this phrase really fixes everything. atleast ace thinks it does.

haruta had been holed in the infirmary for a week now and they were sick of it. the nurses were nice enough but they weren't allowed to go further than the door way if they wanted to stretch their legs.

marco came in once a day to give updates and exchange the paperwork that needed to be done. even injured, a division commander needed to continue managing their division.

maybe that's why marco looks stressed out, he never gets time off, haruta thought to themself when going over inventory. the 12th division was mostly intelligence but even they were being stretched thin these days.

haruta would have to bring in their farthest agents in soon for recovery, it wasn't good for anyone to be far from home for so long. thatch would need to be told of the sudden influx of family if they hoped to still have a stable food storage.

ace knocked on the doorway as he came into the infirmary.

'how you holding up, commander.'

haruta laughed, 'as well as someone who was shot could be i imagine. now come sit before the nurses get nervous.'

ace pulled up a chair to their cot and sat, 'i didn't mean to set the bed on fire..'

'so ace, what brings you to this neck of the woods.'

'well i finally got back from my mission to the west and figured i'd drop in on you.'

'you're mission went well i imagine otherwise you'd be outside getting rung out by our phoenix.'

ace rubbed his neck, 'yeah you're right.'

haruta patted ace's back in sympathy, there weren't many that escaped the phoenix's ire.

they winced when they pulled their arm back.

'they get you in the back?'

haruta nodded, 'damn bastards came out of nowhere.'

ace rubbed haruta's back, 'sana sana.'

'whats that mean.'

'dunno, gramps would always do that when we got real hurt.'

'whatever it is, im sure it ain't bad. thank you, ace,' haruta bowed his head towards the boy.

'don't mention it, i best be going. thatch expects me back and i'd rather not deal with his man hunts,' ace bowed back and left the room.

'pops was right about that boy, as hellish as he is polite.'