Pandora154085: Hi there, how are you? Thank you very much for the sweet review :) I enjoyed writing the video call scene between the two and now I am having problem writing the (upcoming) confrontation between Shiho and Yzak (you will see it coming in this chapter). Fret not, that exchange will pass - this I can promise you. You will also get a glimpse about Yzak's prior engagement. Enjoy the chapter! Looking forward to hear from you, HUGS!
Monkeyheart3: Hi, I am back :) The app and website get cranky at times... I hope you will receive a notification on this update though. Otherwise, there will be 1 less reader I get to talk to :( hehe, thank you so much for the comments! I don't know why I ended up referencing them to big wild cats... Maybe it's because all of them are so, how should I say this, independent? Ezalia, Yzak and Shiho are strong characters. They hold their own, which makes writing the story an interesting experience. It's fun at times, and can be quite a headache too. Glad to hear you like the link-up. I was afraid that readers can't digest it or see how it fit together. I am glad you enjoyed the previous chapter and hope this one will be equally enjoyable too. Let me know what you think of this chapter? P/S: yes, Frigore is an asshole. I like the suggestion about Chloe x Frigore. Let's see!
Just a Crazy-Man: HELLO THERE! Thanks for joining the party, big welcome to you. I hope this chapter makes the cut, hear from you soon ya?
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED & Gundam SEED Destiny.
New Romance: Chapter 8
The sudden buzzing of his phone caught Yzak off guard and had him jumped slightly. Realising the the caller was his mother, he hesitated. It was almost his turn to clear the checkpoint to enter the base. He may be in the special lane meant for big shots due his interim positions, but still… a rule is a rule. No usage of mobile device while in line. It was now or later. In other words, better to pick it up before he gets it worse for not picking up her call. "Mom."
"Come home now." Her words were clipped. It was serious but… "I can't, I need to be onboard Voltaire and Rousseau today. I am clearing the checkpoints soon." He hopes she understand that he has both political and military responsibilities. Unlike her, in the past, just politics.
"Yzak. Matthias. Joule."
Shit. "Mom, please. We can talk about it when I am onboard the ship."
"Why would I bother to order you to come home this instance?"
That stopped him immediately. He hate to admit it but his mother has a point. She doesn't call often. If she does, it is not a good thing most of the time. And yeah, she ordered him too.
"Get Dearka to cover you. No buts. Pick up has been arranged. Don't be late."
The line went dead.
.
.
.
[Mansion of Joule's Estate]
"Mom?" He called aloud as he stepped into the mansion and made his way quickly to the library.
"Master Joule." A man with neatly combed salt-and-pepper hair met him halfway and greeted.
"Alfred." Yzak stopped in his track and hugged the senior citizen. The elder was almost like a grandfather to him, looking after him, his parents and the estate since the time he could remember.
"How are you, Master Joule? It is good to finally see you in person again." The Head Butler pat Yzak's back like how an elderly of the family would. Comforting pressure.
"How are you, Alfred? Mom wants to speak with me, do you know where she is?" Yzak stepped away from the older man and looked at the empty serving tray clasped in his hand to his side.
Following the trial of Yzak's icy blue eyes, the Head Butler nodded. "I just served Madam's favourite cranberry cookies with rooibos tea."
Yzak frowned at the mention of the food and beverage. When she snacks on cookies and paired it with any tea except for chamomile, it only means one thing. Something was up and it disturbs her.
"She is by the main fountain, leading to the Tudor rose maze."
She was Ezalia Joule, almost nothing disturbs her. Especially after the death of her husband. What it was, spells big trouble so much that someone like Ezalia Joule had to occupy herself with snacking on cookies. It could also meant his mother was out of options and was wrecking her brain to think of one.
"Thank you, I will make my way there now."
"Would you like a cup of coffee?"
He has exceeded his daily number of cups but he needed the extra dose. Blame it on last night's horrible sleep. His mind just can't leave him alone. Everytime he close his eyes, all he sees was Shiho bleeding out. In his car. On the makeshift operating table adapted from a steel dining table.
"Yes please, thank you." He offered a small smile before stepping away.
As Yzak made his way downstairs and across the sprawling living area, he couldn't help but to wonder if it was regarding the current situation he faced. He was no longer the Chairwoman's right hand man, but the number one guy on the list for her to remove.
How fast things have changed between them. He thought she trusted him, that he was a man of his own. That he wasn't the son of Ezalia Joule. Guessed he thought wrong or misplaced his faith.
Whatever she could stripped him off, she did. Projects which were oversee by herself personally but assigned him to manage, such as beam weaponry, and successive phase of experimental units were removed from him. Fortunately, projects such as the Mass Driver, upgrade-plus-further weaponisation of ex-Earth Alliance's Daelus Base and Artemis Fortress, and converting Lagash Base into a fully operation-ready base were oversee by the National Defense Committee, even though the idea was his and she was the Chair. Proposal was submitted by him. Approval was based on majority's vote. Implementation was led and managed by him.
Except for both lunar bases. The project was commenced during his mother's time active in politics. It was handed to him when the late Chairman Durandal pardoned him of his war crimes and proposed he make up for his deeds by filling up the vacancy left by his mother's retirement.
Chairman Durandal. Yzak will never forget the shock upon finding out the late Chairman's ridiculous plans. He had always thought that PLANTS is on its way back to its former glory with that guy.
All are lies. What seems to be always turn out to be a beautiful facade hiding the nauseating ugly selfish truth.
(Flashback) Supreme Council, Armoury One
"Councilman Joule." A voice he didn't expect to hear rang clearly into his ears. Parnel Jerzak, the man who almost became his father-in-law, greeted his line of sight as Yzak turned to the direction.
"Sir." He acknowledged with an almost unnoticeable smile. The platinum blonde was trying not to let the rising awkwardness in him show as the older man walked over.
"It has been awhile." Parnel nodded, his face passive but Yzak know better. "Coffee, Sir?"
The ghost of a smile on Parnel's naturally stern looking face told Yzak that he was right. The older man was still the same. Parnel was not keen in small talk, ever. Not when his daughter was still engaged to Yzak.
"It's Parnel." He began, leading the way to the elevator bringing them to the level where the cafe was located on. "Just because you are no longer my son-in-law to be, it doesn't make us strangers."
Yzak almost didn't manage to rein in the appearance of surprise on his face. "Parnel. If I may-"
The older man kept his hand hovering over the 'Closed' symbol to make sure the elevator's door close and does not open for anyone from outside.
"No, you may not." He added calmly right after he brought his hand over the number indicating the storey of cafe.
"There is nothing to apologise about." Parnel knew what the younger man wanted to say. Afterall, this is the first time they spoke after Yzak called off the engagement via the media.
Making such an announcement without informing the other family was downright impolite and childish of him but the burn of betrayal was too intense for him to think it through. The thought of murdering the adulterous pair slipped past his lips and scared the living daylight out of his teammates. Dearka. Nicol. Zala. He remembered Commander Le Creuset and Captain sent the trio out of the meeting room and tried to talking to him. Not to preach to him that 'he was young and there was someone out there waiting for him' kind of talk. But to stall his impending explosion and drag it out for as long as possible. Until they deemed him safe to step out of the meeting room and be around other human beings.
"If you insist, then I will have to apologise to you for my daughter's unfaithful deeds first."
The platinum blonde twitched slightly at the second last word. 'Deeds'. Plural. If he had a tiny bit of feelings for her left in him, he would ask who else was she involved with other than James Frigore. However, it died years ago, together with the benefit of doubt he extended to the idea of arranged marriage on his mother's account. If his chances of fathering a child naturally is shit, then so be it. There is always the Artificial Womb and even with it, his chances remained pathetic, he will accept that it was his fate. He doesn't mind adoption but knew his mother would. He only hopes his future wife share his views about it and was supportive. A particular brunette came to his mind and it left him rigid with shock. He felt his face heating up, all the way down his neck.
He misses her too much. Yes, that must be it.
The moment when he realise Shiho was Nicol's secret fiance suddenly flashed in his mind. Followed by the 'what if'.
What if Nicol wasn't KIA.
Nicol and Shiho would have gotten married right after the First First PLANTS-ALLIANCE War.
Shiho would be pregnant, swelling up with Nicol's kid.
Would it be a daughter or a son? Would he or she resembled more like Shiho or Nicol?
How he wish it would be a girl looking like Shiho and zero resemblance to Nicol. Otherwise, Yzak knew he won't be able to look at the kid even for a second longer. He didn't need to be reminded of the woman he lost to another man, and the child who could have been his and of resemblance to him.
"May I take your order, Councilman Joule?"
"Mocha, please. Thank you." It was Shiho 's favourite, especially the chocolate part. Creamy, thick and sweet. 100% not to his liking but it just came out, much to his own surprise.
The waitress shot him an amused look accompanied with a too-friendly smile before walking away. He understood that look perfectly but no thank you. He knew firsthand how it feels to be cheated on and he doesn't wish that on anyone. He certainly won't do it to Shiho but he wondered how she will react when she learnt about his previous engagement. He can only hope to have her forgiveness, because she was not the first and only woman he had been with. Although it was before they got together, he knew he had to come clean with her one of these days. Especially when their relationship progresses.
"She may be in charge of everyone but it is your call." Parnel spoke, bring him back to reality.
Yzak's eye immediately looked up and stared into his. The older man was referring to Lacus but Yzak has no idea what Parnel was talking about. Does he know about Shiho's forced transfer back to the Frigore Team? Was he instigating him to snatch his Third-in-command back? Or was he referring to two lunar bases which belonged to Earth Alliance once upon a time? He knew Lacus was going to hold him responsible for the cause of oncoming tension with EA, just because he disagree to return at no condition.
He chose his next words carefully. "The pack's Alpha always have the final say."
Parnel hold his fixated stare for a second. "Just because the wolves made their way into your jungle, doesn't make you part of the pack. It doesn't change the fact that you owned it."
The waitress returned with their coffee, causing Parnel to stop talking. Yzak quickly pick up the cup of coffee for a sip and kept his eyes glued to the table. He didn't want to entertain whatever she was trying. He missed Shiho's icy ways. It was aloof, cold, intense but peaceful. Unless it was absolutely necessary, she always kept to herself and leave everyone alone. Solitary.
When the waitress was gone, he returned the cup onto the table, shifting his attention to Parnel, who was watching him the whole time.
"The wolves can't challenge you because they cannot afford it, but they can make you relinquish it without suffering heavy damage on their side. That way they can have the free reign to do whatever they want."
Then it struck him. The lunar bases which once belonged to Earth Alliance. Lacus tried cornering him into returning them without condition but failed, especially when Parnel pointed out both lunar bases were good replacement for ZAFT's lost in space frontier. There was something he didn't quite get it, now that Parnel had brought it up. Why try to make him relinquish when she was the Chairperson? She can easily give the order without going through him.
"They can't afford it." Yzak repeated the words that caught his attention. He didn't quite understand the part.
Parnel nodded. "Your mother added a clause which holds the person in charge of project accountable financially if the new power core and the revamped lunar bases are not operational by the next election."
Yzak almost straightened his back in shock but quickly replaced with leaning backwards against the chair. Was his mom nuts? Held accountable financially? They are talking about lunar bases here. Not grounded military bases. Not one but two lunar bases, being retrofitted with ZAFT's technologies. It was to deter Earth Alliance from reclaiming the lunar bases. If it is to happen, the chances of success is low because their plans were based on the original blueprint, which ZAFT has completely replaced it with Yuri Amalfi's version.
The person in charge of the project involving the two lunar bases was now him. He was not aware of the clause. The day he took over was the day his mother's camp pressing him to complete the project as soon as possible. Everyone was keeping a close eye on the progress as though their life depends on it and he wondered why. Now he knew. When shit is about to happen with EA, those old fogeys of Lacus' will pin them via the two lunar bases. With the notion of taking what was not yours and keeping it. He need to get his hands on the contract and see the clause for himself.
"No one has the means to be accountable except for the one who added the clause. Or should I say, the family."
Yzak kept quiet and maintained holding Parnel's firm gaze. He doesn't wish to discuss about his family's wealth. It wasn't the entire Joule clan, which his mother has fell out with due to her lion's share of inheritance and marriage to his father. The value Parnel was referring to was combined assets of his mother inheritance, her personal assets, and whatever Yzak had inherited from his late father. Now it includes his shares in the two munition firms that made up majority ZAFT's Integrated Design Bureau. All of it amounted to a staggering sum.
"And that is why the wolves can only push you to let it go. If you do, you are able to buy yourself out, they get what they want and not on their expense." Parnel continued, reaching to his cup of coffee and sip.
"You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that clause. That," he returned the cup onto the table and relaxed his posture as he placed his hand on the armrest of the chair. "The lunar bases bought you the positions you are sitting in the Supreme Council and National Defense Committee."
Yzak's blood boiled at his words and what he meant. It made sense now, why and how he was selected to be the interim member in the Supreme Council and the National Defense Committee. It was that clause and financial accountability which no one could afford if things went south. Even the late Chairman Durandal couldn't risk it.
His mother was in charge of the project before being forced into retirement via the house arrest. The next candidate, who has the financial capability, has to be someone within the Joules. And he was already in the military, so next ideal candidate was him. No one wants to be held accountable for such projects and his mother leverage on the family's wealth to keep the lunar bases project within her gasp. Now that she was forced out of the picture, the clause she added ensured her son took over in a way.
His mother had forced them to accept her arrangements with the weight of money.
There were times he wished he wasn't born into a privileged-class family because he didn't want to be part of the downsides accompanying the power. When he was younger and stupid, he enjoyed the convenience but ever since he enrolled into military and fought the war, the ugliness became clear.
"Mrs Joule", Yzak started, he never addressed his mother for work matters. "wasn't above the law. She reports to Chairman Zala."
Parnel nodded with a small smile, which left Yzak feeling uneasy. "Zala wanted the lunar bases. He was a military guy. In fact, everyone wanted the lunar bases for themselves but no one has the capability like the Joules. The Zalas could combine with Clyne but you and I knew they were not best of partners."
The platinum blonde couldn't help but to let the burning question slip. "Please excuse me, Parnel. Why are you telling me all these?"
The older man let the almost unnoticeable tilt at the corners of his lips became a full smile. "I don't need anything from you or the Joules."
"The group that stepped into your jungle are wolves. You and I aren't dogs. We don't belong to the pack."
Yzak was tempted to pick up the cup of diabetic-causing caffeine beverage but decided against it. He didn't know how to respond to him. Nothing comes for free in this world, especially in the territory he was thrown in to. However any movement now would be considered as discomfort or skirmish. As much as everyone on the Round Table was aware he is new and inexperienced, he didn't need to add on to it. He need to be in control or appear as such, no matter how much it scares him and frustrates him. Look where Shiho was now, because of him.
"I thought it will be a waste if you let them corner you into returning it. You mother went great length to ensure the lunar bases remain with ZAFT." Parnel continued as soon as he realised the platinum blonde was not going to respond.
"I am not returning them." Yzak assured, minding his tone, which almost sounded clipped. "Those monkeys won't return the stolen territories for those lunar bases. Anyone who had fought head-on with them know this. Only a paper general doesn't get it." Letting his anger towards Lacus slipped with his words. Anger wasn't the correct word to describe the murderous emotion surging in him. Heck, he would never be able to find a right word. He was going to finish her but to do so without letting Shiho find out about what her friend did and asking why he did what he did was a tall order. That drove the deep-seated rage and urge of action up another notch.
"Paper general," a small snort of chuckle slipped from Parnel as he nodded in agreement. "I may not be a military guy but it seems we have a common level of understanding." He picked up his cup and raised it towards Yzak in a small toast.
"I wish you the best of luck, Chairman Joule."
(End of Flashback)
The sudden warmth enveloping him brought him back to reality. Someone was hugging him. For a second, his mind wandered to a particular brunette but noting the identical platinum blonde chops pressed to his chest.
"You lost weight, son." She pulled back to scan him from head to toe. Her ice-blue orbs dragged themselves back to study his face and worry crumpled her ever-youthful face. "You looked tired."
He didn't how to respond because he didn't wish to worry her further. He really was tired, exhausted even. He had not slept peacefully since the assassination attempt. The recurring intrusive memories. Shiho calling his name in fear moments before she hit the ground. He remembered the grip of his bodyguards on him as they jumped into action, pulling him away to safety, leaving the brunette there on the ground. The guilt left him out of breath, suffocated. If it wasn't for Dearka who got to Shiho and carried her to safety and recon before his bodyguards implement the protocol, he was sure that everyone will leave her there to bleed out. It was the harsh truth. People like him had the luxury of bodyguards. She was a nobody. People like her were left to fend for herself or meet their demise. Or be used as pawns.
What haunted him most was the smile she had when he desperately tried to keep her with him, not letting her slip. The feeling of her cold fingers on his face as she smile weakly at him. A choking mix of joy, relief, and resignation in her dulling purple eyes. That was the part where he felt trapped and helpless. His conscious mind reminded him that Shiho was alive and recovering but the recurring dream refuse to let him have it.
The overwhelming fear and guilt were coiled tightly around his neck and chest in a choke hold. Squeezing every pocket of air out of him, holding him down and immobilising him. Thank God for Dearka, who would hurry over and wake him up. Apparently, he was calling out for Shiho, voicing out his fear of her death.
He didn't know how much longer this will continue. Dearka, being a good friend, didn't mind or voice any complaints about following him home and camp in the guest room just to make sure he was there to get him out of the recurring dream. The platinum blonde did insist that his friend should go to his girlfriend, who was putting up at his apartment instead of camping over every night. However, his best friend refused. This arrangement can't go on forever.
"Son?" He felt his mother's warm hand tenderly stroking the side of his face. Worry and a hint of anxiety etched on her face and in her eyes. She must have caught it. Since he was a kid and even after he enlisted into ZAFT which cause them to see each other rarely, his mother always knew what was wrong him. "You need to see a therapist. You-"
Before his mother finished the sentence about the state of his mental health, which he also suspected, Yzak interrupted her with a smile. "I'm fine, mom. Don't worry."
"You need a therapist to manage it. Otherwise, it is going to get worse."
Yzak shook his head and brought his hands over his mom's.
"Dearka refused to pick up my call even. It's serious, isn't it?"
Yzak raised an eyebrow at the mention of his friend. His mom even called Dearka… and he seems to be the only one around with balls big enough to ignore her calls. Made of steel even. Respect.
He wrapped his fingers firmly around his mom's and brought them down. The warmth of Ezalia's hands reminded him of the chilly ones of a particular brunette. "I just need to get a good shut-eye and I will be fine." He gave her smaller hands a gentle squeeze.
Ezalia looked down at her son's hand firmly clasped around hers. Funny how it seems as though it was yesterday when it was the other way around. How he would run over, welcome her home with a hug and wrapped his little fingers around her index as they made their way into the mansion. Her hands were bigger then, enveloping her son's chubby hand in a firm grasp. He would start telling her what's for dinner and which dish was her favourite and his favourite, before asking if she will be eating right away or going to shower first.
Yes, it was difficult to imagine her son to be the talkative sort. He was, if he wasn't upset or throwing one of his monstrous tantrums. As he gets older, he grew quieter as he became more aware of his surroundings and who he was. There are times she was saddened and even feel guilty about it. Reality silenced her chatty free-spirited boy but she was thankful that his childhood gestures remained. He was still the same endearing boy who will hug her whenever he sees her and again before either of them leaves. Nowadays, the one who come and go was him, and he still hugged her when he arrived and just before he leaves. Every once in a while, he would hold her hand. No longer a psychological need of a child wanting to be close or expressing his feelings, but emphasizing his point as an adult now, assuring his mother that he was alright. In truth, he wasn't. Her child is having post-traumatic stress from the recent assassination attempt.
She will get to the bottom of this.
For now, she need her little boy to be well again.
"Go to her, son." She returned the comforting squeeze, causing her son to look at her as though he was hearing things.
"Seeing her will help." Her poor boy was in a bad shape and the best cure was the girl whom he was and still worried about. Ezalia saw the photos of them at the party which were going around. She even saw those extra shots that were swiftly removed before it could be circulated further. Those which confirmed the two are definitely into each other. The ones taken when they were on the dance floor. The look in the girl's eyes as her son held her close told Ezalia that she had been waiting on her boy for a while now.
When he gets better, Ezalia was going smack him for this. For making his anxious mother search high and low for a suitable girl when he has one right in front of him. Even though Shiho's background was tricky, Ezalia didn't mind one bit. She had worked with the brunette before and to say the young woman was smart and capable was an oversimplification. She is aggressive in a silent and tactful manner. She knows what she wants and foresee what others would react. The brunette was already managing the people around her when she decides to make herself or her plans known. Shiho picks her battle wisely, when to fight tooth and nails and when to retreat, to live to fight another day. Did she mention how well-mannered Shiho was? Smart, capable and well-behaved girl.
Best of all, she was born from a Natural. Shiho is a Generation 1 Coordinator. Her mother was a Natural, while Jordan Hahnenfuss was her father. Sterility was out of the equation. The problem faced by successive generations of Coordinators, including Yzak who was Generation 2 Coordinator, was not applicable to her.
Furthermore, Shiho is the living example of Natural Selection at its finest. Her soft facial features and soft figure* were from Miyako, while her outstanding height*, eye colour and intrinsic capabilities were from Jordan Hahnenfuss. With that and the fact Shiho was unplanned (to put it nicely), it was a clear indication that nature managed to pair her mother's genetic traits with her father's enhanced genetics perfectly and naturally without the intervention of a 'patchworker'.
(*Unless it was an unplanned pregnancy, Coordinators women are pegged to certain height and figure during the 'patchwork' procedure.)
Most Generation 1 Coordinators who came from unplanned pregnancy, are not 'perfectly build' like Shiho, physically and/or intrinsic capabilities or even both. They are the ones who fall short of the benchmarks and standards in the society, meant for 'patched' Coordinators. In academics, military, workforce etc. Hence, the ongoing discrimination of Generation 1 Coordinators in PLANTS' society. They are also the ones who migrate to ORB, and never come back. This is also one reason behind worrying PLANTS' birth rate. The sterility problem and the generation without this issue were outcasted by their own kind and left for a place who was more welcoming and accepting.
Now Ezalia only hope things work out between her son and Shiho. With the brunette, the chances of Ezalia being a grandmother was not as bleak as before. And if she was lucky, she hope her grandchildren inherited their mother's natural gift, being a 'perfect build' Coordinators and able to birth to next generation without the need for patchworkers. All through natural selection, just like their mother (Shiho).
Sigh. She really hope Yzak didn't take her request for minimum of 4 grandchildren as a joke. She meant it. It wasn't as though they couldn't afford it and short of help in taking care of them. She was more than ready to help take care of the 4 adorable carbon copies (yes, Ezalia was very sure) of her son and Shiho personally.
Shiho is what her boy needs.
The girl is good for him. She will be able to reign him in instead of letting him terrorise his way around or charging through a shop full of fragile and/or priceless China wares.
"I did. We have a video call this morning." His quiet voice cut her train of thoughts. And she couldn't believe what her ears picked up.
"Video call?" She rolled her eyes mentally. My God. Does she have to teach her boy about dating and how girls in general love pleasant surprise? Isaac, are you watching this? You left too soon and now I have to teach your son how to chase a girl!
Goodness, if her son keeps this up, she is never going to carry her grandchildren in her arms in this lifetime! "If you have to, find an excuse to get her out of base, spend time together. You two are supposed to be dating, for God's sake."
When she see no reaction from Yzak, she lost it. Does she always have to use the topic which he clearly was uncomfortable discussing with his mother?
"You just turn 21, Yzak! You are still in your prime! Shiho is two years younger than you. Basically, both of you are young adults. Where are the raging hormones? Where is the PDA and all that lovey dovey business? How can you sound so bored and uninterested after spending a night with her? Shouldn't you be dying to meet with her soon and get on with it?"
She wasn't expecting her son to react in this manner. He let go of her hands and stabbed a hand through his hair. She was expecting him to correct her with a burning red face full of embarrassment.
"Because she is on Earth and everyone wants a piece of her. The media is dying to find out about her. Lacus is using her as a shield. That son of the bitch, Frigore, will find a way to deploy her into the battlefield."
Her boy was clearly affected by the lack of sleep and the situation with Shiho and Lacus. She had always thought the current Chairwoman was an idealist but smart nonetheless. With the move she made involving Shiho, apparently Ezalia has been wrong. She was a bimbo all right. The pink-haired woman literally shoved her son to take up arms against her, rather than preventing it.
There was a saying to keep a friend closer but enemy closer. While her boy was no enemy but more of a threat, Lacus shouldn't have done it. It was stern notice to Yzak not to try anything funny and a warning to Ezalia whose House Arrest was coming to an end. Well, in the eyes of the bimbo, it seemed to be a warning but Ezalia doesn't consider it. For her son's sake, Ezalia wouldn't mind keeping a look out for her. In any case that Shiho ended up as civilian casualty, Ezalia won't bat an eyelid about it. She learnt her lesson the hard way, via the death of her husband. While she wouldn't wish for the same for her son, if it is what it takes for her reluctant boy to take over what she has and where she has stopped, so be it. Come to think of it, she should thank Lacus. Ezalia wondered if she should let the woman off the hook easy when she was done with this boring House Arrest.
"Who gave you this bouquet?" Her boy asked, picking up the bunch of flowers in strange arrangement on the table. Ezalia waited for a moment to let her boy decipher the meaning behind each flower and the message the bouquet was conveying.
"The Lion of ORB's Lilly." Yzak said, his hand ghosted over the pink flower representing ORB's Cagalli Yula Attha. It was the same flower seen in the Princess' insignia. A lion with a lonely stalk of pink Lily. The flower was tied together with a fully bloomed red camellia. Shiho.
The latter was the icon flooding the comments field of his social media page. The public took it as a symbol of Shiho. A chuckle was at the edge of his lips. The nickname he gave her, which she took as her personal insignia, was Housenka. The hardy balsam, 'Touch Me Not' flower. Not this pretty but fragile looking thing.
Strange. The lily and camellia were tied together with a separate black ribbon while the remaining flowers were held together by the binds hidden by the wrapping paper. There was a stalk of purple iris, black iris, and rosebay. He recognised the purple flower with three upright petals which represents faith, wisdom and valor, "Amalfi?"
His mother nodded and continued to watch him. She was expecting an answer from him. One he doesn't have and doesn't know where to start looking from.
"Why is the Amalfis sending you flowers?" His voice raised a little in anger and bewilderment. "None of it is your favourite." That brought a smile to Ezalia. At least her boy didn't forget about what his mom likes when he found himself a girl. Good boy.
"Myself." Ezalia started, tracing the flower in the Amalfi's family crest, "and Yuri Amalfi are both under House Arrest."
Yzak arched his eyebrow at what his mother was implying.
"Conversation under such circumstances have to be in form of gestures. Traditional. Vague." She took the bouquet from her son and shook her head. "You have much to learn…"
Holding the bouquet to him, she made sure it was facing him in a way that appears as though he was receiving it. Pointing to highest point of the bouquet, the north of the bunch, which happens to the purple iris, Ezalia arched an eyebrow at her prompting him to speak what the flower represents.
"The Amalfis."
She tapped her finger on the flower again. "Secondary representation. I have a message for you." The moment the words left her lips, her boy straightened in surprise at the hidden meaning of the flower. Good. She has his attention now.
She brought her perfectly manicured finger to the next flower in a clockwise direction. It was also an iris but black in colour. Its petal were wider and frilled at the edges, making the entire iris flower look bearded. Chill crawled over his entire being. It was difficult to look at it for another second. It sends a wave of deep unwavering ominous energy. "Mystery. Strange."
What surprised the young man was the small unnoticeable mushroom beside the black bearded iris. "Suspicion." She pointed out to her son as she follows his gaze.
Next was a cluster of tiny yet gracefully tapered-shaped reddish pink and brown flowers, which appeared to be in mid-bloom. The flowers are 2 to 3 cm in diameter, slightly asymmetrical, with protruding stigmas.
Strange, the dainty little florals surround a lonely stalk of red camellia. If it wasn't for the bright red and fully bloomed flower, Yzak wouldn't see it. It appears as though it was drowning in the sea of reddish-pink. "Don't let these little flowers fooled you. Rosebay symbolises danger."
"Shiho is in danger?"
At the end of clockwise direction, there was the tied stalk of pink Lily and red camellia he had spotted when he first saw the bouquet.
"What does it mean? Why is Shiho and Cagalli are tied together? The Amalfis is telling us that they suspect Shiho is in danger and it has got to do with the Princess of ORB?"
She took out a gift card which appeared unwritten and blank. Removed a petal from the purple iris and lightly rubbed it across the seemingly blank gift card. The rich purple shade of the iris petal stained the card and in a second, a hexagonal pattern resembling a typical honeycomb appeared.
Ezalia knew what the message was about immediately but her boy doesn't. If the Princess of ORB wasn't in the picture, she would have let herself chuckled at the look of utter frustration and lost on her boy's face. It was a look she has not seen in years. Yzak always have this expression when he is confused but dying to find out, and was about to go into his monster fit of rage.
"The Hive." She revealed. As much as she missed those days when she was the only woman in her son's life and his antics, now is not the time to walk down memory lane. Especially his temper.
"The Amalfis are sending message to tell us that ORB is looking into Shiho and she could be in danger."
Ezalia shot him a sideways glance, "you need to acquaint yourself with the language of flowers." Yzak made a face as though she brought a spoon full of spinach and ordered him to eat it. Some things never change. "You wouldn't know when you might need it."
Her boy kept quiet and his lips had an almost unnoticeable tilt of defiance.
"How else do we communicate? Without a digital trace. Any suggestion?" She asked, bringing the gift card and the petal to the tea candle set on the table with her plate of cookies and tea. The flame caught the edge of the card and in a couple of seconds, the gift card and the petal no longer exist.
Yzak breathed out a defeated exhale and nodded. "What should we do now? We can't stop ORB digging up about Shiho. The Hive reports only to the Princess and works only for her. They don't share Intel."
The platinum blonde stabbed a hand into his hair again. Goodness, more shit with each day. And he needs a haircut. "Why does the Princess use a CIA-equivalent agency to find out how her friend has been these few years? She can just ask her. They had a small catch up the other day."
Something flashed in his mother's eyes. "There must be more to Shiho than what we know about her -"
Yzak cut her off the second her words leave her lips, "what do you mean?"
Ezalia pursed her lips in annoyance and arched an eyebrow at her son. He may be an adult now but she doesn't take such a tone from anyone. Including him.
He cleared his throat and lowered his gaze slightly from his earlier straight stare into his mother's eyes. "I don't get what you have just said… more to Shiho than what we know."
He took a step forward and let his mother see the worry and questions swimming in his eyes. He didn't mean to be rude but he was starting to have enough of Shiho being pulled into the shit he was in. It was his fight, not hers.
First was Lacus. And it seemed ORB was next. He can handle Lacus, not this instance but he will make sure he put an end to her soon. ORB is a different player all together. The princess of ORB has become a force in her own rights. If she decides to use Shiho against him, he didn't want to think about the possibilities but the odds were against him. He had to bring the fight to her grounds, in contrast to his situation with Lacus.
He had kept himself away from the truth that PLANTS was his for the taking. He was aware of his mother's intentions but for the longest time, he didn't want it. He wasn't keen. Furthermore, Lacus wants it and people support her, why not? All was fine - his interim service in exchange for his mother's release was coming to an end.
Until one fine day, Lacus unexpected push his buttons. First was via his mother. Second was through Shiho. That was the wake up call he needed. The pink haired Coordinator had allowed herself to be fooled by those old fogeys from her late father's camp into thinking that she owns the ground she walked on. She was wrong. She has nothing to prove her ownership but ideas and words she speaks. Whereas for Yzak, he almost have everything needed to seize it back. Almost. All that was left - participating and winning the election. If he has to leverage on the two munition firms he had inherited and the direct association with ZAFT's fighting capability and PLANTS security, so be it. He could have extended the courtesy of giving her a warning, a leeway for her to back off but he decided against it. She didn't deserve it. She was picking on him, on his ground, in his territory. She was asking for death. And he will give it to her. Lacus Clyne is of no threat. No significance to him. Cagalli Yula Attha is.
The Lioness today was no longer a naive idealist cub, who was crazy enough to shoot down the ZAFT's Desert Force units with bazooka. She was no longer the helpless and lost newly-minted Chief Representative who was strung along into an arranged marriage with another formidable political rival.
The snarling cub have grown into a full fledge hunter. The Lioness went after the remaining royal families and finished them off as though they were rodents, and consolidated the divided power under her roof. She took back control of the military and placed people who have fought with her during both wars into key and strategic post in the ORB's military. Monogrete Inc, the munition manufacturing firm of ORB was not spared. It underwent a restructure which saw a refresh of many personnels. One of them was the Princess of ORB sitting right on top and bringing her trusted aides into the company.
The Lioness had seen enough of her territory, decided to exterminate the vermins and took back her rightful place at the top of food chain. If she decides to reach out to Shiho and keep her within her gasp, Yzak was no match.
The Lioness was in her plains. He would have to leave his territory and go to her - somewhere he was unfamiliar with and knew no one and nothing. Nothing to his advantage at all.
Wait.
There was Athrun Zala. The fierce Princess has a soft spot for that man, as much as she doesn't want to admit.
"How much do you know about your girlfriend?"
Yzak fidgeted at the term. While he likes the sound of it but he was very much aware that their relationship was off to a rocky start. They were separated right after they got together. Well, in a way. And no, he doesn't know much about his girlfriend's story. He was familiar with her work antics and behaviour but nothing on her thought patterns. Aside that she keeps to herself, has a really bad sweet tooth, her biological mother has passed, he knew nothing about her, from her.
Damn. He felt like the worst boyfriend in history.
"According to Jordan Hahnenfuss, she was adopted by old Madam Hahnenfuss. According to Shiho, old Madam Hahnenfuss is her guardian. Her biological mother is dead." Yzak revealed, watching his mother intently. He wondered if she knew about it or knew it way before him. "She… is not on the best term with Mrs Hahnenfuss and Chloe. Her tone when she briefly mentioned about them. Chloe was more outspoken about it."
A sarcastic chuckle slipped from his mother's red painted lips. "Of course. She is pissed with the portion Shiho will inherit. Typical of successive generations like her. Depend on old money and not earning her keep."
Yzak was about to ask how she knew about it, specifically the portion Shiho will inherit, when his mother shot him a somewhat disapproving look. "I thought you had better taste than that, son. Of all people, you have to sleep with Chloe."
The younger Joule was about to come his own defense, when she raise an pointed index finger at him.
"You better come clean with Shiho about all the girls you have been with."
He should have expected his mom to know about his… activities. He wonder if she knew who they were. It left him uncomfortable but mostly awkward.
"Don't try anything funny and exclude a handful. I won't be able to save you if she finds out and comes after you with a knife." His mother added calmly. "I'm not surprised if she comes after you tell her who have slept with. Especially her half sister."
The last two words got his attention immediately. "Half sister?" He had suspected so, because of they shared the same eye colour. And yes, his mom knew about Shiho's background, more than him apparently.
"You need to step up your game, son." Ezalia placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "You don't know much about her it seems."
He didn't know what to make of that sentence but it did struck a nerve. Does it matter that he doesn't know much about her? He knew her through the first war and fought alongside with her through two wars. They have seen the worst of each other. Every ugly sides of themselves, vulnerable, injured, frightened, guilt and grief-stricken. From being battle-worn, emotionally and physically to being battle-harden. He doesn't believe that there is more about her that matters to him. She has seen him in his craziest fit of rage, heartless exchange of words and moments where no one will believe that Terror of ZAFT was capable of emotions associated with weak. She has seen it all and yet, she chose to hang around. Well, he persuaded her after he found out about her feelings for him.
"Is there something I should know?" He threw it back at his mom. Come to think of it, Yzak recalled Shiho was hesitant about being together with him.
"I am in no position to speak of her story… but there must be something more to it, now that CIA-equivalent agency such as The Hive is looking into it." Ezalia said quietly.
Her piercing gaze softens to one of unspoken empathy. "You should get her to tell you… it may not mean much but for her, it's not easy and it won't get easier being with you."
Yzak blew out an exasperated breath. Provided she wants to tell him. "I don't want to push her."
"Son," she stepped forward, standing in front of him, forcing him to look nowhere else but at her. "She has been an independent girl for all her life. You need to make it clear that she has you now. She is who she is today because she fends for herself. You need to make her feel comfortable enough to trust you."
Yzak kept quiet and look at his mum in the eye. These are things he wished he knew how to go about. Fighting in the war seems a lot easier and more straightforward than being in a relationship. In his previous committed relationship with Brenda, he made an effort to pick up her antics, likes and dislikes. It wasn't much on the intrinsic stuff like trust, being a pillar to the other etc. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Brenda and himself were brought together through arranged marriage.
"When I learnt that her biological mother has passed, she was literally yelling at me." Ezalia arched an eyebrow and looked amused. "In my face," he added and she nodded with an expression of approval. She was clearly very amused with the fact that a girl yelled at her son, and leaving him to recount in a defeated manner to his mom.
"Unless I piss her off again, I doubt she will tell me anything."
Ezalia placed the bouquet on the table and stepped forward to hold her boy in a comforting hug. Just like how she always did after she found out he fell and hurt himself but refuse to cry or talk about it. She felt tension left his stiff shoulders as he rested her head to shoulder. The gesture reminded her of the past, when he was much younger. Back then,she had to bring herself down to her boy's height just to hold him.
"Go to her, son. Talk to her. Tell her everything you feel about her, what you wish you knew and most importantly, you just want to be close to her."
Her poor boy. He met his match this time.
As she brought a hand to gently pat his head, she can't help but to feel amused. This girl is really something. One whom she approves.
.
.
.
[Carpenteria Base, EARTH]
The brunette looked out of the blue depth of the sea at the opposite side of thick glass wall, which separates the ZAFT base and the sea that surrounds them. Dahlia's phone in her hand.
She managed to scare the poor girl into handing over her phone. A tinge of guilt pinched her heart but she can ignore it. All she had to do was to keep quiet and kept her eyes locked on hers. For 3 seconds and she yields.
If she wasn't pissed with Yzak, she would have laugh. How easy it was to scare people with her poker face.
Now that she has Dahlia's phone, she hesitated. She wasn't afraid of confronting Yzak about his past engagement, her current situation, and why Lacus was involved. Hell, she lost count on the number of times they clashed with each other when Commander Le Creuset was alive.
She wasn't ready to hear about why and/or how he ended being engaged. While she somewhat suspected that it was infidelity which caused the engagement to end (thanks to Dahlia's heated exchange with Commander Frigore), she wasn't ready to hear him speak of his ex-fiancee too. How her name would sound, coming from him.
Will it has the same gentle warmth? Just as he calls her name.
Or will it carry the hint of amusement? Like how it was whenever he calls her by the nickname 'Housenka'?
His ex-wife to be.
He was going to be a married man.
Had he like her before? Like her enough to propose and marry her?
The whirlwind of emotions came storming back. Messing up her mind to the point where she can't form a proper sentence or thought. Leaving her breathless with her chest feeling constricted as though someone wrapped binds around it and had pulled too tight. Her limbs cold and frozen with dread and fear.
The bone chilling emotion prevented her from lifting the device to her line of sight and make the call.
What was happening to her? This seemed a lot more challenging than pulling the trigger at an enemy.
"Major?"
That voice again. Shiho straightened up, locked her arms and crossed her wrists over one another as she turned around.
A familiar and yet-not-so-familiar sight greeted her. Black hair and red orbs, a colour which reminds her of freshly smeared blood. Scarlet and eery. The hue disturbs her but the warmth of recognition and pleasant surprise in his eyes took away from of the chilling emotion.
Why does he always appear happy to see her?
"I didn't mean to disturb you-" He was about to turn around and leave.
"Do I remind you of someone?" Okay, that was unintentional. It came out faster before she register it.
His reaction was exactly like a deer caught by a headlight. Stunned. Speechless. A pang of guilt struck her. That was the problem with her. She knew she come across as the silent kind of scary. She used it so often to fend people off that it was almost natural now.
She almost shook her head, "it's just … feel like you know me but I don't recall anything from before."
His pursed lips and tensed inhale of air told her everything. She reminded him of someone alright. Judging from the glimmer of joy when they first met at this base, she reminded him of someone close. A girl maybe.
"During the exercise to test the new pilot suit." He started quietly, "you fought like her."
Then it clicked. He mentioned to Dahlia in response that 'she' was happier now, or so he had hoped. Dahlia knew him from before because she was tending to someone who Asuka knew…. Definitely a girl. And she didn't make it.
The memory of her late mother dying in her arms came flooding back. Suppressing it, she decided to distract herself and kick-start a conversation. She didn't like the topic but she knew firsthand how heavy it felt not to be able to talk to someone about it. She has yet to and something tells her that he hasn't.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She assumed he was referring to a late lover from his original team.
The guy in front of her looked up at her sharply in surprised, or shock even. He stepped forward to join her in front of the massive panel. Staring out into the soothing dark blue, he had a small smile. A sad one.
"She didn't make it." He put it simply. He didn't know he was going to talk to Major Hahnenfuss about Stella and he didn't know how. He did not talk to Luna about Stella even. She knew about the Extended but the strained silence coming from her when their conversation ventures near to the late Extended or her change in tone told Shinn that Luna wasn't pleased. He didn't know how to react to that or how to make it go away. Does the problem lies with him?
"The war made all of us lonelier." Major Hahnenfuss added quietly.
Shinn didn't expect her to react calmly. Afterall he was saying that she was reminding him of someone who had passed away and she offered him an outlet. She should feel offended and baffled. He too, was puzzled at the feeling of being drawn to the brunette.
Her piloting skills was one of the things that reminded him of Stella, but there was something else. Like a sort of awareness, of her presence at the back of his mind. It sounds absurd but it felt that way. Ever since their first encounter on the battlefield, he felt as though something about her had latched onto his subconscious mind and whenever she was on the battlefield, he would know. As though the little buzzer at the back of his mind flared up and became a shrilling alarm. Otherwise, it was there, resembling a string pulled straight but remained still, on standby. There are times it felt as though it was strung so tight, with tension pulling at both opposite directions, that it was on the verge of snapping.
He recalled the time Stella was in ZAFT's base, the awareness dulled as her body began to fail her. That was when he figured the presence was linked to her. With her death, it disappeared instantly and he felt empty. Until that mass exercise to test the pilot suit. Until DEEP ARMS entered the battlefield.
The strange yet familiar awareness returned. Unlike Stella, it doesn't appear to latch itself at the back of his mind. He felt it as it bounce off him. It reminds him of how some nocturnal animals moves around in the dark, through echo. Bouncing high frequency soundwaves of the nearest obstacles or surfaces to 'see' the available, unobstructed path ahead.
Despite the tension and adrenaline rush from being on the battlefield, it surrounds him with a sense of calm and stillness. He should feel disturb about it but he didn't. Instead, he welcomed it, reminding him of someone who he had missed very much. Someone, whose childlike innocence soothes him. It was a fleeting but treasured moment. He will never be able to forget the time he met her, in the lovely soft flowy dress. The dark consuming sense of anger, anguish and hatred took a backseat.
When Stella was physically there with him, she filled him a sense of amusement and joy at her childlike wonder. It was an emotion he never felt ever since the death of his sister.
Noting the brunette in front of him, her quiet disposition and keen eyes sent a wave of stillness through him. He felt as though he was staring in the eyes of a sated predator. Dangerous but currently not in the mind or mood to kill. She was just watching him. If it wasn't for the softness of reminiscence in her purple eyes, he would straightened up and keep his mouth shut.
Just like how he was when Commander-Councilman Joule was onboard the ship to meet with his Commander once. Although there was hurry in his stride, the set shoulders and clenched jaws worn by Commander Joule as he walked past had everyone parting like the red sea, and quickly followed by a sharp salute. Not even their Commander was capable to command such response.
That brief moment when Yzak Joule walk past was enough for him to understand why he was called Terror of ZAFT.
The tension and authority radiating off the platinum blonde reminded him of an wild animal who was walking through, keeping a keen eye on his surrounding, and was ready to bite anyone's head clean off at a slight trigger.
"Did you manage to weave a flower for her?" Major Hahnenfuss asked.
Right. He did not reply to her earlier comment.
"I don't know what flower she likes…" He spoke with hesitation and a tinge of regret, "so I offered a favourite of my sister and mother."
The sudden downward tilt in his scarlet orbs with the dip in his voice told her everything she needs to know. He did not lost one but three women. His lover. His sister. His mother.
She can't help but to feel her eyebrows drew closer as her heart wrenched in pain for the guy in front of her. She lost her mother and she has yet to face it, to speak about it. It was too painful. It paralyses her. It chokes her. It left her chest constricted and her head in a mess.
And Asuka lost three women close to him, two of them were family. How did he cope with the pain?
"I am sorry, Asuka." She offered softly, completely dropping the cold edge in her voice. It earned her a smile, one that was with comfort and his scarlet orbs no longer seemed eery anymore. "It's Shinn, Major."
The brunette nodded and extended her open palm to him. "Shiho."
The young man took it and his smile morphed into a bright one.
Just then the sound of phone vibrating drifted over. Shinn let go of Shiho's hands and reached for his phone in his pocket. Taking it out, the screen shows the photo of Luna. The brunette was surprised that the guy hesitated on picking up. She found herself eyeing to and from Shinn and his phone. It was getting awkward. Maybe he was waiting for her to disappear. She was about to take a step backwards and leave him to pick up when he rejected the call.
A tensed exhale slipped from the young man. Stabbing a hand into his dark hair, he looked much older with the frown on his face.
"I am not a pro in this… but dragging it out..." Shiho started slowly, watching his expression and body language carefully. "It is going to make it worse."
While the brunette knew nothing about the girl in the photo except that she was a Red because she was in uniform, the fact that her face wasn't the ones she saw in the briefing room told Shiho enough. She was a Red but not an Elite. That was why she wasn't here but Shinn is. Only Red Elites were transferred to Earth for the likely operation against Earth Alliance.
It shows a lot about Supreme Council's stand on the current territorial conflict. They have had enough. Earth Alliance either return what they took or PLANTS will take everything rightfully theirs by force. Judging the mobile suits rolling into the hangar last night (when she was there with Dahlia), PLANTS meant all force necessary. It was as though they were out to wipe the nearest Earth Alliance base clean off the surface of this planet.
Red Elites rarely got transferred out of their team, which are considered as Special Units. Small, tight-knit team but highly effective when deployed. Kill-rate on battlefield was very close to 100%. In terms of number of personnel in a Special Unit team, technical specifications of their mobile suits and command structure, it was polar opposite from the regular teams on the frontline. It was almost like Covert Ops kind of level. In this base now, there are enough of them to form an independent Special Unit altogether. Thus, the brunette concluded that the Supreme Council has completely ran out of patience, to the point they pulled Red Elites out of their small units, which doesn't happen without the blessing of the Headquarter and National Defense Committee, and ship them to , apparently Red Elites are big shots.
"Did you inform her?" Shiho started. "The instruction was to inform next-of-kin, with the usual 'deployment' as the only vocabulary." Shinn started, looking up at her and slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Mine are no longer -"
"Kin or not… since the both of you are together, you should have told her. Even the standard 'deployment' is better than nothing." Shiho cut him off, earning a surprised and slightly guilty look from him.
"This is just my opinion." She quickly added, "I know I would prefer that rather than my boyfriend goes completely off grid without a word."
"You mean Commander Joule disappears suddenly for meetings with Supreme Council and National Defence Committee?"
Shiho felt her eyebrow raised in surprise at the guy's natural reference of Yzak being her boyfriend. She opened her mouth wanting to correct him but closed immediately after at the recent fact. Shinn wasn't wrong but she also can't acknowledge openly. At least until she knows it was alright for her to do. Bet she looked like a dumb-looking goldfish.
"Commander Joule and you are seeing each other right? Everyone is talking about it." Shinn asked calmly, as though they were talking about the weather. He noticed the slight twitch in the corners of her pursed lips. The silence from her was becoming deafening. "Sorry, it's none of my business."
She shook her head quickly, "it's alright." She toyed Dahlia's mobile and thought about how she was going to speak to Yzak on their situation. She didn't want to blast at him the moment he picked up the call. If the messages he sent yesterday were of any indication, he was having a bad time. If she can't be there with him, she didn't want to add to it.
"It's complicated." Shiho exhaled.
"I don't know Commander Joule personally. Neither as Councilman Joule…" Shinn started quietly. Gaining full attention of the brunette who went still and looked at him intently. It felt as though he had piqued the interest of the predator in front of him and it was now eyeing him with interest and out of curiosity. The unwavering stare was beginning to make him feel unease. It feels as though she was the Enforcer, right-hand of the Master. Yzak Joule has a dominating aura which send everyone back to their rightful place without a challenge. Whereas, Shiho Hahnenfuss has a great deal of stealth and dignity in the way she carries herself. Her quiet confidence hides the possibly cunning and deceitful nature behind her patience and silent, watchful gaze. He couldn't help but to feel that he was staring into the eyes of a elegant yet seasoned hunter. Beautiful, strong, but cunning and fierce.
It felt as though she was waiting for him to say the wrong words and she will slaughter him there and then.
"The way he looks at you." He said anyway. He could tell he was about to ask a question but he beat her to it.
"During the live broadcast… both of you were waiting for your turn to weave the flowers at the Memorial Wall." Anyone who was looking at the big screens wouldn't miss it. Terror of ZAFT, as much as he tries to keep it under wraps, had a soft spot for the brunette. The only woman known was his mother, Ezalia Joule. Now there is a Major Hahnenfuss.
"The mind will align what you see to what you perceive." She corrected in a futile attempt.
A small sad smile appeared as a distant memory flashed across his mind. "My dad had that look whenever he stole glances of my mum, who was busy with chores or getting us to move our lazy butts."
The brunette turned to look at him. Her lips was pursed. There was something she wanted to say but didn't. "He seemed so fascinated with her… like she was the most amusing and precious thing in his eyes."
An almost inaudible laugh slipped as he slid his hands into the pocket and looked out of the gigantic glass panel to the dark depths of the sea on the other side.
Shiho recognised that expression on him all too well. The young man lost his father too, alongside with his mum and sister.
Shinn lost his family to the war. "I am sorry." The overwhelming emotion of pity for his loss mixed with envy. "I am not wanted so I can't imagine..." Widened scarlet eyes met her gaze. She doesn't share about her background normally but she felt different.
"When I have children of my own someday, I hope their father stick around."
Her attention wandered back to dark ocean in front of her. She wandered if she will ever get married and have a family of her own. She will have to leave the military to have a kid or children but it doesn't matter if her wishes come true. Her kid(s) to be healthy, happy and not inherit her 'weirdness'. She was cold to touch, afraid of chill, bad migraine and backache, acute spatial awareness. The latter was a complete nuisance. She tends to be extremely attuned to her surroundings which tires her out.
"Commander Joule doesn't seem to be an jackass." He was quick to add, it seems that he was fairly certain about Yzak and her being a couple. "If there is any truth to it, his ex-fiancee cheated on him."
That got her attention immediately. "You knew about it too?"
He shook his head. "No, I heard others talking about it but it wasn't exactly relevant." The abrupt halt in his words got her attention. The impulse to push him for more details became too strong to ignore.
"What was the actual topic about then?"
He swallowed and shrugged casually, well, he tried to but Shiho has spoken to him long enough to know he wasn't a person who shrugged. Casual conversation, yes, but not someone who shrugs.
"I am part of the discussion, isn't it?" Very likely, to see him behaving in this manner.
"You have been around here longer than I am," he started, "these cafeteria talks are useless."
She crossed her arms and had her back against the cold glass panel. Her purple orbs locked with his surprised scarlet ones. If she has to squeeze him like how she did to Dahlia, she will. However, another approach works better in his case.
"Recovering from bullet wounds is boring the life out of me."
He tilted his head a little to the side as he hesitated. She offered him an easy smile.
"The others (Red Elites) were saying disciplinary action was just an excuse for your deployment here." Shinn finally started, taking a step closer, keeping his volume down. "They were saying Lacus was using you to force Yzak into giving up the Artemis Fortress and Daelus Base-"
"We have Artemis Fortress was because of Nicol!" She straightened up immediately, clenched teeth and fisted hands. The calm exterior explodes into boiling rage. "He shut the system down. Nicol won it fair and square!"
The black-haired male was taken aback by her unexpected outburst. Major Hahnenfuss was known for her icy ways and how she remains in control with the volatile Terror of ZAFT. This reaction of hers was more of a Yzak Joule's behaviour.
"They said Lacus blamed Yzak for the situation with Earth Alliance. She wants him to return both-"
The brunette cut him off again, the look of utter disbelief and ridiculousness marred her face. "The lunar bases are almost operationally ready! Yuri Amalfi's designs are weaved into them. How can we just return? This is stupid. This isn't the Lacus I know."
Shinn looked surprised at her last line. He wondered if both women are friends. Everyone know who Lacus was because she is the Chairwoman but judging from Shiho's reaction, it seemed as though they are friends.
If they are, he wasn't sure about sharing more. It might be driving a wedge between both women.
"It doesn't make any sense. Even if we returned the lunar bases, it doesn't mean EA will return our territory. The lunar bases don't mean a thing to them, compared to the territories they occupy now."
He agrees with Shiho. When he first heard it, he didn't believe it either. It sounded almost retarded. Nothing was for free in this world. Ever.
"Some suspected Lacus didn't want Yzak to participate in the upcoming election." Shiho kept quiet instantly. While she still looks pissed but the way she was looking at him with her lips pursed into a thin line, she was expecting him to continue. "They said his chance of winning is high."
Shinn recalled what other Red Elites said. "The National Defense Committee did not agree with Lacus and all members supported Commander Joule."
The brunette crossed her arms, skepticism on her face. Wait till she hears what he is going to say next. "It is going around that even Parnel Jersak spoke up, while Jordan Hahnenfuss and Tad Elthman voted against Lacus." Shiho's eyes widened at the last three names. Those three were known to hold their peace until the very last minute or when it's a do-or-die situation. Their actions and words, especially Parnel Jersak, carried heavy weight and has a swing effect.
If all these are true… "what's left is the people's support." Shiho muttered to herself. It was all starting to make sense now. Why Commander Frigore said those words and Dahlia's sarcastic retaliation about Lacus. Then it all clicked into place. The social media posts by Yzak. It also explained how and why Ezalia Joule came into the picture.
Everyone was getting to Yzak through her.
Lacus was holding her on Earth, at the base where the third war is likely to start, as a warning to Yzak. Shiho will probably be sent onto the frontlines, which is why Dahlia was here. Ezalia wants Yzak to focus on kicking Lacus out and had offered her 'help', by ensuring Shiho doesn't get deployed. Best way around it was on medical reasons.
The situation served Ezalia well. Her son, who was not keen in politics, has been targeted, and by none other than the faction who saw to her forced retirement. It was a perfect excuse for her to get back at Lacus and the old fogeys of the late Siegel Clyne and moderate faction. It was also a God-sent opportunity to push her son to take over her positions permanently, and to do so, winning the election - the first step towards getting rid of Lacus.
The sense of dread washed over her. Yzak and her got together recently and this had happened. How many more of these to come?
"This (relationship) is a mistake."
End of Chapter 8
Author's note: Sorry everyone. I got married and got a house for myself and husband. Hence, the delay.
I hope you like this chapter - I lost count of the number of times I have edited it.
First was the symbolism of flowers. There are simply too many variations for the flowers used in this chapter so let's accept the version I went with, cool?
Second was my take on the growing problem among Coordinators - increasing sterility in successive generation of Coordinator.
Third, Shiho's genetic or biology make-up. If anyone is confused, please make yourself known so I can explain it to you :)
Fourth, the interactions between Yzak and Ezalia. I love writing this scene, especially Ezalia's mental ramblings. Do you like it? What's your take on my depiction of her?
Fifth, conversation with Yzak's (ex) father-in-law to be. It was dificult to paint that image of him and Yzak's thoughts about the conversation.
I am wondering how I should squeeze in some fluff in the next chapter, to make it up to all of you. Let me know how you feel about this chapter, ya? You guys always make my day :D *HUGS*