And now, something surprisingly few people have picked up on. Riza said to Roy that she had no relatives when her father died, yet now she has a grandfather? Obviously, not paternal, since his name is Gruman, and not Hawkeye. And so…
"Grandfather?" she asked, her voice steady, though she herself was more than a little afraid.
The older man looked up at her and smiled quietly. "Come in, child," he said. He was sitting at a desk in a tent, since that was all they had.
"So," he said, looking her up and down. "You are my daughter's child, are you?"
"I believe so, sir."
"And a soldier. I've looked you up. Not an alchemist like your father?"
"No, sir. It's a dirty trade," she said.
The General looked surprised, but chose not to remark on the statement.
"However did you find me?" she asked suddenly. Was it only a few days ago that she was handed that cigarette? What had his name been? Havoc?
"Well…as you can see, I'm not yet an old man, but I'm not getting any younger. There comes a time in a man's life when he wants to see his progeny."
He waited for her to comment, but she said nothing. Her dark eyes were boring into him, uncertain, but demanding an explanation.
"I was so angry," he said a little sadly, "at your mother, for running off with that Hawkeye. And so, I never even came to her funeral."
She remembered that funeral, but only barely.
"But when I saw Hawkeye in a report, the one about graduating cadets, I thought of him. And so I looked you up, and…god, would you believe you look like my Elizabeth?"
"My father used to say so."
"Is he well?"
"He's dead."
Her grandfather looked genuinely shocked. "And you? How have you gotten along?"
"I got a job after he died, and then I joined the military."
"I see. And looking at your records, you're a crack shot. Best shot in a while. You have the record for the exam?"
"Yes, sir. After Father died, I figured I'd best learn how to protect myself."
"I see. Was he kind to you?"
She was silent.
He changed the subject. "Well, you're certainly lovely. I can see why you're in need of protection."
She blushed. "Thank you, sir." It had been a while since anyone had called her lovely...in fact, she didn't remember anyone ever calling her lovely. Even Mustang had only gotten to "pretty," at most. "Lovely" made her feel...elegant, grown up...and a little wary.
"Now, tell me about yourself. I'm assuming you're not married, since you're name is still the same."
"No, sir."
"A boyfriend?"
"No, sir."
He frowned and glanced down at his records. Seventeen, he confirmed. Surely a pretty girl her age should be attached by now? Or at least that was how it worked when her mother was growing up. "And your friends?"
"None, sir."
He looked surprised. "Well, do you at least have hobbies?"
"A few."
"Like?"
"Reading, sewing a little, cooking a little."
"I see. Not guns?"
"Guns are my life, sir, not my hobby."
He looked at her with a pained expression on his face. "Could you address me as grandfather or something?"
"Yes, Grandfather, sir."
He sighed. Well, he'd let it go for now. "How did you grow up?"
She shrugged. "Well enough. Father made sure that I got a decent education after Mama died."
"Did you love your father, Riza? Tell me that he was kind to you."
Again, she avoided the question by saying nothing. Instead she reached into her pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He cleared the pens off an ashtray and pushed it closer to her. She lit it and laid the cigarette down on the tray. "I don't know," she said, watching the smoke curl out of her mouth.
"How are you taking the war?"
"What?"
"I mean, how are you liking killing people for a living?" his voice was deadly serious.
She hesitated.
"Come now, tell me the truth."
"I hate it, sir."
He smiled. "Good girl," he said. "I would have not been able to like you if you had said you enjoyed your profession.
Her shoulders sagged, and it surprised him to see a girl like that break down so suddenly. "Then why are we here?" she whispered, and for a moment, he could see all the pain in her life.
"Because someone has to be," he said softly. "And we'd rather be here than our loved ones."
She nodded. "Yes, sir," she answered, and reached for the cigarette again.
He pulled the dish out of her reach. "That'll kill you, you know," he said conversationally. He could handle a minor vice like smoking. It seemed every soldier smoked at some point during their lives.
"I know," she said softly.
"What time do you have to be on duty tomorrow?"
"Oh seven hundred hours."
"Well, you'd best go to bed then."
"Yes." She stood. "It's nice," she said, her voice hesitant. "To know I'm not alone."
He smiled sadly. "Riza?"
"Yes, sir?"
"I'm sorry, for not knowing." For not taking care of you, for not being there, for knowing what your father was like, and letting him do what you won't tell me.
Oddly enough, she understood. "It's all right. You know me now."
"And I will get to know you more. I promise."
She smiled for the first time during their little meeting. "Yes, Grandfather," she said.
"Riza," he said again, stopping her.
"Yes?"
"It nearly killed me, when she ran off with him."
Her heart skipped a beat. It had been a long time since she'd heard about her mother.
"Whoever it is," he said carefully. "No matter who you love, I will still be there to push you two together. I've only got so much time left in the world you know."
"Sir—" she began to protest.
"No. Listen. I'm getting older…and…I don't want to be alone again," he finished finally, looking up at her carefully.
Her eyes softened at the sight of the lonely man, picking out things she hadn't noticed before. The way his wrinkles were starting to become pronounced, the way his hair was more white than dark, the way his hands were becoming an old man's hands, curled and gnarled.
"Sir," she said, "Me neither." She saluted as she watched the smile spread over his face, and walked out of the tent.
No Royai, but i think it may explain a few things in Riza's childhood, like why she didn't grow up knowing her grandfather, and why he's insistent on pushing Roy and Riza together. Also perhaps why he's so young of a grandfather and why he didn't come to Mr. Hawkeye's funeral. So i hope you enjoyed, regardless of there not being any Royai in this lil chapter. Remember to review.