Hawk or bat, ch. 4 - ROYAI

Riza yawned. She had already left the hospital and was spending her whole time at home. After this accident, she received disability pension, so she didn’t have to worry about money. No, her worries were rather connected with people. She felt very lonely and bored, as she had almost nothing to do. What could she do anyway? Learn to read Braille’s alphabet? Talk to Hayate, the only creature by her side? Of course, friends from headquarters kept coming and visiting her most every day, but they could stay with her for half an hour a day, not more. She understood this, they had their own life. But it couldn’t stop her sadness.

She learned to recognize Falman, Fuery, Havoc, Breda and Hughes just hearing their breath. Hughes often came with Elicia. This little girl was so extremely cheerful that Riza even started to smile with her. And only Roy never came.

She knew it was only her fault – she told him not to come. But she missed him a lot. Unable even to look at a photo of him, she yearned for hearing his voice, touching his hand, smelling the mild scent of his skin…

She spent a lot of time sleeping and dreaming. In her dreams, she could see again. She knew she was deceiving herself this way, but it couldn’t be helped.

One day, Breda brought “Braille Scrabble”. It was Sunday, so he could spend more time with her. All the stones were double-signed: they had the same letter written in Roman and Braille’s alphabet. This way Riza could play with him.

‘Seems you’re doing well replacing your sight with other senses’ Breda said, putting the word “dashing” on the board. Riza touched the letters for a while and put the word “colonel”.

‘Quite well, thank you’ she sighed. ‘Your turn.’

Breda looked at the board for a while before he put another word.

‘How’s the Colonel?’ Riza asked. Breda hesitated for a while.

‘You haven’t see… met him for ages, have you?’ he smiled. Riza sighed.

‘Actually, last time I met him was at the hospital. How’s he doing?’

‘Quite well, but he misses you a lot. It’s strange he hasn’t come to visit you… oh, and he looks alienated right now. He stopped going for dates, all the evenings he spends alone, at home. No one knows what he’s doing there, he’s very quiet… your turn.’

Riza sighed. She didn’t want Roy to be sad because of her… she couldn’t help crying. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Riza went to open. Sound of breath, scent of skin, and, what was most characteristic – smell of tobacco smoke.

‘Hello, Havoc’ Riza said, smiling weakly. Havoc hugged her.

‘Don’t cry, Riza’ he whispered right to her ear.

‘She’s amazing’ Breda said. ‘Recognizes us all, not seeing…’

‘It’s simple. I hear your breath, smell your skin… and Havoc is even simpler. He smokes a lot…’

Havoc blushed.

‘I’m sorry’ he said. Riza giggled a little.

‘No, it’s okay. You breathe almost like Armstrong, so it only makes you easier to recognize…’

It was true. Almost no one notices sound of breathing, but Riza had no other choice. Other senses had to make up for her blindness.