Characters: Meyrin and Lunamaria Hawke, Shinn Asuka, Athrun Zala

Pairings: None

Time frame: GSD post ep 50

Choice

"The next time I see him," Luna rants, "If he doesn't look that pathetic, mind you, I'm going to lay a beating on him! How dare he? He just-"

There are still tears drifting around in the air. Meyrin catches a few with her sleeves and wipes her eyes once more to be sure that no new ones leave her as Luna lists all the terrible things she will do to Athrun for dragging Meyrin into his desertion.

"I offered my help," Meyrin repeats, cutting her sister off after a few more minutes, knowing it to be futile. She smiles. She has not had contact with a person with an exploding temper since she has left the Minerva. "It wasn't his fault."

"What was whose fault?" A voice breaks in, sounding tired but also a bit amused. They all jump. Being in a relatively secluded lounge they had forgotten they weren't alone. Shinn whirls around violently and Meyrin once again doesn't know what to make of the hot-head's expression. Shinn has been behaving a bit strangely as far as Meyrin could tell.

"You. Meyrin." Luna states it flatly, narrowing her eyes at Athrun as he comes floating in. "But you still look pathetic so I'll let you off for now."

"Thanks," says the former ZAFT ace, "I appreciate it." He honestly means it, too tired to be tied into a fight with Luna or to catch her ire. He looks like a corps, so pale, as he sips on a bottle.

Suddenly Meyrin blinks. "What are you doing here, Athrun-san? Aren't you supposed to be still out?"

"Yeah," he agrees, sliding an arm over his eyes as if he'd like to go to sleep there and then. Meyrin notices her sister and Shinn's blink in surprise. They aren't used to Athrun doing anything that isn't within the military standard procedures. "But I was advised to take a break. Apparently overworking isn't healthy and I better conveniently rest now, while certain two ZAFT pilots are coincidentally still here." He sighs, muttering, "the hypocrite," under his breath and Meyrin giggles.

With that one comment Meyrin knows it was Kira-san who managed to convince Athrun to come by. As far as Meyrin knows there is only one person in existence who can convince Athrun smoothly and easily. And it is not Lacus-san or Cagalli-sama.

She can see it in her mind's eye, how Athrun just wants to throw his hands up in defeat when arguing with his best friend. Copernicus particularly comes to mind, but she shoves that memory far down.

Meanwhile, Shinn and Luna look at Athrun still strangely and when he finally notices, he just sighs again. "So, well, I guess we better have a talk. Before we might never see each other again." Before their eyes Athrun slowly wipes his exhaustion off his face, becoming more composed and the person they have known on the Minerva.

Meyrin can see it startles the other two and she knows what it feels like, but she has become increasingly used to…well…just Athrun, no being a soldier attached, that she see the effort he puts into this.

He exhales deeply. The two ZAFT pilots tense. "I owe you an apology, Lunamaria. I'm sorry for pulling Meyrin into my troubles and I'm sorry for the grief it caused you." He pauses, looking intensely at the red-head. Luna breaks eye contact first. Meyrin can't say she is surprised.

Then he turn his attention to Shinn, and the younger pilot winches. Athrun pinches the bridge of his nose. "Shinn," he starts, then trails off apparently at a loss of words. He starts again. "Shinn..." His tone is full of resigned frustration, but again nothing more comes.

He sighs deeply.

Shinn, turning red with anger, snaps. "What?!" Meyrin used to be afraid of Shinn when he lost his temper. She can't say him almost killing them did anything to help that problem. "You got something to say, Zala? Then say it!" He is breathing heavily. His eyes are red.

True to form Athrun lets the outburst pass right by him. Instead he smiles grimly. "I don't have much to say to you, Shinn. Other than I'm sorry for not being able to help you see past the Chairman's words. But I don't think you want to hear that."

"Damn straight!"

Athrun doesn't say anything more, enduring Shinn's heated glare.

The sisters glance at each other anxiously, not quite sure what to do, if anything.

"Rey was on Messiah," the oldest of them finally says after a long pause.

"What?" Shinn's head snaps around, his face losing all color. It is something Meyrin hasn't known and she and Luna stare at Athrun. He probably doesn't notice, too focused on Shinn. "How do you know?"

"I was there."

Shinn isn't pale anymore. Instead the whiteness comes from fury. "And you just left him?" he whispers, voice quiet and it scares Meyrin.

Athrun shakes his head. No, he isn't that kind of person. "He chose to stay behind." Explaining doesn't mean much to Shinn when he is enraged, but Athrun will always try. "He wasn't hurt and could have left whenever he wanted, but he chose to stay."

"You left him!"

"He chose to stay! He shot the Chairman and then chose to stay with Captain Gladys." He is resolute in this. "I'm sorry." He gives a nod before leaving. He has said everything he wanted and needed. Meyrin understands this. If Shinn and Luna are still there when he returns, then maybe, they can talk some more still.