Chapter Text
The air in the outskirts of East City was warmer than the air in Central. It carried a fleeting calmness that contrasted starkly with the industrial hustle and bustle of Roy Mustang’s hometown. And as he stepped off the train, hauling in tow a suitcase that was half his body weight, he couldn’t tell yet if that fact was comforting. The train station was eerily quiet, and only one other person had gotten off on his stop. He knew his destination was rural, but he hadn’t expected such an extreme. Nevertheless, he wasn’t here to lament the loss of his city life. He was here to become an alchemist.
He sighed, stretched his body, and cracked his neck in hopes that it would shake off the sleepiness that came with his lack of rest. He didn’t exactly sleep comfortably on the train. The journey was only a few hours, and he arrived nearly right as he fell asleep.
So much for that.
The station wasn’t as large and grand as it was in Central. It was barren save for the one other person that had gotten off with him. Central’s train station, like everything else in the city, was a spectacle. This one existed seemingly only out of practicality. Instead of an entire building dedicated to it, the train stop had a mere pavilion to deter rain from falling onto the passengers. The roof looked like it hadn’t been worked on in some time, but Roy had a feeling that it wasn’t exactly this town’s top priority. The trains ran just fine and it did what it needed to do; Roy arrived safely after all.
In the distance, he could hear a slight breeze rustling leaves. Despite it being nearly noon, it was like the town was still asleep. The faint sounds of birds chirping lulled him into his new home and seemed to welcome him with arms almost open enough to quell the looming homesickness that hung over him since he had stepped off the train. Almost. He remembered what Aunt Chris had told him before bidding him goodbye: “Different doesn’t have to mean bad. You’ll be fine, just focus on what you’re going there to do.”
He wouldn’t go so far to say he enjoyed the quiet, but it wasn’t unwelcome. He unfurled the folded up note in his coatpocket from Master Hawkeye. The directions to the house weren’t very detailed, and while that worried Roy when he first read it before his departure, he realized now why that was. There was barely anything in the town. No wonder the instructions were so curt.
“After you get off the train, follow the sign at the station pointing west and stay on that path for a mile or so. The house is large. You won’t miss it. I’ve attached a town map as well. It would do you some good to familiarize yourself with it. - Hawkeye.”
Once he knew he was heading in the right direction, he slipped the note back into his breast pocket and continued on, suitcase in tow. The path wasn’t smooth concrete like he was used to. Though it was paved, the wheels of his suitcase caught on the cobblestone walkway, clunking along behind him. He didn’t think he would be exerting this much of himself before his training even began.
He’d only been walking for around ten minutes, but an unmistakable feeling of loneliness was creeping back into his head. At home, he had the mindless swarm of idle chatter around him to gently beckon away any unsavory thoughts. He liked the loudness of the streets and the distractions it provided him. By now, he would have bumped into at least one person and exchanged thoughtless apologies before continuing on his way. Back in Central, he never had time alone with himself. Not just walking through the streets, but at home as well. Aunt Chris had at least four of the girls living with them, and Roy never knew a life alone. When he was younger, he wished for more privacy. But now, he was starved for interaction not even a full day after he left.
He knew dwelling on what he missed was counterproductive, especially so early on. Roy figured he needed to get used to being alone, especially if it was only him and Master Hawkeye in the house. He wondered for a moment if he could perhaps befriend Master Hawkeye, but he quickly laughed at the thought. From what little he knew about him and the few letters he sent, Roy had a feeling that wasn’t going to be in the cards for him.
The town was small, but there surely had to be at least a few people his age. He saw on the small map provided by Master Hawkeye that there was a school. He wouldn’t be spending his time there, of course, but a school meant students. And students meant possible friends. There was hope for him, even if he figured he wouldn’t have much time for socializing.
He was making decent headway, and the view that passed him by was far from dull. Thick trees and bushes scattered about the sloping hills and plains. The grass was still a vivid green, but late August clearly had an effect on some of the plants. The leaves on a few passing trees were beginning to yellow. The first breath of fall was settling in. The stillness allowed Roy to hear the calming beat of his shoes and the suitcase wheels on the ground. It was a noise he could focus on, something to take his mind off thoughts of home.
Geez, Aunt Chris and the girls would tease the hell out of me if they knew I was thinking like this so early on.
A quaint general store stood on the side of the road next to a small post office and a few even smaller shops. He knew he was getting closer to his destination. He checked the map again and realized he was over halfway to his destination. Part of him was relieved, but the nerves settled in deeper than he anticipated. A sharp pang of anxiety settled in his stomach. It was all becoming real. It mixed strangely with excitement, and for the first time since he stepped off the train, he felt the rush of a new beginning.
The path teetered off and became more stone fragments than pavement. There was still a noticeable trail, but the further down the path he went, the more dirt it became. He worried that he had veered off somewhere. His doubts didn’t have much time to manifest into panic because when he looked up from the map, the house was in front of him. Master Hawkeye wasn’t lying when he said Roy wouldn’t miss it.
The first thing Roy noticed was its size. Granted, it wasn’t as big as some of the nicer houses in central, but he didn’t expect a town of this size to hold such a large residence. The second thing he noticed was its state. It was a sizable two stories but looked like it was falling apart. The paint was chipping on the outside and the shingles looked like they’d seen better days. He wouldn’t have guessed anyone lived in it if he’d seen it passing by. There wasn’t any sign of life. The weeds outside were overgrown and vines snaked up the side walls. If it didn’t fit Master Hawkeye’s map description perfectly, he would’ve thought he wound up at the wrong place.
He took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to knock on the door. This was it. He couldn’t run away after this. He lifted his hand and rapped his knuckles on the door, sealing his fate. He waited a moment and when no one answered he went to knock a second time. But right before his hand could hit the door again, it creaked open.
Roy didn’t know what he looked like, but he knew the person standing across from him was not Master Hawkeye. He furrowed his brow, confused. “Sorry to bother. Is this the Hawkeye residence?”
The girl in front of him didn’t falter in her inscrutable gaze, and she answered his question with her own, “You’re Roy Mustang, right?”
He let out a small sigh of relief. “Yes, ma’am.”
“He’s expecting you. Come in,” she said, stepping aside to make room for him to walk in, “he’s in his study right now, so I’ll go get him for you.”
She seemed to float when she walked away. Her feet were moving the same way as anyone else’s, but he couldn’t hear her footsteps. Each movement was calculated and precise. Perfect in a way that felt rehearsed. He wondered who the girl was. Master Hawkeye didn’t mention any relatives, and she didn’t look old enough to be a housekeeper. Maybe she just looked young for her age. Housekeeper was his best guess if his surroundings were anything to go by. The interior was a complete turn around from its outside state. At least from where he stood in the entrance hall, everything looked spotless. The floors were free of dust and debris. He could almost call it homely. Perhaps landscaping wasn’t the priority.
He heard footsteps coming towards him, and he knew it couldn’t be the girl he just spoke to.
“Roy Mustang.”
Berthold Hawkeye’s voice was gruff, but not overly cold. He stopped just in front of Roy and stuck his hand out. Roy grasped it firmly and shook. He hoped his nerves didn’t manifest themselves in sweaty palms. Though he didn’t have much of an expectation, Master Hawkeye was somehow different from what he expected. For such a supposed strong and sought after alchemist, he was relatively small. While he was much taller than Roy, he was quite thin, and his face was almost gaunt. His appearance didn’t match his reputation.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity, sir. I’m honored,” Roy said, hoping to make a positive first impression.
“No need for formalities. Your room is the first one upstairs on the right. Set down your bags then Riza will show you to my study. We’ll do an introductory skill assessment today and then you can take this evening and tonight to get settled in.”
Roy nodded, and before he could answer, Master Hawkeye was already walking away. He didn’t want to dwell on the interaction too much, so he grabbed his suitcase and trudged up to his room. Like the floors, the wooden stairs were polished and the railing was dusted spotless. His room was decently sized. It was bigger than his room at home, but not by much. The decor was sparse besides a framed painting of what looked to be the hills outside the house. A double bed sat against the wall in the middle of the room with two small nightstands beside it. At the foot was a breathtakingly crafted large, wooden trunk. He ran his fingers over it and pulled the lid open. The inside was empty, and he figured he’d make use of its space for his clothes. His admiration for the woodworking was interrupted by a soft voice at the door, and he jumped slightly.
“He’s ready for you. I’ll show you to his office if you’re ready,” Riza said, standing in the doorway with her hands at her sides. She seemed to be just as no-nonsense as Master Hawkeye. He closed the trunk and followed her back out into the hallway.
“Thanks for the help,” he said, hesitating slightly before continuing, “So what’s your relationship to Master Hawkeye? Are you his housekeeper?”
She paused for a moment, barely long enough for Roy to notice. “I’m his daughter.”
He felt the blood rush to his face.
Shit. I haven’t been here for even twenty minutes and I’m already making a fool of myself.
“Oh my God, Miss Riza, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” was all she said, and that seemed to be worse than her yelling at him.
“I don’t know why I had no idea. I mean, I guess you two don’t look that much alike, and I just thought…” Roy trailed off and winced. He should’ve noticed the slight similarities in their hair colors. He had a feeling he was just making things worse, but he never really knew when to stop talking.
“Mr. Mustang, it’s fine.” It was the first time he heard any semblance of emotion in her voice, and he knew from her tone that it was probably a good idea to just shut his trap. He cursed himself for screwing up a possible friendship so soon. It might be a while before he got in her good books. Luckily, before he could open his fat mouth again, Riza knocked on a door that presumably led to the basement.
“Send him down, Riza,” Master Hawkeye said.
Wordlessly, Riza opened the door and walked away. Roy descended the stairs with a pit in his stomach. He felt horrible about his interaction with her. He wished he could pull her aside and apologize until she was sick enough of his lamenting to move on. He knew he was probably making a big deal out of something that didn’t really matter in the long run. After all, he was here for an alchemy apprenticeship, not a slumber party. Still, he didn’t feel right about where they left off. He never meant to offend her, and he hated the fact that she might not ever give him the time of day.
He didn’t have time to muse over it anymore, because the state of the basement made him pause entirely. It was darker than the rest of the house. Windowless, lit by two small lamps. Books lined the walls, and tattered pages of notes were scattered across the corners of the floor. The chill from the change in ground level made Roy feel like he entered another dimension. The difference between the lab and the rest of the house was so stark it shocked him. It was untouched by anyone other than Master Hawkeye, who sat hunched over a desk, and finished scribbling down frantic notes before he turned his attention to Roy.
“You told me in your introduction letter that you’ve taught yourself some things.”
“Yes, sir,” Roy replied, “just a bit though. I only know small transmutations.”
“Very well. Even that will make this experience much smoother for you. As I mentioned earlier, today won’t be a conventional lesson. I want to know where you’re at with your skills so I can tailor your lessons from there. Start by telling me everything you know about the fundamentals.” He stood up with a hand on his back to steady himself, and handed Roy a piece of chalk. “Show me what you know.”
***
The hours of being carefully observed went by without Roy making much of an ass of himself, which he was profoundly grateful for. He made a few rookie mistakes at some points, and Master Hawkeye’s scrutinizing gaze was intense, but he made it out alive. Even though Hawkeye was fervent and almost scary at times, Roy could tell he was a gifted teacher and an even more gifted alchemist.
It was nearly eight o’clock that evening by the time they finished, and if it weren’t for a knock at the door, he thought it might never end. Roy didn’t realize how hungry he was until he heard his stomach grumble. He looked down at his powdery hands. The stick of chalk was close to entirely used up, and it dusted his fingers.
“Alright, Roy, that’s all we’ll do for today. Dinner should be ready upstairs. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep tonight. We’ll start your first lesson tomorrow morning. Meet me down here at nine o’clock.” Master Hawkeye looked almost pleased. That was enough for Roy. At least he made a decent enough impression on someone in the Hawkeye house.
Master Hawkeye followed behind him, but stopped at the top of the stairs and grabbed a tray of food that sat on the other side of the door. Riza must have knocked to alert him of dinner. If the smell of Master Hawkeye’s food was anything to go by, dinner was going to be a great reward for his work.
The thought of a meal excited him, but he was mostly hoping for a chance to make things right with Riza. When he reached the kitchen, though, she was nowhere to be seen. There wasn’t a single trace of her ever even occupying the space besides a warm bowl of stew waiting for him on the dining table. The dishes were all cleaned up, the table was clear, and there wasn’t a second bowl. He sat down, but frowned into his food. He wished he at least had the chance to thank her for it. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was ungrateful or just expected her to wait on him, especially after their last interaction. The stew tasted wonderful, and he hoped that sometime soon he’d be able to talk to her again.
By the time he was finished eating, the exhaustion of the day’s activities caught up to him. His head felt heavy and his feet dragged as he made his way to his bedroom. The bed called to him, and he told himself he’d begin unpacking in the morning. For now, everything but sleep could wait.
***
The first week of his apprenticeship went by better than his nerves had prepared him for. Master Hawkeye seemed to soften up a bit after the first few lessons and engage with Roy as a respectable pupil. Master Hawkeye wasn’t exactly warm, but he was patient. He could clearly talk about alchemy all day long, and Roy was glad to be a vessel for his information. His first exam wouldn’t be for a month, so he had plenty of time to study and grasp the alchemy he was learning before then. He soaked up everything he was told, and had an eagerness about him that Master Hawkeye appreciated. It was just a small bit of praise, but it motivated Roy to keep improving. He wanted this for himself, sure, but Master Hawkeye’s approval began to mean more and more to him. He was always so paranoid that he was doing everything wrong, and the intensity of his lessons made his head spin. So when the assurance came, it lifted a weight off of Roy’s shoulders.
His lessons varied in length, and it was all dependent on what Master Hawkeye was feeling that day. A few of his lessons lasted nearly eight hours, while others were a measly three or four. He realized that Master Hawkeye would get so engrossed in his own research that Roy was a second priority. He didn’t mind all that much since the time he did spend with Master Hawkeye was so productive. Roy could tell why he was such a sought-after alchemist. Even the shortest lessons taught him more than he ever dreamt of learning on his own. Sure, it was unconventional, but it worked. He made a mental note to thank Aunt Chris again for miraculously finding this opportunity for him.
As for Riza, he rarely saw her around. When he did, she was always leaving a room with her back toward him. He tried his best not to take it too personally, but he’d be lying if he said it didn’t sting a bit. Roy wondered where she went when he was basically alone in the house. Breakfast and dinner were always ready and prepared for him, but he was on his own for the hour Master Hawkeye gave him for lunch. He assumed Riza was at school during the day, but Master Hawkeye never so much as brought her up. At first, Roy figured he just wanted to ensure his daughter’s privacy. Now he wasn’t so sure. He knew it wasn’t really any of his business, but he couldn't help but wonder about their dynamic.
She sure knew how to sneak around, and Roy didn’t want to ambush her, but he swore he was going insane without interaction outside his studying. He’d never met anyone that he couldn’t befriend, and he started viewing it as his next challenge. The need for companionship was getting dire. Back home, he was surrounded by people all the time, and even at home there was always someone to talk to. Whether it be Aunt Chris or one of the girls, he was never alone without it being purposeful.
He hadn’t had much time to go out and explore the town much since he filled most of his free time studying the new material. He never had enough time during his lunch breaks to walk somewhere and spend enough time there to get something meaningful out of it. He wandered to the general store once or twice to pick up a few groceries, but his exploration ended there. He knew Aunt Chris and the girls would get fussy at him if he didn’t send a letter soon, so he’d at least be going to the post office some time in the near future.
It was a Friday night when Roy decided he’d had enough of being cooped up inside. With time to kill before his lesson tomorrow, Roy was determined to at least do some exploring. If he didn’t have anyone to hang out with, he could at least find a spot to sit and pass the time so he didn’t have to read in his room.
Dinner had been the same as it was the first night he arrived. A plate of food on the table in an otherwise spotless kitchen. More than anything, he was sick of eating meals alone. Master Hawkeye never ate with him. In fact, he hadn’t seen Master Hawkeye out of his study in the basement since he introduced himself the day Roy got there. If he ever went upstairs, it was during hours of the night when everyone else was asleep. He dwelled exclusively in his lab, and would probably forget to eat if it wasn’t for the knock at the door every evening at the same time. He learned the knock always signaled both dinner time and the end of Roy’s daily lesson. Master Hawkeye would ascend the stairs to collect the tray of food sitting on the other side of the door. Riza never made herself known, and Roy wondered how long they’d been wordlessly communicating like that.
He would always do whatever dishes were presented to him with his meal in hopes that it would signal some form of gratitude for Riza’s efforts. The meals were always delicious, and he wondered where she learned to cook like that. It certainly wasn’t from Master Hawkeye. He couldn’t imagine him explaining anything other than alchemy. The thought saddened him. He was a wonderful teacher, sure. But if he felt isolated, he couldn’t imagine how Riza felt. Maybe she preferred it that way. He’d always been more of an extroverted type anyways.
After he finished scrubbing his plate and putting it away, he put on his boots that sat next to the door and went outside. The sun was setting, but he didn’t need the daylight to explore the land around the house. He figured he could make use of the change in landscape. He was so used to the city and his awe of the countryside was still fresh. It was warm enough to forgo a jacket, but it wasn’t so miserably hot that he needed to stay inside. It was the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air.
He hadn’t been out behind the house before. He’d barely been anywhere, but the land beyond the Hawkeye residence spanned quite far. There wasn’t a path or anything he could follow, so he figured if he just went straight for a while, he’d find something worth stopping for. The grass wasn’t tall or hard to traverse, and the terrain had a gentle ebb and flow of hills. He could get used to the view. The sunset painted the sky vibrant shades of pink and orange that seeped through the shadows of the trees. He could see the silhouette of a flock of birds flying above him, and Roy thought it looked like something straight out of a painting. He clearly didn’t need to walk that far to find something worth venturing for. He could sit under any one of these trees for hours.
He was fifteen minutes into his walk when he encountered a slightly steeper hill. At the top of the hill was a tree larger than the others he had passed by. Wanting to get a better look, he put his hands in his pockets and walked up to the tree. The trunk was sturdy, and the branches were thick enough to sit on. He was already imagining what he could do with it to make it a place he could return to. He glanced up, and to his surprise, someone was sitting in the tree.
He squinted, trying to get a better look at the person sitting among the branches. There was still enough light outside to make out who it was if he was close enough. Short, blonde hair came into his periphery, and by the time he was standing right under the tree, he could clearly see Riza’s face staring down at him with an expression nothing less than puzzled. He was finally able to catch up with her, but he felt like he was intruding on something he wasn’t supposed to be part of. He didn’t want her to feel like he backed her into a corner.
“Riza! I’m sorry, I had no idea you were here.”
She raised an eyebrow—subtly, quickly—before her usual stoic demeanor reappeared on her face. “Really?”
“Yes! I swear… I don’t know how I’d know this was your spot anyway.”
“I guess not.” She spoke quietly, barely loud enough for him to hear her.
“I was actually hoping to talk to you at some point. I know this might not be the best time though.”
“You were?”
“Yeah, I haven’t gotten to thank you for all the food yet,” he said.
She didn’t respond right away. Roy thought he must have screwed up again, though he didn’t know how. He knew it was better to not overexplain himself this time, so he bit his tongue and swayed awkwardly back and forth on the balls of his feet.
“Oh,” she started, “It’s no big deal.”
“Of course it is! You’re putting in all that extra effort just for me.”
“It’s seriously nothing, it’s not like I’m gonna let you starve.”
Roy’s lips curved into a small smile at her bluntness. He figured she was just being modest. She had done so much for him despite not knowing him at all. The only impression she had of him was that of an ignorant asshole, and he was impressed that she hadn’t tried to poison his food. He was, for all he knew, an unwelcome guest living in her house. She might not have been kind to him in a conventional sense, but her hospitality was appreciated.
“In any case, I appreciate it. If you ever need help with the dishes or anything please let me know. I’m not the best cook, but I can help out with meals too if you need.”
She just gave him a weak smile in return. He knew the topic didn’t have much more substance for a continued conversation, but all he wanted to do was keep talking with her. She didn’t say much, but any conversation was better than the silence he’d been accustomed to for the past week. Even so, he didn’t want to be completely inconsiderate of her feelings.
“Am I intruding?” Roy asked. “I can get out of your hair if you’d rather be alone.”
She seemed to ponder over her answer for a moment before responding, “No, you’re fine.”
“Are you sure? You can be honest with me.”
“I’m sure. I might not be all that entertaining to talk to, though.”
“I’ve been so deprived of conversation I was about to start talking to the walls. Trust me, you’re fine,” Roy said, leaning against the tree, craning his neck to see her. “Can I come up?”
She nodded, and the confirmation was all Roy needed to hoist himself up the first few branches. He wasn’t exactly agile, and getting up the tree to where Riza was took him an embarrassingly long time. Rough bark had imprinted itself on his hands by the time he reached a spot next to her, but far enough away that he wasn’t invading her personal space. It looked like she was stifling a giggle. It was the first time Roy saw her crack something even close to a smile since he arrived. Granted, he hadn’t seen her face that much, but he’d gladly make a fool out of himself again if it meant chipping away at her seriousness.
“I don’t really climb trees back home.”
“Never would’ve guessed,” she said, sounding lighter than she had before. Roy gave himself a mental pat on the back for lightening the situation.
He took a moment to glance around him, and the view was even better from his new vantage point. The sun was almost behind the horizon, but he could see the house from where he sat. Everything looked so peaceful. He could see why Riza was spending time here.
“Do you come up here a lot?” He asked, looking back over at her.
“Yeah, I do. Sometimes I’ll bring a book or study.”
“Thanks for letting me crash your party, then. I promise I won’t keep barging in, and I won’t take this spot over or anything.”
“I promise, you’re not intruding. But thanks for the sentiment, Mr. Mustang.”
“You can call me Roy.”
“It’s alright. I think my father would prefer I call you something a bit more polite.”
“Geez, it makes me sound so old. I’m not even eighteen yet. You don’t look that much younger than me. Are you sure you don’t just wanna call me by my name?”
“I’m sure,” she said.
“Wait, how old are you?” He asked, then quickly backpedaled, “Only if you don’t mind sharing. Sorry, I know it’s not exactly the most polite thing to ask.”
“It’s alright. I’m Fifteen. Well, sixteen now I guess.”
“Was your birthday recently?” Roy asked.
“It was. It’s not that big of a deal, though. It was the 24th.”
“Wasn’t that last Friday?”
“Yeah. The day you arrived.”
Roy was so surprised he almost fell out of the tree. “God, I made such an ass of myself and didn’t even wish you a happy birthday. I totally would have said something if I knew.”
“Seriously, it’s fine. How would you have known?” She answered, sounding completely unbothered by the whole thing.
He frowned. He was so worried about how he came off to her that day when he shouldn’t have made it about himself at all. Even if he wasn’t aware, the fact still upset him.
“Well, I want to say happy birthday now. Happy birthday, Miss Riza.”
She smiled at him. A small one, but a smile nonetheless. The sun had fully set, but even in the dark, Roy could see it.
“Thanks, Mr. Mustang. I appreciate it.”
Roy smiled back earnestly. Maybe making a friend out of Riza Hawkeye wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities.