Alright, so I know it's been longer than usual between updates, but I have a good excuse and wonderful news for you. My files have been in an unreachable place for the last couple weeks, I acquired them about a day ago, and I'm going to be updating multiple times this week until we're caught up to where we should be if I'd been updating once a week. Review replies are at the end, enjoy!
-090-
Five minutes later the four visitors found themselves at the arena in the back of Central HQ, a line of cadets at the shooting range starting the next round of the competition. "There are a few cadets this year who came close to beating your old records in the shooting evaluation," he explained as they watched them go through the motions of the contest, three falling out by the time they reached the seventh round and more than half gone by the time they reached ninth. "There's some who seem to think they could give you a run for your money…"
She looked at him in surprise. "Sir…I'm hardly dressed for such an event…"
"You keep a spare uniform here, don't you?" he offered. "And if you didn't bring your gun that's alright, all the contestants have to use the regulation issued firearm anyways."
"Please, you want her to shoot against new cadets?" snorted Zeke, talking loud enough that everyone relatively close could hear. "She's a woman; she'd probably screw up halfway into her first try and end up shooting someone instead of the target." Again, he somehow seemed to miss the 'shut up' signal Roy was giving him silently before plunging on. "I thought you were trying to set up a competition, not a joke."
The Fuhrer's brows rose slowly as Riza's face became a stone mask, handing Beth off to the Brigadier General before saluting firmly and announcing she would be ready in ten minutes. The sound of her retreating footsteps were the only sounds present for some time before Roy reached forward and smacked the boy on the back of the head hard enough to get his attention.
"Ow! What was that for?!" he cried as Roy dragged him closer, actually looking somewhat angry for the first time that Zeke could recall. "I didn't do anything!"
"No, you just publicly undermined the reputation of the Military's best sharpshooter," Roy hissed through a clenched jaw, bending over so they were eye to eye. "She was going to politely duck out, but thanks to you she has to compete now. And if there's one thing your aunt hates, it's a spectacle being made of her skills."
"She can't be that good, she's a woman!" Zeke protested as he turned back to the contest, lowering his voice only because the Brigadier General did. "She probably makes it to, what, the third? Fourth round before she gets out? I haven't even seen another woman compete since we got out here, they've all been men."
"You underestimate your aunt a great deal," the Fuhrer rumbled as he gave the boy an odd look before turning to leave. "I hope this proves to be educational for you, son, you certainly need it."
"What's going on?" asked Beth from where she clung to Roy's neck, the Brigadier General putting his free hand comfortingly to her back and rubbing it gently.
"Aunt Riza has to take part in one of the games, but it should only take a few minutes," he explained carefully, taking a seat on one of the benches along the sidelines as Zeke leaned against the fence grumbling to himself about stupid military people who didn't understand.
She rested her head against his cheek, watching the participants curiously. "How does the game work?"
"Well, see the people standing in line?" he said, pointing to the next group of cadets getting ready to start. "They each have sixteen targets circle targets, white on black in front of them in a block pattern and an official beside them. When the whistle blows they have so much time to shoot one of the targets through the white center before they have to move on. The official tells them when they've hit the white part and can move on. Each time they hit a target, they move back another two yards. Since they start at five yards that means if they make it all the way to the end they'll have hit all sixteen targets with the final one being a range of 40 yards or so. That's actually not that hard if you take your time, but the thing is the farther they go the less time they have to make the shot. You're out if you don't make it within three shots or if your time runs out."
"Who wins?"
"Whoever gets the furthest or, if two people make it all the way to the end whoever made it through the fastest." Roy watched as once against most of the group was weeded out by the middle section, the last one only making it thirteen back before they were out and that being one of the higher scores of the day. "Very rarely, two people will get out at the same place or finish at the same time. In that case, they go by the number of shots issues. The firearms they use have sixteen shots in their clips; to be able to finish the course with one clip is a matter of great pride." He looked at the girl who was staring at the course intently. "Did you understand all that?"
She looked up at him, smiling brightly. "Sorta."
He laughed, and tousled her hair gently. "Close enough."
Apparently word spread quickly because by the time ten minutes were up the number of people around the shooting range had nearly doubled, Roy spotting most of his subordinates clustered by the entrance around a familiar blonde head. She had left the coat off, her shoulder harness on as she tightened her gloves and spoke to Ross who was readying the gun for her. Checking the clip and the extra two she was to have stashed in her belt, she entered the lineup with four others, one of which Roy vaguely recognized as the announcer called the names of those participating. The face clicked with the name, it was the son of a rather famous alchemist, a Brigadier General that had been murdered by Scar years ago. Two others he had heard of in passing from some fellow officers as possible 'higher up' material some day based upon the examination results, but the fourth was a name he'd never heard before in his life.
The Fuhrer himself held the whistle to start, all five standing with their officials at the starting line and guns holstered in their preferred positions. The moment the sharp sound split the air all five were off, Riza immediately taking the lead though two of the four cadets managed to stay right on her tail. The halfway point was hit and all were still present though one had begun to trail behind and run dangerously close with his time. Two rounds later he was out, trudging towards the back after he missed with all three shots. The crowd cheered for him regardless, ten rounds was nothing to sneeze at and the tension was running high with the stakes at hand. If a cadet managed to unseat Riza even by a tenth of a second, the famous sniper with the eye of a hawk, they would go down in history. Conversely, if Riza lost her record would have a permanent scar regardless of the reason why or how close it was in the end.
Roy was pleased to notice Riza had pulled slightly more ahead and was still one for one with every target while the other three had been forced to shoot at least one extra bullet. Two more fell out in the thirteenth round, one from running out time as they fumbled changing their clip and dropped it to the ground and the other from missing after three tries. They were the alchemist's son and the other that he'd heard of, the one remaining being the only one he hadn't recognized in some shape or form. Fourteen passed as they both hit it dead on the first time and with fifteen they were neck in neck as Riza hit it on the first shot and moved on. The other guy missed and shot again, getting it and nearly tripping in his rush to get to the last round. Riza shot, ejecting her clip the moment her trigger finger was pulled as she reached for the extra clip. With the miss that she somehow sensed before it was called, her opponent was given just enough time to get into position and shoot at the same time as she fired her second shot…
One target held its hit dead center, the other just a touch too far off to the side to count. A final shot was issued, hitting dead center on the white dot, but it was too late.
The crowd erupted as Brosh and Breda rushed the field, hoisting the Lt. Colonel up before she could protest and parading her around on their shoulders as Roy raised his voice with everyone else in cheers. She convinced them, probably with the gun she still held that had fifteen bullets left in it, to set her down soon after and as Roy watched the crowd swirl around her he felt something tug his sleeve.
Zeke stood beside him, wide eyes staring at his aunt as if in complete and utter disbelief. "Did she…?"
"She'll probably complain that she needs to practice more, since she took two shots for the last one," Roy commented lightly, the boy balking at the thought of finding anything wrong with her performance. "That was very close, though; whoever that guy is he's got talent."
"You mean you didn't know?" asked Falman as he appeared beside them, a happy grin on his face as he counted the wad of bills in his hands. He'd made a killing with the bet that Riza would need seventeen bullets exactly. "That's Private Oliver Kants."
Roy just looked at him, blinking a few times. "Who's that?"
Falman laughed, shaking his head as he did. "Your new subordinate, or Riza's technically. He requested being put under her specifically, the official reason being he wants to learn from the greatest sharpshooter of our time. He's actually a horrible sniper, he doesn't have the patience, and that's one of the things she's supposed to train him in."
"Ah, that makes more sense, an alchemist for me to train and a gunman for her," admitted Roy as the party approached them, people drawing aside as Beth climbed down from his grasp and ran to grab onto Riza's leg.
"Hm? Oh, Beth." She was immediately picked up, Riza brushing back a few strands of her niece's hair as she smiled slightly. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yes, you were very good," the girl told her quietly in her ear with a smile. "Uncle Roy is very happy too."
"He would be," she muttered, cheeks faintly flushed from the attention her performance had attained. "It's probably time we headed back…"
"Lt. Colonel?" Riza turned around to find Private Kants behind her, saluting politely as before he said, "I hope you don't take this the wrong way, ma'am, but I aim to beat you one of these days."
She looked him over, towering over her with a height of at least six feet, long brown hair that he kept tied at the base of his neck, sharp green eyes and a slightly cocky smirk that reminded her of a certain Brigadier General in a rather irritating manner and replied calmly, "I look forward to your attempts, Private, and hopefully one day your success." The young Private nodded, leaving as she turned back to the group surrounding her. Her eyes eventually found Zeke, the boy hanging back behind Roy with a somewhat guilty look on his face.
"So, Zeke, still think women don't belong toting guns?" asked the Fuhrer as he appeared behind the boy, somehow managing to escape the others notice as he leaned heavily on his cane.
"Targets and people are two different things," he defended himself faintly, the old man nodding sagely.
"Yes, they are, but the Lt. Colonel more than proved herself during the Ishabal war. She was only a Cadet then, finished her final year on the front lines and was probably the best sniper out there. Many lives were saved because of her sharp eyes and steady hands," the Fuhrer replied before sauntering off, his ever present guards discreetly following behind. "Do give her my congratulations, boy, she did a fine job."
"Time to go," said Riza as she headed towards the doors, the crowd dispersing as many had to get back to work and Roy and Riza still had much packing to finish before the day was through.
The three of them waited outside while she grabbed her clothes from the locker room, not bothering to change back when she would need to be in similar clothes when they arrived anyways. Roy continued to praise her the entire way back, enjoying her light blush in the rearview mirror, though Zeke was strangely silent while Beth occasionally interjected questions about what their uncle was saying or comments in general.
Upon reaching the apartment Riza banned all talk of the contest until later, citing the work that had been left undone for too long before sending Zeke with a box to pack up everything in the bathroom and Roy around the rest of the house to collect anything that belonged to her and hadn't been packed up. She tackled the remains of her bedroom, and by the time 6:05 pm had rolled around when Falman and Fuery showed up on foot to help load the last of it everything was packed.
Handing the key over to the landlord after a final check to be sure everything was as it should be, she loaded up in her car with Beth while Roy drove the truck with Zeke and Falman drove Roy's car with Fuery. A short while later they were pulling in front of the duplex, Riza parking in the driveway and Roy managing to get the truck in the space behind her while the men parked in the street.
Gracia was outside within seconds of their arrival, pulling first Roy then Riza into her warm embrace before she welcomed Zeke and Beth like old friends and ushered them all inside to where Elysia was waiting. The girl was on them like a monkey the moment they entered the door, Roy lifting her from the ground in a bear hug before she moved on to latch on to Riza's waist tightly.
"I missed you," she informed the woman seriously. "You said it wouldn't take that long."
Riza smiled apologetically, shifting the five year old in her arms so she wasn't in the way as she leaned down to hug her back. "I'm sorry; I honestly didn't think it would."
Beth and Zeke were introduced again, the two girls immediately finding fast friends in each other as Winry appeared on the stairs and quickly welcomed everyone as well. Gracia didn't give them much time for talk, scolding them for taking so long and handing out plates and cups as they partook of the food she'd laid out on the counter. The kids were set up at the kitchen table with Winry staying there to keep them company as the adults moved to the living room, Riza wondering as she eyed the place in a new light what the other half the duplex looked like as well.
"Eat, eat," the mother encouraged them as they found their seats. "I know it's not very fancy, but you must be hungry…"
"Did Riza tell you she wowed the crowd again with her guns?" asked Fuery between bites, more than hint of pride in his voice to be her subordinate. "Went head to head with our new Private, he's a sharp one but not quite as sharp as her."
"It took me a bullet more than it should have," she grumbled quietly, burying herself in her plate of spaghetti and salad with garlic bread. "I'll need to put in at least an hour this weekend; it's been too long since I've been to the range."
"You'd think she wasn't human the way she strives for perfection," Gracia teased her lightly, chuckling when the Lt. Colonel had the grace to blush slightly. "Roy mentioned something about a promotion."
"A double promotion," explained Falman. "Though it's about time, you've pretty much held that rank for the last two years anyways in practice if not in name."
"That's where she'd be if she'd accepted the previous promotions, too," Fuery added thoughtfully. "Mm, this is very good Mrs. Hughes, thank you."
"You're welcome, and congratulations Riza you've earned every bit of it," she replied with a smile. "Does anyone need something? More to drink?"
"I'd like to know what this is about refusing promotions," put in Roy, though his eyes were only for his Lt. Colonel. "Last time I checked, soldiers didn't refuse promotions."
"Unless they strip themselves of rank and exile themselves in the far reaches of the north," Riza said softly, the room growing quiet as she added. "It's in the past, sir, let it go."
He paused before nodding tersely, but it was still a few minutes of uncomfortable silence before Falman brought up the fall of the fraternization laws and how much of a relief it was not to go sneaking around anymore. Roy informed him he expected him to bring his lady friend around to one of their gatherings eventually, and the man quipped back he wouldn't want to lose the lady to Roy and so wouldn't be doing so any time soon.
"You'll have to see if there are any nice officers willing to take Riza on a date," Gracia commented as the said woman rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that look, dear, your boys do their best but it's not the same having only a friend take you out."
"Maybe we could convince Private Kants to take her out, he seems infatuated enough with hero-worship to do just that," Roy jibed lightly.
"Only if you'll take out Major Marshall, sir, your new alchemist was practically forcing himself to impress you even if he did manage to nearly strangle himself with his foot in the process," Riza replied flatly, Fuery and Falman both laughing so hard they had to set their food aside as Gracia listened to the quick explanation the Brigadier General gave her. The picture he painted was slightly over dramatic, but true to the actual events so Riza left it alone.
"I'm sure he's a lovely man," the mother said as she put a hand on Roy's knee. "Though that would be one bet Havoc would lose as I believe he's been on the side of you being heterosexual all these years."
"I've been out with women only, why is there still a bet running on that?!" Roy cried in surprise. "I've never even given a hint…!"
"You are rather feminine at times, sir," coughed Falman as Fuery tried not to laugh again, tears leaking from the corner of his eyes. "Such as the way you're checking your appearance in mirrors or being so finicky with your gloves…could give someone the wrong impression if they don't know you well."
"Well, for the record I am not gay," he muttered loudly, frowning as he did. "Women! I like women! How hard is that to understand?"
"You did spend a lot of time in your office with Fullmetal…" The words died in Fuery's mouth as Roy glared at him. "What?! That's what other people said; I never said I believed it!"
"Besides, you've never actually settled on a woman," Falman pointed out, shrugging when his superior officer threatened to visually eviscerate him. "Sir, I'm just saying…you've been out an awful lot, but you've never actually shown a preference for one above the rest. Some might take this as you're hiding something…"
"I think I need to go roast a few fellow officers on Monday," Roy growled as Beth trotted into the room, Winry and Elysia right on her heals.
"Can we go play upstairs?" Gracia's daughter asked, Winry adding that they'd finished all their food.
"Sure, just be careful not to make a big mess right before bed," Gracia replied as they headed up the stairs, Beth only pausing to kiss Riza's cheek and receive one in return before she headed up after them.
"I'd better check on Zeke, he may have fallen asleep at the table if he was tired enough," Riza said as she rose, taking her empty plate and that of Gracia's with her. Collecting Falman's and Fuery's as she passed them, Roy was still working on his salad so she left his alone and entered the small kitchen. Zeke sat at the table pushing a meatball around his plate, the spaghetti mostly gone but his salad untouched. "Is everything alright?" she asked as she sat next to him after ridding herself of the dishes, careful not to touch him though she leaned close with her head level with his.
"Come to gloat over your victory?" he scoffed softly, keeping his head down and his eyes on his plate.
"No, just to make sure you're alright," she replied as she put a careful hand on his back, continuing the contact when he didn't shrug it off. "Zeke…?"
"The Fuhrer said you were in the Ishabal war," he said suddenly, hands going still as he let go of the fork. "Is that how you met Uncle Roy? You fought in the war together?"
"No, I knew him as my father's apprentice," she replied slowly, one calloused hand clenching slowly. "My father was an alchemist, too."
"Oh…I had an uncle in the war." He paused as her brows rose slightly. "Well, not really an uncle, a friend of the family, they said he and his brother left when the fighting started to support their country…when he came back, he came alone and they said he was changed."
Riza nodded in understand, her voice a hint mournful. "War changes people."
"When dad used to say that women didn't belong in war, he would always disagree," Zeke went on. "He would say people don't belong in war that war is for monsters." He paused, looking up at Riza. "If war changes people, how did it change you?"
"It made me realize the lengths to which people will go to protect something they love or prove that they are right," she whispered as she gently ran a hand through his hair. "It also got rid of the illusion that the Military always works for the betterment of the people and that all alchemists use their talents for the good. But most importantly, I learned how easy it is to become a monster when those are the only ones who seem to survive."
"Are you a monster?" he asked as he looked up at her, eyes tinged with fear.
"No," she replied quietly, giving him a sad smile. "But I can be if it is required of me."
"Oh…"
"You guys alright?" asked Roy as he stuck his head in, noting the way Zeke shied from his aunt's touch before she slowly retracted her hand. "Riza, Gracia wanted to have a word with you about tonight's sleeping arrangements…"
"I'm coming," she said as she got to her feet, schooling her features into their usual mask as she passed him at the door. Taking her place at the table, he leaned back in the chair and watched as the boy picked up the plate and set it in the sink before standing in the middle of the kitchen looking rather lost.
"Come sit back down," he told the boy, putting a comforting hand in his shoulder when he was settled in. "Now, what's wrong?"
"She looked normal when I first saw her, carrying Beth in her arms," Zeke murmured as he stared at her hands. "Like she could be anybody's mom, or aunt, or sister…but just now, she said she could be a monster if she had to be. Is that true, Uncle Roy?"
"She is not the monster, I am," the Brigadier General explained slowly as he stood. "If you must blame someone or fear someone, let it be me, not her who was once an innocent girl who foolishly followed a man she swore to protect into a burning hell that would scar her forever." He sighed, running a hand over the eye patch as he walked out and murmured, "And yet I'm so thankful that she did…"
The boy sat there long after he left, thinking.
-0i0-
Gracia insisted on putting off all unpacking until the next day, Fuery and Falman leaving with a promise to return on the morrow with the rest of the men to help as Roy went with them as it was his car they were driving. If Zeke was especially quiet as she helped him set up a bed on the couch, no one said anything about it as Riza was upstairs getting Beth settled in the bottom bunk of Elysia's room. She would share with Winry and Black Hayate that night in the guest room double bed, something neither girl minded, as Gracia had given up her double bed for a single upon the move in.
Pulling on the pajamas she'd managed to dig out from one of her boxes, the Lt. Colonel sat on the single chair in the room and took apart her gun as Winry finished using the bathroom, looking at the many components as she carefully cleaned it as always.
"Are you alright?" Winry asked as she reentered the room, wiping her face on the towel around her shoulders as she watched Riza assemble the gun with a speed that still awed her no matter how many times she saw it. Black Hayate nosed his mistress from beside her, lying across the end of the bed with his head at her hip. "You seemed quiet earlier."
"Yes," Riza replied, looking up and giving her a flat smile. "Just…tired. I don't enjoy war game spectacles, yet it always seems like every year there's some new cadet that wishes to try and best the best. Occasionally, it will be a challenge like today. Usually, it's…not." Usually it's a reminder that people with my skills most often are born of blood and death, not paper targets and ranges.
"Ok. How's the Brigadier General been behaving himself?" Winry's smile suddenly turned slightly devious. "Gracia said he was there all day today, he didn't try anything did he?"
Riza snapped the gun's clip, fully loaded, into place decisively. "He's not that stupid."
Winry laughed, her companion cracking a wry smile as she set the firearm within easy reach beside the bed. "Alright, has he at least been helpful? Seems like he's dedicating a lot of time to you and your…charges."
"Yes, he has, he showed up earlier this morning than I think he's ever come to the office," admitted Riza as she moved to the bed, sitting alongside Winry with a sigh. "Is it silly that it means something that he would come earlier to my house to help me pack than he shows up to work?"
Winry shook her head as her smile grew every so slightly. "No, it just means you're not as impervious to him as you thought."
"I never thought I was impervious to him, I just hoped I would be more…resistant," the sharpshooter grumbled as Gracia stuck her head in the door.
"Do you need anything else? More pillows, extra blankets?" the Hughes matriarch asked as she popped in, the light outside already turned off as Zeke was fast asleep on the couch. "You can open the window if you get too warm…"
"We're fine, Gracia, thank you," Riza interrupted gently, giving her a warm smile as she absently scratched her dog behind the ears. "You've done more than I can repay already."
"Please, there will be no talk of payments from those who are like family," Gracia replied brusquely, her smile suddenly turning very sly. "Unless of course you're willing to let me set you up on a blind date with a friend of mine…tall, dark and handsome, almost an exotic look with the Xing blood from his mother's side and the best 'devil may care' smile you've ever seen…"
"I'm not going on a blind date with my superior officer," the Lt. Colonel cut in sharply. "You of all people should understand that, those of us who support the Brigadier General have to make sacrifices that his dream may be realized some day."
"According to Falman, there wouldn't be any consequences anymore," Gracia argued with a small grin. "And don't use that 'sacrifice' card on me, Maes may have given his life for the cause, but that doesn't mean you have to give your happiness as well."
"I am happy!" Riza growled in a very unhappy manner, the other two both bursting into quiet fits of laughter as she was forced to admit that it was rather amusing herself. "Alright, alright…but truly, I am happy. I have a good job with caring coworkers that allows me to feel like I am making a difference." A wet nose filled her hand and she chuckled. "A loyal dog." She put a hand over Winry's briefly and nodded in Gracia's direction. "And good friends that are there to help me along the way. If I cannot be content with that do I deserve to have anything beyond it?"
"It's not a question of what you deserve, it's a question of what you want," Gracia scolded lightly. "When was the last time you forgot duty and did what you wanted instead?"
"Over two years ago, and then he turned around and left," the Lt. Colonel snapped bitterly, immediately regretting it when Gracia flinched slightly, her teasing smile falling into a pursed frown. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have said it like that…"
"No, you're right, he's hurt you in the past," the mother broke in gently. "It's just I know how much he means to you…"
The sharpshooter groaned, mumbling to herself, "Far more than he should."
"And," Gracia added as she slowly backed out the door. "How much you mean to him." She nodded to them both. "I'm right down the hall if you need me. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Riza didn't say anything as she sat there and stared at her hands, Winry briefly laying a hand on her arm and giving Hayate a on the head pat before she got up and turned off the light. Crawling into bed, the other woman joined her a few minutes later as the house settled into silence, but whether the Lt. Colonel actually slept was another matter entirely.
-0i0-
Zeke had rarely slept a full night through since he was seven, his mind jerking him from his rest at the deepest hours of the night while the shadows stared at him with sightless eyes. At first he had tried to deal with it himself, but after several sleepless nights of wandering the house when his restless mind wouldn't relax enough to let him sleep no matter how much his mind needed it his father found him in the kitchen while going for a glass of water and offered a cure. It wasn't a pill, and it didn't always work, but his father would pull him into his lap and read him verses from an old book of poetry and short stories. The pages were hand-bound, and the words written in a thin, spidery script with an ink quill that had spattered and blotted in some places. The words soothed his mind, settled it enough that he was able to sleep.
The book had stayed from that night on beside his bed, pages dog-eared as he found the most effective passages to peacefully smooth things over and a candle always ready for the late-night reads. Occasionally his father would join him, usually not, but he was always there when the late night restlessness was at its worst.
What he hadn't known was the book of verses and stories had been written by his grandmother in her youth, and upon her death in the early stages of the plague his father had taken the slim volume back and had it buried with her. The originals, he said, were at her house. He promised to fetch them for his boy, make a new book that he could read from, but he had died without fulfilling the request. The poetry he remembered finding among the boxes of things they'd gone through, Riza had packed it up and put it in storage for later. He hoped to be able to get to it soon, to copy it for himself in a hand bound paper book. But before that day in those three months of living with the Governor and his wife he had experienced nights much like those in the beginning.
He was older now then he had been when it all started, more able to force his body to do things, but he would still awaken every night sometime after the clock stuck twelve and for at least an hour he would lie there and wait for sleep to come to him again.
This night was no exception, and as he sat up with a sigh he was somewhat concerned he probably wouldn't sleep for a couple hours at least. New places usually did that to him, even with as tired as his body was right then. Tomorrow night, maybe he'd sleep well back in his own bed and his body exhausted from the rigors of setting up rooms. As quietly as he could, he slid out from under the covers and padded silently to the kitchen for a drink of water.
The glasses were easy to reach, the faucet thankfully quiet, and as he gulped down the cool drink and set the empty cup beside sink he felt the nervous tension in his brain fizzle slightly. Maybe it wouldn't be too long after all. The trip back he was just rounding the corner when a dark shadow appeared in front of him, only a quick hand covering his mouth and strong arms holding him still keeping him from waking the rest of the house.
"It's me," a voice whispered in his ear, the body relaxing as it recognized a familiar sound even though his mind took a while to place a name with it. Riza. What was she doing up?
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked in a soft murmur as she let him go, the boy shaking his head as he blinked owlishly and tried to pull together his scattered thoughts. She was wearing pajamas that were not what he had expected. Of course, the only thing he had to base his opinions on of female nightwear were the long nightgowns his mother had worn, with similar ones adorning his sister and cousins and the lacey, see-through strappy things he had seen in a catalogue Geordie had found in his father's desk. Neither of those seemed to fit her in his mind, but light blue drawstring pants with a matching button down long sleeved top much like the Governor had worn hadn't occurred to him either.
Eventually he shook his head, seeing she was waiting for an answer as she put an inquiring hand on his forehead. Apparently he passed muster because she removed it after a moment's pause and let it hang by her side once more. "You?" he asked hesitantly when a silence fell between them, thick in the dark shadows of the living room.
She shook her head slightly. "I'm not tired," was all she replied, but the circles under her eyes belied otherwise. He nodded in understanding, staying there dumbly until she spoke again. "You're not sick, and you look tired," she sighed as she led him back over to the couch. "Lay down, I'm sure you'll get back to sleep soon."
He was tempted to fight her, to refute her words, to say he probably wouldn't sleep until the sun was up again, but suddenly his limbs felt too heavy to hold up for much longer. "Ok." Lying down on his back, he stared up at her as she hesitated over him, carefully pulling the blanket up to his chin and smoothing it over gently when he didn't protest.
"Relax," she said as she sat next to him on the coffee table, settling a few errant hairs out of his eyes and noting the way his face smoothed over with the action. Running her fingers along his scalp, he sighed and snuggled further under the covers as she watched the signs of consciousness begin to disappear from his body.
"I don't think…" he murmured as he turned towards her slightly, eyes cracking open slightly. He fell silent as his breathing became even deeper, his caretaker almost convinced of his sleep when his hand came up and rested on hers.
"Zeke?"
"I don't think you're a monster," he breathed as his eyes opened wider ever so slightly. "I don't think Uncle Roy is a monster either…"
"Why not?" she asked barely above a whisper, a little curious of his answer and somewhat surprised that the boy even remembered the conversation as close to sleep as he was. "We have both done terrible, monstrous things."
"Because you still love…and monsters can't love…" His eyes closed as he sighed, his hand sliding back down to rest on his chest. "I don't want to like you…" he whispered so quietly she almost missed it. Her head tilted to the side as she removed her hand, almost asking why when he added, "You're not my mom…or my dad…"
"I'm not trying to replace them," she replied flatly. "I know that I can't."
"Heh…you are…" His head turned away slightly as it burrowed into the pillow. "Because you're here, and they're not…I don't want to like you…but I think someday I will…"
If his Aunt was startled by this or had any particular thoughts, he would never know because he had been led safely back to the fold of sleep and would not leave again until morning.
-090-
And that my friends is chapter 5. I hope you'll forgive me for the time it took to update, but it truly was out of my hands. Be on the lookout in the next 24 hour for chapter 6!
Reviews:
Kurissyma san Tybalt : Updated! Thanks for the reviews, I hope you were sufficiently revived enough to enjoy this latest chapter. :)
-Kai Isolated- : My apologies for the long update, but that you oh so much for the kind review! You may think several people deserve to be shot in the next few chapters, but that is usually the case when Riza deals with the men in Roy's command. : ) I'm glad you found this story worthy of your time, I hope it continues to do so.
Dennisud : Sorry you had to wait this long, but I hope you enjoyed the way the next chapter answered some of your questions! (Sort of…) Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed the next installment!
Kuroxdoragon : That is rather evil of me, isn't it? In the middle of a sentence, I never even thought of it that way before. Hope you enjoyed the chapters, and thanks for the reviews!
FFVIII : Aww, thanks for the supporting flag! Hope everyone's still not OOC and that the continue story has met with your continued satisfaction!
The Tiramisu of Impending Doom : Your reviews always make me smile extra-big. Thanks for recognizing the fact that I'm trying for something new with Roy and Riza, especially with the kids. Royai is nice, but you can only read so many 'sudden statements of undying love' before they get old. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for the review!
Leigh : Thanks for the review, and yes I suppose Zeke and Beth are a little like Kisa and Hira from FB, though I hadn't thought about it before. Glad you enjoyed the story, hope the next chapter lived up to your expectations!
Silver Wurm : Aw, thanks for the very high praise, and wonderful review! Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
LuvInu88 : Omg! Thanks for the review! Please give me more:)
SakuraTearDrop : Personally, I think the reader has to be more patient when the story is coming out chapter by chapter like this, but thank you for your very kind words. I love Beth too. : ) Here's up the update, thanks for the review!
Humor Queen Merc : For the record, in the FMA world there is no rank of 'Captain', no one ever holds it and it is never mentioned in any part of the series. Therefore, she only really bypassed the rank of 'Major'. Why is Captain left out? I don't know, but I hope that helps swallow that particular detail. Also, I'm thinking the Military there doesn't quite work like ours, and no matter what Riza Hawkeye will always be Roy Mustangs personal aide, even if he's the Fuhrer and she's been pushed to the rank of General. But that's just me. Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed the update!
Ruki44 : If you haven't figured out who the new Fuhrer is by now, you'll just have to wait until later. : ) And yeah, Riza won't kill Marshall, and he'll torture himself over it plenty without her ever having to lift a finger. Thanks for the review!
Hunter-Robin : Thanks for your many wonderful compliments, I enjoyed your review greatly. : ) Hope you enjoyed the next installment!
Dailenna : Love the long reviews! I hope I earn another one, even if this one did take forever and a day to come around. I have to say I don't think anyone else really reviews while they're reading the chapter, so I have to commend you for that in and of itself. Then again, how are you going to remember all you wanted to say, right? I gotta say, I loved the irony of the frat laws being gone and Roy and Riza just happening to come in with children the next day. It made my day at least. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter, and can't wait to hear from you again!
Blknblupanter1 : So sorry it was longer than a week, but you get more than one chapter this week, so…I hope it makes up for it? Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed the update!
Bar-Ohki : Oh yes, the kids get to see far more military stuff then they probably want to. :) Especially Zeke when it comes to Riza. Hope you enjoyed it!
Jacksparrow589 : I hope this chapter answered at least part of your question and a half. Lucky you, asking it right before it happened! You didn't read my mind, did you:P Hope you enjoyed the update, and thanks for the review!
Momiji-k : Aw, glad to be of service my friend! I know what it's like to crave a particular pairing or story line and find one that just hits the spot. Hope you enjoyed the next part, and thanks for the review!
Winglessfairy25 : Once more, if you haven't figured out who the Fuhrer is, and there are plenty of hints lying around as to who, you're gonna have to wait and see:) Gotta keep some secrets to myself, right? Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed it!
Bizzy : I think Havoc is one of the few who can get away with that, right? Think about it, any one else other than Roy and she really might have shot them. :P Hope you enjoyed it, thanks for the review!
SxL : Hope you were satisfied with Riza's performance! Thanks for the review, it was much appreciated.
OTP : My dear, there is no such thing as a nice cliffie, though if I had known how long it would be before I would update I never would have done so in the first place. It was rather mean of me. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for the review.
MoonStarDutchess : Thanks for the review, hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time, my friends.
CB
'Out of the goodness of my heart...'
Glinda the Good Witch, Wicked