day 1 - curiosity

summary: one simple, curious phrase has riza remembering a simpler time

rated: g | words: 753 | tags: pre-canon, young royai, childhood memories, nostlagia, flashback

The office is quiet. Riza is working diligently, however she's glanced at the clock multiple times in the last hour.

It's Friday and she wants to go home.

There's a bottle of red wine waiting for her on the worktop – her favourite – as well as an excellent meal she has leftovers from one night through the week. It always tastes better after being defrosted and she can't wait for it. Saliva floods her mouth at the thought.

She really wants to go home and get out of here.

There are only some final touches to be made on this latest report. She can sign it off, leave it on the Colonel's desk for him to approve, then go –

"Whatcha doing?"

The sudden noise makes her jolt, almost as much as the memory that playful phrase invokes. A call back to a simpler time, before alchemy, before wars. An image of a young, dark-haired boy with a wide toothy grin sparks in her mind before she glances to her right, towards the door to the office, to see the same face, albeit decades older.

Same eyes, same hair, same mischievous grin – although its more subdued now, even with just the two of them in the office. The years and strife have aged those features, however there is still the same gleam in the man's eyes she's known since childhood.

"Riza?"

"In here," she calls out, managing to drag her focus away from her work to answer him.

The sound of footsteps makes its way through the house towards her.

"Whatcha doing?"

She glances up to see him staring at her hands curiously. His head is cocked to the side and he looks engrossed in the movements.

"Sewing," she answers. Her face heats often at the sight of the young man nowadays that its really becoming bothersome. She buries her head back in her work to hide it from him.

If only her hair was longer, she'd be able to use it as a shield.

"Sewing…"

At the risk of him seeing her face, she glances up and notices the furrow of his brow. He watches closely as her hands move the needle through the fabric. It's a motion Riza has done countless times and could probably do with her eyes closed now, and yet her fingers tremble under such scrutiny. Specifically, scrutiny from him.

"Can I join you?"

Shock ripples through her and she tries her best not to react to visibly, however it is a shock. She didn't think he'd ever be interested in such a mundane task. Riza was sure back in the city he had plenty of people to do such a job for him.

Riza nods, though, pleasantly surprised. "If you'd like."

He parks himself right next to her, gaze focussed on her work.

Time passes and Riza manages to steady herself so her stitching doesn't end up sloppy. It wouldn't do if the hole on her trousers ended up looking a mess.

"Could you teach me?"

Her head shoots up in surprise. "Teach you?"

Roy nods enthusiastically. Riza can see his interest ratcheting up and he leans forward, narrowing his eyes to get a closer look.

Riza's hands fumble at the feeling of his breath on her skin. The needle almost drops from between her fingers.

"I'd love to learn, but only if you're not too busy?" His eyebrows turn up in worry, afraid he would be putting her out and piling more work on her plate.

But honestly, although Riza is surprised, she can't help but feel excited and feel happy that he is asking her for help and asking to spend time with her to listen and learn.

That he even wants to spend time with her.

"Yes. Of course."

His grin is bright and the warmth in it threatens to turn Riza into a pile of goo. It tangles up her insides and she doesn't know what to do with that, but still, her returning smile matches his.

"Sir," she greets, back in the present, calming her heart rate. She was affected by the sudden nostalgia more than anything else.

Although, the sight of the man has always kicked up her heart rate regardless.

"Hawkeye." His grin is impish now and he closes the door behind him quietly. Far too pleased with himself.

Her own smile is hard to hide and resist, so she doesn't.

They share a quiet inside joke together.

It warms her more than that bottle of wine or homecooked meal ever could.