Red Liquorish (Part 2)

Posted on Saturday, 28 November 2020 - 2:42pm by Lieutenant JG Adrianna Eberhardt & Crewman Leopold Eberhardt

Mission: Operation: Ouroboros

They arrived in San Francisco and Adrianna was still breathing heavily. She pulled her face covering down and looked around for Leopold. She gently touched her face and winced. Geez that man must have been wearing a ring. She looked to her finger, a smudge of blood. She looked back to Leopold seeing him and smiled, "you alright?"

Leopold took a breath and nodded. "I will be," he said trying to regain his composure. "I have to be honest when you said being back on Earth would be dangerous for you and now me, but I did not think it would be this serious" he added. "It was definitely an eye-opening experience. How are you doing, holding up alright?"

"I'm fine. I was prepared mentally. Plus, we'll still go back, but straight to Orte. That's where my mother lives," she smiled a little and stepped close, kissing him softly, "we were fine up until the call mentioning my name."

"How uncommon is the name Adrianna in Italy?" Leopold replied crossing his arms. "I will be more careful about what I say and where, but the message remains," he said assertively. "I love you," he added. "I know that to be true."

Adrianna chuckled, "My comm badge. Cap-ee-tan said Baciami." She looked to the floor. It seemed scarier to hear those words than to have her life at risk. The woman couldn't deny her feelings though. She looked and and simply asked, "are you sure?"

Leopold laughed and kissed her head. "No, I am never sure about anything, but yes, this I feel strongly about," he said to her. "I am ready for this. This is exactly what I want. I will be hesitant around your mother, but I am glad that I will be."

Adrianna smiled in a thoughtful manner. She knew he was being honest. "I have to admit, since we've met, I've been falling for you. Very quickly, actually, which scares me. But I can't deny it. I do you love you too."

"Scares me too," he said with a shrug. "You cannot help that anymore than I can. What happens will happen, we will fall as fast as we fall."

Adrianna leant in and kissed him softly, "then let's fall."

"Can't help but falling for you," he said softly. "Just try not to hurt me too much if I become unbearable."

Adrianna chuckled, "only if you promise the same." She paused, "do you think we have some time before I need to be in that meeting? I need to get changed anyway and get an ice pack."

"Mmm," replied Leopold. "I don't know the Captain very well. We have never been alone In the same room before. It sounded serious, but you may have a few minutes to sprucen up a bit."

Adrianna chuckled and touched her face again. It was still wet but it wasn't actively bleeding anymore." Definite ice pack and kisses better! "

"Commander Stillwater seems like the type to just ice pack an injury and press onward like nothing happened," noted Leopold. "That's probably why he took a liking to you. You remind him of himself, just tougher."

"Tougher than a cap-ee-tan?" Adrianna asked as she began walking with Leopold to somewhere she could change, "unless an injury will kill me, there's no point in fixing it."

Leopold shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat," replied her boyfriend. "You are right though. There's no point in fixing it. We serve on a patrol vessel, we are bound to get into fights."

Adrianna chuckled, "you still look at me though I'm worth a million stars even with, what I'm assuming is a black eye."

"Oh it suits you," replied Leopold. "You are worth a million stars and then some."

She couldn't help but feel a little lost in the moment. Of course the feelings were there, it just felt like a lot. Perhaps a loss in translation? Wait, stop trying to find fault, she chastised herself. "I love you too," Adrianna kissed his cheek then put her hand in his.

"I'll wait in the lobby of the building," he said. "When you have your meeting with Commander Stillwater," he explained. "I am sure by the time and you being called that it is sensitive information."

Adrianna agreed with a subtle nod, "I'm not showing up in civilian clothes though. If he's meeting here, I assume higher powers are here too." They reached the lobby, and Adrianna found a place she could replicate a uniform, "I'll be back soon. At least go get a coffee for yourself. I can call you when I'm done."

"Okay," replied Leopold. "I'll stay out of trouble in the meantime" added the man.

Adrianna smiled and kissed him quickly, "I'll see you soon."