Okay. So, I couldn't resist this one. Roy and Riza were just that awesome in chaps 93 and 94. I felt so happy. Those months of getting annoyed since they weren't there was almost worth it. That's why it's one of the longest chapters to date. And that's pretty much why I'm updating so soon.

... Did you know, at first, this was about a fifth of its size.

Hundred Themes RoyAi - 049

Cold hands

This is the fight that Roy had been dreaming of. The chance to avenge Brigadier General Maes Hughes. He'd been preparing for this for a long time.

I've been preparing for this, too.

My hands are cold. Nothing could really make one ready for a situation like this. My gun and its bullets seem to be of no use here, but I can try. Envy, at least, I know, could be shot; but its effects are mostly insignificant. He would feel pain, but he could still function. It would take more than my bullets to stop him.

I grip the gun in my hands tighter, never mind that my hands are all but numb. They feel like they should be stiff, and my body wants to do nothing more than to just to stop holding the gun and let it clatter to the ground.

I force myself to stay still, ready. I hold the gun steady, because somewhere inside me, I know that I want to know what happens next, and I don't want to be caught unprepared, without a fight.

Finger on the trigger. My hands do not shake.

Aim straight, forward. Firm.

Do not yield.

Eyes forward, keep eyes on the enemy.

This is like an old film replaying. Back then, my hands were cold, too. But I still shot.

I still shot, because my hands were already stained red with blood, because the man I killed had hands stained with blood.

I shot because I was saving someone, saving someone precious.

I followed him. He told me not to, but he never took our wills from any of us.

He disobeyed cold logic, too, when he thought we were in danger. That's why… we, his subordinates, would do anything for him. We would live and die for him, and he would live and die for us.

I heard footsteps. Crouching low in a corner, I ready myself as the footstep get louder, louder. I point the gun, threatening, ready. Kill or be killed. We'd lived by that rule at times. We didn't really like it, but we lived with it. The glove is a few inches, painfully near to me, fingers poised to snap. My eyes widen in surprise, he looks grim.

He withdraws, and so do I.

I follow him at his heels, as usual, but something feels different.

"I told you not to follow me, Lieutenant." He was irritated, annoyed, I could tell. I didn't care. It's a simple thing to ask forgiveness, and regret is a far more painful thing to live with.

"Forgive me, sir. I simply couldn't stand around and do nothing," I speak. My hands were still cold. I don't think they could be any colder. "Where is Envy?"

"I lost him. Ugh, this place is a damn maze!" He's suitably displeased. "Stay close to me, Lieutenant. Come on." I smile, because Envy has shown himself to be a master of disguise.

Almost triumphantly, I point the gun to his head. "What's the meaning of this, Lieutenant? Who do you think you're aiming at?"

"Excuse me?" An almost cynical smirk twists my lips. "You're joking, right? When we're alone, the Colonel always calls me 'Riza'."

He turns around quickly, falling for the bait, and he begins to morph into another face. "Shit," he says. "You two are togethe--"

"Just kidding," I say coldly, as I pull the trigger and a bullet goes through his skull.

"Crap," he says, and now he wears his old face.

"Well, thanks for falling for it." I say, shooting steadily. I feel the recoil. I feel like my blood is finally warming. This homunculus killed Hughes. This is the homunculus who left a woman a widow and an innocent child fatherless. "Now do me another favor and die," I continue, grabbing two more guns from their holsters and shooting, barely a heartbeat apart.

No time for reloading now. No turning back.

"That... HURT!" he says, and his arm shoots out and grazes my shoulder. The strap that slings the rifle to my shoulder snaps, and I catch it, bringing it around to shoot at him. Over and over, were he human, he'd have more holes than Swiss cheese.

He braces himself by support himself, and the floor moves. In a few heartbeats, he has the advantage. The next few moments were a blur to me – I couldn't breathe. The next thing I knew, the wall exploded and Envy was on fire. A snap of fingers, and he is incinerated. I try to stand as Envy groans, and Roy strides forward, his face a mask.

"That's one of my dearest subordinates you're attacking." Envy looks terrified.

He turns to me, and he just looks tired. "No more recklessness, Lieutenant. I told you, I'll kill him myself."

His gaze darkens, and Envy looks half-terrified and half-angry. "GODDAMN HUMAN! DON'T YOU DARE LOOK D--"

A snap, that's all it took for him to keep quiet. Roy's anger is ruling him. His anger would consume him and his soul.

"...on... us..." Envy manages, before he escapes his body, pitiful and useless. "Damn... damn it! Not AGAIN!"

Roy's foot crushes it. He's angry. He has his reasons to be, but this "This is your real form? How ugly. I understand why you were called 'Envy'. Envy is truly an ugly emotion."

"No... don't! Stop!"

Roy's gave turns murderous, dangerous, and he prepares to end it once and for all. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT ENVY."

"I don't wanna die! No! NOOOOOOO!"

Roy stops, because he hears the metallic sound of the gun I point at his head. It hurt, my body, but I can't let him do this.

My hands are very cold, colder than they ever were. I was mistaken earlier. Now, my blood feels like ice, frozen solid.

The hand holding the gun felt like it was made of lead.

"What is the meaning of this, Lieutenant?" His voice is tight, his patience short.

"That's enough Colonel. I'll clean this up." I speak calmly, flatly. Rage will consume reason, and that's something that must not happen.

"He's one flame from being gone forever. I don't need nor want your help." He was so stubborn sometimes. "Lower your gun."

"I'm afraid I can't do that sir. Please, open your hand." He must not do this. He shouldn't.

"NO GODDAMN YOU!" He is truly angry at me, but I don't care. It's a simple thing to apologize later, and this is one thing I would definitely regret. "NOW DROP YOUR GUN!"

The blue sparks of alchemy race through the floor, and Edward is here, stopping Roy from making a grievous mistake.