Summary: AU, AH, HS fic. Cagalli, Kira, his girlfriend Lacus, and their long-time friend Athrun go on a sea-side camping trip. Weeks before the end of summer Cagalli regrets giving in to Kira's latest ploy to mend their groups dynamic offset by her and Athrun's cold war. If only her older brother hadn't chosen her favorite beach, and of only that had been his only scheme for the weekend.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Merely sharing the sandbox in my mind, also I have no beta, I am beta-less - which sounds like I don't have a fish - so be kind and help me find any typos. I also don't own the picture so if you know who does please tell me, it was reposted on the web and I don't know who to attribute. :(
AN: Here's the fic I promised, I hope it helps offset the angst of "In Distress." Also, I realize that our favorite teenagers might seem OOC, but please understand that in this fic they are all (pretty) normal high schoolers: no war, no coordinators, no homes torn apart from politics or revenge; so the characters' normal angst is taking a vacation in this story. It's just a YA summer fic. Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day!
Chapter 1: What really warrants murder?
"Hey, Cagalli, are you coming?" Her brother's voice broke through the blonde's musings, her thoughts far away across the sea and sand. Time and time again she lost herself in the swell and slope of the tide breaking on the shore, glistening off the nearing rays of evening light. Ever since the beginning of summer break, Cagalli had been spacing out more and more as her emotions weighed heavily on her mind.
Turning, still caught in thought, she approached the picnic table and came to stand next to Kira, her older brother, and the open seat next to the brunette, ignoring the look coming across the table from her brother's childhood friend, Athrun. Lacus, Kira's strawberry blonde girlfriend, for once sat across from him and next to Athrun completing the square. "Umm, what's up?"
"Dinner's ready Cags! You gonna make us starve?" Her brother's cheerful tone cut through her suspicions, plus her stomach chose right then to growl. A sweet giggle and hearty gwaffle were joined by a throaty chuckle, the last bringing a blush to her cheeks and made her avoid the blue haired young man's glance from across the table even more.
"Yeah, let's eat." Sitting down next to her brother she planned to eat as quickly as possible then retire to her tent. Kira had been clumsily trying to fix whatever change in their group dynamic had occurred between herself and Athrun. When her brother had suggested this beach camping trip Cagalli knew it spelled more trouble but she folded at the chance to visit the seaside. Plus she hoped that Lacus would rein him in a bit, or at least distract him.
Hating the silence Cagalli decided to chatter while filling her plate and tasting each dish. "This smells great guys! All I did was roast the corn. Who flavored the stew, it's delicious!"
"Thanks, it's my mom's recipe." The voice came from across the table making her freeze for half a second, then, continue eating with a nod. She could feel his eyes on her and could feel the warmth in his tone but she didn't look up either. "If you're interested I could show you how to make it sometime" the faceless voice ventured.
Quickly backtracking despite the disapproval she could feel from her left. "Thanks Athrun, but don't worry about it. I'm a hopelessly bad cook – just ask Kira."
It was quiet for a moment, and strangely Lacus hadn't said a thing since Cagalli sat down. She was about to ask Lacus if she was feeling alright when suddenly the pink haired girl gave a deep sigh. Carefully training her gaze on Lacus to ask her what was wrong Cagalli was distracted by Kira who turned to her, and at the same time Lacus turned to murmur her own question to Athrun.
"Could you pass me the salt?" Kira asked off handedly.
Her answer of "sure" had her left hand darting for the shaker in front of her while her right still held her spoon only to find warm steady fingers already around the capsule and lifting it up off the table. Eyes wide she reflexively looked up to meet a green pair equally shocked. Before she could get past her thought of Stupid Kira! She felt something cold and heavy around her wrist and two snicks of metal against metal. Jerking her hand away from the warm fingers under her own she found them following with a clink and wincing cold pressure around her joint and heard the salt shaker clatter to the table top. She looked down, dumbstruck to see what might have been her worst nightmare.
"What in the -!"
Ignoring the man across from her who was now handcuffed to her she turned to where her brother had been sitting a moment before to find him sprinting with an obviously disapproving Lacus in tow towards the only car, parked on the asphalt up a small rise off the sand.
"KIRA!" Jumping up she tried to pursue him but was only brought crashing back with a throbbing wrist and shoulder. "Ouch!"
"Cagalli, are you ok? Wait a minute while I –" Still ignoring the guy across from her she dragged him along while she also tried to untangle herself from the park bench.
"KIRA what do you think you're doing! Get back here!"
Hoisting something glistening high over his head he yelled back "I have both keys and we're taking the car. We'll be back tomorrow morning, you guys better have this sorted out by then! See ya Cags! And Athrun, don't you lay a finger on her or else this is the least of your problems!"
Lacus added her own simple "good night!" before she was ushered into the car.
Pounding across the sand to the slope and parking above it she heard the car start and heard Kira put it into gear. "Oh no you don't!" she grunted to herself then bellowed "I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS, I'LL FRATRICIDE YOU! I'LL TWINICIDE YOU KIRA YAMATO!"
"Cagalli! Slow down, you're going to get –" came behind her as she continued to tow her own mandatory companion.
Flinging her bodyweight forward to carry her up the small rise Cagalli instead found herself snapped backwards to smack solidly into someone's very solid chest and then collapsing in a heap in the sand as an engine roared away.