Prompt 51, Train, "In Loving Memory"
Title: In Loving Memory
Author: Julia G.D.tsukihime_san
Series: Anime/Manga, no real difference,
Word Count: just below 500
Rating: PG
Characters: Roy-centric, implied Roy/Ed though nothing really suggestive of romantic relationship. Can be interpreted however you like; mentions of Riza, Havoc
Summary: Roy contemplates the value of memories and Riza - value of their absence
Warnings: Not a happy piece, I must say
Funny how your own memory stabs you in a back sometimes. It slumbers when you think you really need it and springs from the dark corner of your consciousness when you least want or expect it to. Like for example now, when Riza is reading him the itinerary, the stray ray of sunshine breaches the ever-dimming guard of the heavy curtains in his office and falls onto her head painting it shimmering gold. The familiar train of thoughts guides him through the well-defined path of insanity back in time, awakening images just based on a tiny speck of colour. Oh, how well he remembers. Every hair on that head, every gesture of the little figure, every uneven step...
"General, you're slipping again," he hears Riza's stern voice but can't stop the flow of memories.
Riza watches him, and he knows she knows who he's thinking about.
"Don't deny this old man his comforts," Roy grumbles. Riza shakes her head in disapproval but doesn't press the matter much, she also knows the futility of reasoning with Roy on a subject.
After a short pause she starts reading again. Words fly by Roy's ears, uncatchable little sparrows.
"We'll follow the train by car, hopefully meeting everyone in Eastern city on Wednesday. The reception will commence at 1800."
Train. That was the first case for Ed. How proud he was of himself back then, the brightest child Roy had ever met.
Mustang catches Riza's disparaging look and schools his features into a mask of eager attention. He knows that he doesn't really have to listen, Riza's planning shall be impeccable as always. He watches another flash of gold in her hair. Ed had never planned ahead, not more than one step at a time.
"On Thursday you will visit the military training grounds and ..."
Roy's mind jumps triggered by the words to another memory. Ed is older in it, more a man than a child, his movements are measured and confident. He runs, leaps and punches, muscles taunting his shirt, an unstoppable force in a tiny package, always one of the best in hand-to-hand combat...
"I think we're done for today, sir." Riza closes the folder with a soft 'thump'. "Unless there's anything else you'd like to discuss?"
For a second Roy hesitates, but then decides against it and shakes his head.
"No, that'll be all. Thank you, Riza. I'll see you tomorrow."
She leaves, and in a quiet of his office, he dives again into a pool of memories, filling his mind with all the tiny little things he could scrape from its distant corners.
***
"How is he?" Havoc asks Riza when she comes out.
"Same. He's in the same day in the office, having the same memories, saying the same words."
Havoc pats Riza's shoulder. "He'll pull through it. He'll remember everything..."
Riza wipes her eyes surreptitiously and replies in a barely audible whisper,
"I'm not sure I want him to."
Author: Julia G.D.tsukihime_san
Series: Anime/Manga, no real difference,
Word Count: just below 500
Rating: PG
Characters: Roy-centric, implied Roy/Ed though nothing really suggestive of romantic relationship. Can be interpreted however you like; mentions of Riza, Havoc
Summary: Roy contemplates the value of memories and Riza - value of their absence
Warnings: Not a happy piece, I must say
Funny how your own memory stabs you in a back sometimes. It slumbers when you think you really need it and springs from the dark corner of your consciousness when you least want or expect it to. Like for example now, when Riza is reading him the itinerary, the stray ray of sunshine breaches the ever-dimming guard of the heavy curtains in his office and falls onto her head painting it shimmering gold. The familiar train of thoughts guides him through the well-defined path of insanity back in time, awakening images just based on a tiny speck of colour. Oh, how well he remembers. Every hair on that head, every gesture of the little figure, every uneven step...
"General, you're slipping again," he hears Riza's stern voice but can't stop the flow of memories.
Riza watches him, and he knows she knows who he's thinking about.
"Don't deny this old man his comforts," Roy grumbles. Riza shakes her head in disapproval but doesn't press the matter much, she also knows the futility of reasoning with Roy on a subject.
After a short pause she starts reading again. Words fly by Roy's ears, uncatchable little sparrows.
"We'll follow the train by car, hopefully meeting everyone in Eastern city on Wednesday. The reception will commence at 1800."
Train. That was the first case for Ed. How proud he was of himself back then, the brightest child Roy had ever met.
Mustang catches Riza's disparaging look and schools his features into a mask of eager attention. He knows that he doesn't really have to listen, Riza's planning shall be impeccable as always. He watches another flash of gold in her hair. Ed had never planned ahead, not more than one step at a time.
"On Thursday you will visit the military training grounds and ..."
Roy's mind jumps triggered by the words to another memory. Ed is older in it, more a man than a child, his movements are measured and confident. He runs, leaps and punches, muscles taunting his shirt, an unstoppable force in a tiny package, always one of the best in hand-to-hand combat...
"I think we're done for today, sir." Riza closes the folder with a soft 'thump'. "Unless there's anything else you'd like to discuss?"
For a second Roy hesitates, but then decides against it and shakes his head.
"No, that'll be all. Thank you, Riza. I'll see you tomorrow."
She leaves, and in a quiet of his office, he dives again into a pool of memories, filling his mind with all the tiny little things he could scrape from its distant corners.
***
"How is he?" Havoc asks Riza when she comes out.
"Same. He's in the same day in the office, having the same memories, saying the same words."
Havoc pats Riza's shoulder. "He'll pull through it. He'll remember everything..."
Riza wipes her eyes surreptitiously and replies in a barely audible whisper,
"I'm not sure I want him to."