Author's note: I do not own FMA or its characters. This is AU.


We'll Sleep When We're Dead

They had been dating nearly two months when Riza first met Roy's friends. She had heard of them already, but given how spontaneously their relationship had started, neither of them had felt like adding the pressure of their friends' opinions to the situation. But it was midterms, and neither of them honestly cared about other people's opinions at that point. All either of them wanted was to was get through the next week.

So Maes' first encounter with his best friend's newest girlfriend was at a coffee shop. He found Roy lounging on a couch, papers spread across the table in front of him and a blond curled up at his side. In comparison with some of Roy's former girlfriends, she was not beautiful. Attractive, yes, but Roy had dated women with supermodel potential before, and this woman did not fit that category.

Still, Roy was sitting there, an arm around her shoulders as he pointed something out to her in one of the books in front of them. His friend looked up just then and flashed him a grin.

"Hey Hughes, could you get us a venti chai latte and a venti mocha? Thanks."

He wasn't surprised at the request. When Maes returned, he found the pair disengaged from their studies. Roy took both cups, handing the chai latte his girlfriend.

"Riza, this is my best friend, Maes Hughes. Maes, this is Riza Hawkeye."

She smiled at him and held out a hand. "Pleased to meet you. Roy has mentioned you a number of times."

Maes raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure that's a good thing."

She laughed, not a little giggle like he had expected but a real laugh. "Oh don't worry, I know some of the good stories too."

Well, at least she had a sense of humor. He smiled. "So how did you meet this idiot friend of mine? You seen like such a nice young woman."

"Hey!" Mustang protested. Riza elbowed him in the stomach.

"He was a Graduate Assistant for one of my classes. We hit it off once the class had ended."

"Honestly?"

"We started talking through notes in class and started dating once the class had ended."

"So what's all this then?" He gestured to the various papers and books spread out in front of the pair.

"Socieology of Politics, Satire and Comedy, Chick Lit, Law and Politics, TV and Crime, TV and Politics, and Xing Politics."

"My god, when do you two sleep?"

Roy shrugged. "Meh, we'll sleep when we're dead."

Maes watched the couple closely. Riza was defiantly not what he had expected but, there was something about this whole thing that was different. Then it struck him. He'd seen Roy with any number of girls, but he'd never acted like this before. His best friend was comfortable with this one. He wasn't putting on any of the act he normally used with women.

"I promised Gracia I'd pick her up at six, so I'd best be going.

On his way out the door, he glanced back at the couple. The image just seemed right to Maes. It looked completely natural for Roy to have Riza tucked against his side as they poured over her literature essay. He smiled. Roy had finally found himself a real partner.


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