How great it is to be inspired to write again!
As If
Such an amazing man Roy Mustang was, as if he didn't believe it himself. The perfect epitome of diligence, righteousness and trust was what he appeared to be to all, not just to her. Yet it was only to her that the delicate lines hidden below the surface stood out, and she understood. She appreciated the fact that the words "give up" were not a part of his vocabulary. She appreciated that he treated her just right, with the appropriate touches of caution, wisdom, needed toughness and gentle encouragement. She appreciated that he was a true hero in his own right, and she appreciated that it was never as if he wasn't aware.
He appreciated that he could be all of these things in her eyes. In his tenure in the military, through the trials and events he had witnessed, all the way to his ascension to Major General, there were only those few who had garnered his respect—the Brigadier General Hughes, such a great friend and an honorable man, the Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong, so duty-bound and honest, the good doctor Marcoh, her, and finally...him.
Everyone missed him, a fact that could not be denied.
Yet Roy was not one to linger, and he understood that the time he had known him had been precious, and that under the surface their mutual respect was special, not only because of the maturity so belying the young man's age but also because of the lessons he had taught him.
Foremost of those lessons was the harsh reality that nothing lasts forever, and the undying need to appreciate everything one has in life.
He appreciated that Fullmetal had taught him this, and appreciated her as a result of knowing it.
And she appreciated him for that fact and for so many more things.
Nowadays, in a complete reversal of their past, he saw her everywhere but the office, and it was no secret. The knowledge he had come upon caused him to smile from time to time, and Roy had come to appreciate the ability to smile.
Somwhere, Fullmetal was smiling, too.
As if he didn't know.
A/N: Wow, this one was fun. The proof of that and of my returned inspiration was that I wrote this in about eight minutes. The RoyxRiza was necessary, but I loved throwing Ed in.
Review if you can, and have fun reading. Send me ideas for XX and onwards if possible, because challenges are fun.
LL