Phase 29: An Era Of Peace
"Are you kidding? ZAFT will have my head on a platter," Athrun's words stuck in Cagalli's head. "For a soldier to desert his army, it's a much more serious matter than you seem to think!" She also remembered Mr La Flaga saying to her. He was right, she hadn't truly stopped to think how dangerous and selfless it was for all of these men and women to desert the military and fight for Orb. Cagalli never wanted to assume the throne, but she had very little choice in the matter. The only way out of it would be to run away again, but she felt too guilt ridden to do so. She felt guilty for how she had treated her father the past year; and would feel guilty if anything were to happen to these brave men and women, because she didn't take her place to protect them. And then there is the fact that Orb would be left to the Seirans if she did not return. She owed it to everyone to put her own wants and feelings aside, and take her rightful place.
Cagalli had called a meeting for everyone to gather in the hanger of the Archangel the next morning. She wore her military uniform in hopes of being taken seriously. "Okay good, now that everyone is here; I would like to thank you all for your heroic efforts in fighting for my country. I realise now how brave you all are. I'm not sure how things will work now with my father being gone as I'm not of legal age yet to assume the throne on my own," Cagalli spoke honestly as she looked over to Kisaka to validate what she was saying. "But with whatever power I am given, I would like to offer you all sanctuary in Orb. I know the consequences you face if you go back home; so for those that want it, I offer you a job in our military, a place to stay and a new alias to go by. We will protect you the way you protected us." Cagalli finished off with a bow.
Kisaka felt proud of how the young girl was maturing as he went to stand next to her and saluted the crew of the Eternal and the Archangel. The rest of the Orb Forces followed Kisaka's lead.
Athrun was speechless and in awe of the young woman that had stolen his heart. He did however, finally feel at ease in getting an answer from her about him moving to Orb. Everyone seemed happy about the news as the hanger was now filled with excitement and conversation.
"Your father would be proud," Kisaka said as he placed a hand on Cagalli's shoulder. Athrun emerged from the crowd and came to stand next to Cagalli. Kisaka looked over at the young coordinator, "You are good for her. Since she has met you she has become the person she was always capable of being." Kisaka knew this meeting had something to do with the boy in front of him. He then saluted Athrun before turning on his heel and leaving the blushing teenagers to themselves.
"Don't listen to him, he's old," Cagalli grumbled.
Athrun just chuckled at his new girlfriend's silly antics.
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The events of last night were replaying in Cagalli's head as her and Athrun walked together through the Archangel. It was one of her most memorable nights to date, for good and bad reasons.
Athrun was in the shower when Cagalli barged in and stuck her head in the toilet. He turned stiff like an ironing board and quickly shut the water off.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see anything I swear," Cagalli said from inside the toilet, to the man behind her.
Athrun put a towel around his waist and climbed out of the shower to see if Cagalli was alright.
"I don't know why people enjoy this," Cagalli moaned as she swore to herself she'd never drink again.
Athrun chuckled as he rubbed her back and tried to pull her hair out of her face. Cagalli then stood up and rinsed her mouth out in the basin, too embarrassed to even look at Athrun now. As the noise in the bathroom died down they could now here the radio that was in the room.
Cagalli eventually turned around and then stood frozen as she stared at him. She hadn't seen his upper half bare since that night on the island when she injured and had to doctor him. Thinking of that night made her wonder... Cagalli then pushed his right arm back and studied his side. There it was, a scar from her foolishness that night in the cave. She took the hand she used to move is arm and slowly rested it on his side. She caressed the mark with her thumb. She slid her hands across his chest and slowly made her way over to his left arm as she looked for where she shot him, she touched that mark too. She began studying him all over for more wounds, gently tracing each scar with her fingers. It saddened her to think he had been hurt so many times.
A song began playing from the bedroom. Athrun wasn't one to dance, but he couldn't help but pull Cagalli closer and begin swaying to the music. The lyrics most certainly caught their attention.
I met you in the dark, you lit me up
You made me feel as though I was enough
We danced the night away, we drank too much
I held your hair back when
You were throwing up
Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told ya
I think that you should get some rest
I knew I loved you then
But you'd never know
'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I know I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
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Cagalli and Athrun were now in the Archangel's cafeteria grabbing a bite for breakfast with everyone. They sat across from each other, at one of the tables.
"So are any of those scars from Heliopolis?" Cagalli asked playing with the food on her plate.
"No," Athrun confirmed. "So, where were you that day?" Athrun enquired as he put a bite of food in his mouth.
"I was in the college, I was looking for evidence of the mobile suits. That was actually the day I met Kira." Cagalli told him.
"What? That was the first time I saw Kira since we separated as kids." Athrun said surprised. "How did we miss each other then?" He wondered .
"Well I had run off when everyone started evacuating and Kira followed me."
"That does sound like something you would do in a crisis," Athrun laughed.
Cagalli looked at him with an annoyed look for interrupting her story and for the comment he made. "Anyway, we made it to the factory district where Captain Ramius tried to shoot us. Kira then dragged me to a shelter and just shoved me in. He said he was going to run across to the other shelters, but I take it that never happened."
"That must have been when I shot Captain Ramius and he jumped down to help her. She shot at me too and shoved Kira into the Strike with her."
"What? He never told me that."
"If only I were a few seconds earlier..." Athrun wondered softly.
"What? So that you could have shot me too?" Cagalli asked snarky.
"No, so that we could have met and been together sooner."
Cagalli rolled her eyes, but she did find it strange how they missed each other by such a short gap. It did seem like they were meant to meet.
Kira, Lacus, Dearka, Miriallia, and the others ended up joining them at their table.
"So what are we talking about?" Kira asked Athrun and Cagalli.
They were all finally in a world of peace as they all laughed and shared more stories of that day as to where they each were and how they all almost crossed each other's paths.
And so what started with Heliopolis, ended with Heliopolis.
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End