A/N: I was completely besotted with the Suzaku/Lelouch pairing after I finished watching CG:R2. And since our topic for school that day is about the various awards in showbiz, I decided that 'why the hell not throw it together?' And this became the result. This is AU, of course, but also a different kind of AU compared to our world because I have no idea how the Oscars or the Academy Awards work. I know that this had been tried of many times now but I just wanted to make a shot at this angle of writing.
Summary: Seventeen year old Lelouch Lamperouge-Vi Brittannia, winner of the Best Actor award, finds himself in a series with his whole family. What he didn't figure into the equation was Kururugi Suzaku. Sparks on...and off-screen will begin to fly. AU.
Warnings: AU and Shounen-ai (boy on boy love). No flames and don't like, don't read.
Onscreen and Offscreen
Chapter 1: A New Series
Lelouch Vi Brittannia woke up to the pounding of the door. He groaned, burying himself more in the warm sheets of his bed, but the insistent knocking on his damned door wasn't really helping him wander back to dream land. Sunlight was streaming through his closed eyelids, and his head throbbed with a familiar ache that told him that it was morning and he had drunk himself to death last night before crashing back to his apartment and getting his much deserved sleep, which was for about three hours only, and welcomed by the onslaught of the rapping sound on his door and a raging hangover.
The irritating sound continued to persist like a jackhammer sledging itself to his brain - he shuddered at the image - and Lelouch moved feebly to get out of the bed, staggering on to his feet with an irritated snarl. Whoever is beside that door had the freaking balls to wake him up, and Lelouch was trying to think of ways to do bodily harm to the person who disturbed his slumber. Him! The winner of the -
He stopped, trying to process the thought that went through his mind. Suddenly, vivid recollections from the night before flashed through his brain. Yesterday evening. Winner of the Academy Award. Best Actor. Lelouch Vi Brittannia.
He won the Award.
He won the Award.
He won THE Award.
The realization of this not-quite-small fact was interrupted again with the pounding of the door, now louder and more impatient. Still not quite recovered from the shock that placed a firm grip on him, he only stared dazedly at his abused door. He was the youngest actor that won the Academy Award for Best Actor at the age of seventeen. And there was a mob of paparazzi waiting from him at the threshold of his apartment. Just lovely.
But then he realized that there was a little hole in his door that can be used for a little peeking. Feeling like an idiot, he approached the source of the sound. It could be just anybody. It might be his mother who wants to speak to him for something very important. Usually she would let him sleep until noon because at his line of work, it was very rare to get some quality of rest. But she did have some certain authority over him, being the person who bore him, of course. Or maybe it was someone from the award committee who would tell him that they made a mistake and the award wasn't really for him. Talk about a bad way to start the morning.
Armed with that dismally depressing thought, he dragged his feet to his doorstep and peered into the peephole. A very familiar face was glaring at him, or rather, at his door, and he sighed deeply, feeling his headache increase tenfold. At least it wasn't anyone telling him at they were taking his award away, but what on earth had possessed her to be in front of his apartment at this hour of the morning? Technically, she should be as tired as he was, since both of them were partying together, (with great reluctance in Lelouch's part) with the prominent faces in showbiz business. But when she forced an ample amount of booze in his system, well, let's just say that the people who was present will never forget the sight of the cool, level-headed Lelouch acting very, very high, and very very smashed. But so far, no one had mentioned anything, not to their faces at least, so they just carried on.
After all, they did won the Award.
The continued rapping of the door unpleasantly reminded him that she was still outside and Lelouch quickly unlocked his dying door to reveal a female just around his age. Before he could open his mouth to ask why the hell was she here, the girl quickly fired her own question first her golden eyes shooting daggers at the amethyst-eyed teen.
"Why did you turn off your doorbell?" The tone was calm, but knowing her so well, Lelouch knew she was anything but. His irritation at being woken up so early returned full force and he returned the glare with one of his own.
"Because I want to sleep until the sun sets on me, that's why." He snapped back. "I'm tired and I have a hangover from hell, so can you please tell me what the fuck you want so I can kick you out of my apartment and return to my dreamland."
In a split second, he was almost sure she would snap back at him, but instead her face broke into a grin and peals of laughter followed. He winced as the sound further increased the pain of his already painful headache. Lelouch sighed, collecting himself before he finally lost it and strangled the girl in front of him.
"C.C...." He said dangerously, putting every single warning in every degree in his tone that he could muster in his still half-drunken, half-sober state. "What the fucking hell do you want?"
"You do look like shit, Lulu." She looked way too amused in his darkening mood, which reminded him that he slept in his tuxedo last night. He gave her one last warning glare, noting of her use of his nickname.
"C.C., if you came here just to piss me off I swear to God-"
"I'm just saying, Lulu." She interrupted his words, a note of mirth clearly heard in her tone. "Anyway, change your clothes, Lulu. We're celebrating. And not one step into the bed, Lulu, you hear me?"
This was the worst hangover he had in his entire life. Well, not that he experienced that many, but you get the point. "Wasn't last night no, this morning enough celebrating already?" He asked in disbelief.
"I won the Award, Lelouch. I think I have the privilege of being a little high." C.C. pointed out a little offhandedly.
"And I think I have the privilege of sleeping!" He grouched out crossly. "We were out partying until five in the freaking morning! And it's now what?" He paused to briefly look at the time, "Eight in the morning!!!"
"Oh, details!" She waved her hand cheerfully and pushed him inside, inevitably inviting herself in. He growled and opened his mouth to protest, but as usual, the words died in his throat. He could never properly go against C.C. (not even if his life depended on it) who was currently the best actress of the year. Trying to wrangle his irritation under control, he followed her to his bar slash kitchen and took a seat on one of the taller stools as she busied herself with coffee mugs and coffee beans, while taking to his phone, placing an order of 5 mega-family size pizzas. He groaned, he might be well off, but when C.C. is involved in his financial equation, he had no doubt that he would become poor in a month's time.
"Celebrate, how?" He questioned the green-haired girl, letting the frustration seep into his voice as C.C. started to hum a merry tune. For someone who has just slept for about three-and-a-half hours at best, she was positively blooming. But C.C. has been like that, Lelouch reminded himself. Her latest movie, a sad story featuring a young girl who wanted to be loved my others and found herself loved immensely by many because of mysterious power that made her immortal shocked everyone, especially those who knew her personally and was familiar with her previous roles in the industry. Lelouch knew that to be an actress is to be flexible in any role that she was assigned to and grudgingly admitted that she is one of the best, but he was still amazed on how C.C. managed to play her role perfectly, which was definitely something, since Lelouch didn't pay attention to other actors much. No one would believe that the sad, broken girl in the movie was actually a person with a fun-loving character. She definitely deserved the Best Actress Award.
C.C. stopped in the middle of her coffee-making and rushed quickly to the door, having heard the knock on the door that signified her beloved pizzas have, indeed, arrived. Lelouch resisted rolling his eyes. She appeared moments later, carrying a stack of boxes while already eating a slice herself. How she could do that was beyond Lelouch's ability to comprehend.
She dropped the boxes on the counter and threw him a dry look. "Check your phone now and you'll find out that we left you with thousands of messages. But the point is, Charles and Marianne wants us to spend time with them and the twins."
At the explanation, Lelouch wanted to heave another sigh but decided not to. He hasn't spent much time with his family after the big projects that were given to both to them one after the other. Their family was glad for them, especially Nunnally and Rolo, but Lelouch wasn't that close to his family, save for his younger siblings. But still.
His father, Charles zi Brittannia, was a legendary director with many successful movies, ten of which were blockbusters, five were Oscar nominees and three of them as the Best Picture and he as the Best Director, with the last of the Best Picture and the latter awarded last night. His mother, Marianne Lamperouge-Vi Britannia, on the other hand, was a fashion designer who specializes in movie costume making. Both were in the top of their fields, which was probably the reason they pushed through with a divorce when the twins were two years old, her first, his fifth. Lelouch knew, his father being the shameless womanizer that he was, that he has many scattered relatives in the industry, mainly half-brothers and sisters. But as a child he paid this no heed, content with living with his beautiful mother and his twin siblings, with Marianne winning their custody. As a result, his dropped his last name and adopted his mother's maiden name, thus becoming Lelouch Lamperouge.
How C.C. came into the picture was when their family met again for a second time. Charles, during another shooting for a box office hit, was devastated at the 'bland, tasteless designs' that the costume designers made, finally acknowledged that he needed the help of his ex-wife. This did not happen in a day, as Marianne was still in second thoughts about her ex-husband's proposal of another joint project, and the fact that when Charles zi Brittannia entered their life for a second time, he brought a green-haired, golden-eyed girl about the same age as Lelouch with him.
C.C. wasn't her real name. She refused to tell them her real name because she hated her father who named her. V.V., her father (not really his real name, but C.C. only called him as such), was actually Charles' older brother and Lelouch's uncle. Lelouch didn't know how his father managed to gain C.C.'s (his cousin now) custody, but nevertheless, she was accepted as the part of the family. She became his not-really-but-now-is sister.
But still, as it was stated above, the remarriage wasn't done immediately, since it was mainly their egos that separated them years ago, with Charles' pride mainly at stake. It was with the help of the children that Charles finally swallowed his pride and remarried Marianne three years afterward, which restored Lelouch's last name, Vi Brittannia, and making C.C. a Vi Brittannia as well, as Charles and Marianne decided to formally and legally adopt her into the family.
Lelouch never regretted the decision that he made when he chose to make his family whole again. His mother was happier, and his younger siblings were safer. But sometimes he wished that his father wasn't that famous. Or brilliant. In their world, where jealousy and scandal ran rampant, he heard too many snide comments about his acting and his heritage. He could only imagine what was it like for C.C., who was not a Brittannian by blood, and the fact that she was under his father's silhouette for the three years they've been apart.
Sparing a glance at his cousin-slash-stepsister-slash-best friend, Lelouch couldn't help but quirk a smile, his irritation slowly dissipating. For him, C.C. was a genuine miracle. From the moment he was born, he was already subjected to the life of show business, which he didn't like at all and was frequently lonely during his taping sessions, having no one to talk to, since he wasn't close to his older half-siblings at all. When she arrived, he was surprised on how easily they 'clicked' with each other. Sure, she was draining his bank account with her buying pizzas faster than he could count and she made it her personal mission to piss him off at any time of the day, but never really had any serious disagreements with each other. It was C.C. who inspired him to be an actor, and was subjected many times to humiliation on C.C.'s part, since he really can't hide anything from her, as was proven when she found out about his crush in middle school. He stifled a chuckle. Maybe C.C. was his real biological sister in their past life.
"You'll hear this from Charles later, but I might as well tell you now." She started suddenly, looking away from her brewing coffee and locking eyes with her stepbrother with a I-have-a-secret-I-know-and-you-don't look. C.C., Lelouch knew, was very good with keeping secrets, and when she's going to reveal one, she definitely knows how to heighten the suspense.
Lelouch decided to take the bait. "What?"
C.C. stared at him for a long moment, her eyes thoughtful, before taking a slice of pizza and eating it, before saying slowly, "He'll ask you to play in another film."
It certainly what he wasn't expecting to hear. His mouth pulled into a frown, not quite getting the whole picture. "You know my policy, C.C. I will not play in any of his films, not now and not never. And I thought you agreed with me on that."
Clearly dismissing his refusal, she gave him a petulant look and added, "I'll be playing in it too."
This time, he was more surprised to learn about that. "What?"
"Lulu, you didn't even ask me what kind of film it will be." She remarked with a wide smile.
It was clear to all that he didn't, but when seeing the pleased look on his stepsister's face, it shouldn't be that hard to guess. He racked his still non-functioning brain and the answer came to him as clear as day. "The summer series?" He asked incredulously.
"Bull's eye, Lulu." Her smile had become a blown-out smirk, and a cup of steaming black coffee was offered to him. He took it gratefully, careful not to show how pleased he was with the arrival of his caffeine. "Get that brain of yours to wake up and listen to me. Charles was offered to be the director of the greatest series ever to made in the history of filming and he wants you to be in it. And I'm not gonna believe in the bullshit that you don't want this role. So tell me honestly Lulu, are you interested?"
Lelouch had to try his best not to snort in his coffee at this point in time. "He's the director and he wants us in it? What is he trying to make? The Britannia family project?"
The look on C.C's face told him that wasn't the worst part of it. "Guess what our roles would be?"
"Let me guess, a prince exiled to another country because he offended his father and when the said father conquered the said country he's going to rebel with a power an immortal girl gave him?" Lelouch asked sarcastically.
Her jaw dropped with surprise written clearly on her features. "How did you know that?"
Equally shocked, Lelouch found his jaw dropping as well. "Are you serious? That's our roles?! Is he crazy?!"
"Maybe. He's your father after all," She replied with a smile. "But as far your guess goes, you're right. And shut it, I'm not finished," she interrupted when he made to open his mouth again. "Think about it, Lelouch. People would literally kill to even be an extra in the series and you have the shining chance to have the lead role in the cast and you're having doubts about it. I know that you're smart Lelouch, but please, use your common sense this time."
That last bit of information further heightened his skepticism. "I'm going to be the main character of the biggest and most historical series ever made by my own father?"
"Lelouch, don't forget that you've won the Academy." C.C. replied with a hint of impatience in her voice. "It wasn't given to you on a mistake, or on a whim. And it just so happened that Charles, you and me won that night and he wants this project the best one he's ever had. And we, the greatest people worthy of such a role, are a family."
Lelouch didn't say anything, his eyes focused on the rising steam from his coffee. C.C. was right in a couple of points. He would be the envy of any male actor that lived in this earth. The summer series - as it was called as it usually starts at the last week of May every year - is one of the most famous and high-classed films ever made, considering the set budget (usually in billions of dollars) given for the production and filming. It was the only series that was sponsored by the three most powerful corporations in the world (The Brittannian Empire, the Chinese Federation, and the European Union), which almost definitely ensured instant popularity and with a sky-is-a-limit amount of money that would cater to the director's any desire and whim. Working in this project would have many perks, which includes a salary that would be equal to what he made in five years and an almost god-like status in the entertainment world.
But, as with any major project, it has a dangerous setback. If he was unable to live up with the director's expectations, which in this case, was his legendary perfectionist of a father, or to fail the executive board examination, it would mean the instant death of his career. This was something he had to use the most cautious of considerations. He didn't doubt his ability to act, not one bit. But there are other factors to be considered in what makes a good actor. And he didn't forget to mention the snide whispers that would appear at his and C.C.'s acceptance of the role. What if the series' popularity dropped because of them?
"You're actually worried of what others would think." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
He gave her an equally cool and contemplative gaze. "And you aren't?"
"I'm not. That's why we moved out of the villa in the first place, right?" She asked casually. "Don't you want this role?"
"Of course I do." He admitted grudgingly. "IF it suits me."
C.C. resisted rolling her eyes. "What makes you think that Charles would give you something that doesn't suit you? If he says that it's your role, then you're great for it. Charles isn't a legendary director for nothing."
"I know." Lelouch couldn't help but smirk a bit at how C.C. defended his father's honor. Truthfully, it has been ten years since their parents remarried and C.C. wasn't even his father's true daughter. Both parents loved their children equally but Lelouch was always the mama's boy and C.C. would always be the daddy's girl. When it came to who knew the other better, the answer was clearly obvious.
Killing off another slice of pizza, C.C. regarded him with a determined gleam in her eyes. "If you're so worried Lulu, then let's shut anybody up who dares question the roles that we have. We're going to do our roles so goddamn good that we're going to rub their faces in the dirt afterward. I know I can, Lulu, but the question is, can you do it too?"
It was clearly a challenge for him. And hell be damned, he wasn't Lelouch Lamperouge-Vi Brittannia if he's going to back out now. But he tried his best not to succumb to the temptation behind this stepsister's words - the caffeine in his system's at fault, and probably her own provocation too. He gulped a large amount of coffee, only half-conscious of the fact that C.C. was almost ready to snap his neck in half. If he were to listen to himself, he already knew what his answer is going to be. C.C. was a Best Actress awardee and he was the youngest Best Actor that ever lived. He could do this. No, scratch that. They're going to do this so perfectly that even their father would cry tears of joy.
There is, however, one last thing he had to ask. He captured her golden eyes with his own amethyst. "You know that this path is hard to take. Are you ready, C.C.?"
"Of course." She snorted, but her eyes were soft and bright. "A lot of people won't like it, but let's shove their words inside their asses. We can do it. And besides," she added bemusedly, "This is the first time that I'm going to work with the whole Brittannia family. I really wanted to act against the family who was said to have drama in their veins."
"Fine, fine." He rolled his eyes at the last statement, thus proving her words right and up to the point. "You'll get my answer after I see the script."
"Oh, for the love of God, Lulu!" She sighed in exasperation, mildly annoyed that her idiotic but still genius stepbrother for not making his mind up yet. "Remember that I'll maim you if you refuse."
He only smirked and chuckled at her response. It was most likely that he'll say yes, if only to repay his debt to her. When he was still Lelouch Lamperouge he had always marveled at the sight of pretty actresses and handsome actors whenever his mother would work on a project with them. It had always felt to surreal that he was so near to them, and yet couldn't find any interest in acting just like they did. But when C.C. managed to enter his life, he was suddenly entered into the world of bright colors and enchanting sounds, that there was an unexplainable thrill to play a person altogether different and detached from you, but at the same time, so similar and whole. It was C.C. who gave him the reason to act. Seeing her star in her first movie was the start of everything.
The path they chose was exhausting and painful, but for the mentor who taught him the beauty of the stage, it was the least he could do for her.
"You're thinking about me, aren't you?" Her amused voice cut his thoughts, and he looked at her, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Winning the Best Actress Award doesn't entitle you to hit on your own stepbrother." He answered dryly, trying his best to neutralize his expression. There was no way in hell that he would admit to that.
She laughed outright at his ridiculous poker face expression. "How original, but no thank you, I'm not the one for incest, Lelouch." She sniggered. "And before I forget, Marianne is doing the wardrobe."
"How very surprising." His voice screamed sarcasm. "Can you please enlighten me more by damaging my already unstable mental health?"
"You want shock? Fine." She grinned full force. "I'm gonna be your leading lady, Lulu."
Now that was enough ammunition for a nuclear-sized C-4 shock bomb. It took a couple of minutes to get through Lelouch's ears, and inevitably, into his system. Lelouch was suddenly reminded of the main reason why he didn't want to be in this film.
"WHAT?!?!"
She raised her hands in a 'don't-blame-me' gesture. "Charles, apparently, wanted to show some family incest in his work."
"Great, just great! I have a psychotic father who has a sick fetish for incest love! Now I know why I don't want to do this series in the first place!"
"Oh please, stop being such a drama queen Lelouch. Although it suits you perfectly." She added as an afterthought. "And anyway, we're not related by blood, so technically it isn't incest. There is a kissing scene, though." She interrupted again when Lelouch opened his mouth. "Think of it this way, Lulu. Who would you rather kiss: me, or you brother Schenizel?"
Lelouch shuddered violently at the thought of his blond, older half-brother even coming close to his lips. He would take kissing C.C. any day... even if thought of it slightly disgusted him. Not that he would admit it, to her, anyway.
"So? Who are the others?" He asked casually, trying his best to change the subject. Thankfully, C.C. didn't pursue the subject further. "Next on the list is Kallen Kouzuki."
"Kallen?" Lelouch repeated, his headache slowly coming back with ten times more intensity than the last time. "Your best friend who is more of a dyke despite her big boobs? I'm beginning to think that Charles is doing this for his own sadistic pleasure." Groaning, he let his head fall to the countertop.
"He said that Kallen is perfect for the part she has to play. And you forget, she's a good actress." C.C. replied casually. "She'll be another one of your girls, together with me. We'll be quite many, I'm afraid."
"And? Who else is going to be one of my 'girls'?" Lelouch grimaced at the term. "Shirley Fenette, I hear." C.C. informed him, discarding a now empty pizza box. Finally! A girl that wouldn't make him bang his head at any solid surface if her name was mentioned. Shirley Fenette was a passable actress, but Lelouch believed that she has the potential to be one of the greatest. If only she would remove that damned blush every time she saw him...
"And? That's all?" Lelouch asked with the air of cool disinterest that he perfected over the years. "Oh, not at all, Lulu. The best has yet to come." C.C. told him with a seemingly innocent smile. She was a good actress, indeed.
"What? Don't tell me that I'm making a harem." Lelouch snorted.
"Close, my brother, but not quite." C.C. winked in response. "Your character, the ever dashing rebellious prince, has his share of many beautiful women. But the person who noticed him most of all was his best-friend-slash-rival-slash-secret-love-interest."
"Tell me, C.C., would every girl in the series eventually fall in love with me?" Lelouch deadpanned with a roll of his eyes.
"Of course not. You half-siblings are going to be in it, after all. Imagine Cornelia falling in love with you." C.C. suggested with a smirk.
"She'll most likely dismember me first." He muttered in response. "So it is a Brittannia family project, am I right?" He asked with a perfectly arched eyebrow.
"Bingo, Lulu." She answered with indifference. "Even Nunnally and Rolo are gonna be in it." At the mention of the frail, sickly twins made Lelouch frown. "Are you sure? Nunnally and Rolo might get sick during the tapings."
"Charles requested the whole family to join in, with you, of course, as the main star." Lelouch leaned back with a sigh, taking another sip of his lukewarm coffee. He's going to raise hell for including his younger siblings into this. "Anything else?"
"Back on the topic of your best-friend-slash-lover-slash-love-interest, as I said, your guess was close, but not quite." She continued. "Because this time, it's a male."
A guy? Lelouch's brow furrowed at the thought. He gave C.C. a puzzled look. "You did say love interest, right?"
To his alarm, C.C. suddenly giggled. He gazed at her cautiously, because C.C. isn't remotely girly. She does not giggle, she smirks. And only thing that would make her giggle is if and when she was on screen or in front of a camera. "You'll see what I mean if you read the script." She smirked at him, pointedly ignoring his strange expression. "Well, Charles is always a sadist when it comes to you, Lulu."
Too true, he grumbled, giving her a look but choosing not to comment on his father's apparent sadism. "And who's going to play this secret love interest of mine?"
C.C. Vi Britannia didn't answer but stared at her stepbrother long and hard, her golden eyes sparkling with excitement. Lelouch stared at her for a while, waiting for the girl to end the suspense and tell him. But seeing the gleam in her eyes, Lelouch felt like a thousand bricks decided to land on him. Only a very few things could put that kind of emotion in her eyes, a couple of them being pizza and Lelouch himself when he was extremely embarrassed or making an ass out of himself. But he forgot one very important thing about C.C.: she knew his secrets well and would not hesitate at all to use it for her own entertainment.
"No. Way." His eyes were wide in shock and he felt the color drain out of his face.
"Yes way, dear Lulu." She replied calmly, but Lelouch knew she was shrieking with laughter inside.
"That's... that's impossible! I mean, he lives all the way to Japan! He can't possibly come here and..." The words dwindled away and C.C. was close to combusting with laughter. "I'll give you a hint, Lu." She was enjoying herself very much. Sadist bitch.
"You beat him for Best Actor last night."
Lelouch felt his heat stop beating. He was feeling so nauseous, and fear gripped his heart. C.C. had better not joke about this because she knew just how much he wanted to meet that person. No, not just meet, but really know, not just shaking that person's larger and warmer hand when he was called to the stage last night. He was fairly certain that April first had passed already. He had to check his calendar to see if the current month isn't December. There was just no freaking way that he was that lucky and his birthday present had come earlier than usual.
"...Kururugi?" He whispered, finally having the voice - and the courage, to ask.
"The one and only, Lelouch." C.C. nodded, still amused but in a tone so sincere that it left no room for doubt. Lelouch sat frozen, mind incoherent as his tried to process the fact that he was going to act with the very same guy who appeared to them five years ago and never left Lelouch's mind ever since.
Kururugi...Suzaku.
"Now then, Lelouch," C.C. asked with a thoughtful look on her face. "Are you in or out?"
Interesting, right? What will be Lulu's answer to this? Leave a review! :D