Something Familiar

Disclaimer: "Fullmetal Alchemist" belongs to its creators. I own nothing.

Roy strolled down the street, his trenchcoat and scarf flapping gently in the autumn breezes. Leaves of red, orange, yellow blew around his feet and across the sidewalk. He had the day off, and had decided to enjoy it for once.

So he was taking a walk.

Two boys ran past him, a kite soaring behind them. A young woman pushed a baby stroller. He smiled at her as she passed and remarked on how cute the infant was. She giggled, thanked him and continued on. Roy veered as a man almost collided with him, his head in a newspaper. The man apologized. Roy accepted.

As the man walked off, Roy shoved his gloveless hands in his coat pockets. He was bored. Usually when he had the day off, he was wishing he was working, and when he was working, he was wishing he had the day off. He sighed and shook his head. Never satisfied.

With his head down, he didn't see her coming until he'd slammed into her. He fell, and she grabbed him by the arm, breaking his fall.

"Thanks," he said, regaining his balance. He looked down at her -

- and was startled. She was beautiful. Her hair fell just past her shoulders, a bright gold in the sunlight. She was wearing a black blouse and a long black skirt. There was a confident air about her and a strong tilt to her shoulders. He felt there was something startlingly familiar about her, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Instead, he bowed.

"The day pales in comparison to your loveliness," he said gallantly.

"I don't like flattery, sir," the woman said, but her lips twitched as she held back a smile.

"It wasn't flattery," Roy protested. "It's the truth."

"Thank you," she said, the smile breaking through. "It's a nice day, in any case."

Roy nodded. "I enjoy taking walks on days like this. It beats the boredom on my days off."

She laughed and said, "I'm usually bored on my days off, too."

"Then would you like to be bored together?"

She laughed again. "That sounds good."

They continued down the sidewalk and to a nearby park, talking about all manner of things. He found out that she enjoyed hot chocolate and paintings, she loved the ocean, and that she had a particularly annoying boss. The nagging feeling of recognition never left him, but Roy disregarded it.

All too quickly, the city clock tower struck noon.

"I should be going, sir," she said finally. "But I've greatly enjoyed myself."

"It was an honor and privilege to be in your company, madam," Roy replied, bowing again.

She grinned and turned to leave. Then she looked back and saluted. "Good day, Colonel." She walked away.

Roy stiffened. Colonel? They'd talked about many things, but they hadn't exchanged names, and he was certain he hadn't told her that he was a colonel.

Then he realized why she was so familiar.

"Hawkeye, get back here!" he shouted.

She halted and turned to look at him. "A bit slow on the uptake, aren't you, sir?" she teased.

"Why didn't you say it was you?" he demanded. He wanted to kick himself. Fool, Mustang, he thought. Fool!

"I wanted to see if you'd recognize me," she said passively.

He gave her a wan smile. "I didn't. It's the hair...and your makeup. You don't usually wear it."

"I know."

Roy shuffled his feet and looked at his shoes, then back up at her.

"At least now I know how you'd treat me if I wasn't your subordinate, sir," she said after a bit.

"And?"

"I think you were quite the gentleman, sir."

He looked surprised, then the faintest bit sheepish. "Well, Hawkeye," he said, glancing at his silver pocketwatch, "would you like to have lunch with me? I know this great sandwich shop down the street - and they sell hot chocolate."

She grinned. "I'd like that, sir."

FIN