Ishval. The harsh, endless desert stretched on for miles. The last time Mustang and Hawkeye had been to that dry, arid landscape, they had both committed atrocities neither felt they could ever atone for.

This time, they were there to rebuild what they helped destroy all those years ago.

Mustang's team, minus Falman who opted to remain in the North, had arrived in the morning and busily went about their first day getting settled, laying out plans, and generally getting a feel for the area they'd be living in for the next several years. A small, five room, makeshift barracks had been built for them until something more substantial and lasting could be erected, and this was where the members of Mustang's team resigned for the evening to try to get a good night's sleep before the real work began the next day.

Mustang went to each of his officer's rooms to make sure they were settled, outlining what the plans were for the morning with all of them, before finally arriving at Hawkeye's room. He rapped on the door twice and the door opened moments later. Hayate bounded out into the hall, excited to see Roy and Riza hushed him when he barked.

"Good evening, Captain," Roy said, patting Hayate on the head and flashing Riza a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Her smile didn't reach her eyes either as she nodded at him.

"Good evening, sir."

"I've just been checking in on everyone to make sure they're all settled in… Are you doing all right?" His tone softened and he gazed at her with a knowing look.

Riza shrugged.

"Yes sir, as well as I can be here. Might be better once we get proper housing… Would you like to come in and see for yourself?"

Roy nodded, thankful she was inviting him in. He didn't want to return to his room quite yet.

He stepped over the threshold and into her tiny room, avoiding Hayate as he did. The room looked much like his own. Not enough room for more than a bed, small dining table, and a couple of armchairs. It wasn't the most ideal living conditions, but it was good enough until the renovations got underway. If you asked Roy and Riza, it was too good for people like the two of them.

The two talked over tea in hushed tones about anything other than work or where they were. The weather, Edward getting married, Hayate's escapades in trying to avoid bath time. Anything that didn't involve their past or the fact that they were back in Ishval.

Without either of them realizing it, over an hour had passed. Roy sighed at his pocket watch and stuffed it back into his pocket as if it had offended him.

"I suppose I should get to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow." Roy stood, thanking Riza for the tea, and made to leave. "Good night, Captain. I'll see you bright and early in the morning."

Riza nodded and followed him to the door without a word until he reached for the door handle.

"Please, don't leave."

The words that left Riza's mouth were so quiet that Roy thought perhaps he had been hearing things, but when he turned to look at Riza, her eyes were full of worry and seemed to be pleading with him to stay despite her normal, professional poker face in place. He frowned and glanced back at the door, worried the rest of the men would hear them or notice that he hadn't walked back to his room yet. The floor boards were creaky and anyone walking in the halls would definitely be heard by everyone in the small building.

"I'm sorry," Riza said quickly when she noticed Roy's hesitance. "Forget it… It's just, after all these years, to be back here, I…"

"Let me get some things from my room," Roy muttered and Riza's eyes filled with relief, a feeling he certainly reciprocated. He didn't think he could handle being alone that night either and had been hoping she'd ask him to stay. Maybe it wasn't the wisest thing to do on their first night at their new post, but if being together would help both of them relax and possibly get some sleep, he was more than happy to oblige to her wishes.

Roy hurried out into the hall, making sure the floor creaked so if any of the team were still awake they would hear him returning to his room. After grabbing pajamas, a pillow, and a toothbrush, he crept as silently as possible back to Riza's room. When he returned, Hayate was already curled up on the rug next to the bed and Riza was changed into shorts and one of his old white button-up shirts, something she always wore when she was upset and needed something comforting.

Normally, seeing her in his shirt would have made his heart flutter and he would have smiled, but that night was bringing back too many memories for both of them and he barely even registered what she was wearing. The only thing he noticed was the far-off look in her eye that must have matched his own.

Riza crawled into bed as Roy stripped and changed. She lay on her side, back facing him as he joined her, mimicking her position.

It was a stupid thing, Roy mused, trying to keep up formalities even in this kind of situation. They were far away from prying eyes and, being put in charge of Ishval by the Fuhrer himself, there were no officers there with higher ranks than them. It was probably because they were so used to hiding their feelings that displaying them so openly with the members of their team in such close proximity felt almost strange.

"Thank you for staying," Riza said after a while. Her voice breaking the silence was almost jarring.

"Of course," Roy replied, still mulling over the idea of just rolling over and holding her close. Sure they were together, but they weren't touching, and simple closeness was turning out to not be enough for him.

Apparently, it wasn't enough for her either as, a few minutes later, he felt Riza shift and press herself close to his back, her hands clutching lightly at the fabric of his shirt. Taking that as a sign that she was comfortable enough, he flipped over and pulled her closer, burying his nose in her hair and breathing in the soothing scent of her lilac shampoo.

"This is going to be difficult for the next few years," Roy murmured into her hair.

"We'll get by," Riza replied, voice muffled by his shirt as she pressed her face close to his chest. "We always do."

That night, they both dreamed of the war for the first time in a while, but when one woke, the other was there to comfort them with whispers and soft caresses and light kisses and they were sure they got much more sleep than they would ever have if they had been alone.