Brave Reader,

I must tell you that this is only my second fan-faction, and I'm already bubbling with too many ideas to be able to update frequently.

I am back with Royai. I very recently re-watched Brotherhood and came to the conclusion that Roy and Riza's relationship isn't elaborate enough. It seems side-tracked to me. And I find it as unfairness to them.

Ergo, I gave myself the responsibility of writing FMAB's story with Mustang and Hawkeye under the spotlight… I have only completed one chapter so far, but I'll be back with more. I promise. ^^

BEWARE: Each chapter might not have a direct reference to the Brotherhood/Manga storyline. I have ideas that I will surely add to make the whole Royai-centre-of-attraction theme clearer.

Be kind and review. Criticise if you wish. I love it.

PHEW…! That was a hell lot of AN.

SPECIAL WARNING: Sweet Berthold Hawkeye.

All the chores were done. Dinner was cooked, waiting to be served. Sheets of rain splattered against the window panes noisily, threatening to break in. But none of it made any difference to Riza. The teenager was too engrossed in the novel she was reading to be worried about anything else. Her head leaning against one of the sofa's armrests and legs on the other, she silently turned a page to unfold the last chapter. The novel was the story of an eerie soldier and his mother who lived in a small village, it had touched her heart.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

At first Riza couldn't make out the noise of the knocking over the rain and winds rattling outside. She sat up with a start and hurried to the door to answer, her father would surely be too busy with his work to answer the door; her book lay forgotten on the sofa.

She opened the door and stood face to face with a young boy about her age. He was wet from the roots of his raven-black hair to the tips of his muddy shoes. His eyes, black and deep, stared at her. For a moment she stared back with her hand still on the doorknob, she blinked at him.

"Is this-" he started to ask, but Riza cut him off.

"Get inside, please!" She said frantically. He obliged willingly. "Wait here till I get you a towel… on second thought, towels."

Without another glance at the dripping stranger, she hurried up the stairs to her father's room. She had been told not to let strangers in, but something about the boy's eyes made her forget that. He had looked tired and fired up at the same time; something which was not at all stranger-like, it was just like her father.

Riza knocked at the door of her father's room before turning the knob and peeping in. "Father? May I intrude?"

"Yes, come right in Riza." He said sweetly, though not looking up from his book. "Is it time for dinner?"

"… Not yet. Well, there's someone at the door. He's all wet and cold from the rain." She said getting in and walking to her Father's cupboard speedily. "I wanted to borrow some towels and clothes for him…" Riza had already gathered enough garments for the visitor when she heard her father's chair move.

"Is it someone we know?" He asked, now standing, his wise blue eyes watching her perceptively.

"No," came her whisper.

"Riza, dear, must we help?" She nodded hesitantly. "You're so like your mother. Helpful to the core." Father smiled at her. "Go get him dry, we don't want him to catch a cold."

"Thank you, Father, for letting me help." Riza said.

She rushed back to the door to find a puddle under the boy's feet. And this time she spotted a small backpack by his feet which was as wet as he was.

"Here, take this." She said handing him a towel. He grabbed it and wiped his face and hair before looking at her again.

"Thanks …Miss?" He wondered.

"Forget the 'Miss', it's just Riza." She said.

The two heard footfalls behind and Riza knew father had come down too. He appeared beside Riza; hands folded on his chest, and stared down at the guest.

"Who are you?" Father asked in a voice low and sharp.

"Roy Mustang," The boy replied.

"Do you live around here?"

"No… I live in East City with my mother."

"What brings you to our little town?" Father asked.

"I had come here to find myself a teacher." Roy started, "My mother's acquaintance said that a certain Berthold Hawkeye was the closest non-military alchemist to East City. I need to see him; I wish to be his apprentice." Roy explained. "I think I got lost in the rain."

"No you weren't lost, young man. This is my house. And I'm Berthold Hawkeye." Father told him.

Roy took in the loose, long blonde hair and the blue eyes of the lean man before him, looking quite unsure. He was speechless for a moment. "Good evening, sir. I'm sorry I didn't bother to read the name outside, I just needed sheltering from the rains." He half-bowed. "I'm grateful for your hospitability."

"Humph. Whatever… but if you wish to be my apprentice you'll have to look at every detail." Father turned to Riza. "Lead this lad to the bathroom let him dry himself. Then invite him in for dinner."

Roy was quietly led to the dining room by the same short-haired blonde. Dinner was served, warm and delicious. He hadn't eaten anything so good in the past few days of his travel; he savoured the food only too much. The fact that Riza had cooked it all singlehandedly surprised him. He noted that Master Hawkeye and his daughter hardly spoke at the table, so unlike his foster mother and her bar crew's chatty meals.

Well, he also noted that despite her tomboyish appearance, Riza was gentle and pretty. A few times while chewing his own supper, he caught himself staring at her, her cheeks and lips worked alluringly when she ate or drank.

After dinner was eaten, Roy was asked to follow Master Hawkeye to his room. The room was mediocre in area, dimly-lit and was in much disarray. Papers full of well-written scribbles marked the floor here and there, the bed was unmade and the large desk belonged in a world of utter chaos; the only organised structure was the enormous bookshelf that covered the entire west wall.

"Roy Mustang, wasn't it?" Master Hawkeye asked offhandedly, plopping down in his chair.

"Yes, sir," Roy replied, hands behind his back and shoulders squared.

"Hmm. Boy, do you have any experience in the field of Alchemy? Any family influence that led you to me?"

"No one in my family, sir. A State Alchemist lives in my neighbourhood back in East." Roy noticed a look of disgust cross the blonde haired man's face. "I have also read many primary books about Alchemy, only to find myself hungry for more. That is the reason I'm here, to learn in the apt way."

"Well, I'm not going to just start away with you as my apprentice, lad. Life isn't easy – and I believe it shouldn't be." Master Hawkeye smiled weakly looking older than he was. "I give you two weeks. You must prepare yourself for a small test on the basics of Alchemy thoroughly. And a little practical, too. You will transmute something for me."

"Sir, will I be allowed to refer to your books here? I don't have many of my own."

Master Hawkeye considered this for a long minute. "Yes, you may use my library in the basement. Riza will help you around gladly. And if you wish to, you may also use our guest room so long as you do not litter my Riza's well-kept mansion."

"Thank you very much, sir. I'll be careful."

"But remember, if you are not up to the mark, you will be required to leave and never return to us."

"I'll remember that, sir."

"And I would appreciate it very much if you kept your eyes and hands away from my beautiful daughter as much as possible. Friendship, however, isn't forbidden as long as she wants it… How old are you?" He added as an afterthought.

"Sixteen years old."

"Just a year and some months older than Riza herself…" He muttered to himself thoughtfully. "Well then, boy, away you go. Rest soundly tonight for the journey to our town mustn't have been that easy, I'm sure. Wake up in time for breakfast before Riza leaves for her school at seven in the morning, or find yourself some other option. She'll tell you whatever else you may need to know, she is gentle."

"Thank you again, sir. I really do appreciate what you're doing for me." Roy bowed low in gratitude really meaning the acknowledgement.

Master Hawkeye waved his hand in dismissal and turned his chair towards his desk.

"Riza," An unfamiliar voice called from a few feet away.

It startled her and she dropped the spoon she was rinsing and it jangled against the surface of the sink. Suddenly too alert, she jerked her head sharply to find their guest leaning against the kitchen counter casually.

"Sorry, didn't intend to scare you." Roy smiled sweetly. "Can you show me-" His dark eyes danced to her hands which were covered in soapy-foam up to her elbows. "Do you need help with that?" His question changed completely.

"Huh?" Her eyes widened imperceptibly.

"Do you need help with the cleaning, rinsing or anything?" Roy clarified.

"Well, no. Firstly, because I can do things myself. Secondly, you are my guest." She said, returning her attention to her task.

"From where I come, the cook doesn't clean up. Especially if the cook is a girl as pretty as you." Roy picked up a hand-towel and without Riza's approval started wiping the utensils Riza had already washed.

An unmistakable pink hue rushed across Riza's cheeks at his words, Roy smirked to himself. "I would love to visit the place where you belong, then." She said.

"Sure." He said wiping a plate she handed him. "Your father let me stay here for two weeks before he tests me, will you show me to the guest room after this is done?"

"Why not, I will. And I'll show you the staircase down to the basement-library; don't want you to mess around when I'm at school." She said. He realized, that night, she wasn't much against talking.

Roy passed Master Hawkeye's written test without much difficulty because he had really worked hard during those two weeks. He transmuted a ten inch tall flower vase from the remains of a glass tray Riza had accidentally broken a few days before. Master Hawkeye was quite pleased with Roy's success at such an inexperienced stage, he gladly accepted Roy as a trainee. He let Roy have that day off; he said he would start his teaching the next day because he was busy with his own research.

Roy happily skipped down the stairs to the kitchen to tell Riza, his new best friend, about his accomplishment and give her the vase he'd transmuted. His spirits didn't sink when he found the kitchen quiet and deserted, he merely turned around and trotted his way through the house whistling as he searched for her.

Riza was finally found in the small backyard of the 'Hawk Nest', as people called it. She sat under the young mango tree trying to memorise something from a textbook.

"Riza!" Roy called out from the back door as he made his way to her in haste. She quickly settled her book in the short grass and stood to her feet, anxious, waiting for him to declare whether or not he was allowed to stay longer.

"So?" She asked in a small voice.

"I'm not leaving you alone any soon." He grinned.

"Roy!" She squealed (literally) breaking into a smile as she looped her arms around his neck, pulling him close into a strong hug. She buried her face in his shoulder almost sending him off-balance. "I won't be alone now."

"Never." He agreed, grinning wider if that were possible. His right hand that wasn't occupied in holding the vase curved around Riza's waist and rested tightly on the small of her back.

'Overwhelmed with every bit of happiness on planet earth' would've been an understatement to Roy's present emotions.

Their friendship had evolved much too well in the span of two weeks, without any objection from Master Hawkeye. Roy had learnt to listen patiently as Riza had grown into an infrequent talker. Riza and Roy cleaned up together after meals and then while he studied fat books of Alchemy she completed her homework. Later, Roy had promised her that he would stay as long apprenticeship would allow. Now that promise was completed, sealed and locked.

Riza pulled away from the embrace as swiftly as she'd barged into his personal space. Both their cheeks were faintly red and radiant and their eyes remained downcast for a few seconds. After another moment of awkward silence, Riza gently took the vase from Roy's hand without him having said anything.

"Welcome to the family."

Colonel Roy Mustang opened his eyes drowsily to his vast East City Office glowing in the bright afternoon sunlight. After a few blinks, his inky onyx eyes wandered to the sunny-haired woman in the room, just as her soft brown eyes left her work and looked at him.

Ah, telepathy. He mused, smiling gently at her.

"Good thing you're awake, sir." Lt. Hawkeye said in her crisp, only-business-timbre. "It saved our time. I was just about to come there and shake you awake."

"I wasn't asleep, Hawkeye." He responded, peeling his head away from the comfort of the chair's back, absently rubbing his eyes.

Havoc and Breda snickered. Even Falman chuckled inaudibly as Fuery nodded in mock approval.

"I know that, sir." Hawkeye murmured with a very uncharacteristic upturn at the tips of her alluring lips. It was almost like a smug smile.

The Colonel looked around at each face in his squadron, looking for the smallest speck of trust. But the mood was light and no one was going to believe Colonel Roy Mustang, Hero of Unfinished Paperwork Stacks, when he said he hadn't fallen asleep in his comfortable swivelling-chair.

"Really, I was really thinking back. Haven't you all heard about the term 'retrospect'?" Mustang asked in fake incredulity and anger.

"That does mean looking back on a certain past event." Falman agreed.

"See?"

The men all laughed. "Yes, I'm sure you were thinking about your date last night, Chief." Havoc teased, causing more laughter and snickers.

"Enough." Hawkeye's voice ended all non-professional behavior at once. She let her eyes fall on each of her subordinate's face; immediately as if they were all hypnotized, they meekly turned their heads to their unending work. She then looked at her superior. "Well sir, you have wasted enough time in retrospection. Your work might feel lonely now. I suggest you restart right away."

"Fine." He grumbled, feeling happy nevertheless.

This was his family now.

PS: I personally don't like to imagine an indifferent, self-absorbed Mr. Hawkeye. I can't imagine a father like that. I think he was fairly sociable in the beginning. His nature must've hardened when Roy was away and (having no other option) he'd had to mark Riza with his million-cenz research. Thus, I've depicted him as a distant yet kind father. Tell me what you think about it; which means you have to review.

I will bring the second chapter as soon as possible guys!