Author's note: You are hereby warned of the swearing in here. Language and such in this chapter of the fanfiction deserves T-rating.


Chapter one – Automail bonds pt 1.


June 16th, East City.

"Turn on the radio, the 11.00 news has already begun."

"You really would do anything to get out of training, would you?" Rebecca asked with a half smile.

"You caught me..." Havoc replied amused. "But hey, maybe it's something important! Who knows, right? Hawkeye could you turn up the volume a bit?"

"Sure..."

"...destroying two buildings. In other news, as you probably already know, the promised heat wave has finally made it's way over to Amestris from Xing and today we're going to experience the hottest day in 50 years. Measurements all over the country has shown that June this far has held the warmest average temperature measured as of yet – breaking the previous record of August 1855 with 2,2 degrees. So pack your swimsuits and get out of town. For those unfortunate enough to be stuck in East City, please stay tuned to find out what you should do if a friend of yours collapses from the heat. This is Cynthia Roxon reporting."

"And they call that news?" Havoc said as he heaved himself out of his wheelchair, getting ready for walking practice.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Rebecca cut in. "Do they always have to state the obvious? I feel like a roasted pig."

"Uh-huh," Havoc answered, "me too."

Catalina, who was lying stretched out on the cool floor a couples of meters from the man, sat up and removed the military jacket she had been wearing. She angrily tossed it to her left so it landed next to Hawkeye who was absentmindedly looking out the window.

A few people soaked in their own sweat slowly made their way through the streets below. Some of them were fanning themselves with papers, others hid themselves beneath huge sunshades and among the rest of the people underneath it seemed as if Alex Armstrong's infamous dress code suddenly was the new fashion craze.

"I should have worn other clothes," Rebecca sighed, shooting an annoyed glance towards Havoc who was wearing a wifebeater and loose black pants of some thin fabric. "These military uniforms are disturbingly hot… I tell you, if it wasn't for the air conditioning, I'd be pulling an Armstrong right about now. Hell, I wouldn't even mind wearing that mini-skirt uniform Mustang once talked about," she continued. "Anything but this!"

"I wouldn't have said no to a miniskirt today either," Havoc admitted, laughing.

The door to the small room shot open with a bang.

"I bet," Breda commented with a knowing smirk as he entered together with Maria Ross. "Good thing you didn't talk about anything sensitive. You could hear you complaining all the way down the corridor."

"Morning 2nd Lt Havoc, 1st Lt Catalina and 1st Lt Hawkeye," Ross said happily as she closed the door. "That should do it," she said to herself and then spoke up again. "Oh, by the way isn't it a great day today? I mean with the sun and all?"

"No!" the three officers said in unison.

"Yeah, I agree with you three," Breda said unhappily. He crossed his arms as he turned to look at Havoc. "So should we get this over with so we can go to the pool or something?"

"I know, I know," Havoc said and sighed. "It's just not something I look forward to. But I guess the harder the training, the sweeter the victory… or something."

He took a strong hold of the metal bars on each side of his walking 'lane' as he slowly took his first couple of steps for the day. With each new step he panted heavily.

"Oh, come on, that's cheating" Breda said as he watched the sweat drip down Havoc's cheek when he took another shaky step. "You're barely even putting any weight on your legs. If you wanted to train your arms, why bother with this shit at all?"

"Shut up!" the addressed man yelled in frustration through gritted teeth. "This is fucking impossible."

"You can do it!" Maria Ross shouted with determination from a few meters away.

"Come on Havoc, show 'em what you're made off," Breda grunted with a lot less excitement than his female comrade.

When the blond man finally stopped to rest, he breathed heavily. "This shit's embarrassing. Do all of you really have to be here?"

"Course! It's because it's more fun being indoors watching a sweaty grown man trying to walk than lying on the beach where the half-naked women are," Breda said sarcastically. He smiled and leaned lazily against a wall. "I'm officially here because Mustang had orders to be elsewhere and didn't want you to be alone."

Maria folded her arms and looked at Heymans disapprovingly. "Can't you be nice for once?"

She sighed; "I'm here for support since we're friends. Same goes for Hawkeye, Catalina and Breda. But if you really want, I guess we could leave…"

"Nah, you wouldn't want us to leave," Rebecca interrupted, shaking her head as she looked up from the nice cold metal gun she was cleaning. "Without me and Riza, who would be able to take pictures of this god-forsaken– I mean fine, memorable day? Those two can't even aim a camera properly."

"Hey, that's mean," Maria hissed. "Just because I'm off duty doesn't mean I've forgotten how to aim!"

"One word about your daughter and you miss your target," Rebecca commented. "By a mile."

"But she is so cute!" Maria replied, eyes literary sparkling. "Just you wait until you get a kid yourself, then you'll see what I mean!"

"Like I would ever be like that!"

Breda laughed.

"Yeah, yeah," Havoc said. He looked briefly at Hawkeye and smiled when he saw the grimace she made as she watched the two bantering women. "I guess this day really is one for the picture books after all," he continued in an attempt to change the subject before the Lieutenant shot someone. It was a miracle she hadn't even reached to pull out any firearms yet! "You're right, you should stay," he said.

"Damn right," Rebecka said with a smirk, clicking her gun together again. "Besides it could have been more people here, like last week when that automail mechanic Winry was here too…" she looked around the room, confused. "By the way, do anyone know why she's not here? I thought she said she wanted to see this."

"You're right," Riza said perplexed.

"Nah, she rang earlier." Breda answered. "Said she needed to be home today, for some reason…"

"And miss this?" Riza shook her head. Her eyebrows were furrowed in worry over the girl she was beginning to view as a younger sister. "Doesn't sound like her."

"I think it's that shrimp again. Some girls would do anything for the man they love," Rebecca commented cunningly. She turned to Riza and added with a radiant smile, "Speaking of which, where's your General?"

"Ha, ha, ha, good one," Riza said tiredly and humorless. "You're lucky I don't have my guns on me for that one."

"Seriously Riza?" Maria asked more chocked than surprised. "You are unarmed?"

"There wasn't any need for it today," she replied simply with a shrug.

"I know why! It's because Mustang has gone to see the old man," Rebecca said, grinning evilly at her best friend. "so, that means no one important left to protect here, right?"

Hawkeye looked at her angrily but decided she had more important things to save her energy for than an unnecessary argument, like for instance trying her best to survive the hell-hot day.

Breda sighed and fanned himself with a hand. "Come on Becks, that's old news to everyone here. Can't we talk about something other than the Chief for once? Even watching Havoc is more fun than listening to those things in this heat. Again."

"Thanks man," Havoc answered in a raspy voice while giving his friend a stabbing glare. "Someone give me water!" he ordered none in particular.

"Sure," Maria said, hurrying to his side. "So, anyway, why did you say Winry isn't here? What's the occasion?"


Author's note II: I made this chapter into two parts. The second part - picking up exactly where this ends and with focus on Edward and Winry - will probably be up tomorrow.

(PS. All epilogue pictures will appear somewhere in this fic.)