Hold Me Tight

STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLY: I ABSOLUTELY DON'T own any of the characters from Gundam Seed. And I DON'T make money out of this. This is for entertainment purposes only.


Chapter 2 – Settling the Differences

In a matter of minutes, the sun had resigned for its duty again giving the moon its turn to shroud the sky with its borrowed light. Athrun loved to spend his idle time watching the natural phenomenon. His admiration to its wonder, the Natural’s planet, continued to be unshaken. None of these happened to his home base in space. Well, technically, there’s day and night, sea and air, mountains and sky yet there seemed to be missing – the spirit within. Nothing more natural as these he was experiencing with this planet’s wonders. This made him sad though, he loved everything here, yet he is one of the contributors of its major destruction. With the help of his priced Mobile Suit, much worse will be done. No doubt about it.

The fresh sent of after rain still lingered to the surrounding. The waves of the sea were calmer than before. The breeze of the coming night advanced its moves, giving the island a soothing relief. These should not be taken for granted, Athrun thought. The addicting smell of peace was rare at this brutal, destructive age.

War. No matter what, he had to get back and do his mission. We are at war, he berated himself. It is simple as that. Stop cherishing these all. In the end, he will be the one on misery, the loser of the game.

The sun had already hidden most of its view from his area. Only the red rays of the sun were reaching the farthest corner of the violet sky. The clouds began to disappear as one by one the stars started to shine their own bright.

Then the cloak of darkness came to settle with the moon and the stars, along with his every cottage’s light, only its guiding lights. Night had finally set-in; a view very similar to where he usually belongs.

Even though the sun disappeared from the horizon, Athrun cared not to move from his spot. He was still sitting by the ledge of his cottage’s window, near his improvised bamboo bed. His admiration to the calm atmosphere had taken his attendance from the evening chores.

It was only reminded when someone, not very far from his position, broke the serenity of his pondering.

“Don’t you have any idea what time is? Don’t you have any stomach to fill in? My goodness, I know you’re a Coordinator who had better tolerance to this basic need but at least show some compassion to others who can’t.” She sighed afterwards. Cagalli was getting tired of being treated as one of the lifeless furniture. As if she didn’t exist; as if she was not there. Though the rope wasn’t tied so tight, she could still feel the sore for her young skin. Small marks of bruises could be seen as the evidence.

Instead of being irritated and annoyed, Athrun continued lavishing the cool misty night for a little more. The girl was right about one thing – Coordinators can tolerate hunger more than the Naturals. It wasn’t his fault for having such an advantage. All he wished was for a little more time, a few moments of lingering, and then he would gladly prepare her meal for tonight.

Thanks to her whining, he began to notice her existence, her slender body, her young pink lips, her big red shimmering eyes, her perfect breasts…drats. This got to stop. Now.

“Trying to ignore me again, eh?” Cagalli scoffed. She shook her tied wrists that were attached to the center column of the hut. “Having more fun tormenting me, aren’t you?” Then she mumbled, “Enjoy it while it still last, Coordinator. When I happen to escape here, I’ll personally hunt you down and beat you up.”

Tied up and continued being ignored fueled more of her anger. Cagalli was at the center of the room, wrists tied up to the king post. She was sitting at the floor, with eyes glaring at him. He had promised not to hurt her in any manner. She believed him. What a fool she had been on giving him that trust.

She didn’t deserve to be treated like this even though she was a prisoner. Ah. He had an excuse why. Like what he had said before, he doesn’t trust her. This is war. Doubts play major parts in this game.

“Hello?” She called out again and stood up. “Let me give you a good suggestion that will surely help our dilemma, particularly mine! Why don’t you untie me and let me do the cooking? At least, it will lessen my nagging and whining to you.”

Athrun looked amused. “And give you a chance to escape?” He checked the time from his watch and stared out to the window. “The answer is no.”

Cagalli cursed upon him but it wasn’t loud enough to be heard. She began frowning. Her irritation to this narrow-minded coordinator grew worse. First she was man-handled, then was sexually harassed then taken as a prisoner, then left to suffer hunger. What is his problem anyway, she asked herself. She had done nothing to threaten his life, even if he’s a Coordinator.

She had been trying to escape from the effects of the war for a while. Being the daughter of the Chief of Neutral Forces, Cagalli had seen so many senseless deaths and continuous suffering around her. By helping them to heal the wounds and repair their damages, she might ease the pain caused by each rivals. Look where her concern got herself now. She’s lost and unjustly treated by this obnoxious young, handsome captain.

But still, she didn’t regret. Only angry to the young captain who held her captive because of some non-sense that she’s a threat.

Handsome captain? Where did that come from?


Athrun made it sure that he will be able to guard her without much viewing maintenance by placing her there. He also wanted her to have enough warmth coming from the radiating heat of the hearth’s fire. For now, he didn’t have a choice but to tie her up until he received any confirmation from the Zaft mainframe about the missing survivors of the Speed boat that this girl was talking about. If the report verifies her claim, only then will he be at her service.

Actually, he wasn’t afraid of her. In fact, somehow, he liked her – her spirit. Yet there was a wall that hindered his heart to open up. The reason of being a soldier wasn’t the only one. There had been more and deeper reasons behind it. For now, he didn’t want to share.

It wasn’t over for Cagalli to convince him, or better yet annoy him. “Am I such a great threat to you that is why you have to keep me tied up in here? I have no where to go. We are on an island. Even I don’t know what sector of Indian Ocean I’m in. A girl, born a Natural, who had no weapon to use against with, is such a big deal to handle to the likes of you. How enlightening?!”

She still went for another blow. “You are not afraid of me, aren’t you?”

Athrun slipped from the window sill and leaned against it. He was now looking directly to the eyes of his taunting, beautiful captive. “For a person who hungers and whines, you talk so much. I bet most of your suitors didn’t like that side of your personality. Since when was the last time you had a pleasant conversation with someone? With such gorgeous looks, I hope you didn’t scare them all.” He inwardly smiled. “Ah. But then again I might be mistaken. It’s the personality that counts, right?”

“My personal relationships are not the issue here, but your unjust treatment of me is, so don’t you try changing the subject.” Cagalli angrily spat, her cheeks began to redden.

“You promised not to hurt me…” she feebly mumbled.

The young captain remembered that. Patience was all he wanted from her.

As he continued to stare upon her, he saw her blush. He liked that. Somehow, he liked teasing her. How long since he had this happy feeling with just a simple conversation? He had been busy killing in the battle, having no time to ponder things up, more of about simple issues like smiling and laughing. The war somehow took his capability to smile. But with this girl named Cagalli, it was like a mere effort to produce one.

“I think you are right. I shouldn’t be harsh to you especially when I promised not to hurt you. At least let me alleviate some of your discomfort.” With languid movement, he went near his bed for his back pack. He took a small plastic pouch containing bread and cookies. He also searched for his water canister.

The girl wasn’t speaking. She watched him, somehow grateful that finally he had listened to her pleas. It will be a matter of time for him to set her free.

“Here,” Athrun offered, extending his hands towards the hunger girl’s delicious lips. “Eat.”

Cagalli looked at him and said, “Thank you but it will be a lot better for me to eat them if I have my hands to use.”

Athrun gave her a long stare and then smiled. “Not now, my dear. I’ll feed you.”

Feed me? How?

“I don’t think this is a good idea – ” Cagalli tried to reason out.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion, anyway. No more buts, Cagalli. If I am sure everything is alright, you will be free from these ropes.” Athrun coldly reprimanded.

Cagalli briskly turned her head away from his offering hand, his touch. Somehow, the nearness of his manly presence had affected her quite so. She couldn’t stop from blushing. She had never before been reprimanded and humiliated this way by a man. This was all new to her, even the crazy beat of her heart. She wasn’t nervous, that’s for sure. But why with the fast beat?

She had tested his patience too far. But instead of getting angry, he gently took the girl’s attention by touching her chin and leading her face back to his gaze. He lifted it towards him and whispered some gentle plea, “Have patience, my dear. I have no intention for both of us to be in this position. Have faith on me. Now, eat.”

Cagalli was a bit stunned to what he just said. She never expected him to be so gentle yet fierce. “I will not escape. I promise you that. Please…” she begged, her eyes began to show signs of tears. “I….I just hate being tied…..I’m afraid of…”

Athrun was compelled by the emotions shown by the girl. He wasn’t supposed to be this caring. He wasn’t supposed to be close to her. A tear broke out from one of her misty eyes. She tried to wipe it away by bringing one of her shoulders to her eyes but Athrun’s hand was fast enough to oblige the thought. He gently whisked away the remnants of the tear using his thumb. Cagalli looked at him, stunned again by his sudden, unexpected care. She didn’t like this even though half of her heart lied.

She couldn’t understand the havoc she was having in her heart right now. Why must she feel this chaos upon having this intimacy with a man like him, much so to a Coordinator?

Athrun silently cursed. Why must she suffer because of his doubts to Naturals? He could easily hold her back when she tried stupid attempts of attack and escape. Why must she endure this all? Was he enjoying torturing her? No. It wasn’t like that. Maybe there was something else. As if….as if he didn’t want her to leave….no….that wasn’t the reason, or is it?

“I’m sorry for being brutal even though I had promised not to hurt you. It’s just that – ” His explanation was interrupted when a noisy, continuous beep was heard. It came from the outside, to his Mobile Suit to be exact. He immediately went there to check upon the computer report stats. After leaving her for 5 minutes, Athrun was back with a smile on his face.

“You are going back, aren’t you? Take me with you, please. I want to go home.” Cagalli pleaded. “You said you will help me to get back a while ago.”

“Sorry to tell you, I am not going back – as of yet.” Athrun flatly replied.

Cagalli deeply sighed, seemingly defeated but still hoping. “Why with a happy face, jerk?”

“I have a name, Cagalli.” Athrun took his knife and bent down towards Cagalli. “And you? Why with a sad face, Cagalli?”

She instinctively pulled away, evading his touch. She was now looking at his sharp knife. She stood up from her position at the floor. “What the?”

Athrun cut the rope from the king post in no time. Cagalli instantly took her hands away and massages its sore parts. While rubbing and shaking her wrists, she had stepped backwards four times.

“I won’t hurt you, Cagalli.” As soon as the deed was done, he sheathed back the knife to its rightful place. It was in his safety strap belt which was still attached to his fine hips. He watched her as she continued to remedy the sores by patting them.

“You already did,” Cagalli coldly replied.

“I said I am sorry.” Athrun deeply apologized but she ignored it. “The report said that 7 lives were missing upon the Speed boat’s untimely demise due to the destructive force of the storm. 6 had already been retrieved and safely transported back to the country of Morocco which means only one has yet to be found.”

“Me.” She answered.

“Yes.” He agreed.

They were standing near the middle of the cottage. Their eyes were somehow momentarily attached to each other as if none of them wanting to retreat from the invisible hold. There was a crack from the fire that had broken the magic. Athrun made the first move to withdraw.
“Don’t worry. By tomorrow, I might be able to send a message about you being swept to this island.” He assured her.

“Why tomorrow? Why don’t you do it now?” Cagalli insisted. She was getting worried as the time they shared grew longer. As far as she knew, she wanted more distance from him. These feelings of tingling were giving havoc again every time he looked at her with those strange good –looking, green eyes. Yes. There were green eyes. She had mistaken on judging its colors to blue ones in the first encounter they had at the beach front.

She loved it better. It made him sexier. What the heck?!

Athrun was somehow taken aback by her plea for some reasons, again, he didn’t know why. “As I said it before, tonight the radio jammers were active. None will get through.”

“How did you manage to get that report when there are radio jammers active around?” Cagalli couldn’t just help to stop. She felt she had finally entrapped him.

For Athrun, he knew her game. “For now, the computer could only search for signals and information collected from the Zaft’s mainframe, not the other way around. For your information, not only do the radio jammers deflect the signals being sent from the airwaves but it can also detect the positioning of the enemies within its territorial radial scan. Once I gave them some distress signals, God knows what will happen to us. The enemies might reach us and the war will start in no time. Don’t you know anything about technical warfare, its offense and defense? Ah. You are a civilian. Why did I ever ask that? Silly me. You won’t be harmed, I think, since this is the world of the Naturals. While on my case, I still love my head being attach to my neck.” Athrun explained as he took his seat back to the window sill. He wasn’t angry, just exhausted from all of her questioning and doubts.

“Are you mocking me?” Cagalli inquired. She felt offended in someway.

“No dear. Who gave you that thought?!” Athrun sarcastically supplied.

So much for being momentarily enamored from a gentleman turned obnoxious young brat again.

She glared at him. She even wished to strangle him by her own angry hands.

“Why don’t you eat the bread and cookies for now? I know you are hungry. Save your strength.” Athrun said as he savored the freshness of sea air.

“That I will,” Cagalli immediately took the small pouch and ate them ravenously. “You want some?” At least, she had the decency to offer his very own food.

Athrun glanced at her and genuinely smiled. “No. You need it more than I do. Please do.”

She hated it when he becomes so sweet and gentle. She also hated seeing those boyish smiles that somehow melt her heart for no known reasons. Being captivated by his charms – both good and bad side of his – had arrested her for a while. Why does she hate this man and at the same time likes him also? This was all very confusing.

“Suit yourself,” she only replied and turned her body the other way. Praying for an escape will take some time now. Better not think more about it. The young captain had promised her that maybe tomorrow they could send his home base a report of her being found. This will be a every long night, she soberly said. She was facing the hearth now, still profusely blushing from the indecent thoughts she had for him. Indecent? How come?


*******


Several hours had already passed since they had talked to each other. She admitted that somehow she longed to have a quiet conversation with him. It had been so long since she too had this momentarily rest from the pillages caused by war. Somehow, she was starting to see what this young Coordinator soldier was lingering about. Peace.

She was lying near the hearth. Though the fire was there to give comfort, she was still chilling due to the night’s breeze. Then she heard the rain started to fall again. It was another factor to make her suffering more unbearable.

Athrun closed the window by sliding the edge covers from each of its sides. For the meantime, he had to because the night began to grow chiller. He had already felt the chill but still could withstand it. He suddenly had worried for the Natural girl. The flames from the hearth were fading. It needed a new batch of fuel to continue. He immediately remedied that. Thank God for being prepared!

Upon finishing his task, the young captain saw Cagalli curled up into a ball, with no blanket to cover her from chillness. Poor girl. At least, she should have asked him his blanket so that she might not suffer from this cold dilemma. Or better yet, let her share his part of the bamboo bed. That would be a nice idea. But the girl had her pride. She won’t ask anything more from him but of being brought back to her people.

He was kneeling near at her back, one knee at the floor for balance. “Cagalli,” Athrun called her name softly, hoping that she might wake up without any anger or irritation.

Cagalli was suppose to answer him back, making him known that she was still awake. But she was too tired from fighting the coldness. She instinctively curled more, hugging her knees towards her chest. She didn’t want anything from him now. She would like to take her words back from wishing him to notice her and have some quiet chat. Maybe if he was afar, but this was another issue. Nervous and tension reigned inside of her just by knowing him so near. He had somehow innocently invaded her personal space.
“Cagalli,” he called out once again. “I mean no harm on this.” Without waiting for a response, he instantly cupped her lithe, curbed form from the cold floor, lifting her up to bring her to his bamboo bed. TO HIS BED!

Upon being laid on his bed, Cagalli abruptly argued and was seemingly leaving out of the bed to the other side, away from him but was stopped by Athrun. “You need to get some comfortable sleep, Cagalli.”

“Here? Sleep with you?” Cagalli’s voice was stuttering. “Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s cold and you might catch a fever or cold by going back in there.” He countered.

“I won’t.” She insisted. “Just gave me the blanket and I will be alright.” She didn’t wait for his reply. She abruptly took the blanket and placed herself back to where she belonged.

Athrun raised a brow. “I have no time arguing with your silly tantrums. For your information, my intentions are noble, unlike you.”

Cagalli blushed again. She seemed to be guilty about it.

“If you want to sleep there, then fine.” That was his last reply.

Then he lied upon the bamboo bed, hugging his pillow to get some decent sleep.

The wind went wilder and the rain poured harsher. The walls of the cottage were seemingly swaying against its foe – the storm wind. The fire at the hearth was about to extinguished. No more logs to be put to continue its worth. Cagalli was still lying on the floor staring at the last dancing flames. The blanket didn’t help much. She was still shivering from the chill of the air. Now that it had gotten worse, it will be impossible for her to continue to endure…unless….

His Zaft uniform had helped oozing away the old chill of the storm tonight. No need for him to use the blanket. The Natural, stubborn girl needed it more than he does. He had to be patient with her. He had to understand her silliness and nagging for now. Just to survive this night, he had to.

The fire at the hearth faded finally. There were no other logs to supply fuel for heat. Darkness settled inside the cottage.

Upon pondering with his thoughts while he waited for himself to sleep, Athrun suddenly felt someone shared at his bed. His pillow still rested below his head. His other left arm placed above his forehead. In seconds, he had felt a soft body pressuring against his. The blanket covered him, and also his unexpected companion. Cagalli must have learned her lesson well this time.

“Don’t you go laughing at me, soldier. I’m against it but to survive this, we both need our body heat mingled together.” Cagalli tried to speak as normal as she could. Holding him this close made her heart fluttered so much. “It’s so cold.”

Athrun couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t believe also what great warmth upon hearing those words to enticing him to share his body warmth to her.

“If you only listened to me from the start….”

“I know. This isn’t the time for reprimanding me. Just….”

“What?”

“Hold me…..Hold me tight….” Cagalli whispered. For Athrun, it was damn erotic to hear her voice, pleading for his full attention and warmth. She wanted his warmth. She wanted him to share this moment of truce.

“Ok. Cagalli.” Then he gladly obliged her request. With full care, he gathered her into his arms and held her tight just to give her his warmth. Cagalli’s head rested at his chest. Both of their arms were at each other’s body domain. His legs entwined to hers, rubbing his to her most of time to produce heat…or something else for that matter.

God! He never knew this would be so good. He realized that he loved touching her now…..even smell her sweet, ocean scent. It was so strange of him to do so.

Cagalli also loved smelling his manly scent though it had mixed up with lavender odor. Just smelling him made her fear about the storm subsided. She thanked him for being a gentleman for this time around. “Thank you…..” she weakly mumbled.

“Call me Athrun.” He whispered, just above her blond head.

“Thank you, Athrun.” Cagalli feebly spoke. He had felt her shiver again which made him embraced her more.

“Cagalli,” he called her.

She mumbled and yet still shivering.

“There is another way for you to get warm, you know.”

“What? How?” She was a bit disoriented.

Slowly, he lifted her chin with his thumb and slowly bent his head. “This,” he unremorsefully kissed her.



a/n:
excuse for the grammar. not good at it. enjoy!