Originally Published: April 29, 2021

Last Edited: April 6, 2022

A/N: Well, you get a chapter! YAY! (Likely only because I had two really quiet nights at work this week.)

I rewrote 80% of this chapter this week, so I hope it's decent. I will for sure be publishing chapter 17 next week. It needs a little tweaking, but not as much as this one needed.

As always, thank you for all the support! Reviews, follows, and favorites are so appreciated!

Chapter 16

A Chance Encounter

Wednesday, September 25, 1918

"Roy," her voice sounded almost musical, easing him from sleep. The back of his eyelids glowed a warm red, Roy inhaling deeply as he stretched. A familiar weight settled over his hips, the heat from between her legs radiating against his skin. "Good morning, Sir."

Groaning, his hands found her silky smooth thighs, running up them to test if she was wearing her panties or not. Her hands gently caught his before he could find the answer, entwining their fingers together. "Hold on, you have to eat," she chided.

Finally cracking his eyes open, he focused on the divine sight above him. She'd cracked the curtain open, letting the early morning sun spill across the room, back lighting her gloriously naked body, straddling his manhood. Her golden hair had a rumpled look from the night before, slightly tangled and framing her face. Her whiskey eyes seemed to sparkle as she gently let his hands go. Reaching to her side of the bed, she gently placed a cold plate on his torso.

Skin goosing, his focus shifted to the red velvet cupcake, a single candle topping the white icing. She grabbed a lighter, flicking the flint twice before a spark lit, using it to burn the wick. "There. Happy birthday, Roy," she beamed. "Make a wish."

He lifted his eyes back to hers. "I don't need to," his voice came out froggy, deeper than usual. "My wish already came true."

She blinked before a rosy hue crept into her cheeks. Lifting his head, he blew out the flame before moving the cupcake off his chest. Intending to place it on her side of the bed, he hesitated. Another plate was already there, stacked with pancakes covered in berries and whipped cream and a sizable pile of bacon spilling off the edge. A quick glance to his right and he found a coffee on his nightstand. He wasn't sure how he'd slept through the smell of cooking, or failed to notice until now, but now that he had, his stomach gave an excited rumble.

"How long have you been up?" He asked, one hand moving to support her hips, the other bracing himself as he sat up, keeping Riza in place over his crotch as he reclined on the pillows behind him.

"A little while," she shrugged dismissively, grabbing his breakfast.

"And I didn't wake up when you left?"

"No, you did. It was just one of those jolts of consciousness before you passed out again," she reassured, grabbing the breakfast and resting it where the cupcake had been, this plate warm against his abdomen.

He scoffed, hands absently moving to her thighs as he began to warmly rub them up and down. "Now I feel bad for letting you sneak away without noticing."

She smiled, cutting into the pancakes with a fork. "That's fine, it would have ruined the surprise," she lilted. Scooping up the bite, she moved to offer it to him- just for the contents to fall on his bare chest with a plop.

They both stared down at it for a moment before Riza shifted the plate to the side. "Woops," she offered, but her voice had dropped in timber, growing sultry. Roy met her eyes as she bent over him, not breaking eye contact as she slowly dragged her tongue across his skin, cleaning up the mess.

An electric tingle crawled through his spine, eyes widening as heat rushed to his crotch. A lump formed in his throat as he began popping against her womanhood, his boxers separating them.

"Riza!" he exclaimed, blood roaring through his veins.

She smirked, leaning closer, "Yes, Sir?" she asked lightly before capturing his mouth with hers. He could taste the food on her tongue, torturing him as she eased her hips into a slow rhythm, grinding against his crotch.

He felt his face heat and not just from added arousal. He stiffened into a proper erection as he pushed himself to sit up completely, the position making Riza fall down in his lap. Breaking their lips apart, he cradled her jaw with one hand, meeting her half lidded gaze. "Shit, Ri! I thought you were feeding me, not feeding me." The idea of going down on her made him grow harder still, his heart speeding in anticipation.

She smiled, a chuckle at the back of her throat. "Was I?" she asked, suddenly sliding off his lap and onto the ground, her bare feet padding across the wood floor.

"Riza," he protested, shoving the blankets off of his legs as he started to follow her.

"Work starts in forty-five minutes, Sir. Rebecca will be by to pick me up in about fifteen," she announced, going over to his dresser. "Knowing us, that's not enough time to have fun and get dressed," she glanced back at him, opening her previously unused drawer and pulling out a paper shopping bag.

"You've clearly been up a while, you could have woken me up earlier," he grumbled, grabbing the plate and fork, beginning to dig in. Now he had a damn boner, and his lover was refusing to humor his need. "Starting my birthday off by blue balling me... You could have at least been less sexual about it."

She dropped the bag on the foot of the bed, opening it up without replying. She pulled out a small piece of black lace, Roy pausing in confusion as he watched her shake it open.

The fork fell from his grip, clattering loudly on the plate. "No," he protested, voice flat. "You can't do this to me."

She was clearly resisting a laugh, shoulders shuddering as she stepped into the lacy thong. The lace was sheer enough to see through, his heart racing as she pulled out a matching bra. To his shame, he whimpered as she pulled it on. By some mysterious machination, the lacy bra seemed to push up her breasts more than her regular ones, the curve of her cleavage accented by her visible nipples.

"You bought lingerie?" he knew he was whining, but he didn't care. This was not fair!

"Maria wanted me to get a corset, but I would like to move normally at work today," she teased, running her fingers through her hair, tossing her locks as she popped her hip to one side. "Do you like it? It is your birthday present."

"Yes, I like it," he grumbled, shoulders hunching. "You don't really plan on teasing me by wearing that all day, do you?"

She laughed lightly, moving towards the bedroom door. "I do."

In that moment, watching her tauntingly gorgeous body in that decorative lace, hips swaying with each step, breasts perky and nipples erect, he made a snap decision.

"No. Nononononono!" he haphazardly discarded the plate on the sheets, not caring if bacon and fruit spilled. He got up as quickly as he could and tackled her, pinning her against the wall. She squealed in his ear, a playful laugh accompanying the bright sound as her hands gripped his arms. The feel of her squeezing his muscles admiringly gave him a buzz of pleasure.

"Roy! What are you..."

He cut her off with a desperate kiss, her open lips granting unintentional access to her warm tongue. There was more saliva in his mouth than usual, lubricating their full fledged make out as she eagerly returned his affection. His hands ran up her sides, fingers hooking under the band of her bra, teasing the lace of their own will. His body burned feverishly as she moaned against his mouth, her muscles flexing and relaxing again and again under his grip. He pressed her tighter against the wall, not giving her the chance to try to slip away- not that she was trying to, but if he knew her, he knew it was likely on her mind.

Groaning warmly, he slid his hands back to the clasps of her bra, prying the lace loose. Tugging the garment down, he released her mouth, a trail of saliva connecting their bottom lips. Her face grew red, eyes widening as she swatted the string away.

Laughing, he dropped to her breast. Taking her nipple into his mouth, he licked her nub warmly while sucking. A soft keening left her throat with the attention and he smiled as he realized it wasn't a protest. He moved a hand to her other tit, massaging and pinching that nipple in time with his suckling. He slid his free hand to her spine, running down the length as he hooked a finger under the hem of her panties, obsessing over the curve of her ass as he snapped the waistband once.

"Roy!"

He chuckled again as he pulled back from her heaving chest, dropping to his knees all too eagerly. "Let me worship you, my Queen," he implored huskily, slowly dragging her thong down from her hips, keeping his eyes on hers as he did.

Her aroused blush darkened to a deep crimson, her hands resting on his shoulders. He relished how embarrassed that nickname made her, and was silently grateful she hadn't asked him to stop calling her that. "Sir, we have work..." she protested weakly.

He finally let himself glance down between her legs, her arousal dripping down her thighs. Oh god, those thighs. He'd low-key obsessed over those thighs- her thighs, since he'd first properly realized she was a girl. No other woman in existence could quite match the allure of Riza Hawkeye's thighs, and there she was, dripping for him.

His head and body buzzed with excitement, his length aching against the usually loose fabric of his boxers. He gently curled his hands around the back of her knees, guiding her legs apart. She gasped above him, her knees instinctively bending for support as she leaned more against the wall. He'd tried this in the shower some time in the hazy daze of last week and he glanced up to double check she was alright with doing this again. Her parted lips, pretty blush, and heavily lidded eyes were all the answer he needed.

Responsible Riza had left the building, leaving behind his defenseless, aroused lover in her place. He loved both versions, but right now he was thrilled she'd let her guard down for him.

The tune to Happy Birthday began warming his throat as he hummed, moving in to softly kiss and nip at the middle of her thighs, giving her area some space for the moment. He lapped up the trails of her liquid as a slight quiver began in her legs. Euphoria coursed through him as he knew he was causing that apparent weakness in her legs. He shifted a hand back to her knee, guiding her to hook it over his left shoulder and down his back.

He nudged her pelvis with his nose and she gasped, a hand moving to dig into his hair, gripping his roots firmly. Gliding his tongue across her clit, her salty taste was accompanied by her deepthroated moan, her grip in his hair tightening. A burning heat began coursing through him as he pressed his mouth more eagerly against her, tongue dancing across her secret parts.

She tugged on the roots of his hair, pulling his neck back and his mouth into a better angle. He cracked his eyes open again, hazily looking up at her. Her breasts heaved with her breaths, her lips parted and neck tilted back against the wall. Her cheeks still had that rosy hue to them, but her eyes were closed, completely enthralled by the sensations he was eager to provide.

Circling her clit with his tongue, he gave a warm suck. She inhaled sharply, mouth widening as her arms tensed and her leg pulled him closer. He ran a hand to the middle of her thigh, groping it shamelessly as he dusted his fingers up her supporting leg. He shifted his mouth just enough to make room for his fingers. Slow and steady, he pushed two into her, reveling in the warm, wet, spongy texture.

She whimpered softly as he curled his fingers inside her, rubbing her greedily as he continued to suck and lick her clit. As he sped up, a groan left her, her lips clenching around his fingers.

"Roy- Roy I- I want..." she panted, losing the ability to speak as he flicked at her bean, giving it an eager suck. She began to pulse around his digits as she moaned restlessly with her high, squirming against the wall. Pulling his mouth away, he traced a few gentle kisses along her pubic and hip bones, easing his rhythm inside her as she rode out her orgasm.

Panting heavily, left with weak whimpers, she loosened her grip in his hair. "Now- I have to- clean myself up," she complained weakly, her legs shaking again.

Kissing her navel, he looked up at her again, her leg trying to pull away from him. He clutched it, urging her to stay. He slowly withdrew his fingers from inside her, holding her eyes as he sucked them clean, pulling them from his mouth with a slight plop. She tensed at the sight, her cheeks darkening with clear embarrassment.

"I don't want you wearing that lace today, Major," he dropped his tone with authority.

Her chestnut eyes widened as her spine clearly stiffened. Oh yes, she liked it when he took command in the bedroom. If she hadn't been abused when she was younger, he might try dominating her more with actions rather than limiting it to words. He wasn't willing to push that line with her though. He had no desire to break his Queen.

"If you do," he continued, free hand reaching down to pick up the thong discarded at her feet. Dangling it on the crook of a finger, he held it up for her to see, "these will end up on the floor of my office at least five times, and the entire Team will know what we're up to by the end of the day. Am I understood?" Her jaw tightened. "So I'll just keep ahold of these. You did say they were my birthday present, after all."

She held his gaze, her eyes intelligent, stubborn, and downright beautiful. "And what do you plan on doing with them, Sir?"

He hummed distractedly, helping her ease her leg off of his shoulder. "I'll have to come up with something. You will get them back, but give me a bit of time with them." He snatched her bra from the ground as well, scrunching them up in his palm, the sensation of wire under the cups explaining the miraculous boost to her breasts earlier. "In the meantime, thank you for breakfast, Àirén," he murmured, kissing her pelvis briefly before standing up.

The edge of her mouth twitched as her head lifted to follow him. "There's real food over there."

He tilted his head, moving his arms to brace against the wall on either side of her head. He'd been expecting a blush, instead she held his gaze with a stubborn light, challenging his expectations like she always did.

Damn, she was getting more confident. His heart began racing again with the thought, his length throbbing against the fabric of his boxers with the imagined possibilities.

He narrowed his eyes, meeting her challenge. "I think the main course is right in front of me."

Pushing off of the wall, he tossed the lace over his shoulder towards the bed. He reached down and dug into the pocket of his boxers, the thin material shifting tauntingly over his length. Taking out one of the three condoms he'd tucked in there, he shoved the fabric off, hissing as the cold air hit his cock.

She glanced down as he tore the package open. "Roy, we're going to be late," she warned, voice growing weak again.

"That doesn't sound like a no," he informed, rolling the rubber on.

"Rebecca will be here any minute," her breath was growing shallow, the peaks of her breasts rising and falling quickly.

He moved a hand to her hip, pushing it back against the wall again- firmly. He moved the other to thumb over her lower lip, the soft, pink flesh tugging slightly under his skin. "And you like that, don't you?" he whispered, stepping flush with her chest, the curve of her breasts and his cock pressed against her pelvis sent a wave of anticipation through him.

Her whiskey eyes widened as her cheeks colored. "I-" her voice faltered, her hands dropping from his shoulders to grip at his biceps. He raised his eyebrows, glancing briefly back to her pretty lips.

He leaned in like he was sharing a secret, his lips brushing her ear as his hands both found her thighs. "I'm going to take you right here, Riza Mustang. And if Catalina comes knocking, I'm going to keep going until you..."

A knock came from downstairs, cutting him off. Out of time, he narrowed his eyes, shoving his torso against hers as he swiftly pulled her up and guided her legs around his waist. She was still gasping from surprise as he thrust into her, her heat enveloping him as she cried out. He inhaled sharply as a shudder of pleasure coursed through him with the pressure around his cock.

He glanced at her face, searching for any signs of pain as he began pounding into her more roughly than usual. Her cheeks were that gorgeous pink, her eyes closed, head tilted back, and neck exposed. There were no twitches of discomfort, or eyes tightening from distress. Instead, her legs flexed under his hands, her ankles crossing behind his waist to squeeze him closer. Focusing on her parted lips, he caught her mouth with his as her fingers dug into the muscles of his biceps. She moaned against his mouth as he bit her lower lip, a growl rising up his throat.

His mind latched onto the wet sound of their friction, the clap of their skin, the barking of Hayate downstairs, and another firm knock at the door. She was burning against his skin, her body growing slick with sweat. He dug his fingers into her legs more, desperate to keep a grip on her so she wouldn't fall.

Breaking his mouth from hers, her harsh breaths rattled across his face, a keening coming at the end of each of her exhales. A swell of pleasure threatened to finish him. Groaning against it, he buried his face into her neck, feverishly kissing her throat and scar as a distraction.

"No- no hickeys," she whimpered. "I can't- hide them at- at the party."

Displeased with the instructions, he trailed his mouth further down to the squished mounds of her breasts between them. Nipping at one elicited a slight spasm from her, but not the climax he was pursuing.

That rush of pleasure threatened him again, more insistent this time. Teeth clenching, he grunted against her collarbone, "I need you to come, Major."

"I-" she squirmed under him, "Roy, slow down."

Slow down? It about killed him to do it, slowing to a tauntingly deliberate rhythm. He became far too aware of every millimeter of friction, shuddering with the rise in pleasure.

A low groan rose slowly up his throat as he rolled his head to one side, nuzzling her cheek senselessly. "You're going to come, now, my Queen."

She whimpered against his ear, jerking slightly under him. "Roy..."

"Feel me. I feel every inch of you. Oh, god, Riza," he groaned, a familiar, ecstatic burning running through his groin.

He felt it- the pulsing around his shaft as she jerked under him, high pitched squeaks barely escaping her throat as her ankles tightened behind him. Hissing, he let himself finally revel in his own rising high, losing control as he gave three more rough thrusts before he was joining her.

The rush of euphoria left him unaware of anything except them as he emptied himself into her. He was in a state of bliss, his body thrusting instinctively as he was enthralled by the pleasure of that everlasting moment. She was a heavenly salve to his daily, dull hell. His All and his One. His Truth.

Slowly the world stopped spinning, and he found her still there, completely tangible. Her smell, her heat, her soft moans with each of his slowing thrusts. Lifting his face, he met her stunning amber eyes, a life to them that only existed in the few minutes after they made love.

The only sound was their heavy breaths. Reverently, he lifted a hand to her face, brushing away the sheen from her reddened cheek. "I love y..."

A sharp crack behind them made them both jump, unintentionally separating their sexes.

"Get down!" he barked, pulling Riza into a crouch with him. In a tangle of sweat slicked limbs, they panted against each other on the floor. The familiar prickle of his hair standing on end, the racing of his heart, the phantom smell of ashes, flames, and gunpowder, all washed over him. He could be back in Ishval, or on the Promised Day for all his body could tell.

He'd hardly been aware of covering her head with his arms and pressing her face against his chest. He had to protect her. She was his. They couldn't have her.

Her fingers dug at the muscles in his back, pulling him closer.

"Oh, fuck!" a distant voice drifted to them, making it through the roar of adrenaline in his ears. "I- Oh, god, I broke it!"

"Rebecca?" Riza mumbled against his chest, her head lifting.

He pulled her head close again, trying to settle his body into the present. Between their intimacy and the stress of the unseen crash, it took him a solid three breaths.

Finally looking back, his eyes focused on the spider web across the bedroom window, a section of glass falling outward as he watched.

He flashed through irritation, anger, rage, and fear in a matter of a heartbeat, finally settling on vexation. Pulling away from Riza, he marched over to the window, pulling the curtains open completely.

He could see Rebecca on the grass, likely having climbed the fence to get in the back. She was pacing, hands covering her mouth as she kept darting glances around the yard and back up at the window.

"You are paying to replace this window, Catalina!" he shouted through the broken pane, knuckles cracking as his fists tightened on the curtains.

Riza hadn't planned on being pinned into sex that morning and had honestly expected to share breakfast with Roy. As a result, her stomach was now gnawing on nothing, the single bite of pancake long gone. Now the real problem was she hadn't scheduled a time to eat lunch either.

When 1130 hit and the rest of the Team filed out to get lunch, Riza bolted out of the door, fingering her unused car keys as she marched quickly down to the parking lot.

"Wait- Riza!" Rebecca's familiar voice cried, her boots thumping on the tile as she ran to catch up with her. "Where are you going?"

"Shopping," she answered simply. "I'm taking the car," she added, showing the keys to her.

"Ooo! I'm coming too! What are we getting?"

"You're saving up for a new window," Riza reminded, glancing back to notice Vulcan trailing a few yards behind them. "Catalina is accompanying me. Enjoy your lunch, Lieutenant," she called back, waving him off over her shoulder.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Riza exhaled softly as she continued forward. "I said I was sorry," Rebecca hissed.

"You intentionally threw that rock."

"It was smaller than a bullet," Rebecca protested.

"Depends on the caliber," Riza mumbled.

"Fine. What are you getting?"

Riza pursed her lips as she pushed out of the double doors leading to the parking lot. With no one nearby, she lowered her voice to a whisper. "I need a 'public' gift for the General at the party tonight. I can't exactly hand him a box with my lingerie and wish him 'happy birthday' in front of an entire party."

Rebecca snickered as they reached the car, Riza unlocking it as they both climbed in. "Now I'd pay for the window if I could see that."

"Too bad, he took them away from me," Riza informed, starting the engine.

"What!" Rebecca squealed with excitement. "He took them from you? Oh. My. God!" Rolling her eyes, Riza pulled out of the lot, making their way towards the nearest market. "So, exactly how did he react to them? I have to hear all the juicy details."

"He pinned me to the wall, gave me oral, then- you know," she started out strong with a flat tone, but as she came to the actual sex, she squirmed in her seat.

"He fucked you silly," Rebecca filled in. "No, he fucked you so hard, you ignored me pounding on the door for five minutes as Hayate barked his poor lungs out. Wait... where is he?"

"He fell asleep under my desk. I asked Fuery to watch out for him," she answered, grateful for the sidetrack out of the conversation.

"Speaking of Fuery, Sheska told me they had another date last night. That's five dates in under a week," Rebecca gushed.

Shaking her head lightly, she asked, "What am I going to do with you?"

"Hey, you've known for years that I thrive off of this romance shit. Speaking of, Jean hasn't wanted to come over since our first night in East City. I haven't been laid in over a month! You owe me deets, Riza Hawkeye!"

"I told you what happened and with more details than I needed to," Riza dismissed, guilt tangling in her chest with this information. She hadn't meant to ruin her friends' romantic night, and now she knew how addictive sex could be, she empathize more with Rebecca's plight.

Rebecca gave an exasperated sigh, leaning back against the leather seat. "Yippee, he gave you oral and fucked you against the wall. I feel so titillated, I've creamed my knickers," Rebecca offered in the flattest voice Riza had ever heard her use.

Riza snorted into her hand, resisting a proper laugh, "Creamed your knickers? Rebecca!"

"Give me something! Did he say anything sexy? How did he take your thong off? Was it with his teeth? I bet he took it off with his teeth."

Riza's cheeks warmed with a blush, a mental image of him doing just that coming to mind much too easily. "No," she answered evenly. "He shimmied them off with his hands, then he hooked my leg over his shoulder."

"Did he say anything? Come on, Riza! Please!"

Her ears burned as she shifted uncomfortably again. "He- he's given me a few pet names," she started.

"Yes?"

"Love, Àirén, and... his Queen..." the blush had moved to the back of her neck with this admission, her shoulders hunching.

"And?"

"When- he was kneeling between- my legs, he..."

"Yes?!" Rebecca had begun leaning into her personal space, eager excitement in her chocolate eyes.

"He- askedifhecouldworshipme," Riza rushed the words, hating her inability to tell Rebecca no.

Rebecca paused before smirking. She lowered her voice in a poor imitation of Roy's. "Riza, my Queen, can I worship you?"

Riza shoved a palm on Rebecca's forehead, pushing her away. "If I can get you a night alone with Jean, will you swear to never call me that again?"

"But you're okay with him calling you that, aren't you?"

"Offer going once," Riza clipped, pulling into a parking spot.

"Mmm, how are you going to do it?" Rebecca mused. "And can you get it done within the next week?"

"I'll make Jean do it this weekend," Riza climbed out of the car, snapping the door shut. "You know how persuasive I can be."

Rebecca giggled behind her- a sort of manic and menacing type of giggle. "Okay, okay. I won't call you that again."

"Good. Because your imitation 'creamed my knickers' about as much as a certain pebble did this morning."

Rebecca winced beside her. "I said I was sorry!" She suddenly started, grabbing Riza's arm in excitement, "Wait! Can't he just fix the window with alchemy?"

"Do you want to find every shard of glass that fell into the grass? The window was already compromised. Just suck it up and pay for the damages. In the meantime, you can help by giving me present ideas for the General."

"Present ideas? For your C.O. and your secret lover? I don't know. Get a coffee mug that says 'Okayest Boss Ever' or something."

Riza sighed, looking through shop windows as she passed. "I'm not exactly known for half-assing my gifts to coworkers. If I did that, someone would know something was up."

"Then you're asking the wrong girl for advice. I don't even really like him as a person. Sure, he's hot, but that's the only thing going for him, and he's sort of unavailable. You know, fucking my best friend and what not."

"You're unavailable too," Riza reminded, her peripheral catching onto a familiar blond braid and antenna. Stopping suddenly, she looked past Rebecca to see more than one person she knew. Standing around on the patio of a small café were Edward, Alphonse, Winry, and Mei, their half forgotten food ignored on a table behind them. Leaning on this side of the decorative railing around the cafe's tables was the Elrics' alchemy teacher, her brawny husband a few steps behind her holding a couple of shopping bags.

Rebecca stopped a few steps ahead of her, looking confused as she followed Riza's eyes. "Hey, Earth to Riza," she called.

"Sorry, just a minute. I need to say hello to some friends," Riza explained, already stepping towards the café.

"Friends? Riza Hawkeye has friends outside of work?" Rebecca teased, following after her.

"Well, I met them through work, if that makes a difference," Riza shrugged. Rebecca scoffed, but didn't say anything more as Riza reached the fence surrounding the patio seating. Mr. Curtis was the first to notice her, his dark eyes shifting towards her. She offered a wave to the giant of a man, turning her attention to the youths on the patio. "What brings you all to East City?" she asked with a cheerful lilt.

A few feet beside her, Mrs. Curtis jumped, looking at her in surprise. "Hawkeye?" Edward gasped.

"MISS RIZA!" Winry cried, moving to her and pulling Riza into a hug despite the fence. Within moments the three 'groups' had merged, bright smiles on all the younger faces as Winry pulled back, giving Riza the chance to relax.

"We thought you'd be at Headquarters," Alphonse chirped.

"I'm on lunch break. Please tell me you were planning to come by, it's the General's birthday today," Riza prompted, preparing for a quip from Edward.

Instead, his face grew stoic, "That's one of the reasons we're in town. We received an invite to his birthday party tonight."

"From whom?" Riza asked, blinking in surprise.

"A 'Madame Christmas'. I was telling Al earlier that the place sounds like a brothel," Mei scrunched her face up in a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Rebecca barked a laugh, slapping her knee behind Riza, "That's because it is!"

On her side of the fence, Riza was vaguely aware of Mrs. Curtis pushing away, "It was good to catch up, but we should be going, now," she offered dismissively.

Turning towards her, Riza stopped her with a quick, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I really just wanted to say hi. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, right?" Mrs. Curtis paused, looking back at her with sharp, onyx eyes. Riza was slightly side tracked by how similar they were to Roy's- but then it was likely the Xingese blood. Mei's eyes were the same color after all, just rounder.

Mrs. Curtis nodded in silent reply to Riza's quarry. Extending a hand to her, Riza gave a polite smile. "We were never properly introduced during the chaos of the Promised Day. I'm Major Riza Hawkeye. I wanted to thank you for watching out for General Mustang right after he first lost his sight."

She looked down at Riza's offered hand for a moment before accepting it, her grip nearly crushing as they shook hands. Riza was careful to not react; she'd been taught to shake hands like a lady under Ms. Kent's tutelage. For years now she'd silently struggled with the ferocity of handshakes in the Military. She could handle this one too.

"The Portal of Truth is a shocking experience for anyone. I had Sig when I came back out. It was the least I could do until you two were reunited," Mrs. Curtis' words were met by a grim silence, Edward and Alphonse both looking uncomfortable. Mrs. Curtis turned her intense, obsidian gaze towards the two Elrics, "And unlike some former pupils of mine, he didn't choose to perform the damn transmutation."

"They've already had this lecture, dear," Mr. Curtis reminded in his quiet rumble, drawing his wife's attention. "Perhaps we should go back to looking for a new set of knives."

"Riza, we're short on time too," Rebecca prodded from behind.

"Hey, Hawkeye, are you going back to Headquarters?" Edward asked.

"After I'm done, yes," Riza answered.

"Could you give Al and I a ride with you? Winry and Mei are staying to do some wedding shopping."

"Sure. Give me fifteen minutes and I'll meet up with you again here?" Riza asked, filtering out the Curtises' farewell as their large group began separating. Edward nodded as she and Rebecca pulled away.

"That was the Fullmetal kid, right? And the kid that used to lug around in a suit of armor?" Rebecca asked.

Gut dropping, Riza grimaced towards her as they passed a few shops. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce you. A lot was going on."

"It's fine. It gave me a minute to scope the surrounding shops out." Rebecca pointed towards one, the window of a jewelers advertising discounted cufflinks.

"Cufflinks?"

"He wears dress shirts every day, Reez! You can't tell me it's a bad idea."

Roy poured the fresh coffee Sheska had whipped up into a fresh mug. After a fairly hungry morning, he was a bit drowsy post lunch and was hoping the caffeine would give him the boost he needed to get through the afternoon. Behind him, the Team was beginning to filter in from lunch, warm voices and cheerful conversations buzzing in the air.

"General Mustang!" a familiar voice boomed.

Looking around as he poured a splash of cream into his brew, Roy watched Armstrong step through the door. Lifting his mug, Roy toasted him with a simple, "Colonel," before taking a sip, turning to face him properly. "Anything of note from Investigations?"

"Nothing new since my written report. A few case files are getting wrapped up, but it's been fairly uneventful."

"Well, if you need a hand with any field missions," Roy broached offhandedly, "Office work is starting to bog me and my men down."

"Hear, hear," Havoc grumbled from his desk, already bent over a merciless stack of paperwork.

"I'll keep that in mind, General. But that's not why I'm here. Happy Birthday, Sir!"

"Thanks," Roy offered with a warm smile, sticking his free hand in his pocket as he strolled towards his office. "You plan on coming to the party tonight, right?"

Before Alex could reply, a familiar voice rose from down the hall, making Roy pause in his tracks. "Is the Cock Colonel back from lunch yet?"

"Don't call him that, brother! Besides, he's a General now."

"Are those the Elrics?" Brosh asked, halfway lowered to sit behind his desk.

Roy lifted an eyebrow, surprised and curious as to what brought the Elric Brothers back to his office today of all days.

In walked the gorgeous beauty who was the love of his life- then her infuriating best friend and the two golden-eyed brothers. Ed had his long hair in his signature braid, his hands stuffed in his pockets, dress shirt untucked from his slacks under his vest. Al had his hair neatly parted, matching Ed's light brown vest and slacks, but better put together than his elder. Still slightly taller too.

"Hey, guys!" Fuery greeted, perking up from his seat.

"Why if it isn't Edward and Alphonse Elric!" Alex boomed.

Roy met Riza's gaze, her hazel eyes cryptic as she silently moved over to her desk. "What brings you in for a visit?" Havoc asked, leaning back casually in his chair, the hydraulics squeaking slightly.

"The General's birthday, of course," Alphonse smiled, looking directly at Roy.

"Yeah. We were invited to the party tonight by some brothel lady. I even dressed up... But not for the girls! Winry made me," Fullmetal added frantically, waving his hands in frantic denial.

"You were invited?" Roy voiced, confused. Yes, Vanessa had said if he wanted anyone in particular invited he should let her know, but he figured Chris would have it handled. The Team was the usual guest list and he was satisfied with that. Why were the Elrics invited?

Not that he was complaining.

"Is she going to be jealous that you're going?" Breda jested, flicking his pen absently.

"Winry and Mei are going to be there with us," Alphonse informed lightly.

Behind them, Ross poked her head in, "Well, look who's here," she smiled, leading in Vulcan and Sheska.

"Lieutenant Ross, you're here too?" Edward grinned. "And Sheska. I saw Brosh. Where's Falman?"

"He was reassigned back to Briggs," Havoc answered.

Absently, Roy's gaze drifted to Riza, seated at her desk. The memory of her in that lacy, black lingerie from earlier drifting to the forefront of his mind.

After a moment, Riza looked up, meeting his lingering gaze. Her expression grew stern, her eyes sharp as she silently scolded him. He didn't have to hear her to know she was ordering him to get back to work.

With a sigh, he absently tapped the side of his mug twice as he slipped behind Armstrong and into his office. Edging the door mostly closed behind him, he fished his glasses from his pocket. Filtering out the muted sounds of talking in the adjoining office, he got back to work.

That was until a soft knock came from his door.

Looking over the rim of his glasses, Roy found Edward pushing his way into the room, carefully closing the door behind him. "Hiding in your office to do paperwork? Who are you, and what have you done with Mustang?"

Roy paused, measuring him carefully. He took off his glasses, pushing himself up to his feet. "Good to see you too, Fullmetal. To answer your question, I only procrastinated paperwork in the past to avoid suspicion from my higher-ups. No need to tip them off that I was trying to get to Fuhrer. With Grumman up top now, I don't have an excuse," he shrugged. "And at this rank, I have to work hard to prove I'm capable of ruling this country."

Edward didn't respond to that, a mature glean to his eyes as he watched Roy carefully. Discarding his glasses on the desk, Roy rounded it, picking up his coffee and gesturing towards a couch before sitting on the opposite one. "What can I help you with, Fullmetal?" he asked, crossing his legs as he leaned back.

The move was intentional. Edward wasn't his subordinate now, nor was he a minor. Sitting behind his desk put him in a position of authority, but the couches provided a chance at equal footing. This wasn't the twelve-year-old that Roy had once recruited.

Edward didn't sit, instead he slipped his hands into his pockets, Roy's eye catching on the flesh of his right wrist. "Al gave me your message."

Roy raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Would you- would you and Major Hawkeye stand in for my parents at the wedding?" Ed stammered, getting through the request a lot easier than he would have once.

"...Sit down, Edward." After a long pause, the younger man obliged, sitting across from Roy. Roy took a sip from his coffee, watching Edward over the rim of his cup. Lowering it to his lap, he confessed, "I was expecting this request to come as a phone call. You've grown up, haven't you?"

"A bit, I suppose," Ed shrugged uncomfortably.

"I can't speak for the Major," Roy informed simply. "When we last discussed the request, she expressed concern about both of us doing it. That being said, if she doesn't want to do it with me, then I will defer and let her have the honor herself. She deserves it more than I do."

Edward blinked, sitting up straight. "But- why? Why doesn't she want to do it with you?" Ed glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, hands moving to his knees. "Wait- are you two having a really big fight or something?"

Roy allowed his brows to furrow, head tilting slightly. "No. What gave you that impression?" In all honesty, they hadn't had this comfortable of a relationship since- well, since before he left for the Academy at seventeen.

"Just- I don't know. Something seems off," Edward shrugged. "That doesn't answer the question, though. Why doesn't Hawkeye want to do it with you?"

What did that mean? Shelving the question, Roy hesitated before deciding to be frank, "The Anti-Fraternization Laws. We're very aware we have a close and- unique relationship. The Major doesn't want anyone accusing us openly of fraternizing, so she's very careful to avoid any appearances of such illicit activity."

Ed didn't visibly react for a long moment before he dipped his head, a soft chuckle exiting from his throat. "Wow, you haven't been accused of it before? How the hell have you managed that?"

"We've managed it because we aren't," Roy grumbled. Well, they weren't at least. New territory, new concerns. Five to six people already knew, and Riza was right: That didn't bode well for their secret.

Chris, Madeline, Vanessa, Jean, Catalina, and possibly Sheska. He trusted them all to keep their secret (well, in Catalina's case, he trusted her to keep Riza's secret) but what if someone else found out?

"Yeah, yeah, if you say so," Ed dismissed with a wave. "But honestly, standing in for my parents at a wedding isn't a sign you two are doing that kind of thing. It's just a sign that I respect you both."

Roy paused with that. Had Edward just flippantly stated he respected him? "I may agree with you, but I'm not the one that matters. I'm still leaving the choice to Haw- the Major," he corrected swiftly. If Riza didn't like the name, he wanted to get away with calling her that as little as possible.

Edward's brow twitched as he clearly noticed, but he said nothing about it. "Then why don't we invite her in here to talk about it?"

Roy pushed himself up to his feet, moving over to his desk to avoid letting Edward see his anxiety. He'd been trying to keep a respectful distance from her today. Every time he saw her, his mind flitted back to the image of her wearing that lingerie again- like it was now. "I do have work to do, Fullmetal. I'd like to get it done early so I can leave early too."

"Winry needs to know sooner rather than later. Something about wedding plans and such. I could bring it up at your party tonight..." he proposed, mischief in his voice.

Leaving the coffee back on his desk, Roy turned back to look at Edward, "Who invited you anyway? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind, but there will be alcohol, and I don't want to encourage underage drinking."

"Uh, some Madame or other," Ed reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled and folded paper, opening it quickly. "Madame Christmas?"

"Let me see that," Roy snapped, crossing over. Ed didn't hinder him, passing the paper over. Almost instantly, Roy recognized the sharp edged cursive, "Why the hell did she invite you? She's even more against underaged drinking than I am!"

"Maybe there won't be alcohol? You are getting a little old for it," Edward smirked, snatching the paper back.

"Did you just call me old? I'm thirty-three, not a hundred, you pipsqueak!"

"Don't call me a midget!"

"Shorty!"

"Grandpa!"

"Bean sprout!"

"Gaffer!"

"Sir," Riza's familiar and flat voice interrupted their shouting match, both he and Ed swiveled to find her standing in the doorway, hand on the doorknob.

Argument forgotten, Roy straightened instantly, skin prickling and hair standing on end at the sight of her. "Major?"

"I came to encourage Edward to finish his business so you can get back to work," she informed, glancing between them.

"He referred me to you anyways. Winry needs to know sooner rather than later: Would you be willing to stand in for my mom at the wedding? I asked the General, but he said you were concerned about both of you doing it."

Stepping in, she closed the door behind her. "Edward..."

"If you still feel strongly about not doing it together, Major, I'd rather you have the honor," Roy broke in.

"I don't think you should be worried about the Frat laws and such. It's just a sign of respect," Ed shrugged. "I-" he had to stop and swallow hard before continuing. "I'd really like both of you, though."

Riza's expression softened, "I'd be honored, Edward. And- if you feel that strongly about both of us," she met Roy's gaze, "I- would be alright with that."

Ed grinned, turning towards Roy. "How about it, Mustang?"

Roy lingered on Riza, her cheeks taking a pink hue as her eyes dipped to check him out. Blinking, he shifted his focus onto Edward. "Thank you for the consideration. I'd be honored."

"Great! I'd best let Winry know. I'll see you both tonight!" he chirped, ducking out the door past Riza.

Before she could move to follow, Roy stepped towards her, "Close the door, Major. I have something I need to ask you."

She hesitated, cheeks darkening a bit more. She took the door, easing it shut again. "Sir?"

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" he softened his tone now that they were alone.

"No... but with how much Edward wants both of us there, we'll just have to make it work."

He slowly crossed over to her, hands in his pockets as he reached her, stepping into her personal space. She inhaled sharply, taking a step back against the door, meeting his gaze levelly. A smirk twitched on his mouth as he lifted a hand, thumbing her lower lip. "I'll finish early and we can pick up where we left off this morning- at home, though," he promised, keeping his voice a low murmur.

"That would require working, Sir," she shot back, a teasing spark behind her eyes.

He leaned in, brushing a kiss on her lips. She tensed, her lips following him an inch as he pulled away. He met her wide eyes, her fists clenched in self restraint. "Then we best get to it, Major."

Riza glanced over as Roy lathered his jaw. She absently lowered her eyeliner as he set aside the brush, pulling out the brass blade of his straight razor. She watched as he carefully began dragging the edge across his cheek, the blade masterfully clearing his week and a half of hair growth with one motion. She found her eyes wandering down, admiring his bare chest and lingering on his boxers and the slight bulge between his legs.

"You're staring again, Love," he lilted, drawing her eyes up instantly. "Are you sure you don't have needs I can take care of before we go?"

She broke her eyes away, turning back to her own reflection. She'd put him off when they'd gotten home after work and now she had foundation, eyeshadow, and hair done, she tried ignoring the tightness between her legs with the invitation. Her bra and panties felt restricting, even though they were the only clothes she wore.

"My hair would get messed up," she dismissed, lifting her eyeliner brush again. "I was just curious why you don't use disposable razors."

He waited until he finished his current stroke, pulling the blade back as he wiped it clean on a rag. "I do if I'm out and about. At work, the Bar, before a big event."

"But at home you use that?" she glanced at the blade as he carefully cleaned his jaw.

Wiping the blade again, he held it out to her. She accepted it as he pointed out the engraving along the flat side of the blade. James Mustang. "Chris gave it to me when I graduated. At the time I didn't need to shave every day, and I sort of forgot about it until we moved to Central. I found it collecting dust in a drawer and I decided to give it some use."

Giving the blade a single twirl, she passed it back, "Do you have a lot of your parent's things?"

"No. Chris has a few things of my mother's she intends to give to Izumi if we ever find her, but my father was a minimalist. All I have of his is this razor and some cufflinks."

Her gut clenched as she turned back to the mirror and finished applying her eyeliner. "Cufflinks? I've never seen you wear any."

"They just give me old vibes when I wear them," Roy grimaces, carefully cleaning his neck with the razor.

"Just your father's cufflinks, or all cufflinks?"

He hummed, wiping his blade before finishing his shave by cleaning his upper lip. "All, I guess. They strongly remind me of middle aged men. Why do you ask?"

She allowed herself to openly grimace, taking her mascara brush and carefully darkening her eyelashes. "Well, I couldn't exactly openly give you a set of lingerie for your birthday. I don't really have time to buy something else before the party, though. Sorry."

He paused in wiping his jaw with a clean towel, giving her a measured look. "You didn't have your ears pierced."

Lowering her brush, she turned to look at him, "What are you talking about?"

He reached for her, his thumb and forefinger softly pinching her earlobe and the silver stud in it. "When I gave you these, your ears weren't pierced. The only other earrings I've seen you wear are ones your grandfather gives you for special events. You said you'd been thinking about getting some, but were you?"

Her cheeks heated, and seeing no reason to lie, she answered, "No. I always thought they were rather frivolous and at the time I was struggling to buy food. Why would I think about earrings?"

"But you wear them. Every day," he leaned closer, his mouth hovering over her ear as his voice deepened seductively, "To bed. In the shower. When you're naked."

A shiver ran up her spine, his hand dropping to her neck, intentionally brushing her scar on his way down. "I've seen you tuck away gifts others give you. If they're not practical, they tend to be thoroughly unused. But these? Frivolous, yet you wear them every moment of every day," his touch dragged slowly down between her breasts, catching on the strap between cups and giving it a slight tug. He stepped closer, his other hand tracing her waist before his fingers slipped under the hem of her panties. "How very unlike you, Riza Mustang."

She shuddered, her arousal pooling in her underwear as she stepped back against the counter. "They're from you. Of course I wear them," she breathed, her breasts rising and falling rapidly as her breath grew shallow.

He pulled back an inch, meeting her gaze, a heat behind his eyes she so very much wanted him to act on. "And that, my Queen, is exactly why I'll wear your cufflinks every single day for the rest of my life."

Her gaze instinctively fell to his lips, part of her wondering what it would be like to kiss him cleanly shaven. His hand shifted deeper into her panties, a single digit caressing her area and making her gasp.

"You're pretty wet, love. Are you sure I can't take care of you?"

She met his gaze again, mischievous and lustful. Her shallow breaths came through parted lips, her heart pounding against her chest. "Don't ruin my hair or makeup," she requested.

Releasing his hooked grip on her bra, he eased her panties down from her hips, letting them fall the rest of the way as he reached past her, pulling open a drawer and grabbing a condom with a slight crinkle. "Can I still kiss you? You haven't put on any lipstick yet."

She wetted her lips, reaching behind herself and unfastening her bra, dropping it to the ground. "Just no hickeys. The last ones just barely healed."

He hummed, pushing his boxers off dismissively. "I remember from this morning, but now I want to give you one. What if I left one on your belly, or your thigh," a light sparked in his eyes at the second idea, a hand finding said thigh and groping it eagerly. He lifted the condom to his mouth, holding her gaze as he ripped it open with his teeth.

"We're going to be late," she warned softly.

"You say that too much. It's my party, I can be as late as I want to."

"But I have a reputation for being punctual."

"Then good thing you're arriving with me," he teased, sheathing himself. "How do you want to do this?"

"I can't lay down or my hair will mess up," she laughed, bracing herself against the counter. "Right here?"

He gave a disapproving scowl, "Makes us seem desperate, doing it on the bathroom counter."

"Then maybe we should start acting desperate," she breathed, wrapping a hand behind his neck and pulling him into an open mouthed kiss. The smell of his shaving cream overwhelmed his incendiary scent, the familiar prickling of his facial hair gone. Her skin goosed with the change. It still tasted like him and his body pressing her against the counter felt like him. She knew it was him, but the difference was terribly distracting.

He broke the kiss, breath fluttering across her face. "What's wrong?"

She moved her free hand to his smooth cheek, furrowing her brow, "I've just never kissed you with a cleanly shaven face."

"What about nine years ago? Maybe not freshly shaven, but it didn't grow back as fast then," he protested, hands moving to her thighs and lifting her up a few inches, pinning her against the counter. His cock pressed against her area, making her breath catch.

"I don't remember how that felt!" her voice came at a higher pitch and she had to intentionally lower it when she added, "I mean physically. I remember how aroused it made me."

"Come on, Ri, I'm trying to sell you on the clean shave," he laughed, giving her a quick kiss before he ground against her area, making her tense.

"I never told you not to shave," she reminded, her body burning with longing. "Mmmph, get in me, Roy," she begged, shifting a hand to grip his muscular bicep.

"No, but you said you liked it. I want to know which you prefer," he prompted, teasing her further by denying her request.

She groaned, tossing her head back as she gulped for breaths. "I- don't care!"

"Really?" he teased, a spark behind his midnight eyes.

It was too much.

Grunting, she shoved him back. Falling off the counter, she pulled him down to the floor with a loud thud.

"Ri! Are you alright?" he asked, playfulness gone as he reached to cradle the back of her head protectively.

She rolled on top of him, straddling his waist as her curled hair hung between them. She shifted to align their sexes, guiding his length to pierce into her.

Relief flooded her as she closed her eyes, tilting her head back. Settling on him, her breasts burned as she gently tried grinding on him, pleasure coursing through her with the first time position.

Realization hit her as her eyes fluttered open, checking on him. He stared up at her, lips parted and cheeks flushed, an awe in his eyes.

Exhaling in a different form of relief, she leaned over him, gyrating her hips with the motion. Her hair curtained their faces as she hovered over his lips. "When I tell you to get in me, Sir, I mean it. Get. In. Me."

"Dear fucking god, I'm in love," he panted, a boyish grin spreading across his face.

A pleased bubble settled in her chest with his response as she began a rhythm. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" she checked, caressing his smooth jaw.

He shook his head, scarred hands running up her thighs admiringly. "No. You scared the shit out of me, though. I thought you preferred me leading."

"You were taking too long, Sir. Now, am I doing this right?" she glanced between them, worried she was the only one feeling friction.

He laughed, squeezing her hips. "You're perfect, Riza. Absolutely perfect."

Across town, Izumi sat down on a bench, the cushion of the seat a bit flat from the amount of use the train received. "We make this trip every year, are you sure you want to leave without going?" Sig asked softly, still standing above her.

Lifting a fist to her chin, she propped her elbow on the window ledge, staring out at the golden-pink light coloring East City as the sun lowered to the west. "I won't be able to avoid him at Edward's wedding. It can wait a few more months."

"Do you really want to add that kind of chaos to such a happy event?"

"Isn't his birthday just as bad? Roy can wait. I'm- not ready yet."

"It'll be twenty-two years in December, Izumi. He's just your brother. She's just your aunt. Don't you think they'd be happy to see you again?"

Lifting her head from her fist, she looked back at him. "Honestly? After the Promised Day, I doubt it."