"Seriously?" she gaped, used to the straight-laced, proper life around West City. Then, prone to curiosity, Devi inquired, "Um...Is it because you have had one, Lt. Havoc?"

He has a point, she thought. He's already told me his name...and he covered for me with the Commander...

"Alright, alright. You've got me, Lieutenant..." she groaned, realizing that she had no excuse to hide behind.

Hesitantly, she pulled the phone close and replied shyly, "...My name...is Devi."

"At the rate we're going? At least two hours," he replied with a slight scowl, not bothering to go into details. "And Sloth, don't ask me again."


"If I told you that, it wouldn't be a secret anymore," he said, not wanting to admit that, no, he had yet to have a secret relationship over the phone with some beauty from another city.

... Unless this counted.

"Devi? What a pretty name! So, Devi..." -He smiled slightly as he said her name- "What's going on?"

Devi gave his reply some thought. She smiled slightly, finding this kind of conversation somewhat refreshing after the constant worries of the day, but reminded herself not to drop her guard too much.

"Well, that's no fun," she answered, unable to keep her serious tone. It was like all of her previous worries were gone...at least temporarily. "But I guess you have a point. It sounds like you enjoy keeping secrets. Maybe I can trust you after all..."

Maybe...


"I'm apparently having a secret relationship on the phone presently, Lieutenant," Devi replied humorously. "And I'm trying not to get caught. What about you?"

Sloth nodded as he looked down at his feet, mentally locking his lips and throwing away the key as a child would do.

Cya looked back up into the sky, utterly bored out of her mind. "Hey, Zach-ee, let's go explore!" She said, jumping up and taking the man's giant palm. "They said you just had to stay in the country so let's go around to different cities! There are lots of places I wanna go!" She said excitedly. It was true, they only needed to stay in Amestris, so that probably meant that they could go anywhere.

"Really." Said Zachary, his tone made it not even sound like a question. "Where were you expecting to go?" It's not like he really wanted to stay around here forever, but if anyone else positioned around here caught him sight-seeing with Cya it wouldn't be too good.

Cya pouted, "Well it's not like I know yet." She said, turning her head from side to side as if she was looking for something. "I haven't even seen a map of here yet--" She stopped, ran over behind Zachary and took a map out of his bag in triumph. She scooted his meal tray off his lap an replaced it with the map, nutrition comes later. Pointing to a random road she beamed up at Zachary. "Zach-ee let's go here first!" She said, folding up the map. Random road or not, it was bound to lead somewhere. And it's not like Zachary wouldn't go with her either.

"Keeping secrets is one of my best qualities," Havoc replied, glad to hear that she finally seemed to be loosening up. "Among other things."

"Well, I'm having a stimulating conversation with a lovely woman. Although I'm pretty sure I have permission to be on the phone."

Again, curiosity got the best of her. Devi raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Oh really? And what might they be?"


Devi flushed at the compliment, endearing words fairly uncommon for her. She smirked, noting his wit, and replied, "Lucky you. I'd hate to think of the consequences if I'm caught...again. Then again, thanks to you, maybe she'll just think I'm being wooed."

She chuckled to herself, a sound that was almost as foreign as her smile as of late. Devi took a seat on the desk and continued to talk on the phone, simultaneously keeping her sense peeled.

"So, where is the general now? And do you always use his phone while he's away?"

"I'm highly attractive and I make a decent salary," Havoc told her, knowing that those were the top two things that a woman looked for in a man.

"No, I just happened to be walking by his office when you called. It's almost like it was meant to happen..." Fate. Another one of those things that women seemed to like.

"Well, don't you think highly of yourself," Devi grinned into the phone, also making note of his apparent ego.

Hm...so he's attractive?? she caught herself thinking. Shaking her head, she quickly dismissed the thought and returned to the conversation.

"You probably make the same as I do. I'm not impressed," she joked. "Have any interesting qualities? Like, are you good in the field, or are you just a desk ornament?"

"Fate, huh?" Devi scoffed, rolling her eyes. Being in the military had diminished any spiritualistic thoughts she might have once had, including 'fate'. But she was willing to amuse the thought if only just for the sake of some lax conversation. "And here I thought you were just so excited to hear from me again."

"I've seen my fair share of the battlefield," he told her in the most serious tone he could muster at the moment. "I happen to be one of the soldiers who fought against the outsiders that invaded three years ago."

"Something told me you would be calling back," he said amusingly, scratching absently at the wood grain on the table before taking another drag from his cigarette. "You just couldn't wait to hear my voice again, could you?"

Devi's eyes widened at his comment. She knew that the incident with the outsiders had taken place in Central, but she hadn't thought that this soldier had participated.

"So, what did you do?" she asked, fairly interested. Then something popped into her thoughts, something that unnerved her. "Are you...an alchemist, Lieutenant?"

"So you were waiting, weren't you?" Devi inquired, a slyness hinted in her tone. Then she chuckled, adding, "I'm flattered."

Flipping himself up Hienrich sighed. "You could put someones eye out with that thing," he drew a small circle and activated the transmutation, falling through the small hole in the floor he landed on his feet and nodded to Roy, "Oops, I mean, you already have." Grinning stupidly he raised his hands in a pacifying motion, "Now now, before you blow me up, remember that it is my job." He pulled one of his vials out of his bandolier and poured it into his hand. "Plus, I really hate showing up the higher ups. Really I do."

Shrugging, he returned the liquid to the vial. "Yeah, I hear ya, all the best gossip, I mean, intel. Is," he smirked and sat down next to Mustang, "Now c'mon, I know you where thinking it when I showed you that picture. Plus, rumors of disappearnces. C'mon. Your not that slow Sir."

"Cmon old man." he patted the general on the back hard, "Dont change the subject. Besides. You know what I'm talking about right?" He frowned, tapping his fingers on the table. "I mean Cmon, Hawkeye here knows what I'm saying. Its all too suspicious if you ask me. The general getting a mysterious meeting with the fuhrer. Not to mention the vague rumors of disappearances. And now, the elrics?"

Sable was beginning to get bored. she got up from her seat in the massive room and began to wonder slowly. She looked out one of the windows and looked at the road. she hoped that Pride would come soon.

****West City****

"Ahhh....good brew today guys," Sara said to the cooks in the back of the lunch room. Taking her coffee she walked the halls to try and clear her mind from the stress of the paperwork.

"oh sir. You now I'm very hard to kill." He reached for the file slowly, winking at Riza, "Besides, if you just told me what I need to know, than I am sure I wouldnt have had to be so rude. I dont like just, dropping in, unannounced anyway.'' His other hand brushed the bandolier. sliding one of his serums out he quickly returned another from his palm. "Whattya say? Let me in on a secret, just among friends you know."

He smiled at riza, "Dont call you hawkeye for nothing do they?" Than he picked the vial up and shook it, "its a simple mixture. Water, sodium, some sugars. Main use is providing a steam that robs the victims of sight and smell." He turned back to Mustang and frowned, "I have a higher security clearance than the broad."

"Nope," Havoc replied, somewhat amused by the idea. "To be an alchemist, you have to be good at two things- science and drawing perfect circles, neither of which I can do."

He gave a small shrug, despite the fact that she couldn't see him. "This is more important than anything else I'd be doing."

"Patience, little Sable," Greed said, guessing the girl's thoughts. "If you'd like, I'm sure Gluttony would be more than happy to play with you until my pony-tailed brethren arrive."

He's not an alchemist. Thank goodness, Devi thought, releasing a relieved sigh. Then, with a soft laugh, she replied, "Well, that's a relief. You had me worried for a moment...Wait. You can't draw a circle?"


"It is? But why? Being a lieutenant in the military, I would think you'd be awfully busy with important things," she mused aloud. "Playing secretary for General Mustang is that important?"