Hello everyone, I present you a Royai fic! :)
BTW: The quote at the beginning of the chapter is spoken by Roy, just a reminder ^^
My Position as Führer
I lost my pawns, my knight, my rook, my bishop, and even my queen. But, it's not checkmate, just yet.
He stared at his white gloves, the transmutation circles for his flame alchemy imprinted on them in red. He was glad he had gotten his vision back, he remembered how terrified he had been when he first realized what happened, but also the calm fear and acceptance that took over him upon reflecting that if he never regained his eyesight, he would have to help rebuild a nation he couldn't ever see again.
He heard silent footsteps approaching the tent where he was currently brooding and his vision was met with a pair of army boots, followed by baggy blue pants and lastly a dark brown shirt and Riza's face, hawk's gaze trained on him.
He knew what was coming as she took the rest of her uniform off the rack and expertly put it on, "Ready, sir?"
She didn't need to ask, he had to be ready, but the soft look in her eyes suggested he still had a choice in the matter. They both knew he didn't but the thought of it was comforting.
He nodded silently, standing up to his full height and she nodded in return.
He uttered the words before he could stop himself, "Are you sure you can do this?"
She only offered him a nod and a small smile, "Don't go where I can't follow, sir," she turned her back to him and opened one flap of the tent, "This is only one of the obstacles we will overcome on your way to rebuild Amestris,"
He smiled and in a rare moment, a moment he allowed himself to act out of line, he placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling her tense then relax against his touch. He closed his eyes, "Will you shoot me if I nicely ask you to before this begins?" there was a hint of humor in his tone.
She smirked, "I'm afraid I can't obey this order, sir," she turned serious again as soon as they entered the spacious court room and sat down on two chairs, facing the court members and judges.
"Let's begin, shall we Colonel Roy Mustang, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye?" one of the judges asked, files in his hands and their very lives.
Both nodded firmly.
It had been hours since the court martial had started and both Roy and Riza had doubt clouding their minds like a dark rain cloud threatening to rumble with thunder over their heads.
When the head judge rose from his seat and the others followed suit, Roy and Riza deemed it appropriate to follow as the judge began to spoke, "Colonel Roy Mustang and First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye," he glanced at them, the glasses with a slim frame giving him a even harsher appearance which was only augmented by the thin, protruding nose keeping them up, "You've been heavily charged with the annihilation of an entire race. The executed annihilation ordered by the late Führer King Bradley issued the extermination of the Ishvalan race, with the purpose of ending the hostile relations shared with them and so preventing a war which may have increased in its severity before 1908 with the start of this conflict officially marked as the year of 1901." The judge paused, glancing again at Riza and Roy.
Both maintained calm expressions, not willing to allow their facades to falter under the scrutiny of the judges.
"However, latest revelations concerning the Führer's identity as well as the real role of the Ishvalans within the war, namely misunderstood victims of it branded as enemies by the state, we have decided against a death penalty," both figures froze, eyes wide in astonishment.
They had expected the worst, with their active roles in the war but this...
Roy decided to speak up, gathering his fragile courage, "But sir, we have actively participated in a one sided annihilation that had eliminated an entire race!" Riza stiffened from beside him. They didn't understand.
The judge held up a hand, "At ease, Colonel, we have received trusted intel from one our sources, rest assured we know the truth behind the war." Roy's eyes widened.
"The truth will not be leaving these walls however, as I'm sure will plunge Amestris in unneeded panic over being controlled by a ancient race called "Homunculi". One of those so called "Homunculi" has shot a Ishvalan child, while disguised as one of our very own men and has prompted the start of a bloody war which ended in peril." His voice rang loud and clear, so loud Roy and Riza almost didn't hear the rapid pounding of their hearts and the blood pumping in their ears.
"I'm sorry to say however, your deeds will not go unpunished," his face grew grim, "Heeding your positions in the war and under the direct control of the late Führer, we have decided a penalty of lifelong servitude to the country of Amestris shall be enough to atone for what you have done,"
Again, both soldiers' eyes widened in shock. What...?
"But sir-" Riza began but was cut off.
Again, the head judge lifted his hand for silence, "We've have decided it to be the best course of action currently. General Grumman I believe shall become the new Führer as of now, however, we have decided after he decides to pass on the title of Führer, if you so desire to claim for yourself. Rebuilding Ishval will be of course included in your lifelong service to the country of Amestris," the judge's grim expression melted to give way a softer smile and nodded.
It was over.
"What...just what happened back there?" Roy asked in bewilderment, hands resting on the back of his neck as he hung his head down to stare at his boots, perplexed.
Riza sat opposite of him, quite shaken herself, "I...I'm not sure if I can answer that either, sir..." her voice betrayed her shock, clearly taken aback by the decision of the judges.
Roy straightened in his seated position, a look of recognition in his eyes, "...Could it be that we were...forced to pledge our allegiance to Amestris? To rebuilding Ishval? To...perhaps become Führer...?" he couldn't believe it...
"It would seem so sir..." Riza chuckled quietly, "To tell you the truth, I have expected to be sentenced to a life sentence for this...but this was..."
"...getting off the hook, more or less, we are bound to our jobs now," for some reason, Roy sounded sad and Riza picked up on it.
"You seem sorry for it..." she smiled gently.
Roy smiled, shaking his head, "It's nothing..." he stood up, "Well...let's get to work," Riza nodded and stood up as well, following him outside.
They still had a country to rebuild...
General Grumman smiled slyly, hearing his subordinate report to him how the court martial went and where Mustang and Riza currently were, "So they're helping rebuilding the ruins of Ishval huh..."
He chuckled, "Amusing indeed...oh Roy, in what sort of trouble are you getting my granddaughter now again..." he laughed, finding the situation highly amusing.
He was glad he had good contacts and friends in high places, while he hadn't bribed the judges or clouded their minds, he still managed to prevent something along the lines of a death sentence or worse from coming up.
Serving a life sentence to the country didn't sound all that bad, however he knew Roy Mustang.
He chuckled again in delight, "Oh Roy my boy...I don't doubt that once you become Führer, you will tear down the fraternization laws once and for all," he chuckled, already planning bets on when his darling granddaughter and that headstrong dog will finally seal the deal...
"I'm betting on Riza, she was always the one with the pants on in that relationship," another subordinate of his grinned.
Grumman laughed, "Indeed, she was," the pile of 'Riza' was growing quite a bit.
Someone threw cents on a pile for Roy suddenly and upon noticing who it was, Grumman had to laugh again, "Can we bet too?" Havoc grinned widely, Fuery, Breda and Falman behind him wearing sheepish smiles and grins.
Grumman grinned, "Help yourself,"
It had been a tiring day for the both of them, they had driven to the place where once Ishval stood, Ishvalan refugees had been gathered there, Scar and Miles had been there too, overseeing everything and helping along as well.
It had been a inspirational sight almost, to see so many people, people who used to stand on opposite sides, now smiling and aiding each-other in rebuilding a nation that had been the victim of that war since the beginning.
Rebecca had come to help too, surprisingly, chatting with Riza while the women did manual labor helping the other workers into building a stable frame for houses that would soon be built here. Things were looking up for them all.
Rebecca's gaze moved away from her friend and she smirked, leaning in closely to Riza to whisper to her, "Well, well, well, would you look at that, look who's been staring at you like a kicked puppy this whole time," she nodded her head at something behind Riza but when the blonde turned around with a confused expression she saw Roy's back, who was discussing some plans with another worker looking over a blueprint.
Riza turned back to her friend, "I think the sun might be getting to you," she continued hammering at the stubborn nails in the wood.
Rebecca pouted like a child, hands on her hips, "And I think you're starting to become blind, look!" she motioned again towards Roy and when Riza turned around this time, she met the Colonel's gaze.
He quickly pretended to be looking over their heads at something none of the women could see, before swiftly turning on his heel and picking up a shovel to help the men dig.
Riza watched him, watched how his normally neat dress shirt clung to his broad back and forearms from sweat, watched how his sleeves were rolled up till his elbows to allow at least some relieve of the merciless sun shining upon their backs. She watched his tall frame, walking in confident strides to the other workers and offer his help, before helping them dig, determination in his actions.
What she didn't see however was the embarrassed blush on his face she blamed the sun for.
"Lieutenant..." Roy began slowly, letting her support some of his weight as they stumbled into her apartment, the smell of alcohol and the smoke that had permeated the bar area still clinging to him.
Riza did her best to bring them both to the bathroom, "Yes, sir?" her voice was steady and clear, having only consumed about two glasses of weak alcohol.
There has been a small celebration in the bar a few blocks down, marking the success of the first built house in what was once Ishval, they still needed to decorate the interior and make it habitable, but they have come a great deal closer and that was all that mattered.
For some reason, Roy had consumed far more alcohol than usually, getting drunk quite quickly thanks to the strong drinks he ordered. She couldn't figure out why he would get drunk like that, but put the blame on wanting to have fun and celebrate.
He was unusually quiet as they finally stumbled into her bathroom, Riza flicked on the lights and carefully helped him sit still on the closed lid of the toilet. Roy remained silent and it only increased her worries as she asked, "Sir?"
Roy blinked, once, twice, then slowly lifted his head to look at her, his dark obsidian eyes clearer than she expected with the alcohol in his system.
And then he leaned in toward her, gently cupping her cheek, his thumb drawing distracting circles against the soft flesh as he gazed at her as intently as when he performed his flame alchemy.
"Lieutenant..." his gaze narrowed, "Riza...will you...continue to follow me?" he leaned his forehead carefully against her own, he knew he was crossing a line, a very dangerous, thin line that had existed since the beginning of their relationship as subordinate and superior.
He often had to force himself never to breach that line, part in respect to her wishes, part because of himself, because he would never forgive himself if he screwed anything up with her, because if he lost her, it would all be over. His reason for everything's that shaped him and everything he's done for now would pale.
It was thanks to her that he managed to survive the harsh training her father had put him through in learning flame alchemy, it was thanks to her that his relationship with his aunt had bettered, having realized she was his only living relative and that what time he did spend with her it was solely for gathering information.
Because of her, he realized what a monster he was. He realized how terrible and scary he could be, he realized how frightening and fierce his eyes could be when he let his anger completely overwhelm his senses and when he had looked directly at himself during those moments, he was frightened of it himself. Of himself. Of that monster.
At the same time, she made him realize how very human he was too. How flawed he was, how he liked to spend his afternoons lazing about the office when he needed to do paperwork, how he valued everyone of the Mustang team despite teasing them, how he saw a bit of himself in Edward, a bit of the lost boy who lost his relatives and didn't know what to do from that point onward, how he kept trying to act strong and achieve something of his own and rid his mistakes.
It was her that softened his heart into protecting the boys when time permitted, it was because of her that he realized that a rebellious child such as Edward didn't only need harsh words and strict discipline to grow. He realized that with a soft spoken child like Alphonse stuck in a body that didn't feel the warmth of others or experience any other human emotion aside from the ones his soul did...it made him realize that tactful manners and carefully chosen words could inflame hope in a heart that had been broken.
She was there when Hughes died, she was the indestructible force that held him together when he had been a broken mess, the time when his first tear fell at Hughes' grave, that many more had followed even into the privacy of his apartment. And in the next morning when he had woken up with a pounding headache and a empty feeling in his heart, she had been laying on the floor beside his bed and held his hand the entire night when nightmares would plague his dreams.
"Of course, sir," Riza smiled, worried, "Are you alright sir?"
She also...made him realize things about himself too...
That one person alone could change many things, that one person was capable of changing another's life forever in a way nobody imagined, that one person could change the path life has forced upon them and make a path of their own, that one person...
...could change him.
"Yes...I'm alright..." he smiled and she smiled back.
"Let's get you out of these clothes first, you reek of alcohol," he stumbled slightly but she caught him and the proximity between them was closed as their bodies pressed together, trying to support his larger and heavier frame, "Can you stand, sir?"
Roy smiled, discreetly inhaling her scent, traces of perfume, sweat and her own musky smell.
"Yes, Lieutenant, I'll be fine," she nodded.
"...Can you help me undress?" the look he gave her prompted her to do a double take.
"I thought you said you were fine sir,"
"Oh no, I think I'm fainting Lieutenant!" Roy raised his hand to his forehead dramatically and Riza rolled her eyes.
"I'll be back with some clothes for you, just wait here and don't do anything stupid,"
"Why I beg to pardon Lieutenant, I'm a respectable grown adult who-"
He shut up when Riza fixed him with a long look, before disappearing behind the door.
He sighed and smiled, looking surprised when she came back with an assortment of his very own clothes in her hands, "But these are mine?"
Riza nodded, "Yes, on occasion when you're intoxicated and sleep here for the night you sometimes leave your spare clothes here. I washed and ironed them for you so you can use them for the next time," her words were logical, but something in the fact that she had some of his clothes in her home, that she took the time to wash and iron them so he could put them on for the next time on one of his drunken endeavors...
He hugged her, clothes falling on the floor as he held her to him, breaching another line again, she stiffened but slowly relaxed, whispering, "Are you alright-"
"Roy," he cut her off gently, burying his face in her hair.
"...Roy," Riza smiled and everything felt right again as she returned his hug, forgetting formalities and ranks and titles and positions.
"...I am now...Riza,"
He smiled.
It was the day he decided to grow a experimental moustache.
It was also the day where he would be proclaimed as the next Führer by General Grumman.
And as he met the elated and content faces of the citizens of Amestris, his gaze moved away from them and to his side.
Where she was. Dressed in a more regal looking uniform, standing beside him tall and proud, proud of his achievement, of where he was standing now.
And he smiled.
Not for the fact that he finally fulfilled his lifelong dream, not for the fact that it was Grumman who gave him the honors, not even for the fact that he could rebuild Amestris into a country where things like the Promised Day or the Ishvalan Extermination would never happen again, no.
He smiled for the sole fact that she was beside him.
With her help, he had achieved his dream.
And with only her help, she could help him achieve another dream of his.
The day where she said...
Yes.
Oh man...cheesy ending, I know, but bear with my moods ^^