Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist or any of the related titles.

A/N: Hello there readers. I apologize for the long time wait between chapters, but I'm afraid the lack of reviews has caused me to lose some inspiration. This chapter is very short, and I apologize, however it occurs in Riza's point of view again. I apologize as well for any OOC-ness. There are indeed hints of Royai, though, so please enjoy.

Chapter 4: The Dreams

He's invading my dreams now. He had only on rare occasion before, but now he's making it more frequent, and harder to ignore. It's not always in the most formal of senses either. Some are most casual. Most like their last unexpected meeting.

Most unlike the Colonel.

It bothers me, but not enough for me to dwell on it as I lay here, staring at the ceiling. I have more important things to think about. For instance, there will be a more than large pile of papers on my desk tomorrow morning, seeing as the Colonel probably didn't finish all his work as promised. And then, there will probably be even more work to look into, since there was some sort of disturbance going on as I left Headquarters. It was not in my department, therefore none of my concern, but one can only wonder how long it'll take to get to me.

I think I need to find a new place to live. It's comfortable here, but there's a spot on my ceiling. The roof is leaking.

But I'm not on the top floor.

Perhaps the people above me are leaking.

What a disturbing thought. Shaking my head, I try to drive it from my mind, finding it difficult to do so without bringing back my dream.

Rolling over, I find myself growling into my pillow. "Royyy…"

Punching it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. His face is still vibrantly colored before my eyes, as though taunting me, knowing that I'll never be able to escape from him. Bound by a promise, I'd never be able to get away.

And this case. This new case has got me thinking even more. The face of that girl has played yet another important character in the activity of my dreams, always appearing at the most random times, ruining whatever moment had been building before.

Moment…

Nice Rize. Good way to put it. Avoid the reality behind it.

Why don't you admit that you've been dreaming about the Colonel fuc-

No. I'm not going to and that was certainly not what I was dreaming about. I have never had a dream that involved me and the Colonel romantically. Never. Not even once.

You liar…

Damn conscience. It was becoming more and more difficult to drown out as I tried my best to avoid situations that would only make working with Roy Mustang more of a living hell than it already was.

The man was obnoxious, self-centered, rude-

Why does it hurt when you say things like that?

Because he's still my friend. That's all I can say to explain it. One normally feels guilty when they insult one of their friends.

Just a friend…Is that true?

I've got to stop it. I've really got to stop this. It isn't right. We have a very important case to be looking at, along with the Homunculi, and Edward and Alphonse with their Philosopher's Stone. We can't possibly focus on anything else, for fear of getting lost in the clouds like those young couples around us. Working together, we're nearly unstoppable, but as anything else, it gives us weakness. It gives enemies something to prey upon.

That's why nothing's happened. There had been a time, yes, when I would have considered the Colonel, Roy as he'd merely been at the time, no further title, as something much more than a student of my Father. There was a time when he'd openly said sweet things I can only imagine him saying to girls now, to me instead. I hadn't entirely succumbed to them then, nor would I be able to now, but he'd won me over easily, whether or not I'd admit it.

But things changed. He left for war, and I had sworn I'd seen the last of him. Despite the desperate promises that had been made in the heat of summer evenings under the stars, I never expected to meet the handsome face of Roy Mustang again.

Even after I went looking for him. I joined the military to protect him, because sitting alone in my Father's house merely waiting for the latest war report was not enough. I wasn't going to wait around forever.

I didn't expect to work under him either. That, to be honest, had been quite the backfire. I would be working under him, keeping a close eye on him as I'd planned, but we could never go back to being as we once were. It was unlawful. Against the rules.

Taboo.

Which is why I kept my distance. We certainly had our moments, but they were nothing more than fleeting and quickly forgotten.

Moments…you're using that word again…

Merely because I want to look at them as nothing else. It's gotten me through these many years; it should help me get through the ones to come. Relationships, or the lack thereof one, had never bothered me before. Lately, it had been difficult for me to ignore the strange signs of interest Roy had been giving once again, therefore causing that juvenile longing for a partner to resurface. But I had never acted upon anything. A girl in my position didn't need a one-stand stacked upon everything else.

I had done a lot of dirty things in my life. I didn't need them to get any dirtier.

But why must I relive all this. Why am I sitting here, still staring at the same spot on the ceiling, reminiscing over times we'd both much rather be forgotten? Why do I find myself playing his soft promises over and over in my head like some strange record player.

Pull yourself together, Lieutenant. You mustn't show signs of weakness!

Oh so now it's starting to agree with me. I'm losing it. I'm slipping. The low voice in my head, the one outside my sneering conscience, continues to speak. It continues to feed me lies. The very lies I'd once bought. The lies that still had yet to come true.

Ring! Ring!

Who's calling me now? Especially at this hour? What time is it anyway? I don't remember checking the clock once I'd woken up, and it's much too dark for me to be late. No, something's wrong.

Ripping the blankets off the bed, I reach out for the receiver on my bedside dresser, pulling it to my ear. The other end is crackled and unclear, making it nearly impossible for me to make out the voice.

"…out here…now…"

"Colonel Mustang?" I ask, the voice registering in my mind. "Sir, is that you?"

"Lieutenant…emergen-…here…" the voice continued to break and fizzle out.

"I-I can't hear you…" my voice rises as my heart begins to beat loudly. "Sir, where are you?"

His voice continues to fade out, causing even more frustration on my part. I couldn't tell where the Colonel was, or what it was that was going on.

"Roy…" I venture to speak his name. "Roy, can you hear me? Roy, answer me!"

Without warning, the line goes dead, and with it, my heartbeat.

A/N: Cliffhanger, yes, and I apologize for that as well, however, I cannot continue this particular scene in only Riza's point of view. Present first person is very difficult to write, and makes reading awkward, especially for action-y scenes. The next update will be much quicker, granted I receive more reviews. I have plans for this story now, many ideas popping up while working on this chapter, so I'd like to continue. If you'd like me to continue as well, please tell me, or I'll be forced to put it to rest for good. (And please, don't make me do that.)

Thank you.

-R.B.