Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny or any of its characters.
A/N: Chapter 13 was a mess and I had to go back and tidy up a bit with minor improvements. I'm also not entirely sure if I'm happy with this chapter, but I wanted to update.
Sorry for bad grammar.
A Terrible Beauty: Chapter 14: Cold Warm Winter
Flay was ultimately awakened by the warmth of the sun on her face.
And, half-asleep, she turned from her side to her back then stretched her arms over her head, trying to work out the kinks that had settled in her shoulders and her neck while she had slept at such an odd angle.
When she blinked her eyes momentarily, her first instinct was to reach out for her mobile phone to check what the time was and routinely look through her messages. But when she couldn't find it, she raised herself up onto one elbow as to wonder why, only then did her brain picked up where it had left off before she fell asleep the night before.
Oh right... She buried her face down onto her hands, barely able to understand her own stupidity. She was at Yzak's house... because... oh gad, last night... Wait, what time was it and where was Yzak?
She looked around the room that was apparently empty.
Seems that while she had still been asleep, the male had gone ahead and pushed the curtains aside, cleared out the empty plates, his blanket and pillow, and replaced them with toiletries, a clean bath towel, an oversize dress shirt to temporary change into, and breakfast: fresh eggs, thick-sliced bacon and a yogurt parfait. Flay had lifted the domed lid to check.
And then she just had to laugh to herself when she found his note by the towel.
By now, there was no doubt in her mind that Yzak was a good guy and he had everything here prepared out of consideration for her, but his note... It was just so like him. So awfully straight-forward with no semblance what-so-ever that hinted toward him being the kind of guy who actually likes to be romanced.
'Bathroom is the door on the left. You can just leave the laundry in the basket.'
Flay rose, taking that much needed hot shower.
Although she felt that she had taken her time in the bathroom showering and getting dressed, when she returned to the lounge room, towel-drying her hair, there was still no sign of Yzak.
Of course, she presumed he was probably busy and had no time to look after her right now. Concluding that it was no big deal, Flay made her way back to the couches then stopped midway when she caught a glimpse outside the large window.
As haste as the storm had blown in, it blew back out again, dumping less than a foot of snow overnight.
There, from her vantage on the second floor, she could see the front lawn covered in blankets of ice, the sun glistening off the cold surface, and gardeners busy taking care of anything that needed tending to outside, cutting grass and clearing snow off the walkways.
Transfixed by the scene on the first floor, Flay almost forgot herself when finally her stomach rumbled.
00000
She finished the meal, left the laundry in the basket as instructed, and gathered up the service tray to bring back into the kitchen. In a such a huge house, she hoped that with luck, she might be able to find the kitchen without any difficulty.
Then again, as she entered the corridor, Flay realized finding the kitchen would be an easier task than she had originally thought as she hadn't accounted the fact that there would be housekeepers everywhere.
Seeing a guest with a tray, an attentive housekeeper quickly approached and offered to take it off her hands, which Flay had stopped to consider, but ultimately, decided to politely decline. Instead, she simply asked for direction to the kitchen. She figured that taking the tray back herself was the least she could do to show her gratitude; it was also good etiquette. Plus, it gave her an excuse to leave the room and to wander.
This cycle annoyingly went on a few times though as Flay maneuvered from one hallway to the next. She would find a housekeeper or three dusting the furniture, vacuuming the carpet, or wiping tables or mirrors, and one wouldn't fail to approach her with the offer. Suddenly Flay couldn't help but wonder what Yzak's mother was like. Someone had to keep this huge place running smoothly and she recalled Yzak mentioned that he lived with his mom.
When she was by herself however, she would stop to admire the decorations on the walls, the intricate details and arrangement of each room. Most displays were of landscapes and nature, some abstracts. She hadn't seen a lot of family photographs and figured those were probably displayed in a more private area in the estate.
Eventually, Flay found Yzak in the kitchen with his mom, and a chef. All seemingly in the middle of a conversation.
Behind the island counter, the chef washed his hand, wiped his hand with a towel and hung it over the oven door to dry. He would nodded when spoken too. The woman with short silver hair was settled on a velvet counter stool, reading through a large pad, a black mug on the counter in front of her. While Yzak was on his feet. He placed his mug on the countertop too. He opened his mouth to say something to his mom which the woman in turn responded with warm glance, a comment, and a smile. Flay was fascinated by the sense of their normalcy, of routine, and she hoped she wasn't about to interrupt anything too important.
The kitchen was slightly warmer than the hallways.
"Ah, good morning, everyone, Mrs. Joule." Flay began, causing all eyes to turn to her. "I just wanted to say thank you for the food and wanted to return the plates." She explained, holding the said tray up before carefully placing it down on top of the nearest table surface.
Two out of three pair of eyes rose slightly at the sight of her, though whether in surprise or amusement, Flay wasn't quite sure. Yzak looked outright shocked to see her though. So shocked that his initial reaction was to grab hold of her arm and yank the two of them out into the hall, quickly directing them back upstairs in a matter of seconds.
Flay was confused. So did she really interrupt them at a bad time?
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"What the heck!? You could of just left those upstairs!" Back inside the kitchen, Yzak's shout resounded in the hallway.
"I just wanted properly greet your family!?" The girl explained.
"Not dressed like that! People might get the wrong idea!"
"What do you mean!? This is what you lent me!"
And then rest were murmurs followed by silence as the teens moved further and further away. Ton was amused.
"Well that's a first." The male chef commented with a chuckle. "Yzak said he had a guest over, but he didn't mention that it was a girl. You don't seem surprised though."
"That was George Allster's daughter." Ezalia said coolly, sipped her morning coffee.
"Oh, you know her? This is the first time I've seen her here."
"Mmm... It's a small community, and have you forgotten already?"
"Forgotten what?" Ton asked.
"Don't you remember? She's the reason Yzak had pressed you for baking lessons." Ezalia smiled, touched by the a warm and spontaneous memory.
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They had to leave the car a block away because her street haven't been plowed.
Back to wearing her own clothes after it had been washed, dried, and pressed. Flay tucked her cold hands into the deep pockets of her overcoat as she led the way through ankle-deep snow that surrounded them like an all-encompassing cloud; Yzak followed in her footprints.
Great, just great...
Now that she was able to think about it. She had to regrettably admit that the dress shirt was white, thin, low-cut, and a tad short! She wasn't modest per se and wasn't afraid to show off some skin on occasions. That may have been the reason why she had overlooked details in the first place!
And considering just how many housekeepers she had run into this morning while looking all freshly showered and wearing clothes that screamed ''cause we just did it'. Due to the combination of circumstances, there was bound to be gossip in the mansion that she and Yzak had slept together. Well, they did sleep together but not in that sense! No where near that sense!
What's worst, if this rumor gets out, there's completely nothing in it for her! One, she'll be labeled as easy to get. To be more precise, Yzak wasn't even popular with the ladies. So how on earth did he get her into his bed? Two, there wouldn't be any butterflies. Not only was she not attracted to Yzak, she doesn't even find him good-looking. Three, everyone will flag her a skank; a boyfriend stealer because Yzak has a girlfriend whilst she had Dearka. And four, and most importantly, will she be able to win Kira back with this material? She suspect not!
As consolation, Yzak said, the shirt wasn't his but his mom's. Still, that didn't make it all better! Knowing this little information wasn't going to make gossip go away!
All she could do now was pray hard that word doesn't get out. That what happened in the mansion stays in the mansion or her already tattered rep was as good as dead.
Flay rubbed at her temples, fully concentrated. All this stressing was making her head pound.
Then despite her slow and steady strides, she ended up wobbling on her feet, and she found herself almost toppling face first onto snow if it weren't for Yzak's quick reflexes.
He caught her upper arm.
"Careful!"
Flay gasped, her eyes layered her shock.
Was there no limit to her bad luck?
Glancing fleetingly up at Yzak but not meeting his eyes, exasperated with the whole situation, she pulled away from him when she had regained her balance.
"This is so your fault." She snapped before continuing onto the direction of her house.
Yzak paused on the spot, momentarily confused. They had been walking in silence up until just seconds ago. "Wait. Is this still about the dress?"
Clearly, but Flay ignored him; Yzak picked up the pace and caught up to her.
"I already told you that it was a honest mistake! I didn't think it through! How the heck am I suppose to know the dress would look revealing on you!?"
Sure it was...
Flay just rolled her eyes, still not turning around. As if she'd buy that excuse. If it wasn't for the fact that she was greatly indebt to him for saving her yesterday. She'd accuse that he'd chosen the shirt on purpose and call him a pervert.
When her house was finally in view, Flay looked up at her single-detached house, welcoming the modest familiar sight. The recent snowfall had sent drifts across the front porch. What she hadn't expect though was to see people there. Two of them.
The girl in baggy khaki cargo pants, a chestnut pea jacket, and black newsboy cap, paced the porch endlessly in tight little circles trying to burn off what looked like agitation with her boots. The male in black fur lined parka on the other hand was more still. He seemed to have said something to the girl. She gives him a quick look, then starts striding again.
Frantically, she shouted. "What should I do, Athrun! If something happened to her, I wouldn't be able to live with myself!"
"Cagalli?" Flay called up front when she and Yzak was close enough to recognize the two. This of course made Cagalli turn, and upon seeing her, Flay witnessed Cagalli's Desert Rose eyes fill with tears but it wasn't born of worry or sorrow. It was the result of an immense wave of gratitude.
"Flay!"
And at the urgent cry, Cagalli quickly jumped down the steps landing in six inches of snow, reached out and put her arms around her neck, pulling her to her in a tight hug. Flay stiffened in surprise at first, but within seconds she'd relaxed and returned the gesture by moving her hands solely over her friend's back and that her cheek rested against Cagalli's shoulder.
Flay sighed and closed her eyes. Ever since they fought, she was honestly convinced that Cagalli wouldn't care anymore, but seeing her here worried about her. She felt warm and comforted. It had been a while since they'd embraced like this, and she didn't want to let go. Flay smiled, remembering that Cagalli had always been a spontaneous hugger.
By now, Athrun had also made his way down the wooden steps.
Cagalli backed up. "Where have you been! Are you okay!? You sounded like you were in trouble so I was worried sick looking for you last night! You're unhurt, right!?"
Flay smiled a weak, apologetic smile. "Yes, I'm fine and unhurt—"
Cagalli sighed with relief. "Thank Haumea,"
"Yzak found me and I stayed over at his house last night. I'm sorry I hadn't called back to tell you sooner. I- honestly- didn't think you'd come looking for me after all that's happened..."
Cagalli's face was red and scowling. "You'd think I'd care about those!? I know we stopped talking but just because I— because you— Argh! ... Just don't go scaring me like that again! ... And as for you," Cagalli turned to look at Yzak and bowed her head with acknowledgement. "Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to look for Flay last night. I know for a fact she can be a handful at times."
Yzak frowned. "It's no problem. I'm just glad she's safe and nothing else had happened."
"I know what you mean! I mean, who'd be foolish enough to suddenly follow a complete stranger into a nightclub without a single regard for her own safety! Flay's a good person but she has these tendencies to suddenly act on these crazy inclinations."
"Tell me about it. I've been to one of her ridiculous shopping spree. Grabbing everything she wanted on the rack without even trying a single one on."
"Exactly! You understand."
Flay's face flushed. "Ah..."
"I know it's not a huge deal since she could afford all those clothes anyway, but come on! Can't she stop to think this though for a bit! Then there's that time she decided to quit the tennis club just to follow some romantic inclination! And then there was that other time where she insisted we go skinny-dipping on a whim!"
"AAHHH!" Flay screamed out. "Please, let's not go into that!" For an instant she was rattled. The last one was one of her more embarrassing escapade with Cagalli and no one else needed to know about that, especially boys!
"Look," Flay diverted the conversation. "I'd love to invite everyone into the house, but as is I lost my purse and don't have my house keys. Plan is we'll be calling in a locksmith but it may take a while due to the long weekend and snow."
The news made Cagalli looked up at Athrun. He nodded slowly.
"Actually..." Athrun responded, producing the small beige leather handbag with silver chain with his left hand. Yzak and Flay's eyes went wide. Flay recognized bag was indeed her purse with everything inside!
"But— how?" Flay asked, after checking the content. Yup, everything that was important were there: phone, keys, credit cards, and Ids.
"Last night. When I couldn't find you at the location, I was so worried and crazy frustrated— I didn't know what else to do so, I went on a hunt." Cagalli explained. "I went ahead and called your phone a bunch of times. Fortunately, the asshole answered the call. He gave us his location, but when we got there- he was insistent that we better compensate him for the trouble. Can you believe that son-of-a-bitch! He wasn't even sorry for abandoning you! I wanted to punch him!"
"Did you?" Flay asked.
"I wanted to! I was seriously going to! But Athrun— beat me to it... Hit him so hard actually, it knocked the bastard unconscious." Cagalli muttered the last. And Flay caught Athrun's attempt to discreetly hide his bandaged right hand, a little embarrassed perhaps for acting out with violence.
"Wow." Was all Flay could come up with at that point.
"Damn." Yzak lauded, seriously impressed. "Good job, Athrun!"
"Um, thanks..." Athrun said, sighing. "The guy was an ass..."
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Flay made her way up the stairs, turned on the central heater then let out a breath. Using both hands, she scooped her hair to the top of her head, wound a long piece around it, and tucked it in.
Outside, snow began to fall slow in earnest. A hour earlier, the guys took off to give the girls the chance to catch up. And while Cagalli was inside the bathroom, showering and changing into a set of dry clothes, Flay busied herself with her phone on her bed. She spotted the seven missed calls from Cagalli, an unread message from Luna, an unread message from Milly, and an unread message from Sai. She opened the oldest one first.
Sai had sent her the message yesterday, saying they've made it to his aunt's place. He had included a photo of himself being smothered by his cousins. He had signed the email with an exaggerated HELP ME, PLEASE!
Flay laughed at that. Her childhood friend could always make her laugh.
Cagalli knocked softly on the door, making her look up. Pea jacket and cargo pants gone, she was now dressed down to one of her oversized character shirts and old shorts.
"I'm done showering. May I come in?" Cagalli asked. They had suddenly gone from super close back to being polite to each other again.
"Sure." Flay smiled and watched Cagalli take her spot on a large armchair, pulling her legs up to a squat, and wrapping her arms comfortably over the throw pillow.
They watched each other in silence for a moment, each wondering who should start and where to begin.
"Are you still planning to take up a business course?"
"Yeah... Either interior design or architectural for you, right?"
"Yes..." Flay answered, though admittedly her future had been the least of her concerns for the past months. The original plans was— she and Cagalli would be attending the same university after high school. Well, so much for that agreement.
At some point they've come to discuss how the two of them had fallen out, why the girls had split.
"I've missed you, you know..." Cagalli confessed, glancing to the side. "I missed Milly and Meer too, but I missed you the most... I missed our phone conversations, the shopping trips, the travels, and our crazy antics. You'd always listen to me rant without judgment. You made all the stuffy parties I had to attend bearable.
When I said those things about you acting on crazy inclinations to Yzak, I wasn't being entirely fair... You were always game, supportive and encouraging, and always putting up with me as well, along with my escapades.
Remember that time I wanted to bungee jump off Onogoro Heights? 600ft high! Milly and Meer had instantly backed-out. You were clearly terrified and was screaming your head off, but still you jumped just so that I'd have someone to share the experience with. I am so grateful to have you as my friend."
"You know, I seriously thought I was going to die then! I was literally cursing you inside my head." Flay laughed as she remembered that event. Cagalli had said so much in a small amount of time, she herself was heartily flattered by her declaration.
"I thought the same! Suddenly I was counting all the things I have yet to accomplish and worrying over how my dad and Kisaka was going to recover my body!" Cagalli laughed. "It was super awesome though!"
"Yes, it was really an experience."
"Gad Flay, where did we go wrong? How did we end up like this? All I remember is suddenly, we weren't talking anymore... and then next thing I know, it seems like you we're trying to get in between Kira and Lacus. Are you seriously trying to break them up?"
Flay fixed eyes on Cagalli then down at her bed sheets.
Well, Cagalli wasn't wrong. She was trying to get in between Kira and Lacus for a reason. But as for what happened to their friendship, it had been a series of build ups, which now she recalled, seemed so awfully petty.
"It happened last Summer camp." Flay frowned.
"But you didn't attend that?" Cagalli cut off.
Flay shrugged at this. Cagalli was never the type to really pay much attention into details. This is why she was dense. This is partially why they are on bad terms.
"But Kira did and you did. Kira had broken up with me two weeks before that and you were clearly aware why I refused to go. I was brokenhearted. The camp was bound to be full of recreational activities and I wasn't ready to face Kira yet in that kind of setting, but you waved off my feelings, and said I was just being overdramatic.
It was so unfair of you to bring that up... Suddenly, you made it look like I was just blowing everything out of proportion. I mean, yes, the break-up happened two weeks before. I had plenty of time to get over it, but I can't switch off my feelings just because Kira did, can you?"
"I'm sorry... It hadn't occurred to me that way... I didn't mean to be inconsiderate of your feelings." Cagalli commented softly, genuinely. "It's just—"
"I know!" Flay said defensively. "I know you were just excited about camp. You've been raving about it all year long, so I was perfectly fine with you attending it without me. But when you came back, all you could talk about was how you were able to befriend this beautiful, talented, wonderful, nearly perfect girl... I was jealous..."
"Flay..."
"And when that very girl suddenly entered our school, like everyone else you gushed all over her. Then suddenly I find out this was the same girl Kira broke up with me for and what's worst, you were completely okay with it! I was hurt, and I was angry, and I resented what you did. So I ignored you out of spite. Then in return, you ignored me back without even questioning why."
"Wait. I did confront you about it, but you brushed me off!"
"Well, you could have tried harder!" Flay snapped.
"I- you're right. My stubbornness and my pride got the best of me there. I had thought- well, if you're not going to talk to me, then I wasn't talking to you either." Cagalli paused, then frowned. "I'm sorry about what happened with Kira, Flay... about everything. I didn't mean to ... It's just Lacus, she's my friend and—"
"I was your friend first!"
There's silence and the silence in the room was overwhelming.
"I'm so sorry..." Cagalli said, a note of caution in her voice.
Flay sighed heavily. "I'm sorry too... Cagalli. I was just so emotional."
Cagalli shook her head. "I'm sorry, I worded that wrong. You're my best friend, Flay. Always will be. And I'll always be here for you. But Lacus, she's an important friend too and I just don't know how to go about this situation. Lacus is very fond of Kira and she is also sincere about wanting to be your friend too, Flay, but if you don't want to... There's really nothing much I can do to convince you otherwise."
"So you're saying you'd rather stay neutral?"
Cagalli hesitated, then said, "that would be easier, but at the same time, I don't think I can just standby and do nothing when one of you is trying to destroy the other. Okay, I get it that you don't like her, but that shit you pulled the other day..."
"I already told you it wasn't me!" Flay clenched on her bed sheet.
"Fine. For now, I'll take you word for it." Cagalli shrugged.
"For now doesn't sound promising."
"Because don't go pulling shit like that!"
"You are so frustratingly stubborn! I told you it wasn't me!"
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Flay settled back into her big, overstuffed bed and stared at the ceiling, her mind taking in all the shared exploits she was able to recollect with Cagalli earlier in the day, a moment she'd relived so many times over the past hours that she knew the script by heart.
She had no doubt that Cagalli meant every word of what she said earlier— about missing her and still considering her as her best friend. Absolutely no doubt. If Cagalli had felt any differently, she would have been pissed, actually, and felt betrayed, because that's exactly how she felt about Cagalli.
But she can't help wonder if this was enough. Was their heart-to-heart enough? Was their relationship all better now? Would their routine go back to how it was before they fought? She wasn't quite sure. And it was rather odd- why at a time like this was she suddenly being reminded of her father's words to her...
"Flay, you've always been a romantic soul, but when you break up with someone," George Allster said in an awkward rush, "it's easy to look backward and think life would be perfect if you got back together. But—"
"Say Cagalli,"
"Yeah?" The blonde answered. The girl was on her side, facing the other way while sharing the same bed, probably reflecting on her own thoughts as well.
"About Athrun... Are the two of you going out?"
"No, we're just good friends."
"You are at least aware that he likes you, right?"
"Pfft. There's no way. That's just what people are spreading around."
Flay shifted her focus from the ceiling to her friend. "Gosh, Cagalli, Athrun clearly so obviously likes you. How can you be this dense?"
"Speaking of going out... Are you still with Dearka?"
"Yes, and going strong."
"You do know he's not being fateful to you, right? I've seen him with a different girl a few times. You should dump him."