Undercover Alchemist
by Jade Rhade
"Sir." Riza Hawkeye stood at attention in front of her commanding officer's desk after handing him a sheet of paper. "This is my letter of resignation from Military service. It requires your written approval."
"Resig- Hawkeye, what-" Roy Mustang leaned forward across his desk, speechless.
"I am requesting to leave the service, sir."
"But... but why?" Roy looked as shocked as Alphonse Elric does when called a trashcan.
"With all due respect, sir, that is none of your business."
His eyes hardened. "I'll consider it. Dismissed."
"Sir." Hawkeye saluted and walked back into the main office.
Roy watched her go, suspicion clearly written across his face. Riza? Resignation? Something wasn't right. But he really had no choice but to OK the request. He reached slowly into his desk and uncapped a pen. Without his customary flourish, he hesitantly but clearly signed his name at the bottom of the letter.
RESIGNATION APPROVED BY COMMANDING OFFICER Colonel Roy Mustang
-xXx-
The next day, she was gone, her State-issued pistol left abandoned on what used to be her desk. The mood was subdued, the other Havoc, Fuery, and Breda saying no more than was necessary.
The team was heartbroken. How could Riza Hawkeye just up and leave them?
Roy came in late that day, but no one reprimanded him. Without a glance at any of the others, he walked straight into his office and slammed the door shut.
And so the day progressed. When time came for lunch break, they all silently filed out of the office. Fuery looked back, hand on the doorknob, half expecting to see Riza at her desk, calmly finishing the morning's paperwork while eating her sandwich.
But she wasn't there. Kain sighed and walked out of the office, gently closing the door.
Alone, Roy sat with his head down, pillowed on his arms. He was already regretting allowing Hawkeye to leave. But what else could he do? He couldn't place his own selfish wants above hers. He sighed and stared at the door, waiting for her to storm through and demand to know why he wasn't doing his work.
The phone rang, sounding twice as loud in the otherwise silent room.
Roy ignored it.
Ring, ring.
No movement.
Ring, ring.
Roy slammed his fist down on the desk and snatched up the phone. "This is Mustang, what do you want?" he snapped, imagining Riza's don't take it out on the phone, sir.
"Roy! Is that any way to answer the telephone?" Maes Hughes berated cheerfully.
"Not now, Hughes."
"Sulking?"
Roy blinked suspiciously. "How did you know?"
"I've known you for a long time, Roy."
He slumped. "Oh."
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You know what would cheer you up? Finding a wife!"
Roy slammed the phone down.
-xXx-
Meanwhile, in Central City, Maes Hughes stared at the phone thoughtfully. "Sounds like Eastern Command is falling apart without you, Lieutenant."
"I'm a civilian now, Lieutenant Colonel."
"Of course, Miss Hawkeye. Only temporary, so don't get used to it."
Riza Hawkeye smiled thinly. "Not a chance, sir." He was wearing a simple white button-down blouse with a long, navy blue skirt. She tucked her long blonde hair behind hr ear as she spoke.
Maes nodded slowly. "Right, I forgot, you're the one who actually likes doing paperwork."
"Sir..." Riza paused. "Are you sure it's fair to keep the Colonel in the dark? It seems as though he has a right to know what's going on."
"Sorry, Riza, we can't for security purposes. I trust Roy, but you know how he is... if he somehow got wind you we in trouble, he'd come running and blow your cover. Not to mention that his line may be tapped, or who knows? What we say here cannot go outside this office." Maes looked at her seriously over his glasses.
"I won't let you down, sir." Riza saluted.
Maes chuckled. "At ease. Civilian, remember?"
End Part OneA/N: I know this was short, but it's more of an introduction than anything else. The other chapters are longer, I promise! And if the title is rather misleading, I apologize.
This takes place sometime between episodes 16 and 25, and it IS based of the anime instead of the manga,because I am only on vol. 4 of the manga, and have seen up to episode 28 +the finale in the anime, so... yeah.
Anyway, if anyone reviews, could they PLEASE help me out? I'm relatively new to uploading anime fanfiction, all I've done before are Star Wars and Andromeda, and there are a whole slew of new words that I need to know that aren't used in any of the other fandoms- CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THEY MEAN? I've figured out some, but WTF DOES 'lemon' MEAN? ANYBODY?
One more thing: if you don't like the following pairings, please stop now and don't bother to flame me: Roy/Riza, Maria/Denny, possible Havoc/Sheska or Falman/Sheska