"[Aren't we too strong?]"

"[Kay… you should save your bragging for after we are victorious.]"

"[No, I mean that seriously. We're have so many tanks and we'll have the T28 in two days. Aw, it totally ruins my excitement that it takes them three days to get it here.]"

"[What do you mean then by saying we are too strong?]"

"[Saunders gave us some history lessons and in the second world war, everyone basically ganged up on Germany because they were too strong. A nearly all-powerful foe will force all those that cannot compete directly to join forces.]"

"[They united against Fascism.]" Darjeeling stretched out her legs. Sitting atop one of Saunder's Shermans, was not the most comfortable way to spend an afternoon, but there was scarcely a quiet moment at base. Kay just loved parading around her status as the girlfriend of the supreme commander of the British forces.

"[Putting aside against what they united, they united alright and if that happens to us, we're going to have a problem.]" Kay grabbed the last donut, there had been a few packs in one of the supply crates, from the white box and had almost put it to her mouth when she suddenly tore it in half. "[Want?]"

Darjeeling took the donut half without hesitation. Not my favorite sweet, but they are growing on me. "[So, what do you think we should do?]"

"[I'd usually just go, let's put someone big into the ground real hard to show everyone who's boss! But Pravda and Kuromori are pretty tough even when we stick together, not to mention that that is gonna backfire on us. Probably.]"

"[At least you have some self-awareness.]"

"[I think we should break up.]"

Darjeeling nearly dropped her cup of tea. "[Surely you mean our alliance.]"

"Huh? What else could I mean?"

"Us."

Kay broke out into laughter. "I would throw this competition to stay your girlfriend." She smirked wide, just the way Americans were stereotypically portrayed in Japanese media, and showed Darjeeling a thumbs up. "That's how serious I am." "[Super serious Sam.]"

I feel she just said something really stupid, but I cannot put my finger on it. "[I'm glad you hold our relationship so dear.]"

"[Where else am I going to find a woman as amazing as you are?]"

"[Enough flattery, Kay. You really want to annul our alliance?]"

"[I was pretty sure it was a good idea to team up. And we really pushed Pravda around the other day. Kuromori is not daring to go toe to toe with us either. So, I guess, what I'm trying to say is that this is boring. It's not a fair fight anymore. And I really think that it's only a matter of time before either Ooarai teams up with Kuromori or the Germans and the Russians pull together to deal with us.]"

"[Worse still, they could all come together. The raw might of the German and Russian teams, the intelligence gathering skills of the Italians and the tactical genius of Ooarai. Strong as we may be, we are not invulnerable. But I think it is overcoming these staggering odds, beating these powerful foes even as they stand united against freedom and grace-]"

"[You said freedom first. Does that make me the top in our relationship?]" Kay smirked wide and let out an Ooph sound when Darjeeling kicked her butt quite literally.

"[Against Grace and Freedom will show our true combined powers. Never mind that splitting supplies, forces and base arrangements at this point would be a logistical nightmare and cripple both of us.]"

"[Oh. Yeah. Shit, I didn't think about the logistics at all.]"

"[I know how easy it is to stop thinking when someone of superior intellect- Kay!]"

Kay had poured some extra milk in Darjeeling's tea, swiftly and decisively. I could never kick or hit her, but this hurts much more than either! Take that, Darling! Bickering broke out almost immediately.

Darjeeling sat on top of her girlfriend and was angrily stuffing Kay's mouth with sugar cubes, so much that the American could not even close her mouth anymore. "[Ayyjiivaahp!]" Kay tried to surrender but her words didn't exactly come across.

"[C-Comander!]" One of Darjeeling's aides had approached the tank on which the two had sat, with something to report.

"[Can you not see I am in the middle of teaching discipline to a primitive?]" I shall teach her to never, ever, mess with a lady's tea! It is nothing short of incredulous insult, blasphemy perhaps, to sully a perfectly brewed- The aide was not going away. "[What is so pressing?]"

"[We captured a Russian messenger that approached alone in a small jeep, with a white flag.]"

Darjeeling immediately changed gears, got off Kay and jumped off the tank. "[Take me to her. Do we have a translator?]"

"[I am sorry. We would have someone that speaks a modicum of German, but none of us trained in Russian.]"

"[What about Kay's forces?]"

"[We put in an inquiry.]" Well.. we're just asking around.

"[Hey! Weitfoameh!]" Kay was desperately trying to chew the sugar cubes, but all that pure sugar was pretty disgusting.

The Russian they had captured turned out to be a girl with slightly longer than shoulder length blonde hair and light blue eyes. She was tall, as well.

Woah… she must be 10cm or more taller than me. Kay had finally caught up by the time they arrived by the tent in the outer ring of their base where they kept the Russian under armed guard. And she seems strangely familiar. Did I fight her before?

"[Я здесь, чтобы вести переговоры. Я хочу, чтобы установить перемирие. Kuromori является нашим врагом, а также и мы хотим, чтобы победить их.]"

"[What the heck is she saying?]" Kay really cursed the theme language rule right about now.

"[Did you prepare anyone for a situation like this?]"

"[Heck no. I never expected one of the Russians to come and try to talk! And she totally feels familiar. Like, do you know her?]"

"[Kay… your memory is as bad as your preference in drinks. She's one of Katyusha's aides. I believe her name was Clara.]"

"[Klara.]" The girl corrected her. "[Да. Я помощник командующего Катюши в.]"

"[We. Not. Speak. Russian.]"

"[Kay, stop. Getting upset is not going to help. Do we still not have a translator?]"

"[It appears that nobody in our ranks learned sufficient Russian. My apologizes, commander!]" The same aide from before, that had notified Darjeeling in the first place, was informing her now that they had no way to communicate.

"[Negotiate. Deal.]" Klara spoke, at best, extremely rudimentary English. "[Kuromorimine enemy. Pravda Enemy. Saunders Enemy. Gloriana Enemy. Negotiate. Deal. Defeat Kuromorimine.]"

"[Why did they send someone that speaks less English than I did before our lessons?!]" Kay had no patience whatsoever when it came to communication barriers.

"[Keep her under guard but see to it that she is attended to if she requires food, water or the bathroom.]" Darjeeling instructed the guards and then left the tent.

Kay was right behind her. "[What are we gonna do? Keep her here? There is no way we can negotiate anything with the language barrier like this.]"

"[There is a third party I know of that is bound to be fluent in at least the languages used by the larger schools; English, Russians, German and Italian. Japanese goes without saying, we all speak that, but we cannot hold official negotiations with her, a Russian negotiator, while we're under the obligation to honor the rules and speak English.]"

"[Blasted rule.]"

"[No Kay, this is precisely what makes this competition more interesting than Tankery is to begin with already. Can't you feel it? The rush of excitement that comes with an unexpected situation, a challenge that lies ahead of us. The risk and the potential reward.]"

"[We Americans are supposed to be the cowboys but you sound ten times as much cowboy right now than I do.]"

"[I need to rethink my preferences in girlfriends.]"

"[Harsh. So who is this third party? Don't tell me it's Ooarai.]"

"[I have no doubt that some of them speak rudimentary or broken English, Russian and German, but by far not enough to run an official negotiation. I'm talking about Anzio.]"

"[The Italians? Aren't they like, really poor?]"

"[That is precisely why I think they will have tried to compensate for their lack of raw numbers and brute strength by studying the tactical aspects of this competition. Imagine being able to intercept communications and correctly understand, translate, report and sell the information you obtain.]"

"[Sell them for goods, help and even tanks. That does sound pretty crafty.]"

"[I considered having some of my girls study Russian, German and Italian respectively but between infantry drills and harsh tankery practice, we did not have the time.]"

"[Same here. Honestly, we had some pretty high attendance in remedial classes, haha.]" Kay tried to play it off as a funny comment but she felt disappointed with herself.

"[There are several issues with Anzio. First, at this point, nobody can trust them. We have no way to ensure that the translation will be accurate either. Which means, we need to create a situation where they will want to provide decent services to maintain good will with us. But the biggest issue of them all is contacting them.]"

"[Oh, that should be piece of cake.]"

"[A piece of cake.]"

"[You're only allowed to correct me if you dress up as a teacher. White blouse, black skirt and-]" Kay violently gasped for air because Darjeeling "[I-I was saying… it should be easy to get to the Italians. You said so yourself. They're probably listening in.]"

"[I don't think it will be that easy.]"

=== Tea and Cola ===

"[Hai chiamato, siamo venuti.]"

"[See, I told you.]" Kay wore a big and obnoxious, for the others, smile on her face.

"[You want me to translate?]" The blonde Italian girl looked up at the two English speaking girls. While she was here on foot, for security reasons and because Anzio couldn't just send a tank into a possible trap, the allies, as Anzio classified the collaboration of Saunders and Gloriana, had shown up with one of their tanks.

"[It's kind of annoying that her English is as good as mine.]" Kay jumped down from the tank, briefly lost her balance but managed to not tumble. Spreading her arms, Kay gestured for Darjeeling to jump. "[Come!]"

"[A lady does not engage in behavior such as that.]" Darjeeling, in full uniform, made two stops as she jumped down the tank and landed next to Kay. "[I am supreme commander of the British Forces of St. Gloriana, Darjeeling-]"

"[We know who you are. I am Carpaccio.]" The girl didn't bother with rank and assignment. "[Before we discuss payment for services about to be rendered, which language do you require me to translate from?]"

"[Russian.]" Darjeeling intentionally didn't divulge the circumstances.

"[Russian is perhaps one of the most difficult languages in use in this competition.]"

Of course you would say that. Kay shrugged it off. "[We know Anzio is listening in on everyone and spying enough to put America to shame. You will be adequately compensated but we will not be held ransom.]"

"[You obtained a supply crate recently. Our commander would like me to bring back as much cheese and flour as you can bear to part with for my services.]"

"[You're trying to make Pizza, right? You're totally trying to make pizza. Are you gonna use a tank's engine as an oven to bake it?]"

Both Carpaccio and Darjeeling ignored Kay's rambling. Darjeeling pulled a thick, red cloth from beneath her uniform and handed it to Carpaccio. "[Please put on this hood. Compensation does not include the location of our base.]"

Carpaccio felt threatened but she had expected as much. Everything they knew about the allies painted a picture of two capable leaders, which was deeply troubling for their opponents. I didn't expect those leaders to be at odds with each other like this. Saunder's commander is clearly fooling around while Gloriana's commander is very matter of fact. Putting on the hood, Carpaccio was suddenly grabbed from behind by a third and fourth person and lifted up to the tank, forced inside.

Kay and Darjeeling both stayed outside because the tanks were not pleasure rides; they were not that spacious. Darjeeling noticed a significant change in route and was about to go inside and question the driver when she changed her mind. "[Kay, what did you tell the driver?]" Darjeeling kept her voice down, so only Kay could understand her.

"[You blindfolded her so she can't see, but she can still tell how long we are driving by counting seconds. She knows what kind of tank we used to transport her and how hard the engine is being driven by listening to it and feeling the heat. It's possible to track down the location of our base with that. So I am having us take a significant detour to falsify the data of where we are going.]"

"[I cannot believe the girl that kept MINE written on her cheek for a full day would think that far ahead.]"

"[Believe it or not, I am Saunder's commander. And if I wasn't at least pretty smart, I wouldn't be in love with an even smarter woman.]"

"[You should practice your flattery.]" Darjeeling tried to look unimpressed, but she couldn't hide a small smile. Kay's earnest nature really does strike through with what I love about her. In a situation like this, to fall in love is to leave your back wide open for a knife. Still.. I know Kay would never even feel the temptation of betraying me. Or cheating on me.

"[You know, I've been thinking.]"

"[Oh? Now that is surprising.]"

Kay completely ignored the poisonous jab. "[It should be pretty obvious to all the noteworthy teams by now that we two are more than just allies. So they must also think that we are allies because we are dating. So I thought, what if we spread rumors of us fighting. What if we fake a situation where information will leak out that the alliance might break apart due to our personal relationship? Then we send out some of Saunder's tanks, as a patrol unit and bait. They will think; there is no way Gloriana will come to their aid, so let's take them on. And then you swoop in.]"

"[That is very risky. And why are you the bait?]"

"[I can't ask my beautiful wife to be the bait.]"

"[Then what are you, from my perspective?]"

"[The dashing hero! Heroine!]"

"[You are so full of yourself, Kay.]" Darjeeling had not even the smallest, obscure hint of disappointment or berating in her voice. In a way, she is quite pure. Perhaps more so than I am, for thinking that it is only because she is Kay that she will not stab me in the back is not something a pure maiden would do.

"[I think the plan would work best if we tried to bait one of the smaller schools. Ooarai knows us, so they probably know it's a trap.]"

"[For how much you fool around, you are delightfully capable when you put your mind to it.]"

"[War, women, I do great at everything when I try.]"

"[I can't tell if you are complimenting me, or yourself.]"

"[Maybe both.]"

"[I think your plan is too risky to put in action before we know what Pravda is really after and what will happen with Kuromorimine.]"

"[There is no way they're going to take us and Pravda on at the same time all on their own.]"

"[If this competition turns into a web of teams temporarily allied to us and the remainder temporarily allied to Kuromorimine, it will become a gargantuan powder keg.]"

"[One spark and kaboom.]"

"[Our alliance is most likely going to be the catalyst that changes the very nature of this competition.]"

"[You think they're going to put rules in place against alliances?]"

"[I heavily doubt so. They are part of the tactical and strategical environment this competition provides over regular tankery matches. If anything, for the audience it could be quite interesting to see where this all leads.]"

"[You think we're popular?]"

"[Perhaps. Definitely so in America and Britain. And-]" Darjeeling went quiet and listened. Raising her finger in front of her lips, gesturing sssh to Kay, she then banged on the roof of the tank three times and within seconds the engine went quiet.

What is she doing? Why the silence?`We're traveling with a tank, just turning off the sound is not going to make us invisible to our- Kay realized what Darjeeling had been after. A number of thunder echoed from the distance and there was now smoke rising on the horizon. "A battle?" Kay whispered, so there was no need to speak English.

"It seems so." Darjeeling opened the hatch and poked her head inside. "[Drive]." Closing up in a hurry, Darjeeling grabbed Kay's hand. "[Pen and Paper?]"

"[Got some on me.]"

"[Write down what I am going to say.]" Darjeeling closed her eyes and focused on the echoing sounds emitted by tanks firing. Six… seven… fire. Three.. four… five… fire. Two… one… impact. Two… impact. Darjeeling had spent many hours watching the matches of other teams, even minor schools such as Viking Fisheries and Blue Division. She could discern a number of tank models by sound alone if she was lucky.

Kay wrote down the few words that Darjeeling said for the next five minutes. How can she tell that much just from hearing the firing sounds? Wasn't there a saying about walls having ears? Wait… I think that was something related to spies.

After six minutes, Darjeeling opened her eyes. "[We are too far away now.]"

"[Do you have super hearing?]"

"[You are impressed by this?]" Darjeeling felt flattered. "[We did not get a lot of useful information, I'm afraid.]"

"[From the looks of it, it was probably Chi-Ha-Tan and… how do you pronounce that again?]"

"[Bonple High School.]" Darjeeling didn't even need to look. "[I definitely heard the characteristic sound of Chi-Ha-Tan's Type 97. The others were, I am almost certain 7TP and 9TP models.]"

"[That doesn't sound familiar. What country are those from?]"

"[Poland. A country in Europe, to the west of Russia. I have seen their matches numerous times and they highly prefer tactics that revolve around hit and run tactics.]"

"[How reliable do you think this is?]"

"[At least one in three. Considering that all I had to go on was sound, those are not terrible odds.]"

"We don't have a lot of alone time left, so-" Kay didn't speak loud enough to for any microphone to pick her up. Moving over to Darjeeling, she used both her index fingers to turn her girlfriend's serious expression into an awkward smile. "Smile a little. You've been tense all day."

What… is she doing? The British girl couldn't quite understand what Kay was doing to her. Or wanted to. Backed away a little, just her upper body, Darjeeling exposed Kay to a questioning gaze. "What was that supposed to achieve?" She couldn't help but smile on her own in amusement.

"Mission accomplished, you're smiling."

"Most certainly am not."

"You totally are!"

"Your eyes must be playing tricks on you after attempting to keep me up all night."

"I didn't hear any complaining last night."

"This does raise the question of where exactly you learned how to bring such pleasure to another girl."

"Oh, I was that good? Hah."

"Not half as good as you believe."

"Nope, too late, you already said such pleasure."

"The finer workings of eloquence are lost on you, Kay."

"You can tell me all about eloquence tonight."

"Perhaps." Darjeeling smiled wider now. At least I quickly learned that it is best to just entertain this side of Kay. She can be quite funny, in an unexpected way.

=== Tea and Cola ===

"I would have died back there without you." Kay sat on the floor and was wolfing down a bar of dark chocolate. "If I hear one more word of Russian today I am going to cry blood."

"Normally I would tell you to cease exaggerating, but-" Darjeeling took off her competition uniform, still wearing her Gloriana battle attire beneath. "Today I have to agree. That was exhausting, to say the least."

Kay, sitting there with legs crossed, slapped her right thigh twice. "Wanna sit?" To her surprise, Darjeeling actually walked over to her and, as elegantly as she could, sat on Kay's lap. "Oh, what did I do to earn this?"

"You were a good commander today."

Chuckling, Kay put her right arm around Darjeeling's waist and held a piece of chocolate in front of her girlfriend with her left. "Want one?"

"No thank you."

"More for me." Flicking the chocolate right over Darjeeling's head, Kay caught it perfectly with just her mouth.

"It seems you used up all the energy necessary to behave like an adult."

"I behave my age."

"Clever." Darjeeling smiled by herself for a moment before she put down the saucer and just held on to her cup. Putting her hand on top of Kay's, she allowed herself to be uncharacteristically slovenly; leaning back against her girlfriend and letting out a huge, tired sigh. "Negotiations in real life are so much worse than the ones I read about."

"You like wartime novels or something?"

"Hm? Not especially. I do like stuff with politics and intrigue. I suppose they cut out all the unnecessary or redundant stuff."

"I would fall asleep if I had to read a transcript of that catastrophe we went through."

"Not even a British lady could hope to stay awake through that."

"Are all Russians so long winded?"

Darjeeling hesitated and slowly pushed her fingers in the tiny spaces between Kay's. "Most likely not."

"What are you drinking?"

"Some of the black tea I set aside for tiring days. Would you like a taste?"

"If I said that to you, you would totally think I meant mouth to mouth."

"Tired I may be, but tea still has to be respected." Darjeeling slowly reached about her left shoulder with the cup. "Have a taste."

Smelling the tea for a second, Kay slurped in the most unrefined way from the cup. "Oh, that's good."

"I'm involved with a barbarian." Darjeeling took the cup away and silently, gracefully, partook from it herself.

"You're totally speaking casually. Are my barbarian ways rubbing off on you?"

"The least refined person in a room always drags everyone else down to their level. Or so the saying goes. It is lead that stains even gold and diamonds in a rubbish black that defiles the eye."

"You lost me."

"But it was a very plain metaphor."

"No, no, no. For you, maybe. But that's like I'm gonna try to explain the wonders of hamburgers and eating an entire hamburger in one big bite. You wouldn't get it."

"It is impossible to eat a hamburger in one bite, Kay."

"I've done it."

"You… did?"

"I'll show you if we find stuff to make em."

"No thank you."

"I can touch my nose with my tongue, too."

"Full of wonderful talents, aren't you."

"Everyone can do a few amazing but totally pointless things. I bet you got some silly stuff hidden too."

"Even if I do, I would only show them to someone if we were engaged."

"Wow, you British don't slow down at all with your relationships." Kay laughed and now put her other arm around Darjeeling as well. "Maybe slow down a little though. I'm not ready to talk engagements and stuff."

"Neither am I. You Americans really like to jump the gun on all matters."

"You know, we've been calling each other American and British and stuff. I stopped noticing we're just pretending at some point. It's fun enough that it's not a bother at all. The speaking English is annoying though."

"Taxing, yes. Annoying, I can't really agree. English has some really noble ways to express yourself. I will have to put further efforts into studying it."

"You think we'll have another chance to participate in this?"

"Perhaps. Even if we end up graduating before a second competition is held-"

"There's university level tankery."

"It feels like university is still a long time away."

"You know, with this competition and the broadcasting and the jumping on of sponsors, you think tankery will become a professional sport you can do for money? They got super highly paid football, baseball, tennis and what not players around the world, so-"

"Is that something you would like to do?"

"For a living? Yeah, I think so. This stuff here; the whole being out on the battlefield, organizing troops, fraternizing with beautiful British girls and leading the charge, that just speaks to me."

"I didn't think you liked it that much."

"We're both captains of our clubs, so of course we like tankery a lot, but until now it was just a club. I was really serious about it already, but with this, I think a lot of my girls will actually think about their future a second time. If this turns into an opportunity where we can become professional tankery… athletes? Is that the right term?"

"Probably." Darjeeling finished her tea and put down the cup. Shifting around on Kay's lap, her girlfriend let go quite readily so she could sit in a more comfortable way, with her legs stretched out. "Kay Saunders, professional tankery player."

"Kay Saunders? Whose that?" Kay cleared her throat. "[I am Kay McSaunders!]"

"Saying it in English and putting a Mc in front of it does not make it more American."

"My last name isn't Saunders to begin with!" There was an awkward pause between them and Kay felt defeated somehow. "I guess a comedy routine is hard to do with someone serious like you."

"Do you want me to call Rosehip?"

"No. I wanna spend time with you while I can."

"Like this? Or did you have something more… adult in mind?"

"Like this is good for now."

Sitting there, Darjeeling eventually leaned all the way back, resting her head against Kay's shoulders while Kay herself was using a large crate to support her back. "You think I'd look good with my hair braided like you?" There was a very long moment of silence during which Kay wondered if her love had fallen asleep in her arms. "Darling?"

"I could braid it for you, if you'd like."

"Were you thinking about what I'd look like?"

"No. I was trying to deduce if you could hold still for long enough for me to braid your hair."

"I can hold still."

"Really? Even in bed you toss and struggle."

"That's because the damn field bed is so tiny! And a sleeping bag is totally new for me!"

"The same conditions apply to me and yet I did not nearly smother you to death with my breasts, as you did with me."

"There are probably a dozen or so girls in my school that would happily die from that." Kay felt Darjeeling tense up a little. Oh shit.

"Oh? Is that so. Now, I will have you tell me their names and show me their faces so I can make sure those fanatics stay a safe distance from your tent."

"Darling, are you jealous?"

"It's for their protection. You are a woman full of folly, so you might entertain their seeking of death by breast smothering."

"Darling! That is the kind of woman you think I am?"

Darjeeling didn't respond right away. "I have been meaning to say this… but when when you call me Darling, is that [Darling], from English, or simply a pet name you created by shortening my name?"

"Can't it be both?"

"That will be very confusing, moving forward. We both speak fluently English now, at least well enough to order troops and negotiate terms of a war time agreement, so it isn't like we can simply pretend we don't know the difference."

"Ugh, that reminds me just how bad I was at English before this. All I knew was like Oops, Shit, and so forth."

"That must have been a grueling drill, learning English in four months."

"You didn't have any longer!"

"I was already far more advanced than Oops, however." Darjeeling lightly turned her head and looked at Kay from the corner of her eyes. "I just didn't use it during matches, so you wouldn't know."

"You are such an honor student."

"Now, isn't it you who is jealous?"

"No way."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah!" Kay got a little loud and then shut her mouth. "You… you're teasing me!"

"My, Americans sure do are slow on the uptake."

"Is this how our relationship is going to be like?"

"Of course it is."

"Figures." Kay shrugged it off and touched her forehead against Darjeeling's head. "You're a wolf in a princess's clothing."

A sheep's clothing. But I suppose I don't have to correct her. "Does that make you a magpie?"

"A magpie?"

"They seek out noble metals, gemstones, shiny things in general and steal them. You were audacious enough to seek out a gemstone, steal it and then claim it for yourself."

"Your metaphors are so hard to make sense of."

"This one was particularly easy."

"I'm blonde though. Magpies are black and white, right?"

"A lion then, perhaps?"

"I know about lions. The women do all the work while the men just laze around all day and put on airs. But that has nothing to do with my kidnapping you anymore."

"A magpie that whispers in the ear of a lioness."

"What am I, a circus? Next you're telling me there's a rabbit or something riding on the ass of the lion."

"No such thing of course, my magpie."

"Is… that a thing you're gonna call me? Magpie?"

"You do call me Darling."

"I'd be happy with Lioness. Lions are awesome. Especially girl lions. They hunt, they run the pack, they do everything. Kinda like me."

"You are more like a male lion. A very effeminate lion."

"I'm not that lazy!"

"You are not. But you do enjoy putting on airs, and you are very much about taking the lion's share."

"Is this another metaphor?"

"Why yes. You attacked a herd of beautiful gazelles, grazing afar from your pack, and you took the most lustrous-"

"I knew it. More metaphors."

"With the T28, too, you-"

"We both decided on that!" Darjeeling trembled a little in Kay's embrace, then she shook. "You're messing with me again. And I fell for it hook, line and sinker."

"A metaphor. From you? I am impressed."

"Does bullying fall under domestic violence?"

Darjeeling rose from Kay's embrace and turned towards her. "Does it honestly upset you? I will stop if it does."

Kay burst into laughing as if she had waited for this moment. "Darling, you're so silly!" Tempering her laughter when she saw Darjeeling's expression not soften, Kay just strongly shook her head. "I'm a lioness, remember? Or a lion. Either way, I got a thick hide." Putting her hands on Darjeeling's cheek, Kay smiled so wide that it was hard to tell where laughter stopped and smiling began. "You know how it goes; a beautiful woman can demand even angelic hymns from the devil."

"I haven't been in a relationship with another girl before, so I can't tell where the lines are just yet." Darjeeling slowly pushed away Kay's hands. "You really are okay with me calling you my lioness?"

"There's got to be a famous British knight associated with lions. The Lion Knight or something. If you're the British lady, I'm the knight." Kay raised her arms. "I got the brawn for it."

Darjeeling completely lost control over herself and burst into laughter, even more so than Kay had done so before. "My lioness it is then."

"[Commander? What is happening? Is everything all right?]" One of the patrolling guards poked their head inside the tent because she heard unusual noises. Witnessing the situation inside, the guard thought just one thing; I didn't see anything."[Excuse me.]"

Kay pulled her hands out of Darjeeling's hair, which by all rights could be described as unhinged now. "You think she thinks I am cheating on you?"

"My subordinates recognize me not because of my braided hair." Darjeeling paused awkwardly. "Not only that, at least."

"How long will you last out there before a strange metaphor blows your cover?"

"That is most rude."

"Oh, is it?"

"And how long will you be messing with my hair?"

"Sorry, sorry." Retreating her hands from her girlfriend's hair, Kay pushed her shoulders back; her back hurt a little. "Once this all is over, sleeping in a real bed is going to feel like heaven."

Darjeeling groaned a little. "It really will."

"You know, what happens to the teams that are eliminated?"

"It is probably a logistic nightmare to get them home while the rest of the competition is still going, so I assume they're with the audience or staff." Getting up from Kay's lap, Darjeeling slapped some dust off her skirt. "I'm going to go and get something to eat."

"Oh, that sounds good. Unless I get out of here I am just gonna keep eating chocolate."

"At least you will taste well in that case."

"Do I usually have bad breath or something?"

"Nothing of the sort. But while I don't enjoy eating chocolate all that much, I do enjoy the taste. If your lips taste like it, I can enjoy the taste without having to eat."

"You'll be eating me."

"That… means something else." Did she say that not knowing the meaning of her words? Or was this a cleverly disguised play on sentences and meaning, since at some point we will most likely…

"Hm, really?"

"Have you not dated a girl before me?"

"I haven't dated before you, period." Kay shrugged and got up. "Your girls are on cooking duty today, right?"

"Yes."

"Want me to feed you? Hey. Lemme feed you. I always wanted to do that."

"You have the strangest desires. What is so interesting about feeding me?" Darjeeling waited for Kay at the tent's exit and flipped a mental switch. "[Come. I do not want to be late.]"

"[You're always kind of stiff when we go out together.]"

"[A commander has to have dignity. And since your dignity is lacking, I have to make up for it.]"

"[My dignity isn't lacking!]"

"[So why is it that so many of your troops treat you with far less respect than mine treat me?]"

"[That's because, you know, I'm more approachable than you.]"

"[Approachable; in other words, you exert less of an authoritative aura than I do. In turn, you command less respect from your troops.]"

"[Ugh, does it really matter? They follow my commands just fine and they don't talk shit about me behind my back either.]"

"[There is nothing inherently wrong with you simply being you, Kay. When the time comes, it will just make it easier to take control of your troops.]"

"[You sneaky-! Planning a coup right under my nose.]"

"[Even if you know, my machinations will stay hidden from your sight and reach of proof; there is nothing you can do.]"

"[You know that if you take over my troops they'll come up and be all like Hey, commander all the time. Or call you by name! Even on the battlefield!]"

"[S-Surely they will adapt to-]"

"[Saunders? Adapt? We are the ones that believe the world adapts to us.]"

"[I am indefinitely shelving these plans of a coup d'etat immediately.]"

"[Heh. You still need me.]"

"[That was the case regardless. I merely would have demoted you to my second in command; my personal aide.]"

"[Personal aide, huh?]"

"[Don't give it a lewd connotation.]"

"[But that is exactly what you had in mind, ain't it?]"

"[Most certainly… not.]"

"[Eh, what was that pause there? I was right, right?]"

"[It looks like we will be eating some sort of pasta. A luxury, almost, out here.]"

Kay started looking around, ignoring that Darjeeling had just changed the topic to avoid answering. "[That blasted Italian isn't around anymore, right?]"

"[You disliked her?]"

"[Hm, I guess dislike is the wrong word? Like, I can't trust someone that speaks like five languages. They're like a movie spy, totally untrustworthy.]"

"[I was impressed by her ability to speak both English and Russian that well. There is no doubt she also speaks Japanese and Italian, and considering that Kuromorimine is a powerhouse school, she most likely also speaks German.]"

"[Yeah, she said she does. I asked.]" Kay sped up a little, grabbed one of the metal dishes, supplied by her own school, and got in line like everyone else. There was quite some chatter going on about their deal with the Russians. "[I'm gonna eat until you have to roll me back to the tent. Who knows if we'll have any breaks tomorrow.]"

"[I will just leave you here if you eat that much. The field bed cannot handle that much excess weight.]"

"[It's a metaphor!]"

"[There is a difference between a metaphor and an idiom.]"

"[You are so thickheaded.]"

"[And yet it does not match your stubbornness.]"

"[I'm not stubborn.]" Kay paused."[This doesn't count.]"

"[Eat in moderation. We don't know how the situation will develop over night. If Kuromorimine catches wind of our plan, it might well turn into a night attack.]"

"[They'd be crazy to attack us at night. They're a top level tankery school, they wouldn't do something stupid like that.]"

"[I sure hope you are right. But Kuromorimine has invested a lot of time into infantry drills that are designed to cooperate with their armed vehicles. A war on two fronts.]"

"[We outnumber them. We got more tanks and more supplies and we're holed up in a forest that gives us some really good defensive advantages. No way they are gonna attack us.]"

"[You attacked us with a strong numerical disadvantage, despite our defensively advantageous position and you succeeded in taking the commander hostage and escape with her.]"

"[Aren't I awesome?]"

"[I am not… entirely denying that, but the point-]"

"[Yeah, I get it. Oh, gimme a large portion.]" Kay talked to the pretty British girl that even managed to find an apron. There was not a lot of sauce to go with the pasta, but it was a big step up from field rations of any kind.

A couple minutes later, Kay and Darjeeling sat at one of the numerous provisional tables, metal folding ones, eating with their subordinates. There was no space, or protocol, for the commanders to have their own table. "[It's just tomato sauce, but it's not bad. Could be a bit more spicy.]"

"[It's already plenty spicy.]" Darjeeling's face was flushed red and her plate was only half empty yet.

"[Oho? Is there someone weak to spicy food?]"

"[There is nothing shameful about preferring mild foods.]"

"[Eh, really?]" Kay stuffed her face with a smile. "[So, what food do you like? Fish and Chips?]"

"[Kay, I only lead the British forces.]"

"[But I like hamburgers.]"

"[I am not you.]"

"[So what do you like?]" Kay spoke with her mouth full and then hurriedly swallowed. "[Tea doesn't count! That's not food. And tea flavored snacks also don't count!]"

She can be so nosy. I understand that she wants to know about me, but does she have to talk with her mouth full all the time? It's so unrefined. "[Paella. I enjoy good Paella. And sea food in general.]"

"[Not my favorite but I like sea food, too. We got a few nice places in Nagsaki.]"

"[I didn't know you were from Nagasaki.]"

"[Where are you from? Funny that we don't even know that about each other.]"

"[Yokohama, in Kanagawa.]"

"[Uwah… that's far. I'm gonna be on the road for half a day when I come visit you.]"

"[You plan on visiting me? I rarely do go back home.]"

"[How else am I gonna get introduced to your parents?]"

Darjeeling chocked a little and started coughing. "My parents?!"

"[What? You think I'm just spouting big promises and won't make every effort to be your girlfriend once we're done kicking the asses of everyone out there?]" Kay looked sideways, put down her fork and hugged Darjeeling. "[I didn't go to all that effort of raiding Gloriana just to lose you!]"

"[Kay, a normal woman would be intimidated by the weight of your feelings.]" And quite frankly, I am, a little. But I will not crack. "[It would be much more proper if you introduced me to your parents first.]" That should make her back down for a while. Our relationship might have started and progressed at speeds faster than any tank, faster than fired shells still, but a speed like that is unsustainable.

"[Oh, sure. You want me to come pick you up?]"

I should have known better. This is Kay I am talking-? Thinking about. "[You are jumping too far ahead, Kay.]"

"[Aw, come on. It'll be a week or two, maybe more, before we cleaned up here and then we'll go back to school and probably have to take remedial classes- I know I have to!]" Kay laughed it off. That is so going to suck. I need to get Darling's number before that. "[So, like three months or something before our next trip home.]" Still hugging Darjeeling, Kay kissed her cheek. "[A few months from now – still too early to introduce me to your parents? I'm not telling you to introduce me as your family as the girl you'll marry, just your girlfriend!]"

"[So you will date me, but you are telling me now you do not like me enough to marry me?]"

"[That is not what I said and you know it!]" Kay blew up her cheeks and then let out a surprised Ah. "You're messing with me again!"

"Your reactions are very entertaining. But could you unhand me now? I'd like to finish my meal." She couldn't speak without a grin on her face. She is not what I expected; seeing her from afar, barely knowing her. But I am happy that what you see is not always what you get. Sometimes things are better beneath than what they look on the outside. Of course, Kay already looks very good on the outside.

"You're doing that face again."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"You're looking at me all thoughtful and not saying anything. It's like your mouth is supposed to move and make words come out of it, but it doesn't, so they are all bottled up in your head."

"The British say: Mystery intrigues the mind – but a good mystery intrigues the soul."

"I have no idea what you're saying."

"I am not telling you what I am thinking." Darjeeling glanced towards her girlfriend. "[Now unhand me, wench.]"

"[Wench?]" Kay did let go of the other blonde and sat back. "[What does wench mean? I got what wrench means, but that would be really weird.]"

"[You need to study more, Kay.]" The noodles are only lukewarm now. I better hurry, or they will be cold before I am finished.

Kay turned to the girl on her other side, a brunette that wore Gloriana's uniform. "[What does wench mean?]"

The girl quickly grabbed her dish and got off the bench. "[I'm sorry commander, I have to return to duty.]"

"[I am getting the feeling you said something mean to me, Darling.]"

Darjeeling covered her mouth. "[Certainly nothing uncalled for.]"

"[That means it was something mean.]" Kay slid across the bench to the next girl, a redhead, that was also from Gloriana. "[Just tell me, what does wench- come back!]" Kay started to get annoyed. "[Why is everyone running away from me?]"

"It's an archaic word. Can mean a maid, a waitress in a tavern, a prostitute. In some areas it was a general term for girls between twelve and twenty years as well." Assam had appeared out of nowhere, by Darjeeling's side. "[Commander, Rosehip has been worryingly uneasy about our lack of operations today.]"

Darjeeling was still eating, quickly but not as quickly as Kay, and nodded towards Kay. Assam then stepped aside and looked right at the American commander, who was trying to glare at Darjeeling, with minimum success. "[Commander Kay, about Rosehip-]"

"[Can't you just take her out on a recon mission? Patrol or something?]" Kay was too focused on Darjeeling to notice the glint in Assam's eye. "[Just make sure you take a fast tank and don't go too far from the base. Heh, I sound like I'm your mother.]" Kay scratched her cheek and was back to smiling. "[Darling, calling me a wench is too much.]"

"[In my defense, I actually did not know it could refer to a prostitute.]" Darjeeling didn't want Kay to feel insulted.

"[I'm surprised you knew, Assam.]" Kay looked at where Assam had been standing. "[Huh? Where 'd she go?]"

I wonder if Kay even realizes what fate she resigned Rosehip to. To go on patrol with Assam? It is nothing short of casting a rabbit in front of a hungry eagle, who has been waiting patiently for a chance to sweep down from high above.

"[And again! You're doing it again!]"

"[What a pity it is you cannot read me mind.]"

Kay got closer again and stared really intently at Darjeeling from the side.

"[Staring… will not let you read my mind, Kay.]" A chuckle, then giggle. I cannot tell if she is simple minded, merely easy going or an airhead. In any case she is amusing.

"[No, I bet it will. I just have to try really hard.]"

"[Kay, your subordinates are looking at you strange already. And so are mine for that matter.]"

Kay and Darjeeling both overheard a pair of girls from Saunders that walked by and spoke about them with their mouths covered by their hands. "[Did you see? The commander is harassing some poor girl from Gloriana. She is so going to get into trouble with commander Darjeeling.]"

Darjeeling looked mighty unhappy with herself. "[How could they not realize it is me?]"

"[I told you, it's the hair!]"

"[I completely forgot that you turned my beautiful braided hairstyle into this chaotic mess.]"

"[I think you look sexy with your hair down.]"

"[A commander should look dignified, stern. Not sexy.]"

"[Nope, sexy is best.]"

"[Kay, listen to what-]"

"Sorry, I don't understand, I don't speak English." Kay tried very hard to not laugh. "[Me not talk English.]"

"[Kay!]"

It's so cute how she gets angry over this. "[Yes?]"

"[Do not Yes me.]"

"[I hate- no, actually I don't hate to interrupt your lover's quarrel.]" Alisa had sought out her commander. "[Kay, there is trouble coming towards us.]"

Kay stopped staring at Darjeeling and directed her attention at her second in command. "[Who is attacking us? Why is nobody ringing the alarm?]"

"[The weather. It's the weather. Have you taken a look at the sky today?]"

"[Please, how bad- Uh oh.]" Kay looked straight up and didn't like what she was seeing. "[This is gonna blow over. We're on a ship, on the ocean, it'll blow over.]"

"[I had someone travel to the edge of the competition area and check the skies. It's black all the way to the horizon.]"

"[That's bad.]" Kay realized something else. "[Wait, you send someone out there without asking me or Darling?]"

"[This sort of thing is exactly why I am your second-in-command and what I need to take care of without coming to you and asking mom for permission.]"

"[This does look quite bad.]" Darjeeling looked at the sky as well. "[It could be quite the storm. Kay, do you think Pravda knew about this?]"

"[Eh, maybe? I don't think it matters, though?]"

"[It is strategical suicide to launch an operation when a storm is coming.]"

"[We competed during bad weather before.]"

"[We didn't have bases to secure and this many people to shelter. And if the weather got too bad, the match got called off, Kay.]"

"[So maybe they'll call a timeout.]"

"[They won't. I guessed you would think that so I contacted the staff.]"

"[Oh. Right. We can do that in case of rule inquiries and stuff. Totally slipped my mind.]" Kay looked like there was no issue whatsoever with that slipping her mind.

"[I take it there will be no staff called ceasefire due to the storm.]"

"[You're right.]" I wish I went to Gloriana instead. I'd prefer to work for her. "[The official statement is that the strong weather conditions will make for a more interesting environment than regular matches. They are distributing some rainstorm supplies, like extra long metal stakes to keep the tents standing and some rain gear to run operations without being soaked to the bone. I already dispatched a group to get some for us. I also talked to Orange Pekoe and she sent out a group from Gloriana. We might be allied, but this is an official supply distribution, so we have to show up separately.]"

"[Your second in command seems more capable than you are. What are you going to do, Kay?]" Darjeeling slightly mean smirk didn't faze Kay.

"[Alisa's super at organizing but she always flies off the handle, treats the rules like dirt and she doesn't know how to be popular with the troops. She's a great second in command, but she'd be awful if she did my job.]"

"[Ugh… if you keep running your mouth I'll show you-]"

"[Alisa, we've been there. I had over a dozen complaints about your attitude and the way you behaved. I'm glad you're here and my right hand, so don't try to be good at something you know you aren't. For what it's worth, I couldn't do your job. Darling couldn't either. And I'm pretty sure you even beat Assam at what you do.]"

"[With a thickheaded rude girl like you as my commander I can't tell if you're flattering me or being an ass!]"

"[I believe she is complimenting you in her own way. Kay, you need a lot of training in understanding a maiden's heart.]"

"[Huh? I'm a maiden too, you know.]"

"[You are more like a bear than a maiden.]"

Alisa nodded. "[I can see that.]"

"[Both of you teaming up on mean, you're like hyenas!]"

"[Hyenas and Lions do have a very intricate and sensible relationship with each other.]"

"[What?]" Alisa couldn't kelp up with them. "[Anyway, you still need to inform everyone that we're going to be in the middle of a big storm.]"

"[First a lion, then a bear, can I be a dragon nest?]"

"[You certainly do hoard my attention and time much like a fantastical scaled beast that is obsessed with treasure and territorial claims. Why, you might be comparable to the legendary-]"

"[Stop, stop, stop! I hit my hourly metaphor limit.]"

"[You are no fun.]"

=== Tea and Cola ===

The rain and winds were rattling the tents with the ferocity of a wild and starving beast, clawing desperately at the walls of a chest containing the food it so requires to survive the cold winter days.

"This is way worse than I expected." Kay sat on the field bed with the light of a field lamp illuminating the tent. It was only shortly after five in the afternoon but it was almost pitch black outside. "Woah, did you hear that? The wind howled. It actually howled! I never heard that before!"

Darjeeling was brewing tea over a very small portable gas stove. It was not enough to warm up the tent and the temperature outside had dropped dramatically over the last thirty minutes. "I have seen heavy downpours start within seconds before, but a storm out on the ocean is quite the spectacle. Our ship usually avoids those or we are safely within our homes there."

"At least we can talk normally."

"To find something positive in this situation is very admirable. A quality I enjoy about you." Leaving her tea for the time being, it would take time to draw out the flavor, Darjeeling started by taking off her uniform. To address the troops earlier she had put on the designated uniform the British forces wore. Now, in just her red and black outfit, she stood in front of Kay, who was still in her proper attire. "Now, before night comes, shall we use this chance and spend some time together?"

Lunging forward and grabbing the behind of Darjeeling's thighs, Kay pulled her towards herself; the British girl stumbling forward, her hands landing on her partner's shoulders and her butt setting down on the American's legs. "Between you and the storm, I cannot tell who is less patient."

"The storm is clawing and rattling the tent because it wants you too? I guess even mother nature can't resist you."

"That is not- why, you-" Darjeeling blushed when her teasing comment was turned around and used against her. Darjeeling, do not blush. Even though you are weak against the unexpected, Kay is nothing but the unexpected. You need to remain composed. Com… posed…

"Something wrong?" Kay had gotten so close to Darjeeling's face that they could feel each other's breath on their faces. "You were doing that face again. I'm not a nosy woman that's gonna ask you to not have any secrets. But you have too many secrets, oh mysterious woman. You are not London herself, covered in the mists that hide everything beneath an indiscernible cover of white."

"If this is your idea of speaking to me romantically-" Darjeeling closed her eyes and smiled a little. "You and I might match better than expected."

"I only look dumb." Kay grinned briefly, her lips soon after occupied, dominated by her partner's own. They both could still taste the spices from before on each other, a slightly burning sensation that carried on all the way to their hearts. Kay's hands went to the butt of the other blonde, sliding beneath the short skirt, moving up and down over her panties.

Darjeeling's hands remained firmly on Kay's cheeks, preventing all routes of escaping from the kiss that grew more intense. Broken by the lightning hammer of the gods far above, the outside lit bright for an instant, the two gazed at each other's eyes in the dimly lit insides of their private world, Light blue eyes connecting with each other, a staring contest that lasted a perceived hour, yet was over by the time the booming anvil of thunder was hammered on, they were no longer distant from each other, eyes no longer meeting but shut away in the dark behind cover.

The bed beneath them creaked dangerously; the rain outside hammered on the tent like the wrath of a thousand guns; the light seemed to fade away with every moment as they stuck together – Darjeeling's hands moving down on Kay's shoulders, unbuttoning her uniform. Once lightning struck once more, Darjeeling hurriedly pulled down the piece of clothing, trapping Kay's arms in an awkward position.

Kay freed herself when the roar of thunder scared many a girl in the tents within their base, the uniform hanging from her waist to her back. The tent rattled precariously, as if it were to fly away any second. It mimicked the feelings the two of them shared; a lust for each other, a tension – desire, to push each other down and take control. And still, self control created a fragile equilibrium of equality, of give any take.

Darjeeling herself unbuttoned her own uniform, while Kay got rid of her jacket, pulling the black shirt beneath over her head. By all right, she should have felt a chill as she bared herself, but being right beside Darjeeling created more heat than even a blazing fire could provide at close range. Darjeeling too, revealing the black and simple bra she wore beneath, tried to take off her uniform, but Kay stopped her short by grabbing her wrists. "That half undressed look… like the noble commandant that you are, caught in a situation so unbecoming, that is what I like most."

"Despite how plain my underwear is?"

"Plain suits you well. Your looks and your personality are already so fancy..." Feeling the softness of Darjeeling's breasts with her fingertips and the fabric of the bra with her palms, Kay licked her lips in erotic anticipation. "Anything fancy you wear would end up competing and losing badly with the rest of us."

"My, you certainly know how to sweet talk me." Ignoring the danger of the fragile construction they sat on, Darjeeling slid forward on Kay's lap, pushing hard against her hips; her legs bent backwards to accommodate herself as much as possible, to get as close to Kay's lustful body as she could.

Lightning hit something far away, outside, creating a loud bang, a flash of light during which the two could see each other's faces clearly, red as beets, expressions born from the desire to have sex right there and now. Darjeeling, with her uniform opened up, baring her chest and belly; Kay with her top bare entirely, her long blond hair falling over her shoulders and tickling lightly against her own skin and Darjeeling's both.

Nobody was going to come and disturb them. Nobody was going to infringe on their time alone. Locked, hidden, protected by the rain and the storm, the two crashed onto the field bed that withstood the shock just barely, creaking most dangerously again and again as two bodies rubbed against each other; as hands were reaching intimate places and moans were exchanged in-between and during passionate kissing; tongues going in and out of mouths, meeting and testing their mettle against each other in wet, hot, slippery combat.

A red uniform was thrown hastily onto the ground – a black bra following just seconds later. A completely different corner of the tent receives a pair of jeans hotpants that Kay energetically kicked away after they were pulled down to her knees, the British girl drawing lines and trails of saliva over her chest and stomach, down between her hips and wetting the already soaked panties.

Pushing aside the intolerable fabric, Darjeeling tasted Kay for the first time truly. A taste that was unlike anything she had ever had before. The standard senses could not describe it properly. For the blonde from Yokohama, it tasted like a love she had realized by complete accident; a lust that had become an adventure and was now changing again, into something she held dear within herself; something she would never let go willingly.

Kay's moaning surpassed even the noisy hammerings of the rain; a positively melodic orchestra of passion for the girl pleasuring her. Raising her legs, she forced them over Darjeeling's back, pushing down on her, forcing her beautiful face hard against her groin. Nibbling, sucking, playful biting; Kay was subjected to all of it. And then she felt something inside her and her breath remained stuck in her chest for a moment – escaping all at once when the something was warm, slippery and wriggling about.

Feverish passion consumed them both as they continued, as they changed places and Kay returned to the suddenly hesitant and fidgeting Darjeeling as she had done to her. Both of them felt hot – their backs and legs covered in sweat from the sensations that made their hearts hammer harder still than the winds could shake the tent around them.

Looking down on Darjeeling as she laid there on the field bed, Kay grabbed her right leg and raised it up. "Lets see if this feels as good as everyone says it does." Pushing her hips against Darjeelings, Kay realized quickly that words alone were insufficient to tell exactly how good it felt, how connected she felt. There was nothing between them – their bodies put together at their most intimate spot, Darjeeling frantically tried to grab Kay's arm but couldn't rise up long enough to do so; her body shaken by Kay's movements, the rubbing, fiery sensation that made her lose her mind. It felt like fireworks were going off behind her eyes, blinding her for anything that was not Kay and everything she had discovered she loved about her.

Insatiable, Kay grabbed Darjeeling by her arms and pulled her up, forcing her legs past her own; one over, one below. Facing her love, the one she had met and taken on by complete accident, Kay understood that sometimes, in some places, fate really did have to exist. There was no explaining what she felt otherwise, not after a mere few days together.

Lightning flashed once more, the thunder on its trail drowned out by their moaning and panting, their eyes looking only at each other, as if the world around them not only didn't matter but didn't exist.

"Kay… I might be… about to..." Other than moaning and gasping, Darjeeling was the silent type that didn't speak during sex.

"Good… because I'm not gonna last much longer myself." Compared to her partner, Kay was the type to endlessly prattle on, whispering naughty little things in the ears of her consort, enjoying the tensing and embarrassed looks that they produced.

The storm got more intense still as both girls cried out each other's names, clinging to each other, their emotions and sensations overwhelming their minds. They were no more commander of armies; they were but teenage girls in love with each other and nothing more than that.

=== Tea and Cola ===