Title: Play of the Fates (11 of ?)
Author: Paola
Disclaimer: Play of the Fates is based on characters and situations that belong to Sotsu Agency, Bandai Studios, and TV Asashi (and other production affiliates that have the right of ownership). No money is being made, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Considerations: Similarities to other stories/events/passages are purely coincidental unless otherwise cited. Beliefs and points of view found in the story do not necessarily reflect those of the author's. Characters not found on any official Gundam SEED/Gundam SEED Destiny character list belong to the author unless otherwise disclaimed.
Historical figure/s used is/are for literary purposes only. Their use in this story should not be taken as solid facts.
The idea to make the chapter titles begin with "The One…" is from the TV show, F.R.I.E.N.D.S
This may, in all possible intent, be differently written compared to any of the author's previous literary ventures.
Rating: Rated M for language and adult situations. You have been warned.
Play of the Fates
Chapter Eleven
Everything was a haze as the silk sheets slid smoothly against her skin, and the familiar weight of a man pressing down on her was almost gratification enough for holding back this long. Every nerve ending was awakened as he trailed searing kisses along the smooth expanse of her skin, and she gasped and moaned when he landed a touch on the heightening pressure between her legs.
She didn't know how it happened, nor was she in any situation to think it over. One second they were arguing over his teasing, and the next he was making her feel all sorts of crazy sensations with fiery kisses, possessive caresses, and the basic pleasure of skin sliding along excited skin, together with the contrasting coolness of midnight silk.
It was beginning to be a battle to keep her mind while he was moving his fingers inside her, and it was almost unforgivable that she was responding so eagerly to just that, but he was stroking the right spot again and again, and she couldn't stop mewling her desire.
She could almost hear the pounding of her own heart amidst their fast breathing, and when he sucked on a puckered bud and deftly flicked a finger, she came, her orgasm leaving her arching against him. His name slipped past kiss-bruised lips as she clung to him, and, as if to calm her down, he pursued a path of butterfly kisses along her neck, nibbling at the tender skin just below her ear that only served to defeat his seemingly original purpose.
"Cagalli…" he groaned when she moved against him, brushing against his arousal.
With the fingers entangled in his hair, she gave a gentle tug on the fine strands to get him to face her, and with a slight pull, she met his lips. He kissed her like a man starved, licking her lower lip before putting his tongue in her mouth, moving it over blunt teeth and caressing her own tongue. And his hands never once stopped exploring, fingers roving over heated skin again and again until he had rekindled the fire that had just been doused.
Without warning, he entered her, a swift, smooth thrust that forced her to tear her mouth away from his to let out a guttural moan of pleasure. Unlike his gentle ministrations earlier on, he moved in her with an urgency that served to excite both of them more, and it didn't take long before she recognized his rhythm and met his every thrust. She clung to him, raking fingertips down bare skin, as he drove into her relentlessly.
They say that make-up sex is always amazing, but sex after a long stint of obstinacy and denial, in her case, was even better. The hurried movements, the rush of butterflies in her stomach, the frenzied kisses, the slap of skin against bare skin, the heat from a seemingly insatiable desire, the wandering hands that teased and flicked and caressed, the liquid motions of meeting halfway and becoming one again and again, all served to drown her in an uncontrolled flood of sensations. And the friction — god, the friction — hinted at a release that was more than satisfying.
As if his rhythm wasn't enough, he began to nibble at the sensitive spot on her neck, kissing and sucking until she couldn't take it. His hand that wasn't supporting his weight didn't idle as it kneaded her breast and left possessive marks on her skin.
Somehow, the escalating tension and the almost roughness of their lovemaking pushed her towards the edge, and with one last thrust, she came, a shuddering orgasm that forced his name from her mouth in a primal cry.
"Ath—"
o-o
Cagalli gasped a lungful of air as she awoke from her dream, sweat beading on her forehead and heart racing a mile a second. The air-conditioning was almost painful against her hot and sensitized skin, and the uncomfortable feeling between her legs warned of the effects of her dream.
Taking a deep breath to calm her haywire nerves, she inwardly cursed. That dream had felt too real, almost as if she was once again going through the first time she'd slept with Athrun, only this time, the sense of urgency with which they copulated seemed to heighten — it was almost a fantasy that awaited sexual gratification.
Cagalli flopped back down on her bed angrily. It was just a dream, how could it have aroused her so much? And even if she didn't want to think about it anymore, the images and the sensations themselves wouldn't leave her, and the more those kinds of thoughts flashed in her head, the squirmier she got.
But she refused to touch herself, the reason being that her stubbornness wouldn't allow her to give in to the pull of trivial things like wet dreams.
Clenching her hand and taking a deep breath, she glanced at the digital clock on her bedside table, the offensive glow of the neon numbers calming her, if just for a little bit. 4:00am. She wasn't supposed to wake up until a little before lunch to get just enough time to dress up before going to Miriallia's place for lunch, but the aftereffects of her wild dream lingered at the back of her eyelids, threatening to continue if she closed her eyes. So, taking a deep breath, she decided to take a cold shower.
On a Saturday morning, at an ungodly hour, Cagalli grudgingly started her day, all thanks to Athrun who wasn't even physically there.
She hated him more.
o-o
Popping a disc on the CD tray, Miriallia waited for the player to read it and for the first song to start playing before turning the volume a little higher. Today was a good day for not only had she gotten rid of her cast yesterday — that itchy cast Cagalli had been bent to cover with doodles — but she'd also managed to get a date for herself tonight. It had been a while since her last boyfriend, and she was beginning to miss not being single and unattached. She often teased Cagalli about her behind-the-scenes activities because sometimes, the blonde could be such a prude, hard as it was to believe since Cagalli was too straight-forward to really hide anything, but in reality, Miriallia wasn't much of a deviant herself. She preferred it clean and romantic, and she would never do it on the first date. That was why she was excited for tonight. If things went well, they might be seeing each other again, and a date might lead to another, and another, and another.
She looked around her tidy apartment, small in comparison with Cagalli's and Damien's, but it was cozy, and there was no trace of a boy ever living there because there hadn't been any boyfriend who had stepped foot inside her home. It was just something she didn't do, and she'd justified it by saying that her apartment was her haven from everything else and it was better this way in case she ended up having to go through a rough break-up. At least the guy would never know where she lived to pester her.
A dull sound that cut through The Corrs' No Good For Me snapped her out of her thoughts. "Miriallia, buzz me in," Damien's cadential voice wafted through the still air.
It was a national holiday so they didn't have work today, and since she felt a little girly and wanted to tell her two closest friends about her date, she'd invited them over for lunch. They probably already knew what her news was since this man was that cute guy down at the winery store whom she'd been crushing on for quite a while and gushed about in front of her friends, no matter how unwilling they'd been to listen to her.
Unlocking her door, Miriallia almost got hit on the face by a brown paper bag Damien tossed her way, but before she could protest, Damien spoke, his voice a little urgent.
"You have to do me a favor, Miriallia." He took her hand and led her to one of the chairs surrounding the modest dining table, sitting her on the soft cushion with a firm motion.
Miriallia made to raise an eyebrow in question, only to realize she wasn't capable of doing it, so she sat there, dumbfounded, the hand holding the paper bag limp at her side.
"Do you know Annalie Kane?"
"…she a movie star?"
"That's Angelie Duane." Damien rolled his eyes, as if to show how stupid her answer was, then he proceeded to explain to spare them twenty questions, "Her whole name is Annalie Ardith Kane. A direct descendant of the House of Kane, an original Norwegian nobility whose line is thought to have ended. Her great-great-to-the-whatever-nth grandfather abandoned the family to marry 'his heart's desire,' a Swedish daughter of a successful businessman. Rumors spread, and the next thing you know, the Kane lineage has gone out of existence. Fucking Chinese whispers. It's all my eye and Peggy Martin. Anyway, Annalie Ardith Kane is my mother, and she's coming to Orb to visit."
Silence.
"You're Norwegian?"
That wasn't quite the reaction he expected from her. "What? No!"
"Swedish?"
"I'm English, Miriallia."
Of course he was English — he used phrases like "all my eye and Peggy Martin," which she didn't understand a single word of. Even though he seemed like a naturalized Orb citizen like she and Cagalli, there were still times when he was more English than an English muffin partnered with Earl Grey tea. Miriallia felt really stupid, all right. Of course, that didn't stop her from asking another un-thought of question. "You're last name's Kane?"
"Are you for real?" Damien sighed exasperatedly. "My surname's Lewis, Miriallia. Thanks for remembering."
As if his sarcasm shed light to his family tree, Miriallia jumped up, the paper bag from her hand flying. "Oh my god! You're fucking nobility?"
"Focus, Mir!" Damien pushed Miriallia back to her seat. "I know it sounds intriguing, but my family story is boring, so let's leave the questions for another day, okay?" He could sense Miriallia's curiosity piquing, after all, he had left out so many details that jumping from Kane to Lewis seemed nfonsensical. "You have to help me," he went back to his original plea for help.
Miriallia opened her mouth to reply, but Damien's glare made her deflate, and she decided to ask questions about his noble blood some other time. Really, could he be any more interesting? "Depends. What do you need help with?"
"Date me."
Miriallia almost choked on her own saliva. "Excuse me?"
"Be my girlfriend. For the duration of her stay."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why? Why not? Am I not datable? Am I not in the top echelon of the male pantheon?" Damien had a very good idea of how gorgeous he was, with his dark hair and piercing silver-blue eyes, and he wasn't the tiniest bit modest about it.
When Damien crossed his arms over his chest, Miriallia burst out laughing. "Oh you are good-looking, I'll give you that, but you're as gay as the day is long! How are we ever going to convince her?" That was the only reason she could think of as to why he wanted her to date him: to convince his mother of something. Her laughter, however, was abruptly swallowed when Damien favored her that mysterious smile that announced he knew something and she was about to find out what it was in a very unexpected way.
Damien leaned in and caught her chin, moving dangerously close, but before she could demand that he tell her what he was up to, he kissed her. Miriallia's eyes widened, but the contact was over before she could process what was happening.
Pulling away slightly but keeping a hooked finger under her chin to keep her gaze in his direction, Damien smiled an indolently hedonistic smile that Miriallia had only ever seen on virile, straight guys.
In a whisper still tantalizingly close to her lips, Damien said, "Girls, boys. Doesn't matter much. Did I ever tell you that?"
o-o
"No, you didn't!" Cagalli found herself replying in Miriallia's stead. Here she was, thinking that the big news was Miriallia finally hooking up with Tolle the wine guy, only to find out that Damien swung both ways. And he kissed Miriallia. On the day she was supposed to be ideally kissed by her new date.
Her two friends almost jumped at her sudden appearance, and when they turned to look at her, Miriallia seemed like she couldn't decide what expression to put on and Damien seemed a little…annoyed.
"What? You want me to kiss you, too?" Damien recovered, returning back to his mildly sarcastic self.
Instead of being offended at his tone, Cagalli's face split into a huge grin before she dissolved in laughter. "So this is why!" She gripped a random furniture to keep her steady. "This is why we fool a lot of sales ladies! You actually know your way with women!" As if on cue, tears appeared at the corners of her eyes as she tried to hold in her laughter, although she was failing quite miserably.
"Then why do you act so gay around us?" Miriallia seemed to have recovered from her surprise.
"Because you're girls, and topics including the girly aspect of life are not fit to be discussed in front of a male," Damien answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Cagalli approached them, dropping off her shoulder bag as she passed by the couch. "Well, true. And he does act like a guy guy when others are around," she directed the last part at Miriallia.
"So your mom does not approve of you liking other men?" Miriallia asked, and it was only after she asked the question did she realize how dumb it must have sounded.
"I think she knows her only son is bisexual, but I suppose to keep my father from turning in his grave…" he trailed off, again rolling his eyes and looking like the son actually raised the parents instead of the other way around.
"So, are you going to tell us the whole story? And, before I forget, what's this bag for?" Miriallia picked up the paper bag that had lain forgotten on the floor for quite a while.
"What you're gonna wear when we go see my mother. And no, I won't be telling you my family story because it's tedious and boring, and you'll know soon enough."
"You got me clothes? I haven't even said yes yet! And why didn't you ask Cagalli?"
Cagalli mock glared at the brunette. "Thanks, Mir. Pass the task to me, why don't you?"
"You're prettier," Damien told Miriallia, taking his seat at the table.
This time, Cagalli turned her glare towards Damien. "Thanks, asshole. You really know how to make someone feel good."
"You're welcome, love." He gestured for the two of them to take their seats as well. "Anyway, you're a friend, Mir, so of course you'll say yes. And let's stop talking about that now that my problem's solved." He poured some red wine for himself. "Let's hear about your news," he gestured towards Miriallia.
At that reminder, a grin automatically sprang on Miriallia's lips, forgetting that Damien had just decided that she had agreed already even though she had yet to make a decision. "I've got a date tonight! It's Tolle! Tolle the wine guy! He didn't even mind the cast!"
Cagalli laughed, forking pasta onto her plate as soon as Miriallia handed her the silverware. "Of course he wouldn't mind." She looked at her arm that was already cast-free. "It wasn't like it would be there forever."
"Although, you could have had kinky sex with that. Doctor and patient," Damien easily quipped.
Miriallia almost choked on her pasta. She glared at him. "Damien, if you really want me to consider your request, better start behaving like a man! Guys don't just say that!"
Damien rolled his eyes, "I'm kidding, jeez! We know you don't do it on the first date!"
This time, it was Cagalli who rolled her eyes. "Can we not talk about sex?"
Damien grinned almost evilly. That request was begging to be milked, and milk it he would. "Ooh…looks like someone's not getting it. Frustrated much?"
Cagalli didn't justify the jest with a reply, mainly because she wasn't not getting any; it was just that she got it from someone she should not be getting it from. So instead of replying, she chose to glare at him, which only sent Damien into a laughing fit.
"I've heard that taking a sabbatical from sex is like trying to quit smoking cold-turkey."
Miriallia just about choked on her wine after hearing that, and if she'd taken more than a little sip, she'd have found herself with wine coming out of her nose. Across the table, Cagalli was trying to stop herself from hitting the smirk off Damien's face, but because she wasn't exactly famous for her control, she smacked him upside the head.
"See if I don't do that again," Cagalli smirked in return.
Damien, with an air of an aristocrat, rubbed the sore spot. "You're violent as ever. I swear, I thought we've gone past this kind of treatment?"
Miriallia stood up from her seat and walked around the table to where Cagalli was seated. Placing an arm around her shoulders, she ruffled the blonde's hair like she would a child. "You're really bothered about something, aren't you? Usually, you just ignore his teasing."
Cagalli sniffed haughtily, like she'd been offended.
Damien sighed, turning to his side to fully face his childish friend. He placed his hand upon her cheek and leant forward, pressing a kiss on her forehead. "Fine, fine. I knew you wouldn't let my saying that you aren't as pretty pass quickly, even though you acted like it."
Miriallia rolled her eyes and shook her head at how Damien was saying his peace.
"Kidding. You're pretty, too."
"That's not even it!" Cagalli seriously didn't know how their conversation made a sudden turn. They were supposed to be teasing Miriallia or trying to get Damien to tell them about his life, but instead of that, they were trying to get her to tell them what was bothering her. Usually, she would tell them, but she couldn't quite figure out how to relate to them just how frustrated she was. Currently, the idea of sex and her mood didn't mix; if anything, the word was only leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. All thanks to her stupid dream and to the equally stupid existence of one Athrun Zala.
"If I give you candy, will you tell us?"
"Please, Mir," Cagalli exasperatedly sighed. "That only works for five-year-olds." Shrugging Miriallia's arm off her shoulders, she stood up and grabbed her wine glass from the table. "Hey, guys, let's not talk about me! I mean, c'mon, this is Miriallia's day! Tolle, remember?" She raised her wine glass for a toast.
Miriallia and Damien looked unsure for a moment before giving in; Cagalli was one obstinate mule, and that was putting it lightly.
"Fine. You'll tell us soon enough," Damien acquiesced. Sighing a bit melodramatically, he raised his wine glass and clinked it with Cagalli's then with Miriallia's when the brunette raised hers. "Here's to wishing a successful first date!"
Cagalli gave them a thankful smile, then resolutely directed their conversation towards the big date happening that night.
o-o
Staring at her carefully made bed with so much consternation, Cagalli bit her lip. How did time pass by so quickly? She swore it was just a minute ago that she was watching Damien and Miriallia fuss over the latter's outfit for her date…how come she was back at home and preparing to turn in for the night already? She glanced at her bedside clock: 9:47. The night was still young, and, by all rights, she should be out with a few friends pub-crawling around downtown Orb until she was sure she was seeing triple. But Miriallia had her date and Damien had some other plans, and she didn't feel like calling other people to hang out with. Yes, she was a pitiful person with only two true friends she felt comfortable enough to be drunk around.
Sighing for the umpteenth time since she entered her apartment, she stomped away from the bedroom. It was dangerous to fall asleep, that much she'd realized. Maybe she could go out, breathe in some fresh air, and clear the fog that had settled in her head. The rooftop was a nice, quiet place, and she thought it perfect. The evening air was a bit chilly, and the cold might do something good to her…maybe get her sick enough that her feverous sleep wouldn't allow for weird dreams. Cagalli heaved another troubled sigh. Deciding that that might actually be a better situation than being hot and bothered by a dream that felt all too real, she grabbed her coat and then left her apartment in a slight rush.
Feeling a little better already just by being out of her unit and walking the short distance to the elevators, she even managed to smile and greet a neighbor she was sure was keeping a pet illegally in his apartment. But just as the steel doors slid open, the good feeling that was slowly washing over her turned cold, like death itself was dressed smart-casually and talking quietly on the phone, unaware that she was gawking at him.
Zala?
xxxxx
Reference/s:
Tolle the wine guy is inspired from a character from the show F.R.I.E.N.D.S: Paul the wine guy.
daisukiasu'n'caga – props to you, sweetheart, for that PM
Angie – In the last chapter, it's really "don't" because Athrun refers to sleeping with each other like it's an ongoing thing, thus making it "present." And Cagalli only clarifies that they "had," thus the "one-time thing" follow-up. Cagalli is not differentiating "sleeping with each other" and "having sex." I'm sticking with "don't." :)