Author's note: Hey there. This is my first FMA fic. I hope it's ok, the chapters will likely be kinda short and this chapter starts off a little passive, but hopefully it'll pick up after this. =]
Love, sorrows and surprises
Chapter One
Unrequited love
Everyday, Riza sat there and did her work, secretly admiring the Colonel from a distance. For numerous years now, she had held a secret love for him that only she knew of. Naturally, it was unrequited; well, she had not told the Colonel, nor did she plan to. He was not going to have those same feelings for her; he was a free spirit who enjoyed being with women much prettier and more sociable than her. If she told him, it would surely get awkward around here because there was no chance that he was going to return the fervour. Not to mention the fact that she could even get demoted. It was not that there were any laws against people in the military getting together or anything, but it was just something she secretly worried about.
There was also the pain she would feel if she ever told him. The idea of being rejected pained her, so she wanted to save herself that pain. She would watch from the sidelines. She was happy enough with that. Atleast, she thought so. Sometimes it was unbearable and she would sit alone at home with Black Hayate. He was her only comfort most of the times. She hated not being able to tell him. Normally she was such a strong woman; heck, she scared the Colonel sometimes, and she could tell she did.
Maybe that was the problem.
She was very strict and regimented, whereas the Colonel was a lot more relaxed, aloof and knew how to have a life. She was extreme and bossy; whilst other women would simply clip him around the ear, she pointed a gun to his head whenever something really annoyed her. That was not normal. And yet, she would not be able to change that. She did not want people to see that she had lost her touch; they would start to think she was losing her strength and she did not want to seem weak. That would lead to advantage-taking. Not that she could not handle herself.
It was just too much hassle.
So she sat there at her desk, doing her work like she should be. She looked up at the Colonel briefly; he was daydreaming again.
"Colonel," she said, trying to snap him out of it. It worked; he turned to look at her and nodded.
"Right, right. Sorry Lieutenant," he murmured.
"Not to worry, sir," she smiled.
They both carried on with their work. Like any other day, really. And it was always going to be this way. There was no way of getting around it. It was either stay or leave, and leaving was not an option. She enjoyed working here.
It came to the time when they could depart for home. Riza stood up; Havoc and the others had already left rather noisily. She saw that the Colonel was still in his chair, elbows on desk and chin resting on clasped hands. He looked, once again, far away.
"…Sir? It's time to go home," she said, smiling a little. He looked up, snapping out of it. He lifted his chin and pushed himself up, gathering the few things he brought and nodding to her briefly before walking out.
Riza watched him leave with longing eyes and left soon after. She had decided where she was going to go. It was a strange thing for her, but she was feeling rather dejected.