[Closed]

[aeterna_fidelis]

Characters: Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang
Location: Mustang's office
Rating: ...PG/PG-13 (It's far too soon for anything beyond that |D)
Time: August 24th, afternoon.
Description: Set after this conversation (which took place on the 23rd and not the 24th)...and after Hughes' post.

Comments

[thewarisover]

To Roy's credit, he hadn't quite broken down yet after their conversation - he had even had enough presence of mind to end it himself, with not too much indiscretion beyond that apology. And, in a way, perhaps that was less of an indiscretion and more of something that had to be said

[aeterna_fidelis]

She had stood there for a whole, her hand on the door. She could hear him--opening and shutting a drawer, and the familiar sound of a lighter. Inexplicably, the smell of cigarettes bothered her more than the stench of the dead frogs. Maybe because it was a reminder that he didn't smoke in her world, and that maybe it was also because she missed having Havoc around in the office back in their world...

And then there were new sounds. Sounds she had least expected--well, least expecting to hope to hear. That choking, odd sound she never thought she would hear from him.

"Sir?" Her own voice sounded strange to her ears as she twisted the knob. "Are you--"

The door was closed behind her and she found herself walking towards him.

Never, never had she seen him like this. Not even at Hughes' funeral--

"Oh, look, it's raining."

"It's not--"

"It's raining." Just...just what had happened

[thewarisover]

And he had completely forgotten that they were supposed to meet. He wasn't normally so forgetful, so careless.

Speaking to her - responding - would be the right thing to do. As it is, though, Roy could barely look in her direction without feeling another sob wrack his shoulders. His chest hurt; his mind was full of noise. It had been years since he had last hurt like that.

The alchemist shut his eyes, one hand moving to cover his mouth; a small attempt at stifling what he could no longer hold back. The cigarette stayed perched on the fingers of his other hand, burning out, forgotten.

[aeterna_fidelis]

'Colonel...' At this point, she didn't even know if that was her thoughts or her actual words, but...

That thick, uncomfortable lump she hated feeling was in her throat. What was worse--almost losing him, or seeing him like this? She didn't know and she didn't want to think about that right now. She was on the verge of breaking her habit to call him by his name and that wouldn't do.

Inhaling the best she could around the tightness she felt in her chest, she tentatively reached out and took the cigarette from his hand, putting it entirely out in the ashtray.

"I'm sorry if I'm overstepping myself, but--" A few steps, and then she was able to stand directly in front of him. "Colonel..." Before she could regret, she slipped her arms around his shoulders and pressed her chin on top of his shoulder.

Aside from the cigarette smell that clung to him, he still smelled the same. She didn't say anything at this point; there was nothing to say and all she could hope for was that her presence was wanted...and needed.

B-because I am OCD with thread scrolling. OTL

[thewarisover]

Riza Hawkeye was the quiet presence around him, small and careful movements that he could easily choose to ignore if he couldn't take it or focus on if it meant keeping his mind off worse things. With the way things had gone, it was almost if they weren't really in Death City, that they weren't really different versions of the people either of them expected, that she was his Lieutenant, and he her Colonel...

...Cruel really, how some things never changed.

Did he want her here? Did he want her to go? He didn't know anymore.

No worries! o/

[aeterna_fidelis]

All there was to do was wait for the water boil, and it would be done. She stepped away and back towards him, not saying anything as she looked at his back.

If this room were different, then in appearance they would be back at home, a typical day in Amestris. Quiet. Making coffee and getting things done. But it wasn't.

Was he thinking the same? She couldn't tell; all she knew was the present situation and how helpless she felt because there were so many things she didn't know.

She reached out an placed a hand on his shoulder, not saying a word. She didn't have to, did she?

[thewarisover]

Not moving, not looking, not betraying any more than he already has.

"...I'll be fine, Hawkeye."

His own voice sounded hollow to his ears.

[aeterna_fidelis]

She squeezed his shoulder.

"I know you will."

Not 'I think.' 'I hope.' It's only 'I know.' She knows he'll be fine...in time. He has to be, and she wanted to see that. It didn't matter long that might take, because time was the least of their worries.