Chapter IV: The Cost of Stubbornness

Miriallia couldn't believe how exhilarating it was to fly over the world. It was nothing like being on the ARCHANGEL. Here it was just her and Dearka. It made her nervous being this close to him. She once believed she loved him… now she wasn't so sure. Regardless she knew was she couldn't have picked a better person to be on this journey with. A better person to protect her. Although the silence of the cockpit was starting to get on her nerves. He hadn't spoken to her since they took of from France.

She wasn't sure what was going on with him. Was it because he was still scared of piloting again? Or was this the way he was when piloting. Was he just in the zone? Or was he just not interested in small talk with a natural. Although she hoped they were past all that. After all he was posing as a natural right now, and had been for who knows how long. "What is he hiding from anyways?" she thought.

Finally after almost three hours of flying he spoke. "You crossed a line back there" He said in an very irritated voice.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" She asked confused as she broke out of her daze.

"That shit about my father. My relationship with him isn't any of your business."

"Why not? Like it or not you're in my life for the next year. I deserve to know a little more about you. All I really know right now is that you're an ex-ZAFT soldier who deflected to us. Is it really so bad that I want to know more?"

"It's none of your business" He repeated. "You and I are colleagues and former comrades. Nothing more. I have no interest in sharing anything about my life with you. This is just a job, like it would have been to me had you been any other photographer. This is not some 'get to know you' trip around the world. We are getting paid to be together." He didn't like being rude to her but then again he was sincerely mad. He and his father had a rotten relationship. And it was something he didn't need her asking about. "Besides don't you think Frederic might have found it a little suspicious you were so interested in some councillors son? You shouldn't be so trusting of people"

"And you don't have to be a jerk" She said half under her breath. She leaned back in her seat and looked out the window. "Why is he being like this? Why is he fighting me so hard?" She wondered.

"If that what gets you to drop it, then yes I do." He said quickly in a kinder tone than before. "What the hell am I thinking? Dammit… why can't I shake these feelings! She a natural." He thought to himself. "Not that getting her to hate me is going to help things either. I just need to focus on the job."

"I'm sorry" Miriallia said after a few minutes of silence.

"Huh?"

"You're right. If you were any other bodyguard I wouldn't have wanted to know about you. But you're not. We have history. Nothing can change that. I wanted to know you back then and I want to know you now. You may not want to tell me right now… but someday I hope you will."

He looked at his monitors and then looked back towards her. "We're here" He stated ignoring what she said.

Mir looked down to the small island. It wasn't much of an island. There was a large cliff that overlooked the island. Surrounding the cliff on one side was the ocean. Jagged rocks scattered around. On the other side there was beach that appeared to be covered in large pieces of scrap metal. "Where exactly is here?" She asked confused.

"It's not on your little list if that is what you're wondering" He confessed. "But this was a battlefield from the war. It doesn't have much significance other than it was one of the earliest battlefields. A small confrontation between ZAFT and the Earth Alliance. You see there were two ships on their way to their respective bases. But due to them being enemies a battle took place. It's unclear who won, it seems they both retreated at the same time. Since it is a remote island not much was cleaned up on it. Only the larger pieces of the mobile suits. If nothing else you can get some practice." He explained "I'm going to land down there on that cliff."

"Alright" Dearka landed the small fighter jet down on the cliff. He pressed a button and top opened up letting some much needed fresh air to wash over them. He started to type quickly on the keyboard in front of him confusing Miriallia. "What are you doing? I thought you didn't want to make any adjustments? You know adjustments a natural wouldn't make." she questioned.

"I'm not" he said sincerely. "I'm making sure no one can locate us. This is still a fighter jet. The war may be in a cease fire right now but there still is no treaty signed. It's best we remain on the side of caution. I'd rather not have anyone locating us and questioning what we are up to. Can you imagine what someone would say or do if they figured out I am a coordinator."

"I guess you're right." She said as she started to get out of the jet. She looked around the island. It seemed so much bigger now. It was so serene and calm. She would have never known it was a battlefield had Dearka not told her. She walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the trees and debris. She started to lean forward to get a better look at the landscape below.

"HEY!" Dearka yelled in a panicked tone. He ran over to her and harshly yanked her away from the edge. He held his hand tightly around her wrist frowning at her. "What hell are you thinking! What do you think would happen if you fell off the edge?" He asked angry. "No guess?"

"You're hurting me!" She said as she ripped her arm out of his hand. "What the hell is your problem? I was just looking!"

"This is a battlefield. You better get use to the dangers that exist here! After all it's your job now to know!"

"What dangers! It's a deserted island far away from any civilization." She argued.

"That is still the edge of a cliff! You fall and you'll be lucky if you only break a few bones. I'd rather not have to fly you back in a body bag."

"I'm not an idiot. I'm smart enough to know to be careful. Why can you trust me"

"I'll trust you when you prove to me that I should. Just get the hell away from that edge" He ordered.

"You're not the boss of me."

"No, but I am your bodyguard." He replied ticked off. "Which means I am in charge of your well being. So move your ass and help me set up camp."

She looked at him angry. She couldn't believe he was actually talking to her like this. Was this really what he was like before they met? "Fine" She said irritated.

They both walked over to the skygrasper and started to unload their camping gear. Since they were still not getting along after their little 'danger' spat Dearka told Miriallia he would set up the tent on his own. It went up much faster than Mir expected. Seemed like he was use to doing it. How many times did he sleep in one during the three months he was out of her life she wondered. He stood up and checked to make sure everything was secure before turning to look at the girl watching him.

"You going to stay in that flight suit all night?" He asked sarcastically.

She looked down at the suit hugging her body tightly. "No". He picked up her bag of clothes and tossed it in the tent before starting to unfasten his suit. Miriallia walked past him and into the small tent. While inside she could see the shadow of Dearka undressing. She couldn't help but blush. She quickly changed out of her suit and into a pair of short short and a tank top. Once she knew he was dressed she exited the tent.

She felt uncomfortable as he looked her up and down. He shook his head almost in disgust before speaking to her. "I'm going down into the forest to get some firewood" He stated "You can take some photos when I'm gone but stay away from the edges. The last thing I need you getting hurt on our first stop."

"Aye Aye Sir" She said mocking him with a salut. He rolled his eyes at her before turning and walking down the slope and into the woods. Miriallia watched his retreating form. She had never been so relieved to watch him walk away. The tension between them was higher than she had ever felt it before. "What the hell is that guys deal?" She wondered to herself.

She picked up her camera and fitted with a lense suited for the pictures she wanted to take. She walked over to the side of the cliff, making sure to stay at least three feet away from the edge. The last thing she needed was Dearka yelling at her yet again. She snapped a few photos. It was interesting to see how the sea had washed the sand up around the remaining debris. It was a great example of how the war left scars on Earth. The landscape was forever changed.

Before long Dearka returned with his arms loaded with broken logs and branches. She watched from the corner of her eye as he readied a fire pit. She let her camera fall around her neck hanging by the strap. She walked over to him. "Do you need any help?" She asked trying not to make eye contact.

"No, I'm fine." He replied emotionless. "I know how to build a fire, I don't need you of all people helping me"

"I thought maybe it would be nice if I offered you some help… but clearly you're to arrogant to accept help from a natural!" She said angry before stomping off.

"Where the hell do you think your going!" He yelled at her.

"To finish my shoot! You know the whole reason I'm stuck with you!"

"If you had a problem with me you should have said so to Fredric or Mr. Richard"

"Just stay over there, out of my way" She ordered as she walked over to the edge of the cliff overlooking the water. She turned back around and pointed the camera towards the landscape in front of her.

"I thought I told you to stay away from the edge" He shouted over to her trying to suppress his anger.

"And I thought I told you to stay out of my way" She retorted pulling her camera away from her face. "Just let me do my job."

"Fine. But don't expect me to come to your rescue." He said standing up from his now roaring fire. He folded his arms in front of him and turned away. "Dammit why won't she listen to me! This girl is so… stubborn!"

Miriallia held her camera back up to her face. She looked through the viewfinder and snapped a few photos. The sky was starting to turn shades of pink and orange as the sun was setting over the ocean. Wanting to get a better picture she stated to step backwards. She could feel her heels at the edge of the cliff. Ignoring this she continued her shoot. She snapped picture after picture before she started to feel something strange under her feet. Before she realized what was happening the ground beneath her feet crumbled sending her falling off the edge of the cliff. "Ahhh!" She scream.

Dearka felt his heart sink into his stomach when he heard her scream. "Miriallia!" He yelled as turned and ran towards the edge. He fell to his knees looking down at the water. Below was several jagged rocks. Luckily for him it looked like she had missed them all. He waited a few seconds, but seeing she wasn't emerging from the water he began to panic. He threw his gun to the ground before removing his shirt and boots. He took a deep breath before jumping down into the water after her.

He looked around the deep cloudy waters. Spinning around a few times to look it seemed she was no where to be found. Taking a chance he swam deeper. The pressure of the water felt like it was crushing his lungs. He was running out of air. But he continued, knowing Miriallia was somewhere down there was all the motivation he needed. Somehow he found inner strength, and he moved his arms and legs as fast as her could. Finally he saw her laying a the bottom. She was unconscious. He reached down and grabbed her hand pulling her close to his body. It felt good to hold her in his arms. Pushing off the bottom with his feet he quickly swam to the top as fast as humanly possible.

He burst out of the water and gasped for air. Slowly he moved his arms through the quiet, calm water. He was worried. Miriallia's face had lost all color. Never had she looked so pale to him. Soon the water was only at his waist and he was able to pick her up into his carried Miriallia to the beach. Laying her down in an area that wasn't covered in debris. He placed his ear against her chest… she wasn't breathing.

"No! No no no no!" He repeated over and over. "Mir don't do this to me! You can't die! Not here! Not Now" He forced her mouth open and began to breath into her before starting chest compressions. He repeated this over and over again but no results. "Miriallia…" He felt tears rolling down his face like waterfalls. He couldn't believe it. He hadn't cried since he was a kid. But the thought of losing her was too much to bare. "Don't leave me… please." He struggled to say through the tears.

His head was telling him she was already gone. But he didn't want to listen to his head. His heart was telling him not to give up. After finishing his latest round of chest compressions he started to breath into her again. He reached down about to push on her chest again when she started to cough up water. He had never been more happy in his life to see someone cough. He pushed her onto her side and began to rub her back gently. When the water stopped coming up out of her mouth he helped her lay back down.

Miriallia looked up at him. Her vision was blurry but she could see a half naked Dearka leaning over her. "Is… is he crying? For me?" She wondered before losing consciousness again. Dearka wiped away his tears before picking her up. He carried her into the woods and up the slope onto the cliff where their camp was set up. He gently laid her in the tent. He covered her up and watched her sleep for a few minutes. For a minute he thought he should remove her wet clothes but thought it might be a little inappropriate. Instead he just grabbed some dry clothes of his own. He had almost lost her, all because he decided to be a jerk.

The loud crackling of the fire woke her up. She felt groggy as she rubbed her eyes while sitting up. A flash of a memories appeared in her mind. Falling off the cliff. The light dimming as she sunk down. Dearka… crying? She looked around the tent. Dearka was nowhere to be found. Feeling she was still in her wet clothes she got up and changed into some dry PJs. She walked out of the tent and saw Dearka sitting by the fire, poking the coals.

"You know you shouldn't play in the fire… it can be dangerous" She said in as sweet of voice as she could.

He laid down the stick and leaned back against the log behind him. But he stayed silent not looking at her. She stood there just watching him. He seemed so lost in thoughts. She walked over and sat next to him. She felt her heart pounding. She was nervous. Her hands felt clammy. Her breathing was getting erratic. He looked over towards her. "You feeling… okay" He asked concerned.

"Yes… Thanks to you" She looked deep into his eyes. She could see how happy he was to know she was okay. She smiled at him before leaning her head against his shoulder. She felt him jump slightly. It almost felt like he was going to pull away when instead he laid his head against hers. They both felt the butterflies building in their stomachs.

They looked up at the stars. The moon was full that night. In the distance they could see the PLANTs. It was there in space that their paths had first crossed. They had no idea back then that each other even existed. He despised naturals. And she was fearful of all ZAFT soldiers. Now here they sat together under the glow of the moonlight. Her being thankful that he saved her life. Something neither one of them ever thought he would do.

Dearka took a deep breath before wrapping his arm around her and pulling her in close. "Don't… don't ever scare me like that again." He said softly under his breath. She cuddled in close.

"I have no intentions of ever doing that again." She replied. Tired she laid her head down on his lap. He smiled down at her sleeping form. Maybe… just for tonight he didn't need to push down his feelings for her. He was falling in love with her, he had no doubts about that. He had been since the moment he first heard her name. But now for the first time he was willing to accept that, even if it was only for the night.