Disclaimer: I don't own FMA or Miss Congeniality…at all.
Beauty the Military
Ch. 1: A Regrettable Error
It was another call, another seemingly average, yet rainy day. Colonel Roy Mustang, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and the rest of the team were on another mission from the Brigadier General.
Riza, before they left, secured her gun in its holster, and followed Sergeant Furey, and Second Lieutenant Havoc.
"Remember, this isn't a routine capture." Roy said when all of them arrived.
The others nodded, and headed towards the restaurant, where their lead told them to go.
"This guy is supposed to be really tough…" Master Sergeant Furey said, in slight nervousness.
Riza sighed, and looked at him.
"Trust the Colonel's leadership. He knows what he's doing." She said calmly.
Her gun ready, she looked at the Colonel's team, and entered the building with them.
"Stay put!" Roy called his gloves and gun ready.
Riza gave him an odd look,
"Please, tell me that he's not going to use alchemy dripping wet…" she prayed.
The man that they were after looked at them, and revealed gloves, similar to Roy's.
"He's Ligue, the Blue Lightning Alchemist!" Falman exclaimed, "He uses his gloves to make sparks, but instead of blowing things up, he uses ions in the water vapor in the air, for the electrical current to travel. With a bit of aiming, he hits his target with deadly force, accuracy, and speed."
Riza aimed her gun for his head, ready to shoot in a split second.
Ligue looked at Riza with his grey eyes, was about to strike at her, but started to turn purple and choke.
"Nobody move!" The Colonel barked, his gun still pointed at the man.
"He's choking sir!" Riza observed.
"Don't move, Lieutenant!" Roy barked again.
"But sir, I received direct orders from the Brigadier General, to take him in a live." Riza said, running to Ligue, and performing the Heimlich maneuver.
One the man had stopped choking; he grabbed Riza, and held her roughly around the neck.
"Lieutenant!" Roy exclaimed.
"Move or I'll shock her like a lightning rod!" he said, preparing his gloves.
Riza was frightened for a few seconds, but gained her rational thought quickly.
After elbowing Ligue in the stomach, she turned around, and pinned him down.
"Yeah, that's what you get for messing with a Military officer!" she growled.
Ligue's followers, however, started shooting at the Riza and her team.
Many shots were heard through the restaurant, and Riza used her gun, with her usual keen eye, and accurate aim.
A gasp of pain then came from the golden-haired man fighting beside her.
Riza turned, to see him holding his shoulder in pain, as blood started to stain his blue military uniform.
"Hold on, Havoc…" she said, kneeling down to him, "Colonel, he's wounded!"
Roy looked over to her and Havoc, as his men started to finish off his followers.
"We'll call an ambulance." Roy said, signaling to Furey.
Furey nodded, after Roy gave him the order.
"I have it under control lieutenant." Roy said
Riza stood, feeling totally guilty.
"I'm sorry Colonel…" Havoc said weakly.
"Don't apologize; you did a good job out there. We're gonna get you better, okay?" Roy said calmly.
Havoc nodded, as an ambulance siren broke the silence.
Riza watched as Havoc was loaded up.
"I should've stayed put…" she lamented.
"Hey, you made a choice. It wasn't a good one, but you moved…" Roy said.
Riza just sighed, and they headed back to headquarters.
The entire drive, she questioned her decision and knew that her career would be in jeopardy.
Roy would glance at her every few seconds.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine." She said softly.
After packing her things at her desk, back at East headquarters, she went to the shooting range to release some of her unwanted emotions.
She made several shots, and all except for one, were perfectly on target.
"I have to get rid of this guilt…" she said, scolding herself.
The next day, she headed to a small coffee shop, and picked up their orders, as she usually did.
She gave everyone their usual order, and went to her desk. Seeing a small note, she picked it up and read it.
It was a summon by the Brigadier General for a required meeting. She nodded, and headed to the conference room.
Many officers were there, so she knew, that it wasn't her mistake that they were going to discuss.
"I'm sure you're all worried about how Second Lieutenant Havoc's condition is. He's fine, and he'll be out in two weeks. Oh, and he is expecting a lot of gifts." The Brigadier General said.
Everyone smiled, and sighed in relief.
"But, we have some bad news." The General continued, "We believe, that Tornado has struck again. He left another riddle, and we have no leads. Colonel, gather another team to look into this case. Now, Dismissed!"
Roy nodded, saluted, and waited for the Brigadier General to leave the room, fixing his mustache the entire way.
Riza smiled at the good news, but followed the Brigadier General.
"Sir?" she asked timidly, her hands stiffly at her sides.
He looked at her,
"Yes Hawkeye?" he asked glaring at her, "What is it?"
"Permission to speak freely sir…" she requested, her right hand, moving to a salute.
"Permission granted." He said.
"I just came to apologize for not exactly obeying orders the other day." She said.
He faced her, a slight flame in his eyes.
"You either obey orders, or you don't. There are no excuses for putting yourself and other officers in danger. "The Brigadier General said.
"Yes, I totally agree sir…" she said, "But I request for the ability to work on the Tornado case. I think I could benefit the case."
The General continued to glare at her,
"Like you did last night? I want you to bury yourself in a large stack of paperwork." He said, "Understand? Good, now, you're dismissed."
He walked away, as Riza stood.
She then headed to a nearby bar, where she ordered a small drink.
Roy then walked in with his newest date.
"Hello Lieutenant." He said, as the red-haired girl leaned on his shoulder.
Riza nodded her head.
"Hello Colonel." She said, "On another date I see."
She sipped her drink, as the girl looked at her.
"You really work for the military?" she asked.
Riza nodded,
"Yep, I really am an official military officer." Riza answered.
"Oh, and do all female officers have to wear that masculine kind of outfit?" the redhead asked.
Riza sighed,
"Yes, it's required." She said.
Riza then glared at Roy,
"Well, we'll just let you enjoy your drink." Roy said.
"Of course." She said, watching them walk away.
Riza finished her drink, and solemnly headed back to the office, in order to try to finish that riddle, and her large amount of paperwork.