48. Remember the Words (Ace of Base)
A/N: Mangaverse, just to clear things up. All kinds of spoilers, so just… if you're not current and don't want to be spoiled, DON'T READ.
At their lowest points, it was each having been there for the other that gave them all those second chances.
Perhaps some of them hadn't been the best, like Riza showing Roy the tattoo after her father died so that he had a chance to become a State Alchemist. It was one of mixed blessings and curses. On the one hand, that knowledge had killed so many, but it had also saved and improved lives, as well. It had even saved Riza's life a few times.
Roy didn't know about Riza's decision to give him a second chance in Ishbal. She would never tell him that he had come close to losing his life at her hands. There was no telling how he'd react to it, but at a low point, it would always come to, "You should have when you had the chance." Not that he hadn't expressed that already.
Oh, he'd given her plenty of chances, really. Chances to shoot him, chances to just betray him, chances to leave while she still had a clear name, or even just to escape and never be heard from again. She'd never taken them, never would if she could help it, and he knew that, but he felt honor-bound to inform her of her rights.
Other times, Roy was glad he hadn't almost gotten a second chance. With Lust, he had come to appreciate life more. With Envy, he'd come to appreciate Riza more.
Riza had been helped by both experiences, as well. The whole time Roy was out after fighting Lust, she had worried over what would happen if—God forbid—she had to step up and fill Roy's shoes. His second chance at life had given her more relief than she felt she was worthy of. While she probably could with the help of everyone else, this was Roy's job, his mission in life.
The near-miss on second chances with Envy had brought that worry back.
Through it all, the promises they'd made each other had been what had brought them around. Riza's promise to shoot was the most notable. It was a reminder that he was not alone, that Riza was there for him as someone who believed in him, but also to just make sure that Roy followed through.
It was Roy's trust in her that brought her through the difficult times. He had always told her that she was good enough in some way shape or form. As nice as it was just to feel validated, it was also indicative of the deeper bond that was there—the one that didn't need words.
Unfortunately, in a world where glances and physical interactions were either misinterpreted or interpreted entirely too correctly, those words were the best they had. Thankfully, words could be enough, and could even touch on that deeper something that hopefully, some day, would have its own second chance.
A/N: This is me waxing philosophical. A sleepy sort of philosophical, so it might not make sense or be very good, but dang it, I tried!