Part 2 - Sunflowers

Even without any natural light, it was a comfortable atmosphere – the hum of machines operating; electronic lights blinking on and off; the smell of grease, wires and solder.

"You really don't need to spend all of your shore leave down here helping me,".

"No, it's alright. I'm interested in this,".

"Well, if you say so. I do appreciate your input. You will be the one operating it after all,".

Athrun was in the experimental mobile suit facility overseen by Erica Simmons on Akatsuki Island, reviewing mechanical data logs and working up some notes for her to consider. Erica had a few…interesting projects on foot, all evidently at Cagalli's instruction.

(In this fragile post-conflict state of affairs, Cagalli was thinking ahead. She was having to become more shrewd, canny. With a twist of his gut Athrun hoped, notwithstanding things he'd said to her in the past, she didn't lose her optimism in the process.)

The project Erica and Athrun were currently discussing was a little different to the others.

Effective communications networks continued to be highly valuable strategic assets, with N‑Jammers still interfering with the airwaves above many areas of the planet.

It was all well and good for Athrun and Meyrin to be gathering intelligence on the ground in whatever remote corner of the globe, but if they couldn't get it to COMPS or Orb in a timely, reliable way, it could count for nothing. Furthermore, they were still relying on out-dated cyber-warfare tech. Their work demanded something more cutting edge.

Erica folded her arms and looked at Athrun in an assessing kind of way. "So, Commander Zala, do you think this one is ready to be taken into the field?".

Athrun shrugged. "It's the only way we can properly test it,".

"There is also potential for this technology to be used in frontline combat," Erica observed, her tone deceptively nonchalant. "Representative Attha has requested something else be developed to support performance testing for those capabilities,".

Athrun could right away see the possibilities Erica was alluding to, but before he was able to press her on this, they were joined by another person. Athrun stood up and saluted formally, despite being in his civilian clothes. Erica excused herself.

"I hear the secondment has started well?" Ledonir Kisaka returned Athrun's salute. While technically reporting to Cagalli directly, Kisaka was still his point of contact in the Orb armed forces.

"I think so. Still getting used to it. It's not like being in the army,".

"That's certainly true. No orders to follow, for better or worse," Kisaka said.

Athrun nodded. Every mission they were assigned had an objective, and while there were some important parameters around what they could and couldn't do, everything else in between was something for Athrun and Meyrin to work out.

"I am sure your time as Cagalli's security is serving you well though,".

"How so?" Athrun asked, curious.

"You are a top tier pilot, that goes without saying. But when you were her bodyguard…you paid attention to everything, you were discreet, you thought through all the possibilities. All key qualities of a successful Terminal agent,".

Athrun, never good at receiving praise, considered Kisaka's words quietly. Then Kisaka followed up in a kindly tone "I am sure Cagalli would be happy to see you while you are here,".

Athrun frowned. "…It's not that easy getting a time with her,". His voice was embarrassingly sulky. This unfortunately seemed to happen in front of Kisaka a lot.

Kisaka laughed knowingly, nostalgically, briefly dropping his usually serious countenance. "Ah, our girl can be a conundrum". He turned to leave. "Don't forget to drop those personnel forms at the government offices before you head off again,".

After Athrun returned to Olofat later that evening, he impulsively stopped by the Attha estate. He was greeted by Myrna, who seemed pleased to see him. She apologetically explained Cagalli was still at the office – another Cabinet meeting was running over time.

It was painfully familiar. But…

"I understand,". And he did. Myrna offered to have dinner prepared for him, which he declined. Instead, a little tentatively, he pulled out of his coat a postcard of a field of golden sunflowers under a bluebird sky. "Would you mind giving this to her when she gets home?".

OOO

It was always going to be a difficult start to the day. Another Cabinet meeting ran late into the night, and with a bone-rattling early conference with the USSA scheduled in the morning, she ended up staying overnight again at the government offices.

The USSA conference didn't go well - she got flustered, started to lose her temper, and it ended with none of the issues on the agenda resolved. A meeting to regroup was organised for late that night.

Cagalli was annoyed and disappointed with herself, but there was no time to dwell as she had another full schedule – reconstruction taskforce meetings, attending a ceremony to re-open a school destroyed in the war, followed by an expenditure review committee meeting…and so on.

But then she saw him from a distance as she was being walked out to her car.

He was in his plain clothes, speaking to someone on the ground foyer, handing over some papers.

Her heart rate picked up; the back of her neck went hot – she wasn't expecting to see him this time. She knew he was briefly in Orb to pick up the new equipment from Erica. She also knew he'd tried to make an appointment to see her, but her unforgiving schedule hadn't allowed it.

(Well, truthfully, maybe it would have been possible to shift something around – but he wouldn't be happy with her re-scheduling existing commitments like that just to see him. Wouldn't he?)

(It's awful, pathetic. What kind of relationship...or whatever...demands that one person put in a request for an appointment just to see the other.)

The big, roaring emotions she had been struggling to get a grip on recently started to roil inside her again. In her daze she had slowed down to a stop, but he was too far away to approach, or for her to call out his name. Even if she did, she realised with horror, she wouldn't know what to say.

(What the hell is this all about? It's just Athrun!)

(See, this is dangerous.)

But then he turned, and their eyes met.

She felt her lips widening into a smile, warming her face like the sun. Her heart calmed.

He looked startled to see her, emerald eyes going wide. She giggled at the unguarded moment from Athrun.

He smiled then too, and intuitively moved forward towards where she was.

But she was already being shepherded into her car – she was on a strict schedule after all. He seemed to understand, and formally straightened to attention. Watching him through the rear seat window until he was out of sight, her hand moved to touch the nape of her neck.

The rest of the day went well. By the time she returned to the office for the regroup with the USSA, she had worked out a plan to navigate the tensions she'd floundered on in the earlier meeting.

Toyah, with a sweet look, approached her before the meeting. Before she could scold him for still being at the office so late, he said "Ms Myrna brought this in earlier. She thought you might like to see it, given you won't be able to return home again tonight,". He handed her a postcard with what looked like on first glance an ocean of sunshine.

"Are you ready Chief Representative?" another aide asked.

Cagalli looked up with clear-eyed determination and smiled. "Yes, let's get started".