[roy/riza; pg] Maybe, Maybe Not Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist Title: Maybe, Maybe Not Author:emilie_burns Theme: #1 Bull's Eye (30_Smiles) Pairing: Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye Rating: PG Word Count: 1130 Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi) is copyrighted by Hiromu Arakawa/Square Enix. This is a work of fanfiction for personal entertainment only. Dedicated to bleedingsand, and the fun we had at the gun range together on 08-06-05. Summary:Oftentimes when she was in the office, finding moments to indulge in his slacker ways became a trick in itself. But it was her day off, and none of his other subordinates had quite what it took to make him grudgingly review and sign tedious paperwork. Original LJ Post Date: August 11, 2005 @ 30_Smiles
Maybe, Maybe Not
Manipulating fire and flammable gasses were far from the limit of Roy Mustang's abilities. Maneuvering up through the ranks and charming smiles out of women young and old alike were certainly on the list, but they too did not reflect the entirety. In fact, most of his skills and talents were closely-guarded secrets which only a few knew, or could possibly hazard a guess toward. But there was a word which usually came to mind for people in association with his name, along with 'fire', 'womanizer', and several others not suitable for polite company. That was 'procrastination', which he had perfected to a form of art.
That was why he was not in his office, blissfully ignoring the growing stack of paperwork accumulating on his desk. Unlike the appearance of being a womanizer, his procrastination was most assuredly not a mask. Even when he was younger, he put off assignments and homework until the last possible minute, rushing through the job, and still pulling down high marks in spite of the dire warnings Maes would predict of flunking out if he did not shape up. Why take up a perfectly nice day with work when he could spend it enjoying other things? The jobs would get done, they always did.
His habit of waiting until a deadline was breathing down his neck perturbed his adjutant to no end. Oftentimes when she was in the office, finding moments to indulge in his slacker ways became a trick in itself. But it was her day off, and none of his other subordinates had quite what it took to make him grudgingly review and sign tedious paperwork.
He wondered what she might say to find him out and lazing about, and it was only his confidence that she was all bark and no bite in her threats regarding him -- leastwise the ones which would compromise the health of life and limb -- that convinced him coming to the range was a good idea.
At any rate, he could always argue that it was his job as a commanding officer to make certain his subordinates were at their top form, especially someone he trusted his life to on a regular basis. He located a comfortable leaning post where he could observe her as she set her pistol down and pulled a lever, activating the gears that brought back the paper target. It was mostly intact, with large, ragged circles from clustered shots at the head, chest, and...
Roy arched an eyebrow at the third location and immediately began to question the wisdom of coming out to the gun range to observe his lieutenant's skills. Riza Hawkeye ripped off the target and clipped a fresh one into place, then pulled the lever again until it reached the desired distance. Fresh clips were loaded into her pistols, and spent cartridges started flying as she took aim with fast and deadly skill. The center chest location on the target was peppered with holes until all that was left was a ragged circle big enough for someone to fit a fist through.
She ejected the empty clips and set the pistol down to open a fresh box of ammunition. Roy waited to make certain that she was done firing for the time being before approaching her as she loaded more rounds.
"I almost feel as though I should be pitying those targets," he said, speaking loudly enough to be heard past the ear protection they both wore as he leaned against the divider wall, looking at her.
Riza startled and glanced up from the bullet she was trying to push into the clip, her brows knitting together in a frown. "Colonel. Is everything all right?"
"Hmm? Oh, everything's fine with me, although maybe I should ask you that question."
"What are you doing out here?"
"The office was getting stuffy and boring. I thought I'd come and watch you, see how your skills are faring, that sort of thing," Roy replied. "After all, I entrust my life to your hands regularly. I like seeing I've nothing to worry about."
She shot him a tired look of exasperation, although there was a trace of amusement there too. The compliments had her somewhat mollified. "Is all your work done, sir?"
"Lieutenant, don't you have any faith in me?" He feigned indignation.
"I have faith in you, sir. I also have plenty of faith in your ability to procrastinate and to evade Lieutenant Havoc's efforts to replicate my success at thwarting that ability," she replied, her lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Jean tries, but he's not quite at top form today. I don't think his date last night went very well."
Riza shook her head, her lips pressed together in an effort to keep the smile at bay as she picked up another clip, and began to load it. He watched her for a few more moments, and glanced to the discarded targets crumpled on the ground beside her.
"Is there anything on your mind, Lieutenant?"
"Not particularly."
"Nothing is bothering you?" he pressed.
She glanced at him and arched an eyebrow. "Everything is fine, sir. Why do you ask? Has something happened that you're not telling me?"
"I'm wondering the same thing. You had such an interesting target pattern."
She glanced to the pile and a look of comprehension dawned, and for a brief moment, a genuine grin parted her lips. "That's just to make the targets last a bit longer," she explained, and nodded down the range. "I've shot out the bull's eye region on the chest there, and the head will come next after I finish reloading. There's so much unused space left that I thought I might as well draw a bead elsewhere and use less targets overall."
He stared at her. "Conservation is the only reason why you were aiming at the groin region on that silhouette?"
Another brief grin. "Yes, sir. If it bothers you, try not to think about it too much."
He shifted position and rubbed the back of his neck. "Lieutenant? I finally understand why the men keep insisting you're a rather scary woman."
"Are you going to go back now and get your work done on time so I don't have to worry about overdue papers?"
"That... might be a very good idea," he admitted.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Colonel," she said, amusement lighting up her eyes.
"Of course, Lieutenant." He took a step back to turn around. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you set all this up deliberately."
Her only reply was a smile, a look of secret amusement as she returned to loading the clips.