Royai Week 2022 Day 5: Reunion
Word Count: 1135
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: T
Characters: Roy Mustang, Riza Hawkeye
Warning:
Summary: Even meeting up in the tunnels beneath Central just before putting a plan for a coup into action is a reunion.
Notes: Please note that for the canon scene, I used the manga and not the anime, mostly because I could lay my hands on the scene in the manga faster than I could look it up in the anime. I also altered a word here and there for better flow.

Reunion

The door opened, and all heads snapped up to look at it. Or at least, that was how Roy imagined it must have happened, because in the split second before he was recognized and they relaxed, his men were focused and ready. Breda, with his steadfast gaze and calculating mind clearly already running possibilities. Fuery, a newfound determination and readiness clear in his stance. Hayate, ever alert, but clearly already positive as to who it was. Riza, her eyes sharp, focused, and positioned to where in an instant a gun could be in her hand and firing.

His eyes lingered on her a little bit longer.

They relaxed the instant they recognized him, smiles on all of their faces. Roy supposed that they were as relieved as he was to be back together again, even if they were all about to risk their lives in a last gambit. It had been too long and too hard without each other.

"You're late, Colonel," Breda said, clearly poking a little fun at him. Roy couldn't help but notice the amused upturning of Riza's lips. "We were going to leave without you, sir."

Roy couldn't help but grin back. "It's strange how your verbal abuse sounds so comforting right now!"

Tense though it was, the atmosphere in the room seemed to ease a little at this banter. Roy stepped further in, making sure that the door was closed behind him. He glanced around the room and stepped a little closer to Riza. She looked a little more haggard than the last time he had seen her, reminding him more and more of how she had looked living under her father. Roy blamed Selim and his near-constant surveillance for it. Living like that was clearly taking its toll on her.

"You weren't followed, were you?" he asked, knowing that Riza would know exactly what he was asking about. He wasn't sure if she had told the others about Selim yet, but he wasn't going to take the risk of calling the homunculi out now.

Riza's smile eased his worries. "He would let us know if we were being followed," she said, indicating Hayate.

Mentally, Roy thanked every being he could think of for Hayate. The little dog had been able to comfort Riza when he couldn't. And, it seemed, Riza had figured out how to use the dog as a warning system for Selim.

Instead of saying any of that, though, Roy bend to look at the dog a bit closer. "The pooch is pulling his weight, I see."

"I almost think we should give him a rank," Fuery said with a sheepish grin.

An idea sparked in Roy's head at that, and his grin turned a bit sly. "All right then! How about we make him a second lieutenant?" He glanced at Riza, who was trying to suppress a smile. Roy was glad to see the mirth dancing in her eyes.

Fuery gasped. "But that's a higher rank than me!"

Roy grinned at Fuery's reaction, but he let it fade as he stood back up, looking over at Riza. "What's the Bradley family up to?" he asked, knowing that they had to get down to business.

"I've learned what their schedule is for the next three days," Riza said, falling back into business, stepping a bit closer to him as she talked. "The Fuhrer has gone to the East area to observe the training session. Selim went with him."

Selim being gone was good. That was one complication they wouldn't have to worry about yet. But it appeared as if they hadn't heard the news.

"Well, that's the thing," Roy said, glancing at Riza and then at the other two men. "Apparently the train that the Fuhrer was riding on fell to the bottom of a canyon."

Roy could see the shock on their faces and was not the least bit surprised when Breda was the first to say something.

"That's unbelievable!" The red head said. His shock, though, was short lived, quickly giving way to the logistics of the situation. "I bet it was old man Grumman who planned it."

"What a bold move," Fuery said.

Roy glanced at Riza, knowing what she was thinking, what both of them were thinking.

"The Fuhrer and Selim are both missing," Roy said, voicing their thoughts. "Is this a golden opportunity? Or is it a trap?"

And if it was a trap, a trap by who? Their enemies? Grumman? General Armstrong? The last two were on their side, but Roy wouldn't put it past them to try to use the situation to their advantage, even if it meant putting him in a trap.

He could see Riza thinking the same thing.

"Even if it is a trap, we have no choice but to move forward," Breda said.

"I agree," Fuery said.

Roy nodded, looking at Riza again. She subtly shifted towards him again, giving her silent agreement.

"If you want to escape, now's the time," Roy said, feeling as if he owed them one last chance.

They almost didn't let him finish speaking.

"Too late for that, sir," they all said.

Riza straightened up a bit, stepping more in line with Breda and Fuery, clearly taking lead of the other two, and looked Roy straight in the eyes. "Your orders?"

For a moment, Roy stared at her, stared at all of them.

He was about to commit them to a path that there was no return from. This was everything, for all of them. His eyes met Riza's. They were full of resolve, promise, and determination. Roy straightened up slightly in response.

"We have a one-way ticket to the battlefield. If we fail, we can never come back. Which is why there is only one order I can give to you all—Don't Die! That is all!"

There was a snapping of heels, sharp salutes, and then firm voices.

"Aye, aye, sir!"

Roy stared at them for a moment more, then gave a singular nod of his head. "Then let's move out.

The salutes were dropped, and they quickly moved about, preparing themselves for the coming battle. Roy changed into his uniform. Everyone checked their ammo again. Riza went over the Bradley family plans with them all one more time, and then, together, they headed out.

If Breda and Fuery noticed the way that Roy's gaze and proximity to Riza tended to linger, neither of them said anything about it. Riza, as well, didn't say anything either, just subtly stepped into it. As they walked along, the two of them glanced at each other. Perhaps it wasn't the reunion that either of them would have wanted, or the reunion that anyone would have thought that they would want to have, but for them, at this moment, together, it was enough.