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Suzaku was finally on his side. He faithfully obeyed his every command and gracefully executed his opponents on the battlefield. That fighting prowess was his to yield now. And with it, he swiftly took out the Britannian forces and claimed victory. The bureau was his, Area 11 was his, and Suzaku...Suzaku was his. He claimed the Viceroy's throne as his own and took up residence there with his faithful knight.
"I'm so glad you agreed to join me, Suzaku," Lelouch said as he caressed the face of his obedient knight. Suzaku was kneeling in front of him and gratefully accepted the embrace from his master. They had the room all to themselves; Lelouch made sure no one would come in unannounced whenever he wished for time with his knight.
"I'll always be at your side, Lelouch."
Suzaku looked up at him and his breath hitched. Red eyes...the mark of a geass victim...no, he hadn't...he never would have used it on him.
Suzaku tilted his head innocently. "Is something wrong, Lelouch?"
No...he couldn't have used his geass on him. He was absolutely repulsed at the idea of making him completely subservient to him. Lelouch gasped as he felt Suzaku draw closer to him. He had placed himself upon his lap; his head on his shoulders. The next words he said sent shivers down his spine.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
He remembered then. He remembered everything. The images were so clear it was almost like it was happening in this very moment.
He had Suzaku chained to a chair. Far more chains than necessary. He circled around him like a vulture, waiting for his prey to awake. His capture ended up far more successful than he could have hoped, for he had managed to capture an uninvited guest.
Euphemia was far more trouble than she seemed. Lelouch couldn't believe she had put herself into danger to try and stop Suzaku's capture. They were one in the same, extremely self-sacrificial. He made sure to keep them separated, Euphie had caused enough trouble already.
Lelouch couldn't help but muse over the success of the operation as he waited. Suzaku's unconscious body falling into his arms as C.C. worked her magic. Of course he couldn't let anyone else know of C.C.'s strange abilities so he made sure it looked like she simply used a tranquilizer. She appeared completely unamused by Lelouch's theatrics. How peaceful and innocent Suzaku looked then, but he was quickly filled with rage. Britannia had corrupted him, had taken him away from his side. And finally he was going to take him back, and then...he heard her voice. Lelouch didn't care to think about the rest and thankfully he didn't have to since Suzaku had finally awaken.
"Where's Princess Euphemia?"
Lelouch was shocked, he shouldn't have known she was captured as well. How did he–
"I know you have her. They informed me over the comms before you took me that she was coming to our location. Now tell me where is she?"
Zero scoffed, "you're not exactly in a position to negotiate. Right now, you should worry about yourself not your precious princess." Suzaku glared at him as he spoke and he couldn't help but smirk at his expression. "In case you didn't notice, my dear knight, you were the target of this operation. Capturing the princess was never in my plans, but she shall work well as a bargaining tool. Unfortunately for you, I don't think I can say the same. After all, the only person who tried to stop your capture is the one currently imprisoned with you."
"I know what you're trying to do Zero, but your words won't persuade me. I will stick to my ideals no matter what."
"You stubborn fool! The Britannians will kill you themselves the second they see you as a threat. They've already tried on several occasions. Stop fighting for them and serve me instead!" He clenched his fists, why was he so frustratingly stubborn?
Suzaku sighed and shook his head, "I told you, Zero, nothing you say will change my mind."
Lelouch was furious. Suzaku was completely blinded by Britannia's lies. He needed to fix this before he got himself killed. He only had one option left now. He reached up at his helmet and saw the surprise flash on Suzaku's face as he continued the action. When he finished, and placed the mask aside, Suzaku was speechless. Lelouch couldn't tell what he was thinking, several emotions danced across his face. Eventually, he shook his head in disappointment.
"I knew it."
That surprised him. He smiled at his bound friend and said, "so you knew it was me all along and yet...you did nothing."
"I didn't want to believe it, but...the signs were all there." A silence filled the room; they gazed at each other intensely, trying to figure out the next move to make.
Lelouch held his hand out in front of him. "Come, Suzaku, join me and take your rightful place by my side."
Suzaku turned from him once more, "I can't, Lelouch. I can't support this senseless violence."
"Really now and yet you side with Britannia?"
"I'm going to change them from–"
"From within, I know. I've heard your naive remark countless times. You would throw your life away at the slim chance that you could make an impact. Have you even once thought about how everyone who cares about you would feel? How I would feel if I found out I killed you?"
"Perhaps my death would be good for something then. If it were to make you stop your rebellion."
Lelouch snapped. He couldn't believe what Suzaku had just said. He forcefully grabbed hold of his hair, yanking it so he would face him. "Do you honestly think that your death would make me stop?" Suzaku's eyes widened at his words and Lelouch continued, "I would slaughter every last person associated with your death. I wouldn't rest until I had burned my father's Britannia into the ground. You think I would stop?" He gave a dark laugh then, "oh Suzaku, you're sorely mistaken." In his rage, Lelouch failed to notice that Suzaku had snatched the key from him. He finally regained his composure and stepped away from him, his back turned. A click sounded behind him and falling chains soon followed. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Suzaku."
"Lelouch...we need to talk."
He shook his head and turned. "Talking isn't getting us anywhere."
Lelouch moved and pinned him to the nearest wall, and Suzaku let him. He could push him away at any second, they both knew that, but Suzaku didn't resist. That was a grave mistake.
His anger was reaching a tipping point, and Suzaku's refusal to do anything only increased it. Why could he not understand? Why did he refuse to join him? Why would he not obey? His grip on him increased; he just wanted him to see things his way. He just wanted...he just wanted...him. His geass unconsciously flared up as his thoughts turned to desire, and Suzaku was immediately caught by its thrall. Lelouch felt Suzaku relax against his grip. He pretended to not notice the power blazing from his eye. He ignored the fact that Suzaku was clearly entranced by his geass. He ignored the fact that he was slowly stealing his friend's will. And he pretended that the next words he said wouldn't enslave him completely. "I want you to obey me and only me." Suzaku nodded and Lelouch couldn't resist the temptation any longer. He claimed his lips, pressing him against the wall even more. Suzaku pulled him closer. He pretended that Suzaku was doing this of his own free will, that he hadn't just robbed him of the choice completely. He ignored all of it; he wanted him, now. He reached for the zipper of his pilot suit and made it halfway down before a knock interrupted. "Of all the times," he muttered under his breath. He looked at Suzaku, his face was flushed and he was gasping for breath. Lelouch cupped his face.
"Zero, it's me, Kallen."
He claimed Suzaku's lips once more, and whispered against them, "we can continue when we're alone."
And they did, Lelouch reminisced. He claimed Suzaku completely that night. And only now after he had claimed victory did he look back on what he did that day. He had convinced himself so deeply that Suzaku was doing all of this because he wanted to.
Suzaku cupped Lelouch's face in his hands. He brought his face to his and kissed him. "Don't you want me, Lelouch?"
He did want him, but...not like this. Anything but this.
Lelouch woke up in a cold sweat and he immediately turned to look at the figure next to him. He had to know, he had to know if he had done it. Suzaku stirred awake and looked at him with concern on his face.
"Lelouch, is everything all right?"
Lelouch gently took hold of his face and looked into his eyes. He sighed a breath of relief; no red to be found.
"Lelouch, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Suzaku, everything's perfectly fine." He placed a kiss on the top of his head. "Everything's fine." Suzaku was confused by his actions, but didn't question him anymore. Lelouch brought him close to his chest and wrapped his arms around him. "I promise you, Suzaku, I will never use my geass on you. I won't betray you like that." But he knew deep down that someday, perhaps even tomorrow, he would use it on him. It was inevitable, the power to bend the will of others and here he was sleeping with his greatest enemy. It wasn't a question of 'if,' but 'what.' What would he order him to do? Would he end up caving and follow C.C.'s suggestion to just geass him into obedience? When would it happen? Would it be during the heat of battle or the heat of their love? He combed through his lover's hair with his fingers. It would happen one day, he couldn't avoid it. The question he should really be asking himself is, how much will he end up regretting it?