A/N This is the first fic i've ever seriously made. As i do not have a beta, expect a few grammatical errors. Its not that bad though.

Disclaimer: Athenaswings does not own code geass or its characters.

Note: This story has been edited, thanks to the suggestions of some reviewers. Thank you very much!

Lelouch Vi Britannia was a murderer, a tyrant. Lelouch Vi Britannia was nothing more than a dictator set to control the world. Lelouch Vi Britannia was a lie. A complex, elaborate lie, a lie which everyone bought, a lie that almost no one could see through.

He was the devil, and every one knew who he was.

Zero was a symbol, a protector. Zero was the one who brought peace to the world. Zero was a mask, a hard and impenetrable mask. A mask no one bothered to remove.

He was the black angel, and was renowned throughout the world.

Lelouch Lamperouge was a brother, a friend. Lelouch lamperouge was the lazy but intelligent student, known to have mastered the art of sleeping in class while never getting caught. Lelouch Lamperouge was the protective older brother, who would do anything to keep his sister happy. He was the person behind the mask, behind the lies.

He was the truth, and very few knew him.

A single tear dropped down Suzaku Kurunugi's cheek, followed by another, and another. The entire world cried that day, cried with tears of joy, happy that the dictator was finally dead. Suzaku cried for a different reason. He cried for his best friend, his emperor, and his brother. Because if Suzaku didn't cry, then who would? Nunnuly? Lelouch hated it when she cried. Jeremiah? Maybe, but Lelouch wouldn't want him to. Rolo? He was dead, he died for Lelouch. Shirley? She's dead, Rolo killed her. Kallen? Lelouch didn't confide in her. C.C. she could, but as well as she knew Lelouch, she wasn't there during his execution. Wasn't the one who Lelouch gave the sword to, the sword that was meant to end his own life. Nina? She knew, along with Loyd and Cecile, but she was never close to him. Milly? Rivalz? They didn't know the real story. The Black Knights? They knew even less, though maybe some of them figured it out in the end. The world? Yeah right

Lelouch had the tendency to bottle up his emotions, to never show it, to forcefully stop his tears. Lelouch rarely cried, not even for himself. If Lelouch won't cry, then who would? Suzaku. It was Suzaku who Lelouch acknowledged as his first and best friend. It was to Suzaku that Lelouch vowed to destroy Britannia. It was Suzaku who took the bullet for Lelouch back at the Shijuku ghetto. It was Suzaku who Lelouch's ideals clashed with during the battles. It was Suzaku's Princess that Lelouch killed. It was Suzaku who was with Lelouch when he killed both the emperor and his own mother. It was Suzaku who Leouch planned with. It was Suzaku who brought down the sword that took Lelouch's life.

The world will only remember Lelouch vi Britannia, The black knights will only remember Zero, The student council will only remember Lelouch Lamperouge and Nunnuly will only remember her brother. Suzaku alone would remember all three. The lie, The mask, and the person behind them. I say a person, not a persona, not a figure, not a symbol. A person. The person who, with all his flaws and mistakes, tried to save everyone. The one offered as the sacrificial lamb.

During the final execution of the zero requirm, Suzaku cried, so that Lelouch wouldn't have to.

Suzaku cried, so that Lelouch could at least die smiling.

He deserved that much.