Chapter 6: Rebellion
Summary: Smoker and Tashigi get caught.
Navy Conduct Regulation 72, section A:
Romantic and/or sexual relationships between officers are strictly prohibited. Any officer(s) or soldier(s) found engaging in such a relationship are to be disciplined accordingly. Punishment includes reassignment, demotion, or discharge from the Navy.
Navy Conduct Regulation 12, section F:
Soldiers and Officers are allowed to engage in the following methods of enforcement against combatants, prisoners, or others who interfere with official Navy affairs: physical restraint or physical acts of defense, use of standard Navy weapons, use of sanctioned devil fruit abilities, and other methods as defined in Section H. See Section H for more information.
Tashigi stared at the handbook open on the steel table in front of her. She had once had every single regulation memorized and could recite them at a moment's notice. Perhaps that was part of the problem, that it was all memorized and not actually taught.
Because what sane or rational world would prohibit love but sanction torture?
"You have an exemplary record Captain Tashigi. Many pirates have been apprehended thanks to your efforts. This will help you in your disciplinary case. If you testify that your…alleged relationship with your superior was due to coercion then–"
"Coercion?" she stared at the Internal Affairs Officer. A suit, the kind of person Smoker despised and that she herself had less than an enthusiastic relationship with. The sheer idea, the mere suggestion that Smoker had coerced her into loving him made her stomach roil.
There was nothing fake about the way his hand would brush against hers when they passed in the halls. Or the way he smiled at her successes during combat, the barest upturn of his lips, the simple nod of a job well done. The small things like knowing how she liked her coffee, or covering her shift when new issues of Katana would arrive.
He never coerced her into being with him. To imply that he was that kind of person! The nerve .
"My relationship with Vice Admiral Smoker was based on mutual consent," Tashigi growled. The suit frowned, but there was no real emotion in his dark eyes. He stared at her for a long time before excusing himself.
She knew he would be bringing her statement to a committee who would pass judgment upon them. She would be demoted and likely transferred to some backwater unit. Smoker on the other hand… if he was Vice Admiral Momonga, or Vice Admiral Hina, he would get a slap on the wrist and be told to watch himself. As a high ranking member of the Navy, he needed to act as such.
But Smoker was not Momonga, or Hina. No, he was the Wild Dog of the Navy, uncontrollable, a wrench in the machine of Navy bureaucracy. No, it was likely they would make an example of him. Tears burned in the corners of her eyes. She had never planned to fall for her Superior Officer. She would never want to be the cause of the end of his career. The Navy was his life, just like it was hers!
But… she wouldn't trade the feeling of his lips on hers for anything. An almost smile split her lips. What was that saying, something something only upset about being caught? Slight movement out of the corner of her eye drew her vision to the door of the small holding room.
A curl of pale smoke slid underneath, drifting toward her. She reached out, the tendril wrapped around her fingers before changing shape to spell the words "You alright?" The smoke puffed up towards her face, tracing the shape of her lips as she breathed a yes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered a moment later.
"For what?"
She shook her head, swiping her hand over her eyes, under her glasses. "They'll discharge you." Guilt sat low in her stomach, in her chest. If only she could have hidden it, her feelings. If only she hadn't taken his hand after Punk Hazard, when he was recovering. If only he hadn't leaned his forehead against hers after the disaster of Hachinosu…
"Fuck 'em."
A sad chuckle left her lips. "What will you do?" A lock of hair slipped in front of her eyes. The smoke tucked it back behind her ear.
"Start over somewhere else, doing the same thing without the bullshit." Her breath caught in her throat. The only other option, the only other Army pushing back against injustice… that was treason.
"Can I come with you?" the words left her lips to float upon the air. She couldn't take them back. Nor would she, though anxiety prickled the back of her neck.
"Even after all this?"
She bit her lip. He was giving her an out. She could say no. She could stay. Could continue to wear the coat of justice upon her shoulders. But it would never feel right. She pressed her hand into the smoke, letting it wrap around and between her fingers. Like a ghostly hand holding hers.
"Always," she whispered.
Ghostly lips formed and pressed against hers, together they would stay.
Notes: Listen I love them so much and this is so self indulgent oh no