Fullmetal Alchemist and the characters are not mine!
It's been a while, so please read and review! Let me know what you think so I can make chapter two (which will probably conclude this story, unless I feel like it needs a chapter 3) awesome!
Also, just for a little insight, I wrote this mostly because I couldn't find a royai fic that was in character... at least in my opinion. So my goal was to stay away from being OOC as much as possible.
On to the story!
The sun was setting through the window from the hospital room. Riza quietly watched it set, alone in her room. It had been several days since Marcoh appeared in the hospital room that she and Roy had shared, holding a philosopher's stone and begging to heal Roy's unseeing eyes. Roy had consented, but only after Marcoh promised to heal 2nd Lieutenant Havoc's legs first. Other than adjusting to his eyesight, Roy's injuries were not serious, and he had already been discharged from the hospital. Fuery had come to pick him up, accompanied by a loud and weepy major Armstrong.
When it had been time to leave, Mustang had stood from his bed and turned to face Riza's general direction. "Lieutenant," he had said with authority. "I have new orders."
Riza first raised her eyebrows, but quickly recovered her composure and slipped back into old habits. Things had seemed different since the end of the military "coup," as the public knew it, or the showdown against "Father" and the homunculi, as those on Colonel Mustang and the Elric brothers' side knew it. Riza had sat in her hospital bed, helping Fuery and the rest of Mustang's group as they quizzed Roy on Ishval. She had felt helpless at first, seeing his sightless eyes, but had found comfort in his determination to continue striving towards becoming the Fuhrer. She dove headfirst into concentrating on helping him learn as much about the Ishvalan people and culture as he could so that he could begin to right the military's wrongs against them. Still, sitting around in hospital beds, learning out of books, made Riza feel out of sorts. She was pleased to hear Mustang's authoritative tone, making her feel like things were going back to normal. "What are your orders, sir?" She asked as she saluted from her place in her hospital bed, regardless of the fact that Mustang could not see it.
Mustang smiled, his typical confident smirk, and stood up straighter than he had in days. "You are to be out of this hospital by the time Jean Havoc is healed. The next time I see you, it will not be in a hospital bed. That is a direct order."
"Sir!" Riza replied, lowering her head slightly as she did. Her face remained serious and she held her salute as Mustang turned to leave, Fuery leading the front and Armstrong leading Mustang with one hand.
In the doorway, Mustang turned slightly towards Riza one more time. "Lieutenant," he said, his voice quieter and much less authoritative.
"What is it, Colonel?" Riza asked, lowering her salute.
"When I said, 'next time I see you,' I meant it. I'll see you again, with my own eyes." Mustang turned and walked out without waiting for a response. Riza was surprised for a moment, as was Armstrong, who hesitated to follow and only did so after loudly proclaiming his adoration of Mustang's unfaltering courage and devotion to his men under such circumstances. Riza's face slid into a smile as they exited. Her eyes never moved from the empty doorway as she promised, "I will be there to greet you when you get your sight back, Colonel."
Now, after several days had passed, Riza was beginning to wonder if she could keep that vow. She knew Mustang didn't need to hear her promise to know that she had made it the moment she agreed to his orders. Still, as she turned her head away from the setting sun, the pain in her neck made her feel trapped. She told the doctors repeatedly that it didn't hurt much, but they were hesitant to believe her since they did not know how well the Alkahestry had healed her. No matter how well she faked feeling completely back to normal, she had a feeling the doctors would not buy it.
There was a knock on her door just as night was falling. "Come in!" Riza called out. Maria Ross entered the room, stopping just inside to salute. "Lieutenant! Checking in!"
"I'm doing just fine, Second Lieutenant." Riza replied. As usual, she reminded her, "At ease."
Ross relaxed her stance as well as her speech. "If you don't mind me asking, is everything okay, Lieutenant?"
Riza gave her a small smile. "Yes, of course. Besides being bedridden, that is."
"Well, yes, but…" She didn't look convinced. She took a few paces towards Riza's bed. "You just don't seem yourself. It's been awfully quiet in here since Colonel Mustang left. And I can't help but notice that you seem to have something on your mind."Riza stared at her, blankly, and Ross straightened suddenly. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant! I was out of line to speak that way!" She exclaimed. Riza smiled.
"I said at ease, Lieutenant Ross. I appreciate the concern." Ross relaxed again, this time taking a seat on the edge of Riza's bed. Riza looked out the window and continued, "It's just that, I need to get out of this hospital. I have duties. I have orders, and I have a promise to fulfill."