Dysfunctional
The heavy wooden door of Mustangs office creaked open and a small black and white puppy entered, happily wagging its tail and sniffing its way to Lieutenant Hawkeyes desk. The Lieutenant followed after Black Hayate. Her eyes looked tired and her face was slightly flushed as if she'd been in a rush. None of this escaped the notice of her team who remained silent till she sat down.
"Lieutenant, are you feeling okay?" Jean Havoc spoke, breaking the silence.
"Fine Second Lieutenant Havoc thank you" She murmured quietly,"Just didn't get enough sleep is all"
"The boss didn't sleep too well either last night, he's pretty moody today" Havoc nodded at Mustangs door.
"Dully noted" She smiled, picking up her pen.
The sound of pens scratching on paper filled the air, interrupted only by Black Hayate's panting and occasional whine for attention from Havoc and Fuery.
Then the silence was shattered by shouting.
"Sounds like the chief is coming" Breda muttered.
A chuckle rippled around the office, Ed's presence always meant entertainment.
"I'm going to punch Colonel Bastard! That was the third false trail this month!"
Then there was the voice of the younger Elric Brother,"Brother please calm down, there's work going on and they won't appreciate your shouting"
"I don't give a shi-" Edward Elric slammed the door open and his eyes locked with those of Lieutenant Hawkeye.
"Your brother is right Ed. We are working and you're being unnecessarily loud. Please lower your voice whilst indoors" She said dismissively.
He had the grace at least to look ashamed of himself,"Sorry Lieutenant"
"It's okay Ed, please go in and see the Colonel now" She smiled at the brothers as they trailed into Mustangs office.
The moment Mustangs office door closed there was muffled shouting.
"They don't sound too happy" Havoc muttered,"Bets on how long till he snaps?" He mimed snapping his fingers.
Another ripple of laughter from the men at Havocs poor Flame Alchemist impression.
"I'm going for seven minutes" "I'll bet four till one of them loses it"
She sighed. All the boys wanted was their bodies back, the Colonel really didn't need to be so hard on them. She screwed her eyes shut, let out a deep breath, then picked up her pen again. No point listening in, they'd probably have the same argument next mission, and the one after that. Fuery walked in cringing as he heard the shouts, he placed a cup of coffee on the Lieutenants desk.
"Thank you" She smiled at him.
He smiled back,"You looked tired and I figured this might help, especially considering the noise they're making", he nodded at the door.
Colonel Mustangs voice rung through the room, cold and hard.
"Fullmetal. Each mission you go on is funded by the military. Accommodation, food, transport, all paid for. And I've tried to make it possible for as many missions as possible to relate to the stone so you two can uncover more information. Do you want your bodies back or not? I have tried to help you but this is getting tiring Fullmetal."
There was silence. He'd crossed a line. Even Falman, emotionally distant as ever looked shocked. Lieutenant Hawkeye pushed her chair back and stood up, striding across the office ignoring the stares from the team and entered the Colonels office.
He was standing over Ed, hands either side of the chair and his face that of anger. Ed looked like a small child being told off and Al stood by the wall awkwardly. The door clicked shut behind her and both parties looked up.
"Colonel. That's enough. They're children" She said sharply.
He looked up, his face softening when his eyes settled on her,"You're right. You're right"
He straightened up and backed away slightly, walking back around his desk and sitting down.
"Full metal. You have the rest of the day off, I apologise for my behaviour. Dismissed" he said sharply.
Immediately Ed sprung up from his seat and hurried past her, shooting an appreciative look at her as he passed, Al hot on his heels.
"Care to explain yourself Colonel?" She folded her arms.
The was a long pause.
"He said I didn't care about my subordinates"
One thing she knew he took pride in was his close knit team and how they all had friendships outside the professions environment. Ed had insulted him but even so the Colonel had also crossed lines.
"Colonel, forgive me for speaking out of term but they've lost everything. Those boys have nothing, just each other and for you mention the fact they don't even have their bodies is too far. You know you overstepped the boundaries, regardless of being their superior"
"I know, I took it too far. I'm sorry Lieutenant" He muttered.
She sighed,"You're apologising to the wrong person"
He straightened up,"You're right. I need to find them before they get themselves in trouble again" and with that he sprang out of his chair and left, in pursuit of the Elric brothers.
At least he could overcome his pride this once and apologise. She glanced at the main office, the team all had their heads down, pretending they hadn't been listening in and Hayate was curled up by Fuery. She shook her head smiling slightly. They were just one big, admittedly dysfunctional, family.