CHAPTER 3 – WIGGLY TENT DISASTER

Cagalli's suggestion to set up camp blossomed from an optimistic desire to witness the elusive Northern Lights. The clouds of the previous night had cast a shadow on their hopes, but undeterred, they resolved to camp near the frozen lake, surrounded by majestic mountains cloaked in white. The chosen campsite nestled among the trees offered some protection from the winter winds, even though the barren branches provided little cover.

Initially hopeful, the helipad proved ineffective, its view obstructed by the town's lights. The lake, with its unobstructed expanse, held promise, despite the initial attempt yielding no results.

Diligently monitoring the weather app, Cagalli noted a possibility of clear skies past midnight. To combat any inertia, they decided to set up camp early. A nearby store provided two tents, foams, and large sleeping bags. The decision on tent-sharing was straightforward – Kira and Lacus, being a couple, naturally paired up.

As the soft afternoon glow bathed the snowy landscape, the group gathered to set up their tents. Kira and Lacus, in a harmonious dance, worked seamlessly to pitch their shelter. Meanwhile, within the serene canvas, a subtle frustration brewed for Cagalli. Attempting to set up her tent alone, she found herself entangled in a battle with the stubborn fabric and uncooperative poles. The tent resisted her every effort, and her glances towards Kira and Lacus revealed their effortless coordination, shared laughter, and synchronized movements, serving as a poignant backdrop to her solo struggle. The breeze seemed to mock her, carrying faint echoes of their laughter.

"Come on, Cagalli, you've got this!" Kira called out, unknowingly injecting a tinge of encouragement into the air.

Determined to conquer the rebellious tent, Cagalli shot back a strained smile. "Yeah, just having a little tussle with this stubborn thing."

Lacus, sensing Cagalli's frustration, gracefully approached. "Need a hand?"

"I appreciate the offer, Lacus," Cagalli replied, her tone a mix of gratitude and exasperation. "But I should be able to handle this on my own. Besides, you have to finish your tent first."

She resumed her solo tent-wrestling, each fumbled attempt a silent plea for the fabric to cooperate. The scene unfolded against the backdrop, a lone figure wrestling with nylon and poles while her friends effortlessly conquered the same challenge. Finally, she decided to give up for the time being.

"You two continue with what you're doing. I need some fresh perspectives," Cagalli called out and headed towards the lakeside.

"Don't go too far, or you'll be left with no tent," Kira joked.

Cagalli playfully winked and stuck out her tongue. "You'll regret doing that," she teased. Turning her back on them, she started walking toward the lake. As she ambled along the lakeshore, her thoughts focused on the task at hand, she inadvertently collided with a familiar figure. "Oops," she muttered, lifting her gaze to find none other than Athrun.

Athrun, still preoccupied by the unwarranted attention he received earlier, did not respond.

Thinking he might not have heard her, Cagalli spoke in a louder voice, "Sorry, are you all right?"

Finally realizing that he had bumped into someone, Athrun replied, "Yeah, no worries." He didn't immediately recognize Cagalli, still reeling from the annoyance that took place in the hotel.

"You look preoccupied?" Cagalli inquired, then quickly realized it wasn't her business.

Finally recognizing the voice, it was like he saw her for the first time. "Hey, Cagalli. Let's not talk about it. I don't want to ruin the mood," Athrun replied, attempting to shake off the lingering annoyance.

"Okay."

Silence descended on them.

"Ah, I guess I'll go ahead. Be careful on your way. Not everyone is as understanding as me," Cagalli smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

Athrun didn't reply, though he recognized the tone in that simple comment. Talking with someone made him rechannel all the negative energy. Afterwards, he heard Cagalli say, "Then I'll let you be. See you around."

Athrun realized that Cagalli was giving him space, and he had been rude. He felt a sudden desire to join her. "Ah, wait, Cagalli," he called out, closing the gap between them. "I'm sorry. Shitty things happened lately," he sighed, then continued, "I don't really have any destination in mind. How about you?"

"Ah, shitty things happened at the camp," she smiled using his own words. "But you don't see me pouting," she added to lighten the mood. "Cheer up. If you want, you can join me for a walk," she suggested.

A small smile escaped from his lips. She has a way with words. Drawn by Cagalli's lively and flamboyant personality that had left a lasting impression from the previous night, it felt like a welcome change to be around someone not romantically interested in him.

Together, they walked along the lakeshore, the crunch of gravel beneath their boots providing a rhythm to their conversation. The breeze carried a hint of pine, and the distant call of a bird added a natural melody to the atmosphere. As they strolled, the tension that had lingered from Athrun's earlier encounter began to dissipate.

Cagalli, always the spirited one, decided to break the ice. "So, Athrun, tell me something interesting about yourself. What's a hidden talent or a quirky fact that no one knows?"

Athrun chuckled, appreciating the shift in conversation. "Well, not many know that I'm actually a decent cook, especially when it comes to crab dishes. It might put some restaurants to shame."

Cagalli raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? That's unexpected. Maybe you can prove it someday. Now, I'm looking forward to that special crab dish of yours, given that it should be edible, right?" she chuckled.

Athrun smiled, enjoying the banter. "Challenge accepted. Maybe someday, we can have a crab cook-off." The name sounded crazy, and he laughed at himself. The mood had shifted to the bright side now. As they continued their stroll, the conversation flowed effortlessly.

"So, uhm, where are your friends?" Athrun asked. The words came out naturally.

"They are setting up camp," she answered.

"And what about you? Probably not finished," he teased her, a playful glint in his eyes. For the first time, he realized that teasing Cagalli had become one of his favorite pastimes.

"Technically, the tent and I are on bad terms, so I am waiting for them to finish their tent. But, I could not wait that long while they finish. I mean, with all the sweetness aside, I don't think they will be finished anytime soon. So I took a walk, hoping that they are finished by the time I get back," she shared.

"Oh, do you need help with setting camp?" Athrun asked, feigning innocence while secretly enjoying the prospect of rescuing Cagalli from the impending tent disaster.

"Well, yeah. I tried to start it, but I need someone to hold the other end of the framework; else, it gets wiggly," she said, recalling her previous efforts to do it on her own.

Athrun grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Yeah, maybe once in a while, I can be carefree. He cleared his voice and, like a gentleman, added, "Lead the way, Lady Cagalli. I'm here to save the day and prevent the wiggly tent catastrophe," he chuckled.

"Touché," Cagalli remarked, picking up on Athrun's joke. "There is no turning back now, Sir Athrun," she replied, waving an imaginary handkerchief in his direction. The two started laughing and made their way back to the campsite.

Kira and Lacus were still busy with their tent, doing final touches. The atmosphere was infused with a blend of laughter and the occasional playful teasing between Kira and Lacus. Cagalli whispered in Athrun's ear, "See what I mean?"

Athrun was taken aback by the sudden closeness, so instead of focusing on what she's trying to show him, he felt his cheeks become a little hot, "Yes indeed! Ants are rejoicing," he managed to jest.

Cagalli held her stomach, unable to stop laughing at the joke.

"Anyway, let's see the rebellious tent," she encouraged. They went to where her tent lay in its unassembled state, the disarray a testament to the challenges she faced.

Athrun surveyed the tent components with an exaggerated look of concern. "My, my. This does look like a potential wiggly tent disaster in the making. But fear not, fair Cagalli, for I am here to rescue you from the clutches of shaky shelters," he said, transforming into his character again.

Cagalli rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Just be careful, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor. This tent has a mind of its own."

Athrun chuckled, "Noted. Now, show me the battleground, and let's tame this rebellious tent together."

As they collaborated on assembling the tent, their banter continued, infused with humor and camaraderie. Athrun playfully narrated the epic saga of the wiggly tent, complete with imaginary tent battles and dramatic rescues. Cagalli couldn't help but join in the laughter, appreciating Athrun's ability to turn a seemingly mundane task into a lively adventure.

"Watch out for the tent poles, Athrun! They're a feisty bunch," Cagalli joked, pretending to fend off an imaginary pole attack.

Athrun played along, "Fear not, fair Cagalli! I shall bravely face these rebellious poles and ensure they bow to our camping prowess."

As the tent finally took shape, Athrun exaggeratedly bowed, presenting the newly conquered structure to Cagalli. "Behold, the wiggly tent disaster has been averted! Victory is ours!"

Cagalli burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the light-heartedness Athrun brought to the situation. She couldn't recall how many times she had laughed today. "Well, Sir Athrun, I must admit, your tent-taming skills are unparalleled. I owe you for preventing the impending camping chaos."

Athrun grinned, "No need for accolades, Lady Cagalli. It was my pleasure to rescue you from the clutches of the wiggly tent. Now, let's enjoy the dusk without any further tent-related drama."

Their laughter echoed through the landscape, leaving behind the conquered wiggly tent and embracing the serenity of the dusk.

"Okay, so why the impromptu camping idea?" Athrun inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Cagalli leaned back, gazing into the tent proudly. "Well, after last night's disappointment of missing the Aurora, I figured, why not take the Aurora to us this time? It just struck me as a good idea, you know?"

Athrun nodded, understanding the spontaneity of the plan. "Waking up in the middle of sleep is quite a challenge."

Cagalli nodded in agreement. "For me, it's the process of getting out of bed, dressing for the outdoors, and then taking a stroll. I even installed this Aurora app on my phone. It tracks the KP index in different locations, and when it's game time, we get a notification. However, it's still hard to leave the coziness of bed. So, no excuses this time – just roll out of the tent and enjoy the show," she explained with a glint in her eye.

Athrun observed her with growing fondness. Her infectious enthusiasm for chasing the Aurora revealed a spirited and genuine side of her personality that resonated with him. The prospect of witnessing the Northern Lights became more than just an escape; it transformed into a shared fascination, binding them together under the vast Arctic sky.

Lacus, observing the interaction from a distance, shot Cagalli and Athrun a knowing look, a smile playing on her lips. Kira, sensing the playful exchange, glanced at Lacus and then at the unfolding scene. He approached Lacus, curiosity evident in his expression.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked, leaning in slightly. "Did you not notice that Cagalli seems livelier than usual?" Lacus remarked, her eyes twinkling.

"Well, I guess that's only normal given that someone is accompanying her," Kira replied, his gaze now fixed on Cagalli and Athrun.

"Yeah, she keeps on saying she's a third wheel," Lacus responded, her attention returning to the couple by the tent.

"Oh, I don't know. Don't place your hope too much. We still don't know this guy," he said unconvinced.

Kira neared completion while stacking the firewood, and Lacus gracefully bent down to add the final log. In a hushed tone, she whispered, "Good for us then." The words held the weight of teasing. She recalled a conversation with Cagalli a few days before their journey. Seated in front of a computer, she was immersed in the monitor. The display showed:

[How to excite him during winter?]

Amused and curious, Lacus couldn't resist sharing her plan with Cagalli. Cagalli was lying down on her bed, engrossed in a book.

"Lacus! We are planning this trip to see the Aurora," Cagalli protested, her resistance futile against Lacus' playful mockery. She put down the book and walked towards her.

"Yeah, that and this," Lacus giggled, scrolling down. Cagalli, realizing defeat, questioned if Lacus truly intended to incorporate such mischief into their Arctic adventure.

Turning to face her friend, Lacus adopted a mischievous expression. "Please, you know I wanted to make this trip unforgettable," she purred with a feline charm, her cutest smile aimed at convincing Cagalli.

With a resigned sigh, Cagalli relented, "Okay, okay."

"Don't worry. I made sure that we'll have our moments when you're not around," Lacus assured, her gaze filled with conspiratorial warmth. "Anyway, who's the one always telling us to go get a room? It's just our misfortune that accommodations are all booked in Abisko, Sweden. Perhaps we could try in Norway or Finland?"

Considering their options, Cagalli acknowledged the appeal of these northern countries for witnessing the Aurora. However, something about Abisko had captivated her during the trip planning. The allure of train journeys, supported by Kira and Lacus, added an adventurous touch to their excursion. Feeling a sense of gratitude toward her friends, Cagalli reluctantly agreed to Lacus' plan.

Lacus, expressing her gratitude with a hug, returned to her computer. She pointed to the screen. The screen read [Lotus position]. Cagalli, accustomed to Lacus' open discussions on sex and sexuality, casually shared practical concerns about executing such poses in a hostel with bunk beds.

"For a single, you seem quite opinionated," Lacus teased. Unfazed, Cagalli accepted the playful ribbing, emphasizing the need for practicality in their planned escapade.

"Lacus," Kira called out, concern evident in his voice. Lacus was surprised when Kira put his hands on her shoulder. "Are you okay? It seems like your mind is somewhere else?"

Lacus managed a cute smile. "Just remembering some things," she answered. "Yes, I think this is okay." She raised her hand and gestured to Cagalli and Athrun. "Cagalli, Athrun, let's sit here and have some hot drinks."

The two of them nodded. As the four of them nestled beside the crackling campfire, the warm glow of the flames painted a tranquil scene on their faces. The serenity of the night enveloped them, creating a perfect backdrop for their conversation.

A/N: Well, buckle up, the spicy chapter is taking too long to write. To keep things cohesive, I've decided to split it into a series of 4-5 chapters. As a prelude, I present this chapter with a mischievous smile. Last Friday marked a special occasion, not only commemorating International Women's Day but also the fated encounter between Athrun and Cagalli on the 8th of March, CE 71. Happy anniversary to AsuCaga!

Writing about my favourite couple now has transported me back to my raison d'etre in 2005. It was truly my way of coping with what they did to the two characters back in GSD. If you have the time, please check out my other fanfiction. I must warn you, though; there are numerous errors, both grammatical and in content. I've contemplated rewriting the previous fic, especially "Summer Heat," but it stands as a memento of my youth. RxR!

10/03/2024