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Where There's A Lot Of Stubbornness

"Here we are," Roy informed, stopping in front of his Lieutenant's flat.

"It's a good thing she remembered to give you her key, Sir," Fuery said in admiration. "How is she?" he waited while his superior rummaged through his pocket for the key.

"She wasn't awake, but the hospital said she would be out soon. We can visit her tomorrow, probably," the Colonel found the small object, inserting it. The door unlocked with a light click.

"Oh, so you found the key in her clothes; very smart," Fuery complimented, being let in first.

"Eh, right," Mustang glanced aside. He was not about to tell how he just had one of his own.

The second the door was open only by a crack, a wet dog's nose nudged through, trying to open it faster. "Hey, Hayate," he greeted, letting the Shiba Inu jump his subordinate excitedly. Briefly, he came over to sniff the Colonel's boots, looking up and down the hall, then somewhat questioningly into his face.

"Aw, sorry, but your mommy won't be coming home yet," Fuery apologised, patting Hayate's head. They took him out for a short walk, then saw to him being fed before locking the door again. "If we are allowed to visit, then she must be okay right? It looked like such a huge explosion…" Fuery muttered the rest, getting into the car.

"It was, but she was not in the centre of it. The doctor said it's only a mild smoke inhalation and some bruises," Roy supplied, unable to erase the concern in his voice. "The week's almost over, anyway. I'm sure she'll be back and nagging at me on Monday," he sighed, though it was more for the laugh than heartfelt. He had been sweating for hours in wild panic about whether she had been injured severely or not, having paced the entire hospital up and down until they had finally announced her to be alright.

Still, he slept uneasily that night, and the discovery the following morning did not help calm him down one bit.

"Gather the troops! This is an emergency!" Roy stormed into the office. Everyone winced. Falman leapt to his feet, saluting in shock and out of habit. "We need all the units we can get; there's a lot of ground to cover and time's running out. She could be anywhere by now!" the Colonel whirled around to the other side of the desks. "Falman, Breda," he did not wait for them to reply, "find out if there have been any kidnappings and or people seen to be wandering the streets. Have all alleyways checked." Instead of a customary 'Yes, Sir', they exchanged glances of confusion at his sudden turmoil. "Fuery, see if there are any reports coming in through the police's communications – in fact, mobilise them, too.

"We're looking for a woman of this height," he held up a hand to his ear, "pale skin, blonde hair – this long," he gestured again, "brown eyes, silver earrings, and why are you all looking at me like that?" he was almost furious now.

Again, his team exchanged looks. The silence was nearly making him tremble with impatience. He opened his mouth to bark out another order when Havoc casually pointed a finger towards the Colonel's front desk. Blinking repeatedly, the latter followed the gesture, staring right at his First Lieutenant.

"That her, Sir?" Havoc said with a cigarette between his lips. Roy's shoulders fell. Hawkeye just stood there, a few files in her arm. No visible bandages or bruises or any sign of her having fallen victim to a bomb merely hours prior, and if from a wider range.

He thought his brain would burst any second.

"Think I'll get a promotion 'cause I solved the case?" Havoc nudged Breda who snickered.

"Just what do you think you're doing?!" Roy hollered, making everyone shrink anew. Everyone but her, who held his gaze without a hint of the guilt he had expected. It almost riled him up more. He stomped over to where she was, grabbing the files and then her wrist with the other hand. "The hospital released you under the condition of you staying home and resting! Does this come even close to that?" his voice boomed, and the others just watched, glad not to be in her shoes.

The Lieutenant remained quiet, not backing away from the eyes that fired at her with fury.

"Havoc, since you're such a genius, earn yourself a promotion by overtaking mine and Hawkeye's work of the day," the Colonel slapped the files onto the baffled man's desk. He was still glaring with anger, even if not directed at the now straight-backed saluting Second Lieutenant. "And you're going home this instant," he growled at his aide, proceeding to tow her after him, out of the office and then the building.

She cooperated, if reluctantly. She got into the car, sitting there, gazing out the window with her eyes narrowed in annoyance and still not gracing him with a single word of explanation. It made the blood in his veins boil to know her to have ignored the hospital's warnings, having made him rush through and out of her apartment that morning, not finding her anywhere. Not even out with Hayate, who had faithfully awaited her return.

Having arrived at the multistorey building, he would have shoved her up the stairs and down the corridor, but she briskly walked ahead of him, and he knew it was her intention to get him to leave. He decidedly did not take the hint, strutting after her, all the way into her flat.

"To bed," he pointed to her bedroom door. She gave him a look. "And don't come out until at least tomorrow," his brows furrowed but she did not acknowledge it. She took her time with stripping off her coat, then boots, kneeling down to stroke over her happily wagging dog's head.

Roy drew a sharp breath.

"Lieutenant," he addressed almost threateningly, finally being met with a defyingly stubborn stare. "To bed. That is an order," he crossed his arms. With a sigh under her breath, Hawkeye got to her feet. She passed him without another glance. He pursued and she glared at him, but he waited nonetheless. They were equally bullheaded, but his advantage was that he was her superior. Fortunately – for him, that was – it worked outside of working hours, too. She was too loyal to dismiss an order that did not involve him being endangered.

Out of defiance, she held his glare for a moment longer. Then she simply let herself flop down onto the bed. He gave an exasperated groan, turning on the heel to close the front door. It had been another invitation for him to leave – leaving it wide open – but that was out of the question.

So he sauntered into the kitchen, Hayate on his heels, begging for anything edible to fall off a counter. The water splashed where Roy filled the boiler. He ignited the stovetop. Only then did he hear the creaking of the mattress next door, lips pursing in disbelief. She really was too stubborn for her own good, he thought, marching back over. She had even closed the door on him.

"Now don't you- oh," he stuttered, being met with huge eyes. Huge eyes and the most basic set of women's black underwear he had ever seen. She blinked at him expectantly, quite crossly, but his brain operated in another sphere, scanning whatever he was able to catch glimpses of. She was even prettier than he remembered. That damn uniform hid so much away, he felt his purpose of miniskirts resurfacing with the sole aim of seeing her wear one. And no matter where he looked, he wanted to touch. Because for a soldier and someone only just having been released from the hospital – now there were bandages visible – her skin seemed so supple and milky, his fingers itched to reach out.

The heavy military jacket flew his way, hitting his face. He grumbled something unintelligible when finally retreating. Not even then would she shout at him, hardly more than an upset huff passing her lips, her face beet red but silent.

The mattress creaked again, forcefully this time, telling him through the closed door that she had thrown herself back down.

The boiler whistled, so Roy poured a cup of tea. He browsed through her cupboards until finding honey, his forehead creased with a pensive frown. She had not addressed him upon his arrival, not defended herself or denied anything, and not even greeted Hayate with a word or two. His brows furrowed with concern as he knocked on the bedroom door. There was not reply, but he entered anyway.

She was a small bundle on the bed, back turned to him, only the golden tresses of her hair visible from where he stood. He neared on tiptoes, setting down the tea on her nightstand, stirring it noisily to let her know to have brought it. Then he seated himself on the side of her bed. Her flank rose and fell, and though the doctor's primary concern had been a small concussion that had merely made her lose consciousness and then left her with temporary dizziness, he detected the unsuccessfully hidden jerks in her breathing.

She did not react on his presence. At least she did not pretend that he was not there, either. But she was bundled up so meaningfully, it almost gave a sting. He let out a helpless breath.

"I brought you tea," he stated the obvious. He nudged the cup, having it scrape over the wood, trying to gain her attention. It was getting harder by the minute not to sigh continuously. It irritated him how little she cared for her own wellbeing, just as much as he felt annoyed at the rejection he received when trying to aid – the lack of power he had when it came to truly helping her.

He crouched down when Hayate strolled in. The dog sat down in front of him, tilting his head with a wondering glance towards the bed. Roy reached out a hand to place it on the dog's head.

"Lieutenant," he said, his tone gentle now. Taking it as another order, she turned, glaring at him where only her head poked out of the sheets. She wanted him gone, he knew – and he had not exactly been a gentleman while stupidly staring at her while changing – but that did not mean he would stop caring. He could not. "Are you… unable to speak?" he asked. He noted the hint of a staccato in the rocking of her chest. Her piercing gaze abated into a slightly frightened one, finally avoiding his. She looked almost shameful as she glued her eyes to the floor.

He nudged the cup once more, shoulders sinking.

"Did you worry I would replace you immediately after being out of commission for a day? Or a couple?" he searched her eyes, but she would not meet his. Now she looked even more embarrassed, more displeased with herself. Had she honestly thought to be useless for recovering from an explosion? "I should punish you for such foolishness," his tone picked up a harsher edge, making her flinch lightly. "You should know by now that you're irreplaceable," he strictly said, finding the look he received to be filled with too much surprise for his liking. She really should have known. He blamed himself entirely for not having made it clearer to her before.

Perhaps this would be his chance to prove just that.

Roy rose to his feet, bending over to hand her the tea. She hesitated before exhaling strongly in defeat. Obediently, Riza sat up to drink. She had to cough a few times, sounding rasped and perhaps explaining her disability of speech. The tea was gone before he had even finished the thought.

He then encircled the bed, crawling in next to her, receiving an unbelieving and almost reproachful look. He smiled friendlily but she only shook her head, pointing for him to get off. Once again, he shrugged the instructions off. If she did not mind babysitting him around the clock, sometimes even after work hours, then she would have to be prepared for him returning the favour.

With another huff, Riza sank back down, curling up to face away from him. Hayate came to lick her now reachable face, and she gave what sounded like the croaking attempt of a hum. At that cue, Roy left his precious spot to make another tea. He did not find a teapot, so he filled multiple cups, clustering the nightstand. She did not look too amused but drank them all anyway.

It had not been of strategic nature, but after he had left the room and she had sprawled out enough to block him any access to the bed, the abundance of hot beverages functioned to his advantage. She had to use the bathroom.

With a sly smirk, Roy snuck back up onto the bed. She gave him a glare upon returning, probably having anticipated the move, having to live with it either way. He patted the mattress next to him and she seemed about ready to kick him off. Surprisingly, she refrained from it, merely retreating into her bundle.

Not half an hour later, she was asleep. Regular breathing soothed Roy's still raw nerves and he dug through the pocket of his coat, finding the research journal to his alchemy. It would not hurt to study a little, seeing as he was not going to get up anytime soon.

In the meantime, he rested his hand on her side, feeling her breathing flow more and more peacefully.