#cocakura

There was a loud clatter as Zero threw the collar away from him, Suzaku absently noting where it landed.

He dropped his hand from his neck, studying the masked man before taking a step back. "I should thank you for what you did-"

"Then join me."

The interruption had Suzaku blinking rapidly as his brain tried to catch up. Zero didn't seem to notice his hesitation. He just swept a hand out in the direction of the Administrative Building. "They're going to give you a sham of a trial, a rigged jury and an execution for something that you didn't do. With me you'll get none of that."

"What will I get?"

"The respect you deserve. You are innocent Suzaku Kururugi."

Suzaku shook his head, turning his back on the masked man. "There are rules and I have to follow them."

"But-"

"If I don't than I'm no better than the man who murdered Clovis."

"I did that."

"But you won't stand trial for it." Suzaku turned to look over his shoulder. "If you don't and I just run, then another person will suffer. It'll repeat itself unless someone stands up and takes the blame. Why shouldn't it be me?"

"Because it's not fair! You're innocent."

Suzaku laughed, trying not to think about the feeling of a knife in his hands and blood spilling over them. "I'm not"

"You'll die."

"I'm a soldier. I'm prepared for that."

"I'm not!"

The fear behind Zero's voice made him turn. Suzaku gasped as his left side bumped against a piece of rubble, making the stitches in his side throb. He bent over, clutching at his side as he waited for the pain to abate. It was only when he straightened up that he realized that Zero had moved to stand close to him.

The man's hand was outstretched, like he wanted to touch the spot. Suzaku took a step back, surprised when Zero didn't react. The mask was fixed on his side.

"They tried to before, when you wouldn't shoot me."

"What?"

"They don't care about your morals or your bravery, they just want to use you for results. A dangerous Eleven killed the prince. An unruly soldier wouldn't shoot one of his terrorist friends. They don't see you as being a person, you're a tool to them."

"How do you know that?"

"But you aren't. You're a valued combatant. Your moral compass will help the other as well. They'll know about your past and stick close to you because of your father. But once they know you they'll help you without a question. You can be an inspiration to-"

Suzaku stepped forward and grabbed Zero, hauling him closer. He expected the masked man to call for a guard, glad when he didn't. Suzaku could easily ignore the rest of Zero's rantings, his past wasn't that hard to figure out. But the things he was saying about what had happened in the subway tunnel couldn't be ignored. No one had been down there but his team, the girl and Lelouch.

He looked at the mask, reaching back with one hand to press against the back of it. His fingers found a catch, Suzaku pausing at the intake of breath, but Zero did nothing beyond that. Suzaku felt for the latch again, pushing the button in.

The mask slid off easily, the back folding in on itself. Zero caught it before it could fall to the ground, placing the mask on a piece of rubble beside them. When he turned back, it was Lelouch that stared back at him.

"I won't let them kill you."

"Lelouch..."

"They shot you once and I thought you had died." Lelouch reached out to grab at him, Suzaku finding himself pulled forward a fraction. "I found you again and you died for your morals in a subway tunnel. How would I have explained that to Nunnally?"

"I didn't expect you to."

"She would have asked. She always asks about you." Lelouch shook his head. "I won't let you go back."

"I have to."

"You won't. I'll make all of them watch you so you don't slip away." He dropped his head onto Suzaku's shoulder. "I want to make this world right, and I need you by my side to do that."

"It won't work. Ends gained through contemptible means aren't-"

"That doesn't matter. There's nothing the two of us can't do if we're together." Lelouch looked up at him again, his hands smoothing the front of the uniform that Suzaku was wearing. "I need you there, Suzaku. I can't do this alone."

Suzaku wanted to point out that Lelouch had a room full of allies just behind the door to the theater, but he couldn't. Lelouch had slumped forward. He sighed, shaking his head. "Lelouch-"

"It's not worth it without you."

Suzaku almost missed the words. He stared at Lelouch, watching as his friend curled in on himself more. "Nunnally and you. None of it is worth it without the two of you there."

He watched Lelouch carefully before sighing. He couldn't walk away, not when Lelouch was like this. Not when some part of him was thrilled by the fact that he could escape death. He could be with Lelouch and Nunnally, which was all he had wanted since that summer had ended. Better yet, he could stop Lelouch from lashing out in anger at everyone in Area 11. There was a better way to win Japan back. Lelouch could come up with the battle strategies and Suzaku could help. They could save lives instead of destroying them.

He smiled, flopping down in the chair as soon as it was open. Suzaku tipped his head back with a sigh, closing his eyes. Everything ached, so it wouldn't hurt to just take a short nap. Kaguya still had two hours before her shift was over, that was plenty of time to...

"Don't." Suzaku winced as he felt the pen poke into his side. He opened one eye, watching as Lelouch continued to work like nothing had changed. But Suzaku caught the glance that was thrown his way, more than enough to show that Lelouch was paying attention.

Suzaku whined in the back of his throat, earning another poke with the end of the pen. "Don't fall asleep. You have other things to worry about, don't you?"

"Yes." Suzaku sat up, running a hand through his hair. He made a face when he felt the sweat that was still there. At the start of the run, Suzaku had hoped that he would have time for a shower before he had to pick up Kaguya from work, but that was two hours and several miles ago. "But I'm beat."

"It's that bad?" Lelouch looked up from his laptop, all premise of paying attention to his own homework gone. He rested his elbow on a stack of books, giving Suzaku a careful once over. "You've never been affected by any of this before. If anything, you're more energetic after your work out."

"That's on five hours of sleep. I've been getting three...maybe."

Lelouch narrowed his eyes, Suzaku having to bite back the urge to apologize. It wasn't his fault. Between college, ROTC, taking care of Kaguya and looking after their apartment, there was just too much to do and not enough hours in the day. The rush towards finals would slow down eventually and Suzaku could go back to his normal sleep schedule. It wasn't anything more than he could handle.

When Suzaku just offered a shrug as his answer, Lelouch huffed. He twirled the pen between his fingers before bringing it down sharply on the books. "If you were with us, you wouldn't have to worry about it."

"Lelouch..."

"It's not charity it's practicality. You and Euphy go to the same college. Kaguya and Nunnally's high school is closer to where my classes are. Two cars are better than one. And it would be nice to have some help around the house. We have a bedroom...or two going unoccupied." Lelouch sighed, shaking his head. "It's an offer, not an order."

"I know." That's what it always was and it was getting harder to turn down. Suzaku knew that it would be harder when Kaguya graduated and went to college, probably following him to the community college in the city until she could transfer. Beyond that, pooling their funds would be better than all of them scraping by.

It was on the tip of his tongue to say that the second bedroom wasn't necessary, just to get to see Lelouch blush. But Suzaku couldn't bring himself to be that forward in public.

The best he could do was reach under the table and see out Lelouch's hand. Suzaku gave it a gentle squeeze, watching the blush rise on Lelouch's cheeks before his friend distracted himself with one of the books.

"I'll think about it."

Lelouch flicked his gaze over to Suzaku, looking back at his homework a moment later. 

That was closer to the desired answer and they both knew it. If they moved in together, there would be no more stolen moments in coffee shops between dates. No more rushed kisses in the morning. No more last minute texts canceling plans.