This takes place somewhere in Episode1: Fullmetal Alchemist of Brotherhood. Just cooked it up.

Before I Forget – Thanks to everyone who read Ch1 and followed this story. Also loads of thanks to all those who've read/followed/faved my first fiction 'Shirt and Gun'.

CHAPTER 2 – Promise

Isaac McDougal was dead now, and so was Roy Mustang's self-esteem. That freezing bastard had splashed water right into his face and he hadn't been able to do anything but stare after the man. How ridiculous was that?!

Well, later he'd changed his gloves and blasted parts of the Freezer's ice trains to his heart's content. All credit went to Lt. Riza Hawkeye who had carried the mysterious briefcase full of his ignition gloves.

She only hoped he would learn some lesson from the incident.

After Mustang had given his statement about the Freezer and done other mandatory stuff (like yelling at Edward for letting the Freezer slip away the day before), Hawkeye took the responsibility of driving him back to Central Command so that he could change into some dry clothes. He had sat seething in car's passenger seat, strangely quiet.

Hawkeye waited patiently outside the men's changing rooms while he was inside. She was just happy about the fact that he'd made through another day without any serious injury; she took care of not thinking about his devastated ego. That man needed to grow up and take thinks patiently.

"Thanks for waiting Hawkeye," Mustang said as he stepped out in civil clothes. She caught up exactly two steps behind him, a little to the left.

"Not a problem, sir." She said to his back.

A moment passed in silence except for the footfalls of their boots against the floor echoing in the empty corridors until Mustang sneezed. Loudly. He stopped to pull out a handkerchief from his back pocket and cursed the dead McDougal under his breath.

He had sneezed and cursed six times before reaching his car in the parking area. Hawkeye had fruitfully supressed more than one smile.

Mustang checked his pocket watch. "A few minutes past midnight," He muttered to himself before turning to face his defender. "We should be heading back to our hotel-" He was cut off by another irrepressible sneeze.

"I'll drive." Hawkeye declared. While he was busy cursing yet again she took the keys from the coat folded on his arm.

He climbed in after her sneezing again. "I want to kill McDougal again!" He growled just as Hawkeye brought the engine to life.

"Try to calm down, sir, please." She said for which she received an indignant gaze.

"Just how do you expect me to be calm after someone splashes water in my face and runs away, and I don't even get to kill him? Plus, I'm stuck here with a bad damned cold!" He snapped.

"Sir, this might make you angrier, but will you hear me out?" Hawkeye asked, though her tone brooked no way for a 'no'. She took a second to glance at her superior to know he was listening.

"Did you know water was McDougal's strength?" She asked calmly.

In the field of her vision, she saw him nod. "Hmm…" She turned the wheel and the car smoothly curved into a lane on the right, their hotel wasn't far now. "Well, you also knew water is your point of weakness in the open, am I right sir?"

"…Yes." Mustang whispered acidly, realizing now that his own unplanned actions had led to the demise of his dignity. He had been over-ambitious.

"… Shouldn't you be more careful when I'm not around, Colonel?" She asked quietly. She did her best to mask the anxiety in her voice but Mustang heard it still.

"Maybe," He sighed, eyes watching the blonde woman carefully.

"And will you try to be more alert now on?" Hawkeye asked as the car pulled over in the hotel's parking lot. On deadening the engine, she turned in her seat to lock eyes with him.

In that instant, he saw the dangerous worry and deep concern lurking behind those creamy brown eyes. He felt even more ashamed of himself now. Losing to McDougal didn't matter much anymore, the bastard was dead anyway. He'd let her down. He'd gone searching for the guy without her.

"I'm sorry." He said looking down at the seat. He sneezed again, twice in succession, but didn't curse anyone this time.

"An apology isn't what I asked for." Hawkeye stated coldly. Of course she was disappointed with him; she had every right to be. "Will you try to be more alert now on?" She repeated.

"I will try. For you I will." He promised. And he meant it.

Hawkeye held his gaze for an entire minute. She knew he was serious, though she didn't have much hope of him taking care of himself. That's why she would always stick around. He needed her just as much as the country needed him.

She nodded once before saying, "Let's get you to your room, sir; lest your cold worsens."

Mustang couldn't help but find himself blessed and smile as she stepped out of the car, he followed suit quietly. She always made him feel so utterly important. That was one of the reasons why he purely needed her.

…TBC…

PS: Guys, where are my reviews? 0_0

PS2: Tell me if I must rename this chapter.