I don't consider my writer's block cured. But I do think that the fact I was able to produce this is due to Jusrecht's wonderful fic Unbroken, which had inspired me on this drabble. You can say this is a love child of the spring chapter of Unbroken, parts of Twinned Souls and Blessings. Oh god, even my inspirations are having a threesome…
Theme: Rumor
Genres: Humour
Pairings: Shinn x Cagalli
Word Count: 775
Summary: Engagement to come soon? Representative Athha's and Marshall Asuka's Blossoming Relationship! Shocking Evidence Revealed!
Comments and Constructive Criticism are welcomed
Disclaimer: I don't own Mobile Suit Gundam SEED/DESTINY or any of its characters
A-A Secret Engagement
He looks at the papers out of the corner of his eyes incredulously. Its glossy cover and bold red headings taunt him, as it lies innocently on the top of his sectary's recycling bin. The absurd idea of picking that despicable paper up has forced him to stop on his track and wonder exactly why he would have such an irrational thought.
No, there is no way he is interested in what is written on those trashes – a total waste of trees and pulp. Whatever it has written, it should not bother him, despite the fact that it has caused many curious glances from everyone that he happens to pass by today. But those curious glances are no new phenomena either. He hates to admit, but ever since the academy days, he always manages to end up in positions of power through no ordinary means. And he has long learnt to ignore any quiet whispers that have inadvertently reached his ear. So whatever it is on those damn papers should not have bothered him, nor should it hold any interest to him at all. None, what so ever.
However, as his brain goes on and on about why he should not be considering the whole ridiculous idea or in fact give any thought about it at all, his eyes are already checking left and right, making sure that all the staffs are gone, and the cleaning crews have not arrived. And his hands have somehow, on their own accord, snatched the paper and swiftly deposit it into his briefcase as he quickly flees from the crime scene.
Shinn sits on the leather couch in his apartment, the stolen paper in his hands. He turns to the page as indicated on the front page, and an image of his own face meets his sight along with a certain blonde.
His eyes quickly read in the paragraphs on the column, digesting the so called evidences on the so called report. Okay, so the paparazzi can be pretty thorough and are quite some detectives at times, Shinn would give them that.
So what if it is true, that out of the many bouquets that are sent to the young Head Representative everyday, only one make it inside her office. And that twenty some odd bouquets' receipts signed by the Head Representative's secretary this month were indeed charged to his account.
So what if it is correct, that the Head Representative never parts with her favorite Ming Dynasty jade thumb ring. A ring which he happens to have purchased from some damn stubborn Chinese, who gave him a hard time claiming the jade to be some national treasure just so they can jack up the price. The price on the tabloid is obviously exaggerated, although the fact that it is near astronomical is not.
So what if it is also true that he has stopped changing his cuff links. (He wonders which traitors in the office has noticed such a minute detail and informed it to the publisher.) And the said cuff links that he is wearing is indeed a one of a kind from a series of handmade men accessories created by some famous designer. The fact that it is the ninety-first design in the series is true. The fact that ninety-one coincides with his birthday September 1st, is also true. And the fact that the said cuff links were auctioned and won by Head Representative of Orb is also indisputable.
Compound these with the picture of him lip locking with the said representative inside his car, the rumor of their soon-to-be engagement seems not so far fetched after all.
Okay, so he is not half as irritated and annoyed as he pretends to be. And he will even admit that he was mildly amused when he saw Kira and Kisaka's disgruntle faces this morning while a certain blonde blushes and complains about how he should not have drove his new car before having the windows tinted. And he is contemplating on not suing the publisher for intruding their privacy...
After all, the picture of them looks quite flattering... and the report is not outrageously fictitious...
That thought lasted for a week... until the heading on the next issue reads:
New Heir to the Athha's House? Representative's First Bump?
Two Timer Marshall Secret Meeting with PLANT's Ex-Songstress
Asuka-Clynee-Athha Love Triangle and MORE!
Shinn swears as he crumbles the once again stolen tabloid. If his lawyers do not shut down that publisher soon, he will have to borrow Kira's Freedom for a private mission. But that is unless, if Kira has not already finish the task himself.
Epilogue
Some more paparazzi's headlines that AngryCherokee and I come up with after the fic was posted on my LJ
A: AngryCherokee C: Cloudedge
A: "Orb Princess: Out of Control or Just Stubborn?"
C: "Seiran weeps: Lacus Clyne Stole my Darling Cagalli"
A: "Athha's Steamy Romance with ZAFT Prince ZALA! Details Inside!"
C: "Bitter Betrayal! ZAFT Prince caught CHEATING with Head Representative's TWIN BROTHER!"
A: "It's a Family Affair! Orb's leader together with her own brother!"
C: "Truth behind the Princess Complex Love Life! Representative's Hedonistic Threesome Revealed!"
Author's Note:
A relatively painless drabbled that came to me yesterday :) I have initially had another plot in mind for this theme. Initially I wanted to use three OC as Kira's, Shinn's and Cagalli's secretary and do a scene about the rumor why Marshall Asuka always visit Berlin in the winter. But I personally think it takes a lot of skill to write good OC, and think my writing skills won't be able to hold up one OC's personality without any reference, let alone all three.
Another reason why it was dropped is because the plot seems to be quite depressing, and does not portray Shinn, Cagalli or Kira in any positive light… I mean, it's only natural for a secretary to complain about her boss… even though they are nice people. It's just what people do in their job. Also the reason why Shinn would visit Berlin is private and there would be no way I could have gave his side of the story through these three characters, and that would only create more misunderstanding between Shinn and Cagalli which I cannot bring myself to do.
I would still want to explore the idea of a Berlin trip for Shinn in some other drabble though… hopefully it'll be a less depressing and more hopeful one.
A-A is a play of acronym. It stands for Athha-Asuka, not Archangel lol. And the title of this fic is actually the headings on the tabloid. XD
Also I had been obsessing with cuff-links ever since I saw them a few weeks ago and I am glad I was able to work it into this fic :D
And if you happen to feel that the Shinn here is vain, then you would make me very happy :D because that's exactly what I was trying to go at XD I have always find that Shinn to be the kind of person who would flaunt what he got...(riches, power, girlfriend)... and he's got every right to be proud of what he's got since he worked hard for them all (riches, power, girlfriend XD)... And to be honest, that little vanity part of him never bothered me XD I often read that a sexy woman is one that is confident. I find that to be the same with men.
Oh, and if you're not aware of it already... Shinn is a huge spender... He doesn't know how to manage his money at all... and wouldn't hesitant to spend a year of salary on a gift... And imo, that's because of his strange rapid upbringing from a teenager who probably have a strict allowance to an orphan with (I assume) some form of inheritance/insurance from his family's death... then he becomes an Ace pilot which I assume is not bad pay either (compare to grunts/mechanics) since he is riding on a multi-billion dollar mecha... and the suddenly he is a Marshall with an even bigger raise... pheffff, no wonder he can afford bouquet everyday, a new car and an astronomical ring ; ;!