suzaku | oo1

[keptdown]

Who: keptdown and you probably ...?
Where: EVERYWHERE-- somni business district.
Style: idk, i'll go with whatever you do.
Status: open.

Comments

[keptdown]

He came apart at 'Su', rebuilt himself at 'za', and registered Lelouch's presence at 'ku'. The mere sight itself took his very breath away (stole it right from his lungs and used it to call a name more dead than its worn owner himself). And if he were being completely honest, 'Zero' was (still feeling the sting of the earlier times' pain) not ready for it yet; to face a man he ran a sword through as easy as a knife through butter six and a half months earlier.

But, there was Lelouch (unsure, however, which 'Lelouch' he was addressing), all delicate bones, long limbs, and- and --

"Lelouch," as if he'd parrot it back and pick at all of the 'wrong' it was to call 'Zero' by that name, but could wait until a better time. Probably, at least; he wasn't sure if he would ever encounter the other again, because he really, truly, completely and utterly was not ready for this. But, it still hung in the back of his mind that this would (probably) make him a little more alert than he was before.

I am Zero, the back of his mind whispered,

[keptdown]

Ah. He can feel a rift between them suddenly, but for once- for once he doesn't seem to mind. Maybe. Probably. As always, this is how it is. How it should be.

And so, Suzaku slips his serious face back on (Zero), eyes closing as he looks off to the side and answers Lelouch's question, "The Empress is well, yes. As well as she can be -- she's been busy with international affairs, but Schneizel and I are with her to make sure she doesn't take more on her shoulders than she can carry." His shoulders are tense and he would like nothing more than to walk around a little because his legs are growing slightly tired, but he keeps his stance straight. He is Zero, after all; there's nothing that can change that

[zerointegrity]

There were very few individuals on this earth who had ever seen his tears flow so openly and freely and that's how he'd intended things. The witch had seen his tears a number of times, Suzaku only once during their adult life. Raw emotions weren't meant to be seen by the public, they were a sign of weakness. There was never an opportunity to show the armies, the subjects, the people around him his vulnerabilities... He was a leader and leaders weren't supposed to have weaknesses. Those things were meant to be locked away, held firmly in place behind layer after layer of heavy mask

[keptdown]

He sees when Lelouch starts crying, reads his body language as he has many times, and it's then that he steps forward and sets a hand on one of Lelouch's elbows, his other hand moving to wrap around Lelouch's waist and securing long arm under his own. A backwards hold that is tight and, honestly, all that Suzaku has to offer him after words spoken only because he can speak them. Suzaku has always spoken freely as Zero, and with or without the mask- it doesn't change much

[zerointegrity]

As his violet eyes stared at the clouded sky above them, his tears slowly started to dry, leaving stains across his cheeks and eyes that were slightly on the reddish side. Not exactly fitting to appear in public looking like this, but there was nothing he could do at this point except move on. It was a shame that the masks he wore weren't things he could physically take on and off, something that could actually use to cover up the hurt and anger that was currently smeared across his face. But, again, there was nothing he could do at this point but push all of this back down and move on, hoping it didn't find its way to the surface for a while

[keptdown]

There's a hand on his forearm and he almost lets go immediately, his nae something of an anchor for he and his subconscious. (A rather depressing anchor, at that.) He's still Zero in mind, still very much alone. Being with Lelouch like this, though-

-- somehow it helps ease that loneliness, just a little bit.

The arm around Lelouch's waist moves, that hand dragging upwards to press over Lelouch's chest and feeling the flutter of his heart under his ribcage. The Emperor has stopped crying, even tried to get away (unsuccessful attempt number one of course, because Suzaku refuses to let go), and seems to be speaking well enough now -- spouting off something almost interesting in prospective -- so he figures he should finally let him go.

He doesn't do so, not right away at least; not until he brushes their cheeks together. When Suzaku pulls away, he gives something of a secretive smile before saying, "You want to sort through things, Lelouch? You honestly want to do that?" Suzaku doesn't sound disbelieving, no- just shocked,

/ridiculously late OTL

[zerointegrity]

"This world is so very different from what we are used to - nobody knows who I am, nobody knows my past transgressions... Nobody knows who you are, nobody knows the things you've done." He paused for a moment and turned to face Suzaku, "As I said before, you and I, both, have been given a second chance. The weight of Britannia is no longer bearing down on either of us, crushing us under its immensity, and it would be foolish of us to not make the best of this opportunity we've been given