AN: the feeling of this chapter is based off "i don't care" and "beautiful people" by ed sheeran. ever since i heard those songs that was the general vibe i found for this whole fic, but this chapter is primarily where it call comes into play.

roy isn't really too fussed about all the other famous people, he just likes his friends and his passions. but, being with riza has made him an infinitely better person and he feels like he wont fall into the trap of it all with her by his side, bc that isn't what he wants in life (sorry if this is a ramble i've been writing a lot today and i'm slowly losing my grip on words sjkdnkfj but hopefully you catch my drift)

hope you enjoy! apologies for the long wait (again lmao)!

ps I LOVE THESE DORKS

"I was wondering," Roy began as he traced lazy circles over Riza's forearm. She shivered beneath his touch, settling herself into a more comfortable position as her eyes fluttered closed. His touch relaxed her. Riza had discovered this just recently. Hell, his whole presence relaxed her. A week after signing the record deal she'd gotten her welcome pack for Armstrong Records delivered to her in person by the man himself. She'd read through it, hands beginning to shake, because there was so much jargon and so many things she didn't understand. The music industry was so confusing, especially to someone like her who didn't really keep up with technology and pop culture. She had no idea what half the things meant. Roy had calmed her over the phone, stating he'd be over that night with a bottle of wine and they could read through it.

So, they did…

Among other activities.

Riza smiled at the memory of his hands caressing her skin while his lips skated across her flesh.

"What?" Roy asked, noticing her smile.

"Nothing," she reassured him, her smile widening. She'd had her little fantasy moment. Hopefully, they'd have another moment like that tonight.

They were lounging on her couch currently. Roy was lying with his head on her lap while he scrolled through his phone with one hand. The other had been holding her hand, but had since travelled up her limb, brushing the skin of her arm gently and maddeningly. Riza on the other hand, had been reading a book but his ministrations had quickly made her lose concentration. Her music from Spotify curled softly around them like a warm blanket, almost lulling Riza into sleeping. It was the perfect moment.

Her television wasn't used very often, but it did have useful features, such as YouTube and Spotify, which Riza used often for music and tutorials for different instruments. She would kill to have a piano at one point in her life, but she'd managed to haggle a keyboard down to a more appropriate price from a second-hand shop two years ago. It did the job, but it wasn't the same. Still, an instrument was an instrument, and Riza was determined to learn to play it.

"Anyway, I was wondering…"

"Yeah?" Riza breathed distractedly.

"Do you want to go to a ball with me next week?"

Riza paused for a second, her eyes slowly opening, fighting the pull of sleep. "A ball?" she questioned.

"Yeah. It's an annual fundraiser that Central City Records runs, and all their artists will be there." Roy grimaced. "It's not my favourite event in the world, but I'm kind of obligated to go. Plus, I haven't given them any music this year, so I feel like I have to anyway, just to show face."

"A ball?" Riza echoed. She wasn't really a ball person and never had been. What would be expected of her? What would even be happening on the night?

Roy nodded. She felt his hair tickle her arm. "I know. Not exactly the most conventional of dates, but I'd really love it if you could come," he pleaded, his eyes earnest as he met her gaze, tilting his head upwards in her lap. How could she say no to that? But still, her stomach twisted itself in knots at the prospect.

"Um, sure," she replied.

Roy sat up suddenly, turning to face her on the couch. "Something tells me you don't want to go," he stated, the corner of his mouth quirking up in amusement.

"No," she shook her head. "It's not that I don't want to," she stated firmly. "It's just…"

"Scary?" Roy offered.

"Yeah," Riza admitted.

Roy leaned over and picked up her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I know. There's a lot of rich, stuck up people in this industry and they'll all be there. The worst ones are contracted to Central City Records," he added. "So, I don't know what that says about me," he quipped with a grin.

"You're not stuck up," Riza reassured him, shifting on her couch so that she was no leaning into his body. Roy's arm wrapped around her shoulder, giving it a squeeze as he drew her closer into his body. "That's for sure."

"Why, thank you, Miss Hawkeye," he grinned.

"If you were, we wouldn't be together."

"Okay. Ways to break up with you easily are noted," he winked. Riza bumped him with her shoulder while he laughed. "Obviously, I'm joking."

"You better be," she muttered, but a smile still spread across her face.

"I think this will be good, though. I have to go, so having you there will already make it a million times better. Plus, you'll get an insight into who to avoid in the industry, and what they're like. There's a fun game Maes and I play. It's called "who can spout the most bullshit in a night"."

"Not a very catchy name," Riza teased.

Roy laughed. "No, I'll give you that, however it's very aptly named."

"Okay," Riza agreed, feeling a bit better about the whole situation. Plus, with Roy by her side, there was nothing she had to worry about. He was a well versed in these people and knew who to avoid and who was talking out of their ass. He'd keep her right and steer her towards the correct people. "Yeah, let's do it."

Roy's face lit up beautifully. He leaned forward and kissed her lips, bringing his hand to her cheek so his fingers slid into the hair behind her ear. "Thank you," he grinned.

"I don't know how useful I'll be with that game, though," Riza added once they'd settled back into her couch. "I won't even know who half the artists are, if I'm being honest."

Roy grinned. "Then you'll be a good judge of character."

"You know them better than I do."

"Yeah, but I trust you." His smile turned into a happy grin when she cast him a sidelong glance. "Plus, it's better that you don't know of them as celebrities because your judgement will be more accurate." His eyes danced happily. "It will be fun. Trust me."

The ball was just like any other one Roy had attended – full of bullshit and incredibly too long. However, this time, Riza was on his arm, and Roy couldn't take his eyes off her. The view had improved tenfold and he was incredibly grateful for it.

Roy introduced her to her colleagues proudly as his girlfriend. The worst ones raised an eyebrow with a look that said "oh, really?", like they were thoroughly amused that was the case, and that irked him immensely. They looked down on her like she wasn't worthy of being there. He was ready to start a fight with Solf. J. Kimblee when he looked Riza up and down like she was a piece of meat and heavily insinuated that she shouldn't be there. The words "these things must be going downhill then," left Kimblee's mouth as he set his eyes on Riza and Roy was ready to throw punches there. Riza dragged him away before he could cause a scene, but he was still fuming.

It wasn't lost on him that just her hand on his arm had calmed him, while she murmured lowly to him that she'd like a drink from the bar.

"He's an asshole," she stated loudly as they waited to be served.

"I'm going to kill him one of these days," Roy muttered darkly. "And I'm not going to be sorry about it."

Riza smiled sympathetically at him. "I don't want you to do that. Not over me."

"He deserves it," Roy muttered under his breath.

"I don't care," Riza shrugged carelessly.

"… About what?" Roy asked, confused.

"I don't care what he thinks."

"You don't?" he asked sharply.

Riza shook her head. "No, I don't care what some snake in a suit thinks of me." Roy snorted and choked on his drink. Riza smiled at his reaction, thoroughly amused as he spluttered and grabbed a napkin to dab his mouth dry, trying not to spill any drink on his expensive suit.

"That's an accurate description."

"You did say I would be a good judge of character," she grinned, eyes sparkling with amusement.

Roy paused, then picked up his drink again with a laugh. "I did. I think you'll be much more fun to play this game with than Maes."

Thankfully, there were no more interactions like that. Everyone seemed thrilled to meet Riza. People joked good naturedly that it was she who had stolen his attention away for the last year and a half, and while that was true to some extent, Roy just agreed and went along with it.

"It's just easier," he murmured in Riza's ear after she shot him a questioning look the first time it was brought up. "These big city people are rich and lost in some fantasy that Central is the most romantic city in the world because of its music," he scoffed. "They will eat this shit up, trust me."

And they did. There were a lot of oohs and aahs as Roy told them an abridged version of how they met. They were truly charmed by her, and Roy couldn't blame them. She was a delight to converse with always, but tonight she wasn't as shy and reserved as Roy thought she might be. She was extremely friendly and welcoming to anyone she was introduced to. Even to Kimblee, she was polite and cordial to him. He didn't deserve it, but Riza was such a good soul she probably couldn't stop herself. She was the woman of the hour, which made her cheeks turn pink when Maes announced it loudly with a grin.

She was the woman of every hour in Roy's life, but tonight… She was the most beautiful woman in the world to Roy – no one would ever surpass her – but… Riza Hawkeye was on a whole other level at this ball. Roy had never seen her dressed up before and he made a mental note to attend events like this more often so they could both get dolled up.

Her dress was midnight blue and down to the floor. The high back rose to a collar around her neck, covering her front as well. There was a simple silver necklace around her neck – one of her mother's she'd revealed to him – and it complimented the silver sparkles on it beautifully. Her long blonde hair was tied up in a loose up do with her fringe falling across her face. Her hair tumbled down her back in soft waves. Apparently, it had been curlier, but her hair never held the shape and always ended up straight one way or another. Rebecca had tried three times to get it to stay, Riza had told him, but her hair just never sat right. Roy didn't care. She was so stunning; she'd rendered him mute when she entered her apartment.

He was very eloquent in complimenting her when she arrived in his apartment, ready to go. He'd let out a very long "uhhh" because he had no words. She'd stolen them right out of his mouth with her beauty. Roy explained this to her, of course, and she blushed and told him to shut up. There was a look of pride in her eyes though, and it made him grin.

"Mustang," a hard voice greeted him. Turning on the spot, Roy came face to face with Olivier Armstrong. He hadn't expected her to be here tonight, but it was no surprise that she was. Olivier practically ran Armstrong Records, and although this was a Central affair, she was such a big name in the industry that it was courtesy to extend the invitation to her. Roy was glad, in a way. They weren't the best of friends, but she was arguably the best, and most sensible, industry person here tonight to talk to.

"Hello, Olivier," he smiled, wrapping an arm around Riza's waist as he shifted so he didn't have his back to them both. "You look lovely tonight."

Olivier just lifted an eyebrow at him. "You scrub up well, I suppose," she admitted, as if it was a hardship to her. "I was actually here to formally introduce myself to Miss Hawkeye." Olivier turned her attention towards Riza. "My name is Olivier Armstrong, and I just wanted to welcome you to my label. I've heard many great things – Mustang here won't shut up about you most of the time." Roy grinned. "And I can't wait to see what you can bring to the table. The initial content is good, but we can make it better. I look forward to seeing what you come up with."

Without another word she was gone.

"Wow."

"What?" Riza asked.

"Olivier Armstrong said your content is good. That's an extremely high compliment."

"Is it?" she asked, sounding nervous.

Roy snorted. "She's never called any of my stuff any good. I'm not convinced she actually listens to it, though." Roy cocked his head in thought as they walked towards the dancefloor in the middle of the grand ballroom. "Or she just says that to mess with me," he chuckled.

Roy spun Riza out in his grasp, so her dress flared out beautifully. A light and airy laugh left her as he tugged Riza back effortlessly into his arms. She rested her head against his shoulder and Roy held her close while they danced.

"Does she hate you?" Riza asked.

"I don't think she hates me," he stated, considering her question. "But there's always been that air of indifference. I think she derives joy out of winding me up, and I do the same to her." He shrugged. "It's all fun and games. Well," he grinned. "Until I piss her off," he snickered. "That happens a lot."

The two were silent as they moved across the dancefloor. The music was slow and melodic. It reminded Roy of Riza's music – beautiful and moving – and he was in heaven while he listened to it, holding the woman he loved more than anything in this world in his arms.

"I'm so glad you came with me," Roy murmured lowly so only Riza could hear him.

She hummed then shifted her head. "I'm glad I came too. It's been lovely to spend time with you tonight."

"It's not lovely spending time with me every night?" he teased with a grin, even though she'd never see it.

"That's not what I meant," she scolded lightly.

"What then, love?" he asked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"It's… This is going to sound bad."

"I promise it won't. It never will, coming from you."

Riza lifted her head from his shoulder and Roy – embarrassingly – almost whined at the loss of it there. "It's just… It's nice to be with you in your environment." Riza bit her lip and averted her gaze. "It's nice not having to worry about who's looking," she admitted quietly.

"That doesn't sound bad," Roy reassured her.

"I don't want to sound ungrateful," she added quickly.

"You don't," he smiled softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I completely understand. That's partly why I wanted you to come tonight. Everyone here is on the same level. One day soon, you will be too," he beamed at her. "But I understand. There's no one ogling me. There's no paparazzi snapping pictures. I can be with you freely and openly, which is what I've always wanted." Roy's eyes dropped. "I'm sorry if I've failed you on that part –"

A hand was pressed to his cheek, drawing his gaze back up to hers. "You never have." Her tone and reassurance were firm. "You've made me the happiest girl alive. I can assure you of that. However, a lot of girls may disagree," she quipped with a wry smile. He laughed, shaking her head at her joke.

"Ah, of course. Sorry, you can't hold a candle to my adoring fans," he winked.

Riza rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Oh well. I can take being second best for you. Or third. Of nine millionth, if you're going by the number of your fans," she grinned.

"Never," Roy smiled, bending forward. They stopped moving as he cupped both her cheeks in his hands. Her hands rose to grip his wrists loosely, anchoring herself there. She stared into his eyes as he paused for a second, taking the sight of her in. "You'll always be number one," he reassured her. A kiss was pressed against her lips and Riza sighed happily, her arms rising to snake up to his shoulders.

"I'm glad," she whispered. Her tone revealed that this may have been something she'd been concerned about, but if that was the case, Roy would spend every minute of every day convincing her that she was his number one. "But," she added after she'd pulled away, moving her arms around his neck while his dropped to her waist. "I am sorry. Hayate is number one for me, still." Her eyes were positively sparkling in the low light of the dancefloor.

Roy sighed heavily, lifting his eyes heavenward. "Fine," he admitted defeat, sullenly. Riza's head tipped back as she laughed, and the sound made his smile wider than he thought was possible. He pecked her cheek but Riza drew him in for a proper kiss.

"I'm joking, of course," she whispered in his ear, making him shiver at the sensation. "No one will ever come close to beating you in first place."