Hey there, folks. I am back with another one shot, and it involves Azur Lane. If you ask me, I believe there is a certain maid in the Royal Navy faction who could use a lot of love and attention. Hood is my AL Waifu, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't fond of the other ship girls, so this one will focus on Dido. I hope you enjoy the wholesomeness in this one shot.
Hesitant Confession
Being a naval Commander has its benefits, and its drawbacks, it's only down to the person who can believe which side outweighs the other, or even both. For one naval commander, he was willing to accept the latter, as long as he never gives up in the face of danger. This young commander, whose name shall remain as confidential for top secret purposes, was being released from hospital today. A few days ago, he was brought to a hospital that was a long walk away from the Azur Island docks.
He had returned from a brutal operation out on the open sea, along with many of the ship girls that were assigned as his first fleet. During the mission that was a struggle, which is always a factor when sirens are involved, the commander took a bad hit when the bridge part of his ship was attacked by a cannon shot. Thankfully, that didn't sink the ship, and the other ships were quick to notice before opening fire to finish the siren navy off.
Despite the wound he suffered, the mission was a success and they had all returned home to Azur Island. But many of the girls were seriously worried over him, especially one girl in particular who had grown fond of the brave commander for a while, but had not made any moves to get closer to him, or to tell him how she feels when she is with him. That girl, was Dido, one of the Royal Navy maids but with a personal fear...the fear of abandonment.
She had often felt that emotion for as long as she can remember, and at one point, she was prepared to accept it as part of her existence. But that changed one day when she met the commander for the first time. There was a sparkle of hope in her eyes when she saw his face, she had almost blushed, but was able to maintain her composure as a maid. Since then, she and the commander had gotten to work on several assignments and there was a big bond of trust in place.
When she heard that the commander had returned, but severely wounded, she almost freaked out and Belfast had to calm her down.
Five days earlier...
During the first night back after hearing from the report, Dido has isolated herself in one of the maid rooms that she shared with Sirius and Sheffield. She had been using a lot of tissues, trying to stop the emotional crying that she had been doing since she heard what happened to the commander earlier. She wasn't alone though, Belfast was trying her best to comfort her, but it didn't seem to be working well.
"Please, Dido. You must understand." She said with a hand on her shoulder. "How can any of this be your fault?"
"How?! It's because...I wasn't there for him!" Dido replied, sniffing. "What kind of a maid am I, if I can't do anything for master?!"
"But it couldn't be helped, it was terribly unfortunate that a lucky shot fired at his ship when the fleet thought they had the battle under control."
"Hic...that just makes me feel worse for master! I haven't even found the courage to tell him how I feel when I'm with him!"
"Dido..."
Belfast was looking a little lost on what to say as she pulled Dido in for a friendly hug.
As the head maid, she had picked up on what had been going on ever since the Commander and Dido became close to one another, but not to the point of a relationship being possible. She could see the hurt in Dido's eyes, and how much she wanted to love him. Belfast thought real hard and came up with an idea. One that she was convinced would work, but only if Dido was willing to agree, and if the others could keep it a secret as well.
"Then, if you'll listen to me, I know the best way you can make it up to him."
Dido looked at her with tear-stained eyes, a glimmer of hope she wanted to hold on to. "Please tell me, what can I do to make it up to master?"
"Well, it involves writing a letter and then..."
She listened carefully and they agreed to keep it as a surprise for the Commander. Dido wanted to believe that just for once, she wouldn't be a klutz to him.
As for the commander, he had just been given a notice that he was to have a day off for today.
"Now, Commander." Vestal spoke as she helped him out of bed. "You must learn to take it easy today. Don't go pushing yourself so soon, understood?"
"Of course, and thanks for the care, Vestal." He replied. "I may be young, but I'm learning pretty fast."
She nodded and left the room. The commander stood up and grabbed his military uniform before leaving the room.
"At last...I'm out of that hospital room." He sighed, stretching his arms into the air. "Now then, time to enjoy my day off."
He made his way down to the ground floor and out of the hospital, relieved to be out in the open world again.
"Okay, where should I go first?" He asked. "Oh right, I should check on the girls, I need to speak with Dido."
Leaving the hospital area, he made his way over to the docks and inside the port HQ, where many of the girls noticed him.
"Commander?!" Edinburgh greeted. "Welcome back, sir."
"At ease, Edinburgh. I've been instructed to have a day off today." He replied. "I may have healed, but my body still needs one more day of resting in my home."
"In that case, I have something important to tell you." Belfast said as she joined in the discussion.
"Oh, Belfast. Good to see you here. I chose to come here, because I'm looking for Dido. Where can I find her?"
Belfast hummed. "Apologies, Commander, but she's not at the docks at this time."
"Ah...she must be feeling down after what happened to me."
"Indeed, Commander, you had us all worried." Edinburgh said. "But with Hood's help, we were able to keep the headquarters in order."
"So where could Dido be?"
"If you wish to see her, take this letter." Belfast handed a piece of paper to him.
The commander read the note, which said the following.
Master-I mean, Commander, I hope this isn't an inconvenience for you, but I wish to see you alone. I've been having a lot of thoughts about you, and now, I think it's becoming clear. I often feel nervous when I'm with you, and I sometimes wonder that if you and I could...well, then maybe I wouldn't feel alone any more. If you want to know how I truly feel about you, please come and see me at the central tree. The one where we had the picnic for Warspite's birthday.
I'll be waiting for you, there. Dido. xx
The Commander could only stare in silence, he wondered if this was a love letter of sorts. "Dido..."
"Commander, if I may be bold to suggest." Belfast said. "Perhaps you should buy a bouquet of flowers along the way. It would show her how much you care for her."
"Yes, out of all of us, she was the one most worried about you." Edinburgh added. "And I believe today is the right time to tell her what's on your mind in return."
The Commander could only chuckle. "Sheesh, I worried you girls that much, huh? Then, I'll make sure to get flowers."
Belfast nodded. "Good choice, Commander. Now go and enjoy your day off, we'll look after things here."
"All right, I'll be back tomorrow, girls. Keep up the good work." He waved and the left the port area.
He walked along the city area, reminded that even though there is danger in the vast ocean, the central island was safe in all corners. There is often the scenario of the island being invaded by the sirens, but it wouldn't be a major issue as long as security was very tight. Which was the reason why a few ships from other factions were present around the island. As he passed by a few stalls, he noticed a flower stall having a sale on red and white roses.
"Excuse me, miss." The commander said.
"Oh, greetings Commander." She replied. "What brings you to my stall?"
"I'm looking for a small bouquet of red roses, they're for a special someone."
She smiled. "Oh, absolutely! One moment...and here we go, one small bouquet. And here's the price."
The commander handed over several coins and she gave the bouquet to him.
"Thanks, ma'am. Bye bye."
"I wish you good luck, Commander." She replied.
Luck, thinking of that word made him smile. He was sure that coming back wounded but still alive was down a lot of luck. Maybe it was for him, maybe it wasn't, it was debatable when fate and luck both collide in one moment, such as the mission from before. All that mattered now, was that he made it back and he was ready to get back into his commanding role. But until then, he had to find Dido, who would be waiting at the tree, and he knew where that was.
He could see the tree in the distance, but he was feeling hungry, so he stopped at a café for a quick lunch, which gave him a moment to think about the issue.
"I know she said that stuff in the letter, but I'm surprised that she didn't say abandon like she usually does." He said to himself. "Is she beginning to change herself? Is she trying to not put herself down in front of me? Or is it something else, like love...wait. Love?!"
The word, love, when he became a commander, love was the one thing that never came into his mind. All he wanted was to brave the seas as a navy Commander, and return home a hero, but he didn't expect love to become a factor. Perhaps it was a matter of time before love would inevitably get involved. After all, most of the ship girls he got to meet and work with were all beautiful in thier own way. Maybe if he had someone special, it would encourage him to try harder and win future naval battles.
"But...would Dido feel the same way? I need to tell her...more than ever now."
After his lunch and paying for it, he left the café and walked onwards to where he kept the view of the tree in his sight. He soon entered a large field and walked up the small hill before reaching the giant tree. The leaves falling weren't exactly pink petals, but they were more of a white colour, which was he thought was close enough, based on the light novels he often read from time to time. As he finally stood at the tree, the maid in question appeared from behind the tree.
"Dido." He greeted. "There you are, I'm happy to finally found you."
"Master, I mean Commander, you're out of the hospital?" She responded.
"Yeah, I was given permission to leave, but I won't be working until tomorrow. I just need to rest for one more day, and I'll be right as rain."
"I'm glad to hear that, master. I've been waiting for you, but I was convinced that you would never come."
"Dido, why would you think I would never arrive?"
She looked away as her face blushed. "Because I wasn't sure...I had a fear that you would find it creepy and suspicious of me...wait, are those..."
"Yeah, I bought these for you." He handed the small bouquet to her, and Dido gasped.
"Red roses...th-thank you, master! You didn't have to...give this disgraceful maid with such a romantic gift." She took them and placed them on the tree close to her. "Goodness, now I forgot what I wanted to say."
"It's okay, Dido. There's no need to hold back. Just say what you want to tell me."
"Master...all right." She took a deep breath. "Ever since we met, I always thought of you as someone I would serve and nothing more than that. But as we got along together and helped you in a few early missions, I became more of a reliable maid, instead of a clumsy one, like I am usually when I think of something else. You go around, making sure everyone is okay working with you, even me. You show companionship and I sometimes get jealous, but then you make sure I feel okay with you."
"That's because I always want to make sure that those are working with me, are always well motivated and cared for." He replied. "So what changed?"
"It's when you were away on that dangerous mission. I was so worried for you, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. When you came back heavily injured, I wanted to run away into my bedroom and weep on my pillow. Upset and frustrated that I couldn't do anything to make you feel better. I felt like such a useless maid."
"Dido...I'm sorry to make you feel that way. I swear, it's never my intention to make all of you feel worried." He sighed as he took ehr hand. "I guess I should be honest, as well. I've noticed that you had been acting a little strange for a while now. The letter you sent, how much you're worried about me, and the fact I gave you flowers. I finally understand what this is all leading to. So, I wanna let you know, that...you've been on my mind, when I was in hospital for those days, I was worried for you."
She looked at him with her eyes wide open. "Master...y-you were worried so much about me? H-how? I'm unworthy of that much attention."
"That ain't true. Because if it was, would I do this for you?"
Holding her hand, he gently pulled Dido in for a soft embrace with his arms around her.
"M-master?!"
"That's how much I've missed you when I was stuck in that place for days." He said quietly. "As your Commander and master, I wish for you to accept that what you used to face isn't going to happen while we're living in the now. I care for you a lot, Dido, so please believe me when I say that anytime you feel down, just come over to me, and I'll give you all the care and affection you could ever want."
She then sniffed. "Master...how could you be so k-kind to me? When I think about you, I just...ah...I just..."
"Go on, just say it!"
"I just want to be with you, master! I want to love you! I want to be at your side forever, because I love you, Commander!"
She then reazlied what she had just said and her face went red before looking away.
"Thank you, Dido. That's all I could ask for." He smiled at her. "Because after hearing that...I wanna tell you, that I feel the same way...I love you too, Dido."
She gasped as her eyes began to water. "Wh-what? Really? You...you love me, master? How could you possibly love a lowly maid...like me?"
"How? Because it's simple." He held her closer and gave her a headpat. "I want you to be my special maid, the kind of maid that I'm always happy to be in love with."
"Master...hic..." She then hugged him back, slightly tight, refusing to let her go. "You love me...master loves me!"
"If you still want more proof, let me show you how much I love you."
The moment she looked at him, he lifted her chin up and gently pressed his lips onto hers, sealing in a soft kiss. This was his first kiss, as well as hers, and for the both of them, it was a moment that neither of them would ever forget. After the kiss ended, Dido could only look on in surprise as her face went bright red.
"Master...I got kissed by my master...I feel so happy!"
"And I'm a happy guy as well." He replied. "I love you, Dido. I'll always be there for you, but I wish for you to be with me forever, too."
She cried. "Yes, master! I'll forever be at your side, always love me, forever!"
"Yeah, forever...let's go to my place. I still need to rest until tomorrow."
"Of course, Commander." She replied, feeling a little worried.
He then thought of an idea. "And then, we can discuss about changing shifts so that you and I can work on missions a lot more."
That made Dido smile happily. "Yes! Thank you, Master!"
Sharing one more kiss, they held hands whilst she grabbed the bouquet and held onto it as they left the park, making their way to his home. For Dido, this was a feeling that she had always wanted. A life where she would never have to feel abandonded again, for now she had somene to love very much. And for the Commander, that was his first time confessing to a girl, and although he was nervous, he was relieved that it all worked out well.
As far as the two of them were concerned, they were going to do whateveri t took to ensure that their love would indeed last forever.
THE END
There we are, all done. No need for lemons in this one, just a story filled with pure, wholesome goodness.
Wanna see more of my stories, feel free to fave or follow me.
