DISCLAIMER: I don't own fma or any of the characters.
CHAPTER 3 – Crying at Midnight
Roy stood there in their office hugging Riza. For the longest time they hadn't spoken a word so when Roy opened his mouth his voice cracked.
"Why don't I walk you home Riza?"
"I would like that very much si- Roy." Riza stuttered. Roy smiled. He grabbed his jacket as he followed Riza out the door. Once Roy locked the office doors he slowly followed Riza down the steps leading into one of the HQ courtyards.
The moon was a crescent in the sky and its light was bright enough for the two military officers to walk through the darkened city. Roy walked side by side with Riza. He let his mind wander aimlessly about until he thought back to the dream he had before he kissed Riza. Roy blushed thinking about the kiss. He wanted to do it again but was afraid that Riza would shoot him for it now that she was a bit on edge. The woman in his dream drew his attention. He then remembered that beyond her blurry face was golden blonde hair that was pinned up. In fact it was almost identical if not the same as the way Riza put her hair up.
Roy looked over at Riza. Her hair pinned up in its clip and her expression, troubled. His smile drooped a little. He wondered what was bugging her. Was it he? He wanted to comfort her, hug her in his arms and tell her that whatever was unsettling her would go away. The rough hardened military man in his head told him not to. Content to just having her presence there beside him he walked on and almost stopped suddenly when he realized something. Could the woman in his dream be Riza?
Walking next to Roy, Riza felt on the border of worry and exhaustion. Her little voice had some back telling her if they were caught both of them would be stripped of their ranks. Try as she might that little voice wouldn't go away. She then chose to not listen to it.
Riza shook slightly from the cold. She cursed herself for forgetting to grab her jacket from her chair in the office. On she walked at the side of Roy Mustang, trembling unnoticeably to him she hoped. Her apartment, she realized, was quite a ways away. Riza had never noticed this until just now. When she walked to the office by herself it seemed so much shorter. She shrugged the thought off and sped up her pace a bit.
Roy thought long and hard. Could she be that woman from my dream? Although I never saw her face that doesn't mean I'm neither right nor wrong. Then an idea popped into Roy's head.
"Riza…?" Roy asked.
Riza tripped slightly at the use of her name. In an almost unheard voice she responded,
"Yes, si-… I mean, Roy."
"Do you ever get… er… have dreams about the war?" His voice was a little shaky. Riza thought back to the night before now not wanting to go home. Not wanting to relive the nightmare of the burning town, searching for the man who now accompanied her. Nor did she want to seem weak at the thought of not wanting to go home. Afraid of memories that were only half-true. She scoffed aloud at the thought; the sneer made Roy cautious. She only looked down at the sidewalk underneath her feet.
"Riza?" Roy asked again. Riza didn't answer the question for they had at last reached Riza's house. She pulled out her keys trying to find her door key. A bark from inside informed them that Black Hayate was guarding the door. The yipping became louder when she opened the door and a black and white dog bounded out trying to climb upon Riza. She commanded the pup to stop and Black Hayate immediately obeyed.
"Well she certainly trained him well." Roy mumbled to himself. In the doorway of her apartment she whirled around to face him. There he stood on the bottom step of her stairs.
"Would you like to come in?" Riza asked. Roy gawked at her. Is she seriously inviting me in?
Riza didn't want to be rude so she asked if he wanted to come in. He just stood there. He didn't budge. Is it that astonishing? Riza wanted to giggle but suppressed the outburst. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it, nodding his head in answer. Riza stepped aside letting him pass into her living room.
"Anything to drink? Coffee?" She asked politely.
"Coffee please." Roy replied uneasy. Riza watch him look around her apartment. She was always somewhat of a neat freak so the room was spick and span. She strode into the kitchen leaving him in the other room. Searching her cupboards for the spare coffee she kept for visitors. She didn't like coffee that much.
"Riza are you going to answer my question?" Roy's voice came from somewhere behind her. She stopped rummaging around and confronted him.
"There are just some things left unanswered." She damned herself after she responded. She didn't want to seem imprudent but the war still was a soft part for her. She went back to hunting for the coffee. She felt a hand grip her wrist and hot air tickling her neck. She tried to wriggle out of the grasp but couldn't.
"Riza tell me truthfully. Do you have nightmares about the war?" Roy's voice came from directly behind her ear. She suddenly went limp and felt her body being rotated. Tears threatened to rush down her face. She cast her glance to the titled floor beneath them. She wouldn't look into his eyes.
"Riza… please… tell me. I want to know…" Roy's speech sounded worried. Riza couldn't take the pressure anymore.
"YES! OK! I DO STILL HAVE HORRIBLY UGLY NIGHTMARES! Are you happy now…?" Riza screamed as she shook her head, tears flying from her closed eyes. Her head fell limp. She now cried uncontrollably. Two fingers lifted her head. She wanted to look away but couldn't, his gentle hands made her cry even worse than before. He wiped away her tears with his fingers.
"It's ok Riza, I'm right here." Roy whispered, "I didn't know how much the war effected even you… You know when I fell asleep at work earlier? I was in the middle of a nightmare. A woman had found me though. She had hair like yours, even her face I figure would have looked like yours. She found me bloody and barely alive. The last thing I remember was her carrying me somewhere, way from the burning place we were in." Roy's voice gave way.
He didn't want to seem weak especially in front of Riza. He held her tighter. Riza's crying calmed down to silent hiccups.
The clock on the wall struck midnight the ring echoed throughout the room. It was tomorrow. Roy released her leaving her standing there alone. He went to the living room, retrieved his coat and walked to the front door.
As if on cue, Roy opened the door Black Hayate pounced on him. The little pup wouldn't get off him. Black Hayate was licking Roy's face over and over again; he was trying to get the dog off him. A whistled rang though the room. Black Hayate's head popped up hearing the noise. He vaulted over Roy's head and skipped towards the sound. Roy watched as the young dog ran off into the shadows of the hallway.
Then Roy saw Riza step out of the shadows followed by Black Hayate who was at her heel. She walked over to him and stood over him looking down upon his face.
"Would you like some help up?" she asked.
"No I like it here on the ground thank you." Roy replied sarcastically. Riza smiled. She helped him up and Roy brushed himself off. Black Hayate scampered in between them wondering in his only little head what was going on.
Roy thanked her and opened the door. It was pouring down rain outside. He stood there in the doorway looking out into the world. He sighed, why did I have to rain? Exactly when I'm about to leave?
Riza knew how much her colonel hated the rain. Since he was the flame alchemist it didn't do much to have the ability if it was raining.
"It didn't say it was going to rain today." She heard him sigh.
"Well not everyone can be right now can they?"
Roy swung around. A smile brushed across her face. Riza couldn't wait for his answer. Roy shook his head in an annoyed way. She knew he knew where she was going with this.
"You know Colonel, you could stay until the rain stops." Riza offered.
"Thank you, lieutenant." Roy smiled. He closed the door throwing his coat over the side of a near by chair.
rizahawkeye21
A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating sooner. I've been kinda busy what with school and stuff. I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. It has really helped me. I was stuck on some parts this chapter so it isn't as smooth as the others are. Thanks again!