The time we shared was real

[tempus_scorpius]

Characters: Rolo & YOU
Setting: Cafeteria (Floor 1), Graveyard (Floor 48) & Media room (Floor 14)
Format: Both are fine! I'll follow!
Summary: Rolo has returned from a brief visit to his home world where he found the grave Lelouch dug and buried him in...
Warnings: None yet!

Cafeteria
[So he is finally back.

Rolo can't recall how he'd left the Tower nor how he'd come back... but that's the least of his worries. He's still much too preoccupied by what he'd seen in his home world...

Everything was dead and in ruins, and somehow he didn't need to eat nor drink nor rest as Suzaku had described to him before. That didn't bother him though. His world being destroyed was of no concern to him. He felt no attachment whatsoever to it after all.

That was until he saw the grave at the edge of what was once a forest, right next to a huge crater that was possibly a large lake once upon a time. He'd never seen it before yet it felt familiar and he was drawn to it then he saw his battered locket hanging from the grave marker. It was... his grave...? But who? The only person who could have buried him back then was....

Nii-san...

His big brother who loathed all sorts of physical activities and did his best to get out of doing anything remotely physical had... His big brother...

Rolo did something he'd never done before in his life. He cried and sobbed right there in front of his own grave, releasing everything that had been pent up inside him for so long. Surely the fact that this grave exists means that Lelouch did love him after all. It isn't a lie after all. It is real. He is Lelouch's (adopted) brother.

Being a resident of the Tower for more than an year now has completely disillusioned Rolo from believing in anything or anyone anymore but surely, this is something he can believe in. Even though Lelouch was cold and distant to him when he was here, he can still believe that deep inside his brother did care for and love him, right? Is it alright for him to hold onto this in a Tower where everything is fake?

Now back at the Tower, seated in the cafeteria, Rolo clutches his locket tightly and tries not to cry again...]


****
Graveyard
[Sometime in the late morning, Rolo sets off for the graveyard to look for Lelouch's grave then he just sits quietly beside it, appearing to be deep in thought. He occasionally takes out his locket to listen to the little tune it plays and to look at the photo inside it - a relic from an enchanted time.]

****
Media room
[After visiting Lelouch, Rolo decides to give the media room a try. He's just looking around really, trying to find a game or film that interests him. He wonders if he should try that romance film that V/V told him about a while back...

He might actually be a little more sociable for once and turn to whoever is in the room with him to ask.]

What's your favourite game?

[Or]

What type of films do you like?

Comments

[tempus_scorpius]

Rolo remains in just about the same position when Suzaku gets back.

"That's okay." And least it wasn't all nutrition bars. He then just sort of stares at the food...

[swordofzero]

"Eat it." Suzaku told him, his voice taking on a slightly commanding tone as he sat down next to him.

[tempus_scorpius]

That tone earned Suzaku a brief glare of what might be annoyance and perhaps even hatred. Who were you to command him? But hey, at least he was feeling things again!

But Rolo was too tired to challenge Suzaku (for now anyway) so he poked around at the pancake and took a little bite. Then he chewed for a long while in silence before saying, "I saw my own grave... back home."

[swordofzero]

He looked down at the look but was glad to see that Rolo was eating. He blinked at the comment though, "You did?" Carefully, letting Rolo say what he wished.

[tempus_scorpius]

There was no response at first then the younger boy nodded.

"Nii-san... Nii-san must have buried me. He could have just left me in the forest or thrown me in the lake but he gave me a proper burial."

[swordofzero]

"Of course he did." Suzaku blinked, had Rolo truly thought that? That Lelouch wouldn't have even buried him. "You fought for him, he wasn't going to leave you."

[tempus_scorpius]

Rolo shook his head. "It was more than that. He left my locket on my grave... even though he'd said earlier that it wasn't mine. And... and... before I died, he called me his brother. So... So it's more than that. It has to be."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku looked down, he wasn't sure how to answer that. He didn't know why Lelouch had done the things he had done, he didn't know how he truly felt about Rolo. But he didn't like that Rolo put so much emphasis on these things.

"Does it change things though? How he treated you..."

[tempus_scorpius]

"Of course it does! He is the first person who ever showed me any affectionate at all and he taught me love. He is my only family. It... it's very important." He held his locket closer, hugging it to himself. "Family is very important and he gave my life meaning. Something... to live for..."

[swordofzero]

"I wouldn't know." Suzaku said with a shrug. "I understand though. But I don't think it changes things really, it is still important to be your own person."

[tempus_scorpius]

"Being your own person is lonely though. I don't want to be on my own anymore. I... hate it."

[swordofzero]

"It doesn't have to be." Suzaku looked at him, "Being your own person doesn't mean being alone."

[tempus_scorpius]

"It doesn't? How?"

[swordofzero]

"Many people are their own people, but not alone. There are many examples." He frowned.

[tempus_scorpius]

"Many examples...? Such as?"

[swordofzero]

"Milly Ashford." Suzaku said after a moment, "Cecile, she was her own person but not lonely." He shrugged, "Me."

[tempus_scorpius]

He started considering those examples but then stopped and looked at Suzaku rather skeptically, "You?"

Did you seriously just put yourself up as a role model for him to follow?

[swordofzero]

"Don't act so surprised." He told him. "you disagree?"

[tempus_scorpius]

He thought about it before replying after seriously. "I don't want to be like you though."

[swordofzero]

"I know." Suzaku didn't want to be like Suzaku either, "But I am nothing like Milley or Cecile, you don't have to be like any of us, I was just listing examples."

[tempus_scorpius]

There is a long silence as if Rolo wasn't going to say anything more when suddenly...

"... well, I'll think about it."

He just didn't see what was wrong with believing that Lelouch really, truly cared for him and relying completely on him though, but hopefully Suzaku would stop bugging him about it if he said he'd consider this being one's own person thing.

[swordofzero]

"That's all I can ask." Suzaku nodded at him, knowing that Rolo probably wouldn't follow his advice, but he had to try and help him. Even if Rolo didn't want the advice.

[tempus_scorpius]

He looked over at him for a little while before returning the nod and trying to eat a little more.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku nodded and moved away, knowing that he had most likely outstayed his welcome. He was glad to see that Rolo was eating though, hopefully he would take Suzaku's other advice into consideration as well.

[tempus_scorpius]

Rolo didn't say anything and just watched the other leave. After a while he continued eating and eventually finished his food.