Chapter 21: Justice Shall Prevail!

Disclaimer: I do not own GSD or any characters. Grrrrr, I have to see a psychiatrist today! Oh well, tomorrow will be interesting…….

Warning: Major OOCness on Gilbert and Kira's part so BEWARE!

HA! I SAID IT! THERE! (Sticks tongue out) Lol……

After they ate the young teenagers decided to cheer Shinn up by taking him to the simulation room and helping him to fight with only one arm.

"You're doing really well, Shinn." Athrun said. Shinn grinned smugly; some of his arrogance returned, and said, "Thanks, Zala."

"You'll be back to being our 'Super Ace' in no time Shinn-chan!" Luna said and beamed proudly.

Shinn blushed but still grinned, "Thanks, Luna, are you really sure?" he said.

"Of course! Even though you only have one arm you're still pretty good with your Gundam! I'm sure that after a while you can go back out and fight!" she said and Meyrin nodded her agreement.

"But until then you might want to stay by me, since I don't ever get to go out into battle! I have to stay in the Control Room and help you guys launch!" Mey said and pouted.

The others chuckled. "Yeah, that's gonna suck! I wanna get back out there!" he said. 'I wanna see Kira!' he thought but didn't say out loud. Athrun seemed to read his mind because he gave him a sort-of sympathetic glance and a smile.

Rey was watching them from the doorway and heard what they were saying. Even though his face was usually emotionless, there was a glint of confusion and curiosity at the moment.

Shinn then noticed Rey standing there and called out to him, "Hey Rey! Come on over!" and Rey walked over, nodding to Athrun and the girls.

"What's up?" Shinn asked, noticing the curious look in his eyes. "I was just wondering what happened earlier, why did you react that way to Captain Dullindal in the cafeteria?" Rey asked and the others looked to Shinn who twitched.

"Um, I don't really wanna talk about it." Shinn said and looked down. Rey's confused and curious expression grew stronger and he looked to the others for information.

"Let's just say that Gilbert gave Shinn his punishment and it wasn't at all fair." Athrun said, his tone a bit darker then he intended it to be.

Rey still looked confused yet knowing and he said bluntly, "So it's true? Captain Dullindal likes you more than as a Captain should like his Ace pilot?"

Shinn nodded and continued to look down and Luna sighed and said, "Let's not talk about it, it's so….depressing…and unfair! Just like this stupid war, I just hate it all!" in a sudden outburst.

The others looked at her at first in surprise and then had a knowing and agreeing look on their faces, except Rey, of course.

"Well, how about we just give Shinn some space." Meyrin said quietly. "I mean, I'm sure you want some peace and quiet, right?" she asked him.

"Yeah, and I want to call, um, someone." He said and glanced at Luna. She didn't know exactly Shinn's relationship to Kira, and if she did she'd only act awkward and weird around Shinn, so he told Athrun not to mention him.

She at first looked suspicious, wondering who this person was, but then waved it off and gave Shinn a hug as he went back to his room.

Rey went with him, walking silently beside him. "So what are you going to do?" he asked after a silence.

"I dunno." Shinn shrugged. "If I were you I'd just forget about it." Rey said making Shinn stop and stare at him in surprise and giving him a look that said, "WTF?"

"What? It won't do any good to broad about it, and you can't do anything about him anyway, so you should just get over it and act like nothing happened. If you keep sulking about and acting like your life is over then he'll take it as a weakness and only do it more." Rey said.

"How can I just forget about it and act like nothing happened though? I won't ever be able to forget about it!" Shinn shouted a little too loudly.

Rey's eye twitched and he said in an eerily calm voice, "If you live in the past it will control you and make you its slave, but if you move forward into your future you are no one's slave and no one can control you. You are your own person and you make decisions to affect everyone around you including yourself, you must always remember that." and then left before Shinn could respond.

Shinn stood, absorbing this new information, wondering what exactly Rey meant, and then shrugged and went into his room.

He first expected to see Dullindal there, but he wasn't. 'Thank God, he's the very last person I want to see right now, or ever.' He thought and went over to where his cell-phone was.

He had two messages from Kira and he quickly dialed his lover's number and waited for his answer.

"Shinn?" Kira said on the other line. Shinn smiled when he heard Kira's voice saying his name and said, "Yeah, it's me."

"Are you ok?" Kira asked in a worried tone.

"Not really, I wish you were here." Shinn said and sniffled.

"Oh, Shinn, did he hurt you? What happened, where's Athrun?" Kira asked.

"Yeah, but I don't want to talk about it right now, I don't know where Athrun is, but please don't be mad at him, it's not his fault, he couldn't stop him." Shinn said.

He heard Kira sigh and groan, "I can't believe I could let this happen." He mumbled, barely audible, to himself, but Shinn heard it.

"What do you mean?" Shinn asked, brows furrowed in question.

"I could've done something, I know I could've, I'm so sorry Shinn. I seem to be apologizing a lot to you huh?" Kira said.

"It's ok, Kira, Captain Gladys didn't listen to Athrun because she said there wasn't any proof, and that even if there was she couldn't exactly do anything about it or else we'd all be called traitors and killed." Shinn told him.

"I wish I was there right now, with you, are you able to go into battle?" Kira asked.

Shinn didn't answer.

"Shinn?" Kira said, confusion and worry in his voice.

"U-Um, I don't think so." Shinn stammered. Just then he heard the door slide open and looked up into the eyes of the person he feared the most at the moment.

Gilbert Dullindal.

He froze, his eyes wide. Kira's senses suddenly made him feel that something bad was happening, "Shinn? Shinn, what's wrong? Are you there?" he asked.

Before Shinn could answer Gil grabbed his cell phone and said, "Hello, Kira Yamato." and grinned.

Kira felt a wave of anger come over him and said angrily, "What did you do to Shinn?"

Gil chuckled and slid his hand down Shinn's cheek, who shuddered and jerked away, sending him a glare that hinted at fear.

"Well, well, well, quite protective aren't we?" Gil said to Kira.

Kira growled. "I'm going to get you for this." He said angrily through clenched teeth.

"Oh I'm so scared of the Ultimate Coordinator!" Dullindal said sarcastically. "You can't do anything to me, but I, however, can do whatever I want to Shinn." He said and grinned –evilly-

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM YOU BASTARD!" Kira yelled very uncharacteristically as Gil went for Shinn. "NO don't!" Shinn yelled and tried to get out of Gil's grasp.

"You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to let your little boyfriend hear what we've been doing, Asuka, and watch you cry and beg for mercy and hear your boyfriend yell and scream! Of course he can yell and shout all he wants, but it's not going to do anything." Gilbert chuckled and pinned Shinn down as he laid the phone on the desk.

"STOP IT! KIRA!" Shinn yelled and tried to struggle free. "Calling for him won't help, Shinn!" Dullindal said and continued to grin. "Besides, don't you want to pilot your Gundam again? Don't you want to be back in battle with your friends and your gay lover? Hmmmm?" He added.

Kira heard everything and finally couldn't stand it. He closed his cell phone and ran to the hangar. "What are you doing?" Cagalli called after him.

"Saving Shinn!" he called back and jumped into his Gundam. "Let me launch!" he said to Andy and he shrugged and cleared him while Lacus and Cagalli looked at each other, worried and confused.

"He's going to kill you ya know! He can come over here and kill you!" Shinn threatened. "Let him try! I have a nice surprise for him!" Dullindal said.

"Why are you doing this?" Shinn asked him, red eyes suddenly threatening and defiant. He was tired of being frightened and sad; he was tired of being taken advantage of. He was tired of being weak, and now, he was pissed!

"Why? Because you need to learn respect! You need to listen to your superiors and obey them! You will do what I tell you and complete the Destiny Plan or I'll kill you myself!" Dullindal spat, noting the defiance and anger in Shinn's eyes.

'Oh no he won't, he's not going to scare or intimidate me! I'm the superior one! I'm the stronger and smarter one! He must be taught a lesson!' Gil thought.

Just then the siren sounded and Meyrin's voice came on the intercom: "Freedom Gundam approaching! I repeat: Freedom Gundam approaching and he is demanding to be let in!"

Dullindal smirked and got off of Shinn and then proceeded to drag him out of the room.

"What are you doing?" Shinn asked as he tried to wiggle free. But Gilbert only smirked and continued to drag him down the hall and into the Control Room.

Everyone gasped as they saw Shinn being dragged in by Dullindal and he shouted out, "Put the pilot on screen!" and they did as they were told.

Kira's angry SEED mode face appeared on screen and he demanded. "Let go of him, Dullindal!"

But Gilbert only smirked more and said, "Oh really now? Well here's what I say to that!" and took Shinn and kissed him roughly, making him gasp and try to struggle more.

Talia and Meyrin gasped and Athrun and Luna came running in and also gasped. Athrun saw Kira's angry face and also saw that his friend was in SEED mode and ran over to Dullindal and pulled him off Shinn who gasped and fell to the floor, trembling and in shock.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF HIM!" both Athrun and Kira yelled at him and Kira blasted open the hangar. He dropped out of his Gundam as the people in the hangar could only stare with their mouths open, including Rey, who followed him angrily.

'What's he doing here? Does he have a death wish?' he thought and then Kira burst into the room, hardly out of breath, and he ran over to Dullindal and kicked him so quickly that everyone sat stunned.

Kira was so fast that when Talia blinked and opened her eyes back up she saw Dullindal fall down clutching his well, you know! And saw Kira standing over him looking angry.

Shinn saw this and could only stare as Kira turned to him and his eyes softened and he rushed over to him and hugged him tightly. Shinn clung to him, although he was still in shock, his eyes wide and his breathing hard as he shuddered.

Athrun went over to Talia and said, "Is that proof enough for you?" rather coldly and Luna stood stunned staring down at Kira and Shinn. Meyrin went over to her and they exchanged confused looks.

Talia then recovered and said, "Someone get Gilbert Dullindal out of here and lock him in a Prisoner Cell and call Zaft headquarters now!" and went over to Shinn and Kira.

She cleared her throat and Kira looked up, anger and resentment in his eyes. "I'm very sorry, I did not know that any of this was going on." She said and glanced at Athrun who came up also.

"Well now you do and it's too late." Kira said darkly and Talia's eyes softened and she said in a soft tone. "He won't hurt Shinn again, I swear. Now please, you, Shinn, Athrun, Luna, Meyrin, and Rey come to my office so we can sort things out." She said.

Rey came in right after Kira and saw the whole thing. He glared at the UC as he helped Shinn up and said to Talia, "He's in shock; he needs to see a doctor." And she nodded. "Of course," and motioned for a doctor to take Shinn away.

But Shinn clung to Kira and wouldn't let them touch him. "Shinn, it's gonna be alright, he won't hurt you anymore, I promise, now go with this doctor so you can feel better ok? I'll be with you as soon as I can," and tilted his head up and smiled, "I love you, Shinn."

Luna gasped as it all pieced together. 'Now I understand! I thought they were over! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!' she thought and shook her head as tears started to fall.

Shinn let the doctor's take him and Luna wanted to hug him and strangle him at the same time, but Meyrin's hands on hers held her back from doing any such thing and lead her after Talia.

Rey continued to glare at Kira who didn't seem to notice, or else just didn't care about it, as he followed Talia-san to her office.

Once inside she asked them to all sit down and there was a moment of grave silence. Then she sighed and said, "So, who wants to tell me what just happened and why?" she asked.

"I was talking on the phone with Shinn when Dullindal came into his room and proceeded to, um," he began but then struggled with the right words, Talia nodded to show she knew what he meant and he went on.

"And Dullindal was saying that he was going to let me hear what he was going to do to Shinn and Shinn protested. I became angered and got in my Gundam and came over here to stop him. And then you just saw what happened in the Control Room." He said.

"Yes, Athrun, what happened with Shinn and Dullindal earlier this day?" she said and turned to the blue-haired boy.

"Dullindal, um, raped Shinn." He said quietly and glanced at Kira, unable to read his expression; which was bad.

Rey's eyes actually widened in surprise and he glanced from Athrun to Kira.

Talia nodded and then turned back to Kira, "And what exactly is your relationship to Shinn Asuka?" she asked.

"I'm his boyfriend." He said and Rey then understood and returned to glaring at the UC. Luna looked away and tried to hold back the tears.

"I see, so, I understand that you and Shinn got in a fight where you confessed to him your identity, and then in battle sought revenge and managed to strike you down." She said and Kira nodded and she continued. "And then he wanted to make sure you were dead so demanded to come aboard the ORB Base. What happened then?" Talia asked him.

"At first he was still angry and still wanted me dead, but after a while he began to feel sorry and wanted to make sure I was alive, we made up and apologized, and then Shinn had to come back here." Kira told her.

"Ok, I was confused about what had happened between you two. Well, I'm going to see that Gilbert Dullindal sees justice in the form of swift punishment for his actions. You will be pardoned for the offense of attacking an enemy Captain under the circumstances, and none of you will be punished for anything done over the past few hours." Talia said.

"Thank you, ma'am." Kira said. He glanced at Athrun who glanced at him, their eyes met, and Athrun quickly looked away.

Rey noticed this and asked, "So what are you going to do about an enemy soldier on board the Minerva?"

Kira turned on him and Talia looked to him and said, "I expect that after seeing Shinn he will go back to ORB, right?" she said and looked to Kira.

"Yes." He nodded. He actually wanted to take Shinn back with him, but he obviously couldn't ask that now, especially with everyone else in the room.

He sensed some tension between himself and Rey, and also from the girl with short red hair. He didn't exactly know who these people were, but guessed that the blonde that just spoke was Rey, Shinn's friend he often talked about, and the girl was Lunamaria, who Shinn rarely ever talked about in fear of Kira thinking that he was cheating on him.

Talia nodded again and dismissed them all. Kira hung back and Athrun did too but Kira nodded to him and he left with Luna and Meyrin.

"Um, I was going to ask you, is there any way that Shinn could come back to ORB with me and no longer be apart of Zaft?" Kira asked her.

"I doubt it, it would be up to Shinn, and if he did he would be branded a traitor and an enemy among Zaft." She told him.

He looked downcast and said, "Oh," his amethyst eyes back to normal, saddened.

Talia noticed this and said, "But, if Shinn really wants to go, I can wave off the traitor brand in light of the circumstances." and smiled at him as he looked up and smiled back.

"Thank you," he said and then left.

-Author's Note: Ok this is long and I have to go soon so I'll just upload this and then upload and angst poem in Shinn's POV! Sooooo, how'd you like? I wrote this straight from my head, with no warning, so that's why it's longer than usual and a little messy, eh heh. I hope you guys liked it; I even put up an OOC warning! So now I don't feel so bad, but I do feel bad about Shinn, but at least Gil is getting his punishment right? I swear I'll be nice to Gil in my other stories to make it up to you guys! I didn't mean for this to happen! Well, please review and tell me what you think, flames are welcome because I'm a pyromaniac who loves fire, although not much will change if you do flame me, just to let ya know, he he. Well, see you next time!-