The office in which Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang resided was stiflingly hot. Riza felt her forehead and estimated that her temperature was most likely above average, her thoughts were confirmed as, out of her peripheral vision, she saw a bead of sweat roll down the side of her cheek.
I don't even know why I agreed to work these extra hours she grumbled to herself it's not as if I need the extra money. But deep down, Riza knew the reason. The reason was…well, more of a person than a reason actually. A person she worked with. A person she loved…That person was Roy Mustang, though she'd only just admitted it to herself and would much less bring herself to admit it to Roy.
As if he was reading her innermost thoughts, Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang suddenly looked up from the pile of papers he was supposed to be marking (supposed being the operative word, Riza thought) and spoke aloud to the Riza.
"It's stupidly hot in here. I don't know how the military expects us to actually do any work. I'm going outside for a bit"
Lieutenant Hawkeye was about to nod, not in agreement, merely to let Roy know she'd acknowledged what he had said but before she could make that gesture the lieutenant colonel spoke up again:
"You could always join me…if you want" he said in his usual flirtatious way, even going as far to tip a wink in Riza's direction when he'd finished speaking.
Riza's face blushed ever so slightly and she looked down at the papers quickly, whilst cursing herself for not remaining composed in the face of Roy's teasing.
"I might, I might not" she declared vaguely, with a wave of her hand, trying to play the game as well as he was doing, but when she looked up the colonel had already vanished out of the door, down the corridor and onto the balcony.
Riza let out a sigh, her demeanor portraying her emotions for once. She then proceeded to stand up quickly (which was not the best of ideas as in the heat it made her feel dizzy) and follow Roy to the balcony before her confidence betrayed her.
When Riza first stepped outside she had to lift her hand to shield her face from the sunlight that glared into her eyes. After the initial blinding of the sun she received, she welcomed the natural light, the air that felt fresh and cool on her face and the wind that, if she had let her hair down, would tug at it and make it fly around her head, obscuring her vision. Riza inhaled deeply and took her hand from her face, revealing a smile that (though she did not know it) probably made her look like one of the most beautiful women in Central City.
Roy was staring at Riza in what she thought was an extremely funny way.
"What?" She asked, bemusedly "have I got something in my hair or somethi-"
Before she could finish her sentence, she felt strong arms embracing her and a hand running through her tied up hair. What's going on? She wondered, thoughts racing, if this is just some elaborate mind game…
"Riza" Roy murmured. Riza was shocked by this use of her first name.
"Riza" he repeated, as if savoring the word itself. "I've been stupid. I've been working alongside you for so long and I haven't been able to tell you…"
"Tell me what?" Riza asked, a frown playing on her lips. She didn't dare to believe this was happening. If she got her hopes up, they'd just be dashed. After all, this is Colonel Roy Mustang here, he's had more women than- NO! She thought desperately don't think like that. You should be allowed to hope!
Riza took a step backwards, took Roy's hand in hers and stared him directly in the eyes.
"Roy, I have an idea what you're about to say, and if it's what I think it is. Make sure it's true, ok? If you hurt me, I'll make the rest of your time working with me a living hell."
Roy returned her gaze with a renewed intensity.
"I've never said anything truer in my life than what I'm about to say now"
Riza looked into his eyes for signs of a lie and when she decided there were none she finally let her many defenses down.
"Well hurry up and say it then" she demanded half jokingly, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere.
Roy took a breath; bit his lip and his grip on Riza's hand tightened.
Ever so softly, she heard him say "I'm sorry if I've ever hurt you in the past. All those other women, they barely meant anything compared to you. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Riza…I love you. I love you with everything I have"
A dazzling smile lit up Riza's face as she parted her lips ever so slightly to tell Roy that she returned his love but all of a sudden a funny thing happened. She felt a tingling sensation at the bottom of her feet, she frowned and Roy started to appear ever more distant. In fact, everything was fading…
An alarm clock went off in First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye's room as she groggily told her dog, Black Hayate to stop licking her feet.
The start of a new day Riza thought what a shame. I was having such a lovely dream…
