Commander's office
The young man sighed as stared out his window. It was another sunny day at Azur Lane HQ. His office over looked the enormous port and sprawling town surrounding it, beyond that was nothing but the beautiful open ocean for miles.
The Commander looked down for a moment as he thought to himself. Despite his short career, he had more than enough experience in combat to know the capabilities of every ship in the port, especially that of a certain carrier. After all he had fought both against and alongside her numerous times.
He knew this woman, and to a lesser extent her sister, had a troubled past. However this was no excuse for the recent incidents she has caused on the base. As infatuated with him she may be, she couldn't be allowed to continue harassing other ships just for being in line of sight of him.
"Oh Akagi...I need to do something before she actually hurts someone." He thought to himself.
A knock on the door was then followed by a smooth female voice. "Commander~ I'm here~" She cooed. The voice then gasped and more annoyed added. "What is SHE doing here?" The Commander sat down at his desk and replied: "Both of you can enter."
The door opened and in walked two women, one was a brown haired, red eyed, nine-tailed kitsune, dressed in a revealing black and white Asian kimono, along with a red mini skirt and thigh high stockings.
She was scowling at the second woman to enter, unlike the first she seemed perfectly human, with long flowing white hair, eyes of light blue. She was wearing what appeared to be a more conventional white sailor's uniform and a large black jacket covering her, but also a black mini skirt and thigh high boots, a naval captain's cap completed her look.
She had a near completely neutral expression on her face, barely acknowledging the first woman's almost disgusted glare and only focused on the commander. "You wanted to see me Commander?" She asked in her typical deadpan tone.
"Yes Enterprise, you and Akagi actually." The commander stated, he then looked over at Akagi, who finally stopped glaring at Enterprise and immediately softened her expression to a small smile.
"Commander~ please tell me you need Akagi's help to discipline this...obstacle to Akagi's love~" She giggled before looking at Enterprise smugly. The Eagle Union carrier barely reacted with more than a raised eyebrow.
"No Akagi, I asked Enterprise here to assist me regarding you." The Commander announced. Akagi's smirk vanished as she suddenly gasped, her eyes went wide and her face went as white as a sheet.
The commander then pointed accusingly at her, his normally friendly face upended in an annoyed frown. "Your constant remarks about other ships, your comments about 'dealing with them', 'making them pay' and 'disposing of them' are unacceptable!" He then lowered his arm and looked away. He closed his tightly eyes for a moment and clenched his fist.
Then in a quiet, more hurt than angry voice he added: "Some of the younger girls told me they don't feel safe around you, they've overheard the things you've said and assumed you'll...sink them."
Enterprise also widened her eyes in surprise at the commander's words, she looked over at Akagi in disbelief. The kitsune had a hand over her mouth, just as shocked as she was. Her voice started to break as she tried to respond.
"C-commander...you misunderstand Akagi just-"
The Commander interrupted her by holding his hand up, still looking away. "Whatever your reason for saying what you said, I will NOT tolerate you making other girls feel unsafe, your aggression is becoming a serious problem for me Akagi, the other carriers and battleships are pressuring me to have you deported back to Sakura Empire permanently."
Akagi whimpered at the idea of deportation, she then slammed her hands on the desk and cried out. "Commander please don't! I love you too much to be away from you!" Enterprise, for the first time since she entered the room finally reacted to Akagi and stepped back.
The Commander looked up at her, her crimson eyes slick with held back tears, he knew if Enterprise wasn't in the room she would be bawling right now. He sighed and stood up from his desk. While rubbing his eyes he, more calmly said:
"I know you don't want that and frankly neither do I." He then looked back at Akagi and added: "But if you don't change your attitude I won't have a choice in the matter. That s why I've asked Enterprise to be here." He then gestured to the silver haired woman.
Akagi looked back at her in bewilderment. "The Grey ghost? Why her?" She asked. "As of today you and Enterprise will be re-organised into a new carrier group under Enterprise's command: Task Force Alpha." The commander announced.
"WHAT?!" Akagi suddenly yelled, backing away from the desk. "This will be your last chance Akagi, to prove to Azur Lane you really are an ally that can be trusted."
As he spoke he handed some paper to Enterprise. "This is a list of ships for the new task force, see to it that they understand whats happening."
Enterprise nodded. "Of course Commander." "You're dismissed." With that Enterprise left the room. Leaving a crestfallen Akagi alone with the Commander. She sobbed quietly and a few tears dropped onto the desk.
"Do...do you...not trust me anymore... Commander?" She asked, afraid of his answer. The Commander simply sat back down at his desk and gestured to the seat opposite. "Sit down a moment."
The kitsune took her seat, her hands in her lap, her tails drooped and her head down in shame. The Commander laced his fingers over each other on the desk, peering at her intently.
"Akagi...its not that I don't trust you, I know you're a good person at heart, but the others will need more convincing after all this." He explained. "This isn't meant to be a punishment, your role in Task Force Alpha is to protect Enterprise, so she can focus on the enemy vessels.
Akagi looked up at him, she looked lost, like a child being scolded by her parent. But The Commander could tell she was listening and kept speaking: "I want you to use this as both a learning and a teaching experience; show the others you can rise above that aggressive nature of yours and keep them safe on the battlefield."
Akagi looked down briefly and then with a determined look on her face she looked back up at him. "Akagi won't let you down Commander! Akagi will prove to you Akagi can be an ally!" The commander just chuckled a little.
"Akagi...its not me you need to convince, I already trust you." He then stood up and walked around the table, the fox woman looked confused at his words and even more confused when he gently took her hand in his. "I...don't understand..." She told him.
"Akagi...you know I trust you...but do you trust ME?" He asked as he motioned for her to stand up. "I know you say and do these things because you're worried someone will take me away from you. Do you really have such little faith in me?"
Akagi opened her mouth to retort, but her words caught in her throat, she looked away ashamed once more. The Commander gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"Its OK to be scared of losing someone Akagi, I know you don't want to go through it again, but threatening other ships is not the way to go." Akagi quietly sniffled and in a breaking voice she finally spoke up.
"I'm sorry for not trusting you Commander!...I'm sorry I made you angry a-and made so much trouble and...and..." The commander, then out of nowhere, hugged her closely, making her gasp in surprise.
While rubbing her back reassuringly he told her: "Its OK...I forgive you...do I have your word you will stop the bullying?" He asked her quietly. "Yes! Akagi will stop I promise!" She quickly agreed.
Before she could say anything else the Commander suddenly kissed her, right on the lips. Her eyes went wide and her heart pounded hard in her chest. All nine of her tails stood on end from the action and she become a little tipsy from intimacy. She eventually started kissing back and her tails wrapped around the two of them, locked in the very embrace she fantasised about since seeing him for the first time.
After what seemed like far too short a time, the two of them came up for air, Akagi giggled a little as she was still dizzy from the kiss, needing to hold onto his shoulders for support.
The Commander was blushing beet red, but he cleared his throat and said: "That was me giving you my word Akagi, it seemed only fair since you gave me yours." He chuckled a little.
"Thank you Commander~ could you...give me your word again~" She giggled as she rubbed her tails around him for emphasis. "Perform well in Task Force Alpha and I'll 'give you my word' as much as you want." He told her with a uncharacteristically cheeky smile. Akagi pulled away and bowed at him. "Thank you Commander!" "Dismissed."
Akagi then turned on her heel and walked away, with a noticeable spring in her step.