21. Face Down (Red Jumpsuit Apparatus)
A/N: This is dedicated to all those who have suffered at the hands of someone else. Nobody deserves to be abused, bullied or mistreated in any way, nor do they deserve to be blamed for it.
This takes place after the last episode. We're pretending Roy has returned to work for some period of time before going north.
Riza could feel the stares. The glares from those who knew, or, at least, thought they knew.
"It's her."
It was not as if she was not reminded hundreds of times a day, whenever she saw him.
"Did you hear...?"
He had assured her all through his recovery that was not her fault. She just could not bring herself to believe it.
"Some protector!"
They did not know anything! What gave them the right to judge?
"He could've died!"
He had not died, and had come back sooner than expected, so why were they demeaning her?
"Maybe she wanted him dead..."
That was the last straw. Closing her eyes tightly, Riza sped up unitl she reached the office.
"They're talking about you."
"Sir?"
"Don't 'sir' me, Hawkeye; it's written all over your face."
"What bothers me is that they could be right!" Riza choked.
Roy walked over to face her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "They weren't there, and they don't know. Besides, he might have used you as a hostage. I don't need to lose anymore people, especially those so close to me. If not for your timing, the both of us, or even just me, could be six feet under. You can't live in the 'what-if' stage forever, though."
"I wouldn't be if they didn't keep talking about it!" Angry tears began to roll down her cheeks, and Riza clenched her fists.
Offering her a handkerchief, Roy murmured, "You deserve so much better. You're a hero. You did what you had to. But there will always be people who don't see it that way, and, unfortunately, most of them happen to be people we work with."
Riza looked up at Roy, and at that moment, Havoc slammed the door to the office and nearly yelled, "If one more person gives me shit, there's gonna be hell to pay!" Noticing he wasn't alone and that what was going on was not good, he growled, "That's it," and marched right back out of the office.
"I've had it," Riza said quietly.
"So have I," Roy agreed. "Let's show 'em they can't do this to us."
Riza stepped back and saluted him. "Let's."
A/N: A short one. I hope the point got across. This was a piece written more as a reaction to something than for pure pleasure, if it seems weird. That's all I've got for now.
'Til next chapter…