Title: Believe
Rating: K+
Warnings: Unbeta-ed, some OOC-ness
Genre: General, Humour
Main Character(s): Cagalli, Yzak, Athrun
Ship(s): CagaxYzak, implied AsuxMey
Summary: On a trip back to PLANT with Yzak, Cagalli runs into Athrun. One shot.
Disclaimer: Kidou Senshi Gundam Seed, Kidou Senshi Gundam Seed Destiny, characters and places are copyright to Hajime Yate, Yoshiyuki Tomino, Sotsu Agency and Sunrise.
Author's Notes: I couldn't think of anyone better to be part of the Council than Athrun. He has experienced two wars and if there's anyone who can help make a change for PLANT, it'll be him.

She remembered being awed by the beauty of PLANT the first time she saw it. She had taken in a quick, barely audible breath when it came into view. She reminded herself it was all artificial though but still couldn't help admiring it. Her impression of the place soured not less than ten minutes later, upon meeting the then Chairman Dullindal and experiencing the attack at the military base when the gundams were stolen. It had been chaotic, panicky and terrible. One ordeal lead to another and her impression of the Chairman and PLANT had deteriorate rapidly after that.

That had been over a year or so ago. A lot had changed.

PLANT's beauty still captured her and she couldn't help feeling the admiration for the place as she looked out from the window. Despite it all being man-made – the clouds, the blue skies and the ocean – it was still a lovely place to stay and she had wondered why Yzak had willingly left this place for earth. They were both back here on Aprilius. Yzak had some business to attend to; Dearka had put it as paperwork and all that crap that needed to be done before they agreed to releasing him. Yzak had ranted all the way from ORB to Aprilius, fuming about the incompetence of some people and muttering how he would burn those paperwork to ashes as soon as he arrived. Cagalli remained silent, knowing if she ever so much as laugh, he would round on her next.

Ezaria Jule had been more than pleased to have them here, specially Cagalli. She had taken to the Representative of ORB warmly, treating her as if she was her very own daughter (after all, she very will be in the near future). Yzak's old bedroom had been turned into an office by his mother much to his dismay so he and Cagalli had to be put up in the guest bedroom which wasn't too bad. If Ezaria disapproved of them sharing the same bedroom, she said nothing, merely acting as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. The first two days were spend at the house with the cat for company. (Ezaria was busy with her duties as the Chairman and Yzak had his paperwork to attend to at the military).

On the third day, Yzak was free from the horridness of paperwork, incompetent bungling officers, idiotic rookies and Dearka's stupidness as he had said it all in that order much to Cagalli's amusement. He was able to take her around the city in Ezaria's car so that she can shop and act all tourist-like to her heart's content as he had put it. She had been aggrieved at the last remark, telling him in an annoyed tone she was not a tourist to gawp at Aprilius. He smirked at her.

The sun was warm on her, the breeze as well. It was amazing how they managed to duplicate the likeness of a natural sunlight and wind to near realness. There were plenty of people about the city despite it being the weekdays and most of the citizens were working. They were among the people moving along on the sidewalk, just strolling along as people hurry by them. No one seemed to have noticed that the Representative of ORB was among them.

"Where do you want to go next?" Yzak asked her, his fingers clasping hers; his hand was warm and Cagalli could hardly remembered a time when she had thought the same of Athrun. That had been so long ago.

She shrugged. "You live here. There must be some places you used to go before you moved to earth."

"I don't think those places will suit you," he said absently, stopping in his walk and bringing her to a stop as well. People were forced to move around them, some grumbling at the inconsideration of young people nowadays.

"Yzak...?" Cagalli turned her to the direction to see a familiar face coming towards them, and her heart gave that little flip it does whenever she saw him again. They had parted on good terms but it was still just awkward between them. At group gatherings, they were cordial to each other.

"Athrun," she murmured when he came to a halt before them.

"Zala," Yzak greeted, tightening his grip on Cagalli's hand unconsciously before he relaxed.

"Yzak, Cagalli." There was warm smile on Athrun's face. "I heard from Chairman Jule that you were both here the other day."

"Just finishing up paperwork," Yzak said, huffing slightly. "I swear, the personnel are getting lazier and dumber each other."

"Not counting Dearka?" Athrun's eyes twinkled.

"You'd think he'd step up as the commander for the squad," Yzak said dryly, "only he recommended Shiho instead. Mother says you're doing rather well, despite being the only inexperienced member of the council."

"They needed someone who had went through the war and experienced it. I guess they're a lot more wary about allowing new members after the reshuffling." Athrun shrugged. His green eyes flicked to Cagalli, and this time a teasing smile crossed his face. "So, when's the big date for you both?"

Cagalli spluttered. Marriage was a topic she and Yzak steered clear off for the moment, despite Mana's insistent prodding at them and Kisaka's merciless teasings which included Andrew in it.

"Zala, shut up before I make you." Yzak scowled, though his cheeks were suffused with pink and Cagalli was staring pointedly at the display window next to them, her face just as red.

Athrun laughed, clearly enjoying it. "Come on, I'll buy you both coffee. There's a new café that opened last week."

"Athrun Zala, you idiot," Cagalli muttered, loud enough for him to hear. He flashed her a blithe smile which she returned. The awkwardness subsided to feeling comfortable around him. She was with Yzak now and Athrun had accepted ti graciously; he was, after all, seeing Meyrin. The younger, kind-hearted girl was good for him.

"I heard from Meyrin that Shinn enlisted in the military once more?"

They were seated at the courtyard of the café which actually used to be the back lane behind the quaint brick building. It had been renovated, the ground paved with tiles, a pergola entwined with vines offering shade and orange trees planted around the place. There were a number of people at the place, surprisingly. Drinking their coffee, reading the newspaper or working on their laptop; some were in deep conversation while there was a group of young teenagers who were giggling at a table not far from theirs at the glossy magazine before them.

Athrun has asked the question, while taking a sip of his own drink. Cagalli was idly stirring her own drink. Yzak sat quietly beside her, chin in hand.

"Aa. He's being recommended to Kisaka's own special unit," she said, finished with the stirring and cupping her hands around the warm cup. "He's a good person. We had our misunderstanding but... we cleared it up."

"How's Kira?" Athrun inquired. "Do you still see him? Is he still...?"

"He doesn't come around much," she admitted. "I go see him once a while but with my schedule, it doesn't leave much free time for me to see him as often as I want to. He's less broody than last time." She shrugged. "It's hard to tell. Not even Lacus says much about it."

"The war has that affect on everyone," Yzak said, eyes holding a faraway look, as if he was remembering. "Whether we wanted to or not, we were forced to get involved. None of us had any choice in that matter."

Cagalli placed a hand over Yzak's, bringing him back from whatever he had been thinking about. She smiled at him softly before turning to Athrun. "You should come down to ORB to see him sometimes," she told him. "I'm sure he misses you now that you're back on PLANT."

"I hardly have time off," Athrun murmured.

"Take time off," Yzak said in an exasperated tone. "I swear Zala, the more I see you, the more stupider you become. Or maybe it's because you hit your head one too many times."

"And your temper hasn't improved either." Athrun smirked.

"Unlike you who needs to grow a new spine," said Yzak smugly. "At least I have my head in place and know what I want."

"Stop it you two." Cagalli sighed. The last part was uncalled for but it was Yzak. He had never been one to resist taking a jab or two at his rival-friend. "Yzak."

"It's all right." Athrun took a gulp of his coffee. "He is right about it. I had floundering around for far too long and didn't even know what I wanted. I guess the last war made me realized a lot of things and made me decide on what to do."

"If you need a war to decide what to do in your life, Zala, I fear for your sanity," Yzak said. His tone was less sarcastic but more teasing this time. He finished his drink as well.

"I fear for the sanity of the rookies under you and Waltfield." Athrun grinned.

Yzak snorted. Cagalli snickered. "He puts them through a wringer but I swear that they all loved it. After all, it's not often you have two war veterans as your commanding officers."

"I'll be getting along now." Athrun stood up. "I'll come by ORB sometime, Cagalli, Yzak. It's good to see you both again."

"Give my regards to Meyrin," Cagalli said, smiling. "Bring her along. We need to have another of our gathering soon. Stellar and the others are coming back to Onogoro and Shinn has been talking non-stop about it." She chuckled. "Luna is excited to get together again."

"Aa. I'll do my best." He nodded, then left, heading into the crowd at the sidewalk until they couldn't see him anymore.

"It's all well between three of us now, isn't it?" she asked, lacing her fingers through his as they remained standing there. "I was afraid it would have been awkward but it worked out well."

"I have no such doubts," he said, a tad too smugly. She stuck her tongue at him in a fit of sudden childish compulsion. "Zala knows his place and I know mine."

He brushed his mouth against hers in a kiss that left her heart pounding, leaving little doubt in her mind.

"I know where mine is as well," she said, breathless and smiling. "With you. So, how about the marriage?" she added mischievously, eyes sparkling.

"Cagalli!"

Owari.