Disclaimer:I claim no credit or whatsoever for the characters, but aye, I claim credit for the plot line.
A/N: Chapter Five for you )
Just once, only once
It was half past ten when Cagalli shot up in bed, eyes wide and her hair a mess. Taking in the bright sunlight and the slightly billowing of her curtains, she blinked. There wasn't that much sunlight at six am in the morning and neither would she feel that refreshed either. She had to be…
"Late!" Cagalli shouted, throwing the covers off herself.
"The Haro just has a loose screw that's all Lacus." Kira gave the screwdriver a determined twist. "It happens all the time with Torii, too Nothing to be alarmed about."
Lacus frowned, setting down the biscuit she was eating. "But Pink-chan emitted smoke!"
"Well, it's part of the process of a breakdown." Another twist of the screwdriver. "It'll be as good as new after I'm done. Don't worry."
Sitting at the dining table was Kira and Lacus currently absorbed in the restoration of Pink-chan. Athrun flipped the papers with mild interest as the couple fussed over the repair and mechanics of the Haro. Taking another sip of the black coffee and glancing at the clock, he wondered when Cagalli would awake. How long did that woman intend to sleep anyway? He had looked into her room thrice, fabricated the most ridiculous excuses to ascend the steps to her sleeping quarters and earned a few snide giggles from Kira and Lacus.
"What so interesting about the papers today?" Kira asked, fingering the Haro's wires.
Athrun looked up. "World news." Honestly, he hadn't been reading anything.
Lacus smiled, bringing the cup of tea to her lips. "She's not awake yet."
"I know," Athrun answered, causing the couple to erupt into fits of laughter. 'So much for thinking before I speak.' Athrun frowned.
Kira snapped the Haro tightly together, shoulders shaking with mirth. "Oh ho, so you know? My, my, how informed you are."
"Watch that tone. I merely made an assumption," Athrun warned, closing the papers. "I know you both love teasing me, but there won't be a next time."
"We'll see soon enough," Lacus whispered, drowning down the rest of her tea.
"BREAKFAST!"
Everyone seated at the table jumped as a flustered Cagalli grinned and zoomed in on the toast and steaming tea on the table. Dragging the chair out, she sat down heavily and began digging in.
"What happened to punctuality, Athha?" Athrun mocked.
She ignored him, spreading more butter on her bread.
"Pig," he mumbled, folding the papers neatly. "You're dripping jam all over my table. Do clean up like a proper lady."
Cagalli choked and coughed, grabbing a tissue gratefully from Lacus as she wiped the stain on the table. Scenes from last night flashed through her head and she coughed louder, pretending to choke on her toast.
"Feeling unwell, Miss Athha? You seem flushed." Athrun smirked, his insides yelling the words 'yes she remembers' over and over again.
"I'm fine, Zala," she growled angrily. "Your concern was well appreciated." Cagalli eyed the butter knife longingly, wishing it was impaled somewhat quite painfully within his gut. The git was doing it on purpose again.
"Maybe a visit to the doctor is in due."
"Nothing is in due you faggot," she sputtered, grabbing the last toast from the plate and leaving the table. "You're just being an ass like every other day. Tell me something I don't know already, Zala!"
Kira, who was now in a semi state of disbelief, stared on as Lacus clucked disapprovingly. Athrun and Cagalli were like the North and South poles of a magnet; they could never seem to have a spark of attraction. Nothing, zero, zilch! They were destined to be apart, and for a very good reason.
"What?" Cagalli screeched, spinning around as Athrun neared her.
"You heard me." He grinned, plucking the toast from her hands. "You're not done with the tours yet. It's approximately another...thirty or more facilities to go."
Not caring if the entire household heard her, Cagalli yelled as she ascended the stairs, with Athrun just behind her. "Why thirty? How about five?"
"That won't do, Miss Athha. You see, I've planned everything. You would only be ruining my plans."
"I don't care a heck about your plans!"
"Well, how about we start caring now?"
Rounding the corridor, Cagalli stopped and turned round, retracing her steps back right in front of him. With a smile of feigned innocence, Athrun took her head on as she railed, fumed and poured out her frustrations and anger at him. Her lips glistened under the faint lighting of the hallway, no doubt due to the butter she had spread generously over her toast.
"You're not listening are you?" she shouted, exasperation laced in her voice. "As always, you never listen!"
"We're running late," Athrun reminded her, walking on without her.
If he thought she would be silent and accept the undeniable circumstance she was forced into, boy, was he wrong. Her volume only increased and her words uglier and at a much speedier pace.
That's it.
"Cagalli." She froze in response. That was a good Now she could listen better. "One more word and I'll kiss you to shut you up."
Shocked at his words she was momentarily speechless, but then Cagalli replied, her voice hoarse much to her dislike "You wouldn't dare." She was frightened, but more over the strange glow that was set alight in his eyes. No, Cagalli surmised there and then. With a light like that in his eyes, Athrun dared. He really dared.
"Really?" he answered, voice coy and advanced towards her, slow and calculated. "Would you like to try? I will gladly accept your dare anytime, Athha. With much pleasure."
She didn't like the way his tongue lingered over the word pleasure, or how he was slowly cornering her into the wall just beside her room's door. She should be afraid, but why wasn't she? Inside, she screamed. Internally, she raged. Wasn't she frightened of him awhile ago? Why was she tingling, and, oh no, now she'd gone and done it.
"Did you just wet your lips?" Athrun whispered huskily, pinning her to the wall. "Did you just…"
"My lips were dry. Time to go, right?" she interrupted. Anyone, Kira, Lacus, appear!
He all, but ignored her hint as he pressed in closer. "I can make them wet for you again."
"There really isn't a need, Zala."
Athrun shook his head, swallowing. "Just once, only once."
"What do you take me for?" Cagalli shot back, temper returning. "One who gives kisses?"
"I take you for a woman" Her breath hitched as he stared straight into her eyes, imploring her not to move. Not to object. Comply. "Cagalli…don't you wonder?"
"About?" she croaked out, unable to tear her eyes off his.
He shifted closer, arms sliding down to her waist. "What it feels like being a woman. Being kissed."
"No! I don't see the need," the blond princess replied. By then, she was taking short breaths as she continued staring into Athrun's green orbs. Thinking coherently was starting to be a problem. The imaginary alarm bells rang through her head as he lowered his mouth, eyes still fixed on hers.
"I do."
With that simple sentence his lips locked tightly, but gently onto her own. Moulding, invading and plundering. She resisted, hands moving against his chest to push him away. He ignored her attempts, only pulling her more snugly towards him. Using his lips, he coaxed her, till she ceased her struggling, sagged against him and fisted her hands into his silky hair. Nothing mattered to Athrun then; all he cared about was the supple and responsive lady before him. Proberly the first and last man she would ever kiss, he concentrated on giving her the most lasting impression she could ever have of him.
It was the lack of air that made them break the kiss. Athrun watched with a swelling male pride as she stumbled, dazed, lips swollen and taking deep gulps of air from his embrace. Her perfume still remained, deeply entrenched in his mind.
"Cagalli…"
She straightened unsteadily, hands gripping the knob of the room door so tightly her knuckles were white. "I didn't know what came over me… I-It's a mistake, Athrun, leave it at that." He stood there motionless; minutes after the door had closed behind her. It was Kira who saw him and noticed the crest-fallen expression he had.
"Athrun?" he questioned, bummed as his friend waved his worries aside and passed him up another flight of steps. "What's with everyone this morning?" he said later to no one in particular.
The ride to PLANT was tensed and awkwardly silent. Nicol fidgeted, glancing into the rear mirror. Cagalli was seated at the extreme right of the back seat and Athrun to the extreme left. Both leaders were absorbed in the moving scenery outside the window and clearly in a different world altogether.
"Nicol?" Athrun called out, eyes still on the shoreline of the beach they had been passing by for five minutes. "Let's speed up."
"Yes, sir."
The car again lapsed into silence and this continued on for another minute or so. Nicol was now getting worried, still glancing into the rear mirror. He was now instead looking for the escort cars that were supposed to be tailing them. They couldn't be lagging behind could they?
A sizzle cackled through the air and all parties started. Nicol murmuring an apology grasped the radio and answered the code requested.
"Nicol!" Yzak's voice urgent and loud blasted through the black device. "Get out of there! Turn round now!"
"What going on?" Athrun asked, sitting up. Cagalli, too was alert, attention on Nicol.
A cackle and Yzak replied, "The escort cars are being attacked Nicol, turn round now! Take exit 12!"
"Aye!"
Without giving both leaders a chance to prepare, he stepped on the brakes and sent both leaders propelling right into the seats before them. The screeching of tires shrieked through the silent beach as Nicol turned sharply to the right. Athrun unable to grab onto something fast enough and was slammed in tune to the swerving of the car onto Cagalli.
"Get off, Zala!" Cagalli groaned. "Hello? Stop pushing!"
"I'm trying!" he cried out, attempting to regain his balance. "Hey, stop hitting me!"
"You buffoon! I'm the one suffering here; your hands are hurting me!"
Athrun raised his head and glanced out the window.
"Zala! You're heavy! Dam-Ah!" It was fortunate that she was pushed down onto the seat then, as a barrage of bullets littered the car, breaking the glass and hitting the glass behind them, shattering it, too.
"Athrun, they've got the front blocked! I'll hold them off a little before reinforcements arrive." Nicol ducked as bullets missed him from behind. "The gun is in the cabinet. I'll cover you; just take Miss Athha down to the beach!" he yelped as more bullets whizzed past.
Halting the car in a horizontal position, Athrun was given just enough time to grab the gun and exit the car. Cagalli shrieked, as a rain of bullets trailed behind them and onto the stone they had hidden behind. Nicol, by then, had started diverting the attention onto him and Athrun took the opportunity his subordinate had given him, dragging Cagalli down and deeper into the caves on the beach.
"What in the world was that?" Cagalli choked out, grabbing her aching sides and peeping fearfully above the rock.
"Oh no, it was a party. We're celebrating your arrival to PLANT," Athrun muttered sarcastically. "It was assassins, Athha, what else!"
She cursed, irritated at his mockery and for making her feel stupid. "I meant the reason! I know they're assassins."
Athrun loaded the gun, checking the bullets he had. "I would like to know too, but till then, you're staying here while I fend them off."
"I'm coming!"
"No!" Athrun hissed, gripping Cagalli by the shoulders. "I don't want you to get hurt as already it's a disgrace I've landed you in such a predicament. I don't need you getting injured and giving the press more to write about."
The snap of a twig sounded outside the cave.
"Just don't move Don't go anywhere."
Perhaps it was a foolish move, but at the moment, with a maniac killer hunting the both of them, Athrun felt anything, but cautious himself. He ran into the open, sprinting away from the cave. Hopefully what the killer wanted and hoped to assassinate was him and not the blond woman he had tucked inside the cave. Crouching behind a large rock, he sighted the opening of the cave a distance away. There wasn't a soul there and so far Cagalli had not disobeyed his orders like before. Feeling much more comforted and relaxed, he turned round.
The barrel of a gun clicked into place.
"Chairman Zala, how nice of you to drop by." The man was deathly pale, thin and looked severely malnourished. The emblem on his arm gave Athrun all the details he needed. He guessed this must've have been the last of their lot.
"Thought you got rid of us haven't you?" He inched closer and Athrun backed away into the open as the man laughed hysterically. "Afraid?"
Athrun smirked and stood up, not caring if the man shot him for his insolence. "I wouldn't ever be afraid of someone like you. Well, definitely not when you look like a P.O.W in need of dire rations."
"Why you!" Enraged, the man fired a shot. Athrun did not flinch even as the slit that had appeared on his cheek pooled gradually with blood. "You're brave for a young boy and that just makes killing you all the more exciting!"
Unknown to the man, Athrun was preparing the gun he held. The man was now describing the death and pleasure he would take in killing him slowly Athrun composed his emotions as he calmly brought the gun close to his sides.
"Tsk!" The man cocked his gun to Athrun's chest, grinning madly. "You play dirty Mr Zala."
"Busted, I guess." Athrun smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, it's either I shoot you down like the rest of your compatriots, or you could surrender and allow me to show you the cell your fellow P.O.Ws spent their last days in."
"Bastard!" the man yelled, hands tightening on the trigger. "You'll pay for their deaths, now!"
Two gun shots echoed down the beach.
With the reflexes a coordinator could only have, he caught her falling form flawlessly. "CAGALLII!"
Coughing a little, she gasped at the stinging pain that streaked through her arm. "Oops?"
"OOPS!" Athrun roared. Cagalli winced at his volume and smiled weakly. "We're getting you to the hospital now!"
He looked horrified at the blood seeping through her sleeve and that made Cagalli roll her eyes watching him fuss and going to extremes to stop the bleeding. "Just leave it. I won't die that fast."
Athrun snorted, tying the shirt he had taken off tightly round her arm ignoring her protest. "Men are supposed to take the bullet for women in situations like this, not the other way around."
"Who said I was a normal woman? Those are for ninnies who believe in their knight in shining armour." She smiled wistfully, remembering how she once had dreams like that too. "I believe now that I don't need a knight."
"Right, so you're ideally pulling yourself off as the iron maiden, the wonder woman and the all powerful independent and ambitious lady?"
"Brilliant!" She flashed him a cheeky smile. "You're finally catching onto my feministic values."
"Hardly," Athrun replied dryly as he stared in disgust at the man who lay across them. "It's a terrorist group if you're still interested in knowing."
Cagalli nodded numbly, shifting a little as her eyes took in the man Athrun had shot when she had taken the bullet. Dammit, she needed to sit up to see him.
"What are you doing? Can't you just… stay still for awhile?"
"I want to sit up."
Athrun pushed her down. "No, not with an injury like that."
"Oh, come on, I feel like an invalid!" She moved again, but was gently and firmly pushed down once more.
"That's exactly what I want you to feel now."
Cagalli gave up arguing, but went all out to rise. "I don't care!" She struggled and winced at the pain. Seeing this, Athrun muttered a curse and carried her onto his lap.
"Don't you practise obedience, ever?"
Clearly reluctant to be in his lap Cagalli sniffed haughtily. "For you? Drop dead, Zala."
"I'll drop dead all right, but I lost that chance when someone took it from me." She didn't reply and he drew her closer, mindful of her injured arm. He felt her back stiffen, words like 'bastard', 'stupid coordinator', 'egoistic prat' and 'dung beetle' was what he heard her mumbling. This made him grin. Even when she secretly insulted him, he still found her adorable.
"So," Cagalli started, taking in the blue sea. "Which terrorist group is that?"
"One that murders naturals. It's like the blue cosmos."
She nodded her head knowingly. "That's the last of them?"
"Maybe," Athrun sighed. "Maybe not." Well, in a way, this meant more paper work and more reprimanding for him.
"I see…"
A pregnant pause ensued as Cagalli fretted and frowned over how to place her thoughts aptly into words that wouldn't sound too suggestive to Athrun.
"Hey, Zala," she barked out, scratching the bridge of her nose nervously. He hummed in response. "What's it like to like someone? I'm not saying it's me!" she added the last sentence hastily.
Athrun smiled sadly, gazing into her strands of blond hair longingly. "Frustrating, exhilarating, torturous, and full of sacrifices, white lies, and restrictions."
"HUH?" Cagalli turned round; her hair brushing past his cheek. "That sounds like unrequited love, are you sure we're talking about the same topic here?"
"Kinda…"
"Forget I asked Zala." She turned back towards the sea. "I'll tell you the real meaning when I figure it out You seem to have a totally warped view of the subject."
"What?" he replied, indignation in his voice. "Well, you asked me what 'like' was!"
"Yeah, and I regret it quite terribly."
"You wanker! How could you! If Athrun fails to experience any displeasure in his love life, I'd hold you responsible you flirtatious blond monkey!" Dearka backed away from the fuming Yzak fearfully as a fist swung out barely grazing his jaw.
Lacus only sighed, accepting the strong coffee Kira handed her. The boys were now on a full rampant contest of who would shout the loudest. She watched helplessly as Kira was pulled unwillingly into the fray.
"I was just telling a few friends!"
"Oh yeah! Why do I hear my neighbours talking about it?"
"You don't have neighbours Yzak!"
"I do and, Andrew, don't you dare help Dearka on this."
"SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU!" Miri screamed, pounding her fists hard on the oak table. The room quietened down.
Lacus stood up, shooting a condescending glance at Yzak and Dearka. "I strictly told you that what was discussed in the room the other day would be a secret. You've forgotten haven't you?"
"I'm sorry Lacus…" Dearka replied dejectedly.
Shoulders slumped and expression grim she voiced out her thoughts. "Maybe we should abort the operation; I don't wish to place Athrun in any unnecessary lime light."
"I object!"
"What are you objecting about?" Miri sneered as glared across the table. "You're the main reason why we have to go to such lengths now."
Dearka returned the glare equally, irritated at being scolded by a woman. "The citizens won't gossip unlike what everyone thinks."
"Gossip is gossip; they can be sold at a hefty sum to the news agencies. Not all citizens are saints, Blondie."
"They wouldn't."
The people seated round the table began murmuring, but Miri raised her hand signalling for their silence. "Blondie has such high confidence in the people, doesn't he? I can see where this character is coming from. Egoistic and proud, indeed, only in some people… It's a trait unmistakably."
This riled Dearka, who was this woman to judge him anyway. She was just a secretary too! Blondie, blondie, what a bitch. "Well, I'm positive Orb would learn of the plan through your mouths sooner or later, too!"
"Sure, whatever you say, Blondie." Miri smirked, crossing her legs prettily. "A pathetic comeback from the defeated."
Soon, a full-scale war of the sexes erupted as the onlookers slowly entered the fray yet again and the room was an array of pitches, voices and vocabulary.
"I wonder where Princess Athha finds these women from," Yzak remarked to Kira who had an arm round Lacus's hunched shoulders. "They're full fledge feminists."
A/N:
(If you got an error, sorry, I had some mistakes here and there. Sorry!)
Okay! So you naughty girls and boys should've enjoyed this chapter a little more than the others. I'd be away another week, due to some constructing of new pipes in my house. I've just started a little with chapter six, so may this last you people for awhile. Not the length.
Thanks loads, millions, zillions, billions, trillions to Garowyn who not only volunteered to be my beta, but provided me with a deeper insight to my writing. Cheers to the man!
Note: Links to Review journal changed, so do check that out if you've book marked it.
Was this chapter pleasing? Did I make a grave mistake in having them kiss? Was it so cheesy you gagged?
Let me know! Send me a review, help me write on (: