Author Note: And now for something completely different.

Theme 52: Hair Clip

Did carrying a lucky charm actually give a person good luck? Even after 29 years of life, Roy couldn't answer the question. One soldier he served with in Ishval shared his lucky rabbits foot with anybody who would listen up until his death by an Ishvalan knife. Another soldier carried a lucky horse shoe and managed to escape certain death on multiple occasions.

Roy himself carried a lucky charm, a small hair clip he received many years ago.

Roy had only been at the Hawkeye house for a few months, but he'd loved every minute of it. Mr. Hawkeye knew so much about alchemy and he had so many great books to read. Roy spent most of his free time reading, even filling his room with books in hopes of absorbing the text through osmosis, which was one of the words he learned.

He didn't realize it, but the longer he stayed at the house the longer his hair grew. When he bent his head forward to read it fell in front of his eyes, forcing him to brush it out of the way over and over again. He just ignored it, but it bothered one member of the household. Riza, who largely avoided her father's student, couldn't understand why he wasn't doing anything about it. Rather than just ask, she decided to help.

One day, when Riza gathered up her courage, she approached the older boy. When she entered the room he was reading as usual. Roy didn't even notice her until she tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped a few inches, flinching away from her touch.

The two children stared at each other, waiting for the other to say something.

Riza broke the silence as she thrust her clenched fist towards Roy. "For your bangs." She said simply.

Roy extended a hand to receive the item, and Riza dropped it into his palm. It was a small hair clip, black and simple in design, and perfect for keeping his bangs out of his eyes while he read.

"Thank you." When Roy looked up, Riza was gone. She vanished from the room as silently as she entered, leaving Roy to pin his hair back and continue reading.

Roy kept the clip with him ever since. He liked to think it brought him good luck. It helped him learn alchemy, get accepted as a state alchemist, and live through the war. The small good luck charm reminded guarded him when its previous owner couldn't, and that was all the luck he needed.

End Note: College can be inspiring I swear.