Summary: If love is a crime, I'd do my time. Director/Actor AU.
Disclaimer: Hiro Mashima owns Fairy Tail.
Day 2: AU
if love is a crime
"And… cut!" Mirajane called, her vision focused on the monitor in front of her. She looked up as the actors relaxed, catching the gaze of a particular blonde. "Let's take five, everyone."
"How did I go, director?"
Schooling her expression into one of disinterest, she stood up to address the man who was walking towards her as the film crew dispersed, his tall physique coming to a stop just a little too close in front of her.
"Not bad at all, Laxus Dreyar. You should look to filming action movies more often, they'd pay you just to stand there frowning and holding a gun." Laxus raised a mocking eyebrow as he stared into her eyes searchingly, their proximity only giving him a better look into the bright blue. "It's no wonder you were highly recommended to play the antagonist."
"Praise from the director herself, now that's good news," he grinned cockily. "Does that mean I'll get more scenes, Miss Strauss?"
"Hmm, I don't know about that, big guy," she replied, her slender hand reaching upwards to brush the dirt off of the actor's heavy coat, not missing the way his eyes narrowed just a fraction as she did so. "You'll have to make arrangements with the scriptwriter if you want that to happen."
Laxus' gaze flickered from the beauty in front of him to the bald man hulking over a stack of papers in the distance, before he scoffed and stepped away from Mirajane. "I'm not that desperate, Mira."
"Oh, really?" she hummed, her expressionless façade giving way to a light smirk. She turned and headed in the direction of the busy crew, leaving him to mull over her words.
A smirk of his own grew on Laxus' face as he stared after her retreating figure, watching her hips sway lightly as she moved. "Yet."
"Cut, cut, cut!" Mirajane growled, glaring at the two actors from her spot behind the monitors. "You're doing this all wrong!"
The actress straightened her apron as filming ceased, moving away from the edge of the rooftop she was standing on. Laxus too sighed and flipped away from the female, leaning against the low wall of the roof despite the dangerous lack of railing. Mirajane frowned as she reviewed the filmed scene, highly unsatisfied with their portrayal. While the actress was supposed have caught her longtime fling escaping after the police had interrupted his meal at a café, both actors were looking way too emotionless for her liking, and the prolonged filming was doing nothing to help her rising anger.
"Look, I know you're a model before you are an actress and this is your only scene, but you're not supposed to just stand there looking pretty! Deliver your lines with emotions!" she advised, addressing the extra. Receiving an awkward nod in response, she then turned to the blonde male, her blue eyes ablaze with anger. "I know just praised you, Dreyar, but that doesn't mean you get to be cocky. I need to you to look more seductive, charming a girls' socks off so that you don't get into trouble. Put yourself into your characters' shoes! Now let's try that again."
Laxus fought the urge to grin at Mirajane's outburst, knowing that she had always took her work extremely seriously and was a perfectionist in every way possible. That was the main reason for her popularity as a director, and Laxus had to admit that he found some sort of sadistic pleasure in pushing her buttons. After all, he had only heard of the demonic rage she was capable of, and couldn't wait to see it for himself.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his posture, pushing himself off the wall and moving closer to the actress. He ran his fingers through his hair, waiting for the Director's call.
Mirajane settled back into her chair, nodding at the film crew before focusing forward again. "Action!"
"I didn't know you were a criminal."
"I wouldn't say criminal, babe. I just, break a few laws sometimes."
"But you're on the run!"
"Well-"
"Cut!"
A tense mood fell over the cast and crew as they glanced apprehensively at the Director, her face pulled into a deep frown as she glared at the monitor. As if making up her mind, she stood up abruptly and marched into the scene.
"Give me your apron," she lifted an open palm to the actress, who hurriedly removed it and handed it over. "Let me show you what I mean."
The camera crew glanced warily at each other as Mirajane looped the apron over her head, before the head cameraman gave a nod for them to resume filming.
Clearing her throat and smoothing her hair down into a low ponytail, Mirajane moved into the scene, glaring up at Laxus fierily. "Get it right this time, Dreyar."
Laxus smirked cockily and exaggeratedly gestured for her to take her spot, and the previous actress quickly made her way behind the monitor to observe.
"...Action!" the assistant director shouted.
The lights dimmed to highlight the dark atmosphere, and Mirajane glanced up at the blonde suspiciously, crossing her arms over her chest. "I didn't know you were a criminal," she spat, and Laxus only laughed.
"I wouldn't say criminal, beautiful," he raised a hand and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, taking the opportunity to reduce the distance between them. "I just, break a few laws sometimes."
"But you're on the run?"
"Well, what can I say," he shrugged, shuffling just a little closer. "I'm always in high demand."
Mirajane scoffed at his answer, defiantly meeting his piercing gaze. "For all the wrong reasons, I'm sure."
"Ah, you must want me for the right reasons then."
"Me? Wanting you?"
Laxus laughed at her incredulous reply, before closing the distance between them and pushing himself up against her. Mirajane unconsciously took a step backwards, backing into the low wall, before gasping as she leaned too far behind. A quick arm shot out and wrapped around her waist to prevent her fall, Laxus using his body to pin her to the wall to secure her. She could hear her heart pounding loudly in her chest, whether of her near-death experience or because of the attractive man currently pressed up against her, she wasn't sure (maybe it was both?), but she quickly put on an expressionless mask against his flirtatious smile.
"You won't tell anyone about us, will you babe?"
Mirajane smirked at the implication. "Are you ashamed?"
"Ashamed? Definitely not. Why would I be when I've got a beauty in my arms? I'm just worried about your safety, you see. It'll be disastrous for the both of us if anyone found out…"
"I-"
"…Found out about our rendezvous, our secrets, and our nights spent together," he purred.
"You tricked me, you bastard!"
The arm Laxus had around her waist slipped lower at that, and he moved his face closer so that their noses brushed.
"That's where you're wrong, love. We've always been in a… mutual understanding." Mirajane's eyes widened as Laxus leaned in even more, tilting his head slightly for a better angle. "Let me show you what I mean."
Her eyelids unconsciously fluttered close as he finally closed the gap, pressing his lips onto hers and pulling her up from her arched position. She balled her fists on his chest where they rested, neither of them breaking the contact even as he deepened the kiss even more. His tongue darted out and licked experimentally at her lips, smirking into the kiss as she hungrily parted them for him. He'd always liked her for her feisty attitude, and it was no different as their rough kiss felt more like a fight for dominance. He believed he was winning-
"Cut!"
Mirajane's eyes flew open in surprise and she immediately shoved Laxus away, a hand coming up to her lips as she processed her act of unprofessionalism. Luckily, it seemed that Laxus was the only one that realised she had gotten too carried away. It had felt so real to her, and she was almost afraid of what it meant for her to have completely identified with the script.
"Director, that was amazing!" the balding scripwriter exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement and glee as he gestured for her to review the footage. "Although you guys made more than a few adlibs, your interpretation of this scene was absolutely marvelous! It's no wonder you were highly recommended to direct this movie."
The young Director could feel her cheeks heating up in embarrassment as the recording played, almost mortified at how natural her exchange with Laxus seemed to be.
"Let's just use this cut, Director. It's the best we've had so far. You fit the role absolutely with that apron on, anyway, and the lighting is too dark to make out your face fully. Goes with the whole mysterious mood, don't you think?"
Mirajane tore her eyes away from the screen as they kissed, putting her focus on maintaining a pokerface. "Y-yes, whatever you say, sir."
"Oh, don't call me that young lady. Just because I'm a little older than you, pfft! Ah, people nowadays are so flexible, and your professionalism is stunning! I know I wouldn't have been able to pull off such a passionate kiss…" Mirajane excused herself as the scriptwriter continued to sing high praise of her, moving away from the filming location and into the rooftop's stairwell to clear her head.
Any thoughts of an undisturbed argument with her self were shattered, however, as she entered the stairwell and found the one reason for her annoyance already occupying her desired spot. Being so busy trying to pretend she was completely aware of her acting, she didn't even notice when her co-actor had slipped away, and now she had to face the consequences.
Laxus' eyes were on her immediately once she came into view, his thick blonde eyebrows pulled downwards into a frown at her slightly panicked appearance. Deciding to clear the tension, he offered her his trademark smirk, nodding a head in the general direction of the filming.
"So how did I go this time, director? Good enough for you yet?"
Bright cerulean eyes widened at his question, before they narrowed into a haughty expression. "Yes, Dreyar. That was very satisfactory."
"You should consider being an actress, Director," Laxus chuckled dryly, his orange eyes dull despite his teasing tone. "You were very convincing."
She studied the seemingly defeated look in his eyes as he gazed at her, and a stray passing comment flitted through her mind in that second.
"I know I wouldn't have been able to pull off such a passionate kiss…"
Mirajane laughed loudly and genuinely for the first time that day, her mood considerably elevating after a strenuous day.
"Well, Dreyar, maybe I wasn't acting at all."
A/N: I TRIED DRAWING PARALLELS. Also late nights aren't good for me I get way to eccentric. Thank you for the positive feedback! :) I hope you liked this one too! :)
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