"Well?" Hawkeye moved closer, one brow arched.

Havoc sighed. "Remember I was about to tell you something before he arrived last night…"

Hawkeye nodded. "Yes. What was it?"

Havoc glanced at Mustang, who didn't say anything. "Why he made us to go out…"

Hawkeye started to frown. "What reason?"

"Ask him" He pointed a finger at the speech-robbed colonel beside him and started for the door, but Hawkeye immediately grabbed him by the collar of his uniform. "Not so fast, soldier."

Havoc swallowed hard, stared at the terrifying 1st lieutenant before quickly scurrying back beside the colonel. "Speak up." Hawkeye ordered.

(FLASHBACK)

AUTHOR'S NOTE:Drunken language has been translated for the convenience of the readers. Also, certain onomatopoeias such as hic were intentionally removed.

There is only one sure way to kill sorrow, and that is to drown it in liquor. 2nd Lt. Jean Havoc was an advocate of that belief, so there he was, sitting at the corner with a bottle by his side. With his senses dulled by alcohol, he ordered more liquor from a guy whom he had mistaken as a bartender. He wasn't a bartender, but a colonel who also intended to drink himself to death that same evening.

"Hey, Havoc! Good to see you! Maybe you can help me with these; it's really useless to drink alone."

"More beer?"

A tipsy colonel violently shook his head. "Beer? Are you kidding? I've ordered the best whiskey this bar has to offer. Beers are for ninnies."

And that's how they became drinking buddies for one night, kindred souls who aimed to drink themselves to death. Suffice to say that their systems were so supersaturated with alcohol, they barely remembered how they both got home or whatever stuff they talked about… or so Havoc thought.

He and Mustang weren't drinking buddies, he didn't have the slightest idea that one of Mustang's hidden talents involved a high threshold for the strongest liquor. Well, he discovered this talent few days later, when Mustang privately spoke to him after setting him up with Hawkeye.

"Sir, why did you…"

"I told you I'll find you a date."

"Well, yes I do remember you talking about setting me up with a friend of yours, but Lt. Hawkeye? Come on…"

"What? You were the one who came up with that."

"Me?"

"Yeah." He was nodding. "Don't you remember?"

(Obviously he didn't, and even if the colonel made that up, he'll never know… because even his soul was drunk that night.)

"Come on, just give it a try."

"Give it a try?! I'm not prepared to die yet, sir..."

"That's an order, Havoc."

"Why don't you do it yourself?"

No way. He's also terrified of being shot. "It's a mission I have for you, Lt. Havoc."

"Mission?"

"I want you to find out more about her."

Havoc paled. "You mean, you want me to spy on 1st Lt. Hawkeye?!"

"Not really… but yes."

Havoc tired to wiggle himself free from the colonel's grip. "Lemme go! Lemme go! You're gonna have me killed for this." He pictured a devilish Lt. Hawkeye holding two pistols and laughing like some psycho killer he had seen in suspense-thriller movies.

"Come on Havoc…"

"No!"

But the colonel still had his way. He, of all people, knew how to push the 2nd lieutenant's buttons, and upon promising to help him get back with Grace (note: in the english-dubbed FMA, Grace is the name of Havoc's girl whom Mustang dated in episode 37), the poor guy obeyed without further resistance.

(END FLASHBACK)

"So that's how it happened…" Havoc said, looking down at his hands. "I wanted to tell you everything since the very beginning… but somehow I got lost in what was happening." He looked up, meeting Hawkeye's gaze and somehow melting in the understanding he had seen in her eyes. He wanted to tell her that maybe he had fallen in love with her at some point. He wanted to let her know how captivating she is, and how he had learned to care deeply for her as each day passed. Well, he wanted to tell her all that… but it wouldn't be appropriate. He'll definitely not see the end of day should he dare to confess his feelings here, now, with Mustang nearby. Besides, these two obviously love each other; all they needed is someone who would stir things up a bit – like him – and make them realize what it is they're bound to lose should they cling to their pride.

"But things turned out great." He said with a forced smile. "I guess you also deserve to know that."

Hawkeye was smiling, but her eyes were welled up with tears.

"Uh… my speech here is over." Havoc said, scratching the back of his head. "Perhaps you can… well… let me off the hook."

She didn't say anything, she simply watched her walk toward the door. His hand was on the doorknob when he remembered something. "Oh, there's something else…" He removed his hand on the knob and turned to face Hawkeye. "Before the weapon exhibit, when I stopped by his office… he gave me an order..."

"Order?"

"He ordered me to take good care of you." He smiled. "You deserve to know that, too." After that, he pinched Hawkeye's cheek and left the room. After closing the door behind him, Havoc let out a long exhale. That was good. Telling the truth never felt so much better. Now it's all up to Colonel Mustang.

Mustang noticed how Hawkeye struggled to avoid his gaze. He was supposed to be the one ashamed, and not the other way around. And yet, there he was studying her closely while she, on the other hand, held onto her already crumbling composure.

"I'm sorry. For the tricks. And the set-ups. And the crazy ideas I've concocted. I'm sorry."

Hawkeye bit her lower lip.

"I didn't know how… to let you know… I didn't know… I wasn't sure you'll welcome it. I was afraid you'll turn me down flat."

"I spoke with her once. And I know I'm the reason why you broke up with her."

"Riza," he walked closer and took her hands in his. "I was so jealous when you and Havoc were together… I figured, I can't live with that kind of set-up. I realized that, when I hear you were getting married, I thought that maybe it's too late… and I've never felt so scared in my entire life!"

She looked up at him, sadness evident in her eyes.

"I care about you. And I've been a jerk for all the mess I've made… please give me another chance. Please. Yesterday I ran around Central City like a madman, afraid of losing you for good! I intended to stop the wedding, that's why I went looking for you."

He embraced him. "I don't want to lose you, Riza."

"No." She pulled herself free from his embrace and shook her head. "No."

x0x

After being rejected, he went to soothe his trampled ego with a bottle of vodka. He tried to forget about things in his solitude... unfortunately, all he could do was try.

Try.

He drank the entire glass, stood up and paid for the partly consumed bottle of liquor which he only left on the table. He had an idea, not a very good one but it will work. Even if it doesn't, he's going to do it anyway. It's something like a do-or-die thing.

.. … . …. . ..

fW: this isn't over yet… I have one more short thing to add. The past few instalments were so depressing. I want to end this one with a chuckle.