Hey guys! Hope you enjoy this chapter, dedicated to all the Royai fans out there (me included)! :D

Flame Alchemy or the woman you love?

"You can't be serious!" Roy Mustang shouted in outrage as he glared at his Lieutenant's bare back.

Covered in a tattoo, the secrets to flame alchemy to be more exact, branded onto her by none other than her own late father, a Flame Alchemist of the highest caliber himself.

"I am. Please sir, I beg of you." Riza clutched her uniform tightly to her naked chest, feeling all too exposed, "Erase the burden of carrying my father's secret, I do not want it falling into the wrong hands," she looked at her superior over her shoulder.

Roy clutched his fist tightly, averting her gaze and looking to the side, "How do you expect me to do that?" he met her eyes again, daring her to repeat what she had said earlier that startled him so.

"Burn it off me," her gaze was as sharp and serious as ever, underlined with something fragile, vulnerable.

Roy's rage grew, "You know I can't! I will not endanger your health because of it!"

"You have to Colonel!" Riza's voice rose in volume surprisingly enough, "I can no longer live with this burden. I carried the secret of my father ever since he passed away! He told me to never show it to anyone without endangering the whole world! Tell me, what would you do Colonel?" Riza turned around, her uniform still covering her front protectively as she stared fiercely at her superior.

"You can't expect me to willingly injure you like that…" his voice lost its sharp edge, turning soft and pleading, his lips were set in a thin line, his gaze sad.

Riza's expression softened, her voice small and nothing above a whisper, "Please…Roy…" she met his stunned eyes at the use of his first name.

Despite knowing each-other for a very long time and having been through many things together, their relationship was known to be always professional, they even called each-other by surname while alone, never allowing their relationship to stray from Colonel and his trusted Lieutenant.

With great difficulty and a heavy heart, Roy shut his eyes tightly closed, "Alright…" Riza smiled sadly, nodding as she presented her back to him once again.

Roy waited a moment, before he slowly walked toward her until he was standing right behind her.

He frowned deeply, looking at his gloved hands and for the first time, he wished they were outside and it was raining so he wouldn't be able to use his alchemy now for something so atrocious and cruel to someone he held so close to his heart.

"Close your eyes…I'll make it quick," Riza bit her lip and nodded, closing her eyes and bracing herself for the immense pain she knew would follow.

The pain of her flesh searing and burning at his literally scalding touch made her clench her teeth tightly together to not make a sound, she didn't want to burden him anymore than she already did. The faint feeling of his gloved fingers touching her skin offered her comfort and she picked up on it that he used low flames to scorch her, nothing like his usual flame alchemy, she was grateful for that.

The pain was intense but it came as a surprise to Riza when it was relatively quickly over, she also took note that Roy didn't touch her whole back for it.

Confused, she opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder at him. He wore a very tight, pained smile.

"I only erased the most important parts. Even if somebody did see it, they wouldn't be able to do anything with it since the key parts are missing," Roy sighed heavily, carefully, gently, caressing the irritated skin around the fresh burns.

She winced, he recoiled back.

Riza had tears in her eyes, tears of joy, finally freed from her father's burden, freed of carrying such a dangerous secret with her.

She was finally free.

"Thank you Colonel," she smiled.

"I hope now you can rest easier, Lieutenant," Roy smiled as well.

In the upcoming weeks, Roy helped Riza heal, making sure her pain was reduced to a minimum, taking her off active duty until he was sure her burns healed fully and she was ready to fight again.

They never told their colleagues and friends what happened, not even Hughes knew about it.

It was their little secret.

And that secret had haunted Roy's dreams ever since that day, until the day came where Mei had managed to heal Riza's injuries, erasing the scar and the burns left by Roy until nothing but her smooth skin remained again.

The scars were gone and Riza was happy about it, even when they were standing in front of a priest, in the presence of all the people they have faced so many hardships with, Roy could never forget that fateful day where he willingly agreed to injure the one person that always had mattered the most.

The person that always counted.

"I do," he could utter those words without any regrets or doubts.

But at times, when he held her close in their shared bed, memories of the past, of that day, continued to haunt him and rob him of his sleep.

Riza, however, could only remember the scalding yet comforting touch of a man she realized she had developed feelings for in her youth. That day, for her, was the day she was finally freed from her bonds.

She was free.

He moved on.

The end for this short one shot! Reviews are very welcome! Should I write future chapters more light/funny or also serious/sad?