She was in the practice range,about to work her daily shooting exercices,when the intercom suddenly came to life.
"Attention, attention! Will Riza Hawkeye please report to the front desk? Imediant responce is needed. Riza Hawkeye" the perky countergirl's voice annoyed her somewhat as she repeated her name at the end of the message.
Like she would forget or somthing.
She gave a sigh,and placed her guns away.
No shooting for her today.
At least that was what she thought.
As it turned out,shooting was all she would be doing for many days.
Back in Ishbal,lives were being lost at monumental rates,on both sides.
The military was steadily loosing men,and now needed recruits.
But the officer in charge of the attack didn't want regular soldiers.
No,he wanted the 'eliete' soldiers.
Alchemists
But he also called for sharp shooters.
In other words
Her
She was shipped out that very night,along with all of the other alchemists heading to war.
None of which she knew.
And on that long train ride,was the first time she saw him.
She was the first to be picked up by the private train.
It was a specail railroad that was built only for military use,conecting to each Amestris headquarter,and out west to Ishbal.
And finally,after several hours of traveling,the train had picked up it's last group of passangers.
She sat in a compartment with no one else,entertaining herself by painstakingly 'deep cleaning' each of her guns.
She was working on about her sixth one when the door slid open without even one knock.
A man about her age,may two or three years older,walked in and carelessly threw his things into a seat across from her.
Her amber eyes narrowed,targeting in on him.
Just how rude was he?
And did he not know she could shoot a 2in target painted on his back,from 100m away?
She watched him bounce his leg up and down,fingers tapping the window pane lazily.
He gave a loud yawn not bothering to cover his mouth,and ruffled his raven black hair with a free hand.
Normaly Riza would have called the man out on his rude behavior,but held her tongue.
He was a state alchemist,and outranked her.
Her keen sight had allowed her to see a small flash of silver,tinkling above his belt.
There,his silver pocket watch sat taunting her.
She knew good and well that all state alchemists carried that watch,to bad he had to be somone who did.
Her insides thrummed with annoyance of him.
And that was when it happened.
He turned his head slightly,and his eyes suddenly seemed to lash out at hers.
Eye contact was made.
Though she did not seem to back down from his stare on the outside,she quivered below her coy exterior.
"Is there a problem miss?" his remark rang with sarcasm.
Riza's lips thinned and in a strained voice she replied,"No sir"
She hated loosing to this man,whoever he may be.
And oddly enough,at the same time,it felt almost natural.
Like she had been shouldering his verbal abuse for years.
"Good" his smirk made it evident that he enjoyed the preks of his rank,"I'm glad to know it wasn't me those angry little eyes of yours were glaring at."
"Of course not sir" she quickly cocked her gun,and skillfully holtered it.Hoping to inform her superior just who she was.
But she didn't get quite the reaction she had hoped from him.
"In case you were wondering i'm not your enemy" he yawned,and streched his legs across the gap to her seat,"I'm your commrade,and to be sepecific under your 'protection'"
She felt her face heat up as he explained that the millitary only wanted marksmen to come to give the alchemists cover fire.
They were only there as sort of a backup plan.
A way to save the state's treasured alchemists.
They said nothing to each other the rest of the trip.
And that was the first time the two meet.
After that Riza was assigned to be his bodyguard and marksman on the battle field.
And natuaraly,thier bond grew.
Before Riza knew it she had silently made a vow to herself to always protect,and support Roy Mustang.
And without her knowing,he had made that same promise as well.
After a particularly bloody battle,the two took a walk the following day.
It was early morning,so they were vertualy alone.
Riza's guns clattered against each other as she walked.
Though they were off duty,she always had them with her.
Not to protect herself,but rather him.
Roy stopped,and turned around.
The clatter of guns had stopped,and so had Riza.
"oh" her breath escaped her.
Roy cocked his head towards the sport on the ground,that had her attention.
A single pink rose grew in a small bed of cacti,along the road.
"It's amazing isn't it?" her voice seemed airy as she stared,"How could it thrive in such a rough enviroment?With no thorns even!"
This was the first time Roy had ever seen her so carefree.
The simple fact that a defenceless flower could grow amongst dessert plants mezmorized her.
"I didn't know roses could grow in desserts" she gave it a smile.
"Anything can grow with sutible circumstances"his answer scientificly correct.
He turned to walk on,no longer amused by the flower.
She followed at his side.
"Do you think--"she cut out before starting again,"Do you think that in this war,peace can grow?"
"Anything can grow with sutible circumstances" he repeated his statement,and looked at her.
And then, they smiled.
Comming back from her memories,Riza sniffed the rose once more before slipping her arm into Roy's.
Together they turned and walked away,enjoying another perfect Sunday together.
To anyone who had seen them just then.
They would have seen only the 'classic' give-a-girl-a-flower rountine.
But what those people's eyes couldn't see,was what the flower stood for.
And what the flower really stood for was a simple phrase,
'Anything can grow with sutible circumstances'
Anything,including iLove./i