Riza is awake, Mustang is certain of it.
But he dares not open his eyes and ruin the moment. As if this is all some elaborate dream that he'll wake up from if he does.
The Lieutenant seems to be in a state of flustered shock. Roy can hear her unsteady breathing as she undoubtedly recalls the escapades of the evening prior. Mustang attempts to suppress a grin, adjusting 'in his sleep' to hide the slip up.
Suddenly, the covers jerk to the side slightly. The Colonel risks a glance after a moment, wanting to know what surprised her like this. Just barely, he opens his left eye to see Riza gazing at herself under the blanket - Her still naked self, that is.
Even now, he finds Riza to be quite beautiful; her cheeks the color of fresh rose buds as she lets the covers fall and she releases another shaky breath.
This time Roy can't suppress a smile at her timidness, she certainly wasn't timid last night when she asked him to-
Riza's gaze catches his only for a second. But that's all it takes for Mustang's little sleeping ruse to be busted.
~~~
"S-sir. You're awake." The Lieutenant stutters out. Unsure of what to say, she resorts to stating the obvious.
"As are you." Roy responds sluggishly as he sits up in bed, Riza internally swears that he let the covers fall on purpose to reveal his sculpted torso (Yes, Mustang absolutely did this intentionally).
The Lieutenant forces her gaze from his bare chest, and back to his smug face. Though her peripherals do sneak a glance at the vague shape of his *ahem* lower area just below the crumpled edge of the blanket. Riza pushes down the tiny thrill that shot through her stomach at the sight.
She needs to remain composed. Hawkeye will never get anything done if she succumbs to her womanly urges every time they call.
'Stupid pretty Roy with his stupid pretty body.'
Her thoughts are the same as yesterday, her feigned annoyance is the only thing she can force herself to focus on besides the nearly undeniable urge to rip off the blankets for round two.
Riza settles for an in between. She sits up in bed, mirroring his position but keeping the edges of the blanket tucked under her biceps to keep it in place. The Lieutenant notices the barley perceptible shift of his throat muscles as Mustang's breath catches and his eyes gain a sharper glint. A hungrier glint.
This time, Riza is the one suppressing a smile.
However her efforts of concealing said smile are just as poor as the Colonel's. "Even after last night, you're still calling me sir, darling? You certainly weren't calling me that last night." Roy can't just let her self-satisfied grin and bratty pose slide without offering his own commentary. And by now, he knows exactly how to fluster his Lieutenant.
It's the only way to beat her. Otherwise Riza's stubbornness will win out every time.
But when Roy talks to her this way, reminding her what she did, what they did. Calling her by names as though she is his… The tiny thrill in her stomach quickly becomes an all-consuming wave. Impossible to ignore as it encapsulates her body and mind.
The Lieutenant subconsciously, just barley, widens the gap between her thighs beneath the blankets. Remembering how it felt last night when their two bodies became one.
Sex with Mustang felt natural. Like a pebble in a river… Except the river is on fire. Wildly intense yet natural, as it should be; as it never had been before.
Riza wants to do it again.
~~~
Mustang is ever pleased with himself, watching her become dismantled with just a single sentence.
Even more pleased knowing that he is the only one who can put that hungry look in her eyes.
Not that he's much better of course. Roy himself is awkwardly positioning his left hand beneath the covers to stop his lower area from 'raising the flag', so to speak.
"Perhaps I'm a little fuzzy on the details of what happened last night. Would you care to enlighten me… sir?" Riza states her intentions bravely as she just barley lets the edges of the blanket slip to reveal slightly more of her shoulders and chest.
Mustang feels his lungs shaking with electric nerves as a small fire begins to smolder below his waistline. The shadow of his hand nonchalantly covering his lower extremities betrays the spreading fire.
Questions about last night can wait.
For the time being, they have… other matters to attend to.
~~~
Riza lays in the tussled bed, still catching her breath. Mustang is slouched beside her, attempting to do the same.
The room is filled with the sound of their panting breaths - A sound it's grown quite accustomed, as they both recover from round two.
Neither of them are bothering to suppress their smiles now. Far too wiped out and content for such trivial things.
As Riza stares at the ceiling, she notices for the first time that it's actually slanted slightly. Sloping down to the right in the direction of the reading nook and bathroom.
She imagines the sound of rain falling on the roof and slipping down its edges would be very calming. Something she'd like an excuse to see sometime.
No other reason why she'd want to be back in this room. No other reason at all…
Riza braves a glance over at Mustang, his eyes are closed but she is certain the Colonel is still awake. Either that, or someone else must be running their thumb along the edge of her inner thigh in gentle circles; sending calming tingles down her legs.
The action is both sensual and affectionate. Riza would be quite pleased if the feeling never stops. She feels safe here.
Unfortunately, Hawkeye's internal voice of reason reminds her that it's safest for her if she uses the restroom and washes up after having sex. Her temporary feeling of contentment isn't worth getting some sort of infection later. Getting it once years ago was quite experience enough.
With a stretch, Riza brushes the covers off of her and inches to the edge of the bed. Trying to ignore the inkling of sorrow in her chest at the loss of his touch. "-hmmm?" Roy mumbles drearily, he looks as though he's just returned from battle. The Lieutenant can't help but giggle at the thought that said 'battle' was her.
"Just heading to the bathroom." Riza whispers kindly, pulling the covers back over him to show that he doesn't have to get up with her. "Mmm." He responds, his version of a confirmation. Mustangs eyes immediately drift close again as Riza rises off the edge of the bed and scurries into the bathroom.
The dark marble tile feels cold beneath her feet. But against her burning nerves, the reprieve is welcome.
The bathroom is essentially shaped like an inverted upside down L. The long right wall consists of the grey granite vanity with two inset sinks; just past the vanity is a small room where the water closet resides.
Directly in front of Riza, on the opposite wall, is the elegant standing bathtub with dual stained-glass windows on either side.
To her left is the bathroom hallway wall with a silver towel rack, currently adorned with a few white cotton towels. Walking further in, the Lieutenant now realizes this hallway doesn't just shares a wall with the closest, but a door as well.
When the connecting wall ends and the layout opens beyond the hallway, there is a door that leads into the large rectangular closet. The Lieutenant had missed this upon her first inspection of the room yesterday. Too dark without turning the closet lights on; and too distracted by her conflicting thoughts as well.
Some of which are the same thoughts attempting to conflict her now.
Riza glances at herself in the wall-length mirror to her left. She looks just as frazzled as she feels. Her eyes bright and wild, hair a tussled mess. From the right, colorful fractals of light slash across her bare body like some sort of oil painting.
The source of the light are the parallel stained-glass pillars rising from the bathroom floor to the slanted ceiling on either side of the large bathtub.
When first exploring the room yesterday evening, the Lieutenant had been curious to see what the bathroom would look like in the daylight. Seeing it now is everything she imaged it to be.
Grabbing one of the cotton towels off the mounted silver rack, Riza sets it atop of the small wooden bench just in front of the tub. Turning on the water to an appropriate temperature before heading towards the small room on the right of the bathtub to use the restroom while the tub fills.
While inside, Riza notices a thin window running along the top of the water closet. Curiosity wins out and she grabs the edge of the window to briefly hop upwards for a glance at what's outside.
A large bush blocks most of her view; but in her quick look she was able to see part of secluded courtyard with walkways and a sitting area as well as a table. 'Why does everything about this man have to be so unique and inviting.' She thinks to herself in amusement.
A few minutes later, Hawkeye slips into the steaming water. Relishing the burn on her skin, it reminds her of last night - this morning as well, technically. The feeling of her skin on fire, every inch of herself lit with his flame; Roy's flame.
Riza shivers despite the steaming water encapsulating her.
With a sigh, the Lieutenant allows herself to slip beneath the surface. The outside world becoming muffled as she lets herself float.
It's such a peaceful feeling, despite not being able to breath. Funny how that works. How something dangerous can feel so pleasant. How funny indeed.
'Would you give it a rest? Enough with the self-sabotage already.' Riza scolds herself mentally, but the hollow hum of the water is all she hears in response. 'I'm hopeless.' Her thought continues in annoyance.
The Lieutenant can't keep willingly spiraling around this all-consuming hole. Allowing herself to fall in just because she's scared moving forward might hurt her later on.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Her father told her that once.
Her lungs begin to burn slightly, but Riza stays beneath the surface. Not wanting to leave the ignorant tranquility quite yet. 'Get up or get off.' Another one of her fathers little quips. Though, she doesn't particularly feel like getting up right now.
As a child Riza disliked his harsh lessons, finding them quite degrading when all she wanted was affection. But now that she's older, now that she's a killer; she has a new respect for those lessons. Today is one of those days where she is grateful for her fathers cruel words.
Though it's funny how pulling the trigger all those times seemed easier than coming up from beneath the water now.
So very funny.
Finally the burning in Hawkeye's chest is too much to bare and her reflexes kick in, forcing her head to the surface. It causes a loud splash which unfortunately sends tidal waves over the edge of the tub. Though Riza barley registers this as she gasps for air and the water drains from her still-muffled ears.
Perhaps that's why she screams when a cold hand suddenly presses against her shoulder.
Her eyes still blurry with water droplets, Riza can barely recognize Roy. His face contorted with a look of worry she's never seen before.
His mouth moves but the Lieutenant doesn't catch the words. She's too hyper-focused on this blasted man's torso. He really needs to put that away if he ever wants to have a legitimate conversation with her because there is no way that-
"Riza!" The urgency in Mustang's voice pulls Riza from her oxygen-deprived (and horny) daze. "Are you alright? What happened?" He repeats his flurry of questions. Kneeling in the pooling water just outside of the bathtub as he stares at her with a gaze of genuine concern.
Riza isn't certain how to answer his question. 'Well you see, other than the fact my self-sabotaging inner self decided that practically trying to drown myself is a better alternative than facing my issues; yeah I'm doing great Roy.'
She doubts that would go over well.
"I'm fine I just - I just slipped is all. Been a while since I've had a bath. N-not that I don't clean myself! I just don't use a bath… usually." Unsure of what else to do, Riza starts incoherently babbling.
Mustang stares blankly at her for a few seconds, as if coming to terms with the fact the reality he was expecting when he rushed in here is not at all what he got.
"Alright, alright. It's fine you don't ever bathe. Thats totally fine, no shame in it." Roy teases her after realizing his Lieutenant is not in any present danger.
"I appreciate that, thank you." Riza responds with feigned enthusiasm. Deciding that letting the Colonel mess with her is better than having to explain her inherent need to self-sabotage.
He's tired of hearing that tune, she is certain. Hell, Riza is tired of hearing it. More than anything she wants it to stop.
Would talking about her feelings help? Yes, quite possibly. But does she want to do it now while they're both still naked, staring at each other over wet floors? Preferably not.
Sensing his Lieutenant would like her privacy returned, Roy rises to his feet with a chuckle. Grabbing a second towel off the rack to quickly dry the water on the floor. He cleans the spill and tosses the used towel inside the basket tucked in the far corner.
"I'm going to start making us some breakfast. I'm sure you're starving by now. Come by the kitchen whenever you're ready." Mustang says brightly as he walks back down the small hallway to the bedroom. "Thank you, see you soon." Riza responds with a smile as he swiftly opens the door and slips out, closing it softly behind him.
Hawkeye finishes the rest of her bath quickly. The legion soaps and oils Mustang had on hand in the bathroom is genuinely impressive. Riza selects the soap the smells most pleasant to her, it's rather familiar as well. Roy must use it on occasion.
Though it does strike her as odd that a guest bathroom would be so well stocked. Let alone with products Mustang himself uses rather than generic options she's seen her friends put in their own guest rooms. Oh well, it doesn't particularly matter to Riza; merely an odd observation.
Riza listens to the sound of the tub drain as she tussle-dries her hair before wrapping herself in the towel. Her stomach growls as she pulls open the door across from the tub that leads in to the closet. Roy is right, she is quite hungry.
But first, she needs something to wear.
She can use her uniform, but after spending the night on the floor it's not exactly the look she's going for. Plus, she now has an excuse to wear some of Mustangs clothes.
Though again, it's rather strange he keeps clothes in here as well as his own closet. However Riza does recall his bedroom closet only having his uniforms, these clothes seem to be rather casual. No matter, these are much more comfortable anyway.
Riza pulls on a random pair of soft wool pants and a dark green tshirt. Both are wonderfully soft and smell just like Mustang. Safely alone, Riza allows herself to sigh contently at the calming and familiar scent. She can certainly get used to this.
Can't she?
More than anything she wants to let herself. But that doesn't mean the Lieutenant knows how.
For now, she settles for opening the closet door and heading out of the bedroom. Following the scent of eggs and something savory drifting down the hall.
Yes, she can certainly get used to this.
~~~
Ten minutes later, the two soldiers are eating omelets in one of Mustangs smaller courtyards. The one Riza had caught a glimpse of from the restroom window.
The atmosphere surrounding the table is cozy and secluded, shaded with greenery and looming walls.
They are protected on all four sides by the walls of the house - The entryway corridor wall to her left, with Roy and the Great room wall in front of her. The guest bedroom and office wall is to her right; and the kitchen wall, along with the door inside, is behind her.
It's easy for Riza to shut out the world and enjoy the moment with her friend.
Again, she catches herself wanting to freeze this moment, persevere it; so she can live in it forever. Keep it in her pocket and snuggle into it when she needs an escape.
But time plays no favorites, and soon they are finishing their plates; conversation dulled to a post-eating silence.
That is, until Hawkeye says, "Why does your guest room have so much of your stuff in it?" She asks this curiously, but it's truthfully just the only way she can think of to prolong this moment just a little longer.
"Ah, well that's because it's my second bedroom. I stay in there when I want to relax. Usually on the weekends." Mustang responds sheepishly, not quite meeting her gaze.
"You said this was an unused guest suite!" Riza states indignantly, though with a unsurprised smile.
"I don't have many guests Riza." Roy responds plainly, his dark eyes dragging up to meet hers. The Lieutenant's smile widens. She rather likes the sound of that. "I suppose that's fair." Hawkeye mumbles in feigned petulance.
"Shall we?" Mustang continues, stacking her plate atop of his before rising to his feet. "We shall." Grudgingly, the blonde soldier follows him back inside the kitchen.
They wash and dry their plates before heading back down the corridor to the Great Room. Conversing over menial things as they make their way into the seating area and settle down on one of the couches. The same couch as yesterday, in fact.
The conversation is pleasantly vague, nothing deep or emotional to talk about. Exactly what Riza needs right now. Well, not needs. More so really wants. Unfortunately there is in fact a difference between the two.
And of course, this trend doesn't last long. "All morning I've been waiting for you to tell me what actually happened in the bathtub. You didn't seem alright." Mustang's statement catches her off guard. Surly he isn't still on about that? That was nothing. Nothing at all.
It was not, in fact, nothing.
Riza knows this but her stubbornness and self-preservation instincts kick in first. "I'm not sure what you mean? I already told you, I slipped." She mumbles, her excuse falling flat on even her own ears.
"Strange, I've never pegged you as the clumsy type." Mustang states plainly, walking in circles around her argument. "Do you want to leave?" Roy adds on more hesitantly. His gaze is vulnerable, clearly mentally preparing for Riza's answer.
"I don't." The Lieutenant finds her voice in time to force the quick words out. Mustangs eyes immediately brighten, relieved that he didn't overstep. "Then what's wrong?" He repeats his question, the concern in his eyes is hardened. There is no way for Hawkeye to talk her way out of this one.
'Aren't you tired of fighting this? Don't you deserve to be happy too? Doesn't Roy deserve to be happy?' A flurry of thoughts fall through the top of Riza's head and down into her stomach; where they churn in circles, waiting for her decision.
Oh screw it.
"How about you try to force it out of me if you want to know that bad." Riza responds boldly. 'Well that was more direct than I intended.' She thinks this in sheepish amusement, though she still forces herself to meet his surprised gaze.
If there is one thing Riza knows about Mustang, it's that he himself is quite forward. And he rather appreciates this quality in others.
Roy's look of surprise quickly morphs into mischief as he realizes the game his Lieutenant is playing at. "Is that so? Well how could I ever deny such an invitation." He responds darkly, taking notice that Riza is making no moves to escape.
She's already stepped over the border, Riza might as well make the most of it.
Not needing a second invitation, Roy rushes forward. Pinning Riza on her back against the couch. "If I do recall correctly, you were quite cheeky this morning. I don't believe you were ever held accountable for that." Mustang says as he positions himself over her hips and grabs at her flailing wrists; still putting up the facade that she doesn't want this.
"Not a clue what you are alluding towards, sir." Riza retorts, sealing her fate as she feels her wrists lose mobility, now trapped beneath his knees.
With an ominous laugh, the Colonel digs all ten fingers into her stomach. Immediately wiggling upwards in search of that spot in the middle of her ribs that always makes her squeal like a startled rabbit.
"EEEEAH! YOHOU AHASS!" Riza retorts through her laughter, she wasn't expecting him to step right in full force. There is no easing into it today. Roy wants answers.
"I will happy remind you what I'm taking about, Riza. You just let me know when you remember what it is you want to tell me." Mustang says casually, trying to push down his smile to maintain his aloof facade. Knowing it will drive his Lieutenant insane.
Ignoring her insult as he locates the the dreadful spot between her center ribs, he claws at the sensitive area with everything he has. Relishing the frantic laughter bubbling past the blonde woman's lips.
"NEHEVER! YOU JEHERK!" Riza cries out defiantly as she halfheartedly tugs at her hands from where they are still pinned beneath the Colonels knees. Her pleading laughter is just a facade as she willingly melts into his touch.
Even through her already-panicked laughter, Riza senses something else; a feeling of contentment.
This is how it should have gone yesterday. She never should have tried to run away from her feelings; from Roy.
However, she doesn't have to admit this aloud quite yet.
For now, Riza is going to allow herself to enjoy the moment without ruining it for herself merely because the feeling is foreign to her.
"If you insist. I suppose I have no choice but to continue." Mustang responds with a shrug as he begins clawing upwards, making a clear path towards her underarms.
Okay, perhaps now Riza is slightly more inclined to start talking.
"W-WAIT WAHAIT! JUHUST A MOMENT!" Her pleading falls on deaf ears as the Colonel continues his ascent. "You know what I want to hear, Riza." Roy responds cheekily, no longer bothering to hide how much he is enjoying himself.
Without waiting for her response, Mustang wiggles his fingers between her underarms and biceps to scribble at the sensitive skin. "NOHOHO NOHOT THEHERE!" The Lieutenant yelps as the wiggling fingers accelerate their pace.
"Yes there. And I'm staying there until you tell me the truth." Mustang crows as he pulls back one hand to begin prying her left arm over her head. Careful to keep her right arm pinned beneath his knee as he releases the other arm.
A moment later, Riza is staring up at the Colonel with a light of panic in her eyes. Her left arm pinned on the cushions high above her head.
Is she ready to tell the truth? Is she certain that she knows what the truth is?
Riza doesn't have time to contemplate this before Mustang resumes his attack. Mercilessly digging his fingers into the exposed underarm.
~~~
"ROY! YOU AHASS! AHAHAHAH!" The Lieutenant's indignant statement is dampened by her vibrant cackling. She is immediately lost to the world when his fingers graze against the sensitive skin.
"Tell me the truth then~" Mustang responds in a sing song voice, loving the sound of Riza calling out his name. Even if it's in feigned annoyance.
"ILL TEHELL YOHOU IF YOHOU STAHAHAP!" Riza cries out, finally reaching her breaking point. "I need to be certain you'll be honest though." Roy objects, releasing the hand pinning Riza's hand to begin clawing at the center of the ribs; immediately locating the spot from earlier.
"ILL TELL THE TRUHUTH! I WILL! I SWEAHAR!" The Lieutenant is near screaming with hysterical laughter now. Deeming her pleading sufficient, Mustang let's up one his attack. However he stays mounted atop of her hips. Ever wary of his Lieutenant's stubbornness and resilience.
"A-are yohou sure you wahant th-the truhuth?" Hawkeye asks as she rides out the residual ghost tickles. Mustang raises his hands threateningly, slightly wiggling them to let her know what will happen if she doesn't start talking.
~~~
"The truth is - I am Riza Hawkeye. I am a soldier loyal to the good of my country, I enjoy being tickled, and… I'm in love with Roy Mustang."
In one sentence she has spelled out her priorities - Work, pleasure, and love, in no particular order of course... Can't have his head getting any bigger.
The Lieutenant focuses on this stream of thought rather than the fact she was one again more forward than she intended to be. Did she just admit that she loves him? When did she even realize she loved him? This was not the plan. This was not the plan at all.
The fact that Mustang is still perched on her hips isn't helping her growing panic. It feels like an eternity before Roy finally responds. Right when Riza is about to start sputtering apologies, trying to take back her bold words.
"The truth is - I am Roy Mustang. I am the future Fuhrer of Amestris, I enjoy reading as well as tickling cheeky Lieutenants, well one Lieutenant. And I am also in love with said Lieutenant." Riza's eyes widen as her mind begins to comprehend the words she just heard. But Roy isn't done quite yet.
"I am Roy Mustang, and I am in love with Riza Hawkeye." The Colonel finishes his declaration, meeting her gaze unwaveringly.
'You get what you give.' Another one of her father's quips that she used to find so annoying. But today once again proves their worth.
Give honesty, and you will receive it. Truly give your heart to the one you love, and the one you love will truly give you theirs. Breed fear and you be met with it. Riza is done living in fear.
The Lieutenant isn't certain what to say but her eyes speak entire stories. Bright with relief, affection and perhaps a wee bit of horniness. He is still on top of her after all.
Fortunately, Riza doesn't have to think of something to respond with before Roy leans down to close the distance between them.
The kiss is surprisingly gentle considering the fierce degree of the confessions they just uttered. But to Riza it is perfect. Sending warm tingles of comfort and affection rippling down her limbs.
When he finally pulls away, the Lieutenant can tell he has a question on his mind. "Why didn't you want to tell me before? Not upset by any means, just curious. I didn't force you into that did I?" Mustang asks warily, always conscious of Riza's feelings. It makes her smile.
"Because you're useless when you're grumpy." She says teasingly, earning a quick scribbling across her belly. "Come now, I'm talking about after I was fully awake." Mustang responds with a chuckle before adding on. "Don't worry, you'll get plenty of tickles later, you don't have act like a brat for them."
Even in moments like these, Roy knows exactly how to shut her up in an instant. Riza would find it annoying if it wasn't so damn attractive.
"I was... afraid. Not just because of our jobs, I was still afraid that if I let myself enjoy this and truly open up to it, that I would just be setting us up for pain. Pleasant things can be deceptive." Hawkeye explains quietly. "Was?" Is Roy's only response, straight to the point as ever.
"I don't want to live in fear anymore. Living in fear is no better than not living at all." Another lesson Riza learned from her father, she now finds herself speaking them without thinking.
Mustang stares at her with a gaze of pure adoration. As if she is now the only being left in his universe. "I don't want to live in fear anymore either. I can't bear the thought of keeping you at arms reach a day longer. Pretending I don't want the world to know that you're mine." Roy says, brushing the stray wisps of hair out of her face, currently blushing from his words.
"-And let them know I'm yours, of course." Mustang adds on hastily, realizing his mistake. Riza giggles and takes his hand into her own. Relishing the warmth of his touch.
Her beaming smile is enough of a response. The Lieutenant feels near-giddy with the fact that she'll be able to seek his warmth whenever she pleases. Never having a fear of it slipping from her grasp in a moments notice. Or try to shove in a bottle to put a shelf to wistfully look back on.
"Riza, promise me you'll be honest with me if you have these feelings again." The Colonel says, his eyes gaining intensity. "I promise, Roy. I'm not going anywhere." Hawkeye assures him quietly, running her thumb along his jaw line, just barely tracing the edge of his bottom lip.
Riza wants to kiss him. And she can; so she will.
Leaning up from her horizontal poison, Riza interlocks her fingers behind Roy's head to pull his face towards hers. The kiss is much more passionate and needy than before. Reacting within her body in an entirely different way.
"I'm not going anywhere, except the bedroom." Riza teasingly corrects her previous statement. Pulling away from the kiss for just a moment to say this before closing the distance once again.
Mustang does not require a formal invitation. He pulls legs around his waist so he can hold her from beneath. Never breaking the kiss as he maneuvers out of the Great Room and down the hallway to his spare bedroom, mainly navigating from memory.
The door closes behind them and this time Riza feels nothing but love, attraction and safety. No fear and anxiousness can break through her contentment now.
The time has come to 'Get up or get off'. No more regretting the past and dreading the future.
It's time to live in the moment.
And from now on, she will; they will.