Hi everyone! I'm back! A big thanks to all my reviewers. You guys are the best!
Just a little note, this chapter skips the confrontation, and only has flashbacks of the event. I've done this before, for the same reason, this chapter just wouldn't work any other way. I hope you don't mind. And if you're confused as to what the heck goes on in this chapter, all will be explained within the next few.
Right, well, I think that's everything. Hope you enjoy!
'Don't touch her. Don't touch my baby sister.'
"Onii-chan? Onii-chan what are you talking about?"
It was dark as he ran. Away from her shrieks. Away from her, full stop. He couldn't... couldn't believe... couldn't understand...
"Onii-chan, please just listen to me!"
Why was she always there! Why was it her face written over with horror, confusion, shock. Her face, her beautiful face. The only face in that room that didn't hold an accusation. That didn't hold hatred.
She was one that knew all-to-well the effects of human hatred and greed. So why didn't she hate them back? Why could she, should she, raise her gun with no anger, only pained understanding. Why didn't she hate him?
"Onii-chan, I don't care! Why can't you understand that? I don't care who that man is! I don't even know him! I don't care how you were born! It doesn't matter! You're Rau le Creuset, a commander in the ZAFT army and my Onii-chan! You are not Al de Flagga!"
Her gun clattering to the ground, her tiny hands gripping the front of his uniform. Her voice sobbing, full of nothing but love. Untainted, unlimited. His anger as he threw her away. His cry.
"Nobody can do anything about it, for this whirlpool of hatred is engulfing the universe!"
Her on the ground, crying, screaming. Not from physical pain, not because of him, but for him. Her voice ringing after him, overpowering Mu's.
"You don't believe that, Onii-chan! You don't! I know you don't! You... you can't..."
She had said he didn't believe what he was saying. But she hadn't told him he was lying, either. But why couldn't he believe it? Why shouldn't he? What evidence said he didn't?
'I'll always protect you, because I'll never stop loving you.'
His confession. Marked by tears. Her tears, not his. All the proof she needed.
He continued to run.
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Mu had said he could stand. Mu still had the will to stand. Getting Jo to her feet was going to prove much harder. Which was why he called Dearka. The older boy was on his way. But he couldn't leave her alone while he waited. Maybe if he at least got her to move. Maybe he would be able to do that.
'Jo... come on. We gotta go,' he whispered, kneeling in front of her. She looked up at him, her purple hair almost completely loose. She looked younger. 'We gotta go,' he said again, hoping to get another reaction. He did, but not the right one.
Her face scrunched up, fresh tears spilling down her cheek. The start of a pained sob sounded in the open air, the rest of it muffled by his chest. She didn't care where she was, he realized. She didn't care about the danger she was in. All she cared about was what Rau had said. All she cared about was her Onii-chan.
He sighed and stroked her hair with one hand, using the other to guide her too her feet. Her tiny frame came up with him easily. Looking at her, he'd never realized just how small she really was. She felt so fragile now that he was holding her. He'd never understood... she always looked strong. He'd never understood how breakable she really was.
Dearka burst into the room, gun in hand, lilac eyes darting around wildly, taking in the mess. Taking in Mu's semi-conscious form, Kira's worried face and Jo's body in Kira's arms.
'Little Lady...' he whispered, started to come towards them.
'She's alive,' Kira said, 'But Mu won't be soon. Could you take him?' Dearka still stared at his comrade. She hadn't even noticed that someone new had entered the room.
'I suppose you'll explain this later,' he growled. It wasn't a question. Kira nodded, hoping that the ZAFT pilot would hurry. Dearka nodded and hoisted Mu to his feet. The man leaned heavily on the smaller frame. Kira smiled and gentle picked Jo up. She continued to sob into his neck. Dearka reached out and touched her damp hair.
'Hush, Little Lady,' he whispered. 'There's no need for tears like that. Our spy says he misses you and loves you more every moment.'
Kira stared at him, a smile curling once again on his lips. Dearka nodded and they left.
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Jo curled up like a kitten the minute Kira placed her back inside the Caliber. He stared at her. Even with her helmet back on, even though she was back inside a weapon of mass destruction, she still didn't look anything like her old self. She still looked so broken. Rau's mask was still clutched in her hands, the index and middle fingers of her left hand out at odd angles. He sighed and closed the cockpit.
Dearka was glaring at him when he jumped down. He returned it with equal vigor.
'I'm getting the two of them outta here. Then we can argue. But I want you to know this. I didn't hurt her. Her "Onii-chan" did.'
Dearka looked away. 'I don't care who hurt her. All I care about is she's hurt. And I'm not going to let the one that hurt her get away with it. Now, we better get back before Zala hurts himself.'
Kira forced a laugh and walked to the Freedom. And then paused. Sighing, he glanced over his shoulder. 'Dearka? Is forgetting to take the safety of a gun really that funny?'
The older boy laughed. 'To one trained in the matter, yeah, it is. Particularly since you're the one none of us managed to kill.' A genuine smile curled on Kira's lips.
'I suppose so.'
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Horror, utter horror. Beyond anything she'd ever felt. Not because of his face, that didn't matter. His face... wasn't hideous. It wasn't wrong. He just... looked like his father. Hell, people said she was the spitting image of her's. So what if they looked... exactly the same. So what if... he was, in essence, Al de Flagga. He had his own name, his own image, his own person. His father's twisted ness, that didn't matter.
What mattered was... was his... reaction. His hate. His anger. And in a sense... his name, le Creuset. French, "the crucible". Did he think that accurate? Did he think that right? But what's in a name, eh?
"For this whirlpool of hatred is engulfing the universe!"
I guess that whirlpool engulfed you first, right, Onii-chan? I guess you feel like you're drowning in others mistakes. I guess, what happened, who you believe youself to be, what you believe yourself to be, that, that helped with the flood. And I guess you believe you had no-one there to pull you out. So everyone had to come in with you.
But, Onii-chan. You let me become your family. And as your family, it's my duty to protect you and help you in any way I can. Because that's what families do. You scared me today, Onii-chan. I was scared. I still am. But... but you're all the family I have. So give me your hand, Onii-chan...
'I'll pull you to safety.'
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Blood spilled in small rivers down his side. Consciousness was leaving him along with the metallic substance. Those hauntingly familiar eyes, that impossible blue he'd been unable to mistake. Though those eyes went deeper then his father's ever could. Tunnels leading to nowhere but darkness.
And yet that small light shining somewhere among the storm tossed darkness. A light to ward away despair. Hope among desperation. Appearing only when he looked at her.
'I'll pull you to safety.'
A sad smile curled across his lips.
Pull who to safety, Angel? Your Onii-chan? Darkness has a strong hold on those who have lost all faith. Darkness has a strong hold on him. Hold on to long, and you may just topple yourself.
Her smile. He could see that, and her voice ringing through the darkness. Soft, yet strong.
Darkness has a strong hold on all of us. That's part of the job. We're consumed so others don't have to be. That's why we have comrades. People who catch us when we fall to far. Would you catch him, Hawk? Would you catch your baby brother?
He smiled as well.
I'd catch my comrade first. The one that still had a chance.
He heard her laugh, a soft giggle. Why he heard her in his head, he didn't know. His eyes fluttered closed. Maybe ZAFT's angel was really so close to Rau, that he could sense her as well. And maybe her innocence let her speak her thoughts in that moment.
Or maybe Ensign Joffie Wheeler really was an Angel.
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Floating above them, Jay smiled. 'Ensign Joffie Wheeler is not an angel, Flagga. She is redemption.'
Well? How was it? Please review? Pretty please? And please remember, all will be explained. But if I've really really confused anyone, then I'm sorry.
