A/N - This is my first fanfic... EVER! So please, no flaming.

Reviews are wanted and appreciated.

DISCLAIMER - I DO NOT OWN CODE GEASS! If I did... Lelouch and his smexyness would be MINE! ALL MINE! ... and Suzaku's...

He studied the face which was usually contorted in thought and emotionless, now peaceful and almost happy in sleep. Not that the boy never laughed, no, they had a lot of fun. But… was it wrong to sit here and watch his best friend sleep?

They were supposed to be studying, exams were to start soon and Lelouch had invited Suzaku over. He should have known something was up when Nunally had said that she hadn't heard her brother since he had returned home from school earlier that day. Now it was well after dark. Lelouch was known to fall asleep in class and in student council meetings, Suzaku guessed that this was the result of that not happening today.

Setting his things down, Suzaku sat on the swivel chair in front of the computer desk. There were some already typed papers lying in a neat pile on the desk, paper clipped together. Well, at least he did some work before he fell asleep. He thought as he thumbed through them. Surprisingly, Lelouch was almost done with his part of their 'buddy' project, and it was pretty damned good too.

He leaned back in the chair and ran a hand through his hair, closing his eyes. It was quiet in the room, and the only sound was starting to make him feel uncomfortable, the peaceful exhaling of the Britannian prince. He wasn't sure when it had all started… the fact that he was falling for Lelouch. Was it when he was tied to the chair and they were trying to dress him as a cat? No, doubtful. Or maybe when they were chasing after Arthur and Lelouch was slipping from the roof, looking up at him with relief when he caught the pale hand in his own. No… not likely. Or…

Suzaku looked over to the bed at the slight mewling noise that Lelouch had just made. He was clutching the pillow close, his eyes screwed shut and he was… shaking? Suzaku sighed and wiped his clammy palms on the knees of his pants as he stood up. Slowly and as quietly as he could, he made his way to the bed. Sitting down on the edge of the white covered mattress and leaning over, he laid a hand on the others shoulder, shaking him gently. The amethyst eyes shot open with a yelp, grabbing Suzaku's arm and shoving him to the bed. Before Suzaku could say anything, he was pinned to the bed, Lelouch hovering over him, panting, eyes wide. Sweat ran down his forehead, dampening his raven colored hair and plastered it to his pale skin, making a sharp contrast.

"Su-Suzaku?"

He smiled and struggled against Lelouch's surprisingly strong hold. "Yeah… you, you know, alright?"

The other looked puzzled. Obviously trying to calm himself, Lelouch answered, "Of course I'm fine… why?"

Suzaku laughed and was finally able to free one of his trapped arms. He raised it and ran it through the sweat on his friends chest. Lelouch looked down at the hand on his chest, his cheeks turning a rather vibrant red. "You were having a nightmare, or so I am assuming."

It was true, the dream he was having wasn't exactly a walk in wonderland. Lelouch closed his eyes and released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Suzaku saw... and most likely heard any noise that he had made in his sleep. It made him feel weak, and he wasn't weak, he was zero for Christ's sake! But... perhaps it was ok to be weak around Suzaku. They had been friends for years, he wasn't like Milly who would take the fact that Lelouch was most likely whimpering in his sleep and use it against him... at least, he hoped he wouldn't amount to that.

"Uh... Lulu?"

Lelouch opened his eyes and looked down at his friend who was also flushed. "Yeah?"

Suzaku laughed nervously, sending chills up Lelouch's spine, "Would you mind... letting me up?"

"Oh... OH SHIT!" He blushed and quickly crawled to the other side of the bed, sitting there atop of his legs. "S-sorry." Why the hell was he feeling this, this warm tingling in his lower stomach. It was a rather foreign feeling, never having the feeling before, but there was something about it that he liked. Shit... I can't be feeling this from Suzaku... Can I? He's a guy... I'm a guy... ITS NOT NATURAL! But it would explain the fact that he had never really found any females attractive, not even Shirley, even though he knew that she had it for him, badly.

As Suzaku sat up, rubbing his wrists, Lelouch crawled off of the bed and walked over to one of the windows, opening it up and letting in a cool breeze. He shivered as it ran across his sweat dampened skin, bringing relief from the hot stickiness that he disliked oh so much.

Suzaku took a deep breath, looking over his shoulder at Lelouch, watching the sweat on his skin glimmer in the moonlight, and the way that it framed his pale face. As the other started to turn around, Suzaku quickly turned away, realizing that he was just staring. "Well... Should we get to it?"

Suzaku's eyes widened, "W-what?!"

"You know... the project? We wait any longer and we might as well not start since it's getting late." Lelouch answered, rubbing the back of his neck and yawning. "Sorry about falling asleep by the way..." Suzaku couldn't help but to burst in laughter. Earning an incredulous look from his friend. "What?"

Taking a deep breath to settle himself, Suzaku leaned back to look at the prince, "Well... I can see why."

Lelouch turned to face the Japanese boy, placing his hands on his hips and glaring at him, "And just why is that?"

"Well, you didn't fall in asleep in class... or at the student council meeting today."

Lelouch dropped his hands and stood up straight, smiling softly, "Oh..." He was caught. He had thought that nobody had known about his little sleeping habits, because nobody had ever mentioned them to him. Now, he wondered just who else had found out. Between acting as Zero for most of the evenings and school, he rarely had time to sleep, and it was taking a toll on him. It was a wonder that he was able to keep his grades up! He walked over to the computer desk and picked up the papers, seeing that they weren't as neat as they were when he fell asleep, he assumed that Suzaku had looked through them. He also noticed the manila folder sitting next to the spot from where he had just picked his papers up from.

Setting his own papers down, he picked up the folder in their stead and turned around, leaning against the desk. Opening the folder, Lelouch figured out that these were Suzaku's papers, his part of the project. "These are pretty good, I'd say that we're ready to start collaborating the project."

Nodding, Suzaku joined Lelouch at the computer desk, reading over his shoulder as he turned the computer on. "I couldn't find too much information on Zero... it seems that you were able to find so much more."

Lelouch smirked on the inside, of course I could find more... I didn't have to look. "Were you looking in the right places? It's best if you go to the Japanese people themselves, they seem to know more than the references or the press."

Suzaku hummed, "Didn't think of that... oh well, you're brilliant enough to cover for me." He nudged Lelouch.

"Of course I am... I've always been the brains."

"At least I'm not a kitten."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're weak!"

"I AM NOT!" Lelouch hit Suzaku on the head with the folder before wheeling the chair around and sitting on it, dropping the folder on the desk sarcastically.

Rubbing his head, Suzaku leaned on Lelouch, "Aww... come on... you know I didn't mean it."

"You always were an exercise nut..." Lelouch muttered.

"What?"

Lelouch tried to sound innocent, "Nothing."

"Lelouch," Suzaku laughed, "You and innocent don't mix together. You're lying."

"I said you always were an exercise nut! Not everyone is as crazy as you about it!"

Suzaku tried not to laugh, Lelouch was being serious, and it sounded ridiculous. "Jealous?"

This earned a growl from Lelouch, "Don't be stupid Suzaku."

"Harsh."

"Get over it." Lelouch looked back at Suzaku who was looking away, pretending to pout. "That may work on Milly, but you damn well know it has no effect on me."

"Damn... It's always worth a second try!"

"That was probably your thousandth try..." Lelouch pushed Suzaku onto the chair next to his and turned back to the computer. "Anyway..." Suzaku picked up some of the printed pictures of Zero Lelouch had found and studied them. "Have you seen him in real life before?"

Suzaku took a deep breath and nodded, "Yes, just once though."

"And?"

"Why the mask?"

This surprised Lelouch. Of all opinions he expected the pilot of Lancelot to have, this was the last thing he had expected the knight to ask. "His mask?"

"Why do you think he keeps his identity secret from his followers and from Japan? I'm halfway surprised they follow a faceless man."

"If Japan knew who he was, the man under the mask would be dead by now. Britannia would most likely find out from a traitor to Japan and they would hunt him down like a fox."

"Do you suppose..." He flipped through a few more of the pictures, really studying the lean build of the man, he looked so fragile, yet he was so powerful. "Do you suppose he's young, like us? Perhaps attending Ashford Academy with us? Do you think He's Britannian, or Japanese? If he's Britannian, why is he fighting Britannia?" Suzaku looked up from the pictures to the inquisitive face of his friend. Perhaps he was getting too deep.

"You are thinking too hard, Suzaku. I don't think we have to get this deep, do you? " Suzaku was getting deeper than Lelouch was comfortable with. He was able to figure Zero out more so than what he wanted the brown haired boy too. Any deeper, and perhaps he could figure out that Lelouch was Zero, and damned if Lelouch was to let that happen.

Suzaku laughed nervously, "Yeah, I suppose you're right."

The two boys fell silent as they worked, trying to get as much as they could done before they would have to separate for the night. Tomorrow was Saturday, and neither of them wanted to spend the weekend indoors working on homework. Especially since Milly was planning a party on tomorrow to celebrate Lelouch's birthday, albeit being a bit late. His birthday was back in December, it was now April. Their first birthday plans had been snowed out, and they had decided that planning it for a month that was definitely devoid of snow was a good idea. Lelouch loved the idea of not having to deal with his party for awhile. Milly always had some sort of plan or game to embarrass the hell out of him. He halfway dreaded tomorrow. Even though Lelouch had made Milly promise not to do any of the sort, she had that cold smile plastered to her face the whole time, letting him know that she had no plans whatsoever to listen to Lelouch.

"Lulu?"

"Yeah, Suzaku?"

"It's gett…" He was interrupted by a yawn, "mmm… getting late, perhaps I should head home. I think we've got enough done that we can finish this whole Zero project on Monday night. It's due Tuesday, right?"

Lelouch nodded and looked down at the digital clock in the corner of the computer. "Yeah, it is. Suzaku, it's eleven O'clock, way too late for you to walk home. Why don't you spend the night, then we can head to the party tomorrow together."

Suzaku looked down, "I don't want to impose Lelouch, I will be fine."

"No, you're staying. I've got a couch in the corner over there, unless if you would be more comfortable in the guest room."

The thought of sleeping on the couch, in the same room with Lelouch excited Suzaku. But… it could lead to something that might make Lelouch well… not comfortable around him. The last thing Suzaku wanted was to ruin the friendship he had with Lelouch. So maybe the guest room might be the better choice, but then again… Arthur the cat lived in there from time to time, and he was there now. Shuttering, Suzaku had made up his mind. "I can take the couch."

Lelouch smiled, getting up from the chair and walking over to the open closet. He began to unbutton the white shirt that all the male students wore under their black uniformed school jackets and Suzaku once again found his eyes glued to his best friend. Was he deliberately doing this to Suzaku? No, Lelouch wasn't that evil, nor was he homosexual. Suzaku figured he would be in deep shit if Lelouch found him staring at him undressing, but he couldn't tear himself away as Lelouch pulled the shirt off and reached for a black pajama top. He slipped it on, then reached for the bottoms to match. Oh shit… was all Suzaku could think as Lelouch unbuttoned his pants and peeled them off, revealing the black pair of briefs. It's not as if Suzaku hadn't seen this before, no, they always shared a locker in gym and changed in the same row, but it seemed different now. He believed that it was the fact that he now crushed on the Britannian.

His daze was broken by a shirt landing on his head. He pulled it off to look up at Lelouch who was holding the matching bottoms to the shirt now on his lap. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing to Suzaku that he was more built than everyone believed. He didn't have a six pack or anything… but he looked… amazing! He was too busy staring, he didn't notice Lelouch waving his hand in front of his face, "Calling Suzaku Kururugi. Please return to Earth."

He shook his head, "What?"

"Welcome back space cadet. You zoned out on me!"

"Oh… sorry, I'm just really tired." His face was now flushed, and he hoped like hell Lelouch would buy his excuse.

"Yeah, you and me both. Here," He threw the pants at Suzaku and turned around, heading back to the closet, "change."

Thank god, he bought it. Suzaku could practically melt in the chair there, getting too close to being caught. He stood up and changed as quickly as he could, hoping that Lelouch wouldn't notice his minor hard on. God… he was so easy, and Suzaku loathed it. He pulled the shirt over his head as Lelouch walked past him, heading for his bed.

"There is a pillow and a blanket on the couch for you. If the pillow isn't big enough, or if you get cold and need another or a heavier blanket, feel free to go to the closet to grab one."

Suzaku nodded and walked over to the couch. The damn thing was huge, so he knew that he would have no problem with rolling off of it in the middle of the night. He crawled under the blankets and held the pillow close, yawning. Lelouch turned off the light and did the same, "Good Night, Suzaku."

"Mmmm… Night."

Whimpering.

It woke Suzaku up, but when he opened his eyes, there was nothing. Maybe he was dreaming it? No… there it was again. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and looked around. It was coming from Lelouch's bed, could he be having another nightmare? Whatever it was, it seemed pretty intense; Suzaku figured that he should at least go investigate. He stood up, thankful for his socks, though they didn't do much to protect his feet from the cold carpet. Why the hell was the floor so cold? Well, Lelouch hadn't closed the window, That would do it. He thought as he reached the bed, leaning on it.

His eyes widened at what he saw. Lelouch was sweating heavily, trembling, whimpering and panting. What was the raven haired boy dreaming of? It worried him. He crawled onto the bed and kneeled, placing a hand on the other boys back and began to rub up and down slowly. "Hey, Lulu. Wake up, you're dreaming." The boy moaned and opened his eyes, the whimpering may have ceased, but he was still shaking and panting. He looked up into the familiar green eyes and held the pillow closer. Suzaku smiled at him, "You ok?"

Lelouch remained motionless for awhile, then shook his head. This only furthered Suzaku's worry. "Lulu… Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head again.

Suzaku sighed. How was he supposed to help when he didn't have a clue what was going on? He removed his hand from Lelouch's back and started to get off of the bed when a hand grasped the sleeve of his shirt, making him jump. He turned his head to see Lelouch leaned over, his hand fisted tightly in the red fabric, eyes wavering. He looked like he was about to cry. This wasn't Lelouch, not the one that he knew. He wanted to help his friend desperately, but how could he?

"Su... Suzaku.." His voice sounded so weak.

"Yes, Lelouch?"

"Don't…"

"Don't what, Lulu."

"Please… Don-" his voice cracked as he closed his eyes and lowered his head, "please don't go…"

Suzaku's eyes widened at this. Just what was Lelouch asking for? Did he mean for him to… to sleep with him? Oh god… this was great… but horrible all at the same time. He couldn't refuse Lelouch at this moment though, he was in an emotional state so fragile, and he feared if he turned him down, that Lelouch would break. Instead, he smiled. "If that helps…" He got back up onto the bed and sat down, Lelouch pushing his pillow closer toward Suzaku to share. Suzaku, still unsure how to handle the situation, laid down, trying to keep his breathing under control as his heart went wild. He was fine… until he could feel Lelouch scooting closer. Oh god… how close was he going to get?

Lelouch scooted all the way over, laying flush against Suzaku, his head lowered and snuggled into the other man's chest. Suzaku swore that he had to be as red as a rose by now, his heart feeling like it could beat right out of his chest. "Lulu…"

"Suzaku… thank… thank you…"

Did he hear it, or did he imagine it? All he could think to do was wrap an arm around his friend as his breathing started to mellow out again. Lelouch's pajamas were soaked with sweat, but his smell… it was intoxicating to Suzaku. Thank god the blood was rushing to his face rather than somewhere below. With as close as Lelouch was, there was no amount of fabric between them that would be able to hide his little secret then. And with what Lelouch just went through, it would be the last thing that he knew the other wanted to deal with.

"N-night… Suzu…"

Suzaku sighed, Lelouch falling asleep not long after he whispered the good night. "Good Night… Lelouch." He hoped that being with Lelouch would spare his friend of the nightmares.

Oh fuck… He really had gotten himself in deep this time, hadn't he?