I was reading a fanfiction somewhere when the author mentioned Riza's "wine-colored " eyes, which made me think it was strange that she had red eyes, which led to the initial idea for this oneshot.

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"Colonel Mustang. You and everyone under you are to attack the southernmost city. Take plenty of water and ammunition and destroy it. No one is to be left alive, understood?"

"Yes, Sir!" Roy saluted smartly, marching out of the Fuhrer's office. The president of the military had come all the way out here just to give the new orders that would change the course of the war. It wasn't really a war anymore, Roy thought. Now it was a slaughter.

He met his lieutenant, Riza Hawkeye, outside. He frowned at the pasty color of her face. She shouldn't have been able to hear what had been said in that office.

"Something wrong, Lieutenant?"

"Nothing at all, Sir. Why do you ask?"

"You're very pale." He turned to her, his cold eyes softening. What a beautiful woman she was. So perfect, balanced and in control. He reached to touch her cheek very gently and she almost flinched away, but not in time before his fingers brushed her cheek.

He frowned harder at the weirdly sticky paleness that had somehow come off on his fingers. He looked up quickly at her face. It had lost its usually stoic and calm appearance, her expression bordering surprise and apprehension.

"Lieutenant...?"

"Make-up, Sir." She regained her mask, suddenly refreshing her composure. Roy frowned again. Something wasn't right here. He reached forward again, holding her face gently with one hand, rubbing his sleeve across the other side.

"Sir!" it was a yip of protest and Roy knew why. A deep shade of brown had replaced the white everywhere his sleeve had come into contact with her skin. Her fiery eyes opened wide as Riza saw the shock on her Colonel's face.

"Riza..." He rubbed her face again, taking most of the paleness from it. He now looked down into the smooth face of a woman undeniably Ishvarlan. He took a shaky step back.

The Fuhrer's office door opened and the bulky man who stepped forth paused, studying the scene carefully before speaking.

"Colonel. I hope you haven't forgotten my orders."

'None of them are to be left alive.'

"...Yes...Sir."

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