Fire's Water

(Part Two)

They were alchemy circles… on her arms. That's where all the marks were coming from. Not some man abusing her. Not weird sadistic methods. She was just practicing alchemy.

"That is what it is." She was heaving and sweat dotted her forehead. The argument plus the demonstration had taken more out of her than she thought it would.

"Why?" All his previous fury had dissipated and he was left tired just wanting to know the truth. "Why hide this?"

"I just wanted to do it myself."

"Why? What for?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She was very tired now. All the late night working and even later nights practicing were taking a toll on her body. She started to sink to the ground. Her attempt to hold on to Roy's coat was futile. "I do it to protect you."

"Riza!" He slowly helped her down. He threw his wet hair out of his eyes as he examined her exhausted form. She looked so tired. He couldn't understand why she would go through all this trouble to do this. "Am I not enough?"

"It is only reasonable to have your greatest weakness your greatest ally." She was right. Bull's eye. Dead center. In situations greatly disadvantageous for him, she would flourish. If the enemy could corner him they would never know that his subordinate could lash back with something other than a bullet. Even more brilliant to hide the array inside her uniform so they would not know. "Hughes…"

"Riza!" She had passed out. Her skin was pale. Her hands were clammy. It was exhaustion written all over her. He carefully picked her up and placed her on the couch on the side of the room. She learned alchemy so that she could protect him. He had always thought that he was trying to protect her. Never had he thought it of the other way. She was thinking about him and his goal. Pushing him up in a different way than Hughes was... a way that Hughes could never do.

"Roy…" He didn't know how long he had been lost in his thoughts when she came too, probably a long time.

"I'm here." He hadn't left her side the entire time. He had sat in a chair and watched her sleep. He looked like a wreck. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, hair completely messed up… the entire uniform wrinkled. "I'm sorry."

"It was a misunderstanding. That's all." Her voice was soft and full of understanding. She was the constant calming presence.

"I'm still sorry."

"Mm."

"I'll help you." His voice was final and deciding. "All the trouble you went through… the least I can do now is help you."

"I would appreciate that, sir." She smiled reassuringly hoping to ease his trouble thoughts of her. He must have been so confused and shocked with all of this happening. She was after all supposed to be the dependable one.

"No, I want to really help you… in everything." He got down on his knees so that he was eye level with her.

"Sir?" She stared back in confusion. He didn't know what he was talking about.

"I will teach you alchemy. I'll show you how to do my alchemy. I will protect you. I'll show you how to protect me."

"Sir?"

"It's Roy." He looked up at her like a broken man who finally found his resolve. "I want to protect you just as much as I want you to love me."

"I… Sir… Roy…" He cut her off with a well placed kiss.

"It doesn't matter. I'll protect you no matter what."

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