Chapter 6
Always
"Colonel? You have a call from Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, sir," A officer told Roy. "Also sir, a package was delivered to you from a Lieutenant Hawkeye."
"Fine! Fine just leave it at the desk, I'll grab it on my way out," Roy replied and left Ed and Al to argue about sacrificing themselves for each other.
"YOU CAN'T GO AROUND LETTING DEATH TAKE YOU LIKE THAT! WE'RE A TEAM UNTIL THE END, BROTHER!" Al screamed at Ed who sat in a hospital bed with bloody bandages around his stomach and left arm. He closed the door behind him and picked up the phone by the front desk.
"Colonel Roy Mustang," Roy said coolly.
"ROY?! ROY I'M HEADING OVER TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW TO TAKE OVER YOUR POSITION! I HOPE ED AND AL DON'T MIND ME BRINGING MY LITTLE GIRL!" Hughes shouted into the phone. Roy held the phone away from his ear and looked around glaring at people who were staring at him. He slammed he phone down and took the package laying on the desk addressed to him and walked back into Ed's room.
"I'm taking off early tonight," Roy said to them as he grabbed Ed's knife and cut through the tape that kept the paper wrapped. The two brothers stared at Roy with interest and then with glee as Roy's face went from serious to a deep blushing red.
"What's in the package? Your laundry?" Ed sneered.
"No. Drink your milk before Winry gets here," Roy replied and dashed off to the bathroom where he quickly hid himself behind white curtains in the changing area.
Hughes placed his daughter in Ed's room before checking up on his best friend in the bathroom. He opened the door to see Roy wearing a black suit and white tie, his hair gelled back and smooth. Hughes whistled and leaned against the door.
"Looking snazzy, Colonel," Hughes chuckled.
"I look like an idiot. Why would the Queen give me this to wear? It's just a stupid dinner," Roy complained.
"Actually, we booked you a table at the Rose. She kept telling Gracia she wanted pasta. Oh by the way… I dropped her off at her place since you two could just walk the extra few blocks to the place. Have fun!" Hughes said tossing Roy the keys and ducking out of the room. Roy stared at himself in the mirror and sighed. He stuffed his white gloves in his pocket and hung his uniform over his arm as he took the stairs down and spotted Hughes' car in the parking lot. Two soldiers saluted him that he ignored while he tossed his uniform in the back. Maybe Renee's servants could wash it.
The drive to her house took ages while he kept adjusting his cuffs on his jacket and smoothing down his hair. Roy pulled up to a rather large and expensive looking white gold apartment building where a man in a green uniform took the car keys from Roy and offered him a small glass of champagne. He stepped inside the building and was greeted by three men wearing the same uniforms who offered him cigarettes or a small sample of cheese. He approached the front desk and was saluted by the man sitting behind it.
"Colonel! Miss. Blanche will be down shortly, I have already informed her of your presence," The short man replied. Roy turned and saw the sitting area was filled with people dressed for all occasions. A young man standing in front of the fireplace turned and saw Roy looking around.
"Colonel! How's Ed?" The man shouted and placed his cigarette in a dish before shaking the Colonel's hand.
"Actually Michael he might need to go undergo another surgery," Roy replied. Micheal's smile turned into a frown and he shook his head.
"At least the worse didn't come so soon. I for sure thought he would be a goner," Michael whispered when a few heads turned and smiled at Roy. "A few buddies and I are heading out to play a few rounds of golf. Care to join us?"
"Can't tonight, Michael. I thought your sister told you we had plans tonight."
"Plans?"
"Just going out for dinner and maybe a walk around the city."
"Really? Seems like you of all people would need that, Roy," Michael replied coldly and Roy looked at him in confusion.
"What makes you say that?"
"You can fool all of central's girls but you can't fool, Renee."
"And why would I want to do that?"
"Fame, power, your dying sex life." Roy grabbed Michael by the tie and glared at him.
"How dare you defile me like that. Out of all the people I knew I thought you would be smarter than them. I guess my idea of you was wrong all along. You're nothing but a oaf with a bad reputation," Roy spat and shoved Michael away. "I taught your sister to control her gift for a reason. If you can't accept the fact that your sister and I have a friendship then leave."
"You don't get it do you?" Michael asked him and left Roy with a crowd of onlookers in the lounge. Roy sat on a leather couch and smoothed his hair back.
"Colonel?" The man behind the desk asked and Roy's eyes flew open and he stood up adjusting his jacket. "Miss. Blanche is on her way down." And sure enough a woman dressed in sapphire blue was making her way down the long main staircase. Renee's hair was pulled to the side and curled. Her dress was long and elegant as it swished with every step she made. Roy could feel every man's pair of eyes throwing daggers at him while Renee accepted his arm and they strolled out of the apartment lobby. It was a beautiful evening with the sun slowly starting to set in the west.
"I was serious about the pasta dinner," Renee huffed as they entered the Rose. The host placed them outside to overlook the river and handed them menus. Roy looked at the prices. Renee had an expensive taste but then again she was a Princess.
"Will we be sharing a bottle of wine tonight?" A short bald man asked them, his smile reaching the end of his glasses.
"How about the finest wine my country had to offer you," Renee replied and Roy peered over his menu to look at the waiter dig into his pockets for a pad and pen.
"Of course Princess Renee! Would you please sign this for my daughter? She adored your dress that you wore to the Military Ball," The waiter said and Renee happily signed her name on a sheet of paper before the waiter took off. She closed her menu and stared at Roy.
"Hiding your face makes you seem more of a wuss than Ed cuts you out to be," Renee snickered and Roy slammed his menu down and threw Renee a look. "How is he?"
"He'll be in surgery tomorrow when Winry, his mechanic, arrives," Roy replied and noticed Renee was wearing her mother's sapphire necklace. Renee looked down and touched the jewel held safely inside a heart shape pendent.
"Bradley sent it to me this afternoon. They found it with her remains and he thought I deserved a small token to carry around."
"I see, did he personally visit you?" Roy asked as the waiter returned with a large bottle of red wine and two glasses.
"Have we decided?" The waiter asked them both and Renee shut her menu closed and placed it on the table while smiling at Roy.
"May I have the alferdo chicken pasta with a side of your best garlic bread and house salad? The dressing will be oil and vinegar," Renee replied and the waiter smiled at her.
"Hungry tonight aren't we, Princess?"
"Today was a busy today. I deserve a treat for saving old Roy Boy here from Scar," Renee cooed and raised her glass of wine to Roy. "The garlic bread is so he wouldn't try to get into my bed tonight. Roy would because he always wanted someone to cool down his fiery desires." Roy coughed out his wine and the waiter muttered in a strange language while looking at Roy with the utmost respect.
"I'll have the same as her," Roy replied in between coughs and the waiter hurried off with both menus tucked under his arm and a look of pure joy. "Are you crazy mad, Renee? Are you trying to sabotage my career by telling strangers lies?"
"How is that a lie? I was just warning him because you and I both know that you were planning that," Renee replied and shot him a dirty look. Roy glared at her and decided to stare out at the river where young couples were strolling near the edge gazing down at the currents. He knew damn well that the waiter was going to rat him out to the newspapers tomorrow as Princess Renee's new admirer. He could already read the headlines: Colonel Seeks Princess As New Love Interest. The only funny fact was that Renee and him would make a perfect couple. The fire and ice concept wasn't even a key fact.
"The moon is beautiful tonight," Renee muttered as she looked out at the moon that lit the city above. Roy looked up, his thoughts jumbled and he took another gulp of wine. "Sometimes my mother said a full moon is also the romance moon."
"Your mother always thought I would marry you though. She even made a bet on Christmas with Ramsey that we would be marry before you turned twenty-three."
"Who knows? I'm twenty-one. You still have two years to prove her wrong." Roy smiled at her and poured himself another glass of wine. "I remember the first time you yelled at me when I almost your ass to the dining room chair."
"What about the time when I shot fireballs at your dog, Rekki?"
"And the time when we battled in the garden and destroyed all of the palaces' prize winning roses?"
"How about the time when we both attacked Major Armstrong and he ended up in the hospital for a week with a frozen face and a burnt chest?" Roy asked and both of them started to laugh. Renee wiped a tear off her face and took a sip of wine.
"After you left… the palace wasn't the same. Since I couldn't practice with anyone else, my father made me put on gloves to keep my alchemy tattoos concealed and forced to start looking for a husband. It was pretty lonely because I was separated from my brothers and I never wanted to marry some prince in the first place."
"Why not? Normally marriage bonds bring countries together," Roy replied.
"My father had this crazy idea of throwing me with a Prince from Xing. I wanted to travel the world not sit at home and have babies while this guy I hardly know rules a kingdom he was never a part of."
"Weren't you allow to marry high ranking military officers here?"
"We were given the option before the Civil War broke out. After that Bradley thought we were handing Ishvalans weapons and he demanded that we step out of the picture or he'll use force on us. Well look what happened. My entire country is dead and a wasteland," Renee hissed and Roy looked out at the river again.
"Then it's time we let go of the past. Something is fishy with the military and I can't put my finger on it. Bradley and I have never been on the same page but I can't disobey his orders."
"Then don't. I'm under close watch ever since I gained this military rank. He believes I'm trying to overthrow him."
"Are you?"
"No, I want information."
"Yeah you want the case files about your countries' death. Bradley halted all investigations until Scar is dead."
"No… I want information on the Red Stone. Ed told me he was searching for it to get his brother's body back. I want it to return my country back to its glory," Renee whispered as the waiter came back with their dinner. He left quickly and Renee started chewing on her salad while Roy stared at her.
"You can't bring back the dead, Renee. All those people… they'll never be able to return. Why go back to a country where no one is alive to rule?"
"Ah but that's where you're wrong. You see… many of your countries' men are willing to move to Aerugo if it returned to its glory state. I'm sure all the Ishvalvans will flee to my country to escape death."
"You don't want to stay here?"
"I'm here to find the stone and leave quietly. Oh I would also like to speak to a certain individual," Renee replied and took a bite out of her bread.
"Who?" Roy muttered as he wrapped his noodles around his fork.
"Solf J. Kimblee. I think he's called the Crimson Alchemist."
"He's rotting away in prison. He killed high ranking officers when they asked him to turn in his stone after the war was over. He's a blood thirsty sociopath."
"I still need to speak to him. He knew my father, I want answers from him."
They sat in utter silence for the rest of dinner before they left with a hefty tip to keep the waiter quiet about Renee's outburst against Roy. The night was still young and Roy took Renee out on a river walk where he bought her a blue rose to match her dress. They walked and talked about old memories and people stared and took pictures of them laughing and chatting away. The night was well past midnight when Roy and Renee sat on a bench, Roy's coat around Renee's shoulders, both chatting about their companions.
"Ed's actually a pretty cool partner. His alchemy is great and I've never seen a guy wearing automail that could run that fast," Renee said when Roy asked how her partnership with Ed was going. "What about you and Riza?"
"She's a scary woman but we watch each other's back," Roy replied.
"I'm sorry she was suddenly swept off her feet by my brother."
"Oh we don't have that kind of relationship. Hawkeye and I aren't the best match in the world."
"Then tell me, what kind of girl is your perfect match?" Renee asked and Roy blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Well… uh…" He needed to think this through without giving it away that his perfect choice was Renee herself. She was much younger than him, but… Hughes and his wife were eight years apart as well. Roy's mind was spinning alongside her as well. The clock tower chimed midnight and Roy stood up quickly. Renee jumped and grabbed his hand, onlookers looking suspiciously at them.
"I'll take you home," Roy grumbled and the two of them walked back to the apartment building in silence. The sitting area in the lobby was occupied by older guests drinking and gambling on six men playing poker. Renee and Roy walked up to the third floor where her two younger brothers froze on the spot at the sight of Roy.
"Is he?..." Lenny asked.
"That's none of your concern," Renee snapped at them and unlocked the door that stood right by the stairs. "Go to bed, both of you and make sure that damn cat stays in your room this time." The two boys vanished around the corner and left Renee and Roy alone. Renee stepped inside her apartment and kicked off her shoes by the door. "Make yourself at home," Renee cried out before walking up a spiral staircase and slamming the bedroom door above him. Roy looked around and saw everything was like the palace back at her country. The walls were aligned in beautiful gold and silver spirals with a crème color background and white boarder lines. In the large sitting room stood two gold couches parallel to a mocha colored coffee table that sat on top of a gold carpet. Near the fireplace was a large radio and record player that contained a large box filled with assorted records. He looked in the small kitchen that stood underneath the second floor landing and found a bottle of champagne and two glasses that he placed on the coffee table in the sitting area. The fire was already dying down and Roy threw in new logs before snooping into closets and the bathroom. Renee fancied cloaks and kept her tiara inside a box in the closet behind her traveling lace up boots. A suitcase was already packed for the next mission and sitting against the wall inside the closet. The bathroom was clean and contained only a hairbrush, toothbrush, and a sweet smelling perfume that Roy adored. He remembered this scent when he gave a bottle of this perfume to her for Christmas one year. She always wore it and drove him mad because the smell was distracting. He shut the bathroom door before settling himself on one of the couches in time to glimpse Renee walking down the staircase wearing a long silver nightgown and blue robe that fluttered behind her as she walked to the couch and sat next to Roy. They were silent for a long time as they watched the fire dance before them. He knew he should be getting home even though he only had babysitting duties when Winry would return to fix Ed's automail. He poured himself and Renee a glass of champagne and handed her a glass that she took without looking at him. He checked his watch and saw it was almost one.
"If you're so worried about the time you can just stay here. There is another room upstairs you can use. Michael decided to buy his own room since him and Riza are serious now," Renee whispered and Roy choked on his drink.
"Those two are having sex?"
"Seriously, Roy? Of course they are. Why should you care though? Riza finally found someone to love. I'm happy for her."
"Why Michael of all people?"
"I know… I feel the same way but so what? He's a good guy, Roy." Roy set his glass down on the table and saw the blue streak in Renee's hair glittering in the fire's light.
"I always wanted to have a streak of color in my hair when I stayed at your place," Roy whispered and Renee smiled and looked at him.
"You should get one. Get red. Red means hope."
"Hope? I would think it means romance."
"Actually that's pink. I'm sure pink wouldn't match your style."
"You think so? I think red would match me though," Roy replied and unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt, the room was getting uncomfortably hot. Renee leaned against him and he pushed aside her hair to see her tattoos on her neck. He noticed a new one underneath her vines. It was Ed's special symbol but had a beautiful twist to look frozen. He will never understand her desire to become a tattoo/building jumper maniac but to him she was still that stubborn Princess with a kick ass gift of freezing alchemy. He wrapped his arms around her like a protective shell and she rested her head against his chest. It was like old times whenever a lightning storm hit and a scared Renee rushed into his room crying and begging to never leave her side. He wondered if she was still afraid of lightning…
"Still afraid of lightning?" Roy asked. Renee looked up at him and smiled.
"Wow you actually remember those nights?"
"Of course, I never left your side remember?"
"You still haven't," Renee replied and Roy couldn't remember what pulled him to do it, but he leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back and his heart tugged as he pulled her in closer and smelled the familiar flower perfume. His head was racing but he pulled her up and lifted her into his arms still kissing her as he traveled up the stairs into her room and gently place her on her bed.
"Stay with me?" Renee asked him.
"Always," Roy replied. All of his questions were answered right then and there. Renee loved him just like he loved her. Undying love is mysterious especially in dark times but to Roy he never wanted to let her go. After she fell asleep next to him he stared at her vine tattoos on her back and the raven flying from the tree. He pushed back his hair that was once again messy and sticky from sweat and gel combined and wrapped an arm around Renee. He knew Hughes was going to drive past the apartment and see his car was still here. He knew Hughes would put two and two together and Roy groaned into one of the pillows. He knew tomorrow he would be bombed with questions from both Hughes and then Edward after his surgery about what he just did with Renee. Was his life even private anymore?