Work Text:
Bismarck stood in front of the tall iron gates of the royal palace as she pressed the small red button on the intercom. She leaned in as she looked at the speaker.
“Hood. It’s Bismarck. Can you let me in?”
The intercom buzzed with excitement as the gates slowly opened. Bismarck walked into the courtyard and found herself in front of the tall white marble steps. Hood walked down the steps as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“Glad to see you could make it for tea, Lord Bismarck.”
Bismarck smiled as she placed a hand on her hip.
“I wouldn’t miss tea with you for the world, Lady Hood.”
Hood nodded as the two shipgirls walked up the steps together. Bismarck looked around as her blue eyes wandered.
“So how have you been, Hood?”
Hood sighed as she closed her blue eyes.
“Bored. It’s been uneventful at the palace since Her Majesty came back.”
Bismarck nodded as Prince of Wales walked up to the duo with King George V and Matthew. She smiled as she gave them a slight wave.
“Hi, Bismarck. How have you been?”
Bismarck felt a slight smile grow across her face as she looked at Prince of Wales, her crimson eyes meeting her blue.
“Busy. With Heinz’s recent promotion and all the headaches that entails.”
Prince of Wales nodded as Matthew walked up to Bismarck with a slight smile on his face.
“And how have you been, Matt?”
Matthew smirked as he rested his hands behind his head.
“Never better.”
Bismarck nodded as Matthew walked up the oak staircase, his footsteps echoing as he ascended. Prince of Wales sighed as she closed her crimson eyes.
“Hard to believe he’s already 14.”
Bismarck sighed as a sheepish smile grew across her lips.
“Tell me about it. Helga just turned 14 herself a few months ago.”
Prince of Wales slowly opened her crimson eyes as Duke of York walked up to the group. She held a man’s hand as she smiled from ear to ear. She looked at the group as she brushed her long pink hair back. The man wore an olive green Royal Navy formal officer's uniform with a black beret.
“Sister, do you mind if I introduce my new boyfriend to everyone?”
Prince of Wales nodded as Duke of York smiled, showing her vampire fangs.
“This is Jenson Atkinson. He’s my new boyfriend.
Hood smiled as she held her arm out. Jenson shook her hand as he smiled.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Atkinson.”
Jenson nodded as he shook Hood’s white-gloved hand.
“A pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Hood. Duke of York told me all about you.”
Hood nodded as Duke of York placed a hand on Jenson’s shoulder. Bismarck raised an eyebrow as she looked at him.
“How did you guys meet?”
Duke of York smiled as she held her boyfriend close.
“We met online. He saw I was single and ready to mingle and it was love at first site.”
Duke of York closed her blue eyes as she kissed Jenson on the lips. She let go of the embrace as he held his hand.
“Well. We’ll be off. I’m going shopping. Do you guys want to come with me?”
Prince of Wales shook her head and held a hand up.
“No. I’ll be here with Bismarck and Hood.”
Duke of York nodded as she looked at her boyfriend.
“Suite yourself.”
The couple walked away from the group as they held hands. Duke of York rested her head on Jenson’s shoulder as the couple disappeared from view. Hood raised an eyebrow as she stroked her chin.
“I wonder if they’ll have a dhampir together.”
Bismarck raised an eyebrow as she looked at Hood.
“What’s a dhampir?”
Hood smiled as she placed a hand on her hip.
“Heh heh. A dhampir is a person who’s half vampire and half human.”
Prince of Wales shook her head as she closed her crimson eyes.
“I doubt it. She was sick when we were growing up. Plus, she already has her hands full with Matthew, Nigel, and-.”
Prince of Wales felt her phone buzz as she pulled it out of her vest pocket. A slight frown grew across her lips as she looked at the duo.
“I’m sorry guys, but I got to take this call.”
Bismarck nodded as Prince of Wales walked away from the group, her phone against her ear. A slight smile grew across Hood’s lips.
“Bismarck, would you like to have some tea and biscuits? I can have Belfast and the Royal Maids down here to serve them.”
Bismarck nodded as she smiled.
“Sure. That would be wonderful.”
Hood nodded as she gestured for Bismarck to follow. The three shipgirls walked into the palace’s courtyard. The two shipgirls sat on metal chairs as they sat by a round metal table. Belfast walked up to the group and gave a curtsy.
“What would you like to have, Lady Hood?”
Hood smiled as she placed a white-gloved hand on the table.
“A cup of tea with two scoops of sugar.”
Belfast nodded as she looked at Bismarck.
“And you, Lord Bismarck?”
Bismarck smiled as she looked at Belfast.
“A cup of tea with two scoops of sugar and cream, please.”
Belfast nodded as she looked at the group.
“Your tea will be with you right away.”
The group nodded as Belfast walked back inside the palace. Hood smirked as her blue eyes locked onto Bismarck’s.
“I didn’t know you liked your tea sweet, Bismarck.”
Bismarck smiled as she closed her blue eyes.
“There are many things you don’t know about me.”
Hood nodded as Belfast pushed a tea cart in front of her. She grabbed a white porcelain teapot and placed three white teacups and saucers on the small round metal table. She poured the hot brown tea into the teacups as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“Careful it’s hot.”
Belfast grabbed some sugar cubes, and she put them in the tea as ordered. She poured some creamer into Bismarck's tea. The brown liquid became a lighter caramel. She looked at the trio as she rested her hands on her apron.
“Anything else?”
Hood shook her head as she held a hand up.
“No, thank you.”
Belfast nodded as she did a curtsy. She pushed the tea cart back into the palace as Bismarck took a sip of her tea. She felt the warm sweet taste of the tea in her mouth as she closed her eyes.
As Bismarck slowly opened her eyes, she looked at Hood. She held her teacup in her hand with a distraught look on her face.
“Hood? What’s wrong?”
Hood sighed as she looked at her reflection in her tea.
“I wished I could be a part of the primary combat force. All I ever do is do commissions for the commander.”
Bismarck nodded as a slight smile grew across her face. She took another sip of her tea as she closed her eyes.
“You know, I’ll talk to the commander about this. But he’s still busy so I’ll see what I can do.”
Hood nodded as a slight smile grew across her face.
“You mean it?”
Bismarck nodded as she took a sip of her tea.
“Of course! It’s the least I can do for you.”
Hood nodded as she finished the last of her tea. Bismarck placed her teacup on the table as she looked at Hood.
“Say? Do you want to go for a run with me?”
Hood nodded as she smiled from ear to ear.
“Sure. I would love to.”
Bismarck nodded as she stood up.
“We’ll have to stop by my place before we begin. As my gym clothes are at home. Plus, I want to show you the new car the commander got me.”
Hood raised an eyebrow as she stood up.
“The commander got you a new car?”
Bismarck nodded as she smiled from ear to ear.
“Yeah. He got both Heinz and me a new car as a peace offering after everything that happened with Johann.”
Hood nodded as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“Let me get my gym clothes and I’ll be right out.”
Bismarck nodded as Prince of Wales looked at her.
“I’ll stay here. I have to train swordsmanship with Matthew.”
Bismarck nodded as Prince of Wales stood up. She embraced Bismarck as she closed her crimson eyes.
“I’ll see you later, Bismarck.”
Bismarck smiled as she placed a hand on Prince of Wales’s back.
“I’ll see you later, Wales.”
Bismarck and Hood walked back inside the palace as Hood walked up the wooden staircase. She came back with a black tote bag with white polka dots on it.
“Alright. I’m ready.”
Bismarck nodded as she walked out of the palace, with Hood following close behind. Hood raised an eyebrow as she looked at the black car parked by the white marble steps of the palace.
“What kind of car is this, Bismarck?”
Bismarck smiled from ear to ear as she placed a hand on the hood.
“A 1970 BMW 2500. Heinz got one too. Even gave us both black paint jobs.”
Hood nodded as Bismarck unlocked the car. She got in the front seat as he looked around. Bismarck raised an eyebrow as she sat in the driver’s seat.
“What’s wrong?”
Hood covered her mouth with her fist as she coughed.
“Nothing. I’m just used to the steering wheel being over here.”
Bismarck laughed as she turned the key. The engine came to life as she drove off to her destination.
Bismarck parked the car in the driveway as she pulled up the handbrake. She turned the key as a slight smile grew across her face.
“We’re here. You can change in my bathroom while I get changed.”
Hood nodded as the two shipgirls stepped out of the car. Bismarck fiddled with her keys as she unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
“The bathroom’s upstairs by my bedroom.”
Hood nodded as she walked up the wooden stairs. Bismarck followed close behind as a slight smile crept across her lips.
“Don’t worry. No one’s here but us. The kids are at my sister's place and Heinz is at work.”
Hood nodded as she opened the bathroom door and stepped inside. She locked it behind her as Bismarck walked into her bedroom. She walked inside her walk-in closet as she grabbed a black sports bra and black leggings.
Bismarck smiled as she checked herself out in the mirror.
“Still got it.”
Bismarck walked out of the bedroom and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Are you ready Hood?”
Bismarck heard the bathroom door unlock as Hood opened the door. She blushed as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“Do you think I look good?”
Bismarck looked at Hood as she stroked her chin. Hood was wearing a white sports bra, along with a pair of light grey leggings.
“You look fantastic.”
Hood nodded as she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thanks. I thought I looked awful in this.”
Bismarck nodded as the two shipgirls walked down the stairs together. They walked out of the house as Bismarck locked the door behind them.
“I often walked around the Eagle Union part of the base. It’s not too far from here.”
Hood smiled as she stretched.
“Sure. Let’s go there.”
Bismarck nodded as she tapped Hood on the shoulder.
“Race you there!”
Bismarck took off running as Hood’s eyes went as wide as saucers.
“Hey! Wait for me!”
Bismarck smiled as Hood took off running after her. Her footsteps echoed on the sidewalk as she ran.
Bismarck stopped at the start of the sidewalk as she bent down and caught her breath. The taste of iron filled her mouth as she panted.
Hood slowed down as she stood next to Bismarck and took a few deep breaths. She coughed as she stood up and placed her hands on her hip.
“Next time you take off running, give a heads up.”
Bismarck nodded as she stood up and stretched her back.
“Got it.”
Bismarck walked down the sidewalk as Hood followed close behind in the other lane.
“So. How often do you do this?”
Bismarck smiled as she closed her eyes.
“At least twice a week during the summer. I started doing this back when I was pregnant with Joachim.”
Hood nodded as she looked around.
“Hmmm. I see. I’m guessing Vestal wanted you to walk to keep yourself healthy for both yourself and Joachim?”
Bismarck nodded as she opened her eyes.
“Yeah. Not to mention once he went overdue on the 20th, I tried walking to induce labor.”
Hood nodded as a slight smile crept across her lips.
“I heard of that old wives' tale. Both Prince of Wales and Ark Royal went into labor after they walked around the palace gardens.”
Bismarck blew some air from her nose as she blew a strand of her long blonde hair off her face.
“Interestingly enough, my water broke with Joachim on the 25th when I was doing yoga of all things.”
Hood nodded as she rubbed her chin.
“Really? Yoga of all things did that? Are you sure you weren’t dilating beforehand?”
Bismarck blushed as she covered her mouth with her fist. She cleared her throat as she composed herself.
“Well, by then I had dropped. And I think I was having contractions the evening before. But I dismissed them as Braxton-Hicks or Joachim kicking me too hard.”
Hood nodded as she looked at the sidewalk.
“I see.”
Bismarck gasped as two men were jogging in front of them. One wore an olive green t-shirt, while another wore a white undershirt. Bismarck and Hood ran up behind them as Bismarck tapped a man on the shoulder.
“Samuel? Larry? What are you two doing here?”
Samuel turned his head as his eyes went wide.
“Bismarck? Hood? You guys jog around here too?”
Bismarck nodded as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“Yeah. I walk here all the time.”
Samuel and Larry nodded as Larry looked at Hood.
“I see you brought a friend with you.”
Bismarck nodded as she looked at Hood.
“I did. We were just talking about how much walking I did while I was pregnant with Joachim.”
Samuel nodded as a slight smile grew across his lips.
“New Jersey did a lot of walking on a treadmill when she was pregnant with Merle and Nicholas.”
Bismarck nodded as she smiled from ear to ear.
“How is she, anyway?”
Samuel smiled as his jog turned into a slow walk.
“She’s doing well. Mostly she’s been taking care of Nicholas.”
Bismarck nodded as she walked. The group stopped in front of a fork in the sidewalk. Samuel looked right as a slight smile grew across his lips.
“Well. I suppose this is where we split. I’m going back home.”
Bismarck nodded as she looked at Hood.
“You want to crash at my place?”
Hood nodded as a playful smirk grew across her lips.
“Only if you’re making dinner.”
Bismarck smirked back as she looked at Hood.
“How do kielbasa and mashed potatoes sound?”
Hood smiled as she nodded.
“Sounds wonderful.”
Bismarck nodded as she waved at Samuel and Larry.
“Well. I’ll see you guys tomorrow at the office.”
Samuel nodded as he waved back. The two men walked down the sidewalk as Bismarck looked at Hood.
“Come. I’ll get the couch set up so you can spend the night there.”
Hood nodded as she followed close behind Bismarck, feeling the warm sun on her skin as they walked to Bismarck’s house together. The evening sun burned on the horizon with its iconic purple hue as the two shipgirls walked up to the front door together. Bismarck opened the door and stepped inside. Heinz sat on the sofa watching TV as he looked at his wife.
“Hi, honey. I see you brought Hood with you.”
Bismarck nodded as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“Do you mind if she stays for dinner and stays the night here?”
Heinz shook his head as a smile crept across his lips.
“Not at all.”
Bismarck nodded as Hood smiled.
“Thank you, Mr. Kollmann.”
Heinz smiled as he stood up.
“Please, just call me Heinz.”
Hood nodded as she sat on the couch. Joachim walked down the stairs as he looked at Hood. She smiled as she waved.
“Hi, Joachim.”
Joachim smiled as he waved back.
“Hi, Hood.”
Hood smiled as she looked at the boy.
“So how have you been? Have Marseille and Hartmann been behaving themselves?”
Joachim smiled as he crossed his arms.
“Yeah. They’ve been staying out of trouble. Mostly.”
Hood raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.
“How so?”
Joachim sighed as he brushed a hand through his dirty blonde hair.
“Well, they keep on making a beeline for dumpsters.”
Hood nodded as a grinding sound filled the room. Hood stood up and looked around.
“What’s that?”
Joachim sighed as a playful smirk grew across his lips.
“Mom’s been working on Geryon for a few days. Something’s up with him.”
Hood nodded as a slight smile crept danced across her lips.
“I see. Is she in the garage?”
Joachim nodded as Hood smiled.
“I see. I’ll check on her.”
Joachim nodded as he smiled from ear to ear.
“I’ll come with you.”
Hood nodded as the duo walked into the garage together. Bismarck was hard at work, holding a monkey wrench in her hand. Geryon howled in pain as Bismarck sighed.
“I know, Geryon. But your jaw servo motor has been acting up in your right and center head, and I need to fix it so you’re in tip-top shape.”
Geryon let out a mechanical growl as he rested his center head on the concrete floor. Bismarck sighed as she rubbed his snout.
“What are you doing, Bismarck?”
Bismarck jumped as she looked at Hood.
“Don’t scare me like that! One wrong move and I can lose a hand!”
Hood jumped as she blushed.
“Sorry.”
Bismarck sighed as a slight smile grew across her lips.
“It’s alright. Can you hand me the socket wrench and the soldering iron?”
Hood nodded as she grabbed the two tools from the workbench. Bismarck grabbed them as she loosened a nut and soldered in a wire.
“Alright, Geryon. Try moving your jaws now.”
Bismarck leaped off Greyon’s back as Greyon stretched his center and right neck. He opened his jaws a few times and looked around. The center head focused on Bismarck as she rested a hand on his snout. She smiled as he let out a mechanical purr.
“Feel better?”
Geryon let out a two-tone noise as Bismarck placed a hand on her hip.
“Alright. You’re free to go.”
Geryon purred as he disappeared into a blue light. Bismarck turned around and looked at Hood and Joachim.
“I’ll get started on dinner.”
Joachim nodded as a slight smirk grew across his face.
“I’ll play some video games with Moritz and Matthew online.”
Bismarck nodded as Hood smiled.
“Do you need my help?”
Bismarck shook her head as she closed her blue eyes.
“No. I got this.”
Hood nodded as she walked out of the garage. She sat on the living room couch as she watched TV. She relaxed as she soon found herself enthralled watching a cake-baking competition.