Gloves

Riza stood up, facing the wall and picked up her shirt, pulling it over her head.

"Thank you Riza, I think I've almost deciphered the notes. A little longer and I should have it. For now I've worked out a basic transmutation circle to manipulate hydrogen and oxygen but it's a bit unpredictable" He smiled, the last time he'd tried to activate his copy of the transmutation circle and lit a match he'd singed his eyebrows off and they'd only just grown back.

He'd been studying her back again. They'd been doing it every night for the past month and he was finally beginning to make progress.

"Roy, I'm exhausted I think I'll go to sleep now. You can go over the notes again tomorrow" She said yawning as she left to room, headed to the spare room.

He grunted in acknowledgement, eyes glued to the paper in font of him, lips moving soundlessly.

Day after day they continued this routine, he religiously studied her back at every given opportunity. She didn't mind being topless in his presence, it was just for the alchemy, for his research. It was necessary. He thought nothing of it. Neither did she.

He rubbed his eyes, clearly exhausted. Riza glanced at the clock, it was well past midnight.

"Lets get some sleep, its late, you can work more on this tomorrow" She yawned, getting up and turning away from him as usual to put some clothes on.

She stretched and Roy glanced at her. The tattoo, it looked different when she stretched. He blinked taken aback. Then it clicked. The notes he'd been studying he'd been focused too deeply on. They were part of the transmutation circle. He'd dismissed them as just words but it had been right in front of him the whole time. The secrets to flame alchemy. He knew it. So much had just fallen into place in his mind. She looked over her shoulder at him and he was grinning wildly.

"Are you okay?"

"I've got it" he muttered, then louder,"I've got it! Riza you're amazing!"

Without a seconds thought he flung his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She stiffened against him and then he realised. She was topless. This was highly inappropriate.

"Oh my god I am so sorry" words tumbled from his mouth as he attempted to apologise.

He was cut off however but her arms wrapping around him, reciprocating the action.

"Get some sleep" she murmured.

"No, stay up with me. Lets just relax tonight, you've put up with all this research, lets both have a break" He smiled down at her.

And so they did just that. She put her shirt back on and they spent the night talking about anything and everything. Their childhoods. Ishval. The State Alchemist exam. The future. By the time the sun rose they'd both fallen asleep, Roy splayed out on the floor and Riza curled up on the sofa.

She woke up first and began making breakfast, the smell of sausages and bacon rousing the sleeping alchemist on the floor.

His arms wrapped around her and he rested his chin on her shoulder as she cooked,"Need any help?"

"Actually yes, you sort this out I'm going to make tea" She smiled at him, slipping from his embrace and walked to the cupboard to retrieve some mugs.

They ate together in silence, simply enjoying the presence of one another.

"So last night what did you learn?" She asked, intrigued.

"The sketches of transmutation circles I'd drawn were incomplete. The notes on your back, they make up parts of the circle and I didn't realise till last night"

"So you know the theory and the exact circle now?" She asked excitedly, genuinely happy for him.

"Yeah, I mean I'll have to try it out and work out how to have a circle on me at all times, then I'll need a lighter on me to produce a spark for it to work" He trailed off thoughtfully.

"A lot of alchemists incorporate their circles into tattoos or gloves" She said, thinking.

"You're a genius! Ignition cloth would be perfect! It'd produce the spark if I assuming it produces enough friction between my thumb and forefinger and hopefully I'd be able to manipulate the gas in the air and boom flames! I could literally click and there'd be sparks!" He grinned happily then the grin slid of his face,"Riza?"

"Yes"

"I know you've already helped me a lot but can I ask you to teach me something?"

She furrowed her brow,"Of course"

"I never actually learned how to click"

She burst out laughing. He may be extremely intelligent and capable but as far as basic skills went, Roy lacked them all.

She grinned affectionately,"Okay I'll teach you"