Chapter Twenty One: An Intellectual Exchange

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Havoc leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet up on the desk. He and three other soldiers were seated around the phone and the radio, just in case Rudo called again or in case the trucks needed support or intel. The base was on full alert. Everyone was ready.

Havoc looked to his left. Warrant Officer Falman sat there, elbows on the desk, chin resting on his hands. He turned his eyes back, looking across the table at the two Light Infantry men who had taken up positions there. One was the man called Dio, a First Sergeant. Havoc thought Dio was probably a decent guy, except for his allegiance to the Light Infantry and Lt Col Mordecai. The other was the guy Mordecai called 'Beef,' even though his name tag read 'SAKA.' Havoc didn't have a high opinion of Beef.

Havoc was smoking and he blew a puff of smoke lazily towards the ceiling. "Soooo…" he said, slow and soft, "what's up between Hawkeye and your Mordecai fellow?"

Dio and Beef exchanged glances. Beef looked back to Havoc. "None of your concern, that's what it is," he said.

"Just wondering…" Havoc mused. 'She seems pretty familiar with him. Just wondering how that happened…"

"They served together in Ishbal."

"Were they close then?"

Dio and Beef exchanged glances again. "None of your fucking business," Beef growled.

Beef didn't look like a soldier. He looked like a cagefighter in a soldier's uniform. Havoc shrugged. "Just wondering why she seems to prefer hanging out with Mordecai instead of Mustang…"

This elicited a response from Beef and Dio, both of whom sat straight up in the chairs, leaning forward ready to fight.

"You sayin' somethin' 'bout our boss?" Beef growled. Falman sat stonefaced. These aren't men, the Warrant Officer thought, these are animals.

Havoc smirked. "Maybe I am."

"Boy you better learn to hold your mouth 'fore someone goes an' knocks it off."

Havoc grinned. "Guess I just don't see in Mordecai whatever it is Hawkeye sees in him…" He had meant to say 'thinks she sees in him' but decided not to.

Dio's eyebrows narrowed. "You know nothing," he said, even and low. "Mordecai is a leader. A man who leads by example. A man who never orders 'Charge' without a 'Follow me.' He's a decorated soldier and a damn fine officer. Whatever you think you know about Lt Col Mordecai, forget it. You know nothing."

Havoc glared back. "And I'm sure you know Col Mustang just as well as I know Mordecai."

Dio laughed. "Mustang's a prick. Walks around like he's the greatest thing ta ever come outta Amestris. A skilled alchemist? Yes. Charismatic? Yes. But a leader? Never."

"That's a damn lie. Mustang is a leader. He's seen his share of combat and his staff will follow him through the gate of hell!"

Beef chuckled. "Aye. But would he lead the way through those gates?"

Before Havoc could respond, two more Light Infantry officers walked in through the door. One was Kilo, the Lt from earlier. Havoc didn't like Kilo after the incident at the village. The other was a woman. She was slight but intense. Black hair and focused eyes. Her name tag read 'MARCEL.' Kilo pulled a chair up next to Dio and she sat down on Kilo's lap.

"What's up?" she asked, sensing tension in the room.

"This fool been askin' 'bout our two birds," Dio said.

Marcel and Kilo laughed. Beef kept glaring at Havoc. Havoc looked puzzled. Falman wondered if Beef was even capable of smiling.

"What?" Havoc asked.

"'Our two birds,'" Marcel said, "we mean Mordecai and Hawkeye."

Havoc looked more puzzled. "'Birds?'"

Marcel rolled her eyes. "We're big on nicknames here. What's Hawkeye's nickname?"

Havoc shrugged.

Marcel looked at him like she was talking to a stump. "'Hawk.' Her nickname is 'Hawk.'"

Havoc nodded.

"Back in Ishbal, the locals gave Mordecai a nickname. If you look at his right shoulder, you'll see a tattoo of a double-headed eagle. The Ishbalans called Mordecai the 'Eagle of Death.'"

Havoc's face did not change.

"The Eagle," Marcel said, "and the Hawk. Birds."

Havoc's face lit up with comprehension. 'Oh! I get it!"

There was much exasperation at this.

Marcel turned to Dio. "What's he been asking about them?"

Havoc interjected before Dio could speak. "I wanted to know what Hawkeye sees in Mordecai. Why she's been hangin' out with him all the time."

Kilo and Marcel looked at each other and grinned. "Should she not be?" Kilo asked.

Havoc glanced at Falman, hoping for some support. Falman blinked. Havoc turned back.

"I-" he said, "I just… want to know if there's something going on here that I'm not aware about…"

Marcel grinned. "More than you know."

Then the radio in the corner roared to life, a signal punching through the static. Mordecai had been sure to take one of Hutch's custom-built over-powered radios out with him. Beef dove towards it across the desk, pulling the headset and mic to his head. There was shouting coming out of the headset, but no one else could make it out. Beef eventually said "A'ight, we're on our way," into the mic before throwing both it and the headset aside.

Beef stood up. "They need support. They hit enemy forces and are now in a firefight around the train. Worse, the train's stuck."

Havoc leaned his head back. "Oh, shit…"