Fic Submission (original) (raw)

Title: Return To Sender
Rating: PG-13?
Genre: Drama, Angst
Word Count: 390

Notes: Written in a rush, meant to be longer, but ah well.

Return To Sender

CE 61:

He is six when his first pet dies.

His father comes home to find a tiny huddle of boy by the porch, stubby fingers curled around a frailty of feathers and cold flesh that won’t move. Older eyes lock onto old ones, unwavering, hands raised in proffering as he whispers Why won’t he fly, Father?

The man puts down the briefcase laden with terse reports and statistics and demands in the voice of requests to kneel beside his son and teach him, for the first time, that life is not only a story of meetings but also departures.

But if he’s only away, the boy protests, he’s still here, just… not *here* anymore. Where did he go, Father?

But because Patrick Zala believes in no heaven, there is no answer he can give, save

Into the earth, Athrun. He went into the earth.

---

He is six when he writes his first letter.

To Torii, blue scrawl on white. The boy tucks it beside the bird, scooping handfuls of soil and sprinkling them over.

Wherever it goes, Athrun hopes his call will be answered.

***

CE 71:

He is sixteen when his first friend dies.

His captor jerks him up by the shirt to find a broken shell of a soldier, the whole hand resting bonelessly on sheets the same color as the sling that holds the unwhole. Furious eyes stare into empty ones, burning, gunpoint held to his jaw as she whispers Why did he have to die, you bastard?

The boy lowers his head running over and over again memories and pain and sadness in the cloak of anger to blink out the tears and teach her, not for the first time, that war is a great tragedy not only of of hate but also dutiful vengeance.

But he was your *friend*, the girl protests, he still loved you, even after everything that passed. Why did you kill him?

But because Athrun Zala has nothing more to believe in, there is no answer he can give, save

Into the earth, Cagalli. They were sent into the earth.

---

He is sixteen when he writes this letter.

To Kira, blue calligraphy on white. The boy places it beside the weathered marker, scooping handfuls of soil and sprinkling them over.

Wherever he goes, Athrun hopes his call will be answered.