Chapter 8
"What are you working on?"
A chill crawled up Athrun's spine. He closed his laptop and spun around to greet her.
"I'm almost done with the repairs and configurations," he said.
Cagalli frowned. "You don't have to take on this type of work by yourself. I told you before that there is a whole team—"
"I want to," he smiled. "If it wasn't for it, or for you, I wouldn't be alive. I want it as new for when you come back."
Cagalli smiled brightly and began floating around the room. The aura around her was turning a bright yellow, like shining gold. Athrun had not seen that color around her before. It warmed his heart.
"You're glowing," he said.
"Aren't I always?" she said from above his head.
He laughed. "Yeah, but not like this." He paused. "I like it."
Cagalli landed in front of him. The two stood, silently, facing one another. Emerald eyes were peering into amber ones. Athrun's gaze drifted to her lips, and though the air was frigid around him, beads of sweat began to form on his head. He felt his heart racing.
Why am I…he thought, licking his lips. Why is she doing this to me? I want to say it, but…
Cagalli looked confused. She had never seen Athrun act this way. He looked perplex, yet nervous. His face was flustered, and he seemed a bit fidgety. She took a step back.
"Athrun, are you alright?"
He could feel his face heat up. He feared how red it possibly looked. He thought that he probably looked foolish. He was certainly feeling foolish.
"Cagalli…" he said. Why is this so hard right now? I've done it before…we done it before.
"Athrun, I'm worried."
"I'm sorry," he sighed. "There is a favor I want to ask of you, and I don't want you to think that I want you to leave…but…I can't touch you…"
She stared at him with wide, gleaming eyes. They were so beautiful that Athrun couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch her. He attempted to brush her cheek, but unsurprisingly, his hand went through her cold being. He looked down, disheartened.
"You want me to touch you?"
Athrun took a deep breath. "I want you to kiss me."
She took another step back, but Athrun moved two steps forward. If she could blush, her face would be beet red at that very moment. Athrun looked at her with pleading eyes, but she could not help but want to run to his bed and hide under the covers.
"I'm acting strange, aren't I?" she said it more to herself than to him; nevertheless, he agreed. Her sudden behavior was a complete contrast to the bold and flirty nature she had been displaying for the past several weeks. It left them both silent for a while; both wondering where the change had come from.
Maybe I am being too forward with her. Am I scaring her?
Suddenly, Cagalli looked as if she had an epiphany. Knots were forming in Athrun's stomach.
She didn't say anything, but she moved closer to him and gave him a small, bashful smile. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward. Athrun did the same. Slowly, their heads inched closer, their lips inching closer, until they finally touched. The kiss felt cold to Athrun, but a fresh cold. It was the kind of freshness one would get from chewing minty gum. Everything inside him felt electrified. His heart felt like it was racing a marathon. He wanted to reach up and wrap his arms around her, but he fought that urge, knowing it would leave him disappointed. For the moment, he would savor what she had given him.
When she pulled away, it left Athrun craving more. The kiss was amazing, but he missed the softness and warmth from her actual lips.
His eyes opened to see that Cagalli was smiling and gleaming gold. Her image was fading, but before she completely disappeared, she said:
"It was worth it."
Athrun couldn't agree more.
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