Riza stood half naked with her back towards Roy Mustang. The darkness of the room lit only by candlelight served as an ironic setting for the request she'd made of him.
She told herself it was for the greater good; to prevent others from getting a hold of the secret she quite literally bore day to day, no thanks to her father. She told Roy she knew what she was doing and if she were to have any regrets, she'd take them to her grave.
Roy fanatically opposed her request, yelling at her and rebuking her, saying how much more of an idiot could she be? And how could she ask him to hurt her like that? Burn her back and destroy the very thing that gave him his alchemy. His anger and opposition wasn't because he wanted those secrets. No. He knew them already no thanks to her father and he wished he'd never been taken under the man's study if he'd known it would come to this.
Roy's anger was directed at her choice. Though he could understand in sympathy. If he were in her shoes, he was sure he'd feel the same. Having a father who physically abused you, just to hide his own trade secret from the world, leaving a permanent mark that would travel with you the rest of your life. Roy couldn't even fathom.
Yet that very reason is why they were in this exact situation. She was a pale, fragile, porcelain doll, standing in front of him as if at the mercy of her maker. He stood behind her, wishing the woman wasn't so stubborn and bull headed. He knew that no matter what he said, she would insist he follow through, no matter what the cost, to her or someone else.
He can feel her fear. Riza's body trembles in front of him and he can see her back rising and falling with each breath she takes. He felt a small tear fall down his cheek.
"Are you sure about this, Riza?"
She twists around and he notices her eyes. Cold and dull yet urgent and intense at the same time. She doesn't speak a word, nodding silently, then faces forward again. Because why would she speak? No words are needed to sense the woman's determination.
Roy takes a few steps toward her, he didn't want her to fall if she passed out from the pain. He takes one last look at her beautiful unmarked back before steeling his resolve and speaking.
"I'm going to do it now."
He barely hears her murmur, "Ok."
With a deep breath, Roy closes his eyes and snaps his fingers, sending a small, controlled, blast of fire straight in front of him. "I'm sorry, Riza."
He keeps his eyes closed for the longest two seconds of his life and it's all he can not to cry hearing her scream amidst the pain. When his eyes finally open, he's sick at the sight of what he sees.
The smell of burnt skin and quiet fading of fire crackling permeates the room, muted by her screams. The fire has done its job, leaving black, marred patches tainted with her blood that would surely turn into scars. How could he have done this to her?
He scrambles in front of her before she falls to the ground, bent over heaving, gasping for air similarly if she'd fallen onto her back. Her hands clutch her side in a death grip. He can hear her pleading for the pain to go away.
He guides her head onto his lap as she continues panting in between tears. In his mind he's trying to conjure up some consolation or comforting words but all seems worthless, insignificant. So he says the only thing he can.
"I'm sorry, Riza," He whispers. "I am so, so sorry."
I'm sorry this is so depressing and I'm not even sure if anyone reads Royai anymore. I've recently watched FMA Brotherhood and got inspired to write this.
Please fave or drop a review if you enjoyed. Thanks so much for reading!
Regards-SF15
