HELLO WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF ! please please please please review...:D...pretty please
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:
1. This chapter is besed heavily on Conqurorer (however you spell it) of Shamballa...so there will be spoilers etc. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
2. The first part of this chapter is a gift to Toushirou-chan because they seem so completely devastated that Roy and Riza are not together...so if you don't want to read a quick snippit of crack then please skip the italics!
HUGE CUDDLES AND THANK YOUS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS - YOU ARE ALL A HUGE INSPIRATION AND COURAGE BOOSTER!
Thanks all folks, enjoy!
Roy rolled over restlessly in his crumpled blankets and his eyes fell on the picture next to his bed. It was of a tall blonde woman holding a small black dog and smiling into the camera with a small comfortable smile. Roy's heart leapt and he suddenly realised that he loved that woman more than anything in t he world. She was the light in his otherwise black world. Roy pulled the covers back and sprang from the bed. He needed see her again and to wrap her in his arms, he would not be happy until he was clutching Riza Hawkeye to his chest and kissing her beautiful golden hair.
Maes and Riza were sat in the garden playing among the flowers and revelling in the sweetness of the summer day. There was a rapid and loud knock again the front door which caused mother, son and dog to pause and stare at the door. Riza gathered her son up and walked cautiously towards the door.
The door was subjected to another round of boisterous knocking. She opened the door to reveal a tall man with an eye patch and dark hair. He gave her a weak smile and then gathered her into his arms, seemingly oblivious to the baby in her arms. They stood in silence for a moment and then both broke down clinging to one another.
"I love you," he murmured.
"I love you too," she answered. Maes then babbled between them and Roy pulled back long enough to look at him, a confused look plastering his features.
Riza grinned, "This is Maes, your son...remember that night?"
Roy nodded and then grinned, "Hello, Maes...nice to meet you, I'm your father."
"Roy, I'm so glad you're back so move in with us."
"That sounds like a great idea."
And they all lived happily ever after :D
SEE! everything you wanted...tears, I love you's, Roy moving in and cute Maes, I hope you enjoyed it XD...OK NOW THE REAL CHAPTER...
His hand still loosely rested on the glimmering smooth handle of the phone as it rested in its cradle from where he'd thrown it down. He tried desperately to get a hold of his breathing. How could her voice do that to him? Make him lose all train of thought and start to tremble. He was ashamed, he couldn't even get a word out to her before he was forced to hang up. Why was he so scared of talking to her? The woman that had gone through hell and back with him, the woman who'd pulled him back from the brink on more than one occasion. The woman that had cradled him when he'd had a nightmare or when the pain in his eye had gotten to much and the pain killers were not working.
Roy pulled back from the phone and sleepily pulled a mug from the cupboard above the sink in his kitchenette. He walked over to the roaring flames of his fire and used the prong to pull the old fashioned kettle from where it was suspended above the inferno. He used a tea cloth to hold the handle as he poured a portion of the boiling liquid into his mug, then settled it cautiously on the brick platform around the fire. He hunched over on one of the boxes, pulling a blanket around his shoulders and gripping the mug to keep the cold at bay.
He stared at the flames, his head automatically doing the sums and reactions involved in the small cabin fire. He shook his head to try and rid himself of the science and alchemy that was plaguing him. The cabin was dark apart from the flickering light from the fire, the few items Roy had brought with him were scattered between his bed and desk, he rarely had visitors so he saw no need for keeping the place tidy.
His head raised from where it had been hanging from his shoulders at a harsh knock on the door. His eyebrows furrowed as he placed the mug down on the box next to him and cautiously wandered over to the door. His hand trailed along the cool metal of the bolt, curled his fingers around the end and then slipped it backwards with a loud thunk. He then twisted the handel and peered out the crack, both to protect him from the intruder and the frosty tendrils of the wind.
A man stood on the porch, his coat pulled firmly around him, scarf snaking around his head in the wind and a brown cap pulled over his eyes, "Bryan!" Roy greeted and opened trhe door further so the man could walk in from the cold.
His heavy snow boots thumped on the wooden floor boards and he flexed his hands and shoulders to encourage the blood back into his limbs, "a'right Roy?" The burly man greeted, "just bringing up the monthly essentials from the village for ya." He raised a basket and then let it drop down by the fire.
Roy smiled gratefully, "thank you, it means a lot that you'd come out here for me."
"Ah it's no trouble, can't have you starving up here can we, lad? The missus also put some tea bags and news papers in for ya. Thought you'd want to know a little of what is going on outside this damn frozen prison you seem to be inflicting on yourself." Bryan sat down in front of the fire and let his fingers splay out to drink in the warmth before he headed back to the village.
"It's all I deserve after the things I have done, Roy muttered miserably.
Bryan heaved a sigh and straightened, letting his back click and a groan escape his lips, "suit yourself, lad," he turned back to Roy and gave him a pitiful grin, "but we all deserve second chances, we're only human after all."
Roy wasn't really listening, he was already flicking through the items in the basket. There was an assortment of vegetables and fruit, tea bags, toilet paper, some meat wrapped in white paper packaging, shampoo, soap, about four newspapers, three pairs of socks and a new woollen blanket. Roy lifted his head in thanks and then something caught his eye. He reached into the basket and pulled the newspaper from its resting place on top of the pile. The headline staring his in the face. His eye scanned the greying paper and then he glanced at Bryan, "Lior?" he breathed.
"Oh yeah," said Bryan absent mindedly whilst re-wrapping his scarf around his neck, "something seems to be brewing out there, good thing we're all tucked up here away from it all, eh?"
Roy noticed Bryan's little smirk and he pulled his cap down and the gloves back on, "Yeah..." he said without really meaning it, "guess we are well out of the way." Then a smirk of his own tugged at his lips. Crafty man, he thought, knowing that Bryan and deliberately placed this newspaper in his basket.
"Would hate for something to happen to Central, think of how small the military barracks are there since the government took over?" Roy didn't reply as he scan read the article about Lior, his eyes widening about the details. "Anyway, I better be off, the missus will worry if I'm gone to long."
Roy nodded and gave him a small smile, "Thanks Bryan."
The man dipped his cap and then disappeared out the door and into the snow. Roy stood there for a moment contemplating the situation he'd just read. This didn't sound good. Given his limited knowledge and experience with the gate, with Edward, he knew that what ever had happened in Lior probably wasn't the end of it. If they hit Central then that would mean his men, or those who he used to be his men, could be at risk and he couldn't let them down the way he'd let Edward and Alphonse down.
He let the newspaper drop from his grasp as he went over to the trunk at the end of his bed. He flipped up the latches and heaved the heavy leather lid up. Inside was an assortment or worn blankets, alchemy books and other trinkets from his life in Central. He pulled apart two blankets and reached inside, pulling up a black box.
He sat on his bed and laid it on his lap. He rubbed his hands on his blue uniform trousers to rid himself of the accumulating sweat between his itching fingers. He eased off the lid and dropped it unceremoniously beside him on the sheets. His eye surveyed the contents. Two blue slides with gold stars lay in front of him, nestled next to two white gloves. This general rank slides mocked him silently as he looked at them. He couldn't march back into Central with general slides on, could he? He then let his hand pick up the white gloves, the familiar coarse material kissing his fingers and the red transmutation circle staring enticingly at him. Oh how he missed them, the smell and the power.
He dropped them as if they'd stung. No, he couldn't do this. He couldn't wear them, he wasn't even sure if he still knew how to use them. He stared at them and then his face hardened. He was going to help his...friends. He needed to do this. They were going to need help. Need an alchemist.
His face set with resolve he picked the gloves up and pulled them on without even giving himself time to reconsider. He got up and marched out the door, forgetting his coat or hat, or even to shut the door behind him, letting the wind ravish his quarters. He determinedly walked up to the fence that ran in front of the cabin and lifted his right had, glared at the post supporting the wire fence and clicked.
The post hissed and crackled and then burst into flames. Roaring before his wide awe struck eye. He'd forgotten how good he was, how good and easy this could be. Yes, he still saw those people, those Isbalans but this...this was different. He'd paid his price, desolate loneliness for almost two years and now he needed to help his friends.
He clicked again and the fire died down and dissipated in the snow. He turned on his heel and ran back to the cabin, he pulled on the remainder of his uniform, his jacket and hat. He slid a small gun into a holder on his hip and then threw open a canvas nap sack. He shoved a few essentials in and then strode towards the door.
He turned and surveyed the little cabin, his home for the last two years...but it had never really been a home. A prison or exile fit better. But he was ready now, he could face everyone...even Riza. Roy pulled the cabin door shut forcefully and then turned into the on coming blizzard, towards Central.
Maes sat in his high chair watching his mum intently and curiously. He had his thumb softly tucked into his mouth and his dark amber eyes followed her as she moved about the kitchen. He had a large dusty red book in her arms that Maes thought smelt funny and she was picking items out of the cupboards and placing them in various quantities on the table in front of him. He pulled his thumb free and asked, "Mummy, what are you doing?"
Riza glanced up from her alchemy book to look at Maes as he babbled something incoherent at her. She gave him a little grin and pecked his fore head, that was swiftly becoming covered with thick with ebony hair, "You need a hair cut little guy."
She cracked two eggs in the centre of the able and then put the book down. She reached across and pulled the note pad and pen towards her and began to copy out one of the transmutation circles she had been learning. She placed it in the centre of the table with the rest of the ingredients, glancing at Hayate who was watching sceptically from his basket. This was her third attempt. She then looked at Maes as he watched her, thumb back in his mouth. "Here goes," she said and then clapped her hands and placed them on the outer rim of the circle she'd drawn.
The circle glowed blue and the contents began to crumble and swirl around as if in a giant mixing bowl. She held her concentration even though Hayate had cowered down into his rug and Maes was giggling at the bright lights. The ingreidients then morphed into a large ball that floated momentarily and then settled on top of the paper. Once the bright lights had calmed down and the wind had died Riza let her gaze fall on her work.
Hayate barked and wagged his tail while Maes clapped appreciatively. Riza smiled at them and let herself feel proud of the perfect chocolate cake that now sat on her kitchen table. "Well...guess I got the basics sorted," she said triumphantly. She walked over to the cupboard and pulled down two pink plastic plates and knife from the drawer. She cut two slices, one bigger than the other, placing the smaller slice in front of Maes and the larger slice in front her seat. She then proceeded to cut Maes' slice into smaller chunks so it would be easier for him to shove them any where but his mouth. She took a small bit of her own cake and smiled at the moist texture, it was perfect, maybe this alchemy thing wasn't so bad.
Suddenly she heard the front door open and someone rush into the kitchen, she glanced up to see Havoc panting in her doorway and looking wide eyed in his uniform. She grinned and held up her little pink plate, "Havoc! Look what I did with alchemy!"
"That's great," he said hastily without really meaning anything, causing her to scowl, "Riza, Central is under attack."
"W-what!" she stood up from her seat and placed the cake on the side.
"We've sensed something going on, like an earthquake beneath the city, they think there's going to be another attack. You need to get to head quarters immiediatly!" Riza's eyes were wide but she had instantly switched to soldier mode.
She pulled Maes from his high chair, his chocolate stained mouth and t-shirt marking her blouse as she handed him quickly to Havoc, "watch him while I get changed."
She hurried up stairs and threw her skirt and blouse hastily on the floor, pulling her fresh uniform from the wardrobe and hastily doing up the various buttons and zips. She fixed her holster around her shoulders and checked the guns were loaded. Riza then ran back downstairs to Havoc, grabbing the baby bag from the hall and her military jaket from the peg, she scooped Maes back out of Havoc's arms, "You're taking him with you?" enquired Havoc incredulously.
Riza rolled her eyes, "I'm taking him to Gracia's...He can't stay here alone can he!" Havoc muttered something, helping her with the baby bag and Hayate's leash.
They ran down to the car that Javoc had arrived in and bundled in, Hayate was whimpering as he didn't like the way events were going. He only ever got put on his leash for one reason, Riza was leaving. Maes began to cry in Riza's arms and she couldn't get him to be quiet with any soft words and cuddles. He seemed to realise something bad was about to happen.
The car came to an abrupt stop outside Gracia's and Riza almost fell out the car as she flung open the door. Gracia had already appeared on the front steps looking concerned and Elysia clinging to her skirts worriedly. As Riza ran up the garden path the Earth suddenly rolled causing Gracia to grip the door frame and Riza to wobble precariously on her feet whilst gripping Maes. She got to Gracia and bundled him into her arms, "something is happening and we don't know what," she said with pleading eyes, "but you have to get Elysia and Maes out of here...get the next train out of Central."
"W-what? But what about you?" Gracia looked shocked as she tried to control the screaming and wriggling child in her arms.
Riza dumped the baby bag and looked regretfully at her son, "I'm sorry but I can't say much more, but this isn't going to be good and I want you, Elysia and Maes out of here before things get bad." She leant forward and gave his mop of black hair a desperate kiss, "be good now Maes." Maes looked at her and began to scream harder, holding his hands out towards her in a desperate plea for her to take him back.
Regret and saddness swelled in Riza's eyes as she felt them go moist, I can't leave him, she thought and almost scooped him back up if Havoc hadn't called for her from the car. She snapped out of it, this was for the best, Central needed her and Maes would be safe with Gracia. She turned to leave and marched back towards the car, it was the hardest thing she ever did. All she could hear were Maes desperate screams, "MAMA! MAMA!"
Havoc waisted no time getting them to Central headquarters. Riza raced though the halls, Reynolds had already taken control of the front, ordering sand bags to be laid down for cover. Men were running in all directions, collecting ammunition and helmets from the armoury and lining the small walls that had been hastily constructed from the sand bags outside. People were being allocated into different squads to accommodate the chain of command. They each had a duty to fulfil on the battlefield.
Riza led a small team of men, including Havoc and Breda, down to the range where she began to hand out rifles, two per person. They would be taken to the front line and distributed accordingly. She made herself busy, trying to quell Maes' calls to her from Gracia's arms. It was for the best.
Riza began to checking her hand guns and rifles to make sure they were loaded and working. She placed them down in front of her and re-tightened the grip of the clip in her hair, taking deep breaths to calm herself, "Ready First Lieutenant?" Came a confident voice from behind her.
She turned and saw Havoc. He had his full uniform on, a helmet and a rifle over his shoulder. His traditional cigarette lay limply between his lips and he stretched out a shiny curved helmet towards her. She took it and placed it over her hair, then holstered her guns and picked up the rifle, "ready as I'll ever be, Second Lieutenant."
"Good," he replied with a grin, "lets go see what the bastards want then." She smiled at him and, as they were about to make their way back up the stairs and to the front of head quarters, there was an almighty wail of the siren, "Looks like their here, whoever 'they' are," he muttered and glanced at her.
She nodded and her thoughts flicked back to Maes, is he OK? is he far enough away from all this? She was shaken from her thoughts by a large Captain yelling at them to get a move on. Riza and Jean raced to the front of headquaters, down the stairs and threw themselves and the sandbags to avoid any incoming fire. Breda was already there, waiting for them, "tough crowd guys!" he yelled.
Riza peaked over the sandbags and levelled the rifle, her eyes widening at what she saw. An army, thousands it seemed, armoured soldiers walking right down Central high street towards the military headquarters, what the fuck? She thought taking aim and hitting one squarely in the face between the narrow slits in his helmet. Havoc and Breda followed suit, hitting the armoured men in the helmet gaps and watching a small fountain on human goo spurt from them.
Riza repressed the flashbacks of Ishbal as she hit several more targets. It was hard. Every time one hit the ground another image of a child or soldier slumping to the ground hit her mind. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then took aim on another target and fired. Her marksmanship reputation not letting her down as four more of her bullets hit their targets perfectly.
The main street of Central was swiftly becoming a blood bath and an all too close reminder of Isbal. Her helmet sat snugly on her head but not even focusing intently on the enemy withdrew her thoughts from the blue corpses of fallen military personnel now lying where they once shopped and dated peacefully. As another building shook and collapsed her heart raced at the thought of Maes, Gracia and Elysia. O please be safe...please. Before she could stop herself the image of them lying crushed under rubble filled her pupils and she shivered, desperately fighting back the urge to run and check them. I should have brought Maes into headquarters and hidden him...
The ground quivered again beneath her feet and Havoc's yelp tore her back into this reality surrounding her. She glanced at them, Havoc using his eagle eyes to shoot the enemy and Breda desperately trying to reload his rifle. There was another blood curdling scream in front of her as another infantryman hit the hard pavement he'd been defending. Out of the corner of her sights she saw a flash of purple sparkles and toned flesh as Armstrong joined the fight. But so had some flying monstrous contraption. Words did not describe what Riza saw fly over Central. It was colosal and angular, charging through the skys with two pink disks that looked scarily like transmutation circles.
They were getting even closer now, she could see there lumbering movements, as if sleepwalking through this nightmare. Armstrong let off several alchemic attacks to follow the hail of gunfire from behind their temporary defences. There were startled yelps followed by several large shouts and muffled commands. Riza turned and gasped at the sight of metal men clambering down the front of headquarters. They were surrounded, severely outnumbered and running out of ammunition. Her throat closed up again at the thought of Maes, except this time it was the fear she may not see him again. The last time she had ever held her little boy was while he screamed 'mama' and cried because she was leaving him. Oh Maes, I'm so sorry...
There was suddenly an eruption of white light and several abhorrent enemy soldiers were swept away in an instant. Riza gasped and her eyes widened in realisation. There was only one thing in the world she could think of with that power. Fire alchemy. Roy? She turned and gawped like the rest of the front line as a familiar figure arrogantly strolled through the ranks, lazily flicking his fingers down Central high street and blowing away the enemy like they were dandelion seeds on the wind.
He paused in front of them, his old group. He couldn't help but think how much they'd changed since he last saw them just under two years ago. He took a deep breath and began issuing his orders as if he'd never left. Riza watched in slight admiration, the man still hadn't lost his touch or his arrogance. He sent Havoc and Breda off and gave an assignment to Armstrong, then turned to the final soldier on the front line. His breath hitched.
Riza stood calmly at attention, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched him affectionately. Her blood raced through her veins as his eye settle on her and she held her breath slightly, trying to think of something to say to him, "We've been waiting for you, sir," finally tumbled softly from her lips.
He gave her a heart wrenching smirk as he surveyed his dearest subordinate. His memory had failed to capture just how beautiful she was. There was so much he wanted to say to her but words and embraces would have to wait. "Thank you Lieutenant," the use of her rank silently spoke that they were to act as officers and not reunited lovers, "I'm sorry I've kept you waiting. Still ready to watch my back?"
Her only reply was the metallic click of her rifle reloading and a determined persona resonating from her eyes. He nodded and then led her off towards headquarters, they found themselves confronted at almost every step. The enemy just kept coming and soon Riza had to abandon her rifle for the pistols in her holsters. Mustang was pressed up behind her shooting flames at anything within range as she held the firearms out at arms length and shot. It felt good to be back with him, she didn't necessarily mean emotionally but they had always made a great team. Together they were putting on an impressive display of Amestris military fire power, disembowelling any enemy soldier that approached them.
Riza suddenly felt the loss of his presence beside her, it sent a shot of panic through her gut but she needed to hold position for a little longer due to the impending steps of four enemy soldiers. When she finally tore her gaze around to find him, he was throwing sparks into a large make shift balloon that was lifting him into the air. Her eyes widened and darted from him to the large flying contraction she'd seen earlier. She threw herself down the path and towards Armstrong and the others as he began to pull free of the ground, "GENERAL!" ripped from her throat as Armstrong caught her waist to stop her from reaching the balloon.
"Sorry, only space for one Lieutenant," he called down to her, one hand raised to ensure a steady stream of heat to the balloon as it rose.
"You lair!" she screamed after him as a swift thought crossed her mind as to send a few bullets through the thin fabric of the canvas. Though, given his height, the fall would do him just as much damage as the mission he had assigned himself. She tore away from Armstrong intensely irritated and immediately reloaded her pistols. "Looks like I'll be watching my own back then," she muttered and walked back towards the front lines.
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