Chapter 25: I am not a XXX

"Cagalli." Athrun called as the girl in front him ran on faster and faster, he had to jog to keep up. Then he started running down the corridor. He caught her wrist within four steps.

"Can you hear me out?"

She turned to glare and him, and her stare made his blood run cold.

It was the first time he was actually afraid of a girl.

It was not just a glare, it was the glare; one that promised to kill him conveniently when the opportunity arises. And purely out of the instinct of self preservation, his hand had released her. She tore her wrist out of his grasp in the blink of an eye and stomped on wordlessly.

"…Cagalli!" He called once again once he recovered his composure. He gave chase, telling himself that no matter what Cagalli threatens him with this time, he will not back off. Even if she threatened to incinerate him on the spot, he must find a chance to explain himself.

It was all a mistake, and Cagalli needed to know. It didn't help that Kira had sworn Athrun to secrecy regarding the cockroach-phobia of his, (chances are…he did not want Lacus to know. Hence Athrun had to find a way to explain; he did not want Cagalli to hate him.)

"Shut up!" she snapped. The comment stung.

"What's wrong with you?" Athrun replied somewhat calmly, gradually losing patience as people on the corridor overheard Cagalli yelling.

"Nothing!!" She screamed, "…just the fact that you were sleeping with my brother last night!"

It was early morning, there weren't many people already up and about. But several people overheard, and gasped, others widened their eyes in shock.

Oh, great.

"I didn't sleep with Kira." He said through gritted teeth, fighting to keep his voice low.

"I know what I saw."

"You are mistaken."

"I am not mistaken." She glowered at him with equal ferocity. "You have no idea how it feels when I walked in and saw the two of you…"

"I have no issues with you bunking in with Lacus." He retorted sourly.

"Girls are alright, but you and Kira are both guys!"

"What's the difference?!"

"IT's…WRONG! It's disturbing!" She snapped, as she stepped into her room and turned around to warn Athrun, "Go away or I will kill you."

Then she slammed the door shut.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Athrun sighed, hugging himself.

Several minutes had passed. But he did not want to leave, yet he did not want to stand alone at to door either.

He wanted to have Cagalli believe him.

He leaned his forehead on the door to her room gingerly, trying a different approach.

"Cagalli."

There was no response. Of course there wasn't. Only his breaths bounced back at him.

"Cagalli?" He raised his voice a little, trying to ensure she can hear him.

"It's not like what you think…"

Still no response, and he wondered if she was listening to his voice.

"…There was a cockroach." He said quietly.

He could feel a weight land on the door, leaning slightly to his side, as if someone had pressed her ear against the door and was listening intently.

Athrun hid a smile.

"It died on Kira's bed… he told me to kill it." He recounted unenthusiastically, if anyone else found out he had spilled the beans willingly, he would be so dead.

He could hear muffled chuckles from the other side of the door, and a small, muffled 'figures'.

He went on.

"And he didn't dare to sleep on that bed. So…I allowed him to bunk with me."

He looked at the door now, imagining Cagalli looking at him through the door.

"Don't be mad at me." He whispered. A moment passed, then two. He could hear his own heart beat quicken.

"I'm not gay." He added in an undertone, the sentence sounded laughable even to his own ears. He took a few deep breaths, trying to somewhat calm his hammering heart. And he braced himself, he was about to say the words meant for Cagalli's ears alone.

He wanted to confess his feelings…he wanted to tell her how he feels, if that will make her trust him again. He wanted to let her know that she was the only one special to him.

A blush crept up his cheeks unceremoniously, he could feel the heat on his face, and he let out the breath that he had been holding.

"Cagalli…"

He hesitated a little more, considering backing out. He bit his lip.

"…I…"

He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat.

" Cagalli, I …"

The door slipped open.

Athrun backed off, his eyes widened with shock.

Lacus stood there. She smiled sweetly at him. Then asked, "Where is he?"

Mindlessly, still flabbergasted, Athrun actually answered, "Cafeteria."

Lacus gave him a brief nod of thanks, then walked off.

Cagalli's head appeared at the door. A bemused expression on her face.

"Kira's gonna be so happy."

Athrun did not reply her, he just glared at her, his face redder than before. Cagalli glanced at him, tilted her head and questioned.

"What's wrong?"

"……"

"Athrun?"

"…Why?"

"Why what?"

"What didn't you tell me there was someone else in the room?!" He barely managed to stop himself from yelling. "And of all people, Lacus!"

She lifted one elegant eyebrow.

"This is our dormitory?" she retorted sarcastically.

Athrun shook his head, then turned to stalk off.

"Wait!" she said as she grabbed his hand.

"What?"

"Why are you angry? I should be angry."

"Let go."

"No." she grabbed his hand tighter, "You haven't finished your sentence."

"What?"

"I want to hear what you were trying to say. Before Lacus went out."

"…I have nothing to say." He said irately, and he began to walk away again.

The moment happened so fast.

Swiftly, a pair of arms slipped through the space between each side of his body and his arm, and pulled him towards her. Her hands then wrapped snugly about his waist, and squeezed. He could feel her head pressing on the space between his shoulder blades, her warm and soft cheek against his uniform. And the most curious sensation of all, was the softest part of her person gently caress the small of his back.

He let out a soft gasp; involuntarily. His body stiffened. Blood rushed to his face, and some other places.

"Don't be angry."

How could he still be angry, his mind is totally blank now.

He let out a shaky sigh.

"Athrun?"

She had effectively and completely disarmed him, this girl.

"Let go." He said softly, still not looking at her.

She shook her head.

He wanted to scream.

Doesn't she know what she was doing to him?

He was afraid he'll just give in to the impulse to do something he will definitely regret later. And at the moment it is the urge to push her in and lock the door.

"…You should really be more careful around me." He said resignedly. Knowing that she will probably ignore his request till kingdom comes, just because she is stubborn enough.

Especially when she is so close…

"You make yourself sound like some beast." She mused, snuggling dangerously close to him.

He turned to peek at her over his shoulder.

"I'm a guy."

"I know…"

"No, you don't know." His reply was instantaneous, and he wriggled away from her embrace. And he held her by her shoulders, trying to put a little distance between their bodies to give himself space to think though he knew he was blushing like crazy.

"…You don't how difficult it is to stay away from you now."

Curiously, a small smile lit up her face.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Seeing her grin, he felt himself relaxing.

"You have any idea what just conspired when Lacus overheard?"

"Hmm. No."

"Kira is going to kill me."

"What's new?"

"True." He conceded.

"Athrun?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you going to let go of me now?"

"……I don't want to."

"Huh?" She gave him an incredulous look.

"You are so hard to catch."

She chuckled, "Alright, I'll stay put. Promise."

Athrun looked at her suspiciously, he narrowed his eyes, "Promise?"

"Promise."

"Well…" Tentatively, he released her shoulders, eying her movements suspiciously all the time.

"What?"

"…Apologize."

"I will if you tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"The things you wanted to say before."

Athrun hid a gasp.

She hasn't forgotten.

"I want to hear." She said insistently, and gazed into his eyes. He turned away guardedly, biting his lip. She followed, placing herself in the center of his line of vision once more. "Athrun."

She scowled impatiently, she actually scowled at him.

He crossed his arms, and put on a face of what he thought resembled a rebellious teenager, "No."

"What?!"

"Unless." He added quickly, laughing inwardly. "You do as I say."

"Okay…" Cagalli replied uncertainly with a raised eyebrow. "What do you want?"

"Closed your eyes and stand here."

"Huh?"

"Do you wanna hear or not?"

She gave an exasperated sigh, "Fine." And she obeyed.

"Tilt your head back slightly…"

She frowned, "What exactly are you up to?"

"You'll find out in a while…" He said shortly. "Promise."

That seemed to put her someone at ease. Cagalli made another dissatisfied sound, but did as she was told.

Athrun chuckled softly. Cagalli was standing very still, an optimal condition for what he was about to do. He leaned closer to her, bending deliberately so that his breaths washed over the skin on her face. In an enticingly slow manner, his fingers landed on her neck, where he could feel her pulse quicken. He stroked her chin with his thumb, then leisurely up her face, and she stiffened slightly as he touched her lips with his index finger. His other hand slipped onto her waist, and reach onto her back.

She was ready, Athrun knew.

He smiled.

Athrun knew he had to be swift.

He pinched her nose and ran.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Now we have two people after Athrun's blood. Lol.

Hey folks, sorry for the why-so-long-no-update period, but here it is.

Erm, maybe I should wait for people to finish laughing (or crying, or part-there-of.) Our exams just started... this is such a hard chapter to write as I was stuck after the part Cagalli hugged Athrun, and was wondering whether to let it be a sweet or funny ending. Hope you guys enjoyed it anyway.

Till chapter next!

Ming