Chapter VIII: Tensions in the Streets

A couple of months had past since Dearka and Miriallia had started their awkward little relationship. They made it through many major life events since deciding to start seeing each other as more than bodyguard and protecti. They celebrated both Miriallia's 17th birthday and his 18th. They watched proudly on their computer as the peace treaty was signed at the remains of Junius Seven. And they both shared moments of silence on each of the anniversary of Nicol and Tolle's deaths.

But through all of this they still hadn't fully defined their relationship. She had never called him her boyfriend and he never called her his girlfriend. Not that they could say it to anyone. In the past few months they rarely saw anyone else. There was their chats with Frederic every few days, Miriallia's weekly email updates to her parents, and then there was the supply runs in the nearest cities every few weeks. But it wasn't like they would tell any of those they were in contact with of this… whatever it was.

Maybe it was because they thought nobody would approve. Frederic had already lectured them about it before they left Paris a few months before. So he would be disappointed to find out for sure. As for Miriallia's parents she was pretty sure they would be opposed to it as well. Especially if they knew he was now sharing a sleeping bag with her every night. It was definitely a bonus part of their relationship for Dearka. Before he didn't feel right even sleeping in the tent with her and spent every night outside under the stars. Now he spent every night sleeping cuddled up to his girl.

It was funny how things changed. Even their supply runs slowly started to change over time. They began to get more comfortable with each other and started to joke and laugh with one another. Dearka soon came to loved it. It was the first time he was really seeing Miriallia smile so bright and sincerely. She truly was happy. It was definitely one of his favorite parts of their supply runs. What he didn't like was how slow she was picking stuff out.

"They are all apples" He said un-amused at how long she was talking. "They all look the same, they all taste the same. Do you really need to inspect them so closely? Besides they are just going to rot in a few days, why bother buying a bunch?"

She looked at him a bit ticked off. She hated when he acted like this. "I thought it might be nice to get you eating something healthy."

"Practically all I eat is the fish we catch, what's so unhealthy about that?"

"Nothing I just thought maybe some fruits and vegetables would be good for you. Besides your muscle tone seems to be going down a bit. You might want to watch your nutrition a bit more" She lectured.

He rolled his eyes at her annoyed, just like a little kid talking to his mother. "It has nothing to do with nutrition. All I do it fly that stupid jet around and then watch you take pictures. The most action and 'training' I get is gathering firewood every night and your self defense classes. It takes a lot of hard work to maintain a perfectly sculpted body like this" He joked.

She paid of the groceries from the outside market and shoved the bags towards him giving him a dirty look. "Then why not quit" She said seriously. "I can always get a new bodyguard, then you can focus on getting that perfect body back" She began walking away from him trying not to let him see her face.

"Hey wait! I didn't mean-" He tried to defend himself while chasing her down, but when he got to her he noticed she was trying not to laugh. He smiled at her. "You know, you're kind of mean when you want to be. Not nice to mess with me like that"

"You should be use to it by now. We have been traveling together for six months now" She replied giving him a kiss on the cheek as an apologie.

"Seems like yesterday that we were on the ARCHANGEL"

"Sometimes it almost feels like it was all just a dream… or nightmare" She said sadly. He took hold of her hand and she smiled. They started to walk back towards the hotel when they noticed a large crowd gathered across the street. They seemed angry, almost like it was a mob forming. "What's going on there?" She asked before she saw a man standing on a platform addressing the crowd, it was then she noticed the large gun.

"We can not stand for this injustice any longer!" he yelled. He held a gun up into the air. "Coordinators and naturals living in harmony is a wrong that needs to be righted! This peace is sham. Orb and those who support its ideals deserve to met the same fate as all coordinators! They need to be eliminated, erased from existence. Peace can not exist until every last one of them is dead!"

Miriallia was shocked at what was going on. Some people even seemed to be agreeing with the man, while others were yelling that he was insane. Scared and worried Miriallia looked over at Dearka for support only to become more worried. She knew that face. She had seen it once before. When he was surrendering to the ARCHANGEL. It was a mix of hate and anger. He was gripping that bags so tightly she thought they would explode, before he dropped them and started forcing his way through the crowd.

"Dear- DERRICK! Stop!" She yelled after him panicked. She pushed her way to the front of the crowd and watched Dearka launch himself up onto the stage. Seeing Dearka as a threat to his beliefs the man turned the gun on him. Dearka reached for the gun quickly. But in the struggle the gun fired. "Derrick!" Miriallia screamed horrified. He was shot in the arm, but he still managed to get the gun away from the assailant as he pushed him down on the ground. He held the gun towards the man before turning to lock eyes with Miriallia for a few seconds. He could see how scared she was.

"This man understands nothing. He doesn't understand what it is to sacrifice everything in the name of peace. How many people have to die before you people can accept what they all died in order to bring? One hundred? A thousand? Would the death of every coordinator truly bring you happiness?" He demanded. "If you really think that then let me tell you a story of two boys. Nicol and Tolle. Nicol was fifteen years old. He loved to play the piano. He dreamed of someday writing his own symphony, something he worked on in his spare time. He joined to military to protect his home and his family. He thought he was doing his part to bring peace to everyone. As for Tolle, he was sixteen years old. He was laid-back and kind hearted. He liked to joke around and always tried to keep the mood of those around him as happy as possible. He loved to make his girlfriend smile." He said looking down at Miriallia. He could tell she was surprised at what he was doing, of course he was surprising himself. "He joined the military to protect her and his friends. Because he knew it was the right thing to do. They both died in this war. They died trying in their own way to bring peace. Nicol was a coordinator and member of ZAFT. Tolle was natural and member of the Earth Alliance. They were enemies. Nicol was killed by a comrade of Tolle's. Because of his death in the next battle Nicol's comrades killed Tolle. But it never brought Nicol back nor did it make losing him any easier for them. They both died what seems like pointless deaths. Just two more names added to the total of losses this war created. But their deaths did achieved something. It sparked a rebellion. From ashes of their loss came the fuel needed to start something great. The war changed that day. It was the start of the end. Coordinators and naturals began to fight together in a rebel alliance that ended the war. Today we stand here in an Era of peace built on the blood of those who were lost in this great war. Natural or coordinator we are all the same. We are all just people wishing to live in peace. Wishing to be happy. So why keep fighting?" He looked down at the man in disgust. He didn't doubt for a second that the old him would have shot this man long ago. If not for his words but at least for shooting him first. "Don't let all those who died in this war be in vain." He finished before moving the gun from being pointed at the man. He opened it and removed the bullets before breaking the gun on his knee. Everyone looked up at him in awe unsure of what to do next.

Later in the Hotel

"Ow! Dammit! Easy! That hurts" He yelled as Miriallia tightly bandaged up his injured arm. He refused to go to a hospital claiming he didn't need to despite losing a fair amount of blood.

"Serves you right!" She said angry as she finished up. "What were you thinking! You shouldn't be so reckless! You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"It's fine, nothing bad happened. And I stopped something possibly worst from occurring. It was for the best"

"It's not fine! You were shot" she argued.

"It's nothing" he snapped back getting angry now too.

"It's not nothing, it went straight through your arm"

"Which means there is no bullet lodged in there to cause any infection down the road. It's no big deal, it will heal. It all worked out didn't it"

"And what would you have done if the police didn't arrive when they did? Or if they had caught you? It would take them long to realize that Derrick Eastman doesn't exist."

"Derrick Eastman does exist. Or at least there is a paper trail of his so called existence. Do you really think I could be a bodyguard without a background check." He said smugly raising an eyebrow. This only angered her more.

"Stop it!" She yelled. "Why are being so stupid? What if I lost you"

"I told you that I'm fine just what hell is you problem Miriallia?!" He yelled standing up quickly.

Without thinking she yelled back at him the words she didn't have the courage to say many months before. "I can't lose someone else I love!" Shocked at her own words she gasped and cover her mouth. She could see how shocked he was to hear those words. She had never seen his eyes opened so wide. "Please" She begged tears at the corners of her eyes. "Forget that I sa-"

Before she could finish speaking Dearka pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. He had never kissed her like that before. She sunk in accepting and enjoying every bit of butterflies and tingles she felt. He pulled away and looked he in the eyes for a few seconds. They were both breathing heavily. "I can't" He said slowly. "I can't forget your words. But I'll accept that they were too soon for you"

It was her turn to ambush him with a passionate kiss. She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him down until their lips met. He decide to one up her and he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Gently he laid her down on her side, leaning on his good arm as they continued to make out. Miriallia couldn't believe the feelings building up inside her. She had never felt this way before. Was it possible she was surpassing where she was with Tolle?

Dearka wanted her more than he had every wanted any girl in the past. But he couldn't just take what he wanted, even if what he wanted was right there in his arms. As he kissed her more he felt Miriallia take hold of his hand. Slowly, as to not hurt him, she guided his hand to her thigh. He couldn't help but notice how warm it was. She started to push it up until his hand was up her skirt, never once stopping the kissing. He was surprised how nervous he was. She wasn't the first girl he had done this with, but maybe it was because she was the first girl that really mattered to him. The first girl who told him they loved him and really meant it. Even if it was blurted out in the heat of the moment.

He pulled away from her and looked at her slender body below him. He then leaned down and kissed her neck. She moaned his name softly. He smiled hearing her say his name like that. She she sat up. Thinking she wanted to stop he sat up too, only to be surprised when she stood up and began to undress in front of him. There standing before him was a vision of beauty. Her naked body was more perfect than he could have imagined.

"Your turn" She said nervously. He stood up, he was already shirtless from her playing doctor earlier which meant he didn't have much standing between him and being fully naked with her. He took a deep breath and undid his belt buckle. Slowly he unbuttoned his pants and in one move pulled down his boxers and pants. He was now just as naked as her.

They both stood there admiring each other. Their hearts feeling like they were going to pound out of their chests. They both knew in that moment what was about to happen. There was no going back after what they were about to do. Their relationship was about to be taken to a new level, a new level that was more real than anything before it. They didn't know if they were ready but it didn't matter. They both wanted this and nothing could stop them from getting the satisfaction they were both now craving.