31. Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)
A/N: Before the coup begins… (i.e. After Roy, Riza, Breda, and Fuery meet up.)
Riza curled up in the small space as best she could, her back against Roy's. Breda and Fuery were on watch and would be back to wake them up in a few hours.
If either of them got any sleep, that was.
In such close quarters, Riza could feel Roy inhaling and exhaling. Neither of them was going to get more than a little bit of rest.
Black Hayate came over to lick Riza's cheek and whine.
"You're really that nervous?" Roy's voice was soft and slightly concerned.
"Are you expecting Hayate to answer, sir?" Riza all but whispered back.
Roy turned over. "He's only nervous when you are."
Riza stayed where she was. "Of course I'm nervous. Why shouldn't I be?"
"Fear keeps you alert. Nothing bad about that." Roy yawned. "Sorry. Just can't fall asleep." He lay down.
From her position, Riza could hear Roy's heartbeat. It matched hers for pace. He was just as nervous as she was. It was comforting and unnerving at the same time.
Hayate now moved up to where Roy's and Riza's heads were resting. Riza reached up to pet her puppy, instinctively pulling away when she felt Roy's hand hit hers. She was jumpy and she knew it, much as she did not want to be. Letting out a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes.
Riza blinked. Where was she?
She felt an arm around her shoulders, and turned to face whoever was invading her space.
It was Roy.
They were sitting in a car on top of a grassy hill overlooking a city. It was rather late at night, and the breeze was pleasant.
It was perfect.
This isn't right… I don't think…
Riza's eyes shot open.
Fuery knelt by her, hand poised over her shoulder. "It's… um… time for your watch, ma'am."
Sitting up, Riza put her hair back up. Her dream still fazed her slightly. A hand appeared in front of her face: Roy's. She took it and allowed herself to be helped to her feet.
Roy allowed them to get just out of earshot before his curiosity got the better of him. "Something you'd like to share?"
"I fell asleep," Riza answered curtly.
"No shame in that." Roy put his hands in his pockets. "But that's not what's bothering you."
Riza didn't speak for a moment. "I had a dream about what might have been. If the army didn't exist, if there had been peace…"
"Couldn't it still exist after all this?" Roy wanted to know.
"I suppose it's possible." A pause, then a sigh. "I hope so."
"Hope's about all we've got to run on at this point, huh?" Roy smiled slightly. "We can make it work, though."
Riza had to smile, too. It was nice to know that even in the toughest of times, there was still something to smile about.
Somehow, she got the feeling that this would be the last time she would be smiling for a while. Chills ran down her back.
As quickly as it had come, the smile left Riza's face.
A/N: Aw, hang in there, Riza!
I ended on an unusually negative note. Weird. Then again, it is the manga, and right before everything just sort of blows up.
Well, let me know what you think, as usual! I'm done with school, so I should have a little more time, with any luck. I am, however, preparing to go to university this fall, so no promises, other than that I'll try.