I’ve spent so much time on this and it’s a collaboration with @mustangsbigdickenergy. Please Enjoy and Share with fellow friends.
The day had finally come. The day that they had been working towards for nearly a decade. That morning Hawkeye rose from bed, a heavy burden finally lifting off those shoulders as the day they looked forward to surfaced on the calendar. Mustang becoming Führer was a big sigh of relief knowing the end of King Bradley was official, a new reign of justice could begin. They started this journey together, becoming one in Ishval but at last only two made it through. Hughes was most likely smiling down from heaven as this day began, if there was such a thing, to bad he wasn’t here to mock the new Führer. They may have not been lifelong friends like Mustang but she still felt a bit of sadness for his passing and the fact that he couldn’t finish this the way they started it, even Elicia didn’t deserve such sorrow.
Blue uniform pulled fresh from the dryer as she drank her morning tea before donning such an outfit. It felt like there was so much to do but, for once, she only needed to attend the ceremony. For once, there wasn’t paperwork waiting at the desk, for once, there wouldn’t be arguments about upcoming meetings, for once, everyone could relax, and lastly, for once, there wasn’t a homunculus threat breathing down their back. Everything was perfectly normal. Maybe this time she’d actually go out with her fellow teammates for a drink, just to relish in this perfect day because the stressful burden wouldn’t allow her to enjoy any festivities with the team. Lieutenant Hawkeye arrived earlier than usual to the ceremony, wanting to make everything was set and ready to go, probably because of those natural instincts, but those assigned to the task continued to usher her away eventually leading her to hangout with comrades. They all seemed so happy about today, happy for Roy, happy for this country but Riza felt slightly different in their presence.
If Mustang were among the group, he was separated for preparation of his own, he would easily detected his Lieutenant’s thoughts telling her to relax and enjoy the day so perhaps she was simply overthinking it; That did tend to happen lately considering the events of the Promise Day. A ceremonial gunshot finally rang signaling the start of Roy Mustang’s ceremony and all of those who served by his side climbed the steps of the stage to take their place alongside the new Führer. Everyone held a salute as he followed behind his teammates approaching the top of the steps before giving them the signal to at ease, allowing hands to be placed behind their backs in tight grips. Roy stood before a large crowd of military personnel and citizens alike, eyes staring straight ahead as he repeated the statements by the newly found members of the board and soon became Führer President Roy Mustang. In unison, the military in the crowd rose and saluted their new commander. A heavy hand came to his forehead as he returned the salute, his chest welling up with the gravity of the moment. When he released his hand, everyone began shouting and cheering, those members on stage who swore in the President came forward to shake the hands of the newly found Führer; who couldn’t contain his own jitters as those hands met others. After thanking the board, Roy turned his head to where his team stood behind, Havoc held Fuery in a headlock who complained and Falman managed to high-five Breda but if he truly looked close enough he could make out the spirit of Hughes standing alongside his favorite Lieutenant. Riza Hawkeye, the best lieutenant he could ask for, was looking directly at him with her hand still saluted along her forehead as if she were transfixed into the moment. When their eyes met, he was reminded of all the years he’d known the blonde, all the memories, the failure, and the heartache. She had gone through it all at his side and that would never change even if they went to hell.
Hawkeye felt the world slow as they continued to gaze at one another and honestly, something was different. Those eyes that once held determination with guilt, rage, and even fear dissipated into the atmosphere to the point she almost didn’t recognize those chocolate pools, but they were still his. Was this happiness for him? Had Roy finally achieved the stepping point for peace among his country? Surely, that had to be it.
The warmthness inside the woman’s heart spread to her face as she smiled that angelic smile realizing the new man in this new age for its country. Everything would be alright, because he really could change the country with eyes like that.
Now, it was time for his speech allowing Roy to remove a folded piece of paper from his pocket. They were up nearly half the night going over the exact words he would speak which, in the end, most of the speech was Riza’s words. She saved the day on his work as usual when heavy boots aimed him toward the podium but when looking upon the crowd something change, meaning the crumpled paper ended up back in his pocket; There was so much more to be said then what was scribbled on the paper so he began.
“People of Amestris, I am beyond honored to be standing here today, ready to serve you. Our country has been through too much war, and bloodshed in our recent years, but I intend to bring a long lasting peace to our great lands-“ Cheers interrupted him, and he momentarily paused. As the crowd died down, he continued. “The very first act I would like to do as Führer, is to promote those who stood by my side through it all. Without these brave men, I would not be standing here today.” Starting with the lowest ranking officer in his team, Fuery, they were all given new high ranking positions with a handshake and a salute to their new Führer. If Hughes was on this stage, he would be bawling.
Mustang worked his way up through each rank until settling on Jean Havoc. “Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc, please step forward.” Roy turned his head, a light smile on his face as Havoc stepped up next to his commander. “This man has perhaps been dealt the worst hand in life, not including his bad luck with the ladies-“ Cue a glare from the tall blonde. “-But I wouldn’t be here without him. He is the most resilient, and loyal man I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside. I am proud to announce his new rank as General Jean Havoc.”
The last ranking official to be called would be Riza Hawkeye. Was a promotion something she honestly wanted? A new rank would end in a new office, her own recruits and possibly somewhere else that wasn’t near the Führer because he would have a special team for protection. They had been together for so long and until Bradley interrupted that, Riza never considered anything else.
Tension hung through the air as Roy called his First Lieutenant up, “First Lieutenant Hawkeye,” her name rang loud as she stepped forward. He didn’t say anything at first, didn’t announce her new rank yet, just remained silent as he gathered those thoughts. His dark eyes studied her, in awe of their luck of both making it through the war and the Promise Day. They didn’t deserve such mercy for all the terrible things they’ve done, but Roy wouldn’t waste another breath on it. He finally spoke. “I’ve never feared death. In every battle, I welcomed it with open arms. It was only fitting. Riza Hawkeye has saved me from death, over and over again. She’s saved me from myself. She is the only reason I’m here today.” A pause. A deep sincerity running through his dark eyes as he looked over at the woman. “I’ve never feared death. Not for myself, but when I saw the light fading from her eyes, I have never been more truly terrified. If she dies, so do I. It’s the unspoken truth we’ve always shared.”
The statements lifted into the air as she felt the burning eyes of another’s gaze, making Riza remain in that untouched position of arms tightly clasped behind her back. The soldier’s shoulders remained squared as if she already knew the information being told but still, a small fragment of the Lieutenant’s heart skipped a beat never knowing that that Roy couldn’t live without her. There’s been so many references where Hawkeye refused to live among the world without the Flame Alchemist and for once he chose the same words, actually admitting them aloud for his country to hear.
The crowd was quiet. The sharp cry of a baby in the distance being the only sound, faded by the wind. “I’ve never feared death, until the day I thought I was dying. I pictured her face, and I was more scared of death then I ever had been. Not because of actually dying, but at the thought of not being at her side. I would never get to see her again. It’s my most haunting thought.”
Roy wasn’t looking at the crowd, his eyes were locked on Riza’s strict stature as she remained faced toward the people. He took a step forward causing the Lieutenant to finally meet his gaze. “I never feared death...until I realized I might never get to tell the woman I love how I feel.” His heart was pounding in his chest, and he half expected her to slap him for being so incredibly sappy during his first speech as Führer. He didn’t care. He wouldn’t wait another day to tell her how he felt. “So, while others received promotions, Lieutenant. I stand before you today, requesting that you retire from the military, and rule at my side as my Queen.”
The blonde lieutenant’s heart began to rise like a wild cheetah running to catch its prey, the gasping of the crowd around them began to fade as they were the only ones standing on stage gazing into one another’s dark’s pupils. She tried her best to remain calm, to keep those arms tightly behind her back but eventually they slipped falling gently to her sides. The woman was stunned in place without any words being able to form, all the blood rushed toward her heart as it wanted to burst from her chest and it took all the ounce of strict nature to not slap him on stage from his proclaiming love. After all this time, after all these battles, after risking their lives countless times, Roy Mustang truly felt the same as her. There was so many times he joked about other women making Riza feel as if she never got the time of day but right here and right now was different, he was looking directly at her as were the rest of the country. These incredible, rare feelings were caught in the moment leaving the lieutenant completely lost for words, the very first time she had ever become flabbergasted.
A small step back was taken as Roy Mustang lowered himself to one knee pursuing a tiny box from the confines of his pocket allowing his Lieutenant to become diagonal with the audience. Hawkeye’s insides felt fuzzy, the world lifted becoming lighter, it was like she was looking into the mirror for the first time gazing upon a more beautiful, attractive, strong, and intelligent man before her. They could achieve anything together, they could rock the universe as the truth finally unfolded, no one could possibly feel what they are feeling right now. That sneaky love bug had already clouded both their memories, making them believe that anything was possible if they stayed side by side, that they couldn’t do anything wrong and could complete one's life together.
Hawkeye lost it. Her heart exploded as if glass inside shattered into a million pieces but in a good way. “I...-“ She took another heavy step back, still peering inside the male’s dark hues before glancing toward her comrades who was as shocked as she. All of them made eye contact as their head moved accordingly into a nod, telling Riza to accept this position because although the pair ‘denied’ their feelings, they knew otherwise.
Getting the confidence she needed from fellow subordinates, Riza took one deep breath and stood proudly. Arms remained by her side as she regained footing toward Mustang peering downward into his eyes, “Sir, If you think I would just simply resign from the military after everything that I’ve done then you’ve better reconsider your options.” She stated aloud strict and clear, if she was no longer in the military than she couldn’t be beside the Führer at all times, to become a housewife like Bradley’s. That was something Riza was against. The woman swore an oath to remain by her commanders side and that’s exactly what she intended to do.
“But...“ Her demeanor changed dramatically into something more soft as she gazed longingly into Mustangs eyes about to speak those words he was waiting for. After that small moment everything seemed to move faster, eyes aimed directly toward the Lieutenant as if awaiting an answer but the blonde couldn’t speak. She couldn’t form words or even a syllable, the heavy burden inside that heart radiated throughout only growing more intense. The blonde soldier became clouded within those thoughts that she didn’t recognize the true events unfolding before the Fuhrer’s eyes, a bubbling substance welded up inside the woman’s throat and that body gave way to the unknown watching as a splatter of red landed upon a beautiful canvas. The world moved leaving them no longer inside their tiny safety bubble with the Lieutenant collapsing onto the floor of the stage, the sharp pain from before grew stronger and she attempted to blink away any haziness.
Those beautiful features of the man she loved transformed into something old, rage entered through the darkness in the Fuhrer’s heart as the sounds around them finally resurfaced inside the downed soldier. All the woman could see was red as it covered nearly every inch of that perfectly cleaned uniform, and defiled the man who proposed reminding Hawkeye of a war from long ago. Were her mistakes finally catching up to them? Was she now feeling ‘karma’ coming back to bite?
Just like the day the enemy slit the soldier’s throat, blood once more poured out from the open wound in the woman’s chest. Roy was among the first to drop onto the stage to save his subordinate's life, rough hands ruptly found their way upon the open enclosure with dedication of keeping the blood inside the victim. Mustang was lost in a blind rage of power, searching to find the culprit who dared to harm someone he held dearly, a formed team of others slipped out of the veil of confusion to help mandate the search or seek a medical team. The sharp pain from the bullet entering into the body was like a long-term friend Riza had known, pain was never an enemy in this Lieutenant’s life allowing this to feel no more than baseball pegging its target but with each passing minute the warm blood that seeped into the woman’s clothing maintained the worst part of it all.
Although senses slowly became duller, Hawkeye could easily figure out the words the Fuhrer claimed. Someone had simply shot the Lieutenant right before her captain’s eyes. Hearing was among the first to fade but smell followed shortly behind, the air around them felt damp like indicating a rainfall on such a perfect day. The sky held an array of colors as the sun fell beneath the horizon attempting to fade away to leave everyone in a void of darkness but Riza found calmness in the lit sky that dared to hang on. If one looked closely, it seemed like everything was symbolizing the adult dying right before the countries eyes and with each minute passing the clouds and sky tried their best to hang on before turning into a dark grey. Circulation aimed directly toward vital organs but the wound became the greatest problem as blood tried to find any point other than the open chest wound. Fact is, Hawkeye was beginning to lose too much blood.
Riza’s dark pupils finally found Roy’s as they stared into his dark tainted hues, through all the pain and suffering she attempted to smile. She wanted to accept his proposal and to place a hand upon his cheek to ensure him everything would be ok but the body refused to move; She could barely feel anything other than the burning pain inside.
Rebecca appeared on stage, yelling at the Fuhrer to step aside and allow the young soldier to attempt the blood flow to stop but he seemed lost the longer he watched the life drain from his woman’s life. Strong hands shook the shoulders of the president drawing forth enough attention to allow his cooperation but that didn’t stop his slow response. He wasn’t sure what to do in this moment as he was truly losing his queen.
A discarded box caught the male’s eyes lying in a pool of blood from his lieutenant, digits inched forward sliding through the red substance that dared to soil the ground they stood upon. Tears pricked the edges of brown as the guilt weighed heavily on his heart, if he didn’t propose would she have been saved? The former Colonel could still feel the drops of blood that splattered onto his face, the hardness of them drying in the chilly air and if a tear spilled through the veil than it would mix with the woman he loved as it traveled the surface of his face. When fingers finally flipped over the open box, a small engagement ring was missing, it laid delicately in the blood as if bathing in the solution of it’s captor. The features absorbed the substance into each crook without even a drip slipping back onto the soiled ground as if it enjoyed the sacrifice being made.
A perfectly made diamond created by the man himself rested in his palm, he couldn’t count the hours it took to make something so special but it was something he would do all over again, the amounts of alchemy and studying he learned for this specific moment felt broken.
Those palms shook greatly realizing all his dreams wouldn’t be conquered without his queen, brown eyes became so fixated on the ring with a familiar body laying in the outskirts of those pupils hazily. Tears poured outward falling onto the soaked hands covered in blood and a heart laid among the mess that continued to unfold.
How could something so special create such darkness…?
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