Chapter Two: Tea Party

Vanessa Kimball was not one to be mushy gushy over her feelings whether they be platonic or romantic, she had no time to daydream over her dream man or woman. She had no time to think about whether she wanted to be a mother or a wife even, if she would ever have a life beyond the war. At this point this war, all this death and responsibility, felt like all she ever knew. As if the former Vanessa Kimball ceased to exist when she allied with the Rebel cause. She was General Kimball now who had to lead her people, she had no time to relax.

Yet he did.

It infuriated her to see the blonde man sitting at his desk with his paperwork, taking a break with a god damn cup of fucking tea. Where the hell did he even get tea? And why the hell was he just lounging around while other soldiers trained because of the looming threat of the Mercs and Hargrove?!

"Doyle what the hell do you think you're doing?" her voice was curt and she was giving him the evil eye. If he turned around he would faint for sure at the fear that her evil strikes.

He did not turn around and continued sipping at his tea and said very simply and calmly, "I am taking a break Miss Kimball, would you like to join me?"

"JOIN YOU?! Were in the middle of a war Doyle not a tea party!" she yelled at him, quickly losing any calm she might have in store. Doyle flinched a little but at this point he was used to her fits and temper tantrums as he liked to joke to himself.

"I-I am very aware of our current situation, but if you don't slow down and relax every once and while you are bound to burn out. And you'll do no good to our people burnt out and unable to fight all because you were to stubborn and prideful to relax." he had set down his cup and looked at her seriously and with concern. "I am worried about you, you haven't slept properly for days."

She looked at him surprised and her mouth went slightly agape, "I…" Kimball sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. 'I will not admit that he's right.' "What… What kind of tea do you have?"

Doyle (who had been looking rather terrified after his display of confidence) brightened up and smiled excitedly, "Nothing particularly fancy, but I think I have a simple black tea that might suit your tastes."

Kimball allows herself a small smile, "You know me that well already?"

He jumps up a bit too chipper to a small cabinet on his side of the room, "A pleasant side effect of living with you Miss Kimball, I get to know these nice little things about you." He bit his lip at the last part and his face slightly reddened. He dared to look behind him to see Kimball's reaction and sighed in relief to see she was busying herself with his sketchbook, a new habit of hers.

As he pours her a cup of tea she makes a disapproving sound and he raises brow at her, "Something the matter?"

She looks up at him briefly and looks back at some of the sketches, "No, you're just drawing more people."

He smiles and says teasingly, "There's more of you, don't worry."

She gives him an annoyed look before returning to flip through the pages and doesn't notice Doyle putting in the sugar and milk. He sits himself in his previous seat and pours himself another cup of tea and the two of them sit in silence. The cup Kimball reaches for subconsciously is a very fancy white cup with forget me nots painted around the top. She takes a sip and makes a noise of approval.

"So Miss Kimball, have you thought what you might do after this is all over?" he's sipping his cup and looking at her curiously. He wants to ask her so many questions, he wants to know everything about her, but with this question alone he's scared of overstepping a boundary with her. He's constantly scared of that.

She eyes him suspiciously like he might have an ulterior motive to wanting to know about her, she knows he's not... him... He's Donald Doyle who's scared of holding a gun and likes to drink tea and do paperwork. It amuses her and infuriates her at the same time that he's not the giant asshole dictator she thought she was fighting. And she knows he's not going to manipulate her and get her to like him, he doesn't have the skills for that. 'Although I've been fooled before...'

"I haven't thought about it." She's short and dismissive and goes back to flipping through the sketchbook.

He huffs in disappointment, "You haven't thought about getting married or having kids at all? Then what keeps you fighting?"

Vanessa knows she's low on morale, she honestly doesn't know what she's fighting for anymore. "I have other things to think about Doyle, I don't even have the time to think about whether or not I'll have children till I've made a world that I want them to live in. That's what I fight for." They are both silent for a moment and Kimball notices his dejected expression. She shifts in her seat and looks up at him, "Have you thought about that?"

Doyle relaxes again and smiles, "I've always wanted to get married and have children, although I can't a single woman on Chorus who would want to marry me! I'm too weak for a bunch of soldier women."

Kimball smiles teasingly, "Maybe they want a weak man like you to dominate."

"Miss Kimball!"

His face goes red again and she laughs. His caught in between watching enchantingly and making flustered noises, and Doyle can feel his head spinning. He doesn't know whether he should feel flattered or offended and he doesn't know what to do with his hands. Fidgeting would not help him look or feel any less embarrassed so he drinks his tea with a confused, flustered, and alarmed expression that has Kimball laughing the rest of their time together.

It's not till later that day when she's meeting with Washington and Carolina that she realizes she never told him how she liked her tea.


Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who favorited and reviewed this story, I'm happy we got some excitement going out there! Does a weekly update sound good to you guys? Tell me what you think and what you loved, if there was some awkward phrasing and what you are looking forward too! I already have plans for a mysterious sequel (also apparently favorited is not a word which is disappointing, but hey I'm not using it in the actual story so big deal.) Please also tell me if you find any grammar and spelling mistakes, I do not have something that properly sorts out all of those and I can only catch so much.

Thanks to Hollow609-OC Creator, I'm happy I have you hooked.

To A Teamkiller, a smutty chapter huh... I haven't planned on one and as for the story I don't think it really fits in line with the plot. But I do enjoy a few smutty chapters myself once and a while, hehe.

Next week look forward to Chapter Three: Hypocrite!