIS to me? I've wanted to be your knight since I laid my EYES ON YOU!" A desperate blonde boy was on the brink of tears.
"And I PICKED YOU and I'M STILL PICKING YOU GINO! I just need you to go on an indefinite hiatus for now… just for now."
Lelouch was getting frustrated. He was NOT in the mood for this level of defensiveness from his knight. The prince had so many other things to take care of, including one upcoming emotionally charged confrontation to thoroughly plan. 'God Suzaku… WHY…?! WHEN will you figure out you love or want me without me having to manipulate you into recognizing the most obvious of things!"
Lelouch's mind was preoccupied with everything Suzaku and he was about to just kick Gino out of his room, to make him tough-love through this temporary separation. That is, until his knight spoke….
"Please… please don't do this, your highness. I swear, I won't pursue you anymore, I won't make inappropriate advances or say anything. Just… let me stay by you, let me protect you. It's enough for me Lelouch. I swear." Lelouch reflected on his own love and how much it hurt to not have it returned… right now anyway. So the prince stood up and sat next to Gino… and grabbed his hand and held it. Gino looked up and his breath caught.
"Gino… you know how I feel about promises?" Especially after Lelouch had allowed himself to hope for the promise of Suzaku's return to his life to only be met with such utter failure, Lelouch hated promises now more than ever.
"Y..yes your highness" Gino had a look of pure adoration in his eyes.
"You took an oath and you are and always will be bound to me as my knight, for life… and I promise, you will be back by my side. But Gino… as time goes on, especially tonight and with certain extenuating circumstances in my life right now… I've come to realize, more than ever that this break from me is necessary. I demand it, Sir Wineberg. It may be very beneficial for you and myself… hopefully… so, that's an order… ok?" This was the first time the prince had ever asked if a direct order of his was "ok." It took Gino by surprise and god, he loved Lelouch. No way he could deny his prince anything.
"Y…yes your highness. I'll go pack my things"
"And Gino," Lelouch called after the tall blonde, who came to a stop and turned around in the doorway.
"No matter what rumors you see or hear, even if they are directly from my mouth, remember my promise. It trumps anything you hear from this point forward up until you are back by my side… understand?" and Gino didn't truly understand but he was a loyal knight to his beautiful Prince Lelouch Vi Britannia, and he did fully trust his prince, so he smiled and nodded his agreement. The smile Lelouch sent him back took some of the pain of the night away. But only some. And only temporarily.
"So…? Mother? Have you found someone?"
"I have darling… his name is Akito Hyuga. He's met 4 out of the 5 criteria." Marianne the flash sat on her son's bed while they talked… or conspired, whatever.
"Continue…" Lelouch gestured with his hand.
"Well, he's Japanese obviously, he's very handsome, he's a new recruit to the knight of rounds program and has passed the first stage with top scores, and he's an honorary Britannian… but unfortunately, he's only 4 years older than you, he's 20"
"And the most important thing… mother…?"
"His picture? Personality?" his mother teased, she knew what her son wanted to know. But in all honesty, Marianne had a slight hope that maybe her son would truly fall for this fake knight/love interest they were setting up. Even if it was just rebound sex, it would help.
"Mother…" Lelouch rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling an impending headache coming on.
"I'm sorry dear… I don't mean to upset you anymore than you already are. So to answer your question. Akito is very willing to partake. For ample compensation of course, and that has been already been taken care of…"
"Ah… very good… and uhm… m..mother…w..we haven't really talked about this at all but… well..wi..will he be convincing?"
"What do you mean darling? Are you asking if he's a good actor?" Lelouch sighed. God, he was sick of skirting around issues like a little bitch.
"Will he be able to perform being GAY with ME?! It HAS to be convincing and well… if he's straight, then…" Marianne laughed at her son.
"Oh Lelouch, don't you give me ANY credit?! Even though YOU left it off the list of requirements, I found you a 100% queer knight so don't you fret my dear son… in fact… If I were you, I would take full advantage of your situation if you know what I mean…" Lelouch blushed and threw a pillow at his mother before politely asking her if he could be alone for the remainder of the night. She kissed his forehead. It reminded Lelouch of when Suzaku had done that for him. He sighed loudly as she made her way to the door.
"Oh mother…?" Lelouch patted the bed a few times with his hand.
"Yes dear?" She came and sat back down on the bed next to her son. The young prince then hugged his mother and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you." He whispered. Marianne felt all warm and fuzzy inside and she tightly wrapped her arms around her dear only son. Yes, he was her only son and if she could, she would have prevented his heart break but at this point, all she could do was help him move-on in whatever way he needed her to.
Suzaku hadn't been able to see Lelouch for the first 5 days and they were leaving in another week. He was getting desperate and was so happy when an invitation for a three-day-ball was slipped under his and Yukinas door. He knew Lelouch was anti-social but he would no doubt be forced to be there, even if it was for a brief few moments.
The ball-room was magnificently beautiful. And Yukina looked just as stunning. She wore a Britannian/western dress. It was red and cut a low v down her chest between her bosom and came down to her feet, with a slit up the back that barley stopped before the curve of her ass. It was pretty scandalous and Suzaku didn't really like that or the fact that she had neglected to wear the beautiful Japanese dress they had bought together. The brunette wasn't yet fully aware of how much his fiancée coveted everything about western culture, almost to the point of aversion towards Japanese culture. But no matter how revealing the dress was, she wore it confidently and looked absolutely gorgeous in it. It made Suzaku proud to be escorting such a beautiful lady. She caught many people's attention and Japanese boy couldn't help but feel a bit jealous at the leers she was receiving. Maybe his feeling was amplified at how utterly receptive Yukina was to the attention. But what girl didn't revel in that sort of attention?!
However, the murmurs quickly switched from the foreign Japanese beauty to that of another beauty. Suzaku couldn't catch the name but apparently the girl was being nicknamed Aphrodite. Just as Yukina had left to go find more champagne, the grand-ball room doors opened and the caller announced the pair.
"His highness Lelouch Vi Britannia and his escort and knight, Akito Hyuga" Suzaku regretted staying seated as people crowded in front of him clamoring about Aphrodite finally making her entrance. 'Aphrodite is…Lelouch?' Suzaku found himself wondering how that was possible when Lelouch was a guy. But as soon as he laid eyes on Lelouch, the brunette dropped his glass of champagne and it fell on one of the few criss-crossed carpeted sections, effectively cushioning it from shattering or making a noise.
Suzaku couldn't breathe at the sight of Lelouch Vi Britannia in a royal blue silk dress with purple amaranth blossoms and pink Sakura blossoms adorning the soft fabric. Each blossom was outlined with shiny gold embroidery. And the dress had a slit that went gracefully up to about six inches up from the right knee. It was modest yet scintillatingly sexy at the same time, a perfect balance. And Oh god… he was wearing strappy 1'' heels which matched the traditional Japanese collar that was lined with purple gemmed fasteners. Lelouch's hair was tied back with one plain pink ribbon that cascaded and tucked down each side of his face.
Suzaku couldn't tear his eyes away from Lelouch that is until he noticed his arm through his escort's folded arm. A… Japanese guy? No.. wait, he was announced as… his knight. 'I have nothing to worry about… wait… what the fuck, why would I worry?! I… guess maybe I just don't want anyone to hurt him?' Suzaku's eyes followed Lelouch as he walked towards a group of individuals. He vaguely remembered during his last visit, Lelouch had mentioned that one of his council member friends was a big fan of having him cross dress and would force him into the dresses. The anger and disdain that crossed the princes features as he recalled the stories made Suzaku laugh at that time. The prince really could look cute no matter what expression he displayed. However, tonight, Lelouch did not seem to mind wearing such a simple yet elegant dress and he strutted around fully owning his beauty.
"Suzaku?" Suzaku FINALLY let out the breath he had held. God, he had held it for a long time. It came out almost as a huge relief sigh. He finally and very reluctantly had to tear his gaze away from the young prince and looked at his fiancée who stood there with a look of utter… something… sometimes women were really hard to read. Hopefully she would give the emerald-eyed boy a clue.
"Sorry babe, I dropped the glass on accident, butterfingers…" He bent down to pick it up and turned to set it down on the table and pulled his fiancée's chair back out for her. As she sat, Suzaku stole another glance towards Lelouch.
"Ah.. did you?…accident, huhn?" Yukina had watched Lelouch's entrance from across the room as well and was too captivated by his beauty to really glance at her husband-to-be's first impression, which she very much regretted at the moment. However, the glass on the ground was pretty telling. Yukina was quickly developing an anti-Lelouch Vi Britannia complex. Granted the boy hadn't really done anything to cause any friction between her husband and her but she still couldn't help but feel threatened. Well, she would just have to take steps to rectify that.
She downed both her and Suzaku's glasses of champagne and proceeded to glom onto her fiancée from that point on, stealing kisses and hugs and touches at whatever opportunity presented itself. Suzaku, the perfect gentlemen, and a little more than turned on tonight for some reason, was all too happy to oblige. But that was a calculation that Lelouch had reluctantly made. He knew that Yukina would be on the receiving end of whatever sexual desire his presence might stir in older Japanese brunette and even though it made him sick… it was necessity as part of the plan. A plan that he hoped would be successful, oh god, he hoped that Suzaku loved him like he thought the boy did. Lelouch hadn't really given thought to what would happen if the plan didn't work.
"GO AWAY. RIGHT THIS SECOND" Lelouch screamed from across the room, drawing everyone within ear-shot's attention (which happened to be almost everyone at the event). Even Suzaku was taken aback. Lelouch had just screamed at his two sisters, his half-sister Princess Euphemia Li Britannia and his full sister Nunnally Vi Britannia. The brunette had never ever seen Lelouch be mean to them. In fact, he wasn't even sure Lelouch was capable of such a feat. The prince loved them more than anything in this world. In fact, it was his devotion and love for Nunnally which had made Suzaku view Lelouch in a totally new light while he sat and watched his fencing practice a couple years back. Granted the tights had driven Suzaku over the edge, but it was Lelouch's gentle and pure love towards his sister Nunnally that had really endeared the boy to him and driven the older boy closer to that edge. And well, that night had ended… God… it was very difficult to think of Lelouch without somehow coming upon their sexual encounters.
'Was that all we were?' Suzaku thought… 'I mean, I think I've done something to hurt him, he hasn't yet come up to talk to me or Yukina or congratulate us...' but then Suzaku thought that maybe the young prince really was just irate from being sick and tonight was indicative of that? Or maybe he really did hate cross dressing. Either way, the murmurs around the room became more and more widespread… 'From Aphrodite to Hades, eh Lelouch? That's just like you' Suzaku snickered at the analogy and in that instant he felt a deep longing and really wished he could have shared it with Lelouch… *sigh* Just then, however, Euphemia and Nunnally came up to the his table in a huff, talking about how disgraceful their brother had acted. They stopped as soon as they reached Yukina and Suzaku.
"Hello Sir Suzaku Kururugi and Miss Yukina. Suzaku… Lelouch had told us about you and his trip to Japan… I hope you really beat him up hard, bruise his ego a bit!" Euphemia stated with narrowed eyes and Nunnally laughed alongside her.
"ha… yea, don't worry, he got owned every day, multiple times a day… bruises galore" 'and a few hickeys… god damnit…'
"Say… what was Lelouch's outburst about anyway?" Suzaku asked, much to Yukinas chagrin.
"UGH! He's just a major control freak is what it is! Well, at any rate, we're sorry about the scene… our intention was to come and offer our congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. Hello, Miss Yukina, right? I'm Euphemia Li Britannia and this is Nunnally Vi Britannia, so nice to meet you!" Euphemia took the Japanese girls hands and shook vigorously, without letting go.
"EUPHY! You ditzy girl!" Nunally almost screeched!
"What? What?" Euphy jumped, about to retreat under the table for cover…! Then she looked down at the white gloves that Yukina was wearing and how they were now stained red…!
"Oh NO!" Euphemia's face turned as pink as her hair.
"Yes Euphy! Your gloves are soiled beyond belief with strawberry syrup all OVER THEM! You've already marked 3 other people! That's it, I'm officially cutting you off! No more champagne tonight!" Yukinas eyes widened at the mess on her beautiful cashmere gloves.
Both sisters looked absolutely sick with regret and sadness as they practically dragged Suzaku's fiancée to the bathroom in order to try to fix her beautiful gloves.
It was at that moment that Suzaku watched Lelouch angrily storm out onto a vacant balcony, glass of champagne firmly in his hand. The prince passed a waiter and stopped him as he downed his current glass, then grabbed two more and kept on his warpath. 'Perfect!' Suzaku thought as he got up and followed the prince outside.
Lelouch was in the darkest and furthest corner from the door. He was leaning off the railing, looking at the lights and unconsciously swaying his hips to the music that was coming from the ballroom. Suzaku stood there momentarily just watching the boy move. With every sway of his hips, the slit of his gown would part to show a thin pale, lovely leg. Suzaku swallowed and some of his saliva went down the wrong tube and he had to clear his throat, this drew Lelouch's attention and Suzaku was able to notice for the first time how Lelouch's dress really complemented and intensified the shades of purple in his beautiful eyes. Suzaku was silent for a moment, just studying the boy in front of him…
"Hi Suzaku" Lelouch was the first the break the silence.
"Uh… h..hi Lelouch… ha…ve you been avoiding me?" As hard as it was for the brunette, he decided to forgo complimenting Lelouch's beauty due to his sense of propriety and just got straight to the point.
"Yes. But now that you're here, allow me to offer my congratulations. Please extend that to your fiancée as well."
"Why are you avoiding me, Lelouch?"
"Suzaku… I've had a pretty miserable night and well, would you mind terribly if I said I didn't feel like talking about it? Maybe you could even give some thought to it and figure it out yourself. You're relatively smart…"
"… that's not really fair Lelouch…" The prince snorted facetiously at the comment.
"W…what's that supposed to mean? Please Lelouch, you… I do consider you a good friend and… tell me…? Please…" Suzaku's frustration melted into resignation and a desire to have the boy in front of him back in his life.
"Ok Suzaku… I will… but… not right now, it might be a longer conversation than I care to dedicate the time to right now."
"I'm not… our relati… friendship isn't worth dedicating the time to fix?"
"That's not what I said Suzaku… it's just not appropriate right now. We're in the middle of a party. I bet your fiancée would probably mind you ignoring her for… well, however long…"
"You don't even know her, Lelouch… She would understand…"
"Regardless… Meet me later, Suzaku? Tonight? Meet me here, after everyone's asleep. The witching hour… 3 a.m…?"
Suzaku swallowed, remembering all the times Lelouch would attempt to get him alone for his ulterior motives… but the brunette had to remind himself the differing circumstances now. He was engaged and not even Lelouch would stoop down to that level of seduction. Plus, Suzaku could see no lust in Lelouch's eyes. And that kind of unsettled the brunette…? No, he was just drunk and horny and Suzaku was all of a sudden very glad for having his fiancée here with him so he could relieve his pent up sexual tension in a healthy manner. After all, him and Lelouch could never work and he even had enumerated those reasons.
"…Yeah, Ok…"
"Well, you should be getting back…"
"What about you?"
"I'd like to stay a bit longer, to get some more fresh air" and just as Suzaku was about to ask to stay with Lelouch, the raven haired boy punctuated his sentence
"alone…"
"Ah… right, sorry if I intruded."
"Oh… you didn't… you know, I missed you Suzaku." Suzaku smiled a bright smile and at the same time his stomach fluttered… wow… that was weird… 'Probably just happy that whatever ice between us is melting'
"I…boku mo" Lelouch couldn't help but smirk outwardly and internally at the words. Although his internal smirk wavered as he remembered that those words coupled with Lelouch's demeanor and over-all beauty would probably cause the brunette to have ravenous sex with his fiancée. But still… Suzaku was worth it… right? Suzaku smiled again and Lelouch looked into those emerald eyes 'Yes… he is' And it was very difficult for the young prince not to comment on how absolutely mother fucking amazingly, magnificently gorgeous he thought the Japanese boy looked in his pristine white suit. But he restrained himself. Compliments were something he was going to dangle in front of the older boy but not divulge, not yet anyways. Suzaku needed to realize everything he was throwing away. Speaking of the plan…
"Oh, Suzaku, wait… could you do me a slight favor though? Hopefully it won't be too big of an inconvenience but I would really like the help of a …. Friend" Suzaku perked up immediately.
"Y..yeah of course Lelouch!" he was almost like a little puppy with a ball, begging for his owner to throw it. Lelouch remembered the growl he let out when he… NO, not the time.
"Well… as I'm sure you know, I made quite the scene earlier and I'm sort of curious, as a social experiment, what everyone really thinks of me. People are drunk, inhibitions are down, I've already given them ammunition, and I'm sure slanderous things are being said… I want to know what they are… if you could discretely make mental notes…? Or if it's not too big an inconvenience, even drop my name to somehow to stir up their opinions…" This was so like Lelouch.
"Well, I know you don't care about their opinions, especially THAT breed of people, so… you must be doing this for another reason. Leave it to you to run a social experiment without actually being social and dumping it on someone else, haha, you haven't changed" 'I hope you haven't either' Lelouch prayed as he laughed with his friend. 'God… I missed your laugh… your voice…' the brunette thought, almost letting it slip out of his mouth. Lelouch's voice hadn't gotten deeper but it had a more confident cadence 'sexy…' was how Suzaku once described it and try as he might, that still seemed the best adjective.
"haha, Ok Lelouch… I don't mind…I'll report back to you tonight, yes?"
"Hai, arigatou"
"Doitashimashite" Suzaku turned to leave and paused, took another step, hesitated and turned back around.
"Uhm… Lelouch…?"
"Yes Suzaku…?"
"You well… ahem… I'm sure you've heard it many times over tonight but, well… I just…that is…"
"Spit it out idiot, we don't have all night"
"youlookravishing" Suzaku said it quick enough to be one word as he turned on his heels and practically left screech marks as he retreated.
Well, Lelouch's plan was going perfectly so far.
Not soon after speaking with Suzaku, the emerald-eyed boy watched Aphrodite leave, again with an arm wrapped around the young Japanese knight and maybe it was just Suzaku but he noted how Lelouch was sort of… leaning? On the knight? With his head almost draped onto the lithe Japanese shoulder as they walked out. It reminded Suzaku of how after he had gotten Lelouch off, Lelouch rested his forehead on his shoulder. The memory caused a familiar heat to start rising stirring in his lower body.
"Yukina… let's go babe?" Yukina couldn't help but notice how quickly after Lelouch had left her fiancée wanted to leave as well and the look of lust in his eyes… 'ah well…' Yukina was drunk and fairly certain that she could do things to Suzaku to make him forget all about that young prince. Suzaku was hoping to get out of there quickly but it turned out that his fiancée was pretty social while he was busy speaking with Lelouch. They spent the next 45 minutes saying bye to various individuals they had met and Suzaku spent that time prompting the topic of Lelouch to gather the necessary information for their upcoming get-together. Suzaku also put his phone on vibrate and set an alarm for 2:50 a.m.
The topic of the young prince was brought up in a fairly indirect way and not very often considering most people were already freely speaking about the prince. Yukina had taken note though, opting to stay quiet for the time being, especially since everyone he questioned said negative things about the young prince. But just as Suzaku didn't notice how his fiancée had taken note of Suzaku's subject matter, in the same way, the brunette also neglected to notice how most of the people they were saying goodbye to were handsome single men around his own age. Probably because right now, all Suzaku wanted to do was have sex and at the same time, all Yukina wanted to do was have her man pound her into a pulp, she had plans tonight, she was going to mark her territory.
The couple both left with the same person on their mind however. Yukina was ecstatic at the deleterious comments being spread about the prince, some she herself had said, outside the company of her fiancé of course. She knew the young prince was a wretched person even before meeting him, she could tell straight away but it seemed Suzaku needed a bit more convincing and she figured that that was the reason he was trying to find out about what people thought about the prince. And Suzaku was focused on how the prince had clung to his knight a little closer than was appropriate for a knight, maybe? 'Well, I don't really know much about the prince/knight relationship but I do know that it is very close and intimate and… no, Lelouch was probably just drunk and needed the leverage.'
Later that night, during the act of fucking Yukina, Suzaku was totally and completely focused on his partner, thinking of no one else and nothing else but pleasing his fiancée. Yukina however, pictured a few other men she had met that night as she watched her fiancée on top of her. After sex though, Suzaku fell asleep to the thought of a beautiful boy in a gorgeous traditional Japanese dress. Yukina fell asleep to the thought and sight of her beautiful fiancé in his white suit.
"Oniii-saann!" Nunally and Euphy were sitting on Lelouch's bed as he fumbled with the clasps on his dress.
"THIS THING IS INSUFFERABLE… I SWEAR if I didn't HAVE to wear this stupid abomination…"
"Oh… ni-san, how can you say that you disapprove of Aphrodite's dress!"
"Ugh, please don't remind me of those uncouth imbeciles and their absolutely crude and unoriginal metaphors!"
"What would YOU have chosen then to liken yourself to…?"
"Hrmph, well FIRST OFF, I'm a MAN so if ANYTHING I should have been Adonis… but honestly… greek mythology, still, boorish and totally predictable… Maybe Lakshmi or Kisshoten…? God, even Helen of Troy or Juliet would have been better!...ugh… let's change the subject, were you able to spread nasty rumors about me?" Lelouch smirked.
"Oh yes Ni-san… it was very fun playing your scorned sisters!" Euphy beckoned.
"It was hard for Euphy! She really shouldn't drink and act!" Nunally stated as a pillow came flying towards her face.
"I DID JUST FINE! Thank you VERY much! I didn't see YOU getting strawberry jam all over that hoe's gloves! Ugh. At the end we just threw some money at her and left!"
Both girls started laughing uncontrollably and Lelouch couldn't help but smile and giggle a bit himself.
"Yea well, at least I DIDN'T almost burst out laughing when Lelouch yelled at us! Imagine! Our entire PLAN would have been in jeopardy then!" Nunnally retorted back at the her pink-haired sister.
"Nu unh! Not true! Ni-san always has back-up plans for his back-up plans! What was your contingency plan for if that happened Lulu?" Euphy asked seriously.
"Ah… yes, my plan was to say you had gotten drunk and mixed your pain meds with your anti-psych meds." and now only Lelouch laughed because all three of them knew that he was completely serious and that that was the truth and it was… kind of scary.
"Uhm… remind me to never cross you Ni-san!" Nunnally said as she tackled Euphy in an attempt to stifle her sisters imminent beat down of a certain raven-haired brother of theirs. Euphy redirected her actions towards her sister and they started rolling around tickling and play-fighting each other.
"Ahh! Ahh! Enough, go to bed young ladies! It is entirely too late for you to be up! Respectable young ladies to go sleep at decent hours…" Lelouch lectured his sisters.
"And what about respectable young men? Do they go meet their old fuck buddies on balconies at three a.m.?!" THERE! Now Euphy felt a bit better for Lelouch's stupid contingency plan of ruining her life and reputation!
Lelouch couldn't help but smile and be proud at how stingingly condescending and quick her retort had been…
"Beautiflly crafted insult, Euphy! 7 points"
"Ugh… I'm ever going to get 10 points!" The pink-hair bobbed in defeat.
"Practice dear girl! Now, sleep while you are still drunk, lest you fully recall how awful Euphy's acting really was, a tableau so wretched that even with the offer of eternal youth and life, the dead would still not attend." Lelouch winked at his sisters as they reluctantly got up to leave. Euphy stormed out and Nunally turned back to her brother at the cusp of the door.
"Perfect 10 dear brother, once again! Haha."
"Haha, oh thank you my lovely lovely sister! Oyasuminasai!"
"Goodnight, I love you."
"And I you… always, forever!"
Suzaku woke up at 2:30, before his alarm had the chance to go off and he made his way out of his bed. He knew Yukina wouldn't stir. He could guage how drunk she was by her amorous activities and boy did he have the marks to prove how utterly plastered she was. So Suzaku dressed in relative peace and exited their room at 2:45 and made his way to the ballroom balcony. He was surprised to see the chandeliers dimmed but everything else was pristinely clean. He knew that it was all going to be repeated the next night and then for one more after that. The brunette walked out to find Lelouch in a pair of jet black silk pajamas and a royal blue robe on top that went down to his upper thighs.
"Cold?" Suzaku asked Lelouch as the younger boy hugged his arms closer to himself.
"…N.. no, I'm rehearsing for the role of "ice prince" in this year's rendition of "cold balcony" there's an opening for "oblivious guy" you should try out…!" Lelouch rubbed the sides of his arms.
"ha… wow.. god, you are still such a little… brat." Suzaku said it playfully with a slight smirk on his face.
"And you are still an idiot." Suzaku couldn't help but note the lack of playfulness in the retort…
"Why am I an idiot Lelouch? What did I do?"
"You… ugh, do you really not have ANY idea? Any clues Suzaku? Tell me, are you THAT daft?!"
"Lelouch… petty insults aren't going to help resolve anything…"
"Tell me Suzaku… why do you feel the need TO resolve this…?" The brunettes eyes went wide and his jaw slackened and opened in surprise.
"W..what?! What kind of a question… because we're friends, Lelouch. We.. I.. care about you… do you, doubt that?"
"Yes"
"Why?!"
"… because… you said you would wait for me"
"What does that even MEAN Lelouch!?"
"Suzaku… what did you hear about me tonight?"
"Don't change the subject Lelouch! What do you mean I was supposed to WAIT for you! Tell me…" Suzaku got up from his chair and moved closer to Lelouch.
"I am answering your question Suzaku… so what did they say?"
"Ugh, I'm really not in the mood for riddles or round-about ways to explain something that should be simple."
"Well Suzaku… it's the furthest thing from simple but if you're not up for this, may I bid you a good night and happy marriage…" Lelouch started walking past him as the brunette caught his wrist and put both his hands on Lelouch's shoulders to move him back to his original spot, leaning against the balcony wall… The brunette let out a large, highly emphasized exasperated sigh…
"They… well, they said pretty much said everything you would expect after that outburst, that you were pompous and spoiled and a control freak."
"there we go…"
"What?"
"How many said I was a control freak?"
"A…actually… the majority… that was the most stated, probably…"
Lelouch smiled a meek little smirk
"And I don't refute that, because I can't. Any of the claims really. They're all true to an extent. But that last one… control, oh Suzaku, as I've grown, I've realized that I'm highly dependent on my control… you were exposed to that at points too… when we first met and.. you helped me achieve a new degree of control over my body… but you did it by completely stripping me of control of the situation, of my body yourself… and you know how I felt…feel about that…" Suzaku closed his eyes allowing each memory to project back through his mind… he really hoped Lelouch was getting to his point soon or Suzaku wouldn't be able to prevent getting affected… "It was… so starkly different Suzaku… then the last time we saw each other, you again controlled the situation. You dictated the pace and each articulation and sensation…"
"L..Lelouch… I don't see what this has to do with.."
"P..please just let me finish Suzaku…" and Suzaku couldn't really argue that even if it wasn't appropriate, god he wanted to hear this, in Lelouch's voice too. He was framing the experience in a way which Suzaku had never viewed it. He never really considered the dynamics behind the act of sex beyond the pleasure aspect.
"You… dominated me Suzaku, me, more than once. Me, someone who would crumble without carefully crafted and maintained control over things concerning my own life, desires and wishes. But with you… you penetrated that, with your words and well, just, by being you. And Suzaku. I loved it. Oh, you have no idea how much I enjoyed your commanding, demanding, dominating me, I wanted more, I wanted to lose all control, to submit to you totally… I wanted you to be my first… my, everything… so I did something stupid and I made you tell me you would wait for me… and I don't regret doing that. Not one bit. What I do regret is how I lost control over the situation by adding so much significance to it, to count it as a promise… you remember how I feel about promises… and well… I hoped, for two years, I hoped that we would be together, hoped that I would have the chance to tell you I loved you and for a chance for you to say it back... And well… I'm to blame for that. And you are to blame for not keeping your word or maybe for not taking what I said seriously… I don't really know…" Lelouch was now looking down at the ground.
Suzaku's fists were clenched and he was completely aroused yet sad… so sad... He recognized where this was going and didn't do enough to stop it… and it had been his fault, he did lead on a 12 and then 14 year old boy. The brunette had no idea what to say, apologize? Would it even do any good? Why would Lelouch do this? Lelouch was at fault too though, for manufacturing this situation they were in now. God, he continually and fervently seduced Suzaku and then said all those things about him, goading him into saying those things back to him.
"Lelouch… don't do this… just… I TOLD YOU it wouldn't work. I… I have responsibilities. I'm an only child, only son, I have to marry and produce an heir… I never said my sexual orientation, I said sexual PREFERENCE. And I prefer Yukina. Did you ever consider the words I SAID? When I brought up the age difference? Or the fact that we're both boys?! Or that you're a prince and I'm something equivalent to your guards or help and that I'm an ELEVEN, I'm Japanese and you're Britannian. I TOLD you all this…" Suzaku didn't want to get angry but he just felt so helpless and that fact made him angry. He was frustrated that it had gotten to this point. Frustrated at himself. Frustrated at Lelouch. Frustrated that he couldn't do a damn thing to fix it!
Lelouch's eyes narrowed at the callous response. Was Suzaku REALLY trying to put ALL the blame on Lelouch for everything?!
"Well Suzaku… If I fucking had CONTROL over who I fell for, TRUST ME, it most certainly would NOT have been YOU! You're just a coward, skirting around the fact that you had NO accountability for us being in this situation. GROW UP. You're just as responsible. You're just full of dastardly excuses! You're one GIANT EXCUSE of a human being!"
"Yea right Lelouch, I'm the excuse. Being HONEST about the repercussion and consequences is an EXCUSE. Where as YOU… you're just… UGH… Congratulations on manipulating this entire situation just for what me to FUCK YOU?! Or for you to get your POINT ACROSS?!"
"Only to fuck me? No Suzaku… I wanted you to… make love to me and if you thought it was only sex then well… I can't help that. And well, I think I've said all I've needed to and it's late so… So again, congratulations on your engagement and please don't forget to extend it to your fiancée as well… goodbye Suzaku" Lelouch stated calmly, except for the last words, which were dripping with sadness. And with that Lelouch walked calmly past Suzaku, leaving a wide breadth so that he wouldn't be caught again by the brunette.
And granted it was a stupid way to end the argument but Lelouch realized that the time for words was over, he had said everything he needed to and now… now it was time to PROVE to Suzaku just exactly how each and every one of his "conclusions and repercussions" were JUST EXCUSES. And what better time and place then NOW.
"Akito! Let's go"
"Of course Lelouch" Suzaku was about to run after Lelouch to give him a piece of his mind. What a stupid way to end the argument nothing was resolved… then the brunettes mind came to a screeching halt when he watched Lelouch walking calmly with his hand laced through his knights hand. 'UGH… it's probably just another stupid PLOY… he wouldn't ever be with an honorary britann…' FUCK. Suzaku got even MORE PISSED AT THE SIGHT and had to go for a 2 hour run to clear his mind and release some pent up frustration. By the time Suzaku got home, his felt no better or worse. He felt confused and aroused and… he went to the shower, making damn sure he didn't touch himself while remembering the words Lelouch had said… and he wasn't sure if he was madder that Lelouch had fallen for him, or the fact that he had seriously considered taking Lelouch right then and there on the balcony to fulfill the princes long-standing request. God he was fucked up. What a mess.
Lelouch hated that he had to manipulate certain situations and even if Suzaku saw through it, it was still necessary to do it to get his point across. And he was pretty sure he did a superb job. And what was best was that it was pure honesty. Suzaku realized that Lelouch had lied maybe about the social experiment and Nunnally and Euphy and therefore, setting up their little encounter. But even Suzaku would come to realize that everything else Lelouch said was the truth. The sad and pathetic truth. 'God, I am sad and pathetic….'
When he reached the door, Akito turned to Lelouch and gave him a gentle kiss on his lips
"You know your highness" he whispered in in Lelouch's ear.
"What's that…?"
"You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for and… I know it's cliché but… time does heal all."
"Can one heal from unrequited love?"
"Yes, absolutely. And if anyone can. It's you." Akito gave Lelouch and genuine smile and Lelouch actually felt slightly better as he retreated into his room. 'Could I really get over Suzaku…? I mean I was never technically 'under him'… and well… I really may not have a choice…' Lelouch closed his eyes and tried to will himself to sleep. It didn't work very well.
"UGH… I feel like SHIT… WATER SUZAKU… MIZU MIZU MIZU" Yukina screeched like a banshee in heat.
"Yes dear… hold on…"
"No… no hold on, oh god, no pleaseee"
"Here you go babe. Here's some aspirin too. Rest… ok? I'll go get us some breakfast and we'll spend the entire day in here lounging around so you can recouperate, sound good?"
"Mmmm… you're so good to me Suzaku Kururugi."
"No Yukina… you're good to ME. You've… you've always been there for me ever since we were kids… thank you for that" Suzaku felt like he constantly needed to remind himself of why he was with Yukina. More now than ever.
"You're welcome babe, it wasn't really a burden you know."
"Neither was being your friend." This was exactly what Suzaku needed. To reground and reorient himself to why he was in love with Yukina. And she was going to have his baby. An heir. And be a loving mother and wife and raise their children with Suzaku as a happy family.
It had been five hours alone in the room with Yuki and Suzaku was about to pull his hair out from boredom. After him and his wife spoke about their childhoods for an hour, they had sex and afterwards, couldn't settle on a single thing they would enjoy doing together. Suzaku couldn't help but let his mind wander to how he could spend days upon days with a 12 year old and not get this bored. No. Suzaku was just distracted, that was why he couldn't figure out what to do with his fiancée.
"I'm going to go work out, ok? You want to come…?" Suzaku was met with a derisive chortle.
"I don't work out."
"Not at all…? Not even a tiny bit? Like even 15 minutes a day?" He remembered influencing a certain raven-haired prince to integrate at least that much into his routine. God, who was he kidding when he said he didn't have any responsibility in how this all ended up.
Suzaku finally let his mind wander to the what the potential solutions to this could be and well, he only came up with one. And that was, for Lelouch to realize that him and Suzaku weren't meant to be and for Lelouch just… well… get over him. 'I hope it doesn't take long though… I do miss you Lelouch'
Suzaku and his soon-to-be wife were getting dressed again for the ball. To be honest, the brunette wasn't really feeling like going but he sucked it up. Maybe he could see Lelouch and they could talk about the solution or maybe a time table…? Would the prince be over this by the time Suzaku's wedding rolled around? The older Japanese boy knew that Lelouch wasn't stupid and certainly came up with the same conclusion of having to just get over him. 'Someone else in the prince's life would no-doubt help propel that.' Although, that thought made the brunettes stomach churn and he progressed to wondering if Lelouch would have a different escort tonight. He kinda hoped so.
Lelouch didn't wear a dress. He wore a purple suit with a white frocked shirt. He looked every inch of regal. He was asked to dance by numerous people but declined everyone but his sister Nunally. That is, until his knight came up and Lelouch's eyes lit up and he smiled a bright smile. Suzaku looked away. He went out on the balcony to get some fresh air. If Lelouch wanted to bring shame upon his reputation and his name, well then maybe it was something that he needed to learn the hard way.
Suzaku hated how right he was. He heard the murmurs already start when Lelouch danced with his knight. About how close they were dancing and what it meant. Suzaku aimlessly walked around. Yuki was much more amiable than him and was talking from person to person but Suzaku didn't much feel like it. In fact… if anybody had really been paying attention to him, they would have called him a creep for practically staring at Lelouch the entire night.
This was getting ridiculous. The brunette's wife was off speaking to someone or another and at first, had insisted that her wonderful emerald-eyed fiancé accompany her. However, she didn't say it with much conviction and that, added to the fact that Suzaku was in not in a social mood at all, left him sitting at his table, idly staring at a certain raven-haired prince frolicking with his knight. However, as the night went on, the brunette was getting more and more irritated at how much he was ogling said prince so he consciously fought the urge to stare. It took an immense locus of concentration, but he managed it for the rest of the night. Until his fiancée came up, plastered again and ready to progress onto more privately amorous activities. Even though the brunette wasn't much in the mood for sex, he knew that he would oblige his fiancée's request, after-all, if anything, the release would at least help Suzaku sleep. So she slid her arm through his and leaned almost the entirety of her weight on the Japanese boy, who gladly steadied his fiancée with one arm around her waist as he guided them back to their room.
"Oof" The couple collided with someone who had rounded the corner of the long corridor they had just reached. Suzaku's eyes widened at the sight.
"L..lelouch…"
"Ah, so sorry, I should have been more mindful of where I was walking… stupid blind corners. Ah… hello, I don't believe we've properly met and I apologize for that… I'm Prince Lelouch Vi Britannia, 11th successor to the Britannian Empire." Suzaku furrowed his brow at the introduction. Lelouch hardly ever brought attention to his full princely title or claim to the throne.
Yukina's eyes flashed with derision before she finally put her hand in Lelouch's proffered hand so he could kiss it, a sign of immense respect for a prince to do. It should have been the opposite but Lelouch's goal was to convey the perfect balance of humility and arrogance. Hence using his full title, besides, it did good to remind everyone involved (*cough* Yukina *cough*) of exactly how far superior he was in station and class. It was a carefully constructed set of tactics he was enacting.
"Yukina Kruru… oh not quite, excuse me.. Hatami, my maiden name… soon to be replaced by my beautiful fiancé here." Lelouch smiled a genuine smile. This girl was certainly a worthy adversary but she had no idea who she had crawled into the rink with. Suzaku could only blush at the exchange while staring at the floor like an idiot.
"Of course, I do apologize for not personally offering my congratulations, I've been somewhat preoccupied so allow me to say it now. May you two live long, healthy, and happy lives together." Suzaku was awe-struck at how easily Lelouch was able to say the words and with such an air of sincerity. The brunette figured it would be at least a bit hard for Lelouch to utter words of that nature, especially after his confession the previous night, but they flowed out of his mouth as if they were meant to be spoken. Maybe the prince was well on his way to healing? Suzaku ignored the pang of sadness he felt at that thought. Besides, Yukina had turned into Suzaku to put her arms around his neck for more "support" as he wrapped both his arms around her waist.
"heh… she's a bit.. tipsy…" The brunette felt the sudden urge to explain the perfectly normal situation. Yukina snuggled closer to her fiancé's chest.
"Mmm… that and it's so chilly and you're so warm Suzaku… you always manage to warm me up." Suzaku rapidly blinked and he let out an awkwardly hesitant laugh. It was difficult for the brunette to make eye contact with those piercing purple eyes but this was not the time or situation for him to blather and blush in front of his fiancée. So he tried to steer the conversation to something more neutral and less sexual.
"Yeah… well it IS actually really cold. I'm rather surprised at the weather here. It's definitely going to rain…" Lelouch smiled at him before speaking.
"Yes well, hopefully Britannia's finally drawn the wrath of Raijin and Susanoo to it's shores, it's high time, I'd say…" Suzaku's eyes widened beyond belief at the mention of the Shinto god of storms and seas and of the other of lightning and thunder… not to mention the prince's nonchalance at outwardly chastising Britannia's treatment of his homeland of Japan.
"ahem… who?!" The brunettes fiancée snorted and chortled before she asked. And before Suzaku could answer, he was shocked into silence as a figure rounded the corner and wrapped his arms around the young prince.
Lelouch initially flinched at the contact, then relaxed, leaned back into the embrace and tilted his head as he felt lips graze his neck.
"mmm… it's soo sexy when you mention Shinto culture like that… I love it…" A rather handsome Japanese boy held Lelouch very close as he finally open mouth kissed and lightly nibbled his prince's neck and whispered "so beautiful…" loud enough for everyone there to hear.
Suzaku felt an overwhelming urge to either pull Lelouch away or to punch the guy holding onto his… the prince.
Lelouch blushed hard as his hands went to those wrapped around him as he tugged them loose and guided his knight to his side.
"aww… and here I thought you were an exhibitionist" the knight visibly pouted and Suzaku couldn't help but finally note how utterly good looking the guy was. He was maybe an inch or so shorter than the prince and Suzaku and had a rather thin physique except when it came to his shoulders, which were broader than Lelouch's. The brunette knew how well built the boy must be under his pristinely white knight's uniform. After all, the personal knight to a prince was the highest rank and commendation a knight could receive and was most definitely highly coveted. Besides, Lelouch wouldn't pick someone incapable, no matter his attraction.
"In… certain situations Ki (pronounced key), this is not one… uhm. Suzaku Kururugi, the future Mrs. Yukina Kururugi, may I present Akito Hyuga… my knight." Suzaku's eye twitched at the informal nickname the prince had used and he sort of hated how Lelouch had called Yukina the future Mrs. Kururugi, for some reason.
"mmm, and hopefully soon to be more than that… " Akito added as Lelouch rolled his eyes and lightly shook his head. Lelouch was about to call the boy an idiot and tell him to shut up but he didn't want to use Suzaku's playful nickname for fear of the brunette thinking he had been completely replaced.
Then the knight leaned in to give Lelouch a small chaste kiss on the lips before turning to the two individuals in front of him.
"Hello… so nice to meet you. And sorry about that. Sometimes, he's just too irresistible, especially when he's so knowledgeable and dedicated to my… our… culture. Ne, Suzaku, Yukina? I'm sure you know a bit about that…" And Suzaku secretly wanted to tell the knight he knew exactly how irresistible Lelouch was and exactly how much the prince returned that sentiment with him… Suzaku thought all that even though the other Japanese boy was clearly speaking of Lelouch's love for Japanese culture.
But Suzaku had been stunned into silence the entire time. His stomach had dropped from under him at the sight and situation occurring in front of him. He'd never felt this combination or intensity of emotions. Jealousy, regret, anger, lust, affection…? Love…? No… he loved Yukina, it couldn't be love… But God, did he want to be the one who could kiss and hold Lelouch like that. Especially after he mentioned the culture he so dearly cherished.
"Ah uhmm…" Suzaku took one of the hands that was holding Yukina to frantically rub the back of his neck. Yukina immediately picked up on the situation and deeply kissed her fiancé, who drew back as much as he could, which wasn't much considering he was holding her up with his arm around her. He had never denied Yuki like that and she wasn't about to allow it. She just leaned further into it.
"Y..yuki… that's rude. We're… in front of people." Lelouch just smiled as he continued, as if nothing had even happened.
"Oh, please, it's fine. I get it." He looked directly into emerald eyes, trying to convey something across the divide between purple and green. Suzaku briefly thought that Lelouch might have been saying he understood how hard it was to keep ones hands off the Japanese brunette. But… no, that couldn't be it… Suzaku was just reading too much into things. But then the young prince continued.
"And yes, I do so love Japanese…. Culture. After all, it was the first foreign culture I've ever experienced." And Lelouch maintained searing eye contact with Suzaku as he emphasized certain words, while idly gnawing his bottom lip, a gesture reserved intimately for Suzaku. It was at that point that the brunette fully understood exactly what was being directed towards him. And it excited him. He finally perked up a bit…
But then, doubt was introduced again as the young prince took his knights hand while giving him a look that shone with affection. But Suzaku didn't have time to properly interpret the gesture.
"Suzaku! Let's go baby… I… I need you. Sorry about being inappropriate but, well… Suzaku's just as irresistible to me as your prince is to you…" The brunette felt like screaming at his fiancée but before he could reprimand her Lelouch spoke.
"But of course, I'll bid you two adieu. Have a… pleasant night" Lelouch winked at Suzaku and the brunette hated it. Hated that Lelouch was wishing him to have good sex with Yukina. Hated how Lelouch was in another Japanese mans arms. Hated how much he had forgotten how fucking amazing the young prince was. Hated himself for wanting to sit and talk to Lelouch about Shinto Gods rather than escorting his fiancée back to their room to… fornicate. Hated that he HAD to have sex with her when he wanted to have sex with Lelouch. Oh fuck. FUCK. No way, he couldn't think like that. That line of thought could be very detrimental, damaging to his future.
So he shut his brain off as best as he could as he practically carried the bundle of hormones back to their room. Luckily though, she had fallen asleep almost immediately upon hitting the bed. Then Suzaku was frightfully alone with his thoughts and brunette briefly considered that this might be even an even worse fate. At least if he was having sex, he would be somewhat distracted. He couldn't take it, the brunette was always a physical person and his frustration was so pent up that he had to do something. Yukina was adamant about him spending time with her rather than partaking in his daily work-out and it was currently having negative effects on him. The emerald-eyed boy went out for a run. In the rain. Which only reminded him of Raijin and Susanoo and Lelouch… and more Lelouch and then finally, only Lelouch. He got back and went to take a shower to warm up and for the first time in a long time, allowed himself to think of the beautiful prince as he touched himself. The fact that he came so hard, harder than he ever had with Yukina just made him even angrier. God, he needed another run.
It was the third and last night of the 3-night ball and Suzaku had tried his level best to get his fiancée to excuse him from the event. However, she had received a sizeable sum from Euphemia and Nunnally for ruining her gloves and had promptly gone out and bought 3 dresses and 2 pairs of gloves and she still had some money left over.
"Suzaku, you HAVE to escort me! I just bought this dress. I bought it for YOU."
"Then baby, let only ME see you in it."
"But I want everyone to know that I'm yours."
"I think that rock on your finger already does the job pretty well. Plus, we haven't been exactly quiet about it…" Suzaku felt kinda sick and sad at how much the two had been flaunting their engagement and love for one another. In fact, he sort of regretted it, it was crude and uncivilized. It was something Lelouch would never have done. Although, yesterday that knight had said Lelouch was an exhibitionist and that thought sort of turned the brunette on. God, that knight, FUCK HIM. But why?! The brunette didn't know why. In fact, logically… it should have been quite the opposite. He should be GLAD Lelouch was moving on. But… but with a Japanese guy? And a knight? Even Suzaku was at a higher standing politically and hierarchically than that. Whatever, Lelouch was only going to embarrass himself. Plus, Suzaku was engaged to his best friend and she was going to bear him an heir and as soon as he wasn't in close proximity, he would forget Lelouch, like he kind of did every time they departed one another's company. So the brunette regrettably sucked it up and started getting dressed. His fiancée however, was too preoccupied with her own image to notice his acquiescence.
"I know, and I love my ring. Let me show it off some more tonight? Please? It's the last night!"
"I'm already getting dressed babe"
"hehe, right! I love you Suzaku Kururugi"
"I love you too Yukina Hatami"
"You mean Yukina Kururugi… please" Suzaku was glad that he was already halfway in the bathroom because he just closed the door before obliging his fiancée who was more than distracted with her own reflection and dress at the time and let him retreat easily.
"SUZAKU…!" Yuki came bounding up to him. *Sigh* she was drunk yet AGAIN.
"Yes dear…?"
"I have the BEST NEWS…! I just spoke with a man who handles weddings and other events, he planned this one and Marianne was there and I happened to mention how beautiful I found the grounds here and the man then mentioned how nice it would be to have our wedding here and Marianne agreed!"
"Shhh Yuki.. it's EMPRESS Marianne and and.. we can't just impose like that…" Suzaku was placing a comforting hand on his fiancees forehead as she smacked it away.
"Y..yuki…"
"Oh Suzaku, that's NOT FAIR. It took me FOREVER to get someone to finally mention how much I wanted our wedding here in front of Mari… excuse me… Empress Marianne" Yukina genuinely did LOVE the palace setting but more-so, she wanted to rub it in the nose of that despicable prince.
"Yuki… that's downright deceitful!" Suzaku was taken aback at his fiancée's candid confession of her malicious intentions. It wasn't the first time he had to step back and really consider who this girl really was and what he was getting into. But every time he did, he just chalked it up on being confused by thoughts of Lelouch and his presence. He was just comparing her to the prince and that was unfair because she had different strengths that he loved. But, the brunette hadn't yet realized that hardly anyone could really win a comparison against Lelouch.
"It's devious to to want my DREAM wedding?!" Yukina plastered a hurt look on her face.
"Isn't it OUR wedding? And… I wanted to have it at the Kururugi Shrine"
"HA. Sweet heart! Come here…" Yuki gently kissed her fiancé.
"I know it's our wedding, I know that… would you, just for me, just this…? Please baby? Everything else, we'll do together! Just like when we were kids!"
"Ah… Yuki… sometimes you're so hard to say 'no' to…!"
*SQUEE* "… so we can get married here in the fall?"
"The FALL? THIS FALL, like a few months?!"
"Yes… em, Empress Marianne mentioned that the trees and leaves are the most beautiful colors then and, and I love you so much and I don't want to wait until next spring to be your wife…"
"Well, what about winter? White snow? It would be beautiful…"
"Oh Suzaku… the logistics of doing everything while it's snowing… it's just… I don't want to impose more than we have to, ya know?" Yuki was lying. She would die before having a winter wedding. She wanted to wear her skimpily gorgeous white dress without freezing.
"Well… that makes sense, I guess… but don't you think it's a bit early?"
"For me to marry you? I would marry you tomorrow if I could!" She punctuated such a beautiful phrase by looking down at her wedding ring, twisting it around, rather than up at the shining emerald eyes of her fiancé. 'I thought you said it was my eyes you loved…' he watched as his fiancée bounded across the floor to talk to another group of people, she went right past… oh god… Suzaku felt physically nauseous. Lelouch was fervently making out with Akito Hyuga. In front of everyone? And and everyone was ignoring them? No one was reacting. Not one person was murmuring or mentioning or chastising them. Shouldn't there have been an uproar?! What was going on?! Lelouch was a prince and the boy was an Eleven! A honorary Britannian but still…! Suzaku frantically looked around and saw Empress Marianne approach them 'HA… finally, now he's gonna get it, IDIOT' Suzaku's jaw dropped and almost hit the ground as he watched the Empress go up and drop two glasses of champagne off to her son and the man who was attached at the mouth to him. She even, lightly patted and stroked her sons head when he disengaged from Akito to say something to his mother, probably gratitude for the drinks. WHAT THE HELL. Was the world going crazy?!
Suzaku pinched himself. Three times. Each time harder than the last. The brunette watched Lelouch stand up and move his knight to a bench where the lights were a bit dimmer. Nobody but Suzaku seemed to notice what the 11th crowned prince was doing. God was Suzaku really HOPING that people would condemn the relationship? Why…? The brunette watched as Lelouch openly straddled his knight and rutted against him a few times while they kissed before sitting back next to him and whispering something in his ear which caused the knight's grip on Lelouch's shirt go white. He watched the knight slide his hand up the princes thigh and briefly cup his ass.
Suzaku went instantly hard, so hard it hurt. But he wasn't only hard, oh he was soo so jealous and angry, at himself and Lelouch and that knight and everyone else for not caring. It was a clear and poignant and very, VERY painful mixture of anger and jealously and… hurt. Akito got called away for a brief minute to speak with a group of people. Suzaku watched the raven maintain eye contact with his knight while, very very lewdly licking and sucking on his index finger… the brunettes eyes briefly darted to watch said knight pinch his legs shut as if he had to pee, no doubt holding his erection down. Suzaku eyes then went back to Lelouch, he couldn't keep them off Lelouch as he enthusiastically sucked on and licked his finger as if he was going to…NO… then he put a second and third finger in before removing all three and waving at his knight with the wet appendages and at that, Suzaku couldn't help but move to where Lelouch was and drag him out onto the dark and vacant balcony.
"W…WHAT ARE YOU DOING LELOUCH"
"SUZAKU, what the HELL!"
Then Akito showed up…
"Hey, get away from my Lelouch"
"You…You don't own him…! Oh, wait, I forgot, you LIKE that don't you… Lelouch?!" The brunette spit out, alluding to Lelouch's fetish of submitting during sex.
"KURURUGI. YOU ARE OUT OF LINE, I SUGGEST YOU RESTRAIN YOURSELF!"
"ME restrain MYSELF?! I'm not the one practically having sex out in the open"
"HAHAHAHAHhaha" Lelouch's laughter was loud and it was ferocious, it was like a malicious terrorists laugh.
"Akito… COME HERE." Lelouch's eyes were narrowed and full of a scary level of determination.
"Yes, Lelouch" Akito walked cautiously past the brunette, on full alert for an attack. And Suzaku was tempted, boy was he tempted.
The brunette watched as Lelouch whispered something into his knights ears before taking his knights fingers and shoving three of them into his mouth as he sucked them.
Suzaku watched as Lelouch maintained eye contact with emerald eyes while he sucked the fingers until the prince felt content. Suzaku didn't care that his own arousal was clear and evident. He was too angry. Suddenly, Lelouch stopped sucking and licking and turned and spoke in Japanese to his knight.
"Keep those wet for me"
The words made Suzaku bite his bottom lip to keep from groaning.
"Hai denka. Watashi no oujisama"
Suzaku's hands clenched and he was about to punch the knight as he walked past him again.
"So what Lelouch, I won't give it to you and you just find the next eleven that comes along to fuck?!"
"What's it to you?!"
"W..W…hat's it to me!? I was who you were planning to…"
"WAS is the key word Suzaku!"
"Right, because you can just get over it in a week"
"That's what I'm TRYING to DO SUZAKU. GET OVER YOU. It's called rebound sex" The prince indignantly spat out.
"You can't have rebound sex if you've never had sex sex Lelouch"
"What are you blabbing about Kururugi?!"
"Don't do it… I…. I don't want you to regret it because of me… your first time was.. is supposed to be special. I want that for you Lelouch. You deserve that." That pissed Lelouch off to NO END. Here he thought that Suzaku was finally understanding how much he wanted it to be him to take Lelouch's virginity but NOO, now he was saying that he just didn't want to be BLAMED for it if Lelouch regretted it?! Jesus fucking Christ. Maybe this plan was a stupid idea.
"You're concerned that I might end up RESENTING you for what… PUSHING me towards this? Do you have SUCH little respect for me? That you not only doubt my decisions but now you won't even give me the freedom to make my own?! FINE. I, LELOUCH VI BRITANNIA, here-by do declare KURURUGI SUZAKU FREE of any BLAME or responsibility in my decision of who I FUCK."
"Lelouch… do you REALLY want this?"
"Yes Suzaku. I'm horny, I'm hard, I enjoy Akito and you know how much I enjoy Japanese cock. Besides, what makes you think that I should deny myself the second best pleasure if I can't get what I REALLY want?!"
"God you fucking shameless tease."
Lelouch finally noticed the very apparent bulge in Suzaku's pants and he reached out and grabbed Suzaku's shirt, pulling him flush with his body, both their erections pressing up against each other. Both their eyes fluttering from the palpable lust. God Suzaku missed those lusty eyes and God, the prince was biting his bottom lip and before he knew it, Suzaku lunged forward to capture those lips but Lelouch quickly turned his face to the side just in time so that Suzaku came into contact with his cheek. Then Lelouch leaned forward to whisper harshly in his Suzakus ear.
"Are you upset that you can't push me up against the nearest wall, pin my hands so I'm completely at your mercy?! Are you upset that you can't whisper how you're going to punish me for being a shameless tease?!"
Lelouch palmed Suzakus erection before unbuttoning his pants and reaching down and starting to stroke him as he continued talking.
"Does it upset you that it's not your fingers that get first crack ever at that tight heat!? Hrm? Does it make you mad that that taut ass in those sheer white tights isn't going to grind up against your cock? That it's not your big, hard, leaking Japanese cock that's going to be first to penetrate me?! That you're NEVER going to feel my mouth around you again, never feel my legs wrap around you, never have your cock thrusting inside me? It's not you who I'm going to be yelling and moaning and screaming for?! Hayaku Akito, Fukaku, motto, motto Akito"
"Ahhhh" Suzaku buckled and came hard. So so hard. The prince just calmly removed his hand and licked it clean.
"Still tasty… Consider that your one time only compilation prize from me… now go claim your first place prize, Kururugi. Go fuck your wife."
Lelouch walked away leaving Suzaku to clean and gather himself. The prince hadn't wanted to do that but he had to admit it felt good. None of what had taken place that night was really in his plan. But after he heard that that cunt had not only moved their wedding date to mere months from now but had weaseled her way into HIS palace gardens?! OH. FUCK. THAT. And FUCK Suzaku too for agreeing to it after KNOWING what Lelouch was going through. It made Lelouch SO MAD that he decided he was going to punish Suzaku. But then… as Lelouch made out more and harder and deeper with Akito, his rising need soon eclipsed any desire to make the older Japanese boy mad and the young prince soon found himself completely and totally engrossed with his knight. Plus the fact that he was to some extent, very turned on by being so flamboyantly audacious in front of these scum, helped a lot. In fact, Akito seemed to be in the same situation, compounded by his words when he told the prince that at least his physical attraction to Lelouch was very real and urgent and that he would be honored to take the young prince to bed. And in that moment, Lelouch lost all conscious thought of his plan or Kururugi Suzaku or Yukina Hatami or really anything other than Akito Hyuga and fucking said knight raw, as soon as he was done talking to that group of people. That was, until Lelouch was forcefully pried away by the aforementioned figment of Kururugi Suzaku.