Chapter 5: Subordinate To Love

Fury Breda and Falman sat around in their office trying to give Havoc some dating advice. Havoc was a little more short tempered than usual since he had given up smoking and when Breda made a suggestion that Havoc try giving Sila flowers he responded by telling him where he could shove those flowers.

Havoc immediately put up his hands apologetically and said "I'm sorry I'm sorry, I'm really just frustrated and I really want a cigarette. Really…"

The three other officers began tot talk amongst themselves. Breda said "Boy he really is stressed."

Falman explained "This just isn't like him, but that's to be expected right now. He's under a great deal of stress without these." Falman pulled out a box of cigarettes that he had confiscated from Havoc.

Fury said "People do act strange under stress…wait…that gives me an idea!"

Falman, Breda, and Havoc all looked at him and asked "What?"

Fury turned to Havoc and said "You should ask the Lieutenant to go with you to the ball!"

"Actually I think Havoc was planning on taking a woman" said Breda.

"No! You doof! Lieutenant Hawkeye! You know Mustang never asks her" said Fury.

Havoc scratched his head and said "But…she's…not Sila!"

Falman said "Not to mention scary."

The four men shuddered at the thought of Riza's stern and disciplined side. Fury said "If you can brave one night with the Lieutenant then it might make Sila jealous!"

Breda said "But she doesn't like him!"

Falman said "Women aren't always so straightforward. She might have gotten used to Havoc pursuing her. To see him pursuing another woman will spark a bit of envy in her. This could work." Falman smiled and whispered "Plus you can stick it to the Colonel for taking your previous girlfriend. We all know he has a secret flame for the Lieutenant."

The men laughed quietly and the lieutenant and the Colonel entered the room. Hawkeye took a seat at the long wooden table and opened up her notepad. The Colonel greeted them all and began to debrief his group on information they had on Archer. The gentlemen and lady were shocked into silence as Mustang discussed the details and provided photographs. At the end of his speech their laughter could be heard down the hallway.

After each officer received special orders the meeting let out. Havoc caught Hawkeye's attention and said "Lieutenant, may I speak to you in private?"

Mustang looked up from some papers he was shuffling and furrowed his brow. He said to Hawkeye "Meet me in the office when you're done."

Riza nodded and turned her attention to Havoc. The other officers excused themselves and said that they would be in the mess hall. Havoc got straight to the point. He said "Lieutenant, would you…would you" 'Wow – I never thought it would be this tough to ask out a woman I'm not really interested in…or…is it that I am interested in and I didn't even know it?' Havoc's cheeks got pink. "…go with me to the officer's ball?"

The Lieutenant shocked Havoc by smiling and graciously accepting. 'That'll teach Mustang for not asking me!' thought Riza.

The next day Riza and Sila went back to the dress shop. Sila got her dress fitted and Riza picked up her yellow gown.

"That's so great!" said Sila when she heard the news.

Hawkeye said "I'm glad to go to the ball, it should be a lot of fun."

"No, I'm talking about Havoc! Not only do you have a date, but I don't have to deal with him anymore!" Sila and Riza returned to the main building on the military campus.

Riza walked with Sila to Archer's office where they opened their large boxes to show Galit their dresses. The three women were a twitter when Archer stepped in.

When he came in he looked down into the box on Galit's desk and saw Sila's dress. "Ah your dress. No need for that. It turns out that the plans of one of the women I called have altered. She will attend with me after all."

Archer then walked into his office and sat at his desk. Sila was dumbfounded. She didn't know what to say. Hawkeye mumbled "Typical" and Archer called Galit for some dictation. The secretary touched Sila's arm and gave her a sympathetic look before picking up her steno pad and going into Archer's office then closing the door behind her. Sila was disappointed not just over being un-invited by Archer, but in herself because she didn't see his self-serving nature sooner.

Sila was then determined to hurt the Lieutenant Colonel. Sila resolved then and there to pay closer attention to the documents she was carrying back and forth. Lieutenant Hawkeye saw the frown on Sila's face curve upward into a smirk and a mischievous spark twinkled in her eye.

Riza felt for the girl. She had assumed that Sila was a power hungry young woman and willing to attach herself to Archer and his dark deeds in order to get ahead. After bumping into her and their trips to the dress shop she saw that Sila was like any young woman and searched, like everyone else, for what makes her happy. Riza gave a suspicious look to Sila and asked "What are you thinking?"

Sila liked Riza, but she wasn't sure if she could trust her yet. "Nothin'" She said. "We better get back to work."

Riza headed to her daily briefing with Mustang and Sila headed back to her office. Riza showed up with a scowl on her face and the Colonel thought it best to clear the air before her aggravation manifested as an attack on him. "What's going on First Lieutenant?"

"Well, Sir, the training for new cadets started Monday and it went very well. There is a lot of talent among them."

"Yes… and ?"

"Tuesday, as you know, was the artillery inspection in the 31st regiment…"

"Uh huh"

"They passed with flying colors."

"Right, are you going to tell me what put that look on your face or are you going to ignore my inquiry and go over the status quo?"

Riza had no problem telling him "Archer, sir, Archer."

Mustang grew concerned. "What did he do to you?"

"Me? Nothing."

"Well, I can't blame you for having a general dislike for him, but was there something in particular?"

"He's such a—"

"May I remind you, Lieutenant that no matter how you feel personally he is still your superior officer. " Roy flipped a memo over while he spoke and wrote 'Plus, we don't know if he has someone posted nearby to listen in on our debriefing.'

Riza wrote a few notes in reply and said "I'm sorry sir, I guess it's just something I will deal with on my own time." Riza wrote 'I think Sila is planning some kind of revenge.'

"That's good to hear. I'm glad you are mature enough to handle this like an adult." He then wrote 'Will she be useful to us?'

"Yes, sir. Thank you sir" 'I am not sure, but it is worth investigating.'

"Excellent."

Sila received notice that she was to be transferred directly to Archer's office suite. When she got the letter she picked up a box, getting a couple of paper cuts, and trudged down the hallway and around the corner. She passed Mustang's office suite and head a roar of laugher.

Sila arrived at her new desk and unpacked her few possessions. Archer appeared in her doorway and stood there until she looked up at him. She looked rather indifferent. He couldn't read her and it worried him. Archer clasped his hands behind his back and said "My apologies Captain, it was rude of me to renege after you had accepted. I apologize.'

Sila figured he wasn't really sincere and was trying to contain what little information she may have. Moving her into his office suite allowed him to watch her movements even more closely. 'Lieutenant Colonel screwed up, and is now trying to protect his own hide. I have a few secrets of yours that are going to hurt you Archer. Just you wait and see.' "Not a problem sir. You did ask her first after all."

Archer didn't believe her, and had a strange tightness in his stomach. 'What is this feeling? Guilt? "I'm sure you would have looked lovely in your dress. I didn't see it on you, but the color is very nice on you. It was similar to those pj's you wore the night we did that audit." 'Why am I rambling?'

"Sir, thank you, sir." 'Now quit rambling!'

"We have plenty of work over the next few days."

"Yes, sir." 'Maybe I can get a look at that personal planner.' Sila noticed that Archer was a lot nicer and more considerate than usual. She hated it. They were examining documents at Sila's desk and decided to take their research to Archer's office. They said goodnight to Galit who was leaving for the night. Archer held the door for Sila and said "After you." He gave her a smile and she wordlessly walked in. She sat down in front of his desk as usual and he invited her to sit at a table off to the side. She sat down and said to him "Sir, please stop. It's really irritating."

"What is?"

"Do you think that I don't know you're only being nice because you entrusted me with sensitive information," Sila placed her hand on the folder in front of her to emphasize her point then became more animated. "and now you assume you've broken my heart and I'm going to carry out some kind of vendetta against you? Quit it! Be yourself."

"Myself? What do you mean?" he asked.

Sila rolled her eyes and said "Be the shallow, self serving, egotistical megalomaniac that I know you to be." Sila turned such a dark red that it seemed almost purple after she realized what she said. She was afraid to look at him and finished her statement with a stymied "Sir, Lieutenant Colonel, Sir."

She looked up at him and met a wild angry pair of icy blue eyes. His mouth was a hard straight line, but from the vein bulging on his forehead she could tell it wouldn't be turning into a smile any time soon. Sila swallowed. Archer looked away and leaned back in his chair. He rested his fist on his lips. The chair seemed to creak very loudly in comparison to the quiet that draped the room.

Sila could feel a single bead of sweat running down the side of her face. The ticking sound of the clock in the room seemed to slow and echoed in her mind. 'What is he thinking? Why did I say something so STUPID! I'm going to get myself killed!'

"You're always so blatantly honest with me" he finally said. "It is quite refreshing." He looked at her more calmly than before. "I'm not used to people being so straightforward. It is rare that you can find someone that you can trust. This is why you are valuable to me." 'I think I love you, so what am I so afraid of? I think I love you. I'm afraid that I'm not sure of, a love there is no cure for. I think I love you. Isn't that what life is made of? Though it worries me to say. I've never felt this way'

Sila was really afraid. 'What is he planning? What is he thinking? Is he just saying all this to pacify me? What is that look? I'm so lost, I have no idea what to SAAAAAAAAAAY!' "Thank you, Sir." 'That should do it…he is always so calm! Even when he's angry!'

Archer took on a very contented look and Sila swore he was smiling behind his fist. The two officers finished up their work and headed home. On their way out the main entrance they walked side by side towards a setting sun. Archer looked down at the Captain and noted the subtle glints of color in her eyes.

Sila saluted him and walked off towards her room. Archer returned the salute casually and watched her walk on a bit before turning his own way. As he was walking he turned and looked over his shoulder at her and then headed home.

That night Frank didn't sleep so well. He was dreaming of leading a large military campaign. When his eyes popped open he thought 'I'm sleeping, and right in the middle of a good dream, like all at once I wake up, from something that keeps knocking at my brain. Before I go insane…'

Frank held his pillow to his head then sprung up out of his bed and screamed out the words he dreaded: "I think I love you!"

Roy Mustang wasn't sleeping well either. He heard Havoc and Riza were going to go to the officers ball…together. He tossed and turned and thought 'What do I care? Good for her...them. I mean them.' He sat up and thought 'Maybe I should ask someone. Who? That aside there's the issue with Havoc. Why did she have to go with him?'

Roy's smile was a sly one. Once he thought of who he wanted to go with he lay his wild black hair back on his pillow and fell right asleep.