"You seem to be particularly chipper this morning," Izumi commented when Riza was signing out from her shift. "Did you have a good gig last night?"
Riza almost blushed. She'd had a good night all right. She'd had no sleep after she decided to finish what Roy started, but it was such a welcome release that it invigorated her for the rest of her shift. Now, she felt like she could sleep for a week. Secretively, she hoped Roy would be right there by her side, but realistically, she knew he'd already left to go home.
"I did, yeah. I…" She debated whether or not to tell Izumi about her offer from Armstrong but made her decision. "I got an offer for a record deal."
Izumi froze, her mouth parted in shock, then she broke out into a large grin. She placed down the tray she'd been carrying on the nearest table and pull Riza into a tight hug. "Oh, I'm so happy for you, Riza," she whispered in her ear. Riza felt tears spring to her eyes, and she smiled back.
"Thank you, Izumi."
"What are you going to do about it? Are you going to go for it? Tell me you are."
"I, uh, think I am. Yeah."
Izumi pulled her into an even tighter hug. "I'm so glad. Do you want me to look anything over for you?" Riza blinked back at her, not expecting the offer, yet touched that Izumi had continued to lend her support to Riza. "What?" Izumi asked, with a glint in her eye. "You didn't think I'd kick you out on your ass when you expressed an interest elsewhere, did you?"
It was meant as a joke, but well… yeah. Riza did. She was slightly nervous to tell Izumi. Riza had been afraid she'd be offended. The woman had always been her biggest supporter and pushed her to get out of this job, to not be stuck in this coffee shop forever, but that nervousness had still lingered inside Riza.
"No, of course not," she replied, a hint of nervousness in her tone.
"I'm just glad you're doing so well, Riza," Izumi beamed. "Now, go home and rest. You've earned it."
She nodded and quickly left the coffee shop. She was afraid her pink cheeks would give away the fact that she hadn't had any rest the night before, and yes, she desperately needed it right now.
Riza froze when she heard a thump in her apartment as she entered it. Her stomach dropped and her mouth parted slightly in fear. It was then followed by a muffled curse, and her fear was replaced by both confusion and surprise.
"Roy?" she called out, closing the door behind her. Hayate came running out from the kitchen to greet her like he always did, his tail wagging happily as his tongue lolled out from his mouth. He yipped quietly in greeting and Riza crouched to pet him, but it was distracted. Roy was still here? Why?
"Hey," he greeted, a sheepish grin on his face.
"What… Not to sound rude, but what are you still doing here?"
He stepped out from the kitchen and his sheepish grin had been replaced with a full blown one. "I wanted to greet you coming home." He approached, his expression shifting ever so slightly. At the sight of it, Riza was transported back to the night before. Her cheeks turned pink slightly and her mouth parted. His expression turned positively hungry when Riza licked her dry lips in anticipation. Despite the look in his eyes, his kiss was gentle and loving. However, something had awoken inside of her last night and Riza gripped the front of his shirt tightly, stroking his bottom lip with her tongue. He opened his mouth to her eagerly and the two stumbled backwards. Roy caught her in his arms but didn't let go. Instead, he slid his hands down the back of her legs. Suddenly, he crouched and jerked one knee up. Riza yelped but it was swallowed by his relentless mouth. Her leg wrapped around his waist as Roy lifted the other to follow it. He grunted when she gripped him tightly with her thighs, and Roy walked them both to her bedroom without another word.
She was glad he'd made himself at home.
"That's why I couldn't leave yet," he panted with a grin. He turned his head to face her. After kissing her forehead Roy pressed his own forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "I've thought about nothing else all day."
Riza turned a bright shade of pink, but she was ecstatic.
Roy coughed, then laughed quietly. "I've just realised how that sounded. I meant I've thought about nothing else all day – it's only been you."
"Really?" she asked, a hint of doubt clouding her tone.
Roy nodded slightly, lifting his head to kiss her forehead again. That action melted her on the spot. She felt so loved with that simple action. Riza snuggled closer into his side, placing a hand on his bare chest. For a singer he really took care of himself, but Riza supposed that was what money could buy you. Not that Roy was a pig but being rich and famous meant he had an image to upkeep and having the money to do so probably made someone more open to maintaining that image.
"You've occupied my thoughts all morning, Riza. I couldn't leave without seeing you again."
That was unexpected. They loved each other, she knew that, but hearing it… It made the world of difference and lit up her life in every way possible.
"Thank you," she whispered, closing her eyes as his arms wrapped around her shoulders tightly, pulling her across his body so she could rest her head on his chest.
Roy's feet pounded against the treadmill. His lungs burned and his muscles ached in the best way while his music blared in his ears. He was lost in his exercise, completely focussed on spending the excess energy within his body.
He'd been restless all day, and it was affecting everything he was doing. He hadn't been able to concentrate at work. The budget reports blurred before his eyes and he was unable to make sense of it. Sick of not being able to work, he headed home from Ignis to his own private gym within his apartment building. It was a perk that came with the penthouse suite, and there was another gym inside the building, but it was a communal gym for every resident.
In this mood, he was glad it was just him. He was in no mood to deal with anyone right now, except from a few select people.
One person had just entered the gym and was walking towards Roy's treadmill with a smirk on his face.
"You okay, man?" Maes called. Roy didn't hear him, but hit the emergency stop button on the treadmill, hopping his feet outwards to rest on the footplate at the sides of the track, letting the running band stutter to a stop beneath him.
"Hey, Maes," Roy panted. He stepped onto the treadmill band and turned, perching himself on the end of it and wiping sweat off his forehead with the towel he'd brought down with him.
"I was wondering where you went," he chuckled, sitting on the treadmill next to his. Maes suit looked extremely out of place inside this gym, especially sitting next to an extremely sweaty Roy, but then again, Maes wore a suite to everything, so he looked out of place in most cases. "Need to work off a bit of energy, huh?" Maes asked, waggling his eyebrows.
"No," Roy replied, rolling his eyes. He understood the implication. Roy never discussed the more private parts of any of his relationships, but Maes always poked and prodded, mostly just to wind Roy up. "Definitely not."
Maes lifted his hands in surrender. "I'm just asking."
"And I'm just telling," Roy retorted. "No, Riza and I are perfectly fine, thank you very much."
"Have you…" Maes gestured with his hands. "Taken it to the next level?"
"While it's absolutely none of your business –" Roy started, but Maes cut him off with a grin.
"I'm just messing with you, man. If you have, great. If not, it'll happen."
Roy shot him a confused look. "I'm not a teenager, Maes."
"I know you're not."
"If I had to wait a whole year for Riza to be ready, I would. It only works if we're both ready, and I won't push her into anything."
Maes didn't reply, he just smiled at Roy, a pleased look on his face. "You really love her, don't you?"
"Of course," Roy replied without hesitation. "And I would hope I've exuded this same sentiment with everyone I've been with, not just with Riza," he frowned.
Maes chuckled. "That's not what I meant," he shook his head. "I just meant that I can tell by the way you speak about her. It's… different from all the women before. And I'm glad you do. It's refreshing."
That threw Roy. "How come?"
"It's refreshing to see you so happy with someone. In the past yeah, you've been happy, but there's always been hesitation there. You've always held back, and I've been able to notice it. But this one is different." Maes grinned. "You've been different with Riza. A good different, though."
"It certainly feels different," Roy smiled.
"See, that's what I'm talking about," Maes commented suddenly.
"What?"
"That little smile," Maes teased. "It tells me you love her and love her big time."
Roy shrugged, that smile reappearing. "I guess I do, yeah."
Maes whooped and stood, offering Roy his hand. "I never thought I'd see the day," he stated, acting as if his eyes were misting up. He even pretended to wipe away a tear. "My little brother is growing up."
Roy shoved his shoulder hard. "Knock it off," he grumbled as Maes laughed.
"Come on, get yourself cleaned up. Riza's on her way in." Roy paused for a second.
"She is?" He wracked his brain, thinking for any reason why she'd be on her way into the city. He had a horrible feeling they'd made plans and he'd forgotten all about them.
"Yep," Maes nodded. "I've got that deal to discuss with her, remember?"
That made sense. Roy relaxed. "Well, you better be quick. Armstrong's already beat you to it."
"What?" Maes asked, his tone deadly serious.
Ah… So now Roy could be the one to tease.
"Yeah, man. On Saturday. Offered her a pretty sweet deal, so I'd get in there quick if I were you…" Maes was already walking away on his phone.
"I'll see you at the bar!" he called over his shoulder, and Roy just laughed as he watched Maes' retreat. There was no doubt in his mind that Riza would take the Armstrong deal, and Roy knew that there would be no hard feelings with Maes if she did – he wasn't that kind of person – however, Maes seemed deadest on recruiting her. He'd need to sweeten the deal if he wanted to secure her to Central City Records. From Roy's own experience, he would try to talk her out of it after the way he'd been treated. Regardless, it was her decision, and it didn't hurt to have a little fun at Maes' expense.
Roy slung his towel around his shoulders and approached the door to the gym with a spring in his step. A smile appeared on his face, because his girlfriend was on his way to see him. Well, technically it was to see Maes, however she'd see him too. Roy couldn't wait.