]o[ ]o[ ]o[

Game without Frontiers

Chapter 33: You Have a Blank Face, Which Irritates

Rating: T

Soundtrack: One Thing Leads to Another – the Fixx

Riza looked at her bare toes wriggling at her from the hem of her gown and wondered how much more indignity she could take.

It was all very nice of Roy to make sure she had a magnificent gown to wear to the damned Officers' Ball. He also made sure to include – along with the beautiful satin gloves – the silk stockings (genuine silk!) and the tiny flat slippers (she looked at those dubiously but shrugged – she couldn't very well wear her boots with this dress). Nevertheless, what good would stockings and pretty slippers be if she couldn't put them on her damned feet!

There was no way she was going to ask Edward, sitting in her front room, looking like a tiny bird dressed in his big brother's plumage, to help her. That would be highly inappropriate. So would asking Dennison to offer assistance. Roy, of course made himself scarce – he was probably on his way to the Ball already. So what was she going to do?

She plucked one of the stockings from the bed and worked it open. She leaned down, trying with everything she had to reach her feet and put it on. She even tried lifting her foot to meet her hands half way. All she got for her trouble was sweat on her brow and her hair mussed – again. It was then that she began cursing, loudly, fluently, until the knock on the door broke her stride.

"Edward?" she called in a strangled voice as she tried, yet again, to reach her feet. "Could you ... get that?"

She heard him mumble something and heard his uneven gait head toward the door. After that, she didn't hear a thing because she was concentrating on contorting her body in such a way as to be able to put the damned stocking on by herself. Perhaps if she bent her leg backward–,

"I swear, leave it to men to screw things up!"

Riza turned toward the feminine voice to find Gracia standing in the doorway, shaking her head. "Maes' you wait out here with Edward. We'll be out in a few moments. No, Maes, I don't need your help. Yes, Maes, you may call Sheska and make sure Elysia is all right." She smiled as she moved toward Riza. "If I don't let him call, he'll pester me all night about it," she whispered.

Riza smiled in weak relief. "Gracia, how nice of you to visit..."

Gracia laughed a light, pretty sound. "Visit? Dear, I came to rescue you. When I heard that you were here all by yourself with only a sixteen-year old boy for help, I almost took both Roy and Maes' head off." She took in the image before her, of Riza bent sideways, trying to put on a poor, pitiful silk stocking and shook her head. "Men never think of these things! I remember the time I went to one of these functions while I was carrying Elysia." She reached out and pulled the stocking from Riza's slack fingers. "I made Maes come and help me dress." Suddenly, a light pink flush stained her cheeks. "As I recall, we were painfully late after that."

Riza smirked. "I hear that Elysia has requested a new brother or sister."

Gracia gave Riza a crooked smile. "Ever since she heard us talking about you. And damned if Maes isn't trying his best to give her what she wants."

Riza laughed at that. "Well, do you mind?"

"Absolutely not," Gracia said with a quick nod, then a chuckle of her own. "Here, stick your leg out for me."

As Riza gratefully allowed Gracia to put her stocking on and pull it up, she asked. "How long have you known the two of them? Roy and Maes, I mean."

"Since before Academy." Gracia rolled up the second stocking and gestured for Riza's other leg. "My parents wouldn't let Maes formally court me until he was finished with the Academy, but we talked on the phone most of the time."

"Where did you meet?"

"We all lived in the same town. I didn't get to know Roy very well until they went to the academy. And even after that, I didn't meet him in person until much later." She smirked. "They have no idea how much I know about their academy days...they were something to behold back then."

"I remember. They're something to behold now," Riza commented.

"Yes, they are." Gracia sat back and studied her handiwork. "Perfect. Remind me to tell you about Viktor Seinholz sometime."

"Viktor Seinholz?"

"My cousin. He was a fellow classmate." The smile on her face was priceless. "He gossips worse than any woman I know."

"Humph." Riza stood and let her dress hang straight. "I'm usually not into gossip, but I have a feeling I'll need it later tonight."

"So, you have been to one of these sad affairs, hmm?" Gracia looked Riza up and down. "Here, sit down, let me fix your hair."

Riza was extremely grateful for Gracia's presence, despite her easy demeanor, she was actually nervous to be going. "Yes. But that doesn't make it any less boring." Well, except for the last Officer's Ball, she thought. "My coming out party was much better."

"At least at coming-out parties, there's someone around to spike the punch."

Riza laughed. "Let me guess... Roy?"

Gracia shook her head. "That was why Maes wasn't allowed to court me until he left Academy."

Riza listened to Gracia tell more and more tales of the younger Roy Mustang and Maes Hughes and fully realized exactly how close the two men were. She knew that they were extremely close in the Academy, but had no idea that their friendship reached back into childhood.

When they emerged from her bedroom, Riza felt much more human and much more ready to face the world. She took in the two men in the living room, who'd risen and were currently staring at her as if she'd dropped from the sky.

"Good Heavens, Captain Hawkeye, you're beautiful!" Hughes said, blinking and grinning from ear to ear.

"Please, Lieutenant Colonel," Riza said, blushing. She almost wanted to shuffle her feet, but knew it would look stupid in the dress. She looked over at Edward, who was frankly staring at her as if she were a giant philosopher stone, gift wrapped just for him. "Are you all right, Edward?" she asked.

Edward closed his mouth with a click. "Uh... yeah."

Gracia said, amusement in her voice, "Are we ready to go?"

The ball was just as she expected it to be. Except perhaps, that the music was a bit better than the last time. She wasn't thinking about the time she'd arrived in a suit, carrying a gun, on a mission. Then, she didn't remember what had been playing. Just then, all thoughts of music scattered right out of her head when she caught sight of the Colonel, surrounded by a complicate knot of beautiful women.

"As usual," Gracia murmured in her ear. "I think someone invites them all to torment him."

"He doesn't look like he's being tormented," Riza muttered under her breath.

"Oh, no?" The other woman gestured. "Look at where he's standing."

Riza brought herself out of her observations and looked. From a sterile, objective eye, she noticed that he was propped against the large mantelpiece in the middle of the room, his back to the fire, with the women surrounding him like a pack of stalking animals. She looked closer then, and saw the slightly wild look in his eyes. And smiled.

"Is he always like this?" she asked.

Gracia said, "He loves the attention he can get from women, but only one or two at a time. That's far too many for his precious brain to handle." She leaned in closer and whispered the rest into Riza's ear. "Especially now."

"Poor thing," Riza said, smiling like a cat. "Edward?" she looked around for her pseudo escort. He was standing nearby, looking utterly out of his element.

He started and looked at her "Wha–?"

"Until the music begins, we're pretty much on our own," she told him. "We're supposed to socialize, but I don't see anyone I want to say hello to."

"Music?" Edward asked a frantic look beginning in his eye.

"Yes, music. This is a ball. You're supposed to dance...at least three dances should be polite enough."

"Hell, I don't know anything about dancing!" Edward said.

"Didn't Roy tell you this was a ball?"

"Yes, but..."

Riza smiled kindly. "Don't worry, Edward. I'm not much in the mood for dancing either," she told him. "We'll see what we can do when the time comes."

"Hmm," Gracia chimed in. "Then I think you might want to tell the other gentlemen in the room. You're practically the cynosure of all eyes."

Riza didn't even get a chance to escape. Between one blink and the next she was promptly surrounded by several young officers, scampering around her for a dance. She stared at them all, wondering if they were just blind or they truly didn't notice that she was a bit large out front. She saw no reason not to accept most of the invitations, and before she knew it, her so-called dance card was almost full.

"I'm going to need to soak my feet for a week after this," she grumbled, looking helplessly at Gracia. She, too, had received several shy invitations, all of which she accepted, informing them that her responsibility was to her husband first.

"One would think these men had never seen a beautiful woman before," Gracia said.

Just as she finished the statement, the music began, quite stirringly. She looked at Edward; he looked at her and gave a fatalistic sigh. As her escort, he realized that he had the responsibility of the first dance.

"I think we can get away with just the one, Edward," she whispered, "then you and run along and find your real escort."

Edward gave her a glare from beneath his freshly brushed bangs and flushed.

The boy actually did have some grace on the dance floor, just enough not to embarrass himself. Protocol for dancing dictated that they maintain an arm's length distance, perfect for her expanding waistline, and perfect for his expanding discomfiture. The made it one time around the dance floor with only a couple of stumbles before she begged off, claiming that her feet needed a rest. He dropped her off by one of the many bowls of punch situated around the room and escaped, to prowl the perimeter of the room.

"That boy is still gaining his social feet, eh?"

She blinked and looked up at the Colonel, who appeared like a specter in front of her. Riza nodded slowly, thinking that the reason she was tongue-tied was because her throat was parched. She turned to reach for a cup.

"Allow me, Captain." The Colonel poured her a cup and handed it over. "I hope you saved a dance on that card of yours for your commanding officer," he said. "It is allowed in this setting." He situated his body so that his back was to the majority of the crowd. "And I'll be damned if I turn that opportunity down," he whispered. "You are stunning."

She downed half of the cup of punch before answering. "I believe I can spare a dance for you, sir, if you're making it an order."

"Absolutely, Captain." His eyes were twinkling reflecting the blue in his dress uniform.

She nodded and settled her eyes on a point somewhere across the dance floor. It would not do for her to pay too much attention to him, looking the way he did right at that moment. She noticed with a slight feeling of dread, that there was another officer headed in her direction.

"Captain Hawkeye," the slippery voice slid across her. She barely held herself from a flinch. Roy's eyes narrowed and he took a step back, making room for Major Archer. "I wanted to offer my congratulations on your promotion."

She nodded at the man. "My thanks, Major."

"I was wondering if I could have the honor of a dance."

She stared at him in frank amazement, until she felt the Colonel's elbow in her upper arm. "I...I would be delighted," she said, offering her hand. Why in the hell was she some kind magnet for every lonely, desperate, or ... unwanted soldier in this cursed hall?

Because she was now a curiosity, she said to herself as she allowed the man to lead her to the floor. She was glad for her gloves, because she didn't think she could take his cold grip at all.

"So, have you received your transfer orders yet, Captain?" Archer was asking her.

She started and answered. "My transfer has been delayed," she told him shortly. "Apparently, there's no place for me to go yet."

"Ah. I had heard that things were a bit crowded among the newly promoted. Your luck, I suppose."

"I suppose."

"I suspect that the Colonel is glad as well."

Riza gave the man a quick look. His blank face scratched across her nerves like gunmetal across a stone wall.

"I understand you are a very valuable part of his staff. He must feel very fortunate that you don't have to leave yet."

"The Colonel is a very capable officer. He and his officers will function very well when I am finally sent to my new station."

"I understand that your promotion was a little overdue." He spun her expertly. "Still. It must have been very hard for him to promote you, knowing that you would be leaving."

"Apparently," she said tightly, "he believed I was deserving of the honor."

"Oh, and I'm sure you must be. Your capabilities are legend, Captain Hawkeye." His eyes skittered down toward her belly. "I also suspect moving would be quite cumbersome in your... condition."

She noted the hesitation there, and stored it away for further dissection. It was a good thing she was known for being in control of her emotions. It was hard even to summon a polite half-smile for this man. "It is fortunate for me. I don't think I would have done well with moving right now," she allowed.

"When are you due, if I may be so bold to ask?"

No, you may not. "Three months."

"Ah, very soon then. I forgot to offer you and your ... significant other my congratulations the last time we met."

"No offense taken, Major. I offer you thanks on our behalf." When would this song be over? It had to be the longest rendition of this waltz in history. She allowed him to move her around the floor for the next few measures until the song finally ground to a halt.

He escorted her to a slightly shadowy alcove, which fortunately contained a chair. He was all solicitousness as he helped her into the chair. "It was a pleasure to dance with you, Captain," he said.

That dance had nothing to do with measured footsteps on the smooth marble floor. He was fishing for some kind of information. "The pleasure was mine, Major," she said politely, thinking nothing of the kind.

"I should have expected such grace and bearing from such an accomplished warrior as yourself."

"Hardly accomplished," she said, wondering what he was on about. "Just a dog of military like all the others."

"Oh, truly, Captain. Your reputation as the Colonel's right hand and shield precedes you." He gave her a slight bow. "I'm sure that it cost him much to let you from his side even for this short time." Then he smiled. "And, Captain, when I look at you tonight, dog of the military is the last phrase that comes to mind."

She suddenly wished for the hottest shower she could locate and the coarsest scrub brush to go with it. Her expression shut down despite her mental protests to the contrary. Her brain adamantly refused to answer that comment with anything, reminding her of an adage her grandmother had passed to her:

If you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all.

Like a slick burn from a greasy cookpot, his comment stayed with her until Havoc came to claim his own dance from her.

"What did that guy say to you, Captain?" He asked.

Riza looked at Havoc, trying to clear her expression of residual disgust. "Nothing, Havoc. Nothing worth mentioning."

"Well, it don't look like it, to judge from the look on your face." A step to the left, then to right. "You look like you could easily put one right between his eyes."

"That's unfortunate, because I wouldn't be aiming for his eyes," she muttered. "He's just..." she shuddered, as he spun her for a half-turn.

"I agree."

She took in the Lieutenant's face. There was an interesting gleam hiding within the blue eyes. She sent her glance around the room for a second before asking, "Where is...?"

"Hiding." Havoc gave a quick smile. "He hates this place. If you look close, you might find him behind that huge plant over by the east windows."

She managed a chuckle at that. "I wish there were a plant big enough for me." She managed a smile, and a thoughtful look. "Have you come to terms with things, Jean?" she asked.

He gave her a swift glance, and then chewed on the ever-present cigarette. "I suppose. Half of me wants to run screaming."

"And the other half?"

"Wants to protect him."

Riza looked over the ballroom, finding without trying too hard the subject of her quick search. Her own teeth clenched when she saw that her last dance partner was standing right next to the Colonel. She could see mouths moving, could see that the Colonel was reacting in the same cautious way that she had to whatever veiled venom that man was spitting. "Protect," she said. "I know exactly what you mean."

She had to speak with Hughes as soon as she could get a chance.

She tried to tell everyone. There were reasons she didn't like attending these stupid things. She'd told them a thousand times; they were dull, boring, and the intrigue made her sick.

And here she was, right in the middle of a small whirlwind of her own personal intrigue and now the Colonel was coming toward her and his face was like a thunderstorm. A thunderstorm. Which meant, to anyone who knew him, that he would be useless when it came to dealing with this with any kind of common sense.

Havoc saw him coming and his eyes widened. "I think I should beat a hasty retreat."

"You're not going to leave me alone with him," Riza bit out.

"What exactly did that... say to you?" the Colonel growled, his fist clenched.

"Nothing worth getting bent out of shape about," Riza answered, keeping her voice as even as she could.

She caught him off guard; she could see that by the look in his eye. "Well, do you know what he said to me?" he said, his voice growing in volume with each word.

Riza wasn't sure what she could do to calm him down. Perhaps if she kicked him in the kneecap, he might stop this downward spiral to nowhere.

Just as she was about to lift her foot to do just that, Hughes and his wife appeared like a savior from on high. "Okay, I don't know about you, but this punch is seriously tasteless!" Hughes wriggled his eyebrows and patted his uniform where Riza knew the inside breast pocket would be. "I say we spice it up a bit. What do you think?"

Roy's mouth worked soundlessly for about twenty seconds. Then he spat, "I think you'd better speak to your new aide, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Well, I figured as much, but I also think that you don't want the whole world to know that my new aide offended you in some way in connection to your new Captain, Colonel." Hughes said, his lips barely moving. "So why don't you and I go over to the punch bowl and see about spicing up the dull and lifeless punch."

When this fiasco was over, Riza thought, she was going to kiss Maes Hughes. Right on the mouth. Gracia would have to forgive her. She watched the man pull the Colonel along, and then took a quick glance. The group of people staring at their tiny little knot contained far too much high brass for her comfort.

Gracia shook her head slowly. "I don't like that new Major," she said quietly. "He makes me want to go and wash every time I talk to him."

"I know that feeling," Riza said.

"And that Doctor Winters?" Gracia actually shivered, then leaned in to make sure no one overheard her. "I despised her."

Riza blinked in surprise. "You saw Doctor Winters?"

Gracia shrugged. "It's the military. You see the doctor they assign to you. I know she usually handles special cases, but she was convenient to us at the time."

"Gracia..." Riza was hesitant to ask her, here in this setting. "Doctor Winters..." she didn't quite know how to put what she wanted to say into the right kind of words.

"You know? Why don't you come to our house when this is all over?" Gracia suddenly said. "We could take tea, chat a bit..."

Now she could see why Hughes had married this woman. "That would be nice," she said.

"I know that Maes is going to convince the Colonel to come with him and go... play out in the traffic or whatever it is they do when they're together. And I have no idea where your driver is. Elysia will be asleep, and I'll be too wound up after all of this nonsense. You could keep me company for a little bit, if you won't be too tired?"

Riza shook her head. "I would like to chat for a while. But as for the tea... could we make that coffee?"