Despite himself, he visits Athrun sometimes, whispering words of condolences. It’s kind of an act of desperation; they both know that the chances of anything getting better are very, very slim.

The PLANT council members aren’t as forgiving as Yzak wishes they could be.

It feels awkward for him to be reassuring someone like Athrun Zala.

-

They set a date and time, and once Athrun tells him it, Yzak makes a special effort to try and get the day off. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal, Yzak says, to miss a day. Life would go on with out him.

Though the council agrees, they want reasons, and Yzak finds doesn’t really want to talk about it. He’s given permission, but he’s walking on eggshells, pressing his luck.

-

The day of the trial, Yzak makes sure he’s there on time. He wants to make it seem like he’s hoping for the best, when inside he knows he’s expecting the worst.

-

People are leaving, exiting in little groups, talking in hushed voices about the outcome. Yzak is surprised, relief fluttering in his stomach.

He’s the last to leave, halfway out the door, when he turns back and sees Athrun.

The look on Athrun’s face makes his insides bubble over with what he hopes is irrational anger.

-

Aren’t you even happy about this at all!

It’s funny; he’s hearing these accusations as if he’s someone else.

Don’t you even care?

-

Athrun’s head is spinning. It doesn’t seem fair to him. He doesn’t know why Yzak is yelling at him now.

“Don’t you see?” He asks, and both he and Yzak are surprised by how apathetic he sounds. “We are following straight lines to death. All they did was put me back on track.” He doesn’t even sound like he cares.

-