# 17 Scars
Another day of work at the office had passed without any commotion. The branch inspection had gone smoothly, each member of Roy's unit getting an 'excellent' rating. The rain cleared in the late afternoon as the members of him team left one by one to go home. Hawkeye reached up and rubbed her side once more; he had seen her do it a million times, especially when it was raining outside. He couldn't hold in his questions any longer. "Lieutenant; why do you rub your side when it rains?" he said, setting his pen down and leaning back in his chair. She sighed; she knew eventually he would ask about it. She stood up, walked over to his desk and sat down in the chair in front of him. She took a deep breath before starting her story. "It was the fourth or fifth heavy day of fighting during the war; you and I had already met and I was protecting your back. An Ishvalan snuck up behind you with a small handgun, preparing to shoot you in the head. As I called out to you, Hughes knocked you out of the way and the gunman turned to see who was screaming; it was me. He shot two bullets; one flew past my head and the other entered my side. It never exited the other side, so the doctors couldn't remove it. The scar tends to bother me on rainy days because it was a horrible day filled with blood, washed away by a thunderstorm that night as I lay in a hospital bed." She said, lowering her head as Roy stood and walked over to her. "May I see this scar? If you don't mind I mean…" he said, kneeling on the floor in front of her. She paused for a moment, her mind telling her he was crossing the line, but her instincts told her he was genuine; he only wanted to see the scar from the bullet she took for him. She unbuttoned her uniform jacket and untucked her shirt, lifting it up slightly so he could see the puckered skin of her scar. She leaned back in the chair so he could see it better in the fading lights of the setting sun. He removed the igniting glove off his right hand and ran it lightly across the pink skin, not wanting to hurt her anymore than she already was. "You took a bullet for me? You say it was the fourth or fifth major battle; we had only known each other a week before that." He said as he looked up into her eyes; they were filled with tears. "Now you know why I take so much care of you; I've devoted myself to you and anything you decide to pursue." she said, standing up and tucking her shirt back in, then buttoning her jacket back. Before she turned to leave the room, Roy stood and wrapped his arms around her small frame. It was an innocent hug, but it left her wanting more when he let her go. "Thank you so much Riza. Is there anything I can do to repay you?" he asked, resting his hand over the spot he had seen her rub many times. "Don't run blindly into anything that could get you killed; many times during the war I thought I was stupid for taking this for you. But I see now you have many great things planned for when you become Furer; I don't want to see those dreams and goals die with you in some mindless battle with an Ishvalan or some other killer." she said, pulling his hand off her side and holding it in her hands. "I'll try to be more selective in who I go after; I know that not only does my life hang in the balance, but yours does too." Roy said, motioning for her to gather her things so he could walk her home. They walked side by side until they reached their apartments, which were right next door to each other, and said goodnight. He knew she would always be there to protect him, and she knew he would always be there to climb to the top and make hers and the lives of countless other people better.