AN: Hi peoples, just wanted to inform you that I have no clue how Gran's or King Bradley's personalities are supposed to be. So don't let it surprise you if they are out of character. I've seen them like, a total of one time and they didn't even speak, ok maybe one sentence at the most, but you know what I mean. So I wanted to warn and apologize before hand that they are probably out of character.
The Way to a Man's Heart Isn't by Crushing His Ego Chapter 11: Under New Management
Before any of them knew it they were standing in the Fuhrer's office waiting to hear what he had to say. General Gran had just gone over all the damages the little group had caused and it was a very long list to say the least. Gran was sure to include every single little detail. He wanted them to pay dearly. "I see," the Fuhrer said as he thought about what he was just told. His black eye patch and smile were present. It seemed no matter what happened the Fuhrer always had that same smile on his face. He leaned back in his big black chair as he thought about what to do with them.
He's smiling. Riza thought to herself. That has to be one good sign, right? She and Roy were dead center in front of the Fuhrer's large desk. Havoc, Hughes, and Armstrong stood behind them a few feet and in a straight line going by height that lead toward the door at the other end of the room. Gran stood across from them with a large smile on his face. He was hoping they'd get thrown out of the military. Especially Roy, he knew how determined Roy was to overthrow both himself and King Bradley to become the new Fuhrer.
As Bradley pondered about what he should do he turned his chair around so his back was facing them.
It was late. They could all see the world outside through the windows behind the Fuhrer and his large desk. It was dark outside; the sun had gone down along time before. Riza put all her weight on one leg and another 'squish' noise was heard. She looked down and saw the green slime had tracked trough the office and was settling down on the nice red carpet. On the left side of the room, a few feet away from the Fuhrer's desk sat a nice black leather couch. A few nice paintings hung in the large room. Several bookshelves were also present. The walls looked even whiter in the artificial light being created by the lights that were built into the ceiling. Oh great, not only am I in trouble, but now I'm making a mess. This is carpet. You can't just mop it up. Riza thought. A nervous but concealed expression appeared on her face as she stared down at the floor. The nasty smell was radiating off Riza's and Gran's bodies and was making the air very unpleasant to breathe, but the unsure and nervous tension in the air was covering up most of the smell. Or so Riza guessed and hoped. It was either being covered up, or everyone was just too nervous to show that they smelled anything.
After a few moments the Fuhrer finally spoke. He turned his black chair toward them and leaned forward, putting his hands folded on his desk. "I have come to a decision."
Riza and Roy listened closely, unsure if they really wanted to hear what he had to say. Please let this not be so bad. I hope this doesn't interfere with my promotion. It was all her fault anyway. The Fuhrer can surly see that. Yes, I'm sure he can. Roy thought as a calm smile appeared on his face.
What's he smiling about? Riza wondered as her amber eyes traveled to the man standing next to her, her body not moving an inch.
"I've gone over the report carefully and I can clearly see the problem. Second Lieutenant Hawkeye, Lieutenant Colonel Mustang. I have decided to give you both an assignment as your punishment. You are now assigned on a mission. You will both go to the outskirts of town and take care of the street gangs over there. Apparently, the police have been having real problems with them for quite awhile now. None of their men have the skills to take them down, and after seeing the damage you two have caused and neither of you have a scratch. I see you are perfectly qualified to take on this assignment," he informed them, "Now, I am well aware of the situation between you two, and Mustang, I know you are the commanding officer, but on this mission I give Lieutenant Hawkeye my permission to go over your head and avoid orders if she thinks it is needed."
"Why's he doing that?" Havoc whispered to Armstrong.
"Probably so the Lieutenant Colonel can't order Hawkeye to do something that would get her killed," Armstrong replied. They quickly snapped back to their original state when they saw Gran evilly glare at them from the other side of the room.
Riza stood firm. She wasn't at all pleased with this decision, but her 'perfect solider' self wouldn't allow her to blow off the Fuhrer. Look at the bright side. At least you didn't get court marshaled, and you don't have to listen to all of the Lieutenant Colonel's orders. She told herself as her face remained calm and collected. There was no way she was going to show the Fuhrer any of her disgust after he spared her.
Roy on the other hand, didn't hold back any of his emotions. Maybe he forgot he was talking to the Fuhrer, maybe he didn't think he'd get in trouble for voicing his opinion, or maybe he bumped his head in the fight. No one knew what it was, but they all knew it wasn't the wisest thing to do. "WHAT?" Roy snapped as he slammed both hands down hard on the Fuhrer's neat and tightly desk and began yelling. He leaned in close to the Fuhrer's face, close enough that he could smell the Fuhrer's breath; it was strawberry fruit roll ups.
"Uh, Roy," Hughes said as he turned his body and held out his arm. He was about to go after Roy when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Armstrong and he motioned his head to the other end of the room. Hughes looked over and saw General Gran still glaring at them.
"If you move I'll pound you into the ground," Gran instructed as he held up his hand, transforming his fist into iron with his alchemy. Hughes gulped and took his original position. All he could do was hope the Fuhrer was a comical man.
"How can you make a decision like that? Allowing that woman to go over my head at her own wishes, that's totally and utterly absurd!" Roy barked.
Everyone in the room just stared. Riza wanted to pounce at Roy's words, but she managed to remain calm.
"Calm down, Lieutenant Colonel," the Fuhrer interrupted Roy's incensed shouting.
"Or what?" Roy snapped, "I have something very important to say!"
"And you have said it," the Fuhrer replied calmly, "But I have decided to keep my decision the same despite your feelings. I already knew you'd be sore about this, but I feel it is what I must do."
"Lieutenant Colonel, please stop shouting," Riza said in her usual cool tone. She didn't want Roy to get in more trouble then he was already in. She didn't like it anymore then he did, but she knew they deserved what he had given them. Also, Riza couldn't stand Roy's voice anymore, and her not being allowed to snap back made it even worse.
"Or what?" Roy snapped as he glared back at Riza.
"Or you'll be demoted below Hawkeye," the Fuhrer interrupted.
"WHAT?" Roy asked as his head snapped back toward the Fuhrer, disbelief displayed all over his face.
"You heard me. I will demote you to Second Lieutenant. Havoc will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Hawkeye to first Lieutenant, thus leaving you beneath her and at her mercy."
"…" Roy had no idea what to say to defend himself against that. Even if he did know what to say he probably wouldn't have said it in fear he'd get demoted.
"Good," King Bradley said with satisfaction in his voice, "I'm glad you took me up on my offer."
"Yes, sir," Roy said as he stepped back from the Fuhrer's desk and back next to Riza. He didn't say or show it, but the Fuhrer could tell that he was greatly annoyed. He was proud of Roy for holding it all back, as a solider should. But he was even more impressed with Riza. She must have been cross with him after this, but she didn't show any hint of it.
"There is a second part to this punishment," the Fuhrer instructed. "Mustang, Hawkeye, Havoc, Armstrong, and Hughes are ordered to clean up the mess in the office as well as the alley. Mustang and Hawkeye will help you tomorrow, but the day after that they have my permission to stop working. That is when they will be leaving for their mission. Havoc, Hughes, and Armstrong will finish up after that. That is all; you are all free to go."
"That's it?" Hughes asked surprised. He thought they were going to get much worse then that. A smile appeared on his face as he left the room. He was quickly followed by a very annoyed Roy, Riza, and Armstrong. Havoc stayed behind to ask the Fuhrer something.
"Permission to speak, sir?" Havoc asked as he walked toward the Fuhrer's desk and saluted.
"Of course," Bradley replied.
"No disrespect intended, sir, but don't you think sending those two off on their own is a bad idea? I mean, you heard what they did. If no one is around to stop them, aren't you afraid they will kill each other?"
"How dare you go against the Fuhrer's orders!" Gran snapped from the other end of the room. Someone going against a higher up solider was not permitted in his book.
"Easy, General," the Fuhrer replied. "Havoc, I am well aware of your feelings, but I can assure you they won't cause each other harm. I know Hawkeye wouldn't kill Mustang based on what I've seen of her. She is a good solider and would never kill one of her own men. Mustang on the other hand, before I was a little concerned about him, but now that he knows he'll be demoted if he does. I'm sure he'll keep his cool."
"I see, that does make sense. Thank you, sir," Havoc said and saluted again.
"At ease, you are dismissed, Lieutenant Havoc," the Fuhrer replied and Havoc left the room.
"Fuhrer, sir," Gran said as he approached the desk after Havoc had left. "May I ask why you sent those two on a mission the military shouldn't even be bothering with, instead of court marshaling them?"
"Mustang and Hawkeye are two good men. Uh… man and woman, I don't want to lose them over some little argument."
"I understand that, sir, but why the mission?"
"Mustang believes a woman can't do a man's job. Well I'm using this as an opportunity for Hawkeye to prove herself to Mustang. I know how skilled she is. She should have no trouble pulling this off, and then Mustang won't have any room to talk, and things will fall into place as they should."
Either that, or he is using this as an excuse to get those two out there, and stop this so the police will quit nagging him. General Gran thought with a disgusted look on his face. He was so looking forward to the look on Riza's and Roy's faces when Bradley fired them, and then they got off without a scratch.