General of the Army, Roy Mustang rested his chin on his hands and glanced warily over his office. It was everything he had dreamed of; but it was still missing something.
Sure, the moment he had been promoted to General of the Army, he was completely ecstatic! Everything had went perfectly as planned. Of course, he did have some, no, many regrets.
First off, that damned Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes was killed by the homunculi.
Roy half-smirked remembering his old buddy, 'Damn you, you little sneak. You said you'd help me get to the top, and now where are you? You've beaten me... You're already up there in heaven.'
Secondly, that Edward Elric passed on because he was able to bring his mother back; and restore his brother's original body. It was truly a sad thing that one brave soul would be willing to give up his mortal existence for others. By bringing his mother back, and restoring his brother's body... normally it would have taken two people for that type of thing to happen, but because of Ed's selflessness... something was altered; the rules changed.
"Would I have done the same thing?..." Roy spoke his thoughts aloud; even though he had constantly teased and made fun of Ed, he considered Ed a good friend.
A good friend he had to lose.
Yet Roy still wondered what he would have done if he were in Ed's position; would he too have given his life up for someone he loved so much?
'Stupid kid..... always putting himself before others..'
But still, the one loss he had to take by becoming General; the one that hit him hardest, was losing his best friend, confident, partner and.... crush.
HAH, Roy nearly had to smack himself in the face for thinking that one. After being promoted to General of the Army less than a month ago, Riza had mysteriously disappeared.
'Gah, there you go again, don't call her Riza! She is your subordinate, and call her thusly!'
Roy paused in his thoughts and shook his head.
He couldn't call her Lieutenant General Hawkeye.. that was too.. impersonal.
Besides, it really didn't matter anymore; After he had been promoted, she had in fact disappeared, and no longer showed up. Her rank still stayed attached to her name, even though she no longer showed for action. Rumor has it she went back to her home town to visit her family, and they had arranged her a marriage.
Of course Roy; being the idiot he was; chose to take it as a joke and laughed it off, but now, almost a month later, he regretted pretending it was just a joke.
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"Hey did you hear about General Lieutenant Hawkeye?"
"No! Where is that hottie?"
"I heard she got an arranged marriage back at home!"
"Damn. I should have asked her out while I could have..."
"You know you couldn't have, she's the General's girl!"
The pair talking let out a good hearty laugh, only to be interrupted by Roy's laughter
"... So you think that's a funny joke then?"
" O-Of course not G-General Sir!"
"Really. I thought it was quite funny. Hawkeye getting married? You're kidding me. Now carry on."
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Roy stood up suddenly and grabbed his coat while he walked to the door; he couldn't stay in the room any longer, he was becoming stir crazy.
'Come to think of it.. I haven't left that room for over a week...'
"General Sir!"
"Hn. At ease." Roy strode emotionlessly through the hallway, his mere presence silencing the chatter that once plagued the hall. As he neared the end of the hall though, he could hear whispers, and he knew what they were saying.
"... I heard he was going to commit suicide unless the General Lt. came back.."
"... I wouldn't mess with a man in love..."
"How long can he stay so stupid? So what, the war's are over, he still has duties!...."
"I agree, he shouldn't spend all his time dreaming of the past..."
Roy slammed the door shut and marched down the stairs to get away. His hand snaked its way into the pocket of his coat to feel his glove... It was simple... All he had to do was pull his glove out, use a little bit of alchemy, and bam. He wouldn't have the pain in his heart.
'No. She wouldn't want me to do that.'
Roy gazed up into the sky and shuffled his feet over the cold winter snow; it was a nice time of year. His former self might have been upset at this time of year though since none of the ladies ever wore skirts, but he had given up chasing girls in skirts.
As of one month ago he gave up skirts; actually, he really gave up girls in skirts; figured they were blithering blubberheads who had nothing better to do than to walk around showing all their skin.
Of course there were pros to watching the during the summer and - NO! Girls in skirts were now an absolute sin and he would not give into it!
"EEK!!! Get away from me you hentai!!!!!!!!!!"
".... shut the hell up wench.... Or I'll kill you..."
Roy acted without thinking; he swiftly raced over to the cry for help, pummeled and then threatened the assailant, and helped the victim up. It was beginning to be a chore to help the citizens out...
"Oh thank you! I don't know what I would have done without you!"
"Not a problem Miss..."
Roy allowed himself to glance at the girl to see that she was attired in none other than a short plaid skirt and a tight sweater showing her large bosom. Roy nearly choked seeing her attire, 'Someone up there is really testing me...'.
"Yes well.... I must be going..."
"No wait!! Can't I thank my hero properly?"
"Miss.. It really isn't necessary... It's my duty.."
"Oh you sound so noble! Please, allow me to introduce myself! I'm Klaire!", she extended her hand for him to shake, but Roy hesitated for a moment.
He glanced down at the woman again and for a second, Riza's image replaced her face.
'No. Riza is gone. She won't come back.'
Roy faked a smile and shook her hand, "Nice to meet you. I'm Roy."
"Well Roy, can I take you out for dinner?"
Roy glanced down at his watch; it was 6:35. A little bit early, but who cared about time now?
"Sure... Where to Klaire?"
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Turned out Klaire was a nice girl caught at a bad time. She wasn't from Ametris, or rather this area of Ametris, she was from a more eastern part where it was a lot warmer. She brought only skirts because she assumed it was going to be warm here as well, and obviously it got her attention from the wrong crowd.
"... and that's why I only brought skirts... kind of stupid huh?"
"No, it's completely understandable... Why are you out here anyway?"
"Oh? I'm out here because my parent's said it would be good for our family to get away from the disarray back at home! Kinda silly neh?"
Klaire let out a girlish giggle, and Roy just had to chuckle along. This girl was just too goofy to be real! Any normal person would know to pack prepared, but from what he had seen, Klaire was no normal girl.
"Oh shoot! I promised I'd meet my sister! She said she had extra pants for me! I'm so lucky!" Klaire giggled again and stood up, "Oh, would you like to come along?"
"Sure.. just til you get there so you won't have any problems.."
"Great! Then let's go!"
The pair stood up and began walking down the street in the harsh winter wind. Klaire didn't look like she was cold at all though; in fact, she was singing, dancing and jumping along the walk.
"Ah! We're here! Let me introduce you to my sister!" Klaire clicked the door open with her key and stepped inside with Roy.
"Hello? Is anyone hooommmmmmeee??"
"I'm here Klaire, hold on." Roy's heart almost stopped beating; that voice... It was... was it really Riza?
"Alright Klaire, you need some pants neh?" Roy glanced up with hope in his heart, only to see a woman with brown chestnut hair strolling down the steps.
"And who is this?"
"Roy! He helped me!"
"Mmm. Then I truly must thank you."
"Hn.. no problem.."
"Come on Klaire, let me go get you some pants. Roy, you can wait in the living room if you want."
"Thank you."
Roy made his way to the living room and plopped down on the couch. He seriously was going crazy! He was seeing Riza everywhere; he saw her in Klaire, he thought he heard her in the other sister...
"Klaire? Are you back already? Your sister told me to-.." The voice stopped, and Roy slowly gazed to the entrance of the room. There stood Riza Hawkeye, dressed in casual attire.
For a moment, neither one of them said anything; all they did was stare. Roy was in disbelief! The woman he had craved for was standing right in front of him! Roy immediately stood up to face Riza, but all she did was cast her gaze downwards and weakly clutched her hand in front of her.
"G-General L-Lieutenant Hawkeye..."
"..Hai.."
Roy threw away his pride and enveloped her in a hug. She was so cold! Nevertheless, Roy buried his face in her hair and tried to stop himself from crying. It felt like that moment in time had frozen and all of time stood still, 'She's here! Riza is here! In front of me! with me...'
"G-General... Permission to leave.."
"What?" Roy let go of Riza uncertainly and tried to stare into her eyes, but she continued to gaze downwards; avoiding his gaze.
"I had to come back to Ametris to announce my leave... I have to resign from the military."
Riza gently pushed him away and lifted her left hand.. There on the ring finger lay one thin gold band... a band that could hardly be called a ring. Roy's eyes narrowed and grew cold.
"...So it's true."
"Hai.."
Roy straightened up and pulled his coat more tightly over his shoulders, "Hn... Then I expect you to clean out by 0900 hours tomorrow."
"Yes sir.."
Roy left the house quickly and made his way to the park where he had first met Riza. It was a spring day and she had been making her way to the headquarters for her first day as First Lt. Hawkeye. Roy had mistakened her for an enemy and accidentally took her in; but later found out that she would become his best friend.
".... what an idiot I was... " Roy muttered to himself, kicking a rock from his path. "How could I have not believed that rumor? Why did I laugh it off? I should have ran to her... No. The military has no room for romantics."
But still, the sound of her voice resounded in his mind,
"Permission to leave...." she sounded so sullen... Did she hate him so much? She knew she never had to ask for permission from him; but why did she ask just then?
"Sir! We have news of enemy alchemists coming to Ametris! Shall I tell the lower ranks to prepare for action?"
"General sir! We need you to decide on the negotiation contracts!"
"-The President from Creta would like to have a meeting with you, he'll be here in 0200 hours!"
"-So you want the sandwich with ham right?"
A flurry of decisions awaited Roy back at headquarters, none of which he was in a mood to answer to. So he did what he did best,
"Would you all shut the hell up?! You're able-bodied and hopefully you have some amount of common sense in those thick skulls! I'm going to be busy for the next 2400 hours, and if any one of you.. I mean, any of you blundering idiots want to test my patience..", Roy extended his right hand with the glove, a flame ready to emit, "I will not hesitate to shut you up. That is all, dismissed."
Roy slammed his office door behind him and resumed pacing back and forth; this was making him so uptight and unpredictable! When he threatened his soldiers it wasn't anything out of the ordinary, since he usually had a short temper and wound up hurting someone, but in the manner he said it, actually taking out his alchemist glove...
'A little bit too close..' Roy thought to himself while he plopped down on a couch and stared out his window. He smirked seeing a little girl shove a boy into the snow and then yelling at him while pummeling him with snowballs.
One day, Roy would have a girl just like that.. and it would be his turn to gloat about his wife and daughter..
how cute!
feh.
The next morning came quickly as Roy glanced out the window for the thousandth time; he could see Riza walking up the stairs, smiling and waving at everyone she passed. It made Roy smile just to see her lips curve gently up into that lovely grin he knew best; even if he could tell the smile was fake.
She disappeared under through the door, and Roy absentmindedly left his room in search for her; 'It's just official business, nothing more', but somehow deep down he knew it was just an excuse to see her smile one last time.
"General Sir! Are you done with your work? The President of Creta is still-"
"Hn. Tell him I'm still busy."
"Y-Yes sir!"
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"Lt. G-General Hawkeye Ma'am! I-I have to tell you that- that I- I would like to take you out on a night on the town!"
"No, I asked first!"
"Get in line buddy, I was the first one here!"
Riza faked a smile and shook her hands back and forth in defense, "I'm here to announce my leave; so I'm quite busy right now, You're all dismiss-"
"-But I got you a new gun! It's one of the new models that you've been itching to try out!"
"I'm sorry Major Jorgenson, I am unable to accept it since I am no longer affiliated with the military." It killed Riza inside to do this; but she had to! When her mother and father passed on, they had put in their will to marry her to their neighbor. They were family friends, and the one she was to marry was one of Riza's old buddies from grade-school; Robert.
To be frank, neither one of them were in favor of the marriage, but her parent's and his parent's wanted to concrete the relationship they had shared in the past. It was a little old-fashioned for arranged marriages, but her parent's knew that in time she would learn to love him more than just a friend.
Riza took it pretty harshly; she didn't want to give up her newly attained position as Lt. General, nor did she want to leave behind all of her friends.
'Like Roy...'
She wasn't stupid, and she knew that last night when he had dismissed her, he was more upset than she was. The way he just left without saying goodbye... Riza had only seen him shut himself up like that after Hughes' death and Ed's death. Riza glanced at the note in her hand that she had written for Roy and placed it down in front of the door.
'Maybe I shouldn't have just left for the last month.. would that have made anything different?' Riza shrugged off her thoughts and emptied all her belongings into a box, by the time she was done, even she couldn't tell that someone had worked in the office. Riza let out a sigh and clipped her bag filled with guns to her bag, and started to carry her box of belongings out of the building. She glanced at the note on the ground and picked it up, "...no.. I don't need to burden him like this.."
Riza put on a brave smile as she passed through the hallways one last time, waving goodbye with one hand, and hoisting her box up with the other. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs ,she paused in her steps and slowly gazed back upward at the top of the stairs, she could feel someone up there; waiting... But to her dismay, no one was there, not a soul. 'Not Roy...'
Riza put on a monotonous facial expression and began walking again, only to bump into someone.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to-.." Riza paused in her sentence, she had just crashed into Roy Mustang; The General of the Army. He stood up first, glancing downward at her and then offered to help her up. Riza accepted his hand and let him help her, and once she let go, her hand felt suddenly cold. She felt so warm near him, so happy!
"Hn. Hawkeye."
"Yes Sir?"
"Don't call me that. That's only for officers; which you are no longer as of 10 minutes ago."
"Hai." Riza would not allow herself to suddenly become shy; usually he was the one intimidated by her! What happened?! Why has everything gone so wrong?!
"Good luck then on your new life. Don't bother showing your face here again." Roy turned on his heel and made his way to the building, his coat billowing in the wind behind him. Yet what bothered Riza the most was this attitude of his; it was so impersonal; so unlike him, so she decided to be unlike herself too,
"Thank you, and if I happen to see any short tempered arrogant flame alchemists near my home, I'll be sure to notify you... Sir"
Riza tried to contain tears that were on the verge of spilling out as she walked down the street and turned the corner to catch a train back to her home. Riza felt weaker than she ever was in her life at that moment. Never before had anyone dared mess with Riza Hawkeye, and live to tell the tale with all their body parts working properly.
There was no exception, even for this time; for when she turned that corner and disappeared, she broke Roy Mustang's heart.
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Roy stared at Riza's departing figure, his gaze completely transfixed upon the movement of her body. Even though she was walking slightly wobbly from carrying so many things, she looked like an angel to him. Just as she turned the corner and faded from his sight, he realized it:
'I'm in love with Riza Hawkeye....'
His best friend. His partner. His crush. It never occurred to him that he had fallen in love with this woman so easily! He tried to trace back in his memories for when he fell in love with her... It was impossible though; he loved her when he first met her, and now she was gone. This was his last chance, and he had blown it.
"God Damn it!" Roy cussed aloud and sat down on one of the steps, burying his face in his hands.
"I'm the world's stupidest thick-headed... hn?" Roy paused in his self-bashing and saw a piece of paper on the step below him, "Now what the hell is this..?" To his surprise, the paper had his name on it, and it was written in Riza's handwriting!
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I'm sorry for not being here to help you through your first month as General of the Army, but my father and mother arranged for my marriage. I don't want you to remember me; forget about me and remember your dream. You've gotten it, and all you have to do is keep up your hard-work (and don't screw up any negotiations). I am to become a wife very soon back at my home, but I do not plan on seeing you after today.
I'm truly sorry... but I must do this, find it in your heart to forgive me Roy. -Riza
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Roy stared silently at the note, and reread it several times before nodding his head, placing it down crossing his arms and screaming, "GODDDDDD DAMMMMNNNNN ITTTTT!!!!!!"
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The very next day, Roy hacked the files that contained information on Riza, and caught the first train to her home. 'I'm not going to screw this up... not this time!'
Roy arrived at a relatively small home that was at the edge of a lake. He could see children jumping into the lake, and couples walking around it, there were even girls in skirts and bikinis, but he didn't care; all he could think about was Riza. He quickly grabbed the nearest guy near him and held him by his collar, "Where is Riza Hawkeye..."
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"Ree-Ree!! There's a guy here to see you!"
"Oh? Really..... Tell him I don't want to talk.."
"It's Robert silly! Your fianc!"
"...Ah.. Right.. I see... let him in then..."
The door clicked open and Riza could see Robert smiling warmly at Riza's friend and then allowing himself inside.
"Hey Riz, how are you? Excited?" Riza could tell Robert was trying to sound excited, and he was failing pretty miserably.
"Oh come off it Robert! I love you as a brother Robert.. You know we can't go through with this.."
"I know Riz.. But it was in your parent's will, and my parent's consent.."
"Robert! I know you love Mary! You can't marry me!"
"....Riz, we're going to have to.." Robert sighed lightly and sat down next to Riza on the floor. He gently placed his arm around her in a brother-like manner and smiled at her.
"As much as both of us don't want to do this, unless by some crazy chance the wedding is called off.. I'm glad I'm getting married to you and not someone I don't trust!"
Riza smiled weakly at Robert and stared out the window, deep down spiting the day she met Roy; she shouldn't feel like this! She was, after all, a member of the military; and she was in love with her superior? The idiot that she always had to keep in line?
Riza chuckled, wondering if he really implemented the rule of women in the military wearing skirts?
"I FORBID THIS WEDDING TO TAKE PLACE!"
"EH?!" Robert stood up and stood protectively in front of Riza, "I don't know who you are.. but trying to ruin our marriage before the time is just uncalled for!"
"Shut up!" Roy raced at Robert and punched him squarely in the face
"Wait! What's wrong with you?!" Robert shouted, jumping back from Roy's relentless attacks.
"You chose the wrong girl to marry!"
"What?!"
Roy coiled his arm back and readied himself to hit Robert again, but Riza leapt into action and pulled her handy pistol out, "Stop!"
"Riz?!" Robert exclaimed, immediately he fell to the floor and put his hands in the air, while Roy simply stood there with a smirk evident on his face.
"Y-You don't plan on using that do you?!" , Robert muttered lowly, trying to keep his voice level and calm, but was failing miserably.
"If I must.. then I will.." Riza stated in a calm cool and collected voice. She was obviously a force to be reckoned with, and of the three of them in the room; only Roy knew how to handle it.
"Well then, if you're done waving that around Hawkeye... I'll be leaving.."
Riza repositioned the gun to face Roy, "-and did I say you could leave?"
Roy stopped in the doorway and slowly turned around; a playful smirk danced around his handsome features. "No, but I'll still be leaving... and by the way Hawkeye... it's still on the safety mode."
Roy left the room without another word, leaving Riza speechless, and Robert still trembling. Riza couldn't move from her position, she was still shocked that he was able to call her bluff! No one had ever been able to realize that she was just bluffing in that position, but he still called it!
"Riz... You care about him don't you?" Riza stayed silent and gazed at his slow departing figure on the dock.
"Go after him Riz... Don't come back... I'll explain it to pops.. "
"Wh-, really?"
"GO!"
Riza leapt out of the open window and cut across the front field, "General!!"
Roy didn't turn, he kept walking as if Riza never called out his name; very odd, since usually when she called him he always turned.
"General Sir! Please, hold on!"
Again, Roy did not falter in his steps, he continued walking. 'Why isn't he listening to me?!' Riza exclaimed in her mind. Finally, Riza stopped running after him and stood on the bridge, on the verge of tears, but not letting it show. Riza bit her lip and stared down at her feet as she quietly muttered,
"...I'm sorry.... Roy..."
"I forgive you Riza.."
"Huh?!"
Almost immediately, Riza found herself in the arms of that oh-so familiar husky scent of her General... her friend... her love...
"..why didn't you turn?"
"... that was the first time you called me Roy.. did you know that in all the years you spent lecturing me... you never once called me Roy?"
Riza stayed silent and just enjoyed being encompassed by his strong arms. Roy took the silence as a positive thing and continued on.
"...and you know that now that you've said it.... you can't call me by anything else... right?"
"...mm.." Roy chuckled and buried his face into her soft silky hair; the smell of her parent's house was radiating off of her, but it made him feel sure that this was the woman that he cared for.
"...you didn't have to you know.." Riza murmured quietly
"-Didn't have to do what?"
"You didn't have to punch Robert... you knew that-"
"Yes I did." Roy stated firmly, and all Riza could do was smile into his shoulder
Riza drew back from Roy and gazed into his eyes, "I need to leave... If Robert's parent's find out I disobeyed my parent's will then-"
"-You mean we have to go.." Riza chuckled and nodded,
"Right.. we need to leave.."
"How about to Creta for a little vacation?"
".. But what about your duty as the General of the Army! It was your dream, and now that you have it you can't just-"
"Riza! Don't you understand, that without you right next to me, that isn't my dream!"
"..Oh.." Riza smiled softly, two dimples appearing directly underneath her blushing cheeks.
"Come on then.. We can't take forever can we, Hawkeye?"
Riza and Roy walked off the dock hand in hand, and once they were nearly out of sight of the town, Riza opened her mouth.
"Did you ever go through with the skirt rule?"
*anime twinkle eyes*
will you do this a lot artistic.expression? [me: it'll be periodically, since sometimes I get bored with just one story]
Cool, hope you enjoyed it! I know the writing has much to be improved upon.. but remember, I wrote this a while ago =T. If you ever want me to write a one-shot, on any manga or anime, I'll probably be able to write it. All you have to do is give me the characters names, the manga/anime, whether you want it tragedy/action/romance/comedy, and boom I'll write it for you!. (oh, and for my other readers, I will update the FMA one soon.. )
Please rate and message me!
awsome, I'll rate!
Thanks! If you ever have any requests for a one-shot; whether it be romantic, comedy, action, or tragedy, make sure to message or email me
