Chapter 25: Table for Two

All the advice Roy had even been given swam through his head at once as he put a clean pair of socks on inside out. Everyone from his aunt to the boys in the locker room had told him not to rush a girl getting ready, but he doubted that applied to Riza. She couldn't afford to wear makeup apart from a cheap balm she used to keep her lips from bleeding in the winter. He tugged his socks off and righted them, shaking his head. Of course she was taking a while to get ready: she had insisted on bathing and he still hadn't heard the tub drain. It wasn't like they were in Central, where they had to make reservations far in advance and arrive half an hour early to make sure their table wasn't given away.

According to Riza, there were only a few restaurants, and only one of them was actually nice. He pulled on a pair of black trousers and reached for a dress shirt. He had made a face at Christmas's back when she had insisted he pack at least one nice set of clothes, but now he was grateful. He would look silly taking Riza out in an ordinary shirt and pants.

When he had finished dressing, he examined his reflection in the window, adjusting his tie and combing his hair best as he could without being able to see most of it. As far as he knew, Riza was still in the bathroom, and he decided to study a bit in the meantime. As he picked up his notes, he wondered whether or not he would be able to fix the showerhead. Hawkeye hadn't bothered with it, although that was probably just an oversight. Maybe he should have offered to try before Riza had drawn her bath. Then again, he didn't want to make things worse. He flipped another page of the book Hawkeye had loaned him and paused briefly in his reading to copy down the circle beside the text.

A knock startled him and his pen slipped, leaving a jagged line through the middle of the circle. He grunted in frustration and crumpled the page. "Are you still getting ready?" Riza asked.

"I'm almost finished. You can come in if you like." He slammed the book shut and searched around for his shoes as the door creaked open. Heels clacked against the wood floor as she stepped inside, the same lavender dress she had worn to the harvest festival so many months ago clinging to her in a way it hadn't before. It was cut far lower than he had remembered as well, and he looked away in embarrassment, concentrating rather more than necessary on putting his feet into his shoes. When he stood, he crossed the room and took her hands in his. "You're beautiful."

She looked away shyly. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Of course it is," he said reassuringly as he released her hands and gestured toward the door. "After you."

They walked to town hand in hand, and for once, Riza didn't let go when they reached the outskirts. Instead, she clutched Roy tighter and he could tell she was nervous. "Hey, everything's going to be just fine," he whispered in her ear, short blonde hair tickling his nose.

"If you say so." She didn't sound entirely convinced and he squeezed her hand before pulling his away to wrap an arm around her waist. Startled, Riza jerked away. "Stop that! It's one thing to hold hands, but that's something else entirely."

"Sorry." Roy held out his arm, and to his relief, she took it.

"That's better." She cuddled closer to him as they made their way through the quiet streets. The restaurant she had named was busier than he had expected, but it was a Friday night, and he supposed there wasn't really much else to do in a town like this. They went inside together, but as they approached the counter, Riza slipped away to sit on an empty chair in a quiet corner of the waiting area. He smiled reassuringly at her before turning to the woman behind the counter.

"How many in your party this evening?" she asked.

"Two," he said, glancing back at Riza.

Recognition flashed across the woman's face and she handed two menus to a boy standing beside her. "He will seat you immediately."

"Thank you, Ma'am," Roy said, feeling guilty as he looked around at the other people in the lobby. The woman, most likely the owner, was probably worried about what an alchemist might do if he wasn't given a table right away. He held out his arm to Riza again when she joined them, but her own stayed resolutely by her side.

She squeaked a quiet thank you as he pulled out her chair once they had reached the table. The air in the restaurant was chilly, so he put his jacket around her shoulders for good measure as well.

"Take a moment to look over your menus. I will be back to take your orders shortly." The waiter bowed awkwardly as Roy took his seat.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly as Riza studied the menu in front of her.

"I feel like everyone's staring at us," she whispered back. "And look at the prices."

"In Central, this place would be considered cheap, so order whatever you want," he assured her, although he had to admit that was stretching the truth. It was closer to the low end of moderately priced restaurants. Still, it was well within his budget, and there were plenty of things on the menu he was certain Riza had never had the chance to try before.

She skimmed over the menu several times before looking up at him again and her stomach growled loudly enough for him to hear across the table. "It all sounds delicious," she said.

"If you can narrow it down to two, I could order one so you can try both," he offered.

After several minutes, she had named two different appetizers, which Roy noted were the cheapest things on the menu. Frowning, he reached across the table and took her menu, rolling it so the prices were hidden. "You said I could order anything," she grumbled as she yanked it back.

"At least order a meal," he said gently, although he was starting to get impatient. He had seen her watch wistfully as a waiter walked by with a tray filled with steak and shrimp and it was tempting to tell her to just order one of those.

"Fine." She glared at the menu, unfurling it slowly as Roy shook his head. There was no point, really. He hated arguing with her under normal circumstances, and he felt a thousand times worse doing it on a date.

He had just decided to order the shrimp and put a few on her plate when the waiter stepped up to the table once again. "What would you like to drink?"

"Water," they said at the same time. It wouldn't be fair to order wine when Riza couldn't have any.

"And what would you like to eat, sir?"

"I'll have the shrimp," Roy said, holding out the menu.

"And for you, miss?"

Looking nervously at Roy, she handed her menu to the waiter as well. "I would like a steak, please," she said.

The man nodded. "How would you like it cooked?"

"Cooked?" She looked at Roy uncertainly and he kicked himself for forgetting this was probably her first time in a real restaurant, much less ordering an expensive cut of meat.

"Could you give us a few more minutes to decide?" Roy said pleasantly and the waiter nodded, stepping away to another table. Turning to back to Riza, he gave a guilty smile. "How much pink do you want in the center?"

"Pink?" She frowned. "Is that safe?"

Roy held down a sigh, knowing she would think it was directed at her rather than his own oversight. "Have you ever had a steak before?"

"Maybe when I was a kid. I don't really remember." Shifting slightly, she took a sip of water.

"It's perfectly fine if you want it cooked all the way through," he assured her. "But it's juicier and easier to chew if you don't."

She glanced over her shoulder at the approaching waiter. "If I want to try pink, what do I tell him?"

"Medium."

"Are you ready now?" the waiter asked, looking mildly exasperated.

Riza set her glass aside. "Can I have a medium steak, please?"

With an air of exaggerated patience, the waiter nodded and wrote her order on his pad. "Your food will be ready shortly."

"Thank you," Roy said, resisting the urge to make a face at the man's back. He had planned to leave an extra generous tip to make up for the trouble, but he was starting to feel irritated at the man's lack of respect for Riza. It was no secret that she was poor, so how was she supposed to know what to say? If the man had a right to be upset with anyone, it was Roy for forgetting to explain restaurant etiquette beforehand.

It was impressive how steady Riza's hands were, even when she looked miserable. She lifted her water glass again and took a long drink before setting it on the table and wiping her mouth with the napkin she had placed primly in her lap. Feeling sheepish, he unfolded his own and placed it in his lap as well. He wished he could bring the waiter back and beg him to give her credit for having manners, which should have made up for her spotty knowledge of cuisine.

"I'm really sorry about him," Roy said, nodding his head toward the kitchen and reaching across the table for her hand.

She pulled away nervously. "It's fine. I should have asked you first."

"It's not fine," he insisted. "I can see how nervous you are."

Not particularly reassured, she looked down and tugged her dress up. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to it."

"Well, at the very least, you deserved a better first date than this."

"At least I'm with you," she said, glancing up at him.

Roy's heart seemed to be doing backflips as a smile spread across his face. "I'm glad I can do something right, at least."

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, the waiter returned and set their plates on the table, saying that they were hot. Riza disregarded this warning entirely, scooting hers closer to the edge the table and picking up her silverware. Roy placed a few shrimp beside her steak and she looked up at him disbelievingly.

"Go on," he encouraged. "You aren't allergic to seafood, are you?"

"I wouldn't know. I've never tried it." She eyed the shrimp warily before spearing one with her fork and lifting it to her mouth.

"How does it taste?" he asked as she chewed, relieved that she didn't seem to be having a negative reaction.

"Delicious," she replied after swallowing.

The rest of the meal passed quietly, and Roy found himself missing the dinners they had shared at home, laughing and joking and doing the dishes together after. Every attempt he made at conversation fell flat as Riza answered with only short sentences, never saying anything more unless he interrupted the silence first. It was almost a relief when the waiter returned with the tab and Roy handed the money over immediately.

Outside, Riza seemed to relax and Roy wrapped his jacket around her shoulders gently. "Are you alright?" he asked, putting an arm around her as they walked.

"Better now," she said, breathing in the cool night air as though that was the cure. "I'm sorry, Roy."

"Sorry? For what?"

She struggled to tuck her arms through the sleeves of the jacket and looked at him incredulously. "A bad first date. What else?"

Holding her tighter, he shrugged with his free arm. "It's not like I have anything to compare it to, really."

Her eyes still seemed doubtful, but she relaxed as she pressed herself against him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." A comfortable silence spread between them, so different from the tension he had felt in the restaurant, and Roy decided that, when he looked back on tonight, this would be what he remembered. He smiled up at the dark sky. The stars were coming out one at a time, and to his surprise, he found himself making a wish on each one.

Riza stumbled, the heel of her shoe caught in a soft patch of sand. Concerned, he stopped walking and helped steady her. "Would you like me to carry you?" he offered. She looked exhausted, and her shoes certainly weren't doing her any favors.

"It's a long way," she said. "Your arms will get sore."

"Not if I carry you on my back." He stepped in front of her and crouched down. "Come on, you'll be light as a feather this way."

With only a moment's hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he stood, holding onto her legs as he did. She really was light, and she held onto him gently, arms crossed on his chest as she rested her chin on his shoulder. "What are we going to do tomorrow?" she asked sleepily, her breath tickling his ear.

"Whatever you want," he replied. He knew he would have to study at some point, but it was the first day of Riza's summer vacation and she had a right to decide how they spent it.

"Maybe we could have a picnic," she said with a yawn, her jaw pressing down into his shoulder. "Or you could fix the rods like you said and we could go fishing."

"I should have done that already," he said, feeling sheepish. He had all but forgotten about it in the months that had passed since he had joked they ought to go ice fishing if there was no game to hunt.

"It's fine," she told him, leaning her head against his. "I know you just started learning how to perform such complicated transmutations."

She was so close, he half hoped she would lean in for a kiss, but he immediately discarded the idea. Squeezing her legs affectionately, he smiled, hoping she would feel his cheek move even if she couldn't see his face. "I'll fix them in the morning," he promised. "And while I'm at it, I'll fix the shower too."

When they returned home, he bent down so Riza could open the front door, intending to carry her all the way to her room. "That's funny," she said as he stepped inside. "I thought I turned the lights off."

"You did." Hawkeye stepped out of the shadows beside the stairs. Roy stumbled back, nearly knocking Riza into the doorframe. She grabbed at his shirt with a yelp of surprise and he paused for a moment to set her down.

"Father," she said, wobbling to the bench and removing her shoes. "What are you doing down here?"

"I've been waiting for you to return since I finished eating." He fixed her with a stern look and she looked down at her bare toes, hugging herself with arms completely swallowed by Roy's too-large jacket.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

It wasn't Roy's place to step between parent and child, and it definitely wasn't his place to question the man he called Master, but damned if he cared more about alchemy—and propriety—than Riza. "It was my fault, Sir," he said, placing a gentle hand on the crown of Riza's head and mussing her hair affectionately. "I'm the one who convinced her she deserved the night off for a change, so I took her to a restaurant in town."

Hawkeye's eyes narrowed and Roy was glad he had had the sense to bite his tongue before reminding the man that Riza was his daughter not his slave. And even though he had a right to be concerned, there was nothing wrong with a teenage girl going on a date with a boy she liked. Even less, in the eyes of a concerned father, with her spending time with a friend. Roy hoped that Hawkeye assumed the latter was the case, but since Roy had carried Riza through the door on his back, it was more likely that Hawkeye had guessed the truth. "At least you brought my daughter home safely," he said after several tense moments, leaning against the railing.

"Of course I did." Roy moved his hand to Riza's shoulder and squeezed it. "I'd never let anything bad happen to her."

Riza squirmed uncomfortably until her father's gaze softened. "Very well," he said. Turning back to his daughter, he added, "I would like to speak with you alone, Riza."

Jumping to her feet, she let out a nervous squeak Roy supposed was meant to be a yes. She shrugged out of the jacket and Roy took it from her, folding it over one arm as she followed her father down the hall. He took up Riza's spot on the bench. It was still warm and he sank against the wall, wondering what kind of lecture she was receiving. He knew exactly what kind his aunt would give out under these circumstances, and his face turned pink as he imagined Riza receiving the same.

When she slunk back into the entry hall, she didn't even look at him as she sank onto the bench by his side. "That bad, huh?" he said, nudging her gently.

"Awful," she agreed.

"And to think we didn't even kiss." Roy looked over at her, grinning.

She rested her hands in her lap, fingers fidgeting nervously. "He didn't mention kissing."

Roy narrowed his eyes. "I didn't think so. I just meant, if we didn't kiss, there's no reason for him to be worried about what comes after."

"That wasn't it either," she said, looking uncomfortable. "It was just paranoia about me being in town after dark. He doesn't trust the people there."

That was difficult to believe, coming from someone who paraded strange men through his house and made them stay across the hall from his young daughter. Roy might have even found it funny if he wasn't concerned about Riza. "I told him I'd protect you," he said.

She forced a miserable bark of laughter. "You won't always be here."

"No, I won't," he agreed. "And you don't need anyone to protect you either."

This time, her smile was genuine, and she slumped against him as though her exhaustion had finally caught up with her. He had to steady himself to keep from falling off the bench. Nestling his head against hers, Roy smiled as well, relieved that Hawkeye had simply been concerned about Riza's safety. And for once, he was so content that the thought of his Master walking back into the hall and seeing the two of them like this couldn't ruin Roy's mood.