Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Heart of Fire (Royai) ❯ Chapter 4

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

4
Roy was not the happiest of men when he walked into HQ the next morning. He was tired and having woke up to the same pitch black darkness that had been his life for the past two years was un-nerving. Especially after having been able to see again. He knew he shouldn't have but he'd be damned if he had been able to resist. He deserved it, right? Yes, he did.

He knew better. He'd seen firsthand what the Philosophers Stone could do. That's why Marcoh had entrusted him with it. He trusted him. Using it for personal use—for selfish reasons—was wrong. That's why all the other who had gone before had ended up the way they had. His plans were for the world, for the people of Ishval. They were the ones who deserved it.

Even Edward had known the consequences but after using the stone they had acquired, they had destroyed it. Hell, should he have kept the stone this long?

"Right."

His head jerked up. "What?" He snapped out, irritated.

"The office, sir. The door is through here." She turned him in the general direction with a hand on his forearm. "Is something wrong, Sir?"

He really needs to get a grip on things. There was no reason for him to be this irritated. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Lt. Rough night. Everything's fine." He stepped into the office and walked the direct path to his desk. He knew everything in here.

What he wanted was to get out and train. Get some of this frustration. Better yet, go on a mission where he could seriously kick someone's ass. He actually missed doing paperwork. Hell, he couldn't even read. Most of the time Riza informed him of special reports that needed his attention. All he had to do was sign papers, which were easily taken care of for him. Riza had made it easy. On each paper was an up ridged marking, one that relayed where his signature was supposed to be.

He groaned and ran his hands through his hair. When had he become so useless? He felt eyes on him then and realized he must have drawn there attention.
"What's up with you, chief?" From the squeak of Havocs chair, he was leaning back in his chair. The smell, he was smoking another damn cigarette.

"Nothing." He snapped out and inhaled, his sightless eyes staring down at his desk. He heard Havoc say something to others but he didn't care. The smell of the cigarette smoke rose up as Havoc puffed out a ring.

"Put that damn thing out, Havoc. Now." Roy snapped out.

The room went quiet. He'd never done that before. It had never bothered him before. He heard the ashtray move and then nothing. God, he was so tense today. He could feel the others eyes on him but he didn't say anything. He knew he was out of sorts today and he figured it was just the stress getting to him. He didn't hear the sound of pens on paper and glanced in the direction he knew they were. "Back to work." He barked out and then rose. He needed out. Fresh air.

He heard the sound of Rizas chair moving back before she stood. Helping him? No, he didn't want her help. "Sit down, Lt." His voice was harsher than he intended. Fuck, what was wrong with him? He grabbed his cane and made his way to the store and lifted his cane, searching for the edges of the door before he found it and strode out without a word.

Riza stared after Roy, frowning at his odd behavior. She had never seen him react towards Havoc's smoking habit like that. He had never argued over her helping him around, not unless she tried to steer him like a child. No, she let him walk on his own. She just led the way for him.

"Geez, what's his problem?" Havoc leaned back in his chair, lacing his hands behind his head. "Not like he has anything to whine over about. I was just smoking like I always do." He rolled his eyes.

She'd only seen him react like that when they were on a mission, barking out orders. He'd seemed fine the night before. She sighed.

"Bad day, I guess." Fuery threw in.

"Or a bad date." Breda tapped his pin.

No, he'd been with her till late last night. She knew he hadn't had a date. She remembered the training range and the wreck he'd left, the disaster. She sighed again and glanced over the table. "Back to work."

She didn't have to say more.

Meanwhile…

Roy lifted his head to the breeze, felt the coolness. But it wasn't enough. He was still tense. Being outside wasn't helping. He wouldn't have minded a massage. Or beating the crap out of something. He—somehow—found his way to the gym. He had to stop and ask a few people—dammit—but he didn't have Riza with him. He found the punching bag and braced his hand against it and then stepped back and shrugged out of his jacket. He was tempted to take off his shirt but thought the better of it. Hell, he didn't give a shit right now if he got it all sweaty. He threw the jacket of a weight lifter and started punching the bag. Again and again. He missed it once but adjusted his stance and felt where the bag was. There. And started again.

He paused. Hell, he hoped he wasn't punching some whimsy ass pink punching bag. He'd seen Armstrong punching years ago. He cursed and felt around for his cane and after locating it he fumbled around until he found his room. Maybe he could sleep the frustration off.

Roy had only been gone from the office for an hour when the phone rang. Seeing that he wasn't there, Riza walked over to his desk and picked up the receiver. "First Lt. Riza Hawkeye."

The others ignored her as she answered the phone. Her brow furrowed as she listened. "Yes." And then she turned, placing the phone back on its hook.

"Havoc."

He glanced up, a bored expression on his face.

"General Mustang wants you in the Boxing Gym."

A huge grin spread across Havocs face. "Well, he's not working after all. Maybe he wants me to beat all of that bad attitude out of him." And Havoc being Havoc was all for it.

Riza sighed and snapped the files she'd been reading through for Roy shut. "Come on, Havoc."

He was waiting for them when they walked into the gym. Roy still looked tense but he looked directly at them, his gaze following. Riza and Havoc paid no mind to the stare.

He ignored Riza so either he didn't know she was there or he just didn't care at the moment.

"What's up, Mustang?" Havoc lit his cigarette, inhaling until it burned bright red. Roy lifted his hand and snapped. The cigarette burst into flames, nearly burning Havocs lips. "HEY!"

Riza frowned, watching the exchange. Had Havoc done something to piss Roy off? It was no big deal if wrestled around with each other because she saw it all the time. What the hell had Havoc done this time?

"Oh, you wanna fight?" Havoc grinned and shrugged out of his military jack and tossed it her way. Roy's eyes followed the movement before they stopped on her before turning his attention back to Havoc. Havoc started moving side to side, grinning like an idiot. Obviously pumped up. "It's better than working those damn papers." He moved closer and closer.

Roy slammed his fist forward.

Havoc missed it by inches but he fell on his ass and started laughing. Rather rambunctiously. He was back up on his feet. "Bring it."

Roy had always known Havoc was full of himself but today was not the day to be full of oneself. Not when he was in the mood he was in. He'd went back to his room but he hadn't laid down. Instead, he'd went straight to the safe and pulled out the Stone.
Now here he was. He was still tense and he knew Havoc was someone who was more than willing to wrestle dirty with. He knew he shouldn't have but holding the stone, it eased some of the tension. And when he thought about it and concentrated—he could see again. He saw and watched now. Havoc looked the same but more arrogant. Riza—she was in her uniform but somehow she made it work.

Neither one of them seemed to notice that he was dodging Havocs punches. Easily, watching for each one. He caught Havoc on the chin and sent him reeling backwards. Some of the tension left him. Havoc came back up, grinning. "Good on—" Roy stopped him—mid-punch. God, it felt good.

Havoc stumbled back, blood spewing from his nose. "Shit." He clamped his hand over his nose as Roy advanced on him. "Damn, chief, what's up your ass today—" Roy jerked him up and Havocs eyes widened as Roy let his fist fly, catching him in his left eye.

Roy heard someone behind him call his name and curse but he ignored them. He felt good. He could see. Even without using Alchemy, the Stone was pumping him full of adrenaline, making his body physically stronger. He lifted his fist again, felt a small a small, cool hand wrap around his larger one.

"That's enough, Sir." Riza caught his fist but he jerked it out of her grasp and punched Roy in the stomach. She heard Roy grunt and finally, he landed a hit on Roy on the cheek. Roy seemed to explode then. He growled and dropped Havoc and then dropped on top of him. Both were giving as good as they got but Roy was throwing harder punches—she knew Havoc hadn't expected this. Neither had she. If Roy didn't stop, he was going to knock Havoc unconscious.

"Stop it!" When he ignored her and she heard Havocs head slam against the ground, she withdrew her gun and lifted it into the air. The loud discharge caused both men to pause and then jerk towards the sound, towards her.

"Roy Mustang, that's enough." She snapped out, her eyes narrowing as she stared him down, her tone cold. "I suggest you go cool off somewhere." The look in his eyes was cold but confused. She paused. He was looking directly at her and she swore he saw her. But she knew he didn't. It was impossible unless he decided otherwise and he'd made his intentions on that clear.

"Now."

Roy shook his head, as if clearing his mind as he stood. She watched him walk towards the doorway—without his cane—before he stopped. He didn't turn to face them, just spoke. "I'm sorry, Havoc."

Riza sank to her knees beside Havoc. "Are you alright?"

"Ah, I think. Geez, what the hell was that?" Havoc coughed and of all things, he lit another cigarette.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything, I swear." Havoc rubbed his chin and knew he'd be sporting some bruises tomorrow. "Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

"Come on. I'll take you to the medical center." She was about to take ask if he was going to press charged and then felt stupid for even asking. Havoc wasn't going to do that. He'd come here ready for a good fight. He just hadn't expected Roy to be so…rough.

She hadn't expected Roy to be so cold.

What the hell had gotten into him? He and Havoc had had many squabbles in the past but he'd never reacted to Havoc as he had today. Roy had to admit, he was feeling pretty cocky. Full of adrenaline. The joy of being able to see again.

The power in the palm of his hand.

He frowned and stared down at the Stone in his palm. He wasn't feeling like himself. It wasn't the Philosophers Stone, was it? He couldn't ask anyone because he didn't want anyone to know he had it, other than the ones that already knew. He'd used it for his own reasons already. More than once. He closed his eyes. He could live in a world of darkness. He was so close to the top. His dream, his hope, was almost there.

He reluctantly released the energy, promising himself the next time he used the Philosophers Stone would be when he used it for Ishval. Then he would destroy the Stone. When the darkness, the blindness in his eyes came back, he sat on the bed and cupped his head. He had to keep going. Riza was there to help him.

Converting /tmp/phpW7pOdp to /dev/stdout