Only the sounds of her own footsteps accompanied Vulture as she strolled the base's halls. For another cheery day she found the world awfully dreary as she walked alone, minding her own business in pursuit of something to relieve her boredom. Long had she been cooped up on base, quietly anticipating the next sortie to inject some action into her life, but the days had gone by without such luck.

Just another uneventful day.

She sighed to herself, wishing her luck would turn when as it turned out, she was not alone.

Dead ahead, inhabiting the same hallway stood Cleveland, oblivious to the carrier's presence as her attention was fixated elsewhere around the corner. Creeping up behind her, Vulture's mischievous smile grew.

"Boo!"

"Yeagh!" Whirling around, Cleveland met Vulture's grin with a glare.

The blonde cruiser slapped the carrier. "Don't scare me like that, geez!"

"C'mon man, you were just asking for it," replied Vulture, bringing her stifling laughter under control. "Anyways, what's up?"

"K-keep your voice down!" Cleveland urged, her own tone noticeably hushed.

"Huh? Why?"

"Because-!" As Cleveland returned back to what she was looking at, Vulture decided she'd bite and see what it was that the young ship was so focused on. Peering around the same corner, she saw a lone figure who, like her before, loitered around the naval base: Helena. Eagle Union's blue bird stood idly by herself, her blue hair and dress shining by the window, her back to them both.

Vulture could only curl her brows in confusion. "Is that what it's about? Just her?"

"W-well, not quite," Cleveland admitted in fluster. "It's just-"

"Being a stalker now, are we~?" The carrier teased.

The cruiser's face grew red-hot. "No no no, I'm not! It's- ah! There, look!"

Vulture peered around the corner just in time to catch new signs of life. She heard footsteps and so did Helena for she turned from the window. "Oh, there you are."

"How are you today?" A new figure walked into view and when she did, Vulture's jaw dropped.

Meanwhile, Helena's face brightened in Kestrel's presence. Their smiles mirrored each other. "Shall we?"

"Yes."

Watching from their hiding place, Vulture struggled to find what to say, her confusion fed by disbelief and questions of her own. Cleveland noticed her shock. "So?"

"So what?" Vulture asked.

"That's your sister! What's she doing?"

"Hell if I know!" Vulture protested. "It's not my job to figure out what anyone does in their spare time!"

Cleveland huffed. "Ugh. I just don't get it. I've never seen them get this close before…"

Vulture studied her with uncertain eyes. "You're not… jealous, are you?"

Cleveland said nothing, only averting her gaze. "I'm… I guess I am. I know they're friends but for some reason I've been seeing them talk and hang out more and more often. The more I notice, the more I wonder. I just can't help but be curious, you know? Like, what could they even be talking about?"

Vulture scratched the back of her head. "Well, now that you've said it, I guess I'm a little curious too…"

Cleveland looked at the carrier with new eyes, her shame dissipated in presence of a mutual understanding. She wasn't sure to what extent Vulture knew of her relationship but she felt she could be entrusted with this. With Kestrel's involvement having caught Vulture's interest, she too was a part of this.

There'd be no turning back.

As her eyes diverted, Cleveland nearly jumped with a start. "Hey, they're moving! Let's follow 'em!"

"Righto!"

The passageway soon fed into another, one of many corridors that led to more that ran throughout the base. Windows that adorned the plaster-white walls vanished as Kestrel and Helena descended further into the interior. Walking in shared pace, the two strolled down the hallway with a warm disposition while their feet took them to a destination not known but to themselves.

Trailing behind them, Cleveland found herself unable to uncover a sufficient clue to her questions. As the stretch of empty hallway dictated her choice of hiding places, she found the distance frustrating in her quest for answers. Voices, evidence of chatter between the two ships were heard, but only incomprehensible noise reached her ears.

"What could they be talking about…?"

"Beats me. Could be anything."

Cleveland turned towards Vulture who hid with her. "What's your sister like? Any hobbies or something?"

"Well, you already know what she's like in person," the carrier answered. "Y'know, nice and pretty much that. Hobbies, she likes singing."

"Personally, I don't see Helena getting into singing," the light cruiser replied. "There's got to be something else, something that makes the two tick."

Vulture looked at her friend, her curiosity in search of a new outlet. "So now I'm wondering, what do you see in Helena that makes you stick with her so often?"

Cleveland looked up in surprise. "Huh, me? Well I, uh…" She fidgeted, wracking her brain for an honest response. She wasn't afraid to share her feelings with a friend but suddenly, with a question like that the butterflies in her stomach squirmed. The more she lingered, the more hot her face felt. "... She's easygoing, nice, supportive… um, cool with the uh, things I- I mean what me and my sisters do, and… she has that 'thing' that makes you wanna, uh, make her happy… s-so that it m-makes you happy…

"A…and I think she's just pretty to look at…"

Cleveland felt her internal temperature reach new heights, her cheeks and ears burning at the revelation she left loose. Her feelings, though shared in private now out for the whole world to spread. Standing tense and rigid, she wanted nothing more than to bury her face in her hands and to disappear.

Luckily, Vulture was already too engrossed with observing the unlikely pair in silence to see how beet-red her friend's face had become. She watched as Kestrel and Helena met a pair of nuggets passing by, stopping to greet the yellow blob-like birds. No words reached her ears, but knowing her sister, Vulture did not need to hear them to know they were all sincere. She watched as the carrier knelt down to cuddle one while Helena settled with a warm head pat on the other, bending over to do so. With their backs still facing her, Vulture got a good view of the situation.

"Yeah, she's got a great butt…" she muttered quietly.

Cleveland blinked, having been just brought back to reality. "Huh? W-what did you say?"

Vulture glanced away in a hurry. "I… said that she's great but uh, n-nevermind! Forget what I- oh shoot, they're about to get away!"

The pair leapt from their concealment just in time to catch their targets vanishing behind a corner. They hastily gave chase, their own footsteps joining the faint echoes of their quarry.

Two heads turned around the corner and when they did, a new question emerged.

Vulture blinked in surprise, recognizing the sight yet clinging onto her disbelief. "Hold up, the library?"

"Why would Kestrel and Helena wander inside a library?" Cleveland wondered.

"Not gonna find out from out here. C'mon."

Trotting hot on the unlikely pair's trail, Cleveland and Vulture entered the base's library. None came to greet their unprecedented arrival but entering the room they hushed themselves in secluded world. Inside, the amenities were plain but effective: a modest sized chamber filled with rows of shelves and islands of tables whose polished surfaces shone like glass; sunlight from outside filtered in through narrow high windows as yellow light bathed the library in a warm welcoming glow. The implicit atmosphere silenced their tones just as the thick carpet muffled their movement as Cleveland and Vulture quickly made out Kestrel and Helena inhabiting a table. They tiptoed close, settling in at another table from which they could observe and listen discreetly.

Peeking above their disguises (they made sure to swipe any available books to hide behind), Vulture and Cleveland spied on the Silver Star Idol and her new friend. They watched as the two engaged in gentle but lively chit-chat, picking up some stray words.

"... always liked that. Did you…?"
"... remember how…?... I could have gone for much longer…"
"... good that I met you…"
A light giggle. "I never thought I'd find anyone else who enjoys this. We have much more in common that I thought."

The two shared a chuckle until Kestrel changed gears, her eyes alight in realization. "Oh! Here's something I must ask!" She leaned close, practically pouncing on Helena as she seized her full attention. Her hands mimicked the enthusiasm, finding themselves clutching the blue-haired cruiser's. Cleveland and Vulture's hearts skipped a beat upon seeing this.

"... Will you be willing to give this a read? I would really appreciate it if you did!" Her hand wandering to her side, a book was produced before the cruiser.

Helena studied the novel with inquisitive eyes. "'A Blue Dove for the Princess'...?"

Kestrel beamed. "It's one of my favorites, a fairy tale from long ago. I remember reading this some time back and its words have entered my heart since then. I believe you too will enjoy reading it!"

Seeing the carrier's atypical passion, Helena accepted the offer with a smile. "I will add this on my reading list. When I'm done, I'll be more than happy to share you my thoughts in our next discussion."

The carrier smiled back. "I'm looking forward to it!"

Suddenly, Kestrel glanced to the side. Helena followed her stare but saw nothing. They were truly alone in the library.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I heard something…"

Back in the corridors, Vulture and Cleveland collected themselves, panting breathlessly at their close getaway. Though they escaped, they were in no mood to be at ease.

Cleveland vented her frustrations through her facepalm. "I… I can't believe I got so worked up over this…"

Vulture sighed in agreement. "Stupid book club meetings. So that was what it was all about."

"I came this close to being mistaken as an actual stalker~!" the blonde loudly lamented.

"You mean we," the tomboy carrier clarified. "I know I'm a lot of things but the last thing I wanted on my rap sheet was that! But look on the bright side, that didn't happen!"

Cleveland heaved a heavy sigh, her shoulders dropped like her mood. "I guess… Ugh. What was I thinking? Of course it was just something normal like liking the same books."

She sighed again. "Sorry for wasting your time like this."

"What, like doing nothing wasn't a waste?" Vulture snickered. "I don't mind what happened today. Hey, wanna grab a bite to eat or something?"

Cleveland looked up, her dejected mood dissolving before its recovery transformed into a cheery smirk. "Sure, I don't mind. I think it's about time for lunch."

"Heh. Hope you brought your wallet."

The sun held firm high in the sky, signifying the domain of noon that reigned outside the main building. Although under the monarchy of the sky, two ships remained rebellious to it as they sat in the shaded patio offered right outside the mess hall.

Cleveland munched on a burger, quiet up until she decided to strike up a conversation. "So I've been wondering."

Preoccupied with her own meal, Vulture could only glance up. "Mm?"

"Do you ever have any… girly stuff you like?"

Vulture merely returned to chowing down on her meal. "Eh, not really. Frills and pink and all that stuff just don't suit me. I just can't see myself doing any of that sort of thing, which I keep telling Buzz. 'You're a woman, you should practice some femininity!' or something along those lines."

"What does Kestrel say?"

She shrugged. "Nothing. She's never the judging kind which I like. The girly stuff fits her a lot more than they do me."

"Not even growing your hair huh," Cleveland replied, brushing her own sidetail for emphasis.

"Nope. Figured they were a pain in the ass to brush; already got a taste of that with my own hair and it's short enough as it is," answered Vulture.

The blonde slurped from her drink, examining her friend's brunette hair. True to her word, it was indeed trimmed short; she had seen plenty of others who had theirs like that. But as boyish as it seemed, Cleveland noted that it was not as short as Vulture made them out to be, making out the occasional slender fringe that poked out from the uneven hems that conspicuously grew past her sides before they coalesced into shoulder-length mane behind her neck.

As much as she could see her point, Cleveland had reason to doubt her claim. "You may not like girly things, but you still got some girly charm."

Vulture shrugged her shoulders, letting the silence be her response. A conversational truce fell upon them but it was not long until Vulture violated it with her own question.

"So hey, I just remembered. What's the whole deal with the 'knight' thing? I don't think that was ever explained."

"Well, it's kinda a long story," began one such knight that sat before the carrier. "My sisters and I are all light cruisers which are supposed to be decent at everything, so we wind up getting the front-row seat to a whole lot of action. Any place you can name, me and my sisters were pretty much been there, done that."

"And what about the 'Solomon Knights' thing?" asked Vulture.

"Oh that was where we made a name for ourselves," Cleveland replied, her expression livening as her memories warmed up. "It was early in the war, some time after Sakura Empire and the Crimson Axis suddenly attacked us. First time fighting them in the Pacific, me and my gang really pulled our weight! Held the line, kept our cool, and helped push back Sakura at Renelle Island and Empress Augusta Bay, that's how we earned that nickname."

"That's not quite what I meant," the Federation carrier replied to Cleveland's surprise.

"Then what?"

"I meant, what's a Solomon?"

Cleveland blinked before slumping with joking smirk. "That's what you were confused about? I nearly forgot that the Solomon Islands aren't a thing in your world but that was funny to hear! It's just- oh SHOOT!"

In the midst of her merry humor, Cleveland had reached for her drink only to inadvertently tip it over. Caught flat-footed by her own lapse in attention, the accident was accomplished by the time either of the two reacted to it. Rising from her seat, the Eagle cruiser was horrified to see her beverage now all over Vulture's lap, her skirt a casualty.

Cleveland paled at her mistake. "Aw man, my bad!"

The carrier waved off the mishap. "Relax, relax. I'll be fine. Just give me a sec…" Rising from her chair, the dark stain clear for all to see, Vulture immediately made a move for her own skirt.

The heat shot up in Cleveland's head as she immediately knew what Vulture was up to. Her hands waved frantically. "Nononono wait you can't just strip off in the- h-huh?"

Deed done, Vulture straightened back up with relief, her loose skirt in hand as it swayed gently in the breeze. As it did, Cleveland was astonished to see not an undergarment but rather a pair of khaki shorts, untouched and brazen for all to see now with the skirt gone.

"Alright, problem fixed. We're good!"

Cleveland could not agree with the claim. "Good?! First off, you shouldn't just strip anywhere as you please! And second, who wears those?!"

"Hey, have you seen the sorta stuff some guys wear?!" Vulture shot back. "Besides, you have no idea just how comfy and convenient it is. Plus it's so much better to move around in," she added, swishing her waist as a brief demonstration. "I don't get why anyone wouldn't want to wear one, considering how too easy it is to show your privates. Hell, the only reason I even wear a skirt is because everyone wanted me to."

The blonde knight pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. "Just… ugh. Whatever. I can't believe you'd be so proud of wearing men's clothes."

"Hey look who's talking Ms. I-wear-a-men's-suit-at-parties!"

This made the young ship fluster. "H-hey-! What's the big idea?! I wear it because I had nothing else! Also, I don't casually strip because of a spill."

"Uh-huh. But no problem showing off your big butt huh?" grumbled the carrier.

This time, Cleveland heard it. "W-what did you say? I have a big…?!"

She converged on the carrier who tried to wither from the heat emanating from the cruiser, dodging her stare as she did so. "What does my butt even have to do with wearing men's clothing?" Cleveland slowly demanded.

Cowed by the cruiser's threatening aura despite the height differences, Vulture sweated nervously. With her back against a wall, there was no escape but forward. She gulped. "I, uh, should ask whether those pants you wore weren't a little too tight…"

Cleveland's glare flickered. "What does that mean?"

The carrier tried to put on a friendly smile, still unnerved by what was to come. "I'm just saying, back when you wore that fancy suit of yours at the negotiations on Megafloat you were looking a little uncomfortable, and I uh, was wondering if that had anything to do with your pants, considering how it was awfully snug to your uh, stern."

Once again, the blood rose in Cleveland's head. "W-why would you only mention it now~?! You perv!"

"Hey! Ow, ow! Okay fine! Here, I'll turn around so you can see how tight my shorts are! We'll be even!"

"WHAT~?! No, I do not want to see your stupid butt! And your shorts aren't even that tight!"

The verbal argument spilled over into an impasse of compulsion, between Vulture wiggling her hind and Cleveland wishing not to have one occupying her view. But the altercation quickly became physical as the cruiser resorted to smacks and slaps to express her agitation. This only drew the carrier's provocations as she fought back, escalating the situation.

"I said I don't want to see your stupid butt!"
"Well I didn't want to see your big butt that time!"
"Says the one who noticed and kept it to herself!"
"Oh yeah, bet you liked showing it off!"
"Well if I had a pretty dress, I would've worn that instead!"
"What, and throw away a perfectly good suit?!"
"O-of course not! It's mine and I've been told I actually look nice wearing it!"
"And for someone as girly as yourself, you actually do!"
"... A-and you weren't so bad in your tuxedo either."

Soon the bickering trickled to a stop as both were left panting and worn down. The fighting died down with no defined victor. But this was a stalemate they were content with.

Slumped to the ground, Vulture snickered wearily. "Dumbass, telling me I look good…"

"Right back at ya," Cleveland huffed, she too having collapse. Yet a small smile remained on her.

"Yeah, us two pretty-looking dumbasses. Plays sports, likes wearing men's clothes, and peep on our close ones."

The cruiser sputtered. "Maybe not the last one…"

Vulture made no reply. Instead, as the silence wore on and the temperament between them wore away, she started to chuckle. Cleveland's smile grew before she too joined in. Then it became a laugh, one shared between friends.

Eventually, the laughter too wore down. And then Vulture sighed.

"Man I'm hungry again…"

OMAKE:

Staring off into space, Cleveland's eyes struggled to remain awake as she rested on her arms, her energy spent. She yawned, unable to hold her sleepiness.

'Geez what a day. Can't believe it's not yet evening and I'm all spent.'

The sound of a door opening. Peering behind her, Cleveland saw it was Helena. The sight of familiar lovely blue roused her.

"Oh hey Helena."

"Hello," she replied. She sauntered towards the blonde knight, recognizing all the tell-tale signs of weariness. "Had a busy day?"

Cleveland opened her mouth to answer, but remembered just in time what had transpired. Knowing better, she chose her words with caution. "Um, no actually. Tried finding something to do today but the boredom was killing me."

Helena smiled with understanding as she drew close, wrapping her arms around her companion. Cleveland felt the warmth of her touch soothe her like a blanket. It put her mind at ease, almost seducing her to sleep. And right as she could nod off, Helena spoke again.

"Sooo~~?"

"So what?" Cleveland mumbled, her slumber interrupted.

"What were you and Vulture doing together all day?"

The light cruiser froze. Immediately her heart began to pick up beats. "U-um, what are you talking about?"

Helena kept smiling. "The way you two were together earlier this morning, seemingly having fun, enjoying each other's company. Why else would you be so tired today?"

Cleveland tried to get up but found herself readily pinned to her seat. The soothing embrace had become her prison. Helena continued. "My SG did notice you earlier, Cleve."

Her heart quickened. Cleveland's apprehension made itself manifest in sweatdrops. "L-look, I can explain-"

Then as Helena drew her face even closer, Cleveland was made to confront her stare for the first time. So close, she could feel her breathing, afraid that she could sense her own - her fear. Sharing each other's stare, Helena's violet eyes seemed to burn brilliantly into Cleveland's soul, with but one simple message.

"Try not to get so carried away you'd forget about me, okay?"

Cleveland gulped. "I-I wouldn't dare think of it-!"

And then Helena disengaged, uncoiling her arms as she started walking away. "Good to hear, Cleve!" she cheered. "See you soon." The same smile remained on her face.

Now free and acquitted, Cleveland shivered. All sense of tiredness and sleep had been long forgotten.

"Note to self: never get on her bad side…!" she vowed.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

HistoricHippos:

Last Thursday, "Azur Lane: Strange,Real Waters" reached 50,000 total views! Thank you all for giving the time to check this crossover out and sticking with me on this still-developing story!