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happy holidays & a happy new year to @snowdog49 🤍❄️☃️ i was your secret santa!
the request was young royai, and they were supposed to be kissing under the mistletoe but since my entry is so late (sincerest apologies! 😭🙈) they’re kissing under the fireworks instead 🤍🎆
there was only one blanket
thank you @snowdog49 for the prompt <3 it’s a lil different from the typical “only one bed/blanket” tropes but,,, i’ve done that already and wanted to ~mix it up~ a bit. i hope you enjoy it <3
rated: t | words: 930 | warnings: none
Roy gripped the fabric in his hands tightly, staring at it. He bit his lip, glancing across the room at his companion. Excitement fluttered in his stomach, but he squashed it down for the moment while the cogs in his mind worked, thinking of the best way to bring up their ‘predicament’.
“What is it?” Riza’s question was almost immediate, picking up on his shift in mood. She lifted an eyebrow expectantly, awaiting an answer. The book she’d been reading was resting on her lap, still open on the page.
“I don’t know how to tell you this but… There’s only one blanket for the night,” he revealed.
She blinked at him for a second, continuing to stare. His fist tightened, gripping the soft blanket tightly.
“Okay…” She trailed off, still staring at him, but Roy watched as confusion overtook her face.
“So, we’ll have to share,” he finished.
“Roy… We’re married.” She sounded concerned as she spoke, as if worried he didn’t remember. The book in her hands was closed tightly and placed on the table beside her seat. “You’re aware of that fact, right?”
Roy’s shoulders slumped. “I know,” he stressed. “But…” He sighed. “I was just trying to… I don’t know. Spice things up.”
“Spice things up?” Riza chuckled, reaching around to plump up the pillows behind her on the couch. “Why would we need to do that?”
He grimaced. “Wrong choice of words. I just meant… Well, didn’t the thrill of us almost being caught in the office together, excite you?”
Roy grinned to himself, remembering how he’d sometimes managed to make her flustered in the office before everyone knew about their relationship. His smile broadened, remembering the ways she had gotten him all riled up in the office.
“The thought of us both sharing a bed while on a mission due to unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances?” He gasped suddenly. “What about the thought of us going undercover and just having to go on a date, thanks to our superiors?” He waggled his eyebrows at Riza.
She stood from the couch, approaching him slowly, and Roy was entranced by every one of her movements. He was like a deer caught in the headlights, but Roy didn’t care. He never wanted to move from a view where Riza was standing in front of him. Lifting her arms, she looped them loosely around his neck, giving him a smile.
“It was kind of fun sometimes, sneaking around the office with you,” she snickered. “But I don’t need it now.”
His shoulders fell. His plan had failed and he pouted.
“I don’t need it,” Riza reiterated, “because now I get to spend every day with you in the way I want to. Sneaking around can fun, but it was always painful when we had to say goodbye,” she murmured. “Now, I never have to say goodbye.”
Roy blinked at her. “Okay, admittedly, that reason is so much better than sneaking around,” he grinned.
The blanket was dropped from his hands, hitting the floor softly so Roy could wrap his arms around her back. He gripped on of his wrists with his other hand and pulled, making Riza’s body move so it was flush against his.
“I was always by your side, but not in the way I wanted to be.”
Roy noted how her voice was much quieter than before. A sadness seemed to have washed over her, and Roy’s heart thudded inside his chest. That was the opposite effect he’d wanted this conversation to have.
“Now, you are,” he spoke softly. Bending his head, he softly captured her lips with his own. She lifted her head immediately, pressing her lips hard against his.
“Now I am,” she grinned. “And while the excitement was fun, I much prefer this.”
“I do too.” Roy sighed to himself. “I didn’t mean to insinuate that it wasn’t.”
Riza shook her head. “You didn’t. I appreciate your energy and enthusiasm for our relationship,” she grinned. “And I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
The came together once more, one of Roy’s hands burying in her short hair while Riza’s hands gripped his hips tightly, still trying to bring their bodies closer together. Their lips moved slowly together, lovingly. Roy had to admit, Riza was absolutely correct, as per usual. As they kissed one another in the privacy of their own home, one they owned together, this was so much better than sneaking around or chance encounters outside of work while undercover.
“Okay, point taken,” Roy murmured after they pulled apart. He tilted his head upwards, pressing a kiss to her forehead before he wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders in a hug. “This is so much better.”
Riza laughed quietly into his chest. “Glad you think so. Although…” She trailed off but didn’t continue.
Pulling back, Roy looked upon her soft features, and noted the mischievous glint in her eyes.
“It is rather cold tonight.” She shivered beneath his hands, putting on a show just for him as she cuddled close to his chest. “If there’s only one blanket, we’ll need to snuggle up close to keep warm.”
“I like the way you think,” he grinned.
“They do say that huddling close underneath a blanket generates the most body heat,” Riza added, batting her eyelashes up at him innocently.
“Well,” Roy practically purred. “We’ll need to make sure we’re extra close. For heat purposes of course.”
Riza hummed in agreement, angling her head as Roy bent his, rising eagerly to meet his lips once more.
a conspiracy theory - chapter 16
co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc
summary: Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?
warning: graphic depictions of violence
tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops
rated: m | words: 3359
read on ao3
Roy woke to the sound of pots and pans being shuffled. The smell of coffee was strong, and he heard a toaster go off. He wasn’t home. None of that was vaguely familiar to any sounds at home, let alone in the morning. He opened his eyes, feeling one leg bent at ninety degrees with a foot on the ground, while the other remained on the couch. He nodded to himself, letting his arms rise in a stretch and a yawn. He was at Riza’s. Turning he noticed she was already cooking breakfast, still in the sweats she was in when he went to sleep. Her hair was down and wet from a shower. It shined just perfectly in the fluorescent light of the kitchen. He didn’t move, he just took in the sight of her scrambling something in the pan and then turning to the toast. It had to be wondered if she was like this every morning, rising with the sun, which she kindly had pulled the curtains shut for him, and smiled like it too. She looked happy, even content in her task.
“What time do you work,” he asked with a groggy voice.
“In two hours,” she answered without looking up.
“How long have you been up?”
She slid the eggs onto a plate and looked up at him. “Hayate and I already went for a walk, and I took a shower.” She leaned on the counter, watching him as he sat up with a groan. “So about an hour.”
“You could've woke me,” he grumbled.
“You need your sleep.”
Roy looked on his wrist at his watch. He had to meet Hughes at 8 am. He had an hour to get there. “I don’t have too much time to dilly dally,” he admitted, reaching for his shoulder holster. “But you have to let me repay you somehow.”
She walked around the kitchen and handed him a plate. “Then eat breakfast.”
“You’re being too nice to me,” he called to her as she walked away. Although eggs, some fruit, and toast looked way too good to pass up. When was the last time he had a home-cooked breakfast? He needed to make a point of making more food for himself. After the first bite, he had to sit back down. They were the best eggs he’d ever eaten, he swore it on his mother’s grave. The toast was perfect, and he didn’t even think that was possible. When she said she liked to cook, there was no lie in it. She was amazing at it. He took every bite slowly, chewing it, relishing in every tastebud’s celebration of flavor. And he would have asked for seconds too.
“This is… good,” he commented. He had to hide his groan as flavor burst over his tongue.
“Did you ever doubt my skills?” she asked dryly. “I told you I was into cooking.”
“Um, I never will again?” he smiled sweetly looking up at her.
Riza laughed and sat down next to him on the couch. She curled her legs underneath her body, leaning on the arm of the chair. She picked at her food innocently, but being this close to her, in her apartment after sleeping over, Roy was sure that she was just as uncomfortable about the environment as he was. It wasn’t like they had anything to be embarrassed about. Still, the awkwardness didn’t dissipate as quickly he would've liked.
Roy coughed. “I just wanted to apologize for showing up so late last night.”
She glanced over at him expectantly. Her eyebrows twitched downwards in slight confusion.
“I know it’s not the most ideal situation to land yourself in, having me showing up half asleep at your door,” he laughed nervously. He resisted the urge to scratch the back of his neck.
“Roy, you’re fine. I did say it was okay for you to come over, didn’t I,” she reminded him. “If I didn’t want you to come, I would have said no.” She glanced down at her plate with a small smile. “I enjoy your company, so it’s no issue at all.”
Roy coughed nervously, covering his mouth with his fist. “I uh… Can I use your restroom? Then I better get going.”
Riza nodded and pointed down the hall. "It’s the first door on your right,” she instructed.
He put his plate down and jumped up. He was so in love with her. He was. He was infatuated with her. And here he was, waking up with her serving him breakfast. He could hardly stand himself. Standing in the restroom he bit his fist with his hand. Why did he have to go? Why couldn’t he just stay and they could make sweet looks at each other? Life was unfair to him once again. Work called, and it wasn’t just work, it was 'Roy Saving the World' day. He washed his hands and stared at himself in the mirror. He had no idea what Riza saw in him, but she made him feel more alive than he had in years.
He emerged from the bathroom and cleared his throat. “I’m going to go now,” he announced softly, reaching for his holster. “I’ve got to meet Maes at the senate’s house and we’re going to do a sweep of the place.”
Riza nodded, putting her plate down.
God, how he wanted to stay. He’d do anything to stay. He reached over and grabbed his gun, checking it to ensure that it was still loaded, and put it in its beloved spot. Then he grabbed his jacket and put it on. “I can’t thank you enough. I will make this up to you.” He looked at the door then back into her brown eyes. “You… You’re amazing. I think you’re really wonderful, and every time I get a chance to tell you, something happens. I’m going to show you one day.” He scratched his cheek nervously.
Riza walked up to him, pulling on his jacket as if she was fixing it. “How about you just make it back alive?" Her hand patted his chest above his heart.
Roy couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure I’m going to be okay.” He wasn’t thinking about anything else but the way her hand felt on his sternum, and the way she looked up at him. Their bodies pressed against each other -
She said again softer. “Just come back and we can go to an uninterrupted dinner.”
“God,” he laughed. “Wouldn’t that be a thing!”
Riza smiled and Roy smiled back. It wasn’t anything he could help, she brought it out of him so easily. The world with her was full of smiles. With her by his side, he was the happiest he’d been in a long time.
As he turned to take a step towards the door, her hands grasped his jacket tighter and pulled at him. Roy turned his head to ask her what was wrong when her lips met his. At first, Roy stood there with his eyes wide and in shock, but when he felt her pull him closer, and his bottom lip slip along hers, he pressed back. His eyes closed and his arms wrapped protectively around her, sealing them together. There was no guess to how long the kiss actually was. God knew, but Roy did not.
When Riza did pull back, Roy was frozen with his head forward and his body aching for more. He just stared at her, his dark eyes begging for her to come back. She smelled like the lavender of her shampoo, and her lips tasted like the blueberries that were for breakfast. She leaned up once more to kiss him shortly, a peck of love, and whispered, “just come back.”
Roy remained frozen, blinking at her. His brain was stuck in place, like a record. He couldn’t make himself function. His lips and hands were still wanting. His head swayed forwards slightly, eager for more, and his hands clutched at her waist tightly. He never wanted to let her go.
“I promise,” he managed to force out. His voice was hoarse. Every emotion inside his chest was threatening to burst forth. Love washed over him as he looked into her caramel eyes, feeling relief follow soon afterward. He lifted a hand to cup her cheek, his thumb stroked over her cheekbone. Riza shivered but never broke eye contact with him. The pressure from her fingers increased against his sides. “I’ll come back to you, Riza.”
Her head dipped and she wrapped her arms around him tightly in a hug. Her head found his shoulder as Roy moved his hands to wrap around her back. Life was, once more, unfair as it tried to tear him away from this moment; but it did give him something to look forward to once it was all over. He would hold onto this moment with Riza, focus on it and hold it dear to his heart, forever. Whatever happened today, he would focus on getting back to her.
“Be safe,” she whispered into his shoulder.
“I thought you said I had nothing to worry about?” he chuckled lightly.
She pulled back, and Roy saw concern in her eyes. “Still, the sentiment remains the same.”
“Okay, I will. Just for you,” he quipped, trying to lighten the mood a little.
Before he could pull away, Riza grasped the lapels of his jacket, pulling him back to face her. “For both of us,” she replied firmly.
Roy turned before his body forced him to stay and grabbed the door handle. He opened it and took a step out, stopping for a moment, before continuing. It was now or never. Just a few hours until Edward could get the documents to the feds, just until help could arrive. He could do it.
* * *
The lawn at the government buildings was still wet with dew as he marched through it. Maes stood at the top of a few stairs, watching him as he looked over the area. The man was just as diligent as Roy, just as observant. The big difference was who he was working for and the pension after 30 years. Roy was going to miss that pension but if he kept finding things for the Armstrong family, he might not need one.
“All is quiet on the western front,” Maes said as Roy arrived next to him. “You don’t look like such shit. You must have finally gotten some sleep.”
Roy nodded, putting his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, I did.” He tried his best not to blush at the thought of waking up to Riza making breakfast.
Maes nodded and turned to lead the two of them up the stairs. "The building just opened. We can run through it and check for explosives. Marcoh should be here any minute. I heard they are starting just after 9.”
“That gives us just over an hour!”
“Then step it up, Mustang!” Maes grinned. “Don't tell me you’re getting old!”
Roy frowned. He grumbled something before opening the doors to the senate. “Old my ass,” he mumbled.
Row after row they walked. Roy ran his fingers under the desks while Maes checked under the chairs. Meticulously they searched every spot around Marcoh’s area. There was nothing. There wasn’t even dust. It made Roy even more nervous. A bomb would have been nice. Then the whole day would be called off… but the chaos would give Kimblee a chance… Roy grumbled. Nothing was going to make today okay.
“What are you moaning about?” Maes laughed quietly from across the room.
“I’m not moaning,” Roy defended.
“You’re grumbling like an old man.”
Roy grit his teeth. First Ed with the grey hair comment, then Maes getting on about his age.
“I’m not grumbling,” Roy snapped back.
“If you say so,” Maes replied, his voice taking on a sing-song lilt.
“I just…” Roy straightened, huffing in frustration. “I can’t seem to find anything.”
“That’s a good thing,” Maes countered. “You know that, right?”
“Yeah, of course it is, but…” He sighed, checking over the last desk. “A bomb would've been easy.”
“Do you really want to find a bomb in here?” Maes asked.
“It would've made calling everything off easier. It would've made the protection detail much easier too.”
“Always looking for the easy way out,” Maes joked with a smirk.
Roy scowled at him.
“Relax, it'll be fine. This isn’t our first rodeo, and won’t be the last,” Maes replied, waving his hand carelessly in the air. “There’s not going to be a shootout in a public building.”
“Jean was shot in an open area,” Roy countered. “We don’t know what the thought process is here.”
“No, but if these people really want to remain discreet, they won’t start something like that,” Maes reiterated. He’d finished checking the chair and was now lounging against a desk, his hip popped to lean against it.
The door opened across the room and Roy, being on edge, turned sharply. Senator Marcoh stepped through, looking rather surprised at the two men’s presence. He froze in place, keeping a tight grip on files underneath his arm.
“Gentleman,” he greeted with uncertainty. His grip on the door increased.
“Senator Marcoh,” Maes greeted immediately. “I apologize for the sudden appearance,” he stated. Maes reached into his pocket for his badge and Roy straightened, approaching him as well. “My name is Detective Maes Hughes with the Federal Police Department. This is my colleague, Detective Roy Mustang.”
Both men flashed their badges at a rather bewildered Marcoh. “Oh, hello. Can… Can I help you at all?”
“We’re here to assist you today,” Roy intervened.
“Assist me how?” Marcoh questioned.
“Do you have an office where we could possibly discuss things?”
Marcoh shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Not here.”
“This room will be alright then for now, won’t it Detective?” Maes questioned Roy directly.
“Of course.”
Marcoh walked forwards, placing his paperwork on the desk with his name plate attached to it. He shifted through them all, getting them into some kind of order as quickly as he could. “I apologize, this will only take a second. I’m happy to assist you, gentlemen, but I hope you can understand that I have a long day of meetings ahead of me and I need to be organized.”
“Of course, Sir,” Roy reassured him. “Take all the time you need.” He watched the doors, readying for the next person to come through. It was a tight area though, and it made Roy incredibly nervous. If Kimblee did come through the doors, there’d be nowhere to go. Maes must have felt the same way because when Marcoh stood Maes pointed him out the hall.
“If you please,” he motioned.
“What's this about,” Marcoh asked, concerned, not expecting to be removed from the room.
“There’s been a security concern,” Maes answered in a hushed voice.
“What?” Marcoh stopped in his steps. “About me?” He seemed doubtful.
Roy nodded. “Yes, we believe someone is targeting you, Sir.”
“What for?” he asked, incredulous.
“About this proposition for the west, concerning the land Bradley is interested in.”
Marcoh frowned. “I’m not happy with it, I admit, but… What comes to pass, comes to pass. I will continue to fight for bettering our country regardless.”
“That’s what we’re worried about, Sir.”
“Right,” Marcoh demanded, stopping in his tracks. Maes and Roy turned to face him. Frustration bloomed in Roy’s chest. They needed to move and get him somewhere safe, and he was halting that progress. “Tell me what’s going on. Right now.”
“Sir, we’re trying to, but it’s not safe here -”
Marcoh frowned suddenly. His mouth parted, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he continued to stare past them, even craning his neck to look over their shoulders. Then, his face fell.
Roy turned first, before Maes, and saw Kimblee. He was walking towards them, smiling. The predatory expression on his face reminded Roy of a shark, slowly moving its way towards its prey. Without thinking, Roy reached for his holster but didn’t even get close.
Kimblee’s hand gripped his shoulder tightly, painfully so, and there were two muffled pops. Roy felt himself being sucker punched in the side in quick succession. Two gunshots.
He gasped, eyes flying open as his knees buckled. His legs jerked out to the side from the force of the hits and on instinct, Roy reached out as he fell, but Kimblee’s arm fell through his hand. He collapsed onto the floor as pain blossomed through his torso. His body hit the ground hard, his head bouncing off the tile. A groan left him, rounded off with another gasp of pain. His breathing was erratic as panic consumed every fibre of his being. To his own ears, Roy’s breaths sounded awful, choked and loud.
He couldn’t see. He couldn’t think. There was another gunshot, much louder this time, and there was shouting, there was screaming, but it all faded out into white noise as pain enveloped Roy completely. He’d been shot, twice, in the side. Kimblee walked right up to him and shot him at point blank range.
Roy gasped as his body convulsed. His shoulders were trying to round in on themselves to protect his body as he lay on the cold floor, but any movement made more pain explode all over his abdomen. He could feel the warmth of his blood around him, which he thought was odd at first, till he saw the red. He rolled on the floor, groaning weakly as he begged the world to give him a reprieve from this pain. He still felt like he couldn’t breathe. Roy was choking on everything, tasting the iron from his blood on his tongue.
“Roy!” The shout broke through everything as his mind shut down, unable to focus on much else as his body reacted to having two bullets forced into it.
Roy’s eyes were unfocussed as his head rolled uncontrollably to try and see who was calling to him. Maes’ face appeared over his, his expression full of worry. He felt Mae's roll him on his back, weight being pressed on his side. He turned his head to shout something to someone, but Roy lost track of his friend’s features. His face melted back into the grey of his vision.
He was losing it. His limbs were relaxing and his body was slowing in its shaking. His legs slid out on the floor and had stopped twitching so much. His arms were becoming heavy by his sides as the grey colour at the edges of his vision was replaced with black. All Roy could see in his mind’s eye was Riza’s face.
He’d broken his promise to her. He’d failed her. The pain had numbed his body, but he still felt that failure settle heavily inside his chest. His heart hurt and he whimpered. He wanted to see her again… Wanted to lose himself in those whiskey eyes that he adored so much. He wanted to kiss her and love her like she deserved… Roy had realised in her bathroom that morning that he loved her. He should've told her. Should have said something. Now, he was going to die, after such an incredible morning he’d had with her? Life truly was cruel.
“Hold on, Roy,” a disembodied voice called to him. There was a hard pressure on his side. He felt his body move as the force increased, but his mind felt detached from it all. He no longer felt pain, just a numbing sensation all over his body.
Roy wanted to hold on. He’d meant it when he told Riza he would, just for her, but it was becoming too hard. His lids were begging to close, pleading for him to give in. If he closed his eyes, he was sure he’d see Riza more clearly… ‘one last hurrah’ echoed inside his mind. How naïve he’d been back then. He didn’t want one last hurrah. He wanted to get up and go to her, just like he’d vowed he would.
But instead, everything just went dark.
a conspiracy theory - chapter 17
co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc
summary: Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?
warning: graphic depictions of violence
tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops
rated: m | words: 2738
read on ao3
Roy wasn’t fully awake when he felt something poking at his cheek. His mouth twitched upwards at the contact and there was a muffled gasp, but he couldn’t quite open his eyes just yet. A weak groan left his throat, and he tried to move his head away from whatever was irritating him, but he couldn’t go far. He didn’t manage more than a slight twitch.
“Oh my God,” someone breathed. “He moved!”
“Let him rest,” someone else admonished.
“I just wanted to know if he could feel his face,” the first voice argued petulantly.
“Shut up! Leave his face alone!”
Roy’s eyes blinked open but they were completely unfocused. Everything was just a blurry blob. There were shapes and colours blended together, but nothing concrete. His eyes drooped closed, not ready to awaken. With a groan, he tried to roll over, away from the voices. They were too loud. He was so tired. He wanted to sleep. It was tugging at him, trying to convince him to ignore whoever was trying to annoy him, and Roy sighed heavily. His body relaxed and he felt himself drifting.
“Come on, Roy,” a man’s voice beckoned cheerily. He recognized it, but couldn’t put a name to it. “It didn’t take me this long to wake up after mine,” he joked.
“You weren’t shot twice,” a female voice replied dryly.
“You always have to put me down, don’t you?” he sighed.
“Of course, Honey,” the woman replied sweetly.
“We should call you Sleeping Beauty,” the man snickered. “You were always desperate for a napping room at the office.”
“Wha…” Roy’s eyes batted open groggily. His mouth felt stiff as he tried to form a word, but it was a struggle. Every movement was sluggish, not that there were many. His head could only turn a tiny degree left and right, and all he could do was make his fingers and his toes twitch.
“There he is!” Jean grinned.
Roy moved his eyes to his right, blinking a few times to allow Jean Havoc to come into view. “Jean,” he breathed, but failed to finish the end of his partner’s name. It trailed off as his throat cramped. His eyes fluttered closed once more.
“Are you really going to leave us hanging with a greeting like that?” Jean jested. “Come on, Roy, you can do better!”
“Tired,” he mumbled. God, his throat hurt. It was scratchy and kept cramping. He needed it to relax. He needed a drink of water.
“Shut up, Jean,” the woman from before barked. There was a muffled sound of someone hitting fabric with their hands, while Jean protested loudly, sounding pained. “Get out of the way,” she scolded. “Roy?” Her call was soft and welcoming.
His eyes batted open, seeing… Rebecca in his line of vision.
“Hey,” she smiled broadly. “You’re awake! Thank God,” she laughed in relief, her eyes bright and shining in the harsh lights above him. They made Roy squint and close his eyes against them.
“I’m… awake,” he sighed heavily. His eyes stayed closed. The lights of the room were too bright.
“How do you feel?”
“Thirsty,” he croaked.
“Okay, here.” Something cool and hard was pressed to his lips. Opening his mouth, Roy welcomed the sip of water that soothed his aching throat. Some of it dribbled down his chin and onto his chest, but a soft towel was quickly in place to wipe it away. No one commented on it either.
“How are you feeling now?” Rebecca asked.
“Sore,” he groaned. When he’d first awoke his body was entirely numb. Now, as more time was progressing, there was an uncomfortable pressure on his side and a sharp bite of pain every time he inhaled. “Tired.”
“It’s good to have you back,” Rebecca replied. “We’re all here, and we’ll wait until you feel a bit better before talking again, if you want?”
“All?” he asked blearily, his eyes opening.
He watched as Rebecca nodded. To his right, he managed to make out Jean, Rebecca, and Ed, all with relieved smiles on their faces. “We’ll wait for you to feel better, then -”
“Riza?” he croaked as his eyes fought to remain open. “Maes?”
The room was silent, but Roy only realized it after a few moments had passed. His eyes opened and he looked up at Rebecca.
“They... okay?”
“Maes is fine, I promise.”
“And?”
Rebecca wasn’t looking at him, though. Her head had turned to the side, looking away. She jerked her head towards him, then she moved away from his side.
“Becca,” he groaned. He needed to know if Riza was alright. His head turned to his left, beginning his search to see if ‘all’ of them included her.
He didn’t have to look far. Riza was frozen in the doorway. She was apart from the rest of them, clutching the strap of her purse tightly. If she gripped any harder, the strap may be torn in half. She blinked at him. The room wasn’t large, and his vision was still a little foggy after waking up, but he noticed she looked like she was going to cry.
A calm washed over his body and he felt his limbs relaxing further into the bed. She was okay. She was safe. A sliver of relief was snaking through his heart and settling there.
“Hey,” he greeted weakly.
Riza walked over to him. She’d taken a deep breath before moving, and let it out as she moved. She paused at his bedside, looking slightly unsure of herself, but extremely worried as her eyes danced over his body inside the bed. “Are you okay?” she breathed. He could barely hear her.
“I’m awake,” he offered, unable to croak out a reply any louder than a whisper. All he knew was the numbness was present, but slowly lessening. He could sleep for a week with how relaxed his body felt at that moment. Everyone was safe and accounted for.
She met his gaze sharply. Relief washed over her expression. Mindful of all the wires on his bed, and his injured body, she placed her hands on the mattress and leaned down, brushing her lips against his. It wasn’t too deep, just a light peck, but Roy groaned into it. He wanted more, needed more, especially as emotions burst from his chest so quickly, it left him reeling. He wanted to cup her cheek, but all his arms could manage were a tiny shift by his sides.
As she pulled away, Roy saw that her eyes were shining. Her beautiful face blocked out the harsh lights from above, allowing him to look upon her features for longer. He was thankful for that.
“Everyone has gone,” she whispered.
Glancing to his right, Roy saw that the room was indeed empty.
“How long?” He still couldn’t speak much, but she understood what he meant.
“You’ve been unconscious for two days,” she revealed. Pulling away further, Riza sat on the chair by his bedside. He whined when she did so, but he didn’t care that she heard him. Her hand lifted back onto the bed, grasping his hand tightly. He felt the pressure there, but could only make his fingers twitch in response. He wanted to return the gesture, but his body wouldn’t let him. “Do you remember what happened?”
“Shot,” he replied slowly, trying to recall what had happened to him. He grimaced. This was a less than ideal situation to be in. “Did… Kimblee…?”
“He shot you,” she swallowed. “But I don’t know much about that side of things,” Riza revealed. “I don’t know what happened to him. I’ll let the others go into that with you.”
Roy nodded. It was a tiny movement, but he understood. Slowly, his fingers moved further, shakily gripping her hand. He grunted with the effort, finally giving Riza's hand a slight squeeze.
“I… I heard it on the news.” She bit her lip and inhaled deeply. “There was a shooting at the Senate. They mentioned you by name,” she whispered. Roy watched as she told him what had happened. “I called Rebecca and she told me you were already in surgery here.”
He wanted to ask her proper questions, form full sentences, but he couldn’t. Roy wanted to squeeze and hold her body close in a hug, as he apologized for breaking his promise to her. But he couldn’t.
“Two days.”
Riza nodded, lifting her eyes to meet his. “Yes.”
“Sorry.”
This time, she frowned. “What for?”
“Broke promise,” he croaked.
Standing from her chair, Riza perched on the edge of his bed. She placed a hand by his hip and leaned forward, stopping with her face about a foot from his. A smile crossed her face as she lifted her fingers to brush his fringe off his face. “You didn’t break it,” she assured him gently.
“Did,” he pouted.
Riza shook her head, closing her eyes briefly. “You didn’t.” Her tone was firm, her smile fond. “You’re back, aren’t you?”
Roy huffed at his inability to argue further. He did break that promise, and he’d been unconscious for two days. She’d seen what had happened pop up on the news. She’d said she cared about him that morning in her apartment, so Roy had caused her two days worth of worry, wondering if he was going to wake up.
“You didn’t break anything,” she promised. Riza leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Roy whined again. If he wasn’t so out of it he would have been embarrassed. “You came back, and that’s all that matters.” Lightly, her forehead grazed against his and she remained there. Roy watched as her face became slightly pained while her eyes closed, but then relaxed as she exhaled. “I was worried about you regardless of what was said,” she whispered. “After you walked out of my door. I had so much I wanted to say, but… I felt it was too soon.”
“What?” he croaked. Anticipation was creeping over his chest. It lifted the hairs on his forearms.
Riza hummed. “Well, you already know I care about you. I was worried about you going off on this adventure,” she smirked. “I knew you could handle yourself. Still, I worried. Of course, I did.” She took a deep breath. “Because I love you.”
Roy blinked at her. It felt like an eternity passed, because… she loved him? No… Then Roy looked into her eyes, seeing her patiently waiting for him to digest what she’d said. There was a hint of uncertainty there too, as she anticipated his reply. The soft touches, the kiss she’d given him almost as soon as she saw him, and the last kiss they’d shared… They all hit him at once.
“Love you too,” he breathed, forcing it out from his tired throat.
Her shoulders sagged slightly and her hand lifted to cup his cheek. The tips of her fingers brushed his ear and Roy’s body would have jerked if it could move properly. He moaned as she pressed her lips against his, harder this time. Her mouth opened and Roy automatically followed suit. His hands were dying to move, to touch her, but he could do nothing. Next time, he vowed. He’d told her he would show her just how much she meant to him. As soon as he was out of this bed, he would.
* * *
“Kimblee went to prison. Hard to escape that one when a Senator confirms that he openly tried to kill you and him,” Jean snorted.
“So he did target me too, then?” Roy asked. Dread settled inside his gut, knowing that a hitman had been after him.
Jean nodded. “What did I tell you all about them killing you for knowing things you shouldn’t?” he joked. Then, he swallowed and his smile fell, his face turning troubled. “Bradley knew it was you who had stolen the sword, and had begun to wonder if you were poking your nose too far into where it wasn’t supposed to. So, he told Kimblee to take you out as a precaution as well.”
“Wow,” Roy commented. The lack of concern for human life was alarming. “And Bradley?”
“Arrested too. Same with Raven. Our little report exposed them all for the frauds and shady bastards that they are,” Jean grinned, proud of all their work.
Roy leaned back against his pillows, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. They’d done it. They’d managed to put a stop to their plan.
“Marcoh?”
“Alive and well. Sends his regards, by the way,” Jean added. “He was really shaken up about witnessing you being shot.”
“Tell me about it,” Roy muttered.
“He said he will publicly denounce the plans put in place by Raven and Bradley, and the land will be turned over to find a new benefactor. They were built on some dodgy deals, and he wasn’t happy about that. The people of this country wouldn’t be either.”
“Have you been back to the office?” Roy asked.
“A few times. Not full time though,” he added, waggling his arm that was still in a sling. “I can’t write very much and typing takes an age. Rebecca and Ed are doing a hell of a job keeping the place running, though,” Jean replied. “Especially Ed. He’s stepped right up and I’ve got to say… I’m impressed.”
“We always knew he’d go far,” Roy reminded him.
“I know. Still, it’s good to see. He’s a natural when his efforts are applied in the right direction.” Jean snickered. “You could be fighting for your job when you finally go back.”
Roy huffed and looked down at his legs, but grimaced as pain shot through his side at the sudden exhale. “I don’t know how soon that will be. It still hurts like a bitch to move.”
“Take it easy, man,” Jean soothed. “We’ll manage without our fearless leader for now,” he winked. “How’s Riza?”
Roy missed her terribly. He hadn’t seen her in two days because she was working late. After Bradley’s arrest, she’d been ordered to collate all accounts that showed anything suspicious. Two weeks on from the incident, and she was still working on it. He felt guilty for increasing her workload, but she’d just waved him off and told him not to worry so much. “She’s busy, but she seems to be alright.”
“Good. At least you’ll have someone to look after you once you get out of here,” he smirked.
“I don’t know about that,” Roy chuckled with uncertainty. It had never come up.
“Oh, come one,” he prompted. “You both love each other, what more is there to think about?”
“The fact that it's only been a couple of months?” Roy offered with a laugh. “All of our dates have been centered around my work, and I will not rest until I show her a date that doesn’t.” His tone was firm, promising to himself in this mind that he would show Riza that there was more to him than his work.
“At least you know she’ll put up with your shit, then,” Jean responded. “That can be hard to find in our line of work.”
“Yeah, you're right about that,” he mumbled.
Jean sighed, standing from his chair. “I’ve got to go. Lunch break is almost over and my boss is a hardass if I’m late,” he winked with a laugh. “It’s good to see you, Roy. Take care of yourself, alright?”
“You too, Jean,” he called as he left his hospital room with a small wave.
Roy settled back into his pillows. Boredom was a constant companion nowadays as he waited for the days to pass. He willed his side to get better so he could start with harder physical therapy and get back out into the world quicker. He grumped. Most of all, he wanted to see Riza.
Speaking of, his phone buzzed on the side of his bed. Picking it up, he opened the screen to see Riza’s name pop up with a text message for him. She was on her way in, and would he like any lunch brought in for him? Grinning, he texted her back that a pastry from the old haunt would be lovely. Excitement coursed through his body as he waited for her to arrive. It’d only been a day since he last saw her but it had been too long and he couldn’t wait.
a conspiracy theory - chapter 14
co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc
summary: Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?
warning: graphic depictions of violence
tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops
rated: m | words: 2760
read on ao3
One of Roy’s legs bounced impatiently as he waited. With his elbows resting on his knees, he’d leaned forward in his chair with his hands clasped before his mouth. His grip was tight but he didn’t really notice. Apart from the bouncing leg, he hadn’t moved since he’d sat down. He was wound up, adrenaline running on high, but unable to move or spend any energy. There was nowhere for him to go anyway.
Beside him, Rebecca wasn’t faring much better. She shifted every now and then, but mostly she remained still and chewed on her lip and the nail of her thumb. Roy wanted to comfort her, should comfort her, but there was nothing he could do. Not yet, anyway. He only knew as much as her, so it was just a waiting game until someone arrived and told them something, anything.
The wait was killing him. Roy needed to know. His fist tightened, knowing that he’d ordered a move that resulted in the pain of another person, let alone a co-worker. He couldn’t even do anything about it. It was eating at him, guilt swirling around his body. He should’ve been there. It should’ve been him. He didn’t even know what happened.
‘He’s been shot’. The words felt heavy as Roy played with them in his mind, and they made an uncomfortable weight settle inside his stomach. He hated them. A fury burned inside his chest with a passion. How dare this happen? Not only that, but there was nothing for him to go on. He was a detective. It was his job to know things, to find out things, and he couldn’t even do that for someone he cared about.
His arms lowered slowly, almost creaking after being held tensed for so long. His elbows dug into his knees almost painfully.
“The patient is ready to see you now,” a nurse called gently to them both.
Before Roy had even registered what was said, he was up and out of his chair. He’d been wired sitting there, doing absolutely nothing, so that when he did finally move and was given direction, he was like a tightly coiled spring finally releasing.
Turning, he ushered Rebecca forward first as the nurse walked ahead, escorting them both down the hallway. Roy steeled himself, stepping into the hospital room with anticipation crawling all over his skin. He didn’t know what he would see and wasn’t quite as mentally prepared as he’d liked to be for seeing the worst.
“Hey guys!” Jean cried happily. He was lying in the bed with a dopey look on his face. He grinned at them, offering a clumsy wave with one hand. The other was trapped in a sling across his body. Roy’s eyes caught movement from the IV needle in Jean’s arm, noticing how it flailed around.
“Careful, Mr. Havoc,” the nurse admonished. She hurried over and gently restrained his arm, lowering it back down to the bed so she could check the needle’s placement.
Jean’s head craned around her hands to look at it. Then he giggled. “Oops. Sorry!”
“It’s fine, Sir. Just be careful.”
Roy didn’t blame the woman for batting Jean’s hands away as he tried to poke at the needle. She was just trying to do her job and Jean was off his face on drugs, messing about with all her hard work. He was half tempted to believe Jean was fine since he was in such a good mood.
“He’s on quite a bit of morphine,” the nurse explained as she walked away. Roy noticed she didn’t turn her back on her patient and kept an eye on his IV. Jean was just grinning back at them, perfectly at ease. “But that will wear off soon. If he starts poking at that needle, the machine will beep.” She gestured towards Jean’s bed. “If it does, come and find me.” She closed the door softly behind her, giving them some privacy.
“Hey, Jean,” Rebecca greeted as she walked towards the bed.
“Rebecca!” He was ecstatic to see her. “I love you,” he crooned. He leaned onto his good side, obviously looking for a kiss.
Roy felt relief wash over him, seeing Jean awake and talking. Even if he was drugged up. He was alright at least, and he was safe.
“I love you too,” Rebecca replied. Her voice was soft and she gripped his hand tightly, the whites of her knuckles showing. “Are you alright?”
“Feel fine!” he grinned. “This stuff they have me on, it’s great! I can’t feel my face though…” He trailed off, suddenly looking very troubled. His mouth was closed, but suddenly his lips were pushed outwards as he ran his tongue over his teeth. Jean shrugged, and the grin was back. “Nah, can’t feel it.”
“Do you remember what happened?” Roy asked. He needed to now. He needed to know who he needed to find.
“Roy! Roy Boy. Mustang.” Jean cackled to himself, drawing out the ‘a’ in his surname, finding it hilarious. It was like he was drunk.
“Hey, Jean,” Roy smiled softly. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too! I can’t feel my teeth,” he snorted, giggling to himself. At least he was in good spirits, even if it was the morphine talking. “Wait, we’re missing someone.” Jean leaned onto his bad side to look at the door behind Roy and froze. His expression turned into a grimace.
“Careful!” Rebecca quickly grabbed his shoulders and righted him, moving his weight off his injured side. “Are you okay?”
“That hurt,” Jean mumbled. His loud, jovial tone was gone. He suddenly sounded like a small child after they’d fallen over and hurt themselves.
“Take it easy, man,” Roy commanded gently. He pulled the one chair in the room over to Jean’s bedside and motioned for Rebecca to sit. “We’re all fine, I promise. But more importantly, how are you?”
“Sore… but this stuff I’m on is really good. It’s helping.” That rush of pain he’d received from being too overeager had sobered Jean up a little, and his demeanor was much calmer. He still looked slightly crazed, but he was acting less like an excited puppy and more like his old self.
“Good, that’s what’s important. Just take it easy.”
“Everyone else is okay?” Jean asked earnestly. “No one else is hurt?”
Rebecca and Roy shared a look.
“Does anyone have a reason to be?” Roy asked carefully.
“I… I don't know. But Ed’s not here…” He looked like he was about to cry.
“Honey, Ed’s fine. He’s at home. Nothing has happened to him.”
“Are you sure?” Jean’s eyes were wide, and that was when Roy became concerned.
“We’re sure,” Rebecca reassured him, giving his hand a squeeze.
His whole body sagged and Jean relaxed further into the bed. “Okay,” he mumbled. “Okay, good.”
Roy turned, lightly touching Rebecca’s shoulder. “I’m going to go and find another chair. Look after this dummy for me, yeah?”
He noticed the wetness in her eyes which she smiled and nodded gratefully to him.
“I heard that,” Jean muttered.
“Good,” Roy grinned. “I’ll be back in five.”
He said he’d be five minutes, but Roy purposefully waited fifteen before walking back to Jean’s room. He wanted to give them a moment of privacy together. Plus, after Jean’s worried questions, he quickly texted Ed to ask where he was and if he was okay. Roy could almost feel the accusation through the text, but still, it was an answer. A quick reply with ‘no reason’ was bound to confuse and irritate his protege, but it was better than explaining everything over a text. Roy would call him later and fill him in.
When he walked in the room both heads turned to look at him. Their hands were gripped together tightly in Jean’s lap and Rebecca looked like she never wanted to let go. Another grateful smile was shot his way from Rebecca, thankful for the moment of privacy, and Jean looked a lot calmer than he had before. Roy didn’t doubt that she’d caused that. They could both be firecrackers, but Rebecca could calm Jean down with just her touch alone, or a few words. He hung onto every one, like a lovesick man, and Roy had envied it. They were so perfect, and the two honestly deserved each other. It was like they were destined to be.
“So,” Roy announced, sitting heavily on his chair. “What happened to you, man?”
“Kimblee shot me,” he snorted. He didn’t miss a beat with his answer and his face darkened.
Roy’s hands made fists on his knees.
“He caught me following him at this park.” Jean scowled and looked away. “I don’t know how,” he muttered. “This is my specialty, he shouldn’t have been able to notice me.”
Roy shot a helpless look at Rebecca, then back at his friend.
“I know, Hun, but that’s okay. Don’t worry about that right now,” Rebecca reassured him. “What else happened?”
“Can you start from the top?” Roy requested, his tone apologetic. He was clearly all over the place with the morphine, but with a little direction, Roy would be able to get to the bottom of this with Jean’s assistance.
“Right, sorry,” Jean apologized sheepishly.
“It’s fine,” Roy placated, leaning over onto his arms. “I just need to know the whole story so I can help you.”
“Okay,” Jean sighed. “So I followed Kimblee about. He went into a store. It was just a generic one and I don’t remember the name, before you ask. Then he wandered for a bit towards the address of the meeting, but didn’t go there. It was like he wanted to, but wouldn’t quite go directly. He was speaking on the phone for a short time. He sounded a little agitated but I was too far away to hear what they were talking about. I really did try to listen,” he urged, like a child trying to get an adult to understand them. The painkillers must have been really strong.
“We know you did, Hun” Rebecca reassured him, patting his arm gently.
“But, I couldn’t hear a thing. I crossed the street and sat on a bench. It was just inside the park, slightly hidden from view where Kimblee was standing. It was the perfect spot too because the building was just around the corner from where Kimblee was standing, so I would be able to see him walking into it without moving. He was on the phone for a while, I can’t remember how long,” Jean shook his head. “I was reading the paper and having a smoke so I didn’t have a chance to check the time. Then, Kimblee hung up and walked towards me.”
“He saw you?”
Jean shrugged. “He must have. I was playing it cool though, just kept reading. Then he stopped, and said my name.”
“... Your full name?” Roy asked. He didn’t like the sound of this.
Jean nodded, and the weight in Roy’s stomach sank even lower. “First and last name. He wasn’t happy. He’d obviously figured out what I was doing. I tried to keep the peace, tell him to calm down, and play it cool. He wouldn’t listen, but he wasn’t talking. He just smiled.”
“And then?” Roy prompted, his tone gentle.
“Next thing I knew, I was on the floor. It felt as if I got hit with a baseball bat. I didn’t really know what had happened. The bastard was still smiling at me as he lowered the gun. I didn’t quite know what was happening but I was so angry.” Jean’s hand made a fist. “I wanted to get up, off the floor, and punch that smug look off his face, but my body wouldn’t move. Someone was screaming, I think. Kimblee disappeared, walking out of the park and in the direction of the building, so I tried to get to my phone, but I was stuck. Then, I realized I’d been shot.”
“Shit, man,” Roy muttered.
“Getting shot sucks,” Jean groaned, holding his shoulder. “Let me tell you! Fucking hurts.”
Rebecca sniffed beside him.
“I… I have to ask, sorry, but did he go to the building?” Roy continued after casting a glance over to her.
“He didn’t,” Jean confirmed, sounding completely sure of himself. “While I was on the floor he disappeared, but I saw him cross the street and walk in the opposite direction. I don’t know if he went back later.”
“I don’t imagine he would have,” Roy thought aloud. He leaned back in his chair, bringing a hand to his chin in thought. “You said you heard someone screaming. Who called you to say he’d been shot, Rebecca?”
“The hospital,” she replied, her voice husky. “We’re listed as emergency contacts in each other’s phones.”
“There would’ve been too much attention drawn to the area in order for Kimblee to get inside.” Roy hummed to himself. “Maybe too much for them to even have their little meeting tonight. Did you hear the shot?”
Jean shook his head. “I didn’t hear it. I don’t know why,” he frowned.
“If you heard screaming that meant someone saw you go down. Whether they saw Kimblee’s face or not though…” Roy grimaced. “If the Police Chief is in the pocket of these people, and if that witness went to the police, Kimblee would probably be swept underneath the rug completely.” Roy sighed in frustration.
It was so unfair on Jean to suffer because of this. He’d been innocent! Just sitting on a park bench! And yet the police would ignore it because their chief is comfortable in their pocket.
“You said you didn’t know why you heard the shot?” Roy repeated.
Jean nodded. “Yeah. I just felt a fucking hard hit then I twisted to the side and fell off the bench.”
Roy scrunched his face, noting a tiny red graze by his eyebrow. His face must have scuffed along the ground.
“That could also be why it took you so long to realize what had happened. The gun could have been silenced. I mean, if he was going to shoot anyone who got in his way so openly in a park or on the street, he must’ve had the forethought to silence the weapon -”
Rebecca’s shoulders began to shake. Roy heard her sniff and it stopped his train of thought.
“Becca?” Jean’s voice was full of concern.
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine,” she reassured them, waving her hand in the air.
Roy’s stomach dropped. He’d been too blasé and too insensitive, after all, her boyfriend had just been shot in the street by a hitman and left to die. God, he was the worst.
“No… Rebecca, I’m sorry,” Roy stammered.
“It’s alright,” she stated firmly. “I’m okay. Keep going, this is important.”
Roy eyed her for a second longer, then looked towards Jean. He was staring at his girlfriend in sympathy.
“Becca?” he called to her. “I’m okay.”
“I know you are,” she smiled, but it wobbled on her face. “I know. It… was just a lot to go through in a short space of time.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Please, don’t mind me. Keep going.”
“We’ll always keep you in mind, Rebecca,” Roy reassured her. “I didn’t mean to sound so detached about it.”
Jean snorted quietly. “He’s in love with his work, remember,” he joked, trying to brighten the mood like he always did. A Jean Havoc special. “No wonder he can never break out of ‘Detective Mode’. I hope you’re not this way with Riza,” he frowned at Roy, causing a quiet laugh to escape from Rebecca.
Roy chuckled. “No, I’m not.”
“You’re not, or you hope you’re not?” Jean retorted with shit-eating grin.
“She’s gone back out with me,” Roy replied defensively. “So I must be doing something right.”
“Or she just takes pity on you,” Jean chuckled.
“Listen, you,” Roy bit back, pointing at Jean with his pointer finger. “You just focus on getting yourself better, rather than what’s happening in my love life.”
“Oh!” Jean gasped. “He’s got a love life now.” He grinned at Rebecca. “Our boy is finally growing up,” he sniffed, proud of Roy. “I never dreamed this day would come!”
Looking heavenward, Roy sighed heavily. It was all in good fun, and it had cheered up Rebecca, which was important to him. And Jean was right. He needed to stop being so callous. His friend had been shot. He should forget about the damn case for once in his life.
a conspiracy theory - chapter 10
co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc
summary: Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?
warning: graphic depictions of violence
tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops
rated: m | words: 3629
read on ao3
The cafe was much busier than Roy had expected. The tables were mostly full, making Roy grateful to find the one he did. The music he loved was faintly playing in the background, almost drowned out by the conversations around him. He arrived early to be sure to get them both a pastry and her coffee, but now he was just sitting there waiting. Looking around, he thought he should have grabbed a paper. Then he could have at least watched his new favorite law getting passed. Roy groaned. When all this was over, he was so going to take the money and buy a vacation for a month. He wasn’t going to do so much as turn on a TV.
The light ring of a bell on top of the door brought his attention to the familiar blonde into the cafe. Wearing a simple blouse and work slacks, she looked like she was ready to go to work. Her hair was pulled up into a clip, the ends swaying as she looked to find him. Roy was sure he looked almost childish with the grin on his face, but his heart was pounding away. He was so happy to see her. Once the eye contact was made and a step was made in his direction, an open smile grew on her own lips. She was just as happy to see him and the realization sent shockwaves through his body.
“Hey,” she greeted.
“Hi. I got you coffee,” he answered, showing her the cup on the table. “And a pastry,” he added quickly.
“You’re too nice,” she thanked, sitting down and putting her purse on the seat next to the window. “How have you been?”
Roy held back a laugh but a chuckle escaped. “I’ve been very busy.”
“Is it this case? The… sword one?”
He nodded. “It’s getting complicated!”
She laughed.
“But tell me how you are?”
Riza sat back in her seat and sipped her coffee. “I’ve also been busy. Mondays are generally pretty hectic since I have to catch up over the weekend, then Tuesday is a recovery day. So Wednesday I generally take some time for myself.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” he commented seriously. “I may have to implement that into my own life.”
“It’s nice,” she added. “Then we can meet for morning breakfast here.” She nodded to the pastry. “Raspberry danish and a coffee. That sounds perfect to me.”
His chest swelled with warmth. It spread across to his shoulders and up his neck, confirming the fact that he’d like that very much. Roy could think of no better way to spend the middle of his week.
“For all the work that I do, I take every spare moment for myself.”
Roy frowned. “Don’t you have a team?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I can handle the work, but I would’ve liked two more people. Thankfully, I have my own office so that I can hide away in there and play some music while I number away.” Her fingers danced as if she was typing.
He chuckled. “My office is an open space. It’s difficult when one person is playing music. My partner, Jean, puts headphones in, but we have to throw a paper ball at him to get his attention.”
“I wouldn’t mind that,” she sighed. “Just tune out the bullshit of the rest of the office.”
“It’s that, and Jean and the office manager have a love affair going on,” he rolled his eyes. “I have to watch them make lovey-dovey faces at each other.”
“Sounds like you need to hire a pretty lady that you can make goo-goo eyes at.” She took a gentle sip of her latte, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
“Are you looking for a job,” he quipped with a grin.
She laughed. “I might be after next month!”
“Oh?”
“With a large company like mine, giant purchases require loans and paperwork. I have to move one number here and there,” she moved her hand side to side. “And it's just a few more extra steps than I’d like it to be. My boss is very particular on how things are done.”
Roy chuckled. “You’d like working for me. Just pay the power and phone bill,” he chuckled.
“I’m sure you have an income that you need to balance.” Riza took a sip of her drink.
“It’s simple with the work we do. You will barely have any work.”
“Maybe I’d like to stay busy.” She raised her eyebrow.
“You can work whenever you want, and for how long you want. I’m an easy boss,” Roy tried to sweeten the pot to hire her. He reached for his pastry while she was laughing but his hand felt a warmth land on it. Looking over, her hand rested on his for a mere second. In the next second they retracted their hand and laughed nervously. “Sorry,” he said as he realized he had reached for hers. “You go first.”
She pulled the pastry towards her. “I guess you’re stalking my raspberry danish now too?” She chuckled, keeping the mood light.
Roy went to say something but closed his mouth and shook his head. A sheepish smile found its way onto his face, but inside his stomach was doing somersaults.
“So, tell me, how’s this sword mystery going?”
Roy bit his lip as he tried to decide how much to tell her. “Well…” He took a drink of his own coffee. She pushed the pastries back across to him, letting him pick up his own. “We think that we’ve found a group of people who are associated with the owners. So, we are diving into wondering if they stole it now.” His finger began to tap the side of his coffee cup nervously.
Her eyebrows rose as she took a drink.
“It’s like this club they are with. You know… Like little kids with a secret word to get in?”
“All the bigwigs who run this country are in it?”
Roy’s finger stopped tapping his cup. He squinted at her gently before raising an eyebrow. “Ms. Riza, how do you feel about conspiracies?”
She smiled as she leaned forward. “Sometimes there’s truth behind them.”
“What do you know?” He leaned eagerly forward to her, shifting in his seat, now only a short space between them now. He caught the scent of her perfume as it wafted towards him, and Roy faltered. He only then realized how close they were.
“Why don’t you ask me what you need to ask me, and I’ll tell you.” Her voice wafted to his ears like a gentle breeze. “I can’t just tell you anything.”
“You want me to interview you?”
Riza’s finger circled the rim of her coffee cup. “I promise to tell you the truth.”
Roy leaned back in his chair and slowly brought his cup to his lips. “How long have you known?”
“I had my suspicions since you said you were looking for a missing sword.”
“Were you at Selim Bradley’s birthday party?”
Riza nodded.
Roy never remembered seeing her name on the list. It made him even more suspicious. “Did you happen to see a specific sword?”
“Ms. Armstrong’s? Yes.”
Roy nodded. “Where is it then?” A sideways grin slid upon his lips.
“At the office.” Riza sipped her coffee nonchalantly.
“You have got to be kidding me.” He stared straight at her through his black hair over his eyes.
Riza shook her head.
Roy had one more question to ask. “Who do you work for?”
“King Bradley.”
He dropped forward, his forearms on the table. “Then why didn’t you tell me before.”
“You never asked,” she smiled, but he could see the nerves behind it. “I did tell you at dinner you could ask me anything. And I think it’s not about a stolen sword, but about control over the senate. I’ve been watching the numbers. Bradley hasn’t donated to Senator Raven’s campaign for the past 6 months. He’s bribing him.” She took a drink of her latte. “I trust you more than just the average officer. I think you can handle this more professionally than me just coming forward to the law.”
Roy grabbed her pastry and put it in its bag. “We need to go to the office.” He looked around. “We can’t talk about this here.”
Riza watched him for a second, but Roy waved her up. “You have no idea how big this is,” he continued. “You’re the link to all our answers.”
“Roy,” she said as she stood up. “I can’t just take the morning off work.”
“Just a quick talk at my office.” Even though it was on the other side of town. “This is exactly what we’ve been trying to find out.”
“Mr. Bradley’s expenses have almost doubled. I think he’s getting ready for a large purchase.”
Roy grabbed her arm gently, leaning closely to whisper to her. “Do you know about the Gatekeepers?”
“That,” she whispered, lifting a finger, “I should not talk about in public.”
“Please,” he begged. “I promise it won’t take long.”
He must have looked earnest and desperate enough because, after a short pause, Riza nodded slowly. “Alright.”
“Thank you,” he breathed.
He hurried towards the door, remembering his manners in his excitement, and held it open for her. Once again, his mind was running a million miles a minute, but when he looked in her face, noted how her eyes darted from side to side as she walked, he faltered. Forcing his brain to calm down, Roy took a deep breath and tried to slow his heart rate too.
“Sorry,” he began as they walked towards his car. “This is just… really big. And I got a bit excited.”
“I understand,” Riza replied. She clutched the strap of her purse close to her body. “And I’m happy to help if I can.”
Roy lengthened his stride to reach the passenger’s door before her. Opening it, he held it open for Riza. After she thanked him, he walked around to his own side, his steps heavily with urgency. Putting the car into drive, he maneuvered his way out of the space with his fingers tight on the steering wheel. As he drove, he had to remember not to let his mind run away with him. He had to stay focused. He didn’t want to interview Riza, but he wasn’t going to let a source get away from him if he could help it. After all, he also didn’t want to scare her away as a potential date. After all this, Roy still had intentions to date Riza.
“I promise this will be quick,” he reiterated. “I can even drive you to your office afterward if you like?”
“I appreciate that, but dropping me off back at Metric will be fine.” Out the corner of his eye, he noticed how she gripped her paper cup a little tighter. The tips of her fingers were turning a lighter shade of pink.
Roy didn’t want her to be afraid, especially of him. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable either. Though the ride was with little conversation between the two of them. He wanted to continue to talk to her, continue to ask her about the case, but his body was on fire. His mouth felt dry. All he could think about was how he was more upset that it was her rather than some stranger off the street. He begged the universe that she could still consider him a love interest and not just a detective after this.
Pulling up outside his office, both exited the car at the same time and entered. Rebecca looked up from her work, looking a bit bored, but froze, eyes growing wide with excitement, when she saw Riza behind Roy.
“Hey, Roy,” she greeted slowly, elongating her greeting. She couldn’t have sounded more curious if she tried.
“Rebecca, I’d like you to meet Riza,” he introduced. He turned, gesturing towards her. “Riza, this is my office manager, Rebecca.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Rebecca offered her hand for Riza to shake, which was grasped firmly. Her eyes dropped to the coffee cups and Roy watched as her eyes began to sparkle. Rebecca’s smile grew even wider, turning her full attention to Riza.
“Likewise,” Riza replied politely.
“So, you’re Coffee Shop Girl?”
Roy groaned.
“Coffee Shop Girl?” Riza inquired, amusement clear on her face.
“I knew you were real!” Rebecca cried. “Yes, Jean owes me 100 cenz.”
“I’ve been meeting Roy at the coffee shop for a little while, yes.” Then she turned to face him, her cheeks red, eyes teasing. “Have you been telling people about me?”
He resisted the urge to slam his head against his desk.
“He won’t shut up about you,” Rebecca helpfully chimed in. Roy could not be more thankful that Jean was not there.
“We’re here for the case, Rebecca. I’ve brought her in to ask her a few questions,” Roy explained, reaching into his desk for a pen and paper.
“You’re asking your date a few questions about the case?” she exclaimed, mouth popping open in her horror. “Roy, I knew you were hopeless Buddy, but come on!”
“This is important!” he argued. “It benefits the case.”
Riza blinked at the interaction between them, watching nervously.
“Yeah, but not poor Riza here! I am so sorry about him,” she gushed to Riza. The latter just laughed quietly in response. “He doesn’t get out much.”
“Rebecca,” Roy warned, shaking his head as he glared at his co-worker. He unfolded a chair they kept in the corner and offered it to Riza. It was just a cheap one they had to hand in case they interviewed anyone at the office, but it was barely used. Still, the seat and the back were cushioned so at least there would be some comfort there for her. “Please, take a seat,” he offered her in a much softer tone.
“Thank you. And honestly, I don’t mind,” she reassured Rebecca. “This is important and I trust Roy.”
She’d already told him that, but it still made his heart race. His fingers paused as they typed over his keyboard, and he hoped the other two women didn’t notice. To have it announced so openly was music to his ears.
“Good,” Rebecca relented. “I’m glad.” She turned her attention towards Roy, lifting a finger to point it at him. “Just make sure you make it up to her with a proper date.”
“I will,” he replied defensively, then caught Riza’s eye. “I will,” he repeated, his tone earnest. He realized this was not the ideal date and personally, he would much rather have remained in the coffee shop, but he couldn’t let this go. “I promise. Sorry, I know this probably isn’t what you had planned.”
“Like I said, I’m happy to help. I want to help. I don’t mind. This seems too important not to offer my assistance.” Her smile was open and sincere, warming Roy to his core. “But I look forward to seeing how you make it up to me,” she added dryly.
“So, there will definitely be a next time? I haven’t blown it?” he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
Riza shook her head. “Not at all. You’re very dedicated to your work.” She giggled. “I’ve always wondered what you did when you were working.”
Roy glared at Rebecca when she snorted loudly from her desk.
“It’s admirable,” Riza continued. “I respect you for that.”
Their eyes lingered on one another for a moment longer than was necessary, and Roy shot her a grateful smile.
“Okay, so.” Roy took a deep breath, looking over all that was in front of him. “Rebecca, can you take some notes too?”
“On it,” she called, sliding along the floor in her chair to grab a notepad.
“You saw the sword at the party, correct?” Roy asked Riza.
“Yes, I did. Ms. Olivier set it down. I didn’t see anyone take it, but I did notice it was gone before she did. I tried to look around to see where it had gone but saw no one suspicious leaving the scene. It was as if it just vanished into thin air.”
“What happened when Ms. Olivier noticed?”
“She wasn’t very happy. She looked angry and was in a very heated discussion with… I can’t remember who, to be honest.” She tapped her chin as she tried to remember. “But the man was pretty off guard when she made her scene. Then, she left and I didn’t see her after that.”
“And where is it being held now?”
“At Bradley’s offices.”
Roy nodded, taking quick, shorthand notes. “Have you seen the sword at this office?”
“I have. I saw it in one of the cabinets behind his desk. I didn’t think it was a big deal, until you said you were looking for it, then I knew what it really was.”
Roy’s head shot up sharply. “Behind his desk?”
Riza nodded. “Yes. Have you been inside his office?”
“I went to his house. That office?”
“No, he has business offices. They’re on Williamson street.”
“The cabinets there are identical to the ones he has in his home office. They have those two shelves, then out of view behind his desk is another cabinet below them. It holds some of his whiskey and I saw it there when he opened it one day.”
“He drinks whiskey in his office?” Rebecca muttered to herself.
“It was for a celebration, which I politely declined.”
Rebecca’s head lifted, obviously not realizing she’d voiced that thought out loud.
“What was the celebration?” Roy asked carefully.
“He’s very close to sealing a deal with Senator Raven. Money has been moving out of his accounts consistently for the last few months. I didn’t think much of it, but when I had to do invoices for the company I needed to know where this money was going. It’s directly to Senator Raven, and I think Bradley is bribing him.”
“Do you have any idea why?”
“The development out in the west,” Riza nodded. “That’s all I can think of. Raven is very heavily invested in it, and so is Bradley because it would increase his profits exponentially, making him one of the richest men in Amestris. Bradley is pushing for Raven to pass this development by bribing him. The money Raven gets goes straight back into his campaign. It’s a win-win for both.”
“That still doesn’t explain why the sword though,” Rebecca interrupted, her voice a gentle reminder.
“No…” Roy replied, trailing off. “But it does explain their connection and confirms it. It’s still something very corrupt.” He looked down at his notes. “And is a lot bigger than I thought,” he muttered to himself.
“So, why would Bradley steal a sword?” Rebecca asked.
“Is this going to be off the record?” Riza interjected suddenly between Roy and Rebecca’s back and forth.
Roy blinked at her. “Yeah, it can be anonymous. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
Riza bit her lip. “I would prefer that please, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course,” Roy reassured her. Thinking back, he remembered how nervous she looked earlier. “Is something wrong?” He dropped his pen on his desk, forgotten about, as he turned his full attention towards Riza.
“I… noticed another addition to Bradley’s books. A worrying one.” She shot Roy a look.
“Do you fear you’ll be targeted?”
“Absolutely,” Riza replied, but there was no fear in her voice, only conviction. Roy’s stomach sank. That wouldn’t happen on his watch.
“What’s the addition?” Rebecca was hesitant with her question.
“It’s a contract. There’s a name attached to it - Solf J. Kimblee - but when I enquired about it for the invoices Bradley told me to ignore it. But I couldn’t just ignore it. It’s my job to ring everything through, and it's just been sitting there for a week, untouched, because I don’t know what to do about it.”
“What kind of contract are we talking about?” Roy really hoped his gut was wrong.
Riza’s eyes were on her lap. Her fingers wrung together there. “I think this Kimblee guy is a hitman.”
Silence fell over the office. No one moved and no one spoke as it sunk in.
“Marcoh,” Roy whispered, his voice quivering.
Riza looked at him seriously.
“He’s the only one stopping Raven… Do you have definite proof of that?” Roy asked, his voice low.
She shook her head. “No, but I can try and find -”
“No.” Roy cut her off, straightening his spine. “Don’t do anything other than what you were already doing.” Dread was churning up the inside of his stomach.
“Yeah,” Rebecca agreed. “Leave it to us, we’ll deal with it.”
“Thank you.” She let out a long breath. “I don’t think I’ll be a suspect but…”
“Just…” Roy scrambled inside of his brain for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Be safe, okay?” His request was earnest as he met Riza’s gaze. If he’d realized how deep this went earlier, he may have been able to do this on his own and not involve her at all. Guilt was beginning to replace that dread in his stomach. Roy reached inside his desk drawer. “Call me if you need anything, and I mean anything, all right?”
“Thanks,” she breathed. She met his eyes with a shaky smile.
“Or just come down to the office,” Rebecca added. “Roy’s here all the time anyway,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood, which he appreciated. “Here, have my number too.” Rebecca shuffled some papers around as she tried to find her own business cards. “Just in case you can’t get through to him.”
“I really appreciate that.”
a conspiracy theory - chapter 13
co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc
summary: Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?
warning: graphic depictions of violence
tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops
rated: m | words: 4233
read on ao3
“Ms. Olivier,” Roy greeted. He held up the sword and her hardened gaze relaxed. Only a tiny bit though, but Roy counted it as a win. “I found your sword.”
Her lips curled upwards. It wasn’t a smile by any means, more like an ‘ about time ’ look, but Roy didn’t care. He was still proud of the job he’d done. She’d basically expected a miracle, giving him nothing to go on at the very start, and he’d delivered. If she’d just told him about the damn Gatekeepers organization, then this could’ve been over with so much quicker. He understood the Armstrong Family’s desire for privacy and the organization’s need for secrecy, but he was a damn P.I. He had more secrets than Olivier Armstrong could ever dream of rattling around inside his head from all he’d seen over the years, and he was a professional. In a way, he was a little insulted she hadn’t given him all the information in the beginning. If she was that desperate about finding the sword, it shouldn’t have been a problem to give Roy all he needed to find the stupid thing. However, it did work in his favour, in a way. It just proved that he was a great private detective because he’d produced a miracle. His reputation was back in top form.
“Thank you, Mustang.”
Roy just knew she wanted to say ‘ took you long enough ’, but was holding back. Still, as long as he was getting paid and the job was done, he didn't really care what she thought.
Olivier snapped her fingers at the butler who’d escorted Roy inside. It was the same man from before. Roy had called ahead to say he was coming with the sword, so she must have had his payment ready and waiting for him again, because an envelope was presented to Olivier. She took it carefully from the butler’s hands, yet thrust it towards Roy.
“Your payment.”
“Thank you very much, Ms. Olivier.”
“I appreciate the hard work you put into this. It couldn’t have been easy.”
“I had a good team with me, Ma’am,” was his simple reply.
“Well then, you’ve all done me a great service with this. Who had it?”
Roy regarded her for the moment. They’d decided they weren't going to tell her, despite her being involved with the organization, but now that the moment was here, indecision ruled him.
She looked over to her butler, jerking her chin at him. The door opened then closed quietly, leaving the two of them alone.
“You have my word that this conversation is completely confidential. Whatever is said in here will not leave this room.” Her eyes were fierce and it eased his mind, but he still held back for a moment longer.
“With all due respect Ma’am, please understand, this is currently tied to another investigation I am running. Divulging any information would be a breach of confidentiality on my part.”
“Who had it, Mustang?” Her gaze was sharp and unrelenting. There was no way she’d let it go.
Still, not intimidated, Roy shook his head. He had to play this smartly. “I do not take this kind of thing lightly. I’m a professional and will not jeopardize the other investigation.”
“Raven? He’s always been bitter that I hold a higher social standing than him because of my family name,” she snorted. Olivier crossed her arms and stared Roy down while he remained still and guarded, letting her say her piece. She was giving him this information in the hopes it would ease him even further, and Roy wouldn’t say no to it. If it helped the investigation, then he would eat it up. “The old coot always seems to forget that my family owns this city, no matter how much he and his little band of ‘friends’ seem to think otherwise.”
Now, it was her tone that was bitter. Still, this was going in the right direction. Roy just had to play his cards right. “Oh?” he inquired lightly. “And Senator Raven said you and him were good friends.”
Olivier snorted hard. “Hardly. Only when he needs something are we the best of friends. He tolerates me because if he doesn’t, he’s out.” Her sharp, icy blue eyes met Roy’s, and he knew exactly what she was referring to.
“Out, Ma’am?” he asked, eyebrows drawing together in pretend confusion.
Olivier glanced heavenward. “Surely you’re not that dense, Mustang? This little organization they’re all tied to. I sit at the head of it as the eldest of the Armstrong family, like my father before me. It’s a silly little club, only there to make them all feel special. I couldn’t care less about it, and if it were up to me, it would be gone. I have better things to do with my time than babysit children like that. But,” she sighed. “Because it’s been in the family for generations,” she spat. “It still remains. Waste of time and money if you ask me.”
“You don’t respect Raven?” Roy asked innocently as if he just couldn’t believe that was the truth.
“What tipped you off, Detective?” she smirked, mocking him. “But no, I do not care for him in the slightest. Or about Bradley either. I have no respect for them, because they lied, stole, and cheated their way into that organization. I have no time for people like that.” She leaned forward in her chair, her expression almost predatory. “I will ask you one more time, Mustang. Who had the sword?”
“Bradley,” he answered, confident this time.
She snorted and sat back. “That little snake. What did he want it for?”
“We do not have clear confirmation of that yet Ma’am. We’re still building a case for it so we can hand it over to the correct authorities. However, rest assured, once my team is finished and the offenders have been apprehended, I will happily tell you all about it.”
She tried to stare him down but it wouldn’t work. Until they got this fiasco with Bradley and Kimblee sorted out, there was no way he was going to start talking about it. He didn’t trust Olivier completely, however, he trusted her enough to share part of the truth. Until then, he had to play it safe. He had to protect his team.
“This better be worth it,” she muttered.
“I like to think so Ma’am,” he managed to get out without gritting his teeth.
“Fine,” she sighed. “You still got the sword. That’s all that matters to me right now. Your payment is secured in the envelope,” she announced. “Along with a little compensation.”
Roy’s eyebrow lifted at the mention of there being extra payment.
“I had a feeling that the organization would be behind this little game, so wanted to ensure you were paid accordingly. Dealing with that lot can be insufferable for me. I dread to think what you had to endure.” She waved him away from her desk. “I expect a full report once this is over with. I want to know who I need to kick from my order.”
“I can assure you, I will report back as soon as I’m able.”
The butler greeted him outside the door, his face expectant.
Roy relaxed. Now that was over and done with, his mind was eased somewhat. The weight of the sword itself was off his mind and he was in Olivier’s good books. That wasn’t important, but after talking with her, he didn’t feel in any danger. He couldn’t rule anyone out, but he felt safe enough from her wrath on the Gatekeepers counsel. Still, one person, no matter how high their standing was with the rest of the members, couldn't do much against the influence of many. They still had to be cautious.
But that was a problem for tomorrow. He forced it out of his mind as he was escorted back to his car because he had a lunch date with Riza to focus on instead.
* * *
“You know that there are other restaurants and eateries in the city, don’t you?”
Roy turned in his chair and spotted Riza grinning at him as she rounded the table. She took a seat, placing her purse on the table next to her latte and a pastry Roy had picked out for her again. Like always, she was gorgeous. He’d never feel any other way about it. She hypnotized him with every step. Her hair was pinned up in a clip today and her bangs fell over her eyes. She wore a plain white t-shirt with a blue and white checkered collared shirt on top. The outer shirt was unbuttoned and left open, flapping as she moved. Her jeans matched the colour blue of her shirt perfectly, leaving her looking like a vision.
“I know there is, but maybe I wanted to bring it back to where it all started,” he grinned cheekily. “Plus, I know Metric Coffee is good. I couldn’t live with myself if I took you somewhere new and we ended up drinking swill.”
Riza laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, her smile reaching her eyes. “I suppose I can forgive you then, with that reasoning.”
“One last hurrah,” Roy toasted as a joke, lifting his coffee cup in the air.
She shook her head fondly. “Let’s hope it’s not the last hurrah. You picked out a good restaurant for dinner last time, I would love to see what other recommendations you might have in store for me.” Her cup tapped his regardless and she took a sip. Savouring the flavour, she hummed to herself and returned the cup to the table. “Thank you for these,” she smiled, gesturing towards the pastry. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but I wanted to. Call it a gift for all your help.”
Her eyes wandered up to meet his. He’d vowed there would be no talk of work, and he planned on sticking to it, but still, it was nice to show his appreciation. Hell, if this all went south and he ended up dead or in prison, he wanted to at least give her that. Roy would’ve preferred it to be a grander gift, but time was a luxury that he didn't have.
“You’re sweet,” she commented. “Thank you. But I was just doing a service to the city,” she added. Her hands crossed over on the table and she leaned forward. “Did you get the sword back to Olivier?”
“I promised no work talk,” Roy lifted a hand, halting her. “And I promise to keep it that way. I owe you that.”
Her expression turned inquisitive. “You don’t have to,” she argued. “We can talk about it.”
“The last time we were together, I dragged you to my office, leaving you overwhelmed and caught up in my mess. All the other times, I’ve been discussing… that thing,” he added with emphasis. “And it kind of ruined the mood.”
“You didn’t ruin the mood,” she shook her head. “Our first dinner was great. You’re clearly very passionate.”
Roy opened his mouth to continue but paused when he caught the look in her eye. There was a hint of a smirk on her face as she lifted her cup for another drink. He caught the double meaning behind her words. She was going to be the death of him, he swore she would.
“And Thursday was lovely,” she continued as if nothing was amiss. Roy’s breath had been stolen from him by her, so she continued talking. “Honestly, it was. I had such a good time with you.”
Roy swallowed. The thought of her hand on his arm, her lips pressed against his cheek, made his blood run hot. He could have a hundred of those moments and he’d still let his cheeks grow hot with affection.
“So, no last hurrah, alright?” she scolded lightly.
He nodded eventually, his mind still swirling with thoughts. “Right.”
“So, where to after this?” she asked.
“The park?” Roy offered. “It’s a nice day. We could walk Hayate if you wanted?”
“That would be great,” she smiled warmly. “He’s waiting outside for us, actually. I figured if we were going to be out all day, it would be worth bringing him along.”
“That makes it easy,” Roy chuckled. “I’m sure Hayate would love a good walk in the park.”
They finished their pastries and picked up their cups to go. Hayate greeted Riza eagerly as soon as she stepped outside. His tail wagged back and forth with force to hit his sides. His butt followed suit, tongue hanging out with a wide canine smile. Roy had to admit that Hayate looked like the happiest dog in the world just then. He sniffed around Roy’s feet before looking up at him, his tongue lolling from his mouth.
“Hey, buddy,” Roy greeted. He crouched low, scratching him behind the ears. The small dog’s eyes closed in his happiness, tilting his head into Roy’s hand. When Roy stood up, he then rubbed his head against Roy’s shin.
“He likes you,” Riza giggled.
“Thank you, Boy,” Roy grinned. “I like you too.”
Hayate barked once, backing up from Roy and wagging his tail.
The sun high in the afternoon sky, warming their skin as they walked. Roy felt a surge of deja vu flow through him, as well as the realization that the last time they’d walked through, it had been a simpler time in his life. So much had changed in such a short period of time, yet Riza was still by his side.
They walked side by side as they followed the paved path through the trees. It was a beautiful day to be outside. It was a beautiful day to be with her. Their steps synced as they made their way around towards the pond at the center. Roy held his hands in his pockets, watching hers sway at her sides. Her posture was perfect, and the sun hit her eyes perfectly that they sparkled. His heart fluttered, actually fluttered, in his chest. She was right there, right next to him.
He looked over at the shaded grass, then to the pond where some ducks swam. His feet stopped, and he watched as two children ran to the pond with happy screams and cries. He couldn’t help but smile. It was just a perfect scene, something that he needed to see in all his stress and all his worries, to know there was something so innocent that existed.
“Hayate loves to swim.” He felt a hand on his back over his shoulder blade. He felt himself inhale sharply at the contact. “Problem is, he also likes ducks.”
It made him laugh. Hayate was not a big dog. Roy would even guess the geese would be more aggressive and far more of an opponent than Hayate could be to the ducks. “Does he fetch sticks?”
Riza shook her head, the hairs in her clip swaying back and forth. “I think that’s too boring for him.” He felt her fingers drizzle down his shoulder.
Roy made an ‘O’ shape with his mouth and nodded slowly. He tossed his head towards the pond. “Well, if Hayate likes ducks, let's go see the ducks.”
“Hayate,” she said as she looked at the dog. “Can you behave?”
The dog barked once before following dutifully behind his master.
He steered her to a bench, sitting down to watch some kids feed the ducks, Hayate watching with eager eyes. Roy watched from the corner of his eyes as Riza watched the children. Then he glanced down at her hands, lying peacefully in her lap. How he wanted to hold them, to tell her how much she meant to him. And she did. Looking down at his own hands, he realized for the first time his hands were uncertain to the extreme. He sighed, looking back at her hands, making his into fists. There was still time. He set his hand down on the bench, leaning on it with a sigh.
“It’s nice to just sit with nothing on the mind,” he murmured.
Before he could look back at her, her hand rested on his. His heart leaped into his throat and his cheeks flushed red. She looked down at it, her fingers stroking the outside. His pinky finger twitched once on its own accord.
“I agree,” she replied softly.
He couldn’t think of much else to say after that. Roy didn’t particularly have anything to say when he’d initially spoken, he was just happy to exist at the same time and in the same space as her. Riza’s company was something he’d come to cherish, and it was lovely to have a moment all to themselves.
So… he didn’t say anything. He simply enjoyed being with her. A few moments passed and Riza shifted. Roy’s breath caught and disappointment threatened to flare up when he thought she might be removing her hand, but she shifted closer to him. It left their hands in an uncomfortable position, so she snaked her fingers underneath his palm and gripped it tightly. Roy hung on for dear life as he fought to remember how to breathe.
“Did you have any other plans after the park?” she asked. Riza looked ahead, watching the ducks swim with a small smile on her face.
“I don’t know…” Roy coughed. “Would you want to do something after the park?” If that offer was on the table he’d absolutely take it.
“I’m free all day. I’d be happy to do something with you.”
“Okay then,” he bobbed his head. “Dinner?” They’d just had lunch so dinner was a while off, giving them plenty of time to spend together. Butterflies fluttered inside his stomach the prospect of getting a whole day with Riza.
“Sounds perfect,” she grinned.
“You can choose this time,” Roy offered. His heart was hammering inside his chest, his excitement almost becoming palpable. He hoped his hand didn’t start sweating.
Riza laughed. Her head tipped back and he was caught once more, staring at her. The sound of her laughter was like string melodies to his ears. “Hm, deflecting the pressure are you? Where to go…?” She pressed her pointer finger to her chin, thinking about her answer.
“There’s no pressure,” he chuckled. “I promise. I just want to see where you want to go, what you like to do.”
“There’s a lovely Xingese restaurant I like to go to. It does take out, but we can dine in.”
“Sounds wonderful,” he replied truthfully.
They remained on that bench, holding hands, as they watched the world go by around them. His mind was tempting him to people watch, just like he’d done the day he’d spoken to Riza properly, but Roy resisted the urge. That was for when he was bored and wanting to pass the time. In this moment, he wanted time to stretch on forever, and he was far from bored.
As they held hands, all his worries slowly melted away. All thoughts of his meeting with Olivier that morning faded away. The uncertainty and anxiety of what the next week would bring with Bradley and Kimblee disappeared. All that existed in his mind and in his heart was Riza.
And he was more than alright with that.
He instead played with the thought of them standing up, him turning Riza to face him as he cupped her face and tried for a third time to kiss her. His fingers would slip behind her head, while his other hand would support her face. His body ached to think of her hands pulling his jacket to bring their bodies closer. The cool breeze would rush over them, and he’d take what would be the first breath of his life after parting from her. Instead, Roy took a deep breath and looked away nervously.
Beside their bench, Hayate remained vigilant, staring the ducks down as they moved with ease through the water. Every so often Roy would catch movement out the corner of his eye, seeing the dog shift forward, like he wanted to go and sniff about the birds or play in the water, but he remained in place. Only one whine left his throat, but he was silent after that.
“Poor dog,” Roy chuckled as Hayate stood from his perch, instantly alert. A duck was waddling over to him. The dog whined quietly. “Perhaps we should let him run around for a bit?”
Riza agreed, standing from her seat. Her hand left his grip and Roy was instantly disappointed. It had felt so right in his grip. So soft and so warm. Like a petulant child, he wanted it back.
“Come on, Hayate,” Riza commanded softly. She began to walk slowly, but Hayate stared the duck down instead. After a quiet whistle, he eventually began to move, but his intense gaze remained on the duck for a moment longer.
“The dog park?” Roy asked. “Then he’ll have some friends his own size to play with.”
It was his turn and Roy reached out for her hand, smiling at her when she looked over at him. But neither parted. They just turned back down the sidewalk and continued to make their way to the dog park.
* * *
Roy took a deep breath. Something had indeed remained on his mind, and it needed to be said. They’d just entered his car and he was going to drive her home for the night after an exquisite dinner. “Riza?”
She turned her head to face him, her face expectant.
“I… I know I said no work today, and I meant it, but…” He bit his lip then sighed heavily. “Can I get this off my chest?”
“Yes, of course.” Her tone was sincere and she turned to face him completely in the chair.
“I’m worried about you,” he admitted.
“Why?” Her question wasn’t accusing, just curious.
“This thing with Kimblee… They have no reason to suspect you but… I’m still worried.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“I met him on my way out of Bradley’s office. I think he knows something, and I’m worried he knows about you.” Roy tightened his hands on the steering wheel. “I worry about you. I’m worried for your safety. They could link all this up to you with you being in accounting.”
Her gaze dropped to her lap. “That’s why I came to you and was so open with you in the first place. I trust you, Roy,” she lifted her gaze to meet his. “I trust you’ll do right by the people who will be affected by all of this. I wanted… No, I needed to know that if anything did happen to me, the information would fall into the right hands. But I’ll be fine,” she reassured him.
It wasn’t enough for Roy. A large part of him was screaming at him to protect her at all costs. It didn’t matter if she said she was going to be okay or not, he wanted to protect her. He wanted her to be safe. “What are your thoughts on me offering you protection? Just until this is all sorted out?”
“Roy,” she began to protest.
“Hear me out. You can stay with me… Or I can get you a hotel room.” He looked at her seriously.
Her expression was sympathetic. “That’s very kind of you to offer. And I really do appreciate it. But I’ll be okay.”
His shoulders slumped slightly, but he nodded in agreement. “If you ever need anything …” He insisted. “Anything…”
“I’ll give you a call, don’t worry,” she smiled kindly. “And… If I just wanted to talk?” she asked hesitantly, a coy smile working its way onto her lips.
Roy blinked at her, realizing her insinuation. “Call me anytime. I mean it.” He smiled back at her, thinking of them talking on the phone, thinking that she’d want to talk to him at all.
She reached over for his hand, which Roy held out eagerly. Hayate pressed his nose through the gap in the seats and sniffed at their fingers, tickling the skin. Riza laughed and reached over to pet her dog, but still kept her hand in his.
“Thank you for today.” She watched him fumble with his keys as he tried to find the right one to put in the ignition. Her head tipped to the left, her temple resting upon the headrest. “I had a really lovely time. And I’d love to do it again.”
He flashed her a grin, then his phone went off in his pocket.
“Always when we have a nice moment,” he muttered to himself as he reached for his pants pocket. Riza just laughed beside him. “Hey, Rebecca,” he greeted, lifting his car key to slide it into the ignition.
“Roy?” Rebecca was almost hysterical on the other side of the phone.
He was instantly alert. His hand froze in mid-air. “Rebecca? What’s wrong?”
“Oh my God, Roy, thank God.” Her breath hitched as she babbled nonsense.
Roy glanced over at Riza, his eyes wide with… fear. Her face was concerned, not having heard Rebecca, but she’d managed to pick up that whatever she was calling about was urgent from his tone.
“Rebecca, what’s wrong? What’s happened?”
“He’s been shot,” she choked out, and Roy’s world stood still.
a conspiracy theory - chapter 11
co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc
summary: Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?
warning: graphic depictions of violence
tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops
rated: m | words: 4206
read on ao3
Jean was sitting at his desk, feet up on it, throwing a foam baseball at the ceiling and catching it. It was a habit that drove Rebecca up a wall, but she was at a lunch with her parents, so it was driving Roy insane instead. The room felt empty if anything. Ed was gone as well, doing something with Alphonse, his younger brother, but should have been back minutes ago. Roy tapped his pen against the desk to a tune stuck in his head and bit his lip. The last 24 hours have been overwhelming. Now that he had answers he needed action.
“You’re trying to impress your girl,” Jean snickered from his seat, tossing the ball in the air again. “Save the Day Roy. We can call you that from now on to make you her hero.”
Roy didn’t respond, only tapped his pen faster against his desk. “I’m one answer away from a breakthrough. I can feel it.”
“So King Bradley has the sword,” Jean grabbed the ball, squeezing around it as he turned to Roy. “Now we have to get it out and deliver it back to Olivier. That’s easy right?”
Roy hummed as he thought.
“I can break into the office at night.”
He groaned loudly. “Really? After I told Edward to play it legal?”
His blonde co-worker laughed loudly. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
Roy grunted.
“What did Riza say? King Bradley is bribing Raven?”
Roy nodded.
“Let Edward be the whistleblower that he feels he was destined to be. That can stop this ‘hitman’ business right?”
“I should,” Roy snorted. “But the attention would get to the Armstrongs,” he sighed. “Like Ed said, they stay out of the media's eye. I think they want to keep it that way.”
Jean nodded and went back to throwing the ball to the ceiling. “Have we even done a proper search through the system on this Kimblee guy?”
Roy nodded as he tossed his pen on his desk. “I ran him through the system. He’s been in trouble with the law a few times. Apparently he beat the shit out of a guy.”
“Nice,” Jean mumbled sarcastically.
Roy laughed in a cough. “He has a residence outside South City and one here in Central.” Roy leaned over on his computer and clicked a few times to bring up the report he had run. “He doesn’t have a good job history. It says he’s self employed. He was in the military for a few years. Our system wouldn’t access the military records and the process to get those records would take us weeks. But he hasn’t kept a job for more than two years and that was before he went to jail.”
“He’s a hitman,” Jean quickly concluded.
“I believe Riza… Or I believe her assumption.”
“But she said he’s on the books?”
Roy nodded. “And there’s no explanation to it.”
Jean nodded. “What? Are you afraid of him?”
Roy shook his head as he glanced at his shoulder holster hanging on the coat hanger by the door. He leaned back in his seat and rolled his sleeves up.
“Roy,” Jean sat up and turned to him. “You know that I’m behind you 100%, right?”
Roy nodded. “I’m not afraid of him. I just think that this has to be done carefully.”
“You should ask for more money,” Jean laughed.
“I’m tempted to, but she’s already sent me an email today asking me if I’ve found it.”
“Damn.”
The two looked up at the door as Ed walked in. “What,” he asked.
Roy grinned as an idea donned on him. “I was thinking… We need to figure out how deep Raven is in all this…”
Jean raised his eyebrow.
“I wonder if Raven has hired this hitman too.”
“Hitman?” Ed asked with a big grin as he walked through the door. “Everytime I come into this office it gets better and better!”
“Ed,” Roy reached back to pull his wallet from his pocket. “Get that software update.” He tossed his credit card to his desk. “I need you to hack into Raven and Bradley’s accounting systems and tell me if they’re paying someone.”
“I need more information than that. Do you have a banking account number?” It was like seeing a kid walk into a candy shop for the first time. Jean and Roy had never seen Ed move so fast as to buy the update of his hacking software.
Roy groaned and dropped his head into his hands. “I can get Riza to give it to me,” he mumbled.
“If you can,” Ed said as he typed away. “That’d help. Until then, I can see what I can find.”
“If this is how you motivate, Ed, we should do this more often,” Jean laughed.
It made Roy’s stomach curl as he thought about it.
“So, who’s this hitman out to kill?” Ed tossed the card back to Roy.
“I think Senator Marcoh,” Roy answered slowly.
“No shit,” Ed’s eyes grew. “I told you they were corrupt.”
“If he’s the only one maintaining any opposition to Bradley’s further success, it makes total sense,” Roy leaned back in his chair.
Ed stopped typing and sat up straight. “Wait! They’re all part of the Gatekeepers!”
Jean and Roy looked at each other.
“If this guy needs the sword for a membership, what do you want to bet they’re going to have this guy kill him at the member’s party?”
Jean nodded quickly. “Yeah! The assassin can get him in a private space and no one will know who did it.”
“It’s perfect,” Ed exclaimed.
Roy looked at the two as if they were geniuses. “The people at the building could all deny it,” he said carefully. “They’d all have alibis because they were all together when it happened.” He pointed to Jean and then to Edward. “It’d be perfect.”
Jean nodded quickly. “That means we have to get the sword by the next meeting.”
“When I talked to Ling, he said it was this Saturday.”
“It’s Thursday.” Roy looked at his watch. “Thursday afternoon.”
“Time is against us,” Jean admitted, though it was already known.
Roy nodded to Ed. “You better get on that.”
“Aye, Captain,” Ed grinned as he turned all his attention to his computer.
Roy turned back to Jean. “I’m sure that the whole building is rigged with security sensors. Breaking into the building will not work.”
“Hey!” Ed’s head popped up. “You told me I had to do things legal? And you’re going to break into a building?”
“Shut up,” Roy grumped as he turned towards him. “Continue on your illegal hacking or I will take it away.”
Just like that, Ed went back to his computer.
“So, we need to get into Bradley’s office without being seen,” Jean crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. He grinned a toothy grin as he got an idea. Roy had seen this look before and it scared him on some level. “You have someone in the office as it is, Roy.”
“I can’t ask Riza to get it. It’s not only going to risk her job, but what if Bradley has her killed?”
“Seriously,” Ed’s head popped up. “How deep are we into this?”
Roy didn’t look at him. He just pointed at him and his computer.
“No,” Jean shook his head. “She can either distract him, or we can, and get the sword out.”
Roy snickered. “I have a wild idea.”
“I like wild ideas,” Jean rubbed his hands together.
* * *
Roy stood up and stretched. Looking up at the clock he saw that he had two hours to go home and shower before meeting Riza for dinner. He’d called and told her he had a plan and asked her to meet with him. It made him more excited to see her.
His body was sluggish after being stuck in his desk chair all afternoon. He’d been trying to rack his brain for more dots to connect but had come up blank. The case had gone on too long, and what had just been discovered and theorized was too much. It was a waiting game now until Ed found what he was looking for in the accounts. The kid had been practically bouncing with glee, so when Roy bid them farewell for the day, he wasn’t surprised to hear Ed was going to remain at the office and do some extra work with the accounts. It wasn’t very often that Ed stayed longer than his shift, but the excitement was one of a kind.
Despite his fatigue, Roy was looking forward to dinner. Strangely enough, he was able to convince her to go to dinner with him. Due to the conspiracy and security, Roy had suggested his house as a joke, but she was serious when she said yes. It was a safe place to review and converse on the plan tomorrow. Even though he was primarily doing it to share the plan with her, it was still dinner with Riza. After he’d interviewed her, he was desperate to talk to her some more about it. During her interview she’d been nervous about it all, and most of all, he just wanted to make sure they were alright.
Even after they’d discussed Bradley and his hitman, it wasn’t lost on Roy how he’d managed to find himself lost in her eyes. As his mind threatened to run away with him, desperately trying to reach a conclusion, he just had to look upon her face to calm himself down. After all, it was still spending time with her, and he wanted to savour every minute. What had started out as a simple coffee shop flirtation had ended up in her being dragged into his work. And yet, his emotions threatened to break him from the job. If she was now involved, he’d separate the two of them, submerging himself in only Riza, to be mentally with her 100%. Now it was complicated, and Roy hated it.
As he slid into the driver’s side of the car, Roy grimaced. Work seemed to always be interrupting their dates. He’d hijacked their last one and managed to convince her to come to the office, where she’d been overwhelmed by his insistence. He’d seen it in her eyes. Even if she’d been eager to help, it still didn’t sit well with him. He hadn’t been very considerate. As his shoulders drooped, Roy hoped that didn’t work against his favour in the long run. He vowed to himself that on the third date, a real third date, if she wasn’t sick of him by then, there would be nothing work related mentioned at all.
Stepping inside his apartment Roy hooked his keys on the wall by the door. His jacket followed soon afterwards then he stepped inside his living area.
He sighed loudly through his mouth. He had a lot of tidying to do. There were papers everywhere. Some were from finished cases that were all piled together, but he just kept putting off actually filing them somewhere. They shouldn’t even be in his apartment, they should be filed at the office, but he hadn’t gotten round to sorting through them yet. Picking up the pile from his coffee table, Roy carried them through to his home office. On his way back through he grabbed the dirty socks he’d kicked off the night before and tossed them in his washing basket. He couldn’t have Riza round for dinner and have his dirty clothes lying out.
It didn’t take him long to find some kind of order inside his home, and Roy quickly jumped into the shower with half an hour to spare. They were just ordering food in tonight since it was such short notice. He would have loved to cook for Riza, have her criticize it with her cooking knowledge, but he barely had any food in his fridge anyway, and had no time to prepare and make anything. She’d said she didn’t mind, but as the water poured over Roy’s head, he pouted. He should’ve been more prepared.
“Should spend less time at the office,” he muttered to himself, turning the water off with force. “Then you’d actually have food in the house.”
He’d chosen to go with smart attire for the night. He didn’t need it to be fancy, and didn’t expect Riza to dress up, but still, Roy wanted to make an effort for her. He donned black slacks and a white shirt, which he buttoned up to his neck. He chose not to go for a tie, as he didn’t want the end of it to be accidentally dipped into his food. Dabbing aftershave on his neck, he observed himself critically in the mirror.
His hair was getting too long. It needed a cut. He puffed air out of his mouth, shifting his fringe out the way of his eyes. His styling gel caught his eye, and Roy stared at it for a second. He could slick his hair back… He grinned to himself.
Riza knocked on his door at that moment, and in his excitement, he forgot about his hair gel. As he walked to greet her he forced himself not to lunge for the handle. His palms were sweaty and he rubbed them against his pants before reaching for the door. His throat felt dry and he didn’t know what to say… As if he’d never talked to a girl before. No other girl had done this to him. No other girl had actually taken his breath, taken his word, and left him to gawk like a fourteen-year-old boy. He cleared his throat, standing up straight, and turned the handle.
There she stood in the doorway, looking down the hall so only her side profile was on show to him. Roy noted the way her long hair tumbled both down her back and over her shoulder. Her fringe partially obscured her whisky eyes from his view, but that quickly changed as she turned to face him. A soft smile graced her lips and her expression softened. He didn’t miss the way she gave him a quick once over, and lingered on his face for a moment longer as her mouth parted only slightly.
As he set his eyes upon her mouth and noticed her reaction, the memory of their ‘almost kiss’ crept upon him suddenly…
Surprisingly, she’d dressed up more than he’d expected. It made him feel less self-conscious knowing that she’d thought the same way he did. She was wearing a flowing beige skirt that brushed her ankles and shifted as her hips moved. Her white blouse looked light, with the sleeves puffing out slightly, before cinching at the wrists. The neckline was open, exposing the skin of her throat, with her elegant neck on show.
Roy swallowed thickly and tried to remember how to breathe.
“Hello, Roy.”
“Riza,” he smiled brightly at her. He tightened his grip on the door handle. “Hi.”
* * *
Roy leaned on his dining table in his home while Riza giggled. “I love this plan. It’s kind of… wild.” The excitement was clear in her eyes. “Do you go on crazy adventures like this often?”
“Only once a month,” Roy quipped.
She snorted and shook her head fondly.
“I’m not even sure it’s going to work. If it doesn’t, we are all in for a world of hurt.” His tone took on a more serious note, but he had a sheepish grin on his face.
She leaned close to him, her hand on his. Roy stopped breathing as he felt the softness in her touch. “I hope that you’ll be able to protect yourself. Solf has been at the office lately. He’s been in and out of all the offices.”
Roy coughed quietly, trying to focus his mind on the topic and less on the aching feeling to grab her face and pull her into a passionate kiss. “I’ll be fine,” he assured.
“Good…” She opened her mouth to add something else, but decided against it. “Good. You better be,” she teased.
“Oh, yeah?” Roy smirked. “Is that a threat?”
“It can if you want it to be,” she shrugged carelessly with a coy smile, but Roy noted the look in her eyes. There was real concern there for him.
“I promise, I’ll do my best. Just for you.”
“Just for me?” she asked. He noticed an increased pressure on the back of his hand from her fingertips. Whether it was her subconscious or not, Roy didn’t really care. He couldn’t spare brain power for much else, all he could focus on was how soft her hands were. “That’s quite a claim.” Her voice had dropped lower, to a murmur, along with her gaze.
Roy followed her eyes, noticing that she was looking at the back of her hand, resting atop his. “Is it a problem if I make that claim?” His question was sincere.
Slowly, Roy flipped his hand over, moving it to grasp her fingers instead. His smile was easy, but he felt like his hands would start shaking at any moment. He held his breath as he lifted her hand to her lips, kissing the back of it.
Riza just stared at him as he moved as he ran his thumb over her knuckles.
Her cheeks were pink and she glanced away for a second, withdrawing her hand from his. She looked slightly embarrassed and Roy had to hold back a chuckle that he could get that kind of response from her.
“I don’t know…” She trailed off as she continued to look away from him with a blush. But then that worried look was back on her face, the same one he’d seen in his office.
“Are you worried about your part in all of this?” He tilted his head with concern.
“I’m worried about Kimblee. Not just for you, but…” She took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.
“You said he’s been in and out of the offices. Has he approached you at all?”
She shook her head. Her spine straightened and she rolled her shoulders back. “No. He has no real reason to until…”
“Until something happens.”
Riza nodded, glancing over at him. “I… I do trust you, Roy, with this. That’s why I came to you. You seem like a good person and after meeting Rebecca the other day, I felt more confident in sharing the information with you all.”
“I’m glad. And I mean it about calling us anytime. We’re professionals, and we’ll offer you protection if you need it.”
“That’s good to hear.” A tiny smile crossed her face and she looked relieved. “I don’t think it will come to that, but… This is way bigger than I thought it would be.” She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “If I’d known what was really going on I would never have worked for Bradley in the first place. I mean,” she chuckled in disbelief, “I just ignored the fact that a hitman is on Bradley’s books, and hid the evidence.” She sat back in her seat, her posture screaming defeat. “And I still have to dismiss it.”
“But it’s to protect yourself,” Roy urged. “Don’t bring it up and don’t question it. Just do as Bradley says and don’t draw attention to yourself. We’ll sort out the rest,” he reminded her. “Just keep yourself safe. That’s the most important thing.” Roy swallowed. “That’s very important to me.”
Her eyes locked with his and Riza sat forward in her chair. At the same time, Roy straightened. She kept leaning forward, but at a slower pace, as Roy lifted his free hand, bringing his palm to cup her cheek. She inhaled sharply. His fingers slid into the hair behind her ear, and he marvelled at how silky smooth it felt. Lifting her hand, Riza hung on tightly to the forearm by her face. Licking her lips in anticipation, her eyes dropped to Roy’s own.
They were less than an inch away before they were jolted apart. Roy let out a frustrated sigh as his phone buzzed, the ringtone sounding loudly in his apartment. Riza pulled away with a sympathetic look, but she did squeeze his wrist. That was a comfort at least.
Removing his hand from her neck, he cursed every piece of technology on the planet as he fished his phone out of his pocket.
“Edward,” Roy greeted in a tone that told the teenager that this better be good.
“You are not going to believe what I’ve found tonight,” he cackled happily to himself.
“What have you got?” His tone was dejected. He glanced at Riza then placed the phone down on the table between them, putting Ed on speaker.
“Bradley is a dodgy dude!” he sang cheerily. The kid sounded like he was on cloud nine. “And is definitely working with Raven. Our dear Senator’s personal accounts show large sums of money being transferred from a certain Mr. Bradley. He’s definitely bribing him.”
“Edward’s right, Roy,” he heard Rebecca call out. She was still at the office? “We’ve been going through it all and there’s definitely been some shady deals going down.”
“There’s so much money that’s been moved over the last few months,” Jean’s voice sounded, “and I’m talking six figure sums, not just chump change. This is serious, and I think it’s what we’ve been looking for.”
“You’re all still there?” Roy asked.
“There’s been a lot to go through, and it's been exciting!” Rebecca called.
Roy glanced over at Riza. “See anything about an assassin?”
“Can’t see anything like that. There’s so many big figures though, that it could be any one of them. Did you know the Police Chief is being paid off too? A lot of effort to go through, especially for a reputable business like Bradley’s and such a well loved public figure like Raven.”
Roy snorted at Ed’s sarcasm.
“The accounts are easy to track though, if they’re public. It will take some time but I’ll be able to manage it. There will be a pattern somewhere.” Edward snickered. “I doubt they’ll miss the money if we want to have some fun. I could very easily move some money around so we could replace that damn 3D printer.”
“You will do no such thing,” Roy scolded through the phone, leaning forwards, as if it would increase the force of his words. Riza laughed quietly beside him. “It’s bad enough you're even looking at those accounts.”
He was quickly dismissed. “Stop worrying. You’ll end with another grey hair in that shaggy mane of yours.”
Roy grit his teeth tightly together. “Goodbye, Edward. Go home and get some sleep. We all know how cranky children get when they don’t get enough sleep.” He hit the end call button as soon as he heard Edward’s outrage beginning.
“That was childish,” Riza giggled.
“Serves him right for the grey hair comment,” Roy scowled at his phone.
“I can’t see any,” she stated softly. Roy turned his head to face her sharply, noting how she was looking at his hair. Roy only then realised he’d forgotten to actually slick his hair back. “I think you’re good,” she smiled. “Plus, that hairstyle is a nice look on you.”
“Were you pleasantly surprised when you first met me?”
“In more ways than just one,” she replied, winking at him. She stood from her chair and Roy felt his shoulder slump slightly, knowing what was coming. “I should get going,” Riza murmured.
“Okay,” Roy nodded, not letting his disappointment show. “Of course. I can walk you home, if you like?”
Riza shook her head. “You’re sweet, but I’ll be fine. I’ve got my car.”
“Text me when you get home? Just so I know you got back safe.”
“I will.” She smiled and reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you for tonight, Roy. Although it was talking shop… I still had a lot of fun.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows raised in amusement at his surprised tone. “I mean, you did?” He couldn't quite hide how earnest he sounded.
“It’s very interesting watching you work.” Riza cocked her head to the side, regarding him. “You can be very intense.”
“I hope that’s not a bad thing,” he laughed nervously.
“Not at all,” she reassured him. “Just shows you’re passionate.”
“Good. And I promise that on the next date there will be no talking shop. Once is okay, but every time we’ve met up I feel like I always manage to steer the conversation that way.”
“You’re in love with your job, Roy, I get it,” she smirked with a mischievous smile. “I can take coming in second place. Just for you, though,” she winked.
“I’m not… I mean, I wouldn’t -”
“Goodnight, Roy.” A placating hand was pressed to his bicep in farewell, cutting off his stammered speech. “And thank you for everything. I mean it. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
He swallowed, opening his mouth to reply, but was rendered mute and frozen in place as Riza leaned up to peck his cheek. She just smiled at him as she walked away, leaving him staring, dumbfounded, after her.
