#royaiweek2020

“Kind of,” he responded, handing her a ball. “Here.” He lit the green fuse. “Now throw it!” 

Riza flung it from her hand, terrified of its action. It popped loudly, crackling riveting through the darkness. “Oh!” She jumped, holding her hands close to herself. 

“It’s okay,” he laughed, throwing one for himself. “Here’s another.” 

She laughed as she threw another, pulling herself inward as it blew up and spent sparks flying. Never had Riza experienced anything like this! Her father was not a joyful man by any expression, however, he also did not indulge in anything but alchemic reactions, not… chemical...reactions. She threw another a shrill laugh following. “Can I have another sparkling stick,” she asked, now starting to bounce on her ankles. Her face beamed with enthusiasm.

“Yeah, of course, Riza.” Roy reached into the bag and pulled out another one. 

She ran up and down the sidewalk, laughing as she watched the light follow her, Roy following her with a laugh. It had to be magic, or at least she’d be happy to call it that. Beautiful magic. She stopped and turned to see her friend drawing in the air again. 

“It’s like light art,” she whispered in awe. 

Roy gave her a cheeky grin, drawing out a heart. “I’m glad you like it,” he whispered. 

Riza nodded happily, drawing her own heart and smiled a toothy smile back. “I love it.” 

**********

Whistles and pops reverberated through the courtyard. “Yeah!” Another loud bang echoed out. 

Roy stood behind his men with a raised eyebrow. He stood taller than he was as a boy, square shoulders, and in a collared white shirt instead of a dirty t-shirt. His jacket sat on the bench behind them as he watched with amusement. Young Fuery threw out a fistful of poppers. His second lieutenant Breda jumped up and down, with waving in the air, cheering as they exploded. It wasn’t very often that they celebrated, especially like this. He could easily just watch them, enjoying their excitement from afar. He didn’t see his first lieutenant come up next to him and bump his shoulder with hers. He turned and smiled softly, happy to see that he did come to the little event in the court. 

“Oh, hello Lieutenant.”

“Colonel,” she smiled back. “I think it was good for the men to celebrate,” she nodded, looking at Fuery who threw out a small sparkling bomb. 

“I do too.” He nodded, seeing even Falman lighting a firework. A bump to his shoulder caused him to look over at her, noticing her handing him something. There in her hand she held a little stick. She offered it to him with a familiar smile, her eyes squinted and her smile larger than he’d normally notice. 

“Sometimes its good to let the alchemy go every so often and see an earthly chemical reaction.” 

Roy tried his best not to smile too large, too boyish to give away his remembrance that struck him. Instead, he watched as she pulled a lighter from her pocket and ignited it. He watched as his stick erupted in sparkles, fizzing away in the dusk light. Years ago, he was the one lighting hers, bring her the mystical joy that it brought. He bopped the stickup and down, drawing a circle and a few memorized alchemic symbols. “It’s too bad I can’t do alchemy with this,” he pouted. 

He heard he snort. “It’s probably better that way.”

Breda let out a “yahoo,” and Roy stopped to look at Havoc lighting a bigger fountain-like firework. When he looked back, his lieutenant drew a heart in front of her. He nudges her this time, smiling fondly when she looked towards him. With a careful hand, as he would draw a transmutation circle, he drew a heart for her. 

“Thanks, Roy,” she whispered. 

“Good morning, Lieutenant,” Roy greeted.

“Oh...good morning sir,” Riza sighed. “Even though it’s the middle of the night, it is technically morning. You aren’t wrong about that. ...Is there something you need?”

“No, no,” Roy shook his head, even though Riza couldn’t see it. “I just couldn’t sleep and I needed someone to talk to.”

“Oh, I see,” Riza sighed.

“...You sound like you’ve been up for a while, Lieutenant,” Roy noticed. “You couldn’t sleep either?”

“Oh?” Riza dryly laughed. “You noticed?”

The two sat in silence as Roy felt himself relax in the Lieutenant’s presence, even though she wasn’t directly by him. Just knowing that she was always there for him, and vice versa, seemed to set him at ease. He had calmed down by now, even more than the other nights when he was by himself.

Just when he was about to bid her good night, she cut in. “Do...do you think about the war?” Riza asked.

Roy responded right away, “Every night.”

“You too?” Riza said.

The two sat in silence for a few of minutes and Roy spoke up, “I actually feel a lot better calling you. Better than most nights when I’m alone and have to calm myself down.”

“Want to call again tomorrow?” Riza offered. “If it makes you feel better and help you sleep, I’ll be willing to help you, sir.”

“Yeah,” Roy nodded, chuckling dryly. “Thanks, though I’d argue I deserve these nightmares after everything I’ve done in the war.”

“Don’t say that sir,” Riza scolded. “I’ve committed atrocities along with you, and I already promised that I’d follow you into hell if I had to. If it means suffering through and helping you with your nightmares, then so be it. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to move on, but we can get through this together.”

“...Heh,” Roy smirked. “Anyways, thanks Lieutenant. Have a good night. Er, morning.”

“Have a good morning sir,” Riza laughed as she hung up.

Roy remained by the phone for a few minutes before returning back to bed. He slipped back into his bed, pulling the covers over him, and closing his eyes.