It was like any other day in the military office. The traffic in had been busy but manageable, and her desk was in its usual state of disarray. It took Maria Ross a few minutes to see the tinted blue envelope left carefully by a small vase filled with tiny daisies.
Cautiously, she opened the envelope, which revealed a piece of paper of matching hue. She unfurled it, slowly, to expose its contents.
My dear Maria,
I'm sorry we have to keep this in the dark.
I'm sorry that I'm not as perfect as you are,
And neither am I as beautiful.
I can't wait for the day we can be together,
And I can shout it from the rooftops of the highest building
I can find in the whole of Central.
I'm sorry for all the times this has made you upset,
I'm sorry that I can't make you happy all the time.
But, my dear, know this.
I love you.
Yours, Denny
She smiled, and sighed quietly as she refolded it and slipped it into her desk drawer. Denny loved leaving her little surprises on or in her desk – they very nearly got discovered because one time he covered her desk in tiger lilies and, unsurprisingly, the Colonel had noticed. Since then, he'd attempted to be a little more subtle about it.
Still, it wasn't as though Colonel Mustang was completely blame free – Maria knew perfectly well who left the pink rose on Hawkeye's desk every Monday – but they both operated a "I won't if you don't" policy.
Maria didn't mind the secrecy, if she was perfectly honest, but it irritated Denny. Although she was able to get him to change his mind at times, with secret meetings in empty offices – it was exciting, thrilling even, the possibility of getting caught. Which they had been. Twice.
But Maria had a plan. Or, more specifically, a meeting with the Fuhrur, at 12 o'clock, to discuss the fraternisation law. Then at last she could surprise Denny back.