I honestly don't know where this idea came from but I decided to go with it. I loved the idea of Hayate and Roy fighting for Riza since Hayate appeared in Fma '03. I hope you enjoy!
Thank you again AllisonHargreeves for editing and keeping me on track!
Alas, I don't own FMA
"Come on Hayate, I'm not going to hurt you. I just need you to come with me." Roy's tone was calm as he slowly approached the dog, a towel draped between his outstretched arms. He avoided using the dreaded 'B' word.
Riza's words repeated in his head like a mantra.
"Remember to keep a tight hold on his leash, he gets excited when he sees mud. And he's stronger than he looks."
Roy mostly remembered scoffing at the idea. Hayate was only a few weeks old, he couldn't be that strong.
Oh, how wrong he'd been.
"Hayate, it's just water. Don't you want to be nice and clean when your mom gets back?"
Hayate sat calmly, his head tilted to the side at the mention of his master. His dark eyes barely distinguishable against the mud embedded deeply into his thick fur, he stuck his tongue out in doggy glee.
"I should jump him now while he's calm. 1.. 2.. 3!"
Roy quickly lunged at the dog...only to land flat on his stomach. Hayate was already on the other side of Riza's small apartment.
"Why did Fuery pick today of all days to be sick?!" Roy groaned as he slowly got up on his knees and crossed his arms, eyeing Hayate as he did so.
"You know your mom isn't going to like that you got dirty and messed up her apartment."
That seemed to get Hayate's attention as his ears flattened against his head as he bowed forward.
"You've shown your hand, my dear friend."
"I know you're upset about Hawkeye being gone, but Catalina has dragged her out shopping. And I know I'm not as fun as Fuery but I know your mom wouldn't be happy to know you didn't listen to me."
Roy tried to hide his satisfied smirk as Hayate ducked his head further in doggy guilt.
"Now come here Black Hayate so I can wash you up."
Hayate slowly got up and walked over to him.
"That's a good boy," Roy spoke with pride as he went to scoop up Hayate "now let's give you a bath."
As soon as he spoke, he knew he messed up. Hayate quickly darted away when he realized what going with the Colonel meant.
Roy was able to grab Hayate around the chest but quickly let go when the dog gave a loud yip, afraid he had hurt the poor puppy. He watched as Hayate darted away, he laid down fully on the ground in defeat.
After a while, Hayate came out of his hiding spot and crept into the small living room. He noticed the dark-haired man was lying face down on the floor. He didn't appear to be moving. He slowly approached and took a chance by sniffing his head. Yup, still alive. Hayate proceeded to sniff around the man before he was abruptly lifted off the ground and was quickly thrown in the bathtub, the psychotic man soon joining him.
Roy quickly turned on the water as Hayate tried desperately to grasp the edge of the tub to make his escape. He quickly grabbed some of Hayate's soap and began lathering it into the frantic pup's fur.
"Cut me some slack here Hayate! Let me prove to Hawkeye that I can do this!"
Hayate continued to scramble around the porcelain tub.
"That's an order Second Lieutenant! I command you to sit!"
That got Hayate's attention, and the pup immediately sat down. Roy let out a sigh of relief as he could now calmly wash the mud from his fur. Even though his shirt and trousers were soaked, he relished in the calm and actually took the moment to study the pup.
He could clearly see why Fuery had taken the pup in during the rainstorm. Those brown eyes were irresistible, much like his owners. Roy quickly shook his head of THAT thought, now wasn't the time or place, and he returned himself to his task. Even through the dirt, Hayate's fur was still incredibly soft, and who could resist those little ears?!
Once the runoff from Hayate's fur was no longer brown Roy reached over for the towel he hastily discarded when he first charged through.
"Now that is over with, let's dry you off." As he was about to wrap the pup up in the towel Hayate got a burst of energy and launched himself out of the tub and out the door that Roy forgot to close in his haste.
"Just my luck. Hayate! COME HERE!"
Roy tried desperately to not slip on the hardwood floor as he skidded after Hayate. Both having trouble nearly colliding with furniture. When Hayate booked it around the couch to fast he slipped in a puddle, but before he would crash into the floor he was swept up and smothered with a towel.
"Yes, victory is mine Black Hayate! Now to finally dry you off before Hawkeye gets home."
"It's a little late for that sir."
Both Roy and Hayate froze and slowly turned to the front entrance to see Riza standing there with her arms full of bags.
"Hi Lieutenant, how was shopping with Catalina?" Roy spoke nervously as he gently placed Hayate on the ground so he could greet his master.
"Sir, is there a reason why both you and my living room floor are soaked? And why is Black Hayate wet as well?" Riza asked as she bent down to deposit her bags before scooping the small pup up.
Hayate knew that his master's attention was fully on him and wagged his tail excitedly, once Riza had picked him up he nestled into her neck and closed his eyes contently. Much to the annoyance of the sopping wet Colonel.
"Care to answer my question Colonel?"
"Well, it all started when I decided to take Hayate for a walk…"
-/-/-
"Hayate heal! The park isn't going anywhere!" Roy tried to pull Hayate back without hurting him. But Hayate was determined to get to the park as quickly as possible. Not caring if the Colonel was struggling to keep up with the small puppy's questionably rapid pace.
Roy just rolled his eyes as he sped up his gait and let Hayate lead him to one of East Cities many parks. Both the Colonel and puppy slowed down when they finally entered the park.
Roy let Hayate sniff around a section of bushes as he looked around the park. It was Saturday so many families were enjoying the sunny afternoon. It had rained the previous night, and both Roy and others were trying their best to keep their dogs and children out of the muk.
"That's a cute dog there mister. What's its name?"
Roy snapped out of his trance and looked over to see a little girl standing beside him. Her large hazel eyes were glued to Hayate as he finished his business and trotted back over to meet the child.
"His name is Black Hayate." Roy responded as he watched the small child reach out a hand to let Hayate sniff.
"May I pet your dog? My mommy says you have to ask before petting a stranger's dog."
"Yes, you can pet him." Roy smiled at the little girl's enthusiasm as she gave Hayate scratches behind the ear and chin.
"Mary! There you are! Don't go running away from me like that!"
Roy and Mary both looked up to see a tall red-headed woman making her way over to the pair. A scowl etched on her face.
"I'm sorry mommy! But I wanted to see the dog! This man said I could pet him!"
"I'm terribly sorry about my daughter, Mister?"
"Mustang, Roy Mustang." Roy spoke.
"Mustang… as in Colonel Roy Mustang?"
"I knew I shouldn't have said that."
"Yes, I am Colonel Roy Mustang." The way her face brightened made him nervous.
"It's such an honour to meet you, you hear all these stories." He knew that look and forced himself to stop from rolling his eyes.
"I can assure you, the papers tend to exaggerate." He tapped Hayate's back leg with his foot. He was Riza's dog and therefore a genius, right?
He was just like his owner though, sitting down and watching him try to get out of a jam without Riza's help. If he didn't know any better the pooch was entertained.
"Not some things, Mr. Mustang." She gave him a long, approving up and down. "You're much more handsome than the pictures they print you know." She looked about ready to eat him alive and Roy cleared his throat, reaching for his watch and flipping it open.
"I'm late to get him back to my fiancée, apologies. She'll be worried I let him run off." He gave her a trademark Mustang smile, which while almost automatic, didn't help his case.
"It was nice meeting you, ma'am."
Roy quickly turned and lead Hayate away from the mother and daughter pair, putting as much distance between them as possible.
"Well, that couldn't have gotten any weirder. Don't date Hayate."
Roy looked down at his companion who didn't really seem interested in the conversation, rather taking interest in the obscenely large mud puddles.
"Hayate no. Hawkeye said no mud for you. Now let's go back home."
Hayate stopped in the middle of the path, causing the Colonel to stop as well and stare at the puppy.
"Come on Hayate. Let's go."
But Hayate wouldn't move an inch, he decided to sit instead.
"Hayate why are you doing this? I played tug of war with you, I fed you, I took you to the park. What more do you want?" Roy waited as Hayate seemed to contemplate the question before looking over at a puddle of mud.
"No way Hayate. Don't you think for a second that I would let you NEAR that. We are heading straight home."
Roy tried tugging on the leash to no success. Hayate wouldn't budge, he just kept looking longingly over at the puddles.
"Don't give me that look Hayate, I'm the one in charge here. I'm also your superior officer, therefore, I command you to return home.
Roy would later claim that the little dots above Hayate's eyes lowered as if to challenge him. Roy raised his own eyebrows before Hayate was gone, the leash ripped from his hands and was halfway to the mud puddles.
"Hayate NO!" Roy yelled, but it was too late. Hayate was already rolling around in the mud, Roy could see it be smothered deeper and deeper into his fur. Turning the white of his fur a deep brown.
"Hawkeye is going to kill me."
-/-/-
"That's your story?"
"That's my story."
"So you think Hayate was being spiteful towards you because a woman was flirting with you? You shouldn't let him take advantage of you Colonel. That's how dogs develop bad habits." Hawkeye spoke as she walked past the Colonel, Black Hayate still firmly nestled in her arms.
"He yanked his leash out of my hand! What was I supposed to do?!"
"Not let him. He is only a puppy, sir."
"A freakishly strong puppy! Are you sure he's not somehow related to the Armstrong family?"
Her laugh could light up the darkest of nights.
"Yes sir, I'm positive Buraha isn't an Armstrong."
"Could've fooled me." Roy watched as Hayate made direct eye contact with him as he enjoyed Riza's affection. Making the Colonel scowl.
"Well, I better be going Lieutenant. I'm sorry for the state of your apartment."
"That is quite alright sir. Thank you for watching Hayate for me."
"It was my pleasure Lieutenant." Roy spoke as he made his way to the door. Riza put Hayate down to escort the Colonel out.
"I'm sorry Hayate wasn't well behaved."
"He's still a puppy Lieutenant. Besides, he seems to be quite taken with you."
"Yes, I guess he has." Riza spoke fondly as she turned back into the apartment to give the small dog a smile.
"Good night Lieutenant."
"Good night Colonel. And don't you think I won't forget you using the Fiancee card."
The smile she gave him before the door separated them stuck with him for the rest of the week.
Hope you enjoyed! Have a good one!