Disclaimer time!!! I do not own FMA or anthing associated with it. Abstolutely zilch. But I do hope you enjoy the fanfic!!!



The buttons beeped as he pressed the keypad, dialling the number he knew so well. The regular dull ring played back to him, making his heart jump and speed in anticipation. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. It was ridiculous, he thought, he never usually got nervous about phoning a woman. But somehow with her it was different. It was always different.

The phone on the other end clicked and rattled as it was picked up. He could hear a slight whining of a dog in the background and couldn't help but smile.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Riza."

"Oh, Colonel." Riza replied in slight surprise. "Hush, Hayate." She muttered as the dog began to bark.

Roy laughed. "Haven't I told you before to not call me 'colonel' once work is over?"

"Hmm." She murmured. She never forgot her duties, even when she was supposedly off duty. If there was one thing Riza took seriously, then it was her job. "Isn't it dangerous to be calling me up? Someone could be tapping this line."

"I'll take that chance." Roy brushed the question off lightly, feeling a flicker of annoyance at King Bradley. Damn that man, separating him from his supporters, his friends, his loved ones. Roy swore that he would make him hurt as much as he did.

"Either way…" Riza trailed off, interrupting his train of vengeance thinking. "I don't you want to get into anymore trouble."

Roy's heart beat that little bit faster. He glowed in the words of her concern, however trivial they may seem. "What about you?"

"I'm not the one phoning you. I could blame you entirely and get away clean." She stated matter-of-factly.

"Hey," he winced, "that's not fair."

"So what did you call me about?"

He sighed. "Do you have to be so cold? Especially after-"

She cut him off hurriedly, failing to hide the embarrassment in her voice. "What did you call me about, Colonel Mustang?"

He ran a frustrated hand through his black hair. "I just…wanted to see how you were. That's all."

There was a pause. Hayate barked in the background. Roy shifted his feet uncomfortably, waiting.

"I'm fine." She finally said, her voice low and quiet. "What about you?"

"Yeah." Roy nodded his head and suddenly spotted himself in the mirror. He grimaced at his appearance. His shirt was crinkled. He hadn't shaved in days. His black hair was ruffled. Large bags hung under his eyes. He hadn't been able to sleep. "Just great." He lied.

Better that she doesn't know. I don't want to worry her.


"That's good." She whispered. "Real good."

Roy clenched his hand tightly, digging his fingernails into the skin. He leant against the wall behind him. He ruffled his hair with his hand again, feeling the weight of the stress piling on top of him as the silence grew, squashing him down and making him want to scream. It was as through they were in two separate boats, sailing together, attached by a red string of fate. But then King Bradley came along with an even bigger boat and cut them apart, causing them to drift away from each other, their words to one another lost across the vast ocean of sea.

He burst, "Riza, I-"

"Colonel, I'm sorry." She interrupted him again. Yet this time her voice was filled with fear. Fear at what he might say on this supposedly tapped line? He didn't know. He didn't know anything any more. "I have to go. Hayate is waiting for his walk."

Roy hung his head, feeling the weight shift down on him more. "Sure." He replied, tiredness in his voice.

"Goodbye, Colonel Mustang."

"Goodbye, Riza."

He heard the phone click, and the line went dead.