Spider

Sometime after Ishval and before the Elrics arrive ...

It was a fine day in late spring, so Hawkeye opened the window when she came in.

Meanwhile, a spider started spinning a web near the ceiling in the corner of the back wall across from the window. Hawkeye's keen eyes saw it before the web was finished. She dismissed it as harmless.

At exactly 0900 Falman and Fuery arrived.

"Good morning, sir," said Fuery, sitting down to look at the diagram he'd laid out on his table yesterday. He didn't notice any non-human creatures. "Good morning, sir," repeated Falman, looking at his schedule. He didn't either.

Fifteen minutes later Havoc rushed in, apologizing for being late. Once he'd made sure there were no fires to put out he leaned his chair against the table, lit a cigarette and made his usual thorough scan of the room. And noticed the spider.

A few minutes later Breda walked in with his briefcase, a nearly empty paper cup of tea and a danish. Somehow he made space for them on his table, which was covered with piles of papers. He swore he had a system and could find everything.

"Anyone need something?" he asked, heading out again. Hawkeye handed him her cup.

A few minutes later, Havoc got to the day's first junk mail. He crushed it into a ball and took aim.

Fuery turned to watch at the familiar sound. But Havoc was not aiming for his wastebasket, which he kept across the room by the door. He was aiming for the back corner by the ceiling. At a spider's web. With the spider still in it.

Just as Havoc let go of the wad, Breda returned with two cups and Fuery yelled, "Don't!"

The opening door pulled a draft from the window that deflected Havoc's missile from its intended target.

"Huh?" said Havoc, looking at Fuery.

"It's not hurting anything, sir. Why don't we just leave it alone?"

"Spiders are actually quite useful," added Falman. "They eat mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects."

"If it eats mosquitoes, I'm willing to let it live," said Hawkeye, who'd been watching everything.

Havoc rolled his eyes but picked up the wad and threw it over his head into the wastebasket. It made a satisfying ring as it hit.

"Could it eat mosquitoes outside then?" asked Breda. Now that he'd noticed it, he wanted it gone. "You can use this." He offered the now empty paper cup.

Fuery stood on a chair so he could reach, but the spider had moved to the far side of its web. He leaned over on tiptoe to scoop the spider into the cup.

And lost his balance.

He knew how to fall. Fuery went into a roll and got back on his feet, unhurt. But the cup had gone flying, spider and all, landing in front of the door.

The spider peeked from the cup, then came out. And was crushed under a booted foot.

Silence.

Mustang stepped into the room, oblivious. "Something wrong, sergeant?"


Author's note

Written for Prompt 104, Web, of fma fic contest