Archive of Our Own ^beta

Lelouch awakens tangled up in Suzaku’s strong arms. His cheek is pressed to the young soldier’s bare shoulder, their chests flush, their legs still entwined. It’s early, warm already, the broken yolk of July’s sun coming in through the curtains. 

Lelouch pulls away a little, admiring him. Suzaku is so handsome, with his tanned skin and strong jaw and thick dark eyelashes, and yet he thinks so little of it. Unlike Lelouch, he doesn’t get praised for his appearance; makes sense in this shitty world, where his looks make him stand out as Japanese. Eleven. Lelouch will never, ever call him that as long as he has breath in his body. 

Besides, Suzaku is a different number today. Eighteen. Lelouch reaches out, stroking his soft cheek, and Suzaku opens his eyes at his touch. He smiles sleepily, as gorgeous as ever.

“Hey.”

“Good morning.” Lelouch brushes some of his curls aside. “Happy birthday.”

“Mmm.” Suzaku stretches before snuggling down again. “Finally caught you up.”

Lelouch smirks. “For now.”

“Do I get a present?” Suzaku reaches for him under the covers, grabbing him, dragging him close once more. “Breakfast in bed?”

He kisses him, Lelouch putting his hands against his strong chest and sliding up to his neck. They kiss long and deep, Suzaku’s big hands settling in the dip of Lelouch’s slender waist as he rolls him on top. Lelouch slips his thigh between Suzaku’s, feeling him hard-hard against him. They’re both still naked from last night, enjoying every moment of their bare skin brushing, and Suzaku arches against him, his hips rising off the mattress.

“Insatiable,” Lelouch teases, drawing back. “Watch who you’re jabbing with that thing.”

“I’ll do more than jab you with it,” Suzaku promises gravely.

“Oh, threatening me now, huh? That’s not very noble.”

“I’m not noble.” 

Suzaku kisses him again, stroking his rough fingers through Lelouch’s silky hair; then, breaking it, he mouths down over the pale column of his throat and the delicate spread of his collarbone. Lelouch bends his neck, exposing it to him, sighing as Suzaku worships his skin. He buries his fingers into his curls, fluffy and mussed from sleep, and breathes him in. They both smell a little of last night, sex and sweat, but beneath it is Suzaku’s natural musk, masculine and sharp like citrus. Lately Lelouch has taken to wearing Suzaku’s shirts so he can have his scent on him even when they’re apart. C.C. has soundly mocked him for this. He doesn’t care.

Now Suzaku pulls back, a little flushed. “We should get up soon,” he says.

“It’s still early,” Lelouch replies. “Besides, who cares if we’re late to class.”

“Me. You can’t keep showing up whenever you feel like it, Lelouch.”

“Yeah, yeah. We’ll make it in time.” Lelouch smiles at him. “Let me give you a gift first.”

Suzaku doesn’t argue with this, reaching for him again; but Lelouch slips loose of his grasp, sliding out of the bed.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“Just grabbing something. Wait a second.” Lelouch finds Suzaku’s crumpled school shirt on the floor and pulls it on over his nakedness, savoring its scent.

“That’s mine, thief.” Suzaku rolls onto his side, propping his cheek on his fist, watching him pad across the carpet. “How many of my shirts do you have hoarded in this room?”

“Oh, you noticed?” Lelouch says archly. “Too many to count. It’s a compliment.”

“So what am I supposed to wear? Yours won’t fit me.”

Lelouch, rummaging in his desk drawer, vividly recalls Suzaku attempting to squeeze into his uniform pants some weeks ago. He’d been half-asleep, grumbling about them getting so creased he couldn’t get them on but still determinedly wrenching on them, until Lelouch finally threw his actual pants at him with some cutting remark about those not getting past his muscular thighs and ass in a million years.

“I’ll iron it for you before I give it back,” Lelouch promises. “Aha.” He finds what he’s hunting for, coming back to the bed with it behind his back. 

Suzaku raises his eyebrows. “What the hell have you got hidden in there?”

“Nothing incriminating.” Lelouch climbs onto the bed. “Lie back. Close your eyes.”

“Now I’m scared.”

“Just do it.” Lelouch feels a little irritated, staring him down until he obeys. Suzaku has always been very good at making him embarrassed. “Thank you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Suzaku settles on his back, squirming until he’s comfortable. “Anything else?”

“Yes,” Lelouch says, clambering on top of him. “Shut up.”

Suzaku sticks out his tongue. “It’s my birthday. You have to be nice.”

“I am being nice.”

Suzaku snorts. “You’re rude, you’re demanding, you steal my clothes, you sit on me–”

Lelouch ignores him, unveiling his weapon. He presses it gently to Suzaku’s lips, stopping him from speaking, and then gently trails it down the line of his jaw and over his throat.

“What is that?” Suzaku asks, squirming. “It tickles.”

“A paintbrush.”

Suzaku opens his eyes. “A what? Why?”

“It’s soft. I thought it would feel nice.” Lelouch holds it up so he can see it. It’s an ordinary paintbrush with fluffy bristles, unused, taken from his school supplies. He leans in, stroking it gently down over the bridge of Suzaku’s nose to the tip. “Don’t you like it?”

“...It does feel nice,” Suzaku relents. “I just… wasn’t expecting it.”

Lelouch snorts. “What, did you think I was going to shove something up your ass?”

“I never know what to expect from you,” Suzaku says. “You’re kind of unpredictable sometimes.”

“I told you, I’m being nice. Close your eyes again.” Lelouch lowers his voice. “I’ll make you feel good, Suzaku.”

Suzaku shivers beneath him, obeying his command. Lelouch settles more comfortably, straddling his hips, and begins his gentle exploration of his body with the brush. He sweeps it gently over his brow, his closed eyes, watching the flutter of his dark lashes; over his cheekbones, the cupid’s bow of his mouth, the sharp cut of his jaw and down along the gentle slope of the bones in his neck, curling the bristles briefly into his clavicle. Suzaku exhales, bending his neck.

“Do you like it?” Lelouch whispers.

“Mmm.”

This is encouraging. Lelouch makes the strokes a little bolder, pulling the paintbrush over the wings of Suzaku’s broad collarbone, tracing the beauty of his body. He feels him quiver as he runs the bristles over the swell of strong muscle in his chest, the buck of his breast as he sharply intakes at the brush stroking the shape of his pectorals, cutting a line between them and curving beneath. His nipples are already hard and he gives a little gasp as the brush encircles them, first one and then the other. He arches a little, so strong that he lifts Lelouch with him, floating on the rising tide of him. 

“Ah… st-stop…!” he chokes out.

“You don’t mean that,” Lelouch chides, merciless with the brush, going back and forth between them as Suzaku’s chest heaves.

Suzaku gives a whine, lifting a hand from the mattress. He makes like he’s going to snatch the brush away so Lelouch withdraws, holding it out of his reach.

“Alright, alright.” He flicks Suzaku on the forehead. “Behave yourself.”

“I am… behaving,” Suzaku says, opening his eyes a little. The green gleams at Lelouch, bright as jade. He’s never totally submissive, able to reverse the situation very easily if he wants to, and Lelouch knows this. He can feel the coil of his core beneath him, aware that he might flip them at any given moment. 

Lelouch puts the brush between his teeth and shifts off Suzaku, moving downwards, settling between his thighs. “I’m not done,” he says archly. “Close your eyes again.”

“Alright.” Suzaku does as he’s told. He puts his hands over his chest. “No more nipples.”

“You didn’t like it?” Lelouch is already stroking the fluffy end of the brush over Suzaku’s taut flat belly.

“It was just… intense,” Suzaku sighs. “Ticklish, kind of? Felt weird.”

“You’re just incredibly sensitive.” Lelouch knows this from all the times he’s sucked on them and had Suzaku grip his head so tight that he sees his life flash before his eyes. “...It’s cute.”

Suzaku breathes out through his nose, his hips lifting a little again as Lelouch sweeps the brush down into his navel, painting soft circles around the dip of it. “C-cute, huh?”

“Well, I never would have thought such a ruffian could be so reactive,” Lelouch teases. “I know better now.” He leans down a little, kissing the inside of Suzaku’s knee. “I know all your weak spots, Suzaku. I’ll make you beg for mercy.”

Suzaku grins. “My biggest… w-weak spot… is you, Lelouch.”

Lelouch feels his face get warm, his hand faltering a little. He coughs, looking aside. “I-I know that, moron.”

He dares to glance up. Suzaku, his eyes half-lidded, flushed with pleasure, is smirking at him. The audacity. Lelouch prickles inwardly. Oh, now he truly will make him beg… 

He skates the brush over Suzaku’s sharp hips, following the slant of first the left and then the right, leading right to the tangle of dark hair at the root of his cock, fully hard. He hears Suzaku sigh, feels him spread his legs a little wider, his strong thighs tensing–

So he bypasses it. He shifts further down the mattress, bringing the brush with him. 

“Lelouch,” Suzaku grumbles.

Now Lelouch is the one to smirk. “Be patient.”

He paints patterns on Suzaku’s inner thighs, he swirls it against the delicate undersides of his knees, he goes right down to his feet, tracing the shape of his ankles and his arches. Suzaku isn’t very ticklish so he doesn’t squirm too much; probably for the best, since a kick to the face from him would likely knock Lelouch into the middle of next week. He’s getting frustrated, though, which is exactly what Lelouch wants. He pulls his feet away, planting them on the mattress and bending his knees; then he sits upright, glaring down at him, flushed.

“Yes?” Lelouch asks innocently, running the brush up his shin.

“Stop teasing,” Suzaku growls, low and guttural. Lelouch tries to ignore what that gravelly tone does to him, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

“Oh, do you want something? Speak up.”

“I’m two seconds away from slamming you against the headboard,” Suzaku threatens. 

Lelouch rolls his eyes. “I said be patient. I’m trying to make you feel good all over.” He leans close, dropping his voice deeper. “So unrefined. You want everything right away.”

Suzaku is still pink in the face, his green eyes glittering with a feverish want. Lelouch knows he shouldn’t prod him too much more but it’s hard to resist. It’s not often that he has Suzaku at his mercy in these situations. He reels in his gleeful sadism - he can see Suzaku is on the verge of getting rough, as he does when he’s frustrated - and instead presses a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“Just relax,” he says softly. “I won’t leave you wanting.”

Suzaku grumbles something in coarse Japanese, giving Lelouch a warning squeeze to the back of his slender neck, before lying down again. Lelouch doesn’t want to think too much about what it says about him that this turns him on. He’s always hated roughhousing because he’s not fast and he bruises easily but something about Suzaku throwing him around really gets him going. Maybe it’s because Suzaku’s fiery temper is such a rare thing - not many know he even has that side to him - but Lelouch has seen it plenty of times and can say with utmost confidence that Suzaku is hot when he’s angry. 

Still. It’s Suzaku’s birthday. He wants him to be happy today. Winding him up until he snaps and fucks him hard against the wall is a mission for another morning. Instead Lelouch placates him, sweetly kissing his way down his body, feeling him settle. Boisterous as he is, Suzaku likes gentleness, his body rising against Lelouch’s delicate mouth. Lelouch sinks once again between his thighs, reminding him that he still has the brush by fluttering it up the sensitive skin of their insides.

“Lelouch… please… ” Suzaku takes handfuls of the sheets, scrunching them tight.

“Alright,” Lelouch says. “I suppose you’ve been patient enough…”

He fluffs the brush up against his palm and then brings it down between Suzaku’s legs. He hears him give a long whining sigh as he sweeps the soft bristles up the underside of his stiff cock, his hips twitching. Suzaku’s knees brace either side of Lelouch’s body, caging him, keeping him there; Lelouch takes this as a compliment, continuing his gentle assault. He concentrates, giving firm strokes, carrying the brush from root to tip and then back down, like he’s painting the sky or a tree. It’s nice not to be the model for once; he’s always chosen in Art to sit in the middle with a stiff back, trying not to move, while the others make varying attempts to draw him. Milly insists this is because he’s so easy on the eye; Rivalz says it’s because he’s (usually) good at sitting still. At least they get a good laugh out of the drawings afterwards. Rivalz’s are always pathetic - as are Suzaku’s. 

…Maybe not as pathetic as the noises he’s making right now, his body heaving, his throat jumping as he gasps.

“I knew you’d feel good,” Lelouch says, unable to stop himself from smirking down at him. He swirls the paintbrush over the leaking head of Suzaku’s stiffness, watching it twitch, mildly fascinated. He supposes he doesn’t get to look at Suzaku’s aroused cock too much because it’s usually, uh, inside him.

“Mmmm,” is Suzaku’s intelligent reply. He angles his hips upwards, trying to grind himself against the brush, aching for more friction. “Le-Lelouch…”

“Yes?” 

Lelouch languidly trails the brush downwards, teasing his balls and perineum, watching his back bow off the mattress. He knows he must be getting close, wondering if he can make him come just from the brush alone. Emboldened, he goes lower still, sweeping firmly into his cleft and brushing it against his entrance. Suzaku jolts - understandable, he’s never been on the receiving end - and gives a little moan, tensing for a moment before letting him. Lelouch studies his face as he does it, warmed by how pretty and pleasured he looks, totally at ease, enjoying himself.

“You like it, huh?” Lelouch whispers against his knee. Suzaku is open for him, only him, and he dips the tip of the brush within him–

Suzaku reaches out suddenly, faster and stronger than Lelouch can follow, seizing him by the hair. Lelouch drops the brush.

“Ow… Suzaku, ow, let go!” Lelouch tries to pull away, no match for Suzaku’s strength as he yanks him downwards. His face slams against Suzaku’s stomach, feeling his erection pulsing against his throat. “Suzaku!”

“You’re driving… me crazy,” Suzaku rumbles above him. “I-I can’t take much more…!” 

“Alright, alright.” Lelouch squirms. “Let go already!”

Suzaku begrudgingly releases him, breathing hard, his green eyes dark with arousal. Lelouch rubs his scalp, lifting his head. He has no idea where the brush has gone, feeling blindly for it–

“No,” Suzaku says raggedly. “Use your mouth.”

Lelouch goes pink. Suzaku giving him orders is not unwelcome - he feels his own cock twitch a little beneath his stolen shirt - but he’s not happy about having his hair grabbed so he doesn’t feel like complying. He sees Suzaku reaching for him again and slithers away, retreating.

“Stop pulling my hair, you absolute brute.” He smooths it back into shape. “Anyway, I’m still full from last night.”

Suzaku groans, flopping back to the bed. “Ride me, then,” he begs. “Use your hands. Just do something, god…!” 

“Fine.” Lelouch snorts. “I lost the damn brush. You’re probably lying on it.”

“Don’t care,” Suzaku hisses.

“I need it for Art class.”

“Lelouch, I swear to–”

“Alright.” 

Lelouch feels like chiding him for being so grumpy but he knows he’s the cause of it - Suzaku certainly didn’t wake up this way - so he doesn’t say anything else. Instead he dips back down between his legs, giving the tip of his aching cock a chaste little kiss before lowering his head and pressing his tongue to his entrance.

”Ah!” Suzaku tenses, his back arching deliciously. “W-wait, Lelouch…!”

Lelouch does not wait. He’s never done this before - but he’s been on the receiving end from Suzaku so he knows how good it feels. He grips Suzaku’s thighs, feeling the strong muscles in them quivering, and teases him open with his tongue. Suzaku groans and whines, truly pitiful noises for a trained soldier, twisting on the sheets. He reaches up and grabs hold of the pillow, a low moan of Lelouch’s name escaping him as he tries to hold himself together. Lelouch is very talented with his mouth after so much practice sucking on other parts of Suzaku’s body so he doesn’t need much to warm up, exploring the inner heat of him, feeling him tensing with pleasure. He realizes he’s never been inside Suzaku before. That he likes it. That Suzaku likes it.  

“Lelouch… I-I’m gonna…!”

After all that, Lelouch admits he didn’t think he’d last long. He feels his strong body tremoring as he orgasms, listens with smug satisfaction to the stifled shout of his name. Suzaku sinks back to the bed, panting hard, and Lelouch lifts his head. Suzaku looks incredible, sprawled on the sheets, his broad chest heaving, his stomach painted white.

“Mm, where’s the brush?” Lelouch drawls. “I could do with it now.”

“D-don’t you dare,” Suzaku huffs, looking up at him. “Or I’ll make you… l-lick me clean.”

“Tempting,” Lelouch says, looking at the clock, “but I doubt we have time for that.”

Suzaku looks, too, then groans, throwing an arm over his eyes. “You’re a bad influence on me.” 

“The worst,” Lelouch agrees. He reaches towards Suzaku’s belly, tracing his fingertips through the mess, feeling him suck in a breath. Suzaku lifts his arm a little, watching him from beneath it. Lelouch stares straight at him as he brings his fingers to his mouth and deliberately licks them clean.

“St-stop,” Suzaku chokes out, hiding his face once more. “You’re… going to make me…!”

“What, again? Your stamina is terrifying.”

Suzaku huffs, still hiding. “What about you, huh? Aren’t you…?”

“A little,” Lelouch admits, “but we don’t have time.” He pauses, tilting his head. “Unless you want to skip class–”

“We’re not skipping class, you scheming bastard.” 

Suzaku sits up abruptly, grabbing Lelouch’s wrists. He can fit his hand around both of them with ease, holding tight. Lelouch is a bit alarmed, squirming, trying to pull free as Suzaku leans close to him.

“I see you’re full of energy again already,” he complains reedily. 

“Always.” Suzaku grins at him. “We need to shower. It’ll be quicker if we take one together.” He slips his free hand beneath the shirt. “...I can take care of you, too.”

Lelouch rolls his eyes, making a show of feigned compliance. “Well, since it is your birthday, how can I say no?” 

Suzaku clearly isn’t taking no for an answer anyway, hauling him to the bathroom by his wrists like a prisoner. He starts up the shower as Lelouch finally slips off the shirt, the steam filling up the room. They don’t have much time - they’ll probably have to skip breakfast at this rate - but it’s worth it to be pulled against Suzaku’s warm wet body, his strong pectorals flush against his back. Lelouch feels Suzaku’s broad palm slip between his legs, slick with soap, taking him in hand. He pumps him slowly, Lelouch rocking his hips into it, one arm braced against the wall of the shower. Suzaku kisses the back of his neck and his shoulders and his spine, his other hand spreading over his throat, making him tilt his head back. Lelouch is completely helpless in his grasp and doesn’t care one iota. He’ll never mind being at Suzaku’s mercy. 

He comes over Suzaku’s palm, panting hard as he watches the water rinse it clean. Suzaku digs his fingers into his jaw, turning his head so he can kiss him. Lelouch lets him for a moment before slipping his hold and twisting completely to face him. He puts his arms around his neck as their mouths meet again, Suzaku pressing him against the glass. 

Getting to class in time is long forgotten. The world outside can wait.

“You are so in love,” Milly says low in Lelouch’s ear, slipping into the chair next to him.

“What?” Lelouch needles, sitting up straight. “What are you talking about?”

“You,” Milly says. “Gazing at Suzaku like he’s the sun. I’ve never seen you smile like that.”

“What, now I’m not allowed to smile?” Lelouch grumbles. His face is warm as he looks away from her smirk. He knows she caught him fair and square. 

“Don’t be like that.” Milly reaches under the table, squeezing his knee. “I’m glad. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“That I’d be so in love?” Lelouch says with a snort.

“That you’d be so happy.”

“Did I seem miserable before?”

“Not miserable,” Milly says. “Just… I don’t know. Uninterested, distant. Since Suzaku came to this school, you’ve changed. It’s like you suddenly have a purpose or something.”

That might have something to do with Suzaku’s enrolment more-or-less neatly coinciding with the beginning of his rebellion but obviously Lelouch can’t correct her. Besides. He looks again at Suzaku across the Student Council Room; he’s clearly enjoying the surprise party they’d planned for him, laughing with Rivalz, Shirley and Nunnally, his brown curls full of streamers. Of course seeing Suzaku happy makes him happy. God knows he deserves it after everything he’s been through…

“I hope you gave him a nice present,” Milly goes on, raising an eyebrow.

“Mind your own business,” Lelouch snaps. “I should have known you were just fishing.”

Milly laughs, getting up. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Just make sure to treat him right, you little heartbreaker.”

“I can handle him,” Lelouch mutters as Milly tosses her blonde hair and trots away to join the fun. 

Lelouch watches them all a little while longer, glad that his friends so readily accepted Suzaku despite his Honorary Britannian status. He knows he didn’t give Milly much of a choice but to give in to his demands that Suzaku be allowed to join the Student Council. She’d warned him later - quietly, privately - that he shouldn’t draw too much attention to their friendship. He knows this, of course, and that his relationship with Suzaku is risky; but still, he can’t help but feel it’s worth it to see him smile. Nunnally’s happiness - and now Suzaku’s. Both are the most important thing to him.

He joins them as Shirley brings out the crookedly-decorated cake, putting it in front of Suzaku. It’s chocolate with peaks of whipped cream and half-strawberries, Suzaku’s name scrawled in green piping across the top (which Rivalz proudly takes credit for). They all cluster around him and sing happy birthday, Nunnally tightly clutching his hand, and Suzaku starts to cry.

“Oh, no, not again!” Rivalz grabs him around the neck. “What’s wrong now, you big crybaby?”

“N-nothing.” Suzaku wipes his face, beaming. “I’ve just… never had a birthday party before. My father didn’t believe in that sort of thing and nobody in the army knew when my birthday was.” He sniffs. “This is really nice. Thank you.”

“Oh, Suzaku,” Nunnally says sweetly, reaching up to dab at his face with a napkin.

“We’re glad you’re enjoying it,” Shirley says warmly. “It’s nice to celebrate with friends.”

“Here’s to many, many more!” Rivalz rubs roughly at Suzaku’s hair. “So no more crying!”

“Let’s have some cake!” Milly takes out the knife and starts hacking at it, ignoring Rivalz’s protests at her destroying his hard work.

Lelouch leans in while they’re all distracted squabbling over slice sizes, giving Suzaku a tiny kiss on the cheek. Suzaku blinks at him, a little taken aback.

“Lelouch…”

“You’re having dinner with us later,” Lelouch says, acting like it didn’t happen. He reaches up, picking a blue streamer from Suzaku’s hair. “I asked Sayoko to make some Japanese food.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Suzaku mumbles.

“I know.” Lelouch gets up, going to Nunnally and touching her hand. “Nunnally, we’ll have a birthday dinner with Suzaku later, okay?”

Nunnally smiles. “That sounds nice.”

Milly smirks as she passes out wedges of birthday cake. “With a special dessert, I’m sure,” she says in Lelouch’s ear.

“Shut up,” Lelouch says grouchily.

Milly winks at him. “Don’t forget the cream.”

Sayoko makes nikujaga - a traditional Japanese stew with beef and potatoes - and Suzaku cries happily all over again because it’s his favorite and it’s been so long since he’s had it. 

“Nunnally, let’s not celebrate his birthday next year,” Lelouch says delicately. “He’s a wreck.”

“I’m just grateful,” Suzaku sniffles as Nunnally laughs. “Stop being a bully.”

He thanks Sayoko profusely for her efforts when she comes to take Nunnally to get ready for bed. Sayoko is pleased with the compliment, smiling as she bows.

“Lelouch, the cake Miss Milly gave you is in the kitchen,” she says. “I’ve left it on the counter in case you and Suzaku want any.”

“Thank you, Sayoko. I’ll get us some later.” Lelouch leans in towards Suzaku, whispering in his ear. “I’m just going to go say goodnight to Nunnally. Go to the bedroom.”

Suzaku’s ears go a bit pink. He doesn’t say anything but gives a slow, solemn nod. Lelouch gets up, leaving the dining area and heading to Nunnally’s room. Sayoko is in the bathroom, running the bath, so Lelouch sits on the bed. Nunnally reaches out and takes his hand.

“Suzaku seemed so happy today,” she says. “I’m really glad.”

“Me too. He deserves it.”

“Mm.” Nunnally smiles at him. “Everything seems to be going well now, doesn’t it? People aren’t bullying him anymore and everyone on the Student Council is so kind to him. The cake was Shirley’s idea.”

“Yeah.” Lelouch squeezes her slender hand. “It’s great he’s been able to fit in. I know you were worried about him.”

“So were you,” Nunnally says, sticking her tongue out. 

“Maybe a little bit,” Lelouch admits. Nunnally is the one person he’s not good at lying to; she always, always knows when he’s fibbing. “We love him a lot, huh?”

“We do,” Nunnally says warmly. “You love him most of all. Don’t deny it or you have to swallow a thousand needles, don’t forget!”

“Fine,” Lelouch says archly. “I won’t deny it - but if you tell anyone, I’ll have you executed.”

Nunnally laughs delightedly. “You’re a devil!” She pinches the back of his hand. “He loves you most of all, too. I can tell. You’re very lucky, big brother. Suzaku is a good person.”

Lelouch sighs, smiling. “Yeah,” he agrees. “He really is.”

He goes to the bedroom via the kitchen, taking a slice of cake on a side plate for he and Suzaku to share. He’d warned C.C. to make herself scarce for a few days so he’s glad to see she’s not lurking around in the kitchen eating them out of house and home. He really can’t have Suzaku seeing her, after all. Besides, he’s sick of her commenting on his private life - and Nunnally calling her his girlfriend. As if he’d date some slovenly selfish witch who lounges around all day in her underwear…

Suzaku is in his underwear, sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands on his knees, waiting. His school uniform is folded up with military precision on the sheets next to him. Lelouch stops dead in the doorway.

“Why are you undressed?” he asks stupidly. 

Suzaku blinks those big green eyes at him. “You said go to the bedroom.”

“Right,” Lelouch agrees. “Not take your clothes off.”

Suzaku smiles at him. “I assumed you’d say it eventually. Thought I’d take the initiative.”

Lelouch finds himself scowling as he shuts the door. He’s used to people obeying his orders to the letter, not making their own creative changes. “Don’t just assume what I’m going to say.”

Suzaku rolls his eyes. “My sincerest apologies, Your Highness.” His gaze falls on the plate. “What’s with the cake?”

“I thought we could have some,” Lelouch says grouchily. He kicks off his school shoes and comes to the bed, sitting down. He feels a bit ridiculous sitting fully-dressed next to Suzaku in just his boxers and looks away.

“Are you seriously embarrassed?” Suzaku prods his cheek. “You’re so funny, Lelouch.”

“And you have absolutely no shame! Don’t just come into someone’s room and take all your clothes off!” Lelouch huffs. It’s like C.C. is still here after all…

“Yeah, yeah.” Suzaku reaches for him, unbuttoning his school jacket. “You get undressed, too. Then it won’t feel so weird.”

Lelouch grumbles a bit more but allows him to undress him, switching the plate from hand to hand. Soon Suzaku has him down to just his underwear and the shirt.

“This is mine,” Suzaku says, smirking. “Still.”

“So?” Lelouch needles.

“So you were wearing it in school all day.” Suzaku leans in, tugging the collar aside to kiss his neck. “I’m flattered.”

Lelouch elbows him away. “Stop, you’re going to knock the plate out of my hand.”

“Heh.” Suzaku grins, withdrawing. “Are you going to feed me? You really spoil the ones you love, don’t you?”

“Presumptuous,” Lelouch sniffs. “Maybe I’m just going to shove cake in your face so you’ll stop talking.”

Suzaku lies back, making himself comfortable against the pillows. “Go on, then.”

Lelouch doesn’t really feel like it now - it’s definitely lost some of its appeal now that it’s not spontaneous - but he supposes he’s carried the damn plate all the way here so he might as well. He leans against Suzaku’s chest and feeds him bites of birthday cake, taking a little bit for himself every now and then.

“It’s good cake,” Suzaku says. “It was so nice of Rivalz and Shirley to make it for me. I don’t think I’ve ever had a real birthday cake before.”

“Mm.” Lelouch spears a strawberry and holds it out to him. “Suzaku, I was thinking earlier… The summer Nunnally and I spent at your house…”

“Yeah?”

“Well, your birthday is in July - while we were there. You never told us it was your birthday.”

“Oh.” Suzaku looks thoughtful for a moment as he chews, then he shrugs. “I guess I forgot. I probably didn’t even notice it was my birthday. I was used to not really celebrating.”

“We could have had a party, the three of us, if only you’d said.”

“I told you, I forgot.” Suzaku smiles, putting a hand to Lelouch’s waist, pulling him closer. “Besides, it doesn’t matter now, right? We’re celebrating today. This makes up for all the ones I missed.”

“...I guess.” Lelouch meets his eyes. “I just… would hate it if you felt unloved or–”

“Lelouch, I definitely do not feel unloved,” Suzaku says very seriously. “Especially not today.”

“Okay,” Lelouch relents. “I’m glad.”

“You’re being very sweet today,” Suzaku teases. “It’s almost… uncharacteristic.”

“Okay, you got me. I’m a fake.”

Suzaku kisses him, sickly-sweet with frosting. After a moment he pulls back, licking his lips. “Nah, you’re the real Lelouch. I can tell.” He grins. “I guess even you aren’t all bad, huh?” 

“I resent such slander of my good name,” Lelouch says, letting him kiss him again. He feels him gently taking the plate of half-eaten cake from his hand, putting it on the bedside table. 

“I’m kinda full,” Suzaku whispers, “so let’s leave that for now. I still have room for another kind of dessert, though.”

“Ugh, you sound like Milly,” Lelouch sighs, feeling him slip his warm hands up under the stolen school shirt.

“Mm.” Suzaku spreads his palm over Lelouch’s flat stomach. “How about you? Still, uh, full from last night…?”

“Are you asking me for a blowjob, Suzaku?” Lelouch says bluntly.

Suzaku falters a bit, looking away. “...Maybe.”

“Just say it, then.”

“I don’t want you getting all huffy.” Suzaku shrugs. “Anyway, you like sucking it, right? You said so last night.”

“I said no such thing.”

“Okay, fine, you moaned it–”

“I-I don’t recall,” Lelouch interrupts, lying. “...But alright, since you asked so nicely.”

Suzaku is already shimmying his grey boxers off, half-hard. They haven’t had much of a chance to discuss this morning and Lelouch hasn’t been able to find the paintbrush, even after making the bed; but he’s reminded vividly of the gorgeous vision of him in the pinkish-gold light of dawn, totally under his spell. It’s not like Geass, the hold he has over Suzaku. It’s deeper, something precious and special. He hopes he will never have to use it on him.

He tucks his hair behind his ear, leaning down between Suzaku’s strong thighs–

“Wait,” Suzaku says breathily. Lelouch can hear him fumbling on the bedside table.

“Yes?” Lelouch lifts his head again.

“You heard Milly.” Suzaku reaches down, smearing cream from the cake over his erection. “Don’t forget… the cream."

“Oh, you heard that, did you?” Lelouch says icily, making a mental note to murder Milly. He’s a master at it by now, after all. He can definitely make it look like an accident…

“Mm.” Suzaku clearly is not interested in having a conversation about it, putting his hand on Lelouch’s skull and pushing him down. Lelouch wouldn’t have the strength to resist him even if he wanted to.

…Which he doesn’t. He lets Suzaku hold him, feeling his fingers sinking into his hair as he puts out his tongue and licks a long stripe up his cock. He takes a lot of the cream off in one go, thick and sweet in his mouth, hearing Suzaku give a breathy moan of enjoyment. His beautiful strong body tenses as Lelouch diligently works to lick the cream from him, his hips rising from the sheets as Lelouch slips his mouth over the head and sucks it clean.

“Lelouch… mm, it feels… so good…” Suzaku sighs, stroking his crown.

Lelouch hums his agreement, feeling him squirm beneath him at the vibration. Suzaku is so easy to tease apart, sensitive and reactive, a pleasure to, well, pleasure. He’s always generous with his compliments, forever telling Lelouch how amazing he feels, how beautiful he looks. Tonight - like this morning - Lelouch wants to return the favor. This is the first time Suzaku has ever properly celebrated his birthday, after all. It has to be special. Lelouch doesn’t have much to offer him but he can make him feel good, at the very least. He concentrates, focusing on his task, taking in as much of Suzaku as he possibly can. The cream is all gone, leaving just Suzaku’s warm pulsing skin, solid against his tongue. He feels the Japanese boy starting to move his hips a little, fucking into his mouth, and he allows him to do it, following his rhythm to avoid being choked. He teases him with his teeth, skipping his delicate fingers gently over the root and then lower, fluttering against all his sensitive spots. Suzaku gives a low, guttural groan, his fingers tightening in Lelouch’s hair.     

“L-Lelouch, I can’t… it’s so…!” He trails off into a string of garbled, breathless Japanese, his knees bending, his bow bowing. Lelouch nods his understanding, not slowing for even a second. Suzaku is so so so close…

Lelouch trails his fingers down, brushing at his entrance, and Suzaku comes. His grip on Lelouch’s head is like iron, holding him between his quivering thighs as he gives a hoarse shout of his name. Lelouch prides himself on not spilling a single drop, squeezing Suzaku’s thighs once he’s swallowed. Suzaku lets him go, panting hard, and Lelouch comes up for air. He puts his hands on Suzaku’s knees and they both catch their breath for a long moment, their hazy gazes meeting.

“Mmm… that gorgeous mouth of yours… sure is incredible,” Suzaku says softly. He looks amazing, sprawled on the sheets, pink and disheveled, his curls wild.  

“I’m not just a pretty face,” Lelouch replies dryly. He grins, walking his slender fingers over Suzaku’s knee. “That’s twice, Suzaku.”

“Twice what?” Suzaku sighs contentedly. 

“Twice that you’ve come from me touching you there.”

“...It feels good,” Suzaku mutters. “You would know, right?”

“I suppose so.” Lelouch doesn’t rise to this. Instead he grinds his bulge against Suzaku’s ass, watching him arch and hiss. “Heh. You like it.”

“Do it, then.” Suzaku looks directly up at him, unflinching. “Go on. Fuck me, Lelouch.”

“Wh… what?” Lelouch blinks at him, taken aback. “That’s not what I… I-I mean, we’ve never done it that way–”

“Yeah, I know.” Suzaku smirks. “You’re too lazy and have no stamina. Still, you want to play around? Maybe I do, too.” He lowers his voice, his green eyes dark with want. “I want to know how it feels to have you inside me.”

“W-well…” Lelouch looks away, feeling his face flushing with heat. He has no trouble seizing control in any other situation but this, with Suzaku, it’s… just natural to let him take the lead, it’s how they’ve always done it, Suzaku is so strong and gentle and Lelouch happily surrenders to him every time. “Suzaku, that’s…”

“Huh. Guess you’re all talk.” Suzaku wraps his legs around him, pulling him close. “Disappointing. I didn’t think you’d shy away from a challenge.”

“I-I’m not, I just…!”

“Then do it.” Suzaku runs his tongue over his bottom lip. “I dare you.” 

“How childish,” Lelouch needles, huffing. “B-but fine - since it’s your birthday and since you, ah, dare me…”

Suzaku grins, opening the bedside drawer and fishing out the lube. He tosses it to Lelouch, who fumbles it, dropping it to the rumpled sheets. He feels for it frantically, recovering it. He’s very aware of Suzaku keenly watching his every move, his fingers slipping a little on the tube.

“D-don’t watch me like a damn vulture,” he grumbles, uncapping it.

“Fine.” Suzaku smiles smugly, closing his eyes. “I won’t look.”

Lelouch exhales, glad that he’s no longer staring him down. He tries to relax, opening the tube; balancing himself against Suzaku’s knee as he hooks his underwear with his finger and shimmies them off one-handed. He keeps Suzaku’s shirt on, though he bunches it up a little as he slicks himself. It feels weird, cool and tingly; he’s used to feeling this sensation… well, elsewhere. He sucks in a shaky breath, resisting the urge to rut into his own palm, especially with the stunning sight of Suzaku sprawled beneath him…

“Hey, you have to do me, too,” Suzaku reminds him, tilting his head, listening. 

“I know that!” Lelouch snaps. “Be patient!” He pours a generous splash into his palm, spreading it over his fingers before bringing his hand down between Suzaku’s legs. Suzaku obediently opens his thighs a little wider for him, breathing out deeply.

“You’re eager,” Lelouch grumbles, though his heart isn’t really in it. He supposes he’s flattered, really. Suzaku’s impatience, his delirious desire for him, is not the superficial infatuation that Lelouch receives daily from girls he doesn’t even know. Even Shirley doesn’t know him the way Suzaku does, doesn’t love him as Suzaku does: his first friend, torn away by the war, restored to him by fate. The fragility of this, how fiercely precious it is, is not lost on him. 

“Of course I am.” Suzaku opens his eyes a little. “I’ve… always wondered how it feels. I-I mean, what you feel when I do this. I want to understand it.”

“It feels wonderful,” Lelouch admits. “But… I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it.”

“I don’t care.” Suzaku smiles up at him, brilliant like the sun. “As long as it’s you, Lelouch.” 

Lelouch feels his face getting warm again. Suzaku is really too good at pushing his buttons. He drops his gaze, concentrating as he breaches him, pushing his slender fingers within him. Suzaku arches beautifully, his knees jostling him, sighing. He’s half-erect again already - his stamina is really something compared to Lelouch’s own - so Lelouch doesn’t want to waste too much time preparing him. He stretches him gently, slicking him up inside, and Suzaku must still be pretty relaxed from his first orgasm because he’s not tense, his body yielding.

“You… really do like it, don’t you?” Lelouch says softly.

“Mm.” Suzaku reaches for him, taking hold of his elbow. “Yeah, maybe… we should have tried it… s-sooner…”

“Maybe so.” Lelouch withdraws his fingers, feeling Suzaku’s strong grasp on his arm tighten. “...Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Suzaku shifts, pressing himself against Lelouch’s hardness. “...Are you?”

Lelouch nods. He leans over him, putting his hands on Suzaku’s hips to hold him still. Suzaku reaches up and takes his other elbow, pulling him forward, guiding him into his waiting body. Instinct takes over and Lelouch shunts his hips, entering him fully; watching with wonder as Suzaku arches again, letting out a low whine, his hair wild on the pillow. 

“F-feels good, Lelouch,” he sighs, letting his hands slip to Lelouch’s wrists.

Lelouch swallows, nodding his agreement. Suzaku’s body feels incredible around him, warm and tight, like nothing he’s ever felt before. It certainly feels… different to being on the other side. For the first time ever, he’s the one in control. He trembles for a moment, gathering up his scrambled nerves, firing in all directions. Suzaku looks so gorgeous, he feels so good–

“Move,” Suzaku pleads, shifting on the sheets. He wraps his strong legs around Lelouch’s waist, forcing him deeper. “Lelouch, pl-please…!”

“Okay, s-sorry…” 

Lelouch pulls himself together, gripping Suzaku’s hips tighter. He starts to move, Suzaku helping him, guiding him with his thighs. His strokes are more powerful than they might have been otherwise but he can’t deny how amazing it feels, pushing into the molten oblivion of Suzaku’s body again and again, listening to him moan his name in that lovely way of his, letting the Ls slip into Rs. Nobody else says his name like this. 

“F-feels good, huh?” Lelouch whispers breathlessly. He lets his hands slip up to Suzaku’s chest, bracing himself against his solid pectorals.

Suzaku nods, tightening his hold on his hips. He’s admittedly still the one doing most of the work - which is just as well, since Lelouch can feel himself starting to flag already. It feels so fantastic but the pace is so frantic and Suzaku won’t allow him to slow down for even a second.

“W-wait… Suzaku, please, g-give me… a minute…”

“Out of breath already?” Suzaku opens his eyes, smirking up at him. He pauses for a moment, letting Lelouch slow his hips and dip his head, taking in air. “Your stamina is the worst.”

“Sh-shut up,” Lelouch grumbles. “J-just… wait a moment…”

Suzaku clearly does not have a single moment to spare waiting around. The iron grip of his thighs tightens and he flips them before Lelouch even realizes what’s happening. He slams to the mattress, wheezing for breath, stunned. He’s still deep inside Suzaku, who settles on top of him, straddling. His weight completely pins Lelouch to the bed.

“I’ll ride you,” Suzaku says, gazing down at him. 

Lelouch squirms pathetically, unable to budge him even an inch. “There’s… no way I can lift you.”

“You don’t need to.” Suzaku smiles. “Just move with me.”

Lelouch realizes that he doesn’t have much choice. He puts his shaky hands on Suzaku’s waist, feeling the weight across his hips ease as the Japanese boy lifts himself; he chases the heat of him, bucking upwards so as not to lose him, sliding home as Suzaku settles again. His breath catches in his throat as he hears Suzaku moan his name again, gazing up at him as they work together to build their rhythm. This is the sight he’s more used to - Suzaku leaning over him - but something about it hits different, knowing that he’s the one inside his body. He reaches up, running his long pale fingers over Suzaku’s chest and belly, trailing down to his cock; Suzaku arches under his touch, his head going back, exposing his throat. He’s panting in hushed Japanese, his whole body trembling as he rides, and Lelouch skims his fingertips over his hardness, knowing that he’s close–

Suzaku clenches down on him suddenly, the inner sanctum of him seeming to collapse like a dying star, so crushingly intense that Lelouch comes without even feeling it approach him. His mind goes utterly blank as the pleasure shudders through him, his hands falling away from Suzaku as he writhes on the sheets, keening a ludicrous attempt at his name. He falls still, completely limp beneath Suzaku’s weight, the room coming back to him in pieces.

“–louch. Lelouch.”

“Mm?”

“Oh, good, you’re alive.” Suzaku reaches down to touch his face. “I thought I killed you.”

Lelouch doesn’t have the breath or the brain capacity to string a sentence together. He’s dimly aware of Suzaku still moving a little bit but now it feels warm and wet and he knows he’s not hard anymore. It’s probably poor etiquette to orgasm before your partner if you’re the one doing the penetrating. Suzaku has considerably better manners than him. 

“S-sorry,” he manages to mumble.

“It’s okay.” Suzaku pinches his cheek a little. “...Is it alright if I switch?”

Lelouch nods. He doesn’t think he has much room to complain. He feels Suzaku ease off him, his weight shifting; moments later comes the familiar press of him between his thighs, his cool-slicked fingers teasing at his entrance. He barely lets out a sigh as Suzaku preps him, still pretty out of it, letting him manhandle him. The familiarity of Suzaku entering him is comforting after the intense newness of doing it the other way around. Suzaku leans down over him, putting his hands either side of Lelouch’s head, and Lelouch reaches up and pulls him close. He barely reacts to Suzaku rutting into him madly for a few moments, letting him chase his completion. Suzaku pants his name in his ear as he comes for the third time that day and then finally seems to run out of energy, collapsing on top of him. Lelouch uses the last of his strength to brush back his curls and kiss his forehead.

“Th-that was… amazing,” Suzaku mumbles, still inside him. “We should… definitely try that again…”

“I-I need a year to recover,” Lelouch replies. “Get back to me… after that.”

Suzaku laughs, kissing his cheek. “You did fine. It felt incredible.”

Lelouch smiles weakly at him. “I’m glad you… enjoyed it.”

“Did you?”

“Yeah,” Lelouch admits. He shifts, feeling the wetness pooling between them. “...We should get cleaned up, though.”

“Mmm,” Suzaku agrees. “In a minute. Let me just… stay like this a moment longer.” He nuzzles his head into the crook of Lelouch’s neck. “I really am happy, Lelouch.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed your birthday,” Lelouch says.

“Not just because it’s my birthday,” Suzaku says, “although I appreciate all the, uh, extra effort. I mean in general. I’m really happy here with everyone - and with you.” He squeezes him. “I love you so much, Lelouch.” 

“I love you, too.” Lelouch strokes his damp hair. “Even if you made me lose my paintbrush.”

“I threw it away.”

“I thought you liked it.”

“I did but I have to protect my sensitive nipples. It’s gone forever.”

“Traitor.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

Lelouch rolls his eyes. God only knows what Suzaku has in mind… “Sure. Come on. The sooner we’re clean, the sooner we can sleep. I’m exhausted.”

Truthfully, he can barely walk, his legs still like jelly, but Suzaku is only too happy to carry him to the bathroom - “the least he can do”. Lelouch privately agrees but, between the missing paintbrush and stolen school shirt, he supposes they’re about even. He gently washes Suzaku clean, soaping his hair and body, letting him kiss him as he desires.

Right now, his happiness is all that matters. 

Later, as Suzaku sleeps, Lelouch rolls over and checks his burner phone under the sheets. There are missed calls from Ohgi, followed by a message. docks operation? BK awaiting your orders.

Not tonight, Lelouch texts back. Tomorrow. 7pm. He turns off the phone before Ohgi can respond, slipping it under the bed. Suzaku shifts beside him, disturbed at his movement.

“Are you okay?” he sighs. He feels for him, pulling him close again, laying his cheek against his neck.

“Yeah.” Lelouch snuggles against him, finding his hand and letting their fingers entangle. “Nothing for you to worry about. Go back to sleep.”

Suzaku settles again without complaint, squeezing his hand. “See you in the morning,” he mumbles.

“Yeah, I’ll be here,” Lelouch replies softly. “I promise.”