Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny. However, Clara is my own character.
I re-watched Gundam Seed in french, for my school exams, and I couldn't help writing a little fic. Hope you enjoy!
Augh…Yzak felt vomit crawl up his throat. It was one of the grossest sights he had ever seen. A dance party to celebrate Lacus Clyne's successful campaign to be the next chairman of the PLANT Supreme Council or not, the commander had said they had a job to do. Yet while the remainder of the Creuset team were on the hunt for the supposed threat, their revived leader was off dancing the waltz with their fellow teammate. The whole affair was highly inappropriate!
Yzak was so focused on the couple dancing a few feet away; he hadn't noticed his friends gather around him. "They look like they're going to kiss!" Dearka laughed as he elbowed his best friend in the ribs. They were at the edge of the dance floor, originally trying to spot Lacus, and conveniently standing next to the punch bowl. The scent of strawberries from the glass Dearka was sipping on only infuriated him more. "Clara looks ready to pounce on the commander any second now!"
"Shut up idiot!" Yzak snapped. The scene was making him nauseous enough without people voicing their opinions on it. To any stranger, Clara might've looked nonchalant about the situation. She was confidently following Rau Le Creuset's lead in the dance without any mistakes; looking mature for her age because of her long, graceful one-shoulder dress that matched her striking violet hair and she managed to keep her lips placed in a soft smile. Most of the time. Occasionally her face would give into a giddy giggle or large smile and show off her true youthfulness.
The Creuset team had spent enough time together to know each other pretty well. Therefore, Yzak couldn't argue with Dearka that Clara looked like a love sick puppy because her blue eyes were sparkling and her not making any mistakes in the dance only showed her devotion to not making any mistakes. His aching feet were proof enough to remember how many times she had stepped on his toes during their dances tonight. Less than an hour before, Yzak was wishfully thinking Clara might find another fool, a nice and polite one, to dance with before the next dance so he wouldn't be forced to do it with his fellow singleton again. Really, he wished Athrun and Dearka weren't obligated to dance with their girlfriends and then they could share his burden of preventing Clara from being harassed by idiots with one track minds.
Now he had to wonder again what was going on in his commander's mind. After his two year absence, Le Creuset looked just as composed as ever. It was if he believed he had never been gone- never been dead. The other people watching them with surprised faces and passing glances at the dancing pair showed Yzak he wasn't overreacting. Everyone thought he was dead! He couldn't just literally be waltzing his way across the dance floor now! The bastard should explain himself! Not only that but wasn't it the commander's own order to 'keep a low profile'! What was going on his mind to start dancing! Le Creuset might appear to be his team's bedrock but experience had taught Yzak that their much loved commander was most likely the mad hatter in their small group.
"I can't say I'd be surprised if she did," Arthrun said. He smiled at Yzak's and Cagalli's shocked expressions. Well, Yzak actually looked more outraged than shocked. He'd seen their commander and Clara together before the first war had ended. Even though she had a sharp mind that sometimes made them clash, the girl strongly admired the other and it was clear that they enjoyed each other's company. Something Yzak couldn't help but be jealous about. The group had also seen the aftermath of the war and how torn up Clara became when they 'lost' their commander. "Just twenty minutes ago, we all jumped on the commander for a hug when we saw him for the first time in two years. Imagine being in Clara's position. A ghost of a man you greatly admired, appearing out of nowhere and asking for a dance in a very public place. She's holding herself pretty well in my opinion."
"I didn't throw myself at the commander, asshole!" Yzak growled, turning away from Athrun's smirk. In his opinion he was holding himself pretty well by not pushing his way through the dance floor, grabbing the commander by the collar and dragging him back to his grave.
"Oh come on Yzak," Athrun sighed, "Don't lie and pretend you're not glad to see him again. To know he's alive. I don't know where he's been and I doubt he'll ever tell us but loosen up a little. He's back. I'm sure he and Clara can look after each other. Let's just be happy and find Lacus before the assassination attempt happens."
"Yeah, let's just be happy and stop the assassination of our Madam chair," Dearka said with his usual charm.
The silver haired boy couldn't help shooting daggers with Athrun at their blond companion's unnecessary sarcasm. After taking a deep breath and loosening his shoulders, Yzak contemplated. He was happy to see his commander again. Actually, he felt more than happy to see him.
"How ironic of The Athrun Zala to tell someone else to loosen up," Yzak couldn't help muttering. But if the perfect example of a military toy soldier was telling him to relax, maybe he should lighten up. Who knows where Le Creuset will be tomorrow. Right now, they had the slippery bastard within their sight and they should make the most of it. Once he comes back home after this exhausting party, he can mope all he likes about this unbelievable situation then. Also it was very unlikely Le Creuset and Clara would get hurt when they were in a room full of military personnel. Instead, he should be worried about finding Lacus Clyne right now.
He was just about to leave the dance hall and resume his search when the final notes of the music finished. Immediately his eyes went back to his commander and Clara. Tonight's piano player had the style of increasing the speed of the dance to the point any military soldier would be breathless and sweaty by the end of the dance. Yzak had spotted people about to pass out numerous times in the night. Like him, most of the dancers looked for the nearest water supply before swearing that was their last dance of the night.
Le Creuset and Clara were both trying to catch their breath. Still in the middle of the dance floor; still holding each other close. Near enough to pounce. Instead of searching for a nearby water supply, they were looking into each other's eyes. Well, Yzak presumed that was what his commander was doing through his mask. Once it seemed like the commander had evened his breathing, he pulled his characteristic smirk and Clara returned the gesture before blushing and turning to look at the ground shyly.
Yzak wasn't aware that he was holding his breath during this. He was more interested in how nobody on the dancefloor was watching the revived commander and the girl with violet hair. He couldn't stop his stupid smile. Maybe it was only him, Athrun, Dearka and Cagalli that were witnessing their commander cupping Clara's chin and raising it. Maybe nobody else would know that Le Creuset showed his more human side tonight and couldn't resist asking the girl who he had missed during their two year separation to a dance. And then slowly lower his lips to meet hers. Maybe nobody would ever know that when Clara had gotten over her initial shock, and wrapped her arms around Rau's neck to deepen their first kiss, Yzak was still wearing his stupid smile. He tried to ignore his cheeks burning. He was sure that he'd never need a photo to remember this sight.
Then the flash of camera brought him back to reality.
"Miri!" Dearka's voice accused.
Sure enough, Yzak turned to glare at Dearka's – photographer - girlfriend as his eyes tried to recover from the traumatic flash. "What the hell!"
Miriallia stuck her tongue out at him and pulled a face. "Sorry guys but your faces were priceless! I don't know who Clara's dancing with but they're going onto the front page for the Zaft newsletter right above your picture. The flash was an accident though. I didn't mean to leave it on automatic but oh well; right now your faces are pretty priceless too!"
In the background, Yzak could hear Cagalli laugh as she gave into the humour of the situation. Meanwhile, he was utterly horrified. The Zaft newsletter! What an idiot he must look like. Augh...what came over him?
"Miri, you can't send those pictures to the newsletter," Dearka said after taking a deep breath. Once again, the blond sounded too laid back to show the apple of his eye the severity of the situation. No way was he stopping Miriallia sending the pictures that way.
"Obviously!" Yzak snapped with the best warning tone he could muster, "You can't show them to anyone! In fact, delete them right now!"
"I think Clara and…" Athrun began, stopping himself from saying Le Creuset's name, "um…her dance partner would really appreciate it if you did delete those. He's the type of guy who hates public attention."
"Really?" Miriallia sounded surprised. Her eyebrows were raised as she looked in the general direction of her potential victims. When she turned back to Athrun, her playful tone had returned. "You could've fooled me with him wearing that mask. He really stands out with that blond hair of his too. If you ask me, Clara's got nothing to be embarrassed about. Sure, he's noticeably older than her but he's also pretty good looking. I bet she's feeling pretty proud of herself for nabbing a hottie!"
"BABE!" Dearka practically screamed and gave her a serious look. "Don't ever describe him like that again. Ever."
Yzak couldn't agree more. And judging by the look on Athrun's uneasy face, he did too. The man was their commander, a man that demanded respect! Him and the word hottie…no, just no…they did not go together and they should never be put together in their presence.
The photographer pouted. "Why? Who is he?"
Only Rau Le Creuset, our former commander who has been accused of helping Genesis happen and who we thought was dead until 20 minutes ago, Yzak thought. Instead of voicing his thought; however, he merely scowled.
"We don't really have time to explain right now," Cagalli said. "Have you seen Lacus anywhere? Or Kira? We need to find them. It's urgent, Miriallia."
The brunette shook her head. "I was outside before and I didn't see them. Isn't Lacus going to sing here later tonight?"
"Didn't you hear her?" Yzak responded. "It's urgent. We can't wait."
Dearka wrapped a protective arm around Mariallia and glared at his friend for using such a tone towards her but Yzak could care less at the moment. He was really losing his patience with these people. The girl looked like she felt safe, instantly leaning into her boyfriend's side as she clicked on her camera.
"What are you doing?" Yzak asked.
"You said it was urgent," she simply replied without looking up.
"And?"
"And I thought Lacus and Kira would come running here if I sent them these photos."
She wouldn't.
The group gathered around the camera to confirm their suspicions. The photographer was clicking through dozens of pictures. According to the camera, she had taken over a hundred tonight. Surely, she couldn't be talking about their picture and the one with the kiss. Surely. But after a picture with Lunamaria sitting on Shinn's shoulders, the photographer stopped at the picture with the kiss. It looked like something from a movie with the lighting and the camera angle. Mariallia was a pretty decent photographer. Yet, Yzak struggled to process that in the photo wasn't two actors but his commander and one of his best friends. And in the background, he could just make out his face. Apparently, only the people in their group had witnessed the scene.
"What a weird couple they make," Dearka muttered. The rest felt too uncomfortable to add their opinions.
The girl clicked a box on the camera to make a tick appear before she clicked onto the next one. In this one, the focus was the four of them and their stupid reactions.
Dearka looked like he was choking on his punch, his hand dropping the probably expensive glass. Cagalli was comforting her boyfriend by holding his hand and placing her other hand on his shoulder while also dealing with her own dumbfounded expression that was maybe not suitable for a president to have. Athrun's emerald eyes were wide open in shock and his more than slightly agape mouth hanging dumbly in midair. This was a man who had taken part in many battles and yet he looked utterly traumatised by the scene in front of him. And of course, Yzak thought his face was the worst out of the lot. He knew he would be wearing his stupid smile, looking as if he wholeheartedly believed that the couple belonged together. He knew it! And even worse were his stupider eyes. They were even crinkled! He looked so sheepish, the only one not looking surprised. How horribly he stood out.
Mariallia selected the tick box again before clicking on her contacts list.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" The group shouted in unison. Dearka stole the camera.
"Isn't there a cancel button or something?"
"Nope, you're too late!" Mariallia smirked before pecking her boyfriend on the cheek and taking her camera back. She then ran for her life.
"Mariallia!" Dearka called before chasing after her. He needed to delete those pictures before she found a cause to send them again to more people.
Augh…Kira Yamato and the next Madam chair were going to see the pictures though. Great! They wouldn't tell anyone if Athrun asked them not to but they'd know. Yzak was trying to bury his grumbling face with his hand when Cagali spoke.
"Kira wasn't answering your calls earlier; do you think he'll see it in time before the song starts?"
Right on cue, Athrun felt his phone vibrate. Pulling it out of his pocket, he held it in his hand to read Kira's name on his phone.
"I guess it's time to face the music," Athrun sighed.
Jeez it felt tense. But then Yzak couldn't hold in his laughter at remembering his friend's words. The other two looked at him with puzzled eyes. He didn't care anymore about being embarrassed. Him bursting into laughter wouldn't be the most shocking or talked about memory of tonight. He already knew his commander won that honour. His commander who was back from Hell and was the cause of the chaos that happened in the last ten minutes. "Let's just be happy and find Lacus before the assassination attempt happens," Yzak said in a mocking tone. He meant every word though.
I planned for this just to be a one-shot but tell me what you think- reviews are always appreciated! Thanks for reading.