Chapter Text
It wasn't very often that Smoker spent time in his office space within the G-5 base.
It was even less that Vergo ever visited him, usually settling for messages sent through transponder snails.
So when he entered, Smoker straightened up in surprise. There was a crumpled form in his gloved hands, with a REJECTED stamp across the center of the page.
Hmm, which one was that again? He sure rejected a lot of nonsense sent to him, but never before had Vergo come around to object.
"Explain your reasoning," Vergo quietly demanded in a low, warning tone as he held it out to him.
Smoker's dark eyes scanned through it the first half before they rolled in annoyance. "Its a stupid idea, that's why."
"Its a perfectly reasonable transfer request," Vergo disagreed with a firm frown.
"NOT made by the person being asked to transfer in the first place," Smoker saw fit to remind him. "Its entirely Yarisugi's idea, and I don't humor any of them."
Vergo silently considered this as Smoker tapped ash from his cigar. "I happen to agree with his reasoning."
"Heh, well that still doesn't make it any less stupid," Smoker scoffed with a smirk. "Tashigi's my right-hand, has been for years. Why should that change now?"
"Because she's just a Captain."
A dark shadow flitted across Smoker's scarred face. It was a sore spot, to be sure. She's recently been struggling with advancement placements, but in his opinion the tests were rigged in favor of brute strength. It wasn't entirely her own fault, but it was chipping away at her confidence. He wasn't sure how best to help motivate her, but this wasn't the answer. "That's not a problem," he stubbornly challenged.
"That's three ranks below yours, Vice Admiral," Vergo used his title for a change. "Such disparity between power levels is problematic. Perhaps it would be better if she served under someone closer to her rank, such as Commodore Yarisugi's."
"I don't give a damn about your reasons!" Smoker snarled. "I refuse to sign off on her release!"
Vergo considered his fit of temper with a cool, impassive gaze. "Even if its truly in her best interests?" He attempted to persuade from another angle.
"There's only one reason why he wants so her badly, and it has nothing to do with promoting her interests!" Smoker seethed as he rose to his feet. Even standing eye-to-eye Smoker felt that the man was still looking down on him. "That pervert should stop running his foul mouth so much in public." He was used to hearing such crude talk about officers, but never about someone close to him.
"I don't know what you're referring to," Vergo sighed indifferently as he set the paper on the desk. "Just sign the paper already."
"Like hell I will!" Smoker shouted.
Just then the door opened, and the Captain in question entered. Tashigi paused, hesistant to further intrude. "Oh, is this a bad time? I can come back later--" she began to step back.
"Not at all, we were just discussing a new opportunity--" Vergo said with a friendly smile spreading across his face.
"She's NOT tranferring and that's FINAL!" Smoker's voice boomed with emphasis.
She stared between the two, bewildered. "I...uh...what?" She stumbled awkwardly.
Smoker made to move around his desk, but Vergo got to her first. "With all respect, you're holding Smoker back," Vergo said in a soothing tone meant to inspire empathy. He rested his hands on her small shoulders. "Being only a Captain---"
"Is MORE than ENOUGH!" Smoker shouted to be heard over his nonsense and inserted himself between them, pushing her back by default. She stumbled against the door and mumbled her apologies as she made a speedy exit, though not before Smoker caught sight of tears welling up in her eyes. "Damn you!" He growled at Vergo. "You leave her out of this!"
"She should be made aware of all her options, not just the ones that benefit you and your ambitions," Vergo frowned.
"She makes her own decisions and I trust her judgement!" Smoker shot back as he shoved the paper back at him, now covered with REJECTED all over it. "Tashigi's not wasting her time on him so tell Yarisugi to go fuck himself!"
And with that, he left the Vice Admiral behind and hurried after his Captain. He knew that she wasn't likely to remain on the base so he used his power to take to the skies, flying up and over the walls towards the village. In fact, he could see her dust trail as she ran along the path just before she disappeared under the cover of thick forest. He accelerated until he was close enough to drop down to the ground and his boots pounded heavily behind her. "Stop right there, Tashigi! I said STOP!" He hollared when he saw her duck down to increase her speed. She turned to dodge and duck off the beaten path into thicker foliage, thinking it would slow him down.
Taking to the air again, she felt the rush of air at her back with arms wrapping around to solidify around her torso. She dropped and rolled just before he could catch her, but she misjudged her surroundings and tumbled down a small bank. Turning end over end, a jumble of limbs struggled to catch hold of something. She felt warmth surround and she surrendered in shameful defeat.
"Geez, Tashigi, what's wrong with you?" He huffed as he rose to his feet, carrying her in his arms back up the small hill.
She pouted bitterly as she folded her arms stubbornly across her chest, refusing to look at him. "I can't believe you're sending me away, just because I failed my advancement."
"I'm not sending you away, stupid, didn't you hear me back there?" He grumbled as he set her down on her feet.
"But Vice Admiral Vergo said I'm---"
"Forget what he said, its bullshit, complete bullshit," he insisted.
"But its true though, isn't it?" She finally met his gaze. "Vice Admiral...someone in my current rank, isn't fit to serve so close to you." He frowned to see her devastation, her pain as tears welled up in her eyes. "You're advancing, pushing through, and I...I'm stuck." The word sounded so flat, so defeated as she shook her head. "I can't keep up and that's...I...I just..." tears spilled down as her words mixed up with short sobs.
He sighed as he loosely held out his arms. "Here," he conceded, giving her permission to fall into his arms. He grunted as she threw herself at him. She broke down with loud wails, muffled into his jacket and soaking the suede with her grief.