Category: Romantic Fluff

Characters: Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye

"Yes. What a shame that would be," Roy agreed as he smirked at her and grabbed the wine bottle by the neck. Riza felt her lips curl into the tiniest of smiles as she rose from the chair to walk over to one of her cabinet drawers, pulling it open to rifle through the contents in search of a cork remover. She retrieved the small device and tossed it over to the waiting man, who deftly caught it and began working away at the cork while Riza crossed the kitchen to grab two wine glasses from a nearby cabinet. She frowned when she realized she had placed them in the back of the top shelf, a consequence of not drinking wine too terribly often. She sighed under her breath and stood up on her tip-toes, pushing glasses aside as she struggled to reach the pair of glasses in the back of the cabinet. She unconsciously placed the hand of her injured arm onto the counter and out her weight on it, and immediately a spasm of pain wracked her entire side. She dropped down onto the flats of her feet, clenching her teeth as she waited for the fiery pain to subside.

"You really are determined to re-open that wound, aren't you?" came a small sigh from behind her. She went red as she realized that Roy was standing close behind her, so close in fact that he brushed against her as he reached up above her head to easily retrieve the two wine glasses from the back of the cabinet. He seemed unperturbed at the proximity, however. "Really. You could have just asked for help," he tutted, the wine glasses clinking in his hand as he shut the cabinet door and glanced down at her. Riza pursed her lips slightly and looked away, mostly so he could not see her blushing.

"I'm not used to having a gunshot wound, you know. I just wasn't thinking about it," she huffed and grabbed the wine glasses out of his hand. He raided an eyebrow at her as she pushed past him to return to the table and fill the wine glasses. She glanced over her shoulder, pausing to push her loose blonde hair behind her ear. "Well? Are you going to just stand there?" She frowned at him. He was staring at her funny, but before she could ask, he regained his normal, stoic composure and crossed the small room to join her at the table. Riza eased herself down into the chair and brought the wine glass to her lips, staring thoughtfully out the window at the night sky as she sipped at the alcohol. She couldn't help but smile when she remembered the fact that Roy bought it especially for her, even keeping in mind what her favorite brand was.

"I wonder how the Elric brothers are doing," he cut in suddenly, and she turned back to him to find him staring down into the contents of the wine glass, swirling the same liquid around with a slightly sad look.

"They're tough boys," Riza remarked as she leaned back into the chair. "I'm sure they're doing quite well. They're determined to get their bodies back." She paused for a moment, cocking her head to the side slightly as a smile came to her lips. "I wonder what they would think about you sitting here worrying about them," she mused, and he looked up at her in mild irritation.

"I'm not worried," he snorted, but his defensiveness was a perfect indicator for otherwise. "I know they're tough. They're also reckless and attract trouble, so I just-"

"Worry?" She laughed and sipped playfully at the wine. She had caught him in the lie, and he just glared at her for a second before throwing up a hand in defeat and taking a long drink of the wine. She chuckled softly. As much as he hated it, she could read him like a book; he couldn't get anything past her. Though he would never admit it, especially to Edward Elric, he cared about the young boys far more than a superior should. How could he not? They had come upon them after such a terrible, horrible incident, at their very lowest. Children should not suffer that way, she thought as she gazed thoughtfully at Roy. Though he was ready to employ them as child soldiers, he knows this.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Roy asked gruffly as he grabbed the wine bottle to pour himself another glass. Riza flushed pink, mildly embarrassed to have been caught staring.

"I was just thinking, that's all," she answered evasively as she finished off her glass. Roy motioned for her to hold it out, and he poured another healthy dose of the alcohol into it. He just sniffed disdainfully at her answer before sipping at the wine again, leaning back on two legs of the chair as he glanced out of the window.

"… You know who was fun to drink with back in the day?" he smiled. "Hughes."

"Mm. You and him would sit in the tents getting drunk on bourbon and whiskey, and the like," she recalled with a small nod. "And Armstrong would scold you for it when he caught you, and then you would all get into a squabble and trash half the camp," she added with a chuckle after Roy's expression turned from nostalgic to uncomfortable.

"Were we really that rowdy?" he frowned as he scratched the back of his head. Riza looked down into the wine, swishing it a little as images of the old days in the war danced in the dark, reddish-purple depths. You'd all drink the pain away, she thought sadly. But it was never enough. Those scars won't ever fade, no matter how much you try to drown them. She peered up at Roy through her eyelashes. It had been during the war that she had fallen in love with him, and sworn to protect him with her life. And here we are. I'm injured, and he's here babysitting me, she thought with a slight pang of shame. She hastily downed the rest of the wine and refilled her glass, trying desperately to shut out such negative thoughts. "What are you thinking about now?" Roy asked her abruptly with a smirk, and she blinked at him in confusion. "You were staring at me again. Or this time, was it just my rugged good looks?" he joked.

"Please," she snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. The wine is going to your head already." Roy laughed at that, and she couldn't help but smile. She liked him best when he was like this, without his inhibitions and the propriety of military conversations, free to laugh and smile. He laughed for a minute or two before sighing contentedly and rocking back and forth in the chair, staring out into space as he pondered whatever was on his mind.

"I didn't realize how much I needed this," he admitted quietly. He ran a hair through his midnight-black hair, and Riza blinked at him as she set the wine glass down on the table. "All I think about is work. Even when I'm at home," he frowned and tapped his temple sadly. She couldn't blame him. In their line of work, they say the worst things, the scum of humanity- and the border between them and those kind was blurry. They saw and did the kinds of things that weighed heavily on people's shoulders. Even a proud, capable man like Roy Mustang would feel the pressure at the end of the day, when he was alone with his thoughts.

"Changing the world isn't an easy thing," she remarked casually, leaning forward and resting her arm on the table. She was consciously aware that their hands were separated by a few centimeters. "It's a little easier when you have good friends, though," she added with a small smile. Perhaps the alcohol made her bold, but she reached out and gently enclosed his hand with hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Roy looked down at their joined hands, quiet. Thinking she may have made him uncomfortable, she attempted to retreat, but found that he tightened his grip and would not let her pull away. After a few tense seconds, he reluctantly relinquished his hold and allowed her to pull her hand back down to her lap. She regretted it slightly as she felt his warmth fade, and Roy said nothing, only downed the rest of the glass and poured himself another. Together, they had already worked their way through half of the bottle.

"Yeah. You're right," he smiled after a second, and she was relieved to see that he looked more at ease now. I want to help him in any way I can, she thought happily.

Suddenly, they both jumped as they heard the rapid skittering of paws on the wooden floor, and they turned toward the entryway just in time to see a very excited Black Hayate running towards then with a rapidly wagging tail and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He bypassed Riza and bee-lined for Roy, jumping up into his lap and licking his face happily. Riza couldn't help but snort with laughter at the comical scene of the serious man attempting to combat the dog's shower of affections.

"Black Hayate, down," she commanded after a fit of giggles, and rose to her feet. As she did so, however, she felt the entire world lurch under her feet, and she grabbed onto the chair for support. Suddenly, she felt dizzy, and breathless. What? I can take much more alcohol than that. What's wrong with me? She thought in slight panic.

"I think that's enough wine for tonight," Roy frowned, and ceased trying to be gentle with the dog. He pushed him roughly off of him and stood up quickly as Riza wobbled unsteadily over to the counter, fumbling for a glass to try and get herself some water in the hopes it would sober her up. Roy caught her groping hand, making her stop to look up at him. He has that worried look on his face again, she realized. Like when he was looking at my wound…

"I-I don't get it," she stammered as she turned around to lean against the counter while Roy fetched her a glass of water.

"You lost a good amount of blood," he noted as he gently wrapped her hands securely around a cup of water. She brought it to her mouth to find that her hands were shaking violently. "The wine may have brought on a fit of something like anemia," he hypothesized with a frown. Riza said nothing, only tried to gulp down the water without spilling it all over herself. Black Hayate whined as he paced around her feet and butted her legs with his head. As she drank the water, she felt the dizziness subside slightly, but she suddenly felt exhausted and weak.

"Ah… Thanks… Well, I ruined a fun time," she mused with a strained smile. In truth, she was quite upset for two reasons; one, she hated to be seen as weak, especially in front of Roy, and two, she didn't want the night to end quite yet. Her body had other plans, however, and as she tried to straighten up she wobbled precariously and grabbed onto the closest thing to her for support- which happened to be Roy.

He blinked down at her as her hand gripped the fabric of his shirt tightly, and she leaned against his broad chest. As soon as she realized what she had done, she hastily retreated to the safety of the counter, trying her best not to turn red. "Sorry," she mumbled. Ugh. Look at me. I'm a mess. Is this how a Lieutenant should act? She thought in frustration. "I had better get to bed. You can let yourself out, right?" She told him without meeting his gaze, turning her back to him to begin shuffling across the room, leaning against the counter and eventually the kitchen wall to guide her. Black Hayate padded along beside her, offering a steadying bump whenever she stumbled.

Suddenly, her feet gave out from under her, and she found herself being held snugly in Roy's arms. "Wh-what the hell are you doing?" She cried in alarm, attempting to get down.

"Hold still, will you?" he whined down at her, seemingly completely unperturbed as he began carrying the woman across the house. Riza was forced to shut her mouth and resign herself to the awkward situation, and she groaned slightly as she settled into his arms. She was painfully aware of his muscles beneath his shirt. I am shameless, she thought guiltily. Roy said nothing as he bore her to the bedroom, pausing to flip on the light before carrying her over to the bed and gently lowering her onto the mattress. He leaned over her for a second, the sighed deeply. "You don't have to put on a front, you know. It's okay to rely on me sometimes," he added after a moment, not meeting her eyes. Roy… she thought as her heart fluttered slightly. He smiled slightly up at her, that cocky little smile she loved. Does he know the things he does to me? She thought as she stared straight-faced down at him, but her heart was pounding. Their faces were close. Definitely close enough to kiss. She could, if she wanted to; unconsciously, she was leaning forward, all her will bent on him.

Then Black Hayate jumped on the bed and knocked her onto her back.

"Ow… I'm fine. I'm fine!" she groaned as she dog licked her face excessively, and after a minute of her batting lightly at his face, he settled down and curled up at the foot of the bed. Riza didn't even bother to sit up, just laid there on her back as she regretted that the situation hadn't come to pass and scolded herself for even attempted it. Roy cleared his throat, and she turned her head to look up at him.

"Well. I'll let myself out," he said tersely, and as he turned his back to her, before she could stop herself her hand shot out to grab the hem of his shirt.

"Stay," she blurted. He looked over his shoulder at her, and expression of surprise on his face. "You said I could rely on you, right?" She continued quietly. "So stay." I don't want to be without you tonight. Perhaps she was needy for that, or the alcohol had gone straight to her head, but right now she wanted nothing more than his presence beside her. She tightened her grip on the hem of his shirt, and he stared down at her for a moment before turning his face to the door. He then sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Okay. Okay, I'll stay," he agreed and clapped his hands together awkwardly. She could see the tenseness in his body disappear, though, as he walked around the side of the bed to flop down on the mattress beside her. "Probably shouldn't be walking home drunk anyway," he chuckled as he reached down to scratch Black Hayate's head. Roy wasn't even close to being inebriated, she knew that, but still she was grateful for him trying to make her feel less guilty for burdening him with her own weakness. He laced his fingers together and rested them on his stomach as Riza sat up to reach above her head and pull the light switch on the overhead fan. As she laid back down, Roy threw the comforter over her, and she gratefully pulled the blanket around herself while he contented himself with the bedsheet. Black Hayate wriggled his way between them, as if proclaiming himself as a barrier; still, knowing Roy was close enough to reach out and touch made her heart race. "Hey," he murmured, and she felt him shift onto his side and could feel him staring at her in the dark.

"What?" She asked quietly, not wanting to speak too loud in case her voice shook.

"Promise me you won't get hurt again," he murmured. Riza took a small breath, then smiled coyly.

"I can't promise that, sir," she responded with a breathy chuckle. "I can't help it when you get yourself into trouble all the time. It's like looking after a third Elric," she teased, but the jokes were only to cover up her trembling hands and racing heart. Roy was silent for a second, and then he huffed and rolled onto his other side.

"Jeez. No need to insult me," he complained loudly, but she could hear the teasing in his voice. "… Fine then. Then promise me that you'll rely on me more?" he asked her, his voice low. Riza smiled as her eyes drifted closed, and she nodded slowly.

"That I can do, sir," she answered as his hand slipped through the blankets to hold hers.

That I can do.

Maybe they weren't vocal about their feelings, but they knew they were there. She could feel all the words left unspoken as he held her hand in silence, and a deep understanding settled between them as they lay their side by side. Someday, I'll tell you, and you'll tell me. For now, there's too much to be done, she promised him as she felt his breathing settle into a slow and steady rhythm. One day, when you set wrongs right, and finally achieve your dream.

I'll be there, right by your side, until that day. You can rely on me.

Just like I can rely on you, Roy.

A smile formed on her face as she drifted off to sleep, lulled by the warmth of the man beside her.