A/N: Wrote this one because I also ship Riza with Jean (although I will forever ship her with Roy still XD) and I felt that their pairing needs more fanfics. :)
Disclaimer: I am not Hiromu Arakawa.
"Mind if I join you?"
Riza Hawkeye was startled as the voice shook her out of her reverie. She looked up as Jean Havoc sat down on the seat next to hers, with an unlit cigarette on his lips.
"You did not even wait for my response, Havoc."
He just grinned at her, and what she felt isn't completely normal. Yes, she wanted to erase that grin on his face, but by kissing it? No, it was a very insane thought.
Their team was assigned by Fuhrer President Grumman to corner Lester Jones, one of the murderers targeted by the military in the North. What Riza didn't get is that why does it have to be them? This was supposed to be the Briggs soldiers' job, but it was not like she would tell that to her grandfather. Luckily though, they managed. A week of stay in the North was enough to capture Jones from his hideout. Now, they are just waiting for the blizzard to dissipate.
The military provided a little cabin for government-related operations at the foot of Briggs Mountain. Staying there for two more days because of the blizzard was making Riza agitated. The cabin was not affected by these blizzards, but unfortunately the train stations are. There is no way to get out of the North but the trains. She tried to blame it on their very tiring job, going undercover and such. But the real reason was because of a certain blond Second Lieutenant, and the fact that he was sitting there beside her right now was certainly not helping.
She volunteered to keep watch to get rid the awkward feeling, and now he joined her. Why can't he see that she was trying to avoid him?
She looked at Jean, who was tapping his feet as he looked at the snow from the balcony. He didn't notice her stare, but since she did not want to get caught, she directed her gaze on her mitten-covered hands instead. Since when did those blue eyes became the object of her liking? Probably it was when he returned to the military after his therapy. She didn't realize how much she missed his company, and that is why she said yes when he asked her if she could accompany him again to the shooting range.
It was like history repeating itself. After work they would practice shooting, and then he would treat her to a diner not far from the place and afterwards walk her home. Just like before he lost the ability to walk. Without a doubt Riza knew he was one of the closest friends she would ever have. But when one particular night he kissed her before she entered her apartment, she started to wonder.
"Don't bite your lip, Hawkeye." Jean said.
She looked at him with one eyebrow raised; she didn't realize that she was already biting her lip. "And why would I do that?"
He didn't answer; instead he removed the cigarette from his lips and played it with his hands.
After a few minutes, he muttered. "I dunno, it just makes me want to kiss you instead."
Riza guessed that her surprise must be evident in her face, for Jean look at her and smiled. After the apartment kiss, as Riza had called it, she leaned against the door, sliding down just like before after her encounter with Pride. Black Hayate walked towards her with a concerned expression. "Don't worry, Hayate. I'm fine, more than fine," was what Riza said. Replaying the scene in her mind, she covered her already red face with her hands while smiling.
Maybe it was comforting to know that she was not the only one thinking of kissing the other again.
They continued to sit that way, her playing with her thumbs, him with his cigarette. The midnight wind blew, and she shivered, her coat not enough to keep her warm. Jean took this opportunity to move closer to her and wrap his arms around her. Riza's eyes widened, not only were their position frowned upon by the military, but it released all those damn butterflies in her stomach. This was definitely wrong.
"What if we get caught?" she asked, without doing anything to remove his arms around her.
"Relax, Hawkeye." Jean said. "They're asleep."
She sighed; leaning into Jean's embrace as she also wrapped her arms around his waist. This is so not me, Riza thought but she craved for his touch for weeks, so maybe this was the only time she would be able to have this.
"Besides, I don't care if we get caught." Jean added. He put Riza's head on his chest and she can hear his heartbeat, beating in time with hers.
"Why?" she whispered, breathing in his faint scent of cigarettes which was actually comforting.
"I missed you, Riza. After a few years of not seeing you, I just realized how much I do."
He missed her too. That fact was enough to make her feel giddy. She wanted to cry, but Riza was afraid that her voice will break, so she stayed silent. A few questions were screaming at her right now, but the loudest one was why did you kiss me?
"Because I wanted to do that for a long time," he suddenly spoke. Shit, Riza did not realize that she said that out loud.
She removed herself from Jean's tight embrace, and gazed into his clear blue eyes. The stars were twinkling up in the sky, and it was very majestic and beautiful, but all she could see was him.
"Then why didn't you before?"
"Full of questions, tonight, aren't we?" He smirked.
She tilted her head in response. "Well it's not like you to be direct."
He just smiled, and looked back in her eyes, the cigarette he was holding already on the floor. "Maybe I am just waiting for the right timing… Or maybe," he leaned closer, his lips almost touching hers. "I felt that now would be the right time to confess."
Riza smiled, while rubbing her nose against his. "Confess what?"
"… I think you know what I mean." Jean closed the gap between them. As Riza wrapped her arms around his neck, she decided that this kiss was much better. It didn't matter whether someone catches them or not, all that matters was that she was there with him. And when she broke the kiss to look once more into his eyes, she found herself drowning again.
"I know, and I love you too."
Thank you guys for reading! Let me know what you think, please. :)