Thanks for the tag @dairogo !! Here's a little snippet from one of my RW fics coming up, for the prompt "Temperance".
Riza's never been the type to be impressed by fancy, materialistic things, but she can't deny that there's something about being squired around town on Roy Mustang's arm and being wined and dined at the most exclusive restaurant in East City that makes her feel…womanly? Desired? Special?
She's not sure how to name it, but she knows that whatever it is, she's happy, maybe happier than she's ever been in her life. Which is utterly terrifying. And completely wonderful.
Roy orders her a steak dinner with a red wine pairing that's absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The roasted asparagus and fondant potatoes are also fantastic, and she nearly cleans her plate.
"Did you save room for dessert?" the waiter asks, smiling at them as they hold hands across the table. The sensation of Roy's thumb gently sweeping back and forth across her knuckles is so novel, so rare and special that it almost brings tears to her eyes.
Which is just plain stupid, so she doesn't let herself.
"One dish of chocolate mousse with two spoons," Roy declares, smirking at her and squeezing her hand.
"Thank you," Riza murmurs as the waiter clears their plates and goes to put in their order.
"You look like you're having a nice time," Roy says, and she smiles at him.
"I am," she says. "But you know that you don't have to do all of this, right?" She'd be happy just to sit on the sofa in her ratty old pajamas, listening to him read to her. She said something not long after they got together about liking the sound of his voice, so he started reading novels aloud—mysteries, dramas, romances. They go to the library together on the weekends to pick out their next adventure.
"I want to do all of this," Roy declares. He clears his throat. "Ria, this has been the best six months of my life."
She blinks as she tries to remember the date. He's right. It's been exactly six months since the Promised Day, which, of course, is when all of this really started.
"You didn't realize," he says, still smiling at her. "That's okay. I didn't expect you to. But I still wanted to do something special. I want you to know…to know that you're special."
She swallows hard and squeezes his hand, looking down at the table as she feels her cheeks burn.
"You're special, too," she manages to mumble clumsily. Roy beams at her.
"I had another thought," he says, lowering his voice. Riza looks up at him and raises an eyebrow. "Pursuant to our conversation last week."
Her lips part on a small gasp, and her mouth goes dry. Of course, she knows immediately which conversation he means.
She's known, probably from the first time they slept together, that things would end up like this. She relishes the privilege to slip under the control of Roy's natural dominance. She revels in the small shows of submission she's been able to offer him up until now—calling him Sir, kneeling at his feet, following his orders.
It's simply how they're both wired, and she's not ashamed of that.
She was surprised at his thoroughness when they talked through their boundaries. She didn't want to talk about her past lovers or the things that went wrong before. She just wanted it to be different with Roy. She knew instinctively that it would be, because she knew she was safe with him in a way that transcended any bedroom play. She didn't need boundaries or limits or safewords with him. They've already been to the edge of hell together and fought their way back. There's no boundary less safe, and he proved his trustworthiness there at the cost of her blood.
"What kind of thought?" she asks quietly. Boldly, she slips her foot from her black ballet flat and finds his leg beneath the table.
Roy grins at her as she finds the opening of his trouser leg and slides her foot up his calf.
"The kind you're having right now," he says, chuckling. He lowers his voice. "I'm going to take you home and tie you up," he rumbles. "I'm going to tease you until you're a complete mess. Then I'm going to make you beg before I fuck you."
She swears her eyes must roll back in her head, and she holds in a moan at the filthy image his words paint.
"Would you like that, sweetheart?" he asks, raising her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles one by one.
He subtly lets his tongue flick across her skin, and, as she knows he intended, she immediately thinks about his talented tongue in all kinds of other places and gasps, nodding her head. He tightens his hand around hers suddenly, squeezing her fingers hard enough it almost hurts.
"What was that?" he growls.
"Yes, Sir," Riza breathes, meeting his eyes as she slides her foot a little bit higher, lifting the leg of his trousers. His pupils are blown, and yet the silver specks in his eyes seem to shine like moonlight reflected on a dark lake.
"Good girl," he whispers, kissing her knuckles again. They stay just like that, eyes locked while he kisses her hand in a way that's just on the edge of impropriety, and Riza keeps rubbing her foot against his calf. Roy just barely sucks the tip of her finger into his mouth and scrapes the pad against his teeth.
She nearly opens her mouth to reprimand him, because if somebody saw…but then their waiter arrives with the dessert he ordered, presenting it with a flourish.
"One chocolate mousse with two spoons for the love birds," he says, winking.
"Thank you," Roy says, released her hand. "I'll take the bill as well, if you'd be so kind."
Riza hides a smile behind her hand as she slides her foot back into her shoe and reaches for one of the spoons. He's clearly eager to get her back to the apartment and enact whatever seduction he has planned.
She's grateful she thought ahead enough to wear something besides plain, utilitarian cotton beneath her cocktail dress.
Roy stays her hand before she can take a bite of the dessert. It's beautifully presented in a glass dish, decorated with a couple of berries and a little flower. Roy uses the other spoon to scoop up a bite of chocolate along with a raspberry, then reaches across the table. Riza closes her eyes and parts her lips on instinct. The chocolate is both sinfully rich and wonderfully light, and when she bites into the raspberry, the tartness only enhances the flavor. She lets out a soft noise of pleasure without meaning to.
"Fuck," Roy whispers, and she opens her eyes, blinking at him. "You're unreal," he murmurs. "I don't know how the hell I got so lucky, but I'm just glad."
He shakes his head as though to clear it, then smirks at her and takes a bite of the dessert for himself.
"It is good," he says. "But I have a feeling it won't be the best thing I taste tonight."
She bites her lower lip, and by the time they share the rest of the mousse, Roy's already paid the bill. He leaves all the berries for her, because he knows he loves them.
She takes his arm as they leave the restaurant. As always, heads turn in his direction, and she feels proud to be the woman on the arm of this beautiful man. She even feels a little bit beautiful herself. She knows that the emerald green dress with its sweetheart neckline and tight, ruched bodice looks good on her, accentuating the curves that her military uniform once hid. Her hair is swept back into a loose bun and fastened with a comb that Roy gave her for her birthday—golden with little pink flowers on it. It's the kind of dainty, feminine thing in which she rarely allows herself to indulge.
Although her wardrobe of late has been far more feminine, now that she no longer wears a uniform to work. She knows that Roy likes her in pencil skirts and soft, pastel colors. She's even started to wear a little bit of makeup and jewelry to work. Rebecca told her the other day that she already looks the part of First Lady, and Riza shushed her, but she privately agreed that, if they do manage to put Roy into the Fuhrer's seat, she'll likely be at his side.
Cultivating an image as a demure, modest, fashionable woman now won't hurt them in the polls if they decide to marry before the democratic election Grumman has promised. In fact, being married and seen as a "family man" will only help his image, most likely.
She shakes her head, reminding herself not to jump too far ahead. She and Roy may have known each other for years, but that's no reason not to take their time and let their love blossom and flower at its own pace.
She knows they'll get there. For now, she's just happy to feel like a pretty girl on the arm of the handsome man she loves.
Tagging @mouseofthesun @scienceoftheidiot @almubtadialmuntaqim @dr-fancy-pants @harcidian if you'd like to share!
