Life or Death - Lelouch and Suzaku

[honored_knight]

Who: Lelouch and Suzaku
When: November 11th (yes, backdated. This is the Why Suzaku is Not Zero Anymore log)
Where: Their apartment
Rating: PG
Summary: Lelouch and Suzaku have come to a stalemate on the Zero issue. Finally Lelouch strikes a bargin with Suzaku and the other finally allows himself to shed his heavy mask.
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Suzaku returned to the apartment a few hours after he had talked to Lelouch over the LP. He took off his mask and ran his hand through his hair, making it extra curly. He didn't exactly want to talk to Lelouch beyond what they had already talked about but he knew he owed this much to Lelouch. He couldn't just talk about purposely ending his life and not talk about it to him. So he knocked on the door to Lelouch's room and waited.

At the sound of the knock, Lelouch glanced over at the door. It had to be Suzaku. He was relieved that the other was finally home, as they needed to talk before Lelouch's thoughts ate him alive. "Come in," Lelouch said, walking over to sit down on his bed.

Suzaku slipped inside and then sat on the bed beside Lelouch. There was no reason to ask Lelouch what he wanted to talk about or where to start. Suzaku figured that the other would take the lead in this conversation. Suzaku never was good at that sort of thing.

For a long moment, Lelouch was silent. He gathered his thoughts, choosing the place where their conversation would begin. It was almost always he who began such conversations.

"We need to talk about this idea of yours," Lelouch said, his voice quiet as he gazed over at the other. "I do not understand why you would ever want such a thing. Why you would make such a condition for removing your mask..."

"You know why I want it," Suzaku said, his tone almost dark as he looked back at Lelouch. He had been carrying a death wish ever since having a direct hand in his father's death and having to live as Zero along with Lelouch's Geass on him made it impossible to fulfill that wish. It was a very complicated topic for him to voice so he always chose to never explain it.

"I have to remain Zero for the rest of my life. You can see where the logic comes in."

"No, you don't," Lelouch replied, his voice holding urgency to it. He put his hand on Suzaku's arm, his violet eyes fixed on the other's face. He knew of Suzaku's death wish, and he knew that the other had been bearing a terrible weight on his shoulders for all of these years. Death was no release here, however. Suzaku would not stay dead... and his death would not benefit anyone.

"I will release you from that promise right here and now, Suzaku. You do not have to sacrifice your life to put an end to your role as Zero. My life was forfeit in the process. Your promise was made to me."

"Call it a selfish request then. If whatever happens here does not hold weight in our world when we return, then it should not be of much concern. I just...." Suzaku sighed, screwing up his face in that way that he always did when he was at a loss for words and frustrated.

"I just...."

"You just what...?" Lelouch asked softly, his hand tightening on the other's arm. He felt cold inside just hearing these words from the other. How could he kill Suzaku in the interest of saving him from himself? He had been silently worried about the other's insistence on wearing the Zero mask, but this was a new level. Suzaku's self-loathing had gone even further...

"This is all the time that I have left, Suzaku. The last time I will ever be alive. Whatever happens here will be of concern to me... and you would matter to me even in a place where nothing else did..."

"I can't live like this...as if nothing had happened. It's like how it was like back at home: when I was protected and was never punished for what I had done. Yes, this is where you can live and I know that this is the only time you have but for me...it's different. I'm still alive. I'm still supposed to be paying. But I'm not. You say for me to live a real life but I have no right to it. I am a murderer and a traitor to both his own country and to Britannia. I should be dead or I should be Zero. And since you do not want me to be Zero...that leaves one thing. It is more than a promise to you, Lelouch. It is something I took upon myself."

He took the gun that hung at his belt and handed it to Lelouch.

"And I cannot kill myself..."

Lelouch gazed at Suzaku sadly at the other's words. "You gave up your whole life at home, your whole future. You killed your best friend..."

"You have a right to a future in this world. You will only have a life as Zero at home. This is the only time either one of us has. Just live as yourself..."

Lelouch accepted the gun from Suzaku and gazed down at it. "No. You cannot kill yourself..." he murmured.

"You knew what it felt like to kill me when the whole world was at stake. You would have let me back out even then. Is that what you would wish upon me? To know that feeling... to spend the last time that I have living as your murderer...?" Lelouch was just as worried that Suzaku wanted to die, but his arguments about the other's mental state and his self-loathing were less likely to sink in.

".....no, I don't," Suzaku murmured. He then rose from the bed with a sigh.

"I'm sorry. I should have thought about this more. I'm going now."

Lelouch rose from his bed as well. He was still deeply worried about Suzaku. Even if he had won the argument--for now--this was not solving anything. Suzaku was still refusing to put down his mask, and he still wanted to die.

"Don't go," Lelouch said, gazing into the other's green eyes intently. "You can talk to me. I don't want you to die, Suzaku... but I don't want you to live a miserable existence either. You deserve better than that."

"I don't know how to talk about this. And what existence would I deserve? I know I don't deserve a normal one," Suzaku said a bit sadly.

"Don't worry. I won't be doing anything stupid. I can't die, remember?"

"I don't think anyone has a normal existence here," Lelouch said, giving a wry smile that was tinged with sadness. "You should be allowed to live as yourself in this bizarre place. You know we might not have much time. You could go back home tomorrow... Any life anyone has here is bittersweet. You could lose me, you could lose everyone who matters... Can't we have that much, Suzaku? "

Lelouch shook his head at Suzaku's next words. "I'm not just worried about that. It's not good if you want to die whether or not you could make it happen..."

"This is myself, Lelouch. I don't know how else to say this. And I don't know how I'd let myself forgive myself without the price I know I have to pay for it," Suzaku shook his head. "This is not a vacation for me, Lelouch. It's not an extension of my life; not a second chance. It's...." Suzaku trailed off. Just how could he put this experience in words? It was all - good and bad - jumbled together and he knew it was nothing that could last. Nothing that could possibly change his mind.

"The let me be the one to pay the price for you," Lelouch said quietly. "You'll have enough waiting for you when you go home."

He shook his head at Suzaku's words. "Don't you see that it is a second chance? Something outside of time, outside of our world... Zero was meant to serve a purpose. At home, you are doing something invaluable. Your life and mine, together they changed the world... but this is not the world that they changed. We don't owe this world anything. We were dragged here by force, against our will. Forced to stay and punished when we try to leave. We cannot even die...

"There is nothing for you to feel guilty over, Suzaku. And if you feel guilty now, what good would my taking your life really do? Would it really change anything for you? I have taken so many lives... but I thought that I was done with that. If I take your life, I cannot do it for no good reason. I know that you hate yourself... but I don't hate you. You're the only person here who truly knows me and stands by my side."

"No...I cannot. This isn't your price to pay. You've already paid yours," Suzaku said. "If I could stop all this guilt nonsense, I would. It's a human thing to do. But I cannot. It was wrong to ask this of you. But that was the only thing I could think of when you asked me of a condition for me putting down the mask. I didn't mean to turn this into something that would pain you.

"I'm just going to my room. You don't have to worry about me," he sighed and left the room to go to his own.

Lelouch shook his head at Suzaku's words. There had to be another way. Something else that would actually satisfy Suzaku's guilt without bringing about more pain. How could Suzaku have ever imagined that this would not pain Lelouch? He had given up everything, and he was supposed to be dead. He had no large goal to chase in this world... All he could do was try and help Suzaku. Killing the other would not do either of them any good in his eyes. Suzaku's self-loathing would remain. How would he be happy if his wish was truly for death? And killing Suzaku would force Lelouch to experience the miserable feeling of killing one's own best friend.

He walked over to his bed and lay atop it, mulling over what else he could offer. The problem was that Suzaku's guilt did not seem to answer to a particular source. It would be truly hard to overcome.

After some time, he made his way to Suzaku's room and knocked on his door. The conversation was not truly finished yet.

Suzaku looked up from his bed when the knock came. He had shed his attire in exchange for sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt and was curled up in his bed. He wasn't exactly used to feeling sorry for himself without an outlet to channel the energy towards so it all weighed on him heavily. He did not answer and just set his head back down on the pillow.

Lelouch sighed when his knock went unanswered. If Suzaku was sleeping, he would want to let the other rest. It seemed very unlikely that Suzaku could have gotten ready for bed and fallen asleep by now, however. Silently, he put his hand to the door handle and turned it. He peeked inside to see if the other were sleeping. Once he confirmed that Suzaku's eyes were open, Lelouch opened the door fully and stepped inside.

"Why didn't you answer my knock?"

Suzaku looked at Lelouch, not moving from where he was. He gave a sigh and closed his eyes. He truly did not want to talk right now when he felt so depressed and tired but it looked like Lelouch would not leave him alone just yet.

"I'm tired..." he murmured. Tired of just about everything.

"I know," Lelouch said softly, closing the door behind him. He walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, gazing down at Suzaku. "I don't know if I realized quite how much until today..."

He took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "If you could kill yourself in this world, is that what you would do?"

Suzaku didn't answer for a moment and then mumbled almost to himself.

"...would be what I'd be waiting for."

"What was that?" Lelouch asked, leaning a little closer. He could not hear what Suzaku had said he would be waiting for. Was it death? He wished that was not the answer that Suzaku would give, but he knew well that it was a possibility.

"You know what it is. It's something that I cannot do with my own hands anyways," Suzaku muttered before turning over.

"It doesn't mean anything though. It cannot happen."

Lelouch regarded Suzaku with a saddened expression at his words. It seemed clear that Suzaku longed for death, whether it came by his own hand or Lelouch's. Lelouch would not agree to the taking of his life, but perhaps there was some compromise.

"It cannot happen right now... but I have a proposal for you. If you agree to put the mask aside now and reveal yourself here as Suzaku, and to live as Suzaku as well... If you promise me that you will talk to me regularly and try to get past this wish, I will offer you a future in which it may be granted."

"....and what do you offer? I know that you cannot cancel your Geass," Suzaku said sadly. If Lelouch could then...

"I will offer you my word. You need the Geass upon you in our world, but not in this one. No more than you need the mask of Zero. If Jeremiah ever appears in this world, and judging by the way things are going, it seems entirely possible that he will... then I will order him to cancel the Geass I placed on you. I will give you my solemn promise if you can agree to my terms, and I will keep it whenever the opportunity arises."

"You'd promise that..." Suzaku looked at Lelouch then. "You'd promise that, Lelouch?"

He too knew that the possibility was getting higher with how people from their own world were appearing so when Lelouch presented his offer, he could not help but take interest in it. He had always believed that the Geass upon him was more a curse than a blessing regardless of Lelouch's intention and that it sullied his convictions. He could not live as himself with such a curse upon him even if he intended to live. But if it was taken away...

Lelouch nodded his head solemnly. "I would promise that if you would put down the mask now and promise to try and deal with this guilt you have in the time that Jeremiah is not here. I know that you cannot promise me that you will find any other way to deal with the feeling, but at least you can try. You can talk to me..."

He gazed at the other with silent resolve for a few moments. "I said that you should not have to live as Zero in this world. That you should be free to live as Kururugi Suzaku. If you can agree to that... then you have my word that I will have Jeremiah free you of that Geass if I ever get the chance."

Lelouch absolutely did not want to see Suzaku die, and he did not want to give the other license to kill himself someday. This seemed like the only way to break the stalemate right now, however. They were both unhappy with Suzaku having to live like this, the other plagued by his lack of purpose as Zero in this world, Lelouch plagued by having to see Suzaku stubbornly cling to his lack of existence even when it was a foolish and risky course of actions. At least this way, there was a chance for Suzaku to live as himself, a chance for Lelouch to change his mind. They were living here as best friends again. He could see that Suzaku was happy, truly happy, at times. Lelouch believed there was a chance that he could help Suzaku overcome his guilt.

And if he could not change it in time, he would always have the knowledge that he could use Geass on Suzaku again if Jeremiah cancelled his existing Geass order. If it came to that...

Suzaku sat up, thinking about the proposition. It was logical enough to see how taking away a Geass that would promise life would open a new door for Suzaku when he saw it as something that gave him an empty life; one that was twice as empty when he was living as Zero. He looked at Lelouch, his green eyes searching through Lelouch's violet ones. He was quite aware of Lelouch's Geass working once per person. If Jeremiah canceled it, would he still have the ability to reinstate it? Could he trust Lelouch to keep his word without any sort of loophole?

Lelouch met Suzaku's eyes steadily when the other gazed into his. He did not want to have to make this promise. He did not like making it, and if it worked and did give Suzaku a renewed sense of hope, Lelouch knew that it would be hard not to keep the spirit of the agreement beyond the mere letter of it. He valued the trust between them too highly to easily go against it. His best hope was to give Suzaku some reason to want to live before the day came that the other was no longer compelled to keep himself alive.

Suzaku finally gave a nod and drew his knees to his chest.

"Yeah....I guess that I can accept that," he murmured.

"Thank you," Lelouch said softly, holding out his hand to the other to offer a handshake. "You will accept all of the terms?"

"We should work on a plan for Suzaku's arrival, then. And perhaps one to explain Zero's disappearance as well to cover our bases..."

"Yes. If you will keep to your word," Suzaku said, extending his hand to meet Lelouch's hand and shaking it.

"What do you propose for that?"

"I will," Lelouch agreed, shaking Suzaku's hand in return.

At Suzaku's question, Lelouch mulled it over for a moment. "I think it would be too coincidental if Suzaku were to arrive here immediately before or after Zero's disappearance. I think we should have you arrive here first. I'll don the Zero costume for a few days as necessary to maintain the illusion. Then, Zero can disappear from this world without anyone being the wiser. Between the two of us, we should be able to handle it until the need no longer exists."

"Yeah, that sounds probable...." Suzaku murmured as he drew back. "How long should this be drawn out? Days? Weeks?" He didn't bother asking about months knowing Lelouch would want to pull this off as soon as he could.

"At least one week, possibly two," Lelouch said. "We won't need 'Zero' to make too many appearances. You do not go out all that often, and we don't want to change your patterns in the meantime. Suzaku could 'arrive' tomorrow, though, if you feel ready."

"No I don't," Suzaku nodded. He looked a bit uncomfortable about the second half of the suggestion. He had already been Zero for so long that it was hard to just drop it all even if he was not letting go of the Zero persona completely.

Lelouch noticed the look on Suzaku's face at his suggestion that he appear tomorrow. Lelouch did not want to delay the reveal for very long. He did not want to give Suzaku time to doubt his decision, and the sooner they began to execute this, the sooner they could drop the Zero facade.

"We will have to be careful when we reveal your presence. I do not think that Kallen will take the news well... and I will want to stay close to you for some time in case it comes to that."

"...she wouldn't," Suzaku sighed and rested his head against his knees as he hugged them closer to his body.

"How am I to explain it? That I just came back from the dead like you have?"

"Don't worry. I'll be here by your side. I'll deal with Kallen," Lelouch said firmly.

At Suzaku's next words, he nodded his head. "That would probably be simplest. You could choose to have come from any moment in time, but as late as possible is easiest. That way, you don't have to pretend not to know the things that you do know. The only thing you would not know is what happened to me or the prisoners that Britannia held, and as soon as we meet, I could have obviously filled you in on those things. And that way, no one will have reason to question why we are close."

Suzaku nodded. "I see," he murmured and thought for a moment.

"A week then...I think I can be ready by then..."

"Why a week?" Lelouch asked, frowning faintly. "We can move your important possessions to my place, and I can see why you might need a couple of days to get ready... but I don't want to wait any longer. With Gino already knowing that Zero is here, we need to get rid of him as soon as possible."

"...." Suzaku had no real reason for it so he shrugged. A week just seemed like a good amount of time to think about it and Suzaku knew that Lelouch would not want him to change his mind before they put the plan into motion.

"Is three days enough time?" Lelouch asked, gazing at Suzaku with a serious expression. "It will all be in vain if we are found out before we can orchestrate your arrival." He was doing this out of concern for Suzaku more than anything. He especially did not want Kallen putting the pieces together and realizing that Suzaku was none other than Zero.

Suzaku nodded. "That's fine..." he murmured, laying back down.

Lelouch smiled faintly and gazed down at the other. "Thank you." It was a double-edged sword, given what this could cost him in the future, but he had to try. He would not give up on Suzaku no matter how much the other hated himself.

"So, what do you want for dinner? Anything you like..."

"I'm not hungry," Suzaku said with a sigh as he gave a small smile. "I know you're all worried about me but I'm truly fine, Lelouch...it's nothing new or out of the ordinary for me..."

Lelouch shook his head at the other. "You say that now... but when I make some steaks with demiglace sauce and mashed potatoes, you might change your mind," Lelouch said.

"Just because it is not new or out of the ordinary does not make it okay," he added, settling himself beside the other. "I get to worry about you anyway. I know how hard this is..." Lelouch knew it, because it was hard for him as well.

Suzaku chuckled. "I just might," he said with a hint of warmth in his voice.

"I know it's not alright and I know you got all the reasons to worry about me but I'm truly fine. I'll be alright."

"I know that you will. I'm going to make sure of that," Lelouch said. He was not about to accept another alternative. This was his current purpose in this place.

"I should probably head down to start on dinner in a minute..."

"Alright. I'll come to help you if you need it in a few minutes," Suzaku said. He needed the time to rest but also the time to think inside his own head and bubble. He often found himself having different thoughts outside of Lelouch's influence and this truly concerned him.

"Sure. I could always use a hand when you're ready," Lelouch said, pushing himself up and off of the bed. He turned to head for the door then, walking out and closing it behind him. He would give Suzaku time and space to think things over. It was best if Suzaku was completely decided before they moved forward with this. Hopefully, the other would have faith that this was the right thing.

Suzaku lay in bed for a while longer before he got up. He still felt as if he was made of lead but he at least could bring himself to move. He walked over to the kitchen and saw Lelouch at the stove with all the prepared ingredients around him. Somehow the scene made him feel even more horrible about what he suggested to Lelouch. How could he have possibly thought that it would go over well? Selfish as usual, he supposed. He went closer, peering over Lelouch's shoulder to see what he was doing.

Lelouch had been working on dinner for some time before Suzaku arrived. He had the potatoes boiling for the mashed potatoes, the steaks were out and coming to room temperature, and he was stirring the demi glace sauce on the stove. He turned when he caught sight of Suzaku peering over his shoulder. "It's getting there. Just a little longer, and I should be able to start the steaks. Feel up to mashing some potatoes?"

"Sure..." Suzaku murmured. He had to do something for dinner when Lelouch was already busy with the majority of the preparation. He took the potato masher from the drawer and placed it on the counter before he checked on the potatoes. He wasn't sure why Lelouch didn't just get the instant kind if they were going to be mashed but he didn't say anything as he quickly fished one out to check on it. Finding it ready, he took the pot of potatoes off the stove and drained the water. He took the set portions of butter and cream and placed them into the bowl before he started mashing them in a set rhythm. He had more than enough experience with potatoes over the years. Britannia liked to stick him with kitchen duty often. He added some garlic and continued mashing, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Lelouch kept an eye on Suzaku as the other worked on the potatoes. He also finished the sauce and walked over to season the steaks. Once that was done, he put a little oil in a pan and began heating it up. He waited to start the steaks until Suzaku was well into the mashing process. Lelouch then put the steaks into the pan, listening to them sizzle as they met the hot surface. He seared the outside of the steaks before putting them into the warm oven to finish.

"What would you like to drink?" Lelouch asked, beginning to set the table.

Suzaku did not respond immediately as he kept mashing the potatoes. He looked up a few seconds later and then looked down again.

"Water's fine," he said. He didn't want to touch the wine after the last time.

Lelouch nodded to the other and walked over to the sink to fill up two glasses with water. He put ice in the glasses. He finished setting the table and then walked over to assess Suzaku's progress. "Those are definitely mashed enough," he murmured, walking over to get the steaks from the oven.

"Alright," Suzaku said and went to get a large serving bowl from the cabinet. He scooped the mashed potatoes into the bowl and placed it on the table before going back towards the oven to help Lelouch with the steaks.

Lelouch was walking back to the table with the pan of steaks when Suzaku approached. "I'm just going to put them onto the plates directly," he said, offering the other a spatula for lifting them. "Unless you'd care to do the honors?"

"Sure," Suzaku said with a token smile. He took the spatula and quickly transferred the steaks from the pan to the plates. He cleverly flipped the spatula up in the air before catching it after the task was done and chuckled. "Still got my touch."

Lelouch shot Suzaku a look when the other tossed the spatula into the air. "You shouldn't do that. You'll get the grease everywhere. The drops fly off the spatula," he added, pointing to one tiny spot on the floor. He walked over to get a paper towel to clean it up and then washed his hands before returning to the table.

"Not everywhere," Suzaku said and wiped another spot with his foot before going to wash the spatula.

Lelouch just shook his head at the other. "You know what I meant." He sat down at the table and waited for the other to join him, putting the mashed potatoes onto the plates. "There. All ready to eat."

Suzaku took a seat and helped himself to the potatoes as well. "Sounds good," he said, starting to cut himself a piece of the steak.

"Thanks for making dinner again."

Lelouch gave a small smile. "It's no problem. As I said before, it's nicer that way." And he did want to take care of Suzaku when the other was acting too depressed to take care of himself. He knew that the other had to be truly unhappy for him to actually propose that Lelouch take his life.

"I suppose so. Me making dinner would result in pasta sauce all over the wall," Suzaku shook his head in bemused fashion as he took a bite.

"Remind me to teach you how to do that without getting sauce on the walls sometime," Lelouch replied, a hint of an amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "How did you even manage to get so much sauce everywhere?" He took a bite of his own steak in the sauce, savoring the flavor.

"What can I say? I have a talent for making a mess in the kitchen," Suzaku said, taking a swig of water.

Lelouch smiled then and shook his head at Suzaku. "You must... Not just anyone can make that kind of a mess in so little time. You're doing well with cooking otherwise. When you don't attempt new things unsupervised, at least," he teased.

"Hm...it wasn't new exactly...just that I forgot to put the top on the food processor this time," Suzaku said.

Lelouch shook his head again. "That is clearly why you need supervision," he murmured, falling silent as he continued to eat his meal. "I don't know how you'd get by without me."

"I do just fine. It's just when I live with you that I seem clumsy in comparison," Suzaku said, chewing on one bite after another.

"I don't know about that. Burning pasta and getting tomato sauce all over the walls would be unfortunate by anyone's standards.

"You never take good enough care of yourself anyway," Lelouch replied, giving the other a grin.

"Hey. I take care of myself," Suzaku said, standing up with a grin on his face. He lifted his shirt to show Lelouch his washboard abs for a moment and then pulled it down. He then sat down to continue eating, looking a little pleased with himself.

"What exactly does that prove? That you're an exercise nut?" Lelouch asked, a wry smile lingering on his lips. "I don't question your physical fitness. It's those little things like eating a healthy variety of food and taking care of your injuries properly where you really need help.

"Hm. I think that my physical fitness would rely on the other two components and there is nothing wrong with that," Suzaku chuckled.

"You could look healthy on the outside and still have issues that are not physically apparent, you know. And eating healthy has long-term benefits. As opposed to a diet of peanut butter," Lelouch said, laughing a little himself. "I'm probably healthier than you are in that sense."

"Hm. I guess so but you'd still need my help with heavy lifting," Suzaku teased Lelouch before he shoved a forkful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

"Of course," Lelouch replied, taking a sip of water. "I have no interest in matching your physical strength. I'm not sure that would be possible even if I took on some kind of a training regimen. You're pretty special." His tone was teasing, but it was also true. Suzaku was uniquely strong and fast for his build, most especially fast. His reflexes were pretty much unparalleled.

"Mm...you are too in your own way. Cooking for one," Suzaku murmured as he finished up his meal and patted his stomach contentedly.

"That did make me feel better..."

"I'm glad. Having a good meal in your stomach usually does help," Lelouch replied. Lelouch had noticed that in Suzaku's case especially, eating a nice, home-cooked meal seemed to make a difference. He was happy that he could do that much for Suzaku.

"I might even let you off of the hook on the dishes tonight."

"Naw. If you let me off the hook too many times in the beginning, I'll just get lazy about it," Suzaku said. Lazy by Lelouch's standards anyways. Suzaku himself never found any harm in letting the dishes sit for a day or two. A week. He stood and started taking the plates and went to the sink.

"That's true," Lelouch said, giving the other a vaguely amused look. He rose to his feet as well and began to help clear the table. He did it automatically, for the most part, and he could at least give Suzaku a little bit of help as he washed the dishes.

Suzaku started to wash the dishes, humming to himself. He smiled as Lelouch joined him and then sighed.

'You know it's not really a punishment for losing a bet if you're going to help me with it," he smirked, flicking a little water at Lelouch.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Lelouch replied, flicking a little water back at Suzaku. He picked up a towel and started drying. "I'm just helping you out today, anyway. No guarantees about tomorrow or the next day." He smiled at Suzaku then walking over to put away one of the clean plates.

"I see. I'll savor this moment then," Suzaku laughed, handing Lelouch a wet plate.

"You had better do that," Lelouch replied, laughing along with Suzaku. He took the plate and wiped it dry before settling it on the dish rack. He fell into a rhythm with Suzaku, drying the dishes and putting them away as the other washed them.

"So, what would you like for dessert? I have some cookies left from the other day..."

"Cookies sound good," Suzaku said, quietly impressed by how quickly they fell into the same rhythm: one washing, the other drying. He was soon finished with Lelouch's help and then dried his hand.

"All right," Lelouch said, drying his hands and walking over to the cookie jar. "Oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, or chocolate chip?" Lelouch glanced over at the other as he took out two small plates for the cookies.

"Oatmeal," Suzaku said, watching the other get the cookies.

"Two oatmeal it is," Lelouch said, placing the cookies on Suzaku's plate before putting a snickerdoodle and a chocolate chip cookie on his own plate. "Here you go," he said, sliding the other's plate on the table before putting down his own as well.

"Hey...I didn't know I could choose more than one," Suzaku snickered, reaching over for the snickerdoodle. He broke it in half and took a half for himself.

"No? I thought you'd have that figured out by now," Lelouch teased, sitting down and giving the other an amused look when Suzaku stole half of one of his cookies. He picked up the remaining half and took a bite, chewing with evident pleasure.

"Hm. Excuse me for being slow," Suzaku said as he ate the other half.

"Maybe I will if you stop eating my cookies," Lelouch said. He gave the other a smile before he continued eating. They had plenty of cookies. He really had no objection to Suzaku stealing half of one of his.

"Somehow I don't think you'd want the one I took back," Suzaku shook his head and then started eating the oatmeal cookie.

"Mm. S'good."

"No, I don't accept returns. But I can still make us even," Lelouch said, breaking off half of Suzaku's second oatmeal cookie and eating it.

"Thanks."

"Hey..." Suzaku pouted, his cheeks full of oatmeal cookie like a squirrel's would be full of nuts. But he let Lelouch take the cookie all the same. That was one way of getting even, he supposed.

Lelouch smirked and kept eating his cookie. "You can always have another one if you feel too deprived." They had plenty, though he supposed he had to keep an eye on Suzaku and make sure that the other did not eat too much sugar.

"Hm," Suzaku nodded as he swallowed the cookie. He sat there, uncertain what to do then.

Lelouch finished his own cookie a moment later and began eating the chocolate chip cookie he had. He glanced over at the other, the silence settling between them. He felt a hint of awkwardness, wondering what was going on in Suzaku's mind.

"Did you have anything planned for the rest of the evening?"

Suzaku looked up at Lelouch and then shook his head.

"No, not really," he said. There were few places he could go outside where his outfit would not hinder him while he enjoyed himself and he truthfully had little interest in what was offered to him (or rather to Zero). He didn't have anything else to do at home either. He was not a book person nor was there a movie waiting to be watched.

Lelouch regarded the other silently for a few moments, contemplating what they could do. It would be awkward to just sit here too long in silence. "Would you like to play a game? I have cards and the chess set, of course."

"I'm better at cards than at chess," Suzaku shrugged.

"I figured, but you could improve at chess if you practiced," Lelouch said, rising to head into the living room to get the cards all the same. He took them from one of the shelves and walked back into the kitchen with them.

"Not to your level," Suzaku said. That and chess seemed to always led to serious discussions that Suzaku liked to avoid for he often lost those arguments as much as he lost the actual games. Cards were much easier and lighthearted.

"Probably not," Lelouch replied, sitting down and shuffling the cards. "But I don't mind teaching you. For now, cards it is." Lelouch glanced over at Suzaku. "Which game would you like to play?"

"Just about any game. One good thing about being in the military and you had friends who wouldn't take no for an answer," Suzaku smirked. "What do you know how to play?"

"I know poker, gin rummy, war... Bridge, hearts, and spades, but those would require more people than just the two of us. Poker could be fun," Lelouch said, smirking back at the other. "What should we wager?"

"Anything but clothes," Suzaku laughed.

Lelouch laughed as well, shaking his head. "I think we can agree on that. I was thinking some chores, or perhaps one of us doing something to accommodate the other."

"Hmm....how about breakfast in bed?" Suzaku suggested. He was quite confident that he could pull that off if he lost. But more importantly, he had great confidence that he would win that bet.

"That sounds good to me," Lelouch replied. "Though something tells me you might get the better end of that deal." His tone was light and teasing, though he truly was certain that he could make Suzaku a more extravagant breakfast than the other could make him.

"I know, right? But I'll go easy on you," Suzaku said, rubbing his hands together as he waited for Lelouch to deal.

"Good to know," Lelouch said, giving the other a smirk. "We should have chips if we're playing poker. It's not much of a game if we only play one hand, after all." He walked over and got out a box of crackers. They did not have poker chips, but these would work in a pinch. He took one tube of them and handed them to Suzaku and kept one for himself, putting a plate at the middle of the table. "We can wager these, all right?"

Suzaku laughed at the clever replacement, a little too amused by it.

"Yeah, we can wager those."

Lelouch gave a small shrug of his shoulders and smiled slightly. "We haven't bought any poker chips yet, so these are the best I can do. Just don't start eating your chips, or you'll end up at a disadvantage," he added teasingly, as he began to deal out the cards.

"Too late," Suzaku said, popping a cracker into his mouth. Down one cracker or not, he was sure he could give Lelouch a good game or two.

"Suzaku..." Lelouch protested, shaking his head at the other. "I was joking, you know." He opened his packet of crackers and ate one as well. "It wouldn't be fair if you started at a disadvantage, but if you eat another one, I'm going to let you."

"Hmph. Just like you to want to start on an even ground," Suzaku shook his head in return but with a smile on his lips. He looked at his cards and then up at Lelouch.

~*~

Lelouch was pleased to find that Suzaku was rather good at poker. He was not the most experienced of poker players himself, but he knew the game and was very good with statistics. Their styles were different as always, and the piles of crackers shifted in size as the game went on. They were nearly even again when a particularly good hand came up for Lelouch. He waited for Suzaku to bet and then he raised it.

Suzaku glanced up at Lelouch after the other raised and then looked back down at his cards. Not the best of hands but still hard to beat if he remembered the previous cards correctly. He couldn't be sure but his gut instinct was very insistent. He raised his bet again and waited.

Lelouch gave the other a sly smile as he re-raised again. "Eager to give me all your crackers, Suzaku?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He raised it one more time, tossing in a couple of crackers on top of the ones he threw in to match Suzaku's re-raise.

"Only because I will get double my wager in the end," Suzaku replied, throwing in half of his remaining chips.

Lelouch raised a second eyebrow at that comment. "We'll see about that. The hand is not over yet," he said, considering for a moment. It was hard to tell just how good Suzaku's hand was. He was certain he had something, but Suzaku was not a conservative player, and there were only two possible hands better than Lelouch's.

After a second, Lelouch pushed in all of his crackers. "All in."

Suzaku raised an eyebrow in return as the other went all in. Though he had his own qualms - the usual sort - he pushed in the remaining of his crackers as well without hesitation. His hand was worth the risk.

"All in," he said.

"All right. Then let's see what you've got," Lelouch said, flipping his own cards face up. Between the two cards in his hand and the five on the table, he had a full house. It was going to be tough for Suzaku to beat that.

Suzaku shook his head as he flipped his own cards.

"Straight flush," he said, almost not believing his luck. It wasn't easy finding something that he could beat Lelouch at when it came to games after all. He gave the other a smile before he started eating the crackers in the middle of the table.

"I believe I won one free breakfast in bed," he smirked. He didn't expect much. Lelouch could have thrown him a piece of toast when he was still sleeping and he would be happy.

Lelouch's eyes widened as he caught sight of Suzaku's hand. The statistical odds of the other having that particular hand were very small, and given Suzaku's willingness to gamble and bet with much poorer hands, Lelouch had expected him to have one of the lesser possibilities. They had just been playing for fun or he would not have gone all in unless there had been no hands possible that were better than his or his situation was more desperate. As it was, he could afford to lose, so he had gambled a bit more.

"I should disqualify you for eating the chips," Lelouch teased.

"But a deal is a deal. You'll get your breakfast in bed. And you'll owe me a rematch tomorrow."

"You should but I know you won't," Suzaku said, pushing a few of the crackers towards Lelouch to eat too. He seemed very pleased with himself and his luck with the cards, the thought of their previous discussions far from his mind.

"I think I'd like a peanut butter sandwich. You don't have to do anything fancy," he said, nibbling on his next cracker.

"Of course not," Lelouch said cheerfully, picking up a cracker and eating it. He was hardly one to go back on his word. He was happy to see Suzaku in such a good mood. He was glad that the other had won if it put him into such high spirits.

"A peanut butter sandwich is no kind of breakfast. Just leave the cooking decisions to me, hm?" Lelouch murmured, giving the other a knowing smile. "You know it won't disappoint you."

"It's my breakfast. But I'm not averse to whatever you'll decide," Suzaku nodded.

"Good. I'll surprise you, then," Lelouch replied. He knew most of Suzaku's favorite dishes. He would make him a truly delicious breakfast. Given that the other was about to put his mask down and live as himself, he deserved to have some reminders of how nice life could be.

"I'm sure you will," Suzaku said and then ate a few more crackers before starting to gather the rest on the plate. It wouldn't be good to waste them if he wasn't going to be eating them all.

"That was a lot of fun..."

"It was. I'll look forward to a rematch," Lelouch said. He walked over to get a plastic bag for the crackers, taking one and holding it open so that Suzaku could begin pouring the crackers in. There was no reason to let them go stale, though it was possible that Suzaku would eat them all.

"A rematch, huh? I see you are still persistent as always..." Suzaku smiled as he poured in the crackers. "Keep chasing that dream, Lelouch. It'll be a while before you win that breakfast."

"So cocky, hm? We don't have to play for breakfast the next time, though. At least not until after you've had your breakfast," Lelouch replied, sealing up the bag and putting it away. There were always other small things that they could wager, such as chores or errands.

"Hm. Lunch next time then," Suzaku joked. He stretched then and yawned.

"So...what now?" he asked. He was a little sleepy but they had only killed only a few hours.

"Well, we could go out and get some groceries. We're running low on some things," Lelouch said, mentally doing an inventory of their kitchen supplies. He would need a few other things to make the breakfast for Suzaku that he wanted to make.

"Sounds good..." Suzaku said, already going to his room to change.

~*~

The rest of the evening had passed pleasantly enough. It was strange how the mood shifted once Suzaku and Lelouch had reached an agreement. It somehow felt as if a weight had lifted, that lingering tension between them resolved.

Lelouch slept deeply and well through the night, but he had set his alarm so that he would awaken early. He needed some time to cook everything for Suzaku's breakfast if he wanted to get it ready while Suzaku was still sleeping.

Lelouch was a blur of activity in the kitchen. He made fresh blueberry muffins, fruit salad, eggs Benedict, sausage links, and some fresh orange juice. The kitchen was full of wonderful smells that wafted back to the bedroom.

Once everything was ready, Lelouch brought it all back on a nice tray, walking over to the nightstand and placing it atop it before gazing down at the sleeping Suzaku.

Suzaku's nose twitched as the scent of a homecooked breakfast wafted past it. He made a very sleepy sound, turning towards the smell. It was still very early in the morning - the sun barely up - so he was not quite awake just yet. Then there was a moment when something seemed to click. He stirred as the smell of muffins and sausage and eggs beckoned him and he opened his eyes a little, wondering why it smelled so good. He blinked and his eyes widened as he saw Lelouch gazing down at him.

For a moment he had forgotten just why Lelouch would be there, the shock of it causing a jolt to go through his heart.

He then looked at the nightstand and put two and two together. But it still didn't add up. Just why did Lelouch make such an extravagant breakfast? He knew for a fact that they hadn't bought blueberry muffins or frozen sausages at the grocery story the night before.

"You....made all this...?" he finally managed, sitting up a little.

Lelouch watched Suzaku awaken, his features going from sleepy to surprise and then to comprehension. He gave the other a smile as Suzaku stared up at him. He chuckled softly in response to the other's question.

"Of course I did. I owed you a breakfast in bed, didn't I? I thought I might as well make it a nice one. I figured you hadn't had much of this kind of a thing since we had come here." Lelouch doubted that the other had been eating it at home either, but he saw no need to mention that. The point was that he wanted to give Suzaku a truly great breakfast. The other was always happier when he had something delicious to enjoy, Lelouch noticed.

"I hope it is to your liking..."

"Well, yes, you did but..." Suzaku murmured, voice fading off as he stared at the breakfast. He could feel his mouth water and his stomach threaten to grumble but he almost did not dare to believe that the tray of food existed for him alone.

"Y-you're eating some too, right? This is a lot of food, Lelouch."

"You always tell me that you have a big appetite," Lelouch replied, shrugging his shoulders slightly. "I suppose I could bring some extra food up if you don't want to eat alone, but I hadn't planned on eating any of this food. That's all for you."

He figured that the point of having breakfast in bed was to be able to have everything right there as one was eating and not have to move from under the covers. That hardly applied to him, and he somehow hadn't thought that Suzaku would want Lelouch to eat then as well.

"This is a lot of food...." Suzaku repeated softly. He felt his face heat up a bit out of embarrassment. He should never have had so much attention paid towards him. It was one thing if Lelouch had treated him to food outside or had heated it up in the microwave. Everything before him now was made from scratch. He wouldn't have been surprised if the orange juice had been squeezed just moments ago.

He took a muffin and handed it to Lelouch before he took one for himself.

"You should eat some too. It must have been a lot of work to make all this," he said before nibbling on his muffin.

Lelouch smiled as he noticed that Suzaku seemed to be blushing a little. He really didn't mind cooking breakfast for Suzaku and bringing it up to him. Lelouch liked putting his talent for cooking to good use on occasion, and he rarely went all out on breakfast for just the two of them. It was fun to do something truly elaborate.

"It's fine," Lelouch replied, accepting the muffin. He picked up a napkin to make sure he wouldn't spill any crumbs. "If you want us to eat together, I'll just go down and get a few things. It would only take me a couple of minutes to make myself a batch of the eggs Benedict since the hollandaise sauce is still warm.

"This is all meant for you, so you should stop worrying about me and eat up."

"....mm," Suzaku murmured, eating the muffin slowly. He was used to eating alone in the military but never when there was so much food. Back then, eating was a chore. Simply a means to quiet his stomach with little regard to taste or quality. He felt too self-conscious like this, feeling as if it was something he didn't quite deserve despite the fact he had a lucky hand in poker the night before.

Lelouch ate his own muffin in turn, savoring the taste of it. The fresh blueberries were sweet and the muffins had nice streusel on top. He took his time as well, enjoying the taste. Once it was done, he put the wrapper and the napkin aside.

"Try the eggs before they get cold. Then I'll run down and get myself some food to bring up here if you insist."

Suzaku nodded, putting the half-muffin aside to scoop up some of the eggs mixed with the hollandaise. He found it delicious, smiling as he remembered the last time he tasted it. He had had the dish once and that was because Lelouch had made it for Nunnally one time and the girl had insisted on sharing it with the Japanese boy. What a fond memory....even if he had pretended that Lelouch had not cooked it right at all at that time.

"I promise that I made it properly this time," Lelouch murmured, giving the other a smile as he took in the look on Suzaku's face. "A real English muffin and Canadian bacon." Those had been harder to come by in Japan. They were stacked neatly, a perfectly poached egg, the bacon, and then the English muffin. The Hollandaise was poured over the top to complete the dish, and Lelouch had sprinkled a few chives over the sauce.

"So, have my skills improved over the years?"

"Canadian bacon..." Suzaku murmured. He remembered how that had been the reason for Lelouch's last failure at the dish. For a child, bread was bread but meat was far more complex to substitute. He took another bite of the dish and then chuckled as he swallowed.

"Still horrible," he shook his head in a teasing manner. " But I cannot help but eat it. Can't hurt your feelings, you know."

Lelouch gave Suzaku a wry grin. "How kind of you to consider my feelings. Perhaps I should take it away and make something else that you would enjoy more, all the same. I would hate for my breakfast to be unsatisfactory," he replied, a teasing note in his own voice.

Lelouch rose to his feet then, prepared to go downstairs and fix himself his own portion. "Is there anything else you would like? I can bring it up for you with my breakfast."

Suzaku scooted the plate closer to him and shook his head. "I'm satisfied with this," he said as he continued to eat it as if Lelouch would truly take the food away. He was in the middle of eating another bite of his muffin when he chose to answer.

"I-" he started when he started to choke a little.

Lelouch chuckled and turned to go. He had nearly opened the door fully when the sound of Suzaku's choking caused him to whirl around. His eyes widened and he regarded the other with alarm. "Suzaku... are you all right?" Lelouch asked rushing over to his side. He would have to help the other if he was unable to help himself.

Suzaku nodded though he was clearly struggling to look the part. He struck his fist against his chest to try to dislodge the obstruction but could not do so while trying to not worry Lelouch.

Lelouch could tell that Suzaku could not breathe. The other was turning red in the face and striking himself in the chest to no avail. Hastily, Lelouch lifted the tray off of the other and set it aside. He then pulled Suzaku further up in the bed, turning him so that he could wrap his arms around the other's stomach. The Heimlich maneuver was the best option, so once Lelouch had joined his hands, he thrust back forcefully to try and dislodge whatever was caught in Suzaku's throat.

Suzaku by then had gone into a quiet mode of panic so he was taken by surprise when Lelouch suddenly pulled him up after taking away the tray. He was further shocked when the other wrapped his arms around his torso and clasped his hands together before thrusting backwards. He could feel the blocked flow of air trying to be forced from his lungs but it caught the first time, causing Suzaku to panic a little bit more. The second time dislodged the bite of muffin and he ended up swallowing on reflex.

"Ghack-!" he choked when Lelouch gave a third thrust and he put his hand to the other's shoulder to make him stop.

Lelouch stopped when he felt Suzaku's hand on his shoulder. He turned to the other, his violet eyes studying the other's face intently. Suzaku's color did look better, but Lelouch did not want to shift his position until he was certain.

"Are you all right? If you still cannot breathe, put your hand to your throat."

"I can breathe..." Suzaku said breathlessly, finding himself not taking breath after the initial rush. Suzaku never bothered with the heater in his room so it was all too easy to feel the warmth of Lelouch's chest against his back. His heart was still thudding quickly against his chest from the ordeal and his head was still reeling from the lack of oxygen which would explain why he he could not think clearly. He unable to respond to the strange sensation that gripped him, feeling as if time had suddenly gone very still when it had been racing just a second ago. Lelouch was still holding him tightly against him at the ready in case he was going to choke and Suzaku knew he had to insist on the other to let go because another use of the Heimlich maneuver was not needed. But his whole being felt like lead and it took him some time to make his hand go from the other's shoulder to his hands to gently push them apart.

"I'm fine, Lelouch...thanks..."

Lelouch regarded the other with a worried expression even when Suzaku stated that he could breathe. He had not seen him take a breath in the heat of the moment, and he did not feel him breathing now. He was reluctant to move until he was sure, adrenaline rushing through his body after the moment of crisis. He could not let his guard down until he was sure that Suzaku was all right.

When Suzaku put his hand against Lelouch's and pushed them apart, Lelouch breathed a sigh of relief and released the other. "Thank goodness. You had me worried for a second there," Lelouch said, drawing back from the other somewhat. "Shall I bring you some water?"

"I'm alright...you got me some juice here," Suzaku said, reaching over for the glass and taking a swallow. He found it unpleasant against his stressed throat and put the glass back on the tray.

"Maybe some water would be good..."

"I'll be back in one moment," Lelouch said, nodding his head. He rose from the bed and walked over to the kitchen to get a glass and fill it will cool water. It was a shame that Suzaku had choked in the middle of breakfast, but he could always make the other more later once Suzaku had recovered.

He then returned to the bedroom and offered the water to Suzaku, giving him a concerned look. "Here you go. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good," Suzaku said, taking the water and drinking it down, looking a bit ashamed.

"I'm an idiot. Talking with my mouth full like that. I'm just lucky you're here with me," he muttered before giving Lelouch a look. "You should go get your breakfast too. It's all going to get cold like this."

"I did warn you about that," Lelouch replied teasingly. He had warned the other against talking with his mouth full on several occasions, though that was more out of concern for his manners than fear of him choking. Truthfully, he was just relieved that Suzaku was all right.

"If you're feeling up to eating again, then I'll go get my breakfast. If you need me to heat anything up for you, just let me know."

"That you did," Suzaku nodded, managing an awkward smile, feeling his cheeks heat up a little.

"Go and get your breakfast. I'll be fine."

Lelouch nodded his head. He turned and headed for the door, making his way back to the kitchen. He was gone for about ten minutes this time, as he poached a few eggs, heated up a few things, and then assembled himself a few eggs Benedict. He then returned to Suzaku's room bearing a plate with his eggs and a glassful of juice for himself.

Suzaku picked at his food while Lelouch was away. He wasn't too keen on trying to eat again so soon after he had choked and he figured that was what was bothering him. It left him on edge...unsure of his own ability to eat. It was hard to swallow, just thinking about how Lelouch had to come to his rescue and how worried he looked. Though it was clearly Suzaku's own fault, Lelouch still only teased him about it a little. Lelouch and Euphemia were so much alike like in that sense. He shook his head to clear the thought and drank down the rest of the water. What a stupid thought. The two were not alike at all even if they were related.

Lelouch walked back into the room and walked over to place his tray on the nightstand so that he could sit beside Suzaku's bed. When he noticed that the other had not eaten much while he was gone, Lelouch frowned.

"Are you not feeling up to eating?" he asked, concerned that Suzaku was still impaired from his choking episode. He might have to make the other breakfast on a different day if he was not feeling well enough to enjoy this one. It wouldn't be fair if Suzaku was not able to enjoy his meal at all.

Suzaku looked up and shook his head.

"No, I'm fine. I was just thinking," he said quickly, starting to eat his eggs enthusiastically. "You already made such a delicious meal. I can't help but eat it."

"I'm glad to hear it," Lelouch said. He picked up his own fork and knife and ate a bite of his portion of eggs Benedict. It tasted exactly right, the tangy Hollandaise sauce mingling deliciously with the other components.

"Must have been something important on your mind to stop you from eating..."

Suzaku's own knife and fork slipped for a second. He then laughed, shaking his head.

"I don't know just what that would insult if it was," he said good-naturedly. "Guess I'm just taking it a bit slower after choking."

"It wasn't meant to be an insult," Lelouch replied, laughing along with the other. He ate another bite of food and swallowed before replying to Suzaku.

"That's probably a good idea. There isn't anything wrong with savoring your meal."

"Well it would either mean I lived to eat or I was so simple-minded that I couldn't think and eat at the same time. Though I suppose both can be a little true," Suzaku chuckled at his own words and took another big bite of the eggs Benedict. He gave Lelouch a thumbs up, clearly exercising caution in light of his choking.

"That wasn't what I meant. I just meant that I know how you get when you have a delicious meal in front of you. There isn't much that can keep you from eating then," Lelouch replied amiably. He smiled at the other's evident pleasure in the food. "Enjoying your food is a good thing. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Suzaku raised an eyebrow. He laughed to himself a little and helped himself to the last of the muffins. He washed it all down with the juice and then patted his stomach.

"Me neither...it's one of the things in life I look forward to..." he murmured contentedly.

Lelouch regarded the other with fond amusement when Suzaku patted his stomach once his food was finished. "I know," he murmured. He had noticed it particularly after they had begun living together in hiding in preparation for their final combat against Schneizel, and now he was seeing it again in this place. Suzaku definitely felt happier after an enjoyable meal.

"And lucky for you, you don't have to wash the dishes from this breakfast. You can relax or even catch a little extra sleep."

"Really? I should anyways...otherwise I'll become lazy," Suzaku said.

"Just relax and enjoy it this once. I don't let you off the hook for chores too often," Lelouch said, rising from the bed and beginning to collect the trays and breakfast dishes. "You deserve a lazy day every once in awhile."

"You do too. So I'm not letting you off the hook when it's your turn," Suzaku said, settling back against the bed. It was still early and he knew he should go running but after eating so much food, he did not feel like moving very much.

"The food was too good, Lelouch. I wouldn't know how to top that."

"My turn?" Lelouch asked, raising his eyebrows.

He smiled at Suzaku's compliment. "I'm glad. I wanted to make your breakfast in bed worthwhile. It's not something that you would need to top, in any case." They both had their different skills, and cooking was one thing that Lelouch was confident he could do very well. He finished picking up the dishes and turned to go.

"I know you'll beat me at poker one day...so yeah, your turn," Suzaku said. He gave the other a smile in return and watched him go. He felt very warm and content now with his stomach full of food and his mind at ease. It was just too easy for him to drift off back to sleep like that.

- Hide quoted text -
"Assuming that we play for the same stakes, then probably so," Lelouch agreed. He shut the door behind him as he departed for the kitchen. He had gotten up early to make sure that Suzaku got his breakfast while he was still in bed, but there was no reason for Suzaku to get up immediately. He began to clean up the dishes once he reached the kitchen.

After Lelouch had finished cleaning up the kitchen, he decided to go and take a shower. He could always read a book if Suzaku was still sleeping after he was done.