Author's Notes: Thanks again for reading. No worries about me slowing down either - I'm already on prompt 25.

10. Promise

The train whistle blew sharply behind Roy, causing him to wince. Being reminded that he was about to head off to the Military Academy was not something that he relished, despite the fact that it had been solely his choice to join in the first place. Master Hawkeye wasn't pleased and didn't come to the station to see off his last apprentice, refusing to even say goodbye or acknowledge him altogether. To say that it didn't wound him a little would've been a lie, but it was something he'd expected and prepared himself for. His teacher's hatred towards the military was well-known, so it was rather ironic that his one seemingly good apprentice came up with the idea to join all on his own.

At least he wasn't alone though. Riza had come into town with him. They'd both gotten up early, although somehow she still managed to beat him and have breakfast nearly done by the time he was downstairs. She looked nice in a soft blue dress that fit her snugly and her bright blond hair more of a bob from the time she'd let it grow out, but when she smiled at him, it was sad and she'd used make up trying to hide the fact that she hadn't slept well the night before. He hadn't commented on those things, only thanked her for the last meal that her father would've most likely tried to deny if the man ever cooked, but a pang in his chest made him wonder if maybe he'd made a mistake.

When the whistle blew again, Roy glanced back at the train, but still didn't make a move to pick up his suitcases. He had more things leaving than when he'd first arrived, though he couldn't help but feel as if he was still leaving too much behind.

"You should probably get on the train before you miss it," Riza pointed out mildly. Little was betrayed in her voice and he couldn't help but think that she was already too good at hiding how she felt. She slipped back into it every now and then, but he'd thought that they had worked past that. Maybe his leaving brought it up again. Just one more thing to feel guilty about, he supposed. "The next train won't come for another day."

"Ah, I doubt your father would be pleased if I came back begging to stay one more night with my tail tucked between my legs," Roy sighed. The mental image of Berthold Hawkeye practically throwing him out on his butt when he had first showed up pleading to be taken on as his apprentice came to mind.

Riza smiled, but it was that same sad smile again. "I'd sneak you in without him even knowing."

"Oh, really?" Roy waggled his eyebrows. "And let me hide out in your bedroom, perhaps?"

When Riza laughed, it sounded a little more honest than her smile, but it was still tight, like she didn't know what she might do if she didn't control herself, like the laugh might turn into a choking sob. She shoved him, meaning nothing of it, but the physical contact started a thumping in his chest and he gently grabbed her wrists. Both the smile and the laughter faded from her face as she connected eyes with him.

"You'll write me, won't you?" Roy blushed despite himself at the way her eyes widened a little and ducked his eyes to look down at her hands. He wanted to slide his own from her wrists so that he could hold her hands, but that seemed far too intimate when they were in such a public area. "You don't have to, if you don't want to. I can see why you wouldn't. It's just that, well, I won't know anyone and I've grown a bit used to" – being with you – "not being on my own."

The thought that popped into his head was intrusive but startlingly true. It had been different in the city when he was around so many people, but for the past few years, it had mostly just been the three of him. Riza's presence had been a constant and now it was being ripped away from him.

"Of course I will." Her voice was so soft that it made him quickly look up at her, but she was the one gazing down at their hands this time. If he didn't know any better, he would've said that she was close to tears, but in all the times he'd known her, he had only see her cry once. "I'll write you at least once a week. I promise."

A strange heaviness that Roy didn't even know was there seemed to leave his chest and he felt like he was able to breathe better. Those letters wouldn't be much, but they'd remind him of whatever they'd built here, just as the letters from his sisters reminded him of home. Riza was just as much a part of his life now as they were and she always would be, even if the letters stopped one day.

"I'll miss you," Riza said in a tight voice. "I bet you'll forget about me once you've become a big shot in the military, but I hope you won't."

"I wouldn't dare," Roy swore firmly, moving to grab her hands and squeeze them. She looked up at him, her brown eyes pained and her lips twisted so that they wouldn't tremble. He could see that now. This girl was going to make him end up crying on the train ride at this point. "I'll come see you again when I have the chance. I promise, Riza. I promise."

After hugging her tightly, Roy took his belongings and stepped onto the train. He quickly sat down so that he could look out the window and wave to her. She wasn't crying and he didn't know if she would cry even after the train left the station. All he knew was that he couldn't wait for her first letter to arrive or maybe he'd write to her first. He'd never forget her, not in a million lifetimes. That much he swore to himself.