Their scars were what told the story of their journey. Neither of their bodies were the clean, unstained things they were when they had first met. Each mark on their skin represented a step toward the life they had right now, and Roy was thankful for every one of them. This was why they touched these spots so often when they lay together. Neither of them believed in forgetting their past, and though sometimes it was painful, they were learning to accept each other's bodies and the stories they told.
When Roy ran his fingers over Riza's back, he could feel the intricate pattern of raised skin, the red lines that represented the beginning. It was what tied them together; it ensured that their lives would forever be entwined. And when he traced up to her shoulders, he could feel the unnaturally smooth skin that he had burned away.
When Riza left soft trails of kisses down Roy's left side and over the shiny expanse of pink skin that lay there, they were reminded of the sacrifices, both physical and emotional, that they had made. At the time, they told themselves that they were for the greater good, for the future that they had pledged themselves to, but when they looked back on it, it had been more for themselves and for each other than anything else. This scar represented loyalty and dedication.
The end had marked them both. The Promised Day was the final battle in their larger fight. It left twin scars on Roy's hands that Riza could feel every time she held his hands, and Roy always treated the long, mangled stretch of skin on her neck was extra care when he held her. That day had tested their limits. It stretched and tore at the bonds that held them together, pushing them to the edge. They had made it out together and, though both maimed, ready to face the new challenges and joys that lay ahead.
Everything had changed so much since that day. They had accepted the scars they had. Sometimes, the wounds ached or felt fresh all over again, but they were always able to help each other deal with them and what they meant. The new life they led now felt so natural. Nothing surprised them, but everything was exciting.
Their new lives had marked them as well. For a few weeks, Roy had small red lines on his back from Riza's fingernails on the first night they had made love. More recently, faint, spidery lines had begun to appear on Riza's belly where her skin strained to hold the new life inside of her. These marks brought such a great joy to the both of them that sometimes they momentarily forgot their pasts and embraced their present. Roy did that now as he watched Riza drift in and out of sleep in the glow of the morning sun. He knew they would never forget the journey that lead them to where they were, nor did they want to, but for now, living in the moment was the best that they could do.