035. Letter
Roy sat hunched over a sheet of paper, eyes focused and tapping his pen thoughtfully on his desk. He had been sitting back trying to write a letter for about an hour and had scratched out nearly every possible start off he could have thought of. His trashcan at the side of the desk was even overflowing with the rejected sheets that he had thrown out. The young soldier narrowed his eyes at the sheet in front of him, trying to block out the sounds of his fellow cadets outside.
It was officially the weekend and while his entire bunk was out enjoying a day away from running drills and the torment of their drill sergeant he somehow found himself struggling with a simple letter. "Hey, hey, hey!" Straightening, the raven haired young man looked over his shoulder and sighed at the sight of his friend, Maes Hughes. The energetic man made his way over, slinging an arm around his friend's shoulder as he bent down. "What're you doing locked away on such a beautiful day? We're about to go into town!"
"I'm going to have to meet you guys there… I'm trying to put this letter together." Roy answered, waving his hand at the curious male in a dismissive manner and leaned forward more.
"A letter to who, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
"Just a friend." Roy answered and wished he had just lied and said his mother. The grin that crossed Hughes's face sent a chill down his spine.
"Ah, you mean a lady friend?" he asked, grabbing a nearby chair and pulling it over anxiously as he looked at him with a shine in his eyes. Roy sighed and leaned back in his seat, giving his friend a look that clearly meant 'we aren't going to have this conversation right now are we?'
"It's my sensei's daughter. I said I would keep in contact and I just wanted to check up on them." He answered. Letting out a sigh, he tossed down his pen onto the desk.
"Sensei's daughter?" Isn't that like forbidden territory?"
"I'm not making a move on her, Hughes."
"But you're writing to her."
"Because we're friends."
"Yeah, yeah." Roy glared at his friend irritably and watched as the man pushed himself from his seat in a lazy fashion and stretched. "Either way, do what you want. I'm going to the city. There's a really cute girl working the flower shop I want to talk to!" he chimed excitedly.
"Yeah, have fun."
"Yeah. Tell your girlfriend I said hi!" Roy waved absently over his shoulder and when he heard the door of the bunk slammed closed he looked irritably down at the blank sheet in front of him and snatched up his pen. It wasn't that hard to write a letter. Plus it wasn't like he was writing to the pickiest person in the world. Determined, Roy nodded and began to write:
Dear Riza-chan,
Hey, I hope you and Sensei are doing well.
The academy is alright, I guess. A bunch of guys and a few girls every now and then. But I guess you wouldn't really care too much about that.
Things around here are crazy. There have been rumors about a war, but the guys I bunk with suggest the only way to get over that anxiety is to drink it away. My friend Maes thinks that a girl should be distraction enough. I don't think I agree too much. Sounds like added drama to an already complicated situation, wouldn't you think? Maybe not.
The training around here is tiring but I just wanted to write to you and let you know I was well. I miss your cooking and I think those cuts and bruises from you shooting rocks at me with that sling shot are finally starting to heal up. Or maybe they're being covered by the new cuts and bruises I get around here. All the same, I can't wait for all of this to be over.
Me and the men get the day off tomorrow so when I go into the city I'll make sure to get something for you. I don't know if you and Sensei will be able to make my graduation in a couple of months, but I'll make sure to head right to you guys once it's all over.
Here's to good health and seeing you soon. Take care.
Yours sincerely,
Roy Mustang
PS, Maes says hi.