After a lengthy shower hot enough to boil a lobster, Yzak switched the faucet to cold. The fat droplets spilled over his body, drawing shivers as the sudden change in temperature left him gasping for air. With a final deep breath, the silver haired boy shut off the water and stepped out onto the mat, wrapping himself slowly in a white towel.

He felt better. He'd stayed in so long he'd nearly drowned himself, but he felt better.

He had decided that perhaps he ought to tell Dearka of his actions after all. Though he bombarded Dearka with a constant barrage of death threats on a daily basis, Yzak trusted him. Dearka was smug and arrogant, but nevertheless, he was the only one that Yzak allowed near him while his walls were down.

After giving his pale hair a last squeeze, he opened the door and stepped out into his room. His eyes flicked around the area as he attempted to locate Dearka, but instead his blue eyes fell on someone else. Yzak nearly lost his balance.

"Athrun!"

The young Coordinator turned to look at him from his spot where he lounged on the sofa, spinning away the moment he clapped eyes on his enemy, clad in only a towel.

"Yzak…Sorry, I didn't know you were…"

"That's not…Who let you in here?" Yzak already knew the answer, but he dreaded it just the same.

"Dearka did," came Athrun's offhand reply, as he shifted position on the couch.

"I'll murder that stupid bastard," he muttered, vowing to take his revenge whenever the meddling blonde returned.

To his surprise, Athrun chuckled. Yzak stared.

"You two are always fighting," the azure-eyed youth observed with another chuckle, "But I think you get along better with Dearka more than anyone else aboard this whole ship."

His eyes glittered in amusement, and Yzak felt weak in the knees as he watched him. Athrun sat casually leaning against one arm of the sofa, legs crossed elegantly at the knees. He looked relaxed, refined, and confident as he always did, yet something was different.

Yzak left the room without a word, disappearing around the corner. Athrun waited patiently for him to return. When he did, he appeared in a clean ZAFT uniform, and he took a seat on the chair across from the talented pilot of the Aegis with curiosity.

"So," Yzak started tentatively, astonished that he had even been able to speak. "Why did you come here?"

Athrun caught his gaze and held it intently. "You tell me, Yzak."

The white haired boy's brow furrowed, and his tone picked up a dangerous tint. "Don't play games with me, Zala." A sudden thought occurred to him, and he switched topics sharply. "The pilot of the Strike – who is he?"

He watched Athrun's flawless features undergo numerous changes of expression, finally landing on an expression heavy with regret.

"Kira," he said quietly, struggling to find the right words. "He is – was – a friend of mine, and a Coordinator like us."

Athrun's look was pained, but Yzak couldn't resist a smug response nonetheless.

"A Coordinator fighting for the Earth Forces? He must be a fool to join the Naturals."

Athrun grimaced. "It's true Kira's a fool. But he said something about having people to protect."

"You're going to have to take him down, Zala," Yzak stated bluntly. "Either you finish it, or I do. Don't expect me to go easy next time."

Something in the sapphire haired boy's face suggested that he would not protest. Yzak fidgeted nervously in the silence that ensued.

"Yzak," Athrun finally began in a stronger voice, "What I really came here for was to apologize. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is ask for you to forgive me, but we can't afford to have bad relations among our own forces. This is a war. We need to be allies, not enemies."

"You think it's that easy?" Yzak replied angrily.

"Yes."

Yzak faltered, at a loss for words. He was on the verge of yelling, but instead he let out a long sigh. "You take this all too casually, Zala."

"I have my reasons." He paused. "So before, in the hall….Why did you…?"

Yzak's stomach did a flip-flop. "Shut up! Don't flatter yourself, you idiot. It was nothing." He turned his head aside and avoided the other's gaze.

"Nothing, huh?" there was a hint of amusement in Athrun's steady voice, but he didn't press the matter further. Instead he stood and walked to the door. "I'll see you at the meeting then."

Yzak struggled inwardly as Athrun's hand reached the knob. The blue haired Coordinator was halfway out the door.

"Athrun."

"…Yes?"

"You know, you really piss me off."

Athrun's mouth quirked up into a tiny smile. "Whatever you say, Yzak."