7. Trip
"Well, why don't you take a holiday or something? You work too much," Edward sighed, leaning against Riza's desk. She was still working, despite the fact that everyone had left for lunch a while ago. There was just no winning with her, it was always about the work.
"If I take a holiday no work gets done. Then I have more when I return. There's no point, I've told you before," Riza spared him a tired glance, before returning to the document in her hands. She would gladly take his advice if she knew the others could manage without her. Of course, they couldn't.
"I thought Colonel's were meant to work."
"They are. I got the one that doesn't."
"Just leave, you can hire someone to replace you, right?" Edward gave up, sighing again heavier. Riza was working herself too hard, and he couldn't come in and help for the next week or two, considering he'd been down in Risembool. After Al had decided to stay there, it was Ed making the monthly trips down to visit. Of course, this was a longer one, because Winry had mentioned something on the phone about new automail. And the girl, not wanting her subjects to look out-of-date, decided to force him down for a visit. Force being the key word.
"I can, but they won't do my job good enough. Just go, you'll miss your train," Hawkeye prodded, poking her companion out the door as she left for lunch. There were many more things to sign, and she hadn't even started on them. Her hunger just took over, it was nature, and even the horrid food from the canteen couldn't throw her off eating.
"Good point," Edward kissed Riza quickly on the cheek before heading off down the hall to collect his bags, then catch the train. He always managed to fall behind schedule, always.
---
"First Lieutenant Hawkeye?" Came a voice from the door, causing everyone to look up, pleased at the distraction. The person who'd just spoken saluted, and Riza returned it.
"Yes?" She asked, in clipped, formal tones.
"This is for you," The man handed her a small envelope, which Riza opened quickly.
"I'll be replacing you, as the leave is compulsory," The person, a First Lieutenant too, added.
Riza didn't have too much time to think about anything, as the occupants of the room, relieved that their slave-driver was leaving, shoved her out the door.
They didn't know the replacement was going to be just as bad.
---
Riza rested her head against the cool glass, the only thing that seemed real at the moment, ignoring the passing scenery.
He'd forced leave on her.
Damn him.
She opened the whole envelope again, which had been folded neatly, and dumped its contents on a small, flimsy, train table.
The stub of her train ticket lay there, ripped by the guard to certify she had, in fact, bought her ticket. There was a small note from some higher-up informing her that she'd been given compulsory leave. And then there was another note, with instructions on how Riza could get to the Rockbell residency.
Riza smirked to herself as the food trolley came past, dishing up things that looked so much better than that of the military cafeteria. She couldn't really stay mad at Edward for organising that.
Besides, he'd requested her position be filled by the strictest person available.
She was going to enjoy this trip.
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A/N; ;; Please don't hate me for not posting… In like… Forever. But I was busy, and didn't have an idea for this one for a while…
I love all my reviewers too, keep up the great work!