… (meep) …. Looks like my laptop has a virus; as I'm typing these fake security alerts keep popping up… I have a scan running, hopefully it'll pick up the nasty bugger. Pretty sure I got it when I was reading the scans online for FMA chapter 95 on some odd site. Stupid Royai forums making me look for different translations…
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist in any way, shape or form. This is simply a work of fan fiction.
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The colonel, who had before seemed devastated at the prospect of missing the festival, did not complain as they entered the car that they would drive to their respective apartments. In fact, he was rather quite and did not utter a word as she started up the car. Riza supposed that he was still upset over whatever had occurred during his assignment.
"Sir," she said hesitantly, "before, when we were in in your office, you were going to tell me about what happened in the East." When he did not reply, she glanced at Colonel Mustang out of the corner of her eye. He had his elbow propped against the open window and was staring out at the passing scenery with a blank expression. Riza noted the wind rushing against his hair, pulling at the tempting strands she would not dare touch.
"Ah, lieutenant," Mustang said with a sigh, "I don't have the energy to talk about that right now. It's too damn hot for me to properly describe The Event. Really with this weather it makes me wonder if someone cranked the sun up to the 'unbearable' setting." He grinned. "Maybe Fullmetal really pissed someone off upstairs with that incident with the sun-god in Lior." From there he continued a long line of more and more nonsensical exclamations against the heat. Riza had to smile at his tone of voice. She was glad that he was back to his usual self; the lack of complaints had begun to worry her.
"But you know," the colonel continued, "perhaps this assignment to baby-sit Central is a blessing in disguise. Who wants to walk around and melt to death in the street?"
"That is surprisingly optimistic coming from you, sir," Riza told him tonelessly.
"I am feeling rather cheery at the present moment, it seems my luck has shifted course." The colonel smirked and for and instant their eyes met. "Maybe this assignment will actually be… entertaining." Riza found the road particularly interesting and she ignored the harsh jump her heart made. However, being the calm, collected individual that she was, Riza quickly mastered herself. She could feel that he was still watching her, still smirking, so she abruptly jerked the car to the left. Colonel Mustang yelped in surprise and held his seat for support.
"Excuse me sir, I nearly missed the turn to my apartment. And I agree, we have a good deal of 'entertainment' to keep us occupied during the week. I've been saving all of the offices' requisitions for supplies and repairs for just this occasion." Riza didn't need to look over to the passenger's seat to know that the colonel was horrified; the palpable silence in the car spoke volumes. She stopped in front of her apartment building and exited the car with a smug smile on her lips, as she knew that the colonel would not be able to see it. She saw that Mustang was getting out of the car but she shook her head. "Please wait sir, it will only take me a few minutes to gather my things."
"I should come up," Mustang said, "at least to help you carry your bags."
"It's quite alright, I can manage on my own." Riza was beginning to grow nervous. She couldn't let him see the inside of her apartment the way it was now; he would ask too many questions and that was the last thing she wanted.
"I insist lieutenant, let me come up with you and have some tea." Mustang narrowed his eyes, which was a very intimidating gesture from him, but Riza held fast.
"Again, I must decline sir. We can have tea at your own home in less than fifteen minutes." Riza waited tensely with the colonel's eyes studying her own. Finally, he sat back in the seat.
"Move quickly," he commanded, "or I might suffocate in here."
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Roy Mustang stared at his lieutenant's back as she disappeared into the quaint building. There was no reason why she should keep him out of her home, it wasn't like he had never seen it before. She sometimes invited him up for tea, or cocoa depending on the season, when he dropped her off in the evenings. She had never hesitated before now. Roy remembered going in her apartment just a couple days before he had left for the East and nothing had been different about it then. It had been the same small, sparsely furnished place that it had always been. She had looked a bit upset then, he remembered her being very quiet as she sipped her tea, but Roy had forgotten to find out exactly what had been bothering her during the chaos of the assignment. She really did deserve better.
Roy grunted in irritation and pulled at his collar to loosen it a bit. He would find out what had been bothering her all those weeks ago and why she would not let him into her apartment. But that would all be later, once they were alone at headquarters. It was too hot to get into an argument now.
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Riza was not particularly upset about missing the annual festival. Yes it would have been a welcome break from the monotony of paperwork and babysitting, but she could do without the horrible crowds. Her festival-going usually consisted of stopping by the makeshift market once or twice that was always constructed on main street. They sold a few things there that she couldn't manage to find during the rest of the year. Other than that, she did not have the time to participate in any of the other events. Technically each of the officers were given off during the celebration but Riza, by her own choice, did not relax her duties. She squared her jaw as she appraised the state her apartment was in. No, she could not afford to forgo her duties for even a day; Colonel Mustang depended on her.
If anyone else were to see her apartment at this moment Riza thought they would be scared out of their minds; it was understandable considering that every piece of gun equipment she owned was out in the open, splayed on all available counter space. It was Riza's annual pre-festival organization time. Her sniping equipment was laid out on the dinner table, in addition to cloaks in several different shades for when she was perched in a certain colored building. On the counters where she usually prepared her meals were all of the hand guns she owned; she had made sure the previous night that each piece was in clean, working order. In her cabinets, instead of food, Riza had gathered her ammunition, down to every last shell that she could find. Spread out on the floor by her bed she had placed all the maps she had of Central, complete with markings on the buildings that had proved to have the best vantage points.
Seeing all of her own meticulous work made Riza deflate. Of course she never enjoyed the festival week because she spent all of her time worrying over Colonel Mustang. She made it her mission to make sure that he enjoyed it and that he would be safe while doing so. In all the years that she had been doing this the colonel had not yet come into any sort of mortal peril; there were a few times when he had nearly gotten decked by men whose girlfriend's he had taken, but she let those get by. He might learn a lesson or two. Still, even if she simply ended up watching him, Riza was content because that way she knew he was free of danger first hand.
So much careful preparation gone to waste… She had really hoped the Colonel would have a good time this year, he had been very stressed lately. Riza shrugged mentally, figuring that this would just make her job easier, and went off into her bedroom to pack her things. She placed seven uniforms into the bag and her belts, but she hesitated when she came to her civilian clothes. Should she even bother? It really wasn't her first choice to wear the stuffy uniform all day long. Would the colonel make a big deal about it if she wore something more comfortable when it wasn't during their normal work hours? Riza shook herself and grabbed the first few sets of clothes her hands reached; she had told the colonel that she wouldn't make him wait long.
For sleeping Riza chose several simple flannel pairs and threw them into her bag. Secretly, she tossed in a few plain camisoles and shorts so she would be able to wear them underneath the flannel ones and strip after Mustang had gone to sleep.
From her bathroom Riza grabbed a hair brush, a toothbrush, two towels, her favorite gardenia soap, shampoo and conditioner. She spotted her clock on the wall and hurriedly grabbed the rest of the toiletries she thought might come in handy and rushed to her door. The last things Riza snatched up on her way out the door were her two best hand guns and a few rounds; she never knew when she would need them.
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When Riza saw the colonel she felt the corner of her mouth twitch, but she suppressed it. He was sitting in the seat with his head back and she noticed that his uniform jacket had been tossed haphazardly in the back seat. The colonel's mouth was open and he was panting, much in the same way Black Hayate did when he was hot. "Lieutenant…," he said hoarsely when he noticed her walking towards the car, "Hawkeye… Please… water…" Riza did not glance his way as she got into the driver's seat.
"Sir, your jacket," she reminded him a she started towards his home.
"You must be kidding, I'll die if I put that back on."
Riza cocked an eyebrow at his words but continued watching the road. "If I have to bear it than so do you, sir. It's regulation." She knew that he was looking at her then, she could tell by the noise of him shifting in his seat. When he tugged at her sleeve Riza nearly crashed the car in surprise but she managed to control it at the last second.
"You don't have to, I give you permission to take it off," he murmured suggestively. "I'm sure that fitted turtle neck would be much more comfortable with its short sleeves."
"I never said that I was uncomfortable, sir," Riza countered.
Out of the corner of her eye Riza saw Mustang's deep frown. "All of the sudden I've become quite chilly," he muttered. "I think I need to rub the feeling back into my arms." That last remark of his stung Riza, even though she knew that she had earned it. The "Ice Queen" was her nickname and she needed to sick by that persona, even when she and the colonel were alone. She could not let her feelings for him slip; if he knew the truth he would swoop down on her like injured prey. Riza did not think she was conceited for assuming this about her commanding officer; she saw the way he looked at her and the exclusive tones he used when he spoke to her. If she made an advance he would take it up.
However, there was the issue with the fraternization laws and the sad fact that she could be used as a pawn against him by the homunculus. No, any sort of more than work relationship with Colonel Roy Mustang would be too risky for both of them. Riza would continue to restrain herself for the both of them.
When she arrived at the colonel's apartment complex, before Riza could protest, he went over to her side of the car and dragged her out. "Come on," he ordered, "I need you to make some lemonade while I gather my things." Despite the haughty way in which he spoke Riza was not incensed. As her commanding officer he was inviting her into his home for something to drink; that was not something commanding officers were supposed to do, but he was disgusting it with the task he had given her. She had never been in this apartment before; Riza had gone into his previous ones briefly to drop off papers, but nothing more meaningful than that. Riza was a bit nervous, truth be told, but she smiled as she followed the colonel up the long flights of stairs.
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A/N: Sorry, there would've been another scene here but I just now, 6 hours later, managed to get my computer fixed (I hope anyway…) It was HELL working with all those fake alerts going… Anyway, the next chapter should be out a couple days after my other fic "To See Without Seeing" has been updated. So count on 5-7 days. Thanks for reading!!!
Not~so~lazy~list:
BlackBrightField2007, Sonar, Athena's Heart, OTP, raven krystal, and chibijac…………. Thanks so much, love you guys ^_^ reviews keep me writing!