The Pen is Mightier! (penismightier) wrote in chaotic_library, @ 2012-03-10 15:13:00 |
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Current mood: | cheerful |
Current music: | Slayers - Pink Typhoon |
Entry tags: | fma, fma: alternate anime timeline, fma: anime, r-rated, riza hawkeye, short story, yuuo, yuuo: fma |
[Riza Hawkeye; R] Crack You For A Song
Character/Series: Riza Hawkeye; FMA original series
Rating: R
Notes: Written for lyrical prompt from beccastareyes. Sequel to Hawks Eye and It's The Fear. Warnings for those sensitive to violence against animals.
Title: Crack You For A Song
Author: yuuo
Word Count: 3478
Summary: The morning had started so oddly.
Come, let me see all your dreams and desires --
It’s not like you’ll hide them for long.
A crack in the eggshell is all I’ll require,
And I can crack you for a song.
-Seanan McGuire
The morning had started so oddly. She woke up to the alarm instead of Hayate licking her feet, trying to wake her up for breakfast time. The unnatural ringing of the bells on her clock jolted her awake in a burst of adrenaline; she stared over at the alarm stupidly for a moment, and then turned it off. Well, maybe Hayate was outside in the backyard. She hoped it wasn't wet out so he wouldn't track mud in.
She yawned as she got up, tying on her robe and headed to the bathroom to shower. By the time she'd gotten out, there was still no excited dog urging her to hurry up and get his breakfast. Odd.
She dressed for the day, twisting her wet hair up into a clip. Still no Hayate. She was starting to grow concerned.
"Here, boy!" she called as she stepped into the kitchen and put the water kettle on the stove to heat. The dog door remained eerily still. So odd. She opened the back door. "Haya-" She cut herself off mid-word, staring in horror at what could only be Hayate caught on the top of the fence by his collar.
"Hayate!" She ran to the fence, narrowly dodging what looked like, at first glance, a rabbit that Hayate must've caught. She frantically grabbed at Hayate's collar, trying to undo it, when she noticed something that made her throat tighten up and her stomach drop into her knees.
That wasn't Hayate's body. That was his pelt.
She screamed, stumbled backwards, tripping over the rabbit's body. She spared it a glance and screamed again, realizing that wasn't a rabbit. That was the rest of Hayate.
Riza had no idea how she managed to pick herself up to her feet and run into the house, where she promptly got sick on the floor by the phone. She heaved again, hot tears running down her cheeks. What kind of psychopath had done that? It was clear it was deliberate, but why? Why? Why her beautiful, obedient little dog? What had he done? He was a good boy, he didn't go into other people's yards, he didn't chase cars, he didn't even bark all that much. He only really went outside to do his business or bury a bone.
"Why? Why?" she demanded of no one, trembling from head to toe. Finally, she got the sense to grab the phone and call Roy. Yes, Roy, her solid ground, he'd be able to make this make sense, be able to help her pick up the pieces.
"Hello?" came his voice from the other end, and she started crying again. "Riza? Is that you? What's going on?"
She sniffed, took a shuddering breath. "I need your help," she said, her voice cracking and barely above a whisper. "Someone- someone's hurt Hayate. I need your help, please." Please make this make sense, please be there.
"I'll be right there, you sit tight." With that, the phone clicked, then went to dead silence as he hung up. She hung up the phone, and had just the presence of mind to get up and clean up her vomit.
It seemed like forever before Roy came bursting in, his military blues suddenly an unwelcome sight. She wanted Roy, not the colonel.
He crouched by her where she sat on the ground, knees curled up to her chest. "Lieutenant? Where's Hayate?"
She lifted an unsteady hand and pointed to the back door. "Someone skinned him, Roy," she whispered. "His pelt's hanging from the fence. The rest of him's on the ground next to it." She put a hand over her mouth, willing back another rise of bile.
Roy stared. "His- they- who did this?"
She shook her head, rubbing one eye and trying not to just cry again. "I don't know. I don't know, I got up and realized he wasn't around and I couldn't find him so I went outside and there he was like that."
She clung to him in relief as he pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry, Riza," he said quietly. "I'll look into neighborhood attacks on animals, see if I can't track down who did this. I can't promise you anything, but I'll do my best to get him justice."
A sob tore at her. "I just want him back," she whispered.
Roy pet her hair gently. "I know, Riza. And maybe when you're ready, we'll go down to the humane society and get you a new dog. But let's not worry about that right now."
Good. She didn't want to think about another dog in her life. She just wanted her faithful companion back. She hadn't realized how much comfort that little dog had brought her in her too-dull and gray world of boundaries and secrets.
"Would you like the day off?" Roy asked her, drawing her attention back to the present.
She shook her head. "No. I don't want to be here alone right now."
He nodded. "Very well. I'll go take care of the body, you just try to get some food into you and some tea."
The idea of food made her want to puke again, but he was right. She'd need to get through the day somehow, so she made herself some toast and rescued the tea kettle from the gas. Most of the water had evaporated already, but there was enough for her to have a small cup of tea. After setting it down in front of her, she started at it like it was a cobra hissing dangerously at her.
"Riza?"
She jumped at the sound of her name, looked up in wide-eyed shock at Roy. He sighed and sat down next to her. "Come on, I know it must've been horrifying, but you need your food. You'll never make it through the day if you don't."
Licking her lips, she nodded, and carefully picked up a piece of toast. It was dry; she'd forgotten the butter. Oh well, she supposed. She didn't want it either way it went, honestly, but she was eating for him.
After choking down one piece, she looked at him. "What did you do?"
"I buried him," he said. Then he stood. "Actually, I should wash my hands." He went over to her sink while she chewed on her second piece of toast and downed some tea. "I'll take you to work today, Riza," he said, drying his hands and stepping back over to her. "If we're a little late, we can blame it on me." He sat down, watching her chew and swallow painfully. "Are you sure you don't want the day off?"
She nodded numbly. "I don't want to be alone," she whispered.
He put a hand on hers. "All right. Come on, then, let's get going, if you're ready."
Swallowing the last bite of toast, she stood up, putting her dishes in the sink to deal with another time, and followed him out the door.