Chapter Three

"Dev, did you hear back from that contractor yet?" Roy looked at the files on his desk. If they got any higher, he wouldn't be able to see out into the anteroom where his men worked. He could trust Fuery and Falman, but if Havoc thought he couldn't see him, he'd start in with Breda, goofing around. It didn't help that Mera and Dev where working out of his office today. Dammit where was his file? They had only moved into these new quarters a month ago, and he swore he didn't know where half his stuff was.

"They said it'll be another three weeks before the apartments on Hickory Ridge Lane are ready," the young priest said. "And they wanted to talk about building more Ishbalan housing three blocks over."

"Do we have enough people wanting to stay in the city?" Mera asked. "A lot of the scuttlebutt around the center is about going back to the desert, though I can't see everyone leaving here."

"I'd say more people will leave than will stay, but enough should stay for another apartment complex. Most people my age and younger haven't had access to formal education. Now that they can get training here, they'll need a place to live." Dev leaned his cheek against his hand.

Roy's lip curled. "Housing for teens, there's a thankless job. Might as well house them in a barn, given the wreckage they'll leave behind."

"Nice," Mera sniffed.

Roy shrugged. "I went to the Academy, I know what teens in close quarters do."

"Each other, if the rumors about you are true," Dev said and Havoc snickered.

"Havoc, go take a smoke break, outside." Roy jerked a hand toward the door.

Havoc's face fell. "Aw, boss, it's freezing out there."

"Doctor said, I'm not supposed to breathing in smoke yet. You can contemplate this the next time you're tempted to laugh at me." Roy smirked.

Havoc dug his cigarettes out of his desk drawer. "Having pneumonia's made you mean," he grumbled on his way out.

Mera went over to the little stove Mustang had finagled for the office to go with the small sink and ice chest . He had convinced his higher ups that having a rest area inside the building would actually increase productivity. She put the kettle on before coming over to where Roy stood in the doorway to his office. "Are you okay? You said you were better," she said in a whisper.

"I'm just milking it. Don't want to breathe in all that smoke." Roy shrugged then turned back to Dev. "Why don't you and Mera get together on the pros and cons of adding the apartments. Mera, type it up.

"Fine. Just keep in mind I'm not Dev's secretary." She eyed the young priest. "When do you think you'll have control over that metal hand enough to type?"

"Hopefully never," Dev replied cheerfully, flexing his automail fingers. "I plan on sliding right into bossy-pants's position and give the orders and do no actual work."

"You can go outside on a smoke break, too, you know." Roy leveled a glare at Dev.

"I don't smoke."

"I don't care."

"General, here, I have the latest census reports. You asked for them last week," Falman said, coming over with the paperwork. "They might help Dev and Mera to try and determine how many Ishbalans within the city limits are the right age to enroll in college or training programs."

"Good idea. You can work with them. Breda, didn't General Husted have something he wanted the team to do?"

"He wanted to go over troop assignments," Breda replied.

"I'll get on that now." Roy sighed. Juggling two jobs was more tiring than he anticipated. He was still General Mustang, but also the so-called ambassador to Ishbal. It would only last until he was expected to move to an embassy within their desert homeland. He'd go back there to help rebuild, but not to live. He didn't think he could stand the guilt, and Roy knew at least half of the Ishbalans would see it as an insult.

Dev, Mera and Aris did a good job of coordinating the rebuilding in the desert and in the Ishbalan quarter of Central. Roy was determined to give it new life. Buildings that could be saved would be remodeled. Those that couldn't, would be removed. It had been less than two decades since it had fallen from a small but vibrant part of Central into a slum, so it shouldn't be that hard.

Trying to rebuild entire Ishbalan cities was much harder, but the largest of them was well underway, at least on paper. Dev's mother was doing a good job in directing the building of a hospital, and she had rounded up an entire class full of want-to-be nurses. Uzziel and Aris were handling the design of the temple there, and Dev and Kennan were working on rebuilding the one that Dev's sort of girlfriend had blown up in town earlier in the year.

"I wish I had Ed's job some days," Dev sighed, taking the census documents from Falman and breaking Roy free of his thoughts of city planning.

"He's stuck working a murder that they haven't made progress on in over two weeks," Roy reminded him. "And he did end up in the sewers on the burglary investigation."

"He still blames you for that," Dev said. "Though investigations does seem interesting."

"I know Ed does. Well, Winry's finally back, and that'll relax him. We shouldn't hear a rant for at least another week," Roy replied then grimaced. Sometimes it was just so damn awkward. Dev was friends with Winry and Ed, but being Winry's ex made things strange, about as strange as it was with Riza and him being friends with Mera. He needed to find Dev a decent girlfriend – not his niece – but so far, the young man ignored his suggestions. Dev couldn't be left to his own devices any more than Mera. She picked men who beat her, and, except for Winry whom Roy had nudged him toward in the first place, Dev picked women who shot him. Maes would accuse him of being a meddlesome matchmaker if he caught wind of what Roy had in mind, as if he were any better.

Dev shrugged. "It is what it is. I'm fine."

"No, you're not. You're grumpy. This office moved smoother when you were…" How to put this delicately? "Seeing someone."

"That's true," Mera said and Dev glared at her.

"It also went smoothly when General Jackass was in a coma," Dev replied, stabbing a finger at Roy.

"Nice. Just get to work." Roy waved him off.

"Isn't that what we usually say to you?"

"Yes, but I'm taking a half day. I'm still a little wheezy," Roy replied with a fake cough to reinforce his position.

"Liar. We all know why you're taking a day off," Dev shot back.

"Be nice. This is a military office," Roy said, but his men were expertly ignoring the conversation and it was possible Havoc had frozen to death on his smoke break since he hadn't returned.

"And if I call over to the Fuhrer's office, Riza will be there?" Dev's brow arched.

"Would you like to join Edward on sewer exploration? I'm sure I can convince Maes of your interest in joining Investigation," Roy said, and Dev showed his one of the few things he could do with his automail fingers. Of course, Roy was pretty sure the meaning of the gesture wasn't physically possible. "Fine, hold down the fort. Falman, keep them in line."

"Of course, sir."

Roy headed out into the cold, catching Havoc on the way in. He sent the man after a car. His house was far too far away to walk on even the best of days, and this was definitely not one of them. The leather seats in the car smelled dank as the heater struggled to warm the car. Too many people had been in and out of this military vehicle, tracking in slush and snow. Maybe cloth seats should be suggested to whomever provided the military vehicles. It might not wear as long, but at least ranking military officers wouldn't gag to death on the stench of wet leather. He listened to Havoc chattering about his upcoming date, not enlightening him on the fact that he was actually in the process of driving his general to go get a little afternoon delight. It was the perfect time for it. Li-Ying and Miao-Yin had left for the day to go attend some seminar on herbal healing, and Riza had managed to finagle a half day off to match his. Roy swore he'd make himself feverish if need be to prove he was ill still.

Havoc dropped him off. Hayate didn't greet him so Roy assumed he made it back before Riza. A chill clung to the house. He edged up the heater then started a fire in the living room fireplace before going upstairs to do the same in the bedroom. There was something about a clean burning wood fire. It could almost make him enjoy having fire around him again. Sometimes it was hard to watch the flames. It made him remember. Worse, it made Riza remember what she helped turn him into. Still, it felt good on a day like this, and while it might not be that romantic to either of them, it was better than the banging of steam heat. The steam pipes were just distracting, and gave the house a haunted feel in the middle of the night.

Roy shucked out of his uniform and his boots, opting for clothing that was much easier to get out of, and his sturdy-bottomed leather slippers. One of the many downsides to his metal leg was it destroyed shoes and slippers, and going barefoot ruined the hardwood flooring. Also, it got like ice in the bed at night. He trundled downstairs and poured two glasses of wine. Kicking the slippers off, he propped his metal foot up near the fireplace so at least when they got into bed, he wouldn't be bringing along an unwanted chill. He rubbed the burn-scarred skin above his prosthesis. His ankle ached like mad on days like this, even though he no longer had a real ankle.

Roy wasn't sure if the Gate had taken the ankle, or if it had been blown into the hot balloon's basket when the Gate exploded. Not that it mattered. He had seared the life threatening wound closed and as soon as he was coherent again, he'd contacted Winry. She had been as good as her word about forgiving him for her parents' deaths. He didn't really understand why, but he didn't argue it. She had gotten him back on his feet again and he was grateful.

Roy ran a finger of the Xingese dragon that coursed down his metal leg and over his foot. Winry had had a fit over him transmuting the lucky symbol into his automail. Ed still to this day grouched that he was forbidden to do the same. Testing the metal with his living toes, Roy pulled the foot a little further away from the fire. It also wouldn't do to give Riza second degree burns. Where was she?

He drank his wine and was on the second glass by the time she made it home. Hayate bounded over to greet him, snow clinging to his winter-thick fur.

"Sorry, Roy. A meeting ran long." Riza paused to remove her slushy boots before padding over to give him a kiss.

"I've just been reminiscing," he said and she studied his face. Usually he never did that in a good way. "I'm fine. Just thinking about how jealous Ed is over my leg."

Riza snorted. "Why am I not surprised?"

He got up, handing her the wine glass. He raised his own. "To stolen afternoons."

She clinked her glass to his. "To more of them in the future."

"I like how you think." Roy took a deep swallow of the wine, allowing her to do the same before gathering her in his arms for a deep kiss. "I have a fire started upstairs, too."

"Mmmm, given how people just let themselves into our home at will, that might be for the best." Riza set her glass down. "Hayate, you behave. Stay down here."

There were times Roy really loved that Riza was a disciplinarian. Not having to worry about a dog nosing into their sex life was one of them. He watched her sweep up the stairs just so he could watch her backside. It wasn't often he got to do that. When Riza was his adjutant, she was always a step behind him, probably watching his ass such as could be seen in that uniform. He missed seeing her at work every day now that she worked for Olivia, but he much rather have her at his side instead of two steps behind.

Riza grabbed him the moment she passed the threshold to their bed room, her lips pressing to his. While she no longer wore a blue uniform, her attire was similar to the military dress she had worn for so many years. Roy didn't even have to look to skillfully find his way under her shirt to the holster she had tucked around into the small of her back. Once the jacket was off, he'd be able to see her twin shoulder holsters. His brain vacillated between being happy she was so well protected and hating Riza needed any weapons at all.

"You have on too much clothing," she said, pulling on his shirt.

"You're reading my mind." Expert at getting out clothing fast, Roy stripped down and pulled the bedding down while she got out of her holsters. She preferred he didn't touch them as if she were somehow ashamed of them.

She was down to her bra and underwear by the time he got the thick winter sheets uncovered from the heap of comforters. Roy caught her in his arms, kissing his way from one scarred shoulder to the other. Riza shuddered under his touch as he freed her bra. Roy didn't linger over her scars or her tattoo, knowing how sensitive she was about it. Riza backed him up against the bed, her fingers tracing a light pattern over the sensitive skin of his cock. Moaning softly, Roy pulled her down onto the bed, unable to think of a time in his life when he was happier than he was now.

XXX

Dev looked up from his game with Mera, hearing his name being called. He waved to Rotem who was busily stomping snow off his feet.

"Play you next round?" Rotem nodded to the Hahb board.

"Sure. Cold enough?" Dev grinned.

"Don't be a dick." Rotem huffed. "Speaking of which, I think mine froze off."

"Just what every woman wants to hear," Mera said drolly and Rotem snorted at her.

"They have a carafe of coffee over there." Dev pointed.

Rotem grunted, shuffling after it. "Mustang let you two run free?"

"Eh, early day. I think he wanted sex or something. I try not to think about it." Dev made a face and Mera kicked his ankle. Dev yelped.

"I'm not sure how you two stand working with him."

"Honestly? It's not so bad. Surprised the hell out of me. He's fairly laid back unless some contractor pisses him off, and then you do not want to be that contractor." Dev moved two of his stone 'seeds.'

"How is all of that going? Do you really think it's going to work?" Rotem sat down with them, a steaming mug cupped in his hands.

"I do," Dev replied. "We have plans to rebuild Hadimoy and Jahiosaph first. We have the blueprints for schools and a hospital along with other municipal buildings."

"And they nearly finished those new apartments in the historic Ishbalan district of Central. That's pretty exciting," Mera added. "I've seen the layout. They're really nice. They're a lot like Dev's apartment, done in traditional Ishbalan color schemes."

Rotem's nose wrinkled. "Not everyone is happy that we have the Amestrians helping us."

"You can't please everyone. Someone is always going to bitch loudly." Dev shrugged. "How do you feel about it?"

"You've been changing my mind," Rotem admitted. "You've changed the minds of some important priests like Mera's father."

Mera nodded, moving her game piece. "Well, my grandfather had a little to do with that, too, but it's my grandmother's influence, really. She's tired of all the fighting."

"Yeah, I guess I'm seeing that these particular means to the end aren't so bad after all," Rotem said. "I know Vashti is interested in the schooling opportunities you guys lined up."

"Great. They are tempting," Dev said.

"You thinking of quitting the priesthood?" Rotem pointed to a cup on the board. "She's going to beat you if you move that."

"Shut up, Rotem." Mera said.

"Thanks and no, not really. I'm not that thrilled with herbs, but I like being a priest." Dev wrinkled his nose. His damaged body limited him to the branch of the priesthood that practiced herbal healing. "Maybe I'll take some teaching classes."

"Do you have the patience for that?" Mera moved her stones. "And you just lost."

"Damn it." Dev slapped the table. "You distracted me, Rotem."

"No, you just suck." His friend grinned. "I should play Mera."

She shook her head. "You two play. Want some coffee, Dev?"

"Sure if you don't mind."

"Not a problem. I saw your leg playing up again," she said, heading for the carafe.

"Thanks." Dev set up the game to the start position. "We still going to the movies with Vashti?"

"Yeah, that's still on. Prepare to get your head handed to you." Rotem rubbed his hands.

"Please. You're not a hot woman. I'm not going to get distracted," Dev snorted.

"It has to be pretty easy to come in and see her every day." Rotem twisted to look at Mera, then whispered, "But she does have a reputation. You're not muscular or mean enough for her."

"She's looking for something different." Dev shrugged. "Never really thought it could be me, no matter what Mustang says. He's like a meddlesome old woman and that friend of his, Hughes, is no better."

Rotem twisted back around. "You have no shot. She could have anyone."

"Never count me out." Dev grumbled, making a move. He hardly needed to be told he was too ugly and scarred for a beautiful woman. "Shut up and play." No one ever had faith in him but when he thought about it, Dev had to admit maybe Mustang was onto something after all.

XXX

"Thanks for meeting me, Miao-Yin. I know it's freezing out there." Al stretched his legs. The library had miserably uncomfortable seats.

"Not a problem. Let's go somewhere more comfortable. We're not too far from my favorite tea shop and they now have some pretty special chocolate pots, too." The young alchemist smiled. "We could have stayed at your place and gone over the notes, Al."

"No, we're going to your uncle's after this," Al countered. "And I'll eventually call my brother and tell him it's too yucky out to come home and I'll be spending the night in my guest room at Roy's."

"Ah, Winry's home." Miao-Yin waved for Al to get up.

He gathered up his books, nodding. "And Ed is the noisiest little thing. We're on two different floors of the house and I still hear him."

"And you think my uncle's home will be any less noisy?" Miao-Yin smirked.

"No, but it's big. The sound doesn't carry as much." Al headed for the door then let Miao Yin take the lead.

She laughed. "Mom's been saying some mean things about her brother since Aunt Riza still isn't pregnant."

"It's only been a few months."

"Oh, I know, but you know siblings. Well, you never had a sister. They can be mean."

"Winry was close enough and yes they can," Al agreed, his arm twitching in remembrance of times Winry punched him as a kid.

"And women can be fun. Speaking of which, there is a Snow Ball in a few weeks. Would you like to go with me?" Miao-Yin's smile warmed up the frigid air.

Al blushed, sputtering for a second, not sure what to say. "I thought maybe you'd ask Dev to that."

"I can't. Uncle Roy might just kill him and Dev can't go out with alchemists. Poor thing." Miao-Yin caught a lamp pole with a gloved hand, swinging around it. "He'd really like to though."

"No doubt. I…I need to think about it, okay? It's not that I wouldn't love to but." Al glanced away, but she caught his cheek with those rough-knit gloves.

"You still miss her. I understand. Just think about it. I don't know too many people here and I'd like to go," she said.

"I'm thinking about it," Al promised. And he was. It might be nice to go out again, but he still missed his fiancée. Sometimes it was hard to remember that Ziata was dead, in another dimension and that he needed to move on. He just needed to think about it before diving in.

XXX

John knew he couldn't resist much longer. He wished that winter hadn't come. Combat boots and snow boots could send a singular thrill up his spine but they didn't make his heart race like a spiked heel. Those were even more prized than combat boots, taking him to such a special place. Oh, the way they made a woman's leg look so long and elegant. How could he resist at all? He had already selected a few women he wanted to follow, not those at the hospital. No, sensible hospital foot gear did nothing for him. At least a combat boot, while inelegant, spoke of power and he loved that. Hospital shoes whispered of varicose veins and unattractive feet.

"Medic, we could use some help over here." John turned, wiping both hands on his uniform top. His automail fingers spasmed a bit. He needed maintenance. Maybe he'd need to do that before he hunted again. He'd want to be in perfect working order, after all. "Coming, doctor." It was only a matter of time now.