Part 2: Day of the Pink Uniform

Various people milled around the great ballroom; some danced, others talked, others ate. But Roy Mustang was doing none of these. He had taken to skulking in a dark corner, too wrapped in his own thoughts to notice when other people stopped to wish him a merry Christmas, or to attempt to start a conversation. To him, his surroundings (the annual Christmas Ball) were not there, and any person who attempted to talk to him soon gave up, either exasperated or slightly muffled. Still, Roy paid no attention to any of this. His thoughts were all directed towards a single person. He could see her now, out on the dance floor, having a quick whirl with Havoc. His eyes narrowed as his thoughts now overwhelmed him.

He took in every detail about her; the way her hair was done tonight, the way she moved, the fact that her dress was the colour blue. This last fact was what was bugging him the most. Blue. How he detested that colour. Blue was the colour of the forbidden. Blue was the colour of their uniform. Blue was the reason why he couldn't have her. And yet . . .

He knew that tomorrow morning would be the same. That he would wake up normally, albeit a slight hangover, he would put on his uniform, he would go in to work and he would act normally towards her. He remembered the relief he had felt today when he had found out that that stupid poem was from someone else for Full-Metal, not from her. She had noticed his jealousy, but she had no idea it was directed towards the midget.

But his subconscious mind had grasped on to an idea, and before he had even formulated it properly, it was filling his mind. His uniform meant forbidden. So what if. . .

Roy started suddenly as Falman came over to initiate conversation.

"She looks very pretty with her hair down, yes?"

"Who?"

"You Know who. You've been staring at her all night. I . . ." But before Falman could finish the sentence, I black-haired woman asked him for a dance, and he obliged. Roy frowned. How had Falman noticed and not her? But a plan was forming in his mind.

One that may not work. That hadn't been thought out correctly. That had been thought of under the influence of alcohol.

Nevertheless, he would see it through. He was Roy Mustang, and he would not give up on her without a fight.

Ooo.

Havoc lit a cigarette as he walked down the hall to the dreaded office of Roy Mustang. Perhaps maybe today called for two. After all, dire conditions call for dire measures. As he fished around in his pocket for another cigarette, he grumbled to himself. Why did he have to work on the day before Christmas? True it was a Friday, but still, he could be out doing Christmas shopping, or attending friend's Christmas parties. At this time of the morning, during the holidays, most people would be asleep. But no, not for him. He was at work at 8 AM. And he had a hangover from the Christmas ball last night.

His silent rant continued all the way down the hall, until he reached the office door and pushed it wide open, just as he triumphantly pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

He stopped.

He stared.

Roy Mustang was in the office, as usual. He was working, as usual. He was wearing pink.

Not usual.

The unlit cigarette fell silently to the floor.

Roy grinned, causing Havoc to panic.

Roy didn't grin. Roy never grinned. Roy never wore pink. Something very weird was happening.

Ooo.

Falman and Full-Metal came into the office at 8:07 AM. They were discussing various antics of the previous night, and Ed was currently blushing furiously as Falman poked fun at the fact that he had hardly danced with anyone other than Winry all night. Ed was about to retaliate when the site of the office stopped them. More accurately, the site of Roy Mustang stopped them.

Ooo.

Riza Hawkeye entered the office at 8:10 AM on the dot. The scene she encountered before her was . . . unusual, to say the least.

1. Havoc was sitting on the couch, staring at the wall, not smoking. A weird expression was fixed upon his face, as if the site of something had scarred him for life.

2. Full-metal and Falman were at a desk, heads buried in papers and books on the Philosophers stone.

3. Roy sat behind his desk, reading reports. He wore pink.

Riza was not completely surprised by this turn of events. In fact, she had been expecting something of the sort for a while now. It was hard not to notice Roy going insane. Especially when she knew him as well as she did. He was obviously cracking up over some girl. Now, she had to figure out whom. A slight wave of disappointment washed over her, but she pushed it away and walked over to Roy.

"Why are you wearing pink, sir."

Roy looked up and smiled. Riza always got straight to the point.

"Because pink is the colour of love."

"It's Christmas tomorrow sir, not Valentine's day."

"Christmas is a time for truth and love, Riza."

Oh. Right.

Roy opened a draw, pulled something out and stuck it in his pocket, before walking around his desk towards Hawkeye, grinning strangely.

"Blue is the colour of the forbidden. Pink is the colour of love. What would you prefer?"

Riza stared at him. He was acting strangely. Very strangely. Towards her.

"Uh. . .pink?"

Roy smiled, and pulled whatever it was he had in his pocket out. As soon as Riza saw it, she knew what was up with Roy Mustang.

In his hand lay a sprig of mistletoe.

The end of Part 2. Haha. I kind of cut out the mush, but be warned; you won't be so lucky next chapter. I didn't know whether to give you the non-mush or the mush ending, so I just left it there coz I know my brother is reading this and he's gonna be going "Oh crap, mush." Stuff will be sorted out next chapter.