((BWAHAHAHAH!!! *LoL at Havoc*))

Sable looked up at Greed and blinked. "Well...i guess that wouldn't be too bad to pass the time..." she said thinking out loud. "I've been trying to learn how to play chess...but...i dunno if she'd like that..."

Cya hoped along the road, slightly ahead of Zachary who tiredly followed along. Cya didn't exactly know where she was, just happily passing by people on the streets whenever they showed their faces. Her bare feet (she didn't wear shoes) skipped along the stone road as she hummed along. The people kept getting fewer and fewer as she and Zachary kept moving.
"Comon' Zach-ee!" She said, turning her head around while walking to see if her friend was behind her. "If you're going to be this slow we'll never get to where we are going!" She smiled and turned back around so she could run a little further in front of him.

You don't even have a clue where you're going... thought Zachary as he picked up his pace slightly. He sighed, not willing to actually say anything. Cya seemed to be enjoying herself too much, she was too much like a little kid for her own good.

"Hey, I said perfect circle," he countered, grinning slightly. "And what, you have something against alchemists?" he asked in a playful tone.

"Oh, sure," he joked. "You'd be surprised how many women call the General's phone. It's like a dating hotline. Not that I'd care about anything like that..." Havoc added quickly.

"I think Gluttony would be more interested in eating the pieces," Greed said, chuckling softly. "Although I'd ask her yourself."

Actually, I do, Devi thought somberly. They... Shaking her head, she dismissed the idea and replied with equal playfulness, "I don't mind the military, but State Alchemists are different. You see, I don't get along well with dogs."


"Oh? So you're not interested in dating, Lieutenant?" Devi asked, curiosity continuing to get the best of her.

He smiled kindly, "Now General." he said placatingly, "You know I respect Hawkeye here." His face firm now, he leaned forward, "You see. Sir. Right now, I'm trying to make your life easier. Or would you rather me follow you around all the time and investigating your every move. Thats the alternative." Standing slowly he nodded to Hawkeye, "And next time, Miss Riza here wont be able to catch me." He grinned broadly, "I mean, I wasnt the head of covert ops for no reason!" He crushed the vial and filled the air with a thick, smelly, and stinging mist. "Your last chance general, I'll be waiting in my office." He stepped out quietly, and nodded to the shocked patrons and owners in the main room. "ello!"

Havoc laughed. He liked a girl with a good sense of humor. "I don't know about West City, but the State Alchemists here in Central are pretty well trained. You should come visit some time."


Damn... that wasn't what he'd meant. "Oh, sure, I am," he said. "I'm nothing like General Mustang though. He dates multiple women at a time. Me, I'm a one girl type of guy. I just have to find the right one."

"Hm...an interesting offer. I might just take you up on that--if I ever get the chance to leave this place. West City is having a few...uh...problems lately," she replied, smiling. She was a bit relieved to have someone who she could laugh with. Usually, around the other officers, Devi opted for silence and solitude. Again, it was in her nature.



"Huh...so the general is a ladies-man? I would have never guessed," she scoffed, picturing a highly-respected general surrounded by women.

She slipped off of the desk, moving to sit in the chair. Pulling the chair close to the desk, she leaned against it and propped herself up by her elbows, continuing her phone conversation.

"The right one?" she asked, pausing. Then, sarcastically, she added, "A charmer like you? Single? I can't believe it."

---


Gluttony perked at the idea, her eyes gleaming with child-like excitement.

"Really? You want to play with me?" she asked, giddy. "No one ever plays with me! Yay! This will be so much fun!"

She ran over to the small human-chimera and jumped up and down, cheering, "Let's play! Let's play!"

Inhabitants? None, which actually didn't strike Cya as eerie whatsoever. She was too busy looking around at everything, examining it closely, and then looking back onto another thing.

"Cya!" Zachary yelled, a bit far behind. "Can you stop going so quickly, you'll probably get lost." He stopped silent afterward, seeing that there wasn't really anyone around. There were just a few people back a mile but now he couldn't see people. Vacant areas weren't something new to Zachary, it was just that something didn't look right about this area. "Hey, Cya. Do you think it would be better if you went down another road?" He asked over the distance.

Cya stopped and turned her body around. "Why, Zach-ee?" She said, not really worrying about anything. "I'm guessing this place ends up on a main road soon, you don't need to worry about me so much!"

"Right, or you wouldn't have called the Flame Alchemist for his help," Havoc guessed, his expression sobering. "What's goin' on there?"


Havoc leaned back in the chair, his gaze drifting up to the ceiling. "I know, it's a difficult concept to grasp," he replied, a grin lighting his features once more. "Lucky for you."

"Ah...I'm not sure...I'm allowed to say," she replied hesitantly, still unsure of how well she could trust the lieutenant. Against her better judgement, she decided to cave ever-so-slighty. "Nothing good, that's for sure. I'm actually not completely sure what's going on, but bad things have been going on. Don't tell anyone okay? Well, anyone aside from the general..."



"My, again with the ego. I'm lucky, am I?" Devi commented, laughing. "Now why would that be?"

So now I actually have to get serious. great. Walking calmly down the road he turned and frowned. He really should go back to his office now, but he needed something. Something cafinated and warm. "Dammit." He stopped into the little cafe across from his offices building.

"Keeping secrets is my specialty," the lieutenant said, shifting ever so slightly in his seat, a mildly interested expression upon his face. "Another good trait of mine, I might add."

"Well..." He paused for a second before deciding just to go for it. "I guess that means you have a shot, if you're interested."

"Well, you're just full of good traits, aren't you. And you're still single? What is this world coming to," she replied. Then, a bit more seriously, she added. "But I'm glad...I think I can trust you."

I think, she repeated in her mind. It wouldn't take too much for her to lose trust in anyone, much less a stranger like Lt. Havoc.


Devi was dumbfounded.

He sounded almost...serious. But that wasn't possible, right?

"B-but you don't even know me, Lieutenant. How do you know you're even interested?" Devi gaped, surprised by the light pink that threatened to flush her cheeks.

She had no experience in anything of this sort. She felt alright as long as it was a joke, but she was completely clueless now. He had caught her off guard.


---

"Chess...?" Gluttony inquired, tilting her head to the side. Then, smiling, she answered,"I remember that game. I used to watch Greed and Pride play it all the time! But...I've never played it."

She began walking around the room, continuing to talk, "I normally have to play by myself...or find people to play with outside. I've only played games like tag and stuff...oh! And I play Hide-and-Go-Seek when Wrath's angry with me, that's always fun."

Then, walking back over the Sable, she said, "But chess sounds like a fun game! Can you teach me?"

"Sure can," Havoc replied a bit distractedly, as he was trying to find something to use as an ash tray.


"I just do. Although... too soon, huh? Sorry," he added sheepishly, wondering when he had become so desperate for a girlfriend. Probably when he'd turned thirty...

"Then...I guess I can tell you what I was hoping to tell General Mustang," Devi began hesitantly, nervously tugging on the phone cord. "I'll trust you to pass it on, okay?"

Is he...disappointed? Devi thought, noticing the change in his tone. She furrowed her brow and pouted, speaking kindly, "Ah, don't apologize. It just...kinda caught me off guard. Seeing as we don't really know each other, how about I say something like 'I'll keep that in mind' for now?"

"Okay," he said, wishing she didn't seem so nervous. "I'll make sure he gets the message as soon as possible."

That's practically a yes! he thought, before clearing his throat a little and saying in a dignified manner, "That sounds good to me."

"Alright...I'm risking a lot here by telling you this, just so you know," she started nervously, hoping that she was doing the right thing. "So...please, please don't let anyone else know what I'm about to tell you. Just tell the general, okay?"

Then, taking a deep breath, she brought the phone as close as possible and whispered, "You must warn General Mustang to be careful of the West Commander. She's not to be trusted..."

She swallowed the lump in her throat and continued just as lightheartedly as before, "That's all I can tell you, Lieutenant. Now, it's our little secret, right?"


"Really? Good," Devi chuckled, leaning back in the chair. "We'll just have to find a way to meet."

And hope I survive long enough to as well she thought, slightly worried.

The West City commander...? Havoc thought, a look of confusion sweeping over his face. Why would Mustang have to worry about her? That would explain the commander's call from earlier... Obviously there was something she didn't want him to know. But why warn Mustang? Why not try to contact the Fuhrer instead?



"Of course..." he replied seriously. "I'll make sure no one else finds out, promise."

"Well, I hear that trains are an excellent method of transportation," he joked, his expression brightening slightly.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. You have no idea what this means to me," Devi sighed, relieved. "I owe you big time for this."


She laughed, shaking her head although she knew he couldn't see her. Sarcastically, she replied, "No, really? I was planning to walk. What I mean was that I don't know how I'd be able to. They keep me on a tight leash here."

Havoc gave an over exaggerated sigh. "Well, if I hadn't asked earlier, now would have been the perfect time to say you could pay me back by going on a date..."

"Geez, and you're not even a State Alchemist? Don't you have some leave time?" he asked, curious. Were things really that strict over at West City HQ?

Laughing, she replied somewhat sweetly, "Fine, Lt. Havoc, I don't see how I can refuse after all your help. I owe you one date for this one...but no promises on another. You'll have to earn that."

"With how things are around here, I haven't even been able to leave the grounds. The closest I've gotten to freedom in a while has been a break out on the rooftop. I'm beginning to wish I had chosen a better profession," she sighed, adding mentally, It's not like I really had a choice, though...

"Maybe once this is all over, I'll finally get a break from all this..." she groaned, leaning forward to prop herself up on the desk again. "I wonder if they'd notice if I went missing. Kiddnapping wouldn't happen to be one of your talents, now would it, Lieutenant?"