#44 Hair
He was such an observant man at times… he just had a hard time with his words at the moment.
Roy Mustang couldn't help but to cock his head curiously to the side as he stared across the office at his gun toting right hand. He liked to praise himself on occasionally being able to flatter women he encountered by making an observation that would more than likely go over most men's heads. For example, he once complimented the grumpy secretary on her new perfume, stating that it was quite the pleasant scent to come in to in the morning. He received all of his mail, love letter included, in tact and earlier than other officials at Eastern HQ. He even got his calls from outside lines smoother than usual.
He received points at a young age when noticing a new dress his older sister has acquired. He had boldly walked up to her as she spun around in a full length mirror and told her that the dress made her look really pretty and she would get a boyfriend really quick in it. He was proud to remember the extra treats she would bring back for him after her dates.
So now he found himself making an observation about a woman he had known since he was 12 years old and for some reason he could not pull the right words together. What was the proper way to compliment a woman about her hair?
That's right. Flame Alchemist, Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang was stressing out on a way to compliment his subordinate's hair.
When he had first met young Riza Hawkeye, she had the look of a tomboy, the short, cropped hair cut to top it off. And her hair remained that way through their childhood years, teenage life, and into the military. Now, there was something different about her hair, and Mustang could help but to finally notice. Her normally cropped hair was now shoulder length. In fact, every now and then he noticed she would tuck a loose strand behind her ear.
How long did it take her hair to get that long?
Was he that distracted by work that he missed the entire process? He mentally scolded himself.
"Sir, are you alright?" He blinked and saw the woman looking at him expectantly. A slight smile touched his lips.
"Nothing's wrong… Hawkeye, I have to say, I'm liking the new look." A confused look crossed her face.
"Excuse me?" He chuckled, leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand as he smiled fondly at her.
"The hair. You're growing it out, aren't you?" Riza subconsciously reached up and touched her hair.
"I'm trying a new look, sir." She answered.
"I approve. It gives an already lovely view even more appeal." Riza made a face that was suppose to express disapproval of the remark, but the slight blush crossing her cheeks didn't help. Roy smirked.
Yes, he was still the master of giving a wonderful observation. That day, Hawkeye had gone easy on him with the workload and didn't hunt him down during the time he spent hiding away playing chess in General Gruman's office. That evening as they all packed up to leave, Havoc had randomly commented on the new look, earning a small smile and nod of thanks before he went on his way. As for Roy, he got the honor of actually walking his subordinate home and got lucky enough to get snatch a quick kiss without a gun being pointed in his face when he pulled away.
He had definitely mastered the technique of pleasing women and it didn't even have to be sexual.