Chapter Text
Mid-April 2036
Commander Laike was settling into a good routine at his new command. The paperwork was surprising. He hadn’t realized how much went into running a naval base. Fortunately, he was aided by the light cruiser Köln as his secretary. Though her personality could be a bit cold, she excelled at the administrative aspects of the job
One morning, about a week after the arrival of the Sakura Empire fleet, Köln tapped at the open door of his office. The commander had gotten in the habit of leaving the door open unless he was working on something particularly sensitive, as the girls liked to drop in and visit. Currently, Nicholas, one of the Eagle Union destroyers, was curled up asleep on his couch, one of her pale blue twin-tails trailing onto the carpet.
“Kommandant, we just received word that Prinz Eugen and her fleet will be arriving before noon the day after tomorrow, if the weather holds,” Köln reported. She paused and seemed to be debating something with herself.
“Is there a problem,” Commander Laike asked.
“No, not a problem really. Just an odd request. The communique specifically asked that Illustrious be a part of the welcoming party.”
The commander tapped his pen on his desk as he thought. “Does Illustrious have any past history with the Iron Blood? Good or bad?”
“Nothing that I know of.”
“That is a bit odd, then,” he said. “Well, I’ll discuss it with Queen Elizabeth when I meet with her. Could you request that she, Mikasa, and either Saratoga or Enterprise come to my office for a meeting, please?”
“Very well, kommandant.” She went back out into the outer office.
Commander Laike glanced over at the destroyer still snoozing on his couch. ‘I suppose Nicholas can enjoy her nap a little longer until it’s time for my meeting,’ he thought.
***
After checking at the infirmary and asking Janus when she couldn’t find Vestal there, Belfast knocked at the door of Vestal’s quarters.
“Hold on, please.” After a moment, the door opened. Vestal smiled warmly up at the Royal Maid. “Miss Belfast! What can I do for you today?” she asked. “Is there anything wrong?”
“No, no, everything is fine,” Belfast assured her. “I just wanted to speak with you, if you have some time?”
“Of course! Please, come in!” Vestal opened the door wider and beckoned Belfast in.
The Royal Navy maid looked around. The contrast between Vestal’s quarters and Enterprise’s was startling. Where Enterprise’s were spartan, looking as if no one lived there permanently, Vestal’s quarters were welcoming and cozy. Framed photos hung on the walls: one of Vestal and the Yorktown sisters, another of Vestal with several of the girls from Battleship Row, and a portrait of a dark-haired man with piercing eyes. A blue and white quilt covered the bed, with matching curtains at the window. The two seats at the table had coordinating blue cushions.
“Have a seat at the table, please. Would you like some tea?” Vestal bustled over to the little kitchenette.
Belfast started to get up. “Oh! I could— “
“Ah, ah!” Vestal wagged a finger at her playfully. “Not how it works. You come to me, I serve the tea.”
“Very well, then.” Belfast settled back into her chair. She noticed with approval a small kettle heating water.
“So, how are you?” Vestal asked, as she prepared two cups of tea. “I can’t imagine Enterprise is running you too ragged.”
“No, not at all,” Belfast assured her. “She’s doing much better.”
“So, I’ve noticed.” Vestal smiled back at her guest.
Belfast smiled. She’d noticed that Vestal didn’t miss much when it came to the Yorktown sisters. “I imagine she’s kept you quite busy in the past.”
Vestal rolled her eyes to the ceiling and sighed exasperatedly as she brought two steaming mugs over to the table. “Oh, all you can imagine and then some!” She turned back to the kitchenette and brought a small bowl of sugar over, finally taking a seat opposite her guest.
Belfast inhales the aroma coming from the tea. “Mmm… spearmint?”
“A blend of peppermint and spearmint,” Vestal confirmed. “Good for calming spirits and stomachs. So, what brings you here today?”
“I had some questions. I probably should ask Enterprise herself, but…”
“But you’d probably get more answers from Grim,” Vestal finished for her. “Her eagle,” she clarified, at Belfast’s momentary look of confusion.
“Ah, I had wondered if he had a name.”
“Yes, he was named that by Yorktown, who he was partnered with originally. And the fact that she hasn’t told you even that much shows the problem.” Vestal sighed. “What are we going to do with her? So, what was it you wanted to know? I will answer what I can, within the bounds of personal privacy, of course.”
“Oh, of course!” Belfast toyed with the handle of her sturdy pottery mug. “I have seen Enterprise with her younger sister before, and while Hornet both raises her spirits and heightens her protective instincts, I had never seen her as she was when she saw Yorktown standing there,” she said. “Nor had I seen her as afraid as she was when she got that text message from Hornet,” she added.
Vestal sighed and shook her head. “I specifically asked Hornet to text her, because I thought hearing the same thing from me would scare her. Leave it to Hornet to phrase it in such a way that terrified her anyway. All the subtlety of a B-25, that girl!” Despite her obvious irritation, the affection in Vestal’s voice was clear. “Was there anything there that worried you? About Enterprise, that is.”
Belfast cast her eyes downward. “It left me wondering how well I truly know her.” The normally confident light cruiser sounded troubled.
“Ah, that’s right,” Vestal said, understanding dawning on her. “You’ve only known the ‘Must be perfect so no one else gets hurt’ version of Enterprise.” She smiled sadly, turning her mug around and around in her hands. “Yorktown’s injury affected Enterprise deeply. She shut her emotions off, no matter what Yorktown, Hornet, or I did.” Vestal lifted her eyes to Belfast and reached out to touch her hand. “We saw little change in her until recently when you came along.”
“So, she doesn’t need me anymore…” Belfast said softly.
“Hm? Oh, don’t be silly. If anything, this makes your job easier.” Vestal smiled mischievously. “Not that it’s really a job anymore, is it?”
Startled, Belfast met Vestal’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” she stated in her oh-so-proper tone, “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
Vestal gazed at Belfast evenly. “Mm. Did you know that it is a useful skill for a medic to have to be able to read into tone and body language? It’s a great aid in seeing how people really feel when their words say something different.”
Belfast stared at her a moment more, then dropped her gaze and the mask. “I suppose I haven’t been hiding it that well. How long have you known?”
“About you? I had suspected, but coming to me today confirmed it to me.” Vestal tilted her head. “Has anyone else clued in?”
Belfast chuckled lightly. “Miss Illustrious has dropped hints, but she is also a bit of a romantic, so that may have just been wishful thinking on her part.” Belfast rubbed at the edge of her thumbnail absently. “You say that you suspected ‘about me,’” she asked hesitantly, “What about Miss Enterprise?”
“Oh, it’s hard to say for sure. You know how high she builds up the walls around herself. But I think that what you’ve done so far has knocked holes in those walls and Yorktown being well again may just bring them down altogether. I think she may feel the same.” Vestal could see the barest shadows of various emotions flit across the younger kansen’s face as she gazed into her tea. Enterprise wasn’t the only one who had trouble letting her emotions out, it seemed.
After a moment, Belfast looked back up at Vestal, a bright hopeful smile on her face. “Thank you. I appreciate your insights. Now, on a different note, I know it’s not Enterprise’s favorite, but does Yorktown enjoy tea?”
Vestal smiled brightly back. “She does indeed.”
***
Outside along the shore, those same two carriers sat together on a bench staring out over the water. Enterprise’s left arm was twined around Yorktown’s right, and she leaned her head on her older sister’s shoulder. Enterprise was still adjusting to taking time for herself, but at this moment with her sister, she was completely at peace.
“It’s shocking to see all the changes in the base. Especially with all the new construction,” Yorktown mused.
“Yeah, the recent Siren attack made a mess of the base,” Enterprise replied. “But at least the whole situation led to a new alliance.”
“I heard the ruckus of the attack. Vestal and Perseus had me bundled off to a safe room as soon as it started. I never even heard any details until just a few days ago.”
“We didn’t want to worry you.”
“Especially since a certain sister of mine was right in the middle of it all?”
Enterprise lifted her head and turned to look her sister in the eyes. “I—“ she began, but Yorktown shushed her with a finger.
“I understand. It just feels odd having my little sisters protect me. I could tell that something was wrong from how rattled Hornet and Hammann were, but neither would tell me what it was.” Yorktown pulled her closer. “As long as you’re okay now, but don’t leave me out of the loop like that anymore, got it?”
Enterprise hugged her sister close. “We won’t. And I’m fine now. I had some help getting through it all.”
“So, I’ve heard,” Yorktown said mischievously.
“Hmm?”
“That sweet Royal Navy maid that came with you to my room that day?”
“Belfast?” Enterprise asked. “She’s been a good friend.”
“Mmm, it sounds like it.”
Enterprise was more used to hearing that teasing tone from Hornet. “What?”
“Oh, Hornet said the two of you have been near inseparable. She said she’s lost count of how many times one of you came to the other’s rescue.” Yorktown did not mention the scene over breakfast that Nevada had gleefully told her about. Hamman had been scandalized.
Enterprise stared at Yorktown. “What? She’s helped me a lot. Like I said, she’s a good friend.” Yorktown just stared back at her with an odd little smile that reminded Enterprise of the smile Bel got just before she did something unexpected. “What?” Enterprise asked again. Before she could get an answer, her phone pinged.
“Hopefully that’s a less alarming message than what Hornet sent you,” Yorktown quipped.
“It’s Köln, the commander’s secretary.” Enterprise sighed. “There’s a meeting of the faction leaders.”
Yorktown squeezed her sister’s hand. “Go. I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” Enterprise gave her sister a relieved look, picked her cap up off the seat next to her, and headed off to the command building. Yorktown watched her go, then turned her attention back to the water where Grim wheeled and soared on the air currents. She was glad to see both of them able to spread their wings.