I&#x27;m the Flame Alchemist

"I'm happy anywhere. You know I'm not too particularly picky. I haven't been to a bar in ages. A nice dessert sounds great too. What are you in the mood for?"

As he lists and grabs his coat, her hand casually hooks around his arm like its second nature to her. Because she belongs there, contrary to the terribly things being whispered to her before.

"I'm happy to go anywhere so long as you're there too."

"Hmm... Sweets, then. I think we both deserve one," he replied softly, gently squeezing her arm with his, and starting quietly down the hall. It felt... Right. Natural. It felt good to have Riza at his side, and dinner was starting to sound better and better by the moment. They really did need this break. A moment of rest where they could just be them. No uniforms or paperwork.

Her face seems to light up a little at the thought. Even after after everything.. Her outburst and her paranoia.. He still wanted to be around her and dare she say even loved her.

"I'd really like that.. It's been so long since I've gotten to go out for dinner and enjoy a night out. I don't typically do that since I'm more of a homebody anyway.. But I find getting to go out with you or Rebecca, I actually do enjoy myself."

"Well, now it's a question of where to go, isn't it?" he hummed happily. "A bar, I know a fancy cake shop that does dinners and desserts. There's also a cute diner that does all day breakfast and pies," he listed, gently grabbing his coat as he thought.

"..Why do you say that? I.. liked it.. I liked the warm feeling it gave me. Unless you hadn't meant to call me as such. If so, please ignore my rambling."

She should pull away, in case he was deciding now this was inappropriate of them now. Perhaps she had overstepped. Or maybe she shouldn't have said anything to draw attention to the pet name. No, she needed to stop getting in her head. Her head nestles under his chin, breathing a soft content breath as she feels his fingers stroke through her hair.

"I promise I will. I have someone I trust will ensure I do so anyway. But I'll try to make his job easy for him."

It's soothing to feel her there, resting under his chin, against her soft hair. He hums, a soft baritone sound as he gently holds her. They have a few moments alone... It feels so nice to have her...

"I believe you will," he said gently. "But in return, let's do something nice... Get dinner, maybe?" he offered. "We know a few places we could get something nice?"

It's a relief to feel his arms come around her, her body body immediately relaxing, releasing the tension she hadnt even realized had been building within her. He wasn't upset with her. He didn't think any less of her..

"Dear.. I like how that sounds."

She chuckles, nestling her head beneath his chin. It feels nice to be this close. The fear that even her mere presence before him could seal his fate was gone, allowing her to selfishly indulge in the warmth that was so very him.

"Who would have thought there'd come a day that you have to help me with my paperwork. The tables have turned on me it seems."

#eternallyfaithfullieutenant #//soft stuff~

"Ha! Ah, maybe dear was too forward," he said softly, glad to feel her relax with a relieved sigh. "But, you seem to feel a lot better..." His tone was genuine as he carefully stroked her hair, his look soft. "I still want you to just... Take your time, alright?"

Her approach is silent, almost uneasy. Nervous. A stark contrast to the typical Riza Hawkeye that he would be accustomed to. Then again.. The display he had seen a few days ago.. I was just as unusual. Which brings her to now, approaching without a word at first, before she stands before him, arms wrapping around him, her face buried neck. "..Thank you.. for bring me back from the brink.."

The soft embrace catches him off guard, blinking slowly. "You're welcome, dear..." he said softly, gently hugging her back with a purr. "You just take the day easy... I can help with paperwork..."

Another sob escapes her, her arms now wrapping around him to hold herself closer. She terrified to be so close but terrified to be away from him at the same time. She had to protect him.. Even from herself if she had to.. Riza nods lightly at his words those, her face still buried in his chest, hiding herself away. He promised never to leave her.. She wouldn't lose him..

"...How can you.. be so sure..? ..You're sure.. I didn't kill them..? I won't kill you too..?"

Roy's touch remains gentle, carefully running his hands through her hair with a gentle sigh. "I'm sure, my love..." he promised gently, his onyx eyes soft. "You didn't kill them... And you won't kill me unless I go too far... We made that promise..." he whispered gently.

The typically quick thinking lieutenant has been out moved as he manages to catch her in his arms. It makes her breath hitch, desperately trying to push away from him, "ROY, NO! LET GO! LET ME GO, YOU HAVE TO LET ME GO!"

She practically in hysterics, smacking and pounding a fist on his chest before she's worn herself out, leaving her body heaving as she sobs into his chest. Instead of trying to escape she's taken to clinging to his, her fingers grasping desperately at his shirt.

"I can't... I-I can't.. lose you.. I'd never.. forgive myself..! Never.. I can't.. Roy, I'm so sorry.."

"Riza..." he spoke gently, keeping his voice gentle. "You won't lose me... I'm never leaving you, and I'm not going anywhere..." he promised her gently, holding her carefully, his hands carefully stroking her back. "I promise... As your superior... And as your friend..."

"YOU'RE WRONG!"

She won't hear anything else. She's a disease killing the people she loves. She's a curse, marking the people she cares about with a target for death. She can't protect them. She can't protect him. She'll only kill them in the end.

"No wonder my father didn't love or care for me after my mother died. He knew. He knew I was the reason she died. His treatment of me was justified! Please. PLEASE. The Homunculi almost killed you because of me. I can't risk that happening again!"

Roy could feel it was a horrible idea... But he needed to do something. Anything to ground her from this...

His movement was swift and gentle, wrapping his arms around Riza tightly, letting out a gentle sigh. "Riza... It wasn't because of you..." he promised gently. "Nothing was... Nothing is... Please..."

"It was message.. But it doesn't when its true. I'm a disease.. Death follows me like a shadow and because of it I kill the people I love and care about.. It's my fault.. It was all my fault.. The second I was born I cursed the people I came to care about. My mother.. my father.. Hughes.. They're gone.. BECAUSE OF ME! THEY'RE DEAD BECAUSE THEY KNEW ME AND I CARED ABOUT THEM."

She sobs, wrapping her arms around herself so tightly, hoping to make herself small enough that she might disappear.

"You have to get rid of me! I already nearly got you killed.. Both you and Havoc.. It's only a matter of time! S-Sending me away might not even be enough.. It.. It's too late for that.. I've cared and.. loved you too much.. too long for that. You have to get rid of me. You'll only be safe if I'm dead."

He hated this... He hated seeing her feel so low... Slowly, he took a breath, shaking his head. "Correlation, not causation, Lieutenant..." he replied softly. "You didn't nearly get me killed. That was the Homunculus. You didn't kill Hughes. You didn't cause the death of your parents. You meeting someone can't do that..." he said gently, approaching her slowly.

"IT'S NOT OKAY!"

She pushes his hands from her, before her eyes widen at the realization that she had touched him. What was she thinking? What had she done?

"I'm not the one you should worry about, Sir. You need to worry about yourself! It's not safe to be around me. You need to go! YOU NEED TO LEAVE! LEAVE! TRANSFER ME TO BRIGGS. AS FAR AWAY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!"

How could she say something so cruel about herself?... Roy felt his heart sink, watching her with deep concern. "Who said you weren't safe to be around me?... You aren't a danger to me, Lieutenant..." he promised her gently. "Take a breath. I want you to just... explain this logic to me... Where is this coming from?" he asked gently.

Seeing him sends her anxiety straight through the roof. No. He's not safe here. He can't be close to her. Being close to her will ultimately be his end and everything he had done, everything he had fought so hard for would have gone to waste. And it would be her fault. Riza Hawkeye would be entirely to blame because she killed him. Her very existence because she cares for him, she loves him, will mark him for death. She'll kill him.

Riza Hawkeye will kill Roy Mustang.

The fear she feels of herself is agonizing, consuming her.

"Don't come any closer! Stay away from me!"

Now he was very concerned, with how quickly she pulled away from him, how she seemed afraid. Gently, he raised his hands, offering them to her. "Lieutenant... It's okay... What's going on," he tried to comfort her, frowning softly. "I'll keep my distance, but I want to help if I can..."

@eternally-faithful-lieutenant

Hawkeye doesn't look too well... And it has him concerned... Gently, he approaches, giving her a concerned frown. "Lieutenant? Are you alright? What's going on?..." he asked gently. "You look sick..."

Her breath hitches the moment she feels his fingers wrap around her throat. Her face feels like it's on fire. Make that her whole body. Oh no, Kimblee was right.

"Ah.. Ye.. Yes.. "