[He'll take a promise of a future promise, it's fine.
He lands the suit in a clear space that would cause the least amount of damage to the terrain, getting Z'Gok to crouch and help Cagalli climb off once more before he powers it down and exits himself.]
...It's... surprisingly nice, here. [Considering the rift and the danger and all.]
[The jump from the shoulder to the ground is an easy one, glancing around herself as she waits for him. Once he's there with her, she nods with a smile.]
Yeah, parts of it look pretty untouched sometimes. I haven't seen a lot myself, but it's still definitely Earth.
[Her gaze falls back on him and lingers too long for it to be an accident. A flush rises to her cheeks as she does her best to not look super embarrassed and fails spectacularly.]
I... never really said it, but I'm glad you're here. With us I mean. [Wow, Cagalli. Wow. She exhales through her nose, annoyed with herself and spits it out before she chickens out.]
With me. It's only been two months, but I missed you.
[Standing at her side, it's easy to see the soft pink on her cheeks, the awkward shift of her stance. He kind of loves when she gets that tone of voice, where she's trying extra hard to school her embarrassment and bare her true heart and thoughts. It reminds him of himself - two peas in a pod, at times, so awkward - but she's so much better than him at finding her words. He loves that about her, all of it.
His hand brushes against hers, and if she lets him, he'll take it, twining their fingers.]
I'm sorry I took so long, but I'm glad to be here, too. With you.
[Dearka and Yzak too, sure. (And Shinn. If pressed.) But he knows himself, and his priorities. If it's in his power, he'll follow her anywhere.]
Yeah, well. Next time don't take so long. [It's an instinctive reply. When they're tossed into the next alternative universe where people have elephant ears, get there faster. Sure.
Cagalli lets him take her hand for a moment, trying and failing to actively meet his gaze, before yanking hers back. Instead, she just walks closer and puts her arms around his neck and hugs him tightly, head resting in the crook between his chin and shoulder.
The aforementioned two months, while doable, were a lot. That's not something she's let herself really realize until now. Athrun's presence and support is something she's sorely missed. No one else makes her feel at ease like he does.]
[Oh... that caught him a little off-guard, but he's quick to snap out of it and wrap his arms around her, pulling her close, his grip tight. He can feel the tension she'd kept close to her chest before, and can only imagine the sort of stress she'd been under all this time, torn away from her entire support structure, her home, all of it. Even with the others here, her not being entirely alone, it isn't enough. Wishing he'd come sooner can't change anything, but at least going forward he can try to make up for it as best as he can.]
There'd better not be a next time.
[He'll destroy anyone and anything that tries to separate them like this again.]
[Soft, warm air hits his neck in a huff of wry amusement, and another few moments pass before she lifts her head and moves back a little. Her arms loosen and retreat with her, hands only remaining on his shoulders out of unconscious desire for contact.]
I didn't even know the first time was possible. We can't exactly help that. [Completely ignoring he couldn't help this time or next. That's his problem to deal with. She has faith in his ability to figure it out.]
You know before? When I mentioned there's no Orb in this world? I've had more free time because of that. So...
[Meaning? Meaning that while being Chief Representative of Orb is a big part of who she is, very possibly a majority of it, that's not exactly the case here. Certain things (or people) aren't required to take a back seat.
Of course she misses her country and home. Of course she feels a level of guilt and responsibility for being away from her duties. But hearing that Lacus has come and gone without anything changing? Well, it's made her think about what that can mean. Yet Cagalli just can't find the words. Or the nerve.]
[Ahh, what a selfish man he is, now, to feel a rush of surprise and then carefully muted delight at the very idea. Free time means time to spare, something they'd found little of for a long while now. He'd respected it, respected her for her devotion to her home, her people. He wanted Orb to be safe and prosperous too, not only for her sake but for his own, because it's become his home now, too. Orb is precious to her, and she's precious to him. He'll protect and serve them both, gladly and with little complaint.
Sometimes, though. Sometimes all he wanted was to spend time with her, while away the hours simply sharing her space, talking to her, walking with her, seeing her smile and scowl and laugh about this or that. He wanted to be the only one she looked at. Just... when she had the time to spare.
More free time, here. It's subtle, but when she withdrew his hands came to fall at her waist, and the curve of his fingers tighten a little against her at those words.]
Is that so... [And now they're both here, together. His gaze on her is soft, full of affection.] That's... a silver lining, then.
[His thoughts aren't entirely a mystery to her, not about Orb, her role there, or simply just her. She notices the way he stares at her, stealing a quick glance when no one else is (usually) watching. It's one she's happy to return when she's able and her focus isn't required for some other pressing matter.
The rare moments they get are a welcome and anticipated respite for her. They're one of the very few places she can breathe and just be Cagalli, not Representative Athha. He's one of the very few people she can be herself around, one of the few she feels absolutely at home with on every level.
Physical contact isn't usually an immediate need for her. Of course Cagalli hugs her friends and family with Kira getting the brunt of it when called for. Lacus, Miriallia, Meyrin, they've gotten an embrace here or there.
But Athrun... In the past she's been shy, embarrassed to do much without him taking the lead. The respect is appreciated as is going at her pace, given their circumstances and lives. However, with this realization of extra time comes the knowledge that she can improve in other areas. That includes coming to meet him in the middle so to speak.]
Hey. [It's all she says to get his attention if he's focused elsewhere or thinking of something else. Very doubtful, but just in case. He only gets a moment to respond before she closes her eyes and leans in, fully intent on kissing him first for once.]
[She tilts her head, and he needs no more prompting than that. (He is, as he has been for a long time now, more free and ready than her, and as content as he is to go at her pace, he's here for it, 1000%.) For her to initiate the contact is more rare, and she beats him to the punch, but as soon as her lips catch his he is leaning into it, eyes closed and smiling softly against her.
If this is what it means to be more free in this world, well. He's a lucky man indeed.]
[Her fingers tighten on his shoulders when she feels him smiling. Part reciprocation, part chastise, it's really anyone's guess as to why, but neither of them care.
A few moments later, Cagalli pulls back once more, cheeks appropriately reddened. Clearing her throat, she steps out of his hold and look around at anything but him. Despite her silent resolution, shedding her embarrassment is easier said than done.]
We should get going. I think they said there's some sightings over that way. [Yes, the direction she's pointing in is completely random, but it's a good a start as anything.]
[Chastise or not she can't make him stop...! He's happy. He'll fight anybody on that.
His own cheeks are slightly flushed as they withdraw, but he's admittedly used to these moments being temporary, so it's easy enough to shift back into business mode. He coughs lightly into a fist and glances around, following her direction.]
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I think we'd have no problem improvising. If we catch enough, we could cook and eat something before we go back.
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[There's absolutely traces of a mirth in her reply that shows she enjoys the idea. Her statement still stands, though.
Before he can reply, they've reached the point marked on the map, and Cagalli signals he should land.]
Down there.
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He lands the suit in a clear space that would cause the least amount of damage to the terrain, getting Z'Gok to crouch and help Cagalli climb off once more before he powers it down and exits himself.]
...It's... surprisingly nice, here. [Considering the rift and the danger and all.]
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Yeah, parts of it look pretty untouched sometimes. I haven't seen a lot myself, but it's still definitely Earth.
[Her gaze falls back on him and lingers too long for it to be an accident. A flush rises to her cheeks as she does her best to not look super embarrassed and fails spectacularly.]
I... never really said it, but I'm glad you're here. With us I mean. [Wow, Cagalli. Wow. She exhales through her nose, annoyed with herself and spits it out before she chickens out.]
With me. It's only been two months, but I missed you.
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His hand brushes against hers, and if she lets him, he'll take it, twining their fingers.]
I'm sorry I took so long, but I'm glad to be here, too. With you.
[Dearka and Yzak too, sure. (And Shinn. If pressed.) But he knows himself, and his priorities. If it's in his power, he'll follow her anywhere.]
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Cagalli lets him take her hand for a moment, trying and failing to actively meet his gaze, before yanking hers back. Instead, she just walks closer and puts her arms around his neck and hugs him tightly, head resting in the crook between his chin and shoulder.
The aforementioned two months, while doable, were a lot. That's not something she's let herself really realize until now. Athrun's presence and support is something she's sorely missed. No one else makes her feel at ease like he does.]
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There'd better not be a next time.
[He'll destroy anyone and anything that tries to separate them like this again.]
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I didn't even know the first time was possible. We can't exactly help that. [Completely ignoring he couldn't help this time or next. That's his problem to deal with. She has faith in his ability to figure it out.]
You know before? When I mentioned there's no Orb in this world? I've had more free time because of that. So...
[Meaning? Meaning that while being Chief Representative of Orb is a big part of who she is, very possibly a majority of it, that's not exactly the case here. Certain things (or people) aren't required to take a back seat.
Of course she misses her country and home. Of course she feels a level of guilt and responsibility for being away from her duties. But hearing that Lacus has come and gone without anything changing? Well, it's made her think about what that can mean. Yet Cagalli just can't find the words. Or the nerve.]
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Sometimes, though. Sometimes all he wanted was to spend time with her, while away the hours simply sharing her space, talking to her, walking with her, seeing her smile and scowl and laugh about this or that. He wanted to be the only one she looked at. Just... when she had the time to spare.
More free time, here. It's subtle, but when she withdrew his hands came to fall at her waist, and the curve of his fingers tighten a little against her at those words.]
Is that so... [And now they're both here, together. His gaze on her is soft, full of affection.] That's... a silver lining, then.
[A BIG silver lining.]
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[His thoughts aren't entirely a mystery to her, not about Orb, her role there, or simply just her. She notices the way he stares at her, stealing a quick glance when no one else is (usually) watching. It's one she's happy to return when she's able and her focus isn't required for some other pressing matter.
The rare moments they get are a welcome and anticipated respite for her. They're one of the very few places she can breathe and just be Cagalli, not Representative Athha. He's one of the very few people she can be herself around, one of the few she feels absolutely at home with on every level.
Physical contact isn't usually an immediate need for her. Of course Cagalli hugs her friends and family with Kira getting the brunt of it when called for. Lacus, Miriallia, Meyrin, they've gotten an embrace here or there.
But Athrun... In the past she's been shy, embarrassed to do much without him taking the lead. The respect is appreciated as is going at her pace, given their circumstances and lives. However, with this realization of extra time comes the knowledge that she can improve in other areas. That includes coming to meet him in the middle so to speak.]
Hey. [It's all she says to get his attention if he's focused elsewhere or thinking of something else. Very doubtful, but just in case. He only gets a moment to respond before she closes her eyes and leans in, fully intent on kissing him first for once.]
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If this is what it means to be more free in this world, well. He's a lucky man indeed.]
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A few moments later, Cagalli pulls back once more, cheeks appropriately reddened. Clearing her throat, she steps out of his hold and look around at anything but him. Despite her silent resolution, shedding her embarrassment is easier said than done.]
We should get going. I think they said there's some sightings over that way. [Yes, the direction she's pointing in is completely random, but it's a good a start as anything.]
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His own cheeks are slightly flushed as they withdraw, but he's admittedly used to these moments being temporary, so it's easy enough to shift back into business mode. He coughs lightly into a fist and glances around, following her direction.]
Alright, we'll start there. Come on.
[Time to try to be sneaky in the woods.]