Based on weird conversations. Woke up near midnight, ate some chicken and chili beans, and thoughts running through my mind while at the table. The original AO3 upload is written in second person, which FFNet apparently doesn't like. So, this version has been edited slightly.
The Commander woke up with a yawn, the morning sun peeking through the window as the base was bathing in its first rays of light. Stretching his arms, he was careful not to wake his partner next to him. Said partner murmured in her sleep a bit, snuggling closer to his side.
"Rise and shine, Arizona." He couldn't help but ruffle her hair a bit, the gesture of affection making the battleship kansen scrunch her nose up cutely.
"Mm..mrrm, just five more minutes," she mumbled. Arizona tugged on his arm a bit.
Waking up like this wasn't something the Commander planned on when signing up for this job. Naval command just interviewed him a bit and pointed him in this direction.
"Look, son. We need someone to command this special...unit, so to speak. It's not a regular old navy job. How are you with women?"
The rest was history and now he ended up commanding women of various ethnicities and background. Said women were apparently the personifications of warships somehow brought to life through human memories and history over time.
The Commander had dealt with naval personnel before, but those were regular humans. Now how was he supposed to apply that to a base full of the opposite sex, each with their own past and many having bad blood with each other, who felt and experienced things more intensely, and also had the power of artillery at their fingertips?
He shrugged at the memory. He wasn't so sure himself but it was obvious that trying to enforce a uniform code (make certain individuals put on pants or something) and yelling at them like they were regular soldiers and sailors wasn't working at all. Perhaps that's why he qualified; he wasn't as much of a hard-ass as he portrayed himself to be and him certainly felt sympathy for them.
So with the help of a light aircraft carrier, a destroyer, and a battlecruiser, the Commander was able to get this mish mash of an organization running. If he recalled history correctly, more and more of these 'kansen' were going to show up and he needed things under control or he would lose his mind.
"Certainly didn't expect to fall for one of you, but here we are," he said quietly to himself. He checked the digital clock nearby.
"Alright, miss, five minutes are up. Let's go." He playfully nudge Arizona to get up.
"Guuhhh," she groaned out, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Commander, you're such a meanie."
"Come on. Up and at 'em." He pulled the covers away, making his lover squirm at the sudden loss of comfort. He also got quite a generous view of the battleship's aft as her blue nightgown shifted a bit.
Damn, nice.
Arizona noticed and blushed at the impromptu stern inspection, puffing her cheeks in a cute pout. "H-hey, stop staring so much, will ya?"
"We've seen each other in less," the Commander said.
"You've got that look in your eye again," she continued, "like you want to go another round."
"Well, if you're offering, who am I to deny- oof!"
Arizona had just thrown a pillow in his face.
After a quick shower, the both of them were dressed and headed down to the small kitchen. The Commander checked his watch and noted they had enough time for a quick breakfast.
"Did you want anything specific for breakfast?" He opened the fridge, deciding on what to eat.
"Hmm, I think just cereal will be fine. We had quite a lot for dinner last night," answered Arizona, " and Yorktown invited me and Penny for lunch later on today with her sisters, so I'll leave some room for that."
"Sounds good to me." The Commander bent over to reach for the milk. The expiration date was still a ways off, thank goodness for that.
"By the way, where did you put the cereal?" Arizona looked around the kitchen inquisitively.
"Uhh, I think I left it in the cabinet."
He heard the soft tapping of wood as she opened several cabinets. "Which one?"
"Try checking the top one, dear," he replied, opening the milk and taking a quick sniff. It was still good; didn't hurt to make sure.
"Okay, I think I got it," said Arizona in a slightly strained voice.
The Commander stood back up and closed the fridge, milk gallon in hand. He was treated to the adorable sight of Arizona standing on her tippy-toes to reach for the cereal box. She wasn't short by any means, the top cabinet was just kind of high. Even he had to stretch out a bit, making him question why he placed the cereal up there in the first place.
"Almost...there." Arizona grazed the box with her fingertips, the item in question beginning to tip over.
"You got it?" He stepped towards her, ready to assist at a moment's notice. "Sorry, I'll leave it somewhere easier to reach next time.
"It's fine." She shook her head. "I got it- eep!"
The nefarious cereal box tipped over at the last moment, the bag inside spilling some of its contents all over the surprised kansen. Instinctively, the Commander rushed to help her.
"Arizona! You ok- woah!" Unfortunately, he forgot about the open milk gallon in his hand as he tried to catch the cereal box with the other. Arizona apparently had the same idea, except she didn't expect him to suddenly appear right next to her.
"Comma- kyah!"
The both of them fumbled the box, sending the cereal flying everywhere and on top of them as well. At the same time, the milk also spilled out of the gallon from the force of the accidental collision. Needless to say, the dairy product splashed all over the two in liberal amounts, making some of the cereal stick to their clothes and skin.
Well, this was embarrassing.
"Oh, I am...so sorry," the Commander started. This was not how he expected their morning to turn out. "I should have sealed the bag properly."
"It's okay." Arizona swept her wet bangs out of her face. "We, uhh, still have some left in the bag and not all the milk was lost. Nothing to worry 'bout."
"Still, that was my fault." The Commander placed the gallon on the counter and turned on the sink faucet to wash his hands of the stickiness, and Arizona came over to do the same. He reached for a towel and began wiping what he could on the counter.
"Hmm. I hate seeing all this cereal go to waste, though," Arizona mused. She started plucking the pieces off her body.
Naturally, the Commander's eyes couldn't resist trailing down her chest where some of the milk and cereal landed.
"You know, I can always lick it off if you don't want to waste it," he replied cheekily with a smirk.
Arizona paused, a slight blush on her cheeks as she stared back at him. Then she pushed past him with both hands, just enough to make him stumble out of her way but not fall over as she made to exit the kitchen.
"You idiot," she said as she walked away.
The Commander watched her pass through the doorway and sighed to himself. He was going to have to apologize for that inappropriate comment later. First, he had to clean up this mess.
"C-commander..."
"Hmm?" He turned to see Arizona peeking her head through the doorway.
"We...can share the shower," she said with a red face before making haste towards the bathroom.
Oh. Ohhh.
Who was he to deny such an angel's request? He certainly wouldn't, and he most certainly did not hurry after her with excitement. The kitchen mess can wait.
Needless to say, the both of them ended up late to work that day.
I was told Arizona looked good in shorts. I replied she could look good even if she was covered in cereal. Then I was told I would be tempted to just lick the cereal off. Hence, this silly short.