by nina

['niːnə] n. 30; she/her; philippines; niconiconina on main; definitely writes fanfic during work hours

[by-nina]

Smoke Without Fire

A Fullmetal Alchemist fanfiction by Nina

The year is 1905. Roy Mustang has graduated from the Amestris State Military Academy, and all he has left to do before becoming a State Alchemist is to master flame alchemy. This dream comes to a halt with the sudden and mysterious death of his mentor Berthold Hawkeye in an apparent flame alchemy accident—and with him, the knowledge Roy has long sought. Roy knows he must keep his eyes ahead, but there are mysteries to uncover beneath the ashes, and he cannot look away. How did Berthold Hawkeye truly die? What does Berthold’s death have to do with the disappearance of his research? And where is Riza Hawkeye? Personal hopes hinge on the answers, but Roy cannot know how far beyond him the truth truly goes.

Rating: T Genre: Thriller/Drama Tags: pre-canon, canon divergence, canonical character death, violent death, emotional/psychological abuse, trauma, hurt/comfort, Ishval Civil War, tragedy, disaster

Read on AO3 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Read on FFN 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Smoke Without Fire is back from hiatus and will run for 12 chapters. This masterpost will be pinned and updated as new chapters are posted!

[by-nina]

my favorite kind of Royai Week is when I come to love all the stuff I've written and I get to tie them all together with a neat, thematic ribbon at the end of it. and this year, the throughline was vulnerability! I've got acting school to thank for it.

I'm glad to be back again for another year with some of my favorite Royai pieces I've ever written. if I'm being honest, this felt like a pretty hard-won set, after a year at a tough job and some rough times in my personal life that had me going Through It. coming back to one of my first loves (writing) is the most rewarding it's ever been. so thank you to everyone who's loved what I've put out this year.

THE ART OF LOVING

A Royai Week 2026 series by Nina

Exit wounds (Day 1 - Bolt) AO3 | FFN The gentle forgiveness in her voice, the comfort she offers with just one word, sends new pangs to his heart. Only Riza Hawkeye could do that to him. (Roy gives Riza an out when he believes he's broken her trust beyond repair. K+.)

Where love wasn't supposed to be (Day 2 - Temperance) AO3 | FFN "… The only mistake we made was spending the night together. It was careless and foolish. But we’ve come this far by each other’s side, and I know that we know part of the reason why." (Riza practices restraint only when the damage has been done. T.)

Like a faded coffee stain (Day 3 - Candlelight) AO3 | FFN Whoever this Roy Mustang is now came from her Roy. She knew him first. (Roy has changed since childhood, and Riza discovers new feelings when she reflects on this. T.)

If we never made a sound (Day 4 - Quiescent) AO3 | FFN “No. I’m sorry, but this isn’t the responsible thing to do. And I think it’s time for you to go home, Sir. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” (Before they leave East City, Roy meets with Riza in secret. E.)

Closer than most (Day 5 - Serendipity) AO3 | FFN From the first day, he has trusted her, and for Riza, his needs have always felt right for her to serve—never burdensome, never taking more than she can give. It has always given her a sense of pride and purpose. (Throughout their lives, Roy and Riza confront what it means to need each other. T.)

[by-nina]

Closer than most

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 5 - Serendipity Rating: T (some description of blood and injuries) Genre: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff Word Count: 2,700

Riza has long resolved that she would never allow herself to need anyone, that she would only be dependable and fully present, that Roy would never have to look over his shoulder or ever second-guess a step of his ascent to the top of the military. From the first day, he has trusted her, and for Riza, his needs have always felt right for her to serve—never burdensome, never taking more than she can give. It has always given her a sense of pride and purpose. Day 5 - Serendipity for Royai Week 2026.

[glubby]

i would like a hug…. JUST KIDDING! i would like TWO hugs. (suddenly becomes cold and standoffish) i don’t need anything or anyone and i don’t want to talk about it.

[by-nina]

Closer than most

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 5 - Serendipity Rating: T (some description of blood and injuries) Genre: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff Word Count: 2,700

Riza has long resolved that she would never allow herself to need anyone, that she would only be dependable and fully present, that Roy would never have to look over his shoulder or ever second-guess a step of his ascent to the top of the military. From the first day, he has trusted her, and for Riza, his needs have always felt right for her to serve—never burdensome, never taking more than she can give. It has always given her a sense of pride and purpose. Day 5 - Serendipity for Royai Week 2026.

[by-nina]

there are two wolves inside me. one says that sometimes a smutty fic is just a smutty fic and even deeply complex, traumatized characters are allowed to have fun sometimes without references to their emotional baggage. the other says it's not about the nuance baby, it's just about writing MORE FIC!

[by-nina]

If we never made a sound

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 4 - Quiescent Rating: E (explicit sexual content, swearing) Genre: Lemon Word Count: 2,795

Lieutenant Hawkeye bites her lip subtly as her expression turns stony, and with hardly any movement of her head, she looks him up and down, slowly. Roy’s lips part slightly in what he can only call anticipation as the silence stretches on. Then, the Lieutenant shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry, but this isn’t the responsible thing to do. And I think it’s time for you to go home, Sir. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” Day 4 - Quiescent for Royai Week 2026.

[by-nina]

Closer than most

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 5 - Serendipity Rating: T (some description of blood and injuries) Genre: Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff Word Count: 2,700

Riza has long resolved that she would never allow herself to need anyone, that she would only be dependable and fully present, that Roy would never have to look over his shoulder or ever second-guess a step of his ascent to the top of the military. From the first day, he has trusted her, and for Riza, his needs have always felt right for her to serve—never burdensome, never taking more than she can give. It has always given her a sense of pride and purpose. Day 5 - Serendipity for Royai Week 2026.

[azaablue]

the best fanfiction you've ever read was written by a woman in her 40s before she made dinner for her kids. it was written by a teenager after school when they should've been studying for a history test. and a barista came up with the idea while they cleaned the espresso machine and busser fact-checked it on their break and the post-doc edited between writing grant proposals and the nurse apologized for typos in the notes after a long shift and behind every drabble and one-shot and multi-chapter fic there is a person with a wonderful and interesting and chaotic life and it is such a privilege that we get to be apart of it because they decided to do this thing we all share, for fun.

[by-nina]

If we never made a sound

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 4 - Quiescent Rating: E (explicit sexual content, swearing) Genre: Lemon Word Count: 2,795

Lieutenant Hawkeye bites her lip subtly as her expression turns stony, and with hardly any movement of her head, she looks him up and down, slowly. Roy’s lips part slightly in what he can only call anticipation as the silence stretches on. Then, the Lieutenant shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry, but this isn’t the responsible thing to do. And I think it’s time for you to go home, Sir. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” Day 4 - Quiescent for Royai Week 2026.

[by-nina]

holy mama I am way too queasy for this shit

[by-nina]

[daily-prompts]

If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them.

― George Orwell

[by-nina]

*taps a tiny pointing plastic hand on the screen repeatedly*

[by-nina]

If we never made a sound

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 4 - Quiescent Rating: E (explicit sexual content, swearing) Genre: Lemon Word Count: 2,795

Lieutenant Hawkeye bites her lip subtly as her expression turns stony, and with hardly any movement of her head, she looks him up and down, slowly. Roy’s lips part slightly in what he can only call anticipation as the silence stretches on. Then, the Lieutenant shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry, but this isn’t the responsible thing to do. And I think it’s time for you to go home, Sir. I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” Day 4 - Quiescent for Royai Week 2026.

[by-nina]

Like a faded coffee stain

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 3 - Candlelight Rating: T (drinking) Genre: Romance (developing relationship, developing feelings) Word Count: 1,615

So she drank as she watched his chest rise and fall, and she drank and looked back on all the ways he has changed and hasn’t, and she drank, and something grew and gnawed in her chest that felt selfish and protective of him. Something that said it must be impossible for him to be any different, because all his new tailored suits and practiced smiles and smooth-talking ways had to have come from somewhere. Whoever this Roy Mustang is now came from her Roy. She knew him first. She knows him best. Day 3 - Candlelight for Royai Week 2026.

[by-nina]

Like a faded coffee stain

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 3 - Candlelight Rating: T (drinking) Genre: Romance (developing relationship, developing feelings) Word Count: 1,615

So she drank as she watched his chest rise and fall, and she drank and looked back on all the ways he has changed and hasn’t, and she drank, and something grew and gnawed in her chest that felt selfish and protective of him. Something that said it must be impossible for him to be any different, because all his new tailored suits and practiced smiles and smooth-talking ways had to have come from somewhere. Whoever this Roy Mustang is now came from her Roy. She knew him first. She knows him best. Day 3 - Candlelight for Royai Week 2026.

[by-nina]

Where love wasn't supposed to be

AO3 | FFN Royai Week 2026 | Day 2 - Temperance Rating: T (nudity, mild references to sex) Genre: Romance, Angst Word Count: 2,110

... The only mistake we made was spending the night together. It was careless and foolish. But we’ve come this far by each other’s side, and I know that we know part of the reason why. It isn’t just about fulfilling our duty together. There’s a reason we trust each other as much as we do. So, please… can we talk about last night? Can we talk about what it means?” Day 2 - Temperance for Royai Week 2026.