The nightmare Kira had found himself in felt real.
He was standing in the pits again, back to the days when he would have to fight in the Destiny League of Assassins near daily.
Kira was not alone - the mercenary that had engaged him while on his reconnaissance mission was in the ring too. His scarred face was stark in the poor lightning.
'I remember you,' the man had said before Kira cut him down.
Kira killed him in cold blood without a second thought. He was going to kill Athrun and Kira would not let him.
However, now the man held a sword and lifted it up. Kira was holding a sword too. From around them, the stands had faceless people that began cheering, reminding Kira of the energy that would be emitted from this place.
"No, I don't want to fight you," he said as the man prepared himself for Kira's attack. When he noticed Kira wasn't moving, the man engaged him quickly
"No!"
The most terrifying moment of the dream came when the man advanced on Kira and he could not move.
He couldn't lift his sword, couldn't move his feet. Kira just stood there and watched as the man closed the distance between them.
That scarred face was the last thing he saw as a sword cut deep into his chest.
The burning pain shuddered through him and Kira sat straight up in bed, panting.
It was just a dream, he reminded himself and touched the spot where he was run through. There was nothing there.
Outside, it was morning and the day's work had begun in preparation for their new routine.
Throughout the years, Kira had been plagued with nightmares countless nights and found his only solstice was illegal mixing of herbs to truly help him sleep. However it came at a hefty price, and usually was laced with other forms of drugs that would slow his mind and body. It was risky to take them while fighting so the nightmares would haunt him. It wasn't until he had found his way to the academy that they had finally stopped. It was a blessing in disguise.
Kira readied himself for the day's work, which was pretty uneventful. By nightfall the Alliance and ZAFT moved out as a single unit led by Kira.
It was still surreal that both factions (which would have been three factions had the men not found unity) listened to every order Kira gave. There was no defiance, there was no insubordination. There was only submission and obedience.
On his horse, next to Athrun, they watched the lines prepare for night travel.
Kira said. "I know you had a hand in this."
"Per say?" Athrun was looking out at the lines too. "I would disagree. It seems you have learned how to finally take control of your subjects."
Kira turned to Athrun, frowning. "Sometimes I truly don't understand what you mean."
"You will."
Athrun moved his horse forward as Kira watched his departure. There was always something being planned when it came to Athrun and he wondered what the Crown Prince had in store now.
They rode out swiftly into the night. Kira kept close to Captain Murrue, Andrew and Athrun.
"Have you brought camp followers?" Athrun asked, casually.
"We have, however ZAFT is not welcome to enjoy our traditions," Andrew said as he wiggled his eyebrows at Kira. "The kid here though can come, he has some admirer's that miss him."
Kira ignored the look, knowing he was speaking of Flay.
"You should be more respectful of your Captain, Andrew." Murrue reminded him.
"It's a term of endearment," Andrew gave Kira a roguish grin. "My apologies, Captain."
The first night turned out to be uneventful, and Kira wasn't used to the change in sleeping schedule and he stayed up a majority of the day helping where he could.
The second night was even more uneventful.
It was Yzak that nagged at him the next day when Kira couldn't sleep again. In between his rounds, Yzak tossed him a wooden practice sword with a worn leather grip.
"What's this for?"
"Since you can't seem to get a wink of sleep I might as well beat your ass into the ground."
Yzak held out his own wood sword, grinning from ear to ear.
Kira could tell Yzak was in a mood. "You've been doing late shifts too. Are you sure you can handle sparring me?"
"Shut up," Yzak growled and advanced on Kira immediately. It reminded him starkly of the nightmare he had been found himself in the other night. His hesitation lasted only a moment before he fell into step and weathered the impact of the oncoming wooden sword
Yzak had always been a more aggressive opponent, pressing Kira to take up a defensive position as he parried back and forth.
Tap, tap, tap, Kira deflected Yzak's wooden blade away without having to exert much energy. It was a few fine flicks of his wrist. Of course, if these had been steel blades Kira would find himself compensating for the heavier weapon.
Kira knew the constant parrying agitated Yzak even more and his advances grew aggressive in turn. Yzaks face showed sharp lines of frustration and he broke parry to swing hard at Kira.
It was duel etiquette not to break parry unless both individuals consented to the new terms. Kira adopted a double handed grip on his sword to block the attack, pushing his heels into the dirt and grunting at the impact.
Yzak pulled back, panting as well and glaring at Kira.
"Are you going to fight me or what!"
Kira straightened and changed his grip. "I thought we were sparring."
Yzak threw down his sword in frustration. "Fuck it."
He watched Yzak storm off and Dearka came forward from the small crowd that had formed, grinning. He picked up the wooden sword.
"If he wants to be a little bitch about it, I'll give you something to work for."
Dearka stood in a readied stance with a competitive glint in his eye and Kira readied his own sword too.
"Let's do it."
^.^
The sparring didn't end with Dearka. The group that had formed around the pair grew in size. Once Kira had rendered Dearka as the losing opponent the next person to step forward was Shinn.
Kira relished in the physicality of sparring. He enjoyed the simplicity of it. There were no double dealings or smooth-talking. It was man against man in the purest form. Kira didn't necessarily enjoy the fighting, but he enjoyed the ability to protect those he loved because of his honed fighting skills.
Shinn was a good fighter, equally skilled as he was quick on his feet. Kira hadn't been able to watch Shinn dispatch enemies during the stealth assignment but he had effectively taken down every opponent.
The younger soldier moved lightly on his feet, something Kira had to adjust to after sparring with Yzak and Dearka. Shinn's style was a combination of advancement and waiting. Kira thoroughly enjoyed testing just how far Shinn's skills could go.
Shinn was fast, almost as fast as Kira was. He was also able to test Kira the way Dearka could, using Kira's own movements against him at times.
The crowd that had formed was starting to get out of hand and Kira had to end this quickly. He had hoped that he could provoke Shinn into a rage and falter his attack. However this didn't happen and Shinn seemed to remain fairly level headed. Kira knew the frustration was there though and he could provoke it once he began advancing on the soldier.
That's exactly what he did, quickly advancing forward immediately after a series of attacks from Shinn. Kira could tell he wasn't expecting it, blinking through the first majority of the combination. Shinn was still able to evade Kira's sword.
He was good.
Kira smiled and continued again, advancing his combinations again and again - Shinn stepped back, gaining distance that Kira would close with another quick on-slought of combinations.
It was to Kira's advantage that Shinn kept moving backwards and eventually his steps faltered, his balance was compromised. The opening Kira had been looking for lasted all of a split second and he took full advantage of it.
Kira ducked from the blade and changed his grip, using the pommel of the sword to press it hard upwards into Shinn's abdomen. At this angle, it was the most precise spot to penetrate vital organs and run a man all the way through with a real sword.
Grunting and winded, Shinn's wooden sword dropped and he fell to his knees from the hit. He wrapped his arms around his stomach, panting.
The crowd stirred and Kira straightened, standing over Shinn. "You shouldn't fall back when the opponent is pressing forward. It's more likely to end in a misstep."
"Shut up," Shinn growled once he regained his breathing. He stood up, grabbing his sword. "Let's go again."
"I don't think so," Kira shook his head, putting down his wooden sword. "That's enough for the evening. You have duties in the morning."
Shinn hissed, "I don't care. What, are you afraid to go again?"
"No," Kira turned. "And I wasn't asking - that was an order." He addressed the crowd next, "As for the lot of you, the nightly duties will not do themselves."
Kira walked to the edge of bystanders as they began to disperse and was surprised to catch Athrun casually watching, leaning against a tree where the linens were hanging.
Athrun looked unimpressed.
"Have I done something?" Kira asked as he grabbed a towel from the linens line to wipe the sweat from his forehead, neck and shoulders.
"No," The tone in Athrun's voice made the 'no' seem very much like a 'yes'.
Kira smirked, "want to go a few rounds?"
It felt good to win - it always felt good to win and Kira enjoyed it. Not to gloat or bask in the victory of it however there was satisfaction to be had after winning against an equally skilled opponent. Back in the Destiny days, Kira relished in winning because it meant he could live another day, and so could Cagalli.
He rarely had the chance to spar with others without it resulting in someone trying to kill him - however that wasn't the case for Yzak most days.
"I would rather not," Athrun's gaze rested on the approaching figure behind Kira. "And I'll talk to you instead."
Kira watched Heine's face react to the sudden call from the Prince, raising his eyebrows at Kira then nodding at Athrun. "Yes, Your Highness."
Athrun turned and began walking away, Heine followed quickly on his heels.
Shinn had watched the whole moment happen and said, cheerfully. "He hates you."
^.^
Kira had tried not to let Shinn's words bother him.
They had, to an extent.
It was made worse when Athrun seemed to linger in some off-mood throughout the better half of the day, then into the evening during Kira's night shift.
Kira tried to ignore it as best as he could but it only made him realize how he had come to enjoy the openness he was getting from Athrun these past weeks.
Athrun did not say anything to him and now that Kira was on a strict night-only schedule he had even less time with Athrun. At least he was starting to sleep mostly through the day now.
By the beginning of the fourth night, he had started to become annoyed. Kira received all his orders from Heine or Rau, who rotated between shifts with Athrun. It was intended to be Kira rotating however Athrun had decided it was best that Kira stay leading the troops at night.
Daylight was starting to break over the horizon, Kira watched the sky light up from beneath the dense trees. The group had made camp about half-hour before sunrise and were now starting to wait for their day-shift rotations.
They were a little less than a day's ride away from Jachin Due now.
Kira excused himself early from his duties that morning in hopes to catch Athrun. The Prince was probably already awake and most mornings Kira had completely missed Athrun who was up prior to Kira's arrival to the tent. He had enough of being ignored and was going to figure out what was happening once and for all.
It wasn't a surprise that the tent was empty when Kira came into it and he swore under his breath. Once again, Athrun had been able to completely elude him but something felt wrong. Normally, evidence of Athrun having slept in his bed was apparent from the rumpled bedwear. Instead the sheets were perfectly placed as if no one slept in here at all.
Kira walked to the bed and his suspicions were confirmed: something was up. He saw an array of aristocratic clothes (probably Athrun's) laid out.
The fabric was buttery soft with accents that were pure gold. A note slipped out from the breast of the shirt Kira lifted.
'There is a town approximately North of you. Do not keep me waiting.'
Over and over Kira had told Athrun not to do foolish and impulsive things like this. Rarely did Athrun heed those orders.
Kira quickly changed into the clothes Athrun had set aside. It wasn't indicated that he wear them but it made sense since they were laid out by Athrun. He borrowed a long, hooded coat to hide his face as he moved through the camp undetected.
Briefly, he stopped at Heine's post.
Heine looked at him, looked at the clothes and said. "We'll see you in the morning."
^.^
Kira took one horse and rode it hard north, where apparently there was supposed to be a town. He knew nothing of the area, of the country at all, and the maps hadn't shown any towns nearby.
For all he knew, Kira could be aimlessly wandering around.
The tiredness started to set in about an hour into his ride. He had contemplated allowing his horse to walk while he caught up on some sleep but he thought about Athrun being possibly hours ahead of him - and alone. He had to make it to this unknown town as fast as possible.
It bothered him to some degree that Athrun had even been able to leave the camp under Kira's watch to begin with. He thought perhaps that was the underlying message.
Kira found the town. It was small, smaller than Armoury One. He aimlessly walked through it on horseback. There were a handful of scattered houses on the perimeter, then he had come to the core of the town that had about ten buildings in total: a trading post, a stable, a couple of inns, a tavern and a townhall-type building.
The town was busy with daily activity and Kira dismounted his horse in order to walk it to the stables.
"Four coins," the stableman said.
Kira checked the sign again, "it says two coins."
The stableman laughed, no doubt he hadn't noticed the quality of Kira's clothes, the quality of his horse. This man knew Kira had the money to pay the ridiculous inflation. "Four coins."
"Fine," Kira dug out his coin purse. "She better be well taken care of."
He gave the man money, then the reins and Kira watched as the grey-mare was led away. He briefly wondered if he would see her again before he turned and looked at his next challenge: finding Athrun in this bustling town.
Athrun would be waiting for Kira somewhere that was not only in plain view, but that could be private. It was a daunting task, though not as daunting if this were a bigger keep such as Jachin Due or Armoury One.
Three inns and a tavern later, Kira had finally found him at the last inn on the block.
Athrun was sitting at a table in the far corner. Indeed he was alone, but Kira was shocked to see him wearing common armor, probably something he took from Heine.
Kira approached the table. "Do you enjoy the chase?"
"I do," the corner of Athrun's lips tugged upwards. "There's something about the excitement that never disappoints."
"You're lucky I was the one to go into the damned tent to begin with," Kira lowered his voice. "What if someone else had found that note instead?"
"And no one did," Athrun said smoothly. He beckoned Kira to sit down. "If you intend on standing over the table like that, you will draw attention to us."
Kira clenched his jaw, looking around the busy bar. Indeed there were eyes on the two of them, watching them interact.
Reluctantly, Kira sat down.
"So you're talking to me now?" He was still annoyed at Athrun, and decided now was as good of time as any to bring it up.
"Did my ignoring you feel like punishment? Good." Athrun said, "I recall you and I meeting in a place like this once."
The comment had caught Kira off guard, he wasn't expecting Athrun to talk about something like that. "When you assumed the disguise of Alex."
Athurun's eyes lit up. Kira continued, leaning against the table. "Why are we here? Who are you looking for -"
"You must be tired after your long journey," Athrun said loudly in a different tone. He stood up and bowed deeply. "Let me arrange a room Your Highness, Athrun Zala."
There were several gasps heard throughout the room when the whispers began.
'It's his Highness?'
'The Crown Prince'
'Why is he here?'
There was a man suddenly in front of Kira now, bowing deeply also. "Your Highness, I apologize I did not recognize you. Please allow me to prepare a room for yourself and your servant."
Kira realized he wasn't talking to Athrun.
He was talking to Kira.
"That would be very kind," Athrun said, "Ensure the room is adequate in size and you will send no one up, the Crown Prince does not enjoy company."
The man was clearly confused by Athrun's authority and he stumbled over his words, "Y-yes sir."
Quickly, the man ran off and Kira was suddenly surrounded by others who were in the tavern.
"Your Highness, it's an honor to make your acquaintance. May I assist you with anything?"
"Your Honor, what a pleasure! My family are well-known sheep herders in the area, is there any need to buy the finest wool."
"We heard you are honoring the family name and serving border duty - we are so proud to call you our future King!"
Kira was quickly overwhelmed with bursts of requests while Athrun watched on the sidelines smirking.
He had hoped Athrun would step in and end this nonsense but he never did though. Kira's saving grace was the Inn-keeper who had returned and announced the Crown Prince's room was ready.
"You have all been so kind, however you'll have to excuse the Crown Prince - he has had a long day and wishes to retire." Athrun's voice filled the entirety of the room and he walked around the table, bowing deeply at the waist and gesturing for Kira to go in the direction of the Inn-Keeper.
Kira didn't say anything. He simply obeyed by standing up and then walking down the hall. The people still called out from behind him and Kira felt bad when he didn't reply. He and Athrun walked quickly down the hall, coming to a room at the end of the tiny passage.
"Here your Highness - just as requested." The Inn-Keeper bowed, opening the door and giving Athrun the key.
"Pay the good man, your Highness." Athrun strode through the door.
"Uhh...T-Thank you for your hospitality." Kira dug around in his small purse, not sure how much coin he had left. "What's the going rate for the room?"
"Ninety silver pieces."
"Ninty!" Kira's head jerked up. He quickly jingled his purse around, took a handful of coins (including gold) and gave the rest to the Inns-keeper. "Just, uh.. Keep the change."
His eyes lit up. "Your Highness, your generosity will not be forgotten."
"I hope that the generous payment comes with privacy," Athrun said from the threshold of the door. "Leave us with haste."
Again, the Inns-Keeper looked confused by receiving orders from Athrun. He did as he was told though. He bowed politely as Kira walked into the room and shut the door.
Kira waited until he was sure the footsteps receded then he turned to Athrun. "What the hell?"
"I'm waiting for an informant." Athrun said, walking around the room.
The room was large and had two distinct portions - one was a sitting room, the other was a doorway to a bedroom. The bedroom had a small window that Kira checked out of instinct. It led to a balcony two stories off the ground.
Kira closed the window and returned to Athrun. "I don't see your messenger. Maybe you have the wrong place."
"Perhaps you need to exercise patience." Athrun walked over to the bed, eyeing the sheets. Gingerly he sat down.
"Trust me," Kira glanced back at Athrun, catching his eye. "I have never exercised more patience in my life since meeting you."
Athrun seemed to relax while Kira paced in the main room. He felt uneasy about this meeting.
After a long while, there was commotion at the door.
Kira pressed his ear up to it and heard voices, too many voices for supposedly one person.
'He's inside, that's what they said.'
'Well, let's take his head to the King and then -'
He jerked backwards and into the room Athrun was sitting on the bed. "We need to go."
"Why?"
"Your messenger has been compromised. We need to get out of here." Kira walked to the window, opening it and checking the perimeter again. It seemed they didn't send people out here - yet.
Athrun was behind him, closing the window behind him.
"We're going to have to jump."
Athrun seemed to assess the distance - or maybe his own skill. He seemed hesitant.
Kira said, "I'll go down first and make sure you land soundly."
"Very well."
Kira climbed over the banister and he heard the sound of the door inside the room being broken into. He lowered himself from the rail but was surprised when Athrun's hands gripped Kira's wrist tightly.
Athrun leaned down, whispering in his ear. "There is a red house at the edge of town. Meet me there."
"What -"
Athrun let go and turned around, opening the window-door that gained the attention of their attackers. He had remained behind the actual door and the men only saw Kira hanging off the balcony.
"There he is!"
"We got him!"
"Kill him!"
Athrun quickly climbed up the rail behind the door, grabbing hold of the top of the window-sill and pulled himself up onto the roof.
Kira, however, saw several heavily armored men running towards him from the bedroom.
He didn't have time to think. Kira let go of the rail before a man lunged at him. He didn't land gracefully, swearing as he heard something painfully snap from his fall.
Kira ignored the pain from his ankle and began running. It hadn't taken long for the attackers to make it outside and they chased him through the streets. Kira considered fighting them but knew he had no weapons and wouldn't stand a chance in hand-to-hand combat against four or five steel blades. He may be good but he wasn't that good. So Kira spent the next couple hours running and trying to shake off these unknown soldiers.
He had to make sure they didn't follow Athrun.
Kira started to grow tired when he had finally lost his followers. He ran them around town and feigned his getaway into the woods again (in the opposite direction of the company, even though five men wouldn't make a difference against the sheer size of their company). When he was sure no one followed him, Kira began to search for the mysterious house.
It took him another hour to find it, nestled deep at the edge of town. Already, it was beginning to turn to nightfall.
The house was larger than he expected, red with an intricate roof design. As Kira neared the house he could smell It reeked of perfume. There was also a man outside, laughing along-side a woman. They began making out and the woman moaned loudly.
Kira suddenly knew what kind of house this was.
It was a brothel.
Feeling uneasy, Kira continued up the walkway until he stood on the porch. He knocked on the front door and it took some time before the slider opened. A set of brown eyes with heavy makeup stared back at him.
He held up his last gold coin. "A room please."
The slider closed immediately, there were sounds of a chain and bolt coming unlocked before the door opened.
A woman who looked to be in her late forties was smoking a long skinny pipe and greeted him. Her long, full dress looked as if it were made from the highest quality clothe. It boasted a high collared neckline and grand sleeves that tapered into points at her shoulders, elongating her small waist. Even though the woman was old, she was beautiful.
"How can I help you, good sir?" The woman spoke in a thickly accented voice. "I have many good women available for your coin. Tell me what kind you desire and I will show you how well we take care of our paying customers."
"I would just like a room please, do not send company." Kira said again when another woman began pawing at him. She was barely dressed, in fact what was left of her dress had been unlaced and her breasts were exposed.
From around him, Kira saw women draped over the furniture and sitting in chairs. There were soft moans from another woman who began engaging another in foreplay.
The Madame took a long drag from her pipe and blew a puff of smoke towards Kira. "Ah, yes, I have just room for you. A woman is already there, one of my best for high paying customers. You come and see the generosity of my girls."
She turned and began walking, Kira struggled to keep up. "Uh, Thank you for your generosity but I don't need a woman. I just need a room."
She waved him off and said, "no, you follow me and see you will be brought great pleasure."
Kira followed her to a room near the large atrium of rooms. The entire are was filled with loud sounds of fucking from inside other rooms.
The Madame took Kira to a secluded section with a room on the far side of the main atrium. She gracefully produced a key and unlocked the door, revealing Athrun.
He lounged on a beautiful chaise with an equally beautiful woman wrapped around him. She was completely naked with dark brown hair cascading down her back. Athrun, on the other hand, was fully dressed.
The Madame said, "This is the man who insisted no women just as you say. I brought him to you, sir."
Athrun's green eyes lit up. "Ah, yes. I was wondering what kept you. No matter, you are here now."
"Very good. I will send food when you're ready. Enjoy my girls, enjoy my food. You will see our hospitality is very good." The Madame said. She bowed and left the room.
When Kira was sure she was gone, he glared at Athrun, "I'm sorry, did I keep your fucking waiting?"
The woman shifted on Athrun's lap to look at Kira and he shrugged. "No need to apologize."
Kira sighed outwardly, not expecting the sarcasm from Athrun in a place like this. "Well, now what are we going to do? Did you meet with your-"
Quickly, Kira stopped himself from revealing anymore information as he remembered the women that was still here. He gazed at her.
"No need to worry about her."
"I'm not worried about her. I'm curious about… our previous conversation. Why is she here?"
The beautiful, brown-haired woman sitting on his lap turned around and for the first time since entering the room, Kira paid her some attention.
She gracefully stood up and faced him. Kira remembered the Madame said this was his best girl and, indeed, she was stunning. Her body was lean with full hips and breasts. However her beauty was striking, she was familiar with her large blue-grey eyes.
"Meer?"
Meer graceful pulled a pink silk-slip over her shoulders that had at one point been shrugged off. "Hello, Kira. I missed you dearly."
Confused, he looked back to Athrun. "Was she... your messenger this whole time?"
Athrun looked hesitant before finally speaking. "I had to make sure neither of us were followed here."
A headache was beginning to form in the middle of Kira's temple.
Athrun said to Meer, "go ahead and say what you need."
Meer pulled the rope on her gown tightly around her waist and sat back on the chaise. "Those men were ordered to kill Athrun. He has officially been named a traitor to the Crown."
"They've officially declared Athrun a traitor?" This was news to Kira.
"What about my men?" Athrun asked.
"Also to be hunted down."
"So he finally went and did it." Athrun smiled to himself, as if in on a private joke.
Meer played with a strand of her long brown hair. "There's more: that special task you asked for? Well, I received confirmation and an Orb representative agreed to receive the heirs at Heliopolis in exactly four days from now."
"Very good, indeed." Athrun mused.
Kira snapped his attention back to Athrun. "You can't. It has to be some kind of trap. Think about it: why would someone from Orb have any reason to meet with you? They want to gain back the heirs and kill you."
Kira's words prompted Meer to pout at him and he doubted Meer would try and betray Athrun.
Athrun interrupted. "I'm aware that I am desirable on both sides of the border."
"Listen to reason." Kira pleaded. "They don't want to meet with you. They want to kill you."
"No," Meer interrupted. "They truly want to meet because they trust that their sole heirs of the crown will be returned to Orb."
"Then why do they want Athrun to deliver them? Why can't it be someone else?" Kira pressed the issue.
"I-t has to be the Prince because he's the only one who knows -"
"That's enough, Meer." Athrun raised his hand, signaling that he was done with this conversation. "You too, Kira. There is no need to waste your breath on the subject."
Meer stood up, "Yes, your Highness. Please, allow me to draw you a bath."
"No, that will not be necessary." Athrun stood up too and began walking towards another door that Kira assumed led to the bathing area. "You can ensure my Captain is well taken care of."
He dissapeared behind the door and Meer moved towards Kira. She was untying the belt on her slip, "Let me help you out of those clothes."
Meer's eyes settled on Kira and she lifted her dress.
"N-no, I - uh… it's fine."
Kira stepped backwards and Meer lowered her slip again. She gave him a confused look. "Y-you don't want to?"
"No."
"I see… " She lowered her gaze. There was a sad expression on her face.
"Did I say something to upset you?" Kira asked, genuinely concerned as Meer turned away from him, red blossomed on her face.
Her voice was small. "It's just that If I am not of service here, I will be sent to another client who will use me for service and... " Her voice drifted off rather sadly.
Kira suddenly understood and felt bad for her because it was very possible she was forced into sexual encounters that blurred the lines of consensual.
In that moment he pictured Cagalli and how this could have been her fate. She would have been in the prime of her youth and forced to do these kind of things. Thankfully, unlike Meer, she had somehow found herself in the counsel of Lacus Clyne.
Kira considered Meer for a moment - she was beautiful, young and he imagined her to be rather compliant in bed. Which meant that it could give men the opportunity to do unspeakable things to her. He decided that he couldn't let her leave.
"How about you, uh… help me prepare for a bath. Would that count as service?"
Her eyes lit up. "Yes, My Lord!"
She eagerly began to work on Kira's aristocratic clothing. He allowed her to undo the small and intricate laces until his jacket and pants hung loose on him. It was very non-sexual and Meer prepared a soft cotton white robe for Kira to wear. She slide it over his shoulders and helped tie it at the waist.
"While we wait, I can give you a massage." Meer insisted. "You have been staying at camp these past few weeks, I can't imagine it's been relaxing."
"You're going to give me a real massage, right. No funny business?" Kira said nervously when she pushed Kira's robe off his shoulders and beckoned for him to lay on his stomach on the bed.
Meer giggled. "Yes, of course it will just be a normal massage."
She adjusted the robe to expose his lower back and began to lightly rub his back before she applied a steady, but light pressure. "You really don't enjoy women, do you?"
"It's not that I don't enjoy the company of a woman. I just don't need a woman." Kira said, breathing unsteadily as the light pressure soon turned uncomfortable as Meer found a bundle of knotted muscles.
"Is it because you are infatuated with the Crown Prince?" Meer's hands began working on his shoulders, which were also just as stiff and tired.
"W-what?" Kira groaned at the same time she used a variety of pressure and movement as she worked the muscle slowly into submission. The first ball of tension that became relieved sent a deep sigh through Kira. "I'm not infatuated with him. He keeps me in close counsel."
"I see." Meer said in a voice that sounded condesening. She moved onto the other shoulder. "You just look at him as though you're in love with him."
With that, Kira stopped talking and let Meer continue working on the massage. He really hoped what she was saying wasn't true and that she was just more instinctive than others. He didn't want Athrun to know about those feelings, especially when he wasn't supposed to have those feelings at all.
It was his rule: do not develope any feelings for Athrun Zala.
"You're very stiff," She noted, working on a particularly stubborn knot. "It must be a hard job being in the Crown Prince's counsel."
"No more harder than what you've found yourself in," said Kira. "Working on behalf of Athrun to deliver messages across the border sounds like it would be dangerous."
Meer politely said, "Oh no, it's actually quite easy to travel between the nations."
"Interesting." Kira mused. He groaned again when Meer had finally worked out the knot she had been working on.
"Seems I am interrupting," Athrun announced when he walked out of the bathing room. He was wearing simple sleeping linens. "Perhaps you would enjoy the evening alone with Ms. Campbell."
Meer's hands had stopped moving. "Would you care for a massage too, Your Highness?"
Athrun declined. "No, however I am glad that my Captain is enjoying himself."
Kira rolled over and sat up, refastening his robe over his shoulders. Meer had only worked on his back for a few minutes but already he felt much better.
"You should come with us, Meer." Athrun said, completely serious. "Things could get messy here once word of Jachin Due is out."
Meer looked surprised at this "I-I couldn't possibly leave. This is my home."
Green eyes did not stray from Meer. "I see, well in that case I want to thank you for your assistance however I have to ask another favor of you. Can you ensure our representative is aware we will meet in Heliopolis four fortnights from now to deliver the heirs."
Athrun walked to Meer, placing a sigil in her hand. "And are you sure you do not want to come with me? I promise you will be safe."
Meer looked very conflicted, her and Athrun shared a look that Kira didn't understand. It was strange to see Athrun so openly affectionate to someone, especially a woman since he had favored men. However, he and Meer seemed to have a relationship that was more than blind allegiance. They truly trusted one another.
Shakily, Meer said. "With all due respect, Your Highness, going with you while your father has launched a country wide man-hunt for your men does not seem like it would be in my favor. Besides, I cannot leave here. This is the only home I know."
"I understand." Athrun leaned over her, grinning lightly at her words. "Very well, thank you again Meer. Fetch us some food and feel free to spend the night on the couch."
Meer nodded diligently and turned away to walk to the door.
When she was gone, Kira spoke. "You know they'll kill you the moment you give them the heirs - it's what they want."
"I guess we will find out," said Athrun. "The bath is free."
Kira took that to mean Athrun was done with the conversation, but he asked anyways, "What does this mean for the company?"
"We'll talk after you bathe," Athrun said and sniffed the air mockingly. "You smell of horse."
Kira snorted, though he agreed that he smelt a mixture of sweat, horse and other ungodly outdoors. He walked to the bathroom and noticed the water had already been drawn with fresh towels out and placed for him.
He realized that Athrun must have drawn the water after his own bath, and set the towels out for Kira too. It was unexpected since he didn't know Athrun had those kind of sweet tendencies to notice details like this. Maybe it was because Kira didn't see Athrun as the enduring partner-type.
Kira bathed pragmatically, washing off the slough of the last two days off his body. The tension in his shoulders and legs began to slowly dissipate even more in the hot water and when Kira was done he wrapped a towel around his waist. Water droplets from his hair hit his chest and he quickly used the last of the dirty water to rinse off his clothing, which also had the last days worth of seat and blood on it. He set his clothes out to dry, then walked out of the bathing room with only the towel.
Athrun was sitting on a make-shift pallet with the blankets and sheets that he pulled over near the fireplace. He was sitting idly on it, sprawled and contemptuous. It made him look his age - often Kira forgot that Athrun was younger than himself.
Kira made his way over to where Athrun sat by the fire. He wanted to stake his claim on the pallet since Athrun would more than likely sleep on the bed that was way more luxerious than the floor.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Meer will not be coming back for the evening," Athrun said when Kira approached.
"Makes no difference to me. I only want to sleep," said Kira and he meant that.
He sat down and noticed a plate of food was waiting for him. Athrun continued to gaze at the crackling fire that Kira had realized he must have made on his own because it was not blazing prior to him entering the bath.
Kira ate the food as they sat quietly together.
"Attacking Jachin Due will be difficult if they are expecting my arrival." Athrun said in the comfortable silence. "They will most likely ambush us once we approach the fort."
Kira turned towards him, "You still plan on taking Jachin Due?"
"I have no choice." Athrun said in a moment of pure honesty. "Jachin Due will be added leverage for the exchange with Orb. Now that my Father has declared me a traitor, the council of Orb will be hesitant to accept any treaty negotiations on behalf of the PLANTS."
"It's no small feat, we don't have enough men." Kira didn't bother to include the four-day timeline: somehow in four days Athrun had to take an impenetrable fort, ensure order within the fort and bring the heirs to Heliopolis.
Athrun said, "Mu is stationed close to Jachin Due, he can also convince the Alliance to fight for us. However, we will still lack the numbers necessary to win this. Lacus should have made it to Copernicus City by now. If we have any chance at taking over the fort, it will be with her."
Athrun continued staring into the fire darkly.
"So you want me to lead the attack at Jachin Due?" said Kira. "And you'll rendezvous with Lacus."
Athrun's answer surprised Kira. "On the contrary, actually I want you to be the one to rendezvous with Lacus, and I will lead the men to Jachin Due."
"Why me?" Kira asked, he failed to understand the logic behind him meeting with Lacus instead of Athrun. How was she to trust him? Or did Lacus and Athrun have complete faith in one another that they didn't have any need for such posturing?
"It's simple: Mu will not trust you, he won't take orders from you. I also need him to influence the Alliance." Athrun reasoned.
Of course Athrun would use Captain Murrue's feelings towards Mu as leverage, that was exactly how he reasoned things. Kira hated to admit that it was a genius, yet deceptive plan. The Alliance would not question their leader choice to fight.
Athrun continued, "you will have a fortnight to reach Copernicus. Lacus will provide you with the men necessary to help sway this battle in our favor. I will lead the attack at Jachin Due and hold the lines until they launch the second wave. If you do not arrive with the Clyne Faction when the second wave is deployed then our hope at surviving and winning this battle will be lost."
"Timing will be important," Kira noted. "I still don't really believe that you're okay with letting everything you've worked so hard for rest on my ability to bring you an army in the fray of battle."
Athrun now turned his attention from the fire to gaze at Kira. The quality in his eyes changed as they stared at one another. Quietly, he said. "Consider yourself the missing piece of my fate."
The words sounded haunting to Kira - as if they held a second meaning. There had been so many times that Kira had felt this way and it was just as puzzling, as it was infuriating.
Athrun's green gaze did not flicker when he said, "This is not how I imagined the eve of war to go."
Kira was caught in the beauty of Athrun's emerald green eyes. "How so?"
"With you by my side and in my confidence."
Kira was breathing slower now to mask the effect Athrun had on him. Athrun settled back on his hands, shifting his weight and eyed the backside of Kira's shoulder.
It came as a shock when Athrun reached out and gently traced the rough skin from the twenty-seven tattoos he earned in the league.
"If I recall, you said these came from the academy. However, there was no such practice, was there? It was a lie." Athrun said.
Kira's breathing caught in his throat from the sensation of Athrun's fingers delicately touching the skin there. It almost masked the effect from his direct accusation. "Y-you're right I didn't get them from the Academy. It was before at a different…. facility."
"Was that where you learned to fight?"
Kira weighed his options at this moment, how honest did he want to be with Athrun. Talking about the Destiny League of Assassins was hard for him because it was a rough life. Everyday was a fight to survive and he remembered the time he decided that he could not lose because it meant Cagalli could be in danger too. Her life was his motivation and after his first fight in the ring, he received the first tattoo.
It became a tradition after that and for every opponent Kira encountered he received more talley's. Despite hating the fighting it was Kira's only salvation - a reminder that he had got to live another day and that Cagalli was safe.
"That's where I learned to protect the ones I care about." Kira met Athrun's gaze steadily. "Even if that meant doing things I don't want to."
"So you fight for me because you care about me?"
Athrun leaned his head forward, lowering his hand. The intimate silence enveloped the pair as they remained in close proximity.
"I fight because you were the one to set me free by offering a choice when I had none."
This made Athrun smile and Kira raised an eyebrow at him, "Did I say something astonishing?"
Athrun chuckled, it was deep and throaty. "Sometimes I think I understand you, then there's moments where you've completely surprised me," he admitted.
"That makes two of us."
They lingered like that for a long drawn out moment. Athrun changed his position and drew his knee forward. He was now even closer to Kira than previously.
Kira met Athrun's gaze once again, naturally being drawn to his beautiful emerald eyes that were lit by the firelight.
Athrun looked at ease, there were no signs of the tension that he usually carried around with him. His shoulders were drawn down, and he was staring at Kira without any hesitation or hostility in his eyes.
"You should get some sleep," Athrun suggested after a moment. "This will be the last time you will get any rest before the battle at Jachin Due."
Athrun leaned up to stand in one graceful moment. He made his way over to the bed, and Kira remained on the soft, warm pallet next to the fire. Athrun was right, this would be the last night of true sleep he would get before the fighting started again. And God only knew how tired Kira was.
Kira finished the food from his plate and pushed it aside. It didn't take long for him to lay down and finally, after a full two days, sleep found him quickly.
^.^