Vittorio Veneto led me down the hall to another hospital room, this one empty, and shut the door behind us. Once we were alone, she turned to face me, her arms folded over her chest and a rather… put-out expression on her face.

"So, Commander, how was your date?"

Oh, crap.

I immediately straightened up, almost snapping to attention as I answered her. "I think it went well, Your Excellency."

Her silvery eyebrows knit together as she stared me down. "Despite the fact that she was under doctor's orders to stay and rest?"

Her voice was stern, yet lacked the steel running through it that came with a severe dressing down. I may yet escape this with my skin intact, but I reasoned that I would need to be completely honest with her. "Yes, ma'am."

"And what did you hope to accomplish with this little...escape attempt?"

"I wanted her to be happy."

Her brows furrowed again, although the gesture seemed more puzzled than angry. She stared at me as if she were expecting me to elaborate on it. When I stayed silent, she finally spoke up. "That's it?"

"Yes, ma'am," I reaffirmed with a nod. "That's it. She seemed upset, I wanted to make her happy, and I thought a few hours out would bring her some measure of said happiness." There was a pause as she continued to stare at me. "What?"

"I've just...never seen such behavior from any of Littorio's...romantic partners," she answered in a subdued voice. "And there's no ulterior motive, you're not trying to just...seduce her for one night of passion?"

I chuckled softly at the thought of being able to seduce Littorio and not the other way around. "In the spirit of cooperation and transparency, no. Absolutely not. In fact, I find it a little funny that you think I could seduce her."

"You're already well on your way, Admiral."

To say I was surprised by that proclamation would be a massive understatement. "What?" I blurted out.

Vittorio's expression softened as she spoke. "I've never seen her more excited about spending time with someone before. Normally, it was something she had to do, like completing a checklist. Run maintenance checks, make dinner, woo her new paramour, get to bed a decent hour. She still looked forward to it, but it was almost...perfunctory. But with you, she's genuinely happy. She gushed over the flowers you brought her last night, and how much she was looking forward to your visits."

My stance relaxed as I tried to process this information. "I'm flattered, touched, even, but...I don't think I've done anything special. No more than I'm sure any of her other romantic partners have done for her."

Vittorio didn't say anything at first and instead gave me a sad look, waiting for it to sink in with me.

Littorio's words from earlier came back to me as I slowly put it all together. "You're kidding," I muttered in disbelief. "There's no way. None." I emphatically shook my head, still unable to wrap my head around the conclusion Vittorio was expecting me to draw.

She continued to look at me with that sad expression, still silent but speaking volumes with that silence. I turned away from her, still shaking my head. "No. Stop it. You cannot be serious." I whirled back around to face her as I gestured in the direction of Littorio's room. "You mean to tell me, in all this time, none of them have even done the bare minimum of bringing her flowers!?"

"Not a one," Veneto confirmed softly, and I stormed around the room in a circle again, my mind a raging sea of emotions. On the one hand, I was angry, borderline furious, that nobody else had taken the time or care to do something as simple as bringing her flowers. On the other, that made me incredibly sad, my heart breaking for Littorio, knowing she had likely given so much of herself, but receiving none of it in turn.

"I'm sorry, I just...I can't believe that," I stated. "Not a single one?"

"Not a one," she sighed. "I think they were so swept up in Littorio's whirlwind romance that they didn't stop to even think to ask what she wanted. She set the pace from the beginning, and all of them were content to simply be dragged along by her."

Eventually, my fast strides slowed to a more plodding pace and I managed to wrestle my emotions back under control. I took a long, deep breath as I came to a complete halt and let it out very slowly. "That is...mildly upsetting," I said in what was likely the understatement of the week, if not month.

"I can see that," Vittorio drily commented as she eyed me up and down. "You...truly care for her, don't you?"

At this point, to deny my feelings would be a bald-faced lie that nobody would believe. "I do. I don't know if this will be a romance that burns itself out or one that stays for decades, but...I want to know where this goes."

The flagship of the Sardegnian Empire stared intently at me for a few moments before she nodded slowly. "I hope you know what you're doing, Admiral."

"So do I," I wryly replied. "It's been a long time since I've felt this way about anyone, and I don't intend to screw this up."

"Good," Vittorio nodded. "I think we both have quite a bit of work ahead of us, and you've got that…'discussion' to have, so we'd best be on our way."

"Of course."

She turned to leave, then stopped, and turned back to face me. "Oh, and one last thing, Commander?"

"Yes?"

Her expression hardened, and her tone became equally steely. "If you ever remove a member of the Sardegnian Navy from a hospital without a doctor's express permission again, you'll be enjoying the hospitality of the brig. Am I clear?"

I swallowed hard and nodded insistently. "Crystal, Your Excellency."

"Good," She smiled, her face softening. She glanced away as if she were debating something before looking back at me, her expression earnest. "As much of a handful Littorio can be at times, she's still my sister, and I want to make sure she's safe. We've all lost much in this war, I don't care to lose any more."

"I understand, and I promise that I will do my best to keep her safe. The last thing I want to do is hurt her."

"I know, Commander. Good luck."

"Thank you." With that, she opened the door and strode out as if nothing had happened. I watched her go, still trying to process everything that had just happened. Part of me still couldn't believe that Littorio never had anyone ask her what she wanted, or returned her gestures with ones of their own. But I was absolutely certain that neither Veneto nor Littorio would lie to me about something like that. In the end, while it was a hard pill to swallow, swallow it I did and resolved that if she hadn't been treated the way that she had so generously treated others, I was going to rectify the situation. But first, I had to check back in with her.

I strode down the hall and back into Littorio's room to find her gazing out the window again, this time with a soft, contented smile on her face. I watched her for a moment, the light playing across her beautiful features, lending her an air of beauty that was almost beatific. Then I shut the door and cleared my throat, the moment gone, the spell broken as her head snapped to me.

"Ah, Comandante," she smiled warmly, beckoning me closer. "How did the chat with my sister go?"

I eased myself into the seat next to her, taking her outstretched hand in mine. "Well, she knew we escaped and she wasn't too happy about that, but she gave me a free pass. This time."

"And next time?"

"The brig."

Littorio chuckled softly and shook her head. "It's a good thing that I'm only in here for a few days, then. I don't think prison stripes would be very flattering on you."

"Agreed," I smirked for a moment before I took things in a more serious direction. "We also talked about my intentions regarding you."

Her eyebrow raised and she leaned back on the bed, bringing her free hand up to her chin. "And just what are your intentions for me, Inigo?"

"I want to make you happy. As happy as you make me."

She faltered at that answer, the mask slipping, and the vulnerable, hopeful Littorio peeking through. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away for a moment, her lip quivering ever so slightly. "And how happy do I make you, Comandante?"

"You'll see," I teasingly promised her. "But that's for later tonight. There are a few things I need to see to first. In the meantime, rest and dream of me."

She grinned up at me as I got out of my chair, the old Littorio slowly returning. "I believe that's my line, Ammiraglio…"

"What can I say? I learned from the best." My hand cupped her cheek as I leaned in, kissing her tenderly one last time before I pulled away. "Until tonight."

"Until tonight."

The rest of the day seemed like a blur. High Command finally awoke to my report and had sent a reply, which contained much of what I expected. They were pleased to get the Sardegnians back on our side, even if for just a short while, but less pleased at having to send a negotiations team across the Atlantic, pulling vital forces away from Operation Siren.

After checking and acknowledging the report from High Command, my next task was to come up with a plan of attack to review with Hood and Vittorio, which was, at that moment, both incredibly easy and incredibly hard. Currently, the overall plan was simple: once we find the Siren base in the Mirror Sea, Enterprise, Illustrious, and Formidable will establish air superiority while Littorio, Hood, and Vittorio Veneto and their escorts move in to shell the base to rubble. The hard part is that we had no idea where the Mirror Sea was and what sort of defenses we could expect to find. Would they have more of those super-fighters? Would they have layers upon layers of gun emplacements? Mines? Torpedo launchers? Mass-produced ships? Sirens? A sign that says "Keep Out"?

We were also awaiting a result on the compiled data we'd recovered from Littorio, Warspite, and Enterprise. Without getting any sort of information beyond our own limited eyewitness accounts, we were operating at a severe disadvantage. With any luck, we'd hear back from someone by tomorrow morning and we could begin planning with a little more certainty, maybe even come up with some kind of counter to this superweapon.

With the initial proposal finished and transmitted to Hood and Vittorio, I leaned back and looked out the window. The sun had begun to set, casting a reddish-orange glow over the courtyard, and my thoughts turned back to Littorio. Well, somewhat. To be honest, she hadn't been far from my mind at any point during the day. Her smile, her laugh, that charming way she could glide through anything with confidence and poise. And the vulnerable, no less beautiful woman underneath, the one who was just looking for someone worthy enough to share her life with. A Diogenes of the heart, looking for an honest man(or woman). I wanted to do something special tonight, something worthy of the grand gestures she'd shown me thus far. My stomach growled, and in doing so, gave me an idea. I snatched the phone off the desk and punched in the number for the hospital.

"Yes, this is Admiral Inigo Vian, I was wondering if it would be possible to have food delivered to a patient…"

It took some doing, but I managed to get everything together for tonight's dinner and made it up to Littorio's room just as the sun had dipped below the horizon. I checked myself over one last time and knocked on the door.

"Enter," came Littorio's muffled voice. I swung the door open and her face lit up when she saw me. Then her eyes traveled down to the roses in my hand and her smile grew even brighter. "Inigo!" she exclaimed, "More flowers? You'll spoil me if you're not careful."

I smiled back as I handed the bouquet to her, leaning in to share a quick kiss. "It's a chance I'm willing to take," I grinned. "Besides, it's the least I could do for being so late with dinner."

She fixed me with a mock-angry glare. "Ah, so this was your doing. I suppose I can forgive you if what you've brought is worthy of my glory."

"I think you'll find it up to your high standards, and while the venue is less than spectacular, I'll do my best to make this as intimate and romantic a dinner as possible," I reassured her as I rummaged through the bag, producing a small tablecloth along with a pair of candles. "Now...where to put this…" I looked around the room for a moment before my eyes fell on a small table in the corner, just big enough for the two of us. A quick check confirmed there were two chairs as well, and I swiftly moved the table to the window, along with the chairs. Once that was all in place, I carefully draped the tablecloth over it and set the candles down.

With everything in place, I held my hand out to Littorio and gave her my most charming smile. "If the lady would be so kind as to join me for dinner tonight?"

Littorio smiled back as she tossed off the covers and put her hand in mine. "I would be delighted, Ammiraglio."

She eased out of bed and I escorted her the short distance to her chair, making sure she was comfortable as I scooted her chair in for her. She gave me an expectant, curious look as I pulled out a lighter and lit each candle. After one last check to make sure I'd gotten everything else ready, I quickly walked to the door, slipped a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the handle and turned off the lights.

"So," I began as I walked back to the table, stopping to reach into the bag. "I did a little research on what pairs well with Chianti, and found this…" It was hard to see into the bag in the dim lighting, but I smiled when I felt my fingers wrap around the large container, pleased by the heat still coming off of it. I carefully lifted it from the bag, set it on the table, and with a flourish, removed the cover, revealing…

"Bistecca alla fiorentina!" Littorio gasped as she saw the massive slab of steak, with a side of roasted potatoes and hearty Tuscan bread. "And you got only one. You did your homework, Comandante."

"Not quite," I sheepishly admitted. "I originally ordered two until the chef asked me to pick out which cuts I wanted to have cooked. Saw the size of those monsters and figured we could probably split one."

Littorio chuckled softly as I arranged the massive plate of food between the two of us. "A wise choice. I don't think I've ever seen anyone manage to finish off an entire Bistecca by themselves."

"Ah, I'm sure a few guys and gals I knew from my days at the Academy could," I chuckled as I produced the last items tucked away in the bag: a bottle of Chianti Riserva and a pair of glasses. "But that would have been years ago now."

"Do you ever keep in touch with any of your old classmates?"

"A few," I said solemnly as I poured out two glasses, handing one over to Littorio. "Most resigned their commissions, moved on to civilian life. Out of those that stayed after the outbreak of the Siren War...I think there's only one or two left. We try and keep in touch as much as possible, but between running Azur Lane and operation security, there's not a whole lot to discuss." I sighed and took a big sip of my wine. "At this point, I'm probably closer to the girls than my old classmates."

"I'm sorry, Ammiraglio," she said softly, peering down into her wine glass. "I didn't mean to bring up unhappy memories."

I shook my head and waved dismissively. "Ah, it's alright. We've been baring our souls to each other all day, I see no reason to stop now."

She chuckled and nodded as she took a sip from her glass and set it aside. "That's fair. In that case, what about your family? Any siblings?"

"Just me. Mom and Dad are still kicking, though, and we're still pretty close."

A slow, playful smirk spread across her face. "And what would your mother say about you dating a kansen?"

"Probably delighted I'm dating again," I laughed. "She keeps seeing photos from the base and asking which one's my girlfriend."

"Won't you be relieved to finally tell her one is your girlfriend, then?" She grinned.

I emphatically shook my head. "Oh, no." I waited for the inevitable look of confusion on her face before finishing. "I will be proud to tell her that the great Littorio is my girlfriend."

Her smile returned, broader than ever, and I swear I could see a blush on her face even in the dim candlelight. "Very smooth, Comandante."

"I learned from the best," I replied, holding my glass up in salute. "And what about you? Does Vittorio ever encourage you to settle down, find something more...permanent?"

Littorio looked into the distance, as she pondered the question. "Yes and no. I think she's more concerned that I occasionally let flirting get in the way of my work than my lack of successful relationships. I'm sure it came up in your discussion with Veneto."

I gave her a sad, wry smile as I echoed her previous answer. "Yes and no. She mentioned your previous paramours, but not in the context of how it got in the way of work. More along the lines of how...unsatisfying you found it. Said it was more like checking an item off a list than spending time with someone you care about."

"That's...a very good way to put it," she sighed. "And I guess I did see it that way."

"Even me?"

Her jaw worked up and down as she tried to find the words, tried to spin it in some positive manner. When she could find none, she lowered her head and nodded slowly. "Yes," she whispered, her voice heavy with shame.

I leaned forward and reached out to her, my hand resting atop hers. "Do you want to know a secret?" Her head lifted, and she gave me a confused look. "I'm so glad you did." Confusion rapidly turned to surprise and I continued on. "If you hadn't done that if you hadn't been that shameless flirt who went all out on our first night, then all of this might never have come to pass. Maybe it was just Tuesday for you, but if you hadn't made such an impression, if you hadn't swept me off my feet, I might have blithely gone by and let the best thing in my life just slip past me."

"Inigo…" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. The time for words had passed for the moment, and all we could do was lean over the table, our lips meeting in a deep and tender kiss. It continued for what felt like forever, before we finally broke for air, each of us gasping as we fell back into our chairs, our faces flushed. We stared into each other's eyes, each recognizing that this attraction, this passion, was blossoming into so much more.

Littorio, unsurprisingly, was the first one to make a move. She lifted her glass and smiled at me. "To new romance, wherever it takes us."

I lifted my own glass and held it up to hers, tapping it in the traditional toast. "To new romance."

A/N-Awwww! I do love a good romance. Nothing much else to add, really, except that we're looking at 12 chapters total for Two Kinds of People. Until next time, fair winds and following seas!