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Chapter 3
Roy sighed a defeated one; his shoulders slouched slightly as he stood in front of Maes Hughes' grave, wearing the neat and straight military uniform while he held his cap with his clean, white gloves.
"In the end, I couldn't muster up the courage to propose to her that night." He muttered. "Makes me wonder how on Earth did you manage to propose to Miss Gracia."
He reached his hand to his pocket, and took the velvet, sophisticatedly designed ring box out, then opened it, and smiled down at the exquisite, precious ring that shimmered under the sunlight and murmured. "Look, isn't it beautiful? I can only hope that she'll accept it." He inhaled a deep breath and declared to the grave. "Today's the big day, and I will definitely propose today. But speaking of which,
"I'm going to be the Führer starting from today, Hughes! After all these years of being in the military, but I have to admit, it was a lot faster than I thought it'd be." Roy continued as he announced it proudly, contentment and merriness evident in his voice. "I just finished preparing the speech two days ago, and I've been rehearsing it all day since then.
"Fingers crossed that I wouldn't fuck up." His brows knitted, and a frown displayed across his lips when a mental image of him embarrassing himself stumbled across his mind.
He then chuckled, "Though I suppose the most nerve-wracking moment would be when I propose. I've been so stressed about the speech and being the Führer, now I'm completely clueless on how I should propose… She wouldn't reject me in front of thousands and millions of people, would she?"
What makes you think that she'd reject you, Roy? He swore he heard a faint yet cheerful voice.
"You never know, Hughes." He closed the ring box and placed it back in his pocket.
He heard a light laughter ring peacefully in his ears before a familiar voice called out to him. "General Mustang!"
He turned to see his beloved adjutant speed walking towards him, her now shoulder length blonde hair (that she left to grow since they came back from Ishval) swaying freely, and he greeted her with a smile. "Hello, Colonel Hawkeye. I've been away for less than half an hour and you've already found me, as expected of you, my dear adjutant."
Riza huffed but nonetheless felt relieved that she finally found him after nearly thirty minutes of frantic searching. She parted her lips, ready to scold, but halted when her eyes noted the grave behind him, and her eyes softened as she spoke. "The ceremony is beginning in less than an hour, sir. We should go back."
"Right." He said but raised a brow questioningly when she didn't budge. "What is it?"
"Your hair, sir." She knitted her brows with a sigh. "You have a few strands down."
"Ah, this." He reached a hand up and touched the few strands of bangs, and he grinned a playful one. "Does it not look cool like this? And I always leave a few strands, don't I?"
She took a hair wax from her pocket and heaved another sigh. "I kind of predicted that you wouldn't fix your hair properly so I brought this with me. Plus, would it hurt to look more formal on your inauguration ceremony?"
He pouted. "So you're saying that I look informal and sloppy with these few strands down?"
"I never said a word like that. Here you go, sir." She handed him the hair wax, and crossed her brows as she asked when he didn't take it, but leaned down to her level. "What is it, General?"
The toothy grin returned as he replied. "I don't have a mirror, so I might mess it up. Do it for me."
"Why would you need a mirror for just a few strands…" She muttered under her breath, and twisted the cap open, dipping her fingers in the wax slightly, then carefully pushed his bangs up and fixed his hair. "There you go."
He didn't budge, and he stared into her eyes, just like the night where he nearly kissed her. She stared back at him, eyes fixated and she was completely frozen while a blush threatened to paint her cheeks.
He chuckled inwardly when he noticed her embarrassed expression. His eyes flickered down to her parted lips that nearly made him give in to the urge to press his lips against her soft ones, but he pulled away and smiled again. "Thank you, Colonel."
"Ah… No problem, sir." She replied with a timid tone and looked down at the ground before closing the lid and placing the hair wax back in her pocket.
He let out an amused chortle and said. "Let's go."
"Yes, sir." She nodded and turned around stiffly, and walked towards the car she parked earlier.
The grin stayed on Roy's lips, and he took a deep breath before turning his head slightly at the grave, and his smile widened. This is the woman I'm about to propose to, Hughes.
Riza chewed on her lower lip lightly in nervousness as she stared at the man she knew, admired and secretly smitten with for nearly a decade as present his speech loudly and clearly without a single hint of hesitation, and his voice was full of authority yet with sincerity and fidelity.
She peered at the crowd cautiously, and relief filled her heart as if a dead weight was released in her chest when she noticed them staring intently at the young Führer as they listened carefully at his words. Some were smiling slightly, and some wore a serious expression, but she was glad that not a single protest was heard.
Cold sweat suddenly formed and surfaced on her skin when a mental image of aggressive protest and assassination flashed across her mind, and she shut her eyes closed with a frown in an attempt to calm herself. Wouldn't let that happen, she thought as her hands crawled to the back of her belt, where her pistol, her comfort, hung with a sense of serenity. Not on my watch.
Her honey hazel eyes fluttered open once her erratic heartbeat started to slow down, and she was immediately met with his dark ones. His onyx eyes twinkled under the sunlight and they softened, while a smile began to spread on his lips.
"…I would like to thank my team, my dearest subordinates. For supporting me throughout these years in the military, for your hard work, keenness, dedication and perseverance, and for placing your trust on me and not giving up on me." Roy turned slightly to face them, and his grin widened upon seeing their proud expression, and he raised his right hand to a crisp salute.
"For that, I thank you, wholeheartedly, and I hereby promote you." He placed his hand back down and cleared his throat. "To Lieutenant-Colonel Jean Havoc and Heymans Breda. Major Vato Falman. Captain Kain Fuery. Last but not least, Brigadier General Riza Hawkeye—"
Happiness and bewilderment took over the team's expression, and Riza heard a cheer from Havoc and Breda, enticing a light chuckle from her, though her mind was still glued to the thought of her being a Brigadier General.
"—Though there is another position I would like to offer to you, Brigadier General Hawkeye. Would you please come forward?" His eyes were fixated on hers.
Feeling utterly confused, she stepped forward and walked towards the man while her heart raced when she felt thousands and millions of pairs of curious eyes on her.
"You've been with me for the longest, and have been there at my best and worst times as my most trustworthy subordinate and friend. Riza Hawkeye," He spoke, his attention solely on her as if there was no one else, and he moved a step closer to her and asked earnestly, his voice powerful yet with a hint of gentleness and adoration. "Will you stay with me, not just to watch my back—"
She swallowed the saliva that formed in her mouth, and her heart pounded against her chest violently.
"—But to stand by my side, as my wife?"
"Yes, si—" Without hesitation (from not fully processing his words and wanting to reply and assure him as soon as possible), she raised her right hand and saluted, but halted before she could finish her sentence, the words freezing in her throat as her mind slowly, carefully digested his words.
"Was that a proposal?" "Did he just…?" "Oh my isn't that just sweet!" Riza could (barely) register murmurs and whispers in the crowd.
"Sir!" She cried, as quiet as she could, though her cheeks were painted in scarlet as they heated up against her will, all flustered.
Roy chuckled at the sheepish young woman who stood in front, and his eyes softened in adoration, and he leaned down on one knee as he took the dark maroon, velvet ring box out and opened it. "I love you, Riza Hawkeye. Will you marry me?"
She merely gaped slightly at the ring, the elegant and delicate ring, where the diamond shone and shimmered. She bit her as the crowd grew silent, all anticipating a response from her. She spoke softly, quietly so that only Roy could hear her. "If I marry you, I won't be in the military anymore, right? Then if that happens, who would… who would…"
Her brows were knitted, and he noticed her glassy eyes as she suppressed the tears down, and she continued, her voice hoarse and slightly louder. "Who would protect you? If I quit the military, I wouldn't be able to watch your back and be with you constantly, would I?"
"Riza…" He frowned ever so slightly, saddened at her nearly spilling tears, and he said with a soft tone. "I really do love you, Riza. I want to love you, without needing to hide my feelings. I won't force you, but I hope you know that it would be the best kind of happiness for me if you can support me as my wife. Plus, do you not trust Havoc and our team?"
"I'd never doubt your sincerity, sir, and I do trust our team, but…" She clenched her fists, fighting the tears down, and she turned her head and whispered. "…Did you have to ask me in front of the crowd?"
His eyes widened at the sight of her cheeks grow redder, and his heart thrummed as joy overfilled him, and he replied with a boyish grin. "You wouldn't be cruel enough to reject me in front of everyone, would you?"
She sent him an embarrassed glare and uttered loud enough for the people to hear in the pin-drop silence. "…Yes. Yes, I'll marry you, Roy Mustang."
The whole crowd roared in excitement, and cheers and teasing whistles could be heard. He slipped the ring through her ring finger and stood and held her in his arms.
"Finally… You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment to happen, Riza." He embraced her tightly with his arms looped around her waist, and his heart fluttered when she wrapped her arms around him and returned the hug.
He leaned away slightly just to tilt her chin up gently with his gloved fingers, and gently wiped the single tear that finally rolled down her cheek, before leaning down to press his lips against hers.
The kiss felt natural as if they were bound to be together, Riza thought whilst feeling his lips on hers, and she closed her eyes as she responded to it.
They soon pulled away, ending the brief kiss unwillingly (though Riza would never want to admit it, and she already missed the feeling of his surprisingly soft lips on hers), and he smiled down warmly at her.
"Thank you." He whispered, his voice slightly shaky, and he embraced her one last time before pulling away and finishing his speech.
She glanced at the team, and the blush on her cheeks darkened again when she saw wide, smug grins on their faces and Rebecca sending her a teasing wink. She let out an embarrassed huff as she scowled, and looked back at the crowds.
Her eyes then softened when she caressed the well-crafted ring on her left ring finger, and her thumb lightly brushed across the intricate, dainty gemstone. A barely noticeable, bashful smile appeared on her lips when her eyes were attracted back to him, and she pushed down the urge to walk up to him and wrap her arms back around him.
Riza Mustang. She recited softly in her mind, and her smile widened ever so slightly. Hmm. Not bad.
A/N: Was it too cliché? Too cheesy? Ahh, I don't know anymore. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! :)
I think I'll be posting a new chapter every two weeks on Fridays.