Chapter 3: Multiple Meetings

The city was cold and desolate, a victim of the rain and wind brought in by the approaching storm. Umbrellas were open, raincoats pulled tightly on, and the sound of hurried footsteps through shallow puddles echoed through the flooded streets. No one stopped, or talked, or even seemed to care about anything about anything other than the rain. If you looked quickly enough, you'd miss seeing the shadow in the alleyway; that is, of course, if you'd ever seem him at all.

Usually the shadows were his base of operations, but this was different from the usual. Eastern had been likened to a war zone by ill-contented critics over the years, perhaps because of the revolution in Ishbal, but compared to a true battlefield it was little more than a small metropolis. Jack found himself different here was well. He had decided to keep his mask in his pocket, instead sporting a pair of dark shades over his eyes. While he did stand out a little bit from the rest of the crowd, in part due to his sunglasses, Jack found he was actually more at ease now than he ever had been before. I've been away way too long, he thought to himself as he allowed the pounding rain to wash over his entire body. He looked to his left, then to his right. No one paid him much attention, treating him like any member of the faceless masses that walked the sidewalks of Eastern day in and day out. Just like them…but much cooler, he smirked as he headed down the dark streets. Darkness and heavy rain. Generally a dismal sight to most, jack couldn't get enough of it. After all, several months in the blazing desert left for a certain appreciation of precipitation. Let's have some fun, Jack thought to himself as he slicked back his soaked bangs and rounded a random street corner.

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"Would you mind if I walked you home?" Roy asked, incinerating the note in his hand with a snap of his gloved hand. Normally, Riza would have scolded him for his flagrant misuse of alchemy while in a military compound, but now she was focused on his question. Her heart began to beat faster as she, without thinking, replied, "I'd love it, Sir." Roy smiled warmly hearing the response and stood up from his desk, "Great! I'll get our coats," striding over to the coat rack. Meanwhile, Riza leaned back on her desk, a little confused over what had just happened. Did I really just say that I'd love it? she wondered nervously. I hope this all doesn't inflate Roy's ego, she smiled to herself while the back of her mind was busy screaming, Yay! Still her emotions were coaxing different thoughts as well. Well I did say I'd love it and he did smile at that. Maybe… Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Roy's smiling face looking beaming back down at her. "Ready to go?"

When Roy had heard Riza's reply his heart skipped a beat. She said she'd love to! Love! Roy smiled to himself as he got their coats. Somehow the word 'love' coming from Riza seemed almost impossible, but it was true! She had said she'd love to have him walk her home. It surprised Roy how at ease he felt at that moment, though his heart had begun to pick up speed as he walked back over toward Riza. He noticed that she was apparently deep in thought and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, his heart skipping a beat in the process. Hoping he wasn't blushing, Roy's eyes met Riza's as he innocently asked, "Ready to go?"

Eastern was now immersed within the storm. Rain pounded down in torrents, soaking anything unfortunate enough to have to be outside. Holding the door for Riza as she exited the building, Roy pulled a large umbrella out from his coat pocket. Riza smirked, "Looks like you're just about prepared for anything, Sir." Roy smiled, "Well what good am I as the flam alchemist if I'm soaked from head to toe?" he laughed. "By the way, since we are technically off the job… you can call me Roy if you like. Riza blushed a bit, "Of course…Roy," she said with a small giggle. Calling her superior by his first name had tickled her tongue as she said it. "What's so funny?" Roy asked lightly, secretly wondering whether she was laughing at him. Riza caught her self and stopped giggling, "Oh, uh, it's nothing really." Feeling a little relieved, Roy looked back out at the street ahead of them. It still didn't look very inviting and if anything it seemed as if the rain was getting heavier by the moment. "Well," he said with a little remorse for having to get soaked, "Shall we go?" Riza moved closer to Roy under the umbrella, making his face burn bright red. "Let's go!" she said cheerily, and the two officers departed into the downpour.

Together they made their way down street under Roy's umbrella. The wind drove the rain horizontally, forcing the two officers to huddle together to minimize the sting of the blowing rain drops. Suddenly aware of how close Riza was to him, Roy looked over at Riza who, to his surprise, caught his gaze with her eyes at the exact same time. Roy swiftly adjusted his gaze down at the ground in embarrassment. Wait a minute, what the hell am I doing? What am I, thirteen? Roy complained to himself in his head. He didn't have long to complain as he tripped over the curb at the end of the block and nearly fell, face first, into a very inviting murky puddle. Luckily for Roy he only nearly fell. At the moment he began to fall forward Riza's arms wrapped around his wait and pulled him back up. Roy righted himself and, looking down, noticed two other arms still wrapped around him. "Um, th-thank you Captain," he said as his face became a nice shade of crimson. Riza withdrew her arms quickly, sporting a blush similar to Roy's. "Well I couldn't just let you fall flat on you're face. I'd never hear the end of it," she said with a laugh. Roy smiled, It actually does sound like something I might complain about, he imagined.

Six blocks, fifteen minutes, and several gallons of rain later the couple arrived at Riza's apartment. Stepping under the awning in front of her door they were shielded from the rain. And now you kiss her goodnight, cam a thought into Roy's head. No! thought another voice, you kiss her and then go inside! Finally Roy's superego took the helm, Shut up, all of you, I'd never do that Riza! Finally Roy had taken about all he could take of the bickering thoughts within his own head. He shook his head back and forth the clear the thoughts, flinging water all around him. Riza giggled and laughed at the sight of Roy Mustang shaking his head like a wet dog. She pushed her key into the slot and opened the door. The sound of the lock clicking open snapped Roy back to reality. "Thank you for walking me home Roy," she said with a smile, upset that their walk was over already. "I'll see you tomorrow then," she smiled as she began to close the door. Like being struck by lightning Roy leapt forward, getting his hand between the door and the doorframe just before they made contact, yelling "Wait!" Riza opened the door again, "Roy! Are you okay?" she asked looking at his squashed hand. "I'm fine, really," he assured her quickly, adding "Say, um, if you're not busy… well, tomorrow's Friday anyway so… I was just wondering…would you like to go out to dinner?" Riza eyes grew wide in surprise. Is he asking me out? "Uh-um, sure! That's be great!" she said to the obviously nervous colonel in front of her. Roy grinned broadly, "Okay so how bout eight o'clock after work then? I'll swing by here and then we'll go?" Riza smirked, "Sure…If you finish your paperwork on time." Roy smiled again. "I'll see you tomorrow Roy," Riza said again, closing the door. "Wait!" Roy yelled again and, sure enough, got his hand caught in the door. "Roy! Are you okay…" Riza began. She was cut off by the swift meeting of Roy's lips to hers. Although the kiss only lasted about a minute, it seemed like hours to both Roy and Riza as they stood there in front of her apartment. They broke away and Riza stepped back into her apartment. "Sorry… just had to say goodnight," Roy said with a bright red face. Riza only smiled as she closed the door, making sure no hands were going to come between it and the door frame this time. Walking slowly, Roy made his way down the block from Riza's apartment, forgetting that his umbrella was closed in his pocket, hypnotized by none other than love. Suddenly his hand began to sting like crazy. I don't think shoving my hand in the door was the best idea, he thought to himself as he made his way back towards his own apartment on the other side of town. At the same time, Riza's mind registered what had just happened. Her face turned bright red as she remembered her 'goodnight kiss.' Well, she thought to herself, that was certainly unexpected.

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Sand beats against the ruined buildings as a sandstorm approaches. Heat dies away, replaced by a freezing cold which creeps along the dunes as light fades away. It is night in Ishbal. General Basque Grand commands a division of the military's alchemists to put down an uprising in the Eastern province. The dogs of the military serve as implements of exterminating the Ishbalans, destroying a people to destroy their cause. A single alchemist is sent far further than any of the others. He is the master of espionage and intelligence on this mission. He is the plague of Ishbala. He is only a shadow.

He is only known by a code name: Shadow. Rarely has he met face to face with the commanding officer, much to his pleasure, as he only has one assignment. His job is to create havoc behind the enemy lines and strike fear into the hearts of the revolutionaries. So far he has done this well, summarizing his effectiveness in the number of Ishabalan corpses found by fellow alchemists as they progress through the city. He has made great effectiveness of his alchemical abilities: his manipulation of kinetic energy. By increasing the kinetic energy between his molecules super speed is attainable all too easily. With the addition of the ring on his finger, issued by Gen. Grande prior to deployment, targets are eliminated before his presence is known. That is, of course, until the stone shattered…

Shadow opened his eyes. Through the caked blood and sand he saw the remnants of a jail around him; half of the cell he was in was collapsed as a result of some type of explosive. His wrists were shackled to the wall. The shackles were unnecessary as he couldn't have moved even if he wanted to. Breathing was a laborious task as ribs broken by the butt of a rifle scraped his lungs as the expanded and his diaphragm helped only to pump out the blood which was trickling into the lungs. His head began to spin from the task of taking a few wheezing breaths. As he blacked out, he saw two Ishbalans brandishing a knife and a rifle each, come toward him…

Jack sat up abruptly, bathed in a cold sweat. Or was it rain? Jack couldn't tell. A look around and the feel of rain pummeling his skin reminded him that he was outside. He had fallen asleep in the park a few blocks away from Eastern Command Headquarters and was sprawled out on the branch of a tree, concealed by the wet leaves and branches. One thing about being a master of espionage and intelligence was that you never rested in the open, which basically explained why he had woken up in a tree. Jumping down from tree Jack realized how cold night became in Eastern, almost as if he was back in Ishbal… His head was pounding and he wiped a smear of lipstick off his neck. I guess I did find some fun after all, he thought to himself as he made his way out the park.

Wandering in the streets for what seemed like hours, Jack saw someone who he thought he recognized. "Is that Roy?" he whispered, rubbing his eyes to make sure it wasn't just the fatigue talking, "No, no it is Roy! And Hawkeye?" Sure enough it was both Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye standing at what appeared to be Riza's apartment. Hmm, looks as though Roy is working his charm. Stepping into an alley, Jack waited until he saw Roy walk past him down the block and turn the corner. It was around that time that it dawned on him that he was completely lost, given the fact that he had never really anywhere in Eastern except Ishbal. Now if we were in Central…Wait! I'm getting off topic! Stepping out of the alley he made his way down to Riza's apartment. He stopped his hand before knocking on the door. Wait a minute, he thought to himself, If what I've heard is right, she might shoot me for showing up like this… Ah, what the hell. He knocked twice on the door and prepared to be staring down the barrel of a gun as the door opened. "Major Alexiv? What are you doing here at this hour, Sir?" asked a female voice. Opening his clenched shut eyes he sighed in relief at the fact that he hadn't been shot. "Oh, hello Captain Hawkeye! I was just out and about when I realized I had no place to stay the night. I was wondering if you could possibly point me in the direction of the Military dormitories. I seem to be a little…bewildered at the moment," he finished with an embarrassed grin.

Riza looked him up and down. He was standing under the awning in front of her door dripping wet from head to toe slightly shivering. She had a right mind to tell him to get lost, or shoot him for the disturbance, but something about his face made her reconsider. Hair fallen in front of his face, partially hiding his blue eyes (well the left one at least, the right eye was completely concealed), and an innocent grin gave a cute look to him. Against what she would consider her better judgment she said, "Well the dormitories are locked down by now so that wouldn't help your situation." She sighed, "You could spend the night here if you would like, Sir." Jack's visible eye widened considerably, "A-are you sure that's alright? S-sure thank you," he added with a little bow, mostly for effect. Riza smiled slightly at the young alchemist's antics. "Please, come in, Sir," she said motioning for him to follow her inside. "Ah, don't call me 'Sir.' Jack's fine." Riza laughed. "Fine and you can call me Riza." He shook her hand and stepped inside, "Pleased to make you acquaintance… Riza."