Hello, everyone. Sorry for the lack of updating after I promised to update. Working two jobs was a lot more time consuming than I thought (thankfully I just quit OOF), plus I already have homework from my college and I have to get a painting done for my aunt to give to my uncle. Anyway, this is a Fullmetal Alchemist fanfiction between me and my new, but totally awesome boyfriend Ryan (Hiten Katsu). He is writing with Roy, Armstrong, Hughes, and Winry, and I with Riza and everyone else. Sorry it's not as detailed as most stories. We did this via pm on Gaia, so most of it is chatter rather than description. Enjoy.
And I'll try to update as soon as possible, but my writing time will stay short till the holidays since I'm going to college. Yeah, I know. Mom and I were surprised I graduated.
Hot Ice
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Ch 1 Preparations
It was a scorching hot day and the air-conditioning system had broken down at East City's military base. Riza seemed somewhat immune to the rising temperature, even with pants on. Sweat glistened on her face as her eyes scanned page after page of documents that were to be signed by Roy. She ignored the clothes that were sticking to her back. Meanwhile, Roy was lazily sitting in his office fanning himself.
The phone rang, breaking the silence of shifting papers. When no one bothered to pick up a phone, Riza sighed, got up, and answered it. "Hello? ...Yes. ...Just one moment." Riza set the receiver against her uniform so the caller could not hear her. "Colonel, it's for you. It's the waitress from the coffee shop you asked out this morning. She wants to know when and where your date is."
"I'm not in..." Roy said in a nonchalant voice.
She pursed her lips and raised the phone to her ear. "I'm sorry, but he's not here right now. ...No. ...Yes. ...I'll give him the message. ...Goodbye." Riza hung up. "She wants you to come by later for a coffee. On the house."
Havoc's head hit the table and he groaned. "Why do all the girls flock to him? It's not fair! I've lost so many girlfriends to that bastard!" Tears came to his eyes as he made a sour face.
Breda laughed. "Don't let them meet the Colonel, then."
Roy continued to fan himself. "Why is it so damn hot!" He yelled out in an exasperated voice. "Hawkeye, can you get me some water?"
"You've got legs," she said, not even looking up from her work. The others chuckled or smirked.
Roy grunted. "Why are you so insubordinate?" Roy said in his usual upbeat tone.
"Why are you so lazy? Besides, I'm busy doing your work. So unless you want to sort through and read all these documents, I suggest you get your water yourself." Breda bit his lip and tried to concentrate on the papers at hand. Havoc had given up on his work because of his mood, while Falman and Fuery were hard at work.
"It's one of the perks I get with being a Colonel, Lieutenant." Roy shot back.
Riza had just about had enough. She was already in a bad mood with the weather, her headache, and her period, and now Roy was pushing it. She looked down at Black Hayate. He was flat on the floor with his tongue out as far as it would go, looking like he was dying. His water bowl was empty.
She sighed. She couldn't let her dog suffer. Riza stood up, grabbing the documents and Hayate's water bowl and walked to Roy's desk. She dropped the pile of papers in front of him. "I expect at least ten of these read and signed by the time I get back." She left.
Roy looked at the paper, then looked at the other men in the room. "I will get someone a date if they will get this paperwork done." Havoc was the first one there, followed by Breda.
Fuery sweat-dropped. "Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to pass, Sir."
Falman seemed to agree. "Same. I already have a date for the military's annual dance."
Roy smiled, and handed five sheets to Havoc, and five sheets to Breda. "Get to work on them right awa-" The phone rang. Roy looked at Falman.
Falman picked it up, knowing that was why Mustang was staring at him. "Hello? This is Falman speaking."
"This is Lt. Colonel Hughes, can you put Mustang on the phone, its urgent." Maes said in a serious voice.
"Sure thing," he said, moving the receiver away from his mouth. "Colonel, it's Lt. Colonel Hughes. He says it's urgent."
Roy picked up the phone. "Mustang here."
"Roy! Elicia just rode her first tricycle!" Maes said happily over the phone. Roy sweat dropped.
Riza returned and carefully set Hayate's dish down. A few ice cubes floated in the water as the dog quickly got up to drink it. Riza set Roy's room-temp water on his desk and waited for his paperwork.
"Uh huh...uh huh...you don't say..." Roy pointed to Havoc and Breda. "Uh huh..."
She narrowed her eyes at him before she took the papers from the two men. Breda whispered something to her and she nodded. The two left the room for a while.
"Oh, you should have seen her in her cute little dress. I'll send a picture to you!" Hughes said in a loud voice.
"You don't hav..." Roy was cut off.
"She looks just like her mother. She is just the cutest thing!"
Roy rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Outside the office, Riza waited for Breda to speak.
"Lt., You know that the Eastern Headquarters' annual dance is coming up right?"
"Yes..." she said slowly. Riza hoped he wasn't trying to ask her to go with him as his date.
"Well, we all know that Havoc can't get a girl with Mustang around. So Falman, Fuery, and I were hoping you could disguise yourself for a while and go with Havoc to the dance."
"No," she said flatly.
"Come on, Lt.! Think of Havoc. He's almost at his limit. If he doesn't meet a girl who doesn't fall head over heels for the Colonel, he'll give up! Please! Do it for him," Breda gave her a pitiful look.
Riza paused, considering her options. "He won't find out it's me, right?"
"No." She sighed and Breda grinned. "Thanks, Lt. Hawkeye! We already have the getup, in case you agreed. But don't let Havoc know." The two re-entered the office and took their seats.
Roy had his face down on the table. He didn't notice the others come in. "Yes, Hughes, you've got a beautiful family..."
"So how are things going with Riza?" Hughes asked, you could hear the smirk in his voice.
"She is fine..." Roy said in a threatening voice.
Breda poked Havoc to get his attention. "Hey, I know a girl who would like to go with you to the military's dance. She's really pretty, too."
Havoc's brows furrowed. "Yeah, so you say. What's her name?" Havoc didn't believe him.
"Um...Andria! She has nice long brown hair and chocolate eyes that would make you melt," he grinned. Riza silently listened, so she would know what role she was to play.
"Uh huh. So how come you're not after her?" Havoc eyed him.
"Oh, that's 'cus she already refused to date me. But she'll definitely date you! She likes blonds and guys in the military." Riza sighed and stopped listening to them and watched the Colonel.
"Kiss her yet?" Hughes continued to pester him.
"Enough Maes..." Roy said in a serious voice.
"I can just see the family you guy-." Roy slammed the phone onto to the receiver, cutting Hughes off.
Fuery cleared his throat as Breda and Havoc continued their conversation. "So, are you going to the dance, Colonel?"
Roy looked up. "Dance?" He questioned.
"It was in that paper I gave you last month, Sir," Riza said. "You signed off to make it annual, though it doesn't surprise me that you don't know about it. Especially since you don't even read what you sign unless the Fuhrer orders it."
Roy shrugged in a disinterested way. "Sure why not, would you accompany me Hawkeye?"
"No," she said simply.
Roy winced inwardly, but he kept his same disinterested look on his face. "Then it looks like I won't be going."
"I'm sure you can find some young woman to go with you if you look in that big black book of yours." Havoc turned to Riza. "How come you're not going?"
"...I already have a date."
"Alright, everyone get back to work." Roy said adding authority into his voice. 'I don't want to hear this...' It became quiet again. The hours ticked by till it was time to leave. Everyone got up, collecting their things.
Roy remained at his desk. He had reports sprawled out on his desk.
The others left while Riza walked up to his desk. "Everything alright, Sir?"
"The Elrics have been sighted in the north." Roy muttered.
"And this worries you?"
"Can't I be concerned for my soldiers, Lt.?"
"Usually you have more of a reason than them just being north...Sir."
"Not when you are dealing with those boys," Roy said as he pushed the report aside to pick up another one.
She nodded and turned to leave but she stopped at the door, "You should go to the dance. It'll do you some good." She left.
Roy waved her off even though he knew she couldn't see him. "I got to make sure everything is safe before I go..." Roy frowned as he read the eastern report. "A serial killer, huh...?"
Riza met with Breda, Fuery, and Falman after work, to discuss what she would wear and how she would act around Havoc during their 'date' at the dance. They had three days left till the dance.
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The next morning, Riza was the first to arrive. She opened a window to let some air in. It was going to be another scorching hot day. Roy came in 2 hours late with bags under his eyes.
"You're late," she said. "Brigadier General Markus Braddie came in earlier to inform you that it's our turn to patrol the city. I told him you were in the restroom, so you wouldn't get in trouble for being late."
"Sorry, and thanks for covering for me Riza."Roy said in a slightly tired voice.
"Maaan! Why do we have to patrol the city!? It's hot out!" Breda complained.
"Don't complain. It's only fair that we, like everyone else, do our part to protect the people and keep the peace," Riza said sternly.
Roy shook his head. 'If only she knew...'
Riza pulled out a map of East City. "Falman and Havoc will patrol the northern half of the city, Breda and I will take the Southwest part, leaving Fuery and the Colonel to the Southeastern section near the train station. Any questions?" Roy didn't say anything, as did everyone else. "Good. Let's go." Riza left with Breda, followed by Havoc and Falman. Fuery waited for Roy.
"Why were you late, Sir? If you don't mind me asking, that is," Fuery said timidly.
Roy started to walk out of the building. "I was following up on a report I got in this section."
"Oh?" Fuery asked, curious.
"Un." Was all Roy said as they made their way down the road.
"So um...are you really not going to the dance?"
"I'm thinking about it..." Roy said. 'It will give me an opportunity to spy on Riza.'
"It sounds like it will be lots of fun. I even managed to get a date," Fuery blushed, embarrassed.
"Oh really? With who?" Roy asked. "And Black Hayate doesn't count."
His blush darkened. "It's not Black Hayate!" The young man twiddled his fingers, "It's Maria from the mailroom. I-I think she's kind of cute."
Roy smiled, and lightly patted him on the back. "Good job, Fuery."
"T-thank you, Sir." They walked in silence for a while. A few people passed them, giving them either a friendly look or one of disdain. "It'll be interesting to see Lt. Hawkeye in a dress, huh?"
"She looks gorgeous." Roy said to answer the younger man's question.
"You've seen her in a dress?"
"Once..." Roy mumbled. "And she had her hair down as well..."
"What was the occasion?" he asked. Fuery was already getting a small sunburn on his cheeks.
"The Fuhrer had a small party for high ranking officials at Central a few years back...she was my escort..."
"Oh," was all he said.
As the day went on, the temperature rose to a whopping 113 degrees. Fuery, whose face was bright red, was doing his best to walk in what little shade he could find, while Falman and Havoc agreed to 'take a break' in a cafe for something cool and refreshing. Sadly the air-conditioner was broken there, too. Even Riza allowed Breda and herself to buy paper fans and drinks from some merchant.
Roy stopped at a small stand, and bought two large bottles of water. He tossed one to Fuery. "Tell me about this girl of yours."
Fuery gladdly drank his water. "Well she's really smart. She's nice and loves animals. She has a pet cat, and a little sister named Rebecca."
"A cat, huh?" Roy said as he took a sip of his drink. "Sounds like you two will get along just fine."
"Yeah." He gulped some of his drink. Something caught his eye at the end of an alley. "Hey...isn't that Black Hayate?" Fuery pointed to a dog at the end. It spotted them, alert, before it ran off.
Roy looked at the ally. "Why would he be out here?"
"I thought the Lieutenant left him at home. Maybe he got out? Shouldn't we go get him? He could die from the heat, especially if he doesn't get any water."
Roy nodded, and rushed down the way the dog ran. Fuery followed. The dog was a lot faster than they anticipated, and was always two steps ahead. It slipped into a crowd of people. Roy was getting annoyed and he rose his hand about ready to snap it. Fuery's eyes widened, "Colonel Mustang!" He tackled Mustang.
Roy fell to the ground. "What?" He whined.
"Don't hurt him! He's just a dog. And think of what Lt. Hawkeye would do if you hurt him." A image of a raging Lieutenant crossed Fuery's mind, making him shiver.
"I was going to blow up the air in front of him..." Roy grumbled.
Fuery let go immediately. "Oh. Sorry." He smiled, rubbing the back of his head. He felt embarrassed of his actions.
Roy jumped up, and started to run in the direction the dog was heading to. "Where did that mutt go...?" Roy muttered.
Fuery ran after him, panting. 'Too...hot...to run.'
Roy slowed down so he was next to Fuery. "Come on soldier, kick it into gear." The engineer nodded and pushed himself to run harder through the crowd and the heat. He heard a bark or two ahead. Roy continued to run. "Black Hayate!"
The dog didn't listen as it ran into a cafe and moved behind a young woman with long, curly, reddish-brown hair. The dog hid under her legs while she read a book. The woman scratched its ears when it moved against her leg.
Roy ran into the cafe, and waited for Fuery to come in. Fuery looked as if he was about to pass out. The cool cafe made him feel a lot better though. "Find the dog." Roy said as his eyes scanned the cafe.
"Yes, Sir," Fuery crouched down and tried to see under the tables for any dogs.
Roy looked at the crowd. "Excuse me, has anyone seen a little black dog?" Roy called out. A few people shook their heads, but no one spoke up. The woman smirked, trying to focus on her book. Roy got slightly annoy, and went into the kitchen. "Did a little dog run through here?" Roy asked.
"No," they said.
Roy went back out. 'I know you're in here somewhere...' Roy smile, and stuck his hand out. 'Maybe I should flush him out...'
Fuery was beginning to wonder if his Colonel had lost it due to the heat. He stood in front of the nervous crowd, arms outstretched. "Colonel! Please, think about your goals. Would doing something reckless like this, help you?"
"If I don't get that dog back, Riza will be sad..." Roy muttered.
"Do you mean my dog, Sir?" the woman called, putting her book down and looking up at him. She was quite pretty. The dog who looked like Black Hayate poked its head out from under her table. It barked.
"Hawkeye?" Roy questioned.
She raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Roy looked confused, but then he stared at the dog. "Black Hayate, front and center!" Roy said in a stern voice. The dog tilted its head. Roy pointed in front of himself. "Now..."
The dog barked at him and the woman smiled. "I assume that if you're confusing Brandie with another dog, then I'm in the right town. A few months ago, one of my other dog's puppies got out and I haven't seen him since. He's a pure bred and I'd like to find him. But this city is too big."
"A...a few months ago?" Fuery asked, trying to remember when he found Black Hayate.
"Yes. And he looks just like his sister," she looked down at her dog.
Roy gawked. "H-he has a s-s-sister?"
"Don't let the flies in, Cutie," she winked at Roy. Fuery blushed.
Roy blushed slightly as well, but he coughed to clear it. "The name isn't cutie, its Roy Mustang, Colonel Roy Mustang." He said with a small smile on his face.
"My, my. I bet you get all the girls with such attitude."
"I turn them down." Roy said in an informative voice.
She smirked. "Why's that? Were they not to your liking."
Roy shrugged. "I've got an army to run...and goals to meet." He smiled proudly.
"Then I guess I shouldn't be bothering you, huh?" She tilted her head slightly and her hand moved back to her book.
"Not true. I was wondering if you would accompany me to a dance the military is hosting ...You would be able to meet Black Hayate."
The woman put her book down. "Sounds interesting. It would be a shame not to go. And I'm curious about this Black Hayate...and you."
Roy held out his hand. "Then will you do me the honor?"
She took his hand. "I'd love to."
"Then where can I find you in three days?" Roy asked the girl.
"If you'd like, you could pick me up from here, Colonel. My name is Elizabeth by the way."
Roy thought for a second, and then smiled. "God's promise huh? Gorgeous."
She smiled. "So you know the meaning, eh?"
Riza walked by the cafe, looking for the two. Breda had gone to look for Falman and Havoc. Their patrol had ended and they could go back to the office. Fuery spotted her and left to get her attention.
Roy smiled. "I had a childhood friend named Elizabeth."
"I hope you were just friends."
Riza poked her head into the cafe, Fuery was behind her, eager to leave. "Colonel," she called to him before pulling back outside to wait for him.
Roy perked up, and sighed lightly. "I'm afraid the military is calling me. I will see you in two days." He gently kissed her hand, and left. Once he got outside he looked at Riza. "What is it, Lieutenant?"
"Our shifts are over. We can return back to the office," she said. "You still have a lot of work to catch up on."
"And I'll work with the air-conditioning. See if I can get it working again," Fuery piped up. Elizabeth watched them from inside the cafe. She rubbed her dog's head.
Roy waved Riza off. "Sure sure."
The blond sighed and walked back to the office with Fuery. The unfinished paperwork seemed to have doubled while they were away. Riza planned on having to stay till late again before Roy finished it all...at his pace at least. The others were already there. Havoc was complaining about wanting to meet his 'date,' so he would at least know what she looked like.
Roy walked back into the office. "You all have the rest of the night off. Get some rest. It's been a long day for all of us." Roy said as he sat at his desk.
Riza stayed behind to help anyway, while everyone else left. Roy was signing off on some paperwork, "That's an order, Riza," Roy muttered.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but I'll have to ignore that order," she said nonchalantly as she shuffled through some papers, marking a few things down. "It'll be faster with two of us and if I leave you on your own, you won't get it finished by tomorrow. Then come tomorrow, you'll goof off like normal and it won't get done. If you had done the work like you were supposed to, we wouldn't have to stay up late almost every night..." She paused. "No offense, Sir, but when it comes to paperwork, you're about as useful as you are when wet." Though she hadn't said it, she suggested the taboo word in front of him. Useless.
"Look Lieutenant." Roy said as he pointed his pen at her. "I've been doing this far longer than you have. I work better alone. Hence why I blow everything off until night time."
"You're acting like a man who won't stop for directions, Colonel. If you did the work when you should, you'd have to work alone without any help. Whenever you put your work off, you're always rushing though it and signing things like a madman, complaining about how you didn't have any time to do it. Ignoring the twenty-seven times you've doodled yourself beating Edward on blank pages, the many pencils you sharpened, the women you've talked to on the phone, the times you've spent trying to make yourself dizzy by spinning your chair, the many times you've wandered off to flirt with female military personnel, and let's not forget the fifteen coffees you usually have before going to the restroom and never coming back for another 3 hours." She hadn't taken a breath till she finished the list. "So, no. I'm not going to leave until you get all of this paperwork done. Am I clear?" There was authority in her voice as she looked at him with hard eyes.
Roy's head came up, and he gave her a hard look. "Don't act like you know what goes through my mind Riza. Maybe while it seems like I'm doing seemingly mindless things, I'm actually thinking of how to make this damned country better. Maybe when I socialize I'm making sure I have support, so when the time come I can make that jump to the leadership position, Lieutenant." Roy accented her rank to remind her of who was in charge.
Her fingers tightened on her pen and she didn't say anything. She set it down before she accidentally broke it. Riza stood up and picked up her bag. "Well, if I'm so unwanted, I'll make my leave, then," her voice was an octave higher. "I apologize for speaking out of line, Colonel Mustang." She opened the door.
"Riza!" Roy called out. She paused for a second, not looking back at him, before stepping out and closing the door. Roy slammed his hands on the table, "Damn it!" He yelled as he threw the papers off his desk.
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Well, here's the 1st chapter. We have another one already written and we're working on the 3rd. We just have to edit them before we post them. Anyway, reviews please.
(HK): We do? Hm, I didnt even notice...oh well, reviews would be very welcomed from this lowly soldier. ^^
