Title: Rose-Scented Paper
Theme: #5: Against the World
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1178
Characters/Pairings: Cagalli and one other character (hahaha will remain unnamed just because), AthrunxCagalli
Author's Notes: this is sort of ramble-y, and very random. but hang in there! there is AxC in there, I promise! please dont hurt me this is set after the original Seed, and semi-ignores the OVA, and does ignore Destiny, sorry for any OOC-ness
Cagalli ran her fingers through her hair, doing her best not to scream as she stalked down the deserted hallway. Those stupid, stuck up, brainless idiots! Nothing was getting done because no one was willing to get along! This was the attitude which had caused such slaughter in the first place.
A small cluster of OMNI representatives looked at her strangely as she stormed past them, muttering among themselves as soon as she passed. Everyone here stuck to their 'own kind,' as the President of the United States had so wonderfully stated. This was almost no different than the war itself, except now guns had been replaced by words.
She slowed at last as she reached the large, interior tropical gardens that were part of the convention center that the peace talks were being held it. She breathed in the moist air with a sigh, wandering down a nearly empty path, and sitting at last along the edge of a small pond. She held her head in her hands, willing her anger to go away. She couldn't blow up at all the stubborn representatives from the Plants and the Earth Alliance countries. She had been a leading figure among those who had ended the war, and was the nominated representative for Orb. No matter how much it seemed like she was alone against the world, she had to keep fighting on for peace.
She would kill Kira later. He had vanished earlier, opting to escape the peace discussions—though they were more like arguments than discussions—rather than stay to give her a bit of emotional support.
The peace conference had been going poorly so far. Over the past week, the only thing anyone had agreed on was that they wanted peace. But some stiff-necked Earth Alliance members refused to allow Coordinators to live on Earth, wanting to preserve the "blue and pure Earth" that the Blue Cosmos fought for. And Patrick Zala, for all his disgrace, still seemed to have some supporters among the representative from the PLANTs, and especially from ZAFT. No one was willing to yield on their own demands, which resulted in the current stalemate.
And on top of it all, everyone seemed to either be fascinated—the less common reaction—or disgusted—the more common reaction—with her, since it had been leaked that she was a half-Coordinator. Very few representatives would even acknowledge here, let alone consider what she had to say.
"Why ever are people so…so stupid!" she muttered angrily to herself, pounding her fist on the ledge next to her. No one was willing to see beyond appearances to the person inside, or willing to compromise. Who you used to be, and what status you were, was all that mattered, not who you were now, or where you wanted to and intended to go. It reminded her…well, of school. Popularity was all that mattered, not who you really were on the inside.
"Representative Athha," a sharp voice said, startling Cagalli and causing her to almost fall backwards into the pond. A hand grabbing her arm saved her as she blushed and jumped to her feet to meet her addresser with surprise.
"Councilman Jule," Cagalli replied, trying to recollect her composure. She had seen Yzak Jule at a distance before, and knew of his role in the war. He had fought for ZAFT, but had turned out to be a decent guy in the end. She'd exchanged greetings with Dearka Elthman earlier, who was now Yzak's bodyguard, but not with the newly elected PLANT councilman himself. "Can I help you with something?"
Yzak nodded, looking quite uncomfortable. "Yes, Representative Athha. And…it may be better if you just call me Yzak, especially with what news I have to tell you."
Cagalli blinked. That wasn't what she had expected to hear. "Very well, Yzak. And you may call me Cagalli then. Representative Athha…it's just too formal."
Yzak smiled only barely, though Cagalli had a feeling it was more than he usually showed. "Very well Cagalli. I have come to discuss a plan proposed by Miss Lacus Clyne."
Cagalli nodded. She had known Lacus was here as well, but they hadn't had time to meet, each with opposite schedules. "And what does she need to talk to me about?"
Yzak took a deep breath, then continued. "She has a plan for a peace settlement. I've heard the details, and while I don't love it, I don't hate it. It's meant to be a compromise that hopefully even those Earth Alliance idiots will agree to."
Cagalli laughed softly. "And who else would support this plan?"
"Myself, Lacus of course, Athrun—"
"Athrun?" Cagalli asked, surprised. "The last I heard, he was on the PLANTs trying to clean up the mess his father made."
"He got here last night," Yzak replied with a frown as he watched Cagalli.
Cagalli sighed, turning away slightly. He hadn't even called her to tell her that he would be here. Come to think of it, she hadn't talked to him since they had parted ways after the war, her to return to a destroyed Orb, and him to return to fix what his father had broken. Not that she hadn't tried to contact him, but he always had been off someone, in some meeting or another.
"Cagalli, he also asked me to give you…this…" Yzak said through gritted teeth, holding out a tiny slip of paper that smelled slightly of roses. He seemed utterly disgusted to be holding it, snatching his hand back as soon as Cagalli's fingers closed around it. She unfolded it with nervous fingers, blinking at the few words written there.
Tonight at 9:00 PM on the terrace"That's it? That idiot!" she shouted, covering her excitement with anger. "This is all he says to me—and not even says, writes—after four months!"
Yzak smiled faintly. "Zala did want to call, you know. But he couldn't for diplomatic reasons. And trust me, it wasn't fun dealing with him these past few months. Though it was nice to see him squirm a bit." He grew more serious though as he continued. "But he is serious about you. He loves you. He sits and writes letters to you, and throws them out because they aren't perfect. So just don't kill him. As much as I don't like him, he doesn't deserve that."
Cagalli was startled. From what she'd heard from Athrun about Yzak, he didn't have a soft side at all. But it seemed that maybe his soul wasn't all black. "Thank you Yzak. And tell Lacus I'm in."
He nodded, flashing her a mock salute and a wry grin as he wandered off down the path, imitating Dearka so much that Cagalli couldn't help but giggle. But he soon passed from her thoughts as she clenched the tiny piece of paper to her chest, breathing in its sweet scent. Maybe the whole world wasn't against them. After all, she would see Athrun tonight at last. And she would be giving him a little piece of her mind.
Hmmm I personally think Yzak is a bit OOC here, but I've been told he's not, so I dont know. hehehehe but I hope you liked!
xxravenwingxx
