Author: RealityBreakGirl/aquietlearningcorner
Word Count: 1585
Rating: T
Prompt: FMA Big Bang 2021
Warnings: Child abuse/neglect
Characters: Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang, Jean Havoc, Heymans Breda, Vato Falman, Kain Fuery, Black Hayate
Pairing: Royai
Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Family
Chapter: Epilogue of 7
Summary: Tasked by Fuhrer Grumman to investigate a suspected alchemic incident, General Mustang's team finds themselves stranded in Hawkeye's hometown. Needing a place to stay, they find themselves taking shelter in her childhood home. However, her past can't stay buried there, and as revelations come to light, they also bring embers of danger with them. Sequel to Embers in a Wounded Heart

Epilogue

Riza looked out the window of her apartment, her arms wrapped around herself. Her pink sweater was draped over her shoulders. Rebecca kept offering to replace it, saying it was out of style at this point, but she refused. Riza took good care of it. She made sure to. It had been one of the first things she had bought for herself, after she left home. It was comforting, and she wasn't ready to give it up. It was her choice to buy it, and that was a reminder that she was someone beyond the choices that others had made for her.

She heard soft footsteps behind her, but she didn't turn around. She knew who it was, and she knew that he wouldn't do anything to hurt her. He didn't even want to startle her right now with the state she was in and the way she was armed.

"Riza?" Roy called out her voice softly. "Are… Can I get you anything?"

She was quiet for a bit and didn't turn around. After a moment, she glanced over her shoulder, back at Roy. He was worried about her, that much was clear, and honestly? He had reason to be. She was worried about her too.

"Part of me keeps wondering—what if I just got you to burn the rest of it off."

She saw the horror enter his eyes, which was mutely reflected in his expression. "Riza—no! No, I won't do that to you!"

She sighed and looked down. "I know," she said. "I know you won't. And—" she looked back up, sharpness in her words. "Just so you know, no, I am not contemplating ways to do it myself."

She had told him that the first time around. She had told him that she would find a way to remove the tattoo herself if he didn't burn it off. They had both known that any attempts alone would likely kill her. He had been horrified. At the time, she honestly hadn't minded, feeling that, if she died, then that was her penance for her sins.

Looking back, she could clearly see that she had not been in a good frame of mind. But then again, few of them coming back from the war had been. Even Hughes, for all of his jovial behavior, had his problems as well. The three of them had helped teach other through enough hard nights that they couldn't go to anyone else about. Bless Gracia for never begrudging them that.

"What are you going to do, then?" Roy asked her, moving to stand right in front of her. He wasn't demanding of her, but questioning, allowing her to take the lead, which she appreciated.

"…I don't know," she said. "Be paranoid." It was half a joke, but it was also true. She was already double checking her door and windows constantly and was armed all of the time. She had taken to hiding a few more guns around, and anytime she went out she was hyper aware.

Roy frowned. "You can't keep living like that."

"I know," she said. "But I also can't not. Roy, a man tried to kidnap me to get to my father's research. He was going to take me somewhere, to someone, some group, and have them try to learn the secrets of flame alchemy from it—from me. From me, Roy! It's the thing I've fought against since it was put on my back." She let her head drop to his shoulder, and he was immediately wrapping his arms around her. "I can't escape, Roy. I try and try, but I can't escape my father's grasp."

He held her tightly, holding her as closely as he could, and she leaned into it, her hands grasping him back.

"…I can't let it happen," she said, half whispering it out as he held her. "I can't—Roy, I can't let that happen. I—"

"Shh," Roy held her tightly, and even rocked her a little. "Come here," he pulled her with him, over to the kitchen chairs, and sat her down, staying close to her. "Listen, Riza… I'm not going to let that happen, alright? I'm not going to let anyone put their hands on you, I'm not going to let anyone use your father's knowledge against your wishes. Not even me."

She looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes. "But how? Roy, how are you going to prevent it."

He paused, thinking a moment. "We won't leave you alone. You go somewhere, one of use will go with you. See if maybe Catalina can stay with you a while," he paused, and lifted a hand to her cheek. "I'd love to stay with you. But…"

She leaned into his hand. "I know," she said.

"And I promise you, we'll find these people he was connected to. We'll find them, and we'll make sure they can't do anything with you or with anyone else ever again. We'll stop them." He vowed. "But we'll make sure you stay protected. And I'll be trying to find a way to remove that tattoo that won't hurt you, that won't cause you problems." He tilted her head up to look him in the eyes. "I promise you, Riza Hawkeye, that I will do everything in my power to make sure you and the secret of flame alchemy are protected."

"Thank you," she said, and closed her eyes as he gathered her in his arms again.

A large part of her still wanted to panic about this. It was hard not to. She was scared, so scared, and it was a deep seeded, old fear, one that her father had put on her as a young woman. It was one that had rested with her most of her life. She had thought herself fairly safe, but now? Now she wasn't sure.

"…I think that I might can spare one night with you," Roy said. "I mean, it's late. If I just happen to fall asleep here, well, we have just gotten back from a long trip, and you were injured during it. I think it would be excusable."

She gave him a brief smile, although it didn't quite have the power it usually did. "We'll have to make up the couch for you," she said. He looked mildly disappointed, at least until she continued. "After all, if someone comes calling, we'll need it to look right."

"It'll need to look slept in," he pointed out.

"We'll let Hayate take care of that," she said. Her smiled dropped a bit. "Roy…" her fingers intertwined with his. "Just hold me tonight."

He put a kiss on her forehead. "Of course, Riza," he said. "I planned on it."

He stood up then, and gently tugged her up and out of the chair. They went, together, and made up the couch, made it look as if it had been slept in, and deposited Hayate there before they retired to her room. The little pup didn't seem to mind so much. He seemed to be glad that they would be spending the night together, actually.

They changed, turned down her bed, and then crawled under the blankets. They were thick and warm, and it had a protective feeling to Riza, as if nothing could get her while she was buried under them. The weight of them was comforting. They weren't something that would just be thrown or flung back without it being noticed.

Roy snuggled up to her, a hand going around her waist as he tugged her closer, holding onto her from behind. He fit himself snuggly against her back, holding her to him. It felt good, it felt right, it felt like this was the way that it was supposed to be. It reminded Riza of nights as children, looking up at the stars and falling asleep together. It reminded her of nights at her childhood home, just the two of them, when he would pull up to her like this after a night of studying her back, wanting to pamper her after all that she was letting him do. It reminded her of nights in Ishval when all either of them wanted was a reminder that they had been something more than the killing machines they now were. It reminded her of midnight visits to the Hughes's home, accidently going on the same night, and sleeping there, together, knowing that neither of their friends would say a word.

It reminded her of safety, and of a steadfast, unshakable love that she had never dreamed had existed all those years ago, let alone for someone like her. For some who's own father didn't even want her, didn't even think of her as more then something to be used.

It reminded her that she wasn't alone.

She had Roy. She had Becca. She had Havoc. She had Breda. She had Falman. She had Fuery. She had Hayate. She was far from alone in this situation.

And so Riza Hawkeye breathed in, breathed out, and settled down, letting the warmth of Roy hold and protect her.

"I've got your back," he said, half in a whisper, and a smile touched her lips.

"I wouldn't trust it to anyone else," she said, and while there was a double meaning in that, she knew that he would also hear her words of love in it.

And so, with his reassurance, Riza Hawkeye fell asleep, hoping for a new day to bring hope.