Ha, I was right! This did come quicker than the other one did! All hail me! And this one is like, four times as long as the last one. If only for the dialoge.

HR

Chapter 4

Drunk

Riza stared at the clock. It was five p.m. She could leave now. She could go home, huddle on the couch and read a book. No, not read a book. She couldn’t really see. She could go home and go to sleep. That’s more like it. Sleep. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to drive home, but she’d get there eventually. She did feel guilty about leaving work when she hadn’t accomplished anything but—

“Hey, miss.”

“Back off, Havoc.”

“Wanna lift?”

“Sure.”

Wait, what had she just done? She had accepted a ride from someone? Not only that, but Riza Hawkeye was getting in a car with Jean Havoc? There was something vaguely frightening about the idea of the 2nd Lieutenant driving, but then again, he had his responsible side. He had his caring side. And the way he had kissed her….

Wait, what had he just done? He offered a ride to Riza? He groaned on the inside. She seemed like a backseat driver. Still, he couldn’t leave her here, she looked like hell. And he did like

(love, perhaps?)

her. Why shouldn’t he give her a ride?

“So, where we headed, Lieutenant?”

“Home.”

Havoc smiled wickedly.

“I’m going to take you somewhere radical.”

“Please don’t.”

“You’ll like it.”

“No, I won’t.”

Havoc turned around and cupped her chin in his hand.

“Yes, you will.”

“Fine.”

His quest became clear. He was going to get Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye drunk.

She got in the car beside him and didn’t say a word. He got behind the wheel, sitting a little straighter up than he would have usually. He had to put on a good impression once for Riza! Riza sighed. He wished he could make her feel better. Hesitantly, he put his hand behind her neck. She leaned into it. Havoc’s ego nearly exploded.

They reached a dingy street.

“What radical thing that I should like is here?”

“A club.”

“What kind?”

“You’ll see.”

“I don’t like that smirk.”

“Yes, you do.”

Riza glared.

“No, I don’t.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Havoc took out his cigarette and kissed her again.

“Really?”

“I don’t think I should get involved with coworkers.”

“That’s alright. Roy does it all the time.”

“Did.”

“Did.”

He sobered up. Havoc got out of the car as Riza sat there, obstinately, still buckled in. Havoc opened her car door. She got out. Havoc took her arm and led her into the door in the back of the building. There was loud music reverberating through. The glass on the door showed shadows and red light.

Riza stiffened when he opened the door. He helped her with her coat, delicately tossing it in the vague direction of the hat rack.

“Do you like it?”

The music seemed to take every beating of her heart and place it out in the open for everyone to hear.

“Yes. I like it.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Havoc left and Riza wandered around the mingling people. She felt a hand on her shoulder and slowly, as if in a dream, turned around to face Roy Mustang.

“Hello, sir.”

Roy looked at her strangely.

“Hello…Riza. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here with the 2nd lieutenant.”

“Havoc brought you here?!”

“Yes.”

“And you came?”

“Obviously.”

Havoc appeared behind them.

“Hey, Riza. I got you a drink. Hey, boss!”

Roy looked at the two of them, shaking his head.

“Of course. It should have happened a long time ago!”

“What, sir?”

“What, boss?”

“You two!”

The two in question glanced at each other. They didn’t get a chance to answer before a young blonde woman came up behind Roy.

“Hello, darling!”

“hello.”

“You don’t sound enthused!”

“I’m not.”

Havoc dragged Riza away, pressing the drink into her hands. They found two stools by the bar and sat.

“I don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“Ducks. But that’s beside the point.”

Riza stared at him.

“What?”

“Family joke. Don’t ask.”

Riza shrugged and took a swig of her drink. She began to sputter; it was a strong, sweet liquor. Havoc patted her on the back until the coughing subsided. When it did, she took another drink.

“How can he act like that around women and STILL get dates? I mean, if I acted like that, I’d get slapped!”

Riza laughed.

“That’s because Roy is cute!”

Havoc looked insulted.

“And I’m not?”

Riza shook her head. She whispered, “My turn” and leaned into his lips. Havoc stroked her hair slightly, feeling her soft lips in his heart. Someone shouted, “GET A ROOM!” There were chuckles around them. Riza laughed again, finishing off her drink. Havoc ordered her another one. She drank it. She drank many after that.

“Cum tance wif me!” she whispered later that night.

“’Tance’?”

Riza nodded forcefully. Havoc obliged. He had done the impossible. He had gotten Riza drunk. Somehow, it wasn’t as great as he thought it would be. The music started up again, wild music. Riza (who had lost her dignity rather a long time ago) began to dance around him, archaic improvised dances. Havoc pulled her close to him, holding her, feeling her heart beat against his. She calmed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She passed out in his arms.

Havoc rolled his eyes and picked her up, carrying her to the door. When he got there, he looked at her military coat on the floor. He looked at the unconscious woman occupying both his arms. He looked at the coat again.

(great)

He leaned against one wall for balance and caught the collar on his boot. As he lifted his foot to his hand to hold the coat, he slipped down the wall, landing with a thump on the floor. Riza groaned and nuzzled her head under his chin.

“Well, that went well, didn’t it, Jean,” he muttered to himself. He grabbed the jacket and staggered up and out the door to his car. He put her in the backseat where she could lay out and began to drive towards her apartment.

He carried her through the door like a groom with his newlywed wife, laying her on the couch. He placed a final kiss on her forehead before retreating to his own home.

“That girl is going to have a world-class hangover in the morning,” he whispered as he put his car in gear. “World-class.”