Phase 2: Lacus Clyne

It was now sunset. Athrun was sitting in the Aegis trying to make radio contact again. "Nothing, there's too much damn interference," he moaned. The N-jammers that the coordinators planted beneath the earths surface, blocked all radio communication that wasn't in very close proximity to one another. "Huh, storm," Athrun noticed clouds rolling in and some lightning in the distance. That's going to make contacting anyone all that more difficult.

Still tied up, Cagalli wriggled up an embankment like a worm. A strike of lightning gave her a fright and she accidentally threw herself up and backwards, sending her rolling down the embankment and landing face first in the water. She managed to roll herself onto her back before taking a big gasp of air. It had now started pouring rain on her face, "Oh great." She tried to pull her hands free from the restraints but to no avail, "Sheesh". Cagalli quickly held her breath as a wave was about to wash over her.

Might as well just give up trying to make contact for now and find shelter from the storm. I'll try again when the rain is done, Athrun thought to himself. Sure he had everything he needed in the Aegis and could have just stayed in the cockpit, but then what would happen to the young lady? He lifted the arm of the Aegis to fire a distress signal beacon into the ocean. He noticed the blonde laying in the water and that the arm of his machine was stopping the rain from falling on her, so he left it up. I better go look if she's alright.

Cagalli was now trying to catch up on her breathing as the waves died down. She noticed that something was now blocking the rain from falling on her, it was the arm of the mobile suit high above her.

"Hey there. What you doin'?" Athrun said sarcastically as he walked to where the girl was struggling.

"Isn't that fairly obvious?"

"Hmm"

"I can't move. Don't just stand there, hurry up and help me!" Cagalli demanded.

"I don't think you're in any position to tell me what to do," Athrun said mockingly.

"Shut up and give me a hand," Cagalli snapped. Not pleased that he had put her in this situation and was now finding it amusing.

Athrun studied her a bit longer before walking into the water. He didn't seem to be worried about getting his boots and socks wet. "Are you okay?" he asked after helping her sit up.

Athrun found himself staring into her eyes. He hadn't been this close to her face when he wasn't trying to kill her. She had the biggest most sincere amber eyes; with beautiful golden hair that layered down to a point, from her chin to in between her shoulders. Her hair had a slight curl to it as it was wet from the water and was now covering her face.

Cagalli forgot to answer him as she stared into the greenest eyes she had ever seen in her life, with midnight blue hair that reached his shoulders. She found his combination of blue hair and green eyes mesmerizing. Sure Cagalli wasn't your typical girly girl and she detested the opposite sex, but even she had to admit this was a good looking guy.

Their hatred and surroundings forgotten, as the girl was still sitting in the water, with the boy crouched in front of her. His hands were still on her shoulders, when suddenly she felt something moving in her hair. A little crab crawled out of her hair and onto his hand. It tickled him as it ran up his arm and then fell off into the water. Athrun let out a warm chuckle.

"What's so funny about a little crab?"

"Sorry it's just that; I've never experienced this kind of thing, before coming to earth." Athrun explained.

"Why, don't you have crabs in the Plants?" Cagalli asked with a snarky tone as she stood up and hopped away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Athrun protested.

Cagalli hopped her way out from under the mobile suit. "I'm trying to wash myself off in the rain. I'm completely covered in sand."

Hmmm, maybe I should untie her. She says she's not with the Earth Forces, and I threw her gun into the water... Athrun pondered. What harm could it do?

"Ahh," Cagalli smiled. "This feels so good," she said and then let off a little giggle.

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Having the young girl as his captive reminded Athrun of when he found out that his fiancé was a captive aboard the enemy's ship that they had been chasing since Heliopolis.

Lacus and Athrun were now standing on the door of the Aegis' cockpit, after Kira had snuck her out of the Archangel and returned her to Athrun."Thank you for everything you've done Mr. Yamato, and Athrun you as well," Lacus expressed her gratitude to the two men.Athrun bowed to his fiancé.Athrun's thoughts then blurred from that point into the next day when he spoke to Lacus on the Vesalius."You are a guest aboard this vessel, but the Vesalius is a war ship; please be careful not to wander outside of your room." Athrun instructed as he escorted Lacus back to her quarters."I have been told that everywhere I go, it's not much fun.""It can't be helped, can it," Athrun said in a friendly tone. "That's the situation you're in right now." The room fell quiet for a few seconds as Athrun just stared at Lacus."Is something wrong?" Lacus asked turning around to face him."I was wondering how you were getting along. I mean you were taken hostage and were forced to go through so much."Lacus giggled, "I'm in very good spirits, thank you. Rest assured, your friend treated me with respect and dignity while I was on their vessel.""Is that right?""I found Mr Yamato to be a kind individual and he has a very strong character.""He's nothing but a misguided fool," Athrun said with his expression turning to anger. "He insists that he's not a soldier yet he's still piloting that thing. He's just being used but he justifies it, something about protecting his friends." Athrun's fist were now shaking in anger as his head hung low and with his eyes closed. "It's because his parents are naturals that's why..."Lacus lifted her hand to caress Athrun's face, but he pulled away from her. Lacus was simply not his comfort place."He told me himself that he would much rather not fight against you," Lacus said trying to make him feel better."He's not the only one! Why would I want to...?" Athrun paused as he gathered himself. "I ask for your forgiveness," he didn't like being around people when he was feeling emotional. And her defending and taking Kira's side wasn't helping him feel any better. "If you'll please excuse me," he turned on his heel and walked through the doorway. Lacus sometimes felt like just another obligation to him, and right now he just needed a break from all of that."When I Look upon you, there's a different person there. Lately I can only see bitterness," Lacus spoke softly and honestly.Athrun didn't turn back to face her, "I can't exactly fight a war with a big smile on my face." He closed the door between them. He had never spoken to her this way before. He was always known for being calm, collected and polite; but he was going through a lot and felt like he had no one to turn to or lean on for support.

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Athrun was fascinated with this blonde girl in front of him, that was still trying to wash herself off in the rain. She wasn't like the other girls he had met in his life. She's really odd, he softly chuckled to himself. He walked over to the girl that had her back toward him.

Cagalli felt the ropes around her hands and feet loosen and fall to the ground. She was shocked as she turned to see the soldier cutting her restraints, and with the same knife he almost killed her with. They stood in the rain and stared at each other for a few seconds.

Athrun was once again getting drenched in water coming to the girls rescue. He turned to face away from her. "You can fight all you want; but with no weapons, you're not much of a threat to me" he said as he closed his knife.

"Hey, what do you mean?" Cagalli said offended by the remark.

Athrun remembered seeing something move under her vest when he was cutting the ropes. "Oh and you seem to have a stowaway," he said with a smile as he turned his head back to look at her.

Cagalli felt all over her abdomen. When she felt something moving by her stomach, she panicked and yanked both her tops and vest up. The young girl gasped as another little crab fell out from between her shirts. "You're right," she admitted.

Athrun wasn't one to stare or make a woman feel uncomfortable; but he couldn't help but notice her slim feminine figure that she was hiding under her big, bulky clothes. She had an hourglass figure and her stomach was quite fit. She had one of those sexy belly buttons that weren't round, but rather pulled into a line because of how fit she is. Is that... the bottom of her breast?! Athrun gulped.

Cagalli lowered her arms but hadn't yet covered her stomach. "Hey," she said accusingly as she realized he had been staring at her this whole time, and she was pretty sure that one of her boobs was hanging out a bit before. Man, I've got to start wearing a bra, she told herself. She was still getting used to her new womanly figure and was putting off wearing a bra for as long as she could manage. She was always one for comfort above looks.

The short haired girl was still looking at Athrun with a pout and a raised brow. Athrun blushed and looked away. He has never stared at a woman like that before, let alone gotten caught in the act. He had also never seen that much of a woman before. You are spoken for Athrun, get it together, he scolded himself. He started to walk away but lost his balance and fell into the water.

Cagalli smirked evilly enjoying the payback. She gracefully strolled passed him, making it know that she wasn't going to help.

Athrun nervously chuckled as he got up and followed after the girl. Cagalli was annoyed with herself for thinking it, but she found it cute how nervous he was all of a sudden. The enemies found a cave where they could wither the storm. Athrun had made a fire for them to keep warm and dry off.

Cagalli watched as the young coordinator was now building a stand for her to dry her clothes on, out of sticks. She watched him tie two sets of sticks together at the top and then stood them up and rested another stick on top of that. He's kinda strange. One minute she was his prisoner and the next he's her knight in shining armour.

"Here's a blanket for you to cover yourself," Athrun said as he handed a blue one to her.

"Thanks," Cagalli replied softly.

"I'll be outside while you uh..." Athrun said awkwardly as he pointed to her wet clothes. He couldn't even finish the sentence. He began walking toward the opening of the cave.

"Are you crazy? It's pouring out there!"

Athrun stopped in his tracks, stunned that she was protesting the fact that he wanted to give her privacy. He then let off a sceptical smirk, Is she trying to be nice?

"Just stand by the door, and you better not peak!" Cagalli warned.

Luckily Athrun was still facing away from her as he blushed at her warning, remembering their earlier peaking situation. He walked to the opening of the cave and stood watching the rain.

Despite the noise from the rain, everything the girl did echoed in the cave. Athrun could hear her vest get zipped open and removed. She then removed her boots. He then heard the material of her pants crinkle as she pulled them down. He gulped as this was all a bit too intimate for his liking.

Cagalli tried to undress as quickly as possible as she felt uncomfortable about being half naked around the strange man. She was also sure he was just another typical guy that would try to sneak a peak. She left on her mint green panty and her strappy green under shirt. She ran to hang up her clothes and then quickly covered herself in the blanket.

This emerald eyed man was giving Cagalli his only blanket and it appeared as if he was going to remain in his wet clothes and shoes so that she could dry off. Cagalli was beginning to feel conflicted as she had grown to hate ZAFT and its soldiers, but this guy was different from the ones she had met.

The two enemies quietly sat on opposite sides of the fire thinking about life and the war, and waiting for the storm to pass.

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