I do not own FMA or its characters. Spoilers for Hawkeye and Mustang's past. This is AU and was previously posted in An Apple a Day.

A Hand In Friendship

Roy peered out of the carriage window, hoping to catch a glimpse of his new home. His mother had finally given in and was allowing him to begin an intensive study of alchemy. He didn't know why she had baulked for so long. After all, it wasn't like he was important. Roy Syaoran Mustang was the only son of the youngest Prince of Amestris and a Xing Princess. He was at most perhaps tenth in line for the crown, and at age nine, that seemed very far away to him.

So Roy was going off to live with Baron Hawkeye who was a well known alchemist. The man was most famous for his research into flame alchemy. Roy doubted he'd get to learn about that right away, but he was still excited about living with his new teacher and getting away from his three older sisters. The only drawback was that his best friend couldn't come with him. Still, he'd get to see Maes during the holidays, so that wasn't too bad, and maybe now his lessons would be interesting.

The carriage rolled to a stop and the footman helped his mother out. Roy jumped out on his own, eager to see his new home and meet his new teacher. The manor housed seemed rather old and shabby, but he didn't care. There was a woman waiting for them in the doorway. Perhaps this was the Baroness Hawkeye.

"Princess Li Ming, welcome to Hawk's Eyrie. I am the baron's housekeeper, Ellaine. There are room prepared for both you and your son. Supper will be served in a few hours, so there will be time for you to freshen up from your journey."

The woman (Ellaine, Roy reminded himself) led them to a suite of rooms while the footman dealt with their luggage. Roy was impatient. His mother was only staying overnight to make sure he would be all right. He thought it was unnecessary, but both his parents had insisted. Instead of staying in his room, Roy decided he should investigate his new home. It was easy enough for him to slip away from his mother as he had his own room.

Hawk's Eyrie was an odd place. It wasn't like the summer palace at all despite the fact that the manor house looked very much like it. Instead of the bright light and fresh air, the rooms here were musty and full of dust. Most of them looked like they hadn't been used in years. The furniture was all covered in white sheets, and all the windows were shuttered. It was almost like no one lived here.

Roy had just discovered the library when a flash of gold caught his eye. The library was one of the few rooms that looked like it was in use. It wasn't the biggest library he had ever seen, but it looked very interesting. And there was someone else in here. He carefully peered into the stacks, looking for that flash of gold again. Roy rounded a corner and nearly ran into it. He stopped short.

A little girl with golden hair was glaring at him. She looked to be a few years younger than he was, and her eyes were a shade some where between crimson and amber.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

He figured he had startled her. "My name is Roy. I'm going to be living here. What's your name?"

He offered his hand to her. She took it warily.

"I'm Riza."

"A pleasure to meet you, my lady." He bowed over her hand as he'd been taught.

She gave him a skeptical look. Roy smiled. Riza just shrugged.

"What do you mean you're going to live here?"

"Baron Hawkeye had agreed to teach me alchemy. I supposed to live here while I'm learning since it will take several years."

Riza frowned. "That would make you the prince. What do you want to learn alchemy for? It's not like you have to work for a living."

Roy flushed. Why did everyone have to harp on that? Just because he didn't have to do something for his country didn't mean he didn't want to help his country. Shouldn't royalty have more of a duty to their land than less?

"I'm not that important. Besides, it's the duty of the royal family to look after the well being of the country and its people. Alchemy is a way that I can do that."

She considered this then nodded. "All right."

"Do you live here too?" He didn't think the Baron had any children, but he didn't really know that. At least, not that anyone had mentioned to him.

Her frown came back and she mad a curt little curtsy. "Mistress Elizabeth Hawkeye of Hawk's Eyrie at your service, your royal highness."

Roy blinked. So the Baron did have children. Well, a child. At least he wouldn't be the only kid around, and Riza seemed interesting. Then Roy frowned. He had never heard mention of the Baron having a wife. Something told him that asking Riza about that right now would probably be a bad idea though. Instead, Roy offered her his hand. "Would you show me around the manor?"

Riza shrugged. "Sure."

She was an interesting little thing, and it was like pulling teeth to get information out her. During their tour of the manor, Roy managed to find out that Riza was six and an only child, that she didn't have any talent for alchemy, and there really weren't any other children at the manor itself. Riza seemed alternately wary of him and interested in him. Roy didn't think she knew that many people around her own age. She didn't act like most girls his age either. He hoped that she would decide to at least tolerate him. It would be nice to have a friend here.

The manor was mostly unoccupied. There was a servants' wing that housed at most ten staff members including the housekeeper and the groundskeeper. There was no one in the family wing save for Riza and her father. He and his mother were the only guests. According to Riza, the only visitors they ever had were other alchemists. Roy found this rather odd, but perhaps the baron preferred to be left with his studies. Still, wouldn't relatives visit? Roy could hardly think of a time when there wasn't family visiting at home.

A bell rang, and Riza frowned.

"That's dinner. We need to go to the dining hall."

"Do we have to change clothes or anything?" Roy made a face. At home dinner was always formal unless it was a special occasion.

Riza shook her head. "No, we're fine. Come on, Ellaine gets testy if we're not on time."

The girl led the way towards the dining hall she'd pointed out earlier. His mother was already there, and Roy made formal introductions. His mother seemed to intimidate Riza. The girl was very quiet and only spoke when directly addressed. However, Roy was distracted from trying to puzzle this out by the entrance of Baron Hawkeye. Or at least, that's who Roy assumed this was. He and Riza shared the same color hair and eyes. The man was tall and lanky with rather unkempt hair, though he did dress well.

Roy shivered as the man looked at him. There was something dead in his eyes. Who exactly was his teacher? Roy felt a little better when the man's attention turned to his mother.

"Princess Li Ming, it take it this is the boy."

"Yes, Baron. This is Roy." His mother smiled. "Thank you for agreeing to take him on as a student."

"Well, if he lives up to the potential he's shown, it will be worth it."

Dinner began. The adults spent most of the time conversing about alchemy, and Roy did his best to follow the conversation. He knew that his mother's alchemy training in Xing had been much different than what was taught here in Amestris, but truthfully, he didn't really understand why. He thought that his mother and the baron were discussing though he really only understood about one sentence out of ten.

After dinner, Baron Hawkeye announced that Roy's lessons would start tomorrow after he had seen his mother off. Roy went to bed feeling both nervous and excited. A servant awakened him the next morning with a breakfast tray. The rest of his morning was spent with his mother. Riza appeared as the servants prepared the carriage. Roy watched as his mother was handed up into the carriage. Li Ming waved to her son as the carriage pulled away, and Roy suddenly felt very alone. A small hand slid into his own, and Roy looked down to meet Riza's eyes. She smiled at him, and he didn't feel so alone.

Theme: Hands