A/N: Well, I finally update. And firstly, I have to apologise to everyone. When I said "trouble" I meant uncivilized flaming such as "This fic sucks because Fllay's alive" or any of the variations thereof. Also, don't think that reverse psychology works on me because I don't know when you're using it. Meaning you want me to do KxF and so you tell me "KxF sucks Kira belongs with Lacus and if you don't write it this way nobody will read your fic" I'm not stupid, I'll know when you're using reverse psychology on me, and guess what? It doesn't work! So Kayell, if that's what you're trying, don't bother.
Also, to Violet: Not to be mean or anything, but I don't really know you, so yeah, it isn't really a valid reason. I don't do requests. I can be your friend, but still, that's not a reason for me to fulfill requests. If I did that I'd have to fulfill all my friends' requests, wouldn't I?
Disclaimer: You know the usual. I don't own this show, 'cause if I did, who's writing this?
Chapter 2-Attorney
Fllay entered the kitchen. The first thing she saw was a flash of light yellow hair as the Head Representative turned to look at her. Her heart was ready to sink. At least, until she saw the Representative's escort.
She didn't notice him at first, because Cagalli's bright yellow hair had overshadowed his brown. But as soon as she saw, she knew. Her heart almost stopped, her pulse slowing so much she could have passed for a corpse, before restarting with enough force to crush her lungs. She tried to pull out a chair and sit down while projecting a clam image, but her excitement betrayed her. Her movements were jerky.
"Tea again?" asked Nelia, and without waiting for an answer placed the cup and saucer in front of Fllay. Fllay absently nodded in thanks, her eyes still on Kira.
Kira hadn't even looked at her in the eye once since she came in. He was deliberately talking only to Cagalli. Fllay felt the same feeling she had the last time she saw Kira so happy with the other girl. Or was it?
Cagalli ended Kira's rant with a pat on his head. "Cool it, little brother. Right now, we're here for a reason." The last part was not only directed to Kira, but to Fllay as well. Fllay's temper flared up again, but was suddenly quelled when she recalled what Cagalli had just said.
"Wait… he's your brother?" asked Fllay. Now that she knew it, she could see the resemblances between the two.
"Yes," answered Cagalli shortly. "But the reason we're here is to hear your side of the story. Tell us, in short, why you passed nuclear technology to the Earth Alliance."
Fllay glanced at Kira, who was determined to avoid meeting her eyes as much as possible. With a heart rapidly plummeting through the floorboards, she told the twins the main points of her story.
"I was taken prisoner by ZAFT, as you know. Commander Rau Le Crueset gave me the information in a disc, and he told me as soon as it reaches the Earth Alliance it would end the war. I thought… I thought it was the beginning of a peace treaty. I never knew it was nuclear technology." Fllay's eyes began tearing up as she thought about all those she might have been responsible for killing.
"It's not your fault-" began Cagalli when Kira suddenly interrupted.
"We have to go, Cagalli. They'll notice you're not around sooner or later. And I can't stay as your bodyguard for long. We found out what we came here for." Kira's eyes were focused outside the house. It was a ruse, although a convincing one. He couldn't bear to stay around Fllay when she was crying, knowing that he couldn't help her.
"Alright," agreed Cagalli. She got up, saying, "I guess your lawyer would be around to see you soon. Until then, please just stay in the house."
Fllay nodded and watched as the two left, watched as Kira didn't look back even once. She left her cold, untouched tea on the table and went back into her room, trying, and failing, to ignore Nelia's penetrating stare.
Kira started the car and headed back to the Parliament House in silence. Cagalli tried to fill it in with some conversation, hoping that it would ease her brother's tension.
"I don't know how to appoint a judge for this case, Kira. If it happens to be a Coordinator, and if she is convicted, the Atlantic Federation will complain that the verdict was biased. If it happens to be a Natural, and if she is acquitted, PLANTs will say that she was let off easy."
If Kira even heard her, he gave no sign, his entire mind on the road ahead of him.
"So I guess I'll have to do it myself then," continued Cagalli.
That broke Kira's stupor. "What?" he asked, his eyes wide.
"I said, I'll have to judge this case myself. There's still too much tension and rivalry between PLANTs and the Atlantic Federation to trust them not to complain about the verdict. People are still angry about the actions taken during war time. And since I'm practically half a Coordinator myself, I guess I'll just do it. Don't worry, I won't be nasty on her."
"Cagalli, you don't have to do this for me," said Kira, the expression on his face unreadable.
"Who's doing it for you? I'm just going to be a fair judge, that's all."
Kira subsided back into his seat. If he disapproved of his sister's plans, he didn't show it. Cagalli continued talking as though Kira's sudden outburst never happened.
"And I guess if you want Fllay to win the case, you'll need a lawyer who isn't prejudiced, who is persuasive and logical, and can convince even Coordinators that she is innocent," Cagalli rattled off the list of requirements, hoping that Kira would get the hint. He didn't, and Cagalli sighed. This was going to hint him. Hard.
"I think the best person to do this would be Lacus." Cagalli braced herself for the explosion.
One second passed. Two seconds. Three-
"WHAT?!?" screeched Kira. "You must be joking! How could you ask Lacus…"
"It's for the best, Kira!" replied Cagalli, covering her ears. "And keep your eyes on the road."
Kira obeyed, though he was still mad. "Do you think Lacus is going to agree to it? Do you think I'M going to agree to it?" he amended after some thought.
"Whether you agree to it or not isn't the main thing here. Whether Lacus agrees to it, and I suspect she will, is what matters."
"But still…" Kira trailed off, seeing Cagalli's point.
"If Fllay is to be proven innocent to everyone, it will be necessary. We know, but PLANTs need to know and believe the truth. Stop worrying, Kira," said Cagalli in reply to Kira's dumbfounded expression. "Lacus can handle it."
Kira deigned not to answer, his mind on the pink princess. He scowled, already thinking of her reaction to the request, and somehow, the guilty feeling he got while visiting Fllay multiplied a thousand times.
A/N: Whopee! Conflict! Man, I'm evil. And also, people who flame me anonymously to get me to do a certain pairing will not get their review deleted, but it will be ignored. Further reviews from said person will be ignored unless it happens to be an apology or anything like that. So think thrice before flaming uncivilly. Especially people like Kayell.
Well, I won't be updating so soon, because I have other stories whose readers will kill me if I do not update. So I'm taking it in turns to update. This will be updated after Sing to the Dawn is, and after Mirroring the Light