Halfmetal Alchemist: Chapter 20

Roy and Riza

Riza put her fists on her hips as Roy stormed into the room, took off his military uniform, groaned, and lay face down on the hospital bed twitching slightly. "Everything hurts... places I didn't know hurt, really hurt... not to mention sensitive places that I will not mention hurt as well..." he groaned again and closed his eye. "Somebody kill me, please!" Riza sat down on the corner of the bed and Roy breathed in perfume. He opened his eye suspiciously. "You're wearing perfume... you never wear perfume. Except..." Riza told him to be quiet and roll over so he wouldn't suffocate in the pillow and Roy grumbled and turned slowly.

Riza put her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. Roy started in surprise and put his arms around her. He smirked at her. "Miss me?" Riza nodded and rested her head against his chest. "I thought you were dead... I was so scared."

"So was I," Roy mused.

"You don't really blame Leroy, do you?"

"No... he's just a kid. I don't blame him. Although... is there something wrong with his eyes?" Riza shrugged. "He hasn't told anyone. He must be embarrassed."

"Wait! What about Ilia and Maes? Are they here too?"

"No, I decided to leave them with Gracia. Maes misses you, you know, he wrote letters every day and told me to give them to you." she took a bundle of letters tied with a string from her uniform and Roy took them flipping them over and over. "Wow. That's a lot of letters." He laughed and pocketed them."I'll read them later. What's the situation at East HQ? It hasn't been blown up, has it?"

"No, but we have recieved reports of a man that matches Leroy and Edward's description around town... I don't think it's safe there any more. Gracia took the kids and moved off to Central just in case."

"In any case, I don't think I'll be moving from the hospital soon. What a perfect mess we're stuck in."

"Well. Whatever you do after this, I'm coming with you."

"What?"

"You heard what I said."

"B-but! Riza!"

"No buts, I'm coming.''

"But I won't be able to protect you if something happens!"

Riza pulled two guns seemingly out of nowhere and showed them to him. "Right. And who's been protecting who all of these years, Fuhrer?"

Another sigh. "You have, Riza."

"Then there are no objections." Roy gave up.

"I told Ed." Riza watched him carefully, and saw a flash of regret on his face. "You didn't want to?"

"No, I didn't. But I thought it was for the best if I did. He didn't take it well, he ran off."

"Ah. That was unexpected. Ran you say?"

"He was gone around the corner before I could step outside, if that isn't fast, I don't know what is."

"You have no idea what fast is kid! You gonna be long in that bed, because we have to go!" Anri was leaning against the doorway. Roy spluttered. "I didn't even hear you! How do you-" Anri motioned to the jewel set into his armor chest plate. "This piece of work of course. It doesn't explain why you didn't hear me, but it does explain why you didn't see me open the door. It refracts the light around me, so you can't see me. It's not perfect tho'."

"And that's how you run so fast as well?"

"Those are power receptor gems in my legs. They're a special type of automail I made myself. It refracts the air and channels light and air into them, to create energy. Plus, it doesn't rust or short circuit." Anri gave him a grin and thumbed the door. "So are we going?" Riza had her gun out and pointing at Anri's chest and he jumped with his hands up. "Yo! Hey sister, I don't want to kill the kid, he's my nephew after all!" Riza looked at Roy and he waved her down.

"So where have you been?"

"Me? Around town, shopping. Gotta get supplies right?"

"But for you, that wouldn't have taken more than a few minutes at most. You were gone for weeks."

"Ah... It seems that some family of mine moved. I'm trying to find them." he winked at Roy. "You're not the only family I've got, you know."

"You have kids?"

"Ah, let's get going, shall we? I'll be waiting by the station. Bye!"

Riza shook her head as he disappeared. "What a thoroughly strange man... your uncle?"

"Yeah... we seem to get all sorts in my family," Roy grumbled. He got up haltingly and almost unwillingly. "Well, it seems like we'll have to go again... Might as well meet him at the station." Riza nodded and put away her guns, helping him with his uniform. "Are you sure you're strong enough to go?"

Roy shrugged. "Of course I am! I'm just... fine!" he yelled as fell on face right outside the door.

Woohoo! 20! I got chapter 20 up! Next chapter will kick back up to the regular pace, because frankly, I'm just in the mood for it. Reviews! I need reviews people! Did I mention I very much appreciate them? - T A