A junior officer spoke up, "Sir you can't mean to……."
The Captain cut the officer off with a hand gesture as he maintained eye contact with the radioman, "Send it."
The sailor nodded and saluted, "Yes Sir."
The Captain turned from the sweating sailor to address the room of officers and upper class sailor men.
"We have no time for this foolish war with the Americans anymore. There can only be one war now!"
Captain Hiro paused for effect as he met select pairs of eyes around the room in a hard stare that was unrelenting, "The war to survive!" He finished brutally and those within the room straightened and came to attention.
"Message has been sent and received Sir." The radioman called out.
"Good!" The Captain said before turning around to face the windows once more.
He called out, "Full speed ahead."
"Full speed it is Sir!" Called out the helmsman.
*****
I lay against Colt basking in the warmth of the day and the smell of his skin. The curly hairs of his chest tickled my nose so I moved my hand to lay between us.
Him being so harry wasn't really a big deal as it was just another part of who he was, but I had to admit that his hairs had a way of their own as to where they landed up. I opened my mouth and picked one of them from off my tongue.
The chest beneath my face shook as Colt chuckled. In an apologetic tone Colt said, "Sorry."
I turned my head and looked up at him smiling dreamily, "Don't be. I don't mind."
He rolled his eyes at me like he thought I was telling a lie and in all seriousness I insisted, "Colt I really don't mind."
His eyes came back to mine and I caught sight of a seemingly delicate emotion for such a brawny man as he to manifest.
"You don't?" He asked hesitantly.
I responded with a firm shake of my head no.
He didn't quite look convinced so I ran my hand through the thick curls of his chest hair and said, "You're so manly looking. I like it. I wouldn't change anything about you other than to dial down your stubbornness level some." I said teasingly.
He didn't really play along with my tease though. Instead he had a look of relief, as if he'd barely managed to come through some kind of hurdle. Was he really that sensitive about his body image?
"Did you get teased a lot about your hairiness growing up?" I asked softly.
The corresponding look in his eyes spoke volumes in terms of an answer to my question.