Chapter Seven: Hey, Juliet (LMNT)
A/N: Spoilers for chapter 58. Possible slight OOC. (And the song doesn't really work, but, if you take a look at just the lyrics, it sorta does...) You have been forewarned. This message will self destruct in 10 seconds. Thank you. Good day.
… Anyway, it never really says whether there was a gap between apprenticeship and when Roy became part of the military, but I'm assuming he had to at least leave the Hawkeye house for a while in order to register (this takes place during that time), and since it looks like the Hawkeyes live in a rural town, he'd need to go to the closest big city to register. That's just my take on it, though.
It was not unusual to receive post from people out of town. After all, Riza's father was a widely-respected alchemist, if rather reclusive and "a bit off his rocker", as someone had once put it.
Even less surprising was that it was from her father's student, Roy Mustang. Riza had read the return address with some distaste- a military city. Wonderful. Just what her father would want to hear.
No, out-of-town post did not surprise Riza Hawkeye in the least. It was the addressee that was the surprise: her.
The envelope was rather thick, and Riza was quite curious to know what was inside.
As soon as she had finished putting away the groceries, Riza went to her room and shut the door, though she knew that her father was studying, and knew that he assumed she was, as well, because she usually did.
But today, that would wait. Riza carefully opened the letter.
Dear Riza,
I am sorry that I left so suddenly, and I'm sure you know by now where I am. Please, don't hate me for it. I promise that I will come back soon, and when I do, I'll explain everything. For right now, however, I will keep what I wish to say short and simple:
It is with my letter to you (and the enclosed letter to your father) that I express an interest in courting you. While I know that you are young and I am in the military now, I am certain that I want to do this. You truly interest me, Riza. Though I've known you for only a short while, you're someone I believe would be an excellent partner for me, an equal.
I mean that, too. I don't intend to keep you locked up with housework and children. Rather, I intend to fully live my life with you at my side.
I hope that this does not make you uncomfortable, but I apologize if that is the case. Please give my regards (and the letter, of course) to your father.
Sincerely,
Roy Mustang
Riza was surprised. She certainly knew that Mr. Mustang liked her well enough. They had spent more time together than Riza spent with her father during Roy's apprenticeship.
It had been awkward at first, but they had soon grown to enjoy it, and Riza found that she could discuss most topics with him.
She thought for a while. She did like him, really, and he was certainly nice enough… Maybe she should give it a try. It was not legally binding, and Roy did not seem to be the type to say these things lightly.
With a sigh, she went to her father's study.
"Father, Mr. Mustang sent a letter for you."
He read it quickly, glancing at Riza rather wide-eyed for a moment, then turned back to work and, in a tone indicating nothing was truly out of the ordinary, he growled, "He can do what he wants. He's not my student, and is no longer my concern."
What do I do now? Riza wondered. She supposed that her father's words were as good as his permission, but she did not know if this was such a good idea, after all. His joining the military, possibly becoming his wife… it was all too much.
Well, that decided it. She would wait until he came back, and then she would make her decision.
Little did she know that their next meeting would be anything but the time to figure this out.
A/N: There are a couple of others that I'm planning/in the process of writing that take place before and after this, but REMEMBER: THESE ARE STANDALONES. ANY TIME FRAME THAT HAPPENS TO COINCIDE WITH THAT OF ANOTHER ASSUMES THAT NONE OF THE OTHERS HAPPENED. So, if one takes place after this (and it will), this short oneshot didn't happen. It doesn't exist. Period.
With that, I need to go do homework. Or sleep. Or both.