fic: Effecting Change
Setting: the Flame Alchemist episode! The scene where Roy and Riza stop at the Hughes' house.
“I still don't see why I have to tag along on their stupid little midnight ghost hunt,” Roy said while rubbing his temples with one hand.
Riza the ever practical never took her eyes from the road. “They admire you more than you realize.”
“What good is the admiration of other men? They're soldiers. How are they going to deal with living breathing people if they're afraid of the dead?” Riza hit the brakes and Roy glanced over at her. “I didn't tell you to stop here, Lieutenant.”
“You looked like you wanted me to, sir.” Roy sighed and stepped out of the car, his heart heavy as he walked to the door.
Gracia answered with a smile. “Colonel mustang, what a surprise!”
“I'm sorry to drop by unannounced, but I was in the neighborhood so...”
“Nonsense. Would you like to come in?” Elicia hid behind her mother's leg and Winry, who was sitting at the table, grabbed her latest automail plans and ran upstairs to her room. Roy shifted his gaze.
“No, I'd better not. I should get going, I have tons of paperwork.” He turned to leave and Gracia stopped him.
“I just remembered this.” She handed him a folded piece of paper. “Maes said he stumbled onto something big and told me to give this to you in case something happened.”
Roy's eyes widened as he took the note. “Ah, yes, thank you.”
“Take care, Colonel.”
Roy waved and walked back to the car. Maes... what did you find out that got you killed? He got back into the car and Riza continued driving to the office without a word. Roy's grip on the paper tightened as he read.
The military is in trouble. I have reason to believe our enemies have infiltrated the top levels of command. The war in Ishbal was just a cover up as we suspected. I know you still blame yourself for what you had to do there, but you had no choice. It was kill or be killed, and your murderers would have been those who were supposed to watch your back on the battlefield. I know you are a fine judge of character and surround yourself with those who can be trusted implicitly, but I'm not sure what abilities our enemies have. Imposters can be anywhere.
Roy's hand began to shake as he read the next part.
I wish I could have told you this sooner. I know my marriage is destroying you, but please know that I will always have a special place in my heart for you and what we had... No, what we still have. You have and always will be one of my best friends, and I will continue to serve you with honor and the best of my abilities in everything. You know as well as I that it won't do to have rumors of the future Fuhrer being a lover of men. Of course I care for my wife, but I care for you just the same as I did then.
A single tear dropped to the page.
It kills me to know I have broken your heart, but I know it has added to your motivation to get to the top. Who knows? Perhaps that is yet another thing you can change.
The car stopped at the front door of the military's office building, and Roy snapped his fingers instantly turning the paper to ash. If for no one else Maes, I will change the way things are done here in Central.
“I still don't see why I have to tag along on their stupid little midnight ghost hunt,” Roy said while rubbing his temples with one hand.
Riza the ever practical never took her eyes from the road. “They admire you more than you realize.”
“What good is the admiration of other men? They're soldiers. How are they going to deal with living breathing people if they're afraid of the dead?” Riza hit the brakes and Roy glanced over at her. “I didn't tell you to stop here, Lieutenant.”
“You looked like you wanted me to, sir.” Roy sighed and stepped out of the car, his heart heavy as he walked to the door.
Gracia answered with a smile. “Colonel mustang, what a surprise!”
“I'm sorry to drop by unannounced, but I was in the neighborhood so...”
“Nonsense. Would you like to come in?” Elicia hid behind her mother's leg and Winry, who was sitting at the table, grabbed her latest automail plans and ran upstairs to her room. Roy shifted his gaze.
“No, I'd better not. I should get going, I have tons of paperwork.” He turned to leave and Gracia stopped him.
“I just remembered this.” She handed him a folded piece of paper. “Maes said he stumbled onto something big and told me to give this to you in case something happened.”
Roy's eyes widened as he took the note. “Ah, yes, thank you.”
“Take care, Colonel.”
Roy waved and walked back to the car. Maes... what did you find out that got you killed? He got back into the car and Riza continued driving to the office without a word. Roy's grip on the paper tightened as he read.
The military is in trouble. I have reason to believe our enemies have infiltrated the top levels of command. The war in Ishbal was just a cover up as we suspected. I know you still blame yourself for what you had to do there, but you had no choice. It was kill or be killed, and your murderers would have been those who were supposed to watch your back on the battlefield. I know you are a fine judge of character and surround yourself with those who can be trusted implicitly, but I'm not sure what abilities our enemies have. Imposters can be anywhere.
Roy's hand began to shake as he read the next part.
I wish I could have told you this sooner. I know my marriage is destroying you, but please know that I will always have a special place in my heart for you and what we had... No, what we still have. You have and always will be one of my best friends, and I will continue to serve you with honor and the best of my abilities in everything. You know as well as I that it won't do to have rumors of the future Fuhrer being a lover of men. Of course I care for my wife, but I care for you just the same as I did then.
A single tear dropped to the page.
It kills me to know I have broken your heart, but I know it has added to your motivation to get to the top. Who knows? Perhaps that is yet another thing you can change.
The car stopped at the front door of the military's office building, and Roy snapped his fingers instantly turning the paper to ash. If for no one else Maes, I will change the way things are done here in Central.