Market Research: Riza/Hughes AU Story, Exploration One
Word Count: 631
Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl
Rating: T
Characters: Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang, Maes Hughes
Warning: Character Death (its Hughes, guys, we expected this)
Summary: Roy watches Riza as she stands alone during Hughes' funeral—and offers her a way to find her husband's killer.
Notes: This is part of an AU idea where Hughes and Riza grew close in Ishval and fell in love afterwards. Unfortunately, canon being what canon is, Hughes still dies. But how does their marriage affect the canon? How does it affect Roy and Riza's relationship? What's the same, what's different, how are the end goals met? If the idea of this interests you, say so down in the comments or send me a message on my tumblr, aquietwritingcorner. It just might spur me to develop this idea further!

Riza/Hughes AU Story: Exploration One

She stood alone. She stood in a position of honor, but it was alone, nonetheless. She was the only military member here allowed to be in civilian clothing, but that was because her role as his wife overruled her role as a member of the military.

Roy couldn't help but look Riza over as she stood there, alone, while a salute was fired off. She had black heels on, a long black skirt that played around her calves as the wind blew, a black, long-sleeved sweater over a black blouse, and a black hat with a black veil covering her face. It was the third time that Roy had seen her before a grave. The first time had been at her father's grave, where he had told her his dreams. The second time had been in Ishval, where she had told him what she wanted. And now this, the third time, as she stood before the grave of her husband and his best friend.

The salute ended; the grave was completely covered. The flag had been presented to her. The Fuhrer had spoken to her. Several people stopped to speak to her. Roy lingered in the background, waiting until she had finished speaking to her best friend, and until everyone had walked away. She stayed, standing in front of the grave, staring at it. Roy gave her a few minutes, and then he quietly approached, coming to stand beside her, not willing to break the silence before she was ready.

He wasn't sure how long they stood there. Time seemed to not have any particular meaning. It could have been minutes. It could have been hours. Roy didn't check. Finally, though, she spoke.

"…Who did this?" she said without taking her eyes from the grave. Her voice was filled with grief and with anger. "Who did this, Roy? Who killed my husband?"

"I don't know," he responded. "But I plan to find out."

She turned to look at him then, her chin trembling, although Roy couldn't tell if it was from anger or grief. "I want in," she said, and her voice was firm, filled with emotion. She met his eyes. Hers were blazing, full of such an intense mix of emotions that he couldn't looked away from them. "I want in on finding my husband's killer."

Roy felt his expression smooth into one of resolve, as her emotions fueled his own. This was not a good idea. To let emotion guide him like this, to let her emotion fuel his, to let their emotions push them on to ideas of revenge—it was a dangerous thing.

And yet, he didn't fight it.

"Of course," he said. His jaw set. "I'll be coming to Central soon. I'll need an adjunct. Someone I can trust. Someone who can help me navigate Central."

"Offering your late best friend's wife a job might seem like pity to some," she said. "But I accept. I don't care what people think. Maes and I were all in with you already. I'll carry the torch for him and me."

Roy nodded. "Good. I'll make sure it works out."

Riza reached out and put a hand on the grave. "The dream won't die with you, Maes. That I promise you. We will find out what you died for and use that knowledge against your killer."

Roy waited until she took her hand off of the grave. "…Let me take you home," he said.

Riza took in a breath, and then gave one, terse nod. Roy put his hand on the small of her back and led her away. But both of them knew that they were no stepping away from anything, but into the mire of what had taken the life of the best man they both knew.