Almost done.

The show, the interview (which, Suzaku admitted to himself, Lelouch had mostly carried), and now the crowning of the Victors. This last bit should be easy enough; all they had to do was stand still and let the Emperor place circlets on their heads.

Then they could go home.

The Royal fanfare played and everyone rose, as the Emperor and his eldest son Prince Schneizel, the Prime Minister, walked on stage, each carrying identical Victor's crowns. As the anthem rang out through the dome, Prince Schneizel placed Suzaku's crown on his head, smiling down at him beatifically, the perfect picture of a disinterested politician. Suzaku smiled back, tentatively, and turned to Lelouch, wanting to admire the crown on his head.

Lelouch was trembling, almost unnoticeably. For a moment, Suzaku thought it was in fear, intimidation from being in front of the Emperor himself. Lelouch's expression held no hints at to the source of his shivers, remaining as blank and stoic as Suzaku had ever seen it. But when Suzaku looked into his eyes, he nearly gasped aloud at the burning rage they held, smouldering and practically glowing in the shadow of the Emperor's form.

"You killed Euphy."

The Emperor smiled. "No. That was the boy you let fuck you." Suzaku wasn't sure which was more shocking – hearing Lelouch accuse the Emperor or hearing the Emperor casually use the word 'fuck'.

Lelouch, if he was shocked at all, hid it well. "Her name was pulled in the same year Nunnally's was. You either killed Euphy or you were aiming for Nunnally. Which is it?"

"Do you think I need to justify myself to you, boy? If I wanted your sister dead, she would be. And if I decide that I want her dead in the future, she will be."

Lelouch audibly and visually bit back whatever he was going to retort with, making only a small sound of impotent protest, but his trembling had turned to an almost visible shaking. Suzaku grabbed his hand, hoping to calm him without anyone noticing.

Everyone noticed. The Emperor turned to him. "And now you're the one who wants to fuck my son, are you, Eleven?"

…what? His son?

"Leave him alone." Lelouch sounded dull and defeated, all the fire instantly drained out of him the moment the Emperor's attention turned to Suzaku. "He doesn't have anything to do with this. I'm… I've just been using him this whole time."

"If you're using him, then you've pulled him into this, Lelouch." The Emperor rolled Lelouch's name on his tongue like he was savouring it. Lelouch shuddered once, hard, and then stopped shaking.

"Father, the Anthem is ending," Schneizel said mildly, turning his bland smile on Lelouch, his expression as beatifically benign as a saint. "We'll speak another time, Lelouch. I'll be overseeing next year's Hunger Games, and I look forward to seeing the kind of Tribute you'll mentor." What about Clovis? Suzaku wondered, but didn't ask, "I eagerly anticipate further conversation with you then."

Lelouch looked a little spooked, and a little taken aback. He managed a quick nod and Schneizel and the Emperor, apparently satisfied with that, turned around. "Thus ends the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games!" tThe Emperor bellowed. The cheering that followed was deafening. Lelouch's grip on Suzaku's hand shifted and he laced their fingers together and leaned slightly against Suzaku's shoulder.

"Thank you."

Suzaku smiled. He hadn't really done anything other than offer his support, but that was apparently enough for Lelouch to spontaneously offer thanks. It made Suzaku feel genuinely valued. "You're welcome." The smile slipped off his face as he remembered what the Emperor had said. "What did he mean 'my son'?"

"Nothing. He's just… nothing," Lelouch said, pulling away, his expression still that mask of bright happiness, but his eyes tight and angry. "Don't worry about it."

Suzaku wanted to ask again, but the cheering died down and the lights dimmed as the show ended. Lelouch pulled away from him, tearing the crown off his head and tossing it aside as he stormed off the stage. Lloyd came up beside Suzaku and tsked, picking it up. "And here I thought he was the smart one."

"Lloyd, what…"

Lloyd's grin shone in the dim light. "Well, it's all relative, I suppose! Come on, back to your rooms. We have a train to catch first thing tomorrow morning."

Of course. Pendragon wanted them gone as soon as possible.

When they got back to their rooms (their old ones, not the ones they'd recuperated in, the ones they'd stayed in before the games, and Suzaku hadn't expected to see them ever again) Suzaku hesitated outside Lelouch's door. It was closed, possibly even locked, and Suzaku wasn't sure Lelouch would even want to see him. He'd pulled away and stormed off the moments the cameras were off…

Before he could knock the door opened and Lelouch stood there, wearing nothing but a loose robe and a gleam in his eye. "Suzaku."

"Lelouch, I… look, I'm sor–" Lelouch grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him into the room, slamming the door behind them. "Wh-what are…" He couldn't get anything else out because Lelouch's tongue was in the way and his hands were undoing Suzaku's pants and that robe was really loose, Suzaku could push it over Lelouch's shoulder and taste the skin there…

"There's no one watching. Fuck me now."

Suzaku swallowed hard. "Yes."

OoO-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-OoO

He was such an idiot.

He'd lost his temper, in front of the Emperor and Schneizel of all people! The act of defiance hadn't been enough for him, no, he had to mouth off to the one man who could have made it all go away.

Or make every fear in Lelouch's imagination come true. And then some.

Why hadn't he been able to hold back? He'd swallowed his pride countless times over the past two weeks, letting Luciano do whatever he wanted, following Adriana's orders, fulfilling Rolo's wishes. Why couldn't he have done it one last time and simply kept his mouth shut as his father placed a crown on his head, touching him for the first time in Lelouch's memory.

Lelouch wished he could just blame it on the gentle caress he'd felt before the Emperor had removed his hand, as if the man had any right to touch him with a father's grace.

No. He was the Emperor. He had whatever rights he wanted.

Lelouch was simply an idiot.

And he'd dragged Suzaku into this mess with him. He wanted to explain, to apologize, to kneel and beg Suzaku's forgiveness. But he couldn't bear it if Suzaku knew everything – about the Emperor and Schneizel, and Euphy and Cornelia, and Clovis…

Schneizel had said that he would be overseeing next year's games. Did that mean that Clovis was being punished for the outcome of this year's?

Lelouch had never even met Clovis, and he'd already ruined his life. Just as Euphy had died before he could bring himself to speak to her. And then there was Cornelia, who waited in Area 1 not for her sister, but for a body in a coffin… Almost half of his unknown family, worse off because of Lelouch.

And yet, as if to balance things out, there was Suzaku.

Beautiful, patient, forgiving Suzaku. Whose gentle hands and hot kisses were currently driving Lelouch crazy. If he could get Suzaku out of this, then maybe it was all worth it. Saving Nunnally, binding Suzaku to him, bringing them together as a family… Lelouch could create a little world with everything he wanted and just hide there. Forever.

His robe and Suzaku's pants hit the floor at the same time. Lelouch was still struggling with Suzaku's shirt when Suzaku physically picked him up and carried him over to the bed in a princess carry, laying him down gently before moving back and just… looking at him.

Lelouch flushed. He'd never before seen anything like the expression on Suzaku's face – a combination of hunger and disbelief and a dark joy. "D-don't just look." The heat in Suzaku's eyes was affecting him more than he'd expected. He felt oddly exposed, even a little embarrassed. "I… I showered and prepared myself before you got here. I'm ready for you."

"Are you?" Suzaku pulled his shirt off and Lelouch would have sworn his heart stopped in that moment. Thinner than before, but still perfect, lithe and strong and every muscle perfectly defined. Suzaku crawled on the bed, between Lelouch's legs, and Lelouch opened and reached for him, suddenly desperate.

Suzaku stopped just out of reach. "Lelouch… you don't have to do this."

"I want to–"

"This won't gain you anything. Everything I have to give you is yours already. You won't win anything more from me by letting me fuck you."

Suzaku looked serious. Lelouch fell back, draping an arm over his face and laughed. "I deserve that, I suppose."

"Lelouch…"

"No, I know what I am. And it's good that you know what you're taking to your bed."

"…this is your bed."

"That's not what I…" Lelouch trailed off, sighing. He pushed himself up, until he was facing Suzaku. "I'd understand if you don't want this, Suzaku. I'm… not the same person I was before the games, and we're not in a cave or fighting for our lives. There are dozens of boys or girls you could have, and I–" This time Suzaku cut him off with a kiss, but Lelouch pulled away, determined to finish. "I'm a vile, cold, proud person, but if it's come to this, then so be it." He caressed Suzaku's cheek, looking him in the eyes. "I will beg if I must. Just give me this one night, Suzaku. Please."

Suzaku shook his head, looking oddly sad and very gentle. "That's exactly what I can't…" He kissed Lelouch again. "Alright. I'll give you this night. But I want something in return."

Lelouch nodded and leaned back against the pillows as Suzaku pressed him down. "Anything."

"I want the rest of your nights. And your days, too."

Lelouch closed his eyes as Suzaku kissed him and a stunned relief washed over him. "Yes." He hooked one of his legs over Suzaku's hip and pulled him closer. "That's… yes, Suzaku. Yes."

OoO-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-OoO

Suzaku pushed inside.

He was a little shocked at how easy it was, and then how hot and tight and good it felt. Lelouch arched and gasped under him, eyes wide, hands pulling Suzaku closer.

Beautiful. How could Lelouch have ever doubted that he was wanted, loved? He'd seduced Suzaku almost entirely by accident, but that wasn't what was between them now. After the ordeal they'd been through, the memories they shared, the bonds they'd forged…

"I love you."

Lelouch laughed, but it sounded like a sob. "Luciano never took me like this; face-to-face. I don't think he wanted to see my expressions when he fucked me."

"I do."

"I know." Lelouch managed to prop himself up enough to cup Suzaku's face and kiss him. "I know, Suzaku… You're different. Special." He kissed Suzaku again. "Move for me, please."

Suzaku gave a shallow thrust and Lelouch fell back, one hand falling to clutch at the bedsheets by his head, the other gripping Suzaku's shoulder fiercely. "Yesss…" Suzaku thrust again and again, rewarded by the soft hitches of Lelouch's breath, the way his body moved under and with Suzaku's, the gentle flutter of his eyelashes and the steady gaze of his eyes under those lashes.

"You're so beautiful."

Lelouch smiled. "You should – oh– see yourself. Like a young god. My Suzaku."

"Yes. Yours. Always." Suzaku gripped Lelouch's hip with his hand, thrusting harder, fully aware that while his lips were saying "yours", his body was saying "mine". Lelouch cried out for more, clearly fine with this as his fingers dug into Suzaku's shoulder and his hips canted up into every thrust. It was just so easy.

When Lelouch came, Suzaku's name on his lips, his body tightening around Suzaku in every way, Suzaku couldn't believe how good it was – how good Lelouch looked, how good he felt – and how right. He followed soon after, buried deep inside Lelouch, before collapsing beside him, feeling as weak as he had after several pints of bloodloss.

Lelouch sighed and ran his fingers through Suzaku's hair. "Only you… I've only ever come with you, Suzaku."

"…Luciano?"

Lelouch snorted. "You're joking. Neither of us wanted that." He kissed the side of Suzaku's head. "No, he was the first to fuck me, but you will always be my first lover."

"I don't really care about that," Suzaku said, smiling at Lelouch's irritated glare at Suzaku's dismissive tone. "The important thing is that I'm your last."

"Only?"

Suzaku smiled. "Deal."

They kissed again, both of them shifting until they were settled comfortably against each other. Lelouch's breathing evened out and Suzaku figured he was actually going to sleep. This was probably when his guard was the lowest. He had to take his chance now.

"Will you tell me?"

"Hmm?" Lelouch asked.

"About the Emperor and Schneizel and Euphy."

Lelouch buried his face in the pillow. "No." His voice was muffled, almost indistinguishable. "Don' ask again."

Suzaku kissed his neck. "Please?" Lelouch shook his head. "Lelouch…" Suzaku played his strongest card. "Will this affect Nunnally?"

That woke Lelouch up, his eyes widening as his head lifted with a start. "Shit."

"Shh, there's nothing you can do now…" Suzaku soothed. "But I want to help. Let me?" Lelouch shook his head, looking oddly lost. It was so different from his typical, confident self. Suzaku wanted to hold him and promise him that everything would be all right.

He settled for just holding him. The lies, he'd avoid. "Please just tell me, Lelouch. Let me protect you and Nunnally and your mother."

"Our family…" Lelouch said, and the implications of that sent a shot of pure warmth through Suzaku. "Alright. But you mustn't do anything except on my command, Suzaku. You have to promise to follow me lead, to let things that you might find intolerable to happen, to prevent worse things. We cannot be equals in this – I'll not lose you to him."

"Yes, I promise," Suzaku said quickly, the words falling easily and sincerely from his lips. He had more faith in Lelouch than was probably healthy, but he didn't care. "Tell me, please. I don't want to be kept out of your life."

Lelouch relaxed in his arms and nodded. "I don't know if I can explain everything. I don't think I even know everything. But I'll try to tell you as much as I know."

Suzaku kissed Lelouch's forehead and tightened his hold.

Lelouch took a deep breath and started speaking.

OoO-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-OoO

He didn't hold anything back. He started with his father – Charles zi Britannia, the Emperor of Britannia. The man with more wives than he had Areas. Marianne had been his chosen bride from Area 11, and one of the few that he revisited. Lelouch even had some childhood memories of him – larger than life, something that could be blamed on a child's perspective, were it not for the fact that Lelouch had just seen him hours ago and he still seemed larger than life.

That didn't stop Lelouch from resenting the hell out of him, for leaving his mother alone, for abandoning them, for having dozens of other children with over a dozen other women. He made sure they didn't starve, at least, but he never visited or offered them any comforts.

He was planning something. Lelouch was sure of that, if nothing else. Besides himself and Nunnally, Lelouch knew of eight other children, and his mother had assured him that there were nine others, at least, that she had never been told about. In Pendragon, Clovis and Schneizel, each from one of Charles's mistresses, and two true-born children, Odysseus and Guinevere. From the Areas, Euphy and Cornelia from Area 1, and boy twins in Area 6. The other nine children were scattered throught the remaining Areas, and probably comprised a good chunk of the Victors from the Hunger Games, although Lelouch wasn't sure which ones were related to him and which Areas held half-siblings who were just too young to be Tributes. The only thing he was sure of was that there were at least one per Area, plus four in Pendragon itself.

The only Area he was missing, of course, was the lost Area. Area 0, so named because thirteen was considered an unlucky number when the Areas were created, and superstition overcame common sense. The reason Charles, who was in his late sixties, had no children from that Area was that it had been destroyed seventy-four years ago. Well, seventy-four years and two weeks. The Hunger Games had been started on the anniversary of Area 0's destruction, something remote enough that there was no one Lelouch had ever met who had been alive at the same time Area 0 had been in existence, but something that fed into the everyday life of every single Britannian alive.

Lelouch had a theory that his father was planting his children in every Area to stop a rebellion like the one that had led to Area 0's fall and the Hunger Games. If so, Lelouch didn't think he was as clever as he thought he was – if there had been any hint of rebellion in Area 11, Lelouch would have signed up as soon as couldn't speak for the rest of his siblings, especially those siblings who lived in Pendragon, but he doubted they were the passive types either. Especially if they had something to prove – fighting for survival in the Areas or status in Pendragon.

But he didn't tell Suzaku any of that. Instead, he focused on his siblings.

Clovis, he knew a little about. He'd been head gamemaker for a few years, and his games always had a special artistic flare. This game had the romantic angle that Lelouch was willing to bet Clovis had been waiting for ever since he'd taken over the game. He was bright and flamboyant and probably smarter than he seemed. Other than that, however, Lelouch knew nothing of him.

Schneizel, he knew just as little about, but still more than Suzaku would have. As Milly's friend, Lelouch had access to more news and non-propaganda media than most people in the Areas. The reality didn't see, that far off the propaganda though; Schneizel was cool but personable, efficient and dedicated and just overall the perfect public servant. Lelouch admired him in a very impersonal way.

About Guinevere and Odysseus, he knew only the propaganda. The Emperor's only official children (although both were now adults), they were trotted out for every PSA and photo op. Other then that, they were strangers.

Euphy and Cornelia were a little different. Lelouch talked about Cornelia's victory and how his mother had told him that she was Lelouch's elder sister. She was vicious and brutal, but there must be something redeeming about her because Euphy adored her.

"Euphy's… Euphy was your little sister?"

Lelouch nodded. "Which is why… her name and Nunnally's name should never have been picked together!"

"The Tribute selection is arbitrary, Lelouch. It's pure chance."

Lelouch snorted. "Do you really believe that? Apparently, of the six children of Charles zi Britannia that I know of who live in the Areas, four have been chosen for the games, and five can't be chosen as Tributes again." Nunnally's name had been chosen, and Lelouch and Cornelia and one of the twins from Area 8 were Victors. And Euphy, of course, was dead. "Those odd are more than just not in our favour, Suzaku."

"But… why?"

"Because we win." Lelouch pulled away. "Except that Nunnally couldn't. Even if she'd been able-bodied, she was too gentle. Euphy was gentle too, but she was clever. She could have waited everyone out if…"

"…if she hadn't ended up with me."

Lelouch frowned. That sounded like… "You don't blame yourself, do you Suzaku?" Suzaku looked away. Lelouch grabbed his chin and forced Suzaku to face him. "It's not your fault. It was never…" He kissed Suzaku's lips. "You are utterly blameless in this. My father is partially to blame, I am partially to blame, and Luciano is dead, so there's justice there. But not you. Never you."

Suzaku tried to argue, but Lelouch refused to let him, refused to talk or let him talk until they fell asleep, using some very creative and effective measures of stopping Suzaku's words until then.

OoO-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-OoO

The next morning was surprisingly chaotic, considering they weren't bringing anything back other than the clothes they were wearing (Lelouch was in a simple dress again, blue this time) and Suzaku's pin.

Cecile had walked in on them (fortunately while they weren't doing anything but lying naked, wrapped around each other and barely covered by the bedsheets) and that had been the start of the chaos. Despite the sex and the cuddling and the prospect of returning home, Lelouch had woken in a foul mood and Suzaku apologized for him while trying to cover them up. It hadn't exactly worked, and Cecile had retreated from the room with Suzaku in mid-apology.

Then Lelouch, taking his mood out on Suzaku, had kicked him out, still naked and somewhat sticky, into a fourtunately empty hallway.

He was more composed at breakfast, smiling and chatting casually with Lloyd, getting up to give Suzaku a kiss when he entered. Suzaku wondered if Lelouch's mask was as obvious to everyone else as it was to him. Either way, he followed Lelouch's lead, acting as if the conversation last night and the almost-fight that morning hadn't happened. After breakfast, they made their way to the train, waving at fans and cameras, occasionally kissing, smiling and smiling and smiling…

Suzaku's jaw ached.

They didn't get a break on the train either, smiling and waving at all the spectators who came to send them off, just as they had on the way into Pendragon, only this time with many more people waving back. Some of them were even wearing t-shirts that said "Team 11" on them. Suzaku didn't get it; it seemed kind of like they'd missed the whole point of the Hunger Games, and Lelouch refused to stop smiling and waving long enough to explain.

The rest of the train ride was spent eating and watching the interviews that had been done in Area 11 before and during the games. It was weird, seeing Lelouch's mother and Nunnally wishing the best for both him and Lelouch, even back when "both" would have been impossible. Milly and her father kept their comments impressively neutral and politic, but it was clear they were both hoping for Lelouch. Even Kallen had been cornered for an interview, although they'd only gotten a few terse words from her, about how Suzaku would surprise them all.

Lelouch leaned against Suzaku during Kallen's brief but fierce interview. "Is this going to be a problem?"

"Is what going to be a problem?" Suzaku asked, confused. Was Lelouch upset that she hadn't said anything about him? She barely knew him…

Lelouch just chuckled and shook his head, changing the leaning to cuddling. "Never mind."

That had clearly been the right answer, because Lelouch snuck into Suzaku's room that night and sucked him off before riding his cock until they both came. The train's ride was smooth enough that it almost felt like they weren't moving, but Suzaku could have sworn he felt the faint vibrations and the way they skimmed over the earth resonating through his body as Lelouch clenched around him and arched his back, coming with a low cry and wringing Suzaku's orgasm from him with small, sharp thrusts, his tight ass spasming around Suzaku's cock until they were both done.

Lelouch was in an even better mood the morning after, when Lloyd woke them up to tell them they were pulling into the station in a few hours, and this was their last chance at a capitol breakfast. Not even the prospect of hot chocolate and sweet pastries was enough to stop Lelouch from getting Suzaku off one last time, with his hand, before they dressed and grabbed some food, hurried but happy, giggling around mouthfulls of croissant.

As the train slowed down, they could hear the cheering. Suzaku poked his head out the window and grinned at the huge turnout at the station. It seemed like almost all of Area 11 had come to welcome them home. The cameras were still rolling as he and Lelouch walked out, arms around each other, once again smiling and waving, although this time the smiles felt bigger and more natural.

Lelouch's mother was the first to greet them, barrelling past even the mayor to throw her arms around them both, kissing first Lelouch, then Suzaku on the cheek.

"Welcome back!" She cried and the audience when crazy. Under their cheers and applause, she leaned into Suzaku. "I think we need to have a little chat."

Suzaku swallowed hard. That was clearly a threat.

Then she released him to fuss over Lelouch, the mayor and Milly joining her and taking most of the attention of the crowd and cameras away from Suzaku. He backed out of the way, towards a less crowded part of the platform, closer to where Kallen was standing. She looked up at him, her expression a mixture of relieved and reluctant for some reason. Suzaku smiled, holding out the pin to her.

"I think it actually saved our lives."

Kallen hesitated, then took it back. "You know where it is if you need it again."

"Yeah." Suzaku pulled her in for a hug, laughing at the way she stiffened awkwardly. "Thanks, Kallen."

Then he was swept away, back into Lelouch's arms. There was an awkward moment as Suzaku flushed and tried to pull away, not sure if being pressed into Lelouch was one of those things Lelouch was likely to take exception to (there seemed to be a lot of things that Lelouch found offensive). But instead of scowling or snapping, Lelouch reached out and touched his cheek, as if he still couldn't believe that Suzaku was actually real.

"Welcome home," Suzaku said.

Lelouch smiled and kissed him like he never wanted to stop, to the unending cheers of the crowd.

The perfect ending.