AN- Guest, Unexpectation, and tracycoder- you all reveiwed begging me to either not kill roy/riza, and/or have a happy ending. to that i say...uhm...well...ah heh heh heh, i promise that by next chapter you'll have your answer.

Hello! a seven-page chapter--it's a bit of a break from those 14 pagers! i'm sooo glad i decided to post this story-- the positive feedback is a HUGE push to keep working on this story. i'm picturing about 5 more chapters--tho i really dont want to end this! lol:sigh:...

o, and as for the title of this chapter, it means that both roy and riza are being faced with a truth they dont want to accept. (cant tell ya what, tho, heh heh)

disclaimer- i dont own fma or the characters. i'm not that lucky. but i can make riza and roy fall in love anyway! bwahahahahahahaha!

Cold Actuality

It was, Roy thought, like something straight out of a crappy, grade-b horror flick. The nonstop rain had let up for the most part, but a thick, grey fog had settled over the city in its place. It might have been early morning, but it was as dark as late evening. Apparently, the sun had been banned from Central. The abandoned prison now rising into the air in front of Roy was easily the ugliest, most decrepit-looking building he'd ever seen, and that included Lab 5. It was a big, hulking monstrosity, made out of bricks that at one point or another could have been called red. Years of smog and city grime had settled on them, however, and now the bricks were a uniform black. Every one of the windows was broken, the prison bars behind them either missing completely, or so rusted as to be useless. Shards of glass littered the ground, sparkling where the light from the street lamps hit them. From the right angle, they almost looked like diamonds.

Roy looked up at the dismal building and frowned. There was a high wall stretching all around it, with yards of barbed wire wound tightly around at the top. The only entrance seemed to be at the far end of a small courtyard in front of him, but Roy's years of experience told him this was hardly an ideal way to get in. The courtyard was surrounded by other buildings-all abandoned, from the looks of it- and the fog was easily thick enough to cover any snipers that might be lurking. With Bradley, one never knew what tricks he might have up his sleeve.

"Think I'll make my own way in, thanks," he smirked to himself. With a snap of his fingers, a section of the old wall crumbled in flames. He waited a second or two, to let the fire die down a bit, and then stepped neatly over the smoldering ashes. Being able to control fire definitely had its advantages.

It wasn't hard to get inside the building itself, considering- he had his choice of broken windows to choose from. Once in, he paused to get his bearings. He was standing at the start of a long hallway. The only light came in through tiny windows-more like air vents, really- and there wasn't any sun outside as it was, so it was hard to see very far. There was so much dust floating around in the air, it was almost suffocating.

Not seeing any other choice, Roy headed cautiously down the hallway. There were a few doors branching off, most of them closed and lopsided on their hinges. When he pushed one open experimentally, it gave way with such a high-pitched shriek he jumped. Oops…oh well, there was definitely no hidden laboratory behind any of these doors.

Then he passed a stairway, and instantly he stopped in his tracks. Mounted to the wall above the stairwell were small candles- all of which were lighted and flickering, their thin beams of light struggling to cut through the musty air.

"…Guess I'm not the first one to stop by today," he mused. The stairs groaned under his weight, and he cursed silently. Why not just announce his presence to the whole damn world while he was at it?

The stairs went down, farther and farther…Roy couldn't even imagine how far below the ground he was right now. No wonder the place smelled like dirt- half of it was under the earth as it was. He kept going…

Every now and then, he headed the indignant squeak of a rat startled out of its hiding place. Spider webs hung crazily from the ceiling, one of which was so large that Roy couldn't avoid walking into it. Grumbling angrily, he swatted at the sticky threads, but made the mistake of leaning against the worn wooden handrail. A crack, and a whole section gave way underneath him. He flailed wildly for a minute, and even after he regained his balance, his heart was still pounding. Had anyone else heard that?...No…it seemed he'd gotten lucky, for once.

It was getting darker and darker, despite the candles. Finally, Roy slid one out of its holder, and with a snap, gave it a little 'boost'. Holding his glorified torch in front of him, he reached the end of the stairs-finally!-and stepped onto cold, hard stone. It looked like there was another long hallway in front of him….but instead of broken windows and rusted doors, this one had only one way out- a steel door tightly padlocked at the very far end. Light poured out from under it, and occasionally the shadow of someone walking past inside flickered out too. Roy's pulse quickened.

Bradley.

Roy inched his way closer. He knew that he should probably be feeling at least a little scared right now, but his adrenalin was pumping too hard for that. It was finally happening….after years of planning, years of waiting, years of scheming and pulling strings, the day was finally here. The day when Roy Mustang faced King Bradley. Whether he won or lost this fight, whether he lived or died, the fact remained that this was the final, irreversible event that would decide just where Roy's future went from here.

"Please try and hurry back, Colonel."

Roy gritted his teeth. Why was he still thinking about her, even now? Even in a situation like this!? He inhaled deeply, and blew it out, slowly, his eyes closed. He had to keep it together if he was gonna pull this off. He couldn't let thoughts of anyone-thoughts of her-get in the way.

She is just your subordinate, he told himself sternly. For right now, she is just your subordinate. Maybe later that will change, but for right now, you can't worry about her. Focus on yourself. Focus on beating Bradley. Leave Riza out of this.

He dropped his torch- he didn't need it anymore. His heart was starting to race again, his throat was tightening. Ok…so now his nerves were kicking in. Wonderful.

The door loomed right in front of him. His gloved hand gripped the padlock; in a second, it lay at his feet in a useless melted metal blob. One last vision of Riza crossed his mind…

He opened the door.

Riza stood stiffly, under the dim glow of a streetlight. Her eyes were fixed firmly on her watch, watching as the arrows dragged themselves along. Roy had been gone about seven minutes…only thirteen more until she could go after him.

It would be, she knew, the longest thirteen minutes of her life.

Roy's eyes adjusted quickly to the light, but not as quickly to what it was he was seeing. The room he now stood in was a large one, made of stone from ceiling to floor. Besides a few clear containers filled with god only knows what, the room was empty. Well….almost empty.

"Ah, Colonel Mustang. I was wondering when you'd choose to arrive." King Bradley sounded as calm and unruffled as ever. He did not seem at all shocked to see Roy there. "I apologize if the lab is not as busy as it usually is, but I had the more important artifacts removed so as not to hamper us. They're in the next room."

Roy clenched his fists. So much for a surprise attack. "You…knew?"

Bradley shook his head. "Of course I did. Tsk tsk, Colonel, I didn't think that would come as a surprise to you."

"How?"

"Now, now, a magician never reveals his secrets."

"Well, if you knew so much, why not just kill me in the first place," Roy growled.

Bradley smiled slightly. "Several reasons, actually. For one, I need you alive. But, in all honestly, the real reason is that I was looking forward to having a good fight with you, Colonel. After all, you're a famous alchemist. I've always been very intrested in you."

Oh, Roy knew that, all right. There had been a time, not so long ago, when Roy had respected, looked up to, even admired the president…

He smirked. "So, if you need me alive, how do you plan on fighting me, sir?"

Bradley sighed. "I should rephrase that. I would like you alive. But, if worse comes to worse, I can always find someone else. Famous or not famous, a war hero or not a war hero…" His voice went cold. "You are very replaceable, Colonel Mustang."

Roy glared. "Is that so?"

"Oh yes," Bradley nodded. "But, don't misunderstand me. All humans are replaceable. It really is a shame with you, though. I've had my eye on you for the longest time. For a while, you seemed like such a good soldier…ambitious, strong, followed all your orders. I really did think that you would be an excellent right-hand man one day. But then, you had to get too far ahead of yourself, and cook up a cocky little plan to overthrow me." Again, his voice became ice. "You forgot your place."

"Forgive me," Roy spat, "if I had some doubts about mindlessly obeying a mad man!"

"Please, Colonel, don't waste either of our times," Bradley said coolly. "Mindlessly obeying your superiors comes with the territory; you knew when you first joined the military that you'd spent the rest of your life bowing down to someone else."

"Yeah, but there's a difference between obeying your superiors, and obeying a homunculus!"

Bradley's tone became derisive. "Really, Colonel, what is the difference? Just because the leader of this country was created instead of given birth to…I look human, don't I?"

"It's not enough to just look human, homunculus."

"Oh yes," Bradley scorned, "because you would know so much about that. I seem to remember that you shot to fame during the Ishbal Rebellion, yes? You moved quite quickly up the ranks- how did that happen, again? Last time I checked, they don't give field promotions for being a saint on the front lines."

Roy's fists clenched again. But there was nothing he could do to keep Bradley from ripping wide open his barely-closed wounds.

"Don't fool yourself, Mustang, you got those promotions because you killed more people then the average soldier. You got those promotions because you were a more perfect killing machine then the rest." He smiled cruelly at the expression on Roy's face. "You think I don't know? I was a common soldier once too, just like you. Like you, I killed well enough to get promotion after promotion. Like I said, you and I are so very much alike…I was even considering you as my 'successor to the throne', as it were."

"Thanks for the consideration, but you're wrong!" Roy shouted. "You and I are nothing alike!"

"Of course we are! We're both murderers, aren't we? We've both taken life 'for the state'. You're just as power-hungry as I am, that's why you're doing this. All those fancy ideals of yours, those kind-hearted and righteous slogans you storm around ranting about, you don't really believe in them. You're like all humans, full of big words but no meaning. It's fine to rage about being moral and 'doing the right thing', but I don't remember you resisting too hard when they sent you to Ishbal. No, Colonel, don't lie to me. You're not trying to be a better leader. You just couldn't wait your turn to be the man pulling all the strings!"

"…You're right," Roy said quietly. "I didn't complain when I was sent to Ishbal. And humans are full of shit. But if you think we're alike….if you think I'm going to be just like you…well, go ahead and think that if you want. But it's not the truth."

"Oh, isn't it? Then tell me…what do you plan on doing if you usurp me and take my position? Force everyone to get along? Welcome the remnants of the Ishbalan race with open arms? Hmph….make sure they don't shoot you while you're trying. Honestly, Colonel Mustang..." His words were vicious and unrelenting. "What is it you expect will happen? You murdered their people, don't think they'll forget that so easily. You're trying to tell me that you don't want power for selfish reasons? Hah! You want the world to be perfect so that you can live with yourself. But I have news for you, Colonel…" he sneered, "The world isn't perfect. It never will be. And you'll never be able to drown your sorrows or your guilt." He smirked. "And you'll never deserve her."

"You're wrong! I'm not….I won't….You don't know shit about it!" And with that, Roy snapped. He lunged for the president, blind with fury. "You don't know shit about me!"

He swung a wild punch at the homunculus. Even as befuddled by anger as he was, it was a good punch, smooth and powerful from years of training. It should have landed easily…

It didn't.

The president stood still, acting as if he was just going to let Roy's fist collide with his jaw, until the very last second, when he…vanished. Or rather, when he jumped away with such speed, with such awesome and unbelievable power, that the human eye failed to catch him again until he had landed. Until he had landed neatly behind Roy, and sent him smashing into the wall with a punch to the back of the head so crushing it felt like a bullet had been pumped into the back of his skull.

"Unngh…!" Roy struggled to keep his footing as he pried himself off the wall. He turned on wobbling legs to the president.

"Very nice." Bradley nodded approvingly. "You really are the pride of the military's training. Your head didn't crack the slightest bit. Such a shame you decided to be difficult….I hate the idea of wasting one of the best candidates for presidency this country has ever seen, but since you insist on being rebellious…we can't have a president who won't listen to reason."

"R-Reason…?" Roy's head was throbbing fiercely. That punch…not only had it been a solid, powerful one, but the way Bradley threw it…it was almost as if the man had known all along that Roy was planning on attacking him exactly when he did. Which was, of course, impossible…wasn't it?

Bradley's eyes-or rather, eye, since the other one was hidden beneath a black eye patch- were gleaming. "In a few years, you could have been trained to be my equal. If you hadn't been so impatient, you could have had everything you've ever wanted, Mustang."

Everything? No…no, that wasn't true. He wouldn't have had respite from his nightmares…he wouldn't have had that long-sought after- and oh-so-rare- peace of mind that he could dimly remember taking for granted before the war…he wouldn't have had Riza…(not that he had her now, but still.) No, the one thing Roy was sure of was that he could never be happy as the president's lap dog, and he said as much, spitting the words out with as much venom as he could muster. Bradley laughed delightedly.

"You see? You're even as stubborn as I am! You and I really are alike."

"You…keep saying that, but that doesn't…make it true!"

The homunculus frowned. "One thing I will never understand about you humans is how you can look something in the face and not see it. Humans are weak and pathetic and will cave under about nearly anything if pressed long enough….and yet, they simply refuse to see what they don't want to see. This self-induced blindness boggles the mind."

"Oh…yeah?" Roy smirked. "Well, if you hate humans so much, then tell me- why's your closest slave a human?"

"…I'm afraid I haven't the faintest clue as to whom you're referring to…"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Roy snorted. "Don't you remember your own pets? Juliet Douglas, the pretty little secretary…I've seen her running around handling your dirty work. Why do you put so much trust in her if you think humans are so pathetic? Aren't there any other homunculi around that are as good-looking as she it?" He grinned. "Maybe you just like staring at a human girl's ass all day long."

President Bradley raised an eyebrow. "Please pardon my ignorance, but who ever said Ms. Douglas was human?"

Eleven…ten…

Riza gritted her teeth against her ill-concealed impatience. Only ten more minutes to go….except…could she wait, really wait, for ten more minutes? Roy was fighting, even now, she assumed- even now, while she stood around and waited.

She eyed her watch yet again. Was it possible that it was broken? Surely time didn't crawl this slowly…

Riza wasn't sure what was happening to her anymore. She'd never had trouble obeying orders like this before- sure, there were times when she disagreed, but her self-control was such that she was always able to keep her opinions to herself. She knew her place, all right…or at least…she used to. She didn't know what the heck she knew these days, except for one thing. There was one thing she was sure of, and that was that if something happened to Roy while she stood around and cooled her heels, she would never forgive herself. Never.

Nine minutes to go….she didn't think she'd be able to last for nine minutes, self-control or no self-control. She was so stressed, that she was actually considering just going after Roy right then and there. Chances were he wouldn't get thaat mad, and even if he did, it was worth a court-martial—hell, it was worth facing a firing squad—to keep him safe. Maybe she should just leave right now…

And that's when it hit her. It would take her a good five or six minutes to reach the prison from where she was, not to mention the precious time she'd need to actually find him once inside. So, if she was going to be there in exactly twenty minutes, like she'd promised, shouldn't she leave now?

Hmm…Riza considered this carefully and decided it made perfect sense. Heh….thank god for loopholes.

With that, she took off at a fast walk- ok, so it was more like a jog- down the street. Her heart was racing, her nerves strained to the max. Though, as always, she hid it well, her serene façade had started to snap neatly in two.

But it was ok, because she was coming, and she would protect him like she'd promised. Yes, she understood that he was a great fighter, and that he didn't always need her help, but…she just knew she had to be there this time. It was just one of those feelings, the kind that crawls up your spine and latches on tight. The kind that tells you something you might not want to hear, but that won't shut up, regardless of what you do. And this time, the feeling was telling her to get her ass into that prison and find Roy.

She turned the corner, speeding up as she went. Her mind was so filled with thoughts of Roy, of how he was doing and if she would be too late, that it took her a minute to realize she was no longer alone on the street.

"Going somewhere?"

Riza's head snapped up, and she stared at the young woman with long brown hair, a slender figure, and an expression so devoid of any emotion it was completely empty. And her eyes…her eyes were so…dead…it was hard to imagine this woman was human.

But, it wasn't like she was a stranger- Riza instantly recognized her as Juliet Douglas, the president's secretary. Why was she here? Even if she was mixed up with the homunculi- how could she not be? - it wasn't like she could fight or anything. She didn't even have a gun.

Whatever- Riza didn't have time to worry about this now.

"Ms. Douglas," she said coolly, making sure to keep her surprise off her face, "I was not expecting to find you here."

"Mmm…I was told to find you, and I had a feeling this was where you'd be."

"I see…" Riza was too caught up with her worry about Roy to notice how strange that sentence was. "I'm sorry for being rude, but I'm afraid I must be going…"

"Ah, yes." Douglas nodded. A small smile appeared on her face, but it didn't even begin to break the ice in her eyes. "I've already been informed of that."

Riza furrowed her brows in confusion. What was going on? Douglas was acting like she knew everything, but that wasn't possible...Roy's plan couldn't have leaked out, she was sure of it…

"…" She shook her head. She didn't have time for this! "I have to go now, so if there was something you needed me for, it will have to wait—"

"You cannot go any further, Lieutenant Hawkeye."

…What…?

Riza blinked. "E-Excuse me…?"

The other woman smiled frigidly again. "I'm afraid I cannot allow you to go any further."

Riza felt hot impatience stirring up inside her. She had to force herself to keep from shooting at the woman. Roy needed her! Whatever Douglas was up to, whatever tricks she was trying to pull, they'd have to wait!

"I'm sorry," she said as calmly as she could manage, "but I don't understand—"

"I've been ordered to keep you from coming any closer to the old prison. You cannot go any further, Lieutenant. That order comes straight from President Bradley, who, as I'm sure you're well aware, is ranked far higher then a colonel." She smiled—cruelly. "Roy Mustang will understand. After all, he could not expect you to disobey orders straight from the top."

Forget impatient…what Riza was feeling was waay past impatient by now. It was more like pissed off…extremely pissed off.

"Kindly step aside," she said through clenched teeth. "I already promised Colonel Mustang I'd assist him, and I intend to keep that promise."

Douglas looked fairly surprised. "I was not under the impression, Lieutenant, that you were the type to disobey orders." Riza didn't say anything. Douglas's cold smile became an even colder smirk, but her eyes remained vacant. "You do realize that you're risking serious consequences if you insist on being disobedient…"

Riza started walking again, towards the prison, and towards Roy. Her voice was even, quiet, and resigned. "…I'm willing to be court-martialed for this."

"I'm not talking…about a court martial."

Riza froze in her tracks. Slowly, she turned to look in disbelief at the woman with the icy smirk and the frozen eyes standing behind her. It wasn't possible…there was no way it could be possible…and yet, Riza knew she'd heard that woman threaten like that before, calmly and in an almost friendly tone of voice, like she was warning you for your own good, when really she was the one pulling the trigger. But that was impossible…the only times she'd ever seen Juliet Douglas were when she was with the president, and she never said anything when she was around him. She just trailed behind him silently, with her eyes on the ground, like a well-oiled machine, a robot that listened and fulfilled all its master's commands without the ability to think twice. No, it was not possible that she would have had the chance to menace someone else in such an eager manner. (She sounded almost hopeful, like she was hoping Riza would continue to resist so that she could carry out the consequences.) But Riza was so sure she'd heard that woman threaten before…

"I suggest you find her…it isn't your choice any longer, Greed…if you insist on being difficult…"

Riza's heart began to pound. Juliet noticed her stare and smiled again, seemingly flattered by this sudden show of disbelief.

Greed called whoever he was arguing with 'Sloth'…he was arguing with her, I'm sure of it…but…Sloth is…is a homunculus name…

Almost unwillingly, she looked into Juliet's eyes. Juliet's smile grew. The truth stared unflinchingly from her eyes until Riza could no longer ignore it, no longer have any doubts…

Juliet Douglas…is a homunculus.

"As I just informed you," Sloth said calmly, "You cannot go any further, Lieutenant Hawkeye. That…is an order."

AN- in case it was too vague, roy was being hit with the relization that he, at least in some ways, is a lot like Pride. 'cause, if you think about it, its true. they both are very driven, both VERY set on their goals (tho being behind as i am i'm not sure what Pride's are, yet ;;) and they both even wear an eyepatch! (lol, at least towards the end...). as for riza, her relization is more obvious- sloth's a homunculi! whee, yay irony! XD

oh, i've another question- does anyone know, by chance, what pride's powers are? i'm having thruble with that...lol.