To Thine Own Self Be True
Chapter 8 - Apon A Snowy Night.
About six months later, Mustang was sitting in his office on a snowy morning. It was only a light sprinkling of snow, but snow was wet and he hated wetness. Not to mention it was cold, and even his alchemy of fire couldn't protect him for that.
"Hawkeye? Isn't there anything we can do about this weather?"
"No sir."
Mustang looked up at his Lieutenant. Her hair was longer now and she used a simple silver hair clip to hold it. She always wore it in a strange flipped, twisted and tucked way. It was strange, the way it stuck up slightly in the back, but it still served a purpose since no hair was to touch the uniform collar. Her bangs remained the same as ever, still a little wild and off to one side. He liked this new look, it brought out the bright amber in her eyes.
"Well can I make a fire?"
Mustang's face stretched into a smile.
"Not if your planning to use paperwork."
Mustang lost his smile and closed his eyes. He hated when his Lieutenant was quicker then he. Just then the phone rang. And rang. and rang.
"Sir?"
"Get it please, Hawkeye."
Hawkeye looked at Mustang for one more ring then picked up the phone.
"Lieutenant Colonel Mustang's Office... Yes... Yes... No... Yes... Sir... Yes, sir... One moment..."
Hawkeye placed her hand over the receiver and turned to face mustang.
"Sir, it's Hughes on the line."
Mustang looked at his phone wondering if Hughes was calling to brag. Then, he picked it up.
"Hello Hughes. What's happening now?"
Mustang plastered his smile on his face again.
"Yes... Yes... No... Can't sorry, swamp with work..."
Hawkeye rolled her eyes as she looked at the untouched stack of papers on his desk.
"Yes... Why aren't you in work today? Oh... Yes... Tell him I say happy birthday... Okay... Yes... Tell her hello for me... Sorry... okay... Yes... Hughes! Bye..."
"Sir?"
Mustang hung up the phone, brow twitching and turned to face Hawkeye.
"It's Edward's birthday today and Hughes is having a small party. Wanted to know if I could come. Would of loved to, except I can't get out of work... or should I say, you wont let me leave..."
"Not until you finish your work sir."
Mustang leaned forward and picked up his pen. He hated work. But he hated looking down the barrel of Hawkeye's gun more. He began to scribble his name on some papers, fill out some stuff and initial more papers. That night, Mustang had finally finished his papers and was getting ready to leave. Hawkeye was still in the corner reading her book. She had no work today so she choose to stay and keep him 'motivated'.
"Well, lieutenant, I guess we should leave."
Mustang smiled as he put his coat on. Hawkeye looked up at the window and just about dropped her book.
"sir..."
"I'm done with my work Lieutenant..."
"No, sir, look outside..."
Mustang turned with a curious look and stared out the window. Well, there was really nothing to see since the snow was blowing harder now and it was a complete white-out. Mustang's jaw dropped. They were trapped inside the office until morning. So he thought. Hawkeye stood up and placed her book on her desk, she made her way from the office.
"Stay here sir."
She grabbed her black jacket and walked down the hallway, going to the front door to check on the height of the snow. Mustang stayed in the office. He eyed her book and picked it up, he opened it to where her book mark was and began to read to himself.
""Elizabeth walked from the castle and made her way into the beautifully frosted garden. Her black boots were making soft foot prints in the already snowy walkway. Her only warmth was that of her guard uniform and her light black jacket. The blue pants that covered her legs didn't give much warmth, and considering she owned no gloves, her hands were freezing. It was just about nightfall and the full moon was hanging brightly overhead. She continued to walk along the frosty path until she came to a bench. Thats when she saw him. Raymond was sitting alone holding a frosted rose in his hand. He looked so beautiful in the early moon light. His raven black hair had a few snow flakes and so did his blue jacket. When he wasn't being pressured by the king, he was such a gentle man. And she seemed to be the only one who knew this.
"Your majesty?"
She walked over to him and he looked up at her, bright blue eyes twinkling in the snowy moon. He smiled at her and patted the bench next to him. He brushed some snow off it just as Elizabeth sat down. They remained quiet for a moment. Then,
"Please, call me Ray. My father's not around so there is no need for casualties."
Elizabeth turned to face him. The last time she saw him in the garden was a few months ago, he was being forced to spend time with some girls because the king wants him to marry. They were all ritzy, spoiled girls from other lands. Elizabeth smiled.
"Okay... Ray. May I be so bold to ask why you are sitting out here in this cold night?"
"Only if I may ask you, why such a beautiful lady such as yourself chose to join the guards?"
Elizabeth turned to face him, her amber eyes flashing in the light of the moon. Long blonde snow covered hair flowed behind her head as she turned. Her checks turned a light shade of pink. Her prince thought she was...beautiful.
"Well... I just wanted to serve my country and help protect those who can't protect themselves."
"Are you saying my father and I are helpless?"
"No, I'm saying protect the people. Should anything happen to you or your father because you were not protected, who knows what would happen to the people of the villages?"
"Thats so nice of you. And brave."
"Thank you."
"And to answer your question, I knew you would be out here tonight. I've been watching you from my window. You come down here every night to care sit with the roses. This is the very bench I saw you sitting on, so I thought I would keep you company."
"That's so sweet of you, but if your father caught...-"
Raymond silenced her with his fingers on her pale cold lips. Elizabeth froze, not from the snow, but from his touch. He was so warm and gentle, almost like a soft flame on a cold night. He pushed her hair behind her ear then placed the rose behind her ear.
"Ray..."
"Shhh..."
And with that, he leaned in and...-""
Mustang dropped the book. Hawkeye had just returned and fired a shot next to his head, just missing his hair by mere inches.
"Sir!"
"Sorry."
He quickly bent down and picked up the book, placing it back on the table. He looked back at Hawkeye. Her hair was covered in snow and so was her black jacket. Her legs showed she had walked out into the snow since she was covered up to her knees.
"We are trapped until morning. I would hope you know how to respect my property!"
She grabbed her book off the table and picked up her bookmark. She flipped through the book and placed the bookmark on her page. The page Mustang was reading. She then removed her jacket and hung it up.
"Are we really trapped...-"
BANG!
"Don't get any bright ideas."
Hawkeye walked from the room, closing the door behind her. Mustang watched her leave. Down the hall, Hawkeye was heading to the break room where she would spend the night. She removed her blue jacket placed it on the table.
"Not the most comfortable, but it will have to do."
She walked to the door and locked it, making sure Mustang didn't try anything funny. She then looked at her watch and saw it was close to midnight.
"He needs to work faster. This can't be good for my health."
She kicked off her boots and crawled atop the table, using her jacket as a pillow. She stared out the window at the snowy night. She then choose to read some more of her book, picking up right where Mustang left off. Back in the office, Mustang was still staring at the closed door that Hawkeye walked from.
"What...? Oh I give up."
Mustang turned around, removed his jacket and fell asleep in his soft chair behind his desk. The next day, Mustang was rudely awoken by the sound of Hawkeye walking into the office. It was only 0400.
"Sir, the snow has cleared from the paths. I'm going home to change. I suggest you do... the... same."
Hawkeye stared at the fact that Mustang drooled on himself during the night. He was dreaming about the book and replacing Ray with himself and Elizabeth with Hawkeye. He relised he drooled and quickly attempted to clean himself. He failed. So he grabbed his jacket and left.
A/N - Totally pointless chapter. Please review. Constructive criticism accepted. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile oo0AnimeChild0oo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
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