A/N: This took way too long and I'm so sorry. I really hope this chapter makes up for the wait. The song of inspiration for this one is "The Champagne Waltz" as arranged by Ryan Daniel Music on Youtube. This chapter also connects very closely to 'Shall We Dance', a one-shot that focused on them dancing at a later military ball than this one. Thank you for sticking by this story, and for being patient. Enjoy!
Given Roy's personality, one would think he'd have been having the time of his life at his first military ball. Plenty of beautiful women to flirt with, champagne to drink, other officers to impress - this was his element. It was over halfway through the night and he'd already been on the dance floor a dozen times, waltzing with different women, chatting and laughing as he lead them through the music. Playing the game, playing his part. Keeping the mask.
Then he'd catch the eye of his adjutant across the floor and each time, for only a second, he crumbled. At first, Riza had only been standing by one of the pillars, clearly uncomfortable and out of place in her dark green dress (that she looked far too stunning in), but then she had been asked to dance. She'd taken to the dance floor well, and while she didn't seem to particularly enjoy the people she was wrapped up in, Roy could see the light in her eyes as she moved. He knew how much she loved it, the music and the movements. She was so graceful, no matter whose arms she was in.
He wanted to be the one holding her in his arms, spinning her and making her happy. He wanted to light those other men on fire for even presuming they could ask her to dance, let alone perform the action themselves. One man stepped on her feet! She'd laughed it off but Roy wanted to pull her away, to throw a look at the man and say, "This is how you dance with a beautiful woman," and show her off to everyone. To pull her close and lead her around the room, the way they had taught each other. He wished he could have walked in with her on his arm, refusing to dance with anyone else all night. But all he could do was catch her eye periodically.
Finally, the song ended and he extracted himself from the woman he had been dancing with. He made his way to the bar, wanting to get another glass of champagne. He'd already had a couple of glasses, but one more wouldn't hurt. It took him less than a second to realize that he was standing just behind Riza in line. He leaned toward her.
"You look stunning out there."
She didn't jump, but he could hear her inhale slightly. Riza tossed her hair, grabbing a glass of champagne.
"Thank you, sir. But you should probably keep such opinions to yourself."
Roy smirked, grabbing a glass for himself and following her as she walked back to the thick pillar she had made her home base earlier in the evening. He noticed Havoc flirting with a tall, curly-haired brunette. The woman was glaring at him, so he didn't appear to be doing a very good job. Roy suppressed a chuckle and kept after Riza.
"Why? Do you really think anyone is paying attention to us?"
She shot him a look and took a sip of her drink, not answering. He closed some of the space between them and caught her eyes. Maybe later he'd blame it on the champagne, but for now he felt quite clear-headed.
"Dance with me."
Riza's eyes widened.
"Are you an idiot? No!"
He tilted his head and smiled. "Come on, one dance. No one cares."
"It doesn't matter. It's inappropriate."
"It's a ball, Second Lieutenant. The entire point is to dance and flirt."
"Not with your adjutant." She pulled away and walked to the other side of the pillar. He followed her, still grinning.
"One dance. That's all."
"No, sir."
He caught her hand and pulled her behind the pillar, playfully.
"Lieutenant-Colonel!" she whispered.
"Dance with me."
Her amber eyes caught his onyx ones and he could see her melt just a little in the shadows. He knew how much she wanted to say yes. Having to keep up appearances, both in and out of the public eye was killing her, too. She looked away from him.
"It's dangerous."
He smirked.
"It's a dance."
He caught her eyes again and she gazed into them. Forget dancing, all he wanted to do was kiss her, right here, behind this pillar, half the military just on the other side. He squeezed her hand instead.
"Dance with me," he whispered.
She closed her eyes, then opened them.
"One dance."
Roy grinned wide, ecstatic at his win. "I'll lead," he told her, dropping her hand and winking. She chuckled a little, remembering their age old call and response.
"I'll follow."
He walked out from behind the pillar, sipping his champagne. Not even one person was looking at him. Roy knew they weren't paying attention, it was too late in the evening and everyone was drunk and busy with their own affairs. He caught Riza walking out from behind a different pillar, one that was closer to the ladies room. He smiled. If anyone saw her now, it would just look like she was coming back from using the restroom. She was so clever. He loved that about her.
He looked over at her as a new waltz started and extended his hand, walking onto the dance floor, off to the side. This song was slow, and beautiful. Melodic and melancholy, mainly piano. It felt right. She gave him a ghost smile and took his hand, placing her other hand on his shoulder. Roy put his hand on the small of her back, and they began to dance.
Even though it had been several years since their last true dance together, they fell into the rhythm quickly. He felt like it had only been a few moments since he had last held her like this, as opposed to years. Roy wanted to pull her close to him, but he held off, much as he hated it. He was lucky enough to get to dance with her, even if it wasn't exactly the way he might have wanted it.
Left, right, close, left right close. He spun her slowly, and she closed her eyes, smiling. He almost got a chuckle out of her. Roy pulled her back to him, a hair closer than she had been before. Just enough for him. They locked eyes and he gazed at her, leading her in their own little world, far away from the actual ball. They could have been on a different planet. He wouldn't have cared, as long as she continued to stare at him, light shining in her eyes. That amber light filled him to the very core. There was no darkness when she was around.
Roy held her tightly, listening to the melodic song, trying to feel instead of count like she had taught him back in her attic when they were teens. He had known the right steps, but she had known rhythm, had known how to feel her way. Together they had make a perfect dancing pair, each one teaching the other the right balance. They were each other's balance, Roy knew. He hoped she knew how much she centered him.
The longing for her hit Roy like a brick in the center of his chest. Here she was, the only woman he had loved, right here in his arms, and he couldn't do anything to her. He could do a simple dance, and even that was "dangerous" as she'd said. He wanted to hold her tight against his chest, he wanted to brush her bangs out of her eyes and cup her cheek, he wanted to kiss her, he wanted to kiss her so badly that it was making the pit of his stomach ache. He loved her and it didn't matter.
Too soon the song ended, on a final, uncertain note. He reluctantly released her and she smiled gently at him.
"Thank you for the dance, sir."
He smirked and gave a bow.
"Thank you for being such a good partner. Someone taught you well."
He could see her holding back both the urge to laugh and the urge to whack his arm.
"Yes," she answered after a moment. "Someone did."
Roy gave her a proper boyish grin at that and she turned away, walking off the dance floor. She walked to Havoc and the tallish brunette who was standing next to him. Havoc caught Roy's eye and smiled. A knowing look passed between the two, and Havoc put his attention to Riza, turning away from his superior. Roy decided to head back to the bar, a path that would take him just past the two. As he made his way among the chairs, he caught a snippet of their conversation.
"I'd appreciate if you didn't ask, Havoc."
"I don't even know what you're talking about, Hawkeye."
Roy smiled. Count on Havoc to figure it out, and then not say a damn word. He had chosen his men with careful consideration, and he was rapidly realizing just what a right choice he had made in Warrant Officer Jean Havoc. The man's taste in women aside, he was proving himself. Even more with his reaction to watching his superior officers dance, and then wisely not commenting. Roy made his way to the bar and picked up another glass of champagne, and the eye of another young woman. Outwardly he smiled, charming to the last. Inwardly, he resisted the urge to glance back at Riza. He knew his place. This was just a different dance.
Two hours after he had left the ball, he found himself outside the door of Riza's apartment, knocking rapidly. 'This is a mistake this is a mistake this is a mistake' his brain whispered urgently, but he pressed on, rapping at her door with his knuckles. Finally, he heard the sound of her steps, the chain moved, and the door opened.
Riza's short hair was mussed, her make-up removed. She wore simple pajamas, and there were bags under her eyes. She looked terrible. She looked perfect.
She blinked a couple times, staring at him.
"Sir? What's wrong, what happened?"
He stared at her, then ran his fingers through his hair sheepishly.
"N-nothing. I just...I..." Fuck, why couldn't he talk?!
Riza sighed. "Sir, it's late. Are you drunk?"
He shook his head rapidly. "No! No, I'm not..." Roy inhaled, centering himself. He looked at her and sighed, an honest expression plain on his face.
"I don't want to do this alone anymore. I can't...whatever we are in public, okay, fine. Superior officer and subordinate. Epitome of professionalism. But here...behind closed doors...where no one can see..." he swallowed, his eyes never leaving her. "Here we can be something else. If...if you'll have me."
Riza stared at him, her lips just barely parted in surprise at his request. Her eyes cast down to the floor, she spoke, voice soft.
"How...what am I supposed to do with that request? You know what I want. I want to protect you. I want to be with you. I had to choose. I chose."
Roy tilted his head, gently putting his thumb and forefinger on her chin and lifting her head to look at him. "Why can't we choose both?"
Riza closed her eyes. "In a perfect world, maybe."
"Isn't that exactly what we're trying to create?"
She chuckled half-heartedly at that. "We're nowhere close."
He ran his thumb across her cheek and she leaned into his touch. "I know. But you said you made your choice. I want to make a different one. I want both."
She opened her eyes, those amber eyes he loved so much. "Both is greedy, and unrealistic."
"I don't care."
Her eyes softened. "It will be ridiculously hard."
"We'll handle it." He pressed closer, closing the space between them. Riza swallowed.
"It's dangerous."
Roy smiled, leaning in close, his lips ghosting across hers. She didn't pull away. "No," he whispered. "It's a dance."
They kissed, softness turning to passion and hunger. Riza pulled him into the apartment. The door closed.
Two souls collided. Two lovers danced.
It was only a matter of time for those two. Please favorite and review! That's life blood for writers!
