Embers And Envelopes

Author's Notes: Thank you so much for your support, everyone! RADCAT: For the most part, this fic is writing itself. I don't know who Riza is going to wind up with, but Ed is going to learn a very important lesson! Keep reading to find out, I'm going to try and turn out a chapter a week. Any input on who should be the victorious couple, VOTE NOW! =^-^= I mean...let me know what you think. ** Chapter 7: Black Sun Rising ** "Hey, Fuery!" Ed swung open the door with a bang. And then stopped dead in his tracks. While the ambiance in Headquarters was never especially celebratory, there was usually an air of joviality, or at the very least, it was pleasant. Today, a blanket of darkness covered the office, giving the whole place a funeral atmosphere. Even Breda, who usually attempted some sort of humor, was silent as he flipped through the papers on his desk. He looked up briefly to shake his head at Ed, a silent warning. Quiet, Ed walked over to Fuery's desk, remembering the task at hand. The older man looked up, offering a weak smile. "What is it?" Ed offered Fuery the small ginger kitten, and heard him gasp. "Oh, the poor thing! Give him here!" He carefully took the kitten into his small hands, turning it this way and that. "Here," Fuery said after a minute. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a clean handkerchief. "Take this and the water glass on the desk and go into the lavatory. Fill the glass with warm water and dampen the handkerchief, will you? I want to clean the cut." "Will do!" Ed said cheerfully, collecting said items. Behind him, the bell from the lift sounded again, causing everyone in the office to stare directly down at their desks under the premise of being hard at work. When Roy strode out of the elevator, the only noise in the whole room was the sound of his boots on the wooden floor. He stormed through the room, and then stopped at the door to his office. He turned suddenly, and barked at Ed, "You're late!" "Actually, I got here ten minutes ago. I think you're the late one, Colonel." Besides Ed, Fuery cringed in sympathy. "Get your goddamn ass in my office, Major," Roy all but hissed, and then slammed the door behind them both. ** In the office, Riza sat on her usual sofa, pad of paper open on her knees. She smiled weakly at Ed as he passed her and flopped down on a couch across from her. "First off," Ed said loudly, "I want to know who died." "No one died, Fullmetal," Roy said abruptly. "Then why the dark cloud over the whole office?" he exploded. He turned to Riza imploringly. "You look white as a ghost." Riza ducked her head towards her paper again, mentally pleading with Roy to find an excuse. Instead, Roy turned the spotlight on her. "I don't know. The Lieutenant might, though." Roy's lips twisted. Riza licked her lips nervously. She anticipated an eventual confrontation with the Colonel, but she didn't especially want an audience. She searched for something to tell the Major. "Nothing to concern yourself with," she said finally. "It's a personal issue that the Colonel is making a business one." "What could he be doing?" Ed smirked, crossing his legs. "Did you turn him down for another date, Lieutenant?" Both of them jumped when Roy slammed his open palms down on the desktop. "ENOUGH, MAJOR ELRIC." Ed didn't bat an eye. "You're the one that told me to ask the Lieutenant Hawkeye." Riza's face turned ashen. "Oh, just stop it!" she cried, jumping up. The notepad fluttered to the ground, but she paid it no notice. "You want to know, Edward?" She spun to glare hatefully at Mustang. "Do you want me to tell him?" Roy opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "Actually, I don't care what you want, Colonel." She drew a deep breath and went on. "Major, the Colonel is upset that I have a boyfriend that isn't him." Riza stopped, waiting for the tirade. To her surprise and consternation, though, Roy was silent. Ed was incredibly confused. "So you have a boyfriend. That's a good thing, isn't it? All you do is work and take care of that damn dog. Congratulations." For the first time, she smiled sincerely. "Thank you." "Why is Flame-boy so upset, anyway?" "Because I happened upon them kissing. In the lifts." Roy spat from his chair. "Lifts?" Ed's face lit up gleefully. "He's in the Military! Who is it?" Riza was silent a long moment. Eventually, Roy couldn't contain himself. "She's seeing Lieutenant Havoc." Ed burst into hysterical laughter. "No, seriously. Who is it, Lieutenant?" She sighed resignedly. "It is Havoc, Major." Ed stopped dead. "Really?" She nodded. "Yes." "So why is Flamey so upset?" "Because the Lieutenant led me to believe otherwise," Roy said. He stared down both of them. "Can we please get back to the reason of this meeting?" he demanded. Ed didn't seem to hear him. "You know, the other night he seemed pretty upset," he remarked. "Who, Havoc?" said Riza. "Why?" "He came to pick us up at the train station," he said. He paused to consider. "He seemed like he'd been there for a while." Riza groaned. "Was it the night before last?" Ed blinked. "Yeah, I think so." Roy jumped up again, this time rounding around the desk. "That was the night I was with you!" he cried. Riza glared at him, coldly. "Yes, it was." "How long as this been going on?" he shouted. "My subordinates sneaking around with each other? How long have you been with him?" "That," she said icily, "is none of your business." "THE HELL IT ISN'T!" He bellowed. "Tell me." Riza stood too. "Major, I think it's best you leave." She took a breath. "If you'll excuse me, Colonel." She made to leave but Roy shot forward in two steps and made a grab for her wrists. "You're not going anywhere," he growled. She tried to wrench herself away from him, but her attempts were futile. He tightened his hold on her. "Ow, dammit Roy, you're hurting me!" Riza was helpless. She couldn't push him away, nor could she reach for her pistols. She made to lash out with her foot, but Roy merely grabbed her tightly around the waist with his other arm. Gripping her forcefully with her back pressed tightly against his chest, he snarled in her ear. "Tell me." "That's enough!" Ed shouted. He rushed at the Colonel, but he shot out an arm and brushed the older Elric away. This lapse in concentration was enough for Riza to break free, but Roy made to grab her again. Ed quickly recovered, and slapping his hands together, he created a barricade, protecting Riza. She lost her balance and fell backwards, but he caught her easily around the waist. He set her gently down on the floor, and she gingerly pushed up her sleeves to assess the damage. There were already bruises forming from the pressure of Roy's fingertips,. Riza glared at him hatefully. "Excuse me," she said forcefully. Roy stood there, panting at her. "This is insubordination!" he said coldly. Riza glared back at him, challengingly. "Courtmartial me, then." ** Two hours later, after the dust had settled, Roy was alone. Ed had left, shooting the Colonel a dirty look as he did so. He remembered the feeling of betrayal, of hurt...and also the feeling of physically hurting Riza. Not since the Ishbalan war had he felt such remorse, such self-hatred...and such a desire to make everything right again. "Oh my God," he said aloud to the empty room. "What have I done?" **