Rewrite/re-edited *new content*

Coldest Fire in Drachma

Illustrated and Written by: T. Waffle

Edited by: I. Yerkinov

Chapter 1:

Special Assignment

The sun pierced through the crystalline windows. She could see nothing but a blue cloudless sky outside, it was perfect. The Autumn rays glimmered and radiated off the blonde lieutenant's hair as she breathed and took a moment to admire the last clean peaceful state this office will probably ever see again. She knew better than to believe the boys would keep this new office clean. That always seemed to fall on her. With an inward sigh, she pushed a lamp to the side as she set the last of the office's moving boxes on top of a stack of papers on her desk. It was good to finally be here in central.

They had worked so hard at Eastern headquarters to push Mustang to Colonel rank and get him here. Finally, they were where they needed to be to start making Mustang's dreams, their dreams a reality. She moved the keys to the car to the edge of the desk while she continued straightening things up. Everything had its place. Papers in the bin, box items in their respective drawers. The Lieutenant didn't acknowledge the door clicking or the presence that entered the office. Most of Central was gone for the day since it was a weekend. Besides, she knew who it was.

Her ears perked up at the sound of footsteps towards her. The small hairs rose on the back of her neck and she reached for her gun, but a calloused hand met hers and pushed the gun gently back in its holster. "I wouldn't get too comfortable here." Mustang breathed softly on the back of her neck. One of his hands gracefully moved onto her left hip as they both released the hands on her gun. "Don't rush." Mustang's voice was low and throaty. A slight smirk crossed her pink lips as she playfully swatted him away.

"That's highly inappropriate, Sir." Ignoring his words, she began straightening and fixing all the items on her desk. Roy mused, but did not desist. He stood closer and hovered his mouth over her ear, trapping her hands in his. Annoyance was obvious in her eyes, she didn't like to be stopped mid task.

"Stop." His voice was soft and warm, his breath was sweet like wine. "There is no reason to fuss." Riza turned around to face him. Her brown met his blue in a soft trance. "Lieutenant, we have to go…" He choked on his own words, as if they were made of sand paper. His eyes dropped and hers followed, she knew what he meant.

"Sir…. Seriously?" she asked pleadingly. He nodded. Their hopes and dreams were crashing, breaking into small pieces right in front of her. They had only just got here and tasted a small victory only to have it taken from them. "Where, Roy?" Both their faces fell, the game was over. "Where do we have to go this time?" The dark-haired man ran his hand over her cheek, stopping just a moment in time to take her in.

"To Oblast." Mustang grimaced. Riza blinked, unsure of the location. "It's the refuge village in the mountains for Drachma, eastern of Briggs. There has been uprising and Drachma has been trying to invade with sleeper agents and minor rebellions." Mustang reached a gloved hand pocket into his coat and pulled a file and handed it to her. "Our mission is basically to suppress the uprising and establish order by creating a stronger military presence until we are relieved and can come back here."

Disappointment flashed for a moment in Hawkeye's face and was immediately replaced by her standard expression. "It's a bit odd they would bring us directly here from eastern headquarters, just to send us all the way north to stomp out a small rebellion" Her eyes skimmed the information in the file Roy had handed her. "To battle again…." She could feel knots tightening in the pit of her stomach.

Roy closed his eyes and breathed. "To battle again…." he repeated after her like a bad mantra. He shook his head, opened one eye and smirked. "Hey Lieutenant," she looked up as he snagged the file from her. "Don't worry over things that cannot be helped. I already sent the others home to relax after the move," he slid the file back into his coat. "You should go take a break too. After all we only have one month to make proper battle preparations." He smirked. "Maybe you can take a bubble bath!"

Her shoulders slumped and she sighed, "Really Colonel, you should take these things more seriously." His face became stern and he took a step forward, causing Hawkeye's heart to almost stop. "S-sir!?" She tried to take a step back but he grabbed her wrist.

"Will you follow me again, Riza?" A slight blush appeared on Riza's cheeks. "Will you keep watching my back?" He grabbed her and wrapped her into his chest. "And stop calling me Sir! I cannot stand it coming from your lips." She let herself be taken in, but only for a moment. She couldn't have times like these very often. Officers could be with officers, just not ones directly above or beneath them or NCOs. She needed to stay close and protect him and her father's research. Besides, they had always been undefined. It was easier this way, she accepted this as her lot in life. Things could never be more than unrequited. Riza pushed Roy from her. Mustang frowned.

"Colonel, we are at central headquarters. I will always call you Sir here." He looked like a scolded child. "We need to be careful with everything we do. This has always been the arrangement." Her eyes darted to her desk and then back to him. "Since we are on leave right now, Sir." She reached down and grabbed the keys off the corner off her desk. "Would you care for a lift home?" Roy slumped forward and sighed, defeated.

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

….

The air was muggy from the steam that filled the bathroom, fogging up the mirrors and her vision. Every breath was like drinking hot soup. Water pulsated into her arms, back and scalp as she just let her mind go. No worries about anything, no work, no battle, no memories, no undefined relationships or stressors to cause her anxiety in here. This was her sanctuary. The blonde began rinsing the shampoo from her thick locks and all the day's tension with it, when Hayate's earth shattering howl broke her peace.

The small furry animal began barking incessantly at the door, louder than a dog his size should be able to. Why do people always visit when I am in the shower? She quickly rinsed off and grabbed a big fluffy white towel after turning off the water. "HOLD ON!" She cried, jumping out of the shower wrapping herself the best and as fast as she could.

Riza rushed to the door using her foot to push the small dog away from the door. "BE RIGHT THERE!" She clutched the front of her towel to keep it from falling as she cracked open her door, meeting the face of Mustang. "Why are you here, Sir?" she huffed. He looked her up and down. Her long blonde hair was stuck to her face and shoulders and dripping, her face was flushed since she had clearly been rushing to the door and her towel seemed to be aching to fall off. He loved when she looked like this, disheveled. She was never unpoised or unorganized in front of others, and rarely in front of him. He relished in these rare moments, she was human after all.

"Bad time?" He smirked, clearly enjoying her state of undress. She scowled and opened her door signaling him to come inside. "Thank you, Lieutenant" He grinned and half mockingly saluted as he marched inside. She closed the door and pointed to a wooden chair surrounded by unopened packing boxes.

"Sit there, I will be right out." Riza snugged her towel tighter. Roy grinned as he moved a few boxes from the chair.

"Why are you being so shy? I could come wash your back for you if you want?" He immediately regretted it after he said it. He could see some of the scarring on her back as she walked towards her bathroom. He slumped into the small cheap chair. Riza noted the change in the air and turned to look at him. His face was dark.

"I asked you to do it." her voice was tempered but short. He looked up at her with somber eyes. "Stop punishing yourself. I would have done much worse to myself to get rid of it." She walked over and knelt beside him. "Roy!" She switched her vocal tone to a much softer but stronger tone, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "Thank you." Roy reluctantly sighed.

"I just wish it wasn't on your back. "His voice was hushed and like a sulking child. Riza smiled and stood up.

"No reason to worry over things we cannot help, Sir." She teased. "I am going to finish my shower now, when I get out you can tell me why you're here so late." Mustang nodded as she pat him on the shoulder and walked back into her bathroom. He couldn't help but admire the way she always seemed to illuminate his darkness, whenever it began to encroach.

….

Mustang fiddled with his pockets as Riza, now in silken pajamas threw a pot of tea on the stove. Riza watched him from the corner of her eye. A slight grin graced her face. Roy scowled. "What are you laughing about?" Riza's smile became bigger.

"I am not laughing, you just look like you're doing the jitterbug." she wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and cleared a seat at the cheap wooden table next to him. "What has you so antsy in your own suit?" Mustang slumped.

"I am no good at surprising you, you can always read me like a book." Mustang sulked. The Lieutenant smirked and tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

"Well Roy, I am an avid reader." He could see her tell-tale eyes laughing at him. She took a small sip from her tea cup and poured him another glass. Still clearly not amused by her sarcasm, he reached into his pant pockets and pulled something small out.

"Give me your hand." Hawkeye obliged. Riza's brown eyes widened as he took her left hand and dropped something cold in it. "For you!" He smiled. The Lieutenant opened her palm and investigated the small silver item.

"Roy!" she gasped. It was a small silver locket little familiar engravings all over it. It was like something from a dream, but she still couldn't quite place it. "W-why?" Roy smirked.

"You remember back when we were kids, and I showed you that Xingese charm I had?" He mused. She nodded. "The one I claimed had magic powers?" She nodded again. "I decided since I have to keep you around a while, I should split in half so we would both be safe." Her brown eyes started to well up with tears. "I want you to be safe Riza, promise me you will wear it?" the blonde was at a loss for words. "Here, let me help." Roy picked up the necklace and fastened it around her neck. It glistened in the low light of her apartment. "Perfect."

Riza lightly touched it. "Thank you, Roy, I know what this means to you." Mustang grinned, clearly proud of himself. "I won't let you down. "Mustang's face dropped.

"Riza" He breathed. "You never let me down, you are my queen. I can't go on without you." He stood and walked over to her. "Sometimes I don't think we are ever on the same page." Roy's fingers wrapped around her chin forcing her eyes to lock with his.

"Roy" her lips parted and tried to protest but that was all she could muster. His bare thumbs rubbed her cheeks.

In a husky and restrained voice, he gulped down only one word. "Riza" before he leaned forward and locked his lips with hers. They burned like fire, and melted into hers. Hawkeye's knees shook fervently but she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood with him, allowing her blanket to fall indignantly to the ground.

His hands started reaching and gripping at her neck, her back, her wet hair, whatever they could find. Mapping and memorizing every part of her. They gasped for air as the kiss engulfed them whole. Her fingers glided through his thick dark hair and she began pushing him toward the bedroom. "It's the only room unpacked right now" she gasped between breaths.

He stood his ground while his hands continued their under the shirt investigation. "I didn't bring clothes" his voice was muffled and barely distinguishable from a grunt.

"I always keep spare uniforms and civvies for you." She pulled away pressing her forehead against his taking a moment to breathe. She cocked a smile. "But if you don't want to…" He grinned and scooped her up toward the bedroom.

….

The warm summer sun broke across the sky like a gold medallion. It felt nice to have a cool wind blowing her sundress about and her toes deeply intertwined the grass. This is how summer was supposed to be. The sweet smells of the grass, trees, and the flowers were everywhere. She loved this countryside it was like the heaven her grandfather spoke of. A place called paradise.

The small bows on the straps of her red sundress and the ribbon in her hair whipped around in the winds. Her father was at the train station picking up his new pupil today so she had the house to herself. He wanted her to look presentable, like little girls should. She could care less, days like these were free, perfect and few. She rested her back against the large oak and closed her eyes, taking in the songs of the birds, they too seemed to celebrate her father's absence. Berthold had that way with everyone and everything. Everything seemed darker and tense when he was around. Even though he was her father and she knew of his love for her, he could be incredibly unapproachable at times.

"What kind of a man would Father willingly take on as a student?" she pressed the cover of a hardback book to her lips and chuckled to herself. "He must be a real fool." she whispered her words into the book cover. The winds shifted causing her to shudder as her short hair grazed her neck. "I hope that train never comes".

…...