Breaking Havoc

Havoc drew his knees up to his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around himself as he stared silently at the floor, a slight tremor in his shoulders.

“Here.” Warm steam wafted up into his face as a mug was pushed into his hands. He bit his lip, his brows drawn down into a small scowl as he gingerly drew the cup towards his chest . It was coffee, black, Columbian.

Was he supposed to say thank you?

He didn’t bring the cup to his lips, instead resolving to stare the liquid down.

“Something wrong with your drink?”

Yes. You’re the one who gave it to me. “Nothing.” He murmured, his fingers clenching tightly around the porcelain mug. “I’m just not thirsty.”

“Sure you are.” Archer moved to kneel in front of Havoc, splaying his palms across the insides of the blonde man’s thighs. He gave Havoc a warning squeeze, his nails digging into the fabric of his pants slightly before he nodded up towards the drink. “Go on.” He urged, his eyes never leaving the Lieutenant’s face.

Havoc shuddered, his hands trembling slightly as he brought the mug up to his mouth, gingerly taking a sip of the hot liquid and wincing as it burned the top of his tongue. “It’s too hot.” He stated, setting the mug back down into his lap, hands still wrapped firmly around it.

“Did you burn your tongue?” Archer chuckled a bit, reaching up with one hand towards Havoc’s face. The blonde flinched away from the touch, his initial reaction to jerk back, before a sharp look from Archer told him off. He swallowed, fighting back the urge to squirm away as the older man cradled his chin in a gentle, almost mocking manour.

”I’m fine.” Havoc insisted, his eyes fixed firmly on the mug in his hands. He couldn’t look at Archer, the man was just so…overpowering. In presence, body and mind.

“Good.” Much to Havoc’s relief the other’s hand fell away, returning to his legs and giving his thigh a soft pat. The silence in the room stretched out and not knowing what to do, Havoc took another sip of his drink, blowing this time to cool the scalding liquid. The silence was heavy, almost overbearingly so. It made him uncomfortable, not knowing what it was Archer was thinking, but knowing that the man’s eyes were still trained on his face, not leaving for a moment.

It took all of his courage to do so, but he eventually looked up, locking gazes with his superior and shooting the man a small, confused look. “What?”

The meek response got a smile out of Archer, the man’s thin pale lips curling up in a snake like smirk. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

Havoc shifted uncomfortably, a biting pain of nausea twisting in his belly. He was hoping that they could have just pushed this question away. He didn’t want to talk about it, he didn’t even want to think about it. “What question.”
“Lieutenant…” The voice was low, demanding, a soft warning against his feigned ignorance.

His brows creased. “Well, what am I supposed to say?” Havoc bit back the growl in his tone, knowing very well the consequences that his anger would instill. Instead he merely sighed, adopting a look of defeat on his features. “This…this isn’t what I…I can’t…you…”

“I.” Archer’s hands trailed up further, his fingers each coming to rest at the subordinate’s hips. “Am trying to be as kind as I can about this Lieutenant.” His thumbs dug in just above Havoc’s groin, causing the younger man to squirm uncomfortably. “If you do not wish to comply, I could always talk to the fullmetal boy and his hollow little brother. I’m sure they’d be willing to do just about anything to keep each other out of harm’s way-”

“No!” Havoc shot his head up, barely managing to still his coffee as the scalding liquid threatened to spill out and onto his lap. “You can’t mean to involve them in…they’re just kids for fuck’s sake!”

“Language lieutenant.” Archer scolded softly, still settled between Havoc’s knees in his crouch on the floor. “And I most certainly can and will involve them in whatever I see fit. They aren’t children here Lieutenant…they are soldiers.”

So this was the game. Havoc could comply, could subject himself to this man’s sick games willingly, or Archer would turn his attention elsewhere. Fuck. “I guess I…yes.”

“Yes?”

Havoc swallowed, part of him really wishing that Archer wasn’t kneeling before him. It made it seem as though the older man had proposed or something. Fucker probably did it on purpose too. “Yes. I’d love to go out with you Colonel.”

Archer’s lips curled up in a snake of a grin. Smug bastard. He leaned up, pressing his mouth to Jean’s in that horribly gentle manner that made the younger man’s insides squirm. “Good.” He drew away, lips finding the other’s forehead, trailing kisses along the crown of his hair. “Seven o’clock, that little pasta place on Fourth Ave.” He rose, offering the lieutenant a hand.

“A…a date?” Havoc frowned. He set his cup to the side, hesitantly accepting Archer’s offered arm and allowing the other to pull him to his feet. The shift from seated to standing caused a sharp tightness to burn up his spine, trailing from his ass up to his lower back. Walking would not be fun.

“Yes Jean.” Archer drew the subordinate closer, their chests flush together as he smirked smugly down at the younger man. “You haven’t had one of those in a while, correct?”

Jean coloured slightly, looking away and doing his best to fight the scowl that was working its way across his features. “No. I have not had a date in a while.” He confirmed, knowing that Archer expected his answer. If he just complied, if he played along, things would be a lot less painful.

“Well, I’m sure this evening will be quite…refreshing in that case.” He turned, his arm still hooked around Havoc’s waist. He led them towards the door to his office, pausing with his hand hovering just above the handle. “You can tell people about our relationship.” He stated, nodding a bit to himself as if to affirm the statement. “However…” He turned his attention down to the blonde, their gazes locking. “I would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to keep the…details, of our arrangement to yourself.”

“Right.” Havoc cast his eyes to the side, his hands rubbing together self consciously before the door opened, Archer ushering him outside.

“Now don’t forget tonight.” Archer spun him around ignoring the presence of his secretary as he leaned down to press his lips to the other’s brow. The woman giggled a bit and Havoc felt his stomach drop. “And try not to be too late.”

“Of course.” Havoc did his best at a meek smile, half limping out the conjoining door and into the hallway. He paused, turning despite himself to give Archer a small wave, his insides churning as the man returned it with a satisfied smirk. This was really playing this up…it was almost unbearable. He allowed the door to slip shut, his hands flying instantly to his mouth as he leaned heavily against the wall. Shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT.

How the hell was he going to get out of this now?

---

“And I’m saying I don’t care about his god damned problems!” Edward Elric turned and kicked the wall by which they were walking, his teeth gritted as he growled in frustration. “I don’t even work for that conceited asshole anymore, so why the fuck do I have to ‘report to his office immediately for an important meeting’. Bastard!” The poor wall got another harsh kick, a few passerby’s sending the two small looks as they moved through the hallways of central’s military base.

“Brother please!” Alphonse, reached down, placing his cold metal hands on his older sibling’s shoulders, trying to steer the alchemist out of the way of the workers they passed, apologizing to each of them as they went. “The Colonel has done a lot for us. And it sounds like he needs our help! Can’t you just behave this once?”

“Behave, I’ll show you who’s behaving you little-” Ed stopped short, his gaze falling on a familiar face making his way towards them. The blonde boy’s eyes lit up, his scowl turning to a big grin as he raised his arm up, waving enthusiastically at the new comer. “Lieutenant!”

Havoc blinked, looking up from where he’d fixed his gaze on the floor, his eyes raising to meet the Elric brothers’. At first something flashed through the older man’s gaze, something that Ed could have sworn to be either fear, apprehension, or a combination of both, before the expression melted away into a big smile. “Chief! Alphonse! What are you two doing back in town?”
His voice sounded…strained. The cheer so blatantly forced that it almost sounded bitter. Almost. “Lead was a dead end.” Ed explained with a small shrug, noticing a tiny hitch in the older man’s step. “What’s up with your foot Lieutenant?”

The taller blonde stopped just in front of the two boys, his brows creasing in confusing. “Come again?”

“You’re limping.”

Edward watched with mild interest as panic flashed across Havoc’s features, before the man simply shrugged. “It’s fine.” The panic left, a smile finding its way back onto his features. “Let’s just say another one of my ‘dates’ went array.”

“Poor Lieutenant.” Alphonse laughed a bit, shaking his head at the older blonde. “You never seem to have any luck with the ladies.”

“That’s for sure.” Havoc straightened, flashing the boys a grin and a mock salute. “Anywho, the higher ups gave me the day today, so I’m heading home.” He side stepped the two brothers, waving at them over his shoulder. “Don’t be causing too much trouble now!”

“We won’t!” Al returned the wave, his heavy armor shifting as he moved. “Enjoy your day off!”

The man disappeared behind the corner, moving at that slow careful pace that gave away the obvious pain he was in. Ed frowned, his hands on his hips as he leaned against the wall a bit. “A bad date huh?” He muttered under his breath.

“What was that brother?”

“Nothing.” Ed turned, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his trademark red jacket. “Come on, Colonel’s waiting.” ------

---

Roy tapped his fingers impatiently on the hard surface of his cedar desk. He was beyond annoyed at this point. This was the first time in his military career that one of his men was keeping something from him. The first time that his own damned people couldn’t trust him enough to tell him when they were hurt and in trouble. Those welts on Havoc’s back weren’t an accident. Someone was fucking with his men, and he needed to know who.

The loud, heavy slam of a palm on his office door was the only warning Mustang was allotted before a small, angry ball of energy burst into the room, mouth already running with a string of insults to make up for their lost time apart.

“What the hell is this Colonel? We just got back for the love of all things holy!” Edward Elric stormed straight up to his superior’s desk, slamming his palms down on the surface with a more than necessary vigor. The second brother, following at his elder sibling’s heels, just laughed nervously, holding his hands before him apologetically.

“He doesn’t mean that sir.” Alphonse tried, moving up to place a cold, metal hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’re glad to be of service to you.”

“Bull shit!” Ed shrugged his younger brother’s hand off of his arm, pointing an accusing finger at the suit of armor. “We don’t even work for this bastard anymore, so don’t encourage him!” His body pivoted, that finger now pointed in Roy’s direction. “And you, what gives you the right? What makes you think that we’re at your every beck and call!”

“Well,” Roy slowly raised a brow, though he couldn’t bring himself to smile at Fullmetal’s usual antics, “you’re here aren’t you?”

Ed opened his mouth, in some apparent attempt at a comeback, before Alphonse stepped in, sounding as polite and sheepish as ever. “Brother may not act like it lieutenant, but we’re your friends. We’re here to help if you need us.”

“Speak for yourself. I don’t even work for you anymore Roy.” The blonde continued, completely ignoring his younger brother. “Yet somehow you always manage to drag me back into your little world. How is that? Really, I mean come on! Any bloke with half a brain could tell that you-”

“Edward.” Desperation. It rang through the room long after the word itself had dropped from the air. Roy never let himself appear weak, never allowed himself to show his panic or concerns, not unless something was wrong. Really, really wrong.

Both boys fell silent, a small glance shared between them before either one spoke.

Roy sighed, bringing his hands to his mouth, leaning on his elbows and glancing at the brothers from over his fingertips. “I need this to be kept off of the records.”

“What happened.” It was more of a demand than a question, Ed’s brows drawn down into a deep scowl.

“It’s…” Roy trailed off, his hands finding his brow as he cradled his nursing headache. The weight of his concern over the past few weeks had finally caught up with him, threatening to leak over the brim of his self control. “It’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” Ed leaned back in his chair, his disposition suddenly laden with a maturity beyond his years.

“Try us, we’re listening.” Alphonse, having barely said a word since they entered the room, piped up from where he sat behind his brother.

“Alright.” The Colonel straightened, palms spreading out on the desk in front of him as his brow creased in concentration. “It started a few weeks ago, just shortly after you guys left on that trip out east.” He paused, as if searching for the right words. “Something…happened. To one of my men.”

“Let me guess,” Ed’s hands found the arms of his chair, clenching there gently as he thought. “Havoc, right?” Roy’s eyes widened a bit.

“What makes you say that brother?” Alphonse started, sitting upright in his chair.

“When we bumped into him on the way here.” The blonde shrugged a bit, his gaze darkening. “He was different, spooked almost.” Fingers tightened, his automail hand lifting from the fabric of the chair to avoid damaging it. “He was limping.”

Roy’s stomach went cold, the hands that clutched the desk turning white. Havoc was supposed to have gone home hours ago. “Limping?”

“Yeah. He mentioned something about a bad date.” Alphonse shifted in his armor, gazing warily out at Roy. The colonel was upset, tension practically oozing from his stiff form, more than enough for both brothers to pick up on. “Why? What’s going on sir?”

“He wasn’t limping.”

Alphonse blinked, looking between his brother, who had suddenly gone quiet, and the colonel, who’s gaze was now fixed determinedly at his fists. “Sir?”

“The Fuhrer gave him the day off today. He’s been acting weird lately, and apparently the King has deemed that his work is being affected.” A load of bullshit, in his opinion. How the Fuhrer even found out about Havoc was beyond him. None of Mustang’s men had said a word…so who the hell told Bradley anything? “He left the office first thing this morning. And he wasn’t limping.”

“That…” Ed furrowed his brows tapping his fingers on the edge of the chair. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“He should have gone straight home.” Roy agreed, his fingers bracing his nose and his eyes squeezing shut tight. “He shouldn’t still be here. And he shouldn’t be limping.”

“What the hell is going on here Roy?”

Mustang took a deep breath, his gaze finding the Elric’s. “I don’t know.” He murmured. “That’s where you come in.”


--TBC--