Lights! Camera! Christmas!
Author: MoonStarDutchess
Chapter 17: Tempting House Tour
Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.
The sexual tension hung around in the closet as easily as the clothes hung from their hangers. Riza and Roy had remained silent for the most part. They would occasionally bump each other, but the brushing against him was doing things to her.
It wasn't until they left the closet that she relaxed. Her grandfather must have had Macar put an aphrodisiac in there or something.
Were there such things as airborne aphrodisiacs?
She knew that was complete bull the moment she thought it. If that were the case, Macar must have discovered a way to make himself invisible and then proceeded to follow her around the moment she met Roy Mustang.
She looked at him. His back was turned to her, and he appeared to be breathing deeply.
And what a fantastic back view it was. Perfect V. He had broad shoulders, slim waist, but not too slim, a great butt, and . . . She shook her head.
Macar and her grandfather didn't need to put drugs anywhere. Roy Mustang was a walking aphrodisiac on his own.
She was about to ask him if he was okay, when he turned to her and spoke those words first.
Before she could tell him that she was fine, her rumbling stomach cut her off. Instead, she asked, "You hungry?"
"Yeah, I could eat something," he said.
"Come on, we'll go grab a bite." They left the bedroom. "The others are probably warming up in the living room. I know a way to the kitchen that doesn't involve going through there."
They went down the hallway to a narrow door. Thankfully, that was in the same area even with the changes.
She opened it, and they headed down a set of stairs before coming to another door and another small set of spiral stairs.
"What is this? The Winchester house?"
"Loosely based actually," she said. "We went there when I was a child, and my grandfather liked the idea of the various passages."
"Does he believe in ghosts?"
Riza laughed. "No, not at all. And you'll find that unlike Winchester House, all the halls and passageways lead to actual rooms or places outdoors."
"So we won't find a place with dead ends and end up alone?"
She stopped and turned to him. "No. No dead ends."
"Your virtue is safe then," he said in a teasing manner.
She tilted her head up to look at him even though he wasn't significantly taller than she was. Before she could think through her words, she said, "Pity that."
"Oh?"
"I do know some isolated areas," she said, while pushing back the urge to move closer to him. She didn't know why she bothered resisting so much when he was so interested.
"Perhaps you'd be inclined to show me a few of them?"
Her stomach jumped. He was practically confirming that she was going to get a night to remember by the end of this Christmas season, but he was always leaving her an out. It was both gentlemanly and frustrating at the same time.
"You mean if I decide my so-called virtue is worth compromising?" she said. This time she did step closer."
"Exactly," he said, his voice lowered.
She stood on her tiptoes so her eyes were level with his. "Maybe if you show you're worthy of it."
The smirk reappeared on his face. "Challenge accepted. What do I have to do?"
Her hand came up to his shirt and unbuttoned the top button, revealing a bit of chest. She trailed her hand down the path of his buttons to his belt and fingered the clip for a few seconds. Still on her tiptoes, she moved her lips to his ear and whispered, "You'll have to figure that out yourself, Mustang." She turned and walked away from him.
Within a few steps, a thought crossed her mind that she might have dual personalities. One moment she was like a shy virgin on her honeymoon, the next she was an outgoing seductress. Perhaps all the back and forth with her acting in her music videos and composing different song types had spilled over into her real life.
She heard him behind her as she came to a grey metal door that led into a large pantry with rough board shelves. The pantry was twenty feet long and equally as wide with two oak doors at the far end. There were tiny wooden squares cut in the middle from the top to the bottom of the doors; they were barely big enough to peer out from.
They exited the doors and entered the kitchen. "No cooks?" he asked.
Riza looked around. "That's odd, usually at least one person is here." She looked at him. "Can you cook?"
"I can make instant ramen. That's about it," he said.
"I'm only slightly better than that. I can boil eggs."
Roy smirked. "Well you're a practical Rordan Gramsy in my eyes."
"You flatterer," she replied. She went back to the pantry and came out holding a bowl of ramen. "Spicy okay?"
"Yeah, great." He spotted a light blue kettle on the stove and filled it with water before putting it on the burner and turning it on.
Soon, they had the bowl of ramen fixed. They'd both taken huge bites when Lauren stormed into the kitchen as if she were about to order minions to battle. With their mouths filled with noodles, they watched her in silence until Roy slurped the pasta into his mouth.
Lauren jumped, turned, and glared. "Why are you two in here?"
After he had swallowed his food, Roy said, "We're having ramen after our enthusiastic fuck on the dining room table. "
Riza nearly choked while simultaneously trying not to laugh at how Lauren paled.
Lauren coughed and raised her chin slightly. "Where's the cook?"
"You're standing there," Riza said.
"Excuse me?"
"The cook clearly isn't here, so you're the cook for whatever it is you want."
"Then who's going to make Christmas dinner?"
"We have plenty of time for that. Grandpa probably has people coming in for the holidays like always."
"And if he doesn't?" Lauren's voice tone grew more upset the more she spoke. For someone who hated celebrities, she certainly acted like a stereotypical spoiled one at times.
"Forgive me for butting in on your family dinner mystery, but it stands to reason that if there are no cooks around we will make it, order delivery, or go out."
Lauren scoffed. "I hope so. I refuse to cook on my time off."
Roy and Riza continued to eat.
"How do you two eat that junk? That's poor people food."
Riza wanted to tell her off for the uppity and classist attitude but her mouth was full. She was sure Roy wanted to say something as well, since he swallowed quicker than she did and had opened his mouth, only to be interrupted.
"Everyone wants coffee."
"And?" Riza asked after finishing her noodles.
"You have to make it," Lauren said.
Roy leaned in and said in Xingese. "Do I need to take your chopsticks to keep you from burrowing them into her eyeballs? It wouldn't be good for your career."
She was surprised he knew she spoke fluent Xingese. It wasn't hidden knowledge she knew a bit, but it definitely wasn't common that she was fluent. "No," she said in the same language.
"Why the hell would I do that for you?" Riza said, addressing Lauren.
"I don't know how to make coffee."
"You'd know easier than I would."
"Yes, I forgot the big star doesn't know how to brew her own coffee because she doesn't have to." The mocking tone was so familiar and used so often that Riza didn't even acknowledge it.
"I never said I didn't know how, I said you would know easier than I would," Riza said. It sounded a bit cockier than she liked coming off as, but she wasn't the one ordering people around either.
Lauren stomped over to the smaller room next to the kitchen where the coffee pots were. They heard the cabinets open then bang shut, before the sound of a pot percolating began and the smell of coffee drifted into the room.
"She's a demanding bi—woman, isn't she?" Roy said.
"Bitch. You can say bitch. And yeah. It's been like that since we were kids. When I was little, I followed her around like a baby chick. Her word was gold to me. She was encouraging and fun too. After I started singing, she started to belittle me and our relationship went cold and then frigid."
"She wants to control you."
"That's what I figure. There's probably more shit in her head. I've tried to find out, but it's easy to stop caring when every word out of her mouth is hostile and bossy."
"Waste of time to try and figure it out. It was the same with my family."
"How did you know I spoke Xingese?"
He smirked. "I heard from insider sources you were once planning a Xingese debut. But then your Amestrian album charted in the top ten a third time there. I assumed if you were planning a debut you'd probably be at least conversational in the language."
"I'm still planning it," she said. "Once grandfather gives the okay to the distributor I want there."
"Any songs written?"
"You trying to get a preview?"
"That wouldn't be an improbable assumption."
"Maybe," she said and stood. "I do have a lot of songs written and ready to—"
"Can we please have a time around here where your music doesn't come up," Lauren said as she came out with a tray of coffee mugs and a full carafe. She rolled her eyes at them and walked out of the kitchen.
"If she keeps doing that her eyes will get stuck that way," Roy joked.
They walked out of the kitchen and into the living area where Lauren set down the tray. Her parents and Antonio had taken a mug each and Lauren was nursing hers in her grasp with a foul look on her face.
"Where's everyone else?" Riza asked.
"Macar is showing them to their rooms," Serena said.
"Which floor are they on this year?" Riza asked.
They all shrugged.
"Jeeze, don't be too cheerful," Roy muttered so only Riza could hear.
"Okay, then," Riza said, "we'll see you when grandpa gets here." She took Roy's hand.
"What do you mean? We thought you'd like to have coffee with us," Serena said.
Riza looked at Lauren. "Did you drug the coffee?"
"No," she said. "I'm just as surprised as you that mom said that."
Riza and Roy walked out of the room before the conversation might, on some off chance, lure them to sit down with the group. It would only end in a fight.
"Macar," Riza said. He walked through a side door.
"Yes, Miss?"
"Where are our friend's staying."
"Second floor, left wing," Miss Riza," he said.
"Thank you."
"They're probably resting up," Roy said and squeezed her hand. She looked down, forgetting that she had taken a hold of it. "Why don't you show me around some more?"
"Isolated locations?"
He smirked. "Don't spoil me that soon," he said.
She laughed. "You want a tour round the house or around the area?"
"House today? Outside tomorrow?"
"All right," she said. "I'll show you where we'll rehearse first. You can see a good portion of the town from there and I'll give you the rundown."
"Sounds good."
She took him down a long hallway that curved around to a set of stairs. They went up the stairway and into another hall. They walked about twenty feet before making a right. She opened a set of oak framed French doors and they walked into a patio room. Plush chairs were situated around a small round table. A coffee maker and an electric kettle were on a table against the left wall. A wall shelf stacked with various coffees and teas was next to it.
They moved over to the long line of windows and looked out at the view. She pointed out to a temple on the mountains across from them. "That's Higurashi shrine and their chateau is just down the hill amongst all those trees."
"A shrine in Amestris?"
"Why not? There are churches."
"Good point, but why does a shrine own a chateau?" Roy asked.
"Are you familiar with Taisho Enterprises?"
"Yes. I did some advertisements for them."
"The CEO Sesshomaru Taisho is married to Kagome who runs the shrine. He's associates with my grandfather and his friend Bulma."
"Bulma Briefs? Her husband is a MMA fighter right?"
"It's so typical of people to know Vegeta instead of her."
"Did a photo-shoot with him once for a fitness magazine. Very professional guy, but he wasn't pleased to be on camera and kept muttering about blue haired blackmail."
Riza laughed. "Bulma has blue hair."
"I figured as much," he said with a chuckle.
She pointed towards the town in the far distance. "Down there just as you go into the city, is Kaoru and Kenshin's place. They run a traditional Japanese teashop."
She turned to look at him, only just realizing he was standing behind her, his arms on either side of her with his hands resting on the windowsill.
It wouldn't take much effort to lean back and move her head just enough to kiss him. She turned back to look out at the view.
"There are a lot of shops in that area and there's an inn down there's well for those who don't want to stay at the resort. If you go around the road below this house for ten miles or so is the ski resort. Grandpa has plenty of skis around. I'll call and get us a pass tomorrow."
"Sounds good."
He backed away, letting her out of the cage of his arms. "The rehearsal hall is over here." They walked across the hall. Riza flipped a switch beside the door and fluorescents lit up the area. The floor was shining, but the telltale signs of years of use still marred its surface. A studio piano was in the far right corner. Beside it sat a table with papers, folders, and pens scattered upon its top in organized chaos.
Beside the door was an old record player and a more modern set up was next to it.
The long back wall and left wall were lined with mirrors. The right wall was decorated with certificates and platinum records. "Bet you spent a lot of time in here growing up."
"Yes. I'm the only one that uses it. I come here when I get stressed with everything in the cities. It's my refuge. She walked over to the piano. "Most of my albums were written on this. It's fun to sing and dance in here too. The acoustics are great."
She hit a key on the piano and matched it with her voice.
Roy walked farther into the room and his eyes settled on the record player. "You said it's good for dancing too."
"Yes."
He walked over to the record player, turned it on, and set the needle on the vinyl. Sed Eheeran came on with his song Flawless. He moved within arm's reach of her and extended his hand. He gave a little bow.
She laughed. "Really?"
He looked up and grinned. She clasped his hand and he pulled her into his embrace. They moved around the floor in a half waltz half slow dance that would've brought a cringe upon a dancing critic's face.
But that didn't matter. This was romantic. This was their dance, and it was untouchable in a world full of judgments and critiques.
She closed the little distance between them. Rightness covered her and warmed her like a soft blanket. His arms felt made to hold her. The same feelings she experienced as she lay in bed with him returned.
Then, the song ended and another began. Soft melody. Delicate vocals. A suitable soundtrack to feelings they never expected to develop when this charade began. Roy leaned in and Riza mimicked his movements, their grips on each other's bodies tightening, and their lips…
A cough made them look to the door. Serena stood there with a blush on her cheeks. "Your grandfather is downstairs and is asking for you," she said and then rushed away.
Riza and Roy looked at each other for a few seconds, Eheeran's vocals still slipping into the room's air.
They pulled away from each other and Riza smiled. "We should go," she said, unable to keep her disappointment out of her tone. She walked past him and out of the room.
-/-/-
He walked out of the rehearsal room and down the stairs. Grumman still wore his coat, but his luggage was gone, evidence of Mister Roni's otherworldly efficiency. Grumman was hugging Riza.
It felt odd watching the affection. A small smile came to his lips because of the affection. No one in his family ever hugged, much less his grandfather. The adults in the family were more likely to bestow insults at you rather than any sort of affection. If you were perfect at anything, and someone else was as well, you were a failure.
That could explained why he wasn't as uncomfortable around Riza's mother, father, and sister. They weren't quite as bad as his parents were, so he considered their behavior as a bit milder. Then again, he didn't know them very well yet.
His eyes went to Lauren who was sitting beside her fiancée, Abacus. He chuckled to himself. He knew the guy's name, but from now on, he'd refer to him as that in his head. It was especially fitting since Riza's sister was an accountant.
She was staring at Riza and their grandfather with narrowed eyes and squeezing Abacus's hand tightly. If it was uncomfortable for him, he didn't show it. He was focused on a book in his lap. Riza's father was reading as well, though he couldn't make out what it was.
Martina was now in Grumman's arms, receiving a tight hug.
Riza's mother had the most curious reaction to the man's arrival. She was smiling, but it didn't hold much joy. Her posture was as if she wanted to walk onward and hug Grumman, but she merely stood in the wide doorway between the foyer and the open living room.
"Ah! Roy, my boy!" Roy walked to the bottom of the steps and over to the door. He held out his hand for a handshake. Grumman took it and pulled him into a hug. When he pulled away, he said, "So glad you could make it." He nudged him. "Someone's gotta keep my granddaughter warm and cozy this winter right?'
"Father!" Riza's mother scolded.
"This is my chance at some great grandchildren," Grumman said.
"Lauren is getting married too, Grandfather," Riza said.
Roy applauded Riza's addition of the word "too." It kept up the act well.
Grumman perked up and smiled genuinely at Lauren. "Really! Congra—"
"I don't want to hear it," Lauren said. "Especially not if Riza had to remind you."
Grumman slouched slightly and looked at Riza. "I can't be reminded of something that she never told me."
"You work with her, don't you?" Roy asked
"She only discusses business."
Grumman directed his attention to his daughter, appearing to have just noticed she was there. "Serena," he said and approached her.
He was going to hug her, but when she stepped away a bit, he patted her on the shoulder. "You're doing well?"
"Yes, father," she said, looking as if the word was sour as it came out of her mouth.
"Evening, Bert," Grumman said.
Roy saw Riza's lips quirk at that, and he glanced Berthold.
"Evening, sir," he muttered and his eyebrow twitched.
"So!" he said and clapped his hands together. "Has anyone had dinner yet?" he asked. "I was thinking we should all go into town a bit."
"Roy and I had some ramyun," Riza said.
"That's not dinner!" Everyone get into some warm clothes, we're going down to the tavern for some food."
"We'll pas—" Lauren said.
"Get your coat," Berthold said. He stood and dropped his paper on the side table.
"Grandfather, that's fine for you all, but Roy and I can't just go out and—"
"Stop being arrogant," Lauren said. "I'm sure no one will recognize you."
"Your sister's right," Serena said. "Surely you two aren't famous enough to be recognized here."
Roy leaned over and whispered. "Do they really not know how famous you are?" He wasn't sure how out of the way this town was when it came to entertainment media, but he figured Riza would be much more famous of the two of them."
"Okay, but if we're spotted, we'll leave," Riza said. "We don't want to ruin your dinner."
"God, check your ego at the door Riza," Lauren spat and left the house with Abacus, their coats still in their hands as they departed.
"Macar!" Grumman said.
"Yes, sir," Macar said from behind Roy, making him jump. If the man showed others how he did that, travel times would be cut in half if not be instantaneous.
"Go get our other guests and ask if they'd like to come to dinner with us."
"Yes, sir," he said and left.
Berthold took his wife's hand and walked out of the house. He only gave a quick nod to Grumman.
"Well, this is going to be a rousing happy dinner isn't it?" he said.
"Grandfather, why do you keep doing these get-togethers? You know they don't really want to be here."
"Neither do you," he said.
"I don't want to be here because of them. I love it here otherwise."
"Yes, you always did." Grumman patted her head like she was a kid, and Roy found it the most endearing thing he'd ever seen. When the old man lowered his hand, he sighed. "I'm considering not doing it again. I've tried for too long."
"Yes, you have."
Grumman buttoned his coat further up and grabbed a scarf hanging beside the door. "We'll talk about this later?"
"Sure."
Maes, Rebecca, and the others came downstairs in their coats and headed outside. Riza and Roy were about to go up to get theirs when Macar appeared behind them.
"Your coats?"
Roy startled again.
No matter what Riza says, I'm never going to get used to that.
AN: I have a slightly differing version of this fiction over on AO3. Some of these chapters are also combined differently and there are different ways I handle some things in that one. I took the time to rewrite/alter stuff on both versions to make it more consistent and get it out of my head. Hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a comment if you have the time.