A/N: Haha! 😅 I think everyone can tell that I'm writing the requests in random order. Like, I write for the story where inspiration strikes. So trust me when I say, I have stories that are half-written (& in-progress) littered everywhere xD That includes other requests, & the Part 2 to Five O' Clock.
Anywaaaayyys~ This one is for Anon #5. I'm sorry it took me so long.
Request:
Can I request a fanfic where Lelouch and CC are childhood friends that turned out to be Lovers?
Part 1: Eight Years
Entranced, curious golden eyes peered up at the foliage swaying in the breeze above hers and her best friend's heads. Through the tiny gaps between the leaves, the gentle rays of the afternoon sun shone through and made her squint. It was the perfect distraction for her tendency to overthink in silence.
"Do you think I'll do well?"
Came the sheepish question she didn't know she'd been waiting for. The query also reminded her of the current situation that she very much preferred to sweep under the rug.
Her best friend was moving… And it wasn't just moving to a different house in a different area in the city. No, he was moving to a different state. A place she couldn't quite reach yet what with all the expensive plane tickets. She didn't fear the distance so much as she feared losing the only true friend she'd known since she was five and he was eight.
She just didn't want to face the reality of a coming school year without him. It just wouldn't be the same.
"C.C.?"
Conflicted, she forced a smile into her face nonetheless. Lelouch didn't like it when she was upset. "You'll be fine."
Silence followed her curt answer. She didn't know what else to say at the moment, and she was expecting him to say something, considering how he wouldn't shut up about Britannia Entertainment for the past few months. She never liked entertaining the possibility of him moving away, because that was what it meant for people who wanted to be a part of the scary entertainment industry. Perhaps it was childish naivety that drove her to deny the inevitable. His own sister (and C.C.'s classmate, Nunnally) didn't shy away from the idea of being separated from her older brother. So what right did C.C. have to beg him to stay?
Not that she was going too, of course…
"C.C., are you all right? You're really spacing out today."
His voice broke through her reveries once again. She couldn't bear the expectant way he looked at her, and finally cracked.
"How long will you be staying in Britannia then?"
He smiled a little, as if he could read her mind and knew what had her so worried. "I don't know, to be honest. Indefinitely." He caught the subtle wilt of her shoulders and made to comfort her. "That doesn't mean I won't come home to Camelot once in a while."
It was going to be hard… Not just for their friendship, but for him, personally. Lelouch wanted to be a music producer, and he was venturing out into the capital to finish his formal education and his dreams. C.C. knew that he was going to be very busy. And perhaps it was selfish to think about how he might eventually forget her, but she couldn't help herself.
She'd met him, first, as Nunnally's older brother, and then looked up to him as a role model, and then eventually, a friend. A very close friend. Yes, she got along well with Nunnally (they were classmates, for crying out loud), and their group of friends in their grade. Margaret was fun, and so was Kaguya, and the others, but C.C. had always wandered away — finding solace in Lelouch's stories and genuinely intrigued with the way his mind worked. He always had the most interesting opinions, and C.C. had gravitated to him like a moth to a flame. They shared plenty of similarities as well, in spite of the three-year gap between them.
Yes, it would be weird to not see Lelouch in the same middle school. It would be a little weird walking home without Lelouch to her left while Nunnally and her other friends walked to her right. No more sleepovers and book-reading parties. No more listening to his dumb puns and shitty jokes.
Lelouch noticed her silence and her pensive attitude, and sought for a way to make it better. Not that anything he would say would change the fact that he was moving away in a fortnight.
C.C. flinched when a hand alighted on her shoulder, turning to the owner of the hand to witness her best friend's easy and comforting smile. That smile will win millions of hearts one day. She didn't doubt his capabilities at all.
"Wait for me every Christmas, C.C." He patted her head — an action she made a face at and went to swat away. "I'll visit every time my new schedule permits it. Aunt Victoria won't say 'no.'"
He sounded so sure of himself, it was actually quite nice. Skepticism clouded what should have been enthusiasm, but nevertheless, she was happy for him. He was reaching for what others perceived to be an impossible dream. So she wished him the best.
"Aren't you hungry?" He asked casually.
"Yes for pizza, but my feet hurt."
"Why?"
She shrugged and flashed him a mischievous smile. "I can't walk, Lelouch."
Wanting to argue, but honestly not in the mood, Lelouch gave a resigned sigh and crouched low enough to present his back to her. She grinned and got on his back, arms sliding comfortably around his neck.
"You know that I know you're lying, right?"
"Mhmm..." She nodded and agreed happily, nestling her chin onto his slightly hunched shoulders. "But you like carrying me anyway."
One of her last piggy-back rides, now that she thought about it.
=OoOoO=
The steady drip-drip of coffee onto the pot should have aroused a sense of security and comfort in him. But none of it really mattered. The distinct aroma of the high-end — and hopefully exclusive — cafe did little to dispel Lelouch Lamperouge's anxiety. On the contrary, it only climbed higher after he dared to step out of his hotel room to grab an 8AM caffeine buzz.
Keeping his head low, face shadowed by the black newsboy cap, Lelouch pretended to be engrossed in the morning paper.
Really, he was just doing his best to avoid the rather obvious gawking by someone he presumed to be one of his so-called 'fans.'
Reading the same line for what felt like the twentieth time, Lelouch dearly hoped he could snag a moment of normalcy. It was his half-day off, after all. He wished this fan (or fans, he wasn't sure about the numbers, but he could feel their stares) would be sensible enough and choose to give him his personal space. He could accommodate them well enough on official meet-ups or at concerts, but not here, please. And not now… Not when he wanted to pretend he could lead a normal life.
"Hi, excuse me. Are you… Lelouch Lamperouge?"
Damn it...
"I'm really sorry about intruding, but I'm such a fan, and I was hoping you could get these merch signed, and—"
In spite of how uncomfortable he felt as the redhead drawled on and on and squealed every so often — trinkets and merch piling up on the table at an alarming rate, Lelouch was helpless, and could do nothing but smile. But hey at least she was alone, right?
Just a few autographs to sign, and then he could leave.
"Oh, and my friends over there want to meet you too. This is so cool!"
Well, shit…
He dared to glance over her shoulder, towards the two women she'd gestured towards. The duo didn't look like they were paying him any attention. On the contrary, her friends looked like they were in their own little world, huddled at a corner booth, laughing at some story they shared. And straight up oblivious to the redheaded girl who had cheerily approached him for memorabilia.
But one of them caught his eye… And it wasn't because of the green hair.
No, it— She looked so familiar… Did he know her?
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." He remarked quietly, unintentionally interrupting his fan who had been telling him about how much she loved Code Noire's latest album.
"Oh right. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name's Shirley! Nice to meet 'cha!"
Shirley… A fitting name for a bubbly girl. He signed her Code Noire merchandise quickly; all the while, doing his best to push away his urge to ask Shirley about her friends, and why the green-haired woman looked so familiar to him. He couldn't stop glancing at her every once in a while — confused but fascinated.
He knew her from somewhere…
"And your friends?"
"Oh my gosh." Shirley half-squealed, half-gasped and blushed quite heavily. "They would be so hyped to meet you."
Lelouch doubted that, judging from her friends' lack of enthusiasm. But he let her ramble. Part of him felt a little awful too, for using one of his fans' excitement to his advantage. This was the excuse he needed if he wanted to speak with that familiar girl. As discreetly as possible, Shirley politely but giddily led him to the booth where the woman with green hair and another redhead sat, speaking to one another in hushed tones.
Brimming with barely contained energy, Shirley skipped over to them — calling for C.C. and Kallen — and proudly whispered about how they wouldn't guess who she'd just run into.
C.C… The name struck a familiar chord somewhere, clanging at the back of his head.
C.C… C.C…
Responding to Shirley's coaxing, C.C. looked up at them both, fixing vibrant golden eyes his way.
And for the first time in a long while, Lelouch didn't know what to say.
=OoOoO=
"I'm not in the mood to be in a cafe at this hour."
C.C. listened to Kallen lament and groan. She buried her face into her arms and pushed the plate of chocolate croissants away from her. "You're never in the mood for a cafe." C.C. pointed out.
Muffled laughter answered C.C.'s nonchalant remark. "I hate sweets for breakfast." She reminded her friend, wrinkling her face at how C.C devoured two fruit tarts. "Why are we here again?"
"Because this is Code Noire's lead guitarist's favorite cafe chain, apparently." C.C. shrugged, recalling Shirley's excited rambling from this morning. "Shirley wanted to try his recommended order."
They loved Shirley, but her love for Code Noire was downright too much sometimes. She listened to every song on every album at full blast, had official merchandise in her room back home, and preached about the brilliance and masterful art of Code Noire's lyrics and musical arrangement. Kallen, who never had an inkling of the band in the first place, now knew all of the members' names including their likes and dislikes in under a month; all thanks to Shirley.
C.C. didn't mind the fangirling all that much… She couldn't blame Shirley. She honestly just didn't know what to make of it. She would be a fangirl too — if they were complete strangers to her.
But they weren't. It was a little odd to see the face of a childhood friend on posters, album covers, and promotional material for various brands. Airbrushed to perfection and accented with light makeup, this boy she once knew with his band members looked somewhat like how you would imagine gods to be in popular mythology. Britannia Entertainment obviously chose Akito Hyuga, Yukiya Naruse, Suzaku Kururugi, Leila Malcal, and Lelouch Lamperouge for a reason. And that reason was easily personified in the rapidly growing number of fans.
"Speaking of Shirley, she's bringing a stranger our way..." Kallen shrugged, finishing her glass of water.
"C.C., Kallen!" Her high voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper as the capped stranger slowly tailed her. "You'll never guess who's here."
Kallen snorted. "Is it anyone from Code Noire?"
It was a joke… Because that was all Shirley would ever talk about these days. But shit! She was right on the nose.
Shirley stifled a half-squeal as she enthusiastically nodded, 'Yes.'
Well this was unbelievable… Unexpected and not short of surprising.
"I knoooww~" Shirley half-whispered, half-gasped with wide eyes. Her reaction to C.C.'s bewildered face.
Of all the people to run into. Shirley was somehow lucky enough to meet Lelouch Lamperouge in the flesh.
He flashed them a friendly smile, probably unsure of what to make of Kallen's shell-shocked expression, and C.C.'s own perplexed face.
He had changed a lot, to say the least. Of course, C.C. had seen his face along with four others in various promotional materials and on TV screens. But seeing the changes in person after all these years was...different. Striking. And it drove home the fact that she hadn't seen this man (someone she'd called her best friend when she had been younger) for eight long years.
"Um, yes. So, these are my friends, C.C. and Kallen."
"Hey..."
"Hi..."
Lelouch ignored the forced pleasantry in Kallen's face, focusing on C.C. instead as foggy memory after memory surfaced in his mind. Multiple summers spent in lush parks close to his old home, tutoring his younger sister and this strange girl, C.C. laughing and joking with a much younger him. Sleepovers… Their own book parties. Playing make-believe.
It was C.C…
As Shirley's excited proclamations droned on in the background, Lelouch suppressed the urge to bolt. He snuck glances at C.C., doing his best to gauge her face inconspicuously — searching for a reaction to his presence. But that stoic face was quite impressive. She was nodding along to Shirley and Kallen but half of him suspected she was on edge. Was it because of his societal status as a celebrity, or was it because she remembered him just as much as he remembered her now?
How could he forget her? Or better yet, how dare he neglect the memory of her?
Busy inwardly thwacking himself upside the head, it took Shirley two calls of his name before he registered that she was trying to get his attention. He bought himself time; cleared his throat and tugged his dark cap lower over his eyes, before turning to fully answer her curious queries — all the while, completely missing the way C.C. looked at him.
=OoOoO=
"Lelouch, where were you this morning?"
"Hm? Oh, grabbed some coffee."
"A word to your roommate would have been nice." Suzaku grouched, narrowing his eyes at the reflection of the other man in the brightly lit mirror.
"Look up for me, Suzaku, if you please."
"O-oh right… Sorry."
Lelouch smirked at that. He, personally, liked to relax and catch a quick nap while being styled for anything (in this case, for their photoshoot at twilight), but Suzaku loved to ramble for some reason. If Lelouch was mentally available for that, there was always the stylist. Ms. Villetta was a little busy today though. Between coming to work with a toddler in tow and having to attend briefings from the managers and other stylists, Lelouch didn't blame her if she wanted to get things over and done with as quickly as possible.
The eventful morning at the cafe seemed like a week away. Which reminded him—
He took one last look at his distracted friend and dug into the inner pockets of his suit jacket.
Call me, L.L.
+1 202-555-0152
She remembered him after all, didn't she? And on top of it all, had the baseless and unfaltering confidence to slip her number into his hands when her friends weren't looking.
He'd been so prepared to say his secret goodbyes to her — to fold that part of his life for good and bid an embarrassed farewell to the companionship they once had and knew. His time at the cafe this morning reminded him how he was stubbornly clinging to the woman he'd known long ago. A woman he'd treated like his own little sister when he was fourteen and she was eleven.
They were close, weren't they? As thick as thieves before their separation eventually cleaved them apart and out of each other's lives.
He was going to offer his goodbyes, because that was all he had left. He didn't deserve to rekindle any form of friendship with C.C. when he barely recognized her after seeing her again. But the words had died in his throat when C.C. had boldly but secretly pressed a napkin into his hand.
And C.C. smiled. She had smiled at him. It was that same secretive smile that she used to give him when they were children, and knew little of how the world worked.
"Excuse me."
The two other occupants of the hotel room only acknowledged him with the barest of subtle nods, but Lelouch cared less as he stepped out into the foyer of the suite, and into the large bathroom situated opposite the bedroom. Jittery with nerves and a little bit of giddiness, he hastily dialed her number — double-checking to see if he got it right, before pressing the device to his ear.
Two rings… Three, four.
"This had better not be a prank."
"I never thought you'd call." C.C. chimed on the other line, voice slightly muffled before turning clear.
"C.C.?"
"Who else?"
Shoulders sagging with relief, he leaned against the edge of the marble counter surrounding the sink, smiling to himself in response to her chuckling as he stared at the golden saucer lights on the ceiling. "It's been so long."
"Eight years… I never thought I'd hear from you or see you again."
And there it was: the guilt bubbling up sharply in his stomach. Anything he said would be a useless excuse. What could he say? That he neglected to call her or send her messages when they had phones? That he had been too busy working and training to reach his dreams? That life threw him curveballs in the years before Code Noire debuted and he'd had to deal with them on his own terms?
There was no excuse… If he cared about her, he should have done something.
"C.C., I'm so sorry—"
"No, stop it." She cut him off quietly — so quietly he could have imagined it. "You don't owe me an explanation, and I understand. We both have our own lives and have been busy. I'm just… relieved to see you again."
"I'm glad to have seen you again too." A short pause. "C.C.?"
"Lelouch?"
"I have a free couple of hours on Saturday. Maybe you and I can catch up?"
He could hear the small smile in her voice as she teased. "Like a date?"
He was glad he was on the phone. Otherwise, she would have seen his embarrassed and indignant blush. "It doesn't have to be one!"
Trilling laughter filled his ears, dissolving into giggles soon after. "I was only teasing, Lelouch. But yes, I'd love to catch up with you. You have my number, so text me for the time and place."
She was as mischievous as ever.
"I will. I have to go now. Work." Chuckling, he scratched the back of his neck and cracked the door a little to peek outside. "I know this was so short, but I want to spend more time with you. So, Saturday?"
"See you soon, Lelouch."
"I'll see you, C.C."
=OoOoO=
The smartphone plopped unceremoniously on top of her sheets. She lay beside it, blankly staring up at the ceiling, mulling over her life and how it had turned out lately. Blood still rushed in her ears and her heart hadn't calmed from its erratic pounding yet.
He had called her… Actually called her. Her leap of faith had worked.
Oh she'd put up a convincing and confident front as she pressed her number into his han, but he didn't know about how shallow her breaths were, or how funny her stomach felt as he smiled at her and her friends and when he turned the opposite direction on the street to go back to his hotel.
She couldn't believe it. Above all, she couldn't quite wrap her head around the fact that this all happened because Shirley insisted on visiting that particular cafe with her and Kallen. If she had declined the invitation, she wouldn't have run into the man who had been nothing but a distant memory a few days ago.
What she'd told him was true… She didn't ever think she would hear from him or see him again.
True, their communication had been fine during the first year of long-distance friendship, but the texts and calls eventually dwindled the busier they both got. He was so intent on pinning the blame on himself a while ago when they had their first conversation over the phone in eight years, but C.C. knew better. Sure, he was busy as an up-and-coming artist, but her own life had taken over too. It didn't help that she and her family moved away from Camelot. The pressures of middle school and high school took over, along with the eventual separation from Nunnally and her old friends.
And the festering distance hadn't stopped there. She'd forgotten the exact moment, but she could remember losing his phone number. She assumed he changed it after something happened to his phone. Adding him on social media had been downright impossible too — especially after Code Noire's debut into the spotlight. Personal social media accounts were out of the question. Instead, Britannia Entertainment actively encouraged fans to interact with the artists through the group's official account. That put an end to any attempts to reconnect over the internet.
It used to bother her — how he was so impossible to reach now. A much younger C.C. had struggled with getting over the cold hard fact that Lelouch Lamperouge was not a part of her life anymore. She had begun letting go of him and their friendship as she entered her late teenage years, only made herself content to see his face and four others plastered on billboards, shopping mall adverts, and the like. Knowing him as an awkward boy with the square-framed glasses felt like a surreal dream.
The world had begun to know him as Zero… But she knew both.
But it seemed, fate wasn't quite done with them yet.
"I have a free couple of hours on Saturday. Maybe you and I can catch up?"
She couldn't resist teasing him about the possibility of a romantic date. It had been their norm back in the day. An image of him flushing brilliantly under her insinuations made C.C.'s lips curl up into a giddy smile. He was just too easy to tease.
"I know this was so short, but I want to spend more time with you. So, Saturday?"
She would definitely free up her Saturday. A long-lost dream of reconnection slowly coming back to life - that's what it was.
As joyous as their reunion was going to be, she knew it would be fleeting. She didn't know why Code Noire was in Carlisle City, but she knew they would fly back to Pendragon eventually.
Still, a friendly date with her old best friend was a friendly date.
And she'd be damned if she let anything get in her way.
Turning over on her mattress, her gaze landed on one of the framed photos sitting at her nightstand. The picture was small enough to fit in her wallet and didn't attract attention from her friends, but she had kept that on her bedside drawer for a reason. Reaching for the frozen memory, she held the image in her hands and smiled.
Two happy children smiled back: a cheery green-haired girl with ridiculous braces and an awkward lanky raven-haired boy carrying her on his shoulders.
"See you soon, Lelouch."
"I'll see you, C.C."
A/N: Part 2 is coming ;)