Disclaimer: I do not own fullmetal alchemist.
This chapter takes place 4 years later when Roy and Riza are sixteen.
Four years later.
Sitting in a café on your own is possibly one of the top most excruciating moments that one has to deal with on a daily-basis and todays contestant for 'being-watched-by-other-customers-and-taken-pity-on-for-lack-of-male-company' is RIZA HAWKEYE!. Yes, this was one of those moments, all eyes trained on the 16 year-old which made Riza shift uncomfortably in her seat.
Riza purposely allowed hair to slightly cover her face so she didn't have to bare people staring at her and she had caught the attention of a few of the male clientele which she made her think 'yeah keep staring you bastards, just know if you try hitting on me there'll be hell to pay' (AU: Riza has been trained by her father to be basically BADASS).
Riza kept staring out the window wondering when he was going to arrive, she said to herself silently " I swear to god I'm gonna kill that guy".
Riza went straight back looking down at the newspaper reading deeply into the story about a cat that had learnt to nurture human babies and was leader on childcare techniques, she lightly chuckled to herself thinking 'Oh god, I can imagine Roy reading this, this very second and postulating the magnitude of this discovery of inter-species relationship,…..yeah he's a freak' she automatically had a little smile whilst thinking of him. Unfortunately for Riza it was the speak of the devil and low and behold who should show up?
Roy was walking down to the bakers after his alchemy training with Berthold, of course the chocolate eclairs weren't meant for him they were meant for a lazy-off-his-rocker master who Roy was starting to suspect was using him for the purposes of being his personal errand boy.
Roy walked down the street when low and behold he should see a mesmerising blonde beauty through the widow of a café, 'NO! could it be, NO!...YES! it is her', Roy thought to himself and cackled like a witch when he saw his best-friend because he loved to scare her tits off.
Roy quickly ran out of eye-shot of the window and slowly tip-toed his was into the café which made some of the patrons café look at him with a most indignant like he was mental.
As Roy approached the blonde girl from behind, he shook her shoulders whilst shouting "AAAAAAAA, A HYENA!"
Riza felt her heart jump out her chest and scream "AAAAAA WHERE!" whilst at the same time falling on the floor writhing as if a monkey had latched on to her back.
"GET IT OFF!'', she screamed until she heard the familiar dulcet but annoying tones of a one ROY MUSTANG laughing his knackers off. She immediately self-righted herself on to the chair, red-faced and embarrassed she looked glaringly into Roy's smug little face.
"What the fuck do you want?" Riza spat.
Roy looking extremely pleased with himself replied "ah, the traditional lovers greeting I see".
Riza couldn't help but smile at the quick witted reply which eventually led her to punching him in the arm and kicking his feet under the table. "AAA, fuck me that hurts, why don't u go for my nads while your at it…O.O Don't really do it though" Roy grimaced holding his arm. Riza immediately went back to reading the newspaper and acting like Roy wasn't even there.
"OH, come on Riza shmapoopy are you 'shad' aww look at that 'wittle' face aaww" roy mocked her with a puppy dog face. " alright, I'm sorry right, your my best mate who wouldn't I do it to" Roy exclaimed, Riza looked up at him and smirked and said "figures it would be you to show up here on my date"
"yeah where is captain fuck-tard-casanova anyway?", roy loved to hate on Riza's boyfriend at every opportunity. Riza replied "do you always have to be so rude about him if you don't like him then keep it to yourself and not tell his girlfriend, anyway Nathaniel's just….a bit..late", Riza voice trailed as she said the last part.
Roy stared at her visibly concerned he added "yeah well he doesn't deserve you, I mean if I were your boyfriend.." Roy quickly added "hypothetically of course, then I would never stand you up".
Riza cracked a little smile at his statement but had to bring him back to earth "yeah sure sure ROY! Like the time when you stoop up your own ex-girlfriend so you could pour itching powder down my clothes, really chivalrous of you", they both burst out laughing at the statement and remembering Roy actually doing that.
Just when the two were having fun the mood got brought right back down by the arrival of a tall, blonde-haired, blue eyed and ridiculously handsome chiselled-jawed guy by the name of Nathaniel Armstrong nephew of the famous Armstrong lineage.
Nathaniel walked over to Riza and planted a kiss on her cheek and said "did you miss me?" Riza looked at him as he sat down by her side putting his arm around her.
She immediately went red in the cheeks and she had totally forgotten to shout at him for being so late "Nathaniel, oh I err did miss you" Nathaniel moved closer to her and pressed his lips against her.
"MMM NATHANIEL, STOP, NO we're in public" she glared at him in shock and looked over to Roy who had averted his gaze away from her quickly which she also did.
Nathaniel looked over the table and realized Roy sitting there, "oh I see why your reluctant.." he examined Roy who thought that Nathaniel may be giving him homo-erotic vibes by the way he was staring at him. Nathaniel looked extremely annoyed and remarked "I see they'll let any rat from Lowtown in to this place these days, I can't even believe you hang around with his type".
Riza was shocked but didn't even reply to defend Roy because Nathaniel was her boyfriend which Roy totally expected and didn't begrudge her for it. Roy simply smirked and replied "when you say 'his type' are you referring to handsome, clever and suave because that's totally me".
Riza and Roy burst out laughing at his quip, Riza followed up by saying "oh, come on Nathaniel you know you like him *wink-wink* eyy, check his body out mmm I'm sure that's your type too baby" Roy fell off his chair laughing and Riza was finding it hard to breath with laughter.
Nathaniel stared at them indignantly " I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU RIZA, I CAME HERE TO SEE YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME", Riza stopped laughing and said "Nathaniel were only joking you know that, he's my best-friend it's just what we do, come on sit down again".
Nathaniel stepped away from them both and said threateningly "I'll be seeing you later RIZA!" and began to walk out but not before Roy called out "Nathaniel oohh your soooo handsome please don't leave me, we had something".
Roy and Riza sat there laughing and chuckling until it wore off. Roy eventually looked at her and spoke "Come on Riza, get your ass up were going out, come now little one daddy'll take you home", Riza giggled which made Roy uncomfortable "bloody hell Riza don't really make me feel like a peado, we are the same age you know".
Riza ran behind Roy and jumped on his back so he could carry her all the way home "where to ma'am?" Roy asked, "there's no place like home, where else you skreg", they walked all the way home and Roy dropped off in the house holding his back due to the pain of carrying a grown teenage girl. "You've done me back in, that's it my dreams of being a state alchemist gone due to piggy-back rides" Roy proclaimed, "Whatever loser, go home already before dad realises the bakery closed and you didn't bring him his eclairs". Roy and Riza heard footsteps which took that to be his cue to 'leg it' home, he could deal with his masters grouchiness or as he liked to call it 'man-period' tomorrow.
Roy woke up the next day feeling lazier than ever because today was a Saturday and he could have his lazy ass sit around moping and basically doing shit-all, but his mother had other plans and she made sure to drag his lazy-self out of his bed vis-à-vis the wooden floor.
Roy do this Roy do that was all Roy heard from his mother and she loved to have him around because now that he'd started learning alchemy he could transmute broken bits of furniture etc. which Roy didn't find enjoyable when in his mind he should be relaxing or his better past-time checking out girls bosoms which he often mused were 'Gods greatest gift to mankind including cheese and onion sandwich of course'. Roy was busy transmuting the old rickety staircase while his mum watched his handywork.
"Roy, you not going to Master Hawkeyes today?" Chris asked, "naa, didn't wanna…but I don't know I might go and see Riza to see if she's alright and the like".
Chris had a knowing smile on her face when he mentioned Riza and she had a revelation then and there, she asked Roy "Oh, so Riza is she still your best-friend?" Roy replied "of course you already know that". Chris questioned further "so how come you've never invited your best-friend to the house, are you ashamed or something" Chris smirked as she said this and she knew how Roy would take it "WHA- NO WAY am I ashamed I just…never thought she'd want to come to this neighbourhood because she's from Hightown area, you know how they are mum they're all prissy little girls who ate the mere sight of dirt faint and plus I didn't think her dad would allow her".
Chris smirked and added "then I see no problem in bringing her over, I mean have a right to see someone whose such a big influence on my baby Roy-kins, whatever she's a drug dealer I DON'T KNOW I'll have to see her".
Roy looked at her suspiciously and felt something wasn't adding up like why his mum was eager to have Riza over even still he replied "Alright I'll bring her over tonight you can examine her brain all you want mum just give it back once you're done", his mother stared at him and thought to herself 'only he would come out with a line like that'.
Roy did as his mother told and went off to get Riza who he wasn't sure would come or not. As he arrived at her house he walked in without knocking as he was always coming and going from their place like family, he found Riza laying on the couch with her eyes closed she clearly wasn't sleeping but was in deep thought.
Roy walked up to her and made a uncanny voice of Nathaniel and said "Darling, I've come to apologize", Riza didn't open her eyes and just said "Who on gods earth let you in and I don't want to hear you apologize me to you should be apologizing to Roy" the last remark made Roy feel all warm inside and smile. "Oh, baby please I'm sorry" Roy was trying to hold back his chuckles, he moves closer towards her and placed a hand on her cheek, to which she opened her eyes.
Riza stared shocked into Roy's eyes, shocked that he was touching her cheek in that way and shocked that she liked the feeling it gave her. Roy also forgot for that moment that he was playing around and felt almost like this was right, "Roy you had me fooled you idiot I thought you were Nathaniel" Riza said nervously, her cheeks burning scarlet telling more than a thousand words.
Roy immediately withdrew his hand and gave a nervous laugh and immediately tried to act natural "HAHAA got you, pretty uncanny ey", Riza looked at him and and said "…..yeah pretty uncanny" ending with a nervous laugh.
They both sat in silence for a few minutes until Roy broke it by telling her why he came here in the first place. "so would you wanna come down to Lowtown I know it's all poor and st-", Riza stopped him "Yeah I'd love to meet your family, I always wondered what they were like, just wait here I'll meet you outside while I tell my dad".
They both finally made their way down to Lowtown just as the sun was setting on the city and you could see the smokestacks of Lowtowns steel mills acting as silhouette indicating you had arrived. Roy watched Riza's reaction as she came into Lowtown, she didn't look that visibly shaken by dilapidated houses or poverty of the whole neighbourhood which was huge relief for Roy who didn't want Riza to start pitying him just because he was poor.
As they reached the middle house in the terraced block with the red door Roy opened the door and ushered Riza and the first thing she was greeted with was a woman's bosom it was Roy's mum "OH my, you must be Riza Hawkeye, our Roy has told us so much about you it's all he talks about you know" said Mrs Mustang, which made Roy go red in the cheeks which he could only reply by saying in an annoyed voice "MUUUM stop talking already" through gritted teeth.
Riza smiled at her and already felt welcome in the house "thanks for inviting me Mrs Mustang" said Riza, "oh dear just call me Chris, Mrs Mustang makes me feel older than I am". Chris escorted Riza to the kitchen table where the whole family were already sat down with food at the table.
Riza felt extremely nervous sitting with Roy's family she was after all an only child she never sat with this many people for dinner. She made sure her eyes didn't shift too much and she kept looking over to Roy sitting next to her and giving a face that said 'help me' Roy merely chuckled to himself at her sight. Chris introduced all of her children to Riza, all of whom were staring at her like she was a zoo attraction.
"So are you and Roy like going out or something" asked Isabelle, Roy mysteriously had a loud cough after this remark. Riza simply denied it "Oh no, we're just friends", Isabelle smiled "I get it 'FRIENDS' don't worry I know", Riza quickly replied "no, no it's not that", Isabelle stopped her then said "suuure and my best-friend happens to be a guy". Roy punched his sister on the arm which eventually shut her up.
Their mother brought dish on to the table which Riza realised wasn't a lot even only her and her father had more on their table when they ate dinner, what made it worse for Riza was the fact that all the rest had been given really small portions and she was given a larger one. Riza wanted to say something but she didn't want to be rude or sound like as if she were pitying them by bringing it up.
Apart from the guilt Riza felt from eating what food they had the rest of the night was a blast for her and maybe not so much for Roy, which consisted of him being ripped on by the whole family, butt of all the jokes and talking about Roy before she met him and of course the obligatory baby photos.
Riza hadn't felt this good in a long time which made her wish she had a huge family like Roy's or on the other hand maybe she would've been on the receiving end of jokes if had which made her rethink that possibility. The whole table was abuzz with laughter and joy which consequently made them forget the time and they wound up talking so late that Riza's dad rang up, but to Roy and Riza's delight Chris had convinced him to let her stay the night.
"alright my little babies off to bed which means the twins and Billy will sleep with your dad and my room, your sisters staying as usual on the sofa and Riza gets the bed and you the usual" ordered Chris. Riza tried to protest but Chris wouldn't have any of it and ordered her to get changed into some of Isabelle's shorts and tank top.
Riza laid down on the bed as Roy entered the room and also lay down on the floor which was covered with a mat and blanket, "you sure you're okay down there Roy?" Riza asked, "How do you think I've been sleeping for the past 16 years" Roy added with a chuckle to which Riza laughed.
They both stared at the ceiling as the lights went out and the only light came from moon, Riza looked down at Roy and she knew that being his best-friend she could ask him anything "Roy..",
Roy replied "hmm", she took that as a yes.
"Roy did you wish you were richer?" she felt bad for asking him but she could tell it was bothering him since she came to his house. Roy took a sighed and took a deep breath " doesn't everyone want to be richer when you have nothing, I know this might sound wrong but before I became your dad's apprentice I used to think how would be if I were born into a rich family. Where I could have what I needed and wouldn't have to worry if my dad will come home in dead or crippled.." Roy felt a lump in his throat and turned his back away from Riza, tears slowly falling from his eyes trying hard not to let Riza know.
"Roy….are you ok", Riza looked for a reply but none came until she heard Roy sniffling and wiping his tears away. "yeah I'm fine Riza I just fell asleep a little, you know tired and all" his voice visibly shaking.
Riza got off the bed and sat down next to Roy who also sat up, she placed a hand on his back and said "it's alright Roy, I'm here for you" they sat there in silence not knowing what to say to each other for the first time since they met.
They both heard someone enter the front door of the house and heard the voice of the Roy's dad Dave. They could hear Chris run downstairs to him; the house was so old that you could hear the whole conversation from upstairs which Roy and Riza did silently.
"How come you were late the kids haven't seen you since morning?" Chris said angrily.
"There was a fault with one the machines,….the gears..it trapped one of the men… he lost both his arms and now he can't work I hate to think what'll happen to his family, how they'll survive" Roy and Riza could tell by his voice he was shaken by the experience.
They could hear Dave coughing repeatedly and noises that sounded like blood were coming out of his mouth, Roy shut his eyes and hung his head hoping his father would be okay. Roy lay down on the mat and was staring at the ceiling thinking about his life and how it would change for the better once he becomes a state alchemist, not like his father's full of hardship and how he'd swear to himself to get his father out of that god-forsaken hell hole when he got enough money.
Riza looked down upon him and her heart-broke at the sight of Roy who was such a loveable, happy-go-lucky character on the outside but deep down he was carrying guilt and frustration about his life and his families and she couldn't do anything to help him. Riza moved closer and got under the covers next to Roy and lay her head on his shoulder, Roy's and Riza's face were both scarlet red but they both liked it like this as they both drifted off to sleep knowing they had their friendship to weather any storm.
The next morning came, Riza and Roy both got up early to drop Riza off at her house when they were confronted by what first looked to be a lunatic but it was in-fact Riza's crazed boyfriend Nathaniel Armstrong.
"Where in god's earth were you Riza, I went to your house last night and poof you were gone?" Nathaniel looked angrily upon them both.
"what's it to you where I go anyway, by the way I was at Roy's house last night" Riza said so non-chalantly that it even shocked Roy, who was quietly impressed.
Nathaniel looked mortified and was about to say something when Riza interrupted and said "actually Nathaniel I've been meaning to tell you for some time that were over and it would've never worked out I'm afraid"
Nathaniel merely gasped "…but…why?"
Riza smirked and said "because you're a massive floppy blonde-tit and it's over you vacuous, self-important, narcissistic cunt goodbye".
Roy immediately whooped and was jumping, dancing and waving behind Riza as Nathaniel stood like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Come on my evil minion you still have to drop me off home" Riza ordered, Roy followed her all the way laughing and patting her on the back.
As they finally approached her house Riza turned to Roy and said "thanks for having me over last night I had a great time, …well I'll see you tomorrow" Riza didn't know what to do in the situation and simply turned on her heels and began walking towards the door when Roy called back
"Oi, you idiot this ain't some awkward movie scene I'm practically in your house the whole week" he followed Riza inside, smacking her ass while walking past. "you asshole" Riza shouted and she chased after him like only prison inmate would want to when he saw someone drop the soap.
I hope you liked this chapter PLEASE SOMEONE ANYONE REVIEW there won't be any point carrying on if nobody reads this pile of dung.