However Long The Night

THIRTEEN: Never lose sight of your goal. Ever

Two days before the second reconnaissance mission, Rosario was promoted from the commander's office to his room. It was only he and her and, perhaps it the was the exhaustion from the longer hours, but she found the man to be less insufferable that usual.

She helped him sort through files meant for the proposal to retake Wall Maria and grouped them by topic together. Once the task had been explained to her, she had found a rhythm and did it all mostly herself.

They'd been fueling themselves with the disgusting tea and savory cookies that Hange had sent to the room a while ago. It was hours past the designated sleep time for the Scouts, but the commander had allowed her more sleeping time the next day. It'd be a mild training and grouping day, especially for the Scouts going on the mission.

Rosario stood up from her chair beside the commander's bed to grab another file when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Three Garrison soldiers walked in, all saluting the commander before taking two steps into the room. Rosario sorted through the files on the basket, searching for the one she needed to complete the section she had readied. She probably should have saluted the higher ranking officers, now that she thought about it. It's not like it matters. They clearly have more pressing matters since they didn't raise alarm at the disrespect.

"Gentlemen," the commander greeted, ever the business man.

"Commander Erwin, sir. We were told that Captain Levi usually found himself in this room with you. We were hoping to have this conversation with the both of you."

Now that made her eyebrows raise. Did the Captain not have his own room to spend the night in? Rosario held in a snicker.

"Is this for the operation General Pixis was discussing with me? The one he'd need the scouts for."

The humor left her body as Rosario stopped her task to listen. Didn't the Garrison have people competent enough to do their jobs?

"I'm afraid so."

Afraid? Oh, so it's serious. Rosario moved at a glacial pace.

"I'll have him fetched for you," the commander said. "Rosie."

Rosario turned to face him. "Sir."

"Please go find Captain Levi and bring him here immediately. Tell him it's urgent."

Rosario saluted the Commander and left promptly from the office. She could hear them begin to murmur about the gravity of the situation as she walked further down the hall, not specifying until Captain Levi arrived.

She went around the building looking for the midget, going into rooms and asking other officers. The reluctant looks as they answered her when she informed she was on the commander's direct orders were hilarious. She would have laughed in their faces if she could. She would have also kicked them in their privates after.

Captain Levi was outside, taking in the fresh air when Rosario found him. He was off uniform, in a regular shirt and pants. The moon lit over his black hair, giving it a sort of shine. It was so difficult to believe this was the most dangerous person on the island when he wasn't holding bloodied blades. He almost seemed normal—friendly, she'd go as far as to say—when he turned at the sound of her footsteps.

"The commander requests you come to his room, Captain. He asked me to get you."

Captain Levi paused, and for a moment his face went blank. Not a blank that indicated lack of emotion, but a blank that appeared as one tried to hold back a particularly debilitating one. Rosario watched his face with newfound intrigue. She watched as he went from being lost in thought to completely present in an instant. Had she been anyone else, she'd have never noticed.