Return of the Azur Lane

Well, I absolutely hate when I am right about things like this.

The night of the dance had started out well, plenty of chatting and dancing (Ellie is an amazing dancer despite what her tomboy exterior might lead you to believe), Ellie generally doing her best to make me feel like an absolute princess, which I always appreciate, though there were moments that seemed like she was definitely differing to me a lot more than she would normally do, but she only responded with a smile when I asked about it before she got me a glass of punch.

Everything surprisingly went smoothly until the Fall Formal Princess was announced and Twilight won it by a landslide.

Then there was a dog napping by Sunset's two goons, Snips and Snails, which led to me discovering that yes, magic is a thing. And that Twilight's dog can apparently talk.

Honestly, that was the most normal part of the night.

Then Sunset turned into a demon, destroyed the front of the school, mind controlled most of our fellow students, Ellie and I had ducked around the corner and avoided getting our brains scrambled, then what I am dubbing the 'Orbital Friendship Cannon' hitting Sunset after she attempted to take out Twilight and our friends.

After things were somewhat sorted, I handed Vice Principal Luna the card of a construction company that I knew pretty well all the employees of, because of course they were part of my navy family, a bunch of former SeaBees to be specific. She thanked me and said she would call them the next day.

The dance then resumed, but I wasn't feeling it anymore. Telling Ellie I was going to get some air, I headed out to the atrium.

There, I saw the person I was looking for. Walking up, my heels clicking on the floor, I stopped beside her, arms crossed over my stomach as the cool night air blew through the gaping hole in the wall.

"Come to insult me?" Sunset asked in a tired voice.

I shook my head. "Nope. Not gonna lecture you on it. Pretty sure the face full of rainbow said all that needed to be said." I replied.

"So why are you here?" She inquired, her voice starting to gain some heat.

"Because, I knew that the last two years haven't been you. Not really at least." I said with a soft smile. "I could tell from the moment we met that there was something that was making you angry, some kind of pain that was making you lash out."

"You could?" Sunset asked, deflating slightly. "How could you?"

"Because I spent a LOT of my school holidays before moving here at my mom's office where I met a lot of naval officers and senior NCOs that, while making sure that the lessons were age appropriate, passed on the lessons of what a good leader should do and what they need to pay attention to with whoever their subordinates are, as well as their peers." I explained. "Nothing like a Master Chief talking about things he has seen and dealt with to help put someone on the right track."

"So why are you here then?" Sunset asked.

"Because right now, with what just happened, you need someone. Even if you don't realize it. I have unfortunately seen what happens when someone doesn't have someone there for them." I replied. "So, I am going to be that person for you. Not because I was asked, which I wasn't, but because I want to. You deserve a chance to turn things around. I will be there for you if you want to talk, or if you just need someone to be around."

"You don't want anything in return? No catch?" Sunset asked suspiciously.

I shook my head. "Only for you to be happy. It will probably take a while to get there, but seeing you on an even keel with your rudder straight will be all the reward I need." I said.

"I'm probably gonna be hearing a lot of naval puns aren't I?" She asked.

I laughed. "Yes you are. Happens when one is a navy brat. You pick up all kinds of bits of wisdom that have a nautical slant."

Sunset gave a small giggle.

I smiled and gave her a side hug.

"So, you got a place to stay?" I inquired, actually not sure on that now that Sunset's origin was revealed earlier tonight.

"I have kinda been squatting in an abandoned warehouse for the last year." Sunset admitted.

"Probably a pretty cozy pad. Chances of anyone knowing where it is? Some of our classmates might be a bit more than vocal about your past behavior unfortunately." I said.

Sunset tensed and her eyes widened.

"Horseapples. There may be a couple that do. Possibly Gilda and her cronies. I had to shake them a couple of times heading home." She responded finally.

"Right. Anything valuable that you keep there?" I queried.

"Just my guitar and amp. Nothing major." Sunset replied.

I bit my lip as I thought. Mom and Inga wouldn't be happy, but right now Sunset needed a place to stay until she could get some documentation to be a legal citizen.

I turned to look for Ellie and motioned her over.

"We need to head to why she has been staying and grab a couple of things. Then we head to the ranch." I whispered.

"Why?" Ellie asked.

"Because, despite the heel turn after the rainbow shower, there are going to be some pissed off people, and some of them aren't above a little B&E or arson." I replied.

Ellie's eyes opened wide.

"Right, girl might have done some bad things, but that isn't something she should have to worry about. Let's go." She said, motioning for us to follow.

I grabbed Sunset's hand and pulled her along.

"Where are we going?" She asked as we moved towards Ellie's hatchback.

"Your place. We grab whatever you want to save, and then we head to my family's ranch. We've got a couple of cabins that ranch hands use when we have them, I'll have to sweet talk my mom and aunt, but you can use one of them until you get on your feet." I said as we got into the car.

I had Sunset get into the front seat so she could give Ellie directions while I reached into the back and grabbed the go bag I had Ellie pick up for from the back.

"What are you doing?" Ellie asked.

"Getting changed." I replied. "Don't fancy navigating a warehouse in heels and a gown. Keep your eyes on the road."

I quickly changed into a pair of dark utility pants, a dark t-shirt and combat boots. I pulled out the K-bar one of my Marine 'brothers' had given me and secured it to my waist with a rigger's belt.

"Think that will be necessary?" Ellie inquired as I buckled up and began braiding my hair.

"Hopefully not, but I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it." I answered.

Soon enough, we were pulling up to the warehouse, Ellie turning off the lights as she parked.

"Keep it running, we may need to egress quickly." I said as Sunset and I got out of the car.

Sunset led me through a gap in the fence and to the door of the warehouse.

A door that was ajar.

"Crap, someone is here." Sunset whispered.

"Alright, do the hinges squeak?" I whispered back.

"Yeah. I didn't oil them so I could hear someone coming in." Sunset replied.

I looked around the building. Lots of windows about ten feet off the ground, but no easy way up to them.

"Emergency door in the back? Maybe upper lever?" I inquired.

"Yes. That one I kept oiled in case I needed to sneak out if someone got curious." Sunset whispered, motioning for me to follow her.

We crept to the fire escape on the rear of the building that led to what I figured was the old office when this place still in use. I moved forward and carefully crept up the stairs, staying close to the wall to keep the metal from creaking. Reaching the door, I tested the handle. Finding it unlocked, I eased it open, and edged into the room, which was thankfully empty.

I made my way to the window of the office overlooking the warehouse floor and carefully peeked out.

"I don't see anyone. Probably a false alarm." I whispered.

"Are you sure?" Sunset asked as she grabbed her guitar, amp, and a few other odds and ends in a bag.

"Not seeing any movement out there." I said. "You were kinda off your game the last couple of days. Probably just didn't latch it securely."

"Probably, I got everything. Let's get out of here." Sunset replied.

"Yeah, let's." I said as we slipped out of the building and back to Ellie's car. From there, we headed to the ranch.

Once there, I thanked Ellie for a wonderful evening, and we both thanked her for helping us out.

We quietly made our way into the house. The lights were out and we found my mom and aunt asleep on the couch and recliner.

I rolled my eyes and tugged the blankets up on both of them before motioning for Sunset to follow me.

I led her to my bedroom and motioned for her to use my en suite bathroom to get cleaned up. I threw an extra set of pajamas into the bathroom before getting changed myself. While was she was showering, I set up a cot and sleeping bag.

"You can take the bed." I said as I wiped off my makeup. "You could probably use it."

"Are you sure?" Sunset asked nervously.

"Yup." I chirped. "I've camped out on the side of a volcano before."

"WHAT?" Sunset whispered loudly.

"It was dormant at the time." I replied. "Or at least not ready to erupt. Was nice and toasty at night since the spot we camped in had a nice sea breeze coming in."

"You're crazy." Sunset said with a chuckle.

"You have no idea." I replied with a grin.

Whatever Sunset was going to say was drowned out by her yawning.

"Alright, bed time." I said, turning out the lights.

"Good night Niamh." Sunset replied. "And, thank you."

"You're welcome. You deserve it." I said as we both turned in for the night.