"Hawkeye!" yelled Ed. The woman snapped her eyes directly into Ed's and smiled.
"Edward! Alphonse!" She ran down the stairs and threw the boys into a hug. She held them close to her for a second and marveled at how much they had grown. Ed was roughly her height and Al was two or three inches taller. "The second the General told me you two had just left, I ran out to find you boys. I asked the secretary where you two went, but she wasn't much help."
"What a surprise," said Ed sarcastically.
"I know," said Riza thickly, "I don't like her either." She released the two boys and looked at each of them. "Has it really been three years?" She placed her hands on her hips. "Why haven't you written to me, Edward? Alphonse, thankfully, has been kind enough to update me on your well being since he is the only one with enough sense to write to everyone!"
Ed turned to his brother. "I didn't know you wrote to Hawkeye."
"I write to all of the friends we made on our journey, Brother. I don't want to lose touch. And naturally, they ask me about you, since you never write or return letters!"
"Sounds you haven't changed a bit, Edward," remarked Riza.
"But you've changed a lot, Major Hawkeye," said Ed. "Your hair is short like when we were younger, and you're wearing glasses!"
Riza blinked. "Oh. No, these are just for reading. I still have my hawk eye vision, you know. I just wear these to keep my vision that way. I guess I forgot to take them off." She took off her glasses and tucked them in her pocket. Now she looked just like the Hawkeye they remembered.
A small gust of wind blew through Riza's now short tresses, causing her to hug her military jacket closer to her. "It's a little chilly."
Al looked up. "Yeah, the clouds are coming in. I think it might rain."
Hawkeye smiled. "Why don't you two come to my apartment for some coffee? We can properly catch up there."
When Riza flicked the lights on, Black Hayate ran up to her ad greeted her with a lick on her pants. He didn't spent much time with her, though, as he was too intrigued by the brothers. Al gasped excitedly when he saw Hayate and ran up to him and began to play with him.
"Alphonse, this is my Shiba Inu, Black Hayate."
"He's so cute!" exclaimed Al in the toughest way a man could say such a thing.
"I'll start making the coffee while you two play with Hayate."
"I hope this doesn't end up like the last time we had coffee together," laughed Edward.
"What, where I assumed that you and Winry liked each other? I understand my assumption was correct. I understand you two are engaged to be married."
"Mustang filled you in?"
"Yes. Understand that we will be discussing this when the coffee is ready."
Ed grumbled. "Yes ma'am." He should have seen it coming... and yet, he didn't.
Alphonse placed his hand on Ed's shoulder. "It's Hawkeye. How harsh can she be?" he whispered.
"I'm not afraid of her. I'm afraid of what she'll reveal of my inner feelings. This woman can read people like books! She's even worse than Scar's wife."
Al laughed. "I still wish I could have been there for that."
"Tch. Good thing you weren't."
"Edward, you act so strange sometimes," said Riza as she took a sip of her coffee. She looked up at him, anticipating a reaction. Her dull brown-red eyes scanned his bright ones, looking for any sort of information. "I thought you loved her."
"Didn't the General explain everything to you? You should know the answer to that."
"You have to understand, Edward, that I only saw General Mustang for less than a minute after you left. He gave me the very basics of the scenario and sent me out to find you."
"Oh, so this is a military mission now? Great."
"It's always business with that man." Riza took another sip of her coffee.
"You make a good cup of coffee, Major," said Al nicely.
"Thank you. You know can drop the formalities, Al. Please call me Riza." She smiled.
"Riza," said Ed, not liking how strange the word felt, "I do love Winry. I'm just.. worried.. about the future." He chose his words carefully.
"I'd imagine that's normal. Marriage is a huge lifestyle change. You can't just jump into it and expect nothing to happen."
"I guess I just thought... since I've lived next to her all of my life... that it wouldn't be so different."
"That's not true. Once you marry her, you'll be sharing a lot of things with her. A house. A family. A bed."
Ed gulped. Unlike the case with most boys, the thought of intimacy didn't cross his mind often. He'd always been preoccupied with other thoughts. But now, he was thinking about it, and it was terrifying. "We already share all of those things." Hawkeye raised an eyebrow. "Except for the bed!" Al tried not to laugh at his brother's awkwardness.
"Still, you'll be closer than ever in every possible way: physically, mentally, emotionally, and legally." It's normal to be apprehensive about things like this. But, come on Edward. You're so brave. You've fought immortal monsters, evil dictators, and even attempted human transmutation. And now you're afraid to marry your next door neighbor and best friend. Does anything about that sound messed up to you?"
Ed scoffed. "If you're such an expert, why don't you go get married?"
"Please. Who could marry someone like me?" Riza chuckled nervously.
"You've got to be kidding, Major. You've got a commanding officer who totally has the hots for you."
Riza was the one scoffing this time. "That's not true. Roy is my best friend. It'd be illegal for us to be anything more."
"You know if it was legal you'd both be down for it."
Riza's face was set in stone. "Since when did this conversation become about me? It's supposed to be about you."
"Nice try, Ed," said Al softly, downing the rest of his coffee, which had cooled quickly due to the amount of milk Al put in it.
"Well," continued Hawkeye, "if you are so intent on discussing the relationship between Roy and I, then I will be equally intent on discussing the relationship between you and Winry. It's Equivalent Exchange, the code you brothers live by."
"Used to live by," corrected Al.
"Right. Edward, do you love Winry?"
"U-um," Ed stammered, "you should know the ans-"
"Just answer me!" she snapped with a tone of authority.
"Yes. Yes, I love her."
"Would you do anything for her?"
"Yes. I'd die for her if I had to."
"Then why can't you marry her?"
Ed bit his lip, unable to answer. Not only did Hawkeye make a great point, she made multiple great points.
Hawkeye sighed. "You know, Edward, you are legally able to marry the one you love. You should seize that opportunity. Others are not as lucky as you."
Both of the brothers glanced at each other and looked at Hawkeye. He words were heavily coated with deeper meanings. He looked into her amber eyes; the dull sadness within them confirmed his deepest suspicions that some way, somehow, Riza cared for her superior officer more then she had previously let on.
Suddenly, the answers were clear. His marriage to Winry wasn't just between him and her. Others were involved; Alphonse, Pinako, Mei, Ling, Lan Fan, General Mustang, Hawkeye, and even the Armstrongs were all rooting for him. They were all hoping for the day they would marry.
And Edward had let them down because of his selfish decisions. He quickly stood up from his chair, letting his coffee cup fall to the ground and shatter. Al, out of confusion, said his brother's name.
"I'm going back," said Ed. And with that, he ran out of the apartment and slammed the door behind him.
Al and Riza looked at each with confusion. They nodded to each other and bent over to pick up the pieces of Ed's broken mug. All of this was done without saying a word. When they were done, the two friends sat back down on the table and continued drinking coffee like nothing occurred.
Finally, it clicked. "What just happened?" asked Riza, setting down her cup.
"Brother's finally realized his mistake. It's about time, too. It's been almost a month!"
"Shouldn't you go after him, Alphonse?"
"I'll give him a head start."
