Riza awakes in the early morning light, fuzzy memories of the prior evening drifting through her mind.
Smiling drearily as she reminisces, she is vaguely aware that her room looks different than normal. Riza turns over in bed and is suddenly face to face with the Colonel.
She suppresses a startled remark, barley remembering in time that she never went home last night.
Though admittedly, Riza is still a little fuzzy as to the reasons why she didn't go home last night. And where she is, for that matter. This isn't her room, but it's not the Colonel's either. And the Colonel is in the bed too so... ?
Riza vividly remembers making the decision to protect her heart and head home for the night. So why is she lying in an unknown bed, beneath tussled covers, next to her superior?
Still sleeping, Roy's eyes are closed and the usual scowl isn't darkening his expression. His hair is messy from the nights rest and… he doesn't have a shirt on.
A flood of missing details from the night before come rushing back. The wonderful pasta and bread, that stupid fight, the aftermath of said stupid fight. Everything.
Riza tries her best not to jolt up in shock as - atop of her realization of what occurred last night, she finally notices that she herself is lacking her usual layers of clothing.
Another consequence of the aftermath of that stupid, stupid fight.
She had control over her feelings and urges, didn't she? Riza definitely recalls making the decision to guard her heart, though many of the other details of the evening are blurry.
It all started so innocently, so sweetly. And she was so diligent! How and where did it skew its course and lead to this?
What happened last night?
~~~
12 hours earlier
"- The thing about breadsticks is they're so simple to make, yet no one takes the time to do it right. To my standards at least." Mustang is rambling about bread, as he has been for most of their journey down the corridor leading to the kitchen area.
Riza is barley able to catch a word between her whirlwind of thoughts, but she does sense that the Colonel is restraining himself on some level. No matter, she is much too distracted by her own restraint at present.
'What are you doing soldier; building such a habit like this? The job comes first, always. So why are you having such promiscuous feelings towards your superior? Why do you want him to pick you up and hold you close and take you back to the bedroom and-'
Riza cuts off her train of thought in the nic of time. Shaking her head as though to clear it, she reserves herself to a state of denial.
Ignore the feelings and they'll go away, right?
Right?
The Lieutenant sighs as she follows Mustang into the kitchen. Things are getting out of hand, she never should have let this become a habit.
"- But you need not worry about such things. I assure you that the meal you're about to enjoy will make your night." Roy is still rambling about the food, apparently it's the only thing he can think of to talk about … Since he can't talk about the fact that not five minutes ago, she was tied to his bed, wreathing beneath his hands, confessing her deepest secrets.
Well, perhaps not 'deepest' secrets. But secrets nonetheless. No matter how much the Colonel talks about the art of making breadsticks, there is no denying the buzzing in the air between them. Refusing to to be ignored; refusing to be denied.
Oh well, that won't stop Riza from trying.
"You've convinced me, I'm ready to be 'amazed'." She says dramatically, though with a genuine smile on her face. No matter her conflicted feelings, it feels nice spending time with Mustang like this. Perhaps too nice, but no need to worry about such things now.
Ignore, ignore, ignore.
The next hour is spent making the most wonderful fettuccine and garlic breadsticks Riza has ever had.
The sauce was perfectly creamy and flavorful. The bread was soft and fluffy and wonderfully seasoned. It was truly amazing. Almost amazing enough to drown out the conflicted thoughts still circling her mind as they eat at the large wooden table next to the kitchen.
"I have to say, that managed to top the meal you put together for our evening in the grasslands." The Lieutenant finally admits after their plates were emptied, washed, and dried.
They now sit semi-entangled on one the couches in Roy's foyer. Lounging on the couch closest to the fire, paging through a book the Colonel had placed on a stack for decoration on the the center table.
"The grasslands meal was not prepared by my hands but I thank you none the less. I hope to one day soon make you something even better than tonight. Perhaps a casserole?" Roy says absently, moving slightly closer to Hawkeye under the pretense of adjusting to a more comfortable position.
"That's a steep promise to make, sir. You've already set the bar so high." Riza teases, shooting Mustang a side glance to assess his reaction of her still calling him sir.
Part of it is merely habit, the other part… well, Roy already knows the other reason why she won't call him by his name.
Though at the moment, she's having a hard time remembering herself. Staring at his kind, dark eyes as he promises many more nights of good food and even better company. Why is she holding herself back again?
'It will all fall apart as soon as you let your guard down.'
Oh yeah, that's why.
Riza forces the thought from her mind but can't help but reserve herself slightly. No longer resting her full weight on his shoulder as Roy turns to the next page beside her. She can't keep playing into these silly feelings. It will only hurt her later.
If Mustang notices Riza's withdraw, he chooses not to press her about it. Instead he begins reading details about a war Commander who was a renowned alchemist at the time.
The Lieutenant is hardly able to focus on what said alchemist could do, or even their name. Instead, she is spiraling down a rabbit hole of self doubt and self sabotage.
Rather than pulling back from this, Riza finds herself willingly succumbing to the desire. The desire to mess up whatever this is between her and Roy with her own hands. Rather than waiting for fate to do it to her when she least expects it. Riza can't let that happen later on and ruin everything. Not with Mustang. She can't.
"This evening has been wonderful, but I should be going now. It's rather late, sir." This time, the 'sir' is clearly intentional. Sending an undertone of formality to their farewell.
"I will always respect your wishes, Lieutenant." Mustang responds softly after a moment of surprise, a spark of hurt seems to pass his gaze; though only for a moment. He swiftly focuses his attention on closing the book and setting it back on its place atop of the stack.
"I will fetch you your coat." Roy continues as he rises to his feet. He walks across the seating area to the benches beside the front door where they dropped off their belongings earlier. Riza meets him in front of the doorway.
Accepting his assistance with pulling on her jacket before hoisting her work bag over her shoulder, Riza can hardly meet his gaze as she fiddles with the straps.
Desperate to look at anything else than the flashes of hurt in Mystang's eyes, the Lieutenant glances at the area surrounding his looming figure. Unfortunately, her gaze falls upon a certain tattered wooden frame that can't help but stand out from the other regal and sophisticated frames.
The photo of them together.
Seeing their smiling faces looking at each other, Riza feels her heart ache at the sight of their pure contentment. She doesn't want to lose that. She can't. It's one of the view from peasant relationships the Lieutenant has left.
~~~
Mustang follows her gaze and begins to understand part her conflict.
"I'm not sure I can let you leave at this hour all alone with a clear conscience. If you're comfortable, I have a unused guest suite you can occupy for the night." The offer slips out of Roy's mouth before his brain is able to process the decision to speak it.
He winces, unsure of how it will be received.
"Or if you insist on leaving, allow me a few minutes to ready myself to accompany your journey." Mustang adds in hastily, one eye still wincing.
"Oh n-no, absolutely not, sir. I live all the way on the other side of town. You'd get back in the early hours of the morning if you took me home. MY conscience couldn't live with that." Riza responds immediately, shaking her head at the suggestion.
"So are you taking the first option or are we at an impasse?" Roy prods carefully, still unsure of what triggered his Lieutenant's speedy retreat. "Sir … I'm not sure that would be appropriate." Riza mumbles, once again fidgeting with the straps on her bag.
Mustang wracks his brain for something he said or did wrong in the past hour that could have caused this. He MUST have done something wrong.
They left the bedroom together, made a wonderful dinner in the kitchen, ate said wonderful dinner, then contently digested on a firelit couch while reading.
Where in that seemly pleasant evening did he mess up?
"Would you please tell me what is really going on?" Roy presses further, he takes a step forward only for Riza to take a step back, still avoiding his gaze.
"I already told you, sir. It's late. And it would be improper for me to stay here." She states weakly, her argument is flimsy. It's evident that something is pressing on her mind, forcing her to retreat.
"What a strange change of heart. You don't need me to convince you to tell me, do you?" Mustang says mischievously, taking another step forward.
But to his surprise, Riza jerks to the side and pulls her arms in. "There will be no convincing tonight, SIR. If you insist on it being unsafe to go home alone, I will accept your offer for the guest room." She says hastily, the formality in her voice drives a spike through Mustang's chest.
Why is she acting like this? What did he do wrong? Why won't she tell him what he did? Just an hour ago she was opening up to him. They were getting closer. And it was wonderful. Did he push her too hard? Did he not push hard enough? What did he do???
Instead of asking the legion of questions that he knows there will be no answer to, Roy simply nods his head in affirmation and gestures to a thin hallway across the foyer.
"Right this way, Lieutenant." He says cooly, mentality transitioning himself into Colonel Roy Mustang - First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye's boss and respectable host for the night, nothing more.
"Yes sir." Riza responds quietly, adjusting the bag over her shoulder before following him across the seating area. Roy leads them down the small hallway tucked to the left, next to the giant stone fireplace.
~~~
They make one right turn at the end of the hall, then Mustang stops in front of an unopened door.
"This room is yours for however long you wish to stay. There is an attached bathroom if you would like to wash up. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen at any time. Goodnight, Lieutenant." Mustang says this curtly, though still kindly.
It's not that he's acting cold towards her, more so professional. Less affectionate and more indifferent.
Riza tries to ignore the stitch in her stomach as she bids him goodnight him and enters the room. This is what she wanted, right? For things to be as they were before, for things to stay as they were so she doesn't hurt. So she doesn't loose this.
So why does it still feel like she's already lost everything?
'Don't think about that. You've made your decision. Stick to it.' Riza reprimands herself, remembering her father telling her something similar when she was younger.
Shaking her head, she focuses on looking around the bedroom for a distraction, other than the fact she knows Roy has not moved from the other side the door yet.
The room is beautiful; with cream colored carpets and an elegantly carved wooden bed frame with matching dressers on either side.
There is a pleasant reading nook in the corner to her left, next to the window where the curtains are currently drawn for privacy. And across the room is two doors - One leads to the bathroom, and the other to the closet, Riza assumes.
Many moments pass before Riza hears the Colonel's foot steps move away from the door and fade down the hall.
The Lieutenant resists the urge to pull open the door and call after him, apologizing for her silliness - But it's not silliness. It's a rational decision based on a broad perspective on her situation.
This is the only way to save herself, both of them actually, more pain down the line.
The more she opens up to Roy, the harder it will be to let him go. What happens when work finds out about them? They won't be able to do missions together anymore. Who will take care of him if she's not there? What if she loses him?
To many questions. Only one answer.
Riza must push this away - Push Mustang away. It's the only way to protect both his life and their hearts. This is what she has to do, her own feelings are irrelevant.
'What about Roy's feelings?'
The thought catches the Lieutenant off guard. Stopping her mid-step on the way to investigate the two doors.
"His life is more important than his feelings. In either case, I'm merely saving Mustang the awkwardness and pain that would be inevitably be waiting for us down the line." Riza argues with herself quietly, pulling the door on the left open. The room is small and dark, but even at a quick glance she can tell it is the closet.
She closes the door and opens the one to the right. Dark marble floors greet her first, then a granite bathroom counter on her right with two faucets, lastly an elegant tub sits in front of the opposite wall.
Stained glass windows, similar to the front door, frame the walls on either side of the tub like technicolor pillars. Riza imagines they would send fractals of colorful light into the bathroom in the daytime. She'll have to check in the morning.
"Stupid pretty Mustang with his stupid pretty house." Riza mutters to herself as she closes the door and re-enters the bedroom.
What now? She's not particularly tired and she's nowhere near the mental state where she can risk running into the Colonel somewhere in the house. She sits on the comfortable bed for a few minutes, contemplating her options.
Her gaze turns to the reading nook. Perhaps there's a book she can read to pass the time until she's tired enough to sleep.
Riza wanders over to the corner and sits on the edge of the velvet leather chair beside the bookshelf.
She picks a book on the top of the stack, it has a bookmark in it which implies it was still in the process of being read. 'By Mustang? Who else could it be? Surly the Colonel doesn't offer his guest room to many woman?'
The thought doesn't settle right in Riza, though it's better than the thought of Roy offering his own bedroom to women.
"Stop having such silly thoughts. Mustang is a grown man who can take home whoever he likes. Makes no difference to me." The Lieutenant assures herself aloud, pulling open the book to where the bookmark was placed.
Riza is surprised upon opening the the book to realize that it is not in fact a book at all. The outside is unmarked, just a deep brown hard cover binding, but the inside is… a journal? Not a diary per se, closer to a scrap book. Filled with random photos and notes with dates and details.
The page the bookmark is on is not the most recent addition to the journal. Rather it seems to be keeping the place of a important date for Mustang. Riza spends a few seconds glancing over the two pages to see which note or photo may be the reason why this page was marked so specifically.
A moment later she sees it.
It's actually the second time this evening she's seen the photo. The black and white image of her and Mustang after their last mission in Resembool.
The dark ink and ripped edges of the photo suggest the Colonel saw the photo in the report and simply ripped off the section he wanted from the original. In comparison to Riza who made a copy, then carefully cropped it to size. Oh well, the perks of being the boss.
The Lieutenant's gaze is focused on the photo, the impact of it being in this journal is overwhelming. Everything in this room keeps pointing her back to the ache in her chest where genuine happiness was occupying just a few hours ago. Why must she torture herself like this? Why must Mustang torture her like this by being so damn amazing?
"Dammit Roy why did you have to tickle me? This is all your fault!" Riza exclaims in frustration. She closes the book and places it back on the pile before standing to her feet, preparing to stalk out of the room.
She doesn't know where she's going but Riza can't sit there anymore she has to-
The blonde soldier freezes in horror as she spots a startled Colonel standing just inside the doorway to the room a few feet away. A glass of water in his hand and a sheepish grin on his face; clearly aware that he unintentionally intruded on what was meant to be a private exclamation.
~~~
"I - I uh thought you might um, want some water." Mustang says awkwardly, trying to suppress a smile - Failing to, would be more actuate.
With a red face, Riza motions to the dresser and Roy quickly crosses the room to place the glass atop of the dresser before returning to the hallway.
They stand in silence for a moment, staring at each other on either side of the doorway. Finally, Mustang beaks the silence. "So you can say my name when you're mad at me? I guess I cracked the code."
Riza quickly closes the door (slams is more like it) before he can fully see her scarlet cheeks reacting to his words.
He chuckles on the other side of the door, deeming his outburst well worth it.
Again, Roy stays positioned outside the door. But this time, for a different reason than earlier - Before, he was trying to gather the courage to open it again and comfort Riza. But now, he's merely waiting for Riza herself to open the door so she can see his smiling face.
As if on cue, the handle turns and the door cracks open, Riza's face peaks between the gap.
"I apologize for yelling, sir. That was uncivil of me." She says, attempting to keep her voice level and steady pitched.
"No need to apologize Lieutenant. You're right, this is my fault. And it sounds to me like I need to take responsibility for my actions." Mustang says mischievously, pushing on the door to widen the gap. Exposing Riza's startled figure staring back at him, gauging his intentions.
"Your actions … ?" The Lieutenant questions warily. "Tickling you." Roy responds curtly; he advances another step into the room, pushing the door open all the way.
For a moment, he feels a flash of uncertainty. Almost expecting to be pushed away like before.
~~~
Riza is far too distracted willing the ground to open up and swallow her to bother pushing back against Mustang's advances.
'How could I say something like that so carelessly? What was I thinking? Oh you idiot! This is so embarrassing. And just what is he up to now? Hasn't he humiliated me enough this evening?' Riza thinks to herself in annoyance. Though truthfully, the annoyance is merely her trying to suppress her panic and embarrassment.
She is well aware of this, but that isn't going to stop her from pretending.
"You're not talking sense, sir." The blonde woman says carefully, keeping Roy in her sight as he continues taking steps into the room. "You said it yourself Lieutenant. It's my fault for tickling you. So I should take responsibility for my actions." He responds, taking another advancing step towards her.
Riza is running out of space behind her. Unless she wants to try and lock herself in the bathroom, she has to nullify the situation, and fast. In any case, Roy undoubtedly has the key to unlock every door in the house. And the look in his eyes is telling Riza that he intends to follow through with whatever he's plotting.
"Your actions of tickling me?" The Lieutenant asks, eyeing the bedroom door as she calculates how fast she can get there and the best escape route back to the foyer. Riza doesn't plan past that point, but she also doesn't think she'll get past that point... Or even to that point.
"Of turning you on."
Roy answers quietly with a grin as her back presses against the wall between the two doors.
Thus far, they've kept their little ticklish game under the pretense of it being just that, a game. A means of banter and harmless flirting.
Except Roy knows that tickling is a bit more than 'harmless flirting' to Riza. After all, that's his whole argument for why he should be 'taking responsibility'. Now their metaphorical bubble of innocence has been popped.
"I - uh - sir… " Riza clearly isn't sure how to respond to this. She can't deny it, that would be a blatant lie. But she can't confirm it either, the Lieutenant has to keep suppressing these feelings. Though it's getting harder to suppress the further Mustang pushes her.
He is mere inches away now, arms placed on either side of the wall Riza's back is pressed flat against.
So much for her escape plan.
Why is it she doesn't feel disappointed at this fact? Perhaps because Mustang is in a form fitting Tshirt that doesn't hide the definition of his arms and torso. Nah, couldn't possibly be that
"You're awfully quiet, Lieutenant." Roy continues softly, his gaze unreadable as he blocks her in with his arms. Riza clenches her fists but doesn't respond.
'Why does Roy have to make this so difficult for me? Why can't he just let me mourn in solitude and put these feelings to rest. Why won't he let me put them to rest?' The Lieutenant thinks to herself in panicked frustration.
"T-There is nothing to s-say." Riza forces the words through her lips. Resisting every urge to hide her face, she turns to meet Mustang's gaze as she says this. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like her response is received correctly.
Roy is still smiling at her, a knowing glint in his eye. "I don't believe that for one second, Riza." The Lieutenant can't help but jolt at his use of her name. 'He's still pushing forward? That stubborn idiot.' She thinks to herself, gritting her teeth as she wonders what to do, how to take back control.
"Tell me to stop and I will." Roy says plainly, his face is close. A few inches at most, Riza can feel his breath on her forehead as she studies the cream colored carpet beneath her feet.
She doesn't want him to stop. She's never wanted him to stop.
Her desire for the Colonel - for Roy, is the exact problem Riza is struggling with. It would be a lot easier to deal with if he didn't come sauntering in here all handsome and aloof to press her buttons.
For the third time, Riza isn't able to say anything. Her mind is still racing for a way to take back control, but clearly Roy isn't giving an inch.
'Come on, think! Get yourself back on top, take control of your actions.' The Lieutenant thinks to herself assertively, trying to remember her father's lessons as she clenches her fists, preparing to do something reckless.
Riza can't tell him to stop. She's not that strong.
That being said, she's not one for giving up either. Even if there's no way to avoid giving in, Riza will go down trying.
"Cat got your tongue? Luckily for you, we've already established how to give you your voice back." Mustang says ominously.
'Now; you have to move now!' Riza's inward voice yells as Roy decrees his intentions. Lunging forward, her fingers connect with the Colonel's ribs. Wiggling frantically in the last seconds of freedom she has left.
"G-gaah w-what do you thihink you're d-doing?" Mustang questions, reflexively taking a step back. With a grin, she scribbles her fingers harder into his front ribs. Her tickles force Roy backwards until he's close enough to the bed that Riza can gently push on his shoulders and knock him onto the pillows at the top of the bed.
Similar to the strategy she used with the couches at the beginning of the week when she first discovered Roy was ticklish. Though that day seems so long ago now.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm giving you my answer." The Lieutenant responds cheekily. Knowing she must move quickly, Riza climbs onto the startled man's legs before quickly pulling something out of one of her utility pockets in her pants. Mustang doesn't have a moment to get a good look at what she grabbed before he hears the familiar clicking sound of handcuffs engaging.
Roy glances above his head to see both his wrists in silver hand cuffs, the small chain connecting them is caught between the center bedpost and wall.
"You clever girl. But surly you know, you're done for the moment I'm out of these cuffs." Mustang growls, giving a test tug at his bindings. Riza can't help but flinch at his sudden movement, but the cuffs hold true.
Baring a confident grin she knows will drive him mad, Riza repositions herself atop of the Colonel's hips. "Think very carefully about your next course of action, Lieutenant." Mustang continues darkly, though the flash of panic in his eyes betrays his bravado.
"But sir, I'm merely doing as you asked. You admitted it yourself, you need to take responsibility for your actions. I'm here to see that you do." Riza responds with an uncharacteristically mischievous tone in her voice.
"You sly little - wait wahait, let's b-be reasonable hehere." The Colonel stutters, his voice immediately loosing its threatening front as her fingers begin their assault.
Riza is quite peeved at Mustang at the present moment. And if he wants to push her to see what happens? Hell, she'll show him what happens.
Moving her hands downward, the Lieutenant begins digging her thumbs into his hips. Roy's last shred of composure is lost as her fingers drill into the sensitive muscles. "Nonono stahap thihis!" Mustang protests, tugging at his arms once more to no avail.
"I don't think you've taken responsibility yet. So I'm afraid I can't stop." Riza says in feigned regret, inching her fingers upwards to squeeze at his sides. "Oh I'll g-gihive yohou a reason t-to be afraid, Lieutenant." Mustang forces the words out while jerking to every random squeeze Riza gives to his sides.
"I'm trembling, sir." The Lieutenant responds teasingly, moving her hands again in search for a more vibrant reaction. It doesn't take her long to find one from his upper ribs.
"Y-you should be - W-wait! S-stahahap it thihis instahant!" Roy cries out, his voice raising in volume and pitch. His facade was already cracked, now it's crumbling.
"As I said earlier, this isn't done until I've deemed you to have taken responsibility for your transgressions." Riza responds in mock-solemness, though she does slow the pace of her clawing fingers to give him a small reprieve.
"T-transgressions eh? Well if turning yohou on is a transgression, then I'm gohoing to be s-stuck in your cuffs quite often." Roy manages to force a defiant statement through his gritted teeth. However, Riza only takes this a cue to cut her captive's leniency short.
"Then you should go ahead and get used to this then." She says as she resumes digging her fingers into his upper ribs, forcing Mustang into sputtering laughter once more. "Ohakay! You've mahade yohour point Lieutenahant!" Roy's laughter is becoming more frantic by the second.
Only a few moments after her attack resumed, Roy is already backhandedly begging her to stop - His formal beat-around-the-bush way of begging her to stop that is.
~~~
"I don't think I have, Colonel. But maybe if I do this~" Suddenly Riza goes in for the kill. Digging all ten fingers into Mustangs under arms. His hands still uselessly immobilized as he attempts to pull them down and protect his armpits.
"NAHAHA RIHIZA STAHAP THIHIS! PLEAHASE!" Roy throws his head back in laughter, face flushed from a mixture of blush and exertion.
"Hmm, I don't think I'm satisfied yet sir." The Lieutenant says after a moment of pretending to consider his offer.
"YOHOU LITTLE- WAIT! NAHAHAHA STAHAP THIHIS! PLEAHAHSE!" Roy's attempt at a snarky rebuttal is thwarted when Riza adjusts upwards to sit on his lower ribs. She quickly begins lightly scribbling her fingers into the very center of the Colonel's underarms.
Their delicateness and precision is excruciating. Said precision is only possible due to the Lieutenant keeping his torso still with her weight. Mustang would have thrashed around too much otherwise.
"This is more so what I was looking for." Riza says cheekily, accelerating the pace of her wiggling fingers as they brush over the sensitive skin over and over and over.
Mustang would have grit his teeth if his mouth wasn't already occupied with near-frantic laugher. "ARE YOHOU QUITE FIHINISHED THEN?" Roy asks hopefully, fully aware what the answer was going to be. It's written all over his Lieutenant's face - There is no mercy to be had.
"We're getting there, but no." Hawkeye shoots back with a grin. Mustang grunts in frustration, the tugging on his arms growing desperate. But the sturdy center frame at the top of the bed holds true, not yielding an inch to his efforts.
Suddenly, Roy is stuck with an idea while glancing up hopelessly at his cuffed wrists. There is a chance to turn the tables if he can shift upwards enough to give his arms enough slack to move. But he has to move quick or else the Lieutenant will catch on. He has to keep her distracted.
"I DOHONT THINK THIHIS IS WHAT YOHOU WANT TO DOHO!" Roy pushes the sentence through his laugher, a plan formulating in his head. A risky plan, but a plan none the less. "Pray tell sir, what do I want to do?" Riza responds teasingly, still wiggling her fingers into the hollows of his underarms.
Little did she know, that is the exact response he was hoping to get from her. Ignoring the sense of deja vu, Roy pushes himself upwards on the bed and sits up in a flash. The force causes Riza to stumble forward into his waiting arms.
"This." He responds calmly with a grin. Though still bound with the hand cuffs, Mustang was able to maneuver higher up the bed post to add enough slack to hold Riza in a vice grip in front of him.
Admittedly, most of his grip is being held with the force of his forearms and elbows. But in her off-balance position, this is enough to deter the Lieutenant. Her persistent armpit tickles have been thwarted for now.
~~~
"You're stubborn, but have you forgotten that you're still handcuffed to the bed?" Riza says cheekily, attempting to regain the semblance of control she just had. But there is no way to deny that she's enjoying herself. She can't lie to herself or to Mustang.
Riza tried to push him away, she really did. But now that's it's right here in front of her, now that Roy is staring at her with those deep brown eyes … There no chance of her being strong to deny her need to be close to him.
Perhaps that's why she doesn't pull away when the Colonel leans forward and his bottom lip just barley grazes her own. Riza is frozen, not daring to move in either direction as his lips linger just beyond contact with hers.
Unable to stand it a moment longer, Riza leans forward the final inch. Her lips press needfully into Mustang's and they both collapse deeper into the pillows.
The moment is pure bliss. The alarm bells and anxious thoughts all subside from Riza's mind as their lips collide passionately against each other. Hawkeye feels him pulling her in further and she follows without a thought. Her body perfectly falling in line with his as he holds her close.
All the carefully built walls in the Lieutenants head are crumbling to rubble. All the self restraint and discipline Roy was restricting himself on is running free, their reigns released.
Riza is so caught up in the moment of the tension finally breaking, that she hardly registers the feeling of Mustangs arms around her, pulling her even closer. Too distracted by the sensations welling up inside her, Riza thinks nothing of it when she feels his hands streaming through her hair to cradle her head.
That is, until she is suddenly on her back.
Riza gapes in shock at the sight of Mustang, somehow free from his bonds, grinning triumphantly atop of her hips. The handcuffs dangling uselessly from his index finger as he chuckles ominously.
"W-what, how?" The Lieutenant stutters, genuinely flabbergasted as to how he could have pulled that off. That is, until Roy reveals what he has in his other hand. The key.
Riza glances down at her utility pocket where the cuffs and their key is stored, she finds it empty. "Y-you jerk! Using a moment like that just so you can steal my key, you-" Her half-hearted complaint is cut short as Mustang leans forward to silence her with another kiss. This one is gentler, warmer.
And just as distracting.
Mustang pulls away with a grin. Riza's dazed eyes open to realize that she can no longer move her arms. "Sir you are such an ass." She whines, closing her eyes in defeat. Not bothering to tug at her arms which are now secured at the top of the bed in the same fashion Mustang was occupying just moments ago.
~~~
"Don't worry darling. I'll make this quick. After all, it seems you have a different idea as to why you want be under me tonight." Roy says this causally as he begins unbuttoning the front of her jacket to reveal her thin T-shirt beneath. Well aware his words and actions are driving the blonde woman insane as she attempts to sputter out a response.
"I - I didn't say - you can't just - I never - nohoho pleahase! NAHAHAHAHAHA!" The Lieutenant is immediately lost as he digs his fingers into her ribs. Clawing up and down the vulnerable area. Mustang smiles down at her as she half-heartedly squirms beneath him. There is no way to hide that she is enjoying his touch.
Keeping true to his word, Roy makes his attack swift, going for the arm pits from the start. He digs all ten fingers into the sensitive hollows. Wiggling and scratching and scribbling as the Lieutenant howls with laughter below him. A genuine smile spreading across her face, teeth and all. "YOHOU ARE SOHO MEAHAN, SIR!" She cries out, both of them aware she doesn't really mean it.
With his own smile, Mustang amps up his attack for the finale. Lowering one hand to claw at her center ribs while the other keeps scribbling into the vulnerable underarms, switching between them.
"NOHOHO PLEAHAHSE NOT THAHAT!" She cries out, her laughter gaining an octave. But Mustang merely laughs right along with her and increases the speed of his fingers. "ROY!" Riza yells in ticklish hysteria before erupting into incoherent laughter, laden with hiccups and snorts.
Not wanting to go back on his promise - despite being tempted to, the Colonel ceases his assault with a triumphant smirk.
Seeing her stomach rise and fall just beneath his legs awakens un-gentlemanlike feelings within Roy and he quickly readjust to sit on the bed beside her instead. "I suppose I should be taking these off then. Though it's a shame. I know I've said it before, but I rather like seeing you like this." Mustang says once his Lieutenant has recovered enough to open her eyes and look at him.
He brushes his fingertips down the underside of her biceps during the latter end of his statement. Awaking goosebumps along her skin and tiny giggles from the still-blushing Lieutenant.
~~~
Summoning all the bravery she can muster, Riza let's go of the vice grip on her control. "I-If you like me like this, then you can keep me like this, Roy." She tries to say this nonchalantly but there is no hiding the many undertones hidden just beneath her words.
One of which being that Riza didn't say his name while exclaiming her anger, or through panicked laughter. She didn't just say it in her head either. With a clear mind and even clearer conscious, Riza said his name aloud willingly.
"Will that offer still stand if we take five minutes to drink some Hot cocoa? I have a pot boiling in the kitchen. If not then-" Mustang teasingly begins removing his shirt, implying he would happily let his kitchen burn down should the offer not stand.
For a moment Riza is admittedly frozen at the sight of his torso, or more so his abs. She quite likes those. But the Lieutenant forces herself to protest. "The offer will stand. The offer definitely still stands. Hot cocoa sounds nice, sir." Riza says quickly before she sees any more of his torso and her resolve falters. Plus, hot cocoa does sound quite nice.
With a chuckle, Mustang let's his shirt fall and reaches for the key. "Back to sir already, I see." He says teasingly as he unlocks the cuffs. "Shut up and get the cocoa … Roy." Riza responds with a genuine smile as she sits up. A smile much like the one she gave the Colonel in the photo they both saved.
"Ha, as you wish." Mustang says with a sarcastic bow before rolling off the bed and jogging out of the room. "That offer better still stand by the time I get back!" He voice fades as he turns around the corner down the hall. Riza can't help but laugh "It will, Roy." She responds, knowing he can't hear her. It doesn't matter.
The offer will always stand because she will always be here. Whatever challenges present themselves, Riza will face it with him. She tried to do the right thing, truly she did. But in the end, she couldn't.
The Lieutenant smiles as she hears Roy coming back down the hall, with a beaming smile and two steaming mugs of cocoa in his hands.
Riza knows what she must do now that she's opened up this door. She did this. So all that's left now is to take responsibility.
And she will happy 'take responsibility' all night long.