Another piece shatters

[swordofzero]

Characters: Suzaku, Diarmuid (and roommates if they want!) and Rolo (with bonus Lelouch if wanted!)
Setting: Diarmuid's room (about 5am) and then the next day
Format: Either
Summary: After meeting Lelouch Suzaku breaks a little bit more, this time he is good and doesn't hide in the morgue.

Then he goes to futilely argue with Rolo

Warnings: Angst mostly

[Room 4-16] When Suzaku had left Lelouch he had been furious, confused, upset. Mostly at himself, he still hoped he was wrong. But it was too much of a coincidence. Still the idea that this Lelouch could be from a version of his own world, still trapped under Charles' Geass...

It didn't bear thinking about. But he didn't have much choice. Lelouch was here, Suzaku hadn't found Rolo get but he doubted it would be long before Rolo and Lelouch met. Rolo wasn't ready to be faced with this Lelouch, probably would never be. In a lot of ways this was crueler than a Lelouch who hated him, at least that would keep him in reality.

Or as close to reality as anything got around here. Suzaku made his way to one of the darker floors, monster hunting would keep his mind off things and he couldn't wait until night time.

His fighting went into the night, sleep was not going to happen, he killed and killed again. It was the only thing he was good at and the people of the tower needed real weapons. He could be of some use.

The night passed in flashes of memory, a blow too many and he came to awareness having lose time. He was used to it though, it barely made him disorientated, he had gotten used to battling with his Geass.

So he survived, trying to wipe out the memories of his anger, Lelouch behind the mask, Euphemia's smile. Taking Lelouch before the emperor, letting him take away his memories, replacing them. Taking away everything that made him Lelouch.

Leaving him the polite school boy Suzaku had spoken to today.

It wasn't until he tried to go to a non powered floor and found himself at the bottom of the stair case, another gap in memory that he realised how far he had gone.

His first instinct was to keep going, keep fighting; keep killing. Until morning, until he was calm, avoid people. Avoid everything.

But he had made a promise not to give up. So carefully, going through powered floors and the elevator he found himself on the fourth dormitory floor. He had knocked on the door before he realised it was about five O clock in the morning and even if Diarmuid would not mind his roommates might.

[The next day] His mind was a bit clearer, a bit more focused and so he went searching for Rolo, they needed to talk. Though the boy had still not forgave him Suzaku still felt responsible for him and didn't want him hurt, and he would be hurt. It was practically inevitable.

Comments

Room 4-16

[oathshackledbird]

[Suzaku is lucky for once. Because he has been patrolling most of the night, Diarmuid is still awake when the knock comes. Before Suzaku can knock again and perhaps wake one of the others in the room, Diarmuid has the door open and is stepping into the hallway.

Call it a feeling, but not many people come to this room at such an hour and since meeting Lelouch, Suzaku hasn't been far from Diarmuid's mind. Those things are why he's not surprised at who he sees there. Instead, he seems relieved.

Diarmuid reaches out and gives Suzaku's shoulder a comforting squeeze.]

I'm glad you are here.

[swordofzero]

[He hadn't expected to be answered so quickly, or for Diarmuid to act like he was expecting him, never mind for him to be glad. He looked down as Diarmuid touched his shoulder] I apologise, I didn't realise how late it was.

[oathshackledbird]

It's all right. Don't feel bad. To be honest, I hoped that you would come and speak to me.

[Diarmuid pauses for a moment as if he is thinking about how to say what he wants to say. Finally, he just spits it out.]

This is about Lelouch, right?

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku is silent not sure why Diarmuid would be hoping for him to come, but remained silent not sure how to start. He blinked when Diarmuid started for him and nodded] You met him then?

[oathshackledbird]

I did. He seemed very...normal.

[There is confusion about this in Diarmuid's voice and on his face. He remembers the Lelouch Suzaku had told him about and the man he had met really hadn't been much like that.]

Is he from an alternate universe from yours? He didn't seem much like you described him...

[swordofzero]

He might be... I hope he is... [Because that is better than the alternative, but it is too much of a coincidence.] But... he might be from my world, or at least a identical world to mine...

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid frowns slightly.]

What happened that makes you prefer him to be from a very different world than have him be like this and from a world similar to yours?

[swordofzero]

[He winced slightly but took a deep breath, explaining was the least he could do after turning up here so late] When Rolo was sent to pretend to be Lelouch's brother... The reason Lelouch had no memories was because the emperor used a Geass on him; his Geass allowed him to rewrite peoples memories. He forgot about being a prince, about his sister and about being Zero.

It is too much of a coincidence... The perfect Britannian school boy, devoted brother to Rolo... I fear he is from a similar world to mine but from a time when he is affected by the emperors Geass.

[oathshackledbird]

So he could be the Lelouch who did all the things you told me about, but he just doesn't remember he did those things?

[Diarmuid's frown deepens.]

You are right. That is worse than him just being from a world very different than yours. Especially for Rolo...

[The idea that the boy could end up betrayed by Lelouch all over again is not one Diarmuid enjoys thinking about.]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku nodded] Especially since... [Giving words to his fears is hard, it makes them real It is memory loss caused by Geass... and a lot of the floors here negate powers, or affects caused by Geass.

[oathshackledbird]

[A curse in Ancient Gaelic slips from Diarmuid's mouth. While the geass of Suzaku's world differ from those of his own keeping Diarmuid from being able to understand the finer details of how they work, it doesn't take knowing the finer details to know just how bad things could be for both Lelouch and Rolo if Lelouch is from that time.

Not to mention how much stress it is going to put on Suzaku, who he knows is going to try and protect them both even if it is from themselves.]

How can I help?

[swordofzero]

I don't know... I don't know what to do. [Except to prevent Lelouch from entering any power negating floors. But there was also glamour failure, not to mention the times where the administrators turned off their powers.] Rolo has made it clear that he doesn't wish to speak to me...

This is the Lelouch he loves, even though he knows the memories are falsely planted, that this isn't actually Lelouch...

[oathshackledbird]

He just needs that illusion so much right now that he doesn't care it isn't real?

[Diarmuid sighs in frustration and runs a hand through his hair.]

I still need to talk to him, but I have not been able to solve the problem of where.

[Not to mention with the string of people who he cares about leaving, he hasn't been exactly in the right mind to do it.]

The next day

[tempus_scorpius]

Suzaku will find Rolo in the kitchen happily baking with his beloved big brother. He's currently whisking the batter carefully and puzzling over it a bit.

"Nii-san! Is this alright yet?"

[doasisay]

Lelouch came over, peeking into the bowl at the batter. It was all stirred, even Lelouch couldn't have done it better himself.

He smiled lightly and gave a nod, "It's ready. Lets get it into the pan so it can bake." There was a pause from him, "There wasn't enough in here to make the cake that you like...but I hope this makes up for my absence."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku stood at the door, his eyes darkening as he took in the scene. It had been inevitable that Rolo had already found Lelouch, and Suzaku was disappointed but not surprise how quickly he had fallen into his old role.

"Rolo." His voice was stern, "Can I speak with you?"

[tempus_scorpius]

Rolo shook his head and smiled. "It's alright, Nii-san. I'm very happy with this and you'll be here for my birthday, won't you?"

At hearing Suzaku's voice, Rolo's expression completely changed and he turned to look at him coldly while stepping just a bit behind Lelouch.

"Why? I'm busy right now."

[doasisay]

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it--" Lelouch cut himself off when he saw Suzaku enter the room. Their last conversation hadn't ended very well and he doubted that this one would too.

But what did he want with Rolo? He was a little confused as he watched Rolo too. Was he angry with Suzaku?

[swordofzero]

Suzaku frowned, but he was trying not to actually be angry at Lelouch. It wasn't his fault, this wasn't even Lelouch, at least not the Lelouch Suzaku knew.

"It's important Rolo."

[tempus_scorpius]

Rolo is not leaving Lelouch's side for anything, now that he's back and is being all loving and caring towards him. And the last time Suzaku had something important to tell him, Rolo had ended up dead for nothing, so nope, not coming towards you, Suzaku. He's just going to stay behind his big brother. He's perfectly happy here.

Instead, he's just going to ask rather dismissively, "Are you trying to kill me again?"

[doasisay]

"--Kill you?!" That got his attention really quick. He figured that Suzaku had all kinds of training from the Britannian army and he figured that he was no match for him in a fight. But he held out an arm protectively in front of Rolo. He was going anywhere, at least not with that information now.

"What do you want? State your business." Maybe speaking to him as he had been spoken to would make things better. Maybe.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku visibly flinched at that, he knew Rolo hadn't forgiven him, he hadn't forgiven himself. He looked at Lelouch steadily, "It is between me and Rolo, I won't harm him." He looked back at Rolo and gave him a look.

[tempus_scorpius]

Nii-san, you're so cool!! o(>_<)o

Rolo hid more behind Lelouch, happiness surging inside him at how perfect his big brother was. This had got to be the best thing the Tower had ever given him!

Then he peered calmly over Lelouch's shoulder at Suzaku. "What else do you want from me? We've already talked about that."

That being how Suzaku supposedly felt all bad and guilty over killing him and all that, not that he bought it. Suzaku was a known traitor after all. To Rolo, all he saw was how he'd foolishly placed all his trust and even his own life in Suzaku's hands, and the other had tricked him and betrayed his trust. Rolo was determined not to make the same mistake of trusting Suzaku. Ever again.

[doasisay]

Lelouch looked over his shoulder at Rolo. Though he wasn't speaking, he wasn't going to step aside. Suzaku either needed to speak with the other there or take Rolo by force.

[swordofzero]

"That's not what I wish to talk to you about." Suzaku told him meeting his eyes, trying to relay to him that this was important, and they had to speak. Away from Lelouch.

"Please."