(no subject)
Title: A Strong Backing
Author: burningvigor
Beta: N/A
Word Count: 351
Spoilers: Yes
Rating: PG
Notes/Warnings: Nothing, really.
Summary: Hughes discusses their goal. Hughes & Roy.
It may sound strange, but it was relieving when he didn’t look back the first time.
Roy and I had a routine. It was back when we were both still stationed in Central, when we were starting up after picking up the pieces from Ishbal. He was on his ascent to the top, though still near the bottom, and I was just starting with my investigative job.
We would meet directly in front of the main entrance to headquarters. He was always there first. He had to be. He said punctuality would give the higher-ups a good impression. He said he had to shine if they were going to even glance at him. It made sense.
I would push coffee into his hands, frigid from the early morning chill. He would sip quietly at it and then talk to me in muted tones.
We’d chat, either about his work or my work or sometimes just about mundane things, things that didn’t matter. It was never planned. One of us (usually me) just started to talk and our conversation would go from there. These discussions would only last for five minutes, anyway.
After that, he would abruptly turn and start for the door that would lead him into the institution he was hoping to govern one day. He took large steps, shoulders straightened, head tilted up, marching to fulfill the goal we both shared.
But every time he would look back at me just as he reached the door, dark eyes filled with a desperation that seemed to say I don’t know if I can do this, Maes.
It was painful to see, a reminder of how he had been directly after the war, but I would just smile at him, say something encouraging, and then his gaze would turn forward again.
The day that he didn’t look back; that he kept walking forward-that was when I finally knew that he would make it, even if he didn’t have me around to hold him up, to smile, to warm his hands and encourage him.
It was comforting to know that, somehow.
Author: burningvigor
Beta: N/A
Word Count: 351
Spoilers: Yes
Rating: PG
Notes/Warnings: Nothing, really.
Summary: Hughes discusses their goal. Hughes & Roy.
It may sound strange, but it was relieving when he didn’t look back the first time.
Roy and I had a routine. It was back when we were both still stationed in Central, when we were starting up after picking up the pieces from Ishbal. He was on his ascent to the top, though still near the bottom, and I was just starting with my investigative job.
We would meet directly in front of the main entrance to headquarters. He was always there first. He had to be. He said punctuality would give the higher-ups a good impression. He said he had to shine if they were going to even glance at him. It made sense.
I would push coffee into his hands, frigid from the early morning chill. He would sip quietly at it and then talk to me in muted tones.
We’d chat, either about his work or my work or sometimes just about mundane things, things that didn’t matter. It was never planned. One of us (usually me) just started to talk and our conversation would go from there. These discussions would only last for five minutes, anyway.
After that, he would abruptly turn and start for the door that would lead him into the institution he was hoping to govern one day. He took large steps, shoulders straightened, head tilted up, marching to fulfill the goal we both shared.
But every time he would look back at me just as he reached the door, dark eyes filled with a desperation that seemed to say I don’t know if I can do this, Maes.
It was painful to see, a reminder of how he had been directly after the war, but I would just smile at him, say something encouraging, and then his gaze would turn forward again.
The day that he didn’t look back; that he kept walking forward-that was when I finally knew that he would make it, even if he didn’t have me around to hold him up, to smile, to warm his hands and encourage him.
It was comforting to know that, somehow.