Disclaimer: Please don't sue me, I'm not claiming anything.
Warnings: Well, Athrun does think the "H" word, but, that's about it.
COOKIES: Thank you reckless-rage and Prince-in-Disguise for reviewing. Hope you enjoyed your cookies!
Reviewers still get cookies! Please review:)
I'm Sorry
Athrun hid behind the wall of the Military Training Facility. He could hear his father talking to one of the instructors there, a cold looking man with blue eyes and a black moustache. He didn't like it in here. It was chilly, silent, and austere. Athrun took a deep breath. He had to pull himself together. He was 15, and was supposed to be able to handle things like this. It was his father's expectation. Running his hand up the wall, Athrun wondered exactly what he was planning to accomplish by coming here. It wasn't like there was anything dramatic he could do. Is this just to please my father, or is there some other reason? He curled his fingers into small fists, remembering what he had said to Kira about his opinion on war. I hate war. What am I doing here? Shaking his head, Athrun curved his head around the corner slightly, trying to catch more of the conversation.
"My son is not the brightest when it comes to tactics, so I expect extra stress to be put on those matters. Also, I need you to toughen him up a bit. He's much too compassionate. Seems he inherited too many things from his mother. Not characteristics I want to have my son to have."
Athrun's eyes widened. He had never heard his father talk about his mother. Much less talk about her in a distasteful way. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for being this way.
"Another thing I would like to add onto his training is more guns and field work. I've already tried working on those particular things, but he was always reluctant to actually hold the gun, much less run with it."
Athrun felt his insides clench. His father thought he was a coward. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
"Also, keep him from doing things like building little machines and such. I don't know how that talent came into his genes. I didn't ask for that! It's expectable for charming girls, like Lacus Clyne, but I don't want my son growing up to be some kind of...mechanic." Patrick spat the last word like it was an insult.
Athrun flinched. Why is that bad father? Why does that inspire disgust in you? Why do I inspire disgust in you?
"I have him waiting in the hallway over there. I can call him over, so you can tell him the expectations and such. Would you like to do that now, Head Instructor Broadfast?"
Athrun heard a small sound of confirmation from the Head Instructor, and turned his head quickly back around the corner. He heard a clack of boots as his father turned to the hallway. "Athrun!"
He quickly rounded the corner, trying to look as professional and as brave as his father wanted him to be. "Yes father?" Patrick nodded at the man with the cool eyes. Athrun tried to meet the man's gaze steadily. The man looked him up and down, his eyes narrowed in calculation. Athrun swallowed, suddenly feeling like he was under a human X-ray machine. He could feel his father's eyes on the back of his head too, burning a hole in his head. Out of nervous habit, he started to shift his feet, making soft scratching sounds on the tiled floor. He could almost hear his father's scowl.
The Instructor finished his examination, and looked Athrun straight in the eyes. Athrun took all the courage he could muster and put it up in his gaze, meeting the blue stare evenly, even if his legs were shaking. The man gave one more sweeping glance, then turned to Patrick again. "He'll do. I'll put him with Amalfi and Mackenzie. He seems like the same type." His father nodded in acceptance. Without a word to Athrun, he saluted the Instructor, and turned and headed down the hallway. Athrun tried to ignore it and pretend that it was normal, but it must have shown up in his eyes because the Instructor frowned a bit. Motioning for Athrun to follow, the Instructor headed through a door on the right hand side. Athrun entered what looked like a small office. It had a desk with piles of information disks, each labelled with a different name. There were certificates and pictures on the walls, and large information posters on the four ACTS of gun safety. The Instructor sat down in a wooden chair on one side of the desk, and motioned for Athrun to sit in the one opposite. Athrun sat down, trying not to look apprehensive as the man pulled out a blank disk and put it into the computer. Looking up from the keyboard, the man shifted his seat and met Athrun's gaze again. "So, tell me, what made you want to enrol in the military?"
Athrun blinked at the unexpected question. "I guess I want to do something about this conflict. I just want to help end all this. I want to do my part, after what happened with Junius Seven." And to please my father.
The Instructor nodded, typing. "I see, and what qualities do you have that you consider useful to the military?"
Athrun really didn't know how to answer that. "Well, umm, I guess I know how to work with machines..." He finished off on an uncertain note.
The man nodded again, still typing. "Good, and one more question, if given the choice to kill or die, which would you take?"
Athrun blanched. How the hell am I supposed to answer that question? He struggled for an answer. "Ah, I...well... I guess it depends."
"Depends on what?"
Athrun thought for a second. "On what I'm killing or dying for."
The man typed for a few seconds longer, his face hidden. Athrun could have sworn there was a smile on his lips.
"Very good, Athrun Zala. You will be referring to me as Head Instructor Broadfast. I will be teaching tactics and strategy. You will be introduced to your other teachers later." He printed off a small slip of paper and handed it to Athrun. "Here's your rooming arrangements. You'll be with Nicol Amalfi and Rusty Mackenzie. You will be learning Moblie Suit Piloting and Maintenence. This will be your job in the military if you graduate." Athrun looked down at the small slip of paper, his eyebrows thrown up in question. Mobile Suit Piloting and Maintenance?The Head Instructor leaned over the piles on the desk to be almost at face level with Athrun. "Understood?"
Athrun blinked. "Yes."
"Yes what?"
He could feel embarrassment rising in his cheeks. "Yes, Head Instructor Broadfast."
Authors Note: If anyone seems OOC, tell me and I'll try to fix it! (i'm trying very hard to keep all the characters IC)
Thanx for reading:D
