CHAPTER 06 – Northern Whispers
Cagalli was stirred from her slumber by the soft commotion emanating from the neighboring tent. Emotions swirled within her as she lay in the darkness, unable to escape the intimate whispers filtering through from Kira and Lacus's tent. Their closeness seemed to permeate the air, leaving Cagalli feeling a pang of discomfort. She lay still with her back against the backapcks , which they put in between them. Unbeknownst to her, he had been awake for some time, listening to the sounds from the nearby tent with a sense of embarrassment. Now lying on his back, his gaze fixated on the tent's ceiling in the darkness, Athrun couldn't help but sense that Cagalli, too, was aware of the intimate moments unfolding nearby.
Feeling restless, Cagalli broke the silence. "Athrun, are you awake?" she whispered, her voice barely audible in the night. She felt embarrassed by the intimacy of their friends, especially with Athrun beside her.
Athrun tried to discern her movements in the darkness, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yeah," he replied softly.
Cagalli nodded, but the tension lingered between them, an unspoken awareness of their proximity palpable in the air.
As the sounds from Kira and Lacus's tent persisted, Cagalli felt the need to escape the confines of their small space. She turned to face the backpacks, but their backpacks had shifted during the night, bringing them face to face, "I'm going for a walk," she said in a hushed voice.
Athrun shifted silently to face her, his expression unreadable. "Shall I turn on the lamp?" he offered.
Hushing him, Cagalli said in a louder voice, "Let's not draw attention to ourselves."
He held his breath, hoping Cagalli wouldn't realize he was facing her in the darkness. As Cagalli's breath brushed against him, Athrun felt a shock ripple through him. When had she begun to affect him so deeply? Memories of the previous night flooded his mind—the urge to offer her his coat, the stolen glances he couldn't resist, and now, the embarrassment he felt at their close proximity. With their faces mere inches apart, Athrun was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions and sensations he couldn't quite comprehend.
Just then, he heard Cagalli sit up abruptly, presumably searching for something.
She found her mobile phone and turned on the flashlight, then began rummaging for her boots. "I need some fresh air," she said quietly, zipping open the tent.
"Mind if I join you?" Athrun asked, shaking off his thoughts. He also used his mobile phone to search for his boots and coat. Then he grabbed his backpack.
"Why not leave the bag? This will be a short stroll. And it's safe to leave our bags in the tent," Cagalli suggested.
"It's just a habit of mine," Athrun replied.
She nodded, and together they stepped out into the night. The air was crisp, carrying a faint scent of pine. The moon cast a silvery glow on the snowy landscape, lending it a serene and almost surreal quality. Cagalli and Athrun walked in silence, the only sound the crunch of snow beneath their boots.
After a while, Athrun finally spoke. "Cagalli, about earlier..."
She turned to him, her eyes searching his face. "I know, I know." In truth, Cagalli didn't know how to react to the intimate activities of their friends in the campsite.
"Yeah. I wasn't expecting... well, you know-" Athrun stumbled over his words.
Cagalli smiled, sensing his discomfort. "Ah, yeah, we both know what they're up to," she replied, attempting to lighten the mood. Talking about it with someone she'd just met made her feel awkward. "Though I think it was really wise to get out of there," she added, steering the conversation away from the uncomfortable topic.
Athrun nodded. As they continued their nocturnal stroll, Cagalli's phone buzzed with a notification. Reading the message, her face lit up with excitement – the Aurora was forecasted to appear soon. A surge of joy filled her, and she turned to Athrun eagerly. "Athrun, look! The Aurora is expected to appear soon!"
And I didn't even need the wake-up call; they were the wake-up call, Cagalli thought to herself.
Athrun's eyes widened with genuine surprise and anticipation. "Really? That's incredible!"
Cagalli looked up. "I was so engrossed with those two that I didn't even notice the sky had cleared up." Her eyes sparkled as she continued, "This is what we came for, right? Let's head back to the campsite and tell them. We don't want to miss this moment!"
Excitement fueled their steps as they quickened their pace, eager to share the news of the Aurora. As they approached the campsite, the darkness of the tents suggested that Kira and Lacus were asleep. However, soft moans emanated from their tent, indicating otherwise.
"Geez, they're still at it," Cagalli remarked, feeling a bit awkward about interrupting.
Athrun, caught off guard by the unexpected situation, couldn't help but feel a flush of heat. "Uh, maybe we should let them be," he suggested.
Agreeing with Athrun's suggestion, Cagalli proposed they head to the lake for a clearer view instead. Athrun readily agreed, and the two set off toward the shimmering expanse, guided by the faint glow of the lights above.
Despite the cold causing her hands to shake, Cagalli snapped random shots of the sky with her phone, excitement evident in her voice as she showed them to Athrun.
"They're really out tonight!" she exclaimed.
"You're right," Athrun replied, though when he looked up, all he saw was a spiral of clouds. "It's supposed to be there, right?" he asked, pointing at the sky.
"Yeah, it's a shame we couldn't see it with our naked eyes. But it's a good start. The sky is really beginning to clear," she observed, looking around.
Feeling grateful for his company, Cagalli turned to Athrun. "Hey, thanks again for being here," she said. "I feel much safer with you than being alone."
"Well, my original intent was just to be your alarm, but I guess there was no need for that," he teased.
Cagalli blushed slightly, grateful for the darkness concealing her embarrassment. "Athrun!" she scolded.
Athrun smiled, "Just joking! Let's hope for the best tonight. Why don't we go over there? The view from here is being obstructed by the lights coming from the ski resort on that mountain," he suggested, wanting her to have the best view possible.
"I think that's a good idea," Cagalli agreed.
Their journey led them deeper into the other side of the lake, and as they walked along the shores of the frozen water, Cagalli noticed a faint structure nestled amidst the trees – a torn-down cabin. A wooden construction with a partially collapsed roof, it seemed to hold stories of times long past.
"Look over there, Athrun," Cagalli said, pointing toward the cabin. "That looks interesting. Shall we check it out?"
Athrun nodded. As they approached, the shelter revealed weathered details and remnants of a bygone era. The walls seemed to whisper tales of nomadic travelers and explorers seeking refuge against the elements.
Cagalli glanced around. "Do you remember the story I told you?" she asked Athrun.
"About the ghostly whispers and disappearing travelers," Athrun replied, attempting to tease her. "Traveler checked. Middle of the woods checked. Middle of the night, checked. Seems like all the ingredients of your story are present," he said with a mischievous grin.
"Cut it out, Athrun," Cagalli replied, playfully swatting his arm.
"Alright, I'll stop. I don't want either of us to disappear," Athrun joked.
"Who knows. It could be true. Did you know that I heard it from a local here? It's not just some random story I made up," Cagalli explained.
They settled on makeshift chairs fashioned from the broken cabin. Another notification chimed from Cagalli's mobile phone. She checked, and the red colors indicated a Strong Aurora. She looked above. And then, there it was.
The Aurora danced across the sky in a mesmerizing display of vibrant greens and fiery reds, its ethereal light shimmering and cascading like a celestial waterfall. Each hue seemed to blend and merge seamlessly, creating an otherworldly spectacle that captivated the senses.
Cagalli stood beneath the shimmering canopy of colors, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement. Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed upward, completely enraptured by the breathtaking sight unfolding before her. The Aurora's luminous tendrils seemed to reach down and embrace her, casting an iridescent glow upon her face that accentuated her features with a soft, celestial radiance.
As the colors shifted and swirled in a mesmerizing dance, Cagalli's excitement reached a fever pitch. She was completely entranced, her senses overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the moment. In her euphoria, she forgot all about taking photos, her focus consumed entirely by the enchanting spectacle unfolding above her.
With each passing moment, the Aurora painted the sky with ever more dazzling hues, casting a spellbinding spell over the landscape. Cagalli's heart raced with exhilaration as she drank in the sight, her eyes sparkling with unbridled joy and wonder. It was a moment she knew she would cherish forever, a fleeting glimpse of magic that would live on in her memories long after the lights had faded from the sky.
As Athrun gazed up at the breathtaking display of the Aurora, he felt a sense of awe wash over him. The vibrant colors danced across the night sky, casting an enchanting glow over the surrounding landscape. Yet, despite the mesmerizing spectacle unfolding above him, Athrun found himself drawn more to the figure standing beside him than to the celestial phenomenon itself.
His eyes flickered away from the Aurora for just a moment, drawn irresistibly to Cagalli as she stood transfixed by the dazzling display. In that moment, bathed in the light of the Aurora, she seemed to radiate a beauty and grace that rivaled even the celestial spectacle above.
Without a second thought, Athrun raised his phone and snapped a photo, capturing the scene before him with a sense of urgency and purpose. The Aurora provided a breathtaking backdrop, but it was Cagalli's enraptured expression that truly captured his attention. Her eyes sparkled with wonder, her face illuminated by the soft, iridescent glow of the lights above.
However, the display was brief, fleeting like a passing cloud. Cagalli was so entranced by the sight that she forgot to capture it with her camera, only realizing her oversight when it was too late.
"I forgot to take photos," Cagalli said, a tinge of disappointment evident in her voice.
Athrun quickly retrieved the photos he had taken, his excitement unmistakable.
"I'm glad I took these photos. Seems my actual role here isn't just to be your alarm, but your photographer," he teased. He unlocked his phone and handed it to her. In his haste, he forgot to conceal the images where Cagalli was beaming with excitement. Alas, it was too late. Cagalli started scrolling through the images.
"These are amazing, Athrun!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. "Thank you for these photos..." Then she stopped and stared at two photos where she was shown looking up at the sky, her happiness captured so vividly by the mobile phone.
Athrun stayed silent, uncertain of what to expect.
Have I overstepped any boundaries here?
Then, in an instant, Cagalli's eyes brightened even more. "Wow! You caught me with the Aurora!" She beamed at Athrun, and then, without hesitation or warning, hugged him.
As Athrun basked in the warmth of Cagalli's embrace, he couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness. Her genuine appreciation for the photos he had taken filled him with a sense of accomplishment he hadn't expected. The way she looked at the images, her eyes alight with excitement, made him feel like he had captured something truly special.
Relief flooded through Athrun as he realized Cagalli's genuine gratitude for the photos. He smiled back at her. Perhaps, he thought, but his thought was abruptly interrupted by a sense of danger. Suddenly, Athrun heard footsteps seemingly coming from nowhere. His senses heightened instantly. Without hesitation, he hugged Cagalli closer to him, his arms instinctively wrapping around her in a protective embrace. Sensing the urgency in Athrun's actions, Cagalli responded by clinging tightly to him.
The tension in the air was palpable as they stood there, locked in each other's arms, their hearts racing with adrenaline-fueled anticipation. It was only when they saw the two figures emerging into the dilapidated cabin that they began to relax, their tense muscles slowly unwinding as the threat dissipated. As the tension eased, they became acutely aware of their proximity and the fact that they were still holding each other tightly. A wave of awkwardness washed over them, casting a shadow over the moment.
A/N: When the GS Grand Prix MC pairing annoys the hell out of me, I turn to my therapy: writing! I've been traumatized for the last 15 years with what the director did with AsuCaga, and they're doing it again. After giving AsuCaga crumbs, they feed us with craps. I know there's a thing called bad publicity, but there's also PTSD! Damn! I am really so angry!
On the other hand, this chapter was supposed to mark the beginning of them becoming more aware of each other's personality. The development of AC will be a slow burn compared to other pairings throughout the story. RxR
18/03/2024, Schweiz
