Chapter 2: Lust

Disclaimer: I only own the plot of this particular fiction and any OCs I may throw in. I resurrected Rey and Stellar for the purposes of this fic. Deal with it.

Shinn stormed down the sidewalk, a scowl permanently marking his handsome face. Rey strode quietly beside him, glancing at his brooding friend every once in a while.

They ended up at a bar where they usually have lunch or beers after work. It was mostly a military bar, and Shinn would usually bring civilian girls for a good time- until he began dating Luna.

"Shit!" he exclaimed as he remembered their argument.

"What?" Rey asked.

"I broke up with Luna."

"Why?"

"She was too clingy, you know? I was getting bored with her anyway; it's about time I found a new girl." Shinn replied nonchalantly.

"I guess, I thought you really liked her though."

"Yeah but like I said, I'm not ready to settle down with anyone, I'm too young for that. I wanna have some more fun first and Luna just wanted to shackle me down with marriage and babies."

"True, you just survived and helped win a war; you deserve a few chicks to stir up trouble with before getting married and having kids. Plus, I don't know how well you'd do with little brats running around screaming." Rey said and smirked at his friend.

Whenever Shinn Asuka encountered little children, it usually didn't go well. Kids were noisy, disobedient, annoying, way too curious, and messy (hey, kinda like Shinn…). While he tried to be nice, he tended to get frustrated after a few minutes. If he had to take care of even one, he would go insane.

"I'm glad I broke it off before I got her knocked up, that would have been bad." He confessed.

"Yeah, I can just imagine." Rey said and started laughing. Shinn punched him in the arm lightly and rolled his eyes.

"So, do you see any girls here worth your interest?" Rey asked after a moment. The bartender handed them drinks and they waited to order lunch. Shinn glanced around.

"Not really, besides Luna and Meyrin, most of the military chicks are too butch. I kinda wanna try a civilian on for size." Shinn told him.

"What about that Stellar girl, you know the Extended from EA? You risked your neck for her; do you know what happened to her?" Rey asked as he remembered the incident.

"Not really, I thought her and Kira got in a fight, besides, what would she be doing here?" the other asked.

"I'm not sure, but she is." Rey said and glanced from Shinn to a girl sitting by herself in the far corner of the bar.

The blonde hair reminded him of Cagalli, but he knew that Stellar wasn't as moody or annoying as the Princess. In fact, the natural was more of a wildcat than a tomboy.

Shinn grinned and nodded to Rey before getting up and strutting over to her.

"Hey, been a while." He said in a husky voice. She looked up and saw his grin and gasped, smiling wide.

"Shinn!" she exclaimed and threw her arms around him.

"Hey Stellar, I was just wondering about you." He said and hugged her back.

"I was hoping I'd find you around here. Are you busy? Stellar wants to spend time with you like we did when you saved me. I've been thinking about that ever since I got back. I missed you." She said and gave him a sultry look, grinning and giggling.

His grin widened. "Actually I'm just killing time here, wanna come to my place so we can talk?" he asked. He flashed her a sly smile and made sure his eyes were filled with heat.

She giggled. "And do other things Stellar likes to do. Yes I want to come with you." She said and walked with him, arm in his, out of the bar.

He winked at Rey on his way out who winked back.

"Lucky punk."

They started making out the second they reached his apartment and stumbled through the rooms until they got to his bedroom and onto his bed. He snatched a condom out of his dresser and thought to himself that breaking up with Luna was the best thing he ever did.

"Where's Shinn? He left an hour ago, he can't just leave whenever he wants to, there's paperwork he still needs to fill out from yesterday!" Cagalli said when she approached Athrun.

"I'm not sure, probably getting drunk or being reckless, isn't that what he usually does on his lunch-break?" Athrun asked.

"I suppose, but he at least gets his ass back here in a timely manner. I know he hates his job but he doesn't have to be a child about it." She seethed.

"Don't tell me, he never listens when I try to teach him something or give him advice. I give up. He'll learn one day, probably the hard way."

"I know, I just wish he'd act his age for once." Cagalli growled.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Attha, I'm here. I'm just so glad you missed me." Shinn said in a sardonic tone as he strutted past.

"Where were you?" she asked, infuriated and trying not to blush. She was actually wearing a thong because she forgot to do laundry (or so she says).

"Screwing a blonde natural way hotter than you." He said and winked.

"Ugh! So that's what you do on your lunch-break! What about your girlfriend Lunamaria?" she said in disgust.

"We broke up, she couldn't handle me." Shinn replied and shrugged, smirking.

"I'm sure she broke up with you because she was tired of your attitude, and you're close to being fired if you pull that stunt again." She snapped and left.

Athrun and Shinn both glanced at her retreating form (a.k.a butt) as she stormed down the hall. They glanced at each other and Shinn looked away, pretending to puke.

"So who's the blonde hotter than Cagalli?" Athrun asked.

"Why should I tell you? You get that firecracker, I'm not touching it."

"That 'it' is actually more of a tigress, although firecracker is also a good term." Athrun replied and wiggled his eyebrows.

Shinn shook his head, "We both know you've never tapped that so don't even try. You probably wouldn't be able to handle her, if she even let you touch her."

"Actually she does let me touch her; she just won't let you touch her."

"Yeah right, she can't ignore my sexiness she's just angry I don't like her back." Shinn snorted.

"Uh huh, sure." Athrun replied in a disbelieving tone as he rolled his eyes.

Shinn shot him a glare and looked at the stack of papers on his desk.

"Hey, when did this get bigger? This stack was only two inches high and now it's five!" Shinn exclaimed.

Athrun smirked. "That was why Cagalli was over here, she was delivering your paperwork for today, and also you have a meeting around…now." He said as he glanced at his watch.

"What! What meeting?" Shinn exclaimed.

"The one Cagalli told us about at the beginning of the week when you were doodling on your notepad. She reminded us the other day when she came down, don't you remember? Oh yeah! You were asleep because you went out partying the night before." Athrun said, grinning. He enjoyed tormenting Shinn…just a little.

Shinn gave an exasperated sigh. "Well where is it and who with?"

"The main office with the Chairman of PLANT and Zaft General. Each one of us has a mandatory meeting to evaluate our performance post-war and decide what to do about our future plans with the military." Athrun told him.

Shinn's mouth dropped open and he stood staring for a few minutes, not comprehending what Athrun was telling him.

"You know they won't be very happy if you're late, and it's already on the other side of the building, you should hurry before they decide to just fire you." Athrun suggested.

Shinn cursed and ran down the hall, grabbing his file as he rushed to the meeting that would decide his future.

Athrun's chuckle exploded into laughter as he watched the younger man sprint down the hall without his military jacket which he most likely left at his apartment. Kira walked by and gave him an odd look, and he explained the incident.

"I hope they don't fire him." Kira said.

"What do you mean? He's miserable here, hates everyone, and everyone hates him. Honestly he would be better off just to get fired or quit." Athrun replied.

"I don't hate him, yeah he can be irritating, but to discharge him from the military? He won't be able to rejoin, and he'll have to find another job. All he has is the Academy schooling; he'll have to go to a regular college to find another career." Kira told him with a concerned look.

Athrun sighed. "You take the fun out of everything. Of course he won't get fired for being late and not having his jacket, but he's on thin ice, and this meeting should help get him back on track. I'm sure he won't have to go through too much to find a new job, Zaft will assist in finding something he's skilled at."

"Oh, I was taking it too seriously wasn't I?" Kira replied with a sheepish grin.

"No, but he needs to look at it that way and he doesn't. This is a free ride to him; he doesn't realize he has nothing else."

Kira nodded somberly and glanced at the office across from Athrun's, Shinn's office.

Shinn let out a sigh of relief after an hour of talking with the Chairman of PLANT and the Zaft General. The meeting had been a little stressful especially at the beginning, and it didn't help that Cagalli was there to monitor, not that she really needed to be. Since ORB was neutral and the war was over, both PLANT and the Earth Alliance allowed ORB officials to have access to military information- and command over military personnel.

He still had his job and sanity, all that was really said was that he needed to take it more seriously. He was a soldier, but there was no war, this was all he could do now. He didn't like it, but he had to accept it.

He walked back to his office and groaned at the paperwork still lying on his desk. It was a few inches taller again.

He sat down, cracked his knuckles, stretched his arms, and got to work. Athrun gave him an odd look, but Shinn ignored him. He worked. Not often and not without complaint, but he worked.

When he finally got the paperwork done he got up and stretched again, happy that he accomplished something. He walked out of his office and started down the hall.

"You done already?" Athrun called.

"Yep, see you later, loser." Shinn replied and laughed. As he rounded a corner he saw Luna talking with her sister Meyrin, and his grin faded. The girl glanced at him and glared before turning back. He rolled his eyes and walked past, glancing back and catching Meyrin's eye.

He bumped into someone again and looked to see it was Cagalli…again.

"Shinn you really need to walk with your head facing forward, not backward or to the side." Cagalli said, stepping aside.

"You bumped into me! Maybe you need to pay attention." He replied.

"Whatever Shinn, have you finished the paperwork?" she asked.

"Yep! I'm off to get some training in and then I'm out of this place." He answered.

"You should work on watching where you're going, seems like you need some training in that area." She commented and shrugged past him.

He glared at her back and then his gaze moved downward, the grin returning.

"Face the front, Asuka!" Cagalli yelled when she noticed him staring. He laughed which made her flush a deeper shade of red as she hurried down the hall and rounded a corner.

He entered the training room and saw others he knew lifting weights, going into the gun range, or practicing hand-to-hand combat with each other. He went into the locker room and changed into his training clothes (gym shorts and a loose red shirt) and then picked up some weights.

After a while Meyrin came in and caught his eye again. She entered the female locker room and changed into her training clothes as well (tight, short shorts and a training bra) and also chose to start with the weights.

Most of the others began leaving, heading for the showers and then waving as they left to go home or finish work. When it was just them, Shinn smirked and put his weights down, and Meyrin did the same. She grinned and took his hand as he led them into the showers as they started making out and stripping. They laughed when one of them slipped or had a hard time getting their clothes off and Shinn turned on the water, making sure it was hot.

The steam fogged the shower room and mirrors, mixing with their sweat and the water.

This had been going on for a while, even when Shinn and Luna were dating. He would often make-out with Meyrin in an abandoned hall or have casual sex some nights when Luna wasn't putting out as much as Shinn wanted. While there were not romantic feelings between them, they were both happy. Shinn liked Luna but liked sex more, Meyrin liked Athrun but Shinn was more available (or at least not as noble and more of a rogue). They both enjoyed the danger and the pleasure and neither would tell a soul. It was strictly casual and unattached, and no one was the wiser.

Afterwards they got dressed and made-out one last time before departing a few minutes from each other, so no one would suspect what was really going on. Shinn went back to his office and gathered his things before heading out. He stopped by Rey's office and then they both headed for the doors.

"So how was Stellar? Is she doing well?" Rey asked.

"She was…stellar," Shinn replied and laughed. "She was in town looking for me, she got a hotel but she'll most likely be staying with me. This ought to make Luna see she should have kept me while she had me."

"Are you going to start dating Stellar, or Meyrin?" Rey asked. He knew about his friend's relationship to the Hawke sister, but he wasn't likely to tell anyone.

"Probably Stellar, if I even want to start dating again. Girlfriends are a hassle, casual sex and hanging out is more fun and relaxing, I don't have to worry about going on dates or buying them gifts or even caring about them. Besides, Meyrin has her sights set on Athrun, but Athrun is head over heels for Cagalli. And of course Cagalli is set on keeping everything businesslike. I know they go on dates and stuff, but nothing's real official. Not that I even care." Shinn replied.

"Yeah, that's a lost cause. I'm sure Luna will get jealous if you started dating again, especially if it's a natural. Especially if she looks like Cagalli." Rey responded nonchalantly.

"Stellar looks nothing like Cagalli, the only thing they have in common is hair color. And possibly IQ." Shinn grunted.

"Cagalli's a lot smarter than you give her credit for, but their body types are similar. Plus they're both naturals. They're the same height except for an inch, well-endowed, crazy…" Rey said.

"Why are you comparing them? Rey you're freaking me out, do you have a thing for Attha or something?" Shinn asked with a disgusted look on his face.

"No, but I think you do. That's why you annoy her all the time and go out of your way to embarrass her or harass her. You respect and look up to Athrun but treat him like dirt too, it means you care." Rey replied theatrically and avoided a punch in the face.

"You're wrong and you've been reading into my rants too much." Shinn grumbled.

"Oh come on, you know I'm right. The only reason why you don't treat me like crap is because you know I don't give a crap. But you have the hots for Cagalli, because you never look at her face when she's talking to you, and when you do it's only to watch her lips as they move when she's yelling at you. Plus that's why you're even angrier at Athrun because even though nothing's official everyone knows they're together. Also another reason why you're screwing Meyrin on the side but would never date her, so she can have a chance at Athrun so you can have a chance at Cagalli." Rey told him.

Shinn shot him a crazed look. "I hang out with you way too much. Freak."

"I'm not going to be sad because I know it really means you love me." Rey replied and laughed when Shinn yelled and pushed him away.

"You're so creepy! Get a girlfriend already!" he exclaimed and got in his car.

"But I only have eyes for you, Shinn Asuka! You're such a hunk and so brave!" Rey called jokingly and laughed again. A few bystanders looked at him oddly but he ignored them.

Shinn shook his head as he sped down the street, smiling at his friend's awkwardness. They joked around often although Rey was usually serious and quiet, but whenever he said something he was right, and Shinn knew it.

He reached his apartment and saw Stellar sitting on his couch with just his shirt on. She smiled and jumped on him when she saw him, but all he could think of was the other blonde who was too uptight to take a joke.

Shinn Asuka had a crush on Cagalli Ula Attha.

Lust is another Deadly Sin, already with haughty eyes and now being "a false witness who pours out lies", Shinn has committed two of the Seven Deadly Sins.

You have five more chances to prove yourself, or you won't have to worry about your future or who to date next, Shinn Asuka.

-Author's Note: Yes some people are OOC but honestly I can see this happening, except for maybe Rey having a sense of humor or Athrun being so wicked…Anyways! Please comment and tell me what you think, ideas and critiques are appreciated!-