Summary: At the right angle, in a line of sight, one might wonder why he never stopped staring at her for so much as a second.

Theme: 089. Ultimate Weapon

Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist.

Angles

089. Ultimate Weapon

"I cannot believe that you would blackmail the leader of your country."

In retrospect, Roy Mustang knows that this has been a long time coming. Havoc moves lazily towards him, bending his head closer to that of his friend and pulling out the foremost photo in which the younger version of the Führer slept naked, the rough cotton blanket from his army days barely covering his tanned skin.

"Think about my offer. You can have all the copies if you just do as I ask, Roy."

Not only had his friend kept the old image without his knowledge, it was against army regulations to be uncloaked and unarmed even in sleep due to the cold temperature and dangers. He had made allowances for himself on the grounds that his alchemy pushed his body temperature forward by yards at times. Not only that, but this image could turn up in some distasteful ladies magazine and put his political career in jeopardy. He let out a low, throaty growl.

"Traitor."

The door clicked open as his very attractive childhood friend came in, balancing a precarious stack papers in her arms. If Riza saw anything out of the ordinary with the two men sitting so close, she said nothing about it. As much as he wanted to hate Jean Havoc at that moment, he had to admit, the man had a point. She had always been there for him. There was nobody else he loved just as much.

"I will be leaving now. Nice to see you, Riza."

Havoc silently left the room, leaving the copy of the image in front of Roy as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. Riza nodded courteously to him as he exited. Asking her to dinner as Havoc had demanded of him would over complicate things, force her into a position he did not want to be in; as well as giving the tabloids more to gossip about. They thought him a ladies man; he thought himself a tortured soul denied of the one woman he actually wanted. Details, details.

"So Hawkeye. I was wondering if you would like to attend dinner with me, you know, as more than friends."

He breaches, mentally cursing Havoc for all it was worth. For a moment, she stares at him silently, no expression crossing her face. She is not on the receiving end of a cruel joke, but it is close enough. Usually he could sneak in and steal a woman easily. But asking her out is more awkward. She does not want him like he wants her, and Havoc knows as much. This is for his humiliation, for the leader to be knocked down a few pegs. He can feel his cheeks glower at the thought, Roy Mustang rejected by the only woman he ever actually wanted.

"I thought you would never ask."

Sometimes, a little bit of blackmail can be helpful to those who need a kick to get started.

Reviews & criticism appreciated.