Chapter Text
"Pass the eggs."
"Jean, don't you think you've had enough?"
"I'd have more bacon, but Armstrong ate it all."
"Sustenance is vital to maintain one's physique, Lieutenant Colonel."
"Ed, can you make more of that coffee?"
"Falman, that dyed hair is still creeping me out."
A smile curls over Roy's lips at the early morning banter and his eyes linger over each of them gathered around the kitchen table as if this were a common occurrence instead of the rarity it is. There's a playfulness in the air with the good natured bickering and it reminds Roy of a large family sitting down for breakfast before a long trip. He sips his coffee and smiles a bit more. It's a shame they can't have more moments like this.
Jean attempts to steal a piece of bacon from Riza's plate and she bats his hand before tearing the slice in two and sharing it with him. Kain continues to stare at Vato's hair, dyed jet black to match Roy's, and from his reaction Roy's fairly certain Kain ended up getting kicked under the table. Ed retrieves the freshly brewed pot of coffee and after an alchemic flash to add his special twist to it he tops off everyone's mugs including Alex's oversized one. Where he found a coffee mug that size Roy will never know. The only one missing is Heymans but they'll meet up with him soon enough in the West. Maybe they'll even be lucky enough to have another moment like this.
But Roy doubts it.
For as much as this is his family he knows he can't protect them all. There's a very real chance the next time they have a time like this one of them could be missing, and not because they’re stationed out of town. The target they've put on the convoy is a huge risk for all involved. If anyone wants to take another shot at assassinating him, it’ll be the perfect opportunity. Roy's eyes fall on Vato again and he silently hopes he sees the day his hair’s back to its old shade of grey. If he gets killed playing his decoy....
"Stop it."
Ed's hushed words pull him out of his thoughts and he watches as he slides into the chair next to him and pulls his mug from his fingers. He refills the cup with the last of the steaming brew then presses it back into Roy's hands. Ed rests his hands over Roy's and Roy gets lost in the golden gaze that can see right through him. Has it really only been two days since Ed returned to Central? It's not enough time. It's never enough time, but Ed's right. There's no point in ruining this time with worries about things they can't change.
"This is great, Chief. You really should do this more often."
Roy smirks at Jean's praise around a mouthful of food and that's when he realizes all eyes are on him. Apparently Ed wasn't the only one to pick up on his mood shift and he can see the same concern reflected in each of their eyes. They're taking their cue from him. He's seen it dozens of times and he knows if he wanted to get down to business every member of his most trusted circle would instantly be at the ready. But he doesn't want that, at least, not for a while longer.
"I appreciate the flattery, Jean, but this doesn’t mean I'll be cooking for you all the way to West City." The slight tension that was building immediately evaporates as laughter and the sound of silverware clinking against porcelain again fill the air. Riza elbows Jean and Roy hears him mutter something about needing to "take a shot" and it brings a smile to his lips. It's definitely going to be interesting being stuck in a car with him for over a week.
"Havoc, you make sure to get both you and Roy safety to West City and I'll be more than happy to cook for you myself." There’s a teasing tone to Ed’s words but Roy doesn’t miss the seriousness in his eyes. It’s mirrored in each of them despite the seemingly casual air of the breakfast table. There’s a reason they’re all here and it’s not to socialize.
“I’ll take you up on that, Boss, as long as you make sure the convoy arrives in one piece.” Jean looks to Riza who gives him a single nod and Roy knows they can’t put this off much longer. Vato’s already standing to clear the breakfast dishes and Kain’s shuffling through some updated intelligence he received this morning. If they want to get out of Central during the morning rush hour then they need to leave soon.
Roy pushes to his feet and looks over his most trusted subordinates one by one. They have become his family, there’s no question about it. That’s why he needs to make one final order before they all go their separate ways. He feels their eyes on him as everyone stops what they’re doing and Roy drops all his informality. “We all know the roles we have to play in the upcoming weeks and I have the utmost faith in each one of you. Traveling to the West will be dangerous, as will maintaining the ruse I’m with the convoy, but I’ve no doubt we’ll succeed. To that end, I have one more order for each of you that is to be followed above all others.”
Roy feels the weight of their eyes on him and he knows without a doubt each one of them would give their lives for him. He carries that fact on his shoulders every day. He wouldn’t be where he is without these soldiers and he won’t lose them now, not over something as trivial as a trip out west. “No matter what else happens, don’t die. I plan on having another meal like this and there better not be any empty seats.”
Silence stretches out over the kitchen and Roy isn’t surprised. Commanders don't usually make orders like this and there are very good reasons for it. There are times the fight is worth dying for, but this isn't one of them. He doesn't care what the cost is as long as they remember this one thing.
"That's great and all, Mustang, but I for one am only following your order under one condition."
Roy's turns his head sharply to look at Ed still sitting at the table by his side. There's a smirk on his lips and a stubborn look he knows all too well. Ed wants something and he's not going to go along until he gets it. Roy shakes his head and lets out a deliberate sigh. "Isn't it a bit early in the day to be arguing with my orders, Fullmetal?" Ed crosses his arms and continues to smile at him. Roy's glad it's only those he trusts most who see him cave so pathetically. "Alright, what's your condition?"
"The order stands for you too." Ed's eyes lose their mirthful glint the instant the words are out of his mouth and his tone turns hard and serious. He knows exactly what he's asking because Ed knows him better than anyone. He would die to protect them. He'd die for the country if it was for the greater good and Ed knows it. He should’ve known he might try something like this.
"Edward...."
"That sounds like a fair enough request, sir." Roy blinks in surprise at the sound of Hawkeye's voice. Is she really siding with Ed on this? She knows better than anyone what sacrifice means in the military. She can't possibly--
"I agree, Chief." Havoc nods and leans his chair back, crossing his arms much the same way Ed is. "Besides, I don't want to be known as the one who let the Fuhrer make some grand sacrifice on his watch."
"The Lieutenant Colonels are correct, sir. Not to mention, as I'm sure Colonel Elric would remind you, it is equivalent exchange after all." Roy blinks as even Armstrong joins in the mini mutiny. Roy shoots a look over to see Ed still smirking at him and he wouldn't be surprised if he somehow planned this.
"As you can see, sir, the wisest course of action would be to agree." Roy arches an eyebrow as Falman turns from putting dishes in the sink and clasps his hands behind his back. It seems Ed's tutorial on acting more confident has paid off because Falman more than holds his ground under Roy's firm stare. He shakes his head again then turns to Fuery who's stacked his reports neatly on the table.
"Do you have anything to add, Captain?"
Fuery pushes up his glasses with one finger then shakes his head. "No, I believe everyone else covered it. Sir." Roy snorts softly under his breath. He wasn't wrong when he thought of them all as family. Though he knows they would each follow any order he'd make without hesitation, he also knows he won't be getting out of this kitchen, much less the city, without relenting.
"Fair enough." He does his best to suppress a smile as his gaze sweeps over them then lands on the ringleader beside him. "I accept your condition, Fullmetal. The order stands for us all."
"Good." Ed places his hands on the table then pushes himself to his feet. "Then we can focus on getting you two out of here." He nods to those still gathered around the table and they immediately disperse at his silent order. Roy doesn't even try to suppress the smile on his face because there's no point. Even though it still amuses him at how things have changed he knows without a doubt Ed's as respected as he his and his men would follow his command without question. Considering the journey they have ahead of them that's going to be invaluable.
"Enjoying yourself?" Roy arches an eyebrow and a full on grin spreads across Ed's face.
"A little bit." Ed gathers up the remaining dishes from the table and carries them over to where Falman is still washing the other ones. The scene’s so domestic it leaves Roy shaking his head. This really could be a glimpse of the future and he wants to make it happen. He wants more times like these where they aren't concerned with war and political treachery. It's going to take time, but they will make it happen.
Havoc turns toward the guest room most likely to finish packing up his belongings for the trip. He brought everything he'd need the night before so they wouldn't need to make any extra trips this morning to gather things up. Kain and Hawkeye gather up his intelligence reports and follow after him, probably to go over their initial route once more. Armstrong exits to the front rooms of the suites to secure the premises which leaves Roy to finish his own packing.
Roy casts his glance over to Ed and Falman talking softly over the dishes and he forces himself to turn away. Those two will need to spend a lot of time together in the next few weeks to make this work, it's good they're starting now. Hawkeye will pay a pivotal role in making people believe that Falman is him, but they all know Ed's the key. Even though they've done a fair job of keeping their relationship quiet, everyone knows the Fullmetal Alchemist is his right hand man. No one would be expecting him to make a move like this without him. Considering Ed's overprotective nature, they couldn't ask for a better cover. However, it still doesn't make him feel any better sneaking out of here without them.
Roy walks back to his bedroom and stops in the doorway to look over the disarray of the room. It's always messier when Ed's home, not that he'd ever complain. He loves the constant reminders he's here even if it might be dirty socks in the middle of the floor, open books scattered all around or empty coffee cups in the oddest of places. He'll admit he's a neat freak when left alone, but with Ed he's never minded the mess. It's probably because they've hardly ever been in the same place long enough for him to get irritated, but it might be nice one day to find out. He leans down to scoop up a pair of renegade socks from the side of the bed and carries them over to the hamper when he hears movement behind him.
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Roy looks over his shoulder and smiles at Ed leaning his shoulder against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest and a lazy smile on his lips. He scans his eyes over him and wonders if the automail's bothering him. Is his right shoulder a little hunched up? Who knows when the next chance will be for him to use his alkahestry to ease the toll it takes on him. Roy turns for the nightstand and the gloves he keeps for just such an occasion.
"Someone has to do it." He opens the drawer and rummages around inside for the gloves. "Now come here and let me see how that shoulder's doing. You know it always gives you trouble when you travel long distances."
The hand on his shoulder stops him and for a moment he hangs his head. He's stalling and they both know it, but he can't help it. They only had two days this time and with the assassination attempt and all the planning for his departure it feels like there hasn't been any time at all. It's the way of things now, the sacrifice they both make, and he knows he shouldn't push this. But sometimes even though he knows his personal life needs to take the backseat to more important things...it's still hard.
"I'm ok, Roy."
His voice is soft and firm, filled with strength and laced with everything he should be right now. Roy closes his eyes and attempts to push back the nagging feeling deep inside that they should’ve taken more time for themselves. But they couldn't, and he knows it. One day they'll build the future they've all been dreaming of and when they do he'll make sure there are no more moments like this, at least, not for a very long while. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Roy turns when Ed tugs at his shoulder and he opens his eyes to find golden ones filled with deep understanding and shared burdens. Ed squeezes his shoulder lightly. "Just make good on your promise to me. Don't you die on me, bastard."
It’s an irrational promise to make but he does it anyway without any hesitation. “I promise, Edward. I’ll do whatever I have to do to make sure I see you again.” He locks his eyes with Ed’s and sees the stormy emotions right under the surface. He’s about to tell him again that everything’s going to be alright but before he can manage a word he’s hauled forward and pulled into a hard, deep kiss.
Roy parts his lips the instant Ed’s meet his and he’s overwhelmed by the sweet taste of him. He wraps his arms around Ed and slides his hand up to cup the back of his neck. He holds him close and tries to deepen the kiss even more. They don’t have time for this but the only thought running through his head is they didn’t have enough time. He has no idea when they’ll have another private moment to themselves. Heading to the West is only taking them to the front lines of a battlefront. There’ll be more important matters than their relationship out there.
His fingers curl into the loose strands of Ed’s hair and he breaks the kiss only to press his forehead against Ed’s and murmurs softly. “I’ll be fine, Edward. We’ll be fine.”
“You damn well better be.” Ed’s words are a growl laced with concern and he can’t imagine disappointing him. He also can’t imagine the lengths Ed would go to avenge him if something were to happen. Roy pulls back to look at him and cups his face with both his hands. He can still see the worry and concern in his eyes. Two days wasn’t enough time. It’ll never be enough.
“I’ll see you in the West. You won’t have anything to worry about.” If anything, Ed’s the one with the more dangerous mission. He has to fool everyone until they get to West City and are safe behind the walls of Western Command. Between here and there many things could go wrong. He smiles slightly and traces his thumb down the side of Ed’s face. “I’ll be there waiting with a smirk telling you how you had nothing to worry about.”
That manages to draw out a smile from Ed and he presses closer to wrap his arms tighter around him. “I still wish I could go with you.” Roy squeezes Ed tight and brushes a kiss against his hair.
“I do too but we both know this is the best option.” He pulls back slightly and slides his hand down Ed’s arm to lace his hand with his and guides them both over to the bed. He sits down and tugs Ed between his legs. It still amuses him that he has to crane his neck upwards to look at him despite the height of the large bed. He wraps his arms around Ed’s waist and pulls him close to kiss along his jaw.
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Ed grouses and Roy can feel him relaxing against him. That’s what he was looking for. They can only spare a few minutes, but he wanted to leave Ed with a moment of peace before this all starts and they have to play their parts. It’s not much but it’s more than they’ve had the luxury for on other occasions.
“Of course not. You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t complain about something.” Roy smiles at the brief irritated look that crosses Ed’s face. He enjoys it the most for the simple fact it slides into a fond exasperation.
“Bastard.” Roy grins and leans up to kiss Ed, brushing his thumb along his jaw. Ed’s never grown out of calling him that and Roy doesn’t think he’d feel right if he ever did. Ed’s quiet for a few moments before he asks softly, “Shouldn’t you be doing something?”
“What I want to be doing takes too much time and I’d prefer not to have an audience.” Roy smirks at the flush that develops across Ed’s cheeks. He can’t help himself. It’s not like Ed hasn’t embarrassed him the same way countless times over the years.
“We’ve done it before.” Ed grins back unrepentant as Roy stares. Roy shakes his head and laughs.
“Yes, we have but that would leave us both wholly unsatisfied right now.” It’d also be a torture the whole trip out West. Then there would be the waiting for Ed to arrive and everything else they’ll have pressing down on them. He’d be craving more time with Ed to do things properly, to savor things, and they can ill afford that out on the battlefront, though he can’t say the idea isn’t tempting.
He knows Ed won’t push it much more. They both have a lot of things they should be doing right now instead of taking respite with each other but it’s a moment Roy doesn’t want to let end either. Ed’s hands slide over his back then wraps tightly around him. “You take care of yourself, Mustang. I’m expecting that smug ass grin of yours to greet me when I get to West City.”
He slides a hand up to rest on the back of Ed’s neck and squeezes. “It will especially since I’ll be right and you’ll see you had nothing to worry about.” Ed snorts but doesn’t say anything else. He pulls back to look him in the eyes then kisses him hard and deep. This isn’t about need or want. It goes beyond that. They’ve always lived dangerous lives but it’s never been easy to be apart when so much is on the line. Ed leans against him when the kiss ends and Roy tells him quietly, “I should probably finish packing.”
Ed nods and slowly pulls back. “And I should probably go check on Falman and finalize the plans for this afternoon with Hawkeye.” He looks at Roy then turns to head back into the rest of the suite.
“I’ll see you in a few days, Edward.” Ed pauses at the doorway, his hand on the polished wood of the door jam and Roy can see the tension coiling in him already. He didn’t mean to make things worse with his comment but then Ed looks over his shoulder and smiles that brash grin he’s always admired.
“You can bet on it.” Ed holds his gaze for just a moment longer then turns and leaves the room without another word. He doubts they’ll get another moment like this before he and Havoc have to depart and it’s probably best to leave it like this with no finality and no heavy words. They both know how the other feels and it’s easier this way.
Roy sighs and pushes off the side of the bed. Time to get packing. He heads over to the closet and pulls out a large duffel bag that he sets out on the bed. He should only need a week’s worth of travel clothes. They should be well able to reach West City in that amount of time despite their route. He and Havoc will trade shifts behind the wheel to make better progress and if all goes to plan should be able to set about evaluating the situation long before Ed and the convoy reach them. Roy smiles slightly as he imagines the look on General Hagan’s face when he appears unescorted except for one man. He won’t be pleased, but the fewer that know about this ruse the better especially if they plan on using it again in the future.
He walks back to closet and pulls out two sets of complete uniforms. He has to appear presentable when he arrives. He folds them neatly and places them at the bottom of the bag. Next to go in are several pairs of his gloves with his array stitched in though he no longer needs them with the scarring on his hands. He reaches for his alkahestry gloves and hesitates. For various reasons he only has a select number of these, at the most maybe five sets. They’re infinitely more dangerous than the flame arrays but also much harder to decipher. He adds two of them to the pile then returns to his closet to gather enough civilian clothes for the rest of the journey.
The clothes and his toiletries all fit neatly into the duffel with plenty of space to spare. Roy considers bringing something a bit more personal but he doesn’t know what that would be. As long as he and Ed have been in the Fuhrer’s suites, they haven’t accumulated much aside from what they originally brought with them. Years in the military and the years growing up with Madame Christmas ensured he only kept what he could carry with him at a moment’s notice. Now those items would be his pocket watch, a pair of ignition gloves, and the knife he wears at his back. What he carries of Ed is completely intangible and no justice would ever be done by simplifying it down to a single item. Their entwined alchemies are proof enough of that.
He closes up the bag then turns back to the closet once more to get changed for the day. They debated for a while on what would be the best disguise for him upon leaving and the decision wasn’t unanimous. Ideally he and Havoc will get out of the Central compound and Fuhrer suites unnoticed, but if they aren’t he’s convinced he’d be more conspicuous in civilian clothes. This deep in Central Command most everyone is in some type of uniform so they decided to alter one of his own to the rank of First Lieutenant. It’s an appropriate rank to be seen with Havoc, who’s a Lieutenant Colonel, and hopefully it will help them get out of here without a hitch.
He finishes changing then carries his duffel out and sets it on the chair nearest the door so it won’t be forgotten. He can hear Armstrong humming softly to himself in another part of the suite but as for the rest of his unit they’re unseen for the moment. He walks to the living room table where the maps of their various routes have appeared again. He traces his finger along the convoy route, the most direct to West City.
If he were planning an attack, it’d be a good distance away from West City and isolated from the surrounding population. The Snowden Valley about 60 miles from West City and 20 miles from the rough terrain of the Marchetti Mountains would be the ideal location. He knows Ed and the others can take care of themselves, but it still makes him uneasy. It’s a calculated risk they all agreed to but Roy wishes it wasn’t necessary.
He lifts his head from the maps and walks over to the curtained windows. The glass has been reinforced alchemically against sniper fire, but with the sensitivity of their current plans he doesn’t draw the curtains aside. It’s early in the day but there’s little doubt if the ruse was given away now all their careful planning would be for naught. He slides his fingers along the rich, heavy blue curtains that make the room feel more like a prison than a home. He’s never liked shutting out the sunlight. But his safety’s been tantamount with all the assassination attempts lately, and all the extra security has added to the prison-like feeling. With little to distract him other than politics and no escape through sparing with Ed or other activities it’s felt like a war of boredom
But that’s all about to change.
He still can hardly believe in only an hour or so he’ll be leaving the city and the round the clock protective details. The very thought is intoxicating, but he can’t let himself get too excited about it, especially with the potential cost to the rest of them. They’ve all sacrificed so much to get this far, but sometimes he wonders if he and Ed haven’t sacrificed the most. It’s a selfish thought, and one he rarely gives attention to with as much as they’ve all given up. He and Ed have always known their personal lives would have to be second place. If only Ed weren’t so damn valuable in the field.
Roy sighs softly to himself because he shouldn’t be thinking about this now. He’s never been against the use of his subordinates to the best of their abilities and unfortunately that has meant sending them far and wide to gather information or carry out tasks he can entrust to no one else. Hawkeye has been his one constant companion over the years, always looking out for him and protecting his back, and sometimes he wonders if a part of her resents him for that. She’s never mentioned it if she does. He’s entertained the thought of having Ed one day replace her, but they all know that wouldn’t turn out well, thought the idea does amuse him.
He shakes his head and pulls his hand away from the gold trim he was tracing with his fingers. No, Ed’s better served out in the field like Fuery is in charge of collating information, Breda for gathering it, Falman for piecing it all together, and Havoc for carrying out missions no one else can. He chose his unit well even if they’re scattered to the corners of the country far more often than he enjoys. Now they all need to do their jobs and he needs to make himself more useful. Brooding over things he can’t change is a waste of energy and he’s done with it.
Roy turns away from the curtains and strides across the room with a purpose to his step. The sooner they accomplish their tasks the closer they’ll be to their ultimate goals. He makes his way through the large suites to the guest room Havoc stayed in last night. He hasn’t seen him since breakfast and he wonders if maybe he needs a little assistance getting things packed up for the trip, but as he’s about to knock on the door Havoc opens it and gives him a surprised look when he spots him. “Hey, Chief. Did you need me for something?”
“No, no, I was just coming to see what else needed to be done.” Havoc slips out of the room by barely opening the door then closes it behind him. The move seems a bit secretive and he considers asking him about it, but Havoc’s already answering him as they walk back to the main living room and the map strewn table.
“Well, Ed took care of reinforcing the car last night and I’ve already laid in most of the supplies we need.” He shrugs and looks at Roy, his hand resting on the table. “The only thing we have left is loading our personal bags which we can take down with us”
Roy nods. He should’ve known everything would already be taken care of. His unit has always been more than efficient when it comes to preparations like this. “That’s good to hear. Then I guess once everyone’s returned we’ll say our goodbyes.” Roy glances toward the clock. They’re still right on schedule to slip out during the morning rush hour.
“You know it’s a damn good thing you have several of these. You and your damn capes.” Roy and Havoc both look towards the grumbling Ed who enters the room carrying one of Roy’s usual black coats in his arms. Falman follows after him wearing one that’s obviously been altered for his height. Ed makes his way to Roy and shoves the coat at him. “Here. Put this on.”
Roy smirks, amused at Ed’s forcefulness, and slides into the coat. Ed scowls and walks around him, obviously examining the garment as he pokes at it here and there. It amuses Roy even more because he can’t count the number of times he’s come home to find Ed curled up under one of his coats fast asleep. Now he acts as if the entire thing is an albatross to be dealt with.
“You’re too damn distinguishable in these.” And that’s all the warning he gets before Ed claps his hands together then reaches out and presses them to the fabric of the coat. The tingle of his alchemy sliding over his skin is almost as familiar as his own and he sighs into the feel of it. He looks down and watches as the coat turns from his usual black to a lighter shade of brown and some of the distinctive features he’s always enjoyed are altered slightly. He holds out his arms and looks behind to try and get a better view of the remodeled garment. It’s not something he would usually wear, but it’s not bad.
He slides his hands over the front of the coat and adjusts the lay of the collar. It’s more of a modern look than the classic one he normally likes to wear and that’s probably a good thing. The less he resembles his usual self the better. “Thank you, Edward. This will certainly help once we’re outside the city.” He looks back to Ed and catches him with his arms folded across his chest still eying him with a serious look. He arches an eyebrow. “Something else on your mind?”
“Yes. You’re sneaking out in the back of the car. How are you disguising yourself?” Roy nods because Ed has a point. Havoc’s supposed to be leaving the city on an advance mission without anyone with him. It’d look rather suspicious if it looked like he was traveling with someone, especially someone who resembles his superior officer.
“We were going to toss supply blankets and tarps over me.” He glances toward Havoc and receives a nod in return. That was the tentative plan and unless Ed has a feasible alternative there’s not much they can do about that now. They’ve had so little time to plan. He needs to get to the West before the death toll gets any worse. There’s only so much Breda’s reports can tell him about the situation and he’s sat here on his ass for too long as it is. He made the mistake of letting the political environment sink its claws into him and distract him from what he’d originally set out to do. It’s time he started making all his promises a reality on the level of the people and not in the distant seat of the protected Central City. It’s time to take action.
Ed comes closer again and before he knows it the tingle of alchemy spreads over his body and he looks down at Ed’s hands to see an array etching itself into the sleeve of his coat. He doesn’t know where Ed pulled the thread from and he hopes it’s not from a vital area of the jacket. He would like to be able to see the other side of this trip with the coat intact. Ed touches his fingers to the newly made array on his sleeve and Roy blinks in surprise then the coat changes to a deep dark blue, almost edging into black. It’s the same color as the military tarps and the texture of the fabric even seems a little different. He arches an eyebrow in question and Ed only smiles.
“Figured it wouldn’t hurt for you to be able to blend in a little more. Just use the array on the sleeve to turn it back.” Ed looks decidedly smug when Roy does just that and the coat changes back into the lighter brown shade with the modern style. Ed reaches up then and grabs the lapels of the coat, but doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “I just wish there was more we could….”
Roy reaches up and covers his hands with his own, squeezing them lightly for a moment. “You’ve already done it.” Ed slowly looks up to meet his eyes and Roy tells him softly, “You just need to help Hawkeye make sure the convoy is as convincing as possible.” Ed nods and Roy squeezes his hands once more before pulling away. The others have shown up while Ed was making adjustments to the coat and Roy glances around to see them all waiting patiently. “Is everything ready?”
Fuery clears his throat as he looks down at a sheaf of papers in his hands. “The orders for Havoc are drafted and have been stamped with the appropriate seals.”
Ed steps back and turns to grab a cup of coffee from a side table. He’s obviously using it to give himself a distraction as his eyes remain fixed on the cup. He takes a sip, with the mug between his hands, before he says, “The car’s been alchemically enhanced as best I can.”
Roy smiles slightly as he shrugs out of his coat and drapes it over his arm then walks closer to the table strewn with maps. They’re as prepared as they can be. Havoc’s spent most of the night memorizing them despite the fact they’ll more than likely be out of date by the time they reach the roads. Ed’s attention to detail has always been high and Roy has no doubt the car is as unbreakable as Ed can manage in this short amount of time. “Good, good. Enough about my preparations to leave. What about the convoy?”
“When are you planning to leave?” He looks back toward Ed who’s looking at him with intense focus, hand still tightly around the mug.
“Out with the morning traffic, Boss,” Havoc chimes in. “So we’ll blend in. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.” That draws a slight smile out of Ed and he relaxes a bit more, but the grip on the coffee mug doesn’t lighten by much.
“The convoy?” Roy leans a hip against the edge of the table. He knows it already but he wants to hear it one last time to know what new precautions his team has put in place. He trusts them implicitly. But he wants to be informed of all the new developments before he leaves.
“Joga and Cintai will be guarding the Fuhrer’s vehicle and will also serve as personal guards in the hotels,” Hawkeye’s crisp voice details. “They’re the only ones outside of this room that have been apprised of the situation.”
Roy nods his approval about the small amount of people in the know, but he has no doubt that’s weighed heavily on several of them. Ed, Hawkeye and Armstrong each have trusted subordinates they no doubt would’ve liked to inform, but the fewer that know the truth the better. He traces his finger over the route the convoy will be taking. It nearly parallels the train track heading west. It’s predictable and that’s why they chose it.
“Any dissent in the ranks?” His question’s aimed at Fuery, not that he expects any reports to have reached his ears so soon after the announcement.
“No, sir. No reports have reached my desk yet.”
He hopes it stays that way, but with the way they’re closing ranks, it’s likely that someone will feel slighted. Up until now they’ve always attempted to keep from showing favoritism. Hawkeye’s worked tirelessly with him to try and spread assignments around so it didn’t seem one unit was favored over another, but there were always the concerns of who you could and couldn’t trust. Politics is a tricky business and it’s always hard to balance building allies with making sure you aren’t betrayed. Sergeant Hansel’s ability to infiltrate his own personal guard is a perfect example of why they need to be wary.
He turns his attention to Hawkeye when she’s the next to report. “For the most part, Parliament members have been too busy with their own preparations in response to your coming absence.” Roy nods because he hadn’t expected anything else from the scheming Parliament. “However, Brentwood submitted a request late last night for a meeting with you this morning. It was only brought to my attention a little while ago.” Hawkeye frowns slightly and glances at the clock.
They don’t have time for this. Brentwood’s a notoriously late riser and won’t be ready for an audience until close to noon. Roy scowls and glares at the maps strewn all over the table. What could Brentwood need this close to the convoy’s departure? Shouldn’t Falman’s investigation into his improprieties have stalled the insufferable bastard? Damn the man and his stupid political grandstanding. Every other sane member of Parliament is worried about their own hides instead of interfering with his preparations. Why can’t Brentwood be like them?
“Can we summon him now?” And there’s Ed’s practical voice of reason. Roy’s avoided summoning Brentwood to anything if he didn’t have to. It would only make the man’s head swell more. The fool doesn’t need any more opportunity to puff himself up beyond his already delusional ideas of grandeur.
Roy sighs and leans more heavily against the table. “Unfortunately no, Edward. He’s probably still fast asleep and I’d prefer not to make it seem like I’m consulting him on an important matter by rousing him out of bed.” It’s not an ideal situation. If their ruse is going to work, he and Havoc need to leave shortly. He glances at the clock and the time they have left is dwindling fast. They need to come to a resolution.
“We could leave tomorrow, Chief?” He looks toward Havoc and yes that’s an option but that would put them a day behind. He frowns and shakes his head.
“It’s not an option. It’d expose us to too much risk. Your mission should have you leaving as soon as possible and that would be today.” Roy doesn’t even know the details Fuery crafted for Havoc’s mission orders but whatever they are they’re probably reconnaissance related and that means Havoc needs to be leaving quickly.
“We could delay the convoy?” Armstrong’s booming voice sounds anything but satisfied with the suggestion and he’s not the only one.
“No.” Roy immediately rejects the idea because if Parliament sees he can be delayed despite his declaration of travel then they’ll do their best to ensure he never makes it out of Central. He can’t have that. He needs to see the battlefront for himself so that stories like Eli Hansel’s don’t happen anymore. He still can hardly believe he let himself become so desensitized. It’s been a constant flow of numbers and names of towns he didn’t even know and on a level none of it felt as real as it should have. Not until the moment a young boy fighting for the family he never should’ve lost placed a gun against his neck.
It never should’ve come to that. He became Fuhrer for one reason: to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. He hasn’t been doing a good enough job of that. He’s been dealing with the politics and as much as Ed claims that’s what smug bastards excel at, he’s always been better on the battlefield where the threats are immediate and there’s no time for distractions. It’s time to deal with this in whatever way is necessary, even if it’s a little underhanded.
“Falman, wasn’t this supposed to be taken care of last night?” Falman stands up straighter at his words and Roy face grows more serious. He doesn’t usually resort to blackmail, but it’s not every day you discover your enemy has misappropriated funds and properties. It’s only due to Falman’s dogged pursuit of perfection and detail that they even discovered the deceit. “Shouldn’t he be aware of your research by now?”
“Yes, sir. It should have reached Brentwood’s attention by now. I’m uncertain if this request was put in before that had occurred.”Falman’s frown says it all. He delivered the veiled threat and that should’ve been enough, but apparently not when you’re dealing with a dog.
Roy waves Falman’s forthcoming apology away. This must be why Brentwood wants the audience. He probably wants an attempt to bribe Roy into making it go away and as much as he’d like to shoot him down in person they don’t have the time. “It’s not your fault, Major. It seems we were too discreet in applying our pressure. Send a reply back saying the ongoing preparations for travel leave no time for other matters.”
“Sir, are you sure that’s a wise course of action?” He looks at Hawkeye there’s no question she looks tired. The past several nights have left their mark on her features in dark smudges under her eyes and a few wrinkles in her uniform. Hopefully she and the others will be able to get a good night’s rest before leaving tomorrow. If he and Havoc can get out of town unobstructed, they should get that chance.
He glances at each of them, showing exhaustion in their own ways, and runs his hand over his face. “I don’t see any other way. I don’t want to be seen having any preferences and if any of the other council members see I can be forced into a last minute meeting then they very well may attempt it themselves.” They can’t have any delays. “Hawkeye, send the missive. Fuery….”
“Yes, sir. I’ll keep a close eye on him while you’re gone.” Fuery scribbles on his notepad then moves over to a stack of papers at the corner of the table to make some further notations. Roy smiles. This is why he’s kept the same people around him. They’ve worked together long enough that they’ve come to expect each other’s responses. He couldn’t ask for more.
“If there’s nothing else?” No one puts forth anything and Roy nods. “It seems we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.” He looks around at all of them once more. “Remember, I expect to see all of you at Western Command in a few weeks’ time.”
He feels Ed’s eyes on him like a like a heavy weight and he’d like to take more time to say a proper goodbye, but he won’t. Neither of them can stand those types of moments when emotion renders them helpless and unable to express what they really want to say. They’ve said it before. They don’t need to say it again.
“We’ll be there.” Ed calls out and Roy finally locks his eyes with Ed’s. They’re intense, but not overly emotional. He holds his gaze for a moment until Ed breaks it and turns away. “Now, get before I decide I’m coming with you.”
Roy smiles at the fact Ed’s even worse at this than he is. He nods to the rest of his subordinates that won’t be joining him then reaches for his duffel bag he put near the door earlier. He slings it over his shoulder, situates his newly modified coat over his arm then turns to Havoc. “Are you ready?”
Havoc adjusts his own travel bag on his shoulder and nods. “Yeah, let’s get out of here before Ed decides he needs to show me another alternative route or grill me on evasive tactics.”
Roy chuckles and follows Havoc to the door. He thinks he hears Ed make a “harumph” sound, but he lets it go along with the other soft wishes for safe travels. It’s time to go and he’s long found not looking back makes things easier. Havoc eases the door open and Roy arches an eyebrow when he doesn’t hear the customary greeting he normally would. Havoc motions for him to follow and they make their way down the hallways with no guards in sight. Evidently this was a part of the planning he missed somewhere along the line. Hawkeye must’ve had a lapse in the shift change or done something else to give them this window.
He and Havoc quickly make their way through the back hallways and stairs Ed and the others won’t be able to use tomorrow. It wouldn’t make sense for the Fuhrer to be seen sneaking out of the compound, but it’s not unusual for two soldiers to take the shorter and less obstructed path. They make it down to the garage only having to duck into an alcove once when a pair of guards nearly spotted them. It’s very possible they might not have recognized them, but it’s easier not to take the chance.
Once they reach the car he’s relieved to see it’s parked in an area of less traffic, especially this early in the morning. Havoc will have to do a little more driving to get them out onto the streets, but at least they seem to be relatively unobserved. Roy quickly glances over the car as he slips into the back seat and sees that Ed’s modifications are barely detectable with a casual glance. Someone would have to be on top of the car to notice much of the reinforcements. He makes a soft sound when he tries to sit down because there are items littering the whole of the backseat. “Did you pack the whole of the supply surplus in here, Havoc?”
“Hey, I needed to make sure we have decent food to eat,” comes Havoc’s affronted voice from outside the car. Roy shakes his head and gingerly moves the items around so he can stretch out on the backseat. It’s easy enough to do. He slides boxes to the floor and arranges other items to the sides. It’s a bit of a tight fit and he can’t stretch out completely. His legs will have to be bent. Once he’s made enough room for himself he presses his fingers to the array on his coat and shivers as the tingle of alchemy slides over his skin. He drapes the jacket over himself and calls out for Havoc to look him over.
“You know, Chief, it’s pretty damn creepy what you guys can do with alchemy.” He feels the last few wisps of cool air disappear from his body as Havoc adjusts the coat and adds another supply blanket on top of him. “You’re gonna need a few boxes to slide under with you. It’ll look more natural that way.” He feels small boxes nudged under the blanket’s edge and he wishes he could see to do this himself. He arranges himself as comfortably around the boxes as he can and hopes in the early morning light no one will pay too much attention to them. It should be easy, right? They just need to slip out with the morning traffic.
He feels the car shudder slightly as Havoc shuts the door then makes his way into the driver’s seat. “Alright, Chief. Let’s get this show on the road.” The engine rumbles to life and then there’s nothing but the sound of his breathing in the enclosed space of the jacket. He can’t see much through the material but enough light filters through that he can tell they’re outside of the compound and on the roads. Gradually more sounds force the silence to recede and the smooth movement of the car slows to more starts and stops as they encounter more traffic.
“We’re headed through. Should be a few minutes and then we’ll be good.” Havoc says softly. Roy imagines he’s pulling into one of the lines to pass through the gates to the outer areas of Central. It’s not what he wanted but with the unrest plaguing the rest of the country precautions need to be taken to protect the people. Too many cases of car bombs made it necessary. He can’t help but hold his breath.
He can hear Havoc’s fingers tapping against the door and against the wheel as he shifts from one side to the other. Roy bets he’s itching for a smoke but there’s no time for that as they finally pull up to the front of the line and Havoc rolls down his window. There’s an inane bit of chatter and Roy’s barely breathing. It feels like an eternity they’ve been stopped. His heart nearly stops beating when he hears the attendant tell Havoc to pull over to the side after they’re through because they’re the random search car.
He holds his breath when Havoc doesn’t protest and drives on through, pulling over to the side. “Havoc.” He hisses through the jacket. He doesn’t dare move in case someone’s watching or anywhere near the car.
“I’ll take care of it.” Havoc says but he can hear the tension in his voice, his words tighter than normal. Havoc rolls down the window again and Roy hears the rustle of some papers. “You should take a look at these.”
“Whatever they are, sir, it doesn’t matter. My orders are to search your car before you proceed. Would you please step outside?” He can hear the freshness in the kid’s voice. The last thing they need is some young, overzealous soldier trying to throw his weight around. They need to be on the road without drawing attention to themselves. He can’t be discovered like this. With their luck right now, someone would probably think Havoc was abducting him or something and wouldn’t that go over extremely well.
“Kid, I know you’re new but I don’t have time for this. You’re making a mistake here.”
“No, sir. You’re the one making a mistake. Please step outside the car. I’m not going to ask again.” Roy’s heart pounds so fast he doesn’t hear a second individual approach. He nearly flinches when a second voice says, “Ramses, let him through. We’re to give Mustang’s personal unit quick passage.”
He hears the rustle of papers and a quick shuffle before they’re handed back. “Thanks, Pierson. Don’t be too hard on the kid.” He can imagine Havoc nodding as he rolls up the window and he catches a few low urgent words by Pierson. The engine starts and they’re rolling out of the checkpoint. It takes a long stretch before Roy relaxes. “Chief, think we’re okay.”
Roy doesn’t feel comfortable saying anything for a long while after they’ve left the city behind even though he knows they shouldn’t be stopped. The tension still lays coiled up in his body though the danger is long past. He finally eases out of his prone position and he doesn’t expect the cramps that seize up his body. He groans low and stretches out as best he can amid all the supplies gathered around him. “How far out are we, Havoc?”
Havoc taps his fingers against the steering wheel then replies, “About 40 miles or so. We’re still on the good roads for now. We’ll hit the bad ones in about another hour.”
Roy nods and glances out the window at the scenery passing by. It’s nothing much. Just the outskirts of the city with farmland starting to overtake the majority of the areas they pass. It’s been a long time since he’s been able to get out of the city. It will be a nice change of pace despite the reason they’re doing this. He lets out a relieved breath and leans back in the seat, moving the supplies around until he’s comfortable. He just hopes Ed’s departure is as uneventful as theirs.
