A Good Man
by Prettywitchiusaka
Why am I even here?
With the way I'm feeling, I'd rather be getting wasted in the comfort of my home, not some local dive in the middle of East City.
But it's Hawkeye's day off and I promised her we'd go out for drinks after my shift, so here we are.
I breathed a deep sigh onto the table.
That woman confuses me.
She's the smartest, most mature person I've ever known.
Her skills as a sharpshooter are unmatched.
And with the exception of Hughes, she has to be the most direct and honest friend I have.
So that begs the question…Why does she stay with me?
It's stupid, I know. She's my friend. We've watched each other's backs since the academy. We walked through the pits of hell together in Ishbal. She swore loyalty to me after I told her about my plans to become Furhur, becoming my protector.
But I can't help it…
Gurnman had informed me that Furhur Bradley would be at Eastern Headquarters today with some of the Generals for an inspection of the base. That's fine; the Elrics were on vacation right now, so there wasn't any paperwork I'd need to account for. No. The problem was that the Generals accompanying him were Hakuro and Basque Gran!
"Great!" I'd thought to myself! Now I have to deal with a bunch of gossipy old men. What is this, high school!?
Anyway, I'd managed to avoid them for most of the morning, but lunch time was another story. The cafeteria was full, so I was forced to sit at a table behind them. And, naturally, they started talking about me, knowing I'd be able to hear them.
Many of them were rumours I'd heard before.
That I sleep around left and right.
That I only got to where I was by sucking up to the higher ups or banging their wives.
That Harkuro should be the one in charge of looking after Fullmetal and not me.
I rolled my eyes and continued eating. None of this was anything new, and frankly, I've had worse said about myself. I'm just tired of hearing it, constantly.
It's what they said next, though…
"Where do you suppose Lieutenant Hawkeye is? I haven't seen her today."
"Ah, you know Mustang; probably fucked her so hard she can't get out of bed."
"Oh right. I forgot."
"Such a waste. She'd probably be somewhere in her career if it weren't for him."
Yeah…That got to me. Enough that I left and ate the rest of my lunch outside.
I know it shouldn't bother me, but…how can it not!?
I hate that people talk shit about her for associating with me!
They think she's some woman I seduced into being my own, personal slut, when they don't know how hard she works or even how reliable she is!
It just…it makes me want to burn their tongues off!
And the worst of it…is that I start to wonder if they're right? Maybe I am holding her back.
The thought alone is enough to make me realize why, three scotch's in, I'm already a drunk, miserable mess on a Tuesday evening.
She deserves better than this!
I rolled my head to the right so I could face the Lieutenant, who was silently nursing her first glass of wine and just…asked her.
"Why do you put up with me, Hawkeye?"
She turns to face me and…I'm speechless. It might be the liquor talking, but the dim lighting in this place helps punctuate just how beautiful she really is. With her long, blonde locks, toned, slim legs, and amber eyes that can bore their way into a man's soul; she's fit to be a Queen.
"You're smart, beautiful, you can shoot around the best assassins the military has to offer. You shouldn't be waiting on some dumbass Colonel."
She raises an eyebrow. "And pray tell, what should I be doing?"
"I don't know," I said, shrugging. "You could lead your own team, train snipers. Who knows!?"
She nods, silently. It makes me smile. Maybe she agrees with me for a change…Is what I thought before she turned back to face the back tender.
"Geoffrey?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you cut Colonel Mustang off, and start a tab? I'll pay for both of us tonight."
"You got it!"
Unbelievable! Here I am, trying to have a heart to heart with her to ease my guilt and she goes and takes my booze away! She's even paying for the damn drinks when I'M the one who asked her to hang out!
Who the hell does she think she is, my MOM!?
"Oh, come on!" I protested.
"Sorry, Sir, but I think you've had enough to drink for one night," she said, taking another sip of her wine.
"But-"
"I said no!"
And that's when I gave up trying to argue with her. There's no point. Once she gets that look of tranquil fury in her eyes, no one, not even the Fuhrur himself, can make her change her mind.
I slumped my head back against the bar table and grumbled. If it wasn't bad enough that I'm feeling miserable, now I realize I've just gone and pissed her off.
God! I'm so pathetic…
She took me home about twenty minutes later and helped me into my apartment. She even helped me into bed and removed my shoes for me.
I couldn't help smiling.
"Thanks."
No answer. Instead, the Lieutenant is too busy covering me with a blanket.
She must still be mad at me. Not that I blame her. "I'm sorry about earlier," I said as she placed the bedspread over my shoulders.
"I know."
"Wait. Really!?" I thought to myself. I tilted my head up and, sure enough, I watched her nod her head in assurance.
I breathed a sigh of relief as my head fell back onto the pillow. "Good! I wasn't looking to offend you."
She took a seat on the bed next to me.
"I was more annoyed than offended, really."
I smirked. I really should know better than to doubt her.
"You know, you should really get out of the military once I get to the Top," I said. "You could finally live a normal life, find yourself a good man."
I watched her stoic gaze turn into a gentle smile.
"I already have a good man," she whispered, leaning in. Her lips brushed against my forehead in the form of a kiss.
It's at this moment I realize how much of an idiot I'm being. She's chosen to stay with me for reasons that are entirely her own. I'm worth fighting for, at least to her.
Makes me wish I hadn't let those comments get to me.
"Goodnight, Roy."
"Goodnight, Riza."
After she left, I slowly drifted to sleep, the taunts of my superiors becoming a distant memory. The last thing I remember thinking before my drowsiness overtook me was that I'm glad to have such a fantastic woman at my side.
The End
