AN: what is self control and pacing yourself lmao

Roy rolled his neck to work out the kinks that had taken residence in his muscles. He was bone tired. So was Havoc. Said partner swayed on his feet before righting himself suddenly.

And they still had a long way to go.

"Ready?" Roy asked Havoc. His partner nodded. "Let's do this."

He retrieved his jacket from the back of his desk chair and bent to pick up his work rucksack. His legs and back protested to the action, both preferring to remain resting and still for as long as possible.

They had already been working for the past twelve hours. Both detectives had been running around the office all morning chasing up paperwork for his father's case. Armstrong had pushed them both onto other more urgent cases for the past two and a half weeks so the pile had been left to build up with more tasks being added to Roy's mental to-do list. It was currently Thursday night of what both detectives had dubbed Week Three of Hell and they had just finished eating take out for their dinner. Roy found himself wondering when the last time he had a decent home cooked meal. But the day was far from over because they still had to meet with Clarice one last time before compiling all their evidence.

Roy rubbed his face tiredly as he got behind the wheel of his car. He hadn't slept well last night. His mind refused to shut off due to a number of things. First and foremost it was the anticipation of finally closing his father's case. He thought that if all went well today they would be able to confirm the final details and gain a warrant for the man's arrest.

Things had taken longer than usual to finish up their cases from the start of the week but they had done it. A giddiness had set in his bones at the thought of this whole thing being over, but he wasn't sure if it was wholly because of his happiness. Sleep deprivation probably played a large part in it too.

Second of all, Riza had entered his thoughts all the more frequently lately. He wasn't going to complain at all however he hadn't seen her properly since Olivier decided to push them both onto these cases. This dry spell after getting home from their trip three weeks ago was unending and Roy kept her in his thoughts as a way to keep himself sane. He kept telling himself just to power through and close those cases, then work on the one concerning his father. After that he would be able to see her as often as he liked.

Providing all went well.

The Mayor was a smart man. He surrounded himself with rich and powerful people. He had almost every lawyer and cop in his pocket. He even had approached Catalina a week ago. Havoc had been furious but she had accepted.

"This way you will have someone on the inside."

"No. Absolutely not," Havoc fumed. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Thanks Jean, but if I can help I will."

"I don't like it."

"You don't have to like it but I am doing it anyway."

Roy had watched the two stare each other down, both too stubborn to relent to the other. "Havoc, why don't you take five? Come back once you have calmed down."

The blonde detective had looked at him incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

With a glare Havoc stormed out of the room.

"I can take care of myself," Rebecca huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"He knows that. So do I. You know how he worries."

Her scowl lessened and she sighed. "I just want to help. I want to help Riza." Roy appreciated that. It was nice to know someone else supported their case. "And if is the way I can do it then I will. Neither of you get a say anyway."

"I respect that. Just be careful."

A mutual understanding had set in with the two officers.

Havoc of course still wasn't happy but Roy explained it to him on the drive to their rendezvous point. The blonde detective had continued to mumble angrily to himself about it through the week.

"If we have someone on the inside even to simply observe then it could help us. She won't be doing anything crazy. If we know his methods and can get evidence of buying cops then it is another piece of evidence in our favour."

"I won't have her risk her life for something like this. We both know what he is capable of."

Roy felt his anger rise to the surface. It spiked as he caught Havoc's meaning. Oh, Roy knew all right. It would make the victory of putting the bastard away all that more satisfying.

"I am well aware," he replied, schooling his features and forcing his voice into a deadly calm. "However Officer Catalina has expressed interest in helping our case. For Riza's sake. The pair have already been through so much together you are crazy if you think any one of us is going to take that away from her." His last sentence left him as a bark, unable to keep as tight a rein on that anger as he would have liked.

Silence descended on the pair and Havoc eventually sagged. "You're right."

In regards to his father's capabilities, Roy still tried so fucking hard to forget what had happened the last time he had come face to face with the man at his Aunt's house around Christmas. White hot rage filled him to this day whenever he thought about it. That had happened five months ago but even now Roy wanted to throttle the man.

He had told himself if Richard brought any harm to Riza or James, Roy would kill him.

That was something legal the man could bet on.

The words rang in his head and his grip on the wheel tightened.

"You okay?" Havoc asked warily, eyeing Roy's death grip on the steering wheel. His knuckles were bright white and there was a twinge in his left shoulder due to the pressure of his grip.

"Peachy."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up like that."

"It's fine." His reply was curt because the anger still simmered just under the surface.

"I still can't believe he did that." Havoc slapped his thighs, appearing to get a second wind. "It will make putting him away even more satisfying."

Roy pulled into the parking lot of Central Library. They were meeting Clarice here in ten minutes but the two detectives opted to arrive early. They would just be sitting idle at the office otherwise and that was a recipe for falling asleep at their desks.

"Good evening," the librarian greeted them quietly. Barely sparing them another glance she returned to the work in front of her.

Both detectives nodded in her direction before steering themselves left to where Walter Grumman was already waiting. He had booked out a study room so they could discuss this matter in private. With it being almost ten o'clock at night there weren't many other people around anyway.

"Good evening gentleman," he greeted. The pair noted his change in demeanour since their last meeting. Gone was the toothy grin and cheery tone. His voice was schooled in professionalism. Expression neutral and patient he waited for them to join him at the table.

The abrupt change got Roy thinking. Was it all an act? An act to keep others around him from figuring out exactly what it was he as up to? Roy knew who lay underneath that bubbly exterior, but he had never seen Grumman act like this before. He was aware of just how cunning and ruthless the man before the two detectives could be, but the mask of elderly government official had always been present. It was jarring to see the Financial Minister this way.

"Good evening," they greeted, each choosing a chair across from Grumman.

"I hope you are well?" he asked, looking pointedly at Roy who nodded in return.

"I am."

"Nasty things, stand offs. My granddaughter was involved in one once." His eyes continued to bore into Roy. "So I know all too well the impact they can have upon somebody." Then, abruptly, he leaned back in his chair with a smile. "I am glad you are all right my boy."

"Thank you," Roy replied, although he felt like adding a questioning lilt to the end of it. What was that all about? Also, he wasn't aware Grumman had any family. Not that they were close enough to have discussed such things, but he had simply gotten the impression the man was alone. There was no mention of a wife, no photos of family members on his desk.

Clarice breezed into the room as the door closed quietly behind her. A soft snick reached their ears as she reached for the remaining chair, sitting in it gracefully.

"Gentleman," she greeted. "I do apologise for being late."

"Nonsense," Grumman replied, waving away her apology. "We are simply incredibly early."

With a smile she nodded and placed her designer bag on the table. Roy took one look at it and could tell that accessory cost more than he would make in a week. It was large in size, which was incredibly useful for Clarice judging by the number of files she extracted.

"Let's get down to it," she suggested but the three men knew there was no room for argument. Roy certainly wouldn't protest. He just wanted to sleep.

"This conversation has to go on the record," Havoc explained. "Just so we are clear."

Both Grumman and Clarice nodded in agreement.

Clarice ran through the four folders which now sat atop the table. She pushed one towards Roy and Havoc. "Evidence of embezzlement," Clarice announced. Grumman and the two detectives eyed the folder. "From Richard's accountant." The next one was a smaller folder, but it had eye witness accounts of extortion. From some of the accounts – there were five in total – Roy felt his hatred of the man grow. Another contained evidence of tax evasion, while the last one – and the thickest – contained documents regarding some questionable cargo leaving Aerugo which was signed off by the Mayor's secretary.

"How…" Havoc began, trailing off as he reached for the last folder she offered.

"Paul has been gathering this information for years. It has been extremely difficult under the watchful eye of Richard, but he risked everything to do so."

"Why does he still work for the man?" Grumman asked, his sharp eyes scanning the document on tax evasion.

Clarice fell silent for a moment. A displeased look crossed her face, then it was gone. "I have recently learned that Richard threatened his family." Her usually calm expression twisted once more. "He threatened Paul's parents to keep him in line and stop Paul from venturing where he shouldn't."

"That sounds familiar," Roy muttered to himself. Three sets of eyes rose to look at him, but Roy ignored it. Havoc and Clarice were sympathetic, whereas Grumman looked slightly alarmed.

Clarice pulled out three cards from inside her jacket. "Paul has requested you call him should you have any further questions or enquiries."

"How do you know this man?" Grumman asked, picking up the card produced for him. Roy could hear the undercurrent tone to Grumman's question. Can we trust him?

A soft smile overtook her features. It spoke of a relationship that was more than platonic. "Paul has been a dear friend of mine for years." The way she spoke about this man… There was no denying she cared a great deal for him. It must have been hard to live with being married to the Mayor when her heart clearly belonged to someone else. Also, they were stuck in a bind like Roy and Riza. Unable to move because of that psychopath breathing down their necks.

"Have you any plans for the future?" Roy asked carefully. "After this case is over?" He already knew she planned to divorce her husband.

"Just the divorce. And who knows," she smiled wistfully, gaze drifting towards the business card. "Maybe things will work out the way I hoped in the end."

"You love him, don't you?" Roy asked.

Grumman looked to him, confused, while Havoc awaited her answer just like his partner.

Clarice smiled brightly. "I do. Paul has helped me so much through the years. He has been my rock, to put it simply."

Roy nodded, wishing her his best.

After the shooting and his recovery, Roy had contacted Clarice once more. He was extremely grateful for the file regarding her mother. Upon enquiring about how the Mayor's wife knew about her when even Roy couldn't find out about his mother, the woman explained they used to work together in City Hall. Paul was the one who had gained access to the file through hacking the Mayor's work computer and accessing personnel records.

The man had been paid off to be silent by the Mayor, however Roy had an inkling this man must have been an excellent actor. Apparently he played the stressed out, anxious accountant role well. It made his father complacent and offered Paul access to all the files on his office computer, as well as his home one.

Roy knew Clarice was hurt by the news regarding Richard's affair with his mother. The fact that her new husband at the time had cheated on her so easily with someone she worked with. It was a true kick in the teeth and, to be honest, something Roy wasn't entirely surprised his father had done. He was a bastard through and through.

"I suppose now I know why Ruth left her job so suddenly," Clarice mused. Roy waited to hear a hint of hatred in her tone, but there was none. He was ready to jump in and defend his mother, regardless of not knowing the whole story, but he needn't have worried. Clarice appeared to favour the woman's side rather than her husband's. "I really enjoyed her company. She was one of the first friends I made there…" The woman trailed off, eyes glazing over as she returned to a memory from long ago.

"I did not particularly see that one coming," Grumman admitted, bringing Roy's attention back to the table. "However I wish you well in all your endeavours, Clarice."

"Thank you, Walter."

Roy supposed he did to. She had proved herself in his eyes to be trustworthy. While he wouldn't say he trusted her with his life, she was clearly committed to this cause after all the hardship she had endured. She had something to lose as well if this all went south.

"I just want him to face justice. For what he has done to both this city and the innocent people who have been unfortunate to cross his path." Clarice turned her eyes upon Roy. He caught her meaning. Roy's mother had been her friend once too.

Roy took a deep breath, letting it loose in a rush. This was it.

It felt almost too good to be true. It had felt too easy towards the end, even with his personal setback and missing out on two weeks of progress. This whole case was a gamble both personally and professionally. Personally, the people of Central and all his father's rich and powerful friends would become aware of his identity and their connection. Professionally, the Mayor had enough slimy lawyers in his pocket that could talk the skin off a snake so there was every chance he could walk out of this a free man. Catalina hadn't overheard much, but she did learn it wasn't the Mayor she directly spoke to, it was someone else entirely. Apparently a man called Klemin.

It appeared there would be a whole network to take down

Never mind. Cut the head off a snake and the body dies with it.

He could lose everything in this.

But he could also gain so much more.

Forcing that previous thought out of his head before he could become too excited, Roy refocussed his attention upon his co-conspirators.

"This is everything we need," he confirmed, pulling each folder towards him. After neatly stacking them Havoc took them off his hands and placed them in his rucksack. "I trust we can call upon you as a witness, should the occasion arise?" Roy looked at Grumman and Clarice in turn.

"Of course," Grumman replied. "I am simply doing my job and duty as an Amestrian citizen."

Clarice nodded. "I agree with Walter. This doesn't make up for all the terrible things I have turned a blind eye to because I truly didn't want to believe it. But it is a start."

The two detectives took their leave and headed back to the office.

"Coffee?" Havoc asked tiredly.

"Sure."

The blonde detective left to retrieve the caffeine that would get them through the next couple of hours while they cross checked all their new files with evidence they have already gathered. They were in for a long night and it was only eleven o'clock.

Rolling his shoulders once more, Roy grimaced as his left shoulder protested slightly but didn't offer any further pain. He took a deep breath and started with the smallest file in the pile.

"We interrupt this program for an important news story."

"Ladies and gentleman, breaking news," the news anchor announced quickly. Riza noted their tone with interest and found herself turning away from the sink bringing the glass she had been drying with her. She had never seen a news story interrupt scheduled programming before. This must be something big. A brief feeling of dread coiled in her stomach at the uncertainty of what it could be. Anticipation prickled her skin.

"Just moments ago the Mayor of Central was arrested."

Riza dropped the glass she had been drying. The glass shattered at her feet, scattering across the tile of her kitchen floor. Her mind stuttered as it tried to comprehend the words, although there was an unnerving feeling that she had already processed the news. She just couldn't believe it. Her brain begun to race a mile a minute, tuning the news report out, Riza opting to simply stare at the screen instead. After a mental shake – realising she was missing out on what was being said – Riza forced herself to shut her mind off and listen.

"…believed to have been convicted on several crimes, including extortion, tax evasion, and embezzlement. This story is just developing and we will update as soon as we learn more…"

The news bulletin flashed off and the screen turned black. The sitcom Riza had on in the background popped back on, the laugh track echoing through the suddenly very still apartment.

The Mayor had been arrested.

That was what the newscaster said.

Was it…over?

Arrested…

Roy.

A million thoughts ran through her mind, both blinding and deafening her, unable to focus on just one.

She wanted to… She didn't know what she wanted to do. There were so many conflicting emotions in her mind. She wanted to run to Roy. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to celebrate.

Riza opted for letting out a long sigh of relief instead. Tears sprung to her eyes and she brought a hand to her grinning mouth, covering it as she supressed a happy sob.

He would be working for another couple of hours. He wouldn't be home. There had been no mention of the case recently. The pair had opted to focus on their relationship – as secretive as it was – rather than focusing on the threat. As long as they were careful both agreed it could go ahead.

That, and she had barely seen him for the last three weeks. To go from being so close in the lodge to barely seeing him had been jarring.

She was restless for the rest of the day. James noticed her distracted demeanour while they were driving home from school. It was later than usual because he played hockey after school on a Friday night. As Riza manoeuvred her way through rush hour traffic she incessantly tapped her nails against the gear stick.

Roy was normally home by this time in the day. She needed to see him. There was a burning in her chest just to see his face and confirm what she had heard on the news.

That it really was all over.

"Are you all right Mum?" James asked quietly.

"Huh?" she asked distractedly, her attention dragged away by the maniac that had pulled out of the junction unexpectedly, causing Riza to slam on the breaks and beep the horn. "Idiot," she muttered.

James fell silent, sensing the shift in the mood.

"Sorry buddy," Riza sighed. "I didn't mean to ignore you. I was preoccupied."

"What does that mean?" he asked, peeking around the driver's chair to stare at her face.

"My attention was focussed on driving rather than listening to you. Sorry. I didn't mean to."

"That's okay."

However this afternoon turned from mildly irritating to worse because when Riza pulled up in front of her apartment building there was a swarm of what looked like reporters outside the front door. The downside was that the lift in the parking garage was out of order until Monday so they had to use the main entrance.

And walk through that throng of people.

All of them turned as they heard her approach, peering into the car.

"Who are all these people?" James asked, staring right back at them.

"I don't know."

Riza and James walked towards the front door of their apartment building warily. As soon as they approached the group they all swarmed her.

"Excuse me!"

"Do you live here? Do you know if we can contact Roy Mustang?"

"We are from the Central Times –"

"What apartment does he live in?"

"Miss? This will only take a moment of your time."

Riza wrapped an arm around James's shoulders protectively. The boy in turn ogled up at all the people in wonder, not terrified in the slightest.

The front door to the apartment building banged open and Roy angrily stormed out. Riza and James were quickly forgotten and the group ran towards him.

"Mr. Mustang!"

"Mr. Mustang we have a few questions!"

"Can we ask you some questions?"

His face was like thunder as he glared at them all. A few sensed the heat of his gaze and backed down, lowering their voices and eventually trailing off. Others were either unaffected – no doubt used to hostility – or completely unaware of the severity of his glare.

His gaze lifted and found Riza's. It softened slightly, but then another microphone was shoved into his face. Boy did the man regret that decision as the glare returned and Roy muttered a few choice words to him. The reporter may have scuttled away with his tail between his legs but another just took his place.

Roy jerked his chin at her, beckoning her inside. However that was easier said than done. He pushed through the throng and made a gap for them both, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs and behind the safety of the front door while they all shouted through the glass, begging for an interview.

Riza set her eyes on his face which looked awful. There were dark bags under his eyes and he looked tired. Not like he maybe hadn't slept well the night before, but a tiredness that appeared to be permanently set in his face. His eyelids drooped now that they were somewhere quiet and he didn't need to glare at any invasive reporters. His shoulders rounded like a weight was pressing down on him. There was stubble on his face like he hadn't shaved in two or three days. She had never seen him like this and it worried her.

"Are you all right?" Riza asked.

He met her gaze, those tired eyes shining brightly despite the fatigue present in his body language.

"I am. Sorry about them." He jerked his thumb angrily to the people still crowding the door. "They showed up about an hour ago. I didn't think to text you and warn you."

How did he know she was out? Had he tried to see her in her apartment? The realisation set in as he nodded, noticing that realisation dawn on her. Butterflies filled her stomach, excitement beginning to course through her.

"That was a lot of people," James commented, craning around his mother to look back at the front door. The noise had begun to die down as they gave up. "Did they all want to talk to you?"

"Yes," Roy answered. "Don't worry, I have called Havoc and asked for officers to come and chase them off."

"Oh. That's good then! They were very noisy."

The trio rode up in the lift together in silence. Riza wanted to say so much. But James wouldn't understand and she didn't want to confuse her son. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, willing for the lift to ding soon.

However after parting ways into their own apartments no conversation was had. James had homework to complete for Monday which they always completed on a Friday night. It had become tradition over the years as it left the weekend free for mother and son to do something together. Rebecca had already been round after dinner to pick James up. She and Jean were heading to the cinema and opted to take James with them. Then he was heading to their house overnight and Riza would pick him up tomorrow afternoon.

So, at half past six, Riza was left alone in her apartment at a loss of what to do. She flopped onto her couch exhausted. The apartment was silent with the occasional creak from the air con unit. Traffic sounded outside, the occasional beeping of horns filling the quiet space and her mind. The news from the afternoon returned to her. She was still unsure what to do.

Turning the television on, the six o'clock news was still playing and her heart leapt in her chest, filling with hope as she recalled watching the news from this afternoon.

Riza had never been a person who made the first move. She was always reserved and had held herself back on more than one occasion. She blended in to the background, never drawing attention to herself. It was James who had always been the centre of attention anyway. He was loud and outgoing, the complete opposite of her. She was more than pleased though. He had never known a reason to be quiet and shy away from anyone or anything. She had. It made her happy to know he was a happy child. She counted that as a success. If she was being perfectly honest, any childhood Riza could have provided for her child that was happier than her own, would have been a success. It wouldn't have been difficult to do, after all.

So when it came to who would make the first move regarding moving their relationship to the next level, she was elated, but unsure of how to actually go about it. They had always spoken about the after, which was actually way in the future. Never about what they would actually do the moment the news dropped that the Mayor had been arrested. Riza still laughed quietly in disbelief. It almost sounded too good to be true. The Mayor had been put away and had no way to hurt her or Roy anymore.

It was finally over.

A knock at the door roused her from her thoughts. With a heavy sigh she dragged herself through to the hallway. Recent events had taught her the importance of checking who was at her door by looking through the peephole. Even with her father in prison now, she couldn't help but feel slightly terrified every time somebody knocked.

It had taken some time for them to return to her apartment. It was the middle of January before Riza felt ready to return. James appeared to be fine so far but there were still nightmares. It was easier now, but in that first week he had crawled into her bed crying quietly. She had simply embraced him and lulled him back to sleep, reassuring her son she was there and he was safe.

For a few weeks Riza couldn't enter the living room without seeing Roy's body jerk back and hit the wall by the door. She didn't even look at the spot. Now, she could. She brought herself to inspect it closely, facing her fears. It had brought with it a great deal of anxiety at first but she didn't shy away. Her heart beating wildly in her chest, she embraced the memory of their conversation as Roy lay there in his own blood, dying on her carpet. She relived it because it was the only way she would be able to move on.

Riza's heart rate picked up as she spotted just the person she wanted to see on the other side of the door.

Removing the chain and pulling open the door, she simply stared at Roy as he gave her the same treatment.

"Is it…?" she began. He knew what she meant. There was no way he couldn't.

The hand that had been rubbing at his neck dropped to his side. Then he nodded.

"Yes."

There was so much emotion in that one word that Riza couldn't take it anymore. Happiness burst in her chest. It was so overwhelming she felt tears spring to her eyes as she threw her arms around his neck. She laughed quietly in disbelief one final time as she kissed him.

Roy was shocked initially, the action unexpected. But he responded in kind without a moment's hesitation. He stepped over the threshold, slamming the door closed behind him, probably with his foot and the bang resonated through the empty apartment. They bumped into the wall, the momentum from his movement throwing Riza off balance. They both laughed against each other, breaking apart for breath. Foreheads resting together, the pair closed their eyes as they basked in the closeness. A feeling neither had let themselves truly experience before because if they did, there would have been no tearing them apart.

"You did it?" Riza asked breathlessly. Her hand stroked his neck gently and she noticed him shiver.

"We did it."

She kissed him again, smiling as he groaned quietly against her mouth. Her hands moved into his hair, twirling it around her fingers as Roy let his arms drop to her waist. His hands lifted her shirt just enough so he could feel the bare skin of her waist. It sent a jolt through her feeling his hand on her like that.

"I am proud of you," Riza whispered.

It took a few more bumps against the wall of the hallway, the pair chuckling as they went. Roy's low laugh was music to her ears and sent a flush over her skin, heating up even more than his current ministrations against her skin. He was fire, pure and unadulterated. He spread it over her skin, igniting it as he went, either unaware or uncaring of the effect his touch had on her. Judging by the predatory smirk on his face, he knew exactly how he affected her. It left her breathless.

Damn him. But damn him if he stopped.

Riza tugged Roy into her bedroom and the two tumbled onto the sheets.

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