Learning to Fly
Disclaimer- I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of its characters. I'm just borrowing them for a bit to use in my story.
Once again, I am extremely sorry for how long I have taken with this chapter. After Chapter 3, I fell into sort of a writing slump. I was finally able to put myself back together after someone gave me a review out of the blue. (Thanks Wrath!) I went right to work, and now its here, and I'm very happy with it! Besides me putting out the next chapter, it's also my birthday, (July 3) so it's like a double celebration! Anyways, enjoy!
Chapter 4- Hughes knows best!
Roy Mustang ran through the many rows of bookshelves, frantically looking for either Hughes or Hawkeye. As he passed a section of books about transmuting radios he thought to himself,
Well, I wasn't really THAT mean to her...was I?
He thought back to the last thing he said to her...
Yeah you're pretty smart. I bet you can't get a guy because of that!
Mustang cringed as he remembered what he had said. His guilt intensified as he thought of Hughes's last words to him,
Maybe Hawkeye was right about you Roy. Maybe you are just a jerk.
Mustang ran over to the Weapons section of the library, hoping to find Hawkeye reading some book on guns or whatever. No such luck. The Weapons Section was completely deserted. Undaunted, Mustang quickly walked to the Technology Section of the Library, thinking Hughes may be reading up on new photographing techniques for Gracia. However, this was just as bad as the Weapons Section. Not a person in sight. Mustang's hopes of finding either of them in this vast library were growing dimmer, but he refused to give up.
I've got to find Hawkeye and apologize!
About 30 minutes later
Mustang slumped into one of the reading chairs, his head in his hands. He had looked in every section at least three times, with no luck. He had even braved the Ladies Room (and getting several slaps in the face) for goodness sake! He glanced outside, seeing the sun slowly setting. God, had they really been in the library that long? It was no use. Obviously, he wasn't going to find Hawkeye here, and Mustang knew from personal experience that when Hughes ran away, it would be impossible to find him unless Hughes wanted to be found.
I guess that I should leave, he thought, looking at the doors; the only thing I can hope for now is that I'll eventually run into Hawkeye, and apologize profusely for what I said to her.
Feeling less guilty now that he had made this decision, Mustang went back to the training room and picked up his books. Heading for the front desk, he saw the elderly librarian from before. As he walked past her to get to the door, thinking of a good apology, the woman stopped him by pulling his sleeve. His feeble apology ideas floated away as he looked down at the smiling woman.
"Yes?" he said, unenthusiastically, not willing to start up a conversation about books with the librarian.
"Are you Roy Mustang by chance?"
"Yeah...I am...?" Mustang said, wondering what the woman wanted with him.
"Well, I was told to give you a note deary."
"A note? For me?" Mustang said quizzically. Who would leave him a note in the library...unless it had something to do with Hawk-
"Did a blonde woman give you this note ma'am?" Mustang said eagerly, already imagining that she really wasn't that mad at him.
The librarian gave him a strange look and said in a sad voice,
"No, this note isn't from that blonde wonder reader. I saw her walk out about 45 minutes ago. She looked rather upset about something. Didn't even stop to check out the book we were discussing earlier. Such a nice girl..." she gave Mustang a stern look. "I hope you weren't the one that upset her, young man."
Mustang started to squirm and fidget, trying not to make eye contact with the woman.
"Uh...well...it was kinda like...I didn't really mean..."
The woman handed Mustang the note with a frown and walked away.
Mustang opened up the note and recognized Hughes's untidy scrawl immediately. The note read:
Hey Roy,
If you're reading this, then it means that you've given up looking
for Riza in the library. Good! Jeez, did you really expect her to
stick around after an insult like that?
("Hughes..." Mustang muttered. It was like the man was standing right next to him!)
Anyways, I'm not really mad at you, just a little disappointed, but I
think that you already knew that. Riza however, is a different story.
Even though she said she was fine, I could tell that she was pretty
upset over what you said.
(Guilt growing...)
I saw her heading for the park, so you should go look for her there.
Have fun apologizing!
Maes
Folded up in the note was a picture of Gracia, beaming at Mustang. Resisting the urge to draw a transmutation circle and burn the picture, Mustang put the note in his pocket. After checking to see if the small note had anything else on it, Mustang headed for the door. The librarian called out to his retreating back,
"Women like flowers!"
Waving his hand in thanks, Mustang left the library and started walking down the steps. As he was passing a shrubbery, he spotted some wrapped flowers on the ground. Next to the flowers was the message-
Women love flowers!
Grinning, and wondering how Hughes could predict people like that, Mustang picked up the bouquet and walked into the park. He walked along the stone path looking at every bench he passed, hoping to see Hawkeye, but to no avail. Just as he was about to give up, he spotted the blonde sitting on the far bench, next to the pond. Mustang slowly walked up to the back of the bench. Leaning over, with the flowers behind his back, Mustang said quietly,
"Um...Hello Hawkeye."
Hawkeye looked up, startled from her thoughts and gave Mustang a cold stare.
"Hello Mustang." She replied stiffly.
Feeling very awkward and vulnerable with half his body hanging over the bench, he straightened up and gestured towards the bench she was sitting at.
"Uh...can I sit here?"
"If you feel you really have to."
Hawkeye moved over to give him space and Mustang quickly sat down. A few minutes of very uncomfortable silence passed. Mustang, not knowing what else to do, closed his eyes and thrust the flowers at Hawkeye, blushing furiously. Hawkeye's eyes widened as she took the flowers from Mustang, examining all the different hues of the plants. She gave Mustang a very small smile and some of her coldness melted. Feeling more comfortable now that some of the ice was broken, Mustang cleared his throat and began,
"Um, well...I just wanted to tell you that...in the library...I mean...well...you know...I was being a ...and Hughes was trying to tell me but...um..."
Hawkeye merely stared, not offering any advice on how he should apologize to her. Mustang grew more nervous as he rambled on and on, knowing that he was growing further and further away from any sort of an apology. Suddenly, Hawkeye stood up, cutting off Mustang's ramblings. Leaving the bouquet on the bench, Hawkeye walked over to the edge of the pond, and motioned for Mustang to come over. Mustang obeyed, wondering what she ws going to do to him. Instead of pushing him into the pond, which was what he fully expected, Hawkeye started to talk, watching ducks float by.
"Did you know that I've wanted to be in the military since I was seven years old? I loved the look of the uniforms, the way they paraded in the streets, and their message of freedom and peace to our country. No one supported my dream, except one person; my Grandfather. He was the only one who believed me when I said that I would become a soldier. He helped me grow in so many ways. One of the most important lessons he taught me was how to interact with people. He would always say- Elizabeth, always remember- to speak without thinking is to shoot without aiming. That is the lesson I have lived by all my life. Now that I think in depth about it, it seems like a mantra more suited for the Fuhrer than for a young girl. As I grew up, I realized that many people spoke without thinking of any sort of consequences from their actions. People like you, Mustang."
At this point she glanced over to Mustang, who was trying to sink into the ground from shame. Seeing his obvious discomfort, Hawkeye turned and faced him. Patting him lightly on the shoulder, she said softly,
"You know Mustang, when I first started out, I got a lot of insults because of what I wanted to become, and each one of them always upset me. However, as I grew older, I realized there will always be people trying to bring you down, and it's best not to let those types of things affect you that much. Besides"- she walked back over to the bench, picked up the flowers and walked back to Mustang,-"I haven't met anyone that wanted my forgiveness that much. What made you change your mind about what you said?"
Mustang looked at the expectant face of Hawkeye, waiting for an answer, and decided that just this once; he would swallow his pride and give a truthful answer.
"...Well...After you ran out, I knew that what I said was wrong, and I felt really bad...My Dad didn't show that much respect to women, and I guess that I inherited that trait. Anyway, I know now that you're different from other women"- she raised her eyebrows slightly-"I mean, in a good way! You're really smart and pretty and determined to get to your goal, even if it's difficult. What I said before...I mean...it was wrong and totally not true. I'm sure I upset you when I said that and...I'm sorry."
Mustang looked up from his hands and saw Hawkeye giving him the first genuine smile he had seen her give.
"I accept your apology...Roy. Would you like me to help you prepare for the upcoming exam?"
"I'd love your help...Riza."
"Good." The brief period of emotional Riza was gone; the soldier was back. "Because after today's display of alchemy, I see that you need a lot of work. We also need a way for you to do alchemy on the go; you'll never survive drawing a transmutation circle in a war. I say that we head back for the library; I have a book I need to check out, and you need several volumes on the basics of fire alchemy. We also..."
Riza continued to give Roy pointers as they both headed back for the library. Roy smiled, knowing that with Riza now on his side, he would pass the exam with flying colors. A sudden rustling to his right brought both of them to a halt. Riza pulled out her gun in a flash and pointed it at the bushes.
"I suggest that whoever is hiding in the bushes identify themselves now." She said flatly.
About 5 seconds later, a blushing Hughes appeared from the bowls of the bush, holding up his hands in surrender.
"Hey, you caught me! Don't shoot me please! I'm only a desk soldier!"
Hawkeye lowered her gun and sighed, putting the weapon back in its holster.
"Hello Hughes. Mustang, I'm going on ahead to the library. Catch up with me there boys."
As Hawkeye headed down the path to the library, Hughes nudged Roy and gave him a roguish wink.
"Hey man, you and Riza? I can certainly see that happening! She's a lot better that the other women I've seen you date!"
Mustang jumped away from Hughes, turning scarlet. "No way Hughes! Hawkeye and I are just friends, that's all! Besides, I just apologized to her like, two minutes ago!"
Hughes continued smiling, but didn't push the matter any further. He pointed to a tree about fifteen feet away.
"Well, kudos on the apology man. I had front row seats! I was getting worried when you started rambling, but you pulled it off! I couldn't have done it better myself! Headed back to the library?"
Grateful that Hughes had moved off from the whole Roy/Riza love thing, he cleared his throat and said,
"Yeah, we're heading back to the library to work my technique and stuff. Want to come?"
"Of course!"
Hughes put his hands in his pockets and started to walk with Roy towards the library.
About 10 minutes later
Roy and Hughes stopped walking to find Riza standing completely still, staring at the doors with a frown on her face. Concerned, Roy walked over to Riza and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hawkeye? You ok?"
Hughes walked passed the both of them and peeled a piece of paper of the doors. He read the note aloud.
"Library closed early today because of family reasons. Will open at regular time tomorrow. Sorry for any inconvenience!"
Hughes stuffed the note in his pocket and gave a cheerful grin.
"Oh well! Can't open the library with your eyes Riza!"
Riza seemed to snap out of her trance when Roy had put his hand on her shoulder. She turned towards the two men and said,
"Well, since the library is closed, there is no way we can help Mustang train for his exam. We should regroup and meet here tomorrow. Here"- she took out a pen and wrote some numbers on both Mustang and Hughes's hands-"This is the number to the telephone in the dorm I am staying at. Simply ask for me. I'll see you two tomorrow at about 10." Leaving no room for disagreement, Hawkeye gave the men a smile and walked towards the women's dorms on the left side of the grounds. Hughes wrote down the number on a slip of paper and turned to give it to Mustang, only to find him staring over at the retreating Hawkeye. Giving his friend a secret smile, Hughes slapped his friend on the back, saying in a joyful voice,
"Come on Roy, let's go to our dorm and get a good night's sleep. We wouldn't want to keep Miss Hawkeye waiting tomorrow, now would we?"
Mustang finally snapped out of it and gave Hughes a sheepish smile.
"Yeah...let's go back."
The men walked to the right, towards the men's dorms. While Hughes started talking about the finer points of Gracia's cooking, Roy stared at the number on his hand, thinking about how much more beautiful Riza became when she had smiled at him...
---To be Continued---
Again, sorry that took so long everybody! It's a little unclear in the book and anime if Roy and Riza have a thing, or had a thing. As far as I know, they just really care about each other, which I think is really sweet. Anyways, I already have a clear idea on where I want the story to go from here, but I need the reviewers help in one big thing that I'm planning on including. At any point in my story, does anyone think I should go into details on the Ishbal War, or should I just kinda skim over it? Give me your opinions! See you next chapter!
By the way, when Hawkeye says that line- to speak without thinking is to shoot without aiming, I got that from the Dixie Chicks song, "Not Ready to Make Nice." It was in their music video.