In no way, shape or form do I take credit for creation or ownership of the Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist) series. The original manga is the property of Hiromu Arakawa and the anime is the property of Bones animation studio.
Havoc looked up from his final few sheets of paperwork as he heard the door to their team's office open and waved in greeting to his superiors as they entered together. He smiled around his cigarette as he noticed that their physical presence was more of a single unit than two distinct people. Riza had her arms wrapped around her large clipboard, but her face was clearly tilted up towards Roy as she listened to what he was saying to her. For his part, his right hand was situated casually in his pocket, but the left was resting on Riza's back, up near her shoulders, as he too had his attention turned towards his partner.
It seemed to Havoc that his wave went completely unnoticed by the pair as they continued their quiet conversation, not really whispers but still muted, private. He noted with an additional smirk that the image they made was very wholesomely intimate; it was rather sweet when you got down to it. Immediately, he knew that something must have happened today when they were out working together; their entire personal dynamic, having remained unchanged for years excepting high-emotionally spawned slip-ups, was radically different from the norm. He felt a warm rush of joy as he watched the two of them interact so easily with one another. They'd always been beyond comfortable together, but something about it now was different, more romantic than their past interactions had ever seemed. There was something exceptionally right about the feelings he picked up while watching them.
"Welcome back, Taisa, Chuui. How'd things go for your first afternoon?" Havoc finally asked, breaking the pair from their distractions with one another. Upon Havoc's greeting, both looked up at him and nodded back in their own greetings before slowly moving apart. Obviously, the notion of him having seen them so casual with one another seemed not to bother them as acted as if nothing was amiss or different than usual.
"Things went very well," Riza supplied as she made her way over to her desk. "It was pretty warm outside, but all in all, it was actually quite enjoyable." As she said that last part, Havoc raised his eyebrows, then motioned to Roy with a tilt of his head, getting a small nod in return. Roy was currently sorting through the remaining paperwork on his desk and missed the non-verbal exchange, fortunately. Continuing with her explanation to cover for Havoc's sneaky inquiry, Riza went on. "We repaired far more of the city than our team had first anticipated we would when we started. We actually had to get more sections of the city layout delivered to our team to continue working, because we got so far ahead of schedule." As she spoke, her eyes kept straying to Roy as he was working at his desk and then guiltily finding their way back to Havoc each time.
Letting his cigarette dangle from his lips, he winked at Riza and let out a low whistle. "Good to hear, Ma'am." Seeing that Roy had looked up at him upon hearing the shrill noise, Havoc smoothly went back to discussing the repairs. "Well, Taisa, it sounds like your team is a sight better organized than ours. We got done with our scheduled area of town before lunch, but just barely. I guess you're just a better alchemist, eh?" Directing Roy's attention to himself was one of Havoc's trademark tried-and-true methods of deflecting an inquiry about his actions.
"I suppose so," Roy said proudly as he buffed his fingernails on his shirt, not even bothering with any sort of fake modesty. Riza merely rolled her eyes as she finished signing off on the last reports that had remained unfinished by the time lunch had arrived.
"Ah, it's good to have our cocky, confident peacock of a Taisa back," Havoc said with good-natured teasing in his voice as he took a drag off his cigarette. "He's damn good at what he does, and boy does he know it." Looking up at the clock, Havoc noticed that the others had all left the office over an hour ago, having left him to finish his remaining paperwork alone for longer than he'd thought it had been. Quickly scribbling his name at the bottom of his final two reports, he set his pen down and sighed while getting up from his chair and stretching. He was more than ready to get home and soak in his tub for the evening, his muscles were sore all over from lifting things that morning. He had muscles aching that he hadn't even known he had in the first place.
Checking that he was indeed finished for the evening, he gathered up his completed work and placed it all on the far corner of his desk for Feury to collect tomorrow morning as he stood. "Well, Sir, Ma'am, I'm done for the night, so I'll see the two of you around. I've got the day off tomorrow, but I'm back in the following day for more work." Tossing his uniform jacket over his shoulder, he saluted to his superiors once he reached the doorway.
As soon as Roy brought his attention to his desk once more, Havoc grinned wildly as he made a hand representation of a phone next to his head and pointed at Riza before turning and leaving the office without waiting for her to accept or deny his plea for a phone call, most likely to inquire the details about the past afternoon. For a few moments, she watched his retreating figure before shaking her head and going back to finishing her work. After almost half an hour, she heard the scribbles of Roy's pen cease, and looked up to ask whether or not he was done.
Instead of working, or celebrating that he was finished, Riza discovered that Roy was dialing the phone that sat on his desk, his work still in its usual haphazard piles on his desk. "Hi, how are you doing?" he asked in the receiver. Curious, Riza set her pen down and leaned her cheek against one hand, the elbow braced on the desktop.
"Yes, we're just finishing up here. No, nothing's wrong. Things this afternoon went fine, better than fine. Actually, I was going to ask if you could make extra for dinner this evening. Yes, that's right. Not much longer. Ok, we'll see you soon, thanks again. Uh-huh. Goodbye." Roy placed the phone back in the cradle triumphantly, smirking at Riza when he noticed he had caught her attention.
"Sir?" she asked, sitting upright once more.
Standing from his desk, Roy reached around behind him and fetched his uniform jacket from his chair back. "Hawkeye, I have decided that I'm done with my paperwork for the evening. Everything that needs to be in before I get back is completed, and I'm less behind on the rest than I usually am. We're going home."
Staring at him for a few moments, Riza wasn't sure if she wanted to force him to sit back down and work or just leave with him. She almost glanced at the clock out of curiosity, but decided against it. Just this once, she would let him decide to leave without his work finished, if he really was as far through it as he said he was. After all, it had been a busy, tiring day, and she could use some relaxation, herself. "Sir, I–"
"Also, you're coming home with me, and eating the dinner that Gracia has so kindly prepared, because you shouldn't have to cook for yourself after such a long day in the heat. To refuse now, after she's gone to the trouble of including you would be rude." Buttoning the front clasps on his jacket, Roy departed his desk and approached the light switch by the door. "Coming?"
Rolling her eyes skyward as she approached him, Riza chastised Roy. "Honestly, Sir. I would have said yes if you asked me. You didn't have to try to force me to join you and Gracia."
Flicking the switch, Roy brought his face close to Riza's in the darkness that flooded the room. "I didn't want to take any chances."
Breaking away, Riza began down the hallway, pausing only when she heard Roy pull out his key ring and lock the office. The pair began walking in silence and after a few minutes, Roy's hand once again found its way to Riza's back, where it had resided more times than she could recall already that afternoon. Ordinarily, she would have gotten angry at any man that did that to her so frequently, as though he were leading her around; but for some reason, when it was Roy gently resting his palm and fingertips against her back, the action became sweet. It was somehow intimate in a way that didn't leave her uncomfortable when others had seen him doing it throughout the day.
As the pair exited the main entrance of Headquarters, the warm evening air washed over them anew and Roy began to fidget with his jacket. "I got used to having this off all day," Roy complained as they descended the large staircase leading to the front doors. "It's too hot out for these uniforms." In a quick motion, he removed the jacket he had just replaced, draping it over his forearm. Casting a glance over at Riza, he watched, transfixed, as a droplet of sweat beaded up along the back of her neck and trailed down into the high neck of the jacket before soaking into the material and disappearing out of sight. "Come on," Roy offered, nudging her in the side to get her attention. "I'll carry your coat for you."
Shaking her head, Riza smiled up at Roy. "It's ok, Sir. I'm fine. It's really not that hot out at the moment. It's much cooler now than it was this afternoon."
Roy frowned at her before answering. "I don't think that makes me feel any better. That just means that you were roasting all afternoon too. I told you, it's too warm out. Let me carry your jacket, Riza." He gazed at her imploringly, holding out his jacket-adorned arm to take hers as well.
Sighing resignedly, Riza gave in and quickly unbuttoned her jacket, allowing Roy to take hold of the back and help her out of the sleeves of the heavy cotton fabric. She hated it admit it, but she was much more comfortable without the thick coat, left in her tight-weave dark shirt that she wore each day beneath her jacket. Her holsters were clearly visible now though, something she generally tried to avoid if possible. However, she knew that Roy's ignition gloves were still in his pockets, and trusted that between the two of them, they could handle any trouble that may arise, even if she had lost her element of surprise.
Glancing up, she saw that Roy was watching her again and she willed herself not to blush under his close scrutiny. She was still unused to him publicly looking at her as anything besides his bodyguard, and his attention was flattering, yet made her nervous. After all, this was the man that could have any woman in Central and here was his attention focused on her, probably one of the least feminine women he knew. True, they knew each other almost as well as they knew themselves, but there was still that niggling self-consciousness that all women felt when under inspection by a man. It was only magnified when emotions were involved such as theirs.
Before she knew what was happening, so intently was she returning his gaze, his hand had reached up and plucked out her hair clip again, letting her flaxen locks tumble freely down her back. They had stopped moving again, only a few blocks from the Hughes' home, not that Riza had noticed their proximity to their destination. She was wholly focused on the man before her as he kept his gaze fixed on her. His hand came up and tangled in her long hair and he murmured something under his breath about it.
Riza was about to ask him what he had said, but was stopped by the sounds of singing and footfalls quickly approaching. Turning to look, a little blonde bundle of energy was approaching the pair of them, skipping happily and singing loudly. "Aunt Riza!" Elysia called out as she drew near, jumping up at the woman with her arms out.
Startled, Riza managed to catch her goddaughter nonetheless, swinging the child up onto her hip to brace her weight. Looking over, she saw Roy sigh and squeeze the bridge of his nose between his fingers in frustration. Yet another moment of… something… had been effectively ruined. Accepting that nothing could be done about it now, Riza redirected her attention to the young girl already chattering at her as she locked her arms around the Riza's neck, holding herself close.
"Have you been a good girl since I saw you last, Elysia?" Riza asked, waiting for Roy to start walking before they continued on their way. As Elysia gave her affirmative and began telling Riza about the many things she had done since she'd seen her last, Riza couldn't help but smile and laugh at the stories. They continued on toward the house together, gaily conversing while Roy followed a few steps behind. Once they neared the neatly fenced-in yard, she glanced back at Roy, seeing that he was still watching her, his look of frustrated tension having been replaced by a smile.
Something about the sight of his best friend's daughter clutching to Riza as she told the quiet woman about her day warmed Roy's heart, yet made it ache for a number of reasons. Elysia, so very much like Maes, was thriving and happy and managed to bring a smile to Riza's face when so little could make her crack her stoic exterior adopted from years of military service. Riza, stunningly beautiful with her hair flowing behind her, was radiant as she laughed with the small child, her manner maternal and open as she held the young girl and spoke with her in light tones. The picture they made filled him with a sudden strong longing for his own child, their own child; to have, to hold, to love as she was with Elysia. Often had his mind spun images of them sharing a future together, but not until now had he felt such a poignant need for them to build a family, to make a home for themselves filled with children and love.
Seeing Riza had turned her gaze back at him, he smiled at her and took a few extra steps to catch up to the two women, cradling Riza's shoulders in his arm as he draped his hand on her far shoulder. Effortlessly, he joined in on the conversation with Elysia about the kitty that she and her mother had taken in while looking for its owners a few weeks back. Leaning ever so slightly, Riza allowed her shoulder to rest against Roy as his arm supported her back, the trio making their way across the walkway up to their front door just as Elysia began telling them about how she came to meet them on their way there because she was so excited to have so many people over for dinner.
As Riza let the little girl down on the front porch, Elysia ran in the door, crying "Mummy!" as she bounded to her mother's side and hugged her around the waist. Slowly rising from her squatted position, Riza felt the arm that had released her moments ago reclaim its position, followed by the press of lips against her temple. Closing her eyes, she settled against Roy for a moment, enjoying the warmth of his partial embrace before they went to close the front door, eager to greet Gracia as she was piling dinner onto the table.
Ok, Here it is. I'm not 100 percent pleased with it, but I moved them from place to place like I wanted to and it had just enough "d'aw" moments in it to satisfy my tastes. I spent all day working on this when I should have been packing, as I move back up to college on Wednesday; so packing, coupled with working the Orientation program up there from Thursday to the next Thursday will slow me down a lot until I'm done with my Freshies, meaning that the next update will be slow in coming again, Sorry. The more I write it, the more and more I become in love with the idea of Havoc being a platonic-love friend with Riza, so his presence will be sticking around as Riza's "best friend" sort of brotherly figure.