Operation Red Champagne

Operation Red Champagne

Day Two

Lt. Jean Havoc preferred peaceful times because soldiers like him have nothing to do. Plus, being assigned in place of Hawkeye does feel like a slight promotion. A promotion and less work, what more can a soldier ask for?

In contrary to Havoc, though, Breda, Fuery and Falman did not like the sudden arrangements. "It'll only be temporary," Mustang assured them earlier today, but a single day with Riza 'Lieutenant-Frigid' Hawkeye is extremely unbearable. Even the jolly ole Hughes was in high spirits while saying: "You can easily keep an eye on her this way". Everyone is so happy about the turn of events, no one seemed to care about the three officers who would suffer under Hawkeye's stern policies.

"Since I will be sharing this office with everyone for the meantime, I want to make sure that we will be efficient and systematic." Hawkeye had said the very minute she moved into their room. "We will be the cleanest, most organized office in this side of town." After delivering her brief speech, she posted a list of her policies at the back of the door and enumerated them all without reading (the words in all caps pronounced with stress for emphasis).

1. No cigarettes inside the office, they're bad for the lungs.

2. No loitering during office hours.

3. No eating or drinking inside the office DURING office hours.

4. The telephone should only be used for important purposes (no senseless chatting with girlfriends, relatives, etc..).

5. All paper works and necessary documents should be accomplished and filed WITHIN THE DAY. No one should keep a stack of unaccomplished documents of their desk.

6. Anyone coming into the office FIVE MINUTES LATER than the designated time is considered LATE.

7. Lates and absences are to be checked and listed EVERYDAY so as to keep track. Anyone who accumulates three lates and two absences will receive a MEMO.

8. All desks should be kept neat and all papers arranged at the end of the day.

9. No more card games or any form of recreational activity DURING office hours.

10. All unnecessary noise and chatter are prohibited in the office especially DURING office hours.

"It could get worse…" Fuery complained to Havoc during lunch break.

"Yeah. We're not going to last one day!" Falman said, "How long will you be staying at the colonel's office?"

"I have no idea." Havoc answered after puffing out some smoke from his freshly lit cigarette. "I think this would go on until the rumors subside… in a way, I kind'a wish it would stay this way."

All three soldiers gawked. "What?!"

"Just kidding…" he glanced down at his watch. "Hey, break time is almost over. You better start running back to your office."

x0x

"Aaaaaaaaaaah…" Mustang was absently strolling down the hallway, stretching out his stiffened arms, when his lieutenant came into sight. "Heeeyyy… Hawkeye."

She acknowledged his presence with a nod.

"Going home already?"

"Yes sir."

"How was your day with the rest of the gang?"

She shrugged.

Mustang lowered his arms and straightened his body. His expression shifted from casual to somber. "Why are you giving me the silent treatment? What did I do?"

Hawkeye stopped walking and turned to him with a haughty look on her face. The proud colonel, who instantly froze in his tracks because of that look Hawkeye had given him, exhaled in retreat. "Okay, I get it. It's the rumor-thing, isn't it? I don't recall anyone prohibiting us from carrying a casual conversation, so don't act like that."

Hawkeye raised her brows. "I'm leaving now, sir."

He sighed for the second time. "Very well then…"

Mustang watched her walk away without as much as a glance.

Fuery and Breda, who were standing at the other end of the hallway, exchanged suspicious looks. They were caught by the colonel, who was on his way back to the office to get his things. The look the two officers gave him was annoying, so he frowned and reverted back to his I-am-colonel demeanor. "What are you looking at?"

"N-nothing, sir." Breda answered. Fuery simply looked down to the floor and walked away.

The incident was immediately reported to the self-appointed leader of Operation Red Champagne, Lt. Col. Hughes. Hughes, Breda, Havoc, Fuery and Falman were gathered up in a famous bar across the street, discussing recent developments of their mission over a bottle of the establishment's strongest drink.

"Good. Good." Hughes said after hearing their reports. "And did you try to follow them from work?"

"Lt. Hawkeye went straight home." Havoc answered. "I stayed for an hour and well, nothing interesting going on. I don't think she's seeing anyone, though."

Hughes took a sip of from his drink. "And Roy?"

"Straight home." Breda answered. Everyone was surprised.

"Are you sure?!" Hughes asked, searching the stubby officer for signs of dishonesty.

"Damn sure."

"Excuse me, sir…"

Hughes turned to Falman who was looking at something – or someone. He followed the gaze and found Roy Mustang situated at the far end of the bar, staring at the glass of liquor in his hand.

"What are we going to do?" Falman asked his superior officer.

"Join him, of course…"

"Wait…" Fuery immediately grabbed Hughes' arm to stop him from leaving his seat. "Someone's coming…"

"Someone?"

Hughes looked around, his head sticking out like a sore thumb in an effort to see who it was.

"Settle down sir.." Fuery begged. "He might catch us!"

But Hughes ignored the plea. Mustang's companion came in through the double doors and walked straight to his table. Wearing faded jeans, light green blouse and a baseball cap, Mustang's guest took the empty seat opposite him and sat down, facing Mustang.

"My god..."

Havoc and company, who were busy hiding their faces just in case the colonel glances their way, suddenly looked up to Hughes whose eyes are still fixed at the colonel and his guest. "Sir?"

"Why, it's Lieutenant Hawkeye!"

x0x

"Are you out of your mind?" A frowning Hawkeye asked her superior officer. "If anyone sees us…"

He grinned. "Why, you don't want to be caught drinking with your boss?"

Hawkeye let out a sigh, snatched the half-filled glass from his hand and settled it onto the wooden table. "Sir, I think you've drank too much. You're not thinking straight. Gawd, don't you even cringe at the thought of being caught?" She leaned closer, snatched Mustang by the collar and pulled him close so they could see face to face. "Are you even listening to me?"

x0x

All color drained from Hughes' face. "I think they kissed."

x0x

Mustang nodded, but was probably too insane to care. This irritated Hawkeye even more. She couldn't believe how such a grown high-ranking military officer can be so careless, thoughtless… in other words, a complete pain in the neck.

"I shouldn't be here…" she told herself before leaving her seat.

"Hey… hey… hey…" Mustang called out. "Could you give me a hand here…"

He even has the nerve to ask for help! She looked back over her shoulder and saw the pitiful colonel leaning against the wall. Infuriated, but concerned, she retraced her steps and reached out to help the intoxicated man stand on his feet. "Your keys sir, I'll drive you home."

"In my pocket."

She slapped his arm. "Your pocket, my ass… go get it!"

He dutifully obeyed, handing over the keys to his car within a second. Dragging him by the arm, the two "lovebirds" left the bar. Hughes and the gang were immediately on their feet. They were unfortunate enough to have not brought a car with them so they had to wait for an empty cab. When they arrived at Mustang's apartment, though, Hawkeye was already on her way out.

"I hope she didn't see us…" Fuery whispered.

"What difference does that make?" Havoc asked, "We've already unveiled their secret… so now, what do we do?"

fW: singing to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" "and now... the end is hear..." harharhar.. we only have four more chapters to go, my dear readers... unless I change my mind. teehee