41. My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson)
A/N: Was Rebecca even in Ishbal? If not, please suspend your disbelief for the duration of this oneshot.
Riza looked up as Rebecca ducked into their tent.
"That Major… Mustang, was it? He's fighting his friend out there." Rebecca poked her head out. "And losing, it looks like."
Shaking her head, Riza sighed. "I…" She trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"If he wasn't such a stubborn ass, he'd make an excellent leader."
Riza was so caught off guard by Rebecca's rather accurate assessment that she let out a surprised cough. When Rebecca looked at her, she had to admit that she agreed.
Rebecca almost smiled. "Well, who'd've thought? He must've rubbed off on you while he studied with your dad."
It was all Riza could do not to blush. Roy definitely had something charismatic and trustworthy about him, but Rebecca was almost certainly implying something more. "Young and idealistic. I can relate."
The smile dropped off Rebecca's face as she went over to hug her friend. "Fat lot of good that did you. You were better off at home, waiting for him."
"Rebecca!" protested Riza.
"He doesn't want you to be here, you know," Rebecca continued. "He blames himself for dragging you into this hellhole, as well he should."
"It was my choice!" Riza interjected again.
"But don't you ever regret it?" Rebecca wanted to know.
Riza was stunned into silence for a moment. "I-I can't," she faltered. "I really believe that things need to change, and that they can if someone stands up for it."
Rebecca sighed and shook her head. "Young and idealistic, like you said. It rubbed off on you, like I said."
"No." Riza surprised even herself with the sharp response. "If he hadn't come to study with my father, I wouldn't be here, but that wouldn't change my views. I would have thought that regardless of his presence in my life."
Looking a bit rueful, Rebecca nodded. "I believe you. I know where you're coming from. It's either that, or sheer enjoyment, and since you would never enjoy this, well… I wouldn't blame you if it really was him, but you have no reason to lie to me, so I believe you."
"It is him," Riza clarified, "just… not for the reasons you think…"
Though she stopped talking, something seemed to hang in the air.
"At least, mostly not," Rebecca supplied, taking Riza's silence as ascent. "It's not unusual to feel like this, Riza, and you and I both know it. I've seen enough to know that he cares as much for you as you do for him, and in the same ways. You couldn't have picked a worse environment for it, but you're strong, the both of you. Whatever it is, you'll make it through, and whatever it is between you two will remain intact. It's nobody's place to judge how or what you feel, anyway."
Riza looked down, trying not to fall apart. "It just seems so hopeless sometimes, and I don't want to go on, but I know I have to. He needs someone he can depend on."
Rebecca hugged Riza again. "And you need someone who can support you. No matter how that man denies it, he cares for you, and you can go to him. He'll come to you, too. You two understand each other, and there's power in that. But if he's going to keep on being a stubborn ass, I'll be here for you, too. Always."
"Thanks, Rebecca." Riza smiled as best she could. "I'm just worn out from all this."
"Me too, kid," Rebecca sighed. "But the sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can kick his ass for dragging you into this. Then he's yours. But for the moment, get some sleep." She looked over. Riza was already drifting off. Rebecca smiled for a moment, then frowned.
"Mustang, if you don't make it through this, you'll answer to me, and I won't be nearly as forgiving as Riza or your friend. Make it worth our while, or else."
A/N: Okay, just to clarify, I was totally aiming for the essence of the lines, "Being with you/Is so dysfunctional/I really shouldn't miss you/But I can't let you go". Kind of the same idea as last time, only it's more Riza trying to convince herself than Rebecca trying to convince her.
And Rebecca's a bit menacing at the end, there. I did not expect that. It just sort of happened.
Please give suggestions, criticism, whatever comes to mind!