Chapter 17
'Heh,' Massachusetts laughed in her mind, staring down at the oil stain that occupied her vision. Like some abstract painting of a Manjuu standing proudly atop the highest mountain. The concrete's grains prickled sharply at her knees as she shifted her weight, folding her ankles, one on top of the other.
"-I just don't get how the two of you could be so reckless all the time!"
Most of what Vestal said was lost to her wandering mind, but what little she did catch weighed heavy, like an anchor had been hung around her neck, dragging her head lower with guilt. The Carrier beside her, mirroring her position, wasn't faring any better.
'Poor Enterprise…' Massachusetts deflected, the Eagle Union's ace didn't deserve the earful they were getting and seeing as how it was her own fault for getting them both into this situation, the Battleship could only chew on the insides of her cheek as they were forced to listen to Vestal's harsh, but ultimately true words. The world's been relatively peaceful these last few years with only a few skirmishes with wandering Siren Surface ships taking place every so often. But Enterprise hasn't taken part in any of them, in fact, she hasn't seen any action since the final climactic battle with the last of the humanoid Sirens over five years ago now. In that battle though, we nearly lost her forever…
"Just how many times has your recklessness almost gotten you killed?"
Both girls' shoulders tightened as they both couldn't deny Vestal's words.
"Well, if it wasn't for her daredevilry," Belfast chuckled, placing a hand on the nun's shoulder to calm her down, "then I wouldn't have become as acquainted with the two of you as I am now."
"That just proves my point!" Vestal placed her hands on her hips before her tone shifted to a softer one, "you guys are incredibly lucky, but one day…one day, your luck might run out…"
Both girls on their knees clenched their fists, thoughts turning to their sisters. If Washington hadn't been there at Guadalcanal, Massachusetts probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing South Dakota again. And Enterprise couldn't shake the thought of nearly losing her own sisters for a second time.
"Just think about those of us who have to deal with the aftermath," Vestal turned away from the both of them, "constantly repairing the two of you is going to be the death of me!"
"Ya can't go dying on us, Vestal!" Hornet says from behind the repair ship, "Enty'd be a right mess withoutcha."
"I'm afraid I would have to agree with Miss Hornet." Belfast dipped her head, silently greeting the youngest Yorktown.
"I don't doubt it," Vestal said in exasperation, "I'm away from her for a couple years and she goes and gets herself a nice Royal Navy Maid to take care of her."
"Hey! I never asked her-" the Eagle Union ace tried to shoot up to her feet, but the pins and needles in her leg sent her back down on her butt.
"She is pretty hopeless…" Hornet shook her head.
"Yup," Vestal joined the head shaking, "pretty hopeless."
Hiding her quiet laughter behind her fingers, Belfast reached out with her other hand, helping Enterprise off the floor.
o7
Hammann suddenly saw the naval base from a new perspective, the tops of Hornet's and Enterprise's hats were now in view. Her legs dangled in the air, slowly processing what was happening to her.
"W-w-wha-what are you doing?!" The cat-eared Destroyer flailed her limbs frantically, "lemme down!"
Massachusetts had a promise to uphold, but quite literally holding the subject of the promise high up into the air, she wondered if she had the right idea.
"Put me down right-" Hammann went weightless, cutting off further protest. The back of her head and neck enveloped between Massachusetts pillowy mounds, lulling her into a slightly calmer state.
"Sorry Hammann," Massachusetts peered down at the destroyer she had between her chest, "I have orders from Yorktown."
"Big sis Yorktown…" the Destroyer's limbs went limp, resigning herself to be held like some needy Meowficer.
"She wanted me to tell you, that she's doing a lot better," the Battleship nestled her chin into the top of Hammann's head, "and that she misses you."
"O-o-of course she's doing better!" The destroyer broke free from Massachusetts's hold landing back down on her feet. "S-sh-she's Yorktown!" Hammann hid her face, rubbing at her eyes with her forearm.
The Battleship placed her hand on top of the shorter girl's head, stroking between her cat ears gently. Massachusetts waited for the girl's usual animated disagreements, but the yelling did not come. Hammann continued to rub at her eyes with the base of her palms, her narrow shoulders jumping with every other breath.
Hamman was being surprisingly honest, Massachusetts thought, stepping back to give the girl some space to collect herself.
"H-Hammann d-didnt say you could stop…" she said between her jumpy breaths, clutching at the hem of her skirt.
Massachusetts smiled to herself, stroking at the Destroyer's head once again.
o7
The perfectly fluffed pillows, the light non stifling air, and the way that the giant oversized bean bag chair enveloped her body made the former Vichy Destroyer release, for the first time since the other night, a nice long sigh as she sunk deeper into the cushions hold.
At last, Le Malin found peace. Away from the oppressive atmosphere that loomed around her own room. The owner of the room she was currently occupying was peacefully sleeping next to her. She was grateful to her new napping partner for sheltering her in her great time of need.
With her eyes finally succumbing to the weight of fatigue, she blissfully welcomed the embrace of sweat slumber, but loud repeated knocks at the door ripped even that from her.
"Laffy!" The voice at the door called, "Laffy! Wake up!"
"Helena-san is making sweets again, des," another voice at the door said.
That seemed to stir the other girl from her sleep, rising slowly from the cushions, rubbing at her eyes.
The door swung open as the two girls made themselves at home, stopping only when their eyes met with the former Vichy Destroyer.
"Oh hello," the overly cheery one waved, "...Le Malin, was it?"
*urk* her eye twitched slightly, upon being recognized, but try as she might, Le Malin had no clue what the name of the girls in front of her were.
"W-why yes!" She cleared her throat, "y-you must be… uhh… "
Damn, she'd seen her so many times around the base but for the life of her she couldn't remember her name.
"Javelin… Ayanami…" Laffey tugged at the hem of the Royal Navy Destroyer's skirt, "let's go… before they're gone…"
"Yes! Oh, dear!" Javelin jumped a little, just remembering what she came here to do. "Why don't you come with us?" She turned to Le Malin, "Helena makes the best sweets."
The soft bean bag chair underneath the Iris Cruiser was tempting her to lay back down but the idea of "the best sweets" was also very enticing. She would have to find out for herself if it was true or not, afterall, beating Dunkerque's sweets would be a pretty tall order.
"S-sure!" The word left her lips before she could properly think, but there was no time to process anything with the scenery of the room she was standing in turning into a blur as her arm threatened to be pulled out of its socket.
"Let's go!" Laffey pointed out the door before zipping off, pulling Le Malin along right behind her.
"Laffy!" Javelin yelled out before running after her bunny-eared friend, Ayanami, not too far behind.
o7
If it were alive, the pillow in the former Vichy Flagship's grasp would probably not be any longer, given the crushing hold she had over it. Her eyes tracing the single line of light that shone through the gap between her curtains, bisecting her room almost right down the middle. Despite the stuffiness inside she fought against the urge to crack her window open. Not because she liked wallowing in her own sweat and misery but something else. Something to do with trying to avoid any incidental glimpses at a certain Eagle Union Battleship she did not want to name.
What was she even doing here, at the Joint Base? To her knowledge, she was le Commandant's Flagship and had no reason to be so far away from his side, unless he was the VIP Wales was talking about. The further she thought about it the more it didn't make any sense. If le Commandant was actually here, the whole Joint Base probably would've been turned on its head, especially with those foxes around.
So the question remained, "what the hell is she doing here?!"
Hard knocks at her suite's door disturbed her brooding. Rolling over on her back she stared at her bedroom door hoping the current silence would last and whoever it was would just go away.
*knock* *knock* *knock*
"..." The Battleship grumbled,"Le Malin!" She called, waiting for a response, but none came except for a third round of knocking.
"Le Malin!" She called again, "get the door!" But again her request was only met with further knocking.
"Tch", Jean sucked through her teeth, slowly getting up from her bed.
Peeking her head through her bedroom door, she quickly scanned the room, but there was no sign of her little Cruiser friend.
"That girl…" the Battleship scratched at the side of her head in frustration, "where the hell had she gone?"
A familiar voice accompanied a further round of knocking, "Chère soeur? Jean? I know you're in here~"
"...sister…"
Also high on the list of people she didn't wish to see at the current moment, "Richelieu …"
Grabbing the handle to her door, Jean took a deep breath, trying to regain her usual distant expression before finally pulling the door open.
"What business do you have with me?" Jean let out, staring her sister down.
"Can't I just drop by to see how my dearest little sister is doing?" The Iris Cardinal smiled before pushing her way into the room.
"Well I'm doing just fine," Jean held the door open, hoping her sister would walk back out through it, "so if you're satisfied, could you please lea-"
"I find that hard to believe given how dark it is in here," Richelieu pulled open a curtain as Jean shielded her eyes from the sudden intake of light, "I wonder what's gotten you in such a brooding mood?" The Cardinal peered discreetly out the window, a smirk forming at the sight of a certain trio of Eagle Union Battleships talking casually at the docks.
"It's such a beautiful day out," the Iris Flagship turned to her sister with a smile, "it'd be a waste to let the Lord's blessing be squandered by keeping yourself inside all day."
"What're you getting at?" Jean narrowed her eyes at her meddling sister.
"Just a little assignment I have for you~"
"An… assignment?" Can't you get Le Malin to do it?"
"But I can't seem to find her!" Richelieu exaggerated her movements, choosing to omit the fact she had given the little Cruiser a tip on finding the perfect napping spot.
"That girl…" Jean muttered under her breath.
"Now now… I'm sure she's doing something quite important that's keeping her away." She places her hand on her sister's shoulder, "so I have no choice but to turn to you with such a delicate matter."
Jean sighed, not being able to shake the feeling her sister was up to something, but choosing to stand at her side in the newly formed Iris Orthodoxy meant it was her duty to take on such tasks.
"What is it you need me to do?" Jean scratched at the back of her head with slight exasperation.
"I just need you to deliver this…" she answered, pulling a folded piece of paper out of her cleavage.
"It's top secret," Richelieu added with a wink, as Jean took it from her hand, "so make sure it gets to its destination safely."
Top secret… Jean shoves the paper into a pocket in her shorts, not bothering to read what was on it.
"You could take a peek if you'd like~" she teased with a smile.
"I just have to deliver this?" Jean said, ignoring her sister.
"That's correct."
"And to whom?"
"To Helena, from the Eagle Union." Richelieu revealed stepping out of the suite.
"Helena…" Jean's thoughts turned to the Cruiser's older sister, and the offer she had presented with her missing feather. The girl was more than capable, but what business did someone like her have with top secret Iris dealings.
"She should be in the mess hall right now."
"If you knew where she was, why couldn't you deliver this yourself?" Jean asked with a slight harshness to her tone.
"Oh~ I'm afraid I have other important matters to tend to with Wales and Bismarck, which…" Richelieu stopped to check the time, "I appear to be late too!"
"Fine…" Jean let out a defeated sigh, having accepted the task already, "Go! I'll take care of this, so don't worry."
"Chère Jean, thank you!"
"Hurry up! Go!" Jean shooed her sister away, trying her best not to look at Richelieu's blinding smile directly. Back then, Richelieu didn't smile as much as she does now, Jean thought, though that was most likely why. And these days, it seemed as if most of those smiles were now directed towards her. As much as she outwardly complained, she didn't really hate it that much.
"Oh, and one more thing," Richelieu stopped abruptly, shooting her sister an apologetic smile, "while you're at it… sorry… but can you pick this up at Akashi's later."
Releasing one last sigh, Jean snatched away another slip of paper her sister had produced from her cleavage.
Not wanting to push the good graces of her brooding sister any further, the Iris Flagship disappeared wordlessly around the corner.
"When have I become so servile?" She shrugged, before making her way towards the mess hall.
o7
Her new Royal Navy friend wasn't kidding when she said Helena made the best sweets, Le Malin thought, scarfing down her fifth brownie. Chewy more deliberately, stirring the soft spongy treat in her mouth, she couldn't quite make heads if they were any better than Dunkerque's. They were different from what she was used to but still top tier nonetheless.
"Jeez!" Cleveland scratched at the back of her head, "you girls are like bloodhounds!"
"Hehe!" Javelin flashed a smug smile, "it's like I have a radar for sweets!"
"I'm surprised Z23 isn't with you guys?" Helena asked.
"She's probably still in Wales' office." Cleveland inferred.
"She did mention something about a debriefing…" Javelin held her chin in recollection, "but for it to go on this long…"
"How 'bout saving her a couple?" Helena set aside a few pastries, bagging them, before handing them over to Ayanami who had happily volunteered to take them to her.
Stepping aside to let the Sakura Empire destroyer through, Le Malin spots a familiar figure entering the mess hall. With the same swiftness she normally saves for life threatening situations, the Iris Cruiser ducks below the counter.
"Eep!" Le Malin let out as a hand slammed down atop the counter she was hiding under.
"Helena!"
She could recognize her former Flagship's voice easily.
"You are Helena? Correct?"
"U-um… y-yes!" The youngest Brooklyn squeaked. Her eyes darted around, avoiding Jean's piercing gaze staring her down, like she was judging her for something.
"Good. I would like a word, if you please," the former Vichy Flagship gestured prompting Helena to come with her.
"Not so fast!" Cleveland slammed down, the trays and utensils on the counter jumped from the impact, "if you have business with Helena, you could state it here!"
The younger Cruiser matched the intense glare the Battleship was giving off.
Javelin gulped down whatever was caught in her throat, hoping this stare down wouldn't take a turn for the worst.
"This is a confidential Iris Orthodoxy matter," Jean eyed the tomboy down past her nose, "it does not concern you."
"Then what does the Iris Orthodoxy want with Helena?!"
"That's not for you to know."
Cleveland clenched her fist, refusing to back down, but before she could voice another protest, Helena held out her hand to stop her.
"Clevie…" Helena smiled, "it's okay. I just have to hear her out."
"...f-fine…" Cleveland relented, shooting one last dirty look at the former Flagship, but Jean couldn't appear to be any less bothered, just staring off in the opposite direction with her arms crossed at her chest.
"Are you done?" Jean ignored the tongue being stuck out at her, gesturing once more for Helena to follow.
o7
"Geez! What was her problem?" Cleveland pouted, still eyeing Jean and Helena talking by the far side of the mess hall.
"I dunno, but she looked super scary," Javelin shivered a little.
"Well… whatever it was… it can't be that bad…," Laffey said as the group caught sight of Helena giggling reading from a slip of paper.
o7
Jean was reluctant to hand over the paper her sister had tasked her with delivering, wondering if the girl standing in front of her was worthy of what was written on it. Could this girl truly be trusted? There was some resistance as Helena attempted to pluck the piece of paper from between her fingers, but Jean finally relented in the end, releasing her grip.
Jean studied the shorter Cruiser's features as she read from the letter. The girl's face morphed as her eyes followed each line of text. Starting from a serious look transforming into one of shock, then a little smile and finally ending with a small giggle.
She… is…. laughing?! The former Flagship stood aghast.
"What do you find so amusing?" Jean said in a harsh tone.
"Oh," Helena tries to put a stop to her giggling, "I'm sorry…"
Recollecting her composure the best she could, Helena waves the letter in front of herself still trying to suppress a smile, "you didn't read this, did you?"
"Ah…I was only tasked with its delivery." Jean huffed, turning her nose up at the light Cruiser.
"Well, no matter," Helena says, stuffing the letter into her chest, "your secrets are safe with me!"
"G-good!" Jean looked away, hurriedly. The smile the Cruiser wore was way too reminiscent of the girl's bustier sister, like she was silently teasing her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave."
Jean stopped at the mess hall door, taking one last peek at the youngest Brooklyn. "Just what are you up to, Richelieu…?" She mumbled to herself, only now regretting her choice not to read the letter. Whatever it was, it was no longer her concern. Putting it out of her mind, the former Flagship made her way out the door.
o7
"I-is she gone?" Le Malin asked, shakily peeking her head from below the counter.
"Yeah… she left." Cleveland helped the Iris Cruiser up from the floor.
"Phew!" She deflates, as the tension leaves her body. "Y-you don't think she saw me did you?"
"I doubt it…" Cleveland scratched at her chin, "but you never know, when it comes to Battleships, there's no fooling their eyes sometimes. Especially when it comes to her." The light Cruiser's punctuated finish brought on by the memories of facing off against her back during the war. If Massachusetts weren't there… Cleveland shook away the thought.
"Are you in trouble?" Laffey lazily asked her new friend.
"Uhh… not really… but if she catches me here… It'd be a huge pain…" La Malin melted face first onto the countertop, side eyeing Helena as she stepped back into the kitchen.
"So what the heck was all that about?" Cleveland asked.
"Oh~ it's nothing crazy," Helena dismissed with a wave of her wrist, "just gotta bake some chocolate bread."
"Chocolate bread?" Cleveland cocked her head in confusion.
"Yeah," she nodded, "pan…pain au… chocolat… it's called…" Helena tried to read the French from the note she was given.
"Pain au chocolat!" La Malin shot up from her seat at the counter, wiping away at the line of drool that formed on one corner of her mouth.
"Ooo!" Javelin hoped with excitement, "they're those chocolate croissant things!"
"Mhm!" The previously listless Cruiser hummed in agreement matching the Destroyer's energy, "Dunkerque makes the best ones!"
"I can't wait to try them!" Javelin clasped her hands together in blissful hope.
"Sorry girls…" Helena put on a strained smile, "the note said to make them for a particular person."
The smaller girls in the kitchen release their own noise of disappointment at the news.
"...but~ it didn't say I couldn't make some extras~" Helena said with a wink.
Amidst the collective cheers, Cleveland scoots over to the Bluenette's side, "so… baking? That's all the note said?"
"Yeah," she chuckles, "and she was so serious about it when she handed it to me, I thought it was a prank."
"No kidding…"
"But it was a request from Richelieu for a special occasion, so~ I want to give it my all!" Helena adjusted the knot on her apron, a look of determination flashing on her face.
"So what's the special occasion? It's not a secret is it?"
"Well~" Helena closed her eyes in thought, "I doubt it'd be a problem if I told you… but…" she went to whisper into the blonde's ear.
Cleveland's face morphed into one of slight displeasure at Helena's words. Was she being a tad unfair? Yeah, she guessed so. They were allies now after all. It was a request from Richelieu herself, but did she really have to take part in preparation for that girl's launch day?
"I'll help you out…" Cleveland released a reluctant sigh, only because it's Helena, "besides, we still gotta prep for your sisters' party."
"Hehe…" Helena stuck her tongue out like she had forgotten, "we might need to recruit some extra hands…"
o7
The sun painted shadows of the tree limbs against her skin, a contrast of the warm sun with the cool breeze brought some semblance of inner peace into her mind. After being cooped up in her room most of the day, the open air was refreshing.
Her sister was right, Jean thought, as she continued her stroll through a less trafficked footpath that snaked around the edges of the base.
Foghorns from departing ships echoed through the trees sending the birds nesting in them up into the air. The plumes from their funnels peaked out from just behind the hill she was cresting, dissipating into the atmosphere.
The port seemed livelier than usual, and not just because of the arrival of the Eagle Union's delegate. From the top of the hill several ships could be seen sitting out of the confines of the harbor, another combined fleet of Sakura Empire, Iron Blood, and Eagle Union ships from the looks of it. At the center of the formation were two South Dakota battleships, a ship type she was intimately familiar with. It didn't look like her though, Jean thought, squinting to get a better look. They were too well equipped for a standard patrol and the fact they had not one but two of the Eagle Union's most combat capable ships made Jean believe Wales was prepping for something major.
The exact details of the encounter Brooklyn and her escorts had were still mostly unknown to her, as she's kept herself out of the loop for most of the day, but the damage the Eagle Union convoy sustained looked almost serious. Not to the point of it being life threatening, but almost as if one thing happened differently, it probably would have been. After all, that girl was there. Jean knew more than anyone, exactly what that Battleship was capable of.
An ache tingled along the phantom limbs of her riggings as she rubbed at the base of her back. Too long had they been shackled by this so-called peace that they, seethed at the thought of that girl, of all people, would see action as intense as she envisioned it to be.
She didn't hate this peace, no, far from it. That was mostly the warship in her trying its damndest to tunnel to her exterior. She owed a lot to this peace, many of which her pride would not allow her to acknowledge aloud.
Still, the burning inside her only grew as her eyes settled on a figure in the distance. Standing at the edge of the docks, seeing off her sisters as they steamed out to the open sea. The one person she was trying so hard to keep out of her mind.
"Massachusetts…" Jean took an aggressive stance, raising her arm out in front of herself, zeroing in on the Battleship's range. It would only take a second, for the source of all her current anxieties, to disappear, to be rid of the thought of her forever. The armature of her riggings so badly wanted to materialize, and all she needed to do was pull the trigger.
"...fire…" she whispered, relaxing back into a normal posture as her arm fell back down to her side. Breaking out into a quiet mocking laughter there was no one but the birds to bear witness to the humoring of her intrusive thoughts.
Their last battle ended before a clear victor was decided, all due to a little impromptu Siren invasion and the battlefield they were sailing on being swallowed up by a Mirror Sea. For the first time in their Shipgirl lives they would fight back to back against the onslaught of Sirens and their mass production ships. The invisible ache of her riggings yearned for the day she would finally best the Eagle Union Battleship in combat. And with Massachusetts finally within reach, that day was surely to come.
o7
Massachusetts continued to wave towards her departing sisters as the combined fleet of Azur Lane and Red Axis ships steamed away from the base. She was only able to get a few words and hugs in before they were sent to safeguard the newly discovered portal.
"Orders are orders…" Massachusetts sighed, attempting to place her hands into her jacket pockets, but catching nothing but air, she had forgotten she had lost it back inside the Mirror Sea. She didn't really mind it all that much as the breeze against her bare skin did feel pretty good.
Maybe they could return her jacket if they found it floating somewhere, but it was mostly burnt to a crisp so there was probably nothing left to find anyway.
"Akashi…" Massachusetts said under her breath, just remembering her little shop wasn't too far from where she was standing. She could possibly place an order for a new one, she figured, glancing at the storefront just ahead of her.
"C'mon in nya!" The shopkeeper greeted as the bells on the door rang, "oohh~ long time no see nya!"
"It's been a while, Akashi," Massachusetts returned the Cat-girl's greeting, "I see you've been doing well."
There were quite a number of random nick nacks and products that weren't here a few years ago. A lot more space inside as well.
"What can I get nya?" The Sakura Empire repair ship hoped down from her stool behind the counter.
"Actually…" The Battleship explained her situation.
"Yeah, I can do that," Akashi nodded, "but it'll take some time to prepare it for nya."
"That's fine, I'm in no rush anyway."
"Good!" The cat girl rubbed her palms together, "nyow, that'll be 1,200 gems!"
"1,200…" Massachusetts' eye twitched, "but it's my base skin!"
"Sorry nya," Akashi shrugged, "but a girls gotta turn a profit somehow. And besides nya, this is special order, tailor made! Of course I'll have to charge a premium, but I'll tell you what nya, since you're a returning customer… how does 1,150 gems sound!"
"Fine… what choice do I have," Massachusetts sighed in defeat, throwing her black card at the Cat-girl.
"Thank you for your patronage, nya!"
Maybe it was spending too much time around the ever frugal Brooklyn, but the Battleship felt a little part of her crumbling as she watched her card being swiped at the till.
"Still as shrewd as ever…"
"Oh~ flattery won't get you any more discounts!" Akashi hid her blushing face with her drooping sleeves, "but since you've been such a great sport, I'll throw in a little something for free, nya!"
"Free?"
"You heard right nya!" Akashi came around the counter, beckoning the Battleship to follow, "unlike that Shiranui, I like to take care of my customers, y'know, give them some incentive to come back."
Stopping in front of a rack of various clothing and accessories, Akashi proudly showcased a near full wall of hats.
"Feel free to pick one you like!"
She should've known… to get her hope up over the prospect of something free, but beggars can't be choosers. Scanning each row of unique and striking headwear, nothing of note really stood out to the Battleship, from beanies, to fedoras, and even medieval helmets, but still, nothing struck her fancy. Getting ready to give up and choose one at random, Massachusetts spots something in the corner of her eye. Just near the edge of the rack, a large black and gold sunhat hung precariously from its hook. The color was reminiscent of a certain Battleship's riggings, but the thing that really caught her eye was the rather large triangular cut at the rim of the hat.
"Heh… it looks like a lobster…" Massachusetts giggled to herself as she held the hat in her hands.
"Ooo~ good choice, that is a very pretty-" Akashi stopped abruptly before doubling back, "...wait… a lobster?"
The bells at the shop's entrance rang as another customer made her way into the shop.
"Welcome! C'mon in nya!"
Massachusetts watched as the cat girl disappeared around the corner to greet her newest patron.
"Ahh~ I was expecting someone from your camp to arrive soon nya," Akashi could be heard, from the back of the store, "but I wasn't expecting it would be you."
"Is there a problem with that?"
Massachusetts instinctively ducked down hugging at her new hat tightly, she knew that voice…
"No! No! Not at all nya!" The cat girl chuckled nervously, "in fact I've got your order ready! It's in the back so wait right here nya, I'll be back in a sec."
From a crack in the shelves, Massachusetts attempted to peek, but subtlety was never the Battleship's strong suit as she clumsily bumped an item off its shelf. She held her breath as the little knick knack clattered across the floor before panging off the side of the adjacent shelf.
o7
Something was off… Jean thought, from the moment she stepped into the shop, she could sense another presence nearby.
"No! No! Not at all nya!" Akashi released a nervous chuckle, "in fact I've got your order ready! It's in the back so wait right here nya, I'll be back in a sec."
Just as the Sakura Empire shopkeep disappeared to the back of the store, Jean could've sworn she saw something moving from the corner of her eye. But just as she turned, it was gone.
*clang*
"Who's there!" Jean turned all her attention to the sudden noise.
"N…nya…" a light, almost nervous meow answered her back just a moment later.
A cat… no, a Meowficer! Jean figured as Akashi was known to keep some around to help around the store.
It sounded distressed… with the mountain of stuff packed into this store it might've gotten buried underneath all of it. That's probably what that sound was!
Creeping closer to where she heard the distressed meow, the former Vichy Flagship took each step carefully, as to not startle the little fellow if she actually came across it.
"Pspsps…" Jean called, turning the aisle's corner.
A large hat, with long dark legs sticking out from underneath greeted her.
"N-nya…" The voice from behind the hat attempted another poor imitation of a cat.
'Was I seriously fooled by such an amateur impersonation?' Jean mulled in her head, as she grabbed at the rim of the hat, 'who would dare make a mockery of me?!'
With one swift motion, the hat was ripped away from the other girl's grasp, the face she had kept hidden now on full display.
"..." Jean stared down at her fellow Battleship, her mouth hung agape, "Ma-Massa-!"
"-N-nyaa…" Massachusetts pulled the hat back down over her reddened face.
"W-what are you-" Jean stammered, forcefully hoisting the Eagle Union Battleship up to her feet, "you are not fooling anyone!"
"Thanks…" Massachusetts blushed as Jean had yet to relinquish her grip on her wrist. She had wanted to see her for so long but she now only realized, her heart wasn't ready. Beating ever so faster at the sensation of her rival's soft delicate hand tightening against her. Even if it hurt a little, she could barely contain a smile that threatened to make itself known.
"So what? You're in the business of spying now?" Jean scoffed, blinded by her own annoyance, "typical Eagle Union."
"N-no! Well… I wasn't trying too…" the white haired Battleship tried to reason, her previous elation, dissipating at the accusation.
"So why then? Why were you hiding from me?" Jean's grip on Massachusetts' wrist tightened unconsciously.
"I-I was-" Massachusetts paused, clenching her free hand into a fist. That's unfair, why did she have to explain herself? "...you hid from me first…" she pouted, reversing the hold on her wrist, turning an angry expression back at the former Flagship.
"T-that was…" Jean took a step back trying to pry her arm free, bumping into a shelf behind her.
"Yeah…?" Massachusetts narrowed her eyes, pressing forward, pushing Jean further against the ever teetering shelf.
"..." she could feel them, Massachusetts's breasts pressing up against her own. sensation she figured she wouldn't ever feel again as their chests fell and rose with each uneven breath. Her skin felt so soft, so smooth, so much… It only took one glimpse downward for Jean to become hyper aware of Massachusetts's state of undress.
Even normally, the Eagle Union Battleship didn't leave much to the imagination, but Jean never knew how much difference one simple improperly worn jacket would make. And now that she was without it…
Struggling to swallow down the knot that had formed in her throat, Jean turned her gaze upward away from the Battleship's… large caliber guns. But the face the Battleship was making wasn't making things any easier. With puffed up cheeks and a furrowed brow, her normally aloofness all but gone. In its place, an almost adorable attempt at indignant anger.
"It was so sudden…" Jean turned away, trying to hide the heat building up in her cheeks, "I wasn't expecting to see your empty head."
"Sorry… I guess I did just kinda show up…" Massachusetts's hand slips away from Jean's wrist, hooking their pinkies on the way down, "but… I wanted to see you…"
Jean strained at her cheeks, fighting to maintain a level face as her eyes locked with Massachusetts. She could feel the girl's heart beating, heavy and fast, reverberating inside her own chest.
"I…" Jean's voice came out dry, bringing her free hand up to Massachusetts's face, softly brushing her knuckle over the Battleship's cheek.
"Sorry, it took me a while to-" Akashi's voice paused at the start of the aisle. Poking her head around the stack of boxes in her arms the little cat-girl stood with reddened cheeks, "Sorry, I appear to be interrupting something nya."
"N-no! No you are not!" Jean pushed Massachusetts away, holding her shoulders at arms length.
"While I appreciate your business," Akashi said before clearing her throat, "I politely ask for you to refrain from salacious activities while inside my store nya, but~" drawing out the but in a little sing song voice, the Sakura Empire repair ship put on a more mischievous face.
"-if you wanted to spice up things in the bedroom nya~" with a little wiggle of her eyebrow she kicked at the shelf she was standing next to twice at its base. With a pneumatic hiss the shelves came apart revealing an elaborate glass display case, the contents of which turned both Battleship's faces red, "I've got just the stuff that would make you or your partner sing nya! Or so I'm told, I'm an innocent girl you see."
Massachusetts stood, frozen in wide-eyed astonishment at the rows and rows of very phallic looking objects of varying sizes and colors.
Despite her hardened exterior, Jean was more red in the face at such a magnificent display. Having always thought of herself as the blasphemous one, she may have more commonality with her sister than she previously thought.
Reaching into the display case, Akashi went to reach for one piece in particular, "this one here is modeled after The Commander's-"
"W-we're leaving!" Jean stormed past the cat-girl with a huff, pulling Massachusetts along behind her.
"Wait!" Akashi scrambled as the explicit display folded back behind another shelf, "you forgot your-!" But the door to the shop had already slammed shut, "oh well nya, she'll be back for it."
o7
The two Battleships had gotten a fair bit away by the time Jean had stopped fuming. She had left the store with something in hand, but it wasn't her order.
A little giggle at the privateer's side finally alerted her of her folly.
"You looked so funny," Massachusetts tried to hide her giggle behind her free hand.
Jean couldn't figure what it was about today, but everyone seemed to be so eager to tease her "Shut it." She snapped but that didn't deter the other Battleship from laughing at her expense.
"What were you even doing in there?" Jean tried to steer Massachusetts away from topics of herself.
"I was just ordering a new jacket…" the Eagle Union Battleship looked down at her own mostly exposed form.
Jean followed her rival's gaze, regretting it immediately as her underdressed state was even more apparent in the soft glow of the setting sun.
"And the hat?" Jean pointed her chin down at the hat Massachusetts was still clutching in her hands.
"It was free…" she held it up in front of herself, "and I thought it looked cool…"
With rosey cheeks Massachusetts places the hat on Jean's head, "and it reminded me of you…" she said, barely above a whisper.
"What are you-" Jean attempted to remove the hat.
"No!" Massachusetts let out, "you can keep it…"
"I…" the former Flagship sighed in defeat after looking upon the girl's earnest face, "fine, if you are being so generous…"
Shifting it around a little, Jean let it settle after finally adjusting it so it sat perfectly on her head.
"Oooo!" Massachusetts starred in awe, "it looks good on you! Like you're an actual pirate!"
"Of course!" Jean turned her nose upward, accepting her rival's compliments.
"Oh, hello again!"
A familiar voice from ahead of them drew their attention.
"And Massachusetts too! What a pleasant surprise," St. Louis held her cheek as she greeted the two Battleships alongside Biloxi and Val. Cradled in their arms were Bataan's Hellcats with a few more buzzing around behind them.
"Lou! It's been a while," Massachusetts greeted back happily as Jean could only muster a cautious nod.
The former Vichy Flagship couldn't figure out what it was, but there was something about the busty Cruiser that kept her on edge, even more than normal. Maybe it was the smirk she always wore, but Jean could swear it seemed even bigger than usual.
"You guys haven't seen Brooklyn around?" Massachusetts inquired, "I haven't seen her at all since we landed and she wasn't at the debriefing…"
"Oh… she's a little tied up at the moment," Val shrugged, "y'know… sister troubles."
Even Val's smile seemed bigger than normal, Massachusetts thought as she turned her gaze towards Biloxi who hadn't said anything but continued to stare wide eyed at the two of them.
"While I'd love to catch up with the both of you," St. Louis gave an apologetic smile almost like she was trying to rush along, "we've got to get to Akashi's to pick up some stuff for these little ones," she continued, gesturing to the gaggle of little fighters behind herself.
"Good luck!" Massachusetts waved them off, watching as they made their way down the waterfront.
"Hmph!" Jean quickly turned back to the direction they were traveling, pulling Massachusetts along once again, "has anyone ever told them it was rude to stare."
Massachusetts could only reply back with a chuckle.
o7
"You saw that right?" Biloxi whispered to St. Louis with a blush, looking back to make sure the two Battleships were no longer within earshot.
"Ufufu," the busty Cruiser's smile was definitely bigger than usual, "so brazen…"
Val didn't need any cipher to figure out what the two Shipgirls ahead of her were talking about, she saw it with her own two eyes. It probably wasn't too big of a deal but given Biloxi's and St. Louis's reactions maybe it was, but two girls holding hands on a nice sunset waterfront stroll wasn't that unheard of, well… at least to her.
"Who was that girl?" Val asked, "the one with the ponytail."
"Hmm? Oh, that was Jean Bart," Biloxi answered.
"The former head of the Vichy Dominion forces," St. Louis added.
"Vichy… so she was an enemy…" Val mulled to herself, "wait… former head? So she was their leader?!"
"Used to be their Flagship," Biloxi clarified.
"Yep, until she ceded control to her sister," St. Louis added again.
"Thus reuniting the broken people of the Iris Orthodoxy." Biloxi finished.
'Great…' Val thought, 'I just met someone that important and I didn't even realize, and worst yet!' Val started to sweat a little, 'I was practically openly teasing her! I didn't mean too, it was mostly for Massachusetts, but there was no way she didn't see it like that!'
"You okay back there?" St. Louis said with concern, "you look kinda pale."
"Oh~ it's nothing," Val chuckled nervously, "just happy I wasn't executed on the spot."
"Jean isn't… entirely like that" St. Louis's pause to add an addendum wasn't lost on Val, "she's a nice girl at heart."
"She doesn't make it easy to believe…" Biloxi scoffed, not helping Val's case.
"She wouldn't have rebelled if she didn't have the best interests of her people in mind," St. Louis debated, " and she even had the strength to give up her power once she saw she was wrong."
Val hummed in acknowledgement. She had to be careful for here on in with how she carried herself. It was thanks to Brooklyn's special invitation that she was even here to begin with and the last thing she wanted was to further humiliate her more than she already has with the incident at the docks with Nagato. Still though, that wouldn't stop her from trying to squeeze a few details from Massachusetts later.
o7
Well I'm really sorry for a late update. Between vacation, a hectic work schedule, and having to deal with the extended family, work on this chapter was on the back burner for a bit…
And I know I said it was gonna be Massachusetts focused, but I really wanted to throw in some Jean Bart as well because of her Launch Day(which I missed by a whole month…) Le Malin… well… I wanted some of her too.
We'll be back with Brooklyn for a bit in the next chapter while the focus turns to Val as she helps out Helena and Cleveland as they prep for the Brooklyn family reunion and figuring out Dunkerque's secret recipe for some sweet chocolate croissants.
Please, if you got any feedback or comments, let me know! My writing is so scattered these days.