Hey there everyone! I'm happy that I'm finally able to push myself to write out my Royai ideas(including this). This here is my take on how the burning of Riza's back came to be. I already have illustrations regarding it in my tumblr!

iskidzz . tumblr post / 125987491476 / yeeaaah-remember-that-comic-i-made-regarding-how

(Just get rid of the spaces : P )

I would love to thank Oho-hoho for her support and The-Flame-and-Hawks-Eye for beta reading this for me! You guys are awesome!

You could also check the Ao3 Link version! archiveofourown works / 8625433 / chapters / 19778863

My estimate of how long this story will be would probably 5-6 chapters.

Enjoy!

Please leave any critique!


The rumbling of thunder is added in the symphony of the evening rain. Dark clouds gather round and shadow over the abandoned house while rain drops pelted onto the aging wood work. It's bigger than a house actually, an estate even, and it's not quite abandoned at the meantime. For there, on the top left of the house lies a window lit with a warm yellow, the only source of light in the house that pops out from the blue-grey atmosphere outside.

The gentle taps at the window from the rain is blocked out by the sound of a sink running, coming from a bathroom. Roy holds a bucket in place under a faucet, waiting for it to be filled. His eyebrows furrow while looking over his reflection in the bucket, he looked better. Numerous thoughts were clouding his mind and he could feel his nerves acting up through his arms.

A feminine silhouette is sitting on the edge of the bed in silence with both her hands resting on her lap. She continues to squeeze them together, as if to comfort herself. But judging by her periodic fidget, stooped posture, and clear look of anxiousness on her face, it was clear that it wasn't working

Riza hears the sink turned off and turns her whole body around to face the open bathroom door. Roy walks out with a full bucket of cold water in his hands and sets it alongside a bucket of ice and sets of towels down on the wooden floor. She watches him scooping ice cubes and placing them in the bucket.

Riza steals a glance at Roy, she could see guilt and disgust building up already by the way he squinted his eyes and how he looked like he aged a few more years. She recognized that look, she kept seeing it throughout their time in Ishval. Riza looks down on the floor while clutching onto the sheets. She swallows a lump in her throat. She, too, felt guilty, to have him go through this.

But they know, they know they have to do this, and they know it's the only way possible.

Riza shifts back to Roy who was starting to get up, it seems he's done with the preparations. This gave her the chance to get off from the bed and walk over towards the dark-haired man. Noticing her presence, Roy turns to face the small blonde figure before him. He forgot how tiny she was compared to him.

Both said nothing, only sounds of the rainfall showering over the antique house. Roy could see some yellow illuminating Riza's figure and her eyes. Riza places a gentle hand on Roy's arm.

Silence plays between them still until Roy spoke up.

"...You could still back out. It's not too late to-"

He stops when Riza shakes her head. Riza caresses Roy's face with one hand. He could see it in her eyes, she's not going to change her mind.

"We have to." She says, quietly.

Roy curses in his mind. He was hoping she would have second thoughts but he knew her better than that.

Riza removes her hand and takes a short breath through her nose. She then loses eye contact to Roy when she turns her heel and takes a few steps forward until she stopped in front of the window.

Roy only stood there to stare at her for a second before coming back to his senses and dig into his military pants pocket, bringing out the familiar pair of white cloth with the red symbols on the front. He had shed his military jacket and cape before hand so not much clothing were in the way so he only had a white shirt, the military pants, and boots. Now his trademark gloves were added.

Riza finishes opening the buttons on her blouse, feeling the material on her skin as she takes it off and throws it aside on the bed. She then, starts on working on her bra. Roy stood patiently as he watched the bra dropped down to her legs.

There it was, the red craftwork carved all over her back. The secrets of flame alchemy, the burden resting on her smooth skin, the cause of thousands of deaths.

Though dark with barely enough light from the bathroom, Roy could make out every symbol, every transcription. He vaguely flashbacks to their times when he came back from training and studied over the notes with his hand skimming over the tattoo.. He remembers his excitement figuring out the secrets and his determination to making Ametris a better place.

And now look what it's got to them.

Riza, who placed her arms over her breasts beforehand, waited for Roy's mark while a shiver ran down her bare torso. Eyebrow raising, she looked over her shoulder.

"Roy?"

The soldier mentioned is brought back to the present time. The lightning from the window flashed Roy a concern look on the side of her face. Shaking off the remaining nerves, Roy took a breath. There was no time to waste.

"Ready?" he croaks out, barely in question form.

Riza turns to face the window once more.

Roy raises a gloved hand in front of him.

She takes in one last breath, dropping her arms down to her sides.

He positions his shaking hand and pin points the exact areas of his targets. He's gone over this many times before to make sure to hit the right ones and not to do too much damage. Though this wouldn't make the situation any easier.

Riza bites her lip and clenches her fists tight that she can feel her nails digging in her skin. She closes her eyes.

Roy looks away, his hand stops shaking.

And just like that, a snap is echos throughout the room.

What follows a roaring trail of blazing heat is a scream that over takes the thunders drumming beside the hawkeye house.