DISCLAIMER: I don't own fma or any of the characters.
CHAPTER 13 – The Problem: Maes Hughes
Roy politely held the building door open for Riza. She nodded her head in thanks. Riza shielded her face shyly from Roy, not wanting him to see the light blush that was spreading across her face.
Together they walked down the corridor alone. Silence came between the two military personal. It wasn't exactly a friendly silence but nor was it an awkward silence.
When only five meters separated them from their unit door a bobbing head flew up into their faces. Both Roy and Riza jumped back in surprise. Knowing Riza though she whipped out her gun in two seconds flat aiming the end at their 'attacker'.
"Geez watch where you point that thing!" a voice hollered from down the barrel of the gun. Riza clicked the safety back on and withdrew the gun, holstering it.
"Sorry sir." Riza said monotone.
"That's alright I really didn't want my head blown off is all." The raven-haired man replied. Maes Hughes.
He was smiling psychotically which began to worry Riza. What was he smiling scary about?
"Morning you two!" Maes blurted out on a happier note. Riza smiled slightly as she sorted her thoughts out.
Come on Riza! Pull yourself together! Just because you had a wonderful night last night doesn't mean it should interfere with work. You've got to stay on top of things or else others will think something's up.
"Good morning, sir." Riza replied nonchalantly.
Side-stepping the lieutenant colonel, Riza made her way to the door of her office. Her colonel, following her like Black Hayate. As Riza and Roy walked passed the desks of their co-workers she spotted one specifically. His black hair stood out like a sore thumb among the blondes and brunettes of the unit. He looked somewhat distressed. And Riza knew the reason. Next to him she spotted Hayate curled in a ball around his feet. He looked up to his master then rested his head back on his paws.
"Good morning everyone." Riza heard a masculine voice behind her call out. Roy's voice. Purposefully, Riza marched ahead, ignoring all he stares she was receiving from her colleagues. They had already been staring at her the moment she opened the door from the hallway.
Opening the door Roy and hers desks, she heard the excited voice of Maes Hughes following behind them. Dumping her stuff on her desk, she excused herself from the room.
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After Riza left the office Maes Hughes broke out into questions.
"How come you two came to work together? You didn't pick up the phone when I called earlier this morning…" Maes stopped long enough for an evil smile to spread across his face, "Maybe cause you weren't there. Maybe I should have called Hawkeye's house instead…" Roy tried with all his might to keep from blushing at the mention of Riza's name.
"Stop all this nonsense Hughes! Don't be ridiculous! You know Riza- she's not like that…" With the exception of last night…
If you could have seen Maes' face you would have been scared to death like Roy was. The expression had grown from a smile to a mile wide grin. It frightened Roy but he wasn't going to admit that to Maes anytime soon.
"On first name basis no are we?" Maes asked with his creepy smirk. Roy paled. He had let something major slip, her first name.
"No of course not." Roy spoke sternly. His voice was like steel, strong and unbreakable but his insides were the exact opposite, jello.
"Riiiight. And I should believe you because?" Maes questioned.
"Shut up Maes." Roy growled. That expression on Hughes' face just wouldn't go away.
There suddenly was a loud thump on the door. It was as if there were people piled against the door trying to her what was being said. Roy slowly got up from his desk and strolled over to the door. In one swift motion he swung the door open. Bodies came crashing down in front of him along with a few shouts here and there.
Roy studied the lump of people before him. Untangling themselves Havoc, Falman, Breada and Brosh stood wearily to face the flame alchemist. Awaiting their sentence the group stood there on edge.
Roy looked at them all with a hint of disgust clearly shown on his face. I can't believe this! My own subordinates! …Actually I can believe this. Havoc and Breada are known for their nosiness as is Brosh… but Falman? What should I expect especially from them?…
"In my office. Now." Roy snarled in a low, dangerous voice. Slowly they shuffled their feet in to the colonel's office. Looking at them with such stern eyes Roy spoke slowly and clearly.
I should punish you all for eavesdropping," The heads of all the officers dropped to stare at the ground at this, "I should but I won't. Next time though," Their heads rose to meet Roy's, "next time you won't be so lucky. Now out you go. You should all be doing your paperwork." Than he added as they were herded through the door, "Please don't bug me today, unless it's an emergency or something." His subordinates all nodded eagerly in agreement and trooped out in an almost hurried fashion.
Roy plopped himself back down in his chair. The only person that remained to get rid of was Hughes. Roy sighed; it was going to be a very long day.
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When Riza returned to the unit room the air was filled with heavy hints of breaths being held. Staying long enough to glance around the room she saw that whenever her gaze fell upon any one individual their eyes didn't meet hers. Willingly, Riza threw the office door open. No one was there, not even the colonel. Her blood began to simmer.
Even though Roy and Riza were "together" that didn't mean he couldn't go off and do whatever he liked. No, this only meant she was going to need to keep Roy on a tighter leash.
Reluctantly Riza sat down. No sense in chasing after him. He'll have to show up sooner or later. Right? Diligently she went to work on her paperwork until she heard a voice shouting, apparently to someone else in the same room.
"Would you stop saying that? I know already!"
Riza heard a mutter of reply, which was followed by an anguish exclamation.
Then she noticed the doorknob twist and dropped her gaze back to her papers, which awaited her signature. She ignored the man that stomped into the room who was followed by another only not stomping. Although they were no longer speaking the tension in the room was high.
"Don't you have work to do Maes?" Roy suddenly asked.
"Ah ha!" Maes shouted. Riza looked up at the man with an expression she hoped was one that said what-in-the-world-are-you-shouting-about? In return Riza received a smile of (to her) stupidity.
"Maes I'm not going to play games with you. Out now, before I burn you to a crisp. I've got paperwork to do and so do you." Roy told him.
"And plenty of it I see." Maes snickered. Only then did Roy see the massive pile of meaningless papers heaped high on his desk. Oh how right Roy was. It was going to be a very long day.
Rizahawkeye21A/N: First I'll apologize for not updating yesterday. I was up lol…sry inside joke at my aunt's house. I wrote it while I was there though so don't get too mad at me. It took me awhile to type but I got it done. Please tell me if there are any mistakes like grammar or spelling so I can change it. thanks! Hope you enjoy this ch!