Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny.

A/N: As much I would like to update my more serious fics... Sometimes I just don't have the luxury of time or muse. And as much I think I should leave behind fanfiction and the Gundam Seed category all together, I don't feel ready to give it up just yet.

AU. Please don't take these nonsense seriously.

" " for speech
Italic for flashbacks, thoughts, and opinions.

Gotta Love Shopping

Question. Why do men hate shopping?

"I don't hate it," Dearka Elsman confessed, slumping and looking gloomy. "It's just I wish she would hurry up and pick something out... doesn't matter to me what it is. The girl's frugal, I tell you, frugal! Wouldn't even let me buy her a thing..." Dearka sobbed, and then he dropped his head on the table, surrendering to exhaustion from several long hours of window shopping and more window shopping. Forget that it was a small table and forget that it had food on top of it. Dearka didn't care anymore.

Feeling sympathetic, Athrun Zala frowned along with his troubled but very smitten blond friend.

"Don't feel too bad." Athrun said, trying to comfort. "Cagalli wouldn't even spare a glance at a dress..." He said disappointingly sharing his own experience with his girlfriend causing both male to sigh in unison.

Eventually, from his pathetic position, needing advice, Dearka glanced up toward the third person sharing their table. The guy had his arm crossed, his expression indifferent, as if stressing- why was he even there listening to their petty problems? Both his friends were a bunch of whiny babies for bringing it up.

"How do you do it, Yzak? Knowing Flay, she probably could shop all day. How do you tolerate it?"

Yzak Joule, unlike Athrun and Dearka's enduring and eager to please nature, was apparently known by the lot for his lack of patience and his immense dislike of shopping and all sorts of other pastime that he considered to be a complete waste of his time.

Tsch. Yzak's arm remained crossed. "For your information I enjoy shopping with Flay."

Dearka bolted straight up. Athrun almost fell of his chair. Almost.

"Wait, what? When did this happen?" exclaimed Dearka.

Yzak angled his gaze at both of them, snorting, "since she'd model the clothes for me and we started having sex in the fitting room."

Dearka's jaw dropped. Athrun's eye bulged wide.

"Yzak, that's illegal."

Yzak simply shrugged at Athrun's remark. "Not if no one finds out. And let's suppose someone did, I doubt they'd be dumb enough to throw us out. Flay's a most-valuable customer."

Dearka and Athrun could only exchange baffled looks.

Watching them, "Wait." Yzak thought. Uncrossing his arms, he unconsciously leaned forward. "Don't tell me neither of you have done it yet." The male raised one innocent but skeptical eyebrow. A look which Athrun and Dearka were convinced to be a- not having done it in the fitting room meant you were not quite as worthy, resulting a couple of manly-merit wire to snap.

00000

Same day. Girls day out. Two blocks away.

Miriallia Haw palmed both her hands on top of the round wooden table. She turned from Lacus Clyne, who graciously looked back at her, to Cagalli Yula Athha and Flay Allster comfortably sipping their milkshakes.

"... And he was like- why won't you spend my money?" Miriallia exclaimed, doing the best imitation she could of Dearka's whimpering face.

Cagalli responded with a roll of her eyes. "You should have seen Athrun."

Attentively listening to them, Lacus' couldn't help but sweat drop, her face screwing into this awkward yet sympathetic smile. "Well..." The pink-haired girl began, but was unable to finish her comment when Athrun and Dearka suddenly burst into the tiny cafe, panting.

Being the ones faced to the oak clear glass door, Lacus and Flay raised a brow as both male hastily made their way over to them after spotting their table.

"Milly, we're going back shopping!" Dearka proclaimed, pulling his girlfriend on the arm and onto her feet, and then he dragged her off without a say. "You're going to try on that dress whether you like it or not and I'm buying it!"

"Cagalli, we're going too!" Feeling more determined, competitive and more confident than usual, Athrun ordered. Yes, ordered- not asked. "Loose shirts. Baggy jeans. Mens' clothes. I don't give a damn so long as you try them on!" He finished, pulling his significant other out of the shop too.

Once the commotion was gone,

Being one of two friends left behind, Flay continued to take sips through her straw then slipped a confused glance at Lacus. "Wonder what's up with those two..."

**End 04/06/2011