Chapter 18

No P.O.V.

It was now the beginning of autumn and everything was quiet. At least what was quiet in the East City H.Q. All the members of Mustang's group were doing some of their regular do's. Breda and Havoc were conversing about random guy things, Fuery was filling out reports that were due soon, Falman and Silvers were discussing some the paperwork they had to collaborate with along with a few other things, Hawkeye wasn't bullying Mustang but was reading a book she borrowed from Tarin, and Mustang was doing his paperwork after being forced by Hawkeye and Silvers to do so. The ones missing were Ed and Al, who had gone off on another search again, and Taylor and Cathelynn, who went shopping.

Mustang, who has been diligently doing his paperwork, sighed. "This really is too much paperwork. Will someone like to-" He received glare no's from both Hawkeye and Silvers. He sulked for a little before standing out of his chair. "Well, I have to leave soon so I'll just finish this tomorrow."

"You can't Colonel." Hawkeye said, not turning away from her book. "You procrastinated on that work long enough to start working on it the day of: today." She flipped to the next page in her book.

"Fine." He huffed and went back to reading and signing.

Tarin looked at Mustang from the corner of her eye. Seeing behind his poker face she did something she knew she'd regret later. "I'll finish it for you." Everyone's head went up, even Hawkeyes. She crossed the room over to where the Colonel was to his chair. "Move it." She said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. He rose from the chair for her to sit and begin working. "You stopped on this one, right?"

"Yes." He said with the sense of being unsure in his voice. He watched her start reading the papers and perfectly signed his name where it needed to be written. Moreover, he saw the look on her face. "You know you don't have to Silvers. I'll just finish what's-"

"It's fine Mustang. Look, I'm guessing you have something important to do today so go on." She hadn't looked up from the papers she had been reading over.

He sighed, deciding not to argue back with her knowing she'd just tell him to go. Grabbing his stuff, he walked to the door. "Take the records to the archive room and make copies of the final reports before sending them to Grumman, okay?" All he received in reply was a nod. Mustang bid his farewells with everyone before walking out of the room.

Everything became momentarily quiet…

Havoc and Breda had stopped their conversation and Havoc walked over to Silvers. Hovering over her for a second, he put his hand on her forehead. "Are you feeling okay there? You aren't sick are you?"

"No, I'm not sick Havoc." Her eyes still on the papers.

"You sure? I mean, you basically just kicked Mustang off his chair and doing his paperwork that you and Hawkeye forced him to do." He just looked at her with big eye and she didn't flinch. Havoc felt self-failure. "Hawkeye, can you help me?" He whined.

The blonde woman sighed as she had to put down her book, to which she found very interesting. "Havoc, why are you bothering her? It was her choice to do it now let her be."

"But you don't get it! She is doing Mustang's assignments for him. Would you do his work for him?"

She took what he said into thought. Looking from Havoc to Silvers, Hawkeye got up and walked over to them. "Tarin, why are you doing the Colonel's work?"

"Because he apparently had something to do so I did him a favor and let him go."

"Okay…" That wasn't what she was hoping for. "I'll rephrase. What made you decide to do Mustang's work?" There was silence. "Do you know why Mustang had to leave for badly?"

"What're you trying to say?" Tarin looked up at her friend.

"I'm thinking you know something about Mustang's leave. I'm a little surprised I don't know." They gave each other a staring contest. The room was silent. "So, tell us."

"… Fine, but I don't really know exactly what he's planning." Everyone one in the room had their ears cued in on Tarin at this point. "I think… He went on a date with Claudia." The room was silent.

Though the males didn't show it, out loud, Fuery had red cheeks and Jean had thoughts going through his head. Falman and Breda were in between the thoughts of surprised and oblivious. Hawkeye just took in the information with some thought. Yet throughout the room it seemed calmed and no one gave much concern. The Colonel has had streaks for a long time to have left work to go out with a woman, everyone knew that. The thing that may surprise them the most is because he had been dating this particular dame for more than four weeks. That was a long streak for him to keep one for that long. Being a well known bachelor he gets women thrown at him.

"So," Jean jumped up to speak, what others wanted to ask, "What you are telling us Tarin, is that you agreed to do Mustang's reports because you guessed he had a date?"

"That is correct." She had started back signing papers.

"Why not just teach him a lesson and make if do all his work on his own? That way he'll be really late and he'll know next time to do his work when he is told. That sounds more like something you and Hawkeye would do."

"I thought of that but the idea of hearing him bitch and whine wasn't going to be an option. Also he was over here looking like a big baby wanting his bottle."

"It's true; hearing a man whine about work isn't nice to hear." He scratched the nape of his neck. "Still, the look you said he had, I thought you didn't give into those kinds of things?"

"I don't but having to sit and watch a grown man do it is beyond disgraceful; especially with his status." She had finished her first stack and put them aside. Grabbing the next stack, Tarin had begun reading. "And with his whining and pouting he wouldn't have completed his work and it's best it be finish than left undone to him being scolded by the higher-ups and risking some of his, and maybe our, privileges. I'm sure you wouldn't want him taking away your smoke breaks, would you Jean." That struck him. The way she spoke to him was cold, even more than Riza. The brunette's emotionless face only showed interest to the paperwork. She then interrupted his attempt at a retort. "And I know you would like him to look bad in front of his friend so you might be able to get a chance at her if she dumped him. Am I right?" Her eyes went to his person. Havoc had no response. "We know you think she's hot so no need to hide." That statement made him turn red. Signing one more paper, Tarin stood up from the desk, with the papers and headed to the door. "I'll be back to sign the rest after I deliver these off." She then departed the room.

After a moment of silence Breda exploded with laughter at Havoc. Falman and Fuery chuckled lightly.

"Th-that's not funny you guys!" He huffed and crossed his arms. "Why does she have to pick on me?"

"She wasn't picking on you." Hawkeye said out of the blue. "Rin was just talking so you'd back off. There was more than that."

Havoc was confused by the woman's words and just sighed. "If that's how she is, I guess."

-x-

Tarin's P.O.V.

Walking out in the crisp evening air about to head home I was glad to finally be getting some fresh air. Today wasn't really a hard one; boring but not hard. Everything has basically been going at a good flow. Taylor and Lynn were home for the day, something about planning something or another.

"I wonder what I should cook tonight for dinner. Maybe some stew beef… No, we don't have any carrots. Maybe I can substitute it with…" I trailed off of my sentence to see a glimpse of gold flowing. If I hadn't kept looking I would not have noticed it was a person's hair. I went from speaking aloud to thinking so I wouldn't seem odd. As I walked farther down the road, the person became more recognizable. My teeth automatically clenched on their own because they had no intentions on letting my tongue speak. I continued to scroll on until I was passed them.

"Why, no greetings from the lovely Miss Silvers?" The smirk I knew that was there helped show the sarcasm in the voice. "That's so rude and I came all this way to see you."

"Oh, did you really?" I turned to her with a smile. Seeing that smug look on Claudia's face made me want to wipe it off, using alchemy. "That's very nice of you Claudia but I'm guessing you truly came here to see the Colonel."

She laughed. "It's cute how now you call him 'Colonel' when just the other day you called him Roy. Is that what you call him when others are around? Or…" She paused, putting a perfectly manicured nail to her lip, "Is it the fact that I'm here?"

I looked at her with no emotion whatsoever. Looking down onto that evil smile of hers I did my best to not clench my knuckles. I think she noticed because her smile grew bigger.

"No matter, call him what you want, not like it matters. But yes I came here to see Roy. We are having a special night tonight and I wanted to see him early."

"Well you're way too late. He got off early." I crossed my arms. "I'm guessing to get ready for you guy's date this evening." Claudia sighed and I heard her mumble something about men. Feeling that this conversation was at its end I began to walk off.

"Tarin…"

I stopped and turned to her: it was the first time she called me by my name; I didn't think she knew my name. "Yes?"

"Are you jealous? Of Roy and I?"

"What?" I said very bluntly.

"You are!" That smile of hers came back like she found a treasure. "You are jealous because I am with Roy. Well, I'm sorry to tell you this but your chances have flown far out of the window. I mean, not like you had a chance anyway." She walked around me. The cunning tone she was giving off and that snide look of hers circled me. "Not to be unlady-like but a girl like you would have no chance with a man of Roy's stature. He's more interested in a lady who knows how to please a man. Not some southern woman with no manners-"

I put a finger over her lip and smirked. 'This is gonna be good.' Using the same hand, I ran my palm to her jaw line and came closer to her. "You may be right, I am jealous. Roy is a very handsome bachelor indeed. But… not even he can match up to the beauty you have Claudia." My expression and tone became seductive. I took my other hand and ran it through her blonde locks. She shivered at my touch. "Just seeing the two of you together had me… conflicted."

"C-conflicted?" She stuttered.

"Yes. Roy's masculinity and charm then your grace and beauty, it's all so.." I slowly trailed off my sentence. My face inched closer to hers before a hand came in my face.

"Ho-Hold on!" She jumped away from my touch looking all red and flustered; it was laughable. "I'm not that kind of woman. I don't know where you are trying to get at lady but-" I held onto her chin and winked at her. It sent her backing away in fear.

Giving one more wink and an air kiss Claudia high-tailed out of here. I couldn't help but laugh at my antics. I've never tired anything like that before but, besides the creepiness of it, it was sort of fun scaring her.

"Now to go home and get dinner started." I turned my heels and headed on to the outskirts of the city.

-x-

"You guys did what?"

"Su..surprise." Taylor said with no enthusiasm like she had before. "Come on Rin, it'll be fun."

"Yeah!" Lynn was still cheerful, regardless of my upset behavior. "You were upset the past couple of days and we thought this might make you happy."

I gave the little girl a very mild glare. "Cathelynn, it was my time of the month. It ended yesterday."

She waved a hand and scoffed. "Moods, Hormones. Soup, Chowder. I find it no difference. We booked this for you and you're going. Tayl!" She snapped her fingers.

"Sorry Rin." Before I knew it Taylor had froze my arms and legs. "I'm sorry but you are going to do this rather you like it or not."

I was then sent into a world of hell and make-over.

-x-

(A/N: Yes I know it's sort of confusing but you'll understand later on. So remember to keep in touch for the next chapter.

Emi: Coming soon to a computer, or device that gets internet, near you.)