How You'd Have A Happy Life (FMA/Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Miles + Homura) Title: How You'd Have A Happy Life Author:catdevigri Fandom: Crossover - Fullmetal Alchemist x Puella Magi Madoka Magica Pairing/characters: Major Miles & Homura Akemi (Homura/Madoka) Rating: PG Warnings: Mention of major character death & related angst Word count: 436 Prompt/challenge you're answering: Homura & Miles, "The Dark of the Matinee"
"Lieutenant Akemi, it's good to see you back on duty."
"Thank you, sir," the young woman answered with a stiff salute, "It's been a tough week."
Henschel dimmed the lights and the traditional introductory training film began. Both Miles and Akemi had seen it dozens of times. They sat in the back of the auditorium not to take in the picture's rote but effective summary of the glorious history and excellent facilities of Fort Briggs, but to keep an eye on the new recruits and make sure they watched.
"I can imagine," Major Miles agreed, "There were some deaths in my family a few years back."
"And you suffered then not just for the loss of your immediate family members, but for an entire people you're connected to." Akemi didn't smile much, but a bitter tremor crept along her lips that Miles caught out of the corner of his eye (in their vigilance they sat side by side and kept their eyes on the recruits, only glancing over at one another from time to time). "It makes me feel sort of self-centered, focusing so much attention on one person."
"You shouldn't feel bad about it. If it were my wife, it would be the same for me. She was important to you."
"...She was everything. If it weren't for the fact that I was expected to show up here today, I don't know how I would've even gotten up in the morning. I'm going to have to put even more than my all into Briggs now."
Miles reached over and touched her hand sympathetically, one glove over another. "I know you're tough, Akemi, but don't think you have to get through this alone." He tried to act casually about it, pushing a smile onto his face to share a flash of the same white teeth that had pleased so many women in the past, "Just because we all respect the major general so much doesn't mean we have to try and emulate her in every possible way."
"Major Miles...I really appreciate you and everything you've done for me. ...I just...I hate to be weak...but without Madoka I might need to..." A single unwanted tear ran down her cheek and Miles squeezed her hand. He had never seen Akemi cry before. It was an indication of how stressful this was for her.
The lights went on and a score of new recruits turned to see Major Miles and Lieutenant Akemi gazing into one another's eyes.
Henschel looked around nervously, pretty sure that no one else had been meant to see that and flipped the lights back off.