The brisk morning air felt lovely, doing a good job of waking me up as I walked across the base. I was fortunate to have a two-story home nestled in a corner with a splendid view of both the bay and the port.
I always enjoyed my morning walk to the command building, greeting my shipgirls along the way and wishing them a good day. I knew each and every one of them by name, and knew enough to pass on a few encouraging words, should they be needed.
This morning I ran into Terror, patting her head when she stopped in front of me, her usual quiet demeanor more pronounced than usual.
"You alright, Terror?" I asked her, smiling. She looked up and shook her head.
"Not really… I haven't been out on sortie recently. I'm tired of doing commissions, Commander," She admitted.
"I'll set you up to go out with the fleet tomorrow. How does that sound?" I promised her. The shipgirls needed to fight, and it was tricky trying to balance the qualities of the individual kansen with the operations. Terror excelled in shore bombardment, but we hadn't had a need for that recently.
"Thank you, Commander…" She favored me with a small smile and we parted ways. I turned my thoughts back to the excitement I felt. This would be the first day where I would get to spend a considerable amount of time with Belfast, and I looked up to see the windows already drawn in my office. I stopped and tried to peer inside…
Who would be there this early? I always arrived early to get comfortable and fix myself a cup of tea while going over any reports of the night before. There were overnight commissions that came in and dropped off reports prior to turning in.
Hmm… perhaps a night engagement against a Siren base? I'll have Edi figure something out for the monitors.
I made my way inside and up to my office, opening the door to find not only a pristine working environment, but Belfast and Edi as well, putting the finishing touches on their job.
"Good morning, Master~," Belfast turned and greeted me, giving me a little curtsy and stowing her cleaning implements. She then began to prepare a pot of tea.
"Good morning… you're both here very early. There's no need, really… everyone deserves a good night's rest," I said, still surprised to see them. Not unhappy, just surprised. Edi had never arrived before me…
Belfast put the lid on the pot and made her way over to me with Edinburgh, "Now isn't the time for a lesson on kansen…" She paused, her smug smile spreading as she touched a finger to her lower lip, "I wanted our first day working together to get off to the right start, so I asked Edi to show me around and… give me an edge, so to speak."
She finished off her explanation with a deliberate wink, and I just stood there, a myriad of things swirling through my mind and rendering me uncommunicative. Was she implying what I think she's implying? I… huh…
"Commander, you there?" Edi tapped my forehead, and I blinked. I found myself focused on Belfast's cleavage, and I felt myself redden as she chuckled softly.
"I'm… sorry, I'm just trying to process this," I said, hurrying to my desk.
"Master, let me take your jacket," Belfast said, and I stopped, beginning to shrug out of my jacket before a pair of hands joined from behind, helping me remove it. I felt my heart beat a little fast at Belfast's touch, trying to control my nervous demeanor.
"Much obliged, Belfast," I said, keeping my voice even.
She plucked my cap off my head as well, "Awfully distracted this morning, aren't we?" She tossed it onto the rack, the brim ringing it perfectly and causing it to sit precisely over the middle of my jacket immediately below it. "Let's get some tea in you. Plenty of work to get done, after all."
She retrieved the pot and placed a cup and saucer in front of me, pouring it as Edi watched.
"Belfast's tea is amazing, I try my hardest but I can never seem to replicate it!" Edi said, smiling as Belfast offered her a cup as well. I sipped the tea, calming down as its soothing warmth spread through me.
They had brought in another desk for Belfast, placed between myself and Edi. I managed to get focused on my work, but kept stealing glances at the lovely cruiser beside me, taking in every detail of her lovely face.
One time I glanced over at her and after a moment she turned to me, setting her pen down and resting her elbow against the desk, then her head on her hand. She returned my gaze, her trademark smile telling me she knew I had been enjoying her visage.
"Would you care for another cup of tea, Master?" She asked.
"I don't wish to impose…" I began.
"Nonsense, it is my duty to see to your needs as well, Master~," She pushed her chair back, turning to me to stand up. My eyes were drawn to her bosom yet again, though I quickly shifted my gaze. Her expression told me she had achieved the intended effect.
I thought to ask Edi about finding something for the monitors to do, but then a report caught my eye. I decided to assign the three of them along with a small vanguard fleet. Belfast poured my tea as I thanked her, though she seemed to stand extremely close… so close I could feel the heat of her body.
Another quiet, smug little chuckle… I looked up and saw that smile… every time I did it melted my heart!
Soon my stomach growled, and I looked up to see it was about time for lunch. Edi was up before I could say anything, "Ah! Commander, I'll go fetch lunch." She was walking a bit fast as she turned her head to give me a subtle wink. I got the message, but…
"Edi! Watch ou… t…" I said too little, too late as she smacked headfirst into the door. She crumpled, and Belfast and I went over to her.
"Oh my goodness, Edi… are you ok?" Belfast asked her. We held under her arms and lifted her up.
"Ah, yeah… oof… I'm ok, I swear!" She fixed her glasses and quickly opened the door, leaving, her face flushed with embarrassment. Belfast and I shared a knowing smile, and I noticed we were quite close. Our arms pressed together, and I could smell her lovely perfume, soft and inviting.
She lowered her head, blushing slightly as she also realized our proximity. Neither of us moved. I certainly wanted the moment to last…
I don't remember how long we stood there, close enough to hear her gentle breathing, the subtle rise and fall of her chest…
"Belfast…" I said, my voice wavering ever so slightly. She looked up at me and did something I didn't expect. She pulled me into a tight hug, my arms reflexively wrapping around her as well. A soft sigh escaped the head maid as she rested her head against my chest.
"Ahh… Master, I do apologize, but I've been waiting to do this. I wanted so dearly to see how this felt, and I am… so comfortable…" Her soft voice lacked the usual authoritative tone, yet a smug confidence had replaced it. As though she knew exactly how this would go.
I could feel the heat of her back on my hands, the soft fabric of her maid uniform pleasant to the touch. It seemed like I had embraced eternity, though it would come to an end far sooner…
About five minutes had passed, actually, but as Belfast smoothed the front of her skirt, she grinned. She set about fixing a pot of tea and we chatted idly as I stood by the window, looking out at the plaza.
"Master, I need to know something. I've been briefed, of course, but I don't know how much of it is propaganda and how much is truth. As I understand it, we are allied with the Iron Blood and the Northern Parliament. Yet my fellow kansen seem hesitant to discuss the Northern Parliament…" Belfast frowned slightly, her shrewd mind considering various logical scenarios, surely.
I looked over to her, a seriousness taking hold of me as I let my new secretary know where things truly stood, "The Iron Blood have been our allies for as long as I am aware, and while they tend to experiment far more than we are strictly comfortable with, the results they get speak for themselves. Many of their kansen have been born of mere ideas and blueprints, yet they've been selectively fused with Siren technology."
"What about the Northern Parliament?"
"Six months ago, we received a message from the Northern Parliament that they were heavily engaged near the polar ice caps and would not be able to take part in our scheduled exercises. At the time, we thought nothing of this small inconvenience and wished them the best. Up until a few weeks ago, they were still keeping in reasonable contact, but the last message we received from them hinted at something potentially groundbreaking. Yet their verbiage was not… friendly. Rather, it appeared they intended to keep this to themselves."
"I understand. Have any of the kansen been keeping in regular contact with anyone from the Northern Parliament?"
"We should see. I know of a few close friendships between our fleet and theirs. I'll admit I find their distance concerning… though to jump to conclusions would be unwise. We are waiting for an agent to report back on their findings, however, and we will approach them formally based on those findings."
"What will be your excuse? That you sent a spy?"
"Well, when you put it like that…"
She giggled, handing me a cup of tea, "Relax, Master~. I'm only joking. I know we have little say in the grand scheme of things, but I would like to know that I will be used effectively… in any role you choose…"
She favored me with that smug smile of hers, my heart leaping into my chest as I tried to take a sip of her exceptional tea. She grinned, and we turned at the sound of the door opening. Edi had returned, carrying a tray of lunch. A complete tray. With no missing items. Or spilled items. She then brought it over to the table and invited us over.
Belfast and I looked at each other and smiled before looking back over to Edi, who was smiling as well, "Sorry for the wait, would you like to eat?"
I used to think that I got special treatment when it came to eating… but this was a whole other level! I had never known they were holding out on me like this…
"So, Belfast… what do you think about the Commander?" Edi said, chuckling softly as she blushed slightly.
"Edi…" I said, but Belfast held up her hand.
"Nonsense, Master~. I find him quite interesting, Edi. I'd say I wish that I had arrived sooner, but… then I wouldn't have had such a lovely heart to heart with my big sister about our Commander," Belfast said.
Edi blushed as I looked at her, an eyebrow raised, "And what did my secretary say about me, exactly?" I teased her.
"C-Commander! I… awh…" I held up my hand as she got flustered.
"I'm only joking, Edi," I reassured her, and she blushed. We continued our lunch, and the rest of the day passed as usual, except for Belfast edging just a little closer to me until a messenger showed up and requested Edi's presence.
"Ah, I apologize Commander, I need to attend to evening tea. Queen Elizabeth has agreed to this as long as one of us attends to her so…" Edi apologized profusely.
"It's alright, Edi. It's quite late anyway, and we're wrapping up. I'm sorry we failed to wrap things up in a more timely fashion," I replied.
She nodded gratefully and left. Belfast and I waited a moment, and then we were on our feet again, exchanging another hug, "Again, I apologize, Master… but this felt far too wonderful earlier, and I felt I needed a repeat of the experience… you know, to confirm."
Belfast's smug chuckle made me more than aware of her intentions… and as I felt her softness press against me, all the wonderful things about her filling my senses… it was wonderful.
"I certainly can't say I'm disappointed, Bel~," I said, a warm feeling encircling me as she made a satisfied sound.
"I'm glad you feel the same way, Master~."
Work was done anyway, so why not indulge a little?
We separated, eventually, but… I wasn't quite ready for the evening to end! I pulled on my jacket, taking my cover in hand as I turned to regard the lovely head maid as she placed the soiled teapot and teacups on a tray to be collected by the night staff.
"Would you do me the pleasure of an evening stroll?" I asked her. I was ever the consummate English gentleman. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow, her smug grin parting slightly into a smile.
I offered her my arm, and she curtsied before accepting it, "It would be my pleasure, Master. The sun looks to be setting soon as well. Why don't we walk along the docks?"
"That sounds positively lovely, Bel," I smiled at her, and we shared a short laugh before heading off, the both of us very aware of the other but more than willing to enjoy the circumstance of courtship.
There were few kansen about, but the ones we did come across took a moment to appraise us as we passed, though I was only peripherally aware of them. Instead, my attention was focused on Belfast and her observations of the port.
"You know, Master, I do retain some memories of when I was limited to my water-bound form. I'll be quite honest those memories are somewhat muddled and confused, but Devonport never seemed so… bright," She said, looking to the sun as it touched the horizon.
I smiled, "I can only imagine the history books don't do it justice. The minutia will be lost on those not part of it. So, a ship is a living entity then…"
"I'm standing right here…" Her tacit grin exposed her attempt at humor. I chuckled, and she continued. "It's certainly not like anything you'd understand… I barely understand it myself. Desperation, fear, pride, accomplishment… these raw emotions leave a presence wherever they are felt most intensely."
We stopped at the end of the pier, the rays of fading light bathing us in a reddish-orange glow. I looked into Belfast's eyes as the light danced in them. She looked back into mine, and I couldn't help but smile again. To be the focus of her attention… that alone made butterflies in my stomach.
Without realizing it, we were holding each others' hand, and while the both of us acknowledged this with a light blush, we chose to look out on the sunset, moving closer together until our sides just barely touched, delighting in each other's company. I squeezed her hand gently, and she returned it, the sunset both beautiful and a measure of the time I had left with her this evening. Not quite bittersweet… we would spend nearly every day together through schedule alone, but somehow…
I didn't want this moment to end.
Yet we came to our senses at the enraged shout of Nelson, a giggling Abercrombie tearing past us as Nelson chased after her, shouting curses and dripping wet.
"My goodness…" Belfast said, laughing at their antics. Abercrombie had pulled some kind of prank, but in my experience the less known, the better. I heard a soft sigh come from her, "I must attend to my duties, Master. This evening, and today for that matter, were lovely. I look forward to tomorrow. In the meantime…"
We shared yet another hug.
"Goodnight, Bel. See you tomorrow," I said, my voice nearly betraying my wistfulness.
"Goodnight, Master~. I shall look forward to it."
She curtsied and left without another word, though I wouldn't know what to do if I had seen her cheeks burning. I looked out over the darkened waters one last time, smiling to myself. When I made my way to my house, I retired to the lounge after relieving myself of my uniform. A small fire crackled, my eyes drawn to it as I pondered the nature of my relationship with my fleet.
The book beside me was tempting, but a cordial and my own thoughts were all I needed tonight. The relationship I enjoyed with my kansen had, until this point, been strictly platonic. I would be a fool to miss the beauty and endowment of Illustrious, but I never felt it necessary to pursue the desires of the flesh with them.
Yet something stirred in me the first time I met Belfast, and there was no denying this mutual attraction. I had to admit to myself that I did not see Belfast as just another member of the fleet. She was… so much more. Even QE had granted me unprecedented concessions, as self serving as they might have been.
Not that I could be brash… nor would Belfast appreciate a baroque partner. I had to approach this carefully and follow the well-established rules of courtship. Though how well they applied to a shipgirl… I would only have to find out.
As I drained my glass and poured myself another, I decided to commit myself fully to Bel. It seems somewhat ludicrous to make this decision now instead of before, but I now knew the depth of my own feelings.
Realizing the despair I felt at the mere thought of having our new routine torn away was what ultimately did it. I thought of much, and only some of it had to do with her exceptional figure and lovely visage. Much time was spent piecing together the minor details Edinburgh had told me, snippets of the Belfast she remembered.
I must have rested my eyes for a moment too long at some point, because the fire had been reduced to embers when I opened them again, empty glass still resting in my hand. It was with some effort that I forced myself to properly retire to the bedroom where the sizeable bed felt somehow… empty.
My last thoughts of the evening were of Belfast, and a smile rested upon my face as I drifted off, a certain excitement filling me at the prospect of spending another day with the lovely head maid.
Hi there! Hope you've been enjoying the fic~ A big thank you to my supporters, and if you'd like to know more about my discord server, feel free to reach out to me on discord at delusionalcookie#1414! You can also find me on reddit at r/ or u/delusionalcookie~