Ok this is a bit longer than normal, but omg was this fun AF to write! It started off so cute... and then it wasn't. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!
"You want me to 'what'?" Linor sputtered, having choked on her coffee just moments ago from the sudden phone call and request. Though the phone was held away from her, as not to hack into the caller's ear, she still heard the loud voice from the other end.
"Come to Central!" Hughes repeated over the phone excitedly, not at all phased by her wheezing. "All our reports on Scar were destroyed in the fire and you and Lieutenant Colonel Archer are the only other ones who were working with us on the case." Finally catching her breath, Linor returned the receiver to her ear. "I could really use your help with redeveloping the case files." He admitted, a sigh escaping Linor's lips.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes," She began with a quiet and apologetic groan, "I'm not sure. I still have so much work here to do and-"
"I'm sure Roy would be more than willing to pick up your load while you are gone!" Linor almost laughed at his ridiculous notion- as if Mustang didn't have his own unit already doing his work for him, now Hughes was willing to volunteer him for her paperwork as well. "Major Ziegler," Hughes said seriously, "I need your knowledge and documents on this case." A silence passed between the two and Linor rested her forehead in her hand, pushing her glasses down and rubbing her eyelids harshly.
"I would need to convince Lieutenant Colonel Archer." She grumbled, getting a hearty laugh from Hughes.
"I knew you would come through, Major! No need, I've already talked to Major General Hakuro!" Her crimson eyes peered over her shades and narrowed at the receiver that rung out with a pleased laugh- sly bastard had it all planned out from the beginning, just like Roy, and she wondered if he got it from Hughes or vice versa.
"Well isn't that lucky," Linor drawled, a bit irritated. "I'll take the first train to Central tomorrow morning." She informed, tapping her fingernails on the desk. "Just make sure I have a bunk available in the barracks, please?" A baffled scoff came from the other end and Linor raised a thin brow.
"Nonsense! How could I trouble you like this and make you sleep in the barracks?" Hughes retorted, "My wife and I would love to have you!" The offer rendered Linor speechless. Sure, she had been working with Maes Hughes for several months, but the two had met in person only twice- once briefly when he was visiting Roy in the East and the other just over a week ago- and most of their quality phone time was about work.
"L-Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, I couldn't possibly-"
"Oh, Major~" He cooed, cutting her off. "I insist!" Linor's lips tugged into a small smile at his persistence. "Besides, I'm sure my little Elicia would love the company! She's turning four soon! Oh my, she's getting so big!" The smile on Linor's face widened as she listened to Hughes babble, his sentences becoming so fast she almost had trouble understanding him. When he finally slowed to a stop, the woman chuckled lowly.
"Very well," She murmured, "I'll see you on the 19th then."
"I'll meet you there," He replied, hanging up after he had heard a hum of acknowledgment from Linor. Slowly placing the receiver back on the set, she stared at the black telephone- Hughes really was something else. Taking a sip of her lukewarm coffee, Linor rose from her desk with her cup in hand and looked the clock. It was almost time for her lunch break, but she figured she would get ready for her trip to Central- she would have to pack a fair amount of luggage since Hughes had mentioned her staying for at least a week or so, and she also still had to at least mention the trip to Archer, despite how much she would rather just up and leave. Opening the door, Linor jumped and nearly screamed when Falman stood on the other side, his hand up in a motion to knock.
"Geeze, Falman!" Linor gasped, her free hand over her pounding chest. "You scared me." The Warrant Officer- who Linor had noticed jumped in fright himself- scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Sorry 'bout that, Major." He apologized, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks. "I just came to ask if you wanted to join us for lunch. Colonel Mustang said you might be leaving to Central soon." Linor scrunched up her nose at the news.
"Did Lieutenant Colonel Hughes tell literally everyone before me?" She huffed unbelievably, mostly to herself. Rolling her eyes at the audacity of the man, Linor rested her hand on her hip once she knew she wasn't going to have a heart attack. "I was actually going to go pack, I leave on the first train in the morning." Disappointment crossed Vato's face and she could almost see him hunch over a little.
"O-oh, yes, of course." He mumbled, "I didn't realize you were leaving that soon." The saddened tone in his voice made Linor frown, but he took her answer nonetheless and gave her a forced smile. "Be safe on your trip, Major." When Falman turned to walk away, Linor quickly responded.
"On second thought, lunch sounds nice." Giving a cheeky grin to her friend as he looked back at her, Linor closed the door and approached him to clap a playful hand on his shoulder. "Thanks," She said, looking up at him. Stunned at her change in tone, it took a while for Falman's lips to curve into a smile. "You know, I haven't been meaning to avoid you guys," Linor added as they stalked the halls to the lunch room. "I guess I've been way too focused on my work." She hadn't really realized it until she actively thought back on it- the only time she really hung out with the group within the last week or so was when it was work related, and even that was briefly.
"Don't worry about it, we really just didn't want to bug you," Falman replied, "We know you've been busy, I- we just miss you is all." The recovery from his slip-up was so quick, Falman looked over to see if she had noticed and breathed a silent sigh of relief when she hadn't.
"Me being busy isn't a reason to be a shitty friend." Linor rebuked, taking another sip of her coffee. "I'm leaving pretty early tomorrow, but if you're up for it, I could take you for breakfast." Falman faltered in his step, almost tripping, and Linor snickered. "To make up for me being a total ass."
"Ah, you weren't!" He assured, "But.." Almost as if at a loss for words, he trailed off but forced his voice to come back. "I'd love to have breakfast with you." A grin crossed Linor's face as the duo turned down the lunchroom hall.
"Great!" She exclaimed excitedly, "I'm bribing you with food, so you can't be mad at me now." She joked, lightly tapping his shoulder blade several times before pushing open the cafeteria door.
"I could never," He mumbled quietly, the boisterous chattering from the cafeteria drowning him out as he followed right behind Linor.
#
Linor was glad she had taken Falman up on his offer. She had missed messing around with the boys- they were all goofs, but she forgot how much until they weren't on the clock. She was also happy they didn't seem to begrudge her for being distant and just welcomed her back briefly before pushing her into their antics as if she'd never left. It was reassuring, heartwarming, and it had put her in an excellent mood.
However, the mood immediately dissipated when she stopped in front of Archer's office door. Linor stood just outside of the door, completely still for a good few minutes, not really finding the courage to knock. She had promised herself that if he wasn't in his office, she would leave and just make sure to tell one of the boys to let him know she was called to Central for important business. However, she somehow knew he was there, she had a feeling as if his cold presence leaked out from under the door. Steeling her nerve, Linor took a deep breath and knocked louder than she had anticipated.
"Come in," The smooth voice called, Linor both cursing under her breath and mentally kicking herself in the shin as she entered. Archer was looking down, scribbling who-knew-what on some reports on his desk, but just seeing him felt like a blizzard from the North had washed over her. Finishing whatever he was writing, he gazed up at her, a smirk immediately finding itself on his face when they locked eyes. "Major Ziegler," He cooed, "What brings you to see me?" Linor had to hold her tongue to not say something she'd regret.
"I just wanted to inform you that I'll be leaving to Central tomorrow morning. I was called in for important business regarding the Scar case." She informed in her most professional voice. At her news, she could visibly see his smirk falter before he replaced it with an even more unnerving one.
"Is that so?" He muttered,
"Yes sir, Major General Hakuro has already been informed." She could hear him hum and she waited for her dismissal that never came.
"Well, I hope you have a safe trip," He said, though it seemed to lack in all sincerity. Muttering her thanks, Linor once again went silent, waiting, though he only stared at her. After a very uncomfortable staring contest that Linor backed out of quickly, Archer pushed up out of his chair and circled around to the front of his desk, leaning casually on the edge and propping himself on his arms. "How was your research?" He asked, getting Linor to raise a brow and open her mouth to question him.
"Oh, it was fine. I didn't really learn much, just that there are rarely any recorded cases of people successfully using an incomplete alchemy process." She recovered, her palms suddenly becoming clammy due to the look on his face. "I'm hoping collaborating with Lieutenant Colonel Hughes will warrant more information," Linor added to break the silence though another one just followed soon after. She tried to look somewhere, anywhere besides his cold eyes without making it too obvious, though it proved to be difficult. When his footsteps sounded on the rug, Linor had to face him, taking a step back as he advanced on her. Just a mere foot from her, Archer looked down to her paling face.
"Major," He cooed lowly, "Are you afraid of me?" The question in itself would have made her heart stop, but the tone he used made her want to flee completely.
"N-No, Lieutenant Colonel," She lied, "It's just, you're my commanding officer and I-" Her voice caught in her throat when he gripped her chin between his chilling fingers and tilted her covered eyes up to look at him.
"You shouldn't lie to your commanding officer," He chided, stressing the words she had used. She had opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out and Archer's lips curled into a wicked smirk. "I would never do anything to harm you, Major." He informed, his thumb grazing the side of her lips before he released her. "Thank you for informing me," The change in his tone and topic seemed to allow Linor to breathe again and her chest rose and fell heavier than she had wanted. "Give Lieutenant Colonel Hughes my best." Nodding at his request in a stunned daze, Linor quickly snapped out of it and cleared her throat.
"Yes, sir!" She blurted, quickly retreating when she finally earned a 'dismissed' from an amused Archer.