AN: Well, here it is, as promised, a happy/fluffy scene! Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing!

Title/theme: THE HEAT
Genre: humour/fluff :D
Approx time line: Phase 19 of GS
Summary: "Hey Captain, aren't you hot wearing that?"

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"You're his senpai, have a talk with him!" the young captain suggested.

"Hmm," he eyed her up and down, "I don't think it'd be good advice." She didn't miss the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Huh!" she turned with an indignant humph and left him standing there alone.

"Wait Captain!" she sighed in annoyance as he ran to catch up to her. She decided to ignore him.

"Captain?" he tried to look at her face when she didn't answer.

"What!" she snapped, harsher than she intended, as she whirled around to face him.

He stepped back in surprise, and sensing that she was in a bad mood, raised his hands in surrender. "I just wanted to say I was joking. I'll talk to him if you really want me to."

"Sure, Commander," she answered curtly as she turned and went on her way. But he didn't seem to get the hint and followed her once again. She decided ignoring him was the best tactic.

"Hey Captain, aren't you hot wearing that?" she stopped at his out-of-the-blue question.

"What?"

Encouraged that she was actually paying attention to him, he went on. "It's like 1000 degrees in here. Aren't you hot in that?" he pointed to her neatly buttoned up uniform.

"No."

"Really? 'Cause I get hot just looking at you." She noticed that he was wearing a T-shirt instead of his uniform.

"Well, deal with it," she turned to leave again, but he grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"You know, it's okay to change into something cooler," he said as he eyed her, his gaze following a bead of sweat as it traveled down her temple. Her face flushed as she quickly wiped it away.

"I-I'm fine," she turned quickly to hide her embarrassment. "Besides, I don't have anything to change into," she added in a mumble. She immediately regretted telling his this, as she looked up and saw a mischievous grin lit up on his face.

"Hmm," he eyed her again, as if studying her.

To her complete and utter surprise, he reached down and started to roll up the sleeves of her uniform.

"Commander—" Before she could move to stop him, he went and loosened the high collar of her uniform. Her face flushed, not from the heat, but from his proximity as she felt his gentle breaths tickling her bangs.

"There," he backed up, studying his work, "Much better."

"Wh-how-just-Commander!" she stuttered, flustered.

He laughed. "You need to calm down a bit, Cap'n!"

She glared at him before she started to pull her sleeve down, but was stopped by his hands.

"Uh-uh, remember, relax." He gently pushed her sleeve back up.

She hated to admit it, but he was right, it was stifling hot on the ship. And it did feel cooler and airier with her collar undone and her arms bare. So she let him win. Her shoulders sagged as she sighed.

"Okay Commander, I'll try." She turned to get back to the bridge.

Murrue hadn't walked far when she noticed that she wasn't alone. She groaned as she realized that he was still following her. Even though she was feeling slightly cooler, she was still irritated for some reason.

"Why are you sticking so close to me?" she asked.

"I want to keep ya company," he flashed a roguish grinned as she rolled her eyes. "You know, and to make sure that you don't pass out from the heat."

She closed her eyes and sighed in defeat. He was persistent when he wanted to be, and it'd be easier to play along.

"What the…" She felt herself being ushered in the opposite direction of the bridge and looked over her shoulder. Lo and behold, the Commander was behind her, pushing her with one hand.

"Hey!" she stopped quickly and turned to face him.

"Yes Captain?" laughter twinkled in his eyes.

"Where do you think you're taking me?" she huffed while glaring at him.

"Why, that's a surprise," he winked.

"Well, I have to get back to the bridge. What if there's a sudden attack?" she told him, "With both Natarle and Ensign Yamato out in town, we're short-handed, and I need to be ready!"

"Didn't I tell you to relax?" he was still grinning. Then at her worried expression, his smile softened. "Don't worry, I'm still here to fight for ya!" She almost laughed as he struck a heroic pose accompanied by an over-confident grin.

She exhaled. "All right Commander, but it means you'll have to fight twice as hard," she couldn't help but display a teasing smile of her own.

If possible, his grin got even bigger. "Will do, Cap'n!"

"W-Where are we going?" she asked as he once again led her by her wrist. He didn't answer.

"H-Hey, slow down!" she protested as she found that she had to practically run to catch up with his longer stride.

He turned his head to look at her and chuckled a bit. "Sorry."

Murrue had to shield her eyes with her hand as she came into the sudden brightness. It took a while for her eyes to adjust to the glare of the sun on the desert sand.

"Well?" his deep voice came from beside her.

"The deck, Commander?" she asked, walking to the railing and gazed at the vast expanse of the desert. "It's not much cooler out here than in there." She was right, for the heat was still surrounding them, "And the sun makes it even hotter."

"Hmm, you're right. That's why I told you to change into something cooler." She turned to face him, and was startled at how the sun caught his dirty-blond hair, making it shine like the golden desert sand. A boyish grin spread across his features, and his blue eyes sparkled with amusement. Her face suddenly reddened again, and she told herself it was due to the heat.

He chuckled softly at her awkwardness. "I think I can help you with the sun." He moved to her other side, his tall figure providing some shade for her.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

"But it is a lot airier out here don't you think? I couldn't breath in there." He tossed his head back to catch a gentle breeze. She followed his example and pulled her dark hair up to let the breeze cool off her neck. It did feel refreshing to get a breath of fresh air after being on the ship all day. She felt her previous irritation and bad mood melt away.

"You know Commander, you really are persistent."

He laughed. "I know. I try my best to make the impossible possible." He glanced at her, silently chuckling at her reddening face. "Being so tense all the time can't be good for you, you know."

She smiled shyly, "Well, yes, um, thank you Commander."

AN: hehe, isn't that just SO cute:D. I was inspired by Phase 19, when Kira, Cagalli, and Natarle went out into town. (The beginning is with that conversation between Mwu and Murrue when they're talking about Kira and Fllay). I thought these two deserve a little break too you know. I've always wondered how they can wear those uniforms! I mean, they're in the middle of the African desert, inside a metallic ship with the sun shining right on them, and they're wearing these long-sleeved jackets with those high collars that probably don't breathe too well. Murrue's been stuck on the ship for a while, and the heat's probably what gave her the bad mood. I think she needed some help to learn to relax, ne?

The ironic thing is, when I first started writing this, I was ice-fishing ('cause I was bored...), and my toes were frozen numb... it was rather interesting to imagine the heat of the desert XD.

Also, a little shameless self promotion if you don't mind, my first fanart of my dear Hawkie (yes, that's the new nickname I gave to Mwu :D) can be found here: www. deviantart. com/ view/ 27126305/ just take off the spaces. I've been wanting to do one of Mwurrue, but haven't managed to finish one yet...

Until next time, review please!