The Upper Hand

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Branch

Ink Burns

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

This is a work of fanfiction, produced according to the principles of transformative fair use as put forward in US copyright law, and abiding by the custom and practice of fan-produced work in Japan, where the source texts were created. No author is in any way affiliated with any of the creators of the source texts, nor with the companies who distribute their products, nor any other rights holder, and these stories were not authorized by either the creators or the producers. Ink Burns is a fan site and the material here is freely provided for the enjoyment of fellow fan-community members; there is no commercial infringement.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 US license at the Ink Burns fanfiction archive (http://alltrees.org/archive/).

Published on 2004-01-13 19:04:46.

Attributions can be made by author's name and a link to the archive.

This ebook edition was published on May 16, 2012 by the Ink Burns fanfiction archive.

The Upper Hand

Roy muses about his personnel management techniques. Drama, I-2.

"You didn't mention that you already knew about the new disturbance down in Lior, Taisa," Havoc observed.

Roy Mustang and his officers strode down the steps of their neighboring country's embassy in East City.

"No, I didn't," Roy agreed, smiling.

Hawkeye sniffed.

"Of course not. You don't gain the upper hand by giving things away, Havoc."

Havoc grunted around his cigarette.

As the party sorted themselves into the two official cars that had brought them from headquarters, Roy contemplated Hawkeye's words.

Normally, they were a truism. But there were times...

Edward Elric was a good example of the rule's reverse. As he was for a good many rules, Roy reflected, a grin tugging at his mouth.

Their liaison was a source of amusement, as well as pleasure and comfort to him. And Roy had noted early on that one of the easiest ways to get the upper hand with Edward was to tell him the absolute truth.

It entertained Roy to no end that he could stop one of Edward's tempers simply by thanking him.

To be sure, part of the effect was probably pure surprise, since Roy rarely dealt so straightforwardly with Edward outside of bed.

There was another level to that, of course, Roy mused watching the city sweep past. Edward placed an extremely high value on truth. Roy often thought that it might be a product of Edward's power. Being so powerful, he had never been tempted to the petty stratagems that those without power resorted to, while also being in a position to see all too much of that pettiness at close range. Edward was the first person Roy had met of whom he might believe that the strength of his spirit was the measure of his power.

The exchange that Roy offered for such intimate knowledge of Edward was to speak the truth to him while they were together.

Which was not to say that the truth was always straightforward, or even that straightforwardness was always straightforward.

Roy smiled.

Edward was not the only example of the rule's reverse, though, he thought, as the cars pulled back up to the military headquarters. The thought lingered, and as they began to part ways at the door of Roy's office he spoke.

"Hawkeye-taii."

His senior aide paused and looked back. "Sir?"

"Sometimes one does, in fact, gain an overwhelming advantage precisely by giving oneself away," he said, slowly.

He waited while surprise, confusion and finally understanding chased each other across her face.

She drew herself up and offered him a salute worthy of the Central parade ground. Her response was low and intense.

"Yes, Taisa."

Roy returned the salute, gravely.

End

Roy: Just for my curiosity, why did you promote Hawkeye but not me?

Branch: Because she rocks my world. She's the kind of muse I can do target practice with.

Roy: *eyes Author thoughtfully* Fair enough.

Branch: *waves, starry-eyed* Hey, Lisa, want to go get a drink?

Lisa: Why not? We're done for the day, right Taisa?

Branch and Lisa: *wander off, arm in arm*