26. Sober (P!nk)

A/N: If you've read "First Impressions", this is kind of an alternate. If not, it's not neccessary, just know that this is AU.

Riza could barely see straight. Rebecca had been sick today, so Riza had had to pull a double shift on her own.

"Well, hello."

No, anyone but him, please.

It was always the worst guys hitting on her. And while she was walking home, too.

"Excuse me, miss." The man laid a hand on her shoulder.

Riza added what little speed she could. She just wanted to be in her apartment with a good book.

"Sweetheart! Sorry I'm late!" Another man's voice, too close. He looked more respectable than the ponytailed man harassing her at the moment, though. Riza would have to take her chances.

"Darling, I'm always reminding you when I get off of work, and here you are, blocks away from the café. I'm tired, harassed… and very unhappy with you."

The ponytailed man was walking away, but slowly, glancing back every once and a while.

"I'm sorry," Riza's savior said, a little louder. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." He took her hand and leaned in a little. "Sorry," he whispered, "but that guy doesn't seem like he'll take no for an answer."

"He doesn't," sighed Riza. "You'd better, though."

He let go of her hand. "I do—don't worry. But to put me at ease, may I walk you back to your place?"

Riza nodded. "But only to."

The man held up his hands in what was unmistakably an "I'm innocent" gesture.

They walked together in silence for a few moments before Riza started, "Well, thank you, um…"

"Roy, Roy Mustang." Roy smiled. "I thought you could probably handle him, to be honest, but I just had a bad feeling."

Riza wasn't sure about this man. On the one hand, Kimblee had annoyed her for months. On the other, this Roy character seemed a little too comfortable with her. She stopped. "Listen, it was very nice of you, don't get me wrong, but I just…" She had to phrase this part carefully.

Roy's face fell. "Are you always this suspicious of men?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact," snapped Riza. "You would be, too, if—" she broke off.

"If I knew what your life was like," Roy finished. "Pardon me, but I don't. Whatever life you live, you can't dwell on the scars it dealt you forever."

"Like you would know!"

"And what if I've had my own problems in the past? Actually, let me rephrase that: I have. You know where I was just now? My best friend's grave."

Riza glared back at Roy, but couldn't think of anything to say. Finally, she mumbled, "I'm sorry for your loss."

Roy sighed. "So am I. For your loss. Somebody's waiting for you. I don't know who, but if you keep pushing everyone away, how will you know who it is?"

Turning, Riza began to walk away until Roy's words really hit her. She spun around. Roy was still standing there. "How do you do that?" she wanted to know. "How can you say what people need to hear, even when they try not to?"

"I told you, I've got skeletons in my closet, too. The number of times I've had that exact advice beaten into me…" Roy shook his head. "The least I could do for Maes is pass it on."

Riza nodded. "I'm sorry."

"So am I…" Roy extended his hand.

"Riza Hawkeye." She took his hand and shook it briefly.

Roy grinned. "Well, Miss Hawkeye, we definitely got off on the wrong foot. I really would like to make that up to you. What would you say to coffee next week?"

Riza didn't think twice. "I'd say yes."

A/N: Well, obviously, this doesn't follow the song exactly. I used Roy's advice as what brings Riza back from her aloofness. No drugs involved here!