His False Pretense

By: SakuraTeardrop

Chapter 2

Work the next day hadn't changed at all, Hawkeye did her job by telling her men to do their job and by threatening them with her non-existent ammunition, which was bound to appear anyway. Office hours were busier than ever, more paper work had to be done rather than the real purposes of being a soldier. Of course for Mustang in the gang, this was like any other boring day.

It's like the rest of the days, wherein Hawkeye would drop stack of papers on her superior's desk with an expectant smile the only difference from those days from today was that she didn't even look at him in the eye.

"Please make sure you finish this by the end of tomorrow, sir." The first lieutenant's eyes were glued to the stack of papers when she reminded him. Roy could on respond with a "Yes," formally.

That's what they were supposed to be with each other anyway, professional. It was nothing less, nothing more. His dark orbs glinted as his fingers balled into fists, regretting so much. In a split second, he eagerly called on her.

"Riza," Not realizing that he had used her first name.

All at once, she lifted her chin in attention but her eyes remained on the floor.

"I need to talk to you." At this point, Havoc and the rest of the officers were all ears even if their eyes were on their paperwork.

Casually, the higher-ranked officer pocketed his sweaty hands and swiftly headed for the door. Riza kept her two-meter distance while she trailed behind him, closing the door behind them. If they only knew how both of their hearts were in sync, both pounding at the same rate. The golden-haired first lieutenant took a quick glance at the colonel but when she realized he has been looking at her all along, she quickly averted her gaze.

"Is something wrong, sir?" she asked him politely,

"Yes, actually there is." His grip tightened on the small box that contained a lovely ring; his anxiety just grew and his heart was beating so fast that it could've broken his rib cage.

"I. . .want. . .no. . .I mean. . .I. . .actually. . ."

"Sir, if it's help for the proposal issue to your girlfriend, I'm sorry, that isn't really my concern and I can't help you with that." Lieutenant Hawkeye had reacted without him finishing his statement. "I'm sorry, I have work to do." She turned around and opened the door to the office; she was about to twist the knob when he suddenly blurted out.

"I love you, and I've been mustering up the courage to ask you to marry me." Finally! He got through it.

Riza Hawkeye's heart stopped for a moment and then cracked him a smiled. "Okay, rehearsal's over. Get in and do your job before I lose mine." she entered inside without any more to say.

He stood there outside the office, eyes widened and sweaty in all places. She thought it was a rehearsal! Didn't she know how much courage it took for him to say that? Why did he have to mention Diana, who clearly is a lie that caused all these false pretense? Why couldn't he just have told her the first time? "Damn it!" He threw the box against the wall, causing the box to fling open and the ring to roll far away from him. He leaned against the wall in frustration.

At this rate, he's going in circles. A never-ending loop; she was everything to him and it was clearly evident that the 'dog-feeding' reason wasn't justifiable which meant she was avoiding the topic, which means . . .she might possibly like him as well! His face lit up. But there was no use. He sighed. He already began this mess that he won't be able to clean up anytime soon.

"I told her the truth." Roy muttered to himself. "I messed up."

"That's right." He nearly jumped when he heard a voice answer him back. It was his subconscious mocking him. "Man, I'm nuts."

"No, fool. It's me general Grumman!"

"General Grumman is my subconscious? What?"

"Soldier, turn around." The voice commanded him.

When the colonel followed his instruction, he inched back. It was indeed General Grumman. His hands were clasped behind him and his lips pressed together. "She can't wait forever you know."

"I know." The colonel replied nonchalantly, picking up the velvet box he threw earlier,

The old general grimaced. "Tell me colonel, what does Elizabeth mean to you?"

"She's my whole life. I don't even think there's anyone else. She's the one I want. God, I love her more than anything."

"Then what's the problem, son? I can see she loves you just as much." The higher-ranked officer handed the officer the ring he found lying on the floor. "There's not a mess you can't fix."

"Please take care of my Riza, love her with all your heart. I'm leaving soon."

Mustang stared at the ring in his palm. "General, of course but I don't understand—" He stopped when he realized he was alone. Grumman had gone. Sighing, he opened the door to his office, thinking about the general's words.

She can't wait forever you know.

Please take care of my Riza, love her with all your heart. I'm leaving soon

He was right. And she wasn't going to stay single forever either.

The flame alchemist had been so distracted with his own unsettling thoughts that he had not realized the tension in the office. It was quiet. Riza stood by his desk, one hand held the phone and the other cupped her mouth as she cried.

Fury rubbed her back in comfort as Havoc, Falman and Breda bowed their heads in dismay.

Before he could ask them what was wrong. Lieutenant Hawkeye caught his gaze; she hung up the phone and walked in a slow pace towards him. "Grandpa's dead." She said. Her ruby orbs were filled with much sorrow and loneliness like the time her father died. Roy couldn't say anything.

He could've sworn he was pretty much alive thirty-seconds ago. This was happening too fast. He didn't know. But then again, how could he know? The dead guy gave him advice not a farewell speech! He pulled her right arm and embraced her with his arms. He told her the same thing he said to her years ago.

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

She then wrapped her arms around him, and cried on his shoulder.

Whoa. I updated. I can't believe it. Can you? Oh and fanfiction has "evolved" since I permanently left

so I'm checking it out and I don't know how to upload anymore. -fail-