The apple market scene was inspired from the credits of the last episode of the anime. Usually though, I will refer to the manga. I do own neither the anime nor the manga of Fullmetal Alchemist.
Chapter 2: The only time
One time they had gone shopping. In the open market he had cuddled behind her, one hand at her waist, one in her cropped golden hair, lips always near her ear. She accepted this as she scanned the marketplace for the best vendors. Suddenly she was out of his arms and he was alone, for a split second, before she hooked his hand and pulled him through the crowd. She dropped his hand again as she reached her destination and started bargaining animatedlywith an old man with a starched striped shirt and colorful bowtie. Despite his frail frame, he stood with military straightness and his wares were displayed in tidy rows, polished to a shine. Roy couldn't help but chuckle. Even in her free time, Riza liked things in military precision. Ironically that was the exact opposite of what things had been like inIshvar. Maybe it had been her way of coping, the way delving into alchemy had been his way of coping. Ironically, their coping methods had just made them better soldiers, more efficient killers.
"Alright, you win," the vendor relented, chuckling.
And Riza turned to face him, grinning, smug about her triumph. He had never seen her like that -- just like a child, who could find joy in the world. It was the only time he ever saw her like that.
On their way back to her apartment they stopped to make love in an alleyway. It was an impromptu thing. They had both been so happy walking back to what felt like home in the setting sun that Roy had twirled her around before pressing her against the wall, and she had dropped her bag of carefully selected fruit.
Roy thought of that one time, when their lovemaking had not been desperate for oblivion, or mere comfort. There had only been one time when they had not made love like it would be the last time they would ever make love. And it was in an alleyway of all places! But still, it was the one time that they had reached for each other not out of some perverse need, but for the joy of it. Other times it had been torrid, and, yes, beautiful, but still in the name of desperation, of Sloth, of avoiding what was real. It was no wonder Gluttony was a friend to Lust. They had only wanted more and more of each other. That one time they had not been famished for each other, but instead tasted, explored, and were for once, satiated.
Don't ask me about the sin references or how Roy knows about Gluttony and Lust. I just thought it was appropriate.
Whoops, I forgot to respond to reviews. Here we go:
shadowriter55: Thanks, for your review and for putting me on your alert. I hope you like this chapter.
kiiroi ymetobu: I changed the rating. See? Yeah, I was iffy about that too. Nothing's explicitly described but the structure of the story is actually based on their . . . times. Yeah . . .
Edward Mustang: You are my most loyal reader and reviewer. It's very encouraging. Kudos to you.
Blond Hurricane: I know you're reading this! Leave a review!