#ignisis

    FOR THE EYES of unseen adversaries, he walks and talks like a man with no weaknesses. The Lieutenant’s reputable gaze affixes to his shoulders, which are squared to exude such confidence. She listens closely. Every pause, every minuscule change in his tone or step contain hidden messages for her. On the surface, this is a proper order. His voice is steady. But his phrasing conveys a shade of concern. Be cautious. Watch my back. She understands. 

    Footsteps clicking in tandem, she follows his example. She stands tall and poised, despite the lingering fear that creeps and coils around inside of her. Fear is a hand around her throat and it looks like the inside of a gaping, monstrous mouth... 

     Fear is losing ammunition as fast as losing her will to survive in a world without him. Albeit in the end, he was there for her. Whenever she genuinely thought her time was up, he was there for her. It only steels the thought that she must believe in him. 

    The Colonel still stands– so does she. And she doesn’t intend on making the same mistake twice. Fear is pushed aside. Not entirely. Never entirely– but it’s enough for her to keep moving forward, to keep following him despite the risks towering all around them. For now, she hones in on her ability to rationalize. 

    Bullets might be useless, but she is not.

     And she is more than willing to concede when he suggests she stay close. There is only so much they can accomplish separately. As long as they’re together…

     ❝Understood.❞ Her voice mirrors his in tone. ❝I’m right behind you, sir.❞

    ❝NO, SIR.❞ It’s frustration hidden in cold layers of professionalism, an exasperated beginning calmed by a tinge of understanding at the end. Riza holds a response– one he can likely already read in her eyes– between her teeth. Levelheadedness is one of her greatest strengths. All it takes is one long breath, one extra moment to assess a situation before acting. By allowing her heart do the talking, her words would likely incapacitate her just as much as her injuries. Maybe he’s trying to keep her safe. Maybe he thinks it’s too dangerous out there. He says he’s sorry. Does he think he’s being selfless? Had they discussed this earlier, had this been a part of some larger plan, she might have complied. But this…

     Gaze hardens, a clear ‘don’t give me that’– and she takes a step towards him. Challenges his authority, never losing her cool or raising her voice. She is as loyal as she is stubborn– and he should know by now that an order to forsake him is one she will not obey. For him, she can and will endure.

    Even into hell. That’s what she promised.

    ❝I’m coming with you.❞

     This entire ordeal was enough to induce a migraine. Not only did she have to go through the wreckage of the home she and her father once lived in ( having to face a past she wasn’t particularly fond of remembering ), but she also knew full well that someone was d e a d set on obtaining the secrets of flame alchemy. Whoever it was, they obviously didn’t find what they were looking for ( as all of those secrets were eternally in her care— etched with scars of flame ) Twas likely if they were dedicated enough to locate her father’s workspace, that eventually they would target her for information. What if they broke into her apartment next? Or what if they went after the Colonel— known so famously for it? Even so, she had him deface portions of the research for a reason. Vital parts of the puzzle were missing. All of it was trusted to his memory, and her own. No one else would use it; never endangering themselves or others with its’ uncontrollable power. Fire could not be tamed easily, once ignited. It caught and spread, destroying all in its’ path. And she knew firsthand how it could trigger m a d n e s s in even the best of men. 

Her prolonged silences and array of deepening sighs were likely enough to concern him— she needed to be more careful. His voice shattered all thought and her eyes flitted open to meet his. Even whilst he couldn’t look ‘pon the map of her features, he already knew that something was wrong. However, he needed her verbal assurance to claim that she was physically all right. A bitter smile almost played on her features at his predictability— but, considering the predicament, she couldn’t quite manage it. It seemed that the ghost of her father’s research would follow her around forever. He’d trusted her to keep it safe. And if she wasn’t careful       if it got into the wrong hands… it’d all be her fault.

                   she couldn’t let that happen.

        ❝ I’m fine. Everything is… fine, sir.              It’s just a headache. And besides,              they didn’t find anything. Certainly              tore the place up, though. ❞

The last part was muttered irritatedly, an exasperated sigh pressing through her words. Closing her eyes tight and attempting to shed her discomfort, she continued. 

but what if I told u fuery ate it„,

 Riza’s demeanor wilted with his words     & her teeth sank slowly into her lower lip. The way the light flashedin his dark eyes conveyed that she shouldn’t pry. Perhaps it wasn’tany of her business; but he certainly didn’t seem fine. Somethingwas troubling him, she knew. Yet… he refused to confide in her.

       Perchance he didn’t want to tell her what was going on,                               or he couldn’t?

That’s what she attempted to decipher in those few moments—eyes searching purposefully into his. She trusted him; yet, thealmost unfamiliar look on his face cast an icy shiver of uneasedown her neck. ( thus diminishing any warmth— quite ironically ) T’would seem as though he was trying to mask himself from herintentionally and it grated relentlessly on her mind. The desire tofuss over him was one she had to swallow down. T’was importantfor her to respect his space. He… would tell her, if he needed her.Maybe he would’ve preferred to speak someplace desolate, guisehis secrets in code. Arguing would draw them unwanted attention.So her eyelids fell to a close and she exhaled the silent, hollowbreath she’d been holding. A professional noise echoed whenher boots smacked together. She squared her shoulders,pulling herself back together for his sake and her own.

                           ❝      Sir. ❞    She responded promptly, turning on her heel to leave               & spoke again; softer, back facing him.

you’re MY princess B^)