The Rumour
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor ever will, Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters within.
Chapter 2: The Phone Call
When the phone on his desk rang, Colonel Roy Mustang picked it up.
"Mustang." He said with a disinterested voice that perfectly matched the expression on his face. It took one word from the man on the other end to cause his face to pale and his lips to tighten. His hand fisted at the receiver and he had to take a deep breath to stop himself from dropping the phone.
"Roy!" The exuberant voice of Lieutenant-Colonel Maes Hughes reverberated in his ear and he closed his eyes as it echoed in his head.
"How's it going, buddy? I just had to call when I heard the news. How could you, Roy? How do you expect to get a wife if you don't treat them right? The joys of marriage and fatherhood will pass you by, my friend. Which reminds me, I can pick up all your gifts for my beloved angel next week, so make sure they're all ready for me."
"Hughes." Mustang said in a heavy voice which just barely managed to avoid sounding like a growl.
Grins went around the office. They could almost make out the words squeaking from the receiver that was now six inches from the Colonel's ear.
"What, Roy?" Hughes' voice was light and concerned. "How bad is it? You sound a bit strange, are you feeling okay?"
"Maes, why are you ringing me? Some of us do have work to do." Mustang ignored the muffled snort that came from the short blond on the couch. He didn't meet the skeptical eyes above the gun from the blonde at the opposite desk and he refused to acknowledge the choking noises from two other colleagues. Falman and Fuery merely shrugged.
There was a rude noise from the other end. "Don't be silly, Roy. You're the laziest friend I have."
"I'm the only friend you have." Mustang muttered, and Maes ignored him and kept on going, the wide grin on his face evident in every word he spoke.
"Anyway, so when does Hawkeye leave? Not before I get there next week I hope? We can travel back here together, she can help with the presents."
Mustang sat up straight in his chair and he fixed his eyes on Hawkeye as he interrupted Maes.
"Maes, what do you mean? Hawkeye's not leaving here." Mustang said in a very firm voice.
The office went silent and they all got wide eyes and looked at Hawkeye who looked back at them, equally stunned.
"But Roy, everyone's saying she's leaving you and returning to Central."
"Maes, First Lieutenant Hawkeye is not leaving, she's not transferring and she's certainly not going to Central!"
"No Roy, I meant leaving you
The office was treated to a vision they had never seen before. Roy Mustang went completely white and then he went completely red. His hand gripped the phone so tightly they all swore later that they heard the receiver crack.
"Maes. There is nothing between the First Lieutenant and me." He said in a voice that could have frozen boiling water instantly.
Hawkeye went white, her eyes narrowed and she stood up, her hand resting on her gun.
"Well, of course not, Roy. Not now she's left you."
"Maes." Roy said heavily. "There is not and there never has been anything between Hawkeye and me. I don't know where you heard otherwise, but your information is wrong."
"It's okay, Roy. I can understand you wanting to pretend it never existed. Just don't do anything stupid. I'm sure she'll realise just how mistaken she is and come back to you." Maes offered his support and was very surprised to have the sound of a phone being slammed down reverberate in his ear. Poor Roy, the man was taking it hard, he thought.
Roy Mustang broke the receiver as he slammed it down. Hawkeye walked across to stand in front of his desk.
"What was the meaning of that Sir?" She asked in a cold voice.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Hawkeye. Hughes seems to think that you are... leaving … me due to… personal matters."
"With all due respect Sir, that's just absurd." Hawkeye said clearly.
"I know, Hawkeye, believe me I know." Mustang muttered and pinched the bridge of his nose. "And he's coming here next week for some reason." He added with a long-suffering sigh.
"Recruitment Day." Havoc said blandly. "The Lieutenant-Colonel is representing Central Investigations."
Mustang groaned. Next week was fast becoming a week where he was going to find something suitably virulent and infectious to come down with.
"Your week just got better, bastard." Edward laughed from the couch and tossed his report on Mustang's desk. "I'm off to the Library to see how Al's going."
He was nearly to the door when Mustang called him back.
"As you have so much free time at the moment, Ed, you can go and get something for Elysia."
"Why me?" Ed demanded.
"Because you know what children want."
"How would I know that, bastard?"
"I don't know, Edward. You're nearly as short as she is, surely that means something." Mustang unwisely remarked.
Edward's rant was impressive and the office stopped to watch as the teen nearly exploded. Mustang let out the frustration he had been feeling since Hughes had rung and he responded with an equally impressive display. Edward went so far as to nearly clap and Mustang had his fingers poised when Hawkeye fired and brought the shouting match to its normal conclusion.
"C'mon Al." Edward was overheard to say as he and his brother left the Library. "The damned bastard's got me doing his dirty work again. I don't see why I have to do this. He should be doing his own shopping. How the hell do I know what she'll like?"
It took an hour for the news to spread and by then everyone knew that Colonel Mustang was going to propose to his First Lieutenant and had sent the Fullmetal Alchemist to buy the ring.
Author's Note: It grows and spreads. And mutates….
Thank you so much to everyone for commenting and enjoying.
silken :)