"You didn't see this one coming, did you, sir?"
Her smug voice cuts through the Colonels thoughts, momentarily distracting him from the elaborate escape plan surely brewing in his mind.
"Lieutenant, listen-" Mustang doesn't get far in his protest. "Oh I'm the Lieutenant now? Funny, since I was 'Riza' when it suited you just earlier." Hawkeye interjects innocently with a shrug, relishing the dusting of red crossing his cheeks in a response to her words.
Deciding to save her superior the embarrassment of responding, Riza resumes her attack on his stomach. Or perhaps, she simply doesn't want to know the answer herself yet.
'Doesn't want to' is admittedly an over-exaggeration, Riza is curious. Just not curious enough to risk losing the rare edge she has right now.
Plus, the Colonel started it so she must have some sort of protection if he were to claim she assaulted a superior, right? Not that Roy would claim such a thing anyway of course.
In truth, Riza is merely looking for any reason to keep doing what she's doing right now, so she can keep feeling what she's feeling right now - A feeling that she's never experienced before, even on her past missions with Mustang.
But no point in telling him that, right? Right.
For now, the Lieutenant is content to hear the sound of her superiors rare laughter and pose her actions as revenge on Mustang rather than the truth. At least until she figures out what said truth is. (And likely even longer after that).
"Stohop thihis a-at ohonce!" The dark haired man forces the words out through gritted teeth. Apparently he's the type that tries to withhold their full laughter until it's no longer humanly possible, generally due to a stubborn sense of pride.
No matter. That just makes this more amusing for the Lieutenant. And more satisfying when that composure finally cracks.
"But I'm not exhausted yet. Wasn't that your whole plan?" Hawkeye counters teasingly, moving her wiggling fingers from Mustang's stomach to his hips.
"N-not exACtly noho." He responds, closing his eyes as he attempts to control his reactions. Obviously this is not at all how he intended this scenario to play out.
'How did he expect it to play out?'
Riza ponders this question as she hunts for a better spot to draw laughter out of the Colonel.
Did he truly just intend to make her tired enough to sleep without nightmares? 'Not exactly, No.' was his answer when Riza asked if that was his entire plan so surly there must be something else.
And even so, why did he choose such an semi-intimate way to do it? One that involves pinning the other person down and drawing an uncontrollable reaction from them, no matter how hard they try to resist it…
Was it because 'she could use a laugh?' Well then why did he keep using her name earlier? Something Mustang had never done prior. And why was he so distant before this?
Nothing about this situation matches up with what Riza knows about the Colonel. Why is he acting so differently on this mission? And can she even fault him for it? After all, she's been acting less-than-normal for weeks now.
Too many questions. Too many possibilities. Does Riza want to know the truth? This would mean looking into herself for the truth as well.
"W-wait wahait - STAHAHAP!" The Lieutenants thoughts are cut off when the remainder of Roy's composure crumbles as she claws a spot in the middle of his ribs. Grinning unapologetically, Riza locates the spot on the other side of his ribs to begin a double attack.
Her unanswered questions can wait. Right now, she wants to draw more of this rather adorable laughter from her superior.
"YOHOU WIHILL REGRET THIHIS!" The dark haired man threatens, but through his hysterics, the words don't retain much of their intended bite. "Guess I better make the most of it then. Tell me Roy, where are you most ticklish?" Riza puts an extra emphasis on using his name to drive home that she is again using his own words and techniques against him.
Mustang gives her a scowl but doesn't force a response through his laugher, he instead shakes his head before grabbing hold of her wrists. The Colonel's grip falters almost immediately as Riza speeds up the pace of her wiggling fingers before he can pry them off his ribs.
"Don't feel like answering that one? That's alright, sir. Answer this instead, why did you go from being super distant, to calling me Riza? Let alone, instigating such a silly game." Her question is posed almost as a joke; but as before, she IS curious to know what her boss has been thinking this whole time. Along with what is intentions are.
"THIHIS IS WHAT I GEHET FOR COMFOHORTING YOU?" Mustang protests, his laughter is fuller now. Almost as if he's given into the situation willingly. His words make Hawkeye feel slightly bad, but she also knows this is a manipulation tactic, no chance that Roy is actually hurt.
But is it just Riza's imagination, or did his stomach tense after she asked her question? In a clearly different way than tensing from laughter. It's evident that the Colonel has been hiding something else recently as well.
And Riza is very much inclined to figure out what it is.
~~~
It goes without saying, the next few minutes did not go at all as the Lieutenant had intended.
This much is evident by the wary look in her eyes and the nervous giggling already spilling from her lips as Mustang looms victoriously over her.
"Didn't see that one coming, did you?" Roy coos, visibly relishing in his turn of using her tactics and words against her for a change.
Riza got too confident. She was reckless.
The Lieutenant had Mustang right where she wanted him. He was close to giving in, Riza was sure of it. Desperate to get her answer before the tables turn, Hawkeye made a terrible mistake.
She showed mercy.
Only for a moment, but it was long enough for Roy to take advantage and make her regret the sentiment of giving her superior time to breath.
They toppled back onto Riza's sleeping bag, both panting for air as the new victorious party smiles down at his prize.
"No, I most certainly didn't, sir." The blonde soldier responds grouchily, referring to his previous question; still bitter over her loss. It was close to the exact tactic she used on Roy to gain the upperhand in the first place. She should have thought of that before showing him mercy.
"Fine, you win. I admit defeat, sir." Riza continues after realizing her superior is still looking at her with that same predatory gaze. But the Colonel has no intention of unpinning her, he instead gives her a rare smile.
Riza is no fool, she knows what this means for her, immediately her struggling resumes. Mustang's grin widens, knowing he's about to reduce his Lieutenant to shambles in the name of his lost pride.
"Yes, I do win. But I still have some unfinished work with you, Riza." He says cooly, giving her sides a few gentle squeezes. She's already giggling beneath him, teasing words always make it worse. Riza shakes her head back and forth, covering her face with her left hand while the other flimsily swats at Mustang's wiggling fingers.
"S-sir, please dohont do thihis. I'm tired enough t-to goho to slehehep." Riza insists between squeaks of laughter after every squeeze, he's putting more pressure behind his fingertips with every pulse.
"Perhaps, but I can't have you thinking you can do something like that to me and get away with it, now can I?" The Colonel teases, a darker tone in his voice implying that there is no mercy to be had, just playful and torturous revenge.
"I th-think you cohould." Riza attempt's diplomacy, despite knowing it's doomed to fail. "I could, but I won't." He smiles again as he says this.
And with that, Mustang finally digs in on her stomach.
~~~
"Nonono wahahit I'M SOHOHORRY! PLEAHASE!" Riza is immediately lost in bellowing laughter as he preys on her weak spots.
"I bet you are sorry. You played a game you were never going to win." He teases as his fingers climb up and down her ribs to squeeze her hips, or the center of her stomach. Thoroughly enjoying every moment of her laughter - After all, it's true that Riza could some.
"PLEAHSE! NYAHAHAH!" Mustang laughs right along with his captive as she continues to thrash below him. His victory tastes even sweeter when considering how close he was to a loss himself. That clever Lieutenant, she almost pushed him to the point of confession. But no more; the Colonel is in control now.
With a grunt that sounds more primal than from exertion, he grabs hold of Riza's flailing wrists and pins then over her head in one swift motion.
In a moment, time snaps. And Roy is suddenly face to face with the Lieutenant, their noses almost touching. A heavy fever begins to tremble in the air between them, neither taking a breath from the air they're sharing.
Mustang tried to stay out of it. He really did.
He tried to mind his own business and let his Lieutenant handle her own matters. He tried to keep his own personal matters away from her.
But he failed.
God above he failed miserably. Though can this really be considered a true failure?
Sure, he butted into a private matter he had no place in. But looking into Riza's eyes right now, it would be impossible to say that Roy regretted his decision to stick his nose into Lieutenant Hawkeye's business. She's his partner on this mission after all, surly he has a right to interject when he see's fit?
'Quit lying to yourself. Quit lying to her. You wanted this.'
The thought surprises Roy and his grip on her wrists almost falters.
How did this out of character scenario come to be? How could he have failed so miserably at keeping his impulses contained?
Mustang replays the last few days in his head as he looks down at the frazzled blonde below him, staring back up at him with those unreadable eyes.
How did he let it escalate to this degree, and when did it start? Mustang had a handle on this, didn't he?
Didn't he?
'Was it when the general gave us the mission; or perhaps when she pulled an entire pantry from her bag? Was it when I felt what it's like for her body to be pressed above and below me? No, it was that mission; that damn mission.' The thoughts all pass in a matter of seconds, but they seem to impact him in slow motion.
It would be so easy to lean in. Just an inch, maybe two, and then-
"You're right. We should get some sleep, Lieutenant. We have a busy day tomorrow." In an instant, the fever is gone; replaced with cool indifference once more as Roy releases her arms and quickly turns away. Leaving Riza silent on her back; looking distant as she catches her breath.
"Y-yes, sir." She responds after another moment, adjusting herself back into her sleeping bag and turning around. Already, Mustang feels a sense of loss as their close connection fizzles back into workplace normalcy.
But no matter, this is how it must be.
The mission come first.
~~~
Riza awakes exhausted and confused.
Her groggy mind struggles to differentiate dream from memory as she sits up in her sleeping bag. She opens her mouth to question Roy about what happened, but when she turns over, she notices the Colonel has already risen. Judging by the soft whinnying noises in the other room, Riza assumes he's feeding their horses.
Slowly, the events of the evening prior settle into place, along with the deep scarlet blush on her face. She presses her cold hands onto her cheeks in an effort to cool them, taking deep leveling breaths through her stiff fingers.
She failed her mission, the Colonel knows about her nightmares. And yet somehow, that's the least of her problems. 'What was that last night?' She questions herself as the rest of the fuzzy memories begin to lose their haze.
"Awake already? I was hoping you'd get another hour, it's not quite daybreak yet." A familiar gruff voice startles Riza, pulling her from her flustering thoughts. Her head jolts up to see Mustang leaning his shoulder against the doorway, his hands still dirty with horse feed.
Hawkeye remains silent, her mouth still slightly agape. His posture is cold, yet it almost seems like Mustang is holding back a smile at the sight of her. 'So many mixed signals, just like before.' The thought pulls Riza from her startled daze.
"About last night-" Roy's back immediately goes rigid at her words, "-it reminded me more about that undercover mission." The wariness in his gaze is replaced by confusion, Riza quickly elaborates, "I think we should try the same approach in town; go in disguise so we can get a closer look and interview the locals." She finishes, doing her best to stop her cheeks from flushing.
"By in disguise, you mean-" His voice trails off, Hawkeye finishes the sentence for him, "I mean pretending to be a couple buying property, as we did in the Central City mission. It will draw less attention that way." They could never pass as siblings, and best friends don't generally purchase land together. But she's still not able to meet his gaze after suggesting this, especially as the silence continues to stretch on.
"Alright."
'Alright? That's all he has to say, no pushback?' Riza wonders to herself, irritated by his inconsistency. As if sensing her confusion, Roy elaborates, "It's a good idea to get a closer look. Let's get into our basic clothes to blend in. I'll change in the front room; meet you at the horses in five." He says, unzipping his bag to retrieve the outfit.
Mustang then exists before Riza can formulate a response, leaving her alone in the room once more.
It's going to be another long day.
~~~
The atmosphere is tense as they make their way to the edge of town.
Conversation was curt and purposeful despite Riza's best efforts to lighten the mood. She has since given up, falling into a more sullen mood as it her frustration mingles with exhaustion.
'I knew Roy would hold my nightmares against me. He doesn't think someone as weak as me should be by his side.' She thinks bitterly to herself, risking a glance over to see Mustang with his eyes still fixed straight ahead on the city's faint outline.
She stares for a second too long and the Colonel turns to meet her gaze. Unsure of how to proceed, she forces a tense grin. He snorts a breath through his nose in amusement and returns his attention to the city growing closer.
"Getting into character already, Lieutenant? I see you're taking our arrangement more seriously this time, ogling at me like that." He teases, Riza can see his cheeks lift in a smile though he still doesn't turn to face her.
He's referring to her awkward nature back during the Central City mission, they didn't do a good job acting like a couple while undercover - That is, until the Colonel discovered his Lieutenant was ticklish. She remained on edge and didn't have much peace the rest of that mission.
"I'm hardly ogling, sir. Don't go letting your ego get any bigger." Her response comes across more defensively than indented, but Roy merely chuckles.
'What's with all these mixed signals? Dammit Mustang, what is up with you? Things were never like this before.' She thinks to herself in frustration. Hawkeye grips the reins tighter as they enter the city stable, mentally preparing to dismount and start their mission.
"Well you better start then, dear." Mustang fluidly drops down from his horse, quickly tying off the reins before offering her a hand down. She takes it grudgingly, knowing his teasing comment was also a reminder that their mission is now live - Meaning it's time for Riza to put her hurt and pride aside until it's complete.
Roy extends his elbow, encouraging her to interlock with him for them to walk into town. "I see no one else walking around like that, dear. We'd hardly be blending in." The Lieutenant says quietly, her own arm remaining stiffly at her side.
Putting her hurt and pride aside lasted all of ten seconds.
He gives her an odd look, but she's not able to decipher it at present. She's instead occupied being incredibly frustrated with herself, and Mustang, as she strides past him in the direction of town, "You coming?"
Yes, this will be a long day indeed.
~~~
'Now you've done it...'
Mustang does his best to keep his face neutral as they continue to stroll through the village, with Riza just a pace ahead of him.
'This is what you get for putting the mission over Riza. This is what you chose, so stick to it.'
This reminder doesn't help his clenching chest as the hour drags on mostly in silence. "That area looks rather rundown, dear. I wouldn't feel safe living around there." She's speaking in character, as if they're intending to buy property. But in reality, Riza is flagging the location as a prospect for where the refugees could be hiding.
Mustang gives a quick glance in the direction she was referencing. Yes, the slum-like air of that part of town would be perfect for a hiding criminal.
"I agree, especially after sundown." He responds, confirming the timeframe of when they'll be returning to check it out. Until then, they'll continue to scope out the town and blend in with the locals to get some intel.
"Hungry, darling?" Mustang asks, stifling a smile as she nearly trips over her next step. "I-I suppose so. I mean, yes ... dear." She stutters, clenching her fists in an attempt to compose herself. Roy's grin only widens at the sight.
Dammit. Keeping Riza at an arms length is impossible.
'The mission comes first. The mission comes first. The mission comes first.'
~~~
"The meat is tough, but this flavor is just delicious. You have to try it, darling." Mustang says enthusiastically, extending his fork towards her.
Riza resists rolling her eyes at Roy's over the top performance, forcing a smile instead as she learns in to accept the pre-cut bite from the him. Admittedly, it is quite good. She's not able to suppress an 'mhmm' of appreciation as the flavor subsides.
They had chosen to get lunch at one of the nicer eateries in the Reole market, one with a clear view of the main plaza for optimal surveillance.
Riza's mood has improved since getting some real food in her system, but she remains on guard and slightly hurt from the events this morning. And also remains feeling increasingly foolish at how willingly open she made herself to him last night - A lesson she's learned never to do in front of a man. She should have known Mustang was never going to be the exception to this.
'But he was supposed to be the exception.'
She almost chokes on her next bite, pasta with meat sauce, as the regretful thought pushes its way through. Mustang gives her an odd look, but doesn't press.
'I need to take Mustang off of this pedestal in my head. Since when have I thought about him like this?' Of course, there is no answer; not that Riza is certain she would want to know the answer anyway however.
Despite her frustration and hurt, it would be impossible to say she hasn't enjoyed her time with Mustang on this mission. Even though the hot and cold atmosphere keeps giving her whiplash, which isn't ideal.
But still, it felt almost normal to be walking around town with Mustang at her side; taking in all the sights as they stroll along. And it feels nice to be sitting down for a meal with Roy. She's not even certain of the last time they've shared an actual meal together like this, not just a morning coffee or dehydrated mission rations.
It would be easier to let herself enjoy the moment and feed into his teasing smile, if Riza wasn't so scared of the next rejection. Rejection may be too harsh of a word to use for their situation, but something happened last night, and it felt an awful lot like rejection to her.
Rejection from what, she isn't certain ... Or perhaps she is; it's hard to tell when her mind won't stop running through different scenarios.
Stifling a sigh, she takes another bite of her meal. No longer able to taste anything, she gives into her numbness.
~~~
"So what made y'all pick Reole?"
Mustang has already forgotten the name of the man asking him the question, but still does his best to maintain a pleasant expression. "We're really just trying to get away from the city. That place really sucks the soul out of you." He jokes, shooting a glance at Riza who's still hardly said a word.
They're gathering intel and securing their undercover position by conversing with the Reole residents. Though at the moment, Roy is the one managing most conversations with the locals.
"I'm glad you kids are getting out of there. You and your wife still have so much life to enjoy together, away from that draining place." The man's wife is the one who responds, her name started with S and she has laugh lines deep in her cheeks.
He almost feels bad deceiving such a kind elderly couple, but that's the mission, and the mission comes first.
"That's the plan. Isn't that right, love?" Mustang asks, pulling Riza firmly to his side for a smothering hug. Not bothering to contain his laughter as she blushes and stiffens beside him, clearly fighting to maintain her cover rather than shooting a scathing comment his way. 'This was your idea, Lieutenant.' He thinks to himself in amusement.
"She's a shy one, eh? Salieh used to be the same way, give her a few years." The old man laughs, shooting Riza a good humored wink as his wife - Salieh, gives him a whack on the chest. "Be kind, Ingus. And don't you worry about him driving you crazy, darling. He only does it because he loves you." Her words were directed at Riza, but Mustang is the one feeling blush creeping to his face as a result.
Love.
Does he love Riza?
Yes, but there are different kinds of love. Which does he hold for her?
Which does she hold for him?
Mustang hardly registers the couple saying goodbye, managing to give them a generic farewell before being pulled into his thoughts once more.
"Are you going to let go of me?" Riza's sheepish tone pulls him from the raging whirlwind as Roy realizes he's still holding his Lieutenant tightly at his side.
'No Riza, I don't think I can.' He thinks to himself as he releases his grip, muttering a quiet apology.
'I really don't think I can.'
~~~
The journey 'home' consists of slightly more chatter, both having been put into a more sociable mood after their successful undercover recon.
It's now late afternoon as they're heading back to regroup. They'll need to change into their tactical gear and return to the city to check out the slums after nightfall.
Riza feels blush begin to creep back to her cheeks as she recounts the Colonels bold behavior. It shouldn't be this hard to differentiate actions for the sake of the mission and their cover, with actions for the sake of his own enjoyment and to see her squirm. And yet, the line between them seems so blurred.
Almost as though Roy was hardly acting at all, like it was natural for him - Just as it seemed last night.
Hawkeye shivers as she shakes her head to clear it, but the thoughts remain. Mustang accelerates their pace as the hut comes into view, surly witnessing his Lieutenants mental battle.
A few minutes later, they dismount and prepare for a quick dinner. They have to head back out within the hour so Riza changes in the front room while Roy prepares the fire, then he then does the same while she prepares the soup cans.
The rhythm they have coexisting together is undeniable, everything is unspoken yet understood. Although, never on any other mission was she tempted to 'accidentally' peak at the Colonel before he's put his shirt on.
'I'm mad at him. I'm mad at him because-' Her thought trails off, unsure of where to do. What is she mad at him for? Why is she hurt? No answers arise.
They eat mostly in silence, but Riza finds herself extremely conscious of the exact distance between them as they sit cross-legged on their sleeping bags. As if the air between their legs has been charged with static.
She takes another bland bite of soup and tries to push the feeling from her mind. It's already been a long day, and it appears that it's going to be a long night as well.
'I'm mad at him.'
'I'm mad at him, I'm mad at him...'
~~~
"You're on my foot, sir."
Riza's harsh whisper cuts through the silence, followed by Roy's muffled apology through his tactical mask.
They stand together under the drape of darkness. Hardly any moonlight is shed to light their path through the slums, causing quite a few missteps along the way.
With no sign of Ishbalen refugees in the outskirts of the slums, they're now continuing inward at a slow pace.
The silence is loud between them as the night continues. Not that they're supposed to talk while on stealth missions, but the quiet is particularly loud tonight. Mainly from the Lieutenants side as she's been giving him the cold shoulder all day.
Roy grits his teeth, but he can't bring himself to be upset at her for this given his own choice of actions. His feelings for her have gotten complicated - Which in turn makes their work relationship even more strained with the Colonel's increased consistent worry for Riza's safety and new regard for her opinion of him.
The strength of his will is steadily crumbling. It's taking all of Mustang's effort to hold himself back from expressing just how close he wants to be with his Lieutenant. He can feel the edges of his will begin to crack even now, it's questionable how much longer his priorities will remain untouched.
Putting the mission first has been the Colonel's only choice, his only lifeline.
Though at the moment, he's feeling as though he would rather be drowning - Drowning in his shameful feelings for her, drowning in her scent, her smile, her laughter; in everything that makes her Riza.
'Screw the mission. I need to make this right, no matter what.' The thought falls like a single water droplet that overflows his bucket. There's nothing that can hold him back now as the flood releases.
Riza comes first.