Two Years

by merrileggs

Royai AU. Roy Mustang is a newly-minted teacher when the Ishval Extermination erupts. He is drafted off to war and away from his 19-year-old fiance. Can he handle to pressure of the war and the harsh life of a soldier? How will Riza cope with the absence of everything she holds dear?

….

He caressed her cheek with one hand. She pressed her face closer to his hand; she was this to last forever, she never wanted to lose his touch. "I promise we'll get married when I come back."

"Alright."

She kept her eyes downcast, though she knew she had to take a last look at his young, innocent face. Mostly, she tried not to think, "If you come back."

He was a teacher, fresh out of college, only 23. War began abroad, and their country was getting pulled into it. Some place far away, someplace not home, where sand flew into every crevice imaginable, and the sun baked you alive.

"I'll come back a whole man, or I won't come back at all. You'll have all of me; I wouldn't offer myself otherwise."

"Alright."

He tipped her face up to him and kissed her. He whispered, "I'll make you Mrs. Roy Mustang, even if it's the last thing I do," before pulling away as the train came into view. Other young couples were hugging or kissing tearfully. "You're so much braver than I… My soldier-girl." He pecked the top of her head and stepped away. The train roared and hair, skirts, bags, and purses flew up and waved wildly around. A last dance for our soldier-boys. The train eased to a halt and Roy hopped on. "Farewell, Miss Riza Hawkeye. See you in two years."

That was his silly prediction, and she knew it, yet she clung onto that hope for all she was worth. Two years, two years and the war would end.