CHAPTER 5: a reunion that had been postponed for too long
Cagalli POV
Damn him. He still looked as good as ever. The same straight face with tousled blue hair and emerald green eyes. She had tried to avoid a meeting with him for as long as possible but after 5 years the day had finally arrived where they had to talk face to face again. She forced herself not to break eye contact with him first as it showed she was the weak one but inside her heart was skipping beats and her knees were buckling. She cleared her throat and spoke.
Cagalli: Hi.
Athrun wasn't replying. He was still looking at her in some kind of an…awestruck way but she thought nothing of it after all they were no longer together. She tried again.
Cagalli: Captain Zala? Are you…alright?
She saw Athrun blink and regain focus and then he spoke.
Athrun: Lady Cagalli. It's a pleasure to see you again.
She hated this. They were speaking around the edges as if their relationship never happened but why was she the one to care. This was not a social visit. She was strictly here for business.
Cagalli: Yes, it's a pleasure to see you again too. I trust the military training has been going well under your hands.
Athrun: The new recruits have not been brought up to my standards yet. However, in a few months I'm sure they can pull through. If you like you could come by tomorrow and take a look at their training.
Cagalli: No, I'm sure they're doing fine in their training. I was asked to stop by to just take a look around the area to make sure everything has been continued on correctly after my last visit. They told me to ask you to take me around…
Athrun: Of course Lady Cagalli. Is there any particular place you want to check first?
Cagalli: -pauses- I want to see the archangel and Kusanagi. –avoids Athrun's piercing gaze-
Athrun: -salutes- Right this way Ma'am.
Athrun POV
'They'll be ready in a few months'. Athrun was cursing himself in his head for blurting out the words. He could never seem to think straight whenever Cagalli was around. Even now all his thoughts were still on her. It was the first time in 5 years he had really seen and spoke to her again. He restrained himself from looking back at her as he led her to where the Archangel and Kusanagi were.
They walked in silence until he couldn't bear it anymore and struck up a polite conversation with her.
Athrun: So…I hear Kira and his family are coming down to ORB to visit for the week.
Cagalli: -startled- Umm, yes, they're staying in my mansion.
Athrun: Oh, I see. It's been a while since I've last seen them. Are they going to tomorrow night's commemoration?
Cagalli: Yeah, I reminded Kira on the phone today.
Athrun nodded at her and they continued walking with no sound but their shoes tapping away. They reached the hangar where the Archangel and Kusanagi were kept next to each other. Only high ranking officers were allowed to enter as these ships were part of war history and therefore highly protected. He typed in the code and the doors slid open and there stood in perfect shape the ships in which history was made.
Athrun took a deep breath and continued leading Cagalli towards the mighty battle ships. Along the walls of the hangar stood framed pictures of the military personnel saluting the camera in individual portraits. They were the people that served aboard the two ships in the first and second bloody valentine war. Some pictures were of the crew just simply eating, talking, laughing and resting. Nearing the end of the exhibit was a note stating that Miriallia Haw had created the exhibit.
He continued walking but Cagalli had stopped. He turned around to see why and saw her. She had seen her own portrait. Her 16 year old self echoed in her eyes. She reached out her hand to touch the portrait and he saw the passion he admired return to her. There was another photo beneath her portrait and now he found himself being carried towards her.
The photo hanging beneath hers was a picture of the two of them together. He was hugging her from the back and she was blushing and trying to get away from his embrace but the image showed she didn't mind it too much in fact, she was enjoying it. He remembered having this photo taken. The first war had just ended and they had arrived back in ORB together.
Flashback.
Athrun: -jumps and hugs Cagalli from the back-
Cagalli: -blushes- Athrun! Get OFF ME!
Athrun: -grins- No chance! –hugs her even tighter-
The sound of a camera clicks.
Cagalli: MIRIALLIA!
Miriallia: -laughs-
Cagalli: DELETE THAT RIGHT NOW!
Athrun: -let's go of Cagalli-
Cagalli: -chases Mirialli around screaming at the top of her lungs-
Athrun: -laughs so hard his stomach starts hurting-
Before his emotions started showing Athrun clears his throat loudly.
Athrun: If it's alright to continue on?
Cagalli: -straightens up and brushes her clothes- I think that's enough for today.
Athrun: Would you like me to escort you back up to the car?
Cagalli: No. You can go up first. I'd like to stay here a little longer. It's okay, I know my way back.
Athrun: Ma'am. –salutes-
He walked quickly back out of the hangar and as the metal doors slid shut he thought he heard a sniffle.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of the characters.
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