Hi all, Holly here! For Easter Pandora asked for some cute awkward teenage romance between Roy and Riza. So I made a plan, trying to make it as canon compliant as possible, and started writing. By the time I looked at the wiki and discovered the age difference between the two of them and how old Riza was when her father died I was already pretty far through the fic so decided to roll with it. This take place over a few years and by the end of it Riza is 16 and Roy is 19, nearly 20. If I'd known this in the planning stage the fic probably would have turned out very differently (i.e. a bit more of an AU where they're closer in age) so please bear that in mind. Hope you enjoy :)
Ever since childhood Roy has found himself with a deep rooted obsession with fire. It has always fascinated and terrified him and as he got older he discovered that he could learn how to master and control it. His discovery of flame alchemy as a profession sparked within him the desire to pursue it and learn its secrets. Poring over countless newspapers he desperately searches for someone, anyone, who can teach him how to become a master of flame alchemy. After months of searching he finally stumbles across a name: Berthold Hawkeye, a formidable name in the world of flame alchemy. Truthfully he's the only name in the world of flame alchemy but Roy isn't going to split hairs about a little thing like that.
When he puts his mind to something Roy won't stop until he's accomplished it so he puts in the work, finds out where Berthold Hawkeye lives and pays for transportation in order to meet him. During his travels Roy works out exactly what he wants to say so that Berthold will agree to train him and by the time he reaches the address he found he's ready to talk his way into an apprenticeship with this master of flame alchemy.
The house he finds is vastly dingier than he would have thought for a famed flame alchemist but he still knocks anyway. Not to be deterred by appearances Roy waits patiently for someone to open the door but no one answers. Unperturbed Roy knocks again, hoping that he has the right house – the address he found could have been an old one and the house is, in fact, as abandoned as it looks. After another long wait he's about to try knocking one more time when a gravelly voice sounds from inside.
"Go away!"
"Excuse me, I may have the wrong address, but I'm looking for Mr Berthold Hawkeye," Roy says through the door.
"He's not interested," the gruff voice says. It's clearly a man's voice and there's a good chance that Roy is, in fact, talking to Berthold Hawkeye himself.
Roy knocks on the door again to keep his attention. "Mr Hawkeye my name is Roy Mustang, I was hoping that I could learn flame alchemy from you as I've heard that you're the master."
The door creaks open and a grizzled old man, his face far older than the articles Roy read about him would suggest, steps into the light. He glares at Roy as he appraises him, clearly unimpressed with what he sees. Standing his ground Roy holds himself up to his full height and waits for the verdict.
"And why do you think that you're worthy to become the pupil of the great Berthold Hawkeye?" he asks. "He needs no apprentice."
"I'm a fast learner," Roy tells him. "I'm more than willing to undertake any challenge that I'm given and I have money; I can pay for tuition of course. I don't expect you to reveal your secrets to me for free."
"And why do you want to learn flame alchemy?" the man asks.
"Because I believe that I can use it to do some good in the world," Roy replies.
The old man snorts. "Idealistic fool, what makes you think that there is anything in this world that deserves something good to happen to it?"
Roy shrugs and gives him what he hopes is a winning smile. "We all have to believe in something?"
A second passes before the man grabs Roy by the throat and slams him against the wall of his house. "This is not a game, boy," he hisses, his face mere inches away from Roy's, so close that he can smell the stale whisky on his breath. "Flame alchemy isn't some magical tool for saving the world, it brings only death and destruction and if you are too stupid to understand that then you aren't fit to learn to wipe your own ass never mind learn the nuances of flame alchemy." Using his hold on Roy's collar he throws him to the floor. "Now get out of my sight!"
The man makes to close the door and disappear but, determined not to let this chance slip through his fingers, Roy scrambles to his feet and grabs the door before the old man can close it, nearly getting his fingers crushed in the process. "Sir, wait please!" he cries. "Just give me a chance to prove myself worthy to be taught by you and worthy to learn everything there is to know about flame alchemy."
Steely eyes survey him for a long moment, so long in fact that Roy feels heat beginning to prickle on the back of his neck. However he holds the man's gaze; he's come all this way, he's sure as hell not going to back out now. Finally the man snorts, smirking at him. "If you're really serious about learning the art of flame alchemy then be here tomorrow morning at five o'clock and I'll think about teaching you."
Roy's face lights up. "I won't let you down sir," he gushes, his words tumbling from his mouth in his excitement. "I'll be here first thing in the morning. Will I meet Mr Hawkeye tomorrow then?"
"Are you as stupid as you look boy?" the man counters. "I am Berthold Hawkeye."
Flashing him a cheeky grin Roy removes his hand from the door. "Just as I suspected," he says. "Good afternoon sir."
"Don't get smart with me," Berthold growls. "I'm still reserving judgement on whether you're worthy of becoming my apprentice or not."
"I promise that I will be a model pupil," Roy says, bowing.
Berthold rolls his eyes. "Just be here tomorrow at five and I'll be the judge of that." With that he slams the door before Roy has a chance to say anything else.
Waiting a moment to make sure that he is alone Roy lets out a whoop of delight, jumping for joy at his own good fortune. As far as he is concerned he's done the hard part, the actual learning will be easy. If he has to be up by five the following morning he'll need to find a local place to stay, he can't return to Central and come back that early. Thankfully the wizened old receptionist at a nearby boarding house doesn't pay too close attention to his date of birth (as he's not quite eighteen yet) and he is able to secure himself a bed. Once settled in his room he decides to finally give his aunt a call. While Chris Mustang hadn't actually noticed that her nephew was no longer around she tells him that he had better be back by the end of the week, which he knows he won't be but says that he will. With her placated he sets himself an alarm for the following morning and turns in for the night.
Berthold told him to be outside his house at five o'clock so, of course, Roy is sat outside his door at half past four alert and ready to begin learning. It's still dark when he arrives and he has no idea how long he waits for but the sun is already high in the sky by the time the front door finally opens. A smirking Berthold greets him and Roy hopes the sound of his stomach rumbling doesn't reach his ears.
"How long have you been sitting out here?" Berthold asks.
"Since half past four sir," Roy replies, thankful that the sun has warmed him and his teeth have stopped chattering.
Sharp eyes scrutinise him for a long moment before going to return inside the house. For a brief second Roy's heart sinks but then Berthold glances over his shoulder at him. "Well come in if you're coming," he says.
It takes a moment for his words to sink in but when they do Roy's eyes widen slightly and he jumps to his feet, tripping over himself as he darts forward to follow Berthold inside. The door closes, instantly blocking out the sun, and Roy looks around the gloom, trying to keep up with Berthold as he leads him further into the house. It's dark and dank and there is an air of disrepair about the place along with a musty, decaying smell; it's as if Berthold has tried to keep the place as miserable and unappealing as possible.
He's led to another dingy room, filled to the brim with piles of papers and books none of which look as if they're supposed to be there. A substantial pile of empty bottles litter one corner of the room and Roy can't help but wonder if he's made a mistake in asking to be this mad man's apprentice. He shakes himself – no the man is a genius and if he can learn flame alchemy from him then it will be worth it.
"Riza!" Berthold suddenly screams, causing Roy to jump violently.
A moment later a young girl appears in the doorway. She has a mournful look about her pretty face and she appears to about thirteen or fourteen at the most but, with her blonde hair that shines like sunlight in the dingy house, she is quite possibly the most beautiful girl Roy has ever seen in his life. "Yes father," she asks, her voice as melancholy as her expression.
"Did you take my 'Beginning Alchemical Arrays' book?" he asks and Roy privately wonders how he could possible know that anything from this sty was missing.
"No father," Riza replies, unable to keep the long suffering sigh from her voice. "I never go into your study, you've forbidden me."
"Then where is it?" he demands.
Seeing the scene unfold before him Roy decides to intervene. Picking up the first random book he finds he happens to spot the one Berthold is looking for underneath. "Is this it?" he asks, handing the book to him.
The rage forming on Berthold's face as he takes the book calms instantaneously as he squints at the cover. "Yes this is the place for us to begin," he says. Looking up he turns to his daughter. "Riza this is my new apprentice."
"Roy Mustang," he says, holding out his hand to her.
She stares at him, unsure of how to react to him and it becomes very obvious very swiftly that she may not have come into contact with many other people. Eventually she seems to decide that he's to be trusted and takes his hand, shaking it. "Pleased to meet you."
Her hand – small, dainty and warm – in his makes a heat creep up the back of his neck. Shaking his head to stop himself from staring for two long he flashes her a smile. "The pleasure is all mine," he says. "I believe we'll be seeing a lot more of each other while I'm studying with your father."
"Maybe," she says and gives him another small smile. "I should be getting back to my chores, I still have some left on the list you gave me this morning father."
"When you've finished cleaning," Berthold orders, "I have a list of items I need you to buy when you go to town."
"Yes father," she says, her voice still sounding long suffering.
Roy is about to suggest he accompany her to help but she takes her leave before he can. He almost takes off after her but suddenly remembers what he's been sitting outside since half past four for. There's something about her that draws him to her like a moth to a flame. Not that he has much experience with parents interacting with their children, having been orphaned at a very young age and his guardian aunt not being overly maternal Roy has no idea if it's normal for for a father to treat his daughter like a servant but part of him thinks he shouldn't get too involved. Berthold may change his mind about training him if he does.
Berthold's voice suddenly snaps him out of his train of thought. "Now how much do you know about alchemy?" he asks.
"Um... the basics," Roy replies. "I've only been able to read books about it; I've never actually been able to put any of what I've read into practice."
"Then you know nothing," Berthold snaps. Moving some papers from a chair behind the desk his sits down. "Sit."
Opening his mouth to ask where he's supposed to sit down in and among the mess but decides against it. Finding a slightly less dusty patch of floor he sits. Staring up at Berthold with expectant awe Roy puts all thoughts of Riza out of his head, getting ready to learn. I'm ready," he says.
"Good, let's get started then."
Weeks pass and Roy begins to build up his knowledge of alchemy under Berthold's tutelage and he is soon even able to create some simple arrays himself. While lessons with Berthold are gruelling and more often than not Roy finds himself both physically and mentally drained but it's so worth it, not only for the knowledge that he grains but also for the brief, fleeting glances he gets of Riza. Every moment he catches sight of her he feels his heart skip and he wants to hold her close, taking away every awful feeling she's holding onto into himself and making it disappear.
Once day he is meditating out in the yard behind the house with Berthold shouting alchemical theories at him. For a fleeting moment he opens his eyes and sees Riza watching him from an upstairs window. As their eyes meet a flush dusts her cheeks. Roy smiles at her, lifting his fingers slightly in the tiniest hint of a wave. Her smile brightens at the gesture and she waves back at him. Seeing that makes his heart swell and he hopes that, some day soon, he may have the chance to talk to her again. The moment passes as Riza jumps and hurries away a second before a hand cracks across the back of Roy's head.
"Pay attention," Berthold snaps.
"Yes sir."
So Roy continues to train and learn with Berthold but when he's not completing his lessons he often finds himself thinking about Riza. The way she smiles at him when they briefly meet eyes fills him with the hope that she might want to get to know him as much as he wants to get to know her. If he actually had the chance to talk to her more he would be happy with that but every time the two of them have even a few brief seconds alone Berthold appears as if he somehow knows that's what Roy wants. He seems to delight in attempting to crush Riza's spirit and, if he weren't the only notable name in flame alchemy, Roy would ask her to leave with him without hesitation. Maybe when he's cracked the secret of flame alchemy he'll ask her if she wants to. After yet another failed attempt at talking to her (once again interrupted by his ever present teacher) he puts all this and more in a letter to her.
The following morning, when she answers the door, he sees his opening to give it to her. "Good morning Riza," he says, smiling at her. "How are you today?"
"I... I'm fine," she replies and Roy can tell that she's lying. "Father is expecting you."
"Okay, thank you." He enters the house as she steps aside to let him in. When she closes the door he takes the letter out of his pocket and presses it into the palm of her hand, a swift gesture that no one but Riza would notice. She looks at the letter and then at Roy, her brow furrowed, and then back at the letter again.
"What–" she begins but Roy quickly cuts her off.
"Hopefully I'll see you again before I leave today," he says giving her a pointed look and shooting a pointed look at the letter as well and she seems to understand his meaning.
Slowly she nods and slips the letter into her pocket. "Yes I will make sure that I do," she tells him.
"Good, I'll see you later then."
They go their separate ways and it's the first time that Roy has seen her face light up so much as she usually seems to morose and melancholy. Since their first meeting she seemed so mature in countenance that Roy was amazed to find out that she is, in fact, only fourteen. Despite the few years between them he still can't help but think that she's the most beautiful girl he's ever laid eyes on and he's seen a lot of very beautiful women (also half naked most of the time to boot) wandering around his aunt's brothel. There is an unattainable charm about her that Roy can't help but adore.
As he goes to meet her father, who reeks of alcohol again, he tries to keep his mind on his lessons but it's difficult. Not only does he have to keep his mind off Riza but also because he's been studying with Berthold for nearly six months and still only knows the basics of alchemy, never mind covering any flame alchemy. Obviously he knows that he needs to know the basics before he can cut his teeth on something more interesting but he expected to as least know how to make a spark by now. However today all his hopes are hanging on what Riza could possibly be putting in her reply to his letter.
When he leaves at the end of the day Riza comes to see him off with a smile as she presses a letter of her own into his hand. Slipping it into an inside pocket of his jacket he gives her a smile of his own, thankful that not only has she replied but Berthold didn't come across either letter to try and intercept them. Opting to wait until he's alone Roy keeps the letter close to his heart and when he finally reaches the boarding house he makes himself comfortable on his bed and pulls it out. For pages and pages she pours her heart out to him; telling him the full story of her mother's death when she was three and how she's been at the mercy of her father ever since. If he were to ask her to run away with him then she would say yes in a heartbeat if she didn't have to worry about her father trying to find her.
Her story moves Roy to tears and, as soon as he has finished reading it, he goes to the desk and writes a long reply. In it he reveals some personal information about growing up without parents and with his aunt at the brothel. Once he finishes his letter he goes out, purchases a flower as golden as her hair and presses it into the envelope ready to give it to her when he sees her the following morning.
For at least two years the two communicate in this way – surreptitious letters and stolen moments where they can finally talk – and Roy finds his affection for her deepening. Now that they've found a way to properly communicate with one another they've found a way to properly get to know everything about the other. Roy is even more determined to take her away from the life of poverty, so he decides to join the military so he can start to earn a decent wage. If he could just save up enough money then he could buy a house for the two of them to start a life together. When he announces that he has joined the military Berthold is less than thrilled and even threatens to stop teaching him but Roy's headstrong persistence wins out in the end. He knows that he can't stop his pursuit of both flame alchemy and Riza now.
His lessons are a lot fewer and far between now that he has basic training to contend with so his fleeting moments with Riza have become even more precious. Most recent letter in hand, ready to slip into her pocket he waits for her to answer the door. When she does he instantly knows that something is wrong by the redness of her eyes, despite the smile plastered on her face and he wonders if it's been too long since he was last here.
"Good morning," she says. "It's been a while since we've seen you."
Taking her hand he pulls her out of the doorway and shuts it behind her so there's no chance of Berthold overhearing them. "Is everything alright?" he asks.
She fakes a smile again. "Of course," she says, "why wouldn't it be?"
"Then why have you been crying?"
The smile quickly turns into a glare. "No I haven't," she snaps, instantly on the defensive. "Besides what business is it of yours if I have? You're never here anymore!"
"I know and I'm so sorry," Roy says. "I–"
"I've been alone all this time dealing with him!" She gestures towards the house, her fury building and her eyes filling with tears. "I needed you and you weren't here!"
"I'm here now," Roy says and it sounds pathetic, even to him.
"But why did you go?" Riza asks, the tears beginning to spill down her cheeks.
Not knowing what else to do Roy wraps her up in his arms and lets her sob into his chest, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back. "I'm here now," he says again, giving her a comforting squeeze. "Did you at least get the letters I sent you?" he asks.
"But they weren't you!" she cries. "Letters are all well and good but it wasn't like having you to talk to."
Taking her hand he leads her over to a bench against the side of the house, sitting her down so that they can talk. "Tell me everything."
As soon as the words are out of his mouth the flood gates suddenly open. "When you joined the military and weren't coming around as much he started drinking more."
"Did he hurt you?" Roy all but growls.
Riza shakes her head but he's not sure how true that is. "It has mostly been him shouting and trashing his study. When he gets into those states I tend to leave him alone but he's got worse in the last couple of months."
"Worse how?"
"He's been drinking more even though the doctor has told him not to because it's killing him and now he can't even get out of bed," Riza says, sniffing and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't know what to do because he won't help himself."
Roy thinks for a moment watching as Riza silently composes herself. "Would you like me to go and talk to him?"
With a sigh and a shrug Riza shakes her head. "I don't know what it would do but you can if you want to."
Getting to his feet Roy gives her shoulder a squeeze before heading into the house. As usual everywhere is dark and dreary, and despite the blazing sunshine outside, the house is cold and there are candles lit in order for anyone unlucky enough to be inside to be able to see anything. Berthold isn't in his study so Roy finds himself looking in every room until he finally finds him in his bedroom.
It's been a few months since Roy has seen Berthold but he looks nothing like he did when they last met. His skin, a sallow grey colour, practically clings to his skull and his eyes are sunken, hollow looking shells of what they were. Roy is amazed that this emaciated shade even has the energy to trash his office when he looks as if a light breeze would blow him over. Of course it could be that he looks worse because there is so little light in the room but Roy doubts that is the case. As he opens the door Berthold looks vaguely in Roy's direction for the source of the sound.
"Riza?" he asks, his voice like rocks grating together.
Stepping closer Roy smiles at him. "It's me, sir," he says. "It's Roy."
Berthold glares at him. "Well look at you all trussed up and fancy in your Amestrian blues, come to show how well you're doing now you're a big shot soldier?"
"I came for my next lesson sir," Roy says, attempting to sound cheerful despite the smell of stale alcohol getting stronger the closer he gets.
"Oh you did, did you?"
"I was hoping you would teach me that final array now," Roy presses.
Berthold sneers. "So you can take it back to the military?"
Roy shakes his head. "So that my training can be considered complete," he says. "You've taught me everything that I know and I'd like to be able to do your tutelage justice."
Shrewd, cold eyes survey him and that stare would have made Roy quake in his younger years but he's grown since they first met. Finally Berthold sighs and seems to concede to this request. Looking as if it takes a lot of effort he pushes himself up in bed. "Go and fetch my daughter," he orders.
Confused Roy does as he's told, heading back outside to find Riza, sitting exactly where he left her. She looks up at him when his shadow falls over her.
"Is everything okay?" she asks.
"He's asked to see you as well," Roy replies.
Brow furrowing in confusion for a moment the penny eventually drops and a look of resignation crosses her face. "Of course," she says, sounding so unlike herself when she speaks to him.
"Is everything alright?" he asks as he follows her back inside the house.
She doesn't answer him, simply leads him back into her father's room. The sudden shift in mood throws Roy slightly but it's obviously something he's about to discover. As they get closer to Berthold's room the knot in his stomach tightens. Part of him thinks about reaching out to Riza but decides against it; he's a solider, for fuck's sake and she's a sixteen year old who has gone through way too much in her short life. When they return to the room Berthold beckons them close to his bedside.
"Riza," he says, his voice still croaking with the effort of talking, "I'm sorry with how I've treated you since your mother died."
"Father..." she says, her voice thick with tears.
"I should have been a better father but you look so much like her, especially as you got older that some days I just couldn't bear it," Berthold says, pausing for a second to cough into a handkerchief that comes away bloody. "If I could go back and change things I'd be different – more attentive, tell you I loved you more – and I would have let you live instead of keeping you locked away from the world in this hovel." He takes a moment, a deep rattling breath creaking through his chest, before he turns to Roy. "Look after her will you? She's my life's work."
"I will," Roy says, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Thank you," Berthold says, a small smile slipping onto his face as his eyes close and his final breath passes his lips.
Neither Riza or Roy move, both holding their breath as if to see what will happen next. When it finally becomes apparent that he's dead Riza calmly walks over to him and pulls his blanket up over his face. She stays staring at the blanket for a long time before Roy closes the distance between them and hugs her from behind. In that instant something inside her seems to shatter and she bursts into tears, turning to throw her arms around his neck and begins sobbing into his shoulder. Holding her tightly Roy strokes her hair, letting her cry for as long as she needs to.
The funeral is a strange affair; it's Riza, Roy and a large number of people who seem to be there hoping for some kind of big reveal to the secret of his flame alchemy. A tiny part of Roy can't help but feel a little resentful that Berthold died just before revealing that last all important array. Of course he won't divulge any of this; he's there to support Riza as she's now like him – an orphan, alone in the world. He dutifully stands beside her throughout the entire service and gives her hand a comforting squeeze when she takes his as the casket is lowered into the ground. It's obvious at the end of the burial that those who came because of Berthold's alchemy want to talk to Riza but Roy manages to put himself in between her and them.
By the end of the afternoon Roy is exhausted from intercepting so many conversations and Riza looks as if she's ready to go home. She takes his hand as they leave the graveyard; neither of them says anything but Roy is content to walk in silence, waiting for her to be the first one to talk. They reach a fork in the road which would lead them down to Riza's house when she squeezes his hand and stops very suddenly.
"Is everything okay?" he asks.
"Could we go somewhere else?" she asks, looking tentative. "I'm not ready to go back to that house yet."
"I have a room at a boarding house that's not too far away," he offers. "You can stay if you like, I don't mind sleeping on the floor."
"I don't want to put you out," Riza says, worry crossing her face.
Roy waves her off. "It's no trouble at all, I've slept in much worse places."
"If you're sure..."
"Absolutely."
"Okay," she says with a smile. "Let's go there then."
They walk in silence to the boarding house, Riza still clutching Roy's hand as if it's the only thing keeping her standing. When they reach the house the entrance is crowded so no one questions them as they make their way up to Roy's room. Closing the door behind them Roy gestures over to the door in the corner of the small room.
"The bathroom is through there is you need anything," he tells her. "Shall I go and get us some food?"
"Please."
Nodding he gives her a small smile. "I won't be long," he promises.
Closing the door on her he heads downstairs and out to the bakery across the road to get her some pastry for now. After that he heads back to order room service for them later on in the evening. The idea of spending the night in the same room as her makes his gut clench but he'll make it work. When he arrives though cracks instantly spring to life in his resolve. Riza is sitting on the edge of the bed, clearly fresh out of the shower, and wearing his pyjama shirt that looks as if it would come down to her mid thigh if she were to stand.
She shifts awkwardly under his gaze. "Sorry, I hope you don't mind," she says. "I didn't want to put my funeral clothes back on."
Clearing his throat Roy swiftly closes the door behind himself. "That's quite alright, I should probably get changed myself. I've ordered us something for dinner later on but I bought these for now." He holds out the bag of baked goods to her, busying himself with finding clothes that he can change into.
"Thank you."
"I should go and change," Roy says but a hand on the back of his coat stops him. Looking over his shoulder he sees Riza holding onto him, blushing furiously.
"Please stay," she begs. "I can't face being on my own yet."
For a moment he considers saying no and that he won't be long in the bathroom anyway but he can't bring himself to. He takes off his coat and jacket, placing them on the back of a chair before sitting down next to her. Instantly she puts the bag of food down on the bedside table and cuddles up to him so he hugs her back, hoping to be comforting. "Are you alright?" he asks, slowly stroking her hair.
"I don't know what to do with myself," she says sighing. "I've been on my own for most of my life but he was still always there, you know? I just have no idea what I'm supposed to do now that he's gone."
"You're not alone though," Roy tells her. "I'm here."
"But you'll have to leave eventually," Riza says, tears in her eyes again. "What about the military?"
"Come with me," Roy says.
Riza frowns at him. "What, enlist?"
"Only if you want to, you could come as my..." he tails off, his face scarlet.
"Your what?" she asks sounding hopeful.
"As my sister," Roy replies hurriedly. Of course that wasn't what he was going to say but he could hardly say wife or girlfriend at this moment in time.
She looks crestfallen. "Oh..."
"What?"
"I don't want to go as your sister," she tells him. "If I'm joining you in the military then I'll come as a soldier."
Roy frowns at her. "Are you sure? It could be dangerous."
Riza glares at him. "You think I can't handle it because I'm a girl."
"That's not what I said," Roy quickly cuts it, holding his hands up in defence. "I was just surprised that's all. If you'd rather be a soldier than my sister that's fine."
"Of course I want that because if I went as your sister then nothing more could ever happen between us," she says. A second later her face flushes scarlet and she slaps a hand over her mouth, realising what she said.
It takes a second for Roy to realise the meaning of her words and a blush springs to life on his cheeks as well. "W... what?"
Looking away Riza tries to avoid his eyes."Well I... the thing is... I..." She finally looks up at him when words fail her. Grabbing the front of his shirt she pulls him in for a kiss. It's a hurried mash of lips but it's enough for him to understand her feelings.
"Wow..." he gasps when they part. "So you..." The rest of his sentence goes unspoken but she knows what he means.
"I do yes," she says. "Do you?"
"Of course," he replies. "Ever since I first met you I thought you were beautiful and then the more I got to know you the more I fell in love with you."
"Can I show you something?" she asks, the blush fading and a serious look clouding her face.
"Of course."
Turning so that her back is to him Riza slips the shirt off, revealing the tattoo that spreads across her entire back. It takes a moment of staring at it to realise that it's the final secret of flame alchemy. Berthold's dying words suddenly come screaming back to him – she's my life's work. Tentatively he reaches out to trace his fingers over her skin and sees her visibly shiver at the contact.
"I can trust you with my father's research," she says. "I want you to have it."
Fingers still ghosting over Riza's skin Roy finally finds his voice. "When did you..."
"Just after you joined the army," she replies. "He became obsessed with people stealing his research so he tattooed it on me and destroyed all of his papers."
"And you want me to have this?" he asks.
"I do," she says. She turns to face him, still with no shirt covering her, taking one of his hands and placing it on one of her breasts. "I want you to have all of it."
Heart pounding in his ears Roy slowly closes the distance between then and kisses her again. Part of him knows that he shouldn't be doing this – she's just lost her father and had to endure his funeral – but she's so beautiful and soft that he can't resist. Brushing his thumb over her nipple a soft gasp escapes her lips, allowing him the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. Sinking his fingers into her hair he pulls her close to him, feeling her fingers begin to undo the buttons on his shirt.
"Is this alright?" he asks.
"Yes," she moans softly. "I want this... I want you."
"But..." Roy begins a protest as his higher brain begins to function again.
"Please," Riza says as she finishes opening his shirt and pushing it off his shoulders, "this is all I've been thinking about for the last few years."
When she begs him in that voice, sounding so gorgeous and so desperate, that he can't say no and the erection straining in his trousers doesn't want him to. Pulling her in for another kiss he runs a hand down her chest to wrap around her waist, pulling her right up against his body. Head spinning he just about registers her undoing his trousers and he can't help but be surprised at how bold she is, not that he's complaining in the slightest. One of his hands finds her thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze.
The effect is instantaneous and she flips their positions so that she's straddling his waist. Soft lips press light kisses down his chest and when she reaches the top of his trousers she gives them a tug. Roy's lust addled brain quickly catches up to what's happening and he hurriedly takes off the last of his clothes. Once both of them are naked Riza sinks her fingers into Roy's hair and kisses him, bringing a soft groan rumbling through his chest.
"Riza," he gasps. "You're so beautiful, I love you."
"I love you too," she says. "I want to be yours."
"You're mine as long as you want to be," he says.
Wrapping his arms around her he switches their positions again so that she's underneath him. It's slightly awkward getting to it but once he's between her legs it feels as if he belongs there. Lips find her neck as he slips a hand up the inside of her thigh to run a finger up and down her cunt, feeling how wet she is. His breath catches in his throat as she moans, hot and heavy, in his ear and he tries to keep his composure. Dick aching to be inside her he moves one of her legs so that it's sitting on his hip.
"Yeah," she cries. "Please just..."
The rest of her sentence is lost in a gasp as Roy slowly slides inside her. Keeping his eyes locked on her face he tries not to blow his load right there as he feels her tightening – hot, warm and wet – around him. Her eyes are tightly shut and she's biting her bottom lip so Roy shifts his hips slightly and she lets out another moan, wrapping her arms around him.
"Fuck!"
"Oh god Roy," she groans, nails digging into his shoulders as he starts to speed up his thrusts. "Oh my god!"
"Riza, you feel so good!" It's taking everything in him to keep himself from coming but as long as he makes her come first then he can live with that. Slipping a hand between them he begins to rub her clit hoping to bring her closer to the edge. It seems to work as she clings to him even tighter.
"Fuck! Roy I'm..." The end of her thought gets lost in her panting for breath.
"Me too," he says, unable to hold back any longer. "Come with me!"
He feels her clenching around him as he tumbles over the edge and coming alongside her. Just about managing to keep up his thrusts so that she rides out the feeling. Pressing a kiss to her lips he smiles down at her, brushing her hair from her face fondly.
"You're so beautiful," he tells her.
"And you're amazing," she says as he pulls out of her and cuddles her close.
He presses a kiss to her forehead. "So will you come with me away from here?"
"Of course," she replies smiling at him. "I don't ever want to leave your side.
Kissing her again he hugs her even tighter. "I'll be with you for as long as I live."