50. Fingertips

A/N: "Love Will Find a Way" from "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride".

Post-manga, my own little world. Spoilers for chapter 102.

Roy had always heard that when one sense failed, the other senses tended to compensate, and now he knew it to be true. His hearing was much sharper than it had ever been, so much so that he could turn and pinpoint almost exactly where a noise was coming from, something most people still found uncanny.

His sense of touch, too, had sharpened, and while it didn't seem like much, something very important had come out of it.

On occasion, when Roy was not in the highest of spirits, a hand would brush his, and it was always the same hand—he knew it so well after all those years.

No words were needed, because Riza's touch said everything: I'm here for you, and I'm not leaving. Not now, and not ever. Believe me.

I've never doubted you for a second. How stupid would I be to start now?

He always brushed his fingertips along her palm to let her know she was understood, and to send a message of his own:

And in whatever capacity I can be, I will always be there for you.

A/N: Half-way there!

To all of you readers/reviewers: Wow, 8000+ hits and 117 reviews—thank you so much! Special (only 'cause I know who they are—don't review, and you remain anonymous, but thanked all the same!) thanks to the following: Starry Pink, causmicfire, Ruingaraf, BrightBlackField2007, RoyxRizaFan, hand-made-city, NinjaWriter11, Steph's, Red Walrus, .Ne, and kate4934. I still try to reply to each and every one, but it's the last 4 weeks of the school year, so while I will still try to acknowledge you, you might get a general "thanks" and that's it.