The room was cold, and white. A few plants decorated the marble pedestals in the corners of the moderately sized room.
Athrun stood at parade attention, clutching over a thick hunk of blueprints-covered papers in his left hand. The papers hung at his side.
Athrun looked up from under hooded emerald eyes, hair falling into his eyes. The blue-haired boy glanced at the sheaf of diagrams in front of him. "So, I have to get into here?"
The masked man in front of him smirked slightly, long blond hair flopping over his silver mask. "Is there a problem?"
Athrun shook his head. "Of course not. It seems quite straightforward, really."
Internally, the masked-man smiled. This is quite entertaining. He might not find it quite as straightforward as he believes. This will be an amusing mission for young Athrun. "Do you require anyone as backup?"
Pondering for a few moments, Athrun shook his head in the negative. "No sir, I don't believe I will."
Le Creuset smiled slightly, an obviously false smile. "I admire your willingness. I will assign you a team never the less. Hmm…" He thought for a few moments before deciding. His mind was already made up, but it looked more dramatic to ponder carefully before speaking. "Yzak Joule, Nicol Amalfi and Dearka Elsman. There won't be any problems?" Even if the boy wasn't okay with it, that was the only team he was going to get. It didn't really matter what he thought, as long as he did what he was told.
Athrun clenched his hands beside him. "No problem sir, none at all." His mind growled at the thought of Yzak Joule. He was a jerk - plain and simple. Athrun and him had difficulties tolerating each other without coming to blows. It was probable that the commander had already known that before placing Yzak with Athrun - it was probably a test to see how well he could command a person he didn't like, and complete his mission.
"That is good to hear." Faint mocking lay in Le Creuset's voice.
Athrun snapped to attention, bearing the sheaf in his left hand as he saluted to the commander with his right in the half-moon salute used by ZAFT. "Excuse me sir."
Le Creuset nodded once, a faint smirk visible on his exposed lips. "Excused."
Athrun left, analyzing the mission at hand. He wandered into the lounge, noting that Nicol, Dearka, and Yzak were already there. That meant that he didn't have to go search for them - that was a relief.
Walking over to them, he looked at all of them, and spoke, voice firm. "We have a mission." His voice was low, only carrying to the three to whom he spoke.
Dearka punched his fist into the air. "Yes! Finally, we can get off this stinkin' ship!"
Yzak turned to him, and snarled. "Shut up, idiot. So, Commander Zala, where are we going?" Scorn was dripping off his every word, and his blue eyes blazed with hate and disdain. The platinum-haired youth's face was cut in half by a thick scar that ran from eyebrow level to under his cheekbone. It gave his face a particularly mean look.
"Earth. Orb, to be precise." Athrun looked over at Yzak, no emotion on his pale face.
"Is it a joyride?" Dearka's snide voice cut the tension. "I've heard Orb has some cuties." The tanned blond boy looked at Athrun, quirking a pale eyebrow as his purple eyes looked mischievous.
Athrun sighed. This was the difficulty in dealing with these two. Best friends, they argued and fought all the time, hiding the bond they shared. Both were stubborn as mules, and ready to fight at the drop of a hat. Or, they'd drop the hat by themselves, and fight anyways.
Nicol looked up, light green hair glimmering in the glow from the fluorescent bulbs hanging in the ceiling. His brown doe-like eyes barely spared a glance at the two arguing friends. "What's the mission?"
It wasn't surprising that Nicol had said the first intelligent thing in the group of four. He was the brainy one of those three, and a piano player in his spare time.
Speaking in his normal tone, he ignored the two arguing, and spoke to just Nicol. "We are going after a princess."
Nicol blinked, and then nodded in understanding. "A kidnapping? Why? Or, is that classified?"
Athrun nodded in response. "Afraid so. I don't even know; all I know is that we are supposed to get her." Sparing another glance at Dearka and Yzak, who looked to be wrapping up their argument, he looked back over at Nicol.
Nicol shrugged. "It could be worse - it could be an assassination. That'd be more painful."
"In some ways."
"Yeah, maybe she's a spitfire who won't take to being captured." Nicol chuckled lightly, elbowing Athrun.
A tiny smile softened the young coordinator's face. "Maybe." Little did he know.
Dearka's voice sliced in. "Is she cute?"
Athrun refrained from rolling his emerald eyes. The only thing that interested Dearka, other than fighting, was girls. He was hopeless though, and known for his bad timing and cheesy pickup lines.
"Is she cute?" he persisted.
Yzak roared at him, his temper fraying. "What does it matter! She'll be kidnapped, you idiot!"
Dearka shrugged, purple eyes glimmering. "Well, if she's cute, I can be the dashing pirate, or something like that."
"Pirates weren't romantic, dolt!" Yzak threw out at him, blue eyes blazing.
Athrun interjected before the two started fighting for real. "It doesn't matter-"
Dearka muttered. "It does to me." Yzak's eyes flared, cold icy blue.
"-Yzak's right, she's a mark."
Looking up at Athrun, Dearka sighed, smirking. "I think that's the first time Yzak's ever been right!"
Yzak snapped. He lunged for Dearka's throat. "I'll teach you!"
Glaring at the ceiling, Athrun bit his lip in annoyance. They were like little kids. Taking a deep breath, he barked out a sharp command. "Hey! Save it for later!"
They both looked up at him, hair mussed, and fists clenched.
"We go out at dawn tomorrow. Stealth attack. It'll be a quick in-and-out. Any questions?" Athrun held out the sheaf he still held in his hand. "These are the blueprints, and here is where we'll nab her." He continued outlining his plan to the slightly attentive duo, and an intensely listening Nicol.
"Who's the mark?" Dearka inquired - still thinking of the girl, of course.
Athrun answered quickly, trying to get back to the plan. "Princess of Orb - Cagalli Yula Atha."
My inner-Athrun came back, so I gotta change things. It would appear that on his trip, he gained a bit more maturity, and authenticity...Like, in one scene, Athrun giggled. This never ever ever ever happenes. This is an apocalyptic event! So, I re-wrote and touched up a few things...I'll post this version fairly quick, after all...I do have the ending -finally- written out. Athrun finally agreed to help me out...Finally.
Oh! I don't own him though, no no no! That would be to anger Cagalli something terrible...