Riza cringed, slipping her aching arms through the think fabric. She glanced into the cracked mirror, seeing her slick hair devouring her shoulders and the tight grey shirt squeezing her body. She bit her lip. She hated the image.

She hated to admit that she wanted someone next to her. She hated to admit that she wanted someone to get ready for bed at night with her, to awkwardly maneuver through the small bathroom, and fight over the sheets, and tease her about long she takes to pick out what to wear, and…and…

Most of all she hated to admit that she wanted that with him.

She reached down, pulling her cotton sweatpants up around her waist, and then flicked the lights off in the bathroom. She stepped barefoot onto the carpet in her room, hearing a chuff from Black Hayate, and dove into her bed, noticing how cool the sheets were. She curled herself around her pillow, digging her face into the side.

Damn. She wanted someone to hold her. She wanted him to hold her specifically but right now she didn't care.

It's been so long since anyone had even told her they loved her. In fact… they were all dead.

She moaned into the pillow, pulling her knees to her chest. She felt Hayate plop down against her back and smiled as she heard him sigh. At least she wasn't absolutely alone.

Her stomach began to churn, and she desperately tried to stop the thoughts in her mind but nothing would quiet. She just didn't want to be alone anymore.

And like an answer to her silenced call there was a tap at her door. Her head drew upwards.

It had to be one of those drunkards again. They'd always come to her door instead of her neighbor's. She rose, sitting cross-legged on the bed and waited for a second knock. Moments later, there was another, more confident rap on her door.

She sighed, rising from the bed and shuffling towards the dark entryway. She glanced back at the dozing dog, finding it strange that he wouldn't come to bark at the stranger. But she continued, drawing a long breath before sliding open the heavy door and standing quietly in the door. What she found was something she'd never thought she'd wish for, and yet she did.

"Hey…" a weak smile and dark grey eyes were pointed at her. She suddenly felt quite naked in front of her superior.

"Sir—" she fumbled for words, the writhing in her stomach quickening. Why'd he have to look so sexy?

"Don't call me that…" his eyes looked so tired. They were almost… longing for something. "Not now…"

"S—Roy, what's wrong?" the feel of his name on her tongue made her heart pound.

He glanced down, and she could see his cheeks darken in a blush. "I can't lie to you, can I?" She gave a slow shake of her head, unsure of why he stood in her doorway. "I was lonely, Riza."

There was that casualness again. Why did she like that so much?

"Colonel," she began, but a surprisingly warm hand was sliding down her back and she couldn't utter a word. And then there were lips on her neck and she was stepping back into her apartment and she couldn't speak. There was that feeling in her stomach again.

"Please don't tell me I'm alone in this," she heard, his breath on her ear. A part of her wanted to embrace him and let him hold her but the other part wanted to push him away and tell him how unprofessional he was being. But the absence of alcohol on his breath and the strange warmness in her chest was telling her that the first part of her was going to win.

"Roy…" she lifted her hands slowly, holding his neck lightly as if she'd break him if she held him too close he'd shatter. "I thought I told you that you wouldn't have to be alone ever again," and then there was a mutual smile, the closing of a door, and Riza didn't feel quite so lonely anymore.