AN: Hey guys! This chapter takes us back a few years to a young royai. The first part of the flashback is in this chapter and I'm currently in the process of writing the next part. I should upload it in a few days but things are a bit hectic at the moment so it may be a bit later. There will DEFINATLY be something posted on royai day (11th June) so look out for that! For now, here is the next chapter. Enjoy! ~EmpressOfBread
Several years ago
The wind whipped through the trees and rain pounded the ground, turning the land surrounding the house into a sea of mud and deep puddles of water where the earth refused to hold any more of the current downpour. Roy gazed absently out the window at the garden below, if a garden was what you could call it. Master Hawkeye had never been one for gardening, choosing instead to devote his time fully to his alchemy research, leaving the unfortunate plants to become overgrown and making it nearly impossible to see past the house and down into the surrounding town.
"I suppose he likes it better that way." Roy thought glumly. His master was a solitary man. He spent most of the day in his study and, on occasion, would shut himself away for days on end without so much as a whisper to the outside world except when every now and again a loud crash would resonate through the house, his curses reverberating off the walls. But nowadays the crashes sounded more like explosions and the curses were replaced with tense silence. He rarely spoke unless it was absolutely necessary, usually when he gave Roy his alchemy training or to bark instructions at his daughter, Riza. She tended to disappear when her father had one of his 'episodes' and he could understand why. When master Hawkeye emerged from one of his long research sessions he looked old beyond his years, as if the knowledge he was gaining from his studying took years off his life. Well maybe that was true; equivalent exchange and all. When Roy thought of it like that a strange mixture of excitement and apprehension knotted his stomach; just how powerful was this flame alchemy? He could tell by the looks she gave her father she could see it too, how his breathing was forced, his limbs stiff, and yet somehow his eyes still burnt with the thrill of it all, hungry for more knowledge, more understanding- more power. Roy shut the thick alchemy textbook and wandered out into the hallway. He started when he heard a door open and whirled around; only find Riza standing in the doorway of her bedroom.
"Oh, Mr Mustang, I was just about to make some lunch. Would you like some tea?" Roy smiled.
"Yeah thanks. How about I give you a hand?" Riza shook her head.
"No it's fine, I can manage. I don't want to interrupt your studies." She gestured to the piles of alchemy notes stacked haphazardly around Roy's room. He laughed nervously and shut the door.
"No I insist. I'm done with my studying for the day, it's no trouble." He watched as her eyebrow furrowed whilst she processed his offer. Finally she gave him a small nod and smiled as she walked past him and down the stairs.
They sat and ate in silence, just like every other mealtime, save for the short, obligatory conversations.
"How is you studying going?" Riza would ask, followed by the usual "It's fine thanks, how is your school work?"
It was always this way when Master Hawkeye shut himself up, both of them too preoccupied with thinking about him to have a meaningful conversation. On a normal day, they would talk more openly, but never about much, just what Riza's father would call 'polite conversation'. On the rare occasion Master Hawkeye actually sat with them, he would spend the duration testing Roy on his alchemy knowledge and Riza about her school studies. They never much minded the silence when he wasn't there. Roy poured the tea into mugs and sat two on the table before placing the third on a tray Riza had already prepared with lunch for her father, even though she knew he would hardly touch it. He sat down opposite her and took a big sip of the tea, the warm liquid instantly comforting him despite the raging storm outside.
"Thank you for your help, Mr Mustang." Riza cupped her hands around he mug, cherishing the heat.
"You're welcome, Miss Hawkeye. It's only fair I should help out every now and again considering the amount you do for me," Riza laughed and shook her head in disbelief.
"What? I'm not suggesting one cup of tea makes up for it, but it's a start."
She smiled."It's not that, it's just…of all the students my father has had, you are the only one to show any appreciation for what I do." Roy stared, dumbstruck.
"Really? But why? If it weren't for you I would have starved long ago; I can't cook to save my life!" They both laughed until they heard footsteps in the hallway. They grew silent as the footsteps came closer and Master Hawkeye appeared in the door way. Riza jumped up.
"Father!"He ignored her and pushed past her so he could get to the kitchen cupboards.
"Father, I made you lunch. Please sit down and eat something, you look so thin," he continued to ignore her as he rooted around among the boxes and jars, obviously looking for something he needed for his research. It was then Riza noticed a large gash down the side of his face. She grabbed his arm and attempted to pull him round.
"What happened to your face? You know this alchemy is dangerous you must be careful! Father if you won't eat please at least let me treat your wound, if you carry on like this your research is going to get you killed. You have to look after yourself if you ever hope to-" A loud smack echoed through the large kitchen and Riza stumbled back into the table, clutching her face. Master Hawkeye glared at her with a look like thunder as he stormed over to her and grabbed her hair, pulling her roughly from the room and into the living room whose walls were lined with books. Roy followed in shock, unsure of what he should do. Riza cried out as his hands gripped her hair and he jerked her roughly to face the dusty volumes.
"THIS is what you should be concerned about, not me and not my research. Don't waste your time babying me like I'm some sort of invalid, you won't help anyone. You're just a pathetic little girl who doesn't know her proper place," He threw her to the floor and she gasped at the sudden relief she felt as his hands relinquished their vice grip on her hair. "You're too much like your mother for your own good. She was like you, always trying to fix everything, to make everyone happy. She thought if she did that she could somehow make the world a better place," He scoffed "What a fool she was, thinking she could actually do something. The world is a cruel and heartless place, the sooner you learn that the better. She had to find out the hard way." He spat the last sentence bitterly. Tears sprang to Riza's eyes
"That doesn't mean you can let yourself go to ruin. That stupid research will tear you apart!" Riza shouted at the man towering over her defiantly. The back of Hawkeye's hand connected sharply with the side of her face and he grabbed her wrists, pulling her close to his face.
"How dare you tell me how to live my life. You know nothing you ignorant little girl. You must learn your place. SAY IT!" Riza stared at the ground and mumbled.
"I must learn my place."
Hawkeye shook her roughly and screamed at her."Loudly! Look me in the eye you coward, and say it again!" Riza looked into his eyes and tried to steal her voice, even though she was shaking.
"I must learn my place." Hawkeye threw her down roughly and stalked to the doorway before turning back to her.
"You bring shame to this family, you don't deserve to hold the name Hawkeye." The air was thick and tense as Roy and Riza watched him go up the stairs. Riza winced when the door to his study slammed. Roy looked at Riza as intense guilt washed over him. Why did he just stand there? Why didn't he do something?
"Miss Hawkeye-" She interrupted
"I'm fine Mr Mustang. Don't worry." Without another word she got up and walked purposefully into the kitchen, pulling on her raincoat and heading for the back door. Roy hurried after her.
"Hold on, where are you going? You shouldn't be outside in the storm," She continued out the door and Roy called out "Come back inside, I'll make you some more tea. Don't go out in the storm," she continued walking and Roy growled quietly, clenching his fist. "RIZA!" She stopped abruptly and turned wide-eyed, fear etched into her features. She swallowed and replaced that look with complete blankness, no hint of emotion. She had to shout over the howling wind and pounding rain but her voice was robotic, creating stony outer shell with which to protect herself.
"I just need to be alone." And with that she was gone again, disappearing into the trees.