4D Chess

by sarahtea

Summary:

“All right then. One more match, but this time, I have a proposal.”

“Mmm? And what is that?” Mustang asked as he carefully shifted the chess pieces back into starting position. A mischievous look was plastered across the Fuhrer's face causing Roy to become suspicious of the older man’s intent. He was up to no good, that was for sure. Mustang’s patience was fading fast, “Out with it, Grumman,” he grumbled.

“Hey, that’s Fuhrer to you, boy!” he shifted in his seat, “If you win, I’ll give you that bonus you’ve been hoping for, hmm?”

Roy raised his eyebrows, “I’m listening… and if you win?”

“If I win…” he paused, eyes darting around the room as though to make sure nobody was listening. He was acting abnormally giddy, “You have to take my granddaughter out on a date.”

Notes:

Here’s my attempt at writing a longer Royai fic with actual chapters! Grumman asking Roy to marry his granddaughter someday lives in my head rent free after finding out his granddaughter is canonically Riza. This takes place post-Promised Day. I hope you enjoy~

Chapter 1

“Checkmate!” shouted Fuhrer Grumman with a sly smirk. 

General Mustang’s dark eyes narrowed, “Don’t get cocky, old man! We’re tied now. The score is two to two, and I’ve bested you every day for the past month now.”

Grumman chuckled, staring menacingly at the younger man, “All right then. One more match, but this time, I have a proposal.”

“Mmm? And what is that?” Mustang asked as he carefully shifted the chess pieces back into starting position. A mischievous look was plastered across the Fuhrer's face causing Roy to become suspicious of the older man’s intent. He was up to no good, that was for sure. Mustang’s patience was fading fast, “Out with it, Grumman,” he grumbled.

“Hey, that’s Fuhrer to you, boy!” he shifted in his seat, “If you win, I’ll give you that bonus you’ve been hoping for, hmm?”

Roy raised his eyebrows, “I’m listening… and if you win?”

 “If I win…” he paused, eyes darting around the room as though to make sure nobody was listening. He was acting abnormally giddy, “You have to take my granddaughter out on a date.”

“Sir, that’s hardly acceptable!” his cheeks were quickly turning a deep shade of pink.

Fuhrer Grumman chuckled, “Easy, boy. You aren’t fooling anyone.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?!” 

“Now, now. As you said- you’ve beaten me every day for the past month. Why would today be any different?”

“You can’t just make up a rule like that! It’s- it’s unethical!”

“Man up, Mustang.”

“What the hell?” he lowered his face into cupped hands, aggravated by the sudden change of rules by his superior. 

“Come now. Let’s begin.”

He wanted to continue his protest, but he knew it was no use. He had respect for his superior officer despite his antics, “...yes, sir.”

The room fell silent, save for the sound of the chess pieces sliding meticulously across the board. Roy bit his lip, determined to win the match. After being promoted from Colonel all the way up to General, the pay raise was sparse, likely due to the negative impact that the Promised Day had on the economy of Amestris. He had been nagging Grumman about a bonus for months but to no avail.

Roy was making all the right moves and seemed to have the advantage. He smirked as he displaced more and more of Grumman’s pieces off the board. It was down to the wire, and Roy was a shoe-in to win. Roy held his king between two fingers, ready for his final “check mate.” However, to both of their surprise, the younger man suddenly froze, staring down at his queen on the board. A bead of sweat escaped his brow as he sat quietly, experiencing an unforeseen wave of emotions. “My queen…” he thought to himself. A sudden pang of distress took hold of his body, rendering him motionless. The thought of winning was no longer appealing despite his competitive nature and that damn bonus. 

“What kind of a man would I be if I chose money over the woman I love?” He thought to himself and sighed outwardly. He slowly let go of the king and crossed his hands underneath his chin, his facial muscles tensed up, a wrinkle forming above the bridge of his nose as he contemplated his next move.

”What’s taking so long, kid? I don’t have all day, you know,” Grumman said with a cheeky grin. Mustang’s next move was clear to the both of them.

”Just give me a sec, all right?!” He ran his fingers through his black, slicked-back hair, causing his bangs to fall across his forehead.

Images of a beautiful doe-eyed blonde woman flashed into Roy’s mind, overtaking any semblance of rationality. Riza Hawkeye was the most precious thing in Roy Mustang’s life. Their relationship was always romantic, though subtle and… non-traditional. Why go on hot dates when you can plan a coup together? The tension they felt on a daily basis was palpable and almost alluring. The thrill of sneaking around; speaking in code. It had become almost an addiction for them. Fraternity laws made it illegal for them to marry anyways, so why not continue with what was comfortable? They were soulmates, fates entwined for the rest of eternity, though nonchalant. Love doesn’t have to be boastful. It can be patient, and it can present itself in rather mysterious ways. The pair of them were a perfect example of this.

The goal to right their wrongs in Ishval that the two sought after always took precedence over fully pursuing a relationship with one another despite the desire on both ends. But now… the Fuhrer himself is giving Roy full permission to ask the love of his life out on a date. How could he not take that opportunity? Roy closed his eyes, inhaling slowly, “Screw the money,” he thought to himself. He completely folded under the hypothetical gaze of Riza Hawkeye. He slid his king in the opposite direction he would have for check-mate, allowing an opening for Fuhrer Grumman.

The Fuhrer's eyes widened at the realization that his once confident and prideful subordinate was now throwing a match he was set to win on purpose , essentially denying a promised bonus. His shock shifted to pure amusement as he erupted with laughter so loud that it echoed throughout the previously dead silent room. Mustang was humiliated. He had no idea what had come over him. This wasn’t like him. He hung his head in shame as the Fuhrer carried on with his hysterics.

It took a moment for Grumman to compose himself. He huffed, still catching his breath, “I knew it!”

Roy pounded his fist lightly against the table, causing a few chess pieces to fall to the ground, including the queen, “Knew what?!”

Grumman bent over to pick up the queen, placing it in Roy’s hand, “You’re in love with my Riza!”

“That’s-” he swallowed thickly, clutching the queen firmly in his palm, “That’s not any of your business, sir!”

“Sure it is. She is my granddaughter after all,” he smirked, sliding his chair back and standing up from the table, “I know you’re a man of your word, Mustang. I trust that you will see to it and honor our little deal.” He winked.

“...yes, sir.”

“Good. It’s about damn time. Have a good evening, General,” he practically danced out of the room with glee.

Roy lingered at the table, slumped over with his head still facing downward. He sighed and wondered what had gotten into him. He was startled when the door opened again, revealing the old man who had to get one last word in, “Oh and Mustang…”

Roy sighed, “Yes, sir?”

“Shave that damn mustache first.”

“…Yes, Fuhrer Grumman…”

“Great! Toodaloo!

Silence pervaded the room once again, but this time it was deafening. Roy was left alone to process the cluster of thoughts and feelings rotating around his mind like a chaotic solar system. Roy stayed seated in his chair for the next hour, the sun slowly setting in the background, casting a reflection of orange hues against the pale walls of his office. He held out the queen in front him, reminiscing on all the memories he had with Riza- the good and also the bad. They had been through so much together. He didn’t want to ruin the connection they shared as it transcended even the deepest of bonds. While Riza was a woman of few words, he still had an instinctual understanding that they both shared the same admiration for one another. He didn’t doubt that at all, but would she be ready to ascend their relationship to greater heights? That he was unsure of, and he was worried. Roy placed the queen back on the table and finally stood up, a facade of confidence taking over for the rest of his shift.

 

~~~

 

That night Roy went home, anxiously wondering if he had made the right decision. He was seriously kicking himself for letting go of a bonus that was right within his grasp. Deep down, though, he knew he did what was right. It was the principle. He could have simply won the match, taking the bonus while still asking out Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye on his own time, but then he would feel as though he prioritized money over someone dear to him. Grumman was well aware of all the intricacies and inner machinations of Roy’s mind, so he was very calculated in his approach. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“That damn bastard,” Roy mumbled to himself as he stood in front of the mirror of his bathroom, razor in hand. He had been growing a rather eccentric mustache for a few months that didn’t exactly suit him, though he wanted so badly to seem more distinguished as he rose the ranks. At only 32-years-old, it was almost unheard of for a man of his age to already make it to General. He found that he wasn’t always taken seriously by his colleagues, so he made changes to his appearance to reflect a certain maturity that he lacked. This included the mustache and slicking back his hair more often than he used to, though a few unkempt strands could always be found strewn across his forehead.

With a clean shaven face, General Mustang hopped in the shower, taking care to freshen up in preparation for his big day tomorrow. He spent extra time steaming his uniform that night, making sure not a single crease could be observed. He even went as far as shining his boots. Everything had to be perfect. After tossing and turning for an hour in bed that night, tormented by his racing thoughts, he finally managed to drift off into slumber. He dreamt of Riza in a fitted purple dress, enjoying a meal together. He cracked a gentle smile as he slept peacefully until dawn.

Chapter 2

Summary:

Roy musters up the courage to ask the big question. It's chaotic and tension filled, but it seems to go rather well.

“Good morning, sir,” Riza was trying to stifle a giggle.

“What? Is there something on my face?”

“No, actually. It’s gone, sir- your mustache. For a second, I thought it may have been a permanent decision,” she got really close to him, stroking her thumb against his upper lip.

“Are you disappointed?” He looked down at her with a cocky grin.

“The contrary, sir.”

He sighed, deciding to ignore the fact she had just said that. It took him far longer than he wanted to admit to grow it out. He walked to his desk and sat down, greeted by a rather large stack. Even after climbing the ranks, he was still haunted by the fated paperwork. He grumbled inwardly.

Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye scanned her superior, noticing the subtle differences in his appearance. She found herself staring a little longer than she had intended, “Your hair looks nice today,” she cleared her throat, “...sir.”

General Mustang’s cheeks brimmed with blush, a warm sensation radiating across his face. He took a moment to compose himself, “Thanks, Hawkeye. What’s gotten into you? You aren’t normally one for compliments.”

“I’m not sure, sir,” she said quietly.

That made two people who were blushing.

They both got back to work, but there was a certain tension that permeated the room from that point forward. Roy was sluggishly getting through his paperwork, his mind trailing off every few seconds to think about how he was going to ask out his subordinate. It was of no help that she was constantly in the room with him, lingering like an angel on his shoulder. He found his crimson eyes involuntarily wandering over to her every now and then. “God, has she always been this beautiful?” He wondered, quickly forcing himself to snap out of it. This would become a vicious cycle for the rest of the work day.

A rather polite knock at the door relieved the pressure that pervaded the room for the past few hours. The volume, the rhythm, and the pitch of the knock were all characteristic to one specific person- Fuhrer Grumman. Roy and Riza exchanged glances and nodded, both knowing exactly who it was. Riza got up to answer as she always did. Roy lowered his face into his palm as she made her way to the door, anticipating the man to torture him in some way.

“Good afternoon, you two!”

“Good afternoon, sir,” said General Mustang and Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye in unison.

“Just wanted to check in on your progress, Mustang,” he winked.

Roy glared at the Fuhrer, knowing that was a loaded request. He maintained a relaxed demeanor, not wanting Riza to suspect anything amiss, “I’m currently filling out the reports regarding the status of the Ishval restoration. It’s been successful so far, and I believe we are making very good progress. Everything is going as planned,” he crossed his hands under his chin, taking a moment to ponder how he could carefully word what he was going to say next, “I will have these and anything else you’ve asked of me done by the end of my shift.” Smooth .

“Attaboy! Glad to hear it. Keep up the great work, and best of luck!” The older man marched gleefully out of the General’s office with a salute.

Roy blinked slowly, ecstatic that his superior had finally left so that he could breathe . He was still controlling his composure to the best of his ability, but the irritation on his face was difficult to conceal.

“He was acting a little strange, wasn’t he, sir?”

Roy shrugged, “He’s your grandfather.”

She chuckled, “That’s true. He can be… unpredictable, I suppose.”

“That’s putting it lightly.”

“You all right, sir? You seem a bit tense.”

“Me? Tense? Never.” He smirked, a false act of bravado.

She rolled her eyes, “Of course, sir. I’ll let you get back to work.”

He looked down at his paperwork and quietly exhaled through his nose, relief imminent. He managed to successfully get through the rest of his shift despite his frequent lapses of focus.

 

~~~

 

“Hawkeye.”

“Colonel- Sorry, General?”

Roy was anxiously scratching his head, “I was just thinking… You once said you would follow me to hell if I asked you to,” he stared down at the paperwork on his desk as opposed to directly at his subordinate who was standing idly behind him. Eye contact wasn’t usually something that the Colonel struggled with, but for some reason he couldn’t seem to muster up the courage to simply look at her, let alone force his eyes to connect with hers.

His subordinate tilted her head, curious at the intention behind Roy’s words, “Yes, sir. I meant that, and I still would.”

Roy leaned back in his chair and chuckled, his demeanor was both charming and nervous at the same time, a conflicting sight to behold. 

“Is something funny, sir?”

“No, Lieutenant Colonel. It’s just…” he restlessly tapped his pen against the corner of his desk three times, “...what exactly does that entail? Does that mean you would follow me anywhere at all?”

“I suppose it does, sir. Yes.”

His eyes grew wide, satisfied with her answer. He eased up a little, “So then… would you follow me… to dinner… tonight?” an uneasy smirk crossed his face as he awaited her response.

A painful eight seconds of silence followed. Roy could feel the accelerated rhythm of his heartbeat dance through his chest as he awaited her response. Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye was, quite frankly, in shock by the sudden intimate question. The pair spent the majority of their time with one another, but there was that boundary that they implicitly knew not to cross. With military regulations, it was important that they maintain a certain facade despite their apparent fondness for one another. Dinner, though. That’s harmless, right? Colleagues go to dinner together all the time, and nobody bats an eye. Her intonation changed suddenly. Her usually stern voice had a softness to it, “Y-yes, sir. I’d be happy to.”

“Great, then I’ll pick you up at seven,” Roy stood up from his chair. He felt like his knees were going to give out at any moment, but he needed to get out of that office as fast as he could to get some fresh air. He quickly shuffled his finished paperwork into a neat pile, grabbed his coat and promptly left, completely avoiding any sort of contact with his subordinate on the way out. Riza stood at the back of the room, observing his erratic behavior. She found it to be actually rather endearing. The usually stoic and composed General had been reduced to that of a love-sick puppy.

“What an idiot (affectionately),” she said under her breath, shaking her head slightly. She gathered her things and delivered the General’s paperwork to the secretary’s office before heading to her apartment to get ready.

Notes:

I'm having so much fun writing this! I have an interesting idea for the next chapter that I'm working on so stay tuned. 💖

Chapter 3

Summary:

The chronicles of Roy and Riza preparing for their date. Where will they end up going together?

Roy’s Perspective

“Havoc, we need to talk.”

“Today’s my day off, chief. This isn’t work related, is it?” the sound of a cigarette being lit was audible.

“No, you idiot. I… have a date tonight.”

“You- what?!”

“Ow!” Roy distanced the phone from his ear and winced at the dramatic decibel increase.

“Sorry, sorry. I just can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is rich! Who’s the lucky lady?”

Roy grumbled, “Who do you think, Havoc?” 

“Oh boy! I just knew this day would come! Me and the crew all have bets on how long it would take for you two to finally make it official.”

“You have bets on what?!” He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “Nevermind… it’s not going to be ‘official’ for a long time… for obvious reasons. You can’t tell anyone about this. Understood? That’s an order. I just- needed someone to talk to.”

“Has the great Flame Alchemist known as General Mustang called me for dating advice?”

“Don’t let it get to your head, Havoc.”

“Look, chief… I’m going to be blunt with you. Anyone who has so much as caught a glance at the two of you would know you’re in some kind of a relationship. My advice is simple: keep doing whatever it is you’re already doing. It’s working. Trust me.”

“Has it seriously been that obvious?”

“Honestly, yes. But… you must know that already? Fuhrer Bradley taking her away from you might have been your first clue.”

“He took all of my men away from me, not just Hawkeye.”

“Right, but who did he make his own personal assistant?”

“Point taken.”

“Now go put on one of your classy outfits, a spritz of cologne, and be the confident Roy Mustang I’ve come to know who usually gives me dating advice.”

“Thanks, Havoc.”

“Perfect. Let me know how it goes. I’m rooting for you, my dude! My bets were you two got together by the end of this year, so you better not mess this up!”

“Damn it. Goodbye Havoc,” Roy hung up the phone, his hand lingering for a moment. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He hated to admit it, but he was deeply nervous, a feeling that often evaded him. 

General Mustang was no stranger to fashion. He knew how to dress himself in a way that was classy and respectable, and he certainly enjoyed doing so. He owned several suits, button-ups, and ties in a variety of usually neutral colors- often shades of black, brown, or gray. A white collared shirt, a gray vest with matching dress pants, and a black tie is what he had decided on. He would finish off the look with a long black coat and a cream scarf to keep himself warm during the crisp autumn evening. He touched up his slicked-back hair, a few pieces inevitably falling against his forehead despite his precision, remnants of youth still lingering. He glanced at the clock. It was 6:30 PM already. Per Havoc’s instructions, he spritzed some cologne against his neck and punctually headed out the door, projected to arrive at Riza’s apartment precisely ten minutes early.

Riza’s Perspective

“Rebecca, we need to talk.”

Rebecca giggled, “Huh? Are we breaking up?”

“This is serious! I think… Roy asked me out?”

“He- what?!”

“You’re going to burst my eardrum!” she held the phone away from her face for a moment.

“Sorry, it’s just… I can’t believe it. I swore that man was just going to string you along for the rest of your lives with no remorse.”

“You know it’s not like that. We aren’t even allowed to date due to military regulations. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

“I guess he just can’t take it anymore. You’re approaching your prime, Riza. You’re probably irresistible to him at this point!”

Riza playfully scoffed, “Oh please, Rebecca.”

“It’s painfully obvious that you’re both madly in love with each other. Everyone can see it. It’s about time he made a move, honestly,” she was wrapping the coil of the phone around her finger.

Riza blushed, whispering quietly into the phone, “We’ve already kissed,” she cleared her throat, followed by a nervous laugh, “Several times… actually.”

“Riza, you cannot just drop these juicy details on me like this! I’m dying over here! But, I suppose I’m not really surprised. You two practically exude sexual tension when you’re with one another.”

“Ugh, Rebecca!”

“Sorry, sorry! Anyways, how are you feeling about all of this? Excited? Nervous?”

“Both, honestly.”

“You’re going to be fine! Just keep being the person he’s known and loved for all of these years. Put on a pretty dress and bring extra Riza Hawkeye sass!”

“Sounds good, Rebecca. Thanks for talking to me.”

“No problem! You love-birds have fun! And do not forget to call me and tell me all about it!”

“All right, will do. Good night,” she hung up the phone, still grasping it for a moment with her eyes closed, exhaling deeply.

It was a rare sight to see Riza Hawkeye in a dress, but this date would be one of those occasions. It’s not that she didn’t enjoy wearing dresses, but more so that there weren’t many practical circumstances in which she needed to wear one. She enjoyed expressing her femininity every now and then, though infrequently. A fitted, sleeveless purple dress with a scoop neck is what she chose to wear, complimenting her complexion and her brown eyes. She paired it with a pearl necklace, black heels, and a long white coat. She stood in front of her mirror, inspecting every angle and curvature of her body. She felt pretty for once. She had cut her long, blonde hair recently simply because it was less to fuss over and she had it clipped behind her head ninety percent of the time anyways. She did miss it, though, as it reminded her of a young lady she hadn’t seen in a while. Riza finished the look off with a touch of makeup, another rarity of hers. She applied blush, mascara, and a neutral eyeshadow. 

 

~~~

 

Roy pulled up to Riza’s apartment, exiting the car with a small bouquet of roses in hand that he had picked up from a corner store along the way. He carefully ran his fingers through his jet-black hair for a quick touch-up. He stopped at her front door, a small sigh escaped him. He was still so nervous. He inhaled sharply, then proceeded to knock twice on her door. 

Riza opened the door slightly, peeking her head through the crack, not wanting to reveal her full figure just yet, “Good evening, General.”

“Good evening, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye,” he paused for a moment then awkwardly reached out his hand full of flowers, “These are for you, miss.”

“You know I don’t own a flower vase.”

He narrowed his eyes and gave a little scoff, “I know, but you can put them in a mug or something.”

She chuckled, “Thank you, General. I’ll be right back,” she shut the door and walked back into her apartment. She filled a mug up with water and placed the roses into it. The roses were long and the mug was short, so they leaned a little to the side. A smile tugged at her lips as she glanced down at it. She took a deep breath and headed back to her door, opening it fully this time.

Roy’s cheeks flushed with color, his mouth slightly ajar. Somehow the dress she was wearing was exactly like the one from his dream the night before, “You look… beautiful.”

“Thank you, sir. You look quite handsome yourself.”

Roy caught himself staring for longer than what he felt was probably appropriate. He cleared his throat and gently grabbed her hand, “Right this way, miss.”

“You don’t have to be so formal, General.”

He chuckled sheepishly as he opened the door for her, “Right… sorry.”

They both shuffled into the car, Riza sitting even closer to him than usual, their fingers grazing each other against the seat.

“I hope you don’t mind, but with the military regulations and all I thought it might be safer if we have dinner somewhere we won’t be spotted.”

“Oh? And where might that be?”

“Madame Christmas has a new bar.”

Notes:

And there it is! Chapter 3! I loved the idea of the two of them essentially doing the same thing- calling one of their closest friends in a panic. I also reallyyyy loved the idea of their date being private at Madame Christmas' bar. The next chapter might take a bit longer to come out because I'll be a little busy for the next week, but I'll be working on it and will get it done ASAP!

Chapter 4

Summary:

Roy and Riza arrive at Madam Christmas' bar. Will the Madam embarrass her foster son in front of his date? Perhaps.

Notes:

Sorry for how long it took for me to get this chapter out! Been a little busy, but I hope to be a lot more prompt with the next chapter. 💖 Enjoy!

“Oh? When did that happen?”

“I uh- I sort of promised I would buy her a new one before I you know… blew it up,” he explained, scratching the back of his head anxiously while clutching the steering wheel with his other hand.

“Oh, I see. So is that why you’ve been so adamant about a raise with Grumman lately?” Riza asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of teasing lacing her words. 

“Perhaps… but we don’t have to talk about that,” he laughed nervously, “Let’s head out then, shall we?”

“Yes, sir,” she said, a slight smirk forming at the corner of her lips.

Roy shifted gears and drove off enroute to Chris Mustang’s new bar located in downtown Central. He hid his nerves behind a facade of good posture and natural charm. Despite his efforts, there was a certain awkwardness that pervaded the car, but it was somehow endearing. They were like children in middle school who didn’t know how to communicate their romantic feelings to one another. Roy shifted his eyes toward Riza then back to the road, taking a subtle deep breath before saying softly, “I’m glad you came.”

“Me, too, sir.”

And they were both blushing again.

Roy cleared his throat, “I’m really sorry it took me so long to ask you out.”

“It’s quite alright, sir. I understand. We aren’t supposed to be together in the first place. It’s complicated, and we both know that.”

“I know but- despite all of that, we’ve shared intimate moments. I hope you never thought I was using you. I’ve always loved you.”

“I can assure you, I’ve never thought that of you,” she rested her hand on his shoulder reassuringly, “I have to wonder, though, why ask now? Nothing’s changed. After all, you’re still my superior officer.”

“That’s-” he panicked internally, not wanting to explain the Grumman situation. Thankfully, by some sort of divine intervention, they made it to the bar just in time for him to avoid the question, “Oh, we’re here.”

Roy parked the car and got out as quickly as possible to further avoid the interrogation. He straightened out his coat and then shuffled to the passenger side like a true gentleman to help his subordinate out. He opened the door for her and gently reached out for her hand, escorting her safely to the building.

“You know, I never had the chance to visit the last bar, but this is really nice,” Riza observed. The old bar was on the outskirts of Central, hidden down a sketchy alleyway that was riddled with crime. It was small and experiencing a lot of wear and tear, but it met the needs of Chris Mustang and the women who worked there nonetheless. The new one, however, was much larger and easier for customers to find with its downtown location, though still tucked away on a dead-end street. The building was well preserved, lined with white bricks and floral vines climbed the exterior. There was a large sign above the door that read “Madame Christmas.” 

“That’s right, you didn’t, did you? Well, this one is much nicer than the previous. I wanted to repay my foster mother for all that she’s done for me over the years.”

“That’s really nice of you, General.”

“Heh, thanks. I’m broke now, but I suppose it was worth it,” he looked at Riza frowning slightly, “I’m sorry I couldn’t take you somewhere more fancy, though.”

“Nonsense, sir. This is perfect,” she gave a gentle smile.

The tension in his face softened, “Right. Let’s head in then.”

Roy rushed to the door and held it open, gesturing for Riza to walk inside ahead of him. As she took her first steps inside she was quickly greeted by a woman’s deep sultry voice, “Riza, darling! Come in, come in!”

Madame Christmas came scurrying excitedly from behind the bar, helping Riza to remove her coat and hanging it on the coat hanger next to the door. She then turned to Roy, grabbing his coat that he had just taken off himself, “There’s my Roy-boy,” her smile changed to a soft frown, “You look like you lost some weight. You need to take better care of yourself.”

“Good evening Madame Christmas,” he smiled and shook his head with mild embarrassment, completely disregarding her treating him like a child as she tended to do.

“Well, sit down and make yourselves at home. I’m going to close early for the night. The last customer just left a few minutes ago,” Madame Christmas flipped the “open” sign on the door to “closed.”

Roy raised his eyebrows, “You don’t have to do that. You still have three hours until you normally close. Surely you’ll be missing out on business.”

“Don’t be silly! This gives us all a chance to talk privately and then after that I’ll get out of your hair and you two can have your alone time,” Madame Christmas winked followed by a gentle nudge to Roy’s shoulder. His face flushed crimson. He had a gut feeling she was about to humiliate him.

Madame Christmas made her way back to the bar, standing in front of the two with an eager grin. The sound of glass clinking against the wood of the counter was audible as she poured two glasses of red wine and placed them in front of the pair. Her eyes made contact with Riza’s, “It’s so nice to finally get to meet you, dear. I’ve heard so much about you from Roy. You’re just as beautiful as he described. I swear you’re all he ever talks about if I’m being honest,” she said with a guttural laugh.

“Madame Christmas…” Roy narrowed his eyes at the lady who stood there with a smirk across her red-lipsticked mouth. 

“Uh oh. Someone’s getting embarrassed,” She retorted, but she wasn’t afraid of Roy or his temper. She continued despite his obvious discomfort, turning her head to face Riza again, “Just a couple years ago he was coming to visit me and the girls after work to tell us all about Elizabeth .”

“Oh?” Riza asked inquisitively, her eyes instinctively darting over to Roy. She couldn’t help but giggle. That codename really brought back memories for her and to be completely honest, she felt both validated and flattered hearing how Roy would talk about her behind closed doors. Roy, on the other hand, was not amused. His eyes twitched as he sat through the conversation, completely powerless to the likes of his foster mother.

Roy cleared his throat, impatience evident, “I’m going to go use the restroom. Excuse me one moment.”

The two women nodded and shared soft chuckles amongst one another, their feminine energy syncing up. Madame Christmas followed Roy with her eyes until he was no longer in view before continuing to gossip, “That boy always likes to act tough, but deep down he’s really just a big softie. And, you didn’t hear it from me, but he’s also a damn hopeless romantic.”

Riza’s eyes widened, “What do you mean by that, Madame?”

“Honey, he’s absolutely smitten over you, and it’s been that way for years,” she pulled out a cigarette from a small box on the counter and placed it in her mouth, muffling her next sentence slightly as she prepared to light it, “You should have seen how down in the dumps he was when the Fuhrer took you from him. He was over at my last bar pouting like a sad puppy.”

As the older woman struck a match and lit her cigarette Riza looked up at her, an involuntary smile forming across her face, “Is that so?”

Madame Christmas nodded without a word, her eyes trailing off in the distance as though distracted by something. Riza turned around, curiosity getting the better of her only to reveal a very handsome Roy Mustang approaching. She couldn’t help but notice just how dashing he looked, and between that observation and the new information she had just learned from Madame Christmas, she could feel herself finally being liberated from her own internal prison. Normally, she would keep her feelings of yearning locked in a cage for obvious reasons, but it would appear that this date just might have been the key to unlocking that cage.

“Well, well. Welcome back,” the boisterous lady said.

“Thank you, Madame. Are you done embarrassing me? I had thought I would come back to you showing off my baby pictures.”

“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” the madame reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her wallet, unfolding it to reveal an old tattered black-and-white photograph of a youthful Roy Mustang. He had the same dark hair and piercing eyes, but there was a soft innocent look to his face that had been lost over the years in the name of flame alchemy.  

Roy face-palmed, “I wasn’t serious…”

“Awww, how cute!” Riza couldn’t help but coo at how adorable her superior officer looked as a child.

“Don’t encourage this,” Roy said, glaring at Riza, though there wasn’t any real malice behind it. He might have even been secretly enjoying the attention despite his embarrassment. 

“All right, all right. I’ll leave you two alone now. I’ve got Vanessa here to take care of you. I’ll just be upstairs. Yell if you need anything from me,” Madame Christmas winked and waved, leaving the bar and ascending a nearby set of stairs that most likely led to housing for the women who worked at the bar. 

As the pair waited for their “waitress” so to speak, Roy hovered his hand slowly underneath the counter until it interlocked with Riza’s. The tension between them was palpable. They turned toward one another, eyes interlocked, their heads slowly gravitating closer, lips quivering. Just as they were about to seal the deal, they were startled by a bubbly delivery by a young lady with dark blonde hair and blue eyes, “Good evening you two! What can I get you started with today?”

Chapter 5

Notes:

perhaps they kiss? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

“You don’t have to be so formal, Vanessa,” Roy insisted with a chuckle, eyeing the menu she had placed in front of them, “May we both have another glass of wine?”

“Of course! And what would you like to eat?” She continued with the formalities despite Roy’s insistence. Madame Christmas had been secretly plotting behind the scenes at the very moment that Roy had informed her of the date. She wanted them to feel comfortable with a sense of normalcy that they weren’t familiar with due to the circumstances of their complicated relationship. Vanessa was instructed to cast her ties with Roy aside and treat them like strangers.

Roy glanced softly at Riza, his body language signaling for her to go first. The two of them were huddled closely together, Riza’s head leaning slightly on Roy’s shoulder as they shared the menu with one another. Her golden honey brown eyes scanned the paper for a moment before verbalizing what she wanted to order, “I’ll have the steak please.”

Roy smirked, “That’s my girl,” he closed the menu and passed it to Vanessa over the counter, “and I’ll have the same.”

Vanessa nodded politely, “Coming right up!” She disappeared into the kitchen after serving them another glass of wine, giving the two a little time to be alone.

“Now, where were we?” Roy asked with his head turned toward his subordinate, his hand resting underneath his chin.

Where were they? Riza wondered. To be frank, she was still hung up on his earlier comment. She could feel it ruminating in her head. Over and over again. An endless loop. That’s my girl. Why did he have to go and say that? Her heart fluttered as she looked into his piercing eyes, his gaze penetrating deep into her soul. Her breath got caught in her throat, rendering her completely speechless. As she continued to stare into those dark eyes of his she was suddenly reminded of the answer to his question. “Where were we?” She thought to herself again as they both instinctively leaned in closer to one another. As her lips met his, it was easy to remember exactly where they were. They kissed. It was subtle and sweet. It didn’t linger for long, but it was passionate nonetheless. The world had stopped spinning, and even if just for a moment, they could forget the atrocities they faced and even the regretful atrocities they committed. It was just the two of them, together. Living, breathing, existing.

“Riza Hawkeye… the woman that you are,” Roy’s voice lowered almost to a growl as he slowly parted his lips from hers.

“I can’t remember the last time you called me that,” Riza said, looking down at her lap, her cheeks completely flushed.

“It certainly has been a while. Can’t afford to slip-up while being watched so closely by the military,” he gently grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes, “Do you like it when I call you by your first name?”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Sir?” He chuckled, “Why are you so damn nervous right now, Riza ?”

She rolled her eyes, trying to disguise her enjoyment in the banter, “You’re insufferable sometimes.”

“You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

He narrowed his eyes playfully, “You know… Elizabeth wouldn’t call me sir,” he mumbled under his breath. Before Riza could respond the young lady from earlier emerged from the kitchen with two plates in hand.

“Here you are! Two steaks cooked to perfection. Enjoy! Feel free to ring the bell if you need anything else from me.”

“Thank you, Vanessa,” Roy nodded politely.

“It’s my pleasure,” the young lady bowed and disappeared up the stairs, leaving Roy and Riza alone with one another once again.

General Mustang looked down at his plate of food, nearly salivating at the sight of a glistening steak, mashed potatoes, and an assortment of seasoned vegetables. He hadn’t eaten since 11 AM at headquarters due to a combination of extensive paperwork and nerves, “Food looks good, but I think we’re missing something…” He stood up from his chair and started walking to a corner of the bar that had a small, round wooden table and a radio atop. He turned it on and rotated the dial until he found a station playing slow, romantic music. A little charismatic smirk crossed his face as he walked back to his seat.

“You really know how to set the mood, don’t you, General?” Riza asked, twirling her fingers through her short blonde hair subconsciously.

“What can I say?” That damn smirk was still plastered across his face as though it was taking up residency, “Now, you should eat your food before it gets cold. The steak here is phenomenal if I do say so myself.” Riza nodded with a sense of eagerness. She hadn’t eaten since the two of them had lunch together either. 

 

~~~

 

And so, for the next ten minutes they ate their dinner beside one another, only a few mere words exchanged in the process. Yes, it was quiet, save for the hum of the radio in the background and the clinking of silverware against ceramic plates, but it was comfortable. It was calm. It was peaceful. And, for once it felt like the right place at the right time as opposed to the usual right place at the wrong time or wrong time at the right place. The flame of a candle lit at the end of the counter danced gracefully as it cast its warm hue against the walls. The vibe, the food, the kiss… neither of them could have asked for a more perfect first official date.

As the two of them cleared their plates, satiated by the delicious meal, Roy sank down in his seat and stretched his arm over the back of Riza’s chair, rubbing circles around his belly, “I’m so full.”

Riza chuckled, “Me, too. You were right. Madame Christmas’ bar really does have a phenomenal steak.”

“Dare I say the best in all of Amestris?”

“I would be inclined to agree,” Riza smiled.

Roy glanced at his watch and exhaled, “It’s getting late, isn’t it?”

“I suppose it is.”

“I should take you home,” he fidgeted for a moment, and Riza could practically see the gears turning in his head as he mustered up the courage to ask her, “Unless, of course, you wanted to stop over at my place for a little while?”

Without hesitation, she responded, “I would love to, sir.”

“Wait- really? What about Black Hayate?” He wasn’t expecting her to actually agree to it.

”I had Fuery come get him for the night before you picked me up. I wasn’t sure how long we would be out for, and I didn’t want him to be alone for very long. You know how he can be.”

“Ah, that’s why I didn’t see him at the door. He usually greets me. I was actually a little offended, if I’m being honest,” Roy scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He felt a wave of relief wash over him not only because she was interested in continuing their date at his place, but also because he could sleep peacefully knowing Black Hayate still loves him, probably.

“Mhm. He’s safe and sound with his favorite person… other than you and I, that is” she chuckled. Black Hayate and Fuery spent a lot of time with one another throughout the years and developed a bond because of that.

“Great. I’ll let Madame Christmas know we’re leaving,” he said as he went to retrieve Riza’s coat from the coat rack. He lifted her arms up gently to help her put it on before heading up the stairs.

“Madame Christmas. We’re heading out for the night. Thanks for everything,” he peeked into her bedroom. She was already settled into bed reading a book, a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. 

“I hope you two had fun. Riza is a doll. Goodnight, Roy,” she lowered her book for a moment and looked up at Roy with a soft grin. Her eyes had an unmistakable glint to them. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for her son having finally taken the next step in his adult life. He looked so mature, no longer the little boy she remembered raising. It was bittersweet, though mostly sweet. She was happy for him. For them. As Roy was about to leave she had to get one last word in, the Chris Mustang way, “Don’t you dare mess this up, boy. She’s part of the family now.”

“Yes, Madame. I won’t do anything stupid. Don’t worry.”

She nodded with a warm smile, genuinely believing his words. Roy was the type to follow through with his goals and promises. Madame Christmas knew that, and she could genuinely see that he was in love with Riza Hawkeye and that he would do anything to be with her and to keep her safe. Seeing the two of them interact in person only solidified that for her.

Roy nodded back, signaling his departure. And thus, he left the room and walked back down to the bar where he saw a beautiful woman patiently awaiting his return. He helped her out of her seat, continuing to not miss a beat when it came to date etiquette and chivalry. He quickly grabbed his coat and opened the door for her. They walked out into the night toward his car, fingers interlaced. Souls intertwined. The stars in the sky above them cosmically aligned.

 

~~~

 

Back at the bar, Madame Christmas picked up her bedside phone and dialed a number. An older man picked up on the other line, “Hello, Fuhrer Grumman speaking.”

“Good evening, Fuhrer.”

“Ah, Madame Christmas! I’ve been expecting your call. So… how did it go?” You could practically hear his smirk over the phone.

“Oh, you’ll be pleased to know it went very well, sir.”

“Excellent. Thank you very much, Madame.”

“It was my pleasure. Those two were simply made for each other.”

“You’re telling me. I’ve been trying to nudge your boy to make a move for years. He’s a stubborn one.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“I’m sure you’re aware that the military has strict laws regarding relationships between superiors and subordinates. They’ll have to keep a low profile, but this was necessary. I can’t stand to watch this charade for another moment.”

“Oh, absolutely. They have had plenty of practice with that, though. I think they’ll be just fine,” she gave a raspy chuckle.

Fuhrer Grumman and Madame Christmas shared a few more laughs before hanging up their phones.

 

~~~

 

The car ride to Roy’s house was quiet, save for the sound of tire to pavement and the light hum of the engine. Streetlights lined the sidewalks, casting a warm glow against the street. Roy glanced quickly over at Riza, only shifting his eyes slightly so as to maintain proper focus on the road, “Long day, huh? You must be tired.”

“Yes, sir. It was a long day, but it’s also been the best day I’ve had in a while, actually.”

She really wasn’t going to stop referring to him as “sir” any time soon was she? Roy shook his head. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips, “I’m glad to hear that. I swear, Madame Christmas already likes you more than me.”

Riza chuckled, “Oh, please. Did you see how quickly she pulled out that baby picture of you? It was impressive, actually.”

He placed the palm of his hand against his forehead, “Gods, don’t remind me.”

Within just a few more minutes, they had made it to Roy’s place of residence, a little townhome at the corner of a busy street in Downtown Central. He, once again, opened the car door for her and guided her inside. Admittedly, Riza hadn’t visited Roy’s place in quite a while. It had to have been at least six months, she thought to herself. The Ishval restoration project had taken up so much of both of their schedules that the majority of their time spent together was at work.

As Riza stepped into the townhome, her eyes widened with surprise, “You have… furniture now?”

Chapter 6

For years, Roy Mustang did not purchase a single piece of furniture. His house would be almost completely empty besides a couch, a lamp, and a small end table, all of which were passed down to him by friends and family. The only thing Roy Mustang spent good cenz on was his car, but that was an important investment for work so that didn’t really count. He lived like that of a bachelor, but the reality was he didn’t feel like he deserved furniture. He didn’t feel like he deserved to be comfortable and safe in his own home. Not after what he did. It was so hard for him to do anything that would be considered even remotely selfish. But, lately, he had been thinking about his future but beyond the usual depth of that he would become Fuhrer. 

The older Roy got, the more he started to understand Hughes. When he looked at Riza, he could feel himself slipping. His morals and his desires would shift into a territory that he was unfamiliar with. It was scary, but it was also entirely out of his control. To spend the rest of his life with Riza, no matter the outcome, was all he wanted. And so, he bought furniture in hopes that he could create a space that the two of them could enjoy together, though he hadn’t planned on it being this soon.

“Is it really that surprising?” He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.

“Well, yes, actually. Your place hadn’t changed a bit for several years. I thought you would be confined to your couch forever if I’m being honest with you, General.”

“Just… wanted to try something new. Do you like it?”

“It’s nice. I’m proud of you.”

He blushed a little. He wasn’t expecting her to say that, but it was really nice to hear, “Thank you. Now, have a seat, my beautiful subordinate.”

“You’re extra charismatic today. I didn’t think that was possible.”

“And you’re being uncharacteristically soft today.”

“Touché.”

They took off their shoes and sat on Roy’s couch. It was a new couch, far different from the one before, Riza noticed. The previous one was faux leather, a reddish brown color. The upholstery had been ripped and worn in several places. To put it bluntly, it was tattered. This new couch was a similar color and shape but noticeably more comfortable, and it smelled like real leather. Riza couldn’t help but be impressed with this new side of Roy she hadn’t seen before. 

They sat awkwardly next to one another, a few inches of space between them. It felt almost forbidden for them to get physically close. Even the kisses that they had shared in the past would be strictly in the heat of the moment, usually it was as if they didn’t realize it was even happening. A complete loss of self-control. But, when they did have control over the situation, distance was always kept. It was simply protocol.

Roy patted his lap, “Come here.”

Riza lifted her legs up over Roy’s thighs and sat horizontally on his lap. She nuzzled her head against his chest and got comfortable, the tension she felt slowly leaving her body. Roy ran his fingers through her golden blonde hair. It was silky to the touch. His pulse quickened as they shared a rare moment of physical closeness with one another. 

“I love you,” Roy said softly, though there was an unmistakable firmness to what he said. He meant it.

“I love you, too,” she whispered.

“I’m scared,” Roy admitted.

“What are you scared of?”

He sighed. They always avoided the subject of the future, but his feelings were ravenously clawing at his insides as they let themselves be closer to one another, “I once asked Hughes how he could go home to a family with blood on his hands. I never understood it. That couldn’t possibly be me. All these years, I’ve put all of my focus toward becoming Fuhrer, so that I could finally atone for what I’ve done,” he paused for a moment, his breath hitched slightly, choking back imminent tears, “But I’m scared, Riza. The closer I get to my goal, the more I think about what will become of us. I know I deserve whatever that may be, but I can’t help mourn the fact that I didn’t get to experience a normal life with you and may never. I truly am a selfish man.”

Riza looked up at Roy with tears in her eyes, “I feel the same.”

Roy wiped her tears with the back of his hand and smiled through the pain and his own stifled tears, “I’m sorry to ruin the mood. It’s just… you being here with me. It feels good. Almost too good. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I’m ashamed of how weak I’ve become.”

“It’s not weak, Roy. It’s human,” she sniffled, “When I said I would follow you to hell if you asked me to, I meant it. No matter what happens, we’re in it together. Hell, heaven, or earth.”

He cried. He couldn’t control it. They sat there on that couch holding each other with tight grips, crying, sobbing. Tears stained their clothes. Years of built up feelings that had always been pushed aside were coming to a head. In a way, it was therapeutic. It was needed. The vulnerability that they shared in that moment was somehow intimate. 

After a few minutes, they had both calmed down, and the silence of the room was palpable. They continued to hold each other, catching their breaths and slowly grounding themselves. Roy leaned down and kissed the top of Riza’s head before gesturing that he was going to stand up. She slowly slid her legs off of his. He cleared his throat, “I’m going to go change. Do you want me to drive you home?”

“I think I’ll stay here,” her eyes drifted to the side, “If that’s all right, of course.”

“I was hoping you would say that,” he smirked, his eyes still bloodshot and his cheeks flushed from crying, “I’ll be right back.”

Roy disappeared into his bedroom to get dressed. Riza sat up on the couch, still recovering. Everything he had mentioned were things that she had thought about all the time, too. The conversation was all too real. But, she couldn’t help but feel relieved to have communicated it with him for once. It didn’t necessarily make the situation easier, but it did make it more tolerable.

“Put this on,” Roy said as he threw one of his button-up military shirts to her, “I don’t think you’ll be very comfortable sleeping in that dress, though I will miss it.”

A gentle smile tugged at Riza’s lips. She took the shirt into the bathroom and got dressed there. Her reflection in the mirror revealed that her makeup had been ruined and was running down her face. She washed it off in the sink and combed her hair. She looked at herself once more, pursing her lips upward at what she saw. It was strange, but she had never felt more beautiful than when she was wearing one of Roy’s shirts, no makeup on, just her raw self. Perhaps it was because he had become such an intrinsic piece of her, and she didn’t need to be someone she wasn’t around him either.

When Riza walked back out to the living room, Roy wasn’t there. She circled back to the hallway and into his bedroom to find him sitting on his bed fluffing up the pillows. He turned to her, “It’s getting late. You can sleep in my bed. I still usually sleep on the couch anyway.”

“I think we’re past that, Roy.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not sleeping on the couch.”

He gave her a knowing look, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

And thus, they climbed into bed together , creating a physical closeness that could end Roy’s insomnia if he could experience it every night. The man was truly touch starved. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the calm, rhythmic beating of his heart. He ran his fingers through her hair like earlier, a smile plastered across his face, unseen in the darkness of the room.

“Goodnight, my queen,” he said.

Notes:

I think I blacked out writing this chapter, it happened so fast. I think there will be one more chapter after this and then it will be complete!!!