Somewhere in the Dimensional Sea,
Officers Mess, OFM support ship Aus'ruf
2230 Hours Ship Time
Franz Jaeger yawned tiredly and cracked his neck, taking off his sunglasses and rubbing his eyes. Dark bags were apparent under his eyes, evidence of late nights and little sleep, the sacrifices made to keep on track of paperwork, the Omega candidates, Spawn movements, After Action Reports, and a host of a thousand and one details required to keep the Assault Company up and running...
As well as my paper, he thought tiredly, leaning back and taking a sip of his mug of tomato juice. Work so hard didn't even have time for dinner... thank Guinness the Mess stocks food.
After hours upon hours of dealing with paperwork, reports, and writing condolence letters to the families of the fallen - a job he had become all too familliar with these past 8 years - Franz was hungry and sick and tired of paperwork, and the rumbling in his stomache convinced him he had better go and get something to eat before he keeled over. He thus made his way to the mass, thankful that it was kept open and stocked 23 hours of the day (apart from 0300 to 0400 where it was closed for cleaning), and availed himself of tomato soup and sandwiches, finding a seat and sitting down, enjoying his late dinner... while preparing yet another paper.
"Good evening, Sir," said a voice, and Franz snatched his glasses and put them back on, looking up and seeing Yuuno and Keroko, both holding trays of soup and sandwiches... and appearing to be very close and comfortable with each other. Standing inside their personal space...looking relaxed and at ease with each other...cordite smells...she looks happy and glowing...I'm pretty sure that he's carrying a torch for Beamspam-chan...wait. WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING WITH GEORASHI!? He's going to fuck up the 'Get Beamspam-chan Better via Power of Love Plan'!
All Franz said, however, was, "Care to join me, Georashi, Doc?"
"Well, we-"
"Join me."
Yuuno quickly STFUed and took his seat across from Franz, Keroko settling beside him, and Franz was gratified to see that even an Enforcer outside his chain of command could still be swayed by his command voice. Then again, with the way she was subconsciously leaning towards Yuuno... he could tell he'd have to put his paper on hold. Regretfully Franz sighed and closed his book, setting his notes neatly to the side, as Keroko looked on with interest. "What are you writing?"
"This? Just a paper on something that's gonna shake up the TSAB," said Franz, breaking a piece of his sandwich and dipping it into his soup. "A new service, combining elements of the Air Force, Navy and Ground Forces. It's sort of... extra credit, you could say, for my promotion evals. So, what have you two been doing?"
"Famfire on the BR55," said Yuuno. "We were having so much fun, we kinda forgot about dinner."
"Aha," said Franz, eying his medic, and their guest. Not that it was really effective, since they just saw dark-tinted shades looking at them... whatever he would have said, however, was interrupted by Keroko tugging on Yuuno's sleeve and pointing at someone. "Who is that?" she asked.
The person in question was tall, with blue eyes, dark blonde hair, and an athletic build, who walked hurriedly into the mess and began whispering agitatedly with the serving staff. His woodland camo BDUs were rumpled, his gray t-shirt was dishleved, his boots were unlaced and his hair was mussed. After less than a minute of rushed whispering, he quickly departed the Mess... carrying a tub of whipped cream and a box of strawberries in his arms.
"2nd Lieutenant Leo Kozlov, Delta Platoon leader," said Yuuno helpfully. "Though why he needs whipped cream at this hour..."
As Leo approached the entrance to the mess the doors slid open, revealing Glen, who looked more dishelved than the junior officer. His Dress Blues pants were creased and wrinkled, his shirt was untucked and half-buttoned, his belt undone, shoes also untied, and he stopped and gave Leo and once over. Both of them shared a glance, nodded, sending each other a mutual message, and Glen stalked over to the serving staff. A minute later, he too departed, carrying honey and chocolate syrup in his arms.
Keroko stared at both of them, eyes wide open, as Franz sighed. "Don't ask, don't tell," he muttered sourly. "If ever the big brass find out... there they go, goodbye career."
Keroko blushed, her imagination going into overdrive. "Well... I never thought this could happen...I-i guess boys will be boys, but I never imagined-"
"Most of the guys have similar arrangements," sighed Franz. "Still, those two... they really take the cake." He shook his head. "I don't think I'd have their nerve... on the other hand, sex is a powerful motivator..."
"But their ranks..."
"Well, nobody's complaining as yet," shrugged Franz. "I suppose the reason the guys with the higher ranks tend to be the ones doing this stuff is because they're responsible, can commit to relationships... and are more experienced..."
"I'm never gonna look at whipped cream or chocolate syrup the same way again," said Yuuno.
"Why do you think I don't use either of those ingredients in my food? I don't want to be reminded of them doing it when I eat, damnit!"
Keroko merely shook her head. "I'm sorry to say this, but you guys are weird."
"Tell me about it," agreed Franz. "Where else are you gonna find guys who stock sex foods in the mess to use with their girls?"
"Yeah, Rogue Squadron was never li- wait. Girls?"
"Yeah," said the Assault Company Commander, looking at Keroko intently. "Didn't you see the rings? Right now, Leo and Val are doing things I don't want to be thinking about. Same for Glen and Emili."
"Glen... and Emili?"
"Yeah. They've been in a relationship for the past 13 years; if they hadn't gotten to this stage yet, I'd think something was wrong with them."
"Leo...and...Val?"
"Val's one of our normal medics."
"...they aren't seeing each other?"
Both Yuuno and Franz's jaws dropped to the table as they heard that, and they looked at Keroko is shock. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Well.... they gave each other the look just now," blushed Keroko.
"...Maybe we'd better get you back to the infirmary," said Yuuno. "Finish your dinner and then go to sleep. Doctor's orders, and don't even think of disobeying me the way your sister does, okay?"
"Sure," agreed Keroko, as Franz took the opportunity to bang his head on the table.
"Guinness, the universe just loves screwing with me, doesn't it?"
"...what did I do wrong, Boss?" asked a confused archelogist-librarian-turned-combat-medic.
"If you don't know, Doc, you don't deserve to know," grumbled Franz. I went and kicked Arcasviel's ass for your sake, as well as fighting off an entire rimjobber bar, for the sake of you and Beamspam-chan, and you're throwing it away on her adopted sister? WHY IS THE UNIVERSE ALWAYS FUCKING WITH MY PLANS?!
Fuck this and paperwork, I'm gonna have dinner then I'll sleep. Tomorrow, I'm gonna make you wish you had NEVER thought about anyone other than Beamspam-chan, Yuuno.