To Thine Own Self Be True
Chapter 39 - Lets Start Over
Everyone began whispering. The judge yelled for order and everyone fell silent. Mustang was sent back to the seat and the judge and magistrate left the room. The crowd talked, even the officers talked. Except Hawkeye. She looked down at her hands and said nothing. Soon, after an hour of waiting, the judge and magistrate returned. The officers rose to their feet and waited for the rulings.
"In the count of assassination of Fuhrer King Bradley, LT Havoc, LT Breda and Sergeant Warrant Fury are cleared of all charges. Their ranks are restored to Major Fury, LT Co Havoc and LT Co Breda."
They smiled and shook hands. They were back to normal. The judge picked up another paper.
"In account of assassination of Fuhrer King Bradley, Lt. Hawkeye is cleared. In the account of accomplice to the assassination of Fuhrer King Bradley, LT Hawkeye is guilty."
The shaking of hands stopped as they stared at the judge. Then they turned to Hawkeye who was just standing there, she didn't move or show emotion, she excepted her ruling.
"In account of planning an assassination on Fuhrer King Bradley, Co mustang is found guilty. In account of assassination of Fuhrer King Bradley, Co Mustang is found guilty."
The room was silent. This trial was called only because the original court was null in void. Mustang wanted this trail because he wanted to prove a point. He proved his point but was still found guilty.
"Now, in account of assisting and actually assassinating Fuhrer King Bradley, all charges are dropped. Since King Bradley was a Colonel when he died during a war twenty-six years ago. And since killing a homunculi is only protecting your country and your military, LT Hawkeye and Co Mustang are free of all charges. This case is hear by dismissed."
Everyone clapped.
"LT Hawkeye, you are here by promoted to Brigadier General, your actions that night proved very well performed. Taking from your rank the other day of colonel, you are promoted one more rank."
Hawkeye was about to object but was cut off when he spoke again. Hawkeye was getting depressed.
"Co. Mustang, as of that night you were a Co. After that night, you were promoted to Brigadier General due to actions you took before the night. But in the original trial, you were found guilty and demoted down to Corporal. Since that trail is null in void, you are here by promoted back to Brigadier General. and thanks to your actions with the homunculi Pride, you are here by promoted two ranks for saving your country from corruption. General Mustang, you are here by reinstated into the military and have the title the Flame Alchemist given back. All records of you being titled as an assassin will be destroyed. You have a clean slate. Dismissed. And on a personal note, good luck with the goal."
The judge slammed down his gavel and left the room with the magistrate. The room erupted into cheers. Everyone was excited about the rulings. The government will be dismissed from military control and a new Fuhrer will soon be elected. The officers continued to celebrate with everyone. Mustang turned around to grab Hawkeye into the celebrations but was surprised to find her missing. He moved from the celebrations and entered the main hall. He looked and saw her walking away.
"Hawkeye! Riza!"
Hawkeye stopped and turned around. She looked into his face and when she saw the eye patch, she turned and began running from the building, tears streaming from her face.
"Hawkeye!"
Mustang chased after her. When he exited the building, he looked around and saw he was long gone. He walked back to the building where he was stopped by the magistrate.
"Tomorrow Hawkeye will be put on trail again. I meant to catch her, but she disappeared. Could you rely the message to her? Tomorrow at 0800 hours."
"What for?"
"Assaulting a superior officer and not having control of her gun."
"But it..."
"I'm sorry, the judge's ruling."
The magistrate left after handing him the memo about her court trial, leaving Mustang a mess. Mustang then left the building. He began walking down the street. He kept his eyes down as he walked. He approached the gated community where Hawkeye lived and stopped.
He didn't know what to do. He was torn in two directions. One was telling him to go after her, wrap her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her, even if it was fraternization. But the second half of him was telling to leave, go home.
Two little people appeared on his shoulders. On his left was a little devil, on the right was an angel. They looked just like... Hughes. Mustang rubbed his eyes. Was he seeing this? The angel started talking.
"You love her, don't let anything stop that."
Then the devil spoke up.
"She shot you. She took away your eye. Your not half the man you used to be."
The angel seamed to throw something at the devil which knocked him of Mustang's shoulder and then pulled on Mustang's ear.
"Love defeats all. It was an accident. She was saving you. If she didn't fire her gun off like she did, Archer would have killed you. She loved you Roy. Go find her!"
The angle hit Mustang upside the head and disappeared along with the devil. Mustang then approached the gate. It was a long driveway that spread off in a few different directions. All the houses looked the same, except the colors were different. They were all one floored houses with a driveway and maybe a garage.
"Can I help you, sir?"
The man inside a little hut just outside the gate saluted as the general approached.
"Yes. I'm visiting my friend Hawkeye."
"Ahh... Colonel Hawkeye? Yes. Number 8 on West Lane. Brown house, red door."
"I know, I was here recently."
The gate opened and Mustang walked in, hearing the gate close promptly after he entered. He began to walk down the main road which was ironically called 'Main Road'. He looked at each house as he passed. They were small places, no larger then a single person or a couple with no kids. He turned onto West Lane and made his way down the road. He finally approached Hawkeye's. It was right on the corner of the street and she had no garage, just a driveway. A small silver mailbox sat perched just to the right of a gray crack-free walkway which split her perfectly green lawn in half. The number and the name 'A. Hawkeye' was written on the door of the mail box.
It wasn't what he pictured his sniper to live in, but at the same time, it seamed to fit. The last time he saw the house was at night, since when they left those two mornings, he was too tired to look at it. He walked up the walkway and knocked on the door. He listened but no one came. The windows all had curtains drawn, and one window was frosted. He decided to check out back. He walked across the green lawn and into the back yard which held a small patio set directly off the small back porch. The patio had a small table set and a matching bench swing sat perched on the porch. Centered directly in the back yard was a single cherry blossom tree and a wooden gazebo that matched the woodwork on both the patio and the porch.
Black Hayate barked loudly and wagged his tail at Mustang. Mustang smiled and pet the dog who jumped up and down.
Mustang approached the porch stairs and stopped to pick a single rose from he small line of flowers next to the porch. He walked to the door and knocked. He waited and waited. Finally he heard an answer.
"Who is it?"
Her voice sounded in distress, like she was crying. Mustang deepened his voice.
"Um... I have a delivery for a Ms. Hawkeye. I'm on orders to deliver it directly to her."
Shuffling was heard as the door's lock clicked and the door opened. There Hawkeye stood, wearing an oversized tee shirt and over sized pink lounge pants. Her hair was up in a bun and her eyes were red from crying. She rubbed her eyes and opened them, only to be shocked by seeing Mustang there.
"Sir..."
She snapped into a salute. Mustang placed his hand on her arm and lowered her salute.
"Two nights ago we were close friends. Yesterday morning we woke up as lovers, passionately in love with each other. This morning we were superior and subordinate again, but still close friends. Now, what are we Taii?"
Mustang handed her the rose and she took it. She brought it to her face, mostly trying to hide behind it, then she lowered it to her stomach.
"I shot you, I don't deserve to still be free."
"Which is what the judge thinks."
Hawkeye jolted her head up and stared at him. Sure she wanted to be punished, but deep inside she didn't want to be. Mustang handed her the memo and she read it.
"I deserve it."
Without reaction, Hawkeye's lips were caught in his. They parted and left Hawkeye startled.
"Since our ranks don't take full effect until tomorrow at 0000 hours, I can still do that. But, since I can't wake up in your house as your superior, I'll leave now but will be back to pick you up tomorrow at 0700 hours."
Mustang kissed her check once more and then left, patting the dog before he disappeared from sight.
A/N -
Please review. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile ooOAnimeChildOoo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
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