III. Ocean
(Two intertwining drabbles: Roy/Riza and the Elrics, after an untimely demise.)
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Ever since the funeral, a palpable gloom had been lingering around the office. Colonel Roy Mustang occupied himself with work and spoke even less than usual. His subordinates tried to keep up a pretense of normal office routines, even on a Friday. The colonel allowed them to leave early for the day, but First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye stayed willingly to finish up. She was organizing a batch of papers when the colonel asked her a question.
"First Lieutenant, do you have any plans tomorrow afternoon?"
An imperceptible frown. "No. Nothing in particular."
"Would you like to accompany me on my sailboat tomorrow?"
Riza arched her eyebrow slightly. "Um, you're going sailing Colonel?" She paused. "But I haven't sailed in a long time."
Roy shrugged. "No matter. I just wanted someone I can trust to come along in case anything happens." He smiled a little. "Would 1PM be good? We can meet at the bridge."
"That sounds fine, sir."
Roy shook his head gently. "You don't have to 'Sir' me anymore. Office hours ended a while ago."
"Yes…" Riza complied.
"And wear shorts and slippers. I have an extra pair of sunglasses in case you need them."
"That would be great, colonel." For a brief moment Riza wondered if this was a cover-up for him to see her out of uniform. Or maybe he simply wanted a trusted company like he said.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Ed and Al used to play at the beach during the summers when they were younger. They would chase the crabs, build sandcastles, or swim toward the open sea and lie on their backs and drift along the waves. Before Ed got two automails and Al became a suit of armor.
Now, they could only lounge on the dry sand when it's not scorching from the sun. And not too close to the water since the brine would accelerate rusting.
They sat side by side, letting their thoughts dissolve in the froth and mist of receding waves. It was near dusk. The sun's rays played hide-and-seek with the clouds as they rolled in the sea breeze. The ocean glimmered iridescence with the sky.
Usually Ed didn't like to be bored. He needed to be on the move, occupied with work, engrossed in action. Yet once in a while he would feel an inevitable weariness. This was one of those times. He found that watching the ocean helped calm the ghosts in his mind. Ed felt ever guilty for even inadvertently letting Hughes know what they were seeking. Well okay, he was bound to find out sometime, sharp-minded he was. But I couldn't do anything… Ed's golden eyes hardened. He was more responsible now than ever to find out the truth behind it
all.
Al stared into the distance where the sea and the sky touched in a golden line. He never ceased to be amazed at how he could still see the world in colors and hear sounds and detect scents, just that his sense of touch was dulled by the metallic armor. He tried to remember what food tasted like. Angel hair pasta with tomato sauce and fresh mussels. One of his mom's secret recipes. Or the flambé salmon that Granny Pinako used to make before the fisheries closed. Mr. Hughes would have loved to try them. He could never now, whereas Al still have a chance to regain the sensations he once had. To feel the grainy silkiness of dry beach sand and the balmy coolness of sea water against the skin.
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Riza arrived to find Roy leaning against the railing of the bridge. His car was parked nearby. He had on a light-blue shirt with sleeves rolled up and hands in short pockets. She had on a blouse with a light jacket. It was early October and there were still traces of summer in Amestris.
Roy turned and greeted her. She nodded and smiled back. It appeared that he was deliberately trying not to stare below her waistline. She appreciated his efforts and found it somewhat amusing.
On the drive to the beach, Roy seemed to be in a better mood than yesterday. "I went to my uncle's place this morning to borrow his sailboat. I probably surprised the hell out of him. But he was a good sport, made me promise not to scratch his boat."
Riza nodded. "So is the boat already at the beach? In a secure location I imagine."
"Yes. There's a woodsy area nearby that looks like no one has set foot there for years. I hid the boat there."
Riza cocked an eyebrow. "I'm not even going to ask how you found the place."
Roy grinned sheepishly.
They were approaching the beach as Roy pulled over near a grassy hill. The sun was lingering on the western horizon and the ocean was relatively calm with a good sailing breeze.
Roy led the way through the wild grass as Riza followed close behind. They soon found a small sailboat perched on a wheel trolley. "Yeah, dragging this thing through the grass was a pain, even with the trolley. Let's move this together. I'll take the front end."
Riza took the back end and they started inching out of the grass. She would keep an eye behind Roy so he wouldn't trip.
When they got to the edge of the beach, they lifted the sailboat and placed it in shallow water. Roy picked up the trolley. "Wait here while I put this back in the grass." He went off in a slight jog.
Riza observed the sailboat. It looked old and the paint was watermarked in many places, but it seemed sturdy enough. She held it steady with both arms when the breeze was drifting it away from land.
A minute later, Roy was back and a little out of breath. "I think the desk job is making me lame," he quipped.
"Or you could wake up earlier and work out." Riza suggested. He rolled his eyes.
"Ready?" Roy asked. "Ladies first. Step into the boat please." He extended his hand. Riza stepped gingerly into its center and sat down on the deck. "Your chivalry is flattering."
"And justly so." Roy pushed the boat until the water climbed above his knees then hoisted himself in. Riza moved to the side in time and the boat yawed a little.
Roy took out two pairs of sunglasses and handed Riza one of them. Then he turned the tiller and rigged the sail. Riza watched and started to remember some of her sailing days. The boat glided smoothly toward the open sea.
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Ed traced a finger through the dry sand. The path curved on itself and became a circle. It's been a long time since he had drawn a circle. Al was the better alchemic circle sketcher with his patience and steady hands. He was the more attentive one, always paying attention to details. Ed smiled wistfully. Indeed, it was Al who kept him in check whenever he was about to do (or did) something brash. Like almost setting the school on fire with alchemy.
The sun was lingering on the western horizon and its shimmered rays danced across the waves. Al wondered what's beneath that impassive glaze of cobalt blue. He stopped believing in mermaids and mermen about the same time he stopped believing in Santa Claus. But he was sure there would be all kinds of fish, whales and turtles and cephalopods. There would be corals and seaweeds and underwater forests, as he once read somewhere.
But what's beneath the deep ocean where the sun could not penetrate? He heard that engineers were working on building a submersible vehicle, a ship underwater. It would be so amazing to explore the ocean up close. Imagine the wonders… Yet he was almost sure that the researchers were not developing the vehicle for peaceful purposes of scientific discovery. The world was becoming so militaristic, especially Amestris… Everything was done in the name of "national defense." He sighed. A hollow metallic sound echoing with the sea breeze.
Ed patted his brother's armor leg. He was thinking about a dream he once had. He had his real limbs and was scuba diving in the sea without equipment. He saw something glowing white up ahead. He almost touched it when it abruptly turned red and the water disappeared and he was standing in the middle of a volcanic explosion. There was a voice rumbling from underground: "Is this what you seek?" Cripes, every time he thought he wouldn't dream of it anymore. That and the nightmare of the failed transmutation. Sometimes Ed thought he might go crazy had he been a softer guy like Major Armstrong. Less cynical maybe.
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Roy snuck glances at Riza from time to time during breaks in adjusting the sails to the wind. The sailboat lurched with a sudden gust and they were slightly disoriented. Roy held the tiller to steady the boat while Riza pulled the ropes to straighten the sails. They worked seamlessly like a dual-rotor engine.
His mind wandered. What is he to her? A superior commander, advisor, colleague, friend, more than that? And what is she to him? Certainly not merely a loyal subordinate. He cared for her too much to make any moves right now, at least. Protocols and turbulent times. His ambition of becoming the Fuhrer burning alongside a longing for something more.
Riza had been thinking about why the colonel asked her to come. Was he trying to tell her something? She'd like to think of herself as his trusted aide bordering on a sort of friendship... okay, more than that, she admitted to herself.
The wind was steady and they where a few hundred yards offshore. They both sat down on the center deck to take a break. Riza noticed that Roy had leaned closer to her. She became a little nervous. "Colonel, is it a good idea to get too far away from the shore?"
"No worries. We have enough gasoline in the tanks for the return trip." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, sending skitters up her spine. He pulled her in closer. Riza turned and faced him, looking a little surprised. Roy knew that her slight blush was not from the sun.
Riza was momentarily confused of what the colonel just did. But somehow it felt right. She subconsciously leaned against his shoulder, her head devoid of all thoughts. Just the ocean breeze and his pulse against her skin.
He needed a support. She was it. A lighthouse in an ocean of turbulence. Did she realize how much he depended on her? And he hoped vice versa too.
Everything was quiet except for the sails flapping in the wind.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Somewhere deep down inside, Al had hope that everything would turn out okay.
Somewhere deep down inside, Ed felt his confidence slipping away. He mentally slapped himself. He couldn't give up now. Too much was at stake and he had obligations now. Obligations to an innocent bystander who stood too close.
It was growing darker. The two brothers seemed to have awakened from a trance.
"Let's go home, Al."
"Yeah…"
They got up and walked away from the beach into the distance, the rays of dusk against their elongating shadows.
-.-.-.-.-.-
"Damn I miss him." Roy muttered, still holding onto Riza.
"Me too." Riza didn't know what else to say.
The wind shifted direction and the sky became overcast. They took off their sunglasses. Roy's onyx eyes were burning with a quiet resolve.
"Gotta move the sails." Roy stood up a little and started pulling the ropes, and Riza turned the tiller this time.
They drifted back toward the beach. The sky was portending rain.
"You know, it would sorta nice to walk back if it's not for my car and the sailboat." Roy commented offhandedly.
"Even though you'd be defenseless against any attempt on your life?" Riza offered in a helpful but teasing manner.
Roy stuck out his tongue. "Somehow I think I'll be fine." He grinned at Riza, somewhat apologetically. She chuckled.
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End