Chapter 3: Stormy Break
AN: Hey everyone! PurpleMaple here! Bringing you some young royai fluffiness to brighten your day! Feel free to call out any OOC. Appreciate the feedback! Enjoy!
"The rain is really coming down isn't it?" Roy spoke, his form hunched up in a worn chair by the window.
"You've been living here for the past year and a half Mr. Mustang. The weather shouldn't really surprise you by this point." Riza was sitting on the couch in the center of the room, her gaze never leaving the book in her lap.
"I've never seen it rain this hard though…And I also don't respond to formalities Riza, unless your father is around, which he isn't at the moment. You know my name, you should use it."
A 15 year old Riza just rolled her eyes as she got up and turned towards the kitchen. Roy, who had just turned 17, continued to stare out the window, neglecting his work, again.
"Mr. Mustang, shouldn't you be working on the new assignment my father gave you? By the size of the book in your hand, it looks like you have your work cut out for you this time." Riza proceeded to walk over to Roy, carrying a large empty pot she'd retrieved from the kitchen.
"Did you hear me Mr. Mustang… Roy? ROY!"
The dark haired boy still didn't respond, too absorbed watching the thunder clouds roll in over the countryside. A fed up Riza flicked her bangs out of her eyes before dropping the large pot in her hands, the loud bang startling Roy back into reality.
"Why are you so out of it? Are you drunk?"
The look Roy gave her could have melted steel. Riza wasn't fazed though, hers rivaled the intensity of the sun when she wanted it to.
"For your information, I've never been drunk in my life!"
"Then why did I find one of my father's whiskey bottles behind your nightstand in your room this morning?"
"Why were you in my room?!"
"I was cleaning it like I do every week!"
"...Why do you have a pot?"
Riza rolled her eyes at Roy's abrupt change in topic. She placed her right hand on her hip and gestured to the ceiling with her left, where he could see patches of the plaster slowly darken.
"The roof usually leaks during a bad storm, and I would prefer staying dry if I'm inside. Plus father would have a fit if his books got wet."
Roy looked down and noticed how his pile of borrowed books was situated under the growing dark spot on the ceiling. He gently nudged the books out of the way with his foot, Riza setting down the pot in their place.
"Does Master Hawkeye know about the leaks?" Roy spoke as he put his book aside and turned to fully face Riza.
"He probably does, he's just too..occupied with his work. Plus the house is getting old. We don't have the money to completely fix it. So, I just fix it with what I can find."
"Wait, are you telling me you're the one doing all the repairs?!"
"Does that really surprise you? You know it's just been me and my father for years, Roy. You've been the first long term apprentice in a long time. Besides, someone has to keep up with the house work."
"You could have asked you know."
"You need to focus on your work. You don't have time to do these kinds of things."
Roy glanced up at the ceiling and put a hand to his chin.
"You know, I could try and.."
"No alchemy. Knowing you, you'd cause the roof to collapse."
Roy's shoulders slumped as he returned his gaze to Riza.
"How cruel.."
Riza rolled her eyes at the puppy dog expression Roy had tried to adopt.
"Maybe when you are a bit more advanced, I'll consider letting you fix the roof."
"I'm going to hold you to that." Roy moved from his chair by the window to the couch. He sat down and watched as Riza headed to the kitchen.
"Hey Riza?" Roy waited until she turned to face him before continuing. "I've been living in this house for a while now and I still feel like I barely know you."
This surprised the young blonde, though she didn't show it.
"What's with the sudden fascination?"
Roy shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'm not too sure. I guess I don't want to be strangers, I want to get to know you better."
There was a moment when Roy thought she wouldn't answer.
He let a small smile appear on his face as she approached the couch, and he scooted over and patted the seat beside him. Riza looked at him expectantly, trying to determine if he had an ulterior motive. She only saw curiosity and kindness in his dark eyes. Trusting him, she walked over and sat beside him. Keeping a respectable distance.
"So what would you like to know?"
Roy just shrugged.
"Let's start with something simple like.. cats or dogs?"
"Dogs. Though I've never had a dog or a cat. I've seen some of the neighborhood kids with them. They seem so lively and energetic. I'd like to have one of my own someday. What about you?"
"Oh definitely dogs. They are loyal and obey your every command. They are great companions."
"When you talk like that you sound like a soldier."
TAP TAP
Both teens looked towards the ceiling to see that the dark patch was now leaking, right into the pot Riza had set out.
"Good call on getting that pot."
"Thanks."
"Okay… favourite colour?"
"I would have to say green. And you?"
"I've always liked royal blue myself. I've been told it goes with my eyes." Roy plastered that stupid grin on his face, while Riza shoved him playfully.
The longer they talked, they both subconsciously moved closer to each other. The loud, constant TAP of the water dripping was drowned out by their chatter. To Riza at least.
"So you've honestly never been drunk?"
"Just because my aunt runs a bar doesn't mean I drink. She raised me to be a gentlemen. Not to drink myself senseless."
"So that hidden bottle of whiskey means you're a gentlemen?"
"Okay two things. One, the seal wasn't broken so I hadn't had a drop. Two, it was a gift for your father before I leave for the summer. I did look through his cabinet before my aunt got the whiskey to make sure I got his preferred kind. So yes, I am a gentlemen."
"I think you and I have different definitions of gentleman."
"Did the rain bring out the sass in you today?"
TAPTAPTAP
"Is there anywhere else we could go Riza? That noise is really starting to get on my nerves."
She shook her head.
"Unfortunately no. The kitchen has even more leaks than in here, and we can't exactly go to our rooms to continue our talk. Even with father shut away, it doesn't mean he still doesn't know everything that's going on. And I don't want him to make assumptions and make you leave. Can you bear with it?" Roy gave in easily enough, with a small blush.
"I don't think Riza knows how persuasive she can be when she uses her eyes like that." And, she didn't want him to go either...the blush deepened before he was able to get it back under control and face her again.
"Okay Riza, you ask a question now."
She didn't miss a beat to respond.
"Do you miss Central?"
Roy looked away and thought about it for a moment before returning his gaze to hers.
"I missed it more in the beginning than I do now. I do get the occasional letter from my aunt and sisters. It's always great to hear from them, even if it's only through ink and paper."
"At least you will be able to see them this summer, right?"
Roy gave her a sincere smile. "Right." "And then I get to come back and see you again."
Riza quickly changed the subject before her mind delved too deeply into the thought of spending the summer alone.
"So back to where we were before..Favourite food?"
"To be honest I can't decide, I like spinach quiche I guess."
Riza stared at him like he had two heads.
"How can you not have a favourite food? But since you said you like spinach quiche I'll have to remember that the next time I'm making dinner, I can see if I have a recipe from some of my mom's old recipe books. For myself I would have to say...raspberries."
TAPTAPTAPTAP
They continued to talk, the dripping continuing right along with them- much to Roy's dismay. Riza seemed unfazed so he toughed through it. After a while he had built up the courage to ask a question that he hoped wouldn't end in him getting slapped.
"Riza..You don't have to answer this if you don't want to but have..TAP..you..TAPTAP..everhad..TAPTAP..had a..TAPTAPTAP that's it! Where's some chalk?! I'm going to fix this damn leak. Even if I have to give up a part of myself to do it!" As Roy started to stalk out of the room he felt something grab his sleeve. He turned to Riza, a fond smile on her face.
"You've really got to learn to control that temper of yours. There's no need to go ballistic."
"I'm sorry, it's been grating on my nerves this entire time. And my patience has worn thin."
"I can tell...but...could you come back please? It can't get any worse right?"
Roy gave a small smile, which Riza happily returned as she began to pull him back into the center of the room.
"Now what was the question you wanted to ask me before?"
Roy took a deep breath, his cheeks grazed with the barest amount of pink. Why was he so nervous about asking a question?
"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
Riza jerked back the slightest bit, her eyes widening the smallest amount. Before going back to their original size she shook her head.
"The boys around here are too dense. They only look for girls with the perfect body and don't care about anything else. Why do you need to know that?"
Roy tried to act as nonchalant as possible with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"No reason, just curious.."
TAPTAPTAPTAPTAP
"Riza.. I am this close to murdering your house.. PLEASE let me fix it."
"If you're going to continue to complain about it then I guess you ca…'CRACK'.. Roy, what was that noise?" Riza's eyes met his, matching his slightly worried expression. They heard another sound, and both looked up to see that a large crack had formed across the ceiling, directly above their heads. Before they could move out of the way the plaster gave in, pieces of ceiling landing directly on Roy and Riza, covering them in dust and water. Both teens looked at each other, stunned, before breaking into fits of laughter at how ridiculous the other looked.
As their laughter grew louder, they heard a door swing open from upstairs followed by a gruff voice.
"Riza, Mustang! Keep it down! Shouldn't you be focusing on your studies? Remember you have a test this week. Leave my daughter alone and keep the noise to a minimum!"
"Sorry father!"
"Sorry Master Hawkeye!"
After the teens heard the door shut, they let loose a couple quiet chuckles before finally calming down.
"We better get cleaned off and clean this mess up." Riza dusted some plaster off of Roy's shoulders. Before she could remove her hand Roy had reached up and grasped it, lowering it but not letting go. His other hand reached up and gently wiped some dirt from her cheek and let it rest there. Before Riza could comprehend what was happening Roy's lips were already on her's. Before she could respond, his lips left.
"Let me ask you a question. Have you ever had a girlfriend?" Riza spoke softly, looking up through her bangs.
"I'd like to..." Roy's cheeks turned bright red before stuttering "If that's okay with you and all. I don't want to force you into something you don't want to do and.." His rambling was cut off by Riza lips. Once she realized he had calmed down, she pulled away.
It was enough of an answer for him...Roy spoke softly as he brushed bits of plaster out of her hair. "I'll start dusting, you go hop in the shower and get cleaned off."
"You sure about that?"
"I'm positive, now go."
Roy gently nudged a slightly blushing Riza in the direction of the stairs. He watched her ascend before stopping her.
"Hey Riza." He waited for her to turn before continuing. "Thank you for taking the time to talk..."
Riza gave Roy one last smile before continuing up the stairs. He turned and headed for the closet in search of a broom and pan. Though he had ended up covered in plaster and rain water, he felt a lightness in chest that he had never felt before.
Next up: Allison will be bringing you Edward and Alphonse Mustang soon, stay tuned