I own nothing.
In the aftermath of the Promised Day, General Roy Mustang forgets to request the transfer of his most trusted subordinate. Or does he?
Captain Riza Hawkeye sighed heavily as she slumped against the wall next to her friend, also newly promoted, Captain Rebecca Catalina.
The new Fuhrer had organized a ball to celebrate all the promotions and transfers in the wake of the Promised Day.
Rebecca handed her friend a glass of champagne, which Riza accepted gratefully.
"I still can't believe him," Rebecca said angrily.
"Mm," Riza grunted in response, taking a generous swig of her champagne and eyeing the crowd.
Rebecca watched her friend's eyes shift over the crowd and sighed.
"You're still looking for him? Really? After this morning?"
-That Morning-
"Captain, would you mind delivering these to General Mustang for me?" Fuhrer Grumman asked, the hint of a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Captain Hawkeye nodded, "Of course, sir, right away."
Things had been busy cleaning up the messes caused by the events of the Promised Day and many promotions and transfers were in order, and had slowly been taken care of, but Riza herself had yet to receive her own transfer orders to return her to duty as General Mustang's personal aide, rather than aide to the Fuhrer. Though she didn't mind working under Grumman too much, and it was obvious she was no longer a prisoner, but she was still anxious to return to Mustang's side.
Hawkeye took the papers from Fuhrer Grumman and headed out of the room and down the hall to General Mustang's office. Glancing briefly at the top paper, she saw that it was a notice that his transfer request had been approved and he would be leaving to Ishval within the week to head the rebuilding program.
Attached to the top sheet were several packets that Hawkeye recognized as transfer orders for those that General Mustang had requested join his team in Ishval. Curiosity piqued and she leafed through the packets, looking for the one she expected to have her name on.
Rebecca Catalina.
Kain Fuery.
Heymans Breda.
Maria Ross.
Vato Falman.
Not Jean Havoc, he would not be returning to the military at least until he was done with physical therapy.
Not her. Maybe it had gotten lost? Maybe the Fuhrer would have it waiting for her when she got back to her office? No, Grumman liked the commanding officer to distribute transfer orders like these, where the transfer was more or less voluntary.
Hawkeye walked faster, her mind spinning with possibilities. But all she could think of by the time she reached Mustang's office door was that he hadn't requested her transfer to his team. The thought made anger and disappointment rise, hot and damp in her chest.
"Captain," General Mustang said with a smile when she entered his office.
"General," She responded, "Papers from the Fuhrer for you, Sir."
"Thank you, Captain," He said, taking the papers from her outstretched hand and scanning the top sheet, "I've been waiting for these."
She watched as he flipped through the transfer order packets, nodding to himself as he read each name.
"Sir," Hawkeye said after a moment.
"Is something wrong, Captain?" He asked.
"With all due respect, Sir, I believe you are missing a transfer order."
His eyes flashed with worry and he flipped through the packets again quickly.
"No, Captain," He said when he was done, "I have all the transfer orders I requested."
"But Sir," She began, but he cut her off with a shake of his head.
"You are still recovering, Captain," He said, his eyes flicking to the scar on her neck. Healed thanks to Mei, but as it was only a month after the injury she still suffered effects from the loss of blood. Her stubbornness had taken her back to work too early, but she was strictly on light duty until her health improved.
When his eyes met hers again, they pleaded her to understand. His eyes begged her to forgive him for not transferring her with the rest of his team.
"Very well then, Sir," Her voice was tight and her words clipped. Her eyes flashed anger and disappointment and promised him that this conversation, though put on hold for now, was far from over.
With that, she turned on her heel and strode from the office.
"I have to talk to him, Rebecca," Riza stated, as her eyes found the man she was looking for. He was speaking with General Olivier Armstrong in the front of the room.
"Please yell at him for being an idiot," Rebecca sighed, knowing there was no talking her friend out of this, "For me?"
Riza smiled at her friend, "You can do your own yelling at him when I'm done."
Rebecca nodded, "Deal."
Riza slipped through the crowd towards the front of the room, heading for General Roy Mustang.
"Captain!" He greeted jovially as she approached him.
"A word, General Mustang," Hawkeye asked shortly, indicating the door to the courtyard with a flick of her eyes to tell him she meant to continue their conversation from earlier, with no lame excuses this time. "If I may steal him, General Armstrong?"
"He's all yours, Captain," Olivier said.
Riza nodded her thanks and headed for the door to the courtyard, confident that Roy would follow her outside.
Once she had found a spot in the courtyard that was satisfactorily quiet, she turned to face him.
"If this is about this morning, Captain, you know I wouldn't leave you here without good reason," Roy said.
"We talked about this, General," Riza sighed, "You said you would continue to allow me to keep the promise I made you."
"I did." Roy said slowly.
"How am I supposed to do that from Central?" Riza cried, "We had a plan, General. You were going to transfer me with you to Ishval to help with the rebuild."
"I was." Roy responded.
"Then why didn't you?" She asked, beginning to get annoyed with his short, slow responses, "And don't you dare say it's because of my injuries. I'm perfectly capable of being your aide, even on light duty."
Roy sighed heavily and looked into his Captain's eyes, which were full of anger and disappointment. He knew that she wouldn't take any excuse he could come up with, so he had to settle with telling her the truth.
"I didn't request your transfer," He began, "Because I don't want you as my aide."
The words struck her like a slap to the face. Her mind buzzed and tears sprang to her eyes. She was so shocked that she didn't hear his next words.
"I want you there as my wife," Roy finished, so caught up in his own nerves that he didn't notice her distress at his previous statement.
She stood, blinking at the sky to try to contain the tears. How could he not want me as his aide? We made a promise!
"Riza?" Roy asked shyly after a moment. "Riza, did you hear me?"
She tilted her head down to look at him where he knelt on the ground and he watched as emotions swam through her eyes too fast for him to name each one. Then those eyes of hers locked on the ring in the little black box in his hand.
"What?" She breathed.
"I said I don't want you as my aide, because I want you as my wife," Roy repeated quietly, "If you'll have me. You can still keep your promise as my wife, right?"
"Sir, I-" she shook her head, "Have you thought this through?"
"Yes," He nodded, "We can't have a relationship with you under my command, so General Armstrong agreed to transfer you to her team and send you with Lieutenant Colonel Miles to Ishval to help patch up relations between Amestris and the Ishvalans. And when we're done in Ishval she will see to it that you are transferred to wherever I am, rather than to Briggs with Miles."
"You're sure about this?" Riza asked, her mind reeling.
"Yes," Roy said, "Very sure."
Riza let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as relief flooded her. She would still be with her General. Her Roy. And she wouldn't have to leave the military either.
"But if you don't want to then I suppos-mmf!"
He was cut off as Riza threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her lips against his.
"Is that a yes?" Roy asked when she pulled away.
"Stupid man," She breathed, "Of course I'll marry you."
He grinned and pulled her close for another kiss.