Seeing Red

It was almost the color of dried blood, maybe a fresh, vivid bruise. But it was too thin to be a bruise… maybe a really precise scratch? But how would that have happened? And why did it never seem to get better?

That red mark Roy could sometimes see poking up over Riza's collar was driving him absolutely crazy. The Hawkeye family had been little but mysteries since day one. Granted, Roy was there to learn alchemy, not the Hawkeyes' personal histories, but it was downright unnatural to live with people for so long and still know next to nothing about them.

But how to go about asking? Concern was probably the best tack if it really was an injury, but Roy could find nothing to back up that conviction. He knew that casual was definitely not the way to go, but at the same time, he didn't want to sound too serious.

Whatever. Enough was enough. He had to know. He set down his book and headed to Riza's room.

He knocked. "Riza!"

It took less than a second before Riza opened the door. "Yes?"

I can't do this! Why should I know, anyway? But what if she's in some sort of trouble… She's just not that type, though! And how should I… oh, forget it! Roy took a deep breath. "Please don't think I'm weird for asking, but I'm just concerned. I keep on seeing this red mark on your back, just above your collar sometimes. Is something wrong? It looks like dried blood or something, and I just… I don't know… What is it?"

It didn't escape his attention that when he had first asked, Riza's expression had quickly run the emotional gambit from shock to fear to anger to a sort of relief. She had quickly recovered from this, and was back to her "why are you bothering me?" expression. "Roy… it's fine."

"Well, yeah, I figured, but… but what is it?" She's evading the subject, buying herself time…

She sighed. "It's a birthmark, all right? Are you happy now?"

"Ah… Sorry. I'm going to get back to my work now. Sorry for bothering you."

Roy tried to make it look like he was leaving quickly, but he wasn't convinced. Riza's initial reaction had told him that all was not well. Riza had lied to him… why?

Well, for whatever reason, she hadn't wanted to tell him, and Roy supposed he really should just leave well enough alone, but the way her expression had changed so quickly only made him worry more. He almost turned right back around to demand the truth, but that wouldn't be right.

Would it? What if it really is trouble, and she's staying quiet out of fear? He sighed. I'm the worst. I can't do anything to help anyone… No, I can't think like that. There's something I can do; I just haven't discovered it yet. But when I do, I won't hesitate to do it. I can't. I'll find something to help you, Riza. Whatever it is, whatever it takes, I promise to find it. I just hope it's not too late when I do.

A/N: Another fma(dot)com-inspired one shot. We were discussing the color of Riza's tattoo and the method used to apply it. I touched on the color I thought it was, and kind of on the secretive way in which it was done. I think it's probably just ink and needles—what else could it be? Probably not alchemy…

Oh well. Let me know what you think!