[2] zwei | sense and sensibility

[solutioning]

Before the fireplace lay a green rug, two chairs, and a table on which rested an old-world novel bound in crimson linen; this last was an orphan from the two massive bookshelves which dominated the western wall of the office. The open window admitted the shouts, gentled by distance, of the soldiers training in the courtyard below. A long yellow column of afternoon sunlight draped lazily upon the wooden floor and the rightmost third of Commander Erwin Smith's desk. Here there was the restful scent of paper, and a sense of order as steep and clear as if drawn from a deep well.

Erwin himself was seated at his desk, where he was drawing up a set of expense authorizations in his swift, neat handwriting. The sound of footsteps in the hall disturbed his focus not at all. The pace was intimately familiar, and he knew by speed and heaviness what to expect, and how soon to expect it. He finished the line just in time to look up, tip his pen into the inkwell, straighten his shoulders, and in all other ways convey to his visitor that his attention belonged completely to the matter at hand.

"Welcome back." It was not necessary to indicate the comfortable chair on the other side of his desk. "How did it go?"

Comments

[shortcutter]

Of the numerous things that Levi respected about Erwin Smith, the way he maintained his tidy and functional workplace was among the smallest and most personal. In a way, he felt more comfortable here than he did in his own quarters. If the higher-ups from the other branches deigned to visit more often than never, they'd likely be surprised; for as much time as the Survey Corps spent outside the walls, Levi regarded this office as the true head of the serpent.

For now, the serpent dozed. But its two fangs were ever as long and sleek.

Levi strode across the room and sat, disregarding his own posture as he laced his fingers and stretched his arms behind his head. The gesture was more ginger than usual. Mikasa's wire had left a bruise on his chest that looked more painful than it felt, but minor pain was pain nonetheless, and he now had nothing left to distract himself from it -- nothing but the details of his report.

"Well enough. She's a shitty subordinate, but not impossible to work with. The potential is there. All I need now is time."

An expensive request, really, but this was his damn idea.