However Long The Night

SIXTEEN: Everyone is a foe.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Rosario hissed, shock making her thoughts sloppy.

Behind her, Keegan and Mariola stood. Rosario could just imagine them pointing their knife as well. "Who the hell is that, Rosie?"

Armin's eyes went wide, shadowed by the cloak over his head. He had the presence of mind to not wear any indication of his military status, but failed to realize he didn't need clothes to be recognized as such. He brought nothing but himself and that was enough. Had he brought a weapon? How did he get here?

Rosario put away the knife, but kept a vicious grip on the collar of his shirt. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Oliver Fuchs," he answered, voice carrying only the softest shake. If her hearing weren't so good, she'd never had caught it. "You lied about not knowing him."

"Rosie, what does he know about Oliver? Is this a fuckin' Scout? You brought your new friends to our fuckin' house?"

Rosario turned to Keegan, but kept a firm grip on Armin. "I didn't fucking know he was coming. The military is looking for Oliver for some fucking reason. That's why I'm here. I want answers from him."

Mariola came closer, knife still out and pointed steadily at Armin, though it was Keegan who said, "he can't walk out of here. You know what'll happen to us if we're seen getting friendly with the military."

And Mariola kept coming closer, intent clear. Rosario's frustration reached its peak. She should let them gut him, but hell she couldn't. So she stood in front of him and glared at her friend. "I'll decide if he's gutted, not you. You don't hurt him."

Mariola looked appaled. "Since when do you care what happens to them Wings?"

"I don't."

"Then move out of the way so I can skin this pig."

Rosario, still covering him, grabbed him by the sleeve. "You don't touch him. Wanna fight over the right? The odds aren't in your favor."

"You trust him?" Keegan accuses.

Rosario doesn't deign to answer. She shoots them a look that commands them to sit back down. When they do, albeit reluctant and ready to spring back up again, Rosario joins them, dragging Armin beside her. The two across don't mask the disdainful looks.

"Do you have any idea where Oliver could be?"

Mariola sighs. "No, Rosie. The only person who'd know where to even start looking is you, which is why you should not be here right now."

Keegan shoots her a look and Mariola shakes her head.

"What does that mean?" Rosario asks.

Mariola doesn't meet her eyes. "They're looking for you."

"Who?"

"You're not gonna like this."

"Spill it."

It was Keegan who did. "Shortly after Oliver left, we were left with nothing. Kenny's gang came looking for us, proposing we join them."

You had to be fucking kidding. Rosario ran a hand through her hair. "The Kenny gang? As in the corrupt military police division?"

"Same one. Kenny himself met with us."

"Isn't Kenny Ackerman dead?" Armin asked, but was ignored.

"Kenny himself? What the fuck did he want with you?"

"With us." Keegan leans forward, arms on his knees. "He was lookin' for ya, too. We're the best group in Tamashi, Ro. It wasn't that surprising when we saw him. And Oliver was gone. Pierre, Mar and I joined. Leno got dragged into it by us, but at one point said he wasn't gonna keep the leash on his neck. They killed him, Ro."