Disclaimer: Own not, so sue not…
Author's note: Thanks for the reviews, you guys are the best! Pleasantly surprised to receive seven reviews for one chapter…Here goes chapter 7…
Chapter 7: Lights out
One fine day, one tiny little thing happened on the Archangel…
Athrun just came back from the infirmary after getting his bandages removed and he took off his uniform, planning on going to sleep.
"It's still pretty early…Go into her room right now and tell her you like her!" Kira demanded, pointing towards the door. Athrun Zala widened his eyes, "Now! In pajamas?" he managed to ask.
"YES, NOW! Pajamas or not…"
"But I…"
"NO Buts…" and he dropped his voice to a whisper, "I know she feels the same about you, I just want to let her tell you herself. If anyone breaks her heart, I won't forgive him even if it's you…" Kira shook his head, "No, especially if it's you!"
"…It's not I don't want to, I CAN'T…" Athrun began, Kira remained silent, he understood what Athrun meant. Cagalli just lost her father…and if she and Athrun got into a relationship right now…she might have to face the pain of losing him all over again if war breaks out between earth and PLANTs…
It's just not the way…nor the time to sort out the misunderstanding of the mystery girl Athrun likes named Alice…
"Athrun." He decided, "It's not your time yet, you know it." Athrun nodded weakly. "Neither is it yours…" and with that Kira grabbed his clothes and towel and left Athrun to himself, needing the time to cool down, and a good way will be to take a shower...
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Athrun sighed, he once entertained the thought of giving himself and Cagalli a chance, but since the moment he found out she was the Orb princess, that thought got swept away by the tides of destiny. If there was anyone Patrick Zala wanted to kill personally, it will be her and the Blue Cosmo leader… Athrun thought as he tossed his clothes into the disinfector…
To him, she was special. He couldn't put a finger to how he felt about her, he couldn't tell which part of her was so special, so attractive to him. Her un-princessly mannerism? The way she laughs hysterically? The way she walks? The way she scolds, or the way she makes him feel…
He liked her, but not the same way as he liked the other females in his life. He liked his mother, because she was warm, gentle and ever loving. His engagement to Lacus didn't help him in understanding his own emotions either; Lacus was patient, vibrant and a perfect lady in every single way. He had to admit that he never resisted to the fact that was he being engaged to the songstress without his knowledge or consent. But their relationship was simple, he liked her company…sometimes he felt that it was because she was so much like his mother. The realization made him feel guilty, and he tried to make up for it by spending more effort to improve their relationship, and the vicious cycle continues…
Cagalli was the total opposite, she was rough, at times unreasonable, others totally uncivilized but all in all interesting to watch. Athrun liked her unpredictable nature, he liked the way she expresses herself openly, extending her friendship readily to everyone around her. She's like the smaller version of the sun…
At this point he laughed inwardly, she's like the sun in the fact that people who get too near is toast…
Even if they couldn't be together, he silently wished to see her right now…
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Kira Yamato hung his uniform on the rack as he turned on the tap, allowing himself to be doused with the nice warm water. He was completely wet in the matter of seconds and he sighed, partially with relief. He was glad Athrun was around, but the cold war between him and Cagalli was driving him nuts. Cagalli had refused to speak to Athrun and would shut him up whenever he tried to explain. So the only way to be rid of the little vendetta will be for Athrun to confess his liking for his sister, which is a bit harder than getting her to confess her affections first. Lacus had been working on it, but seemed to be to no avail.
Both Cagalli and Athrun are…shy.
Determined to enjoy his shower, he took a deep breathe as he turned off the tap, and flipped open a bottle of shampoo…
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Cagalli Yula Athha scowled irritably because of a couple of reasons, first because Athrun Zala was an idiot, he liked some girl named Alice all the way, and she never knew. It was perfectly normal for that to happen though, she had to admit that he was…perfect. He's the son of a Chairman, he's gentlemanly, caring, sensitive, and not to mention he's cute too…Cagalli almost laughed at this point, his near perfection made Cagalli fantasize at times, that maybe…just maybe, they will get a chance to know each other more if they traveled on the same vessel…
She felt that she could never quite apologize enough for shooting him two times a day…that day. Though she tried to make it up by bandaging the wound, but it must have left a scar on the first impression she gave him…
Sighing, she knew there was no point thinking on it, now she needed to look for Kira. Apparently she's misplaced her shampoo with his…and she had to change it back before he finds out she likes strawberry scented shampoo. He will probably start laughing at the 'only feminine side of Cagalli…' for half a month, and Cagalli was not about to allow him that luxury. Without thinking, she charged straight to the boys' bathroom, trying to prevent Kira from dumping the contents over his head and realize it's not his own shampoo. And at the instant she shoved open the door, everything went black.
No, she didn't faint, it was literal, everything went black. He was washing his hair when heard a noise behind him and as he turned he saw someone run headlong into him, forcibly snatching the shampoo out of his hands. Then the lights turned off, and everything plunged into pitch darkness.
"Hey…!" He shouted as he almost panicked, grabbing the person by the shoulder.
"Kira, YOU MORON!" she screamed, struggling against his grip. "Is this one of YOUR tricks…?"
"C…Cagalli!" He exclaimed, and fell as he released her with a start and step backwards involuntarily, slipping on the wet floor. "Woah…!"
Cagalli couldn't believe it, the voice didn't belong to her twin brother, but to the Zaft guy…And she blushed, knowing how stupid she must have seemed. She charged into the bathroom when he's…and she gulped, cleared her throat and asked, "Athrun? Athrun Zala…!"
Athrun hit his head on the floor and as he gingerly messaged the bruise he asked Cagalli incredulously, "Ouch…!Why are you…in the bathroom!"
"I…I haven't ask you why it's all dark in here?" she tired hard not to answer the question by changing the subject.
"I didn't do anything." He sighed, "Do you experience power failures often in this vessel?"
"No." she answered quickly, and turned away from the sound of his voice, trying to get away. But as soon as she took one step, she crashed right into the mirror.
"OW…!"
"Are you alright! Try not to move around too much…"
"We gotta find the light somewhere!" She shouted in frustration as she rubbed her nose.
"Not yet…" Athrun muttered.
"WHY?" Cagalli hollered.
"Cause…I'm not wearing anything…!" He spat out the words, and he felt himself blush. He didn't know, but Cagalli bit her lip as she started blushing as well. There was a moment of silence before he asked again, "What did you knock into?"
"Feels like a sink with a mirror…" she said as her hands explored the terrain. She turned around carefully and demanded, "Where exactly are you!"
"Wait…Hands out." He ordered, she obediently stretched out her hands and felt someone's warm and moist shoulder. He took her hand and reached past her to grab a towel from behind her. For a moment, he was so close that she could feel his torso pressing against her that she thought she was going to die blushing. Athrun wrapped the towel about himself with a small sigh of relief and took her hand again, leading her out. "Careful, a step here…" and he led her to the door and keyed in the code to open it. But it was as dead as a rock, he sighed, expecting that to happen and broke the news to her, "I think we're stuck in here…"
Cagalli didn't know why, but at that moment she was perfectly happy. And that was beyond reasoning…It was pitch dark, they were caught in a darn power failure, she has a bottle of drippy shampoo in her hand and there was a half naked guy next to her smelling strongly of strawberries. But all that doesn't matter. All that matters was that the guy she liked was holding her hand…
Athrun felt his face turn red hot as he bit his lip, the situation couldn't have been worse; he had to be stuck with Cagalli, of all people when he simply can't locate his clothes. They will be stuck as long as the power doesn't come on, curse electronic locks and faulty engines…or bless them…
"Cagalli, let's just go sit somewhere and wait." He proposed as he led her towards the general direction of his bed. And the pair of them sat down in silence, the awkwardness prevailed in the atmosphere between them. It got unbearably boring after a few minutes and Cagalli groped for a topic, "You smell like strawberries…"
Athrun looked up with a start, and muttered, "I do…?" as he brought a lock of soapy hair towards his nose and sniffed. "I do!" Cagalli laughed as Athrun uttered in disbelief, "Kira actually uses strawberry scented shampoo…? Wait a minute…"
Cagalli gulped, knowing Athrun will realize it sooner or later that the shampoo was hers… And he will be the one laughing for the next half a month…She braced herself, as Athrun said, "You…", and Cagalli couldn't hold it any longer and she shouted, "ALRIGHT! I know it's weird, so what's wrong with liking strawberry shampoo?"
Athrun was silent for a full minute and Cagalli demanded, "Well?"
"I… was going to say…'You knew Kira was up to something and was trying to prevent me from using it, that's why you rushed in while I was bathing…' Never mind, strawberry smells nice…" he replied as he snorted and chuckled. Cagalli bristled and whacked him on the back playfully, "Stop laughing!"
Athrun laughed till he was out of breath and it was silent again, saved for the sound of each other's rapid breathing. Cagalli looked longingly in the direction of the strawberry smell, and wanted something to happen. It was the best time to talk, it was quiet and dark and the only life forms are him and her…But she didn't know how to approach him and make it look discreetly decent for a girl…
Casually, she laid a hand on her right, on the bed sheet between him and her. And felt a tingling sensation as she brushed his finger tips. Boldly, she reached and took hold of his hand…
Its feelers tasted the air, sensing movement coming from in front, where two life forms who perceived themselves smarter than other creatures were seated. And oddly enough, it was the female of the species that initiated the courting ritual. The first step of several year-long mating process called the 'holding of hands', which is traditionally initiated by the male of the species.
Ignoring the abnormality, it crept forward towards the female, for the male had aptly gunned down its mate and isn't very approachable...
Athrun gasped softly as Cagalli gripped his right hand, and he looked in the direction of the warm hand. "C…Cagalli…"
"I…can I sit closer to you?" she asked, biting her lip as she admitted. "I'm…I'm scared…" The darkness reminded her of unhappy things…like the nights she spent crying in her room after Lord Uzumi died. And she was afraid that the boy beside her will fall prey to the same circumstances…
Athrun knew if anyone should be scared, it will be him. But he didn't know why he actually consented with a small "Mm…" And the girl cuddled beside him, now the two of them touched shoulder to shoulder. Slowly and hesitantly, she laid her head on his collar bone, and held his hand firmly, as if frightened of letting him go. Athrun didn't know how to react, but after a while, he draped his left arm protectively about her frame. He understood that Cagalli wants to feel safe, even if it was just for a moment, she would give herself for a few moments of security just to be the little girl she once was, being protected and cared for…And he was the source. He didn't mind, in fact, he was elated. His most special female was beside him, feeling at ease…
Cagalli liked the feeling, just sitting there listening to the sound of his heartbeat as her ear adhered to his chest and she held his hand to her lips and kissed it. His hand was large and warm, and comforting in the darkness. She didn't want the moment to end. She closed her eyes, praying that the magic will last, afraid that when she open her eyes, he will go back into the battlefield as Zaft's top gun…And she will never see him again. But at that moment, he was just Athrun Zala; just a normal sixteen year old boy free to do what sixteen-year-olds do. Impulsively, he lifted her chin and…
She gasped as she felt his face inches away from hers, studying her reaction in the darkness, asking her consent in what he was about to do…She didn't mind, in fact she would have said 'please' if she could get a single word out of her mouth. From the day Athrun first tasted cherries, she had wanted to taste him. His face was so close that she could feel his breathe on her cheek, and she could feel the heat emanating from his skin. She was curious about kissing, and was hoping he could teach her a thing or two…In anticipation, she puckered up her lips and relaxed, giving the silent consent…
Just before the moment when their lips touch, Cagalli felt this odd, ticklish sensation at her heel. And she screamed as she realized something was crawling up her leg at an alarming speed and Cagalli jumped. "Cagalli!" Athrun exclaimed, and Cagalli shook it off her leg and leaped onto Athrun, unavoidably pinning him to the bed, screaming "COCKROACH!"
And the next thing happened so fast that neither had time to react, the lights came on and the door to the room slid open, admitting Kira, Mwu and Dearka… Kira ran in, flicking water off his wet hair and began explaining in a rush, "I heard you screaming, are you alright…!" and he trailed off, aghast at the sight in front of him. Mwu blushed and Dearka smirked as all three of them stared in unison, Cagalli could understand why. The sight must have seemed so wrong.
In her frantic rush to escape from the bug, she didn't realize that now her hands were holding down Athrun's shoulder and left arm, and her knees were on the bed sheet between his legs…On top of that, he was wearing nothing but a towel that hung loosely about his waist. And he was blushing like a tomato, not daring to look at her. They looked as if they have just been caught in the act of adultery… She quickly got off as Kira demanded, "What are the two of you doing…!"
"I can explain…!" Athrun said hurriedly before Kira kills anyone as he propped himself up. But before Kira could explode, Mwu and Dearka each took one of his arms and dragged him kicking and screaming out of the room.
"Sorry for coming in at the wrong time…" Mwu said with as much sympathy as he could muster to hide his snigger, so much that Cagalli wanted to puke, and he cupped a hand over Kira's mouth to silence his protests. Dearka chuckled, "I have something good for you two, and you'll thank me for it!" And he tossed something over his shoulder.
Cagalli looked for a moment before she realized it was…protection; Athrun stared in disbelief as the door slid shut again and there was a distinct sound of a lock being bolted. Mwu must have used his commanding position to lock the door from outside…
"HEY!" Cagalli screamed as the cockroach skittered away…and Athrun loaded a gun…
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Humans 1: Cockroach 1… Anyone up for round three?