Jin Hakuro considered himself a brutally honest man and admitted he resented every last one of his fellow athletics coaches. He had more seniority than the rest of them, and it ruffled his feathers greatly to see sports like archery take a higher slot in the pecking order of things than track and field. He wouldn't admit that his charges were rowdy, undisciplined, and unkempt time-bombs of irrationality. Certainly the team had a few bad apples, but that couldn't be helped.
Department meetings were something he detested with a ferocity reserved for little else. Hakuro couldn't stand listening to coaches like that Curtis woman go on about funding when everyone knew Riza Hawkeye was the sole reason Bradley cared at all. She carried more victories than any of her peers, and the headmaster spoke only the languages of revenue and prestige. It didn't help that the number of prized students on his track team couldn't match Miss Hawkeye's singular success. Maes Hughes wasn't his fastest, and Bradley's distaste of the Mustang boy wasn't a secret.
He'd been grooming Roy for months, but the kid stubbornly resisted giving up after-hours studying with that eccentric codger Doctor Hawkeye. Track and field was a slipping interest for him, and Hakuro was bitter over the slowly dawning prospect of losing his fastest sprinter. Jean Havoc was a decent runner, but he didn't have a future as long as he kept sucking away on those damn cigarettes.
Jin sighed loudly, earning a glare from Coach Raven. Unlike Hakuro, Christopher Raven seemed to enjoy meetings and the inner workings of running an athletic department, though he couldn't understand why. Wrestling was simple-minded barbarism with rules, in his opinion. Those burley brutes didn't have a strategic thought in their heads. They couldn't mentally process the proper calculations to execute a long jump or regulate their breathing down to a science to complete a run, leaving their competitors in the dust. No, wrestling was nothing but grunting and tossing.
His thoughts wandered back to his own glory days at Central Amestris Academy. His trophies and banners still sat on display in the Hall of Victory, and Jin's chest swelled with pride every time he strode past them. Was it too much for him to want an athlete that matched his own skill at that age? With yet another petulant sigh, he supposed it was.
The sickness crawling through the halls of the academy didn't take Roy until nearly the entire first wave of students affected had returned to classes. His throat felt like sandpaper, and coughing seemed to shake the very foundations of his soul. Fever ravaged his body, and he didn't resist his aunt's insistence he remain in bed. An entire week of school was missed, and by the time he recovered enough to return, Roy couldn't have been happier. Nothing cultivated appreciation of one's own life quite like being shut away from it.
Finding Doctor Hawkeye's classroom door locked was a bit of a surprise, so he opted for an early morning run outside instead. As expected, Roy found Hughes stretching on the pebbled rubber track.
"Hey, Roy! The fever has lifted, and the golden boy returns!" His friend smiled up at him and adjusted his glasses in the morning sun.
"I've been fine since Saturday, Hughes, but Aunt Chris kept me on lockdown."
"Understandable. I spent three days at home, myself." Roy sat next to Maes on the athletic track and leaned forward to stretch his unused leg muscles. "So have you talked to Riza at all since before you were sick?"
"Not really. She called, I think, but I was so out of it that I can't remember a whole lot."
"Huh. Well, you probably should. Her dad missed two days last week, and she's had to bum a ride to school from Becky."
Roy paused in his stretching. "I noticed his office was locked before I came out here, but why Becky? Doesn't she usually ride in with Havoc?"
Hughes shook his head. "You really need to talk to her. Come on, let's get moving. I bet I lap you at least twice because you've been rolling around in a bed for a week!"
He didn't have time to mull over what Maes had said. A few of his teammates were trickling onto the field and waved at him. Roy hopped to his feet and followed after Hughes.
The library study tables were large enough to seat four students comfortably. Roy's books and makeup work took up the entire surface and the seat of one chair. He hadn't even had lunch yet, and he felt exhausted; his mood suffered greatly for it. Something was off, and his inability to puzzle it out irked him. Hughes's insistence he speak to Riza also stuck in Roy's mind, but he hadn't had a chance to find her for all the extra time he spent collecting a backlog of assignments and instruction.
He sat frustratedly picking through stacks of papers littered with colorful sticky notes. When the sharp tip of his pencil snapped and left an ugly smudge on a worksheet, Roy growled out loud. How could he have ever thought returning to school would be more enjoyable than being waited on at home? Though he preferred traditional pencils to the irritating mechanical variety, Roy didn't own a sharpener. He ticked off another black mark in his head toward Mondays in general and left his table to find a wall-mounted sharpener.
Instead, he found something that brought his blood to a rolling boil. The boyfriend of his best friend was sitting scandalously close to the library student aide Hughes had briefly dated. His arm was slung casually around the back of Sheska's chair, and she quietly giggled at something he'd said. Her hand rested on Havoc's thigh, and their heads leaned in close to better study the book placed conveniently between them. Was this the reason Riza had to ride to school with Becky? Did she know Havoc was cheating on her? Roy didn't have a clue and didn't care. Without thinking ahead at all, he approached the table.
"Hey, Havoc," he spat out, not even attempting civility.
Jean rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "What do you want, Mustang? Good to see you recovered from the plague. I guess."
Roy sneered. "I was actually looking for Riza. Do you happen to know where she is? Or maybe Sheska does?"
The other boy stood, towering several inches over Roy, and glowered. "I wouldn't have any idea where she is."
"I see." The only light blinking in Roy's head was how much he hated Jean Havoc. His fingers curled into a fist, and he landed the blow he'd been fantasizing about for months right on the side of Havoc's nose. Sheska gasped, and her chair fell backwards as she jumped to her feet.
Jean didn't take long to recover, and Roy hadn't actually thought past the first hit. Havoc's eye was already starting to purple, and his aim could've probably been better; Roy was grateful it wasn't because the lanky boy was apparently quite strong. His fist struck just above Roy's jaw, splitting his bottom lip open. Not wanting to risk an entirely bruised face, Roy launched himself forward and sent Jean tumbling backwards into the empty table and chairs behind him. A few tangled jabs were thrown in the chaos before the two of them were pried apart by a security guard. He was not happy about the blood on his crisp, white shirt.
"Goddamn kids," the man mumbled as he grabbed handfuls of rumpled shirts in either fist. "You two gonna start anything else, or can you behave while I escort you to the clinic?"
"That depends on Mustang. He started it," Havoc growled, his blue eyes focused on Roy, who only smirked. He thought Havoc looked great with a busted nose and a bruise that was slowly making its way around his eye.
"I don't want any more bullshit from either of you." The mountainous guard hauled them from a library full of appalled students and teachers. "Now, march." He walked them to the clinic and deposited Havoc on the bench in the lobby, while Roy was made to wait alone in an exam room.
He sighed and let his head roll backwards into the wall with a thump. What a way to return to school. His hand throbbed, and his ribs ached where Havoc had gotten in a hit on their way down to the floor. Or maybe it had been a chair leg - Roy wasn't sure. The thud of Headmaster Bradley's shoes were unmistakable, and he thought perhaps the man just gave off an air of extreme displeasure wherever he went. Either way, his presence was felt.
"Roy Mustang, come out here, please." Bradley's voice resonated throughout the entire clinic. Roy stood in the doorway of the exam room and noticed the nurse, Miss Chang, looking on at the confrontation with wide eyes and an armful of gauze and ointments. "Mister Mustang, I understand you to be the cause of this altercation."
"He hit me first; I only reacted," Havoc interjected.
Bradley turned his petrifying gaze to Jean. "Your interpretations are not required at this time, Mister Havoc."
Roy wanted to shrink and crawl under the exam table behind him. "Yes, sir, it's true. I hit him."
"I see. Well, then," the headmaster straightened his shoulders and clasped his hands behind him, "this is unfortunate as you missed all of last week due to illness, but you're suspended for the rest of the day. For raucous fighting in a library, the both of you are disqualified from athletics for the remainder of the semester." Bradley nodded to himself and turned to go. "Effective immediately."
Havoc, to Roy's horror, stood and engaged Bradley. "But, sir! That's hardly fair! He attacked me!"
The headmaster whirled around and fixed Jean with a look that made Roy retreat into the safety of the private room. The resulting chastisement was likely heard down the hall. "There is absolutely no fighting allowed of any sort on the grounds of this institution. If you take offense to my punishment, you are welcome to dispute it with the board of trustees; however, I doubt Mustang back there split his own lip, don't you? Sit down, Mister Havoc, and let Miss Chang see to you. Then get out of my sight," Bradley hissed before vacating the clinic.
Roy settled back on the table and waited for the nurse. Miss Chang first brought him a wad of gauze to stop the bleeding and left him to apply the pressure on his own while she tended to Havoc. When he heard the other boy's boots shuffle out of the clinic, he exhaled a harassed breath and closed his eyes. The day had gone horribly wrong, and in retrospect, it had been no one's fault but his own. Coach Hakuro would be furious, and Roy doubted he would be able to secure a spot on the spring team, even if he was eligible.
"Oh, Roy." Riza's voice brought him from his miserable reverie. "Why?"
"How did you find out?"
She sighed and sat next to him on the table, peering at his injuries. "Everyone knows. I heard some hallway gossip and came right down. Let me see your face."
Roy removed the gauze from his lip and winced when he pressed them together. "He's cheating on you, Riza. I couldn't stop myself."
She took the bloody gauze from him and tossed it in a medical waste can. "No, he isn't. I broke up with him last week while you were home sick. I should've told you, but honestly, Roy, I didn't think you'd attack him in the damn library. Are you crazy?"
He groaned and leaned over to rest his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm crazy and stupid."
Riza wrapped her arm around him and gently tidied his hair. "You aren't stupid, just… a little hot-headed." Her body shook with a silent giggle. "I saw Jean's nose. You did a bang up job. His eye is all blue."
Roy scooted closer to her. "Good," he mumbled petulantly. "He fucked up my lip, and I think my ribs are bruised."
"You'll live."
Miss Chang entered the exam room and took a long look at Roy's lip. "Well, Roy, I don't think you'll need any stitches. But I strongly suggest a butterfly closure for a few days." She dabbed at his face with a damp cloth to remove the dried blood and squirted some ointment onto a cotton swab. It stung, and Roy hissed. "I want you to keep it clean as possible, and this antibiotic cream should be put on twice a day." He endured her ministrations and accepted the bag of medical supplies.
"Knock, knock!" Hughes's voice was far too amused. Miss Chang smiled at him and left the exam room. "Wow, Roy, that's quite a fashion statement."
"Shut up, Hughes," he mumbled. It was difficult over the bandage and cream.
"I brought your stuff from the library. I guess you'll be going home today."
Riza helped him get the strap of his bag over his head, and the pain in his ribs flared. Roy grit his teeth and exhaled. "Yeah, I'm suspended until tomorrow. Also, no more track. Depending on how pissed off Hakuro is with me, I may be done with that."
"Wow, harsh, man. But seriously, Roy, what were you thinking?"
Roy glanced at Riza, who pursed her lips. "I wasn't. Clearly."
"Do you need help out to your car, or do you have it? I've got to get back to the cafeteria before Bradley catches me wandering the halls."
"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks, Hughes. I appreciate it."
"It's not a problem, and I'll see you tomorrow." Maes left them alone in the exam room again, and Riza took Roy's elbow.
"Listen, there's something else I need to tell you. It's important. Can I have Becky drop me at your house after school?"
"Of course." He studied her face. "By important, you mean bad, don't you?"
She looked up at him in a long silence. "Yes." Riza released his arm. "I'll see you this afternoon. I'm sorry about your lip." She gave him a sad smile and left him there with a heavy brick of apprehension in his stomach.
As expected, Chris Mustang was displeased with his suspension, and the actions he took to earn it. She didn't rage at him, though, instead she sipped her tea and only gave him cursory glances from her seat at the kitchen table where she read through the stack of administrative forms detailing the afternoon's events.
"I'm surprised at you, Roy. Fist fighting hasn't ever been your style. What brought this on?" She raised her eyebrows and sipped her tea again.
Roy fell into a kitchen chair and tried to rest his head on his arms, but the rib bruising prevented it. "I made a stupid assumption about something I saw, and just-" He gestured with his hands awkwardly. "I just acted. Not a whole lot of thought was involved."
Chris stared at him shrewdly, tapping her nails on the glass tabletop. "I wouldn't imagine so." She stood, pulled a loaf of bread from the box, and didn't say a word as she prepared him a sandwich.
"Thanks, Aunt Chris," he mumbled when she slid the plate in front of him. Roy hadn't eaten since breakfast, and at the sight of food, his stomach rumbled fiercely. She returned to her seat and watched him.
"Is she upset with you?"
"Who?" he asked around a mouthful of sandwich.
Chris smirked. "Riza. Is she upset you picked a fight with her ex-boyfriend at school?"
"How did you know he's her ex-boyfriend? I didn't even know that!"
"She called last week while you were ill, and we had a short chat. She sounded upset, and now this. A lady makes assumptions."
"I saw her in the clinic today, and she didn't seem mad." Roy stared at his half-empty plate. "But she did say she had something to tell me. Becky is supposed to drop her off here after school." He glanced up at his aunt. "If that's okay?"
"Becky, huh?"
Roy shrugged. "I doubt she'll want to come inside, but we're fine. There's no animosity between us."
"That's good. I don't mind if Riza comes by, but I won't be here. I'm leaving in a moment to make my rounds across town." She set her used teacup in the sink and gathered the folder of papers. "No more fighting, Roy. I don't want to hear of this kind of thing again. Are we clear?"
He nodded emphatically and carefully stuffed the remainder of his sandwich into his mouth.
"I suggest you have one of these and try to take it easy until Riza comes by." She set a pill bottle on the table, and with one last glance at his lip, left to handle her business.
Riza didn't arrive until much later than he expected, which was fine because Roy fell into a fitful nap on the sofa in the front room. The doorbell startled him, and the twitching of his abdominal muscles caused his ribs to ache. Even though Riza wasn't dating him anymore, he still hated Havoc. With every press of his hand to his side, he hated him even more.
Roy pulled the front door open, and Riza turned to wave Becky off. "Your lip doesn't look any better, by the way," she said as she stepped inside.
"It doesn't feel any better. Eating was painful."
She reached out, touched the butterfly closure, and frowned. "I can't believe you tried to fight him, Roy. He's much taller than you."
He pushed her hand away and shrugged. "I wasn't thinking about that at the time."
Riza nodded. "Can we sit? I've got something you need to hear." She wandered into the front room and sat on the edge of the sofa. Roy joined her, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. "It's my dad."
"His classroom was locked this morning," Roy said quietly. "And Hughes said you've been catching a ride to school with Becky in the mornings."
"Yeah, I have."
"Is he sick?"
Riza looked at him and wiped a tear from her cheek. "Yes, he's sick. Right now he's down in South City seeing a specialist, but Roy, I don't think it'll matter." Seeing her cry filled him with an overwhelming sense of futility, and he did the only thing he could think of. Roy pulled her into his side and ignored the protesting bruises. "He's waited too long to get treatment, and I've heard him coughing at night." She looked up at him. "It's so awful."
She hid her face in his neck, and Roy pressed his cheek to the top of her head. "I'm sorry. I know that's the stupidest thing to say, but I'm sorry. Tell me what I can do."
"There's nothing." She sniffled. "Just sit with me for a little bit. I don't have anyone else I can talk to about it. Just you." Roy held her tightly and did his best to swallow the lump in his own throat. "If he dies, I'll be alone. I never thought I'd lose my dad. It seemed unfair on top of everything else."
"Riza-"
"I know I sound really selfish right now. You've lost both your parents."
Roy pulled back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You don't sound selfish. I've had ten years to get past their death and come to terms with what I've got in this life. You have almost seventeen years of memories with your dad, and I can't even imagine what that's like."
"It's horrible," she whispered. "I'm so scared, Roy."
"Listen to me, you won't be alone, okay? You have me, and Aunt Chris would never let anything happen to you."
She nodded and fell back against him. Roy tried to ignore the horror creeping through him and kept silent as he stroked Riza's hair.