Chapter Twelve: Hand of Sorrow (Within Temptation)

A/N: This is during the time Roy is studying with Hawkeye-sensei.

Slam!

Roy winced as the door to the Hawkeye house was completely thrown shut. While the atmosphere around the house was never exactly pleasant, it was usually quiet enough to do his studying. That it was not quiet portended trouble.

"Elizabeth Marie Hawkeye, how dare you! You'd sell me out like that?"

"No, Father! It's not- I didn't- He started asking me questions! I didn't answer any of them, and I'd never show him!" Riza sounded terrified, but Roy knew she was telling the truth. She always did.

"You little liar. Come here," her father growled.

Roy heard Riza's cry of fright, and, before he knew what he was doing, he was shielding Riza from her father, who was poised to strike.

Hawkeye-sensei's eyes narrowed. "Move, Roy."

Roy shook his head. "You're not going to hurt her. She told you the truth."

"How are you sure? How do I know you're not in on this, too?" Hawkeye-sensei made for Riza, who gave another frightened yelp. It was all Roy could do to keep himself between the two.

"I don't know what you're even yelling at her for, Sensei. I was studying." He turned to Riza. "What happened?"

Riza told the story shakily. "A boy from around here who wants to learn alchemy asked if my father would teach him. I said that Father already had a student. He kept on asking what Father is teaching you, and then he started trying to flirt with me… I didn't tell him anything, though!"

"Sensei, I think she's telling the truth," Roy said quietly. "You probably just jumped to a conclusion, although I don't see why…" Roy trailed off. "Oh."

"So you do know something!" Hawkeye-sensei accused.

"Only because I pursued it on my own!" Roy said quickly. "Riza had nothing to do with it, and I don't understand how she ever would!"

Hawkeye-sensei looked to his daughter. "Riza?"

Riza nodded. "Why would I do that, Father?"

Roy was getting suspicious. "Do what?"

"Nothing of your concern," Hawkeye-sensei snapped. "It's got nothing to do with you." He turned to go.

"I- never mind." Roy stopped himself quickly. But I think it does. Or rather, it has something to do with alchemy, and I'm going to find out what. He turned to Riza. "Did he ever actually hit you?"

Riza shook her head. "Not today," she murmured, then clapped a hand over her mouth. "I-I shouldn't've said that."

"Riza, please, what's going on?" Roy wanted to know. "Are you… Has your father… What the hell has all this got to do with alchemy?"

"I'm sorry. I can't tell you. I shouldn't, anyway. You'll know if you need to." Riza started to leave.

Roy's hands balled into fists. "But I do need to know, Riza! Can't you tell me?"

"I can't."

Roy lurched forward and caught her wrist. Riza flinched. "Riza, it's hurting you. Whatever this is, it's hurting you, and you need to tell someone about it before something worse happens."

With an expression that was almost dead, save for a bit of sorrow, Riza told him, "It's too late for that." She left.

Roy stood there. "It's not too late," he muttered to himself. I'm saving her from this hell if it's the last thing I do. She deserves better than this. And maybe— he felt guilty for even thinking it— Maybe then she'll be able to tell me.

A/N: And so the plot thickens! Roy obviously doesn't quite know what's going on, but with what Riza and her father were saying, there were a couple important clues. There's also Roy's little bit of knowledge. I'm sure he's figured that Hawkeye-sensei is working on something big. He doesn't know what it is, but he's been trying to figure it out.

I can also see Roy being kind of overly-noble. Like, bending over backwards to help someone because he cares that much. He seems very idealistic, although that's all going to come crashing down in Ishbal… Wow, that was pessimistic.

Oh, and Riza's name… I just think "Elizabeth Marie" is pretty. And it works if Riza's short for Elizabeth. Just please don't hurt me!

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