Embers And Envelopes

teEmbers and Envelopes
Chapter 3: An Unexpected Fiasco

Author’s Notes: So my first shot at lemon. If it sucks, I’m sorry. If it’s good, let me know. My apologizes if this chapter runs a little long. Do review, I don’t mind some advice. Wild_Seven, thank you for your continued readership even though updates are few and far between. FaBzZ, I’m glad you like it and I hope you like the citrusy bits.

Also, mentioned in this chapter is a reference, to Ed’s “travelogue.” In the manga, each state Alchemist writes his findings in a type of cipher, designed to look like something else. Dr. Marcoh wrote his like a cookbook, Mustang’s is a dating diary, and Ed’s is disguised as a travelogue.


Chapter Summary: Riza and Roy settle their differences, Ed and Al finally make it back to Central, and things get infinitely complicated.

**

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Fiasco

Riza panted in her fury. Her anger painted her face a deep crimson, and her breath came in spurts. Roy could only watch in stupefied amazement as she towered over him, speechless and seething. When she spoke, each word weighed heavily in the air, hanging between them.

“What. The hell. Do you think. You’re doing?” She phrased the words individually, forming each as though she were reciting. She continued to stare down Mustang, and when he said nothing, she found herself incredibly calm. She gracefully lowered herself to the floor, dipping her hand into her purse as through it were a rehearsed dance routine. When she drew herself back up, she had her handgun clutched in her trembling hands.

Roy gulped. She wouldn’t shoot him, would she? He watched the muzzle point directly at him and stared it down.

Well, maybe she would.

Roy flinched as the weapon suddenly swung upwards and he heard the shot ring clearly through the air, followed immediately by the sounds of exploding glass.

“God, Riza! Some of the things here are antique—“ He shut up as he saw the hot muzzle of the gun mere inches from his face. She was ridiculously close to him now; she must have used his distraction to gain a better position….

Riza was back in control. Her breathing was regular and her face lost some of the flush. The heavy gun in her hands weighed her down, brought her back to earth. She envisioned the bullet she had just fired as pulling all her anger away, leaving her calm and collected.

“I’ll ask you one more time. What the hell do you think you’re doing!” Her voice scaled up on the last word, and she struggled to keep her rage in check.

Roy finally found himself. He leapt from the couch to stand in front of her, gesturing wildly and speaking incoherently. Riza stared at him, a mixture of confusion and annoyance, and finally couldn’t take it anymore. The slap across his face echoed around the room almost as loudly as her gunshot. Roy’s hand reached up to tenderly touch his cheek, and he sighed. Even in this situation, Riza had the upper hand. Quite literally.

“Let me get a drink,” he pleaded with her. “One drink and I’ll explain.”

**

One hundred miles away on a train bound for Central, Edward Elric squirmed restlessly in his seat. Even though it was their most luxurious method of travel (and well paid for by his research grant as a State Alchemist), he hated sitting for so long. The seats made his ass fall asleep, the constant motion gave him a headache, and the incessant buzz from the other passengers grated on his nerves.

“Sit still, brother,” Al admonished the older boy. “You’re making me nervous.”

“Sorry, Al. I can’t help it. You know I can’t be still for so long.” He stretched again, lithe and catlike. It sparked a tingle of jealousy in the younger brother, watching his sibling move so gracefully, even if his body wasn’t whole. Al could move like that if he wanted to, but what was the point? There were no nerves that could numb, or muscles to kink.

Ed slumped down in his seat again, bored. The hardbound alchemy book fell off his lap, landing awkwardly against the basket Winry had begrudgingly sent with them. For some reason, she liked it less and less when Ed had to leave. It was almost as if she welcomed his intrusions and erratic repairs.

Al bent and scooped up the book, smoothing the pages with metal fingers and closing the covers. He laid the book on the seat beside him. “You should take better care of your research materials, brother. Especially books that don’t belong to you. I doubt the Colonel would appreciate you throwing his things around. The only thing you take care of is your travelogue and your pocketwatch.”

“I doubt that bastard Colonel’s touched these books in ages. I’m surprised he can even read,” Ed said dismissively, lifting his feet to rest on the empty seat before him. “Maybe that’s why he doesn’t read any of his papers.”

“Brother…the Colonel is nice enough to let you borrow his books. He doesn’t have to do that, he could have sent you to the Military library.”

Ed snorted. “That bastard? Those books will come with a price eventually, I guarantee it. Equivalent exchange, Al. He’ll want something from me.

“I suppose…”

**

With the cold hard barrel of a gun pressed firmly against his cranium, Roy Mustang fidgeted with a cut-glass decanter of brandy. His usually nimble fingers clumsily filled two tumblers with ice, and twisted the top off the bottle. His hands shook as he poured the drinks. God, what had he gotten himself into, kissing Riza Hawkeye like this? He turned to offer her a glass, and in returned received a slight whack in the head that made him wince. Roy hurriedly downed his own portion and turned to face her, licking his lips.

Just the image of her standing there made him smile. Barefoot, hair slightly mussed, skirt riding up her ass and –was that a run in her stockings?—she was beautiful and a mess and completely in control.

But alas, smiling was not the wisest choice for this poor man. Riza made to grab his arm in her final annoyance, and instead missed him as he flinched away. However, the sudden motion of Riza against the wall sent the unconsumed glass of brandy falling to the floor with a wet smash. Both Roy and Riza jumped at the sound. Riza let her gun fall to the table and slowly crouched down by the mess, plucking shards of glass from spilled liquor.

“I’m sorry, sir.” Riza apologized, gathering the shards in her palm. Roy dug around in the liquor chest for a moment before producing a small tea towel.

“Put the glass in this before you—“ Roy was interrupted by Riza’s soft gasp, and sighed, “cut yourself.”

Riza deposited the shards in her hand into his towel and carefully stood up. A tiny sliver of glass clung stubbornly to her pointer finger, visible only by the thin outline of blood. Roy gently grasped her elbow, steering her away from the mess on the floor. “Careful, you’re not wearing shoes.”

Riza allowed herself to be steered towards the couch. He gently pushed her down to sit, and went to fetch the first aid kit from the kitchen. She stared into the empty fireplace, her mind still foggy. What the hell was going on? Why was she barefoot and bleeding in Roy Mustang’s home? Why was she wearing a miniskirt? And most importantly, why the hell was his kiss still on the forefront of her mind?

Roy came back in to the study, a small box tucked under his arm. He followed her gaze to the fireplace pit and smirked to himself. With a click of his fingers and a flick of his wrist, a fire blared. He chuckled to himself as Riza jumped at the sudden flash of light and heat.

He crouched before her, taking her injured hand in his, carefully removing the glass as she winced. She watched him apply the antiseptic and a bandage, and as he worked she began to laugh. A low chuckle in the back of her throat to a loud shrieking laugh that sent her slumped to the back of the sofa. The image of him squatting before her, in socks and his collared white dress shirt, amused her above all else. Roy sat back on his haunches. He cocked his head to the side in bewilderment and she laughed harder.

“Y-y-y-you look like B-b-black H-hayate…” she spluttered. A bemused smile crossed Roy’s own lips. Riza had finally cracked, hadn’t she? He’d never heard her laugh so wholeheartedly. Slowly, her laugher died down. “Ooh, my stomach,” she groaned, still interspersed with giggles. Roy continued to look up at her, amusement in his own eyes.

Suddenly Riza found herself in a contest, staring down Roy’s own black eyes with her caramel colored ones.

Lust won over logic, as lust is wont to do.

Roy cried out as he felt Riza throw her body against him. He felt the sharp corner of a wooden coffee table in his back, briefly, before completely losing his balance and falling backwards onto the carpet. Everything else was a flurry of movement and feeling, fractured in his mind.

God, was is this he was feeling? Hot lips on his, a satin top and wool skirt beneath his hands –where are the zippers? Zippers…there! One garment down…While Riza ravaged his mouth, in all peculiarity Roy couldn’t focus on her kisses and rather his mind contemplated her top. How the hell did he get this off? Wait, a knot in the back, by her neck…As Riza’s lips moved towards his neck, he allowed himself to struggle with her halter top. A few moments of fidgeting and the knot came loose, allowing the silk to fall away. Success! Oh God, Roy was brought back to the present as he realized his dress shirt was unbuttoned, and there were hot, sweet lips trailing down his chest.

As Riza moved back up to Roy’s own lips, Roy drew his arms up around her, holding her close. What was this his felt? Breasts? Sweet merciful lord, there were breasts!—warm and soft in his hands.

The haze of his delirium lifted as he felt Riza pull away and sit back on her heels. He looked up at her, dazed, until he saw the fire in her eyes.

“Tell me,” she demanded in a voice that was both harsh, and seductive, “going out tonight on business was a pretext, wasn’t it?”

Roy couldn’t think fast enough to lie. “I wanted to take you out for once, is that such a crime? I just wanted to keep it low so I thought it’d be best if you played Elizabeth…”

“And the paperwork?”

Roy groaned. Always with the paperwork. “We really do have a situation! I just though, y’know, it was a legitimate excuse…” As he said those words, Roy covered his face and steeled himself for the onslaught of bullets.
To his consternation, they didn’t come. He slowly uncovered his face to see Riza still looking down at him, calculating. He noted that the gun was painfully close to his face. Nothing would save him now but talking. Smooth, fast talking. Preferably containing the truth.

“Listen Riza,” he sat up in a motion meant to discourage, but not push her off.

“I’ve been trying to listen all night,” she hissed.

“I didn’t ask you out on pretext. Well, not really,” He stumbled over his words a bit, trying to organize himself. “See, this weapons case is real. We do need to figure out what the hell is going on in Central.” Roy sighed, and resigned himself to finish. “But Riza, you’re always working, or at home with that damn dog—“

“A dog I had to leave with Havoc tonight, of all people!” Riza cut in. It was true. She hated leaving Black Hayate with a pet sitter, and Havoc was worst of all. Havoc did it out of kindness for her, but she suspected that there would be a couple new bite marks on Havoc’s hands tomorrow morning.

“Regardless, Riza,” Roy pushed on. “You never do anything for yourself, and had I asked to take you out naturally, would you really have accepted?”

Riza paused. She really didn’t know the answer to that. She’d never really thought of her Colonel in that way, except to tut-tut at the bimbos he dated and act as his driver. But a date? As Riza Hawkeye? With Roy Mustang? The idea had never really come to her. Her mind reeled.

“I don’t really know,” she admitted, allowing the weapon to drop. “It’s also against military policy to become involved with our own divisions, so I probably would have denied from the start based on that alone.”

“So don’t you understand?” Roy said eagerly. “We’re not out as Lieutenant Hawkeye and Colonel Mustang, we’re out as Elizabeth and Roy.”

Riza gave up with a shake of her head. “I never thought the infamous ladies man Roy Mustang would have to order a subordinate on a date.”

“It wasn’t an order!”

Suddenly she turned back to him. “Why would you have wanted to go on a date with me anyway? Were you expecting to get lucky?” Her messy clothing seemed more apparent now.

“Never!” Roy stared at her. “I love you more then to use you like that!”

“Well that’s good to know—“ Riza’s heart paused for a few beats as she processed what he said. “You love me?”

Roy let his head fall back onto the floor. Damn, damn, damn! That’s not how it was supposed to come out! But Riza was staring at him, suddenly paler then usual.

With a groan, Roy nodded. There was no use in hiding it anymore.

Her reaction was unexpected for both of them. Tears pricked her eyes, and shone there. “You idiot,” she whispered.

Roy was crushed. Of all things, he couldn’t have anticipated this. Roy carefully slipped his arms around her, holding her close. “First I made you angry and now I’ve made you cry. Tonight isn’t a good night for me, is it?”

Riza pulled back from his collar and offered a smile. “Just unexpected.”

“Do you want me to take you home?” Roy asked, holding her slightly away from his body to look down at her.

Riza paused before answering. “No.”

“No?” Roy’s heart jumped into his throat.

“I’d like to stay tonight, if that’s all right with you,” she said shyly.

Roy stared at her, both disbelieving and elated. “You can stay, all right.”

Riza leaned back into Roy’s collar. This was a night for Elizabeth. She could worry about Riza tomorrow.

**

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Ed tumbled off the train, Al right behind him lugging his brother’s satchel. The sight of Jean Havoc, leaning against the hood of a Central car and staring at the stars, was completely unexpected. A dozen cigarette butts littered the ground at his feet and another smoldered between his lips. Ed suspected he’d been standing there for some time.

Jean stood up straight, cigarette dangling from his lips. He offered the pair a salute and a smile, but it didn’t reach all the way to his eyes. “I was out tonight anyway so I figured I could come pick you up from the train station.”

“So late? Where have you been, Second Lieutenant?” Al asked, swinging the suitcase gently.

“Oh, nowhere,” Jean sighed, flicking his cigarette butt onto the floor. His mind was still on Riza, and her “mission” with the Colonel. What was she doing at the Colonel’s house, all by herself…

The loud thunk of a suitcase getting thrown into the trunk, followed by the slam of the door brought Jean back to the present. Ed was standing at the boot of car still, and Al was still watching the poor man wrestle with himself.

“Are you sure everything is okay, sir?” Al asked again.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” muttered Jean, turning back to the car.

“Good, let’s go, I’m hungry,” complained Ed, yanking open the back door of the cab. “Come on, Al.”

Al sighed. “Sometimes you need to stop and feel others, brother,” he muttered.

**

Naked, Riza Hawkeye was exquisite.

He’d carried her, bridal-style, up to his master bedroom, and laid her gently down on the feather bed. It had taken some doing to get her clothes off, her lips being as needy as they were. Her hands raked down the back of his dress shirt, pulling it out of his slacks. With astounding quickness, he was Roy Mustang again, and not a cowering child. Effortlessly, with the experience awarded him by all the women before her, he stripped off her top and skirt, leaving her in undergarments and her garter belt. Roy was in control again, and focused.

Once in her underwear, Riza flipped Roy over, straddling his hips. Slowly, sexily, she unbuttoned his shirt, tugging it off him. She moved down over his body to unzip his pants, struggling slightly with his belt before unhooking it. Pants opened, Roy lifted his hips so she could slide them off with his shorts.

Riza had to admit, Roy was pretty attractive naked. And his endowment was nothing to scoff at either. She leaned down to kiss him again and let out a cry of surprise as he flipped them over again, placing himself on top of her. She felt his arousal pressing into the gusset of her panties, and she allowed him entry into her mouth. His tongue searched her mouth until it found hers, and with a groan of joy she tightened her arms around him, kissing him deeply.

Roy Mutang was in heaven. While it was true that he frequently had a woman in his bed, Riza was no ordinary woman.

She worked her hand between their bodies and slipped her hand into his boxers and gave him a squeeze. He gasped at the feeling, pressing his hips against hers. Roy hooked his thumbs into the elastic of her panties, and feeling her hips lift, slid them off her. He unhooked her stockings, and gently slid them off too, followed by her belt and bra.

Once she was nude Roy could do nothing but stare at her. She was incredible. Fair skin with a darker blonde crosshatching of hair deep between her legs. Sweet, sweet creamy skin that Roy just wanted to devour…

He couldn’t wait any longer. He wiggled out of his boxers in a serpentine move that made Riza giggle as she felt him squirm. Naked but for his socks, Riza felt him press against her again, this time with more insistence.

And she didn’t refuse. Instead, she spread her legs wider to allow him greater purchase.

Roy slid his hands around her hips, gripping her gently. He pressed the tip of his member against her center and pushed.

Riza moaned as she felt his entry, arching her back. Roy moaned too as he was fully engulfed in her. She was wet and tight and sublime. He began to thrust inside of her making her cry out at the sensations.

She hated to admit it, but her illustrious womanizing commanding officer was no match for Havoc in bed. While she enjoyed this with Roy, Havoc was definitely more considerate. And he knew his foreplay.

She allowed him his pleasure, even offering her own false cries as she felt him complete within her.

He slumped over her body, breathing wildly. He offered her breasts heavy kisses, nuzzling them and sleepily running his hands over her body. His hair tickled her neck and chest, and she brought up her hands to run over his scalp, feeling the heavy black strands between her fingers. He gave a cry between a moan and a purr, and she allowed herself to touch him. His skin was soft beneath her hands, moreso than she would have expected. She ran her hands over his neck, down his shoulders, and over his chest, feeling him sigh as she did so.

Roy cuddled up to her, slipping his arms around her body. She was sweetly scented, and her hair was soft. She laid her head on his shoulder, and he tipped her chin up to look him in the eyes.
God damn, his beautiful dark eyes made the whole night worth it. Love, passion, tenderness, and something that looked a lot like sleepiness stared into the chocolate depths of her eyes. She wasn’t sure what her eyes were telling him, but he seemed satisfied.

Slumping back against the pile of down pillows behind them, Riza cuddled up against his body and allowed herself to try and sleep.

”Postpone the morning,” she silently prayed to herself. “I really don’t want to go in to the office tomorrow….”

**

Jean Havoc stood in front of Dormitory B, at Central Military Headquarters. He took a long drag from his cigarette and stared up at the sky.

“Dammit, Riza,” he muttered. He took a last long drag and flicked the butt to the ground. A strange feeling flooded Jean’s stomach and chest, traveling all over his body. He pulled another from the box in his pocket, and lit it. It was half gone by the time he yanked it out from his lips, startled by a realization.

“I do NOT love you!” he snapped to no one in particular.

At least, he hoped that was true.

**

AUTHOR’S NOTES: *cowers* Don’t kill me please…

CHAPTER PREVIEW: Roy makes up for his less then stellar performance from the night before, Havoc is a basket case, and Ed doesn’t help matters…