Draped in Wires
by. Poisoned Scarlet

Theme 053: Moment in Time

"Where's Full Metal when you need him?" Roy Mustang muttered, flicking a bundle of reports across his desk. He heaved a sigh, leaning back in his chair. The morning was turning out to be boring without the entertaining, albeit often annoying, presence of his subordinate.

"Miss him already, sir?" Riza smiled, holding a stack of folders in her arms. "It is a little quiet without him running around..."

"Don't be absurd, Hawkeye! I merely enjoy taunting him." Roy immediately snapped, watching his close comrade lay the folders upon his desk without comment. "What are these for?"

"These are the reports Edward finished over his break. I believe they are the last of them – now he has some time to relax." Riza said. "And just in time, too. Winry will be consuming the majority of his time from now on."

"Will she?"

"She is pregnant, sir." Riza reminded. "Women with child need more attention due to the rapid developments their body is going through. It's a stressful time for them."

"You seem very informed in this subject, Hawkeye." Roy flippantly drawled, leaning forward with interest. His elbows rested on his desk, a hand keeping his chin up. With a taunting smirk, he said: "You speak from experience?"

Hawkeye, however, merely narrowed her eyes at him. "...I cared for my cousin when she was with child a few years ago, as you recall?"

"Ah, yes, Ms. Catherine." Roy mused. "A shame she'd lose her figure all because of a brat."

Riza snorted, shaking her head at her superiors thought process. "Catherine needed moral support because her husband had been sent out to the Aerugo Border War, remember? Her pregnancy was slightly more difficult because of emotional distress..."

"He came back." Roy defended. "She's better now, isn't she?"

Riza dropped her gaze, clearly thinking otherwise. "Yes, she is better..."

Roy didn't comment. War changed people, and no doubt the man who had left Catherine to fight for his country was not the same one that came back. "What about you Riza? Do you plan on settling down any time soon?" Roy asked, watching her sharply for anything that may give away her intentions. But she revealed nothing other than carefree wonder at his question, going as far as humming softly under her breath.

"Maybe." Riza replied distantly, lingering by the door frame. "One day. Have a good day, sir, and have those reports checked over and approved by the end of the day."

And she shut the door, leaving Roy with that single doubt.