Royai 100 Themes Chapter 31: 42: Day Off, a fullmetal alchemist fanfic

Author Note: So when I started this one, it was going to be something completely different from this. After a few sentences of writing I erased all of it and switched over to a completely different story line. It's kind of funny that this turned out to be one of the longest one-shots in this collection so far. R&R

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Warnings: None that I can think of. Might not be terribly Royai… or in character… Takes place right after the incident with Maria Ross.

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My original assignment in Colonel Mustang's office was only three days long. Normally, I did a desk job in the Fuhrers office, but since nearly all of Mustang's subordinates were on field assignment or vacation I was temporarily assigned to his office with a few others.

The news came in the form of a note left on my desk, and I quickly started gathering my supplies after I read it. My whole body tensed up as the Fuhrer opened the door from his separate office and strode over to me.

"Fuhrer, Sir" I saluted, snapping to attention.

"Sergeant," he nodded at me firmly, "Good luck at Mustang's office." He took a step closer, hovering over my desk slightly and said quietly, "Keep an eye on him for me, there is something strange about how he has his subordinates assigned right now."

"Yes Sir!" I exclaimed, saluting again.

"Good, dismissed." He turned and walked away as I gathered my last few pens. I had them all stuffed in a zip lock bag, which I promptly carried across headquarters to my new temporary office. It was only a few minute stroll, and I paused outside the door. I didn't know how kindly Colonel Mustang would take to me barging in, so I knocked politely.

A female voice called, "Come in." I pushed the door open, taking in my surroundings with a blank face. A few more soldiers from the Fuhrers office were sitting at desks scribbling away at paperwork. Facing me was a female soldier who I had never met before.

She had her bright blonde hair pinned up and was wearing a Lieutenants insignia. I saluted, since the Lieutenant outranked me.

"At ease," she said, "my name is 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye and I will be your commanding officer while Colonel Mustang is out of the office. Your desk will be the one in the corner, the paperwork is already there, and if you have any questions feel free to ask."

"Yes Sir."

"Dismissed."

We separated and I turned to look at my temporary desk. I nearly stumbled when I saw it, but managed to maintain my composure. It was loaded with numerous stacks of paper all a foot over my head. I didn't know how I missed it when I first arrived.

Shaking my head slightly, I gingerly stepped around the fragile mountain and sat down in my military issue chair. Then I stood up, reached the first piece of paper, and started working. After about two hours of mind numbing paperwork, my signing was interrupted.

I heard the sound of a door, so I poked my head around the stack to see what was happening. The Colonel had returned. He shared a few words with 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye before walking towards my desk.

I hastily retracted my head so he wouldn't know I'd been watching. But I did notice something strange; while the Colonel seemed rather relaxed, the 1st Lieutenant was glaring holes into him. It was a little disconcerting.

"Sorry about this." I heard the Colonels voice on the other side of my desk, "I will take some of this off your hands."

"Alright Sir." I got up to help him move the papers. "Do you need my aid?"

"Oh no, " I could practically hear him shake his head, "It is mostly my paperwork, after all, and I wouldn't want to put you out like that. Besides, Hawkeye will yell at me."
"Very well sir," I said flatly as I sat back down. As I placed my pen back on the page, I heard the Colonel calling to another soldier in the office.

"Lieutenant!" he yelled across the room. "Do you think you could help me with this?"

"Colonel…" Her voice sounded monotone and slightly annoyed.

"Please Lieutenant," the Colonel cut off what was sure to be a refusal. "I know you don't owe me any favors, but since you put the stack of paper on this desk the least you could do is help me put it back."

"Fine." The 1st Lieutenants tone lightened with amusement. I was confused; not a single sheet of paper in this stack was any semblance of amusing.

Then, all of the sudden, I could see the rest of the office. The middle stack of paper had been removed, only leaving me the ones on the sides of my desk. The stack was currently being sorted on the other side of the room.

I picked up my pen and, once again, returned to my work. This lasted a few hours with relatively few interruptions, excluding minor instances of the Colonel sleeping in his chair. I made sure to stick around after the Colonel in case he decided to do anything suspicious.

Luckily for me, he left early to go on a date so I got to go early too. Actually, the only soldier not to leave early was 1st Lieutenant Hawkeye. We tried to get her to head out with us, but she said she wouldn't stay that late so we let her be.

The next day at the office was highly similar to the one that came before. I didn't have quite as much paperwork to do, so it was slightly more relaxed. The real major change came at the end of the day.

"I'm requesting tomorrow off, Sir." When I heard the 1st Lieutenants voice, I perked my ears and looked up from my paperwork. She was standing at attention on front of the Colonels desk, her amber eyes gazing at him intently. He was seated and looking back at her, seeming to ponder the idea.

"Alright," he said firmly, "But just one day though. I don't know what I will do without my aide." He said the last sentence with a boyish grin.

The 1st Lieutenant was not smiling. "Yes Sir." She saluted and, after being dismissed, strode briskly out of the office. The door slammed behind her and I looked toward the Colonel to see his reaction. His grin transformed from boyish to smug as he signed his paperwork in the light of the vibrant orange sunset. He seemed to notice this the same moment I did and vacated his chair immediately.

"Well men," he addressed all of us temps, "See you tomorrow."

I bid him farewell and packed my things up to head home as well. Nothing eventful happened so far, so I wasn't sure why Fuhrer Bradley told me to keep an eye on the Colonel in the first place. But I trusted his judgment, and his orders, so I kept at it and made sure to leave after the Colonel was gone. I didn't realize the next day would be the one where my observing would come to fruition.

The next morning I arrived at work before the Colonel. In fact, he did not saunter in until three hours later. Once he was settled, all he did was pick up the phone and call some Elizabeth woman. I couldn't believe it. This was what he did when 1st. Lieutenant Hawkeye took a day off?

There was nothing I could do about it; the Colonel was a higher rank than me. I just contented myself with glaring at him as he blatantly avoided work. This continued all day long. He must have really liked this Elizabeth, because he was on the phone with her the entire time.

At about 7-o:clock, Colonel Mustang and I were the only two left in the office. The stack on my desk grew over my head again and I frantically scribbled to tame it. The Colonel was still talking on the phone, but his tone suddenly shifted from flirting to panic.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" He shouted into the receiver, "Damn it all!" He leaped out of his chair, knocking it to the ground. Rushing out of the office, he didn't even notice my presence. As the door slammed behind him, I blinked a few times in surprise. After a few moments, I decided to report this incident to the Fuhrer; it was strange.

I stepped over to the Colonel's phone and made the call from it. "Fuhrer Sir," I said once I was connected with King Bradley, keeping my voice level, "Colonel Mustang just stormed out of here in a big hurry after yelling on his phone about some Elizabeth."

"Very good Sergeant," The Fuhrer responded back lightly, as if amused, "Your service will be noted."

End Note: I am so sorry this took so long. Class and work and life all got in the way of writing and typing this. Please forgive me, I will try to update more consistently.

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