(For the record, this just made me imagine what I think actually happened but I hadn't had specifics before. *I* started wanting to know them despite like, it being enjoyed I didn't have to explain 😅)
"You know, sometimes I actually quite miss my posting in Ishball."
Roy froze mid-sentence, his eyes darkening at the sounds of the conversation happening in a different circle of State personnel chatting over champagne in the State Hall near their own group.
Hawkeye looked past Roy's face, which to anyone else might merely look puzzled but she knew had frozen. Not far behind him was Dr. Cris Grimes.
"There was really nothing for me to do, and when there was, the Rockbells were so quickly on top of it, they rarely left anyone for me to treat. The food might not have been any good, nor the amenities, but I was left pretty free to my research."
Roy gave his now quiet circle of partygoers a partial bow before turning on his heel and making to leave. The doctor noticed his movement though and caught Roy by the shoulder before he could move off. "Ah you know what I mean! So few injuries needing treatment when the Flame Alchemist is at work!" He patted Roy's shoulder.
"Doctor." The word came sharp and harsh out of Hawkeye's mouth as she stepped forward into his personal bubble. The man's arm drew away from Roy's shoulder as Hawkeye stepped up to him. She didn't turn her gaze from him either as Roy took the distraction to walk away. "You're tie is askew." She covered for the distraction. Behind her, Armstrong and Havoc followed after Roy. Hughes stood at her back.
The doctor looked down at his tie in befuddlement, and Hawkeye reached up and took hold of it as though she were going to fix it. She did adjust it, slowly tightening it up. Grimes lifted his arms as if trying to stop her, but she gave a visually subtle jerk, but one he would feel clearly. A warning not to move. Once the tie was just pressing into the skin below Grimes's adams apple, she felt Hughes hand on her shoulder. Her hand spasmsed around her grip on the tie, but she didn't tighten it more. Not yet.
"Ishbal is off limits, doctor. You should already know this after what happened to Kimbly. Do you really want to be investigated as well?" With the last words, she did tighten the tie further, and she was satisfied with the way his skin tautened around the fabric. "And that's if your lucky. You don't want to disappear like Marcoh now do you?"
Dr. Grimes made a gargled sound and gave a bare shake of his head. Hughes's hand tightened on her shoulder, and he said a quiet, warning, "Hawkeye."
Then Hawkeye flashed Grimes a smile and loosened the noose, adjusting it to the perfect length (he had let it hang too high) and settled it snuggling in the actually right spot the tie should rest. She lifted her hands to his collar to adjust the material there as well. Attention to detail was always important. "Enjoy the party." Perfunctorily, Hawkeye took a brisk step back from the doctor, flashed him a salute, and turned on her heel to find Roy. She heard, behind her, Hughes sidling up to the man, saying something about how he simply must meet his absolutely perfect wife.
