AN: For a tumblr prompt request: "I thought you were dead"

Royai Collection

Chapter 36

I thought you were dead

Riza wiped the sand from her face and spat out some more as she sat up. She was in pain from the fall from the second story window, but as far as she could tell nothing was broken. She reached for her rifle and looked for cover, there wasn't any.

She spat out some more sand and chambered another round and waited. There were gunshots, screams and finally the soft crunch of boots on sand. She let her eyes dart to the side of the building for a split second, then returned to the window where she felt the greatest risk of danger was.

Her heart pounded and she tried her best to control her breathing. Snipers did not sit in an open field, they took up position in buildings, under cover or lay prone on the sands away from the fight; They didn't sit and wait to be picked off in the backyard of an abandoned family home. There was nothing but desert behind her, she was the easiest target an enemy could be offered. Her rifle put her at a disadvantage in close combat, but she wasn't ready draw her pistol even as the sound of footsteps got closer.

A blur of white appeared at the edge of the house and she turned, finger poised on the trigger to wait on confirmation of friend or foe. Then the hood flew back and her heart beat stopped as she saw who it was.

"I thought you were dead!" Roy exclaimed and rushed over to Riza as she sat with her rifle pointed straight at him. His desire to protect overrode his instinct for self preservation and thankfully she never pulled the trigger unless she was absolutely certain she wanted her target dead. "Are you alright!?"

She turned her eyes to the window as movement caught her eye and re-positioned her sites on….Hughes instead. She finally took a deep breath and her heart resumed pounding. They were both idiots and were getting a lecture on safety protocol even if she was a mere cadet and them officers. Idiots! Both of them!

"Are you hurt?" Roy hit his knees next to her and was shocked when she turned to him in anger.

"What were you thinking!?" She snapped. "I could have killed you!"

Roy sat back on his heels and could hear Hughes laugh from inside the house. He bit his lip and offered the most honest explanation. "I didn't think. I saw you get thrown out that window and…I didn't think. Are you ok?"

Riza stood and flexed a little and nodded. He looked up at her like a scolded dog. She reached out to take his hand and help him up. "Please look after yourself, sir."

Roy took her hand and she yanked him to his feet. He must have given her a look that was way more than friendly because she blushed a little before quickly letting go of his hand. He gave her a smile and nod as she dusted herself off. "I'll try."