Okay, so Spring Break was… not entirely refreshing due to work, but I'll take it over school any day. School again means to you, my dear readers, that my day just increased to 11-12 hours at school regularly… Updates will be erratic. Thanks for putting up with my time crisis.

Your reviews honestly make it worth my time. And a lot of you guys have stuff that I enjoy and have been reading for a while, coincidently. You might see my review popping up sometime on your stuff.

Disclaimer: BECAUSE I don't own FMA, I can change little, irrelevant-to-the-plot details in the manga plot at whim! Yay!

Even in her current state, Hawkeye's actions clearly switched into a routine-like feel, which Roy picked up on immediately. Leaning on the door for support, she unlaced her boots with two quick tugs at the strings and kicked them off lightly. Hayate trotted over and gave a welcoming bark to his master, then proceeding to sniff at Roy's foot. They landed next to an umbrella rack in the corner containing 2 umbrellas, a cane, and a pair of crutches. Tossing the keys on a nearby counter, she slowly walked into the apartment, Hayate trotting along at her feet, occasionally yipping exuberantly. Hawkeye's hand brushed along a light switch as she walked, flipping the lights on in the apartment.

The lights clicked on, bringing the dark apartment into focus for Roy's eyes. The entryway led into an open living room area with a couch, coffee table, and overstuffed chair, all of which had probably seen quite a few years despite the frequent transfers. Only the large, leather cushioned chair seemed to be regularly used, a blanket and book resting haphazardly on the armrest as if left there in a rush to leave. Boxes sat around the floor in clusters, clearly to keep them out of regular paths around the apartment. Many looked unopened, probably a factor of the long hours she's spent working since the transfer. The walls, which at first seemed to be a gray, were actually a creamy white, while both the couch and the easy chair were a deep blue.

The sound of rummaging from his left caught Roy's attention. He turned to see Hawkeye with a large pitcher of water and 2 glasses. Hayate was on the floor next to her with a drumstick in his mouth, already taken care of. The kitchenette she stood in was separated from the living room area by an entryway and a countertop built into the wall, giving a full view of the living room from the cooking area. The counter had 2 wooden stools on the side in the living room area, the wide counter clearly functioning as a table. Riza was seated at the counter inside the kitchen, filling her glass with water. "Going to sit down, or do you just want to stand there awkwardly?"

Pulling out a stool and sitting across from Hawkeye, Roy's brain suddenly began to analyze the current situation from a logical standpoint. You are in your subordinate's house late at night. She is very, very drunk and clearly not thinking straight. You need to be the adult here and take control of the situation. But realistically, it was indeed First Lieutenant Hawkeye, and not some alcohol-crazed airhead. There was no guarantee things had gotten out of hand.

I wonder…"You know, usually when it's late at night and I'm at a girl's apartment and she's this drunk, we would have already gotten through the tour up to the bedroom." Roy said, waiting for her response.

Riza had already finished a full glass of water and was working on the remainder of the second before she responded; "My holster is within close range, Sir, for you information." A muted, but playful smile appeared on her face, before disappearing behind her glass as she downed the rest of the liquid and poured herself another glass.

"Relax, I'm not here to take advantage of you, Lieutenant," Roy said, reaching for the pitcher and pouring himself half a glass of water, giving his hands something to do. "Planning on drowning the alcohol?"

"Planning on keeping this looming hangover as manageable as possible." She was on her fourth glass now, clearly not thirsty at all. Finishing the remainder of the glass, she set the cup on the counter with a clink. Folding her arms on the counter, her head fell forward onto the improvised pillow. "I can't believe we have to be at the office in less than 10 hours…" she said with a light moan.

"Oh, damn, we do," Roy cursed. "I'm sorry Lieutenant."

"For what?" Her voice, muffled by her arms, sounded exceedingly helpless, in a childlike manner.

"You're going to be miserable tomorrow," Roy said, walking around the counter and taking both glasses to the sink. Refilling the pitcher with water and placing it in the refrigerator. Coming up beside her, Roy lightly placed a hand on Riza's shoulder. She twitched in surprise, otherwise unmoving. Roy began to lightly rub his thumb up and down the back of her neck, well aware of the agonizing headaches and various other discomforts that came from heavy drinking. he felt her muscles loosen under his touch, feeling better that he could offer some minor comfort.

"Don't com to the office tomorrow, Hawkeye."

She brought her head up quickly, then realized what a mistake that was, closing her eyes tightly and waiting for the room to stop spinning. "No, I was the one who got myself like this on a work night, and I can't just not show up because I made an error in judgment," She said through clenched teeth. Still struggling with her dizziness, she had covered her eyes with her hand lightly, her thumb and ring finger working her temples.

"Hawkeye, if you're like this now, what's tomorrow going to be like?" Roy asked firmly. Looking like she wanted to argue some mere, Roy took her hand away from her face and lightly placed his own palm on her warm cheek. Her eyes opened, meeting his gaze as Roy continued, "Nobody has to know why you're out. You've been working non-stop since the transfer. Do yourself a favor, Lieutenant."

"I appreciate your… concern… Sir. But I know my own limitations. I know where my priorities are."

"'What' or 'Who' your priorities are, Hawkeye?" Roy demanded, getting frustrated. Hayate's ears twitched at the outburst, curling up into a different position on the floor.

Riza's eyes widened for a moment. Roy knelt down so his head was lower than hers, grabbing her hand firmly and looking her right in the eye.

"Who are your priorities to, Hawkeye?" He asked slowly, clearly. She looked at him for a moment then looked at his hand over hers and bit her lip slightly. Roy's gaze dropped as well. When he saw his hand, he knew exactly what she was looking at.

The back of his hand still bore the faint outline of an array. His array. Etched in blood on his own skin, a part of himself he couldn't deny. A constant. A remnant from his battle with Lust at the 3rd Laboratory. But what he truly couldn't shake from that day was a different constant, in some ways far more reliable than his array. Hawkeye was wearing the same expression on her face that Roy saw when he reprimanded her at the hospital.

"My priorities…" she said, barely whispering, "Lie where they belong."

Roy let go of her hand and stood up, giving both of them some greatly appreciated room. He watched her for a moment, trying to read past they layer of alcohol, and still running into the same layer of distance that he couldn't budge.

"All right. But if I see you over-exerting yourself in the slightest, I am sending you home immediately." She nodded slightly, gratefully. "My priorities are to my subordinates, and the people I care about." He sighed, shoulders sagging in the defeat he had accepted. Leaning closer to her once more he pleaded softly, "Let me care, Hawkeye."

But whether she heard or not Roy didn't know. She had started nodding off after Roy agreed, and was now sitting with her head dropped forward and her breathing deep. Leaning into his shoulder with a contended sigh, she had fallen asleep in the chair. Roy didn't even try to wake her, gently lifting her from the stool and hoisting her up bridal-style.

Roy carried her over to the couch and gently laid her down, puling the blanket from the easy chair and covering her silently. She immediately turned onto her side and curled up slightly under the blanket, burying her face into the blanket in the same way a child would to ward away the darkness in fear. Hayate trotted over, yawning, and jumped up onto the couch with Riza, curling up near her stomach and falling asleep again.

Folding her military jacket and placing it on the coffee table, Roy turned to leave. Stopping at the door with his hand on the knob, he looked back at the sleeping figure with a sorrow that had slowly been growing in his gut the entire evening. You better not be like this because of me, Hawkeye. You can't get like this.

As he exited the apartment, making sure the door locked behind him, a voice called from somewhere in his mind.

You know it's because of you. You know it and you can't stand it.

Isn't that why you're upset?

Roy shuddered to himself and began walking faster, trying to leave the voice of his own mind behind.

The entire chapter was shorter than other ones... but I hope it served it's pupous..
Did it?

Okay, the end was slightly rushed for my personal taste…
If I feel inclined I might come back and rewrite some of this.

Or I might just work on the next chapter. Waiting patiently for your reviews. Thanks in advance.