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Saturday

"I still can't believe that bastard wouldn't even apologise to you for all the damage; he's such a creep," Rebecca huffed. "I also can't decide whether you look exhausted or well-rested," she narrowed her eyes from across the small, round table, "you seem too content for your situation."

"It's called relief, and I'm fine," Riza assured.

"It's a good thing you found a place on such short notice," Rebecca remarked. Riza chose to sip her coffee, eyes on the dark brown liquid. "It wouldn't happen to be… your Colonel's?" A teasing brow rose. Teasing, and a tad accusing. The way she called him 'your Colonel' did not make matters better, but Riza knew well to let the steam of her beverage seem like the cause of the lightest of blushes.

"As opposed to someone else, he was kind enough to offer me to stay," she gave back, eyes snapping up. There was no point in lying to her. She would find out one way or another – it would not be the first time Rebecca would stalk her from the bushes when men were involved.

"Hey, I told you my landlady is like a vulture – I can't even have a date sleep over without her checking for him to leave the next morning; I'm telling you, she's obnoxious," Rebecca threw her hands up in defence.

"You told me alright," Riza returned. Two birds of a feather, those two women were. Not that they would ever acknowledge that.

"But Reez, isn't it odd to be in the same house as that man?"

"That man, as I already mentioned, generously let me stay, which he did not have to do," Riza emphasised.

"Yeah, but I mean like, he's-"

"Careful, Becca," Riza took another sip. Her lips tightened when her friend burst out into laughter. Hayate lifted his head under the table, and Riza used it as an invitation to pet him – a replacement action, she knew, but she could not help herself when heads started turning in their direction.

"There you go again," Rebecca wiped away a single tear from the corner of her eye. "I'm pretty sure the last thing he needs protection from is slandering – Headquarters is practically breeding grounds for talking crap about Mustang. But Riza, you're such a cutiepie, don't bother," she giggled. "All I'm asking is whether he tried anything?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Riza reprimanded.

"I don't think I am," Rebecca shrugged.

"And I think you've listened to the rumours too often."

"They gotta originate in something, right? There's some truth behind them, and from what they say, I doubt he'll take the frat law all too seriously when having such a beautiful young woman around the house," Rebecca argued. Riza clicked her tongue.

"If you believe that rumour, then I don't see how the one of soldiers being scared of me has not reached you yet."

"It has."

"And?"

"Fair enough," Rebecca laughed again. She raised her hand in the air to wave over a passing waiter, ordering another coffee. Riza declined. She could do well with something to eat, but she wanted to wait for lunch. "So then he didn't?"

"No," Riza exhaled sharply.

"I don't believe that," Rebecca said. Riza finished her coffee, lamenting her source of distraction to be gone. She recrossed her legs instead. "I mean, he doesn't have a guest room, right? Havoc said he doesn't," she added before Riza could lie and make one up. Honestly, the nerve of that man. As long as he would not just show up at the Roy's doorstep like he had with Riza the day before…

"You don't honestly believe my superior officer invited me to stay at his place without having a solution for sleeping apart?" she returned the accusations – her last resort. Questions instead of answers or easily readable lies. She was not a bad liar per se, she would even call herself a fairly good one. Rebecca was a tough case though, not only knowing her well but also simply not believing most things. Ridiculing them until luring out the truth. Questioning everything.

Perhaps that was one reason why she had such a hard time with finding a boyfriend.

"He surrendered his bedroom to me and slept on the couch," Riza attempted another lie anyway. Holding eye contact was a risk but would give her credits for honesty. To her surprise, it worked.

"What a gentleman," Rebecca rolled her eyes. "I mean, the rumours say that, too," she conceded. "Isn't it awkward though?"

"Him sleeping on the couch?"

"The whole thing," she insisted. "Cooking in his kitchen when he's around… somewhere."

"You don't expect me to isolate myself by cooking my own food and eating it alone, do you?" Riza retorted. Rebecca pondered for a moment. She was undoubtedly imagining the two living as separately as possible, then probably how they would sit together at dinner. Any fantasies of hers were dangerous, so Riza continued. "We're not off work before six or sometimes eight anyway, and I walk Hayate," she tried to come up with things that melted the hours together away. All things she wished would not do exactly that.

Suppressing a sigh to herself, Riza let her defensively tensed shoulders trop. She had been looking forward to the weekend without hours of work, but hours spent together in peace. She was glad Roy did not overhear any of the current conversation, whether she defended him or not. He was not like her – his confidence in himself was overwhelming – but perhaps the way she verbally pushed him away would leave behind a similar taste as his complaining to Havoc had the day before.

"Why was Havoc talking to you about the Colonel's place again?" she remembered her friend's words with slight alarm. Had he ever been there – as in, in there – or simply asked? Rebecca pursed her lips pensively.

"Good question. Usually, we talk about you," she said. Riza opened her mouth, nothing coming out for another moment. The grin she had tried to hide broke out across Rebecca's lips, and she laughed out loud. Once again drawing all the attention to them. "Surely, the Colonel has a double bed," she then said. Riza's frown intensified.

"…yes?" She prayed that had not been another accusation of the two sleeping together.

"Great! Since he sleeps on the couch, we can have a sleepover!"

"What?" Riza blinked to herself. Hayate sat up when she somewhat recoiled in her seat.

"A girls' sleepover without having to squeeze in or leave the room to go to sleep," Rebecca was beginning to gesture wildly in enthusiasm. It nearly got her coffee all over her when the waiter returned. Her or him.

She could not be serious… a sleepover at someone else's place, just because the bed was big enough for two?

"I distinctly remember the part with the sleeping falling through whenever we do that," Riza flatly replied. And it was true; Rebecca could be a waterfall at all hours of the day or night.

"That's the best part!" Rebecca received her coffee, winking at the waiter. He blushed, and Riza shook her head in embarrassment. Had she not mentioned a date earlier? "We can bake cookies and read gossip magazines and-"

"Rebecca, we are not doing a girls' sleepover at the Colonel's place," Riza strictly said.

"Then I'll come visit you during the day."

"No."

"Why? What are you doing tomorrow?" she insisted. Riza raked her brain for a believable lie. "It's Sunday," Rebecca reminded, though it sounded more as if already doubting whatever excuse would come her way. "He won't deny you to have guests, right? I mean, if he really lets you stay, that's kind of a given…" she attempted the guild trip.

"I…" Riza's brows furrowed, "need to finish some paperwork."

"Lame," Rebecca waved off.

"I do," Riza retorted. The sigh of relief at the valid excuse died down when she recalled that she did, in fact, have to finish it. And until Monday morning. So much for that work-free weekend together. "We have the inspection next week," she reminded, not least herself. Stupid reports. Living with Roy was so exciting and thought-consuming, she had not spared a single thought for the office. She would have even had to ponder to know what day it was had Rebecca not told her.

"End of the month," Rebecca groaned, apparently also having been reminded. Riza gave a hum of agreement. "Think he'll let me stay too if I come up with a good reason? I have my nasty landlady."

"Wha- no, Becca, stop trying to come to his flat," Riza huffed, making her friend laugh anew.

"Oh, is it that late already?" Rebecca suddenly interrupted. Thank goodness, Riza clandestinely thought. She enjoyed spending time with her friend, but the topic was not something she was too keen on discussing. Sooner or later, her tongue might slip a risky detail or two.

"Didn't you say your date was on Wednesday?"

"Yes," Rebecca hissed with zeal, "but today, I need to go to the cosmetics because they close before I get off work so this is my last chance and these brows don't pluck themselves into such a gorgeous shape," she pointed at her brows. Getting up, she dug through her handbag where it was slung over the backrest of her seat. "It's my turn today," she called over her shoulder as she went inside the café to pay.

Heaving a sigh, Riza kept an eye on her friend's abandoned handbag. What energy she possessed, and after such a long week.

Not five minutes later, they were back on the sidewalk.

"It's good you're coming with me; the lady at the cosmetics really never has anything substantial to say," Rebecca tutted. Riza wanted to stop, but her arm was being hooked into, so she stumbled after her friend who pulled her along. She must have anticipated the rejection.

"Because I have such interesting things to say," Riza only replied, giving in.

"Of course you do; give yourself some credit, Reez," Rebecca encouraged. "For example, you could tell me about the habits of your Mister Chevalier."

"Rebecca…" Riza knew she was not rolling her eyes for the last time that day. Still, off the top of her head, she could recount more of his habits than her own. The way he slid the knives out of their block without scraping the wood, or that of cutting meat and vegetables with the blade nearly diagonally because it made him look 'more professional' as he had once defended himself when they had been young. She wondered sometimes if it was a habit he was still aware of and if maybe, only maybe, he had kept it because it had made her laugh.

After washing the dishes, he would fling the kitchen towel over his left shoulder – never the right – and when there were soap bubbles left in the air or even just in the sink, he had the urge to pop them. He disliked eating without shoes on, and he ate most things separated from one another, always leaving the best for last. He could be ferocious when someone tried to steal that holy last piece.

And those were only the first few things that came to mind. Not to mention they were merely his kitchen habits – the bathroom had at least another ten she could recount on the spot, and for the bedroom, she could enumerate dozens, not least due to knowing the way he liked to…

Riza felt a shiver down her spine. Luckily, Rebecca was too occupied with reviewing the shape of her newly plucked brows to notice the sudden blush on her friend's face. It felt hot, and Riza knew it would be hard to hide. She had never been a romantic person – contrary to Roy – but since when did her mind wander into such inappropriate terrain? Sex was something that simply happened between them; there were no dates or secret trysts with an aim – it was a feeling that had to be acted upon whenever it decided to rear it's admittedly not too ugly head.

Allowing the memories of his habits, and consequently those of them cooking together in her father's house to resurface had called upon something else, however. The soup.

The soup.

Roy Mustang was everything but a picky eater, and she knew well which seasoning he preferred to make just about anything a favourite of his. Yet there was one thing he adored more than anything; something that had gotten his nose out of the most intriguing alchemy book no matter how high his focus. And lucky for her, it was a family recipe – she was the only one who knew how to make it.

Having been one of her mother's recipes, Riza had been nervous to make it. She had not met the expectations she had had for herself, disappointed with being unable to create what her mother had done to bring their family together. Her father had failed time and again to acknowledge his daughter's needs and skills since his wife's death, not a word about the nostalgic dish having passed his lips.

Roy had loved it. Where she had been sad, he had been overjoyed. He had asked for a second, a third and a fourth helping, asking her to make it again and again. He must have known her tribulations around the soup, and he had masterfully played his cards to turn her insecurities into pride. He might have done it solely to cheer her up.

Having lacked praise and attention, Riza had basked in his words, and reflecting on it now, she knew full well that she had become addicted to his appreciation. She still was. Both to his approval as well as to him as a person. The one who had taken the time to lure her out of her shell and nurtured her neglected soul into what most people would call his puppet.

Riza did not mind. He gave her purpose. He harboured honest affection for her, and she reciprocated his feelings with every fibre of her body.

"… even listening? Hello? Amestris to Riza," Riza snapped out of her recollection when Rebecca's freshly manicured hand waved up and down in front of her face. "You didn't hear a word of what I just said, did you?" she wanted to plant her hands on her hips, but the woman filing her other hand's nails grimaced in an attempt to stop her.

"I thought you dragged me all the way here for me to talk," Riza retorted.

"Oh, so you do want to tell me all those quirks and tics of your superior?" Rebecca raised a teasing brow.

"What was it you were saying?" Riza gave an unconvincing smile. Rebecca grinned anyway. With the same eagerness as before, she began anew, this time making sure to hear lots of 'uhuh's and 'I see's from her friend.

It did not take long for Riza's mind to wander however. Tonight, she was going to make that soup. It took a long time to simmer, and there was a lot of work involved from finding the in East City rather rare ingredients, to knowing when to add what and how to prepare it. Riza had considered Tuesday for it – to celebrate having survived the end-of-the-month evaluation, but seeing as she had not yet had lunch and had been gone all day until now, she wanted to make up for it.

That, and she already missed him.

When Roy returned from his walk with Hayate that afternoon, he knew she was home even before the dog had rushed off towards the kitchen. There was hardly a scent yet but simply imagining her there, in his kitchen, cooking for them… It made his head all mushy and his guts twist with pleasant enticement. What a wonderful thing a ruined wall could be.

On silent feet, Roy snuck into the kitchen. Hayate had already given him away, but Riza was rather busy at the counter. She turned just then, bringing cutlery to the table.

"I'm sorry I took so long. Thank you for walking Hayate for me," she smiled, bending down slightly to rub over her companion's head.

"Don't worry," Roy crossed over, unable to resist. "I should be apologising – I made an appointment in town for in a couple of minutes," he explained. "What are you making?" his voice lowered of its own accord. His heart fluttered in response to the rising of hair on her arms. How they were putty in the other's hands at the same time and still in their right minds was a miracle.

"A surprise," she briskly took a sidestep to hide the countertops from him. "Dinner," she then said. "Did you eat lunch?" she asked. He hesitated.

"Sort of…" Not. He did not know that she had not either, astonished by her lack of scolding.

"Then we'll make it early dinner," she announced.

"You know you don't have to," Roy advanced when she turned back to her task of setting the table. "We talked about this – there's no rent to pay and no groceries you have to buy; I enjoy having you were," he said the last thing in soft tones. She did not turn, concealing her blush from view as much as her clandestine smile. Nothing he did not know already, smiling widely to himself.

"I wanted to," Riza said.

"Alright," Roy conceded. Not on his urge to be even closer, however, his feet moving of their own accord. His arms wound around her waist, hugging her from behind. As much as he savoured the way she had been bent forward for another heartbeat, the scent of her nape coming close to his face was by far more intoxicating than her curves. So familiar and so uniquely Riza.

Spooking only slightly, her arms came up to his. Perhaps to ward them off, a reflex she had since she was not used to this much physical contact, but the moment his lips touched her shoulder, her body relaxed. His lips grazed the supple skin again, then on her cheek, a low hum of content vibrating in his throat.

"Do you need me to say cheesy things again to make you stop worrying?" he kissed her jaw. The amusement vanished into triumph when she tilted her head to the side, allowing more access to her neck, possibly unconsciously. He took the invitation nonetheless, kissing her neck, and down to where it met her shoulder. Her giggle at his words turned into a sigh, both rare and both eternally precious to him.

Leaving his nose right there, his arms snug around her torso, Roy closed his eyes. Relishing the moment of forbidden happiness, they just breathed together.

Her shoulders sank further, any potential wish of removing his arms vanishing.

When Roy opened his eyes to catch a glimpse of her face, keen to see whether she was smiling as much as him, her own opened. From the side, she glanced down at him. She must have felt the tickling of his lashes on her neck. The smile was there, and it was just as warm as the loving shine in her eyes.

He kissed her neck again, chin still on her shoulder. Riza leaned into the touch, the faintest of moans escaping to fill his ears with what he could only call music of an angel. She turned then, remaining in his arms. One hand came up to hold his biceps, and she still very much enjoyed the way he tasted her neck in unspoken worship.

His voice came huskier than anticipated, but Roy decided it was not something to lament over.

"I might have to reschedule that meeting for another day…" he mumbled into her. And by 'might' he meant he absolutely would. The only thing currently churning through his mind was the desire to stay like this forever.

"Or make today our appointment day," Riza interrupted his thoughts, "so we'll be free all day tomorrow," she proposed. Her own voice was mellow and as soft as her skin. Roy's face went completely blank for a second. All day tomorrow…

Retreating, he pecked her cheek, and was out the kitchen within a less than a heartbeat. "I'll be back soon," he called down the hall. His heart fluttered when he heard her laugh at his fleet change of plans. "Red wine or white wine?" he asked, slipping into his shoes while shrugging on his coat.

"Wine?" Riza peeked around the doorframe.

"With dinner," Roy said. "Red or white meat?" he specified.

"Both," she frowned a little in thought, having followed. He froze. Both? Did that mean she was making…? "Don't get your hopes up," she said, poking a finger to his forehead. She could read him like a book, he knew, grinning sheepishly.

Oh, he would be back soon. That jeweller better hurry up, Roy thought, already stepping on the accelerator of his car.

Riza had hardly heard the key click in the lock when his voice filled the hall.

"No way!" Roy audibly struggled with his coat at the door. So then he recognised the smell, even after such a long time. She had to smile to herself.

The last time she had made the soup had been after Ishval; after he had heeded her plea and burned her back. A peace offering of some sort, telling him without saying a word that she had forgiven him.

Right now, Roy did not bother to take off his shoes, already behind her before she had properly turned. Where Riza had expected him to seductively wrap his arms around her like he had before, the floor suddenly vanished from beneath her feet. She yelped when he picked her up by her sides, turning them in circles. His laughter infected her easily, and his smile was the exact one of the boy she had fallen for all those years ago.

He only stopped his overwhelming euphoria when they nearly knocked over the table.

Twirling and laughing, Roy winced when her ankle hit the wood. Hands full, he stopped its wobbling by setting her down on it. A giggle bubbled in her throat at his manoeuvre, and it set him off anew. The laughter softened, fading into a hum when he planted his hands on either side of her, face so close she could feel his breath on her cheeks.

"Mmh, my dear Lieutenant," his hair fell to her forehead, "I know you will say no, but do you have any idea just how much I want to ask you to stay here for forever?" he chuckled, touching the tip of his nose to hers.

"Do you know just how much I want to accept?" Riza murmured, lips already brushing his. Her stomach lurched with excitement when he kissed her, meeting her lips as passionately as he did it sweetly. Breathing, humming, moaning into the other, they nearly forgot about dinner for an instant.

Still, he hovered over her for another moment, and she felt the three words in the depths of her heart without him having to speak a single one.

Crossing the hall from the living room to the kitchen, Roy frowned when spotting a silhouette through the alabaster glass of his front door. It was climbing the steps, so he hurried to open the door before the doorbell could ring. Before Hayate could start barking.

"Havoc?" Roy stared up slightly at his Second Lieutenant. The latter grinned.

"Hey, chief," he held up one palm in greeting. "And hello there little ankle chomper," he doted over Hayate who jumped him excitedly at the friendly tone.

"Shhh!" Roy hissed, a finger pressed to his lips. Havoc, having crouched down to pet the dog, glanced up in puzzlement. "Quieter," Roy waved his hands to shoo them both out the door, following outside onto the stairs.

"Oh, right, Hawkeye's still staying here," Havoc recalled.

"Yes, and she has a very light sleep so you have to be quieter," Roy chided. Hayate calmed down, trotting back inside on silent paws as if obeying perfectly.

"It's hardly nine o'clock; how can she sleep already?" Havoc rose to his feet. He was wearing civilian clothes, and they did not look fancy enough for a date, nor for going out to find one.

"Well, first of all, she is the only one doing a proper job at the office," Roy said. Both men had to grimace, then laugh at the other's identical reaction. Roy hushed with another hiss. She was right next door after all. Merely remembering her curled up form on the sofa made his chest warm and his eyes shine "And second," he lowered his voice even further, "she always gets sleepy when she ate a lot and it's just the cutest thing in the world," he raved, unable to help himself. "Here, look," he crept down the hall.

Cheeks glowing, Roy pointed around the corner into the living room. His grin stretched all the way up to his ears, his heart skipping a beat when watching the little bundle that was his adjutant on the sofa. Hayate had not disturbed her, faithfully laying right in front of the couch. Riza was fisting the blanket Roy had draped over her, side rising and falling rhythmically.

Napping Riza really was one of the cutest things Roy knew. She was an early bird, so watching her sleep was a rare occurrence unless he awoke in the middle of the night. Usually, she would rouse whenever he moved, war having taught to stir at any potential threat. Seeing her now was almost therapy for his guilty heart.

"You're like Hughes with his baby," Havoc's brows creased in amusement.

"Hughes' baby doesn't hold a candle to this," Roy returned seriously, still whispering as faintly as he could. "So peaceful…" he muttered to himself, gaze drawn to his First Lieutenant in admiration. It took him a moment to register Havoc's presence again, so he shoved him back out the front door. Fortunately, Havoc only started snickering once he was far enough down the hall. "Was there something you wanted?" Roy asked, keen on getting back to his evening cinema.

"We were going out for drinks and wondering if you wanted to join," Havoc said. The amused twinkle in his eyes did not make itself scarce, and he bit his lip as not to chuckle again. Roy ignored it, pretending he did not feel any blush heating his cheeks. "C'mon, it's been ages," Havoc went on when Roy hesitated. So he gave him a look.

"Last Thursday ring a bell?"

"As I said, ages."

"I don't know," Roy grumbled.

"She's asleep anyway and you said she's tired," Havoc recited. Roy pondered, torn between reason and want. Or perhaps want and want. "If you stay here, you're only upping the chances of waking her up," Havoc argued. Roy's lips frowned at how convincing it was. Then again, he could just watch her sleep until he was tired enough to drift off himself – cuddling and all. Not that he could tell that to his Second Lieutenant. "Also remember there's that night shop right around the corner of the Honey Bee," Havoc urged. "You know, the one where you once bought her some last-minute chocolates when you made her angry again and she loved them?" he retold.

"She did like those chocolates…" Roy admitted. It was still their appointment day.

"See? Be a gentleman and bring some on the way back," Havoc nodded encouragingly.

"You're making it sound like a date," Roy arched a single brow.

"More like a honeymoon," Havoc muttered, eyes trailing the flat meaningfully. "So, you comin'?"

"Fine, fine, I'll get my coat," Roy yielded. A broad grin stretched across Havoc's lips. He stepped down a step, pulling out a cigarette and then a lighter as he waited for his superior to slip into his good shoes.

"Make sure not to forget your wallet," he said between drags.

"I'm not paying; you invited me," Roy retorted. Havoc only snickered, having known well that it would lure some fight out of his commanding officer. Anything to get him off gushing over Hawkeye. He could do that where there were witnesses; a few shots and the team around were a much better audience for him saying things he was not supposed to – things that won them bets.

Roy snuck into the bedroom to grab his scarf. He left his transmutation gloves in the drawer, but he did take off his coat to fasten a shoulder holder with a gun. Fire and alcohol did not mix well, but should Riza wake up and note how he had left being defenceless, she might come running after him.

When walking past the living room on silent feet, he had to stop. Turning to the opposite direction, he grabbed a piece of paper and a pen in the kitchen, writing her a note. Back in the living room, he quietly set it down on the coffee table in front of her. Stealing a glance over his shoulder to see whether Havoc was still waiting outside, Roy leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

Riza stirred. He wanted to curse inwardly, but the way her lashes fluttered, drowsy eyes finding his with slight effort, he could not help but melt a little.

"Colonel?" she blinked several times, her voice croaking in the most adorable way. He felt as if he would burst into a flurry of flowers any moment. Perhaps sparkle with joy. Tenderly, he brushed her fringe out of her face, crouching down.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" he kissed her anyway, her forehead warm beneath his lips. Riza gave a cawing hum in response, eyes closing again. "I'm just going out for drinks with Havoc and the rest; I won't be too long," he informed. His hand strayed to her cheek, caressing it with his thumb.

He knew she did not want to come, and he was glad about her taking a break for once so he did not extend the invitation.

"Okay," Riza mumbled sleepily. With a smile, Roy straightened. He watched as she made herself comfortable again, eventually deciding to get her really comfortable. Sliding his arms beneath her, he picked her up. There was no resistance, merely a soft moan of the small bundle he held close to his chest, carrying her to his bedroom. She was so sleep warm already, it almost made him take back his attendance at the bar.

He failed to notice how Havoc could plainly see them from the threshold.

Upon returning in the black of the night, Roy found her where he had left her, thinking she had not moved since then. But when he crawled beneath the sheets, he felt a smooth, bare leg as he hooked his foot around it. That, and she was wearing his shirt, prompting him to choose against getting a new one, and in favour of not waking her up any more than climbing into bed already had.

His eyes shut, and Roy drifted off with content, the taste of her soup still on his tongue if he tried and her scent surrounding him. There was no better way to fall asleep than with Riza Hawkeye in his arms.