Chapter 9: Race

Archer and Havoc finished their business and Archer left. Havoc saw Riza and slowly approached. He reached for his cigarettes and found his pocket empty. 'Dammit!' He took a deep breath and walked towards her. He watched her pounding some lead into a target. He was surprised that her delicate looking shoulders didn't jerk more from the force of the gun.

His memory flashed to the sight of her collarbone at the night of the ball. He had such a desire that evening to caress her shoulders however decorum would not allow such an intimate display.

He wondered about Sila and Roy and if anything had happened between them. 'The Colonel had not come into the meeting with any hint of victory or cockiness…then again my comment about Riza and Sila dampened everyone's mood.' Riza turned to reload and caught Havoc in her line of vision. The look she gave him would have made the cigarette fall from his mouth if he had had one.

She cocked her gun and went back to firing. Havoc swallowed loudly and wrote on his notepad "I'm sorry."

He held it out to her until she emptied the round she put down her arms and looked at his message.

She frowned and looked at the message and fired more aggressively than before.

Havoc decided to write more. "I didn't lie when I gave you those compliments…"

He held it up and shook it to catch her attention. She stopped firing and looked at the note. She softened a bit, but the memory of his vehement declaration of his feelings for Sila and not for her angered her again. She went back to shooting.

Havoc could see he was making no progress with her. He wrote more. "I wish things were different, but I knew Sila first. I'm worried about her working with that slimeball. I know you're capable of taking care of yourself, and plus I know you have someone to look after you…"

Hawkeye stopped shooting to read the note pad. She took it from his hands and read it. She knew who he was talking about, and her anger evaporated. 'The Colonel.' She tried to stay angry at Havoc, but when she looked over at Havoc's blue eyes and his crooked smile, she couldn't. She knew that deep down she accepted Havoc's invitation because she too wanted to make someone jealous. '…the Colonel.'

-

During Franks meeting with the Fuehrer he was given a quick assignment to discuss with his direct subordinates. Archer called an emergency meeting, Sila included, and finished the paperwork

Lieutenant Colonel then took the report and was going to hand it directly to the Fuhrer. Mustang finished up his report on Archer's suspicious activities around the same time. He too wanted to hand it to the Fuehrer personally. The two officers walked down the hallway. Mustang spotted Archer ahead of him and had the urge to pass him and hand in the report first.

Mustang quickened his steps. Archer saw Mustang passing him and quickened his steps. They glared at each other and continued to walk faster and then match the others steps. Soon they were both flustered and on the verge of running. They continued down the long hallway like children giving each other dirty looks and then Archer stuck out his arm so Mustang couldn't pass him. Roy shoved Archer and they continued to tussle down the hallway. They didn't speak , but their grunting and sneers said it all.

As they continued their run down the hall, Roy stuck his leg out in front of Archer causing him to fall. Roy then ran down the hallway. Archer got up and sprinted after him. Archer tackled the Flame Alchemist causing the two of them to drop their files. They rolled back and forth finally landing with Roy on top. He drew his arm back to strike Archer.

The Lieutenant Colonel yelped "Not in the face!"

"Excuse me gentlemen…" the two officers looked up and saw the Fuhrer's secretary smiling down at them.

They both stood and dusted off their uniforms. They nodded to the Fuhrer's secretary as they passed through the pre-chamber to the Fuhrers office. They entered and calmly placed the folders on the Fuhrer's desk.

"Thank you gentlemen" said Fuhrer Bradley.

"Sir" "Sir" They both said.

The Fuhrer looked at the two officers. They both stood with pride at attention. The Fuhrer noted Frank's collar was not positioned as perfectly as normal: his collar was crooked. Roy's hair was more tousled than normal. "Colonel, that will be all" said Bradley to dismiss Mustang.

"Yes sir" saluted Mustang. Frank awaited whatever special orders he was prepared to receive. The Fuhrer turned away to walk toward his sitting area. While his back was turned Archer stuck his tongue out at Roy and Roy returned the gesture as he left the room.

The Fuhrer called Frank over and had his secretary bring them some tea. Frank unconsciously straightened his collar underneath the coat collar. He didn't need the mirror, but knew exactly where it should be. This made the Fuhrer smirk. Then he opened Roy Mustang's file.

The Fuhrer's face fell as his eyes fell upon pictures of Frank's secret activities. 'A great deal of effort went in to obtain such photographs' thought the Fuhrer. His mind whirled with a variety of thoughts. The primary one being 'How did he convince Armstrong to participate? How on Earth did he get his leg up like that?' Frank crossed his legs and began to hum breaking the Fuhrer out of his many thoughts.

Mustang sauntered down the hallway hoping that the Fuhrer would look at the photos while Frank was in front of him. He enjoyed knowing the Fuhrer was probably skimming through the file and the pictures with Archer in the same room with him. He couldn't' wait to learn what happened.

Mustang's joy was subdued considering the mood in his office that day. When Roy returned he noted Riza was past feeling hurt and clearly on the war path. Havoc knew he was on her shit list, regardless of their reconciliation, and gave up hope of surviving long enough to see Sila again. He looked like an indifferent shell of a man, yet again taken by loneliness and depression.

Roy had to give Havoc the credit he deserved. "Lt Jean Havoc, our victory this day was due to your vigilance" and Roy smirked when he said "keen eye for photography." Roy switched his focus to Fury "And you Fury" The little man was surprised that he was acknowledged. "What you set up in the square that day was brilliant. Playing on Sila's klutzy nature in order to view that file was brilliant. You and Falman were subtle enough yet strong enough when you bumped into her. Good Job."

Lieutenant Hawkeye then said "Sir, do you think it's a bit premature to declare victory? You submitted the file just this afternoon, and on top of it the Fuhrer hasn't taken any action against Archer."

The gentleman chuckled. Roy said "I don't think the Fuhrer is going to say much."

Breda said with dead pan humor "Maybe the Fuhrer likes ballet."

All the soldiers burst into uncontrollable laughter.