Last Exile Fan Fiction ❯ Developing Bonds ❯ Dual Self ( Chapter 2 )

Developing Bonds

 

By: A-Z Mk II

 

Disclaimer: Not mine - just borrowing for a bit.

 

Rated: NC17/X

 

Chapter 2: Dual Self

-

The Silvana was a ship-of-the-line in the Anatory navy, and as such, her quarters were nothing short of functionally stark and bare. Anatory naval regulations and traditions held with a very tight code for how the ships were to be crewed, and how things were to be done, but the Silvana was Captained by a man who was just the barest whisker shy of being a rogue agent, so - as with so many things - the regulations were often as not discarded as they were obeyed. So it was that the cabin was modestly appointed, but comfortable.

Sitting at a small wood document desk, the First Office of the Silvana, Sophia Forrester, wrote in her private diary, filling the page with her crisp, neat handwriting. Every time she read a report from the crew, she was reminded of just how easily her handwriting could give her away. It would seem that the money that father spent on those tutors was well and truly spent, thought the woman, her lips twisting into a small grimace. Of them all, only her van ship captain, Tatiana Wisla, Alister Agrew and herself had such clean, crisp calligraphy.

Pausing, she considered another who might have such neat writing. Lavie Head. She's Claus's navigator - maybe more - and therefore should have neat, clear handwriting. She considered that. Alister learned her penmanship in the Academy, but Lavie couldn't have learned there, since she never went. And I know that those two couldn't afford tutors; even if they could, they wouldn't have wasted the money on them, seeing how they act about their van ship. she smiled at the thought.

Beginning a new line, she recorded her new line of thought in her diary. It had been a close thing, really. Nine days ago, the Silvana had come so close to being sunk that all of them had thought that they had taken their last breath, but somehow, the ship had managed to dig into the slope of the Dragon's Fang and halted itself, avoiding a very nasty death. The Urbonis­-class ship that had anchored itself to them had not been so fortunate.

In all the confusion, Lavie had been injured protecting Al, and had spent almost four days in a coma. At the same time, Claus and Tatiana -flying close support combat in the fight with the three ships sent to bring Alex in - had been shot down, and were commonly believed dead by most of the crew. Only Alister, Dio and Al had refused to believe it. In spite of repeated demands to take out a van ship and look for the two, it had been four days before the ship had been repaired enough to raise itself and launch a van ship. Alister navigated for Dio, who nearly gleefully went in search of `Immelman', as the Guild member called Claus.

“Might have been smarter to use a Starfish for that, but he takes delight in flying van ships.” mused Sophia to herself. Much to everyone's surprise but the three who had never given them up for dead, the two had towed a much-abused and battered red van ship back to the Silvana that evening. The larger ship was scarcely in better shape than the red van ship, fighting to make headway. So, amid all the activity, no one had bothered to ask them for a debriefing, and besides that, Claus was only interested in finding Lavie and Al.

Al had greeted them on the flight deck, and led him to the main hanger where Lavie was reported to be working on their personal van ship. Tatiana had tagged along, and the two had found Lavie right where she was reported to be. Sophia pursed her lips as she recalled the scene from a week before. Something was wrong with that reunion. she knew. Lavie had lit up like a lamp when Claus called her name, and she started to greet him, but broke off suddenly, almost visibly closing her emotions down. Watching from the walkway above, Sophia had wondered what exactly had caused that reaction from the girl.

It was another three days before Sophia and the Captain had heard Tatiana's debriefing. If she didn't know better, Sophia would have sworn that Tatiana was fighting a blush when she tersely said she and Claus had `made it through three days' before managing to get the van ship back in the air. A glance at the Captain had showed his complete disinterest in the odd behavior of the pilot. The news of the Disith migration capsules certainly got his attention, though. she recalled.

Alex Row had obviously read something into the fact that the Disith were using the migration capsules, but all he said when she asked him after the debriefing was, “Leave them be. We have more pressing matters to see to.” And no one would argue that. The Silvana needed a major refit and overhaul.

“But where?” she mused to herself. The Silvana had been named outlaw by the King of Anatory, and so, finding anyone who would work on the ship would be problematic, not to mention that the latest turn of events placed her in the middle of a nasty situation with her father. She was pretty sure that they were headed for one of the black market contacts that Alex had built up over the years.

Ignoring the issue of herself and her father, she allowed herself to muse about the Captain of the Silvana. Sophia was honest enough with herself to admit that the first time she had seen him, in the enrollment ceremony for the Academy her freshman year, she had formed a crush on him. Given her background, having a crush on him was not such a good thing, but she couldn't control herself.

Having graduated three years before she enrolled, he was finishing his final assignment at the Academy before taking command of the battleship Silvana. He had taught a course on tactical battle formation utilization against superior numbers of Disith ships, and she had both excelled at the course, and found herself completely taken with him. She had decided then and there that she would find a posting on the Silvana when she graduated.

“And here I am.” she muttered, closing her diary and stashing it in the small drawer of the desk before locking it in. Leaning back in her chair, she reflected on the past couple of years as his First Officer. He is definitely driven, though I had originally thought that what drove him was a desire to fight the Disith or to serve Anatory as an exemplary officer, but he really doesn't give a damn about any of that. Her lips compressed into a thin line.

She knew, intellectually, at least, that since she had learned of his true goals, she should have reported his activities to the King, or at least to the Admiralty. She had done neither. In fact, I have done all I can to support his agenda. Which makes me a traitor as well, I suppose. she mused. “But is it really treason?” she wondered aloud. With the way that the war was dragging on and on, she had been less and less sure that the goals of the Captain were wrong. In fact, since Claus, Lavie and Al had arrived, she had been sure that the goals of Alex Row were necessary. “It's all about perspective, I guess.” she muttered.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a tick sound from her cabin window. Frowning, she stood and stepped to the window, looking out at the passing clouds. For a moment, she wondered if she had been hearing things, but then, she heard the sound again, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bit of movement at the bottom of the window. A grey and white homing bird had found his way to the ship, and that could only mean one thing.

Opening the window as much as she could, she let the bird wiggle into the cabin, the dull brass of the message cylinder on it's leg. Briefly stroking the bird with her fingers, she quickly retrieved the message and unfolded the thin, delicate paper. Reading it, she sighed. So, the time has come, has it? she thought. Smoothing her uniform, she stepped out of her cabin, bound to talk to the Captain.

-

“What do you expect me to say?” was the only reaction from the Captain. Sophia wasn't sure herself what she expected him to say. “Do as you see fit.” he dismissed the entire topic, turning his attention back to his charts. Saluting, Sophia departed his cabin, releasing a breath she didn't know she had been holding once the door was closed behind her.

I knew that wouldn't just throw his arms around me and beg me to stay here with him, but I did have some hope that he would at least ask me if I wanted to stay! she thought, a bit resentfully. Not for the first time, she was confronted with the truth about Alex: he was not in love with her. I figured that out pretty quick, but why can't I accept that fact? she wondered to herself, slowly moving back to her cabin.

One passage short of her cabin, she saw a familiar platinum blonde head ahead of her. “Tatiana?” she asked, causing the younger girl to turn to look at her.

“Vice Captain?” asked the girl, surprised to find Sophia behind her. Her hand flickered up in a salute. Sophia returned the salute.

“Were you looking for me?” asked Sophia, suspecting that if she had stayed silent, she would have followed Tatiana to her cabin door.

“Not…exactly.” hedged Tatiana. Sophia watched her intently. Something is bothering her. realized the older woman.

“I see.” she murmured. “Would you join me for some tea in my cabin, Tatiana?” she asked/ordered. The younger woman nodded quickly.

“Yes, ma'am.” she confirmed. Stepping past Tatiana, the two headed to her cabin. Closing and locking her door, she turned to put the small water kettle on the tiny burner. Tatiana was standing at attention by the door.

“Make yourself comfortable.” said Sophia, inclining her head toward the bed, as she herself took the chair in the room. Tatiana gingerly settled onto her bed. For several minutes, the room was silent. Then, Tatiana spoke.

“Ma'am, I was wondering if…you could give me some advice.” said the teenage van ship captain. Sophia considered the other woman silently.

“What kind of advice, specifically?” asked the nineteen-year old of the seventeen year old. Tatiana opened her mouth, but closed it again without speaking, obviously trying to choose her words. Absently, Sophia adjusted her reading glasses. Though she technically didn't need them to read, her eyes began to hurt if she read for any length of time without them; and given the time she spent reading in her job as vice captain of the Silvana, she had early on decided to wear the small, low-sitting glasses.

“I was wondering if you had any advice on deciding rather or not to risk a friendship by moving past that.” interrupted the voice of Tatiana, slowly and carefully enunciating each word. Sophia quirked an eyebrow.

“You thinking of anyone in particular?” asked the older woman. It has to be Claus. Other than Alister, he's the only one she reacts to like she does. reasoned the vice captain. Suddenly, she spotted flaw in that argument. Of course, she could mean Alister. She had never shown any real reaction to men, even in the academy. Maybe she prefers women? wondered Sophia. She couldn't picture it, but it was a possible answer to the question.

Tatiana's cheeks colored at the counter question. “N…no!” she replied. That pathetic lie was as obvious as a kick to the head. “I was just…wondering.” she tried to shore up the fatally flawed lie. Sophia fought to keep her lips from twitching into a smile. I should thank her, really, thought the other woman, her issues are allowing me to forget mine - if only for a while.

“What happened in the desert, Tatiana?” asked the vice captain directly.

“We crashed, eventually repaired the ship and headed for the redoubt to refit and supply ourselves before searching for the Silvana.” replied Tatiana immediately.

“I didn't ask for the debriefing, Tatiana.” said Sophia evenly. “What happened between you and Claus?” she repeated, clarifying her question. Tatiana's cheeks colored some more.

-

It was early morning, and Sophia was lying in bed, having shed her uniform and sought her bed shortly after Tatiana had left. The talk between them had lasted more than two hours, and had proven to be a real eye opener. Some of what Tatiana shared with her - about Claus's parents - had caught her completely off guard.

Even more shocking was the realization that Tatiana had slept with him. Although Tatiana had never told her directly, Sophia figured it out from the poorly-concealed answers she gave and the body language. I can see how it might have happened, though. she reasoned. Claus is nice, and since he is technically from a noble family as well, it wouldn't be scandalous for a Wisla to have an affair with a Valca; especially under those circumstances. Her lips frowned. But, where does that leave Lavie? she wondered.

Though the two seemed to be having some difficulties with each other at the moment, neither had moved out of the cramped room they shared with each other and Al, and the one they always went to first with anything was each other. Turning over, she looked at the bedside stand, where her glasses rested next to a picture. “Same place as me, I guess.” she muttered.

Giving up that line of thought, she began to review the operations planned, and tried to figure out what Alex was up to. First, obviously, was repairing the ship, but after that, it got a bit iffy. If I do as I have been instructed, then I might find myself on opposite sides of a war with the Silvana and everyone on it. But, if I don't go back, I might never stop this war.

Sighing, she ran a hand through her loose hair. On ship, she never left her room without her hair being neatly braided and tucked into a functional arrangement. Long hair left loose on a battleship was not wise, and Sophia was not one to forgo safety or functionality for appearance. I haven't left it loose since I entered the academy. she realized with a small amount of surprise. And yet, I never even considered cutting it short, like Tatiana and several other girls did. I wonder, was I subconsciously expecting something like this to happen one day?

That thought did nothing to help her sleep. All this time, I thought that I could forget my status, my responsibilities, my family. But, I was only fooling myself. In the end, I am who I am. she grimaced. “So be it.” she murmured, finally managing to get herself to sleep for a few hours. For those few hours of sleep, she dreamed of the past, the present, and what might be the future.

-

“No way! She's leaving the Silvana?!” gasped the cook upon hearing the latest scuttlebutt from Ethan. The mechanic nodded quickly.

“No kidding! I heard it from Wina not an hour ago! She happened to hear the Vice Captain telling the Captain!” boasted the mechanic.

“Wina? I'm not surprised.” grunted the head cook. Neither of them noticed Al slip into the kitchen and begin to make some sandwiches for Claus and Lavie. “Every time I got to the bathroom, I get this nervous twitch because I can't shake the feeling that she can hear me pissing!” groused the man.

“Yeah, she's got the best ears in the fleet.” agreed Ethan.

“So, it's only her ears you like?” came the coarse voice of Godwin. Glancing back, Ethan saw that his fellow mechanics were entering the mess hall, with Gale, Kostabi, Mullin and Lavie behind the big chief mechanic.

“Well, her ass is kind of cute…” began Ethan, only to have Godwin wrap an arm around his neck and choke him.

“Watch that filthy mouth, kid. We got a lady with us!” he snarled, tossing his head in Lavie's direction. The short girl blinked at being called a lady.

“Hey, it doesn't bother me.” she waved the topic away. “Everyone already knows what a pervert he is, after all.” she paused, smiling a sinister smile at the young mechanic. “Especially Alister.” she added. The other mechanics began to snicker at the look on Ethan's face at that snipe.

With much ribbing and off-color jokes, the mechanics got their food and settled at a table to eat. When Lavie saw Al finishing up some sandwiches, she broke away from the men and joined the young girl. Lavie was just about to try one of the sandwiches when Dio and Lucciola blew in, looking for Claus. Apparently, Dio had a picture he wanted to show Claus.

-

“Tatiana Wisla, reporting as ordered, Ma'am!” said the young van ship captain crisply, saluting her superior officer. Sophia looked up from her papers.

“At ease, Tatiana.” said the vice captain, returning her salute. Tatiana relaxed some. “I called you here to tell you some things.” said Sophia, glancing past Tatiana to make sure that the cabin door was closed. “First, I am leaving the ship to return to the capital tomorrow afternoon.” she said, causing Tatiana to blink.

“Ma'am? You're leaving?” wondered the younger girl. Sophia nodded.

“Yes. I am. Family business.” she said shortly. I don't want to get into that right now, she added silently. “I…most likely will not be returning.” she said, her tone softer than before. Before the other woman could speak, she went on. “What I wanted to talk with you about was your position on this ship.” Seeing Tatiana's attention, she went on.

“Tatiana, I have recommended you for the post of Vice Captain, pending my transfer.” said the older woman, holding Tatiana's gaze. “You are the best qualified for the post aboard this ship, and I believe that your true potential is being wasted in the van ship wing.” she elaborated. “It will not be easy, should you accept the recommendation.” cautioned the woman. “But, I have faith in you, Tatiana.” she concluded.

“Ma'am!” breathed the younger woman. From van ship captain to Vice Captain in less than two years! No one has ever risen so fast! thought the girl, stunned. But, if I take the post, I wouldn't be able to fly with Claus or Alis. Do I really want the post, if that is the cost? she wondered. It never occurred to her that had that post been offered before her crash in the desert, she would have taken it without a second thought.

“The other thing I wanted to talk to you about is of a personal nature.” said Sophia softly. Tatiana's attention was dragged back to the vice captain upon hearing those words. That sounds…ominous. she thought.

“Ma'am?” she indicated that Sophia had her attention.

“What are your feelings toward Claus?” asked the older woman. Tatiana blinked.

“My…feelings?” she wondered, feeling her cheeks warm at the question. “I…enjoy flying with him. He's…very kind.” said Tatiana, remembering Alister's words when she spoke to him about this very topic. `Don't read too much into it, Tatiana. Claus is just a very kind man' she said. Yeah, Alis, I don't doubt that! But I don't think you realize what we did in that desert, either! she thought to her best friend. The details have not come up for discussion between the two of them, but she suspected that eventually, Alister would ask.

“Yes, Claus is very kind.” agreed Sophia. “But I asked what your feelings toward him were. Friends? Lovers? More?” suggested Sophia. Tatiana didn't respond, and from the look on her face, Sophia knew that she had called the situation correctly. “Tatiana,” she began softly, “before you pursue a relationship with someone, you need to decide what it is you are looking for from that relationship.” Yes, I learned that lesson the hard way! thought the Vice Captain. “Also, you should be aware that there are other people's feelings to be considered as well as your own. If those feelings are not dealt with, it can sour all your dreams in short order.” Sophia guiltily snuck a peek at the folded papers on her desk.

Tatiana listened to Sophia talk, trying to figure out where this was going. She's talking about Lavie; that much I know. But what does she mean by `souring my dreams'? I can't figure that out for the life of me. And what should I do to deal with Lavie's feelings - or lack thereof? wondered the younger girl. After all, if she sees Claus as a brother, then there won't be anything for me to worry about, right?

“I guess that I should just say `think before you act', and leave it at that.” said Sophia. “If you don't, you might regret your decisions.” she murmured, smothering a grimace. Her inner thoughts were interrupted by the immediate and sure response of her subordinate.

“I don't regret it, Vice Captain. Any of it!” Tatiana answered with unshakeable conviction. “And I never will.” she said, feeling a smile on her lips as she remembered that last night in the desert, under the winglet of her van ship one. How could I regret the best night of my life? she wondered fondly. Even if I don't end up with him, I will always have him in my heart. Another thought occurred to her. And even if Lavie marries him, I will always be his first, and he, mine! she thought smugly.

Sophia's soft snort of amusement derailed her thoughts. “You might be surprised how things turn out sometimes, Tatiana.” she cautioned her younger officer. “Still, I hope you are right.” Tatiana risked a bold question in response to that statement.

“Do you?” she asked directly. Sophia frowned.

“Do I what, Tatiana?” wondered the older woman.

“Do you regret your first time?” challenged Tatiana. It was Sophia who blinked this time. She's very direct! thought the older woman. And why does she think I've had a first time?! she wondered, a touch of both resentment and embarrassment.

“First, why do you assume I have had a first time, and secondly, what business of yours is it in any case?” replied Sophia. Tatiana flinched.

“My apologies, Vice Captain.” she said tightly. “I was out of line.”

“Accepted, Tatiana, but I still want to know why you think I have had a first time.” replied Sophia crisply. Tatiana wished she had not opened her mouth.

“Well, begging the Vice Captain's pardon, you are a very attractive woman.” tried Tatiana, hoping that that would deflect further questions.

“Thank you for the compliment, but I am not the only pretty face around here, so why?” pressed Sophia. Tatiana fought the urge to fidget.

“There was some scuttlebutt going around the academy about your feelings for a certain party, and with you pursuing a post in that person's command when other, more prestigious, posts were open, it seemed likely that the rumors were true.” replied Tatiana reluctantly.

“Rumors.” replied Sophia, shock. “At the Academy?” she pressed. Tatiana nodded stiffly. “About me?” she verified. Again, another nod. Sophia blinked. Silence fell for several minutes before either spoke. Eventually, Sophia spoke. “What did these rumors say; exactly?” she asked her subordinate.

-

Claus watched the last of the sunlight fade from the sky. It was late at night, and he had already checked on Al, who was asleep in her bed, clutching the stuffed ram that Lavie had given to her when they first `acquired' her. It feels like a lifetime ago. he mused, remembering that day. “We were gonna win, too.” he chuckled to himself, quoting Lavie.

Since then, things had gotten a lot more complicated. Both with the mission they had accepted from Ralph, and between them. Right now, Lavie was working on their van ship, and experience had taught Claus that she would likely be there for several more hours before retiring to their room.

“Our van ship.” he muttered to himself. It wasn't father's van ship at all! This whole time, we thought that it was our dads' van ship, but it was his! All this time, he just watched us struggle, barely getting by, and never said a word to us or helped us. Alex Row is worse than the Guild! That thought brought up another, though. But, even when he told me what he plans to do, I didn't leave. he reflected. And that choice might cost me Lavie. She was not happy, that much I am sure of. She never wanted to stay on the Silvana, but because I wanted to, she stayed, too. Maybe I should leave the ship. I know that Lavie would be happier if we did. But, what about Al? And what would we do if we left? Our home is wreckage, our ship isn't working, and we have no money. Claus sighed.

For all the negatives, though, he couldn't really get down. With Lavie recovered, they would make it. They had since they were children, and they always would. The thought of his life-long partner brought a smile to his lips. She's right, of course, he admitted, the ship truly is our ship, no matter who it originally belonged to. We paid for it in blood, sweat and tears. Not even Alex has spent as much time and effort on that ship as we have! He chuckled softly to himself. Lavie usually is right, come to think about it. he thought fondly.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled the thinner air up where the ship was currently sailing. For all his life, he had felt more alive and at peace in the air than on the ground; fortunately, the same was true of Lavie as well. “Up here, we are at home.” he muttered. With his thoughts on his shorter partner, he didn't notice the time pass, nor did he notice when someone slipped out onto the small, mostly hidden observation deck at the mid-deck of the warship.

It wasn't until he smelled a faint, flowery scent that he realized that someone else was standing at the rail upwind from him. Turning, he saw a woman in the uniform of the ship, long, brown hair blowing in the steady wind slipping along the battered armor plates on the side of the ship. For several heartbeats, he didn't recognize her.

“M…miss Sophia?!” he gasped softly when he finally did recognize her. Flinching slightly, the older woman turned to see him standing there silently.

“Oh. Claus.” she said, a soft smile dancing across her lips. “I didn't see you there. Is everything ok?” she asked him. “I heard that you and Alex had a…talk.” she noted.

“I'm ok. I just needed some fresh air, and with Al asleep and Lavie working on the ship, I thought I would just do some thinking out here.” he said. Sophia slowly nodded her head.

“Me, too.” she agreed softly. Claus watched her hair blow in the wind. Judging the length, he realized that it would reach her lower back if it wasn't blowing. He also realized that she smelled extremely good - and vaguely familiar, as well.

“I almost didn't recognize you, miss Sophia.” he said quietly after several minutes had passed. “You never let your hair down before.” he explained. “And your perfume is nice, too.” he added. Sophia gave him a stronger smile.

“I thought it was time for a change.” she said enigmatically. “I'm glad you like the perfume.” she added, moving closer to the young man. Looking at her face, Claus realized that her glasses were gone as well, and her uniform top was partially unfastened, the collar and top two buttons loose. She's beautiful. he thought honestly. “So, you have decided to stay on the Silvana, then?” she pressed.

Claus nodded. “Yes. I have to protect Al. And even though I hate flying combat missions, I can't just let the war go on, either.” he explained.

“Alex told you, then.” surmised Sophia. Claus nodded. “And yet, you still stay on the ship.” she smiled softly, her hand lightly squeezing his shoulder. Her hand stayed on his shoulder. “How does Lavie feel about that choice?” she wondered.

Claus sighed. “Lavie doesn't like it, but she won't leave without me and Al.” said the young man. “I was wondering if I was wrong to stay, but I know that if I change my mind now, after I already told Lavie that I was going to stay, she won't let me.” he explained. “She's stubborn sometimes.” he offered, his fondness for the girl clearly heard by the older woman.

“That is not necessarily a bad trait, given your circumstances.” noted Sophia. Claus chuckled lightly.

“I suppose not.” he agreed easily. Sophia mentally crossed her fingers.

“And Tatiana?” she asked quietly. Claus blinked at her.

“Well, she seems glad that we stayed, but she suggested that I leave the ship if I didn't feel it was good for Lavie and Al to be here.” he explained. He had spoken to her earlier that day, and if not for an interruption by the former musketeer Mullen Shetland, they might have ended up back in her cabin. As it was, they had been pulled apart by duties and tasks, and now, here we was talking to Sophia.

While not as close to the older woman as he was to Tatiana, he nevertheless had a familiarity with her because Al had made a point of repeatedly telling him that she was a nice lady. Also, of all the officers on the ship, she had been their most consistent ally. It didn't hurt that she was beautiful, as well. Claus felt his dick stir as he glanced at her again.

The woman seemed to be thinking about something, and from the look in her eyes, seen in the indirect light of the Grand Stream, he could tell that she wasn't thinking happy thoughts. “Are…you ok, miss Sophia?” he asked her. She turned to look at him for a long moment.

“You are very kind, Claus.” she said softly. Taking his hand, she led him over to a small, bench-like area of the observation deck. In reality, it was a section of piping, covered in an armor shroud, but it was more bench-like than not. Sitting down, she guided him down beside her.

For several moments, silence reigned supreme on the small observation deck. In her hand, she could feel the crumpled parchment that the bird had delivered to her. Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on the paper, feeling a spike of anger shoot through her at the ramifications of the request. “I never thought that I could be this weak.” she murmured, not realizing that she had spoken aloud until Claus's voice interrupted her thoughts.

“I don't think you're weak at all, miss Sophia.” he said quietly. “I've always admired the way that you have a goal you are working toward, and everyone on the ship looks up to you. Even Tatiana seeks out your advice.” he noted. “The only one who trusts me and asks my advice is Lavie and Al.” he noted, smiling slightly at the thought of the two girls.

Beside him, Sophia bit her lip gently. Turning toward him, she paused, her face half-way to his. “Claus.” she said quietly, causing the young man to turn to look at her. The smallest gap of air separated their faces. “Don't sell yourself short, Claus.” whispered Sophia, slowly closing the distance between them. Feeling his quickened breath on her face, she closed her eyes, hesitating for a moment. This is a bad idea, Sophia! one part of her mind told her. You are not thinking this through! Didn't you tell Tatiana to make sure that she dealt with the feelings of Lavie before pursuing Claus for herself? And just why are you doing this, anyway?! that small part of her mind went on.

It was too late. Her lips touched his, and the argument in her mind was silenced. For what felt like an instant and eternity, Claus didn't react, shocked by her kiss. Then, he began to kiss her back. Gradually, Sophia deepened the kiss, bringing her hands up to caress his cheek and shoulder as the paper from the prime minister flew into the void, lost to the winds forever. Neither of them noticed.

Claus was surprised to find himself kissing Sophia, but at the same time, he was excited. He had always felt attracted to her, and now, he was kissing her. On his exposed face, he felt her hair tickle him as it blew in the wind. That feels funny! he thought. Both Lavie and Tatiana have short hair, but miss Sophia has long hair. I wonder if Lavie would feel like this if she had of let her hair grow long? he fleetingly wondered. Sophia's tongue derailed those thoughts as it eased past his lips and into his mouth.

By now, the two of them were hugging each other, their kiss deep and passionate, though neither of them could provide a reason for this. At the time, neither would spare the time to consider such an unnecessary question as `why'. Breaking the kiss, Sophia smiled at Claus in the dim light. Seeing him about to speak, she pressed a fingertip to his lips, shaking her head. Slowly, she stood, holding his hand, and headed for the hatch that led to her room. She knew that there was no watch on this part of the ship, and with the crew that was awake busy with their duties and repairing the ship, she felt she was safe in risking it.

Following her lead, Claus trailed along a step behind her, their hands joined as they moved to her quarters. He kept nervously glancing down each passage they passed, but no one was ever there to see them. When they reached her quarters, she silently pulled him into the dark room, closing and locking the door behind them. Still holding his hand, she touched the small button that switched on a single bulb over her desk, filling the room with a dull, soft light. In the same motion, she closed off the speaker tubes, securing the covers with swift, sure movements born of familiarity.

With the tasks complete, she turned back to Claus, leaning down to resume her kissing, her arms settling around his shoulders. Claus, being shorter than her, found a comfortable grip on her waist. Soft, but passionate, their kisses went on and on, each kiss building their mutual heat. Gradually, Claus's hand moved to the front of Sophia's uniform, beginning to massage her breasts through the material. Moaning softly in her throat, Sophia moved her hands to his, guiding him through the actions to unfasten the jacket, then the blouse, then the skirt of her uniform, each piece falling to the wood floor of her cabin.

As her skirt hit the floor, she paused, dressed in nothing but her bra, panties and hose. Easing back to give Claus a better view, she smiled at his rapturous look as he drank in her beauty. Guiding his hands to the front of her bra, she showed him how to unhook the small fastener there, letting the thin lace garment drop as well with a shrug of her shoulders. A sharp intake of breath told her that Claus noticed her hard, swollen nipples and puffy areolas. Glancing down, she saw that his pants seemed tight at his groin. Licking her lips absently, she guided his hands down her sides slowly, to pause at the crests of her hips before pushing his fingers under the waistband of her panties and removing them and her hose in one motion.

Stepping free of the last of her clothes, she pulled Claus to her, kissing him deeply as she began to work his clothes off. Since Tatiana had not yet gotten around to returning his flight coveralls, he had been wearing a Silvana field uniform. With her experience with those, she quickly but calmly removed his shirt, then his pants, discovering as she did that he was already hard and ready. Once she got his shorts off, she straightened, feeling him hug himself to her, kissing her tits as his hard member pushed against her thigh.

Giggling softly, she led him to her bed, tossing back the covers before lying back, pulling him with her. As he settled over her bare form, the older woman could feel his rapid heartbeat under her gentle grasp, and hear his fast, shallow breaths. Feeling his hands return to her breasts, and his lips to her nipple, she sighed softly, enjoying the sensations that drove all thoughts from her mind save her desire. Desire for what, she refused to contemplate.

Reaching down between them, she swiftly located his hard member, closing her soft hand around his shaft and slowly pumping up and down his length. Sophia found herself smiling as she discovered that Tatiana's description of Claus was commendably accurate. Running her fingers over the wide tip of his dick, she felt some hot, slick fluid beginning to coat it. Her actions forced Claus to pull his lips from her tits, the young man hissing in pleasure as he instinctively pumped his hips, silently urging her on.

Leaning her head down to his, she pulled him into a deep, hot kiss, holding the back of his head with her free hand as her other hand continued to explore his member. Building on his experience with Tatiana, Claus managed to find enough will to focus through the raging hormone storm currently in control of his body enough to move one of his hands down toward Sophia's sex. It took him longer than he thought, as his mind kept trying to shut down, the better to satisfy the demands of his hormones for hot, wet sex with the woman currently massaging his manhood.

As his fingers finally slipped below her bellybutton, he found a surprise waiting for him: his fingers encountered a thick, but neatly-maintained patch of hair above her nest. Tatiana had had a small, somewhat thin, patch of hair above her sex, but Sophia, two years older, had a significantly more developed patch; though it was no less maintained. Claus blinked as an image flitted across his mind unbidden. Lavie, he knew, didn't have any hair covering her sex.

Overcome with an irrational need to see the woman below him, he pulled back to sit on his calves, Sophia's hand following him so she didn't have to release his hard member from her grip. In the dim light of the single lamp, he drank in the sight of the naked woman. Sophia, he concluded, was a portrait of feminine beauty. Taller than any of the women he had known - including his mother - she was slim, yet curved. Her hips were accented by her narrow waist, and her chest was balanced against her narrow waist and her sinuous hips. His eyes rested briefly on her full chest, finding himself comparing her to the other to women he had seen naked. Her breasts were larger than Tatiana's or Lavie's breasts, and her nipples were a darker shade of pink than Tatiana's pale coral peaks. Lavie's areolas were puffier when erect than Sophia's, but her smaller chest could account for some of the visual differences.

It didn't escape his lustful notice that Sophia's breasts were fuller and softer than either Tatiana's or Lavie's, though they didn't seem to sag any more than the smaller, firmer breasts of the other two girls. Full, womanly, and completely irresistible to any male, regardless of his age or experience, they were the kind of breasts that turned men's minds to jelly when seen in their full glory. Of course, Claus's mind would turn to jelly when seeing Tatiana's or Lavie's breasts as well, but that was not something he was even aware of, and he certainly didn't care while looking at the exposed charms of Sophia.

His eyes slid down to her slim stomach, pausing to admire her sexy bellybutton, before moving on. Eyeing the razor-fine lines that defined her bush, he caught the faint sheen of her arousal on her lower lips and the base of the tended patch, which, he noticed, actually reached the top of her lips. Slowly, his fingers followed his eyes, tentatively touching her pussy. Both of them sucked in a breath when his fingers met her wet, aroused opening. Freezing, they locked gazes for a second before sharing a short, nervous laugh.

Seeing the smile on her face, Claus began to slowly rub her vaginal lips and mons, finding her clit to be partially exposed from under the sheath that normally covered it. Rubbing it with a circular motion, he quickly got it fully erect, and in doing so, caused Sophia to orgasm. Eyes closed, she savored the orgasm. Even if it wasn't an earth-shattering one, it was all the more intense for being caused by the touch of a lover, rather than herself.

When she finally came back to herself, she realized that her hand was still loosely holding his throbbing member, though it had ceased to pump him an indeterminate length of time before. Sophia vowed to correct that situation. Looking down, she saw that a healthy amount of pre-cum had leaked from his glans to coat not only his tip, but most of his length and her hand as well. Smiling happily, she gave his dick a few quick, firm pumps, causing more pre-cum to spurt from the slit at the crown of his tip, before she urged him forward, spreading her legs invitingly.

Claus needed no instructions, his instincts knowing exactly what they both wanted and how to get it. He might not have known, had Tatiana not shown him the beginning of the path. Now, though, he knew what was necessary for both of them to get what their bodies demanded. Moving forward, he felt Sophia withdraw her hand, his tip settling unerringly at her opening. Once he had gotten situated, he pushed forward, parting her lips with his slick, pre-cum covered tool.

Both of the lovers sighed as Claus's tip split Sophia's lips and firmly stretched her virgin passage as it pushed into her sheath. Breathing fast and deep, Sophia wrapped her arms around Claus's chest, pulling him closer to kiss him passionately as she felt his member sink deeper into her pussy. Grunting softly, Claus pushed deeper into her, all thought surrendered to instinct and feeling. Sophia had long since silenced any semblance of rational thought, concentrating only on what was happening between herself and Claus.

Tongues tangled with each other, Sophia felt Claus's warm chest pressing her breasts between them as he steady drove into her deepest depths. Her legs had crossed over his back, and her knees were tucked up high, spreading herself open for him. Claus was taking full advantage of that, too - with firm, passionate thrusts, he swiftly reached full penetration of her, his pubic bone meeting her pubic bone as the tip of his dick nudged against the top of her passage.

Sophia sighed in pleasure as she felt him bottom out in her formerly-virgin passage. The sensations she was feeling made her crave more. With the stretching of her sex, the heat and the throbbing of his dick in her most intimate area, Sophia was feeling purely goddess-like. And at the time, feeling was all she was really interested in. Rubbing Claus's back, she soaked in the new feelings and sensations.

With his hard length buried to the hilt in her furnace-like passage, Claus eased back and began to thrust into her, swiftly building his pace as his arms wormed under her back, holding tight to her as he feverishly hammered into her. The vice-captain's cabin was filled with soft, muffled grunts, groans, sighs and squeals. Before either of them knew it, they were united in release, breaking their kiss to arch their hips toward each other as Claus flooded her with his cum, and Sophia went on a trip to heaven. Gradually, they came down from their orgasms, Claus slumping slowly down to rest on Sophia's chest.

The older woman felt relaxed, satisfied and tired. Seeing Claus sleeping on her chest, she managed to drag the cover over them both before she joined him in sleep. Arms wrapped around each other, they slept and regained their strength. At some point in the night, they awoke at the same time, and without a word, they once more united. Without a word, they once more reached release together.

-

Sophia saluted her former subordinates. With the heavy transport from the capitol having arrived that morning, she had no more time to say her goodbyes, and so, from the top of the short boarding ladder, she saluted the grey-glad crewmembers, picking out Tatiana, Alister at her side, Lavie, Al, the mechanics, Wina, and some of the general crew. The closing doors to the heavy transport cut off her view of the crew that she had come to care for more than her own flesh and blood family.

While the closed door blocked her view of them, it also blocked their view of her. Dropping her salute, she felt her shoulders slump. Glimpsing the two honor guard musketeers standing at attention, she straightened her posture. I knew that he wouldn't be here to see me off. thought the woman. After all, he doesn't love me like I do him. she forced herself to confront the truth. “Princess?” came the voice of one of the musketeers.

“I'm fine.” she said, her tone a bit sharp. “I wish to change into my formal clothes now, so leave me.” she ordered them. The two dutifully made their way to the small passage that lead from the main room of the heavy cargo ship to the cockpits at the top of the ship. Closing the hatch behind them, she locked it before turning to see her gown already set out for her to change into. Pulling the pins that kept her hair in place, she let it fall loose, setting her small glasses aside as she began to unbutton her uniform.

Alex Row had not been the only one not there to see her off. At the thought of the other man not there, she smiled. Claus Valca, she knew, was likely still sleeping in her former cabin. “He really is very nice.” she murmured, setting the last of her uniform aside before picking up the first under robe to her court regalia. Wiggling into it, she giggled softly as she thought about Claus's likely reaction to seeing her in the thin, sheer, white bodice and skirt. I image that we would end up back where we were last night!

That thought gave her pause, the smile slipping from her face. “What about last night, though?” she wondered, slowly picking up the next piece of her court gown. I told Tatiana to think things through, and then I go jumping Claus's bones without a thought. And all through it, we never spoke a word - either of us! she thought, frowning. Was Claus just a substitute for Alex? And how does Claus see me and us now? Settling the next layer of her gown, she adjusted her cleavage so it sat properly in the low-cut sub-bodice before carefully tightening the laces that snugged her breasts into place. Was I just using him? It felt too right to believe that, but maybe…? Sighing, she considered the most important issue of the tangle she found herself in. “Lavie Head.” she whispered aloud, reaching for the crimson outer gown and beginning the involved task of putting it on so it sat correctly.

I don't know if what I did will hurt her or not, but if it drives a bigger wedge between the two of them, I don't think I will find it easy to sleep for a long, long time. she realized, somewhat uneasily. From Tatiana, she had learned more about the young lives of Claus and Lavie. A sudden image of her commissioning a Royal Bard to compose a heroic epic about them brought a playful smile to her lips. “Maybe a tapestry for the throne room.” she considered. For what they had accomplished, they deserved recognition. And Claus is from minor nobility, after all… she contemplated.

None of that helped her with her most pressing issues, though: what had she done to the relationship between herself and Claus, and what had she done to the relationship between Claus and Lavie. Finished with the last adjustments to her gown, she began the preparation for her court hairdo. Brushing her loose hair, she watched her reflection in the full-length mirror. Welcome back, Princess. she thought to herself.

A frown crossed her face. “Princess. Vice-captain. Which is the real me, and which is the false me?” she asked her reflection. Naturally, the reflection didn't answer her question. Closing her eyes, she wondered which of her dual selves had taken Claus to her bed. In the end, it doesn't matter, I guess, since in either case, the aftermath will be mine to deal with - irregardless of who I eventually find out I am! “One or the other, they are both me.”

In the mirror, the princess looked back at her, her expression both tempered with determination, and lightened by hope.