by Maaya
They meet coincidentally outside the flower shop at the corner. There is a moment of surprise: a quiet between them that only they are aware of. The city-noise carries on like always without noticing the instant's respite.
It says click when they finally realize who the other is. Rockbell. Hawkeye. Winry. Riza.
They share a smile.
There's not much time for conversation. Riza is using her short lunch hour to run some errands and while Winry has got a whole day to spend, she wants to catch Edward and Alphonse as soon as the brothers can get away from paperwork. They-meaning Edward-owe her money and she intends to make them pay for all the new tools she is going to buy. The glint in her eye is just barely wicked and Riza returns it. They both know the best techniques to boss males around.
Winry accompanies Riza through the busy Central market to the post office. After a discreet hint of a question, she finds out that Riza is going to buy stamps and post a letter to her older brother. They aren't close as far as siblings go but Riza makes a habit of writing to him now and then. There's no reason to cut off all ties to the family just because they live far away from each other and-
Riza cuts off in the middle of the sentence when she notices Winry lowering her eyes.
It's easy to understand where the shoe is pinching.
What's harder is to come up with anything to say.
Riza sets to tell the story of Edward's and Havoc's bet instead. It is an amusing story, they are both laughing when it's over. Riza is glad to observe Winry looks happier now, knowing that Edward can still be his young, mischievous self, not always the stranger he is slowly growing to be.
They part outside the post office with yet another smile and yet more friendship budding between them.
One day, both are hoping to have time to let the bud flower.
end
It's weird to write 'Riza' instead of 'Hawkeye'. ;-)