It was still a couple of hours before the train reached its final destination. Colonel Roy Mustang and first lieutenant Riza Hawkeye were heading back to Central City after an inspection of a salt mine in the west of Amestris. Hawkeye was writing a report of the day's events. Mustang, on the other hand, was playing around with his gloves.
- You shouldn't do that, sir. The blonde lieutenant looked up from her report for a moment. I may not know much about alchemy, but you could accidentally set the whole train on fire.
- I don't care, Mustang replied with an evil smile. Just kidding, he added when Hawkeye's hand travelled from the paper she was writing on to the gun holster on her hip.
The train was suddenly slowing down and colonel Mustang looked at his silver watch to see if they were already arriving in central. It was still one and a half hour left until they would reach there.
A man's voice could be heard from a loudspeaker somewhere in the front of the carriage.
- This is your ticket collector speaking. It seems like we've got some technical problems, and we'll most likely be stuck here for a while. We're sorry for the inconvenience.
The minutes passed and Mustang, who had stopped the glove-playing, became more and more sleepy. Hawkeye, still concentrating on her report, almost jumped out of her seat when she suddenly felt the colonel's head on her shoulder.
- Err... umm... Colonel? No answer.
He was fast asleep. Hawkeye didn't dare to move, since she didn't want him to wake up. Actually, it was quite comfortable to sit like that. It was the first time she had been that close to him. She had known him for more than ten years, she was his teacher's daughter, she had joined the army because of him and she had fought by his side in the Ishbal war, but they had never been this close to each other before. She had loved him from the first time she met him, but she had never had the courage to tell him. He had such a handsome face.
Mustang smiled in his sleep when Hawkeye stroke his pale cheek with her left hand.
- Riza… he mumbled.
I wonder what you're thinking about, she thought for herself. She stroke some bangs out of her face and let her fingers play with his black hair.
All of a sudden the train started moving again. Mustang, who had been leaning against Hawkeye's shoulder in what had seemed like an eternity although only a few minutes had passed, woke up.
- I'm so sorry! He said, blushing, when he realized what he had been doing.
- It's okay; Hawkeye replied and gave him a light, gentle smile.
Mustang was surprised. He didn't expect her to react that way. She would most likely take out her gun, point it at his head and tell him to "never do it again or else…" But a smile? She hardly ever smiled to him, only to others. She didn't talk very much when he was near, but he knew that she could be very talkative with other people if they had something to talk about. After all, she had told Edward everything she knew about the Ishbal war. Mustang wondered if she disliked him or something…
He caught himself staring into Hawkeye's brown eyes and quickly turned away his gaze. He wondered for how long he had been doing that. Hopefully not too long.
- Colonel, what's wrong with you? Hawkeye didn't sound angry, just curious. Mustang only looked down on his hands, desperately trying to avoid her eyes that right then were piercing through him like x-rays. He hoped that she wasn't able to read others' minds.
- Colonel, look at me. Her voice was now demanding and he couldn't do anything but obey. He was her superior, but there was something with her that made him do anything she said. He would give up his life for her, so much was clear to him. After Hughes died, she was the only one he had left. Was it love? Mustang wasn't sure. At least he wouldn't be able to live without her.
He had had several other girls, which was no wonder, since he was very good-looking with his jet-black hair, almost black eyes and well-trained body. But he had never felt like this among any of them. Mustang opened his mouth but didn't have time to say anything before Hawkeye leaned over and kissed him. He could feel a chill go down his spine when his lips touched hers. It was happiness like never before and they both wanted, unaware of each others thoughts, that this moment would last forever. Still, they both knew that this was breaking the laws of the military. It was safe for the moment; they had a whole coupe for themselves.
Hawkeye gathered all her strength and her mouth formed the words she had wanted to say for so long.
- Sir, you are very special to me. I have loved you ever since I first saw you, she whispered to him.
- Please call me Roy. He smiled. Not his ordinary smirk, but a genuine, happy smile.
Now he was sure.
- I love you too, he said and kissed her.
