“Sir?” Colonel Une stood at the door. “It’s ten o’clock.”
“Oh? Thank you, Lady…” Duo Maxwell began to stand from his desk and fell as all the nerves in his back screamed out at once. The impact of his midsection onto the edge of the desk drove the wind from him and he was only just aware of Une’s glossy black boots clicking on the tile floor as she ran to help. When the spasms began to subside, she helped her gasping commander sit up.
“Sir, I’m really not certain I should go on leave tomorrow,” she said softly. Duo waved it off.
“You’ve earned your leave, Midii, and a hell of a lot more than you’ve chosen to take. Go have fun, relax, get a massage, something you’ll enjoy. Don’t spend any of that time worrying about me, and don’t make me make that a direct order,” he told her, voice cracked with exhaustion. “I’ll be fine.”
“But, sir, you’ve been getting-”
“Not another word,” he cut Une off, even more tired than before, “or I will make it a direct order. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the colonel said reluctantly. Duo smiled softly and fought his lethargy to get up.
“One more favor to ask before you go, Midii.” To her surprise he pulled his second-in-command and the most formidable woman in Oz into his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. When, uncertain, she pulled back he leaned on the desk and straightened a maroon collar that never seemed to need it. “That’s just my way of showing how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years. Whatever would I have done without you? Now, go take your leave and have fun!”
“Yes, sir,” she murmured. Duo returned he salute, then watched her quietly as she executed a perfect about-face and left the room.
//The wheels are in motion, then. Fare you well, Midii.//