Roy sighed as he was dragged from his peaceful sleep. He smiled at the memory of Riza falling asleep in his arms the night before. He'd never felt more at peace. In response, his arm curled, trying to pull her closer to his body, but it just moved through thin air. Frowning, he opened his eyes and looked blearily around his bedroom. She was nowhere to be seen. Sitting up, Roy rubbed his face tiredly, checking the time. It was six thirty in the morning.
"Hey, Riza, you out here?" he called as he padded into his living room.
"In here," she called softly from his kitchen.
Rounding the corner Roy had never been met with a more beautiful sight. There, perched atop a stool by his breakfast bar, sat his girlfriend with one leg perched on the foot bar below her, and the other curled underneath her body. Her long hair was swept over one shoulder, cascading down her front as she read a newspaper. In her hand was a steaming cup of coffee, and to her right was a plate with toast crumbs littering it. Hayate was dozing by her feet, curled into a tight ball and sighing happily.
"Good morning," he grinned, approaching the breakfast bar after he remembered how to breathe and how to walk.
"Good morning," she greeted, her smile dazzling him for a second.
Roy pulled her in for a kiss, tasting the coffee on her tongue and a hint of butter from her toast.
"Hey, roomie." A silly smile spread across her face as she giggled and said it back to him. He couldn't help it. He was just too damn happy.
"You're up early," Roy commented, reaching up and pulling a mug from his cupboard so he could make his own cup of coffee.
"I hope I didn't wake you." There was a hint of concern in there, afraid she'd been the reason for his early rise.
"You were as quiet as a mouse. I woke up and noticed you weren't there, so I came out to find you."
"Sorry," she smiled sheepishly. "I've always been an early riser."
"I guess I'll just have to get used to it," he announced, and he couldn't think of anything better. Riza, of course, began to worry herself.
"Oh no, it's okay," she reassured him. "I can –"
"Riza," he interrupted. "It would be my pleasure." Her smile was bashful as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and Roy's happiness swelled inside his chest when he noticed her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Plus, it means I get to spend more time with you."
Roy couldn't stop smiling all throughout breakfast. They chatted away as he ate, and Roy noticed just how excited and nervous she was about her first day at Armstrong Records.
Yesterday, Sunday, they'd moved all her things from her apartment into his. It didn't take long, she didn't have a lot, which she appeared to be quite reserved about.
"I don't mind, Riza," he smiled. "It's all you, and that's what matters."
He'd also finally met Izumi and Sig Curtis. He'd heard so much about them that it was an honour to finally meet them. Izumi ushered him in with the promise of a coffee and a sweet treat on the house, which he insisted on paying for, of course. Her kind smile and warmth made him feel at ease immediately. Her husband, on the other hand, was silent. Sig was a mammoth of a man, who didn't say much, just stared at Roy intently throughout the whole thing. He tried not to squirm in his chair, feeling like a teenager under scrutiny from his girlfriend's father.
"Wait," Sig announced, speaking for the first time since greeting. He pulled out his phone and flicked through a few things, leaving Roy in a state of anticipation and unease. "That's you, right?" He turned the phone towards him, and Roy saw his Wikipedia page pulled up.
"Yeah, that's me," he cringed, expecting the usual reaction he got when people realised his identity. Although, Sig Curtis didn't seem like the type to squeal in happiness.
"I knew I'd seen your face before!" Izumi announced with a grin. "God, that's been bothering me the whole time." She relaxed before him, her smile turning kind. "Now it all makes sense. You didn't tell me you were dating someone famous, Riza!" she accused lightly with a laugh.
Riza stuttered, trying to think of some excuse, while Sig grasped Roy gently by the shoulder, guiding him away from the conversation.
"You love her, right?" he asked, his piercing eyes meeting Roy's.
Roy swallowed, trying not to think about how he felt like he was staring into the eyes of a bear. "I do, sir."
"Treat her right. Promise me that."
"I will," Roy vowed sincerely. "I will try my best to make her the happiest person alive."
Sig eyed him, his eyes narrowing before his face relaxed. Then, in a tone much softer than Roy would have expected from the man, he continued. "You already have," he announced. Under his bushy moustache, Roy even saw a smile.
Roy blinked at him. "Excuse me?"
"I've seen it happen. Riza worked herself into the ground and I hated to see it, but after meeting you she has come out of her shell and has taken more time for herself. I'm thinking you brought that out in her."
"I couldn't take the credit for that, sir. That was all Riza."
"Yes, but it's because you've loved her. There's been such a big change over the last few months. She practically runs out the door to get to your place or to a gig at your bar. You've made her happy."
Roy was reeling as they walked out of the coffee shop after their farewells.
"What was Sig talking to you about?" Riza asked, looking over her shoulder and offering one final wave to who was essentially her adoptive parents.
"Oh, um, nothing much," he shrugged. He couldn't think of a more eloquent response, because he was still thrown by what Sig had said. All he wanted to do was make Riza happy and to love her unconditionally. Had he really made that much of difference in her life? "Guy stuff," he added lamely.
Riza snorted and opened the car door. Everything she owned fit snugly into her small car, although they'd unfortunately had to leave Hayate at Roy's place in order to make everything fit.
"Liar," she pouted.
Roy watched as she pulled away from the pavement, still amused at their conversation.
He thought back to when he'd first met her. She'd been shy and reserved. When she met his eyes in conversation it was only for a brief second before she glanced away, to somewhere else on his face, avoiding direct contact. She would open her mouth to speak, but nothing would come out and she'd dismiss it completely. Blushes covered her cheeks every time he complimented her, and it was met with a quiet thanks, almost as if she didn't believe him. Now, it was met with a roll of her eyes, but a kiss and a bright smile.
She had changed. Of course, he would never take the credit for it. That was all Riza, but… It spoke volumes of how comfortable she was with him now. It made him happier than anyone could ever know.
"I love you," he announced, grasping her hand from the steering wheel gently and giving it a smile.
The most beautiful smile lit up her face as she glanced over at him, taking her eyes off the road for a second. "I love you too, Roy." She squeezed his hand in return, then regrettably, Roy let go so she could continue to drive.
In that moment, he just wanted to hold her in her arms and live there forever. He never wanted to let her go.
Riza walked out of Armstrong Records felling slightly giddy. That day had been filled with nothing but tours of the building, meeting the team she'd be working with, and meetings upon meetings. It was quite dull. If she hadn't been so excited about the fact her life was finally starting to take shape in the way she wanted it to, she might have fallen asleep during that meeting.
The one thing she did miss, was her old friend guiding her professional movements in the industry. Although it was just a part-time job and she did it out of her own pocket, Rebecca was still very sad about the fact she would no longer be her manager.
"It's the end of an era," she'd sniffed over the phone, while Riza sat in Roy's apartment that night, looking through the welcome pack Olivier Armstrong had given her.
"Actually," Riza ventured, flipping over the folder in front of her, revealing another one underneath.
The lift dinged behind her and she glanced over her shoulder. Roy walked in, tossing his car keys into a bowl and dumping his rucksack on the floor. She waved and felt love burst forth in her chest when a grin lit up his face. That happiness he showed was all for her. Sometimes it didn't feel real.
"Yeah?" Rebecca prompted when she'd been silent for a moment, too distracted by her boyfriend.
"They approached me with a proposition today," Riza continued.
Said boyfriend made a beeline for her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders from behind. He kissed her temple and Riza's breath caught in her throat as Roy's breath skated over her skin. There was a snicker from him and Riza swatted him away, but not without a happy smile. As he pouted, Riza stuck her tongue out at him and returned to her conversation with her friend.
"Riza, I'm on the edge of my damn seat here."
"Sorry, Roy just got home."
"Oh. Well, if you two need some alone time –"
"No, we're fine. He's just being a menace." She raised her eyebrow at Roy, then burst out laughing at the look of shock on his face as he placed a hand over his chest, offended.
"I bet," Rebecca snickered. "Anyway, what do you need?" she asked.
Roy sauntered off with a huff into his bedroom. Their bedroom, she thought with a grin, admiring the view as he walked away from her.
"Well… I put forth my ideas on how I wanted to run things – they asked me for that, by the way – and…" Riza took a deep breath, steeling herself for her friend's reaction. She wasn't sure how Rebecca would take it. "Alex Armstrong asked if you wanted to come on board and still manage me."
There was silence on the other side of the phone and Riza's stomach twisted painfully.
"Rebecca?" she called worriedly.
Roy had returned from getting changed into sweats and a t-shirt and sat on the couch across from her. At her tone, he glanced up from his paperwork in concern.
"Oh… Oh my God," she shrieked into the phone, making Riza jump about a foot in the air with a grimace at the volume in her ear.
"Rebecca?"
"Are you freaking kidding me?" she asked.
"I don't know," Riza bit her lip, shooting Roy a worried look. "Is it a good thing?"
"Is it a good thing?" she repeated in disbelief. Riza still wasn't sure.
"What? What's going on?" she heard a male voice ask through the phone. Wait… Was that Jean?
"Riza Hawkeye are you seriously asking me to become your manager?"
"Um… Yes."
"Yes!" she shouted through the phone. "Yes! A million times yes!"
"What's going on?" Roy mouthed at her.
Riza relaxed, not noticing how tense her shoulders had been. She gave him a thumbs up, saying everything was okay.
"Did you seriously put in a good word for me?" Rebecca asked.
"Are you crying?" Riza asked incredulous.
"Of course, I am! I'm so happy!" she sobbed.
Riza sat there and blinked. Was she really that happy?
"Um, hello?" Jean spoke through the phone.
"Hey, Jean," she greeted.
"Um… Rebecca threw the phone at me and is currently doing a happy dance in my living room, so you've got me to talk to for the minute."
Oh... In his living room, huh? Jean was suddenly gone, and a teary Rebecca replied to her.
"I can't believe it. Are you serious?"
"I wouldn't lie, Becca," she quipped. "Not about something like this."
"I know but… I'm honoured. You really want me to?"
"I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it. You've never steered me wrong before." Riza smiled softly to herself, realising it was true. If Rebecca hadn't been her manager, she would never have gotten the gig at Ignis and would've never met Roy. Of course, she wanted Rebecca on board. Plus, Riza knew she'd be straight with her and would hold nothing back. Riza needed that.
"I love you, Riza. Thank you so much!"
"She took the news well," Roy chuckled once she was off the phone, a little teary herself. Riza wiped away the tears that had collected in the corner of her eyes.
"She did," Riza laughed to herself, taking the tissue Roy offered her.
He moved from his couch hers, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in comfort.
"I'm glad. Rebecca will take no shit. She certainly didn't from me when you first started… Well, once she recovered from who I was," he chuckled to himself. "But that's a good thing to have in this industry. Armstrong Records are generally very good and will protect you and your music first before their profits but still, it's good to have someone asking all the right questions next to you."
"Who did you have when you first started?"
"Maes. He's been with me from day one and he was a godsend."
"You'll always be here too, right?" She cringed at how childish she sounded.
"Of course. I don't plan on going anywhere. I'll help you with whatever you need."
Riza rested her head against his shoulder, curling her legs underneath herself. Hayate hopped up on the couch, padding into her lap and curling up into a ball. In the moment, Riza could not come up with a more perfect scene than the one she was in now. She felt so at peace she didn't want to move.
"You okay?" Roy asked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as he hugged her tightly against his side.
"Yeah," she breathed. "I just didn't expect her to be so happy about it."
"I did."
"You did?"
"Of course." He sounded like it was completely obvious. "Rebecca would be thrilled to work with you. Anyone would." She was quiet. Would they really? She didn't quite believe him. "Plus, that night we had at the bar months ago she was preaching about how much she hated her job."
"She was?" Riza frowned.
"I think you were at the bar. She was really happy for you of course, but she was sad she wouldn't be able to go along for the ride with you."
"She never told me," Riza admitted quietly. Why didn't Rebecca say anything?
Roy shrugged. "I don't know why she didn't, but she was very drunk that night," he chuckled. "That was a good night, we should do it again."
"I'd like that," she admitted with a smile, cuddling closer to him. "I think they would too. Apparently, Rebecca and Jean are a thing now."
"Really?"
She nodded. "They were at Jean's house."
"We could arrange it for this Saturday. You've not a gig and I've got no plans."
"That sounds great," she murmured, closing her eyes and relaxing in her boyfriend's hold. He pressed another kiss to the top of her head, making her smile. As she began to doze, she heard the sound of paper turning. Blearily, her eyes opened and noticed he was reading the newspaper. Riza didn't remember seeing any newspapers around before. That's why she nipped out to get one every morning. Where had this new one came from? Never mind, her tired and relaxed mind thought. That was something she'd ask him another time.
