~~Lemon inbound and nope not the Essex kind~~
Chapter 9
Val struggled to breathe as she stirred from her sleep. Her face was buried in something soft and her body was engulfed in long locks of golden hair. Carefully wriggling out of Brooklyn's arms, Val sits up, feeling for her glasses on the bedside table.
Squinting at the sun shining through the open porthole Val noted the pounding headache that plagued her yesterday to have dimmed in intensity.
Val looked beside herself to the sleeping Light Cruiser. Brushing Brooklyn's hair aside, Val places a kiss between her furrowed brows.
'Even in her sleep Brooklyn looked serious,' Val thought to herself as she carefully slid off the bed, almost stepping on the sleeping pair of Manjuu at its base.
Covering herself with her hands, Val wondered if those little yellow birds even cared to see her so underdressed.
Pulling some fresh clothes from her bag Val quietly exits the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Val's head still throbbed from her wave induced migraine but compared to how it was yesterday, Val figured she could manage.
Wandering around the hallways, Val could pick up on the distinct smell of bacon faintly wafting from deeper in the ship. Closing her eyes, Val tilted her head back inhaling deeply through her nose. Turning to where the smell was the strongest, Val's legs started moving before she realized.
Brooklyn's interior was proving to be a maze Val thought after multiple wrong turns and a couple of dead ends. Despite not really knowing her current location inside the ship, it still felt reassuring to just be within its walls.
The sounds of pitter pattering came from just down the hallway Val was heading down. As she got closer to the corner the smell of bacon only grew stronger affirming that she must be heading in the right direction. Val runs into a train of Manjuu all heading in the same direction as soon as she turns the corner. Val slots in, merging into the line as they descend down a steep staircase.
The Manjuu train eventually leads Val into a large open room with benches lining the space. The sound of bacon crackling on a stove top was all Val needed to know that she had made it to her destination.
Val watched as each Manjuu grabbed at a tray before lining up again next to the kitchen counter. Grabbing one herself, Val spots Bataan serving up breakfast on the other side of the counter alongside a couple of larger scarier looking Manjuu.
"Good morning!" Bataan greets Val with a blinding smile. "It's good to see you're feeling better."
Smiling back weakly Val replies, "just a little bit."
"Where's Brooklyn?" The Carrier peaks behind Val.
"She looked a little tired so I left her sleeping for a bit."
Sliding some bacon and eggs onto Val's tray, Bataan's smile faded a little, "I see…"
The distant almost distressed look Brooklyn had on last night is still fresh in the Light Carrier's mind.
Moving along the food line, Val stops in front of a very large Manjuu, easily twice the size of a normal one. Holding a pair of tongs in each wing, the large Manjuu drops a couple slices of toast before drizzling a good helping of syrup over them.
Val continues to look upward at the big yellow bird in awe of its size. The bird bows slightly like it was silently introducing itself. Words of gratitude fail to escape her lips as she mimics the little bow. The Manjuu opens up its little beak, giving a couple of deep energetic chirps.
"He says, enjoy your food." Bataan giggles.
"Ah… y… yeah, Thank you."
"I'll come sit with you once I'm finished up here."
Setting her tray down on a vacant table, Val takes a seat. The fresh crispy bacon was welcoming on Val's taste buds. Taking a look back at the two large Manjuu, Val notices a tiny chef's hat affixed on their heads. Val smiled to herself, unable to deny how cute they looked.
"Morning again!" Bataan greets as she lays her own tray of food across from Val.
"Enjoying your food?"
Val swallows what was in her mouth quickly before replying, "yeah, who knew Manjuu could be such great cooks?'
Bataan giggles as she nods, "Brooklyn really spared no expense."
"Hmm?" Val questions with a mouthful of perfectly cooked eggs
"These two are probably the best cooks on base," Bataan waves to the two Manjuu still in the kitchen, "they give some of us Shipgirls a run for our money."
"Well anyone's better than Brooklyn," Val laughs.
Bataan nervously chuckles back not wanting to affirm Val's claim but her non answer did little to deny it.
A loud audible yawn came from the mess hall entrance catching Val's attention. With her hands stretching high above her head, Brooklyn grabs a full tray from one of the Manjuu chefs.
"Thanks for waking me up," sarcasm seeded in the Light Cruiser's voice.
"You looked so tired it felt wrong to," Val scoots over to make room for Brooklyn.
"How are you feeling?"
"My head's still throbbing and the nauseousness could come back if I think about it," Val says, pinching at the bridge of her nose, "but, it's not as bad as yesterday."
"Don't push yourself if you still feel off." Brooklyn gently rubs circles around Val's back.
The Manjuu having had their fill of breakfast are starting to filter out of the mess hall, saluting at Brooklyn on their way out. The mess hall was nearly empty except for the girls and a few Manjuu cleaning up after the meal.
- afternoon -
Stepping into Brooklyn's bridge, Val looks around in awe at all the instruments and voice pipes that hung above the helm.
"So is this like your brain?" Val runs her fingers along Brooklyn's helm.
"...that's… " Brooklyn didn't really know how to answer as she never really gave it any thought as she shrugged, "maybe?"
Gripping the helm in her hands, Val looks towards Brooklyn with an excited look on her face. "Can I?"
"I'm not a toy…"
"But I play with you all the time…"
*cough* Brooklyn clears her throat, "you can use my throttle."
The throttle handle slides down on its own to idle as the Brooklyn starts to slow down.
Stepping behind the throttle controls, Val grips the two levers tightly in each hand.
"Ok. Now push it to the first indent." Brooklyn grabs onto Val's arms guiding her along.
Pushing the levers forward from idle, Val puts the Light Cruiser up to one-third speed. Brooklyn could feel the surge in speed was not of her own making but that of Val's.
"Now push it to the next one."
"Got it," Val increases the throttle up to half-speed.
Brooklyn fidgets in place slightly as a weird sensation comes over her as she feels for the first time in a while what it feels like to be manipulated by someone else. Val's ear tickled from Brooklyn's increasing breaths.
"...Ok…. Now push it down to full speed…." Brooklyn's voice came out slightly strained.
"I'm not hurting you am I?" Val peaks behind her.
"No… no, it's alright," Brooklyn reassured regaining a bit of her composure, "now hurry before we start to fall behind Massachusetts."
Brooklyn's shaky hands guided Val's as she helped push the lever down to Full speed.
"All the way right?" Val pushes the throttle past what Brooklyn had intended and into Flank speed.
"Wa...wait… not that far~~" Brooklyn's legs shook as her voice trailed off increasing in pitch.
"Oh my god!" Val pulls the throttle back down, "I'm so sorry!"
"I...I'm… fine…" Brooklyn breaths were heavy and shaking. Never did the Light Cruiser think it would feel so weird when someone else does it
Brooklyn leaned against Val's back as the feeling started slowly returning to her legs.
"*yawn* Everything alright?" Massachusetts yawns over the intercom, "You were falling behind for a second."
"Massachusetts?" Val speaks into the intercom above her head, "everything's fine, Brooklyn was just letting me… uhh… throttle her?"
Silence came over the speakers as they waited for the Battleship's reply.
"...I see…" was all Massachusetts could come up with as the line went dead.
Turning to face Brooklyn, Val nervously laughs. The Light Cruiser tries to assume her usual straight posture. Struggling to look Val in the eyes, Brooklyn blushes deeply up to her ears.
"S...sorry, I didn't-" before Val could finish Brooklyn goes to pinch Val's cheeks, stretching them out as she gives her a severely annoyed look.
"I said to full!" Brooklyn shouts as she lets go of Val's cheeks.
Rubbing at the sides of her face Val cries out, "how was I supposed to know full didn't mean all the way!"
Brooklyn flipped at her hair, puffing out her cheeks as she stormed outside onto the platforms of her conning tower. Stopping to catch her breath, Brooklyn fidgets as she leans against the railing. Rubbing her legs together, the Light Cruiser blushes as the draft between her legs was colder than before.
"Brook!"
Brooklyn could hear Val shout as the light thumps from her fiance's footstep carried her up the stairs.
"Hahahaha," Val doubles over laughing as she finally catches up to Brooklyn on the platform, "I'm sorry *pfft*."
Val still struggles to contain her laughter, "how was I supposed to know you'd react like that?!"
The blush on Brooklyn's face deepened as she wished she could just shrink till there was nothing left of her. The only saving grace to the Light Cruiser was watching Val's joyous smiles even if it was the behest of herself. Clenching her fists Brooklyn swears to herself that later tonight she would make Val pay dearly for this embarrassment.
"Please," Brooklyn pleads, "forget everything that just happened in there."
Wiping a tear from her eye, Val tries to stifle more laughter, "you know that's impossible for me right?"
"Aw man… all this laughing is actually giving me a headache." Val's laughter turns into a nervous one as she rubs at her forehead.
"I told you not to push yourself," Brooklyn goes in to support a swaying Val, "C'mon, I'll get the Manjuu to lay out a chair for you on deck."
"That'd be nice, you think you got any Mojito's too?" Val tries to joke as Brooklyn helps her back down the stairs.
The sun beamed down overhead threatening to bake any poor Manjuu caught outside for too long.
Laying in the shade cast by Brooklyn's forward super firing turret, Val rests on a lounge chair, tended to by several dutiful Manjuu. A cool light mist from a hose sprayed Val, carried by the strong and steady breeze as the three ships continued on their southward Voyage down the east coast of the Eagle Union.
"So where are we now?" Val turns over on her side to face Brooklyn who has her back against the wind trying to catch up on her reading.
Shutting her book, Brooklyn brushes her hair behind her ears as she closes her eyes for a second.
"Somewhere between the Carolinas," The Light Cruiser's eyes blink open, "we should be in the Caribbean with another day's sailing."
"The Caribbean huh…" Val rolls over on her back reaching for a mojito brought to her by a Manjuu.
"I thought you were still feeling nauseous?" Brooklyn says, reaching over to snatch the glass away from Val.
"Hey~" Val pouts, "I figured some alcohol could make me feel better."
"Or it could make you feel worse," Brooklyn says, taking a sip from Val's mojito, "and I have something planned for tonight's dinner, so I'd like it if you could be in a condition to participate."
"Oh?" Val raised an eyebrow, "do tell."
"And ruin the surprise." Brooklyn finishes off the cocktail before handing Val back an empty glass, "I think not."
"You really love not telling me things huh?" Val pouts again before sitting up.
"What was that supposed to-" before Brooklyn could finish Val grabs at the hem of her sundress, lifting it off herself in one swift motion.
"Wha… what are you doing?" Brooklyn blushes. "Not out here!" The Light Cruiser shouts in a hushed tone, "Bataan and Massachusetts are over-"
Staring wide eyed, Brooklyn blinks at Val wearing a white bikini. "-there."
Blushing again, the Light Cruiser gets a good look at her fiance's bikini. Her skin showed through the tiny holes in the fabric, making Brooklyn swallow down a lump that formed in her throat.
"What?" Val laughs. "You really thought I'd get naked out here when we have people watching out for us."
"I… I just thought…"
With half lidded eyes Val leans towards Brooklyn. Her hands find themselves on the Light Cruiser's legs, sliding slowly upwards and inwards.
"Unless you want me to~" Val whispers sensually into Brooklyn's ears.
Laughter bubbles out of Val as she watches Brooklyn's ears turn a few shades of red. Jumping backwards into her recliner, Val holds onto her stomach, unable to contain herself.
"I'm glad you find teasing me amusing," Brooklyn stares annoyingly at her fiance.
"I do," Val starts to calm down, "I really do."
"Anyway~" Val shoots her arms high above her head making her chest bounce slightly, "what do you think?"
"It's…it's a beautiful design," Brooklyn reluctantly peaks from the corner of her eye, "it really suits you, and that stitching-"
It was a very atypical look to a bikini that the Light Cruiser was familiar with. The material looked like yarn and stitched into a flowery pattern.
"Thanks! And I crochet it myself actually."
Val says, displaying her chest proudly, "I could make you one too if you want."
Brooklyn reaches out, cupping underneath Val's breasts, tracing the fabric of her top with the tips of her fingers.
"This material is so soft…"
"I know right~" Val giggles, as Brooklyn's touch starts to tickle.
Jumping up on deck, Massachusetts stumbles on the peculiar sight playing out in front of her.
"The seas look-" the Battleship stops as her eyes go wide, "*Ahem*" Clearing her throat, she continues, "the seas are going to be clear for the day."
"Massachusetts!" Brooklyn's hands are still groping Val's chest as she turns to greet the Battleship, "You slept well?"
"Yeah," Massachusetts averts her eyes as she takes a seat on an empty lounge chair the Manjuu had just unfolded the moment the Battleship's feet hit the deck.
"Bataan's taken over the watch." Massachusetts informs, as the faint sound of Hellcat engines roar way overhead.
"That's pretty handy." Val stares upwards, tracing the Hellcats path with her eyes. Squinting, the flight disappears as it crosses over the sun. "So, what are our chances of actually coming across Sirens?"
"Slim," Brooklyn answers quickly, "but unfortunately, not zero."
It's been 13 years since Val last saw a Siren face to face and the prospect of meeting another one, formed a knot in her stomach.
"There's still some scattered surface ships wandering around the oceans," Brooklyn adds, "but we can make quick work of those."
"How about those human looking ones?" Val asks nervously.
"Them?" Massachusetts goes to think, "they're still around, probably, but no ones seen one since the war with Iron Blood ended."
"Wherever they are," Brooklyn sits up, "they can stay there."
"I'll drink to that!" Val raises another mojito.
"No you won't," Brooklyn snatches the glass out of her hand yet again.
"You're no fun." Val sticks her tongue out at the Light Cruiser. Turning over to lay on her stomach Val raises a tube of sunscreen at Brooklyn, "you could at least help me with this."
Gathering her hair onto one side, Val undoes the knot holding her top together, exposing her back completely to the Light Cruiser.
Taking the sunscreen, Brooklyn squirts a generous amount on her palm before rubbing them together. Scooting closer, she brings her hands down onto Val's back. Running her hands in a firm and slow up and down motion along Val's back.
Brooklyn's fingers slide along the large but mostly faded scars that lined Val's back. Brooklyn always wondered how she got them. Every time the Light Cruiser asked, she was always brushed off, 'I fell pretty hard as a kid,' was what Val said the first time she asked.
Just falling shouldn't produce burns, Brooklyn thought, but she held her tongue back then, figuring Val would tell her when she was ready.
Brooklyn's deft hands elicit a low groan as she works Val's shoulders.
"Ooh~ right there~," Val coos, indulging in Brooklyn's touch.
"How about here~?" Brooklyn teases as her hands make their way lower.
"Hnngg, ahh~" Val's shoulders buck slightly.
Massachusetts watches her two friends quietly from the corner of her eye not knowing if she should stay or leave.
The way Brooklyn's fingers moved along Val's back made the Battleship feel strange. A strange feeling that left her wanting, both to feel and to receive.
Rubbing at the back of her own shoulders, Massachusetts imagines certain hands moving along her back, trailing lower and lower. A deep blush comes over the Battleship as she realizes just what would happen to her voice if it did come true. A voice that she too wanted to coerce out of a certain privateer. Massachusetts blush deepens even more as she shoots upwards from her seat.
"I…I'm gonna go for a run," The Battleship stammers out, "I'll see you guys in a bit."
"Wait, Massa!" Brooklyn called, but the Battleship had already run off.
"What's wrong?" Val peaks behind her.
"Oh, it's nothing," Brooklyn smiles down, "I was going to ask her if she could lend me a hand tonight."
Bataan looked curiously on the Battleship running laps along her flightdeck. Her attempts to call out to the white-haired Shipgirl fell on deaf ears.
Massachusetts wipes away the sweat beading on her brow as she finally starts to slow her pace after a dozen or so laps.
Despite her best efforts to clear her mind of strange thoughts, an image popped into the Battleship's head. One that had her straddling a certain Vichy privateer, much in the same way Brooklyn did to Val.
Shaking her head vigorously, Massachusetts slaps at her own cheeks trying to fight off the heat that had built up in them.
"Everything alright?" Bataan asks, holding an icy cold water bottle up to the Battleship's cheeks, only to get an affirming groan in response.
"Just needed to clear my head."
"Did it work?"
Taking the bottle from the Light Carrier, Massachusetts downs most of it, pouring the rest onto her face. The cold fresh water was refreshing as it washed away some of her sweat. Closing her eyes she takes a deep breath, "maybe?"
Having nearly spent the whole day lounging on deck, Val shivers a bit as she steps back inside Brooklyn's interior. The ship was still a maze to her, but the way back to Brooklyn's room was committed to memory.
A small line of Manjuu waves as they march past Val down the narrow corridor connecting to Brooklyn's room. Slowly opening the door, Val peaks in. The room was dark, only the last few vestiges of the sun leaked through the still open portholes. Reaching for the switch on the wall, Val gives it a quick flip as the old fluorescent tubes buzz to life overhead.
Scanning the room Val notices something draped on the edge of the bed. A letter sat alongside a rose on top of what looked like a red velvet dress.
Taking the flower, Val brings it to her nose, smiling at the gesture. Flipping the note over it reads, 'Hope you like it. Meet me on deck at 7. B'
Val unfolds the dress as she holds it out in front of herself. The fabric was smooth and silky to the touch, Val noted along with a very high slit along the side and a deep plunging neckline.
Stripping down, Val tries it on, wriggling into its thin waist line. The dress draped down to her ankles, with much of her right leg exposed due to the side slit that went high above her waist. Val pulls the top's straps above her head, adjusting her breasts so they sit inside the fabric.
"Doesn't leave much to the imagination," Val murmurs to herself as she checks herself out in the mirror. The dress's neckline was something Val wasn't used to as it plunged down to her stomach. The fabric was so silky and soft that every curve of her body was accentuated by the fabric. This included her panties, Val saw as she turned around to look at her rear.
Val stared for a moment, contemplating, before hooking the strap to her panties in her thumbs and pulling them off completely. Throwing her discarded undergarment onto the bed, Val blushes as she thinks she might be too bold, but the thought is quickly brushed away. Tonight is a special night so she might as well pull out all the stops.
A couple of light knocks rang out from the door, "hey Val," Bataan calls out, "Brooklyn wanted me to check if you needed any help getting ready. Can I come in?"
Scrambling to make sure she was decent, Val readjust her neckline to make sure she wasn't going to be popping out anywhere.
"Y… yeah you're good!"
"I could help you with your…hair…" Bataan states as she pushes the door open, stopping in stunned silence the moment her eyes meet Val's. Blushing, Bataan stumbles with her words, "w… wow… that dress looks…" Not knowing where to look, the Light Carrier chuckles nervously, "sexy…"
"Right?!" Val laughs, "I think Brook's tastes are showing don't you think?"
"I… I guess," Bataan didn't know Brooklyn that well to answer.
"She's usually so reserved yet enticing, but this…" Val turns to look at herself in the mirror again, "this is just pure sexy!"
"Maybe how she sees herself is different than how she sees you, or maybe this is how she wants to see you?" Bataan motions for Val to sit as she reaches for a brush and blow dryer.
"Like a piece of meat?" Val sucks in her lips as she realizes she has no right to talk, "on second thought, maybe this is her getting back on me."
"For what?" Bataan asks as she gathers Val's hair.
"Oh~ y'know," Val smiles nervously, "things."
"Like pranks?"
"Yeah!" Val shoots out, not wanting to corrupt the Light Carrier's pure mind, "like pranks…"
Val sits quietly watching Bataan in the mirror as she works at her hair. The Light Carrier's eyes go wide as she lifts Val's hair. Val could only give a soft reassuring smile as she knew too well what surprised her.
"I got them when I was a kid…" Val speaks up, "13 years ago…"
The brush stopped moving, still tangled in Val's hair, "when the Siren's attacked." Bataan inferred.
"I had a whole building fall on me!" Val laughs as she embellishes a little, "and don't get me started on the fire, that shit burned!"
Bataan didn't laugh as her face became a somber one. "That must have been scary."
"It was…" Val whispers, going back to a more serious tone, "but only for a moment, as when I thought all hope was lost, I was saved by a group of girls. I thought they were Angels at first as they were all stunningly beautiful. "
Bataan giggles as she continues to run the brush along Val's hair.
"One girl, the one who found me buried in the rubble, had long blue and pink hair down to her waist," Val goes on, "the other girl who dug me out had fiery red hair and the one who reached out her hand to pull me from the debris was the most angelic looking one, with her long wavy golden blonde hair and reassuring voice. She carried me to safety all while fighting off a creepy looking girl with tentacles on her back."
Bataan's eyes went wide again, realizing Val had actually seen a Siren all those years ago and lived to tell the tale, but even more surprising than that, the girls she described bore an awful resemblance to Brooklyn and her sisters. "Hmm that kinda sounds like…"
Turning in her seat Val puts a finger to her lips, "shhhhh, I still haven't told her I remember her from back then."
"It's an incredible story, so why haven't you?" Bataan asks.
"I… I actually don't really know exactly why but, I don't want Brooklyn to think I only love her because she saved me, no.
"Awww~ that's so sweet" Bataan coos, "you said you love her."
"I do!" Val exclaims, jumping up from her seat startling the Light Carrier, "I really love her!"
Bataan could only squee in excitement, unable to contain herself as she went to hug Val.
On the Massachusetts.
"Ow ow ow…" Brooklyn cries as Massachusetts runs a brush roughly through her hair.
"Sorry." The Battleship deadpanned.
"It's fine," Brooklyn says through the mirror, "just be a little gentler."
"Sorry…" Massachusetts apologizes with more feeling this time.
Brooklyn watches the Battleship through the mirror as she quietly works at her hair with a curling iron, noting how the red tattoo on Massachusetts's forehead was wrinkled slightly by her furrowed brow.
"Anything on your mind?" Brooklyn speaks up.
"Ah-" the question catches Massachusetts by surprise as the comb she was holding on to fell from her grasp.
"I'm taking that as a yes," Brooklyn giggles slightly.
"N…no, nothing really." The Battleship kneels to retrieve the fallen comb.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"..." still kneeling, Massachusetts shakes her head trying to keep down the red that had crept up on her face.
Brooklyn's head was pulled roughly back by her hair again as Massachusetts resumed her work. "Ow! I said gently!"
Her words fall on deaf ears as Brooklyn resigns herself to her rough treatment, wondering what she did to piss the Battleship off.
The three ships slowed, taking a more leisurely pace. The winds were calm and with it, the seas. A soft orange glow from the slowly setting sun bathed Brooklyn as she sat alone at a dinner table placed on her stern, situated between her two seaplane catapults.
The tablecloth fluttered gently in the breeze as Brooklyn brushed a lock of hair behind her ears. Waiting patiently for her date Brooklyn scratched at her head still stinging slightly from Massachusetts's rough treatment.
"Easy now." Bataan's voice could be heard in the distance, "Watch your step."
"These heels are impossible on a ship." Coming into view, Bataan pulls Val by her hand, carefully guiding each step.
Standing up from her chair to greet her fiance, Brooklyn's jaw went slack as Bataan stepped aside, revealing Val in her sultry red dress. The Light Cruiser's eyes trace up Val's exposed leg all the way up to her waist stopping at the deep neckline that threatened to make Brooklyn lose all semblance of control.
"What?" Val says blushing, "you made me wear it…"
"No… I… It looks good." Brooklyn's heart tries to burst out of her chest only just realizing how dangerous that dress truly is.
Though dated, Brooklyn's fashion sense, at least when it came to others, was largely influenced by St. Louis. Picking something her sister would've picked.
"You too…" Val compliments Brooklyn's short white halter neck dress. Adorned in blue lace at her bust and along the insides and edges of her dress.
Offering her hand, Brooklyn guides Val to her seat across from her own. A train of Manjuu appeared from either side of Brooklyn's turrets, carrying bottles and candles, spreading rose petals in their wake.
Marching towards the couple at the table, the little yellow birds stack on top of each other forming a makeshift staircase up to the table's height. A couple of Manjuu clamber up holding a giant, at least for them, bbq lighter, struggling to reach the tall candles that they placed at the center of the table.
The sound of wheels followed closely behind the little yellow birds as Massachusetts pushed out the couple's dinner on a trolley.
The Battleship was wearing a very dapper looking suit, though the upper buttons on her dress shirt remained undone.
Massachusetts places two dishes in front of the couple, uncovering the lids, revealing still sizzling filet mignons. Val was practically salivating from the aroma.
"Château Cheval Blanc, 1939," the Battleship holds up the bottle of red wine, showing it off before uncorking it. Pouring it into both glasses, Massachusetts places the bottle on the table.
"Enjoy." Massachusetts bows before ushering a few Manjuu away from the table.
"Have fun you two!" Bataan waves as she follows after Massachusetts.
"So," Val picks up her glass of wine giving it a quick sniff, "dinner and a sunset was the plan?"
"Why? Is it not romantic enough?"
"No, I'm not saying it's not…" Val tries to suppress a smile, but her wavering lips make her fail miserably.
Brooklyn exhaled in relief knowing Val was enjoying herself so far. But the Light Cruiser wasn't finished yet. Clapping her hands, she calls over a couple of Manjuu dressed in little tuxedos carrying a tiny violin and cello.
"Aww~ that's way too adorable!" Val giggles as they begin to play their little instruments, adding a calming and romantic ambiance to the background.
"Oh and-" Brooklyn reaches over to hold Val's hands, "happy anniversary."
Today marks the day the two had first started dating. Hooking her fingers with Brooklyn's, Val offers a loving smile. She herself had something planned for the two of them back home, but with their sudden trip to the Joint Base, Val had to cancel.
"Hopefully next year we can celebrate a different anniversary." Val caresses the ring on Brooklyn's finger.
"We still have to break the news and plan everything." Brooklyn internally kicks herself as she still hasn't even told her sisters she was even dating someone let alone marrying said someone.
"One step at a time, remember?" Val reassures, "and the first step is us digging in."
Val's knife cuts cleanly into the tender still steaming steak. Its juices spill out onto the plate as Val lifts the piece into her mouth.
Incomprehensible words try to leave Val's mouth as she savors every bit of flavor.
"So~" Brooklyn smiles smugly, "what do you think?"
Swallowing down her first bite, Val replies in a sarcastic tone, "what's with the smug look?" She tries her best to look dissatisfied, "it's not as if you cooked it yourself."
"So hard to please," Brooklyn feigned hurt, "I sourced all the ingredients for this voyage I'll have you know."
"Even those Manjuu chefs from what Bataan told me."
"Yup, even them, and they're not cheap."
Val stopped chewing for a second as she just realized the Manjuu get paid, but what do they spend their money on? Resuming her chewing Val decides to not dwell on it any further.
"And I really don't think my cooking would've been that bad."
"Oh, probably much worse," Val laughs until something hits her shin under the table, "Ow! Did you just kick me?"
"Don't know what you're talking about," Brooklyn plays dumb as she begins to cut into her own meal.
The sun was quickly diving into the horizon, casting long shadows off Brooklyn's portside catapult. Val's gaze was fixed on the horizon, the purple and orange glow reflected on her eyes. It was a beautiful site, Brooklyn noted, but her gaze wasn't directed over the water.
Getting up from her seat, Brooklyn goes over to Val's side offering to take her hand.
"Care for a dance?"
"I'm no good at a waltz," Val gestures to the two Manjuu playing music.
"Oh?" Brooklyn claps her hands, "how about salsa?"
The two Manjuu stop playing before scurrying off, quickly coming back with a larger ensemble of other Manjuu, carrying guitars, bongos, trumpets, and maracas.
Brooklyn offers her hand once more as an energetic bomba erupted from the band behind her.
A plethora of string lights came to life all around them, strung up along the catapults and draping from the crane overhead.
Val's heart fluttered as she looked up towards Brooklyn, framed in the deep purple sky with the last of the sun glowing through her hair.
The music playing only made Val's heart beat faster, taking her back to the moment the two felt each other's love for the first time. On a rooftop party back in her namesake, Brooklyn offered her hand exactly the same way as she did right now. And just like back then Val reached out to take it. The Light Cruiser pulls Val from her seat with enough force to make their bodies press against each other suddenly, but unlike back then, with the two staring awkwardly at each other for a moment as their bodies were intertwined, this time Val rests her cheek on Brooklyn's chest, occupying the space under her chin.
It was such a comfortable place to be, Val thought as the two held on to each other for a little while. Back on that rooftop, their hearts beat quickly, pounding against each other's chest in an unsynchronized rhythm.
Now, out on the ocean, just off the coast of the Eagle Union, their hearts were content, beating softly in time with the other.
A bright spotlight shined down on the pair from atop Brooklyn's superstructure startling them slightly.
"Well then," Brooklyn regains her composure, "shall we?"
Bringing her hands down to Val's waist, the Light Cruiser pulls Val away from the table as the Manjuu reignite their song with extra fervor.
—-
Massachusetts followed the dancing couple with the spotlight from near the top of Brooklyn's conning tower. The Light Cruiser had come to her earlier in the day asking for her help to make tonight's dinner plans more interesting. Seeing as how the two were now engaged in a fervent and passionate salsa, Massachusetts thought the interesting part was taken care of.
"That looks so much fun!" Bataan did her best to mimic their exemplary footwork, "do you know how to salsa?"
It did look like fun, the Battleship thought to herself as she guided the spotlight beam, keeping it glued to the couple dancing across the deck. With their spins and lunges and lifts, it looked a lot like a performance of sorts, but for who? They were staring into each other's eyes for the most part. Were they just performing for each other?
"Only a little," Massachusetts admits, "Brooklyn and Phoenix tried to teach me a long time ago."
"How'd that go?"
"Not so well, I'm not any good at it."
"Huh, you're pretty athletic so I'm surprised."
"It's too high energy for me."
"Ha ha," Bataan laughs, "I get what you mean, just trying to copy them is tiring."
Bataan attempts to follow Val but gives up shortly after.
"But boy, I just wish I had somebody to dance with like that you know what I mean-"
If the anxiousness in Massachusetts's heart was any indication, then yes she did know what she meant. The Battleship didn't quite know what compelled her to switch on the spotlight to begin with, maybe it was their closeness and the way Val and Brooklyn were clung to each other. Any longer and they probably would've kissed. Was it out of jealousy? No. Maybe. She couldn't bear the thought to witness such an intimate display while her head was still clouded in her lewd thoughts from earlier.
"-I'd love to be able to do it with Independence, but she'd probably freak out or something." Bataan laughs again, "do you have any you wanna do it with?"
Poor choice of words, the Battleship thought, the images of a former Vichy Battleship that she fought so hard to suppress spring into the forefront of her mind. Massachusetts fails to level the heat rising in her face as she could practically feel her ears glowing. These kinds of thoughts were something she used to reprimand the Commander for having back in the day, telling him along the lines of, "go for a run and clear your head," but seeing as she tried that herself earlier she now knows, doesn't work as well as she thought.
"N…no one in particular…"
"Not even South Dakota?" Bataan looked puzzled, "or Alabama?"
Massachusetts chuckles slightly at the thought of those two even attempting to salsa. South Dakota maybe, but definitely not Alabama.
"We're not really the dancing type."
"Aww~," Bataan pouts, "how about when you battle? Isn't that like a dance?"
"When you put it that way-"
"Oh!" Bataan interrupts, "how about that one girl, what was her name… that Vichy… no, Iris now… I think…"
Massachusetts's eyes go wide in horror as her heart drops to her stomach. Don't say it, please don't say her name.
"Jean Bart!" Bataan slams the bottom of her fist into her palm in sudden realization, "your fight with her was incredible! I'd bet she'd be a perfect partner for you!"
"…" Massachusetts looked like she wanted to cry as her face looked like a hot stove pipe.
"What's wrong!?" Bataan cried out upon seeing the Battleship turn a bright shade of red, "was it something I said?"
The Light Carrier waved her arms out in front of her frantically as could see Massachusetts trying to fight back a tear.
"I'm sorry! I… I didn't realize you actually hated her!" Bataan stammers out, "it… it makes sense, you guys did fight to the death after all, b… but I thought… when she visited the base that one time… it really looked like you two hit it off and…"
No, she didn't hate her, very much the opposite in fact, but was that going too far? Was it really lo… love? Did she have any right to call it that? In the grand scheme of things they barely knew each other for but brief fleeting moments, whether that was in the fierce heat of battle against one another or that tender moment they shared much later on at the base of the fountain back home where their lips first met each other for the first of several times. Was it love when their tongues fought for dominance, both at their mouths as well as their loins, or was that something else? These thoughts were what the Battleship tried to avoid, why she didn't want to say her name, "Jean Bart, I… I don't hate her…"
Only a few people were privy to the actual knowledge of Massachusetts's relationship with Jean Bart, Brooklyn and the Commander were part of that group. The former having stumbled upon one of their more intimate moments. In a way it was probably her own fault for everything happening currently.
Massachusetts looked at the Light Carrier and the curious look she was giving while waiting for her to finish her previous statement.
"I-" the Battleship felt it wrong to dump her personal turmoil on Bataan, "-admire her…"
The answer seemed to satisfy the Light Cruiser seeing as how her eyes lit up.
"Like a rival!"
Massachusetts figured that to be part of it as the two Battleships were always trying to one-up the other in some way.
"I guess…"
The Battleship returned her gaze to the event below after hearing the bombastic mamba slowly start to die down. Massachusetts watched as Brooklyn and Val, chests heaving from their finished dance, staring hungrily into each other's eyes before sending their lips crashing into one another. Massachusetts quickly shut off the spotlight in a panic.
"Oh my…" Bataan blushed as she too witnessed the couple's passionate moment.
Even with the spotlight off Massachusetts could still see the two with their faces jammed together, their hands roaming all over each other's bodies. Slamming into the table, Brooklyn pushes Val down onto it sending the plates and silverware crashing onto the deck.
"Oh my!" Bataan covers her eyes peeking through the cracks in between her fingers.
Massachusetts was happy the night seemed to be going well for the Light Cruiser but she couldn't quite take the growing embarrassment she was feeling seeing her two friends' intense makeout session.
To her relief, the two left, running hand in hand inside, presumably trading the hard table for the soft comfort of a bed.
Releasing the breath she didn't even realize she was holding, Massachusetts jumps down from the conning tower to Brooklyn's stern. A team of Manjuu were already getting to work cleaning up the mess left behind. Grabbing what was left on the table, the Battleship's eyes lingered on where Brooklyn had Val pinned, replaying the scene in her head. The heat started to build up inside Massachusetts's core, radiating to her face.
"Need any help?" Bataan asked with a small voice still clearly embarrassed by what they just witnessed.
"It's okay, get some rest," Massachusetts says, hiding her reddened face, "I'll take over the watch after I'm done here."
" *yawn,* yeah I guess I am feeling a little tired," Bataan stretches her arms high above her head, "if you alright with it I'll head to bed, I'll see you in the morning!"
Jumping off Brooklyn's deck the Light Carrier skims away not even looking back to give a wave goodbye.
Back on board her own ship, Massachusetts stands on top of her turrets, keeping her arms tight across her body, trying her best to quell the heat building up from her body.
Nothing she did mentally worked to ease the burning desire within her. Massachusetts's chest felt tight under her bikini top, inhaling sharply as her arm brushed under her bust, surprised at her own sensitivity.
That accidental touch felt frustratingly great, the Battleship thought as she stared down at her own chest.
Massachusetts scans the area for anybody watching before cupping her breasts. Her body was warm to the touch and only getting warmer as her hands began to move. Massachusetts laughed at herself wondering how silly she must look for groping her own breasts, but she found it difficult to stop as it was starting to feel too good.
Shutting her eyes tight, a memory of Jean Bart and her soft delicate hands came into Massachusetts's mind. Hands that roamed all around her body looking for any weak spot to leverage against the Eagle Union Battleship. A weak spot the privateer found as she pinched at tips of Massachusetts's nipples. She couldn't quite remember the sound she made when it happened but the feeling that surged through her was unforgettable.
Massachusetts slides her hands under the fabric of her top, her fingers brushing over the hardened tip of her nipples. The Battleship's breath hitched at the intense feeling that flowed through her. What she had hoped would relieve herself of the burning only served to make her arousal grow stronger.
There was probably only one way to quench her desire, Massachusetts thought in a haze as one of hands slid down from her chest, down past her toned stomach, stopping only when her fingers hit the band on her shorts. She was only inches away from a sweet release. Dipping her fingers into her shorts Massachusetts could feel the amazing heat radiating from within getting stronger the closer she inched to her womanhood.
*BOOM* *BOOM*
Bright flashes shot out from Brooklyn's rear turrets sending nearly half a ton of steel streaking out into the black horizon behind them.
Massachusetts immediately snapped out of her arousal, checking her radar for any nearby threats, but there was nothing, not even a blip.
"B… Brooklyn!" The Battleship hails to the Light Cruiser.
"…" no response, only static came through the coms.
Jumping onto the water's surface, Massachusetts's ship dissolves into cubes before forming her full riggings on her waist behind her.
The Battleship streaked towards the Brooklyn wondering what the hell was going on.
As the band's song came to a thunderous close, so did Brooklyn and Val's dance. With chests heaving the couple still held on to each other with Val dangling from Brooklyn's arms in the same pose that ended their dance.
A bead of sweat dripped down from Val's neck, glistening from the bright beam of the spotlight, before disappearing between her breasts.
With half lidded eyes, Val gazed up at Brooklyn, her lips parted slightly, breathing heavily from exhaustion. The two only saw each other at that moment, the spotlight's beam blinding them to their surroundings.
In a moment completely overtaken by passion their lips collide. Val's hands roam over Brooklyn's back as the Light Cruiser cups Val's face pushing her towards the direction of the table.
The spotlight's beam turns off suddenly as the couple crash into the table. The force tripped Val as she fell on her back onto the table, sending plates and empty wine bottles clattering and shattering on the floor. Val couldn't move as Brooklyn had her arms pinned above her head. Offering no resistance, Val squirms as Brooklyn drew kisses along the base of her neck. Val shivered in anticipation as Brooklyn's hands found their way down to her thighs tracing upwards inside her dress, smiling coyly as the Light Cruiser's fingers press against her sex directly.
Brooklyn's advances paused, noticing the lack of any fabric between her lover's legs.
As if her heart wasn't racing before, it began to beat even more rapidly as all the Light Cruiser wanted was to take part in every inch of Val's body. Val had her head turned to the side breathing heavily with her eyes closed waiting for Brooklyn's attack, but before Brooklyn could indulge, a stray toot from a tuba put an abrupt stop to whatever the two were feeling in that moment. Glancing over in unison to where the sound had come from, they spot the band of Manjuu still standing there awkwardly. Brooklyn and Val snap back to look at each other before bursting out into laughter. If they went any further they would've given those Manjuu quite the show. Helping Val up from the table, Brooklyn pulls her along by the hand as the two run across the deck and back inside.
Brooklyn burst through the doors to her room practically throwing Val by her arm at the bed. Val hits the mattress hard, bouncing slightly as her head begins to spin, whether it was from sharing a couple bottles of wine or the dance that left them breathless, she didn't know. In a daze, Val lays there as Brooklyn pounces onto her stomach, straddling her. Val's neck is once again set upon by the Light Carrier's lips, this time more fervent than the last. A loud moan escapes Val as Brooklyn's teeth scrape across her skin.
Being loud was not something Val was used to, usually more accustom in trying to keep her voice in as the two normally had sex near and around other people.
No longer feeling inhibited by the presence of others, Val lets her voice go as Brooklyn's lips trail further and further down her body. The Light Cruiser felt as if she was doing something right as she never heard such a reaction from Val.
Brooklyn slides the straps of Val's dress aside as she draws kisses along her breast taking Val's nipple between her teeth. Val cries out in a pained moan as Brooklyn bites down, pulling her nipple upward before letting go and watching her breast bounce back into place. Val's moans gave Brooklyn great pleasure. Wanting to hear more, the Light Cruiser slides her hand up Val's dress, cupping at her lover's sex. Val's hips buck as Brooklyn pokes and prods at Val's dripping entrance. Val sucks in a breath through her teeth as Brooklyn continues to tease her.
Brooklyn took this as payback for the incident on her bridge earlier in the day, reveling in Val's frustrated moans.
"Please…" Val begged breathlessly, grabbing at Brooklyn's teasing arm.
Brooklyn's fingers slide into Val with little effort, as their mouths clash. With their tongues dancing around the other, Brooklyn could feel Val's moan reverberating in her throat as her fingers twirl around, exploring every inch of Val's drooling womanhood.
"R…right there!" Val lets out as their lips part for much needed air. Brooklyn intensifies her attack as her thumb starts to rub hard against Val's clit.
Everything in Val's mind went blank as her voice reached a crescendo. Brooklyn could feel Val's walls pulse hard against her fingers as it gushed with even more of her juices.
Val's chest heaves from her climax as she lays there staring blankly at the ceiling. For the first time since their voyage began Val had a clear head. Staggering upright, Val leans in kissing Brooklyn deeply as a thank you.
"That was amazing…" Val smiles as their lips part. Not wanting to be outdone, Val pushes Brooklyn on her back, reversing their positions.
Val pulls Brooklyn's legs up into the air, planting a kiss on the Light Cruiser's calves. Their eyes locked as her lips trailed up the inside of Brooklyn's thighs.
The Light Cruiser shivers in anticipation as Val's tongue dances around and near her entrance, getting frustratingly close but never touching. Brooklyn closes her legs, sandwiching Val's face between her thighs.
"What's the matter?" Val's whispers just millimeters from Brooklyn's mound. Her breath tickled at the Light Cruiser's aching clit, "what is it you want me to do?"
"H… hurry up…" Brooklyn pleads, unable to take anymore of Val's teasing, "c'mon…"
"Hurry up with what?" Val smirks deviously, "I won't know what to do if you don't tell me…"
"Please…" Brooklyn begs again.
"Please what?" Val places another kiss inside of Brooklyn's thigh, "as your Captain, I order you to tell me what you want."
Brooklyn bit her lip, unable to fight against the humiliation, "please!" The light Cruiser shouts at the limit of her senses, "hurry up and eat my pus-"
Her request is cut short by Val's mouth as she finally gets what she wanted. Val's tongue dived inside Brooklyn's gushing entrance, twirling around at her insides.
The light Cruiser's hips bucked as she shrieks in pleasure. Val could feel her head being pressed down by Brooklyn's hands as the Light Cruiser grinded her pussy against Val's face, desperate for a release.
Val obliges as her tongue begins to flick around Brooklyn's clit, taking it between her teeth. Val could feel Brooklyn's breath hitch for a moment.
"No, wait…" Brooklyn lets out, but it is too late. Val bites down hard as her cry echoes through the halls, a thunderous boom echoes back, shaking everything inside for a second.
Val doesn't let up as she keeps her tongue dancing around Brooklyn's swollen clit drinking up the juices shooting from her lover's pulsating entrance. The excess drips down Val's chin soaking the mattress underneath.
"Please… stop… I can't…." Brooklyn begs as she grips the covers above her head pulling at them hard.
Val still doesn't stop, as she wraps her arms around Brooklyn's waist tightly pulling her lower body upwards, pinning the Light Cruiser onto the bed.
Val could feel Brooklyn's inner walls start to contract around her tongue yet again as the Light Cruiser is hit with another disabling climax.
"Noooo~" Brooklyn cries, "no more~"
Val's heart raced even harder, wanting to hear more of Brooklyn's pitiful cries. Despite her tongue on the verge of cramping, Val pressed on taking it up a notch as Brooklyn's hips bucked wildly, threatening to bloody Val's nose.
Massachusetts lands aboard Brooklyn's deck for the second time tonight frantically looking around for anything amiss, stopping only when Bataan, dressed up in her cat pajamas lands beside her.
"What happened?!" Bataan looks towards Brooklyn's turrets, "I just heard her guns going off a minute ago!"
"I dunno…" Massachusetts answers back, uncertainty in her voice, "I tried hailing Brooklyn, but I got nothing back."
"She might be in trouble!" Bataan runs towards the entrance inside Brooklyn's ship, "we have to find her!"
Massachusetts followed after the Carrier, minimizing her riggings so that only one of her turrets were out, giving her quick access in a tight space if the situation called for excessive force.
As the two enter inside, they encounter the Manjuu running around frantically and upon further inquiry, none of them seem to know what was happening either.
Running further inside the two escorts make it to the halls nearing Brooklyn's room, stopping when they hear the Light Cruiser's cries echoing faintly from down the corridor.
"That was Brooklyn!" Bataan points down the hall, "she sounds like she's in trouble!"
The whole situation felt off to Massachusetts as she closed her eyes for a second recounting the events of just half an hour ago and how tonight's dinner ended. That was for sure Brooklyn's voice…
"Bataan wait!" Massachusetts eyes shoot open as she catches the back of the Carrier disappearing around the corner. The Battleship's riggings dissolve fully as she sprints after her, but it is too late as she sees Bataan standing in front of an open door frozen in shock.
Pulling Bataan to her chest, Massachusetts shields the Carrier's eyes as her own bare witness to the events transpiring inside.
"I'll sink!~" Brooklyn cries in her unending climax, as she floods Val's mouth, "stooo~"
The Light Cruiser's cries became unintelligible as another even more powerful orgasm hit her before the last one even finished.
Brooklyn's body twitched and spasmed hard against Val's face as her legs fell limp onto the bed.
Coming up for much needed air, Val wipes her mouth as she falls beside a still twitching and unresponsive Brooklyn.
"My bad…" Val smirks, "I think I went a little overboard."
The first rays of a rising sun paint Massachusetts's form sitting atop her turrets, staring blankly at the empty horizon. She sat there motionless even as Bataan nudged at her shoulder.
"It's my turn to keep watch," she says, rocking the Battleship side to side, "but you wouldn't believe the dream I had last night. We heard cannon fire and went to find Brooklyn but when we found her Val turned into a Siren and threatened to sink her."
Bataan blushed a little, choosing to omit some details, "sounds weird right?"
"Yeah…" Massachusetts gives a flat reply.
"It almost felt real," Bataan puts her hand to her chin in recollection, "but I woke up in my bed like nothing happened, and when I went to ask the Manjuu if anything weird happened last night, none of them wanted to talk…"
Massachusetts got up slowly, placing a hand on the Light Carrier's head, "don't worry about it, it was just a dream."
"If you say so…"
Satisfied, Massachusetts offers the Light Carrier a small smile before jumping down from her turrets. She wishes she too could be so lucky to be able to write off what happened last night as a dream but the image of Brooklyn and Val will probably now occupy a permanent space in her head.
Well sorry for the wait.
This one turned into a longer chapter than I anticipated.
It's also my first time writing any kind of lemon and I found I'm not really any good at it.
Next chapter should be the end of the voyage and we should be seeing everyone at the joint base soon.
Next time: Biloxi and Wichita join the convoy to replace Bataan as the group traverses the Panama canal.