A/N: I apologize for taking so long to get this up. It's not as long as the last chapter, but I think it's okay. I like to keep chapters shorter in my other stories, so trying to do long chapters is kind of tedious for me so the updates are slower. Thanks for reading and being patient with me!
ellry: thank you for another review! Glad you liked the longer chapter. I'll try to keep it up!
Saber42: Thanks for your reviews! Nope, you shouldn't be worried, this chapter has been in progress for several weeks now. I have in no way abandoned this story. :)
*Song for this chapter: Push Up (Extended Mix) by Throttle vs Freestylers
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny!
A reminder that this story is rated 'M', so if you don't want to read anything sexual then I would just stop now. :)
Chapter 10: White Sand and Waves
"How did you two sleep last night?" Lacus questioned Athrun and Cagalli.
The four were seated at a table in the dining room of the hotel. There were large glass windows so they were able to look outside where the sun had just risen over the ocean water. There were many groups sitting at tables in the room which was filled with chatter and the sound of clinking silverware.
"Great!" Cagalli smiled at her and Athrun nodded silently in agreement.
Kira watched his childhood friend suspiciously and could tell there was something that was bothering him. He glanced at Lacus who had continued her conversation with Cagalli and then motioned at Athrun.
"Let's go grab a couple more pancakes," Kira said.
Athrun looked down at his plate where there were already three. He blinked and gave Kira a bizarre look.
"I have plenty."
"Athrun," Kira narrowed his eyes, "Let's go grab a couple more."
Athrun's lips formed a silent 'O' and he stood up from his seat. Cagalli turned to look at him and he gave her a smile as he followed after her brother.
"Kira?" the blue haired coordinator asked once they were back up at the breakfast bar.
"What's going on?"
"What do you mean?" Athrun asked, completely surprised.
"You look like something is bothering you. Did something happen with my sister last night?"
Athrun shook his head, "No."
"You two haven't…" Kira trailed off.
"No!" Athrun exclaimed, earning a few scowls from other hotel guests. He lowered his voice and then spoke, "Why would you ask me something like that? She's your sister!"
"But you're my best friend."
"Weren't you the one telling me your sister came before your best friend in the car on the way here?" Athrun growled.
Kira laughed nervously, "Oh yeah… I did say that, didn't I?"
Athrun rolled his eyes, "No, I haven't slept with her."
"Haven't you two been sleeping in the same bed since she came back?" Kira questioned.
"Well, yeah," Athrun shrugged, "That doesn't mean anything."
Kira huffed, "You're an idiot Athrun."
"I'm the idiot?!"
"Cagalli wouldn't do that with just anyone."
Athrun crossed his arms, "She says she can't sleep unless she is with someone."
Kira laughed sarcastically, "Right."
"What's with that remark?"
"She's Cagalli. She's strong and independent and doesn't rely on others for anything if she can do it herself. She told you she couldn't sleep by herself anymore because she needed an excuse to sleep with you because she likes you," Kira explained.
"I know she likes me and she knows I like her, so what's your point?" Athrun asked impatiently.
"My point is that she's comfortable with you, so if you feel ready, you should try to take things to the next level."
"Are you telling me to have sex with your sister?" Athrun asked with a serious face.
"It doesn't have to be sex! Damn Athrun, think about it! You two have established you like each other and are 'dating' now, but what else have you done? Probably nothing, which is why you should try and spice things up."
"I'm not going to push her into something she doesn't want to do."
Kira nodded, "I know that, but you and I both know how oblivious she is to things like that. If you don't make the first move, it's likely no move will ever be made if you wait on her."
Athrun nodded, "That's probably true."
Kira glanced over at the table where Lacus and Cagalli were and turned back to Athrun, "We'd better get back over there."
"Thanks for that," Athrun said.
Kira nodded, "Anything for a friend… but as a brother, you touch her, and I'll beat you to a pulp."
Athrun blinked bizarrely and Kira laughed, "I'm kidding, but it's almost like I have to split myself into two different people when it comes to you and Cagalli. I'm your best friend, and she's my sister, so with you two dating, the lines are kind of blurred."
Athrun smiled, "Let's get back over there."
…
Lacus watched as Athrun followed Kira back up to the breakfast bar. She smiled knowingly and turned her attention to Cagalli. The blonde appeared cheerful and gave her a grin when they made eye contact.
"Was there still something you wanted to talk with me about?" Lacus asked her.
Cagalli paused and stared down at her half eaten blueberry bagel. She poked at it and then glanced at Lacus who was watching her with a patient smile.
"I don't want it to get boring between Athrun and I," Cagalli stated.
"Boring?" Lacus questioned, putting her finger to her chin.
"Don't you ever feel bored with Kira? Like you two do the same thing over and over again?" Cagalli asked her.
Lacus shrugged, "We do many things multiple times. I've never really thought of it that way."
"This is how I'm thinking," Cagalli leaned closer, "If we do the same things repeatedly, one of us is bound to get bored and that will cause problems. The relationship will grow stagnant and neither of us will be happy."
"Cagalli… I think you're putting way too much thought into something that hasn't happened yet. Does Athrun seem unhappy to you? He doesn't to me because, on the contrary, I think he acts quite upbeat. I've known Athrun for several years and he's always been quiet and sometimes melancholy. I think that the day he met you, you started to change his life," Lacus explained.
Cagalli stared down at her lap in embarrassment, "But ever since we started dating I'm nervous when I'm with him. It makes me angry because I feel like I can't be myself around him anymore."
Lacus shook her head, "Athrun would be unhappy to hear you say that. He wants nothing more than for you to enjoy being around him."
Cagalli huffed, "I know, I'm still trying to find my way in this whole relationship thing."
"You've said you're dating now. Weren't you two extremely close before any of this happened?"
Cagalli paused and thought back to all of the hours she spent alone with her body guard at her estate. He was by her when she worked, went to meetings, ate meals, was out in the city, and sometimes they'd fall asleep together. She glanced at the pink haired songstress and nodded wordlessly.
"I thought so. Now that there is a label on your relationship that doesn't mean there is a reason to change the way you act. Nothing has changed between you two."
Cagalli nodded, "I guess that's true. I think we're also trying to adjust to one another after his long absence and my virtual kidnapping by Yuna."
"That's understandable," Lacus agreed.
"So you really never get bored with Kira?" Cagalli grinned as she turned the conversation back to the songstress.
"Not at all. It doesn't matter to me what we do, as long as we are spending time with one another. Kira is a wonderful young man and I'm delighted that I got to meet him," Lacus sparkled as she spoke.
Cagalli blinked and couldn't help but huff with a knowing smile. Lacus was the definition of perfection. She was beautiful, feminine, talented, and intelligent. Cagalli felt like she couldn't hold a candle to the songstress. How had Athrun given Lacus up for her?
"They're taking a terribly long time up there," Lacus stated as she glanced at the breakfast bar where the two boys were talking.
Cagalli glared at them and caught Kira's eye. Her brother grinned sheepishly at her and the pair of mobile suit pilots returned to the table. Athrun sat down next to Cagalli and turned his head to look at the Orb representative, but she was staring out the window at the beach.
"Should we spend our day there?" he asked her quietly as Lacus talked to Kira with a bright smile.
Cagalli pulled her attention from the white sand and shrugged, "Whatever you want to do."
Athrun shook his head, "You're incredibly indecisive."
"Would you rather me boss you around?"
"It would make things easier sometimes, but no."
Cagalli rolled her eyes, "As long as we spend time with each other I really don't care what we do."
Athrun paused and stared at the girl next to him with unblinking emerald eyes. He wondered if she truly realized the impact of what she had just said. The corner of his mouth twitched and he couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips. Cagalli was completely oblivious and kept eating her breakfast.
Athrun glanced up at Kira who grinned back at him, "The beach then?"
"Eavesdropper," Athrun scoffed.
"We're at the same table you dork," Cagalli slapped his thigh.
Kira laughed, "Yeah, a day at the beach sounds perfect."
…..
"I can't do this," Cagalli mumbled with wide amber eyes.
She was in the bathroom of the hotel room and was staring at herself in the mirror with a horrified expression.
"Cagalli?"
The princess swung around and stared at the bathroom door with big eyes, "Yeah?"
"Are you okay in there? It's been almost ten minutes…"
"I'm fine!" she shot back, "Just hold on!"
Cagalli grabbed one of the large bath towels and wrapped it around her shoulders. She grasped it firmly in front of her chest so she was completely covered except for her legs.
"I still can't believe I let Lacus talk me into buying this stupid swimsuit!" Cagalli muttered sharply as she grabbed the door handle.
She stepped out into the hotel room where Athrun was waiting with his navy swim trunks and a short sleeved shirt on. He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow at her appearance.
"What's with the towel?" he asked suspiciously.
Cagalli's cheeks turned scarlet. She was embarrassed to be wearing such a skimpy swimsuit. Athrun sighed and stood up; folding his arms over his chest.
"Take it off," he told her in neutral voice.
"No!" Cagalli stepped back, clutching the towel tightly.
"You can't go out there with a bath towel wrapped around you," Athrun couldn't help but laugh after he said it, "You look ridiculous."
"But…"
"What are you wearing underneath that has you so rattled?"
Cagalli bit her lip and she stared at the floor. She slowly released her iron grip on the towel and the front fell open. Athrun's lips parted and he blinked in shock.
"Maybe the towel is a good idea."
Cagalli's eyes instantly shot up and she pursed her lips, "What is that supposed to mean?!" she cried out, offended.
Athrun chuckled and Cagalli growled at him, "Do you think I look stupid? Just say it, better stay covered up, right?"
Athrun's jaw dropped, "That's not it at all!"
He reached out for her and she stepped back. Athrun rolled his eyes and used his superior reflexes to trap her against his chest. She struggled against him and the towel fell off of her shoulders. She looked up at him with flushed cheeks and he kissed her on the forehead.
"It was a joke. I was trying to be humorous, but it apparently didn't work."
"A joke?"
Athrun shrugged, "I was saying maybe the towel is a good idea, because I don't want anyone else to see you in that."
Cagalli's lips parted and she found she was unable to speak. Athrun pulled her tightly to his chest and pressed his lips firmly to her neck and the natural's spine straightened at the sensation.
"I never wanted this swimsuit, Lacus made me buy it," Cagalli told him when she stepped back.
Athrun admired her figure before picking the towel up off of the ground and tossing it at her. She caught it and furrowed her brow at him.
"Put some shorts on at least," he stated.
"Yes, Commander Zala," Cagalli rolled her eyes, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Athrun smiled at her and pulled out his cell phone, sending Kira a text that they would be downstairs soon.
…..
It was sunny and hot outside when the group made their way onto the sandy beach. The water was clear and blue with white foam rolling on the waves as they hit the shore. Cagalli couldn't help the grin that spread across her lips and she glanced at her comrades who wore similar expressions.
"Better find an umbrella for us to sit under," Kira said knowingly.
"There's one!" Cagalli pointed and rushed toward it.
"Perfect, now my best friend won't get burnt to a crisp," Kira grinned.
Athrun's jaw dropped and he shoved Kira; causing the brown haired boy to stagger in the sand. He laughed and Lacus shook her head with a 'boys will be boys' look on her face. Cagalli sat down under the umbrella and pointed at the bag Athrun was carrying.
"You have sunscreen, don't you?"
Athrun nodded, "Do you want to put some on now?"
She smiled at him, "Actually, I was going to remind you to put it on with that complexion of yours."
Athrun groaned and Kira laughed at him, "You've always lived in the PLANTs where everything is artificial. You don't have weather there and the light isn't filled with harmful rays like it is here on Earth. You're at risk with that pale skin."
"At risk for what?"
"People can get skin cancer from the sun," Cagalli stated as she took the bag from him and opened it.
Athrun wrinkled his nose, "I know that."
"Then you know that a person with fair skin needs to be extra cautious. Put this on," Cagalli said, handing him the bottle of sunscreen.
Athrun huffed and flopped down in the sand next to the blonde with a grunt. He snatched the bottle and started rubbing the lotion on his arms with a scowl. Kira laughed once again and pulled Lacus after him toward the water.
"Don't you need to put this on too?" Athrun drawled.
"Nope!" Kira called over his shoulder, "We did it before we left our room."
Cagalli watched the couple walk further away until they were at the water. She turned back to the coordinator next to her and smiled at his pouting face. His eyes met hers and he scowled.
"What's that face for?"
"You're treating me like a child," Athrun stated.
"I'm concerned about your well-being, what's wrong with that?" Cagalli asked.
Athrun rolled his eyes, "I'm a coordinator, I'm disease free and have much better health than you do. If anyone should be concerned, it should be me. You're fragile and prone to sickness."
Cagalli's face fell and Athrun handed her the bottle of sunscreen, "Don't make that face. I'm stating facts and you know it."
Cagalli sighed, he was right. She watched as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the sand behind them. The umbrella was keeping them well shaded from the sun and the coordinator was thankful for that. He reached up and was about to fix his messy hair when Cagalli's hand beat him to it. She ran her fingers through his silky midnight blue hair. She grinned and sighed in relaxation at the feeling of it.
"You're obsession with my hair is beyond me," Athrun chuckled, her touch soothing him.
His body relaxed and he slouched under her touch; feeling at ease. She continued to run her fingers through his hair and occasionally scraped his scalp with her fingernails.
"It's so soft," Cagalli said quietly with a dreamy look in her amber eyes, "I wish I had pretty hair like yours."
Athrun paused, "Again with the 'pretty' description?"
Cagalli twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, "Take the compliment."
"Fine."
Cagalli pulled away and grabbed the sunscreen bottle. She squeezed the lotion into her palm and moved her pointer finger in a circular motion.
"Turn around."
Athrun blinked and complied as he suddenly felt her hands on his back. She rubbed the lotion over his shoulder blades and made her way down his back. He sighed and leaned into her touch, feeling hypnotized by the rhythm of her hands.
"There," she said, scooting away from him.
He let out a small grunt at the loss of her touch and turned around to face her with a longing expression. Cagalli held the bottle out to him innocently and he took it hesitantly.
"Will you get mine too?"
Athrun nodded silently and squeezed the bottle. He watched Cagalli shift her body so her back was to him, and she reached up in an attempt to move her hair out of the way towards the base of her neck. The coordinator began rubbing the sunscreen slowly over her back. He marveled at her soft skin was and smiled as he heard Cagalli humming cheerfully as he worked. He lifted the strap of her bikini and got the skin underneath; making sure no area was left untouched.
"Thanks," Cagalli told him when he finished.
The two finished putting the lotion on the rest of their exposed skin and watched Kira and Lacus who were waist high in the ocean water. Cagalli gave Athrun a playful grin and stood up quickly. The coordinator stared up at the natural and was thankful he had asked her to put shorts on. He swallowed dryly as she stared down at him and reached for the bag where he had packed a bottle of water.
"You're such a dork Athrun. Did you pack our room in there too?" Cagalli laughed at him.
Athrun ignored her and tossed the water back into the bag after getting a drink. He stood up and grabbed Cagalli by the wrist; dragging her toward the water.
"Athrun!" she cried, digging her heels into the sand; trying to stop him.
"Oh no, remember when I told you I was going to get you back for sticking your tongue out at me in the car? It's time."
Cagalli gulped as Athrun turned suddenly and scooped the blonde girl up into his arms. Cagalli yelped as he looped an arm under her knees and carried her bridal style toward the water. Kira and Lacus turned with wide eyes just in time to watch Athrun dash into the water, releasing his girlfriend into the air. Cagalli gasped and hit the water with a scream. Kira laughed and Lacus smiled knowingly at them. The natural's head broke the surface of the water and she stood up with fire burning in her amber orbs.
"Oh Athrun, it's totally on," Cagalli growled at him with water running down her nose.
…..
A couple hours later Cagalli found herself swimming in the ocean water with her brother while Athrun and Lacus sat under the umbrella to escape the sun's rays. Cagalli grinned as she kicked through the water and fought through waves as they came ashore. She looked over at Kira who had drifted further out from the shore and was bobbing up and down with the waves as they rolled in. He waved his hand at her and Cagalli returned his gesture with a grin. Kira began swimming toward her and within a few minutes he was next to her.
"Why didn't you come out there with me?" he asked her.
Cagalli scowled, "The further you go out, the stronger the waves get. They'll pull you out to sea!"
Kira rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah."
"I'm not a coordinator," Cagalli poked him, "I don't have superhuman abilities like you," she said sarcastically.
Kira shrugged and glanced at the beach where he could make out the umbrella the Athrun and Lacus were under.
"I see that they're both resting for a bit."
Cagalli nodded, "I told him he needed to get out of the sun for a while."
"They're both pretty fair skinned, aren't they?" Kira laughed.
Cagalli looked down at her arms, "I'm not fair skinned, but I'm not tan like you are."
Kira blinked at her, "Are you having a good time?"
"Of course! After what I've been through the past few months I feel like this is much needed."
Kira nodded, "I agree, I think we all need it, but especially you and Athrun."
Cagalli's eyes dropped and she flicked her fingers through the ocean water, "I had it rough for a few months, but Athrun has had it rough his entire life."
Kira leaned down so that he was eye level with his sister, "Don't feel sorry for him. He wouldn't like that. He's got you now, and that's all that matters. You make him happy."
Cagalli gave him a meek smile, "Right."
"Have you two done anything fun yet?" Kira gave her a knowing look.
Cagalli blushed, "You're my brother! Why would you ask about that?!"
Kira's eyebrows shot up, "I didn't mean that! I was talking about general stuff."
Cagalli rolled her eyes, "Sure. You were being nosey is what you were doing."
"Maybe a little," Kira laughed nervously, "As Athrun's best friend I felt the need to pry."
"What about your positon as my brother?" Cagalli questioned with raised eyebrows.
"We're not focusing on that right now."
"Of course we're not. You better not be trying to get me to talk about my feelings so you can go tell him what I said," Cagalli warned.
Kira shrugged, "Why would I do that? You two already know how you feel about each other. That would be pointless."
"Did you take Lacus to the bar last night?" Cagalli changed the subject as a large waved caused them to rise up and down with its motion.
Kira nodded, "Yeah, we went there and had a few drinks."
"I was wondering about that. You didn't have too much, did you?" she asked suggestively.
"No," Kira shook his head, "We talked about a few things."
"It must be different with her compared to that other girl you were seeing," Cagalli noted.
"Flay?"
Cagalli nodded, "You slept with her right off the bat, didn't you?"
Kira blushed and his violet eyes went down to the water in front of him, "We had an odd relationship."
"But it still happened."
"Yeah…" Kira trailed off, "But she kind of initiated it."
Cagalli rolled her eyes again, "It doesn't matter, you could have said no."
"I was going through a tough time," Kira muttered.
"You haven't slept with Lacus though, have you?"
Kira shook his head, "No, we haven't yet, but that was one of the things we talked about. She was opposed to having sex because she's not ready to start a family. I told her that if we're careful we don't have to worry about that because I'm not ready to start one either."
"Kira!" Cagalli exclaimed, "You were pushing her!"
"No I wasn't!" Kira blinked, "At least I don't think I was."
"Just don't do it until she's ready," Cagalli told him.
"I know that!" Kira snapped back, "What about you and Athrun? I know you two haven't done anything. Have you two talked about that at all?"
Cagalli's cheeks turned scarlet, "No!" she sputtered.
"Maybe you should," Kira stated, "Athrun is a patient guy, he probably won't try anything on you. That's just how he is because he won't want to do anything to upset you."
Cagalli gulped, "That's an awkward conversation. We've only been dating a couple days."
Kira splashed her and the blonde let out a yelp as he shook his head, "Don't give me that, you two have been together long before that."
"I guess you're right," Cagalli wiped the water dripping from her nose, "We've been through a lot."
"The fact you two are dating is just a label, you've been through a ton together so think of it that way. I'm sure he wants to be as close to you as possible, but he's afraid he will do something to lose you like he almost did when you were engaged to that purpled haired weirdo," Kira said with a look of disgust.
"As close to me as possible? What are you getting at?" Cagalli asked.
"The physical part of a relationship isn't only about feeling good, it's about love too. That's why I'm waiting with Lacus and being patient. It's important to me because I love her. When I was with Flay I cared about her, but when we had sex it was purely physical for the pleasure of it."
"I feel like I'm getting the birds and bees talk from you," Cagalli stated.
Kira shrugged, "However you want to take it. You're pretty oblivious and I wanted you to be aware how much that could torture Athrun. It's painful when the person you love doesn't reciprocate."
"But… I feel the same way about him," Cagalli muttered.
"I know, but he probably can't tell that because you act so shy around him now. He likely wonders if he's done something to make you that way. That's how Athrun is, he always thinks of the worst case scenario."
"That's an understatement," Cagalli couldn't help but laugh.
"He's a good guy though."
Cagalli blinked at her brother, "So basically you're telling me I should sleep with him to show him my feelings?"
Kira shook his head, "No! That's not it at all, I was just giving you an example. I'm saying you should try to initiate things with him. He doesn't want to do anything to make you uncomfortable or scare you off, so if you start it, he won't feel like he's pressuring you."
"Got it," Cagalli nodded.
Kira turned his head to see that Athrun and Lacus were swimming toward them. He gave Cagalli a wink and then grinned at the songstress who he wrapped his arms around once she reached him. Cagalli turned to Athrun who watched her with careful emerald eyes. She couldn't help it as her heart skipped in her chest under his gaze.
"Did you take a nap?" Cagalli questioned as he snaked his arm around her waist under the water.
He pulled her close to his side and brushed a strand of wet blonde hair from her face, "Actually I did."
"You're like an old man," she laughed.
"Not old enough to go to the bar!" Kira called out with a grin.
Athrun rolled his eyes and Cagalli leaned forward defensively, "I'll buy him something if he wants it!"
"Still underage," Kira teased.
"Still has better hair compared to you!" Cagalli spat back.
"It's girly."
"It's pretty!"
Athrun sighed and squeezed Cagalli's hip, "Alright, alright, that's enough."
Cagalli reached up and touched the damp ends of his dark blue hair with a sparkle in her eye, "The saltwater made it gritty. It's usually so soft and smooth."
Athrun smiled at her in amusement. He couldn't fathom her fascination with his hair, but he welcomed the attention it gave him. He loved when she touched his hair and he found the action to be soothing.
"I'm thirsty," Cagalli suddenly stated.
Lacus nodded, "I agree, I think it's about time we had lunch too."
…
After a day spent at the beach the four vacationers decided to sit down at a table in the bar. The sun had gone down and they had changed upon returning to their rooms. Their table was against the wall and the bar across the room was glowing with people surrounding it.
"I'll get us something," Kira whispered to Lacus with a quick kiss to the cheek.
Cagalli swallowed and turned to Athrun who wore a neutral expression. She reached out and grabbed his hand that was resting on his thigh. His eyes met hers and she leaned over to him with questioning eyes.
"Do you want me to get you something?"
Athrun huffed, "No, I can't."
Cagalli rolled her eyes, "Who is going to know? This place is packed, no one is going to come check you."
Athrun looked up at Lacus who was watching him carefully and he shook his head, "No, it's fine."
Cagalli huffed and stood up abruptly. Athrun looked at her in surprise as she stomped off toward the bar. Lacus giggled at her quick temper and blinked at Athrun who wore a stunned expression.
"You're being so tense. Does Kira's teasing about your age really bother you that much?" Lacus asked.
Athrun shook his head, "No, but I'm not legally allowed to have alcohol yet, so I'm not going to drink it."
A few minutes passed and Lacus turned to see Kira approaching her with two drinks in hand. He gave her one and sat down in his chair with a satisfied smile. He sipped on his glass and leaned back in his chair.
"Here."
Athrun jumped as a glass was slammed down in front of him. He stared at it for a few moments before turning to Cagalli who threw herself down in her seat with a grunt.
"Drink it," she ordered.
Athrun blinked, "Are you forcing me to-"
"I said drink it. I bought it for you," she told him.
Athrun quickly grabbed the glass and took a gulp, his eyebrows shooting up. He placed the glass back down and stared at it. There was a slice of lemon floating in it and the coordinator licked his lips at the tartness.
"What is it?" Kira asked, leaning forward curiously.
"It's a mixture of several whiskeys and some moonshine, it's strong stuff," Cagalli shrugged nonchalantly.
"Are you trying to make him black out?" Kira laughed.
"He was a top soldier in the military, if he can't handle a drink from the bar he deserves to pass out," Cagalli laughed, giving Athrun a nudge in the ribs.
The blonde picked up her own beverage and took a few gulps. She smiled in satisfaction and Athrun watched her with amusement from the corner of his eye.
…
Two hours had passed and Cagalli laughed heartily at her brother who had tripped trying to stand up from his chair. Kira cursed as he pulled himself up and started walking toward the bar again.
"Don't you think he's had enough?" Athrun whispered to Cagalli.
"I think we all have," Cagalli sputtered, staring at all of the empty glasses on the table.
Athrun was surprised at how well he was handling his liquor considering that he had never had any before. Cagalli's cheeks were flushed and she laughed continuously at everyone sitting at the table. Lacus also had red cheeks, but was quickly trying to drink the glass of water in front of her in an effort to dull the effects of the alcohol. Cagalli grinned at the coordinator next to her and was bolstered by liquid courage. She reached under the table with a devilish grin and tried to grab at his belt. Athrun let out a surprised shout and stood up; banging his knees on the underside of the table. He fell back down into the chair ungracefully with a grunt and Cagalli reached for her drink.
"That's your last one," Athrun pointed at it.
Cagalli gasped with hazy eyes, "You're cutting me off?!"
"Yes," Athrun stated, feeling a bit light headed.
"You're no fun!" Cagalli exclaimed, gulping the last bit of her drink down.
Kira returned with a sloppy grin on his face and another drink. Athrun shook his head and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend.
"This is my last one," Kira said to Lacus.
"Whatever you want," Lacus shrugged, "When you're sick tomorrow you'll know why."
"I'm having a good time," Kira stated, "That hasn't happened for a long time, we all deserve it."
"I completely agree," Athrun said, his skin practically tingling as he felt Cagalli's blonde hair brush his arm where it was resting across her shoulders.
Cagalli glanced up at the coordinator next to her, "It's getting late."
"Do you want to go back to the room?" he asked her.
Cagalli nodded silently and her brother watched her with narrowed eyes from across the table. Kira glanced at Lacus at the songstress gave him a big smile that sent him into a fit of laughter.
"We should go to a place we can dance at some point with music," Cagalli spoke as she stood up from her chair.
She wobbled and Athrun wrapped his arm around her waist firmly to steady her. She patted his hand in thanks and gave Lacus and Kira a crooked smile.
"If you want to do that, we should visit a club," Lacus said.
"A club!" Cagalli exclaimed, and Athrun blinked at her outburst.
"Sounds good to me," Kira nodded and shooed them with a flick of his wrist, "Get going you two, we will see you tomorrow."
Athrun guided the blonde girl in front of him carefully as she steered through the crowd in the bar room. She held one of his hands and halted when she found herself facing the elevator and stairs. Athrun looked from one to the other and shook his head.
"We're not going up the stairs, you'll end up flat on your face," he told her as he reached out and pressed the button for the elevator.
Cagalli giggled at his statement and squeezed his hand tightly; dragging him into the elevator when the door opened. The doors shut behind them and Cagalli stared at Athrun with foggy doe eyes. He inhaled deeply, his head still feeling light from the alcohol. The elevator started to move up and Cagalli reached up; grabbing a strand of his midnight blue hair between her fingers. She rolled it back and forth with a childish smile as the elevator finally halted on their floor and opened. The natural girl turned quickly to walk out the door and stumbled; jerking Athrun with her who let out a grunt. He managed to pull her back up before they both fell, and he shook his head in amazement with a chuckle. He had never seen Cagalli like this, but he was finding it highly entertaining.
"Sorry," she said as she started off down the hall, tugging Athrun along with her.
"I've got the key", he said as he reached into his pocket and swiped it in the door.
Athrun opened the door and released Cagalli as she took uncoordinated steps inside. He watched her as she threw herself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling; her chest heaving.
"I'm going to get in the shower, you relax there, okay?" Athrun told her, wanting to wash up after spending the day in the salty ocean water.
"Yeah, yeah," Cagalli hummed as she reached for the remote above her head and turned the television on.
Athrun chuckled and entered the bathroom, taking his shirt off with a smile on his lips. He started the water and turned up the temperature. Steam floated through the bathroom and the coordinator hopped into the shower and began scrubbing his head.
Cagalli sat up on the bed and squinted at the television. The room appeared to be spinning and she laughed at herself; falling backwards onto the bed in a fit of giggles. She rolled over onto her stomach and stared at the television with wide eyes. She could hear the water running in the bathroom where Athrun was in the shower. Cagalli rested her chin on her hands and her eyes closed slowly as she suddenly felt tired. She dozed off after a few moments and didn't wake up until she felt someone shaking her shoulder. The blonde blinked up at the emerald eyed coordinator staring down at her and she gave him a smile.
"You fell asleep?" he asked her with an amused twinkle in his eye.
Cagalli huffed, "Only for a few minutes."
Athrun walked by her and sat down on the bed behind her. He propped pillows against the headboard and leaned back against them with a relaxed sigh. Cagalli sat up and turned to see that Athrun was clad in pajama pants but was not wearing a shirt. She stared at him and he raised his eyebrows suspiciously.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Cagalli could feel her cloudy mind clearing as the alcohol wore off and she crawled toward the dark haired boy with a cautious expression. She sat down next to him with her legs folded under her. Cagalli faced Athrun and her eyes went from his face to the lose fitting red pants he was wearing.
"Cagalli?"
The natural swallowed nervously. She needed to switch things up and try something out of her comfort zone. Athrun was incredibly patient and had not pushed her to do anything that caused her anxiety or discomfort. She wanted to do something he would enjoy and something that would show how she felt about him.
"Can I try something?" she asked him in a quiet voice.
Athrun blinked at her and started to sit up the rest of the way. Cagalli reached out and put a hand on his chest, shaking her head. Athrun slowly leaned back against the pillows and stared at the girl in front of him with a curious expression.
"Can I?" Cagalli repeated her question.
Athrun slightly nodded and his eyebrows shot up as he saw her reach forward with trembling hands. Cagalli's heart was thudding in her chest and her mouth was dry. She traced the waistband of his sleep pants with unblinking amber eyes and Athrun watched her without breathing. He was frozen and didn't dare to move an inch out of fear she would stop. Cagalli timidly glanced up at Athrun, who was watching her with wide green eyes. She returned her attention to his waistband and carefully pulled it. Cagalli paused and took a deep breath before continuing. Athrun was completely in shock as to what Cagalli was doing and his breath hitched in his throat as the girl in front of him tugged on his pants; frowning.
"Could you lift yourself up for a second?" she asked him with doe eyes.
Athrun had no words and did as he was asked, lifting his hips up. Cagalli tugged his pants again and this time was able to drag them down his legs without difficulty. She stopped and wordlessly stared at his member that was surrounded by midnight blue hair; her eyes holding a slight twinkle of curiosity. The coordinator swallowed noisily and couldn't help but shift his body restlessly. Cagalli paused and her eyes went to his with a questioning gaze.
"I'm fine," he stated quickly to her unasked question.
Cagalli pulled her eyes from his and continued what she was doing. She reached out and traced her finger lightly over one of his thighs and moved closer to his groin with every touch, much to Athrun's astonishment. Was this the real Cagalli? He was enraptured by what she was doing and couldn't look away. His breathing was growing quick and shallow in anticipation. He gently reached out and grasped her wrist as she started to pull away.
"Are you alright?" he questioned in an amused tone.
Cagalli blinked rapidly and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She met his eyes and then looked away shyly, not sure how she wanted to continue.
"There's no reason to be shy about it now," Athrun stated quietly.
His pants were pulled down and he was on complete display. She was the one who started it, so he didn't see why there was a reason to get skittish after she had gone this far.
"I know that!" Cagalli sputtered loudly with a defensive glare.
"You seemed so determined earlier…" he trailed off, trying to egg her on.
Cagalli's amber eyes flashed with a hint of anger and she shoved him against the pillows that were behind him with a force that caused the headboard to bang the wall. Athrun's eyes widened and his lips twisted into a grin.
"I like when you're-" he started before Cagalli cut him off.
"Don't!" she exclaimed.
Athrun shrugged and Cagalli threw one leg over his and she found herself straddling him. She stared down at him with piercing amber orbs and he glared back up at her with sharp emerald. Cagalli gulped as she looked down between her legs where Athrun's member was. The natural blinked at it and tilted her head slightly… it looked different than it had a few moments ago. Athrun let out a frustrated sigh as Cagalli sat frozen. He was a patient guy, but this was torture. The woman he loved, and had yet to do anything serious with, was currently straddling him and biting her lip. He was about to lose it.
"You're quite the tease," he said in a hushed voice.
Cagalli's eyes shot up, "What do you mean?"
Athrun leaned back and ran his fingers through his hair, "There's no rule stating 'look but don't touch'."
Cagalli gulped. She knew what she had intended to do from the start, but thinking and doing were two completely different things. Seeing Athrun like this put her mind into overdrive. She didn't know what to do or think. Athrun stared at her carefully and saw her body tremble. He steadily reached out and grasped her wrist. He brought it toward himself and allowed her hand to brush against his sensitive skin. Cagalli jumped and stared wide eyed at her hand when she found that she was grasping his length.
"Is this okay?" she whispered with wide eyes.
Athrun groaned, "I wouldn't have let you pull my pants to my ankles if it wasn't. You're fine, but please, do something instead of just sitting there."
Cagalli blinked, she had never heard Athrun say something like that before. He sounded pretty desperate and she felt bad for him. He put his hand over hers and started guiding it up and down. She nodded in understanding and he pulled back, allowing her to continue. Cagalli frowned, this couldn't be it, she wanted to do more. Without hesitation, she bent down and flicked her tongue over the tip. Her eyes shot to Athrun's and she couldn't help but grin at how dilated his pupils were. He was watching her every move and she bent down again, taking his now swollen member into her mouth. It was odd at first, but she established a rhythm and pumped up and down on him. Heat pooled in her lower belly as she heard Athrun's moans and groans above her. The coordinator reached down and grabbed a handful of her blonde hair, squeezing tight. Cagalli let out a small moan in mid stroke, causing Athrun's grip to tighten. She liked the feeling of her hair straining against her scalp in this situation. Athrun was never rough with her and she liked this. He was always so mellow and she wanted to make him lose control. It was a challenge and the natural girl was up for it.
Cagalli pulled up and gasped for air. Her chest was heaving and she looked up at Athrun who was practically panting. He had a fine line of sweat on his brow and his emerald eyes were foggy. Cagalli felt a shiver go down her spine at the way he was looking at her. After catching her breath she looked back down at his erection and her eyebrows rose at the sight of white fluid leaking from the tip. She reached out and touched it with her finger. She glanced at Athrun before bringing her finger to her mouth and sucking on it.
"Damn it Cagalli," Athrun huffed, shaking his head, "If you only knew what you were doing to me."
Cagalli rolled her eyes and leaned back down, taking more of him in her mouth than she had previously. She moved up and down and let out a muffled yelp as Athrun couldn't help but thrust upward. She pulled back, gagging and coughing. Her eyes watered and she turned her head to the side as she sputtered.
"Shit, I'm sorry," Athrun blurted and reached out to her.
Cagalli shooed him with one flick of the wrist, "I'm fine."
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and proceeded to continue. His skin was growing hot in her mouth and Cagalli knew they were getting close to something. She reached out and grabbed his sack with one hand. She fondled it and he jerked underneath her.
"Cagalli, I'm close," he sputtered breathlessly.
Seconds passed and Cagalli's eyes widened as hot liquid jetted into her mouth. She pulled back instantly and swallowed what she could as some of the liquid ran down her chin. She began to cough but quickly recovered, her eyes meeting Athrun's. She wiped her mouth and smiled at him sheepishly. Athrun reached down and quickly pulled his boxers back up so he was covered. His hair was disheveled and sweat lined his brow. He looked exhausted.
"Was that alright?" Cagalli asked honestly.
Athrun gaped at her, "Was it alright? Jesus Cagalli, it was more than alright, couldn't you tell?"
She shrugged, "I've never done something like that before so I wouldn't know."
"It was fine," he told her and added, "I still can't believe you did it."
"I wanted to try something new…"
"That's an understatement," Athrun muttered.
Cagalli couldn't help the feeling of pride welling up in her chest. She had brought the famous soldier Athrun Zala to a state of delusion by her actions. She loved knowing that she had that kind of power over him and enjoyed that she was able to give him such pleasure. She rubbed her fingers together and frowned at how sticky they were.
"I'm going to take a shower," she stated.
Athrun nodded, "That's probably a good idea."
Cagalli stood up and walked toward the bathroom when Athrun jokingly spoke, "Make sure you brush your teeth."
The blonde rolled her eyes, "Good one."
A/N: Again, I apologize for the long wait, and sadly I can't promise that the wait for the next chapter will be shorter. Thanks for your positive reviews and patience!