From Hawkeye House to Eternity

Story One:

I guess I've just gotten used to it

"This is Roy Mustang" An eight-year-old Riza's father gestured to a ten-year-old Roy. "He'll be living with us from no on."

Riza glared at the boy. "That's gross!" She shouted and turned to run down the hall.

Roy shrugged. "Your daughter's weird Master Hawkeye."

Berthold flinched at the sound of Riza's door slamming. "Not usually."

"So he's going to replace me now too?" Riza mumbled. Just like with mom. "Only this time he's using a real person." She would never forget that night six months ago. Down in her father's alchemy cellar... Riza shuddered at the memory, glancing at the photo of her mother that lay on her nightstand. How could that thing ever be mom?

But he had insisted that it was, shamed her for shying away, and forced her towards it. 'Give mom a hug.' Riza's eyes drifted down to the bandages on her arms. Mom wouldn't have hurt me.

Dad wouldn't have either. "He's not my dad anymore." She whispered, not forgetting the new bandages on her back.

"That boy can have him."

Maybe it's just because her mom died less than a year ago. It was weird. What girl would think it was gross to spend time with him? "My sisters told me I'm a stud." Roy muttered. Yes. It must be because she was grieving. "I've got it!" He hurried down the stairs to where he thought he remembered his new teacher told him was Riza's room.

Knock Knock! The door creaked open and Riza poked her head out, instantly glaring at Roy as she saw him. "What do you want, shrimp?"

Yeah, so they were the same height, so what? He ignored the comment and spoke as if she hadn't said it. "I think we got off on the wrong foot."

"I think you got off on the wrong train." Roy's eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't been expecting this, though he smiled when he noticed she was struggling not to laugh. She was trying to be serious and stay mad at him, but she was obviously failing at it.

"Very funny. I only came to introduce myself."

"Father already did it for you." Riza snapped.

"But I want to do it properly." Roy flashed his self-award-winning smile.

Riza rolled her eyes and turned to a clock. "My favorite radio show comes on it two minutes, make it quick."

I feel bad for whoever marries this girl. He thought bitterly before speaking. "My name is Roy Mustang and I'm ten years old. I live with my foster mom and my four foster sisters, I don't remember my parents but I was told that they died when bandits attacked the train they were on. My favorite color is red, um, I like sandwiches and I'm here to learn alchemy from your dad because girls like smart and handsome guys. I like dogs."

Riza stared blankly at him. "Okay…? And what's your point?"

"I dunno, I sorta thought you'd hear something I said and start a conversation from it." Roy suddenly felt embarrassed and shuffled his feet awkwardly. "So nothing sounded interesting?"

"Not really." She passed him and started towards the living room. "Oh! But I do like dogs too." Roy's face lit up. "That doesn't mean I like you."

"But it's progress!" Roy followed after her. "So what's this show?"

"Ghost Tales From Beyond the Grave."

"I love that show! I didn't know it aired at four!"

Seasons changed and the two spent most of every day with each other, whether it be at home or, once summer ended, at school. Then winter break came and Roy was on his way back home for the holidays. Riza hated to admit it but she was bored without him there. He was always getting in some sort of trouble or making up adventures that they could go on. She decided that having Roy to play with was better than no one.

Winter break was ending and Roy was returning. The house had been so empty without him and Riza was glad he would be coming back. Maybe a bit too glad…

"Wow! You're so happy I'm back that you're crying!"

"I'm crying because I'm sad you came back!" Thunk!

"Ow! Why'd you have to hit me!"

Roy would return home for every major holiday and the week of his birthday. The same thing would happen every time he came back to the 'Hawkeye House' as he called it. Riza would hug him or simply say 'welcome back' and Roy would make fun of her for missing him. Thus would insure something being knocked against the side of his head.

That changed when he came back after his fourteenth birthday.

"W-welcome home." Riza mumbled. She stared at her feet and her face was a slight shade of pink.

"Missed me so much that even you're embarrassed about it?" Roy teased, using the smirk that he had been developing for the past year.

Riza sighed and rolled her eyes, the pink growing darker.

"Aren't you a bit young to start that whole teenage thing?"

A smile formed on her lips as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Shut-up!"

"You're still weird I see." Roy purposely mumbled just loud enough for her to hear. "Hey, master, can we go to the beach after we get back to Hawkeye House?"

Berthold glanced between the two. "Both of you?"

"It's no fun to go alone." Roy then quickly added. "Not that I couldn't get, like, every girl's number if I did." Riza shot him a look. "Please, we haven't been to the beach in forever and Riza didn't even swim!"

There was a reason behind that. Even if she did go with him, Riza wouldn't be swimming. With the tattooed array on her back that her father forbade her from letting anyone see, it was better just to sit out. She was expecting him to tell her that she couldn't go.

He sighed. "Fine, you can go." Riza blinked in surprise.

"Yes!" Roy grabbed her arm and dragged her after him in the direction of the lake.

"I thought we were going to stop at home first!" Riza protested while trying to keep up with him. "Father's going to be pissed that we left him there with all your junk!"

"So?" She caught up with him and wrenched her arm out of his grip all the while shooting him a glare. "Oh, come on! Since when d'you care?"

I could use this to my advantage. Riza thought. "Since now I don't have a swimsuit on me."

Roy smirked. "You could go in the nude."

"Roy!" Her cheeks flashed red and she hit him in the shoulder. "You pervert!"

He snickered, causing her to become more flustered. "You're only two years younger than me."

"And three months!" Riza decided there was only one way to win this round. It was a cheap card to play but sometimes lines needed to be crossed. "Maybe the reason Roy thinks it's no big deal because he's the size of a sixth grader."

"I'm taller than you!" All his humor faded.

"Yeah, but I'm a girl."

"Oh really now?"

That backfired. The last thing she wanted was to have him think she was just one of the guys. She tried to come up with something good to say to get back at him but before she could the beach came into view. "We're here!"

"Awesome!" Roy ran ahead of her, throwing off his shoes before splashing into the water. He turned back towards her. "C'mon! The water's great! Just leave your stuff on!"

Riza waved him away and plopped down on the beach. She half wondered if her father was actually angry about it and half wondered if Roy was going to stop bugging her about the whole swimming thing.

"You're no fun." Roy grumbled and she ignored him. "What am I supposed to do here all by myself?" With that Riza realized that they were the only two people there. Where even were they anyway? She hadn't even known this place existed.

"How about you go play with one of your nonexistent girlfriends." She smiled, knowing that he took such great pride in his 'charms'.

"You know that your just jealous." He called.

"Green with envy." She spoke in a bored tone.

There was a silence before he spoke again. "Don't you want to know where this is?"

"Not really." But Roy could tell that she was at least a little curious.

"I found it one time when you were sick so I went out exploring by myself a few years ago." He paused for dramatic effect, sneaking up on her because she had her arm over her eyes.

"Does this story have an ending?" She asked, leaning forward to sit up, only to freeze when she realized how close Roy was.

"I take all my girlfriends here." He whispered and kissed her cheek.

Riza's cheeks flushed like the color of a tomato, her heart pounding as if it were to pop right out of her chest. Though 'happy' couldn't even describe the feeling, instinct took over. "That's gross!" She shouted and punched him in the arm.

Roy's heart dropped for a second before jumping to his feet and taunting her, laughing as she chased him around the beach.

People would often ask the two what it was like living with the other. They would answer by listing off all of the others' faults like; 'Riza eats like a warthog' or 'Roy forgets to flush all the time'. Then they would shrug and say: 'I guess I've just gotten used to it.' with a smile and slight blush on their face.

It was then when the two fell for each other, Riza knowing and never changing her mind, Roy not realizing until much later.

So, what do you think? please review!