In no way, shape or form do I take credit for creation or ownership of the Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist) series. The original manga is the property of Hiromu Arakawa and the anime is the property of Bones animation studio.
She didn't know how long she had stayed lost in thought like that, but the light falling through the top of the cavern from above was finally starting to dim when Roy opened his eye once more, fixing her with a tired stare.
Ever so slowly, as though loath to move from his resting spot, Roy pushed himself up until he was sitting under his own power, looking intently at his devoted subordinate, his faithful defender and partner. After a few moments of staring, he reached over and unclasped her skewed hair barrette, letting her matted and sweaty hair fall around her shoulders while he slipped the clip into her pocket.
"Taisa?" She asked, confused at his actions and his serious look.
Roy shook his head slowly. "It's nothing, Hawkeye. I'm just making sure that you still match the image of you that I recalled from my recovery last time." Seeing her confusion in her eyes, he merely smiled. "I just wanted to see your hair down," he said with a small smile as he managed to push himself to his feet. "It was falling down anyways." Cocking his head to the side, he stared for a few more moments before adding "It's longer than I remember."
Holding a hand down to her, he helped her stand before dusting off his pants, sending much of the blood that had dried on his hands flaking to the floor. "Well, should we go assess the damage up above?" Roy asked, gesturing to the long, sloping path that Riza had run down what seemed like hours and hours ago.
"Yes sir, Taisa," Riza replied, throwing a sharp salute, moving out a step and a half behind Roy as they made their way through the forgotten city. She was constantly alert of his condition as they made their way through the streets, ever on the lookout for a loss of balance or a flash of weakened constitution, ready to assist him should he need her.
They managed to make their way back to headquarters with only minimal incidents where Roy's tired body needed assistance to continue on, each falter in his step met by strong and capable hands supporting him. As the pair approached, they could see the vague outlines of Havoc and Breda lingering outside by the main entrance, as though waiting for the pair.
Slowing their speed, Roy looked at the woman walking beside him, ever the poised soldier, even with her long hair loose and flowing behind her as she was at the moment. "It seems we'll all have our work cut out for us, helping the citizens of Central with the repair efforts," he observed as he surveyed the damage to the city around them.
"So it would seem, Taisa," Riza replied, her eyes still focused ahead of them.
With a small smile, Roy placed a hand on her arm, just for a few seconds, but long enough for both, for now. "It's good to be back."
Riza's serious face softened and she glanced at him out of the sides of her eyes. "It's good to have you back, Sir."
"So, will I get fresh fruit cut for me again, now that I've returned?" Roy asked, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as they began to mount the steps, nearing their compatriots.
"We'll see," Riza tossed him one last small look before fixing her features once more. "Sir," she added, almost as an afterthought.
Breda and Havoc threw up sharp salutes as the pair neared the top steps. "Mustang-Taisa, Hawkeye-Chuui," Havoc said, his unlit cigarette falling out of his mouth as he noticed Riza's hair. "Sir, the higher-ups would like to speak with you about your actions today. I believe they wished to speak with you alone, Sir."
"Oh?" Roy asked with interest, dusting off his messy uniform as best he could and ignoring the looks his former subordinates were shooting at the blood staining both his coat and Riza's.
Breda spoke up then, hitting Havoc in the arm lightly. "I wouldn't worry, Taisa. The word around the area has been that they want you back here and that they want you reinstated in your rank, with the possibility for a promotion considering your quick thinking and service to your capital and country today. 'Course, that's all unofficial though, Sir."
Roy merely nodded in response, standing still for a few moments as Riza straightened his uniform and brushed his bangs back into some semblance of control for him before setting off, leaving his three former subordinates standing together on the front steps of Headquarters, surrounded on all sides by people working on cleanup crews.
Pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, Havoc placed it between his lips and began searching his other pockets for a lighter while Breda eyed Riza, looking like he wanted to say something. Riza, for her part, was still looking in the direction that Roy had left, her face as void of expression as ever. Noticing that Breda wasn't going to start talking any time soon, Havoc took it upon himself to start the conversation with their superior officer and friend. "Chuui, Ma'am, are you okay?"
The few quick blinks of her eyes before she turned her head to face him were the only signs that Havoc got that he'd startled Riza before she answered. "Of course, why would I not be?"
Havoc shrugged and started opening his coat in order to search his internal pockets for his missing lighter. "It's been a while since you've seen him, that's all. And, of course, today has been long and strenuous for us all, Ma'am." He smiled at her before continuing. "Besides, if Mustang-Taisa takes over again, you'll no longer be the only Chuui with her own dispatch of subordinates, since we'll all likely be back under his command."
"That's not all she'll be under with him back," Breda said with a sly smirk, earning him a hard slap to the back of his head from Havoc, and a 'do I have to shoot you?' look from Riza as she finally took pity on Havoc and pulled the unnoticed matchbook that was resting in the crook between his head and his left ear free and handed it to him.
"Dammit, Breda, don't say shit like that about Hawkeye and Mustang-Taisa!" he sneered, throwing a frown at his peer and an apologetic look to Riza as he lit his cigarette. "You ought'a know better than to talk about a lady's personal business so casually like that," he scolded, blowing a lungful of smoke in his face in retaliation.
With a mumbled "My apologies, Hawkeye-Chuui," Breda saluted and left, jogging back over to the group he and Havoc had been working with before they were ordered to deliver their message.