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Existence
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Roy Mustang awoke suddenly, drenched in cold sweat, swimming in fear from an ever-present nightmare. His heartbeat was irregularly fast, and he moved one hand over his chest and tried to even out his shallow breath. His mouth felt dry and his throat hurt as if he had been screaming. His whole self was tense with the terror the dream had incurred. He laid his head back into the pillow and attempted to relax, but images of crimson death and decay crept into his mind again and again.
He turned his head to one side to look at the woman who lay asleep beside him. Her face was at peace, stands of gold laced over her shoulders. Rolling onto his side completely, he gathered the sleeping woman into his arms so that her warm body was pressed close against him. He buried his face in her hair, attempting to drown out the memory of the nightmare with her soothing scent. He felt her take in a long breath, and her body shuddered slightly as consciousness seeped into her. "What are you doing?" She asked groggily. He grunted. "You're my wife; am I not allowed to hold you at night?"
She twisted in his arms so that she lay facing him. Her red-brown eyes flickered over his tired face and a hand came to rest over his heart, feeling the quickness with which it beat. "What's wrong?" She asked softly.
He kissed her forehead gently. "Nothing." He assured her, resting his chin on her head and pulling her closer against him. " I just wanted to make sure you were real."