Gundam SEED Fan Fiction ❯ Athrun's Betryal ❯ Faded Memories ( Chapter 3 )

Athrun's Betrayal

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

 

Chapter 3 Faded Memories

 

“Oh my god,” Nicol breathed, staring at Athrun's tear-stained face. “I'm so sorry.”

“No, I'm the sorry one. I never should have brought him on board in the first place,” Athrun shook his head.

“Well you didn't know that he was going to be executed. It isn't your fault.”

“I couldn't…I couldn't shoot him. I…I tried, but I couldn't. I'm so weak!” Athrun closed his eyes and sobbed quietly.

“He's your best friend Athrun!!” Nicol yelled loudly. “How the hell could you shoot your best friend, huh? Someone you care deeply about?” Athrun opened his eyes and stared at him. “I know Athrun. I know what he means to you. I've heard you…crying his name night after night in your sleep, pleading for him to come over to our side so you won't have to shoot him. I know you love him. I can feel it.”

“I'm engaged to Lacus Clyne,” Athrun said shortly, turning away.
“But you love him. Don't deny it. That's why you wouldn't shoot him. You…love…him,” tears ran down Nicol's face. Athrun ignored his words and pushed past him. Nicol stayed where he was, trying to compose himself. Athrun wandered around the ship until he came to the Infirmary. He was unsure of why he was there. Kira was there. He shook his head. He was engaged to Lacus Clyne. He punched the code to the door and the door slid open. Breathing heavily, he entered. The scene in front of him made him stop and stare. Kira was lying in the only occupied bed in the room among a pile of bandages. Dearka was sitting next to the bed. When he heard the door slide open, he turned, then rose when he saw Athrun.

“Athrun?” he asked softly. “What's wrong? You're really pale.” Athrun didn't answer. He closed his eyes, swaying on the spot. “Athrun!” Dearka cried. He rushed forward and seized Athrun by the arm and helped him to sit in the chair he had been previously sitting in. “What's going on?”

“Kira…is going to be executed,” Athrun whispered.

“What? Why?”

“He's a traitor as a coordinator who has sided with the Earth Forces.”

“I'm so sorry.”

“I wish I never would have brought him on board in the first place.”

Dearka was surprised. “But he would have died if you hadn't saved him.”

“I've sent him to his death.” Athrun put his hands in his face and wept softly.

“A…Athrun?” Kira whispered, his eyes slowly opening. Athrun gasped softly and looked up. His eyes rested on Kira.

“Kira…” he murmured.

“Athrun, why did you save me?” Kira asked.

“What?”

“Why did you save me? Why couldn't you shoot me down? I thought I meant nothing to you.”

“I…I…I…” Athrun stammered. His face hardened. “Did you mean what you said? That you didn't belong anywhere?”

Kira hesitated. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Well, I don't belong to the Earth Forces because I'm a Coordinator and I don't belong with ZAFT because I was with the Earth Forces. I'm considered a traitor to my people. A traitor.” Athrun's eyes welled with tears as he listened to Kira's words. Angrily, he shook his head and wiped them away. He was a ZAFT soldier, dammit. He had been to hell and back since he and Kira had been separated and watched two of his friends and fellow soldiers die in battle, one of them by Kira's own hands. He hated Kira's guts, but yet…he had had the chance to shoot him down, but he couldn't. It was all overwhelming. He needed time…space to sort it all out. As if in a dream, he walked out of the Infirmary before Dearka or Kira had a chance to protest. He wandered aimlessly to his bedroom and sat down on his bed. It was empty and quiet; he had shared a room with Rusty, but now that he was gone…he shook his head violently. He couldn't think about that; it'd only made him feel worse than he was already feeling. Restlessly, he rose and started walking again; the room made him feel trapped, probably because he kept having nightmares. That was another thing he didn't understand; why he was continually having nightmares, mostly about Kira. He found himself in the hangar and watched as the technicians worked on the Strike, though he wasn't sure of how they were managing that. He scowled as he looked up at the Strike. It was the cause of all this trouble. He couldn't stand looking at it anymore and walked away. He aimlessly wandered through the halls again, hoping that he could avoid the others as much as he could. Unfortunately, he came across Yzak who was in a bad mood.

“You fucking bastard! I hope you're murdered for bringing a fucking Natural on our ship!” he spat, pinning Athrun up against the wall once more.

“H…he's not,” Athrun choked.

“What?” Yzak demanded, releasing Athrun so he could speak.

“He's…not a Natural. He's a Coordinator,” Athrun managed to say, massaging his throat.

Yzak swung his fist around and it caught Athrun in the side of the face. “You…brought…a traitor on board?!” He swung his fist around again. Athrun, who could have dodged it if he wanted to, stayed put and let Yzak's fist slam into his cheek again. Blood blossomed down his face from his nose, but he didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. He'd rather be dead now…

 

Nicol was worried. It had been hours since he had last seen Athrun and he was worried that Yzak had gotten his hands on him. His worst fear came true as he rounded a corner and stopped dead in his tracks. He stared in horror at Athrun, who was lying in a heap on the floor, not moving at all.

“Athrun!” he cried softly. He ran forward and knelt down next to the huddled mass on the floor. As carefully as he could, he lifted Athrun up and turned him over. His face was a mess of cuts and bruises that made him hardly recognizable. “Oh my god Athrun! Help! Someone help!” His voice brought several officers running.

“What happened?” one of them asked. They saw Athrun and stared. As carefully as they could, they lifted him up and carried him to the infirmary. When they entered, Dearka rose from his place next to Kira and stared at them through widened eyes.

“What happened?” he asked as Athrun was brought to the bed next to Kira's.

“Yzak got hold of him before I could find him,” Nicol answered grimly.

“But why?”

“He was angry that Kira was brought on board. He didn't know that he was a Coordinator.”

“I…I told him,” Athrun whispered weakly. Nicol and Dearka stared at him. “I…told him that Kira was a Coordinator but that made him even more upset. He called me a…a traitor. That's what I am. A traitor.” He closed his eyes and tears rolled down his face.

“A…Athrun,” Kira stammered. Dearka and Nicol jumped. They hadn't realized that he had been watching. “If anyone's a traitor, it's me.”

“You did what you had to in order to survive,” Nicol said gently.

“I wish I was dead,” Kira murmured. Nicol and Dearka looked at each other. “What? What is it?”

“Kira, they're going to execute you for being a traitor. We don't know when,” Nicol said gently. Kira's face paled dramatically. He sucked in his breath and leaned back. “I'm sorry.”

“And…does…does Athrun know?” Kira finally asked.

“He was the one who told us,” Dearka answered.

Kira sighed softly. “I guess it's what I deserve.” He slowly drifted off into a deep sleep. None of the others dared to respond. True, Kira was the enemy, but they weren't sure if they were going to be able to see one of their fellow Coordinators; one of their own people get sent to his death. Both of them were torn about what to do, but no one could have been as torn as Athrun. They realized this as they stared down at the two sleeping boys, but everything seemed so hopeless.

 

They were helpless to do anything to save Kira and possibly Athrun.

 

To be continued…

 

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to get out. My computer ate half of this chapter and I lost my inspiration to work on this for a while because of that. Being on vacation with no Internet access doesn't really help.