Report 021 - [Voice Post]

[followstheflame]

[Private to Roy Mustang]

Colonel.  I need you.



[ooc:  Obviously meant for Roy.  I know Ollie is on semi-hiatus, but this is here for the off-chance she'll feel up to it.  XD]

Comments

[Private to Riza Hawkeye]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

... Lieutenant?

Is everything alright?

[Private]

[followstheflame]

...Tell me I'm a good person.

[Private]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Not dying this time, oh good.]

... Hawkeye.

[Private]

[followstheflame]

Just...say it.

[Private]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

Get in here.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[Riza turns off the PCD without a word and goes to his room.]

Colonel.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[There's a heavy sigh when he sees her, and instantly he moves toward his Lieutenant awkwardly placing a hand on her shoulder but looking as if he wanted to pull her in.]

You're upset.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She looks straight ahead, but past him, trying to appear strong even though she doesn't feel it.]

Yes, Sir.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He's seen that look before, hated it before, still hates it, and will probably continue to for as long as she gives him it.]

... Should I hug you, and not ask?

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

I don't... Maybe.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Somehow, that was the permission he needed, and very slowly he stepped closer to her, lifting his hands to slide them around her shoulders and tug her close against his body. For now he would be silent, but he'd have to ask her what was wrong soon enough. Had she been having nightmares?]

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She doesn't expect him to actually hug her, he rarely has in the past, but slowly, she wraps her arms around his torso. It's a light hug at first, but as the realization sinks in that he's comforting her, she squeezes more tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck.]

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Their relationship had always been an odd one, and now sometimes things got a little awkward - and initially when he felt her arms around him he wondered if he'd done the right thing.

It wasn't until he felt those arms tighten that he smiled into her hair, giving her a gentle squeeze and letting one hand dip to rub her back gently.]

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[That hand on her back was enough to break her shell. She took deep breaths to keep herself under control and lifted her head to rest it on his shoulder. It wouldn't do to hide the truth any longer. She had to own up to her mistakes.]

...I had an argument with Havoc.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He flinches a little when she took a deep breath. He hadn't forgotten about the tattoo, and yet he'd still touched her there - did she mind? Was she angry? Right now, it didn't matter, she was talking and he would try his best never to touch her back again.]

... Whatever for?

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

He-

[She calms her voice, trying to keep the bitterness and anger out of her words.]

...He still has that stupid picture of Lust and I thought he was going to finally get rid of it, but he kept it. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Her words make him frown, and he can't help but feel a little annoyed. Arguments are one thing, but to have Riza Hawkeye ask you to tell her she's a good person? His hand shifts again, rubbing at the side of her waist now.]

Still? That's ridiculous.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[The fresh memories keep angering her and she wants to scream into a pillow, but that won't do any good. She feels guilty at the same time.]

It...progressed into us losing our tempers and me being accused of sticking my nose into his personal business.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Those arms stay around her, keeping her close against him and he only moves when he hears her explain, frowning at the thought.]

Because of her picture?

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She nods.]

More or less.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He's still frowning. Angry at Jean for one, and a little miffed that the two of them had argued over something like that. To him it was clear to see that the picture should have served only one purpose as a bitter reminder of the trick that 'Solaris' had played on his Second Lieutenant. Why couldn't the man see sense? He kept cool for now though, a little unsure of how to console the woman in his arms however he leant in and pressed his lips against the side of her head.]

Obviously, someone is having issues letting go.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She just stayed in that embrace, not sure what else to do.]

That's what I think. But...was I wrong? For arguing my point?

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He was frowning again by the time she'd stopped talking. Her father had instilled this feeling of doing things wrong into her, and for all the greatness about the man, he resented him for it.]

No.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She nodded again, this time pulling away.]

I still feel wrong.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Unsure of what to do with himself as she pulled away, he simply gave her a little more room, folding his arms loosely across his chest.]

He's our subordinate. More than that, he's our friend. Why shouldn't you be concerned?

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She clasps her hands behind her back.]

I understand.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He pressed his lips together tightly, before reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. This wasn't getting him any closer to making her feel better.]

You're not a bad person, Lieutenant.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[That touch caused her shoulders to slump just slightly and a sigh to escape her lips.]

...I should apologize.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He hoped that was the comfort she needed, even though she'd felt so right in his arms - it wasn't something that came easy to either of them, whether they needed it or not.]

Maybe... Let things cool down.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

...Yes, Sir.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[Taking a deep breath, he reached out again, gently taking her hand in his own and threading their fingers together almost out of reflex.]

Look at me.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She complied, actually looking at him this time, instead of past him.]

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[He frowned when she made eye contact with him, seeing the pain in her face. It was upsetting to see her like that, but knowing what had caused it made him a little annoyed.]

You're a wonderful person.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

[She needed to hear those words, regardless of whether or not she believed them most of the time. With a relieved sigh, she squeezed his hand.]

Thank you.

[Offline]

[general-mustang.livejournal.com]

[The squeeze of his hand produced a smile, and he returned the gesture gently.]

I'm only stating a fact.

[Offline]

[followstheflame]

That doesn't make it any less appreciated.