And I am the blue in your back alley view

Were the horizon and the rooftops meet.

It was late afternoon—the sun was barely grazing the horizon—by the time the military woman Riza Hawkeye unlocked her front door and stumbled into her small apartment. She sighed softly and set her knapsack on the floor beside the three pronged coat rack.

"Hello there, Black Hayate." Riza greeted the small black and white dog that had quietly padded into the room. The young dog barked in response and Riza chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke the pup. Black Hayate whined happily and his black eyes closed as she found a particularly sensitive spot under the dogs chin. Riza chuckled softly and pulled away from the dog. "Don't give me that look." She weakly threatened the pup when he gave her a look that insisted that he hadn't been petted enough.

Riza slid her black jacket off her shoulders and hung it up on the precariously leaning coat rack. As she walked through her home, she left her boots and her blue military jacket on one of the dining room chairs, and the hair clip that was used to hold her long locks in their severe style was placed on a side table next to the bathroom. Although, her silver studs remained in her ears.

Riza had never really been one for fancy or expensive jewelry. Sure, she did have a nice necklace or two, but those accessories were reserved for when the situation required them. But, her simple silver studs remained, no matter the event or the situation. She had a sort of special…attachment to the silver garnishments. The irony and double meaning of silver garnishments didn't escape from her sharp mind.

Guns had a certain silvery, tough look to them…but, one might consider them to be garnishments on her tough exterior. They added more to the "Scary Lieutenant Hawkeye" rumors.

But, she did know of one person who knew about, at the least the meaning behind, her softer, less damaging silver additives. After all, he'd been the one to give them to her. Riza smiled softly at the sweetness and innocence of the simple, caring act of the black haired man.

Not long after her frightening father's death, the black haired man she'd come to call a friend decided to disappear as well. She took it in stride, knowing that he had no more reason to be around. But, she knew he needed on last thing before he ran off to join the decorated men in Central. He needed her father's secret. The secret that was emblazoned on her back.

She wanted to tell him about it, tell him that she would share her father's secret, but he asked before she could tell.

"…Can I keep your father's secret as well?" He'd asked her, the words thick and heavy on his tongue. Riza knew that she'd never forget those words or the way that he looked her with those deep, thick blue eyes that were so easily mistaken for black. He wasn't cold enough to have eyes of blackness…

She remembered that she'd nodded slowly, unable to get the words out of her mouth. She wouldn't know what to say him anyway… It felt like words wouldn't work to convey her feelings or it'd just be fluff to cover the silence—like a harsh sound used to cover up the void of silence. People always describe the lack of sound silence…but, it was often just the lack of sound. Nothing was ever really silent. Thoughts, the inhale and exhale of breath, the way wooden floors would creak underfoot—all of that was sound.

It felt like she stood there for a so long, feeling his gaze run up and down her back, seeing the runes and symbols rather than the flesh that they were imprinted upon. The lack of sound in the air was almost deafening. She shivered softly, her eyes closing out of relief when she finally felt his eyes fall from her body. She swallowed thickly, feeling like the lack of sound had loosened its grip on her throat, letting her breathe again.

"Thank you…" He said quietly, the words coming out thick and heavy again. She silently nodded and redressed herself, still keeping her eyes down on the ground. She swallowed thickly again, looking up at the wall in front of her. She didn't see his shadow…

"Roy…" She started as she turned to face him. But, he wasn't there. Instead of her uniform clad friend, there was nothing but the sunlight starring back at her.

He left…? That quickly? Her heart sank a little in her chest. She felt…a little disappointed. She at least expected some sort of goodbye or just something to make it seem like they'd arrived at a conclusion in their relationship…in their lives. But, the lack of goodbye almost seemed in character for him. After all, she was the one who considered them friends, not him.

Her hard brown eyes darted around the room, and a sharp shadow across a nearby table caught her eye. She wandered over to the table, finding a small box and an even small note underneath of it. She shakily reached out and grabbed the box and the note.

Slowly, she unfurled the piece of parchment, the sound of paper sliding across paper cutting through the lack of sound like a knife.

Riza,

I noticed the other day that you got your ears pierced.

I thought that this gift would be appropriate.

I know you never like anything too fancy.

Thank you. Again.

See you around,

Roy

She slowly shook her head and let the overly simple note fall to the wooden table top. He was never good with written words…Or talking with words for that matter. He always talked with his hands and his piercing eyes. Verbal words were reserved those who were "closest" to him. She turned her attention to the lavender box in her hand and she briefly thought about just not opening it. Maybe she wouldn't accept his gift. Maybe she would dump it among the many piles of her father's and mother's things; never to be seen again by anybody in the Hawkeye linage or anybody else for that matter. Maybe she would set the house on fire and watch the flames eat the wooden house, the only one with the knowledge of the lavender box.

But, nonetheless, her fingers had already worked the box open by the time her mind caught up. Her eyes widened a little as she took in the sight of the simple, silver studs starring back at her. She had a few nice things when she was a little girl, but nothing she'd ever received compared to the muted metal reflecting the light into her starring eyes… She felt a small smile creep onto her lips and she chuckled softly.

"Thank you, Roy." She said quietly to herself, knowing full well that he couldn't hear her. He'd left without letting her hear his goodbye, so it felt fitting that she left him with a thank you that he'd never hear.

Riza sighed softly, looking out her at the sunset that was slowly dying, turning the haze on the ground a soft blue. She looked down at the black and white dog lying in between in her legs and she reached out to stroke the soft fur. She smiled softly, hearing the pup whine happily. She chuckled softly as he rolled over on his back and begged for his belly to be massaged.

'Maybe…those earrings were more than a thank you gift…' Riza thought to herself, smiling at the thought and the notion of the thought.

Maybe…