First impressions are lasting and off limits is always off limits.

01 Military Personnel

During one hot and lazy day in Eastern, groups of soldiers could be seen lounging about, specifically to get a glimpse of the new recruits. Nothing was more fun than that on days like these. There always were the jokes and the occasional stroll down memory lane. Not only that, but the pool on who would be getting the most new recruits in their sector. Roy Mustang had the same group of subordinates for years so everyone joked about the unfortunate soul that could be put with the Flame Alchemist and his tight knit bunch. The colonel always seemed to have the most animated first days when it came to his new subordinates and there was one specific reason for this-

Riza Hawkeye.

The arrival of Jean Havoc was quite interesting. Hawkeye hadn't been in the office when the blonde soldier had arrived in Mustang's office full of confidence. He was told that Mustang was very picky about the men he would allow to work under him and that it was quite the honor. The man was a hero during the Ishabal Rebellion. The alchemist also proved to a cool, calm, and collected man, causing Havoc to feel right at home.

"Oh, and there's one other so far. 2nd Lt. Hawkeye Hawkeye." Havoc looked confused.

"Oh yeah? What's his specialty?" Mustang only smirked.

"Guns," a female voice spoke up. Havoc turned swiftly to be face to face with a blonde woman. A cute blonde woman.

"Hawkeye, I'd like you to meet our newest addition."

"Jean Havoc, ma'am!" He answered quickly, giving her a salute and wide grin. Hawkeye just nodded, ignoring the knowing smirk on Mustang's face. It was a week later that Havoc attempted to ask the blonde sniper on a date, only to get shot down. Roy had shown up right after, patting him on the shoulder and chuckling knowingly.

"Oh, I forgot to mention, Hawkeye is off limits." The confused soldier managed to take up chain smoking right after, while trying to figure out any potential affair going on between his commanding officer and his body guard. Not to mention the fact he was trying to figure out if his life was in danger for asking the woman out.

Breda's appearance proved to be interesting. He and Havoc had graduated from the academy together and he was anxious to join his friend in working under the Flame Alchemist. Unfortunately, some detail was left out. Havoc had been casually sitting at his desk on Breda's first day, pretending to do work in a manner that had nearly been perfected by Roy Mustang himself, when gunshots were heard down the hall. He had nearly jumped out of his seat in shock, while Mustang looked up as if hearing gunshots inside a building was a normal, everyday occurrence.

"Where's Breda?" he asked casually, glancing at his shocked subordinate with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah… um… I think he left with Hawkeye." There was a pause and when Mustang got up, Havoc scrambled from his seat as well, following closely. Riza was walking towards them with a large and heavy looking stack of folders in her arms.

"Do you need help with those, lieutenant?" Havoc asked swiftly, only to receive a harsh glare that cased the man to shrink back in fear.

"I assure you, I am very capable, Sergeant." She answered stiffly and continued on her way. Havoc looked nervously at Mustang before the two proceeded to the office that the clearly irritated woman had just left. On the floor in shock and bullet holes outlining his body, sat Breda.

"You tried too hard to help out, didn't you?" Mustang asked and the man nodded slowly, a look of fear etched across his face.

"Suppose I should have warned you about her temper, huh?" Havoc asked with an apologetic laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. In a nutshell, Breda never called any military woman 'little lady' ever again.

Vato Falman never got a gun pointed at him or rejected, but watched as his new commanding officer came rushing quickly into the office in an almost panicked manner. He wasn't really sure how to approach the situation. He was already working for a man younger than himself and now, on his first day, he was watching a mental break down take place. Finally noticing the man standing in front of his desk, Mustang straightened up and cleared his throat, uttering a gruff apology.

"Listen, I'm going to tell you now, working under me isn't going to be a walk in the park so you have to be prepared for… any… thing…" Blinking in confusion, the older man glanced over his shoulder as a fuming blonde woman came into the office. He glanced back at Mustang who had visibly shrank back into his seat. The other subordinates that were in the room seemed to quickly occupy themselves with whatever they could. Til this day, Falman wasn't sure what had happened, but remembered dropping to the ground in terror when the woman pulled out her gun and stormed up to Mustang's desk, pointing it directly in his face with a fire in her eyes.

"Try that ever again and I swear, I. Will. End. It." She growled and put her gun away, walking out of the office with the slam of the door behind her. Falman had learned never to cross the young woman and despite his curiosity, to never ask what his commanding officer had done to upset the woman.

Kain Fuery, the office youngster, followed Havoc's steps but in a more innocent sense. The young man arrived in the spring and the Colonel had been in a strangely pleasant mood thanks to his newly acquired raise. Hawkeye was in a great mood herself. He arrived on an easy going day, having come into contact with a pleasant and reassuring Riza Hawkeye, allowing the young man to develop a minor crush. He would get flustered whenever she came around and all around clumsy. Upon realizing the Colonel's slowly developing annoyance over the young soldier's behavior, Havoc took it upon himself to offer Fuery a bit of advice he had received on his first day.

"Hawkeye is off limits. Colonel's orders." The young man was confused but found it best not to ask questions.

The most interesting arrival always had to do with the most interesting and loud arrival of Edward Elric. He showed Hawkeye all of the respect that he refused to show Mustang. He was once asked why, to which he responded who he thought a lady as awesome as Hawkeye deserved all the respect any real man can give. They were all sure this was a not only low blow towards the Colonel, but a confession that the young man had followed the role that so many other soldiers had and developed a child like crush on the woman. No one bothered to mention that it could have been because of Hawkeye's resemblance to the young alchemist's childhood friend, Winry Rockbell. No one bothered to mention who she was off limits either.

Now sat these men, each with a defining moment that set them apart from most of the other soldiers in the mess hall, discussing their first days in Eastern. Hawkeye had entered an a few of the new recruits looked at the woman in great interest. The Colonel wasn't far behind. Havoc had exchanged a knowing look with his companions. Over the years they had noticed with the arrival of new recruits their Colonel had become more territorial. Noting the look that the man shot at the staring young soldiers, it was noted that maybe they should have developed a welcoming sign for the unsuspecting newbies.

Welcome to Eastern Headquarts.

Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye is off limits by order of Colonel Roy Mustang.

But then again, what fun would that be?