Work Text:
"For the last time, no. And you will not change my mind on this matter."
The sound of pen on paper quickened as Milly pouted from across the room. Lelouch didn't need to look up from the documents to tell that she was upset, he could hear her pouts from a mile away.
“Aww, you're no fun at all Lulu.” Lelouch gritted his teeth at the nickname, grip on the pen tightening. “Oh well, there is a lot of student council paperwork to do so I’ll let you off the hook this time~”
The blonde turns on her heels and walks out of the council room with a nonchalant wave.
He was finally at peace.
Lelouch sighed as he looked out the large windows and towards the wing of the academy that would be hosting the event.
Banners and decorations in an array of colors adorning the outside. The lights of the hall started to spill out as the sky above changed from the purple-orange hues of sunset to the navy-purple of dusk.
It was a stark contrast to his current location of the dimming student council room.
Lelouch could not help but feel a pang in his heart as he stood up to turn a single lamp on. Lingering around it as he dwelled on his choice of staying behind.
While he would usually and reluctantly participate in Milly’s extravagant ideas, he was not particularly keen on joining the festivities on this occasion.
Milly had the bright idea to host a ‘normal’ event for once, a formal dance.
On impulse.
With only a week’s notice.
With that complication, it meant that certain members of the student council had to reschedule plans to be able to prepare and participate in the event.
As expected, most were able to clear their schedules in preparation for the dance. All except one.
“Sorry Prez, I got called in to do some testing with the A.S.E.E.C. for a few days so I won't be able to go to the dance.”
He remembered Suzaku’s words that day. He avoided showing off any emotion towards the statement at the time but deep down he knew from the moment those words were spoken, he too would not go to the dance.
As much as he loved the members of the student, he couldn't bare the thought of being cooped up in an overcrowded hall with hormonal teenagers vying for his attention. Especially as he would have to dress up for the event, making the crowds worse.
At least, he assumes he couldn't bear it if Suzaku wasn't there to be used as an excuse to get out of there. Suzaku was the only viable option in Lelouch's mind.
Lelouch sighed once more before returning to his seat and picking up a new document to work on as he pondered over the fact that he deserted his friends over something so absurdly stupid in his mind. Guilt running through his mind the more he dwells on it. His lips downturned into a slight frown.
He was glad Nunnally wouldn't be participating in the event. His guilt would have risen tenfold if she had. The thought of abandoning his dearest sister alone at an event sent shivers down his spine as he continued to write. He hoped everyone was enjoying their time dancing, singing and having fun. He wished he wasn't so stubborn and was there to join in the festivities.
Lelouch's thoughts turn towards Suzaku in an effort to push his feelings away and out of mind.
“LELOUCH!”
The door slams open and Lelouch jumps at the sudden movement. His head turns towards the intruder, his eyes landing on…
Suzaku. As if right on cue, his physical self appeared before him. Dressed in a formal yet flashy white and gold ensemble. Almost like royalty, down to the tails flowing behind him as the wind blew into the dark council room. His breathing irregular, hands on the door frame as if he had run over here in a hurry.
Lelouch stares at Suzaku as he lifts his head up to stare back at the dark haired boy. Confused looks on both of their faces. Silence filling the room as neither dare to speak up and question the other.
As Lelouch stared at him, he took in all the details of Suzaku's outfit. As gaudy as the gold patterns on his suit was, he looked absolutely gorgeous in it. The grey and dark blue tones of the suit and cape complimented his tanner skin tone. Suit hugging his body tightly, every curve of his body visible to Lelouch. And the cherry on top of it all was the shining red ruby that tied it all together…
It fitted Suzaku like a glove. It fitted a little too well.
His hair was slicked back on one side. Giving Suzaku a mature yet youthful appearance. Lelouch would dare say, a little sexy…
Lelouch shook his head. He shouldn't be thinking these thoughts about his best friend. To him, it was rude and indecent. No matter how much he wanted to. There was no way Suzaku thought of him in that manner anyways…
The silence was deafening.
“So…”
“So!”
Both boys looked at each other as their mouths opened to speak, quickly closing as they realized the other wanted to speak up. Lelouch averted his gaze but Suzaku’s was firmly planted on the boy.
“You can go first. I’m sure you have a lot of questions.” Suzaku urged him to speak. The words in his mouth were suddenly caught in his throat.
“I…” He looked up briefly to look at Suzaku before looking down again out of embarrassment for his earlier thoughts. “Why are you here? How did you get here?”
Suzaku smiled. “Well, I just had a good friend at the base bail me out. She told me I shouldn't be stuck there when there's a school event going on.” He took a few steps forward, the sound of his loafers on the carpet filling the room. Door closing behind him as he approached the single chair. “And I’m here to collect you, Lelouch.”
He whips his head up to look at Suzaku as those words left his mouth. Eyebrows furrowed as he tried to decipher his confusing words. “Collect… me?”
“Yeah, I’m bringing you to the dance!”
“What?”
“What do you mean what?”
Lelouch could only blink at the words, his mind too worked up to process the words at his usual speed. “Did Milly not tell you I’m not going? At all.” He could only watch as Suzaku tilted his head in slight confusion. It was kind of cute.
“Why? Is Milly gonna do something unexpected at the dance?”
Lelouch shifted in his seat and looked away. He couldn't dare confess that it was because he assumed Suzaku wouldn't be there at all and that he didn't want to feel suffocated and alone without him by his side. Of course he couldn't. “No… No, she has nothing of the sort planned for this. I just didn't feel like going, that's all.”
A half lie. While he really did not feel like going and that was a true statement, it wasn't the whole truth. He sighed quietly, feeling bad about lying so much to Suzaku and hiding his feelings.
“Really Lelouch? I know you too well to know that you don't just avoid things because ‘you don't feel like it’. So, come on, what's the matter? Did something bad happen to Nunnally?!”
“No! No… nothing bad happened to Nunnally. I wouldn't even *be* here in a dark room alone if she was, you idiot. I don't owe you an explanation anyways.”
“Come oooon… There's gotta be a good reason right?”
Lelouch bit his lip, breathing out through his nose. “I just have a backlog of paperwork to do. That's all. Now, please just mind your own business and leave me alone.” He turns away from the boy behind him, back facing him as he picks the pen up once more.
Suzaku, as stubborn as he is, would not take no for an answer. Especially when his mind was set on one goal. Walking a few inches behind Lelouch’ chair, grabbing it and pulling it back. A smirk formed as he watched the other struggle to keep his composure, failing to pick himself back up.
“Just what do you think you're doing you brute?!” he whips his head around to look at an amused Suzaku who has long dropped the chair back to its place on the floor. “You cannot possibly be thinking of dragging my chair to the venue, are you?!”
Small snorts and giggles leave Suzaku’s body as he tries to stifle them as much as he can. Laughing in Lelouch’s face isn't the best idea in this scenario, he concluded, as funny as the idea was.
“No way I’m doing that! I’ll still drag you there though. It’s not like you're any match for my strength.” he grabs the thin wrist belonging to Lelouch and starts walking towards the door. Lelouch splutters and stumbles as the grip on his wrist tightens.
“You are absolutely crazy if you think I’m going in this?!” his hands dramatically gesturing up and down his Ashford uniform.
Suzaku could only giggle at his melodramatic performance. “Well, you weren't planning on going and it's too late to find something for you to wear.” He throws a quick smile back to Lelouch, “It’ll be fine, I promise.”
—
All eyes were on them as the two boys entered the large hall. All of them gathered in a crowd around the entrance and Lelouch couldn't tell if they were in awe of the contrasting duo or gawking at how handsome Suzaku was. He came to the quick conclusion that it was both as he heard a group of female students squeal while pointing at the boy beside him. Either way, Lelouch felt like digging a hole to hide from the embarrassment.
Lelouch felt the warm hand that was holding his wrist let go as Suzaku stepped in front of him, gesturing to ask Lelouch to hold onto him this time. A small reassuring whisper of ‘let me handle this’ comforting him. Lelouch's hand hesitated before lightly tugging the sleeve in front of him.
A loud ‘ahem’ brought the crowd’s attention back to Suzaku as he walked towards the middle of the hall, where all the dancing had taken place that night. Lelouch trailer behind as he watched in slight awe at the crowds separating for them both. Never in a million years would he have ever imagined a gaggle of Britannian students would quietly obey Suzaku. Though, he supposes that being Suzaku’s plus one helped.
As they reached the center of the hall, Suzaku tugged himself out of Lelouch's grip. A loud boisterous voice screaming “EVERYONE MOVE TO THE EDGE OF THE HALL! I REPEAT, NO MORE PATRONS ON THE FLOOR!” was heard. Lelouch looked up to see Milly smirking as the other council members waved and smiled.
The sound in front of him bringing him back to the current situation at hand. Lelouch could only blink as the sight of Suzaku kneeling on one knee with a heart on his hand appeared before him. A surprised smile gracing his face as he blinked.
“Would you do me the honor of dancing with me tonight, Lelouch Lamperouge?” Suzaku smiles gently back at Lelouch. Sincerity written all over his face. Suzaku extends his hand out to Lelouch, waiting for the boy to take it.
Lelouch's smile morphed into glee as he took Suzaku’s hand. The warm feeling returning once more.
“Yes, of course Prince Kururugi.”
—
“Now, see? That wasn't so bad now was it, Lelouch?”
Lelouch huffed as he threw himself onto a chair at the dining table. Suzaku following suit as he sat next to him.
“You danced with me for hours . Of course it was ‘so bad’.”
Suzaku laughed. Giving Lelouch a smirk as he pouted at the physical activity he had to do that whole evening. “Yeah but, it was fun right? I could tell you were having a little bit of fun during it.”
Lelouch glanced at Suzaku before looking back down at his lap. Pout still present on his face, eyebrows furrowed from the comment.
“Milly’s events would be more enjoyable if they were normal, mundane, events. But that will probably be the last time she does something of the sort. I could hear her yawning over the blaring music.”
“Okay okay, I get it. It was tolerable at best.”
Lelouch felt a slight pang in his chest, a small feeling of guilt bubbling inside him. Before he could even think, his hand had laid itself ontop of Suzaku's, giving the other’s a little reassuring squeeze.
“I… still had fun with you. I enjoyed our time together and I did not mind getting dragged to the dance.”
It was now Suzaku’s turn to blink in surprise. “You… you didn't?”
Lelouch looked up at Suzaku giving him the same smile he gave when they started the night. “I’m actually glad we managed to spend even a little bit of time together. I’d be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed when you had a change of plans.”
Suzaku could only sit in silence as the words processed in his head. His instincts telling him to bring Lelouch in for a hug…
And so he did. A choked noise escaped Lelouch as Suzaku wrapped his arms around him.
“Then… let's spend more time together tonight, okay?”
Lelouch could only nod. A strangled ‘okay’ leaving his lips and the words ‘i love you’ lingered on his tongue.
—
“It’s been a while since I’ve worn this, huh?”
“It has been. You wore it when you went to the dance with big brother, correct?”
Suzaku tugged at the tie before slowly turning to kneel in front of Nunnally. A melancholic smile etched on his face.
“Yes, I wore this years ago when Milly held her first and last boring event at Ashford. I can't believe it still fits! It’s a little tight in a few places but it shouldn't be a problem if I’m only going to wear it for today.”
Nunnally giggles, “I’m glad I can finally see how you look in it! Big brother talked about how good you looked in it frequently after the event. It’s a shame that he’ll be missing out on seeing it again…”
Suzkau bites the inside of his lip before he nods at her statement. He stands, strolling over to the table that held the celebratory sword.
His fingers grazed over it. His expression unreadable as he attaches the sword to his hip. Walking over to Nunally’s side.
“I guess… I’ll have to make the most of this birthday for Lelouch, won't I?”