A/N: I've been writing thus far only from the Commander's head. I thought it might be interesting from another perspective. As much as I hate stories with POVs that switch faster than the pistons on a racecar, I felt like experimenting to celebrate double digit chapters. Let me know if you think this is a horrible decision. It's not something I plan to overuse, but only for special occasions. I hope that's a promise I intend to keep.
—
When Amagi first laid her eyes on the commander, the things she noticed off the bat was his posture.
It was horrible. Every time he sat down, his neck and shoulders were constantly tilted forward like a prehistoric human. And how he had spoken didn't change that impression too much, either.
Harsh? Probably. But it was definitely not the picture she had in mind after witnessing his strategy in battle. In battle, the commander was patient and careful, yet seized an opportunity whenever it presented itself. Many of the decisions he made were some that Amagi would've made herself. She was looking forward to the day she could discuss strategy with him.
So she was understandably surprised at the dissonance between reality and her perceived expectations of the commander. Not that she said anything about it. That would have been rude.
The commander reminded Amagi of some of the destroyers. There was one time there was a line of Mutsuki-class destroyers holding hands led by Amazon, and the commander had to wait to let them pass by. The destroyers' unfocused, confused eyes almost perfectly emulated the commander's. It was striking.
But where the destroyer's confusion soon left because of other curious wonders, the commander's had stayed. On their walk, he preferred to look at his feet, as if he was worried that he'd trip over the cobblestones on the path. His words stumbled over each other, and he took awkward breathy pauses in between phrases. His eyes would always waver in between her eyes and the ground, afraid of prolonged eye contact. His walk and movement were stiff and clumsy, like his joints were that of a cheap plastic toy.
The commander reminded Amagi of a lonely child. And so she took him under her wing.
Of course the question came up: what was he doing here, holding the responsibility of the world?
It turned out that despite his many deficits in character, his naval warfare was unparalleled. In the hologram room, he sat up. His eyes shined with a focus that was clear even in the dark room. Unblinking. And she was in awe.
Then the moment passed. A flawless victory. And when the hologram table was turned off, and the lights turned back on, that uncertainty returned to his posture. His eyes narrowed again, giving that tired and confused look he almost always had.
Amagi was unsure why she had ever spilled all of her thoughts to him. It was unusual for her to do that. As a strategian, it was normal to keep thoughts to oneself. Perhaps after seeing the commander despondent after embarrassing himself, there was nothing else that she wanted but to help him out. The elder sister instinct, helping to regain that vision of clarity which he seemed to only have for the battlefield. Only after the fact did she realize it was because she wanted the same for him as Akagi. Amagi wanted both of them to rise past their shortcomings.
And somehow, he did manage. Somehow, he pulled it off and Amagi had the pleasure of witnessing a mostly-normal conversation between him and Akagi at lunch, in the canteen. This was apparently so frightening that Z23 and Javelin kept shifting gazes from their food to the commander, as if asking, "Commander, are you alright? Blink twice if Akagi's blackmailing you or holding you hostage. Please."
Or maybe it was because Amagi, Akagi, and Kaga were all seated at the poor destroyers' normal table. That could be it, as well.
Kaga was mostly silent, but in comfortable silence rather than the sullen silence that Kaga was wont to have when she was unhappy. And Akagi… was mostly her usual self.
"Come, Shikikan, allow me to feed you." Akagi brandished a spoonful of curry and held it in front of the commander's face.
The commander looked at the thing as if it was a recently-severed finger. "I'd rather feed myself," he murmured.
Akagi inched closer to his seat. The commander inched away.
Akagi looked at the commander in the eyes. The commander met her eyes for a moment, then looked away.
Akagi frowned, then backed off. The commander's shoulders relaxed slightly.
What were the magic words he said? Amagi wondered. What was it that snapped Akagi out of her low, from the most agoraphobic person she knew? Surely, they did not confess to each other, Amagi thought while witnessing Akagi glumly eat her own proffered gift. Amagi considered herself as an observant person. Maybe Akagi had learned to be better at concealing her emotions. But Amagi didn't sense any bitterness from her.
Amagi and Kaga usually had to clean up after the messes that Akagi made. But knowing that Akagi was — at least temporarily — in good hands dropped a weight that Amagi didn't even know she carried.
And so Amagi simply watched the commander and Akagi compromise for him to take a spoonful of Akagi's meal on his own. And Akagi was delighted.
—
With the sun shining brightly and cooking everything on the face of the Earth, it was no small wonder that the idea of a beach party became wildly popular. With the half-approval of the commander ("Um, I'm not sure, but it sounds like a good idea?") preparations were made in earnest.
Food was purchased. Swimsuits were tried on again and again. Volleyball nets and beach umbrellas were set up. Akashi rubbed her palms together, watching the exchange of money and merchandise.
And on one particular summer's day, with not one cloud in sight, people started to trickle out to the beach. Even those who did not want were summarily dragged out against their will. Someone remembered the commander, and he too was pulled out of his office to the beachside.
The younger ships amused themselves by building sand castles while the more adventurous ones waddled out to the deeper sea with their floaties. Odd sea life was discovered, awed at, and passed around for all to see. A poor hermit crab wouldn't come out of its shell until a stern explanation from Friedrich der Große reminded them of the respect for life, and only when the coast was clear did the crab run to the safer water.
A beach volleyball game was started, and quickly turned fiercely competitive. Baltimore was quickly found to be the dominant player, and all feared her killer spikes. One went out of bounds and brained an inattentive Long Island, who fell comatose. For the safety of everyone on the beach, Baltimore was kindly asked by Vestal to take a break. She complied, but not without visible disappointment. A more casual game began, which anyone could participate in without fearing imminent death.
Food was provided by Eagle Union, with all the cholesterol-rich and artery-clogging food it was infamous for. While some may scorn the unhealthy diet, none could resist the mouthwatering scent of meat on the grill. Many returned for seconds. Some kept returning until the chefs were completely out of stock.
Swimming contests. Sand burying. Watermelon crushing. Sunbathing. Ice cream. Where was the commander through all this?
Under his umbrella, hunched over a novel.
Since he was horribly late, all the umbrellas had already been reserved. Amagi had taken pity on him and let him share without him even asking, but she was starting to regret that decision.
"Commander, I understand that you aren't a people person, but certainly there should be something that you'd rather do on the beach?"
He took a moment out of his book, considered it, and shook his head. "Nah."
Kaga pursed her lips but said nothing while sunbathing. Akagi was sent away to fetch some watermelon so that Amagi could at least attempt to drive him out of the shade without her interference.
Amagi was a little frustrated. Here he was, twenty-something-years-old, with all the shyness of a seven-year-old boy!
But she decided to let him be. For now.
Amagi spied a shy soul looking her way, but the onlooker always ducked out of view when she thought she was caught staring. Amagi smiled, and waved them over.
"Come on, Unicorn," said Illustrious. "We shouldn't keep Ms. Amagi waiting, yes?"
Unicorn looked down at her feet and kicked at the sand, unwilling to say the obvious answer. So Illustrious held her hand and led her there. Amagi rose to greet them. Kaga raised an eyebrow but didn't move from her place under direct sunlight.
"Hello, Ms. Amagi, Ms. Kaga. Sorry to interrupt your rest, but Unicorn here wished to approach the commander, but she was a little bit afraid of coming by herself."
"I see." Amagi ducked down slightly to be at equal height with Unicorn. "I'm sorry that you had to feel that way. You're always welcome to come to us with anything."
Unicorn, most thoroughly embarrassed, could not speak but nodded to show she understood. Illustrious smiled.
"So what is it that you wanted with the commander?" Amagi asked.
Unicorn kicked at the sand again. Illustrious nudged her slightly.
"Um… I just wanted to walk down the beach with him…" Unicorn flushed at her admission, and could say no more.
Amagi patted Unicorn on the head. "I'm glad you said that. We'd be more than happy to pass him off to you." She walked over to the commander, who was still completely oblivious to his surroundings, and took his book away from him.
"Hey, I was reading that —" the commander began to whine, but then saw Amagi's intense vision that could've turned sand into glass.
"Unicorn here wants to spend some time with her precious commander. It'd be a terrible shame if the commander were to turn down her request so callously, no?" A kindly smile overtook Amagi's features, but her eyes remained malevolent. They dared, See what happens if you say no. I dare you. I'll ensure that you'll never see the light of day ever again. On your own volition.
Unfortunately, the commander did not pick up on this nuance of unspoken word. All he knew was that Amagi had taken his book, and was dead serious about him getting out into the terrible sun. He looked at Unicorn, and knew he simply could not refuse. So he sighed and got up. "Mark my page for me, will you?" Wincing as the bright sunlight entered his eyes, he led the way down the beachside.
Unicorn hadn't said a word, but her glowing face told everyone what she thought of this arrangement. She pushed her hand into the commander's, and to her eternal delight he didn't refuse her. Amagi and Illustrious watched as Unicorn skipped by her commander's side while they got smaller in the distance.
Amagi sighed. "Sometimes I feel like I've picked up a younger brother rather than a commanding officer."
"Is he?" Illustrious asked. "I see him every Thursday for tea, yet I seem to know precious little about him. I get all my information from dear little Unicorn more than anything else."
Amagi smiled, a genuine one. "Won't you begin to know it. Sit, sit. What's with Unicorn and her attachment to our dear commander?"
"Well, according to her, she was looking for her little plush and then she ran into him and tripped while he was taking a nap on the hillside…"
Akagi later returned with an enormous plate of watermelon, loudly lamented the disappearance of the commander, and ate it all herself in sullen silence. Then she had to turn in early because of a grievous stomach ache. Kaga turned over and silently wished Tosa would return soon from her mission so that she'd have some shred of sanity remaining upon her eventual return. While Kaga was glad Akagi returned mostly back to normal, Akagi was too much to deal with herself.
—
The commander was dragging his feet in the sand, squinting in the distance. His eyes were meant for looking at little letters and symbols in low ambient light. So each rod and cone protested with these new working conditions of bright direct sunlight and landscapes. It simply wasn't in their contract.
But despite the sand getting in that uncomfortable space under the nails and the unpleasant sunlight on his pallid skin, there was no universe where he could refuse Unicorn's innocuous request. And this time, without a migraine pounding in his head, he could somewhat enjoy their little walk down the beach.
Unicorn seemed to be enjoying herself. Her skip had died down to match the footsteps of the commander, but her stride was much smaller, so she had to take big unnatural paces to keep up. He was no giant, but there was still ample height advantage. She giggled all the while giving it a brave attempt, tired out, and finally asked the commander to stop at a quieter part of the beach.
They were a ways away from the main commotion on the beach, where the noise was drowned out by distance and the crashing of the waves. Unicorn, sitting on the damp sand, began to build a sand castle. The commander watched a safer distance away from the waves, choosing not to get his hands dirty.
He thought he saw Tirpitz some distance away with Bismarck, but he couldn't imagine the enigmatic battleship ever being out at the beach. A blue haired individual was talking animatedly — waving her hands, dancing in the sand, doing cartwheels — and Bismarck was smiling at her antics. He would've gone over there, if it weren't for the fact he had a charge entrusted to him.
How did he feel about Unicorn? When he rooted deep inside of himself, it was because he thought that Unicorn reminded him painfully of his younger self. Innocent. Shy. Coddled. Head full of ideals and should-be's rather than the cold steel of reality. For whatever reason, he didn't get that impression from anyone else on this base. So maybe that's why he was so lenient on her when he didn't budge not one inch for anyone else.
"Commander?"
He gave his full attention towards Unicorn. She was smiling happily, triumphant over her tiny little sandcastle which barely reached her knee. "Thank you for spending time with me."
The commander scratched his head. "It was nothing."
Unicorn moved to his side and laid her head against his shoulder, but she said nothing. And just like a certain narcoleptic destroyer he knew, Unicorn was fast asleep.
He didn't have the strength nor the heart to carry her back, so he let her sleep like that. The sun was still high in the sky, yet he felt exhausted already. The intense sunbeams were cooking away at his consciousness and he, too, felt himself falling asleep. He felt sleep dragging him under until startled by a sudden "Commander!" that seemed to come from right behind him.
Bremerton was smiling cheekily at his reaction, but she quickly turned apologetic. "Ah, sorry about that. I didn't see that you or that cutie were asleep. I would've left you two alone if I knew."
The commander rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "That's alright. I shouldn't be falling asleep in the sun, anyways." He looked at Unicorn, who apparently moved her head from his shoulder to his lap. "Though I don't think it matters anyways. I'm stuck here."
Bremerton brandished her beach umbrella she was carrying. "You need me to keep you company?"
"Ah, if you have somewhere to be, then I shouldn't be keeping you —"
"Aw, don't say it like that. I'd be more than happy to chill here! I came because it was a bit noisy anyways over at the main area. Besides, if you ever want anything, you should just ask. It's good to be selfish every now and then." Bremerton finished setting up her umbrella and the commander could feel the immediate relief from underneath the shade. Unicorn must've felt it too, because she mumbled something incoherent in her sleep and curled up to fit her legs under shelter as well.
Bremerton smiled at this. "Who's this?"
"Her name is Unicorn. Light aircraft carrier from Royal Navy."
"How'd you get to know her?"
"Uh, I was sleeping on the hillside, and then Unicorn kicked me awake. Then she asked me to help her find her plush while I had a migraine."
Bremerton's lips twitched, on the verge of breaking out into laughter. "There's no way that's the whole story, right? Or else she got you totally around her little finger or something."
"I mean, she apologized and cried. I couldn't really turn her down like that," he murmured, bashful.
Bremerton leaned forward to get a better look at Unicorn's peaceful face. "She does look really sweet."
"Yeah." There was no hesitation when he said that.
"And how have you been doing, commander?"
"Fine."
"Just 'fine'? You look more relaxed than I last remember. Or ever remember."
His head ran wild with memories of the recent past. "I guess that's true."
"I'm glad to hear that you've been doing better." The commander turned his attention from the horizon to Bremerton. She was looking at the horizon as well, in a swimsuit that was hardly any different from her usual attire. She looked content. He turned back to the horizon lest she saw him looking.
He made a noncommittal hum. He was a little envious of her. No, envious wasn't the right word. Respected? In awe? Somewhere in between all three. He couldn't really imagine someone who had enough control of their life that they offered it freely to others, willingly. Yet here she was. Sitting next to him, humming a pop song tune, relaxing on the beach for a bit of R&R.
He thought that Bremerton would've kept the conversation going, but she was happy with keeping silent and letting the waves fill the ambience in between them. He wasn't sure if it was because she knew that he preferred the silence or if she liked it this way as well. But he realized that he was overthinking this all, and just let his mind go blank. He lay down, and out of the corner of his eye let the sun sink lower and lower into the sea. He closed his eyes and he was gone.
—
"Commander. Wake up."
He turned over, and ignored the persistent voice.
"Commander?"
He grunted.
"Well, you can sleep if you'd like. I'd just leave the food here, then."
Upon hearing the word 'food,' his senses started to come alive. The overwhelming smell of meat made everything go on high alert, and he sat up.
"Hrng?"
This time, he recognized the voice of Bremerton. "Ah, you're awake. You think you're able to handle a plate without dropping it?" A heavy plate was placed into his hands, which strained against his wrists. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see Amagi, Akagi, and Illustrious had joined them under their umbrella. The sun had gone down a long time ago, and everyone's faces were vague and blurry in the dark. Illustrious and Amagi were talking animatedly while Unicorn was digging into her plate, wide awake and hungry. Illustrious' hand was placed on Unicorn's head protectively. Akagi seemed the most excited to see him awake.
"Shikikan-sama, do you mind if I feed you?" Akagi asked, leaning forward. Bremerton raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The commander sat up slowly, still trying to gather all of his bearings. Akagi sensed this moment of weakness and snatched his plate and utensils out of his hands. She cut one of the slabs into a bite-sized morsel, and held it in front of his mouth. "Say aah, commander."
His first instinct was to refuse, on a matter of principle. But then the smell hit, and his resolve wavered. He didn't drool: he had enough self-control for that. But his stomach did grumble, and he caved in to Akagi's request.
Akagi eagerly fed the commander several pieces before a glare from Amagi told her to stop, and she passed the plate back to the commander. Bremerton watched this whole interaction with interest and some confusion. Illustrious chose to remain oblivious, either by choice or inattention.
Bremerton said, "I didn't know what to get you, so I got a little bit of everything. And Ms. Amagi and Ms. Illustrious were getting a little bit worried of where you guys went, so they decided to come back with me." And indeed there was a little bit of everything. Steak, ribs, corn-on-the-cob, salmon, pork belly, and other bits that he didn't even recognize.
There is a long list of adjectives he could've used to praise his meal. But none were necessary to list, save for the fact that it was good and filling. And soon the conversation died down as everyone watched the stars slowly light their way into existence and dot the navy sky. Those alcohol-inclined popped open a beer and let lethargy pump in their veins and
The commander relaxed. His skin itched, probably from either the sand or sunburn. His right leg was still asleep, probably from having Unicorn sleep on it. But he was surrounded with people he knew. Those who he could rely on. Those who he could afford to show a little bit of weakness to.
It was nice. And he was glad for all the decisions he had made up to this moment. No regrets.
