A/N: For the "Royai Winter Wonderland" festival on the Royai thread at fullmetal-alchemist (dot) com. 529 words, not counting notes and a title. It was originally only about 400 words. Italics is a flashback. The rest is the present.
Riza sat on the terrace of the Armstrong family Mansion, sipping her coffee and waiting for midnight to come.
She was in a rather pensive state when Roy found her, and he had to call her several times to bring her back to reality. "Riza, it's two minutes to midnight! Quick- what's your resolution?"
It had been a tradition of theirs since Roy's apprenticeship: between eleven fifty-five and midnight, they would reveal their resolutions with the belief that they would never happen otherwise.
"To support you until such a time that it is no longer necessary," she responded simply and quickly. "And yours?"
She knew Roy took this seriously. His Xingese mother followed her customs strictly, accurately, and without fail.
It was the year she had turned fourteen, and he, seventeen.
Not three minutes to midnight, long after Hawkeye-sensei had fallen into his deep slumber in the ratty easy chair, he commanded, "Tell me your resolution for the New Year."
"What?" He had startled Riza, who had been worrying over her father. "Why?"
"If you don't, it won't come true," he explained. "C'mon- there's not much time."
His eyes, his whole expression… he believes this with all his heart. "I-I don't know, really." She took a moment to compose herself, then, as seriously as she could, she asked, "What's your resolution?"
"To learn what I can so that when I'm in a leading position, I can be effective in keeping the country at peace, not war," was his rather practiced-sounding reply.
Riza almost laughed. Impossible! But she knew he meant it, and knew better than to let even a hint of her amusement show at such a ridiculous dream. It was a noble goal, anyway, when she really thought about it. It was not selfish or something like becoming a better athlete, as most boys Roy's age would wish for. It benefited everyone, and that included her.
It was in that moment that Riza had first decided that she would help Roy however she could.
"I'm going to end this once and for all," Roy told her. "I'll end all this pain and suffering. And then…" he took a deep breath, and continued, "and then, I'll be able to make my other resolution come true." He looked at her. "Whatever it takes, Riza. I mean that."
"I know," she whispered.
A cheer rose. Midnight.
The two looked at each other, trying to decide what to do.
As if on cue, they embraced each other, a single light on the terrace now casting their single shadow. It could not have been more perfect.
"Whatever it takes," Roy murmured again.
This time, Riza amended, "Within reason."
Roy pulled away. "That was implicit, you know." His voice sounded slightly stern, but his gentle, kidding smile lightened even his eyes. "I have to be around in the end, don't I?"
Riza returned the smile. "Yes, you do, actually."
Roy sighed. "You too, you know. Act only within reason."
"Don't give me reason not to." Her smile had faded somewhat, and her eyes pleaded with him. "Please…"
"I promise, Riza. It's part of the resolution."
And Roy Mustang did not take his resolutions lightly.
A/N: "Whatever it Takes" by Lifehouse totally inspired this. Oh, and kissing at midnight is overrated. (This from the girl who's never been kissed.)
Anyway, my first new work in, like, two months. School's been absolutely crazy and I've tried to do stuff, but every time, something happened. Ugh. I hope I'll be able to keep on writing, because writing this was like, "Ugh. Terrible!" Please review, though!
