Author's Note: Just a little dabble. The best thing about Royai is that it's so subtle and simple. Just enough to make you crave more but you're never fully satisfied!

Merry Little Christmas


The office certainly was decorated for the holidays, but neither the scowl on Roy Mustang's face, nor the cold demeanour of Riza Hawkeye denoted any recognition that tonight was Christmas Eve. The pair sat at their desks, trying to complete yet another stack of paperwork before they could permit themselves to leave. Mustang had dismissed everyone else because they had parties and relatives to see but as for himself and Hawkeye, neither had any immediate family in the city.

Mustang fiddled absentmindedly with the tinsel that lined the borders of his desk. He had his chin resting in his hand and he looked on at Riza. She felt his eyes on her but she continued writing, hoping that she'd lead by example and he'd finally put his pen to paper.

Finally after a good 10 minutes of his procrastination she lifted her head and cleared her throat.

"It would be nice if you gave me a hand, sir." She said.

Roy contemplated this for a moment.

"What do you want for Christmas, Hawkeye?" he asked.

"What like ask Santa-? " She began "That has nothing to do with our paperwork, sir"

"You have absolutely no sense of humour, do you?" Roy said.

Riza shot him a look. She was only like this because she had to babysit Roy Mustang. She had been fun at some time in her life.

No, no actually, I've never been 'fun' at all. Yup, if someone were to have ever pegged me with adjectives, 'fun-loving' would never make the top 10, she thought.

"Sir, please stop trying to goad me. I'd like to get out of here some time tonight." Riza said and lowered her eyes back to her work.

He jumped on this answer, "Why? Are you going somewhere?"

"N-no...But it is Christmas Eve and I'd like t-"

"Then you should come over to my place for a nightcap." He said.

Riza eyes snapped toward Mustang. He let a smile linger while she contemplated answering his request. She decided to treat him to silence, it was the best way to discern a sincere proposal from Mustang.

After a few minutes he spoke again, "I mean, what's the fun in spending Christmas alone?"

Oh so he was serious. Riza felt the heat in her cheeks. It's not that she didn't trust or like Mustang, it's just they didn't fraternize outside of work. In all the years she had known Mustang, she couldn't exactly call him a buddy. They were friends and confidants at work but their private lives had never crossed again since their youth.

"I don't really think it's appropriate, Roy" Riza caught her slip and inhaled sharply.

She held her breath until Roy chuckled and got up from his desk and sat on Riza's. He gave her a smirk and leaned in and spoke in a low voice. "C'mon, you used my first name. You're killing me here, just come over and have a Christmas toast."

"Look, by the time we get this work done it'll be midnight and I'd rather just go home and sleep." She said.

"Oh? No, I think we're done here." Roy said as he swiped all the paper off Riza's desk, onto the floor. She gasped; it was near blasphemous to treat military documents like that.

"Colonel! I can't leave the office looking like this!" Riza yelled and scrambled to the floor to pick up her papers. Roy grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to her feet.

"I'm your boss, right? I say leave them, I'll come in the morning and clean it up." He said "We just need to get out of here."

Riza looked back at the office as Roy pulled her out the door. She sighed and looked back at Roy who was leading her by the arm through the halls. He didn't look at her, but rather he seemed to be concentrating like a man on a mission.

Why can't I ever get him to work this efficiently? Riza asked herself.

The drive to Mustang's was a short 10 minutes away. He lived in the military quarters but his home wasn't an apartment but a quaint townhouse. Riza had seen it once before, when Roy had moved in and enlisted the help of his subordinates to help him. Inside had changed dramatically, of course it looked like a bachelor's pad but it was distinctly masculine.

His living room was a velvety chocolate colour and he had obviously splurged on large leather couch. And naturally the room's centerpiece was its antique fireplace. Riza was somewhat surprised by the warmth and cosiness of his home but she noticed there were no Christmas decorations anywhere.

"I thought you were all gunho about Christmas, sir." Riza said.

"Please, Roy." He said from the kitchen, "And I really had no plans for Christmas, I feel silly decorating just for myself. But I really do like the holidays."

Riza unbuttoned her uniform jacket and laid it over the back of a chair. Roy entered the living room with a tray, two cups of coffee and a bottle of alcohol. He nodded over for Riza to have a seat on the leather sofa. She obliged him and he sat next to her and put the tray on the table in front of them. He poured some whiskey in each of their cups and handed one to Riza.

"Cheers, Riza." He said.

"Cheers" she mumbled.

Mustang mixed his drinks strong and Riza decided it was best to just sip it for now. He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. Riza watched him, not sure if he was planning to fall asleep or just resting his eyes.

"Do you remember our first Christmas together?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes, father got into the liquor and nearly burnt down the tree." Riza said.

"Do you remember what I gave you?"

Riza thought back. Was this a trick question? She didn't remember exchanging gifts with Mustang.

"...No..." she said hesitantly.

"I did have a present for you," Roy said and chuckled "but I couldn't bring myself to give it to you."

Riza shifted in her seat and held her silence. She wasn't exactly sure how he wanted her to react. When they were younger, they weren't exactly friends then either. Roy had always been an enigma to her and now she felt he was trying to tease her or come to some punchline.

"I should go, it's getting pretty late." Riza said and stood up. She quickly gathered her jacket and reached for the door when Roy took one stride and met her at the entrance and held the door shut.

He leaned over her closely, "What did you ask for this Christmas?" he asked again.

Riza felt her heartbeat in her ears and she looked up in his onyx eyes. He wore a serious expression and she couldn't break his gaze. He lowered his face closer to hers, their lips nearly touching.

Riza felt weak in the knees and if she could just inch herself closer without being obvious...

"I...." she trailed off.

Roy held his position in front of her for a moment longer and then turned his head away and backed off.

He looked back at her smiled and said "Oh well, maybe next year."

R&R-I might feel the inspiration bunnies plotting another chapter...