Chapter: Two
Series: Gundam Seed (Destiny)
Timeframe: Post-Seed, a little before the events of GSD.
Where in the world am I? she wondered, trying to sit up and instantly regretting it as her body refused to obey her. The most she could do was to lift her head a few inches from the pillow and survey her surroundings.
It wasn't so unfamiliar, after all. She knew this place, but couldn't quite remember what it was. Then again, that was probably because it was dark and she could barely make out anything except for the ceiling and the floor--and the figure that was slumped over at the side of the bed.
...Athrun?
Then she remembered. Getting caught in the rain, wearing Athrun's jacket, Athrun's green shirt, Athrun's rhythmic hearbeat...
Oh my God, Athrun!
What was he doing there? Was he breathing? What if he'd gotten sick and died?
Frantically, Cagalli wrestled with the thick blankets, and found herself battling through layer after layer.
"You okay?"
She blinked. Apparently, her panicked movements had roused him. But at least he's alive. "Yeah... Yeah. Did I wake you up? Sorry, I thought you were--"
She was interrupted by the feel of his palm on her forehead. "How are you feeling?" he asked, a concerned frown creasing his features as he withdrew his hand.
"I'm fine," she snapped, thrusting the last of the blankets away and pushing herself to sit up--only to discover that both her shirt and her much-beloved cargo pants have disappeared. What the--
Athrun's head reflexively whipped away, and she hastily seized one of the blankets and tugged it up defensively.
"Your clothes were soaked," he mumbled apologetically. "You would've gotten worse if you'd left them on. Wait a sec, I'll look for something that will cover you."
She watched him exit the room, trying to ignore the chill that enveloped her, now that she was deprived of the insulating protection of blankets. That, and the fact that she was clad only in her underclothes.
A thin line of light streamed through the narrow opening of the door. Cagalli gazed ruefully at it, guilty and annoyed at herself for being so burdensome. She silently swore to hire an official meteorologist as she got back. Never again would she venture out unprepared, and fall prey to such embarassing circumstances.
There was a creak as the door admitted Athrun, followed by a soft click as he slid it close.
He tossed her a shirt and tactfully turned away. "It's not much," he was saying, "but it should do for now."
She pulled it over her head consciously. It felt weird--wearing a man's shirt and almost nothing underneath it--but it was strangely comfortable. It smelled vaguely like Athrun (or maybe Athrun smelled like it, whichever).
She swung her legs over to the edge of her bed, and stood up. The shirt fell loosely around her slim frame, reaching her mid-thighs and hiding her feminine curves.
The floor felt cold and hard beneath her bare feet, but she traversed over it, making slow and quiet steps towards Athrun. Her legs wobbled with sheer exhaustion, but she stubbornly forced them to keep moving. She grinned when she finally reached her destination, like a child who'd just learned how to walk.
"Hey, Athrun?"
"Eh?" Athrun spun, the look of startlement still fresh in his face. "Cagalli! When did you..?"
Cagalli frowned at him skeptically. "Are you sure you're a Coordinator? And I thought bodyguards were supposed to be on guard at all times."
"S-sorry," he sputtered out, "I was just thinking..."
She raised a finger to his lips to silence him. "This is my fault, isn't it? Look, I'm really, really, really sorry for all the trouble--"
"It's really okay..."
"--I know I'm destroying your sleep cycle and all, and I can't apologize enough for it--"
"Cagalli..."
"--I promise I'll check for the weather the next time I go out!--"
"Don't worry about it..."
"--if there's anything I can do to make up for it--"
"How about going to bed?"
Her litany came at a full stop. She scowled at him. "I'm not a child, Athrun Zala. I can take care of myself."
"But you're sick and you need rest," he retorted calmly, taking her by the arm. Belatedly, he added, "Representative Athha.
" She wrenched herself out of his hold before he could drag her away. "I told you, I'm--" Her words were cut off by the sudden rippling of the room. She closed her eyes for a moment and laid a palm on her forehead to steady herself.
"Hey." Worry had crept up Athrun's tone. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head. "I just felt a little dizzy, that's all." She glared at him, and hoped that he caught the dangerous glint of her eyes in the darkness. "I'm fine, okay?"
"No, you're not. You have a fever, and you're going to get some rest. Now."
Her eyebrow twitched at the determined finality of his tone. "Alright, alright," she grumbled grudgingly, and started walking. Each step shot out pinpricks of pain in her stiff limbs, and the persistent hammering in her head wasn't helping. She didn't complain when he moved to support her, although she abhorred every moment of her weakness. "Sorry," she muttered.
"Don't worry about it," he assured her as he helped her settle down on the bed and tucked her under the blasted blankets. "Just try to get well."
"... Just one last thing."
"Hmm?"
"What happened a while ago?"
"You fainted," came the answer. "I had to carry you here."
Her fists clenched beneath the sheets. How much more pathetic can I get?
"I had to lose the umbrella, too," Athrun went on, "I don't remember much, except that I was really worried about you, and that I was acting like an idiot. I think I hit someone when I threw the umbrella away so I could carry you here."
Cagalli ran her fingers through her damp hair uneasily. "You won't... tell anyone about this, will you? Not even Kira or Lacus...?"
"Not if you don't want me to," he promised, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Now get some sleep."
A/N 2: Frankly? I hate this, I can't believe I wrote it. I dread bastardizing either character with sheer OOC-ness and an awful end. gets killed ...And I don't have a single clue on how to do the next chapter. This is why I hate chaptered fics. ;;