category: Gundam SEED

disclaimer: I don't own it.

EIGHT.

Yzak always accompanied Lacus home whenever they worked late together. It was the courteous thing to do, he sputtered every time Dearka teased him about being such a mama's boy. He would argue that they only lived a minute apart, anyway, and it was his duty to ensure her safety at all times.

On that evening, there was silence in the car except for the rhythmic roll of wheels across smooth tar. Lacus was twisting and twisting a silver ring around her finger and Yzak felt his aggravation level rising, watching the offending ornament glint from the corner of his eye.

Girls and rings, Yzak grumbled to himself as he tried not to pay attention to how irritating Lacus's constant movement was. It escaped him why those particular accessories meant so much to women. Every time Cagalli came to the PLANTs for a visit, official or otherwise, he would notice her continually moving her ring up and down her finger absently. It was so incredibly bothersome to have to repeat himself when he was trying to tell her vital information. Moreover, whenever Athrun stepped into the room, her ring would fly up and down faster and faster and she would fall into a daze until Yzak nearly pulled out his own hair in frustration.

If the need to gift a girl a piece of jewelry ever presented itself to him, he noted that he would be sure to choose something innocuous, like discreet earrings.

But something nagged at him while the dark streets passed them by. Lacus had been distant the last few days, and he couldn't help but wonder if her home situation was all right. A few more minutes ticked by as he debated whether or not it would be too forward to just ask her, but then he realized that if preoccupations were disturbing her faculties and putting her in inadvertent danger, he had to act, as part of his new responsibilities, straight away. He shot up out of his slouch with a jolt. General Joule to the rescue!

"Lacus." He cleared his throat loudly as she turned her big eyes on him.

She smiled. "Yes, Yzak?" Her ring stopped twisting momentarily.

"Ah – um. Well, I was just. I just wanted to make sure you were all right." Inwardly, he cursed at himself. Why did he have to stumble over his words at the most crucial moments?

Her eyebrows drew together slightly. "Of course I am. What could be wrong?"

"Are…you happy?" Yzak made a point of looking at her ring. "Are you being treated well? I noticed you've been somewhat distressed recently, and it is my duty, as an advisor and as an old friend, to see to your general welfare."

Lacus blinked slowly before suddenly breaking into a fit of giggles. "Oh, Yzak!" She sobered a little when she caught sight of his horrified expression but still failed to keep the beam off her face. "It's so sweet of you to worry. But I assure you Kira cares for me very well. I'm happy, only a little worried about the radiation leak that was reported on November Six today."

Yzak stared at her blankly, dumbfounded. "Oh."

She took pity and covered for him. "But you do know that you are one of the first people I would go to if indeed anything was amiss, right?" She patted his hand. "I value your opinion very highly, Yzak."

A glow of pride filtered through him. Aha! She valued his opinion 'very highly'. That was code-speak for 'I value your opinion a lot higher than I do Athrun's.' He sent a rare smile Lacus's way and sat back into his seat triumphantly.

"Miss Lacus. Your house." The car slowed to a stop, and Lacus gathered her things.

"Thank you for your concern, Yzak. I really do appreciate it." Lacus leaned in to kiss his cheek and then stepped outside. "Goodnight."

Yzak grew flustered all at once. His neck was uncomfortably hot and there was a scalding tingle across his nose and forehead. "Oh! Goodnight, Lacus."

The door shut, and the car started to move again. Yzak attempted futilely to slap the flush out of his face and, when it refused to seep away, barked at the driver for no apparent reason.

notes: I really love Yzak. It bothered me that he and Dearka were moved down to secondary characters in GSD, because the dynamics of the Creuset Team members were so fun. Either way, those short glimpses in GSD when we would see Yzak shouting his head off at Athrun on the battlefield were gold.

NEXT PHASE: Meyrin reflects – she never really loved Athrun Zala, although she had been on the very verge of.