Drabble 27: What if: Instead of Kira, Athrun's the one who made it in time to the wedding?
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Runaway
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He was quiet for the whole trip, Cagalli thought. And the fact that she was too afraid to speak also added to the account.
When they finally lost the last of the pursuers, Athrun finally landed on an island that was covered in a thick rain forest, smaller than the place of their first meeting. Without saying a word, he gripped her waist and held her as they descended from the cockpit.
He removed his helmet finally, and Cagalli pulled off the veil from her hair, watching his quiet back.
"I know you won't forgive me," She said, breaking the silence. Tugging nervously at her wedding dress, Cagalli fought the tears threatening to spill and finally threw her veil to the ground. "Athrun, say something, damn it! It would make me feel better if you yell! You're killing me with this silent treatment!"
"I'm not angry, I'm disappointed!" He turned to her, indignant. She saw a very visible vein on his temple - just attempting to pop. "How could you do this to me-to us?.!"
Cagalli almost cringed at his last two words. "I had no choice! It's not like I'm happy for it!"
"That purple haired bastard," He said through gritted teeth. "I kinda wish I had stepped on him with Saviour."
"You re-enlisted," She predicted, and much to her dismay, he didn't try to disagree with it. "You've made your choices, Athrun. I've made mine as well."
Absently, her right hand went to caress the empty left ring finger.
"Somehow I know you'll say something like that," He buried his face into his hands. "And yet I still went and snatched you right under Jona's nose."
"Why did you do it then?.!"
"Because Kira and Lacus made me," Athrun shook his head violently. "Because if I don't, I know I'll be haunted forever by the biggest mistake I've made in my life."
Cagalli stared at her forgotten veil on the ground, smudged with dirt. She had unconsciously reached up when the unknown red MS landed in front of her – somehow she knew it was him all along.
Then, he stared at her and turned around again, placing a hand on his face. "God, I just can't look at you right now."
"Athrun-"
"You look too beautiful, and damn, I'm supposed to be mad at you, not--...damn it."
At that, she watched his back in silence and rose to her feet, circling her arms around his waist from behind. "Have you read my letter?"
"No. Kira said that you should tell me that in person."
Pressing her cheek to his back, Cagalli sighed. "I'm sorry."
He didn't answer, but placed a reassuring squeeze on her hands.
"I'm officially a kidnapper," Athrun eventually announced after a long, comfortable silence. He sighed heavily. "The Chairman's gonna kill me."
"And I'm a runaway bride," Cagalli chided.
"We should get going to Archangel," Athrun said, and Cagalli released her grip. "But first..."
He took out the ruby adorned ring from his pocket, fingering it for a moment. "You know, we have a ring, and you're already in a wedding dress."
Cagalli's eyes widened, and before she knew it, Athrun got down on one knee in front of her and held the ring against her ring finger.
"I believe this is the proper way of doing it," He said, a grin visibly tugging on his lips.
"Oh," She mumbled, too flustered for any witty comment and finally managed to struggle out a coherent reply. "Glad you, uh, realized."
"So, Cagalli..."
"Ye--yeah?"
"Will you..."