28. Hero

In Britannia, if one has something to hide, it must be too unpleasant to show. Liars, traitors, oathbreakers. They don various masks to deceive for their own gain. But according to Japanese television, one can put on a mask to protect others. Here, in Suzaku's homeland, they're called heroes.

The conncept is downright alien to Lelouch. How can the public possibly cheer on some no-named figure? Never mind the lack of a face. In Britannia, power is in one's position and birthright. Without a respectable lineage to glean into, there can be no trust among the players. Suzaku, eyebrows scrunching, is equally as confused - of his mindset, anyway.

"Why should any of that matter? Isn't it enough to show that you're willing to help others?" As he talks about it, he gains confidence in his own response. Lelouch is the smart one, so Suzaku was initially concerned he was ignorant yet again on worldly matters. "Heck, that's even better! How can you trust someone who relies on their family name?"

"It's not much of trust, but understanding someone."

"Huh? Isn't that...the same?"

"Those helmet-wearing guys in the show can do whatever they please because they have nothing to lose. What if one of them becomes dangerous?"

Suzaku clenches his fist, a look of anger on his face. If Lelouch didn't know Suzaku, he might have thought he had a bad temper and was readying a strike. "Obviously, the others would stop them! They're an organization after all."

"No way," says Lelouch with a little laugh. How can a bunch of ordinary citizens, who happened to have been granted powers they never had before, know how a proper force should function? "One member gets upset, and suddenly, the team is a wreck and the villains get a chance."

Suzaku deflates. He can't argue with that, especially when he has told Lelouch how annoying he finds those episodes to be. "What's wrong with these people? There are things more important in the world going on than some hurt feelings."

It wasn't Lelouch's intention to shut down Suzaku's arguement. He understands that these so-called heroes are trying to protect their loved ones by keeping a secret identity. He attempts to sound more sympathetic to his friend. Although he knows Suzaku doesn't need it - nor want it. "Things manage to work out in the end. At the very least, their characters are strogner than most people."

"I guess," he agrees thoughtfully. "I do get what you mean though. I think. I still need some explaining though. What do you mean it's not about trust, but understanding someone?"

"Having an idea of what cards someone can play serve as a big advantage. Knowing what someone has to lose is as important as knowing what they have to gain. Someone who plays outside of your board can become your most dangerous enemy."

Suzaku becomes quiet. This isn't a point of contention. They're just talking about a silly morning show for kids with monsters and face-kicking masked civilians. So, what's this strange look of sadness on Suzaku?

"Suzaku?" he prods gently, always open to hear his thoughts, whatever they may be. They may have started on the wrong foot, but things have changed between them. They're best friends now.

"...But I'm nothing like my father."

"Huh? Uh, yeah..." Lelouch can only agree, confused as to why he brought the Prime Minister up.

"You and Nunally hate him. I get it."

"Huh! When did we say that? I mean, we don't like him but we're grateful for the Kururugi for taking us in... The one who should hate us..."

"Stop."

Lelouch shuts his mouth. Suzaku can be surprisingly commanding at times. Although they promised they would change the world by becoming emperor and prime minister of their respective countries one day, Lelouch has always thought at the back of his mind how amazing Suzaku would be as a commander. In Britannia, he could grow up to be a knight like Lelouch's mother.

Once, while watching his back as he cautions him of the unruly forest path, he even fancied the thought of making him his personal knight.

But in the next moment, Suzaku is a sheltered child again, pouting with his arms drooping like a wilted sunflower.

"It's just that... If my family name is what's important, then how can you possibly trust me, Lelouch? How can I make it up to you and Nunally if not for my actions?"

Lelouch gapes at him. He somehow lands his conclusion there? "That's different! You're different."

"Am I?" He sounds so skeptical Lelouch becomes a bit nervous. Suzaku is his one and only friend. The thought that he feels mistrusted and needing to do more for Lelouch when he has done more than he is deserving of unsettles him. So much that it's urgent to correct him.

"You are! That's not something you even have to doubt!"

Suzaku is startled. Lelouch has a weak constitution. He argues (rather vehemently) he's only weak in comparison to Suzaku. Suzaku barely manages to stop himself that Nunnally has whispered to him otherwise and made to swear not to tell her brother. Yet for someone who is easily overpowered by little girls younger than him, Lelouch speaks with a voice as strong and resolute asn an adult.

Lelouch looks down, reevaluating his previous thoughts. "You're like my mother."

Suzaku's back straightens, unable to reply. Lelouch's mom is one of the emperor's many wives, but she alone is a commoner and one of his precious elite knights. Just by comparing him to his mom, he already knows there can be no greater honor than it.

But like Suzaku's own mom, Lelouch's mom has also passed.

"As you know, she's not nobility. She didn't play by the court's rules, but she didn't create trouble even when openly mocked by other nobles. The one time she did though - " A smile creeps up to Lelouch's lips automatically - "is when Nunnally and I became the target of ridicule. She stood up for us in the flashiest way possible."

Suzaku knows of this story. It never fails to lift up the spirits of the two siblings.

"She's your mom though."

"And?" Lelouch strikes back. "You're my friend."

Suzaku grins. "I just realized. The way you and Nunnally talk about your mom, it sounds like she was a hero to you two."

"Yeah." Lelouch's sharp eyes soften. "The Prime Minister..."

Suzaku stiffens.

"I know you look up to him. You don't have to be considerate for my sake. That's how it's supposed to be, isn't it? Our parents... They're supposed to be a hero to their children, protecting them from the dangers of the world."

"Yeah," says Suzaku softly, an ache in his chest throbbing at the exiled prince's bitter look. "That's right. Parents are supposed to be like that."