Act 3: Dawn Break

Satisfaction was etched on their faces as they lay intertwined. Cagalli rested on his lap, her breaths steady and content. Athrun idly played with the strands of her hair, gently stroking her back, further relaxing her. The mixed scent of their passion lingered in the air.

"You'll need to clean the cockpit as soon as possible," Cagalli said, breaking the tranquil silence.

"Yes, as much as I'd like to retain your scent, I wouldn't want to be found out... or," Athrun teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Knock it off," Cagalli whispered, playfully swatting his arm.

Athrun chuckled, relishing the playful banter. "All we need is to pull the lever, and the Z'Gok will launch."

Cagalli hesitated momentarily, enticed by the idea of a midnight escapade. However, the thought of alerting the guards with the launch gave her pause. "Maybe, just for tonight," she whispered as she pecked his chin, her lips lingering for a moment.

She stood to search for her underwear, the gravity of their situation settling in. Finding it, she slipped on her undergarments and carelessly donned her uniform without buttoning it properly.

"Are you certain? It might have repercussions for you," Athrun reminded her, retrieving his boxers and swiftly pulling them on before clumsily donning his green turtleneck.

Feeling her hands embrace him from behind, Athrun closed his eyes, relishing her warmth, and held her hands in his.

"I miss the old days when we were younger. I felt invincible. I could fight, leave Orb... I never realized how important my father's duty was," Cagalli confessed, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

"But that's also the beauty of being young. We make mistakes, but we learn from them," Athrun comforted her, his tone gentle yet reassuring.

"We've been through a lot, haven't we?" Cagalli added, a hint of melancholy in her voice.

Athrun turned towards her, nodded, his gaze softening. "You're a strong woman, Cagalli. You put your duty first. Just remember, you'll always have me to rely on, for even the smallest things. Don't hesitate to call me," he reassured her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

"Or we could say there was an 'emergency,'" Athrun suggested.

"Hmm..." Cagalli agreed.

After a while, they reluctantly separated. Athrun eyed her lewdly again as her uniform remained unbuttoned.

"Hey!" Cagalli blushed, caught off guard by his actions. Thinking that he wanted a second round, but instead, Athrun started buttoning her uniform. "What's there to be shy about?" he asked, his actions considerate.

Cagalli felt a little embarrassed. "Nothing... " She let him button her uniform.

"There, we don't want you going outside with mismatched buttons," Athrun joked.

"Thank you… "

"Don't mention it. I loved taking care of you. If only our circumstances allowed it," Athrun replied.

"…for patiently waiting..." Cagalli finished. After the battle with Durandal, they had to sort out so many things, but she had never thanked him before. She never had the opportunity as duties kept piling up one after the other. There was no opportunity to open up the conversation. After Durandal, came the Foundation. It always ended up in a battle. Yet, through it all, he was there beside her. Not always close, but she knew he was there.

Cagalli felt that it was the right opportunity to thank him. She wanted to tell him how much she appreciated all his efforts to stay by her side, especially when she almost gave up. They had many disagreements about this issue, but it was all in the past. She knew she had to fulfil her duties as a leader and prioritize her responsibilities, but having him as a home to return to was comforting.

"I hope this won't be followed by a goodbye," Athrun remarked, a hint of longing in his voice.

"It's a life of paradox for us. After the meeting, comes the goodbye. A life of give and take. Chasing and waiting," Cagalli mused, her voice tinged with resignation.

Cagalli's eyes softened as she gazed at him, her fingers delicately tracing his face. In that moment, she felt the weight of the trials they've faced and the uncertain future ahead. Yet, there was a profound sense of belonging when she looked into Athrun's eyes. "And... I love you, Athrun," she declared suddenly, her voice carrying a depth of emotion that caught Athrun off guard.

Athrun's breath caught in his throat as he absorbed her words, his heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in her voice. He reached out, intertwining his fingers with hers, feeling the warmth and reassurance of her touch. "I love you too, Cagalli... forever," he replied, his voice tinged with tenderness and resolve. Leaning in, he closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a gentle yet passionate kiss, sealing their commitment to each other amidst the complexities of their world.

Thank you, I'm sorry, I forgive you, I love you.

These words all carry equal weight. Pursuing the greater good often entails letting go of personal desires, physical closeness, and the comfort of convenience. Some may label it as unconditional love, but in truth, it requires more effort than anyone could imagine. Being on the same page, understanding each other's priorities, and offering unwavering support. Only then can it be a love that transcends time and space—a love that has been battle-worn, unyielding, eternal. Separations are inevitable, but they will always have each other to return to—a sanctuary amid life's challenges.

When they parted, Athrun asked, "Shall we?"Cagalli nodded. He made his way to the pilot's chair, using the hem of his shirt to dry his hands. His fingers moved swiftly across the controls with practised dexterity. As Cagalli watched him navigate the Z'Gok operation system, she entered the security code from memory.

Athrun motioned for her to sit on his lap. "Time to buckle up," he said, and Cagalli snuggled into his lap, securing the seatbelt around her. Her movements caused her to accidentally bump into his groin. Technically down below, he was wearing only his boxers and as for her, her underwear. They were too lazy to put on their trousers. What separated them were only thin fabrics.

"Be careful down there," he quipped, a hint of amusement in his voice as he felt himself stiffen once more.

However, understanding each other does not mean suppressing your feelings and desires. Desires are what make individuals unique and special. You can support and admire a good leader without necessarily desiring them romantically. Conversely, you may desire someone passionately but not necessarily love them deeply. In their case, it's a delicate balance of love and desire, of fulfilling duties and acknowledging personal needs.

"You and your thoughts," Cagalli retorted with a playful smirk. "You sure you can handle twins?" Cagalli teased, looking at him lovingly. Imagining the future with him.

"I can handle anything," he smiled. "You wouldn't get rid of me that easily," he mused.

With a final keystroke, the Z'Gok roared to life, its engines rumbling with power. The cockpit was bathed in the soft glow of illuminated displays, casting gentle shadows across their faces as they peered ahead. They found solace in the warmth of each other's presence, a reassuring constant amidst the uncertainties of their world. With a steadying breath, they guided the Z'Gok forward, the rush of the night air enveloping them as they embarked on their midnight escapade.

Post-script

As dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, signaling the arrival of a new day, the Z'Gok glided back to the storage facility, its presence drawing the attention of the bustling staff. An unintended trigger of the bypass code had set off an alert, catching Cagalli off guard as they disembarked from the cockpit.

Emerging from the Z'Gok, Athrun and Cagalli were greeted by curious stares from the crew, who offered salutes as they passed by. While their attention lingered on Athrun, unable to scrutinize Cagalli in her official capacity, a sense of curiosity hung in the air.

Their unchanged attire from the night before and the gravity of their presence hinted at an extreme emergency that required the personal intervention of both Commander Athha and Lieutenant Zala. The utilization of the highest bypass code, reserved solely for the Supreme Commander, only added to the intrigue.

However, amidst the professional demeanour, one detail stood out conspicuously—kiss marks adorned Athrun's neck, peeking out from beneath his Orb uniform layered over his green turtleneck. The subtle yet undeniable evidence of their clandestine midnight escapade betrayed the true nature of their sojourn.

A/N: Post-GSF, we've seen how lewd Athrun's thoughts can be when it comes to Cagalli. However, my interpretation is that it takes two to tango. Without Cagalli's consent, it would just be sexual violence. As a strong-minded woman, I'm confident Cagalli would also take the lead sexually, and this is what I aimed to portray in this fic. Additionally, I revisited some of their past encounters and offered a brief glimpse into their future.

Finally, the fic is dedicated to all Orb citizens! Cagalli dominated the character poll and Athrun is in 4th place; Z'Gok (#4) and Strike Rouge (#5) performed well too for the MS poll in the recently held Gundam Seed Series GP 2024. Rejoice Orb citizens!

See you in "Chasing Aurora." Ciao! RxR

24.03.2024, Genf, Shadowclite