A/N- This was originally written for LJ's fma_fic_contest. The prompt was "Smile."
Warnings: Spoilers if you haven't seen FMA:B episode 64. References to earlier violence found in FMA:B and the manga.
Disclaimer: Ownership of FMA is on my wish list.
He wakes up gasping. Disoriented. Silently cursing. He never would have believed that he could have nightmares worse than the Ishval ones, but this… the slash. Him unable to break away from Goldtooth's goons. The split second where her eyes widen before they close. The beads of blood, like a garnet necklace, growing into tendrils that much too quickly pool on the ground. In the dream, she screams, though she hadn't during the battle.
He pushes up into a sitting position and looks around before he remembers. His heart still jumping in his chest and pounding in his ears, he realizes that his eyes cannot see, but they can make tears. He doesn't bother to wipe them away.
The bed feels strange, and he remembers that he is in the hospital. At least, when he went to sleep, she was there, too. He wants to jump out of bed and find her, but groping in the dark would disturb her if she sleeps. He closes his eyes out of habit and concentrates on his breathing. His heart slows and his breath sounds lessen. It's not his breathing he wants to hear. Can he learn to listen with his ears the way that one can look at something specific with one's eyes?
Too slowly, his breath sounds recede. He focuses as if he were learning a new transmutation. He hears her. She sounds raspy, but her breaths are calm and even. The corners of his mouth turn up, just a little.
A/N- At least it had a happy ending, right? Originally, Riza's neck wound was going to be the smile. I've read that assassins refer to slit necks as smiles. Thanks for reading. Reviews are much loved. Take care!