Their lives seemed to be full of darkness. A cacophony of hurt and sorrowful experiences thrown at them one after the other for as long as either could remember. The darkness was burned into their very souls like the fire that connected them. It was the death of his parents. It was the death of her mother. It was the tattoo. It was Ishval. It was the homunculi. It was the creature called Father.

The dark moments in their lives were woven so tightly together, their souls tangled so deeply, that at some point it became hard to tell where one bled into the other.

But sometimes, there was light. A ray of hope for the future where they could perhaps try to atone for the wrongs they committed. It was these rare moments of solace that they held onto. That they burned into their memories and wished could last just a little longer.

After so many years of hardship, dedication, and diligence, Roy Mustang became Fuhrer. With their lifelong dream realized, it brightened their world more than any other moment in their lives. They could finally move forward toward that bright future they longingly sought. Change was coming to Amestris and Mustang and Hawkeye would guide it every step of the way.

"Sir, you're going to be late if you don't hurry."

Lieutenant Colonel Riza Hawkeye stood with her hands on her hips, a disapproving glint in her eye as she called to the newly appointed fuhrer from outside his apartment. He was supposed to have finished packing over an hour ago so he could move into the fuhrer's mansion immediately after the inauguration party, but when Riza arrived to pick him up, he apparently wasn't ready yet and she was in utter disbelief. She thought that becoming fuhrer would make him more serious, more punctual, but it appeared that was not going to be the case.

She was about to knock again when the door swung open and Roy grinned at her, his arms full of boxes ready to be taken to the moving truck waiting for them at the curb.

"Sorry about the wait. I'm ready now."

Riza huffed and helped bring down the rest of his belongings in silence. The moving truck sped away toward Roy's new residence once they finished packing everything. Riza drove Roy in his car and the ride was short and quiet, but not uncomfortably so.

"Lieutenant Colonel," Roy said slowly, like he was trying her rank on his tongue for the first time even though she had been at said rank for over a year. Riza hummed to let him know she was listening, but didn't give any other indication. He looked away from her and continued. "I'm going to still need a good bodyguard, especially now."

"Of course, sir. I'll be there to pick you up every morning and I will accompany you to every event. No need to worry, that hasn't changed."

"Yes, but," Roy paused, trying to figure out how to say what he wanted. "What I mean is… That mansion is so large. I feel like I'd be lonely all by myself."

"You won't be by yourself, sir," Riza replied, not quite catching on to what Roy was trying to tell her. "The housekeepers and cooks will be there quite regularly."

Roy grumbled as they pulled up to the mansion and came to a stop in the driveway. He turned sharply to look at Riza and frowned.

"That's still not what I mean. I… I want you to move in with me." The look she gave him was one of surprise and he quickly added, "As...as my bodyguard, of course."

The skeptical look she gave him made him want to groan in defeat, but he held his ground. He wanted this. It had been his plan all along to have her move in with him under the guise of a live-in bodyguard. Their relationship had been so professional all their lives that no one would be the wiser.

Riza held Roy's gaze, trying to determine if he was joking or not, and when she realized he was being serious, she took a sharp breath.

"I...I'm not sure that would be appropriate-"

"Oh forget the formalities! Please, move in with me."

Sighing, Riza looked away from him toward the huge house out the window. It was beautiful and to think she could live there for the rest of her days with the man she loved. It almost seemed too good to be true and she felt like pinching herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. But when she looked back at Roy, his expression was so genuine, so full of love, that she couldn't help but return his smile.

"All right," she finally answered.

She had a feeling that if they were somewhere more private, he would have swept her off her feet and kissed her silly. Instead, he reached for her hand and squeezed it lightly for a moment, his smile radiant. He looked happier than she'd ever seen him.

"We'll gather your things tomorrow, but you're definitely moving in tonight. I won't take no for an answer. I refuse to spend my first night as fuhrer alone in this huge house."

Riza chuckled and moved to exit the car to escort him to the party being held in his honor.

"If that is your wish, then I'll follow, as always."

The light they felt in their hearts as they made their way to the party almost made up for all the darkness that had followed them for so long.