#when riza said the world would be a lot darker and scarier she wasnt joking

[paybackraid]

Camera Worthy

Hey all~~ Just wanted to share a quick little snippet from maeshughesofficial’s Reverse Dad AU, because what else can you expect of me. And for once, it’s only mostly parental, I even threw in some Royai! 

Based loosely off of this piece of artwork that the entire world needs to see!

This whole thing gets a lot worse when you realize that for everything Riza feels, Roy only has a few months left to live :)

Words: 1368

Riza liked visiting her husband at work.

His staff was very friendly, and all acted as if she was part of the team. It helped that she was Black Hayate’s handler, and would join them very occasionally when Roy’s dog Snowball wouldn’t be enough, so on occasion she really was part of the team. They certainly treated her as such.

Not only that, it was nice to come in and sometimes find him hard at work. He had a very particular face when he concentrated, his eyebrows drawn together, and Riza always thought he was so very handsome. She could sit and watch him work for several minutes before he’d notice her…

And then, the way that his eyes lit up, like he was seeing her for the very first time all over again. He’d brush his work aside and stand, march over to her and scoop her up, spin her around, kiss her full on the mouth. “Riza!” He cried like they were young ones again, like they were just starting to date or newlyweds falling in love all over again.

She would never get over him. She didn’t know what she’d do without him. He was the love of her life and nearly everything that she wanted out of her future.

And especially, now that their boys worked on base. She’d storm in, he’d kiss her and, faces still only inches apart, she’d say “let’s fetch the boys and go out to eat”. Neither of them could cook, after all, and it was hardly fair for Gracia to cook for them every night.

And Roy, bless his heart Roy, would look so excited and he’d kiss her again and say so softly, “that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.” And she could see it, see the love and adoration, for her and for their boys, radiating in his eyes, echoing endlessly like a song caught in a cavern. His heart was so big, he loved so strong and felt so much, and Riza knew, she knew, that nothing and no one could take his beautiful soul from this world, lest the world become a far darker and scarier place.

“Hello, Riza!” Havoc chirped when she came into the office. The place was remarkably much quieter than it normally was. She did a quick headcount, but everyone appeared to be there—Havoc of course, Breda, Falman, Fuery, and even Roy’s young and impressionable new secretary the boys had found, Sheska. Why did it seem so quiet?

“Is Roy in?” It was that, or he was pestering Maes. He had gotten his film developed, after all, and had twenty-four new photos of herself and their boys to show off. Poor, poor Maes, he never stood a chance.

Sheska nodded, a secretive little smile on her face. When Riza strode forward to barge into her husband’s office, Sheska waved frantically, tried and failed to fight off a delighted smile, and pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhhh!” she said softly, halfway to giggling.

Riza almost—almost—feared what on earth she was talking about. Why should she be quiet? Roy didn’t particularly care whether anyone was loud or not (he got distracted either way), and he couldn't possibly be doing something to betray her; it wasn’t at all like him, and she sure hoped Sheska wouldn’t be giggling if he was.

Off to the left, Breda shook his head and said, “go on in, Riza. He just might not notice. He’s got visitors.”

Visitors? She frowned a little, shook her head, but went to the door and opened it all the same.

Roy actually wasn’t at his desk, not at all. Papers indicated he’d been there, possibly recently, and whomever had entered (virtually anyone) had been important enough to make him stop working.

It took several extra seconds to figure out why.

Like many officers, Roy had his own private office attached to the main office of his team. Inside, there was a small resting place; a pair of couches and a coffee table between them, so that he could converse with whomever he pleased for however long he liked. She knew Roy often took advantage of one of the couches by having a sneakily placed nap.

And there he was, his dark head leaning back a little against the backrest. Normally he’d at least lay down, or he’d throw out his neck. He was going to be whining in the morning. She had to go move him, or at least wake him so he could move himself.

Honestly, that man.

She crept around, still sort of wary of Sheska’s warning to be quiet. She stepped around the arm of the couch, lowered her eyes to her beloved…

And oh, her heart melted.

There was a reason, a particularly good one, that Roy had fallen asleep sitting up as she’d seen. The reason, two of them actually, curled up at his side, cheeks pressed into his chest and wrapped up in his embrace.

Apparently, Edward and Alphonse had made their way to their dad’s office and had, for one reason or another, connived him to the couch so they could nap together.  Alphonse was pressed close, held tight in Roy’s one arm as Al’s fingers knotted in Roy’s light blue undershirt. Edward was sprawled over Roy’s shoulder and other arm, his own arms halfway thrown up over him as if he’d collapsed there. Roy’s other arm was around his waist, holding him still so he couldn’t adjust to a worse position, or fall off the couch entirely.

All in all, the three of them looked happy, healthy, and comfortable where they were. Roy even appeared to be drooling a little—a sure sign that he was getting some good rest.

She smiled a little, casting her eyes around for one of the few things that Roy kept on him at all times…

And yes, there it was, his treasured camera seated right there on the corner of his desk. Roy was always the one taking pictures of family and friends and events and was rarely if ever the subject of a photograph. He was part of this family too—he could stand to have his picture taken on the occasion, too.

She grabbed the camera and lined up the shot, getting their faces all in. It perhaps wasn’t the most flattering picture of her beloved that she had ever seen, or of her boys for that matter… but it was perfect all the same. She’d have to get a copy of this one and try to shrink it down—it was time to replace the photo in her wallet with a more updated version of her family, after all.

She set the camera aside and just watched her beloved family a moment longer. She touched Roy’s face, laughing when he snorted weakly and held the boys all the closer—ever a papa. Then she bent over a little and pressed fleeting kisses on their faces, quietly wishing them good rest.

“Good night, my boys,” she said softly, smiling still even as she stepped away to let them sleep. She stepped back and out of the office, silently closing the door behind her to give them their privacy.

She leaned back on the door like a lovestruck teenager, fearing her heart may burst with the adoration and love she felt growing and rising every day that went by with her three amazing men. And this—after just over a year with these beautiful boys apart of their family. She didn’t know how she’d survive the rest of her life if her love kept growing at the rate it was.

All that she knew, all that mattered, was that nothing, no force on this earth, could tear this family apart now. She would see to it herself if she had to. She had been lucky enough to find the love of her life after losing touch with him for so long, and then had been lucky enough to meet the two boys, her two babies, who would complete them.

She had been so so lucky, and she was never going to let them go.