#oh and hints of royai too

[jewishrizahawkeye]

i'm here! it's a long story but i had to leave the state to attend to family stuff and royai was pushed to the backburner for a while. but i'm back and i've decided i want some royai context because i currently know

she is blonde

he has dark hair

their relationship is a secret/mostly hooking up/a headcanon/real/not real (it's confusing and depends on which fic it is)

he's her father's apprentice i think

at one point he burned her back because it has the secret map or whatever and feels guilty about it but she's glad because it gave her agency and she wasn't controlled by the map

he is army and she is smart

he has ADHD (me too king)

she is serious and he is goofy but it works

her dog (is it his dog?) does not like roy

he works for her/with her/under her/idk because royai fic authors cannot stick to a plot or create consensus they are worse than religious leaders when you ask them a direct question

riza's dad is relevant somehow (i think he's an admiral? or a general? i think roy is the admiral actually? idk man idk)

so yeah if you have a powerpoint for me or something about the royai basics that would be great because i don't know what's real or what's a very talented ao3 author projecting

oh my gosh hello!! i hope the family stuff went well and i’m happy to give context cause i love talking about them >:)

riza is blonde

roy has black hair and black eyes (though their sometimes blue in the manga depending on how the author wants the character to react. his eyes are also gray after he loses his sight at the end of the series)

their relationship isn’t canon however it’s heavily implied. they grew up together and served in war together and they both want to restore the country to a democracy so they can be punished for their actions, they’re digging their own graves. because they’ve been through a lot of traumatizing events together they’re stuck together. riza says she would follow him into hell if he asked her to and her one job is to make sure he never stops pursuing his goal. if he does riza is ordered to kill him, which she doesn’t want to do. there’s a scene where this does almost happen and one of the things that helps bring roy back from the brink of madness is him calling riza’s bluff by going, “oh yeah you’re going to kill me? then what are you going to do when i’m gone?” and she point blank says “i’ll kill myself too.” and he literally says he can’t bear the thought of a world without her in it! and during a scene earlier when riza thinks roy’s dead she is literally begging for someone to kill her cause she doesn’t want to live without him. basically they’re canonically codependent messes who love each other and however the viewer/reader wants to interpret that love is up to them. though the most common interpretation is romantic love and there’s a lot of hints that it is romantic to some extent. so when authors change it up constantly for fics it’s mainly cause you can decide however you want their relationship to be in the story. for example in my own fanfics i’m constantly changing when they’re together because they legally can’t be together cause he’s her boss. which is why is usually secret (illicit affairs coded 😔)

yes! roy learned alchemy from rizas dad! he tried to learn flame alchemy from him but he refused to teach him because he wanted to join the military. however in the most dramatic ass way her dad dies when they’re talking about it and he says for roy to protect riza cause she has the secrets (her tattoo on her back). however riza ends up giving him the secrets of flame alchemy anyway cause he talks about how he hopes to join the military to protect the people of amestris and its very naive but riza’s moved by it and wants to help so she shows him the secrets (this conversation happens at her fathers grave/funeral and they’re lowkey being awkward teenagers flirting and in one of the bonus parody chapters it’s this scene and when riza says she wants to help roy his heart bursts out of his chest cause he’s so excited). she also then enlists in the military to and is the best sharpshooter in the academy.

yes he burned her back!!! riza and roy don’t want another flame alchemist created so she asks him to burn her back and “free her” after they leave ishbal/ishval and he doesn’t want to do it but he views it as his duty cause he inspired her to join the military and he blames himself for ruining her life but riza is thankful for it and does gain her own agency and independence from it because she chooses it (implied her father forced her to get the tattoo) and she does kinda blame him but also knows it was her own choice to join.

he knows how to army she knows aristotle

so yes and no. it’s a headcanon he has adhd (and riza is autistic) and i do consider that but a lot of his “lazy” or procrastination stuff is mainly his womanizer persona because he’s trying to seem like a guy who isn’t that suspicious so he’s always going on dates and doesn’t do his work/his assistant (riza) has to babysit him to do it. however him going on a bunch of dates is actually him meeting informants because his foster mother/paternal aunt runs a brothel/is a information broker with connections in the military so the girls who work there gather info and roy’s dates are really just him getting information. and him being lazy/not doing work isn’t true cause he actually does do a lot but wants people to not look at him to much and if he’s good at his job they’ll be nosy cause he’s 29/30 and is a colonel which is like… two ranks below general i think??? idk im to lazy to grab my book where he explains this. but while i do recognize that’s why he’s procrastinating tasks i also think it’s his ADHD brain kicking in cause i have ADHD and can diagnose every character with it and you can’t stop me! there’s actually a bonus chapter that’s observation reports from his team members and they comment on how he doesn’t do stuff for hours then will clean a meeting room in 15 minutes and it’s perfect. also another part is that roy is supposed to go on a date and gets his work done on time actually because he wants to leave early and riza at the eleventh hour shows up with an ungodly amount of paper work for him to get through that he physically can’t finish before his date so he has to cancel but he finishes it in like five minutes and dips and riza goes down to the shooting range with her regular rifle and not her training rifle and starts practicing :) cause she’s totally not jealous :)

she is serious and he’s goofy cause of his facade but he also can be serious to. this one’s more amped up in fanfics i think. also something criminally underrated is rizas humor cause it’s dry and silly. like there’s a document mix up that says ed and al are in there thirties when they’re 11 and 12 and roy is like “wait no what happen why does the paper say they’re thirty?” and riza says “that paper either came through a time portal or there was a serious mistake”

she does have a dog, and as noted by my friend demi he looks like roy, and that’s also fanfic author discretion. though to be fair he is a shiba inu and those dogs are crazy smart (they’re like a tiny person cause they can learn to sit in five minutes but then learn a minute later they only have to sit if they want to because they’re smart and self aware) so i think it’s less he hates roy and is more like “you’re not in charge and i can say no to you”. hayate is also technically a military dog and has an official military rank.

riza works for him in his unit. she’s a first lieutenant and is his adjacent. basically his assistant. which allows her to follow him around all day and let’s her do her job of protecting his back and watching it

so it’s not rizas dad who’s relevant in the military it’s get GRANDFATHER who is general grumman, who is also roy’s mentor in the military and grumman asks him the marry his granddaughter (riza) so she can be first lady and roy says “you’re getting ahead of yourself”

but that’s hopefully everything 😭 i’m sorry that was so much longer than intended. i’ll also link both of my power points on then from powerpoint night that does talk about them a bit.

the royai playlist

how the great war is about royai

but i hope this helps in your royai journey.

[dairogo]

5 for the Hughes, 42 for Royai, and 35 for Fuery/Sheska!

Oh, the Hughes! :') 5. Do they argue often? If so, what do they argue about?

Not often, but just because Maes mooned over Gracia and Elysia constantly doesn't mean everything was perfect at home! When Maes lashed out it was big, loud, emotional responses. He tried to keep Gracia separate from Ishval - he never wanted her to be tainted by the life he and other soldiers led there - and so once (hc) when she cleaned a drawer where he'd hidden some of his correspondence with a war buddy, he blew up at her in a major way. It was verbal not physical, but very much like a feral animal trying to protect itself (he doesn't want her to see any of that), and Gracia backed off at the time but afterwards they had Big Words together about his behaviour.

When Gracia argued with him, it was just like scolding a puppy. ("Maes, calm down - my sister's wedding isn't the right place to talk about how amazing our wedding was in comparison.") She spoke calmly and clearly - and most of the time she was right and he had to back down about the situation, but sometimes she'd start scolding him and Maes knew he was in the right. He'd just persist in his argument until Gracia realised how ridiculous she was being, and she'd get pretty embarrassed. And Maes thought that was really cute. He liked arguing with her when she was wrong - but when he was wrong, it crushed him (very momentarily) to have disappointed her.

Then for Royai, 42. What’s their relationship like with each other’s friends/families?

Well, we've seen Roy interact with all of Riza's family, lol, so briefly about that: Master Hawkeye and General Grumman both look/looked on Roy in the same way - wanting to further their own obsession through him. No wonder H and G didn't get along - they're both so ambitious they wouldn't have been able to compromise for each other.

For a long time, Riza's relationship with Chris Mustang is mutual respect from a distance. Riza is actually really intimidated by Chris - the idea of touching on Roy's personal life strongly enough to meet his family feels forbidden in and of itself, but Riza's scared to face the woman who brought up that idealistic boy when Riza was the one to put a weapon of mass destruction into his hands. She's ashamed.

From Chris' perspective, Roy and Riza are both kids in the same terrible boat, and she's just happy her nephew has found someone who makes him happy. And who enables his scheming - Chris loves scheming, after all.

Roy's sisters love Riza to pieces, but she's scared of them all for a combination of reasons (guilt and too introverted).

And finally, for Feury/Scieszka - 35. Is their relationship a secret? If so, why?

No! They're out there openly dating. There was never a chance to be secret about it, because technically they were supervised for their entire first date. Scieszka ran into the group when they were all at lunch together, and Breda - who knew her from a few intel gathering trips - loudly announced, "You two would get on great. You should date." Feury and Scieszka had been just introduced at that point and they got really embarrassed. They might have just gone their separate ways, but Breda mentioned it to Feury a few times a week for the next month and when Scieszka happened to run into them at lunchtime again, Havoc got talking to her and distracted her long enough to get her to sit down with them, across from a very red Feury. Then Breda told her Kain was interested in finding a particular book about telecommunications, and as she started talking about it, Breda and Havoc just ... slowly slid down the bench ... Then from about two metres away they observed the rest of the date and hissed out hints to Feury about how to keep the conversation going until Feury found his footing.

At the wedding, even though the best man was Feury's younger brother, Havoc and Breda strongarmed their way into making a speech and they called it "the best relationship either of us has ever started."

[awesomedurraworld]

The Bear is sick.

cover doesn't belong to me.

Rating:

General Audiences

Archive Warning:

Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category:

Gen

Fandoms:

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga

Fullmetal Alchemist - All Media Types

Relationship:

Edward Elric & Roy Mustang

Characters:

Edward Elric

Roy Mustang

Mrs. Hanna

Additional Tags:

Parental Roy Mustang

soft Roy Mustang

caring Roy mustang

Roy Mustang loves children

Foster Parent Roy Mustang

Foster Care

Edward Elric is a child here

Edward Elric needs love

Hurt Edward Elric

Sick Edward Elric

Sickfic

Bedtime Stories

Chicken Soup

Head pats

I think there was a kiss too? Don't remember

Been while since I wrote this haha

Asshole CPS worker

hinted Royai

yesss

also

This was like written in February

And it’s so tiny

But enjoy tiny stuff and love them

Just like you love Eddie Elric

Who speaks like a person who doesn't know English the poor baby

He came from an abusive home

Aka HO WAS AN ABUSIVE MAN

ha

Also the story they read is a childhood book that my mama read to me when I was a just a tiny girl

Fluffy with tiny Angst

Happy Ending

Summary:

“ Da bear... sick.” “ huh?” “ Da... Beaher Ss sick.” “Okay, chum! get comfortable.” Roy fixed his position to be closer to Ed and took a hold of the big book, “ The Bear is Sick.” he read the title before he opened the first page. Or! Roy Mustang decided one morning to be a foster parent, and tonight he is taking care of his five year old sick foster child.

Hi guys! 💖

Posting this here to give a little shoutout to my stories haha. My story, The Bear Is Sick is heavily inspired by the storybook “ the bear feels sick.” ( or The Bear Is Ill in some Countries)

Growing up, my Mama used to read me and my siblings story books, and this book was one of them, and since I could remember, I was always mesmerized by its wonderful water coloring like illustrates, and it’s sweet story.

Around October last year I was cleaning our library when I found this book and got inspired, I doodled few drawing and in February I wrote little Edward owning the book.

This silly cute draft was sitting in my noted app, till the end of June, where I finished it up and posted it on the first of July!

My story is short, being less than 3k words, but it is one of the most loved ones that I have posted this year! In my fic, I kinda of scratched the surface of the situation that, unfortunately, a lot of kids and teens will go through. I am not a fostered child and never experienced it, I have built it based on my researched facts and the stuff my online friend told me about her experience.

Remember, if you can help those teens and kids, please do! Donations ( money, clothes, bags, food, whatever you can!) can make a human’s life better. If you can't give them something physically then give them a prayer and if you weren't a believer then just send them some good thoughts.

( um, if you can leave a comment? 👀 because, like, we All have a very hard life and I kinda want something to make me smile? 🫣 i swear I am not this petty usually but oh well)

See ya at Ao3, peeps 🫡❤️💖

[darklight-owl]

Making this a reblog because I have many thoughts-

Twin Fantasy by Car Seat Headrest ;w;

There's a lot of different interpretations for this album but mine has always been "a codependent relationship between two people with similar traumas and their eventual breaking up" and like IF THAT ISN'T ANGSTY ROYAI-

Anyway I got to listening to the album again and (bear with me it's 1am) I'm gonna try and explain how the songs fit them (I'm sorry I start talking about music+characters and I can't stop I'll regret it if I don't do this):

My Boy and Beach Life in Death are just straight up pining/these two doofuses trying to figure out what their relationship is exactly (also the lyrics "Last night I dreamed he was trying to kill you / I woke up and I was trying to kill you" but as THAT scene,, yk the one where Roy almost kills Envy)

Stop Smoking is... well I think the lyrics "we love you and we don't want you to die" speak for themselves.

I already talked about Sober to Death but uhh yeah they were wrecks before they crashed into each other :')

Nervous Young Inhumans doesn't fit as much I'll admit- this song is about the singer's partner never letting him see the "ugly" side of him while the singer thinks he ONLY showed the ugliest parts of himself when he was with him- ok yk what never mind I see it.

Bodys and Cute Thing are ALSO pining!! But THIS time it's because they're already dating and spending a lot of time apart (which ALSO is what happens in the series go figure). In Royai's case there's also the looming threat of death so we get the lyrics "Don't you realize our bodies could fall apart at any second / I am terrified your body could fall apart at any second"

High to Death... Oh God this is the breakup one. See this is what happens when you separate Roy and Riza they are suffering alone and neither of them is reaching out :'[

Yeah from this point on the album moves away from the relationship and is more about the aftermath,, i'm not gonna dwell on them too much bc why do I do this to myself

Famous Prophets I see as more Riza PoV, in this scenario (that only exists for angst because they are married in my brain) Roy would be the one to break it off and use the military regulations as an excuse when we all know he just believes he's undeserving. Also the lyrics "Did I fail? Did I fall? Did I waste my time on a broken heart?"

(Side note I'd kinda forgotten about Famous Prophets hinting at the singer's partner improving his life and leaving the singer behind but I'm ignoring it that doesn't help our purposes here)

Twin Fantasy fixes it though sorta! They're on good terms, and although they may not be lovers anymore they still love each other if that makes sense.

Admittedly the parallels are mostly in the begginning songs but uhh yeah gonna go cry over people who don't exist now-

heck heckheckheck ok so your fma playlist post got me thinking about songs that would fit these guys and I had an epiphany there's this whole ALBUM i love that just has the biggest Royai vibes and since you're the Authority on Best Couple (in my head at least) I just thought you should know this-

OMG which album also very flattered

[winryofresembool]

EdWin ice skating AU, chapter 5.5

A/N: Tadah, here it is! And yes, you read that number correctly. The reason I’m giving this chapter that number is because it DOESN’T continue from where we were left off in chapter 5. Instead, I’m showing Winry’s point of view of the events between Ed leaving his hotel room and running into Winry at the gym in chapter 5. Also, let’s pretend for the sake of this fic that it’s actually normal for the skaters to hang out together :D Please enjoy, and remember that feedback is the only payment I get for this :)

Previous chapters:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Next chapter: [x]

Words: 1929 (is this the longest chapter yet?)

Genre: this chapter probably goes under ‘general’.

Warnings: Ed’s injury mentioned but nothing else I think?

”I just remembered I need to be somewhere.”

Those were the last words Ed said before leaving Winry to stand alone in the corridor, entirely dumbfounded.

Winry knew that was the lamest excuse he could have come up with, since he had said only one day earlier that the hours after lunch were dedicated to rest. Besides, he didn’t seem like someone to forget his meetings just like that. Had she done something wrong? Had she pushed Ed too hard by asking him to tell about the incident? Those questions ran through her mind as she tried to process everything that had just happened.

“Winry?”

The girl turned around, seeing the dark-haired captain of Ed’s hockey team approach her.

“Huh?” She was still too confused to form proper sentences.

“Why are you standing there? Where did Ed go?” Roy asked.

“I… don’t know. But why are you here?” Winry tried to counter. “I thought it’s a habit of yours to take a nap at this time.”

“I had some plans but someone canceled on me…” Roy smirked like it was not a big deal. “Apparently they had forgotten they have a team photo shoot today. I thought I’d go out for a walk because I couldn’t sleep.”

“Why do I have a feeling I know who that someone is?” Winry smiled mischievously, glad to distract herself with Roy’s relationship issues instead of hers. “Why are you so mysterious about it, it’s not like you aren’t allowed to date female hockey players, right? Is she taken?”

“No, that’s not it… It’s just that our coach set us a no-dating clause for the Olympics – stupid, I know, but apparently he thinks we have more energy in the games if we don’t ‘go around sleeping with all the ladies we meet’ so I’m trying to keep a low profile…”

“What about the other players though?” Winry asked, trying to think about Maes Hughes and his Gracia instead of Ed. She and Ed weren’t even dating, they had just hung around a couple of times! “I mean, Gracia is getting married to your teammate pretty soon…”

“Somehow I have a feeling our coach doesn’t really care about them. Besides, Ms. Hawkeye’s (Winry didn’t miss how Roy mentioned Riza’s name for the first time) grandfather is a general manager on our team and I swear he knows everything. He would immediately tell our coach.”

“Wow. Touch luck.” Winry laughed.

“You are avoiding my question though,” Roy noted. “What happened with Ed?”

“I have no idea,” she shrugged, her expression turning back to serious. “He just left.”

“He didn’t say anything?” Roy raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“No, not really… He just claimed he had some place to be. He was lying, clearly,” Winry stated sadly.

“I’m gonna go talk to him,” Roy said suddenly.

Winry hadn’t expected this kind of reaction from him. Every time she had seen Roy and Ed together, they had been making fun of, borderline insulting, each other, and she hadn’t gotten a picture that they were close. But acting this way implied Roy indeed cared about his teammate more than he let on, as if he saw himself as some kind of a father figure to Ed.

“Wait… I don’t even know where he…” but she didn’t even get to finish her sentence before Roy was already gone.

Shaking her head, Winry decided she’d go out too to get some fresh air and to sort out her thoughts. It seemed almost as if Roy knew something she didn’t…

Suddenly it occurred to her that her first performance would be in only two days and here she was, thinking about something irrelevant. It wasn’t like her to get stuck into relationship drama like this. Luckily she’d have her next practice later that evening, and she’d get to focus on things that made sense, like spins.

After returning to her room to get her warmest and most water-proof coat, she headed out. She regretted her choice to take a walk pretty soon after stepping out of the hotel, because it was snowing and winding rather harshly. It made her thankful she wasn’t a snowboarder, cross country skier, ski jumper or anyone else who had to compete outside.

At some point she found herself in front of the arena in which Amestris’ hockey women practiced, wishing she had an excuse to go in. As it happened, she got one when Riza Hawkeye showed up by the door, apparently planning to get something from the team bus.

“Riza, hey!” she greeted happily.

“Hi, Winry! Why are you here on this weather?”

“I just needed to get out of the hotel for a moment… But I didn’t realize the weather was this bad.” Winry rubbed her neck awkwardly, a habit she had picked from a certain hockey player…

“Right… I hope it gets better soon, I don’t even want to think about how dangerous it would be to compete right now,” Riza noted. “Anyway, do you want to come in? We just had our team pictures taken, we are only having a short ice practice now before the afternoon break.”

“Sure, why not. My practice isn’t for several hours, Gracia’s with her fiancé right now and Rose and Paninya are probably goofing around somewhere so it’s not like I have other places to be…”

Winry suddenly realized she hadn’t really seen her fellow figure skaters outside the practice sessions during the entire time she had been at the Olympic venue and made a mental note to catch up with them when she got a chance. The girls were nice, but ever since Rose and Paninya started dating, Winry felt like a third wheel in their company, ending up spending more time with Gracia. But now that the hockey players were in the same area, both of them had become distracted, something she hadn’t expected at all before the Olympics. Well, she knew Gracia’s future husband was on the team, so she wasn’t surprised about her, but she hadn’t imagined herself getting interested in anyone. Even though she had known Ed in her childhood, she didn’t understand why she was suddenly so drawn to him. Still was, despite his weird behavior, she admitted to herself.

“Hey,” Riza pulled Winry out of her thoughts as she opened the arena door for her, “have you seen Ed today? He took my headphones earlier when his own got broken, but I haven’t gotten them back yet. And I enjoy working out way more when I can listen to something while doing it.”

“Um…” Winry started awkwardly, “I might have.”

“What’s that tone?” Riza immediately noticed. “Did something happen?”

“I was supposed to… have a meeting with him, but he left early.”

“Left early?” Riza asked. She crossed her arms on her lap, urging Winry to tell more. “Why?”

Winry was relieved she wasn’t asking why she had had a meeting with him. “I wish I knew,” she repeated the same mantra she had with Roy. “I asked him about something personal, and he started to answer but suddenly freaked out about something… and just left.”

Riza seemed to think about something for a while and then answered:

“Winry, I know Ed better than you probably realize. He used to visit me with one of his teammates who often looked after him because his father was always absent.”

Winry couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Riza’s obviousness but said nothing. The older woman continued:

“The men’s team works with us quite often, because hockey isn’t that big a sport in Amestris. That means I see him rather regularly, and I think he sees me as some kind of a motherly figure. He seems tough on the surface but has gone through a lot, and my guess is that whatever you were talking about triggered some bad memories in him, and he didn’t want to show you he was upset.”

“Oh. I mean, I figured it might have been something like that but hearing you confirm it makes me relieved.”

“He’s told you about his automail, right?”

“Yeah. Actually, that’s kinda why I was with him today. I asked him if I could take a look at it because as you know, I want to become an automail mechanic one day. Um…” Winry decided to ask the question that was bothering her, “do you know how he got it? I probably shouldn’t ask about this, but it was why he freaked out today.”

Riza seemed to consider her answer for a moment, observing her friend as she sat down on a bench to watch the practice. “It’s probably better if you know. I don’t know everything myself, but here’s what I know through Mr. Mustang.”

Winry smirked slightly. Now both Roy and Riza had mentioned the other one by their name without noticing it. Riza didn’t notice her reaction, instead continuing:

“Someone tried to attack his brother, and he went between them, taking a bad hit from a skate.”

“Oh my god.” The amusement on Winry’s face turned into horror and she covered her mouth with her hand. “That’s… awful… It’s pretty amazing he’s able to play after that.”

“Yeah. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only big obstacle he’s had to overcome, though,” Riza said as an afterthought, not realizing at first she was revealing too much.

“What do you mean?”

“Hawkeye!” Riza’s coach yelled suddenly, stopping Riza from answering. “We are having a practice here, it isn’t like you to just chat with other people when you should focus on hockey.”

“She’s right,” Riza sighed. “I should go. But hey, let’s talk more later.”

“You bet,” Winry agreed, smiling although she still felt a little troubled by Riza’s revelation. She watched as the older woman hit the ice and shoot the puck right in the top left corner of the goal net with accuracy that made justice to her last name.

Seeing Riza’s enthusiasm and hearing about the obstacles Ed had had to overcome to continue playing made Winry wonder why she had chosen figure skating instead of hockey. Maybe she had just found the chasing the puck part silly. Or maybe she hadn’t wanted to continue because hockey was a contact sport and hurting someone or getting hurt herself wasn’t definitely something Winry wished. Hearing what had happened to Ed made her flinch, and she couldn’t help but admire him for continuing playing despite all that. Of course figure skating had its own risks too (even more so on the mental side; Winry was constantly self-conscious about the fact that she was ‘normal sized’, whatever that meant, and busty instead of nearly anorexically thin like some of her rivals), but at least she wasn’t going to hurt anyone else when skating, spinning and jumping on her own.

Eventually Winry got bored of sitting around while the others were having “just a short practice”, which in reality meant a rather tiring looking session; the coach Armstrong didn’t go easy on her players even right before the Olympics. She waved at Riza to sign that she was off and decided she would go to do some training too; she may not have had access to the ice at the moment, but truth to be told, she hadn’t been spending as much time at gym as usual lately.

She was in the middle of her mental practice, going through her moves in her mind, when she reached the gyms the Olympic athletes used. When she realized who was coming towards her, she quickly forgot which jump she was going to go through next.

Edward.

[fullmetalscullyy]

day 12 - snow

24 days - 24 oneshots | a collection of oneshots to celebrate royai

rated: g | words: 875

read on ao3

“Roy,” Riza hissed from somewhere nearby.

Her voice was quiet, almost sounding muffled, which was strange, Roy thought. His head swivelled to search around the room to try and pinpoint her, but Roy couldn’t see her anywhere. A small crease appeared in between his eyebrows.

Did he imagine her calling his name?

“Roy!”

The sound was muffled again, but he could determine it was coming from right in front of him. Tentatively Roy pulled back the curtain in front of his desk in the living area of Master Hawkeye’s home. He started when she suddenly popped up into view through the window. He looked through the glass to see her bundled up tightly in layers, equipped with a woollen hat and scarf. Her smile was genuine, if not a little shy, but she still beckoned him outside with a frantic wave.

Roy shot her a confused look then very quickly realised why she wanted him to come outside. While surprised to see her appear from nowhere, his attention was drawn away from his new friend almost immediately with his realisation.

Because it had been snowing while he’d worked.

It had been snowing heavily.

He’d seen snow before in Central, but it never came to anything of worth. By the time it had lain and built up to a decent depth, the cars in the street and pedestrian footfall had churned most of it to mush. There was nothing clean and crisp about the snow in Central City. But here, at Riza’s house, it was a winter wonderland. So much of it had been untouched.

He couldn’t wait to stomp through it.

Without so much as a backwards glance he tore through the house to the front door and abandoned his work. He shoved his feet into his boots and tossed on his jacket haphazardly while he was already rushing out the door. His feet sunk into the fresh snow – much deeper than anticipated – with a satisfying crunch that caused Roy to let out a small sound of glee.

“You said you wanted to see the snow,” Riza commented quietly as she made her way across to him. Her demeanour still held a hint of shyness, but her smile was bright and reached her eyes. She was happy he was happy.

“I did, didn’t I?” Roy grinned and broke out into a run while he laughed.

Riza had told him about the winters they had in her part of the country, with deep snow and blizzards. Although the latter didn’t happen very frequently, he’d still dreamily voiced his desire to see it one day. It would be a spectacular sight, he was sure.

“Oh, Riza,” he breathed as he looked around the at ground before him. He had thoroughly traipsed through every untouched part of snow he could find. The urge had been too great to leave it be. He had to churn it up with his feet, to hear that crunching sound and feel the sensation of the flakes being compressed beneath his boots. And it remained white! It didn’t immediately turn to mush or change to grey or brown, thanks to the dirt on the streets. It remained crisp and compacted. It all brought him so much joy, he couldn’t explain it.

Roy didn’t know why he enjoyed it so much, but he did. It was so satisfying. Childish, Master Hawkeye might mutter, but Roy didn’t care. He and Riza were children, something the Master appeared to forget more often than not, so it was not out the realm of possibility. He’d tell him so if they were questioned about why he’d left his studies to play in the snow.

“Riza, thank you,” he grinned.

“For what?”

“For coming to get me, to show me. This is so cool! I can’t believe it.” Roy let out another laugh of disbelief as he looked around at the ground. He started walking again, huffing a laugh to himself happily. “It’s better than I hoped it would be.”

The sight of Riza’s pleased smile made him ecstatic.

Roy went back to his stomping, enjoying himself far too much.

“Sorry if I interrupted you,” she interjected. Her voice was almost a mumble. Roy’s head snapped up to look at her, seeing how her smile had fallen. The sight made him pause and dread pooled inside his stomach. “But I didn’t want you to miss it.” Her admission was timid and she didn’t meet his eyes.

Roy was touched she’d remembered what he’d said so long ago. That she’d sought him out to tell him so he didn’t miss out.

“You are always more than welcome to interrupt me, Riza,” he expressed.

Her eyebrows shot up towards her hairline and Roy knew what she was thinking. What would her father have to say about that kind of attitude, she wondered? But Roy didn’t care.

“I mean it,” he insisted. “I’ll always have time for you.”

Her cheeks flushed and she looked away. But she did give him a small nod.

“Do you want to build a snowman?”

Excitement surged within his body at the prospect as she proposed her hopeful question. His eyes lit up, he was sure, and Roy beamed at Riza. “I would absolutely love to, Riza.”

feel free to leave a comment and kudos on ao3 :)

likes and reblogs are much appreciated <3

[ghostyolive]

Roy, Greed, and Havoc (my dumbass clown faves) for the ask game! [It's edwardelricsrightarm from my main]

Ahhh! Hi, I love your blog so much, so thank you! :)

Roy

What song reminds me of them?

Somebody Else Now by Daði Freyr and Honor For All by Daniel and Jon Licht both immediately come to mind. Also Solovey by Go_A could be a childhood/teenage (like Roy apprenticeship era) Royai song.

What do they smell like?

He smells mostly of clean laundry, ash, and a mild cologne. Maybe a hint of floral perfume on him depending on how much time time he’s been spending with Madame Christmas’s spies.

An OTP

Royai! They’re basically canon and I adore their dynamic. The sheer determination they both have to stay true to their beliefs and their loyalty to each other is something that I just can’t get over. I also think Jeanroy is pretty neat.

A NOTP

R*yed. Even aside from how gross it is, there’s literally no romance there.

What are my favorite platonic/familial relationships?

Of course, I really like his relationship with the Elrics. I think the dynamic of gremlin teen and tired adult who was also probably a gremlin teen is absolutely hilarious. I’m a pretty big fan of team Mustang, too, but that’s because I’m just generally a huge sucker for found families. *vaguely gestures to all of my art* Also, Olivier and Mustang have such an underrated rivalry.

What popular headcanon do I disagree with?

I can’t really think of one at the moment. Maybe that he has a fatherly relationship with Edward? I think he’s more like the uncle that comes over for holidays and asks Ed whether he has a girlfriend yet or not and calls him sport.

What position do they sleep in?

He’s a stomach sleeper but he always has to have one arm under the pillow. He kicks the covers off of him in his sleep and wakes up sprawled out.

What crossover AU would I like to see?

This one is hard because I don’t think about crossover AUs a whole lot. I think it might be funny if he met Therion from Octopath Traveler considering that he also has fire powers but essentially acts like Shadow the Hedgehog.

What’s my favorite outfit they’ve worn?

This one! I just really like scarves and formal wear.

Greed

What song reminds me of them?

Oh, so many songs. The Cult of Dionysus by The Orion Experience, Morirò Da Re by Måneskin, So What by P!nk, The Stand by Mother Mother, I’m the One You’re Looking For by Lynda Carter, and Community Gardens by The Scary Jokes are all ones that I’ve associated with him for a while.

What do they smell like?

Charcoal, blood, and expensive liquor. I have a bit of a headcanon that all homunculi smell faintly of blood.

An OTP

I am such a sucker for Greedol. It actually originally started as a bit of a joke, and then I realized that I actually really like both their existing dynamic and potential as a pairing. People are always trying to ship Greed with anybody and everybody who isn’t one of his friends and that just feels so strange to me. Like he’s got a bodyguard who’s extremely loyal to him right there, so why not ship them?

A NOTP

Romantic Greedling is just… ew. I’ve also seen people shipping him with Edward and Lan Fan which is equally gross.

What are my favorite platonic/familial relationships?

Really just him with the whole Devil’s Nest gang, but especially Martel and Bido. I feel like he and Martel are drinking buddies that get competitive with one another when it comes to things like cards and knife tricks. On the other hand, I think he’s close with Bido because he appreciates that he’s a great listener and very trustworthy. I also like the idea that him and Lust were close with each other, so they’re another favorite dynamic for me.

What popular headcanon do I disagree with?

It’s not really a headcanon, but I really don’t like how people portray him as a complete idiot. Arrogant, reckless, and lacking a certain practicality that comes with growing up as a normal human? Yes. Utter dumbass who doesn’t even know his abc’s? Absolutely not. He’s cunning, charismatic, and people-smart. After 200 years of living, he’s probably got a surprising amount of wisdom when it comes to people, too.

What position do they sleep in?

Very comfortably next to his Hatsune Miku body pillow. He doesn’t sleep a lot since he doesn’t need to, but when he does, he alternates between sleeping on his stomach and side. He can’t sleep without a few pillows, plenty of soft blankets, and a lover next to him (or so he claims.)

What crossover AU would I like to see?

Him and Bad Grief from Pathologic would be an unholy combo. They would scam people together while internally crying about how they just want their friends to love them.

What’s my favorite outfit they’ve worn?

I personally think that original Greed has the best design (except for those godforsaken shoes of his.)

Havoc

What song reminds me of them?

I actually don’t really have a whole lot of songs that I associate with him. Maybe Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys? It kind of gives me his vibes.

What do they smell like?

Gunpowder, cigarette smoke, and roses from the bouquets he buys.

An OTP

I really like Havoc x Catalina a lot. Part of it might be my completionist mind telling me to ship the two characters that complain about not having partners, but also I think himbo x energetic girl has great energy. They also work painfully well in film noir AUs.

A NOTP

Havoc x Lust is really pretty eh, but I’ve not seen a whole lot of people shipping it. For the most part, I haven’t seen a whole lot of bad ships with him.

What are my favorite platonic/familial relationships?

As much as I enjoy them romantically, I also really love his friendship with Roy and Riza. I think that his friendship with Breda is underrated, too. The idea of Breda coming to visit Havoc every other day to keep him company since he’s the least busy of team Mustang lives in my head rent free.

What popular headcanon do I disagree with?

I’ve not heard a whole lot of headcanons regarding him, so I don’t have a whole lot to disagree with.

What position do they sleep in?

Unlike Mustang who progressively sprawls out in his sleep, Havoc just flops down on the bed and sleeps in whichever position he lands in. He has a tendency to flail a bit in his sleep, especially if he’s dreaming a lot. Post paralysis, he sleeps on his back and is far more still with his arms.

What crossover AU would I like to see?

Him and Alfyn Greengrass from Octopath Traveler! They’re my blonde himbos of choice, so I legally have to think they’d be fun in a crossover.

What’s my favorite outfit they’ve worn?

This one! It’s really simple, but I like it a lot.

[zuffer-weird-girl]

Mano eu amo vc kkklkklk só entro aqui pelo meu amado Royai , Todomomo e por Vc , amo headcannons do Chisaki com enfermeiras 😏 queria ele com uma no tartarus , e ele dando chilique pq só quer ser atendido por ela kkkkk ( se não for abusar ) bjs

"Man I love you kkklkklk I only come here for my beloved Royai, Todomomo and for you, I love Chisaki's headcannons with nurses 😏 I wanted him with one at the tartarus, and he giving a tantrum because he just wants to be attended to by her kkkkk (if not to abuse) kisses"

"MISS (L/N)!" a young male nurse had just barged into the room you were currently on, and the poor thing seemed both devasted and like he was attacked by something.

"Woah there kiddo calm down!" You exclaimed while getting up, holding the poor young worker's shoulder as he breathed in and out desperately, somehow finding comfort in you again. "What's wrong? Did you went to All for One's cell and he sayed bullshit and then you fell down the stairs?" You giggled while the poor young man growled.

Being a worker on the the most famous villains prison always did indeed messes up with your mind... Tartarus had the most dangerous and cruelest villains ever that Japan had, and clearly sometimes ghey did messed up with tbe workers minds... or at least try it to.

"N-no... please just go talk with the guard outside. I can't deal with this anymore. I don't get ONE STEP closer to that man's cell!" He exclaimed while abruptly getting a cup of coffee on the machine.

You blinked at that and hesitantly walked out of the rest room to be met with one guard and your superior.

"Good morning gentlemans. What's gotten into him?" The guard huffed a puff of irritated air as he pointed with his chin at one direction while your superior sighed in desperation.

"The same thing that happened with the other four nurses that covered your shift on that man's cell (Y/n)... no one can enter that place besides you, is a fact by now." You tilted your head in confusion before the guard manifested.

"That bastard Chisaki, miss (y/n). Even without his arms the son of a bitch can still kick anyone's ass who dares to take one step inside his cell.... except you apparently. "

You really had to hold back your laughter at that one.

Overhaul, Chisaki Kai. He was the new prisoner that had just got in Tartarus one year by now... you were the first; your coworkers sayed 'poor soul'; one to get inside and talk face to face with the villain as you explained to him.

His eyes were so empty and yet so full of terror... only nodding and shooking his head numbly, not even dating to meet your eyes... but even despite that he was still a very arrogant and stubborn man, not letting you touch him by any means for the first few visits you made.

You were patient though... making small conversations, slowly getting why he was here exactly... hearing him talk instead of hearing humors or reading his profile.

After some weeks he allowed you to touch him with gloves; you threatened to his wounds and let him vent... you knew he needed that more than anything by that moment, and you were more than glad to hear that beautiful voice...

After you hearf what exactly took his arms away you were shocked, disgusted and sad... surprising the man in so many levels.

After months of talkating, threating and knowing each other, he was slightly infatuated by you, and the moment you explained to him you were quirkless was just the cherry on top for Chisaki to threat you completely different than his forst meeting with you.

He wouldn't at least complain THAT MUCH when you feeded him at least... both arms losted made the simplest activities seem like it was impossible.

Although there was this one time you couldn't come and sended one friend of yours instead while you took care of a newbie on the prison..

Poor woman came back traumatized and asked to leave her job the next day.

Then another time when you were sick, knewing about Chisaki's mysophobia you asked gently another coworker to go in there instead of you.

The man came back with a beaten up face and in the end the nurse needed to be treated...

This happened at least four times by now... and always ended on the same thing.

"(Y/N), not even us can enter his cell. He knocked out at least five or six guards of ours..." the man exhale desperate.

"And had the nerve of demanding your presence and leaving me with a damn scar on the left side of my face." Yhe guard showed it to you the medium scar adoring his jaw.

"Jesus Christ..." you whispered with widen eyes as you sended him to see the nurse inside, he had a minor healing quirk to that would help a bit... at least.

"Please (y/n) go into his cell, he hadn't eaten anything the whole day and didn't changed his bandages... and with the fight he had with our guards and nurse he surely afquired more bruises." You nodded before picking your stuff and walking towards Overhaul's cell.

You placed your card and passed through the door which quickly closed, safety measures in there were serious, as you looked around the cell and smiled at seing the back of the man sitting on his bed.

"You need to stop doing that you know?" Your voice caught his attention as he turned his front to you with a monotonously look while you gave him a sweet but yet nervous smile, pointing at outside.

"Poor thing looked like he had just come out of a war! What did you even do?" You picked a washcloth and rubbed the hints of blood from the walls, which you couldn't help but wince.

"They sended a incompetent useless brat that surely wouldn't be fit for a decent job." He said numbly before sighing when you sitted on a chair next to his bed.

"Then I do a 'decent job' then?" You giggled while he only stared back at you "I will have you know that one of the womans that came in here were one of our best nurses... until she left her work after covering me that timr." You eyed him with a cocky smile and a eyebrow lifted up.

"Didn't sound like she was. And don't get full of yourself now, you just happen to be only one I can atture." He growled, easing up a bit at hearing your giggling a apology.

Such a sweet thing on this dark, depressed and dangerous place... how surprised yet blessed was he?

Did he really deserved any of your kindness? Any of your sweet as honey words?

You brought up on your bag before breaking apart the chopsticks. He arched kne eyebrow at it before noticing that the usual disgusting food or soup; gosh he hated soup more than germs; that he was served at tartarus weren't in the room.

Placing the pieces together he sighed in annoyance and embarrassment before laying his head on the wall.

"You will be fired for that idiot. Giving a prisoner proper food instead of that disgusting and nauseous things..." you look up at him, already a takoyaki on the chopsticks.

"Don't worry." You chirped "First I told them this was my lunch, then after I lost the hunger. Simple as that!" You sayed cutely while he deadpanned.

"What a poor and dumb strategy."

"Hey! Is a good one!"

"No of course it isn't." He showed with his chin at the camera "Those sick can see us and hear us by now."

"Only see. And like my genius plan will work, we've got nothing to worry about it!"

"You will be fired." He said monotonously but still feeling a painful bitter grow on his chest.

You being fired meaned that you weren't coming back. Others will try to replace you... dumb and idiotics... no one could replace such a divine creature.

"Actually I don't think I would be fired... especially when I am the only one that enters in here that Isn't... you know, knocked out or simply left here terrified of everthing."

He hummed in annoyance before frowning at seing you standing a bit of the food you had for him to eat.

He had to control really hard to not to blush.. he never ever had these problems, so why with you was so... warm and left him without air?

He reluctantly parted his lips, averting his eyes before you placed gently the food inside his mouth.

He sighed in bliss at not feeling the lifeless taste he was used to by now or the disgusting misoshiro soup they offered. The flavors on his mouth giving him a moment.

"Is it good?" He nodded monotonously still munching slowly, averting his gaze away from your at seing you had smiled sweetly at him. "That's a good thing Chisaki-kun!"

He swallowed before feeling shivers of displeasure at hearing that name, he wasn't Overhaul anymore and had demanded you to not call him that either... but his first name? Were you even going to accept it?

"Chisaki? Don't want the rest?" Your voice broked him out of his thoughts as he looked at you extending another small amount of food to him again.

He growled again before accepting and opening his mouth again.

This was humiliating...

After he finished you were relieved at least, since your superior had told you that Chisaki havent eaten anything since your last visit...

"Kai." He suddenly said before you offered him a cup of water.

"Huh?"

"Call me this. Do not call me 'Chisaki-kun', it sound ridiculous, so call me 'Kai' instead."

He looked at you from the conor of his eye and got surprised at seing the hint of pink on your cheeks.

"Ok then.. Kai." You smiled warmly at him and for the first time that you ever met this man, he half smiled.

You wanted to scream at the sign, despite being a villain, you couldn't deny that Chisaki was attractive, but seing him smile? It was just another level.

"U-uh.. Oh! I remembered!" You messed around on your bag before taking out a black surgeon mask, his eyes widening a bit at the sign. "I brought this for you. Sorry for taking too long, im such a cloud head!" You rubbed the back of your neck in embarrassment as his eyes still were pierced to the mask.

"Why...?" He asked sorely and weakly, making your soine go cold.

"Well, I know how you aren't the most comfortable in here, and also your mysophobia... so I went to look for masks, but I knew you also prefered black so it took me a while to find it... the majority of them are always white or even blue..."

He looked up at you, eyes full of disbelief yet shock.

"C-Can I put it for you?" It ook a bit of time for him to answer back before he slowly but suspiciously nodded.

Instead of feeling jis skin errup in irritation, he felt waves of electricity and warmth surround all of his body when he felt the tinies and quickiest brush of your fingers on both sides of his face.

He arched one of his eyebrows at you when he heard your whine when you got back. Silently demanding a explanation for that sound.

"Is just that... now I can't see your smile neither your whole beautiful face anymore..." you immediately smacked a hand over your mouth in panic.

Did you really just said that OUT LOUD?!

His low disbelieved yet relieved chuckle made you ease uo a bit before tensing at seing how tjose golden eyes were luff red, but knowing him, he wouldn't let any tear fall, evem if he needed.

"I think you're mistaken things here... you're the... you still have bkth of your arms and also are the... beautiful one... not the lther way around... I'm hideous... not from outside, but inside... can't you see..?" he swallowed the sob before he saw your own eyes tearing up.

"Why are you crying for now?" He asked quite angrily before returning to his cold composture again.

"I guess... its because I think you're the last lerson that deserved to go through this..."

"You're a idiot." He dropped his head hund low "I know you readed and know what I've done, so stop pretending-"

"You just wanted to repay your father... righ Kai?"

He felt his body freeze at your commentary, he slowly looked up at you and cri ged at the sign of you, ghe most beautiful and pure person he ever saw, crying because of him.

"I know how you feel... I'm so sorry. The yakusa shouldn't had ended in that way..."

Before he knew it a sob escaped from his mouth and he immediately cursed out loud. He felt your arms envelope around him, not feeling irritated but instead... relieved.

"I can check on him if you want..." you offered as his silent tears fell from his eyes.

"I did that to him...he just wouldn't accept it and I did that with him... I-" he interrupted himself at feeling your hand to pat his head gently.

"I know... I know." He let himself relax at your body, it was way comfortable than that project of bed of his...

"You better had showered and not to tell this-"

"Showered at least two times today and why would I tell this to someone?" You asked while resting your head on his neck as he did the same with your head.

"... I have no idea. You're definitely the most weird perso I ever met... and I have met plenty."

"Is that a good or a bad thing at least?"

"...good. A... good thing. A weird... angel.." you widened your eyes and vlushed furiously at hearing of what he called you.

You looked up and saw how his eyes were peaceful closed... poor man didn't get good sleep...

A guard passed through and you made a signal to him, clearly telling him to go away and that you were spending your whole shift on here.

You were falling for this criminal... it was wrong? Deadass wrong... but you couldn't control it.

Both of you had putted each other on a spell and didn't even knew it...

[firewoodfigs]

morning toasts and thunderstorms

read on ao3 | for @royaiweek day 4, crackle - thank you mods for all the hard work so far 💕

Summary: Mister Mustang has a gift or two for Miss Hawkeye.

[a/n: (i) whatever Roy is reading is taken directly from Issac Hollandus’ Complete Alchemical Writings, Part 1. (ii) this was supposed to be a future chapter of a slow unravelling, but I have terrible project management skills xD (iii) for @havocsss - more young!royai for you! <3]

~x~

“Man should not use the Art except for the salvation of his soul… Only then can he be given the secret signs of the philosophers of sages…” Roy Mustang chanted under his breath while pacing around the room.

He never thought he would live to see the day where he would actually find alchemy boring. Learning would have been easier if he had someone to quiz him on the content, but in the short span of his apprenticeship he had already come to understand that Miss Hawkeye was - well, to put it nicely, a hermit.

He'd tried, tried his valiant best to talk to her - about anything, really. School, her hobbies, her likes and dislikes… At some point he’d gotten so desperate for human interaction, he even tried to talk to her about the weather. The weather, for goodness sake!

Even thinking about it made him feel pathetic. Miss Hawkeye had simply stared at him blankly before returning to her room, door tightly shut and locked to ward off any potential evil like…

He was probably a menace in her eyes, so he supposed it would be him.

For the most part, therefore, Roy wisely refrained from disturbing her peaceful solitude. She was content to be left alone to her own devices, and he was inclined to think that his time could have been spent a lot more productively instead of embarrassing himself further in front of his master’s daughter.

But on lonely, chilly nights like these where the crackling of the fireplace was his only companion, Roy found himself missing his sisters and aunt terribly. Though they were a rambunctious, rowdy bunch - the living antithesis to Miss Hawkeye - they at least made for good company.

Roy sighed before flipping the dusty tome open once again. “Sulphur indicates fire… it is the earth and beginning of all metals. It is the female who brings forth the fruit. For no seed can grow unless it be first thrown into fertile soil, then beautiful fruit will come from it.”

Did fruits have any correlation to alchemy? Surely Master Hawkeye must have known better than to ask him to get through a pile of impertinent information…

“And when a pure is joined to a pure... it brings forth pure fruit. Thus, they are man and woman, fire and water... ” To his hormonal thirteen-year-old brain the underlying implication was as clear as day. Heat began to rush to his cheeks as he read it out loud -

- which, of course, was the precise moment Miss Hawkeye chose to walk in.

Roy jumped, startled by the sudden intrusion before quickly snapping the book shut. “Good evening, Miss Hawkeye…” his voice trailed off, unsure if he was encroaching on her personal space.

Miss Hawkeye didn’t respond. Instead, she continued to turn on the spot, head darting from side to side as she paced around frantically. From her distress it seemed like she had misplaced something important. Normally, her footsteps were so quiet that he would miss her whenever she came down to pour herself a glass of water, but this time he could definitely hear them over the fire’s crackle.

Ignoring the possible humiliation that might ensue, Roy tried again, stepping closer towards her this time. “Are you okay, Miss Hawkeye? Did you lose something?” As tense as she usually was, he’d never seen her so anxious, and he was beginning to worry for the younger girl.

Miss Hawkeye finally turned to acknowledge his presence. Well, look - we’re making some progress here!  

“My…” she stuttered, as if hesitant to divulge any information to him. He waited encouragingly. “My necklace. It’s gone.”

Roy’s palms were open in earnest, in an attempt to convince her that he meant no harm. “I can help. What does it look like?”

“It’s a little medallion on a silver chain,” she answered vaguely. He nodded before inching closer to her, following her around quietly as she continued her search while keeping an eye out for anything that glimmered in the dark.

“Do you know where you might have dropped it?” Roy asked.

“I… I’m not sure. I’ve been searching all over the house since before dinnertime, but I haven’t seen it anywhere,” she answered.

“Maybe you left it in school?”

“I might have,” she mumbled. Miss Hawkeye was very upset, he realised, upon examining her face now well-illuminated by the small fire burning in the hearth.

Briefly, he wondered if she was going to cry.

“If so, then we’ll look for it tomorrow,” he said, offering her a reassuring smile.

“No, I have to find it now,” she countered, pitch rising subtly in irritation. Roy blinked at her in confusion, wondering if she was going to rush into her school compound at this ungodly hour alone to search for it.

The stubborn glint in her eyes told him that she had every intention of doing so. Under other circumstances he might have applauded her bravery, but in all honesty it was rather absurd for a girl her age to do such a thing. Why - Aunt Chris would have skinned him alive if he let Vanessa even so much as roam the streets of Central alone at midnight!

Unfortunately, Miss Hawkeye’s desire to do so was interrupted by the loud, ominous crackle of thunder that signalled the onslaught of an impending storm. She jumped slightly at the sound, before swallowing hard at the realisation that she couldn’t return to school now to look for it.

“We’ll look for it tomorrow, alright? You’ll get it back, I promise.” Roy raised two fingers up like he was making a vow and looked at her solemnly, hoping to convince her to put a little faith in him.

She stared into his obsidian eyes, as if searching for any hint of a lie, and nodded begrudgingly when she was finally convinced that there were none. Miss Hawkeye was willing to believe him - for now, at least - and muttered a soft thanks before turning on her heels to return back to her room.

Roy, on the other hand, sank back into the couch, determined to at least scrape through the endless material that he’d been given, although her forlorn expression never quite left his mind.

He shook his head, burying himself again in his books if only to pass the time.

It turned out to be a massive downpour, but two hours later the skies finally calmed down and the rain subsided. Roy let out a satisfied smile at his progress, having completed a chapter before the rain stopped. Rubbing his eyes to rid them of any fatigue, he stood up and began to tiptoe quietly towards the door after getting his coat and a lantern that would be his guide in his hunt for Miss Hawkeye’s necklace.

~x~

Roy was beginning to wonder if he was cursed with a penchant for bad ideas. The walk to Miss Hawkeye’s school had left his shoes completely soaked with damp, muddy soil and broken twigs, and every step he took was accompanied by a disconcerting squelch that left him terribly uncomfortable. The darkness that settled also painted the school in a particularly eerie light.

But of course, he wasn’t afraid. Scientists like him didn’t believe in the existence of supernatural beings like ghosts. After all, ghosts were but villains in children’s fairy tales designed to scare them…

… Right?

(If Roy was being completely honest with himself, he would have admitted that the weather-beaten compound bore an uncanny resemblance to a haunted mansion.)

He gulped. Nonetheless, he was adamant that ghosts were but silly, non-existent and utterly unscientific objects. Whatever the naked eye can’t see doesn’t exist!  

The memory of Miss Hawkeye’s melancholic expression chose to resurface at that point, and it was all the motivation he needed to continue trudging on. This was a chance for him to earn her trust and prove that he really just wanted to be her friend, not some weird freak obsessed with alchemy without any capacity for normalcy.

Roy might have been an idiot in many senses of the word, but he wasn’t that foolish to pass up on an opportunity like that.

With that in mind, he climbed up the iron gate with renewed conviction. His slippery soles made this task considerably difficult, but he was indisposed to give up on something that he had already set his mind on. Resting a foot conveniently on a ledge, he let his weight settle there for a bit before hauling himself up with all the strength his scrawny body possessed and jumped across.

Roy grinned triumphantly as he landed safely in one piece before commencing his search. He started with surveying the classrooms, overturning the numerous old boxes and other junk stacked up against the walls; every nook and cranny for a chain to have fallen into and gotten lost, the very epitome of a persistent boy who refused to give up. He was unfazed even as he crawled underneath the tables to search for the tiniest sparkle, the familiar glimmer of jewelry…

And finally, his quest for Miss Hawkeye’s necklace bore fruit.

“Aha!” he cried out to himself when he chanced upon a broken chain with a shiny medallion in the centre. Quite a pretty necklace, actually. He could make out her initials carved onto the front, though the inscription on the back was far too small for his eyes to make out in the dark.

His joy, however, was cut short when another crackle sounded off in the distance.

“Oh dear, I sure hope it doesn’t start pouring again,” Roy muttered under his breath, before tucking the necklace securely into his pocket and dashing out of the classroom. This time, it was a lot easier to climb over the gate, but by the time he landed on the other side it had begun to drizzle, and so he lifted his coat over his head before making a run for it.

In the end, the protection his coat offered was but inconsequential. By the time he was midway through his journey back another downpour had begun, and he could only hope that his feet would be fast enough to escape any lightning that might strike him dead and leave Miss Hawkeye without her beloved necklace.

When Roy finally arrived back at the mansion he was thoroughly soaked from head to toe, but he was at the very least grateful that he managed to evade death by electrocution. Stepping in and closing the door quietly so as to not wake any of the Hawkeyes, he made his way to the bathroom in quick, long strides, hoping to take a warm shower to quell the shivers now wracking through his weedy frame.

~x~

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why the chain had broken off. From the looks of it, it was way too long for someone of her stature, and the added stress on it as she paced around the house daliy to complete her chores fastidiously certainly contributed to its fragility as well.

Roy found himself suddenly feeling very grateful for his sisters. For while they could be utter nuisances who never failed to ridicule his love for alchemy on a daily basis, they’d always badgered him with silly requests to transmute accessories for them from random bits of metals and ores.

He thought it was one of the most useless purposes of alchemy, but now he was glad. It turned out to be very useful as he drew an alchemical array on his desk and placed the broken necklace on top with practiced ease, adjusting the chain a little so that it was shorter and more comfortable for Miss Hawkeye.

He let out a muffled sneeze into his arm before clapping his hands together. With a familiar crackle, an almost-magical blue light the necklace was restored back to its original state soon enough - perhaps even better than before, he thought to himself with a little bit of pride as he admired the gleaming silver under the candle’s comforting light.

With the shortened chain, though, there had been a bit of extra metal left behind, and he was in a bit of a dilemma as to what to do with it. Vanessa would probably know best, but she wasn’t around, and calling her at one in the morning to ask for help over something as trivial, as asinine as this would only guarantee him a slow, painful death.

Roy stared at the remnants of Miss Hawkeye’s necklace contemplatively for a long, hard moment before a brilliant idea dawned upon him.

Earrings.  

Trinkets like necklaces and bracelets were prone to being lost and forgotten, if the many necklaces and bracelets lying around his Aunt’s tavern after an exhausting day of work was any indication. Earrings, on the other hand, were a lot less susceptible to such incidents since they would remain firmly embedded in a person’s earlobes. Like the ones Aunt Chris wore.  

With that in mind he set out to make a pair of matching earrings that would hopefully bring a smile to her sullen countenance. The transmutation circle crackled again, and - voila! Roy mentally applauded himself for his ingenuity as he admired the silver studs in front of him.

It was simple, nothing extravagant, but he thought the simplicity suited Miss Hawkeye since she didn’t seem to incline towards anything particularly ostentatious. For starters, she seemed to be in the habit of recycling her clothes, and they were generally plain and practical (something that would have probably left Vanessa aghast at the mere thought of it).

It would be a fitting match for her, no doubt.

Roy allowed himself one last grin of approval at his handiwork before finally drifting off into a satisfied slumber.

~x~

“You look… tired,” Riza remarked casually the next morning over breakfast as she took note of the lethargic manner in which he bit into his toast. Initially, she thought it might have been because she did a bad job at preparing breakfast, but her toast was fine. Impeccable, even. One of her better accomplishments in the kitchen.

Roy sipped at his tea drearily. “Wha-what? No, I’m fine,” he mumbled, before attempting to shove the toast into his mouth with greater gusto. It was a poor mimicry of how he normally devoured his food, but it seemed to placate Miss Hawkeye a little, at least.

Casting a quick glance at her, he realised that she still looked rather jittery. Miss Hawkeye couldn’t stop jiggling her knees while frowning at her toast like it’d committed a heinous crime, and Roy wondered if she was still worrying about her missing necklace.

“Thank you for the lovely breakfast, Miss Hawkeye,” he said sincerely, hoping to distract her a little while stuffing the final bit of toast into his mouth. He leaned back into the chair to stretch his arms, preparing himself for the day ahead and to give her his gift.

Truthfully, the latter was quite the daunting task because he didn’t know what to expect. Would she punch him, thank him, or bury him six feet under for even daring to search for her necklace of his own accord?

She merely nodded at him before rising to clear the plates, though he rose immediately to halt her actions. “I can do it, Miss Hawkeye. It’s no problem at all,” he sputtered before positioning himself in front of her.

It was now or never.

“Um, I have a present for you,” he stammered, reaching into his pocket to show her the reason behind his dark circles and intermittent sniffles.

Roy hoped desperately that he wasn’t coming down with a cold. He still had plenty of work to catch up on, and he doubted that Miss Hawkeye would take to him sneezing in her face kindly.

She let out a muted gasp upon noticing the familiar silver gleam. “You�� how did you get it?”

The accusatory edge in her voice wasn’t lost on Roy. He wanted to sigh in exasperation, frustration - here he was, doing something nice for a girl who glowered at him on a daily basis, treated him like he was a curse to humanity…

Nonetheless, he reined in those feelings quickly. It was probably more urgent to correct any misconceptions that Miss Hawkeye might have first, lest she thought he stole it from her or something. “I… uh, I found it in your school yesterday,” he mumbled under his breath.

“You… went to my school?” She stared at him incredulously.

Roy nodded. He could feel the embarrassment springing in his chest, making its unwelcome appearance on his pale features. “I managed to fix it - I think you might’ve dropped it because the chain broke,” he held it up, as if to demonstrate his craftsmanship. The chain was shiny and pristine and brand new under the welcoming, fulgent rays of the morning sunlight creeping in through the lilac portieres.

All in a day’s work!  

“Here you go.” Roy inched forward to put it on for her, reaching over her shoulders to clasp the necklace securely in place. It nestled in the hollows of her neck peacefully. Upon observing that the modified length was better fitted for her petite size, as he’d predicted, Roy couldn’t resist the urge to let out a pleased smile.

She said nothing. He raised his arms slightly in defense as he stepped back, but she made no move to hit or strangle him. Instead, Miss Hawkeye only fingered the medallion reverently with bright eyes - oh God, please don’t cry - as if to reassure herself that it was indeed real.  

Taking this as a sign to continue, he dug out the earrings he’d made the night before, allowing them to rest on his outstretched, sweaty palms.

Roy inhaled before launching into a senseless rant. “I, well. I shortened your chain a little because it looked like it was too long for you, and there was some leftover metal, so I made you a pair of earrings. I don’t know if you have piercings, but I thought they would match your necklace well, and also they’re less prone to being lost or misplaced or stolen…”

Miss Hawkeye interrupted his nervous rambling with an extended hand of her own, reaching out to pick up the pair of studs. “Thank you,” she murmured indistinctly, before making a move to leave for school, bag slung over her shoulder as the slightest hint of a blush began to grace her cheeks.

“You’re welcome,” Roy replied, suddenly feeling very awkward himself. Did she like his present, or did she think he’d crossed some invisible boundary by taking the liberty to make a pair of earrings with the remainders of her chain?

Roy stared into his reflection in his cup of tea, wondering if all that effort had been for naught. With a despondent sigh, he began to clear the plates, snivelling and rubbing his nose with his sleeve as he scrubbed at the crockery idly.

Little did he know that Miss Hawkeye had fastened the studs securely onto her earlobes as soon as she was out of the door, and from that day forward she wore them every single day without fail.

[writing-royza]

Royai Week Prompt Five - Picture Prompt

The last of five days of writing nothing but Royai, but certainly not my last writing for this couple. They’re simple too sweet, too awesome, too rich a playground for my imagination to stay away from. I hope you all had a happy Royai Week and Day, and wish you all the best.

Today’s prompt is based off of this picture:

-----

A Roof With a View

He stuck his head through to door to the Archive room, allowing his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting before he spoke. “Hey. Have you got a second?”

“If it gets me away from dealing with whatever this sorry excuse for a filing system is, I’ve got two seconds.” Leaning back in his chair, blowing a piece of hair out of his eyes with minimal success, Hughes reached up and removed his glasses. “What’s up?”

Roy grinned. “If you’re so sick of sorting through paper, I’ve got a little job that might interest you.”

Groaning aloud, Hughes slouched lower in the chair. One hand rose to rub at his eyes. “Oh, for the love of…. It’s not enough that I’m stuck in this tiny backwater of a room halfway across the country from my wife and daughter, but now I’ve got to deal with one of your hare-brained schemes?” His hand dropped away to reveal an answering grin. “I love it. What do you have in mind?”

Roy stepped inside and shut the door behind himself. “Okay, what is the one thing Hawkeye never, ever wants to celebrate?”

“Victory Day. Amestris Day. The anniversary of the day she met you.”

Rolling his eyes,  Roy leaned against the wall. “Would you be serious for five minutes? Try again.”

A spark of realization lit in Hughes’ eyes, and he slipped his glasses back on. “Her birthday!” A quick calculation took place, bringing a hint of slyness to his expression. “Her birthday that’s this week.”

Roy tapped a knowing finger to the side of his nose. “Now you’re catching on. So, listen, I’ve got a plan that’s going to guarantee she has some kind of celebration for it, even if it’s just her and me, but —“ He broke off as Hughes began making mock kissing noises. “You. Serious. Five minutes.”

“It’s more like four and a half, now.” He raised his hands in the face of Roy’s glare. “Okay, okay. You mentioned having a plan.”

“Right. I’ve got the location in mind, and it’s ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure to be deserted… but it’s a question of getting her there. I don’t want to just… you know, walk right up and go “Hey, follow me for a minute.” That’s not….” He faltered for a moment, trying to find the right words. “It doesn’t have enough…”

“‘Pizzaz?’” Hughes offered, dryly.

“Yeah, that works. Anyway, what I’d like you to do, is deliver a message, telling her where to meet me. I’ll take it from there.” Roy suddenly frowned. “…Am I overdoing this?”

“Maybe not overdoing; more like overthinking.” Propping his chin on his fist, Hughes smiled. “I’ll make sure she gets there. Once you tell me where ‘there’ is, and also, because I’m curious, what your little celebration plan is.”

Roy shrugged. “Nothing terribly special. She’ll kill me if I get too fancy with it. All it’s going to be is cupcakes, coffee, and some conversation; nice and relaxing.” He paused. “On the Headquarters roof.”

Hughes gave a soft whistle. “Classy….” He gave his friend a scrutinizing look. “You’re sure you’re just doing this for our girl’s birthday? What you’re describing is turning rapidly from ‘simple birthday’ to ‘marriage proposal.’”

Another glare. “It’s still firmly on ‘simple birthday’ and you know damn well why.”

Once again, Hughes raised his hands. “Okay, fine, you’ve got it. I’ll make sure she’s there.” A brief pause. “Though if you wanted it to be a proposal, I’ve got some tips that —“

Roy turned and let his forehead thump against the wall in exasperation.

———————-

Alone, with the office quiet around her, it wasn’t hard to hear the footsteps coming down the hall. Signing her own name and forging Roy’s to the form in front of her, she placed it to one side of her desk, set down her pen, and was waiting with her hands folded on the surface when Hughes came breezing into the room.

“Hey, there she is!” He crossed the space between the door and her desk with his arms wide and a broad grin. “I’ve been so busy down in the Archives all day I didn’t have time to come say hello.”

She rose to meet him, smiling. “You didn’t have to take time away just to visit me. You could be on the phone to Central right now.”

Hughes’ hands settled on her shoulders, and he planted a swift, friendly kiss on her cheek. “I could, and I will be, but there’s few things I have to take care of first. That’s one —“ He seized her in a bear hug, and turned once on the spot, saying over her protestations, “— and that’s two!”

Smiling, Riza extricated herself from the hug, brushing her bangs back from her eyes. “Not that I don’t appreciate the gesture but… what’s gotten into you?”

“A little bird told me it’s your birthday today, and I couldn’t very well let the day end without at least wishing you a happy one.” He grinned as her face lost hers. “Uh oh. I know that look.”

“The one where I suspect the little bird you mentioned creates fire when he snaps his fingers?” Riza leaned back against the front of her desk, folding her arms. “He got it into his head years ago that I’ll actually enjoy celebrating my birthday if he just keeps insisting that I do, and I don’t know how to disillusion him of that.”

“What’s there to say that he needs to be disillusioned?” Hughes held up a finger as she opened her mouth for a retort. “Hold on, let me explain what I mean. You and I both know that Roy cares very deeply about every person under his command. He’s not always the greatest at showing it, but he does care. So when he see something bothering you — like the fact that your birthday has rolled around once again and you’re dead-set against celebrating it — he takes it like a personal challenge to help you enjoy at least some part of the day.”

She grimaced. “I know you’re right. I just… I don’t want anything… special, anything with the whole office like last year, or really, any large group of people. I don’t want to be….”

Hughes nudged her gently in the ribs, teasing. “Treated like an actual lady?”

“Singled out.” She looked down at the floor with the admission, not rising to the joke. “I’m not against him acknowledging my birthday, that’s fine. I just don’t think it deserves anything fantastical or even particularly noteworthy.”

“Okay. I’ll go tell him that you don’t want him jumping out of a cake in front of the entire garrison.” He smiled when that drew a reluctant laugh. “Or… you could tell him yourself.”

“…What do you mean?”

Standing straight, Hughes held out a hand, his smile turning mischievous. “Come with me, and I’ll show you.”

———————-

He led her to the central staircase of the garrison, and up two floors to where the steps dead-ended in a small landing and a door marked “Roof Access — Authorized Personnel Only.” It was propped slightly open, to prevent locking her or Roy on the roof, but otherwise, there was no sign of him.

Mystified, Riza looked back over her shoulder to where Hughes waited several steps below. He made a shooing motion with one hand. “Go on; the sooner you head out there, the sooner I get to call my wife and kid.” He smiled. “I don’t think it’s what you’re expecting, trust me. Trust him. Okay?”

With a deep breath, Riza pushed the door open, and stepped forward.

Roy heard the soft squeak of the access door hinges, and glanced back in time to see Riza settling the door back on the small wooden wedge he had used to prop it open. She glanced up, catching sight of him almost immediately. He stood several feet back from the edge on the flat roof, his hands in his pockets, and his jacket discarded on the ground beside a blanket. The only things that rested on it were a white card box, two white mugs from the base cafeteria, and a thermal drink container.

“Hey.”

She came a few steps closer, folding her hands behind her back. “Hello. Interesting way you have about getting people to meet you.”

Roy snorted quietly. “Interesting is one word to describe Hughes. He didn’t drag you bodily out of the office while laughing like a maniac, did he?”

She smiled, shaking her head. “No, I came voluntarily.” Her eyes travelled toward the blanket and its contents. “He hinted you had something set up that you wanted me for.” She met his gaze again, the humour suddenly gone. “Something for my birthday.”

“Which I’m guessing then led to a discussion about how far I was planning to go.” He shrugged sheepishly in the face of her confirming nod. “I’ve taken it a little far before, I know. And while you were extremely gracious about it at the time… I still got the sense I overstepped.”

He moved a few steps closer, watching the unconsciously wary way she observed the approach. She was still suspicious that this was going to turn into more than it appeared. “I’m sorry about that. So I’m trying to do better this time. This time it’s just you and me. Just a small acknowledgement, because of how long we’ve known each other and because you’re very important to me.” He tilted his head toward the blanket. “If it’s okay?”

Roy was still watching her eyes when he saw the wariness fade. A bit of the tension she probably didn’t know she carried visibly in her shoulders eased out of sight, and she nodded, her lips twitching upward in a small smile. “That sounds… perfect.”

They settled together on the woven cotton of the blanket, Riza waiting as Roy poured coffee from the thermal container into a mug for her, and then one for himself. He rested a hand on the box. “Are you ready to not sleep for the next three days?” he asked, completely solemn.

She wrapped both hands around the mug, smiling at his antics. “Does that box contain paperwork?”

“Better.” He lifted the lid, exposing the pair of cupcakes inside…and had the distinct pleasure of watching her mouth fall open. “So the shop these come from calls these ‘Death by Chocolate.’ I’m hoping it’s not true, because… well, that’d be kind of an awful thing to do to you on your birthday.” He glanced up. “Might draw the attention you prefer to avoid, just in a way you weren’t expecting.”

Just as solemnly as he had been a moment earlier, she held out a hand. “I accept the consequences.”

It was easily the most decadent thing she had ever eaten. A dark chocolate cupcake piled high with chocolate buttercream frosting, chocolate sprinkles, and topped by a large marshmallow that had been dipped halfway into molten chocolate, its snowy white half pointing to the sky. Neither of them managed to eat more than half before being forced to stop by the sheer sweetness.

Taking a sip of coffee to clear the thick frosting from her mouth, Riza watched as Roy returned each half-cupcake to the box. “I’m going to have dreams about that cupcake. If I manage to sleep between the sugar rush and the caffeine high.”

Roy laughed, one hand going self-consciously to the back of his neck. “I promise, that’s the only part of my plan that’s actually backfired.”

“At least I’ll stay awake long enough to watch the sunset.” She nodded toward the front of the building. “It should only be another half hour or so. And then I think I can safely say I’ve put in enough hours at the office for today.”

“Riza, you could have said that three hours ago.”

She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “I had things to finish. And besides, it meant I was here for when this little rendezvous you planned was ready.” She glanced his direction to find him already watching her. “Which, I didn’t say it before, and I should have. Thank you for this. This is… much different than I thought it might be, and much better than I could have imagined.”

“This is more along the lines of what you wanted for a birthday celebration?” he asked. “Instead of the rest of the men and myself surprising you last year?”

“Yes.” She looked down into her cup, swirling the dark coffee slowly. “I’m a private person. I like my birthday — and any of its celebrations — to be the same. Private.” When she looked up again, it was to direct her gaze around the flat expanse of the roof. “And I don’t think you can get much more private than up here.”

“Good.” Leaning close, he wrapped one arm around her shoulders in a hug, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “Happy birthday, Riza.”

“Thank you.” She had to half-turn to plant a return kiss on his cheek. “And thank you for doing this.”

They sat there together, talking quietly as the sky faded from blue to an array of pastel pinks, oranges, and yellows, the light of the lowering sun bathing both of them, alone together, in a wash of golden light.

[harcidian]

I’m curious! What’s your favorite fma ship and why?

oh God where shall I start???? btw thanks so much for asking anon! I love answering q’s, it keeps my thinking gears going! And it means a lot to know someone’s curious so keep it coming!

tbh I love all fma ships and that’s one of the thousand reasons why I love the fma fandom. We support all pairings! But yes, I sure have my favorites :3 and the most will be— *drumroll*

🎉 Royai

This is mostly in the context of fma manga and fmab! I’m not a fan of what FMA: Conqueror of Shamballa did to royai and edwin

- I run a blog dedicated just for them ( @royriza ) dammit how can they do this to me

- gOd they’re so cute? I’m a real sucker for subtle implications, clandestine meetings and illicit affairs AND ROYAI SCREAMS IT ALL

- and wow black-haired and blonde tandem everyone

- I love their dynamics! Witty jests and remarks are their love language, and their endearment ranges from ‘lieutenant’, ‘colonel’ to ‘useless’ and ‘idiot’. HOW ARE THEY NOT CALLING EACH OTHER BY THEIR NAMES WHEN THEY CAN DO THAT TO OTHER PEOPLE

- they are in line with my views as a mental health advocate. Their relationship is so deep, man, they literally got each other’s backs and help each other be stable. (i made a whole analysis about it in this post)

- a real manifestation of actions speak louder than words IF YOU BLINK FOR ONE SECOND YOU’LL MISS HOW ENDEARING THEIR LOOKS ARE TO EACH OTHER

- they satisfy my feminist side like it’s so evident they are true equals of each other (and the rest of the pairings in fma BLESS YOU HIROMU ARAKAWA)

- whatever happens to roy happens to riza and vice versia I LOVE THIS PARALLELISM it’s just so subtle you have to keep rewatching it

- I have to admit, I WASN’T KEEN ENOUGH ABOUT ROYAI MOMENTS THE FIRST TIME I WATCHED FMAB it was like dropping a penny for every subtle royai hint and then I realized the jar was full in Episode 54, when Riza dropped her top in front of Roy and when Roy told her “I can’t afford to lose you.” THAT WAS MY ROYAI AWAKENING MOMENT

- further into the eps I’m laughing at how one minute I’m like NO ROY DON’T DO HUMAN TRANSMUTATION then when Riza got slit by the throat I’m like “ROY WTF SAVE HER” at that moment I realized oh boi I’m already in too deep for them

- after watching FMAB I had to do my research and found this lovely fandom! It’s all thanks to @justroyai— the first blog I encountered. I spent hours scrolling down their blog and that confirmed I really did fall down the rabbit hole to royai wonderland. Then I read fanfics they recommended and wow it’s such an honor to be a part of such a talented fandom

- I think what makes royai distinct from other fma pairings is that they don’t have a definite ending or a fully stated past. It’s all heavily implied! They’re kind of like Lan Fan and Ling, but Royai drops in more clues about their future and past, making headcanons more universal and established (?)

- as much as how I wanted more from them in the ending, I think it leaves more possibilities. Tbh if I were Hiromu Arakawa I wouldn’t even know how I’d end their chapter— so I might also leave it open for the readers to deliberately make them obsessed over royai

Well this is longer than expected, I feel like I still have so much to say about them! I’ll add more once squeeze em all out!

I hope I answered your question well and I hope you enjoyed reading anon! Please do keep asking I would love to interact with you all!

[prettywitchiusaka]

Royai Scene 83

I hinted at this before in an old fic of mine, but I love the idea of Roy being frustrated whenever he hears people say he’s holding Riza back. Not because he’s being insulted, but because he wonders if maybe there’s some truth to it.

Of course, there isn’t. But he can’t but sometimes wonder if that’s the case.

..............................

(The scene begins with Roy’s head on a bar. It’s been an hour, and already he’s had three rums and a gin and tonic.)

(He grumbles to himself and looks over at his designated driver, Riza Hawkeye, still nursing her own gin and tonic.)

(He’s angry, though not with her. No, he’s mad at himself. Earlier today, he overheard a couple of nosy soldiers talking about him and Riza. The usual stuff came up; about his exaggerated sex life and how he only keeps her around because she’s a good lay. But that doesn’t bother him, he’d heard it all before. What bothered him was their insistence on how she’d be better off in a higher position, instead of babysitting him 24/7.)

(This sent him into a grumpy mood for the rest of the day. And while he gladly took Riza up on her offer to go out for drinks tonight, he opted to drown his sorrows before talking to her about what was eating him.)

(For the first little while, anyway. Now, he was ready to talk.)

(He sighed and rolled his head over to peer at his precious assistant.)

M: Why do you put up with me, Hawkeye?

(She turns to look at him.)

M: You’re smart, beautiful, you can shoot around even the best assassins the military has to offer. You shouldn’t be waiting on some dumbass Colonel.

H: And pray tell, what do you think I should be doing?

(He shrugs.)

M: I don’t know. You could lead your own team, train snipers. Who knows!?

(Riza stares at him for a few seconds before sighing.)

H: Waiter?

W: Yeah?

H: Cut off Colonel Mustang. I think he’s had too much to drink, already.

W: Sure thing.

M: Oh, come on!

H: No, Sir!

(Roy groans and buries his head in his arms, defeated, while Riza continues sipping her drink.)

(About an hour later, Riza has driven Roy home and is currently opening his apartment door using the spare key he’d given her. After kicking it closed with her heel, she walks him over to and helps him onto the bed.)

M: Thanks.

(She doesn’t say anything as she takes his shoes off and throws them into the corner of the small room.)

(Despite how tired he is, Roy opens his eyes and watches Riza as she drapes a blanket over him. Guilt begins to rise in the pit of his stomach...)

M: I’m sorry about earlier.

(She looks at him in surprise, though that fades quickly.)

H: I know.

(He sighs, relieved.)

M: Good! I wasn’t looking to offend you.

(She sits down next to him.)

H: I was more annoyed than offended, really.

(He smiles sleepily.)

M: You know, you should really get out of the military once I get to the Top. You could finally live a normal life, find yourself a good man.

(Before he knows it, he feels her lips pressed up against his forehead, planting a kiss on it. He can even hear the smile in her voice when she speaks.)

H: I already have one.

(She gets up and leaves.)

H: Goodnight, Roy.

M: Goodnight, Riza.

(The last thing Roy hears is the sound of his door closing as he drifts to sleep, happy to know she’ll stick by him no matter what anyone says, cause that’s how he wants it to be.

[elricsyao]

Facing Death Chapter 14

Summary: Edward knows the feeling of death very well. He wouldn't feel its icy claws again until he was 14.

O: rA string of murders and a strange request leave Edward in over his head imprisoned many miles away from his loved ones. Will he be able to escape his prison or will he break and be killed?Parental!Royed!, Edwin, some Royai! Rated T for blood and gore and Eventual violent scenes

AO3 

ff.net

Words: 6153

Snow fell swiftly and quietly around the moonlit night, blanketing the earth. It was much too quiet for the young blond as he stared past the hole in the fence, brow furrowed and golden eyes filled with anguish.

Ed inhaled skaily, causing his exhale to mist in the falling snow. He shoved his numb fingers into his pockets. His gaze fell to his feet, eyes slipping shut as he tried to tell himself that the pain in his chest would disappear in time.

He quickly blinked away any remnants of tears; they’d do him no good. He’d done the right thing, it would take time to get used to being alone, but he’d get through like he always did, one day at a time.

You’ll see him again; this isn’t the last time, Ed reminded himself. He’d find the boy someday; maybe by then, Ryler will have forgiven him and understood the reasons. That was the most he could hope for because he couldn’t live with feeling like his father.

Nope. No, no way in hell you’re going to to start thinking about that bastard, Ed 

Ed nudged the thought away, pushing it into the deep recesses of his mind. Now was not the time to think about long-buried meaningless issues.

He turned his face up to the sky, distantly he heard the voices of the escapees on their way to freedom. The snow began to fall harder around him, causing the wind to pick up, buffeting his blond bangs around.

They need to hurry, he thought, slight panic coiling in his gut. It would be near impossible for anyone to see where they were going if they waited any longer. Ed shivered violently, wrapping his arms around him and hurried up to those still standing around it.

It seemed he wasn’t the only person that felt that way as Jack and another man were trying to convince an older woman and young boy to leave. The older woman’s face seemed to contort with fear at the thought of leaving, she glanced at Ed as he approached but kept her attention to the men in front of her.

“This is your only chance,” Jack pleaded, a hint of desperation in his voice, “they’ll kill you if you don’t escape.”

The older woman looked longingly through the fence, tightening her hold on the small boy who looked as if he didn’t understand what was happening.

Hurry up; there’s not much time left .

Ed looked behind him through the falling snow, no lights from the perimeter showed on them, he couldn’t see through the inky darkness, and there was no way of knowing how close the soldiers were.

Panic coiled in his gut at the thought, and he quickened his pace to the group.

“You need to leave now,” Ed ground out through gritted teeth, slightly startling the small group at his appearance. “There’s no time, either you leave and survive, or you stay here and die. What’s it going to be?” he snapped.

Tears filled the woman’s eyes, and suddenly she burst into tears.

No, no, no! There wasn’t time for this! She didn’t have time to cry; Ed didn’t realize he’d moved until he was nearly nose to nose with the older woman, grasping her arm firmly but not hard enough to bruise. He stepped through the hole, and the older woman followed, surprise coating her features.

“You have to go now! They will kill you; you’re useless to them.” Ed snapped, eyes blazing with a slight hint of panic. Yet the woman didn’t move, and Ed felt desperation overtake his mind. It clawed at his heart, and it took all of him not to start screaming at the woman.

His breathing picked up, and he began to take in quick, panicked breaths that burned his lung from the freezing air. No, no, no, this couldn’t happen now. He couldn’t afford to spiral into a panic attack now; he had to get through this. He repeated it to himself, even as his chest grew tight and his heart began to pound in his chest.

“You have to go,” He managed through gasped breaths, “Please,” It was desperate, but he didn’t care. He was sure his face held the panic that was tearing his insides apart piece by piece.

A brief pause, then the old woman nodded. She looked down at the small boy beside her and then nodded again, and Ed just about collapsed with relief. She walked as quickly as she could to the treeline, then turned and yelled, “Spasibo!”

But Ed had already turned, stumbling back through the hole, fisting his shirt as he tried to breathe. He was shaking, he realized. The woman was gone, but the panic wasn’t leaving, only tightening its hold on his already overtaxed mind.

His vision tunneled, heart roaring in ears. He realized his breaths were coming way too fast, and he choked. His eyes widened, and he slumped onto his side in the fallen snow. The cold seeped into his bones, causing his trembling to worsen.

I can’t breathe; I can’t breathe.

The realization caused the vice gripping his chest to tighten its hold, leaving him gasping. Each breath grew shallower than the last, and he clawed and scratched at his chest, anything for the precious air.

His muscles spasmed, and the pain nearly caused him to choke. His lips parted, chest heaving for oxygen that wasn’t coming. A shuddering gasp found its way through the seeming lack of oxygen.

I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.

Through the pounding of his heartbeat and sputtering gasps of agony, voices called out to him; they seemed muted like his ears were filled with water.

A sharp whimper escaped from him because, please, I don’t want to die. I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I don’t want to die.

The sensation of someone touching his shoulder managed to break through his panic. He flinched, fog clearing momentarily to focus on the two men in front of him. Their panicked expressions faded in and out through his wheezing and gasping.

“Ed, kid. Talk to me, what’s going on?” A voice broke through the fog, and Ed latched onto it, anchoring himself into reality for the moment.

“I一” Ed sputtered, his mind drawing a blank. “Panic attack.” The vice suddenly lifted just as quickly as it appeared, and he could breathe again.

The exhaustion hit Ed all at once, turning his limbs to lead. His head lolled into the snow, feeling as if it weighed hundreds of pounds. Weights tugged at his eyelids, but he couldn’t allow himself to lose consciousness out here. They were finished for if he couldn’t summon the energy to close up the hole.

The hole!

“C’mon, kid, we got you,” Jack’s voice broke in through the exhaustion. He felt hands looping around his shoulders, pulling him to his feet. The world spun for a moment, and Ed’s knees nearly buckled from the exhaustion weighing him down, but the hands didn’t let him fall.

“I一I needー” Ed broke off panting, drawing icy cold air into his oxygen-starved lungs. Hush chest ached with a vengeance, protesting at the deep inhales of breath. Oh yeah, he was going to be sore as hell tomorrow. “T-The hole...I...have to close the hole.”

Ed knew he was in no condition to use alchemy, knives attacked behind his eyes, causing his temples to feel as if they had a heartbeat. He didn’t think he’d be able to stand without stumbling and falling, yet he had to.

He had to do it for those who’d escaped; Ed was not naive to think that it’d be this easy. The Drachman soldiers would go after the escapees, and he imagined that it wouldn’t take long for the soldiers to catch up. Horses were much faster than walking. That was if the Drachman’s had horses at all, and Ed was sure they did. Once they caught up, it would be a bloodbath. The freed would have no way to defend themselves.

Ryler wouldn’t get the chance to live a normal life.

“Edward一” Ed ignored the rest of the protest; he quickly made up his mind. Sluggishly, he twisted out of the man’s grip. He swayed as the world tilted and spun around him. “Ed, kid, stop!” A hand pulled on his shoulder, nearly causing him to stumble. The goal was right in front of him; he couldn’t afford to fail.

He shrugged the hand off, agonizing, gasped pants escaping from his lips. His body protested with every step. He could barely inhale when he reached the fence. “Ed, you’re in no condition to do this.” Another protest from the man behind him.

“It’s either this or they get a head start on finding them,” He snapped between a gasp, no real heat in his voice.

Ed knelt in front of the hole, arrays flashing through his mind before choosing the right one. He claps, the alchemic energy hits his fingertips immediately, blue sparks dance on his fingers. A brief smirk appears on his lips before it’s gone just as fast. Alchemy uses energy from the user, the earth, anything it can get its metaphorical hands-on, which is why he feels like he’s about a second from passing out.

He has to do this quickly and cautiously, or it’ll rebound. He breathes shallowly and rapidly, preparing his quickly fogging mind for the transmutation and the possible oncoming rebound.

Ed pressed his mismatched hands into the snow, and the transmutation began. The weakness that hit him all of a sudden was so unexpected that Ed nearly lifted his hands. He forced himself onwards, pushing through the rapidly encroaching darkness. It was almost finished....just a little more…

Bang!

Seconds before the hole is fully closed, something hard cracked against his back.

He had to have passed out for a second because, in the next moment of clarity, a boot was on his lower back, forcing him into the snow, something cold pressed into his skull. He decided that any movement would result in a bullet in his head, and he didn’t think he’d be able to move with the way his limbs only twitched, and a wet feeling spread down his back.

He didn’t have time for the pain to set in before something collided with his temple, sending him into inky blackness.

They’d be running for hours now, running through piling snow through the darkness without a light to guide them. To Rose's relief, the small boy in her arms hadn’t stirred once. She imagined that they had to have been exhausted from the day’s events if the story Ed had given her was anything to go by.

Rose braced herself against another onslaught of howling wind, groans echoing from the others around her. There was no way of telling if they were headed in the right direction or not, but the direction they’d fled had been their only choice at the time.

She looked back, gaze traveling over those with her. As the night broke to dawn, dull sunlight peeked through the clouds but not enough to broaden their visibility. They would need to find shelter and then decide where to go from there. Yet, there was no telling how long it would be before they came across anything.

“Rose,” A voice called out from behind her, breaking through the howling wind. “We need to stop.”

She stopped and turned, flinching at the snow that flew into her face, momentarily blinding her. “What’s the problem?” She asked worriedly.

The group stopped, gathering in a huddle around her. The man who called her made his way to stand in front of her, clutching his young daughter to his chest, trying his best to protect her from the wind.

“We need to find shelter. It’s too dangerous to travel during the day, and I don’t want to risk them finding us.”

“That’s what I was thinking, but we’ve been traveling for hours now and come across nothing that could be used as a proper shelter.”

Worried whispers settled throughout the crowd of people, causing Rose’s worries to grow. Trees surrounded them from all sides, never crowding together enough for them to hide properly.

Rose swallowed back her growing fear. They couldn’t just stand around here forever doing nothing. It was possible if they traveled a few more miles, then they’d find some sort of cover, but it wasn’t a guarantee, and she didn’t think the elderly would last much longer with the way their eyes glowed with exhaustion and how they stumbled every few steps.

Of course, there was one option, alchemy. She glanced down at the boy in her arms and was slightly surprised to find him stirring. His blue eyes looked up at her, confusion clearing and face pinching into a frown. “What’s going on?” he looked around at the crowd of people, probably surprised there were so many.

Ryler could make us shelter .

It was a selfish thought, yet it was the only thing that came to Rose's mind. She briefly recalled the conversation she’d had with Ed about the boy and knew what she had to do.

“Ryler,” She set him on his feet on the snow, kneeling in front of him. He shivered, arms curling around themselves. He looked miserable. “How much alchemy did Edward teach you?”

Ryler rubbed his eyes and yawned before looking back at her. “I was able to learn a lot, so we got some harder things.” For a second, anger flashed in his eyes before it disappeared just as quickly.

“Do you know if you could create us a shelter in the trees?” She brushed down the hair that stuck upon his head and smiled at him. The small boy nodded, a look of determination settling upon his face.

“I think I can. Don’t worry.”

She nodded and stood. Turning her attention back to the crowd, she took the small boy’s hand and led him forward. “This is Ryler,” She began, motioning to the boy beside her. He shifted uncomfortably under the eyes of the crowd and moved closer to Rose. “Edward taught him. He can make us a shelter.”

The crowd spoke amongst themselves, seeming to Rose, unsure if it was a feat that the boy could accomplish. “Rose, isn’t he only five?” Brandon asked from amongst the crowd.

“Just because I’m five doesn’t mean I can’t do it!” Ryler burst, child-like annoyance on his face.

The boy crossed his arms and frowned, and Rose found herself proud of the boy who Ed said held so much fire.

“I don’t doubt it, son, but I hear alchemy is very tricky.” Brandon quavered, voice thick with uncertainty.

“So?” He challenged. “Ed thinks I can. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have shown me more if he didn’t trust me with it!” the boy yelled.

Ryler’s lip quivered dangerously, and Rose could see tears gathering in his eyes. He seemed to be seconds away from a meltdown if he didn’t get his way. She turned to the older man and hissed. “Let him try. No harm can come with it.”

Brandon stared at her, surprised. He relented, sighing, and nodding. “Alright. I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”

“Good,” She turned to the crowd, mentally counting the number of people that would need accommodation. “We need to hurry; the sun is almost up. I’ll show him where I think the shelter would be best held.”

Rose headed deeper into the thicket, small footsteps tromping through the snow after her. Snow covered the leafless trees, the early dawn light turning them into haunting phantoms. She shivered, kicking away tree branches scattered at her feet.

It was eerily quiet, but she knew it was just in her head. The group was only in the clearing; they were perfectly safe for the moment. Yet some part of Rose felt as if something was watching her every move.

“I think right here will be alright,” Rose said finally. “Is there any area specifically you need to draw the circle?”

Ryler shook his head. “I don’t think so; Ed told me that when he drew circles, it didn’t affect the transmutation.”

The boy settled himself into the snow.

After a few minutes, it became apparent to Rose that the time spent in the compound had had more effect on Ryler than she and Ed had worried about. He tensed up whenever the wind picked up, relaxing a moment later as if he’d only just realized it was the wind.

The hoot of an owl returning from the hunt startled the boy so severely that he flinched what had to be two feet into the air. His blue eyes turned toward her, glinting brightly in the early morning light, and her heart broke when he saw his hands shake, and his lips quiver.

What had those bastards done to him? Rose’s heart practically broke, watching the young boy reign his emotions as best as possible while making sure that the tears trekking down his face were silent.

Ryler still should’ve been with his family, entering school, playing from friends. He deserved all of that and so much more, and now it was very likely that it would take a while for the young boy to move past the past few months. It would take him a very long time to move past Edward.

“Ryler,” Rose settled in the snow beside him. The boy looked away from her, quickly wiping away any tears and then continued with his work. “Are you alright?” She asked.

Ryler paused once more, staring down at the half-drawn circle. “Why do you care,” he pouted, drawing his arms around his knees. He sniffled and wiped a hand across his nose. “Ed didn’t care. So why do you?”

“Ryler,” She chided, “Ed cares so much for you.”

The boy’s blue eyes narrowed for a moment as if he didn’t believe her, and after all that had happened in the past few hours, Rose couldn’t say she blamed him.

“If that was true, then why did he send me away?”

Distantly, something rustled nearby, and the rustling of the trees against the breeze grew, but Rose ignored it for the feelings of guilt and overwhelming that overtook her.

She started at the boy, a blank look on her face, contrasting the look of anger and misery on the face across from her. How was Rose supposed to respond to that?

“Rye一”

Rose’s next words never came out of her mouth because she suddenly found herself on the ground, the world going hazy around her, and a blood-curdling scream of agony tearing through her lips.

There was a wolf planted on her chest, jaws locked around her neck.

Ed hated waking up in strange places, absolutely hated it. He hated with a burning passion. He even hated it more than milk (no he didn’t, milk was on a whole different level). That wasn’t the point, though. The point was that waking up in a cold room, specialized metal handcuffs on your wrists, and having yourself situated in a metal chair with your legs restrained, would’ve panicked an average human beyond belief. Yet panic didn’t even describe the emotion he felt as he craned his head to look around at his new surroundings.

The walls were plain, faded white with water stains on the ceiling tiles. The floor was tiled, faded white as well. There was nothing noticeable or significant about the room to Ed’s annoyance. It looked like a regular room.

Who knew the Drachman’s had such awful taste.

You’re one to talk, the voice in his head reprimanded, sounding too much like Mustang.

Shut up; he snapped at himself.

He allowed his head to sag into the back of the chair, eyes falling shut, allowing himself to breathe through nausea that his gut conjured up from anxiety and the slight lick of pain emanating from his back and一

His eyes snapped open, and he remembered. Something had collided against him; a glance down at his abdomen quelled the fear that he’d been shot with a bullet. To Ed, it was a little surprising that they hadn’t used lethal force unless they wanted him alive.

They wanted him alive.

The magnitude of the thought was gut-wrenching, and he swallowed down the thickness in his throat. Right, this must be the part of his stay in the hellhole where they tortured him to get what they wanted.

A bitter smile forced its way onto his face, and he tilted his face up. “Y’know truth, I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but this is getting a little ridiculous.” He joked sardonically.

There was no way to get out of this, that was the first thing that was clear to him. The second was the flashes of memories, of what Mustang told him to do if he ever encountered a situation like this.

His superior had said something about staying silent, don’t give them what一

A sharp, deep, wailing scream shattered the quiet that encompassed the space that Ed resided. He tensed harshly, eyes trained carefully on the door. If he listened closely, he could hear the sound of an interrogation elsewhere.

Minutes that felt like hours seemed to pass as Ed kept a tense gaze on the door to his left. More than once did the panic almost overtake him, leaving him worrying for his loved ones, how would Al get his body back without him, would Winry be able to move on from him, how he’d never get to see Ryler living a happy life?

Stop! This is what they want. They want you scared.

Ed blinked stupidly, mind pulling him back to an interrogation tactic.

“Drachman are the worst. They leave their prisoners to stew in their thoughts, and when they come to interrogate, the prisoner breaks.” Mustang had told him, and he was glad that the conversation was one of the only ones he paid any attention to.

Was there anything else he told you, think…

Ed tried his hardest to remember, but all he got was vague memories of what to do if any other countries captured him.

He groaned in frustration. He needed to learn how to listen better and一

The metal door to his left groaned as it pushed open, interrupting Ed’s turbulent thoughts and silent panic.

He stared blankly at the five soldiers that filed in, the major general, an interrogator, a hulking man who was a major, and three lieutenants, including Phantom. His heart nearly sank when he saw the alchemist’s eyes pull away from his glare.

No hard feelings, the alchemist’s gaze said when their eyes met momentarily. The man looked slightly ashamed and horrified, and Ed couldn’t hold that against him.

A chair was dragged in the room for the general, the screeching nearly causing Ed to wince. The interrogator stared at Ed silently from the general’s side, ice blue eyes filled with anger, and Ed eyed the man warily. The man’s fists looked as if they could crush his head without even trying.

The major general stared at him, and Ed could see the barely restrained anger with the way the man’s face twitched, and multiple emotions flittered across his face. The silence also gave Ed to size the general up, taking in the man’s gray speckled beard and gray eyes that looked as if they wanted to tear him apart.

“Your companions have refused to tell me the ring leader of this operation,” The general’s rough voice echoed, a choleric bite to his voice, the general stood, moving to stand closer to the young alchemist restrained in the chair. “They didn’t even break when the brands bore into their skin, and the fire licked them and burned their skin,” The man moved to where his mouth was beside Ed’s ear. “Tell me, boy, do you know what a burn feels like?” The general hissed through his teeth.

“Can’t say I do, but you clearly一”

A fist connected with Ed’s jaw, snapping his head to his right. Bright spots momentarily covered Ed’s vision before he shook them away and turned back to bare his teeth at the general.

“I don’t have time for games, boy,” The general snarled.

“I don’t have time for this.” Ed mocked in a high pitched voice.

The next blow didn’t give Ed any time to prepare himself, copper quickly filled his mouth, and he spat it onto the ground between his feet. Blood trickled from the young alchemist’s nose, but he paid no mind to it.

“What happened to the stories I’ve heard of all these scary Drachman tortures? Afraid to use them on someone you can’t kill?” Ed challenged.

The general sighed, he glanced at the interrogator, who met his gaze and nodded in a silent message that had Ed curious. The man then swiftly opened the door, and the general turned his gaze back to Ed, and to his slight alarm, the coldness had made way for something else, something that Ed couldn’t pinpoint.

As quick as a snapping turtle, the general grasped Ed’s jaw, pulling his head up and gripping it so hard that Ed nearly groaned. “Don’t mistake me, boy. I was hoping that we’d be able to use slightly less...extreme methods.” His voice turned dangerous, somehow even more than it already was.

Did they think anything they were getting ready to do would get him to talk? They could try all they wanted, but they were never going to get him to sing like a canary.

The interrogator returned minutes later, eyes wide with a form of excitement that caused Ed’s nerves to build. “Odin iz nikh govoril. Ikh kurs na granitsu!” Ed didn’t catch anything the man said, but his heart sank when he saw the general’s eyes light up.

“Khorosho. YA podgotovlyu vecherinku dlya ikh poiska.”

The general turned to him, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. “Well, young alchemist, aren’t you lucky? Someone talked.”

Ed’s heart skipped a beat.

No, shit, no, no, no!

It took all of Ed’s strength to keep his calm composure. He couldn’t afford for them to see how scared the statement made him. But he was terrified.

The general stepped away from him and clasped the interrogator on the shoulder. “Two hours. Then he goes to the truck with the others.”

The interrogator simply nodded, satisfied. He took his leave along with Phantom, and another lieutenant and Ed was left alone with two muscular men who were about to beat the shit out of him.

Oh, shit.

The next two hours had passed in a pain-filled haze. The two soldiers had taken turns beating him bloody, going for Ed’s face, which he was now pretty sure was black and blue. His left eye had already swollen shut, and no matter how much blood he spat out, the copper tang perpetually stayed.

Sweat coated his limbs from the struggle of keeping himself consciousness, and the heaving breaths that drew themselves out of him. His bangs covered his face, clinging to sweat and blood. At some point during the beating, he remembered something in his body cracking, and now realized it focused in his abdomen. Of course, another broken rib.

The beating had started with things he could handle, punches to the face, the abdomen (His torso was probably covered in large dark bruises). Then they’d brought in the fire poker.

Thankfully, they’d chosen to mask him for that, something he was now glad about because he wasn’t able to hide the agony and his wide golden eyes filled with pain when the white-hot poker dug into his side.

He’d inhaled sharply, oxygen refusing to enter his lungs as he sputtered and gasped through the pain. The muscles in his neck had tensed, preparing for the scream attempting to work its way from his throat, threatening to tear it apart.

The muscles in Ed’s hand had tensed so much that the bones protested. The mask quickly turned damp from the sweat and involuntary tears that trickled down his face.

His heart had felt as if it was going to explode as if it was trying to escape from a pack of feral animals. His lungs burned as his chest had heaved.

And the fire continued.

Ed is sure he had to have passed out at one point, there’s a vague memory of his limbs turning to lead, his body finally giving out as the pain got too much, and shamefully he thinks he can remember a whimper pulling itself from him as he sank into unconsciousness.

You’re pathetic; he snarled at himself.

He was now alone, a brief respite from the agony.

He didn’t want to remember how it arched up his spine, causing his limbs to struggle against his will. Didn’t want to remember how he nearly begged for them to stop, and he most certainly didn’t want to remember pleading in his head through his agony for someone to save him.

How pathetic that you’re reduced to a sobbing child at the instance of pain

Ed didn’t have the energy to draw a retort to that thought.

The next time Ed was roused into full consciousness, it was to the sharp squeal of a truck’s wheels, and something nudged against his lips. He gasped, shooting into a sitting position and wincing at the severe pain shooting through his body.

He looked around, taking in the appearances of Jack and the five other men. They were all a mess, each looking battered and bruised, while some were missing fingernails, and Ed slightly winced with sympathy.

“You look like shit, kid.” Jack chortled, a slight smile coming onto his face before it disappeared just as quickly.

“So do you.” Ed retorted, golden eyes flashing. He settled himself carefully against the wall, wincing at the burn on his ankle.

The older man glanced at him then to his feet, and Ed suddenly felt guilty. He’d gotten them caught and tortured, and now they were going to who the hell knows. This was his fault.

“I’m sorry,” he said aloud, directing to everyone around him. “It’s my fault all of you got caught. I shouldn’t have had that panic attack.” Ed’s fists curled together; a tight expression appeared on his face.

Whatever happened would be his fault. Damn it.

“It’s my fault, kid,” Ed’s head snapped around to look at the man, surprise on his battered face. “I should’ve known you’d be in no condition to keep helping after you sent that kid off.” The older man rubbed a hand down his face and winced.

“They broke your finger.” It was more of a statement than a question as Ed motioned to the man’s hand, the ring finger appearing crooked and swollen.

Jack nodded. “They’re going to find them,” Ed suddenly realized. Horror grew on his face, and he turned to look at the man. “They’re going to kill them.” The realization knocked the air from his lungs.

Oh, god. Ryler.

The horror spread itself to Jack’s face. “Shit,” He hissed, banging his good hand on the floor. “There’s nothing we can do. They’re on their own.”

The statement left Ed feeling as helpless as the day he was born.

There was nothing else that could be said after that. It was a terrifying reality, either the escapees would be able to escape or die. There was no in-between.

All Ed could do was hope. Hope that they escaped in time. Hoped that they escaped the inevitable.

Looking back, he should’ve known better than to hope.

The truck came to a halt an indeterminable amount of time later. It jolted Ed from his light doze, pulling him to full attention. The other men around him tensed, waiting for the moment their captors would come for them.

The screech of the door raising caused some to jump a mile. Ed swallowed back the anxiety and met the soldier’s gaze with a glare of his own. He was the first one out, shivering immediately at the snow falling around them.

A chain was attached to the collar on his neck, and he’d never felt more like a dog.

He took note of their surroundings. It was a large, wide-open field, filled with bushes and spotted with a few trees. Something was unsettling about this place, but Ed couldn’t put his finger on it.

He limped along with the soldier, wincing as the cold made his wounds ache. The soldier tugged at the chain, tightening the collar and making him feel as if he couldn’t breathe momentarily. “I’m going; I’m going.” He snarled.

They walked down a hill and finally stopped at an area with posts in the center. Ed is forced into the snow, arms wrapped around the post, and the chain around the collar wrapped around so tightly that barely a tug results in him nearly choking.

Distantly as he stares up at the soldier, a knife and gag in hand, a shiver of fear runs through him. Were they planning on killing them?

No, he decided after the gag was placed in his mouth. That would be much too easy. Drachman torture based itself on fear. They wanted their prisoners scared, and perhaps they wanted him scared enough to give in and help them with whatever they were planning.

This had to be the worst time to think about it, but Ed had a vague memory from yesterday, something had been inserted into his arm. He’d noticed the pinprick, but hadn’t thought anything of it.

They’d put something in him, in all of the kids. In Ryler.

A sharp sting breaks Ed out his disquiet, and he jolts. A hiss escapes from his lips, and the flinch jostles the knife sticking out his bicep that he can see in the corner of his eye. As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared. The blood appeared immediately, dripping down his forearm and off his fingertips, staining the snow a deep crimson.

The soldier hummed in approval, wiping the bloody knife off on his pants. Ed squeezed his eyes shut, the wound throbbing. It’s probably not all that deep, could’ve possibly probably only torn flesh and tissue.

Small grunts came from the other men, and then the smell of crimson filled the cold air. Ed scowled, there was no telling what animal could be attracted to the blood.

Unless…

Ed’s eyes widened, and his breath momentarily stopped.

Oh, shit.

“Where are you going,” Jack’s voice rang out through the wind. “You can’t just leave us here!” Terror filled the man’s voice, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see just how scared the man was.

The soldier sighed. “We’ll be back some time.” The man’s footsteps quieted as he moved further away.

“Better stay on your guard,” The soldier shouted back, amusement in his voice. “The wolves come out at night.”

With that statement, it was quiet. It all made sense now. The blood...the wolves, they would come and there would be no way for any of them to defend themselves.

Shit.

[egoiistas]

may i feel, said he (19)

first | tag | ao3 | ffn 

[co-written with @tsaritsa]

a/n: mmmm that was a long break wasn’t it? let’s go ahead and jump in! there are some important notes on the ao3 author notes that you should totes check out! enjoy!

Warnings: Sexual Content ™, cursing, roy being cute af Words: ~8.5k || Rated: M - Royai 

Chapter Nineteen, in a minute

Summer arrives and officially, Riza is no longer his student.

Throughout the months, he’s tried to rationalize the pros and cons of jeopardizing her academic career from her perspective. A better grade? A decent fuck? Or a nice basket of both with a bow on top? His worst case scenario had always led him to the conclusion that if there was an ulterior motive, then she’d leave as soon as her grade was administered. If this was an elaborate, painstakingly cruel ruse, she would know him by now and have every advantage over him, forevermore holding this over his head because of a thoughtless impulse. She would know that he had unwittingly fought for what they shared, exposing himself freely, and that he’d never be the one to hold it over her. That cool façade in the beginning of the year had never collapsed so quickly and he would have fallen for the trap; hook, line and sinker.

Yet, his fears remain as unfounded as they ever were.

Time passes.

The newborn summer days swiftly turn into sweltering, humid weeks and in those weeks, he wakes with her at his side more mornings than not - passing by uneventfully, comfortable just existing in each other’s presence, finding solace indoors with air conditioning, lazily planning day trips to the countryside and never going.

Their heated, explosive start has transitioned into something that simmers comfortably now.  They’re turned into an average couple, falling asleep in the middle of movies or ignoring them altogether for a bit of naked reprieve, swapping one heat for another. The root of any of their short-lived arguments usually stemmed when either of them were hungry or tired or both. It’s bizarre to Roy how easy it is to just ...be.

During one idle afternoon, he wonders on the the microcosm of their relationship, built up in these walls. In some ways they had come to rely on the self-imposed rules, and moving beyond those parameters into something that resembles a normal relationship was going to come with its own set of challenges.

This is the one and only detail that simultaneously vexes and excites him when he thinks of Aerugo. The walls that constrained them would be knocked down now and they would free to roam around an island, holding hands if they so dared. And he would. But the real test in question was the structural integrity of their relationship on mostly neutral ground - with her and him finally as equals.

In the days before they embark, the photo of a time past resurfaces on the surface of his dresser. A younger him and another woman that he’s been trying his damnedest to forget, even jumping dangerous chasms to do so. He doesn’t exert much effort into deciphering it’s whereabouts or the delayed journey it took from his old box of mementos to finally arriving on his dresser. The why is not important in the wider scheme of things.

And as the day arrives that they set off for another country entirely, Maes reassurances him that her answer is still “no.”

With that response, he departs with a lighter weight on his shoulders that perhaps this trip can be just about a celebration between friends, family, and the sun. Perhaps he can aid her in lifting some of the weight off her own shoulders. Not forgetting, but enjoying herself as her own person and coming out forward for all that she’s been through in the years.

Already, he sees excitement beyond the surface of her eyes as she boards a plane with dissecting curiosity and hints of dread when the aircraft bumps. The window seat proves to be the optimal choice and her eyes hardly tear away from looking outside to the stretching landscape up until the vast ocean comes into view.

This restrained curiosity doesn’t change when they get on the ferry that’ll take them to their last stop. Immediately she’s drawn to the outside deck, eyes wide and bright as she drinks everything in. San Clavel shifts from a distant formation, to an outline, and then to a shimmering, bright beacon as the sun reaches its zenith.

Upon seeing the approach on the island, he checks the time on his phone and sees a message that should have been seen earlier. “We have… a slight problem.”

Completely and utterly enthralled since first sight with the ocean, Riza hesitates and rather reluctantly tears herself from the balcony edge of the ferry. She takes one last cursory glance, as if the azure water would disappear the instant she looked away, and a smile of endearment appears on his face.

She squints looking up at him with the sun in her eyes, her hand flat over her forehead to try to see. “What kind of problem?”

Roy takes off his sunglasses and places them on her face. He decides it’s best to rip the plaster off quickly here. “Well, there are some guests we weren’t - well, I wasn’t expecting that are showing up.”

“Oh.” He can’t see her eyes anymore because of the reflective glass, but her smile drops. “Is that so?”

“My mother,” Roy confesses. “And some of my sisters.”

“Your mother,” she parrots back monotonously. Her poker face is practically bullet-proof without the nuances of her eyes to clue him in. “Is that what you were worried about?”

“I- what?”

“I was half expecting you to tell me the trip was cancelled.” Riza slides her arm around his waist and leans against him, looking out across the water once more as the ferry begins to dock. “I can’t say I blame them for being curious. I know you said we would visit them next week but-”

To say he’s blindsided would be somewhat of an understatement. “Yeah, for a few hours, not days.” He can’t help the petulance that creeps into his voice. “The whole point of this trip was spending time with you. Preferably with us naked for hours on end.”

She snorts a little at that, tucking her head slightly against his chest to hide her face - the faint pink tips of her ears betray her regardless. “Yes, well, that too. But you’ve met my dad. It seems fair.”

“No offense but I feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick when it comes to meeting the in-laws.”

To her credit, Riza doesn’t outwardly react to his slip of the tongue beyond adjusting her posture - the hand that had been resting comfortably against his hip flexes. From his position, her ears are bright pink now. “A family who clearly think the world of you? That’s hardly grounds to say they’ll be terrible to the people you choose to introduce them to.” Her tone is a little too measured, but nonetheless she draws back to look at him better, her hand instinctively raising to push the hair from his eyes. There’s a bright, nervous smile on her face - one that he knows is reflected on his own as well.

“Though, maybe hold off on talk of in-laws until I get the chance to actually meet them for myself,” she teases. “I’m sure it won’t be as bad as what you’re imagining.”

Roy will swear until he’s black and blue that he kisses her to stop her teasing - but that’s not the truth, not entirely. Out of the two of them he’s most certainly the one who is more practiced in dealing with emotions, and certainly the more likely out of the two of them to wear his heart on his sleeve.

There was always an undercurrent of emotional attachment with any of the women he had slept with, regardless of whether the relationship was serious or merely fleeting. Riza was meant to firmly be in the latter camp, a terrible means to the end for the itch that begged to be scratched. Instead, he had taken her out for breakfast the morning after, and offered her an open invitation for more if she pleased. He has the tendency to take the mile when he’s only meant to have an inch, and in hindsight he was already in too invested in a hookup that should never have happened.

So, it is difficult to not apply the same logic here. He knows Riza well enough to know she’d have no problem in telling him if he were wrong, but the fact that she doesn’t even seem to hesitate at an off-cuff mention of a more distant future with him, and even goes so far as to tease him - Roy knows exactly why his heart is beating in triple time. He deepens the kiss and pulls her close to him; Riza makes a noise of contentment, curling her hands around his neck, fingers burying themselves in his hair.

Her nails scratch pleasantly against his scalp, and Roy hates himself for drawing back after a few blissful moments; even more so when Riza instinctively follows to close the gap. Her blush has abated somewhat, but her lips curve up into a secret smile, full of promises for later.

Instead, she contents herself with leaning back into his chest, rearranging his arms over her; he pulls her firmly against him and she hums in contentment,

“Why are you nervous about us meeting?” Riza asks after a moment. Her confidence in knowing the root of his anxiety is something he’d ordinarily want to pay greater attention to, but -

They’re a lot. Fiercely overprotective to a fault. I was selfish, and we’re dealing with those choices.

The truth is a little simpler than he wants to admit though. “There’s a right way about introducing you to all of them and this holiday wasn’t meant to be about that.”

“What’s the right way then?”

“With a bit more preparation.” He cranes his neck and checks his watch. “She just sent me a text that her plane comes in around four this afternoon.”

Riza twists to see his face, her mouth dropping comically open. “You’d better give me a summarized version then. Good thing I’m a quick study.” She pushes the sunglasses back, catching in her fringe.

He drops a kiss on her temple, guiding her back indoors. “It’ll have to be on the road once we pick up a car.”

When they finally disembark from the ferry with their luggage, Roy thinks they might have been blessed by the gods. In the terminal he can see no familiar faces and he feels himself relax. The company he’s ordered a taxi from on to take them to their lodgings is on the other side of the terminal and sweat is already glistening on his forearms from the heat of the midday sun. In his head, he begins conjuring an outline of how to breakdown who’s who and how to detangle the enormity of his unconventional family. It would take several hours to cover in its entirety and time is not his ally here.

“First things first,” he tells her as they move from the building into the forecourt, following painted yellow strips directing him towards the southern end of the terminal, “I call her my mother but she’s my aunt by blood. When I’m in trouble I’m Roy. When I’m really in trouble I’m boy. Otherwise I’m papito. She might pretend not to understand a lot of Amestrian, but it’s all lies. She just likes to be contrary and difficult because she can.”

“Sounds like someone else I know.”

He scoffs, shaking his head. “Anyway. For the most part we have a good relationship, but she’s never quite forgiven me for leaving Central. She…” he falters here, wondering if it is worth the pain to get this next piece of information out. “I think she took my and Greta’s breakup harder than anybody involved - myself included. She has a bad habit of not thinking before she speaks and I don’t want to put you-”

Riza’s hand covers his on the handle of his luggage and he slows to a halt, looking at her. “You’re very sweet, you know,” she tells him. “I know I haven’t been the most mature in regards to her but-”

“Hablando del rey de Roma.”

That coarse, near nasally call has always carried easily over crowds of people, and in the cavern-like forecourt, it bounces against the nearby walls and sunroof. He looks in the direction beyond Riza - the wrong one, because Chris’s manicured nails-cum-talons dig in sharply into the shell of his ear and pivots his entire body from where he stands to face her. From where she materialized is still unclear to Roy. His sisters titter and crowd around him unhelpfully. He hears several different sentences at once as he receives one hug after another. “You’re looking buff!” “No, he’s looking thin! Do you have eyes?” “You need a haircut!” “We’ve missed you!” “I’ve missed him most!”

Finally, the girls scatter when Chris swats them away and in the same carrying voices tells them, “All right, all right get back.” Her face is serious and grave as she looks at him. It’s that same intimidating face that lectured him when he did something stupid or dangerous or both. Roy  doesn’t say anything because he expects the signature arm cross, tapping foot, and demanding to know why hasn’t he called more often?

Instead her arms extend out and up as Roy takes half a step back. “Mi niiiiño!” she sings, an unmistakable happiness in her expression as she grabs his face and kisses each cheek. She hugs him tight and he returns it in kind, shelving the initial skepticism. “How I’ve missed you, papiiito.”

Then she shoves him back and crosses her arms. “Why haven’t you called, boy?”

Ah - there it is.

“I’ve been a little busy…” Not totally untrue, but somehow Roy doubts that will cut the mustard here. “But I should be calling more often.” He looks to the side and Riza, by some miracle, is still there and only a few steps away from him with their luggage. In fact, she has the strangest  grin plastered on her face. “But,” he continues, “since you’ve managed to get the drop on me…” Roy walks next to Riza who has suddenly changed in expression as he hugs her from the side. “This is Riza,” he says expectantly and after a moment of only faint chatter from the terminal, he adds. “My girlfriend.”

The girls look at each other and one by one he can see their lips curve upwards into coy smiles. They come closer, prowling like lionesses. The barrage of greetings begin with one at a time hugs and kisses as if handshakes were old fashioned.

“So you’re Elizabeth!” says Sofia.

Riza manages to turn her body to face Roy as she’s passed from one sister onto the next. “Elizabeth?”

“I gave you a code name.”

Her grin is knowing. “So they knew?”

“Some knew.”

“They knew?” Chris asks from the end of their man-made barrier of ladies. “Why is it then that I had to find out through other channels?” She glares between Sofia and Roy.

“Some knew,” Roy insists. “I couldn’t remember who I did and did not tell and you are all in deep shit for not warning me about this.” He inclines his head as subtly as he can in the direction of his mother.

“Roy. Please. You’ve kept Riza from us this entire time! Please, please we want to know everything.” Isabelle says.

Chris urges everyone to be prying banshees in an airconditioned car. It’s a welcome reprieve from the hot midday sun, although the subdued attitude of his mother is unexpected - and worrying.

As well as Sofia and Isabelle, Phoebe and Karina are also a part of the welcome wagon. They crowd around the two of them inside the car, waving off Riza’s protests about wearing seatbelts.

“He hasn’t told us anything about you, you know,” Isabelle laments, tying her long blonde hair into a high ponytail. “All I got told was he was seeing a very pretty woman and if I said anything to Mama we’d never get to meet you at all. So tell me everything - how did you two meet? What do you do? How long has this been going on?”

Riza giggles a little nervously at the onslaught. “Not a terribly exciting story, I’m afraid,” she begins. “I worked in the university library overnights and he would come in and make a mess of the private study spaces. We got to talking after a while and…” she gestures to the scant space between them, “Here we are.”

The disappointment from his sisters is hilarious: they seemingly deflate back into their respective seats, shoulders dropping.

“To be honest though, Roy hasn’t told me much about you guys either. He’s told me your names but it would be nice to finally put faces to them as well.”

It’s a good distraction from the other questions posed - an excellent one, actually; as Riza slowly makes her way through this small fraction of his family. His mother remains quiet, seemingly happy to watch the events unfolding with a curious eye. He lets his mind drift, gaze sliding to the view outside which shifts from the town centre to higher up, wide expanses of yellow-white sandstone spotted into the lush green hills. He fiddles with her hand in his own, and when Karina catches his eye with a knowing smile it’s hard not to beam in response.

The trip goes quicker than expected, much to his relief, but the girls won’t take ‘no’ for an answer when it comes to showing Riza the villa they’ll be staying at with Chris before letting them disappear for the afternoon.

“We’ve had a long trip from East City-” he tries.

Phoebe shoots him a withering look. “We’ve had a long trip from Central too,” she reminds him none-too-gently. “Honestly, when’s the next time you’re going to come around, let alone with Riza in tow? Last time you didn’t even bother to let us know you were in town! You owe us.”

He doesn’t have much of an argument against that, and from her new position being volleyed between his sisters, Riza nods in deferment. She winks at him from across the room, mouthing something he can’t quite make out. He moves to join them; they’ve taken her out to one of the balconies and are pointing out different parts of the island but from behind him -

“Boy,” Chris calls.

Heart sinking, Roy stops in his tracks, and dutifully makes his way back to where his mother sits, overlooking the bay. “Watch her,” he signals to his sisters, and Karina’s fingers flutter in dutiful acquiescence.

With the sun favoring the other side, there are more shadows in the parlor he’s beckoned to. The motherly air to her has vanished and her face is serious. Lips are thinned, her brow entertains no amusement and a hand on her lap and the other propped on the high table she sits next to, expectantly. A seat isn’t offered to him; instead, she nods to the door to make this conversation more private and he complies. It shuts with a soft click and the sounds of excited conversation become muffled and indistinct.

Chris is quiet. He imagines she’s choosing her words, perhaps even predicting his own, and if pensive could be deadly, then she might be the only one in the world who has mastered it. She shifts in her seat, crossing one foot over the other, and her fingers rest on her many rings, twisting them over and over. Until, finally, she takes in a drawn breath.

“What are you thinking?” She asks him. Each word is enunciated and calculated in a low and gravelly tone;  a night and day difference from her earlier greeting.

“Well.” He chuckles bitterly. “I’m thinking it’s been a long trip. The weather, the sun, the beach is gorgeous.” He walks towards her and she is unflinching in following his movements. “You’re looking well and the girls look well too.”

“Don’t you play coy with me. You know what I’m talking about, bringing her around here.”

He pulls the accompanying chair out from the table and takes a seat. At this level, the light shifts out of her eyes as if to perpetuate the gravitas of the situation on her behalf. “I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to my plus one like she was a disease. She’s here at my behest, as well as Maes’ and Gracia’s.”

Her only answer is a half-chuckle that sounds somewhere between a hah and a hmph. “My boy, you can prefer, refer, request whatever you want.”

“Then, what’s the problem here?”

“She’s twenty-one, Roy.”

His eyes close as he sighs. His fingers slowly ball into a fist.

“Did it ever occur to you how’d that look? Que va decir la gente? Or rather, what are they already saying? ‘He went off and got someone younger.’” She scoffs, rolling her shoulders back. “I’ve raised you better than that. Think of the example you’re putting on for the girls.”

“It’s more than that, believe me.”

“Ah, si?” She is mocking, sarcastic. She’s daring him to prove her wrong. And she is wrong - he knows this emotionally, more so than anyone else in this room. But no matter which way he would spin it to her, it would still sound the same to her: appearances are everything at home. “How selfish. Ask yourself what your reaction would be if the girls came home with an older man?”

He meets her hard gaze in equal strength. “If you’re wanting to lecture me you can do it another day, I’m not in the mood for it now.”

“No, now is the time since you decided to cut us out from your life when you moved. You are never around anymore and quite frankly I don’t know much of you since you left.” She is measured, near hissing. “Stop thinking with your dick for once, pendejo, and use that brain of yours-”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. His heart rate elevates; he feels it in the constriction of his throat. “Ya, okay?” He swallows the simmering emotion, the telltale prick of budding tears. “I have told you time and time again - endlessly - about why things didn’t work out before.”

“You’ve given me crumbs,” she says unsympathetically. “While she’s given me entire loaves, crying at my doorstep, hoping you would be reasoned with.”

Sighing, he says, “Why can’t you come to terms with this? Respect this decision that was made years ago? Or at the very least, have trust in me that what I have to say has more to do with the truth than whatever fabrications she’s feeding you?

“I’ve told you that relationship was toxic and brought out the worst parts of me. What will it take for you to understand?”

Chris thinks for a moment and it gives Roy the opportunity to release tense muscles that were winding themselves up again from the conversation. “Did you bring her because she’s pregnant?”

A hand runs down his face and mentally he apologises to Riza. “No.”

She hums, intrigued. “Do you love her?”

Yes.

The letters pop in his head; glowing, neon letters illuminating in his mind’s eye. He does not say it. His lips curl in to stop them from giving away the smile at the thought of Riza and love and the warmth that suddenly radiates in his chest. Pensive, he tries not to give any facial cues but his mother knows him far too well and she sighs, letting a hand fall to the table.

“How?” Chris asks, almost exasperated. “Where-” And then that word chokes and dies in her throat because it dawns on her immediately, because Chris Mustang is smart and sharp and where else would he find a woman of Riza’s age to be around him long enough to catch feelings? The color drains from her face watching him as he processes his own revelation - because the only thing more scandalous than this is if she was pregnant. “You were always so, so smart, but also so, so incredibly dumb sometimes, mi amor.

“You are toying with more than just your life here, but permanently with hers.” She gets up from her seat and her words are somber. “Make sure it’s worth it.”

He’s left in the parlor by himself, to his own thoughts; knuckles to his mouth.

The subject of his thoughts enters the room and softly crosses to where he sits. He perks up in his seat and his heart skips a beat. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she greets him; her brows dipped in concern and she takes a seat in Chris’s chair. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t it be?” It’s a terrible attempt but she humours him nonetheless.

“Because you’re just sitting in here by yourself.”

“I just needed a moment of silence after being ambushed.”

She quickly moves out of her seat. “I can go if-”

Roy grabs her hand to stop her. “Don’t be silly,” he says softly.

She nods, slowly settling back in the chair - hands connected over the table. “What did you two talk about?” she presses after a moment, when he falls silent once more.

“Oh,” he says, stopping the circles he was rubbing on the back of her hand. “She was ripping me a new one for not introducing you earlier, for not calling.”

“What an awful son,” she teases. “And an awful brother from what your sisters were telling me.”

“I should probably go talk to them.”

Riza makes a face. “Actually… I came in here only because they were going to head into town for some food to keep in the house. They figured we would want to get settled first. I may have strongly suggested it. Karina was kind enough to back me up.”

“That’s right. You haven’t even seen the inside of where we’re staying, have you?”

“No, but I imagine it’s like any house with four walls and with rooms.”

He smiles knowingly, standing from his seat and an extending a hand for him to lead her. “Let me show you why I like to leave Amestris.”

With a slight hint of confusion, she takes it. After some quick goodbyes from his sisters - Chris is notably absent - they walk in comfortable silence to just a few houses down where the ocean waves hitting the shores becomes a little bit more audible.

Roy unlocks the door for her and her eyes widen as she takes in a breath.

Riza darts inside, taking quick strides between the rooms, jerking her head back towards where he stands, half-questions-half-incredulous-noises leaving her mouth in a garbled mess.

Yes, Roy splurged this time - but how could he not? There is something intensely satisfying about being able to elicit a reaction like the one she is giving him, to enjoy how she enjoys it. By the standards of his peers this villa might not be the fanciest, nor the most kitted-out, but Roy knows Riza doesn’t care about outward appearances. He chose it for the age and history of the stone walls, for the way it overlooks a portion of the island, and yet remains tucked away from the other villas in the area.

After he moves the luggage into the master bedroom, he asks into the house: “Just four walls with rooms, is it?” When he doesn’t receive a response, he finds her in a sun-filled study on the second floor, skimming through the book spines on the bookshelves.

Her mouth is slightly ajar. “You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you?”

Roy leans on the doorframe, arms crossed and feeling triumphant in his choice. “I’d prefer the word charmer.”

A reluctant grin appears on her face as she turns back to him. “You keep this up and I’ll be effectively spoiled. Surely, you understand that.” Her grin is infectious.

“Then my plan is working.”

She chuckles, shaking her head at him, and that tension from before simply evaporates. “So, schemer-charmer, what’s the itinerary for the day?” She absent-mindedly asks flipping through a book.

“Itinerary? That sounds so severe.” Roy pushes himself off from the door frame; overjoyed when she follows behind him as he opens the windowed white doors to the master bedroom’s balcony.

“You know what I mean…” She trails off and Roy feels his breath leave him from the view too. It truly is stunning - from the ocean to the lush green of the trees, the yellow-white sandstone fortifications bisecting the island cleanly in two. East City had its charms, but San Clavel was a blatant seduction by comparison.

Roy points out, “Now you can ignore me to look at the ocean from here.”

“Stop,” Riza warns playfully, darting her eyes between the ocean and him. “It’s not my fault I’m not well-travelled.” She stretches up on her tiptoes to kiss him - briefly, he supposes, from the way her hands rest only lightly on his chest. But her lips on his creates a tide of emotions Roy doesn’t anticipate. Hands on her hips, he pulls her flush to him, thrilling in the way she grinslaughs against his mouth, relishing in the contended hums from her throat. He is content to be, like this. Truly. Hours could pass, or even days - and yet how he is right now, a little sweaty and overheated, is where he wants to be.

One of his hands slides down over the curve of her arse, inadvertently hiking up the flimsy material of her sundress. His wandering fingers move too lightly against her skin, and she gasps, body instinctively moving away from the ticklish sensation.

She mouths against him “one minute” before ducking into the bathroom and door quietly shutting behind her.

Roy turns back to the balcony and walks out onto it proper, inhaling the sea breeze. The red carnations that dance around the sandstone pillars of the villa greet him as he steps outside. He’s missed this terribly, too. The temperature straddles a certain perfection of warmth with just enough wind to roll off the heat from lingering on his skin. In the distance, the ocean shifts below him, a mesmerising blue that softly crests until it blankets the alabaster coast; its surface is broken into fractals of light from the late afternoon sun, reflecting lazily like pieces of jewels over the water. The view is a welcoming sight and something about it breathes sunshine into his soul.

Years have elapsed since his last visit, and yet, San Clavel seems timeless; untouched by modern architecture common in Amestris and locked in a perpetual season of summer.

The air, the view, and the entire island may have remained static, but change was now a certainty for him. He looks out to the sea now with a different mindset altogether than even just hours before. He is far from the formative years of his youth, and the time he had spent here previously, saturated in alcohol, smoking Clavileño cigars, drunk on overconfidence and basking in his immaturity. Though, now he’s not so sure how much of that has changed.

“Interesting.” He hears behind him. “I can’t tell if you’re brooding or just enamored with the sight.”

A quick smile appears on his face as Riza rests her hands over the stone balustrade. There must’ve been a witty response to her tease but blown away by the wind when he manages to drink in the sight of her in the sundress. From where she stands, the midday sun hits her from behind, encasing her in a halo that filters drown from her hair into the soft white of her dress. There’s still a ghost of a grin on her face, and he’s tempted to bridge that space between them once more to kiss her, to see if the sheer warmth she’s radiating might transfer to him, even if only a little.

If he thought the sunlight on the water was mesmerizing, then the sunlight on her - the sunlight was made for her.

Her hair glows golden as it sways and brushes her pale skin. She puts a hand up to her face to stop her hair from flowing wildly with a squint in one eye.  The white dress hugs all the right places and somehow an ethereal aura surrounds her.  Roy composes himself, collecting his slightly ajar jaw, and eyes her up and down. “Well, enamored by the sight now.”

She grins at his response. “It’s beautiful out here,” she says finally. “Thank you for bringing me.”

Roy inclines his head in acknowledgement, his fingers drifting over hers; as if on instinct, her hand flips over to meet his, palm to palm. It’s a simple enough gesture, borne from repetition as much as affection. It tugs at his heart in a pleasant way. Tucked away in her words isn’t an I’m sorry, not quite - but an acknowledgement that goes beyond just saying thank you.

“You are very welcome,” he begins, shifting his weight to rest against the balustrade fully, pulling Riza into his space a little more. “This would be nowhere near as fun if you didn’t come.”

Her hands slide up his forearms, over his shoulders and curl loosely around his neck. She smells faintly like his soap and blinks demurely under dark lashes. “You take pleasure in me gawking at things, do you?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Riza flushes visibly, immediately. There’s an attempt to push away from lightly but he holds her in place and she stays. “All this natural beauty and instead you’d be a slave to your phone, waiting desperately for me wake up.”

“I would be,” he tells her, enjoying how his honesty throws her for a moment. It is the truth. He would’ve still attended - Maes would have had his guts for garters otherwise - but at best he would only stay for a few days, and certainly not make a meal out of this trip, surprise family be damned.

“I’d be very demanding, you know,” Riza tells him matter-of-factly, tongue poking out to wet her lips briefly. “Video calls as soon as I wake up. A million souvenirs. That sort of thing.”

“If that’s your idea of demanding, how about a quick refresher?” Her eyebrow lifts momentarily, urging him to go on. “You storming into my office about a grade? Now that was demanding.”

Scandalized, she says “If I can recall correctly - and I do - there were ulterior motives for that changed grade. It was well warranted given the circumstances.”

Roy adjusts his hands on her hips, the thin material of her sundress rising a little once more as he brings her closer to him. He officially loves this dress. A finger lifts her chin. “I beg to disagree, avecilla. Not that I don’t appreciate the fact that we’re on the same page nine times out of ten, but I’d be a little disappointed if all you asked for was a call. In fact...” He pushes himself up from the balustrade. Riza cranes her neck a little to continue meeting his eyes. It’s perfect for what he wants - his hands leave her hips, and instead cup her jaw fully, thumbs resting against her cheekbones.

Deliberately, he kisses her temple, and then the other. Her eyelids follow, then her cheeks. He intentionally ignores her lips, barely grazing against them as he opts to leave soft, unhurried kisses against every part of her face bar her mouth. Her fingers twist themselves against the shirt he’s wearing.

“You’re mean,” she tells him breathlessly, brown eyes fluttering open after a kiss that skirts the edge of her cupid’s bow. “You never mentioned what’s going on today.” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

“A dinner. Nothing important.” With his mouth brushing against the edge of her lips, he says, “It’s basically tradition to be late to these things anyway.”

“I think you’re lying-” she responds, nearly cut off as he takes her lips onto his own. She tastes sweet as she always has, but the sound from her throat hints at something more mischievous. Any items on any itinerary ever is eviscerated by what is in front of him: Riza, his Riza, in a sundress and slowly eroding what sensibilities he still has left.

“Mi reina… you wound me. I would never,” he answers coyly. The aftershocks of their kiss still thrums on his lips. He feels electric, fizzing with the knowledge - the freedom - that he could have her here, that he could potentially love her here as her fingers grasps his shirt and she gasps over his fingers. She would let him, he thinks, with the way her lips seem to brush against him with the lightest of pressure, barely enough to feel but more than enough to tease. It’s beyond tempting to give into that baser desire, to have her as he wants her; but here he stills, thumbs drifting over her now-flushed skin.

He can feel the words on his lips, waiting to be said. There’s simply so much he wants to say to her, to tell her, divulge in her, that words fail him here. He hasn’t the faintest clue of where to even begin.

“Mi reina?” Riza asks, a flirtatious smile curling her lips upwards. “I guess that would make you ‘my king’, no?” She chews the inside of her lip, thinking. “Mi…”

“Rey.” He finishes for her. He doesn’t usually have a possessive streak a mile wide but for this nickname, Roy might make an exception.

“Quite a promotion you’ve been given, sir.”

Roy chuckles darkly - a reminder that she knows him well too. He tilts her head back slightly, enjoying how her eyes flit between his gaze and his mouth rapidly. “I think it’s deserved. An upgrade from the previous one you gave me.”

Riza swallows, focusing on something beyond his face. “The ones that I..?”

He tilts his own head to the side, to her exposed skin and in between kisses on her neck he tells her, “Back in East City. With your father.”

Understanding crests over her face. “Was I wrong?”

He pulls his head back. “No.”

“Because I happen to like that one,” she tells him, drawing back from his grip after a moment. “Still feels weird saying it though.”

“Then practice.”

Riza’s reply is shot out automatically with only a lick of her lips to prime it. “Make me.”

“Make you?”

She tightens the grip on his shirt, pulling him closer to repeat herself in his ear. “Make me, sir.”

Static screeches in his brain for a moment and he looks at her, amused, and she, so daring as she dons the smallest smirk on her face. “I think you and I both know I can make you say many things.” He breathes out through his nose, slow and deliberate.

“That was then.” She bites her lower lips. “This is now. In a completely different country.”  

“Is that right?” A brow flits up in her small act of defiance. His gaze drifts down to the thin straps straps of her dress and looks back at her; blood pounding in his ears. Riza takes a cursory step back and he steps forward. She seems to understand, quick study that she is. Wordlessly, he begins to unbutton his shirt and she never takes her eyes off him as she walks backwards towards the bed. She stumbles a little when her calves hit the edge of the mattress, releasing a tiny gasp, and he takes this opportunistic moment of her distraction to coax her onto the bed.

She moves deeper into the bed on her elbows to give him space to join her, and he does as his belt hits the floor.  

There is something deep and dark about how he likes her like this. Riza doesn’t show lust in an overt way: flushed skin, lips a brighter shade of pink, almost entranced when she sees what she wants... or perhaps it is him that’s been entranced by this very look the entire time. One loose strand of hair curls over her shoulder - perhaps by design - and Roy leans in to hungrily kiss her, situated in between her legs; hands roaming up her legs and he feels the goosebumps rise on her skin, under his fingertips. His kisses consume her, drinking greedily from her like a man dying from thirst. The straps of her sundress are pushed to the side as his hands shift up to her neck, thumbs splaying across her pulse point. She’s breathing hard when he pulls back.

“Take it off,” he orders quietly. To elicit a quicker response, his hand dips in between her legs, ghosting over the fabric of her smallclothes. Without needing to ask twice, she sits up and they both work to get the sundress over her head and he helps in freeing her of her bra.

Riza lies back down and is a sight against the sheets. Creamy thighs beckon to him like a ship to wreck, but instead he lets his fingers drift along her torso, up over the bones of her sternum and collarbone. He studies the edges of jawline, committing it to memory, before tracing the outline of her lips with his index finger. She trembles underneath his touch, and whimpers when his other hand slips under her underwear, slipping into slick folds. His fingers are coated in her sex with a single stroke. “Excited, are we?”

“I love a good menacing walk towards me,” she jests, grinning and arching her back as he toys with her.

“Tell me what you want, avecilla,” he murmurs against her lips, barely exerting pressure.

“That would be too easy, sir,” she manages between sighs. Her fingers fumble over the button of his trousers and he takes satisfaction in the fact that he’s reduced her to this state: hips gyrating in the hopes of some change in tension. She brings her palm to her forehead, mouth open and gasping.

His hand pulls back from her completely.

Riza opens her eyes in curiosity, concern or both and his fingers tug at the edge of her underwear. Her hips move up carefully to help him remove them: first through one leg and then on the other, he holds her leg as he glides it off her, kissing her calf gently.

“You have to tell me what you want. I could have you on your back and fuck you so slowly you’ll be begging me to let you come. Or should I eat you out instead, or fuck you so hard into the bed that everyone at dinner will know exactly what you’ve been doing and not just because you’ll be walking funny? Or if you really want, do all of the above and not recover until tomorrow?”

His fingers place her leg down with delicate care next to him. “But until then, we won’t start.”  

“Fuck you,” she manages in a sigh.

“Clearly. But how?” He moves in closer to her again and she watches him inch closer to her face. He closes his eyes, mouth hovering over her lips just so that they brush against each other as he speaks again, softer this time. At this distance he can feel the heat of her skin under his. “Avecilla, you have to tell your boyfriend how you want him to fuck -  you.”

-------

They finally arrive when the sun is melting into the ocean; its bright orange remnants are painted across the sea and gives everything else a deep red-orange hue.

Roy takes a moment to survey the view before him. Aerugo on a good day really didn’t disappoint, and San Clavel was certainly no exception to that rule. Despite the earlier heat of the day, it was getting cooler now and out of instinct he pulls Riza closer when she rubs her arm from a wandering breeze that passes through.

Riza hums in gratitude, casting a quick complementary glance at him, before she’s pulled back again to admiring the venue. It’s a converted battlement: the familiar white sandstone forms a parapet overlooking the eastern side of the bay, before dropping down into a garden seemingly overgrown with roses in every shade and hue of red. Beyond is where most of the party guests are congregating, on a raised terrace that hugs a large hall. The exterior is covered in dark green ivy, looking classically timeless rather than unruly.

Strings of fairy lights guide them towards the center of the terrace with a view of the sea, no doubt intending to create a glowing effect when the day’s light was finally extinguished. Soft, instrumental music plays from a quartet tucked away somewhere - a vast change from the stereo system and an mp3 player playlist manned by one of the cousins - behind round tables topped with plates and silverware and intricate flower arrangements for centerpieces. They are decorated with pristine white cloths that blow lightly with the breeze and the chatter around is light and pleasant.

Riza shivers again and she scoffs. “I think I underestimated how cool it would get.”

“Do you want me to go back for your cardigan?”

“No, don’t be silly. You can’t leave me alone with these people.” She points an index finger at him. “Not again.”

“They’re not so bad.”

She looks away with a noise that neither affirms of contradicts his statement. Roy grabs her hands, looking down at her with a smile. “I can understand that you’re anxious, but I’d also like this to be for us. It’s not every day we can do this without looking behind our backs and I have to say, I’m a little excited for it.”

Riza looks down to where he’s rubbing circles over the back of her hand and she laces her fingers with his, squeezing. “You’ve been giving this a lot of thought?”

“Have you not?”

She grins and turns away slightly like she does when she’s been caught red-handed. “It might’ve crossed my mind once or twice, yes.”

He smiles back at her and nods over to the bar set up from a market stand. “Then why don’t you go get yourself something? If not for the nerves but to help with warming you up.”

Her eyes narrow suspiciously. “You’re being awfully thoughtful today.”

“As if I’m ever not.” He pivots her shoulders as she cracks a laugh and he waves her on.

She hesitates for a moment, turning her head back towards him. “What do you want?”

He takes pleasure in making a meal out of admiring her; the affected way her gait has changed for the moment more than anything else. As if she could read his mind, Riza blushes a deep red. “Surprise me,” he tells her finally.

Roy watches as she disappears into the small crowd. It’s later than the start time but true to fashion, people are still trickling in. Some greet him with a courteous hug and a kiss on the cheek but thankfully, no one stays for a proper conversation as they make their way to the stars of this whole event.

Maes and Gracia stand near the parapet with a group of people around them. They are positively glowing in spite of the backdrop of the deepening sunset. Elicia is the most entertaining part of that picture, however - for every kiss and hug that’s transferred between the adults above her, Roy watches as she demands her own set. Maes is dutiful to the point of smothering, and her squeals of protest about his scratchy beard carry far over the gardens.

It’s a far cry from the family he knew three years ago, and he couldn’t be prouder of them for what they’ve endured and risen up from. He’d never tell the two of them out loud for fear of Maes’ ego never recovering to a normal size, but if he could get something even close to what they had found in each other, he’d consider himself lucky; amongst valued peers and someone to share successes and trials with.

Part of him thinks he may have found it; a smaller part of him whispers that he’s been wrong before. He’s even less sure about how to even approach the topic with her: they haven’t discussed it in any serious capacity and he’s loathe to bring it up in a space where she isn’t on equal footing with him.

The conversation with his mother from earlier floats to the forefront of his mind.

Large, neon-colored letters. Yes.

Maybe he was overthinking it. Maybe it really was that simple.

Behind him, he can hear approaching footsteps and the warmth in his chest reemerges as her hands wrap around his torso. Contently, teasingly, he says, “I thought you were going to bring me a surprise.” His last word is tapers off in emotion and volume as he notices the contrasting difference in skin tone on the arms around him. The breeze picks up once more, carrying a fragrance from a guiltier time. The warmth ices and turns into a quick-drop feeling of dread from his throat to his gut.

She doesn’t resist when he jerks himself out of the embrace, but her dark eyes are still locked on him, amused. Hand on her hip, she stands there in a red dress complimenting her deep, sun-kissed skin and dark loose ringlets of hair; the matching blood-red lips curl up into a self-satisfied smirk.

Greta sighs dramatically. “I am the surprise.”

next

[edxwin-elric]

Front Page News

Chapter 1: Blindsided

Rating: T

Pairing: Royai/Roy Mustang x Riza Hawkeye

Disclaimer: I don’t own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Word Count: 2190

Chapter: 1/?

Description: Royai (angst with a bit of fluff??) - Post-canon au where Riza gets blindsided by Fuhrer Mustang’s engagement announcement.

A/N:  Warning: the ending will likely leave you dissatisfied/wanting more.

This was originally an anon request from about a year ago that I let fall to the side. However, now that I’ve started it, it seems to be transforming into a much longer fic than intended. I apologize that I’m not sure when I’ll be able to continue it.

tag || ffn || ao3

next chapter

Riza

Someone is knocking on the door. Banging might actually be a better word. I would answer it, but I can’t seem to move. The front page of the newspaper is burned into my mind. The headline and photo and article all swirling around on a loop. It’s like I’m stuck in a nightmare, but I can’t wake up.

Hayate whines at my feet, and the rapping on the door gets more urgent.

“Riza Hawkeye! Open up!”

Rebecca. I should’ve known she’d come. Taking a deep breath, I turn woodenly toward the door and go to open it.

“What’s the emergency?” I ask as naturally as I can, even though I know exactly why she’s here.

“What’s the—are you okay?”

“Um, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Don’t do that,” she mutters, pushing inside. “If I’ve seen it, I know you have.”

“Are you talking about the news article?”

“Am I talking about the news article?” she repeats slowly. “Um yes, if by ‘news article’ you mean, the front page, above the fold engagement announcement for Fuhrer Mustang and his beautiful fiancé who isn’t you?”

I feel bile burn my throat, and I head to the kitchen for something to wash it down.

“Where are you going?” Rebecca follows me. “We need to talk about this.”

“What’s to talk about?” I mumble, reaching in my cabinet for a mug. “He’s my superior; I’m his subordinate. If he’s decided to get married, he has no obligation to run it by me.”

“And what? You’re just fine with him marrying—what’s her name?—Mariana?”

More like Princess Mariana Natalia Rico, not that it makes a difference. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I force a smile as I prepare my drink.

“Sure. If he’s happy; I’m happy.”

“What are you pouring in that mug?”

Before I can stop her, she grabs it out of my hand and glances at it before frowning at me.

“Really?”

“I’m thirsty,” I reply defensively.

“It’s six o’clock in the morning. You’re not having vodka.”

I watch as she pours the contents of my mug down the sink, and suddenly the tight control on my emotions slips. I turn and press my palms to the counter as hot tears and painful sobs rack my body.

“Oh, Riza,” Rebecca whispers, turning back to me.

“No,” I choke. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

“Honey–”

“He’s perfectly entitled to marry whoever he wishes,” I hiss. “I have no right to be upset.”

“Except that he loves you,” she murmurs softly. “You know he does.”

“Don’t say that!” I turn and look at her, my hands swiping at my face. “That only makes this worse. I mean…he didn’t even tell me.”

“That he was going to propose?”

“Any of it. I… I didn’t know he was even seeing anyone else.”

Which is pretty spectacular considering I know everything about him and spend almost every minute of the day with him.

“Oh my God,” she gasps.

“I just…woke up this morning and went out with Hayate to get the paper…”

I feel her hand against my back, and I hiccup softly as she makes soothing circles with her palm.

“You should call in sick today,” she suggests quietly.

“No.” I step away from her and cross to the sink to splash some cold water on my face and neck. “I can’t do that. He can’t know anything is wrong.”

“Riza…”

“He can’t know, Rebecca. I’m serious.”

“One look at you, and he’ll know something is wrong. Besides, he’s the one that did this, so he shouldn’t be surprised.”

“Don’t be so hard on him.”

“He’s marrying another woman and shoving it in your face! He deserves to feel some guilt!”

“Everything he does, he does for Amestris, and I promised to be beside him while he does it.”

That’s part of the reason I feel the way I do about him.

“But she’s going to be beside him. And underneath him. And on top of him–”

“Rebecca, please!” I cut her off. “That’s not helping.”

“I’m not trying to help. I’m trying to get you to wake up. Go tell him he can’t marry her!”

“Why? Because I’m in love with him? Because he should marry me? You know that can’t happen. At the very least, that would get me transferred if not fired.”

“But…if he marries her…”

“If he marries her, I’ll deal with it. Just like I’ve dealt with everything else.”

“Riza…”

“You should go Rebecca, before we’re both late to work.”

Without waiting for her response, I leave the kitchen and head to my room to get ready. When I come back out, she’s gone.

Roy

The second Riza arrives at my office, I know she knows. My gut is roiling, and I want to bang my head against the wall. One look at her, and I can tell she’s in pain. The same pain I feel every time I breathe. I need to get her alone to talk to her, but we have meetings all morning.

With every passing minute, I become more acutely aware of her. She’s quieter than usual, and her eyes are colder, distant. I’ve never been so tempted to comfort her. To touch her. But I doubt she’d welcome it now.

When our last meeting is finally over, and we’re back in my office, I excuse my other security and staff. After a few moments of silence, she approaches my desk.

“Did you need something, sir?”

“I’m trying to figure out how to bring it up,” I confess.

“Bring up what?”

“My engagement,” I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Oh, right.” She nods. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

Her voice is suddenly quieter, and I can hear the buried emotion in it.

“Don’t do that,” I whisper.

“Do what, sir?”

I stand, walking around my desk until I’m right in front of her.

“Don’t pretend you’re okay with this.”

“But, I am. If this is what you want, then–”

I reach up and touch her face, gently sliding my fingers along her cheek.

She gasps softly, and her eyes widen.

Fuck but she’s beautiful.

“Riza.” Her name feels wrong on my tongue, and also so completely right. “I…”

“No.” She shakes her head as if snapping out of a trance and steps back, tears shining in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do this,” she hisses.

“I swear, I was going to tell you–”

“You didn’t!” she cries, throwing her hand out. “You didn’t tell me! I was completely blindsided! How—how could you?”

“I didn’t have a choice!”

“You always have a choice!”

“I have to get married, Riza! I’m the fürher! It’s expected of me!”

“Then why didn’t you tell me about it? And why did it have to be her!”

“Rather than whom? You? You know that isn’t an option! You made your choice when you became my subordinate!”

“Well, I wish I’d chosen differently, then!”

“What?” I step back and blink at her. “You mean–”

“Yes!” She glares at me with her fists clenched at her sides. “I wish I’d never joined the military! I wish I’d never even met you!”

“Riza…”

Her lips begin to tremble with unshed tears, and I feel a muscle twitch in my jaw.

“This feels like…like a betrayal,” she chokes. “You…”

I take a step toward her, but she holds out her hand.

“No,” she hisses. “You don’t get to comfort me. Not when you caused this.”

I groan and walk away from her as I run my hand over my face.

“Would it make it any better if I told you I don’t love her?” I ask suddenly.

“What?” she gasps. “If you don’t love her, why are you marrying her?”

I turn to look at her before glancing up at the ceiling.

“For Amestris, of course. Why else?” I exhale slowly and meet her eyes. “Mariana is the daughter of the Prince of Aerugo. Marrying her would be purely political. An attempt to ease the tension with them caused by the border war and one of the first steps toward peace.”

“I thought we were past the days of marrying for politics. I agree that peace with Aerugo is important, but I didn’t think you’d propose a marriage union as a solution.”

“It wasn’t originally my idea,” I admit leaning against my desk. “During one of the peace talks with the prince, he mentioned his daughter. I made a comment about not having a first lady, with no intention of the two being related, but he seemed to think I was hinting at something more. Then, before I knew it, we were in discussions involving peace treaties and weddings.”

“Where was I during all of this?”

“It was during the time you were working with the Ishvalan refugees on the reconstruction. I knew how much it meant to you, and I didn’t want to interfere with it.”

“And now it’s too late to say no?” she asks incredulously. “Does the princess have any say in who she marries? What if she wants to marry for love?”

“She doesn’t,” I mutter, exhaling. “I’ve met with her several times in private–”

I see her visibly stiffen out of the corner of my eye, but I continue.

“She’s determined to do her duty to her country, and she’s confident she’ll make a good wife. She’s also said she finds me charming, and is hopeful we’ll grow fond of each other in time.”

“Fondness,” Riza murmurs with a hint of disdain. “The epitome of romance.”

“Clearly, it isn’t,” I snap, “but what more can she expect?”

“Forgive me,” she recants quietly. “Talk of the princess herself aside, where would this leave us?”

I groan and drag my fingers through my hair, desperately wishing tearing it out would solve this problem.

“I don’t know,” I confess. “But I know I need you with me.”

She’s quiet for a minute, and when she breaks the silence the sound of my name on her lips in that tone, almost brings me to my knees.

“What?” I ask, hoarsely.

“I’m not sure I could come to work every day and see you, knowing you have someone else in your arms every night.”

“Riza…”

“What if it were me? How would you feel if I were engaged to another man?”

Pain cuts through my stomach, and I almost double over.

“Don’t ever say that,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Please.”

She opens her mouth to respond, but I cut her off.

“Look. I know this situation isn’t ideal…”

“Obviously.”

“But it wouldn’t change anything between us.”

She raises her eyebrows, and I quickly continue, dropping my voice as I move toward her.

“You know my feelings for you,” I say, almost pleading with her. “And I know you feel the same. My marriage won’t change that.”

“I have to disagree,” she bites back. “It will change everything.”

“It doesn’t have to,” I counter. “You’re still with me, by my side at all times. You know me better than anyone, things that she’ll never know. And I know you the same way.”

“So what? You expect me to live my life watching as you get married and play house with Mariana? Seeing her on your arm at parties and events? Watching her stand beside you as you campaign? All the while, I’m standing in the shadows, hoping for a secret glance or the slightest brush of your hand? That and the knowledge that you love me? That’s supposed to be enough?”

“Riza–”

“And what about your family?” she murmurs.

“My what?” I blink.

“Your family,” she echoes, emotion leaking into her voice. “Your children. If you marry her and treat her as your wife, sooner or later she’ll be pregnant.”

I shut my eyes slowly, and wince. I hadn’t even considered starting a family with Mariana. But I suppose she’s right. It would look suspicious if we didn’t. Fuck.

“I don’t think I can live like that,” she whispers finally.

“I always imagined you’d be the mother of my kids,” I confess.

She looks away, and I see a single tear slip down her cheek.

“So did I,” her small voice trembles.

I open my mouth to say…something, but a knock on the door stops me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her wipe her face and stand up tall, a picture of composure.

“We’ll talk about this more later.”

“I’d prefer if we didn’t,” she says quietly as she heads toward the door.

I straighten my uniform and move behind my desk just as she reaches for the handle. And when the door opens, it’s as if the conversation never happened. Back to business as usual.

But this isn’t the end of this. I can’t afford to lose her.

This office? This rank? This power? Everything I’ve gained as the leader of this country is all meaningless without her by my side. She’s the light that guides me, and without her I am lost.

In chess, the king is practically helpless without a queen, and I’m not ready to sacrifice mine.

[fullmetalscullyy]

i will come for you

summary: “Stay where you are. I will come for you. Do you understand me? I will come for you.” Riza spoke once more without thinking but knew in her gut that this was always going to be her decision if the opportunity presented itself. There was no way she couldn’t go to him to help. 

an: after watching the day after tomorrow five days in a row last month i decided to fill a niche au for myself ✨ something short that isn't meant to be taken too seriously lmao i just really wanted to use the quote "i will come for you. do you understand me? i will come for you” for royai :)))))

rated: t | words: | tags: au, the day after tomorrow au, rescue mission, sniper bros havoc and hawkeye on a rescue mission

read on: ao3 | ffnet

“Riza?”

Her head turned tiredly towards her co-worker and oldest friend, wondering what new challenge was coming over the horizon for them now. However, one look at Jean Havoc’s face told Riza Hawkeye this wasn’t related to the global catastrophe happening right now – one she and her team were trying to predict the trajectory of. This was something completely different. There was hope in his eyes – something they’d been severely lacking recently.

“Roy is on the phone. Line two.”

Riza hesitated for a second as she tried to process what Jean had told her. Then, emotion surged within her body and lifted her out of the chair. With an encouraging look, Jean pressed the transfer call button so Roy would come through her phone. Riza quickly accepted and put him on speakerphone. She took a deep breath before speaking.

It had been days since disaster first struck. Days of wondering if he was still alive or not. Being in what was essentially “base camp” for the worldwide operation meant she’d heard the news. She was well aware of what was happening around the world. Riza and her team were the ones tasked with forecasting it all. She’d heard of the tsunami that ravaged New York, where Roy had been at the time of the event. It had been devastating, killing hundreds of thousands in a city where that should never have even happened. Under normal circumstances, that is. Riza had lain awake at night, praying he wasn’t one of the dead. With no way to reach him, she’d never known for sure. When it became too much, she smothered her tears and pushed it down, shelving it for later. She and her team had a duty to the whole world’s population to try and figure this crazy shit out – and how to save as many as she could. Riza couldn’t afford to think of only one person – something Roy would have told her too – and yet, her heart refused to let him go, refused to banish him from her mind. He’d been her best friend. Her partner. How could she simply forget about him?

And now, he was here. Finally.

“Roy?” Her voice was strong as she spoke, but that control was already wavering as hope started to build inside her chest. Riza hunched over her desk, placing both palms flat atop it as she hung over the phone. Jean was right by her side, listening intently.

“Riza! Riza, oh thank God.” Relief clouded his tone but there was something else to it. He sounded off –

“Roy? Where are you?”

“New York Public Library. Riza, what is happening out there?”

Riza swallowed and prepared to break the news. “It’s a superstorm. There’s multiple, all forming over the northern hemisphere.”

“Where we are right now. Typical,” he scoffed lightly. Even in times of strife, he managed to quip a joke. Riza’s heart clenched inside her chest.

“Listen to me, Roy.” Riza leaned in closer to the phone. “You need to stay inside the library. Burn anything you can to keep warm and wait the storm out. Do not go outside. Don’t leave, okay –?”

He gasped and there was a gurgling sound.

Riza froze. What just happened?

Jean looked as alarmed and helpless as she felt.

“Roy? Roy?” Riza and Jean’s commands for him to answer were met with silence.

Suddenly, Roy gasped again, but this was different – like someone gulping down air after being starved of it. He spluttered loudly over the line, coughing roughly.

“Roy!”

“I’m okay,” he reassured shakily. “I’m all right.” There was the sound of him gagging and breathing heavily.

Riza’s muscles shook as her head bowed, thankful he was back on the line.

“Don’t do that to me,” she scolded without thinking, pouring as much of her relief and upset into that one statement.

“Sorry.” He sounded cold. His teeth chattered together violently. The sound was clear over the phone. “You know how I like t – to keep you on your t – toes.”

Riza could picture his grin and she felt tears prick in the corner of her eyes while Jean barked out a relived laugh beside her. His hand came to rest on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze while Riza let out a heavy sigh.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“I s – slipped. The area is filling up with w – water.” He exhaled violently, his teeth still chattering with cold.

“Roy, get out of there. Now.” Alarm bells were going off inside Riza’s head.

“I will. In a second.”

“Roy –”

“I’ve got time.”

“That water will be freezing. Get out because it will only get colder. You need to get somewhere warm and dry.”

“Stay warm. Burn things. Stay inside. Got it.”

“Burn anything you can and don’t let the fire go out, all right?”

“All right,” he replied quietly. “I’ve got it.” There was a beat of silence and she started to fear he’d disappeared again. “I’ll be fine, Riza.” Roy’s reassurance was gentle. She could picture his face as he said it – a smile that reached right up to his eyes, making them crinkle at the edges, his expression holding a softness and affection that he showed only to her.

Moments between them flashed in her mind. The way he was the only person who’d ever made her truly happy, but her dedication to the job kept them both apart. He’d promised he’d wait for her, but Riza could never ask him to do that. A relationship couldn’t exist when she was in the Arctic or in Antarctica for six months – or more – of the year. And yet, every time she returned, he met her with an easy smile and picked up where they’d left off, no questions asked. Her work sent Riza to some of the coldest places on Earth, but when she returned, Roy welcomed her with open arms, and his touch warmed her more than any heat source would ever be able to.

Now the tables were turned, and she would get him out of there.

“Stay where you are. I will come for you. Do you understand me? I will come for you.” Riza spoke once more without thinking but knew in her gut that this was always going to be her decision if the opportunity presented itself. There was no way she couldn’t go to him to help. Riza had the gear and had walked that far before on expeditions. She hadn’t walked it during weather conditions befitting a new ice age, but it could be done. She was sure of it, and she’d do it for him.

“Riza, no –”

“I’ll be there.”

There was a silence on the other end and Riza feared momentarily that she’d lost him. Again.

“See you s – soon, then?”

“I promise,” she vowed.

There was heavy breathing, followed by a loud gasp before the line went dead. Her head snapped up to look at the phone, seeing the screen blink back at her to indicate the call had ended. Riza’s heart rate picked up as her gaze roved over the piece of technology, silently begging it to bring him back.

“Roy?” Jean called to him, a hint of fear in his voice.

Riza straightened her spine slowly but her eyes never left the screen of the phone.

Give him back, she begged it.

Jean placed his hands gently upon her shoulders, turning her in place. Upon contact Riza inhaled sharply as her body started to shake.

“Come here.”

Her exhale was muffled against Jean’s chest as he held her tightly. His hands rubbed her back in comfort, which she was extremely thankful for. She needed it. They were quiet for a few moments as Riza tried to compose herself and banish the images of Roy dying in this storm from her mind.

“Are you sure about going?”

“I can’t leave him,” she whispered into Jean’s chest.

“Riza…”

“I’m going.” Her tone was stronger, and she pulled back slightly, looking up at Jean’s face. His long, blonde fringe fell over sympathetic eyes that were filled with sorrow. “And you can’t stop me.”

Jean shook his head. Riza opened her mouth and geared up for an argument, however that wasn’t his intention.

“I just have one question for you.”

“What?”

Jean’s arms left her shoulders, falling down to her elbows. “When do we leave?”

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

The walls of the library were frozen solid. In all of her expeditions, Riza had never seen anywhere look so frigid before. Frost covered every surface, several inches thick. Nothing had been saved from it. Her stomach clenched as she prayed she wouldn’t find what she feared.

“Riza,” Jean called to her. He had continued walking ahead as she searched everywhere in hallway for signs of life. Jean stopped where the hallway split off into a new one. His torch was pointing towards something and, with her heart in her throat, Riza approached to see what it was.

There, ahead of them both, was a faint orange glow coming out from underneath a closed doorway.

Riza’s movements felt slow and jerky as she walked towards the door, however she didn’t even remember her approach. All of her focus was on the orange light instead. Jean nodded to her in encouragement as they shared a look. With a deep breath, she forced the stiff, frozen handle downwards and pushed it open.

There were people inside asleep before a roaring fire.

The muscles of Riza’s neck trembled as she searched the faces. Desperation made her grip her torch even tighter. She made her way slowly around everyone, starting from left to right. A small dog poked its head up as the light hit them. It was a black and white Shiba, nestled comfortably in their owner’s arms. The dog whined loudly, sitting up straighter and attracting the attention of their owner. However, Riza couldn’t pay attention to them. There was only one face left to search –

There. Beside the fire.

Roy grimaced at the sudden light shining in his face. He grunted and lifted a hand to shield his eyes, managing to crack one of them open. Riza knew she should lower it to remove his discomfort, but she was frozen in place like everything else inside the room.

He was alive.

“Who’s that?”

Riza didn’t recognise the voice that spoke and couldn’t tear her eyes away from Roy long enough to look at their face again. All her worries and fears about what she would find in this library were banished immediately. One look at him squinting into the bright light made her legs tremble and a shaky breath pass over her lips.

Her torch lowered to point at the floor.

Roy stood. His expression was one of wonder as he hurriedly walked around the piles of books and furniture. Jean had stepped forward to see to the other survivors, clapping Roy on the back with a grin and a quick hello. But he didn’t manage to tear Roy’s attention away from her.

They were a step apart when Roy stopped. He hesitated for a second, probably waiting for her to say something, however Riza quickly closed that distance between them. She was overwhelmed by the sight of him and the definitive knowledge that he was okay and unharmed. Her arms wrapped around his torso to squeeze him tightly. Roy did the same and it was difficult with all their layers, but they managed. She pressed her face into his shoulder and squeezed her eyes closed to try and stave off her tears. It was a struggle, as every emotion was surging to the surface and threatening to bubble over.

She was so happy he was okay.

“You came for me,” Roy breathed by her ear. He pulled away and lifted his gloved hands to cup her face. He gazed upon her in awe. “I can’t believe you did it,” he chuckled in disbelief. His exhale warmed the skin of her face beautifully in the frozen room. Just like it had done years prior after returning from a long expedition.

“Of course,” Riza replied simply with her own smile. “I promised you that I would.”

“You… You are amazing.” He leaned forward to press a fierce kiss upon her forehead before bundling her into his arms once more. His cheek rested against hers and Roy lifted a hand to the back of her head to hold her in place.

“And I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” she warned lightly, giving his torso a squeeze.

A laugh rumbled inside Roy’s chest and he nodded. “I can live with that,” he replied softly. “I would be more than happy with that, Riza.”