In a Trail of Fire
She's standing in a bare room and all is quiet, there's not a sound. It's dark outside the window, the room is lit by a single dim lamp and she's taking off her jacket. The buttons feel stiff, she glances down and sees that it's a uniform, blue with silver piping. She's seen it before. She's standing next to a chair.
Something catches her attention and she turns to see a man, he looks grim faced. He's young, younger than she's ever seen him, but he's still unmistakably Roy Mustang. His hair is cut shorter, it makes his ears stick out. For a moment they lock eyes, and then he looks away, seemingly flustered. She feels herself shake her head, then turns back and returns to removing her jacket.
She starts to take off her shirt next, once she's laid her jacket on the chair, and does not stop at that. She lays both her shirt and her bra on top of her jacket, stands there for a moment with her arms crossed over her chest, then lets out a heavy breath.
The air is warm on her bare skin.
With her arms still crossed over her chest, she looks over her shoulder, back at the Colonel. He's looking away, does he look nervous? He's wearing the same uniform she is. She speaks, he looks up, his eyes look sadder than she has ever seen them. He starts to say something, but she interrupts because his mouth snaps shut. He takes a step towards her, then another, and he holds out something to her. A leather belt. She must ask him a question, because he cant meet her eyes when he speaks again, and after a moment's hesitation she takes the belt.
She puts it in her mouth. Holds up her hand for a moment, then nods. She closes her eyes, exhales sharply through her nose-
White hot pain bursts and blooms on her back and she bites down hard on the leather in her mouth. Her back hurt, it hurts, it hurts, but she doesn't falter, not even when the second burst hits. Her hands are balled so tightly into fists that she feels them ache, her breath is fast and rushed and she hurts.
But she's not crying. She will not bend.
Something catches her attention and she turns to see a man, he looks grim faced. He's young, younger than she's ever seen him, but he's still unmistakably Roy Mustang. His hair is cut shorter, it makes his ears stick out. For a moment they lock eyes, and then he looks away, seemingly flustered. She feels herself shake her head, then turns back and returns to removing her jacket.
She starts to take off her shirt next, once she's laid her jacket on the chair, and does not stop at that. She lays both her shirt and her bra on top of her jacket, stands there for a moment with her arms crossed over her chest, then lets out a heavy breath.
The air is warm on her bare skin.
With her arms still crossed over her chest, she looks over her shoulder, back at the Colonel. He's looking away, does he look nervous? He's wearing the same uniform she is. She speaks, he looks up, his eyes look sadder than she has ever seen them. He starts to say something, but she interrupts because his mouth snaps shut. He takes a step towards her, then another, and he holds out something to her. A leather belt. She must ask him a question, because he cant meet her eyes when he speaks again, and after a moment's hesitation she takes the belt.
She puts it in her mouth. Holds up her hand for a moment, then nods. She closes her eyes, exhales sharply through her nose-
White hot pain bursts and blooms on her back and she bites down hard on the leather in her mouth. Her back hurt, it hurts, it hurts, but she doesn't falter, not even when the second burst hits. Her hands are balled so tightly into fists that she feels them ache, her breath is fast and rushed and she hurts.
But she's not crying. She will not bend.