Disclaimer: Don't own!

Hiya! Thanks an awful lot to the reviewers, I love you guys! Well, Dearka and Yzak finally come back in. Yeah, kinda neglected them for a while. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 8: Friend or Prince?

'You're kidding!'

Dearka laughed softly. 'Unless my comunicator's gone completely haywire, that's Athrun Zala's voice. I don't kid about my commrades coming back from the dead.'

Yzak stared at him, shaking his head in stunned disbelief. 'B..but the Aegis exploded, we both saw it. He didn't have a chance to get out. He didn't give himself a chance to get out. So how the hell did he!'

Dearka shrugged. 'I have no idea. But that aside, we gotta show this information to Commander Creuset. There is a good chance Zala's still alive. The EA didn't kill him in Alaska. Why is beyond me, but they're gonna kill him sooner or later. We've got to get him out before it's too late.'

Yzak nodded. 'Yeah, we'll get him out of their grasp, then I'm gonna wring his neck!' Dearka laughed. 'I'm sure Zala will be pleased to know that your relationship hasn't changed since he went MIA.' Yzak pointedly ignored this and flung his stuff in his locker.

So, the relationship hadn't really changed. So Athrun was still annoyingly good at everything - even cheating death. That didn't stop him being relieved, and even more worried for the younger boy's safety. As soon as Zala was back, safe with them, he would kill him.

Athrun ran a comb through the tangles in his hair. His appearance was slowly returning to normal. He didn't look like a prisoner anymore. No, now he looked like he'd been in a fight. Which, in all honesty, he had been.

Sighing, he traced the cut on his face. It was deep, and would most likely scar. And these naturals didn't have the technology to stop it. Great. Now all we need is for Dearka to get a facial scar and we're a matching set. His heart clenched at the thought of his commrades, and of the fact they'd nearly died. All because Kira had to play the hero.

There was a loud rap on the door. 'Hey Zala, what are you doin' in there?' The blonde officer that had 'saved' his life. He sighed again. They really thought he could do damage in the shower room? One: he didn't have any pockets to hide anything in, two: there wasn't anything in here and three: how could he make anything in just over twenty minutes?

'I'm making a weapon of mass destruction out of shampoo and empty bottles, what else?' he called back through the door, suddenly sounding more like Dearka than himself. He shook his head and walked to the door.

It slid open to reveal the man standing in front of him, blocking his exit. He looked up at the man, and was surprised to see him looking angry.

'Listen kid,' the man growled, 'we were nice enough to take you in. We even saved you, going against our superiours to do it. We've treated you well, so there's no need for you to throw around remarks like that. Got it?'

Athrun quirked an eyebrow. 'Really, and why not?' It wasn't a challenge, no, now he was back to himself. It was simply a question. The man sighed.

'Just because you're a coordinator...that doesn't mean I hate you. I was asking to see if you were OK, it wasn't a challenge. I don't suspect you of anything. Why would you think I did?' Athrun stared at him, his usual mask in place, save for the still raised eyebrow. The man shrugged and turned.

'Why do you hate me so much? Why do you hate my race so much?' Athrun heard him mutter. He growled. 'Because I saw families standing in a church yard crying because people they held dearly were killed for no reason,' he shot at the man. Hostilaty flashed between them, and the man turned.

'Your friend Kira managed to forgive us,' he pointed out. Athrun squared his shoulders, struggling to keep his mask in place. The man went on, not giving him a chance to reply. 'Whatever you think Kira has done to you, he did it all because he believed it was right. Can you say the same?'

Athrun met his eyes. 'Kira...Kira didn't understand anything. He still doesn't. He did what he thought was right. He keeps trying to be the hero. But in reality, he's just a kid who cries too much and thinks too little. He keeps saying that he has to protect his friends. As if that justifies it. As if that makes it right. I was his friend, and he pretty much told me I wasn't anymore.' Athrun paused, and then whispered, 'And I still can't hate him.'

The man sighed. Athrun shook his head and tried to put the mask back on. 'Talk to him.' The man said blankly. 'And without screaming at him,' he added. Athrun sighed. If only it were that simple... The man seemed to sense his misgiving, and grabbed his arm. Startled, Athrun tried to pull away, but found himself being led down the corridor.

Kira stared down at his food. It looked good, but he couldn't bring himself to eat it. Athrun's words were still ringing in his head, along with what Sai had said. Now that was confusing...because Sai didn't seem the type...and Athrun was engaged...and Sai wasn't even sure if Athrun returned his feelings...which he probably didn't.

Birdy suddenly took off from his shoulder, startling him. The small robot circled him once and then flew to the door. With a cry, he jumped up to give chase, and saw there was no need.

Athrun Zala was standing in the doorway, staring at the bird currently flying around his head. Athrun smiled and held up his hands. Kira felt a sad smile curve on his lips as Birdy settled on Athrun's outstretched hands, exactly the same way it had on that faithful day so many years ago. The same memory seemed to have occured to Athrun, as his smile faltered.

Kira sighed and walked up to the boy. The coldness of Athrun's voice the last time they'd spoken rung in his ears. The icyness as he said that he could never forgive. And all the accusations. Had Athrun reconsidered? Was he ready to forgive...or at least hear him out?

Kira looked hopefully into his friends face, praying to see some flicker of forgivness, praying that he'd at least meet Athrun Zala and not the Prince. Athrun held Birdy out to him.

'You'll be coming to the PLANTs soon too, huh Kira?' he whispered. Kira looked sadly down at the bird. And then answered. '...No...' Athrun looked away, tears filling his eyes. 'I knew you wouldn't...'

Kira sighed. 'Why don't you come back to Orb. Why don't you make Earth your home.' Athrun shook his head. 'I can't,' he said. Kira took his friends shoulders. 'Why not?' he sobbed. Athrun met his eyes. 'For the same reason that you can't come to PLANT. You play the hero, Kira. And let me try to mend what's left of my home. They,' he gestured around the room. 'They need you. You don't need me.'

He still sounded so broken. Kira swallowed, and hugged his friend. 'At least see the end of the war through with me. At least realise that ZAFT are as corrupt as the EA.'

Athrun pushed him away. 'Let me speak to my father first.'

Well, what ya think? Please R&R?