She met Jean for lunch the following Monday and their relationship progressed from there. They became something more than friends, less than lovers, never moving beyond the kiss on the cheek or the holding of hands. Riza knew is wasn't going like Jean would want it, but, for her, every time they would almost kiss, all she saw was her father's student.
It came to a head several months later, after Riza received news that sent her to the range to calm down.
Jean met her there, having been unable to find her elsewhere. He watched her as she unloaded clip after clip into the target.
"You gonna talk about it?" It was Jean who broke the silence.
"I'm going to Ishbal." Riza's face and voice betrayed none of the emotion under the surface. For her, it was filled with fear and concern, and even hope. For others, she would make it a simple statement, nothing more, nothing less.
Jean was silent for a while. "When do you leave?"
He knew duty as well as she did.
"Tomorrow. They don't give us much time."
Jean's eyes widened and he strode over to Riza. He grasped her shoulders and kissed her with months of pent up desire flowing from his being. It was wild, firm, enlightening.
Riza's lips tingled and her senses swam as Jean pressed himself more fully into her.
He easily opened her mouth. Then clarity set in.
Her father was a genius. He tattooed the secret of his ultimate alchemy upon her pale back, killing two birds with one stone. He entrusted his great work to the only person in the world he found trustworthy, and, in doing so, entrusted his greatest accomplishment, his daughter, to the only person he would trust with her.
She knew, right in the middle of the kiss, knew that her father's student would be the only man the could ever love, whatever way that was possible. She couldn't trust another single person with her back. Couldn't let another man see her unclothed, touch her. Her father entrusted her to Roy, and she would obey his wish.
It took Jean a moment to realize Riza was pushing him away. When he did, he backed off and sighed.
"This will never be, will it?"
"Not what you want, but I still favor you above any of the men in my life, my father's student being the exception..."
"You seeing him? Who is he?..."
"I'm not seeing him, I'm not sure I will ever see him again, but I'm bonded to him. There's only him...that way."
Jean smiled a little smile, sadness hiding behind his eyes.
"Riza...Thanks. I've never had a girl for a friend, but I hope to remain your's as long as you'll have me." He did well in hiding his disappointment.
"I couldn't imagine my life not having you in it. I'll write you. Write me? Pleas?" The desperation in the last bit of Riza's voice wasn't characteristic of her, but she couldn't lose Jean. Not entirely.
He was her second friend since leaving her life behind. She was bonded to him too, now. He accepted her, made her at ease, and liked her enough to remain 'just friends'.
"I'm...thankful to you...for you, Jean."
They hugged and Riza kissed him goodbye.
Jean walked away, a cigarette dangling between his fingers, making no attempt to reach his mouth.
