Warning – spoilers for Gundam Seed Freedom and the accompanying novels and novellas – direct references to the Escape for Two novella in particular! Author note(s) at the end.

Miriallia pushed her way into the Chief Representative of Orb's office, a bundle of papers in her arms.

Miriallia had access to Cagalli's diary, so she knew she wouldn't be interrupting a meeting, but barging in without an appointment was a privilege reserved for a select few.

Cagalli was seated behind her desk, Sai and Toyah flanking her. She was in the process of handing over an information disc to Sai, saying "I'd appreciate your views on this…" when Miri interrupted.

"Representative Attha – Cagalli – I had this pile of paperwork dumped on my desk this morning from the security bureau, and I can't understand any of it," Miriallia said bemused. "…Were you kidnapped yesterday?!".

Sai's eyebrows shot up and Toyah, bless him, tried to politely remind Miriallia about meeting protocols with the Chief Representative, but Cagalli rolled her eyes and let out a groan.

"Honestly, it was ridiculous. Not only did they go against my orders, but the response was totally over the top," Cagalli said, gesticulating expressively. She was clearly pissed off, but Miriallia noted she did not deny the kidnapping charge. "Besides, I was with Athrun…".

Athrun!?

Miriallia narrowed her eyes and shooed Toyah and Sai out of the office – Sai looked relieved to be removed, while Toyah anxiously tried to stay in the room, before calling out to Cagalli to not forget her next appointment as Miri shut the door on him.

"Miriallia?" Cagalli queried, a little perturbed.

Miri noisily dragged a chair from a meeting table to sit opposite Cagalli on the other side of the desk. She put on her best serious face. "What's this about Athrun?".

Cagalli sighed. "It was to hand over their latest intel report on Eurasia. I knew he was in Orb to resupply…and I just really wanted a day off, it's been a lot lately…well for a while now…and I knew he really needed a day off too! He never uses his shore leave like Meyrin does, always finds something work-related to do…" she complained, going off on a tangent she'd obviously been dwelling on. "…and I knew he'd never take one if I didn't set it up as a work meeting".

Okay…

Cagalli proceeded to give Miri a run down on what happened.

When she finished, Miri laughed. "Well. That's a story. And has made for some very annoying bureaucratic form-filling for me,".

Cagalli had the good grace to at least look sorry. Miri then stalled…there was something she had been desperate to ask Cagalli about for some time now, but in trying to nurture a friendship with her, had held back.

Or more accurately, Miri couldn't quite work out how to put it to her. Even with all her growth navigating the nuances of politics and diplomacy, Cagalli could still be unnervingly straightforward with her thoughts and opinions on almost everything. But when it came to herself and her own feelings, she would dismiss any probing questions with a wave of her hand or a smile. As if it wasn't important, as if there wasn't any time for that sort of thing.

This was the conundrum of Cagalli – she was simultaneously the most open-faced book you'd ever come across and the hardest nut to crack.

But now a window of opportunity had opened.

"Cagalli, can I ask, what is the situation with Athrun?".

"Situation?" Cagalli blinked. "You know he's on secondment from the army to Terminal?".

"No, no, I mean the situation with you and Athrun,".

Oh. Cagalli's cheeks went a little rosy, and she cast her eyes downwards.

Miri momentarily felt bad – worried she may have touched something painful – she was there at the ruins beside the Sea of Mamara after all. She saw how happy and hopeful Cagalli was that day. Saw how angry and raw Athrun was at both Cagalli and Kira. How wounded Cagalli was afterwards. She wouldn't have blamed Cagalli if her heart was unable to recover after that.

However, Cagalli was smiling softly as she lifted her golden eyes. "Well, we're good,".

Oh! Miri was a bit taken aback. "Well, that's good!" But when Cagalli didn't elaborate further, she couldn't help pressing with a follow up. "…so that means you are together, dating?".

Dating? Cagalli considered this, then shook her head. "No, not dating,".

(Although, as she said it, Cagalli silently pondered whether yesterday could be counted as a 'date'…? Maybe it was! The thought warmed her).

On the other side of the desk, Miri was feeling guilty again. "Ahh, I'm sorry, so you did break up…? That's why you aren't wearing the ring he gave you anymore…".

Oh no! Cagalli put her hands up and waved them apologetically. "No, no, I haven't given the ring back, it's still with me," she explained as if that explained anything at all.

Huh. Okay. Miri tried to weigh up the contradictory statements. "So, you aren't dating, but you haven't broken up…".

Cagalli nodded earnestly, but she could see Miri was confused. "Isn't it like you and Dea-"

"What, no, that's not the same!" Miri snapped back a little too quickly. "I dumped him Cagalli. We are absolutely not together,".

"Why?"

Miri scowled across the desk. "Because…he was being very didactic about what I did with my life, and I didn't like that. He wanted me to come to the PLANTS and I didn't want to, but he said he couldn't join me on Earth, and I didn't see us having a future. So, I dumped him!" Miri bristled, more emotionally than she would have liked. "That was nearly two years ago, honestly why does everyone still bring it up…".

Cagalli furrowed her brow like she was really trying to understand. "But you still like him?".

"I'm attracted to him, sure. And yeah, of course I like him. But I don't know if I would call that love,".

Oh. Love. Cagalli played the word 'love' over in her head.

Love.

(She thought of Athrun laughing. It's something he so rarely does, that when it happens it erupts from within and takes over his whole body – his eyes crinkle upwards, his shoulders shake, his usually serious and occasionally severe voice becomes light and boyish. It is just the best sound.)

Love.

(She thought of Athrun's arms firm around her waist, being held by him in a hidden place where no one could see, his eyes so focused, so intense, he didn't notice her gazing up at him in wonder).

Miri shook her head. Wait, how had this conversation turned around to be about her?

"Look, I get there is something still going on between you two. Like it is totally obvious to anyone who knows you. I am just trying to make sure you are both on the same page on what that something is. If you aren't clear about it…" Miri paused, her breath and heart hitching unexpectedly.

…then you risk passing each other by again. And life is too precarious and short for that.

"Miri…"

Miri felt her face heat up as the grief she had to reckon with every day crept up her chest. It was desperately frustrating how it could show itself like this, out of nowhere, even after all this time.

But Cagalli was watching her kindly, golden eyes shimmering with both empathy and determination. Understanding Miri's grief, but also sharing her resolve - to stop the cycles of hatred and violence, to protect people and all their ordinary and mundane dreams and wishes.

Even though Cagalli didn't say anything, through her eyes Miri felt Cagalli's strength, as well as a mutual respect for her own.

This – this is why Miri decided to stay in Orb to work for this strange rowdy girl now blazing young woman, rather than transfer to COMPS with the Archangel.

"You work harder than anyone Cagalli," Miri said in a low voice, regaining control. "But don't let it cost you something so precious,".

Cagalli took a deep breath, and briefly closed her eyes.

("If there is somewhere you want to go…". He had looked at her as if she was the only person in the world, relaxed and smiling, emerald eyes reflecting the orange glow of sunset.

And it was enough, this tiny little precious grain of joy.

Even now she held it close to her heart, and it kept her warm, telling her she could keep going and do her best, and reminding her that she exists, she is alive…and is loved).

"Please don't worry, Miri," Cagalli said sincerely, clear-eyed. "This is what we chose…for ourselves…for our dream,". And it was the truth.

"…you are very strong Cagalli. Both of you,". I'm not sure I could go on like that.

But Cagalli stood up, beaming. She glowed in the afternoon sun. "No, I'm not…I'm just so lucky to have met him,".

Miri is lost for words.

Cagalli gestured at the clock. It was Miri's cue to go. "Sorry again about the paperwork. It was a bit silly of us, we won't do it again,".

Miri snapped back to herself. "To be honest I don't even know where to start with it – there are so many forms! Occupational health and safety, road traffic, public expenditure reporting….," she counted the issues on her fingers as she rose to leave. "I have no idea why it has landed with me. Maybe because of the secret classification? Because anything to do with you is a national security issue?!".

Before she walked out the door, however, she turned to Cagalli and said imploringly with a sly smile. "But Cagalli, you should absolutely, one hundred percent, do it again,".

A week or so later…

"I've been asking the diplomats on the Eurasia desk at the foreign affairs ministry about the leader of the Foundation, Empress Aura, after reviewing your report. No one seems to know very much," Sai rubbed his chin with a thumb. "I think that is something for you to explore further,".

"Got it, I'll start looking into it, see what intel I can get through the Terminal networks," Meyrin said seriously, scribbling a note to herself in her notebook.

Miriallia tried to stay focused on the issues at hand, but her mind was drifting. She was in the Cavalier Aifrid II along with Sai and the Chief Representative. On the other side of the monitor were the faces of Athrun and Meyrin in the other twin Cavalier, on the ground somewhere in Eurasia.

Her discussion with Cagalli from the other week continued to play on her mind, and now that the two were in front of her eyes it was incredibly distracting.

(An annoying voice at the back of her head was also trying to convince her it would be a good idea to get in contact with Dearka…seriously, what was that about…).

"There's another thing," Athrun spoke next. "We've been finding it challenging getting entry into the Foundation through official means,".

"Challenging?" Cagalli queried, understandably curious.

"Their border security is incredibly tight. You can't even get a travel visa without meeting strict conditions and a reference from an eligible high-ranking person within the country,".

Cagalli pulled a face at this bizarre requirement. "That's…odd,".

"We'll be able to pull together documentation with assistance from Terminal – and some specialist work from Meyrin – but it makes you wonder what the reasons for such extreme measures are..."

Athrun and Cagalli went back and forth a few minutes, speculating further as to what mysteries and secrets the Foundation held. Athrun had already disclosed they were looking into some financial links with the ill-fated Mendel colony, so that certainly didn't bode well.

Miri saw how Cagalli went still at the naming of her birthplace, and then how gently Athrun had talked her through it, how his usually cool green eyes had become warm and reassuring, how Cagalli refocused in response…they never stopped being professional, but even through the Cavalier monitors, the exchange was so…intimate.

Yeah, it was just like she had said to Cagalli. Totally obvious.

Cagalli and Sai soon had to depart to attend a Cabinet meeting, and Athrun followed shortly after to liaise with an informant. Miriallia and Meyrin were left to wrap up the rest of the meeting agenda.

Miri looked at Meryin, the person these days with the best insight into the workings of Athrun Zala by virtue of all the time they spent together on missions…and she couldn't help herself…she just kind of had to…

"Meyrin, this might be a little left field, but about Athrun and Cagalli…"

Meyrin slammed her notebook closed. "Please! I need someone to talk to about those two!"

END

Short A/N: I am pretty sure a good chunk of the Athrun/Cagalli fandom is Miriallia (and Meyrin).

Extremely long indulgent A/N: Ok, so I have somehow miraculously seen Freedom twice – once coincidentally on my first ever trip to Japan with no subtitles/language skills, then back home with subtitles in the short window it was showing in my country. It was the best dumb luck.

The last time I saw a movie at the cinemas more than once was when I was a teenager, which is exactly how watching Freedom made me feel – it is a wild, silly ride, totally for the fans and I will definitely watch it at least 900 times if I manage to get my hands on the Blu-Ray.

But wow – if you don't consume EVERYTHING around the movie itself – it is kind of impossible to understand what's going on, not just in terms of plot but also character dynamics.

For example, I walked away from the film absolutely delighted at how each character had their shining (and cheesy!) moment, a bit bemused at some plot points which rewrite Seed lore (but oh well I'll let it slide I had fun) and totally surprised but utterly thrilled the ship I had fretted about for 18 years was…fine! Happy even! Their moments were super short but amazing, and their individual actions and words (I'm looking at you particularly Athrun…) left me convinced they had sorted themselves out, had definitely at least talked, and reaffirmed their romantic relationship (even if not quite formally together yet) – hooray!

Anyway, we live in glorious times now where it's a lot easier to get real time report backs on magazines and Q&As from the wonderful Japanese fans via social media compared to 2005/6 – as well as translations of all the accompanying works and random info drops on X…and after consuming it all I'm kind of bemused as to what happened with Athrun and Cagalli after Destiny and where they are at in the movie. I know they are good, but exactly what kind of good and how they got to be there is just…confounding me.

I love it and am simultaneously tortured :)

Anyway, this silly little story is my way of trying to work things through for my own silly feelings. Timing-wise it is set immediately after the Escape for Two novella (while absolutely gorgeous, the timing of which is a source of great agony for me…but before-ish/during-ish the events of Freedom?). The POV flip flops a little inelegantly between Miri and Cagalli, but oh well again.